Shiina Hiyori

Watanabe Hayabara left the teachers' office and ran into someone familiar just outside the door.

Watanabe Hayabara closed the door behind him.

"Hayabara boy, it's been a while. But you're not as beautiful as you were before."

"It's only been one summer, Koenji. That's not long. I think I look pretty good now, though."

"Even like this, you're far more beautiful than the rest of them."

"Why don't you get straight to the point, Koenji?"

"Hayabara boy, you really are clever! Why don't we share some information?"

"That doesn't sound like you, Koenji."

"I just want life to be a little easier, so I'll have more time to admire my own beauty."

"I'll accept that explanation. But I signed a confidentiality agreement, so I can't divulge anything." With that, Watanabe Hayabara took out his student ID and showed Koenji the points displayed on it.

Points: 3,100,000

"They only rewarded you with three million points, Hayabara boy? That's pitifully little."

"If you're going to trade yen and promises for points like you did, forget it. I'm not as rich as you."

"Hayabara boy, you're being too modest."

"We'll split the points you earn two-eight. I get two, you get eight."

"Hayabara boy, you're greedy, considering you haven't shared any information with me."

"Do you think the school would allow you to do that? I doubt you'll contribute to your class, so earning points will probably be difficult."

"It seems I don't have a choice."

Koenji took out his student ID and added Watanabe Hayabara's contact information.

Once they'd added each other, Watanabe Hayabara put his student ID back in his pocket and turned to leave.

Koenji ran a hand through his hair and watched Watanabe Hayabara walk away. Why get involved in such a boring game, Hayabara boy?

Watanabe Hayabara left the school building. His destination was clear: the dormitory.

The dormitory at Advanced Nurturing High School had a unique design. The boys' and girls' dormitories were cleverly combined in a single building. The girls' dormitory occupied the lower floors, while the boys' dormitory sat high above it. Although this design made management easier, it also clearly prohibited boys from entering the girls' dormitory.

He soon reached the dormitory building. He took the elevator to the fifth floor. Room 501 was his.

Inside, he found simple furnishings: a desk, a bed, and a bookcase. That was enough.

He had no interest at all in events like the opening ceremony. So he decided to wander around Advanced Nurturing High School on his own and explore his new surroundings.

Watanabe Hayabara strolled leisurely along the campus paths, taking in the tranquil atmosphere and fresh air. Every so often, he stopped to look at the flowers and trees by the roadside, or lifted his gaze to admire the buildings in the distance.

The campus scenery was pleasant, with shady trees, lush lawns, and carefully designed gardens and sculptures scattered throughout. Watanabe Hayabara followed a winding path and, before he knew it, had reached the school library. Drawn to the magnificent building, he decided to go inside and take a look.

Watanabe Hayabara walked into the library with a light step. His gaze passed over row upon row of bookshelves before settling on a book titled Rashomon. He gently took it from the shelf, as though it were a precious treasure.

Watanabe Hayabara found a quiet corner and sat down at a table by the window. Sunlight streamed through the glass, casting patches of dappled light and shadow across the pages. He opened the book and lost himself in the world of Ryūnosuke Akutagawa's words. Time seemed to stand still.

Completely absorbed in the story, Watanabe Hayabara forgot everything around him—even the passage of time. He didn't know how long had gone by. When he finished the last page, he finally came to his senses as if waking from a dream.

He slowly closed the book and shut his eyes, letting his thoughts drift. A moment later, he opened them, tilted his head up at a forty-five-degree angle, and gently rolled his neck. It cracked, as though every bone in his body had finally stretched out.

"That's enough for now," Watanabe Hayabara muttered to himself, preparing to leave. But just as he picked up the book, he suddenly felt someone's gaze on him. Puzzled, he looked up and met the eyes of a girl sitting across the table.

She was a cute girl with silvery-blue hair and eyes as clear as a lake. At that moment, she was watching Watanabe Hayabara with curiosity.

"Is something the matter, miss?" Watanabe Hayabara's lips curved into a polite, friendly smile as he looked at the girl before him.

The girl returned his smile and said softly, "You didn't attend the opening ceremony, did you?"

Watanabe Hayabara didn't seem to care about the question. He waved a hand casually and replied, "The opening ceremony doesn't mean much."

The girl nodded in understanding, then introduced herself. "I'm Shiina Hiyori from Class 1-C. It's nice to meet you. I don't mean anything by it; I was just surprised that someone else had arrived at the library before me. After all, I rushed over the moment the opening ceremony ended."

Watanabe Hayabara politely replied, "I'm Watanabe Hayabara from Class 1-D. It's nice to meet you. If there's nothing else, I'll be going." He turned to leave.

But Shiina Hiyori suddenly called after him. "Watanabe, don't you know how troublesome it is to keep someone else's secret?"

Watanabe Hayabara stopped and looked back at Shiina Hiyori. After a moment's silence, he said, "So there's no getting around it after all? Name your price."

Shiina Hiyori smiled faintly. "I only have one question."

Watanabe Hayabara nodded, inviting her to go on.

"What kind of books do you like, Watanabe?" Shiina Hiyori asked curiously, her eyes falling on the book in his hands.

Watanabe Hayabara thought for a moment before replying, "I read a bit of everything, but I'm more interested in satirical and mystery novels."

"My sky has no sun. It's always night, but it isn't dark, because something has taken the sun's place. It may not shine as brightly as the sun, but it's enough for me. By its light, I can treat the night as day. I never had a sun, so I'm not afraid of losing one. Isn't that famous line from the book an answer?"

With that, Watanabe Hayabara stood up.

"See you around, Shiina."

"Goodbye, Watanabe."

Shiina Hiyori lowered her head and returned to her book. Watanabe Hayabara caught the title: Journey Under the Midnight Sun.

She's a clever girl. I hope she doesn't become a blade pointed at me. Otherwise, I'll have no choice but to break her myself.

Watanabe Hayabara left the library. The sky was still bright, and the clouds, dyed in the colors of evening, were a pleasure to behold. After wandering around campus, he didn't hurry off to go shopping like everyone else. Instead, he headed for an intriguing place: the School History Museum.