Chapter 2: The First Photoshoot is a Life Changing Scenario

Early afternoon on the weekend. I was restlessly waiting for someone at the station nearest my house.

That someone was Shinomiya Rinoa—the most famous girl in our school and a beauty who, despite not being an idol, had a fanatical fan club dedicated to her.

Hailed as a saint and a princess, and confessed to on a practically daily basis, she had for some inexplicable reason asked me to take embarrassing pictures of her. I still didn't understand her true motives, and so, harboring a swirl of unresolved questions, the day of our meeting arrived.

"Just what on earth is Shinomiya-san thinking...?"

I couldn't believe she wanted to have our meeting at the house of a male classmate who merely sat next to her. Moreover, she wanted to transition straight into the photoshoot the moment we were done. Even considering I had all my photography equipment set up there, wasn't she being a little too defenseless?

"Ah! Anno-kuuuun!"

As I was vaguely pondering that, the rumored Shinomiya-san came into view, waving her hand as she descended the escalator. She looked exactly like a single, radiant flower blooming in an otherwise dreary landscape. Her mere presence instantly brightened the entire area.

"I apologize for keeping you waiting. And here I thought I had arrived early."

Stepping out of the ticket gates, Shinomiya-san offered an apologetic, wry smile.

The current time was just past 1:30 PM. Our planned meeting time, on the other hand, was 2:00 PM. By the way, I had arrived at the station around 1:00 PM. I thought I might have shown up a bit too early, but since I didn't have to make Shinomiya-san wait, it all worked out in the end.

"It's fine, I just got here myself. More importantly... do you mind if I ask why you're in your school uniform?"

Today was a day off. She didn't need to wear her uniform since we weren't going to school. To be perfectly honest, a part of me had been looking forward to seeing Shinomiya-san in her casual clothes.

"I thought a uniform would be best for the first photos you take of me... Wait, were you hoping to see my casual clothes, Anno-kun? Did I perhaps raise your expectations?"

Finding something amusing, Shinomiya-san aggressively closed the distance, pressing her body against mine. I'd really appreciate it if she stopped poking my ribs with her elbow—it tickled.

"Are you disappointed I'm in my uniform? Are you?"

What a pain. Rather than a saint, she was acting completely like a bratty tease. Massaging my temples, I decided to just brush her off with a half-hearted reply.

"Yes, yes. I was totally expecting to see you in your casual clothes, Shinomiya-san. I am incredibly disappointed you wore your uniform. Are you satisfied now?"

"Ufufu. If you absolutely must see them, I suppose I could show you... provided you bow your head and beg."

Taking another step, Shinomiya-san seamlessly closed the remaining gap and whispered into my ear with a devilish, teasing voice. If we were completely alone, my heart would have leaped out of my chest, and my face would have turned beet red. But given our current situation, I couldn't afford to say that.

"...Right. I'm not entirely opposed to begging, but could you please step back first?"

"Hohe?"

Shinomiya-san blinked blankly at my request. Did she genuinely not realize what she was doing right now? I gently placed a hand on her shoulder and explained the situation, as if admonishing a child.

"I don't mind you sticking close to me, but we're still at the station, and there are a lot of people around, you know? Time, place, and occasion are important."

"H-Hawawawa?!"

Letting out a thoroughly un-saintly yelp, Shinomiya-san hastily leaped away from me. Her reaction stung a bit, but regardless, we could finally move forward.

"Sigh... Let's get going. Standing around here is only going to draw unwanted attention."

"Time is a limited resource, after all. Lead the way, Anno-kun!"

"Hey, Shinomiya-san. Are we seriously doing the meeting and the shoot at my house??"

"Why bring that up now, after coming all this way? Have you forgotten you already agreed that it would be convenient since the photography equipment is there?"

When she first said she wanted to hold the meeting at my place, I had naturally objected. My primary reason being that my parents have been working overseas for the past year and are almost never home.

Thanks to that, I get to enjoy a comfortable, carefree solo life, but it also means I've never invited a girl over. Doing so would feel like a betrayal to the parents who trusted me. Therefore, I hadn't even invited Yuzuha-san over, despite her being the closest person to me. Even after earnestly explaining all of this to her, Shinomiya-san simply shook her head.

"To begin with, unlike the cosplayers you usually photograph, Anno-kun, I am nothing but an amateur student. Renting a studio to photograph someone like me would be a total waste."

"I still think suggesting the house of a guy whose parents aren't home as an alternative is a bad idea."

That being said, being invited to Shinomiya-san's house would have been equally terrifying. If that ever happened, I was confident my heart would explode out of my mouth. I'd be in no condition to shoot.

"Tell me, Anno-kun, are you the sort of person whose rationality would spiral out of control, turning you into a wild beast just because you're alone with me in a house without your parents?"

You aren't, are you? Shinomiya-san asked, her face brimming with absolute certainty. Why she trusted me to such an extent was a profound mystery, but my answer was, naturally, "I'm not."

"If I did something like that, it would literally ruin my life. I won't do anything to betray your trust. Absolutely not."

Never lay a hand on a client. Maintain an appropriate distance. That is the secret to preserving a good working relationship. It was a rule my dad had repeated to me until my ears bled. Though, considering the story of how he and my mom met, I really wanted to ask him who the hell he thought he was to be preaching that.

"Fufu. You are a very sincere person, Anno-kun. Asking you was the right choice after all."

"...I doubt I'm the only guy like that."

"Oh, but I believe you are. At least as far as I know, Anno-kun, you're a rare breed... It wouldn't be strange to designate you an endangered species."

"Doesn't that make you the protector of my species, then, Shinomiya-san?"

Considering she was basically holding my weakness over my head and stringing me along, she felt less like a protector and more like my owner, though.

"You're a bit too big for me to protect, Anno-kun. Would you mind taking a pill to shrink down to the size of a first-grader? I might consider it then."

"A child's body with the mind of an adult? Spare me."

Though, taking baths together and sleeping in the same bed wouldn't be so bad... but then I'm confident my rationality really would snap. If I did that, it would have to be strictly for one day only.

Exchanging silly banter like that, I walked side-by-side with Shinomiya-san as we headed toward my home.

About a ten-minute walk from the station. The moment we arrived at my apartment building—the location Shinomiya-san had so eagerly requested for our meeting and photoshoot—she looked up with a dumbfounded expression and hesitantly asked a question.

"I-Is this your house, Anno-kun?"

"Yeah. Is there a problem?"

"N-No... Not really..."

Shinomiya-san muttered, her voice trembling slightly.

It was just a tiny bit taller than the surrounding buildings and happened to feature a concierge and a gym. Other than that, it was a completely normal apartment complex.

"It's not like I bought the place or anything. Besides, I've heard your house is a massively extravagant detached home, Shinomiya-san. There's no reason for you to be surprised, is there?"

"...I suppose so. That house is certainly extravagant... on the outside, at least."

Reacting to my casual remark, all color drained from Shinomiya-san's face as she replied in a chillingly cold voice I had never heard before. If I said I wasn't curious about the reason, I'd be lying, but this clearly wasn't a topic I should trample into with muddy shoes.

Making a conscious effort to ignore it, I stepped into the elevator with her. The digital numbers rapidly climbed higher.

Inside the quiet iron box. Normally, I would never feel tense, but the faint sound of Shinomiya-san's breathing reaching my ears caused my heart rate to spike.

"What's the matter, Anno-kun? Your face is red."

"...It's your imagination. I am perfectly normal."

"You certainly are. You're a perfect gentleman, Anno-kun. You wouldn't dare lay a hand on me even if we were completely alone."

I trust you. The moment Shinomiya-san uttered those words, the elevator announced our arrival at the target floor. As I thought, this girl wasn't an angel; she was a little devil. Or perhaps a fallen angel.

Releasing a heavy sigh, I shrugged my shoulders and walked down the hallway. Shinomiya-san followed right behind me, humming cheerfully in a fantastic mood.

Thoroughly bewildered by her constantly shifting emotions, I paid extremely careful attention to unlocking my front door so she wouldn't notice my hands shaking.

"Pardon the intrusioooon!"

"Yeah, welcome. Not that anyone else is here, though."

Shinomiya-san called out energetically, yet she meticulously lined up her shoes in the entryway. Being able to do something like that so naturally was a clear indicator of her good upbringing. Pondering that, I guided her to the living room where we'd hold our meeting.

"I'll go grab us some drinks, so just grab a seat wherever and wait."

"Thank you very much. Ah, I brought some sweets, so I'll set them out on the table."

With that, Shinomiya-san pulled a souvenir box from her bag and opened it. Being too considerate was a problem in its own right. It just made me feel guilty.

"Sorry for the wait. Is rooibos tea okay?"

"Please, don't worry about it. Anything is fine. Although, rooibos tea... How unexpectedly stylish of you. Is it perhaps the influence of someone special?"

As I handed her the glass, Shinomiya-san asked with a teasing, slightly malicious grin.

"I'm sorry to ruin your wicked speculations, but this is my mom's influence. It's not because a girl I like drinks it or anything."

"Oh my, is that so? I had entirely assumed it was a preference of the cosplayer you're so intimate with... My apologies."

"Honestly... Enough with the nonsense, let's get down to business."

If I let Shinomiya-san dictate the pace and drag out our chat, the sun would set before we knew it. And if Arata found out about this, he'd definitely scream, "Isn't that just a home date?!" I needed to seize the initiative, and fast.

"You said you wanted me to take embarrassing photos of you... and you mentioned you had a specific image in mind, right? Could you tell me what it is?"

"Before we discuss that, would you mind taking a look at this?"

Shinomiya-san manipulated her phone and handed it to me. Displayed on the screen was the social media account of a woman with an astronomical number of fans.

She didn't show her face, but her most defining feature was her bountiful, heavy fruits. She posted daily photos of her everyday life, lingerie, and fetish-focused content. I had seen her account a few times myself.

Honestly, I couldn't imagine anyone further removed from Shinomiya-san's world. What exactly did this have to do with anything?

"A classmate told me about her. They said that nowadays, even amateurs like us can easily earn money if we post photos on sites like this and gain a following."

"...Only the top fraction of a percent actually make money. Not only are you completely ignorant of this industry, but you're also severely underestimating it."

A hint of anger unintentionally bled into my voice. I could understand how someone knowing nothing about the field might think that way, but as someone who actually works in photography, I wanted to tell her to quit sleep-talking.

"That wasn't what captivated me. But looking at these photos prompted me to do some research of my own, and I realized something."

"...Realized what?"

"Everyone looks like they're having so much fun. Whether it's cosplay or highly revealing photos. They are pouring their absolute all into expressing what they want to do, what they love... I was utterly captivated by that beauty."

"...I see."

"The more photos I saw of all these different people... the more I began to wish that I could do it too. That I could have someone take pictures of me."

Shinomiya-san rested a hand against her chest as she spoke, her expression boundlessly earnest. Exhaling the momentary flash of anger with a deep breath, I mentally apologized to her.

"Thanks for telling me. I understand how you feel now. So, returning to our original topic—the kind of look you want me to capture is..."

"I want you to capture me exactly as I am, Anno-kun. Is that... unacceptable?"

When she looked up at me with a voice tinged with both hope and anxiety, practically clinging to my answer, there was no way I could refuse. If anything, I'd gladly pay for the privilege of photographing Shinomiya-san. The only issue was that I couldn't quite picture what "exactly as I am" actually looked like.

"A-Anno-kun. Please don't just stay quiet; give me an answer. You will... take my photos, won't you?"

"Ah... sorry. Of course I will. Actually, I want to beg you to let me shoot you."

"Thank you so much! I was so worried about what I would do if you said no or rejected me, so that's a huge relief."

Shinomiya-san broke into a relieved smile. Having the opportunity to photograph a beauty rivaling Yuzuha-san was a dream come true.

"Well, it's not like you had the right to refuse from the start, Anno-kun. If you had turned me down, I would have spread all sorts of rumors about you."

It would have been a lot nicer without the blackmail, though. I let out a breath and asked Shinomiya-san my next question.

"So, what exactly do you mean by 'exactly as I am'? Do you have a specific scenario in mind?"

"Yes. I've thought quite a bit about that. Though, to be fair, you've already photographed it once before."

"Hm? I already photographed it? You mean... the incident in the classroom?"

The only time I had ever photographed Shinomiya-san was the secret snapshot that led to my current blackmailing predicament. At the time, she was trying to take a selfie in her disheveled uniform. Was she planning a do-over?

"Yes. The photos you took of me back then were exactly the kind of pictures I wanted to take, so I absolutely want you to photograph me like that again."

"...I get it now. That's why you wore your uniform today instead of casual clothes. It all makes sense."

"Exactly. Plus, I figured that if we were at your house, I could undress comfortably without worrying about anyone seeing us."

Except this is my house, I retorted internally. A girl taking off her uniform in a guy's house didn't exactly sound wholesome on paper, though.

"By the way, the specific scenario I have in mind is: 'Visiting a male classmate's house for the first time, studying in his room, and then the atmosphere turns a little erotic...'!"

"You couldn't just stop at studying?! Why does it have to get erotic?!"

I slammed my hands on the table. It absolutely wasn't because hearing the word "erotic" come out of Shinomiya-san's mouth excited me. It was just such an absurdly specific scenario that it made me want to ask if she was speaking from personal experience.

"I'm only talking about the scenario, you know? We aren't actually going to do anything like that, alright? Honestly... What exactly were you imagining in that head of yours, Anno-kun?"

"Don't mock a teenage boy's hormones..."

Releasing what felt like my hundredth sigh of the day, I stood up. If we kept goofing around like this, the sun really would set before we even started the shoot.

"Where are you going?"

"To prep for the shoot. No matter where in the house we shoot, I can't start setting up until I know the exact image you have in mind."

"Then the location for the shoot will be..."

"You said you were studying in a male classmate's room, right? Then the only option is to shoot in my room."

I was thoroughly reluctant, but I obviously couldn't bring her into my dad's workspace, and my parents' bedroom was completely out of the question. By process of elimination, my room was the only choice left.

Fortunately, my room was clean, and anything I didn't want seen was securely hidden inside my PC, so there wouldn't be any issues.

"If you're supposed to be studying, a small table would be a nice touch. I think I still have my old one shoved in the back of the closet... Let's drag it out."

"U-Um... Anno-kun? Do you really need to go that far?"

"You want to see a side of yourself you don't know, a version of you exactly as you are, right? In that case, we need to obsess over the details."

In actual photoshoots, improvising with props on hand to dramatically elevate the quality of the photos is a common occurrence.

In this case, the key was figuring out how to stage the transition from 'a completely ordinary study session' to something more. Visualizing that and adjusting the setup accordingly was my job, and a chance to show off my skills.

"So, it would be a huge help if you could wait here for a bit. I'll have everything ready in about thirty minutes, so just watch some TV or something."

"W-Wait, Anno-kun?!"

Ignoring Shinomiya-san's bewildered voice, I began formulating a plan. Aside from props, there was a mountain of tasks, like setting up strobes for lighting and adjusting camera settings. No, actually, maybe I should dare to shoot using only natural light for this one.

"I-Is there anything I can do to help...?!"

"Hm? You really don't need to worry about it, just relax."

"But I'm the one who asked you to do this. I can't just sit around doing nothing while I wait..."

Even so, Shinomiya-san looked genuinely apologetic, her shoulders drooping dejectedly. Seeing her like that made me feel like I was the one doing something wrong.

"Hmm... In that case, how about you come to my room with me to get a feel for the atmosphere? You can use the time to think about how you want to be photographed."

Shinomiya-san's job here was to be the subject. I needed her to hype herself up so she could deliver her best performance.

"It would really help if you could expand your imagination before I finish setting up. Think about what kind of expressions you'd make once the atmosphere shifts in that direction."

"Understood. Then I'll go to your room and think about various approaches."

"I'm counting on you. Let's do our best to take some great photos."

"By the way. Are you really sure it's okay to let me into your room so easily? Have you properly hidden all the things you don't want me to see?!"

Leaning forward, Shinomiya-san's eyes were practically sparkling for some inexplicable reason. Her blatant enthusiasm to start snooping gave me a mild bout of vertigo.

"I've heard that searching for dirty magazines is a staple event when visiting a boy's house for the first time! Therefore... I have your permission, right?!"

"Of course you don't! To begin with, that's not a staple event! Seriously, who the hell is feeding you these things?!"

Stop filling the head of a girl revered as a saint and an angel with utter nonsense. If I let this slide, she'd barrel straight down the path of those 'Looks pure but is actually an absolute pervert' heroines you see all the time in doujinshi.

"Just sit quietly and do your image training! And whatever you do, absolutely do not touch my computer!"

"I see... So all the important things have been digitized."

"I have important data in the middle of being edited on there!!"

My desperate scream echoed through the living room.

As I suspected, this mischievous, prank-loving side was likely the true nature of Shinomiya Rinoa. While quietly wondering if there was even a need for a photoshoot anymore, I set to work preparing for it.

Despite all her earlier clamoring, Shinomiya-san quieted down the moment I led her into my room, and the tension gradually began to show on her face.

"Alright, does this look about right for now? It gives off the vibe that we're studying, doesn't it?"

I had dragged the small table I used as a kid out from the closet, arranging textbooks, notebooks, and writing utensils on top. To add to the feeling that she was over for a visit, I set out two cups. Finally, placing a heavy emphasis on the atmosphere, I decided to shoot using only natural light.

"Y-Yes! I think it l-l-looks perfect."

Shinomiya-san replied, her voice squeaking. The real event hadn't even started yet; was she going to be okay? Harboring a sliver of anxiety, I gripped my beloved camera in my hands.

"Alright, let's get started. Shinomiya-san, you ready?"

"I-I'm fine. I'll do my best."

With that, Shinomiya-san took several deep breaths. Unlike the incident in the empty classroom, it was entirely natural to feel nervous facing a camera lens for the very first time. However, this exact display of vulnerability fit the scenario perfectly. Wordlessly, I pressed the shutter.

"Wait, you're already taking pictures?!"

The rapid click, click of the shutter startled Shinomiya-san. Shooting without giving a signal was definitely my fault, but the scene was so perfectly aligned with the image in my head that my fingers moved on their own.

"Of course. Your nervousness is coming across perfectly."

"Auu..."

Embarrassed, Shinomiya-san turned her back to me. That reaction was also incredibly adorable, and fit the scenario so perfectly that a smile naturally spilled across my face.

"Shinomiya-san. Could you start taking off your uniform, little by little?"

"A-Are we entering that phase already?!"

"Take it slow, just unbutton them one by one. Ah, but before that, could you turn your body to face me?"

The room wasn't that big, so my range of movement was limited. If I tried to circle around to her front, she'd just hide her body away again, resulting in an endless game of cat and mouse.

"Ugh... How can you be so calm, Anno-kun? I feel like an idiot being the only one getting nervous."

"It's a shoot, you know. If I got nervous every single time, I wouldn't be able to do my job, right?"

Though, if you asked whether I wasn't nervous at all, the answer would obviously be no. The truth was that I simply couldn't afford to take my eyes off the subject for even a second during a shoot, so I had zero room to spare.

"U-Understood..."

Though her voice still trembled, Shinomiya-san steeled her resolve and slowly turned her body toward me. After taking one final, deep breath, she smoothly untied her ribbon, her fingers moving directly toward the first and second buttons.

"Hah... Hah, hah..."

Naturally, Shinomiya-san's breaths grew hot and heavy. Her cheeks were flushed bright red, and her expression gradually melted into something incredibly bewitching.

I could hardly believe this was the same classmate who always sat next to me, constantly surrounded by friends and radiating smiles in the classroom. The thought that such a popular girl was exposing her lewd side to me through the viewfinder right here in my room was driving my brain absolutely insane.

In the cramped, quiet space, the only sounds were ragged breaths and the clicking of the shutter.

"A-Anno-kun..."

Calling my name in a sultry voice, Shinomiya-san pulled her blouse wide open. Averting her eyes, she exposed her pure, unblemished skin and underwear that looked far too mature for her age—a passionate crimson fabric adorned with rose embroidery, delicate lace, and sparkling gold lamé thread—bringing her captivating fruits into the light of day.

"............"

The sight was so overwhelmingly enchanting. Without realizing it, I heavily swallowed my saliva. Simultaneously, the sheer superiority of knowing that I was the only person in the entire world currently watching Shinomiya Rinoa flush with shame struck me silent.

"You're incredibly beautiful, Shinomiya-san. Alright, next—"

"...Yes. I know."

Faster than I could give the instruction, Shinomiya-san grasped my intent. She dropped to her hands and knees, leaning forward as if peering straight into the lens.

—Asking him to teach her how to study was merely an excuse; the girl's goal had been to do this from the very beginning. The boy, faced with this sudden turn of events, panicked, entirely unsure of what to do. Exasperated by his indecisive attitude, she forcefully closed the distance—

Before I knew it, Shinomiya-san had completely embodied that role. All traces of shame had vanished from her expression, replaced by a profoundly aesthetic look that seemed to explicitly scream, "You can do whatever you want to me, you know?"

"Yeah, that's a great expression."

Her initial nervousness was completely gone. Whether she could even hear my voice anymore or not, Shinomiya-san's acting shifted into high gear. Licking her lips, she slowly closed the distance like a leopard cornering its prey. Matching her movements, I retreated while shifting the angle up and down, occasionally swaying left and right, never stopping the shoot.

"...Why are you running away?"

As if sensing not anger, but anxiety toward a boy who fled no matter how close she got, Shinomiya-san's eyes grew moist as she let out a sugary-sweet plea. Her desperate, sorrowful display of unrequited feelings felt far too real to be mere acting.

"Look at me... Look at me more... all of me..."

Speaking those words, Shinomiya-san pulled away from me and moved directly toward the bed. Focusing every nerve in my body, I made absolutely sure I wouldn't miss a single one of her movements, wondering exactly what she was planning next.

"Don't just look up there, look down here too..."

Sitting on the edge of the bed with one leg propped up, Shinomiya-san grabbed the hem of her skirt and quietly hiked it up. The few seconds it took to roll it back felt like an eternity. The world reflected in my eyes shifted to slow motion, allowing me to successfully capture every millisecond on camera.

Generously showing off a pair of deep crimson panties with a slight, alluring transparency, she looked exactly like an incubus dragging a man into a world of lust.

"H-How is it? I bought it specifically for today... Does it suit me?"

"Of course. It looks incredible on you."

There isn't a man alive who dislikes the gap of a normally modest girl wearing bold lingerie underneath her clothes.

"In that case... you can do whatever you'd like to me, Anno-kun."

Unfastening the remaining buttons of her half-open blouse, she slowly, without a hint of hesitation, slid the fabric off her shoulders, shedding it completely. She looked exactly like a butterfly emerging from its chrysalis. Without stopping, she leaned her body back onto the bed, reaching a hand out toward me.

"...Come here. Let's do something that feels good together, okay?"

"Let's fall together, all the way to the very bottom."

Shinomiya-san's expression was so bewitching I could practically hear those supreme, sweet words echoing in the air.

Ah, how incredibly beautiful. Was the very reason I first picked up a camera simply to capture this specific person in this specific moment? Overwhelmed by that impossible illusion, I pressed the shutter button as I slowly walked toward her.

"Come here..."

Shinomiya-san's whisper was drowned out by the creak of the bedsprings. If I could just cast away my rationality and pin her down right here and now, how blissfully happy would I be? But I knew that was a bottomless swamp; step in once, and I would never be able to crawl back out for the rest of my life.

"Touch me..."

Speaking with a feverish, heat-laced voice, Shinomiya-san reached her hands around to her back. A tiny, metallic click rang out. Before I could even register what that sound meant, her bra fluttered softly to the floor.

"............"

I gulped down a heavy lump in my throat. She still had her blouse draped loosely over her, but the final fortress protecting her captivating fruits had fallen, exposing her bare skin. If I were allowed to do as I pleased with her now, I could ascend to heaven without a single lingering regret.

"See? You can do whatever you want to me, Anno-kun."

Lying down, Shinomiya-san spread her arms wide in an open invitation. Her figure was nothing less than a fallen angel enticing a man down the path of depravity. Her pure white wings had been dyed pitch black, and her lovely smile was now tainted with the color of raw lust.

I looked up at the ceiling, forcefully exhaling the boiling heat welling up inside me until my lungs were empty. Then, taking Shinomiya-san's hand, I pulled her up, took off my own jacket, and draped it over her half-naked shoulders.

"Good work, Shinomiya-san. The shoot is over."

"...Hohe?"

Snapping back to reality, Shinomiya-san let out a dumbfounded squeak. I couldn't believe this was the same person who had just been trying to seduce me, attempting to suck out my very soul just a second ago.

"We got a ton of really great photos. I'll send them to you after I edit them, so it'd be great if you could give me some time."

"Y-Yes..."

"We can talk more once you've put your clothes back on. I'll be waiting in the living room, so come out when you're done changing."

See ya, I rattled off rapidly before bolting out of the room like a frightened rabbit. From behind me, Shinomiya-san frantically called out, "W-Wait, Anno-kun?!" but I ignored her, apologizing profusely in my heart.

"That was too close... I was a hair's breadth away from catching a criminal charge."

Leaning heavily against the door I had just slammed shut, I muttered to myself as I scrolled through the newly taken photos. Perhaps because the extreme tension had finally snapped, my legs gave out. I crumpled to the floor right there, clutching my head in my hands.

What was all that nonsense about 'If I got nervous every single time, I wouldn't be able to do my job'? I had been utterly and completely bewitched by Shinomiya-san's body and a sensual allure that completely defied her age. I felt pathetic.

"I'd better cool my head before Shinomiya-san comes back out..."

Releasing a massive sigh, I sluggishly climbed to my feet and trudged toward the living room. First things first, I needed to praise my rationality for holding out against my instincts. The self-reflection could wait until later.

I waited for about ten minutes, reviewing the freshly baked photos. Having finished fixing her appearance, Shinomiya-san returned to the living room with an incredibly apologetic look on her face.

"S-Sorry for the wait..."

"Good work. So, how was your very first photoshoot?"

I tried my hardest to sound calm, acting as if absolutely nothing had happened. Her shoulders still drooping, Shinomiya-san timidly took a seat on her chair.

"—was."

Looking down at her lap, Shinomiya-san mumbled something quietly.

"Hm? What was that?"

"It was so much fun. While you had the camera pointed at me, Anno-kun, it felt like... like I wasn't even myself anymore."

I've never felt anything like this before, Shinomiya-san added, raising her head. She wore a slightly entranced, terrifyingly aesthetic smile.

"I'm honestly shocked at myself. To think I unconsciously took off my blouse and reached for my skirt..."

"I was surprised too. But I think the Shinomiya-san I captured back there was undeniably a side of you that no one else knows. Here's the proof."

Manipulating the camera, I showed her what I considered the absolute best shot out of the countless pictures I had taken—the image of her lying on the bed, seductively inviting me.

"This is... me? Really...?"

"Yeah. The girl in this picture is unmistakably you, Shinomiya Rinoa."

I can't believe it, Shinomiya-san murmured, happily swiping the screen to view the other photos.

"What do you think? Is the 'you that you didn't know' in there?"

"Yes... None of these look like me at all. But I never imagined I'd exposed this much skin. The way I'm practically flaunting my underwear at you, Anno-kun... It's incredibly embarrassing."

"Speaking of which, didn't you mention you bought that specifically for tod—"

"I never said anything like that!! Anno-kun, please forget everything I said during the shoot! Right now! As quickly as humanly possible! ASAP!!"

Just as my curiosity got the better of me and I tried to confirm the truth, Shinomiya-san slammed her hands on the table, screaming with a face as red as a boiled apple.

"A-Alright! I'll do my absolute best to forget it! I promise I won't tell anyone about today, at the very least!"

"O-Of course you won't! This is a secret contract strictly between you and me! You absolutely cannot tell a soul!"

Not a word to anyone, she emphasized. I nodded repeatedly like a broken wind-up toy. If the fan club goons found out I had invited Shinomiya-san to my house and taken countless photos of her half-undressed in my room, I definitely wouldn't live to see the next day's sunrise.

"Phew... Setting that aside. Anno-kun, when should we schedule the next shoot?"

"...Excuse me? We aren't finished with just today?"

Shinomiya-san's desire for 'embarrassing photos' and to see 'a side of herself she didn't know' should have been fully satisfied by today's session. Yet, she wanted to keep going?

"Of course we aren't. There's no way I could fully understand a side of myself I never knew existed in just a single attempt."

"Well... I suppose that's true."

"Therefore, the shoots will continue from here on out! And I absolutely do not think it would be a massive waste to stop after just one session simply because today was fun and the photos turned out great! Not at all!"

"...Hearing you say that makes me really happy as the photographer."

Her true feelings and her public stance were completely reversed, but pointing that out would just be rude. Besides, a quiet excitement was already building within me at the prospect of photographing Shinomiya-san again.

"Well then, let's get straight to planning our next shoot! What kind of scenario do you think would be best?! Personally, I was thinking a swimsuit! And not just any swimsuit, but—!"

"Yeah, got it. But let's calm down for a second, okay? There's something we need to do before the next shoot."

As Shinomiya-san aggressively rattled off her plans, practically snorting with excitement, I offered a wry smile to soothe her. I understood how she felt; honestly, I wanted to set a date and shoot her again immediately too. But before we could do that, there was an unavoidable step we had to take. Namely—

"First, we need to have a review session for today, okay?"

"A r-review session? Is that really necessary? I mean..."

"Because all the photos turned out perfectly? I'm thrilled you think so, but that's a separate issue entirely. To start with the basics—"

From there, I spent the better part of an hour gently explaining my thoughts on today's shoot to Shinomiya-san. The result? Shinomiya-san ended up writhing in agony, blushing so intensely that steam looked ready to pour not just from her ears, but from her neck as well.

"Ugh... I can never become a bride now. You have to take responsibility for this, Anno-kun."

"How does that even make sense...? Well, if you're the one becoming my bride, I'd welcome you with open arms."

"J-J-Jeez! Stop taking my jokes so seriously! You idiot, Anno-kun!!"

"This is completely unreasonable!"

Exchanging silly banter like that, the sun had set before we knew it, and she pestered me to walk her to the station. Honestly, she was such a selfish princess.

However, it had been a very long time since I spent such a long, comfortable stretch of time with someone at home. After Shinomiya-san left, my apartment felt horribly dull and empty.