I Won't Be a Loser

From Sakakino Academy, heading east, Haruto and Setsuna returned to their apartment. As newly acquainted classmates, Setsuna and Sekai invited Katsura to visit Setsuna's home.

However, due to the need to take care of her younger sister at home, Katsura reluctantly declined the invitation. She promised to meet again another time and headed home.

Sekai initially wanted to stay with Setsuna but, noticing Haruto beside her, decided against it after some thought. She left with Katsura, as their routes home coincided.

After the two left, Setsuna turned her gaze toward Haruto standing beside her.

Her clear, glistening eyes looked at Haruto, and their meaning was obvious. Without needing further explanation, Haruto understood her intention and led Setsuna into his apartment.

"Haruto, you kept staring at Katsura earlier," Setsuna remarked as she stepped into the apartment.

She had just removed her shoes, her over-knee black stockings brushing against the slippers as she put them on and entered the living space.

Haruto turned to glance at her, his calm expression giving nothing away. He nodded slightly, neither denying nor avoiding the topic.

"Since she's a new friend of yours, and she seems like a soft-spoken, graceful young lady, I was just a bit curious," he replied.

"Then why did you look at Katsura and then Sekai right afterward?"

This had been bothering Setsuna since their walk home. She'd held back her question earlier, waiting for a private moment to bring it up. Haruto's reaction during their conversation with Katsura and Sekai had puzzled her—his fleeting expressions of surprise and thoughtfulness didn't go unnoticed.

The real answer, of course, lay in Haruto's awareness of the tangled web of emotions between the two girls. But given that nothing had happened yet, and perhaps never would, he chose a simple explanation to brush off the question.

"Because Katsura's personality is so different from Sekai's. I was surprised they became friends so quickly," he said with a light smile.

Satisfied with the answer, Setsuna let it go. haruto seized the opportunity to change the subject.

"So, how do you feel about starting at a new school and meeting new classmates?" he asked.

Setsuna paused to reflect on her day. The experience hadn't been particularly exciting. Her gaze shifted back to Haruto as she moved closer, her pale legs carrying her toward him. With a gentle push, she made him sit on the edge of the bed and settled herself in his lap.

"It felt strange at first, being surrounded by unfamiliar people. But then I met Sekai and others, so it wasn't so bad. It's… okay," she said concisely.

Her words, though simple, conveyed her mixed feelings—initial loneliness tempered by newfound companionship.

"Impressive," Haruto said with a small chuckle, his hand lightly caressing her head.

The affectionate gesture made Setsuna close her eyes, a small, contented smile playing on her lips.

"Tomorrow, it'll be your turn to start school," she reminded him softly.

"Yeah, my first day," Haruto replied, leaning back slightly. "I doubt I'll see anyone familiar. Gifu is pretty far from here."

"Good luck," she said, looking up at him with sincere encouragement.

Her words brought a warm laugh from Haruto. Tomorrow, he'd meet Sawamura Eriri—something that made him feel a mix of anticipation and nervousness. For now, though, he looked down at Setsuna, wondering how things would unfold.

For a moment, silence enveloped the room. The two simply sat there, with Setsuna nestled in Haruto's arms, enjoying the tranquility.

"Haruto," Setsuna called softly.

"Hmm?"

"Let's do it."

Haruto's mind went blank for a moment. He blinked, unsure if he'd heard her correctly. Looking down, he found her gaze fixed on his, unwavering.

"Do it?"

As if worried he hadn't understood, she repeated herself. "Let's do it."

Haruto's expression shifted from confusion to surprise before finally settling into calmness.

"No," he said firmly.

"Do you not like me?" Setsuna asked, her tone tinged with disappointment.

"That's not it," Haruto replied quickly. "Don't you have school tomorrow?"

"I can take a day off," she said nonchalantly.

"But tomorrow's the official start of the school year. If you skip, people will start labeling you as a delinquent," he pointed out.

"I don't care," she said, her determination unwavering.

Haruto looked at her resolute expression, torn between amusement and exasperation. They'd only known each other for a week, and she was already so forward. It wasn't that he didn't like her; he just couldn't understand why she was rushing things.

"I care," he said gently. "I don't want people at school looking at you strangely. Besides, it's Thursday. Tomorrow's Friday, and then it's the weekend. Can't we wait until then?"

"The weekend?"

"Yeah."

Setsuna's eyes brightened, and a small smile spread across her face. She nodded in agreement. Turning to face him fully, she wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face in his chest.

"It's a promise, then."

"Mm, it's a promise," Haruto said, chuckling softly.

That evening, Setsuna returned home with a spring in her step and a heart full of excitement. She greeted her mother, Mai, who was busy preparing dinner.

"Mom, can I marry Haruto now?"

Mai nearly dropped the salt she was holding. She turned to face her daughter, her expression a mix of shock and confusion.

"Now? Absolutely not. You're only 15, and he's 16. You'd need to wait until you're at least 16, and he has to be 18. That's the legal requirement for marriage," Mai explained, her voice tinged with a mixture of amusement and concern.

"But why are you suddenly asking this?"

Glancing at her daughter, Mai noticed her unusually rosy cheeks and an expression that was both shy and excited. Setsuna seemed different tonight, more… radiant.

After a moment's hesitation, Setsuna shyly recounted her and Haruto's promise for the weekend.

"We made a promise," she said, her voice brimming with anticipation.

"A promise?"

"This weekend, Haruto and I are going to graduate together."

"Graduate? What are you talking about? School just started—"

Mai's initial confusion gave way to realization. She froze, the salt spoon trembling in her hand. Turning slowly, she stared at her daughter in disbelief.

"Setsuna… you don't mean…"

"What's wrong, Mom?"

"The 'graduation' you're talking about... you mean the academic kind of graduation, right?"

"Virginity."

"..."

Mai's thoughts completely froze.