Chapter 1: Scarlet Feelings

Hiyuri Girls’ Academy High School.
Located in western Kanagawa Prefecture, it is a private, all-girls boarding school. A prestigious institution where daughters of major corporations and distinguished families from across the country gather, it is also an affiliate of Hiyuri Women’s University.
Not only academics but also the cultivation of refinement befitting high-class ladies—manners, grooming, and speech—are rigorously instilled.
The dormitory facilities rival those of a luxury hotel, with each student assigned an individual room, alongside amenities like a lounge, spa, cafeteria, and theater room for relaxation. The idea of a forbidden garden of maidens, where beautiful young ladies from across the nation frolic and giggle in a male-free zone, is a fantasy.
Even refined young ladies are, after all, girls of their age.
When suppressed, it’s human nature to crave what’s forbidden.
Students gathered in the lounge space. With a drought of male presence being their everyday reality, the topic of conversation naturally turns to…
“Ugh, I want a boyfriend.”
“Same.”
“This summer, for sure.”
“Speaking of, Kujō-san, you’re going to kaiser’s handshake event tomorrow, right?”
While stroking her long, wavy flaxen hair, Himura-san said.
“Yes. I bought fifty copies, so I’ll get to high-five and hug them.”
kaiser is a currently rising young male voice actor unit.
“Lucky you, getting to touch real guys. I’m not into voice actors, but if I could feel a guy’s rugged body, maybe I’d buy their CDs too.”
“Oh, Tenryūji-san, don’t you watch anime?” Kujō-san asked.
“I watch anime, but I’m not into voice actors. I’m a 2D-only girl.”
“Isn’t that contradictory?”
“It’s different. I prefer 2D, but if I can touch a real guy, I’m gonna touch him.”
“Ehh…”
This Hiyuri Girls’ Academy is operated entirely by women, from teachers to general staff.
While romantic relationships with boys aren’t explicitly forbidden by school rules, the students, living in an environment devoid of the opposite sex, find various loopholes to seek contact with males.
The strictness applies only to the scope of school education, and private life is relatively unrestricted. As long as an outing form is submitted, weekends are generally free for students to do as they please.
“By the way, I heard a rumor that the light music club is doing a joint performance with the boys’ light music club from Kaien High School.”
Kujō-san suddenly lowered her voice.
“First I’m hearing of it. Details.”
Tenryūji-san, supposedly a 2D-only enthusiast, sharpened her gaze.
“They’re going to jam together and then have a ‘night session’ afterward.”
As the details of the rumor unfolded, Himura-san’s expression grew stern.
“Should we report this to the disciplinary committee before it turns into improper fraternization?”
Or rather, it feels like they’re just annoyed at the idea of other students getting a head start.
“Speaking of, the vendor who came yesterday was super hot, wasn’t he? Right, Gendoji-san?”
“…Yes, Himura-san.”
When asked, Gendoji Asaka—I—gave an awkward smile.
“Oh, it’s about to start.”
Kujō-san turned on the TV. Soon after, a male idol anime aimed at women began.
“Kyaa!”
“Kyaa!”
“Kyaa!”
As the screen filled with handsome 2D characters, my three friends squealed with delight, but I let out a sigh. After finishing the anime, we dispersed to our respective rooms.
Sitting on a chair by the window, I gazed at the beautiful moon floating in the night sky.
…
Unfulfilled.
No matter what I do, I feel detached, like I’m one step removed.
It’s as if I’m an audience member watching a play.
Watching anime or chatting with friends is certainly fun. But that fun doesn’t fill my heart.
I can’t truly feel joy in my daily life.
I’m just living out of inertia.
Living simply because I’m not dead.
What am I living for? What brings me joy?
My gaze shifted to the photo frame by my bedside.
Three girls, including me, and that person standing behind us. Though the photo has faded, the memories from that time remain vivid.
Those days were fun.
It was less than a year, but the time spent with Yū-nii—those days are my treasure.
Every day was filled with excitement and thrills, a truly joyful time.
It’s been almost three months since Miya-chan told me Yū-nii had returned after ten years. I heard he was caught up in some absurd name-guessing game, but I was relieved to hear it ended safely.
Thinking about Yū-nii warms my heart, but at the same time, it feels tightly constricted.
If I return to Shizuoka, Yū-nii is there.
The person I’ve longed to see, so desperately, is just a short one-hour trip away…
That fact only tightened my heart further.
The next morning, Saturday.
“Oh, Gendoji-san, your eyes are all red?”
Tenryūji-san, sitting across from me in the cafeteria, said with concern.
“Are they?”
“Sleep deprivation?”
“…Something like that.”
“Kujō-san left earlier, half-asleep, for that voice actor event.”
“Oh, right, the event.”
“I got a message from a friend asking to hang out, so I’m going away for the weekend. What about you, Gendoji-san? Any plans?”
I thought for a moment and said,
“…Nothing. I’ll probably just relax in my room.”

2

Just before five in the afternoon, at Moonlight Terrace.
“Here’s your milk tea.”
“Thanks.”
“Oh, welcome!”
After setting down the milk tea, Yū-nii went to attend to customers.
“Haa.”
I sighed.
After nearly two and a half months, the name-guessing game finally ended, and I succeeded in getting Yū-nii to realize who I was. But now, a new problem has arisen…
“Hey, Yū-nii!”
I called out, but my voice was drowned out by the chatter of other customers, the local news on the wall-mounted TV, and the soft background music in the shop.
“Haa.”
I glanced idly at the TV screen. It seemed to be a feature on women’s volleyball.
“—We went inside the joint practice with Kumamoto Empress. Empress’s Koharu Hanayama, who, unbelievably, attended Fujinomiya North during high school—”
While half-watching the TV, I thought to myself.
If I were still a kid, I wouldn’t care about others’ eyes and would shout loudly or cling to Yū-nii. But if the high school me did that in public, I’d just look like a weirdo.
When Yū-nii came near my table, I tried again.
“H-hey, Yū-nii.”
“What, want a refill?”
“No, um, can I go up to your room after I finish this?”
“Sure.”
“When’s your break?”
“It’s still busy, so I’ll switch with Mom when she’s back from her break.”
“Got it.”
“Catch you later.”
With that, Yū-nii went to serve new customers. It’s unusually crowded today.
I finished my milk tea while watching Yū-nii work busily, then headed upstairs.
“Haa, what should I do?”
I was troubled.
It’s not a dire issue, perhaps, but it’s not easily solved either. The problem is, I can’t interact with Yū-nii the way I did as a kid.
I’ve become much quieter than I was back then. That’s the root of the issue.
Looking back, as a kid, I acted on impulse and emotion, never holding back with Yū-nii.
I’d cling to him with full-body contact, demand his attention without considering his schedule, and sometimes cause him all sorts of trouble—completely unrestrained.
Those were actions allowed because I was a child, and I didn’t find them strange at the time.
That makes sense. Back then, it was an adult-child relationship.
But ten years have passed, and the mentally mature me can’t possibly act like that now.
The adult-child dynamic is over.
Now, it’s just one man and one woman.
Since Yū-nii’s return, I’ve interacted with him as a “mysterious beauty,” but when it comes to communicating as the real Haruyama Miya, I don’t know what to do.
Mahiru seems to interact with him almost the same as she did ten years ago, but she must understand the boundaries she shouldn’t cross… right?
I’m jealous of her carefree attitude.
I want to cling to him like before, but I can’t, and it feels embarrassing.
When I’m troubled, reading a book helps. It calms me down and gets my mind working, sometimes sparking solutions.
Sitting on the bed, I started reading a mystery novel.
Yū-nii’s room really is calming.
Just past six, the room’s owner poked his head in.
“Finally, a break.”
“Welcome back.”
Looking tired, Yū-nii came in with two iced coffees.
“Here.”
“Thanks. Looks tough out there.”
“Lots of customers today.”
“That’s good, right?”
“Yeah.”
Yū-nii sat down casually next to me. I’m agonizing over keeping the right distance, but he doesn’t seem to care at all.
“…”
“…”
“…”
“…”
Ugh, the conversation’s not going anywhere!
As a kid, how did I talk to Yū-nii? What do I even talk about? My shyness and struggle with talking to people are holding me back. I wasn’t like this as a kid, so when did I become so reserved?
Racking my brain, I searched for a conversation starter.
“Y-Yū-nii, nice weather today, huh?”
“…Hm? Yeah. —What’s with the sudden small talk?”
“I mean, Mount Fuji looked beautiful today.”
“It’s always visible when it’s clear.”
“Grr.”
Ugh, why does he have to cut me off like that!
I was trying so hard—
“So, what’re you reading?”
“Huh?”
My heart started racing.
Yū-nii leaned in close, his face right in front of my chest…
“A mystery novel.”
“Oh, ‘Arisugawa’? Nice, you read mysteries… Wait, you read books!?”
Yū-nii made an exaggerated show of surprise.
Rude!
“I’m in the mystery club, and I love reading. After you went to Tokyo, I started reading the mystery novels in this room and got hooked.”
As I explained how I became a mystery buff, Yū-nii’s face lit up.
“Really? The girl who only read manga back then, huh?”
He patted my back as he spoke.
“Eek!”
The spot he touched felt hot.
I’m getting nervous and sweaty.
Does he still see me as that little brat?
“By the way, writer Alice or student Alice—which do you like better?”
“…Hmm, student Alice, I think. I like how they carefully build up the logic and craft closed-circle mysteries.”
“Totally get that.”
“I kinda wish they’d dramatized student Alice instead.”
“What, they made a drama? When?”
“A while back. You didn’t know, Yū-nii?”
“Nah, I barely had time to watch TV in Tokyo.”
“Wow…”
What kind of work environment was he in?
“Traditional mysteries are the best. The vibe, you know, it’s just good.”
“Like mansion mysteries?”
“Exactly. A creepy mansion with a tragic beauty—perfect. What about narrative tricks?”
“They’re fine as a twist, but when the book’s blurb screams ‘this is a narrative trick’ or ‘you’ll definitely be fooled,’ I kinda lose interest.”
“Yeah, a narrative trick you know is coming is the most boring thing.”
“It’s gotta hit you by surprise.”
“So, what about inverted mysteries—”
Wait.
I was shocked at how smoothly I was talking, as if my earlier worries were a lie. Being next to him makes my anxieties melt away like ice in boiling water.
My heart feels at ease and excited at the same time.
It’s a strange sensation.
“Hmm, never thought I’d be discussing mysteries with you. Actually, it’s refreshing since I don’t have anyone nearby to talk mysteries with.”
Yū-nii said, his face breaking into a smile.
“Really… hehe.”
Seeing that smile, I realized I’m in a special seat.
I can’t act like I did back then, but the comfort of being with you is just as it was before.

3

The relentless sound of pouring rain.
“Looks like the rainy season’s here.”
My mother said, gazing gloomily out the window.
The sky was heavily blanketed with gray clouds. Countless raindrops pelted the asphalt.

It had been drizzling since morning, but by early afternoon, the rain was coming down harder. However, this didn’t seem to affect the number of customers, and business at Moonlight Terrace remained largely unaffected.
It’s a relief that work isn’t impacted, but the downside is that going out in the rain feels like such a hassle.
If I had a car, it might be a bit more bearable, but I don’t own one. Back when I lived in Tokyo, I drove a company car for work, but otherwise, I got around by foot or train. I didn’t have the luxury of driving anywhere on my days off anyway. To make up for the sleep debt accumulated during the week, I spent my weekends sleeping from morning to night.
But I’m pushing thirty now. It’s probably time I got a car. Especially in the countryside, not having one can be inconvenient.
I’ve got some savings, so maybe I’ll take the plunge and buy one. My dad’s a car enthusiast, so I’ll ask him about it next time. Thinking about such things, I worked diligently through the day as usual.
Past seven, Mahiru stopped by after club activities, so I let her come up to my room. She was in her usual tracksuit, but her hair and clothes were slightly damp from the rain. The mix of her deodorant, her natural scent, and a hint of sweat created a faint, pleasant fragrance—wait, am I some kind of pervert?
“What’s up, Yū-nii?”
“Nothing?”
There’s something about wet hair that evokes a certain mood, a kind of allure. It’s frustrating to admit, but I can’t help feeling a bit of charm from Mahiru.
“W-Wait, do I smell sweaty? Sorry, it’s been so humid lately.”
Mahiru stepped back, looking flustered.
“No, no, it’s not like that.”
The sound of the rain seemed to fade a little.
We sat side by side in front of the table.
“By the way, Miya’s birthday is coming up, huh?” Mahiru said.
Miya’s birthday is June 25th, about two weeks away.
“Yeah, last time I gave her that heart-shaped hairpin, right?”
“Calling ten years ago ‘last time’ takes some guts. But yeah, good thing it worked out for her birthday.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, her realizing you figured out who she really was. If she had to celebrate her birthday without you recognizing her, that would’ve been way too sad.”
“Ugh… you’re right. It was partly by chance that I figured it out, so that could’ve easily happened.”
“If it had come to that, I probably would’ve spilled the beans myself.”
Looking back, Miya had dropped a hint about her birthday. I really should’ve picked up on it back then. It was the most obvious clue she gave.
“What should I get her? Have you decided, Mahiru?”
Mahiru stroked the wristband on her left wrist and said,
“I haven’t decided yet either… but last year, I gave her some clothes.”
What do you even get for a teenage girl? I’ve never had a girlfriend, so I’m clueless about this kind of thing.
Well, there’s still two weeks. I can take my time thinking about it.
“Man, isn’t it kinda hot in here?”
Mahiru unzipped her tracksuit and fanned herself with her hand.
“It’s all closed up in here.”
Even after ten years, my room still doesn’t have air conditioning. Combine that with the windows shut tight because of the rain and the humid June weather, and it’s practically a sauna in here.
Mahiru cracked a window open slightly.
“Maybe it’s stopped… Nope, still raining a bit.”
“Forecast says it’ll keep going until dawn tomorrow—h-hey, Mahiru!”
I turned to look at her and was speechless.
“Hm?”
Under her tracksuit was a white practice shirt, and clearly visible beneath it was a green piece of fabric supporting Mahiru’s impressively large chest.
“Y-You…”
Her underwear was showing through, soaked with sweat. Whether it was because they were so big or because they were wet, I could even make out the shape of the lace. Two large, light green rounds, like melons…
“Hurry up and cover up!”
What am I even thinking?
Getting flustered over Mahiru, of all people.
It’s Mahiru, Mahiru, Mahiru…
Even though I looked away, the afterimage of those twin peaks was seared into my eyelids.
“Huh? Oh!”
Mahiru seemed to notice too.
“Geez, pervert.”
She shot me a sidelong glare.
“S-Sorry.”
I hadn’t done anything this time, but I apologized anyway.
“Honestly.”
Acting like nothing happened, Mahiru sat back down in her original spot. She tugged at her white practice shirt, fanning air into it.
“…”
“…”
“Come on, zip up your jacket!”
“Huh?”

4

I love the rain. Especially a downpour like today, as if buckets were being overturned. Having finished getting ready for bed, I placed my glasses by the pillow and lay down on the bed.
“Haa.”
When I slip under the covers and listen to the sound of heavy rain, I can vividly recall that night, which is why I love it.
That stormy night when we hugged each other and slept. His big hands enveloped me.
Among all my memories, one of the most radiant is that typhoon night.
We took a bath together, ate together, played until we were sleepy, and then—
Recalling his warmth from that time, I closed my eyes.
“Yū-nii.”