Kanade, of course, didn't miss the outdoor class in the afternoon.
When he arrived at the classroom, a handful of classmates greeted him as usual. A few of the more energetic ones even came up to him, grinning as they prodded him about last night's test of courage.
"Yo, Kanade, how was it?" "Did you really go in alone? No way, right?" "Come on, tell us the juicy details!"
Kanade simply smiled and brushed them off with his usual nonchalant attitude. He wasn't in the mood to entertain their curiosity today—his mind was occupied with something else entirely.
Ever since the events at lunch, something had been weighing on him. His eyes instinctively scanned the room for a certain figure, but no matter where he looked, she always seemed just out of reach.
Shiina Mahiru.
Not only had she been avoiding him, but she was actively dodging his gaze. Even when they ran into each other by chance, she would immediately turn to chat with whoever was next to her, completely ignoring his presence.
Kanade sighed, rubbing the back of his neck.
Well… what else could he do? If Mahiru was feeling embarrassed, maybe it was best to give her some space for now. Besides, after today, the week-long forest school trip would be officially over. They'd all be heading home, and the weekend was right around the corner.
As neighbors, it wasn't like she could avoid him forever.
Sure enough, the afternoon class passed quickly, and soon enough, the students were piling onto the buses, heading back to Shuuchin Academy. After a brief speech from the grade director, the students scattered—some in groups, others alone—each making their way home.
Kanade, wasting no time, pulled out his phone and sent Mahiru a simple invitation.
[Want to go home together?]
A second later, her reply came.
[I'm going out with friends today, let's go together next time!]
"…Eh?"
Kanade stared at the message, a flicker of confusion crossing his face.
Mahiru rarely turned him down. Normally, she'd accept without hesitation—even if it meant keeping their neighborly connection a secret from others. But this time, she rejected him almost instantly.
So fast.
Suspiciously fast.
Had he done too much at lunch?
He replayed the moment in his mind—the way she had blushed, the way she had hesitated, the way she had taken each bite so cutely…
Kanade coughed into his hand.
No, no, no. Don't overthink it.
Mahiru had been enjoying herself too, right? He certainly had. Watching her nibble on food he fed her, her small, squirrel-like movements, her soft lips brushing against the chopsticks—it had been dangerously adorable.
But now…
Now, she was avoiding him.
Kanade sighed again, pocketing his phone.
Well, whatever. He had a feeling this was just temporary. Mahiru was probably just feeling flustered and needed time to recover. She'd come around eventually.
And in the meantime…
Maybe he could enjoy a little solo time.
It wasn't like he didn't enjoy Mahiru's company, but every guy needed some alone time once in a while, right?
Tonight—tonight was the perfect chance!
First stop—the bookstore!
Kanade had been so busy lately that he had completely fallen behind on his reading. New issues of manga, fresh light novels, and all sorts of releases had come out, and he hadn't had the time to pick any of them up.
…Well, maybe he should skip the magazines. Mahiru might check his collection again, and he didn't want to give her an excuse to lecture him.
Next—food!
Apparently, a bunch of new restaurants had popped up in the area recently. He and Mahiru hadn't gone out to eat together in a while, so this was the perfect opportunity to check out some places on his own.
Then—hmm… maybe he'd figure out the rest as he went along.
Kanade nodded to himself. No need to overthink it. He'd just go with the flow.
First things first, though—he needed to go home and change.
After grabbing his luggage, he headed straight back to his house, switching into lighter, more comfortable casual wear before stepping out once again.
The streets were peaceful, the sun casting a soft glow over the sidewalks. Unlike middle schoolers who had stricter schedules, high school students in Japan generally had more freedom after class. Some joined club activities, others went straight home, and the more diligent ones stayed behind to study or attend cram school.
It was all up to the individual.
For Natsukawa Kanade, life had been a whirlwind ever since he met the so-called "heroines" in his life. Free time? Solitude? Those had practically become foreign concepts to him.
So now, as he wandered the streets alone, breathing in the crisp evening air, he felt something rare—freedom.
That is, until he arrived at his usual bookstore.
The moment he stepped in front of the glass window, his momentary peace shattered.
Reflected in the polished surface was an unmistakable figure—a girl with long, flowing black hair and an aura that seemed both elegant and dangerous.
Her fair skin looked as delicate as porcelain, her features refined—graceful forehead, upturned nose, soft cherry-blossom lips. But what stood out the most were those striking wine-red eyes, carrying a lazy, yet dangerously sharp gaze that warned people to stay away.
Kasumigaoka Utaha.
Kanade's mood instantly plummeted.
…This was going to be troublesome.
His instincts screamed at him to retreat. Quietly, subtly, he took a step back, hoping to disappear before she noticed.
Unfortunately, fate wasn't that kind.
As if sensing his presence, Utaha suddenly looked up from her book, locking eyes with him. For a brief second, she blinked in surprise—then, a slow, knowing smile curled at her lips.
Kanade froze.
"Uh… hello?" He forced a greeting, already accepting his fate. He knew that look. He was prey, and the predator had already set her sights on him.
Utaha propped her cheek with one hand, her expression unreadable as her lips silently formed a single phrase:
"Come in, junior-kun~"
Kanade sighed in resignation. He had no escape.
With all the enthusiasm of a condemned man, he stepped inside, casually picking up a light novel titled, "XX Senpai, Please Don't Tease Me," before sitting down beside her.
As expected, the other customers in the store threw envious glances his way. After all, how often did one get the chance to casually sit next to Kasumigaoka Utaha?
Still, despite the attention, neither of them spoke.
Kanade flipped through his book in silence. Utaha did the same. It was as if they were two strangers who just happened to be sitting next to each other.
Minutes passed like this, the quiet atmosphere stretching between them.
Then, at last, Utaha let out a slow, deliberate sigh, closing her book with a soft thud. She stretched her arms above her head, her body arching slightly—her movements languid, elegant, and undeniably calculated.
Kanade, however, remained utterly unmoved.
Not even a glance.
It was as if his entire existence had been absorbed into the book in his hands.
Utaha's lips twitched.
Far from being annoyed, she actually found it amusing.
Slowly, she shifted, leaning sideways with her cheek propped up against her hand, adopting a new position that made it easier to observe him.
This was fine.
If fate had decided to let their paths cross again, then she would simply make good use of this opportunity.
After all…
He had been ignoring her lately.
It was only fair that she repaid him for that, right?