The next morning. It's the morning of December 10th.
I woke up to my mother's call for dinner.
I really hate winter mornings. I never have a good morning. The first thing I get fed up with when I wake up is that my joints don't move properly. Next, cold air caresses my neck and ears as I get out from under the covers. It's the worst. I want to sleep forever.
Yesterday's busy schedule has made this morning the worst in my history. Fatigue still clings to me like a sticky substance, and my body is as heavy as lead.

Good morning. Wow, zombie. ......'.

I envy my sister who is strong in the morning. I wonder why she never seems to sleep. What's the difference when the blood is the same?

'Ahhh ...... I hate winter ......'

Take a seat and sip miso soup. Naturally, I always eat less in the morning because I have no appetite. All my organs are still resting. If I force it in, it stutters and goes back in.
Winter break is twelve days away, and I haven't thought of doing anything in particular. On the contrary, I don't want to do anything. I want to stay home and rot and assimilate with the floor. We homo sapiens, who have so little hair on our bodies, are better off enjoying the benefits of science.
Ugin seemed to be at ease since he had been accepted to the high school with a recommendation. For junior high school students who normally take entrance examinations, this is the time of the final push.

What's Ugin doing at school now that he's practically finished taking the exam?
'Bekkyo'.
'Wow. I'd go to bed.'
I'd like to do something else too, but everyone around me is in intense study mode. I can't.'
'Oh, I think I know what you mean.
'Next year for you, brother.
'No more, no more, no more exams, no more, no more...'
'Yes, yes. Thank you for dinner.

Ugin sits up and puts away the dishes with her mother. I sipped my miso soup. I stare at the morning news and let the miso soup go down my esophagus. The sensation warms me from the inside out. I almost fall asleep every time I feel this sensation.
I start to drift off to sleep with miso soup in my hand. My eyelids are unusually heavy.

Ding-dong.

What kind of idiot rings the intercom this morning. I'm grateful to you for driving away the sleepers, but seriously, don't ring the intercom in the morning. It stops my heart.

'Oh, mom, it's okay. I'll get it.

Ugin disappeared toward the front door. I was impressed that she could run so fast in the morning.
Of course you have to get ready for school. It's a little too obvious, but when you think about it, there's a lot to do. First, you have to take off your pajamas. Then I have to put on my uniform. I have to brush my teeth, wash my face, and arrange my belongings. It's all so tiring. I have to go to bed again.

Hey, brother!

As I was making my way with super-slow steps to my room, my sister stopped me.
She comes flying towards me with a thudding sound that could destroy the house.

My brother's senpai is here!
''Senpai?''

The only senior I have any connection with is Aki-senpai, who is studying hard for the center exam. There's no way she knows where I live, so I don't think anyone named Senpai will visit me. .......
I walked to the front door with human-like walking speed and opened the door.

Good morning. Comet.
'......Kasawaguchi-senpai? Why are you in my house?

Kozue Kanzawaguchi, whom I met yesterday, was standing there looking sleepy. She is good friends with Shirana, and is the mysterious senior who knows the circumstances of her confession.
How did she identify the Sakakiki family? He must not have used a credit agency. The only high school students who know where I live are my friends from the same junior high school. Hakuna? I know Shirana. Even if I did, would I tell you?

'Don't be so careful. Come to school with me.
'I'm not religious.
'......?'
'It's no use if you're trying to recruit people for a new religion. ......'
'Okay, I'll wait for you.

Ignoring my humble refusal, Kanzawaguchi-senpai stood still and closed her eyes.
I felt sorry for Kanzawaguchi-senpai, who would have been looked at curiously by the neighbors, so I had no choice but to go back to my room and change into my uniform. What in the world was this? It was yesterday. It must have something to do with Shirana.
When I was ready, I went to the entrance and found Ugin standing there all ready to go.

'What's the matter? Aren't you going?
'I'm so proud of you as a sister ...... that your brother finally started dating .......'
'No, we're not dating. I don't understand the situation either. We've barely met, okay? All I can smell is abnormality. ......'
'I don't want to intrude, so you can go first. I'll leave later.'


'Aiai ......'

I left the house with the misunderstanding unresolved.
Kanzawaguchi-senpai stood motionless, his eyes closed as if time had stood still.
You were really waiting for me.

Please wake up, Kanzawaguchi-senpai.
'Nn. I'm so sleepy.
'Let's just go. We'll talk about it later.'
'Mmmm.'

I'm still sleepy, too, but I think Kanzawaguchi-senpai is much more out of it than I am. I think he's 90% asleep. I was impressed that he came to my house in such a condition, and I asked him a question from the front.

How did you know where I live?
'Because I stalked you.'

I was horrified to see Kanzawaguchi-senpai openly reveal his criminal activities.

This man is the real deal.)

When I heard that Alina was being stalked, I was not really aware of the seriousness of the situation, but when I became a party to it, a victim, I didn't realize how horrible it would be.

'I didn't realize it was so ...... scary.
'Yes, it is. Zzzz...'
'Please don't sleep. I don't want to carry you to school on my back.'
'You look like a couple.'
'Ha ha ha ......'

I don't see what you're talking about. They're really going to school shoulder to shoulder. If anyone were to see them, rumors would start up again. I learned my lesson with Alina, so please don't do it again.

About Shirana. I dumped her.

They're here. I knew it.

'I guess so. ......'
'That's a terse response. Isn't it?'
'To be more precise, he dumped me before I dumped him.
'...... I see. That's just like you, Shirana.
'Did Shirana tell you about this?'
'A few words in an email. 'I'm so relieved. I hope you're satisfied, but for my part, I'm disappointed.
'It can't be helped. I didn't want to create a proper relationship with Shirana, so the result was fixed. I'm fine with this.
'You're surprisingly solid. I thought you were crazier than that.
'I'm glad you've changed your perception.'

I decided to get to the heart of the matter.

'Why did you come to my house?
'I need a little favor.
'If it's possible on your own level,' he said.

Kanzawaguchi Sr. stopped and turned to face me squarely.

Will you go out with me?

Oh ...... this is going to be messy.