For the longest time, Haruto had never really thought about giving Setsuna a gift. It wasn't until he helped Yoshida Saki earlier and used it as a casual excuse that he suddenly took the matter to heart.
He wasn't particularly good at picking out presents, but since Yoshida Saki was a girl, she should have some useful advice in that department.
After leaving school together, they walked to the nearest subway station and took a train to Shibuya.
Just like Shinjuku, which Haruto often visited, Shibuya was packed with people. As soon as they stepped onto the bustling streets, they were surrounded by a wave of young people dressed in trendy outfits. Even the occasional elderly passerby carried themselves with an air of sophistication.
Yoshida Saki, who had been walking beside Haruto, suddenly felt a deep sense of inferiority. She instinctively moved closer to him, lowering her head and avoiding eye contact with the stylish pedestrians around them.
Haruto felt her arm press tightly against him and glanced down at her. She clung to him as if she wanted to disappear into the background, her head bowed low. She looked incredibly anxious, like a small animal lost in a crowd.
With a soft sigh, he reached out and gently took her hand.
A sudden warmth enveloped her fingers. Yoshida Saki slowly lifted her gaze to see their intertwined hands. Following the connection, she looked up and met Haruto's gentle smile.
"Yoshida-san, you're really cute."
"Huh?"
"Come on, let's go shopping together. Help me pick out a nice gift, okay? I'd really appreciate it."
Being called cute so unexpectedly left Yoshida Saki completely stunned. She felt like she was floating on air, her mind blank with disbelief.
With her hand still in his, she let herself be led forward, her heart racing uncontrollably.
The sight of the two school-uniformed teens—a handsome boy with a calm demeanor and a shy girl with thick glasses and braided hair—drew some curious glances from passersby.
Some people were visibly surprised by the seemingly mismatched pair, as if they couldn't quite comprehend the contrast between a "prince" and a "plain girl."
But in a city like this, where everyone was preoccupied with their own lives, no one stopped to question it.
Even though she could feel the weight of their gazes, Yoshida Saki found herself ignoring them. With Haruto's warm hand holding hers, her world seemed to shrink until it contained only him.
They visited bookstores, gift shops, and even some women's clothing stores. Although they browsed through many items, they rarely made a purchase.
Finally, as they stepped out of a boutique, Haruto handed her a small, elegantly wrapped bag.
"Here, this is for you."
"Huh? For me?"
"It's a little thank-you gift for helping me out today. I really appreciate your input."
Yoshida Saki stared at the package, feeling completely overwhelmed. Just spending the day with Haruto had already felt like a dream—one of the happiest moments of her life. But now, he was giving her a present, just like in a storybook.
"Go ahead and take it."
"Th-Thank you..."
With trembling hands, she accepted the gift, and her heart swelled with warmth.
"I should be the one thanking you," Haruto said with a smile. "If it weren't for your help, I wouldn't have been able to choose the right presents. Anyway, it's getting late. Where do you live? I'll walk you home."
"Oh... um, near Korakuen... but I—"
"Alright, let's go."
Once again, he took her hand, leading her toward the subway station.
As she walked beside him, Yoshida Saki felt a whirlwind of emotions she couldn't quite put into words. She lowered her head, stealing glances at him from the corner of her eye.
He looked lost in thought, his face calm as he gazed into the distance. And then, as if sensing her gaze, he turned to her and smiled.
Her heart pounded violently against her ribs. She quickly looked away, her face turning crimson.
By the time they reached Korakuen, she stepped off the train, turning back to say goodbye.
Haruto watched her retreating figure under the golden glow of the setting sun.
She looked genuinely happy.
And, in all honesty, so was he.
There was something incredibly comfortable about being with Yoshida Saki. She didn't put any pressure on him. In fact, she was kind of cute.
With that thought lingering in his mind, he turned and made his way home.
Back at his apartment, Haruto quickly changed out of his school uniform, slipping into casual clothes. After tidying up his place a little, he grabbed the bags of gifts he had bought and headed toward the Kiyoura residence.
"Presents?"
"Yeah, I picked up a few things today. This one's for Setsuna, and this one's for you."
He handed Kiyoura Mai her gift before turning toward the girl sitting on the couch.
"And this is for you, Setsuna."
As she took the package from him, she looked up in mild surprise.
"Go ahead, open it and see if you like it."
Mai pulled out a stylish, modern-looking dress from the bag, her brow raising slightly.
"You even got the right size…"
Her eyes flicked toward Haruto, a look of curiosity crossing her face.
How did he know her size so accurately?
Haruto simply smiled, not offering an explanation.
He couldn't exactly tell her that he had estimated it based on Sayuri's body measurements—especially since he knew Sayuri's figure by heart.
If he let that slip, he could already picture how Mai would take advantage of the situation, extracting all sorts of "compensation" from him.
Meanwhile, Setsuna had unwrapped her gift—a bright red hair ribbon and an assortment of stylish socks.
The ribbon was a thoughtful choice.
The socks, however...
Her expression turned blank as she stared at the numerous pairs he had bought. Some were knee-high, some ankle-length, others had frilly lace or intricate patterns.
They were... way too many. And they had cost more than the hair ribbon.
A realization dawned on her.
She turned to look at Haruto, who was smiling at her expectantly.
For a brief moment, she had the overwhelming urge to shove a sock into his mouth—just to see how he would react.
Suppressing the urge to react, Setsuna let out a helpless sigh.
After dinner, Haruto left the Kiyoura household and returned to his apartment. He took a quick shower, then sat at his desk to write for a while before tucking his manuscript away in the drawer. By nine o'clock, he lay down on his bed and drifted into sleep.
"You really have unique tastes. What's this rumor about you and Yoshida from the next class?"
During break, Ichika approached his desk, bringing up the latest gossip. Haruto, who had been resting his head on the desk, deep in thought about what to write next, slowly lifted his gaze.
Meeting Ichika's seemingly casual but clearly intentional inquiry, he sat up straight and looked at her.
"I just happened to see her in trouble and helped her out. That was enough to start rumors?"
"Oh? Just a rumor, huh?"
Haruto glanced at her briefly before laying his head back down, closing his eyes as if he had fallen asleep, clearly uninterested in continuing the conversation.
Ichika leaned over, lowering herself to his level, then reached out and lightly poked his cheek with her finger.
"Something else you need?"
Without opening his eyes, he spoke in a calm voice. Ichika withdrew her hand, her thoughtful expression.
"Do you have time to go shopping with me after school?"
"You should ask Nino and the others. I'm busy today—I have things to do."
"You're so cold. You used to be so much more enthusiastic about me."
Haruto cracked open his right eye just slightly, peering at the girl beside him, who was putting on a dramatic display of sadness.
"Maybe another time. I probably won't have much free time for the next two months."
"We've only known each other for half a month, you know."
"More like a little over half a month."
"For two whole months… Are you working a part-time job?"
Ichika suddenly made the connection—Haruto was living alone in Tokyo, and his living expenses must be pretty high. The thought of part-time work naturally popped into her head.
Haruto, still resting his head on the desk, considered it. He was writing for manuscript fees and living expenses, which wasn't that different from a part-time job, was it?
"Yeah."
"...Where?"
"Kabukicho, Shinjuku—Black Swan Host Club. If you need anything, just ask for 'Mr. Loren.'"
"...Huh?"
Ichika looked at him, baffled. The way he casually rattled off the club name, address, and even a host alias made her seriously wonder if he was actually working there.
"Are you serious?"
"I just have some personal matters to take care of. It's not that different from Nozaki behind me—he always heads home early too, doesn't he?"
She turned to glance at Nozaki Umetaro, who sat behind Haruto. The usually quiet and reserved Nozaki lifted his head slightly upon hearing his name, making brief eye contact with Ichika.
His dull expression made her pause. She then turned her gaze back to Haruto.
"Alright, I'll ask you out another time."
With class about to start, Ichika returned to her seat. Meanwhile, Nozaki glanced at Haruto, various thoughts swirling in his mind. But after a long silence, he said nothing, lowering his head once more and returning to his sketches.
"Are you dating someone?"
During lunch break, Haruto was in the science lab with Futaba Rio when she suddenly threw out the question. He looked up from his bento, glancing at the bespectacled girl in the white lab coat.
Just as their eyes met, she quickly looked away, her gaze uncertain.
"You heard the rumors too?"
"Yeah. They're saying you're dating a girl named Yoshida. And then others say you're involved with multiple girls. Apparently, you're juggling three relationships now."
"Three, huh? That'd be Nakano, Sawamura, and Yoshida, I assume."
Haruto thought about the girls he interacted with the most and easily figured out who the rumors were referring to.
"They're just friends. I've known Sawamura for a long time—I just didn't expect to run into her again."
A reunion across time itself. He considered asking Futaba whether quantum physics could explain time travel but decided to save that question for another time when it felt more appropriate.
"Nakano and I only met at the start of the semester. She's outgoing, so we get along well, but that's probably why people started rumors."
He was aware of Ichika's feelings for him, but she didn't feel like the right person for him. And with Setsuna already in his life, he had no particular interest in pursuing anything further with Ichika.
"As for Yoshida, I just happened to help her out of a tough spot yesterday. That's all. People must have misunderstood."
"You helped someone and got misunderstood, huh?"
Futaba studied the boy in front of her. His calm expression and gentle smile made her feel more at ease. From the way he spoke, it didn't sound like he was in a relationship.