Setback!

"I'm not sure if I'll have time yet. Let's talk about it tomorrow..."

There was a trace of hesitation in Natsume Chikage's voice.

He couldn't be certain whether tomorrow's shogi tournament would end in the morning.

If things went smoothly, he could still make it back to school in the afternoon.

But if the tournament dragged on, making a special round trip wouldn't seem worthwhile.

There was quite a distance between the venue and the school.

And in Japan, commuting by train was never cheap.

After a few days, transportation alone could cost several thousand yen.

He didn't have much spare money right now, so under these circumstances, it was better to avoid unnecessary train trips whenever possible.

At his words, a gentle, faint smile spread across Saionji Nanase's lips.

"Then we'll decide when the time comes."

She lightly tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear, then seemed to remember something and said happily, "Oh, right, Fujiwara-san. Since you're planning to come along tomorrow too, how about we add each other on LINE?"

"That way, I can contact you in advance tomorrow."

Fujiwara Aoi nodded eagerly.

"Mm-hmm!"

"I'll scan yours!"

She impatiently took her phone from her bag, her fingers tapping briskly across the screen as she opened the QR scanner.

Saionji Nanase also took out her phone and brought up her QR code.

After the two added each other as friends, Saionji Nanase naturally turned her screen toward Natsume Chikage.

"Natsume-kun, come to think of it, I don't have your LINE yet."

Her eyes were bright, and her tone was easy and natural, as though she were mentioning the most ordinary thing in the world.

"Actually, the class made a group chat. Most of the students are in it now, and even Sakai-sensei, our homeroom teacher, is there. She said in the group that we should invite the other students too, and she occasionally sends class announcements there."

"But you don't seem to be in it yet, right? I'll add you, then invite you in!"

Natsume Chikage didn't particularly care about the class group chat.

Still, he needed to occasionally keep an eye on notices from the homeroom teacher.

He gave a slight nod.

"Okay."

The three of them added one another on LINE.

Watching Saionji Nanase obtain Natsume Chikage's contact information so naturally, Fujiwara Aoi froze on the spot, an inexplicable sense of mild defeat welling up inside her.

She had racked her brains for nearly a week after first meeting Natsume Chikage before finally getting his LINE.

Yet this girl had managed it so easily on the second day of knowing him?

Wait, could this girl be so proactive about getting his LINE because she liked Natsume Chikage too...?

Whenever Fujiwara Aoi felt anxious, she couldn't help eating. She subconsciously pulled out a packet of snacks from her pocket, nibbling at it while secretly watching Saionji Nanase with pursed lips.

On the way out of school, she had observed her in secret for a long time.

But no matter how she looked at her, Saionji Nanase seemed like nothing more than a pure, airheaded girl.

Was it just her imagination?

When they reached the school gate, Saionji Nanase stopped and looked at the two of them.

"Are you both heading toward the subway station?"

Her gaze moved between Natsume Chikage and Fujiwara Aoi.

Natsume Chikage and Fujiwara Aoi nodded at the same time.

"I'm going in the other direction..." There was a trace of regret in Saionji Nanase's voice as she gave a light wave. "Looks like we'll have to part ways here."

Her smile remained gentle.

"Well then, see you tomorrow."

Fujiwara Aoi waved back energetically.

"See you tomorrow!"

Natsume Chikage didn't say he'd see her tomorrow, merely bidding her farewell.

"Goodbye."

With that, he and Fujiwara Aoi walked side by side toward the subway station.

Saionji Nanase stood where she was, watching the two figures gradually disappear into the distance.

Before long, a black Bentley slowly pulled up at the school gate.

Recognizing it as the family car, Saionji Nanase opened the door and got in.

On the way home, she took out her phone and opened LINE.

She carefully added names to the contacts she had just added: Natsume Chikage and Fujiwara Aoi.

Then, unable to resist, she opened Natsume Chikage's profile and curiously checked his updates.

Finding it completely blank, she paused slightly.

She had thought Natsume, who liked gaming, would post something related to games or something else.

But there was nothing at all. It seemed he was the type who did not like posting on social media...

Shibuya at night glittered with neon lights like a river of stars.

The streets teemed with people, and the clamor never ceased.

After finishing their shift at the café, Fujiwara Aoi and Natsume Chikage walked side by side on their way home.

As they gradually moved farther from the city center, the number of pedestrians on the streets also dwindled.

Though it was already late at night, Natsume Chikage did not feel tired at all due to the increase in his "Spirit" attribute.

In fact, in his perception, even the passing vehicles seemed slightly slower than before. He did not know whether it was just an illusion.

Fujiwara Aoi suddenly stopped and pointed at a small stall on the street corner, excitedly tugging at Natsume Chikage's sleeve.

"Natsume, there's an oden stall here. Want to get something to eat together?"

Natsume Chikage had actually heard her and was about to answer, but his response was half a beat slower than usual.

This was a minor side effect caused by the imbalance between his "Spirit" and "Constitution" attributes.

"Yeah, let's get something."

In the past, Natsume Chikage rarely ate a late-night snack after ten.

He neither had the habit nor usually felt hungry.

But for some reason, after his "Spirit" attribute rose to 6 points, he became hungry much faster than before.

When he ate the staff meal at the café that evening, his appetite had noticeably increased.

Even so, he was hungry again already?

Natsume Chikage pondered inwardly. Was it because his body had returned to adolescence and needed more fuel to grow?

Or had his thinking speed increased, causing his body to burn energy faster too?

Seeing Natsume Chikage agree, Fujiwara Aoi was overjoyed. She jogged over to the oden stall and waved him over eagerly.

"Natsume, there's barely anyone here right now. Hurry up!"

"Yeah."

Natsume Chikage slowly approached and looked over the little oden stall.

It was a mobile cart-style shop.

The owner only needed to set out a few stools before opening for business.

The vendor was a white-haired old man who looked quite advanced in years.

At the moment, the only other customer was a young woman dressed like an office worker, enjoying some oden.

As soon as he approached, the rich, savory aroma of broth washed over him.

Daikon radish quivered gently in the amber broth, fried tofu soaked up the soup, and the fish balls looked round and adorable.

Natsume Chikage's stomach let out an embarrassing gurgle.

Fujiwara Aoi, who had already taken a seat, heard it and covered her mouth with a laugh, patting the empty seat beside her.

"Natsume, come over here."

Natsume Chikage nodded and sat down beside Fujiwara Aoi.

The instant he sat down, Matsuo Yuka, the publishing house employee who had been wolfing down her food, suddenly froze.

Her manner visibly became graceful and refined.

She gently tucked back her hair, carefully blew on a fish ball, and took a small bite. She looked as ladylike as could be!

The old oden vendor glanced at this regular customer with a somewhat strange expression—she had always eaten so carelessly before, so why had her table manners suddenly become so elegant?

Fujiwara Aoi stared happily at the bubbling oden pot as she made her selections.

"Sir, I'd like daikon, imitation crab sticks, fried tofu, udon, fish balls, beef balls, and a boiled egg!"

Natsume Chikage had not expected Fujiwara Aoi to have such a surprisingly large appetite. She had ordered so much.

Though now that he thought about it, it had probably been apparent from usual.

He remembered that even after Fujiwara Aoi finished her work meals, she would occasionally sneak some snacks. She was probably quite the little foodie.

Natsume Chikage looked over the food simmering in the oden pot and found that Fujiwara Aoi had already ordered some of the tastier options. He said casually:

"Boss, give me the same as hers."

Fujiwara Aoi seemed to think of something, and her cheeks flushed faintly.

The elderly oden vendor answered in a booming voice:

"Sure thing!"

Just then, Kondo Miyuki, the beautiful woman who had finished shopping, happened to pass down this street.

The night breeze swept by, gently lifting her hair and brushing it across her cheeks with a faint tickle.

She instinctively raised a hand, her slender fingers tucking the loose strands behind her ear.

It was an ordinary gesture, yet paired with her graceful curves and radiant beauty, it exuded a breathtaking charm in the night, drawing frequent glances from passersby.

Her steps slowed.

Her gaze suddenly froze on the oden stall—

Under the warm yellow light, Natsume Chikage and Fujiwara Aoi sat side by side.

The rising steam blurred the young man's handsome profile, but it could not conceal the starlight shimmering in the girl's eyes as she smiled and spoke.

At the sight, Kondo Miyuki could not help stopping, standing there in silence for quite a while.