As the gentle chirping of birds filled the morning air and the first rays of sunlight peeked through the window, my eyes slowly fluttered open. A soft, comforting sensation pressed against my chest, accompanied by the warmth of delicate breaths tickling my neck. But that wasn't all—two slender arms were wrapped tightly around me, refusing to let go.
As the haze of sleep faded and the situation fully registered, my body tensed. For a brief moment, the instinct to jump out of bed nearly took over—but that would be way too cliché. Honestly, I should've seen this one coming as well, considering everything that had happened so far.
I carefully freed myself, moving with caution to avoid waking her. Unlike me, she didn't have to get up—only I had school to attend. Since I would be leaving soon, I didn't want her to wake up confused. So, I wrote down everything I wanted to tell her on a note and gently placed it beside her pillow.
I took one last look at her face—she really was beautiful, even in her sleep. But what baffled me was how peacefully she could rest in this situation. She was in a stranger's house—a boy's, no less—yet she was completely defenseless.
My gaze drifted downward, landing on the slight glimpse of her cleavage. I swallowed hard, and before I even realized it, my hand had started moving toward her… only to grab the blanket and gently pull it over her.
Seriously, I'm starting to worry about her future.
After going through my usual morning routine, I stepped into the shower, letting the warm water wash away the sweat I had accumulated. Once refreshed, I headed to the kitchen, prepared breakfast, and ate my fill—but I didn't forget to set aside a portion for Mrs. Sanae when she woke up.
With everything taken care of, I changed into my school uniform, grabbed my things, and left for school.
The morning after a rainy night always carries a certain freshness. Though the air is still damp and the ground slightly wet, the crisp, chilly breeze and the clear blue sky create an oddly comforting atmosphere.
Some time after Hayato left, Sanae slowly stirred from her sleep. Stretching her arms with a soft yawn, she blinked drowsily and took in her surroundings, quickly remembering that she wasn't in her own home.
It had been a long time since she had slept this peacefully—without fear, without tension. Though she had long developed the habit of not trusting others, she couldn't help but trust Hayato. And it seemed her instincts weren't wrong. He had countless opportunities to take advantage of her, yet he never did. Instead, he helped her sort through her emotions and encouraged her to stand up for herself.
Despite having only met him yesterday, she felt the safest when she was with him.
She had always believed that people were selfish and pretentious, but... someone like Hayato existed. As she looked beside her, she saw that he wasn't there, but instead, a note lay on the pillow where he had been. She picked it up and began to read the message written on it.
"I didn't wake you up because you were sleeping so peacefully, but I have school, so I'll be leaving first. There's an extra toothbrush in the bathroom, and I've left your breakfast on the dining table. Though I wouldn't mind if you stayed in my house for as long as you want, I wouldn't encourage it. You should go back to your home; your mother will be worried. Don't forget what we talked about—you can do it. Also, here's my phone number: ×××××××. You can call me if you need my help. And if you leave, make sure to lock the door and leave the key below the plant pot in front of the door."
Sanae sat there for a moment, completely baffled. She never imagined that someone could be this kind, caring, thoughtful and trustworthy toward a person they barely knew.
What if she had just been pretending? What if she had stolen something from his house? Not that she ever would—but if he was this trusting with everyone… "People would take advantage of him in no time."
A sense of worry crept into her heart. Someone as kind as Hayato could easily be used by the wrong people. But what she didn't know was that Hayato wasn't just kind—he was sharp. He had a keen sense for reading people, able to grasp the nature of someone's character after just a short conversation. He wasn't the type to be deceived so easily.
But thanks to him, she had finally made up her mind.
No more running. No more hesitation.
Hayato's words had given her the push she needed, and now, it was time to face what she had been too scared to.
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"So? You really had a good time with Takahashi yesterday, didn't you?" these were the first words Misaki said when she met him in class. "So much so that you didn't even have the time to check my messages," her voice was filled with irritation and sarcasm.
"Sorry, that was my bad. I'll do whatever you want to make up for it," I said, admitting my fault. She had helped me a lot, yet I had partially ignored her. It was only fair that I made it up to her.
"Hmm..." She shot me a side-eye. "So you're not denying it?"
Well, I couldn't exactly deny it—I really did have a great time with Takahashi yesterday. So i just decided to stayed silent.
"Well, whatever. It's good that your first date was a success," she sighed, shrugging her shoulders. But then, a mischievous grin took over her face. "But if you're offering to do anything I want, don't expect me to hold back."
Was that a bad idea? Now that I see her expression, I was starting to have second thoughts. But still, I wasn't going to take back what I said.
I waited patiently to hear what she wanted.
"There are two things I want. If you accept them, I'll forgive you," she said.
I nodded, signaling for her to continue. She grinned.
"The first thing I want is for you to treat me to something nice."
Well, that wasn't a problem—I was planning to do that anyway.
She then paused before stating her second demand. I noticed her fidgeting with her fingers, a faint redness dusting her cheeks.
"A-And… I want us to call each other by our first names. We're good friends, right? This is normal."
Why was she justifying it?
Her two requests were surprisingly simple. I had expected something mischievous, but this… this was unexpectedly cute.
"Okay, I accept," Hayato said.
A bright smile bloomed on Misaki's face. "Really? T-Then… say it," she said, her voice laced with anticipation.
"What?"
"Call me by my name."
Oh, so that's what she meant. Well, that's nothing difficult... or so he thought.
But the moment he tried to say it, the word got stuck in his throat. 'Huh?'
Calling someone by their first name was a sign of familiarity, of closeness. But sometimes between a boy and a girl, it could also carry a sense of intimacy.
Someone like Hayato—who had spent so long as a social outcast—wouldn't have known that. He had completely underestimated how nerve-wracking something as simple as saying a name could be for a former introvert, because he never got the chance to experience a situation like this.
He was confused by his own hesitation and glanced at Misaki. She was staring at him with eyes full of anticipation, eagerly waiting for him to say her name.
He couldn't betray that expectation.
Taking a deep breath, he forced himself to say it.
"M-Misaki."
The name felt unfamiliar on his tongue, almost awkward to him.
But for Misaki, it was different. The moment she heard him call her name, a strange, indescribable feeling welled up inside her. Her heart tingled, a warmth spreading through her chest, and for a brief moment, her mind went completely blank.
Before she even realized it, she muttered in a slightly agitated tone, "Y-Yes?"
"T-There, I said it," Hayato muttered, breathing heavily, as if he had just run a full lap around the school grounds. But in reality, all he had done was call her by her name—yet it had drained all his energy.
"R-Right… thank you."
An awkward silence settled between them. Misaki didn't know what to say anymore.
"Alright then, let's talk later," she blurted out before quickly turning away—as if escaping.
Though, considering her seat was right next to his, there wasn't really anywhere to run.
But before she could escape, a hand grabbed her shoulder.
She froze.
Slowly, almost mechanically, she turned her head—only to be met with Hayato's "smiling" face.
Except… that wasn't a smile at all.
"Where do you think you're going?" he asked, his tone deceptively light. "You were the one who insisted on this, weren't you? Now it's your turn, Mi-sa-ki."
Misaki smiled nervously. 'This damn sadist.'