The next morning—
"Here."
In addition to the usual bento, Kasumigaoka Touji handed Utaha a small thermos flask.
"If you feel cold or uncomfortable at school, pour yourself some hot water."
Inside the thermos was a homemade blend of ginger slices and brown sugar.
It wasn't just thoughtful—it was practical. Ginger-brown sugar water helped relieve menstrual pain, improved circulation, warmed the stomach, and soothed the body. Especially on a day like this, it would be a comfort.
Utaha's wine-red eyes lit up as she looked at him with a mix of amusement and fondness. Her lips curled slightly.
"Otouto-kun is so considerate~."
She slipped the thermos and bento into her schoolbag and then teasingly tapped her pink lips with one finger.
"So? What kind of reward do you want?"
Kasumigaoka Touji froze on the spot.
The moment she said that, all sorts of possibilities flooded his teenage brain. His eyes unconsciously drifted downward toward her rather… prominent assets.
"I want to experience Tuesday's fullness!"
Utaha blinked, then immediately caught the reference.
That phrase had once gone viral thanks to a certain ecchi manga titled Monday's Fullness, where the protagonist found comfort in the softness of… well, you get it. In this cold world, only warmth like that could heal the soul.
Utaha gave him a sly, foxlike grin.
"Reality isn't so kind, you know? I think it'd be better if you experienced the 'leanness' of Tuesday instead."
"Reward, denied~," she added, then spun on her heel and made a quick escape.
Touji stood stunned for a moment, realizing—I've been tricked again!
Grabbing his bento with a groan, he bolted out the door and chased after her.
"Only those who don't put in effort say reality is lean! If you work hard, you can grab Tuesday's fullness with your own hands—!"
"I got you!"
He caught Utaha just as she was slipping into her shoes by the front door. A small struggle ensued, complete with her indignant cries of:
"Otouto-kun, what do you think you're doing!?" "No! Stop! Not there!" "Harassment! This is o-harassment!" "I'm calling the police!"
At that exact moment, the neighboring auntie, who had come by to deliver the neighborhood circulation board, stood frozen outside the door.
Her hand, which had been raised to press the doorbell, halted mid-air.
"…?"
What in the world was she hearing?
A few minutes later—
Touji and Utaha finally "calmly" opened the door and accepted the circulation board, bowing politely. They gave it a quick glance, stamped it with the Kasumigaoka family seal, then stepped out together toward the neighboring Izumi household to deliver it next.
Behind them, the auntie stood in front of her gate, arms crossed, chin resting on her palm. Her expression twisted into one of deep suspicion. She looked like she wanted to say something, hesitated, then gave up… only to hesitate again.
Something's off with the Kasumigaoka siblings lately…
Should she talk to Airi-san about this?
After all, she and Kasumigaoka Airi had always been close—grocery runs, shopping together, neighborhood gossip. It wouldn't be strange to bring it up…
What she didn't know, of course, was that Kasumigaoka Touji had been adopted, and the family had moved into this neighborhood nearly ten years ago. She wasn't aware of the full family circumstances.
Ding-dong—!
They rang the bell at the Izumi household, but no one answered.
"Did they already leave?" Touji asked.
"Looks like it," Utaha replied.
"Guess we'll just leave it here."
Touji crouched down and carefully placed the circulation board at the doorstep. He took out his phone and sent a quick Line message to Izumi to let him know.
Upstairs, in the darkened second-floor bedroom—
Behind a pair of slightly parted curtains, a small, fair face peeked out.
Izumi Sagiri, with her usual cautious silence, watched Touji from behind the curtains, saying nothing as he turned and walked away.
Meanwhile, at the station—
Izumi Masamune received Touji's message.
[Touji]: "Did you already leave? I left the circulation board at your place."
[Izumi Masamune]: "Yeah, I'll check when I get back. Anything important on it?"
[Touji]: "Nah, just some notice about club fees."
[Izumi Masamune]: "…"
…
Touji continued walking down the cherry blossom-lined streets. Petals drifted in the gentle spring wind, making the whole world seem a little softer, a little warmer.
April on Earth truly was the most beautiful time—sunlight gently warmed the skin, the air was crisp but soft, and even the most mundane morning felt like it belonged in a slice-of-life anime.
"Good morning."
"Yo."
"Sup."
Touji greeted his two self-proclaimed 0.5 friends, then made his way to his seat. After putting away his bento and hanging his bag on the hook beside the desk, he noticed Mayonaka Kokonoka, the girl who sat in front of him, turn around with a hopeful smile and a form in hand.
"Hey, hey, Kasumigaoka-kun, can I ask you for a tiny favor?"
Touji glanced at the paper in her hands, easily recognizing it as a club registration form. Still, he played dumb and asked with a raised eyebrow, "What kind of favor?"
Kokonoka's cheeks puffed up slightly as she pouted.
"I walked around the whole campus yesterday after school, but I couldn't find a club dedicated to napping… So I wanna start one! A Nap Club!"
"A Nap Club…?" Touji muttered, as if rolling the words around in his mouth.
"Kojima-sensei said we need at least five members to register it as a hobby group. So… can you help me make up the numbers?" she asked, eyes sparkling like a hopeful puppy.
Her lamb-like gaze locked onto him, and for a moment, Touji thought she might just start baa-ing if he declined.
Feigning thoughtfulness, he crossed his arms and tapped his chin. After a few seconds of mock deliberation, he asked slyly, "How many members do you have so far?"
"…Zero."
With that, Kokonoka's shoulders drooped like a flower in winter.
She had only just returned to Japan recently and hadn't really made any close friends. Earlier, she'd tried asking around the classroom, but everyone either turned her down gently or dodged her with polite excuses.
"Then this sounds like a pipe dream."
Touji smirked as he leaned forward, giving her a dry look. "Still… it's not entirely impossible. I'll join. And I'll even help you find more people. But on one condition."
"Condition?" Kokonoka blinked, tilting her head like a curious bunny.
At the same time, several students nearby began subtly listening in, clearly intrigued.
Touji didn't acknowledge them. Instead, he raised a finger, stating his demand like a villain making a pact.
"I want to install a microwave in the clubroom. I'll be reheating food there regularly. It might interrupt your naps."
Kokonoka didn't even hesitate.
"That's totally fine! I can sleep through anything!"
The girl proudly puffed out her chest… though it didn't puff much.
"As long as I have my pillow, I can nap anywhere! Microwave sounds like background music to me!"
Touji chuckled and nodded.
"Alright then. I'm in."
He reached for the form in her hands and began filling it out neatly with his name.
"Oh, by the way—do you have a faculty advisor yet?"
"Yep! Kojima-sensei said she'd sign off on it once I get enough members."
Touji paused mid-stroke and looked up in surprise.
She seriously went straight to Kojima Kana?
He wasn't sure whether to call it bravery or just airheadedness. Still, Kojima-sensei was actually kind and gentle despite her intimidating looks, so he didn't object.
Once he finished writing his name, he handed the form back to Kokonoka and said, "Give me two more blank forms. I'll recruit two more members. You're on your own for the last one."
He wanted to support her, but not do everything for her.
"No problem!" she said with determination, her voice soft but her eyes burning with resolve. "I'll definitely find one more person! Even if I have to ask every student on campus, I'll do it!"
She raised her hand and struck a determined Naruto pose in her seat—adorable and oddly inspiring.
"Nice! That's the spirit~." Touji gave her a satisfied nod.
Just then, out of the corner of his eye, he spotted something odd—something pink slipping through the back door.
A suspiciously large mouse.
No, wait, that was Gotou Hitori, hunched low, trying to sneak to her seat without being noticed.
Touji smirked and immediately reached for one of the blank forms.
Without a word, he got up, walked over, and gently placed it on her desk.
"Gotou-san, congratulations. You're now officially the third member of the Nap Club."
"Huh…? Ehh…!? H-Hold on! I didn't—w-wait, what is this!?"
Gotou Hitori froze mid-scoot into her chair, her face flushing bright pink.
Mission success.