Shards of sunlight filtered through the glass dome of the shopping street, scattering specks of light across the tips of the girl's blue hair. Resting her forehead against the plastic curtain of the photo booth, she absently rubbed the edge of the freshly printed picture between her fingers.
She was even happier than she had imagined.
For most high school girls, these photo stickers were nothing more than a casual pastime. Yet Togawa Sakiko held them as if they were priceless treasures, her breath caught, her lashes trembling slightly with her intense focus.
Haru had never seen the young lady smile so brightly, so adorably. Watching her flip the photos over and over, he could not help the chuckle that slipped from him.
"Having fun?"
"O-of course I am!"
Her voice suddenly leapt, the strands of hair falling across her cheeks casting feather-like shadows.
Though she had just been secretly smiling to herself, now she set one hand on her hip, carefully tucked the pictures into her bag, and answered him in a crisp and earnest tone.
"They might just be a few photos, but to me… they are precious memories between you and me. They don't belong to any other girl, only to us."
"So yes, I'm really happy!"
Her lips curved into the purest smile.
Her long azure hair fluttered gently with the breeze, brushing against her delicate ears that seemed almost elfin. The sunlight streamed through her fine strands, giving her already beautiful figure a dreamlike glow.
Her amber eyes, clear as glass, shone with shyness and a hint of solemnity, as if she were standing upon a wedding stage.
"…"
Haru stared at her face in silence, then sighed in mock exasperation.
"Don't shatter the image I have of the foolish little Sakiko. I feel like my whole worldview is starting to collapse."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
Puffing her cheeks in playful protest, Sakiko flung her arms around his waist and clung tightly, as if refusing to let go no matter what.
After a pause, she looked up at him with slight unease. "…Haru, do you not like me this way? Am I… maybe not acting very proper?"
There are plenty of people far less proper than you, he muttered inwardly.
Instead of answering, Haru tilted her chin, kissing her until she grew dazed, melting away her anxieties completely.
"It's just… compared to before, you're so different. You were already cute back then, but now you've become even cuter. It's hard to restrain myself."
"Eh…?"
Her face turned scarlet as her gaze dropped. A spark of delight flickered in her chest as she stammered, "I-if you can't hold back, then… it's fine… I've already made up my mind, after all."
Smack.
Haru's hand chopped lightly onto her forehead. Startled, Sakiko blinked wide-eyed, her confused expression making her look all the more like a beautiful fool.
But this was no time to admire her face. Haru withdrew his "funeral chop" and spoke with a trace of irritation.
"Of course it's not 'fine.' We still have a whole date ahead of us."
"Y-you're right!"
Her cheeks reddened as she nodded quickly, realizing she had blurted out something indiscreet again.
After all, there was no need to rush.
Still, she could not hold back a laugh. Boldly, she slipped her hand into his, stepping forward like an ordinary girl in love, eager to enjoy their time together.
…
As expected of a young lady.
Haru had not imagined Sakiko's stamina would be so impressive. She pulled him around the streets for nearly two hours, pausing barely five minutes at a time, until sweat finally beaded her forehead.
Truly worthy of the title "noble daughter," combined with "keyboardist."
They wandered into clothing shops, accessory stores, game centers. Whenever she saw something new, she would react with adorable excitement, often pressing close to him to explain her discoveries.
Her endless expressions were a feast for Haru's eyes. If only he could capture them all on his phone, he would have made dozens of reaction images by now.
"This is so much fun!"
Sakiko, her blue twin tails falling over her shoulders, sat gracefully on a bench. But that ingrained elegance seemed unnecessary at the moment. She clung to Haru's arm, resting her cheek lightly on his shoulder.
It was a pose she would never have dared before, yet now it came as naturally as breathing.
Beside the bench lay a few small shopping bags, filled with plush toys and matching trinkets. The most striking was the deep blue "angry octopus" plush she cradled in her arms, glaring yet oddly endearing, clearly her favorite.
She insisted it would "definitely come in handy someday," and he could not help but agree.
In short, she was unbearably cute.
"Haru, um..."
Her sweet, clear voice brushed his ear, yet it wavered faintly, betraying her nervous anticipation.
"This is for you."
"Hm?"
Her pale cheeks flushed a rosy red. The setting sun gilded her trembling lashes, and fumbling slightly, she pulled a small keychain from her skirt pocket.
It was a tiny octopus plush with a black headband, glowing warmly in the twilight.
"I… I bought this when you were helping me win the big octopus plush. It might not be anything valuable, but I wanted to give something back to you."
She raised it shyly in offering, eyes shining with cautious hope.
"Then I'll gladly accept it~"
Haru winked, taking the octopus keychain from her hand and attaching it to his cucumber keychain. Under the sunset, the two colorful charms shimmered together.
Noticing this, he arched a brow and teased, "Didn't think it would be a keychain. Could it be because of Mutsumi?"
"N-no way! It has nothing to do with that!"
Not yet. I hadn't even asked.
Haru stared helplessly at the foolish young lady who had just confessed by accident. The only stubborn part of her was her mouth, yet that mouth was softer than cotton candy whenever he kissed her.
"Ugh…"
Sakiko seemed to realize she had exposed herself. Her face turned bright red as she lowered her head, stealing glances at him now and then. But all Haru did was sip his milk tea calmly.
"Well well, what's with this sour taste?"
"This milk tea tastes a bit sour. Don't tell me it's expired? Want to try, Sakiko?"
He handed the cup toward her with a teasing smile, as if he had already seen straight through her. Her ears burned crimson as she bit down on the straw, muttering in surrender.
"Fine, I admit it! I was jealous…"
"I know it's not good to be jealous of Mutsumi, but I just can't help it… I've liked you for so, so long, Haru. And yet I'm still so far behind her. Even now, I haven't been able to help you with anything…"
It was always Haru helping her. Always. Which only made it harder for her to imagine life without him.
"If this keeps up, I can't help having these thoughts… Because I'm a selfish, self-centered girl."
Her head drooped in dejection, as if she had lost all strength to look up again.
Haru let out a long sigh.
"What do you mean you haven't helped me? Rabbit House is completely under your management now, the boss lady, and Ave Mujica's work too, you're the one handling it all."
"T-that's just what I'm supposed to do! Besides, calling me 'boss lady' is…"
Her heart pounded fast, warmth flooding her body before she could protest further. Haru pulled her into his arms. The embrace was so tight it felt like even air had no space to pass between them.
"Don't overthink it."
A plain, ordinary reassurance. Yet it made her eyes instantly brim with tears.
She had treated him so coldly at first, but he had approached her with humor, always keeping just enough distance so she felt comfortable, never burdened.
She had made so many mistakes, been selfish, reckless, even nearly cost him his life when he saved her. Yet Haru still smiled and forgave her. Every time she remembered that, her heart trembled all over again.
"Haru… you're the most unfair person…"
Because all he did was make her fall deeper and deeper, until she could not imagine life without him.
She would never leave him. Not in this lifetime.
"Alright, alright, I'm unfair."
"Then you'd better work hard, Sakiko, and make sure this unfair guy gets what's coming to him."
He brushed away the tears at the corner of her eye. They stayed wrapped in each other's arms for nearly ten minutes before her mood finally lifted. Lifting her chin, she smiled with new confidence.
"Of course I will!"
She was Togawa Sakiko.
She would never just accept his love passively. She would return it with love even stronger.
As she buried her face against his chest, making her silent vow, Haru suddenly patted her back. His tone, warm and gentle until now, turned oddly serious.
"By the way… what time does Morfonica's[1] live start again?"
"Eh?"
…
The dim concert hall was already packed, a sea of glow sticks waving. On stage, the band stood in pure white costumes, ready to begin. The first wave of sound hit like a storm, shaking the whole room.
At that moment, the rear doors opened. A blue-haired girl, breathing hard, was carried in bridal style by a black-haired boy. Overwhelmed by embarrassment, her face burned red as she tapped his shoulder urgently.
"We're here! Haru, put me down already."
"Looks like we made it."
On stage, Morfonica girl's bad was still chatting with the audience, the usual pre-show banter. Haru let out a relieved breath, having sprinted all the way here with her in his arms.
Barely in time.
They had lingered far too long at the park, so long they had completely forgotten about the concert. By the time Haru realized, there were less than ten minutes left.
They rushed toward the venue, but Sakiko, too anxious, tripped along the way. Her shoe scraped her toe, leaving it red and sore.
That was when Haru acted~
He simply picked her up and ran full speed, carrying her straight to the hall.
"Haru, are… are you alright?"
Seeing him carry her the whole way, she blinked up with both shame and concern. She squeezed his hand gently, worry rising in her eyes.
"We didn't have to rush this much. Even if we were a little late..."
Her words were cut short by his easy reply.
"Of course I couldn't let you be late. You've been looking forward to Morfonica's concert for so long. I had to make sure you could enjoy it from beginning to end."
Besides, a man doesn't admit defeat.
"…"
Sakiko stared at him, dazed. He met her gaze with a cocky wink. She tried to swallow back the wave of emotions, but her heart overflowed uncontrollably.
Whenever she was with him, she lost all control of her feelings.
Her lips pressed together. Her amber eyes locked firmly on his.
Then she rose on her toes.
For the first time, instead of receiving, she initiated the kiss.
What she didn't realize was that their spot was right at the center of the highest seats, in full view of the stage. Her bold act was seen clearly by the band in the middle of their MC.
The white-haired vocalist froze in shock, staring at the couple in the crowd. Only when her bandmates called out did she snap back to herself.
"Th-then, please enjoy our first song!"
"Blessing!"
The band on stage quickly found their rhythm and began their performance. Gentle notes filled the hall, accompanied by the flowing sound of the violin. It was the very band she had once admired the most, yet now Sakiko found her eyes unable to leave the boy beside her.
Though Morfonica's music resounded in her ears, she clasped Haru's hand even tighter. Warmth spread from his palm to hers, enveloping her completely, leaving her helplessly immersed in the moment.
By the time Sakiko came back to her senses, the band's final song had already ended.
"What an amazing performance."
The words slipped from Haru's lips in awe. His surprised expression made Sakiko giggle softly, then she lifted her chin with a proud look. "Of course it was. After all, it was because of them… that I decided to start a band in the first place."
Yes, that had been the truth.
Back then, she had just lost her mother, stumbling through her grief and feeling lost about the future. It was at Morfonica's live that she found courage again. With her spirits reignited, she dragged Wakaba Mutsumi to form CRYCHIC. But in the end, because of her own mistakes, she personally dissolved that band with her own hands.
Perhaps sensing the shadow in her expression, Haru smiled lightly as if nothing were amiss. "So what about now, Sakiko? Do you regret the choices you made back then?"
"I don't regret anything."
Her cheeks puffed out as she fixed him with a serious gaze.
"If fate hadn't guided me step by step, I might never have met you… never had the chance to fall in love with you. So there's no way I'd regret it! Besides, now I've formed Ave Mujica again, and I have a faith even stronger than before."
A sudden, heartfelt confession like that... what man could possibly withstand it?
Haru, hand still clasped with hers, raised his brows with a hint of warmth in his eyes. He spoke slowly. "I see. A stronger faith, is it?"
"Yes, exactly!"
Sakiko beamed with the sweetest smile, nodding eagerly to show her conviction.
And the truth of that so-called "faith", both of them already knew it well.
"Well, since the live is over, the next place we'll go is—"
Just as she was about to pull Haru toward the next date spot, her radiant smile froze in place as if struck. Haru noticed immediately and frowned slightly, following her gaze.
At the edge of the LiveHouse street, a black luxury sedan was parked steadily at the curb.
[1] https://bandori.fandom.com/wiki/Morfonica