If you want to understand what someone is really like, asking the people around them is usually a solid strategy. Of course, if you ask their ex, you might get a slightly... extreme evaluation. But Takahashi Mio wasn't looking for extremes right now. She just wanted to hear what Shiratori Seiya thought about Hōjō Shione at this particular moment.
"I know."
The reply came almost instantly. Surprise flickered in Takahashi Mio's eyes before her fingers flew across the screen:
"Do you think without A-sensei's songs, Hōjō—"
She'd only typed half the sentence when a new message popped up:
*"You should be done with class, right? Come to A-304."*
Mio felt like she'd been interrupted mid-sneeze. She silently mashed the backspace key, erasing her half-formed question.
After quickly messaging Nagata Nanase that she'd be late, she gathered her things and headed toward the classroom Shiratori Seiya had mentioned. As she walked, a question nagged at the back of her mind:
What could he possibly want now?
...
"I remember you're free on weekends, right?"
The moment she stepped through the door, before Takahashi Mio could even locate him properly, Shiratori Seiya's voice reached her. He was standing by the air conditioner, remote in hand, apparently fine-tuning the temperature like he owned the place.
Mio paused. Then, despite herself, a hopeful little sprout of joy unfurled in her chest.
A date?
Date = shopping spree + fancy meal.
The equation established itself in her brain with lightning speed. Dating Shiratori Seiya really was wonderful, she reflected. The clothes. The food. The way he just... paid for things without blinking.
But she was a woman. She had composure to maintain.
She pursed her lips thoughtfully as she walked toward the seat next to him, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear with practiced delicacy.
"I should be free..."
"Good."
Shiratori Seiya glanced back at her, then pressed the air conditioner remote. The display flickered to 22 degrees.
Mio couldn't help but notice: wasn't it a bit extravagant to run the AC for just two people in an empty classroom? Not that she minded, exactly. There was something undeniably appealing about this level of casual wastefulness. She sank into the seat next to where he'd placed his bag.
"What's up? Got plans for us?"
It came out maybe a little too eager. She dialed it back with a neutral expression.
"Yes. If you're free, we're starting your performance classes this weekend. I've already arranged everything. Fifty-six lessons total—you probably won't finish them this semester, but you can continue through the holidays if needed."
Mio's carefully constructed composure crumbled.
She'd only caught about half of what he said after "performance classes," but that was enough. The reserved shyness drained from her face, replaced by something approaching horror.
"?!"
She suddenly regretted ever setting foot in this classroom. Should have just gone to the bathroom like she originally planned. Should have pretended she didn't see his message.
"Um... I just remembered—I might have plans with friends this weekend..."
The words came out weak, unconvincing. A last-ditch resistance effort.
She looked up and met Shiratori Seiya's gaze.
Her resistance crumbled completely.
As if reading her thoughts directly from her brain, he said calmly, "Complete the classes and pass the final assessment, and I'll give you one million."
Mio's heart gave a traitorous lurch. Her hands, resting on her skirt, clenched unconsciously.
"It's not about the money," she managed, though even she didn't believe it. "I just—I'm already exhausted from classes every day. Weekends are my only time to—"
"Two million."
"Okay. I understand."
The words tumbled out before she could stop them. Her eyes had apparently developed a mind of their own and were now sparkling with poorly concealed greed.
Shiratori Seiya nodded with what looked almost like approval at her rapid capitulation.
"Good. I'll go with you."
He paused, as if remembering something, and studied her face more carefully.
"Oh—didn't you mention before that your friends wanted to meet me? When exactly? I'll adjust my schedule."
"Ah. That."
Mio's eyes darted away. Her fingers fidgeted with the hem of her skirt.
"Someone... isn't free this week. Maybe we should just forget about it?"
The truth was, she'd already confirmed which high school Shiratori Seiya attended—through Hōjō Shione, ironically enough. There was no real need for a group gathering anymore. Besides, the whole thing felt increasingly like she was trying to investigate him, like some kind of suspicious girlfriend in a crime drama. Even if he never found out, it still felt... wrong.
And honestly? From everything she'd seen so far, he wasn't just not a bad person. He was actively, almost aggressively pushing her toward a future she'd never even dared to imagine.
Shiratori Seiya listened to her rambling excuse, his gaze thoughtful.
"I see."
The way he said it made Mio's stomach clench. She couldn't read him—couldn't tell if he was suspicious, indifferent, or something else entirely. His face gave nothing away.
That's worse.
Panic bubbled up. She didn't want him to think she was hiding him. Didn't want him to think she was ashamed of him or something.
"It's not that I'm trying to hide that you're my boyfriend!" The words came out rushed, defensive. "I've actually already told them about you. They know we're dating."
"Oh."
Just... oh. That was it.
Mio's anxiety spiked. His neutral expression was worse than anger. Anger she could work with. Neutrality? She had no idea what that meant.
Biting her lip, she shifted closer—close enough that her arm almost brushed against his. She pulled out her phone.
"Actually, I've been wanting to post about you on my social media for a while. But I didn't have any proof, so I was worried no one would believe me." She tilted her head, aiming for cute. "It'd be great if we could take a photo together. That way everyone would know. Plus, it might keep some of those annoying guys from asking for my number all the time..."
Shiratori Seiya didn't like photos. Even during his time with Hōjō Shione, he'd avoided them whenever possible. But this request... there was no real reason to refuse, was there?
He leaned in.
Mio slid naturally into his arms, like she'd done it a hundred times before. The warmth of his body seeped through their clothes. His scent—clean, faintly like soap and something else she couldn't identify—filled her senses.
This is the first time I've been this close to a guy.
The realization hit her like a truck. Her chest warmed. Heat crept up her neck, flooded her cheeks. She hoped the photo wouldn't capture how badly she was blushing.
Click.
The moment froze in her phone's memory.
Mio stared at the image—at his face, captured in crisp detail. She pursed her lips.
He photographs well. Annoyingly well.
She tapped open her social media app, fingers moving through the familiar motions. A few careful selections, a filter that enhanced without overwhelming, and then the caption—one she'd apparently composed in advance, judging by how quickly it appeared.
She turned the phone to show him.
"You are wonderful. I like you very much. I hope we can always be together."
Simple. Direct. The kind of declaration that left no room for interpretation.
Shiratori Seiya read it, his expression unchanged.
"Good."
He nodded once, then began gathering the books scattered across the desk, preparing to leave. He'd made it halfway through stacking when he noticed Takahashi Mio staring at him with an expression that could only be described as wounded.
He paused. "What?"
Mio bit her lip. A flicker of something—insecurity, maybe—passed through her eyes.
"I know our relationship isn't... that close yet. But..." She hesitated, then pushed forward. "Aren't you going to make it public too?"
The unspoken question hung in the air: Do you have other girlfriends?
Shiratori Seiya considered this for a moment.
"I don't have many contacts on my phone. But posting it is fine."
It would serve a purpose, actually—a clean way to make Hōjō Shione understand the situation completely. He'd mentioned having a girlfriend before, but words were cheap. A public post was proof.
He'd just need to block his aunt from seeing it.
A few taps on his own phone, and he turned the screen to show Takahashi Mio.
Her face transformed—a genuine smile blooming across her features.
"Thank you."
This way, Hōjō Shione will see it too, won't she?
The thought surfaced unbidden, and Mio felt a small, shameful surge of satisfaction. She pushed it down quickly, but not quickly enough to erase the warmth it left behind.
Then, remembering what had brought her here in the first place, she glanced at Shiratori Seiya's profile and asked, "Um... Shiratori-kun, do you know A-sensei—"
"Oh, I suddenly remembered something—"
They spoke at the same time, both stopping mid-sentence. Their eyes met.
After a beat, Shiratori Seiya nodded. "You first."
"Ah, right. Um, Shiratori-kun, you know A-sensei, don't you? Do you know why he suddenly stopped writing songs?"
"Didn't his post explain it? He's run out of talent. Doesn't want to write anymore."
"Wait—so he's really just one person?"
Shiratori Seiya frowned slightly. "What else would he be?"
"I didn't mean it like that! It's just... online, everyone says A-sensei must be a team, because the song styles are so varied."
"He's one person."
"Oh."
Mio processed this, then asked thoughtfully, "So... he's male?"
"Male."
"Aren't you jealous?"
"No."
Only someone with a split personality would be jealous of themselves, he added silently.
Mio's lips curved upward despite herself. Looks like your connection isn't that strong after all.
"Are you done asking?"
Shiratori Seiya's voice pulled her from her thoughts.
"Ah—one more! Last one, I promise."
She took a breath.
"Do you think Hōjō Shione will still be popular without A-sensei?"
"Why wouldn't she be?"
The response came immediately, without hesitation.
"She has genuine singing talent. Even if she performs other people's songs in the future, she'll still draw an audience.A-sensei's compositions are good, but they're not so essential that she'd lose her career without them."
"Oh."
And you claim you're not jealous.
If he weren't jealous, would he really downplay A-sensei's contribution like that? Mio kept her face neutral, but internally, she was irked. On one hand, he was praising Hōjō Shione. On the other, he was dismissing someone she herself considered genuinely talented—she'd sung those songs plenty of times, and calling A-sensei a "genius" wasn't an exaggeration in her book.
Presumptuous, she thought privately.
Aloud, she smiled. "Okay, I'm done. Shiratori-kun, what were you going to tell me?"
"Ah. I have a younger sister's birthday on Wednesday. Just letting you know."
The smile froze on Mio's face.
On the surface, it sounded like a boyfriend reporting his plans—considerate, even. But his tone wasn't asking permission. It wasn't even really telling her. It was announcing, like a weather forecast or a train delay. Something that was simply going to happen regardless of her feelings.
A normal boyfriend, one who actually cared about his girlfriend's opinion, probably wouldn't mention it at all if he thought she might object. The fact that he could speak so frankly meant he didn't think she had any right to stop him.
The realization landed like a stone in her stomach.
It took her a moment to compose herself, to keep her voice steady.
"Is she... your biological sister?"
"No. Hōjō Shione's younger sister."
The smile vanished completely.
"Shiratori-kun." She kept her voice measured, reasonable. "We just made our relationship public. If you go to her sister's birthday party, and someone we know sees us... wouldn't that be a little awkward?"
Shiratori Seiya glanced at her.
"Then come along."
"..."