Romance for Research
The next morning came early.
The morning air carried a peculiar chill, and with every breath I took, it felt like my lungs were being emptied with crystal clarity.
I was already out in my running shoes, jogging lightly along the park track.
Given that I had skipped yesterday’s physical education class, I probably should have rested longer. But after a full day of recovery, my body didn’t seem to be sending any signals of strain. On the contrary, every inch of me itched as though urging me to run.
Or more precisely, after piloting a real Dracore, I was feeling impatient.
I need to build my stamina.
That was what I had realized while controlling the Dracore yesterday.
To handle it better, I absolutely had to increase my physical strength. So I had come out for a run—the one thing I could start doing right away.
Each time my feet pushed off the ground, the cold, damp air brushed against my cheeks. The heavy thud of my heartbeat echoed in my ears, somehow adding rhythm to my stride.
I don’t know how long I had been running when a somewhat awkward voice called out from behind me.
“Um… Nakamura-kun?”
I caught my breath and turned around. To my surprise, Minase Haruka stood there, her face as fresh and clean as the dawn air itself.
The slightly hesitant way she had called my name felt unfamiliar, though.
Hadn’t she approached me with bright, bubbly energy the first time we met?
Rummaging through my hazy memories, I tried her name.
“…Minase?”
“Ah! I thought it might be you, and it is! Hehe~”
Haruka laughed brightly and jogged over. She was dressed in workout clothes, clearly out for a morning run as well.
“Good morning! But you remembered my name properly. Did I introduce myself last time?”
Maybe because I had known it so naturally. Haruka tilted her head, looking puzzled. I gave a suitably vague answer.
“Not exactly. I just… picked it up from around.”
“Aha.”
Perhaps it was her pure-hearted nature. Even my lame excuse drew no suspicion; Haruka simply nodded.
“Anyway, you came out to exercise too, Minase?”
“Yep! That’s right. I run every morning when I can.”
Come to think of it, I vaguely remembered that setting.
But did she actually live around here?
“Seeing you in the neighborhood this early, you must live nearby?”
“Right? That’s why I sometimes run into Yuzuki on the way to the academy.”
“Really?”
So Haruka lived close by. I hadn’t known.
Still, there was something that had been bothering me since earlier.
“By the way, Minase… last time you spoke to me pretty casually, didn’t you? Why the sudden change?”
“…Ah, that? Haha…”
Haruka scratched her cheek with an embarrassed grin.
“Actually, Iori scolded me about it. She said even if the other person is older, speaking without any reservation isn’t polite.”
“……”
I see… So Iori had corrected her speech.
Haruka smiled awkwardly and brushed her hair back.
“Sorry. Was I too rude last time?”
“…I didn’t really mind.”
She had spoken so naturally that day that I hadn’t even noticed. Besides, I already knew that was just how her character was.
Haruka tilted her head, studying my expression.
“By the way, are you sure your body is okay? It hasn’t been that long since you left the hospital. Is it really fine to be exercising already?”
“It’s still a bit much, honestly, but I was feeling cooped up.”
I gave an awkward smile.
“Ehh? No way! What if you hurt yourself?”
“I know, but I want to raise my stamina quickly. After piloting the Dracore yesterday, I really felt how lacking I am.”
“Aha… I know exactly what that feels like. That’s why I run every morning like this.”
Haruka smiled brightly, as though she had found a fellow comrade.
“Since we’ve run into each other like this, it must be fate! Want to follow my usual route together?”
“Sure, why not.”
I had planned to just jog around the neighborhood alone anyway, so this worked out nicely.
“Then follow me!”
I nodded at Haruka’s cheerful words and fell in behind her.
2.
“Haa… haa…”
My heart felt like it was about to explode. She had called it a light run, but Haruka’s pace was quite fast by my standards. Just how quickly did she usually run?
Maybe she heard my labored breathing, because she kept adjusting her speed, which was the only reason I had managed to last this long.
If she had kept the original pace, I would probably be collapsed on the ground by now.
After some time, Haruka finally stopped and declared we had reached the goal, then disappeared somewhere for a moment.
I dropped heavily onto a nearby bench, gasping for air.
Feeling the world spin around me, I let out a hollow laugh.
…I’m going to have to work a lot harder.
My original body wouldn’t have given out from something like this. It was a shame that this Yuto hadn’t enjoyed regular exercise.
Thanks to that, frustration welled up at how easily this body tired despite my will. Still, I tried to pull myself together.
“…Hm?”
Suddenly something cold pressed against my cheek. I turned my head to find Haruka holding out a bottle of water.
“Here. I bought it at the store nearby. You’re welcome, right?”
“…Thanks.”
It was an unexpected kindness. So that’s where she had gone—she had run to the convenience store.
I gulped the water down as though my throat were on fire. Haruka smiled and said,
“Still, for your first time you followed along with surprising persistence.”
“…You think so?”
“Yep! Next time let’s push harder and finish the full route.”
“Full route? Wasn’t that the whole thing?”
“We only did about half just now.”
“……”
Only half? I was speechless.
What was even more frightening was that despite running that distance, Haruka still looked overflowing with energy. As expected of such an energetic character—her stamina was on another level.
No wonder Iori often looked drained.
While those thoughts ran through my mind, Haruka suddenly spoke up.
“Want to exchange numbers?”
“…Numbers?”
“Yeah. It’d be nice to run together again. Running with someone is more fun than running alone, right?”
“……”
The other girls at the academy were the same. The women in this world were fascinating in many ways. They approached men with surprisingly little reservation.
Well, there was no downside to getting Haruka’s number. If anything, having a running partner every morning would be enjoyable. Without hesitation, I pulled out my phone.
We exchanged numbers just like that.
After confirming my name had appeared in her chat, Haruka beamed.
“Perfect! Exchange complete. I’ll be running tomorrow too—will you come out?”
“…Sure. Should I message you when I’m heading out?”
“Yes, please contact me around then.”
“Got it.”
Somehow I had gained a connection with Haruka.
It hadn’t been intentional, but it turned out to be a rather unexpected morning.
3.
“How is life at the academy? Do you think you’ll adapt well?”
At my father’s question I paused with my chopsticks and looked up.
“Yes. I don’t think there’s anything major to worry about.”
Father let out a thin sigh. The corners of his mouth softened slightly, as though relieved.
“…Good. That’s a relief.”
Then he turned to Yuzuki.
His expression seemed indifferent, yet his gaze carried a trace of caution.
“Do you still feel any reluctance about coupling with Yuto?”
The question itself was calm, but it pressed down strangely on the air above the dinner table.
Yuzuki’s shoulders trembled faintly. Her spoon clinked against the bowl.
“Um…”
She paused as if steadying her breath, then continued in a slightly lower voice.
“I’ve… grown somewhat used to it now. So there’s no need to worry about that matter.”
Father watched her for a moment, then tilted his head with a complicated expression.
“Yesterday’s practice log showed your synchronization rate has risen even further. Any idea why?”
“……”
Yuzuki didn’t answer. Her fingertips simply moved in silence. She seemed to be hesitating over what to say.
I was the same. In that moment, I could only keep my mouth firmly shut.
Seeing us like that, Father seemed to interpret it differently and gave a quiet nod.
“You don’t know either. That’s fine. You’ll understand with time.”
You’ll understand the reason.
Those words sent a chill down my spine.
I glanced carefully at Yuzuki. On the surface she maintained an expressionless face at Father’s words, but her eyes were trembling ever so slightly.
What Father wanted from us was surely a strong sibling bond.
But could we really say such a bond existed between us?
It wasn’t that our relationship was bad. If anything, we had grown closer than ever before.
However, anyone who wasn’t a fool could feel it.
What was blooming between us now was an emotion far too unfamiliar to simply call sibling intimacy.
Yet there was no way I could tell Father that.
So an unavoidably lukewarm silence hovered over the dinner table—until Father spoke again.
“…Yuto. May I ask you one thing?”
“What is it?”
“Are you currently dating any girl?”
“…Cough.”
The completely unexpected question made me choke.
I sometimes wondered what kind of person our father really was. Was he simply a research-obsessed madman, or was there a warm parent hidden inside? Or maybe he existed somewhere in between.
Why was he suddenly asking this?
Had he suddenly taken an interest in his son’s love life?
While those thoughts spun in my head, I felt a sharp gaze from the side.
Yuzuki continued eating with her usual calm expression, but her eyes were blatantly fixed on my face. It was as if she were watching intently to see how I would answer.
Why are you staring at me like that, Yuzuki?
I couldn’t say it out loud. Instead I turned to Father.
“…Father. What is the purpose of this question?”
Father lowered his gaze for a moment, then continued without hesitation.
“It’s related to the research. As you know, the effect of familial bonds on synchronization is significant. However, I also need data on what kinds of changes occur with emotional bonds such as those between lovers.”
He took a short breath and added without reservation,
“So if there is a girl at the academy who catches your eye, it would be good to date as many as possible. That way we can gather synchronization data from lover relationships rather than familial ones.”
“……”
In short…
He was telling me to go to the academy and seduce girls.