The next couple of days passed in a familiar rhythm.
As promised, Haruya returned to the bakery a few more times, helping out alongside Akari.
At first, he fumbled with trays and mistimed the coffee machine, but it didn't take long before his hands moved with practiced ease.
Thanks to his gift of Adaptability, the routines that once seemed foreign to him soon came easily, almost overnight.
Folding pastry dough, memorizing orders, and even socializing with the customers. He absorbed it all as if he'd been working there for months instead of days.
Rina and Hiroki were equally impressed and annoyed by how quickly he caught on.
"Unbelievable," Rina muttered one afternoon, watching Haruya slide a steaming cappuccino across the counter with perfect foam art. "I've been working here for years, and you're already this smooth?"
"Guess he's just built different," Hiroki laughed, rubbing his forehead. "Next thing we know, he'll be running the shop."
Haruya only laughed without making any comment. In the past few days, he had come to enjoy this little routine.
Spending time with his mother, learning the ropes, and feeling the warmth of the bakery that had become a second home to him in just a few days.
But soon enough, life pulled him back toward his own world.
...
A fresh spring breeze swept through a familiar neighborhood, carrying along with it was the scent of budding flowers and the faint sound of cicadas.
Nagisa Kubo had finally returned from her vacation in Osaka.
Haruya had received her message the night before: "I'm back! Come pick me up tomorrow. Let's go out together!"
And so, on this particular afternoon, Haruya found himself standing outside the familiar yard of the Kubo household.
His heart beat a little quicker than usual, though he told himself it was just the excitement of seeing her again after what felt like forever.
Today, before the school year began and classes claimed their days again, the two of them had decided to spend one last carefree outing together.
Haruya took a step forward and knocked on the door. Almost immediately, it burst wide open, a familiar girl standing in front of him with a happy smile.
"Haruya-kun! It's been a while." Nagisa cheered.
"Nagisa-san, how have you been?" Haruya radiated the same energy.
Nagisa didn't answer, only stepping forward, standing almost face-to-face with Haruya.
"Uh... Nagisa?"
He was a bit confused by her action.
"Wow~ You've grown by bit, Haruya-kun!"
The girl in front of him stood in a slight tiptoe, just to finally be at eye level with him.
"We were once on the same eye level, but it seems like you had a big growth spurt while you were away," she exclaimed.
Haruya shrugged lightly, "I'm a boy after all."
Putting her hands behind her back, Nagisa took a step back and stared at him for a few seconds before running past him and outside into the yard.
"That's right~ You're a boy after all. Let's go then, Haruya-kun!"
Scratching his head in confusion, he started to feel like Nagisa seemed to be starting to become similar to her sister Akina, talking in a cryptic tone, mixed with a bit of teasing.
The two of them left the Kubo household, Nagisa skipping a few steps ahead, her ponytail-tied hair swaying with each bounce.
Haruya followed behind with a faint smile, his hands in his pockets, watching how carefree she looked under the afternoon sun.
They took the train towards the city, the ride filled with small chatter and storytelling from their respective vacation spots.
Soon, the two of them arrived at their destination and stepped into the nearest mall, the cool air-conditioning washing over them as Nagisa's eyes sparkled at the sight of countless stores.
"Come on, Haruya-kun! Let's check the clothing shop first," she tugged his sleeve with the excitement of a child at a festival.
"Come on, Haruya-kun! Let's check out that shop first!" Nagisa tugged on his sleeve, dragging him toward one of the trendier boutiques lined with new arrivals for the spring season.
Haruya didn't resist. He found himself carried along by her energy as Nagisa dove straight into the racks of dresses, skirts, and cardigans, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
Before long, she emerged holding a few outfits draped over her arm, grinning proudly.
"Wait here! I'll show you!" she announced, disappearing behind the changing room curtains.
Haruya sat on a bench nearby, leaning back as he waited.
After a few minutes, the curtain pulled open, and Nagisa stepped out.
First was a pastel cardigan layered over a simple blouse and a flowing skirt. The soft colors made her seem even more gentle, almost like she had stepped straight out of a spring painting.
"What do you think?" she asked, twirling lightly in front of him.
"It suits you well, like a studious girl," Haruya said honestly, nodding with a small smile.
Nagisa's lips curved upward, a pleased expression pasted on her face.
She ducked back into the dressing room and emerged again with the second choice, a more modern look: a denim jacket over a white tee, paired with a short pleated skirt. It gave her a lively, almost mischievous vibe.
"This one?" She struck a playful pose, hands on her hips.
Haruya chuckled. "It fits your energy well. Very cute."
A faint blush appeared on her cheeks at his straightforward words. She quickly ducked back inside, mumbling something about the next one.
The third outfit was a light one-piece dress with delicate floral prints.
Simple, elegant, yet undeniably charming.
Nagisa clasped her hands nervously in front of her, swaying just slightly as if awaiting his judgment.
"You look beautiful," Haruya said without hesitation.
Nagisa's face immediately turned bright red, and she looked away with a small huff. "D-Don't just say it like that…"
After cycling through them again, she returned to the bench with all three draped over her arm, looking conflicted.
"Haruya-kun, which one do you think I should get?" The girl asked.
In the end, Haruya leaned back in his chair, arms crossed. "Honestly, I can't decide. I like them all."
Her blush deepened. She pressed her lips together, torn between embarrassment and happiness. "But my allowance isn't enough to buy all three…"
Haruya thought for a moment, then stood up without a word. Before she could react, he gathered all three outfits into his arms and walked toward the cashier.
"Haruya-kun? Wait, what are you—"
But by the time she caught up, the clerk was already bagging the outfits, Haruya's card neatly tucked back into his wallet. He grabbed the bags of clothes, raising it in front of Nagisa.
"Haruya-kun!! You didn't have to do that!" Nagisa exclaimed, her voice almost cracking.
Her hands fidgeted at her sides, unsure whether to push the bags back at him.
"Consider it a gift," Haruya said calmly, handing the bags to her. "I'd like to see you wear them in the future."
Nagisa froze, her face bright red. She looked away, clutching the shopping bags tightly against her chest. "You're impossible sometimes…" she muttered under her breath.
The rest of the afternoon passed in a blur of lighthearted moments.
Together, they shared ice cream outside the mall, Nagisa accidentally smearing a bit on her nose, which Haruya pointed out with a chuckle before she hurriedly wiped it away in embarrassment.
By the time the train carried them back toward Nagisa's neighborhood, the sky was already painted orange with the setting sun.
As they arrived in front of her house, Haruya passed her the bags once more. "Here. And… I hope we'll end up in the same class again this year."
Nagisa hugged the bags close, her gaze lingering on him. "...Me too."
"See you when school starts, Nagisa-san." Haruya gave her a small wave and turned away, walking down the street.
Nagisa stood by the gate, eyes following his retreating back. Quietly, almost like a prayer, she whispered to herself: 'Please… let us be in the same class.'
The front door behind her suddenly creaked open.
Akina leaned against the frame, a teasing smile playing on her lips.
"Well, well. How was your date?" she asked, her tone mixed with mischief.
"It wasn't a date!" Nagisa instantly retorted, her face heating up red again.
But Akina's eyes dropped to the shopping bags in Nagisa's hands. Her smile widened knowingly. "Three outfits, huh? With your allowance, there's no way... Ah, I see, I see~ How nice. I also wish I had a boyfriend who'd spoil me like that."
"Wha—Akina-nee!!"
Nagisa lunged forward, her sister laughing as she dashed back into the house.
The two of them chased each other around the living room, the sound of their playful bickering filling the home as the sun dipped beneath the horizon.