"It's fine if you don't go home. Given your current situation, it would be hard to explain anyway. But you should still call your mother and let her know, so she won't worry."
"Okay." Tosaka Fuyuka nodded obediently and handed him her phone, even though she had absolutely no memory of it.
Kazuma took it and continued nagging, "Also, my place isn't very comfortable. Don't blame me if you don't sleep well. You'll have to use the public bathhouse to shower. How did I end up acting like your mom? You won't find me annoying, right?"
"No, not at all," she replied with a gentle smile. "Kazuma-kun is very considerate."
Kazuma sighed deeply and rubbed his forehead. "What can I do? This mess is entirely my fault."
And seriously, senpai… isn't the difference too extreme? You went from a cool, aloof kendo girl to a gentle Yamato Nadeshiko overnight.
"You've forgotten everything, yet you can still smile so easily. Aren't you scared or anxious at all?"
"Kazuma-kun, didn't you say I would gradually recover? I believe you."
"..."
When Kazuma opened Tosaka Fuyuka's phone, he found that her contact list was surprisingly short—it was obvious she didn't have many friends. He found her mother's number and dialed it.
"Hello? Fuyuka?" A tired woman's voice came from the phone.
"Um… are you Tosaka-senpai's mother?"
"Who is this?"
"Ahem, I'm a friend of Tosaka-senpai. She's with me right now…"
As Kazuma spoke, he frantically gestured for Fuyuka to say something. She understood, leaned closer, and nervously said, "Mom… Mom…"
Her voice sounded slightly stiff, but her mother misunderstood, assuming her daughter was still emotionally recovering from the family tragedy. She gently comforted her, "It's okay, Fuyuka. Just stay at your friend's place tonight. Don't worry about things at home…"
"Yes… I understand."
The call ended shortly afterward.
To Tosaka Fuyuka, the woman's voice felt unfamiliar. Even though she knew that was her mother, she couldn't feel any emotional connection. Yet as she listened to those comforting words from someone who felt like a stranger, she stood there blankly, her nose stinging as tears slowly slid down her cheeks.
"Huh… that's strange…"
She didn't know why. She just couldn't stop herself.
"Senpai?"
"I'm sorry, Kazuma-kun… I don't know what's wrong. My chest feels tight. It really hurts…"
Kazuma quietly watched as she squatted down, tears falling like small pearls. He silently handed her a tissue. This was the girl who hadn't cried even when she tried to take her own life before—yet now, after losing all her memories, she could finally cry.
"You actually look better crying now than you did before," Kazuma joked, trying to lighten the mood.
"Was I really that unlikable before?" Tosaka Fuyuka asked softly as she wiped her eyes.
"How could that be? You were very popular," Kazuma said, glancing up at the darkening sky. "But senpai, aren't you hungry? If we keep standing around, it'll be completely dark."
She hadn't felt hungry at first, but after he said that, her stomach growled loudly. Embarrassed, Tosaka Fuyuka quickly covered it. Seeing her lower her head in shame, Kazuma smiled faintly.
"Let's go to my secret base."
"Aren't you basically a kid? Talking about secret bases…"
Tosaka Fuyuka followed behind Kazuma, feeling unfamiliar with the school grounds. The empty playground and silent buildings at dusk felt strangely eerie. Eventually, he led her to the old school building.
Seeing the police tape wrapped around the area and the dilapidated structure—like an abandoned castle—a sinister feeling washed over her. Combined with the large "No Entry" signs, her heart began to race. "You live in a place like this, Kazuma-kun?"
"Some bad things happened recently, so entry is forbidden. Think of it as my temporary residence," Kazuma said casually with a wave and a smile. "I warned you—you won't be treated very well here. If you're scared, you can still turn back."
Hearing his light laughter, Tosaka Fuyuka forced herself to act brave. "If you're not afraid, then of course I'm not afraid either."
Despite her words, the moment she ducked under the warning tape, she immediately quickened her pace, drawing closer to Kazuma as if only then could she feel safe.
As they climbed the stairs, the surroundings gradually grew darker.
The wooden steps and floorboards creaked beneath their feet, making the old school building feel even more eerie. Standing by the window, Kazuma could faintly see traces of Coach Tougou's death. Tosaka Fuyuka, however, didn't notice any of that.
Her gaze was fixed on a massive cherry blossom tree outside.
Swaying gently beneath the night sky, quiet and profound, it possessed a breathtaking beauty.
"So beautiful…"
Tosaka-senpai was completely absorbed.
Kazuma led her to the top floor, to a small, inconspicuous storage room at the very back. Tosaka Fuyuka watched as he struggled to push the door open, still feeling slightly puzzled.
Why does he live in a place like this?
The room was pitch dark, making it almost impossible to see anything. Then, it seemed as if Kazuma had crawled right into some strange wallpaper.
"K-Kazuma?"
"Come in."
"Where… is this place?"
"It's just a hiding spot," he said casually.
Inside was the wallpaper room's four-dimensional space, just as dark as the entrance. Tosaka Fuyuka couldn't make out much, but Kazuma didn't bother explaining. He hadn't planned on bringing anyone here, but with his amnesiac senior, he had no choice.
The room was empty—completely devoid of furniture. Only a few everyday items were stacked along the walls: cardboard boxes, school bags, blankets, cups, toothbrushes. Kazuma rummaged through them, found a box of instant noodles, tossed it toward her, and said, "Here. This will be dinner tonight."
Seeing that she said nothing, Kazuma smirked. "What, Senpai? Is it your refined habits that make you dislike instant noodles? Or have you never had them before?"
"I… I feel like you're mocking me. I'm not that picky, Kazuma~."
Under the soft moonlight, Tosaka Fuyuka and Kazuma sat on the steps by the doorway. A steaming cup of noodles sat between them, releasing the rich aroma of broth. Her mouth watered instinctively, and she picked up a mouthful with her chopsticks, eating before even thinking.
It was only after swallowing that she realized what she'd done.
"Kazuma, aren't you going to eat?"
"I'm not hungry. You eat."
In truth, there was only one cup left. Fuyuka had lost her memories, but she wasn't stupid. She stared at the noodles in her hand under the moonlight.
"Kazuma-kun… you haven't eaten tonight either. You'll get hungry, and that's bad for your health. Let's split it."
Tosaka Fuyuka smiled gently, scooted closer, leaned her shoulder against him, and picked up some noodles. Holding them to his mouth, she coaxed, "Try it. It tastes really good. Open up—ah~~."
Kazuma froze. His eyes stared at the chopsticks, obviously coated with her saliva.
"…Or should I do it myself?"
"Ah—"
"…"
Left with no choice, he opened his mouth and ate the noodles mixed with her saliva. Fuyuka smiled, but as she looked at her chopsticks afterward, her heart skipped a beat.
Had that… been an indirect kiss?
She glanced at Kazuma, blushed deeply, and lowered her head, taking tiny, careful bites.