Life doesn't have nearly as many dramatic twists as novels do.
For most people, life is plain and repetitive from beginning to end. It's the media and the internet that give people room to daydream.Just like how, when Asakura Kaito saw someone sitting on the rooftop railing, his first reaction wasn't suicide at all.
He even made a joking comment to her.
But when he returned to his room and replayed the details in his head, the more he thought about it, the more wrong it felt.If she were joking, she wouldn't have handed her cello to him.
No way.Bro.You were actually serious?!
Kaito shut his laptop, took a deep breath, and sank into thought.
When it came to suicide, Kaito had always been fairly detached.Life has always been measured one person at a time. Everyone has their own fate. Respecting someone else's fate is also respecting your own.
A teenage girl attempting suicide usually comes down to two reasons:
Either she wants attention,or she truly wants to end everything.
If it's the first type—the ones who deliberately choose crowded places, sure that someone will save them, and think the whole performance makes them "cool"…
Kaito honestly thought they might as well just die.Preferably with the onlookers refusing to help, instead cracking sunflower seeds on the side, cheering, making it impossible for her not to jump.These people exist solely to irritate everyone while alive, and then let everyone laugh with relief after they're finally gone—like an emotional roller coaster with a delayed punchline.
But the girl he met earlier clearly wasn't that type.
When he told her, "Don't die in front of my door," she politely moved somewhere else.
Someone who really wants to die won't trouble others.
Kaito took another sip of his coffee—then suddenly froze.The coffee in his hand was made two days ago by old man Mizuno himself, to congratulate Kaito on doing well in his midterms.Kaito didn't even like coffee, but he kept it in the fridge and drank it slowly anyway, because it represented the old man's kindness.
If that girl really was Miyano Kanade, Mizuno-sensei's granddaughter…And he had just let her die…
Kaito would never forgive himself.
The thought made him stand up immediately and rush out the door.
He ran up one floor.Sure enough, the rooftop door was wide open, the lock thrown aside on the ground.
Crap!
His heart sank.Kaito bolted onto the rooftop.The moon hung high, and puddles from the recent rain shimmered on the concrete.
He looked everywhere, but there was no sign of her.
Don't tell me she already went to pay tribute to the "Unbreakable King of Los Angeles"?!
Just as he was cursing in panic—
A voice came from behind him.
"What are you doing?"
He spun around.The girl stood right in front of him, head tilted slightly, staring at him blankly.
"Do you need something?"
Kaito froze for a second, steadied his breath, and said,
"I came to see if you jumped."
"You going to collect my body?"
"…?"
Kaito was completely derailed by her train of thought.
Right. I should've just said, "Yeah, hurry up and jump so I can taste you while you're still warm."Would that make you not want to jump?
"…Not exactly. I just wanted to tell you—falling to your death is actually really painful."
"You tried it?"
"I had a friend who died falling out of a helicopter. He used to be the best pilot in our region."
"Ah…"
The girl bit her fingertip."But weren't we just joking earlier?"
By "earlier," she clearly meant the conversation on the sixth floor.
Now it was Kaito's turn to be confused.
"Then you…?"
"I'm looking for a missing kitten."
As she spoke, Kaito felt something brush against his ankle.He looked down.A small white kitten was rubbing itself against his leg.
So she really was looking for a cat.
The girl crouched down and waved her hand lightly.The kitten immediately bounded over, diving into her arms.It snuggled against her palm obediently.
Kaito almost collapsed on the spot.
But fine—she was safe.Worth the trip.
He lifted his head.Under the clear night sky, the moonlight washed over the quiet rooftop.He finally noticed—tonight's weather was actually beautiful.
Just as he was about to turn around—
A screen suddenly appeared before his eyes.
[Detecting a compatible partner for binding. Recommending candidate—]
[Name: Mizuno Kanade]
[Bind with the recommended partner to receive a Newcomer Gift Pack]
"Mizuno Kanade?"
Kaito unconsciously read the name aloud.
The girl blinked in surprise.
"You know my name?"
"Your grandfather mentioned you once." Kaito responded quickly.
But for some reason, upon hearing this,Kanade's eyes dimmed slightly and she looked away.
[Binding Requirements:]1. Have the target stay at your home for one night.2. Extract a sample of the target's bodily fluids for an intelligent physical assessment.[Time Limit: 24 hours]
Bodily fluids?Stay over??
No matter how he thought about it, Kaito couldn't imagine how to convince this girl—whom he barely knew—to spend a night at his place, let alone hand over bodily fluids.
This—This wasn't right!
Letting her jump to her death so he could collect the corpse and drag it home made more sense.Leave her there a few nights, collect however many bodily fluids he wanted.
Though she'd have to sleep in the fridge.
"—"
Just then, a soft, flowing melody floated through the air.
Kaito turned around.
Kanade was sitting on the rooftop threshold, one hand on the cello's neck, the other drawing the bow gently across the strings.
Wait, how did this turn into a musical performance out of nowhere?
Sure, the night sky, the environment, and a beautiful girl playing cello on a rooftop was definitely atmospheric—
But the vibe was not right!This scene felt borderline supernatural!
Kaito couldn't help mentally complaining.
But honestly…The piece she played—"Hao Ting"—was incredibly gentle.
The deep, resonant tone of the cello drifted through the night air, tinged with warmth and quiet beauty.
She had clearly been trained since childhood.If someone polished her talent, her future would be limitless.
When she finished the passage, Kanade lowered her bow, tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, and looked up at the boy.
"This is a piece my grandfather taught me."
"He taught music too?"
"He did. He just doesn't play anymore."
Her chestnut-brown eyes flickered with a hint of light.
"You and Grandpa… are close?"
"He's helped me a lot," Kaito answered modestly.
"What's your name?"
"Asakura Kaito."
"Asa…kura Kaito…"
Looking at the boy before her, Kanade felt a strange curiosity bloom in her heart.
Whether it was their talk on the sixth floor, or the way he had rushed onto the rooftop…
Kanade thought this boy was… in Kansai dialect, the type who was "a little unhinged."
But interesting.And kind.
But this kind boy…was now giving her trouble.
Ever since Kaito rushed up here, Kanade's brain had been mush.
She stroked the kitten in her arms and spoke softly:
"Kaito… it's getting late. You should go back."
"What about you?"
"I'll stay a while and enjoy the breeze."
"Then I'll stay with you."
Kanade's expression flickered with surprise.
Kaito wasn't stupid.
There was no way he completely believed her "looking for a cat" excuse.His instincts told him it wasn't that simple.
He couldn't guarantee that the moment he turned around to leave, she wouldn't jump.
Kaito had made up his mind.
Whether it was for the once-in-a-lifetime chance to bind with the system,or out of genuine concern for her safety—
Tonight, he had to bring Mizuno Kanade home.
Even if he had to use force.
Knock her out, tie her up with some spare PC cables, extract fluids mercilessly—
Once she was home, she wasn't deciding where she'd go tonight.
Kanade stared at Kaito.Kaito stared back at Kanade.
The air hung thick with unspoken tension—as if a silent battle of wills was unfolding.
The night wind brushed past them, lifting strands of her ink-black hair that danced across her moonlit face.
Finally—
Kanade let out a soft sigh.
"Does your place… have a bathroom?"
"…Yes."
What kind of question is that? Who doesn't have a bathroom?
"Then… can I…"
She gently set the kitten down, turned around, and revealed her back.
Her blue-and-white school uniform and track pants were stained with dirty rainwater, soaked through in a large patch.
"…borrow your bathroom to take a shower?"
What?
She just… offered herself?