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V6 Chapter 19: Shhhhh
🕑 Added 2025-07-05 13:39:32 +0000 UTCClothing stores in the shopping district were usually swarmed with young women, and today..
Haru, completely going along with his date's whims, had somehow been pulled into one by the girl at his side.
Kita Ikuyo, who had never experienced picking out clothes for someone else before, was bursting with excitement. In her left hand, she held a vibrant floral shirt; in her right, a thin, bright red knit scarf.
Her sparkling yellow-green eyes showed no sign of fatigue. No matter what kind of clothes she picked up, she couldn't resist holding them up to Haru to check the fit.
In mere minutes, she had already pulled together over ten outfits in rapid succession. Her shopping stamina was nothing short of astonishing.
"I think this one, and this one too! They all look great on you! With a body like yours, Haru, it's a waste not to use it properly. You're basically a walking mannequin!"
"And besides, I feel like you only ever wear black or white… Even though they look good on you!"
In high spirits, Kita moved like she was dressing up a doll. She pulled out one piece after another from casual, streetwear, even punk-style ear clips and hairpins. Nothing was off-limits.
Haru, letting her do as she pleased, finally raised a brow and said with a hint of uncertainty, "Don't you think this one's a little… flashy?"
Kita's next words got stuck in her throat. A strange glimmer sparked in her energetic eyes, and she looked up at him with an expression of pure confidence.
"Of course it's not a problem! Doesn't Haru look even better when he stands out?"
The issue was, Haru only wore black or white. Anything else was uncharted territory.
"Anyway, try all of these on! I'm definitely going to pick the perfect, most handsome one!"
Full of enthusiasm, the red-haired girl grabbed Haru's hand and dragged him toward the fitting rooms. Only after shoving him and the mountain of clothes inside did she nod in satisfaction.
"Hmm?"
Then, as if sensing something odd, Kita blinked and carefully pulled out her phone from her skirt pocket. Her lock screen lit up, displaying the photo she had just taken with Haru.
She tapped into Line to check the notification and blinked in surprise.
It was a message from Chihaya Anon.
"Anon-chan?"
Why was she messaging her now? Did something happen?
A bit confused, Kita didn't hesitate and opened the chat.
On the screen was a single line of plain, undecorated text. So simple and quiet, it felt like a Michelangelo sculpture, The Rebellious Slave in digital form.
[Wishing you happiness.]
"…Eh?"
Kita stared at the message, her mind struggling to process it. But deep down, a subtle tension began to stir.
"Why would Anon-chan suddenly send something like this?"
Her brows drew together slowly. Suspicion began to creep in.
Suddenly saying something like "Wishing you happiness" might seem like a sign of giving up on Haru, but Kita knew better. She had known Anon for a long time now, not just as a friend, but also as a romantic rival. She understood her heart.
Chihaya Anon would never, under any circumstances, give up on Kazami Haru.
Just like Kita herself loved him deeply, honestly, with everything she had and Anon's feelings were no less intense.
So if this message wasn't what it seemed… then...
"Wait… don't tell me…"
Her eyes slowly widened. A possibility was beginning to take shape.
Just as she was about to consider telling Haru what she'd seen, the fitting room door opened and the black-haired boy stepped out.
At that moment, Kita noticed a subtle but undeniable shift in his expression.
"…"
To Kita, Kazami Haru had always seemed reliable.
Even when Nijika, perhaps the kindest senpai, had struggled with her emotions, Haru had stayed calm, offering support and guidance. When the others got overconfident from success, he brought them back down to earth.
He was always the one who steadied everyone. Yet now, his composure had visibly cracked, his brows furrowed as if something had truly shaken him.
"Haru… is something wrong?"
Kita asked, concern in her voice. But Haru, his breath slightly uneven, simply shook his head.
Just moments earlier, he had received a message from the little penguin herself, Tomori.
[Haru, Ano-chan's about to fly away.]
The phrase might have sounded cryptic or even silly coming from someone else, but not from Tomori—the one person who never joked.
With her pure, innocent, and dreamy nature, Tomori wouldn't send a message unless it was exactly what it sounded like.
She's flying away, could that idiot really be about to…?
Realization hit, and Haru took a deep breath.
Only after rereading the message did his ragged breath start to settle. But inside, his heart was already in turmoil, the calm he'd kept until now unraveling.
Thoughts racing, Haru began to piece together Anon's situation. He quickly tapped out a message to Tomori, asking for more details, trying to regain control of his emotions.
No matter what happened, he had to stay composed.
Deep breaths. Focus. Find the balance.
As he reopened his eyes, he looked over at Kita Ikuyo, standing by his side.
They were still in the middle of their date...
He had promised her, and Haru was not the type to break a promise. But Tomori's words made it nearly impossible to stay calm. He had a terrible feeling about what Anon was planning to do.
He didn't want to go back on his word. But he didn't know what choice to make.
If he went after Anon, he'd have to abandon Kita. If he stayed with Kita, he'd be leaving Anon behind. That familiar, cruel choice had returned and he frowned deeply.
In simulations, he had been forced to choose. But in reality, he had to find a third way.
"Haru?"
Kita's voice was soft in his ear. At some point, she had come over, smiling gently.
"It's about Anon, isn't it?"
"Huh? Ikuyo, how did you…"
Haru stared at her, startled. He hadn't said a word. Yet she had already read him completely.
With her hands behind her back, Kita lifted her chin in playful pride, her vivid eyes shimmering with a layered emotion. She looked straight up at him.
"So it is like that~"
Even if Kita Ikuyo didn't end up together with Kazami Haru in the "dream world," she still knew the boy she loved with two hundred percent certainty.
Even the smallest flicker in Haru's expression wouldn't escape her sharp gaze. No matter how brief the gesture, she could read his thoughts with stunning clarity.
If Chihaya Anon was hiding something in her heart and Haru found out. Knowing his personality, there was no way he could just leave that pink-haired idiot alone.
The person she loved was just that easy to understand.
"Haru, go to Anon-chan. Now."
Kita Ikuyo stood there with her hands behind her back, her face free from disappointment or frustration as she met Haru's earnest gaze. It was as if she had been expecting this all along. She opened her small, fair hands and gently cradled his left hand in her own.
She quietly soaked in the warmth of his pulse—strong, steady. In that moment, the always-bubbly girl revealed a calm, graceful side she had never shown before.
Haru frowned deeply, caught off guard by her words. His dark eyes, filled with conflict, focused on the spirited girl before him. After a brief hesitation, he shook his head softly.
"…I can't. I can't just leave you halfway through."
Of course he couldn't. Even though Kita herself had told him to go, Haru knew full well she didn't really want their date to end this way.
She must've spent so much time preparing, carefully planning every detail, imagining how today would unfold. He could feel just how much this day meant to her.
"But if you don't go now, Anon-chan won't understand."
"Because she's a dummy, remember...?"
Kita smiled slightly, fingers twirling the end of her vivid red ponytail. Tilting her head, she looked thoughtful.
As a close friend, she knew exactly what Anon was feeling right now.
Truthfully, the "bet" she made with Anon back then wasn't really about winning or losing. It had only been a way to push herself to be brave enough to declare her feelings.
Even if she ended up the "winner," she never wanted Anon to give up on love, because Kita knew better than anyone how painful that would be for her.
Most of all, she understood what Haru was thinking.
Right now, Kazami Haru couldn't bring himself to leave her during their date. But he also couldn't ignore Anon, who was falling apart. And likely, that also included Ryo-senpai, Nijika-senpai, and Tomori.
If any one of them needed help, he could never just walk away.
As expected… there was no way to have Haru all to herself.
"Haru..."
With a soft press of her lips, the red-haired girl suddenly stepped in and hugged him from the front before he could react. Looking up, her face bloomed with a radiant, sunlit smile.
She pulled back from the embrace like a fairy fluttering free, full of mischief and charm. With a smile, she stood on tiptoe and poked his cheek with one finger.
"Right now, Ano-chan needs you more than I do."
Golden sunlight streamed through the clouds, lighting up her delicate features. With sweet, vibrant words, she said:
"Alright then, go!"
The flame fairy's warmth and energy were like a crackling hearth, bright and comforting. For a moment, Haru could only stare at her, slightly dazed.
He really was completely captivated by her.
"Eh?"
Kita blushed furiously under his gaze, her face blooming into scarlet as she realized he was looking at her that way. Haru raised an eyebrow and couldn't help but chuckle.
Only now did he realize, Kita had seen through everything from the very beginning. And even so, she still chose to support him.
He had already felt her love before. Back then, he hadn't known how to respond. Trapped by indecision, he hadn't dared say anything. But even then, Kita had waited patiently, silently, for his answer.
Even if she had to keep waiting, and waiting, and waiting…
"Whew…"
Yes, he had truly fallen for this bright, brave girl.
He loved how openly she expressed her feelings, even though she had no defense against them herself. He loved her energy, her unshakeable smile, and the strength she showed no matter what she faced.
There was no doubt, his feelings for Kita Ikuyo were just as deep.
Taking a breath, Haru looked at her with steady eyes and said,
"Ikuyo, I—"
But before he could finish, something stopped him.
The scent of gardenias, and a flash of red, his shoulder dipped under sudden pressure, and then a soft warmth pressed against his lips.
Kita, on her toes, kissed him.
Blushing furiously, she lowered herself back down and, with great effort, raised her trembling finger to her lips.
Her beautiful, expressive face flashed with panic, but she managed to speak softly, as if trying to play it cool:
"Shh! Save it… until you bring Anon-chan back, okay?"
"..."
Haru blinked at her burning-red face and let out a breath of laughter. He couldn't help it.
His reaction made the fiery fairy flustered, and she covered her face with both hands in embarrassment.
"W-why are you laughing?! Just go already, find Anon-chan!"
"I got it, I got it. Then let's save this for our next date."
Trying to calm himself down, Haru took one last look at her adorable, bashful face. Then, without another word, he turned and ran toward the shop's exit.
Yeah—something as important as a confession deserved a better moment.
"I'm off, then."
His voice trailed behind him as he ran.
"Don't let her get away…"
Watching his silhouette disappear, Kita let out a long breath, as if she had finally come to terms with everything.
With her hands behind her back, she looked up at the vast, ocean-blue sky. A soft, alluring smile tugged at her lips as she replayed her own bold and incredibly shy, "attack."
She'd done it. She really did it.
When she saw Haru about to say something, she instinctively shut him up.
But thinking back on how she did it made her cheeks steam again, wisps of imaginary smoke rising around her ears.
Her face was so red you could probably fry an egg on it.
But still...
"…Our next date, huh?"
The girl smiled, radiant as ever. Her eyes shimmered with the brightness and vitality of springtime blossoms.
…
The early autumn wind rustled in Haru's ears, loud with distant sounds. Cool, clear light filtered through the taxi window, scattering into flecks of gold.
His steps quickened—youthful, impulsive, and full of resolve.
"Driver, to Narita Airport."
Kazami Haru flagged down a cab without hesitation.
Tokyo had two airports: Haneda, mainly for domestic flights, and Narita, primarily for international ones.
If Chihaya Anon was planning to flee the country, she would definitely be heading for Narita.
"There should still be time… but I've got to move faster, just to be sure…"
Thanks to Kita's help, Haru had regained his focus, now dedicating his full attention to Anon. From Tomori's "intel," he had pieced together that Anon was trying to run away, by studying abroad in London.
If Anon had already boarded the flight, she wouldn't have been able to send messages. On airplanes, phones must be set to airplane mode and all wireless functions from data, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi to be turned off.
Which meant she must have messaged Tomori before going through boarding. She was likely still en route or just arriving at the airport.
There was still time.
"Oi, kiddo, off on a lil’ adventure, are ya? Don’t look like ya packed a single thing, though, hmm~?"
The taxi driver, in uniform, glanced back with curiosity, making casual conversation.
Taxis in Japan weren't cheap, especially from Ikebukuro to Narita. A last-minute ride like this with no luggage looked downright strange.
But Haru didn't hesitate. He answered plainly:
"My girlfriend's about to leave the country. I'm trying to catch her before she gets on the plane."
The driver gasped. "For real?"
He leaned forward, tone dramatic.
"Never reckoned I’d get tangled in some light novel nonsense like this, eh? Alright, kiddo! Brace yerself to see my drivin’ prowess! Back in the day, they called me ‘Joseph o’ Mount Akina,’ ya know!"
"I’ll get ya there in ten minutes flat, no sweat!"
That confidence made Haru instantly nervous.
"…Actually, can we not get too close to any of those huge freight trucks?"
He barely got the words out before the taxi surged forward, the speedometer flying past 80 km/h.
Blyat? What kind of G-force is this?!
Haru's motion sickness kicked in hard, his stomach churning. He was about to vomit, then the car jerked to a sudden stop, forcing him to swallow it back down.
This guy should be racing professionally. Was this a casual ranked match or a smurf flexing on newbies?
Despite the dizzying ride, Haru managed to raise his phone and fire off a few messages to Anon. He also tried calling, but it wouldn't connect.
The driver, catching Haru's frantic tapping in the rearview mirror, silently shifted gears with grim resolve.
"Now this is a cab fare worth every yen."
Haru gagged.
Looking at his messages, none of them had been read. He immediately knew, Anon had probably turned her phone off on purpose to avoid contact. Classic escape behavior.
He'd seen this before. In one of BOCCHI's simulations, the pink-haired guitarist had ghosted him the same way, leaving his messages unread as if playing dead.
Since it was another pinkhead now, he'd handle it the same way.
If Chihaya Anon wanted to ghost him like Bocchi, he'd storm her gates and confront her face-to-face.
And when he found her, he was absolutely going to squish those soft cheeks until they were puffy red.
…
Narita Airport.
On the overhead display, the boarding time for the next international flight ticked down in glaring red digits. They pulsed like a countdown on her emotions.
Chihaya Anon sat in the waiting lounge, clutching her suitcase. Her cherry-blossom hair, once vivid and flowing, had dulled under the weight of the air.
Anon's face wore a faint, gloomy expression.
She thought deciding to give up would bring some kind of peace, but instead, a crushing, inescapable pressure hung over her like invisible chains.
Even the clear view before her eyes now felt distant and blurry.
"…It hurts."
She pressed her hand against her chest and whispered, lips trembling as she bit down gently.
Why had she said goodbye to Tomori before the flight?
She should've waited until boarding. That way, she could've left without any lingering hopes. But in her nervousness and desperation, she had messaged Tomori early.
Like she was still hoping for something.
She hated herself for that.
"What's Kita doing right now?"
Of course, before leaving, she hadn't forgotten Kita. She had sent her a goodbye, and her blessing.
Since Ikuyo had won fair and square… then she had to carry Anon's will. She had to beat that scheming fox Nagasaki Soyo and steal Haru away for good.
Kita had to succeed. She must.
Anon's chest tightened. Her eyes burned as tears welled up. She wiped them away quickly, but the emotion wouldn't stop overflowing.
Stupid, stupid, stupid…
She had cried enough in bed last night. If she kept it up now, her eyes would be swollen. People would laugh. There was no one left to pat her head and comfort her.
That made it worse.
To distract herself, she reached for her phone.
Her Line was flooded with unread messages.
Tomori had kept replying, over and over, her concern clear from the popups scrolling across the screen. Anon's guilt only deepened, but she couldn't bring herself to open a single one.
She glanced toward the pinned chat at the top of her list.
It was the one she had labeled "My Tsundere Boyfriend."
That chat, too, was full of unread messages. Her finger hovered above it more than once, trembling with hesitation, but she couldn't bring herself to click it.
If she opened it, it would show "read."
And right now… Chihaya Anon couldn't bear to face Kazami Haru.
"…I'll peek later. On the plane."
She leaned her head against the seat's backrest, her gorgeous pink hair slipping over her shoulder.
Through the massive window of the waiting lounge, the sky outside was visible. But the vast blue expanse had been covered in clouds, and the sunlight was gently dulled by their cotton-white curtain.
Just like the warmth she could no longer feel inside.
Ding-dong.
The melodic chime echoed overhead, it was time for boarding.
Anon slowly stood, gripping the handle of her suitcase. Her steps were heavy as she moved toward the gate.
She was leaving.
She probably wouldn't return until years after graduation.
Click, click, click.
Her suitcase rolled along the floor. She entered the boarding tunnel and reached down to retract the suitcase handle, only for her keys to slip from her pocket.
And hanging from her keychain was the little Kiss Coffee charm.
She had gotten it after buying dozens of cans in one go. It had been a symbol of her love, she had proudly attached it to her keys.
The moment she saw it, her eyes misted over. She bit her lip to stop herself from crying. Even her cute nose wrinkled in frustration.
"…I want to see Haru again."
She couldn't let go. She couldn't.
"Five hundred yen. Cry into my chest."
A familiar voice echoed from beside her.
Leaning casually against the railing, still wearing his long black coat, was the black-haired boy she knew better than anyone.
Kazami Haru, smiling softly.
