Chapter VII | “You Make Me Happy”

♣♣♣

Tokyo, the fourth morning.

I woke up in a king-size double bed.

Good sleep. This morning, I woke up refreshed without having any strange dreams. After enjoying the dinner Enomoto-san made for me (it was really delicious), I was so exhausted that I went to bed early.

Tenma-kun and the others were nice, but talking to people I just met is still nerve-wracking. In that sense, it was great that Enomoto-san made dinner. It made me feel at ease, like I could return to my usual pace…

(Can I really make it as a creator like this…?)

I feel grateful for Himari. Thinking about it, whenever I’ve had to deal with new people, Himari has always been there. I never realized how exhausting it is to steer the conversation myself…

Today’s a free day. I need to rest.

Well, even though it’s a free day, it’s the day I’m supposed to hang out with Enomoto-san.

For now, I’ll sleep a little more. Enomoto-san is probably still asleep too. There’s no sound of the TV from the living room.

But man, it’s so comforting… It feels like I’m wrapped in a nostalgic warmth. Like the kind of warmth that resonates with the essence of being human. This high-quality bed is amazing. Thinking about it, I’ve been sleeping on the sofa ever since I came to Tokyo, so maybe I haven’t been sleeping well.

I tried to convince myself with that, but it felt a little forced.

Feeling the warmth on my back, I slowly turned around. Sure enough, the scene I expected was there.

“…Zzz… zzz…”

“……..”

Enomoto-san was hugging me from behind, using me as a body pillow and gently wrapping her arms around me. In that state, I could hear her faint breathing. So this was the source of my comfort…

(Wait, isn’t this starting to feel a bit too familiar…?!)

While I was mentally complaining, Enomoto-san started squirming closer! Ahhh! Stop it! Don’t come closer, you’re stirring up my desires! Go away!

Last night, I slept a little further away, right? Yet, she still managed to catch me. Her sleeping habits are truly impressive.

So, what should I do in this situation?

Well, it’s not like I’m just enjoying Enomoto-san’s warmth by pure chance. Once Enomoto-san has you in her grasp, there’s no way a herbivore like me can escape. On the other hand, if I try to wake her up, I’ll just embarrass her like the other day. This is definitely a situation where I need to use my wits!

As I was thinking this, I heard a foreign song playing. It was Enomoto-san’s phone.

It was probably a call or a LINE call. Crap. If Enomoto-san wakes up because of this, it’ll be awkward. So, I skillfully reached out and grabbed the phone.

…From Himari?

The moment I accidentally tapped it, it became a LINE call, and I panicked. Enomoto-san, you should really lock your screen…

I yawned and spoke up.

“Himari? What’s up so early in the morning?”

“……..”

Huh?

“Hey. Himari? Can you hear me?”

Then Himari spoke in a cheerful but slightly intimidating voice.

“Nfufu~. Why do I hear Yuu’s groggy voice coming from Enocchi’s phone~?”

“……..”

…Guh!?

I messed up. Enomoto-san and I were supposed to be staying in separate rooms. My brain wasn’t working properly after just waking up, and I let my guard down!

“Uh, uh, well…”

Think, think.

We’re preparing breakfast together… No, she already knows I just woke up. A reason why I’d have Enomoto-san’s phone right after waking up… Ah!

“Uh, the alarm…”

“The alarm?”

“Y-yeah. I had to wake up early today for something, so, you know, since Sakunee-senpai confiscated my phone, I borrowed it as an alarm…”

This is painful. So painful.

Wait, I could’ve just said Enomoto-san was busy making breakfast and couldn’t answer. Oh no, I think I’ve dug my own grave. They say building a tombstone while you’re alive is good luck, but this is clearly a one-way ticket to death.

As I was sweating profusely, Himari replied in an unusually bright voice.

“Oh, I see~. …Ah, could it be that you’ve hit it off with the creator Kureha-san introduced and are planning to hang out again today!? Yuu, you’ve really leveled up!”

“Ahaha. Yeah, yeah. Sympathy…”

Huh? Is this a trap? Or does she genuinely trust me? My heart was pounding as Himari laughed cutely, saying “Tehe☆.”

“But Yuu. It’s not good to just answer a girl’s phone without her permission~♪”

“…………..I think so too.”

Safe!

The umpire calls it safe! Natsume-kun hits a timely double to turn the game around!! …Wait, why is it the bottom of the ninth with two outs, bases loaded, and one run behind?

“Anyway, Himari. If there’s something you need, I can tell Enomoto-san…”

“Ah, no, I actually wanted to relay it to Yuu~”

“To me?”

“I sent the accessories yesterday, so they should arrive by tomorrow morning~”

That’s helpful, thanks.

“Thanks, Himari.”

“Nah, it’s no big deal. Keep up the good work, Yuu~”

“Ah, it’s time for my part-time job!” she said, ending the call.

Overwhelmed by relief, I put down the phone and slumped back. …Whew. I made it through. The fact that this was the biggest crisis of my Tokyo trip says a lot, but at least I survived. Being alive is wonderful.

Now then…

“Enomoto-san. You’re actually awake, aren’t you…?”

“…!?”

Enomoto-san flinched.

I knew it. When Himari got suspicious earlier, Enomoto-san also reacted.

“Enomoto-san?”

“…Rin-chan is asleep,” she said.

“Wow. That’s some fluent sleep-talking…”

She buried her face into my back, squirming.

“Hey, hey, Enomoto-san!? You’re awake, so let go!”

“No. I’m asleep.”

I peeked at Enomoto-san’s face, which was insisting she was asleep. …Her ears were bright red.

I see! So Enomoto-san is too embarrassed to back down now!?

“Enomoto-san. It’s not too late! Let’s both pretend nothing happened and start the day fresh!”

“No.”

“But we have breakfast and stuff…”

“No!”

“Ugh…”

Enomoto-san flailed her legs, causing the mattress to bounce. This high-quality bed’s springs are no joke!

“Enomoto-san! Stop squirming!”

“Shut up! Yuu-kun is mine today!”

“We agreed to hang out, but we’re still going out, right…?”

“We’re staying in the room all day!”

“Huh? What about sightseeing in Tokyo…?”

Enomoto-san pouted and started rubbing my stomach from behind.

“Bleh.”

I’m ticklish, so I burst out laughing, and Enomoto-san’s eyes sparkled. She got carried away and started tickling me more!

“Hey, haha!? E-enomoto-san… ahaha!”

“See? I’ll tickle you even more~”

“Stop… stop it, seriously!! What kind of attack is this!?”

“Daifuku-kun from Yuu-kun’s house hates this, so it’s really cute~”

“Don’t compare me to a cat!?”

But the effect is undeniable… Honestly, aren’t we just a pair of idiots in love!?

“Fine, we’ll stay in the room today!”

I tapped Enomoto-san’s hips to signal my surrender. The tickle torture ended, and Enomoto-san pouted again.

“If we go out, Yuu-kun will just think about the accessories.”

“Really? So that’s why you’re effectively house-arresting me…?”

I can’t deny that, which is frustrating…

…Well, if Enomoto-san wants it that way, it’s fine. Still, this clingy little sister act she’s been showing since yesterday is hard to handle. Since Enomoto-san is usually so composed, the gap is more bewildering than cute.

(Is she going to be like this all day…?)

We can order food from the hotel, but we’re not really going to stay in bed all day, right?

That would be bad, and it’s not like I’m calm in this situation either. Even if she trusts me, there’s a limit…

——The room phone rang.

For some reason, Kureha-san’s face flashed in my mind. The moment I press the call button, she’ll probably say something like, “Yuu, go for it~☆” with plenty of teasing material!

And Enomoto-san doesn’t seem like she’s going to let me go even though the phone is ringing!?

Ah, God. Why do You keep giving me these trials? Seriously, why? The direction of these troubles is too biased, isn’t it…?

The communication is way too intense. Is there any way to exorcise the spirit possessing Enomoto-san…? Ah, that’s it!

My gaze fell on the potted red flower on the side table.

A geranium I bought in Ginza the day before yesterday.

Its flower language is ‘True Friendship.’

Enomoto-san chose it, saying, “I’ll take it as a reminder.” In other words, it has the power to counteract Enomoto-san’s excessive skin-ship! (With her approval!)

I desperately reached for the geranium… but Enomoto-san’s arm subtly moved it further away!

As I cursed my luck, she climbed on top of me. Enomoto-san, in her bathrobe, sensually brushed her hair back. …Yikes. Her mood has gone full circle, and she’s completely fixated.

“Yuu-kun~. Let’s stay together like this forever, without going to the exhibition~…”

“Enomoto-san? You said we’re best friends during this trip, right…?”

“Ah, yeah. Best friends. But today, Yuu-kun is a kitty, so it’s okay~ nya~♪”

“Enomoto-san!? The ‘nya’ thing is definitely black history…!?”

The battle against desire, Round 2, has begun. Hazily, I realized my mistake.

That’s right. The red geranium’s flower language is ‘You Make Me Happy.’ Look at Enomoto-san’s joyful smile. What should I do…? Hey, stop rubbing my stomach!!

♣♣♣

And on the fifth day.

I woke up to a call from the front desk. It seems the accessories I asked Himari to send have arrived. I hurriedly got ready after being told to pick them up immediately.

I washed my face at the bathroom sink and glared at the mirror.

(I look… haggard…?)

Not just haggard, but completely worn out.

Yesterday, I spent the entire day like that with Enomoto-san. But I survived. My endurance is pretty impressive. I guess this is the benefit of enduring Himari’s constant teasing for over two years…

After tidying myself up, I returned to the bedroom. I put on the jeans hanging over the back of the recliner and spoke to the curled-up figure on the bed.

“Enomoto-san. Are you okay…?”

Yeah.

Yesterday, Enomoto-san was like that all day. To be specific, she treated me like a cat and kept playing with me, saying “nya~ nya~.”

And since Enomoto-san had no intention of going out, she had apparently ordered dinner through room service. Naturally, this led to that unfortunate ending.

“…Not okay.”

She’s not okay, it seems.

Enomoto-san was wrapped in a blanket, shivering over the freshly made black history. It’s no wonder, considering the room service lady saw her in the middle of her cat play. I also want to disappear from this world right now…

“That’s not me. That’s… that’s not me. I’m not that kind of girl…”

“I know, I know.”

I gently patted Enomoto-san’s head. Even if she was overexcited, it really felt like something had possessed her. We’ve already sprinkled salt in the corners of the room, so there’s no need to be scared anymore.

…Now then.

That aside, I have something I need to do. I feel bad leaving Enomoto-san alone like this, but I’ve made up my mind. I’ll be heartless. Actually, I’ve snapped after yesterday’s humiliation.

“Enomoto-san. I’m going to the convenience store for a bit.”

“Huh…?”

Enomoto-san sat up in bed. She stayed up late yesterday, so she still looked sleepy as she rubbed her eyes.

“Yuu-kun? What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, just some shopping.”

“If you’re hungry, we can order room service…”

…She still doesn’t want to let me out of the room. Does she really not want me to go to the exhibition? Well, it doesn’t matter anymore.

I took a small breath to suppress my nerves.

“Well, it’s about my underwear. Saku-neesan packed them randomly, so they’re torn…”

“Ah, I see…”

Enomoto-san looked away, embarrassed. …It hurts a little, but I stood up resolutely.

“Well, I’ll be going then.”

“Ah, wait a second.”

I was suddenly stopped, and my heart skipped a beat.

Enomoto-san quickly grabbed her phone and held it out to me.

“Listen. I found this last night.”

It was a blog about tourist spots in Tokyo. Reading the article, my eyes widened.

“Wow. A hibiscus origin species…”

It mentioned that it could be viewed for free at a large park in the city.

It didn’t seem too far from here.

“Yuu-kun. Let’s go see this today? We can’t just stay inside, right?”

“…Yeah, you’re right.”

My reply came a bit late.

I was really happy that Enomoto-san suggested it. But, I’m sorry. I apologized in my heart.

“Yuu-kun. You’ll stay with me today, right?”

“…Yeah. That’s the plan.”

With that, I finally left the room.

The package that arrived at the front desk wasn’t very large. Judging by the feel, there were probably about 20 accessories inside.

Anyway, I’m lucky. I can carry this.

Without returning to the room, I dashed out of the hotel.

(…I know. It’s my fault.)

I appreciate Enomoto-san’s feelings.

Kureha-san didn’t introduce the creator out of goodwill. She clearly had malicious intent. Even so, I know it’s foolish to participate in the exhibition.

But I’m going anyway.

Even if it makes Enomoto-san angry, I have to go.

I’ve had enough of the bitter feelings from the other day’s competition with Kureha-san. If it means I can level up, I don’t care how many Iron Claws or Backbreakers I have to take from Enomoto-san.

♣♣♣

Afternoon. Carrying the cardboard box, I visited Shibuya again.

Following the directions I got from calling Tenma-kun from the hotel, there’s supposed to be a rental studio around here. Walking down the narrow streets lined with tenant buildings, I felt like I was going in circles. …Crap. Did I get lost?

Uh, uh. Tenma-kun said that if you get lost in Tokyo, just find a main street. There’s usually a convenience store there, and you can ask for directions to the nearest station.

“…Hmm?”

I heard a knocking sound.

Where is it? I looked around but didn’t see anyone. Just as I thought that, the knocking sound came again.

I took a closer look at the building in front of me. There was a semi-underground staircase, and beyond the glass door at the entrance, Tenma-kun was looking up at me.

Realizing, I went down the stairs, and he came out of the studio. He welcomed me with the same refreshing smile as the other day.

“Hey, Natsume-kun. Thanks for coming.”

“Sorry. I didn’t notice.”

“It’s a bit hard to explain verbally.”

The tenant building’s sign was small, and I must’ve missed it. Entering the studio, Tenma-kun noticed I was alone.

“Huh? Where’s Rin-chan?”

“Ah, well… it’s a long story.”

I dodged the question, and Tenma-kun seemed to understand. After our conversation the other day, he probably knew Enomoto-san was against this exhibition.

“I see. Well, there’s nothing we can do about that.”

“Thanks…”

I really appreciated his sensitivity. I couldn’t exactly say I ran away while Enomoto-san was reeling from the embarrassment of being seen in cat play.

“…Wow. This place feels so urban.”

The studio was a very clean and stylish space. The interior had exposed concrete with a cold color palette, but it looked really cool.

Overwhelmed by the stylishness, Tenma-kun held out his hand.

“Let’s work well together for the next two days.”

“Y-yeah. Thanks for inviting me.”

We shook hands lightly.

Honestly, until I got here, I couldn’t completely rule out the possibility of a prank and was nervous, but it turned out to be unfounded. Tenma-kun welcomed me with the same natural smile as two days ago.

I’m glad I came. As I was getting emotional, I suddenly felt something off. I realized Tenma-kun hadn’t let go of my hand after the handshake. On top of that, he was somehow holding it with both hands and rubbing it.

“Uh, Tenma-kun?”

“…Haa, …haa. This really is the ideal hand.”

“Tenma-kun!?”

“Haha. Hahaha. Maybe I was born just to meet this hand…”

“That’s just your imagination, so snap out of it!?”

In times like this… ah, Enomoto-san isn’t here!?

“Hey!”

Ah.

From behind, Sanae-san kicked Tenma-kun in the side.

“Guh!”

“Tenma-kun!?”

After subduing Tenma-kun, Sanae-san smiled gently.

“Welcome, Natsume-kun.”

“Th-thank you…”

While Tenma-kun was down, we exchanged pleasantries. As expected of someone from a dance unit, her movements were light and graceful beyond what you’d expect from her appearance.

“Well, how about some coffee until the staff arrives… huh?”

Sanae-san adjusted her stylish glasses with both hands and stared at my face. What? Is there something wrong with my face?

As I was getting nervous, Sanae-san made an indescribable expression.

“Did you come here without telling Rin-chan?”

“Huh…”

How did she know?

My surprised reaction must’ve been obvious. Sanae-san gave a wry smile.

“Just a hunch. You looked really guilty.”

“I-is that so…”

That was surprising.

Must be women’s intuition. For a moment, I thought she was psychic. Well, honestly, there’s not much difference.

Then Tenma-kun hurriedly got back up.

“Sorry. It’s my fault for inviting you to the exhibition…”

“Ah, no. I’m the one who insisted on participating and made her angry…”

That’s the truth.

This is my selfishness. It’s not Tenma-kun and the others’ fault.

Sanae-san went to the kitchen and prepared some coffee with the coffee server.

“You like coffee, right, Natsume-kun?”

“Thank you… Huh? Did I tell you my drink preference?”

Sanae-san smiled meaningfully.

“That’s women’s intuition too♡”

“I-is that so…”

She seems like she has her quirks too…

Thinking that, I drank the coffee.

“If you’d like, I’ll show you a delicious sweets shop near the station on the way back.”

“Ah… thank you.”

While Sanae-san was being supportive, she filled me in on today’s schedule. Apparently, the setup crew would arrive soon. Until then, we’d wait.

“By the way, what did Kureha-san tell you guys about me?”

“Huh? She said she’d bring a local aspiring creator from her hometown and suggested we meet. She said it’d be a good stimulus.”

“…That’s it?”

“Yeah. That’s it. So the other day, Rin-chan was being cautious, and it was frustrating…”

…This doesn’t seem like a lie.

So, Kureha-san introduced me to these two for their experience? It feels a bit anticlimactic.

Kureha-san’s words were like this:

I’m a frog in a well. If I meet creators from outside, I’ll surely lose confidence. If I give up on my dreams, the duo with Himari will dissolve naturally.

(Maybe she just wanted to show me the difference in skill?)

In other words, the goal was for me to lose confidence on my own because their accessories are too amazing?

…We might’ve been overthinking it, assuming Kureha-san had some scheme in mind.

Well, Kureha-san is confident. And she’s the type who wants to assert dominance over others. It’s not impossible that she wanted to show off her nurtured creators and bask in pride.

For now, I’ll focus on the exhibition in front of me.

“By the way, it’s impressive that you have professionals setting up the exhibition…”

“Ahaha. It’s not that impressive. We got the funds from Kureha-san. It’s common to set up ourselves, but Kureha-san said, ‘Since you’re borrowing our agency’s name, do your best to make it look good.’”

“Kureha-san has that much funding?”

“Yeah. She’s scary, but she’s really kind to creators.”

…Did I mishear?

Words that were so different from my image of her seemed to reach my ears.

“Kureha-san is… kind?”

“Huh? Yeah, she’s kind. You know that too, right, Natsume-kun?”

Tenma-kun’s cheerful expression showed no sign of lying.

“…Tenma-kun. What’s kind about Kureha-san?”

“If you ask where, it’s hard to say… but probably everything. She’s kind to her juniors and treats them as proper professionals. She’s strict with work, but it’s for our sake. Honestly, the reason I’m here now is thanks to Kureha-san.”

“Huh, I see…”

“Ah, do you want to hear about me and Kureha-san? …It was two years ago.”

“No, that’s not necessary…”

Tenma-kun blushed and started talking, looking somewhere far away.

A sudden flashback to the past. And since it was related to Kureha-san, my mood darkened slightly. But since I’d already started listening, I straightened up and paid attention.

“It was when we, ‘Tokyo☆Shinwa,’ were receiving harsh backlash. Of course, we wanted to keep going. We were slowly gaining fans and finally about to make our major debut. But the world is cruel. A member’s relative came in yelling, ‘How could you leave my son in a place like this?’ That was the final blow… I became distrustful of people and went off the rails. Just between us, I even thought about trying drugs out of despair. Kureha-san was the one who desperately stopped me when even my teammates and manager had given up on me. ‘Even if you lose your job as an idol, your value doesn’t change. Let’s shine in a place where people understand your worth,’ she said. She warmly lit up my heart and even prepared this calling for me as an accessory creator…”

“……..”

Hmm, hmmmm…

Don’t get me wrong, it’s a very touching story. And I can tell Tenma-kun truly respects Kureha-san.

But, how do I put this…

It doesn’t resonate with me at all. The Kureha-san I know is so different that I suspect there’s another Kureha-san with a completely different personality. What even is ‘Let’s shine in a place where people understand your worth’? Kureha-san, were you just trying to sweet-talk me into handing over some jobless junior model…?

(And Kureha-san. She totally trashed me…!)

As I was crying to myself, Tenma-kun tilted his head.

“What’s wrong?”

“Ah, nothing. I understand that you guys respect Kureha-san.”

…So, is Sanae-san the same? Let’s avoid this topic now, or it might get messy.

♣♣♣

Right on time, the setup crew arrived. Apparently, it’s a company often used by Tenma-kun and the others’ agency.

They brought in the furniture and decorations specified by Tenma-kun and the others, arranging them carefully. They also made adjustments on the spot while looking at the actual items.

“How about the placement of this table? We were told one more might be added.”

“Please arrange it so that three spots are evenly visible from the entrance.”

“What about the position of this speaker?”

“This would put it right above the table. Can it be placed in the corner of this room?”

“Ah, that should work.”

My joining the exhibition seemed to require some adjustments to the original setup plan. At first, I thought I might be causing trouble, but Tenma-kun and the others’ instructions were familiar. Apparently, the number of participants in their exhibitions often varies.

I was allowed to observe the setup closely. It was a very informative experience. If I ever open my own shop, I’d like to learn a lot from them.

Once the work was done, the crew members left with friendly smiles.

“That’s everything.”

“Thank you very much.”

After they left, the studio’s appearance had completely transformed.

The cold, bare concrete impression had transformed into a much warmer interior.

The lights were unified to a bulb-like orange glow. Paintings of landscapes lined the walls, and the tables for displaying accessories had a soft, woodgrain texture. Potted plants were placed in the corners, and other tasteful interior items were arranged. A moody song played from the large speakers set up in the corner.

Then, Tenma-kun explained the day’s program to me.

The exhibition was limited to two days: a long stretch from 10 AM to 8 PM. There was only a one-hour lunch break, but everyone could take breaks as they saw fit.

At that point, I voiced a simple question.

“You’re renting the studio for just two days? Why not make it longer?”

“It’s case by case. If the exhibition were larger, we might have done it over a week or more. But this time, it was originally just me and Sanae-san, so focusing on a shorter period maximizes the final profit.”

“I see. So you’re concentrating on selling to customers who already know about the exhibition, not on attracting new ones.”

“Exactly. At our level of recognition, we mainly sell to regular customers rather than new ones. It’s not a good strategy to incur unnecessary maintenance costs.”

That’s definitely educational.

It reminded me of my middle school cultural festival. Back then, nearby college girls who saw Kureha-san’s Twitter came in droves to buy. That was the result of the marketing line, ‘This is only available at this festival.’ It’s a strategy of increasing scarcity to stimulate buying desire.

“And on the day, we’ll have a receptionist at the entrance table and a server in the back kitchen, both part-timers. Natsume-kun, you’ll be part of that too.”

“Wow. You hire people for that?”

“Even though they’re part-timers, they’re from our agency. We can’t offer full-time work to rookies yet, and there’s a limit to how much they can earn from other part-time jobs. Kureha-san reached out to them to give them a little something extra.”

“Kureha-san did!?”

“…Hmm. I feel like there’s a disconnect with your image of Kureha-san.”

Well, I mean, come on.

She tried to force a junior from her agency on me, saying it was an exchange with Himari. Are we really talking about the same person here? …Not that I’ll say that to Tenma-kun and the others.

There were also detailed rules like ‘One drink per person’ and ‘20-minute shifts in the morning.’

“One drink? At an exhibition?”

It was to serve drinks from the coffee server. Thinking it felt like a music live event, Tenma-kun explained with a bitter smile.

“Well, it’s like an entrance fee. Ideally, we’d let people in for free, but we can’t recoup the budget from accessory sales alone. Charging a drink fee avoids the issues that come with ticket sales.”

I see. Renting a studio in the heart of Shibuya and the setup costs must’ve been significant. I never thought of recouping the budget this way. …Though it’s probably something only entertainers like Tenma-kun and the others can pull off.

“What about ‘20-minute shifts in the morning’?”

“I’ll explain that tomorrow. It’ll be easier to understand once the exhibition starts.”

Then Sanae-san, who had been quietly watching us, spoke up.

“Tenma-kun. Let’s wrap up the serious talk and move on to the fun part.”

“Good idea.”

The fun part?

The setup for the accessory exhibition was complete, and we’d shared the day’s program. So, what’s the fun part?

…I see. It clicked.

I placed the cardboard box of accessories I’d brought on the table. Then, with a determined expression, I answered.

“It’s the accessory showcase, right!”

‘Exactly!!’

A grand sound effect played from the speakers! …Apparently, Sanae-san was playing it from her phone.

Tenma-kun and Sanae-san excitedly brought out their accessories.

“Kureha-san provides funding to young people aiming to become models, fashion designers, and more. Among them, she’s invested in five accessory creators. But there haven’t been any new additions lately, so we’ve been lacking stimulation. We’ve been really looking forward to seeing your accessories, Natsume-kun.”

“That’s right. Kureha-san said she was looking forward to it and that you must make wonderful accessories.”

You’re really raising the bar…

As I was getting awkward, they went ahead and opened their accessory cases. First, I looked at Tenma-kun’s accessories.

“This is… huh?”

It was a skull.

Lined up were rugged silver rings modeled after skulls. There were various patterns: smart and cool ones, cute ones for women, round character designs for kids. Original designs and licensed ones, all sorts.

But these were hardcore realistic. The teeth of the skulls were meticulously carved. The stark contrast with Tenma-kun’s sparkling, handsome image left me stunned.

Perhaps used to this reaction, Tenma-kun explained with a wry smile.

“Ahaha. People often say it doesn’t suit me.”

“N-no, that’s not it. I was just surprised…”

Come to think of it, Tenma-kun’s business card also had a skull design. While talking about that, I picked up one of the items from the accessory case.

They were all big, with a heavy metal vibe. They’d probably suit someone like Makishima. Not my thing… wait.

I tried to slip the ring on and realized it didn’t fit at all.

“…Is your theme ‘The gap moe between delicate women’s hands and rugged skull rings’?”

“!?”

Tenma-kun grabbed my hands tightly.

“You get it!?”

“Y-yeah. You’re a hand fetishist, and all the accessories are thick but hollow inside, making them light. Plus, the ring sizes are small.”

“Amazing. Everyone gets distracted by the flashy accessories and misses the weight and ring sizes.”

If my flower accessories rely on the synergy of ‘beautiful girl × delicate flower,’ Tenma-kun’s use the contrast of ‘beautiful girl × intimidating skull.’

“You use the lost-wax casting technique, right?”

“Ah, you know about that too?”

“Yeah. I’ve tried it a few times.”

This is wax—in other words, accessories made using the lost-wax technique.

When creating original rings, there are mainly two methods.

One is the ‘forging technique,’ where you heat and hammer metal to shape it.

The advantage of forging is achieving solid strength. Hammering the metal removes impurities, increasing its density. You can create sturdy, high-quality accessories.

However, the downside is the high setup cost for tools and the tendency to limit designs to straight lines. The final quality also depends on the craftsman’s skill.

The other method is ‘lost-wax casting,’ using tube wax for accessory making.

Tube wax is cylindrical wax pre-pierced for rings. You cut it to your desired ring width, then use files to carve the accessory’s shape.

Once the wax mold is complete, you send it to a casting service, where they pour metal into it to create the final product. The wax is melted away during this process, hence the name ‘lost-wax casting.’

Recently, services allowing individuals to place orders have increased, and cases of people making their own wedding rings have also risen.

The advantage of lost-wax casting is that it allows anyone to relatively easily create original designs by carving soft wax. Additionally, since you’re only carving wax, it’s possible to reproduce complex designs.

However, the downside is that since the melted metal is simply poured into the mold, the strength is often inferior to forged pieces. Impurities and air bubbles remain in the metal, making finer designs more prone to bending or breaking.

Sanae-san peeked over and exclaimed, “Wow. You made so many this time!”

“Tenma-kun’s skull rings are really cool. I sometimes wear them on my days off.”

“Yeah. I’d like to buy one tomorrow too.”

Tenma-kun smiled bashfully.

“But my master still scolds me, saying I’m not there yet.”

“Your master? Not Kureha-san?”

“Yeah. Kureha-san introduced me to a creator she knows, and they’ve been teaching me a lot. I’ve invited them to this exhibition, so if we’re lucky, I might introduce you, Natsume-kun. They’re moody, so no guarantees they’ll come.”

“I see. If they’re Kureha-san’s acquaintance, they must be amazing.”

“Hmm. I’m not sure. Honestly, I can’t quite gauge their level as a creator.”

“Huh? Really?”

You call them ‘master’ and learn from them, but you don’t know their level? As I was puzzled, Tenma-kun laughed.

“How do I put it? They have an aesthetic eye that transcends genres. And they always guide me correctly.”

“I see…”

I don’t fully understand, but if Tenma-kun speaks so highly of them, they must be amazing. If I meet them, I’ll make sure to greet them properly.

“Anyway, look at my accessories too!”

“Whoa!? S-sorry…”

I was suddenly shaken by Sanae-san and turned around in surprise. She eagerly opened her accessory case to show me.

“I mainly work with natural stones and leather craft accessories.”

There, elegant leather accessories were lined up, adorned with vivid green, red, and black natural stones.

Leather craft accessories. As the name suggests, they refer to leather accessories in general, often made from cowhide, but also pigskin, deerskin, and even crocodile leather.

Their charm lies in their unique, subdued elegance. Genuine leather lasts long and develops a deeper color over time. This one-of-a-kind quality isn’t limited to leather goods like wallets but also applies to leather craft accessories.

And then, the array of natural stones adorning these leather accessories. Judging from her tone the other day, these stones are likely the stars of her work. In terms of working with natural materials, it felt somewhat similar to my flower accessories.

I picked up one piece. It was a leather accessory shaped like a bird’s feather, paired with a red natural stone and threaded into a necklace.

“Your designs have a strong Native American jewelry vibe.”

“Oh! You can tell?”

“The bird feather motif feels very natural, so I think it’s influenced by that.”

Native American jewelry refers to traditional crafts from the indigenous peoples of the Americas. Ornaments worn during ceremonies have gained popularity as fashion items among the youth. Their natural motifs retain their charm across generations.

You might’ve seen overseas accessory select shops in large shopping malls. It’s fascinating how items with strong religious meanings can transcend borders and be loved by so many.

After the feather necklace, I looked at a leather bracelet—a cuff without a clasp. This one particularly caught my eye.

The thick, bold bracelet was adorned with an equally bold, large turquoise stone. Its beauty was almost violently striking, as if telling you not to care about the details.

The vivid turquoise had occasional cloudy black shadows. I’m not an expert on natural stones, but this one is probably…

“Is this stone turquoise?”

Turquoise. A popular natural stone with colors ranging from light blue to vivid turquoise. Turkish traders once brought it to Europe, hence its name. Stories from that time also associate it with being a travel talisman.

“As expected, Natsume-kun. You know your stuff!”

Sanae-san happily shook my hands up and down. Her innocent reaction, despite her mature demeanor, made me tense up.

“I-it’s not that impressive…”

“No, no! Natural stones are popular, but people rarely remember their names.”

“Diamonds and such are just more famous.”

“Exactly. Natsume-kun, why do you know?”

“A while back, I thought about incorporating it into my flower accessories. I thought the combination of natural art might work, but the balance was off, so I gave up.”

That attempt failed, but I’m surprised it became a conversation starter now. Like with Tenma-kun’s lost-wax technique, it makes me realize that trying new things is always worth it.

“…………”

Seeing their accessories, I was moved.

Until now, my accessory-making had been lonely in a way. I had Himari as a partner and understanding people like Enomoto-san and Hibari. I know it’s a luxury to have that, but still… the fact is, I never had peers with the same hobby.

Until now, that was fine.

But now that I’ve met them, I can’t help but realize it. Regardless of what Kureha-san is plotting, I’m really glad to have met creators my age and gotten along with them.

I looked at their accessories again.

Both of their works were wonderful.

The care and challenges in the designs were evident, and each piece radiated the creator’s love.

(But maybe…)

I desperately pushed away that feeling of dissonance.

That can’t be. These are creators introduced by Kureha-san as her prized pupils. I’ve been distracted from accessories lately, so maybe my sense has dulled.

Tenma-kun, sensing the moment, urged me on.

“Well, let’s see yours, Natsume-kun.”

“Right. It’s unfair if it’s just us.”

“Unfair…”

While joking, I pushed the cardboard box of my accessories toward them. With my heart pounding, I opened it and placed an accessory on the table. It was a pair of cosmos earrings in an accessory case, ready to sell.

Tenma-kun and Sanae-san leaned in to look…

“…………”

“…………”

There was no reaction. They just stared at the accessory case in silence.

…Huh? I thought they’d tease me or share their thoughts right away. I was flustered by the unexpected reaction.

W-was there something wrong? Maybe there’s some etiquette among Tokyo creators… Ah! Could it be that the accessory case is lame or something? Or maybe the parts are off… No, but there’s a limit to what parts I can get in the countryside, and online shopping is always a gamble with the actual product.

What should I do? Could it be—

“Haa. Natsume-kun, you’re really not cut out for this.”

“Kureha-san’s aesthetic sense has declined. I guess age catches up to everyone.”

—and I’d be kicked out of tomorrow’s exhibition!?

As I was panicking, Tenma-kun grabbed my shoulders and shouted, his expression intense.

“Natsume-kun!? Did you really make this!?”

“Huh? What? Is it lame…”

“Hah!? Lame? You’re kidding, right!?”

“Wh-what do you mean? I’m not really following…”

Meanwhile, Sanae-san suddenly pulled out gloves from her bag. She carefully handled my earrings, making sure not to leave fingerprints.

Then, she let out a sigh of admiration.

“…Such a finely crafted accessory. Even among our members, few can make something like this. For a moment, I thought you’d bought a piece from a famous creator and were lying about it.”

“Well, lying like that wouldn’t make sense…”

Besides, Kureha-san knows my skill level. Putting on a show without the real skill to back it up is pointless.

“B-but, I’m glad you like it…”

“It’s not just about liking it or not! I’ll take you down!”

Why are you getting mad at me!?

As I was flustered, Tenma-kun asked with a serious expression.

“Natsume-kun, how long have you been a creator?”

When asked that, I tilted my head. Now that I think about it, how many years has it been? It’s not like I remember exactly, but it’s been about seven years since I reunited with Enomoto-san, so it must be shorter than that…

“Uh, I started around sixth grade, so… about six years?”

“…!?”

Tenma-kun and Sanae-san stiffened their expressions.

“Sixth grade? I hadn’t even thought about entering the entertainment industry back then…”

“What about me? My parents made me do a lot of hobbies, but…”

The two groaned and tilted their heads.

It was my accessory discussion, but I was completely left out. Still, realizing their reactions were genuine, that strange feeling from earlier seemed to return.

…Could it be that my accessories are of higher quality?

“By the way, how long have you two been creators?”

“I’ve been at it for two years, so Sanae-san’s about a year and a half. She started six months after me, right?”

At Tenma-kun’s question, Sanae-san nodded.

“I studied stones as a hobby, but I started seriously creating around that time…”

So, purely in terms of creator experience, I’m their senior. It’s unexpected how the conversation went in this direction, and it left me a bit deflated.

But it’s strange. From the way Kureha-san talked, it felt like she was introducing creators with skills far beyond mine…

Of course, I’m not looking down on Tenma-kun and the others as creators. Just because they praised my accessories doesn’t create a hierarchy or anything.

(But Kureha-san must be setting something up…?)

I can’t help but think that. The other day, during Himari’s scouting incident, I was completely outmatched.

Was this Tokyo trip decided so suddenly that she didn’t have time to prepare? Was that provocation just a desperate move? …But that doesn’t seem like Kureha-san.

After that, I spent time visiting the jewelry shops Tenma-kun and the others recommended.

I also tried on some trendy clothes for the exhibition. The salon Tenma-kun frequents gave off a vibe of being for celebrities, which made me nervous, but once inside, it was really comfortable.

I hadn’t brought much besides accessories, so I also looked for small items to decorate the table. By the time I was done, it was dark, and I parted ways with the two after dinner.

Finally, I bought some delicious cake at the Western sweets shop Sanae-san recommended.

“Natsume-kun, good luck!”

“Please give my regards to Rin-chan.”

Encouraged by their words, I headed back.

…Honestly, I kind of wish I could stay at their place. Enomoto-san must be furious.

♡♡♡

In the morning, Yuu-kun went to the convenience store.

I changed clothes and prepared the room service breakfast that arrived in the meantime. Watching the morning news on TV, I waited for Yuu-kun to return.

…By the time the soup got cold, I started to think something was wrong.

Yuu-kun hadn’t come back. Maybe he got lost? But the convenience store is just across the street, so there’s no way he’d get lost. Is he flipping through magazines or something? I don’t think Yuu-kun’s the type, but…

(…No way.)

Despite denying it, my unease grew. When the news program changed, I decided to call the front desk.

“Natsume-sama left after receiving his package.”

I hung up the call in silence.

—Yuu-kun. You said you’d spend today with me, right?

—…Yeah. I think so.

I recalled that conversation.

At that time, Yuu-kun wasn’t looking at me.

(…Yuu-kun lied to me.)

That fact weighed heavily on my chest. Why? No, I get it. I didn’t want to participate in the exhibition, so he lied and went alone.

I picked up my phone and called the person I disliked the most. The moment the call connected, I interrogated with impatience.

“Onee-chan, where’s Tenma-kun and the others’ exhibition!?”

“……..”

Big sis sounded slightly surprised and held her breath.

Then, she spoke cheerfully.

“Rin-chan, you got left behind, huh? Yuu-chan, that’s so mean~☆”

Her tone sounded as if everything was going as planned.

By afternoon, Yuu-kun still hadn’t returned… so I headed to the tenant building I was told about.

I peeked cautiously into the semi-underground studio.

…Yuu-kun was there. I hoped I was wrong, but it seems he lied to me and came to prepare for the exhibition.

The problem was figuring out what to do now that I knew.

I crouched down on the spot. What should I do in times like this? I know how important accessories are to Yuu-kun.

But even so, prioritizing accessories at a time like this? I worked hard to get to this point with Hii-chan. It’s only been about two weeks, but did you already forget?

Yuu-kun and the others were gathered around the accessories, talking with serious expressions. At Yuu-kun’s words, Tenma-kun nodded in admiration.

Then, when Sanae-chan asked something, Yuu-kun pointed at the accessories and explained.

The three exchanged enthusiastic opinions and occasionally laughed happily. Knowing they were enjoying a fulfilling time made me feel like my lonely shadow was growing darker.

…I sighed deeply.

(This won’t do. Rin-chan, you’re capable. You shouldn’t get angry over something like this…)

I clenched my fist.

It’ll be fine. Yuu-kun understands when we talk. After everything, he does care about me. He’s just having fun with the new stimulation. Once the exhibition setup is done, he’ll come back to me, right? He wouldn’t leave me behind and forget about me, would he?

When he comes back, Yuu-kun will apologize properly. If it’s sincere, I’ll forgive him.

“I’ll go back and wait for Yuu-kun!”

Yuu-kun must be tired, so I’ll take care of him. I’ll make a delicious meal, prepare the bath, and praise him, saying, “Good job.” …It feels like newlyweds. Hehe.

(Alright, let’s do this!)

Pumped up, I headed back.

And then, Yuu-kun didn’t come back at all.

From the suite, I watched the Tokyo skyline gradually turn orange and then enveloped in a warm night, lying on the bed in a daze.

My phone… it’s past 8 PM. It’s already night. What? Yuu-kun left in the morning, right? And he lied to me, saying he was going to the convenience store, right? Isn’t he worried about me? Doesn’t he think he should come back soon?

Before I realized it, I was punching the pillow repeatedly.

“~~~ ~ ~!!”

Why!? Why isn’t he coming back!?

Does setting up the exhibition take that long? At that scale, it shouldn’t be that big of a deal, right?

Just as the pillow flattened, I had a sudden epiphany.

(Wait. Maybe something happened to Yuu-kun…?)

I jumped out of bed. Who should I contact in a situation like this? The police? Or the fire department? Ah, Tenma-kun or Sanae-chan? Or maybe Big sis—.

At that moment, the door to the room opened with a clatter.

“…!?”

I hurried to greet Yuu-kun.

“Yuu-kun!”

“Ah, Enomoto-san…”

Thank goodness. Yuu-kun is safe.

He looked really awkward, forcing a stiff smile.

“Uh, well. Enomoto-san. I’m sorry about today. Actually…”

Before he could finish, I impulsively hugged Yuu-kun, letting out a deep sigh of relief.

“Yuu-kun. Thank goodness…”

“……..”

Yuu-kun seemed taken aback and placed his hand on my shoulder.

“I’m really sorry. Today, I really wanted to see Tenma-kun and the others’ exhibition setup…”

“It’s fine. I understand.”

All my frustration from earlier is gone. Yuu-kun came back to me… that’s all that matters.

I mean, I waited seven years for Yuu-kun. At this point, waiting a few more hours won’t bother me. He came back to me. Yuu-kun is my ideal person.

“Besides, I figured out you went to the exhibition right away.”

“Seriously? …Well, I guess that makes sense.”

Yuu-kun looked awkward, his eyes darting around. When I noticed, I quickly pulled away.

“…Yuu-kun’s perverted.”

“Well, that can’t be helped…”

Yuu-kun turned away with a red face.

(I kind of wanted to stay like that a little longer… just kidding.)

Thinking that, I muttered to myself.

Well, it’s fine. More importantly, I’m hungry. Yuu-kun’s back safe, so let’s have dinner.

I lit the stove under the pot in the kitchen and took out salad and bread from the fridge.

“Yuu-kun, let’s eat. Or do you want to take a bath first? It’s ready.”

Ah, that sounds like a newlywed couple.

My heart skipped a beat. What if I said, “Dinner? Bath? Or…”? No, no, I can’t. That’s not what best friends do. Yuu-kun would get mad.

When I opened the pot, the delicious smell of curry wafted out. I made it really well today. Will Yuu-kun be happy? Maybe he’ll pat my head like last time… Hehehe…

“Ah, sorry. I already had dinner.”

—The ladle I was about to stir the curry with clattered to the floor.

As I froze, Yuu-kun continued happily.

“Tenma-kun and the others invited me. We went to some jewelry shops. Tokyo is really amazing, you know? The places you took me to were like that too, but the selection here is insane. Tenma-kun and the others showed me the shops they go to with other members. They had so many parts that would go perfectly with flowers… I really wish we had a store like that back home…”

“……..”

He was talking really fast.

Yuu-kun gets like this when he’s passionate about something. I said, “I see…” while washing the ladle in the sink.

“And you said it too, Enomoto-san. When you’re dealing with Tokyo people, you have to pay attention to your appearance. I thought so too, so I asked Tenma-kun and the others, and they took me to some trendy stores. There was a place with affordable prices that they go to, so I got a whole outfit there. I’ll wear it tomorrow.”

Yuu-kun was holding a thick plastic bag from a fashion shop. It was obvious he got a full set.

A thorny feeling pricked at me. I thought, ‘It’d be funny if a little devil Hii-chan was poking me with a spear.’ It’s not funny at all.

Then Yuu-kun showed me what looked like a box from a Western sweets shop.

“And as an apology, or a souvenir, I guess. Sanae-san told me about this shop, and they’re really popular. I thought it was a miracle they still had these donuts left at this hour. Maybe Sanae-san called ahead to reserve them for me. She’s really kind, being a college student and all…”

“……..”

The curry, left unstirred, boiled over. As I stared blankly at it, Yuu-kun quickly turned off the stove.

“H-hey, Enomoto-san!? The curry’s burning…”

“…Shut up.”

Not hearing me clearly, Yuu-kun leaned closer. I noticed his hair looked different—he must’ve gotten it cut. It smelled like expensive hair product… Probably thanks to Tenma-kun and the others.

(Even though you knew I was waiting alone…)

In my mind, little devil Hii-chan and her gang were surrounding a big bomb. “What should we do?” “Should we do it?” they asked, poking it with spears. Then, the boss devil Hii-chan’s eyes gleamed as she thrust the spear straight through the bomb.

—I felt like something snapped.

“SHUT UPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP!!”

I grabbed Yuu-kun’s head and twisted it hard.

“OWOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOW!? Enomoto-san, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts!?”

“Shut up, shut up, SHUT UPPPPPPP!! Don’t talk about your fun memories with Tenma-kun and the others in front of meeeeee!!”

Yuu-kun screamed loud enough to apologize to the neighbors as he sank to the kitchen floor. I wiped my product-covered hand on his hoodie.

Then, I stood up firmly.

“…Yuu-kun. Why were you so late coming back today?”

“Huh? Well, Tenma-kun and the others…”

“You went to set up the exhibition, right? Why did you go out with them afterward? I was waiting at the hotel the whole time, you know?”

Yuu-kun went, “Ah…” finally realizing his mistake.

“B-but, I didn’t know what was trendy in Tokyo, and…”

“You could’ve gone with me. Why do you only care about making memories with others?”

“It’d be rude to turn down Tenma-kun and the others when they invited me…”

“Yuu-kun, when you decided to meet Tenma-kun and the others, you promised to make time for me too! You said I’m more important than Tenma-kun and the others, didn’t you!?”

“Today was originally planned to meet Tenma-kun and the others…”

“And you’re saying you’re going to the exhibition tomorrow too? When are you going to think about me? What hour, minute, second? How many times does the Earth have to orbit before you do?”

“Stop acting like a kid!”

“You’re the one acting like a kid! You’re having so much fun with your new friends that you’ve forgotten about me!”

“You could’ve ignored me too and gone out to have fun, Enomoto-san!?”

“I don’t have any friends in Tokyo!”

“You have Kureha-san, don’t you!? You could’ve spent some time just with your sister!”

“Huh!? I’ve told you so many times that I hate my big sis—”

Yuu-kun stood up.

Then, biting his lip hard, he shouted at me in a burst of emotion.

“Don’t lie! You actually like Kureha-san, don’t you!? Things didn’t work out with her, so you’re focusing on me instead, right!? Am I wrong!?”

“…!?”

I fell silent.

Seeing that he’d hit the mark… Yuu-kun’s face turned slightly sad.

“I’ve always wondered. Why does Enomoto-san like someone like me? The first time I fixed the Moonflower accessory, but that’s not enough to make someone like me. And I don’t remember doing anything in first year that would make you like me. ‘It’s because of my first love in elementary school’… That’s not a reason for a high schooler.”

Then, he looked away.

What he was looking at was… the geranium flowerpot I’d moved to the table.

“During the aquarium visit, you said it, right? That I’d never betray you. That’s why you like me. …Who were you comparing me to?”

My heart skipped a beat. My silence was the answer.

Finally, Yuu-kun shouted as if expelling all his breath.

“I’m not Kureha-san’s replacement! I’m not going to play along with your plans, Enomoto-san! Stop messing around!”

He was breathing heavily.

The suite was eerily quiet. The lights from the nearby amusement park sparkled outside the window, and the bitter smell of burnt curry filled my lungs.

“……..”

The IH stove had overheated and automatically turned off.

My hands were trembling. My tears were welling up. I took a deep breath and clenched my fists.

“…And yet.”

“Huh?”

The moment Yuu-kun asked, I shouted back.

“Without me, you’re just a worthless, trash-tier creator who can’t do anything!!”

“Wha…!?”

Yuu-kun flinched.

Seizing the moment, I let out all my pent-up frustration!

“What’s with you!? Acting like you’re the only one who’s right!? You’re saying all these justified things, but you’re just trying to justify forgetting about me and going out to have fun! Right now, my issues with my Onee-chan have nothing to do with this! Why do I have to listen to you lecturing me like you’re above me!? Look at yourself first before saying anything!!”

“Uh, well, that’s…”

“And by the way, I’ve been angry for a while! When I said I’d make the ‘first love’ accessory after Sakura-san told me about fixing my bracelet! Why did you and Hii-chan fight like it was my fault!? I’m not some tool for you two to flirt over!? You never even apologized for that, did you!?”

“Th-that’s… uh, you were angry about that?”

“Yes! Everyone acted like, ‘Rin-chan’s a good girl, so she’ll forgive us, right?’ After the schoolgirl broke my accessory, I helped you and Hii-chan make up, didn’t I!? And all I got was a ‘Thanks, Enomoto-san’… That’s it!? When you said you started to care about Hii-chan and asked for help, and when it was about my Onee-chan, I supported you, didn’t I!? After all that, I asked you to make me the most important during this trip, and you said, ‘I’m not Kureha-san’s replacement’—shut up, that’s my line!!”

“Ah, uh…”

Taking advantage of Yuu-kun’s complete flinching, I delivered the final blow. I crossed my arms and puffed out my chest in intimidation.

“You can’t do anything without someone’s help, yet you act all high and mighty like a creator! Yuu-kun, have you ever sold an accessory purely on your own!? You talk about division of roles, but you’re just relying on Hii-chan! Even if you get into an exhibition out of pity from entertainers, you’ll just end up humiliated, failing to sell a single piece! Experience points, my ass!”

“…!?”

Yuu-kun, who had completely lost his momentum, flared up again. It seems even he can’t stay silent when his accessories are insulted. Truly a born creator (laughs).

With a vein popping on his forehead, Yuu-kun snapped at me.

“Enomoto-san… did you just say that?”

“I did. If it’s so frustrating, why don’t you try selling out the inventory the world’s cutest girlfriend (laughs) sent you without breaking a sweat!”

“Fine, I get it! I’ll sell them all! And if I do, we’re even for everything!”

“Alright. You’ll fail anyway. But what if you don’t sell them all? You’re not saying you’ll get a reward just for trying, right?”

“Fine. If even one piece is left, I’ll do whatever you say. How about that?”

“Hmm…?”

I smirked at his words.

“Even if I tell you to date me?”

“…!? Y-yeah. Whatever!”

“Not just for show. We’ll announce it at school, and all the dates, kisses, and everything else will be exactly how I imagine it.”

“Wh-wait, that’s…………………… FINE!! I’ll do it!!”

I opened the recording app on my phone and held it out to him.

“Here. The pledge.”

“Ugh… I, Natsume Yuu, promise that if I don’t sell out all the accessories at Tenma-kun and the others’ exhibition, I’ll date Enomoto-san.”

Then, I brought the phone closer to my mouth.

“I, Enomoto Rion, promise that if Yuu-kun sells out all the accessories at the exhibition, I’ll let go of everything and never make any further demands.”

I stopped the recording.

We glared at each other for a moment—then we both turned away with a huff.

After that, we silently finished the burnt curry, fought over the TV remote, argued about who would take a bath first, and finally got into bed without a word to each other.

Only then did Yuu-kun finally speak.

“By the way, Enomoto-san, you’re in the way. This is my bed.”

“Huh? My Onee-chan booked it, so it’s my bed.”

“Kureha-san got this room because I was coming too. So it’s my bed!”

“I was the one who told her to book the hotel, so it’s obviously my bed. Yuu-kun, go sleep outside or something!”

As we tugged at the blanket, Yuu-kun muttered under his breath.

“…You were saying stuff like ‘Nya~♪’ yesterday.”

“~~~ ~!?”

After that, a full-on pillow fight broke out. I think we finally fell asleep… around dawn.

…I’ll never forgive Yuu-kun!