He looked left and right, then nodded.
"Not bad."
Yukinoshita Shizuku stood behind him, watching him through the mirror.
"Just 'not bad'?"
"It's pretty good."
Tsushima Kagami corrected himself.
"Top-tier, as far as free haircuts go."
"Honestly, if you don't know how to compliment someone, then don't bother!"
Yukinoshita Shizuku shot him a sidelong glance, but the corners of her mouth still curled up despite herself.
Hayase Kinue came over and inspected it carefully.
"For a first attempt, this is already very good."
She patted Yukinoshita Shizuku on the shoulder.
"You've got real talent."
Tsukuyomi Komoe also leaned in, looking it over from left and right.
"It really is good! Way better than the QB House we go to!"
Douraku Utage nodded.
"From now on, Kagami-kun's haircuts are entrusted to Shizuku-chan."
Yukinoshita Shizuku's face flushed faintly.
Just as he'd finished cleaning up the aftermath of the haircut, Tsushima Kagami's phone rang.
He picked it up and saw it was Kosaka Akane.
"Hello?"
"Kagami, are you free today?"
Kosaka Akane's voice came from the other end of the line, the background a little noisy, as if she were out on the street.
"Yeah, what's up?"
"Sonoko and I rarely get a day off, and I was thinking we haven't all hung out together in a while."
"I've already called Sayuri, Seika, and the others out."
"You and Shizuku are the only ones left."
Tsushima Kagami glanced at Yukinoshita Shizuku.
Yukinoshita Shizuku nodded.
"Sure. Where should we meet?"
"The usual spot—that manga café next to the Maruzen Marunouchi Bookstore."
"Hurry up, we're already here."
The call ended.
Tsushima Kagami put away his phone and looked at the others in the room.
"Kosaka-senpai and the others are inviting us out. Want to go?"
Tsukuyomi Komoe waved a hand.
"You young people go have fun. We'll sit this one out."
Douraku Utage nodded too.
"We're going to keep Kinue company at the supermarket for groceries later."
Hayase Kinue smiled as she saw the two of them to the door.
"Have fun."
The usual spot—the manga café next to the Maruzen Marunouchi Bookstore.
The instant they pushed open the door, the familiar aroma of coffee washed over them.
The café wasn't very crowded. At the long table by the window, a group was already waiting.
"Kagami! Over here, over here!"
Sayuri was the first to spot them, standing up and waving vigorously.
Today she wore a pink hoodie, her twin tails tied up high, looking especially lively.
Beside her sat Kosaka Akane and Machida Sonoko, both in casual clothes today.
Kosaka Akane wore a beige knit sweater with jeans.
Machida Sonoko had her usual tomboyish look—a gray sweatshirt, her shoulder-length hair tied into a small bun.
Across from them was the four-person Light Music Club group.
Ijichi Seika leaned back against her chair with her arms crossed. Seeing Tsushima Kagami come in, she gave a slight nod.
Hiratsuka Shizuka was drinking coffee. She set down her cup and waved at him.
Hiroi Kikuri and PA-san were huddled together, whispering about something. When they saw him come in, both broke into smiles and called out, "Hey, senpai."
At the very back sat Shimizu Nayotake.
She sat quietly in the corner, holding a glass of orange juice in her hands.
Seeing Tsushima Kagami and Yukinoshita Shizuku come in, the corners of her mouth curved up just slightly.
"They're here, they're here!"
Sayuri pulled the two of them down into their seats.
"We were just waiting on you!"
A waiter came over, and both Tsushima Kagami and Yukinoshita Shizuku ordered a cup of hot cocoa.
The group sat clustered together, chatting about how everyone had been lately.
Kosaka Akane talked about her days spent at cram school during this period.
Machida Sonoko griped about how boring the teachers' lectures were.
Everyone listened with great interest.
After all, those days were still a ways off for themselves.
For now, that suffering hadn't fallen on their own shoulders yet.
And so the joys and sorrows of one person are not shared by another.
As they chatted, the conversation naturally drifted onto Tsushima Kagami.
"Kagami, you're a celebrity now."
Machida Sonoko picked up her phone and waved it around.
"News about you is all over the internet these days."
"You've even made Yahoo's (Japan) trending searches several times."
"Ah, that's right."
"There's also the Shukan Bunshun."
At this, Machida Sonoko pulled out a copy of the Shukan Bunshun.
Sayuri leaned over to look.
"Let me see, let me see!"
Machida Sonoko handed her the magazine.
As Sayuri flipped through it, she suddenly burst out laughing.
"Hahaha... look at this, you guys!"
She held up the magazine, flipped open to one particular page.
[SHOCKING! The True Identity of Tsushima Kagami, the Harem Tiger, Turns Out to Be...]
Below it was a stage photo from the culture festival.
In the photo, all the members of the SOS Brigade stood on stage.
Tsushima Kagami stood in the middle, surrounded by a crowd of girls.
Sayuri laughed so hard she could barely straighten up.
"The Harem Tiger! Hahahaha!"
Hiratsuka Shizuka snatched the magazine away and looked at it for a few seconds.
Then she grinned and winked at Tsushima Kagami.
"They mean you, buddy!"
"So how does it feel, running a harem?"
Yukinoshita Shizuku also turned her head toward him with a laugh.
Tsushima Kagami merely smiled and said nothing.
Other people might not get it.
But surely his own people understood.
These women just wanted to make a fool of him!
These Japanese girls were so devious!
Ijichi Seika leaned in for a look too, and laughed as well.
"It's actually a pretty good shot."
No telling who took it at the culture festival.
Hiroi Kikuri murmured softly.
"Um... should we maybe set the record straight?"
"After all, this isn't really good for the senpais' reputations either."
"Why bother explaining?"
Sayuri spoke up now too.
PA-san said as well:
"With this kind of thing, the more you explain, the more it looks like you're covering something up."
Seeing her suggestion shot down, Hiroi Kikuri shrank her neck.
Then, looking at everyone, she murmured again.
"Does that mean none of the senpais actually mind that senpai is running a harem?"
As Hiroi Kikuri finished speaking,
everyone fell silent at once.
"But then again."
Machida Sonoko propped up her chin and smiled.
"Kagami, which girls do you think would be best for a harem?"
"Ahaha, don't make Kagami sound like some scumbag."
Kosaka Akane laughed from the side too.
Tsushima Kagami immediately said with a straight face:
"Modern society does not permit harems."
Sayuri nodded.
"Right, right, right! Monogamy!"
Hiratsuka Shizuka gave a snort.
"Don't all those great writers and wealthy businessmen and politicians have several lovers?"
Ijichi Seika thought it over.
"That does seem to be the case."
"Kagami-senpai's basically no different from a great writer now, right?"
Hiroi Kikuri said softly.
PA-san nodded.
"So that means Kagami-senpai will also one day..."
Everyone's eyes fell on Tsushima Kagami in unison.
Tsushima Kagami drank his hot cocoa with an expressionless face.
"What are you all looking at me for?"
"I'm a man destined to become number one in the world!"
"Women and the like just get in the way!"
At that, everyone burst out laughing.
Once the laughter died down, Kosaka Akane suddenly asked a question.
"Oh right, Kagami, there's something I've always wanted to ask."
"Tsushima—is that your original surname?"
Sayuri caught on too.
"Oh, that's right—if Kagami's original surname is Tsushima, then doesn't that mean..."
Everyone's eyes fell on Yukinoshita Shizuku.
"Kagami and I aren't related by blood."
Yukinoshita Shizuku looked at everyone, the corners of her mouth bending into a slight arc.
But everyone understood.
The group went completely silent.
So silent you could hear the customers at the next table murmuring.
So silent you could hear the traffic on the street outside the window.
So silent you could hear your own heartbeat.
Sayuri's mouth opened, then closed again.
Ijichi Seika's expression turned subtle.
Hiratsuka Shizuka's brows furrowed, then relaxed, relaxed, then furrowed again.
Hiroi Kikuri and PA-san glanced at each other, at a loss for what to say.
Kosaka Akane and Machida Sonoko exchanged a look, neither one speaking.
Shimizu Nayotake still sat quietly in the corner, eating her matcha mousse.
A brother and sister with no blood relation.
Living together.
Going to and from school together every day.
Eating together. Together with...
Everyone suddenly realized something.
If Tsushima Kagami hadn't left his name at the Kyoto calligraphy exhibition and been exposed by reporters,
had Yukinoshita Shizuku been planning never to tell them for the rest of her life?
Had she been planning to keep it hidden forever?
Even though they were still legally brother and sister, and it was still her private affair—
but what about all that talk of being the best of friends?
The looks everyone gave Yukinoshita Shizuku now carried an added layer of wariness.
This woman...
She hid it way too deep!
Machida Sonoko murmured softly.
"So... the two of you—"
Yukinoshita Shizuku looked at her.
"What about the two of us?"
Her gaze was very clear, her expression very natural.
As if she genuinely didn't understand what they were suspecting.
But it was precisely this naturalness that made the others all the more certain.
Shizuku was absolutely doing it on purpose!
She absolutely knew what they were thinking!
She was just feigning ignorance!
In each of their hearts, a seed had been planted.
Yukinoshita Shizuku.
Tsushima Kagami.
A brother and sister with no blood relation.
All those everyday... affectionate interactions...
had suddenly become suspicious!
Sayuri looked at Machida Sonoko, then at Kosaka Akane, and silently made a note in her heart.
She'd have to keep a closer eye on Shizuku from now on.
This woman was not to be underestimated!
____
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