Episode 1: Ordinary Days
The moment the bell rang, I — Nanase Yuna — was already on my feet.
I knew exactly where I was headed.
There was no reason for me to stay in my own classroom.
The place I belonged was beside my beloved girlfriend, Shiraishi Honoka.
I hurried out of my classroom and down the hall. Class 2 was only a few steps away. Even that short distance felt unbearably long.
I stood at the door and threw it open.
My eyes immediately swept the room, searching for her.
Sure enough — surrounded by a few classmates again today.
A familiar sight.
Someone would talk to Honoka, they’d laugh together, and every time, something in my chest churned.
I walked straight ahead. I wasn’t going to waste effort dodging people. I went directly to Honoka.
On the way, I locked eyes with a boy who’d been approaching her.
I stared him down.
He flinched, looked away, and left.
That wasn’t all.
The other classmates around Honoka noticed me too, and one by one, exchanging glances, they started drifting away.
I didn’t say a word. I just looked.
That was enough.
Before I knew it, only I was left standing beside Honoka.
“Yuna… did you glare at someone again?”
Honoka looked at me, a little troubled.
“…Well, he was getting too close.”
“He was just talking to me.”
“Still didn’t like it.”
I pouted. Honoka sighed, but smiled through it, and patted my head.
“Honestly… you’re hopeless.”
The gesture loosened something in my chest, just a little.
But it didn’t make the possessiveness go away.
“Honoka, say ahh.”
I took the bread from her hands and tore off a bite-sized piece, lifting it to her mouth.
“Eh… here, of all places?”
“Not allowed?”
I stared at her, and she opened her mouth, just slightly, looking a little embarrassed.
“…Ahh.”
She ate the piece from my hand. The gesture was so cute my cheeks went slack on their own.
“Honoka’s so cute.”
“Geez… everyone’s watching.”
“Doesn’t matter. I want them to see that Honoka’s mine.”
I said it while quietly taking her hand. Her cheeks colored a little.
“Yuna, you really are possessive.”
“Of course I am. Honoka’s mine.”
I leaned my head onto her shoulder. She looked a little flustered but didn’t push me away.
“Geez… fine, I give up.”
She stroked my head gently. I closed my eyes, relaxing into the warmth of her hand.
— If only Honoka would always look only at me, forever like this.
A dozen or so minutes later, the bell rang again.
“We should head back, Yuna.”
“…Don’t wanna.”
“Class is about to start.”
Honoka laughed and gave my arm a light tap.
The gesture was so cute it made me pout a little more.
“I’ll come get you after school.”
“Okay, got it.”
Holding back the urge to keep her smile all to myself, I dragged my feet back to my own classroom.
My steps were heavy. With every step down the hallway, Honoka’s warmth felt further away, and I kept almost turning back.
Still, I somehow made it back to class, where my classmate Takamiya Shiori was watching me.
“Welcome back, Nanase-san. Off to see Shiraishi-san again today?”
She said it with a gentle smile.
“…What.”
“Nothing. I just think your relationship is really lovely.”
Shiori sat down quietly in the seat beside mine, still smiling.
“You always go see Shiraishi-san, don’t you. I envy that — being able to love someone that single-mindedly.”
“It’s nothing, really…”
I mumbled something vague, pulling out my chair and sitting down. I propped my chin on my hand and looked away. Shiori didn’t seem to mind, resting her own chin on the desk, still watching me.
“Fufu. You really do love Shiraishi-san, don’t you.”
Just small talk. Nothing behind it — just an ordinary classmate’s remark.
I gave a noncommittal hum and turned to look out the window. Shiori still seemed like she wanted to say more, but I had no interest, so I ignored her.
Still, she kept talking to me anyway — strange person.
With that thought lingering, I waited for class to begin.