"I wonder if Senya really understood what I meant…"
Late at night, Toka leaned back against the headboard of her bed, her fingers absentmindedly brushing against the necklace he had given her.
It had been a while since she returned from her bath, hair dried, skin still carrying the warmth of hot water. The clock now read 11:20 p.m.
She usually wasn't the type to stay up late, but tonight was different. The reason for her sleeplessness lay entirely in what had happened a few hours earlier—when she quietly told Senya that she had no plans to pursue romance anytime soon.
The way he reacted afterwards…
He had been silent for a very long time.
So long that even Rikka had finished her bath, gone upstairs, and after noticing the two of them stretching together in the living room, gone back to her room. Only then did Senya finally speak:
"Toka… the reason you think this way… it's probably because you haven't yet met—or maybe realized—who it is you truly care about."
And with that, he had left the room.
What did he mean by that?
So he really doesn't intend to give up yet?
That can't happen. It absolutely can't.
No matter how you looked at it, if things continued according to the path he was imagining, it would never end well.
Senya was a public figure now—undeniably famous. If the outside world ever learned of his ambiguous relationship with his stepsister…
Toka wasn't worried for herself. She was afraid others might twist the story, use gossip as a weapon to hurt him, or even drag their parents and Rikka into the storm.
She slid further under the covers, pulling the blanket up over her head, clutching tightly at the necklace—the star he had given her during one of her darkest moments.
If he really… really insists on walking that path, then when that time comes, she would have no choice… no choice but to…
"Mmm—!"
No. Stop. It wasn't time to think like that yet.
Maybe things weren't as bad as she feared. Maybe he had taken her words to heart and could endure it.
She would wait. Just a little longer.
Later, she could find a chance to peek at his diary again. Once she knew his current thoughts, she would decide what to do.
"Senya…"
She whispered his name softly. But even that single word seemed to carry a magic that made her chest tighten.
It was going to be a long night. Sleep would not come easily.
Reality, however, rarely followed Toka's wishes.
In the days following spring break, she made it a point to sneak into Senya's room whenever she could—at least once a day—to check his diary.
Since she couldn't talk to him honestly yet, this was the only way she could glimpse his true feelings.
But unfortunately, there were no new entries.
Perhaps he simply felt there was nothing worth recording.
Or perhaps, with spring break ending, winning another Yulong Cup championship, and becoming a local hero after saving Fukuoka citizens, Senya was once again on every news broadcast. His days had been packed—leaving early, coming home late—and he probably had no time to write.
Whatever the case, Toka's plan to use his diary as a window into his heart had come to a halt.
But what else could she do? She couldn't force him to write. All she could do was wait patiently.
And so, time slipped quickly toward the end of the month.
By late March, Yukinoshita Yukino was once again boarding a plane abroad.
This time, since he happened to be free—and maybe feeling guilty for neglecting "Learning Unit #1" for a while—Minamoto Senya went with Eriri to see her off.
They had said goodbye many times now. Eriri no longer cried like she had the very first time, but could send Yukino off with a smile.
Yukino's departure also meant one thing: Senya and the others were about to begin their new school year.
Saeko Busujima and Kasumigaoka Utaha, being a year older, were already moving on to high school—stepping into the world of JK girls.
As planned long ago, the two had successfully enrolled together at Sobu High School.
Sobu's entrance ceremony was scheduled for March 31st, a day earlier than their junior high.
And both Saeko and Utaha extended invitations.
They wanted Senya to come see them off on this important day.
Normally, students would attend entrance ceremonies accompanied by parents. Fresh uniforms, family photos in front of the school gates or by the name plaque—that was tradition.
Bringing friends instead? That was unusual.
But for Utaha and Saeko, the circumstances were different. Their feelings for Senya, combined with the roles they'd been given for the ceremony, made their invitations perfectly natural.
Utaha, the top student in the entrance exams, had been chosen to give the speech as freshman representative.
Saeko, thanks to her skill in kendo, had been selected to perform on stage afterward.
Both wanted to show their best side before the one person who mattered most.
Of course Senya agreed.
In GALGAME terms, this was a golden event—two heroines, one scene, both affection meters rising. There was no reason not to go.
Once Rikka heard about it, she wanted to come too. Her excuse: checking out the school she'd attend in the future.
Naturally, if Rikka was going, then Eriri wouldn't miss the fun either.
And so, on the morning of the 31st, everyone gathered at Sobu High's gates.
It was the peak of cherry blossom season.
Petals danced in the wind, the air full of that bittersweet, romantic feeling of a new school year.
The group reunited.
Utaha and Saeko had their families with them as well—of course, no one would neglect that side.
Utaha's father, camera hanging from his neck, was visibly emotional, eyes glistening. Senya could easily guess what he was feeling: watching his daughter—now in her high school uniform, standing proud as freshman representative—must have filled him with joy, pride, and a bittersweet sense of loss.
Utaha's mother, standing beside her, looked more like her sister than her parent. If not for her slightly more mature clothes, no one would doubt she was an older student herself.
Senya realized something strange. Every mother among the women around him was a stunning, ageless beauty. Not just youthful, but radiantly attractive. They stood out in any crowd.
"Senya, why have you been staring at my mom ever since we arrived?"
Utaha whispered, ignoring her father's sharp gaze.
Caught red-handed, Senya kept his cool.
"Because she's beautiful. And seeing her makes me wonder if you'll grow into someone just as elegant and mature someday. I couldn't help but look."
"…Eh~"
Whether that counted as a pass or not, it was clear Utaha was pleased. She smiled, clearly tickled by his words.
Still, after glancing back at her mother, she leaned in closer, whispering again.
"Secret between us: Mom woke up early today and spent over an hour at the vanity. What you're seeing is the result she wanted you to see. Not necessarily the real her."
"…!"
Senya blinked in shock.
What happened to filial piety? Was she… jealous of her own mom?
Mrs. Kasumigaoka noticed the two whispering and chuckled. "What are you two plotting over there?"
Utaha replied with an angelic smile. "Nothing. Senya just said you look beautiful today."
"Oh my, really… what nonsense. I'm already just an old lady…" she said, waving her hand, though her pleased expression betrayed her delight.
"By the way, Senya, why are you still wearing that mask? Are you sick?"
"Ah, no need to worry. I'm fine. I just want to avoid unnecessary trouble."
"Ah, right, right—you're in the spotlight now. A celebrity. You do need to be careful."
"Alright, Mom, enough chatting. Let's head inside."
And so the group entered, laughter and conversation filling the air.
The ceremony began at 8:40 a.m.
After speeches from the principal and board chair, the announcer declared:
"…And now, representing the freshmen, Kasumigaoka Utaha will give her address. Please give her a warm round of applause."
Utaha rose gracefully, her parents' proud eyes following her as she walked to the stage.
She stood with composure, gaze steady, breath calm. The hundreds of eyes fixed on her didn't shake her at all.
In her vision, the colors of the world faded—only Minamoto Senya stood vivid before her.
She wanted him to see: she was excellent too. She hadn't been idle while he was striving forward.
She was here, keeping their promise—waiting for him a year ahead.
"…Respected faculty, dear fellow students, it is my honor to stand before you as a freshman of Sobu High School…"
The content of her speech was standard, nothing unusual.
What captivated the audience wasn't her words, but her presence.
Glossy black hair cascading like silk, angelic features, a perfectly balanced figure, and a voice like silver bells.
Combined with being top of the entrance exams—she was too beautiful, too talented.
Male students' hearts raced wildly. Compared to the dry speeches of the administrators, she was the true highlight.
Senya watched attentively at first, but his gaze drifted to the side—toward a female teacher standing off to the side of the stage, wearing a long white coat. Among the male staff, she stood out strikingly.
"…Lastly, I sincerely hope we can all enjoy the next three years together. Thank you."
The applause that followed was thunderous, louder than for either the principal or the chairman.
So much for authority—beauty always won.
Returning to her seat, Utaha whispered: "How did I do?"
Saeko smiled. "You looked like a natural-born speaker."
Rikka waved her phone. "Super cool, Utaha-senpai. I recorded it all!"
Even Eriri begrudgingly muttered, "Not bad."
Utaha thanked them, but finally turned to Senya.
He shrugged. "The crowd's reaction says it all."
But she tilted her head, leaned in close again, and whispered: "Everyone else doesn't matter. I only care what you think."
A direct hit.
Senya could feel the sharp glares of every boy in the room burning into him. Great. He hadn't even enrolled yet and he was already the enemy of all men.
Still, with his mask on, no one knew who he was.
"…You were amazing. I couldn't look away."
His quiet words stunned her.
And judging by the way her cheeks flushed as she straightened her posture again, she was more than satisfied.
After the speeches came the club demonstrations.
Following the choir, light music, and comedy club, the kendo club took the stage.
Two members performed a spar, then Saeko appeared.
"…Wait, is that a real sword?" Rikka gasped.
Indeed—at her waist gleamed not a bamboo shinai, but a live blade.
Senya nodded. "Since it's a solo demonstration, she'll also cut tatami mats. For that, you need a real sword."
"Tatami…?"
Utaha explained, pointing toward the bundles being set up on stage.
Rolled mats of straw, specially treated, long and cylindrical—used in iaido and tameshigiri to test cutting skill.
The goal: to slice them cleanly, showcasing precision and strength.
Saeko's demonstration would feature her family's traditional school of iaijutsu, blending ritual, posture, footwork, and strikes.
Senya explained it all, but by the end, Rikka and Eriri were lost. Still, they understood the last part:
"…Basically, even if you don't get the details, just enjoy the performance."
On stage, Saeko stood tall in her kendo uniform, her ponytail tied high. Without a helmet, her striking beauty hit the audience full-force.
If Utaha had set the boys' hearts racing, Saeko now set both boys and girls aflame. The sight of a tall, confident girl with a sword was irresistible.
"…Next, first-year student and former Yulong Cup champion, Busujima Saeko, will perform a kendo exhibition."
The shamisen, koto, and flute music began.
Saeko rose from seiza, sword flashing.
Her movements were as fluid as dance, elegant yet powerful.
With one clean stroke, she sliced a tatami roll in half. Cheers erupted.
The performance went smoothly—until the finale.
Five rolls stood in a row.
Her blade cleaved through four like butter. But the fifth… hung by a thread, its fibers stubbornly clinging.
Most of the audience didn't even notice. To them, it looked perfect.
But for trained eyes, it was a flaw.
Bowing gracefully, Saeko accepted thunderous applause and exited the stage.
Senya followed her retreating figure, then glanced sideways.
Far down the row, Saeko's father sat with a grim expression, all warmth gone from his face. His sharp gaze was locked on the stage, cold and unyielding.
Senya shifted in his seat, suddenly uneasy.
Back when he'd sparred with Saeko weeks ago, he'd felt something was off. At the time, he thought it was his imagination.
But now…
It seemed he hadn't been wrong.