Life is nothing like the stories in novels.
For most people, their days are destined to remain ordinary and repetitive, with no sudden twists or grand adventures. It's only through media and the internet that people indulge in the fantasy of something extraordinary breaking into their everyday lives.
So when Rin Amane saw someone sitting on the edge of the rooftop railing, the thought of suicide didn't even cross his mind.He even cracked a lighthearted joke with the person, half in jest.
But once he returned to his room and replayed the details in his head, the more he thought about it, the less it felt right.
If it were just a joke, why would she even hand her cello to a stranger for safekeeping?
No way.
Was she actually serious about it?!
Rin snapped his laptop shut, took a deep breath, and sank into thought.
He had never been overly sentimental about the idea of suicide. To him, life was something lived as an individual; every person carried their own fate. Respecting someone else's decision was also, in a way, respecting your own.
A teenage girl attempting suicide usually came down to two reasons.
Either she wanted attention.Or she truly wished to be free.
If it was the kind that sought an audience—someone who deliberately chose a crowded place, confident that someone would rush to save her, even thinking such behavior made her look "cool"—Rin honestly thought such people might as well just die.
It would be better if no one in the crowd intervened, if everyone just stood by eating sunflower seeds, egging her on until she had no choice but to follow through.
After all, the meaning of such a person's life was simply to irritate as many people as possible while alive, and then, only after death, let everyone laugh in relief—achieving that twisted contrast of false tragedy.
But the girl Rin had just encountered clearly wasn't like that.
When he had casually said, "Don't go dying in front of my place," she had politely agreed and moved elsewhere.
A person who genuinely wanted to end things would never want to cause trouble for others.
Rin took another sip of his coffee, then froze as a sudden thought struck him.
This coffee—he remembered—it was made two days ago by Grandpa Kan, who had brewed it especially for him to celebrate his good midterm results. Rin didn't even like coffee, but he had been drinking it slowly over several days because it carried the old man's kindness.
If that girl really was Grandpa Kan's granddaughter…And Rin had just let her walk away to die…
He would regret it for the rest of his life.
The thought jolted him to his feet. He rushed out the door.
Climbing one floor up, he found the rooftop entrance already open, the broken padlock lying on the ground.
Damn it!
Rin's heart skipped a beat as he burst onto the rooftop.
The moon hung high, its silver light reflecting in pools of rainwater left from the afternoon storm.
He scanned the area frantically.
But there was no one.
Don't tell me she already jumped, paying tribute to Los Angeles' so-called king of falling stunts?!
Just as Rin cursed himself, a voice called out from behind him:
"What are you doing?"
He spun around.
The girl was standing right there, tilting her head slightly, looking at him with wide, vacant eyes.
"…Do you need something?"
Rin steadied his breath."I came to see if you jumped."
"Oh? You planning to collect my corpse?"
Her logic stunned him into silence.
I mean—wasn't that exactly what it sounded like? Wait—if he said yes, would that mean she wouldn't jump after all?
"…Not really. I just wanted to tell you—falling to your death actually hurts quite a lot."
"You've tried it?"
"I had a friend. He was the best pilot we ever had… until one day, he fell from a helicopter."
"Ah…"
The girl bit her finger thoughtfully. "But weren't we just joking earlier?"
By "earlier," she meant their brief exchange on the sixth floor.
This time it was Rin's turn to be confused.
"Then what were you…?"
"I was looking for my lost kitten."
As if on cue, Rin felt something brush against his leg. He looked down to find a little white kitten rubbing affectionately against him.
So she really was… just looking for a cat?
The girl crouched, waved gently, and the kitten bounded into her arms. It nestled against her hand with obedient affection.
Rin let out a long sigh, shoulders slumping.
Well—at least she was alive. That alone made this trip worthwhile.
As he lifted his gaze again, the night sky stretched above him, serene and star-dusted, the rooftop bathed in moonlight. Only now did Rin notice what a beautiful evening it was.
Just as he turned to leave—
A translucent screen flickered before his eyes.
[Detected: suitable partner candidate found. Recommended for binding—][Name: Kan Sayaka][Successfully binding the system's recommended partner will grant a Beginner's Gift Pack]
"…Kan Sayaka?" Rin muttered under his breath.
The girl blinked in surprise."You know my name?"
"Your grandfather mentioned it once," Rin replied smoothly.
For some reason, her expression dimmed at the mention of her grandfather. Her gaze shifted away.
The screen continued flashing:
[Binding Requirements:]
Have the target stay at your home for one night.
Extract the target's bodily fluid for intelligent analysis.[Time Limit: 24 hours]
…Bodily fluid? Staying the night??
Rin's brain short-circuited.How was he supposed to convince a girl he'd only spoken a few words to—to not only stay at his house, but also provide… that?
No way. Absolutely not.
If anything, letting her fall to her death and then dragging her body home would probably make it easier—he'd have all the fluids he wanted and she could stay as many nights as he wished.
Though… she'd be sleeping in the fridge.
Just then, a soft melody drifted through the air.
Rin turned, startled.
Kan Sayaka had seated herself on the threshold of the rooftop door, her hands on her cello, bow gliding gracefully across the strings.
Wait—why did she suddenly start playing music out of nowhere?!
Admittedly, the scene had its charm: a beautiful girl, under the moonlight, performing atop a quiet rooftop. It was the kind of moment that belonged in a painting.
But still… wasn't the timing a little creepy?!
Rin groaned inwardly.
Yet he couldn't deny it—the music was gentle, soothing. The cello's deep, resonant tones spread into the night, filling the rooftop with calm beauty. Clearly, she had trained from a young age.
With talent like this, her future was limitless.
When she finished, Sayaka brushed her hair back behind her ear and looked up."This was the piece my grandfather taught me."
"Grandpa Kan knows music?"
"He does. But he doesn't play anymore."
Her chestnut-brown eyes shimmered briefly, then she asked,"Are you close with my grandfather?"
"He's helped me a lot," Rin answered modestly.
"What's your name?"
"Rin Amane."
"…Rin Amane."
Sayaka repeated his name softly.
From the rooftop conversation earlier, to the way he had barged up here just now—everything about this boy intrigued her.
Strange. Interesting. Maybe even… kind.
But his presence also threw her into confusion.
Since the moment Rin had appeared, her mind had been a whirl of tangled thoughts.
Hugging the kitten, she murmured gently,"Rin, it's getting late. You should go home."
"What about you?"
"I'll stay a while longer. To feel the night breeze."
"Then I'll keep you company."
Sayaka blinked, taken aback.
Rin wasn't stupid. He wasn't about to believe her story about "just finding a cat" so easily. His instincts screamed it was more complicated than that.
He couldn't risk leaving. What if the second he turned away, she really did jump?
One thing was clear.
Whether for the sake of binding with the system, or simply to ensure this girl's safety—Rin had to bring Kan Sayaka back with him tonight.
Even if it meant… using force.
Knock her out, tie her up with spare computer cables, drag her home if he had to. Whatever it took.
Because once she was in his house, her choices wouldn't matter anymore.
They stared at each other in silence.
The night wind brushed through her long black hair, strands scattering across her pale face, glowing faintly in the moonlight.
Finally, Sayaka exhaled softly.
"Does your house… have a bathroom?"
"…Of course." Rin was speechless. What kind of question is that? Who doesn't have a bathroom?
"Then… could I…"
She set the kitten down, then turned her back to him. The blue-and-white uniform she wore was damp and stained from the puddles, clinging uncomfortably to her frame.
"…Borrow your bathroom for a shower?"
Rin froze.
Was she… offering herself up?