Storm of Confessions

The spring night wind was a little chilly.

Outside a tall, thirty-story luxury apartment building in Tokyo's Minato Ward, Nakano Nino stood by the roadside, her school uniform fluttering in the breeze.

In her hand was a can of black tea from a vending machine.

She took a sip and shivered."So cold~"

She hugged her arms around herself. At the moment, this was all she had—the tea, the uniform, and the few coins she'd scraped together.

"I'm almost out of money," Nino murmured to herself.

After leaving Sakurai Saki's place earlier that day, she'd gone back to school to retrieve the backpack she'd lost before. Thankfully, it had fallen in a secluded spot behind the storage building—still dusty, but intact.

Inside were a few cosmetics, books, stationery, and just enough yen to last her a couple more vending machine meals.

If only someone could see her.

But in her current state, entering a convenience store would only cause chaos. Even if she placed coins on the counter, the moment her fingers let go, they'd become invisible to the clerk.

The money might as well have floated there on its own.

Nakano Nino's abnormality had three stages.

The first—where she was now—made her presence dim, but not entirely gone. People couldn't see her or hear her clearly, but she could still interact with objects. If she made noise, they might glance over, confused—but never truly perceive her.

The second stage was worse. She could still touch things, but was utterly invisible to strangers. Even those she'd once been close to would walk by without a second glance. Their eyes would glaze over her like she was fog.

And the third—

The third was true erasure.

She couldn't touch anything. No one could see her. The world would pass through her like she didn't exist.

Only one person had ever been able to perceive her in that state.

Sakurai Saki.

She still wasn't sure why. Maybe it was because of the intense arguments they'd had before this all started—some lingering emotion that burned too brightly to be snuffed out.

Or maybe… maybe he was behind it.

But that didn't make sense. Why would someone erase their own memory of causing something like this?

So she waited.

On a bench beside the building, watching people come and go, her long hair swaying slightly in the breeze.

"It's already eleven…" she whispered, checking her phone.

The battery icon blinked red.

She'd thought about going home, but what would be the point? Her sisters wouldn't be able to see her. Her presence would only scare them—books moving on their own, lights flickering, food disappearing from the fridge.

They'd think she was a ghost.

Suddenly, the sound of tires crunching softly on the street pulled her out of her thoughts.

A car had stopped in front of the apartment.

Two figures stepped out.

"Teacher-chan~ Thank you for today!" said a familiar voice.

Nakano Ichika bowed deeply, her voice chipper.

Sakurai Saki stood beside her, casual as ever."It's nothing," he replied flatly.

His words were curt, but not cold.

He hadn't helped because of Ichika. He'd stepped in because both he and Minamoto Mashiro had been insulted. Still, it had helped her too. Accepting thanks didn't cost him anything.

Ichika glanced up and added with a conspiratorial whisper, "Oh, and please don't tell them about me acting. My sisters don't know. I've kept it a secret."

Behind the pillar near the building, Nino froze.

Huh?

Her breath hitched.

Ichika? With Sakurai-kun? Why are they together this late?

She knew Miku liked Sakurai Saki. Nino herself… well, she didn't dislike him. But when had Ichika gotten close enough for him to walk her home?

She pressed herself against the cold stone wall, heart pounding, stealing glances at them as they stood under the streetlight.

Her grip on the tea can tightened.

He doesn't even want to see me…

So why can she just stand there and laugh with him like nothing happened?

It wasn't fair.

Jealousy surged in her chest like heat from a hidden ember.

And then—just as quickly—it faded.

She sighed inwardly.

There was no use denying it anymore.

She liked Sakurai Saki.

She liked his face. His sharp tongue. The way he didn't hesitate to act when others faltered.

The way he'd saved her… even when he didn't have to.

But she'd argued with him too much, pushed too far. Maybe the damage was already done.

In front of the apartment entrance, Ichika suddenly leaned in closer to Sakurai Saki and whispered:

"As long as Teacher-chan doesn't tell anyone… I can do anything."

Her tone was teasing.

Sakurai didn't even blink. "Even study hard?"

Ichika blinked. That wasn't the script she'd expected.

He still remembered.

"Study hard?"Nakano Ichika's eyes widened in disbelief, as if she'd just heard the world's most boring punchline."I told you I could do anything, and you're asking me to study hard?"

Sakurai Saki didn't flinch. "I can't lie today, so I'll be honest with you."

He paused. "Your body is indeed very tempting."

Ichika blinked.

"But between something unobtainable and something that can be definitely obtained," he continued, "a normal person would choose the latter."

He met her gaze evenly.

She had clearly been joking—flirting with words, trying to fluster him, maybe to test him.But Sakurai Saki had never been the type to lose his footing just because someone played coy. Superpower or not, he could read this kind of game.

Ichika tilted her head and gave him a mischievous smile. "Teacher-chan… are you doing this job to earn money? Just like that other job?"

Her tone turned a shade more curious. Not mocking—genuinely intrigued.

Was he struggling financially? But Itsuki had said he didn't seem to care much about money, even skipping out on tutoring when it suited him. So that didn't quite fit. Yet here he was, taking on work that, frankly, wasn't very respectable.

Sakurai Saki gave a small, dry chuckle."I'm not working as an actor," he said. "This gig was something Mashiro-nee dragged me into. As for whether I'm doing it for money—well, I don't think anyone dislikes money."

He glanced toward the sky as if looking for the face of Fukuzawa Yukichi himself—emblazoned on the ten-thousand-yen bill.

Truthfully, he just didn't want to trouble his mother.

She lived far away in Kyoto. Every month, she sent money, always a bit more than necessary, always with a sweet note attached. And every month, he saved it untouched, keeping it as emergency funds. He didn't want to rely on her more than he had to.

His rent, daily expenses, meals, transit—they were all paid for with his own hands.

Yes, it was a little embarrassing for a Superpower user to work mundane jobs. But using those powers for anything underhanded? That was even more shameful.

He could live just fine without supernatural help. And more importantly—he wanted to.

People were creatures of desire. They always wanted more: more wealth, more comfort, more power. And once you started down that road, abandoning your principles for profit became easier than you'd ever imagine.

At least most people were like that.

"Is that so~" Ichika replied lightly.

She seemed satisfied with his answer, smiling brightly as she reached out and patted his shoulder like an old friend sealing a deal.

"I'll attend class properly on Monday, then! As for everything else, well—that's none of my business~"

With a graceful bow, she said, "Thanks again for today!"

Then, like a scene wrapping up in a late-night drama, she turned on her heel and made her way into the building, swiping her keycard at the glass doors.

"I'll head back now! Minamoto-san's probably already tapping her foot!"

Sakurai Saki nodded once, turned, and walked away.

Behind the pillar by the building wall, someone else had heard everything.

Nakano Nino.

She waited in silence until their voices had completely faded into the city night.

Then—without warning—she tilted her head back and chugged the rest of her lukewarm black tea like it was whiskey meant to drown out heartbreak.

A soft clunk echoed as she set the empty can on the bench.

So… even after I left, things moved on.

The tutoring job didn't collapse like she half-hoped it would. If anything, it sounded like it had gotten even smoother.

Sakurai Saki would be back next Monday.

To the house that was once hers, to a table that used to have five sisters… now only four.

And what was that other job they were talking about?

Some kind of acting gig? Something secret? She hadn't heard a word about it before.

Nino sank down onto the sidewalk beside the bench, knees tucked to her chest.

She looked like a lost puppy left out in the rain—even if it wasn't raining.

A part of her had hoped that maybe… just maybe… her absence would matter more.

But the world didn't stop. Her sisters were still smiling. Sakurai Saki was still walking girls home late at night. Life kept moving forward, and she—

She was just watching it from the shadows.

Maybe… it really would be better if I disappeared completely.

Just as quietly as she came, Nino closed her eyes.

The wind picked up again, ruffling her long hair.

But this time, it felt less like a breeze… and more like the world reminding her she didn't belong in it anymore.

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