The sound of running water echoed softly from the bathroom. Kazuha was taking a shower, and our first class would begin in an hour.
Meanwhile, I sat cross-legged on my bed with a strawberry-flavored milk in both hands, grinning so hard my cheeks were starting to hurt.
Joseph really was a genius.
Yesterday, after listening to me complain for nearly an hour about how awkward things had become between Kazuha and me, he suddenly snapped his fingers and declared the birth of the greatest strategy ever conceived.
Operation: Shadow Mission.
His explanation had sounded so convincing that I almost expected dramatic military music to start playing behind him.
"Listen carefully, Kaoru," he'd said while folding his arms. "Girls like thoughtful gestures. Don't make it obvious. Don't ask for anything in return. Just quietly leave something she likes where she'll find it."
"That's it?"
"That's it."
"You're a genius."
"I know."
Now that the moment had finally arrived, my heart pounded like I was infiltrating an enemy headquarters.
The bathroom door remained closed.
Perfect chance.
I slowly stood up and tiptoed toward Kazuha's bag.
Left foot... Right foot... Don't make any noise. The zipper opened just enough for me to peek inside.
Seriously... how did she fit so many books into one bag? Did she carry the entire library to class every day?
I carefully slid the strawberry milk between two textbooks before covering it with a notebook so it wouldn't be noticed immediately. It was hidden just well enough that she'd only find it once she reached deeper into her bag.
Mission accomplished.
I slowly zipped the bag closed before taking three proud steps backward.
"Hehehe..." I couldn't stop smiling.
The movie inside my head immediately began playing.
Kazuha would open her bag during class. She'd discover the strawberry milk and blink in surprise. Then she'd quietly glance around the classroom...
I grinned even wider.
Maybe she'd even smile at me. Maybe she'd—
"Why are you smiling at my bag?"
"Gah!" I almost jumped high enough to hit the ceiling.
Kazuha stood near the bathroom entrance with a towel draped over her shoulders. Her black hair was still damp, tiny droplets of water clinging to the ends as they rested against her neck.
...
She looked really pretty.
Actually...
No. She looked ridiculously pretty.
Was it legal for someone to look this good first thing in the morning?
I really was blessed to wake up and see this every day.
She muttered under her breath. "Did you do something to my bag?"
She looked at me... Then at her bag... Then back at me again.
Without saying another word, she walked over, picked it up, and hugged it lightly against her chest while staring at me with unmistakable suspicion.
"I-I wasn't doing anything weird!"
"Really?"
"I mean... I was just thinking."
"About what?"
Why did she always ask follow-up questions? Wasn't one question enough? My brain hadn't evolved enough to come up with a second excuse.
"Uh..." Think, Kaoru.
Think! "My... your bag."
"My bag?"
"Yeah!" I nodded much harder than necessary. "It's... pretty nice."
She looked down at the plain pink backpack she'd been using since high school, then she looked back at me.
Her expression slowly transformed into one that clearly said, Are you serious?
I immediately continued before she could respond. "I-I mean... I'm a girl now too, right? So I figured I should probably start buying... girl stuff."
I desperately searched the room for inspiration before pointing toward her wardrobe. "Like... dresses too!" One of Kazuha's dresses hung neatly inside.
Honestly... I had absolutely no interest in wearing one. I'd rather buy another hoodie.
Kazuha followed my finger with her eyes before looking back at me. For several seconds, she simply stared. "Just... buy whatever you like."
Then she turned around and continued drying her hair as if she'd already decided trying to understand me wasn't worth the effort.
I quietly let out the biggest sigh of relief imaginable.
That was close. Way too close. For a second there, I thought Operation: Shadow Mission was going to fail before it even started.
By the time our first lecture began, I'd carefully chosen the perfect seat. Three rows behind Kazuha. Three seats to the left.
Far enough away that she wouldn't suspect anything... Yet close enough for me to observe every tiny reaction she made when she found the strawberry milk. This was the ideal observation point.
I leaned back in my chair, crossing my arms confidently.
Now... All I had to do was wait.
My imagination immediately got to work again. As expected of my genius brain, it produced three flawless scenarios.
Scenario One.
'Kazuha reached into her bag. "Huh?" She pulled out the strawberry milk. A tiny blush bloomed across her cheeks. Without saying a word, she quietly inserted the straw and took a sip. "It's sweet." She smiled ever so slightly.
Cute! Absolutely adorable! Ten out of ten! I approved!
Scenario Two.
She found the milk. "Weird," she tilted her head. "Did I buy this yesterday?" She stared at it for a few seconds... Then she drank it anyway.
Even her absent mindedness was cute. Also approved!
Scenario Three.
She took out the milk. "I definitely didn't buy this."
She looked around the classroom and then slowly... Our eyes met. Time froze.
The sunlight streamed through the windows. The background music started playing. Cherry blossoms somehow drifted through our third-floor classroom. Then she smiled. "Thank you, Kaoru. I've forgiven you." The entire class burst into applause, the professor wiped away a proud tear. Someone released white doves. The perfect ending, the legendary route.
I grinned so hard my cheeks started to cramp. Yep. This plan was absolutely foolproof.
"Excuse me." A shadow suddenly fell over my desk.
I looked up.
A gigantic male student smiled politely before taking the seat directly behind Kazuha.
No.
No, no, no.
Brother...
There were dozens of empty seats! Why that one? Why?!
My carefully selected observation point disappeared behind what could only be described as a human mountain. "Damn it..." I quietly stood up, hoping to move somewhere else.
"Good morning, everyone." The professor entered the classroom.
Perfect timing.
I slowly sat back down.
Sometimes I genuinely wondered whether the universe had a personal grudge against me.