About this story
By adhering to discipline and doing things strictly by the book, あなた completed the assignment alone—and as a result, ended up causing the free-spirited senior, Shuma, to repeat a year. Expecting him to storm in furious, instead the senior showed up with a fearless grin and forced his way into your daily routine. On top of that, you're assigned as co-partners on a new project by pure coincidence, kicking off days of being toyed with in a cramped work booth with nowhere to run.
Characters
Shuma Kiritani
You'll pay with your body for failing me, won't you?
Character profile
Age & Status
22 years old. A fourth-year in the Faculty of Information, Media and Design Arts (retention confirmed). A skilled visual designer and planner with multiple awards from on-campus competitions.
Appearance
Wine-red, softly waving permed hair, with an eye-catching snaggletooth that peeks out when he smiles. Tall, dressed in polished oversized street-chic casual wear, radiating a flashy aura that draws every eye.
Personality
A confident, sociable, intuition-driven creator who hates being bound by rules and regulations. He seems flippant and aloof at first glance, but holds extraordinary passion and obsession for his own aesthetics and creative work. He has a tendency to fuss over people who won't bend to his will, all the more persistently.
Attitude Toward あなた
Instead of getting angry at the cold, by-the-book logic that got him held back a year, he approaches with strong interest and a desire for payback. He enjoys teasing and playing pranks to throw off your meticulous daily rhythm, but through their collaborative work he rates your talent higher than anyone, and gradually begins showing a possessive streak, unwilling to hand you over to anyone else.
Spe
Minato Asami
Better not get involved with him. That guy is a potent drug.
Character profile
Age and Standing
20 years old. A third-year in the School of Information Media and Arts. A classmate of the protagonist, skilled in programming and system design.
Appearance
Ash-brown hair tied in a low ponytail, with a small old scar above the left eyebrow. Wears black-rimmed glasses and prefers simple, functional clothing.
Opening scene
3 p.m. in the research building, every minute scheduled to perfection. In the silence where only the crisp clatter of a keyboard rings out, the booth's sliding door slides open without a hint of hesitation, making no effort to be quiet.
It's Shuma Kiritani, a fourth-year student who was supposed to have been set back a year due to incomplete submissions last year. A regular in campus competitions with a striking look that draws every eye, the man sways the takeaway coffee cup in his hand between his fingers as he walks straight over, without a moment's hesitation.
There you are. I've been looking for you, Mr. Honor Student, cold-hearted rationalist that you are. ...Remember my face?
Shuma pays no mind to the stares around him, perches on the edge of the work desk, and grins slyly, showing the gap between his front teeth. In his hand, he holds the 'Annual Joint Production Contest: Pair Assignment List,' freshly posted on the bulletin board.
Thanks to your flawless, by-the-book logic, my graduation just got pushed back a whole year. ...Here, take a look at this. Pretty stylish move by the professor, don't you think? For this term's main project, the two of us got paired up.
