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V6 Chapter 1: Takamatsu Tomori’s Resolve
🕑 Added 2025-06-26 11:17:35 +0000 UTCSummer had ended.
Though the break was only two months long, it felt to Kazami Haru as though he had lived through half a century. Even on the first day of the new semester, he still felt like he hadn't quite woken from a dream.
The band's final live show at the Summer Festival had been just two weeks ago, yet now, Haru felt as if it had happened in another lifetime.
Narrowing his black eyes, Haru lifted his hand and gently gripped the oil paintbrush he had bought at Beast Art Supplies.
Warm hues began to emerge on the paper, colored with fine, delicate strokes.
Morning light had already broken through the curtains, shining onto the blank canvas. That faint light and shadow only added more richness to the already warm tones of his painting.
Holding the brush with his left hand, he traced a final orange-gold streak across the canvas, as if capturing the essence of light itself.
Oil Painting — "Summer Bloom"
It was a piece Haru had painted casually the night before. As a Level 5 practice work, it barely passed muster, especially since, even with all the techniques he inherited from his simulated self, the most essential element in art [SOUL] was still a little lacking.
"Didn't expect my dominant left hand would only get me this far. Something still feels off…"
He squinted and set the brush down on the wooden table. Then he casually rolled up the painting and slipped it into a mailing tube.
"Well, might as well submit it to an exhibition and see what happens… Even if it's not great, it should be enough for a debut piece."
With everything prepared, Haru dropped the painting off in the mail on his way out, addressed to the "Japan Young Artists Collective Exhibition."
No matter the quality, it was still a work he had stayed up late into the night to finish. At the very least, he wanted to see how it would be received.
As he headed to school, he instinctively walked toward the Furukawa Bakery. But just as he turned a corner, he bumped into a familiar figure.
Nagasaki Soyo, dressed in a deep blue sailor uniform, met his eyes with a faint smile that softened her usual calm expression.
"Soyo?"
"Morning! I didn't think I'd run into you here, Haru."
Wearing her Tsukinomori uniform, Soyo placed her hands behind her back and took a small step closer. Her eyes lit up slightly as she shortened the distance between them.
Haru looked just as handsome and refined as always. She noticed his long black hair had been tied back with a ribbon, exposing the nape of his fair neck and the faint line of his collarbone…
That little glimpse, so subtle, kept drawing her gaze like opposing magnetic poles.
"Good morning, Soyo. I didn't expect you to be up this early… Do I have something on my face?"
Sensitive to being watched, Haru had no trouble sensing Soyo's intense gaze. It almost felt like she had known he'd be here.
Could it be that she'd been waiting?
"Just a little bit~ Don't move, okay? Let me fix it for you."
Her eyes curved in a sweet smile as she reached up and gently brushed Haru's cheek, then fussed a little with his hair near his ear, though it wasn't particularly messy to begin with.
After a moment, she nodded in satisfaction.
"There, all set."
Soyo didn't think of herself as a particularly seductive girl.
At least, not before she met Haru. But ever since he appeared in her dreams, those feelings had only grown harder to suppress. If Haru were really her boyfriend like in the dream… she might've kissed him right then and there.
"By the way, Haru, you're up really early today. Did you eat breakfast?"
"I did."
"Hmm? Sounds like you didn't eat properly."
Soyo touched a finger to her lips and smiled playfully. Haru glanced away, a bit self-conscious.
Even on a casual walk, he felt strangely on edge. He hadn't shown any obvious tells, and yet Soyo had immediately picked up on something. Wasn't that a little terrifying?
Had her skills in "observation" evolved into actual mind-reading?
Tsukinomori Academy… truly terrifying.
"She noticed that too? Am I really that easy to read?"
"Ehh, I just figured you were going to grab a piece of bread and call it breakfast. That's no good, you know! You have to eat properly!"
Walking beside him, Soyo scolded him gently, her brows furrowed in mock sternness.
Ever since they "married" in that dream, she'd come to understand her overly carefree husband in ways no one else could... His bad habits, his food preferences, everything.
Of course she knew how he'd likely handle breakfast. She also had a pretty good idea of what time he would head out.
"I actually made an extra side dish for lunch this morning. Just eat it now as your breakfast, okay?"
She pulled a small thermal lunch box from her bag, still wearing her sweet smile. Her expression and tone were as soft and nurturing as ever, so much so that even her mother wouldn't have seen through her composure.
Soyo had planned to take her time winning over her "husband." But after seeing that mysterious pink-haired girl in her dream, even someone as confident as Soyo had felt a rare sense of unease.
When she realized her once-reliable intel was starting to blur with time…
Well, then she couldn't keep playing the same game.
"Then I'll gladly accept."
Haru smiled as he took the lunchbox from her. A warm scent lingered from the container, lifting his brows slightly in pleasant surprise.
"Too much bread isn't good for your health, after all—eh?"
Soyo's hands froze mid-air.
She had expected her foolish husband to be shy and hesitant, but instead, Haru had accepted the food without a second thought.
The unexpected response caught her so off guard that her prepared lines all vanished. She could only tilt her head and twirl her hair nervously.
"They're all my favorites… Thanks, Soyo."
Opening the box, Haru saw tamagoyaki and little sausages, all lovingly arranged. It was clear she had made it just for him that morning.
In the past, he might have fumbled awkwardly with her feelings. But not anymore. He had made up his mind.
If Soyo wanted to confess, he would face it directly.
He had avoided her before because he didn't know how to respond. But now, things had changed. He wouldn't keep his distance anymore.
Taking a big bite of the egg roll in front of her, Haru gave a thumbs-up and said with warmth,
"I'll make you a bento in return sometime. You haven't tasted my cooking yet, have you?"
"A bento from Haru? Are you sure that's okay…"
Soyo's voice softened as she lost the lead in the conversation. Like a little lamb without direction, she bowed her head slightly, her soft brown hair cascading over her shoulders.
"Of course it's okay. You might never want to eat anything else after trying it."
"That's impossible…"
Flustered and unsure, Soyo tried to regain the initiative.
"Speaking of which… Haru, are you free sometime soon? I mentioned I wanted to bring over a fatigue-relief aromatherapy set. It works great with a massage~"
"I'm not too busy with school starting back up. Why don't you bring it over in the next couple of days?"
Soyo: …?
At that moment, her brain went completely blank.
Even the "false smiles" and "carefully crafted persona" she prided herself on had vanished from memory. Every planned strategy crumbled to dust.
It was like getting hit with Saitama's serious punch, completely powerless.
"Coming over is no problem… I'll find the 'right' time to visit…"
She hadn't expected happiness to come so suddenly. A soft, gentle smile bloomed across her face.
…
Meanwhile, Hitori Gotoh was in turmoil.
Even though she had seen her "future" in a dream. Clearly knowing she would marry Kazami Haru someday, facing him in real life still made her shrink away.
After greeting him that morning, she hadn't dared to speak to him again.
"Haru's still so popular at school…"
They hadn't seen each other all summer, yet the moment Haru walked into the classroom, all eyes turned to him.
After all, at school, Kazami Haru had once topped the girls' [Secret Crush] ranking. In Bocchi's eyes, he was the epitome of a super-popular extrovert, a figure far too dazzling to ever approach.
Honestly, how did her dream self even manage to steal Haru away from all those other girls?
Whether it was Chihaya Anon or Kita Ikuyo, they were both radiant "sun angels" she could only look up to and there was also that unforgettable blue-haired beauty, her elegance and confidence alone could have wiped out all of Shimokitazawa like a boss-level serpent.
And yet, in the end, it was the guitar hero who won.
Maybe… she was actually kind of amazing?
"Hmm… hmhm~ hmhmhm!"
From a distance, Kazami Haru watched Bocchi muttering to herself and smiling weirdly with a complex look. He had long since gotten used to her slightly strange behavior.
Still, something about her seemed especially off today. Maybe he should go check on her later?
Just as he was about to speak to her, a soft presence entered the classroom.
"Haru… good morning."
Takamatsu Tomori, voice barely above a whisper, greeted him shyly. Ever since they had openly confessed their feelings to each other, their relationship had subtly changed. Even the timid little penguin had started seeking out moments of closeness with him.
Though this change in their relationship seemed to go unnoticed by Anon.
"Good morning. You're looking really cute today, Tomori."
"Mm…"
Flustered by the compliment, Tomori lowered her head, her cheeks turning pink as she blinked up at him.
Even that one adorable gesture nearly overwhelmed Haru. If they hadn't been in class, he might have grabbed her for a tight hug and a few kisses on the spot.
Tomori, too, had similar thoughts, but suddenly remembered something and shook her head firmly.
There was something more important today…
Ever since she had accidentally witnessed Haru saying goodbye to Wakaba Mutsumi, Tomori had felt a sliver of opportunity open up. She knew she couldn't bring everyone together on her own.
If anyone could help figure out how to make that happen, it was Mutsumi. So today, she had decided to talk to her!
"Everyone, attention please. I have something to announce."
Just before noon, their homeroom teacher walked into the classroom. She didn't start class right away, simply clapping her hands to gather everyone's attention.
Still lost in her daydream, Bocchi snapped out of it and looked around in confusion at the now-full classroom.
"Our school's annual Cultural Festival is coming up. I'm sure you all know what that means, right?"
Cultural festival?!
The moment that word hit their ears, the entire class erupted with excitement. The classroom, once silent, buzzed with lively chatter and whispers.
"Huh?"
Chihaya Anon, who had been resting her chin in thought, lifted her head in surprise. She quickly noticed that not far away, Kita Ikuyo had also raised her gaze.
Their eyes met midair in a "coincidental" flash of tension, and both girls broke into brilliant, sunlit smiles.
This was the crown jewel of any high school life, the Cultural Festival!
It meant three full days of interacting with classmates, perfect for bonding with your special someone. For couples, it was the ideal date setting.
And most important of all: many cultural festivals ended with a bonfire dance.
No doubt about it, this was one of the best opportunities.
"…"
Kita Ikuyo, of course, recognized the significance. Her relationship with Haru had been progressing smoothly. Even when she linked fingers with him in private, he didn't pull away.
If she could use this chance to deepen things a little further…
Maybe she could finally try for a kiss?
"Alright, everyone settle down."
"Each class needs to nominate two student representatives for the festival. It's a bit of work, but also a great opportunity. If anyone wants to volunteer, raise your hand~"
At those words, the room instantly fell silent, as if someone had hit a mute button.
Everyone knew that being a festival rep meant nonstop work and all sorts of hassles. No one wanted to get stuck with that, especially those hoping to use the festival for more personal pursuits.
"Seems like no one wants to volunteer… In that case, do we have any nominations?"
"I nominate Kita/Chihaya!"
Ikuyo and Anon raised their hands almost simultaneously in a preemptive strike, only to realize with surprise that they had the same idea. Their eyes locked again, this time with mutual shock.
That perfect sabotage earned a smile from the homeroom teacher.
The pilots for Eva Unit-01 had been chosen.
"Wow, such perfect timing. Then it's decided, Kita and Chihaya will be our class reps!"
Disaster.
Chihaya Anon stared at the blackboard with a stiff expression as her name was written.
She had thought acting quickly would let her get ahead of the game, but it turned out Kita had been thinking the exact same thing. And now they were both stuck in a two-way trap…
If Soyo had been here, she would probably be laughing sweetly at her right now.
Oh well. At least now she could keep an eye on her rival.
"Three days…"
Three days meant plenty of chances. This time, Anon was determined to win her boyfriend over completely.
Meanwhile, Kita Ikuyo felt cold sweat beading on her forehead. There was no doubt Anon would keep her under surveillance the whole time. At this point, her only option might be to enlist fellow pink-haired comrade Bocchi to help run interference.
At this rate, the number of "rivals" around Haru was growing by the day. If she hesitated even a little, one small mistake could cost her everything.
She absolutely refused to be the tragic loser in the end.
This cultural festival… she had to at least land a kiss!
"Hmm?"
Holding her phone, Takamatsu Tomori suddenly received a Line message.
It was the reply from Wakaba Mutsumi, she had agreed to meet up later today.
"Alright…"
Tomori lifted her bright amber eyes with newfound determination and pressed her small fist to her chest.
This time, no matter what...
