He knew not how much longer his ordinary days would remain peaceful.

The summer heat was oppressive, accompanied by the endless drone of cicadas. Sunlight streamed through the windows, carrying a stifling warmth.

Jingugiji Tsuki was sitting inside studying. The room was not equipped with air conditioning; only a bladeless fan was running, blowing lukewarm air.

Generally speaking, unless the weather was exceptionally scorching hot, Jingugiji would not turn on the AC. The electricity bills for the student apartments did not come for free. He currently lacked a stable job, and while he still had some savings from his past part-time work, if he failed to economize, he would soon burn through them.

Ever since winning the gold prize at the Dengeki Bunko illustration competition, Jingugiji had only received one commission to illustrate for a newcomer's light novel, but the series was axed after just two volumes. Currently, he was looking for promising new author talents.

As for those well-known veteran light novel authors in the industry, they all had long-term partnerships with big-name illustrators, leaving no chance at all for a rookie artist like him.

If he failed to land another illustration gig soon, Jingugiji would really have to consider picking up a short-term job, such as tutoring high school students.

With his credentials as a student at the University of Tokyo, finding similar work should be quite easy. The only difficulty was that Jingugiji hated dealing with adolescent brats.

Doing things you didn't want to do, dealing with people you didn't want to deal with—that was probably the price of becoming an adult.

At eighteen years old, Jingugiji could not help but sigh.

"Jingugiji, are you in there?"

A man's voice called out from behind the door, accompanied by a knock.

When he opened the door, it was Hiroaki Katagiri.

"Senior Katagiri, is something wrong? It doesn't seem to be dinnertime yet."

"Has Miki been by your place?"

"Senior Matsubara? I haven't seen her. What's wrong?"

Hiroaki Katagiri rubbed his temples with a look of helplessness. "Who knows where she wandered off to since early this morning, and she doesn't even have classes today."

"Entangling yourself with your ex-wife doesn't exactly make you a good man. For all you know, she might have gone on a date."

"Don't say such terrifying things! The man dating Miki would be way too pitiful!"

Not knowing what to say, Jingugiji could only sigh in silence.

"Well... leaving her aside for a moment, Jingugiji, do you have plans for the afternoon?"

"Does studying count?"

"Okay, so you're totally free. Keep me company for a bit."

"I suppose I don't mind."

Outings between guys were always casual. From deciding to go out to stepping out of the apartment, it took less than five minutes total.

With the blazing sun high in the sky and the summer breeze blowing hot, it felt like having a hairdryer blown continuously against one's wet hair right after a shower until the scalp felt a stinging heat. The moment Jingugiji stepped out of the apartment, a shred of regret bloomed in his heart.

Tokyo was simply too hot.

"Senior Katagiri, remember to treat me to ice cream later. The expensive kind."

"Don't talk like a sissy. Shaved ice on the rooftop of the department store is the best I can offer you."

"What era are you even from?"

...

Following behind Hiroaki Katagiri, Jingugiji arrived at the Komaba Campus. He couldn't help asking, "Senior Katagiri, why are we coming to the university?"

"I have some business to take care of at the club."

"Then why drag me along?"

"You don't have to do anything."

"Huh? Then what's the point of making me come out?"

Hiroaki Katagiri looked at Jingugiji with a helpless expression. "You, how long has it been since you last stepped outside?"

"Hmm... the last time I went to the library was ten days ago, so ten days."

"Where on earth is there a college student who doesn't step outside for ten days?"

Jingugiji pointed at himself. "Aren't I one?"

"Don't you even go to classes?!"

"I've already finished studying this semester's coursework in advance."

"What kind of study demon are you?!"

Hiroaki Katagiri immediately wore a speechless expression. "Tell me, Jingugiji, you wouldn't happen to have some sort of psychological trauma left over from your high school days, would you?"

"How rude. I was the student council president back in high school." Jingugiji put on an aggrieved expression.

"Then may I ask if the student council presidents at your school were all recluses? Good grief, it's precisely because of this that Arisugawa worries about you."

"Arisugawa?"

"Yeah. She said you coop yourself up in your room reading and studying day in and day out, which is bad for your health in the long run, and told me to occasionally drag you out for a walk to get some physical activity. Honestly, I agree with her. No matter how much you love studying, you can't just hole up in your room all day. Keep this up and people will just take you for a weirdo."

Jingugiji let out a long sigh. "You guys worry way too much."

That being said, Jingugiji had no plans to turn back now. Since he had made the rare trip to the university, he planned to drop by the library and borrow a few books to take back.

Following Hiroaki Katagiri to the campus plaza, he found most of the clubs of the University of Tokyo's Komaba Campus gathered here.

At the start of the semester, Jingugiji had considered joining a club and had looked around, but after touring the area, he found no clubs that interested him, so the matter was dropped.

Katagiri led Jingugiji into a certain club room. Jingugiji glanced at the sign on the door, which read "Film Appreciation Society." Judging purely by the literal meaning, it was completely unclear whether it was a club for watching movies or making them.

"Mizumoto, morning. Oh? Just you?"

"What's this, it's just Katagiri."

The interior of the club room wasn't very large. Vintage bookshelves stood on all sides, crammed with various kinds of movie videotapes. Jingugiji almost thought he had walked into a video rental store.

Sitting alone was a short-haired girl. Katagiri briefly introduced the two of them. The girl before them was Yuka Mizumoto, who, like Katagiri, was a third-year student in the College of Arts and Sciences.

"Whoa! Could this be Arisugawa's rumored boyfriend? He truly is a fine-looking young man."

Yuka Mizumoto stood up, looking Jingugiji up and down from head to toe, her eyes full of curiosity.

"Hello, Senior. I'm Jingugiji, an alumnus of Arisugawa-san from high school. Please take good care of me."

"My, my~~ He's surprisingly proper, yet he hangs out with Katagiri. You shouldn't let yourself be corrupted by him."

"I will do my best not to be tainted." Jingugiji replied with unyielding composure, completely deadpan.

Hearing his response, Yuka Mizumoto burst into laughter, clutching her stomach. "Hahaha! You're so funny."

"Hey, Jingugiji, aren't you going to the library? Hurry up and go!"

"Weren't you the one who brought me to the campus, Senior Katagiri? And now you're going to give me the cold shoulder? You really are self-willed, Senior. No wonder Senior Matsubara ran off."

"You guy!"

"See you later. I'll walk back on my own after borrowing my books. I'm cooking tonight."

Jingugiji immediately turned and walked out, leaving Katagiri no chance to complain.

"Tch! What an unlovable underclassman!"

Walking alone across the campus, Jingugiji headed toward the library in silence. Fortunately, he had brought his student ID card with him, so the trip hadn't been in vain.

Just as he stepped out of the library after borrowing his books, Jingugiji heard someone calling his name nearby.

"Oh? Jingugiji-kun."

Turning around, he saw Alice Arisugawa in casual attire. Her sleek black hair fell long and straight, adorned with a pink bow at the back of her head, and she was clutching a copy of the *Compendium of Six Codes* to her chest—frighteningly thick and heavy.

She smiled faintly and trotted over to Jingugiji with small steps.

"Arisugawa, what a coincidence," Jingugiji said.

"Jingugiji-kun, what brings you to campus today?"

"I was dragged here by Senior Katagiri against my will, and I stopped by the library along the way."

"I see."

"And you?"

"Me? ...Well, I just finished auditing a lecture and was getting ready to head back to the apartment."

With that, she maintained her gentle expression, her sparkling eyes gazing intently at Jingugiji.

"Uh... then, shall we head back together?" Jingugiji was guided into saying those words.

Alice Arisugawa's face lit up with a smile as she nodded readily. "Alright."

"Ah, let's stop by the supermarket before heading back. We need to buy ingredients for tonight," she added suddenly.

"That's true. Come to think of it, it's my turn to cook today."

"Then I'll definitely have to look forward to it."

As the two of them walked side by side and chatted, two or three female acquaintances a short distance away waved and called out to them.

"Excuse me, those are my friends. Can I go over and talk to them for a bit? Or... it's fine if you want to head back first, Jingugiji-kun."

"No need, I'll wait for you here."

"Thank you, I'll be right back."

Jingugiji stood in place, watching Alice Arisugawa walk toward the group of girls. Judging from the teasing expressions on the girls' faces, Jingugiji could roughly imagine the kind of conversation they were about to have.

He didn't have the habit of eavesdropping, but his hearing was slightly sharper than the average person's, so when snatches of the conversation drifted into his ears, Jingugiji didn't show a shred of surprise.

An eighteen-year-old adult male and female walking together in broad daylight should be mentally prepared for teasing.

Jingugiji himself didn't mind, but if it caused unnecessary trouble for Alice Arisugawa, he would be more mindful in the future.

Even though they were college students now and the rumors about Jingugiji once being a playboy had completely parted ways with him, he still wished to avoid bringing unwanted annoyance to those around him.

About three or four minutes later, Arisugawa waved goodbye to the girls and walked back toward him.

Jingugiji noticed her complexion; sure enough, it was slightly flushed. Naturally, being told things to her face like "Your boyfriend is so handsome," "I heard you guys are living together," and "Do you do it every day?" would naturally make anyone embarrassed.

Come to think of it, female college students were way too bold; daring to say such words out loud without hesitation—the University of Tokyo was truly something else.

Of course, Alice Arisugawa had earnestly explained the nature of their relationship, but it seemed her friends took it as her trying to save face, wearing "we get it, we get it" expressions on their faces that left her quite helpless.

And as for this so-called rumor of cohabitation, one didn't even need to think to know that that pair of idiot spouses must have been spouting weird things at the university.

Perhaps he should intentionally make their dinner taste awful tonight.

Though he felt somewhat sorry for the hardworking farmers who grew the vegetables.

Noticing Jingugiji's gaze, Alice Arisugawa felt slightly awkward and couldn't help asking, "What is it? Why are you staring at me like that?"

Jingugiji shook his head. "Nothing, let's go."

Having been teased like that by her close friends, Jingugiji had expected Alice Arisugawa to act like an ordinary girl and shyly keep her distance from him.

Instead, she did no such thing, walking calmly by his side as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Since Alice Arisugawa didn't show any aversion to it, Jingugiji didn't care either.

Walking side by side across the campus, Jingugiji glanced at the books she was holding in her arms, noticing her shoulders occasionally shunting to adjust her grip.

Jingugiji pointed at the backpack on his own back.

"Um, that looks heavy. Put it in my bag."

"Oh... thank you..."

Jingugiji turned his back to her, and the girl unzipped his backpack and shoved the *Compendium of Six Codes* inside, causing the bag to sink by a fraction.

The law truly was a rather heavy thing.

"Arisugawa, are you planning to enter the Faculty of Law in the future?" Jingugiji asked.

"Hmm... perhaps," Alice Arisugawa answered ambiguously.

"I'm still quite lost when it comes to the future. It's just that whenever I see Jingugiji-kun working hard and studying every day, I think to myself that I can't waste time either and must put in the effort. What about Jingugiji-kun?"

"Haven't decided yet," Jingugiji said honestly.

"After all, people who map out a complete future right from the start are in the minority," Alice Arisugawa chimed in with a light smile.

"I always thought Jingugiji-kun would choose the sciences. With your grades, getting into the Faculty of Medicine wouldn't be difficult, right?"

"The principal said something similar back in high school. But someone like me definitely couldn't do it."

"Couldn't do it?" She looked puzzled.

"To be a doctor, you need a kind heart that wants to save others. I don't have that."

"How can you say that? Jingugiji-kun is very kind. Didn't you take in someone like me who had nowhere else to live?"

"Does that even count as kind?" Jingugiji asked in surprise.

"How could it not? For me, it saved me from sleeping on the streets."

"That's an exaggeration. Even without me, Arisugawa, you would have surely found a solution. Besides, in the eyes of others, taking you in to live with me would be seen as harboring bad intentions toward a girl like you."

"That's just because those people are projecting themselves, measuring others by their own worldview, assuming their own thoughts are everyone's thoughts, and refusing to allow anyone whose soul is purer than theirs to exist. At the very least, I trust Jingugiji-kun."

After a brief silence, Jingugiji let out a soft chuckle.

"I certainly hope your judgment is accurate, Arisugawa."

Alice Arisugawa smiled until her eyes curved into crescents.

"But if we go by your logic, then Arisugawa, you're far too kind yourself," Jingugiji added.

"Eh?"

"Look, you cook much more often than I do. If you stopped cooking, Katagiri, Matsubara, and I—all three of us—would starve to death. That's saving three lives in one go. Is there any act kinder than that?"

"Jingugiji-kun, you're always so good at sophistry over strange things. Should I call it unreasonable or sheer stubborn twisting of words? In any case, it leaves me at a loss for what to say. I think you're much better suited to study law than I am."

"I'll take that as a compliment."

"It was meant as one, to begin with."

...

That evening, Jingugiji served Hiroaki Katagiri and Miki Matsubara an extra-spicy curry. The taste was naturally delicious, but the two of them sweated profusely as they ate, their faces flushed red like painted chili peppers. After dinner, they jointly submitted a passionate protest demanding a change of chef.

In short, it was Jingugiji's petty act of revenge for the baseless rumors they had stirred up at the university.