225 Kyousuke Never Denied His Greed

When Mitsuha opened the door, the first thing she did was survey the room.

It was roughly seven meters by seven meters—spacious, almost too spacious.

The floor was covered with reddish-brown wood, and the walls were a simple white.

Against the wall near the door stood a white double bed, and next to the window on the right was a red, double-door wardrobe.

After confirming that no one was currently using the room, Mitsuha relaxed a little.

Given what the two of them had been through staying at his place shouldn't have been a big deal. But the situation was complicated by her missing memories.

She placed her tracksuit on the bed, which was still wrapped in plastic, then walked over to the window and looked down.

The first thing she noticed wasn't the five-needle pine she'd always liked, but rather the small maple tree glowing vividly green under the garden lights.

Both the Miyamizu and Hojou families had long, storied lineages, so Mitsuha knew a thing or two about traditional Japanese gardens.

That corner of the garden, where the washitsu (Japanese-style room) met the living room, was clearly a focal point.

The tree planted there called a yakuki or "purpose tree" was meant to either enhance the garden's charm or harmonize with the surrounding scenery.

But to a former shrine maiden about to enter the Faculty of Science at Ochanomizu Women's University, that little maple seemed out of place.

"It would look much better if they moved the pine tree there instead," she murmured to herself.

Pulling on the triple-layer blackout curtain, the room suddenly plunged into darkness, startling her for a moment before she let out a soft laugh.

"Heh… Kyousuke's still the same as ever."

Just earlier in the living room, while going through memory sketches and notes, she had seen a rare, childlike side of the boy who normally made her feel so safe.

"Every time we swapped bodies, I'd wake up before the alarm went off because of the sunlight. It was warm… but I could never get used to it."

He had mumbled on and on something about how the first two times he swapped, he fell asleep without changing clothes or closing the curtains.

'As if! Like I'd ever be that careless!'

Grinning to herself at the thought, Mitsuha eyes now adjusted to the dark, she walked over to the side and turned on the light.

She peeled off the tags from her clothes.

Normally, new clothes should be washed before wearing, but since it wasn't underwear, wearing it once like this wouldn't hurt.

As she removed her skirt, the thought that she was in Kyousuke's home and that he was downstairs waiting for her made a strange feeling bubble up inside.

Her soft skin broke into goosebumps.

Still wearing her blouse on top, she slipped on the tracksuit jacket and tucked her skirt into the packaging bag.

Then, she headed downstairs.

"Well? How do I look?"

She asked softly, catching the boy staring wide-eyed from the foot of the stairs. Her heart fluttered with delight as she looked into his eyes.

"You look amazing," Kyousuke replied without hesitation, giving her a thumbs-up.

He believed actions spoke louder than words—hence the staring.

"Hehe~ What are you talking about it's just a track suit!"

Snatching her small handbag from the couch, Mitsuha chirped cheerfully.

"Let's go then!"

As they entered the garage, motion sensors flicked on the lights.

A pure-red Japanese God of War sports car stood side-by-side with a jet-black Rocket 33 motorcycle.

The powerful bike was nearly the same size as the sports car—an overwhelming sight.

"Wow! Just like I remember!"

Mitsuha exclaimed, eyes sparkling as she rushed over to the bike.

She instinctively reached for the handlebars, but then paused and turned toward Kyousuke.

"Is it okay?"

She remembered riding it countless times, but she also understood how guys were with their machines.

"Of course," he said, tossing her the key without a second thought.

Mitsuha traced her fingers over it briefly before slipping the smart key into her pocket.

The dashboard lit up as she powered it on.

"Kyousuke… can I take you home tonight?"

That swelling pressure in her mind again, it felt like more memories were surfacing.

"Hah, I've been waiting for this day forever."

There was no way he would say no.

The night air in Tokyo was cool in March.

In Mejirodai 3-chome, a quiet residential neighborhood, it was even colder. But with the two of them pressed so tightly together, neither felt the chill.

Mitsuha was nervous.

While the Rocket 33's handlebars felt familiar, riding it was a whole different matter.

At under 170 cm tall, handling such a large-displacement cruiser was tricky for her. The bike, once as tame as a toy in her memory, now felt like a wild beast.

But she quickly realized the difference came from their physical disparity, Kyousuke's strength and build versus hers.

Kyousuke didn't think that deeply about it.

Naturally timid, he clung tightly to Mitsuha's slender waist.

With the narrow backseat forcing them to press close together, the scent of white plum drifted up from her and wrapped around him.

Her soft yet toned waist likely honed through years of kendo made him wish she'd ride just a little slower.

The streets weren't crowded, no bustling shopping arcades so they cruised along easily.

Even at a leisurely pace, the two-kilometer ride passed quickly.

They stopped in front of a modest two-story house. The nameplate on the white gate read "Miyamizu" in black letters.

"I'll come pick you up tomorrow morning to head to the apartment, okay?"

"Mm, thank you."

"Aww, we're being all formal now?"

"No! I was just being polite!"

Hearing the slight disappointment in Kyousuke's voice, Mitsuha hurried to explain.

"Haha, I'm kidding. Get some rest. See you tomorrow."

Seeing her flustered reaction, he grinned with satisfaction.

"Yeah. See you tomorrow."

As she said it, her pale cheeks flushed a soft pink. Her heart swelled with happiness.

She had finally made it to Tokyo. Kyousuke's house was just two blocks away.

If she wanted, they could be together every single day.

The void that memory loss had left behind something she'd tried to fill with relentless studying had vanished completely tonight.

This happiness felt almost too good to be true.

She had to ask again, just to be sure.

"Tomorrow... we'll go see that apartment we lived in together?"

Kyousuke had been momentarily distracted by a noise near the gate, but he turned around to meet her gaze.

Her big, bright eyes shimmered with hope.

He blinked, then smiled.

"Yeah, let's go see the place we lived together."

He said it slowly, deliberately.

"Mm!" She nodded vigorously.

"Mitsuha, you're back? Who's this?"

A voice suddenly called from behind, making Mitsuha jump slightly.

"Dad?! What are you doing out here?"

After a brief jolt of surprise, her face flushed red with embarrassment.

Miyamizu Toshiki felt a tightness in his chest at those words.

'Why did I even come outside?'

'My daughter's still not home in the middle of the night, and I've been too worried to focus on work.'

'And now I hear the sound of a motorcycle pulling up, followed by her laughing and chatting with some stranger.'

She's even wearing different clothes from when she left earlier.

'So again, why did I come out here?'

"I just wanted to see…"

'See who this kid is. For some reason, I already don't like the look of him.'

"Good evening. I'm Hojou Kyousuke, a friend of Mitsuha." Placing his helmet down, Kyousuke gave a polite bow.

Honestly, he almost blurted out "Father" by accident, he just barely managed to hold it back.

"Come in. Have a cup of tea." Ignoring his daughter's subtle expression telling him to shut up, Miyamizu Toshiki issued the invitation in a low voice.

"Then I'll take you up on that." Kyousuke agreed cheerfully.

Since he was already at the doorstep, it felt natural to come in.

Mitsuha looked between her father and the unusually calm Kyousuke, her cheeks turning red as she quickly ran to open the gate.

Letting Kyousuke push his motorcycle inside.

Without saying another word, Miyamizu Toshiki turned and walked back into the house.

"Kyousuke…"

Being walked home by someone you like, only to have your dad catch you at the door—and then invite the guy in for tea, no less.

Even after all the bizarre things she had experienced, Mitsuha couldn't help but feel nervous.

"Don't worry. I'll handle it," Kyousuke whispered reassuringly, giving her hand a gentle squeeze before parking the bike.

Relationships aren't just between two people.

He didn't go through all the trouble of becoming a mystery novelist for nothing and this was exactly the kind of situation he had prepared for.

He knew he wasn't a perfect candidate for a son-in-law, but he still wanted to try.

At the very least, he hoped one day her family would say, 'Well, aside from being a bit of a flirt, Kyousuke's actually a pretty ideal guy.'

Just as Mitsuha suspected, her father didn't take them into the living room where there was a sofa and coffee table.

Instead, he sat in formal seiza-style in the tatami room, waiting.

His expression wasn't exactly hostile, but it was far from welcoming.

Mitsuha almost laughed.

Ever since their family reconciled, her father had been showering her and her sister with affection, as if trying to make up for the lost years.

When their grandparents in Nara wanted the girls to attend high school locally, he had immediately asked for their opinions.

Mitsuha was sure that if they said no, their father would've rather run away from home again than leave them behind.

'So this is what dads are like when facing their daughters' boyfriends,' Mitsuha thought in surprise.

Seeing her father ready to interrogate, Kyousuke gave Mitsuha's hand one last reassuring pat and walked forward calmly.

"Thanks for bringing Mitsuha home so late," Toshiki said stiffly, forcing a smile.

"No need to thank me, sir. Making sure Mitsuha gets home safely is the least I can do."

Kyousuke wasn't used to sitting in seiza, but his posture didn't waver.

'Call her "Miyamizu-san," you brat!'

'And what exactly is your relationship with her? When did you meet…?'

A thousand questions swirled in Toshiki's head, but he realized, rather regretfully, that he didn't really have the standing to ask.

This was just a friend, not an official boyfriend.

It would be rude to start grilling him like a police officer.

"Still, I appreciate it. Next time Mitsuha should've just called me to pick her up."

'Smack!'

As he lowered his head to sip his tea, Toshiki mentally slapped himself.

'What do you mean "next time"?'

"No need, really. I actually live nearby—just over in Mejirodai Third District," Kyousuke explained.

Toshiki's eyes shot open.

'That close?!'

"Actually, Mitsuha wanted to try riding my motorcycle. Otherwise, we would've just walked back."

'She was the one driving? And that explains the change of clothes too?'

"I see. Yeah, if it's a motorcycle, athletic wear is definitely more suitable." The wrinkles in the old man's brow deepened.

"Dad! I bought this outfit while out shopping with Kyousuke earlier!" Mitsuha blurted out, suddenly remembering.

Her nerves were instantly replaced with embarrassment, her face turning bright red as her voice involuntarily rose.

Toshiki turned to glance at his daughter, said nothing, and sighed.

He took another small sip from his tea cup, which was barely bigger than a thimble but somehow took forever to finish.

'No wonder they call him the 'Miracle-Maker'—that attention to detail is something else.'

Kyousuke was also caught off guard.

Normally meticulous, even he hadn't thought about the clothes.

Maybe deep down, he already saw their relationship as something more solid than it appeared.

"Whoa, sis brought her boyfriend home?!" a voice called out.

Turning toward the stairs, Kyousuke saw a girl in white pajamas with familiar-looking twin buns on her head.

"It's Yotsuba. Good evening," he greeted her with ease.

"Good evening, mister!" Yotsuba replied cheerfully.

Strangely enough, she felt a warm familiarity toward this new person.

For a moment, she even wanted to call him "big brother."

"Yotsuba, be more ladylike," Toshiki called over his shoulder.

"What's the big deal? He's sis's boyfriend, so he's basically family already."

Yotsuba didn't seem fazed in the slightest.

She had been eavesdropping the entire time and, knowing her sister like the back of her hand, had already pieced everything together.

That super handsome guy? Definitely her sister's boyfriend!

First, Mitsuha had always talked about someone important waiting for her in Tokyo.

The moment she got to the city, she immediately started looking for this "important someone."

After returning from Itomori today, she couldn't hide her excitement—clearly, she'd seen that person.

Second, the athletic clothes were totally off from her usual fashion sense.

No way she bought that herself while shopping.

Combine that with the motorcycle ride? Definitely borrowed from the guy.

Third… well, there were too many clues to count.

Even as Mitsuha desperately tried to deny it, blushing furiously, she couldn't hide her lovestruck expression.

For a girl about to start middle school and who'd watched enough dramas, Yotsuba could see the signs of a romantic relationship from a mile away.

"Alright, alright, it's late. Kyousuke, you should head home now," Mitsuha said hastily, seeing the situation spinning out of control.

She stood up quickly and grabbed his hand, dragging him toward the door.

"Sir, I'll take my leave for now. I'll come by again for a proper visit next time," Kyousuke said with a polite bow.

"Just go already!" Mitsuha's voice was practically a squeak.

'What do you mean "proper visit"?!'

"See you next time, Yotsuba."

"Yup yup! Bye bye~~!" Yotsuba waved enthusiastically.

'Haaaaaa…'

With the door finally shut, Mitsuha let out a long sigh.

But when she turned to see Kyousuke still smiling like nothing had happened, she couldn't help but feel just a little bit annoyed.

"You're still laughing?! This is all your fault!"

"Hahaha, what's the big deal?"

"We were going to meet sooner or later anyway. Besides, I'm already pretty close with Uncle Miyamizu. Seeing him again felt nostalgic, actually," Kyousuke replied with a grin.

Hearing his lazy tone, Mitsuha felt both annoyed and amused.

Her mind drifted to the girl named Eriri—just from the drawings, she could tell Kyousuke was on good terms with her family.

Maybe he was already used to dealing with girls' parents.

"Alright, alright, just get going already. Be careful on the road, you jerk."

"Mm. See you tomorrow."

"Yeah, see you."

Mitsuha walked him out of the yard and stood at the door, quietly watching the red taillights until they vanished from sight.

Only then did she head back inside.

After changing into slippers and stepping out of the entryway, she saw her father and sister sitting on the living room sofa.

Realizing she wouldn't be able to avoid this, Mitsuha quickly wiped the smile off her face and slowly walked over to sit on the single-seater sofa across from her sister.

Though this household had gone through its share of hardships, including the loss of a family member and the reunion had brought them closer.

Compared to many other families in Japan, the Miyamizu household now felt unusually warm and relaxed.

Miyamizu Toshiki, who had also taken on the role of a mother figure, was at a loss.

He wanted to get the full story but worried that pushing too hard would cause Mitsuha to rebel.

Yet not asking wasn't an option either. For once, this politically savvy man, usually so smooth in negotiations, couldn't find the words.

"Nee-chan, who was that guy? He looked kind of familiar," Yotsuba finally broke the silence in the living room.

"Yeah, Hojou Kyousuke... That name rings a bell," Toshiki quickly added.

"Yotsuba, you know your favorite manga, One Punch Man?"

"He's the illustrator—his pen name is EGOIST. And Dad, remember that novel you read over and over, The Devotion of Suspect X? That was his work too."

Mitsuha gave her sister a mental thumbs-up as she selectively revealed some facts.

"Ohhh, I remember now! I saw him on TV. His kendo is crazy, he sliced a straw mat into five pieces in one motion!" Yotsuba clapped her hands as the realization hit her.

Her words jogged Mitsuha's memory too. So that guy back then was Kyousuke… No wonder he seemed so familiar.

'A manga artist?'

'A mystery novelist?'

'A kendo expert, and he's that handsome on top of it?'

Toshiki frowned again as he watched his two daughters chatting animatedly.

This guy was dangerous.

"Actually, Kyousuke already knew about you two before today," Mitsuha admitted after a moment of hesitation.

"He already knew us?" Toshiki blinked in surprise.

He was certain that if he'd met someone like Kyousuke, he'd never forget it.

Mitsuha pulled out her phone and opened the file Kyousuke had sent her, picking out a few parts suitable for sharing.

"Dad, do you remember why we held that disaster evacuation drill back in Itomori?"

"Didn't you ask for it, Mitsuha?"

"Yeah, you said a comet was going to crash into Itomori."

"Have you ever wondered how I knew about that?" Mitsuha asked gently.

Toshiki almost blurted out something about their family's shrine maiden powers but held his tongue.

"The one who told you to hold the evacuation drill that day… wasn't me. It was Kyousuke."

And with that, Mitsuha told them everything about the body-switching.

"Whoa! So you already became a handsome Tokyo guy ages ago?!" Yotsuba's eyes sparkled as her twin pigtails bounced with excitement.

"No wonder…" Toshiki, already used to the supernatural oddities of the Miyamizu family, quickly accepted her explanation.

"No wonder your fruit slushies always tasted weird!" Yotsuba exclaimed between bites of her snack.

Those were the ones Kyousuke had made, especially for her.

———————————————————————

—Meanwhile, at the Hojou household—

"Honey, did you know that girl's father is the head of the Special Disaster Division at the Fire Department?"

"They say his decisions have saved thousands of lives," Hojou Mikiko shared some intel.

"Let's head back to the countryside tomorrow," Hojou Ichirou mumbled.

He'd been looking forward to trying out that dream car for a few days, but his heart couldn't take the pressure anymore.

He had a bad feeling all those girls might show up with their parents at any moment.

"Eh? I thought you wanted to catch up with your college friends?" Mikiko asked, puzzled.

"I'll invite them to visit us in Otaru some other time."

"Oh... alright. Besides, my parents wanted to head back soon too." 

———————————————————————

—The next morning—

"Huh? You're leaving already?" Kyousuke stared in disbelief as his family packed their bags.

"Your dad said one of the cows is about to give birth," Mikiko explained.

"Ah, well... that's understandable."

Kyousuke knew what a newborn calf meant to a farming family.

Just like cat owners struggle to leave their pets, small-scale ranchers got anxious if they didn't see their cows daily.

"Looks like Dad's a proper cowboy now, huh?"

He chuckled.

Even after becoming a rancher, his dad once a high-powered lawyer at a top firm—remained as committed as ever.

Kyousuke had thought it was nostalgia that made his father linger in Tokyo.

Turns out his homesickness just took two extra days to kick in compared to Grandpa.

"Yeah. Take care of yourself here in Tokyo, alright?" Ichirou gave his son a firm pat on the shoulder.

"I will." Kyousuke gave his father a final hug.

"Kyousuke! I'll come visit you when I have time!" shouted his little sister, Kasuko, as she hugged his leg.

"Kasuko~~" Kyousuke knelt down and rubbed his forehead against hers.

"Hey, what if Dad and Grandpa went back first, and Mom and Grandma stayed here with Kasuko?" Kyousuke suggested.

"Nope!" Kasuko said firmly, clinging to him. "I have to go see the baby cow! Papa promised it to me! When it's all grown up, I'll send it to Tokyo and you can cook it!"

Despite her toddler lisp, her logic was oddly solid for a two-year-old.

"Haha! Then Grandpa will give you the whole ranch one day, okay?" laughed Grandpa Kyousuke Yuichi.

"Yay!"

———————————————————————

After texting Mitsuha that something urgent had come up, Kyousuke hailed two taxis to take his family to Haneda Airport.

They brought only essentials; the rest would be shipped back home.

By the time he returned, grabbed his motorcycle, and headed to Mitsuha's place, it was already 1 p.m.

"Huh? Is your dad not home?" he asked when he saw Mitsuha lock the front door after stepping out.

"It's a weekday, you know." Mitsuha shot him an exasperated look as he stood there all fired up.

"Oh, right… I've totally lost track of time since the break started. What about Yotsuba?"

"She's at tutoring. My dad's worried she might fall behind at a Tokyo school."

Her voice remained soft, but deep down, Mitsuha felt a twinge of disappointment.

She'd woken up early to do her hair and makeup today... and all this guy cared about was her dad and her sister.

"I feel like I shouldn't have ridden the motorcycle today."

"Huh?" Mitsuha, who had been lost in her thoughts, blinked and looked up at the boy across from her in confusion.

"You dressed up so beautifully today, Mitsuha. I should've brought the sports car from home instead."

"Oh please, Kyousuke—you don't even have a driver's license, do you?" she replied with a smirk.

"And what's that supposed to mean? That I never looked pretty before?"

"Well, it's just… I only ever saw you in your school uniform before."

"That was forever ago!"

———————————————————————

Laughing and teasing each other, the two arrived at the apartment in Sendagi.

At the door of unit 701, before Kyousuke could take out his key, Mitsuha suddenly stood on her tiptoes and reached up to the doorframe.

"Huh? That's weird… I swear you used to hide the key up here," she said, puzzled when her fingers found nothing.

"Come on, nobody's been living here. Why would I still leave the key up there? That's super unsafe," Kyousuke replied, clearly unimpressed.

"Says the guy who used to hide his key above the door!" Mitsuha shot back.

"Anyway, come on in."

He opened the door and gestured her inside.

Since he hadn't officially moved out yet, nothing was covered in dust sheets, and the water and electricity were still working.

"Ah, this is the place!" Mitsuha exclaimed the moment she stepped in, still at the entrance and not even out of her shoes.

"I remember falling here that morning. Ouch, it really hurt…" She walked over and pointed next to the bed.

"This plushie, this manga… You got these at that doujin event, didn't you? And this adorable hair clip—wow, I already had great taste back then, huh…"

Crouching beside the boxes and cabinets near the bed, Mitsuha eagerly began a treasure hunt through her memories.

After looking through all the little trinkets she'd once bought, she pulled open the curtain and saw the blue hyacinth swaying in the breeze.

"I didn't forget it, you know. I've been coming back every couple of days to water it," Kyousuke said quickly, noticing the look on her face and worried she might've misunderstood.

"I left it here so the room would stay just as it was… hoping it might help you remember more."

"Do you know the meaning of hyacinths, Kyousuke?" Mitsuha asked quietly, her fingers brushing the glass door to the balcony.

"Victory, competition, joy, happiness, pride, affection, admiration, deep love… and eternal remembrance."

Kyousuke rattled it off like a memorized poem—he'd looked it up the moment he got the flower as a gift.

Later, he'd even asked Mitsuha about it, but she'd stubbornly refused to tell him.

"Dummy~"

Though she called him that, her voice was soft, almost tender—like the petals of the hyacinth fluttering in the wind.

"'Once you ignite the flame of life, you'll be able to share in its abundance.' That's the true meaning of the hyacinth."

"Mitsuha…"

Kyousuke blinked, then stepped forward as he heard her voice suddenly choke with emotion.

"Kyousuke! I won't let go of you. I don't care if it's your childhood friend or your manga assistant—I'm not giving up!"

She spun around and threw her arms tightly around the boy who had shared so much of his life with her.

'Even if I'm reincarnated… I will not lose you again!'

"I feel the same way."

Moved by her heartfelt confession, Kyousuke wrapped his arms around her in return, resting his chin gently on her head.

He had always been honest about his feelings, never denying his own desires.

And while some might call him a player, he refused to accept that label—because with each girl, he gave his whole heart.

If anyone he loved were ever in danger and needed him to give his life, he wouldn't hesitate; he'd simply apologize to the others and go without regret.

He didn't resent his own greed.

How could he?

These girls were too precious.

Losing even one of them would leave him heartbroken for life. So he'd just work even harder to make sure all of them truly felt his love.

The two had planned to cook a meal together in the apartment and relive old memories, but unfortunately, there were no ingredients or seasonings left.

In the end, they found themselves back at the place where they had first met:

———————————————————————

Matsuyama Family Restaurant.

As always, it was run by the same married couple. As soon as they walked in, the owner greeted them with a grin.

"Well, well, if it isn't young Kyousuke. Long time no see!"

"I moved for high school—had to go somewhere farther away," Kyousuke explained.

"So, you finally got together with this young lady?" the owner asked, clearly remembering the girl who had once cried her eyes out in his restaurant.

"Not yet. I'm still chasing after her."

Beneath the table, two hands one large, one small were clasped tightly together.