Living in the Heart of Tokyo

As Kyousuke watched Miyamizu Toshiki disappear into the crowd, his tall figure standing out even among the sea of people, he stood frozen on the sidewalk, lost in thought.

"Let's go, Kyousuke. The school's open now."

Miyamizu Mitsuha walked over, her voice light and cheerful.

Without hesitation, her slender arm naturally slipped around Kyousuke's.

She tugged on his arm gently, expecting him to follow—but strangely, he didn't move.

Tilting her face up curiously, she asked:

"Come on, what's wrong?"

Kyousuke remained rooted in place, still staring in the direction Toshiki had gone, his mind elsewhere.

"I just realized... I forgot something really important."

"Hm? What do you mean? I thought you handled that pretty well just now," Mitsuha replied, puzzled.

After all, even when her father deliberately struck that intimidating "Spanish bull" pose, his whole presence screaming 'I'm here to pick a fight', Kyousuke had kept his cool and gotten through the encounter smoothly.

Of course, her help had been important too~.

So what else could there be?

"When Miyamizu-san asked where my driver came from... I should've handed him my business card. The one with my full identity on it."

Kyousuke sighed in frustration.

Such a rare opportunity—just like those you only read about in novels. And he'd missed it.

"Business card?"

Mitsuha blinked in surprise, then suddenly burst into laughter, leaning against Kyousuke's shoulder in amusement.

Just the thought of that scene—her already grumpy father standing there all serious, and Kyousuke, perfectly straight-faced in his suit, solemnly bowing and presenting a business card with both hands while declaring, 'Pleased to make your acquaintance!'—it was just too much.

And then her father, just as stiff, bowing back and replying, 'No, the pleasure is mine. Please take care of me.'

The image alone made her want to cry from laughter.

"Kyousuke, you're terrible~" she teased playfully.

She had no doubt—if such a ridiculous scene really happened, her father's face would've turned darker than asphalt.

"Isn't that the proper etiquette when visiting 'Otou-sama' for the first time?" Kyousuke said, grinning.

"Getting the first strike in, huh?"

"Well~ I suppose you could put it that way, haha. A preemptive strike."

"Wait, since when do you even have a business card? Show me!"

Mitsuha suddenly remembered something.

A man's first business card was no small matter.

She could still recall when her father first became the priest of the Miyamizu Shrine—her mother had cradled her as a child, pointing at his freshly printed black-and-white card, teaching her the words one by one.

Mitsuha, remember this well.

Your father's name is Miyamizu Toshiki.

He is the head priest of the Miyamizu Shrine.

Though her mother's face in that warm, golden memory was blurred now, the happiness in her voice remained clear as ever.

"About that... I don't actually have one," Kyousuke admitted with an awkward smile.

"You don't?" Mitsuha turned her head, clearly shocked.

From Kyousuke's perspective, he could clearly see her wide, brown eyes full of surprise beneath her elegant brows.

"Yeah," he chuckled.

"If you did have one... would you seriously have handed it to my dad just now?"

Mitsuha asked, half amused, half exasperated.

From the flashes of Kyousuke's memories, and from the memories she'd regained herself, she knew all too well—these two most important men in her life had been locked in a silent battle for ages.

Even though her father and she had made peace, and everyone had been saved thanks to Kyousuke... her dad still treated him exactly as he had back in Itomori—guarding, glaring, watching him like he was the enemy.

"No way. What do you take me for? I'd never pull such a cheap prank," Kyousuke said at once.

"Really?" Mitsuha narrowed her eyes suspiciously and tugged his arm closer so their faces nearly touched.

After all... her father was one thing, but Hojou could be a real rascal, too.

If he ever got the chance to make her dad grind his teeth in anger, he'd absolutely take it.

"Liar. Mmnh!—"

But before she could react, he'd already stolen a kiss—landing firmly on her slightly pouting, rosy lips.

"Hey! Stop that! This is still a school, you know!"

Mitsuha quickly leaned back, glancing nervously around.

This was Yotsuba's school, filled with middle schoolers!

What if Yotsuba or her friends saw them? She'd die of embarrassment!

"Relax, relax. No one saw," Kyousuke assured her smoothly.

When it came to things like this, guys somehow became sneakier and more capable—like a fisherman who somehow always knew how the eel would escape, even if he'd never fished before.

"Even if no one saw, it's still not okay!" Mitsuha pouted and gave him a playful glare.

Seriously... if this was what he had in mind for today's date, they should've just gone back to the apartment in Sendagaya and enjoyed some proper alone time.

"Fine, fine. Then mnhh!—"

"Hey! Why again?!"

She licked her now-warm lower lip with her soft pink tongue and playfully pounded Kyousuke's arm with her little fist.

"You just said no more! What was that for?!"

"I had to give back the first kiss you stole, right?" Kyousuke replied, feigning innocence.

As always, a man of principle.

"Not here... geez..." Mitsuha mumbled, face red.

"But you know... my biggest regret in middle school was never getting to walk through the school with you after class, hand in hand."

"..."

Mitsuha glanced up at him, her eyes warm and smiling softly.

"Me too."

"Let's go back to Itomori together sometime," Kyousuke said, starting to walk again.

"Yeah!" she nodded eagerly.

Ochanomizu Women's University and its affiliated schools were famous for two things: their long history... and their cramped campus.

From kindergarten to university, all four divisions barely matched the size of nearby Gakushuin University.

So it took only a few steps for them to reach the main school building.

"Hey, Kyousuke," Mitsuha said suddenly, grinning, "do you think the students here think we're parents coming to help out some kid stuck in detention?"

She smiled politely and nodded at a passing female middle schooler who bowed to her.

Then she whispered again, excitement in her voice.

"Nah. They probably think we're part of the PTA," Kyousuke replied without missing a beat.

He was well aware of the aura he gave off.

"Parent-Teacher Association?"

Mitsuha blinked, then glanced down at her own stylish, youthful outfit—then at Kyousuke's slightly more mature look—and suddenly burst into laughter.

"True... but if my dad had come with you instead, the security guard probably would've already called the principal," she giggled.

"Or maybe..."

"Big sis! Hojou-nii!"

Yotsuba's cheerful voice rang out from the main hall of the school building.