After getting out of the bath, I collapsed onto my bed. The air-conditioned room and the cool sheets soothed my flushed body. I fumbled around the pillow, reaching for my phone lying nearby.

Why does just holding my phone make my heart feel warm? My hand instinctively tapped the “Photos” icon.

There, staring at me with a surprised expression, was a shirtless Yamabuki Natsuki.

No one was more shocked by my own perversion than me. I couldn’t believe I had done something like that. Before I knew it, I had taken a picture of Natsuki. I had wanted to do it so badly.

“…You’re more built than I expected.”

Would Natsuki be disappointed if he knew I was looking at this alone?

I gave in to my desires and tapped the “Set as Wallpaper” button.

…Not that I was actually going to do it, just testing it out.

I adjusted the frame and pressed the confirm button. My heart pounded as I returned to the lock screen—and there was Natsuki, with “20:56” boldly displayed on his forehead.

It was ridiculous and funny.

But more than that, it made me happy.

“Yeah… This is definitely not okay.”

I don’t use my phone that much, but someone might see my lock screen. I can’t risk causing trouble for Natsuki. I personally wouldn’t mind, though.

Besides, if he saw it himself, that would be a disaster. There’d be no way to talk my way out of it. Setting a swimsuit photo as my wallpaper would be the same as outright confessing my feelings.

“…Honestly, that might not be so bad.”

That oblivious guy might need something this extreme to get it. Actually, he’d probably still say, “You’re just messing with me, aren’t you?”—even though I’m not. I just like him, that’s all.

Well, I guess it’s my fault too, for not having the courage to say the decisive words. I know I tend to let my feelings slip little by little, assuming Natsuki won’t notice.

And even knowing that, I can’t help myself. Is this what love is? Nothing ever goes the way I want.

“…Someday, I’d love to set Natsuki as my wallpaper without a care in the world.”

That would be true happiness.

◆

“—Pfft!?”

I woke up to an earth-shattering shock.

“Wait, what? No way.”

A message from Tachibana Iori had arrived while I was sleeping. Attached to it was a photo.

—Wearing the swimsuit she had bought yesterday, looking slightly embarrassed with her cheeks flushed red, yet still managing to direct her gaze toward me.

‘I’m sorry for taking a picture of you without permission today. Let’s call it even with this.’

Even though I had just woken up, my heart was already pounding like crazy. Sweat poured down my entire body. This was way too much.

“…What the hell am I supposed to say to this?”

Thank you?

That would make me sound like a complete creep. But if I brushed it off too casually, Iori might get hurt. No matter how I replied, it felt like it would come off weird. This photo was basically a bomb.

Taking a deep breath, I looked at the picture again.

If she was embarrassed, she didn’t have to send it. But… thank you for sending it.

Two conflicting emotions surfaced at the same time, but the gratitude kept winning out.

“…I mean, if you send something like this, anyone would get the wrong idea.”

The fact that I was keeping my cool was actually pretty impressive, wasn’t it? Love is supposed to make people blind, but I was staying perfectly rational. After all, I hadn’t fallen for Iori yet.

…Had I?

Besides, Iori knew exactly how attractive she was, and she still sent me a picture like this. She had to be doing it to make me nervous. Well, congratulations, it worked. Now my whole day was ruined.

“…”

On impulse, I set the picture of Iori in her swimsuit as my lock screen.

Of course, I immediately changed it back. If anyone saw, I’d be interrogated to death. Iori definitely wouldn’t want anyone else to see it either. And honestly, I didn’t want anyone to. This was just for me, for a single fleeting moment.

“…Wow.”

—The sheer impact was unreal. One press of a button, and Iori in a swimsuit appeared before me.

Was something this dangerous even allowed?

No, of course not. No human could possibly withstand this brilliance.