"Does it suit ?"
Kato gumi's soft voice floated through the quiet store.
Yukima Azuma looked up.
gumi stood in front of a mirror, lightly tugging at the hem of a beige hoodie and adjusting the baseball cap atop her head. It was a simple, sporty look—nothing extravagant, nothing overly styled. And yet, sohow, it fit her perfectly. It didn't try to draw attention, but it effortlessly did.
Azuma blinked. Then, he smiled.
Her expression, subtle but expectant, carried an unspoken magic—sothing that tugged gently at the heart.
"Far beyond expectations," he said truthfully. "gumi looks very attractive in a sporty style."
Then, perhaps realizing he hadn't properly complinted her when they first t, he added with a laugh, "Honestly, whether it's cute or sporty, gumi could easily conquer the fashion world. Has no one invited you to be a model yet?"
For a brief mont, gumi narrowed her eyes playfully, as if she had been planning to stealthily jab his waist in retaliation for his earlier aloofness. But with the sudden complint, her mischief lted away.
Instead, she bead.
Being seen—truly noticed—was rare for her. It wasn't just the praise. It was the fact that it had co from him.
Her gaze drifted to Azuma again.
Was it because soone had finally noticed her that she felt happy?
Or was it because he had noticed her?
She didn't need to think long.
It was the latter. Unmistakably.
Earlier, when he asked if she'd ever considered modeling, she'd briefly imagined herself on a set, under lights, caras snapping away. But that scene had felt empty—aningless.
Now, however, the idea of him taking a photo of her... that stirred sothing inside.
As if summoned by her thoughts, Yukima Azuma reached into his pocket and raised his phone. The cara lens pointed at her.
Her heart skipped.
She felt a sudden heat rush to her cheeks, uninvited and uncharacteristic. She wasn't the type to blush easily—but in that mont, she couldn't help it.
Click.
The shutter snapped.
"Isn't it beautiful?" Azuma asked, holding up the photo.
"You're asking directly?" gumi said, half hiding behind her cap, her voice soft with embarrassnt. "Honestly, I do feel a bit shy, Azuma-san."
He chuckled.
She turned away, removing her cap to fidget with the price tag as she headed toward the cashier.
Her wallet was a little heavier these days. The inco from the White Album collaboration—even if it was just a small portion—was more than enough for soone like her, who often browsed shops without buying anything.
And today, with Azuma by her side, she felt free to pick out a few things she liked.
The two continued wandering, ending up in a 100-yen shop.
gumi picked up a tiny bottle of lavender essential oil, sniffed it, then put it back.
She chose a few cute hair ties, placed them in her basket... then returned them to the shelf.
They poked at stuffed animals, laughed quietly at strange trinkets, and—ultimately—bought nothing.
The store clerks didn't mind. They were used to that kind of quiet companionship.
...
"gumi really likes wandering around, huh?" Azuma remarked as they exited. "Even if she doesn't buy anything, she always looks so happy."
gumi lowered the brim of her cap, concealing the slight smile that ford.
She didn't hide what she liked. She never had.
Whether it was in her words, her actions, or her eyes—her fondness for sothing always showed through. So, she made only a minimal effort to hide it now.
From the 100-yen shop, they moved to the supermarket.
They gathered so potatoes and eggs—common ingredients, versatile, reliable.
Then Azuma added a surprise from the frozen food aisle: hairy crabs from Hokkaido.
The last batch before the incoming storm.
"A delicacy," Azuma explained. "After the storm, these won't be back for months."
He glanced at gumi and smiled.
"If you've got ti this afternoon, co over and take so ho."
She stared at the crabs, imagining the rich sweetness of their at paired with Azuma's masterful cooking.
Without hesitation, she nodded.
They added a few more ingredients, and at the checkout, gumi took the heavier bag. As she stepped outside, Azuma reached over and gave her cheek a gentle, mischievous pinch.
She puffed up in protest, and he laughed, finally relieving her of the heavy groceries.
The walk back to her house wasn't long.
At the doorstep, Azuma returned the bag.
Then he opened his backpack and pulled sothing out—a neatly wrapped, printed manuscript.
"The light novel I promised," he said. "The Youth of a Lonely Boy Will Not Dream of a Passerby Heroine."
gumi took the book carefully, then held it to her chest.
"I'll read it carefully," she said.
Azuma simply smiled and ruffled her hair.
She watched him go, then turned inside.
...
After placing the groceries in the kitchen, she went to her room and reverently laid the light novel on her desk.
The cover was different, but the title—that title—was unmistakable.
She wanted to open it right away. To devour every page.
But she knew better.
To truly enjoy it, she needed the right mont.
She returned to the kitchen and started making lunch.
A simple curry—efficient and warm.
She chopped the potatoes and onions, browned them slightly, and dropped everything into the pressure cooker.
As it simred, she knocked on her sister's door.
"Sis, it's ti to eat."
"I know, gumi. Just one more Chapter!"
Kato Hiromi hadn't moved since this morning. Her eyes were still glued to a light novel.
gumi sighed.
"You've been like this since I left."
Hiromi didn't even blink. "This one's different. Feels like I'd be disrespecting the author if I stopped reading now."
gumi approached, inserted a bookmark between the pages, and shut the book with a firm clap.
"AHHH! I'll die without Kujou gumi! Just one more Chapter!"
"Eat first, then read."
Hiromi obeyed, albeit grumbling.
As they sat down with their bowls of curry, Hiromi asked, "gumi... is that light novel really that good?"
Hiromi lit up. Her "fan mode" activated.
"Good? It's life-changing. Two million copies on its first day! It's a masterpiece. The heroine, Kujou gumi... she's like this gentle breeze that makes your soul feel lighter."
"I swear, I want to dump my boyfriend and marry her instead."
Then she paused. A strange look crossed her face.
gumi blinked. "What is it?"
Hiromi's gaze locked onto her sister.
Gentle deanor. Subtle charm. The way she tilted her head and blinked with innocent curiosity...
"gumi..." Hiromi whispered, stunned. "It's you. You're the heroine in the legend!"
gumi instinctively tucked her hair behind her ear. "Don't say things like that out of nowhere. Even I feel embarrassed."
"I don't have any stand-out traits. I'm not so genius. My personality's plain. I'm not even noticed in a crowd."
Hiromi exhaled sharply, grabbing her sister's shoulders.
"That's exactly why you're special! It's that subtle charm that makes people fall in love with you."
gumi took a slow step back, keeping a wary distance.
"...Sis, you're acting a little disgusting today."
"Aghh! I've crossed the line!" Hiromi moaned dramatically.
...
Lunch ended in laughter.
Afterward, gumi returned to her room.
Hiromi remained seated, dazed.
Not only was her favorite heroine real... she lived under the sa roof.
And... she was her sister.
Hiromi shook her head.
Snap out of it. You're thinking crazy thoughts!
But the signs were too many to ignore.
She rembered how their parents ntioned gumi staying out late lately...
She inhaled sharply.
"No way..."
...
In her room, Kato gumi stared at the manuscript.
Now she understood.
Azuma hadn't just fulfilled his promise to hand her the light novel.
He'd fulfilled his real promise—the one made quietly beneath the surface.
You are the most captivating heroine in the world.
At the ti, she had laughed it off, asking how he'd manage to prove that.
He had said, "I'll keep it a secret."
And now...
Now the truth was before her eyes.
That promise hadn't faded.
It had taken root in her heart, growing slowly, quietly, until today—when it blood into sothing undeniable.
She touched the cover softly, as if touching the bark of the tree that had grown within her.
Her breath quickened.
Even she, the composed and ever-rational Kato gumi, found herself trembling with sothing she couldn't na.
Anticipation.
Gratitude.
And maybe... love.
Reviews
All reviews (0)