It's been a while since the last update, and this will be an announcement.

It has been decided that this work will be published as a book.

It will be released on June 30th by Famitsu Bunko.

Since it's a work I have a very personal attachment to,

I am very happy to be able to release it to the world in the form of a book.

This is all thanks to the readers.

I have read the feedback you provided multiple times.

From here on, it's more of a request, or rather, an advertisement.

If you don't mind, I would greatly appreciate it if you could take a look and show your support.

The reason is that this work deals with the subject of cigarettes.

It seems that I can't run ads on the WEB.

Since the means of promotion are restricted, it will become disadvantageous.

If I stop putting cigarettes on the cover

It seems that I can also run WEB ads, but...

In this work, cigarettes are an important item, and...

I really want to see Rui holding a cigarette.

I thought that no matter what, I wanted to feature the cigarettes on the cover, so I decided to go in that direction even if it was disadvantageous.

Additionally, there are scenes in the story where the underage protagonist drinks alcohol.

Such works are revised.

Sometimes, making a book can actually make the work more polished and reduce its charm.

In this work, the editor did their best to keep it as it is.

Additionally, the added text and illustrations are very wonderful.

I take pride in the fact that even those who have read it once will still enjoy it.

I won't let you regret it.

If you buy the first volume,

I believe I will have the opportunity to continue writing,

I would be grateful if you could support me...!

◇◇◇

The university's smoking area is located in a place that doesn't get any sunlight.

Between the school buildings, partitions stand lined up to hide from view, and in the dim shadows, smokers puff on their cigarettes.

Since it's just during class, there are few people. Actually, there are none.

The only one here is Rui-san.

Holding a cigarette between slender fingers, gazing vacantly into the void, letting the smoke drift. Eyes cold and gray, chillingly awake.

"Rui-san."

When I call out to her, Rui-san's eyes regain their color.

"Yuito-kun, hello. But why are you here?"

"Why do you think so? It's because you called me."

I said, holding up my smartphone. On the screen was the exchange of messages between Rui-san and me.

"Since I'm free, would you like to come and chat?"

Today was a day when classes ended early. So, I came here after class.

"That's right."

Rui-san said, deliberately sticking out her tongue. In the middle of her tongue, a glimmering piercing was resting.

"Shall we go to a café somewhere?"

"No. I'll stay here."

After saying that, I sat down next to Rui-san. The café outside is too bright for me. The dimness of the smoking area, almost to the point of being pathetic, is just right.

Besides, here we are alone.

Non-smokers don't come to the smoking area. They don't want to go out of their way to inhale poison. Except for peculiar people like me.

In a way, this is a space protected from the outside world.

"Should I put out the fire?"

"Please don't hesitate to smoke. This is a designated smoking area."

"Well then, I'll take you up on your offer."

After saying that, Rui-san starts smoking again. Sitting right next to her, I gaze at her profile as she smokes.

I think it's beautiful after all. But I won't say it out loud. The moment I say it, those words become trivial.

I don't want Rui-san to think I'm a boring, clichéd person. I don't care what anyone else thinks, but I don't want her to think that. So, I won't say it.

Earlier, while asking if she should put out the fire, Rui-san probably had no intention of doing so. She was certain I would answer that it was fine.

I want to be someone who can meet those expectations.

"Did you know? It seems that people who are near smokers and inhale their cigarette smoke are more likely to get sick than the smokers themselves."

While smoking a cigarette, Rui-san says that while looking at me, who is currently inhaling the secondhand smoke right next to her.

"Don't you think it's unreasonable that Yuito-kun, who doesn't smoke, is the one who suffers more than I, who does?"

"Indeed, it's truly unreasonable."

While I smile wryly, I also think it's fine. If I can watch Rui-san enjoy smoking from the best seat in the house, that's more than enough compensation. If anything, it's worth more than that.

Besides, humans will eventually die. Whether it's from illness or an accident, we don't know.

If a disease is discovered in the distant future and it turns out to be caused by Rui-san's smoking, at least I feel like it would be better than dying from another illness.

Besides, I won't die just yet. As long as I can stay alive until Rui-san witnesses the bomb I made, and until Rui-san witnesses the bomb she made, that's enough for me.

But this is exactly like the relationship between Rui-san and me.

By smoking, Rui-san seems to be corrupting my body just by being near her. Being by Rui-san's side, my life is gradually being driven to madness.

Rui-san is surely living by spreading poison. While living happily, she continues to spread poison that destroys the lives of those around her.

The more I stay by her side, the more that poison spreads through my body. And someday, I will inevitably reach a point of no return.

But that's okay. I'm sure I won't regret it.

While thinking about such things, I was watching Rui-san smoke a cigarette.

While inhaling that smoke, that poison into my body.

Side Story 1: Important Announcement