"How do you think I should inspect you?"
Kirisu Mafuyu didn't think there was anything wrong with her words—though she neatly threw the question right back.
Shirase looked helpless. "If I knew, I wouldn't have asked you."
"You—"
Kirisu raised a finger toward his face, clearly ready to scold him, but then she noticed Nakano Nino standing off to the side, stiff with nerves. She swallowed the rest of her words.
"You two go have fun," she said instead, her tone softening. "Just don't stay out too late, or Kojima-san will worry."
With a light wave, she turned to leave.
Nino blinked. "Kirisu-sensei can actually be this gentle?"
Kirisu, who'd only taken a few steps, froze. She turned back, her face faintly pink under the streetlights—but her eyes, pure murder.
Nino shrank back instantly. No matter how bold she was, she wouldn't dare talk back to that look.
"Nakano-san," Mafuyu said sharply, "I suspect Shirase-kun has been a bad influence on you."
Shirase immediately protested. "Why am I always the one blamed for everything?"
"Because you are always cheeky in front of me."
"I was just joking! I could tell you're actually really—"
"Quiet!"
Kirisu shot him a glare so fierce that Shirase instinctively shut his mouth. She thought grimly, If I let him keep talking, he's going to expose every embarrassing thing I've done.
Without another word, she spun on her heel and strode away.
Nino couldn't hold back a laugh. "Looks like everyone's misunderstood Kirisu-sensei."
"Yeah," Shirase said, amused. "She's always been nice—just refuses to admit she's really a gentle older lady."
They walked side by side for a while before Nino, cheeks slightly warm, asked softly, "So… where are we going now?"
Shirase caught her meaning immediately—she clearly wasn't ready to go home. "Let's just walk around. Going straight back would be boring."
Nino nodded in agreement.
As they walked, her thoughts wandered back to what he'd said earlier in front of everyone:
Nakano Nino is the girl I like most.
The words had made her heart race—sweet, but frustrating too. Everyone probably thought they were already dating, but he still hadn't said the actual words I like you to her directly.
Caught between embarrassment and anticipation, she didn't notice Shirase watching her until he said, "You look distracted."
"N-no reason." Her face flushed instantly.
He grinned. "Don't tell me you're still thinking about earlier—how I introduced you?"
Her eyes widened. He actually guessed?!
Before she could retort, Shirase pointed toward an open space ahead. "Let's go over there."
She looked and saw a young man strumming a guitar. "What, you're into street performers now?"
"You'll see."
Shirase's tone made her suspicious—but she followed anyway, heart thudding.
He dropped some coins into the open guitar case and asked, "Mind if I borrow your guitar?"
Nino froze, face burning red as realization hit.
The guitarist glanced between them, grinning knowingly. "Go for it."
A few onlookers turned curiously, some already catching on to what was about to happen.
Shirase plucked the strings to check the tuning, then leaned toward the mic. "Sorry to interrupt, everyone. But the girl I like has been sulking because I haven't confessed yet. She's getting anxious."
He knew the whole time?!
Nino's heart flipped. She fidgeted, wrapping a strand of hair around her finger, eyes shining with both joy and embarrassment.
The guitarist stepped aside with a grin. Around them, laughter and teasing murmurs spread.
Shirase smiled faintly into the mic. "I used to think that if I just studied hard, read enough, worked enough, and stayed out of trouble, I'd live a perfectly decent life—even if it was plain. But then I changed my mind."
He turned toward her.
Nino's face glowed pink under the lights, eyes trembling but fixed on him.
"Because it's impossible," he said. "To stay perfectly calm and detached—it isn't human. So I figured, if there's a girl I like… maybe it's okay to indulge in something as fleeting and precious as youth."
He paused, then said clearly:
"I like you, Nakano Nino."
The crowd broke into light laughter and murmurs.
Nino stood frozen—blushing, smiling shyly, her eyes glittering.
Shirase set the mic back on the stand. "I don't know many songs, so I'll just sing one—Sato Shori's My Only One."
"Unchanged, I've always only had eyes for you… from now on, I'll keep watching over you—my only one…"
His voice wasn't professional, but it was warm, earnest, and full of quiet sincerity. The street gradually fell still, as if the city itself had paused to listen.
When the last note faded, Shirase handed the guitar back.
Nino, eyes glistening, couldn't hold it in any longer. She rushed forward and threw her arms around him, burying her face against his chest.
I'm the one who liked you first, idiot!
The crowd smiled softly, a few girls sighing enviously as they watched.
After that, all of Nino's unease vanished. She clung to Shirase's arm as they walked, laughing freely and chatting about nothing.
The girl in love—radiant and unguarded—was dazzling.
Later, she suggested they check out the night market.
Shirase knew it would be packed, but shrugged. If she wanted to go, that was enough.
He ended up winning her a lopsided bunny doll at the shooting stall but failed miserably at goldfish scooping—three tries, zero success.
Nino laughed mercilessly.
When a young couple took their place and the girl also failed three times, Shirase muttered, "Shouldn't you mock her too?"
"Can't you act normal for once?!" Nino hissed, face red, dragging him away before anyone heard.
The deeper they went, the denser the crowd. Shirase instinctively wrapped an arm around her slim waist to keep her close.
Pressed against him, Nino didn't resist. Her face glowed red, and as she looked around at couples hugging and kissing, her heart thumped even faster.
If he suddenly kissed me right now, I wouldn't stop him…
She stole a glance at his profile, eyes soft with affection.
When they finally escaped the crowd, Shirase leaned against a wall, exhaling dramatically. "Man, keeping track of you was more exhausting than a full match."
"Tired?" Nino knelt beside him, holding her skirt.
"A bit. If I weren't this fit, you'd have been swept away and bawling by now."
"You'd be the one bawling, idiot." Nino laughed, shaking her head.
"Hey, I was serious! Why insult me?"
"I'm serious too," she said smoothly.
"So cruel. I should've left you behind. Guess good deeds really don't pay off."
Blushing, Nino smirked. "You wouldn't. You care too much."
Shirase feigned shock. "You figured that out?"
"Mm." Her smile was teasing, eyes bright.
He suddenly stood. "Then can you guess what I'm thinking right now?"
Nino rose slowly, eyelashes fluttering, gaze locked on his.
Go for it, she told herself. Charge ahead.
Without another word, Shirase slipped his arm around her waist.
Just as she began to close her eyes, he whispered, "Keep them open."
Her face went crimson, but she obeyed—eyes wide, shimmering.
She looked adorably flustered, utterly irresistible.
And then he kissed her.
Nino froze for half a heartbeat before wrapping her arms around his neck and—blushing furiously—biting his lip lightly in payback.
Then, gathering her courage, she leaned in again—this time deepening the kiss herself.