It's an unpredictable April day. The afternoon's clear sky turns overcast by evening, with a faint rumble of thunder in the distance.
Inside the Unshikawakunko Publishing House, the editorial department is brightly lit. Machida Sonoko sits on a sofa, legs crossed, facing Hiratsuka Ryosuke.
"Teacher Ryou, why are you here today?" she asks.
Ryosuke hadn't planned on stopping by, but on his way home from his meeting with Eriri, he noticed the lights were on even on a Saturday.
"I've come to drop off the illustrations," he says, handing her a file bag. "If they're satisfactory, I'd like to discuss more funding for illustrations."
Sonoko is surprised. "Already?" A top-tier artist is hard to find, and they rarely work this fast. She takes the file and nods in approval at the finished work.
"I'll speak with the editor-in-chief about the funding," she assures him. "It shouldn't be a problem."
She doesn't ask for the artist's information, as it's an unspoken rule. Contract artists aren't supposed to take on private work, but many use different pen names to do so. The practice is so common that publishers often look the other way.
"Then I'll take my leave," Ryosuke says, bowing. He's impressed by the editors' dedication, working late on a weekend.
"Let me go! This is illegal imprisonment!" a familiar voice cries out. "Waaah, I'm sorry! I'll never miss a deadline again!"
Ryosuke looks at Sonoko, silently asking for an explanation.
She grins wryly. "Why do you think I'm working overtime on a weekend?"
Ryosuke knows Elf's habits well and offers a silent prayer for his friend. As he reaches the elevator, a voice calls out.
"Oh? Isn't that little Ryosuke? What a coincidence."
From the corner of his eye, he sees a beautiful girl and a middle-aged man. If Ryosuke had a list of girls he'd rather not see, she would be at the top.
"Still cold," Yukinoshita Haruno says, poking his cheek with a slender finger. "Are you pretending you can't hear me?"
"What do you want?" he asks, his tone icy. He has no desire to talk to this manipulative girl with her fake smile.
Inside the elevator, Haruno presses herself against him. Her scent fills the small space, and he can feel her warm breath.
"Little Ryosuke, want to go on a date with your older sister, Haruno?" she whispers, her voice like a little devil's. "I'm a real-life high school girl, you know."
"I heard you're writing a novel? How impressive."
"Aren't you curious why I'm here? I'll tell you a secret: this building belongs to the Yukinoshita family."
"By the way, that girl Nishimiya Shoko is so lucky."
Ryosuke turns, his cold eyes meeting hers. "I'm warning you, Yukinoshita Haruno. If you dare to do anything to the people around me, I won't let you get away with it."
Haruno is momentarily stunned. She pulls back a little, then laughs and pats his shoulder.
"Haha, little Ryosuke, you're so scary. What kind of villain do you think I am?"
When they reach the ground floor, the elevator doors open. They step out, and Haruno turns to the middle-aged man.
"Lawyer Hayama, you can go back. I have a few things to do."
"Yes, my lady. I'll take my leave," the man says, bowing before walking away.
"Hayama?" Ryosuke thinks, picturing the handsome boy from his class, Hayama Hayato.
"You've met Hayama Hayato, haven't you, little Ryosuke?" Haruno asks, as if reading his mind.
"What do you want?" Ryosuke says. Talking to her is exhausting; he has to guess the meaning behind her every word.
They walk silently for a while before Haruno breaks the silence. "I don't like Hayama Hayato," she says calmly.
Ryosuke glances at her, thinking, "I see. But what does that have to do with me?"
"Lawyer Hayama is our family's legal advisor," she continues. "Hayama Hayato grew up with my sister and me."
"My sister, Yukino, is very awkward. She was isolated by her classmates, and Hayama did something foolish that made it worse." Ryosuke doesn't say anything, just listens. "He's not a bad person, but he doesn't understand people. Forcing his kindness on others to maintain a superficial friendship only makes them more rebellious."
"He tried to help Yukino fit in with his friends, but he abandoned her halfway through, which led to a worse outcome. Isn't that ridiculous?"
"Sometimes I wonder if things would have been different if Yukino had met you when she was little," she says. "You have so many similarities, so I noticed you right away. But it's a shame. Yukino has already been sent abroad."
Ryosuke stops walking. "So? Do you see me as a replacement for your sister?" he asks. He realizes she's just looking for drama. Hayato's presence at Sogabu Middle School probably isn't a coincidence, either.
Haruno laughs. "Haha, you're so interesting, little Ryosuke. Yukino would never talk to me like that." She then lowers her voice. "All that matters is that the people I'm close to understand me. I don't care what others think." Then, her expression turns serious. "Hiratsuka Ryosuke, if you were in my position, what would you do?"
Rain begins to fall.
"It must be hard being your sister," he says without a hint of sympathy. "But I'm not like you. I wouldn't run away. If the enemy is strong, I'd just make myself stronger."
He's well aware of her mindset, having come from a similar background. She's resigned to her fate within the family and sent her sister away to spare her the same destiny. It's a shameful escape, but it's effective.
Haruno looks at him, a hint of expectation in her eyes. "If I ever fell into a desperate situation like Nishimiya Shoko, would you come to save me?" she asks, her tone playful.
"No. And you're not like Shoko; you would never let yourself get into that situation."
"Hahaha, little Ryosuke, you really don't understand girls," she says, putting her mask back on. "You're supposed to say, 'No matter where you are, I'll come to save you.' Even if it's a lie, it gives a girl hope."
She waves at a black car that pulls up. As she gets in and rolls down the window, she winks.
"Well, little Ryosuke, I hope your novel sells well," she teases. "Your older sister, Haruno, will support you. Go, Guardian Knight!"
The car speeds away.
Ryosuke goes home to find Nibutani Shinka rolling around on the floor. When she sees him, her eyes light up.
"Ryosuke! You're back!"
As she approaches him, she sniffs the air like a puppy. Her brow furrows, and she takes two steps back, staring at him with a scrutinizing gaze. Her eyes widen in disbelief.
"Ryosuke," she says, her voice full of shock. "Why do you have such a strong scent of a woman on you?"