Shichen followed Kasumigaoka Utaha up to the top floor of the school building. He watched her take out a key to unlock the rooftop door, then trailed after her onto the roof.
"You have a key for this place?" he asked.
"I requested it from the teachers," Utaha replied, locking the door from the inside.
"You can just...request a key?"
"Simple enough. I told them I needed a quiet spot during lunch to study, that all the noise was affecting my academics, so the teachers gave me the roof key."
Shichen pursed his lips. "…That's really something."
Back in his school days, that sort of privilege had been his dream, but his grades never warranted it. Apparently, being top of the class allowed you to do whatever you wanted—like having your own place at school.
"Come here." Utaha walked toward a bench against the edge.
Shichen followed and sat beside her.
"So? You said you had something to tell me," Utaha said, opening the bento box as she spoke.
"Oh, it's pretty loaded. Smells great."
Warm steam and fragrance rose from the open box, instantly stirring Utaha's appetite.
It was a two-tiered bento: the first layer contained white rice, half a soft-boiled egg, and a few cherry tomatoes. The other layer held several stir-fried dishes, both meat and vegetables, all still hot—clearly the insulation worked well. Shichen felt satisfied with how the bento box performed.
"You want to eat first?" he suggested.
"It's fine. Not like you need me to say anything… Wait, did you cook all this yourself?" Utaha asked. She recognized Tohru's cooking style, but these dishes looked different.
"Mhm."
"What gave you the idea to bring me a homemade lunch?" she asked. She'd been surprised earlier when he suddenly announced he'd deliver lunch. Though curious, she saw no reason to refuse.
"I'm planning to leave for a while," Shichen answered, deciding not to beat around the bush.
"Leave?" Utaha frowned at him. "What do you mean?"
"It means we won't be seeing each other for the time being."
"For the time being?" She wasn't too alarmed just yet. Picking up her chopsticks, she lifted a piece of meat, about to pop it in her mouth.
"Yeah. We might not meet for a while," he said. "I'm not staying in this world."
"Right, so you're leaving this wo—" She stopped mid-sentence, her chopsticks slipping from her fingers and dropping back into the bento. She didn't even notice; she just stared at him, stunned.
"You might've guessed by now—I'm not from this world, same as Tohru," he continued.
"…No, I definitely did not guess that," Utaha said, shaking her head.
"…Really?" Shichen paused, then asked, "Weren't you at least curious how I could live with Tohru so casually? She's a dragon. How could a normal human possibly just stay with her?"
"That's not that strange. Aren't you a person? Didn't you save Tohru by chance?"
"You sure are unflappable," he remarked with a laugh. "Truly a novelist's mindset."
"Shut it. So you're not a human?"
"I am human, just…special."
"'Special'…meaning not from this world," Utaha murmured, regarding him carefully. That would certainly explain his ethereal aura.
"I'm sorry I kept it a secret," he apologized.
"No worries. Not telling someone something like that is normal. At least you're telling me now," she said, smiling softly.
"Thanks."
"So you're basically here to say goodbye, huh. No wonder you went to the trouble of making me a lunch."
Utaha accepted Shichen's words without question—after all, Tohru was living proof that "otherworldly beings" existed.
He nodded. "Mhm."
She glanced at the bento in her hands but found she'd lost a bit of her appetite. "What about Tohru and Chisato? Are they leaving too?"
"No. They'll stay behind."
"Huh?" Utaha looked at him sharply.
"I can't take them with me just yet."
"You'd…take them?" she echoed, then blurted, "What about me?"
"Eh?" Shichen blinked in surprise.
"Um…no, that's not what I— I mean…" She realized how that sounded and fumbled for words.
"Of course you're included," he said, fixing her with a sincere look.
"…" Utaha's mouth fell open. A flush spread across her pale cheeks. "As if I'd want to leave with you!" she snapped in embarrassment. "I have school, my novel, and I've grown up here—why would I leave?"
He chuckled. "I never said I was leaving forever."
She gave him a glare, face red.
"Relax. Like I said, it's just a temporary break, not that long. I'm definitely coming back," he assured her.
"Hmph." She looked away, picking up a piece of braised pork and shoving it in her mouth, chewing fiercely as though venting.
"I didn't want you upset," Shichen explained.
"Why would I be upset?" she said flatly, eyes still on the bento. "Tohru and Chisato can tell me what's going on."
"But I already said goodbye to them, so of course I wanted to say a proper farewell to you, too."
"…It's just a short separation."
"Exactly," he teased, watching her ears turn pink. She might act indifferent, but the blush gave her away.
"What's so funny?!" she demanded, noticing the amusement in his tone.
"When do you plan on leaving?"
"What, can't wait to see me gone?" he asked slyly.
"Argh! I'm saying, the sooner you leave, the sooner you come back!" Utaha gave up all pretense and admitted it.
He grinned. "Well, I guess once you've finished your lunch, I'll—"
"Get out of here. You're just making me lose my appetite," she groused.
"Ouch, that's cruel."
"Just go already. You must have things to do, right?" She suddenly softened her tone.
Shichen felt warmth blossoming inside him. "Could I…give you a hug first?"
"A hug… Why?" Her heartbeat quickened.
"To give me more motivation, I guess."
"…Fine." Doing her best to stay calm, Utaha set down the bento and stood, facing him with arms open.
"Just a hug, right?"
"The rest…we'll save for when I get back," he said with a smile, standing to meet her.
"'The rest'…? You've got nerve!" she snapped, cheeks aflame, but she stepped forward, letting him fold her into his arms.
He held her tight, feeling her softness and light fragrance, unwilling to let go.
Utaha, for her part, remained perfectly still, wrapping her arms around his back, her face buried in his shoulder. Her cheeks glowed red.
They stayed like that in silence—maybe for a long while, maybe only an instant—until a loud pounding came from the iron door to the roof.
Bang, bang, bang!
Startled, Utaha jerked back, hastily pushing Shichen away.
"It sounds like someone's here. Hurry up and go," she urged, flustered.
"What's there to worry about?"
"I'm not worried; we haven't done anything wrong. I just don't want them interrupting!" she snapped in embarrassment, giving him a swat.
"Fine, fine, I'll leave now, okay?"
"Mm."
"I promise I'll be back soon," he said with a wave.
"I know," she replied, exhaling softly.
He responded with a cheerful grin, and with no warning at all—vanished on the spot.
Utaha's faint smile froze. She glanced around, but Shichen was nowhere to be found, aside from the bento he'd left on the bench.
She felt a pang of emptiness, like something had sapped her motivation.
Bang, bang, bang!
The door kept rattling. Utaha frowned, heading over to unlock it.
Without really seeing who was there, she opened it impatiently. "What is it? Don't bother me—"
"Where is Prince-Oniichan?!"
"Huh? Spencer-san?" Utaha finally registered the student standing there: Sawamura Spencer Eriri, a girl known around the school for being on Utaha's level.
But Eriri ignored Utaha, slipping past her onto the roof, scanning the area for that unforgettable figure.
"Who are you looking for?" Utaha asked, walking over.
"Where's Prince-Oniichan?" Eriri demanded, grabbing Utaha's arm in desperation.
"…?"
~~~
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