The Heroines All Regretted It

Back in Tokyo.

"Well then, see you again, Yoru-kun, Megumi-senpai."

Vignette waved politely.

"See you."

Yoru and Megumi waved back.

"Tch…"

Satania crossed her arms, rubbing the bump on her head that still hadn't gone down, her face full of disdain.

As a proud and mighty demon—the future ruler of the underworld—she couldn't accept that she had been defeated by a mere human.

Satania was not happy.

"Satania, I didn't mean to hit you, and besides…"

"You were trying to mess with me, weren't you?"

Yoru shrugged, not angry at all.

Satania felt that what he said made sense and instinctively nodded.

Then she realized something was off and quickly added, "Hmph, I won't let you off, Yoru!"

"Later."

Yoru smiled and ignored her protest. She was kind of cute anyway. He and Megumi left.

"Alright, Satania, let's go too."

Vignette tugged on her.

"One day, I'll make him kneel down and lick my feet…"

Satania puffed her cheeks and stared unwillingly at Yoru's retreating back.

If she had just said that directly to him, he might've agreed by now.

Yoru and Megumi weren't in a hurry to go home and wandered around a bit more before parting ways near noon.

On the train ride home, Yoru received a message from Gabriel.

"Gabriel's back?"

Yoru sat quietly in the corner, his hair down.

Several girls in the carriage were secretly glancing at him and whispering.

Another message from Gabriel came in, asking where he was and wanting him to come home.

[On my way back now.]

Yoru ran his hand through his hair and replied to Gabriel.

At that moment, one of the girls in the car stared in a daze.

After a few seconds, she tugged her friend and pointed at Yoru, whispering non-stop.

…

When Yoru returned near his apartment, it was around lunchtime.

He bought a bento from a nearby convenience store and headed back.

As he approached his apartment, he heard Gabriel's voice.

"Over here!"

Gabriel was wearing a white dress, her hair neatly tied up, standing on tiptoes and waving.

Yoru waved back and saw her standing in front of his door.

Her outfit gave him flashbacks to their field trip days.

He quickened his pace and returned to the apartment.

"You've slimmed down a lot."

Gabriel's first comment was on Yoru's current look.

"I really have. Gabriel, what's up?"

Yoru took out his key and glanced at her.

"Well, I want to eat your cooking again."

Gabriel handed him a shopping bag filled with ingredients.

Who says angels don't get cravings?

"Oh, and while I was gone, my place had its water and electricity cut off. So right now, I don't have power…"

Then she added—

Click

Yoru opened the door, and Gabriel walked in like it was her own place.

"That bag on your back—where were you?"

"I just got back from a trip. Spent a few days out and even ran into Vignette and Satania."

"Ohhh."

Gabriel, barefoot with her pale white feet, ran into the living room and flopped onto the couch.

She flipped open her laptop, pulled out the charger, plugged it in, and kicked her legs lazily while glancing around.

"Where's San-san?"

Gabriel twisted her waist and asked curiously.

"She's at my mom's place. I haven't picked her up yet."

Yoru calmly changed into slippers and carried over a bag full of food that Gabriel had bought.

"All this seafood and meat—how do you want it cooked?"

Rustle rustle…

The bag made noise as it was being opened.

"Just make it however you like. Cook it all. I also invited Nanami. She'll be over soon."

While the laptop was charging, Gabriel couldn't wait and turned it on.

"Free rein? Then I'll go with something light to bring out the natural flavor of the seafood."

Yoru carried the bag into the kitchen.

With fully equipped tools, he took out all the ingredients one by one, washed his hands, and wasn't in a hurry.

There was quite a lot of food.

He needed to think about how to make it all delicious.

He pulled out his phone and searched for some recipes before stepping back out.

The trip had been tiring too.

In the living room—

Gabriel lay facedown on the couch, kicking her legs in boredom while waiting for her game to finish updating.

Yoru squeezed into the corner of the small couch. Gabriel stretched lazily and casually placed one leg, her white foot, on the inside of his thigh.

Yoru, still focused on his recipe search, thought it was something else and reached over, grabbing it. It felt cool and soft—just right.

Gabriel yawned and kept playing Genshin Impact without caring.

A while later—

Once he finished checking the recipes and settled on the dishes for lunch, Yoru's attention finally returned, and he looked down at his leg.

The sight startled him. He quickly brushed Gabriel's foot off.

Angel feet, for sure—not stinky, smooth and soft.

"Why was I holding Gabriel's foot just now?"

Yoru blinked, clenching his hand as if trying to erase the memory.

Gabriel had noticed the movement but had no clue what he was doing. She focused on finishing her in-game quest before glancing back.

"What's wrong?"

"I accidentally grabbed your foot just now…"

Yoru admitted awkwardly, his eyes falling to her other delicate bare foot still resting on his thigh.

"Oh, I'm ticklish—just don't scratch the soles."

Gabriel casually turned her head back to the screen, her focus entirely on the game.

Yoru's mouth twitched, his face helpless and a little bewildered.

Reluctantly, he gently moved her cute little foot aside, then tied up his hair and walked into the kitchen to start cooking.

First, he rinsed the rice and set it to cook.

The octopus legs would go with peanut sauce and stir-fried with bell peppers.

The head would be sliced into rings and used to make soup with shellfish and kelp.

The mussels would be blanched, flavored with red wine and onions, then baked in the oven.

The sea bass would be steamed whole.

Yoru had already planned out every dish. He moved quickly.

First, prep all ingredients to save time when cooking later.

Just as he finished, Aoyama Nanami arrived.

She gently opened the door and stepped in barefoot. She walked over to the living room.

"Gabriel, good afternoon."

Nanami greeted Gabriel, who was locked in battle with a boss.

"Mm, mm."

Gabriel barely managed a response.

"Is Kitakami-kun in the kitchen? I'll go help."

Nanami didn't disturb her and headed toward the kitchen.

"Kitakami-kun, let me help you."

She called out as she approached.

"Oh, perfect timing."

"Aoyama-san, help me clean up the kitchen. I made a bit of a mess."

Yoru had been fretting over the chaos left from prepping the ingredients.

Cooking was enjoyable. Cleaning up afterward wasn't.

"No problem."

Nanami peeked into the kitchen first.

Yoru had his back to her, hair casually tied up.

"He looks so good…"

She couldn't help recalling that encounter on the stairwell and stepped inside.

"Right here. Thanks."

Yoru wrapped the mussels in foil and placed them in the oven, setting the timer.

Without turning around, he pointed at the sink. It was piled with fishy-smelling scraps and waste.

Nanami wasn't squeamish. She rolled up her sleeves and started cleaning.

Yoru focused on the sea bass.

The scales had been removed, the fish cross-cut and marinated in seasoning, scallions, and ginger.

He boiled water, added cooking wine and aromatics, and started steaming the fish.

"That should do it."

Yoru smiled and went to wash his hands at the sink.

He stepped beside Nanami and gave her a warm smile, glancing at her profile.

His heated gaze made Nanami shuffle aside awkwardly, sneaking a glance back at him.

"The fish is a bit fishy. Use extra detergent."

Yoru dried his hands and said plainly before turning back to the stove.

"Uh… okay…"

Nanami nodded absentmindedly.

Then, startled, she almost gasped—thankfully covering her mouth with her arm just in time.

'Yoru-kun looks even better than before!'

'Ugh… It's like he turned into someone else!'

Splash, splash—

Water kept running from the faucet. Normally frugal, Nanami didn't even bother turning it off.

Because the current Yoru looked even more handsome than the last time she ran into him on the stairs.

No exaggeration—his looks had practically doubled!

Not until the sizzle of oil in the pan did she snap out of it.

Nanami released her arm from her mouth and started breathing heavily.

She couldn't even smell the fishiness anymore.

"Kitakami-kun…"

She softly murmured his name. Her legs were pressed tightly together, and her expression had become the shy look of a girl facing someone she liked.

Her light brown eyes darted around, repeatedly glancing at Yoru's back.

They'd known each other for a while and were already good friends.

Nanami scolded herself—was she seriously feeling shy now?

Just because Yoru kept getting more and more attractive?

Right now, Nanami seemed to finally understand some of the girls in their class.

They acted bold and outgoing, but when faced with a handsome guy, they were desperate to run and hide.

Once she finished tidying up, Nanami quickly returned to the living room.

"Gabriel, have you noticed how good-looking Kitakami-kun's become?"

Nanami sat on the small couch and sneakily glanced toward the kitchen.

"Yeah, so what?"

Gabriel absentmindedly nodded, distracted by her game.

"You really only have eyes for your game, huh…"

Nanami got her answer, then peeked back toward the kitchen.

"Kitakami-kun's so handsome now… he definitely won't lack a girlfriend."

"I even doubted him before, just because of what Sorata Kanda said…"

Unaware of all this, Yoru was still in the kitchen, hard at work and completely unaware that his looks had reached their peak.

He still lacked a bit of confidence, thinking he was just average.

Half an hour later—

On the small dining table.

Yoru opened three bottles of chilled juice, handing two of them to Gabriel and Nanami.

Steam rose from the dishes spread across the table.

The mussels, baked in garlic, onion, and spices, gave off an irresistible aroma.

Just the smell made your mouth water.

Gabriel's eyes lit up, and she scooted her chair closer.

Under the table, her soft white foot accidentally bumped into Yoru.

"I'm digging in." Nanami had been sneaking glances at Yoru the whole time. She picked up a piece of bass with her chopsticks.

Yoru bent over and glanced under the table.

There, two pairs of soft, bare feet rested directly on the floor.

A total waste, he thought.

That thought flashed through his mind, and Yoru quickly looked up and took a sip of his drink.

The three of them had a pleasant meal together.

After washing her hands, Gabriel leaned back on the sofa with her round little belly sticking out, completely relaxed.

Nanami helped Yoru clean up the dishes before getting ready to head out for work.

"Bye-bye…"

Yoru walked her to the door.

"See you…"

Nanami gave a small nod.

Truthfully, she could've stayed for another half hour.

That afternoon, the water and electricity in Gabriel's apartment were finally restored, so she went straight back.

Yoru sat on the sofa, smiling and gently shaking his head as he twirled a strand of golden hair in his fingers.

The warmth and lingering scent left by Gabriel still remained on the seat beneath him.

As evening approached, the heat began to fade.

Yoru returned home and brought San-san back with him.

At the same time, he was scolded and nagged by his parents, who urged him to go get his medical check-up done.

School was starting in three days, and Yoru had already made an appointment.

Back home, Yoru reviewed his lessons for an hour as usual, then closed the textbook he'd mastered and leaned back, hands behind his head.

His long hair draped down, covering his unbelievably attractive face and reflecting in the mirror.

"Ah—"

With a light sigh, Yoru pulled out his yoga mat and began his regular workout.

Jumping jacks—three hundred reps.

Mountain climbers—ten sets.

Planks...

Russian twists...

The bright moon hung high, stars scattered in the sky.

Exhausted from traveling, Yoru quickly felt sleepy.

Almost as if comparing something, he grabbed a bottle of sports drink and walked into the shower.

He took a long, relaxing bath, then came out and scooped up San-san from the sofa, hugging the little cat in his arms.

"Meow meow~"

The chubby black cat blinked its eyes and meowed a few times.

"You're sleeping with me tonight."

Yoru chuckled, gently scratching San-san's chin with his finger.

Whose kitten is this—

So adorable, and he just happened to pick it up.

…

August 31st.

The day before school starts.

After waking up, Yoru stepped on the scale on an empty stomach.

"146."

"This weight is fine. I'm no longer in the obese range. If I could lose another 10 pounds, that'd be perfect."

He ran his fingers through his hair and stepped off the scale.

Standing there without a shirt, his body no longer looked fat.

Only when he bent over did his stomach form two faint folds.

"If my face could slim down more, if I could cut my body fat further, that would be best."

Yoru put the scale away with a quiet sigh in his heart.

He knew full well that he still had room to improve—room to become even more attractive.

The fat on his face could still go. His body fat percentage could still drop.

This wasn't even close to his final form.

After washing up, he made breakfast.

Then he went for his morning run in the park.

He didn't see Chika today—probably busy with student council matters ahead of the new semester.

After returning home and resting for a while, Yoru thoroughly washed his hair and grabbed his cap, then headed out to Shibuya.

Time for a haircut.

He understood clearly that hairstyle had a big impact on appearance.

If he wasn't naturally that good-looking, then he'd improve his looks through style.

"Man, I envy guys who are naturally handsome. They're always surrounded by cute and pretty girls…"

"Not everyone gets lucky like Dad—ugly but still landed a beautiful wife."

Click—

Locking the door, Yoru set off.

After about an hour on the train, he arrived in the bustling Shibuya District.

Shibuya. Harajuku.

Known as the trendsetting capital of Asia.

A sea of cash, pop-up shops, and fashionable influencers—street snapshots happening everywhere.

It was lively beyond words.

Yoru crossed the world-famous Shibuya Scramble Crossing and followed his phone's GPS to the salon.

This time, he went all out.

He was ready to pay a hefty sum for the sake of his hairstyle.

After entering a grand shopping complex, Yoru removed his cap and stepped into the elevator.

He pressed the button for the right floor.

As the transparent glass elevator rapidly ascended, Yoru looked down at the stream of traffic below through his thick hair.

He had already made an appointment. As soon as he entered the shop, someone guided him into a private room.

The decor was minimalistic, with mirrors on both ends, and refreshments—drinks, fruits, snacks—were provided.

After a short wait—

A stylist entered, an older man in a vest who vaguely resembled Iron Man.

"Hello, Mr. Kitakami. Do you have any requests for your hairstyle?"

Uncle Tony asked politely.

"I'm not sure. Just design something you think suits me."

With that, Yoru closed his eyes.

Tony sighed softly. This job wasn't easy.

At a truly high-end salon, most of the clients were regulars.

New clients like Yoru who didn't specify what they wanted were the hardest. If they didn't like the result, they wouldn't come back.

Tony shook his head slightly and lifted Yoru's hair to reveal his full face.

And froze.

He was a married man, happily in love with his wife, and had no confusion about his preferences.

Yet even as a fellow man, he found Yoru incredibly attractive, charming, and handsome.

'So this client is naturally gifted… any style would look good on him…'

Tony relaxed.

With looks like that, even bald would still look good.

'But still, I need to design this carefully…'

'This client's likely a student. His long hair is messy and unstyled. Probably doesn't want to keep it long…'

'Perm? Doesn't suit a student…'

'Let's go with something low-maintenance but uncommon…'

Tony took the job seriously, determined to deliver results worthy of Yoru's money. Countless ideas flashed through his mind.

In the end, he decided on a slightly long cut with some light perming and dye, styled like a manga heartthrob—handsome but practical.

He had done this style a few times before.

But all of those clients had been small-time idols with decent looks… and they'd all failed to pull it off.

They just didn't have the face for it.

But Tony was confident—Yoru did.

An hour and a half later—

Tony used some styling wax to add light texture and volume, tugged out a few wisps, and nodded in satisfaction.

With looks like these, Yoru could head to the Kabukicho district and become a top host pulling in ten million yen a night from rich housewives.

And that's not even considering Yoru's actual hidden potential.

"All done, sir…"

Tony gently called out to wake him.

Yoru, who had been half-dozing, made a soft noise, stretched, and stood up.

When he opened his eyes and looked in the mirror—

"Huh?"

He blinked, suddenly feeling like he looked kind of… handsome?

Could it be that he really was a good-looking guy?

For someone with basically zero confidence in his own appearance, the self-doubt was setting in.

"You're truly very handsome, sir."

"No exaggeration—you're the most attractive person I've ever seen in my career."

Tony smiled proudly, admiring his own work.

"Thanks. This hairstyle's pretty good."

Looking at his reflection, Yoru couldn't help but imagine himself as the main character in a manga.

Even the messy, airy vibe was styled really well.

Yoru's black hair had been lightly tinted with a hint of brownish-green, giving it a more layered look.

As for Uncle Tony's compliments, Yoru took them as standard politeness or just part of the shop's customer service.

He didn't take them seriously.

After accepting a small styling gift box from the salon, Yoru left.

Passing through the main lounge of the salon, he didn't notice several attractive older women staring directly at him, eyes wide and glued to his face.

"Guess it's about lunchtime. Getting my hair done really took a while."

Yoru took the elevator downstairs, bought a bottle of water, and sat on a bench by the roadside to drink.

There was still time before his scheduled health check.

Three women with dyed hair and revealing outfits walked toward him in a group.

"Hello…"

"Hey there, little guy. Are you by yourself?"

They had just been passing by, drawn in purely by Yoru's looks.

"Huh? Uh?"

Yoru looked up at the three scantily dressed women and was instantly at a loss.

"We're asking—are you alone?"

"Wanna grab a drink with us?"

"C'mon?"

One of them even reached out as if to grab his arm.

"Uh… I've got something to do, sorry…"

Yoru instinctively dodged, squeezing out a polite smile.

"Huh?"

"Seriously?"

"Well, whatever. Let's go."

Clearly not used to being rejected so directly, the women reluctantly walked away.

"Wait… are hostesses just out here on the street now?"

Yoru shook his head rapidly.

This place was close to Kabukicho, the largest red-light district in all of Asia.

Naturally, he just assumed the women were hostesses scouting for clients.

In reality, they were just a bit open-minded and wanted to sleep with a cute, innocent-looking guy.

"I should probably get away from here."

Once the women had left, Yoru stood up and quickly left Shibuya.

He didn't go home for lunch. Instead, he wandered around a seaside area in Minato Ward.

He grabbed lunch at a nearby family restaurant.

"Thanks…"

Yoru politely accepted the food brought by the waiter.

He had ordered a set meal: salad, main course, a drink, and a chocolate croissant toasted to a crispy perfection.

He stared at the croissant for a while, then shook his head and chose not to eat it.

Still not skinny enough.

Gotta stick to it!

He pushed the plate with the croissant aside, then looked up—only to meet the gaze of a little girl seated at the table ahead.

Her eyes were filled with pure longing.

Yoru paused, then pointed to the chocolate croissant.

The little girl's eyes lit up and she nodded vigorously.

"Do you want it?"

Yoru smiled. The girl was pretty cute.

Probably just started elementary school?

No, more like preschool.

"I do…"

Kawasaki Keika replied without hesitation.

"Then I'll give it to you. I wasn't going to eat it anyway."

Yoru smiled and pushed the plate toward her.

"Really? Thank you, mister…"

Keika said bashfully, but she was already hopping over to his table.

She plopped herself down in the seat across from him.

"Are you here by yourself?"

Yoru picked up his fork and started eating his salad.

"Nope, I'm here with my sister… Hey mister, can I really have this?"

Keika eyed the croissant eagerly, tiny hands ready to pounce.

"Of course. It's yours now."

Yoru smiled again.

"Thanks! You're super handsome, mister!"

Keika grinned, her big eyes sparkling. She hugged the croissant and took a huge bite.

The rich, dark chocolate filling burst out and smeared all over her mouth.

Kawasaki Saki returned from the restroom, and for a second, panicked when she saw Keika missing.

Then she spotted her sitting at another table, munching on a croissant and chatting with a boy.

Sighing, Saki walked over, quickly piecing together what had happened.

She knew her sister too well.

"Keika, don't just wander off… And…"

Saki suddenly had a tissue in hand as she approached her sister.

"Saki-nee…"

Keika looked guilty, lowering her half-eaten croissant, hands and mouth covered in chocolate.

"I'm terribly sorry about this. My little sister, she…"

"She didn't mean to bother you…"

Saki's words trailed off.

She froze mid-sentence and struggled to finish.

The boy in front of her had unbelievably good looks, an extraordinary aura, and a gentle presence that made people want to approach him.

"Hehe… It's fine."

Yoru hadn't realized anything was off—he was a bit stunned too.

The tall beauty before him had a high ponytail, a teardrop mole under her left eye, and wore a plain black tee with denim shorts and white sneakers.

Wasn't she… Kawasaki something?

A classmate from first year?

Yoru remembered her because she was pretty, with long, fair legs.

"Here, let me wipe your face."

Saki composed herself and bent down, using a tissue to clean the chocolate off Keika's face.

Yoru quietly cut a piece of fish and watched.

"I'll pay for the croissant."

Saki crumpled the tissue, took Keika's hand, and looked at Yoru.

"There's no need. I wasn't going to eat it anyway."

Yoru set down his knife and fork, waving dismissively.

"Yeah, yeah! Saki-nee, this handsome guy gave it to me!"

"And I wanna eat here with him. I'm not going anywhere."

Keika broke free from Saki's grip and shook her head hard.

Yoru gave a helpless smile.

So she only called me handsome because I gave her a croissant, huh?

Keika wasn't just cute—she had a sweet mouth too.

"Keika…"

Saki and Keika exchanged looks. In the end, she gave in to her sister's stubbornness.

She shot Yoru a slightly embarrassed glance and sat down across from him.

"Um…"

Yoru took a sip of water and looked toward Saki.

"Yes?"

Saki studied the impossibly handsome boy in front of her.

"Are you… Kawasaki-san?"

Yoru scratched the back of his head with a sheepish smile.

"…Huh?"

Saki froze for a moment, then quickly scanned him from head to toe, eyes focused and intense.

Her normally calm expression slowly turned surprised.

Keika paused mid-bite, holding her croissant with both hands as she looked between her sister and Yoru.

This handsome guy was her sister's classmate?

"Sorry, but… who exactly are you?"

Saki scrutinized Yoru from head to toe, yet still couldn't recognize him.

And if she had known him, with how Yoru looked now, there's no way he wouldn't have been famous at school.

She was sure—she didn't know the person in front of her.

"Don't get the wrong idea. I just know who you are. We used to be in neighboring classes, that's how I recognized you."

Yoru gave a bitter smile inwardly. Tomorrow he'd be reporting back to school.

Would everyone there look at him like this too?

"Elementary or middle school classmate?" Saki, an 'impure' student, kept guessing.

If that were the case, it'd make sense not to remember him after a few years.

"No… I…"

"I'm Yoru Kitakami."

"I'm the guy everyone said stole Kasumigaoka Utaha's stockings and underwear."

Yoru forced a smile.

The air fell completely silent.

Everything around them quieted.

"You… you, you… say that again—who are you?" Saki's voice trembled uncontrollably.

"A thief?" Keika sucked on her chocolate drink and tilted her head.

"It's me. I've been losing weight."

Yoru lifted his cup and took a sip of water to ease the tension.

"For real?"

Saki instinctively doubted him, not entirely convinced.

A disgusting fat nerd suddenly turning into a ridiculously handsome guy right before your eyes—it was only natural to be skeptical.

"It really is me…"

Yoru kept smiling bitterly. Losing weight this fast really did scare people.

"You… this is unbelievable…"

"Whew…"

Saki stared at Yoru's face and only after a long pause finally let out a deep breath.

She never used to believe the saying that fat guys had hidden potential.

"Saki-nee, what are you two talking about?" Keika asked curiously after finishing her bread.

"Nothing…"

Saki wasn't dumb. She wasn't going to badmouth Yoru right in front of him.

"It was something really unpleasant for me," Yoru said, eyes blank as he slightly raised his head, a cold smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.

Saki glanced at him for a second, then quickly looked away.

So handsome.

At the bar where she worked part-time, the lonely rich housewives loved guys like this.

Lunch took an unexpected turn.

But it was pleasant.

After eating, Yoru took a stroll along the beach and bought a medical mask along the way.

At 3 PM, wearing the mask, Yoru arrived at the hospital for his physical examination.

Different tests took different amounts of time, and depending on the lines, it wasn't until after 5 PM that Yoru finally left.

The results weren't ready yet and would only be available the next morning.

"I'll grab the report and CT scan tomorrow morning before going to school."

"It's just a checkup."

"Dad's bugging me again."

On the way home, Yoru replied to his father's message and sighed.

Was it really necessary to rush so much?

Once home, he had a light dinner—just some fruit and shredded chicken breast—then took a shower and lay back on his bed.

The warm, dim yellow light dispelled the darkness in the room.

Yoru hugged San-san with both hands, resting her on his stomach as he lay in a spread-eagle position staring blankly at the ceiling.

A flood of memories flashed through his mind like a carousel of fragmented scenes.

They were all things he'd personally experienced…

But he was no longer his past self—he had become the new Yoru.

…

The night passed without incident.

September 1st.

It was already early autumn.

Yoru kept to his summer schedule.

After washing up and doing fasted cardio, he made breakfast.

Usually, students didn't have to attend class on registration day.

After a simple meal, Yoru let his hair down, giving it a quick tousle without bothering to style it.

Uncle Tony had designed this haircut in a way that didn't need much upkeep anyway.

"Gabriel, let's go register. School's starting."

Yoru knocked on Gabriel's apartment door.

"No… I'm not going. You go ahead."

Inside the slightly messy room, Gabriel sat with dark circles under her eyes—it was clear she'd pulled an all-nighter gaming.

"Then just keep track of the time yourself…"

Yoru remembered he still needed to pick up his medical report, and the check-in window for Shuchiin Academy was pretty flexible—as long as you arrived before noon, it was fine.

So he didn't bother pushing Gabriel.

"Aoyama-san probably has work today, right? And her boyfriend too. I wonder how they're doing."

Yoru originally thought about calling out to Nanami, but hesitated at the stairs.

Previously, when Nanami found out Kanda Sorata was pretending to be her boyfriend, she had gone straight to confront him.

Not long after that, Yoru had been hospitalized.

He hadn't been to school in nearly two months.

Both Nanami and Yoru had pushed the matter out of their minds.

Even now, he still thought Nanami was dating Kanda Sorata.

He had no idea Nanami had grown to absolutely hate him.

…

Inside the hospital waiting room.

Even though it was early autumn, the temperature hadn't dropped yet. It was still as hot as summer.

Sakurajima Mai sat wrapped in a thick, long down coat. Her cheeks were bright red like a monkey's, her eyes dull as she leaned lifelessly against the chair.

Anyone could see she looked severely ill. A gust of wind might be enough to knock her over.

But what was strangest of all was that the nurses at the front desk, though not too busy, didn't seem to notice her at all. They continued going about their work as if she didn't exist, even though she was sitting right in their field of view.

A stunning, radiant young actress wearing a long blue down jacket—something only worn during extremely cold winters.

And yet, no one paid her any attention.

Not just the nurses.

Even patients passing by, even an old woman sitting right beside her, didn't notice anything strange.

That's right.

Sakurajima Mai was sick—seriously sick.

But she had come to the hospital just to "steal" some medicine to treat herself.

It had started about half a year ago.

Sakurajima Mai found herself in a strange state.

Sometimes, people would deliberately ignore her, overlook her...

At first, she didn't notice anything unusual, since it wasn't that extreme.

She just assumed people were being careless.

But things gradually got worse.

Three months ago, after finishing a shoot with a closed film crew, she walked through the city streets and realized most people completely ignored her.

To them, she was like air.

She had no idea what to do, frozen in fear, her face drained of color.

As time went on, the condition worsened.

Even her closest family—her own mother—couldn't see her anymore.

She began to feel like her very existence had been erased, like ink wiped off paper with an eraser.

Even small objects she touched—like picking up a piece of bread or the clothes she wore—would vanish from other people's eyes.

Sonar, infrared, thermal imaging...

None of it could detect Sakurajima Mai.

No one remembered her. No one could see her.

Terrified and helpless, Mai locked herself in her room in despair and even considered ending her life.

She stood atop a skyscraper—one step forward would end her pain.

But she hesitated. Lacked the courage. In the end, she pulled herself back.

She chose instead to wear a sexy bunny girl outfit and walk around crowded stations and streets.

If anyone could see her in that, they'd definitely look.

Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, New York, Paris, London...

When no one in Japan reacted, she even tried going abroad.

Eventually, Mai returned to Japan—sick and exhausted.

Her mood plummeted. She was in despair. Her body deteriorated. Her internal clock was messed up. Hormones out of whack. Jet lag. Flu. Virus...

All these factors combined.

Mai developed a severe fever.

She'd tried all kinds of convenience store meds—nothing brought the fever down.

She'd cool down after pills in the morning, only to burn up again at night.

Bundling herself in the coat was a physical way to try sweating it out.

She came to the hospital not to see a doctor—no one could see her anyway.

She just wanted to grab IV drips.

If pills didn't work, she'd inject herself.

She sat for a long time.

Too weak to even lift her arm, she slowly pulled out a thermometer she'd been holding for ages.

"39.2°C."

A definite high fever.

Seeing the number, Mai actually felt a little relieved. Yesterday she hit 40°C.

After taking a fever-suppressing steroid, she passed out—or maybe just fainted from the heat.

She trembled as she put the thermometer away, then leaned on the chair's arm to stand up. A sudden coughing fit hit her.

Her vision blurred. The world spun. She collapsed.

Luckily, it was just a fall.

She feared fainting from the fever—falling into a coma, convulsing, even dying.

Gasping for air, the disinfectant smell stung her nose.

Struggling, Mai spotted a broom in a corner, slowly crawled over like a frail grandma, and used it as a cane to head toward the pharmacy.

In her current invisible state, she could take any medicine easily.

Sure, the stockroom might notice something missing, but she didn't care.

Besides, the pharmacy had security cameras.

The staff wouldn't get punished—just inconvenienced.

...

Elsewhere, Yoru received his checkup results.

He actually was a little sick.

Some mild hypoglycemia. His rapid weight loss even surprised the doctor.

They gave him a prescription for glucose supplements.

"Just low blood sugar," Yoru muttered, snapping a photo to send to his dad for reassurance.

He was totally fine—healthy as a horse.

On the way to the pharmacy, Mai grew more and more exhausted. A violent cough wracked her again, and she collapsed onto the cold, dirty floor.

"Huh?"

Hearing the noise, Yoru turned and recognized Mai.

She clutched her chest as she coughed, her neck flushed red. The people nearby ignored her completely.

At first, Yoru didn't notice anything strange. He quickly walked over and crouched beside her.

Through her blurred vision, Mai saw the light dim—someone had approached.

She was so feverish her mind was fuzzy, about to faint.

"Sakurajima Mai, are you okay?"

Yoru hesitated, holding out a hand, unsure whether to help her up.

Deep down, he still carried the mindset of his former self.

He wanted someone to acknowledge that he was no longer that disgusting, fat slob.

"You... cough... you can see me? And know who I am?"

Miraculously, Mai jerked her head up. Adrenaline surged, giving her a burst of energy.

Even the Grim Reaper had to wait for adrenaline to wear off before claiming a life.

Drawing from that strength, she pushed herself to a half-kneel, her eyes briefly clearing.

"What did you say?" Yoru asked reflexively.

"I... I..."

Overwhelmed, Mai was speechless with emotion.

Her state was surreal.

If she could control her condition—or if Yoru could harness her mysterious power—taking revenge on a rich heiress like Shinomiya Kaguya would be a breeze.

She could literally kill anyone with zero consequences.

Killing the U.S. president or a random stranger made no difference—just needed a plane ticket.

Mai still didn't answer.

Yoru gently placed the back of his hand on her forehead.

"You're burning up."

Letting a stranger touch her—under normal circumstances, Mai would've dodged instantly and gotten mad.

Now though, she was grateful. Moved. Relieved.

From the depths of despair, hope bloomed.

Not just because she was sick, but because someone could see her, recognize her, touch her.

The adrenaline kicked in. Mai temporarily forgot her fever, regained a bit of strength, and stood up using the broom.

"Cough... you really can see me?"

Her voice raspy, Mai studied the masked Yoru carefully.

"What are you talking about? Your head's burning. You're here alone?"

Yoru hovered his hands, ready to catch her if she fell.

"Come... come with me... somewhere private to talk..."

Seeing how politely he'd tested her fever earlier, Mai assumed Yoru was someone with boundaries—someone she could cautiously trust.

Her situation was dangerous.

Not just from the fever.

But because, in this entire world, only this man could perceive and touch her.

If he had any bad intentions... she'd rather die.

"Okay."

Yoru withdrew his hands, wearing a strange expression as he followed her.

Thankfully, no one around seemed to notice.

Otherwise, they'd probably think he escaped from the psych ward.

Mai, fueled by adrenaline, made it to a secluded corner near the restrooms and slumped down.

Yoru strode over, removed his mask, and sat beside her.

Mai blanked out for a moment, forgetting what she'd wanted to say.

Yoru looked too good.

Just for a moment though.

She met his eyes, bit her pale lip, and began to speak slowly.

Her throat burned like it had been cut.

"Don't rush. Does your throat hurt?" Yoru said softly, trying to calm her.

After a moment's hesitation, he used mind reading.

Mai nodded. Her guarded look wasn't as strong anymore.

That's the power of good looks.

If Yoru had looked like some gross old man or greasy loser...

How would Mai have reacted?

"I'll help you. Do you still remember me?"

Reading her thoughts, Yoru felt her emotional chaos. He froze for a second, then spoke.

First, he had to make her feel safe.

Through his mind-reading ability, Yoru sensed that Mai clearly didn't recognize him.

Although they weren't really familiar—just two brief encounters—it was still something that could put her at ease if he said it.

'You know me?'

The thought in Mai's mind was exposed to Yoru, and her expression showed confusion.

"I'm Kitakami Yoru. We met twice before."

"Once at a bakery, and once at the station. You even lent me your transit card and gave me a signed photo."

Yoru leaned in to let Mai get a good look at his face.

With a high fever and slowed reactions, she was close to passing out, her mind sluggish like it was filled with glue.

She just couldn't process it...

"This is the signed photo you gave me."

Yoru stood up with a sigh, quickly pulled out his wallet, and showed her the signed picture of Mai.

"Ugh?!"

"Ugh... I... cough cough cough... cough cough..."

Yoru could see that she finally reacted, and quite strongly.

She got so worked up trying to speak that she started coughing uncontrollably.

"Don't panic, don't panic. I lost weight. I'm that fat guy..."

Yoru sat back down in a panic, looking a bit lost as he watched her.

He considered patting her back to help with the coughing, but then hesitated, feeling it might be inappropriate.

Was he being too forward?

"It's... cough it's really you!"

Mai coughed violently, her face reddening even more as she looked up in surprise.

Yoru used to be extremely overweight.

Now he was slim, with an unbelievably good-looking face.

Having grown up as a child star in the entertainment industry, Mai had seen many handsome guys, but none looked as good as Yoru.

They were kind of acquaintances now...

The last bit of guardedness in her eyes faded away.

"Think carefully about what you want to say. I'll go get you some water..."

Yoru exhaled and gently reminded her before walking off quickly.

After a few steps, he turned back, still worried, and made eye contact with Mai.

"It's okay. I'm here."

He pressed his hand down and whispered reassuringly. Somehow, it gave her a strong sense of peace.

Then he ran off.

Outside, next to the trash cans, was a vending machine.

Yoru inserted a coin.

The machine began to operate.

He crouched quickly and reached out to open the small door.

Still locked.

He grew a bit anxious.

Ten seconds later, he finally got the water and rushed back.

At the entrance, an elderly man in a wheelchair was vomiting.

No one wanted to get close, and people coming in and out were stuck at the door.

Yoru had no choice but to squeeze through the crowd. He got stepped on a few times, even had his shoelace come undone before making it back in.

Mai stared toward the entrance. When Yoru reappeared, she finally relaxed.

She had been scared.

Scared that Yoru wouldn't come back. Scared that he wouldn't be able to see her again.

"Drink this. Take a deep breath. Relax."

Yoru opened the bottle and gently brought it to her pale lips.

She sipped it slowly. As the water passed down her throat, she looked up at Yoru.

After she recovered a little, Yoru sat down.

"What I'm going to say will really shock you..."

"So... please don't freak out, okay?"

Already having mentally prepared herself, Mai opened her mouth weakly, her gaze full of uncertainty as she looked at Yoru.

He paused, then nodded slightly.

"In this entire world, only you can see me. Other than you... cough"

"No one else can see me or touch me..."

"Even the small things I touch disappear from other people's view..."

Her indigo eyes stared directly at Yoru as she spoke, her expression tense.

Was this not shocking?

"It..."

Yoru's eyes flickered. He was indeed shocked.

Then he thought about the mysterious golden treasure chest that appeared to him.

Another strange event.

"I can't explain much right now..."

"I have a fever... I need medicine..."

Mai placed her cold hand on her burning forehead and continued.

"What kind of medicine do you need?"

Yoru focused, asking seriously.

She seemed a bit surprised by how quickly he accepted all this, but it was a good thing.

"Ordinary medicine won't work. I need injections..."

"Dexamethasone, cefalexin... cough... ribavirin... ambroxol..."

As she spoke, Mai suddenly reached out and grabbed Yoru's shirt, her eyes filled with helplessness.

"You know your own illness?"

"Injections?"

Hearing some familiar names, Yoru remembered that he had used those when he had mild viral myocarditis.

"I have a high fever, yellow phlegm in my throat, violent... cough cough cough..."

"Violent coughing..."

"If I don't use those meds, what else can I use?"

"I looked it up online..."

As the effects of adrenaline wore off, her body couldn't hold on any longer.

Time passed, the sun rose, and the temperature increased.

Wearing a thick down jacket, Mai felt like she was roasting in a furnace, but she still wasn't sweating or cooling down.

"That won't do. Others can't see you, right?"

"I can register for you, ask the doctor about your symptoms. You should drink more water..."

Yoru took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down.

The more panicked he was now, the easier it would be to mess things up.

"No... no... that's not..."

Mai, dizzy and sluggish, could hardly think.

"You need to follow my instructions now..."

"Stop bundling yourself up. Take off the jacket and drink more water..."

Whether bundling up helps reduce fever depends on the situation.

And this definitely wasn't the right time for it.

She didn't say anything because she was in such bad shape, even talking normally was a luxury.

Yoru looked at her.

He gently removed the down jacket from her body.

She didn't cooperate, but she didn't resist either.

The fever had sapped all her strength.

Once the jacket was off, she felt a little better.

But unless the fever dropped, it wasn't enough.

"Seeing a doctor isn't the problem. It's about dosage. More importantly—do you know how to administer an IV?"

Yoru stood up and brought the bottle of water to her lips again as he asked.

She took a few sips and slowly shook her head.

Her throat moved a bit before she looked up and said, "No, but there's detailed instructions online... cough..."

"So you..."

"Sigh..."

Yoru stamped his foot anxiously, at a loss.

So then—

He had no choice but to try it himself.

He took a deep breath and gently supported Mai, lightly patting the back of her hand to comfort her.

"Don't worry. I'll take care of everything..."

He whispered softly into her ear at her most helpless moment.

His mind was racing.

"I'll go register and ask the doctor about your symptoms for advice."

"You go pick up the medicine and IV equipment, drink more water, and I'll try to figure out how to help you with the IV?"

"This is the only option left. You said oral meds don't work, so we'll have to take a risk!"

After thinking it through, Yoru looked at Mai and said.

"Ahem... If you don't get an IV, you'll probably going to die from the fever… Is there any other option?"

"Help me to the pharmacy. Others can't see me, but I can get the medicine myself."

Mai's voice was trembling.

Yoru nodded and glanced around before turning back to her.

"Do as you like. I don't mind if you touch me..."

Mai had already noticed how Yoru was deliberately avoiding any contact with her.

That behavior actually made her like him even more.

Besides, given the situation, she didn't mind.

"Alright, sorry about this."

Yoru nodded lightly and picked her up in his arms.

Other people couldn't see Mai, but they could see him.

If he acted like he was supporting someone invisible, it would definitely draw unwanted attention and trouble.

"Ugh... you..."

Mai let out a soft gasp but didn't struggle.

With her feet off the ground and her body lifted up, she crossed her arms over her chest, her expression bashful.

Yoru had no other choice.

He held Mai in his arms and headed toward the pharmacy.

To onlookers, it probably looked like he was arrogantly striding along with his arms crossed.

"My condition is..."

Mai quickly regained focus and got back to the main issue.

Fortunately, the pharmacy door wasn't locked—it was left open.

Of course, no one would go in there.

"Take it slow. Hold the wall for support when you go inside."

Yoru carried her close to the pharmacy and gave her a gentle reminder.

Mai nodded lightly. But as soon as Yoru set her down, a sense of panic returned.

'This is insane...'

'Another supernatural incident...'

Yoru gave her a gentle pat on the shoulder before hurrying off toward the emergency department.

Originally, today was just supposed to be an ordinary day.

He was planning to grab his physical checkup report and then report to Shuchiin Academy.

But instead, he ended up running into a gorgeous girl—Sakurajima Mai.

In the entire world, he was the only one who could see her.

And of all times, she had to be sick.

Oral medicine wasn't working. She needed an IV drip.

The diagnosis wasn't the problem—it was the IV itself.

"Phew—"

After rushing to the ER, Yoru quickly got a number and queued up.

Maybe it was Mai's luck, but there were only a few people ahead.

After about ten minutes, Yoru entered and explained the situation to the doctor.

He made up a lie.

He said there was a disabled person at home who couldn't make it to the hospital. The local community doctor couldn't figure out the exact cause and wasn't sure about the dosage...

He suspected it might be a viral infection...

The doctor didn't seem too skeptical.

Technically, since the patient wasn't present, the doctor could've refused to diagnose.

But in the end, Yoru managed to get the doctor's treatment recommendation without much trouble. No prescription, though—he couldn't legally write one.

The diagnosis: viral infection, high fever, and a secondary bacterial infection in the lungs.

It wasn't looking great.

The fever had once reached 40°C.

Still, it matched Mai's own guesses.

Maybe due to emotional stress, weakened immunity, poor eating, irregular sleep...

She just got sick.

"Honestly, this kind of thing is pretty normal."

Yoru recalled how he once collapsed from stress-induced high blood pressure and shortness of breath, that crushing sense of helplessness and despair.

He truly empathized with Mai.

At the time, he was saved by Chika.

Meanwhile—

Back in the pharmacy, Mai found the IV meds she needed. She also grabbed the necessary tools and packed them into a bag.

She was completely forcing her body to move.

Cough cough... cough cough...

Cough cough...

"It's fine... I'm fine..."

Just then, Yoru rushed back and gently patted her back to soothe her cough.

Mai nodded and looked at him, asking silently with her eyes.

"Just as you suspected. But... how exactly am I supposed to give you an IV..."

At this point, Yoru was stumped.

He'd never actually done it, though he'd had it done to him before.

The general idea was simple, but doing it was another story.

"I've studied it online. Don't worry..."

"If I don't get the IV, I'll be even worse... cough cough..."

Her coughing grew intense.

A lung CT would probably help!

Too bad that wasn't an option right now.

"Can you hang on a bit? I'll try to learn it quickly."

Of course Yoru couldn't take any big risks.

"Mmhm..."

Mai figured she could hold out a little longer.

"I'll watch and you can teach me at the same time."

Yoru nodded, picked her up again, and brought her back to their original spot.

Mai, hands trembling, opened the bag.

Inside were disposable IV supplies, the medication, and a box of fever-reducing patches.

Yoru grabbed a patch, looked at the nearly unconscious Mai, and hurriedly opened the box.

He quickly pulled one out and placed it on her forehead.

She was burning up.

Mai narrowed her eyes. Her eyelids stung from the heat, painful and irritated.

Yoru pulled out his phone. Thankfully, the internet was always there to help.

He looked up animated demos and real-life videos on how to insert an IV.

He was incredibly nervous, his body stiff with tension.

Even after applying the patch, Mai didn't feel much better, but she forced herself to stay conscious.

Ten minutes passed.

Yoru disinfected both his own and Mai's hands, applied iodine, picked up the purple needle, and searched for a vein on the back of her hand.

The IV line was connected to the drip chamber and tied to a broomstick held upright.

The hardest part was inserting the needle.

A backflow of blood, hitting the wrong vein…

That was where the danger lay.

Everything else was fine, the dosage had been prescribed by the doctor.

"Don't rush. Take your time..."

Mai, extremely weak, still tried to comfort Yoru.

After several failed attempts, Yoru finally got it in. He pressed the drip regulator and set it to 20 drops per minute.

"Huff... huff... huff—"

When everything was done, Yoru slumped into a seat, breathing heavily.

Not just physically tired—he was mentally exhausted.

"Looks like it worked."

Mai was finally safe. She visibly relaxed, her body feeling noticeably better.

"I'll go take another look, just to be sure."

Yoru stood up again, leaving those words behind as he walked off.

He was still uneasy. He wanted to see how the nurses were doing it, and how the elderly patients receiving IVs looked.

Mai stared blankly after him. As his footsteps faded, fear surged up again.

She didn't want the IV anymore. She just wanted Yoru to come back.

Don't leave me...

…

Less than ten minutes later, Yoru came running back.

To Mai, who had been counting every second like a year, her eyes lit up, her nose stung—and tears fell.

"I'm here. I'll stay with you..."

"If you're tired, go ahead and rest..."

Yoru gently wiped away her tears with a tissue, comforting her softly.

"Mmm..."

Her body and mind had long since reached their breaking point.

If Yoru hadn't been there today—

She might've died already.

"If you want to sleep, go ahead. I'll stay by your side..."