Chapter Ⅳ | “Fleeting Love”

 

♣♣♣

 

The next day at lunch, we gathered in the science room.

Me, Himari, and Enomoto-san. Sitting at a six-person table, I spoke first.

“Alright, let’s start the strategy meeting.”

Himari and Enomoto-san raised their arms with an “Ohh!” in unison.

Of course, the topic wasn’t how to take down Makishima… but about the cultural festival accessory project.

“Did you two think about what I asked you yesterday on the way home?”

“Of course I did!”

Himari went first.

With a big grin, she pulled out a flip board from somewhere. You know, those whiteboards they use on quiz shows for answers. Where’d she even get this…?

She scribbled her answer with confidence, then flipped it around with a smug look. In her round handwriting, it read:

‘Ask Onii-chan to bury him in the mountains ☆’

We’re not discussing how to get rid of Makishima, okay?

And what’s with the extra space saying ‘Things to prepare!’ with barbecue tools and fireworks listed? She’s totally in first-time-camping-excitement mode…

“Rejected, rejected. Enomoto-san, please show her how it’s done.”

“…Got it.”

Enomoto-san took the flip board from Himari.

Wait, are we sticking with this format all day? Now that I think about it, there was a quiz show on TV last night…

Enomoto-san thought hard with a serious expression, then wrote her answer. With a cool but confident face, she flipped it over.

‘Set a trap at Shii-kun’s home practice court to make it look like an accident.’

“Can we please move away from plotting Makishima’s demise? Let’s get back to normal school life, okay?”

This isn’t a contest to see who can pull off a clean, traceless takedown.

I’m glad our hearts are united, but I didn’t want to feel this sense of accomplishment over this…

“What I asked was for you to think about ‘the essence of this theme,’ though…”

“Yuu, did you say something like that~?”

“That’s a genuine reaction, huh…”

Himari-san, just how much does Makishima get under your skin…?

According to Makishima’s “three conditions,” the theme this time is “Enomoto Rion.” In other words, we’re making accessories with Enomoto-san as the motif. We did something similar back in April with the tulip hairpin.

But after thinking it over all night, I concluded that this theme is completely different from April’s.

Hearing me out, Himari tilted her head.

“What’s different from the tulip hairpin?”

“Last time, it was ‘making an accessory that suits Enomoto-san.’ This time, it feels more like ‘express Enomoto-san as a person through the accessory.’”

Himari went, “Oh, like this?” and suddenly propped her elbow on the table, twisting her body seductively. With an upward glance, she purred in a sweet voice,

“Hey~ Master~ How about expressing me with a cocktail~?”

“Yeah, that’s pretty much it…”

Ignoring her unnecessarily spot-on impersonation championship, she’s definitely on the right track.

Himari stuck out her tongue in distaste and raised both hands in surrender.

“Ugh~ I might suck at that kinda thing~”

“Well, yeah, that might be true for you…”

It’s less a craftsman’s perspective and more an artist’s.

It’s like being told, “Pick just one treasure from a cave full of gold and jewels.” With no clear right answer, every possible choice could be correct.

Himari raised her hand.

“So, Yuu, are you seriously gonna go along with those conditions? Honestly, I think Makishima-kun’s just making stuff up this time.”

“What did Hibari-san say about this?”

Himari shrugged.

“For now, everything he said seems legit. He even showed me some repayment plan for the money he borrowed from Onii-chan. They’ve got a proper contract and everything—it’s so like those two~”

But then Himari smirked.

“Still, Onii-chan said, ‘Shinji-kun doesn’t have the right to control Yuu-kun and the others’ actions.’”

“Huh? Really?”

“It gets a bit technical, but basically, ‘Shinji-kun borrowed the money of his own free will.’ Borrowing money and how it’s used are separate issues. If he really wanted us to owe him, he should’ve gotten our consent beforehand.”

“But if Makishima hadn’t stepped in, wouldn’t Kureha-san have taken you to Tokyo?”

“That’s why he needed our consent first. Since he didn’t give us a choice like ‘Go to Tokyo or be my slaves’ upfront, it’s just him throwing money around for his own satisfaction, according to Onii-chan.”

“His own satisfaction…”

Hibari-san doesn’t pull punches, huh…

Himari flopped onto the table with a groan, sighing in annoyance.

“The contract only covers the loan itself—nothing about us doing anything. So we don’t have to listen to him, right?”

“Oh, got it…”

I organized the info in my head.

• Makishima borrowed a ton of money from Hibari-san to help us.
• He’s using that loan from summer break to pull something with this cultural festival.
• But according to Hibari-san, we’re not obligated to follow him.

Himari and… Enomoto-san, too, seem to lean toward not having to obey Makishima.

Which leaves it up to my judgment…

“Still, since he helped us, I think we can’t just ignore Makishima’s side of things.”

Like I told Makishima, that money’s something we should’ve shouldered ourselves.

Just because he took it on himself doesn’t mean I can laugh it off with a “lucky me.”

“Ugh~ Yuu, you’re such a softie~”

“…Yeah, a softie. A real softie.”

Makishima’s words from yesterday hit hard.

This time, I can say he completely beat me.

I lost during summer break too, but that was against Kureha-san—a higher-tier opponent—so I could rationalize it. It became fuel to motivate myself to catch up.

But this time, it’s Makishima, someone our age.

Getting outtalked—no, completely outplayed by him—is insanely frustrating and stirs my chest.

It’s not that I’m mad at Makishima. …In the end, it’s about being forced to see how soft and childish I really am.

What if this happened after I’d gone independent as a creator?

One slip-up could let someone dominate everything I’d built up as “you.”

Like, if I had a shop, I might have to give it up.

Or if I built a reputation as a creator, someone could snatch that away, stripping me of creative freedom.

While I was aiming to climb as a creator, Makishima proved he could take control of everything from a totally different angle. I got crushed by society’s rule: show a weakness, and you’ll get devoured without mercy.

That’s what stung.

That’s why—exactly why…

I want to strike back. I don’t know what Makishima’s plotting with these “three conditions,” but I want to overcome them and win.

Thinking that, my chest burned. Like when I fiercely wanted to stand alongside Tenma-kun and the others in Tokyo, it feels like there’s a hint of growth ahead.

My decision was set.

“I’m doing it. I’ll beat whatever Makishima’s scheming and make the cultural festival accessory sale a success.”

“…”

Himari let out a big sigh “Haaah.”

“You promised you’d only look at me during the cultural festival~”

“Sorry… But that part’s not really an issue, right?”

“I know, but I was planning to flirt with you way more~”

“The accessory-making and setup should be done before the day of, so I’ll make sure we have time to hang out then.”

Himari sat up with a pout.

“Yuu, you don’t get it! The cultural festival’s a huge event for second-years!”

“Huh? It is…?”

“Duh, next year we’re exam-takers! It’s the last time we get to mess around at school as free students without it turning into a big responsibility issue!”

“That phrasing… Don’t you dare do anything bad, okay?”

Just call it making final memories or something.

Anyway, I’m not even sure I’ll study for exams, and Himari’s got studying in the bag. For now, I just want to enjoy the festival quietly and cleanly this year, so let’s align on that, please.

“Fine, whatever~ So, what about the accessories?”

“Hmm, same as yesterday, I guess. The motif’s set, so we just need to pick flowers… Oh, lunch is almost over.”

While talking with Himari, Enomoto-san had quietly gotten ready to head back to class. Holding her school bag, she said coolly,

“See you after school, then.”

“Enomoto-san, you’re okay with that?”

“If Yuu-kun says he’s tackling Shii-kun’s challenge, I’m fine with it.”

“Oh, uh, thanks.”

Enomoto-san gave a curt “Mm” and left the science room.

Left behind, Himari and I glanced at each other. For some reason, she gave me a deadpan, accusing look.

“…Yuu. You really didn’t do anything with Enocchi in Tokyo?”

Gulp!

I pushed back Himari, who was leaning in close, with both hands.

“W-Why would you say that?”

“No, no, no, it’s obvious something’s off!”

“W-What’s off? It’s normal, right?”

“A girl who was all lovey-dovey suddenly going cold isn’t proof enough? She barely said a word just now!”

“That’s just her reading the room since you and I started dating…”

Himari went, “Eh~? Really~?” and eased off the interrogation for now.

…Cold, huh. Yeah, cold.

Right, Enomoto-san’s just reading the room. She’s noticed I’m hesitant around her and is adjusting accordingly.

In the end, I didn’t do anything. But realizing that doesn’t really change much.

A guy with a girlfriend should keep his distance from other girls as much as possible.

That’s probably just normal.

 

♣♣♣

 

That afternoon after school.

The three of us headed outside school to find flower inspiration. It reminded me of summer break, when we roamed the town to clear Kureha-san’s challenge.

The late summer evening sun was slightly—seriously, just slightly—softer than back then. The place we chose was—

Crepe shop “Tiffany.”

A spot along the old highway known for delicious crepes.

They’ve got a huge variety, from sweet to savory. Sometimes they even sell limited-time takoyaki, keeping the place buzzing with events. The landmark’s a “Love Fortune Vending Machine” out front—apparently featured on a national variety show once.

Munching on an inverse-cone-shaped crepe piled with cream, I sat at a round table facing Himari and the others. Chocolate banana’s delicious.

“So, I’d like to decide on the flowers for accessories themed around Enomoto-san.”

“Yay~”

Himari was chomping away at a tuna savory crepe.

“Mm. I’ll do my best.”

And Enomoto-san herself? She’d gone for a sweet and savory combo.

I get that they’re tasty enough to handle two, but these are pretty hefty—will she be okay…?

“Enomoto-san, can you eat both of those?”

“Easy.”

Instant reply.

Classic Enomoto-san—even eating crepes, she’s bold. Like Himari said, she’s a bit cold lately, but that’s cool and cute in its own way.

“Since it’s about expressing Enomoto-san, I brought some ideas…”

I spread out the notes I’d jotted down during class.

Enomoto Rion.

I’d narrowed down some flowers with her as the theme.

“First, tulips.”

“Hmm~ Tulips are available year-round, so they’re easy to get, but Yuu, are you okay with repeating yourself?”

That stings.

Back when I made an accessory to suit Enomoto-san, I settled on red tulips. I don’t think that choice was wrong, but yeah, Makishima’d probably go, “Naha, I won’t let you take the easy way out.”

More importantly, it feels off-theme.

The tulip hairpin’s theme was “first love.” That was Enomoto-san from my perspective, not an expression of who she is as a person.

I drew a line through tulips.

“Next is cosmos.”

Cosmos. Also called autumn cherry, one of fall’s iconic flowers.

Dainty and beautiful, its swaying in the breeze feels poetic. Super popular, easy to find at garden shops, with a wide range of colors—great for arrangements. A solid choice for gifts too.

Enomoto-san’s gorgeous, so it’d definitely suit her… or so I thought, but Himari was staring at her with a weird look.

“A dainty flower, huh~…”

Oi, Himari.

I get what you’re implying, and I get why Enomoto-san’s glaring like “Got a problem?”—but holding two giant crepes kills your credibility…

I crossed out cosmos too, and Himari laughed as she said,

“Why not go with melon flowers or something~?”

“Melon? The fruit?”

Enomoto-san looked at me for an explanation.

About to take a bite of my crepe, I accidentally dunked my nose in cream. Wiping it off, I looked away.

“…Melon flowers’ meanings are ‘wealth,’ ‘abundance,’ ‘plenty,’ ‘fertility.’ Basically, they evoke overindulgence.”

They’re a symbol of riches, so it’s a happy thing, but…

“…”

Enomoto-san glanced at the crepes in both hands—and her ears turned bright red.

She shot up and went at Himari.

“Hii-chaaaaaan…!”

“Pfft-haha! With both hands full, you can’t even pull your signature iron claw!”

Seriously, don’t disturb the shop…

Himari darted around the table and clung to me.

“Fufufu~ I don’t need two—just one lets me enjoy both flavors. Here, Yuu, ahh~♪”

“Uh…”

You’re demanding my chocolate banana now?

Himari tightened her arms around my neck with an “Ahh!” I reluctantly let her take a bite of my crepe. Ugh, she nabbed a ton of cream…

“Hey, Himari, not in public…”

“Hehe~ Bu’ I lo’e i’ any’ay~”

“What?”

“That you’d still do it—I love that, Yuu~♡”

Oh, I see.

Embarrassed, I looked away—and—

“Urk…”

Met Enomoto-san’s icy glare. Huuuuh. Is this the “me next” pattern?

I braced myself with a jolt, but against my expectations, she turned away with a huff. Then devoured her crepes like a black hole. …Wait, she seriously finished both just now? Magic trick?

“I’ve got my own, so I’m good.”

“Oh, uh, right…”

It’s the same vibe as when we reunited in April, but the gap from recently makes it feel like I’ll catch a cold… Huh? Did she just read my mind? That’d be way too embarrassing.

“Uh, next is nadeshiko or something?”

“Ooh, nice~”

Himari seemed into it.

Nadeshiko.

Counted among the seven autumn grasses alongside hagi and kikyo, it’s a popular flower. A vivid purplish-red, its unique hue even has a name—“nadeshiko color.” Like the term “Yamato Nadeshiko,” it’s dainty yet carries a striking, alluring air.

Nadeshiko’s delicate—soil prep, watering, everything takes care. Japan’s humid summers make pruning crucial too. That high maintenance might be part of its charm.

Flower meanings include “innocence” and “pure love.”

In a way, it feels perfect for Enomoto-san…

“…”

Huh?

Enomoto-san’s reaction’s kinda flat. Like, it’s not clicking at all.

“Enomoto-san, you don’t like nadeshiko?”

“…I don’t dislike it, though.”

I see.

So, not that she dislikes it, but it’s not quite right. That’s the vibe, huh?

Logic matters, but I want to value that gut feeling too. If Enomoto-san herself isn’t into it, I can’t force it.

Himari casually chomped at my chocolate banana crepe from the side like it was hers.

“Yeah, maybe nadeshiko’s too cute for Enocchi~”

“…”

Enomoto-san glared with a “Did you say something?” vibe, curling her hand into a claw. Himari scurried behind me to hide.

…Yeah, nadeshiko does feel like it’s just one side of Enomoto-san.

I crossed out nadeshiko and brought up my last idea.

“Then how about lycoris?”

“Lycoris?”

“It’s another name for higanbana—the red spider lily. Around the equinox, those pretty red flowers bloom like fireworks, right?”

“Oh, I know those.”

There are a few varieties, but they’re generally alluring flowers with petals curling outward.

Since the leaves come after the flowers fall, their presence during bloom season is striking. Their unique beauty’s been gaining popularity in the gardening world.

Himari said with a slight grimace,

“But lycoris… I mean, higanbana? Doesn’t it have a kinda ominous vibe~?”

“That’s probably because of when it blooms. In Japan, it lines up perfectly with the equinox, so it’s often planted in graveyards. That’s where the ‘flower of the dead’ image comes from.”

“Talk about unfair reputation damage~”

“Pretty much, yeah.”

In reality, lycoris’s flower meanings are “passion,” “cheer,” and “lively spirit”—totally opposite of that image.

“Lycoris has a strong presence, and I think it’d really shine on a beauty like Enomoto-san.”

“Yuu~? What’re you thinking, openly flirting with another girl in front of your girlfriend???”

“No, this is about the accessories…”

My girlfriend’s censorship is way too strict. I can’t push back hard after the Tokyo mess. Wait, am I seriously getting whipped here?

And why’s Enomoto-san giving me that deadpan stare… Oh, she just turned away with a huff.

“I’ve decided not to take those natural playboy comments seriously anymore.”

“Is there no ally for me here…?”

So I cried alone—this is about accessory-making, guys…

Enomoto-san put a hand to her chin, frowning thoughtfully.

“But… passion? Cheer…?”

“Oh, not feeling it?”

“Lycoris itself is fine, but if you’re asking if it’s me… it feels more like Shii-kun.”

“Makishima, huh…”

I pictured Makishima in a lycoris field, fanning himself and laughing loudly. Yeah, he’s got that tenacity, rivaling Hibari-san. Honestly, he’d probably survive getting killed…

I crossed out lycoris too.

“Well, it was kinda my third choice anyway.”

“Really? That’s unusually timid for you, Yuu~”

“Truth is, I’ve never successfully made lycoris into preserved flowers.”

“For real?”

“Yeah. The petals are so delicate, they always fall apart during the process. I could manage dried flowers, but the colors never turn out how I want…”

“Then why’d you even suggest it…?”

I’ve always wanted to challenge it, though…

I threw out a few more ideas after that, but none clicked. …Expressing someone through accessories is way harder than I thought.

But I kinda figured out why.

“Guess it’s gotta be Queen of the Night after all.”

That’s where I landed.

When it comes to a flower that feels like Enomoto-san, it always comes back to that. The shock of our reunion in April plays a part, but yeah, Enomoto-san’s tied to Queen of the Night.

I just… didn’t want to bring it up.

The reason being…

“…!”

Enomoto-san flinched at my words.

Unconsciously, she touched her right wrist. …The Queen of the Night bracelet that should’ve been there wasn’t. I thought she forgot it on the first day back, but it doesn’t seem like that. I haven’t seen it once since.

Maybe it broke… but I doubt it. She’d have asked me to fix it. So either she lost it, or she’s deliberately not wearing it.

If it’s the latter… it clearly ties to her going cold again, and that’s a minefield I didn’t want to step into. I’ve been avoiding it too, but…

Himari tilted her head.

“Huh? Enocchi, what happened to your Queen of the Night bracelet anyway?”

“…!?”

My girlfriend, fearlessly stomping right onto that landmine.

Ignoring it would feel like I’m overthinking it, so I panicked and jumped in.

“Y-Yeah, I’ve been wondering too. What’s up? If it broke, I can fix it like before… Oh, but if you’re just not in the mood for it, that’s fine too.”

My mouth ran way too much, making it sound rehearsed…

Himari pulled back a bit, and Enomoto-san looked awkward. Oh crap, this is definitely a landmine.

Enomoto-san hid her right wrist, looking away.

“I lost it in Tokyo.”

“Oh, I see…”

The conversation died there.

Lost it in Tokyo. It was there when she saw us off for the exhibition on the last day, so after that, huh?

(…But did she really lose it?)

Once I started thinking that, it spiraled. That Queen of the Night bracelet she treasured so much—if she really lost it, she’d have contacted me when she noticed.

I came back a day late. Before I headed to the airport, we could’ve searched where she’d been. Since she didn’t reach out, either she still has it, or she intentionally—

I shook my head.

Stop it. Wild guesses like that are no good. And after I hurt Enomoto-san’s feelings, anything I say would just sound hollow.

‘You kept treating Rion like a backup since she didn’t notice, huh~?’

Yeah.

I betrayed Enomoto-san. I didn’t mean to, but she definitely felt it that way.

Whatever decision she made—judging by her recent coldness—she probably doesn’t want me prying.

She’s only with us now because of Makishima. Just because she’s helping with the accessories doesn’t mean I should misread that.

I should focus solely on clearing Makishima’s challenge and making the cultural festival sale a success.

An unspoken understanding… or something like that.

Enomoto-san didn’t push the conversation further either. For now, the bracelet topic’s done.

This was my screw-up. I shouldn’t have brought up Queen of the Night here. It’s true I think no other flower fits Enomoto-san better, but I shouldn’t have said it.

So we settled on tabling it for now.

Or so I thought…

“Then just make it again.”

“Huh?”

Himari’s casual suggestion startled both me and Enomoto-san.

She touched the twinflower ring on her choker, smirking with a “Himari-chan’s so smart~♪” vibe.

“It worked for me, so just make another one! Hehe~ I’m excited to see Yuu’s new accessory leveled up from Tokyo~♪”

“Uh, well…”

I hesitated.

Honestly, is that okay? Enomoto-san probably isn’t hoping for that flow.

…But flat-out refusing here might lead to “Why not?” and more mess. As I wavered, Enomoto-san sighed softly.

“…Fine, then.”

With her reluctant agreement, the accessory flower was decided.

 

♣♣♣

 

That weekend. Clear skies.

Past noon, the three of us met up again.

A spot off the main shopping street, down a back alley. I’ve been coming here since middle school, so my steps were steady.

We visited a quiet old house. A tiny garden, about the size of a cat’s forehead, bloomed with seasonal flowers.

There were more empty pots than last time—probably prepping for winter flowers.

A sign at the stone wall entrance read “Araki Flower Class.” Despite the name, the contact number was still half-faded as usual.

Himari looked at it, exasperated.

“Still no interest in getting students, huh~”

“Well, it’s mostly a hobby for her.”

Enomoto-san tilted her head.

“I’ve always wondered—how does Araki-sensei make a living?”

“Her main job’s a garden designer.”

“Garden designer? Like designing yards?”

“Yeah. Parks, office courtyards—she designs spaces with gardens. She swaps plants by season and gets called for event setups too. The flower class is just a bonus… or rather, it’s basically faded into gaming with kids now.”

Even today, kids’ cheers echoed from the garden.

Peeking from the entrance, a stylish woman in a camisole and jeans—surrounded by grade-schoolers—was playing on a Switch. Her messy ponytail swayed with each intense controller move.

Araki-sensei.

The one who taught me how to handle flowers from elementary to middle school. Back then, she had college students and housewives as pupils, but now she’s mostly busy gaming with kids.

“Araki-sensei, hello.”

She noticed me calling out.

Glancing at her watch, she said in a laid-back tone, “Oh, it’s that time already?” Pulling a worn leather wallet from her pocket, she handed the kids some pocket money.

“Go grab lunch. Meet back in two hours.”

“Yay!”

The kids clutched their bonus cash and scampered past us excitedly.

What crisp coordination. You wouldn’t see moves this disciplined even at a school sports day nowadays.

Araki-sensei took off her glasses, rubbing her brow with a groan.

“That kid buffed in the last update—I can’t use ’em right…”

I glanced at the Switch screen.

Looks like it’s Splatoon today, not Pokémon. FPS games tire out your eyes, huh? I get it.

“Are they strong?”

“They’re busted now, so I wanna master ’em, but they don’t click. You need a bird’s-eye view of the battlefield, but their speed doesn’t sync with the team…”

“Why not stick to what you’re used to?”

“The meta’s all about their strengths now. Can’t leave it to the kids.”

“Sensei, you’re hardcore…”

She kicked off her slippers and stepped onto the porch.

“You haven’t had lunch, right? I’m boiling somen—wanna join?”

“Is that okay?”

“Got too much from a midsummer gift. Help me use it up.”

“Oh, that kinda…”

We took off our shoes and stepped inside.

Welcomed into a Showa-era kitchen, we helped prep dishes. In about 30 minutes, the table was set.

With a stash of convenience store chopsticks, we faced a huge pile of boiled somen and clasped our hands. I brought up today’s business.

“Araki-sensei, do you know any suppliers who grow Queen of the Night?”

“Queen of the Night? That’s a rare pick.”

“For the cultural festival, I wanna sell Queen of the Night accessories.”

“Hmm. I know folks with more common stuff, but I’d have to ask around for that.”

Across the table, Himari and Enomoto-san were at it—“Enocchi, ahh~?” “…I can eat myself.”

Watching them, Araki-sensei slurped her somen elegantly.

“Oh? Natsume-kun, you’re dating Inuzuka-chan now?”

“…!?”

I choked with a sputter.

Himari freaked out too—“How’d you know!?”

Araki-sensei answered nonchalantly.

“Well, compared to summer break, Inuzuka-chan’s yandere aura’s gone—mmph!”

“Araki-sensei! You don’t have to say that!”

Himari frantically covered her mouth. What’s this? I’m curious, but it feels like a landmine, so I’ll leave it alone…

I dipped my somen in broth and slurped it up.

“Oh, Yuu! I’m gonna chat with Araki-sensei—ahaha!”

“Huh? Inuzuka-chan? I’m eating here…”

“Come on, Sensei! Call your suppliers about Queen of the Night!”

“That can wait till after—”

“Hurry! Let’s go!”

“Well, the somen’s not running off, so fine…”

Pushed out, they both vanished from the kitchen.

I could hear them talking over there, but our table was dead silent. Just me and Enomoto-san slurping somen.

“…”

“…”

Wow, awkward.

What did we talk about during the Tokyo trip? I can’t remember at all. Feeling my stomach twist like the somen might come back up, I spoke.

“Uh, Enomoto-san?”

“Hm?”

“If you’re not into it, you don’t have to force yourself to help with the accessories. I’ll tell Makishima we’re doing it together…”

“Mm.”

“And if Queen of the Night’s a no-go…”

“…”

Despite my careful word choice, Enomoto-san gave no reaction.

The somen dwindled with each slurp. When her broth bowl emptied, she wiped her mouth neatly. …As always, her eating volume and manners don’t match.

Enomoto-san stared at me.

“Yuu-kun. Don’t you want to make a Queen of the Night accessory?”

“Huh?”

Caught off-guard by the question, I blurted out my honest answer.

“No, I do!”

I stood up, grabbing her shoulders.

“I thought about what accessory could express you, and Queen of the Night hit me first. The bracelet I made in middle school was hands-down my best work back then. I’ve been wondering what it’d be like if I made it now. This festival’s my chance to put what I learned in Tokyo into action, and I’m dead-set on making something great with your help. Uh, so what I’m trying to say is…”

I got carried away and lost my point.

What am I saying? That I want to make a Queen of the Night accessory? I said that already. What else haven’t I said…? Oh, right.

“I’m gonna make a Queen of the Night accessory that tops the last one. …And I’d be happy if you liked it.”

Enomoto-san stared back at me, stunned.

That’s when I finally clocked my own state. I’d totally pushed my own wants without considering her feelings.

…I messed up big time.

“Oh, uh, sorry. I didn’t think about how you feel and just…”

“…”

Enomoto-san stayed silent.

Unable to handle the quiet, I trembled—then she turned away curtly.

“Then it’s fine.”

“Oh, uh, okay…”

Which is it—!?

Enomoto-san, is that an okay or a no-go—which is it—!?

No clue. Zero clue. She said it’s fine, so it’s an okay, right? But is it that simple? My only female reference points are Himari and Saku-nee-san—my emotional sample size is way too small. Someone get me a guidebook on maiden hearts…!

The air’s heavy with a different kind of awkward now. I’m low on somen to slurp as a distraction. No, my stomach’s life gauge is in worse shape. Crap, I might puke.

Just as I hit my limit, Himari and Araki-sensei returned from their mystery meeting.

They gaped at how little somen was left in the glass bowl of cold water.

“Yuu and them ate a ton~! Black-belt somen eaters…”

“Haha, growing kids sure can eat, huh?”

Kinda embarrassing…

In the end, Araki-sensei started boiling more somen. “Here, if it was that good, eat more,” she said, serving us double the amount. I was left feeling totally wiped out.

 

♣♣♣

 

After being thoroughly treated, we were having tea with cakes from Enomoto-san’s family’s pastry shop.

“Araki-sensei, how’d the call with the supplier go?”

“Oh, that.”

Araki-sensei shared the results of her earlier inquiries.

Apparently, unless it’s a flower regularly supplied to florists, it’s tough. Queen of the Night takes over a year from planting to its first bloom chance, and even then, it wilts in a single night.

More than that, it doesn’t bloom every year without fail.

There’s a story of a Queen of the Night that hadn’t bloomed in over a decade—thought to be dead and nearly thrown out—only to bloom that very night. It’s a majestic flower, but it’s quite the moody one.

Overall, it’s not practical as a florist’s product. Naturally, suppliers would balk at a last-minute order like this.

Araki-sensei said apologetically,

“Sorry I couldn’t help.”

“No, I’m the one who made a sudden, unreasonable request. Sorry about that…”

For a bit after, I got some opinions from Araki-sensei about the cultural festival sale.

She’s done flower arrangement exhibitions before, so I got advice on flower placement too.

“The key at an exhibition is handling the flow.”

“Flow?”

“It’s about arranging products to guide the customer’s attention—giving it highs and lows. When you decide your main product, you position the others to make it stand out. If it works, you’ll get better results than expected and can even control inventory.”

Himari asked with interest,

“Sensei, like a course meal?”

“Exactly. It’d be sad if the main dish didn’t leave the biggest impression, right?”

Thinking back to the flower class exhibition I joined in middle school, I can see that intent. Sensei’s pieces were clustered at the end, maybe to emphasize the lingering vibe afterward.

I was nodding along when I noticed Enomoto-san staring at her cake with a dark look.

“…Enomoto-san, you look pale. Feeling sick or something?”

“Oh, no, it’s not that…”

She said that while poking her mont blanc with a fork.

“I just thought, even desserts should be as delicious as the main course.”

“…? Yeah, I agree, but it’s just a metaphor…”

Did that metaphor rub her the wrong way as someone from a pastry family? No, I don’t think Enomoto-san’s the type to get upset over that…

Not quite getting it, I kept talking with Araki-sensei.

“So for the main… I mean, the star product we want to sell most, what’s the best placement?”

“Front and center, flashy. Somewhere visible from everywhere. Physically easy to buy. …It depends on the booth setup, so work with the space.”

Work with the space, huh.

Come to think of it, Tenma-kun’s exhibition was laid out so you could see all three of their accessories from the entrance. And it was designed for Tenma-kun’s fans to buy easily.

I jotted down Sensei’s advice, muttering,

“I never thought about this before—there’s so much to learn…”

“Haha, I was shocked you asked about sale layouts. Natsume-kun, you’ve changed since summer break. Something happen?”

“Oh, that’s…”

I started to mention the Tokyo exhibition when someone’s phone alarm went off. Chage & Aska, I think.

All eyes turned to Araki-sensei.

“Oh, time’s up.”

She stopped the alarm and stood.

“The kids coming back already?”

“No, it’s watering time.”

“Oh, right…”

Since we got advice today, we decided to help out.

Behind the house was a shed once used as a storehouse. Araki-sensei had turned it into a flower-growing greenhouse.

Sunlight streamed through the ceiling window, softly lighting the room.

Shelves lined up with pre-bloom pots, buds ready to burst. The air was thick with the scent of green and soil.

Himari’s seen it before, but it’s Enomoto-san’s first time. She gazed at it all with keen interest.

“Wow…”

“My room’s closet is set up to grow flowers, right? I copied this place to make it.”

“Oh, yeah, it does feel similar.”

We pulled a hose from the tap, carefully watering each pot.

It’d been a while since I last peeked in, but as always, there were tons of varieties. Christmas roses, pansies, cineraria… even low shrubs like wintersweet and camellias.

Himari was impressed, “Whoa~.”

“Seeing this, you really feel like Araki-sensei’s a flower teacher~”

“Haha, I can’t become a pro gamer, so I’ve got no choice but to keep this up.”

Araki-sensei, I can’t tell if that’s a joke or serious…

While I puzzled over my mentor’s heart, Enomoto-san called out from where she was watering.

“Yuu-kun, this one’s huge…”

“Huh?”

I headed over.

My eyes locked onto a large pot. Leaf-like stems stretched upward like they were reaching for the sky. It came up to my chest—probably over a meter tall.

It was like a fountain frozen mid-spray—a stunning plant. No flowers yet, but it already had an artistic weight.

“Whoa, this is massive…”

“Yuu-kun, do you know what this is?”

“That’s a Queen of the Night.”

Enomoto-san whipped around with an “Eh!?”

Feeling smug, I launched into an explanation, unprompted as usual.

“And it’s been grown for years, with proper flower buds too. Maybe a bit over a meter? It’ll grow more, but getting this big is already amazing… Huh?”

I tilted my head at my own words.

Something’s off.

Queen of the Night. Queen of the Night, huh. Queen of the Night—wait!

“Araki-sensei! There’s a Queen of the Night right here!?”

I couldn’t help shouting.

Araki-sensei turned with a blank “Oh, that?”

“You only asked about suppliers…”

She answered with the most deadpan face…

Himari, next to her, sighed in disbelief.

“Sensei, you’ve got that side to you…”

“A beauty’s better with a bit of mystery.”

“I think Sensei’s just scatterbrained…”

I almost quipped about her calling herself a beauty, but then remembered Himari’s the same type. I always thought they got along too well—birds of a feather, huh. Makes sense.

“Still, it’s been a while since I last saw it…”

I gazed at the Queen of the Night again.

It’s huge. No, more than huge—it’s got insane presence.

Life force, maybe? Even without blooms, I’ve never seen a flower with this kind of intimidating aura. One this big must bloom gorgeous, massive flowers.

My chest pounded without me realizing.

If I could turn this plant’s blooms into accessories, how thrilling would that be?

Thinking that far… I snapped back to reality.

“Oh, but a plant this big is something you’ve treasured, right, Sensei? I got carried away—sorry, forget I said anything.”

I tapped my own head.

Why was I assuming she’d hand it over? Queen of the Night’s tough to grow. Oh well. For the festival, I’ll have to source it online or something…

Then Araki-sensei said casually,

“No, this is yours.”

“…Huh?”

Did I hear that wrong?

It sounded like she said this flower’s mine. Haha, classic Araki-sensei. Bad joke. Like a single salaryman suddenly told by a random girl, “I’m your daughter,”—that’s the vibe.

As I made a weird face, Araki-sensei laughed brightly.

“You grew it here in middle school, remember? After you took flowers for your festival accessories, it was in the way, so I moved it here… Wait, did you forget?”

“…”

Memories from three years ago spun through my head.

…Right. Back in middle school, I borrowed space here to grow flowers. When Sensei got a mystery pot from a friend, I raised it—and it bloomed into this Queen of the Night.

I used it for accessories at the middle school festival, and then—

I dropped to my knees with a thud.

“I forgot…!”

“Haha, you’re such a scatterbrain.”

“But after the festival, you said, ‘It’s gone,’ Sensei! I thought you threw it out—I was crushed!”

“I meant it wasn’t in the garden anymore…”

“The most important part didn’t get through…!”

Himari gaped, “Sensei, you’ve got that side…” while Sensei laughed without a shred of guilt.

“I kept wondering when you’d pick it up, but you never did, so I watered it on the side. But this brat hasn’t bloomed once in front of me. So cheeky.”

This woman’s so immature…

Still, she’s the one who grew it this far.

“Since you’ve nurtured it this much, if you want to keep it…”

Sensei answered with a refreshing smile.

“It’s in the way, so I’d appreciate it if you took it soon.”

“Sensei…”

At least phrase it nicely…

Anyway, I somehow secured a Queen of the Night.

 

 

 

 

 

 

♣♣♣

 

Monday.

At lunch in the science room, we planned the accessory sale. Himari drafted a plan on her phone app while Enomoto-san listened as our opinion-giver.

“Since it’s a school event, I think we should donate the profits to a volunteer group like in middle school. Sasaki-sensei said that’s fine too.”

“Well, that’s a given~… Wait, so the accessory materials come out of the gardening club’s budget?”

“That’s the plan for now.”

“Hmm. Can we expect decent sales then~?”

“This time, I want to focus less on total sales amount.”

“So, like middle school, we set a different goal?”

I nodded.

“The goal this time is… ‘to turn a profit within a limited budget.’”

Himari tilted her head curiously, so I elaborated.

“In middle school, it was just ‘sell 100 accessories, whatever kind.’ This time, I want a sale that simulates a real-world scenario as much as possible.”

“So, like simulating the Tokyo exhibition?”

When “Tokyo exhibition” came up, I thought Enomoto-san glanced at me… Nah, probably my imagination. She’s eating her bento, watching cat videos on her phone.

“Exactly. I want us to handle everything Tenma-kun’s crew took care of too.”

Flower and accessory part costs.

Booth rental fees for the day.

Calculate all that and aim for a profit.

Any surplus beyond the budget goes to charity, but the real treasure this time is the experience itself.

“First, we draft a sales plan and get Hibari-san or Saku-nee-san to review it. Once it’s approved, we roll with it for the festival.”

“But isn’t that super tough? The budget’s way lower than our usual ‘you’ funds.”

“That’s why it’s worth doing. We won’t always have abundant cash flow in the future. I think we need to train ourselves to profit in any situation.”

In Tokyo, Tenma-kun’s group operates with funds from their sponsor, Kureha-san.

Following their lead, I want to try this with “sponsor funds” as the premise.

“Yuu, I get the sales approach, but that limits how many accessories we can make, right? We can’t just stock up like usual…”

“Yeah. I think a small, elite batch with higher unit prices makes sense…”

A tight budget means limited material costs per accessory.

So rather than mass-producing cheap stuff, aiming for a premium vibe with fewer items seems more likely to hit profit.

“I get that, but how many are we making? And just Queen of the Night flowers?”

“Depends if it blooms by the deadline. Even then, I don’t think we should expect enough to cover all the accessories.”

“Right~ Queen of the Night’s so fickle—blooming or not, maybe one, maybe a ton~”

That unpredictability kinda fits Enomoto-san too… but I’d never say that out loud.

“For now, I’m thinking Queen of the Night as the star, with other flowers as backups.”

“Like Sensei said—main dish and supporting cast~”

“If the others outsell Queen of the Night, it’d defeat the point, so we’ll go all out on them too. But time’s tight, so ideally flowers that are easy to get and I’m used to working with.”

“Got it. Till Queen of the Night blooms, we’ll focus on those~”

I turned to Enomoto-san.

“Enomoto-san, any requests?”

“Nope.”

Cold as ice…!

Enomoto-san rolled a cherry tomato in her mouth with a curt gesture. Still, I’m grateful she’s even listening.

Himari propped her cheeks on her hands, dangling her legs with a grin.

“Yuu, you’ve really changed since Tokyo~ Like you’ve leveled up? Glad you got to join that exhibition~”

“…Yeah.”

It’s a school event.

That’s all it takes to brush it off. Since it’s a school event, excluding material costs is normal. No need to factor in booth fees—it’s just students learning about society, after all.

(…But my growth isn’t there.)

I’m not doing this sale to learn society’s systems and call it a day. Skipping material costs to fake profit, ignoring booth fees to claim success—

I can’t grow by settling for that kind of pretend play.

I saw it firsthand in Tokyo—Tenma-kun and Sanae-san fighting on the front lines.

Constantly exposing themselves to Kureha-san’s brutal critiques, weathering the storms of real business, carving the results of profit or loss into themselves.

Tenma-kun pours time and effort into appearances and fan service to spread his accessories.

Sanae-san thrives in hostile territory, selling accessories like a swordsman surviving a battlefield.

What’s different between me and them?

It’s the tension.

The resolve to stay in that electrifying real-world air, constantly honing their craft. That’s what we lack.

Himari promotes as a model on Instagram, I refine my skills. Our “you” online shop style’s polished—but it’s also stalled our evolution. I realized that.

That’s why I need to know where I stand now.

How far behind Tenma-kun’s crew am I? To figure that out, this festival sale has to mirror reality as much as possible.

Every chance like this—treat it like it’s once-in-a-lifetime.

Then I remembered something.

“Oh, Himari, about the sale—I need your permission for something…”

Just then, the school intercom chimed.

We shut up reflexively. The lunch break bustle stopped, like time froze across the school.

I looked at the dusty speaker at the front of the science room. Then Sasaki-sensei’s curt voice came through.

“Second-year, Natsume. Come to the staff room.”

That’s it—the broadcast cut off.

It flowed into the usual school routine. Outside, students’ chatter picked back up right away.

But for us, it was different.

The three of us exchanged looks, tilting our heads.

“What’s that about?”

“Yuu, did you do something?”

Facing Himari and Enomoto-san’s stares, I shook my head.

“No, I don’t think I forgot homework or anything…”

For now, I stood up.

We paused the sale meeting and locked up the science room. Himari and Enomoto-san said they’d hang out with the brass band and split off.

I headed to the staff room alone.

 

 

 

 

 

♣♣♣

 

Upon arriving at the staff room, Sasaki-sensei was waiting.

“Sasaki-sensei. Is there something you need?”

“…Follow me.”

Huh?

Sasaki-sensei started walking ahead without even making eye contact. His expression was dark, with deep wrinkles creasing his brow.

For now, I followed him without saying anything.

We ended up at the guidance office. He silently urged me to enter.

“Excuse me…?”

There were already people inside.

My homeroom teacher, the advisor for the gardening club, and… the vice-principal.

(Oh, this isn’t good.)

I had that gut feeling. A sense of déjà vu. A few months ago, I’d been in a situation just like this.

That time, uh, what was it again?

…Right. It was when some parents complained about the custom-made accessories I’d been selling at school. A few students falsely claimed I’d forced them to buy them, and it turned into a whole recall mess.

Suddenly, I felt a chill. My heart was pounding hard.

The vice-principal spoke to Sasaki-sensei, who’d entered after me.

“Sasaki-kun.”

“Wait, I’m the one explaining this?”

Sasaki-sensei scratched his head, not even bothering to hide his displeasure.

“…Jeez, you’re just dumping the dirty work on me, huh?”

The vice-principal glared at him sharply after he muttered that under his breath.

Sasaki-sensei sat me down on the sofa and took a seat across from me. He groaned while pressing his fingers to his brow.

Then, looking me straight in the eye, he said,

“…Natsume, I’ll cut to the chase. Several staff members have raised objections to the gardening club’s flower accessory sale at this year’s cultural festival and want it canceled.”

“…”

Surprise… I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t shocked. But more than surprise, it was the despair of my hope—“Please don’t let it be true”—being crushed that hit harder. I’d had a bad feeling the moment I stepped into this guidance office.

But why? Why did it have to come to this?

“W-Why?”

“You don’t get it?”

“No, I mean, is it maybe because of that trouble from before…?”

Sasaki-sensei nodded.

“That complaint fiasco from the parents earlier turned into a bigger deal than we thought. We didn’t tell you, but there was even talk of pressuring you to voluntarily withdraw from school.”

“What!?”

“The fact that you were doing business on school grounds left a bad impression. I managed to smooth things over to avoid that punishment, but the teachers who were involved back then are now leading the opposition to this cultural festival sale.”

“But I only sell to clients who agree to it! I’m not forcing anyone to buy…”

“I told you back then. Is there anything to back up your claims?”

“Ugh…”

There isn’t.

Right. Since there was no proof that “clients bought it of their own free will,” we had no choice but to swallow it and move on.

“…So, what happens now?”

Sasaki-sensei let out a sigh.

“It’ll be decided at tomorrow’s staff meeting, but internally, it’s already leaning toward banning the gardening club’s sale.”

“No way! We haven’t done anything wrong…”

“That’s not the issue. Let me put it in a way you might understand, since you’ve got a more mature perspective than most students… In this day and age, the school can’t knowingly take the risk of approving a plan that’s likely to cause trouble.”

Trouble.

In other words, a potential PR disaster. Once something catches fire, the embers linger forever. Even if it looks extinguished, pour oil on it, and it’ll flare up into a raging blaze again.

And that could cause even greater damage. No, worse—there are people out there who’d gleefully fan the flames, eagerly waiting for the chance to make it burn.

That’s what the school is afraid of.

“But Sasaki-sensei, you consulted with me about the sale before. So I thought it’d been approved…”

“That was my mistake. I’m sorry for getting your hopes up. I wanted to support your challenge, but…”

The vice-principal coughed loudly, cutting him off, and re-crossed his legs irritably.

Sasaki-sensei clicked his tongue and awkwardly averted his gaze.

(I see. So the vice-principal’s the leader of the opposition…)

Sasaki-sensei is looking out for me.

But he’s still “part of the school.” Regardless of his personal feelings, he can’t defy their decisions.

He’d already saved me during that earlier trouble. If I pushed back here, it’d only make things worse for him—I could see that clearly.

(…But there’s no way I can just accept this.)

I clenched my fists.

With a trembling throat, I forced out my resolve.

“No. I want to hold the accessory sale.”

The room froze.

The teachers had clearly expected me to back down. My homeroom teacher hurriedly tried to calm me, but I brushed it off.

“I haven’t done anything wrong! If they don’t like it, they shouldn’t buy it in the first place! I’m not doing this to stand out, and the parents can just ignore it! I don’t even want people who don’t get what I’m doing to buy my stuff. It’s unfair that they buy it on their own and then turn me into the bad guy!”

“…”

The teachers’ reactions varied.

The vice-principal showed blatant disgust, my homeroom teacher looked exasperated, and the club advisor seemed flustered.

Sasaki-sensei crossed his arms with a troubled expression.

In the silent guidance office, he was the first to speak.

“…I’ll handle this. Vice-principal, please return to the staff room.”

The vice-principal clicked his tongue.

My homeroom teacher and the others seemed visibly relieved.

“Well then, Sasaki-kun. I’ll leave the rest to you.”

The vice-principal stood up and left abruptly.

My homeroom teacher hesitated but followed suit after Sasaki-sensei said, “Leave it to me.”

Once it was just me and Sasaki-sensei, I felt a slight sense of relief.

I didn’t have to hold back with him. Biting my lip, I squeezed out my words.

“Did I do something wrong? Back then, I explained the accessory prices beforehand and showed them the finished designs. But they still demanded refunds out of nowhere—why am I the only one being made the villain?”

“…Well, you know. People tend to forget things that don’t suit them.”

Sasaki-sensei awkwardly reached into his chest pocket as if to pull out a cigarette… but instead took out a lollipop. A Chupa Chups.

For some reason, he handed me one.

“Ever since I quit smoking, I’ve been craving sweets like crazy. You lick it too. Get some sugar to your brain.”

“Uh, sure…”

I followed his lead and put it in my mouth.

Two guys awkwardly sucking on Chupa Chups. The sugar hitting my brain seemed to calm me down… or so I felt.

“I’m really sorry. I fought for you, but when they brought up the school’s image and all that, there was nothing I could do.”

“…No, I’m really grateful to you, Sensei.”

That was the honest truth.

If Sasaki-sensei hadn’t looked out for me, my situation could’ve been much worse. I couldn’t forget that. He had his limits too, things he could and couldn’t do.

“…Sorry about earlier.”

“No, you really threw me for a loop there. I thought you were the quiet, herbivore type—didn’t expect you to dig your heels in like that.”

“I surprised myself a little too…”

Even during that accessory mess in June, I’d been the peacemaker. I’d told Himari myself that “making money at school was a mistake,” but… yeah, I guess I was still pissed off back then. I felt a little relieved about myself.

Sensei scratched his head, looking exasperated. Then, maybe to cheer me up, he slapped my back with a brighter tone.

“Well, whatever. The sale isn’t your only shot, right? It’s a shame, but you can just wait for the next chance. You’re a hard worker—next time, I’m sure it’ll…”

“…!”

Those words set me off.

I bit down hard on the shrunken lollipop and muttered resentfully.

“Then when’s ‘next’…?”

My voice trembled without me realizing it.

I knew Sensei’s words were sincere. And I knew he didn’t mean any harm by it.

But those cliché words rubbed me the wrong way.

“When’s this ‘next chance’!?”

“N-Next? Uh, well…”

Sasaki-sensei repeated it, startled, then looked into my eyes and turned serious.

“Natsume. Did something happen over the summer break?”

“…”

I told him about the exhibition in Tokyo.

“During summer break, I got the chance to meet some accessory creators my age. Both of them were fighting in the real world, way more practically than me, despite being around the same age. They competed with sales records, got sharp critiques from tough mentors… I feel bad saying this to Himari, who’s been working with me, but it made what we’re doing feel like child’s play…”

What came to mind was the second day of that Tokyo exhibition.

Sent off by Enomoto-san, I’d gone in determined to sell out my accessories. I was confident. The petunia accessory I’d managed to sell the day before, thanks to stealing Sanae-san’s techniques, kept me motivated even from afar.

I could climb higher as a creator.

I could be seen as an equal by Tenma-kun and the others.

—But I didn’t sell a single one.

I gave it my all.

I asked Sanae-san for advice, bowing my head, and called out to customers over and over. But no one even gave me a glance.

And it ended with no results.

What really frustrated me wasn’t that I didn’t sell anything.

It was how too kind Tenma-kun and the others were.

After the exhibition, they invited me to the after-party. They praised my efforts. They called me “one of them,” even though I hadn’t sold a single piece.

But I couldn’t just nod and accept it. Deep down, I couldn’t shake the doubt that they were only saying it because Tenma-kun was kind and Sanae-san was mature.

True bonds can only form between equals.

That’s something Himari and I had proven over and over these past few months.

Even if Tenma-kun and the others genuinely meant it, I couldn’t feel worthy of them.

“The people who called me their friend are moving forward so fast, but when do I get to start running!? In this rural place, every single chance is precious! There’s so much I need to do, so many hurdles to overcome—how long do I have to keep warming up here!?”

Why are sports clubs okay?

Why is studying okay?

They say it’s noble to strive toward a goal, but they exclude anyone who steps outside their set framework. Isn’t that unfair?

Is it really so wrong for a high schooler to earn money?

Becoming a creator takes cash. Costs for growing flowers, equipment, accessory parts, crafting tools… I have to cover all of that myself.

They’ll forgive part-time jobs for pocket money, but I can’t earn funds to hone my skills? Do you have to come from a well-off family with supportive parents to chase your dreams?

I grabbed the hem of Sasaki-sensei’s shirt and shouted without thinking.

“Is my goal of becoming a creator everyone acknowledges really something that deserves so much hate!?”

“…”

Sensei stayed silent, rolling the lollipop around in his mouth.

I knew my words were selfish. But I didn’t regret them. If I didn’t believe in myself, who’d ever call my accessories amazing?

Eventually, Sasaki-sensei let out a big sigh and said quietly,

“I’ll call you again tomorrow. Wait until then.”

“B-But…”

He glared at me with intense eyes, and I faltered.

Prompted by Sasaki-sensei, I left the guidance office.

 

 

 

♣♣♣

 

I headed back to the classroom from the guidance office.

Himari, has she already gone back? I was wondering that when, right on cue, Himari came running toward me, waving her arms enthusiastically.

“Yuu, that was rough, huh!”

“Oh, Himari. Did you hear something?”

“I heard from the club advisor! They said no to the cultural festival sale?”

“…Yeah, pretty much.”

Because of that refund mess from before, the staff are opposing it. It’ll be decided at tomorrow’s meeting, but it’s probably hopeless.

When I explained it again, Himari puffed out her lips in a pout.

“Dragging up old stuff like that forever—how petty of them.”

“Well, I can kinda see the school’s side of it, but…”

I could understand, but I couldn’t accept it.

Even if it’s normal to suppress the minority for the majority, no one in that minority is going to feel good about it. Good. I was relieved. Himari seemed to feel the same way.

Just as I was feeling that relief, something unexpected happened.

Himari waved her empty bento pouch casually and said,

“Well, if it doesn’t work out, let’s just enjoy the cultural festival normally. It’s not like this is our only shot at a sale, right?”

“…Huh?”

It was the same offhand comment Sasaki-sensei had made earlier.

When I asked her to repeat it, Himari tilted her head.

“Yuu, what’s wrong?”

“Oh, no… I just didn’t expect you to say something like that.”

“Haha. What did you think I’d say then?”

Himari smacked my back playfully.

That’s when it hit me. Oh, she’s trying to cheer me up. Just like Sasaki-sensei earlier, she was putting on a cheerful front.

Himari must be upset about the sale being canceled too. But she probably thought she shouldn’t get mad too, that she needed to stay calm or something.

“Isn’t there some way we could still do the sale? Not as the gardening club, but like, behind the gym or something…”

“What’s with that shady drug-dealer vibe!? You can’t do that!?”

“The cultural festival brings lots of guests, and it’s a chance to gain sales experience…”

“But you can’t just do it on your own. If you pull something unauthorized on school grounds, they’ll really expel you this time!”

That logical argument irritated me for some reason.

“If it comes to that, then so be it! If they’re saying I can’t sell accessories while I’m a student here, then maybe I should just quit…”

“Y-Yuu? Calm down a little?”

Himari stepped in front of me and squished my cheeks with both hands.

My lips puckered like a duck’s while I stared straight at her face. …That’s when I finally realized.

(Oh, Himari. Is she actually serious…?)

Not just cheering me up—she genuinely didn’t agree with what I was saying.

That realization hit me like a weight on my chest. Suddenly, I felt scared of being seen by Himari. For some reason, the Himari in front of me felt like a stranger.

Himari said with a serious expression,

“Hey, Yuu? Think about it properly. Sure, it’s a shock they said no to the cultural festival sale, but that doesn’t mean you should throw a tantrum over it.”

“T-Tantrum? That’s not what I…”

“You are. Yuu, don’t you realize you’re saying weird stuff?”

“It’s not weird! I need to rack up as much experience as I can to become a creator everyone acknowledges!”

“Of course that’s important! But that doesn’t mean you can use it as an excuse to do whatever you want. Quitting school over it? That’s just running away!”

That last line stabbed me right in the chest.

No, I’d heard this kind of thing from Saku-neesan plenty of times before. Some people achieve their dreams, but life is full of failures too. In fact, the latter’s more common.

The tricky part is, unlike a game, life keeps going even after you fail. To keep living after a failure, you need a backup plan. Himari and Hibari-san knew that, which is why they pushed me to go to high school.

(But right now, I want to chase my dream so badly I can’t stand it…)

Up until now, I’d been walking toward a vague ideal of “having my own shop,” with no clear guideposts.

In pitch-black darkness, I’d moved forward with only the warmth of Himari’s hand as my support, heading down a path with no visible goal.

I’d been fine with that because I thought no one else was on this road.

But I was wrong.

I just hadn’t wanted to see it—there were others walking the same path as us.

And by some twist of fate—I met Tenma-kun and Sanae-san.

They were walking this dark path, lighting their own way as they went.

In Tokyo, I received that light from Tenma-kun and the others.

When that dark path was illuminated, it suddenly felt like I could see where I needed to go.

And on that path ahead, I could see the backs of Tenma-kun and the others moving forward.

But the light I hold is fleeting and weak, so small it’s like a match lit on a holy night.

I have to catch up somehow before it goes out.

If I don’t start running now, I won’t make it in time.

That sense of urgency is the only thing filling my chest.

And yet… everything else holding me back feels so frustrating.

As I stayed silent, Himari raised her voice.

“What’s your goal, Yuu? You told me before, didn’t you? That you want to become a creator everyone seeks out. That wasn’t a lie, right?”

“Of course it’s not a lie. That’s why I’m saying I want to gain experience at the cultural festival sale.”

“But that’s your ultimate goal, right? Is this immediate goal of holding a sale at the cultural festival right in front of you absolutely necessary for that?”

“O-Of course it’s necessary. Why would you even say that…?”

Himari smiled brightly and grabbed my hand.

“Hey, Yuu? Do you remember what I said before? About me thinking of going to university outside the prefecture?”

“…Yeah. I remember.”

Himari had said she wanted to study more seriously for the sake of our activities. I was surprised, but… I thought if it’s what Himari decided, then it’s fine.

But then Himari said something even more surprising.

“Why don’t you, Yuu, join me and focus on studying business or something for a while?”

“…Huh?”

When I asked her to repeat it, she hurriedly added,

“Of course, we’d keep up our usual activities! But with the accessories, we’d take a ‘maintenance’ stance. I just think it’s important to solidify our foundation first, you know?”

“W-Why all of a sudden?”

Himari answered with a smug look.

“When I was working part-time at Enocchi’s shop over summer break, I heard a ton from Enocchi’s mom. About how she got to opening that shop, all sorts of advice… And there was this one thing she said that really clicked with me.”

“O-Oh…”

“Enocchi’s mom worked at a department store after graduating college, apparently. You know, it’s a big supermarket now, but it used to exist before we were born, right? I was like, ‘Whoa, really?’… but maybe not that surprising? Anyway, having a full-time job title makes it way easier to get a bank loan when you want to start a shop…”

Then she flashed a pure, guileless smile.

“Even if the dream doesn’t work out, it’s totally fine, right? We could get other jobs, go on dates on our days off… Taking care of big bro might be a handful, but we’d get along great, wouldn’t we?”

And then, for some reason, she suddenly blushed and gasped.

Twisting her fingers together, she mumbled, “Oh man, what should I do? Should I say it?” all embarrassed, glancing up at me shyly.

“As long as our lives are stable, I could confidently say, ‘I’m not even 30 yet, so how about me?’ right?”

“…”

Himari squealed, “Eek, I said it! ☆” and started bouncing around excitedly.

But I couldn’t respond right away.

Those words made me feel sick.

If the dream doesn’t work out?

In other words, if I don’t become a creator like Tenma-kun and the others, right?

…Is Himari seriously saying that?

Before I knew it, I’d taken a step back from her.

“No, what are you even saying…?”

“Huh?”

Now it was Himari’s turn to snap out of it, looking surprised.

Realizing what she’d said, her face turned so red it looked like steam might come out, and she panicked.

“Oh, right! We haven’t even been dating a month yet—way too soon, huh? Haha, sorry! I’ve got that habit, you know! Forget that! Forget it, okay?”

Himari tried to laugh it off with a “Phew!” but then noticed something—“Huh?”

Sensing the difference in our vibes, she asked hesitantly,

“Y-Yuu? Are you mad or something?”

I hesitated for a moment… but decided to say it. No, I wasn’t calm enough for that. By the time I tried to stop myself, the words were already out.

“No, I mean, sure, I’d love for that to happen too. But isn’t that something that comes after we achieve our dreams?”

“…”

With those words, Himari realized something.

She grabbed my uniform sleeve and pulled me closer.

“Then what are you chasing your dream for, Yuu?”

“Huh…?”

Her eyes were desperate.

She was frantic, trying not to let something fundamentally misaligned slip away. The happy, rosy life-plan vibe from a moment ago vanished as she pressed in closer.

“What for? Tell me, come on!”

“What for, you say…”

“Isn’t it to be happy with me? That’s why back in May, you said you’d follow me even if it meant giving up your dream, right…?”

“T-That’s…”

Wait.

Her words made me stop and think. Yeah, back in May—when Himari said she was going to an entertainment agency, and I decided to go with her.

I definitely chose Himari over accessories back then.

That feeling hasn’t changed.

That’s why I chose Himari even if it meant brushing off Enomoto-san’s feelings, right?

But now, I—

“Yuu, what’s wrong with you?”

“…”

Himari’s trembling voice squeezed my chest tight.

Suddenly, I got scared of something. What? I don’t know, but it felt like I wasn’t myself anymore.

“…Sorry. I need to be alone for a bit.”

I shook off Himari’s hand.

And as the lunch break bell rang, I ran off in the opposite direction from the classroom.

 

 

 

 

♣♣♣

 

The next day. During classical literature class.

The old grandpa teacher stopped writing on the board and asked,

“What’s wrong with you two today~?”

His gaze was directed at me and Himari. We silently looked at each other… and somehow averted our eyes.

“No…”

“It’s nothing…”

The grandpa teacher tilted his head.

“You two. Being too close all the time isn’t good, but being too quiet isn’t great either~”

“S-Sorry…”

Why am I getting scolded just for quietly attending class? This is way too unfair…

The girls over there whispering, “Already broken up?” “No way, seriously?” “Guess even besties (lol) couldn’t beat the summer curse~”… Shut up! Everyone’s quiet during class, so it’s not the time for gossip! Please, give me a break!

I snuck a glance at Himari.

At the exact same moment, she looked at me, and we both hurriedly looked away.

No, it’s not like we broke up or anything…

It’s just, like, a difference in musical taste? Something like that?

I checked my phone—no messages from Himari.

I glanced at Himari again.

Our eyes met once more, and I quickly turned away.

(Apologizing doesn’t feel right either, but yeah, I might’ve flipped a weird switch back there…)

If I calm down, Himari’s point does make some sense… or maybe not entirely.

Dreams don’t come true for most people, and having a backup plan makes sense—I get that.

But isn’t that just an ideal scenario?

Achieving a dream takes time. I’m not a genius—up until now, I’ve only gotten better by putting in the work. As a result, I’ve earned some respect from Tenma-kun and the others for my technical skills.

From now on—going to university with Himari and focusing on studying—is that really what’ll make me happy?

Even if I live a happy life with Himari, will I be satisfied with that?

(…I won’t know unless I try.)

I wish life came with a spare.

Like, try it Himari’s way once, and if it doesn’t work, reset or something.

Then the bell rang, signaling the end of class.

“Let’s call it a day here~”

With the grandpa teacher’s words, it was lunchtime.

Himari… Oh, she’s already gone. That girl’s escape speed when things get awkward is insane. Probably honed from living with Hibari-san, I can imagine that much…

What should I do?

No, no need to think about it. Straight to the science room. Eating lunch in here with all these classmates staring at me? No way. A bed of needles—pretty sure that’s what this situation is…

As I was thinking that, the school intercom crackled.

“Second-year, Natsume. To the guidance office.”

…Sasaki-sensei, blunt as ever.

In the middle of this lunchtime chaos, some kids might miss it. Well, I heard it, so whatever.

I left the classroom and headed to the guidance office.

…This is probably about the staff meeting results. Man, this feels heavy—my stomach’s twisting.

Walking to my own death sentence—what kind of punishment game is this? Is this really the morally upright Japan?

My random thoughts ran wild as I arrived and stepped inside.

“Excuse me…”

Whoa, I walked in and got a shock.

I thought it’d just be Sasaki-sensei, but the vice-principal’s here too. The wrinkles on his brow are intense—he looks even grumpier than yesterday.

Sasaki-sensei motioned me to the sofa.

“Hey, Natsume. Sit.”

“Y-Yes…”

What’s this? Why’s the vice-principal here too?

It’s just a death sentence, so Sasaki-sensei alone should be fine… Oh, wait, did he come to watch me cry or something? That’s kinda messed up.

I sat down, already fed up, and Sasaki-sensei started speaking gravely.

“As I said yesterday, the staff discussed the gardening club’s cultural festival participation at this morning’s meeting.”

“Y-Yes…”

“After thinking it over for a night, what do you think, Natsume?”

“…”

Being asked again, I clenched my fists.

I recalled Himari’s words from yesterday. What’s the point of getting on the teachers’ bad side here? To Himari and the others, clinging to “just one event” and throwing away my high school life isn’t worth it.

But even so, I…

“…I want to hold the accessory sale.”

The vice-principal clicked his tongue.

Okay, I know it’s my fault, but isn’t that a bit too obvious? This guy’s usually strict, but today he’s extra scary. Is that something you should do in front of a student?

As I trembled, …huh?

For some reason, Sasaki-sensei smirked. His gaze seemed almost gentle.

“Natsume. Do you regret what happened during the last incident?”

“…Yes. Selling to students—I was careless.”

“Then why do you want to do it again? Didn’t we agree you wouldn’t sell on school grounds?”

“Yes. But this time, it’s not for my own profit. It’s within the club’s budget, and the proceeds are going to a volunteer group. The situation’s different from last time.”

I looked straight at the teachers.

“To become an accessory creator everyone acknowledges in the future, I want to gain experience through this sale. Given the area, getting a chance to interact face-to-face with a large number of customers is rare. So please, let me hold the sale. I’m begging you!”

“…”

Sasaki-sensei stayed silent for a bit… then glanced at the vice-principal.

“…That’s how it is. Turns out Natsume’s surprisingly stubborn.”

“…What are you so proud of? Honestly, he reminds me of you back in your student days.”

The vice-principal sighed heavily and said to Sasaki-sensei, “Fine. You take responsibility.”

Huh? As I wondered what was up, Sasaki-sensei slapped his knee with a loud clap.

“Natsume. I knew you’d say that!”

“Y-Yes… Huh?”

“I get your intent. And I see your willingness to take precautions. But even then, there’s still a chance of unnecessary trouble popping up. You understand that, right?”

“Y-Yes. That’s…”

“Do you have a plan for that?”

“Huh? Uh, no…”

As I fumbled for words, Sasaki-sensei pressed, “Answer quick.” He was grilling me, but for some reason, he seemed to be enjoying it.

“S-Sorry. I can’t think of anything.”

“Tch, well, of course the school wouldn’t be convinced with that!”

“R-Right. So, the sale’s…”

So it’s no good after all.

Just as I started slipping into resignation mode, Sasaki-sensei laughed.

“That’s where I come in with a solution. Listen up.”

“Huh…”

It took me a moment to process what he meant… then I leaned forward over the table.

“We can do the sale!?”

“Whoa, whoa, hear me out to the end. Only if you can meet the conditions the school sets.”

“S-Sorry!”

I hurriedly sat back down.

Calm down. It’s not a done deal yet. What kind of insane conditions are they… Oh, the vice-principal’s digging in his ear with his pinky, looking annoyed.

Sasaki-sensei asked me,

“What was the biggest cause of the last incident?”

“Uh? That’d be, um… selling accessories at school?”

“That’s part of it, but if we’re talking fire and oil, that’s the fire. It’s the spark, sure, but the reason it blew up is something else. The root cause of why that mess got so big… I think it’s the price of the accessories.”

“…Oh!”

Right.

Back then, the parents who found out I sold accessories were shocked that a student’s handmade stuff cost way more than store-bought items.

“So, Natsume, I need you to address that issue. That way, if parents complain again, the school can say, ‘We’ve worked on improvements.’”

“I-I see. But isn’t that kind of a cop-o…”

“Don’t want to do the sale?”

“I do!!”

I almost let something unnecessary slip. …This is that bad habit from hanging out with Himari showing up.

“So, the condition is…?”

I swallowed hard.

Sasaki-sensei held up his left hand, fingers spread. “What? Rock-paper-scissors?” I thought, confused, as he grinned.

“Accessories, up to 500 yen each. If you can submit a sales plan for that, we’ll allow the accessory sale at this cultural festival.”

“…!?”

My eyes widened.

Accessories, up to 500 yen each.

What that meant was…

“Vice-principal. That works for you, right?”

“…Fine. If he can pull it off, that is.”

The vice-principal nodded to Sasaki-sensei’s words and stood up.

He glanced at me, muttered, “High-aiming students are a pain to deal with,” and left the guidance office.

After the vice-principal was gone, I sank into the sofa. The tension drained out of me, replaced by an overwhelming sense of despair.

I repeated the condition Sasaki-sensei had just laid out.

“Accessories, up to 500 yen each…”

Sasaki-sensei pulled a Chupa Chups from his chest pocket and chuckled.

“Tough, huh?”

“…It’s hopeless.”

Flower accessories, 500 yen per unit.

That meant setting prices at a quarter—or at worst, a tenth—of “you”’s usual sales price.

With that setup, forget donating proceeds to a volunteer group—I’d be lucky to break even on material costs. The more I sold, the bigger the loss.

Sasaki-sensei laughed.

“Cultural festival stalls are usually around this much anyway, right?”

“Ugh…”

He’s right.

Even back in middle school, we sold stuff at this price range during the cultural festival. And even then, people often complained it was too expensive. It’s probably different from food stalls, but Sasaki-sensei’s point was fair.

“Besides, you’re trying to gain experience, aren’t you? If you can’t handle this, the future’s gonna be full of even tougher challenges.”

“…That’s true.”

I reconsidered.

A chance finally came my way—how could I let myself be so weak about it?

“I’ll make the sales plan right away.”

“Good.”

Sasaki-sensei slapped my shoulder hard. I know he’s trying to pump me up, but it really hurts…

And so, I barely managed to hang on by a thread.

 

♢♢♢

 

I don’t care about Yuu anymore. Bleh!

Lunch break. I was having lunch in Enocchi’s classroom, trying to keep it classy.

Today’s topic was… of course, Yuu’s fickleness!

“Seriously, isn’t it just awful!? I’m thinking about Yuu so much, and he’s been sulking since yesterday and won’t even talk to me!”

“Whoa. Natsume-shi’s savage.”

“Is that like, ‘Women shouldn’t meddle in my work’? This one’s totally shocked.”

Enocchi’s friends—Glasses-chan and Braids-chan—nodded in agreement with me.

Man, girls who get it are just on another level. They’re both cute too—maybe this is my paradise? It’s like my rough heart’s being washed clean.

(Oh, but this kinda feels like a young wife griping at a ladies’ meetup while her husband’s at work. Nice! ♡)

As I giggled to myself, lost in delight, Enocchi—who had me sitting on her lap—said with a reluctant tone,

“…Hii-chan. Get off.”

“No way.”

“Get off.”

“Once you experience the smooth, squishy feel of these thighs… you’re hooked! ♡”

“…”

I got carried away rubbing Enocchi’s thighs, and then she grabbed my head with a tight grip.

“Mogyaaaaaahhh…!?”

“Today’s the day I end you…!”

Enocchi’s friends calmly analyzed, “Inuzuka-san never learns,” and “Doesn’t it kinda seem like she’s doing it to get punished?”

Forcibly removed from her lap, I pouted and protested.

“You’re secretly happy about it, Enocchi!”

“…”

Enocchi silently flexed her right hand, so I shut up. A second round would be too much. It might even be life-threatening.

“…Hm?”

My phone buzzed.

Oh, a Line from Yuu! Hehe—finally ready to apologize to me, huh? Say what you will, he’s just too crazy about me… wait, huh?

“Hii-chan, what’s wrong?”

“…”

I read the message and let out a small sigh. Leaning against Enocchi, I grumbled.

“…Yuu. He said he’d prioritize me during high school.”

The message said Sasaki-sensei gave conditional approval for the accessory sale, and that he’d be focusing on accessories for a while to make the sales plan.

“Yuu-kun’s accessory obsession is nothing new, right?”

“Ah!? Enocchi, that ‘I totally get it’ comment pisses me off!”

“But it’s true.”

She said it with a blank face, popping a cherry tomato from her bento into her mouth. …This girl always has cherry tomatoes in her lunch. Could those mega-ton-level assets be thanks to tomatoes? Is it the lycopene? Does good blood flow make them grow?

As I puzzled over life’s mysteries, Enocchi spoke up.

“Anyway, Hii-chan, what do you even like about Yuu-kun?”

“Huh…”

I put a hand to my cheek and struck an annoying “Kyaa! ☆” cute-girl pose.

“Well, his face, obviously! And he’s nice! Sure, he’s got that bad habit of getting carried away sometimes, but humans are full of flaws, so no biggie, right? Oh, and his upper arms are surprisingly sturdy—makes me think, ‘Wow, he’s a guy!’ Oh! And lately, I’ve been feeling some eros from his defenseless collarbone…”

“Enough with the jokes.”

She shot down my joking!?

I growled in protest.

“Enocchi, that’s harsh! You used to like Yuu too!”

“I’m just friends with him now.”

She turned away with a cool “Hmph.”

That slick comeback… Could she really not care about Yuu anymore? I thought she might still have some lingering feelings… Hmm?

“…Hey, Enocchi. What happened between you and Yuu in Tokyo?”

I quietly cut in.

Enocchi’s two friends froze, holding their breath. …Oh, crap. It came off way more serious than I meant.

But Enocchi herself answered calmly, unfazed.

“Nothing special. I just thought being around someone like Yuu-kun, who’s so serious about his hobby, is kinda tiring.”

“…”

That answer weirdly made sense to me.

Sure, Yuu might be exhausting to be around. The more serious he gets about accessories, the faster I’d have to run to keep up.

Yuu apparently made creator friends in Tokyo, so he’s probably been all about that lately.

I propped my cheeks with both hands and replied in a flat tone.

“Oh.”

And that was it.

Enocchi’s friends looked relieved and went back to the lunch vibe. As they ate their bentos, I thought about what she’d asked me earlier.

(What I like about Yuu, huh…)

…Huh?

Wait, why do I like Yuu again?

No, no, no. Hold up. I’m not that lovestruck. I like Yuu’s, uh, pretty accessories, and, um, how he’s so dedicated to them… Oh, right.

—I wanted to steal Yuu’s passionate gaze away from his accessories.

I wanted him to look at me more than his flower accessories.

That’s why, during summer break that day… in the sunflower field, I stole Yuu.

Huh?

Then what’s going on right now?

I’m Yuu’s girlfriend, and I’m his comrade chasing dreams together… Comrade?

Yuu’s super dedicated to accessories and wants to hold a sale at the cultural festival, but I’m over here saying we should make memories at the festival instead… Wait, what?

“Hii-chan?”

“…!?”

Enocchi was looking at me with concern.

“Hii-chan. You look pale.”

“Oh, uh…”

I pulled out a Yoghurppe, stuck a straw in it, and sipped. The lactic acid bacteria cooled me down.

But the chilling sensation deep in my core wouldn’t go away, and I gripped the double-ringed accessory at my neck tightly.

—Huh?