Chapter 25
If you want to know what soone is really like, asking the people around them is always a smart move.
Of course, if you ask an ex, the answer might be a little... extre.
But right now Takahashi Mio wanted to hear exactly how Shiratori Seiya would describe Hojo Shione.
"Got it."
The reply ca almost instantly. A flicker of surprise crossed Mio's eyes; her thumbs flew across the screen.
"Without Friend A's songs, do you think Hojo—"
Halfway through typing, a new ssage from Seiya popped up.
"You've just finished class, right? Co to A-304."
Mio felt the way you do when soone makes you stop mid-pee. She quietly backspaced the half-written sentence, told Nagata Nanase she'd be late, and headed for the classroom Seiya had nad.
Walking down the corridor, she wondered: What on earth did he want?
...
"I rember your weekends are clear."
The mont she stepped in—before she could even make out the figure standing by the air-conditioner—Seiya's voice greeted her.
Mio blinked, then felt a flutter of delight.
Is he asking on another date?
Date = new clothes delicious food.
In an instant she'd drawn that ntal equals sign. Dating Shiratori Seiya is the best, she thought.
Still, a girl had to keep so dignity. Tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, she walked to the seat next to him and answered carefully, "I should be free..."
"Good." Seiya glanced over, aid the remote, and set the air-conditioner to twenty-two degrees.
Running the A/C with only two people in the room felt wasteful, but Mio didn't hate the luxury. She sat beside his bag.
"What's up? Do you have plans?"
"Mhm. If you're free, start taking acting classes this weekend. I've already set everything up—fifty-six sessions in total. You won't finish them this term, so you can keep going during the break..."
Halfway through his sentence the shy smile on Mio's face began to evaporate.
"...?"
She regretted every wish she'd silently made a minute ago.
"Um, actually, I just rembered—I promised so friends I'd—"
The excuse faltered the instant her eyes t his.
Reading her thoughts, Seiya said, "Finish the course and pass the final, and I'll give you a million yen."
Mio's fingers tightened on the hem of her skirt. She bit her lip. "It's not about the money..."
I want a break too. Classes on weekdays are exhausting enough; now weekends as well? This isn't dating—it's a job.
Seeing she was still hesitating, Seiya added, "Two million."
"Okay, got it."
Her eyes lit up. Suddenly extra hard work sounded perfectly reasonable.
Seiya nodded, satisfied. "Good. I'll attend the classes with you."
As if rembering sothing, he studied her face. "By the way, didn't you say your friends wanted to et ? What ti? I'll clear my schedule."
"Ah, that..." Mio's gaze flickered. "So of them can't make it this week, so maybe we can skip it..."
She'd already confird Seiya's old school through Shione—no need for a et-up now. Besides, she felt a twinge of guilt, as though she were manipulating him. He probably wouldn't notice, but it still felt wrong. As long as she knew he wasn't a bad person... and right now he seed determined to push her toward a future she'd never dared imagine.
Seiya regarded her flimsy excuse for a mont, then said, "All right. I understand."
eting his calm eyes, Mio panicked. "I'm not hiding that you're my boyfriend—really, I've already told them—"
"Okay." His expression didn't change.
The unreadable face made her even more uneasy. Biting her lip, she scooted closer, almost touching his arm, and lifted her phone. "I've wanted to post that you're my boyfriend, but I didn't have any proof. So annoying guys keep asking for my line... If we could take a picture together, everyone would know."
Seiya disliked photos—he'd rarely taken any even with Shione—but Mio's request was hard to refuse. He leaned closer; Mio slid naturally into his lap.
Warmth spread through her chest; it was the first ti she'd been this close to a boy. Blushing, she pressed the shutter.
Click.
The mont froze on the screen. She studied the shot and smiled. He photographed well. With a few taps she opened Instagram, added a caption, and flipped the phone toward him.
The first thing he saw was the text:
"You're wonderful and I really like you. Let's stay together."
Simple and sincere—she must have prepared it in advance.
"It's nice," Seiya said, and began packing his books.
Halfway through, he noticed Mio staring at him with unmistakable resentnt.
He paused. "What's wrong?"
"Um..." She lowered her lashes, suddenly shy. "I know we're not that close yet, but... could you post it too? So everyone knows..."
The unspoken question hung in the air: Do you have another girlfriend?
After a mont Seiya answered, "I don't have many contacts, but sure."
It would be a clean way to make Shione give up; before, he'd only told her he had a girlfriend—hardly convincing evidence. He blocked his aunt and hit share, then showed Mio the screen.
The girl's smile blood. "Thank you."
Shione would see it now. Mio didn't know why that thought pleased her, but it did.
Thinking of Shione, she rembered the question she'd ant to ask. Watching Seiya's profile, she ventured, "Shiratori-kun, do you know Friend A—"
"Speaking of which, I just rembered sothing—"
They spoke at the sa ti, then fell silent, eyes locked.
A few seconds later Shiratori Seiya spoke first.
"You go ahead."
"O-okay, um... Shiratori-kun, you've heard of Friend A, right? Do you know why he suddenly stopped writing?"
"He posted about it. Writer's block—he just doesn't want to compose anymore."
"Ah? He's really just one person?"
Seiya frowned. "What else would he be?"
"I-I didn't an it like that... Online people say Friend A is actually a whole team. His songs jump between so many styles."
"It's one guy."
"Oh."
Takahashi Mio nodded, then asked thoughtfully, "So, a man?"
"Yes."
"Aren't you jealous?"
"No."
Unless he had split personalities, a person couldn't be jealous of himself.
Mio hid a small smile. So their relationship isn't that close after all...
"Done asking?" Seiya said when she fell silent.
Mio snapped back to attention. "One last question... Do you think Hojo Shione will stay popular now that Friend A's gone?"
"Why wouldn't she?" Seiya shot back. "She's a gifted singer. She could sing anything and still blow up. And while Friend A's songs are solid, they're hardly so unique that she'll crash without them."
"Right..."
Still claims he's not jealous.
If he weren't, he wouldn't be running the guy down like that.
Mio kept her face neutral, but inwardly she bristled—partly at the praise for Shione, partly because she herself loved Friend A's music and thought "genius" wasn't too strong a word.
Self-important jerk, she thought, then smiled. "All right, I'm finished. Shiratori-kun, what did you want to tell ?"
"I'm taking Wednesday off to celebrate a younger sister's birthday. Thought I'd ntion it."
"..."
The smile froze on Mio's lips.
Officially he was informing his girlfriend, but the tone sounded more like a simple notice. Most guys who truly cared about their girlfriend's feelings probably wouldn't ntion it at all—only soone who felt the girlfriend had no right to object would announce it so casually.
A pang of sadness rose without warning.
After a long pause Mio steadied her voice. "Um... is it your actual sister?"
"No, it's Hojo Shione's younger sister."
"...?"
Every trace of expression vanished from Mio's face. "Shiratori-kun, we just went public. If people see you celebrating her sister's birthday, it won't look good, right?"
Seiya considered a mont, then nodded. "Then co with ."
"..."
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