Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.
The sudden vibration in her hand made Takahashi Mio jump.
Maybe it was because she'd just been talking about him behind his back, but staring at the name flashing on her screen made her stomach do a strange little flip.
She cleared her throat softly. Ahem. Composed herself. Pressed answer.
"Hello? Shiratori-kun?"
"It's me. Where are you right now?"
The directness of the question caught her off guard. Something about being asked for her exact location felt... uncomfortable. Restrictive. Like she was being monitored.
Her eyes darted around the café before she answered vaguely. "Ah, why do you ask?"
"Nothing. Is it strange for a boyfriend to care about where his girlfriend is?"
Touché.
"I'm at a café. With a... friend." She hesitated, then added, almost defensively, "The new one. NEWBET."
"Okay. Go home early tonight. Get some rest. Tomorrow at 9:30 AM, I'll meet you at the school gate."
"..."
The school gate?
Mio blinked, her mouth opening to refuse on instinct.
But before she could get a word out, a sharp pain shot through her foot. Reika's high heel had come down—hard.
Hiss!
Mio's eyes went wide. She shot Reika a murderous glare, but her friend just stared back, fierce and insistent, her red lips forming a clear, silent command:
Agree. To. Him.
On the other end of the line, Shiratori Seiya's voice cut through her internal struggle. "I know you don't have classes tomorrow. Do you have other plans?"
Something clicked in Mio's mind. An idea sparked.
"Ah, no... it's just—my friends heard I'm in a relationship. They're curious about you. I was thinking maybe we could... arrange a meeting sometime?"
Silence.
Shiratori Seiya hadn't expected that. Someone as image-conscious as Takahashi Mio, openly admitting she was taken? It was a surprise. But not necessarily a bad one. It would save complications later.
He had no issue meeting her friends. Since his first year of high school, he'd navigated countless social situations, met all kinds of people—talented, ambitious, powerful. The awkwardness of youth was a distant memory. He had a strong enough core now.
"Fine. Pick a time and place. Preferably this weekend, so it doesn't interfere with classes."
A pause. Then, circling back: "Don't forget about tomorrow."
"I know. I won't." Mio's voice softened. She lowered her eyes, her legs slowly pressing together under the table as she stared at the worn wood grain. "Um..."
"What?"
"Well... are you sure you're okay with meeting them? They're all my friends, so it might get a bit rowdy. If you're not comfortable, we don't have to..."
Shiratori Seiya was briefly puzzled. Playing hard to get? Acting coy?
Yesterday she'd been all fire and defiance. Today she was... worried about his comfort?
He didn't have the energy to decode her. After his last relationship, he'd sworn off emotional investment. Effort was fine. Emotions were a trap.
"I'm not that mysterious. Meeting them saves trouble later if some jealous guy decides to make a move."
"Oh."
Something flickered in Mio's eyes at his casual claim of ownership. She still hadn't fully accepted that she was in a relationship. They'd only met once. There hadn't been any sweet nothings, any romantic build-up. Just... this.
The conversation wound down. Shiratori Seiya asked if she had any other questions. She didn't. He hung up.
Mio stared at her phone, listening to the empty dial tone, until Reika's voice pulled her back.
"Well, well." Reika stubbed out her e-cigarette, a knowing smile playing on her lips. "Look at you. Playing hard to get like a pro, and you've never even had a boyfriend."
Mio shook her head slowly, slipping her phone back into her bag. "No. I just... I feel like it's not fair to him."
She'd never dated, but she'd watched her friends go through boyfriend after boyfriend. Every time someone new entered the circle, they'd get dragged to a group gathering. Sometimes it was just playful teasing. Sometimes it was an interrogation.
She still didn't know what kind of person Shiratori Seiya really was. From their first encounter, he seemed... intense. Dominant. If things went badly tomorrow, there might be no salvaging it.
Reika stared at her like she'd grown a second head. "Not fair? To him?"
Mio's cheeks flushed. She explained her concerns, stumbling over the words.
Reika listened, then took a slow sip of coffee. "Okay, I get it. But just text your friends beforehand. Tell them to behave. Easy fix."
Mio nodded. She'd do that.
"More importantly." Reika leaned forward. "Have you thought about how you're handling tomorrow?"
"How to handle it... I don't know. Normally, I guess?" Mio fidgeted with her hands. "He probably won't try anything, right? Maybe just dinner? A normal date?"
Her first date. With a boy she'd met once. It was absurd.
"Let me give you some advice."
"What?"
"Don't lie to him."
Reika dabbed her lips with a napkin, checked her watch, and stood up. She looked down at Mio, her expression serious.
"You can lie to idiots all day. They'll never know the difference. But a man you can't see through? Just be real with him."
She grabbed her bag.
"Oh, and you're paying."
"Wait—where are you going?"
"Work. Unlike some people, I don't have a mysterious benefactor bankrolling my life yet."
And with that, Reika was gone.
Mio stared at the empty seat across from her. After a long moment, a small, helpless smile tugged at her lips.
Maybe... this wouldn't be so bad?
>>>>
Friday, 7:00 AM.
Takahashi Mio woke up early. For her, this was practically the middle of the night.
She'd actually gone to bed before 10 PM last night. The results were undeniable—her dark circles had faded to almost nothing. A light dusting of powder, and they were invisible.
After a long shower, she'd stood in front of her open closet for what felt like an hour. Clothes were scattered across her bed, a battlefield of rejected outfits. Finally, she'd settled on something simple but flattering. She held it up, gave herself a critical once-over in the mirror, and nodded.
Satisfied.
Now she stood before the full-length mirror, making faces. Practicing expressions. Running through scenarios in her head.
If he says this, I'll say that. If he does that, I'll react like this.
She was still conflicted, but she'd settled on a basic strategy. If he was assertive, she'd be gentle. If he was distant, she'd be warm.
The only regret? Their first real conversation, up on that rooftop. She'd been so defensive, so sharp. Every time she thought about it, she cringed.
If only she'd left him with a better impression. A ladylike impression.
But... her actions had been understandable, right? He'd ambushed her with that note. Threatened to call her mother. Anyone would've reacted badly.
He probably didn't care that much anyway.
She hoped.
There was no rewinding time, so she'd just have to move forward. After a day of thinking, she'd made a decision: as long as Shiratori Seiya wasn't some kind of creep, as long as he didn't have some hidden evil agenda, she wasn't letting him go.
She remembered the look in Reika's eyes last night. The envy. The jealousy. That warm glow of satisfaction returned.
Feelings could grow later. You got on the train first, bought the ticket after.
She wasn't letting him go.
But she also remembered something she'd read once. To truly capture a man's heart, you had to stay clear-headed. Stay in control.
You couldn't give nothing. But you couldn't give everything either. Not all at once. And definitely not that.
That was probably what he really wanted anyway.
She'd set her boundaries. Her strategy. Her rules of engagement.
Standing before the mirror, Takahashi Mio practiced her smile. Bright. Warm. Perfect.
She felt ready.
This sudden, strange romance? She was going to win it.