Chapter 1: The Classmate Who’s Too Much of a Goddess
“…Same as always, huh.”
In early April. Sezaki Touya, now a second-year high school student, was working at the reception desk at a karaoke bar.
But perhaps because it was a weekday night, no customers showed up. For a while, he stood idly, doing nothing.
The only thing keeping him from boredom was the video playing on the monitor in the lobby.
It was an introduction to a three-member idol group called Princia. The members, dressed in dazzling outfits, all had striking features, but the girl standing at the center radiated an exceptional, otherworldly charm.
“—I’m Himeno Shizuku, Princia’s pink member! I’ll bring smiles to everyone! ♪”
Himeno Shizuku.
Her lustrous hair reached her waist, and her large, sparkling eyes were captivating. Her skin was translucently fair, her features both charming and dignified, blending vibrant cheerfulness with a delicate, fleeting transparency—a true beauty.
She was the wildly popular idol, the unshakable center of the group. Online, she was dubbed the “Goddess-like Beauty,” her extraordinary looks, cheerful and carefree personality, and lovely singing voice making her a breakout star whose name was inescapable on social media.
Himeno Shizuku was now a national idol adored by all, but even for an ordinary high school boy like Touya, there was some connection.
That’s because Shizuku Himeno was his classmate, attending the same high school.
Metropolitan Fujisaki High, a typical public school in the area with a free-spirited ethos, was apparently chosen by Shizuku because, as she put it, “I want to live as a normal high schooler outside of work.”
Naturally, her enrollment caused quite a stir at first, and thanks to her, this year’s entrance exam reportedly had an absurdly high competition rate. But to Touya, it was all irrelevant.
Yes, irrelevant.
Touya wasn’t a fan of Himeno Shizuku, nor did he have any particular interest in idols in general.
For that matter, even though he and Shizuku were now in the same class this year, Touya had never properly spoken to her.
Of course, Touya thought Shizuku was cute, and when he first learned they attended the same school, he’d occasionally steal glances from afar.
But that was it. He had no desire to get closer, and he figured that wouldn’t change moving forward.
“Oh, she’s here today too, huh.”
Glancing at the guest list, Touya muttered to himself.
The name listed was “Kashiwai.”
One person, female, sixteen years old.
She was a regular who came once or twice a week, always paying non-member rates for some reason.
She always dressed in a way that obscured her face, almost like a disguise, but there was an unmistakable aura about her that led the staff to whisper among themselves, “What if she’s actually a celebrity?”
Still, to Touya, she was just a slightly peculiar regular.
“Sezaki, sorry, but could you go clean the empty rooms?”
Lost in a daze from the boredom, Touya snapped to attention when a senior staff member called out from the kitchen area, straightening his posture.
“Yes. Second floor, right?”
“Yup, I’ll handle the lobby, so take care of it!”
Waved off by the senior, Touya headed upstairs.
As he climbed the stairs, he recalled that most of the rooms were empty today, and a wry smile escaped him.
Walking down the hallway lined with vacant rooms, Touya reached for the cleaning supplies in a corner locker when—
“WAAAH—!!”
A woman’s scream echoed.
It came from the corner room. Judging by the sound leakage, the door likely wasn’t properly closed.
For a moment, Touya wondered if someone was in trouble, but that didn’t seem to be the case. The ongoing screams were laden with emotion, carrying the raw intensity of someone venting pent-up stress.
Wait, that room…
That was the room the regular, “Kashiwai,” was using. Which meant this shouting belonged to her.
Just to be safe and confirm she wasn’t in trouble, Touya peered through the small window on the room’s door and—
“Huh…?”
A question mark slipped from Touya’s lips.
Inside, a lone woman was there, as expected.
But her refined features were oddly familiar…
—That’s Himeno Shizuku, right?
No mistake—it was the national idol, Himeno Shizuku, now his classmate.
She wore a casual black hoodie and shorts, not the mask or glasses she had on when she arrived, which allowed him to recognize her.
That meant the name “Kashiwai” on the registration was likely a pseudonym.
Right now, she was shouting her lungs out alone, no music playing.
Gripping the microphone tightly with both hands, her face contorted in anguish repeatedly, yet she kept screaming.
The scene was so intense, so far removed from her usual bubbly idol persona, that for a moment, Touya wondered if she was someone else entirely.
Fortunately, Shizuku hadn’t noticed him yet.
Feeling like he’d seen something he shouldn’t have, Touya thought, Idols must have their own struggles too… and quietly closed the door.
—Clank!
Unfortunately, it made a louder noise than intended.
As a result, Shizuku’s gaze snapped toward him.
Their eyes locked for a few seconds.
Touya slowly backed away from the room.
“Haa…”
With a sense of exhaustion, Touya sighed as he tackled the cleaning of the empty rooms.
Finishing in about thirty minutes, he returned to the lobby and was told to take over reception.
As expected, with a bad feeling, he switched to desk duty.
Sure enough, within an hour, Shizuku appeared. Unlike in the room, she was in full disguise—black cap and mask.
As Shizuku finished her session, Touya handled her checkout, maintaining a calm facade.
“……”
No unnecessary words passed between them.
Shizuku kept her head down, her eyes hidden by the cap’s brim, which was a relief.
“Here’s a coupon for your next visit.”
“Thanks.”
Even during this minimal exchange, Touya felt a lingering tension.
He had dealt with “Kashiwai”—now known to be Shizuku—several times before, but she was always curt during check-in.
That hadn’t changed now; her demeanor was distant, somewhat moody, and her voice was lower than usual.
Her demeanor made the already awkward atmosphere heavier.
“……”
After paying, Shizuku stared at him wordlessly.
Then, she slid her mask down to her chin.
Her refined features were now fully visible, and Touya couldn’t help but meet her gaze.
“……”
Shizuku gave him a skeptical look, as if gauging his reaction.
This was a bold move, like she was daring him to acknowledge her identity. She must be certain Touya knew who she was.
Determined to stay composed, Touya acted as if he hadn’t seen anything, maintaining an indifferent stance. “Thank you for your visit,” he said with a bow, as if forgetting the earlier scene.
After all, Touya had no intention of getting involved in Shizuku’s affairs.
Perhaps his approach worked, as Shizuku left the shop, looking slightly puzzled but said nothing.
—Case closed.
At that moment, Touya thought the matter was settled.
◇
The next morning.
As Touya approached the classroom, lively chatter reached his ears.
Peeking inside, he saw Shizuku surrounded by a group of female classmates.
“Shizuku-chan, I saw your video yesterday! You were so cute!”
“Congrats on the Sweets × Sweets cover! I’m totally buying it!”
“And your last show was amazing! You totally stole the spotlight!”
As the girls gushed excitedly, Shizuku smiled warmly.
“Thanks, everyone! I’m so happy you’re checking out my stuff! ♪”
Her smile alone left the surrounding students enchanted.
As expected of a wildly popular idol, Shizuku’s fame thrived even at school.
With her stunning looks, friendly demeanor, and excellent grades, she was the perfect idol. Even the standard blazer-style uniform looked stylish when she wore it, which was almost magical.
For Touya, last night’s incident made facing her a bit awkward.
But he couldn’t linger outside forever, so he entered the classroom.
“Oh, it’s Sezaki-kun. Morning!”
Shizuku, noticing him first, greeted him with a radiant smile.
Reflexively, Touya replied, “Morning,” but the memory of last night made him avert his gaze, possibly coming off as unnatural.
Shizuku, however, didn’t seem to mind and returned to chatting with her classmates.
Relieved, Touya took his seat near the back of the middle row.
“Man, Himeno-san’s just perfect, isn’t she?”
The comment came from Mukai Shuuichi, a classmate who plopped into the seat beside him.
With short brown hair, a decently tall frame, and a slightly disheveled uniform, Shuuichi might look frivolous at first glance, but he was a sincere guy at heart.
He and Touya had been in the same class since last year, one of Touya’s few close friends.
They’d bonded over both being former athletes—Touya from the basketball club and Shuuichi from the soccer club until the second semester last year—and they occasionally hung out together.
“Morning, Shuuichi. If your girlfriend heard that, she’d be pissed, you know.”
“It’s fine, as long as you don’t snitch, Touya.”
Shuuichi had a girlfriend at another school and seemed to be doing well, though his occasional bragging could be annoying.
“That’s not fine at all. My lips aren’t that sealed.”
“I’d cry if you ratted me out, man.”
“That’s a weak threat…”
“Forget that—let’s talk about Himeno-san! She greeted me earlier, and her goddess smile was so dazzling I couldn’t even look at her!”
He sounded ready to burst into tears from sheer emotion.
In truth, Shuuichi wasn’t alone in feeling this way. Most of the guys in class, and the majority of the school, looked at Shizuku with admiration.
“You’re so dramatic. Sounds like you’re just too shy to handle it.”
“You’re so cold, Touya. Don’t you think she’s cute, even a little, seeing how lovely she is?”
“I mean, I think she’s cute like anyone else would. I’m just not an idol fanatic like you.”
“Ugh, you don’t get it! Himeno Shizuku is an idol, but she’s more than just an idol! She’s transcended that—she’s a whole other level! So I’m not an idol otaku, I’m just a casual fan!”
“Alright, calm down. She can hear you, you know.”
Shuuichi’s loud voice drew giggles from Shizuku and the other girls in the class.
Then, Touya’s eyes met Shizuku’s.
She widened her eyes in slight surprise before flashing a smile.
She’s like a completely different person from yesterday…
Touya didn’t think negatively of her switching personas.
He was simply impressed by Shizuku’s extreme shift. Being a top idol probably required that kind of versatility, he figured.
When the bell rang, Shuuichi returned to his own seat.
Shizuku, seated by the window, faced the teacher’s desk, and Touya turned his gaze forward too.
During morning homeroom, Touya found himself replaying last night’s events.
Lunch break.
As Touya approached a school vending machine to buy a drink—
“What are you getting?”
Turning at the voice, he saw Shizuku standing there, smiling.
She’d been chatting with classmates in the classroom earlier—had she followed him?
If so, it might be about last night. For now, Touya kept his cool and answered.
“Uh, I was gonna get a White Water.”
[T/N: White Water is a calpis brand from Japan. It’s a concentrated cultured milk drink.]
“Then I’ll get the same!”
Shizuku pressed the button, grabbed the can, and handed it to him.
Her casual friendliness threw Touya off, but he accepted it.
“Thanks.”
“No prob!”
Shizuku inserted coins and bought the same drink, as promised.
As Touya took a sip, gulping audibly—
“Weird question, but… you totally noticed, right?”
“Pfft—cough, cough…”
The sudden, loaded question made Touya choke.
Taking it as confirmation, Shizuku sighed with a stern expression.
“Ugh, figures. Taking off my cap in the corner room was a mistake.”
Her tone and voice shifted, low and flat, unlike her usual self.
The sudden coldness made the air feel chillier.
She was likely confirming whether Touya realized that last night’s “Kashiwai” was her, Himeno Shizuku.
Her behavior at checkout yesterday suggested she was already suspicious, but Touya’s reaction just now had sealed it.
Given the sensitive nature of the topic, she gave off an even sharper vibe than when disguised. Touya had never heard her speak in this tone on media or in front of other students—it was a side she didn’t show.
Touya glanced around, but no other students were nearby.
“I made sure no one else is around. I wouldn’t talk about this otherwise.”
“Got it.”
“You don’t seem that shaken. Did you figure it out earlier or something?”
Shizuku crossed her arms, blocking his escape, her eyes suspicious.
Touya wasn’t unshaken, but her cold expression in her uniform felt fresh, and he was just processing that “Kashiwai” was indeed Shizuku.
He understood she recognized him as both the karaoke staff and her classmate.
Whether she knew her screams had leaked out was unclear. He could probably pass off peeking as a coincidence.
Touya wanted to avoid trouble or prying into her personal matters.
So, he chose to play it safe, acting harmless.
“…I only realized ‘Kashiwai’ was you because of last night. And yeah, I’m a bit shaken—I choked, didn’t I?”
“Good, then. Even if you’re a classmate, I was confident in my disguise. …So, about this, Sezaki-kun—”
“Let me say first, I don’t go blabbing everything to everyone. Especially not something someone wouldn’t want shared.”
“Thanks. That’s a relief to hear.”
Despite her words, Shizuku’s demeanor didn’t soften.
Unsure what else to say, Touya sipped his juice to ease his tense throat.
“…You were surprised, right? Finding out I’m like this.”
“Well, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t.”
“This raw version of me is totally different from the idol me, huh.”
It seemed her true personality was this straightforward one. She must’ve decided hiding it from Touya was pointless now.
Touya felt digging deeper would be a bad move, especially as other students approached from a distance.
“Shouldn’t we wrap this up?”
“Yeah. —So, this stays our little secret, okay?”
Already back to her idol smile and bright tone, Shizuku’s swift change impressed him.
Touya, caught off guard, stood there stunned.
“Sezaki-kun?”
“Oh, yeah, of course.”
That question was intimidating. Her smile didn’t reach her eyes.
“Alright, I’m heading back to class. Byeee!”
Shizuku waved lightly, greeted the approaching students from another class, and left.
“…Phew.”
A sigh escaped him.
He hadn’t noticed before, but his back was sweaty.
Even though Touya wasn’t into idols, seeing such blatant duality in someone left him with plenty of thoughts.
Admiration, curiosity… but feeling something also meant it was exhausting, and with afternoon classes still ahead, he felt drained.
Come to think of it, why was she screaming yesterday?
He wondered if he should’ve asked, but quickly decided it wasn’t his business and moved on.
◇
Days passed peacefully, without incident.
The same went for Touya and Shizuku’s relationship.
They’d exchange greetings when they saw each other, nothing out of the ordinary.
For example, during lunch break.
While walking back from the cafeteria with Shuuichi, Touya ran into Shizuku and her group on a connecting corridor.
Surrounded by a few flashy female students, Shizuku was flashing her usual smile.
She held a green smoothie in a plastic container, which somehow looked stylish just because she was holding it.
She’s always mindful of her health, huh. Talk about professionalism—or maybe discipline.
Thinking this, Touya passed by Shizuku’s group.
At that moment, Shizuku noticed him and gave a small wave.
Others noticed too, but Touya reflexively waved back.
“Huh, who was that, Shizuku-chan?”
“Just someone from my class~”
“Oh, I don’t know who that was.”
Chatting, Shizuku’s group moved on, and Touya exhaled deeply once they were out of sight.
“…Why am I getting nervous over a classmate?”
Saying their relationship was unchanged wasn’t entirely true.
Since their vending machine talk, Touya had started feeling a subtle awkwardness around Shizuku.
“Dude, you totally forgot I was here, didn’t you?”
“Sorry, Shuuichi, I was preoccupied.”
“You jerk!”
Even while messing around with Shuuichi, Shizuku lingered in Touya’s mind.
Maybe because he’d glimpsed the real her behind that smile.
He couldn’t shake the feeling that something was coming.
Touya felt an uneasy premonition.
◇
A few days later.
With the weekend here, Touya was working at the karaoke parlor from midday.
As expected, the place was packed on a weekend. It filled up quickly, and he was swamped with food orders and equipment issues.
After hours of running around for customers—
As things finally calmed down, Shizuku showed up.
Today, she wore a loose white hoodie layered with a gray jacket and a black pleated skirt—a chic look.
She had her usual cap but no glasses, just a black cloth mask.
“Thank you for coming. Please fill out this form.”
Shizuku, familiar with the routine, wrote “Kashiwai,” then glanced at him and said:
“This is my manager’s name. My job makes it tricky if I get recognized, so even with staff, I’d rather not have people know I come here. Mind overlooking it?”
“Our policy doesn’t require ID checks for non-members.”
“Cool. I like this place—it’s convenient. Not having to switch spots is nice.”
Thinking that settled it, Touya was caught off guard when Shizuku’s eyes sharpened.
“…But deep down, you’re thinking, ‘What’s she doing here?’ aren’t you?”
Her voice was low, laced with strong wariness.
It almost felt like he was being accused.
“I’m not, but why would you think that?”
“Because you heard, didn’t you? Me screaming.”
“You noticed?”
“You closed the door afterward, so I wondered later if you’d heard. —And you did, huh.”
It seemed she’d baited him again. But from her perspective, it made sense to be cautious.
In the tense atmosphere, Touya fell back on a standard tactic.
“We have a one-drink policy, so please choose from the menu.”
“White Water. —Wait, you’re just brushing it off?”
“We aim to provide a comfortable environment for our customers.”
Touya flashed his best customer-service smile, but Shizuku gave him a deadpan stare.
“That’s just a front, isn’t it?”
“Honestly, it’s awkward, so I’m just trying to get through this. Call it my survival tactic.”
“Pfft, haha! Too honest!”
Even through her mask, her laughter was clear.
That innocent smile felt different from the one she showed at school.
Either way, the heavy atmosphere dissipated, and her wariness seemed to fade.
“Alright, enough. Other customers might show up soon.”
“But we’re past peak hours now, right?”
“Even so, I’m still on the clock. As long as I’m getting paid, I’ve gotta work properly.”
“Ugh, that hits me right in the gut…”
Shizuku glanced at the giant lobby monitor.
It was playing a live video of the idol Himeno Shizuku, beaming brightly.
As an idol, she was paid for her work too, so maybe something struck a chord. Looking dejected, Shizuku shuffled off.
“Customer, you forgot your room plate!”
Touya called after her, and she trudged back with a sigh.
“Your heartless words ruined my vibe for singing.”
“Also, the door doesn’t close well, so please ensure it’s shut properly.”
“Ugh, so annoying!”
Shizuku deliberately peeled back her mask, stuck out her tongue, and left.
“She’s kinda childish, huh.”
“I can hear you!”
“Oh, my bad.”
Her hearing was sharp. Touya noted not to say anything while she was still in sight.
Shizuku emerged from the room about an hour later.
Short visits weren’t unusual for her. Touya was at reception, so he handled her checkout as usual.
“So, when’s your shift over?”
Calmer than when she arrived, Shizuku asked casually.
Touya answered offhandedly, “About an hour, I guess.”
“Cool. I’ll wait at the café over there. Come by when you’re done.”
“Huh, why?”
“Just come. Good luck with the rest!”
Waving lightly, Shizuku left the shop.
Touya stared after her, stunned, frozen for a moment.
“Wait, what was that…?”
Being summoned out of the blue left Touya rattled.
Needless to say, his focus was shot for the rest of his shift.
By the time Touya finished work and left, night had fallen.
Following her instructions, he entered a nearby café and spotted Shizuku at a counter seat in the back.
With her mask on, she didn’t look like the famous idol Himeno Shizuku from a distance.
“Yo. I’m here.”
Calling out, Touya saw Shizuku glance up from her phone.
“Good work. Why don’t you sit?”
As she said, the seat beside her was free.
Inviting him to sit suggested she planned to stay a while.
“I haven’t ordered anything, though.”
“I’ll treat you, so go ahead and get whatever you want.”
“Seriously?”
“Yup.”
Getting treated by a girl felt a bit awkward, but she was a famous idol. Surely, she had way more money than a high schooler working part-time at a karaoke parlor.
So, Touya accepted the offer.
Returning with a blend coffee, he found Shizuku, mask off, resting her chin on her hand, looking bored.
“Kept you waiting.”
“Huh, that’s it?”
“Yeah. Three-fifty.”
“Not much to treat, huh.”
“Didn’t expect complaints for that.”
Sitting down, Touya sipped his coffee.
“Phew.”
“Whatever.”
Shizuku didn’t have exact change, so she handed over a five-hundred-yen coin.
Touya gave her back a hundred fifty yen.
“People don’t call you stingy?”
“They do. Also ‘uptight.’”
“Oh, you know it.”
Touya took another sip.
Freshly brewed, it was hot, so he drank slowly.
Shizuku had ordered an iced café au lait, but only a bit of ice remained in her glass.
Feeling her gaze, Touya focused on finishing his coffee.
“Hey, are you nervous or something?”
“…Yeah.”
“Huh, didn’t expect that.”
“What do you take me for? Getting called out by a girl outta nowhere would make me nervous.”
He answered honestly, but Shizuku looked puzzled.
When Touya asked, “Did I say something weird?” she shook her head.
“Oh, right.”
“What?”
“You’re not my fan, Sezaki-kun.”
“……”
Saying outright he wasn’t a fan to an idol’s face felt awkward, so Touya sipped his coffee to dodge.
But Shizuku stayed silent, so he gave in and spoke.
“Yeah, that’s true.”
“You’re not even interested in me, right?”
“…Well, you’re famous, and I think that’s impressive. They call you a goddess online, don’t they?”
“Don’t bother being polite. I can tell.”
“Fine, you’re right.”
It was hard to say, but he braced for her reaction.
“Yup, means I’ve still got work to do.”
Shizuku didn’t seem upset, just matter-of-fact.
He’d expected her to get mad, but apparently not.
“Pretty humble, huh.”
“I guess so.”
“I was worried you’d be the type who needs everyone to be your fan.”
“You’re bold enough to say that to my face.”
“Just a vibe. You said not to hold back, and I’m starting to think you’re easier to talk to than I expected.”
Saying what he felt, Touya saw Shizuku smile faintly, almost pleased.
“Even so, you’ve been kinda rude from the start.”
“That’s my bad habit. Or my charm, if you will.”
“That’s a bit cringe.”
“You don’t hold back either, do you… And the charm thing was a joke.”
“Your jokes are hard to catch~”
The playful banter made things feel more relaxed.
Feeling bolder, Touya spoke up.
“So, can I ask why you called me here?”
He half-expected it to be about the other night, with a slim chance it could be something romantic, but—
“Hm? …Oh, I had time before a recording, and you were finishing work, so I thought you could keep me company.”
“Oh, got it…”
His heart had raced for nothing.
Then again, idols probably had strict rules about romance. Plus, he and Shizuku hadn’t known each other long.
“You look kinda bummed.”
“Nah, not really.”
His letdown must’ve shown, but he couldn’t admit what he’d hoped.
Seeing this, Shizuku added:
“Well, I also kinda wanted to talk properly with you.”
“You shouldn’t say that to guys. It’s easy to misinterpret.”
“Huh, you mean romantically? I’m an idol, so people don’t usually assume that.”
“Really?”
“Yup. You really just see me as a normal girl, don’t you?”
She gave a soft, odd smile, not quite exasperated.
She didn’t seem mad, but he might’ve been careless.
“Sorry about that.”
“No need to apologize. I actually think you’re kinda interesting.”
“Uh, thanks? Not sure if that’s a compliment.”
“Take it as one. Individuality matters.”
Shizuku laughed, playfully raising a fist. Her tone felt like she was teasing a quirky animal, but Touya let it slide.
They chatted about random things for a while.
About school friends, favorite drinks, and such.
Shizuku mentioned her agency’s website had most details, but Touya wasn’t about to look it up in front of her and said he’d check later.
It felt like minutes, but nearly an hour passed.
“By the way, what time’s your recording?”
Touya asked, suddenly remembering.
“Eight-thirty. We’ve got a bit more time.”
“That’s pretty late. You okay getting home?”
“My manager drives for me, so I’m fine. —Pfft, you sound like my mom with these questions.”
“Sorry for being boring.”
“Haha, don’t pout!”
Shizuku nudged his side with her elbow, making him feel ticklish.
The real Shizuku was blunt but casual with physical contact, almost too much like any other girl, which was disarming.
Wait, don’t I want* to treat her normally?*
As Touya mulled this over—
“You really don’t ask, do you, Sezaki-kun?”
Shizuku spoke up, as if struck by a thought.
She probably meant the screaming at the karaoke.
“I’m curious, sure, but it’s not my place to pry.”
“Huh, that’s your take.”
She sounded surprised, but Touya didn’t think he’d said anything profound.
“Everyone’s got their struggles, right?”
“That’s some perspective~”
“Childish, huh? But I am a kid, so cut me some slack.”
“More like an old man, maybe?”
“That stings a little…”
“Oops, too honest.”
Shizuku didn’t seem sorry, but Touya could only wryly smile. She looked happy, so he didn’t mind.
“If you wanna talk, I’ll listen. I’m decent at handling complaints.”
“Pfft, you mean ignoring them, right?”
“That too.”
“You’re too honest~”
Shizuku stared at her empty glass, sighing.
“It’s no big deal, so don’t worry. Like you said, I was just frustrated over something not going well.”
“Got it.”
“Yeah, that’s all. —Oh, and I don’t go to karaoke just to scream. That was a rare thing.”
So that wasn’t her first time… Touya thought but kept quiet.
“As long as you close the door properly, I won’t say anything.”
“Wow, model karaoke staff right here.”
“I don’t feel praised at all.”
“I’m praising you! It’s rare to see someone embody the ‘customer is king’ spirit these days.”
“It’s not quite like that.”
Shizuku likely knew he didn’t fully mean it—a playful jab.
Talking like this with a female classmate was new, and Touya felt a sense of fulfillment.
So when Shizuku checked her phone and started gathering her things, he felt a pang of loneliness.
It hit him that this moment was ending.
But he couldn’t keep her when she had work, so he stood too.
“Time’s up?”
“Yup, gotta go soon.”
“Alright, let’s head out.”
“Yeah.”
They left the café and walked toward the station.
“~♪”
As they strolled through the night, Shizuku started humming.
It was a ballad by a male singer that had been popular recently.
The low notes were tough for women, but Shizuku sang effortlessly.
“You’re pretty good.”
“Well, I am a singer, after all.”
“Do idols count as singers?”
“How rude. Or wait—so you did remember I’m an idol?”
Touya thought it was obvious but answered:
“Well, you’re pretty famous. I’m not that clueless about the world, you know.”
“Then maybe… Sezaki-kun just has a different way of seeing things?”
“Huh?”
“No, nevermind. That was weird. Forget it.”
As the station came into view, Touya spoke up.
“Himeno, shouldn’t you put your mask on?”
“Ah, I forgot. Oops, my bad.”
Shizuku quickly masked up, then glanced at him.
“You don’t look like you’re paying attention, but you actually notice things, huh, Sezaki-kun?”
“Maybe. I like to think I have at least a basic grasp of how to carry myself in public.”
Then Shizuku slid her mask down under her chin and,
“Hehe, thanks.”
Her genuine smile, lit by the streetlights, was dazzling.
He wasn’t sure if the thanks were for pointing out that she wasn’t wearing a mask, or for something else entirely, but since they had just arrived at the station, he didn’t bother to ask.
But to Touya, there was no doubt—it was a truly unforgettable smile.
After readjusting her mask, Shizuku turned around to face him again with a swift motion.
“You’re not taking the train, right, Sezaki-kun?”
“Nah, I live within walking distance.”
“Then this is bye-bye. I’ve got work from here.”
“Alright, take care.”
“—! …Thanks. I’m off.”
For some reason, Shizuku looked shy, averting her gaze before waving lightly and leaving.
Watching her back as she left, Touya found himself thinking an oddly off-topic thought—You can actually tell a person’s expression pretty well, even through a mask.
