"..."
Natsukawa Kanade stared up at the unfamiliar ceiling, lips twitching faintly as he tried to keep his thoughts as empty as possible.
"Senpai, don't go making weird accusations. I'm just… a bit slower than most people at falling asleep. That's all."
From beside him came a soft, knowing voice, lightly teasing.
"Oh? Is that so? I thought Kouhai-kun was nervous because it's his first time sharing a futon with a girl…"
"..."
Kanade said nothing.
Because, honestly? She wasn't wrong. But the real reason he was tense had less to do with firsts and more to do with the very specific person he was sharing the futon with—Kasumigaoka Utaha. A woman known not just for her beauty, but for her devilish ability to stir the pot at the worst possible moments.
"——So, in other words," she continued mercilessly, "you have no idea how or when to make a move on a girl because you're totally inexperienced?"
"That's absolutely not it!" he blurted, flustered beyond belief.
But of course, she wasn't finished.
Utaha gave him a sideways glance, her voice light as a feather. "Then, why did you come so well-prepared, hmm? What exactly were you expecting, Natsukawa-kun?"
"..."
Kanade fell silent again. He knew exactly what she meant, and he also knew… he had no real way to defend himself.
"…I have nothing to say," he muttered, defeated.
Utaha blinked slowly, then let out a soft fufu, the corners of her lips curving upward in amusement.
"Ehh… so Kouhai-kun really is more innocent than I imagined."
She had half-suspected earlier—just vaguely—that maybe her kouhai had already done that with someone else. The idea had annoyed her more than she liked to admit. But seeing his reaction now? That embarrassment, that hesitation… it confirmed things.
He hadn't.
And though she'd never say it out loud… she was relieved.
Of course, this also proved something else. Her chuunibyou kouhai had clearly fantasized about something happening between them. Probably even pictured scenarios like this a few times in that imagination of his.
She coughed softly to herself.
…Well, it's not like I'm unhappy about that.
Even so, she wasn't the type to give in just because the atmosphere was nice. If something were to happen between them, it had to be because of feelings. Real ones. Not just impulsive heat or timing.
But that didn't mean she couldn't collect a bit of interest first.
With a slow, deliberate movement, she reached over and wrapped his arm around her shoulders, nestling her head gently against his chest.
"..."
Kanade went stiff as a board.
His heart skipped at least two beats, and his brain short-circuited instantly. Thoughts began to race, crash, and burn inside his head like falling meteorites.
Should I close my eyes? Pretend to sleep? Wait, does freezing up make me look innocent or guilty?
Ugh… no, that's just being an ostrich. How does pretending to be asleep help in this situation?!
But then again… it's not like he disliked her.
Sure, Senpai had a wicked sense of humor and a sharp tongue, but she was really pretty. Her looks, her voice, even the way she teased him—he couldn't deny he found her captivating.
And yeah, her figure too… Wait, no! Don't go there!
Focus, Kanade!
The important thing is whether she actually likes me or not! If it's just messing around without any real feelings, I can't take advantage of her like that. Even if she's the one who started it, I should talk her out of it!
But… but what if she does like me a little? Maybe she's just not ready to say it. Maybe tonight is… a step forward?
Ugh… this is way too complicated!
"..."
As Kanade struggled with his internal chaos, the girl beside him was already finding her peace.
Kasumigaoka Utaha, who often had difficulty falling asleep, was feeling unusually calm.
Perhaps the reason she had so much trouble sleeping at night wasn't simply because of insomnia or stress—but because, over time, her internal clock had quietly been rewired. Years of late-night writing sessions had conditioned her to be most alert when the world was silent, when the moon was high, and her thoughts had free rein to run wild.
Thoughts like, What should happen next in my story? or I'm in my final year now, I really should take my studies more seriously… But in truth, the one concern that always sat at the center of her mind—more than novels, more than exams—was none other than her kouhai, Natsukawa Kanade.
She worried. A lot.
Worried about whether he might one day fall for someone else. Whether he would suddenly disappear from her life—taken away by the warm smile of another girl. And while she would never say it aloud, that quiet fear gnawed at her. Once, she might've scoffed at the idea. She had thought, If Kanade-kun really starts dating someone, then so what? I'm confident enough to steal him back if I want. He's just my playful junior. If he gets some experience, maybe he'll even become a little more attentive. I'd like that.
But reality had a funny way of humbling pride.
After the day he confessed and she rejected him, something changed. Slowly, painfully, she realized—if Kanade truly began to pursue someone else… if he actually succeeded… then his eyes would no longer have room for anyone but her. That kind of Kanade… wouldn't be reachable. Not by her, not anymore.
And that terrified her more than she expected.
So eventually, her greatest fear shifted: What if my kouhai falls for someone else? What if this time… he doesn't come back?
But fate, it seemed, had a strange sense of humor. Again and again, Kanade's love life failed to bloom. Time passed, but no real relationships ever materialized. Only a few scattered rumors floated around—none of them credible.
She was delighted, of course. Ufufu, how could she not be?
Because as long as he wasn't taken, she had an excuse to stay close. She could "coincidentally" show up when he was down, "accidentally" run into him when he needed someone to listen. She could be the one to comfort him. The one who remained by his side.
Still, there was one thing that continued to frustrate her—the distance Kanade kept from her.
He was always polite. Too polite. Every interaction was filtered through an invisible wall of formality. She could feel it in his posture, in the way he spoke, even when they were alone. He hadn't forgiven her yet. She knew it. Not completely.
And honestly? She understood. After all, she'd been the one to reject him. She'd caused the pain.
But!
Hadn't Eriri rejected him too?! That blonde twintailed baka also turned him down!
So why was Kanade so warm to her? Why did he smile at Eriri like that? Why did he seem softer around her?
Just thinking about it made her blood boil.
That unfairness, that imbalance—she hated it. So of course, when
That unfairness, that imbalance—she hated it. So of course, whenever she was around Kanade, she couldn't help but tease him. Poke at him. Make him squirm.
Because she liked him.
This silly frustration, this urge to annoy him—it was her own twisted form of affection. With people she didn't care about, she couldn't be bothered to say even a single word. But with Kanade… she just couldn't leave him alone.
She had always assumed he understood this. He knew her better than most, after all. But tonight, lying beside him like this, she realized something painful—
He had misunderstood all along.
Luckily, that misunderstanding was gone now.
Their hearts were finally inching closer again. Slowly. Delicately.
And here they were: lying in the same bed, her yukata slightly open, her body pressed against him, completely vulnerable… yet he didn't push her away. He didn't scold her, didn't shy away in fear or awkwardness.
Isn't this proof enough?
Despite her calm appearance, she too was someone who feared loneliness. She cherished companionship. And truthfully… she'd long since grown addicted to having him in her life. But lately, she could feel him slowly drifting away again, and that sent tremors through her heart.
There were nights she would jolt awake, chest tight with panic, hands clutching her blanket, afraid—afraid that the dream where he left her might one day become reality.
But tonight… tonight was different.
He was right here. His arm was tucked in her embrace, his warmth seeping into her. They were under the same covers, breathing the same air. The feeling was so overwhelming that, for a moment, she wanted to lose control. Wanted to roll on top of him, grab his collar, and whisper with conviction:
"Kanade… tonight, and forever… you belong only to me."
But she couldn't.
Her rationality was still strong enough to hold her back.
Because love, real love, wasn't something you forced. It wasn't about timing or setting or stolen moments. It had to come from the heart. It had to grow naturally, not be pulled out under pressure.
So she swallowed that wild impulse. Again.
Even though her heart ached from restraint, even though this was such a rare, perfect opportunity, she still had to wait. But waiting didn't mean doing nothing—she could at least collect a bit of "interest," couldn't she?
"…Hey, Kanade."
"…"
"Just like this is fine."
Her voice was quiet, soft enough that only someone lying right beside her could hear.
"Tonight… just let me hold you like this, okay?"
"…"
He didn't respond with words—but he didn't pull away either.
And that was enough.
********************
I'll drop the 2 extra chapters tomorrow.