Chapter 2: Taking a Break Together
As the week begins, weekdays commence.
Arriving at school early in the morning, students spend their time freely until homeroom starts.
Some prepare for classes, others chat with classmates, and some slump over their desks to catch a bit more sleep.
As for Touya on this particular day, he was in the midst of checking his assignments for submission.
“Morning!”
A voice like the chime of a bell called out, and at the same time, a beautiful idol’s face peeked in close.
Startled by the proximity, Touya returned the greeting with a “Good morning.”
Shizuku didn’t linger to continue the conversation; she moved on, cheerfully greeting other classmates.
While her presence brightened the classroom’s atmosphere, Touya alone held a different impression.
Something feels… really off…
Perhaps because he had recently spent time talking with the unguarded Shizuku, seeing her in full-on charming idol mode now gave him an odd sense of dissonance.
Not that it mattered much, so Touya could only shake off the haze in his mind.
At that moment, Shuuichi approached, visibly excited.
“Hey, hey, Touya, did you buy this week’s Magajan?”
“Nah, but let me guess—‘Rokushiko,’ right?”
The girls’ high school soccer manga Six Nadeshiko—abbreviated as Rokushiko—serialized in the weekly shonen magazine Magajan, was Shuuichi’s favorite. It was a popular series, already greenlit for an anime and a live-action film.
However, this time it seemed his excitement was for something else, as Shuuichi pulled out the Magajan issue he’d apparently bought that morning and placed it on the desk.
On the cover was Himeno Shizuku, wearing a light blue soccer uniform-style T-shirt.
It was, in other words, a cover gravure feature.
“Huh.”
“Isn’t it wild? Himeno Shizuku in a uniform combo is straight-up goddess-tier! It’s been blowing up on SNS, too. This was the last copy at the nearby convenience store. Gotta say, gravure’s just better in print, not digital, right?”
“It’s just a uniform-style T-shirt, isn’t it? Man, you’re bold, flaunting this when she’s literally in the classroom…”
“This kind of hype is part of supporting her, you know? I’m not the only one hyped up, either.”
Glancing around, Touya noticed several classmates holding and admiring their own copies, and Shizuku’s group seemed to be buzzing about the gravure feature, too.
Shizuku herself maintained her usual smile, showing no signs of discomfort.
Well, if she’s fine with it, I guess it’s okay.
With that thought, Touya shifted his gaze back to the manga magazine.
“Her figure’s pretty impressive, no doubt. The wink on the feature page is on point, too.”
“Right?! Being in the same class as a goddess like her? Our youth ain’t half bad, huh!”
“Your youth was never bad to begin with, with your girlfriend and all…”
“That’s one thing, this is another!”
Spouting his usual upbeat nonsense, Shuuichi was practically glowing with fervor.
To Touya, it was an energy he could never hope to match.
“Alright, I get it. Get back to your seat already—homeroom’s about to start.”
As soon as he said it, the warning bell rang, and classmates began returning to their seats.
“I’ll lend you that after school. I’ve already read it cover to cover.”
“That was fast. Alright, I’ll take it.”
“Cool! Let me know what you think of Rokushiko, too!”
“Yeah, got it.”
With that, Touya tucked the borrowed magazine into his desk.
At the very least, he wasn’t about to read it openly in a classroom where Shizuku herself was present.
During second period.
The classical literature teacher was absent, so the class was abruptly turned into a study hall.
At Fujisaki High, with its lenient school culture, students were tacitly allowed to use their smartphones during study halls.
A substitute teacher sat at the podium, so no one wandered the classroom, but the atmosphere was relaxed enough to permit some light conversation.
And as luck would have it, Touya had something to pass the time.
The manga magazine he’d borrowed from Shuuichi.
Glancing toward Shizuku, seated by the window, he saw her engrossed in something with intense focus. As expected of a top student, she was likely making full use of the study hall.
In comparison, here he was, about to read a manga magazine.
In the same room as the person featured in its gravure pages, no less.
A vague sense of guilt welled up in Touya, alongside a prickling curiosity.
Resisting the urge here would be tough, so Touya pulled the magazine from his desk—
Lunch break.
Under the pretense of a manga discussion, Touya headed to the cafeteria with Shuuichi.
After finishing their meal and going over their thoughts on the manga, they still had some time but decided to head back to the classroom.
“Man, I’m glad you get the appeal of a uniform-clad beauty, Touya.”
“I’ve been saying it forever—pretty girls are a feast for the eyes.”
“Your take sounds like something a jaded old man would say, though.”
“Whatever. It’s better than being as loud as you.”
Trading jabs, the two walked down the hall with a sense of satisfaction.
They’d reaffirmed the brilliance of shonen magazine gravure and shared that excitement. No wonder they were in high spirits.
That’s when Touya spotted Shizuku in the distance, parting ways with her friends near the courtyard entrance.
Apparently, during that second-period study hall, Shizuku hadn’t once broken her focus, immersed in whatever she was doing.
That earnest, serious profile stuck with him, nagging at Touya.
So, he decided to check it out.
“Sorry, I’m gonna step out for a bit. Head back without me.”
“Sure thing.”
After parting with Shuuichi, Touya quickened his pace.
For some reason, Shizuku had headed toward the courtyard, so he followed.
There were still a few students in the courtyard, but Shizuku was nowhere to be seen.
Beyond here were only the sports field, a path to the school gate, and the bike parking area.
Oh, and the emergency staircase connected to the school building—
“Ah.”
There, in the distance, he spotted Shizuku.
She was climbing the emergency staircase slowly, her expression serious as she stared at her phone.
Following her, Touya found Shizuku sitting on the emergency staircase between the second and third floors.
Noticing him, she flashed a bright smile.
“Oh? Sezaki-kun! Fancy meeting you in a place like this. You alone?”
That radiant expression and tone were unmistakably those of the beloved idol, Himeno Shizuku.
Touya hesitated, unsure how to explain why he’d followed her, then took a deep breath before answering.
“Yeah, alone. Not so much a coincidence—I saw you and came after you.”
The moment he said it, the energy drained from Shizuku’s face in an instant.
“—Ugh, if that’s the case, you should’ve said so sooner. I went and put on my face for nothing.”
Gone was the charm, replaced by the blunt, no-nonsense girl she truly was.
“Seriously, your switch is so seamless it’s almost mesmerizing…”
“Is that a compliment?”
“Totally a compliment.”
“Fine, I’ll take it. —So, what’s up?”
Shizuku’s eyes returned to her phone as she casually asked for his business.
Realizing she was in the middle of something, Touya felt a pang of guilt.
“Not really ‘what’s up,’ just… I was curious. Sorry if I interrupted.”
“No, it’s fine. I’m just reading manga.”
“Manga?”
In response, Shizuku tilted her phone screen toward him.
Displayed was content from the third volume of Six Nadeshiko’s original manga.
“Wait, Rokushiko? Oh, right, you were in Magajan’s gravure for it.”
“Yup. I’m actually in the movie for this.”
“Seriously?”
“Dead serious. Being an idol is kinda like being a multi-talent, you know.”
He’d heard the entertainment industry’s boundaries were blurring these days, and idols were increasingly expected to be versatile.
Shizuku seemed mildly pleased about it, her good mood evident.
“That’s awesome. Who’re you playing? Or, uh, is it okay to ask?”
“Not a main role. I’m a legendary soccer player who retired due to injury. A key character, I guess. …I mean, this is already public info, you know?”
“I had no idea. A key character sounds plenty impressive to me.”
“Hmph.”
She didn’t look up from her phone.
Watching her, Touya recalled something.
“Wait, was that what you were reading during study hall?”
“Yup. Can’t exactly bring a script to school, so this is the next best thing. Pretty studious, right?”
“Guess I really did interrupt, then. I was just curious what you were up to, so I’ll head back.”
“Hold on.”
Unexpectedly, she stopped him. When he turned, Shizuku was staring straight at him.
“Sezaki-kun, are you in any clubs?”
“Nah. I was in basketball last year, though.”
“Basketball, huh? Was it pretty intense?”
“Yeah, you could say that. We were aiming for the Inter-High—y’know, nationals. Pretty serious stuff.”
“Nice. Mind if I ask why you quit?”
“…Why do you want to know?”
As Touya hesitated, Shizuku tilted her head with a puzzled look.
“Just for reference, for the movie. I’ve never done clubs, so I can only kinda imagine what it’s like.”
“Got it. In that case, ask away.”
“Thanks.”
“So, why I quit, huh?”
Leaning against the landing’s wall, Touya mulled it over, summarizing the key points.
“I quit because my goals didn’t align with the team or the coach… I guess.”
“That’s surprising.”
“Is it? It’s pretty common in sports clubs—quitting over stuff like that.”
“No, I mean it’s surprising that you’d decide you didn’t fit with others.”
Shizuku’s blunt delivery made it hard to tell if she meant it. But since Touya had promised to answer fully, he explained as honestly as he could.
“I don’t know what kind of impression you have of me, but I wanted to go all-in for nationals.”
“Did you try talking it out?”
“Of course.”
“But you couldn’t find common ground.”
“Yeah. The coach was old-school to the core, and the team was all about keeping the peace. As a freshman, convincing them to change was tough. They wanted to maintain the status quo, even though we were supposedly aiming for the same goal.”
As he spoke, Touya found himself gazing upward.
He recalled the vague powerlessness of reaching for something unattainable.
Shizuku nodded slightly before speaking.
“I kinda get that. To move people like that, you’ve gotta show ‘results’ in the end. That’s where the real starting line is.”
Her tone remained flat, but her words clearly came from understanding his perspective, hitting Touya hard.
What stung was the part about ‘results.’
Whether it was the team’s pacifism or the coach’s stubbornness, if Touya, a mere freshman, had shown undeniable results, things might’ve changed.
But he hadn’t been able to make that happen.
Touya had played basketball since elementary school and was even selected for the metropolitan team in middle school. Still, he didn’t have the talent to transform a new environment overnight—at least, that’s what he believed.
So now, he thought the real issue had been himself.
Since quitting, Touya had lived a life of maintaining the status quo, avoiding trouble.
Once a passionate club kid, he now seemed cold or like he’d given up on effort, and he’d stopped expecting anything from himself or others.
…Which is why he was surprised at himself for chasing after Shizuku today, driven by curiosity.
Even if Shizuku understood him, she was fundamentally different—someone in a different league.
In a different field, sure, but to the world, she was a winner, with the talent to match. Maybe he was drawn to the charisma she had that he lacked.
Analyzing himself, Touya felt anew how distant she was.
“…Sorry, that turned into a bit of a rant.”
“No, it was helpful. Plus, I got to know you a bit better.”
“Is there any point in knowing about me?”
“There is. I wanted to know.”
Her straightforward answer left Touya with an odd sense of fulfillment.
He couldn’t imagine what drove her ‘want to know,’ but it was clear she saw him as someone worth understanding.
“What’s that supposed to mean? You’re a weird one, Himeno.”
Touya’s teasing attempt to hide his embarrassment earned a shy smile from Shizuku.
“Right back at you.”
Just then, the warning bell rang. Shizuku stood swiftly, and Touya stepped away from the wall.
“Come to think of it, I’ve never seen you act.”
“Wanna see? My debut film has a bit of me in the trailer.”
“Oh, sure.”
As Shizuku fiddled with her phone and descended the stairs, she stood beside Touya to show him the screen.
The trailer for a movie titled Spoiled Love played—
‘—Alright, as your best friend, I’ll take on your troubles!’
Actress Himeno Shizuku appeared as a carefree friend character.
It was, frankly, a performance that left him at a loss for words.
“…Kinda feels like your usual vibe.”
“Right? I’m an idol first, so they cast me in roles that don’t stray too far from my image—that’s my agency’s policy. At this rate, I probably won’t get main roles anytime soon.”
Shizuku, it seemed, had her own struggles.
Her tone suggested she wanted to focus more on acting.
“But that movie was last year, right? Policies can change in a year.”
“Who knows. Even this movie—the offer was for a main role, but my agency decided ‘hot-blooded sports stuff doesn’t suit her’ and pushed me to a supporting role. Feels like nothing’s gonna change.”
“Huh. Which role was the offer for?”
“Sayu, the junior. You know, the ‘I made a sports drink for you, Senpai! ♪’ kinda sly, devilish character.”
“Whoa…”
Touya knew Sayu—a cheeky, popular character. Judging by Shizuku’s impromptu performance, she could’ve made waves in that role.
“Well, no point complaining. C’mon, let’s go before the bell.”
“Right.”
Following Shizuku’s lively descent, Touya hurried after her.
“Y’know, your real voice is way more calming.”
Staring at her back, Touya voiced a stray thought.
Shizuku shot him a half-hearted glare.
“Is that a roundabout diss?”
“No way. If it came off that way, I’m sorry.”
“If it’s not a diss, fine. Doesn’t bother me.”
They passed through the empty courtyard and reentered the school building.
They were about to part ways, but—
“No need to feel guilty. Let’s just head to class together, okay, Sezaki-kun?”
Flashing her idol smile again, Shizuku prompted a wry nod from Touya.
Thanks to their haste, both made it to the classroom before the main bell rang.
◇
“Class monitor, clean-up’s on you. I’ve got a staff meeting to attend.”
It was fourth period, a chemistry class. As soon as the bell rang, the female teacher left with those words.
“Tough luck, Touya!”
As Shuuichi slapped his shoulder with an infuriating grin, Touya remembered he was the class monitor today.
“Just my luck. You’re free anyway, so help me out—”
“Sorry, got a lovey-dovey call with my girlfriend planned, so I’m out!”
“Heartless jerk…”
Ignoring Touya’s dejection, Shuuichi bolted out of the chemistry lab.
The chemistry experiment before lunch had already tanked his mood, and now he was stuck with clean-up duty. Truly, his luck couldn’t get worse.
As classmates filed out, Touya caught sight of Shizuku and her group of girls leaving. Left alone, he finally dragged himself to start.
“Alright, let’s do this.”
He lifted a rack of beakers used in the experiment to carry to the prep room next door.
After delivering the first rack, he heard hurried footsteps approaching.
Thinking it might be the chemistry teacher returning for something forgotten—
“Yo, you look busy.”
Peeking in from the doorway was, shockingly, Shizuku.
Surprised but continuing his work, Touya spoke up.
“Talk about bad luck. You forget something?”
“Kinda. —Found it!”
Shizuku pulled a notebook from a desk drawer, brandishing it proudly.
Since they were alone, her tone and demeanor were her blunt, true self.
“Just the notebook, huh?”
“Yup. But while I’m here, I’ll lend a hand.”
“For real?”
“Totally for real.”
As she spoke, Shizuku hefted a beaker-filled rack, struggling under its weight.
“Ugh, this is heavy. No way this is just our class’s share.”
“…Did you maybe ‘forget’ your notebook on purpose to help out?”
“You’re overthinking it—whoa!”
As Shizuku wobbled, Touya rushed to support the rack with her.
They ended up closer than expected, so Touya averted his gaze.
“Careful, that was close.”
“Yeah, my bad.”
After carrying the rack together, Touya pointed to a stack of notebooks on the teacher’s desk.
“Himeno, take those. I’ll handle the racks.”
“Roger.”
“And, uh, thanks.”
As Touya mumbled his gratitude, Shizuku playfully nudged his side as they passed.
“Heh, took you long enough to say it. Also, you’re blushing too much.”
“Can’t help it. I didn’t expect anyone to pitch in.”
“You really don’t have much pull, huh, Sezaki-kun?”
“Compared to the ever-popular Himeno, yeah, I don’t.”
“I think it’s beyond that level.”
“Fair point…”
“Haha, you admit it quick!”
The real Shizuku, as expected, felt close—both physically and emotionally.
To Touya, it was ticklish yet oddly comfortable.
The clean-up took less than ten minutes with two people. After Touya returned from delivering the final rack, he found Shizuku sitting, fiddling with her phone.
“Good work. Not heading back?”
“Nah, in a bit.”
“Bit late to say, but your friends are probably waiting, skipping lunch for you.”
“I told them to eat first when I left, so it’s fine.”
Shizuku was still on her phone, but it didn’t seem like she was messaging her friends.
“Still, they’re probably worried. Taking this long just to grab a notebook?”
“I’ll smooth it over later. I’ll just say, ‘When I went back to the lab, the class monitor was struggling alone, so I helped out~♪’”
“Won’t that make people jump to weird conclusions?”
“Nah, it’ll just be, ‘That’s our Shizuku-chan!’ and my likability will skyrocket.”
“Is that how it works?”
The more he heard, the more it felt like Shizuku had deliberately ‘forgotten’ her notebook.
Feeling like he’d been played, Touya was a tad annoyed.
“You know, Sezaki-kun, you’re surprisingly mindful about stuff like that.”
“Stuff like what?”
“Class dynamics, relationships, that kinda thing.”
Still glued to her phone, Shizuku patted the chair beside her, inviting him to sit.
Following her cue, Touya sat and spoke.
“Back in the club, I played point guard. Guess it’s a habit—I end up watching people, reading the room, observing.”
“In my experience, people who observe others tend to not actually care about people.”
“Yeah, I can see that. I watch to avoid trouble, to keep things smooth.”
“Exactly. I do it too, so I get it.”
Her casual agreement caught Touya off guard.
“That’s surprising?”
“You’re so friendly, I figured you didn’t think too hard about stuff.”
“When I’m in idol mode, I make myself seem approachable.”
“Even your real self is pretty close, though.”
“Huh?”
Finally, Shizuku looked up.
Her wide-eyed surprise left Touya confused in turn.
“Did I say something weird?”
“No way, my real self isn’t that close.”
“No, no, it’s plenty close. Look, even now.”
In her eagerness, Shizuku had leaned in, their faces inches apart.
Realizing this, she shot up and stretched dramatically.
“Mmm, lunch is gonna taste extra good today~”
“That’s a terrible dodge.”
“Shut up. I’m confused enough—give me a sec to sort it out.”
As requested, Touya stayed quiet. After a sigh, Shizuku seemed to have processed it.
“Okay, got it. Seems like I let my guard down around you, Sezaki-kun.”
“Oh?”
“Basically, you’re like a hot stone bath.”
“That’s not exactly flattering…”
“Or maybe you’re just good at getting under people’s skin. Either way, you’ve got a relaxing vibe. That’s a good trait.”
“First time anyone’s said that… Well, if it’s not an insult, I’ll take it.”
“Definitely not an insult. For sure.”
As Shizuku started walking, Touya stood to follow.
She turned back, as if recalling something.
“Oh, about that movie I mentioned.”
“Yeah?”
“I’ll be missing school soon for filming. They couldn’t schedule it for a weekend. Just giving you a heads-up since you helped me out.”
“Thanks for the courtesy. Don’t overdo it, alright?”
“Yup, thanks.”
To Touya, their staircase chat was just that—a chat. He didn’t think it warranted being called ‘help,’ but if she saw it that way, he wouldn’t argue.
It also dawned on him that her help today might’ve been a thank-you in return, reinforcing how principled she was.
◇
Lately, Touya’s days had been calm.
After school, he worked his part-time job or hung out with friends. At home, he watched videos, relaxed, and kept up with schoolwork moderately.
He hadn’t had any long talks with Shizuku since, though they exchanged greetings when they crossed paths.
As Touya had been told, Shizuku missed school for work one day, but it only slightly dampened the class’s mood—nothing major.
If anything, he overheard some girls mentioning that Shizuku kept declining hangout invites due to her busy schedule, but it didn’t sound like gossip.
The next day, Shizuku was back at school. Touya, meanwhile, was in the library after school, working on that day’s assignments to kill time before his shift.
—Rustle, rustle.
Despite the library’s strict no-talking rule, a sudden buzz stirred around him, prompting Touya to look up.
The cause was obvious.
Sitting across from him was Shizuku.
…
Bathed in the glow of the setting sun, she read with a pensive expression.
If only the book wasn’t titled Soccer for Dummies!, she’d have looked picture-perfect.
“…What’re you doing?”
His focus broken by the commotion and feeling obliged to speak since he’d noticed her, Touya asked in a whisper.
Shizuku met his gaze and replied just as quietly.
“What’s it look like? Reading.”
Her bright tone and smiling face screamed idol mode, as expected.
No surprise there, given the attention they were drawing.
“Thanks to a certain someone, it’s turning into a bit of a scene.”
“I don’t usually come to the library, so maybe the combo of books and an idol is just rare?”
“I think it’s more than that…”
Likely, it was because Shizuku looked so good reading.
Her beauty was captivating, impossible to ignore in the twilight glow. If only there wasn’t a guy sitting across from her, it’d be perfect… Touya could almost hear the crowd’s thoughts, making him acutely uncomfortable.
“I see~ So you’re saying you want me to leave, Sezaki-kun?”
Shizuku teased with a carefree lilt.
She wasn’t wrong, but her leaving wouldn’t fix his discomfort now.
“…Well, the real issue is everyone else making a fuss.”
“But look, we’re having a nice chat ourselves.”
“This place is supposed to be no-talking, though.”
“Exactly! So I propose we both get outta here.”
“Yeah, makes sense. Fine, let’s go.”
“Yay!”
Reluctantly standing, Touya left the library with Shizuku.
As they exited, she chirped a charming “Sorry for the disturbance~♪,” her pro-idol instincts on full display.
Skipping down the hall, Shizuku headed not toward the exit but up to the third floor, where upperclassmen’s classrooms were.
“Hey, where are you going?”
“Up!”
That much was obvious.
“Can I just head home?”
“Nope!”
“Alright, then.”
It’d been about thirty minutes since school ended, so few students remained.
Some classrooms still had voices, but they were sparse. Club members had moved on, and most others had left.
Shizuku greeted everyone they passed, while Touya nodded to acquaintances.
“Kinda late to ask, but won’t people get the wrong idea if they see you with a guy after school?”
When Touya voiced his sudden concern, Shizuku tilted her head thoughtfully.
“If I act confidently, it’s fine, right? Like I said before, I’m an idol—everyone knows I don’t date. They’ll just think we’re friends.”
“That’s how it works?”
“Yup. I got confessions when I first started here, but I turned them all down for the same reason. Maybe new freshmen might misunderstand, though.”
“Freshmen do come to our class to gawk at you during breaks… Plus, snapping pics and posting them online is so easy. Feels risky.”
“I’ll deal with it if it happens. There’s only so much I can control.”
Her tone stayed bright, but her words felt awfully pragmatic.
Touya couldn’t gauge the ‘limits’ of a top idol like her, but he sensed it wasn’t his place to press further.
“Here we are~ Let’s use this one.”
Shizuku pointed to an empty classroom at the end of the third floor.
They’d wandered the entire floor to find an unused room.
Exasperated, Touya watched as Shizuku eagerly opened the door and stepped inside.
“C’mon, Sezaki-kun, hurry up!”
“Hold on, just the two of us in an empty classroom is—whoa!?”
She yanked his arm, pulling him in, and shut the door.
Stunned by her boldness, Touya watched as Shizuku grabbed a desk and chair from the corner, set them in the middle, and plopped down.
“—Haaa~”
She slumped over the desk, utterly deflated.
It was, frankly, a slovenly sight. Idol or not, it was unladylike to the extreme. Her usual lively uniform-clad self made it all the more jarring.
Touya stood frozen at the classroom’s edge, his shock refreshed.
“What’s up? Sit down, Sezaki-kun. Oh, don’t turn on the light—it’s too bright.”
Her voice lacked energy. This was her fully unguarded self.
Still unsure of her intentions, Touya grabbed a desk and chair and sat.
They were three desks apart, with Touya near the wall.
“…Isn’t this kinda far?”
“Is it?”
“C’mon, squish together like elementary school lunch.”
“I’d rather not.”
“Why not?”
“Feels kinda scary.”
…
Shizuku pouted, then grabbed her desk with both hands—
Clunk, clunk!
She dragged it closer, so Touya hurriedly moved his desk, too.
“Alright, I’ll do it. Just calm down.”
“…That took way more energy than it should’ve. Don’t make me waste my stamina.”
Was that my fault? Touya wondered but held his tongue.
He’d suspected it, but Shizuku was clearly exhausted.
Probably to the point of emotional overload from stress.
Careful not to provoke her, Touya studied Shizuku, now inches away at their docked desks.
Her long hair shimmered in the sunlight streaming through the window.
“So, what’s today’s deal?”
“Hmm?”
“You came to the library because you needed me, right?”
His guess hit the mark, as Shizuku awkwardly looked away.
“Kinda. I was looking for you.”
“Knew it. You can google soccer rules these days, so it seemed odd.”
“But you were studying, so I didn’t want to bug you until you were done.”
“I get it. I’m not mad or anything.”
Still, she should’ve known her presence in the library would cause a stir.
Maybe she was too frazzled to think straight.
“Work keeping you busy?”
“Why?”
“You missed school yesterday, right? Figured that might be why.”
Hitting a nerve, Shizuku slumped onto the desk, swinging her legs like a sulky kid.
The childish gesture was oddly endearing.
“If you want, I’m here to listen to whatever’s bugging you.”
“Mmm.”
“You know by now I won’t judge, no matter what you say.”
“Because you’re not my fan?”
“Yup.”
“…That quick answer kinda ticks me off.”
Shizuku shot him a resentful look, her eyes half-lidded.
She was clearly struggling, even to someone like Touya, who didn’t know her that well.
“Feels like you were looking for me to vent, no?”
“You’re awfully pushy today.”
“Your type needs a little nudge in moments like this, or you’ll just waste time.”
“Who says that to an idol?”
“I don’t really see you as an idol.”
“That’s kinda harsh to say to a girl.”
“Yeah, my bad.”
She kicked his shin.
Touya couldn’t tell if Shizuku wanted to be treated as an idol or not.
Perhaps sensing his confusion, she sighed and spoke up.
“As you know, I was working yesterday.”
“Yeah.”
“Like I mentioned, it was for Rokushiko—the movie shoot. In Kyoto.”
“Oh—wait, you went to Kyoto on a weekday? That’s rough.”
“Yeah. But everything went wrong.”
“…Did it rain or something?”
“Nope, clear skies. Perfect soccer weather. Not that I had any match scenes.”
“So what happened?”
Given the context, maybe there was drama with co-stars or staff.
Even as a popular idol, Shizuku’s acting career was new compared to seasoned actors. That could lead to some friction.
Touya leaned in, ready to listen seriously.
As if sensing his resolve, Shizuku steeled herself and spoke.
“So, I missed out on eating yatsuhashi.”
“…Huh?”
“I’m saying, I went all the way to Kyoto and didn’t get to eat yatsuhashi. I realized it in the car on the way back, but I couldn’t say anything. I’m already inexperienced and causing trouble, so I couldn’t just go, ‘Oh, I just realized I forgot to eat yatsuhashi in Kyoto~ Could we go back, pretty please?’ I almost did, though.”
She rambled breathlessly, only to reveal it was just about missing out on yatsuhashi.
Speechless with disbelief, Touya stared as Shizuku glared back, indignant.
“What? Don’t tell me you’re thinking, ‘Just order it online’ or something.”
“No, not quite. But sounds like someone said that to you?”
“My manager. I couldn’t hold back and asked lightly, ‘I missed yatsuhashi—any chance we’ll shoot in Kyoto again?’ And he said that. But it’s about eating it there. The vibe, the experience—it’s totally different.”
“I see…”
Caught off guard, Touya gave a strained smile.
Shizuku sighed, noticing his reaction.
“See, you’re weirded out. Or disappointed. You’re thinking, ‘All this over that?’”
“I’ll admit I thought, ‘That’s it?’ But I’m not disappointed. More like, you’re quirky.”
“Really?”
“Really. If you hesitated to tell me, I’m honestly kinda glad you did.”
“That’s… well, you told me about your past, so I figured I should share something tough to say, too.”
Apparently, Shizuku had taken his club story seriously.
That made Touya genuinely happy.
“Then that’s even better. Thanks.”
“…You’re welcome.”
Embarrassed, Shizuku looked away, propping her cheek on her hand.
Even that gesture was charming, and Touya relaxed as he spoke.
“Honestly, I’m a bit relieved. I was bracing for something heavier.”
“Heavier like what?”
“Like, trouble with co-stars or bad vibes with the cast.”
“Oh, I just let that stuff roll off me.”
Her casual dismissal implied there were issues with people.
But the vibe told Touya not to pry further.
He nodded with a sigh.
“Got it. I think I see why you’re such a big deal as an idol.”
“What’s that? Getting props for this doesn’t exactly thrill me.”
“Relax, I’m not turning into a fan.”
“Ugh, knowing that’s your real stance is kinda infuriating.”
“I’ll treat you to a drink on the way home.”
“That’s payback for the café, isn’t it?”
“Caught me.”
Outmaneuvered, Touya faltered as Shizuku muttered softly.
“Actually, forget the drink. I’ve got a request.”
“What’s that?”
“Can I nap for, like, thirty minutes? Wake me if anyone comes close.”
Rubbing her eyes and yawning, Shizuku looked like she was at her limit.
Touya nodded immediately, and she began to breathe softly, fast asleep.
A tranquil evening.
The sun had dipped, and the world was turning to twilight hues.
Touya resumed his assignments, while Shizuku slept peacefully across from him.
Her long hair gleamed like silk, her fair skin and delicate features resembling a finely crafted doll.
Her sleeping face was the very image of a goddess of beauty.
Time flowed gently between them, with Shizuku showing no signs of stirring.
Glancing at her occasionally, Touya kept writing.
“She must be exhausted.”
He hoped this moment could be a respite for her.
Murmuring with a tender feeling, Touya returned to his worksheet.
—Step, step, step…
Then, footsteps echoed from afar.
He’d heard footsteps and chatter before, but this was the first time they seemed headed their way.
The classroom was near a staircase to other floors, so someone could easily open the door.
More importantly, being caught alone with a girl in an empty classroom would definitely spark rumors.
“Hey, Himeno, wake up.”
Slightly panicked, Touya shook Shizuku.
“Mmm, just a bit longer…”
“This isn’t the time for cheesy sleep-talk! —Fine, sorry in advance.”
Muttering an apology, Touya pinched her nose.
“—!?”
Unable to breathe, Shizuku jolted awake, flailing as she backed away.
“What the heck!?”
“I said sorry first, didn’t I?”
“Ugh, you saw my ugly face! What’s wrong with you, pinching an idol’s nose!?”
Toward Shizuku, who was unusually flustered upon waking, Touya pressed a finger to his lips with a soft “shh.”
“You hear those footsteps, right? They’re coming this way.”
“Oh… yeah.”
Regaining her composure, Shizuku stood up smoothly.
“Hey, what’s the plan?”
Touya, growing a bit anxious, watched as Shizuku pointed to the cleaning supply locker.
“In times like this, hiding in there’s the classic move, right?”
She declared it triumphantly, as if she’d struck gold, but was she seriously suggesting they both squeeze into that locker?
Shizuku opened the locker with gusto, only to deflate instantly. With mops and other supplies crammed inside, there was no way two people could fit.
So Touya clarified, just to be sure.
“First off, we don’t both need to hide, do we? I’m fine either way, but what’s your call?”
“Now that you mention it, you’re right. I’ll leave the classroom to you.”
With that, Shizuku slipped into the locker and shut the door.
Step, step, step… the footsteps grew closer by the second.
Soon, a woman in a kappogi apron passed by the door, but as expected, she simply headed down the stairs.
—Creak…
The locker door opened quietly, and Shizuku emerged without a word.
Her face was twisted with clear dissatisfaction.
“…It’s dusty. And smells like mold.”
With a pout like a kid whose prank had flopped, Shizuku grumbled.
Touya, struggling not to laugh, managed to hold it in as he approached.
“Hold still.”
He brushed off what looked like a spiderweb from her hair, and Shizuku, cheeks faintly flushed, muttered “Thanks” while dusting off her uniform.
“You’re pretty tall, aren’t you, Sezaki-kun?”
“Where’d that come from?”
“It’s just, this is the first time we’ve faced each other in a classroom like this. Random thought.”
“Now that you mention it, maybe so.”
By the window, bathed in the sinking sunset, the two stood facing each other.
Before Touya was a girl who wasn’t just the school’s top beauty but arguably Japan’s.
And yet.
““Pfft!””
In what could’ve been a romantic moment, they both burst out laughing at the same time.
But their reasons seemed to differ.
“Hey, why’d you laugh just now?”
“I was just remembering when I pinched your nose. That face wasn’t something you see every day. What about you? Why’d you laugh?”
“You were totally freaking out when you heard those footsteps. The gap was just too much, and it cracked me up. —Also, forget about my ugly face.”
“Look, in a place like this—”
“Alright, let’s head home. I’ve got dance practice later.”
Cutting him off, Shizuku stretched dramatically and returned to her desk.
“Oh, right, I’ve got my shift, too.”
“We’ve both gotta hustle, huh?”
“Mine’s nowhere near as intense as yours, though.”
“I didn’t mention, but I’ve got a live tour starting soon. Today’s for rehearsal.”
Shizuku tossed it out casually, but Touya wondered if that tour might be the real source of her exhaustion.
Still, she didn’t seem to want encouragement or comfort right now—she was already packing up to leave.
So Touya decided not to dwell on it.
“By the way, about earlier—I wasn’t that freaked out, okay?”
“Geez, so persistent. Fine, fine.”
“Hey, you totally don’t believe me!”
“C’mon, let’s go, Scaredy-kun.”
“Ugh, give me a break…”
Bickering noisily, they left the classroom together.
They’d take the same route to the station, but to avoid weird rumors, they parted ways at the school entrance that day.
Before leaving, Shizuku said, “Today was a nice break. Thanks,” and headed off.
Watching her go, Touya psyched himself up and made his way to his job.
