Catching the bell before it rang, Miyahito skillfully dodged the faculty office near the stairs and sprinted toward the rooftop on the top floor.
Before long, he reached the final landing.
Just as he was about to turn the doorknob like usual, a thought crossed his mind.
If she's not in class, could Kasumigaoka-san be skipping too, planning to sleep on the rooftop like me?
"No way. Why would she skip class to sleep up here?" He chuckled to himself, shaking his head as he turned the handle. "Sleeping through the day in the classroom is way more her style."
As he spoke, the door opened.
"See? Told you."
Looking at the empty bench under the sunshade, a faint, almost imperceptible disappointment colored his voice.
"She wouldn't possibly be here..."
Mid-sentence, a figure caught his eye. Sitting sideways on the cool concrete floor, back against the wall, head tilted in deep slumber.
Kasumigaoka... Utaha?!
His pupils dilated slightly. He almost called out instinctively, but swallowed the words "Kasumigaoka-san" at the last second.
He didn't know why.
Looking at her sleeping face, his legs seemed to move on their own. He stepped forward carefully, doing his absolute best not to make a sound.
He stopped about a step away from her, slowly crouching down.
It really is her.
His gaze fell on the girl, dressed rather thinly. He frowned slightly.
How could she fall asleep out here? Doesn't she know how windy it is on the rooftop? And wearing so little.
Honestly, he had the least right to say that.
Before seeing her, he'd been planning to "catch a breeze on the rooftop and take a solid nap!" himself.
Should I wake her? Raising his hand, he prepared to gently nudge her awake.
But the moment his eyes locked onto her peaceful, content sleeping face, he abruptly abandoned the idea.
He just couldn't bring himself to wake her. She looked too peaceful.
But if he didn't... setting aside the risk of being late for class...
Wearing just a simple sailor uniform and a thin, paper-like knit vest... even though summer was approaching, the rooftop wind was still quite cool.
So.
Sigh... Letting out a barely audible breath, he slowly raised his hands and began unbuttoning his blazer.
Carefully taking it off, he was about to drape it over her when he paused, glancing down at the jacket.
Mom washed this last night. Should be fine, right?
He brought it close to his nose and sniffed.
Mm. No weird smell.
Relieved, he slowly leaned in and quietly draped the jacket over her shoulders.
Phew... Mission accomplished. He let out a tiny sigh and prepared to stand up, planning to find another spot to rest.
But just as he moved, his gaze was once again drawn to her sleeping face.
Crouching there, he stared blankly at the sleeping Utaha.
Gradually, memories from the past overlapped with the image before him, blending seamlessly.
A hazy, unreadable emotion clouded his eyes. In the breeze, his slightly dry lips parted faintly.
A silent whisper slipped out.
「Why must someone as proud as you love so humbly...」
This thought had been buried in his heart since his past life.
So excellent, so proud, so utterly deserving of love... yet she fell for a cowardly man who couldn't even face her precious feelings.
Back then, watching the anime, seeing Utaha on that snowy night, clutching her novel with tears in her eyes as she whispered "Goodbye..."
How he wished he could have been the one standing before her. If it had been him...
No, he absolutely would not have let the proud Kasumigaoka Utaha leave in silent tears and loneliness.
But that was just a futile obsession.
After all, in love, there's only first come, first served. The latecomer is just a pitiful loser, or a guy who throws away his dignity chasing someone who won't look back.
Almost unconsciously, he raised his right hand.
Never breaking his gaze, he carefully, gently tucked a stray strand of hair away from her cheek. His fingers brushed her flawless, pale skin and froze for a split second.
Then, resuming his movement, he gently tucked the lingering strands behind her ear.
Now, he finally realized.
In truth, wasn't Aragaki Miyahito exactly the same as Kasumigaoka Utaha?
Just as proud as her, yet when faced with the girl he cherished, his actions and thoughts were just as humble, just as insecure.
He liked her so much it hurt.
Yet he didn't dare make a single move to pursue her. He didn't even have the courage to compete with that cowardly, useless scumbag.
He only used excuses like "No matter how hard I try, Kasumigaoka, who already knows him, won't change her feelings" to convince himself.
He even kept hypnotizing himself to build a massive harem.
How laughable. The guy who constantly told himself he'd start a harem was still single, and hadn't even tried flirting with another girl.
Truly laughable.
Don't you agree, Aragaki Miyahito?
So, just accept it. Miyahito and Utaha, you and her... you're actually the same kind of person.
A bitter tinge colored his faint smile as he slowly withdrew his hand.
As if trying to etch this moment permanently into his memory, he took one last, careful look at the sleeping Utaha.
Was it just his imagination, or did her sleeping face look slightly more peaceful and content now?
Maybe she was having a sweet dream.
「Sweet dreams, Kasumigaoka-san.」
After silently saying the words, he eased his stiff, crouching legs and slowly stood up.
He walked to the opposite wall, a comfortable distance away, and plopped down onto the cool concrete floor.
Left leg stretched out, right leg bent.
One arm resting on his knee, the other propped naturally on the ground.
Leaning back against the wall, he tilted his face upward.
Dark eyes reflecting the clear blue sky and white clouds, the corners of his mouth lifted slightly.
Really perfect weather for a nap.
After silently acknowledging that to himself, Aragaki Miyahito slowly closed his eyes.
Sweet dreams.
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