I Won't Be a Loser

Kiyoura Mai usually arrived home from work around five in the evening and was back at her apartment before six.

During the time she waited for Mai to return, Setsuna quietly nestled in Haruto's arms. Having just received love for the first time, every second spent with him felt exceptionally blissful. She looked up at his face, simply watching him, feeling completely content.

"Hey, Haruto."

"Hmm?"

"Do you want to...?"

"Your body hasn't fully recovered yet, has it? It wouldn't be good for you. You should rest for a while first, and once you're feeling better, we can think about it then."

Looking down at the girl gazing up at him, Haruto was slightly surprised. He hadn't expected Setsuna to be so forward. Normally, he wouldn't have a reason to refuse—denying her might even seem unmanly. But considering that she had only just "graduated," and her body was still in recovery, he didn't want to risk harming her health.

So, after a brief moment of hesitation, he gave her a gentle yet firm rejection.

Setsuna blinked, meeting his pure and sincere gaze. Seeing the concern in his eyes, she pressed her lips together, then quietly lowered her head.

"Okay..."

Having regained his youthful body, Haruto couldn't deny that he was full of energy—especially when it came to that aspect of life. However, he wasn't at a point where he couldn't hold himself back.

He turned to look out the window at the dusky evening sky. The sheer white curtains swayed slightly, and beyond the glass, a nameless bird soared across the darkening horizon. Its lonely cry echoed before it disappeared behind the rooftops, vanishing into the unknown...

When Mai returned home, she found the apartment empty. She paused at the entrance before glancing at the building across from hers.

Through the half-drawn curtains and the glow of warm light within, she could tell her daughter was still visiting Haruto. She stared at the window for a moment, sighed softly, then stepped inside, closing the door behind her. She turned on the lights and made her way to her room, changing out of her work clothes.

Dressed in her usual home attire, she tied her long hair into a single ponytail draped over her left shoulder. Then, she slowly walked toward the door.

From her own apartment, she crossed the hallway to Haruto's front door and pressed the doorbell.

Ding-dong—

Hearing the chime, Haruto glanced at the girl still curled up in his arms.

He gently rubbed her soft, flat stomach before shifting her slightly so he could stand. "I'll get the door."

Setsuna sat where he had been, watching as he walked to answer it.

When Haruto opened the door, he was met with the sight of Mai.

"Mai-san."

She gave a polite nod, her expression neutral. "I hope I'm not intruding."

"Not at all. Please, come in."

Draped in a light blue knit cardigan over a flowing white dress, Mai stepped inside. She slipped off her shoes, her soft white socks pressing against the cool floor, and then put on a pair of guest slippers. Following Haruto further into the apartment, she soon spotted Setsuna sitting comfortably inside the room.

As expected.

Mai sighed inwardly, wondering whether this apartment had become more of her daughter's home than their actual one.

"You should at least leave a note when you decide to stay here, Setsuna."

"I forgot."

She had intended to leave a note on the living room table or by the front door. But sitting in Haruto's lap had been so cozy that she completely forgot. And by the time she remembered, the thought had already slipped away again.

"No matter how much you like Haruto, that's no excuse to be lazy," Mai scolded.

"...Mmm."

Setsuna lowered her head, clearly sulking. Mai looked at her daughter, realizing that ever since she started staying over at Haruto's place, she had been changing in subtle ways.

"Dinner is ready, Mai-san. Why don't you stay and eat with us?"

Haruto set the table with a warm smile. Mai, who had initially just come to check on her daughter, hesitated. Looking toward the kitchen, she caught the rich aroma of home-cooked food.

"Dinner's already prepared?"

"Yes."

Seeing the neatly arranged dishes, Mai eventually nodded. "Then... I'll take you up on that. Thank you for the meal."

"Not at all. I should be thanking you and Setsuna for everything you've done for me. This is just a small gesture."

Haruto smiled as he set down the last of the dishes, casting a glance at Setsuna.

Mai went to wash her hands, prompting her daughter to do the same. As Setsuna stood up, Haruto continued serving, and Mai took a quick, subtle glance at the seat where her daughter had been sitting.

No tissues, no odd stains, and no strange smells. She subtly tilted her head, sniffing the air. Everything seemed normal. Relaxing slightly, she sat back down, acting as if nothing had happened.

By the time Setsuna returned, she was completely unaware of her mother's quiet scrutiny.

Haruto brought over a steaming pot of rice, and the three of them sat down around the small dining table.

"Let's eat," Setsuna murmured, stealing a glance at Haruto before looking at her mother. She then picked up her chopsticks and quietly began eating. Mai also took a quick glance at Haruto before tasting his cooking.

For a while, silence filled the room. They simply ate, the clinking of chopsticks against dishes the only sound. Halfway through, Setsuna stood up to pour herself a glass of water. Aside from that, the quiet remained until the meal was finished.

As Haruto gathered the plates, the silence was finally broken.

"Did you cook everything yourself?" Mai asked.

Before Haruto could reply, Setsuna nodded. "Yes."

Mai turned to her daughter, then sighed. "You should learn how to cook too. A proper wife should know her way around the kitchen."

"I'll try."

Listening to their conversation, Haruto simply continued washing the dishes, choosing to stay out of the family discussion.

Once he was finished, he walked to his desk and picked up a magazine that had arrived earlier that afternoon. Placing it on the table, he caught Mai's attention.

"A magazine?"

"My submission got accepted. It was published in this issue."

Mai's eyes widened in surprise. "Really?!"

Before she could reach for it, Setsuna's hands moved faster. She quickly flipped through the pages, searching for Haruto's article.

"Which page?"

"I don't know. I haven't checked yet."

Setsuna handed the magazine back to Haruto. After skimming through, he finally found his piece and pushed it toward them.

"Here. This one."

Setsuna and Mai leaned in, reading together. Setsuna's expression remained calm but carried hints of admiration and joy. Mai, on the other hand, was visibly surprised.

"You actually got published..." She had heard about his submission from Setsuna, but she hadn't expected it to be accepted so soon.

Haruto simply chuckled. "Though, the payment wasn't great. I was hoping for at least ten thousand yen, but I only got eight."

Both Mai and Setsuna froze.

Mai blinked. "Wait... You submitted it for money? Not because of a dream or passion?"

Haruto nodded, unbothered. "Yeah. My dad's helping me financially for now, but I'll need to support myself eventually. Writing seemed like a good way to earn."

Mai stared at him, the reality of his practicality sinking in. He seemed far too mature for a teenage boy.

For a moment, she almost imagined him with a cigarette in hand and a glass of whiskey beside him—a weary novelist far beyond his years.

She blinked, her gaze fixed on Haruto as he returned to his usual demeanor. It had only been an illusion—just a fleeting trick of the mind. Studying him carefully for a moment, she gave a small nod.

The future was full of possibilities.