One month had passed, and Usami had finally saved enough to buy the video game he'd been waiting for. Excited, he headed to the mall. Just as he was about to enter the store, he noticed Haruto walking with an unfamiliar girl. Curious, Usami followed them from a distance. To his surprise, the girl turned out to be Yumi—Mahiru's friend.
Why is he with her? Usami wondered.
The scene shifted to Haruto and Yumi. Yumi once again thanked Haruto for protecting her from bullies. Haruto, brushing it off, simply said, "It's no problem, don't worry about it." Wanting to repay his kindness, Yumi had asked him out earlier to spend time together. They walked around the mall, shared food, and even studied a bit. Usami couldn't help but notice how Haruto seemed softer and more relaxed around Yumi. He chuckled to himself before leaving them alone and returning home with his game.
That night, with his parents already asleep, Usami played until four in the morning, finishing the game in one sitting. Exhausted, he collapsed into bed.
The next morning, his phone buzzed loudly. Still half-asleep, he answered—it was Haruto.
"Hey, can we study at your place today? I'm with a group."
Usami, still groggy, replied, "Sure… but why so early? It's only nine."
"Thanks! Can you open the door?"
Confused, Usami peeked outside and nearly fell over from shock. Standing there were Haruto, Ren, Yumi, Hana, and—most surprisingly—Mahiru.
Haruto scratched his head awkwardly. "Sorry I didn't tell you sooner. I invited Yumi, then Hana… and Mahiru came along too. Hope that's okay."
Yumi bowed slightly in apology. Usami forgave them quickly, though embarrassed by the messy state of his home. "I'll just take a quick shower," he muttered before rushing off.
When he came out, thinking no one was nearby, he wore only his pajama bottoms, showing his toned upper body. He had been secretly working out, inspired by his favorite anime. But at that exact moment, Mahiru passed by. Their eyes met. She turned bright red, quickly looking away before hurrying off. Usami, equally embarrassed, waited a few minutes before rejoining the group.
Inside his room, the others were already seated in a circle, passing around notes and flashcards. Mahiru avoided his gaze, her face still slightly flushed. Usami caught a glimpse of her red eyes before she looked away, and he thought to himself, Those eyes again.
The group studied for hours. At one point, Usami's mother entered, reminding them she and his father would be working late and leaving the house in his care. After saying their goodbyes, the six of them continued studying.
As time passed, Ren slouched on the bed, groaning. "Why do we need to study so much?"
"Because students are supposed to study every day," Hana retorted.
Ren immediately denied it, sparking an argument. Haruto quickly stepped in, scolding both of them. Yumi, watching from the side, found herself strangely drawn to his serious expression. She caught herself staring, but when Haruto turned, she quickly buried her face in her textbook.
Meanwhile, Usami and Mahiru quietly focused on their notes, both trying to ignore the memory of what had happened outside the bathroom.
After seven long hours, the group finally wrapped up. One by one, they thanked Usami and headed home. Left alone in his room, Usami collapsed onto his bed, his face heating up as he whispered to himself, I didn't expect her to be here.
Meanwhile, in Mahiru's room, she was handing pencils to Hana and Yumi, who had asked to borrow some.
"Thanks, Mahiru," Yumi said warmly. "You're so nice. With your beautiful black hair and brown eyes, I sometimes think you're too perfect."
The room grew quiet. Mahiru hesitated for a moment before replying softly, "You're welcome."