At midday in the height of summer, the afternoon sun in Mitakihara Ward was blindingly bright.
Yukino Yukinoshita stood in front of an auction house called Shūkōsai, wondering if the flat-chested woman next to her had the map upside down.
"Sister, I thought we came out to pick out a gift for Mother."
"Yes, Yukino. Isn't this a wonderful place?"
Yukinoshita Haruno didn't give her sister a chance to turn back, reaching out to grab the arm that was about to pull away.
"This is a spot recommended by Uncle Nogi. He said they've got some really interesting items in stock lately. When choosing a gift for Mother, it can't just be another dull scarf or brooch, right?"
"I don't think antiques reeking of decay are any more suitable than a scarf."
Yukino let herself be dragged along, but she subtly shifted her center of gravity backward in silent protest.
"Besides, the air quality in places like this is usually twice as bad as in a regular shopping mall."
Haruno smiled, her eyes crinkling. "Oh, don't be so uptight, Yukino."
"It's nice to try something different once in a while—or are you scared?"
Before Yukino could fire back with something sharper at this illogical taunt, a familiar figure appeared at the edge of her vision, stepping out from behind the noren curtain.
Short black hair, neatly fitted casual clothes, and an aura that somehow felt completely out of place in these surroundings.
Kazama Chiba.
The name that rose in Yukino's mind carried with it some long-buried, not-so-pleasant memories. Let's set those aside for now. The real question is: why is he here?
The heart of Mitakihara Ward—the very core of Mitakihara City—is packed with top-tier luxury brands and high-end clubs.
In Yukino's memory, Chiba was so poor that he wouldn't even dare dream of spending money here, terrified of the psychological shock when reality hit.
Seeing Kazama Chiba in a place like this was as surreal as spotting a giant panda in the wild.
Yukino didn't want to dwell on it. She turned to leave.
"Oh, isn't that Chiba-kun? Aren't you going to say hello, Yukino?"
Haruno, ever eager for drama.
Yukino instinctively took half a step back. "He's just an insignificant acquaintance."
"Sister, let's head to the department store in Ginza instead. There are far more options there."
"Don't rush." Haruno's arm naturally draped around Yukino's shoulder, halting her retreat. "What, hiding from an old friend? That's hardly proper etiquette for the second daughter of the Yukinoshita family."
"If your definition of 'friend' is someone you haven't exchanged a single word with in two years, then perhaps you should reread your Japanese dictionary."
Yukino stared coldly straight ahead, refusing to glance at the figure's back. "Besides, I can't think of any reason to greet him."
Haruno sighed theatrically, her gaze fixed on Kazama Chiba's back.
"So cold, Yukino."
"You two were so close when you were little—so close that even I, as the big sister, felt jealous. You were practically glued together after school every day. How did things change so drastically in high school?"
Yukino shot back without mercy.
"That's just your imagination."
"If you're so interested in studying the sociology of human relationships, the library's sociology section would suit you better."
Haruno released her grip and raised her hands in mock surrender.
"Fine, fine. I surrender. I can't win against you. But at least keep me company. You can't make me go in alone to buy a gift, can you?"
She leaned in and whispered in Yukino's ear. "And speaking of which, Yukino, don't you find it strange?"
Yukino glanced at her. "What—how someone as insufferable as you even has friends?"
"Pfft. I mean Chiba-kun."
Haruno chuckled.
"As far as I know, he's an orphan with no connections, right? He scrapes by on scholarships and part-time jobs. So why would someone like him show up in a place like this?"
Yukino's voice stayed icy, but she stopped moving away.
"You're awfully bored today. What someone else does with their life has nothing to do with us."
"Who he spends money on is none of my concern."
"Really none of your concern?" Haruno said softly, her tone almost coaxing. "I just find it intriguing. Unusual behavior always has a strong motive behind it."
"Maybe he's going all-in on something he can only get here? Doesn't that kind of drama sound exactly like the tragic novels you love?"
Haruno gently pulled Yukino toward the entrance. "Come on, let's shop for the gift—and enjoy a little show."
Inside the auction house, guests sat in small groups on deep red velvet chairs, chatting quietly or browsing catalogs.
Kazama Chiba sat in the front row, completely oblivious to the stir behind him.
Haruno, clearly a regular, skillfully guided Yukino to an inconspicuous spot in the third-to-last row.
From here, they had a clear view of the familiar figure up front.
At that moment, Kazama Chiba was leaning back in his chair, holding a catalog in one hand, lost in thought.
He didn't glance around nervously or act out of place as a newcomer; he seemed perfectly at ease in the atmosphere.
"See? Isn't it incredible?"
Haruno lowered her voice, leaning forward to whisper in Yukino's ear.
"What?"
"Chiba-kun. Don't you think he's completely different now? He used to trail after you so timidly, but look at him—he's all grown up."
"Maybe he's found himself a new patron."
Yukino flipped through the catalog on her seat; the items ranged from antique paintings and calligraphy to fine jewelry.
"Pfft, patron? Yukino, your tongue is as sharp as ever." Haruno chuckled.
"Speaking of which, do you think he actually has the money to bid on any of this?"
Yukino's eyes landed on a sapphire brooch with a seven-figure starting price.
"I'm not interested in other people's finances."
"Is that so? But I remember you used to care quite a bit. Like when he only had one piece of bread for lunch, you'd share your tamagoyaki from your bento. Or when he wore that thin coat in winter, you'd..."
"Yukinoshita Haruno..."
"Hmm?"
"If your only purpose today is to reminisce about the past, then I'm sorry—I can't keep you company."
Yukino closed the catalog and started to stand.
"Don't be mad." Haruno caught her hand. "I'm just curious. After all, he's the only guy who, after you said 'Please don't talk to me anymore,' actually never spoke to you again."
"..."
"Every other suitor chased after you relentlessly, trying every trick to get your attention. But he just... vanished. As if those years of friendship were nothing but a dream. Don't you find that odd?"
Yukino sat back down without a word.
As the lights on the stage brightened once more, a sharply dressed auctioneer stepped forward, and the hall fell silent.
"It's starting," Haruno murmured.
"Good afternoon, everyone. Welcome to the Shūkōsai July Summer Auction. I am your auctioneer, Suzuki. Our first lot today is 'The Third Generation Otani Oniji as the Yuranosuke Edo Heibei' by Edo-period ukiyo-e master Tōshūsai Sharaku."
Under the spotlight, staff displayed a well-preserved print.
Yukino wasn't an art expert, but she found the exaggerated expressions a bit over-the-top.
Her companion, Haruno, was completely absorbed.
Up front, Kazama Chiba hadn't even opened his catalog fully; he gave it a brief glance before settling back into his posture.
Clearly, this item wasn't his target.
"Guest number ten, 1.5 million yen."
"Number thirteen, 1.6 million."
Bids rose and fell.
Yukino had lost track of the numbers; she was simply observing.
Observing when the boy in the front row would raise his paddle—and why.
"Speaking of which, Yukino," Haruno's voice returned, "did you two really drift apart just because of high school?"
"What other reason could there be? Relationships change with the environment. It's a perfectly normal phenomenon."
"Is that so? I think it's because Chiba-kun is too smart."
Yukino paused mid-flip through the catalog.
"He's excellent at reading people. So he understood that the youngest daughter of the Yukinoshita family couldn't stay tied to a penniless orphan forever. Rather than wait for you—or someone in our family—to spell it out, he chose to disappear on his own terms and preserve what dignity he had."
Haruno stated it like an obvious fact.
Yukino asked quietly, "Is that how you've always seen him?"
Haruno twirled a strand of hair.
"I'm just describing what I observed. He read your thoughts, saw the invisible line drawn between you, and wisely stepped back. That's exactly why I'm curious now."
"..."
The auction rolled on.
One valuable antique after another appeared and sold.
Kazama Chiba stayed silent.
Not because he lacked money—it was simply that none of these items interested him.
Yes, that must be it.
Yukino, watching from behind, thought silently.
Haruno's words had stirred up memories of her junior high graduation day. She had planned to talk to Kazama Chiba about high school choices and the growing distance in their futures.
But she couldn't find him.
He had vanished without a trace, disappearing completely from her world.
No goodbye, no questions, not even a single text.
It was so clean and decisive that it made those years of companionship feel like an illusion.
It turned out he hadn't been oblivious—he was simply too perceptive.
He had seen through everything and made the wisest choice before she could even voice it.
Just then, a new item was brought onstage, snapping Yukino back to the present.
It was an antique-style ceramic lamp, its surface inlaid with what looked like an ordinary stone carved with a mouse pattern.
The lamp was crudely made, the material plain, and even damaged in places.
"What is this? Did the organizers mix up the lots?"
someone muttered from the audience.
Auctioneer Suzuki froze for a moment but quickly recovered her professionalism. She checked the info card.
"Ahem. The next item is this ceramic lamp. The consignor claims it was excavated from an Eastern tomb. Its exact age and purpose are unknown, but due to its potential historical research value, the starting bid is one million yen, with increments of 100,000 yen."
Silence fell.
Everyone thought the house had lost its mind.
A broken ceramic lamp for one million yen?
"I wouldn't take it even if it were free," Yukino murmured.
She couldn't fathom what value it held. The seller hadn't even bothered to call it a proper antique—did they think the buyers were idiots?
The auctioneer lingered onstage, but no paddles rose, creating an awkward pause. Just as she prepared to strike the gavel and declare it unsold...
A voice called from the second row:
"One million yen!"
All eyes turned to see who the fool was.
It was none other than Kazama Chiba.
Seeing a bid, the auctioneer slammed the gavel down as if rescued.
"This gentleman bids one million yen! Any higher offers?"
"Oh?"
Haruno's lips curved into an intrigued smile.
Yukino frowned.
She couldn't understand why Kazama Chiba would spend one million yen on something like that.