Shirakawa Natsu stared at the invitation letter. If he went to Dongda University, he would inevitably face Kimura Momo—but if he didn't go, she would never come knocking on his door.
High-end apartment hostesses might seem refined, but their reputations were fragile if they were careless. Weighing the pros and cons, Shirakawa Natsu decided to enroll at Dongda University.
Two months had passed since the semester started, but he was admitted through a special enrollment quota, allowing him to join his class directly. With Miyuki's help, he completed all admission procedures within the next two days and officially became a student at Dongda.
A subway line ran directly from the university to his apartment, so commuting was easy.
On Monday morning, Shirakawa Natsu walked onto campus with his backpack slung over one shoulder. He set his phone to silent before stepping out.
The campus was lively, buzzing with students eager to present their best selves. Some girls dressed provocatively, others in cute or studious styles, while some wore glasses with black frames. College girls were far bolder than high school girls, unrestrained by the outside world's expectations. Stockings of every style—nude, black, patterned, knee-high, even bare feet—were on display.
He even noticed a girl holding her boyfriend's hand, her pantyhose torn in an oval shape that revealed a patch of bare skin. He couldn't tell if it was intentional or worn from before.
I didn't make a mistake coming here, Shirakawa Natsu thought. The tension he'd carried for days melted away, like steam escaping after a hot meal.
He asked some students for directions to the literature building and began walking.
"College of Literary Arts, Faculty of Literary Arts," someone confirmed. He had been there during the admissions process, but all the buildings looked alike, and for a moment he felt disoriented.
Using his memory, he walked forward but didn't get far before he noticed students pointing toward an entrance, a crowd gathering there. Shirakawa Natsu, curious by nature, decided to see what was happening.
From a distance, he heard someone calling his name repeatedly:"Shirakawa Natsu~ Shirakawa Natsu~"
His face darkened. Squinting, he saw a tall, straight figure with a confident posture and long hair braided into three strands on the left side. She wore a simple T-shirt, ultra-short shorts, black stockings that revealed long legs, and white sneakers—vibrant and full of energy.
It was Nao Jingomiya, the girl who had been with Kimura Momo that day. She held a sign with his name on it and spun around to look for him.
Damn it! Shirakawa Natsu muttered under his breath, his mood sour. Without stopping to ask why, he turned and started walking away.
Nao spotted him, waving both the sign and a small stereo, shouting, "Mr. Natsu! This way, Natsu-san!"
Other students noticed and glanced toward him. A few girls walking nearby covered their mouths, giggling at the scene.
"This guy," he muttered, patting his forehead. He sighed and addressed Nao: "Student Jingomiya, have I offended you?"
"What do you mean?" Nao smiled, tilting her head in a brisk, lively manner, stereo still calling, Shirakawa Natsu, Shirakawa Natsu.
"Could you turn off the stereo first?" He covered his face, aware of the countless eyes on him.
"Ah, sorry~" Nao said, pressing the off button and grinning. For a moment, the campus seemed quiet. The crowd dispersed.
She explained quickly: "The counselor asked me to help you get familiar with the class. Your phone wasn't answered, so I checked with Teacher Kimura Momo. She said you weren't feeling well and might get lost, so I waited here."
Shirakawa Natsu remembered now—his phone had been on silent. Multiple missed calls from the Huangmao app blinked on the screen.
He looked at Nao, whose cheerful face and energy seemed endless. "I'm sorry, Nao-san," he said with a smile.
"Call me Nao~" she said, making a playful gesture. "The other day, when I saw you with Kimura Momo, I thought you were younger, the same age as me."
Shirakawa Natsu shrugged, slightly uncomfortable with her enthusiasm.
"Come on~" Nao grabbed his hand, shaking the stereo. "I have to return this to the music department."
He followed helplessly as she ran ahead, stopping suddenly after a few steps. She stuck out her tongue playfully, waved the stereo behind her back, then walked on with a smile.
Initially, he worried about awkwardness, but Nao Jingomiya was relentless in her energy. As they walked, she chatted nonstop—weather changes, campus culture, the best streets for food—nothing escaped her commentary. He simply nodded occasionally, which fueled her to keep going.
He observed her face again—her appearance had tricked him before. She looked like a refined literary girl, yet what she read was anything but.
"Here, this way," Nao said, stopping at an activity room, hopping lightly on the steps and waving him over. Her address shifted—from Mr. Natsu, to Natsu, to now simply Natsu—a sign of familiarity.
She knocked on the door, pushed it open with a smile, and called inside: "I'm returning the stereo~" She bounced in.
Shirakawa Natsu hesitated at the door. If there were only girls inside, it wouldn't be embarrassing, but he stayed back.
A boy emerged, looking up at him. "Hi, are you Shirakawa Natsu?"
"Yes," he replied, realizing the boy knew his name thanks to Nao's stereo.
The boy offered a cigarette. "Want one?"
"No, thanks."
"Are you close with Nao Jingomiya?" the boy asked.
"Not really. We just met."
"Better not get too close, then," the boy laughed.
Does she have a boyfriend? Shirakawa Natsu thought, immediately feeling relieved. If she did, he wouldn't have to worry about boundaries.
The boy, surprised at his reaction, shook his head. "You'll see soon enough." He waved and left.
Soon after, Nao reappeared, smiling like the crescent moon, full of energy. "Let's go. I'll take you to the classroom." She clasped her hands behind her back, eyes twinkling mischievously.
Shirakawa Natsu put the boy's words aside and followed.
Nao Jingomiya proved to be the perfect guide. By noon, he knew which teachers liked roll call, which were particularly strict, and which teachers' spouses were notably attractive.
They ate together in the cafeteria.
"Natsu, you must be popular," Nao said between bites. "Nowadays, quiet guys like you get a lot of attention."
Shirakawa Natsu realized when she smiled, her eyes curved into crescents, teeth perfectly aligned—her grin was infectious. "I spent high school in a hospital bed. Hearing that, I feel like I missed out on millions of experiences."
"Oh, sorry," Nao said, playfully hammering a fist to her head before sticking out her tongue.
"It's fine. I'm out of the hospital now," he said. "But I already like someone. Let's not talk about it."
"No, I want to know~" Nao's eyes sparkled. "What happened next?"
"I'm sorry. I absolutely can't say." Shirakawa Natsu shook his head. He always felt embarrassed admitting he'd never liked anyone in front of a beautiful girl.
"Ah, I see," Nao said slyly, propping her chin with one hand. "I understand—some things really shouldn't be revealed."
Shirakawa Natsu raised an eyebrow. Had Kimura Momo said something to her?
Nao grinned. "You get to see your crush every day here. It would be great if things went smoothly."
"I think you misunderstood," he muttered.
"Don't worry," she said, giving a thumbs-up. "I won't tell anyone about your feelings for Ms. Momo. I have the strictest lips."
Shirakawa Natsu rubbed his temples, realizing his assumptions were probably outrageous.
Though Nao, in her hot pants and black stockings, was beautiful and fragrant, she didn't strike him as particularly cunning.
He noticed a mature, fashionable blonde woman at a nearby table, glancing in their direction—intentionally or not.