Droplets gathered on the milky white tiles, refracting the glow of the warm orange light. The bathtub brimmed with steaming water, submerging the blonde girl's slender body.
The surface just covered her delicate collarbones. Her thin arms and legs, soaking in the heat, were tinged with a soft cherry blossom pink. Her damp golden hair was twisted loosely into a bun and wrapped in a snow-white towel, with a few playful strands dangling over the water, swaying gently with the ripples.
Droplets slid down her flushed cheeks, and the mist rising in soft white curls made the bathroom seem almost dreamlike.
Perhaps she had suddenly remembered something, because her face burned with a deep blush.
"Wh-why did I really agree to it?"
Just after dinner, Mutsumi's usually indifferent emerald eyes had been glinting with mischief. Umiri had leaned against the doorway with her bass in her arms, twisting a strand of hair around her black-polished fingertip, gazing at her with a mocking smile.
Uwah!
Nijika had covered her crimson face with both hands, letting out a strangled groan. In that kind of atmosphere, no matter how she explained, it would not help. Both Mutsumi and Umiri had already decided she would be staying the night, and the way they looked at her made her heart pound even faster.
She had not imagined things would turn out like this when she came here!
"So, in the end, where am I even supposed to sleep tonight?"
Lost in a swirl of frantic thoughts, Nijika had soaked in the bath for nearly half an hour. Her head felt faint, and just before she could actually pass out, she forced herself to climb out.
Wrapped in a towel, her cheeks still flushed, she stepped out of the bathroom. She accepted a clean set of pajamas from the expressionless doll-like girl, changed, and followed her upstairs. It was only once she entered the room that she suddenly froze.
"Eh? This… this isn't Haru's room, is it?"
Her fingers tightened around the hem of her nightdress, knuckles pale. Beneath the fabric, her shoulder blades faintly traced their outline.
Mutsumi was watering the succulents by the window, her expression as blank as ever. Hearing Nijika's words, she only turned her head slightly. Moonlight flowed over her light green hair, as if it were silver edging on a porcelain doll.
"That's right."
Mutsumi looked curiously at Nijika's face, which was red with embarrassment. She seemed not to understand why Nijika looked so panicked. But after a brief silence, even the wooden girl's pale face had taken on a faint blush.
She was not just a block of wood after all.
Perhaps sensing Nijika's turmoil, Mutsumi hesitated, then stepped closer with careful, measured steps. Her voice was soft, almost cautious.
"Nijika, don't you want to share a room with Haru?"
"Eh? N-no, it's not like that…"
The angelic girl waved her pale hands in flustered denial, but her face was about to overflow with nervousness.
How could she not want to?
She had come here today because she could no longer endure her loneliness. But modesty and shyness as a girl left her at a loss for what to do, especially since Mutsumi and Umiri both seemed to know exactly what was on her mind. That made her already fragile heart tremble even more.
Her face completely red, she stayed silent for a few seconds, then suddenly asked in a doubtful voice,
"Th-then, if I sleep here, what about you and Umiri… what will you do?"
Mutsumi blinked in surprise, then raised her head calmly.
"I'll be going back to my own room tonight. Umiri thinks the same."
Nijika tilted her crimson face up, startled. The question slipped out of her mouth before she could stop it.
"Eh? You mean… you're not staying together?"
Mutsumi clearly had not expected her to ask such a thing. Her wide eyes carried a flicker of surprise, and after a brief pause, her cheeks also flushed as she looked back at her.
Realizing how blunt her question had been, Nijika's panic grew worse. Her eyes darted frantically as she waved her hands and stammered,
"N-no, that's not what I meant! I was just asking without thinking, please don't misunderstand!"
"…I understand."
Mutsumi nodded with a hint of meaning in her gaze, then turned and walked toward the door.
Oh no, I only made it worse.
When Mutsumi, her face faintly red, left the room, Nijika was left sitting alone. She finally felt the crushing weight of how powerless her explanations were. Burning with shame, she covered her face and let out the pitiful groan of a flustered girl.
What on earth was she doing?
She had only dug herself deeper into misunderstanding.
Her head a scrambled mess, Nijika realized that no matter how she tried to explain, it would not clear things up now. And besides, the misunderstanding was not entirely wrong. With a sigh of resignation, she simply gave up.
"…"
Sitting on the bed, Nijika glanced curiously around. This was, in fact, her first time inside Haru's bedroom.
It looked much like his old apartment, only with a larger bed.
His uniform hung neatly on the wall. The bookshelf, instead of being filled with books, was crowded with little potted plants. By the computer, there was a huge stack of A4 paper. Walking closer, she realized they were all band-related materials.
"Eh? These are—"
Being a polite and considerate girl, Nijika knew she should not go through someone else's things.
But there were so many documents it was impossible not to be curious. She could not resist sneaking a glance.
Some papers contained plans for the band's CD releases. Others detailed operations, song lyrics, and arrangements. On the white pages, careful notes were circled in red pen.
Dense lines of crimson annotations filled the margins. When she reached the tour budget sheet, her lashes trembled. Even the stage lighting of the venues had been referenced and compared by Haru.
She could almost see the focused, serious figure behind the handwriting.
Her eyes grew misty without her consent, and her lips pressed together in a delicate line.
"His daily work… it's really that hard?"
A pang of bitterness and tenderness welled in Nijika's heart. As the leader of Kessoku Band, she had placed absolute trust in Haru, entrusting him with not only the direction and authority of the band but also a heavy share of responsibility and work.
Mutsumi must have seen all of this, right?
The angelic girl lifted her gaze, her expression complicated. What had been a downcast look grew focused and firm. Her small hand clenched tightly at her side as she drew in a deep breath, as if making a decision.
Creek
She heard the faint sound of a door handle turning. Nijika reacted instantly, shoving the papers back in place with record speed before turning toward the door with a practiced smile.
A black-haired boy stepped in, wearing loose pajamas. The collar hung open just enough to hint at his frame, and droplets still clung to his dark hair. His handsome face seemed even more striking in this light.
Nijika froze for a moment, unable to quite look away.
"Nijika?"
Haru raised a brow as he pushed the door open, quickly noticing how she held her hands behind her back.
"I thought I asked Mutsumi to take you to a room… ha~, so she really did bring you into mine, huh?"
Just from seeing her here, he had already guessed what had happened. He rubbed at his brow with a sigh, his attitude leaving Nijika pouting in discontent. Like a sulky child, she furrowed her brows.
"Hm? What, is Haru not happy to have me here?"
"How could I not be happy? I was only thinking you might get embarrassed."
Haru chuckled as he looked at her. As he expected, Nijika's cheeks bloomed pink. Still, she took a bold step forward, sat down on the bed, and patted the spot beside her.
Why does this feel strangely familiar?
Suppressing the thought, Haru slowly sat down at her side. Nijika's eyes flickered away shyly, but she soon gathered her courage, straightening her back and leaning a little closer.
"Actually, there's something I want to say…"
"Is this about last year's Super Bowl?"
"Super Bowl?"
She turned to him, baffled, not understanding what he meant. Realizing his slip, Haru coughed to cover his awkwardness, waving a hand for her to go on.
Nijika swatted him lightly with a playful glare, then inhaled deeply and continued.
"…It's about the band's work."
"I realized I've been depending on you too much… I've always left everything in your hands. Up until now, I haven't been able to help at all… I'm really sorry."
Her voice was soft, her eyes lowered, and her smile held a trace of loss.
Haru raised a brow, his gaze drifting toward the desk.
So, she saw them after all.
Looking thoughtful, he leaned back and gazed up at the ceiling, his lips curving. "Having a cute and capable wife who depends on me, that's the happiest thing a man could ask for."
"Eh?"
"Maybe handling three bands' worth of work is a little much, but to me, it's nothing. Well, even if I say that, I doubt you'll believe me."
His teasing tone, paired with his confident smile, held her gaze captive.
"Still, always trying to carry everything on my own… when I think about it, maybe that's been too arrogant of me. This might be the time to let someone share the load."
"Hm, who would be the right person for that, I wonder?"
Nijika's downcast eyes lifted. Her crimson gaze shimmered with something unspoken, and she gave him a look like she might give a mischievous child half a scold, half a tender smile she could not suppress.
She took a deep breath.
"Then leave it to me!"
No need for complicated words. What mattered was the shared understanding between them.
She knew very well. She could not keep relying on him like in a dream. She had to be someone who could ease his burdens, share his responsibilities, and stand by his side as a true partner.
Without realizing it, her hand had reached for his. Their fingers intertwined, the warmth of his palm flowing into hers, and though her lips pressed tight with shyness, she made no attempt to hide her burning cheeks.
Nijika's delicate fingers traced over the calluses in his palm, formed from years of practicing guitar and piano, along with the writing callus on his middle finger. His hands, so elegant in shape, felt rough in a way that made her heart ache.
He had already fulfilled his responsibility. Now it was her turn...
"S-shouldn't we get some rest soon?"
Her nervous words, laced with faint expectation, scratched at Haru's heart like a cat's paw.
"In that case, why don't we—"
Bzzz!!
The sudden vibration made Nijika jump. Her phone buzzed insistently, and her beautiful eyes widened. In an instant, she realized what it must be.
"I-I think I forgot to call my sister…"
"…Oh no."
Haru could not help pressing a hand to his forehead, then quickly gestured for her to answer the call.
"H-hello? Sis… Sister?"
["Nijika, where on earth did you go?! You said you were only stepping out, but it's this late and you still haven't come back! You didn't reply to my messages either, do you have any idea how worried I've been?"]
Ijichi Seika's sharp voice cut through the speaker, echoing through the room.
Haru could practically picture the 29-year-old "unmarried mature woman" on the other end, scolding furiously. He half-expected her to shout something like "possessed by an evil spirit" at any moment.
Nijika's eyes welled with tears as she held the phone tightly.
"I'm sorry!!!"
When the messages came, she had been in the bath!
With teary eyes, she apologized over and over. Fortunately, Seika was a sister who could not be straightforward. Hearing Nijika's soft, sobbing voice, she finally calmed down, though only reluctantly.
["Fine… but where are you now? If you don't come back soon, I really will be angry."]
A flicker of embarrassment crossed Nijika's face. She glanced at Haru, then back at the phone, as if asking for his advice. All she got in return was his amused look.
Fidgeting, she hesitated for several seconds before finally blurting nervously, "A-actually, I'm at Haru's place… I-I probably won't come home tonight."
The world went silent for a beat.
"Sis?"
["Then say that earlier next time! Damn it… that brat Kazami, next time I see him I'll beat him up."]
Hey now, I can hear every word right here.
Haru rolled his eyes but wisely held his tongue. Nijika, relieved that her sister had cooled down, began to relax. Her adorable expression sparked a mischievous idea in him.
"Anyway, Sis, you don't need to worry. Tomorrow morning I'll— mmph!"
Her face turned scarlet as she muffled a squeak, glaring at Haru with a flustered pout.
Really, to tease her at a time like this? What if her sister overheard?
Nijika's bright red face and stifled silence only made her more endearing, and Haru, enjoying himself, felt tempted to push further. Perhaps it was the two seconds of quiet, but Seika's instincts suddenly flared to life.
["Nijika, that brat Kazami is with you, isn't he? Hand him the phone!"]
Wait, she doesn't really have a camera hidden in here, does she?
Haru's expression stiffened as he took the phone from a giggling Nijika. Schooling his face into a serious look, he said calmly, "Hello? Sister, what do you need with me? Just so you know, I won't be going home tonight."
["Who are you calling your sister!?!"]
Seika's furious voice burst through the phone, and Haru arched his brows in delight. Taking his time, he drawled, "Well then, Seika-san, what's so urgent that you're looking for me?"
["You still have the nerve to ask?!"]
"If it's about Nijika, you can relax. I'll feed her well and plump her up before sending her back."
"Who's going to be fed plump?!"
Mortified, Nijika pounded her small fists against his shoulder, her face scarlet. Haru, brimming with mischief, only winked at her, his cocky grin making her fume even more.
Even rabbits bite when cornered, let alone gentle Nijika.
"Anyway, please rest assured— ow!"
Haru froze mid-sentence, his composure finally cracking. He had not expected Nijika, in her embarrassment, to actually bite him.
["Honestly, I can't deal with you… fine, I'll leave Nijika in your care."]
"Yes, understood."
["And why are you suddenly so respectful? It's weirding me out. Anyway, that's all I needed to say. But if you dare bully Nijika or make her unhappy, I swear you'll regret it!"]
The call ended with a string of beeps. Wrapped in warmth but also sweat, Haru realized for the first time just how overwhelming Nijika's silent presence could be compared to the other three band members.
Rustle, rustle…
Noticing that he had hung up, Nijika shyly tucked her hair behind her ear. Her golden strands shimmered like sunlight, and her pale ear tips glowed pink.
Even though she was not the lead vocalist, Nijika still needed to work on her singing. She thought back to the last training camp performance, when Ikuyo Kita's voice had stunned everyone, even Ryo Yamada.
How many times must Kita have practiced in private?
Nijika, in comparison, was still clumsy, merely imitating.
"I… I'll just go get a drink of water."
Her throat felt dry after all that explaining to her sister. Her lips parted slightly, her slender neck tinged a rosy hue as she swallowed softly.
Noticing Haru's gaze, her blush deepened.
"I-I'll just head to the bathroom for a second?"
"No way."
If Haru were a black dragon soaring high, then Nijika in that moment had just broken through his stamina bar. At least he had his EbonyFlesh spell, or else even a legendary ebony warrior would be forced to kneel.
"Eh? W-wait—!"
She gave a startled cry as he scooped her up with ease, then dropped her onto the soft bed.