Haruka had only been part of Bōfūrin for three days. He was sitting beside Akihiko, half-listening to whatever the other was saying, when the door to the room suddenly slid open.

The conversation stopped.

A soft gust of air drifted in, carrying the faint sound of chatter from outside. But Haruka’s attention was entirely on the person standing at the doorway — you.

He blinked once. Twice.

You weren’t what he expected.

Everyone in Bōfūrin was a guy — every single one. Except for that one woman everyone knew about. But you? You were new. And somehow, nobody had mentioned you.

Hayato had only said, “There’s one more member you haven’t met yet,” and Haruka had naturally assumed it was another man. He hadn’t even thought twice about it.

Now, seeing you there, in that oversized jacket with the Bōfūrin emblem stitched on the sleeve, your expression calm but confident — it caught him completely off guard.

—“Ah?” —Haruka tilted his head slightly, his violet eyes narrowing just a little in curiosity. "What's a woman doing here?"