Chapter 2: Rocking Up to School with a Downer-Chick Dream Girl

Sway, sway, sway…

A comfy rocking motion gently nudged me awake from my hazy morning daze.

Sunlight, filtering through my eyelids, was way too bright.

Still half-asleep, I blinked my eyes open slowly. And bam – even though I’m getting used to it, still catches me off guard – a face that was just too perfect filled my entire field of vision. Woke up and almost forgot to breathe.

“…You awake?”

Those dark eyes of hers, still looking kinda sleepy themselves, blinked down at me. I just nodded. Way too early in the day for a face that unfairly gorgeous. Ease up on the intensity, please.

Looks like Sajo-san had been shaking my shoulder to wake me up, since I was apparently still sprawled out on the bed like a log. She was kneeling by the bedside, leaning over, face hovering right above mine.

“What’s with that? Like a kid.”

She chuckled, low and mocking.

Still too fuzzy-brained to even feel embarrassed about it.

I pushed myself up to a sitting position, crossed my legs. Big, jaw-cracking yawn escaped.

“……G’morning…”

Brain still in slow-motion, vision swimming with Sajo-san. Same old dead-fish eyes, same ridiculously beautiful face.

Pretty… Random thought floating through my head. But then, something felt… off.

Couldn’t quite put my finger on it, brain still coated in sleep-fuzz. But then, my gaze drifted down from her face, and… oh. Ohhh. Yeah, okay, now I get it. Tilt of the head, confused.

“…Wait, why are you here, Sajo-san?”

“────Huh?”

My question, just kinda spilling out of my still-half-open mouth, got me a blast of icy air from Sajo-san. Whoa, cold.

That low rumble in her throat. Sent a shiver of unease down my spine.

Those pitch-black eyes, narrowing slightly, like she was genuinely disappointed in my brainpower.

Lips pressed into a thin line, face clouding over with annoyance.

Huh? Wait, did I miss something? Why wouldn’t Sajo-san be here…?

Brain sputtering, trying to kickstart itself from zero-to-sixty. And then – bingo! Lightbulb moment. Clapped my hands together, sudden realization.

“Ahhh, ‘morning after’ cuddles?”

“……”

Deafening silence. Ouch. Did I screw up? Brain still scrambling, trying to parse ‘right’ from ‘wrong’ in this situation. No clue.

Majorly awkward vibes now. Trying to figure out how to defuse the tension, when Sajo-san snorted, lips twisting into this wry, almost mocking smile.

“…And if I said, ‘yeah, that’s exactly what it is’? Then what?”

“Huh?”

Brain. Processing. Please wait…

‘Morning after’… meaning, we, uh, did stuff last night with Sajo-san? And if so, then, like, responsibility? Gotta take responsibility? Responsibility…?

…………? …………………………──Whoa, hold up!

“N-no, wait, wrong! S-sorry, jeez!”

Wide awake now. Brain fully rebooted. What the hell was I even saying?!

Face burning up. Cheeks on fire, body about to spontaneously combust from sheer mortification. Seriously, wanted to dig a hole and crawl in. No, scratch that, just self-destruct right here and now.

After a full-body cringe-attack, I just covered my face and went silent.

“…Morning,” she said, voice softer now.

“Morning…” I mumbled back.

Trying to pretend the whole ‘morning-after-cuddles’ brain-fart never happened, restarting from square one with a normal greeting. And Sajo-san actually replied! Nice of her. Maybe… nice?

“Sleep well? Sweet dreams?”

…Scratch that ‘nice’ comment. Demon in disguise.

Glared at her through tear-filled eyes, and she actually laughed. “Just kidding,” she said, and stood up. Yeah, ‘just kidding,’ but seriously twisted joke. But hey, kinda my fault for opening that can of worms, so can’t really complain too loudly. First time I’ve ever cursed my own slow-wake-up brain this much.

Vowing to become a morning person from now on, I noticed Sajo-san looking down at me.

“Enjoying kicking a guy when he’s down?”

“……? Not kicking anyone.”

Guess the reference went over her head. Thought it was a pretty common phrase, but yeah, wait, wasn’t it from some fighting game thing?

Flopped back onto the bed like a dead body. Sleepiness? Gone, completely obliterated. But this whole intense wake-up call had drained all the energy out of me. Limply deflated, let out a long, weary exhale.

“You remember why I’m here now?”

……Still kicking me?

Feeling totally defeated, almost didn’t care anymore. But then, yeah, there was a hint of seriousness in her voice now. Maybe she actually was a little concerned?

Even talking felt like a marathon. But yeah, didn’t want to leave her hanging, so gotta answer properly.

“…Right, yeah, you crashed here last night.”

And yeah, whose brilliant idea was that again? Oh, right. Mine.

■■

First thing that greeted me in the bathroom mirror? Head-explosion. “Ugh,” escaped before I could stop it, a groan of pure disgust.

Epic bedhead. Bird’s nest? Nah, bird’s nest had more structure, more artistry. My hair? Looked like a toddler’s crayon scribble gone horribly wrong.

Realizing Sajo-san had probably seen this monstrosity… sudden wave of mortification.

Ran some water, slicked my hair back with wet hands. Grabbed a brush, started attacking the mess.

But nope, today’s bedhead was a stubborn beast. Brush and brush as I might, it just kept springing back up, sticking out at crazy angles.

“You little—!”

“……What are you doing?”

Whoop – jumped a mile. Brush snatched right out of my hand by a hand reaching over my shoulder.

“Hold still.”

Felt her fingers in my hair, right against my scalp. Instant jolt, weirdly electric sensation that made my whole body tense up. Spine snapped straight.

“S-Sajo-san…?”

“……Did you not hear ‘hold still’?”

Yeah, heard it loud and clear. But just standing there, ramrod straight, felt… impossible. Too many weird signals firing in my brain.

Why is Sajo-san brushing my hair? Brain short-circuiting with questions. But Sajo-san didn’t seem to be stopping anytime soon, just kept brushing, smooth strokes from root to tip, again and again.

Every brushstroke, body temp ticked up another degree, 0.1, 0.2… at this rate, I’d be passing out from heatstroke by the time she was done.

Lost in the rising heat-haze, when Sajo-san’s hand finally stopped. Glanced in the mirror. Bird’s nest situation, marginally improved. Still a mess, but… less of a disaster?

“……Hmph, stubborn. Just like Rihito, maybe you’re both just twisted at the core.”

“Hey, wait a minute!”

What’s that supposed to mean? Started to turn around, but then, arms snaked around me from behind. Body pressed right up against me, stiffening instantly. Softness against my back, warmth… words just vanished.

“W-wh—!?”

Wait, what? Situation report? Brain.exe… rebooting.

Still frozen in confusion, when click. Sound of a switch. Sajo-san’s hand had flipped the faucet to shower mode, pulled out the showerhead. Whoosh! Sound of water blasting the sink, echoing in the small bathroom.

“Tilt your head down. Gonna get you wet.”

Looks like my overheating brain was about to get an emergency cool-down, whether it liked it or not.

■■

Breakfast was hard-fried eggs, edges crispy-burnt (but not inedible). Toasted bread, slathered with margarine, topped with leftover lettuce from last night’s salad.

Waking up to breakfast already made? Felt like ages since that happened. Actually kinda touching. Lately, breakfast had been… optional. If I even bothered, it was usually just cereal.

“……Don’t force yourself to eat it if it’s too burnt, you know.”

“Mmph wha’sh that?”

Mouth full of toast, chewing sounds drowning out her words. Mouth still crammed with bread, I tilted my head, “Huh?” Got a sharp look in return. “……Don’t talk with your mouth full. Bad manners.” Scolding tone. Ouch.

Thanks to Sajo-san’s wake-up call, today was a morning of pure luxury. Time to spare!

Took my sweet time getting into my uniform, slung my schoolbag over my shoulder. Leaving the house without rushing, felt like a lifetime ago. Mom? She’d given up on waking me up ages ago, figured if I was late, that was my problem.

“Heading out?”

Walked out of my room, and there she was, Sajo-san, waiting like she’d been posted there on guard duty.

“Yeah, heading out,” I answered, glancing over at her.

Black hoodie, dark pants. Yeah, my clothes were a no-go, her… assets… being a bit too much for my wardrobe. “I won’t complain about borrowing your stuff,” she’d said, all business-like. But yeah, hoodie zipped up to about chest-level, major wardrobe malfunction in progress. Not exactly great for my… mental well-being. Not saying it was unpleasant, mind you.

So, yeah, Sajo-san was in her own clothes today. Figured it was less hassle to just grab clothes from her place than try to squeeze into mine again. Not exactly ‘girly’ clothes, but simple, and actually suited her pretty well, but…

“What?”

“Oh, uh, nothing.”

Should I say something? Debating with myself.

But then, maybe my staring was getting a bit intense, ‘cause Sajo-san’s eyes narrowed. Uh oh, grumpy-meter rising.

Feeling the ‘spit it out already’ pressure, I blurted out what was on my mind.

“If you’re not totally against it… wanna walk together? To school?”

Shot in the dark, total long shot. And yeah, reaction? Not exactly enthusiastic.

Those black eyes, fixed on me, like she was trying to dissect my soul. Suddenly felt super self-conscious.

Same high school, same class, right? But somehow, leaving the house alone just felt… weird today. Just a spur-of-the-moment thought, but maybe I was pushing it.

“Ah, no, never mind. Forget I said it—”

“Okay.”

“……Huh?”

Blinked a few times, rapid-fire.

Me, still frozen in surprise-mode. Sajo-san, already making moves, decisive as ever, heading straight for the front door. Guess she was going to grab her uniform from her place.

“W-wait, seriously? You sure?”

If she was having second thoughts, totally fine, back out anytime. Tried to double-check, but Sajo-san wasn’t wavering. Front door cracked open a sliver. Light spilling in through the gap, catching her face as she glanced back. And was that… a tiny smile? Maybe?

“……If it’s with Rihito, yeah, okay.”

What exactly was she implying with that? Brain short-circuited again. Before I could even process it, Sajo-san was out the door, and it clicked shut behind her, with a soft, final thunk.

Standing alone in the hallway, I just let my schoolbag slide off my shoulder, landing with a soft thump on the floor. Stared blankly at the closed front door, waiting for her to come back. Pointlessly.

■■

“Got everything?”

“Yeah, think so… oh, keys!”

Sajo-san, back in her uniform, ready for school. We headed out together, finally.

Tiny brain-fart moment there. Got a seriously withering look from Sajo-san, eyebrows dipping low, like I was the most hopeless case ever. But yeah, mostly smooth sailing.

Scrambled back inside to grab the keys.

Too rushed to even bend down properly, just jammed my feet into my sneakers, heel-smashing style, and bolted back out the door.

“Got ‘em, got ‘em.”

“……Maybe try wearing your shoes properly?”

“Just a sec, just a sec.”

Back inside again, getting a lecture from Sajo-san, eyebrows furrowed, face all scoldy.

Felt strangely… mom-like. But yeah, saying that out loud? Shin-kick incoming, guaranteed. Learned my lessons from the past, thank you very much. Kept that thought firmly locked in my brain.

Toe-tapping impatiently on the floor, jammed the keys into the lock, twisted. Click.

One-legged balance act, “Yup!” jammed a finger into the back of my sneaker, levering up the squashed heel. Other foot too.

“Don’t be lazy.”

“Sorr-ry!”

Apologized, but yeah, couldn’t help it, face twitching into a grin. Sajo-san just narrowed her eyes even further, so I quickly looked away. Mumbled a quiet, “Sorry,” and got a long-suffering sigh in response.

Sajo-san grabbed the doorknob, rattled it, testing if it was locked.

Little things like that, you know? Suddenly made her seem… grounded. Unexpectedly domestic.

All that detached, give-up-on-everything vibe, and yet, down-to-earth practicalities. Yeah, she was… surprisingly solid.

Just a few steps from there, past Sajo-san’s front door – next door neighbor – straight to the elevator.

Every morning, elevator wait, solo act. But today, Sajo-san in her uniform, standing right next to me.

Same old routine, same old building. But with Sajo-san there, suddenly felt like I’d stepped into a different world, everything looked… different.

And yeah, maybe it was a different world. ‘Cause ever since I woke up, she’d been there, constantly in my field of vision, someone who hadn’t existed in my world before, now suddenly… there.

That unique, slightly wild black hair. Those eyes, dark as night, like they swallowed all the light around them.

Even in her uniform, those… curves… yeah, still seriously impressive, impossible not to steal glances. Couldn’t take my eyes off her, really.

Weird flutter in my chest, butterflies maybe? Or just… nerves?

Me? Walking to school side-by-side with this girl?

Even though I was the one who suggested it, suddenly felt like freaking out. Walking to school with a girl? Last time that happened… elementary school, in a big group. Does that even count? Seriously, zero experience in this department.

But yeah, turning around now, “Nah, forget it, let’s not walk together,” would be beyond lame. Epic-level cowardice.

Bit my lip, swallowed the whimper threatening to escape.

Elevator doors slid open. Stepped inside.

Weird mix of nervous and… yeah, maybe a little happy? Strange feeling. Just stood there, staring at Sajo-san’s back, when she turned around, eyes meeting mine.

“……What?”

“Nothing.” Shook my head, side-to-side.

Yeah, nothing. Or everything. Who even knew? Answer to her question? No clue myself.

■■

Sky, pure, brilliant blue, air crisp and dry. Gunjo blue, that deep indigo… yeah, that’s what they meant by that color, I thought absently.

End of June. Slap-bang in the middle of rainy season, and yet, every now and then, days like this, teasing summer sunshine, felt like summer was jumping the gun. Weather forecast was all ‘unusual,’ ‘freak weather,’ blah blah blah. But every year, same ‘freak weather,’ same ‘unusual’ – maybe ‘unusual’ was just the new normal now. Kinda scary how easily you got used to ‘abnormal,’ huh? I mused, all carefree and philosophical.

Still, even with the heat, it wasn’t full-on summer yet. Not a single cicada buzzing its brains out. Felt like summer was just warming up, getting ready to unleash the real heat. Already feeling the summer-dread creeping in.

Summer-season warm-up, rainy-season sunshine day. And me? Walking to school with a super-gorgeous girl.

Just hearing that out loud, sounds like some dude’s fantasy, right? Peak ‘youth’ vibes. Dream scenario. Aoharu.

But yeah, no rom-com, heart-fluttering moments happening here.

“……”

“……”

Silence. Just walking, side-by-side, following the white fence separating the sidewalk from the road.

And ‘side-by-side’… well, our ‘side-by-side’ was a little off-sync.

Me walking ahead, her trailing three steps behind.

Old-school image of the ‘ideal Japanese woman,’ the Yamato Nadeshiko. Quietly following, submissive and… yeah, that vibe.

But yeah, Sajo-san? Zero connection to that image. Say that out loud? Instant death stare. No, scratch that, definitely shin-kick territory. So, kept that thought to myself too.

So, what was it then? If not ‘Yamato Nadeshiko’? Beats me. Honestly, no clue.

Known Sajo-san for, what, ten days now, since I ‘picked her up.’ Still felt like she was just that super-good-looking neighbor I barely knew.

“Sajo-san. You’re kinda… far back, aren’t you?”

“……Not far. Normal.”

Flat reply. ‘Normal’? Normal what?

Subtly hinting, ‘hey, wanna walk together together?’ But either she wasn’t picking up on it, or she was picking up on it and flat-out rejecting it. If it was the latter, yeah, mental breakdown imminent. Oof. Reaction colder than a polar bear’s toenails.

But yeah, not like the atmosphere was tense or anything.

Probably, just… Sajo-san preferred this distance. Yeah, probably. No actual evidence to back that up, but… felt right.

Three steps behind. Maybe the reason for the gap was ‘cause she didn’t want rumors flying about us ‘dating’ or whatever. If that was it, yeah, pillow was gonna get seriously tear-soaked tonight. But nah, didn’t feel like that. Not some typical guy-brain delusion or bravado.

‘Cause Sajo-san? She just didn’t care about stuff like ‘reputation.’ If she did, she wouldn’t have been rocking up to my classroom every day just to deliver my lunch.

■■

School gates came into view, and suddenly, BAM, swarm of uniformed teenagers everywhere. Chatter, laughter, all the usual school-kid noise, buzzing with energy.

Spotted a clump of guys walking shoulder-to-shoulder, practically glued together like human dumplings.

Hot as hell, and they were walking like that? Dumbasses.

But yeah, part of me, just a tiny part, kinda wanted to join in. Guess I was just as dumb as any other high school guy. This age, right? Just doing stuff with everyone else, ‘cause it’s fun, even if it’s totally pointless. Actually, especially if it’s pointless. Pointless fun, best kind of fun… Oh crap, teacher glare incoming. Busted.

Just your average, everyday, school-morning scene.

Except, yeah, something in the usual school-noise felt… different. A little ripple of something, not quite a murmur, but… something.

Center of attention. All eyes turning to… me? No, wait, Sajo-san. Me, walking slightly ahead? Collateral damage, getting caught in the attention-beam too. Suddenly feeling the weight of all those eyes, unspoken pressure pressing down, skin prickling.

Uncomfortably intense. Never been the center of attention before. What was even happening? Shrinking myself down, trying to disappear, when – ah. Lightbulb moment, again.

Yeah, duh. Sajo-san, obviously.

Unfamiliar, super-hot girl, walking into school for the first time? Gonna turn heads, obviously. And yeah, then there was that thing. The… chest situation. Seriously noticeable, even under her uniform.

Totally get why every teenage guy in a ten-mile radius would have their jaws on the floor. Yeah, seriously… big.

Not just guys either. Even girls were staring, blushing, whispering like crazy, all excited chatter. Guess Sajo-san’s looks were, yeah, kinda off the charts.

Even if she didn’t seem to realize it. Or care.

All those eyes on her, and still, she was completely unfazed.

Sajo-san’s world. Inside and outside.

Yeah, her inner world, her own consciousness, was basically her entire universe. Didn’t matter how many people were staring, how much attention she drew, she just… didn’t register the outside world.

Wow. Tiny spark of admiration. And, yeah, a little relief too.

My worry about her first day, about her suddenly showing up at school after being a total recluse? Totally unfounded, looks like. All that fretting for nothing.

I was the one who suggested she come to school.

No bad intentions, just thought, hey, be cool to walk together, you know? But yeah, last thing I wanted was for Sajo-san to feel uncomfortable. ‘For her future,’ ‘for her social skills,’ all that teacher-speak? Yeah, leave that to the teachers.

So yeah, that was good, relief washed over me. But. But yeah, something else was bugging me, nagging at me.

Mostly the guys’ stares. Where those stares were aimed. Yeah, those parts of her anatomy.

Sajo-san? Seemed totally oblivious to the leering. Or maybe she just didn’t care. But yeah, suddenly feeling this weird… irritation? Annoyance? Yeah, definitely edging into irritation territory.

Stopped walking, took a step back, putting myself behind her.

“……What? Making it hard to walk.”

“Just… stay like this for a sec.”

Yeah, like this. Right now.

Walking like her personal bodyguard, blocking the line of sight of every hormone-crazed teenage boy in school.

Not dating her, not trying to stake my claim, ‘Sajo-san’s mine, back off!’ or anything. Body just… moved on its own. Instinct, maybe? Who knew.

Sajo-san, eyes narrowed, giving me a puzzled look. But yeah, thankfully, no complaints, no follow-up questions. Guess she figured, ‘whatever, guys are weird.’ ‘Cause honestly, I had no clue why I was doing this either.

Yeah, getting annoyed by those stares, sure. But did that justify this? Making a scene, drawing even more attention? Hated that kind of thing. So why, why was I letting some random impulse pull me into this…? Seriously, why?

Face scrunched up, internal sigh of frustration.

And this was just getting to school. Classroom? Who knew what fresh hell awaited.

Suddenly feeling seriously gloomy again.

Like animals sensing a disaster before it hit. And yeah, that feeling? Totally justified. The second we stepped into the classroom, the ‘disaster’ hit.

“‘Tag-team attendance,’ already—!?”

Classmates, erupting in a loud, high-pitched chorus of shock and awe. Welcome committee, middle-school style.

Ugh, loud. And hey, ‘attendance’? Try ‘going to school,’ people.

Yeah, internal eye-roll went unheard, obviously.

Feeling like a panda in a zoo exhibit, bracing myself for the inevitable, for the rollercoaster of crazy that was about to unfold. No escape now.

Yeah, knew this was coming, but actually seeing it, hearing it, still made my stomach churn. Temples throbbing, sharp little pulses of pain.

Already feeling drained, worn out before class even started. And yeah, on cue, squad of female classmates, cheerleader-in-chief at the front, swarming us like paparazzi.

“So, like, official ‘item’ status… confirmed?!”

“Or, you know, walking in together in the morning? Pretty much says it all, right?”

“Ugh, gross, keep it PG, please.”

“But you’re curious, admit it!”

“So, fun night last night, huh?”

“Ooh, spill! Sex-fest, pillow talk, coffee, and then straight from her place to school together? Am I close?”

“Hey, dude, chill, way too direct! Gotta be more… subtle, you know, like—”

“‘Kupaaah’ then ‘guuuh,’ then ‘zubo,’ then ‘zunzun-dopyuu’?”

“Dude, even more graphic, seriously?!”

Seriously, guys, seriously?

Okay, yeah, teenage curiosity, get it. But were these supposed to be rational, almost-adult high school students talking?

Sounded like elementary school playground chatter. Just cramming in all the ‘adult’ words they knew, but emotional maturity? Still stuck in kindergarten.

Hearing this trash talk first thing in the morning? Ear-pollution, seriously offensive.

“So, you guys, like, actually going out now?”

“Sounds a bit… off, doesn’t it?”

Yeah, something about the phrasing… hard to put my finger on it. Nuance was… off.

Maybe ‘cause the kanji was wrong, but yeah… just felt… cheap. Tacky.

Just went with the safe, boring answer. “Just neighbors, nothing else.” Technically true.

But yeah, even as I said it—

“Ow! Hey, what—?”

Something nudged me in the back, sharp little poke.

Turned around, and there was Sajo-san, already halfway to her desk, acting like nothing happened.

Huh? Wait, what was that?

Definitely Sajo-san, no doubt about it. But yeah, acting all innocent, like she had nothing to do with it, just strolling to her seat. Confused, I stared at her, but she just leaned back in her chair, propped her elbow on the desk, and gazed out the window.

…Huh? What was that about?

Brain still trying to process. Intention? No clue. Just another puzzle piece in the Sajo-san enigma, another question mark floating around in my head, like a little scab that just wouldn’t heal.

Instead, I just turned back and glared at the still-chattering classmates, channeling my inner grumpy old man, shooing them away. “Loudmouths, scram! Shoo, shoo!”

Boo-hoo, job-change from horses to pigs (?), classmates grumbling and whining, shuffling back to their desks.

But yeah, surprisingly not too pushy, knew when to back off. Kinda knew their limits, knew when to stop before things got really awkward. Classy? Nah, still trashy, but… self-aware trashy, maybe?

Clear zone, one-meter radius, nobody within spitting distance. Shoulders slumped, sigh of relief. Eyelids already feeling heavy, halfway to closing.

Unfamiliar situation, body already screaming ‘overload.’

Schoolbag, suddenly feeling ten times heavier, slid off my shoulder, caught it by the handle before it hit the floor.

Slow, shuffling walk to my own desk. More like shuffling than walking. Lifting my feet? Too much effort.

Even as I shuffled, eyes still fixed on Sajo-san, gazing out the window, lost in her own world.

Breeze drifting in through the open window, summer-warm, carrying the scent of… summer.

Curtains billowing out, catching the wind, swaying gently.

Classroom window seat. Even sitting way at the edge of the room, Sajo-san still felt like the center of everything, suddenly transforming into a living painting. Focus on her, everything else blurring out around the edges, like she was floating in her own space.

Not just ‘cause she was new, not just ‘cause she was a transfer student.

Felt like she was just… different. A different species, almost. Like the moon, shining brighter than all the stars in the night sky.

……Beautiful.

Honest thought, just popped into my head. But yeah, not a ‘crush’ kind of beautiful.

More like… seeing a full moon in a cloudless sky, that kind of awe, that kind of quiet wonder that anyone felt when they saw something truly beautiful.

But yeah, felt like maybe I was the only one feeling that kind of beauty.

Everyone else? Just curious about the new girl, the transfer student. And yeah, mostly interested in… those. From somewhere nearby, a muttered, “Damn, those are huge…” Seriously, dude? Seriously?

Slow-motion shuffle finally ended, desk reached, collapsed into my seat, finally feeling human again.

Perfect timing. Just then, chime from the speakers above the blackboard… nope, wait, not ringing.

Looks like the volume was turned down to zero again. But yeah, could hear the faint echo of the chime from somewhere else in the school, faint but unmistakable. Happens all the time.

Right on cue, following the chime-echo, sharp click of heels on the quiet hallway floor. Sound of approaching teacher. Students, reacting like startled spiders, whoosh! All scrambling back to their desks, chaotic flurry of movement.

“Okay, settle down everyone! Take your seats! Roll call!”

Slide-bang – door slid open, teacher walked in. And yeah, just like magic, instant transformation. Classmates, all innocent faces, spines straight, suddenly model students. Yeah, right.

Teacher, spotting the sudden change, just sighed, a wry little smile. “Good at putting on a show, aren’t you?” Yeah, busted.

Heading for the teacher’s desk, quick detour to the speaker volume control by the door, twisted the dial, then scanned the room – and froze. Dead stop.

Teacher’s eyes widened, mouth dropping open, slack-jawed, cartoon-level shock.

Eyes locked on something, pupils shrinking to pinpoints. Following the line of sight… yeah, Sajo-san, still elbow-propped, still gazing out the window, completely oblivious. Eyes glued to her, teacher just… backed out of the classroom. Slowly. Like rewinding time. Step by step, retreating out the door.

Unbelievable silence descended on the classroom. Only sound? Curtains, still fluttering in the breeze, totally unconcerned.

Slide… Door slid open again, just a tiny crack this time. Teacher’s face peeking in.

Head bobbing like a nervous chicken, darting glances around the room.

“……Class… I’m in the right class, right? Right?”

April, first day as a new teacher, fresh-faced, nervous smile, all over again. Same face, same nervous energy, cautiously re-entering the classroom, like she was checking for landmines.

Sajo-san’s sudden appearance, apparently, was a ‘teachers-in-shock’ level event.

Seriously, that surprising? But yeah, maybe. Total recluse, never shown up since school started, and then, BAM, just casually sitting at her desk like it was no big deal. Maybe even questioning if it was actually her? Clone? Imposter?

Center of all this chaos? Sajo-san, naturally, completely unfazed.

Actually, looked like she hadn’t even noticed any of it. Just brushing her hair back from her eyes, wind-blown fringe falling in her face.

Felt my stare, and those dark eyes flicked sideways, just a glance.

“What?”

“……Nothing.”

Amazing.

That total, unflappable composure. Seriously impressive.

■■

Chaos, yeah, there was chaos. But yeah, all things considered? Not that bad.

Waves, definitely bigger than usual. But not exactly a tsunami. More like… elevated everyday-ness.

Rumor-fodder, for sure. But ‘problem’? Not even close.

……Even if, for a small, easily-capsized boat like me, even slightly bigger waves felt like a near-death experience.

Stare, stare, stare…

Yeah, definitely being watched.

From next to me. Not even looking at her, barely even registering her in my peripheral vision, but yeah, could feel it, like a physical pressure on my skin.

Class time.

First time since high school started, actually had someone sitting next to me. And that ‘someone’ was sending out laser-beam stares, intense enough to drill holes through steel. Seriously rude levels of staring.

Staring a hole through me. Just… staring. Relentlessly.

Why am I being subjected to this intense surveillance?

Brain totally fried. Class? Yeah, right, like I was absorbing anything. Words just washing over me, in one ear, out the other, barely even registering in my brain at all.

What? Wanted to ask, point-blank. But yeah, class time. Already made enough of a spectacle this morning, last thing I needed was to get the teacher’s attention too.

Leaned back in my chair, subtly angled myself away, trying to catch Sajo-san in my peripheral vision.

Her desk? Textbook, crisp, untouched, closed tight. Not a single crease.

Studying? Paying attention? Yeah, zero chance of either.

That total IDGAF attitude. Even the teacher, our homeroom teacher, also the Japanese Lit teacher, yeah, she was totally noticing, but clearly torn between calling her out and just… ignoring it.

Sudden reappearance of a long-term truant. Classroom rebellion in progress.

Put it all together, and yeah, recipe for teacher-panic, especially a newbie teacher. Felt a little guilty, since I was the one who’d dragged her to school in the first place.

But yeah, better than her being a total shut-in, right? Mentally crossed my fingers, offered a silent apology to the universe. Seriously, sorry, sensei.

Unwavering, laser-beam stare from Sajo-san.

Teacher, clearly flustered and confused.

Yeah, feeling seriously unsettled. Chair felt wrong, posture all out of whack.

Creak-groan – shifted in my seat again, trying to get comfortable. Nope, still squirmy.

………………

……Yeah, no. No way I could survive a whole hour of this. Nope.

Drip of sweat trickling down my forehead, plopped onto my notebook. Pen slipped in my sweaty hand, tearing the damp paper.

Nope, nope, nope. Damage report: physical harm sustained. Gotta ask. Gotta know why.

Yeah, Sajo-san’s stare had officially broken me. But yeah, didn’t want to get yelled at by the teacher, so, scribbled a quick note in the margin of my notebook. ‘Something up?’ Tore off the little strip of paper, stealth-mode ninja, slipped it to her, trying to stay out of teacher’s line of sight.

Sajo-san took it, eyes narrowing, silently asking, ‘What now?’ But yeah, she took the note.

Glanced at the scrap of paper, tiny twitch of her eyebrow.

Then, hand out, palm up. ‘Gimme.’

Huh? Silent question mark in my head. And then, her long index finger pointed at the pen in my hand.

Oh. ‘Lend me something to write with.’ Seriously? Came to school totally empty-handed?

Yeah, guess ‘walking to school together’ was literally just that. Walking. Together.

Half-admiring her sheer audacity, I handed over my pen.

Sajo-san took it, scribbled something quick on the paper scrap, adding to my question. Then, pen and paper scrap, shoved back at me.

Took it back.

‘Nothing.’

Just two characters, scrawled on the paper. ‘Nothing.’

Whether talking, writing, same old deadpan, zero-emotion Sajo-san.

But yeah, handwriting? Round and kinda cute. Definitely ‘girl handwriting’ vibe, all bubbly and soft. Total contrast to her personality. Weirdly endearing, actually. Almost made me smile.

Looking down at the paper, fighting back a grin, when Sajo-san’s eyebrows furrowed again, sharper this time.

What are you grinning about? Grumpy face alert.

‘Nothing, nothing,’ waved my hand dismissively. And yeah, actually kinda looking forward to the next paper-note exchange. What to write next? Brain whirring with possibilities.

Stupid schoolyard games, suddenly feeling kinda fun. Brain totally derailing, main mission forgotten.

And yeah, that was the problem. Got too into it. That was today’s lesson learned.

“Ah.”

Not a note, not a paper scrap, just a sound. Hitori, voice breaking the silence.

Huh? Looked up. Teacher, still droning on, reading from the textbook, just walking past our desks, right between me and Hitori.

Gasp – tiny, breath catching in my throat. Rollercoaster drop feeling. Stomach lurching, weightless.

Busted?

Heart hammering, triple speed.

But nope, teacher didn’t even glance our way, didn’t say a word, just kept walking, back to the teacher’s desk, class continuing as normal.

Phew. Close call. Dodged a bullet there.

Hand to my chest, calming my racing heart. Yeah, that was… surprisingly thrilling.

Yeah, messing around in class, that little thrill of getting away with something, that was part of the fun, wasn’t it?

Okay, back to business. Time to think up the next note, pen poised, ready to write… when thwack! Chair leg kicked, hard.

Now what? Turned to Sajo-san again, and yeah, eyes narrowed to slits, death glare 2.0.

Chin-pointing, little flick of her chin towards my desk.

Following the line of sight, yeah, another folded paper scrap, appeared out of nowhere. Not my paper.

Sajo-san must have put it there. Puzzled, unfolded the neatly creased paper. And yeah, face twitched, corner of my mouth pulling down in a grimace.

‘Having fun, are we? Maybe the teacher should join in?’

Seriously sarcastic note. Ouch.

Getting called out, loud and clear, in front of the whole class? Major cringe-factor. But this quiet, paper-note takedown? Yeah, this kinda stung too.

Reluctantly, eyes drifted up to the front of the class. Teacher, textbook open, rambling on about the author’s ‘inner feelings.’

And yeah, eyes met mine. Teacher’s finger, raised to her lips. Shhh. ‘Enough messing around, you two.’ Message received.

Wry little smile, almost playful. Newbie teacher, yeah, but definitely not a pushover. Underestimated her. Lesson learned. Next time, gotta be more careful. If there is a next time.

Oh well, can’t win ‘em all.

No choice now, gotta actually try and pay attention. Class time, officially back in session.

……But yeah, the real issue? Still totally unresolved. But yeah, gotta shelve that for now. Patience, patience. Question-time during break.

Phew. Exhale of frustration. …Wait, where even were we in class?

Textbook page? Lost. Page we were on before? Long gone. Flipped through the pages, nothing matching the notes on the board.

Seriously, why did teachers always jump around in the textbook, skip pages all over the place? Currently, majorly confused and lost.

If it was some kind of revenge-tactic, punishing students who weren’t paying attention? Yeah, mission accomplished. Effective, definitely. Just gotta suck it up, I guess. But yeah, probably not intentional. Just… teacher-logic.

Frowning, wrestling with the textbook, when – pop – white hand appeared in my peripheral vision, hovering next to my textbook. Eyes widening, watched as the hand reached out, flipped through the pages, flip, flip, flip, and then, stopped. Page open, perfectly aligned with the notes on the board, and the teacher’s current lecture point. Boom.

Hand withdrew, disappearing back to her side. Eyes followed the retreating hand, meeting those dark, black eyes. Hesitantly, I gave a tiny nod.

“(Thanks.)” Mumbled the words silently, mouthing them without sound. Sajo-san just huffed, turned her head away, dismissive as ever.

Still as stubborn as a mule, that girl.

But still, kinda amazing, how she knew exactly where we were in the textbook, even though she hadn’t been paying attention at all. Or had she? Maybe she was secretly listening, just tuning it out on purpose, or maybe just… soaking it all in subconsciously? Weirdly unsettling thought.

Could she… be smarter than me?

Not exactly a study-aholic myself. Actually, yeah, kinda hated studying. Avoided it whenever possible. But still, yeah, being outsmarted by someone who’d never even been to class before? Felt like a personal insult, like being told I was just plain dumb. Yeah, kinda stung, actually.

What if, come exam time, she actually… outscored me?

Yeah, okay, maybe… maybe I should actually try paying attention in class, just a little bit.

Tiny spark of motivation, flickering to life. Yeah, maybe today was the day I started… trying. Just a little.

……But yeah.

“Don’t do that kind of thing in class again, okay?”

“……Okay.”

Class over, teacher, summoning me to the hallway corner for a ‘quiet word.’ Not quite a full-on lecture, but yeah, definitely a ‘telling off.’ Spark of study-motivation? Doused, instantly.

And yeah, why was I the one getting the lecture? What about Sajo-san?

Maybe my face was betraying my inner grumbling. ‘Cause teacher just sighed, eyebrows pulling together in a worried frown. And then, sheepishly, apologetically,

“Maybe… you could tell Sajo-san too, okay?”

Wait, what? Seriously, sensei?

You tell her, lady! Wanted to yell it right back at her face, but yeah, being on the receiving end of a teacher-scolding? Not exactly the time to mouth off. And yeah, realistically, Sajo-san and the teacher having a normal conversation? Yeah, highly unlikely. Just swallowed my complaint, along with a healthy dose of frustration.

■■

Pointless, kinda chaotic, but yeah, somehow still ‘high school’ class, finally over. Lunch break, blessed freedom from learning-adjacent activities. Usually, lunchtime = pure, unadulterated joy, no-study zone. But today? Yeah, lunchtime vibes? Definitely leaning towards ‘gloomy.’

Definitely gonna get grilled. Big time. Sigh, escaping before I could stop it.

Morning? Yeah, somehow managed to dodge the bullet. But lunchtime? No escape now. One hour. Sixty solid minutes. Clock ticking, needles spinning round and round. Plenty of time for the vultures to circle, for their curiosity-appetites to kick in, for them to descend and peck at their juicy new gossip-bait.

Whether I actually had any juicy gossip to feed them? Yeah, that was a whole different question.

They were practically itching, those rubberneckers, like horses with carrots dangling just out of reach. And the one who reined in my classmates, those wild stallions, was none other than Sakura-san.

The moment the chime rang to signal the end of class, she nudged her desk right up against mine.

Quicker than those students with their glittering eyes, quicker even than our English teacher announcing class dismissed. And certainly quicker than me even thinking about clearing my textbook and notebook off my desk.

…Seriously, that’s way too fast. Borderline a false start, really.

But there was no ref here to call Sakura-san on her jump. The English teacher just looked a little surprised, then exited the classroom as if nothing had happened.

A bead of sweat trickled down my cheek – was it bewilderment, or maybe a touch of fear?

Before I could even figure it out, two drawstring bags, one black and one white, were sitting side-by-side on our desks.

Lunch, naturally.

Unlike when it was just being delivered, eating with Sakura-san right next to me… it stirred up a peculiar feeling, like heat pooling at the nape of my neck, and I couldn’t quite get a handle on it.

“Ah, thank you…”

“It’s a loan.”

My thanks were met with a curt, cool reply.

Was Sakura-san’s “loan” something I owed her, or something she was lending me? Her words and tone alone gave no clue.

But even though she acted completely uninterested, the moment lunch break hit, she’d started unpacking her bento. I couldn’t help but wonder if she’d been secretly looking forward to this.

No real basis for that. But I hoped so, and her actions often spoke volumes, more than she probably realized.

Whether she knew my inner thoughts or not, she put her hands together with an indifferent face and said, “いただきます” [Itadakimasu]. Proper manners. I followed Sakura-san’s lead, putting my hands together and offering the same pre-meal greeting. Like with dinner last night, I hadn’t been doing these kinds of greetings before eating with Sakura-san.

Ever since I’d left my parents’ place—or rather, since my family had flown off for my dad’s business trip—those greetings had fallen by the wayside. Not that I’d become impolite, more that I just didn’t see the point in doing them alone.

I knew it wasn’t like you did it to get praised. But there were plenty of things I’d let slide if no one was around to see.

Mealtime greetings were just one of them.

So, well.

Maybe this was a good change that had come about from getting involved with Sakura-san, I thought.

Even if it was just bringing me back to zero from negative.

Pondering that, I popped open my bento box. No condensation on the lid. Good.

“Thank you for your consideration.”

“…Haa.”

A disinterested reply. A little disheartening.

Apparently, you were supposed to let bento cool down before closing the lid, to prevent condensation.

She’d just learned that recently, supposedly as a food poisoning precaution. When I’d asked about the bento left open on the kitchen counter, she’d explained it to me.

Especially in summer, food went bad quickly, apparently. The ice pack in the drawstring bag was practically melted, so it made sense.

She hadn't been doing this at first… It’d been over a week since Sakura-san started making my lunches, and she seemed to be slowly but surely improving.

Inside the bento box, leftovers from yesterday’s dinner—fried chicken and salad—along with today’s freshly made egg roll and octopus-shaped sausages were neatly packed.

I picked up a piece of fried chicken.

Yeah. “Delicious.”

As the honest words slipped out, Sakura-san’s dark, bottomless eyes flickered sideways, catching mine.

“Don’t bother with those empty compliments every time.”

“It’s not a compliment. Things like this, you gotta say ‘em.”

I was just getting her to make my lunch every day. The least I could do was express my appreciation.

Besides, it wasn’t like I had much else to give back. The meal expenses I’d practically forced on Sakura-san last night, despite her reluctance to accept them, were beside the point. I didn't want to become some overbearing husband who treated his wife like a maid, thinking it was just her duty to make lunch. I thought it was lazy and arrogant to assume feelings got across without saying them.

So, my intention was to speak my mind as it moved me.

I lifted up the egg roll with my chopsticks, and grinned.

“I especially love the super-sweet egg rolls that are my favorite.”

“…Good for you. Today’s doesn’t have sugar in it.”

“That’s a shame.”

I took a bite. It was definitely not sweet, but…

“It’s refreshing and delicious.”

“…Always just saying whatever.”

Hmph, with a sulky air, she turned to gaze out the window.

Her expression remained as impassive as ever, but that attitude was so telling.

She’s cute, I couldn’t help but think, a smile tugging at my cheeks.

And that was the end of my first, slightly thrilling, slightly heart-pounding lunchtime with Sakura-san.

There was still bento left, but unfortunately, it was already drawing to a close.

Because the peanut gallery, faced with this feast, wasn’t going to just stand around forever.

“…～～Ugh! I can’t take it anymore—!”

As soon as one of the girls in class burst out, impatient as could be, it was like a dam breaking. Swept away by the stampede of excited wild horses, my happiness escaped with a sigh.

In a flash, they surrounded Sakura-san and me, chirping and squawking like baby birds begging their mother for food, each one shouting whatever came to mind.

“Are you two going out?” “What do you call each other?” “Have you kissed yet?” “What flavor is it?” “You can cook?” “Homemade? Amazing!” “So jealous~” “Why does Hinata get all the luck?” “When did you start dating?” “How did you meet?” “Unforgivable!” “Who confessed?” “Black underwear?” “Does it hurt the first time?” “Did you bleed?”

Maybe because they’d been holding back for so long, they were bombarding Sakura-san with questions without any hesitation. When Sakura-san had just been delivering lunch, they’d said there was an atmosphere that made it hard to talk to her…

I wanted them to stop, Sakura-san seemed like she’d hate this kind of thing. I subtly checked her expression, and… ugh… the light that was already missing from Sakura-san’s eyes had vanished even further, the darkness deepening…

Naturally, she had no intention of answering, and stubbornly remained silent. As if the surrounding clamor didn't exist, she slowly continued eating her bento. Her mental fortitude was on another level.

My classmates, thinking they wouldn't give up, kept trying, but Sakura-san was thoroughly stonewalling them. However, the force with which she gripped her chopsticks seemed to be increasing, and her left hand had begun to tremble. She was seriously irritated. Explosion imminent. Fuse lit.

Hearing the phantom sound of the fuse burning, I thought I really had to step in before things got out of hand. But before I could, the gathered female students seemed to have realized she wasn’t going to say a word. Shoulders slumping, they gave up and moved away from Sakura-san.

Phew, relief. It was close, but not being pushy was a good point of these classmates. Though, I couldn’t help but think they should maybe rein in their overly impulsive curiosity; was that too much to ask of high schoolers in puberty?

My relief was fleeting. Sakura-san’s aggro level had dropped, which meant… the next target was inevitably me. Eyes, eyes, all eyes shining fiercely, turned to me, and I shuddered.

I wanted to bolt at that point, but I couldn’t just leave Sakura-san behind, feeling like a carrot tossed into a herd of horses. I couldn't even eat my lunch in peace.

“Hey, hey, tell us, Hinata-ku~n.”

“Ehh, no way~”

A female classmate asked in a purring, sugary voice, but I wasn’t such a simple man as to succumb to such a blatant attempt at charm.

Having even stayed overnight with a beauty like Sakura-san, I’d built up a resistance to girls.

Before meeting her… I might have caved. Can’t help it. Guys are simple. Weak to girls acting sweet. Even if you know it’s calculated, you get swayed.

But not anymore.

Surrounded by high school girls, I endured with my hardened spirit. Wahaha. Just as I was thinking, that’s weak, I got kicked in the chair leg, bang. What in the world?

“……”

Looking at Sakura-san, even though her lunch was still unfinished, she was sulking, propping her cheek in her hand and refusing to meet my eyes.

Uh, what’s wrong?

“W-what?”

“N-nothing…”

Her tone was sharp. Had I somehow made her angry?

Honestly, I had no clue.

Sakura-san often said “nothing,” but this time, I couldn't decipher what meaning and emotion were packed into those words.

Had the barrage of questions from the rubberneckers been too much after all?

But that wasn't something I could control. And it wasn’t my fault in the first place.

Her lips were pressed tight, a frown etched between her brows. She looked like she was broadcasting, I’m in a bad mood. If it were any other girl, it might be a signal to pay attention to me and comfort me, but Sakura-san would never do something like that… or would she? I just didn’t know.

“Whoa… sulking Sakura-san is seriously cute.”

“Right? She’s the cool type, but that reaction is making me fall for her…”

“Sorry~? We didn’t mean anything bad. Forgive us, okay?”

Maybe it was because they were girls themselves.

The girls around seemed to have figured out why Sakura-san was angry, and while squealing “cute, adorable,” they apologized and dispersed. The guys, their understanding no different from mine, jeered, “Yaaay! You’re getting scolded~!” closing in and laughing at me with smug grins.

A woman’s heart was something men just couldn’t fathom.

Feeling deflated, thinking I was on the same level as these guys.

But, seeing the girls kick the guys’ butts and scatter them while saying, “Guys—stop bothering us,” my annoyance subsided considerably. Hahaha, serves you right~.

By the way, as a side note, from that day on, my female classmates never brought up the topic again.

The guys still teased me as always, but each time the girls kicked them and chased them away. Because of that, gradually they seemed to read the room, and stopped mentioning Sakura-san altogether.

Curious, I asked one of the girls, “Why?” and she told me while making a fan with “I ♡ Solitude Kyun” written on it,

“I don’t want Sakura-san to hate me, and I thought quietly watching over her was the best way.”

I didn't understand at all, so I confiscated the fan for now. “Ah…” she sounded very disappointed.

■■

Overall, how was my first day of school with Sakura-san? Honestly… exhausting. In many ways.

Some things were as expected, others weren’t. Fatigue was all that was accumulating.

Well, things should calm down a bit from tomorrow onwards, I hoped.

Leaving the school gates, I retraced the path I’d walked that morning.

Walking beside me was Sakura-san in her uniform. It was a familiar uniform, but seeing Sakura-san wearing it felt fresh, and made me feel a little tense, for some reason.

Her face wore the same vacant expression as always, almost sleepy.

Her profile, bathed in the setting sun, was endlessly captivating. I couldn't stop staring, as if trying to burn it into my retinas. I probably could keep watching her forever and never get tired of it.

Was it because Sakura-san was just too beautiful, or was it just how I felt? And if it was the latter, where did that feeling even come from?

I tapped lightly at my chest, but got no answer. Well, of course not. All that came back was a slightly quickened heartbeat.

Suddenly, Sakura-san’s black eyes met mine. A bottomless abyss, like a trapdoor. For a moment, I had the illusion of being sucked in and falling.

“…What?”

What was it? I didn’t know.

But there was something I’d been wondering about, so it was a good time to ask.

“…Are you… pushing yourself too hard?”

Honestly, I thought she was.

Putting herself out for me, walking to school together. It wasn’t something Sakura-san would have wanted on her own. It was only because I’d suggested going together that she’d agreed.

If my suggestion had just pointlessly exhausted her, I’d feel like I’d swallowed a lead weight.

But then again, I didn’t see her as the kind of woman who’d be capable of that kind of consideration. Rude as it was to think.

It wasn’t that she didn’t care about others, more that she didn’t have the余裕 to care about others. Knowing her politeness, I could understand that she was fundamentally a kind person.

But ever since we’d first met, Sakura-san had been completely preoccupied with her own things, with no room to look around at her surroundings. Her heart was so unstable, she could burst into tears at any moment.

So, because Sakura-san, who was, in effect, incapable of consideration, had decided that it was “okay,” I figured my worry was probably pointless.

Her reaction was ambiguous, not exactly “fun,” and it made my heart waver. Like water poured into a glass, rippling with vibration.

Driven by anxiety, I stared back into her dark eyes. But she didn’t answer my question. She just turned to face forward again.

What was it? A lump remained in my chest. Like a scab, I wanted to scratch it and pick it off, but mental unease couldn’t be scratched away with fingernails.

Whether to go to school or not, the choice was Sakura-san’s, but I’d been feeling a little deflated, thinking it’d probably be a lonely commute again tomorrow, when—

“Tomorrow’s egg roll won’t have sugar in it either.”

A sudden topic change. I tilted my head, unsure of her intent.

Following my gaze, Sakura-san’s cheeks flushed red. It wasn’t from the setting sun on the horizon, I could feel it was definitely heat generated by her emotions.

Sakura-san bit her lower lip as if enduring something. Her trembling lips slowly, faintly parted.

“…I, um, I prefer the refreshing kind with green onions.”

That was all.

She quickly walked ahead, leaving me behind.

Staring at the back of the black-haired girl growing smaller as she hurried away, I stood there for a beat, mouth agape in stunned silence. But soon, a soft smile escaped my lips.

The meaning of her words was perfectly clear.

But they were so roundabout, so convoluted.

She was really something else, not being honest.

Yet, the emotion I felt wasn’t exasperation.

Even though the sun was about to set, my chest felt warm and fuzzy, as if illuminated by the bright summer sun. Even though it was still the middle of the rainy season, not a single cloud floated in the crimson sky; it was perfectly clear.

With a spring in my step, I hurried to catch up with her, running to her side.

Bending down, I peered up at her face from below, and she turned her face away as if to say, don’t look.

But her beautiful profile and neck, which I couldn't take my eyes off, were impossible to hide, and I couldn't suppress the feelings welling up within me at the sight of her blushing skin.

Like with the bento, I was trying to honestly convey my feelings. But just this once, I’d try to match her style.

“I like the refreshing egg rolls with green onions too, you know?”

“…Don’t care.”

“You don’t care, huh? I see.”

“What’s with that… annoying.”

Sharp words.

And yet, somehow even those felt endearing.

As we walked side-by-side back to the apartment building, the smile that had loosened my cheeks refused to return to its normal place.

■■

“By the way, what’s with that fan?”

“…Kyun Solitude?”

“……(Cold, indifferent stare, as if looking at a bug.)”

"You have one new voicemail."

Piiii──

"Oh, hey, Rihito!

Aloha~ How's it hanging?

It's your super-duper cute little sister, Mai, here!

How ya doin'? Happy to hear from me? -- You are happy, right? Say you are?

Eh, no time for that, doesn't really matter anyway.

Just calling with a reminder - your move-out deadline is coming up pretty soon, you know!

You actually getting ready for it?

Mom keeps bugging me to ask you. But yeah, your esteemed younger sister is totally not planning on helping, so good luck with that!

I'll call again sometime, so pick up next time, okay?

Love, your world's cutest little sister! Bye-bye~"

──Piiii