At Amanogawa Prefectural High, Hanabi Yasuoka is the perfect honor student everyone admires—but beneath her flawless smile lies a secret she's carried for years: she's in love with her homeroom teacher, Narumi Kanei, the gentle "big brother" who tutored her as a lonely child and promised to wait for her.
Mugi Awaya is the quiet, beautiful boy every girl wants—but the one he truly loves is a teacher who will never look his way.
When these two classmates discover each other's forbidden feelings,
Scum's Wish: The Secret Love That Never Was - The Boundary Line of a Fake Date
The angle of the sunlight through the classroom windows had shifted, just slightly.
Three days had passed since that day at the start of April. The bustle of the new semester had settled little by little, and even the chatter between classes was starting to carry a familiar ease.
Yasuoka Hanabi waited for the end-of-day chime. Her notebook was filled with a neat summary of today's lessons. She copied the words from the blackboard, glancing out the window from time to time.
The cherry blossoms along the Amanooka River had already begun to fall. Petals past their peak drifted on the wind, clinging to the classroom window glass before letting go and dropping away, as if they'd simply run out of strength.
(Today I'm going to Sanrio Street with Mugi.)
Hanabi confirmed the day's plan in her mind.
A fake date.
That was what only the two of them called it. To everyone else, it looked like nothing more than a happy couple on an after-school date. And in fact, they acted so it would look that way.
(A fake couple, huh.)
Hanabi pressed the tip of her mechanical pencil against the edge of her notebook. A tiny dot bled into the paper.
Awaya Mugi.
A boy in her class — fair-skinned, with smooth hair and handsome, even features.
Between Hanabi and Mugi, there were three rules.
Don't fall in love with each other.
If either of their real loves came true, they would break up.
Physical desire would be accepted, no matter when.
They had confirmed these three things just a few days ago. Sitting across from each other at a family restaurant, sipping iced coffee, calm and matter-of-fact — like signing a contract.
(It's fine. It's fine this way.)
Hanabi told herself so.
Because I have Onii-chan.
Kanei Narumi. Hanabi's homeroom teacher, a Japanese literature instructor. The person she had adored and called "Onii-chan" since she was small — the most important person in her world.
As long as that feeling was there, her relationship with Mugi could stay fake. Because it was fake, she could feel safe.
The chime rang.
"Stand. Bow."
Following the day-duty student's voice, Hanabi stood and bowed her head. Her classmates began to move toward their own after-school lives. Some headed to club activities, some home, some out of the classroom with friends.
As Hanabi slid her textbooks into her bag, she let her gaze drift, casual and unremarkable, toward the back of the room.
Mugi was still at his desk. He was looking out the window. His profile seemed quietly set apart from the noise of the classroom.
(What's he thinking about?)
She thought it for just a moment, then immediately pushed the thought away.
A fake girlfriend had no need to pry into her partner's heart.
"Hanabi-chan, club again today?"
The girl in the seat behind her spoke up. Hanabi instantly put on her honor-student smile.
"No, actually. I'm going shopping today. Over by Sanrio Street."
"Oh, with your boyfriend?"
"Well... something like that."
When Hanabi gave a slightly bashful smile, the girl's voice brightened.
"So it's true you're going out with Awaya-kun. You two really do look good together."
"You think so? Thank you."
Hanabi smiled sweetly.
(Good together, huh.)
The words caught somewhere in her chest.
They looked good together — on the surface. Inside, each of them was thinking of someone else. Even so, if the two of them walked side by side, from the outside they probably looked happy enough.
That struck her as a little funny.
Behind her, she sensed Mugi getting to his feet. Hanabi slung her bag over her shoulder and walked toward him.
"Mugi, let's go."
Mugi glanced at her and gave a small nod.
"Yeah."
The two of them left the classroom side by side.
Out in the hallway, the gazes of passing students gathered on them, just slightly.
"Hey, I heard those two are dating."
"Huh, really? Awaya-kun seems so cool and distant."
"But Yasuoka-san's perfect, so don't they suit each other?"
The voices, meant to be overheard, reached her back. Hanabi pretended not to hear and kept walking, smile intact.
(This is part of the act too.)
How they were seen by those around them. That, too, was an important job for a fake couple. To make it known throughout the school that "those two are together." That way, without being found out by the people they truly loved, they could hide each other's wounds.
They passed through the school gate and headed toward the station.
The April afternoon air was warm enough to bring a faint sheen of sweat. When they reached the riverside path along the Amanooka River, the wind rising off the water stirred Hanabi's bangs.
"It's hot today, isn't it."
Hanabi said it offhandedly.
"Yeah."
Mugi answered briefly.
And then the conversation lapsed.
(Still so quiet.)
Hanabi smiled wryly to herself.
But that was who Mugi was. He didn't talk more than necessary. He didn't show his emotions. As a fake boyfriend, he was actually an easy partner to have.
They passed through the rotary in front of the station and walked toward the shopping district.
Sanrio Street.
An eight-minute walk from Kagamigawa Station, a covered arcade four hundred meters long. About sixty shops stood in a row, and a little apart from the bustle of the station, it carried a nostalgic sort of atmosphere.
"It's been a while since I came here."
Hanabi looked up at the arcade's ceiling.
"Has it?"
"Yeah. Lately it's been nothing but the mall by the station."
"Huh."
Mugi was as curt as ever.
But Hanabi didn't mind.
Just the two of them walking side by side. That alone made them look like a happy couple to everyone around. Sure enough, the shoppers they passed kept glancing their way.
"Oh, isn't that Yasuoka-san?"
Suddenly a voice called from behind.
When she turned, there stood her classmate Mito and Ayumi.
Mito was a girl with glasses and a blunt-cut bob. Ayumi stood beside her, smiling brightly.
"Oh, Mito-san, Ayumi-chan. Hello."
Hanabi switched instantly to her honor-student smile.
"You two are on a date? You really do look perfect together."
Mito said it, sounding a little excited.
"Ehehe, thank you."
Hanabi gave a bashful laugh and lightly placed her hand on Mugi's arm.
Mugi stiffened for just an instant. But he relaxed right away and gave a small bow of his head.
"Hello."
"Awaya-kun, you're a lucky guy to be with Yasuoka-san."
Ayumi said it, beaming.
"...Yeah, I suppose."
Mugi answered briefly.
There was no feeling in his voice.
(Lucky guy, huh.)
Hanabi repeated it in her mind.
Lucky only on the surface. Inside, each of them was thinking of someone else. And yet here they were, arms linked, playing at being lovers.
(Fake happiness is surprisingly easy to manufacture.)
She thought that, and kept her smile as she waved to Mito and Ayumi.
"See you, then. Tomorrow at school."
"Yeah, bye-bye!"
After watching the two walk off, Hanabi let go of Mugi's arm.
"Sorry. I linked arms all of a sudden."
"It's fine. It's an act, right?"
Mugi said it without turning his head.
"I guess so."
Hanabi gave a small laugh.
(An act, huh.)
The word rang strangely in her chest today.
Why was that?
Normally, "it's an act, right?" would be enough to close the matter.
Today, beyond those words, she felt the distance in Mugi's heart.
(Mugi's somewhere else today.)
Hanabi stole a glance at his profile.
Fair skin, smooth hair, a clean, straight nose. However you looked at him, he was a beautiful boy straight out of a picture.
But his eyes were fixed somewhere far away.
(What are you thinking about?)
She wanted to ask.
But she couldn't.
The rules of the fake couple didn't include an item like "don't step into each other's hearts." And yet somehow, she felt she shouldn't ask.
"Want to go to Milpas?"
Hanabi said it in a bright voice.
"Sure."
The two headed for Milpas, a coffee shop in the middle of Sanrio Street.
Milpas was a small, two-story café. The first floor had a counter by the entrance, and the second floor had a row of window seats. The owner, Ooba Mamoru, was a quiet man in his sixties, famous for his tight lips — so tight that the place was called the graveyard of students' love gossip.
"Hello."
When Hanabi called out, Mamoru poked his head out from behind the counter.
"Oh, welcome. Window seats are open."
"Thank you."
Hanabi went up to the second floor with Mugi.
They took a seat by the window. This was Hanabi's favorite spot. From the window, she could see the arcade of Sanrio Street and the people passing through it.
"Two iced coffees, please."
Hanabi ordered from Mamoru.
"I'll have mine hot."
Mugi changed his order — unusual for him.
"Oh, sorry. Then one iced coffee and one hot coffee."
"Got it."
Mamoru nodded curtly and withdrew behind the counter.
Hanabi looked out the window.
Under the arcade, housewives carrying shopping bags and groups in school uniforms walked past. The April evening light reflected off the arcade's roof and spilled softly into the shop.
"It feels like it's been a while since I've had time to relax."
Hanabi said it, leaning back in her chair.
"Has it?"
"Yeah. Ever since the new semester started, it's been nonstop."
"You always handle everything perfectly, though."
Hanabi smiled a little at his words.
"If I look perfect, then my acting's not half bad."
"Acting, huh."
Mugi turned his eyes to the window.
His profile, again, was somehow distant.
The coffee arrived.
Hanabi's iced coffee, Mugi's hot coffee. Mugi wrapped both hands around the steaming cup.
"Mugi, you're quiet today. More than usual."
Hanabi said it while stirring her iced coffee with the straw.
"Am I?"
"Yeah. Kind of... somewhere else."
"...I'm normal."
Mugi took a sip of his coffee.
(Normal, huh.)
Hanabi tilted her head inwardly.
The normal Mugi, even if curt, would still toss the conversation back to her. But today he seemed somehow not quite here.
"Did something happen?"
She decided to ask.
Mugi was silent for a while.
Then he said, quietly, "...The other day, I ran into someone who used to tutor me in middle school."
Hanabi's hand stopped for an instant.
(A tutor.)
Something deep in her chest stirred.
"Oh, really? You got to see someone from the old days."
Hanabi nodded along with her honor-student smile.
"Yeah. I never thought I'd run into her there."
"Where did you meet?"
"The bookstore by the station. She called out to me first."
"Huh. What's she doing now?"
Hanabi asked, feigning calm.
(Stop. Don't ask.)
Somewhere in her heart, a part of her was screaming that.
But she couldn't help asking.
Mugi, still looking out the window, let his mouth soften just slightly.
"She's a music teacher at our school now. Her name's Minagawa Akane."
Hanabi's heart made a small sound.
Minagawa Akane.
The music teacher, Minagawa Akane.
Hanabi knew that name. No — it was more than knowing it.
(Akane-sensei was Mugi's tutor.)
The fact slowly took shape in her mind.
"...I see. What a coincidence."
Hanabi kept her smile.
But her fingertips had gone a little cold.
"Yeah. Akane-sensei is as beautiful as ever, and kind, and she really listens to what I have to say."
There was warmth in Mugi's voice.
Unconscious warmth.
Hanabi understood that painfully well.
(Mugi looks happy.)
Hanabi looked at his profile.
Mugi's eyes, which had been distant until a moment ago, now held a faint light.
Only when he was talking about Akane did Mugi come alive.
(He never shows me a face like that.)
Deep in Hanabi's chest, something gave a small crack.
"That's good. You got to see the person you admired again."
Hanabi said it with the best smile she could manage.
"Admired, huh. Yeah, maybe so."
Mugi laughed, a little embarrassed.
That smile pricked at Hanabi's chest.
(This is supposed to be fake.)
Hanabi took a sip of her iced coffee through the straw.
The cold liquid slid down her throat.
(This is supposed to be fake, so why—)
Her heart was restless.
She didn't know why.
Mugi was
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