"My house is empty today."
Normally so serious and stern, Shiina-san was acting completely out of character.
The sharp, biting words she usually wielded were replaced with uncertainty and gentleness. Her delicate face, so often cloaked in frost like a snow lotus blooming in the cold, now carried an unusually soft hue. The usual traces of her fiery temper were nowhere to be seen.
Haru inhaled sharply, eyes narrowing as he stared at Taki standing before him.
This wasn't right. Something felt off.
She actually emphasized that no one was home. Was Taki trying to hint at something?
"What are you standing there for, zoning out like that?"
Perhaps she was worried their little standoff might catch the eye of a few too-familiar neighbors, but Taki, clearly unsettled, lifted her head and spoke.
But her sudden gentleness only unsettled Haru further, even making him feel oddly uneasy.
"It's nothing. It just feels a bit… unfamiliar."
Haru paused for two seconds, his gaze layered with confusion, then added with a half-joking tone, "I mean, Taki suddenly turning all sweet like this is kind of weird. You're not luring me in to steal my kidneys or something, are you?"
Taki's amethyst eyes widened at that, and her once-gentle tone quickly gave way to rising irritation.
"Huh? What the hell's that supposed to mean? I went out of my way to be a little nicer to you, and you… you say that?!"
"Idiot. Did something short-circuit in your brain?"
Now that was more like it.
If Haru didn't get chewed out by Taki at least once, he genuinely felt something was missing.
With her sharp edges restored, Taki was back to her usual strong-willed, resilient, and razor-tongued self. For Haru, it felt like cracking open a chilled soda on a sweltering summer day. That cool burst and fizzy bite exploded through him, jolting his senses.
But don't get the wrong idea, he wasn't into anything weird.
Even if he was, it'd only ever be for one specific person.
That thought made Haru raise an eyebrow slightly, his tone lifting with a subtle grin. "See, that's the Taki I know. It's best if you just stay the way you always are. Besides, I came here today because there's something important I want to talk to you about."
"If you can't act like your usual self, I'm not even sure how I'm supposed to continue."
"Shut up already!"
Taki glanced away shyly, her eyes flickering with a mix of embarrassment and panic.
She had made up her mind today to interact with Haru more like a "girl." She thought maybe, just maybe, he'd be more drawn to her if she softened her usual harshness, especially since she didn't have much feminine charm to begin with. But now this idiot had the nerve to say he preferred her being sharp-tongued?
Her emotions immediately tangled into a mess of disappointment and confusion. She had no idea what to feel anymore.
And of course, emotional chaos only made a girl more irritable.
She grabbed the door handle and huffed, clearly annoyed. "So are you coming in or not? If not, I'm shutting the door."
"Then I'll gladly intrude."
Haru stepped into the familiar entryway without hesitation. In the past, he had come to Taki's house several times under the pretext of band activities or work, but this time was different. This wasn't about the band, nor any shared responsibility. This time, he had been invited solely as himself.
That changed everything.
Walking ahead, Taki's cheeks carried a faint blush. She led Haru to her room the same way she always did, but just as they stepped into the living room, she spoke casually, almost as if making idle conversation.
"…Was I acting that weird just now?"
Taki had never been good at interacting with others. Whether at Hanasakigawa High School or elsewhere, she always kept to herself. Her strict demeanor made it hard to collaborate with others, and now she was second-guessing her clumsy attempt at "acting softer."
Just now, Haru had even frowned a bit, something he rarely did. Did he… hate it?
Haru had no idea what kind of storm was brewing in the girl's mind. He simply raised an eyebrow and replied in his usual calm, measured tone.
"A pebble can be idly toyed with in the palm of the hand because it has no edges."
"If the 'gentleness' you showed earlier came from the heart, then I don't think it was strange at all. But it's a lot like composing music. The Taki that I admire doesn't try to smooth out her edges just to fit my melody. What I love is when you pour your true self into the music: your personality, your desires, your sharpness."
"I think you're most beautiful when your real self shines on stage."
It was because Taki was so earnest and stubborn, so harsh on herself while being strict with others, that Haru found her endearing. That unyielding, unfiltered nature of hers was exactly what he couldn't tear his eyes away from.
"Idiot, what's with that sudden outburst…!"
The moment Haru dropped words like "love" and "beautiful" without warning, Taki's eyes went wide. Even though she had tried to prepare herself mentally, her heart skipped so violently she thought it might leap from her chest. She clenched her fists to try and steady herself.
Some strange, overwhelming emotion welled up inside her like a stream flowing quietly at night. No matter how hard she tried to suppress it, it kept rising.
Damn it, how frustrating!
She had assumed that Haru preferred girls like Soyo or Anon who's gentle, obedient, and adorable. That's why Taki had tried to imitate that kind of softness, thinking maybe someone like her, rough and temperamental, had no chance unless she changed.
And yet, not only had Haru not accepted her imitation, he had earnestly confessed his affection for the real her.
Wasn't he basically saying that what he liked most was the "pure" her?
How was it fair that she was the one falling first?
Tightening her lips, the black-haired girl clenched her fists again. Her eyes gradually sharpened, returning to their usual fierce focus.
Without being dragged off by some bizarre impersonator, Haru followed Taki upstairs and entered her room without incident.
He'd assumed they would talk in the living room, face to face. But Taki didn't even hesitate; the moment they stepped inside, she led him straight to her room, almost like she was afraid someone might interrupt their alone time.
"Sit wherever. I'll go make some coffee."
As if afraid he'd notice the tension she was feeling, Taki threw out the words offhandedly and quickly left the room, almost like she was running away.
Haru stood in the middle of the familiar space, thoughts swirling.
Taki's room was simple and minimalistic. Everything was exactly as he remembered it from last time. If not for the faint, graceful scent lingering in the air, it might have been hard to tell this was a girl's room at all.
"…So, what now?"
He rubbed his chin, uncertain how to handle the "confession" ahead.
According to Umiri-san, he was supposed to confess again and use the chance to force Taki into giving a clear answer. If she kept dodging, then kiss her, or even push her down, anything that could corner her into speaking the truth was fair game.
"If I really do what Umiri said, Taki might actually kill me…"
Taki could slam out a full 4-beat on a drum set with one hand. If she really got angry, she might be able to rip open Superman's Fortress of Solitude with sheer rage. His skull, already fragile, wouldn't stand a chance against this tsundere berserker.
Mercy on my soul.
"No point overthinking. At this point, I just have to trust Umiri."
At worst, he'd take a punch or two. She wouldn't kill him outright, would she?
"What about Umiri?"
The wooden door cracked open.
Taki entered, carrying two paper cups of steaming coffee. The drop in temperature had thickened the white mist rising into the air. Still calm and composed, she casually handed him one and sat down in her computer chair.
"I didn't get a chance to ask yesterday. How did your date with Umiri go?"
Though she already knew the answer from Yahata Umiri herself the night before, she still wanted to hear how Haru would describe it.
Haru just smiled and shrugged, looking smug like a soldier reporting to a general.
"Well, as you can see, I used the chance to figure out my own feelings for Umiri, and in the process, I managed to squeeze out her real feelings too."
Taki pursed her lips, clearly a little sour. Folding her arms and crossing her legs, she scoffed.
"…Is that so? You're really good at handling girls, huh? I bet you could sweet-talk any girl into falling for you."
That wasn't skill, it was Umiri's tactics that were on another level.
Haru had felt like he was the one getting romanced by her, not the other way around.
"Not even close."
Haru sighed.
"If I was really as good as you say, I would've already won over the girl I actually like. Instead, I'm still stuck waiting for her to confess. Who knows how long I'll be left hanging."
As he muttered those words, Haru glanced toward Taki. But once his gaze fell on her, he found it impossible to look away.
Taki was the very picture of a classic Yamato Nadeshiko beauty, with flowing black hair and sharp features. He could still picture her from the summer festival, elegantly dressed in a yukata. Though petite, her figure was long and balanced, and her face alone could be called a work of art.
If she were only "pretty," Haru might have been able to look away.
But the issue was what she was wearing now loose, airy loungewear that draped softly over her figure. Sitting in her chair, one leg crossed over the other, her smooth, toned legs were completely exposed. Her fair skin gleamed like pearls, each curve lit like sculpture.
In terms of looks and physique alone, Taki might be the most perfect girl in MyGO.
"…?"
Taki could feel his gaze drifting down toward her legs. Her body tensed in response.
Even though her ears flushed red and her breathing quickened with embarrassment, she didn't say a word to stop his shameless ogling. Nor did she try to hide or shift to avoid it. She just sat there, rigid and awkward, like a model frozen in a painting.
Usually, if Haru peeked at her legs, Taki would react immediately, either by dodging or scolding him sharply.
But now she was letting him look.
This bizarre passivity made her feel an inexplicable surge of confusion.
Is the method Umiri suggested really working?
Thinking back to the detailed "strategy" written in the notebook, the flustered, black-haired girl could feel her brain overheating, buzzing like a high-voltage wire.
"…"
Meanwhile, Haru was thoroughly enjoying the view, but that didn't mean he had forgotten why he came.
Haru gave a slight shake of the head, pulling himself back to focus. Then, in a serious tone, he spoke.
"The truth is, I came here today because there's something important I wanted to talk to you about, Taki. Recently, I happened to hear something from Soyo."
The moment the name Soyo left his lips, the stiffness in Taki's body shifted slightly. Her eyes trembled, barely perceptible.
But Haru didn't give her a chance to collect her thoughts. He got straight to the point.
"Soyo suddenly told me… that you and I are already in a relationship."
"I was completely caught off guard by that. So I have to ask, were you aware of this?"
Direct and unfiltered.
At a time like this, there was no room for vague words or delicate dancing. With someone like Taki, honesty and confrontation were the only way to reach the truth. And as Haru had predicted, her response said it all.
"I…"
Taki stared at the wood grain of the floor, her eyes evasive. Like a patient lying in bed counting the stars on the ceiling, her lips froze, unable to form words. Guilt immediately washed over her.
She had meant to explain it to Haru within the next few days. She hadn't expected Soyo to act so quickly.
Still, it wasn't too late to come clean.
Taki, stubborn and strong-willed, took her actions and words very seriously. She wouldn't lie to cover up what she'd done. She took a deep breath and answered with clarity.
"I knew. In fact, I was the reason behind it."
Seeing her confess so sincerely, Haru could only let out a deep sigh.
Just as he suspected, it had been Taki herself who told Soyo.
"…Soyo was about to come talk to you and Umiri. I could tell she was definitely up to no good… so in a panic, I said I was your girlfriend."
The dark-haired beauty, usually so composed, now spoke in a quiet, faltering tone. Her words were filled with hesitation, yet wholly honest.
At some point, she'd stopped sitting with her legs crossed. Her feet were now neatly planted on the ground, her hands, used to gripping drumsticks, pressed gently on her knees. The posture was humble, like someone offering a heartfelt apology.
Despite wanting to praise her sincerity, Haru kept a calm face and replied in a flat voice.
"So then, Taki, having said something like that so suddenly, have you decided what to do next?"
Taki opened her mouth, her face burning red, but no words came.
It should have been so easy just to say "Then I'll take responsibility for what I said." But for some reason, she couldn't get the words out.
She used to think the shy girls in shoujo manga who couldn't confess were just being silly. But now that she was the one in the same situation, she understood just how hard it really was. Some feelings just couldn't be spoken, no matter how hard you tried.
Still, Taki knew herself. She knew her own awkward, prickly, and unlikable personality and she knew that now, more than ever, she had to be the one to say it.
Just like Yahata Umiri said, if she kept letting things drag out like this, neither rejecting nor agreeing...
One day, Haru would give up.
"…It's just a few words."
Taki glared hard at him, her stunning, sculpted face wrinkled by a deep frown. Between her brows were lines of doubt and conflict. She clenched her fists tightly, summoning the courage to act.
To Haru's surprise, Taki suddenly stood up and stepped directly in front of him.
If you can't say it out loud, then use a kiss or anything else to show it instead.
The lines from the Yahata's Love Notes echoed loudly in her mind.
With her face flushed completely red, Taki looked straight at him. Her expression was so desperate, so close to tears, yet fiercely resisting, that it could melt anyone's heart.
"…"
For a moment, Haru thought she might have gotten angry and was coming to beat him up.
But at this distance, he could clearly see her face and it was obvious that Taki, always so guarded and sharp-tongued, was doing everything she could to bare her feelings.
If she was willing to go this far, then as the guy who'd already kissed her, Haru had to step up.
"Taki, you never answered me when I confessed before."
"So… I'm going to say it again, properly this time. You better listen carefully, and I want you to give me a clear answer, right here and now!"
Taking a deep breath, Haru opened his eyes, deep and dark as the stars above.
"Taki, I love you!"
"Please date me on the condition that we get married and have ten kids!"