If you want to know what someone's really like, asking the people around them is obviously a good choice.
Of course, if you ask an ex, you might get… extreme reviews.
But right now, Takahashi Mio wanted to hear how Shiratori Kiyoya would evaluate Hojo Shione.
"I know."
His reply came almost instantly. Surprise flickered in Mio's eyes; her fingers began typing:
"Do you think without Friend A's songs, Hojo…"
She'd only typed half when a new message popped up from Kiyoya:
"You just finished class, right? Come to A-304."
Mio felt like someone had yanked her back mid–bathroom break. She quietly hit backspace.
After texting Nagata Nanase that she'd be late, she headed for the room he named—wondering what he wanted.
…
"I remember you're free on weekends, right?"
She'd barely stepped inside when the voice from in front of the AC unit asked her that.
She blinked—then felt a spark of delight.
Another date?
Date = shopping + fancy food.
Her brain connected the dots in a heartbeat.
Dating Shiratori Kiyoya is great, she thought.
But a girl needs a bit of reserve. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear as she walked to the seat beside him. "I should be free…"
"Good."
He glanced back at her and nudged the AC down to 22°.
Running the AC for just two people? A bit decadent… but she didn't mind the luxury, and sat beside his bag.
"What's up? Do you have plans?"
"Yeah. If you're free, start the acting classes this week. I've arranged them—fifty-six lessons total. You won't finish this term, but you can continue over break…"
She'd heard only half before the shy smile faded off her face.
"?"
Now she regretted that little prayer in the classroom.
"Um… I just remembered I… might've made weekend plans with friends…"
It was a limp pushback. She looked up—and under his gaze couldn't say another word.
Seeing right through her, he said, "Once you finish and pass the final assessment, I'll give you one million yen."
Mio's hands clenched on her skirt; she bit her lip. "It's not about the money…"
I want a day off. Classes are exhausting already—now weekends too? This doesn't feel like dating at all. It's like… a job.
Kiyoya didn't argue. He upped the bid. "Two million."
"…Okay. I understand."
Her eyes lit. For that, even hard work felt doable.
Satisfied with how fast the money worked, he nodded. "I'll go with you."
Then, as if recalling something: "Didn't you say your friends wanted to meet me? What time? I'll block it out."
"Ah, that…"
Her eyes flickered. "Someone can't make it this week—maybe we'll drop it…"
Truth was, thanks to Shione, she already knew which high school he'd attended. No need to set up a group sting.
And it felt like she was scheming against him. He probably wouldn't notice, but still—not great.
So long as she could be sure he wasn't a bad guy, that was enough.
At this point he didn't seem bad—if anything, he was pushing her toward a road she'd never dared dream about…
Kiyoya looked at her, as if he saw through the flimsy excuse. "Oh. Got it."
The look made Mio tense. Afraid of misunderstandings, she hurried to add, "I'm not hiding you. I already told them you're my boyfriend…"
"Oh."
His face gave nothing away. The more unreadable he was, the more her heart fluttered.
She scooted closer till their arms nearly touched, lifted her phone, and said, "I've been wanting to post that you're my boyfriend, but without proof they won't believe me."
"If you'd take a photo with me, then everyone will know. Otherwise annoying guys keep asking for my contact…"
He wasn't fond of photos—even when dating Hojo Shione, they barely took any—but this request had no grounds for refusal.
He leaned in; she slid half into his arms.
Feeling his warmth—this close to a guy for the first time—heat rose through her chest and up her cheeks. Eyes shy, she tapped the shutter.
Click.
Time froze. Mio pursed her lips, studying the boy in the frame.
Pretty photogenic.
She opened her Moments, tapped around, then flipped the screen for him to see.
The first line he saw was the caption:
"You're wonderful. I really like you. Let's stay together forever."
Plain and simple—clearly prewritten.
"Mhm. Looks good."
He nodded and started to pack his books.
Halfway through, he noticed the soulful look on her face.
"What is it?"
"Um…"
Mio bit her lip, a shadow of inferiority in her eyes. "I know we're… not that close yet, but… you're not going to post it too?"
Do you have another girlfriend?—the question hung in her eyes.
He thought for a moment. "I don't have many contacts. I can post."
It was, in fact, a way to make Shione lose hope completely; telling her he had a girlfriend had never been very convincing. Just block Aunt, and it'd be fine.
He posted, then flipped his phone to show her.
A smile bloomed. "Thank you."
So… Shione can see this too, right?
Mio didn't know why that thought came—but it felt refreshing.
Thinking of Shione, she blinked and remembered what she'd meant to ask. Looking at his profile, she said:
"Um, Shiratori-kun, about Friend A—"
"Right, I just remembered something—"
They both stopped mid-sentence and stared.
"You first," he said.
"Oh—um, do you know Friend A? Do you know why he suddenly retired his pen?"
"Didn't the post spell it out? Well's dry. He doesn't want to write anymore."
"Huh? He's really just one person?"
Kiyoya frowned. "What else would he be?"
"I didn't mean—I mean, people online say Friend A is a team, since the styles are so different."
"One person."
"Oh."
She nodded, then mused, "So he's a guy?"
"A guy."
"You're not jealous?"
"No."
Unless he's jealous of himself.
Mio nodded, the corner of her mouth tipping up.
Guess you two aren't that close, huh…
"Any more questions?" he asked when she fell quiet.
She jolted. "One last one…"
"Do you think without Friend A, Hojo Shione will stay popular?"
"Why wouldn't she?"
He answered with a question, then explained, "She's got great vocal talent. Even with other writers, she'll be fine. And Friend A's songs are good, but not to the point where 'if she doesn't sing his, she can't be a hit.'"
"Oh…"
And you say you're not jealous.
Not jealous and you downplay him like that?
Her face stayed neutral, but she was a bit miffed. On the one hand he praised Shione; on the other she thought Friend A's music was stellar—she sang it often and felt "genius" wasn't an overstatement.
Self-important, she grumbled inside, then smiled and asked, "Okay, I'm done. What did you want to say?"
"Right. I'll be going to a little sister's birthday on Wednesday—just letting you know."
"…"
Her smile froze.
He was "reporting" like a boyfriend—but it sounded more like a notice. If a guy truly cared about his girlfriend's feelings, he probably wouldn't even bring it up. The only reason to be so frank was because he assumed she had no right to object.
A vague sadness rose.
Mio gathered herself and kept her voice even. "Um… your real sister?"
"No. Hojo Shione's sister."
"?"
Her smile vanished. "Um, Shiratori-kun, we just went public, and you're going to accompany her sister on her birthday? If our friends see you, won't that look… bad?"
Kiyoya glanced at her. "Then come along too."
"…"