Section 2

Chapter 3

Under the bedsheets, pure white hair swayed softly, tickling my skin.

"Ehehe... Souta-kun."

A girl so beautiful she stole the breath of anyone who looked at her. Even with a straight face, she looked like a work of art, but right now her cheeks softened into a radiant smile....And she was doing it right in my arms, whispering my name.

"What is it?"

"I love you so much."

She wrapped her arms around my back and squeezed tightly. Just that simple act made my heart leap so hard it almost hurt.

—Nagi Shinonome.

A breathtaking girl with pure white hair reminiscent of first snow and skin as pale as milk. Her eyes were as deep and blue as the sea, and she had originally been a person of few expressions.

Since we attended different high schools, my—Souta Minori's—only point of contact with her had been riding the same train....Until that day.

One day, I stepped in to save her from a groper. However, the trauma of the incident left her terrified of men. To overcome that fear, she started talking with me—and eventually, we became friends.

A lot happened after that. She cooked for me as a reward for my test scores... She asked me to pat her head, and we even shared lap pillows. It was an intimacy that went far beyond what most would call mere friendship. Looking back on it now, I feel like what I did in return didn't amount to proper repayment at all.

And freshest in my mind were the public performance she starred in—and our trip to the amusement park.

I found myself drawn to Nagi, finally realizing that I was in love with her. But it took me far too long to steel my resolve.

Failing to notice the emotional distance growing between Nagi and her parents, she ended up in an arranged marriage proposal with the son of a corporate executive, suggested by her father.

Thinking Nagi was now completely out of my reach, I could do nothing but sink into despair—until my friend, Eiji Makisaka, knocked some sense into me.

With the help of my friends, including Eiji, I went to Nagi's house... and managed to convey my feelings to her. The issue between Nagi and her parents was resolved, and we officially became a couple. But between the lack of sleep and sheer emotional exhaustion, I ended up collapsing.

When I opened my eyes, Nagi was right by my side. The moment she realized I was awake, she slipped into bed with me—which brought us to the present moment.

Having the person you love express their affection for you. Not just in words, but feeling it through a warm embrace like this made it all the more tangible. I was undeniably happy about it, but... it had been going on like this for nearly an hour now.

I'll be honest. I can't hold out. My heart really can't take this much longer.

"N-Nagi. Don't you think it's about time we..."

"No."

Giving me that curt refusal, she hugged me even tighter. The thumping rhythm of my heart echoed violently throughout my entire body.

"I want to feel you with my whole body, with everything I have, Souta-kun....Part of it is that I still feel like I'm dreaming."

Nagi buried her face directly into my chest. The smile on her lips was gentle and warm.

—The "Ice Princess."

That was what everyone around her used to call her. She carried an aura so sharp and frigid that anyone foolish enough to confess would have their heart shattered. I had seen her brush off male students on the train multiple times myself.

However, all of that stemmed from her father's teaching: Never show weakness to others. Afterward, Nagi's father apologized to her, and their misunderstandings were completely cleared up.

And now, here in the present. The girl once known as the "Ice Princess" was nowhere to be found. The ice had completely melted away.

Nagi rested her hands against my chest and closed her eyes.

"Souta-kun's kindness... No. Your voice. Your heartbeat. Your warmth. Everything. I just love feeling every single part of you. So please, just a little longer."

Every single word shook my brain and tugged at my heartstrings. But—would it be all right to tell her?

To tell her that Chie-san and Suzaka-san—Nagi's mother and her personal maid—were watching us right now.

The door was slightly cracked open, and the two of them were peeking inside. What's more, they were beaming with massive grins.

Our eyes met, and Chie-san pressed an index finger to her lips, mouthing shh....Well, whatever. Is it really whatever, though? Lounging around in someone else's bed together like this.

"...I'm not going to hold back anymore, you know. Fufu."

Watching Nagi giggle like that made all those worries fade away.

As I stroked her silky, smooth hair, an innocent, childlike smile spread across her face. Hugging her back, her warmth seeped right into me.

A sweet fragrance tickled my nostrils... and something soft pressed against me.

There was no denying this was terrible for my heart. Ever since I woke up, my chest had been pounding relentlessly, and my face felt hot enough to boil.

Yet, more than anything—I found her so utterly precious.

Looking at the girl resting in my arms, a fierce desire welled up within me: I wanted to make her happy.

"Hey, Nagi."

When I called her name, Nagi shifted her head ever so slightly. She peeked up at me through her lashes.

...What is this adorable creature?

Swallowing those words, I whispered softly so the people at the door wouldn't hear.

"I love you too. Every single part of you."

I still felt a wave of embarrassment saying it out loud. But Nagi's face lit up with absolute joy—

"I love you too!"

—and with that exclamation, she slid up slightly and threw her arms around me.

Her soft cheek pressed against mine.

Her warmth, tenderness, and softness washed over my entire body.

...Though, that completely defeated the point of whispering.

Feeling two pairs of warm, amused gazes piercing through us, I gently patted Nagi on the back.

◆◆◆

"Th-Thank you very much for having me."

"Of course. Please do come visit again. Souichirou-san will certainly be delighted as well."

About an hour after that, it was finally time for me to take Nagi and head home.

"Ah, that reminds me. Minori-kun... No, may I call you Souta-kun from now on?"

"Y-Yes. That's totally fine."

Chie-san stared intently at me. Unlike her demeanor from earlier, she now carried an air of solemn sincerity.

Even so... just like Souichirou-san, Chie-san looked remarkably young. And the atmosphere she gave off was very similar to Nagi's. No, it was the other way around. Nagi must have taken after Chie-san.

Even without a blood relation, living under the same roof would naturally lead to shared mannerisms.

Reaching that conclusion, I snapped my focus back to listen to what she had to say.

"Souta-kun. I would like to confirm something with you right now....May we consider you the fiancé of our daughter, Nagi?"

My eyes went wide at the sudden question.

"If it is known she has a fiancé, no one will dare approach Nagi with unwanted advances. I am sure that would give you peace of mind as well, Souta-kun. As for whether you will marry into our family, we can discuss that another time. What do you say?"

—The topic of taking her family name just casually slipped into the conversation. No, let's set that aside for a moment.

While reeling from the sudden proposal, I glanced to my side. Nagi was looking at me with a tense expression, but her blue eyes clearly shimmered with hopeful anticipation.

Well, my answer was already decided from the start.

"I look forward to being in your care."

The moment I answered, Chie-san gave a deeply pleased nod.

"Ah, right. Nagi, lend me your ear for a moment."

"...? Yes, of course."

Chie-san whispered something into Nagi's ear, causing Nagi's face to flush bright red in an instant.

"M-Mama?! I-I mean, Mother!"

"You're welcome to call me Mama, Nagi. In fact, I would love it if you did."

"Moth... M-Mama."

Hearing Chie-san's words turned Nagi's face as red as a ripe apple.

Mama... I see. Nagi, that's what you wanted to call her all along.

A smile threatened to spread across my face as a gentle warmth filled my chest. Chie-san let out a soft chuckle, gracefully covering her mouth with her hand.

"Fufu, forgive me. You're just so adorable, Nagi....I've already packed your things, so go grab your luggage before you leave."

"...U-Understood. Souta-kun, please wait for just a moment."

I didn't quite grasp the full meaning of that, but I gave a nod for now.

"...? Ah, sure."

Nagi headed back to her room to fetch something. She returned a short while later, carrying a relatively large bag. If I recalled correctly, it was the bag she normally brought to school... but judging by how full it looked, it seemed fairly heavy.

"Nagi? What's all that luggage for?"

"...Please don't worry about it. Well then, shall we head out?"

Nagi gave a small shake of her head, though her cheeks were still a faint shade of crimson. It was probably best not to pry too much.

After saying our goodbyes to Chie-san and Suzaka-san, we stepped outside. I had wanted to greet Nagi's father, Souichirou-san, as well, but he was currently away delivering the formal refusal of the arranged marriage proposal, and no one knew when he would return. I made a mental note to offer my proper apologies and thanks at a later date.

Once we passed through the front gates, I pulled my smartphone from my pocket.

"Sorry right after stepping out, but I need to get in touch with Eiji real quick. They helped me out a ton this time, so I told him I'd contact him when it was all settled."

"Is that so?...Though, it looks like there won't be any need for that."

Nagi giggled softly. "Please take a look," she said, directing her gaze down the street.

Standing right there—

"Oh, you're finally here."

"Yo! Looks like a success, judging by the vibe."

"Ah, they're here. Did you make sure to flick her forehead for me?"

There stood Eiji, his girlfriend Kirika Nishizawa, and Hikaru Hayama, whom I had gotten close with through our connection with Nagi.

"...A forehead flick?"

"Ah, that reaction means you didn't. Well, figured you wouldn't have the heart to do it."

Letting out a soft laugh at Hayama's words, we walked over to Eiji's group.

"You guys were waiting for us? It's practically winter out here."

"Just figured you'd be wrapping up around now, so we came by."

"Liar. You stood here the entire time saying, 'I gotta be the first one to see how Souta did, whether he succeeded or failed.' I'm the one who had to bring you that coat, remember?"

"A-Ah, hey, shut up... You're making me look uncool."

"For the record, I only grabbed a jacket and came to wait because I was too curious to stay home."

That was so like Eiji. And the same went for Nishizawa and Hayama.

We truly were blessed with incredible friends.

I clapped Eiji on the shoulder while he sipped his hot cocoa.

"Thanks, man."

"You're the one who put in the work."

"You're the one who gave me the push to do it. You're the reason I got back on my feet. So, thank you."

"...You're welcome."

Seeing Eiji look so bashful brought a natural smile to my face....Next, I turned my gaze toward Nagi.

"...I caused you all so much worry, and so much trouble. I am truly, deeply sorry."

"You don't need to apologize....I share some of the blame, after all. But, Shinonome-chan... No, Nagi. Close your eyes."

A question mark practically popped over Nagi's head at Hayama's words, but she obediently closed her eyes as told.

Hayama pulled back her finger, primed it, and—

Flick!

—a remarkably crisp snap echoed through the air.

"Owch."

Nagi let out a cute little whimper, clutching her forehead with both hands.

"That's your punishment for keeping everything from me. I asked Minori-kun to do it for me, but figured he wouldn't be able to bring himself to."

Hayama offered a warm, gentle smile as she spoke.

"Next time, talk to me, okay? We're friends, after all."

"...Yes! I'm so sorry....And thank you."

Nagi gave a polite, respectful bow, to which Hayama responded with a small, pleased nod.

Watching their heartwarming exchange, we began our walk back.

"By the way, what are we doing for lunch? Should we bump up the schedule and order pizza now?"

"Nah, let's save that. Wanna eat out somewhere?"

I had already told Nagi about our plan to have a pizza party with Eiji and the others. While we were discussing what to do, Nagi let out a small gasp.

"In that case, would you like me to make lunch?...If I recall correctly, there was karaage on the menu list at Souta-kun's house. How does that sound?"

"Are you sure?"

She had been through a lot since this morning and had to be exhausted. I asked out of concern, but Nagi gave a bright, confident nod.

"Yes! Consider it my way of apologizing for the trouble I've caused everyone. Besides, if I make extra, I can pack it into tomorrow's bento for both myself and Souta-kun!"

"...If you're up for it, I'd love that. What about you three?"

"Count me in! I love karaage!"

"Oh, hell yeah! Me too!"

"Me three~!"

With everyone on board, we decided to make a stop at the supermarket on our way home.

While walking toward the store, Nagi's fingers gently brushed against mine. Glancing beside me, she gave me a tender, sweet smile.

Without letting go, she hooked her pinky around mine. Then, leaning her joyful face close to my ear—

"I love you so much, Souta-kun."

—she whispered.

My mouth twitched uncontrollably, and I quickly covered it with one hand. She probably noticed, but I couldn't help trying to hide it.

Nagi watched me with a delighted, beaming expression.

"Well then, shall we go, Souta-kun?"

"...Yeah."

Were days like this going to continue from now on?

Was I really going to survive this emotionally...?

No, it wasn't like I needed to hold back anymore... Wait, no, that's wrong. There's a proper order to these things. One wrong move and she might end up hating me.

Familiarity breeds contempt—courtesy must be maintained even between close friends. Especially since we were outside right now, I needed to keep myself in check.

With our pinkies tightly intertwined, I walked alongside Nagi, who looked utterly ecstatic. Soon enough, voices drifted over from behind us.

"Look at that sickeningly sweet, innocent couple."

"Even we aren't that blatant about it~. Did we ever have a phase like that?"

"...Well, isn't it fine? They look like they're having fun."

I deliberately tuned out their banter, cleared my throat once, and picked up the pace.

Nagi must have heard them as well, but she simply maintained her joyful, radiant smile.

◆◆◆

"Pork is quite cheap today. For tomorrow... what should we do? Would it be all right if I came over to Souta-kun's place again tomorrow?"

"...? Don't you have lessons or something tomorrow?"

"I do, but I want to be with Souta-kun tomorrow as well. So once they're finished, I thought I would discuss it with M... ahem, with Mother."

Nagi brought it up so naturally, a delicate shade of peach dusting her cheeks.

For my part, hearing that made me incredibly happy... but a slight concern crossed my mind.

"...Are you sure that's okay? You just made up with Souichirou-san and your mother, so wouldn't it be better to spend time with them?"

"It will be fine. You see, Father and Mother get along so well, I was wondering if I should give them some time alone every now and then. Of course, I don't intend to impose on Souta-kun's place forever... and above all, we'll have plenty of family time outside of meals from now on."

Her eyes sparkled with genuine delight. If she felt that way, then it would surely be fine. Moving forward, Nagi would be able to grow even closer to her family, and they could openly speak their minds to one another.

"All right, then. I'll look forward to tomorrow too."

"Fufu. As will I....Ah, chicken is on sale as well. That worked out perfectly."

As I watched Nagi carefully examine the cuts of meat, I once again felt intense stares piercing into our backs.

"How many years do you think they've been married?"

"First year... Nah. Even after ten years, they'd still look like that. Souta strikes me as the type who'd insist on tagging along for every grocery run."

"That framing just makes you want to stick a kid right between them, doesn't it? Holding hands with both of them all happily."

My mouth twitched at the remarks floating over from behind.

While debating whether to tell them they were teasing us too much, I noticed out of the corner of my eye that Nagi's face had gone bright red.

"What's wrong?"

"U-Um. Souta-kun..."

Cradling several packs of chicken in her arms, Nagi looked up at me.

"H-How many children would you like to have?"

For a second, the meaning of her words failed to register.

...What is Nagi even saying?

I turned my whole head to stare directly at her.

The moment our eyes met, Nagi began flustering about in a panic. Fearing she might drop them, I took the packs of chicken from her and placed them into the shopping basket.

"N-No, um, well, you see. A-After all, an heir is necessary."

"An heir."

"Y-Yes. But, um... as long as it's with Souta-kun, regardless of heirs, I was thinking having any number of children would be wonderful."

"H-H-Hold on a second. You're getting way too far ahead of yourself. What about finances and stuff?"

"Bro, that's not even the main issue. You guys are literally still high schoolers. You can't even legally get married for another two years."

Eiji tossed in a deadpan reality check from behind.

However, Nagi's head was so consumed by the thought that she reached out and squeezed my hand tightly.

"M-Money won't be an issue. Mother said she would support us with all her might."

"N-No, relying on that kind of thing isn't really right..."

"O-Or do you not want very many children, Souta-kun—"

"All right, that's enough out of you two lovebirds. People around us are giving you crazy looks."

"Kyu!"

Hayama delivered a light chop to Nagi's forehead, making her let out a startled squeak.

"Honestly... what kind of conversation are you having in broad daylight? Save that stuff for the bedroom at night."

"Au..."

"And you too, Minori-kun. If you don't rein her in properly, she's just gonna keep accelerating. You need to follow those two's exam—actually, definitely don't follow their example."

"Hey now! There's no couple out there who sets a better example than us!"

"Yeah, that's right, that's right! We're a perfectly wholesome, lovey-dovey couple!...In public, anyway!"

"Right, right. I'm just gonna pretend I didn't hear that last part."

Resting a hand against her forehead, Nagi smiled at the trio's usual banter. Then, she leaned in to whisper secretly into my ear.

"...Shall we continue this conversation tonight, then?"

Her soft, breathy whisper tickled my eardrum. The sheer destructive power of it caused my brain to short-circuit for a second.

With her pale cheeks flushed a brilliant red, she naturally took my hand.

As we walked like that, countless gazes bore into our backs. Mostly from the three behind us.

Our distance was admittedly a bit too close. When I attempted to pull my hand away, an intensely lonely expression washed over her face.

"...Just our pinkies, then."

The moment I said that, a delighted smile returned to Nagi's face as she hooked her pinky around mine.

As we resumed our shopping, Hayama fell into step beside Nagi.

"—Watching you two, one thing really stands out. The distance between you guys shrank an insane amount, didn't it? Not just physically, but more like... emotionally? Or mentally?"

"Now that we understand each other's feelings, and above all... being close to Souta-kun makes me feel so safe, which is probably why it looks that way."

Nagi let out a soft chuckle at Hayama's words and leaned her shoulder against mine. Her cheeks were dyed a translucent pink, as if her milk-white skin had turned into strawberry milk.

Watching her, my own cheeks threatened to loosen into a sloppy grin again. Reminding myself that we were out in public, I firmly tightened my lips.

"S-Speaking of which, I think we're out of cooking oil. Let's go grab some, Nagi."

"Eh? Ah, yes. Right away!"

Pushing the cart forward, Nagi walked right beside me. My pinky gripping the handle remained firmly linked with hers.

◆◆◆

Having finished our shopping, we safely made it back to my apartment. After ushering Eiji and the others into the living room, I headed into the kitchen with Nagi.

"We ended up buying quite a lot, didn't we?"

"A lot of things were on sale. I made sure to check the expiration dates, so we should be fine."

I replied while unpacking the ingredients from the grocery bags alongside Nagi. She set aside what we needed for right now, while I stored the rest in the fridge, freezer, and vegetable crisper.

After putting everything away, I looked back toward Nagi—only to find her standing completely frozen by the counter.

Her blue eyes were staring intently from the sink to the stove, and all the way to the dish cupboard. Looking closer, I noticed she was biting her lower lip firmly.

"...Nagi?"

"Until this morning, I truly believed I would never be able to come here again."

Nagi picked up the cutting board, her gaze lingering on the frying pan.

"Even if I wanted to, I thought it would be impossible....I thought I would never be able to cook for Souta-kun again, or eat meals together with you. Not to mention touching you, I thought I wouldn't even be allowed to meet your eyes ever again."

Setting the cutting board down, Nagi offered a faint smile. That wistful, slightly melancholic expression gradually brightened into something warm.

"But it didn't turn out that way. Everything—every single bit of this is thanks to you and everyone else, Souta-kun. Thank you, truly."

With those words, she took one step, and then another toward me.

Wrapping both arms around my neck, she pressed her entire body against mine in a tight embrace.

A soft, sweet fragrance struck straight to my brain.

I thought I would have gotten used to it by now, but that wasn't the case at all.

The sweet scent dulled my senses. My heart hammered loudly against my ribs.

Yet, looking at her expression... seeing Nagi softly smiling with a faint glimmer of tears in her eyes, I could feel my own lips relaxing into a smile.

"You're very welcome."

Reaching around her waist, I pulled Nagi into a firm hug.

Since I was slightly taller than Nagi, she had to stand a bit on her tiptoes. She rested her chin comfortably on my shoulder.

Her frame felt so slender and delicate. Almost as if applying the slightest bit of pressure might break her.

However, I knew that wasn't the case.

Smiling at Nagi as she squeezed me as if pleading for even more warmth, I hugged her back with all my strength.

"Nfufu."

Her soft giggle and warm breath tickled my ear. But I didn't want her to stop in the slightest.

As I stroked her silky hair and head, another gentle laugh tickled my ears.

—Just then.

"Hey, hey, there was something I wanted to ask—"

The sliding door opened, and Hayama poked her head in. An overwhelming sense of deja vu hit me.

"...Yeah, never mind. It can wait till later."

Holding her head in her hands, Hayama quietly backed away. She must have caught on to the mood.

And as for Nagi, who was the center of it all—

"Ehehe... Being like this with you makes me so happy, Souta-kun."

She seemed entirely oblivious to her surroundings....Was she really going to be all right at this rate?

Hayama would be with her at school so that should be fine, but I needed to be careful whenever I was out in public alone with Nagi. If she started running wild like she did during our grocery run, things would get out of hand fast.

When I gently patted Nagi's back, she let out another delighted hum.

Seeing her like this—feeling the overwhelming relief that I would be able to keep seeing Nagi this happy from now on—a warm trail of moisture rolled down my cheek.

"...Souta-kun?"

"It's nothing."

I inadvertently tightened my embrace. My voice trembled slightly, and a sharp sting rose in the back of my nose.

Even though it must have been tight, Nagi hugged me back just as fiercely.

I didn't put it into words. If I did, my lingering anxieties might rub off on her.

I didn't want to show Nagi such an uncool side of myself.

I wanted to cherish the girl in my arms. I wanted to protect her. I wanted to make her happy.

All those intertwined emotions escaped my chest in the form of a long sigh.

"Souta-kun."

She called my name... and suddenly, a warm touch rested against the top of my head.

It was Nagi's palm.

That hand stroked my head gently, tenderly... as if cherishing something of immeasurable value.

"I love you so much, Souta-kun."

Her voice was soft. Yet, it was filled with profound strength and heartfelt emotion.

"—I will never hand you over to anyone else. I swear that I will make you happy with my own hands."

Thinking she might have read my mind, a chuckle escaped my lips.

I ran my right hand through Nagi's hair, combing through it as I stroked it in return.

Her hair was astonishingly smooth, never catching on my fingers even once. It felt so nice that I couldn't help doing it again and again.

Nagi giggled ticklishly. It was a rare kind of laugh she seldom showed—one reserved exclusively for when I patted her head.

"—I feel the exact same way."

Nagi buried her face into the crook of my neck. Her shifting hair brushed against my cheek, carrying that soft, delicate scent.

"I promise that I'll make you happy, Nagi."

"Yes!"

Holding Nagi tightly with everything I had, I felt a deep, overwhelming gratitude that she was here by my side right now.

◆◆◆

"How is it? Did I manage to recreate it properly?"

"Yeah, it's incredible....The flavor and the crispiness are identical. It's so delicious."

The karaage Nagi made carried a deeply nostalgic, wonderful flavor. Though when I say nostalgic, my mother had just made it for me when I went home for summer break, so it hadn't actually been that long.

Even so, good food was good food. It was so delicious that I felt like I could eat this karaage for a week straight without getting tired of it.

"Whoa, this is awesome. Totally has that home-cooked vibe of someone else's house. So good."

"I know, right? Home-cooked karaage at a friend's place always hits different."

"What does that even mean...? Though, I guess I kind of get it."

It was a conversation—and a compliment—typical of Eiji and the others.

As we continued eating... despite having made a massive portion for five people, before we knew it, every last piece was gone.

"Thank you for the meal. That was really—truly delicious, Nagi."

"Fufu. I'm glad."

I had even gone ahead and grabbed a second helping of rice. Thinking I should move around a bit, I stood up and began clearing the dishes.

"I'll give you a hand."

"No, it's fine. You're our guests, so just sit back and relax."

"Ah, then I will help."

"You already cooked the whole meal, Nagi, so you can relax too."

"Cleaning up is part of cooking, after all."

"...Fair enough."

There was no arguing when Nagi put it like that. As the two of us stacked the plates together, Nishizawa watched us with a sly grin.

"Looking at you two like this, you really do seem like a married couple."

My hands froze mid-reach.

Nagi reacted the same way, the plates in her hands letting out a sharp clatter.

"Oh yeah, totally. When I went to visit my uncle's place right after he got married when I was a kid, the vibe was exactly like this."

"H-Hey, stop teasing us, you two."

"Nah, I'm being pretty serious. Don't you think so, Hikarun?"

"Well, yeah. But their dynamic is kind of hard to pin down. One second they're total lovebirds, and the next they feel like an old married couple. What's crazy is that the intensity of their affection is always dialed up to eleven."

Their commentary made my face grow hotter by the second. In contrast to me, Nagi...

"E-Ehehe. Do you really think so?"

She was grinning foolishly, her cheeks completely melting. She set her plate down and tried her best to hide her face from the three of them... but it was in full view from where I stood. Besides, her dopey voice made it obvious she was beaming anyway.

In high spirits, Nagi gathered the dishes and carried them off to the kitchen ahead of me.

"...You three just take it easy."

Managing to toss that reply to Nishizawa and the others who were thoroughly enjoying themselves, I followed Nagi into the kitchen.

"Ah, please leave the plates over here. There aren't that many, so I'll wash them up in no time."

"Ah, got it."

Setting the plates down, I was about to step back so I wouldn't get in her way, but Nagi stopped me. "Please wait."

Nagi set down the plate in her hands with a light clink and turned to look at me.

"...I felt so happy."

"About what Nishizawa and the others said?"

"That too, of course. But... when I realized that I'm not a guest here, but the one welcoming others in... it just filled me with so much joy."

Nagi's cheeks twitched softly. Her face seemed to melt into a smile without her even trying. I knew the feeling well, having experienced the exact same thing moments ago.

"...I see. Hey, Nagi. Do you have a second?"

"Yes? What is it?"

"Wait here for a moment."

Leaving Nagi in the kitchen, I went back to my room for a moment.

Then, I pulled a certain object from the back of my desk drawer.

Returning to the kitchen, I found Nagi waiting patiently for me with a puzzled look on her face.

"Sorry to keep you waiting."

"Not at all, a moment like this is nothing. More importantly, what happened?"

"...There's something I want to give you, Nagi. Hold out your hand."

Tilting her head curiously, Nagi held her palm face-up.

Onto that palm—I placed a key.

"...! Is this...!"

"The key to my apartment. A spare, obviously. We're usually together whenever you come over, but... I really wanted to give it to you."

My face felt terribly hot. But watching her look up at me, waiting for my words with such pure delight, made me refuse to look away.

If I didn't say it properly, my feelings wouldn't reach her. I took a deep breath.

I looked straight at Nagi. Seeing her joyful expression naturally melted away my tension. Exhaling fully, I locked eyes with her blue gaze.

"You're my fiancée now, Nagi, so you're practically family—no. You are family. That's why I want you to have this....Just like you said earlier, I want you to be the one welcoming people in from now on."

Even though I had already placed it in her hand, I still asked for confirmation. I wanted to be sure of her feelings.

Nagi clutched the key tightly with both hands, holding it dearly against her chest.

"Of course!"

Her blue eyes sparkled brilliantly as she beamed with joy. Staring intently at the key she held so close, the corners of her mouth stayed curled into a radiant grin.

"To tell you the truth..."

Watching her look so thoroughly adorable, I listened as she murmured softly.

"This is the very first time I've ever possessed a house key. Usually, our driver picks me up and brings me all the way home. And there are always maids at the house, so I never had any need for one."

"Is that so?"

"Yes. That's why this makes me so immensely happy. Thinking that the very first key I ever own belongs to Souta-kun's home... it makes the inside of my chest feel so wonderfully warm."

With a soft smile, her eyes curved with tender affection.

"I will treasure it."

"Yeah."

Hearing that brought me such happiness that I couldn't help placing a hand on top of her head. Nagi happily welcomed the touch.

...It took a good while longer before we actually got around to washing the dishes.

◆◆◆

After that, we ended up watching a variety of movies at Eiji's suggestion.

Apparently, Eiji and Nishizawa watched movies quite often, and when we mentioned we rarely did, they went on about how we were missing out.

Eiji had a streaming subscription, and since I happened to have a cable I bought on a whim that let you display your phone screen onto the TV, we decided to use that.

We started with a safe, well-known foreign film. As expected of a famous title, it was thoroughly enjoyable even for me. Nagi looked captivated, and Hayama seemed to be having fun as well, which was the best part.

Out of the group, Hayama had originally only known Nagi, but she blended in effortlessly with Eiji and Nishizawa. Or rather, thanks to Eiji and Nishizawa's high communication skills, they had gotten along remarkably fast.

The second movie was entertaining as well....However, before I knew it, my eyes kept drifting toward Nagi.

Her expressions shifted constantly as she watched, looking breathtakingly beautiful every second.

During the opening, she leaned forward, glued to the screen. In comedy scenes, her cheeks softened; during action sequences, she clasped her hands together in suspense... and during romance scenes, her face flushed red.

Every single expression was picture-perfect, and if I let my guard down, my gaze was pulled in just like it used to be.

Right then—my eyes met hers. She offered a soft smile and gently placed her hand over mine.

...Eiji and the others definitely noticed that.

However, they didn't tease us about it, and we finished watching the second movie in peace.

While Eiji was looking for the next title...

"I really like this one. It's a horror movie, but are you guys bad with those?"

"Ah, this one! We went to the theater like three times to see it, didn't we?! It's super scary, but crazy good!"

"...A horror movie, huh. I've never watched one, so I can't really say. What about you two?"

"I think I'm good. I can handle it."

"As for me... I'm not entirely sure. My reason is the same as Souta-kun's."

Nagi's answer made me pause in thought.

Would she be okay?...When we went to the haunted house at the amusement park, she was pretty terrified.

Remembering that day gave me a sharp pang in my chest, and I shook my head to dispel the thought.

Looking at Nagi with slight concern, my thoughts ground to a halt.

Her expression was brimming with pure curiosity....A case of being scared yet unable to look away, perhaps?

Come to think of it, Nagi seemed to have enjoyed the haunted house in the end... I think.

And so, we decided to watch the horror movie.

However...

"S-Souta-kun. May I hold your hand?"

"We're already holding hands, though."

The movie started off right away with a scene of someone being attacked. Apparently, the antagonist wasn't a ghost, but a grotesque monster.

Just as expected, Nagi was thoroughly terrified. She hadn't even realized she was already gripping my right hand with all her might.

"A-Ah, that's true....May I sit a little closer to you?"

"Yeah, of course."

Nagi leaned her shoulder against mine, her face right next to mine.

She stared straight at me. Our gazes locked, and despite the situation, my heart began thumping with a chaotic rhythm.

"Souta-kun....Please hold out your other hand."

"...? L-Like this?"

When I held out my hand, Nagi let go for a moment to shift her posture.

"Pardon me for a moment."

Nagi reached her left hand across my lap to take my left hand. With her other hand, she gripped my right hand once again, leaning her entire weight against me.

With both of my hands clasped in her delicate palms, my heart began racing wildly for a reason entirely unrelated to fear.

"T-This will keep me safe....I'm not as scared anymore."

I couldn't pay attention to the movie at all at this point... but as long as Nagi was having a good time, I forced myself to focus.

Watching the two of us, Nishizawa—

"The Ice Princess is completely melted into a puddle, huh?"

—murmured with a fond smile.

◆◆◆

We spent the rest of the day immersed in movies. When evening came around, we ordered pizza and ate together as a group of five.

Before we knew it, night had fallen.

"Well, I guess we should be heading out soon."

"Yeah. It's getting late, and we gotta get plenty of sleep tonight."

"Guess I'll head out too."

That's right. We had school tomorrow, and those two had pulled an all-nighter for us.

"Yeah, got it."

"We'll see you out."

The three of them gathered their belongings, and Nagi and I walked them to the front door.

"All right, Souta, see ya tomorrow."

"Yeah. Thanks so much, Eiji. You too, Nishizawa, Hayama. You gave me so much courage, and without you three, I never would've made it all the way to Nagi's house even if I wanted to."

Following my lead, Nagi bowed deeply as well.

"I did something terrible to Souta-kun. And I caused all of you so much, so very much trouble. I am truly, deeply sorry....And thank you from the bottom of my heart."

A mixture of regret, remorse... and profound gratitude.

Eiji and the others nodded warmly at her words.

"Yeah. You're welcome. Take good care of Souta from now on, okay?"

"You're very welcome~! Personally, I feel like I got way closer to Nagirin today! Don't be so hard on yourself, alright?"

"...You're welcome. After finally becoming friends with both of you, I hated the idea of things getting awkward. I'm counting on you from now on."

Hearing their responses, Nagi lifted her head and nodded with a radiant smile.

"Yes! Thank you so very much!"

I was so glad. So glad that I could be with Nagi like this again.

"See you tomorrow, then."

"Yeah. See you tomorrow."

"Later~! I'll come over to hang out with Eiji again soon."

"Me too. See you at school tomorrow, Nagi."

"Yes! See you tomorrow!"

And so, the two of us stood waving until the three of them were completely out of sight.

It was only after returning to the room with Nagi that I realized something.

"...I saw them off so naturally, but when are you heading home, Nagi?"

Right. I had completely forgotten about Nagi's situation....No, to be precise, saying I forgot was wrong.

It was just that having Nagi right beside me felt so completely natural.

Glancing next to me, her shoulders twitched at my question. She turned to gaze straight into my eyes.

"...Um. Actually, I have a request."

Her cheeks were flushed red, and her eyes glistened faintly. Perhaps from nervousness?

I gave a slow, gentle nod to help ease her tension as much as possible.

"Yeah. Tell me anything."

The moment I said that, Nagi looked directly into my eyes and spoke.

"I would like to stay the night at Souta-kun's place today."

My mind went blank, unable to process the words. After several frozen moments, my brain finally kicked back into gear.

"H-Hold on a second. Staying over... what about your luggage in the first place—ah."

As the words left my mouth, it hit me. Nagi had brought luggage with her—her regular school bag.

"...Yes. Along with my school uniform, I have my overnight essentials packed as well."

"B-But what about Souichirou-san and your mother?"

"I spoke with Mama....Or rather, Mama was the one who suggested it. She said, 'Why don't you stay over tonight? I will explain everything to Papa. Besides, I have already prepared your usual shampoo, toothbrush, and other necessities.'"

"...Which means..."

"Yes! Mama contacted me a little while ago to let me know that Papa gave his permission as well!"

Nagi beamed with a dazzling smile. She clearly hadn't considered the possibility of me refusing for a single second... and truth be told, aside from one specific concern, I had no reason to turn her down.

"...Understood. Make yourself at home."

"Thank you very much!"

Nagi's face brightened even further, glowing like a sunflower. Feeling relieved by her joy, I firmly braced my resolve.

My only real concern was... whether my self-control would hold out.

No, I'll be fine. It'll be fine. As long as I keep a level head, there won't be any problem.

◆◆◆

"Souta-kun."

Around the time we finished tidying up, Nagi called my name.

She was hugging her bag tightly against her chest.

"May I borrow your bath? Would it be all right if I went first?"

"Hm? Ah, of course. I'll draw the hot water right now, so give me a sec."

As I stood up, Nagi called out to me once more. "Souta-kun."

"U-Um, you see... I have one more request regarding the bath."

"...?"

Fidgeting bashfully, Nagi looked up at me. Realizing this was the main request, I waited for her to continue.

"T-To tell you the truth... that horror movie we watched at noon was much scarier than I anticipated. And, um... I once heard long ago that places with water tend to attract spirits easily."

"...Ah. Come to think of it, I've heard that before too."

A slight sense of foreboding crept up on me, sending a cold bead of sweat down my back.

"I-If possible... while I am in the bath, I was hoping you could stay nearby and talk with me."

Hearing that—I breathed a sigh of relief.

For a brief moment, I had worried she might ask me to get in with her. Simultaneously, a wave of deep embarrassment washed over me.

What was I even thinking? No matter how close we were, there was no way Nagi would ever ask—

"T-To be completely honest, I-I wanted to ask if we could bathe together. But a-as expected... I thought that might still be a little too soon."

She had thought about it. And only "a little" too soon?!

...Ah, damn it, I hated the fact that a tiny part of me felt disappointed. I need to get a grip on myself.

Pushing my self-reflection aside, I met the blue eyes waiting for my response.

"If it's just that, of course. Not a problem at all."

"R-Really?!"

"Yeah. Though that means I'll be talking to you from the changing area."

"Yes! Please do!"

Keeping her company while she bathed shouldn't be an issue at all.

Nodding, I headed over to press the button to fill the tub.

◆◆◆

The soft rustling of clothes being slipped off was terrible for my ears....And my own heartbeat was relentlessly loud.

The rustling stopped, followed by the clattering sound of the bathroom door sliding open.

"Y-You can come in now."

After confirming the sound of the door sliding shut, I stepped into the changing area and—

"...Ah."

I immediately whipped around, turning my back.

The glass was frosted. However, it wasn't completely opaque... if you looked closely, you could catch a faint silhouette of what was inside.

In other words, the lines of Nagi's body were visible. I wanted to praise myself for having the presence of mind to turn around immediately.

Walking backward step by step, I backed up until I stood in front of the shelf next to the bathroom door.

Ah, man. My heart won't stop pounding.

Closing my eyes, I tried to think about other things—

"S-Souta-kun? Y-You're definitely there, right?"

"Y-Yeah. I'm right here."

—which proved entirely impossible. Right. The whole reason I came here was to talk with Nagi.

"U-Um. Well then, first... I will be washing my hair, so... forgive me, but..."

"I just need to keep talking, right?"

"Yes....Please."

"Understood."

I exhaled a long breath to calm my nerves. Raising my voice slightly so she could hear me over the sound of the shower, I spoke to her.

"Let's see....How about we talk about our plans for the future?"

I wasn't sure what to talk about at first, but that seemed best. Things to come. That meant, of course—

"There are so many places I want to go with you, Nagi."

Fun topics.

"If you have another performance, I definitely want to go see it again, and if there are other places you want to visit, I want to tag along....And besides that."

Hesitating for just a moment, I decided to bring it up.

"Someday, I want you to come with me to my house—my family's home. It's pretty out in the countryside, but it's a nice place. My mom and dad are good people, too. I want to introduce you to them."

Once I started talking, topics came flowing out one after another.

From stories about my hometown... to things from my past. I didn't have many friends, but I shared the fun memories. The sad ones could wait for another time.

As we talked—time flew by in the blink of an eye.

"—Souta-kun."

"Ah, are you done?"

"Yes....Um, I have a question. How do you usually spend the end of the year, Souta-kun? Do you go back home?"

"Yeah. If I don't, my mom and dad will probably end up coming all the way here, so that's the plan."

For a short while, only the sound of the running shower filled my ears. She was probably turning something over in her mind.

However, that silence lasted only a few seconds.

"—Would it be all right if I accompanied you?"

Her voice was slightly quieter than the shower....Yet, Nagi's voice was so clear and distinct that every word reached my ears perfectly.

Taken aback by the unexpected request, I found myself hesitating slightly.

"Wait, but... are you sure? What about Souichirou-san and your mother?"

"It will be fine. Though, let's see. Next year, I would love for you to spend the end of the year at my house instead, Souta-kun. Of course, Father and Mother being there with us is completely fine too."

...That actually sounded wonderful.

People might say we're getting ahead of ourselves when we've only just started high school, but I was Nagi's fiancé now. I wanted to get closer to Souichirou-san and the family.

"I want to speak with your mother and father as well, Souta-kun. As soon as possible."

"...I see."

Did she plan to tell them about what happened yesterday and today? I didn't think it was strictly necessary, but knowing her personality, sweeping it under the rug was never an option.

"Besides, I'm very curious about the place where you were born and raised, Souta-kun."

"All right. Then I'll invite you when the time comes."

"Really?!"

"Yeah. But make sure you consult Souichirou-san and your mother first. And—though I probably don't even need to say this—make sure you spend plenty of time with your family too."

"Of course! I love Papa, Mama, and Suzaka-san very much, after all!"

Smiling warmly at her response, I continued chatting with her.

I heard the sound of Nagi washing her body, followed by the splash of water as she soaked in the tub. While we were still talking—ping, a notification chimed on my phone. Checking the screen for a brief second, my body froze solid.

"...Uh, Nagi."

"Yes, what is it?"

"To change the subject a bit... I actually keep in touch with my parents every day. Checking in on my health, making sure no problems have come up, that kind of thing. They're both terrible worriers. Whenever I get sick or feel mentally drained, my mom will literally come all the way out here."

"I see. That is a very important thing when living on your own."

"Yeah. And because I understood how important it was, I never missed contacting them....Or rather, I hadn't missed it. Until yesterday."

—Right. So much had happened yesterday that it was the last thing on my mind. Even though I sent a message earlier saying I was fine...

"It looks like my mom and dad are planning to come visit here soon."

I had worried them. In fact, judging by the tone of the message, they were ready to show up as early as tomorrow. I could just explain things myself, but... this wasn't a decision I should make alone.

"Nagi, what do you want to do?"

"Please let me explain things to them myself. When will they arrive?"

"...I'll tell them to come next Saturday. Does that work for you?"

"That won't be a problem."

Dad had work tomorrow anyway. I'd do my best to persuade them. If I told them the issue was already resolved, they'd probably understand. Besides, Nagi had been through a lot and needed rest.

"Just to reassure you, my dad and mom are very reasonable people. If you explain your circumstances, they'll definitely understand."

"...Yes. I will do my best to earn their approval."

"Honestly, I'm pretty sure they'll give their blessing without hesitation... but just so you know, I've already told my mom about you. So don't worry. Dad should have heard about you from Mom, too."

I had talked to my mom about Eiji and Nagi before. So everything would definitely be fine.

The atmosphere had grown slightly tense, but she was in the bath, so I wanted her to relax. With that in mind, I steered the conversation to where Nagi wanted to go on future dates.

While we were talking—I suddenly noticed something.

On the shelf near the entrance of the changing area. Inside the laundry basket sitting there, folded neatly—were Nagi's clothes.

And resting right on top of those clothes was—

"Souta-kun? Is something wrong?"

Her voice snapped me back to reality.

"I-It's nothing."

My voice squeaked slightly. Closing my eyes, I desperately tried to calm my thoughts—to no avail.

Forcing my gaze away, I pulled a single towel from the shelf.

Keeping my eyes firmly averted, I draped the towel over the laundry basket, covering what was inside.

"R-Right, Nagi. How do you usually spend New Year's?"

Returning to our conversation, I continued talking with Nagi—though...

The image of what I had just seen refused to leave my head, and my heart kept hammering away with an uncomfortable intensity.

◆◆◆

Somehow. I managed to calm down... or so I hoped.

No, just believe it. Tell yourself you're fine.

Waiting outside while Nagi got dressed, I shook my head repeatedly to banish all worldly desires. I took several deep breaths.

A short while later, Nagi stepped out. Her face—even accounting for having just taken a hot bath—was shockingly red.

"D-Did you see?"

"...I tried my best not to look."

I didn't want to lie. Besides, having draped a towel over it, claiming I hadn't noticed would be completely absurd.

Nagi's face burned bright crimson as she stared intently at me.

"...I see."

She didn't look angry. But she seemed overwhelmingly embarrassed, and... ah, damn it. My own face was burning up.

Yet, within her expression—there seemed to be another emotion mixed in, something distinctly different from pure embarrassment.

◆◆◆

"..."

Soaking in the tub, I splashed hot water over my face repeatedly.

The events from earlier were burned into my brain. Every time I closed my eyes, the memory resurfaced.

"This is bad. Very bad, Souta."

If someone asked whether I had ever looked at Nagi in that way, I couldn't honestly shake my head no.

Up until now, there had been plenty of moments... where her feminine curves had brushed against me.

However, it was also true that I had actively tried my best not to view her through that lens. As for the reason—

"She's... probably uncomfortable with that kind of thing. Definitely."

The incident that brought Nagi and me together was saving her from a groper.

Ever since, she had developed an aversion to men. Physical contact might be fine now, but she had to harbor fear or disgust toward anything overtly sexual.

Even if not outright disgust, it could easily trigger flashbacks. Even if we ever reached that stage, it would probably be years from now... after we became proper adults.

—T-To be completely honest, I-I wanted to ask if we could bathe together.

Those words echoed in my mind, and I submerged my head completely under the water. She had only said that because she was scared of the horror movie; it couldn't possibly mean anything more than that.

"...Haaah."

The scorching hot water felt remarkably soothing right now. Letting out a long sigh, I stared up at the ceiling.

◆◆◆

While I was taking my bath, Nagi waited in the living room.

“In my case, there were special circumstances so I had you stay close by, but a bath is meant to be a place to relax. I will read a book to distract myself, so please take your time, Souta-kun,” she had said. After what had happened, I was profoundly grateful for her consideration.

Changing into clean clothes, I headed into the living room—and found myself stopping dead in my tracks.

Nagi was sitting on the sofa, deeply engrossed in a book.

Her blue eyes shifted methodically up and down, and her slender, porcelain-white fingers turned the page with graceful precision. Her movements were so elegant and refined that I couldn't help tracking them with my eyes.

Every now and then, she would rest a hand against her chin as if deep in thought, staring blankly into empty space... gazing into nothingness as she contemplated the text.

Once her thoughts—or perhaps her deductions—settled, her gaze returned to the pages.

The only sound echoing in the room was the crisp rustle of turning paper. Her jewel-like eyes resumed their steady, unbroken rhythm from top to bottom.

—Ah, she really is breathtaking.

No other words came to mind.

It was an expression entirely different from the smiles she usually showed me. And slightly different from the face I used to see on the train—back before I met her properly.

Suddenly, memories of her stage performance came rushing back.

Nagi's earnest, unadorned expression when she wasn't putting up any walls. It was so utterly stunning that I had been completely entranced.

As I stood watching, the sound of pages turning came to a halt.

"—Oh? Souta-kun, were you already out of the bath?"

"A-Ah, yeah. Just stepped out now."

Her deep blue eyes, reminiscent of the ocean floor, fixed their gaze on me. Then, her well-shaped brows furrowed slightly.

"...Souta-kun. Please come sit over here."

"Hm? S-Sure."

Nagi placed a bookmark between the pages, set the book on the table, and patted the spot next to her on the sofa.

Belatedly, I noticed Nagi was wearing fluffy, light-blue loungewear. The reason I had been so captivated earlier might have also been the striking gap between that serious expression and her cozy outfit.

With those thoughts in mind, I sat down beside her. Immediately, Nagi reached up and touched my hair. Her beautiful eyes narrowed into a mild glare.

"...Just as I thought. You didn't dry your hair properly, did you, Souta-kun?"

"Ah."

Only after she pointed it out did I realize my halfhearted drying habit had gotten the better of me.

"N-No, well... my hair is short, so... it pretty much air-dries on its own really fast, you know?"

"Even with the heater running, that is no excuse. You will catch a cold."

"...You have a point."

I had no rebuttal. If I didn't fix these sloppy habits early on, they'd become permanent....Actually, they already were.

While I was busy reflecting on her scolding, a soft chuckle reached my ears.

"Honestly, you leave me no choice. I shall dry it for you!"

"Eh? N-No, that's... I'd feel bad making you do that, Nagi."

"I don't mind at all. In fact, drying your hair sounds like a lot of fun, Souta-kun."

With that, Nagi stood up, retrieved a hairdryer from her belongings, and walked around to the back of the sofa.

"Well then, here I go, okay?"

"...Yeah, thanks."

I gratefully accepted her kindness. When Nagi switched the hairdryer on, a roaring rush of warm air filled my ears, though it wasn't overly loud.

Warm air enveloped my hair while her hands gently ruffled through the strands.

"Is it too hot?"

"No, it's fine. Feels great."

Nagi's slender fingers combed through my hair, warming my entire scalp with a soothing heat.

It felt so wonderful that I instinctively closed my eyes.

Gradually, the dampness vanished from my hair, and Nagi's hands began gently stroking my entire head. Shortly after, the hairdryer was switched off.

"I will give you a light massage as well."

Saying so, Nagi began rhythmically kneading my scalp with firm, gentle pressure. It felt so incredibly soothing that a soft sigh escaped my lips.

"...Fufu. You look so relaxed, I'm glad."

"Yeah. It feels amazing."

Responding to her cheerful giggle, I felt her fingers apply a bit more pressure. It was such a warm, comfortable moment that I felt like I might drift off to sleep if I kept my eyes closed.

"There. That should do it."

"Thank you. That was really nice."

"Fufu. You are very welcome."

Watching Nagi put the hairdryer away, I glanced at the clock. It was already past nine.

Realizing it was about time for Nagi to sleep, another thought suddenly struck me.

...Where is Nagi going to sleep?

Well, it'll work out. I can figure something out.

"Nagi, feel free to use the bed in my room when you go to sleep."

At those words, Nagi's eyes narrowed into that stern look once again.

"...You aren't about to say that you'll be sleeping on the sofa over there, are you, Souta-kun?"

"Hm? Ah, yeah. If I use a cushion as a pillow, I should be able to sleep just fine."

The sofa wasn't huge, but it would do. It wasn't like I had trouble falling asleep anyway.

However—

"I refuse."

Nagi spoke with a slight pout, sounding a little upset.

"N-No, but if we don't do that, there won't be enough room to..."

"I refuse. We are sleeping together."

Nagi seemed utterly determined not to budge on this point.

...Refusing too stubbornly here would only make things worse.

With countless thoughts swirling through my mind and heart, I closed my eyes.

"...All right."

No matter how I tried to phrase it, Nagi clearly wasn't going to back down. It was just a matter of giving in now or later, so earlier was much better....Besides, it wasn't as if I disliked the idea of sleeping beside her.

The moment I agreed, her pouting expression vanished, instantly replaced by a bright smile.

"Yes! In that case, let us head to the bed together!"

I have zero intention of doing anything weird. My heart pounding like a drum is just a completely normal physiological reaction. Calm down, self.

Placing a hand over my chest, I followed behind Nagi as we headed into the bedroom.

Stepping inside, Nagi turned to me with a sweet smile.

"Your room smells so distinctly of you, Souta-kun."

"...That's not in a bad way, right?"

"Of course not. It's a comforting scent, yet it makes my heart flutter in a strange way... It's my favorite scent."

Every single word she spoke plucked at my heartstrings. Unable to come up with a proper reply, I watched as Nagi happily walked over to the bed.

"Well then, pardon me for taking the bed first."

Nagi rolled onto the mattress, lying down comfortably. Then, she gently patted the space beside her.

"Come now, Souta-kun, hurry and join me."

"...Yeah, got it."

At this rate, it was hard to tell who actually owned this apartment.

Letting out an amused chuckle at the thought, I lay down beside her beaming figure.

I had originally bought a fairly large bed, so having two people lie down didn't feel cramped at all.

Turning my head, Nagi was right there beside me. Lying on her side, she was staring intently at my face.

"Ehehe... This is my very first sleepover. My heart is beating so fast."

With that, Nagi's small, warm hands wrapped gently around my right hand.

"...Same here. My heart's been making a racket for a while now."

She reached out with one hand and placed it gently over my chest. Her palm was warm, and my heart beat heavily beneath it as if pushing back against her hand.

"It really is. You're just as flustered as I am."

"So you're feeling it too, Nagi."

"Would you like to check mine as well, Souta-kun?"

"I-I'll pass."

"Fufu. Understood."

Her blue eyes shimmered with mischievous delight. When I looked away and cleared my throat, she pulled her hand back from my chest.

Once again, she clasped my hand within both of hers, enveloping me in her warmth.

Looking back at Nagi, her smile grew even deeper and softer.

"Fufu. I'm so happy, being able to lie down beside you like this, Souta-kun."

"...Didn't you crawl into bed with me this morning, too?"

"That was different. Right now, I feel like you are even closer to me than back then. In an emotional sense, that is."

Nagi squirmed closer, inching toward me. A sweet, floral fragrance reached my nose.

"Though, I am still a little nervous. This is the first time I've ever slept next to a boy, after all."

"...You don't need to be that nervous. I'm not going to do anything weird."

Saying that to put her mind at ease, Nagi stared back at me, her cheeks flushing a deep vermilion.

"...Are you truly not going to do anything?"

Her voice was quiet, but unmistakably clear.

My body froze as if turned to stone. Her words echoed through my skull, repeating over and over again.

Wondering if I had misheard, I looked at her. Her ocean-deep, jewel-like eyes were staring straight back into mine without wavering.

"You don't have to hold back, you know."

Gently releasing my hand, her slender, elegant fingers brushed softly against my cheek.

"...P-Please don't tease me like that."

"I am not teasing you. I am completely serious."

As Nagi leaned closer, that sweet scent grew even stronger.

There was virtually no distance left between us. If either of us moved even a fraction of an inch, our lips would touch.

Those blue eyes were right before mine. The hand resting on my chest shifted, taking my hand.

And then, she began guiding my hand toward her own chest—

"Nagi."

I called her name firmly. Her movements stopped instantly. But my hand was already in a dangerously close position.

"...Nagi."

When I called her name a second time, Nagi slowly... released her grip.

Her blue eyes gazed at me with a hint of anxiety. Shifting my body—I wrapped my arms around Nagi in a tight hug.

"S-Souta-kun?"

To put her bewildered heart at ease, I simply held her close with all my strength.

"I love you."

I poured all my heart into those words, praying they would reach her.

"I love you so much, Nagi....I love everything about you."

Hesitantly, Nagi's hands slid around my back... and squeezed me tightly in return.

"Because I love you, I want to treasure you."

Even so, Nagi's hands trembled faintly. As if she was afraid of something.

"B-But... does that mean... you don't find me attractive as a woman?"

"Of course not....I try not to say it out loud, but, well. I definitely feel your charm as a woman. In fact, I feel it way too much... so I'm doing everything I can to keep my eyes from wandering."

"...You're welcome to look at me more, you know."

Her softly whispered words caressed my heart in a sweet, intoxicating way. Doing my best to ignore it for now, I tightened my embrace around her.

"Nagi. —Are you still feeling guilty toward me?"

I heard her sharp intake of breath....Just as I thought.

"That's... But I really do love you, Souta-kun. A-And my desire to do those kinds of things with you is genuine, too."

"...Yeah. I hope so. No, I know it is. But still."

Easing the strength of my hug, Nagi loosened her grip as well. Lifting my head from her shoulder, I looked straight into those glowing blue eyes at point-blank range.

"I want us to be on equal footing. If there's even the slightest lingering feeling of 'guilt' inside you... I don't think we should be doing those things just yet."

Her blue eyes wavered slightly. My suspicion solidified into certainty.

"Hearing you say that makes me incredibly happy. But I really don't think we need to rush into anything."

The issue with Nagi had only been resolved this morning. Even if the problem was settled, her emotional state couldn't be considered completely stable yet.

Looking back, today had been full of signs. When she made lunch, she called it an "apology," and even after coming out of the bath... I hadn't realized it at the time, but she had been overly devoted.

Whether she was doing it consciously or subconsciously, I didn't know. But from my perspective, that didn't feel like an equal relationship.

We had all the time in the world ahead of us. Nagi and I were both still high schoolers, after all.

The blue eyes gazing directly at me flickered, growing dim.

"...I'm sorry."

Her voice sounded strained, as if forced out with the last of her breath. Dripping with guilt, she looked utterly despondent.

...Could I have phrased that better?

The thought flashed through my mind for an instant, but there was no use dwelling on it now. I had conveyed my feelings in the best way I knew how.

"Please don't apologize. This is just my own selfishness....Besides, the truth is, I wasn't mentally prepared for it yet either."

Offering Nagi a gentle smile, I rested my hand on her head.

"Let's take things slowly. At our own pace... because from here on out, we're definitely going to find happiness together."

Gently stroking her hair so as not to mess it up, the light gradually returned to her blue eyes.

"Yes!"

Hearing her voice return to its energetic tone brought a wave of profound relief to my heart.

—Or so I thought, right before Nagi's face closed in, pressing her soft, warm lips against mine.

"However, please let me know if you can no longer hold back. I-I am always... ready, whenever you are."

With her cheeks burning crimson, Nagi pressed her forehead lightly against mine as she spoke.

Even though I had just delivered that whole speech, my brain spun wildly.

Her sweet scent and the warmth of her forehead threatened to fry my train of thought, but I somehow held on.

"Holding back isn't good for you, after all, right?"

"...Understood."

I already felt like I was balancing precariously on a pile of unstable rubble, but I held onto my resolve and nodded.

And then—Nagi stared straight into my eyes once more.

"Um, you see. There is something brief I would like to talk to you about."

"What is it?"

It wasn't quite a solemn expression. She looked somewhat awkward, or perhaps intensely embarrassed.

"...I might actually be a rather shameless girl."

Her unexpected confession made my eyes widen in shock.

"Where is this coming from all of a sudden? If it's about what just happened, you really don't need to worry—"

"No, that's certainly part of it, but... well, you see."

Nagi's face turned bright red... and she covered her pale pink lips with both hands.

"I-I think... I might really, really love k-kissing."

Looking away bashfully, Nagi continued.

"Whenever I kiss you, Souta-kun, my head feels so light and floaty. My chest fills with warmth, and feelings of happiness... and how much I love you just come overflowing out. So, um..."

Nagi turned her moist, pleading eyes toward me.

"...May I kiss you just one more time?"

My self-control was being ground down to dust. Yet, catching a faint glimpse of vulnerability lingering in her eyes made it impossible to refuse.

"O-Of course."

Managing to squeeze out the words, that lingering shadow vanished, replaced by an alluring sparkle in her eyes.

"P-Pardon me, then."

Her soft, warm lips gently touched mine. Both of our breaths caught in our throats.

Perhaps because our previous kisses had caught me off guard, the sensation felt far more vivid this time.

It was sweet like melted sugar, dissolving my very thoughts. My entire body oscillated between tensing up and relaxing, completely unmoored.

After a few seconds, our lips parted. Taking a breath—

"Just... one more time."

She pressed her lips to mine once again. Her eyes were half-lidded, and she reached her arms around my back, clinging to me sweetly.

Just like before, it lasted only a few seconds before ending—

"I can't... do this. If we keep going, I won't want to stop..."

As if trying to suppress those surging emotions, Nagi squeezed me tightly in a fierce embrace. It was strong enough to make breathing a challenge.

Hugging her back with equal strength, a natural smile formed on my lips.

"You don't have to force yourself to hold back, you know. You were the one who told me that, remember?"

Hearing that, Nagi's grip loosened slightly—only to tighten right back up.

"N-No! We can't! M-Morning will come before we know it!"

"...But wouldn't letting it out be better for your mental state?"

"Au... Then just one more—N-No! S-Souta-kun, I am already being far too spoiled, so please do not spoil me any further!"

It was a slightly unreasonable scolding. But why did she still look so undeniably adorable even when she was upset?

"I think spoiling you is just the right amount, Nagi. It's totally fine to be a little selfish."

"E-Even so... it really will become morning. We must... not."

Releasing her hold on me, Nagi gently placed a hand over her own chest.

"Whenever I kiss you, Souta-kun... I feel so happy, so blessed....My heart pounds so violently right here. But because you are beside me, Souta-kun, I also feel so safe. It makes me want to stay like that forever and ever. That is why it is dangerous....At this rate, I might end up seeking it even when we are outside."

That would definitely... be bad. If we didn't mind our time and place, it would cause trouble for those around us. Some people might find it unpleasant.

"Therefore, um... please limit it to once a day... N-No, twice a day at most."

Just like back then... when we negotiated the number of headpats, Nagi hurriedly corrected herself. A warm chuckle escaped my lips.

"Yeah, got it. If you ever want to increase the limit, just let me know anytime."

"Yes!"

Nagi gave a bright, cheerful response.

And with that, we settled back down side by side.

Both of us lay on our backs... and when I turned my head toward Nagi, our eyes met once more.

"Souta-kun."

"What is it?"

"I love you so much."

She gave my hand a gentle squeeze. —Not just resting her hand on mine, but intertwining our fingers... locking hands like proper lovers.

"I love you too, Nagi."

At my reply, Nagi's face broke into a radiant smile, as if expressing an uncontrollable surge of pure joy.

"Until tomorrow, then."

"Yeah. See you tomorrow."

"Yes!...Though, my heart is beating so fast that I might not be able to sleep."

I chuckled at her confession.

"I feel the exact same way....In that case, want to talk about something until we get sleepy?"

"Yes! Absolutely!"

To Nagi, who nodded with eager enthusiasm, I began to speak.

About all the places I wanted to visit and the things I wanted to do with Nagi from now on. Over and over, we talked deep into the night until sleep finally claimed us both.

◆◆◆

The next morning, I woke up feeling an intense heat burning through my entire body.

"...ta-kun."

I heard someone calling my name. My consciousness, which felt like it was submerged in boiling water, rapidly surfaced.

"Souta-kun, are you all right...? No, you clearly aren't. You have a terrible fever and you're sweating so much. Please wait, I will bring some water right away."

Nagi's beautiful face was right before my eyes, her cool hand resting against my forehead. The moment her hand pulled away, she rushed out of the room.

Wondering what was wrong with me, I tried to sit up... and my vision wobbled violently.

—Ah, this sensation. It's so familiar.

Did I catch a cold?

My head felt completely foggy, and I had to brace my hand against the mattress just to keep from toppling over while sitting. After sitting like that for a short while, Nagi returned carrying a glass of water.

I had felt completely fine yesterday... honestly, it felt like I was full of energy just moments ago.

"Nagi... how are you feeling...?"

"I am perfectly fine. What matters right now is you, Souta-kun. Please drink some water, and then we will take your temperature... I will also call Suzaka-san. At this hour, a doctor who is a friend of Papa's might be able to come over."

"You don't need to go that far, I'll get better if I just sleep..."

"No."

Nagi stared firmly into my eyes. This was probably a situation where I should just obediently let her take care of me.

"Understood."

Giving a slow nod, I brought the glass of water to my lips.

◆◆◆

"Hmm... It's a cold. Considering what happened yesterday, the prolonged state of extreme tension likely lowered his immune system. Exhaustion is certainly a factor as well. If he takes his medicine and rests quietly for a day or two, he will recover just fine. I checked the over-the-counter medicine you have earlier, and that will be perfectly adequate."

"Thank you very much."

I watched Nagi's conversation with the doctor in a daze.

My headache and sluggishness were intense. My fever was at 38 degrees Celsius.

Apparently, the doctor was the Shinonome family's primary physician—a gentle-looking woman in her sixties. She was also the one who examined me when I collapsed at the Shinonome residence yesterday.

"Well then, take care."

"Thank you."

The doctor saw herself out. After seeing her off, Nagi returned to the bedroom.

"Thanks, Nagi....And I'm sorry. You're already late for school."

"No. If anything, I am the root cause of this....And also..."

Nagi sat on the edge of the bed and took my hand. It felt cool and wonderfully soothing against my skin.

"I have decided to take the day off from school today."

"...For my sake?"

"Yes. Today, I will be nursing you."

Nagi offered a gentle smile as she spoke, but... I shook my head.

"I don't want to cause you any more trouble, Nagi."

"What you give to family is not trouble, but concern....You are already like family to me, Souta-kun. I don't consider this a burden in the slightest, so please do not say such things."

Nagi's hand gently stroked the back of mine as she continued.

"Mama told me that catching a cold while living alone is terribly difficult....Besides..."

Nagi reached up with her other hand to tenderly caress my forehead. This hand was cool and pleasant as well, making me close my eyes.

"Speaking from experience, when you feel sick, it gets very lonely. You want someone to stay by your side. You want someone to hold your hand. When I was little, Mama would stay with me, or Suzaka-san would sit beside me and tell stories."

That cool hand slid down, pressing the back of her fingers against my cheek.

Opening my eyes, Nagi's refined features filled my vision at close range.

"...You'll catch my cold."

"Fufu....Are you really saying that after we kissed so many times yesterday?"

A wry smile escaped my lips at her remark.

"Good point."

"Yes....For all we know, I might have caught it without realizing and passed it on to you, Souta-kun."

Nagi gave my hand a gentle squeeze before standing up.

"Souta-kun, do you have any appetite? Even a single bite is fine."

"...A little."

"Understood. Suzaka-san brought over some apples earlier, so I will peel one for you. Please wait a—"

As Nagi started to walk away—she came to an abrupt halt.

"...Fufu."

A soft chuckle spilled from her lips, and she turned her tender gaze toward me.

At the same time, she squeezed my hand in return... Huh?

Only then did I realize that I had reached out and grabbed Nagi's hand.

Almost as if—I didn't want her to leave because I felt lonely.

No, saying "almost as if" was wrong. Deep down... that was exactly what I was feeling.

"It will be all right, Souta-kun. I will be right back....Ah. Why don't I peel the apple in here?"

"...Please do."

"Fufu, leave it to me."

It seemed I had become far more vulnerable than I realized.

Offering a bright smile, Nagi hurried out of the room to fetch the supplies.

◆◆◆

Crisp, crisp. A pleasant, rhythmic crunch echoed softly through the room.

"There, all done. Souta-kun, say 'ahh.'"

Nagi picked up a slice of apple from the plate with her fingers and held it out toward me.

Debating whether to sit up... my vision was still slightly dizzy, so I turned onto my side and opened my mouth.

Biting into the apple, a refreshing sweetness burst across my tongue. The crisp chill felt incredible against my feverish throat.

"Is it delicious?"

"Yeah. Sweet and really good."

Nagi continued feeding me slice after slice. It felt a little embarrassing... but far more than that, it made me immensely happy.

"...Fufu, I'm so glad."

Smiling, Nagi brought another piece of apple to my lips.

Doing this every single time had to be a hassle, especially after peeling the apple herself.

I felt guilty about putting her through the trouble... but seeing how happy Nagi looked while watching me, I couldn't help staring right back at her.

"...? Ah, forgive me. Um, you see... it might sound improper, but..."

Nagi let out a bashful giggle, soft words spilling from her lips.

"Usually, I am always the one relying on you and being pampered, so being able to take care of you like this feels a little novel... and makes me so happy."

"...I feel like I pamper you plenty on regular days, though."

"But you are still holding back a little, aren't you?"

"That's..."

She wasn't wrong. Though rather than holding back, it was more that I still felt a lingering shyness.

"It is perfectly fine."

Another slice of apple pressed gently against my lips.

"I will take plenty of care of you today. So please, feel free to spoil yourself and rely on me to your heart's content. Tell me whatever you need, okay?"

"...Thank you."

With that, I took another bite of the apple. As the sweet and sour flavor filled my mouth—

"You are very welcome!"

Hearing Nagi's cheerful words and seeing her bright smile made me feel noticeably better.

◆◆◆

"...ta-kun, Souta-kun."

After taking my medicine and falling back asleep... Nagi gently woke me from my slumber.

"...Nagi? Is something wrong?"

"Forgive me for waking you. But I noticed you were sweating quite a bit in your sleep. I was worried that leaving it as is would cool your body down again."

Sitting up at Nagi's urging... ah, wow, I really was drenched in sweat. My back was completely soaked.

"Laying down a towel beforehand was definitely the right choice....Also, I imagine the sweat feels uncomfortable, so I brought a change of clothes, hot water, a towel for wiping, and another towel to lay down. How are you feeling?"

"Way better than before....I wouldn't say I'm back to normal yet, but thank you, Nagi."

As I sat up, Nagi sat down right beside me....Um.

"Nagi?"

"With that said, please take off your clothes."

"...Pardon?"

Nagi's words didn't quite process properly. No, I heard them loud and clear, but my brain was lagging behind, prompting me to ask again.

Surely I had misheard.

However, that assumption of mine—

"Or would you prefer that I undress you myself?"

—was promptly shattered by her follow-up question.

A heavy silence descended upon the room. Suddenly, Nagi let out a small "Ah," her face turning redder by the second.

"N-No. I don't mean anything weird by that... okay?"

"That pause is really concerning, though."

"...A tiny part of me is curious, I admit. After all, you have quite a well-built physique, Souta-kun."

Her sheer honesty made a laugh slip out of me. Flustered by my reaction, Nagi hurriedly tried to explain herself.

"A-And besides, it's not like I'm asking you to strip completely, you know? It's difficult to wipe your own back, and I would never do anything inappropriate to a sick person. So please rest assured."

"Y-Yeah. I know you wouldn't... and honestly, being completely naked would be way too embarrassing for me anyway."

Taking off my top was embarrassing enough... but well, I didn't feel any aversion to it. Being sick with a cold, I was genuinely grateful for the help.

"Can I leave it to you, then?"

"Yes! Of course!"

The sweat was feeling pretty sticky and uncomfortable. While feeling slightly dizzy, I took off my pajama top with Nagi supporting me. Even in a situation like this, the shrinking distance between us and her sweet fragrance made me slightly nervous.

Was the heat in my cheeks from the fever, or... let's not think about that right now.

"Sorry. I probably smell like sweat, don't I?"

"Not at all. If it's your scent, Souta-kun, I would never find it unpleasant. Truly....Far from disliking it, I actually like—"

Nagi leaned her face even closer. Letting out a gasp, she shook her head frantically.

"N-No! That's not what I meant! U-Um... please ignore that!"

"Y-Yeah. It's fine, I understand."

"Uu..."

Blushing furiously, Nagi hid her face behind her hands. Her blue eyes peeked through the gaps between her fingers.

"...Souta-kun."

A faint murmur. But in this quiet room, every syllable came through clearly.

"S-Souta-kun, even if I am a shameless girl... and a, a pervert, you won't grow to hate me, will you?"

My vision swayed dangerously... and I leaned back against the folded towel behind me.

"S-Souta-kun?!"

"Nagi. I'm sorry, but please don't say things that will raise my fever....My heart is beating like crazy right now."

"I-I'm so sorry...?"

I ended up blurting that out to Nagi. Clearing my throat once, I sat back up properly.

"...And for the record, there's no way I would ever hate you. If there's ever something I truly can't overlook, I might speak up, but you should assume that will basically never happen."

"Y-Yes! The same goes for me! F-Forgive me for saying something strange out of the blue. Well then, I shall begin wiping your body."

"Yeah, thanks."

Nagi wrung out the towel soaked in hot water, and I turned my back toward her.

A hot, yet comfortably warm towel was pressed against my back.

She began wiping my skin with gentle, sweeping motions.

"How is this...? Would you prefer a bit more pressure?"

"Ah, just a little firmer... yeah, right about there. Thanks."

She rubbed my back with just the right amount of pressure. Because I had been sweating so heavily, it felt immensely refreshing.

"...Touching you like this, your back really is quite broad, Souta-kun."

"You think so?"

"Yes....If you were feeling better, I would love to lean against it."

"Once I'm better, then. You can do it anytime."

As we chatted while she wiped me down, Nagi took hold of my arm next.

"Let us wipe down your arms as well. It is surprisingly tricky to reach those spots yourself."

"That helps a lot."

Nagi wiped down my shoulders, arms, and finally my hands.

"...You are surprisingly muscular, Souta-kun."

"Since I'm not in any sports clubs, I try to stay conscious of my fitness. Nothing too intense, though."

"That is a wonderful thing."

Nagi looked like she was enjoying herself as she wiped my skin. Thoroughly, gently. Even between each of my fingers. It tickled slightly.

Suddenly, Nagi pressed her palm flat against mine.

"Your hands are very large too."

Driven by a sudden curiosity, Nagi let out a soft "Oh," intertwined her fingers with mine, and squeezed tightly.

"...Holding hands like this makes me feel your presence so strongly. I love it."

My vision swayed once again.

Nagi's gentle smile and every single one of her gestures were truly lethal to my heart.

"I-I'm so sorry?!"

"...Nagi, you really need to realize just how cute you are."

Despite that little incident, Nagi finished wiping my hands.

While she went to fetch my clean clothes, I finished wiping my chest, stomach, and lower body. I felt completely refreshed.

After falling back asleep, my condition steadily improved. By the next day, I was well enough to attend school, but decided to stay home one more day to avoid passing the cold to anyone else.

I had planned to tell Nagi to go to school as usual... but,

“I will take care of you until today. There is plenty of laundry and cooking to be done, after all. It would be terrible if you pushed yourself and suffered a relapse,”

she had firmly refused. I was worried about her classes, but apparently she had already asked Hayama to let her copy her notes later.

On top of that, she had already pre-studied the curriculum, so taking one more day off wouldn't be an issue. Souichirou-san and the family had given their approval as well.

Incidentally, I was planning to copy Eiji's notes later too. Despite how he looked, he was the type to take thorough notes in class. It was a huge lifesaver.

On the second day, I ate warm soup and other easy-to-digest meals, and thanks to Nagi's devoted care, I made a near-total recovery.

◆◆◆

"Yoo-hoo. You still alive?"

"Yeah, Eiji. Good morning. Managed to survive somehow."

The moment I stepped into the classroom, Eiji greeted me right away, casually throwing an arm around my shoulder.

"...I may be recovered, but I'm still fresh off a cold. You shouldn't get so close."

"Hm? Ah. Before that, mind if I tell you something?"

Leaning in close, Eiji whispered into my ear.

"There's a rumor going around that you two started dating. Apparently someone saw you guys heading to the amusement park on Saturday. What's the plan?"

He asked in a hushed tone.

"What's the plan... Well, what should I do?"

I thought about it for a second. Should I talk it over with Nagi first?

"Personally, I recommend going public with it. It'll keep weird guys from hitting on her, and it's gonna come out eventually anyway."

"Good point. Let's do that."

Normally, Nagi... back when she was the "Ice Princess," gave off such an intimidating aura that very few people dared to approach her. Though, even then, she was so breathtaking that people never entirely stopped trying.

That was precisely why I felt a bit uneasy.

If Nagi... showed her usual, sweet side at school.

Just imagining it was terrifying. I was worried she might end up in a scary situation.

And besides... a part of me really hated the idea of other people looking at her that way.

"You're really something, you know that? You're ridiculously soft on your inner circle."

"My social circle has always been tiny. I just want to treasure the people inside it."

I didn't say it out loud, but naturally, Eiji was included in that circle. He had helped me out countless times. Even setting that aside, his personality just made you want to lend him a hand.

"Well, figured you'd say that. In that case, if anyone asks me, I'll spread the word."

"Yeah, thanks."

The moment Eiji stepped away, a female classmate walked over. She was the chatty type who talked to everyone in class and seemed to have plenty of friends.

"H-Hey, Minori-kun. Is it true that you're dating the Ice Princess?"

Her direct question made me catch my breath for a second.

...That was fast. She came right up to me.

Relieved that Eiji had given me a heads-up, I let out a breath and nodded.

"Yeah, it's true."

"Seriously?!"

In the next instant, the classroom erupted into chaos.

Cheering girls and despairing guys—the room was cleanly split in two.

Before I knew it, a crowd of girls stood up and swarmed my desk.

"H-Hey! You're really dating that Ice Princess?! Since when?! Since when?!"

"How did you even get close with her?"

"How did you meet?"

"Who confessed first?"

"W-Wait, if you ask all at once—"

The relentless barrage of questions made my head spin. I glanced at Eiji, but he was merely watching the spectacle with immense amusement.

"Good for you, man. Your popular phase is finally here."

"You jerk..."

While I scrambled to figure out what to do, more questions were fired at me.

"H-Have you guys kissed already?!"

"I can't even imagine it... Did you hold hands?"

My cheeks twitched uncontrollably... and a heavy sigh escaped my lips.

It looked like they weren't going to let me off the hook anytime soon. I'd answer what I could. Anything related to privacy was getting the right to remain silent.

Eiji, still watching me with a sly smirk, looked like he was plotting something, which didn't bode well at all.

◆◆◆

"Hey, hey, Minori-kun. We're going to karaoke after this, wanna come along? We still want to hear more about the Ice Princess!"

Astonishingly, the interrogation continued all the way until the end of the school day. People took turns firing questions at me throughout the day. Male students asked as well, but the girls were far more persistent, eventually leading up to this invitation.

"Sorry, but I have plans after school."

After dealing with it all day, it was getting genuinely exhausting. Slinging my bag over my shoulder, I prepared to head over to Nagi's place as quickly as possible.

"Ah, wait up! Just a little more, tell us just a little bit more!"

"Me too~!"

"Ah, I wanna hear too."

Exasperated by their persistence, I told myself I just needed to make it past the school gates. Driving them away now would only invite a second and third wave.

Answering only the questions I was comfortable with as I walked toward the front gates—a crowd of students had gathered near the entrance.

A strange sense of deja vu hit me. Something similar had happened not too long ago... As I tried to recall what it was, the crowd parted down the middle.

"...Nagi?"

Her pure white hair was easily recognizable even from a distance. Another wave of deja vu.

The moment I realized it was her, a cold bead of sweat ran down my back.

Right now, I was surrounded by a bunch of people Nagi didn't know. What's more, a quick glance... no, even an obvious look showed that most of them were girls.

I hadn't done anything unfaithful, but it couldn't be a pleasant sight for Nagi.

"Souta-kun."

"Y-Yes!"

Her clear, crisp voice called my name. For me, my response came out unusually brisk and rigid.

Nagi gestured for me with a gentle smile, and straightening my posture, I walked over to her side. Sensing the atmosphere, the surrounding students wisely refrained from following.

"Please stand next to me."

Doing as Nagi instructed, I lined up beside her. And then...

"...There!"

Nagi pulled my left arm tightly against her chest.

"――?! N-Nagi?!"

"...If I don't do this, they won't understand."

Nagi murmured softly before looking around at the gathered crowd.

"Souta-kun is my fiancé."

Her voice wasn't particularly loud. Yet, it carried with crystal clarity.

"Eh?!"

"For real?!"

"Fiancé?! Skipping past boyfriend entirely?!"

The surrounding area instantly erupted into a roar of chatter. Come to think of it, I hadn't mentioned that part to anyone. I figured I needed Nagi's permission before bringing it up anyway.

Bewildered by the sudden turn of events, I looked at Nagi... but with a bright red face, she continued staring down the crowd.

"Therefore—"

Once again, her voice was quiet. Yet it carried astonishingly well, bringing an immediate hush over the area.

"Souta-kun is mine—I am going to make him happy. Please do not even think... about making any unwarranted advances. Regardless of whether you are a boy or a girl, if anyone does anything to hurt him, I will not forgive you."

Her voice was pitched a tone lower than usual.

Rather than being angry... she radiated an intense pressure reminiscent of her "Ice Princess" days before I met her.

However—Nagi's declaration was met with a chorus of excited squeals.

The female students were screaming in delight. The ones standing right in front of us were holding back, of course.

"You are a very attractive person, Souta-kun. Things were getting quite chaotic on my end as well, so Hayama-san suggested I should come over, which is why I am here."

"On your end too?"

"Yes. On my end as well."

"...We've both had our hands full, huh."

I offered a wry smile. If my school was in this state, Nagi's school had to be in absolute turmoil.

Glancing into the distance, I spotted a familiar figure flashing a peace sign in our direction. Nagi might have heard it from Hayama, but the true mastermind was clearly Eiji.

"However... I don't think my face can hold out much longer."

"What do you mean?"

Looking at Nagi's face, she was wearing the same deadpan expression she used to show on the train... No. Her cheeks were twitching slightly as she desperately tried to suppress a smile.

"You see... whenever I am beside you, Souta-kun, my cheeks just naturally soften on their own."

"You sound like Pavlov's dog."

"B-But I can't help it! I'm right next to you, Souta-kun!"

However, staying like this was dangerous. If Nagi broke into a radiant smile in front of all these watching eyes, her image might shatter... Wait, was that actually a bad thing?

...Still, I kind of hated the thought of everyone seeing it.

Closing my eyes for a brief moment in thought...

"Nagi."

"Yes?"

"Let me hide you for a second."

I pulled Nagi into a hug, burying her face into my chest. The girls' squeals grew even louder.

"Eiji!"

"I beat him to it~!"

"Nishizawa?! Since when... I mean, where did you come from?!"

I tried calling for Eiji, but Nishizawa appeared out of nowhere instead.

"Eiji mentioned things looked like they were gonna turn into a whole scene, so here I am."

"I'm here too."

"Hayama... Ah, right. You walked Nagi here, didn't you?"

"Bingo. Alright, teachers are gonna come running if this commotion keeps up. I'll handle the crowd, so just follow me."

"Eiji, you help out too~!"

"Yeah, yeah! Leave it to me."

Before I knew it, Eiji had joined in... and somehow, we managed to escape the school grounds before any teachers arrived.

Tomorrow was going to be a little terrifying, but everything would probably be fine. With Nagi showing up in person, the resentful glares... hopefully they'd decrease. I had to believe they would.

Pushing those problems aside for later, I gave Nagi a firm, reassuring hug.

◆◆◆

"...F-Forgive me for causing a scene."

"No... well, same goes for me. We ended up drawing a massive amount of attention in the end. I'm sorry."

"I was wondering what got into you when you suddenly pulled her into a hug, though."

Having put some distance between ourselves and the school, we finally realized how out of control we had been.

Looking back now, that was completely over the top. Hugging in broad daylight in front of the whole school was a bit much...

"Still, that guarantees nobody's gonna steal Minorin away. Guys and girls alike won't be hitting on him anymore, right?"

"It certainly achieved the original goal, but... I-I can't deny that I went a little overboard myself."

As Nagi admitted with a bright red face, Hayama flashed a mischievous grin.

"Then next time, Minori-kun has to come to our school and do the exact same thing, right?"

"...! I-I would die of embarrassment!...N-No, though I would be very happy."

"I-I don't think I have that kind of courage..."

Wait, though. Would that actually be for the best?

If it reduced the number of guys hitting on Nagi, should I do it...?

"Well, I think today was overdoing it, but going once to show your face and prove you're actually dating might not be a bad idea. To ward off any competition, ya know?"

"...That might actually make sense."

"S-Souta-kun?!"

"Just like you were worried about me, Nagi, I worry about you too. I'm not saying I'll do it right this second, though."

At Nagi's school, most people probably had no idea who I was. In the worst-case scenario, someone might say, 'You'd be way better off with me than a guy like that'... I couldn't say the chances were zero. Even if the probability was tiny.

While turning that over in my mind, I noticed Nagi was covering her burning cheeks with both hands.

"If you don't want me to, I won't, of course."

"N-No. It's not that I dislike it....Quite the opposite, actually. Just thinking about you coming to pick me up, Souta-kun, made me so uncontrollably happy."

Peeking up at me, Nagi gave a shy, bashful giggle.

...Seriously.

"I can't... I really don't want anyone else to see you looking like this."

I never imagined I possessed such a strong sense of possessiveness.

As I let out a helpless sigh, Nagi leaned in close and—

"The feeling is entirely mutual."

—she murmured softly.

◆◆◆

"Good morning, Souta-kun."

"Good morning, Nagi."

Could I finally say that our everyday life had returned?

Or perhaps it was a slightly different everyday life than before.

Nagi immediately stepped up right beside me. As always, our distance was very close... though that was nothing new.

Nagi's slender fingers gently poked at mine. Glancing at her, she looked somewhat restless.

...When I tentatively extended my pinky, she instantly linked hers around it. Looks like I made the right call.

Even though it was just our pinkies, she gripped it tightly like making a pinky promise and refused to let go.

Nagi stared intently at me... her cheeks softening ever so slightly. Then, standing on her tiptoes, she leaned close to my ear.

"Just linking our fingers like this lets me feel that you are right beside me, Souta-kun, and it makes me so happy."

Her voice sent a thrilling, pleasant shiver through my eardrum. Pulling back slightly... Nagi gazed into my eyes.

When I met her gaze, she offered a sweet smile at point-blank range.

...Seriously, this was terrible for my heart.

Who on earth was the one who said you get tired of a pretty face in three days? We'd known each other for nearly two months now, and seeing new sides of her still made me intensely nervous.

Well, since I originally started riding this train just to catch a glimpse of Nagi, it was a bit late to be saying that....How nostalgic. It was after seeing her actions that I found myself drawn to her and couldn't get her out of my head.

My hand instinctively moved to pat Nagi's head... but I barely managed to restrain myself. Doing that here would cause far too much of a scene for the people around us.

At the same time, Nagi tilted her head upward in anticipation of my hand... before stopping herself. Probably for the exact same reason.

Then, she pulled a slightly pouting expression.

Compared to when we first met, she had become so remarkably expressive.

"When it's just the two of us, okay?"

"...Yes. I will make do with this for now."

Applying a bit of pressure to our linked pinkies, our arms gently brushed against each other.

Just that simple touch made my heart race with unusual vigor.

◆◆◆

Shortly after stepping off the train, something suddenly crossed my mind. At the exact same moment, my phone rang.

“I am so sorry! I completely forgot to hand you your bento!”

"No, I completely forgot about it myself. Please don't apologize."

We usually exchanged the bento in the morning, but today I had completely slipped up and forgotten to take it.

Still, what should we do?...I could always buy something from the school cafeteria for lunch. But would the bento last until dinner? It had been getting colder lately, but leaving it out all day might be risky, especially with the heaters on in the classrooms.

"By the way, where are you right now, Nagi?"

“I just arrived in my classroom, and I noticed it when I was taking out my belongings.”

"I see."

I checked the time. Since I always left home early, I had plenty of time to spare.

"Would it be all right if I came by your school?"

I blurted it out on a whim, to which a cheerful voice instantly replied, “Yes! I will be looking forward to it!”

Her being so excited about it felt a little funny, but figuring it was fine, I turned around and headed back toward the station.

◆◆◆

On my way to Nagi's high school, students heading in the same direction gave me suspicious looks.

The away-game atmosphere was overwhelming. Wearing a completely different uniform really made me stick out like a sore thumb.

"Thinking about it, Nagi really is amazing..."

Given her appearance, she must have felt those stares far more intensely than I was right now.

After walking for a short while, the high school Nagi attended came into view.

"So this is it... Ah."

I rarely visited this area, so everything felt fresh. Wondering if that building was the gymnasium and that one was the main school building... I spotted a familiar figure standing near the front gates.

"Nagi."

I didn't call out very loudly, worried about drawing unnecessary attention.

Even so, Nagi noticed me immediately.

"Souta-kun!"

Her tightly composed expression softened in an instant, glowing with sheer delight.

"I am so glad. Ah, here is your bento."

"A-Ah, yeah. Thank you."

Nagi trotted over and handed me the bento box. A wry smile slipped across my face.

"...Are you sure you don't need to hide your expression?"

"It is difficult to keep up a facade in front of you, Souta-kun, so I thought I would let it soften just a little. I will compose myself properly when you aren't around... Is that not okay?"

"...No, it's fine. Thank you."

After what happened yesterday, my possessive streak was completely out in the open. I ended up making her worry about me.

Even so, the stares from the surrounding students were incredible. Some students did double and triple takes as they walked past.

"I-Is the Ice Princess... smiling? Something's totally different about her, right?"

"Is it true she got a boyfriend...? N-No way. Maybe he's just her older brother or something?"

Cheering squeals rose from the female students, while the male students cast glares dripping with jealousy and suspicion.

Right then, another familiar figure appeared by the school gates.

"Oh, Nagi. Could he be the boyfriend in question?"

It was Hayama. Speaking in an exaggeratedly theatrical tone, she gave Nagi a wink.

"Y-Yes, that is correct. He is my boyfriend... No. He is my fiancé!"

Taking my hand, Nagi declared with a sharp, dignified expression. The surrounding clamor grew even louder.

"F-Fiancé?!"

"No way, that's gotta be a lie... Wait, but with her family background, is that totally plausible?"

"Does that mean he's from some crazy rich family?"

"Even more than Murata, the company president's son?!"

All kinds of wild speculations flew around... but well, whatever. If they misunderstood, it didn't really matter since we went to different schools anyway.

"...Nagi, aren't you a little close?"

"W-We are fiancés, after all. This is completely normal. Normal."

Blushing furiously, Nagi pressed herself even closer against my side. Her sweet fragrance drifted over, and half of my body pressed against her soft, warm frame.

"Oho~. Look at you two being all lovey-dovey."

"L-Lovey-dovey..."

Hayama's teasing made Nagi's face turn even redder. The fact that she looked somewhat pleased about it... judging by the crowd's reaction, wasn't just my imagination.

"N-NO WAYYYYYY!"

"Shinonome-chan's vibe is completely different from usual..."

"Eek! So cute!"

Cries of despair and excited squeals mingled together. It was definitely about time for a teacher to show up.

"Well, Nagi, I should get going."

"Y-Yes. You are right, considering the time."

If I didn't leave soon, the venomous glares from the male students might actually kill me.

Right then—

"Why the hell is a scrawny, goofy-looking guy like him the Ice Princess's boyfriend?"

Those words drifted clearly into our ears. Badmouthing behind someone's back... or rather, a direct insult. Well, I had prepared myself to hear an insult or two, so it didn't bother me. All I needed to do was ignore it.

Or so I thought—

"Who said that?"

Nagi took a step forward. In that instant, the ambient temperature felt like it dropped several degrees.

"...Nagi?"

"Who was the one who just spoke ill of him?"

Just by looking at her... no, just by hearing her tone, it was obvious.

She was furious.

"Who was the one judging others by their own shallow standards, deliberately speaking insults within earshot?...I cannot say you possess very admirable character."

Nagi took another step forward. The clamor of students that had filled the air moments ago vanished into dead silence at her words.

—This is bad.

"Nagi, I don't care about it at all."

"I care. You know nothing about Souta-kun... and make no effort to understand him. Hurling nothing but petty jealousy at him is something I will not stand for."

"Well, from Nagi's perspective, that's pretty uncool. I feel the same way."

This time, Hayama stepped forward. Narrowing her eyes into a cold glare, she stared down the male students standing nearby.

"Jealousy and resentment are personal feelings, so I won't tell you how to feel. But having the nerve to say it out loud? You're basically advertising to everyone that you're a trash person, you know? You should think a little more before opening your mouth. Your voice carries way more than you think, especially if you're saying it on purpose."

Hayama glared at the boy who had most likely spoken the insult. With a sour, humiliated expression... the guy turned and walked away.

"Alright, that's enough, shoo, shoo! Wrap it up before a teacher comes out and gives everyone a lecture during morning assembly!"

With that, Hayama made shooing motions with her hands to scatter the crowd. Leaving this situation to Hayama seemed like the best call.

Both the guys and girls kept glancing back curiously, but they gradually began walking toward the school building.

"...Thank you, Hayama-san. I lost my composure for a moment."

"Hm? Ah, don't worry about it. I hate hearing people talk bad about my friends, too. Besides, there were a bunch of girls who looked like they want to become friends with you, Nagi-chan."

Nagi's intimidating presence just now had been extraordinary....It carried a hint of Souichirou-san's demeanor, probably from growing up watching him.

If she had kept going, people might have started fearing Nagi all over again.

The moniker "Ice Princess"... personally, I liked it because it matched Nagi's cool, breathtaking atmosphere. But having it treated as a symbol of fear was the last thing I wanted. I wanted to avoid that outcome at all costs.

Hayama had stepped in to help for the exact same reason.

"Thank you from me too, Hayama."

"Yeah, yeah, you're both very welcome. More importantly, Minori-kun, isn't your timing cutting it super close?"

Prompted by Hayama, I checked the time. Factoring in the train ride, I was barely going to make it.

"You're right. Sorry for causing so much confusion. And for making you feel uncomfortable."

"You did nothing wrong, Souta-kun. Please don't apologize."

"Exactly. Feel free to come pick up Nagi-chan whenever you've got time, alright?"

Smiling at their words, I turned to leave.

"Well then—"

"Souta-kun. May I have just a moment?"

Nagi stopped me. Wondering what it was, she asked me to lend her an ear, so I lowered my posture slightly since I was taller than her.

Nagi cupped her hands around my ear like a funnel—

"Have a wonderful day, Souta-kun."

—and along with those words, something soft grazed against my cheek.

"――?!"

"Ooh, bold."

"...Did you see that?"

"Being this close? Absolutely. But the people around us didn't notice, so you're safe~."

With her face burning red all the way to her ears... Nagi offered me a radiant smile.

"Well then, let us meet again on the way home, Souta-kun."

Her smile was so utterly breathtaking—

"...Yeah, see you after school. Have a good day, Nagi."

—that it completely reminded me I could never win against her.

"Yes!"

Smiling softly, Nagi continued waving her hand until I was completely out of sight.

◆◆◆

"H-Hey, hey. What kind of things do you talk about with the Ice Princess?"

"I-I'm curious too."

It seemed it would take a little longer before my ordinary daily life fully returned.

Naturally, the crowd was smaller compared to yesterday, and whenever too many people gathered, Eiji stepped in with, "Don't blame me if you make the Ice Princess angry," so there were no real issues.

And then, lunchtime arrived.

"...Thinking about it again, you're pretty wild yourself. Raiding enemy territory the very next day."

"Lunch just doesn't feel right without Nagi's bento, after all."

"You've got your stomach wrapped around her finger, huh?...Well, not like I can talk, though."

Eiji pulled out a blue bento box. Seeing the unfamiliar container made me tilt my head.

"Did you get a bento made for you too, Eiji?"

"Yeah. Looks like she got inspired by you two. Said if she was willing to make it, I'd gratefully eat it."

"Heh. That's great."

Still, I needed to make sure I never forgot my gratitude. Maybe I should do something for Nagi on a regular basis? I'll have to think about it.

"By the way, are you guys going anywhere for Christmas next month?"

"Christmas, huh. I haven't asked about her plans yet... but if possible, I'd like to spend it together."

There was still some time left. I needed to ask her later, though if Nagi turned me down, I'd be spending Christmas alone. If I mentioned it, my mom and dad would probably come visit, though.

"...I don't know if Nagi will be spending it with her family or with me. Depending on how things go, I might visit Nagi's house, but we won't know until we talk it over."

"Makes sense. I doubt you'll end up alone, but on the off chance... the one-in-a-million chance that happens, let me know. We'll hang out with the two of us."

"Yeah, thanks. If that happens, I'll take you up on it."

I gave a wry smile to a surprised Eiji.

Still, Christmas, huh. If that's the case—

"I need to start thinking about a Christmas present."

"Yeah, definitely better to prepare that early."

"Right. What kind of gift would make her happy... I'd love to ask for your advice, but I guess that wouldn't really work."

"What makes someone happy depends on the person, after all....Besides, wouldn't she be thrilled with literally anything you give her?"

"...That might be true, but I can't just pick something halfheartedly. Well, it'll work out. It'll be fine."

A few candidates immediately popped into my head. I'd still make sure to ask Nagi if there was anything specific she wanted.

With those thoughts in mind, I brought a piece of tamagoyaki to my mouth.

As always, the bento was exceptionally delicious.

◆◇◆◇◆

I was standing right in front of myself.

At first, I thought I was looking into a mirror. But the me standing before my eyes... had clouded eyes and a dark, hollow expression.

The moment I realized it was a dream, the world began taking on color.

We were—inside a Ferris wheel. A painfully familiar scenery. Though seen from an objective perspective, I knew exactly where—and when—this was.

“Today is the last day I will be able to see you, Souta-kun.”

That day—the memory of the day I betrayed Souta-kun.

A sharp, needle-like pain pierced my chest. Yet, I could not run from this pain. I must never allow myself to run.

This was a memory I must never forget. It was precisely because I held that conviction so fiercely that it manifested in my dreams like this.

“I am so sorry. For dragging you into this—”

Watching it unfold filled me with overwhelming regret... and intense anger.

What on earth was she—was I even saying?

She was only thinking about protecting her own heart. Even that apology would do nothing but hurt Souta-kun.

I bit my lip firmly. There was no physical pain.

Then, the scene shifted. The memory of our parting.

“I will take my final memory, then.”

How wretchedly selfish of me—to kiss Souta-kun like that. The surroundings faded into darkness, leaving only myself and the other version of me behind.

"Are you happy?"

She—I—asked.

"You must be happy. You've finally been united with the person you love so dearly, after all."

I couldn't offer a reply. Yet she was a mirror reflecting my very self. She could see through every single thought in my head.

"Do you truly believe you are capable of making him happy?"

The words 'I can' refused to come out. Only a raspy breath passed through my throat.

"You have repaid nothing to him. You returned his kindness with betrayal, and to make matters worse, you are simply trying to bask in the happiness he provides all over again."

Those clouded blue eyes stared intently into mine. And reflected within them, my own eyes were—equally clouded.

"You might betray him again."

Those words had been lodged deep within my heart all this time.

"Even so, he won't leave you. He will surely save you again. That is what you're thinking, isn't it?"

He would surely save me. Because that was the kind of person he was.

"That is precisely why I cannot allow myself to rely on him."

I could no longer tell whether those words came from her lips, or if they were spoken by my own voice.

"I will make him happy. Not anyone else, but me."

Fragmented memories of that day rushed through my mind.

A memory that must never be forgotten. A memory that must remain with me until the day I am laid in my grave.

Whether it brought nausea or headaches, compared to the agony he endured, this was utterly trivial.

A dark, murky sludge swirled violently within my chest. As if to banish it, I pressed my clenched fist firmly against my heart.

And in that exact moment—I woke up.

◆◇◆◇◆

The ticking of the clock echoed through the pitch-black room. It was the dead of night, long before the sun would rise.

Usually, memories of dreams faded quickly, yet this one remained vividly etched in my mind.

Today again—I had seen it. The dream of that day.

"..."

Bringing a hand to my cheek, I felt a lukewarm moisture.

...I am so weak.

Sitting up, my loungewear was damp with cold sweat. The sweat continued to bead on my skin, and the nausea welling up from deep within my chest carried a terrible sense of deja vu.

"Souta-kun... I swear that I will make you happy."

A sharp needle pierced my heart. Yet, I had no desire to pull it out. I couldn't bring myself to.

What he gave me was immense. In contrast, what I have returned... is small. Far too small.

Slowly rising to my feet, I grabbed a change of clothes.

"...What must I do to make him happy?"

Walking down the dark hallway, I reflected on everything within my power.

The sky was black, and the moon was nowhere to be seen.

◆◇◆

Saturday of that week.

Nagi had been at my house since morning. The reason being—my dad and mom were scheduled to visit today.

"Nagi, you really don't need to be this nervous."

"...Thank you."

Her back was straighter than I had ever seen it, and her expression was rigid. Anyone looking at her could tell she was completely overwhelmed with nerves.

Though she managed a faint smile at my words, it was undeniably stiff.

While I worried for her... I also knew that nothing I said could fully put her at ease.

The reason she was this nervous... was undoubtedly because of that incident.

I had mentioned Nagi to my parents... but I had only given them a brief summary of what happened that day.

Explaining it over text was difficult. Without seeing each other's faces, emotions were hard to convey, which could easily lead to misunderstandings. Explaining it over the phone... would have taken an enormous amount of time.

Considering their visit today, I thought it would be better to explain things beforehand despite the length... but Nagi stopped me. “I will explain it myself,” she insisted.

Naturally, I didn't want to place an emotional burden on Nagi. But... she pleaded with me so earnestly that I couldn't refuse.

While I wondered if there was anything else I could do—a notification chimed on my smartphone.

"...Looks like they're arriving soon."

"Understood."

Nagi was wound up like a tight spring. Seeing her like that—I made up my mind.

"Nagi."

"Yes?"

"Can I hug you? Actually, I'm just going to."

"...S-Souta-kun?"

Nagi looked slightly bewildered, but ignoring that, I wrapped my arms around her back and pulled her into a hug.

She felt as warm as a sunbeam. But her shoulders were locked with tension. Her heartbeat was racing frantically.

"Nagi, let's take a deep breath together."

"...Yes."

Swallowing her confusion, Nagi's hands tightened around me.

The heavy thumps of our heartbeats overlapped.

Taking several deep breaths alongside her—her heartbeat gradually slowed, and the intervals between them widened.

"Thank you, Souta-kun. I feel a little calmer now."

"You're welcome."

The tension in her shoulders melted away, and her usual gentle softness returned to her expression. Just then—

Ding-dong.

"They're here. Nagi, shall we go?"

"Yes!"

As I stood up, Nagi naturally took my hand. Feeling my own lips curl into a smile, we walked over to the front door.

"Coming! Opening it now!"

Calling out toward the entryway, I exchanged a brief glance with Nagi beside me....She looked ready.

And as I opened the door—

"SOUTAAAAAAA! MY BELOVED SOOOOOON!"

"Guh."

My field of vision was completely overwhelmed by white clothing, enveloped in a familiar scent. Immediately, I was squeezed in a bear hug so tight I couldn't breathe.

I tried to push away the body—my dad's body—clinging to me, but his strength was immense. It seemed I still couldn't beat Dad in raw power.

"Honestly, Dear. Didn't we agree you would behave yourself today?"

Thwack! A dull impact echoed out. Most likely the sound of Mom delivering a chop to his head.

With that, my dad released his grip on me. Glancing to my side, Nagi's eyes were wide with shock, exactly as expected. I wished I had warned her beforehand, but it was too late for that now.

"...First of all, I'd like to say welcome, but let me introduce my girlfriend first."

Mom had been curious from the very first second, fidgeting excitedly as she looked at Nagi. Dad seemed to notice belatedly, staring blankly in surprise.

I debated whether I should make the introduction, but Nagi was looking straight at me. Seeing her take a step forward to stand beside me, I closed the mouth I had just opened.

"It is an honor to meet you, Souta-kun's Mother and Father. Souta-kun has taken wonderful care of me. I am Souta-kun's... girlfriend, Nagi Shinonome. I look forward to your acquaintance."

Nagi gave a graceful, immaculate bow. After staring in stunned amazement... my parents broke into the widest, most radiant smiles I had ever seen on them.

"My, my, my, my goodness! I heard he had a girlfriend, but I never imagined such an adorable girl! It is lovely to meet you. I am Souta's mother, Kazumi Minori!"

"...I am Souta's father, Daigo Minori."

"Dad, don't introduce yourself with a deadpan face while crying your eyes out, it's terrifying....I'm sure you have a lot to talk about, but come inside first."

"That's true."

Leaving aside my dad, who was silently shedding tears with a straight face, we kept the introductions brief and moved inside.

I had already prepared some snacks, so I only needed to brew some tea. There was no need to be overly formal with my own parents, after all.

Heading into the living room—Mom and Dad sat down side by side. Nagi and I sat down together on the opposite side of the table.

"Um... excuse me. I am sure you have many questions, but there is something I would like to speak to you about first."

Nagi looked slightly anxious, yet she met their gazes with unwavering resolve.

...Indeed, this was something best discussed right away.

"Is this about what Souta mentioned?"

"Yes. However, I understand he did not share the full details. This is something that I must explain to both of you myself."

The atmosphere around Mom and Dad shifted. Nagi's serious expression made the gravity of the situation clear to them.

Nagi's posture stiffened. Gently placing my hand over hers resting on her lap, she looked at me and offered a small, grateful smile.

After a brief pause, Nagi looked straight at my parents and spoke—

"I betrayed Souta-kun, and hurt him terribly."

—and began to recount everything that had happened.