The sky was dyed red by the evening glow, layers of clouds rolling like fire. The shops along the shopping street began to light up their neon signs, announcing they were open for business. Restaurants preparing for dinner started bustling again to welcome the evening crowd.
Office workers, either heading home or fresh from after-work drinks, passed back and forth along the streets. A junior high school girl in a sailor uniform, her face flushed, walked hand in hand with a boy.
Perhaps noticing that couple-like gesture from the junior high students, the blonde girl in a baseball cap felt a flicker of envy in her eyes.
Misumi Uika stole a glance at the black-haired boy beside her from the corner of her eye, then quickly looked away as if afraid of being caught. But walking side by side with the one she liked under the sunset, chatting casually about something as ordinary as dinner,
it felt almost like they were newlyweds.
"Uika, is there anything you feel like eating?"
"Eh? I… as long as it's your cooking, Haru, I'll love whatever it is."
Lost in thought, Uika was brought back to reality by the question. With her guard completely down, she spoke her heart almost without thinking.
It was only after those ambiguous words left her lips that she lowered her head in flustered embarrassment.
Her adorable reaction made Haru instinctively turn his gaze forward. His mild, unaffected reaction to such a suggestive statement was, to say the least, a bit of a letdown.
Seeing this, Uika felt a small pang of disappointment, though she had long since grown used to the idea that he didn't like her that way.
But the truth was, Haru's calm expression was about to crack.
It took a godlike level of composure to withstand such cuteness.
The idol's sudden attack was formidable. Even though they kept the proper distance of friends, he hadn't expected Uika's offhand words in such an everyday moment to have this much impact.
Knowing he couldn't just stay silent now, Haru replied as if nothing had happened. "Looks like I'll have to show you my specialties. I call them Stargazy Pie and Vegetable Deep-Sea Turbine, and there's also honey-flavored mapo tofu."
"Sorry… I'm not really sure I understand?"
"But since it's your cooking, Haru, I'm sure every single one will be delicious."
Uika's soft lips curved into a sweet, gentle smile. The pure trust and praise in her expression made Haru's mouth twitch.
Uh-oh. She really doesn't get it.
Perhaps because she was used to not making Haru's heart race, Uika gradually let her true self show when she was with him. Her black baseball cap hid her charming, delicate features, and her hands rested lightly behind her back as she wore a warm, genuine smile.
Haru had to work to keep his gaze steady, otherwise it would be drawn to those crystal-like eyes.
Before they knew it, they'd arrived at the supermarket in Ikebukuro's shopping street.
Though Uika had never dated or married, she somehow had the skill of a seasoned housewife when it came to choosing groceries. Especially when she picked up an item to place in the basket, she would sneak a probing glance at Haru.
If he showed no reaction, she would smile softly.
"Haru, Haru! The beef here's on sale!"
The blonde girl beamed as she held up a pack of frozen beef, but the movement caused her cap to slip slightly. Haru reacted instantly, stepping forward to shield her and pressing the brim back down over her golden hair.
The sudden closeness made Uika's eyes widen in panic. Her cheeks flushed, but she tried to keep her voice calm.
"…Thanks. But you really don't have to be so on guard, Haru."
"See? I'm wearing these huge sunglasses. As long as I keep them on, no one will recognize me."
Haru only rolled his eyes at her like she was being silly. "You should have a bit more awareness of what it means to be a popular idol. Shopping for dinner ingredients with a boy your age isn't something you can take lightly.
If someone took a picture of you by accident, tomorrow you'd be splashed all over the headlines. Not only would your idol career take a major hit, you'd also have to deal with a wave of online backlash. And if things got extreme, a fan might even try to harm you."
"I… I'll be careful!"
Uika clenched her small fists, speaking with determination.
But only she knew that beneath her calm exterior, her heart was rippling with joy. The tips of her ears were warm.
Haru's worried about me. I'm so happy.
If rumors about her and Haru really did get out, she might even be delighted. But she was also afraid of causing him trouble.
If she could actually end up in a relationship with him, no matter how unrealistic, she would give up being an idol and become just an ordinary girl.
Seeing her pitiful expression of having "learned her lesson," Haru realized he'd been a little too stern. He sighed inwardly, then spoke in a lighter tone.
"Well, that's just the worst-case scenario. Normally, no one would recognize you. Especially now that you've started growing your hair out. If someone isn't paying close attention to you, they probably wouldn't think twice."
Uika blinked, her expression a little dazed.
"Haru… you actually noticed I was growing my hair out?"
"How could I not? Do you not realize you're an idol?"
Haru smiled, amused by her cuteness.
Passing through areas like Shimokitazawa or Ikebukuro, he often saw her MV playing on large display screens in shopping malls. Not to mention, he frequently saw her in person.
With looks as striking as hers, she was constantly drawing attention. How could he possibly not notice?
"…So you did notice. I haven't been growing it long, so it's not that obvious yet."
"But do you think it suits me, Haru?"
The girl's slender fingers lifted a lock of her golden hair. The silky strands slipped through her fingertips like a waterfall.
From Haru's close perspective, he could see the smoke-violet eyes beneath her sunglasses, filled with both worry and hope. Her flawless skin looked so soft and delicate it made him want to cup her face in his hands.
He remembered telling her once what kind of look he liked. He hadn't expected the image-conscious idol to change herself so readily for his sake.
This kind of silent, wordless approach was perhaps the hardest for him to defend against.
"It looks good."
Haru couldn't bring himself to lie, so he simply told the truth.
"…Th-thank you! Hearing you say that, Haru, makes me feel more confident."
Uika lowered her head, her heart instantly filled with sweetness. When she tried to look up and catch his expression, their eyes met by chance. The sudden contact made her turn away instantly, as if shocked by static.
Her usual idol-grade "expression management" failed completely, leaving her nothing but a pure, red-faced girl.
She had started growing her hair out for this very moment for his words.
"Anyway, we've got enough meat and vegetables now. Is there anything else you want to get, Haru?"
Haru turned his head casually, pretending to focus on the "Special Sale 1280-yen Wagyu" label, as if that could divert his attention from the thoughts still lingering in his mind.
Trouble was, he was already a little taken.
After spending more and more time with her, he had unconsciously begun to step into this shy girl's inner world, discovering just how genuinely sweet and warm she was, and now, even his resolve to reject her confession was starting to waver.
"No, nothing else. You don't have to worry about me, really…"
Haru lightly waved her hand with a small laugh.
But deep inside, there was a faint, unspoken disappointment. From the moment they had walked into the supermarket until now, she hadn't seen that familiar drink even once. Of course, a place like this would rarely stock something as niche as "Cream Puff Oolong Tea," hardly anyone liked it.
Since he had moved to Ikebukuro, he probably wouldn't be going to that small shop in Yokohama anymore, right?
Kazami glanced at her gentle, mature smile, then lifted the shopping basket in his hand as if nothing had happened.
"Speaking of which, I feel like having something to drink."
"Too bad this supermarket doesn't seem to have the one I like. But I remember there's a little shop near my place that sells it… Cream Puff Oolong Tea. Haru, would you mind taking a little detour with me later?"
Her violet eyes widened like the wings of a butterfly. Both hands rose unconsciously to her chest, her palms feeling the rapid, joyful thump of her heart.
That hard-to-name warmth flowed into her blood, spread from her heart through her whole body, making her press her lips together without even realizing it.
Even though her emotions were surging, she only let a faint smile curl at her lips.
"Mm. I'll go with you."
At that moment, she had the sudden thought that no matter where this black-haired boy wanted to go, no matter how far, even if there was no end to the road ahead, she would follow by his side forever.
…
"Without even realizing it, we bought so much~"
The evening sun spread orange and gold across the horizon as they walked. Its light fell like golden silk over her white blouse. With a bag of groceries in each hand, Haru tilted her head slightly, strolling down the long slope at an easy pace.
The breeze lifted the strands of her hair that now reached her back, a few golden locks swaying like fine threads in the air.
"Carrying that much must be tiring. How about I take one of those bags?"
Haru, who was carrying two bags himself, raised a brow. But Haru only gave a playful blink.
"Of course not. How could I let you carry everything by yourself?"
Usually mild-tempered, she could be unexpectedly stubborn at times.
"As someone shamelessly coming over to freeload dinner, helping this much is the least I can do!"
That was only part of the reason.
The truth was, walking side by side with him, both carrying groceries, really did feel like a newlywed couple coming home after shopping for dinner.
She still didn't dare wish for the life of being his girlfriend, so this tiny selfishness shouldn't be too much to ask, right?
The warmth of walking beside him in the sunset made time feel fleeting.
Before she knew it, they had reached the residential area of Ikebukuro.
When they stopped in front of a large, elegant house with "Kazami" on the nameplate, even Uika who was quite well-off herself couldn't help widening her eyes and peering curiously at the plaque.
"Kazami…"
She murmured the name under her breath, her cheeks warming at some private thought.
Haru chuckled at her expression, then stepped up to the door and pressed the bell. Footsteps in slippers pattered across the floor, and soon the door opened from within.
"Haru, welcome back."
The small figure at the door had a faint smile, her delicate frame wrapped in a homey cucumber-print apron, her long, pale-green hair tied back into a ponytail. Wakaba Mutsumi's half-lidded eyes held a quiet joy, and her demeanor was every bit that of a young wife.
Very good, little Mutsumi... you make the home feel homey.
Haru had to fight the urge to lean in and kiss her, replying with a light laugh instead.
"I'm back."
Uika froze in place.
Hiding behind Haru, she didn't quite know what to do. Maybe it was because of the strange, guilty thoughts she had been having just moments ago, but she suddenly felt nervous, lowering her gaze so she wouldn't meet Mutsumi's eyes.
Of course, Mutsumi noticed her right away and smiled.
"Haru, welcome."
"Th-thank you for having me."
Uika drew in a breath, trying to keep her composure, speaking with careful formality.
Mutsumi, sensing her unease, reached out and gently led her inside.
Even after she sat down on the living room sofa, Uika still felt awkward, her mouth a little dry from the tension.
Mutsumi, having set the table with bowls and chopsticks, brought her a cup of warm cocoa. Kazami, meanwhile, carried the groceries into the kitchen and accepted the apron Mutsumi handed him without a word.
The two moved in quiet harmony.
Uika's gaze lingered on them, a mix of envy and self-consciousness welling in her eyes.
"Please, have some."
"Ah… thank you!"
Startled, Uika accepted the cocoa. The sense of comfort she had felt earlier was gone, replaced entirely by tension and guilt.
She thanked Mutsumi out of habit, but then found herself staring at the cup, unsure of how to take the first sip.
When Mutsumi sat beside her in silence, the growing stiffness in Uika's posture pushed her to speak.
"Um… Mutsumi, aren't you going to help Haru?"
"She told me she doesn't need any help today."
Mutsumi's calm poise only made Uika more unsettled. Sitting beside his fiancée, she felt like nothing more than the "third party" here.
Whether in terms of feelings or status, she couldn't help feeling both guilty and inferior.
Her restlessness did not go unnoticed.
"Uika, there's no need to worry."
"We're the same, you and I."
Those quietly loaded words eased some of Uika's tension, though when she thought about how her own feelings hadn't made any real progress, a faint disappointment crept in and she gave a small nod.
Was she really the same as Mutsumi?
Still, it was reassuring that this "fiancée" didn't have an intimidating presence. From the beginning, the two of them had maintained a cooperative relationship as companions. They shared the same feelings toward Haru, the same goal, and even the same idea of bringing Sakiko into the fold.
Perhaps worried that Uika still felt inferior, Mutsumi added,
"I'll help you too."
"Thank you…"
A small smile finally formed on Uika's lips, and her unease began to settle.
Sitting beside Mutsumi, she glanced instinctively toward the kitchen. Thanks to the move, this villa was much larger than the one-person apartment before, and even if two people spoke in the living room, the kitchen would no longer pick up their voices.
Just to be safe, Uika lowered her voice.
"Mutsumi, about Nagasaki-san."
Ever since meeting Nagasaki Soyo and "testing" out the lies she had been hiding, Uika had wanted a chance to talk with Mutsumi alone.
Passing messages through Line could always lead to missing details, and the problems surrounding Soyo, Kazami's "girlfriend," were far from simple. The things she was doing in secret and the thoughts she was hiding put her in opposition to everyone else. In Uika's mind, the matter needed to be dealt with as soon as possible.
But since the girl in question was someone Haru liked and who liked him back, she felt she had no place to speak up as an outsider.
"Mm, I know."
Mutsumi gave a small, calm nod.
"Soyo came to see me yesterday."
"She said she wanted to talk to me alone, so I'm planning to meet her tomorrow."