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Chapter 289: Winter Arrives As Promised
🕑 Added 2025-04-15 08:07:13 +0000 UTC[Riding your motorcycle through the snow, watching the scenery shift from city, to farmland, to mountains... The endless white swallows everything, including the anxious conflict in her heart.]
[The warmth she felt against your back was something she had never experienced before. Something she had never even dared to dream of.]
[She was saved by the warmth you gave her.]
[After an intimate night together, you gazed at the girl sleeping beside you—her peaceful, delicate profile softened by sleep. At that moment, you silently promised yourself: That you would protect her, no matter what.]
[Gathering her tousled pink hair, you closed your eyes and drifted into sleep as well, preparing for the journey home.]
—
[The next morning, the weather was clear. The sun had melted the ice from the roads.]
[You and Satou shared a simple breakfast at the inn before setting off.]
[Sunlight poured down, and the snow on the ground had begun melting away in large patches.]
[She mustered her courage and removed her helmet. Without its heavy weight, her heart felt just as light—just as free—as her wind-blown pink hair.]
[She laughed. A clear, ringing sound though even she didn't know why.]
[She hugged your waist tightly, murmuring something softly under her breath.]
[The wind and the helmet made it impossible for you to hear.]
[But the wind could hear her.]
["Meeting you on that rainy day… was the best thing that ever happened to me."]
[Even though it was still cold, her heart had never felt lighter. As if her body itself was radiating warmth.]
[At your firm insistence, she reluctantly put her helmet back on.]
[You noticed—she was more expressive now, livelier. More… human.]
[By the time you arrived back in Tokyo, it was around 2 PM, and the snow had begun to fall again.]
[This time, she made a promise to you—That she would never do something so reckless again.]
[She told you to focus on your entrance exams.]
[Her words were so sincere, so firm, that you couldn't bring yourself to doubt her.]
[You believed her. After giving her a gentle hug, you rode off for home.]
[The cold was unbearable, so despite not being the type to take baths, you ended up soaking in hot water for over ten minutes before finally getting out.]
—
Minami stared at the last line and exhaled deeply.
"Yeah… it really was freezing."
Looking at the text in the simulation, Minami Shouji stretched lazily, feeling completely at ease.
Good thing he was smart enough to exit when he did. Instead of enduring the two-hour cold ride back, he left his simulated self to handle taking Satou home.
—
[Just as you promised Satou, you devoted all your energy to preparing for your entrance exams.]
[The days passed as you studied diligently.]
[The University of Tokyo's entrance exam date soon arrived.]
[Carrying the expectations of your mother and two older sisters, you stepped into the exam hall and achieved remarkable results.]
[On the day the results were posted, your exam number stood proudly on the list.]
[At the same time, with your tutoring, your peers—Yamada Ryo and Ijichi Nijika—both successfully got into excellent universities.]
[Futaba Rio was recognized by the university's physics research department and, even as a first-year, was invited to work on advanced physics projects she had long dreamed of.]
[Shinjo Akane didn't disappoint either. She also got into the University of Tokyo and continued to pursue her passion for tokusatsu filmmaking.]
[With university life beginning, your schedule became much more flexible.]
[What others found difficult, you completed effortlessly, leaving you plenty of time to spare.]
[You used that free time to tutor Gotoh Hitori, Kita Ikuyo, and Satou, who had just entered their senior year.]
[Gotoh Hitori and Kita Ikuyo's grades had stabilized, with little room for improvement. If they continued at this pace, they would both get into their target universities.]
[Satou, however, displayed exceptional perseverance. Compared to the other girls, she studied with far more intensity, and her grades improved rapidly.]
[Although your tutoring helped, her sheer determination to follow in your footsteps and get into the University of Tokyo was undeniable.]
[Realizing that they had reached their limits, Gotoh Hitori and Kita Ikuyo themselves suggested that you focus your efforts on Satou instead.]
[By this time, she had fully integrated into their group.]
[They, too, wished for someone so dedicated to achieve the best possible outcome.]
[Following their request, you turned your full attention to tutoring Satou.]
[You quickly noticed that while her grades were rising, she had a tendency to lose focus midway through exams, allowing her thoughts to drift.]
[This was a common problem among students—understanding the material, knowing the answers, but focusing too much on speed and making careless mistakes.]
[If she could overcome this, she might truly have a shot at getting into the University of Tokyo.]
[Whenever the topic of studying at the same university as you came up, she—who usually had little desire for anything—showed rare emotional fluctuations. Her voice was filled with longing.]
[She wanted to stay by your side longer… to see the world from where you stood.]
[For that reason, you designed a customized study plan for her.]
—
"You're still a bit short of the level needed for Tokyo University, but if you can maintain full concentration, you might just make it."
On one side of the desk sat Satou, and on the other, Minami Shouji.
"So, I'll supervise you. Make sure you stay focused."
"Thank you, Minami-senpai."
Even though they were already in a relationship, she still instinctively called him Minami-senpai.
For her, that title seemed to carry a special meaning.
The tip of the pen touched the paper.
The sound of scribbling filled the quiet room.
"Focus."
Minami rolled up a textbook and lightly tapped it against Satou's head as she started to space out.
"Focus."
"Focus."
The night was silent.
Above them, the stars were scattered across the sky.
But Satou had no time to admire them.
Again and again, his voice rang in her ears—
Guiding her through one long, grueling study session after another.
—
[Under your guidance, she slowly overcame her weaknesses.]
[She learned to maintain her performance from the beginning of the exam to the very last question.]
[This finally put your mind at ease.]
[Although Satou was still slightly below the Tokyo University standard, exams weren't just about skill—there was always an element of luck involved.]
[As usual, you took her on long motorcycle rides during your free time.]
[One day, as you passed through a vast flower field, you stopped to take a break.]
[Standing amid the sea of blossoms, she made a vow to you—
That she would get into the University of Tokyo and move forward by your side.]
[Under the vast sky, with the flowers swaying around her, she took your hand—more radiant than even the blossoms themselves.]
—
"…Isn't this setting up a death flag?"
Minami stared at the simulated scene of Satou making her promise.
Logically speaking, this kind of declaration was exactly like those classic lines—
"Once this battle is over, let's get married."
"Make sure to tell my sister I love her."
Total death flag material.
Of course, this was just an entrance exam, not an actual battlefield.
But still—
"This makes me nervous… Why does it feel like she's destined to fail?"
Minami shook his head.
Meanwhile, the simulation continued.
—
[Another winter arrived.]
[Icicles formed along the eaves, sharp and translucent.]
[Under your watchful gaze, the three of them entered their exam season.]
[Soon, their results were released.]
[Gotoh Hitori and Kita Ikuyo both got into the same prestigious music university as Ijichi Nijika and Yamada Ryo, marking the end of their band days and the beginning of their university careers.]
[This outcome didn't surprise you.]
[Gotoh Hitori and Kita Ikuyo had worked hard, and this was simply the result of their efforts.]
[Your gaze shifted to Satou, and you let out a sigh.]
[Just as you had predicted before the exam, despite her overcoming her weaknesses, she ultimately fell short of Tokyo University.]
[It wasn't her fault—preparing for such a difficult exam in only two years was an ambitious goal, nearly impossible to achieve.]
[Failing to get in was within expectations.]
[Still, setting Tokyo University aside, her scores were enough to get her into other excellent universities—some of which, in certain fields, could even rival Tokyo University itself.]
[She remained silent upon seeing the results.]
[Everyone around her knew just how much effort she had put in, so they all offered her words of comfort.]
[She smiled at them, thanking each person warmly as if nothing had happened. But when she turned to you, that natural expression faltered just slightly.]
—
"Minami-senpai, I really did my best."
When she saw Minami approach—
Satou instinctively averted her gaze, but a smile remained on her face.
She acted as if failing hadn't hurt her at all.
As if it didn't matter.
She reached out, gently taking Minami's hand.
"See, Minami-senpai? Even without Tokyo University, my scores are still good enough to get into other great schools. Actually, when I went to take the Tokyo U exam, I also applied to some other universities."
She smiled and stood up straight, as if expecting praise.
"What do you think? I'm smart, right? To be honest… I already knew this would happen, so I wasn't sad at all."
She rambled on, trying to explain how much she didn't care.
She spoke about how prepared she had been.
How she had already planned for this outcome.
It was clear—
She wasn't waiting for Minami to comfort her.
She was trying to comfort him.
But Minami remained silent.
His gaze, cold and still like the icicles hanging from the eaves, simply rested on her face.
Then, after a moment, he shook his head and spoke softly.
"You don't have to do this."
—
"…Huh?"
Satou's cheerful expression froze.
She slowly turned her head toward him, eyes wide with surprise, as if she couldn't understand what he meant.
But Minami continued.
"You don't have to pretend like this doesn't bother you."
"Pretend…? What do you mean, pretend? Minami-senpai, I'm not pretending—"
Her voice trailed off—
And at the same time, her tears fell.
She thought back to that moment, standing in the flower fields, making a promise to Minami.
"I swore I would get into Tokyo University."
Her voice trembled.
"I don't want another school. I just want to be with Minami-senpai—at Tokyo University."
—
[Frustration and regret twisted across her pale face.]
[More painful than failing the exam itself was the crushing disappointment—knowing that, despite your guidance, despite your constant help, she had still fallen short.]
[In your relationship, she had always been the one taking, while you had always been the one giving.]
[She had wanted to succeed—not just for herself, but to prove that your efforts weren't wasted.]
[And now, because of her failure, she felt like she had lost everything.]
[But instead of comforting her, you simply looked at her tear-stained face and, in a calm voice, asked if she wanted to try again next year.]
—
[It was an incredibly difficult choice.]
[The pressure of exam preparation was overwhelming. If given the choice, no student would ever want to go through it twice.]
[But Satou didn't hesitate.]
[Hearing your question, she slowly steadied herself.]
[She told you she wanted to retake the exam, but this time—
She would do it without your help.]
[Her meaning was clear.]
[She didn't want you to spend any more time or effort on her. She wanted to do this on her own.]
[You respected her decision.]
[After all, constantly staying by her side would only add to the mental burden she already carried.]
[Still, before she fully dedicated herself to studying again, you took her on one final trip.]
—
[This journey was unlike any before.]
[You showed her the tides retreating beneath the torii gates of Miyajima Shrine.]
[You took her to the golden brilliance of Kinkaku-ji.]
[And in the early spring, perfectly timed, you brought her to Himeji Castle, where the cherry blossoms danced in the wind.]
[After witnessing so many breathtaking sights together, the restless turmoil in her heart gradually calmed.]
[By the time the journey ended, she had already immersed herself in her studies.]
[During this time, her friends from Kessoku Band, LycoReco, as well as Shinjo Akane and Futaba Rio, all visited her.]
[Seeing that she was emotionally stable, they felt at ease and focused on their own lives.]
[As for you, you kept busy with your own work, only stopping by to check on her occasionally.]
[In the blink of an eye, another year passed.]
—
[Winter arrived once more.]
[Icicles clung to rooftops, their crystal-clear tips glistening in the cold.]
[And under your watchful eyes, she entered her second exam season.]
