Chapter 27
Saturday morning came with the soft golden rays of sunlight peeking through the curtains of Kokoro’s room. Dust motes floated gently in the air, catching the morning light as if dancing to a silent symphony. But the room itself was a mess—clothes were flung over the bed, some hanging precariously off the edges of the chair, others already discarded on the floor. The culprit: a single first-year high school student standing in front of a half-open closet, his face painted with urgency and distress.
Kokoro’s eyes scanned every corner of his wardrobe like a detective trying to crack a case. "Nope. Too plain. Too wrinkled. Too middle-school," he muttered, tossing a shirt onto the growing mountain behind him. Beads of sweat rolled down his temple and neck. It was already close to 9:30 a.m., and nothing he picked felt quite right. Today was his date with Watanabe Mika.
KNOCK KNOCK
His little sister’s voice came muffled through the door. "Onii-chan, breakfast is ready."
Kokoro opened the door, trying to act casual, only for Yui to tilt her head suspiciously. Her sharp eyes darted between the beads of sweat on his forehead and the chaotic disaster zone that was his room. She narrowed her eyes.
"...What were you doing?"
"Huh? Nothing. Just... cleaning."
Yui stared blankly at him, unconvinced, but shrugged. "Whatever. Just come eat. I’m not in the mood to nag you today."
She turned around and trudged down the stairs, muttering about how she wanted a quiet Saturday without any drama. Kokoro followed her to the dining room where the scent of grilled fish, eggs, and miso soup filled the air. Their mother, Eniko, stood at the table with her usual grace, wearing a simple yet elegant house dress, her hair pinned in a loose bun.
"Good morning, Kokoro," she said with a warm smile. "You look... tense."
Kokoro gave a sheepish laugh and quickly sat down. "Ahaha, just... got a lot on my mind."