Heartbeats and Illusions

Saitama wasn't exactly a sprawling metropolis, but even so, what were the odds of running into someone you knew during a casual weekend trip? And not just anyone—her.

As Natsukawa Kanade stepped off the bus and began walking toward his destination, a familiar figure appeared in his peripheral vision. His stomach sank.

It was Kasumigaoka Utaha, standing under the midday sun in a breezy dress and a wide-brimmed sun hat. She held a travel guide in one hand, her expression cheerful as she smiled knowingly at him.

"Good afternoon, Kohai-kun," she greeted, her voice carrying an unmistakable air of mischief.

Kanade blinked, disbelief washing over him. He'd told her just yesterday that he was busy. And yet, here she was, looking far too prepared for a coincidental encounter.

He glanced at his phone suspiciously. Had she somehow managed to install a tracking app on his device?

"Kasumigaoka-senpai..." he muttered, his tone cautious.

She tilted her head slightly, her smile widening.

Kanade straightened up, adopting a polite tone. "Good afternoon, Sempai. Goodbye, Sempai."

He nodded curtly, then turned on his heel and started walking in the opposite direction without missing a beat.

If you meet someone by chance during a solo outing, all you have to do is greet them and make a swift exit. That was the perfect method for handling such situations—textbook even.

However, behind him, Kasumigaoka wasn't about to let him slip away so easily.

"...Why are you running away? Is there a monster behind me, Kohai-kun?" she called out, her voice laced with amusement.

Kanade kept his pace steady, refusing to look back. In his mind, there was no need to answer such an obvious question. The "monster" was right there.

Kasumigaoka's footsteps quickened as she caught up with him, the sound of her sandals tapping against the pavement growing louder. "I trusted you, you know. When you said you were busy, I decided to go out on my own. But it seems like you had other plans, Kohai-kun. Plans you didn't share with me."

Kanade sighed inwardly, knowing full well where this was going. "I wasn't following you," he said flatly. "This is just a coincidence. You don't need to worry, Sempai. I'll be on my way now."

"But why are you in such a hurry to explain, Kohai-kun? I wasn't doubting you. I was actually impressed. It seems you wanted to give me a surprise."

"It's more of a shock than a surprise," Kanade muttered under his breath.

Kasumigaoka giggled, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "Oh? So you're saying my presence made your heart race?"

"No, it's more like... it made me want to flee," Kanade replied, deadpan.

Kasumigaoka leaned closer, her teasing smirk never wavering. "Fleeing won't help, Kohai-kun. If your heart stops from all this excitement, I'll just give you mouth-to-mouth resuscitation."

"Shouldn't you call an ambulance in that situation?" Kanade retorted, his expression deadpan.

"An ambulance? How boring. A kiss from me would surely be more effective," she quipped, tapping her chin thoughtfully. "Don't you think, Kohai-kun?"

Kanade sighed audibly, realizing there was no escape from her relentless banter. "If a girl like that actually existed, I'd suggest turning her over to the government for scientific study."

Kasumigaoka clasped her hands dramatically over her chest. "Turning me over to the government? Oh no, Kohai-kun, how could you? I'd be heartbroken! I'd cry every day, reminiscing about our fleeting encounters, while my hands—"

"—Sempai," Kanade interrupted, his tone sharp. "There are people watching."

Kasumigaoka's eyes sparkled mischievously as she scanned their surroundings. "Oh, are you saying you like being watched, Kohai-kun? Is that your... thing?"

Kanade closed his eyes briefly, his patience wearing thin. "If you're fine with it, go ahead and announce it to the world. I really don't care."

"Oh, what's this? Are you admitting something? Don't worry, I'll support your unique preferences, Kohai-kun."

Deciding it was pointless to argue further, Kanade stopped in his tracks and turned to face her.

"Listen, Sempai," he said, his voice level. "You weren't part of my plans for today. I came here to relax. Alone."

"But, Kohai-kun," Kasumigaoka replied, stretching her arms above her head in a way that highlighted her figure. "You've always been part of my plans."

Kanade met her gaze silently for a moment, then pulled out his travel guide and flipped through its pages. If he couldn't shake her, the least he could do was ignore her.

"The next stop is the shrine," he announced to no one in particular.

Kasumigaoka's face lit up. "A shrine? How romantic! Perhaps we can pray for a long and happy partnership, Kohai-kun."

Kanade snapped the guide shut. "Actually, I've just decided—let's head to Ichiban Shopping Street instead."

Kasumigaoka's smile faltered slightly. "Ichiban Street? But isn't that all the way in the southern part of Saitama?"

"Exactly," Kanade replied, his tone brisk. "Perfect for getting some exercise."

Without waiting for her response, he started walking purposefully in the direction of his new destination.

Kasumigaoka watched him go, her expression shifting between disbelief and resignation. "High heels..." she muttered under her breath, glancing down at her footwear. "Why did I think this was a good idea?"

With a resigned sigh, she hurried after him, determined not to let him outpace her.

Damn you, kohai, you're really trying to use this method to force me to submit... Well, I won't do as you wish!

Kasumigaoka Utaha prided herself on her ambition. She wasn't one to shy away from challenges, and anyone who tried to stand in her way was merely another obstacle she would overcome. But this particular obstacle—a certain infuriating kohai—was exceptionally irritating today.

Natsukawa Kanade, oblivious to the stewing rage behind him, continued his leisurely stroll. Occasionally, he paused to admire the countryside scenery or ducked into small shops to browse. These moments gave Kasumigaoka a brief reprieve, but just as she began to catch her breath, he would set off again, forcing her to keep pace.

It was maddening—a constant cycle of fleeting relief and renewed exertion.

Damn you, kohai! I'll make sure to repay this debt someday! Kasumigaoka seethed internally as she pushed herself to keep up.

At last, they arrived at their destination. Kasumigaoka's legs screamed for mercy, and she eagerly anticipated a slower pace. But her relief was short-lived. Natsukawa continued his brisk walk, glancing around as though searching for something.

What is he looking for now? Kasumigaoka gritted her teeth and forced herself forward, determined not to fall behind. However, her lack of regular exercise finally caught up with her. As she rushed to match his stride, her ankle twisted awkwardly.

"Ah—!" A sharp pain shot through her, and she couldn't help but cry out.

Natsukawa turned briefly, his eyes flicking over her crouched form. For a moment, she thought he might come to her aid. But to her shock, he simply shrugged and disappeared into the crowd without a word.

"..."

Kasumigaoka stared after him, dumbfounded. Her mind reeled as an unwelcome thought crept in. Abandoned again... Is that all I'll ever be? Someone disposable, undeserving of happiness?

She clutched her knees, lowering her head to hide the tears welling in her eyes. Around her, the world seemed to grow louder—voices murmuring, footsteps passing, people staring. Yet none of it stung as much as Natsukawa's indifference.

If I had just played along, if I hadn't been so stubborn…

But she quickly dismissed the thought. No, she was Kasumigaoka Utaha—the proud and unyielding Kasumigaoka. She would never stoop to accepting a shallow, ambiguous future. She wouldn't settle for a fake version of her kohai, just as she wouldn't betray her true self.

If he refused to open his heart willingly, she would break in and carve out a space for herself. She wouldn't give up. Not now. Not ever.

As she steeled her resolve, a familiar voice cut through the noise.

"What are you doing, senpai? Sitting here like some tragic protagonist in one of your novels? Did you sprain your ankle or lose your mind?"

Kasumigaoka looked up to find Natsukawa standing over her, arms crossed and expression exasperated. His words were sharp, but to her ears, they were the sweetest she had heard since she foolishly rejected him.

"Is this… your true self, Natsukawa-kohai?" she murmured, her voice tinged with both wonder and frustration.

"My true self?" He crouched beside her, eyebrows raised. "Senpai, I think the pain is making you delirious. What 'true self' are you even talking about?"

Despite the bite in his tone, his presence was enough to lift her spirits. She smirked faintly.

"Admit it, kohai—you came back because you couldn't bear to leave me like this. You're not as cold as you pretend to be."

"Or I came back because I knew you'd just cause more trouble if I didn't," he retorted, shaking his head. "Honestly, what were you thinking, running all this way in heels? Are you trying to ruin your feet for life?"

Kasumigaoka's smirk widened. "I didn't want to lose sight of you. Call it determination, kohai."

"More like self-sabotage," he muttered under his breath.

As he reached for her injured ankle, she flinched.

"Relax, senpai. I'm not about to carry you or anything. I'm just checking how bad it is," he said, his voice laced with sarcasm. "Not that you'd deserve it after this stunt."

His touch was gentle despite his words, and Kasumigaoka found herself oddly comforted.

"See? This is the Natsukawa Kanade I know—the one who's considerate and dependable," she teased.

"Considerate? Dependable? Are you sure you're talking about me?" He gave her a flat look. "If I were that nice, I wouldn't have let you follow me in the first place."

"And yet here you are," she pointed out smugly.

He sighed deeply, clearly regretting his decision to turn back. "Senpai, you really are something else. Fine. Let's get you to a bench or something before you make this worse."

As he helped her to her feet, Kasumigaoka couldn't suppress the warmth blooming in her chest. Pain and exhaustion aside, this moment—this fleeting glimpse of the real Natsukawa—made it all worth it.

I'll break into your heart, kohai. Just you wait.

Natsukawa Kanade couldn't help but feel that he'd made a terrible mistake somewhere along the way. Perhaps it was fate punishing him for daring to cross paths with a woman as troublesome as Kasumigaoka Utaha. And now, she was evolving into something even more baffling.

"I say, sempai, what exactly do you want from me? Can't you just spell it out?" Kanade finally asked, his tone edged with frustration.

Kasumigaoka tilted her head slightly, her lips curling into a sly smile. "Hmm... if I had to say, I suppose I want you to be closer to me."

Kanade snorted. "If you hadn't outright rejected my confession back then, I might've believed that."

"Why don't you believe me now? Surely my intentions are clear enough, don't you think, kohai?"

"Unless I've suddenly developed amnesia and forgotten the day I confessed, no, sempai, they aren't clear at all."

Her grin widened mischievously. "Then wouldn't it be simpler if we just erased that day from our memories?"

"Oi, oi, what's with that look? You're not planning something sinister, are you?" Kanade took a cautious step back, warily eyeing her.

Kasumigaoka let out a light laugh. "Relax, kohai. I'm not capable of anything that dramatic. I'm simply making suggestions."

"You'd better keep it that way," he muttered, rubbing his temples as a headache began to set in.

The more he thought about it, the more he regretted turning back for her earlier. But if he hadn't, would he have been able to enjoy his day in peace? No—he really should've just stayed home and played video games.

"Kohai, are you finally going to drop the act? Why don't you face me with your true self for once?" Kasumigaoka's voice was teasing, but her gaze was piercing.

Kanade frowned. "I've been myself all along. What exactly am I supposed to be pretending?"

"You used to be so gentle and kind—a model kohai. Now you're just a grumpy guy who thinks I'm a bother. And you're telling me there's no pretense in that?"

He sighed deeply. "So, what? If I act all gentle and accommodating, will you finally leave me alone?"

"No."

"Exactly," Kanade said flatly, throwing up his hands. "And that's why I don't bother anymore."

She chuckled, clearly enjoying his frustration. "Oh, kohai, you're so much fun to tease."

Kanade stared at her, wondering how someone could be so relentlessly irritating. "I really shouldn't have bothered with you in the first place…" he muttered under his breath.

Kasumigaoka's expression softened into something almost thoughtful. "And yet, here you are, still putting up with me. Why is that, I wonder?"

Kanade didn't respond, his silence speaking volumes as the two of them fell into an uneasy rhythm. She pushed, he resisted, and neither of them seemed willing to give an inch.

I really shouldn't have pursued this woman named Kasumigaoka in the first place... She was so cute in the anime, wasn't she? But she was so difficult in real life...