The city had begun to awaken beneath the glow of the evening lights.
Streetlamps illuminated the sidewalks one after another, while storefront signs painted the streets with warm yellows, blues, and reds. Office workers drifted toward the train station after long days at work. Families walked together carrying shopping bags. High school students gathered in small groups outside cafés, laughing loudly over conversations that seemed endless.
Compared to the quiet atmosphere of Seishin Academy—
The city felt alive.
Ruko and Kazuha walked side by side through the shopping district without rushing.
Neither spoke much.
Not because there was nothing to say.
But because both of them had grown comfortable with silence.
For Kazuha, it was a welcome break after spending nearly three hours inside the Student Council Office debating budgets, festival proposals, and committee reports.
For Ruko—
His thoughts still wandered between the mysterious conversation he'd had outside the Gaming Research Club.
Every now and then—
The memory of Mitsuru's voice resurfaced.
It felt strangely unreal.
Had someone told him this morning that by sunset he would hear Mitsuru speaking from behind a locked clubroom door...
He would have laughed.
Yet—
It had happened.
Now she was no longer just a memory.
She was somewhere nearby.
Somewhere inside the same school.
The realization both comforted and frustrated him.
"...Ruko?"
"Hm?"
"You've been unusually quiet."
He blinked before glancing toward Kazuha.
"...Thinking."
"...About the match?"
"...Partly."
She smiled knowingly.
"...The club?"
"...Yeah."
She nodded slowly.
"I understand."
Neither elaborated.
Some thoughts didn't need explanations.
Eventually—
The automatic doors of a large supermarket slid open with a cheerful electronic chime.
A rush of cool air greeted them immediately.
Bright white lighting filled the spacious interior.
Rows of neatly organized shelves stretched toward the back of the building.
The gentle melody of background music drifted softly through hidden speakers while employees restocked products with practiced efficiency.
Customers pushed shopping carts through the aisles.
Children begged their parents for snacks.
Some elderly couples quietly compared prices.
It was busy—
But not overwhelmingly so.
Kazuha stepped just inside the entrance before reaching toward a stack of plastic shopping baskets.
She pulled one free.
Then another.
"...Here."
She handed one to Ruko.
"...I'm helping carry things?"
"You offered."
"...Fair enough."
She giggled.
"...Besides..."
She looked at the mountain of Student Council folders still tucked beneath one arm.
"...I don't exactly have enough hands today."
Ruko silently accepted the basket.
"...You really should've let me carry those."
"I'll survive."
"You've said that five times."
"And I'm still surviving."
"...Barely."
"...Probably."
Both of them laughed quietly before beginning their shopping.
The produce section greeted them first.
Rows upon rows of fresh vegetables lined refrigerated shelves.
Bright green lettuce.
Bundles of spinach.
Eggplants.
Bell peppers.
Tomatoes.
Cabbages.
Everything looked surprisingly fresh.
Kazuha immediately reached for several onions.
Then carrots.
Then potatoes.
She carefully inspected each one before placing them inside the basket.
Ruko watched with mild curiosity.
"...You're picky."
"I have to be."
"...Why?"
"My mother says vegetables choose the flavor of the meal."
"...Vegetables choose?"
She nodded seriously.
"If you choose bad onions..."
She lifted one slightly.
"...The entire dish becomes disappointing."
"...That's oddly philosophical."
She laughed.
"It's just something she always says."
Ruko shrugged.
"...I usually just grab the first one."
"I can tell."
"...How?"
"You would've chosen this one."
She pointed toward a noticeably bruised potato.
"...Okay, maybe I needed supervision."
"I'll allow it."
The shopping continued.
Garlic.
Spring onions.
Ginger.
Several packs of mushrooms.
Kazuha checked each item against a small shopping list displayed on her phone.
Occasionally humming quietly to herself whenever she crossed something off.
"...Let's see..."
She scrolled down.
"...Soy sauce..."
"...Cooking oil..."
"...Black pepper..."
"...Ah."
"The spices."
The spice aisle smelled pleasantly aromatic.
Tiny glass bottles filled both sides of the shelves.
Paprika.
Garlic powder.
Turmeric.
Curry.
Cinnamon.
Pepper.
Various herbs from different countries lined neatly organized rows.
Kazuha quickly found what she needed.
"...Ground pepper."
"...Curry cubes."
"...Chicken seasoning."
"...Done."
Ruko blinked.
"...You're surprisingly fast."
"I've been grocery shopping since middle school."
"...Really?"
"My parents both work."
"...Makes sense."
She smiled.
"...Cooking became a necessity."
"...Can you cook well?"
She thought for a moment.
"...Average."
"...That's humble."
"...No."
She laughed.
"...It's accurate."
"...Mom's cooking is still much better."
The conversation drifted naturally as they continued moving through the supermarket.
Next came canned goods.
Tomato sauce.
Corn.
Tuna.
Beans.
Condensed soup.
Kazuha carefully compared expiration dates before selecting several cans.
"...Prepared meals?"
Ruko asked.
She nodded.
"...They're useful on busy days."
"...Student council?"
"And exam weeks."
"...Fair."
The baskets gradually grew heavier.
Fortunately—
Only one section remained.
The frozen foods department greeted them with a wave of cool air.
Glass freezer doors stretched along the entire aisle.
Inside—
Neatly arranged packages of frozen vegetables, dumplings, seafood, and meat filled every shelf.
Kazuha immediately walked toward the meat section.
"...Chicken."
She grabbed one package.
"...Pork."
Another.
"...Ground beef."
One more.
She quietly checked the shopping list again.
"...That should be enough."
Ruko took several packages from her hands before she could protest.
"...I'll carry these."
She looked toward him.
"...Thanks."
The corners of her lips lifted into a grateful smile.
For someone who insisted she could manage everything—
She didn't refuse this time.
Perhaps she was simply too tired.
Or perhaps—
She trusted him enough to accept help.
The thought crossed Ruko's mind only briefly before he pushed it aside.
They closed the freezer door.
Turned the corner.
And headed toward the checkout lanes.
Only—
Kazuha suddenly stopped walking.
"...Hm?"
Her eyes shifted toward another freezer several meters away.
Then widened slightly.
"...Risa?"
Ruko instinctively followed her gaze.
Standing quietly in front of the frozen food section—
Was a familiar girl with silver-white hair.
Risa.
She stood perfectly still before the freezer.
Completely focused.
As though conducting an important scientific experiment.
One freezer door remained open.
Cold air drifted outward.
Inside the shopping basket resting beside her feet—
There were remarkably few items.
A bottle of tea.
Instant noodles.
A package of rice crackers.
And...
Nothing else.
Risa stared intently at two different brands of frozen sushi.
Her glasses reflected the freezer lights.
One hand rested thoughtfully beneath her chin.
"...Probability of satisfaction..."
She quietly muttered to herself.
"...Seventy-three percent..."
"...No..."
"...Seventy-six..."
"...But the salmon appears fresher..."
"...Although..."
"...The tuna contains a better ratio of ingredients..."
Kazuha couldn't help smiling.
She raised one hand.
"...Risa!"
The quiet voice echoed gently through the aisle.
Risa blinked.
Her calculations immediately halted.
She slowly turned around.
Then froze.
"..."
Her eyes landed on Kazuha.
Then shifted slightly.
Toward the person standing beside her.
Ruko.
She stared at both of them for several silent seconds.
Then calmly spoke.
"...Good evening."
Almost as though unexpectedly meeting two classmates while conducting statistical analysis on frozen sushi...
Was the most ordinary thing in the world.
Kazuha laughed softly.
"What are you doing here?"
Risa looked down at the freezer.
Then back toward them.
"...Shopping."
"...I can see that."
"...Specifically..."
Risa adjusted her glasses.
"...I am attempting to determine which frozen sushi provides the highest probability of emotional satisfaction relative to price."
Silence followed.
Ruko blinked once.
Kazuha covered her mouth to suppress a laugh.
"...You're..."
Ruko searched for the proper words.
"...Calculating sushi?"
"...Correct."
"...Somehow I'm not surprised."
Risa nodded once.
"I have narrowed the candidates down to two."
She held up both packages.
"...However..."
"...My calculations have reached a stalemate."
Kazuha looked at the two packages.
Then at Ruko.
Then back toward Risa.
Unable to stop herself—
She laughed.
The sound echoed warmly through the frozen food aisle.
And for the first time since leaving school—
The exhaustion lingering in her eyes faded just a little.
Because somehow—
Running into Risa while she was mathematically analyzing frozen sushi...
Felt exactly like something that would happen to the Gaming Research Club.
The silence in the frozen foods aisle lasted only a few more moments.
Risa remained perfectly still, holding one package of salmon sushi in her left hand and another assortment pack in her right.
Her expression never changed.
To anyone passing by—
She probably looked like an ordinary customer deciding what to eat for dinner.
The reality, however—
Was far more complicated.
She looked at the salmon.
Then at the assorted sushi.
Then back again.
Her lips moved ever so slightly.
"...Salmon provides a higher consistency in taste..."
"...However..."
"...The assorted pack possesses greater diversity..."
She paused.
"...Although diversity introduces variance."
Kazuha smiled helplessly.
"You're still calculating?"
"I have reached the final stage."
"...There's a final stage?"
"There are seven."
Ruko blinked.
"There are seven stages to buying sushi?"
"There should be."
Kana would've probably grabbed whichever package had the cutest label.
Hikari would've chosen the one with the most meat.
Kazuha would've picked whichever was on sale.
Only Risa—
Only Risa—
Could somehow transform grocery shopping into a research project.
She continued staring into the freezer.
"...If I purchase the assorted selection..."
"...There exists a thirty-two percent chance one topping disappoints me."
"...However..."
"...The overall experience becomes statistically memorable."
She switched her gaze toward the salmon.
"...Conversely..."
"...The salmon maintains stable quality..."
"...But reduces excitement."
Silence.
Ruko folded his arms.
"...You're overthinking this."
"I disagree."
"You've been standing here for almost ten minutes."
"Twelve."
"...You counted?"
"I always count."
Ruko sighed.
"Of course you do."
Kazuha giggled quietly.
Eventually—
Risa closed her eyes.
Took one slow breath.
Then nodded to herself.
"I have decided."
She carefully returned the assorted sushi to the freezer.
Then placed the salmon package into her basket.
"...Salmon?"
Kazuha asked.
Risa nodded.
"Consistency."
"...Just consistency?"
"No."
She looked toward the package.
"...Today's mood favors familiarity."
Kazuha smiled warmly.
"...I like that answer."
Risa blinked.
"...It wasn't meant to be poetic."
"I know."
"...It accidentally was."
For the first time—
The corners of Risa's lips lifted ever so slightly.
A tiny smile.
So small that someone unfamiliar with her probably wouldn't have noticed.
But Ruko did.
It disappeared almost immediately.
Still—
It had been there.
The four eventually made their way toward the checkout lanes.
The supermarket remained moderately busy.
Cash registers beeped rhythmically.
Employees greeted customers with practiced smiles.
Plastic bags rustled.
Shopping carts rolled across polished floors.
Kazuha carefully unloaded their groceries onto the conveyor belt.
Potatoes.
Onions.
Garlic.
Frozen meat.
Spices.
Canned goods.
Cooking oil.
Soy sauce.
Everything her mother had requested.
Beside them—
Risa quietly placed her own purchases.
A single package of salmon sushi.
Tea.
Rice crackers.
Instant noodles.
"..."
Ruko stared.
"...That's dinner?"
Risa nodded.
"...Correct."
"...That doesn't seem very balanced."
"I also possess vitamins."
She held up the bottle of tea.
"..."
"...That's not how vitamins work."
"I know."
"...Then why say it?"
"...Because your reaction possessed an eighty-seven percent probability of occurring."
"...You baited me?"
"...Correct."
Kazuha covered her mouth.
Unable to stop laughing.
"...Risa..."
"What?"
"...You're becoming scary."
"I learned."
"...From who?"
Risa slowly turned her head.
Looking directly at Ruko.
"...Observation."
"..."
"...I refuse responsibility."
The cashier smiled politely as she scanned each item.
The total appeared.
Kazuha reached for her wallet.
Only—
Ruko had already handed over the shopping basket and begun helping place everything into reusable bags.
"...Thanks."
Kazuha smiled.
"No problem."
"...Sorry for making you help."
"You already thanked me."
"...I'm thanking you again."
"...You apologize and thank people too much."
She blinked.
"...Do I?"
"...Yeah."
She thought quietly.
"...Maybe."
The groceries were packed.
Receipts printed.
The automatic doors slid open.
A cool evening breeze greeted them once more.
Outside—
Night had almost fully arrived.
Streetlights illuminated the sidewalks.
The city glowed beneath countless storefront signs.
Traffic moved steadily through nearby intersections.
The sounds of distant conversations blended together with the hum of passing vehicles.
The three students naturally fell into step together.
Kazuha carried one grocery bag.
Ruko carried another.
Risa held her tiny shopping bag containing little more than sushi and snacks.
For several minutes—
Nobody spoke.
The peaceful silence felt comfortable.
Eventually—
Risa looked toward Kazuha.
"...How was the Student Council meeting?"
The question landed with frightening accuracy.
Kazuha's shoulders visibly stiffened.
"..."
She slowly looked away.
"...I'd..."
Another pause.
"...Rather not talk about it."
Risa observed her quietly.
Then sighed.
Not dramatically.
Simply—
Knowingly.
"...I am one hundred percent certain..."
She adjusted her glasses.
"...She gave you paperwork."
Kazuha froze.
Then—
She grabbed both sides of her head.
"AAAAAH!"
Pedestrians turned toward the sudden outburst.
"I WAS TRYING TO FORGET!"
She looked ready to cry.
"The piles!"
"The reports!"
"The meeting minutes!"
"THE FESTIVAL DOCUMENTS!"
She buried her face into her hands.
"I JUST MANAGED TO STOP THINKING ABOUT THEM!"
Risa nodded calmly.
"My hypothesis was correct."
Kazuha looked utterly defeated.
"...Why..."
"...How do you always know?"
Risa answered immediately.
"...Pattern recognition."
"You terrify me."
"So I've been told."
Ruko quietly watched the exchange.
Something caught his attention.
Not the paperwork.
Not Kazuha's exaggerated despair.
One word.
She.
Risa had specifically said—
"She gave you paperwork."
Not—
"The Student Council."
Not—
"The Vice President."
She.
As though referring to someone both girls immediately understood.
Ruko frowned slightly.
"...Wait."
Both girls looked toward him.
"...What do you mean..."
He pointed toward Risa.
"...Who's 'she'?"
Risa blinked.
"...Hm?"
"...The person you're talking about."
"...The one who buried Kazuha under paperwork."
"..."
Risa stared for a second.
Then gave a tiny nod.
"...Oh."
"I suppose..."
"...I never told you."
Ruko waited and looked surprisingly interested too.
Risa calmly opened her mouth—
Only—
A woman's voice interrupted her.
"Risa."
The three students turned simultaneously.
A tall woman approached from the opposite sidewalk.
She carried herself with remarkable elegance.
Long white hair flowed neatly over the shoulders of a dark business coat.
Sharp crimson eyes surveyed the surroundings with calm authority.
Even before she reached them—
People naturally stepped aside.
Not because she demanded it.
Because her presence alone carried unmistakable dignity.
Professional.
Composed.
Confident.
Ruko's eyes widened.
"...No way."
He recognized her immediately.
Every student at Seishin Academy would.
She appeared during every entrance ceremony.
Every graduation.
Every school assembly.
Every major announcement.
The woman stopped before them.
A gentle smile appeared upon her face as she looked toward Risa.
"...There you are."
Ruko unconsciously straightened his posture.
His voice escaped almost automatically.
"...Principal..."
A small pause.
"...Principal Rikka."
The woman looked toward him.
Recognition briefly crossed her eyes.
"You must be..."
She smiled politely.
"...The new member of the Gaming Research Club."
Ruko instinctively bowed slightly.
"Y-Yes, ma'am."
Meanwhile—
Risa simply stepped forward.
Completely unfazed.
"...Good evening."
The principal's expression immediately softened.
"...Good evening."
Then—
Risa calmly spoke two words.
"...Mother."
Silence.
Utter silence.
Even the sounds of the busy street seemed to disappear.
Ruko blinked once.
Twice.
Three times.
His brain refused to process what he had just heard.
"...Mother?"
He slowly looked at Risa.
Then at the principal.
Back to Risa.
Back again.
The similarities suddenly became impossible to ignore.
The same silver-white hair.
The same calm eyes.
The same composed posture.
The same expressionless face.
How had he never noticed?
His mouth slowly opened.
"W-Wait..."
He pointed uncertainly between them.
"The..."
"...Principal..."
"...is..."
"...your..."
Risa tilted her head.
"...Correct."
"My mother."
Ruko stared blankly.
Then looked toward Principal Rikka again.
Then back toward Risa.
"...Wait."
"...THE PRINCIPAL IS YOUR MOM?!"
Several nearby pedestrians turned toward the loud outburst.
Kazuha quietly covered her face.
"...He finally found out."
Risa nodded once.
"...His reaction aligns with expected probabilities."
Principal Rikka chuckled softly.
"...I take it..."
"...You never mentioned me."
Risa answered with complete seriousness.
"...It was not relevant to daily conversation."
The principal laughed again.
"I suppose that sounds like something you would say."
Meanwhile—
Ruko remained frozen in place.
His thoughts instantly raced back to something Risa had said days ago.
"The principal's expectations always far exceed standards."
"It is impossible to please that devil."
At the time—
He thought she had simply been criticizing the strict principal.
Now—
Realization struck him.
She had been calling...
Her own mother...
A devil.
Right to everyone's face.
Ruko slowly looked toward Risa.
"...You called your own mom..."
He paused.
"...The devil."
Risa thought for exactly one second.
Then nodded.
"...Correct."
Principal Rikka sighed dramatically.
"...I heard that."
"...I assumed you did."
"...We're discussing this when we get home."
"...Understood."
"...No dessert tonight."
For the first time since meeting her—
Risa's perfectly composed expression finally cracked.
A tiny pause.
"...Mother."
"...Yes?"
"...That punishment seems disproportionate."
Kazuha couldn't stop herself anymore.
She burst into laughter.
Even Ruko found himself laughing.
Standing beneath the city lights—
Watching the emotionless Risa negotiate for dessert with the strict principal of Seishin Academy—
Was somehow the last thing he ever expected to witness.
And yet...
It somehow made perfect sense.