— — — — — —
[Yukino Yukinoshita: "I'll take back first place."]
Oikawa received the message and replied, "Looking forward to it. But I don't think it's very likely. The people I've surpassed never show up in front of me again. Oh, wait... They said the same thing you just did."
Grinning, Oikawa stared at the little 'Typing...' indicator beneath Yukino's name, waiting for her reply.
But... After a long while, all she sent back was, "Just wait."
It seemed she had truly made up her mind. She was determined to wipe away this "humiliation."
After sending his reply, "I'll be waiting," Oikawa opened his computer, wondering what game he should play after a long time.
Eventually, he decided on a new game called PRAGMATA. He had seen plenty of positive reviews, so he figured he might as well give it a try.
...
..
Meanwhile in the Yuigahama House—
Ever since returning to Chiba, Yui had been in a bad mood.
No... A very bad mood.
Whenever she thought back to the scene of Ebina confessing to Oikawa, it felt as though a tiny thorn was lodged in her heart. It didn't hurt much, but it was impossible to ignore.
She picked up her phone. Originally, she wanted to message Oikawa, but after hesitating for a long time, she still couldn't bring herself to send anything.
Just then, a message from Ebina appeared: "Yui, I'm sorry."
[Yui Yuigahama: "Huh? What do you have to apologize to me for?"]
The sudden message left Yui completely confused.
[Hina Ebina: "Nothing, nothing. Yui, do you want to go get dessert together tomorrow? I found this amazing dessert shop. Their cream puffs are incredible."]
[Yui Yuigahama: "Really? Sure! Let's go tomorrow!"]
The mention of delicious cream puffs instantly lifted Yui's spirits.
But not long afterward, another strange message arrived from Ebina.
[Hina Ebina: "Yui, no matter what happens, we'll always be best friends for the rest of our lives, right?"]
[Yui Yuigahama: "Of course.]
[Yui Yuigahama: Hina, you're acting really weird today. Why do you keep saying such strange things? Did you actually do something that hurt me? Or... is this about what happened yesterday?"]
After debating with herself for a while, Yui finally decided to ask.
Ebina's sudden confession had left her utterly baffled. She wanted to understand what was really going on.
At the very least... She wanted to know why Ebina liked Oikawa. And what exactly she liked about him.
[Yui Yuigahama: "Hina, what do you like about Oikawa?"]
The 'Typing...' indicator beneath Ebina's name lingered for a long time.
Yui immediately regretted asking.
Finally, the reply came.
[Hina Ebina: "Maybe because he's handsome? And the way Oikawa handled the school sports festival was seriously cool. Most importantly, he's really smart. If someone became Oikawa's girlfriend, she'd probably have a very happy future. He's handsome, intelligent, and fun to be around. The only flaw is that he's kind of a flirt... Hm... Yui, don't you think guys like that are pretty rare?"]
Yui stared at the long message in silence.
She had always thought Oikawa was a good person, but she'd never consciously noticed all those qualities.
Was Oikawa really that amazing...?
Her fingers hovered over the keyboard.
She didn't know what to say.
'Don't be sad.'
Deleted.
'You'll find someone better.'
Also deleted.
Then another message from Ebina arrived.
[Hina Ebina: "Haha, I was just messing with you. You didn't actually believe me, did you? I'd already figured out that you guys were trying to set me up with Tobe, so I asked Oikawa to help me put on that little performance."]
[Hina Ebina: "I didn't want things to become awkward with Hayama, Tobe, and the others. Besides, I genuinely have no intention of dating anyone right now. At least not until after I get into my dream university.]
[Hina Ebina: "Yui, you didn't seriously think I liked Oikawa, did you?"]
Reading those messages, Yui let out a long breath.
The tension drained from her body.
She collapsed backward onto her bed.
[Yui Yuigahama: "How was I supposed to know you were acting... Hina, if you didn't want a relationship, you could've just told me. If I'd known earlier, I never would've accepted Tobe's request to help him confess."]
"I only realized it later myself," Ebina replied.
[Yui Yuigahama: "So Hina, was that why you apologized earlier?"]
[Hina Ebina: "Of course. What, did you really think I'd fall for Oikawa? He's way too much of a flirt. I'd never want a boyfriend like that. He clearly flirts with Kawasaki and enjoys spending time with her. He doesn't set any boundaries with you and just gets close. I even saw him messaging a girl repeatedly, sounding… intimate."]
[Hina Ebina: "Though don't you think Oikawa and Hayama would make a perfect pair? The laid-back genius and the popular prince. They're totally made for each other!"]
"Pfft!"
A smile finally appeared on Yui's face.
This was the Ebina she knew. Although, admittedly, she could be a little terrifying.
The moment she imagined Oikawa and Hayama together the way Ebina described, Yui found herself shaking her head vigorously.
[Yui Yuigahama: "Hina, let's go get dessert. My treat! I owe you an apology too. I misunderstood how you felt and ended up causing you so much trouble."
"Then I'm definitely ordering a lot!" Ebina replied instantly.
Yui laughed as she got up to get dressed and meet Ebina.
But… what nobody realizes is this: everyone in this world lies.
Who can ever truly know whether the sincere words coming from someone else's mouth are the truth… Or just another lie?
...
..
Oikawa Tōru didn't actually think Shizuka Hiratsuka would treat him to a meal.
He assumed she had just said it in passing.
But early the next morning, she really did call him.
"Get up already. I've booked the restaurant. The one you've been talking about wanting to try."
"Sensei, we're really doing this? I appreciate the thought, but isn't this kind of unnecessary..." Still half-asleep, Oikawa dropped the phone beside his pillow. His bed seemed to possess some mysterious gravitational force that made it impossible to leave.
"Cut the nonsense. Hurry up and get moving. I've already paid the deposit. Be there by ten-thirty sharp. Don't say I didn't warn you."
Then she hung up.
Oikawa lay there for a while longer before finally sitting up.
It was nine o'clock.
If he wanted to arrive by ten-thirty, he'd have to leave a little after ten.
"Plenty of time. I can sleep a bit more."
He promptly lay back down.
Half an hour later, he finally dragged himself out of bed and headed to the bathroom.
He was fairly certain Shizuka wasn't inviting him out just because he'd ranked first in the grade.
There had to be another motive. That was the real reason he didn't want to go.
"Please don't tell me it's another troublesome assignment... Is the school planning yet another event?"
Brushing his teeth, he tried to figure out what Shizuka wanted.
He honestly couldn't understand why Sōbu High always had so many activities.
And somehow, the second-years always ended up doing all the work.
After getting ready, Oikawa didn't leave immediately.
Instead, he picked up his phone and sent a message to Ayame Kagurazaka: "Help me gather some information on printing companies. Anything related to publishing houses too. Dinner's on me next time we meet."
The reply came almost instantly, "Oikawa-kun, are you seriously planning to start a publishing company?"
"Yeah. I've already prepared myself to lose money... If you're interested, you can be the editor-in-chief."
After sending the message, Oikawa casually pulled a sweater from his closet and got dressed.
A few seconds later, Ayame replied again, "You're already dangling a promotion in front of me before the company even exists? Honestly, I don't think opening a publishing house is a very good idea, but I'll help gather the information. As for being editor-in-chief... I'll think about it. But you still owe me that big meal, Oikawa-kun. You're rich now!"
Reading the message, Oikawa chuckled.
"No problem."
After sending his reply, he left the apartment and headed to his appointment with Shizuka.
...
..
When he arrived at the agreed-upon restaurant, he spotted Shizuka immediately.
She was standing outside smoking.
A simple long-sleeved shirt. Jeans. Hair that looked like it hadn't been washed in at least two days.
Counting backward, that meant she probably hadn't washed it since returning from the school trip.
Even so, she radiated energy.
"Sensei, even if you're just having lunch with a student, you could at least wash your hair."
Shizuka shot him a look, took a deep drag from her cigarette, then exhaled slowly. "Why would I wash my hair just to eat with you? Don't you know that the dates worth washing your hair for are the important ones?"
"No wonder…"
Oikawa had been about to make a sarcastic remark—something like no wonder you don't have a boyfriend—but one glance at her expression convinced him otherwise.
A wise man knew when to yield.
Sometimes retreating wasn't cowardice. It was simply survival.
They stood outside for a while longer.
Only after she finished her cigarette did they finally head into the restaurant.
"Sensei, are you really treating me just because I got first place in the grade? Just so we're clear, I've been busy lately. I still haven't finished revising the first volume of Clannad. I don't have time to be some event committee chairman again."
The food here really was excellent. Especially the tuna sashimi.
Even just looking at it made Oikawa want to dig in. The quality of the tuna was obviously top-tier.
But before he figured out what this old woman was planning, he had no intention of touching his chopsticks.
After all, free meals always came with strings attached.
"There is something I need." Shizuka smiled. "Hachiman told me he wants to leave the Service Club. I agreed."
"And Yukino said she wants to focus on studying for a while. So I want you to fill the vacancy."
"No time. Shizuka-sensei, goodbye... Preferably forever."
Oikawa immediately stood up to leave.
What kind of joke was this?
Aside from the tea and snacks, the Service Club was basically a giant magnet for trouble.
"Sit down first. If you join the Service Club, I'll introduce you to the president of a major printing company. It'll be a valuable opportunity if you're serious about opening a publishing house someday."
Oikawa stopped mid-step.
Frowning, he turned back toward her, "How do you know I'm planning to start a publishing company?"
Shizuka smiled knowingly. "Funny story. Last night, the president of a printing company called the school. I happened to answer."
She leaned back in her chair.
"Oikawa-kun, I didn't expect you to have ambitions this big. You're not even finished with your second year, and you're already researching printing companies."
"I don't need to guess what you're planning. You're going to start your own publishing house someday. And then publish and sell your own books."
"Looks like I've seriously underestimated you. You really are... incredibly confident in yourself."
Talk about a coincidence.
The moment Shizuka heard Oikawa's name from the company president on the phone, everything clicked into place.
She had been genuinely shocked.
A seventeen-year-old boy was already laying the groundwork for his future business empire, figuring out how to create even greater value for himself.
When she was seventeen, she hadn't had the slightest clue what she wanted to do with her life.
Comparing people really could be depressing.
"Until the end of my second year."
For once, Oikawa's usual playful expression disappeared.
He looked at Shizuka seriously.
It was already mid-November.
Even counting generously, there were less than three months until the end of the school year.
It was a worthwhile deal. One he could accept.
"Deal."
A smile spread across Shizuka's face. "The printing company I'm introducing you to is well-known even in Tokyo. The president is an old family acquaintance."
"You can intern there during spring break and start gaining experience early."
What Oikawa didn't know was that she would have introduced him to the company regardless of whether he agreed to join the Service Club.
...
..
The first Monday morning after a long break was the nightmare of students and office workers alike.
The sky was gray and gloomy. Sharp autumn winds battered the windows, filling the air with a mournful howl.
Even through the glass, Oikawa could practically feel the cold outside.
He wrapped himself tighter in his blanket in silent protest. Unfortunately, his alarm rang again.
With a sigh, he dragged himself out of bed.
Moving like a man marching toward his execution, he shuffled into the bathroom.
The freezing water from the faucet hit his hands. Instantly, he woke up.
"I'm already looking forward to the weekend."
After washing up, he wandered into the kitchen and grumbled to himself.
Breakfast was the usual, instant noodles.
After eating, he left home and headed for school.
December was approaching. The temperature in Chiba had dropped noticeably, and Oikawa was beginning to think it might be time to bring out his winter coat.
Halfway there, he spotted a familiar figure waiting by the roadside.
He pulled over.
"Waiting for me?"
Kawasaki was standing there with her head lowered, memorizing vocabulary words.
A smile appeared on Oikawa's face.
"I brought breakfast for you." From inside her sleeves, Kawasaki pulled out two boiled eggs and handed them over.
They were still warm.
"You already eat?" Oikawa asked as he peeled one.
"I did." Kawasaki smiled.
Oikawa popped the egg into his mouth, then peeled the second one.
Without warning, he held it up to her lips.
"Half for you."
She froze. Then cautiously took a small bite.
"Take a bigger bite." Oikawa narrowed his eyes.
Left with no choice, Kawasaki obediently took another, much larger bite.
After finishing the eggs, the two of them got back on their bicycles and continued toward school.
Monday's classes dragged on so slowly that they felt like torture.
Finally—
Ring! Ring! Ring!
The dismissal bell echoed through the building.
Oikawa slung his bag over his shoulder and headed toward the club building.
The difference was that today he wasn't just the president of the Literature Club. He was also a member of the Service Club.
Just thinking about all the troublesome work that came with it gave him a headache.
Still, a promise was a promise.
Bracing himself, he pushed open the door.
Inside, Yukino wasn't brewing tea for once. Instead, she was bent over the table, working through a mathematics exam paper.
When she heard him enter, she merely glanced up before expressionlessly returning to her work.
"Yukino, working this hard?"
Oikawa's tone was dripping with sarcasm.
He emptied the hot water from the kettle, filled it with fresh bottled water, and set it on the heating plate before pressing the switch.
"You're acting awfully proud for someone who only beat me once." Yukino finally raised her head.
Her icy stare landed on him like a knife.
She looked as if she wanted to murder him on the spot.
"Where there's a first time, there's a second. Yukino, I think you should just accept reality. You're never surpassing me again."
Oikawa was convinced she was internally screaming right now.
"Hmph. Just wait and see."
Through clenched teeth, Yukino delivered her threat before lowering her head and returning to the exam paper.
Inside the kettle, the water slowly grew hotter.
Just like the frustration and unwillingness burning inside her, the temperature kept rising higher and higher.
.
.
.