After helping Itsuki pick out the reference books and stationery she needed, Haruto took her through the literature section as well. She even bought his book. Once everything was paid for, he turned to her with a polite smile.
"I'll head off now."
"You've got something important to do?" Itsuki asked, her gaze lingering on his face as she adjusted the heavy plastic bags in her hands. A rare outing together, and she had secretly hoped they'd hang out a little longer, maybe browse somewhere else.
"Nothing urgent, really. It's just… we've already bought everything we came for. I thought I'd go meet someone."
"Alright then… I'll head back."
The moment he mentioned "someone," without a name or details, her heart sank a little. Perhaps it was someone she didn't know. Or maybe… that rumored girlfriend of his? Itsuki forced a small smile, masking her disappointment, and walked off toward the subway station.
He stood there for a moment, watching her figure fade into the crowd. He slowly closed his eyes. When he opened them again, she was gone. Turning away, he walked in the opposite direction.
It took him some time, but eventually, he arrived in front of a red-brick apartment building in Hongo Itchome. Climbing up the stairs to the fifth floor, he stopped at one of the doors and pressed the bell.
There was a faint shuffle of movement inside, followed by hurried footsteps. The door opened, revealing a familiar face—Mito Yuka .
"Good afternoon."
"Afternoon. You came kind of suddenly."
"I was at the bookstore with a classmate from school. After we were done, I didn't have anything else going on. I just wanted to check in—see how you're doing."
"Everything's sorted. I didn't have much stuff to begin with—just clothes, really. So even after moving in, the place is still kind of empty."
She stepped aside and gestured for him to enter. Haruto didn't hesitate. He stepped into her apartment and closed the door behind him. Compared to the last time he visited, the place looked more put together.
It was a modest room—about 30 square meters, with a compact kitchen and a small, private bathroom. For a single person, it was just enough. But since Yuka had moved in with almost no belongings, the apartment still felt unusually bare.
"A sleeping bag?" Haruto asked, staring at the single-person sleeping bag lying on the floor.
Aside from a few kitchen items, that was pretty much all she had added since moving in.
He walked over to the bathroom and casually opened the door. The inside was just as empty—bare essentials, a bottle of shampoo, and two towels. The simplicity was almost heartbreaking.
"It's already been this long, and this is all you've bought?" Haruto asked, turning to look at her. "At the very least, you should get a bed. A basic one only costs around 10,000 yen. Add a mattress and blanket, and the total's just twenty, maybe thirty thousand. There's really no need to scrimp that hard."
Yuka stood inside the room, avoiding his gaze as he gently closed the bathroom door behind him.
Ever since his book had been reprinted multiple times, Haruto's earnings had been increasing. Knowing that Yuka was staying in a manga café—a place neither safe nor sustainable—he suggested she move. When his payment came in, the two of them visited several real estate agents, browsed listings, and eventually chose this apartment in Hongo Itchome, Bunkyo Ward. The monthly rent was 105,000 yen.
A bit steep, but compared to other places of the same type, it was reasonable. Still, the initial costs totaled nearly 500,000 yen, which left Yuka, who didn't have much savings, in a tight financial spot.
"This is already more than enough. I don't really need the rest…"
"700,000 yen, plus you've got your own savings too… Never mind. Let's just go. There's still time today, so we might as well get everything you need now."
Haruto glanced around the apartment. It was hard to believe this was a girl's room—so bare and hollow. He said nothing more. Instead, he reached out, gently taking Yuka's soft hand in his own and pulling her toward the door.
"W-Wait, Miyamizu-kun, I…"
"I'll cover all the daily necessities. Besides, I'll grab the rest of the cash I left too—just in case."
She tried to protest, but the strength in his grip and the quiet warmth of his palm made her words catch in her throat. Instead, she closed her mouth, letting him lead her out of the apartment. Her face grew hot as they walked down the street, hand in hand, catching the curious glances of passersby. Embarrassed, Yuka ducked her head and shyly followed behind him.
Haruto didn't care about the stares. His mind was elsewhere, distracted by how incredibly warm—and incredibly smooth—her hand felt in his.
Still holding hands, the two of them walked from Hongo Itchome all the way to a furniture store in Tōsaka.
Once inside, he carefully examined the different bed options. He stopped at a single bed with built-in storage. It was compact, practical. When he glanced at Yuka, she remained quiet, showing little reaction.
"A single bed. It's a bit low, but it comes with a small drawer—perfect for storing little things like socks or underwear. And it's not that expensive... 19,800 yen."
Yuka couldn't help but question Haruto's sense of spending. His idea of "not that expensive" might have been... a little out of touch.
In Tokyo, where the hourly wage was 1,013 yen, she could only work until 9 PM. Even if she headed straight to her part-time job after school, she could manage just about four hours a day—roughly 4,000 yen. Which meant she'd need to work five full days just to afford that single bed.
"It's a bit pricey, don't you think? I think that one over there looks pretty good too."
She pointed toward another bed. He followed her gaze and walked over to a pinewood single bed. The label read: width 0.98 meters, length 2.13, height 0.59. The price was 10,981 yen—nearly half of the one he had chosen.
But this one didn't have a storage drawer. He inspected it carefully, then glanced back at Yuka.
"It looks okay, but I don't think the quality is as good. This one doesn't have built-in storage, and the legs are split into six like this... It doesn't look very sturdy."
"But there's open space underneath. You could store more stuff there."
"Still not stable enough. Let's stick with the other one. Plus, that one comes with a matching mattress. This one…"
He stared at it for a while, but couldn't bring himself to approve. His gaze shifted back to Yuka, and he gently shook his head.
"It's better to buy something that lasts. These legs just don't look safe, and the material seems cheap—almost plasticky. Who knows how long it'll hold up. And if it breaks later, that's just another hassle."
"..."
Yuka looked conflicted. But he had already called over a store clerk and was asking about the first bed—its total cost, whether it came bundled with a mattress, and if delivery was available.
"If it's within Tokyo, we can deliver it today. May I ask for the address?"
"1-30-18, Hongo."
"It can be delivered within 30 minutes, with installation included."
"Great, we'll take it. Also, we're buying a few more furniture items—can they be delivered together?"
"Of course!"
With that assurance, Haruto turned to look at Yuka.
Her heart ached slightly. The bed Haruto picked really did seem too expensive… but she couldn't deny that he made valid points. She glanced at the one she'd picked and sighed softly, conceding to his decision.
They also bought a nightstand, a lamp, a desk and chair set, and a few storage racks. He even picked up a rug and some miscellaneous furnishings. By the time they reached the register, they'd spent nearly 100,000 yen.
Yuka looked like she wanted to speak but held back. Haruto handed her the receipt.
"All that's left is to wait for the delivery."
"..."
It took a little while for the delivery to be prepared, but neither of them had anything else planned. So they waited until everything was ready, then followed the delivery crew back to the apartment.
The movers hauled everything up to the fifth floor and installed the bed, arranged the desk, and placed all the other items neatly. Haruto thanked them as they left.
Now the room looked completely transformed—fresh, new, and lived-in. He glanced at Yuka, then walked over to the desk. Sitting down, he placed his hands on the smooth surface and quietly admired it.
"We're still missing a few things, but we've got all the essentials."
"Yeah."
Yuka glanced around her new room—the plush rug, the freshly made bed with its mattress and blanket all laid out. Her emotions surged. Quietly, she sat down on the soft bed, letting her hands sink into the fabric.
And then, unexpectedly, a wave of emotion hit her. Her nose tingled, her eyes welled up, and tears spilled silently onto her jeans.
Haruto, still thinking about what else they might need, heard the faint sound of her sobs. He turned, startled, and saw the girl crying on the bed.
For a moment, he was completely lost. Had he done something wrong?
"Um..."
"S-Sorry… I just started remembering some things, and got a little overwhelmed..."
"Something sad?"
"...Not exactly."
Sniffling, Yuka wiped her eyes with the back of her pale hand. Then she looked up at him, her eyes shimmering with something gentle, almost reverent.
"It's been a long time. Ever since my parents passed away, I've been drifting from place to place... It's been years since I've slept on a bed this soft. So, yeah... my emotions kind of spilled over."
He was stunned. He'd expected something heavier, more complicated. But such a small thing—this moment of comfort—meant that much to her.
He glanced at the bed again.
He remembered the nights in manga cafés—how the seats reclined, but never fully. How you had to grab a thin blanket from the hallway and wrap yourself up like a burrito. In winter, you were protected from the cold, but never from the restlessness.
"That kind of life is behind you now. From here on out, things will start getting better."
Haruto wasn't exactly great at comforting people. For him, not upsetting someone was already a win. When it came to cheering someone up, he could only manage things that didn't make him sound like a jerk.
Yuka looked at him. Her tears had stopped, and a small, grateful smile appeared on her face.
"I'm not very good at comforting others."
"But even a hundred other people's comforting words... wouldn't mean as much as yours."
She bit her lip gently. Then, slowly, her hands moved to the buttons of her shirt. She undid the top one.
Standing up, her shirt slipped off her shoulders and fluttered down onto the bed like a feather.
"Even if it's just this once… can I be selfish?"
"..."
Haruto met her eyes. Slowly, he rose to his feet, walked toward her, and rested his hands gently on her soft shoulders. He caressed her cheek, leaning closer.
His height cast a protective shadow over her as he looked down into her upturned face.
"You won't regret this?"
"I won't."
In her eyes was a light—a clear and unwavering glow he couldn't tear himself away from.
And in that light… he let himself fall, quietly and completely.