Epilogue
The bus rumbled along the highway, and by the time we rolled back into Natsuhama City, the evening sky had deepened to a soft twilight.
“Good work today, everyone! Be careful on your way home!” the teacher called out as we disembarked, and with that, the group scattered into the fading light.
What a day… long, chaotic, and full of surprises.
My head was still spinning from it all. I’d shown up to school this morning, buzzing with excitement, half-expecting some playful SM antics with Rui. Instead, I got a front-row seat to just how incredible she is—and a glimpse into what she really thinks of me.
No SM play in the end, but the rush I felt was just as electric.
When summer break ends… could I actually become Rui’s right-hand man?
Me, a loner otaku, a hopeless pervert… If I can be even a little useful to someone like Kuroki Rui, I’d give it everything I’ve got.
That thought burned in my chest today, stronger than ever.
“Alright then,” I muttered to myself, “time to head home, kick back, and recharge for the second semester.”
“…Ryouta-senpai!”
The voice hit me like a jolt, and I froze mid-step.
Himesaki!?
I turned slowly, half-dreading what I’d see. There she stood, her long, vibrant red hair catching the glow of the sunset, as breathtaking as Rui in her own way.
“Sorry for stopping you like this,” she said, her voice soft but carrying an edge.
Hold on. Did she just call me Ryouta again?
“…Uh, it’s fine that you stopped me, but… how do you even know my name, Himesaki-san? We’ve never met, have we?”
“Forget that for now, Ryouta-senpai.” Her eyes glinted as she stepped closer. “You were talking with Kuroki Rui-senpai at the stadium gate, weren’t you?”
How does she know about that…?
“You were talking, right?” Himesaki pressed, her lips curling into a sly, almost bewitching smile.
My pulse quickened. “The thing is… I know the s-e-c-r-e-t between you and Rui-senpai, Ryouta-senpai ♡.”
“Huh…?”
A secret between me and Rui? Which one could she possibly mean?
My mind raced, a dozen possibilities crashing together, each more incriminating than the last. I couldn’t hide the panic creeping up my spine.
“If people found out about this and that you two were doing, wouldn’t it cause quite the stir?” she teased, her voice dripping with mischief.
“W-What are you talking about? I have no idea,” I stammered, my voice betraying me.
Her smile widened, sharp and knowing. “If you don’t want me to spill, Ryouta-senpai, you’ll have to be my little dog.”
A bead of sweat slid down my cheek, cold against the evening air.
