"The next match! Representing Mibu Junior High School from Tochigi Prefecture, team captain Katagami Yukinosuke versus team captain Kyousuke of Higashi Junior High School, Tokyo!"
The referee's voice echoed across the arena, momentarily silencing the surrounding matches on the other three courts.
Kyousuke.
His name seemed to carry a strange kind of magic.
Even in a space filled with the sharp whistle of referees and the roaring shouts of competitors, his name cut through like a blade and lodged itself firmly in everyone's ears.
"Hey, hey! That's the handless demon who rules over Tokyo Kendo!"
"Do you have a death wish?! Keep your head down, idiot! Don't even make eye contact!"
"He's terrifying! Just looking at him gives me the chills. Good thing our team got knocked out early. If I had to face him, my legs would've given out for sure."
Those from schools near Tokyo were more familiar with Kyousuke's legend.
Others further away had only heard about him through a certain manga—One Punch Man.
"He's so cool! No wonder he's the artist behind One Punch Man! Ryoko, I'm going to ask for his autograph later. Want to come with?"
"Totally! I want him to sign my kendo uniform!"
"Hey! Not fair—I want one too!"
Don't misunderstand—those were all girls talking.
Kendo competitions are separated into male and female divisions. Not every school is like Higashi, which practically feels like a monk's temple.
Mitsuha, now the center of attention, remained calm and composed.
Ever since their first and second players had lost, she had been mentally prepared to take the stage.
Taking a deep breath, she stood up and let Kisaki Tetta help her put on her helmet.
"If you're not up for it, just say you're feeling unwell. Don't go out there and embarrass boss. There's still time to back out," Kisaki muttered emotionlessly as he tied the cords.
'Jerk. You're the one who's not up for it.'
Underneath her mask, Mitsuha rolled her eyes with zero restraint. Without a word, she stepped past Kisaki and walked confidently toward the ring.
The rest of the team, including Hata Gorou and even Ryoma Mitsuhashi—who had lost his first match—showed no trace of disappointment.
They all had unwavering faith in their captain to bring home the win, cheering her on with cries of "You've got this!"
The loose folds of the kendo uniform often made others look shorter, but on Kyousuke's tall, well-proportioned frame, it looked like something out of an anime.
With every step, the slight swaying of the uniform's hem made girls on the sidelines gasp in admiration.
Already waiting on the court, Katagami Yukinosuke of Mibu Junior High clicked his tongue and casually swung his shinai around.
He didn't buy into the hype.
That guy Kisaki Tetta was supposed to be some genius strategist, and even he had only managed a draw. No way the infamous Kyousuke was that strong.
'Just watch—I'll crush Kyousuke and steal all the girls' cheers for myself!'
"Yukinosuke! You idiot! Take this seriously!" a woman's voice yelled from the sidelines.
"Y-Yes, ma'am!" Katagami immediately turned and bowed repeatedly.
As Mitsuha walked steadily toward the match area, she was surprised to find she wasn't nervous at all.
The shinai in her hand didn't feel quite as natural as Kyousuke's personal bamboo sword, but the moment she gripped it, memories surged countless hours spent in the shrine's training hall until she collapsed from exhaustion.
The pain of being struck by Onizuka in Higashi's kendo club still lingered.
With her shinai in hand, the surrounding noise faded away.
In that moment, she felt as if she were performing a sacred kagura dance before a crowd.
The shinai in her hands felt no different from the ritual bells she used to ward off evil one to strike down her opponent, the other to purify the world.
She could win.
She stood before her nameless opponent, staring through her mask at his cocky, taunting grin.
For some reason, she thought of Yamaaka Shunya from that ridiculous fashion trio.
He had been just like this when they first met and now he was a devout regular at the shrine, coming to help clean every week.
The referee gave the signal.
Katagami Yukinosuke charged in with a roar, swinging his shinai like a brute with no strategy whatsoever.
'No, he's aiming for my head to startle me, but… his left foot just shifted powerfully.'
'That means it's a feint—he's actually coming in from the left to strike my forearm.'
Mitsuha's expression under the mask remained calm.
'You think I'm scared of you? Even Onizuka's terrifying charges never made me flinch.'
All her sparring sessions had given her unmatched real-world experience.
She didn't know whether her talent came from herself or from borrowing Kyousuke's body.
The very first time she joined the kendo club, she'd felt that every swing she made with Kyousuke's body was fluid and intuitive.
Kisaki had interrupted her curiosity then, but training afterward had only reinforced the connection.
Even in academics, she'd been puzzled why her science scores were improving in her old school at Itomori, despite being a humanities-focused student.
She realized later it was all thanks to borrowing Kyousuke's natural talent.
And right now, she could see everything—every single one of Katagami's openings.
The match lasted four minutes, but how long did this round take?
Five seconds.
From the moment Katagami charged in, to Mitsuha landing a clean head strike, to all three referees raising their flags in unison—just five seconds had passed.
The points were confirmed. Both competitors returned to their starting lines.
On the sidelines, Kisaki Tetta looked dumbfounded. Hata Gorou, Mitsuhashi, and the others erupted in excited cheers.
Then Kisaki quickly recomposed himself, internally pumped.
'Yes! It's working! My training's paying off! Big bro's personality merge is just around the corner!'
Mitsuha waited calmly for round two.
Katagami, meanwhile, was still in a daze.
He hadn't even finished his feint, and somehow he'd already been struck?!
The referee gave the signal once again.
This time, Mitsuha didn't wait for him.
Using a footwork technique she'd learned from watching Kyousuke's videos, she closed the distance with a single step.
'Smack!'
All three referees dropped their flags again—another clean hit.
This round lasted just three seconds.
Katagami remained frozen.
The referee even walked over to check if something was wrong.
After all, Mitsuha had landed two solid strikes to the head.
The mask offered protection, but against such sharp attacks, getting a little rattled was completely understandable.
Even the three judges had made their call purely on instinct only realizing after they raised their flags that they too had been momentarily overwhelmed by the presence of that Kyousuke from Higashi Middle School.
Fortunately, he had scored a valid point, so their instinct hadn't betrayed them.
As the referees checked on Katanami Yukinosuke, the audience around the other courts finally began to cheer and murmur in excitement.
Still, no one got too carried away—after all, causing a disruption during a match could get points deducted.
That said, the girls who impulsively whipped out their phones to snap pictures clearly weren't too worried about that.
And in that moment, the image of that tall, composed figure standing with a shinai in hand was burned into everyone's memory.
No matter how many years passed, they would always remember how, at the 49th National Kendo Championship for middle schoolers, a swordsman named Kyousuke tore through the field and left a mark on the sport forever.
Once it was confirmed that Katanami Yukinosuke was unharmed just momentarily shaken and the referee resumed the match.
And so, the boy who had once dreamed of this tournament with bright hopes was now continuing in the match that would ultimately mark the end of his kendo career.
With the vanguard and second losing, and Kisaki Tetta managing only a draw, only their vice-captain, Hatake Gorou, had secured a win.
This meant that Mitsuha now had to win and push the total team points above the opposing team's.
Victory alone wouldn't be enough, she had to dominate.
And so, she went all in.
She still remembered how Kyousuke had wanted to shed the nickname "the handless demon."
Even though it was easier and more efficient to strike the opponent's forearms, she continued to aim exclusively for the head, the abdomen, or the throat.
Again and again, the referee's flag was raised.
The scoreboard numbers kept climbing.
Once she was sure she had racked up enough points to secure the team's overall victory, the shrine maiden finally lowered her shinai and bowed respectfully to her opponent.
It was odd that her opponent didn't bow back, but Mitsuha was too caught up in the moment, she just wanted to share this joy with Aunt Mikiko in the stands.
She made her way to the edge of the court, where Mikiko was already standing and waving with both hands.
Mitsuha pulled off her helmet and beamed with a radiant smile.
That morning, Mikiko hadn't shown the slightest worry about Mitsuha being in Kyousuke's body.
Instead, she'd only offered words of encouragement.
It was that unwavering support from both Kyousuke and Mikiko, that allowed Mitsuha to remain calm and focused on the court.
They believed in her. And so, Mitsuha chose to believe in herself just as strongly as they believed in her.
After seeing the strength that this alternate persona of his brother possessed, Kisaki Tetta quickly changed the team strategy.
In a match where one person could potentially sweep the entire opposing team, saving your strongest fighter for last was actually the worst choice.
He decided to place Mitsuha in the third slot instead, with the other four members rotating through the first two positions to give everyone a chance to grow.
If either of them lost, Mitsuha would carry the rest of the match herself.
Tetta knew just how absurd the physical stamina of his brother's body was—even if she fought every round, Mitsuha wouldn't feel the slightest fatigue.
With this new strategy, Higashi Middle School rapidly became the team with the fastest wins across the tournament.
By evening, all the matches had concluded.
The All-Japan Kendo Federation—also known as Zenkendō organized both middle and high school tournaments, and now it was time for them to present the awards.
"You must be the one Yamamura Konopon reported to us about—Kyousuke from Minato City, right?"
"You've been in Tokyo for a while now. Why haven't you visited your family home yet?"
Mitsuha was caught off guard as she received the award for Individual Victory.
The man in the black suit had congratulated her, then casually dropped this unexpected question.
'Huh? Who's Yamamura Konopon? And what's this about a family home?'
She remembered the host saying earlier that this man was Naitou Akifumi, one of the 47 council members of the All-Japan Kendo Federation, and the head of the Hokushin Ittō-ryū, a traditional kendo school.
He might know Kyousuke, but Mitsuha had no idea who he was.
Smiling awkwardly, Mitsuha gave the standard evasive trio of excuses—"Sorry, I've been busy," "I'll visit next time," and "I'll make sure to drop by soon"—then hurried off the stage before he could press further.
With more awardees waiting, Naitou didn't pursue the matter.
Kyousuke (really Mitsuha in his body) accepted the awards for Team Victory, Team Fighting Spirit, Individual Victory, and Individual Fighting Spirit.
Higashi also received a third-place individual award thanks to Hatake Gorou his talent was undeniable, especially since he'd been personally trained by Kyousuke.
After the ceremony, Naitou had hoped to chat with the prodigy that Yamamura had told him about, but the young man was quickly swarmed by students from other schools.
Shaking his head in resignation, Naitou left with the local kendo officials. Unlike Kyousuke, he wouldn't be enjoying the sweet taste of victory, he had endless business meetings to attend to.
Mitsuha had wanted to rush over and share the moment with Aunt Mikiko, but the second she stepped off the stage, she was mobbed.
The crowd's sheer enthusiasm made her uneasy, it felt less like a sports arena and more like a pop idol fan meet.
"Hojou-san, can we exchange contact info?" asked one of her previous opponents, utterly taken in by her performance and even considering transferring schools just to follow her to Tokyo.
Mitsuha politely declined.
She didn't mind helping Hojou gather underlings, but that kind of networking was Kisaki's job.
"Don't push! Hey, Kyousuke-kun, can I get your autograph?" Ryoko, who had earlier requested an autograph on her kendo gear, was now eagerly pointing at her chest, having unzipped her uniform to reveal the white T-shirt underneath.
Nope. That's too dangerous. I can't let you get close to Kyousuke your existence might cause his kendo skills to regress!
"Kyousuke-saaaan..."
The gym had become a full-blown idol fan event.
Even Hatake Gorou and the rest of the team, who had come to rescue their captain, found themselves helplessly stuck on the outside of the crowd.
Up in the stands, Hojou Mikiko watched Mitsuha now bashful but still handling the attention with grace and smiled warmly.
At first, she had thought the body swap between Mitsuha and her son was just a quirky phenomenon.
But now, she sincerely believed it was a blessing.
From Mitsuha's story the night before, she had seen a girl bound by countless rules—timid, shy, and stifled by her family and environment.
But now, thanks to being in Kyousuke's body, that same girl had undergone a stunning transformation.
Confident. Composed. Sharp.
She had become the very person she had once only dreamed of becoming.
Mikiko loved watching transformations like this. It was why she cared so deeply for girls like Sakura, Shouko, and Naoka.
Sakura had grown into a cheerful, responsible athlete thanks to her son.
Shouko had learned to speak and blossomed into an adorable girl loved by everyone.
Naoka had become more honest and unafraid to express her feelings.
Even that Eriri girl, whom Mikiko hadn't met was said to have recovered her health thanks to her son's influence.
If only Mrs. Hojou knew about Kasumigaoka Utaha and how her son had helped restore a young girl's pride—she'd be even prouder than she already was.
How wonderful it is.
Hojou Mikiko wasn't someone who judged people purely by looks—although, admittedly, the girls around her son did all happen to align perfectly with her sense of beauty.
Seeing these young women grow and shine thanks to her son filled her with genuine joy. It was proof—proof of just how exceptional her son was.
He wasn't just brilliant himself. He made those around him better too.
She remembered Shouko.
At the time, she'd been worried that Shouko might become too dependent on her son because of what she'd gone through.
Mikiko had even voiced her concerns to Kyousuke. But her son who was only in sixth grade then—had said something that moved her deeply as a mother:
"I promised Shouko's mother I'd always be by her side. But I won't let Shouko lose herself. I'll help her become someone even better."
Just like Shouko. Just like Mitsuha standing here now.
Mikiko could see the light of her son shining in them both.
And this boy—this amazing, dazzling boy—was her son. A son she'd raised all by herself in Mizunome City, through hardship and perseverance.
She couldn't help but cry.
Even if, technically, the soul inside Mitsuha's body wasn't her son's… the tears still came.
"Aww, honey, why are you crying again? Kyousuke isn't even the one getting the award," said Hojou Ichirou, her husband, clearly baffled.
"You idiot! Mitsuha's only become so amazing because of my Kyousuke! Without him, she might still be that little girl who was laughed at by classmates for dancing, helpless to do anything about it!"
Her words may have sounded like they were undermining Mitsuha's own effort, but Ichirou's cluelessness pushed her over the edge.
Of course she knew it was ultimately the girls' own determination that led to their growth.
Her son had simply been the catalyst.
She still remembered Shouko practicing over and over again at their home, working through the dull repetition of pronunciation exercises.
That kind of perseverance had moved her.
But without Kyousuke? There would've been no spark.
No transformation. Shouko would've remained that quiet girl relying on a notepad to communicate.
Mitsuha would still be a young shrine maiden crushed by burdens too heavy for her to bear.
Without Kyousuke, there would be no confident, triumphant Mitsuha standing on that stage today.
Sure, if her precious boy had participated, victory might've come even easier.
But the fact that these girls changed by his influence and were strong enough to win on their own? That filled Hojou Mikiko with even deeper pride.
Meanwhile, Hojou Ichirou, overwhelmed by his wife's tears, nodded apologetically, hoping she'd calm down soon.
Finally, after their teammates broke through the crowd, Mitsuha was able to escape.
"You did great, Boss!"
A thunderous cheer echoed through the gym.
Kisaki and the other three from Higashi's team all bowed to her at a perfect ninety degrees, voices loud and proud.
Mitsuha blinked in surprise, then raised her trophy high and shouted:
"Higashi!"
"HIGASHI!!!" her teammates echoed, raising their own trophies with fierce pride.
Normally, a team acting this cocky would've drawn immediate backlash from other schools.
But not this time.
Not when they were this strong.
Not when they had this many trophies.
Applause broke out around them.
Even the All-Japan Kendo Federation members, who were already heading toward the exit, paused to see what the commotion was.
Naitou Akifumi turned to look back at the scene, eyes landing on Kyousuke in the crowd—his face shining with unmistakable brilliance.
"These kids are getting way out of hand," one staffer muttered. "Want me to go over and stop them?"
"Enjoying a hard-won victory is a right of the strong," Naitou thought to himself.
'If it weren't for this boring post-tournament banquet with you people, I'd rather be dueling that talented student myself.'
Of course, that's just what he thought.
Out loud, Naitou simply smiled with quiet elegance and shook his head, then turned to lead the group out the door.
While Japan often worshipped lone hero types in fiction, it was stories of teamwork and collective effort that society truly embraced.
They idealized coordination—even if it sometimes warped into the toxic belief that failing to fit in was always the individual's fault.
But now, seeing the Higashi Kendo team celebrating as one, their joy infectious—no one could help but cheer for them.
Later that evening, Hojou Ichirou drove the kids to the same robatayaki restaurant from the night before—Shirakaba.
It felt more appropriate than celebrating at home. A pub was the perfect setting for victory.
Once the staff and patrons heard they were the champions of the National Middle School Kendo Tournament and that Kyousuke had even won the Daredevil Award for defeating thirty opponents and everyone raised their drinks in celebration.
Winning a national title in his first year of middle school was no small feat.
Even the usually composed Kisaki couldn't stop laughing between bites.
Hatagorou and the others were glued to their phones, flooding chat groups with updates and photos of their shining trophies.
Even the often-defeated frontliners, Ryouma Mitsuhashi and Kouji Kuroki, took the teasing with a smile, vowing they'd train harder and never let their captain down again.
Mitsuha sat quietly beside Hojou Mikiko, just like the night before, watching her rowdy teammates with soft eyes.
This body-swapping experience had changed more than just herself—it had given her these "strange new friends." People from miles apart, now gathered here for a shared dream, united in triumph.
After dinner, they split into two groups, just like the night before.
With the tournament over, there was no rush to head back to the hotel.
When Hojou Ichirou offered to give them a ride, Kisaki politely declined, saying they'd walk back later on their own—it wasn't far anyway.
Hojou Ichirou trailed quietly behind them, while Mikiko walked ahead, arm-in-arm with Mitsuha.
Naturally, their conversation centered around Kyousuke.
As they shared gossip and "dirt" on the boy they both cherished, the bond between them quickly grew.
Outside a convenience store, Mikiko suddenly asked Ichirou to go in and grab drinks for the two of them.
"Mitsuha, you have to try this drink—it's only sold in Hokkaido!" Mikiko beamed, her smile unshakable since morning.
Mitsuha smiled back, full of anticipation. As she waited outside, she took a deep breath.
The air in Kushiro felt richer in oxygen than Tokyo's—and carried a kind of moisture that wasn't present in Itomori.
She figured it must be thanks to all the marshlands surrounding the area.
Taking a deep breath, the girl asked nervously, "Aunt Mikiko… do you think I stole Kyousuke's moment of glory?"
"Hm?" Hojou Mikiko had been gazing through the convenience store's glass window, watching her husband inside hunting for that special drink.
But when she heard Mitsuha's question, she blinked and turned to her, finding the girl's face filled with guilt.
"Oh my, why would you think that?" she asked in surprise.
"Because… it should've been Kyousuke standing there, basking in the spotlight, not me," Mitsuha replied.
During the competition, all she could think about was winning.
It wasn't until she saw Kisaki and the others so happy at Robatayaki Shirakaba afterward that the thought hit her like a wave.
"Hahaha!" Mikiko chuckled, reaching up to ruffle Mitsuha's hair playfully.
"Honestly, this isn't Itomori—you don't need to keep worrying about people nitpicking your every move. You're overthinking things."
"If someone else can handle it all for him, that lazy son of mine would be over the moon."
Seeing Mitsuha's expression still clouded with unease, Mikiko pondered for a moment, then decided to reveal some darker truths about her son.
"Back when I was still in Suimon, I talked with Kyousuke about transferring back to school in Hokkaido. You know Sakura, right?"
"Of course he didn't want to leave her behind. He even suggested staying in Suimon by himself."
"So I came up with this crazy idea, what if we had his grandfather hire Sakura's dad, Mr. Yamauchi, and bring their whole family up to Hokkaido with us?"
Mitsuha stared at her in stunned silence.
She'd always known Aunt Mikiko had a rather unconventional way of thinking, but this was a whole new level.
Still, it said a lot about Kyousuke and Sakura's relationship...
"I was joking! Just joking!" Mikiko giggled as she waved her hands.
"Normally, a kid would think their parent was totally meddling in their life and rebel, right? But Kyousuke just agreed without a second thought."
"Haha, that's Kyousuke all right. He never says no to a shortcut," Mitsuha said, laughing.
It was true, whether it was joining Rampaging Angels just to gain a crew that could improve his quality of life, or leveraging a follower whose dad was an editor-in-chief to boost his manga sales.
Kyousuke had zero shame when it came to easing his own workload.
"You probably don't know this either, but when Kyousuke offered to fund a round-the-world trip for me and my husband, that dear man of mine said yes on the spot."
"Didn't even flinch at the idea of living it up on our son's dime. In that way, the two of them are exactly alike."
Mikiko glanced at her husband, who was now at the counter with the drink in hand.
"So really, there's no need to feel bad. If he can get things done without lifting a finger, Kyousuke would be absolutely thrilled."
"Honestly, compared to scrapping it out with a bunch of sweaty guys, he's probably having way more fun in your body right now."
"W-Wait! What do you mean having fun in my body?! That's not happening at all!"
Mitsuha's face turned crimson as she flailed her arms in protest.
Mikiko didn't press the joke and simply chuckled, then smoothly changed the subject.
"But after agreeing to bring Sakura and her family to Hokkaido, Kyousuke brought up something else."
"What was it?" Mitsuha asked.
Something must've gone off the rails after that—otherwise, she'd be living with a Hokkaido hottie instead of a Tokyo one.
"He said, 'What if it's not just Sakura?' You know what he meant, don't you? He was talking about Shouko and Naoka."
Mikiko turned to look at Mitsuha with a sly smile, eyes narrowing slightly.
Of course, she wasn't just trying to console Mitsuha.
As a mother, she was already laying the groundwork for her son's future.
She didn't believe for a second that Kyousuke would let go of any of the girls close to him—so it was up to her to start preparing early.
"…"
'Right… I always knew Kyousuke was an amazing guy. '
'But I forgot—I'm not the only one who sees that. And I definitely forgot that part of what makes him amazing is that generous, all-encompassing heart of his…'
Still, Mitsuha had mentally braced herself for this a long time ago.
With practiced ease, she tucked the thought away, adopting a total ostrich mode.
No point stressing about that now.
She still had her duty to the shrine, after all. There was no way Kyousuke would abandon everything in Tokyo to come to Itomori.
...Unless the shrine suddenly vanished and she no longer had to be a miko—then maybe she could go to Tokyo and find him instead.
Setting that issue aside, Mitsuha started telling Mikiko about how her dad had been so spooked by Kyousuke that he still couldn't bring himself to talk to her.
Mikiko burst out laughing at the story.
As they said goodbye in front of the inn, the two even made plans to go shopping for clothes together the next day.
———————————————————————
Muffled music echoed faintly in his ears as Kyousuke slowly opened his eyes.
The light was bright so bright that he instinctively raised a hand to shield himself.
He knew immediately: he had swapped into Mitsuha's body again.
He had no idea why napping on a plane would trigger a switch, but at this point, he wasn't too surprised.
Their body-swapping had been weird from the very start.
That first time it happened, he'd just dozed off at a meeting and bam—swapped. So this wasn't exactly unexpected.
"Next, Miyamizu-san. Please get ready."
Before Kyousuke could fully adjust to the light, a voice called out from the front—an older, slightly hoarse voice.
Lowering his hand, Kyousuke quickly scanned the room.
An elderly woman with glasses sat behind a desk, and a student stood before her, singing.
Crap. It's a music exam!
Panic hit him like a brick.
Technically, he didn't have amusia or anything but he was tone-deaf.
Even after inheriting Naoka's talent and drastically improving his physical control, singing remained his one mortal weakness.
Ah, the irony of fate. Mitsuha had helped him through exams before, and now it was finally his turn.
But… why music of all things?! Why couldn't Itomori Middle School use written tests like normal schools?!
At his own school, Higashi Middle, the music exam was just a written quiz—name a few singers, identify some basic music theory, that kind of thing.
With enough practice, Kyousuke could ace any written test.
His thoughts were interrupted as the student ahead of him finished singing.
Kyousuke stood up slowly, raised his left hand, and said in a deliberately hoarse voice:
"Sensei, my throat isn't feeling well today. Could I take the exam tomorrow instead?"
When in doubt—delay.
This was definitely something Mitsuha should handle herself.
No way he was going to subject her body to the horror of his singing.
Unlike core academic subjects, music and art were more flexible—teachers often decided how to handle exams themselves.
So Kyousuke figured this was the safest bet.
"Oh? Of course, that's fine. Would you like to visit the nurse's office, Miyamizu-san?"
The music teacher, who had actually stopped by the Miyamizu Shrine the night before for some advice, looked at Kyousuke with concern and guilt.
'Poor girl, she thought. She must've strained her voice talking to the townspeople every night…'
"Thank you, sensei. I'll be fine after a day of rest," Kyousuke said with a polite smile, bowing slightly.
"Mitsuha, what's wrong? Didn't you just say you were going to give it your all?" Sayaka asked, concerned.
"It's nothing. I just need to reset a little," he replied smoothly, slipping into the role without missing a beat.
After class, Kyousuke made his way to the faculty office.
He knocked gently.
Once he heard permission to enter, he stepped inside—and there she was: Yukino Yukari, hunched over her desk, writing furiously.
Dressed in a sleek black suit that contrasted starkly with the pale grey of her desk, Yukino looked like a masterpiece.
The desk was nothing more than empty space; the real art was the woman herself.
Her tailored jacket failed to hide the elegant curve of her waist.
As she leaned forward over her paperwork, a breathtaking line traced its way from her shapely hips to her lower back, then up to her slender neck.
Even clothed, her beauty was captivating—what kind of perfection lay beneath, hidden from view?
The air in the room seemed sweeter, more fragrant.
Kyousuke stood there quietly, like a student caught sneaking into class late, simply enjoying the sight before him in reverent silence.
After what felt like forever, Yukino let out a small sigh and put down her pen.
Stretching her arms behind her back, she arched slightly in her seat, and Kyousuke noticed something else, her supposedly delicate frame hid yet another form of paradise.
"Huh? Mitsuha? What brings you here?" Yukino blinked, startled.
She was just about to grab an onigiri from her drawer when she finally noticed the figure standing next to her desk.
"It's me, Yukino-san."
'Huh!?'
Her eyes, dulled from a seemingly endless stream of paperwork, suddenly lit up like twin galaxies.
"Hojou-kun!" She gasped in delight, raising her hands to cover her mouth in disbelief.
"Yep, it's me," he replied with a smile, then nodded toward the half-open drawer.
"So, how about lunch together?"
That was exactly why he came.
Ever since that one time he fed Yukino with chopsticks, he'd been hooked—not just on her reaction, but the whole moment.
It wasn't just Yukino who'd been smitten… he had, too.
"Mm!" Yukino nodded eagerly, her fluffy black bob bouncing with her excitement.
It had been nearly two months since she last tasted a lunch prepared and served by Hojou.
With fewer than a hundred students across both junior and senior high, Itomori Middle School wasn't exactly thriving, but for moments like these, that small size was a blessing.
Finding a quiet spot away from prying eyes wasn't hard.
They didn't head to Mitsuha's usual spot—the shady corner near the abandoned desks and chairs beneath the large tree.
While Kyousuke liked that place, today's mission involved feeding Yukino, and he didn't want her to feel self-conscious… though she was adorable when flustered.
Under the shade of another tree, probably one used by the baseball club judging by the dragged-over furniture, they settled down at a table.
Yukino had brought homemade onigiri in a simple bento box.
They sat facing each other to make feeding easier.
Even though she had agreed without hesitation earlier, now that she was actually staring at Hojou holding a rice ball with that charming smile, Yukino couldn't help feeling embarrassed. Her porcelain cheeks turned a soft, rosy pink.
"Say ah~"
Watching this beautiful, capable woman act so shy and girlish, Kyousuke was struck by how wondrous the world could be.
Most girls lost their innocent charm as they grew older, weighed down by responsibilities and the demands of adult life.
But Yukino… even after all life had thrown at her, she still had the heart of a child.
Every little gesture radiated pure, unfiltered cuteness.
Even her voice held a soft, playful warmth. That contrast—between her elegant appearance and her endearing personality—was irresistible.
Blushing, Yukino leaned forward and, after a moment of hesitation, opened her mouth with a quiet, "Ahh~…"
Kyousuke's gaze shifted from her mysterious, deep black eyes to the onigiri in his hand.
He watched as her dainty white teeth bit into the seaweed-wrapped rice, her soft lips brushing against it.
He felt a light tug on his fingers and watched Yukino chew happily, her expression full of contentment.
At that moment, Kyousuke couldn't help but feel that swapping bodies with Mitsuha was the best thing that ever happened to him.
Grinning, he picked up another rice ball and took a big bite himself.