Chapter 22

Shirasaki Rinka’s Perspective

When I woke up, the warmth that should have been beside me was gone.

“…Kazuya-kun?”

I called his name, but there was no response. Faint morning light streamed through the gap in the curtains, signaling that dawn had already arrived. Checking the clock by my pillow, I saw that it was still early.

“He left…?”

The moment that thought crossed my mind, memories of yesterday came rushing back all at once.

Crawling into bed with Kazuya-kun. Clinging to him instinctively when the thunder scared me. His startled voice—and the warmth of his hesitant yet accepting embrace…

“~~!!”

I buried my face in my pillow and screamed internally. Just recalling it made my face burn.

W-What was I even thinking…?!

Kicking off the blankets, I rolled around on the bed. No one had seen me, but the sheer embarrassment of my own actions was unbearable.

But Kazuya-kun too… No, no! Stop thinking about it!

I tried to shake off the thoughts, but his troubled expression and the gentle way he spoke to me wouldn’t leave my mind.

Eventually, I managed to calm down and sat up in bed. When I glanced at the mirror, my face was still bright red.

“…How am I supposed to face him at school…?”

What is Kazuya-kun thinking? Does he remember what happened yesterday? Or will he just act like nothing happened?

Covering my face with both hands, I squirmed in place for a while. But time wouldn’t wait for me. Taking a deep breath, I tried to compose myself, but my heart wouldn’t stop pounding.

“F-For now, I’ll just figure it out when I get to school…”

Telling myself that, I slowly started getting ready. But the mix of anxiety and anticipation swirling inside me left me feeling oddly restless.

Miyahara Kazuya’s Perspective

Under the dazzling morning light, I changed into my uniform and stepped out of the house.

I’m way too sleepy… Letting out a big yawn, I shook off my drowsiness and made my way to school.

When I arrived, I immediately sensed something was off—the students’ gazes were sharper than usual. I had felt it a little yesterday, but today, their stares were especially piercing.

A growing sense of unease welled up inside me as I reached the shoe lockers. Just as I opened mine to change my shoes, a male student suddenly stepped in front of me.

“Hey, Miyahara!”

Startled by the sudden call, I looked up. The boy in front of me was visibly furious, his brow deeply furrowed.

“W-What…? What’s with you all of a sudden…?”

“Is it true that you were at the department store with Princess yesterday?!”

“…Huh?”

His abrupt question made my drowsiness vanish in an instant.

No way… I got spotted again…?

“And the rumor going around since this morning says you two looked really close, like you were on a date! Why the hell would someone like you be with Princess?!”

The male student stepped in closer, his anger intensifying.

Damn it… This is the second time—I really can’t talk my way out of this one… What should I do?

Just as I was struggling for an answer, Keita stepped in at the perfect moment to rescue me.

“Hey, hey, calm down, dude!”

Keita swiftly placed a hand on the boy’s shoulder and pulled him back slightly. Standing between us like a shield, he spoke in a low voice.

“If you make a scene this early in the morning, a teacher’s bound to show up. Besides, does it really matter to you who Princess spends her time with? It’s not like Kazuya is causing you any trouble. Just take a deep breath and calm down.”

The male student, still breathing heavily, remained tense for a moment. But Keita’s soothing tone and reasonable words gradually made him relax. Clicking his tongue in frustration, he muttered a reluctant “…Fine,” before turning on his heel and walking away in a hurry.

As expected of Keita. He’s always had a way with words.

“Seriously, what the hell was that…?”

“Thanks, Keita… You really saved me…”

I let out a relieved sigh and expressed my gratitude.

“Well, as thanks for saving your a🬀s, you’re gonna tell me everything about what you did with Princess yesterday.”

“F-Fine…”

We made our way to the empty area behind the gym, where I recounted everything that had happened yesterday—how I went to Rinka’s house to fix her PC, how we went shopping at the department store afterward, and how I ended up staying over at her place because of the heavy rain. Of course, I left out the part about sharing the same bed.

“Whoa, so your spring has finally come! Congrats, man!!”

Keita clapped his hands together, playfully celebrating.

“No, it’s not like that. We’re not even dating yet… Besides, someone like me—a plain, introverted guy—would never be a good match for someone as perfect as Princess.”

I muttered self-deprecatingly, and Keita let out an exasperated sigh.

“Dude, you seriously underestimate yourself. The fact that Princess invited you to her house and asked you out means she’s totally into you.”

“…That’s not true.”

“It is! And honestly, you two make a great couple. She looks like she’s having fun whenever she’s with you.”

I didn’t know how to respond, so I just looked down.

It’s true that we share common interests, and maybe we do get along well. But to the people who only see her as Princess, they’d never think we’re a good match…

“Well, how things turn out from here is up to you!”

Just as Keita playfully smacked my shoulder, the homeroom bell rang.

“Crap! We gotta hurry!”

“Y-Yeah!”

Keita took off running, and I hurried after him. My head was still spinning from his words and everything that had happened yesterday. It looked like today was going to be another restless day.