"Um… excuse me, is there something you need?"
The girl, suddenly called by name by a stranger, turned around.
Her delicate face didn't show surprise or confusion—only a serene calm, like the stone fox statues flanking the torii gates of a shrine.
They neither rejoice at worship nor feel sorrow when moss covers them.
Though she posed a question, even someone as observant as Kyousuke found it nearly impossible to read any emotion in her jet-black eyes.
If anything, maybe there was a hint of surprise—perhaps just at seeing a handsome guy like himself.
Naturally.
To this day, he had yet to meet someone who wasn't a little stunned by his charm.
So what was he supposed to say now?
That he was shocked to run into a member of the Background Heroine Club again?
No, no—that would be way too rude.
Calling someone a background character right off the bat? Come on.
Katou Megumi was certain she didn't know this boy.
Someone like him didn't exist in her world. And yet, aside from family and her friend Rinko Ohashi, he was the first person to spot her so easily in a crowd.
Hmm… well, with so many people around, even her parents or Rinko might have trouble spotting her.
Her sister might be the exception—after all, none of them really left much of an impression in a crowd.
But still… he did look familiar.
'Had I seen this guy somewhere before?' She wondered, but didn't ask.
Instead, she just stood there, serenely still, thinking she'd walk away in one second if he didn't say anything more.
Maybe he'd mistaken her for someone else.
After all, a name like "Katou Megumi" probably belonged to at least five million other people in Japan.
"Oh, I've heard all the stories—about how beautiful Katou-senpai from Toyonozaki Academy is. Seeing you in person, you're even more stunning than I imagined."
Of course, the one who could say such a lighthearted line with a straight face was Yamauchi Sakura.
Recognizing someone's school year by uniform details was practically an innate JK (Japanese high school girl) skill.
Things like the ribbon, skirt trim, and even the lining of their indoor shoes often varied by grade.
Megumi looked at the smiling boy who nodded politely, then turned to the girl who had spoken.
She lightly tapped her cheek with her index finger and said:
"That's the first time someone's ever said that to me. It's a bit embarrassing, but… thank you."
Kyousuke found it amusing.
Though she said she was embarrassed, her expression remained calm as ever.
Her tone gave no hint that the compliment made her happy.
How would you even describe that? Serenely happy?
What even was that? How could someone be calm and happy at the same time? And if she was that calm, how could he even tell she was happy?
Kyousuke felt like he'd fallen into a logical paradox.
Maybe his emotional radar had evolved to the next level?
"No way… Katou-senpai, you're way too humble," Sakura said in disbelief.
Even though she'd said it to help Kyousuke out of a jam, this girl in front of her—despite being used to seeing pretty girls—still had a beauty that felt distinct.
"It's true~" Megumi replied in the same tranquil tone, making it hard for Sakura to tell whether she was being sincere or just brushing her off.
It was weird. Usually, calm words put people at ease, but this girl was too calm.
Even her expression was practically unreadable.
"No no no—someone like you would definitely stand out no matter where you go."
"Hmm… I don't really think my classmates are looking at me though~~"
Megumi glanced around, and, just as Sakura had said, the three of them chatting at the school gate had absolutely become the center of attention.
"Sorry for the trouble," Kyousuke said.
He and Sakura, both in different school uniforms, standing out front like that—it was bound to attract attention.
Megumi shook her head slightly.
"Nooo, it's not really troublesome. I'm just not used to suddenly being stared at by so many people… though I know they're not actually looking at me~~~"
What was this serene mood? Her tone hadn't changed, nor had her face.
She was simply stating facts.
But Kyousuke could feel it—just a touch of regret, a trace of disappointment, and a kind of quiet acceptance.
So this was how someone created a serene calm full of unspoken feelings?
Kyousuke glanced at Sakura.
She didn't seem to notice any of that—still confused about Megumi's comment.
"Hey, how about we head over to that café?" he said, pointing to the staple café that existed near basically every school in Japan.
Mitsuha's dream café.
On days they didn't meet, she sent him at least three café photos a day—breakfast, lunch, dinner, and sometimes even afternoon tea.
Though there had to be cafés in Nara too, right? Maybe she was trying to make up for all the visits she missed before high school.
He was mostly looking at Megumi as he said it.
Sakura would be totally on board; their original plan was to hang out and eat until Eriri and the others finished club activities anyway.
"Sure~~ sounds good." Megumi agreed without hesitation.
"Wait, really? But Katou-senpai, weren't you just heading home? Don't you have plans?" Sakura asked.
"Yeah, there's a drama I wanted to watch tonight. But chatting with you two seems fun, so it's fine." Megumi replied.
'Fun?' Sakura blinked.
Hadn't it just been her and Kyousuke talking the whole time? And mostly pointless chatter at that.
"You're seriously too nice, Katou-senpai. You've got such a kind personality!" Sakura said admiringly.
She certainly wouldn't be so chill if two strangers randomly pulled her into a café chat.
"Huh? Ah… umm~~" Just like before, it seemed Megumi wasn't used to personal compliments.
She looked flustered for a second, then took a few steps forward before finally speaking again:
"My friend always records the drama for me, so I can just watch it at her place later."
Okay, that explained the flexibility.
But it didn't answer why she thought spending time with them was fun.
Maybe it was the joy of being called by name, or the compliment, or simply being noticed at all.
All of it was hidden behind that calm voice and expression.
The three of them entered the café and were led by a server to the non-smoking section.
"Today's on me! Katou-senpai, don't hold back—order whatever you like," Sakura said, propping her chin on her hands and squinting playfully at the girl across the table.
Despite this being their first meeting, the girl named Katou Megumi showed no awkwardness.
She wiped her hands with a warm towel and let out a small sigh of relief, totally at ease.
Detective Yamauchi Sakura finally started to get a read on her personality.
She still didn't know how Kyousuke had called this complete stranger by name so confidently—but she already liked this composed, unruffled girl.
If it were her… maybe no kind of sadness could ever break that expression.
Shouko and Yukari were kind and gentle too—but if they found out she died, they'd probably need Kyousuke to comfort them.
But who would be there to comfort him?
So— Katou-senpai, let's become friends.
No one knew just how much pain Sakura was enduring deep inside.
But she knew—she knew exactly how much it hurt.
And she knew that once she was gone, Kyousuke's suffering would be a hundred times worse.
Whether it was for Kyousuke's sake, or simply because she couldn't bring herself to give up…
Eriri, with her stubborn pride and tsundere hesitation…
Kasumigaoka, so fiercely competitive… and Mitsuha, bound by fate… all of them.
Throw everything you've got into this battle.
No one gets to slack off.
Stay by Kyousuke's side until the very end of the world.
Just as Sakura hoped, Katou-senpai—who had calmly agreed to join them at the café—picked up the menu with the same serene demeanor she'd shown earlier.
"Hmm~~ Then I won't hold back. Tomorrow, I'll treat you guys to something too."
Her tone was as indifferent as ever.
Anyone hearing her would think she was offering to treat them purely out of politeness, not because she genuinely wanted to see them again.
As if suddenly remembering something, Katou Megumi glanced up from the menu and spoke casually.
"Come to think of it… I still don't know your names~~"
"Huh!? We didn't introduce ourselves yet?" Sakura exclaimed in surprise. "Katou-senpai was so natural, I just assumed we were already long-time friends!"
"Ah~~ not sure if I should feel happy or…"
Honestly, things like this happened a lot.
Like in home economics class—after cooking with a group, while everyone's tasting the food, someone would suddenly go, 'Wait… who are you again?'
Like she'd popped in from a rift in space-time just to chop vegetables.
Well… she couldn't really blame them.
But something about this girl's words felt so kind.
Kato squinted slightly and decided to file this feeling under "happy."
After all, being mistaken for a friend… that's a good thing, right?
Kyousuke gave Sakura a light bop on the head.
This scatterbrain… there's got to be a limit to how quickly she warms up to people.
"I'm Hojou Kyousuke, Year 1, Class F at Soubu High. I live in Mejirodai 3-25, Bunkyo Ward. And this one here is—"
"I got this, I got this!" Sakura cut in. "I'm Yamauchi Sakura, his childhood friend. Everything else is the same as Kyousuke."
'Childhood friend?' That's a term usually reserved for anime and otaku circles, right? And… 'everything else is the same'—does she mean even the address?
Kato was a little puzzled but didn't feel like pressing the issue.
Stuff like that didn't really matter to her.
"I'm Katou Megumi, Year 2, Class B at Toyonozaki Academy. I live in Kami-Ikebukuro 3-19, Toshima Ward."
She casually revealed her home address without hesitation.
"Uh… is it normal to swap home addresses the first time you meet?"
Okay, maybe not entirely without hesitation—more like she did it out of fairness?
"Hahaha, don't mind him, Katou-senpai," Sakura waved it off.
"He's just weirdly serious sometimes. Besides, we're already friends! Now that we've exchanged addresses, we can invite you over!"
"Already friends, huh? That's kind of… sudden." Kato looked up from the menu, a bit surprised.
"Of course! I don't invite just anyone to eat with me," Sakura said with full confidence.
"I see. Sorry, I thought Yamauchi—"
"Just call me Sakura."
"Uh… okay. Sakura. I thought you were just the type who's super friendly even to strangers~"
"No way. There's way too much interesting stuff in the world for me to waste time on boring strangers."
So… she thinks I'm interesting?
Kato was a little taken aback. T
he best compliments she usually got were things like "mature" or "easygoing." This was probably the first time someone had ever called her "interesting."
It was… kind of thrilling.
And then, there was Kyousuke...
As she scanned the menu, Kato stole a glance at the boy sitting across from her.
He was typing something into his phone—no wonder he had looked vaguely familiar earlier.
A server approached.
Kato ordered a slice of light cheesecake and a strawberry ice cream—classic girl favorites.
Sakura, as expected, ordered a mountain of food.
The waiter, alarmed, tried to explain the portion sizes, but Sakura didn't care in the slightest.
After all, she had Kyousuke beside her—the boy whose stomach seemed to open into another dimension.
"It's been fun hanging out with you and Hojou-kun," Kato said. "I'd like to do it again sometime. But… you might forget who I am by tomorrow."
Even though she'd just said she'd treat them next time.
Chances were Sakura would stare at her blankly if she approached tomorrow, racking her brain for a name like "Kana-nami" or something close but totally wrong.
"Huh? No way," Sakura said, raising an eyebrow. "I already planned what I want to eat with Katou-senpai tomorrow."
"I didn't mean you or Hojou-kun. I meant… me."
Kato's voice was quiet, matter-of-fact.
"I just… I tend to leave a weak impression. People forget about me really easily."
A faint sadness, a quiet resignation passed over her usually calm expression.
"Is that why you looked so surprised when Kyousuke recognized you?" Sakura asked, then paused.
Wait, did Kato really look surprised? What had she said again?
It had just happened, but Sakura couldn't remember at all.
'Seriously… is my memory that bad?'
Just then, a small commotion broke out at the booth next to theirs.
Apparently, the server had brought the wrong order.
After a flurry of apologies, the waitress stood still, unable to remember who had ordered the light cheesecake and strawberry ice cream.
'I've been Best Server three years in a row!' she thought in despair.
'How could I mess up like this?' Defeated, she reached for her notepad.
"Over here—I think that's mine," Kato said, raising a hand.
"Oh! Sorry, sorry for the wait!" The server bowed repeatedly.
"No worries~~" Kato replied softly.
'If anything, I should be the one apologizing. It's because I don't stand out enough…'
"See? Even in restaurants, I get overlooked~~" she said with a faint smile, picking up her fork. "If I'm alone, I can wait forever and still never get seated~"
The little hiccup hadn't fazed her at all. She explained it like it was just another fact of life.
"W-wait, Megumi-senpai, were you… sad just now?" Sakura asked.
She still couldn't detect any change in Kato's tone or expression, but saying something like that—there had to be some sadness behind it.
"Not at all~" Kato replied. "I mean… it's just how it is, right?"
Sakura stared at her, puzzled. There was a sadness there, she was sure of it.
But her voice didn't waver at all. She's... fascinating.
While the girls chatted, Kyousuke was staring at Kato as if he'd just discovered a new species.
What kind of NPC aura was this?
The kind that lets someone walk through a dozen scenes in a drama and never be noticed, even if they appear repeatedly?
Wait. NPC…?
His eyes narrowed.
Is this… the legendary background heroine?
Although the girl in front of him didn't have quite the same figure as Kasumigaoka-senpai, she had curves in all the right places.
Even through the loose school uniform, it was obvious—her chest, her waist forming a graceful dip, all beautifully proportioned.
Kyousuke had seen her legs when she walked earlier—long and slender.
Her skin, from her hands to her neck, looked smooth and healthy, with a soft glow.
Her face was cute and delicately shaped.
Combined with that perpetually calm, expressionless look, it created an oddly charming contrast.
Just like Eriri and Kasumigaoka-senpai, there was no way a girl like this could be considered a mere background character.
So if she felt like she had no presence, there had to be some other reason behind it!
"Um… Hojou-kun, I know you don't mean anything weird by it, but being stared at like that… Even I~ get a little embarrassed."
It was strange.
Her voice was as flat as ever, her expression unchanged, yet Kyousuke could clearly sense a hint of happiness on Katou Megumi's pale face.
Embarrassed from being stared at, but happy to be noticed?
That was his guess.
After all, she'd mentioned even waitstaff tended to overlook her.
Maybe being the focus of attention was a rare and novel experience for her.
"Sorry, it's just… strange. Like Sakura said—Katou-senpai, you're really pretty, but your presence is oddly faint," he said with an apologetic smile.
"Well… it's kind of like how you, Hojou-kun, don't go out of your way to stand out, and I don't go out of my way not to," Kato replied as she dabbed a napkin at the corner of her mouth, where some ice cream had stuck.
"Megumi-senpai, you know Kyousuke?" Sakura chimed in.
Her lips were ringed with green foam from her matcha latte, but she made no move to wipe it away.
According to her logic, it was like making your bed in the morning even though you'll mess it up again at night—why not just leave it?
Since she'd still be eating, why clean up now?
Without hesitation, Kyousuke pulled out a napkin and wiped her mouth clean.
That careless, easygoing face of hers—it made a guy want to kiss her.
Then he looked back at the girl across from them, who'd clearly revealed she knew more about him than just his name.
"Yeah, you're that guy on TV who went 'Haah!' and sliced the tatami mat into pieces."
"There was this one time when my cousin gathered all the Kato girls just to show us that video. After that, every time I visited his place, he seemed to be watching it again."
"So~~ it stuck with me. I didn't realize it at first when you called my name, but then it all came back to me."
"Also, my cousin's always talking to us about manga and novels and stuff, so when you said your name, I made the connection."
"Ahh~~ I was seriously shocked! I can't believe I get to sit here and talk to someone that amazing."
Maybe because she'd just said so much all at once, a faint blush appeared on Katou Megumi's face as she picked up her cup and took a sip of water.
"Wait a sec, Megumi-senpai… were you actually surprised? I couldn't tell at all," Sakura said, unimpressed. No gasping, no "wow," not even a change in tone.
"...Mhm. I was definitely surprised, Especially after realizing who Hojou-kun really was."
Kato didn't seem the least bit bothered by Sakura's comment.
She simply acknowledged her own feelings in her usual flat tone, claiming surprise like it was the most normal thing in the world.
'Tell me your cousin's name. I need to recruit him into the organization and train him properly.'
Kyousuke groaned inwardly.
Sure, he thought that move of his had looked cool, but the image of some guy standing proudly in front of a TV.
Presenting his heroic cousin to his female relatives, and then asking them to write a 300-word review of the video? That was brain-meltingly embarrassing.
Why were all his fans such weirdos?
Sure, they were lovable in their own way—like those two chuuni classmates who called themselves Tokyo's No. 2 and 3 swordsmen—but in front of girls? It was a disaster.
"But you really don't look surprised," Sakura insisted.
"Hmm, That's because the whole 'Whaaat?! You're the Kyousuke?! No way! OMG I'm so happy!' kind of reaction just doesn't suit me. So I just express things in moderation," Kato explained calmly.
He knew she didn't mean it sarcastically.
And yet, hearing her deliver that kind of line in a completely flat, almost robotic tone was unintentionally hilarious.
Wanting to get to the bottom of it, Kyousuke decided to analyze things seriously.
Katou-senpai's voice was pleasant to listen to, with a kind of girlish liveliness.
She used lots of cute filler words—"oh," "hmm," "yea," "right?"—and her tone had a slight playful lilt to it.
But… it lacked emotion.
Talking to her felt easy, like nothing was off-limits, like you could say anything without judgment.
But if you weren't directly speaking with her, you wouldn't even notice she was there.
Sakura, on the other hand, was always loud and animated—she'd hum to herself while eating cake, and if she tasted something delicious.
She'd act like she wanted to splash ink on the sun.
Sure, the ink probably wouldn't reach the sun and she'd just end up covered in it herself, but that kind of goofy behavior made her joy contagious.
It was impossible not to notice her.
So…
"Is it because… you don't want to leave a strong impression on people?"
Kato's head shot up.
Her lips parted slightly, her eyes wide—Kyousuke could even see the pink ice cream still on her tongue.
It was the first time Sakura had ever seen such an obvious emotional reaction from her.
Wow, she thought.
Leave it to Kyousuke to get a reaction out of a girl who was basically a statue.
But the expression quickly vanished, replaced with her usual serene calm.
This time, though, that calm felt warm and content.
"Ah… something like that, I guess. I don't have many friends, and I don't really have the courage to make new ones."
She spoke each word carefully, as honest and open as ever.
Looking back on it, maybe this openness came from the fact that most people didn't really take her words to heart—or remember them—so she had no fear of being misunderstood.
"So… it's just natural that people forget about me."
'Yeah. I'm a calm… emotionally steady girl. I don't dwell on things, and I'm not good at expressing joy, anger, sadness, or fear. That's me—Katou Megumi.'
Saying those words left a faint sting in her chest, but she quickly whispered a spell to herself.
A nonsense phrase she made up that always helped her settle her emotions, no matter how weird it might sound to others.
Her expression returned to its usual calm serenity, as if that slightly painful confession hadn't just come from her lips.
But Sakura… didn't say anything this time.
She quietly turned her gaze toward Kyousuke.
So that's how it is.
'How should I put it? It's a kind of self-defense, I guess—if you don't leave a deep impression on others, then they won't leave one on you either.'
'That way, you avoid getting hurt. Sure, there'll be fewer happy moments, but there won't be any painful ones either.'
Her lack of presence wasn't just bad luck—it started as a choice.
Then, over time, it became something even she couldn't control.
While others are clumsy in hiding their true selves, Katou Megumi had mastered the art of "not standing out" to an extreme.
Eventually, she forgot how to show off her charm at all.
Seriously, all these so-called "background heroine" types are totally high-maintenance in their own ways.
Tsundere doujinshi artist Eriri, the seductive and sharp-tongued novelist Kasumigaoka—who might even be a bit yandere.
Kyousuke thought of how those two bicker daily, with Eriri always starting things off with an annoyed "Hmph!"
But Sakura… when Kasumigaoka interacted with Sakura, something was different.
It was like she switched into some formal, old-world mode.
Watching them felt like he was watching a historical drama.
Then again, maybe it's not fair to say any of the three have personality issues.
If anything, Eriri and Kasumigaoka are just strong-willed. Kato, on the other hand, is... mild.
Yes, that's it.
If he had to describe her with one word, based on their interaction so far, it would be "mild." She doesn't throw tantrums like Eriri.
She talks about herself calmly and doesn't push back like Kasumigaoka.
She adapts naturally, as if she can accept anything that comes her way.
And just like Sakura said—even though they just met, being with her feels like reconnecting with an old friend.
That unbeatable sense of familiarity… even someone as outgoing as Sakura can't match that level of comfort.
But then again, maybe she's just so easy to get along with that, like the waiter earlier, people forget her afterward.
Kyousuke had all these thoughts swirling in his head, but he didn't say any of it.
After all, they had only just met—was he really going to start analyzing someone else's life choices out loud?
Just like he accepted Eriri's tsundere antics as part of her charm, maybe Kato's quiet nature was its own kind of perfection.
"You know, you're kind of like a panda, Katou-senpai," he said at last.
"Hmm~?"
Kato had expected Kyousuke, who saw through her so quickly earlier, to follow up with something insightful.
But instead, he skipped past it all and kept the conversation light.
That kind of exchange really was the most comfortable—for everyone.
She was curious, sure.
A part of her wanted to know what he really thought.
But if he had actually laid her heart bare like that, even she wouldn't have been able to stay calm.
"I'll go get some water. Want me to bring some for you guys?" Kato stood up.
"Thanks." Kyousuke handed over his cup.
Sakura, being Sakura, casually said she didn't need any.
"…I wonder if Eriri and the others are done with club activities," Sakura said suddenly, realizing why she had come here in the first place.
Then she turned to Kato. "Megumi-senpai, do you know Eriri—"
"Eh?!"
The seat across from them was empty.
Sakura looked around, startled. She even stood up and scanned the area until she finally spotted Kato, quietly waiting in line by the water dispenser.
"When did she leave?!"
"Didn't she just ask if you wanted her to get you water?" Kyousuke replied, a bit stunned.
Her stealth stat is maxed out or something.
"Tch. Unreal. You really are something else, Kyousuke—I didn't notice at all," Sakura said, clicking her tongue in amazement.
Kyousuke could read the world like some kind of simulation.
Just like someone could calculate wind speed by watching a swaying hyacinth, he could take in the entire picture the moment he chose to focus.
Even without a system, he could glance at someone and piece together a quick profile.
And in the world of kendo, someone like Kato would be considered full of openings—and yet, she had no opening at all.
She looked ordinary, and that very ordinariness made her stand out.
It was like the world in his mind was a perfect painting, and she was the one missing piece—like a black hole where something should be.
"Thanks."
"Mm-hmm. You're welcome."
The way Kyousuke immediately looked up, accepted the cup, and even thanked her—Kato was caught off guard again.
Even during family dinners, her seat would be taken the moment she got up, and if she walked over to talk, her cousins might be surprised she was even there.
But Kyousuke noticed her absence.
That alone was enough to make her feel seen.
And that was the second time today Sakura had managed to catch an actual emotion from Katou Megumi.
"I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes," Sakura said, wide-eyed.
"Ahh… Sometimes it's kind of troubling, but what can you do?"
That same gentle, quietly resigned calm.
Filled with a hint of melancholy, yet somehow… peaceful all the same.