Suzuran shook her head, trying to push out all the thoughts she wasn’t supposed to be having.
She turned slightly to the side, but couldn’t resist sneaking another glance—16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbKOdWxFOCA
at the boy sitting beside her,16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfTuyuHvxYz
focused intently on editing her report.
Kimijima Kouichi.
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If I weren’t “the young lady” today… I probably would’ve confessed already.
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She thought quietly.
But she also knew—even if she mustered up the courage to say it out loud,16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNnb3rP8ruY
he would probably just turn her down gently.
Say something like “Serving the young lady is my duty,” or “I owe too much to your father.”
He was always so upright, so restrained—16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡASc8TnS21d
even his emotions seemed to be organized and filed away like his immaculate ties and polished shoes.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2pv4mWRyN7
Like a wall—so perfect, you didn’t even know where to knock.
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So… will he ever see how I feel?
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“My lady.”
His voice suddenly cut in—low and firm, impossible to ignore.
Suzuran jumped, her spine snapping straight.
“While I’m editing your report… shouldn’t you also be studying?”
“Huh? I am!!”16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0HNeeZmYqt
Like a thief caught red-handed, she scrambled to open her anatomy textbook, fumbling awkwardly.
Kouichi tilted his head toward her, one brow raised, calm but clearly unimpressed.
“…Your book is upside down.”
“Oh, I-I was just… trying to see the diagrams from a different angle!”
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She clung to the excuse,16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcJBpeTl00b
but her face was already red—like someone had poured hot water over her.
“You know how anatomy specimens aren’t always laid out the same way in exams… I-I’m training my adaptability!”
Kouichi said nothing.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyT97qI1pyr
His gaze lingered for a beat on her upside-down notes—then on her burning ears—16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8w1eCqT2Tj
and then drifted back down.
“Hmm. Well then… keep training.”
His tone stayed neutral, cool as always.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEs1Nn44K3R
But at an angle she couldn’t see—16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Ahd6GXFUr
a small, helpless smile began to tug at the corner of his lips.
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“Oh—right, Kouichi!”
Suzuran suddenly perked up, as if she’d just remembered something,16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡReIyUjK2qM
her eyes lighting up.
“We have our surface anatomy exam coming up soon.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0CluTtTW6N
Can I borrow you for practice?”
Kouichi paused mid-stroke, looked up at her, and replied flatly:
“You mean… as a human model?”
“Uh-huh!” Suzuran nodded, utterly matter-of-fact.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq7O4imTlst
“Your proportions are perfect, your muscles are clearly defined—way better than the textbook.”
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He stared at her, his brows knitting slightly.
Trying to figure out just how much of that was academic honesty…16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHY3zoH9AJG
and how much was teasing.
“…I’m not taking my shirt off.”
“Wha—! I-I never said you had to!!”16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXVSAAYj5ww
Her face flushed crimson in an instant as she slammed her hands on the desk.
“I just wanted to feel where the clavicle is! And the rib direction and stuff! It’s just clinical practice—not a big deal!”
But Kouichi’s expression suddenly turned serious.
“My lady.”
His voice dropped a pitch—16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ezaJmnOrf
calmer than usual, but with a firm pressure that cut through the room.
“We’re not kids anymore.”
“Let’s keep things appropriate.”
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“Huh?!”
Suzuran froze, eyes wide, ears practically steaming.
“You’re so… not cute at all!”16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa5pTTrN8gT
She huffed and turned away, puffing her cheeks out in frustration.
“You weren’t like this when we were little…”16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ7Fbe6dgvn
Her voice turned quieter, almost sulking.
“When was the last time… we even slept together?”
She mumbled it like a passing thought—16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkBjKUnXv6d
but loud enough for him to hear.
Kouichi was quiet for a moment.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhyFBOVELUe
His gaze deepened.
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When he finally spoke, his voice was lower than before—16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEq3l90oJw4
like he was holding something back.
“My lady… You’re already old enough to date. To marry.”
He turned his head away, no longer looking at her.
“Things like that… should be saved for someone you truly love.”
The room fell quiet for a few seconds.
Outside the window, the wind stirred the chimes—16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHqu9A1SwGP
filling the silence with soft, crystalline notes.
Suzuran’s heartbeat pounded in her ears, far too loud.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtnZ6P0NOh0
She didn’t respond.
Just bit her lip, unsure of where to land her eyes.
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Because the truth was—16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0dMQGIKJh0
she already knew who she loved.
She just didn’t know16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwlHZBVURxl
if he would ever be willing16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOncNAbKA25
to become that someone.
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