Chapter 5: A Photoshoot at Shinomiya-san's House!?

"Say, Takumi. Will you hear me out for a second?"

It was the morning of a few days after our second photoshoot. I was absentmindedly scrolling through the image gallery on my phone when Arata approached me. As usual, he was speaking to me, but his expression and tone were somewhat solemn.

"I don't mind, but... am I the only one getting a sense of déjà vu here?"

"It's just your imagination! And this time, it's a serious discussion!"

He confidently told me to rest easy, but I felt nothing but anxiety. He had never once brought up a "serious discussion" with that tone of voice.

"I'll listen, so stop acting mysterious and spit it out. Don't tell me this is the conclusion of that meeting you mentioned before about whether Shinomiya-san has a crush or not?"

"I'd love to talk about that too, but right now, there's something even more important! Depending on how things go, this could blow up into a massive issue!"

"...You're being needlessly dramatic. Let me guess, it's about Shinomiya-san again."

Did they just have too much free time, or did they simply never get tired of it? Did the fan club members spend twenty-four hours a day, three hundred and sixty-five days a year thinking about Rinoa Shinomiya? If so, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it sheer madness. Thinking about how my best friend standing right in front of me was part of that group gave me a headache.

"To be completely blunt───Hasn't Shinomiya-san's sex appeal leveled up recently?"

"...Are you an idiot?"

Sailing straight past exasperation, I accidentally hurled a direct insult at him.

"You're the idiot, Takumi! This is the unanimous consensus of the Shinomiya Rinoa Fan Club!"

"...You're joking, right?"

Unable to believe my best friend's words, I scanned the classroom, only to find every single person nodding their heads in agreement. Was this room entirely populated by idiots? I let out a heavy sigh and shrugged my shoulders.

I forgot to mention it, but the person in question, Shinomiya-san, had yet to arrive at school, which was rare for her. Well, if she were here, they wouldn't be having this conversation in the first place.

"Alright. Let's compromise and assume Shinomiya-san's sex appeal has increased. Do you have any proof?"

"Sigh... This is why dealing with non-members is such a pain. Have you seriously not noticed the erotic aura occasionally seeping out from her expressions and every little gesture?"

I wanted to retort that calling it an "erotic aura" just because he lacked the vocabulary was gross, but the sound of the entire classroom nodding in agreement silenced me.

"It's hard to put into specific words, you know? How should I put it... her casual movements and her smiles have just gotten weirdly sultry! It has to mean that───!!"

Just as Arata was about to deliver his conclusion, the door slid open with a clatter. The person who walked in was none other than the center of the topic: Shinomiya-san herself. Tension instantly electrified the classroom.

"...What is the matter with everyone?"

Even Shinomiya-san noticed the bizarre atmosphere, tilting her head with a confused expression. But sadly, not a single classmate could answer her question. Everyone awkwardly averted their eyes or forced out awkward chuckles.

Paying no mind to the strange mood, Shinomiya-san walked gracefully over to my side. She hung her bag on her desk, sat down, and greeted me with a warm smile.

"Good morning, Anno-kun."

"...Good morning, Shinomiya-san."

Putting my not-yet-fully-awake brain into overdrive, I frantically tried to figure out how to answer the questions she was inevitably going to ask me in the ensuing conversation.

If possible, I wanted to force the culprit who created this situation to take responsibility, but that bastard had already fled the scene.

"Say, Anno-kun. Everyone is acting rather strangely... is it just my imagination?"

"Unfortunately, it isn't. And to add to that, you're the cause of this weird atmosphere, Shinomiya-san."

"Eh? I am?"

Shinomiya-san tilted her head adorably. I found it soothing, but my classmates couldn't afford such luxuries. Led by Arata, they were shooting me furious glares that screamed, "What the hell are you saying to her!?"

"Right before you walked in, everyone was discussing how your sex appeal has increased lately."

"I see, I mostly understand the situation. So, in other words, my timing arriving at school was simply poor?"

"Yeah, basically."

I could hear the grudges of the peanut gallery echoing in my head: "Deny it! She's not at fault!" "Why would you tell her that straight to her face!?" But I didn't care.

"Setting that aside... sex appeal, is it? I am completely oblivious to it myself. Do you think so too, Anno-kun?"

At Shinomiya-san's casual question, the air in the classroom blistered further. The pressure from the glares intensified, making it hard to breathe.

"...Why are you asking me?"

"Why, you ask? Because you are the one who watches me the closest, Anno-kun. Obviously."

A sharp pain shot through my chest, as if my heart had just been seized in a vice grip. There had been times before where she phrased things in a way that invited misunderstandings, but the only reason we had avoided any major accidents was because she had said them when we were alone. And yet, she was doing it now, in front of a massive crowd of classmates—the absolute worst time to pull a stunt like this.

"H-Hey... Takumi. What exactly did Shinomiya-san mean by that? Depending on your answer, our friendship ends right here, right now."

Arata marched up to the front of my desk with a demonic expression that threatened to steal not just our friendship, but my actual life. We'd known each other for a while, but this was the first time I'd seen him this enraged since the day I told him I had held a private photoshoot with Yuzuha-san.

"Calm down, Arata! I just sit next to her, we don't have the kind of relationship you're thinking of!"

"Anno-kun is correct. I simply thought that, since he sits right next to me, Anno-kun might have noticed any slight changes in me. There is no special meaning beyond that, I assure you."

With that, Shinomiya-san giggled softly. Her expression was that of a perfect saint, but her words carried a heavy, unusual pressure. It was as if she were actively guiding how I was supposed to answer.

"So, what is your verdict, Anno-kun? Do you think I've changed?"

"...It's just everybody's imagination. You haven't changed at all, Shinomiya-san."

Crushing my own heart, I answered in a flat, emotionless voice devoid of any inflection. Instantly, a collective sigh—a mix of dissatisfaction and relief—leaked through the classroom.

"N-No... but even if Takumi is the only one denying it, everyone else's opinion is...!"

"I understand what you want to say, Kuki-kun. However, the one person in this classroom who can look at me with the most objective eyes is Anno-kun. If Anno-kun says it isn't true, then there is no mistake."

Facing Arata, who refused to back down—or rather, the classmates who weren't satisfied—Shinomiya-san declared this with an unusually sharp gaze and forceful tone. Even Arata flinched at the intensity.

"As for why Anno-kun is the most objective... I don't need to explain that, do I?"

"N-No... That won't be necessary. Forgive my rudeness this morning!"

With that, Arata bolted back to his seat like a sudden gust of wind. What a noisy, hyperactive guy, constantly bouncing back and forth. I pressed my fingers to the bridge of my nose and let out a sigh. The day was just starting, but I was already groggy.

"Are you alright, Anno-kun? You look incredibly exhausted."

"...Whose fault exactly do you think that is?"

We kept our voices to a whisper and avoided eye contact as much as possible so no one would hear us.

"Hmm, whose fault could it be? If I had to guess, wasn't it the person who started saying my sex appeal had increased?"

"I can't argue with that."

In short, it was Arata's fault. If that idiot hadn't said something so stupid, none of this would have happened, and I wouldn't have made enemies of the entire class. I'd go punch him during the break.

"By the way, Anno-kun. What is your true opinion?"

"...Huh?"

"Please don't play dumb. What you said earlier... that was a lie, wasn't it?"

Shinomiya-san's whisper coincided perfectly with the ringing of the school bell. As a result, I—the person sitting next to her—was the only one who heard her bewitching voice. Therefore, the sense of superiority, and the wild pounding of my heart, belonged to me alone. And the fact that Shinomiya-san's sex appeal truly was increasing...

"Hehe. You really are quite possessive, aren't you, Anno-kun."

Resting her elbows on the desk and her chin in her hands, Shinomiya-san giggled. Her smile was lovely, but it contained a captivating, venomous sting, much like the thorns of a rose. A demonic flower that brought death to any who touched it.

"...Shut up."

I turned my face away to hide what was undoubtedly a feverish, red flush, replying as bluntly as I could.

"But strangely, it doesn't feel entirely unpleasant, does it? I wonder why?"

"W-Why are you asking me that...?"

Just as I was about to say I had no idea, the classroom door burst open with a bang.

"Goooood meow-ning! How is everybody doing, nya!? I hope nobody is sighing this early in the morning, nya!?"

Saved. From the bottom of my heart, I thanked Miko-sensei for charging in with such hyperactive energy. If our conversation had continued any longer, who knows what would have happened.

"Let us continue this discussion during lunch break on the roof, Anno-kun."

"...Please go easy on me."

It seemed my life expectancy was only set to last until the end of the morning.

＊＊＊＊＊

"Well then, Anno-kun. What shall we do for our third photoshoot?"

Today was just like any other day; I was eating lunch with Shinomiya-san on the roof, and, just as naturally, she began consulting me about our schedule. I'll keep it a secret that I was slightly disappointed, having been terrified about when she would bring up the continuation of our morning conversation.

"I'm free this weekend, but do you have a concept in mind?"

"Yes! I was hoping you could take pictures of me in my casual clothes next!"

We'd done the school uniform, the competitive swimsuit, and now Shinomiya-san's casual clothes. That was a massive yes in my book. The dress I saw her wearing when we went to Manager's 'Emocion' together suited her so perfectly it defied description. I had deeply regretted not getting photos of it, so the thought of getting my revenge sent my excitement soaring.

"Where should we shoot? If we use my house again, won't it get a bit repetitive?"

"Now that you mention it, yes. How about renting a photography studio?"

Since we were minors, renting a studio on our own required parental consent. My parents were overseas, so that was a non-starter. That meant we had to rely on Shinomiya-san, but...

"My father and mother... No, it won't work. They would absolutely refuse to sign it, and they might even order me to cut ties with you... I'm sorry."

Shinomiya-san slumped her shoulders apologetically. It was perfectly natural for parents to be furious if they found out their precious daughter was taking suggestive photos. They might even drag me to the police.

"You don't need to apologize. In that case, let's just use───"

"No, why don't we shoot at my house this time?"

Let's just use my house again. Just as I was about to say that, Shinomiya-san dropped a nuclear bomb. For a split second, my brain couldn't process what she had just said, but her tone and serious expression made it perfectly clear she wasn't joking. Because of that, I gave a dumbfounded reaction.

"...Huh? What did you just say?"

"I said we should hold our third photoshoot at my house. We've visited the boy's house twice already. Isn't it about time the girl waited for her parents to leave and invited him over to hers?"

Shinomiya-san seamlessly began dictating the narrative progression of our setup. True, there was nothing unnatural about that flow. Inviting a boy over in secret when the parents were away definitely added a nice layer of immorality.

"...Are you sure about this?"

But that was all well and good in fiction. Reality was a different beast. If her parents came home in the middle of the shoot───

"There is no need to worry. My parents are away on a business trip this weekend, so they absolutely will not return home. No one will interrupt us."

"I-Is that so... Wait, but don't you have an older sister? What about her?"

If my memory served me right, Shinomiya-san had an older sister who worked as a model. Wasn't there a chance she would be home?

"It isn't a problem. Ever since my sister left the house to enter university, she rarely ever comes home."

Shinomiya-san spoke in a voice entirely devoid of emotion. This wasn't on the level of simply liking or disliking someone. It was as if she were rejecting her sister's very existence, a tone that filled me with dread. Being an only child, I couldn't begin to imagine what kind of history would make someone feel that way about their own flesh and blood.

"Therefore, we will hold the photoshoot at my house this weekend. Understand?"

"...Got it."

Harboring a lingering sense of unease, I had no choice but to nod.

"Now that the photoshoot is settled, would you care for a mini-shoot right now?"

"...I'm still eating, you know?"

What was this peerless beauty suddenly spouting? Even if we were the only ones on the roof, we were still at school. Someone could walk in at any moment, yet she wanted to do a photoshoot───

"You really prioritize your stomach over beauty, don't you, Anno-kun? In that case, how about this?"

"No matter what you do, it's useless───Wait, Shinomiya-san!?"

I accidentally dropped my chopsticks and shouted. Why?

Because, right in front of my eyes, Shinomiya-san had casually gripped the hem of her skirt and was slowly hiking it up. Her bare legs, hidden beneath the fabric and as pure as freshly fallen snow, were slowly being exposed. And then, as if deliberately fanning the flames of my excitement, she stopped at the absolute limit—right on the precipice of revealing her underwear—and smiled bewitchingly.

"Here. You are free to take as many pictures as you like. Right now, as a special treat, I'll even grant you permission to shoot from a super low angle."

"W-h... at?"

Her words meant I was being given permission to document the hidden treasure tucked away deep within the unexplored cavern of her skirt. The moment I realized this, my hand naturally drifted toward the smartphone tucked into my breast pocket.

"Come now, hurry. If you don't take it soon, someone might come, you know? I wonder what would happen then?"

Shinomiya-san provoked me, fluttering the hem of her skirt. If someone actually walked in right now, my life would be in genuine danger. If anyone witnessed this scene, on top of the fact that I was eating lunch with the 'Princess' Rinoa, it would be perfectly reasonable for them to mistakenly assume we were in a scandalous relationship.

"There's no point hesitating now, is there? After all, you have already seen me in an incredibly compromising state, haven't you, Anno-kun?"

"You do know the concept of 'Time and Place,' right!? School and home are two completely different things!"

"Even after you photographed me looking so disheveled in that empty classroom?"

With that, Shinomiya-san let out a soft, seductive giggle. It was frustrating; I knew I was being played with, yet I couldn't suppress the urge to take the picture.

"...Fine. I won't hold back, then. Could you stand up and back against the wall for me?"

"Yes, with pleasure. I am so glad you're feeling up to it, Anno-kun."

Cutting off any avenue of retreat, I crouched low and raised my smartphone. Through the screen, Shinomiya-san's expression was utterly sultry—a face she absolutely should never show at school. Swallowing hard, I pressed the shutter button.

＊＊＊＊＊

The morning of our third photoshoot. Looking at my reflection in the bathroom mirror, I let out a deep sigh.

"Sigh... This is the worst."

Deep, dark bags were etched under my eyes. My head felt as heavy as lead. No matter how you sliced it, it was obvious sleep deprivation. At this rate, I had no right to laugh at Arata for sleeping in during middle school because he got too excited the night before a field trip.

"Good thing I finished packing the equipment yesterday..."

I muttered to myself, exhaling another sigh.

The time was currently half past 11:00 AM.

Last night, my mind had been racing so fast that getting into bed did nothing to bring sleep. I experienced a bizarre sensation of wandering the space between dreams and reality. Drowsiness didn't visit me until sunlight began to filter through the gap in the curtains, and when I finally woke up, it was already this time.

We were supposed to meet at 1:00 PM. The location was the station nearest to Shinomiya-san's house. It took about an hour from my place, so I needed to leave soon.

"Did I forget anything... Yeah, I'm good."

I rolled my suitcase, packed with the absolute minimum equipment I might need, even if I wasn't sure I'd use it all. Lugging around baggage suited for a short trip made me realize just how much easier it was to shoot at my own house.

"Shinomiya-san's house, huh. I wonder what it's like..."

I pondered this vaguely as the train rocked me back and forth. According to Arata, she lived in a massive, mansion-like detached home in a prime, central district, but what was the actual truth?

My only real concern was how Shinomiya-san's demeanor always grew strange whenever the topic of her family was brought up. Being invited to a female classmate's house───especially a peerless beauty like Shinomiya-san───was undoubtedly shooting my excitement through the roof. That was the cause of my lack of sleep, but her utterly emotionless face worried me just as much.

"Family, huh... It's complicated."

It wasn't something an outsider like me should blindly step into. That stance hadn't changed since the beginning. However, seeing that indescribably painful, lonely expression made me want to lend her my strength. Was it arrogant of me to think that way?

Lost in my thoughts, I arrived at my destination before I knew it. I shook my head to shift my gears and stepped off the train. It wasn't even summer yet, but the sun was beating down hard. If I walked into the main event like this, I felt like I'd melt away without a trace like ice in the scorching heat.

"Anno-kuuuuun! Over heeeeeere!!"

When I climbed the stairs and reached the ticket gates, just like last time, Shinomiya-san was waiting for me. For some reason, she was wearing her school uniform. She had a massive smile on her face and was waving her hands while hopping up and down. It was incredibly cute, but the bouncing also emphatically highlighted the size and softness of her twin peaks, making it impossible for me to look directly at her.

"Good afternoon, Anno-kun. It is rare for you to arrive exactly on time."

"Sorry to keep you waiting, Shinomiya-san. I woke up a little late."

Apologizing, I passed through the gates and met up with her. Leaving the station, we walked side-by-side for a bit before entering a high-end residential neighborhood. So Arata was actually telling the truth.

"You slept in? That really is rare for you. Did you stay up late?"

Shinomiya-san looked at me with a face that practically screamed I don't believe you, prompting me to mutter internally, You're the reason why, though.

"Ah... could it be that, like an elementary schooler before a field trip, you were so excited to come to my house that you couldn't sleep? Did you perhaps imagine something dirty?"

"What do you say to that?" she grinned, poking me teasingly in the ribs. It tickled, and I really wished she'd stop. But taking it lying down just irritated me.

"Yes, exactly! I was so excited to visit your house that I couldn't sleep! Is that a crime!?"

"Eh? Eeeeeh!? W-Wait, Anno-kun, are you being serious!?"

Overwhelmed by my momentum, Shinomiya-san faltered slightly. This was my only chance to press the advantage. Invade like fire, as they say.

"Dead serious. I mean, it's your house, Shinomiya-san. And we're going to be all alone. It'd be weirder if I didn't get my hopes up, right?"

"U-Uuu... A-Anno-kun, you're really expecting something...?"

Blushing fiercely, Shinomiya-san looked up at me without turning her head, her voice dropping to a whisper so faint it sounded like a mosquito. It was such an innocent reaction, hard to believe it belonged to the little devil who loved teasing me. Honestly, looking up at me with those teary, upturned eyes was just unfair.

"S-Say... are you... do you want to do it with me?"

"Do... what?"

I gulped down my saliva and asked her back. I knew. I didn't need to ask to know what she meant. But I couldn't help but ask.

"Hehe. What else could it be? It's───"

With that, Shinomiya-san stood on her tiptoes, bringing her face close to my ear. I realized then that I had lost this battle. Everything was dancing in the palm of her hand. I was nothing but a pitiful lamb that had walked straight into her trap.

"───Something dirty."

The bewitching whisper, laced with her hot breath, sent a shiver down my spine. My breathing turned erratic, and I could feel my body temperature—not just my cheeks—skyrocketing.

"Even after seeing me in such a disheveled state three times—in the empty classroom and your own home—you never tried to do anything of the sort. But now that you're coming to my house, you suddenly have the urge?"

"I'm sorry, it was a joke! I'd be lying if I said I didn't think about it at all, but I don't actually plan on doing anything like that, alright? I swear!"

I threw my hands up in the air and surrendered. Once I realized it was a battle I couldn't win, an early retreat was the smartest move. But sadly, much like a wild beast that refuses to let go once its fangs sink in until its prey stops breathing, Shinomiya-san continued whispering into my ear.

"That is a shame. But for the record, I am always welcoming... What would you do if I told you that?"

"───S-Shinomiya-san!?"

The moment I comprehended her words, my brain practically boiled. Was she serious, or was she joking? I couldn't tell from her voice alone.

"To leave a prepared feast untouched is... how does the saying go? Are you perhaps not a closet pervert, Anno-kun, but rather... a chicken?"

No mistaking it. This was 99.9% a provocation. If I took the bait, it was the end of the line; I'd spend the rest of my life as Shinomiya-san's slave. Though, that might not be so bad either.

"Hehe. You really are easy to read, Anno-kun. I know exactly what you're thinking, as if I were holding your thoughts in the palm of my hand."

"...You're joking, right?"

"Whether you believe me or not is up to you, Anno-kun. Regardless, we have arrived. This is my house."

In the end, our entire conversation remained shrouded in mystery as we arrived at today's shooting location: Shinomiya-san's home. Standing before the nameplate, I was left utterly speechless by the sheer extravagance of the mansion.

"T-This is your house...? It's incredible."

"It is only incredible on the outside. If you ask me, this house is no different from a hollow shell."

"...Shinomiya-san?"

There it was again. The emotion completely vanished from Shinomiya-san's face. But only for an instant. She quickly regained her smile and grasped my hand.

"Come now, don't just stand there daydreaming, head inside, Anno-kun! If we stay outside forever, we'll become a nuisance to the neighbors!"

"Okay, okay! I get it, so stop pulling me!"

Shinomiya-san squeezed my hand tightly, and the faint trembling I felt from her grip was surely just my imagination. Forcing myself to believe that, I stepped foot into Shinomiya-san's house.

＊＊＊＊＊

I was seated on a ridiculously soft sofa in a living room easily twice the size of mine, feeling entirely out of place. Unable to hold it in anymore, I asked the question that had been bugging me since we met up.

"By the way, Shinomiya-san. I've been meaning to ask... why are you in your uniform?"

I understood wearing her uniform for our first shoot since it was framed as a study session. But today's concept was, "Inviting the boy she likes over on a weekend for a private tea party. Before they know it, the atmosphere turns sweet..." The school uniform felt wildly out of place.

"Ah, that is because I am going to change right now. The clothes I want you to photograph are something I am wearing for the very first time, so I was too embarrassed to wear them outside..."

Handing me a glass poured with rooibos tea, Shinomiya-san plopped down on the sofa right next to me. The distance was so close our shoulders were practically touching.

"I-I see?"

Just what kind of outfit was she too embarrassed to wear outside, I wondered in confusion. Surely it couldn't be a casual outfit that out-leveled the competitive swimsuit from last time. Although, I'd definitely like to see that if it was.

"Besides, call it a lingering attachment or what have you... I just really want you to take pictures of it..."

"Pictures of what?"

"Isn't it obvious? Me changing my clothes, of course."

Please don't make me say it, Shinomiya-san pouted her lips as if sulking. In response, I shrugged my shoulders and heaved a heavy sigh.

She hadn't given up on that? Or rather, did she really want her picture taken while changing that badly? At this point, it felt less like a lingering attachment and more like a borderline obsession. I wondered if it was just my imagination.

"Inviting the boy she likes over to her house to show off the clothes she's wearing for the first time. But the door to her room is left open, and he accidentally peeks in on her changing... That is the scenario. How does that sound?"

"Even if you ask me how it sounds..."

Getting more shots than planned wasn't a bad thing. If it added narrative depth, it was all the more welcome. But that was for producing something like a professional photo book. Peeping on a female classmate while she changes is something I absolutely could not do.

As if seeing right through my inner conflict, Shinomiya-san's lips curled into a wicked grin. Placing a hand softly on my shoulder, she leaned in close and whispered into my ear.

"Do you really not want to capture it? A girl deliberately leaving a crack in the door, hoping the boy will peek at her. Aren't you curious what kind of expression she would make?"

"...Ugh."

This little devil, I cursed internally, while simultaneously praising her brilliance. Is she a genius? When she was peeked on exactly as she plotted, what kind of expression would Shinomiya-san make? It was precisely because I couldn't imagine it that I wanted to capture it on camera.

"O-Okay..."

I couldn't resist my own instincts. The moment I felt even a sliver of desire to take the photo, I had lost.

"Hehe. I believed you would say that, Anno-kun. Thank you very much."

Pulling away from me, Shinomiya-san looked genuinely, deeply happy. It seemed today was going to be a day where I was completely manipulated to her whim from start to finish. But the worst part was that I didn't actually mind it. In fact, I was even finding it fun, which gave me a headache.

"Honestly, you are so easy to read, Anno-kun. But that part of you is quite cute, and I like it."

"...You really shouldn't toss the word 'like' around so casually. Someone's going to get the wrong idea and cause a massive disaster."

"I don't mind if they get the wrong idea, you know. What would you do if I said that?"

Standing up, Shinomiya-san tossed the words out as if they meant nothing. It was a miracle I managed to suppress the scream threatening to burst from my throat at the last second. I knew it. This was another trap meant to tease me. I already learned exactly what happens if I take the bait during our walk here. Therefore, the optimal response was silence.

I wanted to tell all the members of the Shinomiya Rinoa Fan Club. The princess you idolize is actually a little devil who absolutely loves toying with people's pure feelings.

"Now that you're sufficiently flustered, Anno-kun, shall we move to today's shooting location? Please follow me."

"Move? To where?"

"? Isn't it obvious? To my room, of course."

Once again, Shinomiya-san said it as if it were the most natural thing in the world. While I agreed it was obvious, I still felt an immense resistance to crossing into the sanctuary that was Shinomiya-san's private room.

"I-Is that really okay... for a guy like me to enter your room?"

"Of course. And didn't I tell you? I said it feels like I'll be giving all sorts of my 'firsts' to you, Anno-kun. Do you understand what that means?"

"S-So, you mean I'm the first guy to ever enter your room?"

"Exactly! ...Is what I would like to say, but that is slightly inaccurate. You are the first person to enter my room as a friend, Anno-kun."

That correction seemed minor, but depending on how you took it, it meant something entirely different. It made me incredibly sad to realize Shinomiya-san truly had no one she could call a friend until now.

"Come now, don't just space out, let's go! We have a lot to do before we start shooting, like configuring the camera and adjusting the gap in the door!"

Saying that, Shinomiya-san grabbed my hand and started walking toward her room.

The Shinomiya residence was a two-story house with a garden. While it lacked a pool, its architecture stood out noticeably even among the high-end residential neighborhood.

Her room was apparently on the second floor, so we climbed the stairs. For the short distance from the living room to her door, neither of us spoke a single word.

A weekend. In the utter silence of the house with no one else around, I felt as if the thumping of my heart was echoing loudly. My palms were beginning to sweat. Praying she wouldn't realize how nervous I was, I looked at Shinomiya-san's back walking ahead of me, only to notice her neck and ears were entirely flushed red.

"We are here! This is my room!"

"Please, come in," Shinomiya-san said as she turned the handle and opened the door. A sanctuary no one had ever stepped foot in. The interior was surprisingly—and it might be rude to say this—simple and unadorned for a high school girl's room.

"I will prepare to change, so in the meantime, Anno-kun, please adjust the camera to get the peeping angle just right."

"Roger that."

After making sure Shinomiya-san was inside the room, I closed the door completely. From there, I slowly opened it, wedging the camera into the gap and making minor adjustments.

If the gap was too narrow, I couldn't capture Shinomiya-san; if it was too wide, the 'peeping' vibe would be ruined. I snapped a few test shots to verify the atmosphere.

"How does it look, Anno-kun? Will you be able to get good pictures?"

"Yeah, I think this works perfectly. Are you ready on your end?"

"Yes! I am ready to go anytime! Though, I am a little nervous about whether these clothes will actually suit me."

"I seriously doubt there are any clothes in the world that wouldn't suit you, Shinomiya-san..."

I would honestly love to know if there existed a piece of clothing that didn't suit Shinomiya-san, a beauty so flawless that calling her 'peerless' wasn't an exaggeration. Nurse, police officer, maid, bunny girl, or a business suit—she could pull off absolutely anything.

"Hehe. I'm happy to hear you say that, even if it is just flattery. Thank you."

"It isn't flattery, though," I replied while fiddling with the camera settings. Any piece of clothing would be honored to be worn by her.

"Oh, I know! Would you like to go shopping for clothes together sometime? I want you to dye me entirely in your colors, Anno-kun!"

"The phrasing! There are words like 'coordinate' you could use instead! Please be careful with your word choices!"

I really wished she would put a little more thought into the words she used. If it were anyone other than me, things would have taken a disastrous turn by now. Though I'll refrain from specifying exactly how.

"What kind of clothes will you dress me in? I am eagerly looking forward to seeing your fetishes... excuse me, hobbies... no, your fashion sense, Anno-kun!"

"You literally just said fetishes! Seriously, what kind of guy do you think I am...?"

"The person who knows me best, I believe. In a variety of ways."

Shinomiya-san offered a bewitching smile that seemed laden with hidden meaning. My heart skipped a beat, but I merely shrugged my shoulders and muttered for her to spare me.

"Got it. If we ever go shopping together, I'll pick out the clothes that suit you better than anything else in the world, so you better be prepared."

"I am looking forward to it. Now that we've promised we'll absolutely go... shall we move on to the photoshoot?"

"...Right."

I nodded, exhaling a sigh. Continuing this conversation would only result in me piling on more embarrassment. If I could escape that swamp, I was all for it.

"My setup is complete, so I'm good to go whenever. I'll follow your timing, Shinomiya-san."

"Understood. Where roughly should I stand?"

Since the scenario was that she left the door open specifically because she wanted to be peeked on, standing where she was barely visible was best. That meant the optimal position was right near the edge of the bed. As for other things to keep in mind───

"While you're changing, try not to face the front... toward the camera. You can direct your gaze or your face toward it, but I think it's better if you do that after you've completely taken off the uniform."

"...I see."

Placing a hand on her chin, Shinomiya-san silently expanded on the image in her head. When she noticed she was being peeked on, exactly as planned, what kind of expression would she make? It was no exaggeration to say this was the biggest highlight before shooting the actual casual clothes.

"By the way, Anno-kun. Before we begin, I would like to ask... are you using two cameras today?"

"Hm? Oh, right, I didn't mention it. To be precise, one is for taking photos, and the other is for recording video."

The camera in my hand was the one I always used for photoshoots, but separately, I had set up a tripod with another camera mounted on it.

"Since it's a peeping scenario, I thought fixing the viewpoint might be a good idea. Unlike photos, video lets us run a continuous long take."

However, this was essentially insurance—a way to ensure I didn't miss a fleeting moment that photos might fail to capture. The main focus was strictly the still images.

"In that case, why don't we place the video camera inside the closet? I think shooting from inside the room rather than through the crack in the door would produce a much better hidden-camera atmosphere."

Saying that, Shinomiya-san effortlessly picked up the camera along with the tripod, opened the closet doors, and tucked it inside. I was so utterly dumbfounded by her instant, decisive action that I had to shake my head to reboot my frozen brain.

"No, no, no, wait!? Shooting from the crack of the closet is taking it too far, isn't it!? That's an actual hidden camera at that point!"

"It's a completely legal hidden camera. The person being filmed has consented, so there are no issues whatsoever. More importantly, please adjust the angle and such."

Completely ignoring my protests, Shinomiya-san declared this with a smile. But her eyes weren't smiling. It seemed she genuinely desired a real hidden-camera setup. And naturally, I had no right to refuse.

"Sigh... Understood. I will do exactly as the Princess commands. Please give me a second."

Reluctantly, and filled with tension, I stepped foot into Shinomiya-san's room. The moment I did, a brain-meltingly sweet fragrance unique to girls reached my nostrils. Mentally fortifying myself to maintain my sanity, I adjusted the equipment.

"The tripod is a bit too low..."

If we were going with the setting that the camera was hidden in the closet, I wanted it at eye level. But the tripod I brought was just slightly lacking in height.

"In that case, how about placing it on top of the wardrobe?"

Following Shinomiya-san's suggestion, I placed the camera on top of the wardrobe, and the height was indeed perfect. This would allow for an ideal hidden-camera shot. All that was left was to adjust the angle and the gap as I did earlier, configure it for remote control via my smartphone, and preparations were complete.

"Phew... Sorry to keep you waiting, Shinomiya-san. Are you good to go?"

"Yes! My mental imagery is perfect! Leave it to me!"

Shinomiya-san snorted proudly, answering with supreme confidence. As the saying goes, 'What happens twice will happen thrice.' I'd be lying if I said I wasn't worried. But this was our third shoot. It was important to simply compartmentalize and approach it professionally.

I took a deep breath to calm my nerves. Meanwhile, Shinomiya-san adjusted her position and readied herself.

"I am ready to begin whenever you are, Anno-kun."

"Roger that. I'll leave the order you undress in entirely up to you. Well then... let's begin."

Hearing her whisper a soft "Understood," I remotely triggered the video recording.

Would she start with her blouse, or her skirt? How did Shinomiya-san usually change when she got home? To capture it all, I readied my camera.

"..."

Shinomiya-san slowly reached for her uniform.

The first thing she removed was the ribbon at her chest. Agreeing that it was the logical first step, I used burst mode to capture the sequence of her untying it with a fluid shhh and letting it fall to the floor.

Without a moment of hesitation, in an entirely natural motion, Shinomiya-san unzipped her skirt. The metallic zzzt sounded exceptionally loud in the silence. Imagining what was about to happen next made my mouth go dry.

Shinomiya-san began to slip off her skirt. Slowly lowering it, she stepped out. That utterly mundane action was unspeakably sensual.

Her legs were long, supple, and beautiful. Her underwear was revealed. Today's pair was a full-bloom cherry blossom pink, blooming out of season. It was lovely and pure. It suited her perfectly.

In stark contrast to my heart, which was pounding violently, Shinomiya-san maintained her composure, slowly unfastening the buttons of her blouse one by one.

Even knowing this was a photoshoot, my chest swelled with a mix of anticipation and guilt. Telling my trembling hands to steady themselves, I waited for the moment.

"Do you want me... to take it off faster?"

The moment I thought I heard that whisper, Shinomiya-san's lips curled into a bewitching smirk, and she smoothly let the blouse slide off her shoulders.

Her skin was as white as unblemished first snow. The delicate fabric covering her bountifully ripe, alluring fruits shared the same cherry blossom pattern as her underwear. It wasn't the first time I was seeing this, yet my heart rate skyrocketed wildly.

My heart pounded so hard it physically ached. I opened my mouth, desperate for oxygen, but I had forgotten how to breathe. Even so, I continued firing the shutter, determined to record the obscene state of my classmate.

As if saying she had noticed the pitiful boy watching her from the very beginning, Shinomiya-san smiled and turned her body toward the door.

"───Huh!?"

Locking eyes with Shinomiya-san's bewitchingly smiling face through the viewfinder, I was so startled I fell flat on my rear.

This was acting. Shinomiya-san was simply executing the predetermined scenario. My brain knew this perfectly well, yet for some reason, I reacted with genuine panic, feeling as if my peeping had truly been exposed.

"If you're going to watch anyway, you're more than welcome to look from closer... Or perhaps... what you want to see isn't me changing, Anno-kun, but me in my underwear?"

Speaking in a honey-sweet voice, Shinomiya-san dropped to all fours and crawled closer. Despite being encased in underwear, the bouncing of her twin peaks filled the entire frame of the screen.

She was close enough that if I mustered the courage to reach out, I could touch her. Even through the camera, her rich fragrance and softness transmitted clearly to my senses. Just how much virtue did one need to accumulate in a past life to hold all of this in their hands and monopolize it?

"...O-Okay! That's enough for the sequence of taking off the uniform! Let's move on to the next part!"

With those thoughts racing through my mind, I realized I had gotten the shots I needed. I instantly shot up and turned my back to Shinomiya-san. At the same time, I operated my smartphone to stop the video recording. If I had been even a few seconds slower, my rationality would have been annihilated, and a serious incident would have occurred.

"Understood. Next is putting the new clothes on, correct?"

"Yeah, but... the photos turned out looking like you realized you were being peeked on, so if we don't change the composition, it's going to look unnatural..."

She took off her uniform, stood in her underwear, and noticed the gaze. Up to that point, everything was perfect, but I hadn't anticipated her crawling toward me on all fours. It possessed the beauty and sensuality of a leopard closing in on its prey. 'Perfect' wasn't a strong enough word for the incredible photos I managed to take.

On the flip side, continuing to shoot from the hallway in a peeping style would completely break the flow of the scenario.

"Can't we simply move inside the room and continue shooting?"

Tilting her head blankly, Shinomiya-san spoke as if it were the most obvious solution in the world, completely dismissing my dilemma. Ignoring my inability to answer, she continued.

"The girl, realizing she is being watched, doesn't scold the boy. Instead, she takes his hand and invites him inside her room. Then, right in front of his heavily panting face, she slowly begins to dress. Isn't that perfect?"

"...I-I can't argue with that."

This was the definition of having no comeback. She masterfully incorporated the ad-lib into the story, correcting the trajectory into a seamless narrative structure. If there was one concern, it was that Shinomiya-san, clad only in her underwear, might tease and play with me while putting her clothes on.

"Then it is decided. Please, come over here at once!"

"Wait, don't pull me! Give me a second to mentally prepare myself!"

Pulled by the hand, I was dragged into the room before my resolve was fully solidified. She pointed to the floor near the bed and urged me to sit.

As instructed, I sat there in a formal kneeling position (seiza). Shinomiya-san stood right next to me, looking down at me with a bewitching smile. I felt exactly like a defendant awaiting their verdict.

"Hehe. Why are you sitting in seiza? Won't it be difficult to take pictures from that posture?"

I couldn't tell if it was subconscious or deliberate, but Shinomiya-san crossed her arms under her chest, lifting them up while giggling. Her underwear was already provocative enough, making it hard to figure out where to look. Having the squished, shifting shape of her chest flaunted right in front of me made it impossible to know where to direct my gaze.

"No, I just felt like I had to sit like this..."

"Ah! Or perhaps... is there a reason you have to sit in seiza? For example..."

As she spoke, Shinomiya-san directed her gaze toward my abdomen. Then, she crouched down, brought her face to my ear, and whispered.

"Looking at my body... did you get excited?"

"───!?!?"

The utterly blunt remark elicited a voiceless scream from my lips.

Shinomiya-san truly was a little devil. Saying "body" instead of "underwear" made it infinitely worse. I scrambled backward but instantly hit the wall, losing all avenues of escape. Checkmate. Or so I thought, but for some reason, Shinomiya-san didn't pursue me any further. Instead, she flashed a wicked grin and stepped back.

"I'm relieved to see that you are a proper, healthy boy, Anno-kun."

"...E-Excuse me?"

"You properly got excited because of me, right? I'm so glad I didn't lose my confidence."

Shinomiya-san smiled happily. Including the incident in the empty classroom, this was the fifth time I had seen Shinomiya-san's bare skin. Did she genuinely not understand how desperately I was fighting to hold onto my rationality every single time?

"Hehe. Shall we move on to the second half before your excitement cools down, Anno-kun? Please, ready your camera."

"R-Right... Got it."

Lamenting the fact that Shinomiya-san had even taken control of the shooting pace, I raised my handheld camera and remotely started the video recording in the closet.

"You can start whenever you're ready, Shinomiya-san."

"Understood. Without further ado, then..."

Saying that, she turned her back to me. Shinomiya-san reached around, unfastened the clasp of her bra with a click, slipped the straps off her shoulders, and let it fall smoothly to the floor. It was a miracle I managed to capture that entire sequence on burst mode.

Her exposed back was as elegant as a sculpture carved by God. Realizing I was the first person to see it, and that I was actually recording it, made my body run hot.

Click. Click. Click-click. The crisp sound of the shutter echoed through the quiet room containing just the two of us. Half-unconsciously, I photographed Shinomiya-san's bare skin—a sight I would likely never witness again.

"Could you twist your body slightly? Like a 'beauty looking back' pose."

"Yes, of course."

Before I could even add, "Make sure to cover your chest," Shinomiya-san turned around, already hiding her chest with both hands. She replied to my request calmly, but her face was dyed crimson, and she fidgeted shyly.

"A-Anno-kun... this is, as expected... slightly embarrassing."

"Don't move."

I spoke softly to Shinomiya-san as she squirmed, continuing to shoot. Front, left, right, low angles—I gave her posing instructions and did everything in my power to draw out her maximum charm. I was confident I had never been this focused in my life.

"Um... I am very happy that you are so captivated by my body, but i-is it alright if I put my clothes on now?"

"Ah, sorry! Okay, let's have you face away from me again and start putting your clothes on."

"Mmm... Understood."

Sounding somewhat petulant for some reason, Shinomiya-san turned her back to me and reached for the neatly folded clothes on the bed.

"Hnn... nngh."

Letting out adorable little sounds, Shinomiya-san slipped her arms through the sleeves. I couldn't see what the front looked like, but the back was wide open, and the hem only reached just above her waist.

Next, she put on the bottom. Sliding her long legs smoothly through the fabric, she pulled it up tight over her rear. Even such mundane movements oozed sex appeal.

"And lastly..."

Sitting on the edge of the bed, Shinomiya-san turned to face me. Then, as if showing off, she lifted her leg and began rolling up a pure white stocking. Through the camera, I watched the process with bated breath.

"...I-I'm done changing."

A stark contrast to how she had provoked me in her underwear, Shinomiya-san slowly stood up, her voice laced with uncertainty.

"H-How do I look? It's my first time wearing these clothes... Do they suit me?"

To call this rare was an understatement. Whether at school or during our photoshoots, this was the very first time I had ever seen Shinomiya-san look so lacking in confidence. Captivated by the sight, I snapped a photo before giving my answer.

"Ah! Why did you take a picture before telling me what you think!?"

"Sorry, sorry. You fidgeting like that was just so cute my hand moved on its own."

"C-Cu!? Jeez, please don't tease me!"

Shinomiya-san yelled, her face bright red. I had absolutely no intention of teasing her. Besides, I had called her cute and beautiful countless times during the shoot, so there was no reason for her to be embarrassed now.

"Ahahaha... Um, my thoughts on the outfit, right? Obviously, it suits you perfectly. If you walked down the street and passed ten people, thirty of them would turn around to look."

I know the math didn't make sense, but what I meant was that anyone and everyone who saw Shinomiya-san right now would be utterly entranced.

The outfit she chose for the shoot was an off-the-shoulder top. It boldly exposed her collarbones and cleavage. Furthermore, it was cropped so short that her navel and stomach were in full view. Looking directly at her upper body was impossible.

But if I looked down, I was met with outrageously short shorts and the absolute territory formed by her over-the-knee stockings wrapping her beautiful legs.

It was the perfect fusion of cute and sexy. Judging from her casual clothes I had seen previously, I had assumed Shinomiya-san preferred more conservative, modest fashion with less skin exposure. That massive gap was exactly why I was left speechless.

"So basically, what I'm trying to say is, it looks like an outfit you wouldn't normally wear, which is surprising. But it suits you so perfectly, which makes it even better."

"An outfit I wouldn't wear... I suppose you would think that..."

For some inexplicable reason, the words I offered as a casual compliment clouded Shinomiya-san's expression, and she lowered her head.

"Um... Shinomiya-san?"

An awkward silence settled over the room. When I called out to her in confusion, Shinomiya-san flinched and quickly raised her head. She was smiling, but it was obviously a desperate front.

"It wasn't what I expected, but that doesn't mean it doesn't suit you, okay? If anything, it's incredibly cute, you know?"

"I'm not doubting your words, Anno-kun. I am genuinely very happy you said that. It's just..."

Shinomiya-san trailed off, biting her lip hard. Her face contorted in pain. Just as she opened her mouth to continue, the sound of the front door opening echoed through the house.

""Eh?""

Wasn't everyone supposed to be gone today? I looked at Shinomiya-san, and she too seemed baffled by the sudden turn of events.

"I'm hoooome! Is anybody here?"

A clear, refreshing female voice carried up from downstairs. The instant Shinomiya-san heard it, her shoulders jolted, and she wrapped her arms around her own body as if bracing herself against terror.

"S-Shinomiya-san? The person who just came home, could it be...?"

"M-My sister. The sister who was never supposed to come home has returned."

Shinomiya-san's voice trembled. All the blood drained from her face, leaving her pale. Objectively speaking, inviting a male classmate into her room for a photoshoot—especially while wearing revealing clothes—while her parents were out might be deemed inappropriate. But even so, Shinomiya-san's reaction was far beyond normal. Her thought process had completely shut down.

"Should I hide somewhere?"

"...T-That's right! Anno-kun, for now, just hide somewhere... in the futon! I'll make up some excuse, so stay in there until she───"

"No, wait!? The futon is a terrible idea!?"

I thought Shinomiya-san had rebooted, but her logic was entirely haywire. She grabbed my hand, pulled me over, and pushed me onto the bed.

"Rinoa───? Do you have a friend over?"

"How unusual," the voice said cheerfully, and the door to the room opened. It was over. My life was officially game set right here.

"...Um, Rinoa? What exactly is this situation?"

The newcomer asked in confusion. Her features were well-ordered, strongly resembling Shinomiya-san. Amidst her cuteness and loveliness, she possessed a mature, refined beauty that Shinomiya-san had yet to fully develop. If I had passed her on the street on a normal day, I would have likely forgotten to breathe and simply stared.

"U-Um... Alice-oneechan? This is, well..."

I frantically searched for an excuse, but sadly, absolutely no words came to mind. Besides, considering I was the one pinned to the bed with Shinomiya-san straddling me, it wasn't exactly my place to speak.

"Hey, Rinoa! Those are the clothes I wore in that magazine the other day, aren't they!? Did you buy the exact same outfit!?"

"...Huh?"

In stark contrast to her sister's high-energy enthusiasm, Shinomiya-san's voice was violently cold.

I had thought it was a revealing outfit unlike Shinomiya-san's usual style, but it turned out to be something her model sister had worn. That explained everything.

"It was just a coincidence."

Shinomiya-san looked as if she had bitten into a bitter bug—or rather, the face of someone whose absolute last choice of audience had walked in on them. Ignoring her sister's reaction entirely, Shinomiya-san's older sister marched into the room.

"Ah! You even bought the magazines! And every single one I'm featured in! Your big sis is so happy!"

She spoke with high energy, her words practically sparkling like shooting stars. She was nothing like Shinomiya-san. If Shinomiya-san was a quietly illuminating moon, her older sister was a brilliantly blazing sun. Could sisters truly have such polar opposite personalities?

"Setting that aside, who is the boy you've pinned down, Rinoa? Were you perhaps about to do something dirty?"

"D-D-D-Dirty!? I assure you, it's nothing like that! Shinomiya-san and I do not have that kind of relationship! Right, Shinomiya-san!?"

"Yes, what Anno-kun says is correct. Please do not lump us in with you, Alice-oneechan."

Unlike my frantic scrambling to defend myself, Shinomiya-san replied with supreme calm as she climbed off me. However, to an outside observer, that position was just one step away from doing something obscene. No matter how much we denied it, it was utterly pointless.

"Well, if Rinoa says so, I suppose I can believe you... but before that, won't you introduce me? Is this boy your boyfriend?"

"He isn't. Anno-kun and I are merely classmates; we are not dating. Please stop immediately connecting everything to romance."

How should I put this... even if we genuinely weren't dating, having it declared in such an emotionless voice was a little depressing. More importantly, wasn't Shinomiya-san being way too cold to her sister?

"Come on, you drag him into your room when nobody's home and pin him down on your bed. 'Not dating' is a pretty tough sell, don't you think? Actually, if you aren't dating, isn't it even worse?"

It was a perfectly sound, unassailable argument. I couldn't think of a single excuse that could salvage this situation.

"Pushing Anno-kun onto the bed was unavoidable. You came home so suddenly, Alice-oneechan, that it startled me, and I merely tried to hide him."

Faced with her sister, who shrugged her shoulders in exasperation, Shinomiya-san replied in the same flat, unchanging tone. Meanwhile, I panicked back and forth.

"Well, next time use the closet instead of the futon───Wait a second. Did you just call your boyfriend candidate Anno-kun!? Could it be... Anno Takumi-kun!?"

"Y-Yes... that's right... but how do you know Anno-kun's name, Alice-oneechan?"

Confused, Shinomiya-san directed her gaze at me. Are you acquaintances? her eyes seemed to ask, and I shook my head furiously to deny it.

"I see! So you're Yuki-chan's rumored exclusive photographer, Takkun! I can't believe you're Rinoa's classmate. It's a small world after all!"

Grinning broadly, her sister rapidly closed the distance between us. In that regard, she was exactly like Shinomiya-san. But unlike Shinomiya-san's sweet, honey-like scent, her sister was enveloped in a refreshing citrus fragrance. Setting that aside.

"Um... do you perhaps know Yuzuha-san?"

For the record, 'Yuki' was Yuzuha-san's real name.

"Of course I do! Yuki-chan was my upperclassman at the same university! It's amazing to think she's a top cosplayer now!"

"Makes me proud as her junior," her sister added, laughing uproariously. Once she started talking, she didn't stop. She really was like a storm.

"It's incredible that you caught Yuki-chan's discerning eye... Oh, I know! If you don't mind, could you take pictures of me, too?"

""...Eh?""

My voice and Shinomiya-san's overlapped once again.

"Taking pictures to post on social media is always such a hassle! I'll talk to Yuki-chan and clear it with her! Come on, please!"

She pressed her hands together and bowed her head to me. It seemed she even knew that Yuzuha-san hated letting me photograph anyone else. However, even if they were underclassmen at the same university, it was hard to imagine Yuzuha-san giving the green light. More importantly, Yuzuha-san would probably scold me later, so I should politely decline───

"No! I won't give Anno-kun to you, Alice-oneechan!"

Before I could open my mouth, Shinomiya-san clung tightly to my arm and bared her fangs at her sister. Her cold attitude from moments ago vanished entirely; she was reacting as if she had just been reunited with her sworn enemy.

"Eh, why not? It's not like you and Anno-kun are dating, right? If that's the case, you don't really have the right to complain if Anno-kun and I have a private photoshoot, do you?"

"That is entirely beside the point! No means no!"

"Jeez, you're so selfish. If you keep acting like that, Anno-kun is going to lose his patience with you, you know?"

"No, not really..."

Shinomiya-san groaned in frustration, while her sister smiled fearlessly. It was like a battle between an adult and a child.

"What do you say, Anno-kun? I think photographing various people, not just Yuki-chan, would be great practice for you! I could even introduce you to some professional photographers I know───"

"───Don't take him."

Overlapping her sister's words, Shinomiya-san whispered in a small, yet crystal-clear voice. And then,

"Don't take Anno-kun from me. Please, don't take... any more of my precious things away from me!"

Shinomiya-san cried out, her voice laced with tears. It was such an agonizing, tragic plea that I was utterly bewildered. What had happened between these two? As if confirming my suspicions, her sister lowered her eyebrows, her face twisting into an expression of deep, apologetic anguish.

"Get out... Get out of my room right now!"

"...Yeah. Okay."

I'm sorry, Rinoa. Leaving those words behind, her sister turned her back to us and quietly left the room. Her retreating figure looked incredibly small. The air in the room was heavy.

Shinomiya-san clung to my arm, her body still trembling faintly. I didn't know what to do. I hated myself for feeling so helpless.

A little while later, the sound of the front door opening and closing echoed through the house, and it was just Shinomiya-san and me in the massive mansion once more.

"I am sorry, Anno-kun. I ruined our photoshoot."

Once she was certain her sister was gone, Shinomiya-san finally regained her composure, letting out a deep breath and a strained, bitter smile.

"Well, some days just don't go as planned. We still have time, so what do you want to do? Keep shooting?"

Trying my best to remain calm, I asked a question I already knew the answer to. It was the only thing I could think to say. As expected, Shinomiya-san slowly shook her head.

"...Got it."

With that single response, I retrieved the camera hidden in the closet and began packing up. I lacked the courage to ask about her relationship with her sister.

"It's no use, is it? I thought that if I wore the exact same clothes my sister wore, I could change just a little bit... but no matter how much I mimic her outward appearance, I'm still just me."

"Shinomiya-san...?"

"Thank you very much for today, Anno-kun. Despite your complaints, I am deeply grateful that you indulged my selfishness four times now."

"...More like blackmail than selfishness, honestly."

"Hehe. You're right, it was. Though to be fair, you secretly photographing me was what started this all in the first place, Anno-kun."

Shinomiya-san teased me with a laugh just like always, but there was no energy behind it. Even with our short history, I could easily tell she was putting on a brave face. So, I forced myself to act as cheerfully as possible.

"What should we do for the next shoot? Should we finally try an outdoor location? Or maybe ask the manager to let us rent the studio?"

"...No. You've taken more than enough pictures of me, so I am fine. Asking for anything more would just be a nuisance to you, Anno-kun."

"No, it wouldn't be a nuisance at all..."

It wasn't a nuisance. I wanted to keep taking her picture. Just as I was about to say that, Shinomiya-san extended a slender finger and placed it gently against my lips.

"You still have to edit the photos you've taken so far, correct? I'll be looking forward to seeing the finished product."

Please be careful on your way home, she smiled. It was the affectionate, loving smile of an angel. But as she saw me off, Shinomiya-san's face was a tangled mess of guilt, inadequacy, and regret.

And after this day, Shinomiya-san never requested a photoshoot from me again.