"Sorry for keeping you waiting."
Twenty minutes later, Kasumigaoka Shiwa finally managed to meet up with Minamoto Senya at the entrance of the supermarket.
Although, as usual, he wore a mask to cover part of his face—his way of avoiding unnecessary trouble—his tall, striking figure and that hard-to-describe air of quiet refinement still made him stand out from the crowd. It was impossible not to notice him.
"It's fine. I didn't wait long. Here, take this."
Senya reached into his pocket and handed her a packet of tissues.
"Thanks."
That was one of the things Shiwa liked about him—the kind of gentle attentiveness that most guys didn't have.
And more importantly, even when he did something considerate like this, there wasn't a trace of awkwardness or self-consciousness about it. He did it naturally, confidently—without it ever making him seem less masculine.
Turning her head aside, Shiwa wiped the faint sweat from her forehead, the kind that had formed during her walk here, and followed Senya into the supermarket.
It was a little past four in the afternoon. Not too late, not quite rush hour yet. Most office workers were still at their desks, so there weren't many customers inside.
Senya grabbed a shopping cart and tossed both of their school bags into it. Shiwa walked beside him, quietly enjoying this rare moment of being alone together.
Though outwardly calm, her thoughts were anything but tranquil.
After all, Saeko had just hinted at something very pointed earlier… it was hard not to let her imagination wander about what might happen later tonight.
As for Senya… no good. With that mask covering half his face, she couldn't read his expression at all.
No, she couldn't stay silent like this. She had to say something, anything, to break the tension.
"You seem pretty familiar with this supermarket, Senya."
She'd noticed that he seemed to know the place well. Wherever they went, his movements were brisk and purposeful. Without even looking around, he would grab what he needed, toss it into the cart, and move on to the next aisle.
"Yeah," Senya replied. "I've stayed over at Saeko's place before… we came shopping here a few times together, so I got used to it."
He paused briefly mid-sentence, a pause that didn't escape Shiwa's notice. It gave her the impression that at first he'd hesitated to bring it up—maybe out of concern for how she'd take it—but realizing there was no point hiding things now, he just decided to be honest.
And she was right. Shiwa could read Minamoto Senya's thoughts with uncanny accuracy.
Strangely enough, though, even knowing what his words implied, her heart didn't stir as much as she would've expected.
She sighed inwardly.
Habit really is a scary thing. It quietly reshapes how you think and feel, turning what once seemed unacceptable into something you just… get used to.
They reached the meat section. Senya picked up a pack of beef for dinner and tossed it into the cart. Out of the corner of his eye, he glanced at Shiwa, who had gone silent again ever since his last comment.
She wasn't the bubbly, talkative type to begin with, but compared to their usual interactions, this level of quiet was definitely off.
So it was what he'd said earlier. It must've hit a nerve—an unintentional critical hit.
Still, it wasn't like what he said was untrue.
Things had gone smoothly with Saeko and Tokika so far—no major conflicts, no real setbacks. He'd gotten used to that sense of progress, to believing that if he just kept moving forward, everything would continue to work out somehow.
But that was naive.
Saeko wasn't like most girls, and Tokika… she was far too accommodating, not to mention her own complicated position. The balance he'd found with them was fragile—something built on very specific circumstances.
But Shiwa was different. She was the kind of girl who could write those impossibly sweet, idealistic love stories—proof of how deeply she cherished romance, how much she longed for it.
The kind of love she dreamed of was probably warm, sincere, and romantic. Maybe a long journey from high school uniforms to wedding vows; maybe love letters penned by hand and carefully sealed with hope. But definitely not whatever it was he had just confessed to her.
I like you. But I also like them. You're all my wings…
Wait. Thinking about it now—if Shiwa knew he was like this, and still chose to stay by his side… maybe she wasn't an ordinary girl either.
"Sorry."
Senya's voice brought her back to reality.
Shiwa smiled faintly. "What are you apologizing for all of a sudden?"
"For keeping things from you before," he said, "and for how indecisive I was that night at the hotel when you told me how you felt."
"You don't have to apologize. I've already made peace with Saeko, so there's no need to bring it up again. As for that night… I don't think you were indecisive. You were honest. Sure, I was a little disappointed then, but I was happy, too."
Senya hesitated. "You were happy then. What about now?"
"Don't overanalyze my words," she cut him off quickly. "Aside from a few things I still can't quite let go of, I'm in a pretty good mood. Whatever happens later, the one standing next to you right now is me."
Her words weren't just an answer to him—they sounded like she was reassuring herself as well.
She stepped closer, looping her arm around his, her chest pressing snugly against his arm in a gesture that was both bold and affectionate.
The motion was natural enough, though her face burned bright red like a sunset sky.
That, at least, was exactly what Senya expected from Kasumigaoka Shiwa.
No matter how bold her words or gestures were, beneath it all she was still an innocent girl—one who'd never really experienced love before.
Her attack power was high, but her defense was paper-thin.
"W–why are you staring at me like that?" she stammered.
"Because right now, you're not just beautiful—you're adorable, too."
"…That sounded a little too natural."
"Hm?"
"I mean, you must've said that same line to Saeko plenty of times, right?"
She knew she sounded jealous, petty even—but she couldn't help herself.
Senya just smiled calmly. "Actually, when I'm alone with Saeko, I don't say things like that very often."
"Liar."
"It's the truth."
Most of the time, their conversations were straightforward and ordinary. They tended to skip the typical flirty banter that couples often share and go straight to the more… intimate part—mouth to mouth, body to body.
That first night, when they officially got together, had set that tone, and it had stayed that way ever since.
Of course, he didn't say that part aloud.
But Shiwa, curious as ever, tilted her head. "Then tell me about it."
"Huh?"
"Tell me what it's like when you're alone with Saeko. We've talked about a lot of things, but she never really told me what you two are like together. I'm curious."
"Uh…"
"If it's hard for you to say, then forget it."
"It's not that. I just think you might not like hearing it."
"Whether I like it or not—that's for me to decide. Besides, after everything that's happened, I can handle it."
"Well… alright then. Let me think where to start…"
"From the beginning, obviously."
"That could take a while."
"I don't mind. We've got plenty of time together today, don't we?"
In hindsight, Kasumigaoka Shiwa had definitely overestimated her own tolerance.
Even though Senya had deliberately skipped over the more sensitive details out of consideration, the parts he did describe were more than enough to make her deeply uncomfortable.
She started questioning herself.
Why am I like this?
I already knew this would only make me upset. I could've just let it go. So why did I ask him to tell me?
And because she'd brought it up herself, she couldn't very well interrupt halfway through.
No matter how much her stomach twisted with each affectionate scene he described, she had to keep smiling, pretending to be composed—to show that she was a mature, confident woman who could handle it.
Maybe Saeko wasn't the only one with a complicated side. Maybe deep down, she was a bit of a masochist too.
No… impossible. She had to be more of an S type, right?
After leisurely circling the supermarket, they finally made it back to Saeko's place.
Shiwa's face, stiff from forcing that fake smile for so long, finally relaxed a little.
She let out a breath. The whole thing had left her oddly exhausted.
Love really was too complicated—not only could she not figure out what Saeko was thinking, now she couldn't even understand herself.
And as she stepped inside, she deliberately slowed her movements.
After Senya had already changed his shoes and taken a few steps forward, she quickly slipped off her loafers. The heat trapped inside her black stockings—along with a faintly embarrassing scent—barely had time to escape before she slid her feet straight into the house slippers and hurried to catch up.
"…Shiwa, you don't look so good," Senya said, turning back.
"Mm, it's probably just the heat," she replied casually, fanning herself with one hand.
They entered the living room together.
"Yeah, it's definitely hot today. Let's rest a bit first. Do you want to take a shower?"
Senya, looking completely at home, grabbed the remote to turn on the air conditioner, then went into the kitchen to pour her a cold drink.
Shiwa accepted it silently, watching him all the while.
Her gaze made him chuckle. He reached out and poked her cheek. "What? Don't like orange juice?"
She turned away. "It's not the juice. I was just thinking—you really do know your way around Saeko's house."
"Well, I have been here plenty of times," Senya admitted. "But this is actually the first time I've come when she's not home. Feels kind of awkward, honestly."
Awkward? she thought wryly. You look perfectly at ease to me.
Taking a sip of orange juice, Shiwa glanced around the now-cooling room. The AC worked fast; within minutes, the stifling air had turned comfortably cool.
"So what are we doing next?" she asked.
"I'll start preparing dinner. You can relax here for a while."
"When you came over before, were you the one who cooked?"
"Of course not. As long as Saeko was home, she handled all the cooking. I just had to eat."
"Oh."
That short, neutral response told him everything.
He smiled gently. "You don't have to compare yourself to her, Shiwa. Everyone has their own strengths. She has hers, and you have yours."
"Oh? Like what?"
"Well… for one, you have beautiful legs."
"…Be serious." She gave him a teasing glare.
"In that case, I'd say your writing talent. You have an incredible gift for it."
"The Rampo Prize winner praising a mere light novel author for her 'talent'—that feels a bit surreal, you know."
So you're just trying to make me feel better again, huh?
Senya's expression turned earnest. "I mean it. I wouldn't have won without your help."
"It was just a bit of editing work."
"Not just that. For Astrology, maybe. But for The Four Bodies, you spent hours checking every inconsistency and helping polish the narrative. I know how much effort you put in. When the Hayakawa Sci-Fi Award gets announced in late August—if, and I mean if, The Four Bodies wins—I want you and Eriri to stand on that stage with me. That recognition belongs to all of us."
"Confident, aren't you?"
"Confidence is good, isn't it?"
"It is…"
And I love that about you, she thought. When you're strong and certain like this—you're at your most attractive. Please, never lose that.
Senya took a sip from her glass, deliberately drinking from the same spot she'd just used.
She didn't stop him. Her freshly cooled cheeks flushed red once again.
"I'll start dinner now—it's getting late," he said.
"I'll help."
"It's fine, the kitchen gets hot."
"Then I'll still help. I want to do what I can. Even if I'm not good at it, I can learn."
Her phone buzzed softly in her pocket.
Shiwa glanced down at the message.
Saeko: I forgot to mention—there are some safety supplies in the middle drawer of my bedside table. If you need them, don't hesitate to use them.
"Who was that?" Senya asked.
"No one important. Spam text," she said smoothly, locking her phone and slipping it away.
From initial shock to mild exasperation, to now this practiced composure—Kasumigaoka Shiwa felt she'd grown quite a bit lately.