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Suzuran shook her head, trying to push out all the thoughts she wasn’t supposed to be having.
She turned slightly to the side, but couldn’t resist sneaking another glance—15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ZrTvnAl5V
at the boy sitting beside her,15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWGhmefrA9J
focused intently on editing her report.
Kimijima Kouichi.
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If I weren’t “the young lady” today… I probably would’ve confessed already.
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She thought quietly.
But she also knew—even if she mustered up the courage to say it out loud,15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtDIZoL5UfD
he would probably just turn her down gently.
Say something like “Serving the young lady is my duty,” or “I owe too much to your father.”
He was always so upright, so restrained—15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp2YuI0zd64
even his emotions seemed to be organized and filed away like his immaculate ties and polished shoes.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgk12cYApPC
Like a wall—so perfect, you didn’t even know where to knock.
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So… will he ever see how I feel?
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“My lady.”
His voice suddenly cut in—low and firm, impossible to ignore.
Suzuran jumped, her spine snapping straight.
“While I’m editing your report… shouldn’t you also be studying?”
“Huh? I am!!”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1VKx617VqZ
Like a thief caught red-handed, she scrambled to open her anatomy textbook, fumbling awkwardly.
Kouichi tilted his head toward her, one brow raised, calm but clearly unimpressed.
“…Your book is upside down.”
“Oh, I-I was just… trying to see the diagrams from a different angle!”
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She clung to the excuse,15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQZvOpA2BUc
but her face was already red—like someone had poured hot water over her.
“You know how anatomy specimens aren’t always laid out the same way in exams… I-I’m training my adaptability!”
Kouichi said nothing.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjPaCGQTKkf
His gaze lingered for a beat on her upside-down notes—then on her burning ears—15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4hp9lF0952
and then drifted back down.
“Hmm. Well then… keep training.”
His tone stayed neutral, cool as always.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5hiWdjfsbu
But at an angle she couldn’t see—15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyxia9VqM0T
a small, helpless smile began to tug at the corner of his lips.
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“Oh—right, Kouichi!”
Suzuran suddenly perked up, as if she’d just remembered something,15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7v5iGGxgOx
her eyes lighting up.
“We have our surface anatomy exam coming up soon.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡibRylLiHxA
Can I borrow you for practice?”
Kouichi paused mid-stroke, looked up at her, and replied flatly:
“You mean… as a human model?”
“Uh-huh!” Suzuran nodded, utterly matter-of-fact.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCYdGvoG511
“Your proportions are perfect, your muscles are clearly defined—way better than the textbook.”
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He stared at her, his brows knitting slightly.
Trying to figure out just how much of that was academic honesty…15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡll60edDGHm
and how much was teasing.
“…I’m not taking my shirt off.”
“Wha—! I-I never said you had to!!”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ZoZLyNFmB
Her face flushed crimson in an instant as she slammed her hands on the desk.
“I just wanted to feel where the clavicle is! And the rib direction and stuff! It’s just clinical practice—not a big deal!”
But Kouichi’s expression suddenly turned serious.
“My lady.”
His voice dropped a pitch—15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhahPNyuyQ7
calmer than usual, but with a firm pressure that cut through the room.
“We’re not kids anymore.”
“Let’s keep things appropriate.”
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“Huh?!”
Suzuran froze, eyes wide, ears practically steaming.
“You’re so… not cute at all!”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTMWSJdfT7A
She huffed and turned away, puffing her cheeks out in frustration.
“You weren’t like this when we were little…”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs3XOXUN1nJ
Her voice turned quieter, almost sulking.
“When was the last time… we even slept together?”
She mumbled it like a passing thought—15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV4SCVVBvp5
but loud enough for him to hear.
Kouichi was quiet for a moment.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn2s0G1fqdI
His gaze deepened.
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When he finally spoke, his voice was lower than before—15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2BxHiaWmtz
like he was holding something back.
“My lady… You’re already old enough to date. To marry.”
He turned his head away, no longer looking at her.
“Things like that… should be saved for someone you truly love.”
The room fell quiet for a few seconds.
Outside the window, the wind stirred the chimes—15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZmPGnKj6uU
filling the silence with soft, crystalline notes.
Suzuran’s heartbeat pounded in her ears, far too loud.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcY7QhGu1Fx
She didn’t respond.
Just bit her lip, unsure of where to land her eyes.
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Because the truth was—15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhbWnxS2eSf
she already knew who she loved.
She just didn’t know15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeXMh3jOyiE
if he would ever be willing15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOGIqGuaxjV
to become that someone.
