On a weekend afternoon, I was waiting for the person I was meeting at the nearest station to my house, fidgeting with anticipation.

That person was the most famous student at school, a beauty who, despite not being an idol, had a fan club that was passionate enough to rival any celebrity’s—Shinomiya Rinoa.

She was called a saint, a princess, and was confessed to nearly every day. For some reason, she had asked me to take pictures of her in an embarrassing pose. I still didn’t know the real reason behind it, and I arrived at the day of our meeting with a sense of confusion.

“What on earth is Shinomiya-san thinking…?”

I couldn’t believe that we were meeting at a classmate’s house just to discuss things, and the idea of doing a photo shoot there if we had time seemed odd. Even though the necessary equipment was ready, I felt it was too vulnerable.

“Ah! Anno-ku――――n!”

While I was lost in thought, the famous Shinomiya-san came down the escalator, waving her hand. She looked like a single flower blooming in an otherwise bleak scene. Just her presence made the surroundings more vibrant.

“Sorry for keeping you waiting. I actually arrived early, though,” she said, her face breaking into an apologetic smile.

The time was already past 1:30 p.m., but our scheduled meeting time was 2:00 p.m. I had arrived around 1:00 p.m., thinking I might be too early, but in the end, it worked out because I didn’t keep her waiting.

“It’s fine, I just got here myself. But… can I ask why you’re in your uniform?”

It was a holiday, so there was no reason for her to wear her school uniform. To be honest, I was somewhat looking forward to seeing her in casual clothes.

“Well, I thought it would be better to wear the uniform if you’re going to take pictures… Did you want to see me in my casual clothes? Were you expecting that?” she said, her voice teasing as she leaned in closer.

“Did you expect to be disappointed by the uniform?” she teased, pushing closer and making me feel awkward.

I couldn’t help but feel that this was less of a saintly move and more of a bratty one. I sighed and responded flatly to her teasing.

“Yeah, yeah. I was expecting to see you in your casual clothes. I’m disappointed by the uniform. Are you happy now?”

“Hehe. Well, if you beg me, I might show you,” she whispered into my ear in a mischievous voice. If we were alone, my heart would have raced and I would have turned bright red, but in this crowded area, I couldn’t let myself get flustered.

“Well… I wouldn’t mind asking, but could you back off a bit first?”

“Huh?” she blinked in surprise.

Did she not realize what she was doing? I gently placed my hand on her shoulder and calmly explained the situation.

“I don’t mind being close, but we’re at the station, and there are a lot of people around. It’s important to consider the situation.”

“Ah…!” she said, quickly jumping back, her face flushed with embarrassment. Though her reaction was a little hurtful, it allowed us to move forward.

“Sigh… let’s head out. If we stay here any longer, we’ll stand out.”

“Time is precious. Well then, Anno-kun, please lead the way!”

“Hey, Shinomiya-san. Are we really going to do the meeting and photo shoot at your house?”

“What’s the big deal now? Didn’t you agree because we have the equipment at your house?”

When Shinomiya-san suggested doing the meeting at my place, I naturally objected. The main reason was that my parents had been overseas for work for about a year, so my house was mostly empty.

While I had been enjoying my solo life, I had never invited a girl over. Doing so would feel like betraying the trust my parents had in me. Even Yuzuha, who was one of my closest friends, had never been invited. Despite explaining this carefully, Shinomiya-san shook her head.

“I’m just an ordinary student, unlike the professional cosplayers you usually take pictures of. It would be a waste to rent a studio.”

“Then why did you suggest my house, where my parents aren’t home?” I couldn’t help but ask.

Even if she invited me to her house, I wouldn’t know what to do. If that happened, I was sure my heart would literally jump out of my chest. I wouldn’t be able to focus on the photo shoot.

“So, if you and I were alone at your house, would you lose control and turn into a beast?” she teased, her face certain that she was correct.

I was unsure how she could trust me so much, but I answered honestly.

“If that happened, I’d be ruined. I wouldn’t betray their trust. Never.”

I didn’t take advantage of my clients. Keeping the proper distance was the key to maintaining good relationships, something my father always reminded me of, though when I heard about how he met my mom, I couldn’t help but laugh at the irony.

“Hehe. You’re so sincere, Anno-kun. I’m glad I asked you,” she said with a smile.

“…I don’t think that’s only true for me, though,” I muttered.

“That’s not true. As far as I know, you’re a rare breed… You might even be considered an endangered species,” she continued with a teasing grin.

“Then, does that make you my guardian?” I retorted.

Though, I felt more like she was holding me by the leash than actually protecting me.

“To protect you, you’d have to shrink down to the size of a first grader. Would you do that for me?” she joked.

“Like a child in appearance, but an adult in mind? No thanks,” I replied.

Though that idea didn’t sound too bad—being able to share a bath or sleep together—my rational mind knew that would be dangerous. If it happened, it’d have to be a one-day-only deal.

We chatted about such trivial things as we walked side by side toward my house.