chapter 8

After a few hours in the evening, Mizuki slowly woke up, her head feeling heavy with the weight of drowsiness. As she glanced around, she found herself in an unfamiliar yet opulent space that made her slightly uneasy. Determined to rise from the bed, she mustered her energy, but her legs betrayed her, giving way beneath her as she crashed to the floor.

Nozomi, who happened to be downstairs fetching some fruit for Mizuki, heard the commotion and swiftly rushed into the room. Upon seeing Mizuki on the ground, Nozomi acted quickly, providing support to help her back onto the bed. Offering Mizuki a glass of water, Nozomi then began slicing an apple into irregular shapes. The task was unfamiliar to her, leading to amusingly misshapen fruit pieces that caused her a momentary blush due to her lack of experience in fruit cutting.

Intrigued by the sight, Mizuki requested a piece of the uniquely cut apple. Nozomi initially hesitated, feeling self-conscious about the irregular shape, but Mizuki's insistence won out. Relenting, Nozomi handed her the apple slice, observing Mizuki's reaction with a mix of amusement and embarrassment.

While eating the juicy apple, Mizuki glanced at the clock and realized it was time to leave. With a sense of urgency, she rushed to inform Nozomi that she needed to head back home. Despite Nozomi's suggestion to rest a bit longer, Mizuki insisted on departing, citing urgent matters awaiting her at home, including her impatient sister. Nozomi, caring for her friend, offered to give Mizuki a ride back. Mizuki accepted the offer, and the two embarked on their journey to her house. Sitting in the car, Mizuki absentmindedly tapped her index finger, a sign of her restless thoughts. Sensing Mizuki's unease, Nozomi gently caught her hand and held it, providing a comforting presence during the ride.

After a while, both of them finally arrived at Mizuki's house. Mizuki expressed her gratitude to Nozomi for giving her a ride, and in a gesture of hospitality, she invited Nozomi into her room. Nozomi was initially inclined to accept the invitation, but her attention was diverted when her phone rang abruptly. Glancing at the caller ID displaying "dad," Nozomi's face contorted with a sense of annoyance, choosing to ignore the call momentarily. Nonetheless, the persistent ring compelled her to answer, under Mizuki's subtle insistence. Following a brief conversation, Nozomi, visibly frustrated at the unexpected urgency, excused herself and hurriedly left. Meanwhile,Mizuki entered the room swiftly and proceeded to change into a different outfit before launching the "PickMe" app on her smartphone. As she began her live stream, her attention was soon caught by a message that appeared on the screen. The text read,

"Isn't that the dress from the renowned college in our city?

" Could Mia be a student there?"

Upon reading this, Mizuki's facial expression shifted, and she immediately adjusted her phone's position to conceal the outfit in the background.

Subsequently, numerous messages flooded in from her viewers, eager to confirm the rumor.

"Is it true?"

"Really?"

"Which grade do you study in?"

"What's your real name?"

Amidst the flurry of inquiries, Mizuki managed to maintain a composed demeanor and responded, "No, it's not what you think. My cousin dropped by today, and that's why you see this dress here." Despite the flood of questions, Mizuki navigated through them with a hint of apprehension but managed to divert any suspicions successfully.

Mizuki, feeling a surge of nerves, swiftly transitioned to a new topic for her live stream. After an engaging half-hour session, she gracefully wrapped up the broadcast. The next day, as her typical routine resumed with heading to college, an unexpected conversation about Mia from Hana caught her off guard. Momentarily frozen in her tracks, she casually mentioned the need to tie her shoe laces, creating a diversion.

Despite the brief distraction, Hana persisted, bringing up Mia once again, causing Mizuki to maintain a nonchalant facade, concealing her inner fear with an awkward smile. Upon arriving at college, they made their way to their respective classes; yet, even within the classroom setting, the talk amongst students revolved around Mia, making it a prevalent topic throughout the day.

Mizuki searched frantically for Chika, her heart pounding in her chest as she realized there was no sign of her anywhere. A wave of relief washed over her when her eyes failed to spot Chika, but her relief was short-lived. Aina, a keen observer, sensed that something was amiss. With a concerned expression on her face, she called out Chika's name, causing Mizuki's features to cloud over with worry. Aina then gently informed Mizuki that Chika wouldn't be coming that day due to some urgent matters at home, further solidifying the suspicion of an underlying issue between the two friends.

Despite the tension hanging in the air, Aina approached Mizuki with a composed demeanor, choosing to address the situation delicately. As they tried to navigate through the unspoken turmoil, their teacher breezed into the classroom, greeted warmly by the students. The familiar routine of the class commenced, enveloping the room in a sense of normalcy amidst the underlying tension between Mizuki, Chika, and Aina.

Later at tiffin time, Nozomi made her familiar appearance in Mizuki's class as she always did. Aina, following her routine, intercepted Nozomi before she could leave, a gesture that had become customary. Recently, it seemed that Nozomi had relinquished any resistance, opting instead to join Mizuki for their meal, a shift that had now become the norm for them.

As casual conversation flowed, the topic of the newly opened hot spring emerged. An enthusiastic Aina expressed her desire to visit the springs with their friends, proposing that they all go together. Nozomi, despite some initial hesitation, eventually acquiesced to the plan.

Aina then grabbed her phone abruptly, tapping away at a message before revealing that Chika would also be joining them, accompanied by her girlfriend, Sakura. The mention of this unexpected addition caused both Nozomi and Mizuki to halt in their tracks, their expressions frozen in a mix of surprise and unease.

After a brief pause, they collectively agreed to meet up on Saturday, considering that tomorrow was a Saturday, a convenient day for the outing, especially since both today and the following day were designated holidays.

Muzuki, being too late as always, made her entrance looking visibly different that day. The change was particularly noticeable in her hair, which was usually kept in a tidy bun but was now gracefully let down, exuding an air of casual elegance.

All of them displayed a unique charm, each exuding a different aura of beauty. Among them, Chika stood out as one of the most stunning, emanating an air of opulence and authority with a touch of grace. Nozomi, on the other hand, portrayed a sense of gentle femininity with her demeanor. Sakura, with her captivating beauty, embodied the essence of a classic school idol, as if she had a veil of flowers adorning her presence. People of all ages couldn't help but be drawn to their magnetic presence.

As they made their way to their destination, the allure of the group seemed to intensify. With every step, their elegance and poise commanded attention and admiration. The anticipation of what awaited them at the hotspring room only added to the air of mystery and sophistication that surrounded them. The journey towards relaxation and rejuvenation began, promising a retreat from the ordinary into a realm of pure luxury and indulgence.