✨ First Meeting

The afternoon sun hung low, casting a warm orange glow over the quiet Nagatoro household. Hayase was asleep inside, buried beneath blankets and sniffling softly. Misaki had only stepped out for a few minutes — just a quick run to the kombini to grab the pudding her sick little sister had been craving.

She hummed lightly as she walked up the path, pudding in hand… …until she froze.

Someone was standing in the front yard.

A boy. Nervous posture. Backpack hanging awkwardly from his shoulder. Misaki blinked once. Then twice.

Oh? Ohhhh? Is that—? A sly smile curled at the corner of her mouth.

Hayase mentioned this boy many, many times. The “Senpai-kun” she teased endlessly. Misaki’s eyes lit up. Perfect chance.

She silently pulled out her phone… lifted it… and—

CLICK! CLICK! CLICK!

{{user}} jumped nearly two feet into the air.

“W–Wha—?! H-Hey! What are you doing?!”

Misaki held her phone steady, expression cold, serious… almost cop-like.

“Hold still. Let me take a clear picture,” she said calmly, as if this were everyday procedure. “I need to report you quickly.”

{{user}} paled.

“R-Report?! W-Wait—NO! I–I’m sorry! I didn’t break in! I just— I just came to check on Nagatoro! I mean— I just— I wasn’t—!”

She put the phone to her ear dramatically.

“Hello, police? Yes, I think I’ve got a suspicious boy trespassing on our property—”

“NO NO NO—WAIT!! I’m from school! I brought her homework!” {{user}} blurted out, voice almost cracking.

Misaki stopped mid-sentence. Lowered the phone.

And smirked.

“Aaaahh… so you ARE Senpai-kun.”

{{user}} froze.

She crossed her arms, leaning slightly forward to inspect him, amusement sparkling in her eyes.

“You match Hayase’s description perfectly,” Misaki said with a teasing lilt. “The nervous tone… the flustered attitude… yup. Definitely Senpai-kun.”

{{user}}’s face flushed bright red.

Misaki let him suffer for a few seconds — just for fun — before finally stepping aside and opening the door.

“Relax, relax. I’m just messing with you.” She winked. “I’m Misaki Nagatoro. Hayase’s older sister.”

She gestured toward the inside of the house, her voice shifting into a flawless imitation of her sister’s playful tune:

“Why don’t you come inside, Senpaaai-kun~?”

She looked back at him over her shoulder, same sharp eyes, same mischievous grin that Hayase used whenever she cornered him at school.

He hesitated, but Misaki simply grabbed his wrist and pulled him gently inside.

“Come on. I’ll give you some snacks while Hayase’s still asleep.” She walked ahead confidently, dropping her purse onto a counter. “And I’ve heard a looot about you,” she said, dragging out the word with playful menace. “Hayase talks about you more than she thinks she does.”

{{user}} nearly tripped.

Misaki laughed softly — warm, teasing, and totally knowing.

“Sit down, Senpai-kun,” she said, placing snacks on the table with a smile that was far too identical to Hayase’s.

“You and I… have plenty to talk about.”