Early morning light filtered through the curtains, painting soft amber stripes across the bed.
Hozuki Nozomi opened his eyes.
His gaze settled on the young woman whose cheeks held a faint rose tint—warmth from the shared covers, the closeness of bodies that had curled together sometime in the night. A satisfied smile tugged at his lips before he could stop it.
Yukino Yukinoshita's sleeping face was genuinely flawless.
This close, he could count every single one of her long, dark eyelashes where they rested against porcelain skin. The small, delicate structure of her face, soft cherry-colored lips parted just slightly, complexion whiter than fresh cream. No matter the angle—profile, straight on, the gentle curve of her jaw—Yukino Yukinoshita remained astonishingly beautiful.
Having such a peerless woman as his fiancée filled Nozomi with quiet pride.
"Mmm...Nozomi, what time is it?"
She'd sensed his watching. Yukino's voice came out thick with sleep as she rubbed her eyes with the heel of one palm, blinking groggily.
"Only six o'clock. Yukino-chan can sleep a bit longer."
Nozomi kept his voice soft.
Yukino pouted, her expression almost childish. "Only six... that's really early. I'll sleep more. Wake me at seven."
Without waiting for acknowledgment, she shifted closer, burrowing into the warm hollow between his chest and shoulder. Her breathing slowed within moments, black hair splayed across the pillow like spilled ink.
Nozomi studied her adorable, drowsy face. He couldn't resist lowering his head and pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead—her skin still carried traces of last night's jasmine soap.
"Good girl. Keep sleeping."
---
At seven o'clock sharp, Yukino Yukinoshita opened her eyes to find cold sheets beside her.
She sat up, covers pooling at her waist, and caught the sounds from the kitchen—the sizzle of something in a pan, the clink of ceramic.
By the time she'd washed up and dressed, Nozomi had set out breakfast: miso soup still steaming, tamagoyaki cut into neat rolls, rice glistening in small bowls. The scent of dashi and toasted sesame hung pleasantly in the air.
After enjoying the meal together, the two departed for Sōbu High School side by side.
---
Upon entering the school gate, Alya Kujou's silver-blonde hair caught the spring breeze. She paused mid-stride, pale blue eyes narrowing as she observed Hozuki Nozomi and Yukinoshita approaching.
Were they... holding hands?
She hadn't imagined it. Their fingers were clearly intertwined, casual and comfortable—the gesture of people who'd done this countless times.
But wasn't Hozuki Nozomi dating Shiina Mahiru?
Unless...
The rumors about him simultaneously dating multiple women were actually true.
Thinking of gentle, kind Mahiru—who radiated warmth like an angel descended—Alya's expression flickered with unmistakable disdain.
---
At the shoe lockers, Alya discovered the usual avalanche of pink envelopes crammed into her compartment. Confession letters. She didn't bother checking a single one, gathering them all and depositing the stack directly into the nearby trash bin.
Thunk.
Ignoring people's feelings like this wasn't polite. She knew that. But responding individually to dozens of anonymous admirers who couldn't even approach her face-to-face? Impossible. The cleanest solution was simply not to engage.
"Alisa-san is really popular."
Shiina Mahiru had appeared beside her, honey-colored eyes glinting with gentle amusement.
Alya huffed, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "Being too popular is a nuisance. And this isn't popularity—it's opportunism. Cowards hiding behind paper because they're afraid to speak directly."
She glanced at Mahiru's locker. Conspicuously empty.
"Why is your shoe locker so peaceful?"
"Oh, that's because I have a boyfriend." Mahiru's smile was serene. "People see no hope and stop trying."
"Boyfriend... you mean Hozuki Nozomi?"
"Yes."
"But I just saw him holding hands with Yukinoshita from Class J."
"Mm." Mahiru nodded, entirely unbothered. "Yukinoshita-san is also his girlfriend. I don't mind."
Alya stared at her, disbelief plain on her face.
"You don't mind? Your boyfriend is openly affectionate with another woman, and you're fine with it?"
Regarding this question, Mahiru simply tilted her head and offered a conspiratorial wink. "Well... you'll understand eventually. For now, please allow me to keep that a secret."
Alya exhaled, shaking her head. "I don't want to know. Let's just go to class."
"Alright~"
---
First period belonged to Kirisu Mafuyu.
Whatever had transpired between her and Hozuki Nozomi recently had left their dynamic charged with something unspoken. Throughout the entire lesson—derivatives and integrals filling the board in her precise handwriting—Mafuyu-sensei glanced toward his seat no fewer than ten times. Each look carried weight: frustration, confusion, something she refused to name.
When the bell rang, she gathered her materials and departed without a word. No summons to the office. No request for a private conversation.
Nozomi didn't chase.
He'd let things unfold naturally. Eventually, she'd reach her limit and approach him herself.
---
Lunchtime arrived under a cloudless sky.
Yui Yuigahama, Yukino Yukinoshita, and Asuna Yuuki had claimed a corner booth at a café near campus—notebooks and textbooks spread across the lacquered table, half-finished iced coffees pushed aside to make room. The scent of roasted beans and something sweet baking drifted from behind the counter.
Yui required the most tutoring, her brow furrowed as she struggled through an English passage.
Nozomi arrived without invitation, shamelessly squeezing himself between Yui and Yukino on the booth's bench seat.
Both girls shot him withering looks.
Neither made him move.
The study session continued.
"Um... Yukinoshita-nee, Yuigahama-nee, Nozomi... good afternoon."
A clear, pleasant voice interrupted them.
Nozomi looked up. Standing beside their table was a petite girl with warm chestnut hair and a single ahoge bouncing atop her head. Wide, earnest eyes. A smile that radiated genuine friendliness.
"Is it..."
"Ah, sorry—my name is Hikigaya Komachi!"
The girl introduced herself with a small bow.
Yukino tilted her head, expression softening. "Komachi-chan. Is there something you need? And who is the boy with you?"
A slight figure hovered behind Komachi—a boy with messy dark hair, face flushed crimson. His eyes had been fixed on Yukino and the others, but the moment attention turned his way, he ducked his head, staring intently at his shoes.
"This is Taishi Kawasaki," Komachi explained. "He's in the class next to mine, and his older sister attends Sōbu High. Nozomi-nii should know her—Kawasaki Saki. She's in your class."
"Also..." Komachi turned and bowed deeply toward Nozomi. "My good-for-nothing Onii-chan has been in your care. Thank you very much for looking after him."
Nozomi laughed, rubbing the back of his neck. "No problem at all. Hachiman's actually prevented me from meeting you before, Komachi-chan. Said something about keeping me away from his precious little sister. I didn't expect we'd run into each other like this."
As he spoke, he shifted position—subtly placing himself between Taishi Kawasaki's gaze and the older girls at the table.
"Kawasaki-kun, is there something you need our help with?"
The shy boy scratched his head, shooting a pleading look toward Komachi.
Komachi's chest puffed with confidence.
"Let me explain!"
"Onii-chan told me that Yukinoshita-nee founded a club that grants wishes—that if someone has a problem, they can seek help. So when Taishi-kun mentioned his troubles, I brought him here."
Yukino straightened, tone measured but firm.
"While that's true, the Service Club doesn't accept just any request."
And...
Kawasaki Saki.
Wasn't she Haruno-nee's secretary?
And also Hozuki Nozomi's—that scoundrel's—mistress...