The afternoon sun beat down mercilessly on the cracked pavement as Shirogane Miyuki secured the final package onto his bicycle's carrier. Sweat clung to his skin, his shirt damp and clinging uncomfortably to his back. He wiped his forehead with the back of his arm, letting out a long, tired breath.
"Almost done here," he muttered under his breath, forcing a small smile. _"I just need to wrap this up. Work has been eating my weekends... so tired..."
The narrow streets buzzed faintly in the distance — the distant hum of traffic, the occasional bark of a dog. Shirogane tilted his head back, taking in the wide blue sky above him, momentarily losing himself in thought.
"I really wonder what Mitsuha said to Shinomiya while she was in my body..." he pondered, feeling an involuntary chill run down his spine. Whatever it was, it must have been something. Shinomiya's subtle glances had only grown sharper since then."
For a while, he stood there in silence, the thought lingering in his mind like a stubborn cloud. Then, without warning, an idea struck him.
With a sudden burst of energy, Shirogane slammed his fist into his open palm, the sound sharp and decisive. His lips curled into a triumphant grin.
"I'll go visit her," he declared aloud. "Since I'm almost done here, and I've got nothing else to do today."_
The journey home wasn't immediate. Shirogane first weaved through the small alleyways, past the local bakery where the smell of freshly baked melon bread tickled his senses. His stomach growled in protest, reminding him he hadn't eaten properly all day.
He considered stopping — just for a minute — but the sticky feeling of sweat under his clothes made him grimace.
"Nah, a bath first," he decided.
He passed a park where a group of kids were playing soccer, their laughter echoing brightly. An old woman waved at him from across the street. Mrs. Nakamura, the friendly neighbor who always insisted on giving him pickled plums. Shirogane returned the wave half-heartedly, pedaling faster until finally, the familiar worn-down apartment building came into view.
By the time he reached home, Shirogane parked his bicycle, locked it with practiced ease, and trudged up the stairs to their house.
The door creaked as he entered.
"It's so quiet, huh?" Shirogane thought, glancing around the empty living room.
Shoes were neatly lined up by the door, except for his father's, which were conspicuously absent.
"Guess they all left the house. Oyaji's probably out wasting money at pachinko again," he mused with a sigh. "And Kei's probably hanging out with Chika and her little sister. Figures."
He shook his head, too tired to even be annoyed.
Still lost in thought, Shirogane made his way to the bathroom, eager to wash off the grime of the day. He unceremoniously swung the door open—
And froze.
There, standing under the dim bathroom light, was a girl — stark naked.
Her slender body was lithe and delicate, with soft, pale skin that seemed to glow faintly against the dull tiles. Droplets of water clung to her smooth shoulders, trickling lazily down her arms and back. Her hair — slightly damp — clung to her neck, a few stray strands curling at the ends.
She carried herself with a quiet elegance, her presence marked by a natural, youthful charm rather than exaggerated features.
Time seemed to slow to a painful crawl.
Shirogane's brain went completely blank, his body frozen in sheer disbelief.
The girl was Kei, meanwhile, turned her head toward him — her expression shifting from confusion to sheer horror in an instant.
Before he could utter a single word, Kei let out a shriek so piercing it could have shattered glass.
"A-AHHHHHHHHH!!!"
In a blind panic, she grabbed the first thing within arm's reach — a plastic bottle of shampoo — and hurled it straight at Shirogane's head.
"GYAH—!!"
The bottle struck him squarely on the forehead with a dull thud, snapping him out of his frozen stupor.
He stumbled back, flailing for the doorknob, mind racing at a million thoughts per second.
'Apologize! Retreat! Do both!!' his brain screamed.
"I-I'm sorry!" Shirogane blurted out, bowing so hard he nearly slammed his head into the doorframe. "It's a misunderstanding!! I didn't see anything—!!"
Another projectile flew at him — this time a bottle of body wash.
Shirogane barely dodged it by instinct, the container whizzing past his ear and exploding against the wall behind him with a wet splat.
"GET OUT, YOU PERVERT!!" the girl shrieked.
"ALREADY LEAVING!!" Shirogane yelped back, scrambling out of the bathroom and slamming the door behind him with a loud bang.
He leaned his back against the door, chest heaving, heart pounding as if he had just run a marathon. His forehead throbbed where the shampoo bottle had hit him. Slowly, he slid down to the floor, burying his face in his hands.
"What the hell just happened...?"
For a long moment, only the muffled sounds of the girl's furious yelling came from inside the bathroom.
Shirogane dared not move.
'What should I do...? I really thought no one was home...' he thought, trembling slightly as he pressed his back against the door.
Slowly, he tiptoed toward the living room and sank into the worn-out sofa, head in his hands. The seconds dragged painfully into minutes.
Every splash of water and every faint thud from the bathroom made him flinch.
"I'll just... wait here until she's done bathing..." he thought, resigned to his fate.
The ticking of the wall clock seemed deafening in the awkward silence that filled the room.
Even the refrigerator's low hum felt strangely loud, as if mocking his misery.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the bathroom door creaked open.
Kei emerged, freshly bathed, her hair damp and clinging to her face.
She wore a loose oversized shirt and shorts, her posture stiff. The air between them grew heavy with unbearable awkwardness.
Shirogane quickly stood up and bowed his head slightly.
"I'm really sorry," he muttered, voice tight with guilt. "I thought... there was no one home today."
Without waiting for a reply, he shuffled past her and disappeared into the bathroom, desperate to wash away the shame — at least physically.
Under the steady stream of hot water, Shirogane leaned his head against the cool tiles.
"I made another huge mistake... Maybe I should just let Mitsuha fix it for me..." he thought bitterly.
But after a few moments of reflection, he shook his head sharply.
"No. I must not depend on other people for problems I caused. That's my principle."
"I need to take responsibility myself."
The resolve in his chest hardened like steel.
After finishing his quick shower, Shirogane stepped out of the bathroom, towel draped around his neck.
He barely had time to process the scene before him.
Standing there by the hallway was Kei, arms stiff at her sides, fists clenched tightly.
Her cheeks were burning red, her brows furrowed in a mix of anger and embarrassment. She looked like she was preparing a scolding, feet planted firmly like a soldier ready for battle.
"AAA!" Shirogane yelped, jumping back slightly.
"Look, I—" he started, raising his hands in defense.
But before he could finish his sentence, Kei took a deep breath, puffing out her cheeks in frustration—
And smacked him lightly on the arm with her closed fist.
"Idiot!!" she shouted, voice cracking slightly.
"You can't just barge into the bathroom like that!"
Her words were harsh, but her blows were soft — almost hesitant.
Shirogane winced dramatically, rubbing his arm even though it didn't hurt.
"I said I was sorry! I really thought nobody was home!"
Kei huffed, crossing her arms. Her face was still as red.
For a moment, neither of them said anything.
Then Kei muttered under her breath, almost too softly for him to hear—
"...Just be more careful next time, stupid..."
She turned away quickly, stomping off toward her room before Shirogane could see her embarrassed expression fully.
Left alone in the hallway, Shirogane let out a long, exhausted sigh.
"What was that all about? She was rather... calm? Did Mitsuha gained Kei's trust?"