Kuroba Akira had long predicted Shiginomiya would pick the top bunk.
It was just like how kids riding an airplane for the first time always wanted the window seat—novelty. And people sleeping in bunk beds for the first time? Always the top bunk. The allure of the unfamiliar.
But chasing novelty came with a price: practicality!
Sitting by the window on a plane meant bathroom trips were a pain. Likewise, sleeping on the top bunk made getting in and out a hassle.
Hmph! Shiginomiya Shion! Just wait—when you need something, you'll be calling me daddy! Call me daddy and maybe I'll help you!
"Alright then, let's get to bed."
"Mm-hm. But before that, I need to drink this."
Shion pulled out the bottle of milk from her jacket pocket.
She'd poured most of it out for Blacktail, but had saved just one mouthful.
Even if she'd traded half her life for that milk, she still wanted to at least taste what life felt like. (lol)
Besides, they say milk hits differently after a bath. That's why you often see people at public bathhouses downing a cold bottle in one go, sighing in satisfaction afterward.
Shion had always wanted to experience that for herself.
The last time she went to a public bath was back in elementary school, before she took the name Shiginomiya. Her family had been struggling back then, and the money her mom gave her only covered admission—no spare change for milk.
So every time, little Shion could only watch the other kids drink their milk, swallowing her envy along with her spit.
Eventually, she grew up and forgot all about it…
Until just now, when she wrapped herself in a towel and spotted the milk bottle sitting atop the washing machine in the dressing room. Then the memory came flooding back.
And now—finally—she could taste it.
Shion twisted off the cap and tilted the bottle back, downing the last mouthful of milk.
It wasn't cold, and there was no refreshing rush. But maybe because she'd had that ultra-spicy curry for dinner, the milk tasted impossibly sweet.
So sweet it reached all the way to her heart.
"…So sweet… I didn't know it could be this sweet…"
"Yeah? If I'd known, I would've asked for a sip."
"…"
The moment she heard that, the first thought to pop into Shion's head was: If I'd known, I wouldn't have swallowed all of it…
Then she immediately caught herself.
Wait, what kind of shameful thought is that?!
No way she could offer him milk from her own mouth…!
Ughhh… what am I even thinking?!
"I—I'll go rinse the bottle out!"
Fleeing the room as if to wash away her own thoughts, Shion darted off to the bathroom.
While she was gone, Akira took the opportunity to pull something out of the pocket of his school pants: the class rep's panties.
Now then—where to hide this precious artifact?
Not that there were many choices. His room was, quite literally, empty. No furniture, no decorations, nothing. Just a newly added bunk bed—and that was it. Not even a desk.
But maybe because it was so empty, the small room somehow felt spacious.
After a moment of thought, Akira decided to stash the panties inside a pillow. It was the only semi-secure hiding place he had.
Sleeping with the class rep's panties under his head… maybe he'd dream of peeking up her skirt.
There was only one problem: there were two pillows on the bed, and they looked identical. Akira couldn't remember which one was his.
As he picked up both, trying to figure out which he'd used before, he heard Shion's footsteps coming back. Panicking, he randomly picked one, stuffed the panties inside the pillow lining, and yanked his hand back just as she entered.
Spotting the pillows in his hands, Shion tilted her head. "Is something wrong with the pillows?"
"Nope! Just… testing for softness…"
Crap… which one did I put them in again? Since they were inside the pillow core, he couldn't tell from the outside…
Shion looked puzzled. "So, which one's softer?"
"Uh… about the same, I guess."
"Okay, I'll take this one then."
She carefully placed the empty milk bottle into the closet, then casually grabbed the pillow on the right and climbed up to the top bunk.
Once she was settled in, Akira quickly reached into the other pillow—nothing. He'd guessed wrong. The panties were in her pillow.
But it'd be too weird to ask to switch now. It's just one night, he thought. She won't notice. I'll switch it back later.
With that, he got up to turn off the lights. Time for bed.
...
Shion lay flat on her back, still unable to fall asleep.
Down below, the boy also seemed awake. A soft glow from below the top bunk showed he was probably on his phone.
"Akira… are you asleep?"
"Not yet, but I'm getting there. First day of school tomorrow—don't wanna be late."
"I see… Then, can we talk until you fall asleep?"
"Sure, I don't mind. What's on your mind?"
"I don't know… I just can't sleep. It all feels like a dream…"
Akira could understand that feeling.
On his first night here—when he'd followed Kobayashi-obaasan home and ended up in this room—he'd felt the same surreal disorientation.
He'd felt that way many times in his past life, too—moving cities for work, adjusting to a new environment…
Drifting from city to city was already disorienting enough. Crossing worlds? That was a whole new level.
For a high school girl to be forced out of her home at this age… it must've been painful.
But Akira had it all wrong.
Shion wasn't sad. In fact, she was a little excited.
She wasn't a child anymore, not someone who got giddy about amusement parks or field trips. So why was her heart racing like this?
Akira thought for a moment. As a mentally adult man, he figured the only real comfort he could offer… was money. He pulled out the 10,000-yen bill he'd folded into a strip and sat up, leaning over the edge of the top bunk.
"Hey, Shion."
"Yes?"
"While I'm at school tomorrow, use this to get yourself some basics—stuff like a toothbrush, a cup, a towel. You'll need a change of underwear too, right? And maybe some cosmetics… just cheap ones to start, nothing fancy."
"Ah…"
She looked at the hand and the money he held out to her.
Just earlier, he'd been so reluctant to let go of that bill when Kobayashi-obaasan tried to reclaim it. And now, he was handing it over so easily.
Shion had never been particularly interested in money. Compared to other girls her age, her material desires were almost nonexistent. Maybe when she was little, she'd felt a pang of envy seeing kids buy snacks and toys from the candy shop…
In middle school, other girls had started experimenting with makeup. She never did.
But even barefaced, she outshone them all—almost cruelly so.
She had simply decided she didn't need to make herself more beautiful.
Not out of pride, but self-preservation.
Still… holding that bill in her hands now, she felt a strange happiness rise from within.
It reminded her of the way her mom used to smile when she got money from her stepdad.
She used to think that smile was all about the money itself—but now, she realized: it was about the fact that someone was willing to give it to her.
She finally understood her mother.
"…Do you want me to get anything for you?" she asked softly.
"Hmm…"
Cigarettes…
But no dice.
You needed ID to buy smokes in Japan.
And this body hadn't developed a nicotine addiction yet, either. Akira didn't really want to smoke—it was just a soul-deep reflex from his past life.
He hadn't always been a smoker. He'd started during overtime shifts to stay alert, and it spiraled into a pack a day.
"I don't really need anything. Just be frugal with that, alright? Don't waste it on stuff you don't absolutely need. That 10,000 yen is all the startup cash we've got."
He was worried she'd be a spendthrift, being a rich girl and all. For her, 10,000 yen probably wasn't even pocket change.
"Okay."
Shion nodded seriously. She'd already been treasuring the money, but now she was even more determined to stretch every last yen. And even if she did make it as a voice actress someday—even if she became rich—she swore she'd never lose that habit.
"Oh, Akira… aren't you going to ask about my family?"
"Do you want to tell me?"
"…"
She did. But she was afraid. Afraid he'd see her differently once he knew. The conflicting feelings silenced her.
"…Guess you don't feel like talking about it yet. That's fine. Tell me whenever you're ready. Everyone has things they can't talk about easily. I do, too."
"Mm…"
"Shion… I don't know what your family situation is. But I just want you to remember—you're only fifteen."
"You're fifteen too, Akira…"
Not even close…
Counting both lives, he was pushing forty-five. Mentally, he was still around thirty.
"What I mean is—your life is just getting started. It'd be a shame to give up now."
"…I know. I won't give up on myself anymore."
"Good. Then let's get some sleep. Night."
"…Good night, Akira."
It was only the first day, but the road ahead was long.
Maybe one day, she'd figure out the real meaning behind "Shiroko"… and tease him with it.
By then, maybe their relationship would be something deeper.
Not long ago, she couldn't even imagine what her future looked like.
But now… she found herself looking forward to it.
All because of Akira.
With that thought, she smiled and slowly drifted off to sleep.
Akira turned off his phone, and just before he closed his eyes, he saw the clock tick past midnight.
The summer vacation where he met two fateful girls had come to an end.
And for Kuroba Akira, a brand new life was just beginning.
...
That night, Shion slept soundly.
But she had a strange dream.
In it, her face burned crimson as she lifted her skirt in embarrassment, while Akira gripped her thigh, leaned in close enough that she could feel his breath… and stared.
She was wearing the most ridiculous panties—white, lacy, sheer, and frilly.
No… no, don't come any closer…
It's too hot…
For the first time in her life, Shiginomiya Shion had a wet dream.