"Hmm?" Imaizumi Keita turned his head to meet her eyes, an innocent expression appearing on his face. "Why do you say that?"
"Because..." Yanami Anna's cheeks flushed slightly, and she turned her face away in embarrassment. "Because it feels like... this kind of personality is just too rare... If there wasn't a reference model... My novels are written by referencing specific people..."
"That's just you," Imaizumi Keita denied Yanami's claim. "I'm different from you, Anna-chan. For me, original creation is just that simple..."
Imaizumi Keita shamelessly took credit for the book's inspiration and used the opportunity to tease Yanami Anna.
"You—!"
Yanami Anna turned her head in shame and indignation, giving his chest a light punch.
"Bastard Keita! You always know how to bully me!"
Imaizumi Keita caught her mischievous hand and looked down at the time on his phone.
The hour hand was already pointing at seven-thirty.
"Alright, it's getting late." He patted her back, his tone turning gentle. "I'll walk you home."
Only then did Yanami Anna realize, with a start, that she had actually stayed at his house for so long.
She gave an "mm," reluctantly climbed out of his embrace, and went into the bathroom to change out of that white shirt.
When she stepped out of the bathroom in her own clothes, Imaizumi Keita was already waiting at the door.
The two left the apartment one after the other and headed toward the station.
The summer night breeze carried a hint of coolness, and the streetlights stretched their shadows long, intertwining them tightly.
There weren't many people on the train; the two leaned against each other side-by-side, quietly watching the night scenery outside the window.
Soon, the train arrived at the station near Yanami Anna's home.
The two walked out of the ticket gate, and Yanami Anna stopped at a crossroad.
She pointed to a lit-up apartment building nearby. "My house is right over there. You can just walk me to here, Keita."
She turned to look at Imaizumi Keita, an apologetic look surfacing on her face.
"If we go any further, it won't be good if my parents see us. I told them I was coming with a female classmate."
"Understood."
Imaizumi Keita nodded, not insisting further.
He looked at her face, which appeared exceptionally soft under the streetlight, and leaned down to plant a gentle kiss on her forehead.
"Be careful on the way." His voice was soft, yet exceptionally clear. "I like you very much, Anna-chan."
"Ugh..."
Yanami Anna felt her cheeks burning up again.
She looked up at him, her eyes full of seriousness and honesty.
"Keita... You, you're not allowed to do anything to wrong me."
"And you're not allowed... not allowed to just abandon me whenever you feel like it."
"Otherwise... in the future, I will never agree to any of your requests again. No matter what kind of request it is, I will absolutely, absolutely not agree!"
Seeing her serious expression, Imaizumi Keita reached out and ruffled her hair.
"Understood."
He didn't say anything more, simply repeating that word.
Only then did Yanami Anna seem to receive some sort of guarantee, and a smile of relief reappeared on her face.
She let go of his clothes, which she had been gripping tightly, and walked briskly toward her home.
"Then I'm off! Goodnight, Keita!"
"Goodnight."
Imaizumi Keita stood where he was, watching her disappear around the street corner shrouded in the night.
...
Two days later, the fifth day of summer vacation.
Imaizumi Keita was in his apartment, facing his computer and revising the text of his novel.
It was a message from Yanami Anna.
[Keita! Urgent! Come to this restaurant immediately!]
At the end of the message, there was even a frantic emoji attached.
Imaizumi Keita looked at the message and sighed somewhat helplessly.
He saved his document, changed his clothes, and resignedly headed toward the restaurant Yanami had sent.
Pushing open the glass door of the restaurant, he immediately spotted Yanami Anna sitting in a booth.
A half-drunk iced coffee sat before her, but her expression didn't look like there was any emergency; rather, it was full of gossipy intent.
"What's the matter?"
Imaizumi Keita sat down opposite her and asked directly.
"Guess what?"
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