Minamoto Senya felt that she and Tohno Chiya were a perfect match.
She had always believed that the way they had met and gotten to know each other was nothing short of fate.
Even if she set aside such lofty fantasies and merely compared their respective qualities objectively, they were exceptionally well-matched.
Think about it: Chiya's appearance alone could launch him into the entertainment industry without worry—handsome, well-built, taller and more developed than most of his peers.
In that regard, Minamoto Senya considered herself equally impressive.
Countless boys had confessed their affections to her throughout her school years, and she had also been approached by scouts on the street multiple times. This was further proof of her attractiveness: not only did she appeal to peers her age, but adults would also recognize her as someone exceptionally beautiful.
In terms of external appearance, she believed she and Chiya were on equal footing—two strong contenders at the same level.
As for other aspects…
Chiya was intelligent, academically excellent, and had developed his career successfully in his spare time. His personality was kind, considerate, and upright. His future potential seemed limitless.
Minamoto Senya considered herself compatible with most of these traits. Her intellect matched his; academically, she was competent. While she might not rival him in career achievement yet, she was certainly doing well for her age.
As for personality, she knew she still had flaws, but she believed she could improve for someone she liked. She could become a good girlfriend.
If everything went smoothly, she imagined their future: him managing external affairs, her managing the home, supporting each other, raising a family in the traditional Japanese style—one daughter, two sons. It would be enviably fulfilling and happy.
For now, what she needed to do was gauge Chiya's feelings toward her—see how much he liked her.
It sounded simple enough in theory, but in practice, it was far more complicated.
After all, school taught academics, not romance.
Plus, Minamoto Senya was completely inexperienced. She might act coldly and composedly when rejecting confessions, but her understanding of male-female interactions extended no further than a certain category of explicit manga.
This was mainly from curiosity after Rokka had casually mentioned it, prompting her to look up some of Eriri's work online.
Although that blonde tsundere's personality clashed with hers, the artistry in depicting human anatomy was impressive—expressive, sensual, perfectly framed with carefully planned panels.
But that was a tangent…
In short, while Senya had no personal experience, she wasn't panicking.
Even aware that Chiya's gaze was shifting subtly after she had deliberately closed the door, she relished the slightly ambiguous tension between them.
"It feels like it's been a long time since I've been in your room, Chiya."
Minamoto Senya said this, stepping away from the door and walking slowly toward him.
Their uneven heights meant she had to tilt her head slightly upward to meet his eyes.
Seeing her delicate, alluring face up close and catching the sweet, feminine scent she carried, Chiya felt his heart flutter—but something felt… off.
Today, Senya seemed different.
It wasn't just her refined outfit.
More than that, it was her attitude, her tone, the way she looked at him.
He couldn't quite pinpoint it, but instinct told him that she had a definite purpose in mind.
"You came here over spring break too, didn't you? But that was only a month ago."
"A month isn't short. There are only twelve months in a year. By human average lifespan, I've been away from you for about one-thousandth of my life. In other words, this period carries weight, making it hard to let go lightly."
…Wait, what kind of conversation is this?
Was she trying to discuss the meaning of time in one's life?
Minamoto Senya leaned in slightly, curious, lifting onto her toes with a slow rise and fall.
Her hands clasped behind her back, giving Chiya an unobstructed view of the curves of her body—impressive enough to rival even Saeko.
Her physical development, like obedient servants, had gathered exactly where needed, forming a spectacular display.
Chiya fought against instinct, forcing his gaze upward.
"Senya-sensei seems to have matured a lot recently. Looks like you've been reading more thoughtful, knowledge-filled books."
Mentioning reading reminded him of Yukino.
His childhood friend had been like that—immersed in a book, oblivious to the world, for hours at a time. A gentle breeze would tousle her hair as she adjusted it, her serene face exuding an almost ethereal beauty. No matter how many times he had seen her like this, he never tired of it.
Senya, on the other hand, noticed the subtle playfulness in Chiya's comment, unaware that it also triggered her memory of the literary rival she had once detested.
She thought his soft gaze and slight smile were due to her own emotional display.
Despite her embarrassment, she kept her chest lifted and head high, wielding one of her most effective feminine weapons: charm.
"Chiya, can we look at your novel later? I didn't just come to deliver Saeko's gift. There's something else important I want to discuss."
"Of course."
Though she said "important," Senya's expression remained calm, and Chiya agreed without hesitation.
When she sat on the edge of the bed, reaching out casually to pat the sheets beside her, he joined her without overthinking.
"So, what is it? Don't hold back—just say it."
Chiya had noticed something unusual about Senya today, but he didn't dwell on it. He assumed her strange behavior was just because she had something awkward or difficult to say.
Senya nodded lightly, inhaling deeply to compose herself. She quickly showed a grateful expression.
"First, I want to properly thank you, Chiya. You helped me so much at my new school, keeping me out of trouble."
She didn't dive straight into her main intention.
She had no past romantic experience; this was her first time genuinely liking someone. Her sharp intellect, however, allowed her to compensate for her inexperience. The subtle encouragement from Saeko had also motivated her to take this step.
"It's nothing. Helping you was easy for me, no need to worry about it."
"For you, it may be simple—but for me, a problem I was struggling with has been resolved. The anxiety and difficulties I felt have vanished. I feel… relieved!"
Perhaps due to the emotion in her voice, Senya noticed her hand subtly reaching for his.
From his perspective, she was trying to control herself, keeping her hands from trembling, her expression composed, while internally squealing "Lucky!"
Her inner excitement resembled a fangirl seeing her idol.
Normally, she would scoff at girls like Eriri for blushing over minor interactions with Chiya—but now, in her own position, she was just as affected.
Up close, holding the hand of the one she liked, she could only appear outwardly calm.
Chiya bowed his head slightly.
Senya's small, soft hand fit perfectly into his, warm against his skin.
Looking up, her expression remained sincere, truly seeming to express gratitude.
But Chiya was starting to catch on.
From the moment she had arrived in carefully chosen attire, to closing the door upstairs, to now casually holding his hand—combined with her elevated breathing—it was clear.
If this were just a thank-you, she wouldn't be so excited.
Indeed, her visit carried a different intention.
Chiya hadn't expected it. He had been busy and hadn't seen Senya for a while. And now, she had come with a sudden, full-throttle determination.
Not that he minded.
He had decided long ago that he would allow a girl he liked to be his "wing," entering a morally flexible life if necessary.
Senya, as a potential future partner and mother, arriving proactively like this, was good news.
But it was also sudden—far more abrupt than he anticipated.
His long-term plan required careful, step-by-step progression, nothing rushed.
He understood her intent and felt happy—but her timing was off.
He had nearly all his focus on Toka, preparing for the final critical stage. He couldn't fully respond to Senya now.
Any manipulative strategies had strict boundaries. Deception and concealment were absolutely off-limits.
Even as a determined rogue, Chiya wanted to remain honest within those limits.
He could remain silent with a friend like Senya. Friends didn't have to share everything.
But if she were a lover, a person he intended to spend his life with, he couldn't hide anything from her.
Chiya had thought about this extensively, though in reality, it only took an instant.
To Senya, he merely seemed to be considering how to respond.
"I told you, don't be so formal. If I see you struggling, I'll help you. That's it. No special reason—just because we're friends."
His gaze was sincere, his tone gentle but firm.
Senya's heart raced. She could control her facial expression, but not the rapid blood flow or rising heat.
But… friends.
Hearing that word from Chiya left her feelings complicated—unable to distinguish between happiness and disappointment.
She loved being valued by him, but greedily wanted more than what he was offering.
She wasn't unobservant, but with someone she liked, lacking confirmation of their feelings, even keen insight could falter.
She couldn't tell.
Perhaps Chiya emphasized "friends" to subtly hint that she shouldn't push further—or maybe he was speaking casually.
She didn't know.
Even so, she had a careful plan.
"Even so, I'm happy to hear that. And besides thanking you, there's something I need your help with."
"I said, don't worry—just say it."
"Hehe, then I'll be bold."
Minamoto Senya guided his hand downward onto her thigh.
She didn't pull away, lightly drumming on his hand like a kneading kitten.
Then she looked into his eyes and softly asked,
"Chiya… do you know about renting a boyfriend?"
...