She sprinted like a startled deer, brushing off strangers’ stares like cold rain; she wanted only to flee this place, this place that cut her heart.

She ran until time lost its edges. She forgot when her feet first moved. Only when her legs turned to lead did she look up and find herself home.

Mist filmed Mizuki’s eyes. It thickened, then broke into beads that fell, drip, drip.

In the end she still smiled. A sad crescent, and she stepped through the door. The house was empty—good. She could be still and cry as the room held her.

“I…”

Why did I run?

She didn’t know. The path she chose was escape. Why choose the stupidest one of all? Because she didn’t dare face Sham.

“Sham…”

Mizuki went to her room alone and sat at the bed’s edge, hollow, like a puppet with its strings cut.

Memories rose like lanterns on a dark river—back to when she first met Sham…

“Hi, I’m Sham Einafel. As you can see, I’m British. How about we be friends?”

“What—you’re a rich young lady? Wow, I couldn’t even tell.”

“Hey, can I mooch a meal at your place?”

“I’m starving. Don’t wanna move.”

“Next time, come to my country with me. You’ll love it, I promise.”

She’d appeared out of nowhere, tossed out her wish to be friends like it was nothing. And every time they spent together, Mizuki could never bring herself to hate her. She kept forgiving her, and kept… liking her.

Drip, drip—the tears hit the floor again. This time Mizuki’s face showed no grief and no joy, only emptiness. Two wet tracks on a blank mask told the whole story.

Mizuki laughed, a laugh that cut inward. After all that thinking, she saw it for what it was: she ran because she loved her.

Yes. Mizuki liked Sham. That simple.

When did it start? Maybe it grew in the daily nearness, slow as ivy. Maybe it flashed the moment they met, struck by that bright smile. Either way, Mizuki had fallen for Sham Einafel.

Strange and wondrous—feelings could bloom even between two girls.

But this feeling had no road forward. Sham liked that boy, Yunshi Bianqi. She… had no chance at all.

What should she do? Her mind offered nothing but fog.

“Maybe if I cry it all out, I’ll forget…”

Mizuki gave a bitter smile. That was the only comfort she had.

…

A day’s work could grind you down. Since morning, Yunshi tackled the Student Council’s backlog like waves of paper. She got caught sleeping in class and had to answer on the spot—narrow escape. Then she went to the Swim Club to ask about their budget, and that was the real problem.

The Swim Club captain was a girl, and she was practicing with the team. Of course they were in swimsuits.

So a “boy,” in outsiders’ eyes, walked in for a surprise inspection. The whole club stirred like a flock of birds.

Thankfully, the captain stayed calm and answered everything Yunshi asked. Yunshi jotted it down and headed back—but her trip to the Swim Club did not go unnoticed by the student body…

“That smug normie—while the president and VP are out, he actually…!”

“Drop dead! He saw the girls’ swimsuits!”

“We haven’t even seen them!”

“Die, die, you bastard!”

“Already swimming in girls, and still philandering!”

“Just a crossdressing pretty-boy—why’s he so enviable… no, so detestable!”

The rest wrote itself. Yunshi found she was getting used to it without noticing. Terrifying.

She liked eyes on her, yes—but not scorn. Being treated like some scumbag wasn’t fun. And this “harem anime protagonist” treatment? Not fun at all.

Yunshi sighed, helpless. She could end the rumors by revealing her gender. But she didn’t want to. She’d entered high school as a boy; if she dropped another bomb now, a normal life could kiss her goodbye.

With the Swim Club handled, she didn’t linger. She packed up and headed to the next club on her list.

“Yo. All alone?”

A familiar voice brushed her ear. Yunshi paused.

“Oh. It’s you…”

She saw Maya Hanazaka and felt her shoulders sink.

Nothing good ever followed when she ran into the girl who liked girls. Maya always found an excuse to cop a feel, and Yunshi had zero patience for it.

Back when Maya didn’t know Yunshi’s secret, she’d looked at her like she was a tapeworm. It made sense—Maya hated boys then. Yunshi, seen as male, was a natural target.

But once she learned Yunshi was a girl, Maya spun a full one-eighty. She treated her too well—sometimes even more eagerly than most girls did.

Modern life was messy like that…

“Not happy to see me? I came just to see you.”

“Thanks. Don’t need it.”

“Hey, hey, don’t go! I’m not done yet!”

“…I’m short on time. If you’ve got something to say, say it.”

Impatience edged Yunshi’s voice.

Maya didn’t take offense. The Student Council’s workload was piled on Yunshi alone. A little moodiness was normal. And it wasn’t the first time Maya had seen her in a storm.

“I don’t have anything big. I just wanted to see you. Is that not allowed?”

“….”

That answer caught Yunshi off guard and left her speechless. She’d thought Maya would invite her out this weekend again. If so, she would refuse. She had too much to do—Underworld business, the school’s sports festival. Those couldn’t wait.

“Maya Hanazaka, are you trying to be funny?”

Saying she just wanted to see her—unbelievable.

“I’m not joking. I just wanted to see you.”

Maya’s tone was steady, no hint of a joke.

Yunshi could guess the rest. She’d been abroad these days, out of touch with her friends at school. Maya probably missed her. She wanted to talk, but Yunshi had buried herself in work all day. No time to talk. So Maya took the only path she had.

“Fine, you win. I’m heading to the Gymnastics Club. Wanna tag along?”

Yunshi kept her tone light. It was the only way she knew to answer.

“Of course!”

Being near the one you like—that was its own kind of bliss.

Maya Hanazaka having someone in her heart wasn’t new. Long ago, she’d liked Mizuki. Now, that feeling had shifted to Yunshi.

She trailed Yunshi through inspections and notes, acting only as a quiet witness. At this distance, seeing Yunshi work, neat and focused, and seeing her face—that alone filled her cup.

Maya didn’t know if Yunshi could ever like someone of the same sex. She could only wait. That was all she could do.

The sunset bled gold and red. Evening leaned toward dusk; the sun sank like a smoldering coin.

“Mm—finally done.”

Yunshi stretched, releasing a long breath from the day’s grind. The stretch lifted her frame, and a faint line of cleavage flashed—her waist slim, her chest bound, a small swell still there.

Usually, Yunshi passed as a boy. In others’ eyes, she was one. But she was still a girl in a boy’s role, and you can’t hide every trace. Maya’s eyes, tuned to such things, found the difference in a heartbeat.

At this range, staring at that faint line, Maya’s pulse leaped. Her hands moved on their own. Before Yunshi could react, Maya’s palms settled on her chest.

“Mmm. Even bound up, the feel’s not bad.”

Maya purred, and gave a squeeze.

Yunshi froze, then flushed scarlet, shame snapping into anger.

“What are you doing, you pervy girl!”

“Hey, it’s just a girl touching a girl. No big deal!”

“Idiot! Not here!”

“So somewhere else is fine?”

“Drop dead! That’s not what I meant!”

Being with this girl was always a mistake. She’d find any excuse to take advantage.

Yunshi tried to push Maya away, intending to storm off. But as she shoved, Maya caught her wrist. By the time Yunshi twisted to break free, it was too late…

Maya pulled her close and wrapped her up. No matter how Yunshi struggled, she didn’t let go. She just held her, tight.

“Hey, Maya Hanazaka! You… let go!”

Heat prickled across Yunshi’s face. Being held like this by a girl set her nerves on edge; her body wouldn’t stay still.

Maya wanted to hold her forever. She knew she couldn’t.

She only wanted to keep this moment.

“Yunshi, I’m glad I met you. At least I think my life’s been happier.”

If not for Yunshi, she probably wouldn’t have made up with her old friends. She kept that in her heart.

“Why are you saying this all of a sudden…”

“It’s nothing. I just wanted you to hear it.”

Whether Yunshi understood didn’t matter. Saying it now was enough.

“Yunshi, I know nothing about you. I don’t know where you’re from, or why a girl lives as a boy. But having you by my side is enough.”

“…Hey, aren’t you acting weird today…”

“Just be good and listen. Yunshi, I…”

She wanted to say it. I like you. Even if Yunshi wouldn’t accept it, she wanted to say it.

But she wanted her to accept it so badly. She didn’t want to lose this hard-won feeling.

“I want to stay friends. Always.”

In the end, she didn’t send her heart the last step.