Due to staying up late the previous night working on the next volume of her novel, Utaha had planned to use her lunch break to take a nap. She initially headed to the infirmary but found another student already consulting the nurse. Not wanting to disturb them, she instead opted for the rarely used library, hoping for some peace and quiet.
She assumed this would be the perfect place to rest undisturbed. However, not long after she settled in, she heard the sound of the door opening.
Closing her eyes, Utaha, who was already struggling to fall asleep, felt a little annoyed. Still, she had no intention of acknowledging the person who had entered. She remained silent, resting her head on the desk, pretending they didn't exist, and hoping sleep would come soon.
But no matter how much she tried to ignore them, the subtle sounds they made while moving through the room kept drawing her attention.
Eventually, she realized she was fully awake. Frustrated, she sat up, stretched her arms and legs, then rested her chin on one hand as she gazed toward the bookshelves.
Peering through the gaps between the bookshelves, she caught a glimpse of the person's figure—a side profile partially visible. Utaha lightly clenched her fist, then relaxed her hand, silently watching the newcomer.
The person hadn't noticed her yet. They stood quietly in front of the bookshelves, completely focused on selecting books, as if she wasn't even there.
This surprised Utaha. She had always thought the library was merely decorative—practically unused by students. Aside from the occasional visit by members of the literature club searching for references, it was rare to see anyone here. The presence of another person piqued her curiosity.
She remained completely silent, propping her cheek against her hand as she observed him, wondering how long he would stay.
The boy took books off the shelf one by one, flipped through them briefly, and then returned them to their places. Finding nothing useful, he let out a quiet sigh and returned the last book to its shelf.
"Nothing useful here, huh? Looks like I'll have to check a secondhand bookstore… Maybe a regular bookstore will have something I can use."
Despite the large collection in the school library, none of the books contained the reference material he needed. After skimming through a few, he gave up on searching and prepared to leave the reading room.
"Couldn't find the book you were looking for?"
Just as he was about to step out from between the bookshelves, a calm yet slightly lazy voice reached him from near the window. Looking up, he saw the girl who had been asleep at the desk was now awake.
"I only took a quick look, but it doesn't seem like it. Did I disturb your nap?"
"I just didn't expect anyone else to be here. But, well… I did manage to rest a little, so it's fine."
Utaha lowered the arm she had been resting her face on and slowly stood up. She walked over to him, studying his face thoughtfully before speaking.
"I don't think I've seen you around before. You must be a first-year, right?"
"Yes, Kasumigaoka-senpai."
"You know me?"
Utaha raised an eyebrow, surprised that he knew her name.
"I've heard about you from my classmates. Honestly, I don't think there are many guys at Toyosaki Academy who don't know Kasumigaoka-senpai."
His tone made Utaha frown slightly. She wasn't particularly fond of the way male students gossiped about her. Though she knew it was normal, she disliked the crude gazes and objectifying stares some directed at her.
But this boy, from the moment she had noticed him, had remained composed. His eyes hadn't darted around like most boys; instead, his gaze was steady and proper. That alone made her feel somewhat at ease.
"Your name?"
"Miyamizu Haruto."
"That's a nice name. I'll remember it."
With that, Utaha turned and walked out of the library, disappearing from Haruto's view. Left standing alone, he glanced toward the door where she had exited. He wasn't sure what she meant by "I'll remember it", but after a moment's pause, he also headed for the exit.
By the time he returned to his classroom, lunch break was nearly over. Sitting at his desk, Haruto found his thoughts tangled and unfocused. His previously clear train of thought had become a chaotic mess.
"Nozaki, what do you do when you run out of inspiration and don't know how to continue your story?"
"Huh? Inspiration?"
Behind him, Nozaki Umetarou had been deep in thought about his own stories when Haruto suddenly posed the question. Turning to look at his classmate, Nozaki seemed puzzled.
"Are you planning to become a mangaka too?"
"Not really. Just asking."
"Well, since manga requires a long process to create, I always have plenty of time to think about where the story should go. Plus, I make it a habit to gather material regularly, so I don't usually struggle with ideas."
Nozaki's answer was honest, but to Haruto, it felt like he hadn't actually answered anything.
"So… having plenty of time is key?"
"Yeah, you could say that."
The conversation hadn't given Haruto much to work with. He sighed and leaned back in his chair, lost in thought.
The school bell rang, signaling the end of the day. As Haruto watched Kiryu Yuzuki, the homeroom teacher, gather her materials and leave the classroom, he closed his eyes, considering what he should do once he got home.
Knock, knock.
A tapping sound on his desk made him open his eyes. Standing beside him was Eriri. He let out a quiet sigh.
"What now?"
"You're free after school, right?"
"I was, but do you have to sound so certain? It makes me feel like I have no life outside of school."
Eriri smirked. "But that's the truth, isn't it?"
"Fair point."
Haruto began packing up his books and supplies, glancing at her.
"Still, even if I have nothing planned, I have things to do. If it's not important, then—"
"A hundred thousand yen."
"For an hour?"
Eriri hesitated for a moment at how quickly he had assumed the time frame. She narrowed her eyes and studied him closely, as if reevaluating the person she thought she knew.
"What are you looking at?" Haruto asked.
"You weren't this concerned about money before, were you?"
Haruto chuckled but didn't answer.
Eriri probably thought he had never cared about money, but that was only because back then, Sayuri had been around. She had taken care of all his basic needs, insisting he didn't have to worry about trivial things like expenses. She would often show up at his apartment, bags full of things he never even asked for…
Haruto glanced at Eriri, but he didn't explain any of that. Instead, he grabbed his bag.
"If there's nothing else, I'll be going now."
"Three hours."
He froze.
Eriri pulled out her wallet and took out her bank card, flicking it between her fingers like a dealer at a casino.
Haruto had been about to refuse. Three hours was too long.
But he couldn't.
'Damn… she's offering way too much.'
Resigned, he followed Eriri out of the school gates. Under the gazes of their classmates, they looked like a couple leaving together.
Their destination? The bustling Minato Ward. Specifically—Ginza.
Luxury shopping, fine dining, and an extravagant evening that didn't quite match their ages.
As they sat in a private room of an upscale restaurant, Eriri suddenly spoke.
"Unbutton your school uniform a little."
"Huh?"
"Just do it."
Haruto hesitated but undid two buttons.
"Like this?"
Eriri grinned, stood up, and walked over to him. Crouching slightly, she took three crisp ten-thousand-yen bills, rolled them up, and slipped them into his open collar.[1]
Then, she suddenly leaned in—peck.
Startled, Haruto clutched his cheek, staring at her warily.
"Pfft—your reaction is hilarious, like a little kid."
"You've got terrible taste in entertainment."
"But it's fun, isn't it?"
Laughing, Eriri straightened up.
"Come on, time to go home."
"....."
Because it was already late at night, Eriri called a taxi to drop them off at the station near Haruto's apartment. Stepping out of the car, she waved at him before turning to head home.
Under the night sky, Haruto stood at the station, silently watching her figure fade into the distance. After a brief moment of hesitation, he sighed quietly and made his way toward his apartment.
Back in his room, he took off his school uniform and hung it neatly on the rack. Just as he sat down, barely touching the chair, the doorbell rang.
Ding-dong—ding, ding, ding-dong—
The impatient, almost disruptive rhythm made Haruto glance toward the door. Without delay, he stood up and opened it—only to see Setsuna standing there.
It was another late night. Setsuna had been waiting at home for Haruto for a long time. Sitting in her dimly lit room, she occasionally glanced at the darkened apartment across from hers. Every now and then, she would step out to check, only to find that his room remained unlit.
Even Mai had begun to wonder if she should call and ask where Haruto was.
Then—
"He's back."
Hearing Setsuna's voice near the door, Mai looked up. The door closed behind her daughter, and before Mai could say anything, Setsuna was already gone.
When she saw the lights flicker on in Haruto's apartment, Setsuna immediately stepped out of her own home and walked straight to his door. Her slender, fair finger pressed against the doorbell, repeatedly ringing it as if venting her frustration from waiting so long.
Ding, ding, ding-dong—
The sound echoed persistently, until finally, footsteps could be heard from inside.
As the lock clicked open, revealing Haruto behind the door, Setsuna's frustration eased slightly. She hesitated for a moment, wondering how she should start—should she ask why he was out so late?
The door swung fully open.
Haruto stood there, unsurprised by her presence. Meeting her gaze, he smiled as usual.
"Good evening, Setsuna. Come in."
He stepped aside, holding the door open for her like always. But even after the invitation, she simply stood there, staring at him intently, without stepping inside.
"What's wrong?"
Setsuna didn't answer. Instead, she quietly walked past him into the apartment. Haruto blinked in confusion, but closed the door behind her and followed her inside.
Without a word, Setsuna went straight to the bathroom. Moments later, she emerged with a damp towel in hand. Walking up to him, she lifted her left hand slightly and spoke.
"Lower your head."
Haruto, still puzzled, complied.
The next thing he felt was the warm, damp towel pressing gently against his face. Setsuna began carefully wiping his cheek.
The atmosphere grew awkward.
Watching her focused expression as she carefully wiped his face, Haruto was suddenly reminded of what had happened earlier in the private room at the restaurant.
He wanted to explain, but for a moment, he wasn't even sure how.
As he looked at the serious expression on her face, at the way her hands moved with such gentle precision, a wave of guilt welled up inside him.
[1] T/N: Hahahahaha