Wednesday morning, the scene was just like any other day.
Yukino Ritsuko woke up half an hour earlier than usual. She rode her new won's bicycle to a nearby bakery, bought a basket of bread, and returned to the shop. She moved a stool to the shop entrance and sat down, ensuring she had a clear view of the road by the river.
The street was still shrouded in darkness. The street lamps cast a warm, gentle light, while white mist drifted between the buildings.
At 6:10 AM, a sowhat familiar figure cut through the morning mist, erging from the haze.
He was here.
Tall and slender, with clear eyes and sensual lips always slightly pursed.
Yukino Ritsuko stood up and walked to the shop entrance, planning to greet him inside.
But...
The young man ran right past her, not even turning his head for a glance.
Maybe he'll co in on his way back... right?
Yukino Ritsuko consoled herself and waited patiently.
As it neared seven, the young man returned, passing by the shop entrance once more.
Seeing his silhouette from afar, Yukino Ritsuko ca to the shop entrance again, putting on a business-like smile.
The young man ran straight past her, his pace not slowing at all, quickly disappearing from sight.
?
Yukino Ritsuko stood there dazed for a long ti, rubbing her temples in frustration.
Tomorrow I'll sit right on the road. I refuse to believe he won't see at all.
※※※※※
On Thursday, Yukino Ritsuko moved her stool to the banks of the Sumida River first thing in the morning, holding a book as she waited.
Again, at 6:10 AM, the young man arrived as expected.
Yukino Ritsuko noticed him, and when he saw her, his expression clearly froze for a mont.
This ti you have to say hi... she thought a bit defiantly.
But...
The young man ran past without even a glance back.
Hmm.
Perhaps he avoided greeting because he didn't want to break his jogging rhythm. He'll definitely stop on his way back.
Yukino Ritsuko comforted herself once again.
As it got close to seven again, the young man returned from the direction of the Skytree, his footsteps audible from afar, causing Yukino Ritsuko to slightly tidy her bangs and sit up straight to face him.
Seeing her from a distance, Fujiwara Reya couldn't help but freeze again.
What is this silly woman doing?
Sitting there with a book on the roadside, yet not flipping any pages—her eyes not even on the book, looking absent-minded.
Is she fishing?
I don't see a fishing rod!
As he ran past her, Fujiwara Reya took a closer look. He hadn't really paid attention before, but upon closer inspection, he found she was quite beautiful.
Her eyes were inky black, clear and enchanting.
Her soft, lightweight, black hair had a hint of light brown; her figure was slender, the lines of her neck and shoulders so delicate they seed as if a touch could break them, yet with an exceptional fullness in her chest, her legs long and beautifully shaped.
A classical, distinct face, akin to the feeling the Snow Woman gave him.
Especially her skin, pale to the point of sickness, which might be as cold as the Snow Woman's to the touch.
Although Fujiwara Reya wasn't particularly interested in human appearances, he had to admit that she possessed a naturally captivating charm, like so kind of enchanting monster.
After a brief observation.
He reached a conclusion.
She looks great, but unfortunately, she's human.
Fujiwara Reya sighed, brushing past her.
"...Leaving just like that?" Yukino Ritsuko's eye twitched slightly, her expression complex.
Forget it.
I'll just pretend I've never seen this person.
She thought.
He looks good, but alas, he's human.
The cool morning breeze swirled a few trash bags around the street. In the quiet mont before the city awoke, Yukino Ritsuko carried her small stool back to the shop, her frail figure appearing so small in the chill morning wind, adding a tinge of bleakness to the scene.
※※※※※
April 17th, Friday.
As always, Fujiwara Reya took the train from Asakusa Bridge Station to school.
With headphones on, he humd along to the Spanish song inside, occasionally swaying his body to the beat.
He had a strong aptitude for learning foreign languages. During his first year in Tokyo, he mastered German in his spare ti, and he was currently learning Spanish, planning to learn Portuguese, a related language, in his third year.
After graduating from university, he planned to travel the world. Once he got bored of traveling, he'd go to Takamagahara without any attachnts.
The train swayed, and sunlight stread through the windows, flooding the carriage with light.
Three female students squeezed together kept glancing at Fujiwara Reya, sotis staring at his slender fingers, sotis at his prominent nose bridge, with one even showing a lovestruck smile.
At the stop, he got off.
The female students displayed expressions of reluctance.
Fujiwara Reya walked leisurely, entering the school right at 8:20 AM.
The cherry blossoms along the school path were in full bloom. In about a week's ti, the blooming season would be over, and to see the sea of cherry blossoms again, they'd have to wait until next spring.
While changing shoes at the shoe locker, Fujiwara Reya heard a commotion next door, like soone confessing love, and the voice sounded familiar. Curious, he peeked over to take a look.
"Yamamoto-senpai, what is this about..."
"Koike, please go out with !"
Oh.
It's Ikeda Aoshu's childhood friend, what was her na, Koike Asami.
The one confessing was a tall guy wearing brand-new basketball shoes, not bad-looking. Fujiwara Reya rated him a six out of ten.
Looking at the pink envelope, Koike Asami's eyes curved into crescents: "Yamamoto-senpai, is this really for ?"
"Of course!" The guy nad Yamamoto lifted his head, his excitent turning his face beet red, "From the first ti I saw Koike at the opening ceremony, I fell in love at first sight!"
That's clearly just being enticed by her looks... Fujiwara Reya comnted internally while changing his shoes.
"Thank you, I also like athletic guys like you, senpai." Koike Asami nodded happily, accepting the love letter, "I'll keep it for now, but as for my answer, it depends on how touching the letter is. Don't worry, senpai, I have a very good impression of you. You stand a great chance."
Fujiwara Reya withdrew his gaze, finished changing into indoor shoes, closed the shoe locker door, and left.
He was never really interested in others' private affairs.
But if Ikeda Aoshu, his greatest supporter, was cheated on, his inco might sharply decrease, so he had to treat the matter with caution.
In the classroom, with ten minutes before the 8:30 AM class, the class president was collecting howork from various subjects.
"Hey, Fujiwara, good morning." Ikeda Aoshu greeted enthusiastically.
"...Good morning."
Looking at his cheerful face, Fujiwara Reya hesitated to speak.
Actually, Koike was only accepting a letter from another guy, right? Not a big deal, she might not even agree.
Even if she did agree, it wouldn't count as cheating on Ikeda Aoshu, because the two were just childhood friends, not a real couple... right?
Fujiwara Reya silently sat at his desk, contemplating whether to ntion what he had just witnessed.
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