She looked adorable.
Unfortunately, Qin Yumou couldn't see that charming scene.
"You sure you'll be okay on your own?" Hiratsuka Shizuka asked, clearly hesitant to let go.
"Of course," he replied with a gentle smile. "I can head to the clubroom by myself."
He stepped away from her support with practiced grace.
Even though she was used to it by now, Shizuka still felt a strange twinge of regret each time.A blind boy moving that confidently—it shouldn't have felt so normal. But with Qin Yumou, it did.
With the hallways now empty as classes began, Qin Yumou made his way to his club—alone, but without missing a step.
He opened the classroom door and immediately felt the presence of someone inside.
"Yumou-kun! You're here!"
A cold, reserved voice softened instantly. The girl's face bloomed with a smile the moment she saw him.
She rushed over to help him to his seat.
After all, this particular club member was blind.
"Thanks, Yukino-chan. You're always a big help."
With her assistance, he sat down gracefully in his usual spot.A breeze blew past the window, causing his short, clean-cut hair to dance and the blindfold across his eyes to flutter. The girl froze for a moment, caught in the simple beauty of it.
"Hmm?"
Qin Yumou tilted his head slightly. "Something wrong?"
Though he couldn't see her, he could sense her presence, her breath, her momentary hesitation.
"Ah—no, nothing," Yukino said quickly, cheeks a faint shade of pink. Thank goodness he couldn't see her embarrassing moment of daydreaming.
"Helping others in need is the very mission of this club!" she declared in a tone of practiced formality.
"But I'm supposed to be the one helping you," Qin Yumou replied with a faint chuckle. "Not the other way around. Sorry for the trouble, Yukino-chan."
Qin Yumou had only been attending this school thanks to Shizuka's tireless effort.And the club he'd joined?
The Service Club.Led by Yukinoshita Yukino.
Though technically a member, Qin Yumou was also there as a "client" of sorts—another little arrangement Shizuka had pushed through without Yukino's approval.
But over time, that line had blurred.
"You say that like I haven't been the one receiving help," Yukino muttered, voice low but sincere.
She meant it.Though she was supposed to be the caretaker, it often felt like Qin Yumou was the one looking after her. Despite being blind, he never faltered.
He smiled warmly, basking in the stillness of the room.
A calm space.And beside him, a girl whose presence alone helped him grow stronger just by being near.
Before long, he drifted off to sleep.
Yukino returned to her seat, opening her book, though her eyes wandered to the sleeping boy.When they first met, she'd deliberately kept her distance.
Now, she'd moved her desk so close that they were barely inches apart.
It was the last shred of restraint for a girl who'd always been distant—A girl who'd grown used to being alone…Just like the blind boy who somehow understood that silence.
"See you tomorrow, Yukino-chan."
"See you tomorrow, Yumou-kun."
The door clicked shut behind him.Yukino's soft expression faded, replaced by her usual cool demeanor.
Only in front of him did she let herself smile.When he was nearby, her body felt lighter.Her exhaustion faded.She even felt stronger.
"…No way," she whispered, shaking her head. "That's just ridiculous. It's not because of Yumou-kun…"
But her heart knew better.
Shizuka had been swamped with work all day.As the language teacher and student life counselor, she often had late meetings or emergencies.
"Should I just head home first?" Qin Yumou offered.
"No way!" Shizuka barked firmly.
Her house wasn't far from the school, but she would never let her precious blind boy walk home alone.
"Then I'll just take a stroll nearby," Qin Yumou said casually.
"Fine," she relented with a smile. "But don't go too far!"
And so he wandered—no destination in mind.
Somehow, he ended up in a narrow alley.
"Hey there, little lady. Where you headed?"
"Wanna come hang out with us?"
Two punks in school uniforms, hair dyed red and yellow, cornered a purple-haired girl with predatory grins.
They didn't notice the glint in her eyes as she gripped a wooden sword.
"You really want to come over to my place?" she asked coldly.
"Oh, we'd love to. Bet we'll make you beg for more!" the redhead laughed.
But her attention shifted. Someone had entered the alley.
Tall. Calm. Handsome.A black blindfold over his eyes.
Qin Yumou.
"Did I just interrupt your fun?" he asked with a smile, walking slowly toward them.
"What's this? A blind hero trying to play savior?"
"You looking for a beating, blind boy?!"
Their bravado returned. After all, he was just a blind guy, right?
They charged him.
The girl raised her sword to intercept—but froze.In the next instant, both punks were on the ground, unconscious.
She stared at Qin Yumou in disbelief.
He hadn't moved.He was still standing exactly where he'd been.
Yet somehow…
"…Your breathing was steady. No panic," Qin Yumou said calmly. "You were about to take them down yourself, weren't you? I got in the way."
He turned to leave.
"Wait!" the girl called. "What's your name?"
Without looking back, he replied, "Qin Yumou."
She etched the name into her memory.
"Yumou! Where were you?!"
Shizuka's heels clicked rapidly against the pavement as she ran toward him, worry etched on her face.
"You're not hurt, are you?!"
Her hands brushed over his chest, his sides, and his stomach—maybe a little too thoroughly.
Qin Yumou raised an eyebrow. Was she just feeling me up?No one needed to check the abs that much…
Still, he let it go.
"Sorry, Shizuka Cute. Didn't mean to worry you."
"Let's go home," he added, holding out his hand.
She took it without hesitation, her cheeks slightly flushed.
Even though they'd held hands before… it still made her heart flutter.
Their home wasn't far—just across a few streets.
Shizuka clutched his hand tightly every time they crossed.He didn't really need her help to navigate anymore, but her hands were warm and soft.
He could hold them forever.
"I'll go unlock the door!"
She rushed ahead, opened the door, then came back to take his hand again.Together, they stepped inside.
The apartment was clean, the furniture neatly arranged.Not a speck of dust on the floor or table.
Shizuka darted into the kitchen, pulling out the prepped ingredients from the fridge.
Qin Yumou followed.
He found the knife with ease, took the ingredients from her hands, and began slicing with expert precision.
Their coordination was effortless.
The blind one cooked; the sighted one watched.
It should have felt strange.
But it didn't.
Shizuka leaned against the doorframe, watching him work.
She remembered the first time she brought him home—how she had to do everything for him.
Now?The roles had reversed.
The house was spotless.The meals? Restaurant quality.
She'd even once come home to a full table of traditional Chinese dishes.
She had scolded him furiously that night, accusing him of faking his blindness.
But it wasn't a lie.
He really was blind.
And she had almost driven him away.
Now, thinking about it… she felt a warmth in her chest she couldn't deny.
This house… this food… this boy. I don't ever want to lose any of it.
Qin Yumou continued cooking calmly, sensing her unspoken emotions.
"Wow! This is amazing!" she exclaimed as they sat down to eat. "All the stress from today just melted away!"
Even though she'd tasted his food countless times… it still made her eyes light up.
"I think bringing you home was the best decision I've ever made," she said softly.
Not "picking you up off the street."Bringing you home.
She was careful with her words.
Qin Yumou smiled at her warmth.
But then—
"No drinking," he said, catching her hand as she quietly tried to open a bottle of wine.
"Aw, come on, Yumou~ Just one sip?" she pouted playfully.
Only in front of him did she act like this.
Carefree. Happy. Herself.