The evening breeze carried a faint chill as it swept along with scattered shards of rainbow light, brushing gently past the girl's burning ear tips. Her feet, wrapped in thick, snow-ready boots of pale brown, moved in sync with Haru's steady steps.
Soyo had never imagined that such an opportunity would come so easily. Nor had she thought that her precious time alone with her husband would come thanks to Sakiko's help, which now made their previous quarrels seem somewhat laughable.
Yet despite the rarity of the moment, she found herself uncharacteristically nervous.
"…"
Soyo followed quietly at Haru's side. Her fingertips brushed faintly against the back of his hand, while the other hand, clutching her designer bag, trembled slightly, her grip tight enough to leave marks on the strap.
"Are you praying?"
Haru suddenly slowed his pace, his words breaking the silence without warning.
"Eh?"
"Ah, I misspoke. I meant to ask, are you nervous?"
Though he spoke as if joking aimlessly, his expression was serious, and yet there lingered a playful lilt in his tone. That mischievous edge made the usually composed Soyo's eyelashes tremble, leaving her at a rare loss for words.
The warm glow of the street lamps outlined her elegant, mature figure in gold. Haru squinted, admiring the flicker of her lashes, the smile that was always so effortlessly worn in front of others, now tinged with a blush she could not suppress.
"And why would you think I'm nervous? You don't have any proof, do you?"
"No need for proof. It's just intuition."
"…That's not convincing at all."
Soyo muttered in mild protest. Outwardly, she had shown no sign of weakness, and yet Haru had seen right through her instantly. Could it be that he actually had some kind of mind-reading ability?
If so, that was hardly fair.
Haru let out a slow breath, his voice turning softer as he spoke.
"It's because we just quarreled before making up. You're worried your actions might displease me, and in turn you're struggling to find the right way to act around me, aren't you?"
"…"
Soyo stopped in her tracks, raising her sapphire-blue eyes to glare at him.
If you already know, then don't say it out loud!
It was true, though. As Haru had said, she was indeed hesitating. She knew he loved her, yet she feared that his gentle heart might again doubt her sincerity. After all, she had given him reason to before.
"You really leave me no choice."
It was a shame he wasn't wearing his black-rimmed glasses tonight. If he were, he would no doubt have taken them off now for dramatic effect.
Haru spread his arms wide, like a father indulging a spoiled daughter. The gesture was so open, so direct, that Soyo's cheeks warmed instantly. She understood very well what it meant.
"Wh-why are you doing this?"
"Because I thought you wouldn't dare," Haru rolled his eyes, then sighed as she remained rooted to the spot. "If you really don't like it, then I suppose…"
"Don't!"
Her fingers tightened around the expensive bag strap, her ears flushed red beneath the streetlight. After two seconds of hesitation, she slowly stepped forward and nestled into Haru's embrace.
Her chestnut hair lifted in the wind, brushing against his nose with the faint sweetness of cornflower shampoo, blending seamlessly with the softness of her perfume. Her warm, supple body radiated the heat of a hearth.
"…How does it feel?"
"It's only a hug. Just this much… when we've already kissed."
Though Soyo whispered stubbornly, Haru's expression twisted slightly.
Sure, her diamond-hard words said one thing, but her arms were clinging to him all too tightly. Not to mention her heartbeat was pounding so hard it made his chest ache.
But he didn't call her out on it. Instead, he patted her back gently, feeling the small tremor run through her body, his voice softening with each word.
"See? This is how we should be."
"Stop holding yourself back all the time. Don't worry about whether I'll dislike you. Didn't I say it before? No matter what happens, I could never hate you."
Cunning.
Soyo had always thought herself clever, a girl willing to use any means for love. Yet compared to Haru, her husband was even more cunning.
To him, there was no such thing as Soyo's deceit. He simply believed her without reservation, loved her with pure, unshakable sincerity. A single casual sentence from him could shake the walls of her heart.
Wasn't that the very definition of cunning?
"Honestly, I don't really mind lies. If anything, I think they're cute. The Soyo who used to want me all to herself was cute, and the Soyo who now bares her heart to me is cute too."
"So, you should also have your own way of being with me."
Always so mature, Soyo arched her brows slightly, a childish glimmer in her eyes as she nudged her cheek against his chest. Like a sulky little gourd, she held it in for a long time before abruptly raising her head.
That's true.
From the very beginning, she had known. By Haru's side, she didn't need a mask. She could show her true self without fear. Thinking about it now, she really was a fool.
"Haru, you haven't forgotten about that, have you?"
Her gentle voice carried a touch of expectation. Haru stiffened at her sudden question. He raised a brow, pretending to think, but even the two seconds of deliberate hesitation were enough for her lips to curve into a smile.
"Oh? Could it be… that Haru has forgotten?"
Her sweet voice was honey stirred with sugar, cloyingly sweet, and yet it carried a faint sting. Her hand brushed across his stomach, a gesture that felt like a subtle threat.
Is this your idea of "our way of being"?
"Ahaha, how could I forget our date?"
"That's more like it."
The icy edge in her eyes melted away, replaced with a radiant smile. Rising on tiptoe, she kissed the corner of his lips. Her long, slender eyes narrowed as she savored the faint floral scent of his skin.
"Tell me, how did you feel when you went on that date with Sakiko?"
"…It was nice?"
Haru fumbled for an answer, but Soyo sighed softly, caressing her cheek as she murmured, "I'm sure you were completely enchanted, weren't you? After all, it is Saki-chan…"
Are you a little too confident in that dense heiress from the Togawa family?
"Truthfully, tonight you'd rather walk Sakiko home, wouldn't you? She's cuter than I am, plus she still…"
Before she could finish, Haru's hand chopped lightly against her forehead, then he stole her lips without hesitation, instantly seizing the initiative.
"The feelings I hold for you could never be less than what I feel for Sakiko."
"…I understand."
Soyo melted in his arms, the confident smile that so often adorned her lips gone. Now she was only a girl in love, her heart's defenses broken in an instant.
Perhaps to hide her shyness, she laced her fingers with his and took a deep breath. Then she looked up. "About what I mentioned earlier at the café, regarding Mutsumi… I'd like you not to tell her too much. This farewell concert for CRYCHIC means a lot to me, and there are things I want to tell her directly."
"Leave it to me."
Haru winked, his simple gesture sealing her unspoken words. Her cheeks glowed as a gentle smile bloomed, her beauty more radiant than ever.
Unknowingly, they had reached her home.
"Well then, let's stop here for tonight."
Soyo reluctantly let go of his hand, clasped her own behind her back, and took a step away. But just as Haru smiled to bid her goodbye, she suddenly stepped forward again.
She rose on her toes.
The kiss this time was fiercer than usual, a flame of emotion blazing in her chest. She clung to him, greedily stealing every breath, as though the air itself had turned warm.
After a long while, their lips parted.
Blushing, Soyo lowered her head, shyly licking the glisten from her lips. Unlike the time she had boldly kissed him in front of Anon, this was a pure outpouring of love.
"…As for my 'date,' I've decided. I don't want to go out with you like Sakiko did. Instead, I'd like you to come over to my house."
"Because that day, my mother will be working late. She won't be home at all."
C-come over?
Haru didn't need to think twice to realize this was a trap. Not the kind with eight hundred hidden goons like the mafia meetings in history, but one prepared by Soyo herself.
"Understood."
He raised his head slightly, his voice oddly solemn.
If this had been before their relationship deepened, he might have hesitated. But now that they had laid themselves bare to each other, there was no room for doubt.
If you don't enter Soyo's den, how can you win Soyo herself?
"Just you wait, Soyo..."
Yes, that would be his line when the time came.
…
The next day
Tsukinomori, Gardening Club.
The air above the garden plot was thick with earthy moisture. Cucumber vines stretched toward the light, dew on their leaves catching the sun and scattering it in rainbows, flickering across a girl's expressionless face.
"…"
Wakaba Mutsumi crouched by the stone-bordered bed. Her skirt brushed dangerously close to the damp leaves. Mud flecked her wrist, drying into amber stains beneath the sun.
She looked like she was tending to the plants as usual, but her fingers absentmindedly rubbed the undersides of leaves until dew soaked through her gloves. Only then did she blink her pale golden eyes, startled from her thoughts.
She had been distracted.
The night before, she had learned from Haru that Soyo suddenly wanted to speak with her alone about CRYCHIC. It had been a long time since they had properly talked.
And so, the little cucumber couldn't sleep.
She had tossed and turned in bed, unable to understand what Soyo might need to discuss with her. In the end, she had only managed to fall asleep after slipping into Haru's bed and curling up in his arms.
"Mutsumi."
The gentle, familiar call shattered the patterns of light between the leaves. Startled, Mutsumi nearly dropped the elephant-shaped watering can in her hand.
Turning, she saw Soyo, also in Tsukinomori uniform, approaching. Her wavy chestnut hair glowed honey-gold in the sunlight, and though she was always smiling, today her face bore a rare seriousness.
"…Soyo."
Mutsumi whispered her name, lips pressed tight, golden eyes studying her from head to toe. Yet she could glean nothing from her appearance.
Soyo only sighed softly, then stepped closer. From her pocket she drew a lace-edged white handkerchief, which she gently brushed across Mutsumi's doll-like face.
"You've got dirt on your face."
"You're a famous guitarist of Ave Mujica now. You should pay a little more attention to your image."
The tenderness of her gesture left Mutsumi at a loss. Her mind flicked back to their last private exchange.
Back then, they had clashed over Haru, their opposing stances colliding sharply. In the end, she had driven Soyo to retreat in embarrassment.
Though Soyo later apologized to Haru in her presence and confessed everything, their relationship had grown strangely delicate since then.
"I'm sorry."
Mutsumi's soft apology made Soyo pause, handkerchief frozen in her grip. She bit her lip, her eyes flickering with something complicated. She understood at once that Mutsumi's words carried a meaning beyond the moment, and because of that, she could no longer maintain her calm.
"…That's something I should be saying instead."