The streets were almost empty; only the distant sound of an occasional car and the faint hum of the streetlights broke the silence. The night breeze was cool but gentle, carrying with it the faint scent of the trees lining the sidewalk.
Marin walked beside Isagi, her steps light and a bright smile plastered across her face. Her backpack swayed on her shoulder with every movement, and her eyes sparkled with excitement, reflecting the yellowish glow of the streetlights.
"One week, Isagi-kun!" she said, swinging her arms energetically. "Just one little week and I'll finally get to see the complete Shizuku-tan! With all the right details, the perfect fit, and—ahh, I can barely wait!"
Isagi let out a low chuckle, shoving his hands into his pockets. "You look like you're about to explode before the outfit's even done."
"Hey!" Marin pouted, turning her face toward him with a pretend-offended expression. "It's not my fault I'm excited! You saw how amazing Iyo-san is, right? She understood everything the moment I explained it. Even the fabric's sheen!"
"Yeah," Isagi admitted, glancing at her sideways. "My mom takes that stuff seriously. Once she gets invested in a project, she doesn't stop until it's perfect. I guess that's why she liked you so much."
His mother had always had a peculiar way of dealing with the world—she was calm and gentle most of the time, yet possessed a determination that made any obstacle seem insignificant. When she decided to do something, she committed fully, whether it was a project, a promise, or even raising a child. He remembered her firmness when making tough decisions, the calm, maternal gaze that hid an unshakable strength. There was something almost inspiring about that sense of purpose, that unconditional dedication you rarely saw in people. Even when situations seemed out of control, she kept her composure and found a way to make everything work out…
She was the kind of woman who didn't accept "good enough." Deep down, he knew that perfectionism—that almost irritating level of demand and total commitment—was what made his mother one of the strongest people he'd ever known.
Stopping to think about it…
That was probably exactly why his mom had hit it off so well with Marin. The two of them shared a similar energy, that rare mix of enthusiasm and obsessive attention to detail. Marin wanted every cosplay to be as perfect as possible, and his mother understood that kind of passion better than anyone. It was the same kind of commitment she herself showed whenever she dove into a project.
So the connection between them made perfect sense. His mom admired people who truly threw themselves into what they did, who treated even the simplest dreams with seriousness and love. Marin, with her explosive joy and almost artistic pursuit of perfection, brought out exactly that side of her. And deep down, he found it ironic how two people from such different worlds could understand each other effortlessly—perhaps because, at their core, they spoke the same language: the language of absolute dedication…
Marin blinked in surprise, then broke into a wide smile, her cheeks slightly flushed. "She really is amazing… and super kind! But you know, I'm proud of you too, Isagi-kun."
He turned his head, a little startled.
"Of me? Why?"
"Because you were so professional today!" she said, clasping her hands behind her back and leaning forward a bit as she walked. "Even with… *cough cough*… that chaotic situation earlier, you stayed super calm afterward. It didn't even seem to shake you!"
"Yeah…" Isagi replied, the corner of his mouth curving into a half-smile. "Didn't have much choice, did I? If I'd freaked out, it would've been worse."
Despite the smile, inside he was cursing his own bad luck. The memory hit him hard—the image of her in just a bikini, her skin lit by the soft bedroom light, that innocent smile contrasting with a body made to awaken any male instinct. He remembered the moment she fell on top of him, the warm, soft contact when their bodies touched… and of course, the exact instant his mother chose to walk in, ruining what could have been his "first time" in this world.
The truth was, beyond the hormones that kept bringing it back, there was another important reason: Marin's absurdly stunning beauty. In his previous life, he'd been around gorgeous women—actresses, models, people who looked like they'd stepped out of ad campaigns—but none of them compared to Marin.
Even for someone like him, experienced and self-assured, remembering that moment was unsettling. There was something that messed with his logic, that rendered any attempt at control useless. No matter how much he tried to treat it as trivial, an unimportant memory, the truth was that just thinking about her for a second was enough to send a lustful heat spreading through his body…
A sigh escaped his lips. Being a teenager again was hell; the hormones seemed to have a mind of their own, and keeping them in check in certain situations bordered on impossible. A single tease, a lingering glance, an ill-timed touch, and all rationality simply evaporated. Though he'd done an excellent job keeping them under control so far, that didn't make it any less annoying. Every encounter with a charming girl felt like trying to put out a fire with a glass of water. Well… at least, he thought with irony, his body had good taste—it wasn't just anyone who triggered that reaction…
After hearing his words, Marin laughed loudly, the light sound echoing down the street. "True! But seriously, thanks for helping me with the measurements. I know I sometimes… get a little too excited."
"Sometimes?" Isagi raised an eyebrow, his tone dripping with sarcasm.
"Okay, okay, almost always!" she answered between giggles. "But it's because I love it! Cosplay is like… the best part of me. It's where I can be whoever I want, you know? And now, with the Shizuku-tan outfit almost ready, it's going to be my best cosplay yet!"
Isagi glanced at her for a moment. The way she talked, glowing from the inside, the sincere sparkle in her eyes—it was impossible not to get a little caught up in it.
"It'll turn out great…" he said at last, his voice firm. "You're gonna kill it."
Marin looked at him, surprised for a second, then gave a soft, almost shy smile. "Hehe… thanks, Isagi-kun."
They walked a few more meters in silence until Marin suddenly stopped in the middle of the sidewalk and turned to him, her eyes full of anticipation.
"Oh! That reminds me!" she exclaimed, clapping her hands. "The convention! I almost forgot to tell you!"
"Convention?"
"Yes!" Marin said excitedly. "There's a huge event in two weeks! It's like the convention of the year! I'm planning to debut Shizuku-tan there—and, well…"
She crossed her fingers behind her back, a mischievous grin growing on her face.
"I wanted to know if you'd like to come with me?"
Isagi blinked, surprised by how naturally she'd asked. "With you?"
"Mm-hm!" Marin nodded, tilting her head and smiling. "I mean, you don't have to cosplay or anything! Just… come along, you know? Help me out, give me moral support, maybe take some photos of me."
She laughed, a little nervous.
"And also… because it'd be nice to have you there."
"That makes it hard to say no." Isagi sighed, but his voice came out softer than he intended. "Alright, Kitagawa-san. I'll go."
Marin's eyes widened in disbelief for a moment, then she let out a small joyful hop, her golden hair bouncing with the motion. "Really?! Aaaaaah, that's awesome! I promise it'll be super fun! You won't regret it!"
Isagi shook his head, chuckling softly.
"I'm already starting to doubt that."
"Hey! No take-backs!" she laughed, giving him a light punch on the arm. "It's gonna be amazing, trust me!"
Marin's building was already visible ahead, lit by the gate light. She stopped near the entrance and turned to him with her usual vibrant smile, but with a touch of sweetness she rarely let show.
"Thanks for walking me home, Isagi-kun."
"No problem," Isagi replied with a small wave. "Get home safe."
Marin looked at him a second longer than usual, the night breeze lightly tousling her hair.
"See you tomorrow, then?"
"See you tomorrow."
She smiled again, waved, and climbed the steps to the building. When she disappeared through the glass doors, Isagi lingered on the sidewalk for a moment, alone, as the distant city sounds gradually returned. He shoved his hands in his pockets, let out a small sigh, an involuntary smile creeping onto his lips before he turned and headed back home under the calm streetlights.
The streetlights cast a golden path over the asphalt, and the sound of his own footsteps was his only company.
Without realizing it, Isagi had already turned the corner onto his street. The house lights were on, and the aroma of rice and warm spices drifted from the kitchen window—his mom was probably reheating dinner for his dad, who'd stayed late at work.
The familiar feeling wrapped around him instantly, and a faint smile appeared on his face.
He took off his sneakers at the entrance, placed them neatly in the corner out of lifelong habit, and walked down the hallway lit by soft yellow light.
In the dining room, his father sat at the table, suit jacket draped over the chair back, shirt sleeves rolled up to the elbows. He ate quietly, looking tired but serene—the picture of someone used to the methodical routine of office life.
Iyo moved around the table with that natural grace of someone who did everything perfectly without needing to think about it.
"It took less time than I expected for you to walk Marin-chan home. Welcome back, Yoichi…" she said softly.
"She lives pretty close…" he answered, but before heading to his room, he turned to his dad. "Good night, Dad! How was work today?"
The man looked up, took a sip of tea, and answered with his usual calm:
"Same as always. Lots of paperwork, little action. Nothing new under the sun."
Isagi gave a small laugh and pulled out a chair to sit. "At least it's stable."
Issei raised an eyebrow, the corner of his mouth lifting into a faint smile.
"Too stable, sometimes." He studied his son for a moment before adding in a relaxed tone, "So? That girl your mom mentioned… Marin-san, right? You two were together just now?"
Isagi tilted his head, a bit surprised by the question. "Yeah… I walked her to her building because it's late. We were talking about the cosplay Mom's helping her with."
"Ah." His dad rested his chin on his hand, clearly amused. "So it's official, huh? My son finally got himself a girlfriend."
Isagi let out a short sigh, looking away while his mother, from the other side of the table, stifled a giggle.
"Dad…"
"What? I'm just saying what it looks like." He shrugged, feigning innocence. "You spend the evening together, she comes over, compliments your mom, and now you're walking her home at night. Classic early-dating behavior."
"You guys are imagining things," Isagi muttered with a sigh.
His mother set a plate in front of him, smiling tenderly. "Your dad loves to tease. But honestly, Marin is adorable. And you two make a good pair, you know?"
Isagi looked away, mumbling something incoherent.
His dad let out a satisfied laugh, clearly enjoying his son's embarrassment.
"Relax, kid. I'm just joking. But if it ever does become real, no need to hide it. Your mom and I approve in advance."
"I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that," Isagi replied, but his voice sounded lighter, almost amused. Then he added, "I'm heading up to my room to sleep. Good night!"
"Good night, dear," Iyo answered in her usual sweet tone as she cleared some plates. "Don't forget to set your alarm."
"Good night, son…" Issei added, lazily raising his tea mug, looking relaxed. "Try to sleep early this time, okay? No staying up late on your phone."
Isagi nodded with a half-smile and walked down the hall. He climbed the stairs slowly, the wood creaking softly under his feet. When he reached his room, he pushed the door open, feeling the cool air from the slightly open window. The room was bathed in dim light, the silvery glow of the moon filtering through the curtain and casting soft shadows on the floor.
He dropped his phone on the desk, took off his Ichinan Academy uniform jacket and hung it on the chair, then sat on the edge of the bed. He stayed there for a few seconds, unmoving, just staring at the room in the half-darkness. The fatigue weighed heavier than he'd expected—not just in his body from running for ninety minutes in an official match, but in his mind too.
He let out a quiet sigh and fell back onto the bed without even taking off his uniform pants. The fabric wrinkled under his weight, and the mattress sank with a muffled sound.
He didn't bother covering himself; the cool air coming through the window was enough to keep him comfortable.
He lay there staring at the ceiling for a while, his gaze distant, thoughts drifting between his current life and his past one. Everything felt so far away and yet so real at the same time. His mind still wanted to replay the day, but his body had already decided it was time to shut down.
The sound of the wind outside mixed with the steady ticking of the clock. Gradually, his muscles relaxed completely, his breathing slowed, and the weight of sleep began pulling him under.
Before he could even think about getting up to change or turn off the light, his eyes closed on their own. One last thought crossed his mind—that he should shower early before morning practice—and then the world simply faded away.
Within minutes, the room fell into absolute silence, broken only by Isagi's calm breathing as he slept still in his school uniform, his face peaceful under the moonlight filtering through the curtain.
_______________________
(A/N: Hello everyone! Thank you so much for your patience these past few days — I ended up getting sick and needed some time to recover. Because of that, I couldn't post new chapters, and even the Patreon updates were temporarily paused.
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