No one truly enjoys solitude; they simply wish to avoid disappointment.

This small yet lively commotion finally came to an end. After delivering her homemade sweets to Tsukimitsu Jinguuji, Sakurakoji Sazakura headed off to her weekend club training. Since food wasn’t allowed in the bookstore, the treats she brought could only be enjoyed at home later. The boy sat in a quiet corner of the bookstore’s lounge, silently turning the pages of his book.

Nearby, a petite underclassman pretended to tidy up the shelves, her eyes darting repeatedly in his direction.

“Do your work properly.”

He didn’t even lift his head as he spoke.

“Ugh… Senpai, are you treating me like some convenient subordinate?”

“I have high hopes for you. You’re going to be the backbone of this place; those who are capable must shoulder more.”

“That’s so unfair. While other girls are falling in love at fifteen, I’m already tasting the hardships of workplace bullying. I’ve lost faith in humanity.”

“Is it really that bad?”

“It’s all your fault, Senpai!”

“Sure, sure. By the way, there’s a ladder over there—use it to reach the higher shelves, and make sure you clean thoroughly.”

“Harassment, workplace bullying—I can’t stand Tokyo people.”

“What a coincidence, neither can I.”

You Miyami glared at the boy, cheeks puffed out. But no matter what expression she made, her face was always seen as adorable, a classic case of being betrayed by her own cuteness.

She kept making faces at Tsukimitsu Jinguuji, who finally snapped his book shut with a crisp sound. Startled, You Miyami quickly ducked behind the shelves.

He walked over, and seeing the girl’s wary, bent posture, he couldn’t help but laugh. The oppressive feeling he’d been carrying somehow dissipated. Gently, he patted her head.

“You clean the lower shelves, I’ll do the upper ones. Is that alright?”

“Huh? Well… sure, that’s fine.”

“Then let’s get to work.”

“O-okay…”

“Why that face? You look like you have something to say to me.”

“Senpai, you’re suddenly so nice to me—it’s a little unsettling… Ow, ow, ow—!”

He released his grip on her head. “Satisfied now?”

“Violence! I object!”

“Work hard and I’ll buy you a drink.”

“Really? Yay! I want Dr Pepper!”

“You’ve got good taste.”

“Hehe~”

…

At five in the afternoon, his shift ended. Tsukimitsu Jinguuji swapped places with Kyoko Nagumo, who’d come to relieve him. He hung his apron in the locker, ready to leave.

“Oh right, Miss Nagumo, may I borrow this for a bit?”

By “this,” he meant You Miyami.

“Senpai, that’s too much! What do you mean, ‘this’?!” She slapped his hand away, cheeks puffed out like a hot air balloon about to lift off.

“Well, I don’t mind… Oh? Are you interested in my little You-chan too?” Kyoko Nagumo teased, clearly hoping for some drama.

“Not in the slightest,” Jinguuji replied calmly.

“Ugh! Denied so nonchalantly—my maiden heart is wounded,” You Miyami said, clutching her chest as if mortally injured.

“Maiden heart or Dr Pepper—which do you choose?”

“Dr Pepper!”

Her mood visibly brightened, proof enough that her so-called “maiden heart” was still in its infancy.

“Auntie! I’m heading out with Senpai!”

“Don’t call me auntie.”

“Yes, yes. Kyo-chan, Senpai, let’s go.”

With that, You Miyami dragged Tsukimitsu Jinguuji out of the bookstore. As the bell over the door jingled and the shop fell quiet, the adult woman crossed her legs lazily and picked up the book the boy had left unfinished.

Wandering through the maze of alleyways, the boy dropped coins into a vending machine and two cans of Dr Pepper clattered down. He handed one to the petite girl at his side.

“Thanks, Senpai.”

With a “pssh,” the can was opened. Jinguuji sat on a bench in the outdoor lounge by the mall, and You Miyami naturally settled beside him, just as she would in the student council room at school.

“Glug, glug… Ahh! That hits the spot!”

“Is it really that good?”

“Because it’s free, of course.”

Jinguuji took a silent sip. “I see.”

You Miyami cradled her drink, legs together and swinging gently, the rough denim of her jeans whispering softly.

“Senpai, you never asked me, did you?”

“Asked what?”

“Back then, you and I both didn’t want to join any club, but in the end I defected to the president’s side.”

“Oh… that. It doesn’t matter anymore,” Jinguuji replied easily.

At first, he’d refused to join any club because the System’s tasks forced him to approach girls after school. Once he uninstalled the System, his reputation was already ruined—no club would welcome someone like him.

Even if there were such a club, joining would mean being swallowed by the school’s endless gossip. It was inevitable.

To accept Tsukimitsu Jinguuji meant fighting against the very atmosphere of the school.

And no one can win against atmosphere.

Rather than struggle in vain, it was far more comfortable to go home and read.

Yet, in that time, a girl had sought him out and, without asking, pulled him into the student council.

For the first time, Tsukimitsu Jinguuji found a place for himself in the prison called “school” that had always shut him out.

It wasn’t exactly a celebration of youth, but it was still more comforting than walking alone down the long cherry blossom slope at dusk, listening to the distant cheers from the sports field.

As Haruki Murakami once wrote, nobody likes solitude; they just don’t want to be disappointed.

Jinguuji was no exception.

He was just sixteen—immature, inexperienced, holding onto his prejudices against the world.

Bearing the wounds of adolescence, he hid them carefully, ashamed to let anyone see before he finally grew up.

As he fell silent, the petite girl beside him kept sneaking sidelong glances.

“Hey, if you ask me now, Senpai, maybe I’ll tell you the truth.”

“I’m not interested in my junior’s secrets.”

You Miyami let out a soft “oh,” sipping her drink.

Suddenly, Jinguuji turned to her. “Will tomorrow morning be alright?”

“Tomorrow morning? Oh… you mean the inspection.”

“You can still talk to President Hoshinomori. I’ll be fine on my own.”

“I never said I didn’t want to.”

“Are you sure? Standing at the school gates with me—you might get ostracized.”

She snorted with pride. “That might be true for others, but I’m cute. No one could possibly hate me.”

He chuckled. “Such impressive confidence.”

She hopped off the bench and faced him. “Anyway, you don’t need to worry about things like that, Senpai. You might harass, bully, and even use a little DV, but I’m not that easy to mess with.”

“Just don’t say things like that to your classmates, or I’ll end up wanted by all the first years.”

She burst out laughing. “Then you’d better work hard to win my favor, Senpai.”

“Sure, sure.”

She glanced at her phone, smiling softly. “It’s getting late. I should head home before Auntie gets worried.”

“Alright.”

“See you at school, then. Thanks for the Dr Pepper, Senpai.”

With light steps, You Miyami waved goodbye, leaving only her slender figure behind.

See you at school…?

The boy closed his eyes. Suddenly, going to school didn’t seem so bad after all.