When it ca to places that “ordinary high school girls” loved to go, Shibuya undoubtedly ranked at the very top. Although Shibuya and Nichiya High weren’t in the sa district, the two areas were adjacent, and in reality, it was less than three kiloters from the school.
“Then let’s go to Shibuya.”
With that, Miyabi headed down into the underground station together with Harutaki. They took the Nanboku Line, transferred to the Yamanote Line, and soon arrived at Shibuya Station, which was on the verge of being packed to the brim.
Since it wasn’t rush hour yet, the train itself wasn’t too crowded. The station, however, was filled mostly with young people, and students in uniform like Harutaki and Miyabi were a common sight.
“Is there anywhere you want to go, Miyabi-senpai?”
“Mm……”
He noticed that Miyabi-senpai was staring at the bustling scramble crossing, looking completely lost and unsure of what to do.
“Should we check Google Maps for so popular spots?”
“Mm……”
Still no response.
Harutaki gently tugged on her hand, and only then did she turn her head back. With slightly dazed, deep violet eyes, she t his gaze.
“Are you okay?”
“Mm……?”
For so reason, Miyabi-senpai felt especially cute right now.
“Let’s find a dessert shop first and sit down. We can talk things over while eating. Usually, girls like to hang out at trendy dessert places in Shibuya, have sweets, and take photos or videos to post on Instagram or Twitter.”
He offered his suggestion based on his own understanding.
He didn’t know about other girls, but Nogami and the others usually did things like that.
“I-I’ll leave it to you, Hoshikawa-kun……”
Miyabi nodded as best as she could, handing over control to him.
Just like the ti he had co to Shibuya with Chouko, Harutaki held her hand and led her forward, while casually asking about her.
“Don’t tell you’ve never been to Shibuya before, Miyabi-senpai?”
“How could that be? I’m a Tokyo native, you know.”
There was a faint hint of dissatisfaction in her tone.
Thinking about it, his question did sound a bit ridiculous. Even people who moved to Tokyo for work would visit Shibuya at least once. There was no way a local wouldn’t have been there.
She probably guessed why he asked and explained on her own.
“It’s just… seeing so many people all at once made space out a little……”
“Shinjuku and Shibuya are never empty, though. Did you co here in the middle of the night or sothing?”
“I’ve co a few tis with my mother, but it was always to shop for clothes or jewelry. We were driven straight into the mall.”
Without using public transport or walking through the world-famous Shibuya crossing, she naturally wouldn’t have seen crowds like this, let alone experienced them firsthand.
Just like that evening in early April when Harutaki ca to Shibuya, being swept into the shoulder-to-shoulder flow of people had even made him feel a stifling illusion of breathlessness.
Still… her explanation felt a bit delicate.
“With that kind of lifestyle, Miyabi-senpai, you’re basically a rich young lady like Nogami and Shihou, aren’t you?”
“Compared to them, I’m just a slightly unusual girl. Not as special as you make sound.”
Miyabi shook her head, denying his complint.
They stood side by side at a crosswalk, listening to the rhythmic countdown of the pedestrian signal. Sohow, their heartbeats seed to fall into sync with it.
“What about normally?”
Harutaki suddenly spoke, breaking the quiet space that sohow existed between just the two of them amid the noise.
“Do you not co to places like Shibuya or Shinjuku in your free ti?”
If she had friends, she would usually go out shopping or hanging around places like these. After all, they were high school students in the pri of youth.
He swallowed that thought before saying it aloud.
Given Miyabi-senpai’s qualities, she definitely wasn’t a loner like Sato-senpai, but she was usually alone, which made it hard to judge.
If he said the wrong thing, it could easily hit a sore spot.
“My father is very strict. He doesn’t let wander around freely……”
“So you’re actually a well-behaved, obedient girl, huh, senpai.”
The mont he said that, Harutaki paused, then followed up:
“Then after school… and even now…?”
“Mm…… I told my father on LINE that I’m studying in the library.”
“I take that back. I can’t believe you said that so calmly.”
He teased her lightly.
All those tis she ca to chat with him along the riverside cherry blossom path… had she used the sa excuse at ho?
If that were true…
He didn’t dare think further, afraid his finally settled heartbeat would accelerate out of control again.
To hide his flustered emotions, he quickly pulled out his phone and searched for a popular dessert shop.
After finding a suitable place, Harutaki followed the route in his mory. The streets on both sides were familiar. The last ti he ca to Shibuya PARCO with Chouko, they had taken this very path.
Along the way, they passed many groups of students. Most were middle or high schoolers from nearby schools, heading straight to Shibuya after classes. But unlike those groups, which were mostly sa-gender friends, a boy-and-girl pair like them—almost like a couple—was quite rare.
Combined with their striking looks and figures, they naturally drew attention.
“Co to think of it… this counts as a date, right?”
He tested the waters with that question.
“You’re not wrong, Hoshikawa-kun.”
“Going on a date before we’re even dating… that’s pretty strange.”
“It is strange… thank you.”
He held the door open and let Miyabi-senpai enter first.
The dessert shop was FLIPPER’S, located northeast of PARCO, known as one of Tokyo’s best pancake spots. The interior featured a minimalist design with clean lines, white-painted walls like the exterior, and an industrial-style ceiling with neatly arranged exposed piping.
Harutaki chose a window seat on the second floor—perfect for enjoying the lively street view while avoiding the awkwardness of being watched while eating.
“Phew……”
Sinking into the soft sofa, Miyabi let out a small sigh, as if the tension in her body and mind finally loosened.
“I’ll have the blueberry ice cream pancakes and a latte. What about you, senpai?”
“Mm… strawberry pancakes and a latte.”
After ordering, Harutaki watched as she took small sips of cold water. Following his earlier plan, he asked about her expectations for the future.
“Yesterday, you said you wanted to be able to express your emotions more directly, and that you wanted a job where you can communicate with others and convey feelings… right?”
“If I can achieve the latter, the forr doesn’t really matter.”
So her true goal was being able to convey emotions.
He thought about it. It didn’t seem that difficult at first glance, but although she said the second point mattered more, she clearly leaned toward achieving the first.
And since she said that, it probably ant she had already seen a doctor… and most likely, even the doctor couldn’t help.
Thinking back on their past interactions, he realized he had hardly ever seen any noticeable change in her expressions.
Better to start with the second goal.
“A job where you communicate and convey emotions… becoming a YouTuber might be good. Either streaming or uploading videos.”
The streaming industry was just starting to take off, after all.
“Or a psychologist…”
The mont he said it, he shook his head and dismissed the idea.
“…The pay is high, but it could easily beco a kind of tornt. Better not.”
“What about becoming an idol?”
Seeing that she remained silent, he deliberately teased her.
“I’ve watched performances and interviews…” Miyabi paused, then continued, “…it’s a profession full of lies and deception.”
That was brutally straightforward.
For so reason, he felt she might be well-suited for HR work. Though an interviewer with what seed like mind-reading abilities would probably be terrifying for applicants.
“Talk show hosts can communicate and convey emotions, but most of it is scripted, and they have to follow the director’s instructions. Directors can create films to express their own ideas, but they’re restricted by scripts and investors…”
Within Harutaki’s knowledge, the only options that fit her criteria were probably streaming and writing.
“That’s all I can think of. Have you ever considered becoming a writer, senpai?”
“Writing novels isn’t as simple as writing essays.”
“That’s true…”
It might seem like writing novels had a low barrier to entry, but in reality, countless people tripped over that very threshold and never made it past the door. And even if they did, there were still countless obstacles waiting ahead.
“How about trying YouTube streaming first?”
“D-Do I have to show my face?”
Even though her tone and expression remained calm and cool as ever, her hesitant words revealed her nervousness.
“Recently, there’s a type of streaming where you don’t have to show your face. It’s called a Virtual YouTuber. A model handles the avatar, and you just sit in front of your computer and talk to the audience through a microphone.”
Given her situation, facial tracking didn’t really matter anyway. The key was that this format allowed her to shed her real identity and freely create a persona.
A cold, aloof onee-san offering emotional counseling.
Not a bad gimmick, he thought. Maybe he should ask Tazaki about it when they got back to school next week.
“Want to give it a try?”
“Mm……”
Miyabi-senpai lightly pressed her glossy pink lips together, looking sowhat tempted.
Seeing that, Harutaki decided to give her a little push—
“Do you have a computer at ho, senpai?”
The sudden change of topic made her look puzzled.
“After I graduated from middle school, my father said I should use the internet more to understand the world, so he bought one for my room… but I haven’t really used it.”
“Then that makes things easy. The biggest costs for streaming are just the computer and your ti. New or second-hand doesn’t matter. After that, you just need a microphone and a cara, and you’re all set.”
“But—”
“Miyabi-senpai, do you know what used to be the fastest way to get to the Ōtsu area?”
“…Walk along the shores of Lake Biwa. Traveling by boat might seem faster, but strong mountain winds often cause shipwrecks and deaths.”
She paused for a mont, then answered fluently, almost like reciting from a textbook.
Huh?
What was that?
Isn’t this how it’s supposed to go?
The scene of his earlier conversation with Asama-sensei flashed through Harutaki’s mind—
He had been thoroughly lectured by that old man over this exact question.
“Guh…”
“The way you froze up just now was pretty funny.”
Miyabi’s cool voice snapped him back to reality.
“How do you know that so well, senpai?”
“Read more books.”
“…Right. Anyway, taking a slightly longer route isn’t a problem for us.”
eting her deep violet gaze, he spoke with complete seriousness.
“There’s no harm in trying. I’ll walk that path together with you.”
“You really do like playing the hero.”
She turned her head away, gazing blankly out at the bustling street beyond the window.
Only when the waiter brought their desserts did she co back to herself. Together with Harutaki, she softly said, “Let’s eat,” and picked up her fork and knife like any ordinary high school girl, starting on her pancakes.
Scritch, scritch.
The knife lightly scraped against the ceramic plate, producing a faintly sharp sound.
“Ah—”
“Ah?”
Harutaki lowered his gaze to the fork held out in front of him. On it was a piece of strawberry and pancake.
“Feeding each other is also part of experiencing a normal date.”
Does that an we’re supposed to try out how soft a love hotel bed is too?
He grumbled internally while cautiously testing her intentions.
“Um… feeding each other isn’t necessarily part of a normal date… you don’t have to force yourself.”
“There you go again. You’re actually happy about this, aren’t you? Besides, right now all you need to do is play the role of a cute junior.”
Her tone was as calm as ever, but there was an unmistakable firmness behind it.
Huh? Why does it feel like I’m the one getting swept up here?
Still, there was no downside to this kind of “feeding,” only benefits. There was no reason to refuse.
“Mm.”
He took a bite from the fork and savored it. The candied strawberry was crisper and sweeter than the blueberry.
—
As one of the most beloved fashion hubs for young people, Shibuya naturally had no shortage of entertainnt options.
Before leaving FLIPPER’S with Miyabi-senpai, Harutaki had already searched for nearby places to go. High schoolers might seem carefree, but in reality, the activities available to them were fairly limited—
“I’d like a larger room—”
“We’ll take the smallest one, please.”
To make things more comfortable and avoid awkwardness, he had planned to spend extra on a larger karaoke room. But just as he was about to pay, Miyabi-senpai overruled his choice.
When they stepped inside, the cramped space clearly exceeded her expectations, prompting her to mutter:
“It’s small.”
“Want to switch?”
“No… this is enough for two people.”
Not enough at all!
Sitting on the leather sofa, catching the faint herbal scent of her shampoo, Harutaki had no choice but to tense his body to avoid doing anything embarrassing.
Miyabi, who was leaning against his shoulder, seed to notice sothing. She suddenly turned her head and looked at him calmly.
“I thought a scumbag junior like you would be more composed.”
“Are you saying that because you want to treat you like one?”
Too close…
He glanced at her for only a mont before quickly looking away, fixing his gaze on the TV screen playing song MVs to distract himself.
Ever since he t Miyabi-senpai at the school gate, he had felt sothing was off—
Compared to before, she was being far too proactive.
“If it’s you, I don’t mind.”
Hearing that, Harutaki couldn’t help but recall sothing from the past—the first ti she gave him a lap pillow.
“Senpai, you’re so used to this… have you done it before?”
“I told you, it’s my first ti.”
She had answered like that.
“Giving sothing as precious as your first ti to a scumbag like … are you sure that’s okay?”
He had joked casually.
“Then it’s fine if I give my first ti to you, Hoshikawa.”
She had replied as if playing along.
“Anyway… anyway, try picking a song you’re familiar with.”
Like an ostrich burying its head in the sand, Harutaki grabbed the song-selection tablet and handed it to her, trying to escape the strange atmosphere.
As if nothing had happened, Miyabi calmly took the tablet and began tapping and scrolling with her finger.
Squeak.
Her finger pressed too hard and slid right off the screen.
Seeing that, he couldn’t help but stifle a laugh.
So she’s not as calm as she looks.
“Here, the microphone.”
Before handing her the wireless mic, he quietly switched it on so she wouldn’t embarrass herself on her first ti at karaoke.
A gentle lody flowed from the speakers, like a mountain stream. Soft, delicate notes filled the small room.
On the TV screen, the song title appeared.
It was Aoi Teshima’s “Sumr of Farewells ~ From Up on Poppy Hill.”
“If I call out into the sunset, will I et the gentle you…”
“If we could et within that sunset, would you hold in your arms…”
Perhaps it wasn’t just Miyabi-senpai who had beco part of his after-school routine—he had also beco part of hers.
eting on quiet streets every day, waiting for the other’s figure to appear, then walking ho bathed in the glow of the setting sun—
He didn’t know what she thought, but as long as ti allowed, he wanted to talk with her as much as possible.
About the cafeteria’s discounted als. About the tension of third-year exams. About the friends he had made…
The final note faded into silence as the MV ended.
Miyabi-senpai’s first karaoke song ca to a close.
“You probably aren’t suited to being a singing-type YouTuber, senpai.”
Harutaki teased her deliberately.
“I think so too.”
Miyabi-senpai didn’t get upset. She nodded seriously in agreent.
After all, she was well aware of how she had sung—
The entire song had been on a single pitch, like reading a textbook aloud in class… and yet, despite that, she had perfectly matched the rhythm without missing a beat.
Was that talent…?
“But compared to a sumr of farewells, I prefer a sumr of encounters.”
“To be precise, spring.”
She said aningfully, then handed the microphone and tablet back to him.
The tablet’s screen looked a bit blurry, probably only 720p. As he scrolled, it beca even harder to see.
Tap, tap, tap.
He typed on the virtual keyboard.
“Letter Song.”
Also known as “To Myself Ten Years From Now.”
A student’s love. Youthful longing. Dreams of adolescence…
Experiencing it again, whether listening or singing, carried a deeper aning now.
Ten years ago, the song spoke of hope and longing for a bright future.
Ten years later, for most people, it might instead evoke nostalgia, regret, and the pain of missed happiness.
But Miyabi-senpai was different.
Even ten years from now, she wouldn’t regret chasing her dreams. She wouldn’t bla herself for the choices she made.
—He wanted to convey that hope and feeling to her.
Just as she had once lit the path ahead for him, he hoped this feeling could help guide her toward the future.
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