Chapter 1: The Empty Classroom After School
They say spring is the season of new encounters, but in reality, nothing much happens. I’d just moved up to my second year of high school, and while the class shuffle brought some changes, most of the faces were familiar. Remembering names wouldn’t be much of a hassle, at least.
“Alright…! Looks like this photo’s getting some good traction too.”
Morning. As the classroom gradually grew noisier, I—Takumi Anno —was sitting at my desk, checking SNS on my phone.
Displayed on the screen was a photo I’d taken last weekend of a female cosplayer. She was dressed as a character from a popular mobile game that’s expanded into anime and movies—a media mix juggernaut. Her costume was entirely handmade, and its quality was exceptional. On top of that, her posing and expressions were flawless, earning a flood of praise in the comments.
“As expected of Yuzha-san. She’s on a whole other level—almost too good for someone like me to photograph…”
With a self-deprecating chuckle, I scrolled through Yuzha-san’s image gallery. It wasn’t just licensed characters—she had original creations too. Some of them featured a fair bit of skin, perhaps a little too stimulating for the gentlemen of the world.
“Yo, Takumi. You look pretty chipper this morning. Something good happen?”
“Morning, Shin. Nah, nothing special. Just the usual.”
The one who’d casually called out to me was my classmate, Kuki Shin. We’d been friends since middle school—a bond weathered by time—and he was one of the few who knew about my little hobby.
It’s kind of pathetic to admit, but I can’t seem to muster any communication skills within the confines of school. To be precise, I can talk just fine with people older than me, but for some reason, I freeze up around my peers.
Shin, on the other hand, was the complete opposite. He had tons of friends and could easily be the center of attention in class if he wanted. Yet, for whatever reason, this outgoing guy chose to hang out with a wallflower like me—a peculiar choice indeed.
“Really? ‘Cause your face says otherwise. It’s practically grinning. Bet you’re thrilled that photo you posted this morning blew up, huh?”
“…Not really?”
“Oh, come on, it totally is! Man, I’m jealous. Getting to do a one-on-one shoot with a gorgeous girl like that!”
“I’ve told you a million times, it’s just photography. Nothing more. None of that stuff you’re hoping for ever happens, okay?”
Sure, I’d been invited out for drinks or meals a few times after shoots, but that was it. Nothing beyond that. Strictly a cosplayer-and-photographer, client-and-contractor relationship. I don’t mix personal feelings with work.
“I’m genuinely impressed by that ironclad willpower of yours—or maybe it’s your professionalism. If it were me, I’d cave in no time.”
“It’s about keeping the right distance from your faves, that’s all.”
“Sigh… No way I could pull that off. I’d rather just ogle the girls in our class—it suits me better.”
Shin laughed and shrugged dramatically. I couldn’t help but mentally retort, *Is that really something to brag about?* Good looks, tall, athletic, and a smooth talker—he had all the traits girls swoon over, yet he’d never had a girlfriend. Maybe it was because of dumb comments like that.
“Anyway!” he continued. “If you had to photograph someone from our class, who’d it be?”
“What’s with the random question…?”
“It’s not random! It’s our annual spring tradition! I ask every year, and this time, you’re giving me an answer!”
*Bang!* Shin slammed his hand on the desk, leaning in close with an intense stare. He wasn’t kidding—this was the fifth year in a row he’d pulled this stunt. Every time, I’d dodged the question. It’s not like I had a specific reason; I just wasn’t in the mood for hypotheticals.
“No way, you’re answering this time. Especially since we’ve got Shinomiya Rinoa in our class!”
“…Oh, Shinomiya-san, huh.”
As he spoke, Shin and I turned our gazes toward a particularly large crowd in the classroom. At its center was a girl who, even among the freshmen just starting at Ginka High School, was a household name.
Silk-soft platinum blonde hair with a faint cherry-blossom sheen. A perfectly shaped nose, long lashes, and jade-green eyes that sparkled like gemstones. Flawless, translucent milky-white skin. Every feature exuded refined beauty. Add to that a saintly, compassionate personality and excellence in both academics and athletics, and you’d understand why God’s favoritism felt so unfair.
She was always smiling brightly, surrounded by people—whether during breaks, heading to the restroom, or moving between classrooms. I’d never seen her alone. She was like a princess straight out of a fairy tale.
“Even a picky guy like you, who only cares about top-tier talents like Yuzha, would want to photograph Shinomiya-san, right?”
“Well, sure, but… her fan club would never forgive me.”
“Hahaha! True enough! Try doing a private shoot with her, and you’d be lucky to see the sunrise the next day. You’d need some serious guts—or a death wish—to pull that off.”
“…Her fan club’s terrifying. But don’t worry, it’s not happening. I’d feel weird photographing a classmate anyway. Plus, if I ever shot Shinomiya-san, Yuzha-san would get mad.”
“Takumi, you’re my exclusive photographer, got it? If you want to shoot someone else, you need to file a proper request! Forget that, and… well, you know what happens, right?”
Her smiling pressure had been so intense I could only nod in terror. The only other time I’d felt such fear from a beautiful woman’s smile was when my mom lost it at my dad for forgetting their anniversary.
“You… You…! You traitor!”
“Traitor!? How did we get there!?”
Shin’s sudden emotional outburst left me baffled.
“How!? You seriously don’t get it!? Don’t tell me you’re oblivious to the fact that you’re basically claimed by a super-popular cosplayer!?”
“Honestly, I’d kinda like the freedom to photograph other people too, you know.”
“You extravagant jerk!!”
With that, Shin declared our friendship over—for the umpteenth time—and stormed back to his seat. I let out a wry smile at his morning energy and turned back to my phone to resume scrolling SNS.
“Wow… How do you even take a shot like this? Whoa, the editing’s insane! How’d they do that?”
I couldn’t help but voice my awe at the high-level photos flowing through my timeline, while simultaneously feeling my own inadequacy. Oddly enough, whenever I brought this up with senior photographers I knew, they’d just sigh in exasperation.
“The costumes are amazing too… Oh, this maid outfit’s cute. It’d look great on Yuzha-san.”
“—What are you looking at, Anno-kun?”
I was picturing Yuzha-san in that maid outfit when someone interrupted me again. This time, it was a girl’s voice—and not just any girl, but the very person Shin and I had been talking about moments ago.
“Sh-Shinomiya-san…”
Standing there was none other than Shinomiya Rinoa herself. Scratch that earlier thought—terrifying smiles might not be as rare as I’d assumed.
With a lovely smile blooming like cherry blossoms in full splendor, she casually took a seat beside me. It wasn’t a mistake—she hadn’t gotten the wrong desk. Shinomiya-san and I were assigned to sit next to each other.
As a side note, our seating arrangement had been decided by a lottery on the first day of our second year, during the initial class meeting with our homeroom teacher and classmates. The jealous and resentful glares—mostly from the boys—that pierced through me that day were unforgettable.
“A maid outfit, huh? That’s quite a short skirt. Oh, and the cat face on the chest is adorable!”
“Y-Yeah…”
I quietly closed my phone screen while forcing out a response. Of all people, Shinomiya-san had to see it—what a disaster. Showing a saintly princess like her a maid outfit with a mini skirt, a cat-shaped cutout at the chest, and a peek of cleavage was definitely not appropriate for educational settings.
“Takumi!? What the heck are you showing Shinomiya-san!?”
“N-No way!! If the Princess wore a maid outfit—especially a mini skirt—people would drop dead!”
“Anno!! Don’t you dare taint Rinoa-sama!!”
Shin, who’d supposedly returned to his seat, along with the entourage that had been surrounding Shinomiya-san earlier, stormed toward my desk, shouting in protest. While I’ll admit I was entirely at fault here, the murderous vibes radiating from my classmates felt a bit excessive.
“Everyone, please calm down. Anno-kun hasn’t done anything wrong—”
“No way! While I believe there’s no outfit Rinoa-san couldn’t pull off, a revealing maid dress is out of the question! Something more refined would suit her better!”
“Exactly! Looking at something so indecent at school is beyond the pale! Anno, you’re the worst!”
I hadn’t committed a crime, yet their words flooded over me like a tsunami. I wanted to argue back, but with Shinomiya-san right beside me, I hesitated.
The reason? Shin and the others were all members of the “Shinomiya Rinoa Fan Club.” Membership was open to anyone, with no regard for seniority—just a shared, unwavering resolve to “protect Shinomiya-san’s smile.”
“Takumi… Don’t tell me you’re looking at Shinomiya-san with perverted eyes, are you?”
“No way.”
I shot back an immediate denial to my best friend, whose voice carried a quiet fury. If anything, I nearly retorted that *they* were the ones eyeing her that way, but I barely held my tongue.
Why did I think that? Because once a month, the fan club secretly shared candid photos of Shinomiya-san’s school life with a select few members. And who told me about it? None other than Shin himself.
Snapping hidden photos was already shady—downright dangerous, even—and secretly distributing them was ethically bankrupt. But honestly, the fact that a fan club even existed for a regular student who wasn’t an idol was absurd to begin with.
“Everyone, Anno-kun isn’t at fault. I’m a girl too, you know? Isn’t it normal to call a cute outfit cute?”
In the midst of the tense standoff, Shinomiya-san spoke up, her tone slightly pouty—as if pleading for her opinion not to be ignored.
“I-I like maid outfits too! There are so many cute ones these days, right?”
“What kind of clothes does the princess usually wear?”
“This settles it—the school festival’s got to be a maid café…!”
With a single word from the princess—not just any crane’s call—the atmosphere flipped. The accusations against me dissolved as the fan club’s attention shifted to Shinomiya-san’s fashion preferences. I let out a mental sigh of relief.
“Morning homeroom’s about to start. You should all head back to your seats,” she added with a smile, delivering the finishing blow before the mood could sour again. The gathered classmates dispersed to their desks in small groups.
“Phew… I’m so sorry for the trouble, Anno-kun. Are you okay?”
“No, I’m the one who should apologize. And thanks—you really saved me there.”
Shinomiya-san sighed apologetically, but I responded with a wry smile. She had no reason to feel bad; if anyone should bow their heads, it was Shin and the others.
“By the way, going back to earlier—do you like maids, Anno-kun?”
“…Huh?”
“Or maybe it’s not maids but mini skirts you’re into? Or—don’t tell me—it’s the cleavage that caught your eye?”
“HUH!?”
The word “cleavage” coming from Shinomiya-san’s mouth made me let out a weird yelp. It wasn’t exactly dirty talk, but hearing it from someone who’d been so refined moments ago felt surreal. This was the first time she’d ever spoken to me so boldly since we became desk neighbors.
“So, in other words, Anno-kun’s a closet pervert, huh?”
“Okay, hold up—how about we shut that mouth right now!?”
“Hehe. Nice. Like a drum that resonates when struck—you’re the first person to play along so perfectly, Anno-kun.”
“I’m honored by the compliment, milady.”
She grinned happily, and I shrugged, tossing out a casual reply. She was like a kid who’d found a shiny new toy. This side of her was a far cry from the persona she showed when surrounded by classmates—almost a different person entirely.
And by the way, calling her “milady” wasn’t just a figure of speech. Shinomiya-san’s father was a practicing doctor, and her mother was the president of an apparel brand. Rumor had it their family lived in a grand house in one of the city’s prime districts.
“…I’m not a ‘milady,’ you know.”
My offhand remark seemed to strike a chord, and Shinomiya-san’s tone shifted to something pouty, even a little lonely.
“O-Oh, really?”
The air grew awkward, and I fumbled for a response when the chime for morning homeroom rang. At the same moment, the classroom door slid open with a loud *rattle*.
“Good mooorning, everyone! Time to start homeroom!!”
Bursting in with more energy than the students was our homeroom teacher, Sakurazawa Miko-sensei—a woman in her mid-twenties who’d just started teaching this year. Brimming with rookie enthusiasm and an ever-present smile, she was a bundle of energy. Unfortunately, her frequent clumsy mistakes often earned her scoldings from senior teachers.
Her youthful looks could pass for a high schooler—or even a college student—yet her figure was undeniably mature, creating a paradoxical charm that stirred a sense of guilt. She was popular in a different way from Shinomiya-san, or so I’d heard from my lovable idiot of a friend.
“But first, there’s a student I need to call out!”
Miko-sensei huffed with an exaggerated snort. Who’d be dumb enough to earn a reprimand this early in the morning?
“Today’s class rep, Anno-kun! Why didn’t you come pick up the journal?”
“…Oh.”
My name rang out, and every eye in the room turned to me. I’d been so engrossed in checking Yuzha-san’s photos that I’d completely forgotten.
“‘Oh’ doesn’t cut it! Geez… Slacking off first thing in the morning isn’t like you! As punishment, you’re writing today’s journal in full detail—no skimping!”
“That’s so unfair…”
“No excuses! It’s settled! You’ll rewrite it until I’m satisfied!”
“Isn’t that a bit of an abuse of power!?”
Getting this kind of punishment just for forgetting to grab the journal felt excessive. Shinomiya-san giggling beside me didn’t help my irritation either.
“What’s that? You wanna fight me on this? I could double your homework too, Anno-kun!”
“…Tch. Fine.”
Miko-sensei grinned smugly, piling on more pressure, and I had no choice but to relent. With this, staying after school was now inevitable.
“My condolences. Guess this is your punishment for looking at risqué photos in class. Good luck, Anno-kun,” Shinomiya-san teased.
“…Wait, you knew I forgot I was class rep, didn’t you?”
“Who, me? I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
I shot her a suspicious glare, but she deflected it with an angelic smile. Could it be? Was Shinomiya Rinoa secretly a mischievous prankster who loved teasing people? Was everyone fooled by her looks, her true nature the opposite of a saint?
“By the way, I’m tomorrow’s class rep, so I’m looking forward to seeing what you write, Anno-kun.”
“You’re doing this on purpose!? Why didn’t you tell me!?”
“Well, I thought it’d be more fun this way… Was that bad?”
“Grr…”
Her eyes glistened as if on the verge of tears, leaving me frustrated but speechless. Even if it was fake, actual tears would get me pummeled by the fan club—no sunrise for me tomorrow.
“Talking to you is so much fun, Anno-kun. Let’s keep getting along as desk neighbors—and not just as my toy, I mean, friend!”
“…Please go easy on me.”
I turned away brusquely, cutting the conversation short. If her fans saw this playful, teasing side of Shinomiya Rinoa, they’d be shocked. Or maybe they’d find it endearing and love her even more. What a vexing thought.
As I mulled over such nonsense, I half-listened to Miko-sensei’s lively yet oddly substanceless chatter.
“Anno-kun, the stuff for the journal’s already piling up, you know?”
“What!?”
She dropped that bombshell with a beaming smile at the end, and I screamed internally. Was I really going to make it home? As the bell for class rang, a flicker of unease settled in.
＊＊＊＊＊
“Ugh… It’s still not perfect, but I’ll let it slide for today!”
Sadly, my hunch was spot-on. Miko-sensei only gave her approval after the sun had dipped low, painting the sky with a beautiful evening glow. After countless rewrites, I’d lost track of what I’d even written, so her mercy was a godsend.
“Anno-kun, have you been sleeping okay lately? You look pretty worn out—are you alright?”
“…It’s not a new thing, so I’ll manage.”
Honestly, if you asked whether I’m getting enough sleep, the answer would be no. There’s the editing work for Yuzha-san’s photos to deal with, and more than that, being alone in a spacious room just doesn’t sit right with me. Still, this lifestyle’s been going on for nearly a year now, so I’ve gotten used to it.
“Well, as long as you’re okay with it. Oh, changing the subject—how are classes going for you now that you’re in your second year, Anno-kun? Keeping up alright?”
“Uh, well… decently, I guess? It’s still early in the second year, so it’s hard to say for sure.”
It hasn’t even been a month since we moved up a grade, so I can’t really tell if I’m falling behind. Thankfully, I haven’t had any moments in class where question marks start floating above my head.
“I heard you used to snooze through first-year classes all the time, but it seems like that’s not happening now. As your homeroom teacher, that’s a relief!”
Miko-sensei let out a cheerful “nyahaha” laugh. There were still other teachers in the staff room, so I wished she’d lower her volume a bit.
For the sake of my honor, let me clarify: I’m not some slacker. The only times I’d drift off to dreamland during class were the days after a late-night editing session following one of Yuzha-san’s shoots.
What I’m getting at is this: it’s an unavoidable consequence of work, so cut me some slack. Even as a minor and a student, deadlines don’t wait.
“So, it’s gotta be that, right? You’ve turned into a serious student because of the girl sitting next to you, huh?”
“…What are you talking about?”
“No need to play dumb! With a drop-dead gorgeous girl like Rinoa-chan next to you, even if you wanted to sleep, you couldn’t, right? You’re a boy after all, Anno-kun!”
Miko-sensei nodded repeatedly, arms crossed and looking awfully pleased with herself. Why did Shinomiya-san’s name even come up as the reason I’m not dozing off? I shot her a deadpan glare to convey my skepticism.
“Hm? I mean, having a super cute girl right beside you would get anyone fired up, wouldn’t it? Like, ‘No time for napping!’ or something?”
I mentally groaned—*Please don’t say it like it’s some bamboo-munching panda meme*—and let out a heavy sigh.
“It’s not like that at all. I just decided to turn over a new leaf this year. I wouldn’t be napping even if Shinomiya-san weren’t next to me.”
Truth is, around last winter break, Yuzha-san got curious about how I was churning out edited photos and deliveries so fast after a shoot. When I reluctantly explained, she got pretty serious:
*“Your main job as a student is studying, you know? I appreciate the quick turnarounds, but if it’s messing with your schoolwork, that’s putting the cart before the horse. Never do that again, got it?”*
She’d scolded me—quite earnestly—and added that she’d be worried if I overworked myself and collapsed. If that happened, she’d feel too guilty to ask me for shoots anymore. Since then, I’ve been pacing myself better.
“I’d love to grill you more to see if that’s true, but I’ll let it slide for today. Be grateful for my generosity!”
“Maybe you shouldn’t dig into students’ private lives just for your own amusement?”
“But I can’t help it! Soaking up the youth I left behind ages ago through my students is one of my few joys! You could at least indulge me with tales of love or those classic teenage struggles!”
“Look, I’m not in love or wrestling with any big dilemmas. Also, please don’t use me as your boredom buster.”
“Don’t be so cold!” Miko-sensei grabbed my shoulders and shook me back and forth. “Come on!” At this point, it was hard to tell who the teacher was.
Sadly, though, this childish side of hers made her oddly approachable, earning her affection from students of all genders. The only downside was how annoyingly loud she could get.
“So, we’re done here, right? I’ll head home then.”
“What!? Stay and chat with me a bit longer! Keep me company to kill some time!”
“…Please do your actual job, Sensei.”
Miko-sensei flailed like a kid begging for candy at the supermarket, throwing a full-on tantrum. The epitome of childishness right here. But if she kept this up much longer, lightning might strike.
“You’re so mean, Anno-kun! Keep this up, and even if you ace a test, I’ll give you a 1 for the semester!”
“Hey, you overgrown baby of a teacher! That’s blatant abuse of power!”
“Who’re you calling a baby!? Get down and sit right there! Time for a lecture!!”
“The one who needs a lecture is you, Sakurazawa-sensei.”
See? Told you. The grade-level head teacher, patience finally snapped, tapped Miko-sensei’s shoulder with a forced smile masking her fury.
“Ah… um, well, you see…”
“No excuses. Move your hands before your mouth.”
It felt like a masterclass in handling Miko-sensei—shutting her down before she could argue back. Textbook execution.
“Anno-kun, you’re free to go home now. Be careful on your way back.”
“Yes, thank you. See you tomorrow, Sakurazawa-sensei.”
“Noooo!! Betraying your homeroom teacher like this is heartless!!”
Ignoring Miko-sensei’s desperate flailing for help, I bowed to the grade head and left the staff room.
“Phew… What a mess.”
I could still hear her wailing from inside, but I tuned it out, shrugged, and started down the hallway. I could head straight back to the classroom and go home, but I decided to take a leisurely stroll for a change of pace.
It was already past 6 p.m., yet the sounds of club activities from the schoolyard buzzed on without pause. Inside, though, the building had fallen into a stillness that contrasted sharply with the daytime bustle. The difference between indoors and out was almost poetic.
Pondering such uncharacteristically deep thoughts, I wandered in the opposite direction of my classroom.
Ginka High School—despite a few name changes over the years—boasted over a century of history.
That said, it’d undergone multiple expansions and renovations, and with the new school building completed just a few years ago, the age didn’t quite sink in. Still, some older sections remained, feeling like they belonged to a different era entirely.
“…It sure gets atmospheric once it’s dark.”
The old school building sat on the opposite side of the campus from the schoolyard, so no voices carried over. The fluorescent lights—unlike the LEDs elsewhere—hummed with an irritating buzz. If the sun set completely, it’d be prime for an impromptu haunted house.
Over a year since enrolling, I’d walked these halls countless times, yet it felt oddly unfamiliar now. Still, I meandered along.
There was no fear—just curiosity. In fact, I was getting excited, mentally simulating a shoot in this setting.
“I’d love to do a shoot at an abandoned school someday. It’d be a trek, though.”
With all the gear, a car would be a must. Sadly, none of my acquaintances could drive safely. Well, technically Yuzha-san had a license and a car, but I’d rather not ride shotgun with her. The reason? Let’s just say you can guess.
“Legally shooting Yuzha-san in a school uniform here would be awesome… though she’d probably find it a hassle.”
She’s not exactly shy, but she’s definitely a homebody.
As I mulled over how to convince a top-tier cosplayer to come to an abandoned school—logistics aside—I kept walking when—
“—Nnh…”
A faint sound slipped out from a classroom I’d just passed.
“…Just my imagination, right?”
I stopped, my voice trembling as I turned back toward the door. The old building’s classrooms were only used for classes requiring movement. After school, aside from cleaning, students weren’t supposed to be here. Yet, I could sense someone inside.
“No way it’s a ghost… right?”
Even as I reassured myself—it wasn’t midnight, just evening—I cautiously approached the door.
“Nnh… It’s not… turning out… quite right…”
There was no need to strain my ears—the faint murmur of a girl’s voice slipped through the slightly ajar door. It carried a sensual tone, almost like a moan, one that felt utterly out of place in the scholarly halls of a school.
Hearing it, I knew it was wrong, yet like a moth drawn to a flame, I couldn’t resist. Holding my breath, I edged closer to the door.
What came into view was a classmate desperately trying to take a selfie, her skin slightly exposed.
“Haah… How do I even get a good shot…?”
Letting out a languid sigh while staring at her phone, the girl was someone no one at this school could possibly not know. Even the newest freshmen who’d just enrolled likely had her face and name memorized. She was none other than the classmate I’d been talking with just this morning.
“Why is Shinomiya-san doing something like *that*…?”
Muttering her name—the girl who always sat next to me—I swallowed hard, choking down the rising tide of questions.
A figure that drew envious gazes from boys and girls alike, proportions so striking they’d put celebrities to shame. A magnetic presence that always attracted a crowd. She treated everyone with kindness, her radiant smile a constant. If a real-life saint existed, everyone would unanimously point to her. To put it mildly, was there anyone who *wouldn’t* fall for her?
So why was someone like her exposing herself in an empty classroom? Right now, a bewildered cat with a tilted head was practically floating above me.
“I don’t get it… I don’t get it at all…”
*Don’t overthink it. Pretend you saw nothing and get out of here as fast as you can,* I told myself.
“Maybe if I undo more buttons and hike the skirt up to the limit…?”
But alas, my feet felt glued to the floor. Against all reason, my instincts screamed at me to stay.
Seeing my classmate perched on a desk—where we usually studied—posing provocatively with flashes of skin and underwear peeking out, I felt a mix of speechless confusion and exhilaration.
“The phone angle… ugh… selfies are *so* hard…”
Watching her struggle, muttering “this way, that way” while adjusting her phone, was both amusing and oddly endearing. I wanted to suggest a selfie stick might solve her woes, but that’d mean admitting I was peeking—and that’d spell disaster.
“Yeah, this is totally hopeless.”
*Forget everything you saw today.* With that resolve, I turned to leave. But then, the setting sun streaming through the window overlapped with Shinomiya-san’s resigned shrug and melancholic expression. The sight sent a jolt through my mind.
“…”
I knew it was wrong. What I was about to do could easily cross into criminal territory—utterly outrageous, my head understood that much. Yet my instincts refused to let this moment slip away unrecorded.
Cursing the fact that my usual camera gear wasn’t on hand, I pulled my phone from my chest pocket and opened the camera. My heart pounded—*thump, thump*—threatening to leap out of my chest, my breathing ragged. My hands shook so badly the screen was a mess. I hadn’t felt this way since my first solo shoot with a breathtakingly gorgeous cosplayer.
“…Hoo.”
Taking a deep breath to steady myself without being noticed, I quietly slid my phone toward the gap in the door.
By then, Shinomiya-san, visible through the screen, had unbuttoned her blouse’s second button, exposing her chest. Her pristine, snow-white skin stole my gaze. The elegant curve of her collarbone and décolletage. The soft mounds, clearly tender even without touch, cradled by simple yet refined lingerie.
Every detail flooding my senses whispered sweetly to my brain: *Don’t miss the miracle about to unfold.* I focused every nerve, waiting for that perfect instant.
“Haah… Guess it really takes a pro, huh?”
With a self-deprecating murmur and a shrug, Shinomiya-san stood there—disheveled uniform, exposed lingerie, a wistful sigh, and an empty classroom after school. The elements fused flawlessly into a version of Shinomiya Rinoa no one had ever seen. Entranced, I snapped the shutter repeatedly.
“…Who’s there?”
“Ah—”
A startled voice. Our eyes met—not through the camera, but directly. No matter how quiet I’d been, the *click* of the shutter would alert anyone—especially when it rang out multiple times in a row.
But that didn’t matter now. I had to get out of here. For a split second, I considered dropping to my knees and begging forgiveness, but if I were that type, I wouldn’t have taken sneaky shots in the first place. No, I’d rather bow and say, *“Please let me photograph you.”*
With a pang of regret, I bolted toward the school gate like a cheetah racing across the savanna.
I wanted to grab my bag from the classroom, but running into her there would ruin everything. I’d have to abandon it for today.
Without slowing down, I left the school, hopped on a train, and headed home. Skipping dinner, I dove into the photo editing I’d left unfinished—anything to erase Shinomiya Rinoa’s image from my mind.
And then—
“…I screwed up.”
The sun, which had long set, was now rising. Bathed in its light, I snapped back to reality and let out a heavy sigh. I’d gotten so absorbed that I’d finished editing *all* the photos I had on hand.
“Might as well sleep… No, bath first.”
Standing from my chair, I rolled my stiff shoulders, the satisfying *crack* of my neck echoing as I stretched.
Honestly, I’d love to skip school with some flimsy excuse, but I couldn’t—not with my bag still in the classroom.
Plus, our eyes might’ve met, even briefly. If the guy who sits next to her forgot his bag and then skipped school the next day, anyone but the densest person alive could connect the dots.
“That leaves me with one option… Act like nothing happened and go to school.”
Another heavy sigh escaped. There might’ve been a better plan if I’d thought harder, but after pulling an all-nighter staring at my PC, my exhausted brain couldn’t muster a single clever idea. If I let my guard down even slightly, I’d collapse like a puppet with its strings cut.
“A bath and an energy drink should get me through the day… probably.”
A hot shower might refresh me a bit. After Miko-sensei just praised me with, *“You’ve stopped napping—good job!”* I couldn’t spend the day dozing off, or I’d get more than a scolding.
With one last big sigh, I rubbed my flickering eyes and shuffled toward the bathroom.
＊＊＊＊＊
To retrieve my bag, I arrived at school earlier than I ever had since elementary or middle school—and, predictably, no one was around.
I couldn’t just go home, so I reluctantly sat down to kill time until classes started. The morning sun streaming through the window cast an indescribable charm, stirring a wave of sentimentality.
“Alright… Just pretend I know nothing…”
Mumbling to myself, I used my bag as a pillow and slumped over my desk.
The warm sunlight felt like a cozy blanket, and the relief of retrieving my bag without incident brought a sudden wave of drowsiness.
On a day like this, I could’ve gone to the rooftop, lain down elegantly, and basked in the sun. But if I did, I’d probably sleep the whole day away—and that’d land me in Miko-sensei’s lecture purgatory.
“Well, Shin’ll wake me up when he gets here. Until then—”
I’d sleep. Just as I tried to switch off, the classroom door slid open with a *rattle*. *Some quirky classmate showing up this early for no reason, huh?* I thought hazily, letting my eyelids droop.
“Rare to see you here so early, Anno-kun.”
“—!? Shinomiya-san!?”
The voice from above jolted me upright. Sleepiness vanished, replaced by a cold sweat bursting across my skin.
“Good morning, Anno-kun. Another beautiful day, isn’t it?”
“M-Morning, Shinomiya-san.”
Shinomiya-san greeted me with her usual lovely smile. Nothing should’ve changed from yesterday, yet that very normalcy sent an inexplicable chill down my spine, shrouding my heart in dark, ominous clouds.
“Is something wrong, Anno-kun? You look pale.”
“No, I’m fine. Perfectly healthy.”
A lie. Anxiety and tension had my breathing ragged and my pulse racing. Meanwhile, my body temperature plummeted, leaving me shivering.
“Are you sleep-deprived, perhaps? It’s not even the weekend yet—were you up late doing something?”
“Yeah… something like that.”
Not a lie, technically. The reason I’d pulled an all-nighter, though, was standing right in front of me—Shinomiya-san herself.
“You shouldn’t push yourself too hard. Overdoing it when you’re young will catch up to you later in life.”
“I’ll keep that in mind. A friend said something similar recently.”
Wait—I was holding a normal conversation. Could it be… she’d forgiven me? Maybe our eyes hadn’t actually met, and I’d just imagined it? A ray of hope pierced through the thick clouds in my mind.
“Even if you were startled, you shouldn’t leave your bag at school. What if something valuable got stolen?”
“Nothing important’s in there, so it’s fi—hold on. What did you just say?”
“You really don’t seem well. Not surprising, I suppose. Anyone would be shaken if they got caught sneaking photos and locked eyes with their target.”
She smiled brightly as she spoke. To an outsider, it might’ve looked like an angel’s smile, but to me, it was the grin of a devil delivering a death sentence. I was a frog frozen under a snake’s gaze.
“Oh my, what’s wrong, Anno-kun? You’re sweating buckets.”
“…Haha. Must be your imagination. I-I’m totally fine.”
As she slowly tightened the noose around my neck, I squeezed out words in a last-ditch effort to resist. But to a predator with its prey’s throat firmly in its jaws, my struggle didn’t even register.
“What’s your goal?”
“Goal? Ufufu… What are you talking about? I have no idea what you mean, Anno-kun. Care to explain?”
She seemed to relish watching me inch toward death. No matter how much she toyed with me, I had zero chance of winning—100% surrender was my only option.
“…I’m sorry. I won’t tell anyone what I saw yesterday, and I’ll delete the photos. I’ll take it to my grave, so—!”
I shot up and bowed deeply. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t curious about why she’d been half-undressed, taking selfies in an empty classroom after school. But my instincts screamed that digging deeper would only lead to hell.
“—What are you misunderstanding, Anno-kun? I never said you had to delete the photos.”
“…Huh?”
Her unexpected words made me lift my head. Not delete them? What was she thinking? As I stood there, baffled, Shinomiya-san leaned in close, whispering in my ear with a sweet, sultry voice.
“Let me say it again: Thank you for yesterday, Mr. Peeping Tom. Did you get some good shots?”
A jolt shot down my spine. Her mature, enchanting tone—so unlike a typical classmate—made my heart leap.
“…T-Thanks to you. It’s probably one of the best photos I’ve ever taken—top two, at least.”
Unable to fathom what this beauty was plotting, I decided to just roll with it. I knew full well how pathetic that made me.
“That’s wonderful to hear. Oh, could I see them, just for reference?”
“Reference for what…? Not that you’d tell me if I asked, right?”
She dodged my question with a smile. Sighing, I reached into my chest pocket.
“Fine. If you insist, here you go.”
“Thank you. I’m glad you’re so cooperative, Anno-kun.”
She held out her hand eagerly, urging me to hurry. Reluctantly, I pulled up the photos from yesterday on my phone and handed it over.
“I see… So this is how you see me, Anno-kun. It really is different from taking them myself.”
“If you’re trying to selfie that pose, you’d need at least a tripod to get it right.”
Modern smartphone cameras outclass cheap standalone ones these days. Some blockbuster films even use phone footage. That said, it’s the outer lens that shines—selfie lenses lag in quality, and framing your whole body takes practice.
“Oh… I didn’t know that. There are handy tools like that, huh?”
I nearly gaped—*She was taking selfies without even knowing that?*—but then I figured it made sense. Shinomiya-san did have an air of being out of touch with the mundane world.
“Also, the dim evening light in the classroom muddied the shadows a bit.”
“I think it’s still pretty clear… Photography’s really deep, isn’t it!”
Whether in a studio or a classroom, lighting is key. They say whoever masters light masters photography.
“It was such a great setup, but this… it’s a waste.”
I don’t fancy myself a pro photographer, but I’ve pressed the shutter countless times and take pride in that. So, failing to fully capture the “eternal beauty” this perfect subject had displayed right in front of me stung.
“So… with proper equipment, you could take even better photos… Is that what you’re saying?”
“Hm? Well, I’m confident I could get a better shot than that one, at least.”
Even without the studio I use with Yuzha-san, I could manage at home with my setup. Not that I’d ever suggest it, even if the world flipped upside down.
“…I see. That’s good to know.”
“Hey, Shinomiya-san, what are you *really* after?”
“Hmm, I could tell you now, but… it’s almost time for everyone else to arrive, so let’s continue this after school.”
“…I don’t get a say in this, do I?”
“Nope, sorry, Anno-kun. No veto power for you. Meet me after school at yesterday’s spot. You know what happens if you run, right?”
She licked her lips with a bewitching smile. It felt like my heart was being squeezed tight, my breath catching in my throat.
“You’re a smart guy, Anno-kun. You’re probably thinking that if I asked you for something, you could dodge it without evidence. Right?”
“Haha… N-No way I’d think that!”
She’d nailed me, and my reply came out stilted. Compared to daytime, this Shinomiya-san was like a different person. The saintly mask was gone—now she was a full-on imp. That gap was downright unfair.
“‘When you gaze into the abyss, the abyss gazes back.’ It’s a famous philosopher’s line. What do you think it means in this context?”
“No… way…!?”
The moment she said it, yesterday’s scene flashed vividly in my mind.
That moment when I thought I’d locked eyes with Shinomiya-san and bolted. There’d been a faint sound from behind me. Caught up in the thrill and guilt of capturing such an surreal scene, I hadn’t paid it any mind—but could it have been a shutter click?
“Just as I thought, you’re quick on the uptake. It was a split-second decision, but my phone caught your adorable, stunned face and your frantic fleeing figure.”
*You understand what that means, right?* With those words, I silently nodded, signaling my submission. It seemed my high school life—no, possibly my entire future—had just come to an end.
“Hehe. Good, obedient, and compliant. Then let’s pick this up after school. We’ll have a nice little chat, just the two of us.”
With that, Shinomiya-san left the classroom. Soon after, students began arriving, and the school buzzed with life.
“Reaping what I sowed, hoist by my own petard… Still, this is the worst.”
In stark contrast to the lively classroom, I slumped over my bag again, muttering to myself. I deeply regretted not heading straight home instead of wandering the school.
＊＊＊＊＊
After school finally arrived. Each class had dragged on like an eternity, and Shin even asked, “You look pale—are you okay? Shouldn’t you head home early?” But somehow, I powered through.
The sleepiness and fatigue from my all-nighter were swept away by the tension of having my blackmailer sitting beside me, occasionally casting smiles my way. Thanks to that, my eyes were sharp, but my head felt heavy—a miserable day. Yet the real nightmare was just beginning.
“…Heaven and hell, indeed.”
I stood before the door of the empty classroom where I’d glimpsed the lascivious side of Shinomiya-san—a girl whose beauty and figure could rival anyone in the school, if not the entire country. After triple-checking that no one was around, I took a deep breath, steeling myself, and placed my hand on the door. Whatever outrageous demands she made, I’d have no choice but to accept.
“I’m relieved you showed up as promised, Anno-kun. Oh, should I have called you ‘Mr. Peeping Tom’ instead?”
Sliding the door open quietly and stepping inside, I found Shinomiya-san already waiting, perched elegantly on a desk with her legs crossed.
Unlike yesterday, she was properly dressed in her uniform, which eased my nerves—until I noticed her skirt was hiked up short enough to nearly reveal her underwear. I quickly fixed my gaze upward.
She giggled at my reaction, a soft chuckle identical to the saintly one she used when surrounded by classmates. It was reassuring, yet unnerving—like she could see right through me.
“No need to rephrase it, I think. Unless… you’re not planning to call me that forever, are you?”
“Oh my, do you think I’m *that* cruel, Anno-kun? It makes me so sad I might accidentally fumble my phone and scatter those photos everywhere.”
She covered her face with both hands, feigning sobs. *If you’re going to fake cry, at least hide your mouth,* I wanted to say—her smirk was blatantly obvious.
“Yeah, yeah. Call me whatever you want… Can we just get to the rest of this morning’s talk already?”
No matter what I said, this devil in saint’s clothing would brush it off. Giving up on retorts or resistance, I urged her to cut to the chase.
“Impatient boys aren’t popular, you know? We’ve got plenty of time. Why not enjoy the conversation a bit more?”
“There’s a saying, ‘In war, speed is precious.’ What if someone shows up while we’re chatting away?”
“Shows up and what? We’re just having a private meeting in an empty classroom in the old building after school. What’s the problem?”
I shot her a deadpan look—she *had* to be saying that on purpose. If her fan club found out a guy like me was alone with her, I’d never see tomorrow’s sunrise.
“It’s *nothing but* a problem. Or do you *want* to socially execute me, Shinomiya-san? Make it so I can’t show my face at school?”
A fitting punishment, perhaps, for a guy who peeked at a beauty’s secret and snapped photos.
“I keep telling you, I have no such intentions. Besides, Anno-kun, you’re under one *huge* misconception.”
“Misconception?”
“Yes, a spectacular one. I’m not embarrassed or upset about being secretly photographed. In fact, I’m grateful.”
“…Huh?”
Before I could ask what she meant, she switched her crossed legs and continued. It was a casual motion, but somehow seductive—her skirt fluttered, nearly flashing the treasure beneath, and I hastily averted my eyes.
“When I saw the photos you took yesterday, I was moved, Anno-kun. The ‘me’ in those shots was a version of myself I’d never seen before… exactly the kind of photos I’ve been wanting to take!”
She clenched her fists, passionately explaining, her eyes sparkling like a kid who’d just gotten a new toy. Even if I wasn’t fully on board, seeing her so thrilled about my photos felt good.
“My apologies—I got carried away. Where was I?”
“…You were moved by the photos, I think?”
“Right. With that in mind, I have a favor to ask you, Anno-kun. Is that alright?”
“By the way… what happens if I say no?”
I knew the answer, and showing up here meant I’d already resigned myself to her whims, but I asked anyway. At that, Shinomiya-san hopped off the desk with a light bounce.
“Well, what should I do? What would *you* like me to do, Anno-kun?”
“‘What would I like’? You’re the one holding my life in your hands, aren’t you?”
“Are you sure about that? I could say, ‘Be my personal butler’ or ‘Become my pet.’ Would you just accept that?”
She stepped closer, leaning forward and peering up at me with those captivating eyes. At such close range, my heart raced unbidden, my cheeks flushing.
Noticing my flustered state, she flashed a sultry smile and leaned in, whispering in my ear with that sweet voice.
“Rather than being socially erased… wouldn’t you prefer to be mine forever?”
How many times had her voice sent shivers down my spine now? The sound of me swallowing hard echoed in the silent classroom.
“…Are you *really* the Shinomiya Rinoa who sits next to me? You’re not, like, a twin sister or something, right?”
The Shinomiya Rinoa I knew and the one standing before me didn’t align. Even the version of her taking selfies yesterday felt questionable now.
The Shinomiya Rinoa surrounded by friends in class was cute, refined, and the epitome of an innocent, sheltered girl. But this one? Her polar opposite.
A bewitching presence radiating a sweet, dangerous allure that could ensnare anyone—male or female—down to their core, making life without her unimaginable. It might sound dramatic, but that’s how she appeared to me now.
“I do have an older sister, but we’re not twins. The person standing here is the genuine Shinomiya Rinoa.”
“Well… yeah, I guess that makes sense.”
My dumb response slipped out, and she giggled again. I was being toyed with—rolled around in her palm like a plaything.
“Let’s stop teasing you for now and get back to business. Are you ready?”
“Yeah. Go ahead and cook me, roast me, whatever—just make it quick.”
Resigned, I shrugged and spoke half-heartedly. I never imagined my high school life would end like this. All my fault for snapping those photos—self-inflicted, I mocked myself internally. Then, Shinomiya-san dropped an unexpected bombshell.
“Anno-kun… would you take photos of my embarrassing moments for me?”
“…What did you just say?”
Her outlandish request hit me so hard that I couldn’t help but blurt out a deadpan response. Surely, it had to be a bad joke—or maybe she was just teasing me for fun. I looked at Shinomiya-san, but sadly, she seemed utterly serious.
“Did you not hear me? Then I’ll say it again: I’d like you to take embarrassing photos of me—!”
“STOOOOP!! I heard you loud and clear, so it’s fine! No need to repeat it!”
This was bad. In my sixteen short years, I’d never been so utterly baffled. Even the time Yuzha-san wouldn’t let me leave until I agreed to be her exclusive photographer didn’t compare to this confusion.
“Good to know. So, can I hear your answer, Anno-kun? You’re not going to say no, right?”
Her cute voice and lovely smile carried an undeniable pressure, like she wouldn’t let me escape. It felt like a blade pressed to my throat—the worst sensation imaginable.
“So, what’s it going to be? ‘Yes’? ‘Oui’? Or maybe just ‘Yeah’?”
“They’re all the same answer, aren’t they!?”
The sheer absurdity of the question made me reflexively snap back. Even without veto power, shouldn’t there at least be a “no” option in there somewhere?
“Are you dissatisfied, perhaps? Does my body not meet your standards, Anno-kun? Is that what this is?”
“I didn’t say anything about being dissatisfied!? And watch how you phrase things! I’m not taking photos for your body or anything like that!”
“Oh, really?”
She tilted her head with a puzzled look, an adorable gesture that nearly swayed me. But I hardened my resolve and held firm.
“Well, I’ll save grilling you about your… preferences for another time. Can I get your answer now? You’re not going to refuse, right?”
I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t intrigued. But even with her holding leverage over me, this was something I shouldn’t agree to. Photographing embarrassing moments of my classmate—my desk neighbor, no less—would make facing her at school unbearable starting tomorrow.
Yet, despite my rational mind screaming no, my photographer’s instincts kept whispering to say yes, to take the offer.
The reason? I’d glimpsed a side of Shinomiya Rinoa no one else had likely ever seen. That image of her in an empty classroom, uniform undone, blushing with a hint of allure—I wanted to capture it again.
“Before that, tell me something. Why do you want this?”
“Why? Hmm… If I had to say, it’s because ‘I want to see a side of myself I don’t know.’”
An angelic smile with a devilish edge. That enchanting expression, blending innocence and seduction, begged to be photographed right now.
“I can’t tell you more than that for now… So, does that satisfy you?”
My decision was made. Something my dad once said stuck with me: “A photographer’s job is to capture fleeting beauty forever.” For me, Shinomiya-san was the ultimate subject. A real girl—not a cosplayer—asking me to photograph the unknown parts of herself? There was no way I could back down.
“Alright. I’ll take the job.”
“Thank you! I knew you’d say yes, Anno-kun!”
At my words, Shinomiya-san bounced up and down in delight.
Her childlike glee was adorable, but the way her not-so-childlike assets jiggled with each hop threatened to unravel my sanity. I coughed awkwardly to cover it up and asked the key question.
“I’m fine with taking the photos, but what exactly do you mean by ‘embarrassing moments’?”
“I have a vague idea. But I was hoping to consult you, the expert, about the details… Is that okay?”
“N-No, it’s not a problem… Wait, you *know* I do photography?”
“Yes, I heard all about it from someone close to you. Being the exclusive photographer for a popular cosplayer—that’s impressive!”
She smiled as she spoke. The source had to be a fan club member—or rather, Shin. He’s the only one at school who knows I’m Yuzha-san’s photographer.
“Sigh… Fine. If that’s the case, we should start with sharing ideas. Want to set aside some time to discuss it?”
I let out a big sigh but agreed. Honestly, what guy could say no to a beauty like Shinomiya-san pleading with those upturned eyes? If such a man exists, bring him here—I can’t do it.
“Yes! How about this weekend, then!? We could do a light planning session and maybe even try a shoot!”
“That’s fine with me, but…”
I almost said there was no need to rush, but seeing her so giddy—practically ready to dance—stopped me cold.
“It’s settled, then! Oh… I’m so excited already!”
As she beamed with an ecstatic smile, I let out a quiet, wry chuckle she didn’t notice.
Never in a million years did I think I’d end up in a secret pact with the classmate everyone adored. Life really is unpredictable.
“For the planning-slash-mini-shoot, your place works, right, Anno-kun?”
“Why does it have to be there!?”
My scream—or something close to it—echoed through the quiet after-school classroom. I was already regretting letting my instincts win and agreeing so easily.
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