Chapter 3: The Hospital, and the Unveiling Mystery

Click!

The sharp sound of a phone camera shutter echoed through the hospital room. I flinched, snapping my head toward the source.

“Ara ara~ of course we must preserve the moments of youth, don’t you agree?” Miyu’s mother beamed, holding her phone at the perfect angle.

Right beside me,

And then, a low, thunderous male voice crashed through the air:

“What… exactly… are you two doing here?”

My heart nearly stopped. Slowly, I turned my head—

and just as I dreaded, there stood Miyu’s father at the door, his face dark as a brewing storm, while her mother smiled sweetly, snapping picture after picture.

“Miyu-chan looks so adorable! First time I’ve ever seen my daughter sleeping so soundly in someone else’s arms~” she sang in delight.

I wanted to sink into the earth. This is it. The final boss I never wanted to face in this lifetime…

Frantically, I shook Miyu.

“Miyu, wake up, wake up!”

She mumbled sleepily, rubbing her eyes.

“…Five more minutes, Akira… just five…”

Hearing my name spill from her lips felt like heaven—until it was instantly crushed by the icy glare from her father.

This was bad. Catastrophic. The very image of “caught red-handed in bed.”

I shook her harder.

“Miyu! Wake up, this is an emergency!!”

At last, she opened her eyes fully, froze as she registered the scene, and flushed crimson. I was already drenched in cold sweat.

At the doorway, her father let out a long, guttural growl—“Hrrrrmmmmmm…”—a sound that shook the entire room.

I swallowed hard, forcing out a crooked smile.

“U-Um… sir, I can explain… This isn’t what it looks like!”

Her mother, unfazed, continued smiling, saving photos to her phone.

“Oh, youth really is beautiful… Even Akira-kun looks adorable while asleep~”

My mind was a blank scream: I’m done for. Not even ashes will remain this time…

“Capture the moment of youth, of course~” her mother repeated, beaming.

“My precious daughter… lured like this?! Absolutely not!!” her father roared, eyes blazing as though he’d devour me alive.

Sweat poured down my back. Alarms blared in my skull. This glare… it’s actual killing intent!!

But then—snap!—her mother pinched his ear and dragged him backward. Her smile was gentle, but her voice carried terrifying weight.

“Now, now. Don’t scare the kids. Ara ara… youth truly is wonderful. But you two should take care of yourselves, especially you, Akira.”

I scratched my head, laughing weakly. “Y-Yes, ma’am…” My heart was still hammering wildly. Miyu, now fully awake, immediately hid behind me, her face as red as a tomato.

“We’ve got errands to run. Here’s breakfast for you two. Eat it all, alright?” Miyu’s mother set a bento box on the table, then tugged her husband toward the door.

“W-Wait, I’m not finished—!” her father growled, only to be silenced by a single sharp glare from his wife.

The door clicked shut. Silence swallowed the room, leaving just the two of us drowning in awkwardness.

I turned, nudging Miyu’s shoulder with a teasing grin.

“Relax, they’re gone.”

Miyu’s face was still bright red. Without warning—bonk!—her tiny fist smacked me on the head.

“Ow ow ow! What’s with the sudden violence?!” I yelped, clutching my skull. She ignored me, hastily slipping off the bed.

But her haste spelled disaster.

The hem of her gown snagged on the bedframe. A soft tearing sound whispered through the room. My entire body froze.

Bit by bit, the fabric lifted higher, revealing pale, slender legs glowing in the morning light.

My heart pounded, my eyes trapped. Don’t look… don’t look… but—!

And then—

Pink bunny-print panties came into full view. Worse, from holding me so tightly through the night, the fabric had shifted slightly, baring a sliver of her smooth, delicate lower belly.

Time slowed. My blood roared in my ears. My face burned so hot I thought steam would rise.

This… this can’t be real! Too dangerous!

Thump!

Miyu realized instantly, yanking her gown down. Her face flared bright red as she bolted from the room like a startled rabbit.

I sat frozen, the image seared into my mind. And beneath the blanket… well, the reaction was undeniable. Mortified, I yanked the covers up to my chin, muttering like a monk.

“C-Calm… calm down… don’t think about it…”

Ten minutes later, the door creaked again.

Miyu returned, transformed. Her hair was tied into a high ponytail, silky strands swinging behind her, exposing her pale nape. Her gown was smoothed neatly, every step radiating forced composure, as if to erase the memory of earlier.

I stared, then blurted,

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen you in a ponytail. You look… really pretty.”

She froze, cheeks flushing, before fixing me with a dangerous stare.

“So… you did see it, didn’t you? You sawwwwww it, didn’t you?” she pressed, voice dragging each word.

I turned away, stammering,

“N-Nope… didn’t see a thing…”

“Akira!” she snapped, grabbing my cheeks and forcing my gaze into hers. “Say it again. Did you see it or not?!”

Cruelly, my mind replayed the forbidden image in perfect detail: the lifted hem, the pink fabric, the flawless skin. Her furious, flushed face was now so close, her breath brushing my lips—

And under the blanket, something rose unmistakably.

We both froze.

Miyu’s eyes darted down. Her face went scarlet. But instead of screaming, she bit down—hard—on my arm.

“Ahh—ow ow ow!!” I winced, teeth marks imprinting my skin. Yet almost immediately, she rubbed the spot gently, puffing her cheeks like a sulky child.

“T-That was just… a natural reflex…” I muttered lamely.

Finally, she relented. She opened the bento box her mother had left, the smell of omelet and stir-fried beef filling the air. Still pouting, she patiently spoon-fed me each bite.

The sweetness of the moment almost made me forget the sting in my arm.

…

After breakfast, the doctor came by.

“You’re recovering quickly. You can be discharged tonight.”

Miyu’s face lit up with relief, though a trace of reluctance lingered. Before leaving for school, she fussed over me with strict instructions to rest. Watching her disappear through the door left an odd emptiness in my chest.

The room fell silent again, sunlight spilling across the white tiles. My mind replayed her ponytail, her blazing eyes, her flushed face—and that dangerous scene.

“…Damn it. Just remembering makes my heart race,” I muttered, covering my face with my hand.

To distract myself, I pulled out my phone and opened a chess app. I’d always preferred chess—bigger picture, long-term strategies—unlike shogi’s constant twists in tight spaces. Each move felt like shaping a grand design.

I lost myself in the game, forgetting everything else. But before the match could finish—

Creak.

The door opened.

A small figure stepped in, carrying a fruit basket against her chest. Wide, innocent eyes lit up at the sight of me.

“A-Akira-senpai! How are you feeling?” her gentle voice asked, tinged with guilt and worry.

It was the underclassman girl—the one I’d saved from being bullied that day.

I sat up, smiling reassuringly.

“I’m fine. The wound’s not serious. Just need a bit more time. Don’t worry.”

Her shoulders relaxed, though the silence between us lingered, heavy with something unspoken.

“You came just to visit?” I asked, breaking the awkward air.

“N-Not just that.” She lowered her gaze, hugging the basket tighter. “I wanted to thank you… for saving me that day. And… I brought fruit for you.”

Her voice was shy, her cheeks tinged pink. Adorable, in a clumsy sort of way.

I raised my bandaged arm with a wry smile. “Can’t peel with this. Mind helping me out?”

Her eyes sparkled. “Yes!”

She scooted a chair close, hands carefully peeling an apple. Sunlight made her skin glow translucent. I leaned back, alternating between my unfinished chess game and the sweet, crisp apple slices she shyly fed me.

“Delicious. You chose well,” I praised.

“I-I usually shop with my mom. And… apples are my favorite,” she murmured, eyes flicking away.

The warmth between us deepened, laced with innocent tension. Her petite frame, flushed cheeks, and wide eyes radiated something fragile, something that begged to be protected.

Silence stretched. Then I said softly, almost idly:

“Miyu leaves for school, and right after, you show up. Quite the coincidence, huh?”

She flinched. Her hands trembled, the knife slipping dangerously against the apple.

“I-I… it’s not… I just…” she stammered, panic rising.

In her fluster, she shoved a slice of apple into her own mouth—only to choke. She coughed violently, and—splat!—juice sprayed across my face.

“Ugh! Hey—!” I wiped frantically.

“I-I’m sorry! I’m so sorry!!” she yelped, fumbling for a handkerchief. In her haste, her hand slipped lower, brushing a very sensitive spot beneath the blanket.

The room froze.

I stiffened. She recoiled like she’d been electrocuted, face scarlet.

“I-I didn’t mean—! I’m sorry!”

I forced a shaky chuckle, waving it off. “Don’t worry. Just an accident.”

To ease the tension, I asked,

“What about those bullies? What happened to them?”

She bit her lip, then whispered,

“They were expelled. The others suspended for a year. No one dares bother me anymore.”

Her wide eyes shone with relief.

I studied her quietly. Then, my lips curled into a thin smile. My voice dropped low.

“I knew it. You weren’t just some helpless victim. The one who orchestrated everything… was you.”

The apple slipped from her hand, rolling across the floor. Her eyes widened in shock, her body rigid.