Because of the way things played out, Kasumigaoka Touji never did get to hear what Kojima Kana had wanted to say to him on the train that day. The mystery lingered in his mind like an unanswered question. During the morning's Japanese language class, Kana didn't show the slightest hint of strangeness—her tone, her expression, everything was calm, as though nothing at all had happened. She didn't call him to the office after class either.
Perhaps… she was too shy and embarrassed? From that brief encounter in the morning, Touji got the sense that Kojima-senpai was the type of girl who was very introverted and easily flustered. The setting in the original work seemed to portray her like that too…
…
"Eh, Kasumigaoka-kun, aren't you heading home?"
After school—
The rain hadn't stopped all day. The class representative on duty looked surprised to see Touji still sitting in the classroom instead of leaving as he usually did. His pen scratched against his notebook as he tried to finish up his homework.
"Well… Utaha is on duty today. I'm waiting for her," Touji explained, lifting his head casually.
"I see!" The classmate smiled knowingly before picking up a broom. "Then I'll clean up this side for you."
"Thanks," Touji said simply. He stood, pulled out his chair to give them space, then sat back down once the sweeping was done.
Outside, the heavy rain painted the windows in streaks. The whole school felt quieter than usual; most outdoor clubs had canceled practice, leaving the building strangely hushed.
Touji scribbled away at his homework, the sound of rain his only company, until his phone buzzed. A short message from Utaha: Come down, I'm done.
Stuffing his half-completed worksheets into his bag, he slung it over his shoulder and headed out into the hallway, making his way to their usual meeting spot at the empty stairwell.
"Sorry for the wait~" a familiar, melodious voice called out.
There, leaning against the railing, was Kasumigaoka Utaha. A sly, fox-like grin played on her lips as she hooked a finger into the collar of her dark blue sailor uniform. "Now, let's see… I believe my dear little brother once said that a proper apology requires a show of sincerity, right? Something about… showing your chest?"
Touji's eyes widened in genuine surprise. Is Onee-san actually being this self-aware today? A thrill of anticipation ran through him. He could never get enough of admiring Utaha's magnificent breasts, and the forbidden thrill of doing so in school sent his imagination into overdrive.
"Well, if you're offering so earnestly, who am I to refuse?" he said, leaning in closer with an expectant look. "Let's see it."
Thwack.
The expected view was replaced by a sharp, stinging pain on his forehead as Utaha delivered a flawless flick, complete with a comical bonk sound effect.
"Sorry," she chirped, her smile dripping with triumphant mischief. "But I simply cannot grant such a perverted request."
Pleasure +1!
Rubbing the sore spot on his forehead, Touji fixed her with a look of profound betrayal. "What about the trust between people, Onee-san? How can I ever believe a word you say in the future? A broken promise like this… people who go back on their word usually meet a terrible fate, you know!"
He wore an expression of utter devastation, as if his entire world had been shattered.
Utaha only laughed harder, a joyful, tinkling sound that echoed in the stairwell. She wagged a finger back and forth. "Silly baka. This isn't 'breaking a promise,' it's called 'telling a joke.'" Having declared her victory, she turned on her heel, her twin tails swishing behind her as she began to descend the stairs. "If you get this serious over a simple joke," her voice floated back to him, "then you've already lost!"
"Is that so?" Touji shot back, quickly following after her. "Well, two can play at that game." In a flash, his hand darted out and delivered a sharp, playful slap to her retreating backside.
"Hyaa!" Utaha jolted, sidestepping with a startled yelp before whirling around to face him, her cheeks tinged with pink. Her eyes narrowed with amused challenge. "Oh? Do explain, little brother. Just what kind of joke was that supposed to be?"
A smirk tugged at Touji's lips as he breezed past her, descending the steps with an infuriatingly casual air. He tossed her own words right back at her. "If you get this serious over a simple joke, Onee-san… then you've already lost!"
With that final, triumphant retort hanging in the air, Kasumigaoka Touji breezed past his speechless older sister, descending the stairs with the air of a shogi master who had just executed a perfect, game-ending move. Defeating magic with magic was the only way to deal with someone like Utaha.
Kasumigaoka Utaha stood frozen on the steps, her mouth slightly agape. The echo of his words and the stinging sensation on her backside left her utterly defeated.
"…"
"…"
A few moments later, they arrived at the first-floor shoe lockers, the usual post-school bustle having long since quieted down thanks to the relentless rain. With a playful, competitive glance, the two siblings parted ways to head to their respective class areas.
Touji had just reached the lockers for his class when a familiar, forlorn figure caught his eye. Over by the umbrella stand, Kani Nayuta stood perfectly still, her shoulders slumped as she stared emptily at the crowded rack of umbrellas.
She looks like a lost puppy in the rain, he thought, a pang of concern hitting him. He quickly changed his shoes and made his way over.
"What's wrong,Nayuta-chan?" he asked, his voice softening. "Did someone take your umbrella?"
In Japan, bringing wet umbrellas into the classroom was a cardinal sin. From kindergarten onward, every class had its own designated umbrella stand, usually placed right here in the genkan. It was a system that, while practical, inevitably led to mix-ups… or worse, malicious theft by classmates who'd forgotten their own. Touji himself had been a victim a few times, but he'd never had to worry about walking home in the rain, not with Utaha or his friend Izumi Masamune around.
"Well… I guess so," a soft, almost whisper-like voice replied.
Kani Nayuta turned her head, her large, expressive eyes filled with a familiar cocktail of fear, unease, and helplessness. Seeing that look directed at him made Touji's heart twitch. He didn't know all the details of her past—only rough outlines—but he could guess well enough. It was a safe bet that this wasn't the first time someone had maliciously targeted her umbrella, and the wound from those past experiences was being ripped open all over again.
"It's okay," he said, his voice firm yet gentle. Without a second thought, he stepped forward and pulled her into a comforting hug, patting her back reassuringly. "You can use mine. I'll just squeeze under Utaha's later."
Internally, however, a storm was brewing. Damn it! You useless, good-for-nothing bullies! You never do anything right! He cursed both the ghosts of her past and the nameless fool responsible for this latest act of cowardice.
Being enveloped in Touji's embrace was like a purification spell for Kani Nayuta's spirit. The negative emotions clouding her heart evaporated, and her mood index skyrocketed from negative to a glowing positive. She let out a small, happy, and slightly embarrassed "Hnng," nuzzling against him for a brief, precious moment.
Touji finally released her, handing over his own umbrella, which had 'Kasumigaoka' clearly written on the handle. "Here you go."
He then crossed his arms, his expression turning serious and investigative. "By the way, what does your umbrella look like?" He was already planning a suitably scathing condemnation in the class group chat later. Justice would be served!
"It's… overall red," Kani Nayuta began, her voice gaining a little more strength. She used her slender fingers to trace a line on Touji's transparent umbrella to demonstrate. "Only the edge, about this wide, is black." She then pointed to the handle. "And my surname is pasted right here, just like yours."
Hearing the description, Touji immediately ruled out any possibility of an honest mistake. A red umbrella with a distinct black border? There was no way someone could accidentally take that. Kani Nayuta was probably the only person in the entire class who owned one so unique.
A sudden memory flashed in his mind—a piece of gossip Eriri Spencer Sawamura had shared with him. She'd mentioned that there were two particularly spicy, mean-girl types in their class who seemed to have it out for the quiet Kani Nayuta.
Could it be them causing trouble again? he wondered, a frown etching itself onto his face.
Thinking about it carefully, it was not only possible, it was highly probable. This wasn't just a simple theft; it was a targeted act of bullying.
Then this matter needs to be investigated properly… he resolved, his eyes narrowing with determination. He wouldn't let this slide.