There were plenty of stores in the station’s shopping complex, but none of them really caught my eye. I wanted to get her something she could use up, like food, but I wasn’t familiar with her tastes. I got the feeling that something safe, like chocolate, wouldn’t be the best choice, though.

     As I wandered through the complex, I came across a bookstore.

     Ah, right. She liked books. However, there wasn’t any specific genre she was interested in, so picking out a book for her would be difficult as well.

     Suddenly, I took notice of the picture books lined up in front of the store. Many were Christmas themed, perhaps because it was the season for it, after all. I’d never believed in Santa, but I wondered if Sorahashi-san had.

     「Looks like the picture books are Christmas colored too.」

     She gazed at them with amusement.

     My scarf was wrapped around her neck. There was no collar underneath, however. It would have been pretty bad if she were to be caught out in the open, so I’d asked her to take it off. Seemingly satisfied enough with that walk at the school, she had relented on the dog stuff.

     I supposed she wouldn’t be returning my scarf, though.

     It was pretty cold so I had hers on instead, but my mind couldn’t help but wander. It smelled like her.

     It wasn’t that sort of lewd scent.

     I didn’t know if it was because of the perfume she was wearing, but the fresh scent of the ocean at springtime continued to tickle my nose.

     「This brings me back. I must have believed in Santa until around fourth grade.」

     「So you had a phase like that too, Sorahashi-san.」

     「I was quite the cute child, you see. What about you?」

     「Well… I was pretty busy being Mizuki’s Santa.」

     「So you never believed in him?」

     「That’s right.」

     I picked up a picture book. It was a story about Santa’s experience during one hectic Christmas — something that I was sure kids would enjoy.

     「Sorahashi-san, could you close your eyes for a bit?」

     「Huh? If you want…」

     While she had her eyes closed, I picked up three Christmas-themed picture books I’d already read and dashed over to the cashier. I had them wrapped up as gifts and returned to Sorahashi-san as fast as I could. Eyes still closed, she looked quite bored.

     「All done?」

     「Yeah, you can open your eyes now.」

     I presented the gift to her now-open eyes.

     「Here you go.」

     「…Is this my birthday present?」

     「Yep. I don’t know if you’ll like it, though.」

     「May I open it?」

     「Feel free.」

     We left the store and went off to the side so she could open the present. The way she neatly removed the wrapping and folded it up reflected her usual beauty. She held up the three books and blinked.

     「They’re picture books.」

     「It’s because you seemed interested. It’d make me happy if you came to enjoy them.」

     I smiled, and she put on a mysterious expression.

     「…Say, Kurumi.」

     I didn’t dislike her sweet tone of voice.

     Perhaps because she was taller than me, my heart still raced a little when she gazed at me like that from below. It was a different feeling than from when she had a collar on, though.

     「Can I hug you?」

     「Huh?」

     Before I had a chance to respond, she hugged me tightly.

     Her scent was stronger than usual. Rather than one that aroused my instincts, it was a pleasant scent that put me at ease.

     She was truly a mysterious one.

     She had been frighteningly adult-like when tearing apart the rationality layered over my heart, but now, when she clung to me like this, she seemed like a child no different from Mizuki.

     It was puzzling, and it was thrilling.

     My heart rarely caught a break when I was with her, but I felt that the time we spent together was special. Her unique charms, unlike anyone else’s, had completely captivated me.

     I gently felt her hair.

     Just thinking about touching her made my hands tremble. Even through the trembling, I was able to pet her head, just like before.

     The smooth texture of her hair felt comfortable in my hands.

     「Of course you can. Happy birthday, Sorahashi-san.」

     「Thank you, Kurumi. We’ll have to celebrate yours plenty as well!」

     Saying this, she took my hand and ran off.

     「C’mon, it’s dangerous to run in here.」

     「It’s fine. I’m watching where I’m going.」

     「…If you say so.」

     I supposed I could let her indulge on her birthday. Without another word, I let her pull me along by the hand. Before I knew it, I’d gotten used to holding her hand. It no longer made me nervous.

     We were acquaintances, classmates, and at the same time, something more. I wasn’t quite certain what that relationship was, but right now, we were certainly walking hand-in-hand, walking towards the same destination.

     That made me a little happy, and I relaxed my gaze.

     I couldn’t see her face, but I hoped that she was smiling too.

     Remaining like this, we left the station complex and got on the train.

     「You should come over for a short while. Let’s have some cake together.」

     I responded with a slight nod.

     Seeing on my phone that it was already pretty late, I messaged my mom to let her know.

     Before, it would have been unthinkable to me to have been out at this time of night.

     In exchange for some loneliness, I had gained some freedom. I wasn’t sure whether it was something that I should be happy or sad about. It wasn’t something I could put into words. It was Sorahashi-san’s birthday, though, so I figured I ought to not think about unnecessary things like that.

     「There’s a nice cake shop around where I live. Let’s get something from there.」

     「Wow. I bet the spots around where you live are pretty fancy.」

     「Ahaha, I suppose so. It’s a pretty well-known shop, I think. What kind of cake do you like?」

     「Hmm… Shortcake, I guess?」

     I wasn’t really familiar with the different types of cakes.

     Sorahashi-san lived pretty close to a station in the city, so I imagined the nearby cake shop would be pretty amazing.

     Come to think of it, I only had cake a few times a year.

     I wondered if she had them often.

     As we idly chattered away, we soon arrived at the stop nearest to her house. We left the train and were immediately met with a cold wind. I buried my face in my scarf.

     It smelled like Sorahashi-san. I really couldn’t stay calm, but I was pretty sensitive to the cold, so I had no choice. Like so, we walked through the city.

     Sorahashi-san was in perfect harmony with the evening. She shined brilliantly during the day, but there was a different charm to her at night. I thought this as well when we were together that other night.

     Even though the city sky was empty, Sorahashi-san — who was even brighter than any star — was walking in front of me. Because of her, I didn’t long to see the stars at all.

     As we walked among the busy crowds, she suddenly turned to face me.

     「We’re here, Kurumi.」

     She pointed at the store next to us.

     Just the front of it gave off a fancy feel. She must come here often, seeing as she seemed pretty used to ordering. This sort of thing was why I felt like we lived in different worlds.

     She bought two simple-looking slices of strawberry shortcake, and then we headed off to her home.

     I buried my face in my scarf to escape the bitter cold, and in doing so, was strongly encased in her presence. Even though the walk only took a few minutes, the freezing temperatures blasted through the warmth from the store and chilled me to the bone.

     I followed her lead through the entrance.

     「Welcome home.」

     Before I could say “pardon the intrusion”, she had turned to me and said those words.

     My eyes widened.

     It was something I heard every day, but for some reason, it felt like I was hearing it for the very first time. I guess it was the first time I’d heard it from her.

     「…I’m home.」

     「Mhm, welcome back.」

     With a fluttering heart, I was led to the living room.

     It was one thing to say “I’m home”, but I still wasn’t quite used to this house. Between the furniture, the smell, and everything else, it was pretty different compared to—.

     In that moment, I had a sudden realization.

     Unlike last time, there was a scent I recognized filling the room. I looked around to see the diffuser I had picked out for her on the TV stand. Perhaps because I still had doubts about her somewhere in my heart, the sight of it surprised me.

     「I’m heating up some water right now… Hm? What are you doing, Kurumi?」

     「I just noticed the diffuser I got for you.」

     「Yeah. You went to all that trouble to pick it out for me, after all. Would it have been better to not use it?」

     「No, I’m happy that you did.」

     「Wonderful. This scent makes me think of you. It’s quite fun. Ah, the water’s boiling. I’ll bring some tea.」

     「Ah, yeah…」

     Where did her affections for me come from, exactly?

     I doubted it a little, but I was happy to be the target of those affections, so I received them without pushing back.

     I felt like those sorts of feelings made me embarrassed, but at the same time, they calmed me down.

     I aimlessly gazed at the hangers in front of me. As soon as we got to the living room, she had taken my coat and scarf for me and hung them up. The scarf that belonged to me was hanging with her clothes, and her scarf was hanging with mine — as if she was saying that was how it ought to be.

     「Here you go. Today, we’ll be having rooibos tea.」

     「That’s nice. I like rooibos.」

     「I’m glad. Not everyone likes herbal tea. Have some cake, too.」

     「Thank y…」

     As I turned to look at her, my words came to a halt.

     I heard a clang. It was probably the sound of the cake and teacup being set down in front of me. However, I couldn’t say for certain because my eyes were glued to her.

     Around her neck, there was a collar and leash.

     I had thought we were done with that for today. She grinned and put something in my hand. It was a plate with a certain weight to it. Well, rather than just a plate, it was more like a bowl. Without a doubt, it was a dog bowl.

     Inside of it, there was a slice of cake.

     My breath stopped.

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