Heartbeats and Illusions

No wonder the clerk had been staring earlier—it wasn't the book, but Kanade himself she was after.

He unfolded the note again to confirm its contents. Sure enough, it was the clerk's contact information, neatly scrawled alongside a winking smiley face.

Just as Natsukawa Kanade was about to comment, Eriri snatched the note out of his hand with lightning speed. Her twin tails bounced with indignation as she muttered, "Older women are the worst! Always preying on younger guys like that fat woman in black stockings!"

"…"

Kanade opened his mouth, wanting to point out that the clerk was probably just a year older than him, but one glance at Eriri's expression made him rethink. Her sharp fangs peeked out as she glared, her entire demeanor practically screaming I'm ferocious—try me!

Bringing up someone like Kasumigaoka Utaha in front of Eriri's current mood? That was a death sentence. Kanade had no desire to face the wrath of a whirlwind twin-tail combo right in the middle of the street. It wouldn't hurt, but the secondhand embarrassment would kill him.

"You agree with me, right?" Eriri turned to him, her sharp eyes drilling into his soul.

"Ah, um, yes! Absolutely!" Kanade nodded rapidly. "Eriri's totally right—older women are a no-go!"

Only then did Eriri relax. She grabbed the new notebook he had just bought for her and let out a cheerful sigh. "Thanks so much, Kanade! If it weren't for you, I'd have been stuck forever. You really saved me today."

Her sharp fangs gleamed in the sunlight as she flashed him a wide, genuine smile. It was a far cry from the pouty rage she'd been in just moments ago.

Kanade blinked, completely thrown off by the rapid shift in her mood. He decided it was better not to question it. There were some mysteries about girls you were better off not solving.

"Don't mention it," he replied with a shrug. "Honestly, I didn't do much. I'm sure you could've handled it on your own. That clerk seemed like an easygoing type—"

"Huh?!" Eriri cut him off, her voice sharp enough to make him flinch. "Are you into her or something?!"

"How did you even get to that conclusion?!" Kanade protested, waving his hands. "This has nothing to do with that!"

Desperate to change the subject, he reached into his bag and pulled out his secret weapon. "By the way, have you had breakfast? If not, I've got this for you."

"What's this?" Eriri asked, taking the item cautiously. She held it up, inspecting it like it was a foreign artifact.

"It's called baozi—Chinese food. Try it!" Kanade said, his tone brimming with excitement.

Eriri narrowed her eyes at the unfamiliar snack. It was soft and warm, but its round, fluffy appearance struck her as odd.

"Alright…" She brought it to her mouth and took a small, tentative bite.

"…"

"How is it?" Kanade asked, his eyes sparkling with anticipation.

"It's… okay, I guess," Eriri said, chewing slowly. "The soup inside is nice, but the outside feels like hot bread with sauce on it."

"That's because you didn't get to the filling yet," Kanade explained patiently. "Take another bite—make sure to get the meat inside this time."

Eriri nodded and followed his advice, biting deeper into the bun. This time, the juicy, flavorful filling burst onto her taste buds.

"!!!"

Her eyes widened as she chewed, her expression transforming into pure delight. "It's amazing!"

The warm, savory broth and tender meat melded perfectly, creating an explosion of flavor. She couldn't stop herself from taking another bite.

"Right? I told you it's good!" Kanade said, grinning from ear to ear. Seeing her enjoy it filled him with a sense of accomplishment.

"Yeah, but…" Eriri pouted, still savoring the bun. "The dough's too thick. They should make it thinner."

"You don't understand," Kanade said with a mock-serious tone. "Buns have to be big. The bigger, the better! That's how you fully enjoy them!"

"Big isn't always better!" Eriri huffed, puffing out her cheeks in defiance. "Small ones are cute and easier to eat! You don't even need two hands to hold them!"

Kanade blinked, confused by her sudden shift in tone. He decided not to press the issue.

The two chatted for a little longer before Eriri suddenly spoke up. "I've got something to do, so you go on ahead."

"Alright," Kanade replied, not pushing for details. "Be careful on your way back."

This was just how friendships worked, after all. You shared moments, both the meaningful and the mundane, then went your separate ways when the time called for it. Everyone had their own little secrets, and prying into them wasn't a sign of closeness but rather a breach of trust. Kanade inwardly scoffed at those self-proclaimed "well-meaning" individuals who felt entitled to invade personal boundaries.

"I'm not a child, you know," Eriri pouted, puffing her cheeks slightly, a perfect blend of annoyance and cuteness.

Kanade chuckled softly and gave a casual wave as he turned the corner, disappearing from her sight.

Only then did Eriri let out a small sigh of relief. She glanced around as if to ensure no one was watching before retracing her steps. Her destination? The bookstore they'd visited earlier.

"I'm not curious or anything," she muttered under her breath, her twin tails bouncing with determination. "It's just… research! Yeah, that's it. Purely for reference material!"

But the faint blush creeping up her cheeks betrayed her true intentions as she hurried toward the section Kanade had been eyeing earlier.

"I'm back."

The sound of the front door opening was accompanied by the light shuffle of shoes being removed. Kanade stepped into the living room, and his eyes were immediately drawn to the sight on the balcony.

There stood Shiina Mahiru, bathed in the gentle glow of sunlight streaming through the window. The living room itself was spotless, a testament to her diligent hands. Clothes that had once been strewn haphazardly were now neatly folded or hung to dry.

Shiina, having shed her coat due to the warmth of the day, was in a simple blouse. A faint sheen of sweat adorned her forehead, which she wiped delicately with the back of her hand. For a brief, fleeting moment, the image of a perfect, virtuous newlywed wife floated into Kanade's mind, unbidden.

"...What am I even thinking?" he muttered, shaking his head as a twinge of guilt surfaced. The memory of his outing with Eriri flashed through his mind, and he couldn't help but feel like a stereotypical scumbag from one of those soap operas. Leaving this angelic figure at home while gallivanting around with a fiery tsundere? He could practically hear karma sharpening its blade for him.

"Welcome back."

Shiina's voice brought him out of his thoughts. She turned, her soft smile radiating a warmth that seemed to dissolve all his inner turmoil in an instant.

"Uh, yeah... I'm back," Kanade replied, his voice tinged with awkwardness as he fumbled to hand over the breakfast he'd brought. "I, uh, got some food. Want to eat together?"

Shiina's eyes lit up with curiosity as she accepted the offering. "Of course. What is it?"

"It's called 'baozi,'" Kanade explained, watching her reaction closely.

Shiina tilted her head, examining the bun in her hand. "Baozi... I think I've heard of this before," she said thoughtfully, her pronunciation of the word startlingly precise.

Kanade blinked. "You know about it?"

Shiina nodded lightly. "Not much. I remember seeing it in a cooking book once, but this is my first time trying the real thing."

"Then go ahead," Kanade urged, eager to see her reaction.

Shiina brought the bun to her lips and took a small, delicate bite. Her eyes widened slightly as the flavor registered, and she nodded approvingly.

"It's good," she said simply, her smile soft but genuine.

Encouraged, Kanade handed her another item. "And this one's called 'shaomai.' It's similar to rice balls, but it's filled with glutinous rice and diced meat. Give it a try."

Shiina examined the small, intricately wrapped morsel with childlike curiosity. "Is it better than rice balls?"

"Depends on your taste, but I think it's amazing," Kanade replied, his voice betraying a hint of pride.

Shiina hesitated for a moment before taking a bite. Her expression softened, and a small laugh escaped her lips. "It's really delicious. Kanade-san, you must really love food like this."

Kanade scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "Yeah, I guess I do."

"Then I'll love it too," she said with a quiet certainty, her words striking Kanade like an unexpected gust of wind.

He turned his head slightly, a blush creeping up his cheeks as he muttered, "...That's good to hear."

As they shared the simple meal, Kanade found himself stealing glances at Shiina. Watching her enjoy the food with such genuine delight filled him with a quiet satisfaction he couldn't quite put into words.

It was moments like these, he realized, that made life feel truly fulfilling.