Minamoto Senya stepped out of his house at six-thirty in the morning.
Miyoko Kudou's car was already parked along the street in front of the house.
He walked straight over, reaching for the passenger door out of habit—but when he opened it, the seat was completely buried under bags of all sizes. There was no room for another person.
Miyoko, seated behind the wheel and looking down at her phone, finally glanced up. Though she had done this on purpose, she immediately clasped her hands together apologetically, smiling.
"Sorry, boss. I brought a lot of stuff today, so you'll have to sit in the back."
Even while calling him "boss," her tone was casual—a reflection of the dynamic they always shared.
Senya shrugged and said nothing, turning to the rear door to climb in.
The next moment, his gaze met Fusa Touma's, who was eating a slice of bread.
She wore a long-sleeved white blouse paired with a matching chiffon skirt, reflecting her effortless, minimalist style. Her usual straight black hair had been loosely tied with a matching ribbon, softening her normally cool demeanor into a more approachable, girl-next-door look.
"Good morning, Fusa," Senya greeted, hiding the faint surprise flickering in his eyes as he slid into the seat beside her.
"Morning," Fusa nodded, dabbing her mouth with a tissue.
Watching him sit, she picked up the open bag of bread next to her and offered it.
"Want some?"
"No, thanks. I already had breakfast at home."
"Pretty early of you."
"Yeah, my family knew I'd be leaving early, so they prepared it in advance."
"Oh… that's nice."
Through the rearview mirror, Miyoko Kudou watched the exchange between the boy and girl and felt a twinge of nostalgia. The youth, innocence, and shy sweetness of it all made her feel as if she'd returned to her own school days. In a single word: fresh.
She smiled to herself. This naive, subtle, bittersweet feeling… it was really nice.
"Seatbelts on, we're moving out," she called, sliding on her sunglasses, releasing the handbrake, and gently pressing the gas pedal.
The day's shoot would take place at Haneda Beach, near Kawasaki City in Ota Ward.
The new amusement beach had been initiated by a wealthy heir and various conglomerates three years ago and was finally complete, soon to open to the public.
The finer details didn't concern Senya.
His task today was simple: follow Miyoko's coordination, wear the provided outfits, emphasize the brand logos for the camera, and cooperate fully to finish the work quickly.
The real event would come afterward.
But looking at the sky, it seemed almost too sunny today…
Even with the dark-tinted windows, the sunlight was piercing. A sunny day wasn't bad, but all the work was outdoors. The intense sun would be troublesome. Better make sure the girls could wait at the hotel and that he applied enough sunscreen himself.
"…By the way, several producers and directors have contacted me recently."
While driving, Miyoko suddenly shifted the conversation at a red light, turning to look at her boss.
Fusa, who had been lazily dozing due to her night-owl habits, perked up at this and glanced at Senya with renewed attention.
Senya noticed her look but pretended not to.
"What do you mean? Are they inviting me into the entertainment industry, or just asking me to play a small part in a morning drama or movie?"
"They didn't specify exactly. They just said if you're interested in television work, you're welcome to contact them for detailed discussions. So… do you have any thoughts in that direction?"
Behind her sunglasses, Miyoko's eyes glinted mischievously at Fusa, noticing how she hugged herself tightly, glancing away at the window mid-conversation.
Such shyness was irresistible.
Senya considered briefly and didn't respond directly, instead asking,
"How about you, Miyoko? What do you think?"
"Me? I don't mind. I work for you now, so everything's up to you. But previously, I mostly handled business-related tasks. If you want to get into the entertainment world, I'll need to study celebrity culture, agent management, and other relevant things. So if you're serious, let me know so I can prepare. I enjoy working for you and don't want my lack of expertise to hold you back."
"No need for that. I'm not interested in being a celebrity…"
Such careers required huge effort for any real reward. Compared to his current path as a novelist, it was far easier and more relaxing. Finish a novel, win an award, gain recognition—future earnings could come even while sleeping.
Being a star might provide some income, but only after years of struggle and building influence. Better to turn his ideas into novels and let them earn passive income through publishing.
Moreover, in Japan, the social status and respect afforded to a writer far exceeded that of a celebrity. That mattered to Senya—it gave him a subtle advantage when dealing with the girls or even their parents.
His foresight already extended far into the future, not just thinking about them, but also about how to approach their parents.
It was a difficult, almost impossible task, but that didn't mean he could abandon planning.
"…Besides, all my business coordination relies on you, Miyoko. If I had to handle it like before, I'd probably be in chaos. How could I ever consider letting you go? If there's anything you're unhappy with, speak up—we can discuss pay, vacation, and all that."
"Heh heh heh, Senya, you're really getting good at talking… uh…"
Miyoko laughed mid-sentence, noticing Fusa's gaze subtly returned, faintly hostile, fixed on her.
She thought: I'm almost thirty, yet she's already treating me as an adversary… and once the other girls show up at the beach with Senya, that scene…
A mix of worry and anticipation stirred in Miyoko. Fusa, usually lazy or expressionless, rarely showed such strong emotions. It was refreshing to witness.
Better focus on driving—Senya's precious daughter was hyper-sensitive. Any disturbance around the person she liked triggered instant alertness. She was like a loyal dog, defending against perceived threats.
"Alright, let's pause the chatter. We still have a bit to drive. Today's shoot is intense—over eight hours. Since you woke up early, get some rest and mentally prepare."
"Even if you say rest… Miyoko, your car is so tiny in the back, I can't stretch my legs at all. I have to sit like this, legs to the side, or splayed out…"
"Just endure it a bit. If it's really uncomfortable, you can lie sideways."
The green light came on, and Miyoko returned her gaze to the road. She adjusted the rearview mirror and smiled subtly at Fusa.
"Not bad…" Miyoko's silent suggestion made Fusa blush, but she tried to act casual. She moved to the side, grabbing a small pillow and placing it beside her.
"…You have work later, so you should save your energy. I don't mind."
Unnecessary, Miyoko thought.
Senya, slightly troubled, felt fine—he wasn't tired—but seeing Fusa's hesitant, expectant gaze, he decided to lie down immediately.
"Thanks for this."
"No problem. I only got to come to the beach because of you."
"Nothing special—I just thought it would be more fun with everyone together."
"Alright… rest a bit. I'll wake you when we arrive."
Senya obeyed, inwardly groaning. He didn't want to sleep! But with Miyoko there, Fusa lost some of their usual private freedom.
The pillow was too high, though, straining his neck. He shifted twice but couldn't get comfortable.
Then, he felt Fusa's hand supporting his head, gently replacing the pillow.
Side-lying, he sensed the soft, cool touch against his temple. Fusa's bare legs were exposed—her skirt short, shoes heeled—so he was experiencing a true, unbuffered lap pillow.
Unlike with Saeko or Toka, Fusa's legs were cool, perhaps from the car's air conditioning or her natural temperature. The height was perfect; it felt subtly blissful.
Senya smiled, shielding his face from sunlight with one hand.
Fusa noticed and, courageously, shifted his hand away, placing her cool palm over his forehead instead.
Minutes passed like this. Her hand began teasing his bangs and brushing his eyebrows gently.
Senya feigned sleep; Fusa pretended to watch the scenery. Their hearts raced like butterflies emerging from cocoons.
Neither spoke, keeping their secret, tender interaction hidden from Miyoko, whose view was blocked by the rear mirror.
Across the city, at nine a.m., the other girls gathered, traveling by train.
By avoiding rush hour and heading toward the outskirts of Tokyo, the train wasn't crowded. They all found seats.
Toka, Saeko, and Shiwa sat together on one side; opposite, Rokuka chatted quietly with Eriri, occasionally stifling laughter. The cheerful atmosphere was evident.
Over an hour later, they walked under parasols, braving the sun for ten minutes.
Finally, in the distance, in front of the dolphin statue, Miyoko waved at them, smiling brightly.