Chapter 9: Breaking Curfew

♥♥♥

Autumn means the cultural festival.

At our high school, with a pre-festival and an after-party, the event stretches out a bit longer than usual.

Preparations are already underway. Classmates stay late, and the school field is buzzing with stage setup.

“A mystery-solving game would totally scream Mystery Research Club and be a huge hit, don’t you think?”

Maki, the student council president, is passionately making his case.

After school, while Tachibana-san and I were lounging in the clubroom as usual, this guy barged in, insisting the Mystery Research Club do something for the cultural festival.

“……Even if you say that.”

Our club’s basically just a front to use the clubroom. Sure, we miraculously did something club-like during summer break, but at its core, it’s just me and Tachibana-san. We read a bit of mystery novels, but we’ve got zero creative drive.

“What about you, Tachibana?”

Maki tosses the question her way, and Tachibana-san responds with her usual blank expression.

“No strong opinions, but if President says we’re doing it, I’ll go along. That’s about it.”

“Still as cool as ever, huh? It’s the cultural festival! Let’s get hyped!”

Anyway, Maki continues.

“Just think of something, alright? Otherwise, Miki-chan’s gonna be in a tough spot as our advisor.”

Got it, got it, I say. Thinking’s free, at least.

“By the way, you two are still at it, huh?”

“Yeah. Miki-chan’s got a lot of work stress, so I’ve gotta be there for her.”

This Maki guy is dating a teacher two years out of college—Miss Miki, our English teacher and the club’s advisor. If the club doesn’t have any activity records, she’ll get grilled at staff meetings.

“So that’s the deal. I’m counting on you. Here, take these.”

Maki hands me two tickets.

“What’re these?”

“Amusement park tickets. They’ve got a haunted house and an escape game going on—should be good reference material.”

With that, Maki hurries out, probably swamped with student council duties for the festival. The hectic energy leaves with him, and a quiet calm settles back into the room.

Just Tachibana-san and me, with only the sound of novel pages being turned.

A silence like fine snow piling up.

After a while—

“Well, now that the student council president’s gone.”

Tachibana-san sets her book down and stands up deliberately.

“President, want some coffee?”

“Sure.”

Tachibana-san starts brewing coffee with a siphon. Siphon coffee, in simple terms, is coffee brewed with an elaborate method. Right after summer break, Tachibana-san brought the equipment to the clubroom. And every day, she brews coffee for me.

“Here you go, President.”

Two cups are placed on the table.

“Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.”

Saying that, Tachibana-san casually sits right next to me. It’s way too close for a club president and member. More importantly, she’s engaged to Yanagi-senpai. But—

Her white thighs, peeking out from her short skirt, press right up against my leg.

“Tachibana-san…… this room’s pretty spacious.”

“Is one sugar cube okay?”

“The sofa’s big enough to lie down on. You could use the space better. This is a bit too close.”

“I brewed it a little strong today. Hope it suits your taste, Shirou-kun.”

“Uh, Tachibana-san, are you even listening?”

Lately, Tachibana-san’s been diligently brewing coffee for me, calling me Shirou-kun when we’re alone, and avoiding sitting across from me—she always wants to sit side by side.

“Being with Shirou-kun…… still makes me a little nervous……”

“Our conversations just don’t connect, do they?”

“Mutual love is kinda amazing, isn’t it?”

Keeping her cool demeanor, Tachibana-san continues with her eyes downcast.

“You can do things to me that you wouldn’t do to other girls, Shirou-kun. And I can do things to you that I shouldn’t do with other guys.”

“I mean, it’s not like anything goes, right?”

“It’s fine.”

“Oh, finally, a proper response.”

“‘Cause I’d be happy no matter what you did to me, Shirou-kun.”

“That’s pretty extreme.”

And probably, I’m the same. I’d be happy no matter what Tachibana-san did to me. Maybe that’s what it means to love someone the most.

“We act normal around each other, but anything could happen. Just a small step, and we could let our emotions flood out, confirm our feelings for each other, do anything. Thinking about that…… it makes me a little nervous……”

As she says this, Tachibana-san leans her delicate frame toward me.

In the after-school clubroom, I want to hold the girl I love most, who carries this special aura. That’s what I think.

But—I push her away.

“Why?”

A crease forms between Tachibana-san’s beautiful brows.

“Why do you do that?”

“I’ve said it before. That ‘I’m fine with being the second girlfriend’ thing—I’m not okay with it.”

During the summer camp, I kissed Tachibana-san for the first time. That’s when she said it.

So I could keep being lovey-dovey with Hayasaka-san as always—

So I could stay close with Yanagi-senpai—

And still be lovers with Tachibana-san—

“I’m fine with being the second girlfriend.”

Back then, we kept kissing. But since the camp ended, every time Tachibana-san shyly gets close, I push her away.

“It’s too immoral. Doing that behind senpai’s back?”

“You still want to be a good guy.”

Tachibana-san’s expression turns cold.

“I don’t like that Shirou-kun.”

“Even so, wrong is wrong. If Hayasaka-san found out we were doing this, how would she feel?”

“You and Hayasaka-san are just practicing, right?”

Tachibana-san doesn’t know that Hayasaka-san and I are dating as each other’s second choice. She believes the “practice boyfriend” excuse—that Hayasaka-san has someone else she likes and is just using me for practice. But Tachibana-san’s sharp. We can’t keep it hidden forever.

“Or…… is that not true?”

Her bluish eyes lock onto mine, unrelenting. But then she shrugs, saying, “Whatever.”

“Whether Hayasaka-san is serious about you or not, I don’t care. I’m fine being second.”

So let’s do something bad in secret—

She grabs my tie, pulling my face close for a kiss.

At the last moment, I grab her shoulders to stop her.

“You’re friends with Hayasaka-san, aren’t you?”

They’ve been close lately. During breaks, Tachibana-san visits Hayasaka-san’s classroom. She braids Hayasaka-san’s hair from behind while she sits, a super girly scene. Everyone says it’s “precious.”

“Sure, we hang out on weekends sometimes.”

“Hayasaka-san, despite how she seems, doesn’t have many friends who treat her as an equal. So I think she’s really happy to have met you.”

“I don’t have many girl friends either, so I’m happy to be close with Hayasaka-san.”

“Then keeping secrets from that friend isn’t right, is it?”

“Maybe…… but you keep saying that and won’t do anything with me. Even though you do stuff with Hayasaka-san for ‘practice.’”

Tachibana-san furrows her brows, looking frustrated. Since summer, we haven’t kissed. I keep refusing. Each time, this usually stoic girl builds up frustration. And I, feeling happy about her reactions, am a pretty lousy guy.

“You held my hand at the movie theater.”

“That was……”

“It’s fine.”

Back then, I didn’t pull my hand away. So I’m complicit. But Tachibana-san doesn’t press me about it.

“I get it. You don’t want to betray anyone, Shirou-kun. So we’ll stay as club president and member, like always.”

“……Yeah, that’s about it.”

“If that’s what President wants, I’m okay with it. I’ll act properly as a fiancée. I won’t do anything to trouble you. I’ll be a good girl, not a bad one.”

Whatever, I don’t care about you anymore, President. With that, Tachibana-san pulls away.

“I don’t even like you that much anyway.”

“Hearing it straight like that stings a bit.”

“We’re strangers now.”

“You’re so extreme.”

“I’m going home. Hanging out with you isn’t fun at all.”

As Tachibana-san gets ready to leave, she notices something on the table. With a sigh, she lazily picks up the piece of paper.

“What about these?”

The two amusement park tickets Maki left behind.

“What to do……”

“Going to check out the park for club activity ideas seems pretty natural.”

“True.”

I think for a moment and say:

“Wanna go this Saturday?”

“Just to be clear, this isn’t a date. Don’t get any ideas.”

“You don’t hold back, do you?”

“Just a club president and his member.”

“I get it.”

“Being alone with you sounds like such a drag. Honestly, I’d rather go by myself.”

“If I weren’t me, that line would’ve killed me.”

This isn’t a date—it’s just a trip for cultural festival research.

No betrayals, no guilt.

Just a club president and his member. But—

I probably won’t tell Hayasaka-san or senpai that I’m going out with Tachibana-san.

And I bet Tachibana-san feels the same.

♥♥♥

Tachibana-san draws attention. Walking through town, men and women alike can’t help but look at her. It’s not just a “she’s pretty” reaction—it’s like something breathtakingly beautiful has appeared in the mundane day-to-day life, catching everyone off guard.

It was the same on the train this weekend.

Every passenger who boarded gave Tachibana-san a double-take.

I was sitting right next to her on the train.

The two of us, heading to the amusement park.

The coastal scenery flows past the train window. The carriage is nearly empty—too late in the day for a typical weekend outing. Sunlight glints off the sea, sparkling brightly.

Tachibana-san, what’s the plan for tomorrow?

Just head out in the afternoon, right? It’s just research.

That was our phone conversation yesterday. Tachibana-san’s tone was listless throughout.

It really seems like she’s lost interest in me.

“Still listening to Nippon Broadcasting, Tachibana-san?”

“And you’re probably still on Bunka Broadcasting, acting all underground.”

“I’ve been checking out TBS Radio lately too.”

“Whatever. Don’t care.”

We make small talk. She’s giving off major “I’m only here for festival research” vibes.

As we chat, Tachibana-san falls asleep. No shoulder brushes, no leaning against me.

“Let’s hit the haunted house first. I want to check it out.”

As soon as we arrive at the park, Tachibana-san says this. No stopping for photos at the fountain plaza, no buying silly headgear at the shops.

She strides toward the haunted house, she means business.

“Oh, right, your class is doing a haunted house, isn’t it?”

“Something like that.”

“What’s your role, Tachibana-san?”

“A ghost.”

Apparently, she’ll wear a white dress and let her long hair hang over her face.

“That’ll suit you.”

“I’m studying for it too.”

True to her word, Tachibana-san enters the haunted house and immediately starts observing everything closely. It’s a Japanese-style horror setup, themed like an old house. It’s dark, with eerie music playing. But Tachibana-san remains unfazed.

“Tachibana-san, aren’t you scared of this stuff?”

“Not at all.”

Even when a woman in a kimono with special effects makeup tries to scare us, Tachibana-san doesn’t flinch. Instead, she steps closer, studying her intently.

“At least act a little surprised. You’re making the ghost feel awkward.”

“Kyaa.”

“That was so monotone.”

“More importantly, President, aren’t you kinda shrinking back?”

“Am I? Maybe my posture’s been off lately.”

“You’ve been yelping this whole time.”

“Just warming up my voice. My throat’s been acting up.”

“Want me to hold your hand ‘til we get to the exit?”

“I’m not that pathetic!”

The haunted house ends without incident. It’s supposed to be a classic spot for couples to get close, but Tachibana-san’s way too immune to horror, and me being the one led by the hand feels all wrong.

We head toward our next destination, the event hall.

“Something up?”

Tachibana-san notices me glancing elsewhere.

My eyes had landed on an ice cream shop.

“I was thinking, Tachibana-san, maybe you’d want something like that. You like ice cream, right?”

“I’m good. We’re not here to have fun.”

“Right. Yeah, of course.”

Next, we headed to a limited-time escape game.

The game we were participating in was set in a room where a bomb had been planted, trapping us inside.

By solving the provided puzzles, we could figure out the code to unlock the room.

“The success rate’s only seventeen percent, huh?”

“Sounds tough.”

“But we’re the Mystery Research Club.”

“Piece of cake.”

We enter the room and take our seats. After listening to the host’s instructions, we start solving at the signal.

The moment Tachibana-san sees the crossword puzzle on the table, she tosses it aside.

“I’m, like, allergic to test-like stuff……”

“Guess I’ll handle it.”

To reach the final answer, we need to solve multiple puzzles. While other teams work together on the first crossword, I tackle it alone.

“I solved the crossword, and it spelled out ‘Look at the wall.’”

“Oh, that one?”

Tachibana-san points at the wall.

Among the flashy wall patterns, a single number stands out. The wall’s huge, yet she spots the one number in an instant—her observation skills are unreal.

We need to collect several numbers to unlock the door, but time runs out quickly.

“So close.”

“We only got three out of the ten digits for the final code.”

Tachibana-san kept cherry-picking the puzzles she liked, so we barely made progress.

That aside, as we step out of the event hall, I look up at the sky.

“It’s already getting dark.”

“We left after noon, so yeah.”

“Wanna check out anything else?”

“I’m heading home. I’ve got a curfew.”

The park is lit up, couples walking hand in hand. But we ignore the roller coasters and Ferris wheel, heading straight for the exit.

There’s a person-sized gap between me and Tachibana-san.

“The student council president said we should plan an escape game for the festival, but that’s impossible, right?”

“Yeah.”

“Let’s just throw together some half-baked display to get by.”

“Maybe make a recommended mystery book list and set up a display.”

“Think up the lineup and send it to me. I’ll make the posters.”

Talking business, we leave the amusement park.

We walk along a promenade by the coastline toward the station.

Streetlights glow, and the sea breeze feels a bit chilly.

I’ve got a curfew.

True to her word, Tachibana-san walks a little faster, ahead of me.

I thought we’d keep this vague relationship going forever.

With Tachibana-san we’re the club president and a member, with Hayasaka-san we’re on a casual basis, and with Yanagi-senpai it’s the same as before.

That’s fine, I think. I can’t betray senpai, I don’t want to mess up Tachibana-san’s family situation, and above all, I don’t know what to do about Hayasaka-san.

Originally, the deal was that when things worked out with our number-one person, Hayasaka-san and I would end things. But if I were asked now whether I could coldly follow through—

Thinking about it, I settle on maintaining the status quo.

I still love Tachibana-san the most. But my philosophy’s always been that you can’t date your number-one girl, so just being able to see her up close like this is enough.

Live without hurting anyone, keeping an appropriate distance from Tachibana-san. That’s what I thought.

But—

“This is boring. So boring.”

Tachibana-san stops walking and says this. Then she turns to me.

“I can’t do this cheap act anymore.”

The listless, businesslike atmosphere from earlier has completely vanished.

She’s back to being the dramatic, intense, sharp, and beautiful girl.

“Shirou-kun, this is a date, right?”

She stares at me with piercing eyes.

“No, this is supposed to be research for what the Mystery Research Club will do at the festival.”

“That’s such a hassle.”

“Because,” Tachibana-san continues.

“We both know from the start that the club can’t do anything for the festival, right?”

“Well……”

“You’re on the festival committee, Shirou-kun.”

That’s right.

I’m in charge of setting up the stage for the after-party. And I knew Tachibana-san would be busy with her class’s haunted house role. So we both knew the club couldn’t manage any activities for the festival.

“You still picked up those amusement park tickets because you wanted to go out together, didn’t you?”

Tachibana-san’s eyes are faintly wet.

And she says, voice thick with emotion:

“I came here thinking this was a date.”

It was like the curtain fell on the act.

Everything I’d been avoiding, pretending not to notice, was laid bare by Tachibana-san, standing poised yet somehow fragile.

These were words she’d kept locked in her heart all day—or maybe emotions she meant to keep hidden until the end.

“I wanted to come in the morning. I wanted to take a photo together at the entrance. I wanted to wear matching headgear and wander the park. I wanted to eat ice cream together. I wanted to ride the roller coaster and the Ferris wheel with you. But since you kept acting like we’re just club president and member, I pretended to be uninterested.”

“Tachibana-san……”

“So, Shirou-kun, what were you thinking today?”

In the depths of her eyes, I see a lonely, almost childlike anxiety, and I can’t help but say:

“—I thought it was a date.”

“You knew I was acting, didn’t you? You knew from the start I came here for a date, right?”

I knew.

From the moment Tachibana-san showed up at the meeting spot, I knew.

The other day at the movie theater, Tachibana-san hid her cowlick with a cap, dressed boyishly but clearly half-heartedly.

But today, at the station gate, she was different.

An off-white blouse with frills, a jacket, a ribbon tie, and a skirt—all made of high-quality fabric, giving off a refined, ladylike vibe. She was unmistakably feminine, with curled hair and subtle makeup.

“And yet you pretended not to notice. That’s pretty cruel.”

“……Sorry.”

I wanted to act like it was a date too.

But I had to pretend I didn’t notice. If Tachibana-san and I gave in to our emotions, someone would get hurt. I can still feel Hayasaka-san’s touch on my hand, and my heart’s full of memories with Yanagi-senpai.

So I wanted to keep things vague between us. But—

It’s fine.

Normally, that’s what Tachibana-san would say, but now she’s deeply hurt.

Her eyes look like they’re about to spill over with tears.

“I couldn’t sleep last night.”

Tachibana-san says.

“I kept thinking about how to get you to call me cute, Shirou-kun. I pulled out tons of clothes from my closet, stood in front of the mirror, stressing. I even watched videos on how to use a curling iron.”

“Tachibana-san……”

“Having all that ignored—it hurts a little.”

Thinking about the four of us, I shouldn’t say it.

But a single tear rolls down Tachibana-san’s cheek, and so I say what I couldn’t at the station gate when we met at noon.

“You look amazing today, Tachibana-san. You’re always amazing, but today, you’re even more beautiful.”

“Shirou-kun……”

Tachibana-san’s face brightens, and because I want to see my number-one girl smile, I say what I couldn’t all day, just like her.

“I wanted to come in the morning too, take photos together. Matching headgear’s a bit embarrassing, but I wanted to eat ice cream with you, ride the roller coaster, the Ferris wheel. Even a boring teacup ride would be fine with you.”

“……The teacup ride isn’t boring.”

“That’s how much I wanted this to be a date.”

“Then……”

Tachibana-san wipes her eyes, looks away shyly, and holds out her hand.

“……At least hold my hand.”

The moment I take Tachibana-san’s hand, the world’s resolution sharpens.

It’s like color floods into everything. A vibrant world.

Dusk, the coastal road, streetlights lined up at even intervals.

We walk hand in hand, filled with joy and a tinge of melancholy.

A breeze blows, and Tachibana-san holds her hair as she says:

“I like playing coy. Not everything needs to be said outright. But this, I want to make clear.”

“What?”

“Whether you’ll go out with me.”

No more vagueness, Tachibana-san says.

“Decide now.”

♥♥♥

“Your hand’s bigger than I thought, Shirou-kun.”

“Yours is as delicate as it looks, Tachibana-san.”

“I play piano, so it’s pretty strong.”

Tachibana-san squeezes my hand. I feel the bones in her fingers tighten around mine. It’s a little painful, but nice.

Since Tachibana-san has a curfew, we hop on the train.

There are no seats, so we stand side by side by the door, still holding hands.

Decide now.

Tachibana-san doesn’t ask repeatedly, but she’s waiting for my answer. Back at the station platform, her long lashes cast a wistful shadow, showing she’s thinking about it.

I gaze at Tachibana-san.

If I reject her or stay vague, she’ll truly become a stranger and drift away from me. That’s how it feels.

“Something wrong, Shirou-kun?”

“No, nothing.”

I can’t betray senpai, and I don’t want to cause trouble for Tachibana-san’s family by breaking her engagement.

But if I want to be her lover, we’d have to date in secret.

Could I do that?

What kind of face would Hayasaka-san make if she found out?

So, should I pretend nothing ever happened with Tachibana-san?

But I never want to see my number-one girl quietly cry again.

As I’m thinking, more and more people board the train.

After a few stops, it’s so packed we can barely move.

“Looks like another line’s down.”

“I’d probably throw up if any guy other than you touched me, Shirou-kun.”

Tachibana-san says this, so I position her by the door that doesn’t open, standing like a wall to keep her from being crushed by the crowd.

“This is, like, that wall-slam thing we did before, huh?”

“Yeah.”

Tachibana-san’s perfectly sculpted face is close. She smells nice. Today, she’s even wearing perfume.

I brace myself to avoid pressing against her delicate frame. But—

“In times like this, it’s easier if you just let yourself get squished, Shirou-kun.”

“But, like, you’re so fragile, Tachibana-san.”

“I’m not made of glass.”

I give in to the moment. If I let myself get squished, it’d make more space in the car for other passengers. But that’s just an excuse cloaked in righteousness. In the end, I just want to touch Tachibana-san.

“Me too,” Tachibana-san murmurs. “It’s pretty tough for me.”

“……Yeah.”

“Yeah.”

It just doesn’t show on my face or in my words, she says.

“I really wanted to be true friends with Hayasaka-san.”

“You can be.”

“I wish I could’ve fallen for Shun-kun.”

“Senpai’s a good guy.”

“I wish I hadn’t fallen for you, Shirou-kun.”

“……”

“But the real me loves you so much, Shirou-kun. So I can’t return Shun-kun’s feelings, and I can’t be true friends with Hayasaka-san.”

I can’t pretend I don’t know those feelings anymore.

Saying this, Tachibana-san rests her head on my chest.

Right now, I could touch her fine hair. Her small forehead. Her cheek. Probably even more than that, with this girl—

Suddenly, the train jolts.

The crowd pushes from behind, pressing Tachibana-san tightly against me. My knee slips between her legs, landing us in an awkward position.

“Uh, sorry.”

“You don’t have to apologize.”

I love you, Shirou-kun, Tachibana-san says.

“You can do anything to me.”

But she glances at my leg between her thighs and blushes slightly. Despite her mature aura, she’s super innocent about this stuff.

“Your face is red,” I say.

I hit the mark, and Tachibana-san pouts.

“It’s just a little hot.”

She quickly composes her usual calm expression and traps my leg between her inner thighs. Her legs are slender, but her thighs are soft, and I start feeling weird.

To distract myself, I look around the car and say:

“Can we even get off? There’s so many people.”

“……I’m fine staying like this ‘til the last stop.”

“You’ve got a curfew.”

“I’m sixteen. Getting scolded by Mom for breaking curfew wouldn’t be the worst.”

Besides, Tachibana-san says.

“Do you know what I’d be doing if I went home on time?”

“Not sure I wanna hear this.”

“Going out with Mom to have dinner with Shun-kun and his parents.”

Six more stops to her station.

I don’t want to let Tachibana-san go. Admitting that is easy. But is it the right thing to do? Probably not.

Decide now.

Her words echo in my mind.

What we’re about to do is wrong. We’re trying to deceive Hayasaka-san and Yanagi-senpai, maintain the status quo, and become lovers with Tachibana-san. It’s unforgivable.

But I realize quickly—I’m just looking for excuses.

Don’t date Tachibana-san because it’s not socially acceptable?

Date Tachibana-san because there’s no other way?

Either way, I’m trying to make it “inevitable.” I’m trying to leave my decision to something outside myself. That’s not how it works, I think to myself.

I gaze at Tachibana-san.

“Shirou-kun?”

Her glass-like eyes meet mine.

That’s right—Tachibana-san never makes excuses. She never blames me.

Yet I’ve always taken her love for granted, blaming her for everything, enjoying this convenient situation.

At the movie theater, I acted like I had no choice because she held my hand. I told myself it wasn’t betraying Hayasaka-san.

But I was the one who held her hand back.

My true feelings are simple. I love Tachibana-san, and I don’t want her to go to senpai. But I don’t want to betray senpai or hurt Hayasaka-san either.

Before, I could keep those lousy feelings vague, and Tachibana-san would pick up on them, moving things in my favor. I was leaning on her.

But I shouldn’t keep making her do that.

She’s been hurting in silence. So—I need to make this choice myself.

I need to own my flaws and carry the weight of this immoral love.

With that thought, something in my head snaps.

Fine, I’ll do it. Who cares about society’s flimsy morals?

I feel like an idiot.

“Shirou-kun!?”

Tachibana-san lets out a surprised yelp. I suddenly press her even closer.

I bury my face in her head, her silky hair against me.

“You smell so good.”

“…………This is kinda embarrassing.”

Her cheeks are red. Yes, this is the fresh, innocent side I wanted to see.

I love how weak she is to being overwhelmed, how easy she becomes when pushed. I love when her poker face cracks. I love that despite her cool act, she’s still so childish inside.

Tachibana-san doesn’t need to be bad anymore. I’ll be the bad one. It’s all my fault.

“Where’d you put the perfume?”

“On my neck.”

By my will, my responsibility, without blaming anyone, I commit to this immoral love with unwavering resolve.

I brush back Tachibana-san’s long hair and press my face to her pale, slender neck without hesitation.

“Ah……”

A soft breath escapes her. I feel her body tremble.

“Shirou-kun, we’re almost at the station……”

The train slows. If we don’t get off, she’ll miss her curfew and the dinner with senpai.

I keep her pinned, unmoving. The train stops, and the doors open. But we stay like that. Tachibana-san doesn’t resist.

“Shirou-kun…… this is okay, right?”

“—Yeah.”

The train pauses for a few dozen seconds.

In a frozen world, we feel each other’s breaths.

The doors close, and the train moves again.

♥♥♥

The train rumbles forward with a steady rhythm.

Tachibana-san slips her arms inside my jacket, wrapping them around my back.

She’s hugging me in a way that’s hard for others to notice.

Considering we’ve always used the Love Notebook games as an excuse, this might be our first real, direct moment of intimacy.

“I’m a pretty lousy guy, huh?”

“Are you?”

“You said I could do anything to you, Tachibana-san. So I just did what I felt like earlier, even though I knew it was troubling you.”

“That’s mean.”

But it was good, Tachibana-san says.

“I wanted you to hit me with those feelings, Shirou-kun.”

“Is that okay?”

“I want to shatter under those emotions.”

In the chaos of the crowded train, I envelop Tachibana-san. Despite her boyfriend, her fiancé, ethics, or social justice, I pour my raw, suppressed love into a fierce embrace.

Tachibana-san’s waist arches like a bow.

“Shirou-kun……”

“Sorry, is it too tight?”

“No.”

Tachibana-san says:

“It feels so good…… I could die……”

I’m an idiot, but Tachibana-san becomes one too.

In the end, we stay wrapped in each other’s arms even as the crowd thins, riding to the last stop.

At a ridiculously rural station, the next train back isn’t for an hour. Crickets chirp on the dark platform, no houses in sight. But for us, drunk on love, it’s no issue.

At the empty end of the platform, I part Tachibana-san’s thin lips and slip my tongue inside.

Tachibana-san is already swept away, limp and completely pliant.

I ravage her one-sidedly. Tachibana-san opens her mouth, gasping. I explore her tongue, the back of her teeth. It’s the opposite of summer. She presses her whole body against me as we kiss.

“You finally kissed me first, Shirou-kun.”

Tachibana-san is in ecstasy.

“Being taken like this feels so good. Do it more.”

As she wishes, I kiss her again, giving in to my desires.

Doing this with such a beautiful girl, my number-one girl, who wants it. To put it mildly, it’s incredible.

I hug her delicate frame tightly. She arches again, trembling with joy. That makes me happy, so I hug her harder. She trembles again, convulsing slightly.

We keep climbing higher. When our lips part, a thread of saliva lingers. We kiss again.

“Shirou-kun…… let me…… breathe……”

Tachibana-san gasps, barely able to speak. I’m out of breath too and take a moment to inhale.

We’re oxygen-deprived. But—

“Do it again…… more…… more……”

“Of course.”

We start another kiss, losing count. Saliva drips from the corners of our mouths. The deliberate sounds we make heighten our excitement. Tachibana-san presses her hips against me.

We exchange saliva, over and over, again and again—then it happens.

A camera shutter clicks from a short distance away.

We freeze for a moment. The platform seems empty.

If someone took a photo and hid, we’re the subject. They caught us kissing.

“We got snapped.”

“Yup. We did.”

For someone to bother taking a picture, they likely know us.

It’ll definitely cause trouble later. We think about it, but—

“Who cares, right?”

“Yeah, who cares.”

Like when we play the Love Notebook games, we turn into idiots the moment we do this.

So we keep kissing, unbothered. Tachibana-san, even out of breath, keeps kissing through her gasps.

When the heat of the moment cools, as usual, we snap back to reality.

On the train back, sitting side by side, we quickly set rules.

No kissing or hugging in public places like school or stations.

We don’t know where we’re headed or what’ll happen.

But one thing is certain.

“We’re dating, right?”

On the train seat, Tachibana-san, exhausted, leans against me.

“Yeah.”

I nod.

“Let’s be lovers without senpai finding out, keeping it from Hayasaka-san too.”