The morning sun had barely risen when Hayashi Shuichi slipped out of bed, as was his routine, and headed to the kitchen to prepare breakfast.
The clatter of pots and pans filled the air, mingling with the faint aroma of food wafting through the room.
Reiko, yawning with sleepy eyes, shuffled to the dining table and plopped down.
Her cold had mostly cleared up by last night, and since it was Monday, school was non-negotiable.
"I packed your cold medicine in your bag," Hayashi Shuichi said, arranging breakfast on the table. "Take it for one more day, got it?"
"Got it, Onii-chan," Reiko replied obediently, nodding as she took a sip of milk.
Suddenly, her brow furrowed, sensing something amiss. "Onii-chan, where's your bag?"
Normally, by this time, Hayashi Shuichi would have his things ready, both their school bags lined up by the door.
"I've got some homework to pack," he said with a faint smile, a flicker of unease in his eyes.
He wasn't going to school today. He had to escort Fujimine Yukiko to the film set—a plan he hadn't shared with his little cousin.
Hiiro Eri had agreed to cover for him, thanks to a deal with Yukiko. But Reiko? That was trickier. Last Friday's fake sick day had already upset her, and if she found out he was skipping school again, she'd throw a fit. Worse, if word reached the Kujo family, they'd drag him back to their estate and keep him under lock and key.
After all, just last Friday, Hayashi Shuichi had sworn to Reiko he'd never skip school or lie to her again.
Reiko didn't press further, finishing her breakfast and straightening her school uniform. With a quick wave, she grabbed her bag and headed out.
Watching her small figure disappear, Hayashi Shuichi felt a pang of guilt.
I'm only keeping quiet to avoid upsetting her, he told himself. I'll be back by this afternoon anyway…
With that thought, he convinced himself and left the house.
Downstairs, he ran into Mouri Kogoro, who'd spent the previous evening on a date with Ryuri, missing Yukiko's audition celebration dinner.
"You're looking lively today," Hayashi Shuichi teased, sizing up his friend with a sly grin. "A girlfriend does wonders, huh, Kogoro?"
"Cut it out!" Kogoro's face flushed slightly, and he scratched his head awkwardly. "We're not… official yet. Ryuri confessed last time, and I turned her down. Yesterday, I took her out, but I still couldn't bring myself to say anything…"
"What, still hung up on your pride?" Hayashi Shuichi frowned, exasperated. "Ryuri's not the bookworm she used to be. You'd better act fast, or someone else will snatch her up, and you'll be kicking yourself."
"…I know, I know," Kogoro muttered, his expression a mix of resolve and unease. He glanced at Hayashi Shuichi, noticing his empty hands. "Where's your bag? Don't tell me you forgot it."
"I'm not going to school today," Hayashi Shuichi said casually. "I'm taking Yukiko to the film set."
"You're skipping again?" Kogoro's eyes widened, his jaw practically hitting the floor. "I thought only delinquents like me pulled that stunt. Never pegged you, the teacher's pet, for a truant!"
"It's important," Hayashi Shuichi shot back, rolling his eyes. "I'm not skipping to goof off."
"Escorting a girl sounds like goofing off to me," Kogoro snorted, then grew serious. "Last Friday, when you ditched, Eri was fuming all afternoon. I was too scared to even talk to her. You sure you want to risk her cutting you off for good?"
"Eri knows I'm skipping today," Hayashi Shuichi said, clapping Kogoro's shoulder. "Catch you this afternoon."
Kogoro stared at his friend's retreating back, suspicion clouding his eyes. Skipping to hang out with Yukiko, and Eri's okay with it? No way.
With an uneasy heart, Kogoro reached their usual meeting spot, where Hiiro Eri stood waiting, arms crossed and radiating impatience. Her foot tapped lightly, her gaze flicking toward the street.
When she saw Kogoro, she huffed and started walking toward school.
"Eri, about Shuichi today…" Kogoro began cautiously.
"I know," Eri snapped, her face darkening. "He's not going to school. He's off with Yukiko. When we get there, you ask Mr. Murakami for his absence excuse. I'm not doing it."
"But if you know he's with Yukiko, why aren't you—"
Kogoro stopped short, studying Eri's expression, trying to decipher her thoughts.
"What he does is none of my business!" Eri huffed, her tone dripping with tsundere flair. "I'm not his keeper!"
"Maybe not now, but you want to be…" Kogoro muttered under his breath.
Eri's eyes flashed with fury. "Want to be what?" she demanded, each word sharp as a blade.
"Uh…" Kogoro took a step back, then, in a burst of boldness, shouted, "You obviously want to be Shuichi's girlfriend!"
He burst into laughter, dodging past Eri and sprinting toward Teitan High.
For some reason, shouting those words lifted a weight from Kogoro's chest, leaving him feeling lighter than ever.
Shuichi's right, he thought. Ryuri's a great girl. I can't let her slip away. Next weekend—no, this afternoon—I'll call her and confess!
"Kogoro!" Eri stomped her foot, cheeks burning with indignation. "First Shuichi ticks me off, and now you're joining him?"
Fuming, she chased after him.
…
At Mihua Station, the clamor of the crowd filled the air.
Hayashi Shuichi met up with Fujimine Yukiko, and they joined the queue for tickets, weaving through the bustling throng into a packed train car.
The carriage was a sea of people, shoulders brushing with every sway. Hayashi Shuichi shielded Yukiko, guiding her to a quieter corner.
Yukiko gazed out the window, watching the scenery blur past, her eyes tinged with nostalgia.
"I grew up in Gunma Prefecture," she said softly. "After my grandmother passed away in junior high, my parents brought me to Mihua. Funny, isn't it? My first step into acting, and my debut film is being shot back in Gunma."
(Chapter End)
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