"What's wrong?"
The sudden sound of the girl's voice made Haru raise an eyebrow. Nijika, walking beside him, seemed about to say something.
But just as she was about to ask that question, a flicker of embarrassment crossed her delicate face. The words had already reached her throat, but they caught there, unable to come out. She lowered her head and let out a few awkward laughs.
In the end, she still couldn't bring herself to say what was in her heart.
She wanted to ask but the words wouldn't come.
All she had to do was casually say, "Have you ever dreamed about me?" Just a simple, harmless question. But the hesitation and turmoil in her heart kept her from choosing that path.
Her fingertips, clutching the drum parts, trembled slightly. Even her steps on the pavement grew stiff.
Nervousness, inner conflict, indecision. All kinds of emotions tangled together like spiderwebs, clinging to every corner of her heart.
Somewhere deep inside, Nijika had a feeling that this cool, sharp-eyed boy beside her might be just like her. But instead of reassurance, that idea filled her with unexplainable fear.
If Haru really did have memories too... then what would she do?
Because if she asked that question, there would be no turning back.
If Haru realized she also held memories of the dream world, then with his serious, responsible nature, he'd never just leave his wife alone.
And she wouldn't be able to suppress her feelings for him anymore either. The love and longing she'd been holding back would explode like a tornado, sweeping away every defense she'd built.
Under Haru's gaze, she quickly steadied the emotions swirling within her.
"It's… it's nothing! I was just thinking... it's really amazing, Haru, how your sudden submission ended up winning an award. I'm genuinely happy for you!"
"But then I remembered... I once asked you to paint something for me. Thinking back now, I feel like I was asking for too much…"
Nijika smiled the same gentle smile she always wore. But in her soft crimson eyes, Haru caught a glimpse of something he couldn't ignore nervousness, and a faint trace of sorrow.
Realizing this, Haru's brain went into overdrive. Without noticing it, beads of sweat had started to form on his forehead.
Wait, this is one of those must-answer-right questions.
Taking a deep breath, Haru slowed his steps. Before Nijika could say anything more, he stopped walking and spoke first.
"Sorry, Nijika. Looks like I failed to keep my promise."
"If you're free sometime soon, maybe you could come over to my place. I'll give it my all and draw something for you. Though... it might take a while, so you'd probably have to stop by a few times—"
"No no no, that's not what I meant!"
Nijika shook her head frantically, her voice wobbling with nervous energy.
"I wasn't blaming you at all, Haru! Really! I'm still very much looking forward to that portrait!"
For Nijika, having the boy she liked seriously draw her was something incredibly special.
But with the unresolved tangle of "memories" still in her heart, and her own overly sensitive feelings, she couldn't ask for that now. Not like this.
Taking a deep breath, she raised both hands and smacked her cheeks hard. The force of it left visible red marks on her pale skin.
She lifted her head, her voice now more steady, and spoke with determination.
"I do really want you to paint me, Haru. But... I'm not quite ready to be a 'model' just yet."
"When I am, I promise I'll come straight to you."
Her sincere expression made Haru raise his brows slightly. After a brief pause, he smiled and replied, "Got it. Then I'll be waiting for your grand arrival, Nijika-san."
By now, Haru had already mastered the technique of painting to the highest level. Even his simulated future self in his older years was only on par with his current skill. But what he still lacked... was emotional maturity and in art, emotion is the true soul.
To paint someone he loved, only then could he truly grasp that soul.
So until Nijika was ready, even if he didn't need to train his technique any further, Haru had no plans to stand still.
He decided to use this time to keep creating, to submit his work to galleries and contests. So that when Nijika was ready, he could produce the most perfect painting of her, one that surpassed even the piece called "Summer" he had once painted in simulation.
"…I need to keep pushing myself too."
In that simulated memory, it wasn't until Nijika passed away that Haru painted her portrait for the first time.
But in this reality, Haru would make sure Nijika saw the art he created with her own eyes, not just "Summer" but many more pieces. He would fill entire galleries with works inspired by this warm, strong girl beside him, until the day she blushed, yelling at him to stop already.
With different thoughts in their hearts, the two of them strolled side by side down a retro-style asphalt street. The breeze that brushed past their ears danced with the rhythm of their footsteps, each tap adding notes to a song only they could hear.
To her, this long road she had walked countless times felt strangely fleeting today.
In what seemed like no time at all, the two of them had arrived at the entrance of STARRY.
"Wait! Haru, can you wait for me outside for a moment?"
The lively, golden-haired girl suddenly stepped in front of Haru.
Even while holding drum parts, her movements remained light and graceful. Her every glance and smile shimmered with energy and charm. It would be hard for anyone to say no to her when she asked like that.
Haru was no exception.
"My time is very valuable, you know."
"Eh?! Just wait a little! Just a little bit, please? Pretty please?"
Hands clasped together, Nijika struck a pose that was adorably pleading. Her lowered crimson eyes sparkled faintly with mischief.
It was clear to both of them that this was just playful banter, but neither Haru nor Nijika had any problem playing along.
Smirking, Haru responded, "Normally I'd charge a hundred million yen for waiting this long, but today's special. I'll take a bottle of KISS coffee instead."
"Are you Hachiman or something?!"
Nijika burst out in theatrical protest, and their eyes met as both broke into laughter.
Haru might've said his time was "precious," but in truth, he had willingly given up his train home just to accompany Nijika back to the venue. His words and his actions couldn't have been more different.
With her mood feeling lighter than ever, Nijika waved her hand and darted into STARRY, leaving Haru standing outside with one hand on his hip, guessing what she was up to.
"She asked me to wait outside so suddenly. Don't tell me she's getting me something?"
Haru rubbed his chin and eyed the closed metal door of STARRY, all sorts of thoughts bouncing around his mind. Some of them were so ridiculous, even he felt embarrassed.
She's not gonna come out with some weirdly engraved Flying Thunder God kunai and hand it to me with a smile, is she? So she can warp over and kill me next time?
"Well, looks like Nijika's fine now."
He mumbled to himself in a voice only he could hear. The slight furrow in his brow eased.
This whole walk back had been his way of checking in on her. The last time they talked inside STARRY, and even during Yamada Ryo's "ambush," Haru had felt Nijika was hiding something.
She couldn't possibly have been stressing over whether or not to confess, right? Haru wasn't that delusional.
"Still... just in case."
He'd have to give Ryo a heads-up, ask her to keep an eye on things too.
…
With Kessoku Band's rising fame, STARRY's foot traffic had visibly increased.
Even Ijichi Seika, who usually had a stern, cold look, seemed a little more relaxed lately. Maybe the curve of her lips was rising along with the day's revenue.
It should've been something worth celebrating but Seika hadn't seen a trace of joy on her younger sister's face for days. Leaning on her hand, her expression was gradually growing stiff.
She remembered how she had handed Nijika two tickets, hoping she'd take the initiative and ask Haru out. But judging by how things had played out, her clueless little sister had failed to speak up, and ended up going alone.
After she came back, she barely faked a smile before locking herself in her room.
"Even just watching from the sidelines, I'm getting fed up."
As Seika took a heavy gulp of "Good Kid Juice," STARRY's iron door creaked open.
The golden-haired girl in a white cardigan burst in like a forest sprite. Without so much as glancing at Seika, she tossed out a quick "I'm back!" and bolted upstairs.
"What's she up to now?"
Utterly confused, Seika even sat up straighter, staring in disbelief at the direction her sister had vanished.
Not two minutes later, Nijika came barreling back downstairs again. Before Seika could say a word, her sister shouted, "I'm heading out again!" and stormed through the door.
Completely baffling behavior.
"Well... odds are this has something to do with that Haru kid again."
Seika glanced toward the drink cooler and clicked her tongue.
The KISS coffee on the second shelf had mysteriously lost another bottle in that short window. Even if she hadn't known what was going on before, now it was painfully obvious what her silly sister was up to.
She's gonna empty the whole fridge at this rate!
"…Seriously, I can't deal with this."
Seika shook her head, her eyes a mix of exasperation and resignation. But even so, there wasn't a shred of irritation in her heart toward her hopelessly smitten little sister.
With a sigh, she grabbed a fresh bottle of Good Kid Juice, popped it open, and took a long swig like someone drowning their feelings in drink.
Elsewhere~
"Sorry! Did I keep you waiting, Haru?"
Panting slightly, Nijika ran back carrying a bunch of things. Her lovely face was flushed from the rush.
She carefully handed Haru a bottle of KISS coffee, along with a small, neatly wrapped pouch. As he accepted the pouch, curiosity flickered in his eyes.
Haru spoke instinctively. "I didn't expect you to be this fast. What, not even three minutes? But this is…?"
"B-because… you gave me a gift before, right?" Nijika stammered, her voice softer than usual. "I've been treasuring the drumsticks you gave me ever since. So this is my return gift! I just couldn't find the right timing to give it to you until now…"
Her golden ponytail swayed gently in the air. Blushing, she avoided his gaze, her long lashes trembling slightly, betraying the unrest in her heart.
A glimmer of realization passed through Haru's eyes. He smiled and squinted slightly as he asked, "Nijika, is it okay if I open it now?"
"Of course!"
Under her nervous watch, Haru carefully unwrapped the gift bag with a smile.
Inside the neatly packaged box was a brand-new bristle oil paintbrush. It wasn't anything expensive, a relatively standard type among oil brushes, but one that had earned a solid reputation for its quality.
This kind of brush was often described by those who used it as:
"Light in hand, and very comfortable to hold."
Even though it wasn't pricey, it was clear from just one look that this had been chosen with great care. She'd clearly spent time and thought on this gift.
The cool, feather-light texture of the brush sat gently in Haru's hand, yet somehow it filled his chest with warmth.
Come to think of it, in the simulation, Nijika had given him a similar oil brush.
That gift had influenced the very type of brush Haru now used as his daily go-to. But from this day forward, his main brush would be changing.
"Thank you. I'll use it well."
Only when she saw the faint joy and surprise on Haru's face did Nijika finally exhale the breath she'd been holding. Her heart, which had been tied in nervous knots, relaxed at last.
With her hands clasped behind her back, she looked down at the ground. The unease and self-doubt that always weighed on her mind felt like they had finally vanished.
Just as Haru was about to turn and leave, Nijika suddenly spoke.
"Haru… can you come over here for a sec?"
Wait a second, this feels familiar.
Haru's relaxed nerves immediately tensed, but his body moved on reflex. He stepped forward, standing in front of the gentle angel of Shimokitazawa.
Nijika stood with her head lowered, cheeks red, unable to speak. Her hesitation, her almost-spoken words, all of it lit a fire in Haru's veins. The usual calm in his expression faltered ever so slightly.
Crap. Is she about to confess?!
There's no way I'm getting out of this one!
"..."
On her tiptoes, the golden-haired girl smiled sweetly and reached out. Carefully, she adjusted Haru's collar, then smoothed out the creases in his clothes.
Haru stared as she did it, but Nijika only raised a teasing brow at him. Her snowy cheeks had turned a deep shade of red.
"You said before that if a girl kissed you, it'd instantly bring your energy back, right?"
"…And what's that supposed to mean?"
"Hey! Why'd you suddenly go all formal? Haru, don't get the wrong idea… Of course I'd never actually do that!"
"I just meant, if you're ever really exhausted, I could give you a shoulder rub or something. You can count on me whenever you need to relax!"
Haru couldn't hold back his laughter.
Seeing him laugh, Nijika puffed out her cheeks in frustration. Embarrassed and flustered, she muttered under her breath:
"What? Is that not enough for you?"
"No, no. Honestly, I like this way more than just a random kiss."
Spoken with pure honesty.
In fact, when Nijika reached out to fix his collar just now, the impact had hit Haru harder than any kiss possibly could have.
The gentle, doting "angel wife" energy she radiated was too powerful. Not even Haru's maxed-out resistance could withstand it.
"Geez…"
"Kita-chan was the same earlier. Next time, you really shouldn't say that kind of thing to girls, okay?"
With her hands still behind her back, Nijika gave a lighthearted scolding and a helpless smile. Then she stepped to the doorway of STARRY, quietly watching as Haru's figure faded into the distance.
Her golden hair fluttered in the wind, growing a little disheveled. She brushed it back behind her ear and let out a long sigh.
"Yeah… I really do like him."
She whispered the words almost like a confession to herself. Even though Haru had disappeared from sight, she didn't move an inch.
Even though Nijika hadn't asked Haru directly about the dream, she had a gut feeling now that he was probably the same as her. Realizing that threw her whole heart into chaos.
The love she had tried so hard to suppress could no longer stay hidden. But even now, Nijika still couldn't bring herself to lay her feelings bare.
Because… right now, she wasn't sure anymore.
Nijika didn't know whether it was the dream that had transformed her early affection into love or whether it was being with Haru in real life that had gradually changed their friendship into something more.
When she could finally sort that out for herself, maybe the chains of restraint would finally break.
"If it were Ryo…"
Thinking of what Yamada Ryo had said that day, Nijika's face blushed so red it spread all the way to her ears.
No matter what, that kind of idea from Ryo was definitely a no-go!