On the wide, soft genuine leather sofa, Haizaki sat upright with his back against the cushions, while Utaha nestled beside him.
On the coffee table in front of them were two cups of steaming hot orange juice.
Considering their sleep quality for the night, neither of them chose tea or coffee—no stimulating drinks.
Through casual conversation with Haizaki, Utaha formed a general impression of Hiratsuka Shizuka in her mind.
A teacher who treated her students seriously and responsibly, someone who cared about their growth—just an older unmarried woman. She was almost exactly like her editor, Machida Sonoko.
Despite being an older unmarried woman herself, she still cared about Utaha's personal affairs on a daily basis.
Thinking of her editor, a nostalgic smile flowed onto Utaha's lips.
She still remembered her name, and all the many things they had experienced together, but… her facial features had become somewhat blurred.
Not as clear as they once were.
The same applied to her parents.
One day, without photographs, she would surely forget what they looked like.
"That's really nice. I'm actually a bit jealous that Haizaki-kun had such a teacher."
"Unfortunately, Utaha didn't have that chance."
"Yes. If it were in the past, maybe I would still have had the chance to enjoy high school life together with Haizaki-kun. But now, there's no chance anymore."
The high school life she longed for was really about the atmosphere.
If it were just wearing school uniforms and going to school with Haizaki, looking around campus and visiting the library, those were things that could still be done now—but fake was fake, and there was no need to do that.
"Not necessarily."
"Eh…?"
How could there still be any uncertainty?
"Maybe one day, everything will be restored and return to how it was."
"Then I'll look forward to it."
Utaha, who had once held onto hope, had long since given up on that expectation. She just hadn't expected that even now, the calm and rational Haizaki still clung to that fantasy.
Still attached to that world—or rather, to those two people.
Thinking of this, Utaha felt a sudden pain in her heart.
Was first love really that unforgettable, so deeply engraved in memory?
Haizaki clearly had feelings for two girls, clearly wasn't devoted to just one, yet here he was—ignoring her, who was right in front of him, and still longing for them.
Unconsciously, Utaha hugged Haizaki tighter.
It felt as though if she let go even slightly, she would lose him forever.
"Ye, we'll be together forever, right?"
"As long as you're willing…"
Hearing this, Utaha swung a leg over and sat on Haizaki's lap. She wasn't satisfied with his answer, but she didn't press him further for the response she wanted.
She wasn't a naïve, sweet girl. Answers forced out had little meaning.
Only an answer Haizaki gave willingly, straight from his heart, would carry real weight and binding force.
"Do you really think… I wouldn't be willing?"
As soon as the words fell, a trace of shyness flashed across the girl's face, followed immediately by soft, elastic fullness pressing against him.
"Mm…"
This time, it was Haizaki who began to struggle.
Afraid of hurting Utaha, he didn't dare use too much strength—but without fully exerting himself, he couldn't break free from Utaha's dominant position.
"Haizaki-kun, don't move so much, I—"
"Huff…"
"Utaha, are you trying to suffocate me?"
"How could I bear to do that? I just noticed that Haizaki-kun's gaze was lingering there earlier, so I let you experience it firsthand."
He hadn't—he had only glanced over by accident while looking at her. He didn't care.
Even if it really was… big.
"Want to touch it?"
The girl's tempting whisper sounded by his ear.
This woman was getting bolder and bolder.
"No."
"That's really a shame. But…"
Still sitting firmly on Haizaki's lap, Utaha leaned in, pressing her small head close to his ear, her red lips moving as she spoke softly,
"Who else, in the past… wanted to correct your distorted worldview? Can you answer me? My dear Haizaki-kun."
She hadn't forgotten that anomaly.
"It was—"
The words stopped abruptly. Cold sweat broke out on Haizaki's back—he had almost said it. If Utaha heard that name, there was no telling how badly things would explode again.
"It was Hiratsuka-sensei."
"I hate lies. So let me rephrase the question—besides Hiratsuka Shizuka-sensei, who else was there? It must have been a girl, right!"
The words by his ear carried a faint, teasing smile.
Haizaki shuddered. At this point, it seemed he really had no choice but to say it.
If Utaha got upset, he would just have to do his best to comfort her.
"It was—"
Before he could even get out the first sound of the name, Utaha stopped him.
He looked at her in surprise.
"Forget it. No need to say it."
She didn't want to hear that unfamiliar yet familiar name.
What she wanted was Haizaki's attitude. Since he had ultimately decided to come clean, her goal had already been achieved.
The bonds and memories he shared with those girls—she would personally destroy them all.
If one year wasn't enough, then five years.
If five years weren't enough, then ten.
All traces of those two girls in Haizaki's memories would be filled over and overwritten by memories of him and her together.
Utaha had that confidence.
She would never admit defeat.
"I want to stain you with my color. From now on, in your life, you'll only look at me."
Utaha's wine-red eyes locked onto Haizaki. A blush spread across her delicate face, but her expression was resolute, without the slightest hint of retreat.
"In return, I'll also be stained with your color. The only one my eyes will look at is you."
"I—"
"You don't need to answer me right now. I'll wait for the day you confess to me. Your person, your heart…"
She lowered her head to Haizaki's left chest, listening to his heartbeat—thump, thump, strong and powerful.
"They'll all be mine."
All of them would be hers.
If she had met Haizaki earlier, then those initial conflicts wouldn't have happened. Maybe she would have already won him over by now.
"Go back and rest. It's getting late."
She stood up and adjusted her clothes right in front of Haizaki.
With a few subtle movements, the alluring side of the girl was fully displayed before him.
A beautiful girl—one with a graceful figure—every smile and glance brimming with attraction.
"You should rest early too."
"Me? That won't do. I might come check on you tonight. But if Haizaki-kun clearly tells me right now that you plan to use my underwear tonight to do something you'd need to secretly do alone, I can skip the inspection. After all, it wouldn't be good to disturb you."
Utaha chuckled softly, her meaningful gaze drifting downward.
Today's gains were quite satisfactory.
She was another step closer to victory.
…