[ENG] Jikan wo Tomete Dere Makuru, Saikyou Muteki no Kurono-san V1 Chapter 6

Chapter 6: The first date, the endless love, and then Dad

1 ─side Kurono Shia

Sunday, a Day Off.

Around four in the afternoon,Kurono Shia stood alone in her kitchen.

A brand-new cutting board and kitchen knife lay before her, alongside ingredients bought from the supermarket: onions, carrots, potatoes, pork, and curry roux.

"Alright... let's do this."

It was Shia Kurono's first attempt at cooking in her life.

"Bite-sized pieces... bite-sized? But that varies from person to person, doesn't it? They should specify in centimeters. How inconsiderate."

Muttering complaints as she read through a recipe on a major food company's official website, she clumsily chopped the vegetables with hesitant hands.

A week had passed since the trial tasting event.

On the way home that day, Shia had finally resolved to confess her feelings to Kai.

But that didn’t mean courage would simply manifest on its own.

(Confessing out of nowhere would be... well, rude. I need to get closer to him first.)

With that thought, she decided to take it step by step.

She placed the chopped vegetables and meat into a pot and carefully turned on the heat.

(I read online that neighbors often share home-cooked meals like curry.)

This would give her a reason to visit him outside of school, and if he appreciated the gesture, it might help her win his affection. As a first step toward her confession, it seemed like a solid plan.

An hour later, the curry was ready. She hadn’t added any unconventional ingredients, and had followed the recipe exactly—right down to the simmering time. The internet had warned that amateur improvisation was dangerous.

Shia took a cautious taste with a spoon.

"...Yeah. I can’t really tell, but it should be fine. The ingredients are cooked through, at least."

Now all that was left was to take it over to Kai’s apartment next door.

Simple enough. Yes, simple.

"I-I made too much, so if you'd like some... no, that sounds wrong. Maybe more like... uh..."

Frozen in place at the doorway for nearly an hour, Shia stood with the pot hovering mid-air, her arms crossed as she paced the hallway.

It wasn’t simple at all. In fact, it was the hardest part.

Did Kai even like curry? Had he already eaten dinner? Was her hair weird today? Her doubts spiraled endlessly.

(Why doesn’t the internet tell you what to say at moments like this?)

Because that answer was something only she could find within herself—but Shia didn’t know that.

(Maybe... maybe I should just give up for today and try again another time...)

She was about to surrender to exhaustion when—

(No... I can’t back down now. I'm the strongest, most unbeatable agent, after all.)

She reframed her thoughts, treating it like a mission.

There was no way an S-Class agent from the International Police Organization’s secret branch, Chronosia, would back out just because she was scared.

(...I-I’m going.)

Steeling herself, she resumed time and pressed the doorbell with a trembling finger.

Before long, she heard the sound of the lock turning, and the door opened.

"Hello? Who is it?"

Standing before her was an unfamiliar girl.

Her short hair was a mix of gold and white, and she wore a thin camisole and extremely short lounge shorts, exposing her thighs. Her large, black eyes blinked up at Shia.

Time froze again. Shia screamed.

"Kyaaaaaaah! Wh-Who are you!? Wh-Why are you in Kai’s apartment, dressed like that—!?"

And then, a chilling thought crossed her mind.

(No way...)

Unfreezing time, Shia forced herself into a calm expression and spoke.

"Um, are you... Kairo's little sister?"

"Yep, that's me. We have different last names for complicated reasons, though. My name's Sotomichi Koa, 14 years old."

Thank goodness. Shia heaved a huge sigh of relief internally.

"I’m Shia Kurono, from the same class and living next door. Um... I made too much curry, so..."

"Oh, okay. Sorry about that. My Onii-sama’s out right now. Want to come in?"

(He’s called ‘Onii-sama’ at home, huh?)

"Y-Yes. Thank you. Sorry to intrude."

And so, Shia found herself unexpectedly invited into Kai’s apartment. She placed the pot on the stove.

(Kai’s apartment... I can’t believe I got inside so easily!)

Sitting formally on the cushion she was given, Shia kept her back straight, feeling oddly nervous.

The layout was identical to her own apartment, yet the atmosphere felt completely different. Her eyes kept drifting to his uniform hanging on a rack and the cup sitting on his desk.

"Here you go. Coke is fine, right?"

"Ah... You didn’t have to, really."

She took a cautious sip from the mug she was handed.

And then—

"So, Shia Kurono. You like my Onii-sama, don’t you?"

"Pffft!!??!"

Just before she spat out her drink, she managed to freeze time.

She grabbed some tissues, collected the floating droplets, ran back to her room to throw them out, and returned.

Time resumed.

"A-Ahem... Why would you say that?"

"I mean, come on. Who really shares extra curry these days? If you have leftovers, you just put them in the fridge. And even if you made too much, it’s hard to imagine it being that much. What were you cooking with, an industrial pot? The only explanation is that you deliberately made too much—so you’d have an excuse to meet him."

(She’s a detective! Kai's sister is a detective!)

Gokuaku—or "Koa," as she’d introduced herself—sat on a chair, a slight smile playing on her lips as she gazed down at Shia.

"So? Am I wrong?"

"Um... well..."

It felt like an interrogation. Shia was used to conducting them, but now she was the one cornered.

(So this is what it feels like to be on the receiving end of love troubles... What do I do?)

Should she just admit it?

It was embarrassing, but at least Kai wasn’t here.

However, if his sister passed the information along, it would be devastating.

And above all, Shia wanted Kai to be the first to hear it from her.

So—

"I-I’m sorry... but I’d rather not say."

"Oh, really? By the way, your hair ribbon’s come undone."

"Huh?!"

Kurono hurriedly touched it with her hand to confirm. But that was not the case.

When she saw the girl, she smiled and said,

"I'm lying."

"......Um, Koa-san. Are you teasing me?"

"Of course."

She said.

"My Onii-sama talks about you a lot, so I get kind of jealous."

(--Eh? Kai-kun, but...? About me.)

At that moment, there was a noise from the entrance.

2 ─side Kai Rou─

"I'm home."

When Kai returned from the nearby convenience store and opened the front door, he noticed an unfamiliar pair of shoes.

No, not unfamiliar—he recognized them. But if these were here...

A bad feeling struck him, and he hurried to the living room.

As expected, there she was.

"Ah, Kai-kun. Um... thank you for having me," Shia Kurono said, sitting formally on a cushion.

"Uh, hi... but, why?" Kai asked, bewildered.

"She brought some curry to share," Koa replied, spinning lazily on the chair.

"By the way, Onii-sama, did you remember to buy ice cream?"

"Yeah. I'll stick it in the freezer. But, wait... curry to share? From Kurono-san?"

It sounded absurd. Who did stuff like that anymore?

(Well... it is Kurono.)

If anyone would actually do this, it was her.

Kai swallowed nervously. Thankfully, there was nothing embarrassing lying around. Well, except for the fact that Koa’s true identity would be a disaster if exposed—but he trusted her to handle it.

"Uh, thanks, Kurono-san. I haven't had dinner yet, so this really helps."

"I'm glad. I hope it tastes good."

But after that, the conversation fell silent.

Koa kept spinning in her chair, looking bored. Kurono remained seated, hands neatly folded on her lap. She didn’t seem eager to leave.

Was she... hoping for something? Or was that just his imagination?

After thinking it over, Kai forced himself to speak calmly.

"Kurono-san, um... have you had dinner yet?"

"Ah, no."

"Well, if you’d like... want to eat together? The three of us?"

His throat trembled as he said it.

He reheated the curry on the stove and served it on three plates. The rice was from the freezer.

"Itadakimasu," they said together, gathering around the low table.

Kai braced himself. He wasn’t exactly expecting a gourmet experience. But to his surprise—

"!?"

"Kurono-san, this is... actually really good."

"Really? I'm so glad it suits your taste."

But Koa scowled.

"What a boring flavor. The variety of vegetables and simmering time are lacking, so there's no depth. Plus, you're just using store-bought curry roux, right? The spices are weak. And don't put potatoes in next time—they stay hot for too long, and I hate that."

"S-sorry, Koa-san... I'll try harder next time."

Kai shot Koa a sharp glare.

"Hey, that's rude. She made this for us."

"But, Onii-sama? I can make a way better curry than this."

"Liar. Your curry tastes awful."

"What!?"

Koa kicked him under the table.

"Ouch! Hey, quit it! Don't kick me while I'm eating!"

When Kai glanced over, he noticed Kurono had paused with her spoon mid-air, quietly watching the exchange.

"Ah, sorry. You two just seemed so close... it was nice to see. I didn’t mean to stare."

Kurono looked down, awkward.

"No, it’s fine. Really."

"Is that so...?"

Kai struggled to keep his voice steady. But he caught himself wondering—if her expression ever changed from that calm mask, would it look like this?

Before he could linger on the thought, Koa’s voice, low and cutting, slipped into his ear.

"(Onii-sama, not to intrude on your moment, but maybe you should avoid this girl.)"

"I'm not doing anything!"

"?"

"Ah, sorry. Nothing, don’t worry about it."

Kai waved it off, but Koa wasn’t done.

"(Think about it. Who even does the whole 'oops, I made too much curry, guess I’ll share with my neighbor' thing anymore? Her sense of distance is... off. If you date her, she’ll be clingy and possessive. I can feel it.)"

"(Come on, she’s not that bad... probably.)"

"(She definitely is. My instincts are never wrong.)"

And then—

"(With your situation, can you really get involved with someone like this? Have you forgotten about the guilt you carry?)"

"…"

Kai knew. He knew better than anyone. Keeping a safe distance, pretending nothing was wrong—that was the right choice.

But wasn’t that just running away?

Just then, their phones buzzed in unison.

It was a group message from Marusu.

[@Kai @Kurono-san: Please place the order for the ingredients soon.]

"Oh, right. I forgot about that," Kai muttered.

He and Kurono were in charge of ordering the ingredients for the cultural festival. They had to visit the supermarket and make arrangements. The festival was only three weeks away. It had to be done by next weekend.

"Kai-kun," Kurono said.

"Yeah?"

When he looked up, he found her staring back—expression calm but eyes intent, as if readying herself for battle.

"If it's alright... would you come with me?"

"...To order the ingredients?"

"Yes."

"Just the two of us?"

"Y-yes."

That was—

(A date.)

The realization hit him like a hammer.

And with it, the guilt returned, clawing at his throat.

But when she looked at him with those shy, slightly trembling eyes, tinted faintly red…

Kai found himself nodding.

"If you're okay with me."

Beside him, Koa gave an exasperated shake of her head.

3 ─side Kurono Shia─

After returning to her room, Kurono placed the empty pot in the sink and muttered to herself.

"...I should take a bath."

She untied the ribbon in her hair, undressed from her uniform, and stepped into the shower. Lukewarm water hit her face, trickling down her chest and falling to the floor. Yet, her heart was still racing.

It had been unexpected. She hadn’t thought she'd be able to suggest that to Kai.

After stepping out of the bathroom, Kurono dried her long hair with a hairdryer, quietly sorting through her thoughts.

It was just about going to order ingredients. That was all.

So it wasn’t a date. Not really.

"...But still, going out together like that... it's hard not to think about it."

Would Kai be thinking the same? If so—

(…This could be... my chance to confess.)

As she finished drying her hair, a new concern struck her.

"...Right. What am I going to wear?"

Kurono had always lived in either her school uniform or basic loungewear that doubled as underwear. It was enough. Fashion had never interested her. She didn’t even own proper casual clothes.

"I guess I’ll have to buy something new."

Her monthly allowance from the organization was generous, and her frugal lifestyle meant she had savings. So, she grabbed her phone and started searching online.

"...None of this feels right."

It wasn’t surprising. Kurono had no sense for fashion. She couldn’t even tell what might suit her.

What should she do? She thought long and hard, finally coming to one conclusion.

She would ask someone for advice. But who? Not Amafuro.

"She’d definitely just tease me..."

But other than her, Kurono had no female friends.

After more deliberation, she decided on a last resort.

---

Location: A certain office building, 13 floors underground in Tokyo.

Time: Past midnight.

A woman in a suit stretched her arms in front of her desk.

This was an office for the International Police Organization—its existence hidden from the public.

The woman was Shiotan Remi, Kurono's assigned operator. She was on night duty.

"...Time for a break."

Opening the mini-fridge, she pulled out a Deluxe Rich Caramel Fresh Cream Baked Soufflé Pudding she'd bought at the convenience store. Humming, she smiled.

"Ah~ desserts during a night shift really hit the spot. This is what I live for—"

Tap, tap.

"YAAH!?"

Just as she was about to sink her spoon into the rich caramel, someone tapped her shoulder. She let out a short scream, falling off her chair with the pudding still in hand.

Instinctively, she reached for the pistol and alarm under her desk—only to freeze.

"E-Agent... Chronocia?!"

Standing there was Kurono Shia, dressed in her school uniform, the S-class agent she usually communicated with over the phone.

"...Sorry for disturbing you during work."

"Y-You scared me... I was really looking forward to that pudding... Wait, huh? It's not on the floor?"

"I stopped time before it fell."

"...O-Okay. Anyway, if you contact me beforehand, I'll respond right away. There's no need to show up like this—"

"I didn’t want to leave a record of this conversation. That’s why I came in person."

Shiotan felt a chill. She couldn't refuse.

Kurono wasn’t just a top agent—she was a machine. Efficient. Ruthless. Unstoppable. She could take down entire criminal organizations, and probably a military unit if she wanted.

Sweat trickled down Shiotan’s back. Kurono was terrifying—even more so than her superiors.

After a brief silence, Kurono spoke.

"This is about a highly classified mission."

"...Classified? Well, if it’s that high-level, it's beyond my authority—"

"It’s a personal classified mission."

Shiotan blinked. "...Sorry?"

"This weekend, I'm going out with a friend. I’d like your assistance selecting optimal... equipment."

There was a pause as Shiotan processed the words. Then:

"...You mean, you want me to help you choose an outfit for hanging out with a friend?"

"...Yes."

"Just to confirm... this friend—is it a guy?"

"...For risk management reasons, I cannot confirm or deny that."

It is a guy, Shiotan thought.

The cool, mission-focused agent was nervous about casual clothes? Shiotan’s impression of her shifted slightly.

(So she's... normal in some ways, huh?)

"I understand. Please stand over there for a moment."

Relieved, Shiotan sat back down and grabbed her phone. She took a picture of Kurono and opened an app, layering different outfits over the image to coordinate a look.

Kurono watched silently, her expression neutral.

"...That's a useful app."

"I’ll share it with you later. You can try it yourself next time."

"Thank you."

(Wow, she's really pretty up close. And her figure... It’s hard to resist playing dress-up with her.)

A few minutes later, Shiotan sent several sample outfit images to Kurono’s phone.

"These should give you some ideas. Just look for similar styles at a department store."

"Understood. Thank you for your assistance."

(You can do it, girl! I’ll ask about your 'friend' next time.)

Kurono gave a small bow, and Shiotan sent her off with a grandmotherly smile.

But the atmosphere shifted—like the room had dropped a degree in temperature.

A chill ran down Shiotan’s spine.

"I appreciate your help. But one final thing."

Kurono raised her face. Her expression was so cold, it could’ve frozen a polar bear.

"Please ensure that tonight’s conversation remains strictly confidential."

"Uh, of course! And if, uh, I... happened to mention it...?"

"...That would mean you don’t wish to see tomorrow."

"U-Understood! I’ll take it to the grave!"

Shiotan responded like a robot. Kurono nodded in satisfaction.

"In that case, I’ll take my leave. Your 'reward' is on the desk."

In the blink of an eye, Kurono vanished—probably stopping time to leave unnoticed.

And in that same instant, a mountain of puddings appeared on the desk. Their sudden collapse sent Shiotan tumbling off her chair again.

Groaning, she sat up, grabbed the nearest pudding, and took a bite straight from the container.

"...S-So scary... She's terrifying..."

4 ─side Kai Rou─

And so, on Saturday morning, an hour before their scheduled meeting, Kai paced restlessly around his room, glancing at the clock.

“Onii-sama, you’re noisy,” came a lazy remark.

“I haven’t even said anything,” Kai retorted.

“Your movements are loud. Honestly, why are you so flustered over just a date?”

Lazing on the sofa in her usual, excessively revealing loungewear, Koa looked as indifferent as ever.

“It’s not a date. We're just going to order supplies for the café,” Kai insisted.

“Yeah, sure. If you’re thinking about it that much, it’s already a date.”

Her languid voice sounded teasing, making Kai feel even more self-conscious. After a moment of silence, he finally spoke, hesitant.

“Hey… Koa.”

“What is it?”

“Do I… look weird?”

He glanced down at his outfit—a white polo shirt paired with beige chinos. He’d aimed for a clean, simple look.

“It’s fine. Pretty safe and neutral. Besides, considering Kurono Shia likes you, as long as you don’t make any wild choices, you won’t lose points.”

Kurono likes me? The words made Kai’s heart skip, but it also left him with an awkward sense of vulnerability—like he had secretly wanted someone to say it out loud.

“By the way, Onii-sama,” Koa added, “you used my toner and perfume this morning, didn’t you?”

“Ugh… sorry.”

He’d thought a little wouldn’t hurt, but clearly, he’d been caught.

“I could smell it,” Koa said, smirking. “So, Mr. Citrus Mint, bring me back some of that new pudding from the convenience store. And remember, just be yourself. But whatever you do, don’t slip up about the surgeries or the Organization.”

Before he could reply, the clock showed it was less than five minutes to the meeting.

“Go on. Don’t stay out too late,” Koa said, waving him off.

Kai stepped out the door—and there she was.

“Good morning, Kai-kun.”

Kurono stood waiting. She wore a sleeveless white blouse that revealed her delicate shoulders and modestly highlighted her feminine figure. A black skirt, the same color as her long hair, was cinched at the waist with a chic belt, completing the sophisticated look. Her ribbon was tied with a little more care than usual, and beneath it, her gaze held a trace of uncertainty.

She was stunning. So stunning that any coherent thought was knocked out of Kai’s head.

She was, in short, incredibly cute.

“Is… is something wrong?” Kurono asked, tilting her head.

“Huh? No, it’s just… I didn’t expect to see you in casual clothes. You look really good. I mean, I thought you’d be in your uniform like usual.”

“Thank you. But… did you think I had no interest in fashion?”

Kai scratched the back of his neck, realizing his careless words.

“Sorry.”

“It’s fine. It’s true I never really cared much about clothes.”

There was an awkward pause, then Kai cleared his throat.

“Shall we go?”

“Yes. Um… Kai-kun,” she said, stopping him. She bowed slightly, her voice quiet.

“Thank you for today.”

Though her face was as expressionless as always, something about her seemed softer, lighter, like she was quietly excited.

---

The supplier for the culture festival ingredients was the same as every year: a wholesale supermarket in the city.

That was why, despite the cheerful pop music and special sale announcements echoing through the store, Kai found himself walking through the aisles with Kurono, who stood out in her carefully chosen outfit.

There was absolutely no romantic mood to be found.

“So, Kai-kun. What should I do?” she asked.

“Oh, um… right. Marusu made a list of everything we need for the festival, so we’ll just ask the staff to order it for us.”

And then—

“Thank you for waiting. Here’s your customer copy of the order,” the store clerk said, handing over the receipt.

On the day of the festival, they’d pick up the supplies using the advisor’s car. Kai checked his watch: 11:15 a.m.

The job was done. That was it.

(…Why am I feeling a little disappointed?)

“Alright, Kurono-san. Let’s head back.”

“…Yes.”

There was a slight pause in her response, like she didn’t want the day to end just yet.

They stepped out together, side by side, into the bright midday sun.

And then—time stopped.

“…No,” Kurono whispered into the frozen world.

“I gathered my courage to come out today… I want to stay together longer. I want to go to more places. And more than that—”

She stepped in front of Kai, gazing directly into his eyes.

“I want you to look at me more, Kai-kun. Don’t you… feel the same?”

And just like that, time began to move again.

"Well, shall we go home?"

Kurono's voice was perfectly calm.

As if she had left behind unnecessary things in the stopped time.

Then, she walked forward from beside him, her black hair and ribbon swaying somewhat sadly.

Kai immediately grabbed her hand.

"Huh?"

"I'm sorry. But..."

Kurono's white wrist was a little cold and soft. She turned around, her eyes widened in shock.

Kai desperately searched for an excuse for his actions.

"Hey, it's almost lunchtime."

It was eleven-thirty. His pounding heart beat faster.

"Why don't we have lunch together before we go home?"

Kurono froze for a few seconds at the words he squeezed out.

As if time had started to move again, she answered.

"Yes. I'd be happy to."

5 ─side Kai Rou─

And so, for the first time in his life, Kai was seriously searching for a place to have lunch.

However, it was just before noon on a weekend, and the area near the station was crowded. Every restaurant had a line out the door.

“Kurono-san, um… is there anything you feel like eating?”

“No. Anything is fine… though saying that probably makes it harder, doesn’t it? Understood. I’ll consider it as a matter of utmost importance and urgency.”

“You don’t need to take it that seriously.”

Just then, Kai noticed a chain gyudon (beef bowl) restaurant that wasn’t crowded.

(No way… that’s not happening.)

If they walked a little farther, surely they’d find a less crowded, nicer place. He respected the affordability and taste of gyudon chains, but today wasn’t the day to settle.

But as he was about to walk past—

“Oh, Kai-kun, this place is open.”

Before he could react, Kurono took his hand and led him inside.

“I’ve never been to a place like this before. It seems different from family restaurants… Kai-kun, is this kind of place not to your liking?”

“Ah, no, it’s not that… I don’t dislike it or anything.”

With no preconceived notions, Kurono’s innocent words left Kai unable to protest further.

Of course, it wasn’t exactly the ideal place for a date—but he couldn’t say that aloud.

(No, this isn’t a date. We just happened to be eating together after placing the order. That’s all…)

He forced himself to believe that, or the closeness between them would have been too overwhelming.

They sat across from each other at a small table and grabbed self-service water. Together, they looked over the menu tablet.

“I’ll have the large gyudon. What about you, Kai-kun?”

“Ah, yeah. I’m thinking…”

He tapped in Kurono’s order and absentmindedly looked over the limited-time specials.

“Wow. Tonkatsu, croquette, curry, cheese-in hamburger, roast beef… on top of gyudon? That’s just chaos.”

“It doesn’t seem like they put much thought into that combination.”

Her blunt remark made Kai chuckle. Then Kurono clapped her hands as if she’d had an idea.

“Oh, Kai-kun, I might have thought of something.”

He tilted his head, puzzled, and Kurono leaned in to whisper.

The sweet scent of her perfume was close, her breath brushing against his ear, sending heat to his cheeks.

“In other words… murmur murmur... something like that.”

“...Ah, I see. Yeah, I think that’s a great idea.”

“Really? I’m glad you think so.”

With his heart pounding louder than her words, Kai ordered a regular-sized bowl.

After paying, Kai suggested they take a walk to let their food settle.

For some reason, saying “let’s go home” didn’t feel right.

“This is my first time… walking around town like this,” Kurono murmured.

(What should I do? Should I take her somewhere?)

Kai wasn’t experienced with dating, but he at least knew it wasn’t great to just let a girl wander aimlessly. But he also had no clue where Kurono might want to go.

As they strolled side by side, Kurono suddenly pointed to a corner.

“Oh, Kai-kun, what is that place?”

There stood a building with faded white walls that resembled an abandoned pachinko parlor. Its neon sign was unlit.

“A… game center? I can’t believe it’s still around.”

He couldn’t remember the last time he’d been in one. Ever since smartphones made entertainment so accessible, it had slipped from his mind.

He explained the basics, then asked, “Are you interested, Kurono-san?”

“Yes. Ah, but… if you’d rather not, that’s fine too.”

(It feels like a child is trying to be considerate…)

Feeling guilty, Kai decided to give the place a try.

But the moment they stepped inside, he regretted it.

“Whoa…”

The dimly lit space was filled with rough-looking guys and girls hanging around. Despite it being a weekend, it wasn’t crowded—probably because it had become a hangout for the local delinquents.

“Kai-kun, what’s that game? It looks like training equipment.”

“Uh, that’s the one where you punch it, and it gives you a score. But more importantly—Kurono-san, I think we should leave—”

But it was too late.

“Hey, miss. Wanna hang out with us?”

“There’s a fun game over here.”

Two men blocked Kurono’s path, both with piercings and an obvious delinquent vibe.

Kai didn’t hesitate. Not because he was worried about Kurono—but about the delinquents' safety.

“She’s with me. Please back off.”

“Huh?”

The men turned to Kai, their eyes scanning his white hair. He hoped it looked intimidating, but it didn’t seem to faze them.

“What, you her boyfriend or something?”

“Uh, well…”

Kai faltered, and one of the men sneered.

“Then let’s settle this with a punch battle! Winner takes the girl home!”

“I don’t think that’s necessary…”

“What, you gonna back down after getting me all hyped? Take responsibility, man. Own up and face my fist!”

Before the situation could worsen—

Clink.

Kurono calmly inserted a coin into the punching machine.

A devastating impact followed, shaking the entire machine.

Ding ding ding! 9999, a perfect score.

“So… whose face is next?” she asked quietly.

“…We’re so sorry!”

The delinquents bolted.

“Kai-kun, are you okay?”

“Yeah. Thanks… but next time, let me handle it from the start. It’s dangerous.”

“I understand. But… I was happy you tried to protect me. You were adorable.”

(Adorable…?)

He would’ve preferred “cool,” even if it was a lie.

---

By the time they left, the sky was tinged with orange.

They rode the train, walked back to the apartment, and stopped outside their respective doors.

“…We’re here.”

“…Yes.”

The sunset cast long shadows, and Kurono turned back.

“Kai-kun, thank you for today. I had fun.”

Kai opened his mouth to reply—but time stopped.

“I love you… I wanted to confess today, but… I still don’t have the courage.”

She stepped closer, leaning against him.

“Just for today, let me keep this as a memory.”

She lifted her phone and snapped a photo. A two-shot.

Kai wanted to protest.

(Don’t… it feels too much like we’re actually a couple.)

But the words wouldn’t come.

“Well, goodnight, Kai-kun. See you tomorrow.”

“...See you tomorrow.”

In the resumed world, Kurono disappeared behind her door.

Kai stood frozen, unable to move for a few seconds.

It felt like moving would cause everything to fall apart.

His heart was racing.

6 ─side Kai Rou─

"Boom."

The moment Kai opened the door and took off his shoes, he was greeted by a dropkick from Koa.

"Gah!?"

Kai doubled over and collapsed onto the wooden hallway floor, lying on his back. As he tried to sit up, a soft weight straddled him.

"Welcome home, Onii-sama... You didn't forget my pudding souvenir, did you?"

For some reason, her voice and expression made it feel like she had been eagerly awaiting his return. So instead of protesting, Kai simply replied:

"...I'm home. Yeah, I bought it."

---

A little while later, as Kai stood in the kitchen, Koa sat nearby with her dessert pudding in hand and asked,

"So, how was your date?"

"...It wasn't a date."

"Yeah, sure. So, where did you go?"

"We grabbed something to eat, went to an arcade, and wandered around."

"Taking her to a chain beef bowl place for your first date? Honestly, I thought you were an idiot."

"Shut up. If you were watching, don't bother asking."

"Hey, Onii-sama."

Her tone shifted, sharp and piercing, and it struck Kai in the back.

"If you want to confess to that girl... it's fine, you know."

Kai's hands, which had been busy preparing dinner, froze.

"If you can deal with the guilt."

"..."

"As far as the Organization is concerned, as long as we keep collecting data like we are now, that's enough. Actually, if you get closer, it'll be easier to gather information. So, dating her is more than welcome."

So—

"As long as you keep your true identity a secret, I won't stop you from dating her."

"...Right."

Kai pretended to brush off her words as he opened the refrigerator. He couldn't decide on what to make for dinner. So he asked,

"What do you want to eat today?"

"I want curry."

"We just had that. The one Kurono made."

"I want your curry, Onii-sama."

Her voice was different from the usual playful tone she used for random requests.

"...Alright."

He microwaved the chopped vegetables, then tossed them in a pot with sautéed pork.

"Onii-sama, I love curry."

"I know."

Kai had suspected as much. The first dish she had cooked for him was also curry.

Why, he didn’t know.

But then, from the living room, Koa said,

"My mom used to make it for me."

Kai felt his breath catch in his throat. Why bring that up now?

"On the day I was kidnapped by the Organization, she made it for me. Curry."

Koa began to speak. She told him how, when she was little, she'd been kidnapped and sold to the Organization, where they did all kinds of things to her, and forced her to do things too. But still—

"I could never forget that taste. That's why curry is... the taste of family to me."

Kai didn't know how to respond.

So, in silence, he served the finished curry onto the table.

"Onii-sama."

"...What?"

"Don't put potatoes in it."

7 ─side Kurono Shia─

Lunchtime, in the classroom.

"So, what do you think?"

"Whoa!? This is amazing!"

Amafuro let out an excited cheer as she looked over the loose-leaf paper handed to her by Kurono.

It was an idea Kurono had come up with during her "date" with Kai—a proposal to improve the café's parfait menu.

"This is awesome! Shia-chan, how did you come up with this?"

"Um, when we were having lunch at a beef bowl place."

"W-What? Kurono-san, you go to such common chain restaurants!?"

Marusu's surprised voice rang out, and from the neighboring seat, Kai muttered,

"What's wrong with a common place?"

"? Why are you the one getting annoyed, Kai?"

Anyway—

"Alright! Let's go with this idea! I'll make a test batch at home tonight! Then I'll take pictures and send them to everyone!"

"? You're going to make it, Tete?"

"Yep! It's a hassle to gather everyone for another trial run, and we probably can't reserve the cooking room now with only two weeks left, right?"

"Yeah. The schedule's already packed with other festival booths," Marusu nodded.

"And besides, this was my selfish idea. I’ll take full responsibility to bring it to life and turn it into a real product!"

"I'm surprised. You actually knew it was selfish?"

Amafuro kicked Marusu in response.

Watching the exchange, Kai said,

"Good for you, Kurono-san."

Kurono nodded.

"Yes. We did it."

---

After school, and after club activities, Kurono returned to her room, having parted ways with Kai on the way home.

She closed the front door behind her and let out a breath.

She had lived her life as the ultimate, invincible weapon. Playing with friends, falling in love—those were pleasures meant for ordinary students, things that had nothing to do with her life.

Stopping time and defeating enemies—that was enough. That was all she needed.

And yet, lately… why?

It was fun.

Doing things with those four, creating something together.

And walking around with him, talking about trivial things, visiting different places.

She found herself enjoying these ordinary moments. She couldn't help it.

Kurono thought, I've changed. She knew it wasn't a change she should be proud of.

"...At least until I graduate."

She wanted to stay like this, just a little longer.

The moment she whispered those words—

A black shadow appeared before her. Instinctively, Kurono tried to stop time.

"Too slow."

But before she could, a fist slipped past her guard and struck her in the abdomen.

The impact tore through the reflexively tensed muscles in her stomach, knocking the breath from her lungs and breaking her concentration. Time freeze was interrupted.

But her counterattack was already in motion.

Her right leg swept up like a blade, a perfect iai strike. The attacker blocked it with his left arm.

The blow was powerful enough to shatter an ordinary person’s bones, yet the man merely staggered back a few steps down the hallway.

The distance between them was secured. Kurono tried to use the gap to stop time again.

"Don't bother. Your time freeze won't work on me. You know that."

The hallway light switched on, casting an orange glow over the scene.

Standing beneath it was a tall, middle-aged man in a dark suit. His black hair was streaked with gray, slicked back neatly. Even through his jacket, his honed physique was apparent.

And his expression—cold and emotionless—looked down on Kurono without a shred of warmth.

His name was Toriwa Kurono.

Director of the International Police Organization's secret division.

"It's been a while. What a disgrace you've become, Shia."

"...Dad."

Kurono Shia's superior—and her father.