February 14th, Valentine's Day.
Discount ads for chocolate and chocolate-related products filled the streets. Merchants and couples alike openly spread a pink-tinted atmosphere. Tokyo's streets were drenched in romantic scents… and mating season energy.
Even though the trees at the roadside stood bare and cold winds blew fiercely, sweet fragrances adorned their branches, illuminating the hearts of everyone feeling restless.
The park beside the station.
A fountain quietly sprayed cold water into the air. If clouds hadn't blocked the sun, the scattered droplets would have reflected warm golden light, occasionally forming faint rainbows.
Yuu stood in front of the fountain, staring at it for a long time. Suddenly, he raised his hand and threw his dead phone into the water.
The weather was still cold, so the park wasn't crowded. Even passing couples didn't notice his action.
As if nothing had happened, Yuu turned around, hands in his pockets, boredly gazing at the gray sky.
He still had five minutes until the agreed time—he always had the habit of arriving ten minutes early.
And the only person willing to cooperate with this habit, someone who also always arrived early, seemed to be Haruno?
Well, that was the past now.
Yuu shook his head. At that moment, he sensed footsteps deliberately slowing as they approached from the side.
He pretended not to notice, calmly continuing to stare straight ahead. His left shoulder quickly felt a light tap.
"Senpai—"
Yuu turned left, but saw no one.
He turned right. This time, cold fingertips gently brushed his cheek—as if teasing him—then mysteriously tapped twice more, softly.
"Hehe, gotcha~"
The cute girl with a mischievous smile on her right was his junior—Isshiki Iroha.
Her ash-blonde hair swayed. Her delicate legs stepped lightly on the ground, making her skirt sway along.
"Senpai's awareness is terrible. You could easily be attacked, you know? Since you're Senpai, you should be more careful!"
"If I hadn't intentionally lowered my guard, do you really think you'd have any chance of touching me?"
Yuu rolled his eyes and swatted away her fingers poking his cheek like she was playing a game.
Iroha smiled smugly. She took two steps back, hands behind her back. Her large eyes blinked, curiously studying him.
"So then, did Senpai let me touch you on purpose?"
"No need to overreact."
Hands still in his pockets, Yuu replied casually.
Iroha wore a satisfied smile, as if she'd gotten the answer she wanted. She raised her finger proudly and declared, "Even though you say that, Senpai must secretly like this kind of thing, right? The scene where you're playfully teased by a cute girl in an adorable way!"
"Don't call yourself cute, and I don't enjoy being teased either." After grumbling, Yuu gestured toward the park gate and started walking. "Let's go. It's cold here."
"It's your own fault for choosing this place to meet. You deserve it, you know?"
Pouting, Iroha caught up. The softness and scent of the girl suddenly drew near. Her ash-blonde hair brushed against his shoulder. They were extremely close.
"Even though we don't have the classic 'Sorry I kept you waiting?' 'No, I just arrived too,' since Senpai won't respond the way I want anyway, let's just skip ahead and start our date today!"
The corner of Yuu's lips couldn't help but lift. Yet he feigned indifference. "Date? As far as I know, I only invited you out shopping."
"Hah?" Iroha frowned, puffed her pale cheeks, and accused him unhappily. "Senpai, inviting a female junior who isn't your girlfriend out shopping on Valentine's Day—any normal person knows what you mean! Now you're still stubborn like this, making yourself look weird and un-cute."
"Who's weird." Yuu reached out and vigorously ruffled her soft ash-blonde hair. "Can't two single people just hang out together to keep each other warm? Stupid junior, your perspective is so narrow."
"Waaah!" Iroha quickly shielded her head, fending off the assault from above. "Senpai, I worked hard to style my hair! Don't ruin it!"
Yuu stopped his hand. Iroha seized the chance and grabbed his fingers, pulling them away from her hair.
"Geez, completely ignoring a woman's feelings…" Complaining bitterly, she suddenly widened her eyes like a small animal and gasped in surprise. "Senpai's hands are so warm! Did you bring hand warmers?"
"No. I just rubbed them to warm up because I knew your hands would be cold." Yuu flipped his palm and took hers, letting her soft, chilly touch quickly melt in his grip. Without looking back, he continued walking. "Don't worry about little things like that. Let's get going already."
"...W-wait! Senpai, why did you suddenly attack like that?! That's unfair! That doesn't count!"
Realizing their hands were already intertwined, Iroha snapped out of her daze. She shouted with a flushed face while hurrying to catch up, finally matching his pace.
Then, she bit her lip and murmured sadly, "Ugh… annoying. This makes me look like such an easy catch. No, I should've pulled away and made Senpai suffer a bit before giving him any sweetness…"
"Iroha, I heard that."
"Hm? I didn't say anything~" Tilting her head cutely, Iroha pressed herself against his shoulder and cooed, "By the way, Senpai, there's one thing I forgot to tell you."
"What?"
"I forgot my phone. So if you don't take good care of me, it'll be hard to find me."
"Oh? What a coincidence." Yuu couldn't help but laugh. "My phone just happened to break too. No one can find me except you. Don't let me get lost."
"Don't compare yourself to me!" Iroha made a disgusted face. "Big Senpai, how dumb and blind would I have to be to lose you?"
"Then you don't need to hold my hand so tightly."
"I'm just warming up. Senpai, don't get too confident… Ah, or do you think this will make me embarrassed? I deeply apologize, but even though my heart is racing and I'm almost screaming with joy, I'm still far from feeling embarrassed. So please, Senpai, keep trying harder!"
"Ah, the daily routine has begun."
"What do you mean by that! Stupid Senpai! Cruel!"
Chattering cheerfully, the two left the quiet park, side by side, heading into the cold streets beyond.
Under the fountain, the phone lay still.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Half an hour later, a long, slender hand reached down and picked it up.
"Honestly, Yuu-chan… That junior of yours too—everyone else is already prepared."
A slightly teasing voice, yet low and cold, froze the air.
Shoulder-length curly hair fell over her shoulders. She pressed the power button several times. After confirming the phone was water-damaged beyond repair, she casually dropped it from her hand, letting it fall to the ground—then stepped on it.
*CRUNCH!*
Her sharp high heel crushed the screen. The cold face reflected on it shattered into spiderweb-like cracks.
"But with just this much ability, don't even dream of running from me…"
Alongside the emotionless mutter, droplets from her fingertips seeped into the ground. The dark trail stretched, creeping toward the park's exit.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
"Senpai, you said we're going shopping—what do you want to buy?"
Her small bag bounced lightly at her waist. Iroha followed beside him with a spring in her step. Her big, beautiful eyes looked at him curiously once again.
"We'll see later. No rush."
Yuu answered casually. His gaze flickered toward her. Unexpectedly, the word cute surfaced in his mind.
Her soft ash-blonde hair. Her round, clear eyes like an innocent little animal.
Her slender frame wrapped in an oversized windbreaker jacket. On top, only the collar of a pink sweater peeked out. Below, no shorts or short skirt visible—just a pair of long legs clad in black tights, which from afar looked like she wasn't wearing pants at all, brimming with youthful temptation.
Her white low-heeled shoes resembled elf slippers. Iroha stepped lightly on the ground, closely following behind.
(Are all creatures called 'girls' this cute?)
Yuu wondered. No, maybe it was just Iroha who was exceptionally cute.
If asked which part was cute, every single inch—from her fingernails to the tips of her hair—was undeniably adorable.
"Eh~ That relaxed?"
Unaware of Yuu's thoughts, Iroha tilted her head. A little frustrated, yet seemingly having expected this answer, she sighed in annoyance.
"Well, whatever. We're already here anyway. Can't just go home now, right?"
She nudged his arm. Her eyes widened seriously as she declared, "So, Senpai, as compensation for spending Valentine's Day with me, you're responsible for giving me a perfect date!"
"Yeah, yeah, working on it."
Yuu nodded indifferently. He pulled his gaze from Iroha and swept his eyes across every corner of the street. He seemed to be searching for something, yet his focus remained unfixed.
"Again with ignoring me… Hmph." Iroha was slightly displeased. But seeing that Yuu still hadn't let go of her hand, the corner of her lips couldn't suppress a smile. She decided not to mind it too much.
Suddenly, an idea struck her. She suggested enthusiastically, "Senpai, if you don't have a specific place in mind, how about we go to an amusement park?"
"An amusement park? That came out of nowhere."
"Better than aimlessly wandering around. Or does Senpai have someplace special you'd like to take me?"
"...Fine, let's go play at the amusement park."
For Yuu right now, of course, there was no such place.
Shopping was merely an excuse. He simply wanted to spend Valentine's Day with Iroha, so he took a huge risk by inviting her out.
His original plan had only been watching a movie, shopping, and bowling—ways to pass the time. Now that Iroha herself had suggested a destination, Yuu felt more at ease.
It didn't matter where they went or what they did, as long as they were together.
"Yay! Then let's go now! Just take the nearest bus!"
Iroha cheered, tugging his hand. Her pure white cheeks flushed. She skipped toward the bus stop.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
They chatted all the way, and soon arrived at the nearest amusement park. Perhaps due to Valentine's promotions and special discounts, on this day there were many couples like them everywhere.
Of course, tickets for singles or male groups remained full price.
"Two couple tickets."
"Here you go." The ticket clerk glanced at the two standing close together, said nothing, and swiftly handed two tickets through the window.
Holding the tickets and waiting in line at the entrance, Iroha tugged his sleeve and said softly, touched:
"Even though we're not actually a couple, doing something like this feels so exciting…"
Yuu shrugged. "A man and woman hanging out together at a time like this—if not lovers, then husband and wife. Nobody cares whether we're real or fake."
"That's true… So then, Senpai, what kind of relationship are we now?" Iroha subtly shifted her gaze and asked casually, as if nothing mattered.
Yuu didn't hesitate. He answered, "Senpai and Kouhai."
"..." Iroha stared at his expressionless profile.
"Of course, that's how it looks on the surface, but reality is hard to define." With that sharp glance, Yuu's expression didn't change. He continued with a slightly teasing tone, "After all, what kind of kouhai would agree to hang out with their senpai on Valentine's Day?"
"...Pfft, there are such people, you know?" Iroha slowly smiled. She angrily headbutted his shoulder and snorted twice. "I just felt sorry for Senpai who had no friends. Don't get too full of yourself!"
"Yeah, yeah, who's unpopular anyway? Only my kouhai would feel sorry for me."
Rolling his eyes, Yuu responded to her words. Thinking of no one else, he walked with her through the amusement park gates.
Their hands, separated when paying for tickets earlier, now brushed against each other—but hadn't yet found the chance to intertwine again.
"Ah, there's Ponta, the mascot!"
Right after entering, Iroha squealed like a child spotting the park's mascot. Her eyes sparkled.
"Let's take a photo quickly… Ah, I forgot my phone, so I can't take pictures." As if her excitement instantly vanished, she pouted and turned away boredly. "A mascot you can't photograph is useless. Let's go."
"You're so practical…"
Yuu shook his head. As he walked past, he suddenly felt something. He looked up.
The thick mascot costume faced him, motionless. Its pair of round black eyes seemed to glint with cold light, reflecting their silhouettes—a couple in appearance.
Mysteriously, Yuu felt a chill run down his spine. A sense of familiarity welled up from deep within. His footsteps unconsciously halted.
"Senpai, what's wrong?"
Noticing the other wasn't following, Iroha turned back confusedly.
"...Nothing." Yuu slowly exhaled. He took her hand again and walked toward the nearest ride. "Forget about it. Just have fun all day."
"That's my plan… By the way, Senpai, why does it feel like you're so skilled at holding a girl's hand? No hesitation or awkwardness at all."
"Maybe I'm naturally talented?"
"Pfft~ Liar Senpai! Only liars would like you."
"True."
Their conversation gradually faded into the distance.
The mascot remained in place. Only after they disappeared from view did it walk to a shaded spot and slowly unzip the back of its suit.
"Haaah…"
The person inside exhaled, then shook their head.
Soft brown hair swayed gently, but their eyes were as sharp and cold as swords.
"So you fled here… This time, I won't lose your trail, Yuu-kun."
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
On the roller coaster.
"Senpai, if you're scared, hold me tight, okay?" Like an older sister advising her younger brother to behave, Iroha spoke seriously.
Yuu glanced at her slightly trembling arm and said, slightly amused, "You're the one who's scared."
"Then, Senpai, will you hold me tight?" Iroha immediately changed tactics, placing her hands on her knees.
Yuu naturally took her hand, gripping it firmly. "Don't worry. I won't let go even if we fall."
"..." The shy smile about to bloom on Iroha's face froze instantly.
"Don't say scary things like that! Eh? Eh?! Eh?!! Can we still get off now?!"
As her voice cracked, the roller coaster slowly began to move.
"It's too late. Don't worry—as long as there aren't any piano wires on the track, I can protect you even if the entire cart crashes."
"I told you, stop scaring me with stuff like that! You stupid, annoying Senpai—"
The girl's scream echoed beneath the vast sky.