In the end, Natsukawa Kanade agreed—albeit with a complicated expression—to accompany Miko to the barbecue restaurant. However, since such establishments typically didn't open in the morning, they decided to wander around to pass the time.
The early May weather was bright and sunny, yet not overly warm due to the previous night's rain, which added a pleasant humidity to the air. The cherry blossoms were still in full bloom, their petals occasionally carried away by the gentle breeze, creating a picturesque scene.
As they strolled, they passed numerous young couples walking arm in arm, exchanging shy, flirtatious glances. The air was filled with a bittersweet tension, the kind that made hearts flutter.
Natsukawa, however, remained unaffected. He'd seen such scenes often enough that they no longer stirred him. Perhaps it was because he himself had experienced similar moments, which desensitized him to the romantic atmosphere around them.
"Every spring, the mating season begins anew," he thought wryly, recalling a saying he'd heard before. Though he had no strong feelings about it, he knew many others subscribed to this idea, which explained the bustling streets filled with hopeful young hearts.
Miko, on the other hand, seemed overwhelmed. Her eyes darted nervously between the couples, curiosity and embarrassment evident on her face.
"Hand-holding and hugging is one thing, but this… How can they act so lovey-dovey in public?!" she exclaimed, her gaze fixed on a slightly secluded spot where a couple was engrossed in a rather intimate exchange.
Following her line of sight, Natsukawa spotted the pair, who were cuddling and whispering to each other while their hands roamed freely. Their behavior suggested they might escalate things further if left undisturbed.
Turning back to Miko, he offered a calm explanation. "It's probably just overwhelming emotions. But couples like that are the minority. Just don't focus on them too much, and it won't bother you."
He tried to reassure her. In a world as vast as theirs, there were bound to be people who sought thrills beyond the mundane. It wasn't worth dwelling on.
"But isn't it disruptive?" Miko protested, her sense of justice kicking in. "Shouldn't we avoid causing trouble for others? It's common decency!"
Natsukawa sighed, patiently reminding her, "You're not at school anymore. Out here, there aren't as many rules and restrictions. To them, this is just hugging—maybe a kiss, at most. Nothing illegal about that. Even if you reported them, the police would probably brush it off as a waste of resources."
He explained that such actions were more a matter of personal morals than legal boundaries. If the couple didn't care about morality, there wasn't much Miko—or anyone else—could do to change their behavior.
Reluctantly, Miko averted her gaze, her dissatisfaction evident in her pout. She looked both frustrated and troubled, which struck Natsukawa as unusual. Her reaction seemed overly intense—almost as if she'd been policing the school for so long that she couldn't turn it off.
"By the way, how's school been lately?" he asked, probing for clues. "How did the first-years' camp go? Any challenges?"
The effect was immediate. Miko's mood visibly darkened, her shoulders slumping.
So easy to read, Natsukawa thought, inwardly sighing.
"If you've run into issues, don't hesitate to share. After all, I'm the one who put you in charge of the first-years' camp planning," he added, hoping to encourage her.
Miko hesitated but eventually took a deep breath and began to speak.
"Well, here's what happened…"
Natsukawa listened attentively, occasionally nodding to show he was following.
It turned out that the first-years' camp, a long-standing tradition at Shuchiin, mirrored the second-years' in structure. The activities included learning sessions and a test of courage on the last day—a favorite among students because of its reputation as a prime "matchmaking opportunity."
Miko, tasked with overseeing the event alongside Ishigami, found herself in a challenging position. Both were relatively inexperienced, and Miko's strict approach exacerbated the situation. Before the test of courage began, she caught several students violating rules and issued severe punishments: exclusion from the event unless they submitted written apologies approved by her.
Unsurprisingly, this sparked outrage.
Though the students were eager to participate in the test of courage, they refused to comply with Miko's demands, seeing them as an abuse of power. Frustrated, some of the punished students rallied others who shared their discontent, filing a formal complaint with the school administration.
The situation escalated until the head teacher intervened, mediating a compromise: Miko retracted her punishments and apologized, while the students involved submitted apologies for inciting unrest.
The resolution left Miko feeling betrayed. She'd followed the school's rules, yet even the administration hadn't supported her. To make matters worse, her peers began to distance themselves, and the goodwill she'd earned during the student council elections seemed to dwindle.
"I used to get polite nods from people in the halls," Miko lamented. "Now, they just ignore me. I thought I was doing the right thing, but…"
Natsukawa could tell how deeply this had affected her. He felt a pang of sympathy—and a touch of exasperation.
This girl is fearless. Cracking down on students during their most romanticized event of the year? No wonder they turned against her.
Still, as her senior, it was his job to guide her, not mock her.
After a moment of thought, he said gently, "I don't think you were entirely wrong, but… your methods could use some improvement."