Chapter 1: The Empty Classroom After School

People often call spring the season of encounters, but the reality is that absolutely nothing happens. Entering my second year of high school brought a change in classes, so there were a few shifts, but it was mostly familiar faces. Learning names wouldn't be much of a hassle.

"Nice...! Looks like this set of photos went viral properly, too."

Morning. Amidst the classroom gradually growing noisy, I sat at my desk, checking my social media feed on my phone.

Displayed on the screen were photos of a female cosplayer I had done a shoot with last weekend. She was dressed as a character from a mobile game with massive multimedia expansions across anime and movies. Her outfit was entirely handmade, boasting an insanely high level of quality. Add to that her perfect posing and expressions, and the comment section was an endless stream of praise.

"Yuzuha-san really is amazing. She really isn't on a level where someone like me should be taking her pictures..."

With a self-deprecating chuckle, I scrolled through Yuzuha-san's media tab. It wasn't just copyrighted characters; she had original creations too. Some of them featured quite a bit of skin exposure—a little too stimulating for the gentlemen of the world.

"Yo, Takumi. Looking pretty happy this morning. Something good happen?"

"Morning, Arata. Nothing in particular. Just a totally normal morning."

The guy casually calling out to me was my classmate, Kuki Arata. He's been an inescapable, unfortunate friend of mine since middle school, and one of the very few people who actually knows about what I do.

It makes me sad to say this about myself, but I completely lose my ability to communicate the moment I'm restricted to the miniature garden known as school. To be precise, I can talk to older people just fine, but for some reason, I can't hold a decent conversation with people my own age.

In stark contrast to me, Arata has a ton of friends and is the kind of guy who could easily stand at the center of the class. Yet, for whatever weird reason, he's a strange dude who chooses to hang out with a shadow-dweller like me.

"You sure about that? Your face is practically plastered with a grin. You're just stoked that the photos from this morning blew up, ain't ya?"

"...Not really?"

"Bullshit! Man, I'm so jealous. Getting to have private photo shoots alone with a beauty like that!"

"I've told you this a million times, nothing happens outside of the shoot, okay? Absolutely none of the stuff you're hoping for happens."

Well, in reality, I've been invited to wrap parties and gone out to eat with her a few times. But I swear on my life we haven't done anything beyond that. We strictly maintain a wholesome relationship as cosplayer and photographer, client and contractor. Personal feelings have no place in a professional setting.

"I gotta hand it to your steel rationality, or professionalism, or whatever. If it were me, I definitely would've done something by now."

"It just means I'm absolutely committed to maintaining an appropriate distance from my oshi."

"Haaah... Yeah, that's impossible for me. In that case, I'm way better off just admiring the girls in our class."

Arata chuckled, dramatically shrugging his shoulders. Is that really any better? I silently retorted. He had good looks, height, athletic ability, and was a great conversationalist—he basically possessed every trait that made a guy popular with women. The fact that he'd never had a girlfriend was probably entirely due to these pathetic remarks.

"Anyway, setting that aside! If you had to photograph someone in this class, who would you pick?"

"What's with the sudden question...?"

"It ain't sudden at all! This is an annual tradition I bring up every spring! And this year, I'm definitely making you answer!"

Bam! Arata slammed his hands on my desk, leaning in close to apply pressure. He was right; this was the fifth time we'd had this exact exchange, and every single time, I'd dodged the question. Not for any particular reason. If I had to say why, it was just because I couldn't get fired up over hypotheticals.

"Nope, you're giving me an answer this time. Because this year, we've got Shinomiya Rinoa in our class!"

"...Ah, Shinomiya-san."

As I said that, Arata and I turned our gazes toward a female student at the center of an exceptionally large crowd in the classroom. She was a celebrity at this school—Ginka High School. Even the freshmen who had just enrolled knew her name.

Platinum blonde hair as soft as silk, possessing a glossy, faint cherry-blossom pink hue. A perfectly sculpted bridge of the nose, long eyelashes, and jade-green eyes that sparkled like jewels. Pristine, translucent milky-white skin untainted by a single blemish. Every element of her possessed an exquisite beauty. And with a saintly, profoundly affectionate personality, while excelling in both academics and sports—she was walking proof of how unfair God could be.

She was always smiling carefree. Whether it was during breaks, going to the restroom, or moving between classrooms, she was always with someone; I'd never seen her alone. She was practically the princess of her own nation.

"Even a spoiled snob like you, whose appetite won't even stir unless they're Yuzuha's level, would want to shoot Shinomiya-san, wouldn't you?"

"Well, yeah, but... the fan club members wouldn't allow it, would they?"

"Hahaha! Yeah, fair point! Let alone a private solo shoot. You wouldn't live to see the next day's sunrise. Unless you've got that level of resolve, you'd better drop the idea."

"...That fan club is terrifying. Well, rest assured, nothing like that is going to happen. I feel awkward about photographing classmates, and more importantly, if I did shoot Shinomiya-san, Yuzuha-san would kill me."

"Takumi, you're my exclusive photographer, okay? If you want to shoot anyone but me, you have to formally request permission! If you forget... you know what'll happen, right?"

When she had pressured me with that smiling face, I was honestly so terrified that I could only nod. It was only the second time in my life I'd felt raw fear from a beautiful woman's smile—the first being my mom, when my dad totally forgot their anniversary.

"You... You absolute...! You traitor!!"

"Traitor?! How does that even make sense?!"

My friend's emotional instability was baffling.

"How?! You really don't get it?! Don't tell me... you seriously aren't aware that you're being kept as a pet by a super-popular cosplayer?!"

"To be honest, my real feeling is that I'd be happy to have a bit more freedom to shoot different people."

"You spoiled snob!!"

Our friendship ends today! Throwing out that parting line for what had to be the hundredth time, Arata stomped back to his seat. Chuckling wryly at his sheer morning energy, I shifted my eyes back to my phone and resumed checking social media.

"Amazing... How do you even take a shot like this? Whoa, the editing is insane! How did they do that?"

As I scrolled through the timeline, various high-level photos slipped past, drawing unintentional gasps of admiration from me while simultaneously making me painfully aware of my own inexperience. Though, whenever I brought this up with senior photographers I knew, they would always look at me in exasperation for some reason.

"The costumes are incredible too... Oh, this maid outfit is cute. I bet Yuzuha-san would look great in it."

"—What are you looking at, Anno-kun?"

Just as I was mentally picturing Yuzuha-san wrapped in that maid outfit, someone else spoke to me. A girl's voice this time. And it belonged to the very subject of the rumor Arata and I had just been discussing.

"S-Shinomiya-san..."

Standing there was none other than Shinomiya Rinoa herself. I take back what I said earlier. It seems terrifying smiles aren't actually that rare after all.

With a lovely smile reminiscent of blooming cherry blossoms, she naturally took a seat right next to me. She hadn't mistaken her desk. Shinomiya-san and I sat next to each other.

As an aside: This seating arrangement was decided by a lottery on the first day we met our new classmates and homeroom teacher for our sophomore year. I'll never forget the glares brimming with pure jealousy and malice—mainly from the male students—directed at me that day.

"Is that a maid's outfit? The skirt is quite short, isn't it? Oh, but the little cat face cutout on the chest is very cute!"

"Y-Yeah, I guess..."

I squeezed the words out while gently shutting off my phone screen. Having Shinomiya-san, of all people, see that was the worst-case scenario. A miniskirt maid outfit featuring a cat-shaped keyhole cutout that offered a peek at cleavage was definitely not suitable viewing material for a saintly princess like her.

"Takumiii—?! What the hell did you just show Shinomiya-san?!?!"

"N-N-No way!! If princesswore a maid outfit! Let alone a miniskirt, there would be casualties!"

"Anno!! Don't you dare taint Rinoa-sama!!"

Arata, who was supposed to have returned to his seat, along with the entourage that had been surrounding Shinomiya-san just moments ago, rushed my desk while raising voices of protest. I admit I was entirely at fault here, but emitting literal waves of killing intent toward a classmate seemed a bit much.

"Everyone, please calm down. Anno-kun hasn't done anything wrong—"

"No! I believe there isn't a single piece of clothing that wouldn't suit you, Rinoa-san, but a highly revealing maid outfit is out of the question! A more modest, chaste design would be better!"

"Not to mention, looking at such insolent filth in school is out of the question! Anno, you're the absolute worst!"

I hadn't committed a crime, yet getting utterly vilified like this sent my heart into a state of massive flooding. I desperately wanted to argue back, but the situation of having Shinomiya-san sitting right next to me made me hesitate.

The reason being that they, Arata included, were members of the "Shinomiya Rinoa Fan Club." Joining was open to anyone. Inside the club, seniority didn't matter. Only one thing was required: an unyielding will to protect Shinomiya-san's smile.

"Takumi... Tell me I'm wrong, but you aren't looking at Shinomiya-san with perverted eyes, are you?"

"Why the hell would I do that?"

I answered my best friend instantly as he interrogated me with quiet, latent fury. I was about to retort that they were definitely the ones looking at Shinomiya-san with those kinds of eyes, but I managed to bite my tongue at the last second.

My reason for thinking that was because, once a month, secretly taken photos of Shinomiya-san's school life were shared among a select few fan club members. And the person who had informed me of this operation's existence was none other than Arata.

Secretly photographing her was already highly—no, extremely—dangerous, and secretly sharing those photos was a total ethical violation. But from a foundational perspective, the fact that a fan club existed for a completely normal student who wasn't even an idol was utterly insane.

"Everyone, Anno-kun is not to blame. I am a girl too, you know? Isn't it perfectly normal for me to say a cute outfit is cute?"

In the midst of this volatile atmosphere, Shinomiya-san spoke with a slight pout—as if demanding they not ignore her own agency.

"I-I like maid outfits too! There are so many cute ones lately, aren't there?!"

"What kind of clothes does princessusually wear?"

"This settles it, our class's cultural festival event has to be a maid cafe...!"

With a single word from the princess—not the crane—the situation completely flipped. The fan club members' interest shifted from condemning me to Shinomiya-san's wardrobe. Saved, I breathed a sigh of relief in my heart.

"Morning assembly is about to begin. You all should probably head back to your seats, don't you think?"

And before the atmosphere could shift back, Shinomiya-san fired off a follow-up shot with a smile, causing the gathered classmates to scatter back to their seats in small groups.

"Sigh... I apologize for the trouble they caused you, Anno-kun. Are you alright?"

"Nah, I'm the one who should be apologizing. And thanks, you really saved me there."

I returned a wry smile to Shinomiya-san, who sighed and looked genuinely apologetic. In truth, she had absolutely nothing to be sorry for. If anyone should be bowing their heads, it was Arata and his mob.

"By the way, returning to our previous topic, do you have a fondness for maids, Anno-kun?"

"...Come again?"

"Or perhaps what you like isn't the maid outfit, but rather the miniskirt? Or do you, by chance, have an interest in cleavage?"

"Huwaah?!"

A weird noise escaped my throat the moment the word "cleavage" left Shinomiya-san's mouth. Even if it wasn't an outright dirty joke, I couldn't believe this was the same person who had been acting so refined just seconds ago. This was the first time she had engaged me so aggressively since we became desk neighbors.

"I see. In other words, you're a closet pervert, Anno-kun?"

"Alright, got it. How about you shut that mouth of yours right now?!"

"Fufu. How wonderful. You respond so quickly when prodded. You're the first person to catch my teasing so beautifully, Anno-kun."

"I am honored by your praise, Ojou-sama."

I shrugged and tossed out a flippant reply to Shinomiya-san, who was smiling happily. She looked just like a kid who had found a rare toy. It was no exaggeration to say she was a completely different person compared to when she was surrounded by our classmates.

By the way, calling her "Ojou-sama" wasn't a metaphor. Shinomiya-san's father was a private physician, and her mother was the CEO of an apparel brand. Word had it her house was a massively extravagant mansion built in a prime location in the city center.

"...I am not an Ojou-sama."

Reacting to my casual remark, Shinomiya-san's tone abruptly shifted. She muttered the words in a voice that sounded somewhat sullen and lonely.

"O-Oh, really?"

Just as I was wondering how to respond to the suddenly awkward atmosphere, the chime signaling morning assembly rang out. At the exact same time, the classroom door was thrown open with a violent clatter.

"Hiii-ya! Morning, everyone! Time to start homeroom~!!"

Bursting into the room with more hype energy than any of her students was our homeroom teacher—Sakurazawa Miko-sensei, a female teacher in her mid-twenties who had just transferred to the school this year. Brimming with rookie energy and always sporting a bright smile was all well and good, but she made boneheaded mistakes at every turn, constantly earning her the ire of the senior staff.

Her appearance was so childish she could pass for a high schooler—never mind a college student—yet she was surprisingly well-endowed where it counted. That imbalance apparently bred a sense of immorality that made her incredibly popular in a completely different way from Shinomiya-san. By the way, my source for that information is my loveable, idiotic best friend.

"But before that, there's a certain student I need to have a little chat with!"

Miko-sensei snorted, flaring her nostrils. Who exactly was the dimwit getting a scolding first thing in the morning?

"Today's duty officer, Anno-kun! Why didn't you come grab the class log~?"

"...Ah."

My name was called, and the gaze of the entire classroom zeroed in on me. I'd been so entirely absorbed in checking Yuzuha-san's photos that I'd completely forgotten.

"Don't you 'ah' me~! Honestly... dropping the ball right in the morning isn't like you! As punishment, you'd better fill out today's log perfectly, word-for-word! No cutting corners, got it?!"

"That's completely unreasonable..."

"Denied~! This is absolute law! I'll make you rewrite it over and over until I'm satisfied~!"

"Isn't that a total abuse of authority?!"

It seemed absurdly cruel just for failing to pick up a logbook. What pissed me off more, however, was Shinomiya-san giggling beside me.

"What's that, meow? You trying to pick a fight with your sensei? I could just double your homework right meow, you know~?"

"...Tch. Understood."

Faced with Miko-sensei applying further pressure with a smug grin, yielding was my only option. I reluctantly accepted her demands. My after-school detention was now officially locked in.

"My condolences. I suppose that's divine punishment for looking at such extreme photos in the classroom so early in the morning. Best of luck, Anno-kun."

"...You totally knew I forgot I was on duty, didn't you?"

"Oh my, whatever could you mean?"

I hit her with a half-lidded glare to press my suspicions, but she gracefully dodged it with a downright angelic smile. I could hardly believe it, but was Shinomiya Rinoa actually a massive tease who loved playing pranks? Was everyone just being fooled by her appearance, while her true nature was the exact opposite of a saint?

"For the record, I'm the duty officer tomorrow, so I'm very much looking forward to seeing what you write, Anno-kun."

"So you did know?! Why didn't you tell me?!"

"Because I thought it would be more amusing this way... Was that wrong of me?"

"Urgh..."

Said to me with slightly teary eyes, it was frustrating, but I couldn't argue back. If she shed even a fake tear, the fan club members would gang up on me, and I wouldn't live to see the next day's sunrise.

"Talking to you truly is delightful, Anno-kun. Please continue to get along with me as my toy... ahem, my friend sitting next to me."

"...Please go easy on me."

Answering bluntly, I looked away to forcefully end the conversation. If her fans knew that Shinomiya Rinoa actually enjoyed teasing people, they'd be stunned. No, actually, it'd make her feel more human and probably boost her popularity even further. Truly an infuriating thought.

Entertaining those pointless thoughts, I blankly let Miko-sensei's cheerful, bouncy, and entirely devoid-of-substance chatter wash over me.

"Anno-kun, the things you need to write in the log have already started, you know~?"

"Excuse me?"

Having a bombshell dropped on me with a massive grin right at the end made me scream internally. Was I actually going to be able to go home today? Listening to the chime signaling the start of class ring out, a twinge of anxiety took root in my chest.

"Hmmmm. I still have a few tiny complaints, but I suppose I'll let you off the hook for today!"

Sadly, my premonition was dead on. It wasn't until the sun had completely dipped and the sunset painted a beautiful hue across the sky that Miko-sensei finally gave me the green light. After rewriting it over and over, I honestly had no idea what I'd even written anymore, so finally getting her approval was a godsend.

"Anno-kun, have you been sleeping properly lately? You look pretty haggard. Are you okay?"

"...Well, it's nothing new, so I'm fine."

If I had to answer honestly whether I was getting enough sleep, the answer would be no. I had to edit the photos I took of Yuzuha-san, and more than anything, being all alone in a large room left me restless. However, I've been living this lifestyle for almost a year now, so I'm used to it.

"If you say so. Ah, changing the subject, how are classes going now that you're a second-year? Keeping up alright?"

"Y-Yeah... I guess I'm doing okay? Since the year just started, I honestly can't really say yet."

It hadn't even been a month since we moved up a grade, so I really didn't know if I was falling behind or not. Fortunately, I hadn't had a giant question mark hovering over my head during lectures yet.

"I heard you used to snooze like a baby during your first year, but so far, I haven't seen any of that. As your homeroom teacher, it's a huge relief!"

Miko-sensei laughed her weird nyahaha laugh. There were still other teachers left in the staff room, so I really wished she'd lower her tone.

Just to defend my honor: I am by no means an un-serious student. Whenever I embark on a journey to dreamland during class, it's strictly when I've had a shoot with Yuzuha-san the day prior and spent the entire night editing photos.

So, what I'm trying to say is, it's an unavoidable consequence of my job, so cut me some slack. Even underage students have to meet deadlines.

"I get it now. You turning into a serious student must definitely be the influence of the girl sitting next to you, huh?"

"...Whatever do you mean?"

"No need to play dumb, you know~? With a beauty so stunning she could silence a crying child like Rinoa-chan right beside you, you couldn't fall asleep even if you wanted to! Just goes to show you're a boy too, Anno-kun!"

Miko-sensei nodded repeatedly with her arms crossed, looking thoroughly satisfied. Why on earth would Shinomiya-san's name get brought up as the reason I'm not dozing off? I shot her a deadpan glare conveying exactly that sentiment.

"Hm? I mean, if a super ultra cute girl was sitting right next to you, wouldn't it get your blood pumping? Like, 'This ain't the time to be sleeping!' You know?"

Stop treating this like some internet meme, I retorted internally, letting out a heavy sigh.

"It's nothing like that. I simply decided to turn over a new leaf now that I'm a second-year. I wouldn't be sleeping even if Shinomiya-san wasn't sitting next to me."

The actual truth was that around winter break last year, Yuzuha-san had started to question why the time between our shoots and the delivery of the processed and edited photos was so incredibly fast. When I reluctantly told her why...

"Your primary duty as a student is to study, you know? Fast deliveries are helpful, but if it means you're neglecting your schoolwork, that completely defeats the purpose! You are to stop this immediately. Do you understand me?"

She had gotten genuinely angry with me, while also worrying that I might collapse from pushing myself too hard. She even told me that if that ever happened, she'd feel too guilty to ever request another shoot. Since then, I've made a conscious effort to pace myself.

"I'd really love to interrogate you to see if that's true, but I'll let it slide for today. You should be grateful for your sensei's boundless generosity!"

"I really think you should stop digging into your students' private lives out of sheer curiosity, you know?"

"I can't help it! Basking in the long-lost youth of my students is one of my few remaining joys in life! Come on, you can tell me more about all the romance and puberty-driven dilemmas you youths are struggling with!"

"No, I'm not in love, nor am I struggling with anything in particular. Honestly, please stop using me to kill time."

Don't be so cruel~, Miko-sensei whined as she grabbed my shoulders and shook me back and forth. At this rate, it was hard to tell which one of us was actually the teacher.

Sadly, this childish side of Miko-sensei made her highly approachable, earning her the affection of many students, both male and female. Though her being slightly annoying and loud was definitely a flaw.

"We're done talking, right? I'll be heading home now, then."

"Ehh?! Come on, let's chat a little longer! Hang out with me to kill some time!"

"...Please do your actual job, Sensei."

Miko-sensei started throwing a tantrum, shrieking I don't wanna!, looking exactly like a toddler begging their parents to buy them candy at the supermarket. She was the absolute peak of a spoiled child. However, if she didn't knock it off soon, lightning was bound to strike.

"You meanie, Anno-kun! If you're gonna be like that, I'll give you a 1 on your first-term report card even if you score a perfect hundred on your tests!"

"Hey, you giant baby! Isn't there a limit to how much you can abuse your authority?!"

"Who are you calling a baby?! Sit down on your knees right there! Time for a lecture!!"

"The one getting a lecture is you, Sakurazawa-sensei."

See, what did I tell you? The head of our grade, whose patience had finally snapped, tapped Miko-sensei's shoulder with an expression that was a terrifying amalgamation of rage completely painted over with a forced smile.

"Ah... um, well, you see..."

"Excuses are unnecessary. Move your hands before you move your mouth."

It felt like I was being treated to a masterclass on the correct way to deal with Miko-sensei—namely, talking over her before she can say anything and giving her no room to argue.

"Anno-kun. You're fine now, so you may head home. Be careful on your way back."

"Yes. Thank you very much. Well then, see you tomorrow, Sakurazawa-sensei."

"No wayyyyy!! Abandoning your homeroom teacher like this is so cold-hearted!!"

Ignoring Miko-sensei as she frantically reached out to me for help, I bowed to the grade head and left the staff room.

"Hah... What a nightmare."

I could still hear her sobbing and shrieking from inside the room, but I made a conscious effort to ignore it, shrugging my shoulders as I walked down the hallway. I could have just gone straight back to the classroom to grab my things and head home, but I figured I'd take a lazy stroll to change the pace.

The time was already approaching 6 PM, but the voices of club activities drifting from the schoolyard were still lively and unceasing. Inside the school building, however, a veil of silence had fallen, utterly unlike the daytime. Having such drastically different worlds inside and outside was strangely profound.

Entertaining those terribly uncharacteristic thoughts, I walked in the opposite direction of my classroom.

Ginka High School was an institution with over a century of history since its founding, though its name had changed a few times.

That said, it had undergone countless additions and renovations, and a brand-new main building had been completed just a few years ago, so it didn't really feel that old. Still, some of the older sections remained, creating the illusion that those specific areas belonged to an era two entire periods in the past.

"...It definitely gets atmospheric once it's dark."

The old building was located on the exact opposite side of the schoolyard, so I couldn't hear any voices from outside. The lights weren't LEDs but old fluorescent tubes, humming with a harsh, grating buzz. Once the sun fully set, the place could easily serve as an impromptu haunted house.

It had been over a year since I enrolled, and I'd walked this hallway countless times, yet it felt as if I was visiting it for the very first time. Embracing the sensation, I aimlessly wandered forward.

I wasn't scared; if anything, my curiosity was stronger. In fact, I was actually getting pretty hyped up, running simulations in my head of what a photo shoot would look like here.

"I'd really love to do a shoot in an abandoned school at least once. It'd be a hassle traveling out to one, though."

With all the heavy equipment, a car would be absolutely essential. But tragically, I didn't know anyone who could actually drive safely. To be precise, Yuzuha-san had a license and a car, but I absolutely refused to sit in her passenger seat. The reason for that should be painfully obvious.

"It'd be great if I could legally shoot Yuzuha-san in a school uniform inside a real classroom... Though she'd probably think it was a pain."

She isn't exactly shy, but Yuzuha-san definitely has a homebody streak.

Setting the logistics aside, I was walking along, pondering how on earth I could convince one of Japan's top-tier cosplayers to visit an abandoned school, when—

"—Nnh."

From a classroom I had casually walked past, a voice—faint, but unmistakable—reached my ears.

"...That was just my imagination, right?"

The classrooms in the old building were primarily used for subjects that required moving around. Thus, there was no reason for any student to be inside after school unless they were on cleaning duty. Yet, I could definitely sense someone's presence.

"There's no way it's a ghost... right?"

Fully aware that my voice was shaking, I stopped and hesitantly crept back to the door. I could understand the middle of the night, but what kind of ghost showed up in the evening?

"Nngh... I just... can't seem to get a good shot..."

Without even having to press my ear to the door, I caught the faint mutterings of a female student slipping through the crack. The tone of her voice carried an alluring quality, akin to a sultry gasp, entirely unfitting for an educational institution like a school.

Having heard that, I knew I shouldn't look. But like a moth drawn to a bug zapper, I held my breath and leaned my face close to the door.

And what leaped into my vision was the sight of my classmate, desperately trying to take a selfie while exposing a shocking amount of skin.

"Sigh... How am I supposed to take a good picture...?"

The girl letting out a heavy sigh and glaring intently at her phone was a celebrity whom absolutely no one attending this school was ignorant of. She was one of the very few individuals whose face and name were known even to the newly enrolled freshmen. And she was the very same classmate I had been talking to this morning.

"Why is Shinomiya-san doing something like that...?"

Murmuring the name of the girl who always sat right next to me, I swallowed the welling tide of questions along with a gulp of saliva.

She possessed a figure so mature that even professional models would run away barefoot, drawing gazes of envy from men and women alike. She had the charisma to constantly draw a crowd. She treated everyone equally and constantly radiated a brilliant smile. If a true saint existed in reality, everyone would unanimously agree it was her. To put it mildly, it was impossible not to fall in love with her.

So why on earth was a girl like that exposing her skin in an empty classroom? Right now, there was a metaphorical cat floating above my head, looking utterly perplexed.

"This makes zero sense... I don't get it at all, but..."

Don't overthink this. I told myself to pretend I hadn't seen anything and leave the premises as quickly as humanly possible.

"Should I undo more buttons and roll my skirt up to the very limit...?"

Tragically, my feet refused to move, as if they had been sewn to the floor. In direct rebellion against my rationality, my instincts were screaming at me to stay.

Seeing my classmate sitting on the very same desk where she normally studied, striking a highly suggestive pose that offered glimpses of her bare skin and underwear, filled me with an indescribable mix of confusion and arousal.

"The angle of the phone... Ugh... Selfies really are difficult..."

Watching her struggle, adjusting the angle of her phone this way and that, was both amusing and adorable. I wanted to give her the professional advice that a selfie stick would solve her problems, but doing so would expose the fact that I was peeping, resulting in an utter catastrophe.

"Yeah, this is no good at all."

I'll just erase everything I saw today from my memory. Just as I made up my mind and turned to leave, the evening sun streaming through the window cast its light perfectly over Shinomiya-san as she shrugged her shoulders with a melancholic, resigned expression. The moment I saw that scene, a jolt of electricity ran through my brain.

"......"

I knew it was wrong. I fully understood in my head that what I was about to do bordered on criminal and lacked any shred of common sense. Yet, my instincts simply refused to let this moment pass without recording it.

Regretting from the bottom of my heart that I didn't have my usual photography equipment on me, I pulled my phone from my breast pocket and booted up the camera app. Thump. Thump. My heart pounded so violently I thought it might leap out of my throat, and my breathing grew ragged. On top of that, my hands were shaking so badly the screen was an unstable mess. I hadn't felt this way since my very first private shoot with an ultra-gorgeous cosplayer.

"...Phew."

Taking a deep breath to compose my nerves without alerting her, I quietly brought my phone up to the crack in the door.

Just as I did, the Shinomiya-san projected on my screen undid the second button of her blouse, exposing her cleavage. My eyes were helplessly drawn to her pure, unblemished white skin. Her beautiful collarbones and décolletage. The twin peaks that I knew were soft without even having to touch them, and the simple yet elegant lingerie cradling them.

Every ounce of visual data flooding my eyes whispered sweet temptations into my brain: Do not miss the miraculous moment that is about to arrive. Focusing every nerve in my body, I waited for that precise second.

"Sigh... I suppose I really do need an expert."

Shinomiya-san shrugged her shoulders, muttering with a hint of self-deprecation. Her disheveled uniform and exposed underwear. Her melancholic sigh and expression. The setting of an empty classroom after school. These elements fused in perfect harmony, creating a version of Shinomiya Rinoa that no one had ever seen. Completely entranced, I hit the shutter.

"...Who's there?"

"Ah..."

A startled voice. Not through the lens, our eyes met directly. No matter how much I held my breath, anyone would notice the loud click! of a shutter. Especially since it hadn't just fired once, but several times in rapid succession.

But none of that mattered right now. I just had to get out of there. For a split second, I considered not running and instead prostrating myself on the floor to beg for forgiveness, but if I had the guts to do that, I wouldn't have resorted to secretly photographing her in the first place. I would have just bowed my head from the start and begged, "Please let me take pictures of you."

Harboring a sliver of regret as I pondered that, I sprinted toward the school gates like a cheetah racing across the savanna.

I wanted to go back to my classroom to grab my bag, but running into her there would completely ruin the point of escaping. I decided to give it up for today.

After that, I fled the school without dropping my pace, threw myself onto a train, and went home. Skipping dinner, I immediately dove back into the photo processing and editing work I had paused earlier.

Entirely for the sake of erasing the image of Shinomiya Rinoa permanently burned into my retinas.

And then—

"...I messed up."

The sun that was supposed to have set had risen before I knew it. Finally brought back to my senses by the morning light washing over me, I let out a heavy sigh. I hadn't expected to get so engrossed that I'd actually finish editing every single photo in my backlog.

"Maybe I should grab some sleep... No, a shower first."

I stood up from my chair, rolling my stiff shoulders in circles to loosen them up. Rolling my neck produced a deeply satisfying string of cracks.

Truth be told, I wanted to make up a random excuse and take the day off from school, but leaving my bag in the classroom made that impossible.

Besides, even if only for a fraction of a second, I might have actually made eye contact with Shinomiya-san. If the classmate sitting right next to her left his bag at school and then suspiciously called in sick the very next day, anyone short of a complete blockhead would instantly finger me as the culprit.

"Which means my only option is... to go to school acting like nothing happened. This is my only play."

A heavy sigh escaped my lips. If I really thought about it, there might have been a better course of action. Tragically, however, a brain utterly exhausted from staring intensely at a PC monitor all night long was incapable of producing any brilliant schemes. In fact, if I let my guard down even a little, I was liable to lose consciousness like a puppet with its strings cut.

"If I take a shower and slam an energy drink, I should be able to survive a day... probably."

Dousing my head in scalding hot water should refresh me at least a little. I'd just been praised by Miko-sensei for no longer falling asleep in class; if I spent the entire day dozing off, she wouldn't stop at just yelling at me.

Letting out one final, massive sigh, I rubbed my throbbing eyes and made my way to the bathroom.

Arriving at school earlier than I ever had in my entire elementary and middle school career combined just to retrieve my bag, I found the classroom predictably empty.

Since I couldn't exactly go back home, I reluctantly took my seat to kill time until the first bell. The morning sun shining through the windows created an indescribable atmosphere, leaving me lost in deep emotion.

"Alright... Now I just have to put everything I have into playing dumb..."

Muttering to myself, I used my bag as a makeshift pillow and collapsed onto my desk.

The comfortable sunlight warming me like a thick blanket, combined with the relief of securing my objective without incident, caused a wave of intense drowsiness to wash over me.

At times like this, if I went up to the roof, I could gracefully lay down and bask in the sun. But if I actually did that, I'd end up sleeping away the entire day up there. And if that happened, I'd be treated to an all-day lecture course from Miko-sensei.

"Well, Arata will probably wake me up when he gets here. Until then—"

I'll just sleep. I mentally flicked the off-switch on my body—but in that exact moment, the classroom door rattled open. There sure are some weird classmates who show up early in the morning for no reason, I thought vaguely, about to let my eyelids shut, when—

"How unusual. You've arrived at school quite early today, Anno-kun."

"—?! Shinomiya-san?!"

Hearing a voice fall from right above my head, I instinctively snapped my head up. My drowsiness was instantly blown away, replaced by a sudden, intense eruption of cold sweat.

"Good morning, Anno-kun. It's truly beautiful weather again today."

"M-Morning, Shinomiya-san."

Shinomiya-san spoke with the same lovely smile she always wore. Nothing about her had seemingly changed from yesterday, which ironically filled me with an incomprehensible terror. In an instant, my heart was swallowed by an ominous, pitch-black storm cloud.

"Is something the matter, Anno-kun? You look terribly pale."

"Not at all. I'm perfectly healthy."

A complete lie. My breathing was jagged from fear and tension, and my pulse was racing. Meanwhile, my body temperature had plummeted so sharply I was getting the chills.

"Could it be a lack of sleep? The weekend is still far away; were you perhaps up late doing something?"

"Yeah... Something like that."

It wasn't a lie. Though the one responsible for making me pull an all-nighter was none other than the Shinomiya-san standing right in front of me.

"You really shouldn't push yourself, you know. If you overwork yourself while you're young, it will catch up to your body when you get older."

"I'll keep that in mind. An acquaintance of mine just told me the exact same thing."

Wait, we're having a totally normal conversation. Did she actually forgive me? Or maybe me thinking we made eye contact was just a misunderstanding, and she really hadn't noticed me? The exact second a single ray of hope pierced through the thick, black clouds—

"No matter how startled you were, leaving your bag at school is a bad habit, you know. If you had anything important in there, it could have been stolen."

"I didn't have any valuables in my bag, so it's fi—wait a second. What did you just say?"

"It seems you really aren't feeling well. Well, I suppose it can't be helped. Anyone would be shaken up if they were secretly taking pictures of someone, only for their target to notice them and make direct eye contact."

Shinomiya-san grinned as she said that. To an outsider, it was the smile of an angel, but to me, it looked exactly like a demon about to deliver a death sentence. Right now, I was quite literally a frog paralyzed under the glare of a snake.

"My, my. What really is the matter, Anno-kun? Sweat is pouring down your forehead, you know?"

"...Hahaha. Just your imagination, isn't it? I-I'm completely normal."

Against Shinomiya-san, who was slowly tightening the noose around my neck with agonizing pressure, I squeezed out a response in one final act of resistance. Unfortunately, to a predator whose fangs were already firmly buried in its prey's throat, it didn't even amount to a struggle.

"What's your goal?"

"Goal? Ufufu... Whatever do you mean? I haven't the faintest idea what you're talking about, Anno-kun. Would you care to explain?"

What was so fun about watching a guy slowly inch his way toward a slow death? Still, no matter how much she tormented me, my chances of winning were zero percent. My only option was to wave the white flag.

"...I was wrong. I won't tell anyone what I saw yesterday, and I'll delete the photos. Hell, I'll take it all to the grave. So please—!"

I stood up and furiously bowed my head. If I said I wasn't curious about the truth behind why she was taking selfies half-naked in an empty classroom after school, I'd be lying. However, my instincts were firing off alarm bells, screaming that stepping any further would only lead to pure hell.

"—Whatever are you misunderstanding, Anno-kun? I have absolutely no intention of asking you to delete those photos."

"...Huh?"

Hearing a statement I hadn't anticipated in the slightest, I involuntarily raised my head. I didn't need to delete the photos? What was she planning? As I stared in sheer bewilderment, Shinomiya-san leaned in close, whispering into my ear in a sweet, honeyed voice.

"Let us start over, then. Thank you for yesterday, Mr. Peeping Tom. Did you manage to take any good photos?"

A bolt of electricity shot down my spine. At that incredibly mature, bewitching voice—something you'd never expect from a classmate—my heart gave a massive thump.

"...T-Thanks to you. I managed to capture a shot that easily rivals the top one or two photos I've ever taken."

Since I had no clue what this beauty was scheming, I decided to just boldly own up to it. Granted, I was fully aware of how much of an absolute scumbag I was being.

"I'm very glad to hear that. Ah, for future reference, would you mind showing them to me?"

"Reference for what...? But I guess even if I asked, you wouldn't tell me, huh?"

Shinomiya-san effortlessly ignored my question with a smile. Releasing a sigh, I reached into my breast pocket.

"Fine. If you insist, knock yourself out."

"Thank you very much. I'm glad you're such an obedient boy, Anno-kun."

Shinomiya-san held out her hand, eagerly rushing me. I reluctantly unlocked my phone, pulled up the photos I'd taken yesterday, and handed the device over.

"I see. So this is how I looked to you, Anno-kun... Taking photos yourself really is quite different from having someone else take them."

"If you're going to try and take a selfie with that composition, you won't get a good shot unless you use a tripod at the bare minimum."

The image quality of modern smartphone cameras is leagues above cheap digital cameras. We live in an era where footage shot on smartphones is even used in blockbuster films.

That being said, that only applies to the rear lens. The front-facing lens used for selfies suffers a drop in quality. Plus, unless you're used to it, fitting your entire body into the frame is a challenge.

"Oh... I had no idea. They make convenient items like that, do they?"

You were seriously trying to take selfies without knowing even that? I nearly sighed in exasperation, but remembering that Shinomiya-san could be a bit out of touch with the modern world, I accepted that it couldn't be helped.

"Also, because it was shot in a dimly lit classroom in the evening, the lighting and shadows aren't defined enough."

"And here I thought these were taken beautifully... Photography truly is quite profound, isn't it!"

Whether in a studio or a classroom, lighting is essential for photography. There's even a saying that whoever controls the light controls the photo.

"It was such a perfect setup, too... This completely ruined it."

I had no intention of claiming to be a professional photographer, but I still had my pride, having pressed the shutter countless times. That was exactly why I deeply regretted my inability to properly capture the "momentary beauty worthy of eternity" that the ultimate subject had displayed right in front of me.

"So... if you had the proper equipment, you could take even better pictures... Is that what you're saying?"

"Hm? Well, I'm confident I could take a better shot than that one, at least."

Even if we didn't go to the studio I normally use with Yuzuha-san, a proper shoot was entirely possible just at home. I actually have the equipment at my place, making it even easier. Though, even if heaven and earth flipped upside down, I wasn't about to suggest that.

"...I see. That is very good to know."

"Hey, Shinomiya-san. What exactly are you trying to do?"

"Let's see. I wouldn't mind explaining it to you right here and now, but... it's just about time for everyone to arrive at school. Let's continue this after school."

"...I take it I don't have veto rights?"

"Yes, unfortunately, you do not have the right to refuse, Anno-kun. After school, let us meet at the same place as yesterday. If you try to run away... you know what will happen, don't you?"

Shinomiya-san licked her lips, offering a bewitching smile. I fell into the illusion that my heart was being forcefully seized, completely choking off my airways.

"You are quite a clever boy, Anno-kun. You're likely thinking that even if I make a request of you, without hard evidence, you could easily talk your way out of it. Isn't that right?"

"Hahaha... Why would I ever think something like that?"

She hit the nail on the head, causing my reply to come out stiff and awkward. Or rather, compared to her daytime persona, this Shinomiya-san was a completely different person. The saint's mask had vanished; she was now an absolute devil. This gap in personality had to be illegal.

"And if thou gaze long into an abyss, the abyss will also gaze into thee." It's a famous quote by a certain philosopher. But what do you suppose it means in the context of this situation?

"Y-You don't mean...?!"

The exact moment she said that, yesterday's events vividly resurfaced in my brain.

When I locked eyes with Shinomiya-san and bolted away. There had been a faint sound right behind me. Overwhelmed by the excitement and guilt of witnessing an unreal scene and successfully recording it, I hadn't paid it any mind—but hadn't that been the sound of a camera shutter?

"You're just as sharp as I thought. It was a split-second reaction, but my phone has safely captured your adorable, dumbfounded face, as well as your back as you desperately scrambled away."

Following her unsaid, You understand what this means, right?, I silently nodded, demonstrating my absolute submission. It seemed my high school life—no, quite possibly my entire life—had officially reached its end.

"Fufu. Honest and obedient. Good boy. Let's pick this up after school. Just the two of us... Let's have another little chat."

Leaving those parting words, Shinomiya-san glided out of the classroom. Soon after, the rest of the students began filtering in, and the school roared to life.

"You reap what you sow... but still, this is the absolute worst."

In stark contrast to the lively classroom, I buried my head back into my bag and muttered to myself. If I had known this was going to happen, I would have gone straight home instead of taking a stroll through the old building. I regretted my choices from the bottom of my heart.

Finally, after school arrived. Every single period felt mind-numbingly long, and Arata even worriedly told me, "Dude, you look awful. Sure you're okay? Maybe you should go home early." Somehow, I powered through it all.

The exhaustion and sleepiness of my all-nighter had been entirely blasted away by the sheer tension of having my blackmailer sitting right beside me, occasionally flashing me a smile. Thanks to that, my eyes were wide awake, but my head was incredibly heavy—a truly miserable day. Yet, the real nightmare was just beginning.

"...Talk about heaven and hell."

The empty classroom where I had peeked at the lewd display of Shinomiya-san, a girl boasting top-tier beauty and proportions not just in our school, but across all of Japan. Standing before its door, I thoroughly checked my surroundings to ensure no one was watching.

Was I walking into the demon's den or the snake's pit? I took a massive breath, steeled my resolve, and rested my hand on the door. Not that it mattered; no matter what unreasonable demands she hurled at me, I had no choice but to swallow them.

"I was worried you wouldn't show up, Anno-kun. Ah, or should I call you Mr. Peeping Tom?"

Entering the classroom while making sure not to make a sound, I found Shinomiya-san already waiting for me, sitting on top of a desk with her legs elegantly crossed.

I felt a wave of relief seeing that her uniform was properly buttoned up unlike yesterday. However, the fact that she had hiked her skirt up dangerously high made it look like her underwear might peek out at any second, forcing me to frantically lock my gaze onto her face.

Watching me panic, Shinomiya-san giggled. It was the exact same saintly chuckle she used when surrounded by our classmates, which offered a strange sense of comfort, yet simultaneously filled me with the terrifying anxiety that she could read my every thought.

"I don't think you needed to correct yourself on my name. You aren't seriously planning to call me that for the rest of my life, are you?"

"My, do you honestly think I'm such an awful woman, Anno-kun? I'm so terribly sad my tears are making me fumble with my phone... Oops, I might accidentally leak that photo everywhere."

She covered her face with both hands, mimicking violent sobs. I really wanted to tell her that if she was going to act, she should cover her mouth too. I could clearly see her grinning from ear to ear.

"Yeah, yeah. You can call me whatever you want... Can we just skip to the rest of what you were saying this morning?"

Anything I said would just be brushed off by this devil wearing a saint's skin. Abandoning any attempts to retort or resist, I urged her to get to the main topic.

"Impatience won't make you very popular, you know? We have all the time in the world. Why not enjoy a little more conversation?"

"Don't they say speed is the essence of war? What are we going to do if someone walks in on us having a leisurely chat?"

"What do you mean? You and I are merely having a secret rendezvous in an empty classroom in the old building after school. What part of that is a problem?"

I shot her a deadpan glare, utterly convinced she knew exactly what she was saying. If Arata's fan club goons found out a guy like me was meeting Shinomiya-san alone, I'd be dead before dawn.

"It's literally nothing but problems. Wait, do you actually want to socially assassinate me, Shinomiya-san? Are you trying to get me run out of school?"

I suppose it was a fitting punishment for a guy who peeped on and illegally photographed a beautiful girl's secret.

"I keep telling you, I have no intention of doing that. Besides, you're laboring under a massive misunderstanding, Anno-kun."

"Misunderstanding?"

"Yes. A colossal misunderstanding, actually. I don't feel embarrassed or disgusted by the fact that you secretly photographed me. In fact, I'm quite grateful."

"...Huh?"

What the hell are you talking about? I was about to ask, but Shinomiya-san kept talking as she uncrossed and recrossed her legs. It was a completely mundane motion, yet it was incredibly alluring. Her skirt fluttered slightly, threatening to reveal the hidden treasures beneath, and I frantically averted my eyes.

"When I saw the photos you took yesterday, Anno-kun, I was deeply moved. The girl captured in those shots was a 'me' I had never seen before... That was exactly the kind of photo I wanted to take!"

Shinomiya-san balled her hands into fists, speaking with profound intensity. Her eyes were practically sparkling, just like a child who had been gifted a new toy. Even if I wasn't entirely satisfied with the shots myself, having someone be this overjoyed by my photos made me happy.

"My apologies. I lost my composure for a moment. Where was I?"

"...You were just saying you were moved by the photos, I think?"

"Ah, yes. Building on that, I have a very special favor to ask of you, Anno-kun. Would that be alright?"

"Just out of curiosity... What happens if I say no?"

I already knew the answer, and honestly, the moment I showed up to this classroom as ordered, my resolve had already been solidified. I just asked to make sure. In response, Shinomiya-san lightly hopped off the desk.

"Well now, what should we do? What would you like to have happen to you, Anno-kun?"

"Asking me what I want... You're the one holding the right to decide whether I live or die here, aren't you?"

"Are you sure? I might order you to become my exclusive butler, or perhaps my pet, you know? If I demanded that, would you quietly submit, Anno-kun?"

Slowly closing the distance between us, Shinomiya-san leaned forward, peering up at my face through her upturned eyelashes. Being stared at from such a breathtakingly close distance made my heart betray me with a massive throb, and my cheeks grew hot.

Seeing through my agitation, Shinomiya-san formed a bewitchingly beautiful smile, brought her lips right next to my ear, and whispered in a sugary-sweet voice.

"Rather than being socially assassinated... Don't you think being kept by me for the rest of your life would be infinitely better?"

How many times was this now that her voice had sent a violent shiver down my spine? The sound of my heavy gulp echoed loudly through the silent classroom.

"...Are you really the Shinomiya Rinoa who sits next to me in class? You aren't actually her twin sister, are you?"

At the very least, the Shinomiya Rinoa I knew and the Shinomiya Rinoa standing before me did not equate. By that logic, I was starting to doubt whether the girl taking selfies yesterday was even real, either.

When she was surrounded by friends in the classroom, Shinomiya Rinoa was cute, graceful, and gave off the pure, innocent vibe of a sheltered upper-class lady. But the girl standing before me was the absolute polar opposite.

She was a demonic entity dripping with a sweet, dangerous allure that seduced men and women alike to their very marrow, intoxicating them until they could no longer survive physically or mentally without her. It might sound like an exaggeration, but to my eyes right now, that was exactly what Shinomiya Rinoa looked like.

"I do indeed have an older sister, but we aren't twins, you know? The girl standing right here is the genuine article: Shinomiya Rinoa."

"I mean... well, yeah."

Even I knew that was an idiotic response. Seeing me look like I'd just been thoroughly bewitched by a fox spirit, Shinomiya-san giggled again. Was she dancing me in the palm of her hand, or just treating me like a toy? It was impossible to tell.

"I suppose I'll stop teasing you for now. Shall we return to the main subject? Are you prepared, Anno-kun?"

"Yeah. Just hurry up and boil me, roast me, or do whatever you want."

Fully giving up, I threw out my answer with a defeated shrug. I really never expected my high school life to end like this. Ultimately, the blame lay entirely on me for taking those peeping photos. Just as I was bitterly mocking my own karmic retribution in my head, Shinomiya-san dropped an unprecedented bombshell.

"Anno-kun... Would you take pictures of my embarrassing side?"

"...Say what?"

The request was so absurdly out of left field that I completely deadpanned. I stared at Shinomiya-san's face, completely convinced this had to be an awful joke, or that she was just enjoying messing with me. Tragically, however, she seemed to be completely serious.

"Did you not hear me? I'll say it one more time, then. I want you to take embarrassing pictures of—"

"Stooooooooooop!! I heard you loud and clear, so you're fine! You really don't need to repeat it!!"

This was bad. In all my sixteen short years of life, my brain had never short-circuited harder than it did today. I was more confused right now than the time Yuzuha-san refused to let me go home until I agreed to become her exclusive photographer.

"Is that so? Good. Now then, may I hear your answer, Anno-kun? You wouldn't dare say no... would you?"

Despite her cute voice and lovely smile, I could feel an immense, inescapable pressure radiating from her. It was the absolute worst feeling in the world—exactly like having the tip of a razor-sharp katana pressed against my throat.

"Well, what will it be? Hai? Yes? Or perhaps, Un?"

"Every single one of those is the exact same answer!!"

The sheer unreasonableness of her question forced me to instinctively shout back. Even if I never had veto rights from the start, shouldn't she at least have the courtesy to include a "No" option?

"Do you have some sort of complaint? Is my body simply not up to your exacting standards, Anno-kun? Is that what you're trying to say?"

"I literally never said I had any complaints!! And watch your phrasing! I don't shoot photography just because I'm lusting after bodies, okay?!"

"Oh my, is that so?"

Shinomiya-san tilted her head, blinking in feigned innocence. It was such an adorable gesture that I almost caved, but I hardened my heart into a demon's and desperately held my ground.

"Well, I suppose we can leave the interrogation regarding your fetis—your hobbies—for another time. Will you please give me your answer now? You wouldn't dare say no... would you?"

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't interested. But even with her holding my weakness over my head, accepting this offer was logically a terrible idea. If I captured embarrassing photos of my classmate—and the girl who sat right next to me, at that—I wouldn't know what kind of face to make when I walked into class the next day.

Yet, even though my brain completely understood the risks, my instincts as a photographer were relentlessly whispering to me: Nod your head. Accept the offer.

The reason for that was simple. I had caught a glimpse of a side of Shinomiya Rinoa that absolutely no one else had ever seen. To capture that sight once more—her uniform hanging open in an empty classroom, displaying a shy yet profoundly lewd expression...

"Before that, I need you to tell me. Why do you want this?"

"My reason? Let me see... If I had to put it into words, it's because 'I want to see the side of myself that I don't know'."

The devilish smile of an angel. I wanted to capture that captivating expression—a perfect blend of lovely innocence and raw, sultry beauty—on film this very instant.

"I cannot tell you any more than that at the moment, but... how is it? Are you satisfied?"

My answer was set in stone. I was just parroting my dad, but as someone whose motto was "capturing a momentary beauty and recording it for eternity", Shinomiya-san was the ultimate subject. It was entirely different from cosplay; how could I possibly back down when a real, life-sized girl asked me to capture the side of her that even she didn't know?

"Understood. I'll take... your request."

"Thank you so much! I knew you would say that, Anno-kun!"

The moment I said those words, Shinomiya-san excitedly began to hop up and down.

It was a childishly adorable way of celebrating, yet her twin weapons—which were entirely unfitting for a child—bounced heavily along with her, a gap that drove my rationality absolutely insane. I let out a loud cough to hide my fluster and asked the most crucial question.

"Taking the pictures is fine and all. But when you say your 'embarrassing side,' what kind of image do you specifically have in mind?"

"I have a vague idea. But regarding the finer details, I was hoping to consult a professional in the field like yourself, Anno-kun... Would that be unacceptable?"

"I-It's not unacceptable, but... wait, you knew I do photography?"

"Yes, I was taught quite a bit by a certain good friend of yours. Being the exclusive photographer for a popular cosplayer is incredibly impressive."

Shinomiya-san beamed. Considering the source of the leak was a fan club member, and the fact that they even knew about Yuzuha-san, it had to be Arata. He was the only person in the entire school who knew I worked as her exclusive photographer.

"Sigh... Understood. If that's the case, we should start by aligning our visions. Let's find some time to have a proper meeting."

I agreed with a massive sigh. At the end of the day, was there a man alive who could actually say no when a beauty like Shinomiya-san looked up at him with pleading eyes? If one existed, I'd like to meet him. It was impossible for me.

"Yes! Well then, how about we start right away this weekend?! I'd love to have a light meeting and dive straight into a test shoot!"

"I don't really mind, but..."

There's no need to rush so much, is there? I almost said, but looking at Shinomiya-san acting so happy she looked like she might burst into dance, the words caught in my throat.

"Then it's decided! Ahh... I'm already looking forward to it!"

Careful not to let her notice, I quietly offered a wry smile toward Shinomiya-san, who was wearing an expression of pure ecstasy.

I truly never expected to end up in an unspeakable, secret relationship with the classmate every guy dreamed of. You really never know what life is going to throw at you.

"The location for our meeting and mini-photo shoot will be your house, right, Anno-kun?"

"How the hell did we land on that conclusion?!"

A scream that bordered on a desperate shriek echoed through the quiet after-school classroom. I was already regretting ever surrendering to my instincts and agreeing to this so easily.