How to respond to Shinobu Kocho's feelings was a question Haruto had spent a long time thinking about.
A girl's sincere feelings were the hardest thing to let down, especially when she was a girl he had watched grow up.
As he watched Shinobu Kocho practice her swordsmanship among the flowers, he had sometimes marveled that, although Shinobu hadn't grown any taller, her bearing and demeanor were becoming more mature by the day.
Perhaps it was because she had lost her parents so young, or because the older sister she relied on was gentle by nature, but Shinobu Kocho carried herself with far more composure than her actual age would suggest.
But deep down...
Haruto only knew that, because Kanae had said she liked seeing Shinobu smile more, Shinobu was always smiling and laughing around other people. In truth, though, she had the shortest temper.
When she was angry, there wasn't a trace of amusement in her purple eyes, yet her lips curved into a perfect smile. It was especially frightening.
Her birthday was February twenty-fourth... Hmm, did that make her a Pisces?
Pisces girls were the hardest to understand.
So, to understand what Shinobu truly felt, Haruto decided to talk to her.
Haruto pushed open the Butterfly Mansion's door to the chime of a wind bell, his long hair hanging loose, and ran into Kanao, whose eyes were dull and lifeless.
There wasn't a flicker of emotion in Kanao's eyes. She merely nodded slightly at the sight of him and made to walk past.
Haruto quickly stopped her. "Um... Kanao. Could you tell Shinobu I'm outside once she's finished with her work?"
Kanao looked at him expressionlessly, then gave a solemn nod.
Looking at the bustling Butterfly Mansion, Haruto sat cross-legged on the veranda and rested his head