Chapter V | “Forever Inseparable” for Flag 3.

♣♣♣

Three days later, early morning.

The storm had passed.

I bought sunflowers from a nearby florist and quickly processed them into preserved flowers. Since the flowers were smaller, I also remade the tiara.

And yesterday, after Obon ended, Himari returned.

Recently, we’ve been having our usual arguments like “Yuu, what are you doing!?” but Hibari-san mediated everything. Despite being tired from traveling, he stayed with me all night.

“…Alright. It’s finally finished.”

I let out a deep breath.

The sunflower tiara. It’s not quite the masterpiece from three days ago, but it’s good enough to sell…

The sliding door was slightly illuminated… Wait, I was startled! Himari had fallen asleep with her arm draped over my shoulder.

She must’ve been watching me work while clinging to my neck as usual. I was too focused on the final adjustments to notice. No wonder my shoulder hurts…

(…But this makes me remember that kiss.)

Her soft hair brushed against my cheek. Her warm breath grazed my neck, and with each breath, her chest pressed against my back. …This is bad. I’m getting super nervous.

While I was thinking, “What do I do? I can’t move unless I wake Himari, but the work’s done, so maybe I’ll stay like this for a while…” the sliding door opened.

“Yuu-kun, I’m coming in. …Oh?”

It was Hibari-san. Before I could react, he entered with a tray carrying rice balls and tea.

Seeing our position, Hibari-san smiled warmly.

“Want me to turn Himari’s arm into a scarf and take it home?”

“No, that’s terrifying! What kind of thought process led to that!?”

“Hahaha. Just a joke. You two were so dazzling that I couldn’t resist teasing you.”

It’s hard to tell!

He also had faint dark circles under her eyes, so he probably stayed up waiting for me. He’s incredibly kind, but a sleep-deprived Hibari-san’s jokes are way too unsettling.

At the sound of my retort, Himari woke up.

“Mmm… Oh, morning.”

“G-good morning…”

Even with drool on her mouth wetting my collar, the waking beauty was still adorable as ever.

Himari blinked her eyes a few times and gracefully got up. She opened the sliding door, looked outside, and stretched. She’s always in a good mood in the morning.

“Ah, I fell asleep after getting my long-awaited Yuu fix last night.”

“What’s this ‘Yuu fix’? Stop making up weird stuff, okay?”

“It’s not weird! Big bro says it too.”

“Hibari-san!?”

Hibari-san smoothly ignored me and placed the tray of rice balls on the table.

“Now, let’s see the results, shall we?”

“Ah, yes!”

I presented the recently finished tiara to Hibari-san.

Himari leaned in to look as well.

“Oh, it’s great! I think it’s really cute.”

“Ah, thanks…”

I couldn’t help but feel embarrassed.

Then Himari turned to Hibari-san for agreement.

“Right, big bro?”

“…………”

Huh?

Hibari-san looked serious, staring intently at the tiara.

“Hibari-san. Is there something wrong…?”

“Ah, no, it’s not that.”

He smiled warmly.

“I think it’s a great piece. You really pulled it together in these three days. Kureha-kun should be satisfied with this.”

Something seemed off.

Well, Hibari-san doesn’t lie. I’ll just trust his words.

“Alright, let’s get ready. Kureha-kun should have arrived last night.”

We nodded and packed the tiara into its case.

After getting ready, we left in Hibari-san’s car.

On the way, we stopped by Enomoto-san’s house. When we picked her up, she declared with determination,

“Today, I’m finally going to catch my sister.”

“Enomoto-san. What’s in that big bag?”

She was carrying a bulky, mismatched backpack.

Enomoto-san shyly smiled and answered cutely,

“It’s a secret.”

“Oh, okay. Well, good luck catching her…”

I could see something like a thick chain peeking through the zipper.

Uh, are we sure this is okay? Is it really fine to take her to my house like this? This won’t end up with the police, will it?

As I nervously trembled, our convenience store came into view.

…The day of the promise had finally arrived.

♣♣♣

We arrived at nine in the morning.

Kureha-san was already up, having a graceful cup of tea in our living room with Saku-neesan. When we entered, she greeted us with a bright smile.

“Ah! Yuu-chan, Himari-chan, good morning~_☆”

“G-good morning.”

She waved her hand energetically, her excitement palpable.

Just as I was thinking she seemed way too relaxed, Kureha-san’s body was suddenly bound with chains. Enomoto-san clicked a lock in place behind her.

She was dragged away.

“Onee-chan. Let’s go home.”

“Wait, Rion! I told you to stop being so rough!”

“Quiet. You always run away when I’m not looking. Today, I’m making sure Mom scolds you.”

“Mom’s already given up on me!”

“She only gave up because she couldn’t catch you.”

Enomoto-san turned to us at the living room exit.

She bowed her head.

“Thank you for having us.”

With that, she left the living room… Wait, hold up!

“Enomoto-san, wait, wait!”

“…Hmph.”

That was close.

With my judgment dulled from lack of sleep, I almost let her leave like that. What kind of story ends with the final boss being dragged away by her family?

“Uh, Enomoto-san. I, uh, still need to talk to Kureha-san. If possible, could you wait until after that…?”

“…If Yuu-kun says so.”

Kureha-san, still bound in chains, was seated on the sofa.

Uh, what is this situation? If my parents came home right now, they’d definitely get the wrong idea…

Meanwhile, Kureha-san completely ignored the situation and smiled cheerfully.

“Alright, let’s see Yuu-chan’s accessory~_♪”

“Y-yes. Thank you.”

I was super nervous. My hands were shaking.

I opened the case and carefully placed the sunflower tiara on the table in front of Kureha-san.

Enomoto-san let out an impressed sigh.

“It’s cute.”

“Ah, thank you.”

I didn’t know how to react to being praised in front of everyone. …And why was Himari looking so smug? If I reacted, it’d only make things worse, so I’ll definitely not touch that.

“…………”

Saku-neesan, as usual, silently watched while munching on Pocky.

Hibari-san also… Huh? Why is Hibari-san looking at Saku-neesan with a tense expression? That’s a bit concerning, but I’ll let it slide for now.

Anyway, Kureha-san’s reaction is the most important right now…

“Wow~, it’s so cute~. It’s much more elaborate than what I saw on Instagram~_♪”

…Huh?

She was smiling far more than I expected… no, beyond anything I could’ve imagined.

“Is this a wedding tiara? The sunflowers are bold and stylish~. The tiara is understated but intricately made~. Yep yep, I think it’s really great~_♪”

She was praising it unreservedly.

Her reaction was so genuinely positive that I started suspecting there was some hidden agenda. Himari and Enomoto-san were also stunned.

“Um, do you really think so?”

“Of course~! If something’s cute, it’s cute~. I want it~. Are you planning to sell this?”

I was left speechless.

The whole thing ended so anticlimactically. What was the point of all the thinking I did over the past three weeks? Well, thinking positively, maybe it’s because of all that thinking that it turned out this way?

Anyway, I was relieved by her favorable impression.

If I won this match, I could ask her to let Himari go. I took a deep breath and asked Kureha-san for confirmation.

“So, does this mean I’ve won…?”

“Hmm~? Is that so~?”

She was teasing me.

It was a strange response. Kureha-san liked it, but the match wasn’t settled?

The unsatisfied feeling was shared by Himari and Enomoto-san, who exchanged confused looks.

Only Hibari-san seemed to have realized something, clicking his tongue softly. His expression made me feel uneasy.

Confirming my bad feeling, Kureha-san crossed her arms dramatically.

In other words… it was a ‘×’.

With the same unchanging smile, Kureha-san declared loudly,

“It’s cute, but you lose~_♪”

“Wha…?”

I couldn’t help but raise my voice.

“Did you plan to make me lose no matter what I made!?”

“I wouldn’t do something that unfair~. If Yuu-chan had made something good, I was prepared to let Himari-chan go~.”

“Then, why…?”

At my words, Kureha-san smiled.

It didn’t change at all. …That cold, doll-like smile.

“Of course~? The condition of this match was for you to show your best work. Yet here you are, trying to fool me with a failure. Don’t you think that’s the weird part~?”

“Th-that’s not true! I always put my all into my accessories…”

Kureha-san sighed.

“Then why did you bring a second-rate piece~?”

“…!?”

My words froze.

My silence was all the confirmation she needed. There was no point in trying to cover it up. It was clear Kureha-san had some kind of proof.

“H-how did you…?”

“I know the sunflowers wilted~. Saku-chan told me~_♪”

…Huh?

I was speechless at how calmly she revealed this.

Saku-neesan, who’d apparently told her about the wilted flowers, continued munching Pocky with a calm expression. She glanced at me briefly before turning back to the TV.

Kureha-san’s cold gaze pierced through me.

“Yuu-chan. You tried to deceive me, didn’t you~?”

“Th-that wasn’t my intention…”

“Then why didn’t you honestly tell me about the main sunflowers wilting~?”

“Well, I thought if I could make it in time for the match…”

“Make it in time for what?”

“…!?”

What was I about to say just now?

More than Kureha-san’s interrogation, I was stunned by the words I almost blurted out.

“If I made it in time for the match, it wouldn’t matter, right?”

Those deeply swallowed words lodged themselves into my body like a wedge.

I could feel them becoming a weight in my heart, refusing to dissolve or disappear.

Kureha-san’s interest shifted from me. She turned to Hibari-san and let out a mocking laugh.

“I was expecting more since Hibari-kun vouched for you~. I’m really disappointed~.”

“…………”

Hibari-san, who had been silently watching, bit his lip tightly.

His expression told me there was no room for rebuttal. No, more than that… seeing Hibari-san, the prideful demon, making such a face was unbearable.

Kureha-san, as if the conversation was over, looked at Enomoto-san.

“Rion, let’s go~. It’s been a while since we’ve seen Mom’s face~.”

“…Okay.”

As she was dragged out of the living room by Enomoto-san, her eyes turned to Himari. She smiled brightly and called out.

“Well then, Himari-chan. I’ll message you later about what’s next~_♪”

“Ku-Kureha-san! I…”

But Kureha-san silenced her with a glare.

“Being clingy ruins your cuteness, you know~?”

“…!”

Silently bound by Enomoto-san, Kureha-san left with a “Bye-bye~.”

♣♣♣

Silence filled the living room.

Our gazes turned to Saku-neesan.

Sitting on the sofa with her legs crossed, Saku-neesan popped a handful of Pocky into her mouth. As she chewed, she glanced at me.

After swallowing, she let out a sigh.

“Looks like you have something to say.”

“…Why did you tell Kureha-san about the main sunflowers wilting?”

Himari gasped, then, unusually, snapped at Saku-neesan.

“Yeah! Saku-neesan, weren’t you supporting Yuu!?”

But Saku-neesan remained calm.

“Don’t get it wrong. I wasn’t supporting my foolish brother. I was supporting Himari-chan.”

“M-me…?”

Saku-neesan nodded clearly.

“I only told him to straighten up because he’s responsible for Himari-chan’s life. If he’s not serious about his accessories anymore, it’s better to quit early.”

Her words were laced with clear disdain.

“Saku-neesan. Are you saying I’m not serious about accessories…?”

Saku-neesan pulled an accessory case from her pocket.

She placed it on the table and opened it. Inside was… my accessory?

“Idiot brother. Do you remember this?”

…I remember.

This is one of the pieces I made last month… during that accessory incident at school. A custom accessory for a student. Why does Saku-neesan have it?

“I was called to the school back then to discuss some accounting issues with ‘you.’”

“…Now that you mention it, I think I heard something like that.”

The incident where a parent of the student who bought my accessory filed a complaint. When I was called in, my guidance counselor, Mr. Sasaki, mentioned something like that. Since I didn’t hear anything after that, I assumed there was no issue.

“S-so, did they say anything then…?”

“There wasn’t a problem. Mr. Sasaki is understanding, and the accounting side didn’t have any issues. …Except for this accessory.”

“Is there something wrong with this accessory…?”

“Look closely.”

She tapped the table with her finger.

It was a hairpin, adorned with a preserved flower, like the tulip one I made for Enomoto-san.

“…Ah.”

The flower had wilted.

The same thing that happened to the sunflower tiara three days ago.

“There were two more like this, and one with cracked petals. Do you understand what this means?”

“…………”

As I was left speechless, Saku-neesan continued.

“Do you remember around April? I told you to aim for a higher stage and create accessories based on ‘love.’”

“I remember, but…”

It was the day I repaired Enomoto-san’s Moonflower Bracelet. Saku-neesan gave me that task because I had few repeat customers for my accessories. It was also the reason I ended up making the tulip hairpin for Enomoto-san.

“I know you worked hard on the task I gave you, in your own way. You even found a reason to aim higher. But in the process, something was exposed. You’re fundamentally not suited to be a creator.”

Saku-neesan stood up.

In the corner of the living room was a cardboard box. She brought it over and opened it. We were shocked by what we saw inside.

“These are all my accessories…?”

There were a large number of accessories I had made. …Including some from the middle school cultural festival.

She laid them out on the table one by one. Each case was labeled with the date I had sold the accessory.

“None of the accessories you’ve sold so far have been defective. Well, I can’t say for sure about the ones you sold to other clients. But it’s a fact that out of this many samples, not a single one was defective.”

She tapped one of the accessories on the table.

It was from this year… April.

“In the four months since I gave you that task, there were four defective items. And these were custom orders. What’s the difference between these past works and the custom orders?”

I thought about it. No, I didn’t need to think.

It wasn’t a matter of technique or the parts used. It wasn’t even about listening carefully to the clients’ needs.

The problem was my mental state during that period.

My feelings for Himari had overwhelmed me, and I was too distracted by them. In other words, my personal life had taken up too much of my capacity, negatively affecting my work.

“The reason you’ve been able to act like a creator so far is because you didn’t have anything else to focus on. The fact that a little distraction from love caused your concentration to plummet is proof of that.”

“Saku-neesan, wait. It’s true that the main tiara failed during production. But I still managed to make this one. Even Kureha-san said it was cute…”

Saku-neesan’s deep sigh cut me off.

“You. Did you used to be the type to be satisfied with others’ evaluations?”

“…!?”

She picked up the tiara from the table.

“The sunflower tiara. I think it’s nice. A wedding item filled with the sentiment of ‘Only looking at you.’ It’s an outstanding idea.”

Then, she turned a sharp gaze toward me.

“If this had been a real wedding commission, what would you have done?”

Her words made me hold my breath.

“A once-in-a-lifetime stage. The person you’ve chosen as your destined partner. In front of the family and friends who’ve supported your life… Could you proudly hand over this rushed tiara as the centerpiece of the occasion?”

Saku-neesan traced the outline of the tiara.

“All your past accessories showed your full effort. Technically, they might not be as good as this tiara. But you always pursued perfection within the time you had. Is this tiara really the best you could do?”

“…………”

I couldn’t say it was.

This tiara was a ‘substitute’ because the main one’s sunflower had wilted.

The sunflowers on this substitute are much smaller than the ones I picked from the sunflower field. As a result, the tiara itself is smaller than I initially planned. That makes it… less impactful than the main one. It’s a fatal flaw that reduces its appeal.

Wedding tiaras are meant to be worn in large spaces. I chose large sunflowers so they’d be visible even to guests seated far away. Failing to meet that requirement makes this a failed piece.

“You couldn’t even take accessories seriously in a once-in-a-lifetime match. Did you really think Kureha would just give in? Haven’t you gotten too used to being treated kindly since middle school?”

She placed the sunflower tiara in front of me.

As if to tell me to face the consequences of my distractions, she tapped the table irritably.

“You should know that flowers given too much fertilizer wither. If you want to be a creator, drop that naive mindset. If you’re going to prioritize love, stop dragging others (clients) into it.”

Her cold gaze pinned me in place.

Saku-neesan is always right.

That rightness always defeats me—this time was no different.

“Wanting to stay with someone who stifles your growth isn’t a bond of fate—it’s selfishness. Be ashamed of yourself for bringing this half-baked tiara to a business meeting.”

With that, Saku-neesan left the living room. The sound of her climbing the stairs echoed, followed by the sound of her bedroom door closing. Saku-neesan is on the night shift, so she’ll probably sleep until her next shift. What’s a big deal to me is just a minor event for her.

In the silence of the house, I was left in a daze.

…It’s not that Saku-neesan’s words were a surprise. They were all spot-on.

They exposed everything I had vaguely felt but avoided facing—letting my feelings for Himari and the encouragement from Hibari-san cloud my judgment.

Seeing Hibari-san’s apologetic expression hurt, too. Hibari-san’s not at fault. It’s all me.

As Himari was being led away by Hibari-san, she suddenly turned back.

“Hey, Yuu…”

“Himari.”

I cut her off.

She was probably going to comfort me. I couldn’t handle that.

“What I said before making this tiara… Sorry, forget it.”

For a moment, Himari’s face twisted in sadness.

She didn’t say anything more. As Himari left with Hibari-san, I was alone in the living room. I picked up the sunflower from the tiara… and quietly crushed it in my hand.

♢♢♢

The next day. In the sweltering heat of the afternoon.

I visited Anko Coffee Bake near Aeon. The American-style interior, delicious hamburgers made with authentic techniques, and a wonderful café—this bakery was way too good for this rural town.

In the middle of the six-seater table at the center, the one who called me out was sitting.

The poster boy of our school’s flashy, frivolous guys—Makishima-kun.

He was wearing a plain T-shirt with a casual shirt layered over it. His bottoms were seven-eighth-length jeans. ……Seems like he didn’t go to club activities today.

Makishima-kun had already ordered a hamburger and was eating. When I sat down across from him, he gave me an irritating smirk, as if to say, So you came after all.

“What do you want?”

“Nahaha. You’re finally dropping the act, huh?”

“Honestly, I’m too busy to even bother with your jokes. What do you want, calling me out like this?”

“Busy? Ah, right. You’ve got to prepare to go to Tokyo, after all.”

……When I shot him an annoyed look, he shrugged as if to say, Just kidding. He handed me the menu and urged me to order.

“It’s on me. The sandwich menu changes weekly, but they’re all good. For drinks, I’d recommend the café latte, the special ginger ale, or the lemonade.”

“……Then, just an iced café latte.”

Makishima-kun took a sip of his ginger ale.

“I’m sure you’ve already thought of a way to avoid going to Tokyo, Hii-chan. Or maybe a way to escape after you get there?”

“……Well, yeah.”

There’s no point lying to this guy.

He’d see right through me anyway……and it’s not like it’d cause any problems if he found out.

“I won’t let things go your way.”

“What are you talking about? You heard from Yuu, right? I’m not doing anything this time.”

“There’s no point lying to me. Sorry, but I don’t see you as a friend like Yuu does.”

“It’s not a lie. I’m not asking you to believe me, but you don’t have to treat me like a villain every time, do you?”

How shameless…….

As we spoke, my iced café latte arrived. I took a sip through the straw. The bitterness and sweetness were perfectly balanced.

“Wow, this is delicious……”

“Right? I do say things that benefit you sometimes.”

His smug smile was infuriating.

Makishima-kun opened his mouth wide and bit into his hamburger, which was a size larger than the ones at fast food chains.

He chewed it with gusto, then licked the sauce off the corner of his mouth.

“What I’m plotting starts from here.”

“…………?”

When I frowned, Makishima-kun said with delight,

“Hii-chan. Just obediently join Kureha-san’s agency and aim for the top in that field.”

“…………Are you serious?”

Makishima-kun reached into his chest pocket for a folding fan……but his hand was empty. Guess he didn’t have it on him since he’s in casual clothes.

He looked slightly embarrassed, then just flapped his hand like a fan. What a dork…….

“Dead serious. Super serious. Since you can’t escape Kureha-san anyway, it’s better to make positive use of that opportunity.”

“Even though we’re not working together, you’re trying to score points with Kureha-san? Come to think of it, you’ve always admired Kureha-san, haven’t you? You’ve got a pretty pure side, huh?”

“Nahaha. Say whatever you want. Sorry, but unlike you, I don’t feel guilty about my own love.”

“……Sorry, but my top priority is fulfilling my promise to Yuu. Sure, there’s the money issue, so it won’t be easy, but I won’t give up.”

Makishima-kun was silent for a while.

His cloudy eyes stared at me intently. Eventually, he muttered, “I see,” and made a gesture as if opening a fan to cover his mouth.

“If that’s your true feelings, it’s even more puzzling. If you’re thinking of Yuu, why don’t you take Kureha-san’s offer?”

“……What do you mean?”

He sighed.

As if explaining was a bother, he shrugged his shoulders.

“In terms of spreading Yuu’s accessories, Kureha-san’s scouting is the ultimate winning move, isn’t it? If you’re serious about this little game of youth, isn’t it strange to refuse Kureha-san’s offer?”

“……!?”

He finally hit the nail on the head.

I remembered the cultural festival in middle school when Yuu and I first teamed up.

Yuu’s accessories sold out with my help……No, that’s a lie. The one who actually helped was ‘Kureha-san.’

If Kureha-san hadn’t promoted them, there’s no way an unknown middle schooler’s original accessories would’ve sold out.

And now, more than a year into high school, I’ve been doing the same thing as Kureha-san. I’ve been promoting accessories on SNS using myself as a model.

But I’ve never achieved explosive sales like that. Even though the accessories have gotten more and more attractive, I still can’t match the impact of Kureha-san’s single photo post.

The only difference between me and Kureha-san is one thing.

The difference in the model’s popularity.

It’s not uncommon for comedians to publish novels and make them bestsellers.

People who make scriptwriting their livelihood already have the quality of their stories down, but that alone doesn’t guarantee sales. What’s needed is the person’s fame.

The term ‘influencer’ has become widespread. People assume that if a celebrity endorses something, it must be good. As a sales strategy, there’s nothing wrong with that.

If I want to become a model on par with Kureha-san……the best way is to learn from her. It’s a theory even a child could understand.

Makishima-kun pointed at me sharply, as if directing a folding fan toward my chin.

“Hii-chan, your strong point is your cuteness. But the battlefield to refine that isn’t here. Pretend to take Kureha-san’s offer and learn how to properly utilize your cuteness. You’re good at rolling others over for your own benefit, aren’t you?”

“B-but, I have to support Yuu’s accessory-making……”

“Use Rin-chan for that. Rin-chan can handle office work, and she’s more than capable of being the model for Yuu’s new accessory trials on Instagram. She’s already proven herself during Golden Week.”

“…………”

I fell silent.

Logically, it was perfect. He’d probably meticulously planned this moment by analyzing the series of troubles since May. That’s the kind of guy he is.

Makishima-kun laughed brightly, as though trying to lighten the tense atmosphere.

“Nahaha. I’m not saying to hand Yuu over to Rin-chan. I’m just saying to entrust her with him until you’ve got your own weapon. Wouldn’t it be better to know where he is than to have him stolen by some random guy?”

And before I could respond, he said sharply,

“Haven’t I always said it? Get a shop by 30, then nurture your love after that. Since that’s been the plan from the start, there shouldn’t be any problems.”

Those words were the final blow.

The greatest strength……and the greatest weakness of my relationship with Yuu.

“If the bond is real, it’ll be fine even if we’re apart for a few years. It’s like the training arc in popular weekly shonen manga.”

A real bond.

Those words hit me like a punch to the head. The image that came to mind was the twinflower ring Yuu gave me. I instinctively reached for my neck to touch it—but there was nothing there.

Come to think of it, I left it with Yuu at the sunflower field.

Drowning in the guilt of love, I lost sight of our friendship, and yesterday’s result was the outcome——.

It’s not Yuu’s fault.

It’s mine.

Yuu was properly focused on the accessories. I’m the one who messed it all up.

I want to apologize.

But I haven’t been able to contact him since yesterday. Because if he blames me……I might not be able to stay by Yuu’s side anymore.

“……Still undecided, huh?”

“Shut up. Be quiet.”

Under the table, I clenched my fist tightly.

If our bond is real, it’ll be fine even if we go through a training arc. Even if we’re apart, we can still message each other, and I’ll definitely come back during breaks. If he makes new accessories, he can send them to me.

It’s just that we won’t be going to school together every day.

It’s fine even if we don’t see each other every day, right?

(……Really?)

Enocchi’s face came to mind.

Next to Yuu, smiling happily with an “Ehe.” I’ve never seen Enocchi’s face like that before. She’s always been pouty and grumpy, but next to Yuu, she turns into a lovestruck maiden.

So cute.

With such a cute girl by his side, I have to work hard in a different place. I don’t feel like I can win.

Deep down, I already know.

Enocchi suits Yuu better. Enocchi can handle supporting his accessory-making, and she’d definitely cherish Yuu. No, why don’t they just sell accessories together at a pastry shop? They’d make the perfect couple.

Compared to that, what am I?

I said I’d support his accessory-making, but I’ve just been getting in the way. If it weren’t for me, we wouldn’t have angered Kureha-san. To call such a fragile thing a ‘bond of fate’? That’s too cruel. I’m really the worst.

What’s even worse……is that even now, I can’t let go of it.

As I stayed silent, Makishima-kun muttered.

“Just one more push.”

He finished his hamburger and downed his ginger ale. Then, he placed his index finger on the empty plate with a tap.

“Here’s a big offer. When Hii-chan and Yuu’s dream comes true—when your accessory shop opens, and if you still have feelings for Yuu, I’ll promise to fully support you.”

“……What are you talking about?”

I really don’t understand. He’s saying it’s for Yuu’s sake, but it’s actually for Enocchi’s. If I go to Tokyo, Enocchi becomes free. She can go all out and increase her chances of winning Yuu over.

I can understand that much.

Then why is he saying he’ll help me take him back? Did the summer heat fry his brain?

“Makishima-kun. What’s your goal?”

“I don’t have any big goal. I just hate being bored. Dealing with that Rin-chan will surely be a good way to kill time.”

Then, he gave a rare, gentle smile.

“I may be frivolous, but I keep my promises. As long as I don’t get stabbed to death in some love triangle, I’ll come running even from the ends of the earth.”

“…………”

After saying what he wanted, Makishima-kun left with a “Think it over.” Three thousand-yen bills were left on the table. ……Guess that’s supposed to be proof of his promise.

(……But logical arguments hit hard when your mental state is weak.)

I’ve always disliked Makishima-kun. Now I finally understand why.

Seriously, how much does he have to imitate my Onii-chan?

♣♣♣

Two days had passed since Saku-neesan tore into me.

From the morning, the cicadas’ noise was buzzing in my head, and my sleep-deprived body felt utterly sluggish.

The consecutive days of intense heat were definitely making me dumber. I had no motivation to do anything, so I just stared at the curtain swaying in the fully open window.

The cat, Daifuku, slipped into my room through the door crack. It chewed on the accessory parts on the table and stared at me. Sensing that I wasn’t going to stop it, it glared as if to say, How boring, then went out after clawing the bed’s mattress.

(What was the right thing to do……?)

The sea breeze from the Hyuga Strait made the summer in this town always feel thick and sticky.

Sweating uncomfortably, I thought about that day of reckoning. After the sunflowers withered, I worked hard to meet the deadline. But to the client, it seemed like I was trying to sell them a failed product.

Then, what should I have done?

Would apologizing have made them forgive me?

Isn’t the idea of seeking forgiveness naive in the first place?

I don’t know. The cicadas’ noise outside made it impossible to think straight. Should I turn on the AC? For some reason, I didn’t feel like it. There was no word from Himari.

If I dry up like this, maybe they can preserve my body and display it like a flower. No, that’s way too creepy. What kind of thought is that? The heat’s really messing with my head.

Maybe I’ll drink some water. Just like flowers need water, I need it too.

Ah—Wait, I haven’t watered the school garden today. I need to hurry, or the heat will kill the plants. Usually, Himari does it, but she definitely didn’t do it yesterday. She probably hasn’t today either.

……Maybe I can ask Enomoto-san to do it.

No, no, no. What am I thinking? That’s way too scummy. I can’t just rely on Enomoto-san when it’s convenient. ……But isn’t she at school for band practice? So that’s a no-go, huh!

“……Huh? A car?”

The sound of a car stopping in front of my house reached me.

I shifted my body to look down from the window. A taxi had stopped. And the only person who’d take a taxi to my house was one person.

(Is it Himari!?)

As I thought, Himari got out of the back seat.

She looked up at my room, and our eyes met.

She jiggled the front door handle, trying to open it. Realizing it was locked, she went to ring the doorbell——but instead, she pulled out the spare key from under the potted plant by the entrance!

(Crap, my room’s a mess! Also, my outfit’s bad!)

I was in full holiday mode, wearing just a T-shirt and shorts. And I was all sweaty and sticky.

I scrambled out of bed and took off my shirt. Uh, where’s a change of clothes? Come to think of it, I haven’t done laundry since the day before yesterday because it was too much hassle. I grabbed whatever was within reach……Wait, since Daifuku came in, the door’s been left open…….

The moment I realized that, Himari peeked her head in cheerfully.

“Yuu～. The adorable Himari-chan has come to——”

And at the same time, we both screamed.

“Uwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahh!!”

The cicadas’ noise was nothing compared to our loud screams.

I quickly covered Himari’s mouth.

Himari’s back hit the hallway wall, and she fell flat on her butt. She covered her face with both hands……Wait, are you peeking through the gaps!?

“What what what what!? Yuu, what are you planning to do with just your underwear on!?”

“No, no, no! It’s weird for you to barge in without permission in the first place!”

“I asked Sakura-san where the key was, and she said I could come in anytime! You’re the one who started stripping when I made eye contact with you just now……You’re not even dating me, but you’re doing that!? That’s totally wrong!”

“You’re the one thinking something weird, aren’t you!? Himari! You were totally calm when we were in the bath at your house, but now you’re acting all girly? Isn’t that sneaky!?”

“Th-th-that’s different! The situation was different, and there was no chance Yuu would attack me in the bath, so I could act relaxed……Wait, wah! Don’t come closer, you idiot!”

Stop swinging your bag around! What if it hits me!?

Oh, right. I should change clothes……Huh?

Suddenly, I felt a chilling aura. Was it my imagination……? No, wait. My danger sensor at home is sharp. After all, there’s only one person in this house who’s a threat to me. I can’t mistake that aura.

To be specific, the door to the room two doors down had opened, and from there, a pair of eyes that clearly looked like they’d just been woken up peeked out.

Saku-neesan, who’d just finished a night shift, raised her voice with a deep, rumbling tone.

“……Foolish little brother. Do you think it’s okay to go against human decency just because you don’t want to let Himari-chan go?”

“W-wait. Saku-neesan, it’s a misunderstanding. It’s really a misunderstanding……”

……But no matter what I said, the fact remained that I made Himari cry while wearing just my underwear. I gave up and let Saku-neesan, who’d run out of her room, punish me.

♣♣♣

From the morning, we ended up in a sticky love comedy…….

If Makishima found out, he’d definitely tease me, saying, “As expected of the lucky pervert protagonist, hahaha.” Wait, no. If it’s a lucky pervert, isn’t it usually the opposite??

Anyway, after changing clothes, I headed to school with Himari on my bike. I pushed the bike while Himari sat on the back wheel.

“Fufufu～. Is this the last time I’ll be looking down at Yuu’s head? Thinking about it makes me a little sentimental～.”

“It’s hot, seriously, it’s hot. Stop clinging to me!”

Under this scorching sun, Himari was still pressing her body against me as usual.

While rhythmically tapping my shoulder, Himari teased me cheerfully.

“Don’t cheat on me while I’m gone, okay～?”

“Cheat? First of all, we’re not even dating, you know?”

“Eh～? But Yuu, you’re way too into me～. Even with a cute girl like Enocchi coming onto you, you’re not dating her? That’s definitely weird.”

“Ugh……”

I sighed.

Even in this situation, she’s still teasing me like this. Honestly, it’s pretty annoying, but I can’t help but feel happy when it’s coming from the girl I like. I’m really pathetic.

……As I thought that, I realized the final punchline was missing.

“Himari. No ‘fufufu’ today?”

“…………”

Normally, she’d say, “Just kidding～!” and tease me while I turned red. Like, “Pfft—. Did you really notice me～?”

But Himari didn’t make it a joke.

“I feel like we’re at a crossroads in life, you know～.”

“…………”

Even if I didn’t respond, Himari continued.

It didn’t seem like she expected a reply.

“If I join an entertainment agency and become famous, it’ll boost Yuu’s accessories’ publicity, right? As a result, our dream will come true. We can keep the shop running forever.”

“……Maybe.”

That’s definitely true.

Just like at the cultural festival in middle school……No, Himari can become something even bigger. If she does, it’ll be the ultimate weapon for our dream.

……Even if my dream fades along the way, Himari can still win at life on her own. I honestly don’t want to see us chasing our dream because Himari thinks, “I can’t do anything alone.”

“And then, I’ll bow down to my grandpa and borrow money to clear my debt to Kureha-san. That way, we can enjoy a high school lovey-dovey, slightly ecchi youth.”

“Your wording is way too harsh.”

Also, please stop saying suggestive things when you’re clinging to me like this. Even if you don’t say it out loud, you should already know how I feel. It’s really torture for a healthy high school boy.

But Himari ignored that and attacked relentlessly.

“Yuu-sa. You were thinking something naughty just now, weren’t you～?”

“I told you to stop saying stuff like that……”

Well, to be honest, I did think about it. I mean, what guy wouldn’t be conscious if the girl he likes says something like that? It’s not like I don’t have sexual desires.

Himari tapped my flushed cheeks cheerfully.

“I think there are downsides to both, but let’s just focus on the positives for now. After all, we’ll be working hard to get that return, right～?”

“……No objections.”

Himari, still with her feet on the back wheel, cupped my cheeks with both hands from behind.

When I stopped, she tilted my face upward. Even though she’s shorter, Himari’s face was looking down at me now. Against the summer sky and the dazzling sun, Himari’s marine blue eyes were fixed on me.

“Should we live for our future dreams……or for our love now?”

The same school route as always.

In the morning during summer break, there’s no one else around.

Only the distant rumble of cars on the national highway echoed dully in my ears.

It’s close enough that I couldn’t mishear it. And I couldn’t brush it off later. I took a deep breath and honestly told her.

“Himari. Remember what I said when we fought in May? I said that if you gave up on your dream, I’d give up on mine──”

“I knew it. Yuu can’t give up on flower accessories, huh～.”

Just as I was about to say I’d live for Himari, her voice cut me off.

“Huh? No, I──”

“Yuu! Making accessories is your reason for living, isn’t it～!”

Shouting sharply at close range, Himari took her hands off my cheeks.

I tried to turn around……but I couldn’t. Before I could, Himari wrapped her arms around my neck from behind. I could feel her breath on the back of my head.

In a trembling voice, Himari said──

“Please. I don’t want any Yuu but the one who makes accessories……”

“…………”

The summer sun scorched our skin.

If only the heat rising from the asphalt could burn us away like this. Even with all this heat, Himari’s tears running down her cheeks didn’t dry, wetting the nape of my neck.

This world is full of contradictions.

We have two hands, so why can we only hold onto one thing?

If we can only choose one──we’ve always run toward the future, believing that’s the right thing to do.

It’s the same from now on.

Even if that means we have to choose different paths, I’ll swallow this crappy contradiction. Even if our hands let go, we’ll keep running forward together.

We’ll meet again, far down this road.

Even if our love has completely changed by then, I believe we’ll laugh together as best friends.

Goodbye. Our love.

Take care.

♡♡♡

Two days after Yuu-kun and my sister’s match.

In the early afternoon, I──Enomoto Rion──woke up.

Our pastry shop is the type where the store and residence are combined.

My room is on the side away from the street, what you’d call the back. But even though it’s the back, it gets a lot of sunlight. If you open the curtains, you’ll see a vast graveyard spread out before you.

The rows of gravestones reflected the blazing sunlight, creating a midday light show.

“……Looks like it’s going to be hot today.”

Feeling fed up with the temperature, I closed the curtains.

Yawning, I changed my clothes. I carefully wiped the sweat from between my chest and lower body with a towel. Ugh, I hate this. I really hate summer. The sweat builds up, and the boys’ stares bother me. I wish it could just be winter all year round.

What should I do today?

Even though band practice is off today, it’s hard to go see Yuu-kun. Sighing, I headed to my sister’s room, the root of all this trouble.

“Onee-chan. Since you’re home, can you help out at the shop……Ah!”

The bed was empty.

The chain that was supposed to bind her arm was undone, lying uselessly on the floor. Her belongings were gone too, so she must’ve escaped somewhere.

“……Gngh.”

Just when I thought I’d finally caught her.

I went downstairs and headed to the pastry shop. Peeking through the back door, I saw my mom eating lunch with the part-time staff after finishing the morning work.

When she noticed me, my mom turned around.

“Oh, Rion. It’s your day off today, right?”

“……Onee-chan is gone.”

“Oh dear, she just got back. That girl really can’t stay still, can she?”

“…………”

How fake.

My mom is way too soft on Onee-chan. She probably knew she’d escape and just let it happen. Yesterday, she didn’t even scold her.

I couldn’t help but sigh.

“What if Onee-chan gets married in Tokyo or something? She’ll definitely never come back.”

“We’ll cross that bridge when we get there. If she’s happy, that’s all that matters, right?”

“……Or she might lose her job and come back penniless. That’d be troublesome too.”

“If that happens, you can just boss her around, Rion～.”

“…………”

Oh, that’s an idea.

As I nodded, my mom handed me a paper bag from the table. ……It had the Haneda Airport logo on it.

“Rion. Kureha brought back some souvenirs, so take them over to the Makishima household in the back, okay?”

“Ehh……. But it’s my day off……”

“But Rion, you got to enjoy delicious Japanese sweets the other day, didn’t you?”

“……Okay.”

Cheh.

Taking the paper bag, I left through the back door.

……Behind our pastry shop lies a vast graveyard. Crossing it, I arrived at the temple. Next to it was a grand house—Shii-kun’s home.

Hmm. His aunt should be home at this time…….

“……Ugh.……!”

“Hm?”

A voice came from the back of the residential area.

Going around, I found Shii-kun’s private tennis court. There, he was practicing serves alone, smacking balls relentlessly toward the net.

“Na-hahaha! My training plan was perfect! Even that infuriating perfectionist can’t do anything about this! I’m feeling great!!”

“…………”

This guy’s talking to himself…….

He’s way too hyper, almost creepily so. Like a mischievous elementary school kid……This kind of Shii-kun is always up to no good.

“Unusual. No girls to hang out with today?”

“Huh? ……Oh, Rin-chan. I thought it was my brother’s nagging again.”

Shii-kun paused his practice and wiped his sweat with a towel. He drank some Pocari Sweat while fanning himself with a folding fan.

“No club practice?”

“Not in the mood.”

“Is it okay to skip after losing in the national tournament?”

“Don’t rain on my parade. Just say what you need to and leave.”

As I held out the paper bag, Shii-kun guessed, “Ah, Kureha-san’s souvenirs, right?”

“Got it. I’ll give them to my brother and mom later……Hmm?”

Pretending to hand over the bag, I pulled it back sharply. Shii-kun stumbled and glared at me.

“What is it? If you have something to say, Rin-chan, just say it.”

“…………”

Letting go of the bag, Shii-kun almost fell over this time.

“Onee-chan is trying to take Hii-chan away.”

“Seems so. That woman’s quite fond of Himari. She probably plans to make her the face of her agency.”

He kept fanning himself with the folding fan.

“Ugh, my hair’s a mess. Stop it already……”

“Na-haha. Isn’t this a chance for you, Rin-chan? Your love rival is being eliminated by a greater force.”

“That’s not fair.”

“Still saying such naive things? Himari’s the one who made the first move. There’s no need to feel bad about it.”

“That’s true but……”

I am mad at Himari.

But I always thought she definitely loves Yuu-kun. Honestly, it felt more like she finally confessed.

Still, the current situation is a bit of a hassle.

“Shii-kun. Do something.”

“Can’t. If Himari’s willingly going to Tokyo, even Hibari-san can’t stop her. Everything I’ve done to mess with those two was to lead to this. Though I didn’t expect it to work out so beautifully.”

Shii-kun snorted.

“And besides, no way. I’ve been helping you win, Rin-chan. Regardless of last time, I’m definitely not helping you this time.”

With that, he picked up the tennis racket again.

Bouncing the ball a few times, he tossed it straight up for a serve. As he got into position, I muttered──

“If you beat Onee-chan, she might acknowledge you, you know?”

“……!”

Shii-kun’s body froze.

The ball he’d tossed up bonked him on the forehead. ……Ouch.

Holding his forehead, Shii-kun turned around, veins popping as expected.

“Rin-chan. Are you trying to make me mad? Is that it?”

“It’s fine if you’re mad. I’m stronger in a fight anyway.”

“Ugh……”

He raised both hands like claws.

Shii-kun, who looked like he was about to pounce, stopped.

“You like tennis, but the reason you’re aiming for a national championship is to make Onee-chan admit you’re better than Hibari-san, right? Whether it’s academics or sports, you’ve always been moping because you couldn’t beat her.”

“Listen, Rin-chan? Don’t say anything else? I’ll gratefully accept the souvenirs. Now, go away and stop bothering my practice……”

“You got close to Yuu-kun in the first place because you knew he was Onee-chan’s favorite, right? You thought if you could charm Yuu-kun, it’d make her upset, but you ended up just becoming friends. What a failed plan. And also──”

“Ah! Fine, fine! Hahaha, you’re right! I really don’t care about that witch anymore, okay!? It wouldn’t be bad to blow a gust of wind at Kureha-san, who thinks I can’t rebel, right!?”

Shii-kun fanned himself vigorously with his folding fan, shouting in a desperate tone. He closed it and pointed it right at my nose.

“Are you sure, Rin-chan? Helping Himari here is like throwing away your victory, you know?”

“It’s fine. Because this isn’t the kind of win I want.”

“I don’t get it. As long as you achieve your goal, does the process really matter?”

“The process is what’s important. If you get the process right, the results will follow. It’s the same as Himari being fixated on her dream of an accessory shop.”

“Stubborn as ever. You’re really like that witch. But breaking the plan I’ve worked so hard to build? I’ll never help you again. Are you fine with that?”

“It’s fine. You’ve already repaid me enough for that time.”

With that, I smiled brightly.

“I’ll let Himari have this one. I’ll be the one who wins in the end.”

“…………”

Shii-kun laughed cheerfully and tapped his palm with the fan.

“Seriously. I almost feel a little sorry for Himari, who’ll have to compete with this mental monster for the rest of her life.”

♣♣♣

A night had passed since Himari’s farewell declaration.

I was watering the flower beds at school. After finishing, I sat on the pile of fertilizer by the warehouse and spaced out. Just thinking that this solo routine would continue until graduation made me feel like dying.

No, forget graduation—maybe it’ll continue until I open my shop……or even until I die. Even if I open a shop, there’s no guarantee Himari will return to this town. She might set up her base in Tokyo, like Kureha-san.

Even if I open a shop, can I handle that situation?

Ahhh──!

Damn it, I can’t stop thinking in negative directions. It’s fine, it’s fine. I believe in Himari, and I can do it too. Come on, what’s left if you take accessories away from me? I managed fine alone until middle school, so ten or twenty years should be no problem.

Ten or twenty years……Am I really going to spend that long in a boring life without Himari?

Until now, we’ve been free.

If being best friends was possible because we were free, then what?

Even if we’re just friends, don’t we need to consider each other? Can we stay best friends like before with more responsibilities and constraints?

……No, that’s impossible.

I’ve heard that becoming a couple with a work partner leads to disaster, and it’s absolutely true. I’m lucky to understand that at this age. ……I’m impressed I know such a difficult word.

As I slumped over, I heard a voice from ahead.

“Hahaha. I knew someone was radiating a gloomy aura this morning.”

“……Makishima-san. Good morning.”

The usual flashy guy approached, grinning……Wait, is that casual clothes? I thought he’d be at club practice.

As I wondered, Makishima shrugged.

“No snarky comments today? Well, it’s easier to train obedient ones.”

“Are you still planning to pair up with Enomoto-san and make me her brother-in-law……?”

“That’s off the table. I got fired by the client.”

“What? Did you fight with Enomoto-san?”

Well, it doesn’t matter now.

Makishima naturally sat down on the pile of fertilizer next to me.

“Wasn’t watering the flowers Himari’s job?”

“……She’s leaving for Tokyo today, so she’s preparing for that.”

Apparently, she’s going to check out Kureha-san’s work while visiting the agency. While I’m standing here spacing out, Himari’s steadily moving forward.

“Are you okay with that?”

“It’s not a matter of being okay. Himari decided this, so there’s nothing I can do.”

“What time’s the train?”

“Around noon.”

“Then there’s still time. Let’s talk.”

“No, why? You should get to club practice already.”

“What’s the harm? Aren’t you going to Tokyo too? We’ll probably never see each other again, so let’s make some last memories as men.”

“Me, going to Tokyo? Why?”

“Oh, is that not the case? Back in May, you were so fired up about following Himari. You were ready to give up on accessories once. You won’t change your mind two or three times, right?”

“…………”

Seeing me fall silent, he smirked.

“If your passion is just for a girl and you end up losing it, isn’t it the same as not having it in the first place?”

“……!?”

I stood up in a flash and grabbed Makishima’s shirt collar.

“It’s because you kept messing with us that it’s come to this……!”

“…………”

Makishima chuckled softly.

He poked my forehead with the tip of his folding fan.

“That’s it. That’s what I wanted to see. That goody-two-shoes mask of yours cracking, revealing your true self. Even Hibari-san hasn’t experienced being disliked by Yuu. I finally got a set from that annoying perfectionist. Hahaha.”

“…………”

I didn’t understand what he was saying, but I knew he was mocking me. I thought about punching him, but Makishima seemed to see through me and spoke up.

“Go ahead. As I said before, Yuu has the right to hit me. Do it.”

“……!”

Instinctively, my arm tensed.

But……a calm part of me said, “Isn’t this all my own fault?”

“……The situation’s different from May.”

“What’s different?”

“Himari’s joining the agency for my accessories. How can I stop her?”

I let go of Makishima’s collar.

Makishima said, “How boring,” and smoothed out his shirt.

“That’s why I say you’re stupid. I told you before, didn’t I? Think about who’s number one. It’s not just about people. Sometimes, you need to weigh your dreams against love.”

Then, he opened his fan and started fanning himself again.

“You could live for the girl. Opening a shop isn’t the only way to make flower accessories. You could work a normal job, indulge in your hobbies on weekends, and build a family with the girl you love. Be happy in a normal way. Surprisingly, that’s the hard part. ……It’s something my brother taught me.”

As I stayed silent, Makishima sneered.

I was irritated by his “I know everything” attitude.

“Can’t let go, can you? That’s it, isn’t it? You were ready to give it up once. But that doesn’t mean you can do it a second time.”

“Wh-what do you mean……?”

“Let me make it simple. For example, have you ever tried bungee jumping? Normally, you get used to it the more you do it, but some people don’t. Falling from a high place becomes a trauma, and they avoid it even more than before.”

He stroked my cheek with the edge of his fan.

“Back in May, you were ready to give up on your passion for the first time. At that point, you visualized what life would be like without it. You realized how risky it is to abandon your foundation.”

My heart thumped at his words.

Makishima looked very satisfied with my reaction.

“You’re scared of living among the people who’ve always looked down on your passion, aren’t you?”

He leaned in closer to my face and grinned.

“After graduating high school, you’ll set up a workshop and start selling flower accessories seriously. Once you save up enough, you’ll open a shop. On the surface, it’s a big dream, but in reality, it’s just a spoiled rebellion against facing society. You don’t want to get hurt anymore. You don’t want to go back to middle school. That’s why you want Himari by your side. As someone to protect you from the outside world, Himari is the perfect candidate. She accepts your passion and can handle the criticism from society.”

Then, Makishima delivered the final blow.

“Let me be clear. Your feelings for Himari are just a way to suck up to someone who’ll protect you. For the two years Himari wanted a best friend, you acted like one. Since May, when she wanted love, you responded with love. In the end, you’re just someone who loves yourself more than anyone else.”

Hot emotions boiled up from the depths of my heart at those words.

What does Makishima know? What does he know about us?

It’s fine if he mocks my lack of guts. But not this feeling.

“Wrong! My feelings for Himari are──……Ugh!?”

At that moment, a sharp pain shot through my cheek.

Makishima had folded his fan and slapped my cheek. He grabbed my collar, pulled me close, and shouted in my face.

“If it’s wrong, stop whining and just go!!”

I fell silent.

I’d never seen Makishima shout with such raw emotion before. Even when he lost at the club tournament……he just grinned and never showed weakness.

“Don’t be swayed by words. Did you learn that much from this? Even Hibari isn’t perfect. Even your own sister might not be on your side. And even Himari can’t keep being just a best friend if she’s killing her own feelings. In the end, words are just tools to move others.”

“T-tools to move others……?”

“Exactly. Words don’t hold truth. Honest words don’t exist. What’s important is……”

He tapped my left chest with the tip of his fan.

“The heart is fickle and easily swayed. If everything could be resolved with logic, life would be easy. But it’s because we hesitate that things deepen. If you’re forced to choose, follow your feelings. If it doesn’t work out, you can think about it then. Isn’t chasing a dream supposed to be like that?”

With that, he let go of my collar. The force of it made me fall back on my butt. Makishima turned his back on me and started to leave. ……But he stopped halfway.

He seemed to hesitate for a moment. Sighing softly, he turned around and glared at me.

“I confessed to Kureha-san when I started middle school. At the time, Kureha-san was in college……but I was serious. I’ve never liked anyone that much since then. But by then, Hibari-san was already there.”

Makishima scratched his head with the tip of his fan.

Then, in a low voice, he muttered, “Well, what I’m trying to say is……” and gave me a sad smile.

“A life where you’re always second best is pretty tough, you know.”

With that, he finally waved and left.

While I was left dumbfounded, his last words lingered in my ears.

Messing with things behind the scenes, provoking me……I really don’t know what he wants.

……But I do know one thing. He never lies.

♢♢♢

If the red thread of fate connects people who are destined to be together,

then what color is the thread that connects people who are absolutely not meant to be together?

Does such a thing not exist?

No, it must.

The thread that connects people like me and Yuu, who are tightly bound but will never be together.

It must be a really mean color.

A tacky color.

A color no one pays attention to, so it only grows duller and taints the heart.

Probably a color like the one in my eyes right now…….

I arrived in front of the station just before noon. My spirits were dead low, but the sun was still blinding…….

Kureha-san was already waiting. She had a large carry-on bag. When I got out of the taxi, she noticed me right away and waved.

Instead of a greeting, Kureha-san puffed out her cheeks playfully.

“I thought I’d gotten a bit famous~, but it’s lonely when no one notices you, isn’t it~?”

“In a rural town like this, no one would think there’s an active popular model here……”

Kureha-san laughed happily at my straightforward retort.

“Himari-chan, thank you for taking this seriously~♪”

“……It’s for the dream.”

Yes, for the dream.

I’m going to Tokyo. I’ll join Kureha-san’s agency, work hard to become popular, and fulfill the promise we made three years ago by selling lots of Yuu’s accessories.

……That’s how I’ll repay Yuu, who’s always indulged my selfishness.

“Well, I’ll go buy the tickets~. Can you watch the bags for me~?”

“Ah, sure……”

Kureha-san headed to the ticket counter with a light step.

With nothing to do, I spaced out. My reflection was visible in the Starbucks window. Even though my heart felt dead, I was still dressed stylishly, which made me laugh.

My neck felt weird without the choker. It was as if it didn’t belong to me.

I traced the tan lines on my neck with my finger. It felt like the cut lines on a magazine insert. My heart and body felt out of sync.

It’s strange, isn’t it?

Because, right?

Kureha-san said my cuteness was a talent.

I was happy to hear that.

I always thought I was just good at begging for things and couldn’t do anything on my own. So when she said I could become something just by working on my cuteness, it really moved me a little.

But at the same time, I thought──

In exchange for becoming something, I wouldn’t get what’s most important to me.

I didn’t want to become someone who could be something.

I didn’t need to be the cutest girl in the world. I didn’t need these fairy-like eyes people always compliment. I didn’t need my family’s money. I didn’t need my spoiling family or friends.

I just wanted to be born as someone who could be loved by Yuu.

I’m unlucky.

But that’s all my own karma. If all the selfish things I’ve done until now are cleared with this one time, I’m actually lucky. Haha…….

While thinking such foolish things, a single tear rolled down my cheek.

As expected of me. Even my crying face is cute~.

……Just as I thought that, a shadow appeared behind me.

“Hii-chan. Hello.”

“……!?”

Enocchi had appeared behind my reflection in the glass without me noticing. Like a ninja.

I quickly wiped my eyes and greeted her with my usual bright smile.

“Ah, Enocchi. What’s up~? Did you come to see me off~? Fufufu~, you’re so kind. Unlike someone else who acts like a best friend but doesn’t even come to see me. Also, ignoring my messages? Like, seriously? Oh, right! Enocchi, want some Yoghurppe? I brought a lot because it’s hot, but it’s pretty heavy~.”

My mouth was running on its own.

I didn’t want to think about anything unnecessary. If I stopped talking, I felt like I might say something strange. I pulled out about three bottles of Yoghurppe from my bag and offered them to Enocchi.

Enocchi didn’t take them and instead tilted her head cutely.

“Hii-chan. I’m not here to see you off.”

“Eh?”

The moment I asked, a chill ran down my spine.

“I came to say thank you.”

“……Thank you? For what?”

Enocchi had a smile on her face.

A really kind smile. A grateful smile. Even though she knows I’m reluctantly going to Tokyo, she looked really happy.

I realized──

“Hii-chan. Thanks for losing on your own.”

“…………”

The Yoghurppe bottle fell to the ground.

I desperately tried to move my trembling lips and facial muscles.

“Ah, ahaha~. Ah, so you’re mad that I kissed Yuu on my own? That was just a friendly show of affection~. If you want, I can kiss you too~? Here, mwah~♪”

“…………”

Enocchi’s eyes were cold.

“Even now, you still want to act like the good girl?”

“……!?”

I froze.

Enocchi shrugged, picked up the Yoghurppe, and poked a straw into it. After taking a sip, she laughed mockingly.

“Your feelings are already obvious. Doing something like that doesn’t mean anything.”

Then, she glanced at the Starbucks window. She seemed to be looking at something in the glass where my crying face had been reflected moments ago.

“Is achieving your dream while lying about your feelings really that important?”

Reflexively, I retorted,

“Y-yes, it is!”

“Why?”

“Why……? You know how hard Yuu’s been working all this time, Enocchi!”

“I know that. But there’s no need for you to do something you hate, right?”

“…………”

I clenched my fist tightly.

“It’s……it’s not something I hate. I can do it for Yuu.”

“You can do it? Not that you want to?”

Her nitpicking made me snap.

“Kureha-san’s offer will definitely be a weapon for us! There are so many people who want to join an entertainment agency but can’t, so I’m actually lucky! If you’re so against me going, why don’t you go instead!?”

I shouted all at once, breathing heavily.

I hated how immature I was acting. She’d never go. Enocchi loves Yuu too, after all. Trying to justify myself by bringing up something so obvious made me feel so cheap. I couldn’t look at Enocchi’s face and just stared at the ground.

But Enocchi said it so easily──

“Okay.”

When I looked up, she nodded clearly.

“I’ll go.”

“Eh……?”

As I was stunned, Enocchi turned her gaze to her reflection in the Starbucks window.

“I’m cute too. Even if I’m not as cute as Hii-chan, I’ll make it work if I try. It’ll suck to bow my head to my sister, but I’ll do it for Yuu and Hii-chan.”

“Eh, no……Enocchi?”

She seemed serious. Her expression showed no hesitation. For me, it was like a stroke of luck falling from the sky.

(But you’ll have to be apart from Yuu?)

Are you sure? Isn’t this the first love you’ve had for seven years?

But Enocchi said something I didn’t expect──

“In exchange, can I have Yuu?”

At those words, I froze.

Enocchi repeated it softly, as if whispering in my ear.

“Until the accessory shop opens, I’ll let you have him. But when I come back, he’s mine. Okay?”

“…………”

Enocchi’s smooth black hair brushed against my cheek.

In her usual tone, she held out her pinky finger to me.

“Let’s make a promise.”

Pinky swear.

If you lie, swallow a thousand needles……Wait, no, no. You’re kidding, right?

As I was stunned, Enocchi tilted her head.

“What’s wrong?”

“Ah, no, um, that’s……”

As I stammered, Enocchi said brightly,

“No? Why? It’s fine to stay best friends with Yuu, right? That’s what you originally promised, wasn’t it? It’s okay. You’ll find someone as kind as Yuu again, Hii-chan.”

“…………”

My hands were trembling.

That’s not it.

I didn’t find Yuu.

Yuu found me.

There’s no one else.

The way my head feels light just thinking about Yuu is only now.

The way my chest tingles with jealousy over Enocchi is only now.

The way I cry from the searing pain of just not doing well enough is only now.

I don’t think I’ll ever fall in love like this again, so deeply and messily. It shouldn’t exist.

I’m a coward.

I’m a bad woman who hides my feelings, pretends to support Enocchi, and secretly sneaks kisses behind her back.

But up until now, I’ve never been so desperate to win, even if it means being cowardly.

My love is a sin.

Even if people point fingers at me for destroying Yuu’s dreams, hurting Enocchi, and angering Kureha-san—even if I’m a nuisance to so many people—I don’t want to let go of this sin.

The moment I thought that—I had already slapped Enocchi’s hand away.

My teeth chattered.

I’m scared. She’s definitely going to get mad.

I’ll be hated again. We just got along so well, and now it’s my fault…

“…See? I knew you were forcing yourself.”

But Enocchi was smiling.

“Hii-chan. You’ve always been like this, haven’t you? When there’s something you want, you take it all—dolls, keychains… even my older sister.”

As she said that, she grabbed my hand.

“But for some reason, you can’t be honest about what you want most.”

Her eyes were kind.

Ah, I’ve been caught. By the time I realized it, it was too late. The feelings I’d been desperately trying to hide had finally reached their limit.

A crack ran through my heart, and my true feelings burst out from the gap.

Grabbing Enocchi’s sleeve, I started to cry.

“I don’t want to… I don’t want to go!”

“Mhmm. I thought so.”

“But it’s my fault, and I have to do something about it. And even if I stay, it might not be for Yuu’s sake…”

“Well, I also think it’s no good for you to stay, Hii-chan. You make your own rules, then selfishly can’t endure them, dragging everyone down with you.”

“Ahh! That was supposed to be comforting!”

“I really hate that about you, Hii-chan.”

“Wha—!? Enocchi, are you trying to finish me off!?”

I buried my face in Enocchi’s ample chest.

Enocchi patted my head like an older sister and spoke in a gentle but firm tone.

“I’ve always wondered about this. Yuu-kun and Hii-chan, why are you both so obsessed with ‘fulfilling your dreams in the best possible way’?”

“…What do you mean?”

“Take our family’s pastry shop, for example. At first, my mom’s baking was just a hobby, and she’d occasionally give some to the neighbors. Eventually, it grew into selling cakes, but it’s only recently that we’ve had such a grand shop. It was around the time we became middle schoolers, wasn’t it?”

As she said that, she started pinching my cheeks with both hands and kneading them like dough.

“I mean, if you’re always looking at the future, you’ll get worn out if your footing is shaky, right? You don’t have to start with a big shop, and Hii-chan doesn’t have to become someone special. Even if your accessory shop fails and closes, it’s not the end of the world. If that happens, just come work at our shop. It’ll be fun with the three of us, right?”

“…But it’s important to Yuu, isn’t it?”

“Is it? Is opening an accessory shop what’s important to Yuu-kun? Or is it opening one with Hii-chan?”

“Huh…?”

Enocchi’s gaze turned to the side.

♢♢♢

Following her gaze, I saw Yuu. He must have ridden his bike hard, as he was gasping for breath. The bike clattered to the ground as he struggled to support it.

“Himari!”

“Yuu…?”

Why?

I thought for sure he wasn’t coming today.

“Wh-what’s wrong? Did you come to see me off—?”

“Please, don’t go!”

Yuu stumbled forward as he walked.

Without realizing it, my hand holding Enocchi’s tightened.

“I can’t choose between my dreams and love. I don’t know which is the right path until I try. And I’m not the type of person who can answer such big questions on the spot. But I do know one thing—you don’t really want to go to Tokyo.”

“But the only thing I can do for Yuu is this…”

“That’s not true! I’m not asking you to do anything like that for me! Being with you because you’ll sell accessories for me—that’s not it at all!”

Yuu bit his lip in frustration.

“That’s right. Thinking about it, we’ve been wrong from the start. Best friends aren’t like that, are they? Having to do something for each other to stay together, needing some kind of role to stay together. That wasn’t the kind of partner I wanted…”

He firmly grasped my shoulders. His fingers dug in as if he wanted to leave marks. I could feel his strong resolve, as if he wouldn’t let me go.

“Makishima made me realize it. It’s true, I might have been trying to stay on your good side so you wouldn’t hate me. But that’s not because I wanted you to protect me. I was desperate not to lose someone who understands my passion. From the beginning, I just wanted you to watch me.”

His gaze met mine.

Pierced by his burning eyes, my body stiffened.

“If it’s for my sake, don’t think about sacrificing yourself. There’s no way I’d be happy if you weren’t by my side. …You and I are destined to be together.”

“…………”

I couldn’t say anything.

My chest was just so hot, so tight with pain.

The only thing I knew for sure was… my decision to become friends with Yuu at that middle school festival was the right one.

That alone made everything in my life worth it.

“Yuu. I…”

I reached out my hand.

My hand almost touched his cheek—

But it was stopped by a pale hand that appeared from the side.

“Okay, that’s enough~♪”

“K-Kureha-san…”

Kureha-san waved a train ticket in the air while giving Yuu a look of contempt.

“…Yuu-chan. I don’t think that’s very nice~. You agreed to the outcome of the bet, right~? Trying to back out of it now isn’t very manly, don’t you think~♪”

Her usual smile.

But strangely, her expression looked as sharp as a demon’s.

“Kureha-san! I really don’t want to go!”

“Fufufu~. You see, I don’t let go of what I want~. Himari-chan, let’s aim for the world stage together, okay~♪”

Yuu fell to his knees and bowed his head.

“Please! Just give me one more chance!”

“No way~. That one chance was already a favor because of Hibari-kun~. If you keep pushing, you’ll just look worse as a man~♪”

Enocchi looked annoyed at Yuu being insulted and was about to retort—

“Onee-chan! A spoiled girl like Hii-chan will just cause trouble for the agency!”

“Enocchi, that’s mean!?”

If pushing doesn’t work, try pulling, huh!? That’s amazing! I’m sure she only said that to persuade Kureha-san and didn’t mean it at all!!

Ignoring our desperate pleas, Kureha-san pursed her lips. Crossing her arms, she emphasized her large chest as if to intimidate us.

“By the way, aren’t you forgetting something important~? Himari-chan owes me money~. If you want me to stop taking her with me, you should pay that back first, right~?”

“Ugh…!?”

As we faltered, Kureha-san smirked like a true villain.

“But you can’t do that, can you~? There’s no way high schoolers could borrow that much money, and Hibari-kun would never lend it to you, right~? No matter how much you support Yuu-chan, you promised to achieve your dreams without touching your family’s money, didn’t you~? You’re not the type to break the promises you made yourself, are you~?”

Kureha-san, as if saying, “See, you get it now, right?” grabbed my arm. Even as I tried to shake her off, my body wouldn’t muster any strength.

(No. Absolutely not…!)

I don’t care if I’m made a fool of. I don’t care if I’m looked down on as a failure as a human being. Even so, I don’t want to be separated from Yuu.

I reached out to Yuu.

Yuu also reached out to me.

The moment our hands desperately grasped each other—

“Then, I’ll pay it for you.”

A voice I couldn’t stand was thrown at us.

At the same time, for just a moment, the sunlight was blocked. A large black shadow, like a kite, passed overhead… and then a large duffel bag hit Kureha-san’s chest.

In an instant, Kureha-san let go of my hand to catch it. Yuu pulled my arm. Held in Yuu’s embrace, I put distance between myself and Kureha-san.

The only one who wasn’t surprised by this newcomer was Enocchi.

“…Shii-kun. You’re late.”

“It was a large sum, so it took time to withdraw it from the bank. But even so, bringing it on the same day is what you’d expect from the Perfect Superhuman. Nahaha.”

While being scolded by Enocchi, Makishima-kun waved his hand casually.

Behind him, for some reason, Onii-chan’s beloved car was parked. From the driver’s seat, Onii-chan, wearing sunglasses, glanced over.

Kureha-san opened the duffel bag. Inside was stuffed with bundles of cash.

“…Shinji-kun? What’s the meaning of this~?”

“The debt Kureha-san mentioned for Himari-chan. I’ll cover it.”

Kureha-san’s expression finally changed.

Makishima-kun opened his folding fan and spoke in a theatrical voice.

“I negotiated with Hibari-san and borrowed it. She’s harsh with family, but I’m a complete outsider, so depending on the approach, I could get the money out.”

“…I never thought you’d betray me like this.”

“Betray? Isn’t it you who withdrew your cooperation this time? Did you really think a keeper wouldn’t resist? Surprisingly naive, aren’t you?”

Sharp gazes crossed.

Makishima-kun covered his mouth with the fan and smirked defiantly.

“Originally, Himari-chan’s rampage in May was also my responsibility. So, it’s not unreasonable for me to pay.”

“I don’t understand why you’d go this far for Himari-chan~?”

“No problem. I have my own benefits. With this money, I’m buying Natsu, Himari-chan, and Rin-chan’s high school life.”

Yuu and I exchanged looks of “Huh?”

Makishima-kun chuckled creepily.

“From now on, you’re not allowed to quit school on your own. You’re not allowed to move to Tokyo. You’re not allowed to stop making accessories while in school. And there will be other conditions too. I thought it’d be interesting to add some constraints to your overly free rom-com lives.”

“Makishima-kun. You really have a terrible personality…”

“Your words of praise are deeply appreciated. As I told Himari-chan, I hate boredom. In that regard, the messed-up love antics of you three provide endless material. It’s only natural to pay for such entertainment, isn’t it?”

Makishima-kun closed his fan.

He pointed it at Kureha-san’s nose, wearing an amused expression.

“Get a clue already. Being able to participate in this high-stakes game of the future is a privilege for us young people. It’s a real buzzkill for old folks to try and manipulate the pieces from the outside. Any more of this, and you’ll tarnish your beauty.”

“…………”

Kureha-san bit her lip hard.

She crossed her arms and tapped the ground with her thick-soled sandals. Her face was hidden under the wide brim of her hat, making it hard to read her expression.

For a moment, her sharp eyes focused on Onii-chan’s car parked in the distance.

Then, as if giving up, she sighed—and clapped her hands.

When she raised her head, Kureha-san looked extremely displeased, her lips pursed.

“I give up.”

She stomped over to Onii-chan’s car and kicked the door with all her might!

Onii-chan jumped out of the driver’s seat and confronted her.

“Wh—Kureha-kun?! What are you doing all of a sudden!”

“You just had to go and meddle, didn’t you~? Hibira-kun, you’ve gotten too soft.”

“I just made a formal contract with Shinji-kun. Well, I didn’t like your methods, so I’m glad I could crush that plan.”

“Haah. This is why I can’t stand rational types~. I want to complain, so take me somewhere cool already.”

With that, she quickly climbed into the passenger seat.

She stuck her hand out the window and waved at us.

“Well, that’s it for today! Bye-bye!”

“Eh…”

Onii-chan looked awkward as he got back into the driver’s seat. It seemed like they were arguing, but he eventually started the engine.

As we watched the car drive away, Yuu and I looked at each other.

“…Yuu. Is this case closed?”

“I… guess so…?”

Makishima-kun laughed.

“Nahaha. Since Kureha-san called it a negotiation, it’s over once the money’s paid. More importantly, you two really put on a show, didn’t you?”

Realizing we were still clinging to each other, we quickly separated. Standing back-to-back, we awkwardly fixed our hair.

“Wait! Before that, what’s the deal with that money!?”

“That? I told you, I made a contract with Hibari-san and borrowed it.”

“I don’t get what that contract’s about! That’s a huge amount of money, you know!?”

“You don’t need to know. It’s a personal transaction.”

With that, he snapped open his fan.

“Well, now that we’ve successfully dealt with the external threat, let’s celebrate by honoring the great actor that I am. Of course, it’s on Himari-chan’s dime.”

“Huh!? Why do I have to treat you!?”

“Who do you think saved you? This is a huge debt. From now on, Himari-chan, you can’t talk back to me. Nahahaha!”

“Enocchi! You’re my childhood friend, do something!”

Enocchi, whom I turned to for help, clenched her fists.

“I want Joyfull for the celebration.”

“You’re way too positive about this!?”

With the decision to go to a family restaurant made, the two of them quickly started walking off.

Watching their backs, I slumped my shoulders. Why is this…? I was saved, but for some reason, it doesn’t feel satisfying…

Picking up Yuu’s bicycle, I hurried after Enocchi and the others. As I fumed, Yuu patted my shoulder.

“Well, what can you do? We really were saved, after all.”

“Yuu’s way too soft on Makishima-kun. If you keep getting along with someone like that, you’ll end up hurt, you know~?”

“Sure, what he did in middle school isn’t praiseworthy. But he helped us this time, right? Isn’t that proof he’s not the same as the guy from back then?”

“Haah. Yuu, you’re really bad at managing risks. If you’re going to run a shop, I’ll have to keep a close eye on you, huh~?”

Then, Yuu stopped walking.

When I turned around, Yuu looked at me seriously and said,

“Actually, I think I’m going to give up on my dream of owning a shop.”

“Huh?”

At first, I thought I’d misheard.

Without thinking, I grabbed Yuu’s collar and leaned in.

“Wh—why why why!? Kureha-san finally gave up, so why…!”

“No, sorry. Wait a sec. I phrased that wrong. Stop shaking me. I’m sleep-deprived and ran here, so I’m feeling really nauseous…”

I stopped shaking him.

Holding his head, Yuu groaned.

“Kureha-san gave up, but the fundamental problem isn’t solved.”

“…Is this about what Sakura-senpai said?”

Yuu nodded.

“Makishima and Enomoto-san helped us, but it was just a stopgap, an emergency measure… The root cause of this was my stance toward my client.”

“Th—that’s something I also…”

“I’m happy for Himari’s feelings, but the one who relied on them the most was me. Since April, Sakura-nee-san has been trying to tell me that. But I only interpreted it in a way that suited me, and that’s my fault.”

With that, he bit his lip.

“I’m not skilled enough to want both my dreams and love. Trying to force it led to what happened this time.”

He averted his gaze uncomfortably.

“When I thought about what went wrong… I realized I was too fixated on that dream.”

“…Are you saying our dream was wrong?”

Yuu shook his head.

“Owning a shop by 30 was a dream we came up with when we were still in middle school. Trying to fulfill a dream made by kids like us was fundamentally flawed.”

“That’s not true! Our dream isn’t wrong…”

Cutting me off, Yuu continued.

“Himari. That’s not what I mean. Dreams conceived with the narrow perspective of a middle schooler inevitably have a narrow scope.”

Yuu clenched his fist.

“If you’re too fixated on fulfilling a narrow dream, you’ll lose sight of everything else. That feeling I had when I saw the hibiscus with Enomoto-san back in elementary school—the pure desire to share that beauty with someone, to make that feeling last forever. …I think that’s why Sakura-nee-san was angry with me. I’d forgotten my original intention.”

His words grew heated. His eyes shone brilliantly.

It felt familiar.

…Back in middle school, when I first saw Yuu taking care of flowers. Back then, Yuu had that same radiant expression.

That straightforwardness of Yuu’s, which made everything around him seem to vanish, struck a chord in my heart.

“If I keep chasing a narrow dream, then naturally, my potential as a creator will also become limited. So, I’ll chase a broader dream. Not a dream that can be achieved just by throwing money at it, but one where I can attain something even money can’t buy. Owning a shop is just one of the milestones on that journey.”

He called it a milestone so casually.

Something I’d been so fixated on, he dismissed so easily.

And yet, strangely, it didn’t bother me. I felt a warmth in my chest. Before I knew it, I was clutching my chest tightly.

“I think wanting everything—dreams, love, a shop—must seem incredibly selfish from an adult’s perspective. But it’s my prerogative to aim to become someone strong enough to make that possible. This time, I won’t lose to Sakura-nee-san. I won’t let Kureha-san look down on me, and I won’t make Hibira-san worry. I’ll become a creator who can stand on my own without Himari having to sacrifice herself.”

As if my response was a foregone conclusion, Yuu smiled happily.

“So, it’s not just about owning a shop. Keep watching over my selfishness from beside me, okay?”

I stumbled over my words.

Flustered, I averted my face and tried to cover my heated cheeks as I retorted.

“…You’re so embarrassing. You’re such an idiot.”

As I groaned, hiding my mouth with both hands, Yuu deliberately imitated my catchphrase and laughed.

“Pfft—. Himari, you’re surprisingly bad at handling direct comebacks.”

“Sh—shut up! Just because I’m mentally exhausted doesn’t mean you can act all smug!”

Yuu laughed as he reached into his pocket.

“Himari. You forgot something.”

“Ah.”

In his hand was that Anemone ring.

Reflexively, I reached out but stopped just before I could take it.

(This is the remnants of the friendship between Yuu and me…)

I feel like if I take it, I’ll just become his best friend all over again.

Seeing my hesitation, Yuu scratched his head awkwardly.

“Himari. Are you still worried about Enomoto-san?”

…Well, of course.

What just happened was more like a business re-contract between Yuu and me. The other part—our personal relationship—is still left hanging.

It’s fine to leave it as it is.

But unless that’s resolved, I don’t think I can move forward.

“Are we… the same as before?”

At my short question, Yuu’s face stiffened.

Then he groaned, “Hmm…” and “Ah, but…” His blatantly suspicious behavior made me tilt my head.

“…Yuu. What’s wrong?”

“No, it’s just… not a big deal or anything. …Damn. This is getting weird. I should’ve just handed it over normally.”

What’s with him? He was fine with those super embarrassing lines earlier, but now he’s acting all shy. Yuu took a deep breath and gripped the ring.

“…Originally, it was my cowardice back then that caused all this.”

He muttered that and then placed the charm bracelet in my hand.

“About this Anemone ring… there’s something I haven’t told you yet.”

“Huh?”

I held it up to the dazzling sun. The miniature Anemone made of preserved flowers seemed to float there.

A fantastical yet precarious ring, much like the relationship between Yuu and me. In its faint hues, there was a single crescent-shaped seed as an accent.

“About this flower seed…”

Yuu said, drawing it out dramatically.

Suddenly, I thought of something.

I think Yuu and I will probably keep repeating the same things until we die.

Pretending to understand each other’s hearts, yet not really understanding.

Even though we know there are things we won’t understand unless we say them, we’re still bound by this strange pride of feeling like we understand each other the most in the world—and then we fail.

Because we’re two people who were connected by a thread that wasn’t red from the start.

I think carefully repainting that thread will surely take time.

I’m probably more guilty than anyone.

If Yuu says he’ll share that fate with me, then I’ll never let go.

We were best friends.

We shared the same dreams.

Chased the same hopes.

Built up the same memories.

And repeated the same mistakes.

But from now on, we’re not best friends.

Because the flower of our dreams will bloom… on the soil of this love’s sin.

Yuu.

Starting today, we’re a community of fate.

Let’s carry the same sin together and conquer this repeating spring.