Private Encounters

A few students pass by in the distance, chatting idly, but here—near the side of the courtyard—it’s just Sakura and Takumi, carrying out mikan boxes.

Sakura stretches with a soft yawn, her blonde hair catching the light as she turns to Takumi with a relaxed smile.

"So… Tetsuji-sensei is giving you chores?"

“Yeah. I passed the first test thanks to you both. Barely.”

Sakura lets out a small laugh, her usual light voice carrying through the quiet space. But there’s something off about her today. Her shoulders seem heavier, her smile not quite as bright.

Takumi glances at her, blinking in concern. "I noticed you’ve been carrying mikan boxes every morning. You’re not at risk of failing. You don’t need to do chores. Why are you doing this?"

She turns her head away, playing shyly with her fingers.

“I-It’s a secret.”

Takumi tilts his head slightly, watching her fidget. "Okay."

He doesn’t press the issue and turns back to unloading more boxes. He takes a step forward, but a gentle tug on his sleeve stops him.

Her voice softens in a whisper. “Yeah, I wanted to ask you something.“

Takumi shifts on his feet, suddenly feeling a bit uneasy. "Sure, what’s up?"

She steps closer, her expression warm yet uncertain, a hint of vulnerability flickering in her blue eyes. "I try to integrate, but... I’m feeling homesick. Everything here feels so different."

“I can understand that. Is that why you’re helping everyone around?” Takumi replies.She lets out a small chuckle, but it doesn’t carry the same lightness as usual. "Come on, Takumi. Helping is nice. Not helping is mean."

"I see."

An uneasy silence lingers. Sakura is still holding onto his sleeve, her fingers curled around the fabric.

She hesitates for a moment before speaking again, her voice quieter now. "Can I ask for a kiss? Just a small peck on the cheek."

Takumi freezes for a second, caught off guard. "A kiss? Wh-what do you mean?"

Sakura lets out a soft laugh.

"Back home, it’s a family thing. Every morning, before we start the day... we’d give a little kiss. It’s just a way to say 'good morning'—like a tradition."

Takumi blinks, still processing, but his face warms as he looks away. "I don’t know… that’s a little… strange for here, right?"

Sakura’s gaze softens, as they sit down together, her voice lowering, almost pleading. "It’s really just a small thing. It would mean a lot to me... Mom made me feel better at home, but she’s not here."

Takumi opens his mouth, unsure of how to respond. He knows it’s just a kiss. It feels simple enough—nothing strange, really—but something about it feels wrong, even if he can’t place why. His fingers twitch, his heartbeat quickens, but he doesn’t move.

Sakura tilts her head, almost pleading. "There’s no need to tell anyone. It’s just between us, okay?"

Takumi stands still, thoughts colliding in his head. Rei—how would she see this? —why does this feel so significant?

His eyes drift back to Sakura. Her hands on her knees, her shoulders tense, and then—tears start forming in her eyes.

He exhales, feeling something tighten in his chest. He can’t take it anymore. His voice comes out soft, uncertain. "I... I guess it’s fine, if it really means that much to you."

Sakura smiles gently, her eyes shining with quiet relief.

Takumi hesitates for only a second longer before leaning in, quickly pressing a light peck against her cheek, as if breaking free from some invisible weight.

Sakura’s breath catches slightly, but her expression relaxes. "Thank you, Takumi."

"Y-you’re welcome."

She lingers for a moment before her usual cheerfulness returns, though there’s still a softness in her eyes. "Let’s do it every day."

Takumi’s stomach twists. Something about this feels wrong. But as he watches the way 

Sakura’s face brightens, a small, unshakable warmth spreads through him.

He shouldn’t feel happy.But he does.

In the meantime, Rei is fuming while fumbling through a book in the library. Takumi has been walking to school without her too much recently. “Stupid Takumi. Stupid boyfriend.” She turns a page.

This happened a lot when Takumi needed peace of mind, and clarity at Hoshikawa shrine. Probably because of Tetsuji-sensei’s constant harassment of D-rank students. It seems this school enjoyed giving chores to low-ranking students. Or maybe it was just Tetsuji-sensei.

“I don’t live near his family shrine and I need to sleep too.”, she mutters, turning a biology page a bit forcefully.

Her eyes skim over the page—an accurate illustration of a queen bee.

“Isn’t a boyfriend supposed to escort his girl?”. She turns the next page, almost tearing it from the manual.

“I guess anything helps if he can stay here, with me.”, she thinks out loud, a small pout forming around her lips.

“Hey, kohai! What are you talking about?”

Rei jumps startled and drops the book. A small figure is watching her from below the book.

“Who are you?”

“Senpai.”

“Sorry?”

“Man, there are no manners nowadays. Who are you, senpai?”

“Sorry, senpai. You’ve got me scared.” replies Rei, giving a quizzical glance at the student in front of her.

“Is it a sweat and gym pants? Where is your seifuku?”“I get away with it. Oh right— you don’t know me. My name is Aoi Chae. But you can call me Aoi, everyone does.”

Rei studies Aoi more closely.

“Wait, are you a boy or a girl?”“How rude! Of course, I’m a girl!”

Rei feels guilty. That’s the second time Aoi has scolded her— and from someone other than her parents, no less. Have her manners really been slipping? She silently blames Takumi and Sakura for their “corrupting influence on her dignity” before continuing.

“Rei Masanori. Well, since everyone calls you Aoi, you can call me Rei.”

“Oh. How generous of you Rei! Now, tell me all about it.”

Aoi quickly grabs a nearby chair, sets it in front of Rei, and climbs onto it. She leans forward eagerly, like a child waiting for a bedtime story by the fireplace.

“About what?”

“Your boyfriend, of course!”

Rei’s face turns pale. "You heard everything?"

"Don’t worry, Rei!" Aoi gives her a thumbs-up. "You can count on your reliable Aoi-senpai!"

Rei stares coldly at her before letting a sigh.

“I don’t believe you.”

“But I’m an expert at romance. I’ve finished all the Yeonae Sim Date games!”

“The what?”

“Otome games!”

Rei has a bad feeling about this. This conversation is going to be very long.