"She told you it was a date?"
"No."
"It's just to help out. She contacted me around noon today and asked if I could give her a hand with something—it'll probably last about three days."
As Haruto explained, Setsuna cast a glance at the magazine on her desk.
"Is she… your girlfriend at school?"
"...Huh?"
Caught completely off guard, Haruto's brow furrowed. Setsuna's words brought a temporary freeze to his mind. Only after a beat did he begin parsing her meaning through sheer logic. He looked at the girl, now quietly staring at her magazine, and exhaled deeply.
He closed his eyes. Then slowly, he let out another breath.
"There were some people saying that kind of thing back when the new school term started. But that's all it was—just rumors. You're overthinking it."
"...Sorry, Haruto."
Noticing the faint irritation in his tone, Setsuna pursed her lips slightly. Her gaze lifted to meet his, and she bit down on her lip softly, unsure of what to say.
"Starting recently, I'll be at cram school every day. And even after I get home, I'll need to focus on writing my new work. Things are going to be a bit busy for a while. But it's all for our future home... so we'll just have to endure it for now, Setsuna."
"...I understand."
After offering what comfort he could, Haruto left her room, unsure what more he could say.
When he returned to the living room, he found Mai seated on the couch with a glass of milk in hand. She glanced toward the hallway as the door closed and saw him emerge.
"All finished?"
"Yeah. Just explained a few things."
He plopped down beside her, leaning back and resting his head against the couch. His gaze drifted to the flickering television screen, his eyes slightly distant.
"Was it a misunderstanding?"
"Misunderstanding, huh... I'm not really sure. Feels more like I've reached one of those troublesome stages."
"She's becoming a bit of a handful?"
"A little."
He didn't try to deny it. His reaction earlier in Setsuna's room had already said plenty. He knew he shouldn't have acted like that—but when it came to Setsuna's fragile heart, he couldn't help but feel overwhelmed.
There was no point hiding it from Mai, anyway. Based on how she'd seen both of them interact, she was bound to figure it out sooner or later.
"Girls at sixteen tend to have delicate hearts—I get it. But actually having to deal with it head-on... it really does give you a headache."
"That's what bittersweet teenage love looks like."
"Bitter, huh? When does it ever become sweet fruit?"
He turned to look at Mai. On her serene face, a faint, amused smile appeared. Her eyes, warm with laughter, met his gaze.
She tapped her index finger against her lips, then lightly pressed it against his.
"...I should get back. I have cram school again tomorrow."
"Get some rest."
"Yeah. Good night."
Pocketing the spare key from the Kiyoura household, Haruto headed home.
Once back in his own apartment, he looked at the key in his hand and let out a small sigh. He attached it to his keyring, then collapsed onto his bed, closing his eyes and drifting into sleep almost instantly.
The dream that followed was far from pleasant.
In the hazy space of slumber, Haruto saw himself as an ordinary salaryman, buried in daily work, earning the mocking nickname "the paycheck leech." He teased the new female recruits during lunch breaks, wore his office smile like a mask, and when the day ended, that same face would sag under the weight of deep, silent exhaustion.
Briefcase in hand, he walked the same streets each evening—streets whose scenery had long become a blur, numbing him like a lullaby.
And in his mind, he could already imagine what awaited him at home:
"Did you hear about Mrs. So-and-so next door? Something happened with her husband again..."
"Vegetables were 19 yen cheaper today than yesterday!"
"Our daughter wants to go to cram school. It's expensive. So... when's your next paycheck?"
A lump formed in his throat. Breathing became difficult.
As he walked, he clutched his forehead, gasping for air.
When had life turned into this? Wasn't he once able to write bestsellers?
Ah, right—the first book. It was a stroke of luck. A massive hit, even got a movie adaptation. But the second? It tanked. Too indulgent, too wrapped up in his own trauma—no one wanted to read something so bleak. It had a first print of 50,000 copies, and most never sold.
Crushed by that failure, he never recovered. His third book didn't even get 5,000 copies.
The blow broke his spirit. Even his studies at cram school faltered, and though he barely managed to finish high school, he never got into his dream university.
Instead, he drifted into the literature department at Rikkyo University. His college years blurred past him, hazy and indistinct.
Eventually, he entered the workforce—doing copywriting at a division of a large company. But the workplace wasn't like school. Navigating human relationships took effort, and over time, he lost his sense of direction. He became a robot.
So tired.
He didn't want to go home.
He wandered into an izakaya and started drinking alone, bottle after bottle.
He didn't get drunk.
Strangely enough, he seemed to have a knack for holding his liquor. Even when out drinking with his boss, he was always chosen to stay and drink more.
Bottle after bottle.
He stepped out of the izakaya, cheeks flushed, breathing in the cold night air, and trudged forward.
Eventually, he stood at the edge of a cliff, staring down at the crashing waves.
The pitch-black ocean shimmered beneath the night sky. There was a nameless dread in that darkness.
"So terrifying… and yet—"
In the depths of that pitch-black night, just then—
Ding!!
Ding-ding——
His eyeballs shifted beneath closed lids. Haruto slowly opened his eyes.
"...Another dream, huh."
Mind adrift, he absentmindedly made his way to the cram school. Like the day before, he quietly took his seat and began another day of routine study. Tsubota noticed that Haruto looked even more out of sorts than yesterday, and though he approached, hoping to offer a word of concern, the moment he drew close, he felt a strong aura of "keep away" radiating from the boy. Tsubota opened his mouth, then gave up and quietly walked away.
Haruto immersed himself in reading, occasionally working through problems and asking for Tsubota's input. From morning to noon, noon to afternoon, the day passed by without much incident.
After cram school, he instinctively headed south. It wasn't until he reached the intersection that he realized he'd already walked quite a distance—just a little further, and he'd arrive at the girl's house.
"Did I come here without even realizing it?"
He hesitated, then quietly resumed walking. As he passed by a narrow alleyway, he suddenly heard something unsettling—muffled whimpering and a girl's voice, panicked and afraid.
"Hey, hey, don't think you can get off that easy. If you screw up, there's gotta be consequences, you stupid bitch!"
"I-I'm sorry!"
The dull thuds of fists striking flesh echoed faintly. Haruto's brows knitted tightly.
He came to a slow stop. Peering into the alley, he saw a girl crumpled on the ground—and a man standing over her, mercilessly kicking and beating her.
Without a word, Haruto pulled out his phone and called the police.
But he didn't wait for them to arrive.
He stepped quietly into the alley.
The man, too caught up in his twisted frenzy, didn't notice the boy approaching from behind. Just as he raised his leg to deliver another vicious kick—
Crack—!
Haruto drove his foot hard into the man's knee.
"Uwah!"
The man collapsed with a yelp. Haruto quickly pounced, pinning him down with a foot to the chest and twisting both of his arms behind his back.
The girl sobbed into her arms, but cracked open one teary eye—only to see a young man calmly restraining her attacker, foot pressed hard into the man's face.
"You bastard! Who the hell do you think you are?! Let me up! You're dead if I get up!"
"Then don't get up."
Haruto's voice was cold. He applied more pressure, eliciting another pained grunt from the man. Holding the attacker's wrists tight, Haruto ensured there'd be no chance of escape.
"It should be around here, right?"
"An alleyway?"
Voices echoed from the street. Soon, officers rushed in.
After Haruto gave his name and the girl confirmed the events, the police took in the attacker—his bruised face and the girl's injuries painting a clear enough picture.
Though not technically under arrest himself, Haruto and the girl were brought in to give statements. It took about an hour.
"The guy will probably get at least three years. So you won't need to worry about your safety anymore. You can relax."
Haruto nodded at the officer's reassurance. The girl still looked hesitant, though, glancing worriedly as Haruto began to leave. She hurried after him.
"Um—thank you!"
He turned at the sound of hurried footsteps and saw the girl behind him, a bandage on her cheek.
"It was just coincidence. Are you okay?"
"Y-Yeah, I'm fine."
"Where are your parents?"
"They'll be here soon."
"Alright then. I'll take my leave."
"I'm Yuna. Um... may I ask your name?"
"...Miyamizu."
Giving only his family name, Haruto turned and walked away.
Just then, a woman who looked very much like Yuna approached. But instead of looking worried, her face was twisted in frustration and disapproval.
"Yuna! Do you realize what kind of trouble you've caused?!"
"...M-Mom..."
Haruto paused mid-step.
"You know how busy I am at work. If something happens, you need to deal with it yourself—you're not a child anymore, are you?"
"I... I'm sorry..."
He knew it wasn't his place to get involved in other people's family matters. But the way this woman spoke to her daughter made his brow tighten again. He sighed and turned back.
"What now? If people find out about this, there'll be rumors... tch!"
"Miss."
Yuna flinched at the sound of his voice. She looked up, her gray, lifeless eyes reflecting the boy who had come to her rescue—still standing there, now beside her mother.
"Huh...? And you are...?"
Just as she was about to scold her daughter further, the woman turned to the unfamiliar voice. Upon seeing the polite, clean-cut young man beside her, her demeanor changed immediately. Her eyes lit up.
Haruto's tone remained calm and neutral.
"I was the one who called the police. I saw your daughter being assaulted and acted on impulse. Forgive me for interfering."
"Oh, I see. Thank you so much for stepping in and protecting my daughter. Thanks to people like you, this world still has some light in it. May I... treat you to something, as a thank-you?"
The shift in her tone made Haruto raise an eyebrow. She'd just been cold and dismissive toward her own child...
"No need for thanks. Anyone else would've done the same."
"But you're the only one who actually did something. Please, at least allow us to express our gratitude."
As Haruto began to decline, the woman turned toward her daughter and gave her a sharp look.
Yuna lowered her head and clutched the hem of her shirt.
"Um... please let us thank you properly."
Her voice trembled, but her eyes begged. Haruto sighed again.
Caught between the silent plea of the girl and the overly eager smile of her mother—
He nodded, quietly agreeing.
~~~~~~~~~~
You can support me by subscribing on Patreon and read up to 5 chapters ahead.
patreon.com/Ranabir_20