"Senya, you look like you're in a really good mood. Did something nice happen?"
"My mood is indeed pretty good lately. And yes—quite a few nice things have happened recently."
"Oh?"
"Remember I told you a while back, Utaha? The house we're living in now is too small, so my family has been looking for a new place."
"Mm, I remember."
"Well, we've already settled on the new house. All the contracts have been signed, and these past few days we've started gradually moving things over bit by bit."
"Really? That's wonderful—congratulations!"
"This weekend we're planning to hold a little housewarming party. It's been a while since everyone gathered together, so I thought we could make it lively. You should come too, Utaha."
"Of course, I'll be there. And I'll have to think carefully about what kind of housewarming gift to bring."
"There's no need for that—we don't need to be so formal between us…"
That was the conversation between Kasumigaoka Utaha and Minamoto Senya during one of their late-night video calls.
It was just casual chatting, nothing more.
They always scheduled their calls at night, since that was the only time both of them were free.
—
The weekend at the end of June, just past ten in the morning.
Kasumigaoka followed the navigation and arrived in front of a rather impressive-looking house.
On the black-and-gold nameplate at the gate, the characters read: "Minamoto & Takanashi Residence."
In Japan, there's no strict rule requiring a wife to take her husband's surname after marriage, so seeing both family names together wasn't unusual.
So this was the right place.
Kasumigaoka thought back to that night—how Senya, who always carried himself with calm composure, had smiled with such unrestrained joy.
Being able to move into such a beautiful house, raising one's standard of living step by step… it really was something worth celebrating.
Her gaze drifted toward the bare, untended yard. For just a moment, she pictured years later: soft grass covering the ground, rows of blooming flowerpots lining the path, a warm and inviting scene.
Children laughing and playing without a care in the world. And she herself—standing by someone's side, gently resting her rounded belly against him, both of them smiling, their whole family wrapped in happiness…
Her lips curled into a faint smile at the thought. Her long skirt brushed against her legs as she shifted, a little dazed in her daydream.
"Oi. Why are you just standing here spacing out? And what's with that creepy smile on your face?"
Perfect timing—or perhaps terrible timing. Just as the daydreaming literary girl was lost in her idyllic fantasy, Eriri arrived at the Minamoto residence.
From a distance, she had noticed Kasumigaoka standing there unmoving. At first she was puzzled.
But when she came closer and saw that half-embarrassed, half-dreamy smile on her rival's lips, Eriri immediately put on the exaggerated expression of a grumpy old man on the subway.
Kasumigaoka, of course, didn't panic at being caught.
She simply brushed her hair back, smoothly returning to her usual calm, elegant composure.
She was in too good a mood today to bother quarreling with this blonde idiot.
Tch, this girl… still loves to put on airs as always… Eriri grumbled inwardly, before walking in alongside her rival.
Inside, Busujima Saeko had already arrived.
Toka had also invited her close friend Haruno.
The Minamoto residence was bustling with guests today.
The only pity was that Kazusa hadn't come. Senya had invited her, but she was as cold and detached as ever.
When he mentioned that there would be many other guests, she had simply replied that she didn't have time—she needed to stay home and practice piano. Still, she had sent her congratulations.
At noon, everyone gathered around the table for lunch. Afterwards, Toka and Haruno headed upstairs, while the rest remained in the spacious first-floor living room.
Compared to the old house, the living room here felt enormous.
Senya had always told himself that the size of a house didn't matter—what mattered was harmony among family, that even if it was small and cramped, it was still happiness.
But if one had the choice, and the means, a little more space was certainly preferable.
From the open kitchen bar, Senya sliced fruit and glanced over at Utaha and Saeko sitting elegantly on the sofa. Then he looked toward Rokka, crouched in front of the TV fiddling with a game console, with Eriri by her side.
His smile turned subtle.
He brought the fruit over, and the group began chatting—naturally, about the new house.
Senya briefly explained the process of the move.
In truth, the very night they had first viewed the property back in May, he had already convinced his parents.
The reason the move stretched into late June was partly because of his own schedule, and partly because it had taken time to sell the old house.
That, too, had only gone smoothly thanks to help from the Yukinoshita family, who had expertise in the field. Otherwise, given the sluggish state of Japan's economy, it wouldn't have been possible to sell the property so quickly, and even slightly above market value.
Thirty million yen, not a yen more or less.
Combined with the money Senya himself had earned recently, it had covered the cost of the new home, with even a little surplus left over.
Still, he couldn't shake the feeling that his debts to the Yukinoshitas were piling higher and higher.
These days, when Haruno threw her arm around his shoulders in her overly familiar way, he didn't even have the heart to brush her off.
Of course, he owed plenty to others as well. To say nothing of Saeko sitting before him, or Kazusa who was probably just waking up at home right now.
They had never once demanded anything of him.
But they were good girls. Their kindness was something he would have to repay, one way or another.
"Senya, have you thought about which high school you want to go to?"
As the conversation shifted, Utaha raised the question.
In truth, this was her main reason for coming today.
Beside her, Saeko pricked up her ears without a word.
Like Utaha, she would also be entering high school next year.
If she could find out Senya's answer now, she could aim for the same school, ensuring they would see each other daily for the next two years.
"We're only second-years in middle school. Isn't it a little early to be deciding that?"
Surprisingly, Eriri was the one to cut in, unusually quick on the uptake for once. She had immediately guessed Utaha's intent and tried to derail it.
"The high school years are the most precious of one's life," Utaha countered smoothly, without missing a beat. "The earlier you decide on a school, the better you can plan and prepare. Waiting until the last moment only leads to panic."
Her words were calm, her smile faint, but her eyes flicked toward Eriri with a hint of mocking disdain.
Eriri's mood soured instantly. She had no comeback—Utaha was far better at rhetoric.
This annoying woman… Yukino, why aren't you here? I need you…
Having shut down the interruption, the conversation continued.
As for Utaha's question—Senya had indeed thought about it.
Though he didn't quite agree with her view. High school was important, yes, but not so important as to define one's life. University, he felt, was the real turning point.
But there was no need to argue. Everyone had their own perspective.
"This term, when the teachers were asking about career plans, the homeroom teacher and vice principal called me into the office. They asked if I had a specific high school in mind. They said the school could recommend me directly, skipping entrance exams altogether."
Saeko nodded. "Same for me. My teacher even suggested several schools based on my strengths…"
She named several schools—all known for strong kendo programs.
Senya recognized a few; he had competed against them in the Yulong Cup.
Utaha smiled. "Looks like we're all in the same situation, then."
Meanwhile, Rokka tugged on Senya's sleeve. "But why hasn't my teacher talked to me about this at all?"
If only Eriri had asked that instead… Utaha thought ruefully.
Senya flicked Rokka's ahoge. "If you study hard and make it into the top of the class, the teachers will come find you about it."
"Ugh… then forget it. I'm fine as I am now."
Returning to the main topic, Senya said, "As for me, I've already decided—I'll go to Sōbu High School."
The teachers had offered him many options.
There was the private Toyonozaki Academy, recently revitalized with new investment, boasting excellent facilities, a free-spirited atmosphere, and strong academics.
There was St. Cronia Academy, an aristocratic school with European heritage, complete with a chapel, diverse extracurriculars, and over thirty percent foreign faculty—an internationally rich environment.
Even Shuchiin Academy had been on the list, one of the most prestigious schools in Japan, cradle of political and business elites. Entering and thriving there was practically half a guarantee of life success.
With his talent and potential, Senya could have gone to any of them.
And yet, he had chosen the unremarkable Sōbu High—without particular advantages beyond its high deviation score.
That choice was influenced by one external factor.
That factor's full name was Yukinoshita Yukino.
"High school, huh? I want to go to the school my parents attended when they were young—the same one my sister is attending now," Yukino had once said casually to him during a conversation about the future.
She hadn't realized it at the time, but her words had left a deep impression.
Even while abroad, Yukino's presence loomed large.
"Sōbu High, then…" Utaha murmured thoughtfully, then smiled lightly. With her grades, the entrance requirements there posed no obstacle.
"Sounds good. If I recall, Haruno-san also went to that school," Saeko said, relieved. She had worried Senya might choose some impossibly elite school.
Her own grades weren't top-tier, but she consistently stayed in the top thirty of her year despite dedicating herself to kendo. That would be more than enough for Sōbu.
Only Eriri, checking the school's strict grade requirements on her phone, wore the pained expression of someone realizing she was doomed.
"That's right," Senya said, popping a piece of apple into his mouth before turning to Saeko and Utaha. "But what about you two? As graduating third-years, you should be making your decisions soon. Have you chosen your schools yet?"
Saeko answered confidently, "I hadn't decided before, but now that I've heard you—I've made up my mind. I'll also go to Sōbu High, with you, Senya."
The words were so straightforward that even the usually oblivious Eriri froze, cheeks burning. Utaha and Rokka also stared in surprise.
Senya, too, was caught off guard. He had anticipated the possibility, but not such blunt honesty in front of everyone.
Yet Saeko tilted her head gently, her gaze soft. "I want to stand beside you in high school too. Together, let's win championship titles in kendo all over again."
Phew—
Two people in the room let out a breath of relief.
Just moments earlier, it had sounded almost like a confession. That had been terrifying.
Against Busujima Saeko, they had no confidence of winning—whether in sheer force of personality or literal combat.
Even if all of them teamed up, they'd only end up running away.
Senya smiled faintly. "Alright."
Utaha raised a fist to her lips, clearing her throat. "In that case, I'll also go to Sōbu High. We'll soon be schoolmates, Saeko—please take care of me then."
"…Heh."
Just as she tried to build a cordial atmosphere, Eriri suddenly let out an uncontrollable snort.
Utaha's eyes narrowed. "And just what's so funny?"
"I just remembered something happy."
"Oh? And what's that?"
"…My manga's heroine… just got pregnant."
"Pffft—!"
It was the legendary scene all over again.
This time, even Senya couldn't hold back his laughter.