Chapter 22 : The First Time I Accepted It

The moon hung high in the night sky, cool and elegant, like a delicate crescent eyebrow mirrored in a mountain lake. Its silvery light blanketed the city, softening the sharp edges of Tokyo's bustling streets.

It was a Friday evening, and the moonlight was especially bright, accompanied by a gentle breeze that seemed to lift the weight from Natsukawa Kanade's heart.

Since ancient times, people have looked to the stars and moon to find solace, letting their thoughts drift as they gazed upon its serene glow. For Kanade, however, the moon wasn't merely a vessel for melancholy or a symbol for poetic musings. Instead, it felt like a companion—accepting, patient, and quietly reassuring.

The moon carried the emotions of countless poets and dreamers, yet its most remarkable quality was its power to calm and heal. Whether it was homesickness, longing, or anger, all such feelings seemed to dissipate under its gaze, leaving behind only a sense of quiet respect and affection.

Tonight, Kanade walked the streets of Tokyo aimlessly, basking in the moonlight and taking in the lively scenery around him. Noisy izakayas buzzed with laughter and chatter, snack bars emitted tempting aromas, and office workers hurried past, exhausted from overtime. The city was alive in its own chaotic way, each facet rich with culture and character.

His thoughts drifted lazily as he considered where to stop for dinner, when a cheerful, familiar voice broke through his reverie.

"President? What are you doing here?"

He turned to see a pink-haired girl approaching with a large dog by her side. Her black bow stood out against her vibrant hair, making her instantly recognizable.

It was Fujiwara Chika.

Unlike her usual school uniform, Chika was dressed in a lively green dress with a white butterfly bow tied at the neckline. The outfit gave her an air of playful elegance, matching her exuberant personality.

"Good evening, Fujiwara," Kanade replied with a small nod.

He had intended to enjoy the night alone, but fate had other plans. And now that Chika was here, he knew his peaceful stroll was over—especially since escaping her company was notoriously difficult.

"It's pretty late. Shouldn't you be heading home by now?" he asked, genuinely curious. He remembered hearing that the Fujiwara family had strict rules, including a curfew, which made this encounter unexpected.

"Pace wanted to come out and play!" Chika answered brightly, holding up the leash with a grin.

Kanade glanced down at the golden retriever sitting beside her. The dog appeared anything but eager to play—it was sprawled lazily on the ground, legs crossed, eyes half-lidded, and yawning.

"…"

Kanade raised an eyebrow. Are you sure this wasn't your idea, Fujiwara?

"Ahem… well, it's getting late. If there's nothing else—"

"Wait a moment, President! I need to talk to Pace first," Chika interrupted, waving her hand dismissively before crouching down to whisper something into the dog's ear.

To Kanade's astonishment, the golden retriever stood up, gave both of them a measured look, then trotted off into the distance with the leash in its mouth, as though it fully understood the situation.

"…"

Kanade opened his mouth to speak but found himself at a loss for words. He had just witnessed something absurdly surreal.

"Did… did that dog just analyze me?" he finally managed to ask, his tone incredulous.

"Oh, don't overthink it," Chika said with a carefree smile as she stood up. "I just told Pace to go home. He knows the way."

"You're saying that so casually," Kanade muttered, his disbelief growing.

The scene replayed in his mind. The dog's observant gaze, its calm departure—it was as if the retriever had reached a higher plane of intelligence. Was this some kind of bizarre Tokyo phenomenon? Or had he somehow stepped into a world where animals gained sentience?

"What exactly did you say to it, Fujiwara?" Kanade couldn't help but ask, his curiosity getting the better of him.

"Nothing much. I just told Pace to head back on his own so I could walk around a bit longer," Chika replied matter-of-factly, as though it was the most natural thing in the world.

Kanade's lips twitched in disbelief. "I suppose I shouldn't be surprised anymore… not when someone like you exists."

If a girl as eccentric as Fujiwara Chika could exist, then perhaps it wasn't so strange for dogs to possess human-like intelligence. In fact, Kanade thought wryly, if a magical girl version of himself suddenly appeared next, he'd probably just sigh and accept it.

"President, have you had dinner yet?" Fujiwara Chika asked, her smile as radiant as ever.

Her cheerfulness seemed boundless, a stark contrast to Natsukawa Kanade's quieter demeanor. Compared to her perpetual sunshine, Kanade often felt as though his own life was painted in shades of gray.

"Not yet," he replied evenly. "What about you?"

"I haven't either!" she said, her voice lifting slightly with excitement. Without hesitation, she extended her hand toward him, her enthusiasm bubbling over.

"Since I ran into you, let me take you to a great place!"

Before Kanade could muster a refusal, Chika grabbed his hand and dashed off, dragging him along.

The sight of the two—a strikingly handsome young man and a bubbly, pink-haired girl in school uniforms—running hand in hand down the street was enough to turn heads. The scene exuded the charm of youth, stirring nostalgic sighs from the passing office workers.

"Ah, youth…"

"Man, I remember when a girl held my hand like that…" one worker began wistfully.

"Stop bragging. The closest you've been to that is someone grabbing you by the collar and yelling, 'Aibo, let's grab ramen!'"

"What? No! That's not it—wait, you don't think…?"

"Hey, don't get any ideas! I've always had your back…"

"Don't come near me!"

Amid the strange conversation unraveling behind them, Kanade found himself whisked into a ramen shop by Chika.

The restaurant was tucked into a quiet, narrow alley—its name a straightforward homage to the owner, as was common for such establishments. Inside, the decor was old-fashioned but impeccably clean.

The clientele was sparse, mostly consisting of weary office workers hunched over their bowls. There were no lively groups or couples in sight, making Kanade and Chika stand out as an unusual duo in the small shop.

"Ramen…" Kanade murmured, taking in the scene.

His tone must have carried hesitation because Chika turned to him, her cheerful demeanor replaced with mild concern.

"President, do you not like ramen?" she asked, her voice tinged with worry.

"Not exactly. I just haven't tried it before," Kanade admitted. "I've always preferred rice to noodles."

In truth, neither in his previous life nor in this one could he recall ever eating ramen. Despite hearing countless praises for the dish, he had never gone out of his way to try it.

Chika's face lit up at his response. "So this is your first time? Perfect! I, Fujiwara Chika, will be the president's first!"

"Pfft—" Kanade nearly choked, caught off guard by her choice of words.

The sheer audacity of her statement, combined with the fact that she said it loudly enough for the whole restaurant to hear, left him stunned. Meanwhile, Chika, completely unfazed, beamed with excitement, oblivious to the suggestive undertone.

It's really her, Kanade thought, shaking his head. Only Fujiwara could say something like that without a shred of shame.

"Since this is your first time, I'll recommend the best ramen for you!" Chika announced confidently.

"Alright," Kanade replied with a resigned nod. He knew Chika's reputation as a food enthusiast, particularly when it came to ramen. If anyone could guide him through this new experience, it was her.

The two settled into a booth, and Chika immediately launched into an animated negotiation with the shop owner.

"Soy sauce pork bone, light, and make the noodles super hard! And one North Pole ramen, just slightly harder!" she ordered with the authority of a seasoned ramen connoisseur.

Kanade, seated quietly beside her, nodded at her choices. Her familiarity with the terminology and her decisiveness made it clear she was a regular in places like this.

"The soy sauce pork bone is for me, right?" Kanade asked, assuming she'd picked the most approachable option for him. Soy sauce pork bone ramen was reputed to be a staple and seemed like a safe choice for a beginner.

"Nope, that one's mine," Chika replied matter-of-factly.

"...What?"

Kanade blinked at her, momentarily thrown.