To achieve success as quickly as possible, relying solely on the system and Takahashi Mio's efforts was far from enough.
Those professional books on performance had to be read. The books on psychological counseling needed careful, repeated review. The purpose was simple: to understand Takahashi Mio's difficulties on her path forward as thoroughly as possible, to make timely adjustments, and to plan several steps ahead.
While cultivating Saori, he had learned and fallen in love with kendo. He wasn't a master by any means—but he was above average. He couldn't achieve Saori's level of taking on ten peers single-handedly, but he was still outstanding. Those were all results of his hard work.
While cultivating Hōjō Shione, he had poured all his energy into learning music-related knowledge. Unfortunately, he'd never progressed beyond the theoretical stage. Practical application? He was genuinely hopeless. After all, he was tone-deaf. There was nothing to be done about that.
Beyond understanding specialized knowledge, he also needed to grasp the current state of the relevant industries—what kinds of works were more likely to become popular in the current market. He had to plan a reasonable and efficient promotion route for them.
This was how it worked when he cultivated Hasegawa Saori. The same went for Hōjō Shione. These were all lessons learned through experience.
Cultivating a star was far from as simple as it seemed. It required dedicating nearly all of one's energy and passion.
"If I didn't read them... how could I walk forward with you?"
Listening to the young man's voice, Takahashi Mio went completely still.
When she finally processed his words, her mood grew complicated. She couldn't help but look away, unable to meet Shiratori Seiya's eyes.
So that's it.
No wonder they both liked him so much.
He probably treated them the same way back then, right?
Her hands, resting on her lap, clenched tightly. Her nails dug into her fingertips.
Damn it.
She wanted to win him over. So how did she end up... being moved by him instead?
She picked up her cup and took a sip of coffee, suppressing the chaotic emotions swirling in her chest. Then she asked the question she had prepared before coming today:
"By the way... what do you usually do?"
"Hmm? Why are you suddenly asking that?"
"Well..." She sighed, lightly biting her lip. "I realized I don't know anything about you at all. I don't know your hobbies or your habits. When my friends ask me about you, all I can say is that you're a first-year management student who doesn't like green peppers or chopped green onions..."
She looked genuinely troubled. "Isn't that too shallow? It feels like I'm in a fake relationship."
"..."
Hearing that, Shiratori Seiya thought for a moment. "My daily life isn't very interesting."
"'Not very interesting' is just what you think. Maybe I'll find it really interesting." She tilted her head. "I heard you're in the kendo club?"
"Yes."
Shiratori Seiya nodded—and just as he was about to elaborate, his phone vibrated against the table.
Buzz, buzz, buzz.
The screen lit up, drawing both their gazes.
[Kendo Club Captain]
The caller ID displayed those words.
Takahashi Mio's eyes sparkled with curiosity.
Shiratori Seiya felt a flicker of puzzlement. Why is he calling me?
He pressed answer. A rough voice crackled through the speaker:
"Shiratori-kun, you didn't come to the club today?"
"I had something come up."
"Uh." Apparently not expecting that response, Fujiyama Takeo hesitated. "Is it something... very, very, very important?"
Hearing that emphasis, Shiratori Seiya frowned. "What's wrong?"
"Well, C University's kendo club is here for guidance today, and... you got drawn for the exhibition match."
"Hmm? I'm not even there. How did I get drawn?"
Fujiyama Takeo scratched his head, his voice twisting with confusion. "Even if you ask me that, I don't know. Your name wasn't in any of the lots we drew, so theoretically, you shouldn't have been picked..."
"..."
Listening to his captain's strange words, Shiratori Seiya couldn't help but ask, "You're not joking, are you? If that's the case, why not just draw again?"
"How could I joke about something like this!" Fujiyama Takeo's voice turned dead serious. Then he sighed. "We drew again. And your name still came up."
After a pause, Fujiyama Takeo's tone shifted to genuine curiosity. "Shiratori-kun... is there anyone you know in C University's kendo club? Someone said they saw you here earlier. Where are you now?"
Shiratori Seiya glanced at Takahashi Mio. "On a date. At a cafe."
"Don't rush off to your date! I can go on a date with you later—coffee, flammable oolong tea, whatever you want—"
Who would go on a date with you?
Just as Shiratori Seiya was about to retort, Fujiyama Takeo pressed on: "Which cafe? Is it in Tokyo? I'm begging you—I'll ride, I'll ride my bike to pick you up right now!"
"No need for a bike. I'm at the one by the school."
Hearing this, Fujiyama Takeo's voice boomed with joy. "Great! I'll put your match later. Hurry up and come!"
Before Shiratori Seiya could refuse, the line went dead.
Takahashi Mio, who had been listening with her head tilted, immediately sat up straight. She looked at him tentatively. "Club business?"
Shiratori Seiya nodded. "Yeah. They said I got drawn for today's guidance match..." He paused. "It feels a bit strange."
"Aren't you going?"
Takahashi Mio pursed her lips, then continued, "I recently watched a drama where the female lead practices kendo. Can you take me to see it?"
—
From C University to H University, even with traffic, was only about half an hour by bus.
But Hasegawa Saori's mind was constantly filled with the young man's image. The thought of seeing him made every second feel like an eternity.
Even when facing the danger of getting her face smacked by a bamboo sword during a match—she had never been this excited.
She felt as if someone had gripped her heart, struggling and beating frantically, sending a blush spreading across her fair face.
She leaned against the bus window, nearly pressing her entire face against the glass.
Screech!
As the bus entered H University, Hasegawa Saori's body jolted from the sudden brake.
She snapped back to reality and moved to rush off the bus—but the crowd of people in front of her made her hesitate.
Then she had a sudden idea.
She reached out, pulled open the bus window, grabbed her bamboo sword, and jumped down.
"Eh?! Saori?!"
"Captain! Someone just jumped out of the bus!"
"Huh?!"
The bus erupted into chaos. Captain Yokoyama Miyu's hand, mid-reach for her equipment, froze in mid-air. Her jaw dropped.
The bus had already stopped. So why was she jumping out?!
They were here for guidance, not a fight. Why was she acting so intense?
Listening to the chaotic exclamations inside the vehicle, Yokoyama Miyu snapped out of it and quickly ran off the bus to check if Saori was injured.
But when she saw Hasegawa Saori standing perfectly fine beside the bus, Yokoyama Miyu breathed a sigh of relief. Still, she walked up with a serious expression and scolded her:
"Saori, why did you jump out of the bus?"
Then she noticed the blush on Saori's face. Her eyes went wide.
"Saori... why is your face so red? Are you that excited?"
"Excited?"
Hasegawa Saori tilted her head, a flicker of realization passing through her clear eyes. She pressed her palm to her chest and murmured to herself:
"So this is what excited feels like..."
Thirty-seven days.
That was how long it had been since she last saw him.
But it had been one hundred seventy-eight days since he last saw her.
So if calculated properly... she hadn't seen him for two hundred fifteen days.
Such a relationship status—for both herself and Seiya—was perhaps too improper, wasn't it?
An assassin wasn't a vampire. Going over two hundred days without sunlight meant the energy accumulated in her heart was completely insufficient. Even her chest felt deflated...
Hasegawa Saori rubbed her chest, and her thoughts drifted unconsciously to Hōjō Shione. A flash of regret crossed her eyes.
It was all her fault.
She had absorbed all the energy that rightfully belonged to Seiya and herself.
Thief.
If she hadn't broken up with Seiya... as an assassin, she would have had to eliminate her.
...