Haru popped one of the carefully baked cookies into his mouth, and a flicker of surprise flashed across his dark eyes.
The light blend of butter and sugar melted into a delicate texture. Beneath the layers of sweetness was a warmth and softness that could only come from a girl carefully kneading the low-gluten flour, stirring, and baking with her own hands.
Sitting on the wooden chair, Nijika's jewel-like crimson eyes brimmed with nervous anticipation, sneaking glances at his expression from the corner of her gaze.
"H-how is it?"
The blonde with the side ponytail blinked again and again until she could no longer hold back and asked.
Haru savored the cookie, furrowing his brow. That thoughtful expression made Nijika's heart tighten. She frantically ran through every step in her head, wondering where she might have gone wrong. After a few silent seconds, he finally spoke.
"I was just thinking… where should we hold our wedding?"
"Wh-hey! Is this the time to be saying something like that?!"
Of course she knew he was teasing. Flustered and annoyed, she stepped forward and hammered his shoulder with her small pink fists. Her already cute face turned even redder, glowing with a tender radiance.
Watching the angel's shy expression was pure bliss. Haru barely managed to restrain his delight, instead furrowing his brows as though disappointed, his voice tinged with worry.
"What do you mean? Don't tell me you don't want to marry me, Nijika?"
Her whole body trembled.
Her ears blazed crimson, her lips pressed together. With her lashes lowered, she seemed to be hiding the panic in her eyes.
"N-no, that's not it!"
"Then that's fine. I just want to eat your cookie(s) for the rest of my life."
Haru bit into another cookie with a victor's smile. Nijika's face grew hotter. She opened her lips as if to say something, then gave up and nodded with her cheeks burning scarlet.
Her face glowed like a furnace, a white mist of warmth rising around her. She cradled her cheeks with both hands, lowered her head, and could no longer even meet his gaze.
It was like the very instant an angel accepted a proposal. The rush of happiness nearly overwhelmed him.
Yes, this was it.
This was what he wanted to see.
No matter how many times he teased her, Nijika always responded with that shy, adorable expression. That was why he never tired of it. Catching her in flustered moments was bliss beyond bliss.
"Ah, right. Haru, weren't you going to paint my portrait?"
"I happen to be free today, so why don't we start while there's still time?"
Her ears still faintly red, she changed the subject with some stiffness. Seeing her adorable attempt, Haru only smiled without exposing her, then slowly lifted the brush in his left hand, speaking with quiet intent.
"You're right, though it may not be finished in a day."
"Eh?"
She froze, not understanding at first.
Haru smiled mysteriously. "If it were just a painting for an exhibition, I could finish in half a day at my usual pace. But if it's a portrait of you, Nijika, one day would never be enough."
"T-then… maybe I can just come back a few more times?"
The thought slipped out before she realized it, but the moment she saw his confirming gaze, a soft joy welled up in her chest. Sitting on the chair, she began to swing her slender legs lightly.
"But today, at least, I can complete the basic form."
"So, Nijika, sit however you feel comfortable. Talk with me as much as you like. Keep your body relaxed, try to look as natural as possible. Of course, if you smile at me a little more, that would be even better."
Haru raised the brush in his right hand with a grin. His action drew a flicker of doubt in her eyes, and she asked.
"Eh? But Haru, aren't you… better with your left hand?"
"Actually, I can use both hands."
So he really revealed the memory fragments of the simulation.
She was probably the only person in the world who knew his dominant hand.
Haru could not help but chuckle inwardly. The truth was that he could now paint with both hands at once, even wielding two brushes like twin swords, ready to slash out a Starburst Stream if he felt like it.
"I… I see. That's amazing."
Her legs swayed as she remembered something. Her brilliant crimson eyes softened, and she flashed her radiant smile, warm and gentle as sunlight, like beauty from a poem that should not exist in this world.
Haru was stunned.
That smile was beautiful enough to save the world. It overlapped with the fragments of memory from the simulation. Back then, he had relied on those memories to complete the work that gained him worldwide fame「 Summer 」 , but Nijika had never witnessed its creation with her own eyes.
Perhaps that had been the regret that even the simulated Haru could never escape.
Noticing his dazed look, Nijika's eyes grew worried. "Haru, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"
"It's nothing. I was just… a little dazed because you're too cute."
"Honestly, don't tease me like that!"
Blushing, she could only pout playfully. Haru, however, closed his eyes with a satisfied smile. When he opened them again, the simple wooden brush in his hand was already weaving its magic.
For him now, there was no more need to hesitate.
He wanted only to capture everything, from the deepest recesses of memory to the journey up until now, from the farthest horizon to the emotions of this very moment, and lay it all onto the canvas.
"…"
Nijika watched him quietly, absorbed in his painting with absolute seriousness. She had rarely seen him like this. And this time, she was the only witness. The scene etched itself deeply into her eyes.
Time flowed by, minute after minute.
With a brush in each hand, Haru painted ceaselessly. For a model, the long process should have been boring. But Nijika felt none of that. She only gazed at him, completely drawn in.
She thought she could watch him forever, even for a hundred years without growing tired.
Unknowingly, she lost track of time. When she came to her senses again, it was to the voice of the black-haired boy.
"Nijika, let's stop here for today. It's already about five."
Startled, she lifted her head.
"It's five already?!"
Had more than five hours really passed so quickly?
It felt like they had only just begun, yet the whole afternoon had vanished in an instant, as though a single blink had carried her through time itself. Her expression was dazed.
Her look made Haru laugh softly. Just as he was about to invite her to dinner, the studio door creaked open from the outside. A small silver head poked in.
A pair of heterochromatic eyes peered curiously at them, then settled firmly on Haru.
"Raana? Is band practice over already?"
"Yeah."
Kaname Raana squinted smugly and stepped fully into view. As usual, she dove straight into Haru's arms, rubbing her soft cheek against his chest.
"Haru, dinner?"
"We'll wait for Umiri and Mutsumi to come back. For now, you can have a little snack, but not too much…"
He fussed over her like a nagging parent. Raana blinked, then her eyes slid to the cookie box at his side. That expectant look froze Haru's smile.
"Fine, take them."
"Yeah!"
The catlike girl snatched the cookies and shut the door behind her. Haru let out a long sigh, muttering in a pitiful tone.
"Nijika's cookies, and I hardly got to eat any…"
His childish complaint made her laugh softly. Yet at the same time, she felt joy at how much he treasured her effort. She rose from her seat, moved closer, and gently pinched his shoulder.
"Haru, you sound like such a child. Don't worry, I'll make them for you again."
"That's wonderful."
His energy returned at once. He rolled up his sleeves with a proud grin.
"As thanks, I'll prepare a feast for dinner. Would you care to join me, Nijika-san?"
"Of course!"
A husband-and-wife team makes the work light.
Fully aware of this truth, Haru reached for the door handle. Just as he was about to open it to head to the kitchen, he noticed something wrong. The door, which should have swung open easily, would not budge. The subtle resistance made his brows lift.
This was bad. Could it be...
"What's wrong?"
Nijika peered at him curiously from behind. Haru only exhaled slowly.
"It looks like… we can't get out."