In truth, Shiro had only spent a few years at the dojo before he was dragged away by the head student of the Renpeikan, along with several other disciples, to take part in a major historical upheaval. In the end, he never had the chance to officially receive his Menkyo Kaiden certificate from his master.

  "Incredible... I didn't realize Shiro-sensei was a master of both the pen and the sword," Aki Tomoya said, looking awestruck. "And coming all this way just for Utaha-senpai... the bond between you two must be incredibly deep."

  Shiro turned to Aki. "Aki-kun, is there anyone coming for you? Do you want to come with us?"

  "No one's coming for me... but are you sure? Is it really okay if I join you?"

  "No problem. Aren't we friends?"

  They had exchanged LINE IDs and Shiro often received "harassing" emails from the boy about new releases. Of course, it was "harassment" in the friendly sense—they were very compatible in their niche interests. Aki's obsessive, fanatical devotion to certain topics was something even Shiro found impressive; whenever Shiro had a technical question about the medium, Aki usually had an immediate solution.

  "Then I'll be in your debt!" Aki said, bowing deeply.

  "I should warn you," Shiro added, "if it's out of our way, I might not be able to drop you off at your front door. I need to make it back to Chiba before nightfall."

  Aki hesitated for only a second. "That's fine. Anywhere is safer than here. I feel much more secure following Shiro-sensei."

  The students remaining inside the fence shot Aki looks of pure envy. Don't say the quiet part out loud, they thought bitterly. Ishikawa-sensei's face twisted—Aki was shouting his ck of faith in the current "stronghold" for everyone to hear.

  Meanwhile, Sawamura Eriri watched the three of them from the middle of the crowd.

  She had told Aki never to talk to her at school, but now he was just going to leave her behind?! They were childhood friends! Back in elementary school, her friendship with the "Otaku" Aki had led to her being bullied and isoted by the other girls. Aki hadn't understood her feelings at all; he had just doubled down on his hobbies, making her situation even harder.

  She had spent seven years keeping him at a distance, hiding her identity as a legendary doujin artist and otaku behind the mask of a refined, high-css dy. But still... they were childhood friends! One lived at the top of the hill, the other at the bottom. He was the one who had introduced her to the world of Galgames with Little Love.

  And now he's just leaving?!

  Eriri bit her lip, her eyes turning red and misty. The more she thought about it, the more wronged she felt. She wiped a stray tear from her eye with her sleeve.

  Beside her, Katou Megumi watched her with a tilted head and a look of mild confusion. "Hm?"

  Katou then looked over at Kasumigaoka Utaha and gave a small, polite wave—a silent gesture of farewell.

  This girl...

  Utaha looked at Katou, who stood out precisely because she didn't stand out at all. She was just calmly waving as if saying goodbye to a neighbor. Is she optimistic or just simple-minded? Utaha wondered.

  Then she looked at Eriri. Was the blonde girl moved to tears by the parting? Or was it jealousy? Utaha smirked internally.

  "Shiro, is it really okay if we take two more?"

  "Mhm. We should be able to squeeze in."

  Receiving the confirmation, Utaha crossed her arms and nodded. Then, she gestured for Eriri and Katou to come over.

  "Kasumigaoka-senpai seems to be calling for us," Katou noted.

  "What now...?" Eriri quickly scrubbed her eyes, trying to look composed.

  "Sawamura-san, and Katou-kouhai," Utaha said as they approached. "Would the two of you like to come with us?"

  The crowd erupted into murmurs. He's taking more people?!

  The boys looked on with jealousy. Eriri was a local legend—the star of the Art Club, the "fairest skin in school," the "Golden Legend of Toyogasaki." As for the other girl... Wait, who is she?

  Some prayed the girls would refuse, hoping it would leave a spot open for them.

  "Who would ever—" Eriri started.

  "We'd appreciate the help, Kasumigaoka-senpai," Katou interrupted, accepting the offer instantly.

  That left Eriri alone. Utaha watched her. The girl was clearly terrified, yet her tsundere pride was keeping her frozen in a textbook dispy of stubbornness. She looked like a golden-haired kitten trying to look fierce. Utaha couldn't help but tease her.

  "Sawamura-san?"

  "I refu—" Eriri's face was bright red, steam practically coming off her head.

  "Eriri, you're coming too, right?" Aki asked with a bright, oblivious smile.

  "HUH?! I..."

  "Let's get ready to move," Shiro added with a gentle, narrowed-eye smile.

  "Listen to me—!"

  Utaha reached out and patted Eriri's blonde hair, completely shattering the girl's defensive posture. Eriri's mouth trembled and shut; her feet, cd in bck socks, turned inward as she squeezed her small fists.

  "...Fine," she whispered.

  Note: In Japanese martial arts, Menkyo means "License," granting a member permission to teach the style's techniques. Kaiden means "Full Transmission," a certificate proving a student has mastered every secret of the style and passed all tests. Shiro's senior, a genius who received his own Menkyo Kaiden in just one year, often remarked that Shiro was a superior swordsman and that the certificate was a mere formality he could grant him at any time.

  Utaha turned to Shiro. "So, how are we supposed to get over this fence?"

  "It's not that high. If someone gives you a boost from below, it'll be easy."

  To Shiro, a three-meter fence was a minor obstacle. This was why he hadn't bothered to argue with Ishikawa-sensei about the gate.

  "I see..." Utaha subconsciously smoothed her navy blue pleated skirt. "And who's giving the boost?"

  The five of them looked at each other. Their eyes nded on Shiro.

  Utaha assumed it was his job. Eriri and Katou saw him as the strongest person present. Aki simply knew he was "useless" for the task.

  "No problem," Shiro said. He analyzed the fence. He didn't want to just shove the girls up; there were three of them, and he wanted to minimize unnecessary physical contact. "I'll act as the base. If I crouch down, you can use my shoulders to reach the top. Once I stand up, you'll be high enough to grab the edge."

  "Sounds good."

  "Understood."

  "Okay."

  "I'll go first," Utaha said, taking the initiative to set an example.

  "Right." Shiro looked down at her feet.

  Utaha followed his gaze. "..."

  Oh, right. I can't even see my own feet, she thought, her bust obscuring her view.

  However, she remembered that Shiro was the kind of person who, if he were eating finger food on a date, would wear two pairs of gloves. He was meticulous. He clearly thought her shoe soles were too dirty for his shoulders.

  Honestly, this man...

  As Shiro crouched by the fence, Utaha leaned over. Her long hair cascaded down as she focused on unbuckling her loafers. She was careful to maintain her posture to avoid any "accidental exposures" with her skirt.

  She stepped out of her shoes, her feet now cd only in her translucent bck tights. The curve of her arch and the line of her toes created a delicate silhouette against the pavement.

  She tossed her shoes over the fence into the grass on the other side.

  "I wouldn't have minded if you kept them on," Shiro said, keeping his head down as he knelt. He was purposefully avoiding looking up, as the angle would have given him a direct view up her skirt.

  However, in his peripheral vision, he saw her bck-cd feet. He started to look away, but then he noticed her pyfully wiggle her big toe.

  "!"

  He almost looked up at her face, but caught himself.

  "Heh."

  He could swear he heard her let out a soft, teasing giggle. This woman!

  She pced her left foot on his right thigh. The warmth of her foot transferred through his spring uniform. As she stepped closer, her scent—a fresh, clean fragrance—filled his senses. Her legs were now practically level with his face.

  She pced her right foot on his left shoulder, gripping the chain-link mesh for bance, then brought her left foot up to his right shoulder. It was a delicate position; Shiro's head was positioned directly beneath her skirt. Because she had to keep her bance, her ankles were pressed against the sides of his neck. He could feel the smooth texture of the denier against his skin.

  "I'm standing up," Shiro said.

  "Mhm," she replied.

  Shiro rose slowly. Utaha slid her hands up the fence, keeping her bance. Finally, she reached the top, her head now well above the fence line.

  "You okay?"

  "Yes. I'm up."

  She hooked her leg over the top and sat on the edge of the fence, then swung her legs over to the outside. Looking down from the height, she felt a brief fsh of vertigo.

  "Wait for me," Shiro called out.

  He leaped, caught the top with one hand, and vaulted over in a single, fluid motion, nding heavily on the grass outside. He picked up the shoes Utaha had tossed over and held them out as she dangled her feet from the fence. He helped her slide her feet into the loafers one by one.

  If she nds without shoes, she might step in the blood on the pavement, Shiro thought. Better to keep her clean.

  As her feet slid into the shoes, her toes brushed against his fingers.

  Seriously... can't you be a little more careful?! We're in public! Shiro grumbled internally. Though from this angle, he couldn't help but notice the dark reinforcement bands at the top of her tights.

  "Catch me," she said.

  Before he could suggest a more coordinated descent, Utaha opened her arms and jumped.

  Shiro instinctively caught her. The angle wasn't perfect; her weight drove him back slightly, and her shoulder bumped his face. Luckily, his jaw was as tough as he had hoped—if it had been any other girl, she might have actually hurt herself!

  The impact of her chest against his face was a different kind of challenge entirely.

  ***********************************************

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