The searing summer sunlight poured through the classroom windows, striking the desks like a furnace. When Haruto rested his hand on the surface, the scorching heat made him wonder if he'd actually burned himself. As he lifted his hand, tiny beads of sweat formed in his palm.
It was already late July. The first semester of school was nearly over. Finals had wrapped up just two days ago. Today's visit was merely for announcements and final grades. By the afternoon, summer vacation would officially begin.
He glanced down at his report card—not exactly excellent, but he was ranked in the top ten of his class. As for his standing in the entire grade… he wasn't sure if he cracked the top fifty.
I really need to schedule more time for cram school. If I let things slide like this, my third year's going to be hell.
Sliding the paper into his bag, he glanced over his shoulder. Yoshii was slumped in his seat, defeated, while Yuji clapped him on the back, wearing a mischievous grin that suggested his words were more teasing than comforting. Haruto could only shake his head at the exchange.
He turned to the desk behind him. Nozaki sat stiffly at his seat, hands on the table, his expression blank—as if nothing had changed since the last time they spoke.
"Got any plans for summer?" Haruto asked.
"Nothing too elaborate," Nozaki replied. "Might travel a bit. Clear my head. Maybe gather some inspiration for my manga. Haven't decided where yet. You?"
"Heading back home to Itomori for a week or two. After that, I'll be back in Tokyo to take care of some other things."
"Oh right, your hometown's in Gifu, right? Sekigahara, the old battlefield town from the Sengoku era? That sounds kind of cool."
"If you're thinking about the famous Battle of Sekigahara… these days it's just rice paddies and hills. Pretty much like any other countryside. The ruins of warlords' camps are there, but don't expect anything dramatic. Just go in with low expectations."
Haruto didn't want to be the kind of person who kills enthusiasm, but as someone who actually lived in Gifu, he couldn't help but speak from experience. He'd been to the battlefield ruins—just endless greenery and farmland. For people from the city, it might be a novelty. But for him, it was just… everyday scenery.
"No suits of armor?"
"Nope."
"Broken spears and ancient weapons?"
"Not even one."
"...I see."
Disappointed, Nozaki fell silent. His romantic idea of Gifu had been dashed—his entire image of the place was based on a battle that, clearly, left behind little more than a name.
Eventually, Mr. Fukuhara arrived and delivered some last-minute instructions regarding summer safety and study. Then, with a final "That concludes the semester," he left the room.
Immediately, the classroom burst into excited chatter. Some students cheered, others began packing their bags. A few were already making plans for the afternoon.
After saying quick goodbyes to a few close friends, Haruto left the classroom and made his way to the science lab. There, he found Rio Futaba, calmly swirling a test tube, as usual. She barely reacted when he knocked on the lab door and stepped inside.
Her eyes briefly flicked to his collarbone, visible through his open shirt collar. Though he was dressed neatly, something about the delicate line of his collarbone made her eyes linger longer than she meant to.
"Is something on my shirt?" Haruto asked, glancing down.
Rio quickly looked away. "No, nothing. So, why are you here after class?"
"Because it's the last day. Starting tomorrow, we won't be seeing each other as often."
"Shouldn't that be a good thing?"
"Why?" Haruto asked, feigning confusion.
Rio didn't elaborate. She shook her head slightly and placed the test tube back on the rack.
"Are you staying here all summer?"
"For the most part, yes."
"I'm thinking of staying in Tokyo for about a week, then heading back to Itomori for two. Got to visit the family."
Rio's mood dipped slightly at the thought of being left alone in the lab for the rest of the break. But as he smiled at her, she bit her lip and turned her head.
"Not like it has anything to do with me."
Haruto stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her from behind, resting his face against her shoulder. Inhaling the faint scent of her hair, he closed his eyes.
"If someone sees us—" she whispered.
"No one usually comes in here, right? Besides, I don't mind if they do."
She didn't pull away. In fact, after shifting a little, she let herself relax in his embrace. Her eyes fell to his arms around her waist, and though she wouldn't admit it, being held like this… wasn't so bad.
"Do you have time tomorrow?" he asked.
"No."
"The day after?"
"...Maybe."
They ended up planning a summer date—a casual outing, just the two of them.
—
After leaving the lab, Haruto didn't head home right away. Instead, he made his way to the club building. He'd already messaged in advance, so when he arrived at the astronomy club room, he found Koharu sitting inside, waiting.
"Took you long enough. I thought you got so caught up with your science girl you forgot all about me."
"Even if I forgot my own name, I wouldn't forget our promise. Getting to see someone as cute as you—how could I ever stand you up, even with amnesia?"
"You better not forget my name!"
He reached over and pulled back the hood on her head, revealing her fluffy, silvery-white hair.
"It's summer. Aren't you hot under that hoodie?"
"It's a little warm… but I'm used to it."
With the air conditioner humming and the windows wide open, this club had clearly scored special treatment. As the curtains fluttered in the breeze, Haruto found his gaze drawn once again to the girl sitting before him.
"I never imagined I'd end up this close to the daughter of a board member. Guess fate works in strange ways."
"You may have your flaws, Haruto, but for me... meeting you was the luckiest thing that's happened to me this year."
Koharu sat in his lap as he settled into his usual seat. She knew how complicated his relationships were—how many girls had already entered his orbit. She wished she could proudly declare to everyone that they were dating. But she had met him too late for that.
Still, she was content just being held like this, as if nothing else mattered. Even if no one else knew, even if she had to keep her feelings hidden, this moment was hers.
Too much greed would only push him away. So she smiled softly and looked up at him, carefully choosing not to mention what she had been hiding.
"I might be heading to Itomori for part of the break. I'll be in Tokyo for about a week. Are you free tomorrow?"
"Yeah."
"Let's go on a proper date, then. I'm not that familiar with places to go in Tokyo. Any good spots in mid-July?"
"How about Odaiba?"
Koharu paused. Her knowledge of date spots mostly came from TV shows and "Top 10 Romantic Destinations" segments. She hesitated, then offered a tentative suggestion.
"Isn't there… a water cruise?"
"A water cruise?"
She blinked, surprised. She didn't know much about Tokyo's sightseeing routes despite living here for years.
"Let me check."
Haruto pulled out his phone and searched "Tokyo water cruise." He quickly found what he was looking for.
"Asakusa to Odaiba… and back. A round-trip route."
He browsed the details, considering whether they should start from Asakusa or Odaiba. Then, his eyes caught a curious little detail…
"We need to book in advance?"
He took a closer look at the website. Apparently, tickets had to be reserved at least a day ahead. That meant if they didn't book today, they wouldn't be able to board tomorrow.
"Hmm… kind of a hassle."
Still, it was a rare chance to go out with Koharu. Haruto figured the hassle might actually be worth it this time. He was already calculating how long it would take to get to a reservation kiosk when the girl sitting on his lap casually pulled out her phone and started dialing.
Before he could even react, the call had already connected. He watched in silence as Koharu pressed the phone to her ear.
"Two tickets for the Tokyo water cruise," she said softly, her tone calm and clear. "From Odaiba to Asakusa. The time… let's make it the afternoon slot."
Tilting her head slightly, she looked up at him with a subtle smile.
"Since it's Odaiba to Asakusa, let's book the return trip for the afternoon. That way, we can spend some time in Odaiba before we ride back."
"Afternoon it is."
With that, she ended the call and slipped the phone back into her pocket.
"Your chauffeur?" Haruto asked.
"Mhm."
"Is that okay?"
"Which part?"
"…Nothing."
He had been about to ask whether involving her driver like that might tip off her family. But then again, they'd already been spending time together for quite a while. It wasn't hard to imagine that the driver had seen more than a few interactions between them. If Koharu's family didn't know by now, he would be surprised.
Just that one phone call earlier might've been enough to raise suspicions. And tomorrow, if they were seen boarding a cruise ship together...
He looked down at the girl still nestled in his arms. She returned his gaze calmly, her eyes quietly searching his.
"You really are adorable, Koharu."
The girl tilted her head slightly, a small, puzzled look in her eyes. Her expression was serene, a little hazy—almost as if she hadn't fully registered the meaning behind his words.