"A staring completion. If you win, I'll give up my love for you. If you lose, you'll have to agree to one of my requests," Akira Fujimiya said clearly, his tone deliberate, serious.
Yukino Yukinoshita was silent for a moment, her expression unreadable, before she asked, "And how do you intend to determine who wins or loses?"
Akira bent down, changing into his outdoor shoes. Then, with a small smile, he turned to face her.
That smile immediately brought back memories for Yukino—memories of the countless times she had lost to him in silent eye contact battles.
"If I challenge you now, Yukinoshita-san, you might lose instantly," Akira teased lightly.
"..I won't lose to you again." Yukino clenched her fists tightly, her cold gaze locking onto him.
Neither looked away.
Their eyes met head-on, as though a silent duel had begun.
Akira took slow, measured steps toward her, his gaze never wavering, his smile growing broader with each step.
Yukino's cheeks flushed crimson under the intensity of his stare.
She wanted to look away. Every instinct told her to. But because of her own words, she couldn't.
If she broke eye contact, she would lose.
"Yukinoshita-san," Akira said softly, his tone edged with mischief, "I sincerely hope your first project as a director fails. That way, according to our agreement, I can—"
"I will never let you get what you want," Yukino interrupted sharply, her voice trembling with a mix of defiance and embarrassment.
Akira only chuckled, withdrawing his gaze at last, and walked calmly out of Sobu High School.
Yukino stared at his retreating back, her pulse still racing, before reluctantly following.
At the school gate, a sleek car waited for them.
A woman in crisp business attire stepped forward the moment she spotted them, bowing politely before opening the back door.
Akira walked up to the car first but didn't climb in. Instead, he motioned courteously for Yukino to go ahead.
Without hesitation, Yukino slid into the back seat. Only then did Akira join her.
"These are the clothes prepared by Miss Haruno Yukinoshita," the woman said gently after settling into the driver's seat. "Please change into them before arriving at the venue."
Akira glanced at Yukino and smirked. "Then let's head to my place."
Yukino turned her head to the window, saying nothing.
Amused, Akira exchanged a glance with the woman. She understood his unspoken message and started the car.
…..
The drive was short—barely ten minutes, even including a red light.
They soon stopped in front of Sakurasou.
Yukino and Akira stepped out together.
The driver, Haruno Yukinoshita's personal secretary, respectfully handed the clothing to Akira.
"Please wait here for a bit," Akira told her, politely.
She nodded silently. After all, Haruno had instructed her to treat Akira as Yukino's boyfriend for appearances' sake. Naturally, she understood what role to play.
Akira opened the front door of Sakurasou. The yard was quiet, and Shizuka Hiratsuka's car was nowhere in sight.
"She must not be back yet," Akira murmured, heading upstairs.
Yukino followed with small, hesitant steps, her face faintly pink.
Originally, she had assumed Shizuka Hiratsuka would be home and intended to change clothes there. But now…
"What's wrong, Yukinoshita-sama? Afraid?" Akira's teasing voice floated down from the staircase.
Yukino froze, then bit her lip in both embarrassment and irritation.
Taking a deep breath, she forced herself to climb the stairs after him.
She reassured herself quietly.
The chance of Akira doing anything inappropriate was low.
Not impossible—but low.
"Relax. I won't touch you," Akira said lightly, waiting just ahead of her. "After all, you could probably beat me up anyway."
Yukino paused, blinking in surprise, before remembering the physical gap between them. A small smile tugged at her lips, and she continued upward.
But then… silence.
She didn't hear his footsteps anymore.
Confused, she turned back.
Akira stood motionless, gazing out at the courtyard below.
"The cherry blossoms look so white," he murmured.
Yukino's breath caught. White?
And then she realized. The wind had blown at the wrong time. Instinctively, she pressed the hem of her skirt down with her hand, her eyes blazing with mortified fury as she glared at him.
If looks could kill, Akira would be dead.
Akira noticed her glare and quickly resumed walking up the stairs.
Yukino clenched her fists, desperately suppressing the urge to throw him over her shoulder.
"Yukinoshita-san, I didn't mean it," Akira said innocently. "If you really want, I could prove it by—"
"Shut up!" Yukino snapped, her cheeks flaming.
He fell silent immediately and kept moving forward.
In truth, it had been nothing more than coincidence. The gust of wind, his casual glance upward—it had all lined up at exactly the wrong moment.
By the time they reached Akira's room, she was still fuming.
Akira opened the door and gestured politely for her to go in first.
She didn't bother with courtesy. Slipping into the house, she changed into slippers, snatched the prepared clothes from his hands, and stormed toward the small bedroom.
CLICK!
The sharp click of the lock echoed from inside.
….
Akira changed quickly in his own room before settling on the sofa with a printed script and a freshly bound manga.
He didn't wait long before —
The door creaked open, and Yukino stepped out.
Akira turned—and froze in place.
She wasn't wearing a professional business suit.
Instead, she wore a sharp-looking tailored suit, her long hair tied back into a neat ponytail.
For a moment, she looked less like a high school girl and more like a handsome young man.
"...Your sister's twisted sense of humor?" Akira finally asked after staring for several seconds.
"I don't like professional skirts. This suits me better. Haruno knows that." Yukino's tone was matter-of-fact.
"What a shame." Akira sighed with exaggerated disappointment.
"It's getting late. We should go." Yukino ignored him and turned for the door.
"Wait!." Akira stopped her, standing and holding out the manga.
Yukino glanced at the cover, hesitated, then accepted it reluctantly.
She flipped through the pages.
Transfer students from Tokyo, classmates from different grades sharing the same classroom, casual greetings between friends. A sleepy teacher, a quiet younger sister. The petite, cute friends and the sweet store owner.
The scenes were light, charming, almost nostalgic.
But before long, Yukino realized the story ended abruptly, cutting off as everyone left the classroom.
It was unfinished.
Her face darkened, her irritation visible as she glared at him.
Akira chuckled. "The first chapter will be done in about a week."
"…Not bad," Yukino admitted reluctantly. "Although it doesn't quite match the quality of your first two stories, the cover is appealing. If this place truly existed, I would want to see it myself."
Akira tilted his head. "Maybe it does."
Yukino narrowed her eyes. "Where?"
"In my heart."
She scoff, passing the manga back into his hands, and walked out. Quickly.
.....
Half an hour later.
In front of Flash Animation Production Company.
The car stopped, and Yukino stepped out with Akira.
Waiting by the entrance was Kana Sada, a refined woman with a warm smile. She hurried to greet them, bowing deeply.
"Fujimiya-kun. Second young lady Yukinoshita."
"Ms. Sada, please lead the way," Akira replied courteously.
Kana Sada straightened and gestured politely toward the entrance.
Akira's gaze shifted to Yukino, who walked forward silently without acknowledging him. Only then did Kana begin guiding them.
As they walked, she gave a brief introduction to the company and, with a small smile, added, "I was Haruno Yukinoshita's senior in college. She was the one who introduced me to this position."
Yukino nodded curtly. "I see."
The three stepped into the elevator together.
Akira stood slightly behind and to Yukino's side, his placement subtle but deliberate.
Kana noticed immediately. His position seemed to reflect the dynamics between them. If Akira truly was Yukino's boyfriend, then in the future, he would naturally become part of the Yukinoshita family. Standing slightly behind her fit that role perfectly.
Akira caught her knowing glance and smiled helplessly.
Kana smiled back and looked away.
The elevator chimed, stopping at the floor of the first animation production studio.
The doors slid open, and their next challenge awaited.
...
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