An Early Morning Visitor
Knock, knock, knock…
The sound of knocking echoed through the apartment.
Still drowsy, Kasumigaoka Utaha raised an eyebrow.
She rarely woke up this early.
Yukima Azuma had gone for his usual morning run.
Over the past few days, she had gotten used to his routine.
But—
If it was him, why would he be knocking?
He had a key.
And Yukima Azuma was not the type to forget something so basic.
Kasumigaoka frowned slightly.
At this hour, who else would come knocking?
Could it be…
A beautiful silver-haired woman standing outside?
—Ridiculous.
Shaking off the absurd thought, she walked to the door.
With a click, she pulled it open.
Her expression remained sharp as she started speaking—
"Forget even a key? How useless—"
Her words stopped mid-sentence.
Because standing before her,
Was a small, silver-haired beauty.
A folding fan rested against the girl's neck as she tapped it lightly, her expression showing clear impatience.
However—
The moment their gazes met,
Her eyes widened.
And then—
"Tch."
A sharp click of the tongue.
A sound of displeasure.
Kasumigaoka's expression also shifted.
And before she could stop herself, the words left her lips—
"Why is this 'fat' girl here?"
At the same time, the silver-haired girl spoke—
"What are you doing here?"
Their voices overlapped.
A brief silence followed.
Then, the two women stood at the entrance, locked in a silent standoff.
Sora Ginko narrowed her eyes.
Kasumigaoka Utaha crossed her arms, sneering.
Neither willing to back down.
Finally—
Sora Ginko averted her gaze with an unimpressed scoff and stepped inside.
Kasumigaoka did not stop her.
—She couldn't.
Not right now.
If she blocked Sora Ginko from entering,
She would be the one in the wrong when Yukima Azuma returned.
Even so—
Just because she couldn't stop her didn't mean she couldn't retaliate.
"The disposable slippers are on the bottom shelf of the shoe cabinet. Feel free to use them."
She smiled sweetly, turning on her heel.
The soft click-clack of her white slippers echoed in the room.
Sora Ginko clicked her tongue again.
Then, she glanced at the shoe cabinet.
The disposable slippers were right where Kasumigaoka had said.
…She ignored them.
Instead, she removed her small leather shoes and stepped directly onto the wooden floor.
Her black-socked toes pressed against the polished surface.
The apartment floor was spotless.
Yukima Azuma hired a cleaner regularly.
So walking barefoot?
Not a problem.
A War of Silent Glares
In the living room, the two women sat across from each other.
The air between them was frigid.
A silent battlefield.
They had known each other for a long time.
One was Yukima Azuma's ex-girlfriend.
The other was his childhood shogi rival and senior.
But their relationship now—
Was anything but friendly.
It hadn't always been like this.
When Kasumigaoka had still been dating Yukima Azuma,
Sora Ginko hadn't liked her, but she had tolerated her.
And as his girlfriend, Kasumigaoka had at least shown basic respect toward his senior.
But three years ago—
When Kasumigaoka and Yukima Azuma broke up—
That fragile civility had been shattered beyond repair.
Sora Ginko had believed that—
No matter what, as his girlfriend, Kasumigaoka should not have abandoned Yukima at that moment.
Not then.
Not like that.
But Kasumigaoka had never known what happened.
The two of them had simply been young and inexperienced.
They had fought, broken up—
And that should have been it.
Yet, when Kasumigaoka tried to turn back—
Yukima Azuma was already gone.
Transferred schools.
Vanished without a trace.
His apartment, abandoned.
His number, disconnected.
Even when she reached out to Sora Ginko, the only response she got was cold indifference.
From that moment on,
Their connection was severed.
And now—
They sat across from each other once more.
With nothing but resentment between them.
"What's a person like you doing here?"
Sora Ginko's voice was cold.
"You abandoned him three years ago— and now you're back?"
Her grip on her fan tightened.
She had spent years watching Yukima Azuma struggle to rebuild himself.
And now, the very woman who left him behind was sitting comfortably in his apartment.
Without even telling her.
Sora Ginko felt betrayed.
Kasumigaoka, however, was unfazed.
"What are you talking about? There's no reason for that at all."
She met Sora Ginko's glare without hesitation.
—Abandoned him?
How could she abandon someone when she had no idea what had happened?
An Interruption
Before the argument could escalate—
The sound of a door unlocking came from the hallway.
The tension in the air froze.
A moment later, Yukima Azuma stepped inside.
His gaze flickered toward the small pair of women's leather shoes near the entrance.
He raised an eyebrow.
"Kasumigaoka-senpai's friend?"
…Wait, no.
He immediately shook his head.
That was impossible.
Kasumigaoka Utaha didn't have friends.
Her personality was too sharp, too thorny—
Who could get close to her without getting pricked?
Maybe Eriri, but even that would have been surprising.
"I can tell you're thinking something rude, Yukima-kun."
Kasumigaoka's voice carried a hint of irritation.
"It's nothing."
Yukima Azuma turned toward the living room.
And then—
He saw her.
"…Ginko?"
Sora Ginko was sitting there, dressed in her usual dark blue sailor uniform.
A red silk scarf adorned her chest, adding a touch of vibrancy to her outfit.
And around her slender neck—
The black choker.
A simple accessory, yet one that accentuated her delicate beauty.
Silver hair.
Cold, doll-like features.
Petite, yet undeniably captivating.
Of course, the glare of disdain she was currently wearing slightly ruined the effect.
…Or maybe, it just made things more interesting.
Yukima Azuma chuckled lightly.
"Ginko, good morning. Did you come to Tokyo just to go to the Shogi club with me?"
His voice carried genuine warmth.
Sora Ginko, who had been radiating pure hostility just moments ago,
…Hesitated.
For the briefest of moments, her sharp gaze softened.
Just a little.