Every morning the same morning comes. So I will keep protecting the one who loves you most.
Haruto lives in an ordinary provincial city, enjoying a peaceful high school life. Clear skies, the same classroom, the unchanging smiles of friends. Every morning his little sister Hina jumps into his bed, his childhood friend Mao greets him with a smile, and his junior Hinata waits for him at the shoe lockers. Haruto has no idea why he's so popular. He just accepts the gentle days as they come.
Then a transfer student named Tsukasa appears. She's a tsundere—always putting up a tough front, ye
Every morning the same morning comes. So I will keep protecting the one who loves you most. - Rewinding Tuesday — The Guardian Who Pretends Not to Know
Morning light filtered through the gap in the curtains.
Haruto lay in bed, staring at the ceiling for a while. The hands of his alarm clock pointed to seven. It was still a little early for Hinata to come bursting in.
(Did something happen yesterday?)
He vaguely tried to recall the previous day. It had been an ordinary Monday. Hinata had woken him up, he'd walked to school with Mao, Hinata had been waiting at the shoe lockers, and in class his eyes had met Tsukasa, the transfer student. Just another day. That was all it should have been—and yet a small thorn seemed lodged deep in his chest.
Haruto looked at his left wrist. A faint white scar. An old mark he couldn't remember getting. Last night, just before sleep, he'd felt it grow hot for a single moment.
(Probably just my imagination.)
Having concluded that, Haruto sat up.
"Big brother, are you awake? You're up early today!"
Hinata's voice came from beyond the door. Apparently she'd come to check on him. Haruto pressed down his sleep-tousled black hair with one hand and sluggishly got out of bed.
"Yeah, just woke up."
"Liar. Your eyes were already open, weren't they? You getting up on your own—maybe spears'll rain from the sky tomorrow."
Hinata's laughter echoed from the hallway. Haruto let out a small sigh and headed for the washroom.
The morning in Tokiwa City was peaceful again today. Outside the window, the surface of the Kiri River reflected the morning sun, glittering brightly. This town sat in a basin surrounded by mountains, with a wide sky above. Ever since Haruto was born, this scenery had never changed. He'd taken that unchanging quality for granted.
He changed into his uniform and went downstairs to the living room. The dining table was set with breakfast that Hinata had prepared. Today it was fried eggs and sausages, plus miso soup. Steam rose from the bowls.
"I made the fried eggs soft today. You like them runny, right, big brother?"
Hinata smiled brightly as she removed her apron. Her smile was as cheerful as always, and Haruto gave a vague nod.
"I mean, either way's fine."
"Liar! You always complain when they're hard!"
Haruto gave up on arguing and picked up his chopsticks. The soft yolk broke and oozed over the white rice. Delicious. Hinata's cooking was always reliably good.
After finishing breakfast, he put on his shoes at the entryway. Today Hinata seemed to be leaving the house first—she had her school backpack on and was tying her shoelaces.
"...Big brother."
Hinata suddenly called out in a quiet voice. Haruto looked up. She was smiling. The same smile as yesterday—one that seemed to be holding something back.
"Come home properly again today, okay?"
"Of course. I'll come straight home after club."
Hinata said nothing more, gave a small wave, and left the house. Haruto watched her retreating figure, then went outside himself.
The sky was clear. Not a single cloud—a blue sky. Haruto walked along the Kiri River embankment on his way to school. The water's surface sparkled, and birds sang in the distance.
Under the cherry tree on the embankment, Mao was standing. Her black hair, reaching to her waist, was tied in a single bundle, and her soft brown eyes gazed at Haruto. Her white socks stood out in the morning light, and the air around her alone seemed gentler.
"Good morning, Haruto. You're a bit early today."
"Just a coincidence. It was a day Hinata left early."
Mao smiled and fell into step beside him. Naturally, on his left side. Ever since they were small, Mao had always walked on Haruto's left. He had accepted that as simply the way things were.
The two walked side by side along the embankment. The morning air was chilly, stinging slightly deep in his nose. It smelled of the river. Of water, of earth, of grass.
"The transfer student yesterday—her name's Tsukasa, right? You talked to her, didn't you?"
Mao suddenly brought that up. Haruto tilted his head.
"How do you know that?"
"It's the talk of the class. The transfer student was talking to Haruto. All the girls saw it."
Haruto was at a loss. Come to think of it, yesterday at lunch break, Tsukasa had spoken to him. So his classmates had seen that.
"It wasn't anything big. She just asked if I'd lived in this town my whole life."
"Huh, she asked that? What an odd girl."
Mao laughed, but her eyes were just a little serious. It was a habit of hers when she was thinking about something. Haruto, unaware, kept walking.
At the crosswalk, the light turned red. The two stopped. It was the morning commute hour, and students in the same uniform had gathered around the crosswalk.
That was when it happened.
"Hey, you two over there."
A voice came from behind. When he turned around, Tsukasa was standing there. A bright brown side ponytail. Her bangs seemed about to reach her eyes, and she brushed them aside with her hand as she stared at them. Her amber eyes, catching the morning light, were translucent like honey.
"Tsukasa-san?"
"I told you, you don't need the -san."
Saying that, Tsukasa strode over and stood in front of Mao. Then, without any warning, she positioned herself between Mao and the roadway.
Mao looked at Tsukasa with a blank expression.
"Um... what are you doing?"
Tsukasa crossed her arms and answered while facing forward.
"Nothing. If you suddenly dash out and get hit, it'd be a nuisance. I don't want to see that kind of thing first thing in the morning."
Mao blinked several times, then burst out laughing.
"What's that? I don't dash out into the street. I'm not a child."
"We'll see. On the morning commute, the ones walking while looking away are the most dangerous."
Tsukasa's voice was sharp. But her back was straight, firmly blocking the roadway. Haruto watched the scene from behind.
(The transfer student is getting along with Mao.)
That was how it looked to Haruto. An awkward transfer student trying to make friends. That was all it was.
But there was something in Tsukasa's back. A tension Haruto couldn't quite put into words. As if she knew something was about to happen.
The light turned green.
"Come on, let's go. If you dawdle, I'm leaving you behind."
Saying that, Tsukasa quickly started crossing the crosswalk. Mao looked at Haruto and gave a small laugh.
"She's an interesting girl. But somehow... desperate, I guess."
Mao murmured that and followed after Tsukasa. Haruto followed too. Tsukasa's back was small, yet it seemed strangely large.
When they arrived at school, Hinata was waiting in front of the shoe lockers. Her bright chestnut short bob bounced up and down. Her large, round black eyes lit up when they found Haruto.
"Senpai! Good morning! I got to see you again today!"
Hinata came running over. With that momentum, she nearly threw herself onto Haruto's arm but stopped herself just in time. She pulled out his indoor shoes without being asked and held them out with both hands.
"Here, senpai! Today I came to school looking forward to seeing you!"
"Morning, Hinata. You're energetic as always."
When Haruto replied that way, Hinata smiled happily. Her fang peeked out. Her smile really was like the sun.
"Oh, was Tsukasa-senpai with you too?"
Hinata noticed Tsukasa standing behind Haruto and tilted her head. Tsukasa, looking slightly awkward, brushed back her bangs.
"We just happened to take the same route. It's not like I walked to school with them or anything."
"Is that so! But coming together means you're close, right!"
"I'm telling you, we're not close!"
Tsukasa's voice rose a little. Hinata looked blank, then giggled.
"Tsukasa-senpai, you're shy, aren't you."
"Th-that's not it!"
Tsukasa's cheeks were just slightly red. Haruto watched the exchange absentmindedly.
(Tsukasa-san talks with Hinata too.)
That was what Haruto thought. The transfer student was trying to get along with classmates and juniors. That was a good thing. It should have been a good thing—and yet Tsukasa's eyes weren't smiling.
Tsukasa's amber eyes were fixed on Hinata's smile. That gaze wasn't the look one gave a friend—it was the look one gave something else entirely. Haruto couldn't tell what it was.
Lunch break.
As Haruto spread out his bento on his desk, Hinata poked her head in from the classroom entrance.
"Senpai! I brought you something!"
Hinata trotted over to Haruto's seat and held out a small package. Inside were what appeared to be handmade cookies.
"Wait, did you make these, Hinata?"
"Yes! I baked them with my big sister yesterday! I wanted you to eat them, senpai!"
Hinata smiled innocently. Haruto thanked her and took the package.
"Oh my, Hinata-chan really does like Haruto, doesn't she."
From the neighboring seat, Mao called out with a grin. Hinata's face turned bright red in an instant.
"Wh-why is Mao-senpai here!"
"Because I sit next to Haruto, that's why. But still, handmade cookies... Hinata-chan, you're quite something."
"Th-that's not it! This is, um, a token of gratitude! Because he's always looking after me!"
Hinata desperately denied it. Mao laughed even more happily.
"Oh, a token of gratitude, huh. Haruto, being this loved by a junior—what a sinful man you are."
"I haven't done anything, though."
When Haruto said that, Mao and Hinata both looked at him at the same time. Their gazes pierced straight through him.
"Senpai, do you seriously mean that?"
"Haruto really doesn't understand himself at all, does he."
Something passed between the two of them. Sparks that Haruto couldn't see—unconscious ones. Mao teased Hinata, and Hinata talked back to Mao. Haruto, at the center of it all, just ate his bento in confusion.
"Mao-senpai, it's unfair that you're just his childhood friend."
Hinata said, puffing out her cheeks. Mao laughed and patted Hinata's head.
"It's not unfair. I've just been next to Haruto since I was born. Hinata-chan, why don't you try your best from now on too?"
"Try my best at what!"
Haruto listened to their exchange in silence. He brought a piece of rolled egg from his bento to his mouth. Sweet. Hinata's—no, his sister's flavor.
Just then, he noticed Tsukasa standing at the classroom entrance. She had her arms crossed, watching them. After appearing to hesitate for a moment, she slowly walked over.
"You guys sure seem to be having fun."
Tsukasa stood in front of Haruto's desk. Hinata looked up at her.
"Ah, Tsukasa-senpai! Are you going to eat lunch with senpai too?"
"I'll eat at my own seat, thanks. I just came to warn you because you're being too loud."
Saying that, Tsukasa stood beside Hinata. Then, with a casual gesture, she pulled Hinata's chair away from the corner of the desk. Hinata's body shifted just slightly from the hallway side toward the wall side.
"You move around too much. What if you hit the corner of the desk and hurt yourself?"
"Huh, do I really move around that much?"
"You do. Watching you is nothing but nerve-wracking."
Tsukasa's tone was harsh. But her hand had firmly placed Hinata's chair in a safe position. Mao was watching the whole thing intently.
"Tsukasa-san, are you by any chance monitoring us?"
Mao's voice was joking. But her eyes weren't smiling. Tsukasa's movement stopped for an instant.
Tsukasa's fingertips trembled faintly. Haruto saw it. He saw it.
"Who would monitor someone like you? Don't be stupid."
Tsukasa turned her face away and spat that out. Her voice was as strong-willed as ever. But Haruto hadn't missed the trembling of her fingertips.
(Is Tsukasa-san nervous?)
Haruto tilted his head. He couldn't understand why Tsukasa would be nervous. Mao laughed and let Tsukasa's words slide.
"Sorry, sorry, I was joking. Tsukasa-san, you're funny."
Mao's voice was soft. But her eyes were still observing Tsukasa. Haruto just absentmindedly watched the air flowing between the two of them.
After school.
Haruto was descending the stairs with Hinata. Hinata was talking about her club, and Haruto listened while slowly taking one step at a time.
"And so, senpai! For the upcoming sports fes
Novelia is an AI-powered platform to read original light novels and fan fiction, create your own in just a few taps, and chat with the characters. New, illustrated episodes arrive daily — free to start.