Kan Yuu had no idea how long she had been asleep.
She only remembered drifting through an endless dream.
In the dream, countless voices seemed to call out her name:
"Yuu, if you keep pursuing this, there's no future for you! Have you forgotten what happened to your grandfather in the end?!"
"Yuu, you've been hanging around that old man for far too long—you're just as stubborn and foolish as he was!"
"We're sorry, Miss Kan Yuu, but our contract ends here. Please don't come looking for us again."
"Yuu, this illness of yours can't be delayed any longer. Go to England. Your grandfather is waiting for you to come back."
Her eyes snapped open, and she sat up straight on the sofa.
The surroundings were unfamiliar.
Morning sunlight streamed through the glass doors leading to the balcony, scattering soft light across the floor.
The sound of running water came from the kitchen. On the tidy dining table, everything was neatly arranged. That's when the memories of last night came rushing back.
She… had actually fallen asleep in Rin Amane's apartment.
Kan Yuu pressed her hand against her forehead.
Just how much trouble had she caused him already?
Drinking only brings disaster… why had she let herself drink so much?
Almost reflexively, she tossed the blanket off her body and quickly checked herself.
Her slip dress and underwear were still in place, her hair neat, her appearance untouched. Nothing had happened.
Only her head throbbed faintly, and her legs felt sore.
Probably from wandering around outside for so long last night… and the ridiculous amount of alcohol she had downed.
She slipped on her shoes and followed the sound into the kitchen.
Peeking in, she saw Rin Amane in an apron, moving the spatula with practiced ease.
"You're awake?" he asked.
"Mm."
Kan Yuu stepped inside and stood beside him.
"What are you cooking?"
"Egg noodles." Rin extended a hand without looking. "Soy sauce."
She picked up the bottle from the table, twisted open the cap, and handed it to him.
He poured it in skillfully, then said again, "Eggs."
"How many?"
"Two."
"Got it."
She passed them over.
Crack! Crack! Crack!
The eggs hit the pan.
Rin passed her the spatula and moved to the cutting board.
Chop! Chop!
He sliced a neat row of scallions and tossed them into the pan. Kan Yuu stirred them in with swift, light flicks of the spatula.
It was as though they had been cooking together for years—seamless and efficient, perfectly in sync.
Before long, the noodles were ready.
They sat across from each other, eating breakfast together.
Kan Yuu poked at a soft-boiled egg with her chopsticks, and golden yolk spilled out.
She lifted it, took a bite, and the rich, savory flavor exploded in her mouth.
Her eyes widened.
"Good?" Rin asked.
"Mm-hm!"
She nodded furiously and slurped two more mouthfuls of steaming noodles.
Then, cupping her cheeks with both hands, she let out an expression of pure bliss.
"It's delicious!"
To turn something as simple as egg noodles into this… that took real skill!
"Rin Amane, I never expected your cooking to taste this good," Kan Yuu praised sincerely.
Of all things, who would have thought the moment that stirred her the most… was a bowl of egg noodles?
Rin chuckled. "Living alone, I usually cook this the most. Guess I picked up a few tricks."
"When are you heading to school?" she asked.
"In a bit."
"Will you come home for lunch?"
"Usually not."
Though Rin was technically a commuter student, taking the subway back and forth was too much of a hassle. At midday, he usually went to the library near the school or napped at a café.
But…
His gaze flicked toward the girl in front of him.
The system had bound them together successfully. But what worried him most was the thought of leaving—and Kan Yuu immediately attempting to throw her life away again.
"You won't be coming back at noon?"
Kan Yuu bit her lip, looking thoughtful.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"Before you go, I want to thank you. A meal, bubble tea, somewhere fun—we can do whatever you choose." Her voice was earnest.
"From yesterday until now, I've only been troubling you. I can't just leave without giving something back."
What you mean by "leave," is to go meet God, right?!
If you don't try to kill yourself, that's thanks enough for me.
"Today at noon really won't work. Tonight instead?" he offered.
"Tonight… ah…"
She chewed on her fingertip, lost in thought again.
Finally, she said, "I think I'd better just give you money. Whatever you want to eat or drink is fine. I still have a little saved up."
Saved up? Just for food and tea?
So she's broke too, just like me.
Of course, Rin couldn't accept her money. That would only push her away.
Just then, he noticed something off about the way she moved as she ate.
"What's wrong with your arm?"
"Huh?"
She froze.
Rin reached out and pressed gently against her shoulder.
"Ow…" she let out a soft groan.
"Did you strain yourself yesterday?"
"My legs are still sore too," she admitted.
"Want to go for a foot massage?" he asked.
"Foot massage? Where? Do my feet smell or something?"
She glanced down, lifting one foot and wiggling her toes, then looked at him innocently.
"Not that kind of foot massage," Rin said quickly. "A spa. Massage therapy. It helps your body relax."
"That's expensive, isn't it?"
Rin grinned. Like a magician pulling out a trick, he produced a coupon from his pocket.
—Golden Impression Spa Foot Massage, 399 yen discount coupon!
"When I get back tonight, you treat me to dinner, and I'll take you for a massage. Deal?"
Kan Yuu blinked at the coupon in his hand.
Then she looked down at her toes.
Hesitantly, she murmured, "I… I guess that's not impossible…"
"Then it's settled!" Rin stood up decisively. "So don't go wandering today. Wait for me tonight—I'll take you for that massage."
He grabbed his backpack from the sofa. Before she could reply, he had already pulled out his phone, opened his messaging app, and held it out.
"Add me on LINE," he said. "If something comes up while I'm at school, contact me here."
"Alright."
She brought up her QR code, and he scanned it.
Her username: [Sunlight After Rain].
Her profile picture: a sunflower.
This… this is what high school girls in 2024 are using for LINE?
For some reason, Rin felt a strange gap in time.
Even that twenty-four-year-old cosplayer he'd met yesterday—still pretending to be a schoolgirl—had a username like [Sexy Prairie Queen].
No wonder people said anyone into classical music was old-fashioned. Kan Yuu really fit the part.
"I'm heading out," Rin said, slinging on his backpack and opening the door.
Before stepping through, he gave her one last look.
"If anything happens, message me. Promise!"
Bang!
The door closed.
Walking toward the subway station, Rin exhaled deeply and pulled out his phone.
His mind went back to last night—to Kan Yuu's mutterings in her sleep.
He opened his browser and tapped into his search history.
He had looked up her name.
[Defeat! Looking Back Sixteen Years: How Kan Hua, the Nation's Cello Prodigy, Fell at the International Corel Cup—What Should We Reflect On?]