I Won't Be a Loser

By the time Haruto left Akihisa Yoshii's house, the sun was already beginning to set. Walking alone along the path home, he passed by a wagashi shop and paused in front of it for a moment. After mentally calculating his remaining living expenses, he decided to step inside.

"Welcome."

Behind the counter stood a girl with her hair tied into a side ponytail. As Haruto entered, her gaze lingered on him briefly. For a moment, she seemed curious about the handsome boy who had just walked in, but she quickly withdrew her attention and returned to her work.

"Is there anything specific you'd like? I can offer some recommendations if you'd like," she said energetically.

Haruto shook his head. "I'll take a look first."

The sweet fragrance of wagashi filled the air. Staring at the neatly arranged traditional sweets in the display case, Haruto realized it had been a long time since he last stepped into a wagashi shop.

A distant memory started surfacing in his mind, but he instinctively pushed it away. Whatever it was, it no longer mattered. His expression softened after a brief moment of melancholy, and he refocused on the selection in front of him.

He noticed a particular type of wagashi stacked like roof tiles—something he had seen before but never paid much attention to. Curious, he pointed at it and asked the shop girl, "What's this?"

Since Haruto was the only customer in the store at the moment, the girl glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. Noticing his school uniform from Toyosaki Academy, she guessed he was a student from the nearby area.

Following his gaze, she saw the wagashi he was referring to and smiled.

"That's Yatsuhashi. It's made from rice flour, sugar, and cinnamon, then baked until crisp. It got its name because its shape resembles a koto, a traditional Japanese zither, and it was named after the famous koto master, Yatsuhashi Kengyō."

Haruto observed the Yatsuhashi for a while before nodding. Now that he understood, his curiosity faded, and he opted for something else. He had the girl pack a small selection of Yatsuhashi along with some Inoko Mochi, then left the shop.

Upon arriving at his apartment, he fished out his keys, unlocked the door, and stepped inside. Almost immediately, he started thinking about dinner.

Heading over to the fridge, he took stock of the ingredients he had bought during a recent sale. After a brief moment of contemplation, he decided on something simple—udon.

Taking out the essentials—kombu, katsuobushi, and green onions—he set to work. First, he soaked the kombu in water before bringing it to a boil, then added the katsuobushi to create a flavorful broth. Straining the liquid, he seasoned it carefully before pouring the steaming broth over freshly cooked udon noodles.

A simple yet comforting dish—clear broth udon.

Though not particularly difficult, the process still took time. Since he had nothing pressing to do, Haruto remained at the kitchen counter, carefully watching the broth simmer. Eventually, he sat down at the dining table, enjoying his quiet dinner alone.

After the meal, with no plans for the evening, he settled at his desk with a book, considering his next steps. He wondered if he should enroll in a cram school to strengthen his academics.

Time slipped by as he read, and before he knew it, night had fallen. A sudden chime from the doorbell pulled him out of his thoughts.

Curious, Haruto got up and made his way to the entrance.

He had been expecting Setsuna. But when he opened the door, it wasn't her—it was her mother, Mai Kiyoura.

"Mai-san? Is something the matter?" Haruto asked, slightly surprised.

"No, nothing urgent. Setsuna called earlier to let me know she's staying over at Sekai's place tonight. I just thought I'd come by and pass the message along."

"Sekai… Saionji?" Haruto recalled that the girls had planned a get-together today.

Mai nodded. When she first received the call, she wasn't sure how to feel. A mix of emotions ran through her—perhaps a bit of disappointment, yet also some relief.

After spending some time alone in her house, she had grown restless. Seeing the light on in Haruto's apartment, she decided to step out and pay him a visit.

"They were supposed to finish up in the afternoon, but apparently, thanks to Sekai's suggestion, they decided to extend the gathering. Now, Setsuna, Sekai, and another girl named Kotonoha will be staying over for the night. They'll probably be back tomorrow."

"I see."

Haruto wasn't quite sure how to feel about this situation.

His girlfriend was having a sleepover at a friend's house, and her mother had personally come to inform him about it.

That was… not a situation most people would find themselves in.

"Have you had dinner yet, Miyamizu-kun?" Mai asked after a moment of silence.

The gentle aroma of dashi broth still lingered in the air, and she could tell from the faint scent of katsuobushi that Haruto had cooked something simple yet traditional.

"Uh, yeah, I already ate. What about you, Mai-san?"

"I… I already—"

Grrrgle—

A quiet but unmistakable sound interrupted her words.

Mai's face immediately flushed red. She quickly covered her stomach with one hand, utterly embarrassed.

Haruto couldn't help but chuckle at the sight—she looked unexpectedly cute in that moment.

"I made some extra udon. If you don't mind, you're welcome to have some."

Mai hesitated, pressing her lips together. Her stomach had betrayed her at the worst possible moment.

But after a brief moment of consideration, she nodded.

"…Then, I'll take you up on that offer."

She stepped inside, and as the door gently closed behind her, the quiet hum of the evening settled in.

—

Meanwhile, at Sekai's house…

"It worked," Sekai thought to herself triumphantly.

She had only been half-serious when she invited Setsuna to stay the night. But to her surprise, she had actually succeeded in convincing her. Now, with both Setsuna and Kotonoha standing in her room, Sekai couldn't hide the excitement on her face.

"This is Saionji-san's room?"

Kotonoha had originally only planned to join the girls' gathering but somehow ended up staying over as well. Fortunately, her mother had agreed, given that she was now a high schooler and could have a bit more freedom.

"Since we're sleeping over together, let's take the opportunity to have some proper girl talk!" Sekai grinned, her eyes practically sparkling.

Kotonoha couldn't shake the feeling that Sekai's enthusiasm was a bit… intense. She instinctively folded her arms in front of her chest, blushing slightly.

On the other hand, Setsuna remained indifferent. Initially, she had planned to see Haruto tonight, but after Sekai's persistent persuasion, she had ultimately agreed.

"Just one night won't make a difference," she reassured herself.

"…Tomorrow, I'll be with Haruto."