Chapter 51

"So, Shiratori-kun, are you saying she's your girlfriend too?"

Early evening, in a small restaurant just off campus, Takahashi Mio pressed her fingers to her temples and stared at the boy across the table with a complicated expression.

"Ex-girlfriend," Shiratori Kiyoya corrected, swallowing a piece of sushi.

There was no point hiding it. He had invited Mio out tonight precisely to clear the air, before this little lemon spirit started over-thinking and let it ruin her studies.

At his words Mio let out a long sigh and gave a wry smile. "How many ex-girlfriends do you have? Why did you two break up? You're not going to dump me later, are you? And what about the goal we agreed on—are you going to back out...?"

Kiyoya weighed her questions, then offered calmly, "Special circumstances, that's all. You don't need to worry. I keep my promises; you can relax."

"Mm." Mio answered with a non-committal sound and took a long pull of beer.

Her peach-blossom eyes narrowed; a faint flush spread across her fair cheeks. She tilted her head and studied him with a half-smile. "Still, that ex-girlfriend of yours seems pretty into you. Doesn't feel like you cut it off clean."

"......"

Kiyoya's brow creased. Mio was right; judging by Hasegawa Saori's reaction this morning, the break-up had been one-sided—his side only. He couldn't help wondering why things had gone smoothly with Kitajo Shione but had exploded with Saori, especially after so much time had passed.

He looked back at Mio. "I'll talk to her and make it clear. This is my responsibility—"

Before he could finish, Mio set her glass down with a clack and waved both hands. "No, no, Shiratori-kun, you misunderstood."

"I'm not asking you to cut her off completely. After all, our relationship..." She paused, then continued, "Have you ever thought about getting back together with her?"

Kiyoya's eyes narrowed. He stared at her face and asked in a low voice, "What do you mean?"

Seeing the shift in his expression, Mio sighed and bit her lip. "Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying I want to break up. I mean, even if you were to date her again..."

"I could actually live with it."

Kiyoya looked at her for a long moment, then said dryly, "If you could really live with it, you wouldn't have barged in while I was talking to her this morning. And when she pointed a sword at you, you didn't look all that calm."

"I..." Mio's mouth opened, then closed. For a second she had no comeback.

Half a minute later she met his gaze, resentment flickering in her eyes. "Fine. I wasn't happy."

"You two were all over each other on the dojo floor, then disappeared into the changing room alone. Even a 'girlfriend in name only' gets upset, you know?"

"Besides, who knew she was that scary with a blade?"

"Anyway, this is the kind of relationship we have now..."

"I really don't want to be walking alone at night and suddenly get a sword through the heart..."

She picked up a chopstick and jabbed it at her open palm, then propped her chin in her hand with a self-mocking smile. "We're not even at the same school. As long as you don't humiliate me in front of my friends, do whatever you want."

"......"

On the surface her logic seemed sound, yet Kiyoya fell silent for a moment before saying, "Quit joking. You've had too much to drink."

He knew the real problem was bigger. Saori might care very much—she'd nearly skewered Mio this morning. Two-timing would be blatantly unfair to her.

Mio pouted. "It's only beer. I'm serious..."

Kiyoya clearly had no intention of circling the topic forever. He locked eyes with her and asked abruptly, "Tell me—has Kitajo Shione said anything to you?"

"......"

At that, Mio's heart lurched. Her mind raced, wondering if she'd left any clues. Unless Shione had directly told him about the texts—but that seemed impossible.

Without a word Mio pulled her phone from her bag, opened the chat with Shione, and handed it to him with a wry laugh. "What would a star like her have to say to a nobody like me?"

"Unless she's still hung up on you, I can't think of a single reason she'd message me..."

"Well, maybe she just wanted to rub it in. At first I thought that was why she added me, but it looks like I was being paranoid."

Kiyoya skimmed the chat history: after the initial greeting, the two had exchanged nothing.

"You'll be famous yourself one day. You might not lose to her," he said, catching the sour note in her voice. He glanced at his watch. "It's late. I'll walk you home. I didn't give you a proper date today—before the intensive training starts, I'll take you out for real."

"Heh, maybe. I'm too tired to go anywhere lately." Mio gathered her things and followed him out of the restaurant.

Her apartment was only ten minutes away. At the entrance she looked up at him seriously. "About what I said—I wasn't joking. Think it over?"

Before he could answer she winked, spun on her heel, and sprinted up the stairs.

On the third-floor landing she watched until his figure disappeared, then finally exhaled and slid down the wall to sit on the tatami, staring at the ceiling light in a daze.

Moments later a silly smile crept across her face, and she started giggling to herself.

She had expected Kiyoya to ask whether she was in contact with Shione. That woman was no pushover, and Kiyoya wasn't stupid—he'd notice sooner or later.

So after every exchange Mio deleted the chat history.

As for telling him she didn't mind if he rekindled things with the "madwoman"... that had been half-sincere. If Shione wanted to scheme and make her miserable, why not give her a push? Let's see who ended up more wretched—at least Mio was still his official girlfriend for now.

Manipulative bitch. Let's see what you do next.

She rubbed her temples, peeled off her socks, and stared at her toes. Scenes from the past weeks flickered through her mind, and suddenly a question bubbled up.

Why are all his ex-girlfriends so terrifying?

Kendo prodigy, chart-topping singer... now helping her chase the actress dream.

Shiratori Kiyoya, what on earth are you planning?