Caller: Alan.

Her stomach tightened. Maybe because they’d just been talking about him.

Ahem.

She cleared her throat, steadied herself, and answered.

"Hello? Alan?"

"Yeah, it’s me. Where are you?" 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

The blunt question made Nozomi stiffen, like she was being interrogated.

Instead of answering, she countered, "What’s up?"

"Nothing strange about a boyfriend asking where his girlfriend is at night, right?"

"I’m at a café, talking with... a friend." She hesitated, then added on impulse, "The new café, Fore."

"Alright. Get home early and rest. Tomorrow, 9:30 a.m. I’ll be waiting at the school gate."

"..."

At the school gate?

Nozomi blinked, ready to refuse — but Akane Mia’s stiletto heel pressed hard onto her foot.

"Ow!"

Her eyes widened. Mia mouthed silently:

Say yes.

When Nozomi didn’t respond, Alan continued, "I know you’re free tomorrow. Got anything else going on?"

Thinking fast, Nozomi improvised. "Um... some of my friends heard I’ve been dating someone and want to meet you. Any chance you’d come along sometime...?"

Alan fell silent. He hadn’t expected a girl who flaunted everything to openly admit she was in a relationship. Unexpected, but not bad.

It would save him trouble later. He didn’t mind meeting her circle. He’d met countless types since childhood, prodigies, leaders, eccentrics. Boyish awkwardness was long gone; his nerves were steel.

"Pick a time and place. This weekend works, no school." He paused, then repeated his main point. "Don’t forget our date tomorrow."

"Okay... um..." Nozomi lowered her lashes, knees pressed together, staring at the table.

"What is it?"

"I mean... would you mind meeting them? They’re harmless, but they can get rowdy. If you’d rather not, we can drop it..."

Alan was surprised again. Playing hard to get? Putting on an act? Yesterday she’d been bossy, now she sounded demure. He couldn’t read her, and he didn’t intend to try. After last time he’d sworn off investing feelings, time and effort were enough.

"I’m not that mysterious. Meeting them might help keep rivals away."

"Oh."

His casual claim of ownership sent a strange ripple through her chest. She still hadn’t wrapped her head around being in a relationship. They’d met once, no sweet moments, no romantic whirlwind, nothing like the movies.

The conversation dulled to a halt.

Alan asked if she needed anything else, got a soft "no," and hung up.

The dial tone hummed.

Nozomi stared at her darkened screen.

Across from her, Mia stubbed out her cigarette and smirked. "Classic Nozomi, the push and pull. And you’ve never even dated anyone before."

Nozomi shook her head and tucked her phone away. "It just feels... unfair to him."

She’d never had a boyfriend before, while her friends swapped partners like seasonal outfits. Whenever someone got a new guy, they’d drag him to group meetups, teasing, grilling, hazing. And judging from yesterday’s first impression, Alan wasn’t the easygoing type; he’d been downright blunt... If things turned ugly, nobody would know how to back out.

Mia stared at her like she’d grown another head. "You need a doctor."

When Nozomi flushed and muttered her worries, Mia waved a hand. "Tell your friends beforehand. Ask them to behave."

"Mm." Nozomi nodded. That sounded reasonable.

"So, ready for your date tomorrow?"

"How ready can i be?" Nozomi muttered, twisting her fingers. "Maybe just lunch or something. He won’t try anything... right?"

Her very first date, with a boyfriend she’d met once. Ridiculous and very absurd.

"Piece of advice."

"What?"

"Don’t lie to him." Mia wiped her lips, checked the time, then stood, her shadow falling over Nozomi.

"Fool an idiot all you want. But with a guy you can’t read, honesty is your only safety bet."

"Oh, and you’re paying."

With that, Mia headed for the exit.

"Hey! Where are you going?"

"Work. No one’s offering to keep me yet."

Nozomi opened her mouth, then closed it again, watching Mia leave. She lowered her gaze to her coffee, a small, smug smile curling on her lips.

Being kept didn’t sound so bad after all.

---

Saturday, 7:00 a.m.

Nozomi woke with the sunrise, earlier than she had all year. Wanting to look her best, she’d gone to bed before ten. Her dark circles were barely visible; a bit of concealer erased them completely.

After a shower and careful makeup, she tore through her closet, finally settling on an outfit she held up in the mirror. She practiced smiles, poses, even rehearsed lines for Alan.

She still felt nervous, but she had a plan: if he was going to take the lead, she’d play the perfect girlfriend. Shame she’d ruined her first impression...

Every time she remembered snapping at him on the rooftop, she winced.

If only she’d left an impression of a perfect lady...

Still, anyone would’ve acted that way under those circumstances, right?

Surely he didn’t think much of it.

Please let him not think much of it.

There was no cure for regret, so she comforted herself with that thought.

After a full day to cool off, she’d made up her mind. As long as Alan wasn’t some deranged creep with sinister intentions, she absolutely wouldn’t let him slip away.

The memory of Akane Mia’s jealous stare last night — and the envy in her voice — filled Nozomi with a warm satisfaction.

As for love, she could nurture it later. She’d leap first and figure the rest out along the way.

And of course, she hadn’t forgotten the dating guide’s advice:

To win a man completely, stay calm and clear-headed.

Don’t give nothing, but don’t give everything either.

Especially not your body.

That, she knew, was what Alan would want most.

With her own private rules set in stone, Nozomi Sakura flashed a flawless, confident smile at her reflection, as if victory in this sudden romance was already in her grasp.