I Won't Be a Loser

"I'm going to the convenience store for a bit."

Just as they arrived at his apartment and he had already unlocked the door, Haruto suddenly turned back and spoke to Setsuna, who was standing beside him.

"You can wait inside for me. I'll be back soon."

"...Is something wrong?"

Setsuna, who had been building up her courage and feeling tense all over, suddenly felt like a balloon pricked by a needle. Her confidence deflated in an instant. She pursed her lips and looked at her boyfriend with uncertainty.

Seeing her nervousness and hesitation, Haruto smiled gently to reassure her.

"We're still in school, and if we're not careful, you might end up becoming a mother right now. So, to make sure I don't hurt you, I need to prepare some safety measures."

Setsuna's face flushed bright red. Realizing what he meant, she lowered her gaze and answered softly.

"...Okay."

"Then just wait for me here. I won't be long."

After saying this, Haruto watched Setsuna enter the apartment before turning around and heading towards the nearby convenience store.

Left alone in Haruto's apartment, Setsuna stood near the window, looking across at her own home. Her gaze shifted to the white bedsheets swaying gently on the balcony in the breeze. Then, she tilted her head up toward the sky, staring at the brilliant sun.

Its warm, radiant glow felt just like Haruto—one was far above in the sky, and the other was deep in her heart, both filling her with warmth.

It was about to happen.

Their relationship had only just begun, not even a full week ago, yet everything had progressed so quickly. Even she found it a little unbelievable, but she had no regrets. She wanted to confirm her feelings for Haruto, to give herself completely to him, to stay by his side.

Walking over to the bed, she sat down on the mattress, pressing her hands lightly against it. Since Haruto hadn't returned yet, she decided to use the time to change the bed sheets she had brought from home.

....

"Welcome!"

As soon as Haruto stepped into the convenience store, he was greeted by the store clerk. However, judging from her neutral expression, she didn't seem particularly enthusiastic.

His eyes lingered on the clerk for a moment before he started browsing the store, looking for what he needed. It wasn't just about safety measures—he wanted to see if there was anything else that might be useful.

After circling the store once and finding nothing else worth buying, he walked up to the counter. Under the store clerk's initially calm but soon slightly surprised gaze, he reached for a small box placed near the register.

When the clerk saw the item, she remained professional, as convenience store employees encountered this kind of purchase all the time. However, when she noticed the size printed on the box, she hesitated, her gaze shifting subtly as she looked at the young man in front of her.

"Um... Are you sure this is the right size, sir?"

"Yes, this is the one."

"Uh... You do know how big this size is, right?"

"I do."

Seeing the boy respond so calmly, without a trace of awkwardness, the store clerk, who had initially assumed he was just a normal student, suddenly felt that she might have misjudged him.

Without saying more, she scanned the barcode and announced the price.

"2,100 yen."

Haruto glanced at the other brands on the shelf, thought for a moment, then picked up a second box and placed it on the counter.

"..."

The store clerk looked at the second box in silence, then quietly scanned it as well.

"That'll be 4,200 yen in total."

Haruto took out his wallet and handed over the money. As the clerk accepted the cash, she hesitated for a moment before asking,

"Would you like a bag for this?"

After thinking about it for a second, Haruto nodded.

She placed one box inside the opaque plastic bag, while he slipped the other one into the pocket of his jacket. Under the store clerk's increasingly complex gaze, Haruto left the convenience store with the same composed expression.

Having worked in Tokyo for a while, the clerk had encountered all kinds of customers, but this was the first time she had met someone quite like him. Watching his retreating figure, she found herself unable to snap out of her daze for a long time.

Holding the small, discreet bag in his hand, Haruto returned to his apartment. He pushed the door open, stepped inside, and called out, "I'm back."

His eyes quickly landed on Setsuna, who was sitting on the edge of the bed, having already changed the bedsheets and pillowcases.

Placing the bag on the small table in the middle of the room, Haruto took off his jacket and hung it on the coat rack. Then, he turned back to Setsuna.

"Are you really ready for this?"

Dressed in a crisp white shirt, Haruto looked at the girl sitting on the edge of the bed and asked her once more.

Setsuna bit her lip lightly and nodded.

"Then… I'll take care of everything."

As the man in this situation, it was his responsibility to make sure she felt safe and secure. He glanced at the large window beside them, walked over, and gently pulled the curtains closed…

....

Meanwhile, back at home, Mai couldn't shake off the sense of unease gnawing at her. After sitting in the living room for a while, she found herself unable to stay still. She got up and walked to the entrance, quietly opening the door a crack to glance at the apartment across from hers.

The tightly shut windows, the drawn curtains—everything seemed to indicate that something was already happening.

Standing in the doorway, Mai felt lost. She wasn't sure if she should feel happy for Setsuna or mourn for herself.

"…Let's just pretend none of this ever happened."

There was no stopping it now. And perhaps, she no longer had the right to interfere.

Silently, she closed the door again and returned to the living room. Staring at the empty space around her, she eventually turned away and disappeared into her own bedroom.

As the golden hues of sunset painted the western sky, the distant cries of migrating birds echoed through the air. Slowly emerging from her daze, Setsuna turned her head, gazing at the boy holding her in his arms. Her eyes were filled with deep affection.

"Haruto."

"Hmm?"

Still lost in thought about the mysteries of the universe, Haruto looked down at the girl in his embrace as she softly called his name.

"I love you."

"Mm…"

He opened his mouth, intending to reply with the same words. But somehow, his throat felt inexplicably dry, and the words got stuck.

Under Setsuna's expectant gaze, he eventually gave up on speaking, choosing instead to close his eyes and tighten his embrace around her.