Waking up early, Haruto arrived at the cram school. After greeting Tsubota, who was already inside, he headed to the same seat he used yesterday. Sitting down, he opened his workbook and began another day at Aomine Cram School.
"Are you familiar with how university entrance exams work?"
It was still early. The other students hadn't arrived yet. Tsubota walked over and asked Haruto, who was absorbed in his book.
"The general subjects and the essay, right?"
"Correct. But overall, they're divided into two main types. One is the Common Test organized by the National Center for University Entrance Examinations under the Ministry of Education. The other is the individual exams conducted by each university."
"For prestigious schools, you usually have to take the Common Test first before you're allowed to take their individual exams, right?"
"That's true in most cases. But private universities—like Rikkyo or Sophia, which you're aiming for—don't weigh the Common Test results that heavily. You just need to complete specific subjects. A full pass isn't required."
Haruto understood what Tsubota meant.
"So compared to public universities, it's a bit more relaxed?"
"Perhaps. But the individual exams at private universities can be quite tough. The integrated subjects are a major hurdle, and the essay writing is no joke either. If you really want to get in, you'll have to work for it."
"Yeah," Haruto nodded.
As they chatted, the other students began arriving. Tsubota moved to help them, while Haruto returned to studying. Even though he had chosen a humanities track, the entrance exams would still include integrated science to some extent.
There was still plenty of time. No need to rush.
Around ten in the morning, his phone vibrated in his pocket. Haruto was reading other students' sample essays for reference when he glanced at the screen.
Sawamura.
He put the phone back without replying and returned to reading.
When lunchtime arrived, his phone started buzzing constantly. Sitting alone in a corner of a restaurant, he sighed, pulled out the phone, and scanned through a stream of messages. He pinched his brow in mild irritation.
「?」
The moment he sent that single-character reply, the flood of messages stopped.
Then, his phone rang.
Unbothered by his public surroundings, Haruto answered it directly.
"What is it?"
"Friday. I'm going to Summer Comiket. Come help."
"Time and place."
"Come to my house Thursday afternoon. We'll head to the venue from there."
"Got it."
And that was it.
Haruto hung up, sighed, and checked the calendar. Friday wasn't far off—just two days away. Tomorrow was already Wednesday.
"So… Thursday afternoon, huh?"
He closed his eyes to think. Looked like he wouldn't be able to attend cram school on Thursday or Friday. And beyond that...
_ _ _ _
Meanwhile, staring at her phone after the call was abruptly cut off, the blonde girl bit her lip in frustration. The way he ended the call so bluntly—and the fact that he never messaged first—gnawed at Eriri.
"He's probably with his stupid girlfriend again. Damn it!"
In a flash of frustration, she stood up and took off her green tracksuit, quickly changing into casual clothes and throwing on a baseball cap. Without hesitation, she stormed out of her room.
"Where are you going?"
Her mother, Sayuri, raised an eyebrow from the living room, where she was sipping coffee. It was rare to see Eriri so determined to leave the house—especially in this sweltering heat.
"Just out for a bit. I'll be back soon!"
"..."
Watching her daughter disappear down the road, Sayuri sighed and took another sip of coffee.
"The way she was dressed… doesn't look like she's meeting a boyfriend. More like she's about to stalk someone. This girl, honestly…"
A faint frown appeared on Sayuri's face as her thoughts drifted.
"Is she going to see that boy… Miyamizu Haruto?"
Recalling that other girl—Setsuna Kiyoura—Sayuri's expression grew more complicated. She pondered for a moment, then shook her head.
Her daughter was old enough now. Sayuri had no reason to interfere. She had raised Eriri for long enough. If she kept hovering, Eriri would never grow up. It was better to watch over her from a distance and step in only when she truly needed it.
"She's old enough to start living independently too, isn't she? Maybe I should suggest she move out…"
But knowing her daughter's personality, Sayuri could already picture the state of that hypothetical apartment. Hygiene alone would be a disaster.
She sighed again.
Maybe not yet.
Out in the blazing sun, Eriri was already sweating under her jacket. She had only just left the house and was already uncomfortable. Still, she pressed on, heading straight to Haruto's apartment building. But when she got there, the windows were all shut—clearly, no one was home.
"…"
Hesitating for a moment, she made her way up the stairs and stopped in front of his door. She stared at it in silence, then reached out and pressed the doorbell.
Ding-dong—Ding… ding-dong—Ding, ding, ding… ding-dong—
She pressed it several times, but the silence inside confirmed it: no one was home.
Taking off her cap and wiping the sweat from her face, Eriri crouched down beside the door and leaned against the railing. Her expression was downcast.
"Not home… Where did he go…"
Lowering her head, she buried her face in her arms and bit her lip in frustration.
Tap—Tap—
Footsteps echoed on the stairs and stopped beside her.
"You're… here to see Haruto?"
— — —
Leaving cram school, Haruto glanced back at the building before sighing. Another day done. He looked toward the direction of his apartment… but after a moment of hesitation, turned south instead.
Maybe this is what it means to be a man.
Even knowing someone was waiting at home, he didn't feel like going back. Compared to his quiet and comfortable apartment, the unfamiliar and unpredictable drew him in more.
Could it really be called "unpredictable," though? Yuka wasn't exactly a stranger.
What was he looking for?
He wasn't even sure anymore.
Step by step, he arrived at her door. Just like the day before, he let himself in, sat at her desk, pulled a book from the shelf, and flipped it open without much thought.
Each page was full of characters he didn't understand. The unfamiliar symbols blurred before his eyes.
Outside the window, the sky was still bright—nowhere near sunset. Sitting quietly inside that peaceful room, Haruto tapped his fingers rhythmically on the desk, a nameless melody drifting through his mind.
Footsteps. The sound of a door unlocking and closing.
"Good afternoon, Haruto."
The girl's voice gently pulled him from his thoughts.
Haruto slowly turned his head toward the doorway, where Yuka was changing her shoes. She was familiar—her presence, her scent, her silhouette. And yet, for a fleeting second, she felt oddly distant.
He closed his eyes… then opened them again.
She was still the same girl. But somehow, the world had shifted. As if his black-and-white surroundings had been dyed in her colors—suddenly vivid, bright, full of life.
Yuka, noticing that Haruto hadn't responded, looked toward him. There was a curious gleam in his eyes—like he was staring through her, as if trying to understand the world beyond her silhouette. Without disturbing his silence, she simply began tidying the room.
That morning, she had indulged in a rare lazy stretch in bed. Her part-time job was over, and the room remained messier than she liked—especially with Haruto present. She felt oddly shy about it.
Haruto, still silent, continued watching her.
Just watching her move around the room—organizing, walking back and forth—never once felt dull. He didn't say a word. Just observed. There was peace in it.
When Yuka finally finished tidying and came to a stop, he slowly stood from his seat.
He walked to the window, shut it, and drew the curtain. Yuka stepped beside him. He reached out his hand—
—
Evening fell. Streetlights blinked on. Haruto walked down the familiar road, the world around him seeming a little clearer than before.
Was he tired?
He didn't feel like talking. Silence seemed more fitting.
Back at his apartment door, he reached into his pocket for the key—only to notice something taped to the door.
He pulled it off and read it.
'You're back. Come to my place.'
—Signed, Setsuna Kiyoura.
Haruto looked down at the key still in his hand, then at the small note again. After a moment of stillness, he opened his door and stepped inside.
He turned on the lights, took a quick shower, dried his hair, and changed into clean clothes. Feeling a bit more refreshed, he headed back out—only to run into his neighbor coming home from work.
"Long day?" he greeted politely.
The woman, Takimoto Hifumi, looked at him with mild surprise. She opened her mouth as if to say something, but he had already passed by. Watching his back disappear down the stairs, she glanced at his apartment, then sighed softly and headed inside her own home.
At the Kiyoura residence, Haruto pressed the doorbell. Finding the door unlocked, he stepped inside, slipped on a pair of guest slippers, and headed into the living room.
There, he found Mai cleaning up.
"You really shouldn't leave the door unlocked," Haruto said, gesturing back toward the entrance. "Summer's when crime rates spike. It's not safe."
"You're right," Mai admitted. "Here—spare key."
She stepped into her room and returned with a duplicate key.
Haruto hesitated, then accepted it and slipped it into his pocket. He glanced around.
"Where's Setsuna?"
"In her room."
"I see."
Nodding, Haruto turned and walked toward Setsuna's door. Mai, watching him go, sensed something off—Haruto's mood felt... low. Something must have happened.
"Oh, and about cram school—"
She had just remembered what she wanted to ask, but before she could finish, he had already entered Setsuna's room.
Mai shook her head.
I'll ask him later.
Inside Setsuna's room, she was seated on the floor reading a magazine. Haruto glanced at the cover—Steady.
A women's fashion magazine, he assumed. He wasn't sure what kind exactly, but it probably dealt with style coordination and trends.
"Someone came to see you today," Setsuna said, eyes still on the pages.
"A girl?"
"Yeah. Said she was looking for you."
"There aren't many girls who know my address... but there are a few."
"Blonde."
'Which one?'—he had wanted to ask. But that word alone—which—felt a bit dangerous. Still, Setsuna didn't seem to care. She had long been prepared for this sort of thing.
Blonde, huh?
Among the girls Haruto knew, only one person came to mind.
"Ah… her, huh."
He sighed. After the texts and calls… now she was coming to his house?
"What did you talk about?"
"She mentioned how popular you are at school. And also… that she likes you."
"Haa…"
"Haruto, are you going on a date with her the day after tomorrow?"
"A… date?"
He had been just about to confirm it—yes, he had made plans to meet her the day after tomorrow. But the moment he was about to say it, something in Setsuna's wording caught his attention.
Date.
That word made him pause.
He turned to look at the girl—not reading her magazine anymore but looking directly at him.
~~~~~~~~~~
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