"Phew... yawn..."
I let out a massive, bone-deep yawn while taking a bite of toast spread thick with peanut butter.
Last night, after finally managing to send Haruka home despite her pouting about not wanting to leave, I had called my younger sister, Yui. Between everything that had happened recently, I’d completely forgotten to fulfill my duty of reporting that Haruka and I were officially a couple.
Yui had always been fond of Haruka, so I figured she’d be happy. Honestly, I’d even wondered if Haruka had beaten me to the punch and told her already.
With those lighthearted thoughts in mind, I had told her, "I've officially started dating Haruka." The result? A complete and total breakdown.
No matter how much she tried to wipe them away, the tears kept coming, and the sobbing wouldn't stop. In a voice thick with emotion, Yui wailed and repeated "Congratulations" and "I'm so glad" over and over again.
I was blindsided by a reaction that far exceeded my expectations, but I could tell she was happy for us from the bottom of her heart. When I tried to thank her, she only cried harder.
At my wit's end, I spent about an hour soothing her as if I were comforting a fussy infant. Eventually, my stepmother heard the commotion and came in to check on her. She took the phone and, while comforting Yui, asked me what was going on. When I gave her the news... my stepmother started crying too.
Feeling the weight of our family bond through their tearful blessings made me feel a bit sentimental.
Finally, my father appeared, drawn by the sound of the two of them weeping. I explained the situation to him, and after he gave me his blessing—mixed with a healthy dose of teasing—I realized I’d stayed up way past my usual bedtime. As a result, I was starting the day with a significant sleep deficit.
"Yui and Mom really have a flair for the dramatic..."
That said, it didn't feel bad to be celebrated like that. It was obvious for Yui, but my parents had also clearly been worried about me ever since I’d chosen a high school far from my hometown following that specific incident. I, too, had been harboring an awkwardness of my own making, building a wall between myself and my parents—especially toward my stepmother.
I finished breakfast and started brushing my teeth, resolving to have a real talk with them when I returned home for summer break.
Ding-dong. The intercom chimed.
A visitor this early? A girl's radiant smile flickered through my mind.
"No way..."
Guided by a hunch that felt like a certainty, I hurried to the front door with my toothbrush still in my mouth. A quick glance at the monitor confirmed it; the very person I’d just imagined was standing there in her school uniform.
My steps lightened of their own accord as I reached the entryway. When I opened the door, a refreshing smile greeted my bewildered face.
"Good morning, Tatsumi-kun!"
"...Morning, Haruka. You're early."
It wasn't even eight o'clock yet, and it took twenty minutes to get here from her house. From the look of it, she had arrived fully prepared for the school day.
As I looked at her in admiration, Haruka beamed with pride.
"We promised to go to school together yesterday, remember? So I caught a bus one earlier than usual."
"A promise... Oh, right. The 'holding hands on the way to school' thing."
I remembered the conversation now. I just hadn't expected her to show up at my door this early. I wasn't sure if that really counted as a "promise," but it had started with my own suggestion anyway. It wasn't like I disliked the idea, and I had no intention of backing out now.
I let out a small chuckle and looked up at the clear sky. Since the summer solstice had passed, the sunny days were becoming more frequent, though the muggy humidity of the rainy season still lingered. It was the kind of weather that heralded the approach of the brutal Japanese summer. I couldn't just leave her standing out there.
"I'll be ready in a minute. Wait inside."
"Okay, thank you!"
I ushered Haruka in and returned to the bathroom. Just as I finished rinsing, another yawn welled up. I splashed my face with cold water again to shake off the grogginess.
Now I just had to change. My uniform was in the living room, but I couldn't exactly strip down in front of Haruka. I’d have to head back to my room for a moment.
Recalling Haruka's blushing face from a previous occasion, I walked back into the living room, only to stop dead in my tracks.
"...Why are you wearing my blazer?"
"Because it was right there? It's even bigger than I thought. Look, it’s huge!"
Haruka looked incredibly adorable as she giggled and swung the overlong sleeves back and forth. Was this the "boyfriend shirt" effect? No, a "boyfriend blazer." I see... this is dangerous for my heart. Hey, wait—don't sniff it.
"...It doesn't really smell like Tatsumi-kun."
"I've hardly worn it since the start of June. It's probably dusty, so hurry up and take it off."
"Okay~"
Looking a bit disappointed, Haruka hung the blazer back up.
Out of the corner of my eye, I grabbed my uniform trousers and shirt. It was probably time to switch to short sleeves. Haruka had been wearing a cardigan until last week, but today she was in her summer outfit—a thin vest over a short-sleeved shirt. The pale skin of her arms was dazzling.
Noticing my gaze, Haruka tilted her head. Cute.
"What is it?"
"I was just thinking of switching to short sleeves too. The Summer Uniform Transition Period is about to end anyway."
"It's been getting really hot since last week, hasn't it? ...By the way, Tatsumi-kun."
Haruka spun around once with a light step and looked up at me with a mischievous glint in her eyes.
"How do you like my summer uniform? Do I look cute?"
"You look very cute."
"Hehe♪ You're getting much better at complimenting me, Tatsumi-kun."
I’d get used to it when asked every single day. Besides, I meant every word.
I retreated to my room to change quickly. For some reason, Haruka tried to peek, which felt like a reversal of the usual roles. Not that I would peek, mind you.
When I returned to the living room with my bag, Haruka scrutinized me from head to toe. It was just a plain, standard summer uniform.
"...Yep! Tatsumi-kun looks cool today too!"
"Sure, thanks. It's about that time. Let's go."
It was a little earlier than my usual departure, but arriving early wouldn't hurt. I double-checked the lights and the air conditioning. When you live alone, you have to be meticulous about these things.
Lights off, AC off, keys... check.
Just as I stepped into my shoes to head out, Haruka stopped me.
"Tatsumi-kun. Mmu."
"...I’ll ask just to be sure, but what are you waiting for?"
"A 'have a good day' kiss! Come on, we’re going to be late. Hurry up!"
She pouted her lips and looked up at me, waving her hands to urge me on. She was demanding something with a pretty high hurdle in the most adorable way possible. Nobody did this unless they were a ridiculously sappy couple or newlyweds. Though, given our track record, I couldn't exactly deny the former.
Seeing me hesitate, Haruka tucked her lunch bag behind her back.
"If you don't do it, no bento for you today!"
"...That's playing dirty."
"It's your fault for being so stubbor—mmu♪"
Cutting off her complaint, I gave her a gentle kiss, barely letting our lips touch. Haruka let out a happy little hum and tried to wrap her arms around me, but I caught them to hold her back. If I let her hug me now, I wouldn't be able to stop.
As a result, I ended up in a position that looked like I was pinning her arms down to force a kiss on her.
"Mnh, nngh..."
I pulled away after a few seconds. She seemed satisfied, tracing her lips with a blissful expression.
"Ehehe. Kisses with Tatsumi-kun really are amazing. I want to do this every morning... What about you?"
"...I won't deny that I liked it. But it'll be exhausting for you to get ready early and come all the way here every day."
"I can work hard if there's a reward like that waiting for me, you know?"
"It’s a reward for me too, so that's not exactly fair. ...Let's talk about it later."
I gently took Haruka's hand, and she beamed, entwining her fingers with mine.
"We're heading out."
"We're heading out!"
"...I knew people would stare."
My apartment was about a ten-minute walk from the school. As we got closer, the number of eyes on us increased, prompting a grumble to escape my lips.
The gazes directed at the guy walking hand-in-hand with Haruka Akise were filled with curiosity, skepticism, and outright jealousy. There was almost nothing positive about it; it felt like walking through a gauntlet of needles.
What was truly surprising was the attention we drew from students in other grades as well. In the three months since starting school, Haruka had apparently ascended to the status of a school idol.
The girl herself, however, didn't seem to notice at all, happily humming a tune.
"~~♪ ...What's wrong, Tatsumi-kun? You look like you're thinking about something."
"No... I'm just not used to being the center of attention. It’s making me restless."
As if only just realizing the situation, Haruka blinked and looked around. Seeing it from this perspective made me truly admire how she managed to live while constantly drawing everyone's focus.
"You really are popular, Haruka. I don't think I could handle being stared at like this every day."
"Well, there are definitely more people watching than usual today. I was a little scared right after my high school debut... but being popular was what I wanted, so I got used to it fast."
"I guess that's one way to look at it."
"It's the only way. We haven't done anything wrong, so just stand tall!"
Laughing without a care in the world, Haruka clung to my arm.
"A girl this popular is already your girlfriend, after all♪ You should show me off without any hesitation!"
"...Heh. I suppose you're right."
A smile escaped me. Her words stroked my ego in a way I wasn't used to. If it had been the old me, I would have scolded myself for treating Haruka like a trophy. But now, it was different. Affection and possessiveness were both parts of "love"—and what I was feeling now was definitely love. Haruka seemed to feel the same way, so I decided to embrace it.
Actually, there was one more thing on my mind.
"...I heard you used to get confessed to a lot. Does that... still happen? Even now?"
"Occasionally I’ll get a letter or someone will ask to meet me behind the school. But ever since I met you, I've just been ignoring all of them."
Relief washed over me at her casual smile, but it was followed by a low, simmering agitation. I didn't like it. I trusted her, and I knew she was ignoring them, but still...
She was my girlfriend now. I couldn't stand the thought of anyone else trying to move in on her. Just the idea of other guys targeting Haruka made my stomach churn. Even though I knew it was petty jealousy and selfish possessiveness, I couldn't stop it.
I scanned our surroundings as if looking for a target for my irritation. I could feel my naturally sharp eyes narrowing into something genuinely menacing. Anyone who made eye contact with me flinched and looked away immediately.
Haruka let out a little giggle.
"Tatsumi-kun, you're in 'Intimidation Mode' again."
"...What's 'Intimidation Mode'?"
"Hehe."
Ignoring my retort, she chuckled and whispered while looking up at me through her lashes.
"...Are you jealous, by any chance?"
"...Maybe."
"Ehehe, how cute♪ I'm happy you're jealous, but you don't need to worry, okay? I'm your Haruka, and yours alone."
She looked so incredibly happy that I lost the energy to say anything else. We quickly made our way through the now somewhat quieter path and reached the school gates.
Just as the pressure of the stares intensified again, a voice called out from behind us.
"Haruka! Yanagida-kun! Good morning!"
"Good morning, you two."
One voice was bright and energetic, the other calm and composed. I turned to see Miki Mukai running toward us with a wave, while Karin Takamiya approached with a quiet nod. Haruka and I returned the greeting, but neither of them seemed surprised to see us holding hands.
Mukai-san grabbed Haruka's hand, ignoring my confusion.
"I said it over the phone yesterday, but seriously, congratulations, Haruka! And Yanagida-kun, good job! Congratulations! I'm as happy as if it happened to me!!"
"Thanks, Miki!"
"Thank you, Mukai-san."
I see, so Haruka had already filled them in. Mukai-san was practically vibrating with joy, her twin-tails bouncing with every hop. Karin Takamiya, who had placed a hand on her shoulder to steady her, wore a soft smile I had never seen before.
"Congratulations, Haruka, Yanagida-kun. I'm sure things will be difficult moving forward, but I believe the two of you can overcome anything together."
"Thanks, Karin! ...Wait, that sounded like a maid of honor speech at a wedding."
I didn't say it, but I’d been thinking the exact same thing. Karin’s smile turned teasing—another first for her. She seemed to be in an uncharacteristically good mood.
"Oh? If you're okay with it, I wouldn't mind doing the real thing. We are best friends, after all."
"Karin, no fair! I'm her best friend too! I want to give a speech too!"
"I was joking, so please calm down. ...In any case, if you truly run into trouble, don't hesitate to reach out."
"We'll do everything we can to help! You can count on us! It'll be like being on a sinking ship!"
"A sinking ship is just going to go down... but thank you, Takamiya-san."
"Ehehe, I’m counting on you both!"
Karin nodded, seemingly satisfied with our thanks. Then, she suddenly thrust a clenched fist toward me, her eyes turning cold and serious.
"Yanagida-kun, if any riffraff tries to lay a hand on Haruka, feel free to use this without hesitation. I'll help handle the cleanup."
"...I'll pray it never comes to that."
I hoped she was joking, but her eyes were deadly serious. Despite her prim and proper appearance, the real Karin Takamiya was apparently quite intense.
We couldn't stand around forever, so we headed to the first-year hallway. As we walked, the shocked gazes of our peers pierced into us. Since we were indoors, their whispers were clearly audible.
"Look! Akise-san is holding hands with a guy!" "Wait, seriously? It's for real..." "Who is that guy!?" "My heart... my soul..." "Wait, Haruka got a boyfriend!?" "Damn, he's tall." "He looks kind of scary." "Is she really okay with him?" "But look at her smile. She’s beaming." "You're right. She's so cute when she smiles like that." "I think I’m falling for her. No, I already was. ...And now I’m heartbroken." "Isn't he that guy from the rumors?" "So the rumors weren't fake?" "Was I lied to!? Or was I not lied to!?" "What was his name... Sakurada?"
What an absolute uproar. I wished they’d stop talking about us so freely. Did I really look so scary that people thought I was a kidnapper? And for the record, the rumor was fake, it just... became true later. Also, my name is Yanagida.
I wanted to correct them, but I couldn't exactly stop and argue with the whole hallway. Haruka patted my arm comfortingly as I made a sour face. That small gesture caused another wave of murmurs, which followed us all the way to our classroom door.
I found myself reflexively swallowing hard. Karin shrugged beside me.
"I don't think you need to be so braced for impact."
"You sure?"
"Yes. In our class, this is old news. Now, get in there."
As if pushed by the open door, we stepped into the classroom, still hand-in-hand. The first to speak were the girls chatting near the entrance.
"Oh, Haruka, morn—...oh?"
"Morning... Wait, you're holding hands. Does that mean...?"
Faced with their intense curiosity, Haruka gave them a proud peace sign.
"Good morning! Ehehe... Just as you suspect, we're officially dating now!"
""Ooh!""
As Haruka made her grand declaration, the girls broke into applause. Hearing the news, the rest of the class began to swarm around us.
"Wait, you finally got together?" "Whoa, they really are holding hands." "Show-offs. Are you trying to make me feel worse about being single?" "You actually landed Akise-san? That's incredible, Yanagida..." "As expected of the Master... nothing but respect." "Why Yanagida!? Is it the height? It's the height, isn't it!?" "You have bigger problems than your height. Anyway, you two have to tell us everything later!"
...The reaction was nothing like what I had expected. The girls were all saying "Congratulations!" and "I'm so jealous!" with genuine warmth. The boys, while clearly envious, didn't seem to harbor the kind of poisonous resentment I’d braced myself for.
I wasn't complaining. Being celebrated in such a peaceful atmosphere was a relief. But remembering the chaos when the rumor first surfaced, and the usual glares I got, the discrepancy was a bit jarring.
"You lucky bastard!"
"Take good care of her, Yanagida!"
"Y-Yeah... thanks."
I was slapped on the back repeatedly by Minami, Akasaka, and the others. I gave my thanks while remaining utterly bewildered. As I rubbed my sore back, a hand landed on my shoulder. I turned to see Hashimoto with a wide smirk.
"Yo, Yanagida. Looks like things worked out. Congratulations."
"Hashimoto... thanks?"
"What's with the question mark?"
"...I'm just a bit confused. People are being way nicer than I thought they’d be. I expected to get more grief."
"Ah, that."
Hashimoto let out a laugh of pure exasperation.
"To be honest, in this class, it's way too late for that. Most people are probably thinking, 'Wait, after all that flirting in public, they weren't dating yet?'"
Hashimoto glanced around, and the nearby classmates all nodded in unison.
"Honestly, I thought you'd hooked up ages ago."
"After that karaoke incident, I was certain you were a couple. Guess I was wrong."
"For me, it was the hug during P.E. She had 'girl in love' written all over her face."
"Seriously? For me, it was last Friday after school, when you were just standing there saying each other's names over and over. I couldn't believe you weren't dating after that..."
"So what was that rumor even about, then?"
The blunt honesty of my classmates pierced right through me. I’d been self-aware about our behavior, but hearing it described by others made me want to crawl into a hole and die.
"Even the guys who were jealous have mostly given up because there was zero room to get between you two."
"Look at Oka. He’s achieved a state of total Zen just trying to accept reality."
Following Akasaka’s gaze, I saw Oka standing there with the peaceful expression of a marble statue. I had wanted to thank him for his help before, but looking at him now, it seemed better to leave him to his meditation.
Hashimoto shrugged.
"Look, this is only because this class has been watching you two the whole time. Other classes or the upperclassmen might not be so chill. You’ll probably get some people making trouble or taking shots at you... though hopefully, nobody is stupid enough to try anything major."
An awkward shadow crossed Hashimoto’s face, likely as he remembered Makabe and her group. I was thinking of the same people. But his warning, while appreciated, didn't change my resolve.
No matter what happened, I had sworn to stay by Haruka's side.
"It's fine. I'll handle it. ...After all, I'm Haruka's boyfriend."
At my firm declaration, Hashimoto smiled, looking impressed.
"Haha. Look at you, acting like a man. Well, if anything happens, let me know. I've got your back, best friend."
"Yeah... I'm counting on you."
I watched Hashimoto head back to his seat and turned toward Haruka. She had been under a barrage of questions from the girls and was looking quite flustered, her cheeks flushed a deep pink.
"T-They really didn't hold back, did they...?"
"Yeah... I'm starting to feel the embarrassment myself."
Suddenly, several people around us let out a collective "Eh?" as if to say, Wait, you two actually have a sense of shame?
I cleared my throat and tried to ignore them. Haruka, her face still red from the attention, gave me a soft, shy smile.
"But... I'm really happy that everyone is happy for us."
"...Me too."
As we spoke, our hands found each other again, fingers entwining naturally.
The rumor that "Tatsumi Yanagida is dating Haruka Akise" had been spread with malice, bringing nothing but jealousy and suspicion. But now that the rumor had become the truth, the world around us had changed.
Regardless of what people said, our relationship wouldn't change—but being blessed by our friends like this was a wonderful feeling. We shared a quiet look, both of us smiling as we basked in the warmth in our hearts.
"I’ll tell you this now: keep things decent," Karin interjected firmly. "Just because you're officially dating doesn't mean you have a license to flirt constantly in public. Use this occasion to learn some self-restraint."
" "............" "
"Answer me."
"Yes."
"Oka~y."