Section 2

Chapter 1

Inside the swaying train, rocking to the rhythm of the tracks. The sweltering, stifling air caused sweat to slowly seep from my skin. The ventilation was terrible, and simply breathing in and out was enough to make me feel sick of it all.

It wouldn't have been strange at all if I hated going to high school every day. Even so, I didn't dislike this time.

That was because of a certain beautiful girl who always boarded the train at a specific station.

Her hair was white, and her eyes were a strikingly beautiful blue. Her facial features were remarkably well-proportioned, and she carried a chilling aura about her. Her gaze was perpetually sharp, and her expression hardly ever changed. It almost seemed as if she viewed everyone around her as an enemy.

In fact, I had seen her give the cold shoulder to people who tried to talk to her many times. Yet, she was so breathtakingly beautiful that even those cold brush-offs looked like scenes from a painting.

Not that I ever spoke to her. Nor was I thinking about trying to get close to her.

Part of it, of course, was having seen other students immediately get shot down when they tried talking to her. Regardless of gender, anyone who approached her was either overwhelmed by her aura... or, in the case of those attempting something akin to hitting on her, thoroughly rejected, battered, and forced to move to another train car.

Thanks to that, hardly any students rode in this car.

There were other reasons I didn't talk to her, too....How should I put it? It was like she lived in a completely different world. She carried the kind of presence you'd expect from an idol or an actress on TV.

At the very least, I wasn't the kind of person who could casually strike up a conversation with a celebrity I liked if they were standing right in front of me.

Besides, they say women can sense when someone is staring at them, so having a guy who had been sneaking glances at her face approach her would be nothing short of terrifying.

That was why I never went out of my way to talk to her.

Those days continued for several months, during which I noticed a few things while watching her.

For instance, one particular day.

Unusually, an elderly woman boarded the morning train. At that hour, the train was packed, making it difficult to find a seat.

Wondering about the priority seating, I looked over and saw a student hogging a spot....A student from my school, no less.

Just as I was about to go tell him off, she moved before I could.

"..."

Standing right in front of him, she narrowed her blue eyes and glared sharply at him.

"Ngh!"

The student's shoulders jerked with a start. He looked away, visibly uncomfortable.

"..."

The train was crowded and muggy. And yet—I was struck by the illusion that the temperature in the entire car had dropped several degrees.

"Eep."

A small squeak escaped him, and the student's face grew paler by the second.

"S-Sorry about that."

Muttering under his breath, he slunk away in defeat.

"Please, ma'am, have a seat."

It was the first time I had ever heard her voice.

It was crystal clear, light and delicate like the chiming of a bell. It suited her so well that I found myself nodding in quiet understanding.

"Thank you, dear."

The elderly woman expressed her gratitude, and the girl returned the gesture with a slight bow.

Ah, so she has a side like that too, I thought. Learning a new side of her made me feel happy, entirely on my own.

Then, there was another day. On that rare occasion, she and I happened to be on the same train heading home.

"Dah, ah!"

A mother holding a baby was in the same car, and the sight warmed my heart. The mother looked apologetic, but just watching them was soothing enough. I wished she wouldn't look so guilty.

"Ah! Bah!"

The baby looked at her—at that girl—and laughed.

"Fufu."

I couldn't believe my eyes. It was the very first time I had ever seen her break her composure.

Her smile was so... so utterly beautiful. And gentle.

The baby waved happily, and she gave a small wave back. Her demeanor was so graceful that it completely captivated me.

She has a side like this, too, I thought. From around that time, a desire to talk to her began to sprout within me. However, since I could clearly foresee getting kicked to the curb, I never actually spoke to her.

Days went by like that. I thought things would continue this way until graduation... That was what I believed.

The incident occurred shortly after September began.

Perhaps because I was always watching her, I immediately noticed something was wrong.

Her expression was stiff. Well, it was always stiff, but... regardless, something was different from usual.

Did something unpleasant happen?

As I wondered, I noticed something else.

...The hand of a middle-aged man standing near her was touching her buttocks.

—A groper.

Even if I wanted to go stop him, it was a morning train. There were too many people to approach easily.

...Just look the other way? Was that really okay?

I always (unilaterally, of course) drew energy and motivation from her presence. Wouldn't doing nothing here make me an ingrate?

Suddenly, a past memory flickered through my mind.

—Her giving up her seat to the elderly woman, and the gentle smile she wore when looking at the baby. That same smile was now twisted in distress.

The thought of never being able to see that smile again—was something I desperately hated.

I ignored my racing heart. Taking a single, deep breath...

"There's a groper here!"

I shouted. I surprised even myself. I didn't know I could yell that loudly.

The moment I raised my voice, the man groping her flinched violently and scurried away in a hurry. The surrounding passengers looked annoyed, but none attempted to stop him.

I hesitated over whether to shout that it was him, but seeing her face made me stop.

—Because looking toward me, she was giving her head a small, frantic shake.

◆◆◆

"By the way. Heard there was some groper-like creep on a nearby train this morning. You know anything about that?"

"...No, I don't."

Looking away, I replied to the question from my friend, Eiji Makisaka.

"Really? You didn't know? Man, rumor had it it happened in the car your beloved crush rides in, though. You really didn't hear?"

"She's not my crush, and she's not my beloved... but no, I didn't know there was a groper."

"Well, if you don't know, that's fine. It's not like you'd ever do something like that anyway."

"Of course I wouldn't..."

In the past, I had mentioned "her" to Eiji. Just that there was a beautiful girl riding in the same car. It had just been a slip of the tongue, but Eiji had latched onto it aggressively, badgering me with, "Is she your type?! Tell me, tell me!" Left with no choice, I had described her features. On top of her distinctive appearance, Eiji had a wide circle of acquaintances, so he seemed to know who she was....Ever since then, he had arbitrarily decided that I was in love with her.

"Then again, no idiot would try pulling that in the same car as the Ice Princess. Much less to the Ice Princess herself."

"...The Ice Princess, huh."

The Ice Princess.

Apparently, that was her nickname.

She never showed emotion. If you talked to her, she'd answer, but curtly, and the moment you tried to get closer, she'd completely ignore you. If you dared to confess your feelings, she would crush your heart to pieces.

That was the kind of rumor that had spread all the way to our high school, according to Eiji. Incidentally, even Eiji didn't know her actual name.

Still, the title Ice Princess didn't feel right for her. I didn't think she was that cold of a person... Not that there was anything I could do about it, though.

"Even if something did happen to the Ice Princess in the same car, you'd save her, wouldn't you?"

I thought my heart was going to stop.

With a twitching cheek, I simply managed, "Hope so."

"I'm joking, of course. But seriously, if she ever gets caught up in something like that, you'd better save her, got it? That's how this whole 'youth' thing gets started....Wait, do you even have any intention of getting a girlfriend in the first place?"

"Listen here... It's not a matter of wanting to or not; it's a matter of not being able to."

"Haaah. You're not gonna get a girlfriend in high school? Do you even want to experience real youth?"

"Youth isn't determined by whether or not you have a girlfriend....Well, I suppose it'd be more fun with one. But for me, hanging out and studying is plenty. Maybe that would change if I actually found someone I liked, though."

Sadly, however, I didn't have anyone like that.

"Hmm? What about the Ice Princess? Huh?"

"Wipe that smirk off your face. How many times do I have to tell you? We live in different worlds. Even if I like idols or actresses, I'm not the type to genuinely fall for them. The word 'impossible' pops into my head no matter what. Besides, someone that good-looking probably has a boyfriend already."

"Well, fair point."

Eiji said, gazing into the distance as if pondering something.

"...Though I'm pretty sure she doesn't have one."

"...? Sorry, missed that. What did you say?"

"Nah, nothing. Don't worry about it. More importantly, wanna hit karaoke today?"

"Oh, sounds good. I'm in."

"Sweet!"

A lot had happened today, but things would probably go back to normal.

—Or so I thought at the time.

◆◆◆

Rumble, clatter. Rumble, clatter.

The next day. Swaying along with the train, I was fiddling with my smartphone. Luckily, a seat had opened up right when I boarded, and seeing that no one around seemed inclined to take it, I sat down. Naturally, I had common decency, so I intended to give it up if someone needed it.

Arriving at the next station, the businessman next to me stood up to get off. At the exact same time, a figure resembling a high school girl sat down beside me—just as I was about to look around for anyone who might need a seat.

"Good morning."

Hearing those words from right beside me, I thought my heart was going to stop.

I tried to turn my head in that direction, but it felt as if my neck would emit a grinding noise like rusted machinery.

The first thing that caught my eye were those blue eyes. Deep and azure like the ocean, they were eyes so profound you could get drawn into them forever.

Next were her hair and skin, as pure white as freshly fallen snow. Her hair was whiter, of course, but her skin was milk-white, evoking the image of an innocent child. That whiteness was by no means sickly; rather, it radiated a delicate, translucent quality akin to pulled sugar candy.

Her sharp facial features held a dignified grace. That expression rarely changed. It felt both beautiful and endearing.

"...Um."

Her voice, soft and chiming like a bell, pulled me back to reality.

Crap, I had been staring in a daze.

"...Wh-What is it?"

I barely managed to squeeze the words out. I had zero composure. Because she was sitting right next to me, our thighs were touching. Forcing that thought out of my mind, I met her gaze.

—She was close. Sitting side by side with our faces turned toward each other, she was incredibly close. A delightfully sweet fragrance drifted from her, and I could see long, white eyelashes that looked as if they held snow... My heart pounded furiously against my chest.

"Well. You helped me yesterday, so I wanted to thank you."

"A-Ah. You really don't... need to worry about it."

I occasionally spoke with teachers, so I thought I was used to polite speech, but my tongue wouldn't cooperate. Was it because I had so little experience talking to girls?

Even so, I managed to get the words across.

"No. I was really... so scared. Far from helping, the people around me were just giving me lewd looks."

"Is that... how it was?"

"Yes. That is why I am truly grateful."

With that, she gave a small, respectful bow. A faint, sweet feminine scent lightly tickled my nostrils.

I had never been thanked by a girl my own age before, and having no idea how to respond...

"Y-You're welcome?"

...was the awkward reply I gave.

Hearing that, she let out a quiet giggle.

It was slightly different from her usual dignified expression. A smile that accentuated her cuteness. The exact same way she had smiled at the baby back then.

...Ah. I managed to protect that smile, I thought, only for her next words to pull my attention back.

"I apologize. I just haven't heard the phrase 'you're welcome' very often. But I don't dislike people who accept gratitude properly."

"I-Is that so? That's good... I guess?"

"Yes. Also, please feel free to speak casually. This way of speaking is just a habit of mine, and I am a high school first-year. I doubt I am older than you."

"I-I see, thank you very much."

"...Is that your normal way of speaking?"

"Ah, no... Thanks. I'm a first-year too, so we're the same age."

Suddenly, a thought struck me. Why was I having a conversation with a girl I had only ever been able to watch from afar? Well, I knew it was because of yesterday's thanks, but still.

...A cold sweat broke out on my neck for some reason.

It felt as though I would stop being my usual self if this went on.

Drawing energy from watching her, heading to school. Occasionally riding the same car on the way back and going home thinking it was my lucky day. If that comfortable distance collapsed... what would happen? What if something went wrong and she came to hate me, just like all those guys who had approached her?

I should have been thrilled to talk to her, yet an equal amount of anxiety weighed on me. The surreal feeling made it seem as though I were dreaming. Part of me even considered just getting up and running away—yet I couldn't bring myself to do it.

"Um... there is something I would like to ask of you."

Held by her blue gaze, I was rooted to the spot as if paralyzed. The desire to remain by her side grew stronger, clashing fiercely with my anxiety....However, looking at her face, both my impure thoughts and my worries vanished into mist.

"What is it?"

Her face was contorted in distress. Consciously trying to wear as gentle an expression as possible, I braced myself for her answer.

Looking at me, the tension in her cheeks eased slightly. Then, she looked straight into my eyes.

"Well, um. What I wanted to ask..."

Faltering over her words, she stared steadily into my eyes.

"While riding the train, I would like you... to stay by my side."

That was what she said.

My mind went completely blank.

Why?

What for?

Crushing the questions swirling in my head, I forced my gears to turn.

Then, a single answer surfaced.

"Could it be... you've become afraid of men?"

When I asked, she nodded with a solemn expression.

It wasn't unusual. When someone suffered harassment, developing a fear of people of the same gender as the perpetrator was entirely natural.

"Yesterday, when a stranger touched me, the train became terrifying. And then... a-at school, too. The gazes of men became frightening. Even leaving home in the morning became scary."

Fear seeped through every word. It made my own heart ache as if it were being tightly squeezed.

At the same time, however, I felt a dangerous vulnerability in what she was proposing.

"...I'll be blunt. That choice is far too dangerous. For all you know, I could have staged the whole thing. Or maybe I only helped you because I had an ulterior motive. I'm a complete stranger, and I'm a guy—the very thing you're supposed to be afraid of."

I didn't understand why I was getting so desperate myself.

Was it because I was afraid of my daily routine breaking? Was it because I didn't want her to hate me?

"Please think about it carefully one more time. Try inviting a female friend. Or a guy you can trust—"

"I don't have anyone."

She cut across my words.

"There is only you."

Her voice reached my ears with absolute clarity.

"It is shameful to admit, but I have no friends I can trust....Placing my faith in you is a once-in-a-lifetime gamble for me."

Her hand came to rest softly against my chest.

"I thought about letting time heal it. But because of that 'someday,' I might end up missing out on some huge opportunity in the near future. Whether in relationships, or academics. Maybe college entrance exams... or perhaps some other major opportunity entirely."

I took a small, sharp breath.

"...And all of that hinges on whether you refuse me here."

Phrased like that, it sounded almost like—

"Sounds like a threat."

"You may take it that way if you wish. You could say it is a threat with my life held hostage."

I couldn't readily find words. Because her expression made it abundantly clear that she was completely serious.

"I must overcome this fear. That is why I thought I would place my faith in you—and bet my life on it."

A faint hint of guilt showed on her face. Unable to tear my eyes away from her, I forced words out of my parched throat.

"Why me?"

"The reason is simple. Unlike other people, you don't look anywhere except my face. Because you look me properly in the eye when you speak to me."

Those blue eyes bored straight into me, as if peering right through my soul.

"I want to trust you. If you can't... I will give up. On everything."

As she briefly averted her gaze, her expression looked terribly lonely. Like a child left all alone.

—Before I knew it, my reasons to refuse were gone. No. I felt that I wasn't allowed to refuse.

I had already learned of her kindness. To have a girl who gave up her seat to an elderly woman, who smiled so gently at a baby... give up on her future?

—I refused to let that happen.

Fears about being hated by her or my daily routine changing completely vanished from my mind.

If she was going to bet on me, I wanted to answer that call. I felt that with an overpowering intensity.

"All right. While we're on the train, I'll stay by your side."

"Thank... you very much."

When I nodded, a look of relief washed over her, and she smiled.

Then, she let out a delicate, "Ah."

"We haven't introduced ourselves yet, have we?"

"...Come to think of it, you're right."

Giving a small, polite cough to clear her throat, she looked straight into my eyes.

"My name is Nagi Shinonome. I may look foreign, but I was adopted by a certain married couple, which is why I have this name. Aside from my appearance, you may consider me entirely Japanese."

—Nagi Shinonome.

Why was it? Despite her foreign appearance, the name felt remarkably fitting for her.

"My name is Souta Minori."

"Yes. I look forward to spending time with you, Minori-kun."

Saying that, she hesitantly extended her hand, and I took it.

At that moment, she—Shinonome—smiled.

It was a softer, warmer smile than any I had ever seen on her before. My heart thudded loudly against my ribs.

...From that day on, my daily life changed drastically.

◆◆◆

In the morning, I boarded the train. Normally, I would move deeper inside the car, but today was different.

I stayed near the doors, stepping off and back on at every stop to make room for passengers disembarking.

After a few stations, I called out to the girl who stepped aboard.

"Shinonome."

"...Ah."

The moment she spotted me, she moved right over to my side.

From there, I moved toward the corner with her. I positioned her against the wall, placing myself in front of her.

"Thank... you very much."

"Don't worry about it."

She had probably noticed my efforts to keep other men from bumping into her. After that brief exchange, I fell silent.

Silence fell between us....Well, she had only asked me to stay by her side. I figured I was free to do as I pleased otherwise. In fact, that was probably for the best. It wouldn't do to bother her with awkward small talk.

...That train of thought was promptly shattered when she spoke up.

"Um."

Slender, pale fingers gently poked at my shoulder.

"What is it?"

"Well, I am sorry to bother you, but if you don't mind, Minori-kun, I thought we could talk."

Talk. Hearing that, I understood and mentally kicked myself for my lack of tact.

"Sorry, I wasn't being considerate. You're right. You need to overcome this step by step, after all."

"Yes. So, would a little while be all right?"

"Of course."

Still, a conversation, huh. What were we supposed to talk about?

Shinonome gazed at me intently, resting a hand on her chin in thought.

"...Minori-kun."

She looked at me as if she had made up her mind.

"What sort of things are people supposed to talk about at times like this?"

I nearly stumbled over my own feet.

"Wh-What sort of things, you ask?"

"I apologize, I lack experience in this. I was wondering what one usually discusses in such a situation."

"...I see. To be honest, I hardly have any experience talking to girls either."

Hmm. If that was the case, there was only one way to go. The classic topic.

"Let's see. Shinonome, do you have any hobbies?"

Wondering if we were an awkward pair on a matchmaking date, I asked anyway.

"Hobbies, you say? Let me see. I devote myself to traditional Japanese dance. In addition, a bit of tea ceremony and flower arrangement."

"Whoa... That's impressive."

Japanese dance, tea ceremony, and flower arrangement. Things entirely foreign to my life. Yet hearing that Shinonome did them felt strangely natural.

Shinonome certainly had foreign looks. But she carried a dignified grace... an air of a traditional Japanese lady that seeped through naturally.

"What are your hobbies, Minori-kun?"

"Nothing nearly as admirable as yours, Shinonome. Just watching anime, reading manga, that sort of thing."

Completely average hobbies. That was what I intended to convey, but upon hearing my answer, Shinonome furrowed her brow.

"I believe those are splendid works of art. There is no high or low class when it comes to creations packed with human emotion, works that move people's hearts."

It might have been rude to say it was unexpected, but Nagi's words caught me off guard.

"...Sorry."

"No, it is quite all right. I understand that some people view it that way."

Saying so, Shinonome curled the corners of her mouth upward just a little—a tiny, subtle fraction.

"Besides, I do not dislike people who can apologize honestly."

My heart gave a small leap. My gaze inadvertently wavered, and I quickly looked forward to hide it.

Just then, the train pulled into the station.

"Well, this is my stop."

"Right. Got it."

Seeing Shinonome prepare to get off, I escorted her toward the doors.

"Thank you very much. You are very kind, Minori-kun."

"I'm just doing what anyone should. It's not like I'm particularly kind."

"...Very few people are actually capable of doing what anyone should."

Catching Shinonome's quiet murmur, I found myself unable to offer a reply.

As she stepped off the train, Shinonome turned her blue eyes back toward me once more.

"Well then, until tomorrow, Minori-kun."

"See you tomorrow."

I waved back at Shinonome as she gave a small wave, letting out a breath only after she was out of sight.

...Man, that was nerve-wracking.

◆◇◆

"Did you hear? Even Murata from the soccer club got shot down by the Ice Princess."

"Seriously? Wait, didn't his dad run some company, and he was bragging about being the next president?"

"Right? Isn't that hilarious? After acting so full of himself, too."

The voices drifting from the corner of the classroom tore my attention away from the book I was reading.

Swallowing a sigh, I tried to focus on my book, but their words kept forcing their way into my ears.

"Still, if Murata couldn't do it, it's impossible for anyone, right?"

"Sweet, I'm going next."

"No way in hell, not even if the earth flipped upside down."

As I listened to the laughing male students, I could feel my heart growing colder and colder, as if trying to erase the "fear" they stirred within me.

I was bad with men. I had always been bad with them, but now it was even worse....Not that I was good with women, either. In fact, I might have been just as bad with them as with men.

Unpleasant memories from the past surfaced, causing the sigh I had swallowed to slip out.

—He was so kind this morning.

A memory that chased away the unpleasantness. Remembering him saying, "I'm just doing what anyone should," my frayed heart began to settle in a strange, comforting way.

That was right. He was different from the others.

To begin with, he was an unusual person.

I had felt his gaze on me before. But it was different from the way others looked at me.

He looked at my face—and especially, into my eyes. Conversely, I never felt his gaze wander anywhere else.

Perhaps because foreign blood ran through my veins, my physical development was considerably more pronounced than the other students around me. At the very least, enough so that I had to bind my chest with a sarashi when wearing a kimono.

Yet, he never looked there. Today was no exception.

"..."

Having thought that far, I picked up my book and stood up. I decided to go to the library.

Staying in the classroom any longer would only foul my mood. If possible, I wanted to spend my time in good spirits.

Just then, I caught sight of a student moving in the corner of my vision. She walked straight toward the source of those voices.

"Hey, you're being super loud. The whole room can hear you, aren't you embarrassed?"

A beautiful girl with dazzling, golden hair tied in a striking ponytail. Her skin was lightly tanned and healthy.

Hikaru Hayama-san. She was calling them out.

"O-Oh. Our bad."

"Watch it, will you? It's honestly gross."

Having instinctively looked in that direction, I ended up locking eyes with her as she turned to head back to her seat.

"...!"

Seeing me, she flashed a broad grin and gave a thumbs-up. It was a bright smile, like the sun shining down on blooming greenery.

"Thank... you very much."

I murmured softly under my breath and sat back down in my seat.

◆◇◆

"And that's what happened yesterday."

"Huh, well that's great."

The next day, Shinonome said there was something she wanted to talk about and shared that story with me.

"...To be completely honest, I am bewildered. Nothing like that has ever happened to me before."

"Why not just take it at face value?"

Even as I replied, the conflicted look on Shinonome's face remained.

"However..."

"Even though you placed your trust in me?"

"I am not enough of a gambler to make once-in-a-lifetime bets several days in a row."

She countered with sharper words than I had anticipated. No, that was my fault just now.

"...Sorry. That was thoughtless of me."

"No, it is quite all right."

If I remembered correctly, she had mentioned not having any trustworthy female friends either. There might have been a reason for that.

Still, that felt terribly... terribly lonely.

I searched for words in my head.

"Eiji. I have a friend named Eiji Makisaka."

It was a sudden change of topic, but Shinonome listened quietly.

"I don't have many friends either....Actually, it's fair to say I had almost none."

"That is surprising."

"Really?...Well, setting that aside. That guy, Eiji, was the first real friend I ever made."

Shinonome gave a small nod. Considering the time, I had to keep it brief.

"The day after our entrance ceremony, I lost my wallet."

"Your wallet?"

"Yeah. It was the first time that had ever happened to me, so I was panicking like crazy."

Remembering that moment brought a faint smile to my face.

"Eiji sat in front of me, and noticing that something was off with me, he helped me look for it. All the way until nighttime."

"That is wonderful."

"I told him over and over that he could just head home, but he stuck with me to the very end. We walked the route between my house and the school back and forth three times....In the end, someone had turned it in to a police box. If Eiji hadn't been there, I wouldn't have even thought to check."

Caught up in nostalgia, I gave my head a slight shake to bring my focus back.

"After that, we got dinner together at a family restaurant and became close friends....I guess it's hard to see what I'm getting at."

Wrapping up my reminiscing, I turned my eyes toward Shinonome.

"I know there are unkind people in this world. A lot of them, even. But despite that, kind people still exist. Don't you think it might be worth taking a chance and trusting someone just one more time?"

And if—

"On the off chance you end up betrayed, you're free to blame me all you want."

"...Why?"

Shinonome's blue eyes stared intently into mine.

"Why would you go that far for me?"

Her question made me rethink things. I couldn't help but ponder it.

'Because I want to see Shinonome smile.'

...No way, I couldn't say that.

"Well, you see."

I racked my brain for something else.

"Um, I used to be the same way—maybe not completely unable to trust people, but there was a time when I thought I didn't want any friends at all. But making just one changed my perspective."

Yeah, that was it.

"I realized the world isn't entirely full of bad people, and that's how I feel now."

I honestly spoke my mind, within the boundaries of what I could share.

"I want you to feel that way too, Shinonome. That feeling."

The moment the words left my mouth, I realized my mistake.

No, this was bad. I was being way too forward.

I was simply forcing my own desires onto her. In the end, if something went wrong, Shinonome would be the one getting hurt.

"Sorry. That was really nosy of me....Forget I said anything."

Though I apologized in a rush, my voice trailed off toward the end.

I really messed up, didn't I?

A rising sigh welled up inside me—but I never got the chance to exhale it. Because her words interrupted me.

"...No. I am glad I was able to hear it. So please, do not make that face. Look at me, Minori-kun."

Without realizing it, I had looked down, but at Shinonome's words, I swallowed my sigh and raised my head.

Right before my eyes were Shinonome's blue gaze. Deep, steady blue eyes like the ocean floor. Suddenly, a light seemed to filter into them.

"It is true that I was being rather cynical. If you say so, Minori-kun... I think I will try to make an effort, just a little."

"...Shinonome!"

So glad to hear those words, I inadvertently called out her name. Shinonome let out a soft chuckle.

After laughing, she poked my chest with her index finger.

"In exchange, if the worst should happen... you have to comfort me, all right?"

"Gh..."

Every single one of her gestures felt like it was going to make my brain boil. Blood rushed to my face, heating all the way to the tips of my ears.

Right at that moment, the announcement for our destination began to play inside the car.

"Ah, we are arriving."

"R-Right. By the way, Shinonome. Are you going to be okay on the way home? If you'd like, I could also—"

"I-Is that all right?!"

Without waiting for me to finish, Shinonome cut in eagerly with her reply, startling me a bit.

Shinonome gave a small, polite cough to cover her embarrassment.

"Ahem. I-I am sorry. I lost my composure."

"No, that's fine, but... how have you been managing until today?"

"W-Well... by trying to stay where there seemed to be as many women as possible."

"...You've been trying hard, haven't you?"

"I suppose so. A little....No, I have been trying quite hard."

Hearing that, I wiped my sweaty palms on my trousers. Even I had been nervous about what to do if she turned me down. Her reaction had been far better than expected, though.

"In that case, I'll ride back with you. What time train do you take?"

"When I board, it is usually the four-thirty train on the dot. In the same car."

"Got it. That's a good time for me too."

The train came to a stop, so I escorted her to the doors. Just before stepping off, Shinonome cast a glance back toward me.

"Being with you is quite fun, Minori-kun. So I will be looking forward to the ride home."

"I... see. I'm looking forward to it too."

"Yes. Well then, see you later."

To her small wave, I showed my open palm in return.

I was honestly impressed my voice didn't crack. I deserved some credit for that.

Still—

"That's just unfair."

Muttering under my breath, I brought the hand I had used to wave straight up to cover my face.

It didn't look like the silly, slack-jawed grin on my face would be fading anytime soon.

◆◆◆

Inside the car, which was considerably less crowded than in the morning, I stood waiting near the doors. Arriving at the destination, I looked out onto the platform.

Our eyes met through the glass doors. At the same time, the doors slid open, and I took a step back.

"At this hour, it would be 'good afternoon,' wouldn't it, Minori-kun?"

"Yeah, good afternoon, Shinonome."

Exchanging our second greeting of the day, we moved to our usual spot. Since there were more students on the ride home than in the morning, we stood out quite a bit....Even so, there were hardly any students from my school or Shinonome's. There seemed to be a fair number in the other cars, though. The reason was likely because a considerable number of guys had charged in to hit on her and got completely shot down. A lot of guys from the neighboring high school had thought they stood a chance.

"Is this the first time meeting you at this hour, Minori-kun? No, has it just been a long time?"

"Yeah. I only used to spot you occasionally, after all."

Unlike the morning commute, after-school schedules were fairly irregular. Sometimes I hung out with Eiji, and other times classroom duties or extended homeroom meant taking a later train.

"I think the last time was before summer vacation."

"...You remember well."

"I know it sounds rude, but I was always watching you, after all."

Surprisingly, things like that stuck in my memory. Not that I remembered the exact dates of every single time we crossed paths, of course.

Then, I suddenly remembered what happened this morning.

"By the way, Shinonome. How did that thing we talked about this morning go?"

"Ah, yes. I was actually planning on telling you about it, Minori-kun. Though it is not as if I completely understand her yet."

"I think it's impossible to completely understand anyone. Setting that aside, I'd love to hear it."

Giving a small nod, Shinonome began to speak.

◆◇◆

"Yahoo! Got a sec, Shinonome-chan?"

While I had been agonizing all morning over when to approach her, she ended up speaking to me first.

Golden hair, bright, wide eyes, and an attractive figure—she was a presence that drew immense attention.

"Hayama-san. What can I do for you?"

Even as I replied, a strong note of caution bled into my voice. To make matters worse, apologies failed to leave my lips. My father's teaching of "never show weakness to others" had been deeply ingrained in me. While I believed it was a good principle, my frayed heart ached with a dull, throbbing pain.

"Got a minute? I just wanted to chat with you, Shinonome-chan."

"...I don't mind, but..."

Hayama-san smiled brightly and gave a little beckoning gesture with her hand. Standing up, I followed after her.

We arrived at a secluded back courtyard with few people around. Although I had vaguely guessed the location, my body grew stiff.

"What is this regarding?"

"Don't look so scared! It's not like I'm gonna eat you. Besides, it's not really like I'm the one with business here."

About to overthink those words, I closed my eyes, recognizing it as another bad habit.

"What do you mean by that?"

"Well, I felt a gaze on me today, you see. From you, Shinonome-chan."

I caught my breath....No, she was entirely right. Wondering when to talk to her, I had cast impolite glances in her direction multiple times.

"I am sorry. For staring at you so often."

"It's fine, totally fine! So, I figured you must've had something you wanted to say. Plus, I thought it might stand out if you were the one to approach me, Shinonome-chan."

"...Thank you for your consideration."

"Nah, seriously, don't worry about it! Anyway, I'm glad I was right. Would've been super embarrassing if I was just being full of myself, right?"

Smiling with a faint blush dusting her cheeks, she looked so charming that I almost found myself captivated. Hayama-san truly was a beautiful person. Keeping that thought brief, I opened my mouth.

"I-I wanted to thank you for yesterday."

"Ah, so that really was it! You didn't have to go out of your way to say it, though."

"I could not simply let it pass."

My father's teaching of "never show weakness to others" did not mean "never accept favors."

People cannot live entirely alone. Inevitably, one must rely on the help of others. My father had mentioned just recently that this was especially vital during one's student years.

"Thank you very much for yesterday."

"Yep, you got it! Those guys were getting on my nerves anyway."

Waving her hand casually, Hayama-san seemed a little embarrassed. Watching her, I tightened my slightly relaxing cheeks.

"...In addition, I have a request, Hayama-san."

"Hmm? What is it?"

"I... I would like to become friends with you, Hayama-san."

Nervousness caused my words to stumble. While hoping she hadn't noticed, I knew there was no way she'd miss it, and my cheeks began to heat up.

However, Hayama-san showed me a delighted, beaming smile.

"Of course!"

◆◇◆

Listening to Shinonome's story, I realized my own cheeks had relaxed into a smile before I even knew it. A warm sensation slowly spread from the bottom of my heart.

"I see. So you became friends, then."

"No, we have not become friends."

"Huh?"

Wait, but that student, Hayama-san, agreed to her wanting to get close... Huh?

"More than acquaintances, less than friends—I suppose that is how you would describe it."

"Uh... why is that? Wouldn't it be fine to just be normal friends?"

Shinonome gave a tiny, subtle smile. Her pink lips parted against her white skin, revealing a glimpse of her small, red tongue.

"Why do you think that is?"

Her voice held a slight bounce, sending a ticklish shiver across my eardrums. My heart raced uncomfortably, and completely absurd possibilities flashed through my mind.

"...I don't know."

"Is that so? What a shame."

Even as she said it was a shame, there was no real disappointment in her voice. If anything—she looked like she was having a bit of fun.

"Well then, please let me know once you figure it out."

The answer I had envisioned didn't come, and a small breath escaped me.

"So you're not going to tell me, huh?"

"Fufu, it is a secret for now."

Shinonome laughed, pressing a single finger against her lips.

My heart hammered heavily against my chest.

"...Right. There was something I wanted to ask you, Shinonome."

To ignore my racing heart, I switched the topic. Shinonome tilted her head slightly.

"It's just a random thought, but do you have any intention of accepting a romantic confession at all?"

"I do not."

An instant answer, unexpectedly enough. Though I had vaguely seen it coming.

"Ah, excuse me. It is just that the boys so far have all been entirely out of the question... I am not saying it is an absolute impossibility."

"Hmm," Shinonome rested a hand on her chin thoughtfully.

"If someone went through the proper steps, I would consider it. Up until now, everyone has tried to jump straight to being lovers... At the very least, I would like them to become friends first before confessing."

"Makes sense."

"Well, since I had no intention of making friends either, it would not be an exaggeration to say I had no intention of finding a partner."

Come to think of it, she had mentioned having no friends she could trust. It wouldn't be surprising if there was some reason she avoided making them.

Seeing her eyes asking if that was all, I gave an affirmative nod.

"In that case, it is my turn to ask a question. Something occurred to me throughout today."

Shinonome stared intently at me. My heart, which had begun to calm down from the topic change, started gearing up to pound heavily all over again. I secretly placed a hand over my chest to steady it.

"I owe you a tremendous debt, Minori-kun. I would like to repay that favor somehow."

"A favor? You really don't have to. Don't worry about it."

"That would trouble me."

Just as her words suggested, Shinonome lowered her brows, wearing a polite, strained smile. Watching her, I thought it over.

Repaying a favor, huh. She really didn't need to worry about it, but... Come to think of it.

'The exams are brutal. I gotta tutor Kirika, but I'm not that bright myself. Laugh at me if the rescuer ends up needing rescuing, alright?'

Eiji had said something like that. Midterms were the week after next.

"Shinonome, are you good at studying?"

"I am top of my grade, actually. Except for English."

Shinonome's words were unexpected. My mouth tightened as I stared at her, prompting Shinonome to pout her striking pink lips into an unhappy line.

"...You thought it was strange, didn't you? That I struggle with English despite looking like this."

"Everyone has one or two things they're bad at. Though I admit it was surprising."

"It is quite troublesome, you know. Whenever tourists ask me for directions, I get completely flustered."

"Ah, right. Based on appearance alone, it makes sense people would assume you speak it. Not that I'd have the confidence to talk to foreigners either."

Agreeing with her, I looked back at Shinonome.

"By the way, are you good at classical Japanese?"

"It is one of my strong suits. Aside from English, I do well in all subjects."

"...Alright then. If you're okay with it, Shinonome, could you help me study?"

Shinonome's eyes widened slightly, and then she gave a firm nod.

"Understood. Leave it to me. Well then, right away—"

Just as Shinonome went to open her bag, the announcement signaling our arrival at the destination played.

"Already? Time seems to fly when I am with you, Minori-kun."

"Yeah. Let's do it next time, then. I'll be counting on you."

"Yes. Until tomorrow, then."

"Yeah, see you tomorrow."

Seeing Shinonome off to the doors and waving back, a thought crossed my mind.

It felt terribly lonely to have this time come to an end.

◆◆◆

"—And that is why you arrive at this answer."

"Ah, so that's how it works. I get it now....So that means the next answer would be this, right?"

"Precisely. You have a good head on your shoulders after all, Minori-kun. Your fundamentals are solid, too."

"It's just because you're great at teaching, Shinonome."

I meant it from the bottom of my heart, without any flattery. Compared to school classes, part of it was being able to learn pinpoint topics, but Shinonome was able to clearly identify what I didn't understand and put it into words, making it incredibly easy to follow.

There was just one critical problem.

"Next is this part."

Her breath mingled with her words brushed against the back of my hand, giving me the illusion of a ticklish sensation running down my spine.

Yes, she was close. Insanely close.

Part of it was sharing a single textbook. Part of it was the train being crowded.

Even so.

"Minori-kun. Excuse me for a moment. Over here—"

Shinonome's slender, beautiful finger lightly touched down. A faint, sweetly refreshing scent drifted into the air. Whether it was perfume, shampoo... or something else entirely, I couldn't tell.

"Minori-kun. Did you understand that?"

"—Sorry. I wasn't really listening."

"Honestly, you are hopeless. I will explain it one more time, breaking it down."

I listened carefully to Shinonome's words once more. However, with our faces and everything else close enough to touch... my heart didn't get a single moment of rest.

◆◇◆

"...Phew. That was an interesting story."

Inside the quiet room, where only the ticking of the clock and the turning of pages echoed. Reading a book after taking a bath before going to sleep. That was my routine.

Setting the book down, I began preparing for tomorrow—

Right. Tomorrow was Saturday. The weekend.

Saturday meant there was no school. In other words, I wouldn't be able to see him.

Suddenly, all the strength drained from my body, and I collapsed onto the bed. Where had all my motivation from earlier gone? Now, I didn't even have the energy to turn off the lights.

"I want to see you, Minori-kun."

Those words slipped from my lips.

...Eh?

What did I just say?

The moment I brushed against the surface of that memory, my face flushed bright red as if bursting into flames.

"N-No. That's wrong. I didn't mean it like that."

Murmuring as if trying to convince myself, I hugged the body pillow next to me with all my might.

Right. It was different. I didn't mean it in that way.

He was a unique presence among everyone I had ever met.

Kind, yet devoid of ulterior motives. He never gave me impolite looks, and he possessed self-restraint.

Plus, being with him felt comfortable and fun. So wanting to be together wasn't strange at all. It shouldn't be strange.

"Ah."

Just then, a great idea struck me.

"If we hold a study session, we can be together on days off too."

Even if I had to give up on this week since I couldn't see him anymore, next week for sure—

"W-Would he come, I wonder? If it's a day off, as long as I can talk Suzaka-san into it, it should probably be fine, but..."

A wave of anxiety washed over me. My heart grew restless, and my eyes, which had been growing heavy with sleep, became strangely clear and awake.

"F-For now, I must sleep."

Shaking my head vigorously, I shifted my focus. Hugging the pillow tightly to keep my thoughts from wandering again.

Even so, my head was completely filled with thoughts of him, making me feel giddy. It took quite some time before I finally drifted off to sleep.

Perhaps that was why. Why I had a dream like that.

◆◇◆◇◆

Hair as pure white as snow. And eyes as blue as the sea. Yet that small frame was far tinier than the one I was used to seeing.

The young girl looked away, as if frightened of something. Her eyes wavered greatly.

Reaching out a hand as if seeking help from someone, she stopped just before she could.

(Lonely.)

That emotion flowed into me. A very—no. Not an entirely unfamiliar feeling.

Eventually, she hung her head in resignation. That was when it happened.

"Come here, Nagi."

"Would you like to become our family?"

Emerging from the darkness were two hands.

The slightly rugged hand belonged to a man. The pure white, incredibly beautiful hand belonged to a woman.

Timidly, the girl reached out toward those hands. Her small hands were wrapped in a gentle grasp, and she faded away from this world.

Now, in this dark world. I was left all alone.

As my consciousness faded, it felt like another hand was being extended toward me, but... that was probably just my imagination.

◆◇◆◇◆

I woke up before my alarm went off. Even though I had been half-asleep just moments before, my mind was now terribly sharp and clear.

The excitement I had felt before going to sleep was completely gone.

"How foolish of me."

Swayed by temporary emotions, I had almost lost sight of what was truly important.

Closing my eyes, I let cool, rational thoughts circulate through my body.

"I will do my best again today. Father. Mother."

For the sake of the two who saved me.

◆◇◆

Something was off with Shinonome.

That was the first thing I noticed the moment I saw her in the morning.

"What is the matter? Staring so intently."

"What's up with you, rather? You're keeping your distance."

Shinonome stood a step away from me. Yet, more than that physical gap, it felt as though our emotional distance had widened.

I tried to think of a reason, but realized that trying to guess her feelings might be tactless. Asking her directly would be faster, so I decided to do just that.

"It is nothing in particular."

...When she answered like that, there was nothing I could do from my end, though.

Still—this was rough. To have distance put between us after thinking we had finally gotten close.

As I stifled a sigh, the train began to move. Everyone reached for the hand straps.

At that exact moment, I noticed something. A businessman was standing right next to Shinonome.

"Ngh..."

"Shinonome...! Come over here."

Shinonome's shoulders flinched violently. It wasn't as if he had touched her.

Giving a slight, apologetic bow to the businessman, I reached out a hand, silently telling Shinonome with my eyes to come to my side. Her eyes were laced with fear.

"...Making a face like that really hurts, you know."

"Ah... I am sorry."

"I want to say you don't need to apologize, but... I'll take it. Shinonome, there's something I need you to hear."

There was no point in putting on airs. I had already admitted it hurt, after all.

Sorting through my thoughts, I looked at her as she took my hand and stepped in front of me.

"I will never betray you, Shinonome. Never."

I stated that fact once more. Not just to Shinonome, but as a vow to myself.

"I don't know what happened, and I won't ask. But please, at least let me keep my promise. I'm begging you."

"I-I am sorry. I..."

After thinking for a moment, Shinonome fell quiet for a brief spell.

Bit by bit, she began to whisper.

"It is... my father's teaching. I wanted to become a person like my father, so when I was young, I asked him what I should do to become like him, and what things I should be careful of. There were many things, but one of them was 'never show weakness to others.' After hearing that, I acted the part of someone who never showed weakness to anyone."

Ah, I see.

"That's the Ice Princess, then."

"...At some point, people began calling me that."

Pausing there, she looked around.

"Ever since I met you, Minori-kun... it has been strange. Before I know it, this mask peels off on its own. My expression softens."

Her sudden words left me frozen. A beat later, my heart hammered violently against my chest.

"That is why I tried to keep my distance....Even after telling you I would trust you. I am truly sorry."

"No, I get the gist of the situation."

Phew. I looked up at the ceiling and let out a long breath. As if expelling all the heat that had built up in my head.

"Doesn't it get tiring? Constantly pretending to be someone else."

"That is... in order to become like my father. I must be able to handle at least this much."

"I see."

Pausing there, I looked at her. The dignified, proud girl from before wasn't there. She was just an ordinary girl, so that was only natural.

Maybe what I was about to do was wrong.

"Shinonome."

Even so, my intuition told me it was the right thing to do.

"Does your dad put up a front twenty-four-seven? When you're not around... when it's just him and your mom, can you really say he's acting the entire time?"

"That is..."

"Let me ask the opposite. Do you put up a front all day long at home, too, Shinonome?"

Even when asked, no answer came from Shinonome. The fact that she didn't deny it meant that was the case. I doubted Shinonome's father meant for her to fake who she was at every waking second, either.

"If you keep running non-stop, you're bound to run out of breath eventually. When that happens, it takes even longer to start running again, and it's inefficient... or so I think."

Hearing this from someone like me probably wasn't very pleasant. But I felt that if I didn't say it here, she would collapse someday.

"I will never betray you, Shinonome. So, I want you to show me your usual self."

Shinonome's eyes wavered, but the color of fear had completely vanished from them.

"Besides. I like the usual Shinonome—the smiling Shinonome—way more than the Ice Princess Shinonome."

...

Wait. What did I just say?

"H-Huh...?"

Shinonome made a face of utter shock that I had never seen before. Now was definitely not the time to be thinking about how cute she looked.

"N-No, wait, that's not what I meant—"

"I-It's not?"

Shinonome asked, looking slightly downcast. I couldn't bring myself to shake my head.

"N-No, I mean, it's not that I didn't mean it, but rather that I'm just happier when you show your true self, or something like that..."

My head spun in circles, and I panicked, unable to find the right words. A smile slipped from Shinonome's lips, which she gracefully covered with her hand.

"Fufu."

A clear, beautiful laugh, chiming like a bell. Though much of her face was hidden by her hand—her expression looked radiantly bright beyond words.

"Understood. I will not put up a front before you."

Shinonome said with her smile intact. Right at that moment, an announcement echoed through the car. We had arrived at Shinonome's destination.

"We have arrived already? It is fast as always."

Startled by those words, I escorted Shinonome to the doors. She turned back toward me before stepping off the train.

"Well then, see you on the way back."

Her eyes were narrowed gently, the corners of her mouth curved upward. On the verge of being captivated by her again, I rubbed my temples to force my head clear.

"Yeah, see you later."

My heart asked if this was really the right choice.

Yeah, it was, I answered myself.

After all, I would get to see that smile again. If she could stay smiling, that was more than enough.

◆◆◆

"Hey, Souta. I got bad news and bad news. Which one do you wanna hear first?"

"What's with the sudden drama? And why are they both bad? I don't wanna hear either."

"I mean, that's fine, but you might get hit with a shock pretty soon, you know."

Eiji wore an unusually grave expression. Resigning myself to it, I turned my gaze toward him.

"Fine. Let's hear the first one, then."

"Alright."

With that, Eiji put on a serious face. Seeing an expression I had never seen from him before, I switched into a serious gear as well.

"There's a rumor going around that the Ice Princess got a boyfriend."

"..."

I was struck completely speechless. Various thoughts raced through my head, but I closed my eyes to rethink things.

"Uhh. What's the source of that rumor? Why is something like that going around?"

"Right. Heard this from another high school, but apparently, the Ice Princess was spotted looking all lovey-dovey with a guy on the train."

"...I see."

A headache was beginning to form.

Unable to say that the guy in question was probably me, I looked up at the ceiling in search of answers. Not that looking at the ceiling helped.

"Souta. Something just hit me."

"Hmm?"

"You got a girlfriend, didn't you?"

"Guh—cough, hack! Wh-Where did that come from all of a sudden?!"

Caught off guard, I choked on my own spit. Just as I wondered if someone had seen me with Shinonome, Eiji dropped his serious face and laughed.

"Because you took way less damage than I expected. Plus, you've been looking happy lately. You reek of a girl's influence."

"Are you a dog or something?"

"Oh? Does that mean I hit the jackpot?"

"Missed by a mile."

Even though I denied it, Eiji kept grinning at me. Maybe I should flick his forehead....No, clearing up the misunderstanding came first.

"Just so you know, we're not dating....I don't even know if I can call her a friend, really."

Our meeting had been way too unusual, after all. Besides, unfortunately for me, I only had one female friend—and she happened to be this guy's girlfriend, making the situation even more complicated.

"Oho? Do you like her?"

"Cough....Give me a break."

"Haha! It's rare for you, man. So? How is it?"

Clearing my throat a few times to steady my breathing, I let out a breath.

"...I don't like her."

"You really are an open book."

"S-Shut up."

Replying to Eiji, my face grew hot. However, looking at me, Eiji's expression turned serious again. I thought he was going to tease me more, but...

"Hey. There's one thing I wanna ask."

"What?"

"You're not getting tricked or anything, are you?"

A rather ominous question coming from him. He probably wasn't joking around.

"I actually hold you in pretty high regard, you know. You're abnormally kind."

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Helping lost kids, carrying an old lady's groceries all the way to her house. Or stepping up to cover for absent students even if it's a completely different committee. I notice that stuff, you know."

"Those are just normal things anyone would do. I'd feel bad later if I didn't."

"That's exactly what I mean... I don't mean getting scammed out of your money or whatever. There are jerks who just like laughing at someone being made a fool of."

"I appreciate the warning, but I'm fine, seriously."

"...If you say so, then fine."

I knew he wasn't saying it out of malice. It was just that she had no reason to lie. Besides.

Since she believed in me, I wanted to believe in her too.

"Sorry if I made you uncomfortable."

"Don't worry about it."

I thought the conversation would shift there, but...

"Can I ask one last thing?"

"What is it?"

He was grinning, but his eyes weren't smiling. Seeing Eiji's strange expression, I prompted him to continue.

"Does she seem into you?"

Apparently, it had just been my imagination. I felt a sudden urge to let out a massive sigh.

"Of course not. We're totally mismatched in the first place."

"There's that bad habit again. Work on your self-esteem, dude! Wait, are you sure there's really nothing? Like, expressions she only shows around you, for example?"

"...There aren't any."

"You really suck at lying."

"Shut up."

At this rate, I had no choice but to change the subject. Luckily, I had a good topic on hand.

"I've been wondering, what was that other piece of bad news?"

"Oh, right, that... Hang on a sec."

Eiji showed a brief moment of contemplation, then grinned as if scheming something.

"I'm not doing it."

"I haven't even said anything yet?!"

"I just have a bad feeling about this."

At my response, Eiji gave a wicked grin.

"Nah, it's just that. Anyway, back to the topic."

"Yeah. Tell me."

"Simply put: my grades and Kirika's grades are in deep trouble."

Normally, I would dismiss this with an "exploding normies" comment, but Eiji's expression looked genuinely desperate.

"That bad?"

"Yeah. At this rate, even I might end up having to repeat a year."

"It's that serious?"

That was rare. Eiji wasn't great at academics, but still.

"So, yeah. Can we do a study session? Or rather, teach us...! We really can't handle it on our own."

"A study session, huh."

I thought about it briefly. In that case...

"Want to do it at my place?"

"Really?! Oh yeah, you live alone, don't you!"

"Yeah. Staying overnight is out of the question, obviously. But two days should be plenty, right?"

"Are you a god?"

His dramatic reaction drew a wry smile from me. In the end, though, I couldn't figure out what he had been scheming. Maybe I was just overthinking it.

"Oh, right. If you end up having other plans pop up, feel free to prioritize those instead, okay?"

"...? Sure, got it."

◆◆◆

"W-Would you like to have a study session this weekend?"

On the train ride home, Shinonome asked me that. It made my chest hurt terribly. Terribly so.

Anyone could see she had gathered all her courage to ask. Her cheeks were faintly flushed, and Shinonome fidgeted restlessly as she waited for my reply. Just moments ago, she had even been silently rehearsing her lines through the train door.

It hurt my chest so, so much.

"...Could it be that you already have plans?"

"Ah—no, well, y-yeah, but it's fine. I'll clear it. I'll manage at least one day somehow."

"Please tell me the truth."

"Ah, yes."

Docilely, I explained the situation with Eiji. How we were holding a study session at my place over Saturday and Sunday. Even that the two of them were in a really dire spot.

"I see. Someone beat me to it."

"Wait a second. I'll talk to Eiji right now—"

"You must not, Minori-kun."

As I went to pull out my smartphone, Shinonome stopped me. A strangled sound escaped my throat.

"It is extremely... extremely disappointing, but I will give up for this time. As truly regrettable as it is."

"I'm really sorry."

"You don't need to apologize, Minori-kun... or rather, no one is in the wrong here. It was simply bad timing. Yes. Though I would love to pinch the cheeks of my morning self, it cannot be helped."

Shinonome's words were appreciative, yet they stabbed right into my heart.

"Please enjoy your study session."

"...Hey. If I talk to Eiji and the others, I'm sure you could join us, Shinonome—"

"No. Even if they are your friends, Minori-kun, they are not you, so that will not do."

"Ugh. Strict criteria. Understandable, though."

In that case, however, there was only one choice.

"I'll definitely make it up to you."

"Then next week... but the exams will be over by then, won't they?"

"Just tell me whenever you want. I'm basically free all the time, so even if it's on the day of, I'll definitely make time for you next time."

"Yes. Well then."

Right at that moment, the train arrived, and Shinonome headed home.

◆◆◆

"Good morning, Minori-kun. How was your weekend?"

"Yeah, good morning, Shinonome. I spent it studying like crazy. Thanks to you, I was able to teach them pretty well."

"That is proof you were listening properly. Let us do our best with our studies today as well."

Shinonome smiled faintly and opened her bag. Lately, this smile had become her default. That was a great thing.

"Shinonome. If you'd like, I could help teach you English."

When I said that, Shinonome's eyes widened slightly.

"Would that be all right?"

"Yeah. English happens to be the only subject I'm actually good at."

"Then please do, Minori-kun."

I had learned a lot from Shinonome. So much so that I felt like I could aim for a perfect score on this test. She had taught me efficient memorization techniques, too, so this time I wanted to return the favor.

"Then, I would like to ask about this English sentence here."

Shinonome pulled out her English textbook and opened it.

...Close. I mean, it had been like this since last week, but I felt like she had gotten even closer.

Our shoulders brushed against each other, and strands of her hair tickled my arm. A refreshing, flower-like sweet fragrance drifted over, making my heart flutter restlessly.

"Ah, this part is tricky. If you translate it—"

Shinonome seemed to understand basic vocabulary, struggling more with grammar and parts of speech instead.

"...! So that is what it meant, Minori-kun."

Shinonome looked at me with sparkling eyes. With how close we were, my reflection was clearly visible in those azure eyes.

"Y-Yeah. That's it."

"Is something wrong?"

Having instinctively looked away, Shinonome peered curiously into my face. However, she leaned in at a slightly awkward angle.

"Could you be feeling unwe—eek!"

"Sh-Shinonome!"

Shinonome lost her balance. With the crowd of people, falling here would be a disaster. The thought of why I had to act only came after my body had already moved.

The sweet fragrance grew stronger. My entire body felt warm—as I embraced something incredibly soft.

"Th-Thank you very much."

"...Are you okay?"

My heart was beating so loudly. Could she hear it? No, she definitely could. We were practically at zero distance, with Shinonome positioned right against my chest.

Even knowing that, my racing pulse refused to settle. If anything, it only grew louder. I ended up holding my breath, making the heartbeat echoing within me all the more vivid. Why?

Because she made no move to pull away.

"Sh-Shinonome...?"

Squeezing air from my lungs, I called her name in a raspy voice. But there was no reply. I cast my gaze downward.

"..."

I completely forgot about breathing.

Because the girl in my arms had a remarkably peaceful expression on her face, resting her ear directly against my chest.

"It is warm."

Those words were so soft, and her face was completely relaxed in a way that was unimaginable from her usual self.

It gave me the illusion that time had stopped. Nothing around us entered my sight.

Part of me even thought it would be fine if things stayed like this forever.

Before I knew it, my hand was reaching toward her head. Rationality, which told me I shouldn't go any further, was completely ignored—

Ding.

A notification sounded from my smartphone. I thought my heart was going to stop. Shinonome flinched violently as well.

Shinonome snapped her head up, her fair, white skin rapidly turning crimson.

"I-I-I am so sorry! W-Well, you see... being in your arms felt so comfortable, Minori-kun."

This girl was way too honest. Ah, damn it, my own face was heating up fast.

"D-Don't worry about it....I told you that you didn't have to put up a front around me, after all."

Catching my breath, I placed a hand over my chest to calm my wild heartbeat.

"C-Come to think of it, your smartphone went off, didn't it?"

"Right. Excuse me for a second."

Pulling my smartphone from my pocket, I looked at the screen. It was Eiji.

Got a favor. Can you go eat a parfait with Kirika?

...Out of nowhere again. Why wasn't Eiji going with her?

Why don't you just go with her, Eiji?

Nah, I'm bad with sweets. And she hates going alone. Apparently, the mont blanc special ends tomorrow. Can you go tomorrow?

Come to think of it, Eiji had mentioned at some point that he didn't like sweets. Even so...

Are you really okay with that? Having your girlfriend go eat parfaits with another guy?

I'm asking precisely because it's you, Souta. Plus, Kirika said she wanted to thank you for the tutoring.

Though surprised by his words, I felt a little happy.

Still, I couldn't accept it.

"You look happy, Minori-kun."

Shinonome's comment made me look up. She seemed to have calmed down as well, her flushed cheeks returning to a soft pink.

"Yeah. Just texting with Eiji."

"If you don't mind, may I ask what you are talking about?"

I hesitated, thinking it over for a moment.

"You don't have to force yourself to tell me, of course..."

"No, it's fine. Eiji asked me a favor. He wanted me to go eat a parfait with his girlfriend. There are a few reasons for it, of course."

Shinonome looked like she was about to make a suspicious face, but seeing my expression, she nodded along.

"First of all, Eiji is bad with sweets. And just like Eiji, she's really social. The type who can get along with anyone, guy or girl."

"Hmm. Similar to Hayama-san, then."

"Sounds like it, from what I've heard. Because of that, she prefers hanging out with someone rather than being alone."

"I see. I am starting to understand."

"Yeah. Plus... the two of them are on really good terms. Or rather, they trust each other completely. She also wanted to thank me for the study session the other day."

"I understand now."

Feeling the doubt clear from her eyes, I let out a sigh of relief.

"So, will you be going?"

"No, I won't....She invited me for tomorrow. Judging by how he phrased it, it's probably after school, and I already have prior plans."

I said that so Shinonome wouldn't feel guilty. However, a conflicted look crossed her face.

"...It is all right for you to go, you know."

"Shinonome?"

"Part of me doesn't want to make you feel so burdened, yes. But that is not all."

Directing those blue eyes straight at me, Shinonome spoke.

"Since it is exam season, I have no extracurricular lessons. I don't have a strict curfew either, so as long as I let my family know I will be a little late, there is no issue."

"But... are you sure?"

"Of course. Please prioritize your friends over me. Relaxing before exams is important, after all."

Her words almost made me furrow my brow for a second. Phrased like that, it sounded like—no. Did that mean I still hadn't met her standards yet?

And right at that moment, the train arrived at her station.

"Well then, please let me know once the time is decided."

"...Alright."

Her voice as she said goodbye felt just a little heavier than usual.

◆◇◆

The following day. After finishing school, I headed toward the station.

"It should probably only take about twenty or thirty minutes."

He had told me that this morning. I thought that wouldn't be an issue at all. Until that moment.

Waiting on the station platform. Since we hadn't exchanged contact information yet, he said he would come here once it was over.

At first, I was sitting down, but before I realized it, I had stood up.

"...I can't calm down."

My heart was so restless that I ended up muttering to myself.

"It can't be helped. Shall I head over?"

The exams were coming up soon. This state of mind was not good.

I had planned to study until he arrived, but this couldn't be helped.

Riding the train was still frightening, but thanks to him, it was far better than before.

When the train heading toward Minori-kun arrived, my feet carried me through the doors.

◆◆◆

"This won't do... I am lacking composure."

In the first place, I hadn't heard whether the place Minori-kun was heading to was around here. It was entirely possible it was at a different station. In fact, that was far more likely.

I let out a sigh. This was so unlike me.

Still, having no other choice, I began walking.

I had never been to this area before. The unfamiliar scenery felt novel, and I looked around at my surroundings.

"Would it have been more fun if Minori-kun were with me?"

I found myself wondering about that. If he were here, would he have shown me around? No. Surely, just having him by my side would have made me feel safe and happy.

Yet, he wasn't beside me. Just thinking about that sent a sharp pang through my chest like a needle prick.

Tightening my lips, I started walking again.

Then, a certain shop caught my eye. At first glance, it looked like a cafe. But it was slightly different. Looking closer, it appeared to be a specialty sweets shop.

Looking at the banner outside, the mont blanc special was running until today. An unbidden thought crossed my mind.

"...I wish I could have gone with Minori-kun."

Having muttered that, I quickly shook my head. His high school was nearby. If we were eating together, people might find it strange. As it was, people around were already close to finding out about Minori-kun lately. I didn't want to cause him trouble.

Just as I thought I should head back soon...

I saw it.

"—Minori-kun."

He was there, looking like he was having fun with a beautiful woman—eating a mont blanc parfait.

Her chestnut-brown hair had soft curls. A very bright, cheerful-looking person.

Ah. So this was the place. The place he had talked about.

Squeeze. My heart ached as if it were being crushed in a vice.

I was the one who gave him permission. I knew that.

And I knew that choice had been the right one. I couldn't tie him down for my sake. I didn't want to tie him down. That was why I had to ignore this pain.

Yet, it hurt. It hurt so much that a moment's lapse would have let a whimper slip out. I wanted to ask why, but the voice died, raspy, in my throat.

It gave me the illusion that I had forgotten how to breathe.

Before I knew it... my feet had started moving.

By the time I came back to my senses, I was already at the station closest to my high school.

◆◇◆

Ever since that day, something had been off with Shinonome.

Whenever I talked to her, she gave normal responses, but she would occasionally space out or look deeply lost in thought.

...Did I end up making her angry after all?

For example. What if our positions were reversed? How would I feel?

If Shinonome were eating a meal with some other guy—

"Ngh..."

Instantly, a dark fog welled up in my heart. Goosebumps prickled along my skin.

"...This is bad, me."

Thinking like that made me no different from the guys who gave her impure looks. I shook my head vigorously to dispel the stray thought.

Still, if that really was the cause...

Today was the final day of exams, but if she still seemed off today, I should ask her about it.

Steeling my resolve, I boarded the train Shinonome rode.

However...

"Good morning, Minori-kun."

Contrary to my expectations, Shinonome greeted me with a bright smile.

"A-Ah. Good morning?"

She looked just like her usual self... if anything, she seemed to be in even higher spirits than usual.

"I am sorry if I seemed a little off lately. I had something on my mind. But I consulted a classmate yesterday, and it has been resolved."

"Is that so?"

Shinonome gave a single nod, then stared intently at my face.

"What's wrong?"

"It is nothing at all. Shall we head over quickly, Minori-kun?"

"O-Oh. Sure."

With that, we moved to our usual spot....However.

It felt like we were standing slightly closer than usual.

Ever since I started teaching her, we had stood side by side like this... but the backs of our hands were actually touching. That was how close we were.

"Come to think of it, Minori-kun."

Yet, Shinonome called my name as if paying that proximity no mind at all.

...Wait. Looking closely, her cheeks and ears seemed faintly red.

Her blue eyes showed no signs of minding it, though. Looking at me, she tilted her head slightly.

"Did you not bring an umbrella? The forecast said it would rain from the afternoon."

"...Seriously?"

A dumbfounded sound escaped my mouth. I looked up at the sky, but there were hardly any clouds right now.

Then, I looked at Shinonome again. She was holding a pure white umbrella.

"You've gotta be kidding....I hung my laundry out before leaving home."

"You must check the weather forecast properly. Are your parents working?"

"Hm? Ah, did I never mention it? I moved to Tokyo from the countryside, so I live alone."

"Is that so?...That works out quite conveniently for me, then."

"...? What do you mean by that?"

"No, please do not mind it."

Though I was curious, she told me not to mind it, so I decided not to pry. I looked out the window.

Just as Shinonome said, I really should have checked the weather forecast properly.

Moping about it wouldn't help, though. Swallowing a sigh, I turned toward Shinonome, only to find those blue eyes piercing straight into mine.

"Minori-kun. If you would like—"

Shinonome started to say something, then stopped. That was the most agonizing kind of cutoff.

"What is it? If you have something to say, don't hold back."

"—No, it is nothing. Please don't worry about it."

She said that with her cheeks and ears burning bright red. Seeing that she seemed even less willing to be asked about it now, it seemed best not to push.

...Was that really okay, though? Did it have something to do with why she returned to normal?

Before I could ask again, however, Shinonome spoke up.

"Do you have any siblings, Minori-kun?"

"Hm? No, I'm an only child."

"I see... By the way, what do your parents do for work?"

"My dad is a local civil servant back home. My mom is a full-time homemaker....What's with all the sudden questions?"

Surprised by the rapid-fire questions, I asked, to which Shinonome offered a soft disclaimer.

"Come to think of it, I realized I know almost nothing about you, Minori-kun. If you don't mind, I would like to learn more."

I couldn't detect any hidden motive behind those words or her smile. My heart swayed at the thought that she genuinely, truly wanted to know about me.

"A-Ah. I don't mind, but... where should I even start?"

"Well then, where are you from—"

From there, it turned into an interrogation session. Even though today was an exam day, I had prepared enough. In the end, though, without ever getting to ask about what happened back then, the train arrived at the station where Shinonome got off.

"Well then, see you later."

"...Yeah, see you later."

The smile she wore as she left refused to leave my mind... and even though I had intended to buy an umbrella at the convenience store in front of the station, being lost in thought made me completely forget.

◆◆◆

"Wait, for real? It's gonna rain today?"

"Apparently so. That's what the forecast said, anyway."

Arriving at school, I chatted with Eiji as usual. It seemed Eiji hadn't brought an umbrella either.

"Seriously? Guess I'll have Kirika come pick me up."

"Must be nice, you normie."

"Haha. If you're jealous, go get yourself a girlfriend."

"Not particularly jealous. Sounds like too much attention."

"That's the part where you're supposed to be jealous, man!"

Having our usual banter, a thought crossed my mind again.

What should I do on the way home today? Guess I'll just have to run for it.

◆◆◆

"It really did rain."

Waiting by the entrance with Eiji, I muttered quietly.

Outside, heavy raindrops were battering the ground.

"And it's pouring, too....Man. Homemakers everywhere must be scrambling to bring in the laundry right about now."

"People who left their laundry hanging out like me are probably crying their eyes out."

"Seriously? That's rough, man. RIP."

Thick rain poured from the overcast sky. With the lingering summer heat, stepping outside hit you with a wave of muggy, damp air. Thanks to the rain, it might actually be cooler tomorrow.

Even if I ran right now, the convenience store was quite a distance away. There was a good chance umbrellas were already sold out because of people like me, too. If that happened, I'd have to run to the station, take the train, and then run all the way home from there. I'd almost certainly catch a cold. The only saving grace was that tomorrow was Saturday.

"Ah. Want us to go buy an umbrella for you once Kirika gets here?"

"No, I'm good. I've got someone waiting for me too, after all."

There was still time before our meeting. But having Eiji and Kirika go buy one for me might cut things a bit close.

Eiji narrowed his eyes, looking toward the school gates and murmuring.

"Oh, here she comes."

A pink umbrella appeared near the school gates. I couldn't tell, but it was probably a familiar sight to Eiji.

The umbrella's owner spoke with the teacher on duty at the gate... likely asking for permission to come pick someone up. Having successfully gotten permission, she walked over toward us.

Chestnut eyes peeked out from beneath the umbrella.

"Yo, Eiji! You gotta check the weather forecast properly or you'll catch a cold one of these days. Minorin, hey, haven't seen ya since Tuesday! Wait, Minorin forgot his umbrella too? That's surprising."

The girl jogging over while waving frantically was a true beauty.

Kirika Nishizawa.

With a brown bob cut, she was the very picture of bubbly energy. Every single movement of hers was dramatic, and even now she was waving her hands around with exaggerated enthusiasm.

That beautiful girl happened to be the girlfriend of Eiji, who stood right next to me. They were a couple that looked so naturally suited for each other that anyone would nod in agreement.

"Even I forget my umbrella sometimes. If anything, I'm actually pretty sloppy, you know."

"Really? That's pretty unexpected."

I kept my apartment clean, but I didn't cook at all. Every day was either eating out or convenience store bento.

Knowing that, Eiji let out a wry chuckle. With that, I saw the two of them off.

"See you, Eiji. Catch you next week... Pray that my cold doesn't get too bad."

"You sure? We really don't mind buying an umbrella for you, you know. It's no trouble, and if you're in a rush, we can hurry."

"The convenience stores around here are probably overflowing with students anyway. Just the thought is enough—wait, what's that?"

Just then, a commotion broke out at the school gates. A massive crowd of people had formed. The teachers were shouting warnings, but no one was listening.

Both Nishizawa, who was about to open her umbrella, and Eiji beside her looked toward the gates in reaction to my voice.

"What is that? Did someone's older sister turn out to be an actress or an idol or something?"

"Sounds strangely plausible."

Eventually, the teachers cleared a path... and from there, a single high school girl holding a pure white umbrella emerged.

Wait. I've seen that uniform before. And that umbrella, I've seen it somewhere too.

A wave of restlessness began to stir in my chest.

No way. That's impossible.

Yet, contrary to my thoughts, the high school girl wearing that familiar uniform...

...A girl whose sheer aura made it obvious she was a beauty, walked in a straight line right toward me. The surrounding gazes converged on her rapidly. Eiji and Nishizawa turned to look, wondering what was going on, but her face was obscured by the umbrella.

Then, she stopped right in front of me.

"Minori-kun."

Calling my name, she lowered her umbrella.

Drip, drop. Raindrops trickled down from the tips. Her white hair, reaching down to her back, shone brilliantly in stark contrast to the overcast sky.

"I came to pick you up."

My thoughts ground to a halt. Sweat broke out on my palms, and a sudden wave of perspiration burst across my entire body.

"...Sh-Shinonome?"

She smiled like a child whose prank had succeeded. It was neither the mature expression of the past nor the gentle smile she had started showing recently. It was a smile I was seeing for the very first time.

Nagi Shinonome.

The girl who had no reason to be here was standing right before my eyes, smiling cheerfully.

"Yes, it's me, Minori-kun."

Her voice was light like a chiming bell, bouncing with thirty percent more energy than usual. I still hadn't fully grasped the situation.

◆◇◆

The clock turns back to Tuesday night.

"Haaah..."

I held my aching chest with my hand. No matter how much time passed since then, the pain refused to ease. If anything, it felt as though the ache was only growing stronger.

I had even left my dinner unfinished, causing my mother and father to worry about me.

I had to do something about this quickly. Even knowing that, my head was completely dominated by thoughts of him.

"I am... a terrible person."

Judging myself, I let out another sigh. The reason was clear.

"Minori-kun."

Because I had seen him looking so happy eating sweets with a certain woman. A woman who was, if I remembered correctly, his best friend's girlfriend.

Every time I recalled that scene, breathing became difficult, and my heart... my chest ached terribly.

"I won't be able to sleep tonight, will I?"

Holding my throbbing chest, hoping the pain would ease even a little, I stared up at the ceiling.

"...Minori-kun."

Before I knew it, I had called his name.

I wanted to hear his voice.

I wanted to meet his eyes.

Suddenly, I remembered when I had nearly fallen and he caught me in his arms.

A body as warm as the sun. The rapid, thumping heartbeat that matched my own brought me a strange sense of relief.

His scent, mingling with the refreshing fragrance of antiperspirant, was something I loved very much. I had found myself thinking—how uncharacteristic of me—that it would be wonderful if time simply stopped.

—I want him to hold me again.

I pressed a hand to my cheek.

"What on earth am I thinking?"

A slightly feverish breath escaped my lips.

Thinking about him this much, it seemed it would take quite some time before I could finally fall asleep tonight.

◆◆◆

"Shinonome-chan, got a sec?"

Thursday morning. Having arrived early to study for the exams, I was called out by Hayama-san. Stunned by the sudden approach, I froze.

"W-What can I do for you?"

"Just come along. I won't do anything bad, promise!"

Her words sounded suspicious. If it were anyone else, I would have been wary.

However, I didn't doubt her anymore. I didn't want to.

"Understood."

I nodded and let her lead me away. I had a vague guess as to where we were going.

And without missing my expectation, I was guided into the back courtyard.

"Hey. Something happened, didn't it?"

Her tone carried a strange sense of certainty.

"It is nothing."

"That's totally what people say when something did happen. Alright, I'll just ask you straight."

Though I braced myself for whatever words might come, what flew out of her mouth was entirely unexpected.

"Shinonome-chan. You're in love, aren't you?"

"...H-Huh?"

That was why such a dumbfounded sound escaped me. Hayama-san stared at me intently, breaking into a broad grin.

"You can make faces like that too, Shinonome-chan?"

"I-I was just a little surprised."

I-It's fine. It's fine. I'm good at keeping a poker face.

"Your face is looking pretty red for someone who's just surprised, though?"

I was good at it, but... I hadn't practiced dispersing the heat from my face yet.

"Hmm? Well, whatever. So what happened? Did you get into a fight with that rumored boyfriend of yours?"

"H-He is not my boyfriend!"

I raised my voice without thinking, quickly clapping both hands over my mouth. Hayama-san's lips twitched—

"Pfft, haha!"

She laughed. Delightedly.

"Haha, ahaha! What, so you really can make faces like that!"

A bit of irritation flared up inside me, but seeing Hayama-san immediately apologize dissipated my frustration.

"Sorry, sorry! It's just surprising, or rather... it makes me happy. Knowing that you're human too, Shinonome-chan."

"I am a flesh-and-blood human being."

"Mm, fufu, yeah. You're definitely human. And because you're human, you make faces like that."

Without dropping her smile, Hayama-san continued.

"Well then, how about you tell me all about Shinonome-chan's love story?"

Though her words were casual, her eyes held a serious gaze.

"Won't you talk to me? Holding this kind of stuff in really comes back to bite you later, you know."

"..."

I pondered it for a moment. Was it really all right to share this?

"Just so you know, my lips are completely sealed."

I could tell that much. She wasn't the type to go spreading rumors recklessly.

...I would tell her. There was no point in wasting time here needlessly.

"The truth is..."

I told her. About him.

The boy who had saved me. The first precious person I had ever found.

And how seeing him look so happy with another woman had caused me so much pain.

"I see."

Hayama-san listened without laughing. Her serious expression never faltered once.

"Alright. First off, there's one thing I gotta say, okay?"

"What is it?"

Gulp. The sound of swallowing saliva echoed. I didn't even realize it was my own.

"Shinonome-chan, you are crazy in love."

"Ngh..."

It felt as though my throat were being tightly squeezed. Even when I tried to say she was wrong, no voice came out.

Hayama-san nodded, as if my reaction had confirmed everything for her.

"You've never been in love before, have you, Shinonome-chan?"

"...No, I haven't."

Love. I had read novels on the subject. However, if asked whether I had ever experienced it myself, I could not say yes.

"That's why you're looking a little confused. Alright, question: have you ever felt your heart race when you're with him?"

"My heart race?"

I thought about it for a moment. Times when my heart raced while being with him.

What flashed through my mind was that moment. The memory of being caught in his arms. Even now, I could vividly recall it. His body warmth. His scent. His heartbeat.

And how my own heart had hammered even more violently.

"Bullseye, huh?"

"...To say I haven't would be a lie. However, that is not all."

I had many other memories with him besides that. And filling the vast majority of those memories was something else entirely.

"Being with him makes me feel safe. Anxiety, tension—all of those things simply vanish."

And there was one more thing. When I was with him, the mask covering my heart peeled away. I couldn't keep up my pretense. Forgetting even the teaching of "never show weakness to others," apologies came naturally to my lips.

Though I didn't put all of that into words, Hayama-san nodded vigorously.

"I see, I see. So it's more like marriage material than just a casual crush, huh?"

"M-M-Marriage?!"

My voice raised loudly again, and once more I clapped my hands over my mouth. Hayama-san wore a gentle smile.

"Yep. Just parroting what my mom says, though. But you might not get it yet. Looks like you only just became aware of it. Guess you'll move on to the romance part from here."

Thinking for a moment, Hayama-san continued.

"Ah, but you hate the idea of him being with other girls, right? Yep, that's love, alright. It's love, and it's romance."

Flustered by her words, I realized I still hadn't heard the most important part.

"U-Um, well. Setting that aside for a moment, I would like to know the solution..."

"Sorry, sorry, right!...Wait, hang on just a sec. There's one more thing I need to talk about."

Something she needed to talk about. I couldn't imagine what it was.

"About his friend. And that friend's girlfriend."

"His friend and his girlfriend?"

I tilted my head involuntarily. Hayama-san nodded and explained.

"This is just my intuition, but I think that friend might be testing you, Shinonome-chan."

"Testing me?"

"Yep," Hayama-san said, continuing.

"I'm guessing he hasn't told his friend that he got close to the—well, let's just call you the Ice Princess for a sec. He probably hasn't told his friend that he's hanging out with the Ice Princess."

"That is true. I don't believe he has."

Knowing Minori-kun, he wouldn't have said anything. If he were going to, his personality meant he would have asked me first.

"Oh, so I got it right? But do you feel like he might've mentioned you without calling you the Ice Princess? Like, saying he made a precious friend or something?"

"A-A precious... I don't know about that. But I wouldn't be surprised if he talked about me as an ordinary friend rather than the Ice Princess."

"Yeah, he probably did. Even you've changed this much, Shinonome-chan. He's probably acting different too, so it wouldn't be weird if his friend noticed."

I nodded at her words. I hope he's changed, too... I thought.

"By the way, are he and that friend super close?"

"...He talks about his friend from time to time. They seem very close."

"Hmm, hmm," Hayama-san nodded repeatedly, sorting through the information in her head.

"Hmm? Yeah, this really feels like he's throwing jabs at you, Shinonome-chan."

"Jabs?"

"Yep, jabs. Testing you, Shinonome-chan, while trying to stir things up—that's my take."

"...I apologize, I am slow on the uptake."

"Nah, part of this is probably just my imagination. But I have a feeling I'm pretty close to the mark. The other person sounds pretty similar to me, you see."

Setting that premise, she began explaining.

"If you're gonna get a boyfriend, Shinonome-chan, I'd want him to be a good guy, you know?"

"Th-Thank you... I think?"

"Right, exactly. When it's someone you're close to—or better yet, someone precious to you—you want them to be happy, don't you?"

"That is true, but... Ah, is that what you mean?"

The pieces finally clicked into place.

"Exactly. His friend is feeling you out to see what kind of person you are. More specifically, whether you have feelings for him or not. I bet he's testing to see if you get jealous."

Pointing a finger, Hayama-san shared her deduction. I digested it, chewing over the information to deepen my understanding. Listening to Hayama-san summarize it, I weighed whether it made sense.

"He tested how you feel about him, Shinonome-chan. Plus, that friend is probably curious about you too. If you made a move because you were upset about him hanging out with a girl, that'd be a huge win for them. If they meet you, they can figure out your personality. Even if you didn't do anything, it'd still push things forward between you and him. In that case, they could hear about it from him and make their next move....Basically, you can see a clear intent to stir the pot. But they're not just stirring it randomly. It's unlikely to end in a bad outcome....His friend might be quite the strategist."

Listening to her, my face grew hotter and hotter. My cheeks felt warm enough to fry an egg.

"It's all just speculation, though. They might not have been thinking anything at all, for all I know."

"I-I see. But wouldn't this... um. Wouldn't this only work under the premise that he has f-feelings for me?"

"Well, yeah, that's the premise! Honestly, there are way fewer guys who wouldn't fall for you, Shinonome-chan."

Unable to form a proper reply, I watched as Hayama-san beamed brightly.

"There's always the chance it develops into 'love' later on, but normally speaking, I'm sure he at least has feelings for you."

...Let us just blame the heat rising to my face on the lingering summer warmth.

Refocusing my thoughts, one thing stood out to me.

"Assuming this is true... isn't the girlfriend in quite a difficult position?"

"Right. Maybe she was the one who planned it all along. He couldn't have pulled it off without her cooperation, after all."

At that, Hayama-san's smile dropped.

"Either way, the fact remains that a fight was picked with you, Shinonome-chan."

Her somewhat belligerent phrasing made me furrow my brow. She continued her explanation without minding it.

"Like I said, there's a chance they didn't think it through that much. Maybe they just went to hang out without thinking anything of it. I'm sure thanking him for the study session was true, too."

Hayama-san let out a breathy laugh.

"But from where I'm standing, it looks like his friend is just stirring up trouble to see how you'll react, Shinonome-chan. If that's right, you're basically dancing in the palm of their hand. Doesn't that annoy you?"

Her eyes sparkled with mischievous excitement.

"If the other side is throwing jabs... how about landing a solid right straight right back at them?"

Hayama-san struck a boxing stance and thrust out her right fist.

Her words brought a smile to my lips as well.

Because that incident had given me a lot to think about, too. Nodding at her words...

"Understood. However, in order to do that, there is something I would like to consult with you about as well."

I began preparing to steel my resolve. Yes—

The resolve to fall in "love" with him.

◆◆◆

"Th-The Ice Princess?! What—no... I get it now."

The friend standing next to Minori-kun blinked in utter bewilderment before nodding as if everything made sense. The person beside him, who seemed to be his girlfriend, looked completely dumbfounded as well.

Right. First, I had to introduce myself.

"Nice to meet you. You must be Minori-kun's friend. I have heard a great deal about you."

His friend flinched with a start. Minori-kun was staring intently at me, but he seemed to be watching over the situation for now. Taking advantage of that, I continued my introduction.

"My name is Nagi Shinonome. Minori-kun came to my aid, and we have been on close terms ever since. I look forward to your acquaintance."

Saying so, I offered a polite bow. Hearing their flustered reactions reached my ears, nearly coaxing a smile from me.

"O-Oh, uh, I mean, I... I am called Eiji Makisaka, good sir?"

"Are you a samurai? Greet her normally."

Their exchange finally made a soft chuckle slip from my lips. Turning to the other person—his girlfriend...

"It seems you took care of Minori-kun the other day. Thank you very much."

A sharp gasp of air leaked from her throat. Perhaps I had let a little too much hostility bleed into my voice.

"N-No, not at all! Ah, I'm Kirika Nishizawa. U-Um, please spare my life?!"

"Are you a peasant who offended a samurai? The two of you really are two peas in a pod... Wait, Shinonome, why are you here in the first place?"

"Let us talk about that later, Minori-kun."

Saying that to Minori-kun, I leaned close to Nishizawa-san's ear. Keeping it quiet so he wouldn't hear.

"Thank you very much. I was able to realize a little bit of my own feelings."

To let her know I wasn't actually that angry, I spoke in the gentlest voice I could manage.

It wasn't that I had zero lingering feelings about it. But more than that, my gratitude was far greater.

Nishizawa-san's shoulders twitched, and upon understanding my words, she offered a wry smile. It seemed my message had gotten through safely.

"Well then, Minori-kun. Now that we have greeted your friends, shall we get going?"

"...Wait a second. Like I said this morning, I don't have an umbrella."

"...? That is why I came, you know?"

I opened the pure white umbrella—the favorite one my mother had bought for me. I gently beckoned toward Minori-kun. His eyes widened in surprise, and seeing his reaction made my cheeks soften into a smile. But I had no intention of hiding it in front of him anymore.

My reason for coming here today wasn't just to greet his friends, of course. Rather, the main objective lay elsewhere.

It was what Hayama-san had told me.

I still couldn't proudly declare that this was love....Though being next to Minori-kun had started making my heart race ever since this morning, I still didn't know for sure. It was my very first time experiencing this.

That was why I had to make sure.

I knew it was wrong, deep down. Using Minori-kun just to confirm my own feelings.

Even so, I wanted to know.

—Is this truly love? Or is it something else?

If it was love... if it was the same as what I had read in books, then perhaps I could change. No.

I had to change.

That was why, in order to do that, first—

◆◇◆

In the rain, she opened her umbrella. As I froze, unsure of what to do, a small smile crossed her lips.

"That reminds me, Minori-kun. There is something I would like to ask of you."

A request? I murmured quietly under my breath. Wondering if we should move somewhere we could speak privately, I noticed Shinonome didn't seem to mind Eiji and the others being around.

After a brief pause, I nodded.

"Thank you."

The sound of rain pattering against the umbrella echoed between us. Thinking it wouldn't do to leave her standing out in the rain, I asked her.

"Want to talk over here instead?"

"No. It is a request, but it will only take a moment."

Saying so, the corners of her lips curled upward—and she held out her hand. The hand not holding the umbrella.

"Minori-kun."

Her voice carried clearly, even amidst the heavy rain. There was no missing it.

Which was why...

"Will you become my friend?"

I couldn't believe my own ears. At those words. And at that action.

All sorts of thoughts swirled in my head. Yet the question of "why" never surfaced. That was only natural.

Because wanting to become friends didn't require a reason.

...And yet, I felt a strong sense of dissonance at those words. Why, I didn't even know myself.

I believed her words came from the heart. But somehow, it felt like there was something more beneath the surface.

"Is that... a no?"

Shinonome's voice was small, yet it pierced sharply through my chest. Being asked like that, how could I possibly refuse?

No, that wasn't it. That wasn't right at all. It wasn't because I couldn't refuse.

"I want to be friends with you too, Shinonome."

Because without a doubt, that was my true, honest feeling.

Replying with that, I took her hand. Her fair, beautiful fingers gripped my hand firmly.

"Yes!"

Her reply was cheerful enough to rival the pouring rain, and her smile was dazzlingly bright.

◆◆◆

I felt an overwhelming number of eyes on us. And understandably so.

—I was walking home with Shinonome right now. What was more, we were sharing the same umbrella—a classic romantic umbrella-sharing situation. On top of that, we were standing incredibly close.

Due to our height difference, I was the one holding the umbrella, which meant Shinonome's shoulder was brushing against my arm.

"B-By the way, Shinonome. Why did you come all the way out here?"

When I asked, Shinonome made a slightly displeased face.

"Because I didn't want you to catch a cold, Minori-kun."

"I-I see..."

No, that made sense. Yeah. That sounded like something Shinonome would say. While there had been a high chance I'd buy an umbrella, she had probably planned for the worst-case scenario. And in reality, it had been the worst-case scenario.

Just then, Shinonome's gaze shifted to me—specifically, toward my left side. Crap, had she noticed?

"Minori-kun?"

"Wh-What is it?"

"Unless my eyes deceive me, it looks like your left shoulder is getting wet."

"Must be your imagination, right?"

Even as I replied, Shinonome gave me a flat, skeptical look.

...Guh. But it couldn't be helped.

Given the size of the umbrella, the two of us had to stand practically glued together to fit under it.

As that thought crossed my mind, Shinonome seemed to reach the same conclusion, staring intently at the umbrella.

And then—

Whiff. A sweet fragrance struck my senses. At the exact same time, a warm sensation rushed through my arm and side.

Shinonome had pressed even closer. Packing our bodies tightly together.

"Sh-Shinonome?!"

"Th-This leaves no problem, right?"

Her face was bright red, as if she had a fever. I could feel the heat rising to my own face, too.

"Y-You're touching... you're touching me."

I managed to choke out the words somehow.

Yes. She was pressing against me. Against my arm.

Shinonome's blush spread all the way to her ears, and though her eyes grew slightly watery, she made no move to pull away.

"I-It can't... be helped. It is only... until we reach your hou-se."

Shinonome stumbled over her words. It tugged heavily at my heartstrings, but... wait.

"My house?"

"A-Ah, come to think of it, I hadn't mentioned it. Or rather, I hadn't asked. Minori-kun, what are your plans for today?"

"Plans? Nothing in particular, but..."

"In that case!"

Shinonome raised her voice in delight. It was so rare for her that even she seemed slightly surprised by herself. Clearing her throat in embarrassment, she continued.

"I... I would like to hold an exam celebration at your house, Minori-kun."

Her face was still flushed red. In stark contrast, her blue eyes stared straight at me. As if steeling herself for something.

"I was jealous. Of Makisaka-san and Nishizawa-san."

Her fingers gently overlapped with mine.

"I want to become even closer with you, Minori-kun."

Goosebumps broke out across my entire body. A thrilling pleasure swept through me, as if my heart were being gently stroked.

Those words... made me helplessly, overwhelmingly happy.

As I slowly nodded, Shinonome's face lit up radiantly.

"Well then! Since it is a celebration, I shall treat you to dinner tonight!"

"Y-You're staying until tonight? Wait, you can cook?"

"I can. In fact, cooking is one of my specialties, and I quite enjoy it. Please look forward to it."

Exchanging those words, I noticed something else.

"Feels like the way you talk has changed a bit."

"You noticed? Since we are friends now, Minori-kun, I thought I would speak in a way that feels a bit more familiar. The polite tone is just a habit of mine, though."

Listening to Shinonome take the initiative and nodding along, my heart was hammering violently.

At the same time, I realized something. Her heart—Shinonome's heart, pressed flush against me—was thumping rapidly as well.

Finding that surprising, the realization only fueled my nervousness, making my heart beat so hard it actually hurt.

Let's calm down for a second.

Just as I took a quiet, deep breath, trying to regain my composure...

"Still, I am glad. Now I can finally become friends with Hayama-san."

Shinonome murmured softly. I didn't quite understand the meaning of those words... or rather, it caught me by surprise.

"Y-You weren't friends yet?"

"Yes. Not yet."

"Uh... Because you haven't talked much, or...?"

"That is not the reason."

Shinonome stopped walking, naturally causing me to halt in my tracks as well.

Her fair cheeks were flushed a deep crimson, yet her blue eyes remained fixed on me... and she gave a shy, bashful smile.

"Because I decided that you had to be the first, Minori-kun."

It felt as though someone had reached in and gripped my heart directly. That was how completely unexpected those words were.

"Also, Minori-kun."

"Wh-What is it?"

Before I could fully process what she had said, my name was called. Her voice was so close to my ear that my shoulders twitched in surprise.

"I have a proposal."

Her pale pink lips wove light, melodic sounds.

"Now that exams are over... I was thinking it would be nice if we gave each other a reward."

My heart pounded so hard it was painful. The rhythm of her heartbeat transmitting through my arm echoed with equal, if not greater, intensity.

"A reward, huh."

"Yes. Anything is fine. There is something I would like you to do for me, too."

Impure thoughts bloomed within my chest, which I forcefully crushed down with pure willpower.

"Can I ask one thing?"

To her questioning tilt of the head, I continued.

"Shinonome... what is it you want me to do?"

Squeezing the question from my parched throat, Shinonome narrowed her eyes and smiled.

Gently, a single pale, delicate finger was raised before her lips.

"It is... a secret."

A glimmer of anticipation leaked from her narrowed eyes. It felt as though they were shining thirty percent brighter than usual. My heart slammed against my chest with far greater force than back then... when I had caught her in my arms.

Day by day, this feeling was growing.

If she kept doing things like this, it would really, truly be bad.

—I'm going to fall in love with her.

Even though we were just friends. Even though she had only just asked me to be her friend moments ago.

Even while thinking that—

"—Alright."

That was the only reply I could manage.