After hanging up the call, Natsukawa Kanade stood quietly by the window, letting the night breeze brush past his cheeks as his thoughts wandered. The moonlight filtered through the trees, casting silver shadows on the pavement below. He didn't move for a while—just spacing out, letting the chill in the air clear the clutter in his mind.
Eventually, he sighed. Yare yare…
Dragging his feet, Kanade began walking back to his room. But as he approached, worry started creeping in. There was one person inside who wouldn't let things slide so easily… his senpai. That thing that slipped out of his pocket earlier—just thinking about it made his ears go red. She definitely saw it, and she definitely wouldn't miss the chance to tease him about it.
He could already imagine her smug face, the glint in her eyes, the cruel smirk forming at the corner of her lips...
Still, staying outside wasn't an option. It was freezing, and all his clothes were in the room. Unless he wanted to become a popsicle in the hallway, he had no choice but to go back. Besides, a warm futon was waiting. Probably.
So, half resigned to his fate, half wishing senpai would miraculously fall asleep and forget everything, Kanade returned to the room with the solemnity of a warrior heading into battle.
He pushed the door open slowly… cautiously… preparing himself for an ambush.
But instead of the wicked laughter or biting remarks he expected, he was greeted with silence.
Was… she asleep?
Kanade blinked in surprise, his shoulders relaxing just a bit. He was about to exhale a sigh of relief when—
The futon rustled.
A second later, Kasumigaoka Shiwa's familiar voice—slightly hoarse, wrapped in drowsiness—rose from beneath the blankets.
"Ahh… Is it Kouhai-kun who's back? Hurry and sleep already… Staying up late isn't good for your health, you know…"
"..."
That's rich, coming from you.
If anyone had the least authority to lecture others about bad sleeping habits, it was her. This girl practically lived in an upside-down schedule. When inspiration didn't strike, she'd laze around, ignoring deadlines with the confidence of a monarch. But the moment the creative muse whispered in her ear, she'd enter beast mode—burning the midnight oil, skipping meals, and turning into a sleep-deprived zombie with laser focus.
Kasumigaoka Shiwa was the poster girl for unhealthy work cycles.
He knew her habits too well by now. She'd stockpile research and ideas like a squirrel hoarding acorns, only to binge on them when the mood struck. There were no warning signs. Her "inspiration" appeared like a wild Pokémon—random, uncatchable, and always at the worst possible times. When it hit, she locked into a manic state, shutting out the world around her. Nothing could stop her then—not reason, not common sense, not even the desperate pleading of her poor kouhai.
So for her to casually tell him not to stay up late?
He nearly laughed.
No, wait… this was part of her act, wasn't it?
A clever performance designed to lower his guard. By pretending to be half-asleep and harmless, she could lull him into a false sense of security. Then, once his defenses dropped… bam! She'd strike with full force.
Truly, a devious senpai. Girls really were born actors.
Kanade squinted suspiciously at her futon-shaped silhouette.
Nice try, Kasumigaoka-senpai.
"I'm good, Senpai. I'm not sleepy yet," he said firmly. "You go ahead and sleep. I'll just play on my phone for a while."
He pulled out his phone for added effect, tapping the power button so that the screen glowed against his face. In reality, the battery was running dangerously low after an entire day of use, but it wasn't the time to show weakness.
There was a pause. Then her voice drifted from under the covers, slow and sweet:
"…Sou ka. Then I'll sleep first. Ah, and could you turn off the light for me? It's kinda bright…"
"..."
Oh ho. Very smooth, Senpai. Very convincing.
Kanade's lips twitched. He could tell she was pleased with herself. Even after being seen through, she stayed perfectly in character, using this chance to request something totally normal—to create a "we're winding down for the night" atmosphere.
Honestly, he had to admire the commitment. It was almost like she'd rehearsed this whole thing in advance.
Still, it wasn't an unreasonable request. Refusing would've made him look petty, or worse—paranoid. So, with a sigh that seemed to carry the weight of a thousand tired kouhai, he got up and switched off the light.
Then, moving slowly—half from fatigue, half from wariness—he made his way to the bedding at the side of the room.
But rather than lie down immediately, Natsukawa Kanade sat cross-legged beside the futon, his gaze drifting toward the sliver of night sky that peeked through the window. Stars glittered faintly, like scattered fragments of forgotten dreams.
He would pass the time… by counting them.
Kasumigaoka-senpai, curled up beside him, hadn't moved an inch. Only her gentle, rhythmic breathing reminded him she was still there. If not for that, she could've passed for a sleeping beauty caught mid-dream.
"..."
"..."
Nights like this were the hardest to endure. Quiet. Cold. Lonely. Even though the world outside was calm—almost serene—it always seemed to echo with a kind of melancholy, pulling out the hollowness hidden inside one's heart.
It wasn't really the silence that hurt, but the realization of what was missing.
Humans are social creatures, he thought. No matter how much someone claimed to prefer solitude, no one could truly live untouched by others. Even the most reclusive people still longed for connection—even if only in fleeting glances, in shared jokes, in small gestures like handing someone a cup of warm tea.
As for Kanade… he had always believed he was the type who could handle being alone. Who had to handle it. Someone like him—displaced, out of place, dropped into this strange new world—was practically made to walk the loner's path.
But then again, everything had changed since he arrived here.
Since he met her… and the others.
Since he started building bonds that weren't written in fate, but forged by choice.
Now, the idea of returning to that cold, isolated existence made his chest ache. He couldn't do it. He didn't have to anymore.
Life had shifted, subtly at first, then all at once. These days, he looked forward to tomorrow. To new conversations. To awkward misunderstandings. To quiet nights like this—where nothing really happened, and yet everything felt meaningful.
When he lay in bed now, his thoughts weren't filled with dread or numbness. They were chaotic and wild. Dreaming of the future. Wondering what kind of person he'd become. What kind of life he could create with his own two hands.
He decided now.
Not life.
Not fate.
Just him.
Ore wa... shuyaku da. He was the main character of his story now—and that wouldn't change.
"The moonlight's really pretty tonight… and the wind's gentle too…" Kanade whispered, his voice almost carried away by the breeze sneaking in through the cracks. "That's why… I like this world."
There was no response.
So, after a beat, he turned slightly toward the sleeping figure beside him and continued softly, "…So, Kasumigaoka-senpai… for the sake of this beautiful, peaceful world… let's just stay as 'normal' good friends, okay?"
Still nothing.
No quip. No smug smirk. No teasing "Ara ara~".
Just the sound of sleep. Slow and even.
Unconvinced, Kanade leaned in a little, peering closely.
Her breathing was steady and deep, her brows occasionally furrowing as if chasing dreams before relaxing again. Her nose twitched. Her lips parted slightly, then closed again with a faint mhm sound.
"..."
Definitely asleep.
That face couldn't lie. Not even she could fake something this peaceful.
Kanade sighed in relief, his shoulders finally relaxing. He hadn't been that tense about it… probably. But a part of him had definitely been ready for another round of verbal judo.
Now, the real challenge began—getting into the futon without waking the dragon.
Carefully, cautiously, he reached out and lifted the edge of the blanket, the fabric rustling softly like a secret being shared. His movements were painfully slow, like a ninja sneaking through enemy territory. One wrong move, and it was game over. Who knew what kind of "punishment" senpai had in mind?
He inched forward.
Then slid in.
Slowly.
Like a snail with a stealth skill modifier.
Every rustle made his heart skip a beat. But finally—finally—he was in. Safe. Unscathed. Victory achieved. The dragon continued to slumber peacefully at his side.
Kanade let out a quiet exhale and let himself begin to relax. His muscles started to loosen. His eyes drifted shut.
But—
Rustle.
Movement.
His eyes snapped open.
And there she was.
Kasumigaoka Utaha had rolled over in a single, elegant motion. She now faced him directly, her crimson eyes wide open and glinting with something between amusement and challenge. The same eyes that should've been closed moments ago.
Her voice, low and laced with mockery, curled around him like smoke.
"My, my… it's so late, and Kouhai-kun still hasn't fallen asleep?"
Kanade froze.
She tilted her head slightly, her smirk dangerous in the dim light.
"Could it be… you were expecting something to happen?"
Natsukawa Kanade: "..."