The day after the culture festival.

Noon on the compensatory holiday.

I’m standing in the kitchen, staring at the pot in front of me.

The queen of the night flower was frying crisply in the oil.

The familiar tune of 3-Minute Cooking plays, and the flower cooks as if dancing to the rhythm.

At the kitchen entrance, Mom peeks in, fidgeting nervously.

“H-Himari? I haven’t taught you how to make tempura yet. Are you okay?”

“…”

“Is she okay? Her eyes have looked dead since yesterday…”

“…”

In a state of emptiness, I let my body guide the chopsticks as if on autopilot.

I twirl the queen of the night in the hot oil, coating it evenly, then swiftly pull it out. I drain the oil quickly and place it on a plate lined with paper towels.

Turning off the heat, I set the plate on the table.

Today’s menu:

“Queen of the Night Tempura”

Giving thanks to the life that will sustain me, I clasp my hands and take small dishes of condiments.

Peeling the petals one by one, I eat them in order: salt, rock salt, then matcha salt.

Delicious.

The batter is crispy, the inside soft and fluffy.

This beautiful flower captivates even my stomach.

That’s right—queen of the night is edible.

Of course, only if it’s pesticide-free, but since this was grown by Yuu and Ms. Araki, it’s safe.

I let out a small breath and sip my tea.

Why did I end up tearing that flower off…?

The second day of the sale event was a huge success.

The first day brought in more money, but the meaning was different.

What Yuu was seeking was, without a doubt, the second day.

And I… couldn’t figure that out.

I pull a deeper dish closer.

Peeling off the queen of the night petals, I dip them in mentsuyu and eat.

Delicious.

Enocchi touched Yuu’s core in Tokyo.

I neglected to do that.

During summer break, knowing Yuu was in Tokyo, I could’ve gone too.

But I didn’t.

Instead of seeing through Makishima-kun’s schemes, I was carefree, working part-time at a cake shop.

I should’ve been sharing experiences with him in Tokyo, the cutting edge of trends.

By becoming Yuu’s lover, I neglected my duty as his dream partner.

The rice cooker beeps. Opening the lid, steam rises in a puff. The white rice from our family’s fields stands tall, releasing a fragrant aroma.

I scoop it into a bowl, top it with queen of the night petals, pour warm dashi over it, and make tempura chazuke.

I slurp it down smoothly.

Delicious.

But Enocchi did it.

She instinctively knew that seizing Yuu’s dream meant seizing all of him.

But it’s too late now.

Even if Enocchi takes his dream, I won’t lose.

Because I’ve already gotten what I wanted.

I’ll never let go of Yuu’s love.

Even if I fall into hell, I’ll see these earnest feelings through!

With that resolve, I devour the rest of the queen of the night tempura.

♣♣♣

After the holiday.

I head to school as usual.

At the shoe lockers, I notice Himari waiting, sipping a Yoghurppe. As always, she’s the picture-perfect beautiful girl.

When she spots me, she runs over like she can’t contain herself.

“Yuu~! Morning~!”

“Hey, Himari. Morning.”

My heart skips a beat.

Her declaration of quitting “you” the day before yesterday… I thought it might linger, but Himari seems downright cheerful.

She clasps her hands behind her back, looking up at me with a riddle.

“Yuu. Aren’t you forgetting something about your cute girlfriend?”

“S-Something?”

“Jeez~! It’s no fun if you don’t figure it out yourself~♪”

Huh… Did I forget something?

Christmas is still a ways off, and Himari’s birthday is in April. Nothing major soon. So maybe it’s something more everyday? I dig through my memory for possibilities.

“Uh… Did I not reply to your LINE from yesterday?”

“You did, so that’s fine♡”

“Then, uh, two months since we started dating?”

“Nope, that’s a little further off♡”

“Oh, your hair—you cut it two centimeters?”

“Close! Three centimeters!”

“That’s basically right…”

But apparently not. Maybe it’s just about her outfit.

After the culture festival, our school switches from summer to winter uniforms. I guess it’s a quiz tied to that.

Come to think of it, when we switched to summer uniforms, she and Enomoto-san showed off together.

I think about Himari’s winter uniform. The blazer and skirt are standard, so they’re not exactly fresh, but winter means more accessories.

This yellow scarf… same as last year, huh? And it hides her nape, which is a minus for me. So, as a creator, what should I praise…

“Tights are nice, huh.”

“Pervert.”

Guess not.

No, yeah, thinking calmly, of course that’s not it. Why did I think that’d be the answer, me?

“I give up.”

Raising the white flag honestly, Himari grins wide.

Then she pokes her cheek with her index finger, kneading the soft, mochi-like skin.

“A morning k-i-s-s♡”

“What are we, newlyweds?”

That’s heavier on the stomach than I expected…

I get it—summer break’s adventure mode is back. If Himari’s focusing on love, this is how it goes.

I want to indulge her.

But this is the shoe locker area during morning rush. Classmates are around. Kissing in front of everyone is way too intense.

“…Can’t it wait?”

“Nope♪”

…Yeah, figured. I knew that.

As if she’d anticipated my half-hearted refusal, Himari holds something up. It’s—

“My slippers!?”

“Hehe~! Slippers-kun is in my custody!”

I’m stunned by her cunning.

Without slippers, I can’t go further. She’s forcing me to give her a morning kiss right here.

So underhanded… The surrounding students watch with bated breath.

“Listen, Yuu. To protect our lovey-dovey school life, I’ve decided to sell my soul to the devil.”

“I get that dragging this out just makes it more embarrassing for me…”

Still, a decent crowd has already gathered. If this drags on, even more will show up.

Seriously, don’t you all have better things to do? Please, just go to class…

“Come on~! If you don’t, your socks will get all dirty~”

“That’s a lame threat…”

I scan around for a way out.

Then, in the corner of my vision, I spot a familiar figure. Catching their eye, I subtly signal for help without Himari noticing.

“Enomoto-san, help!”

Enomoto-san, behind the onlookers, responds with an exasperated look.

(Yuu-kun. What are you doing…?)

(This and that happened.)

(Ugh…)

Wait, are we actually communicating properly? That’s wild.

Is this the sympathy from dealing with the same annoying friend…? As I’m thinking that, Enomoto-san suddenly gives a thumbs-up.

Then flips it downward.

(Do it.)

(Huh?)

(Do. It.)

(Seriously…?)

(Hii-chan won’t listen anyway. Just get it over with.)

(Y-Yes…)

Looks like my new partner-in-fate won’t meddle in my lover life.

Guess I’ve got no choice. I’ll do it and head to class. Why do I need such tragic resolve just to get to class? It’s ridiculous, but this is part of living as Himari’s lover—showing affection. Honestly, if we weren’t here, I’d kiss her no problem.

Steeling myself for a cheek kiss, I grab Himari’s shoulders.

She glances at me.

And a moment later—she counters with a lip kiss!

“Awesome!”

“He did it!”

For some reason, the crowd cheers.

“H-Himari…!?”

As I’m totally freaking out, Himari grins smugly.

Then unleashes her signature “puhari” attack.

“Pfft! Yuu’s all embarrassed~!”

“Of course I’m embarrassed! And your face is red too!”

Himari strikes a weirdly triumphant guts pose.

“No burnout, no life!”

“That phrasing makes it sound like you love burnout…”

This is Himari fully awakened to love…

I’m in awe, realizing summer break was just a warm-up.

♣♣♣

During that day’s break.

I’m visiting another second-year classroom—specifically, Makishima’s class.

I’m consulting him about Himari’s behavior since this morning—her escalated lovey-dovey flaunting post-summer break. He’s generally untrustworthy, but he’s got more dating experience than me, no question.

Makishima brushes off my desperate plea for advice.

“If you’ve decided to be lovers, just go all out with the romance.”

“No, it’s clearly too much. I got called in by Mr. Sasaki again…”

“Nahaha. Isn’t that a man’s worth?”

“…What if your girlfriend kissed you in front of a crowd?”

“Dump her. Instant decision. I’m not crazy enough to deal with that annoyance.”

“…Yeah, thought so.”

As expected from experience—cold and unhelpful…

“I don’t want to break up.”

“Then subtly control it or accept it.”

“Why do you think it’s worse than summer break?”

“Probably… marking.”

“Marking?”

“Intimidation to others and staking ownership. Common in group romances.”

“That’s way too savage…”

Makishima laughs heartily.

“So, what’ll you do? If you want to rein Himari-chan in, I could suggest a few tricks…”

“…Before that, one question. That weird plan you’ve been cooking up—it’s not over yet, right?”

“Well, yeah. The setup’s done, just waiting for it to ripen. I’m the type who eats curry the next day.”

“Oh, yeah, next-day curry’s the best…”

I ask with a huge grin.

“To avoid your weird scheme, which way should I go?”

Makishima returns an equally huge grin.

“You think I’d tell you?”

I slump.

“Well, I didn’t expect you to just say it…”

“So, what’s your move?”

“I’ll stick with Himari till she’s satisfied. Controlling her’s impossible anyway.”

“Nahaha. Pretty noble of you.”

“If Himari’s set on being my lover, it’d be weird for me to stop her. I’ll work hard as her boyfriend so she doesn’t get tired of me.”

“Good for you. How many dark moments will you rack up by graduation?”

“Pray it’s as few as possible…”

Since Himari’s been the one putting in effort, I’ve got to repay her…

♣♣♣

Lunchtime rolls around.

In front of everyone, I’m hit with the ultimate Heisei romcom move.

“Here, Yuu, say ‘ahh’?”

“I’m already breaking…!”

Himari-san’s got an amazing smile…

We used to eat in the science room, which cut the embarrassment in half, but now that we’re lovers, eating there’s off-limits apparently. It’s a weird rule, but it matters to Himari.

Thanks to that, I’m getting a huge meatball shoved in my mouth in front of classmates.

“Whoa, tasty.”

“Right~?”

Himari puffs out her chest proudly.

In her hands is a bento balancing nutrition and satisfaction.

“Hey, Himari, this bento?”

“Hehe~! I made it myself~♪”

“Seriously!? You said you were learning to cook, but this much…?”

I’d assumed it was just frozen stuff packed in, so I’m floored.

No, this flavor isn’t frozen food. It’s got that handmade bento volume and satisfaction. Himari, who everyone—including herself—knew hated cooking, did this for me…

As my heart warms, Himari says with a great smile,

“Mom made the side dishes, I froze them last night, and microwaved them this morning♪”

“Whew~! That’s effort~”

I love this Himari so much!

I finish the bento, munching away, and clasp my hands.

“Thanks for the meal.”

“You’re welcome.”

As we sip warm tea together, Himari suddenly remembers something.

“By the way, Yuu, do you remember the three-day weekend coming up?”

“Huh? What was that?”

Himari sways my arm cutely. Very cute.

“I told you before the culture festival~!”

“…Oh, yeah, you did.”

I’d been so focused on accessories that we’d talked about going somewhere out of town to unwind.

There’s a three-day weekend this month—perfect timing, actually.

“Going out sounds good, but where to?”

“Hehe~! I’ve got the perfect spot for you!”

Himari shows me a nearby town’s official website on her phone.

It’s a top autumn leaf viewing spot in the prefecture. The forecast says it’ll peak in about two weeks—right around the three-day weekend.

“How’s that?”

“Awesome! I’ve always wanted to go here!”

“Wait, you’ve never been?”

“I asked Dad once, but it’s a long mountain road, so you need a car. The path’s narrow and rough, so walking’s dangerous…”

“Oh, got it~! Then it’s fine—my brother or Mom can drive us!”

“But I’d feel bad bothering them…”

“Pfft! Don’t worry~! They all want to do something for their future son-in-law~!”

“Thanks, but please stop with the son-in-law thing…!”

The girls over there are like, “Family approved?” “They’re not just lovers, they’re married!” “He’s totally whipped…” with pitying looks… Wait, “totally”? I know it, but hearing it stings.

I look at autumn leaf photos on my phone.

“Autumn leaves, huh? Since we’re at it, I’d love to hit Takachiho too.”

“That’s famous for leaves too, right? It’s not that far on the map~!”

“Maybe if we leave early, we could do both?”

“Hmm, let’s ask my brother. Mountain roads can twist and take longer than you’d think~!”

“Yeah, true. One day might be pushing it…”

I’d love to sightsee too, but that’s probably too ambitious.

As I say that half-resignedly, Himari grins for some reason. She leans in close, whispering so no one else hears.

“It’s a three-day weekend—wanna actually stay overnight?”

“…!?”

I flinch, and Himari covers her mouth, teasing.

“Oh my~! Did Yuu-kun just think something naughty~?”

“N-No, I didn’t! Stop saying that in class!”

Okay, I did, but still!

Can’t help it, I’m a teenager. And you’re in this too, so stop poking me so casually.

Anyway…

And so, the three-day weekend in two weeks is set as our lover’s autumn leaf event.

♣♣♣

After school, my daily routine awaits.

As usual, tending to the flowers in the science room.

“Himari, you really not coming?”

“Yeah. I’ve got stuff to do~!”

“Stuff?”

Himari smiles mysteriously.

“I asked Mom for a tutor—I’m gonna study hard~!”

“Study? Your grades are good already.”

“Not like that. Even if I’m not your dream partner, better grades can’t hurt, right? I don’t have a specific goal, but just in case I want to do something later.”

“Well, yeah, that’s true…”

Crap, I’m at a loss for words.

Himari slaps my butt, encouragingly saying, “Don’t make that gloomy face!”

“Gotta be ready to support you in the future♪”

“I’ll work hard so that doesn’t happen.”

That’d make me a freeloader…

I part with Himari and head to the science room.

It’s a bit lonely, but I want to respect her feelings.

Enomoto-san and I have settled on our next steps too.

(…Alright. Let’s do this.)

I arrive at the science room.

As I unlock the door, Enomoto-san shows up.

“Oh? Enomoto-san, was there something today?”

“This is the sale event data from the culture festival. I compiled it, so look it over when you have time.”

“Whoa! Thank you so much!”

I take the neatly filed data sheets.

Wow, customer data, sales trends—all detailed. As expected of Enomoto-san, this doesn’t look amateur at all…

Enomoto-san glances around.

“Where’s Hii-chan?”

“Oh, uh, she might not come here anymore…”

Enomoto-san mutters a disinterested “Hmm.”

Unsure of her curt attitude’s meaning, I slip up.

“Oh, right. Two weeks from now, I’m going leaf-viewing with Himari.”

“…Oh. Cool.”

Oops.

I thought Enomoto-san might want to come too…

“Have fun on your date.”

“Uh, oh… Yeah. Thanks.”

She backs off easily.

…Normally, Enomoto-san would totally want in.

“I’m off to band practice.”

“Yeah. Thanks for the data.”

Enomoto-san waves coolly and turns away.

But she stops midway and looks back.

“Yuu-kun. Got plans till Christmas next month?”

“Christmas?”

I tilt my head at the sudden topic.

Oh yeah, next month’s Christmas… So much has happened in the last half-year, it doesn’t feel real.

But that’s already planned.

“I’ll spend Christmas with Himari. Till then, it’s accessory-making as usual. First, I’ll tidy the flower beds and prep flowers for spring sales.”

Lately, we’ve been getting flowers from Ms. Araki, so this time I want to make accessories with ones I’ve grown myself.

Enomoto-san mutters “Hmm” and makes an unexpected offer.

“If you’ve got time till Christmas, want to work at my place?”

“At your house?”

A pastry shop job?

Me, in a cute apron, serving customers?

So not me… I’m sulking internally when Enomoto-san says, pulling back a bit,

“We’re short on part-timers this year. You’re good with your hands, and Mom said it’d help if you pitched in.”

Oh, behind the scenes.

“I’m a total amateur, though…”

“We’ll handle dough and cream. I’d just want you to do finishing decorations. I think you could learn it in a month.”

“Is it okay to trust me with something that important?”

“Honestly, it might be safer than training our current part-timers now.”

Is that how it works…?

I think it over. A pastry shop job… and a chance to learn skills. It’s rare, and with some creativity, I could use it for accessories too.

Plus, hands-on sales experience…

“Got it. If I can do it alongside flower bed care, I’d love to help.”

Enomoto-san nods, looking relieved.

“Yeah, that helps. But Christmas Day is Hii-chan priority, right?”

“That’s… yeah.”

“No, if you’ve decided, it’s fine. Christmas cake orders usually wrap up the day before anyway.”

Enomoto-san says, “I’ll tell Mom,” and heads off to band practice for real this time.

“Pastry shop job, huh… There was that summer short-term gig. Maybe Himari’d do it too?”

Himari said she had fun during summer break, so maybe we could do it together. Eating out after work feels couple-y and nice.

With extra cash, we could hang out during winter break, and I could satisfy her beyond accessories…

I start typing a message to Himari…

“…”

Then I stop and tap my head.

…Bad habit. Himari chose a lover’s life. Knowing me, I might get too into the job and neglect her.

I can’t leave her lonely again. But I want cash for her sake too…

“…Guess I’ll just get Himari’s okay for the job first.”

I send a LINE message, asking her opinion on that alone.

♣♣♣

Two weeks later, Saturday.

Autumn leaf viewing day.

Around noon, Himari and I are riding in a compact car.

Himari, in the backseat, cheers energetically.

“Alright~! One night, two days—our autumn leaf pilgrimage begins~!”

“It really turned into an overnight trip…”

“Hehe~! It’s a seasonal three-day weekend, after all~! I asked my brother, and he was like, ‘With so many local spots, just one’d be a waste, right?’ So we’re touring the whole area and enjoying tons of sightseeing~!”

“Well, I’m happy about it…”

Hibari-san, in the driver’s seat, chuckles softly.

“Hahaha. Sakura-kun gave the okay too, so let’s enjoy it.”

He’s in a turtleneck knit and chinos—a casual weekend look. It’s not much different from what I’m wearing, but on Hibari-san, it looks like a Uniqlo ad. Why is that?

“Sorry for taking up your precious day off.”

“Nonsense, not a bother at all. I need a break to recharge too.”

“That’s reassuring. Uh, what about work…?”

Hibari-san flashes a sparkling grin.

“There were about thirty documents needed for Monday’s meeting, but I dumped them on my junior♪”

“Dumb question. Sorry…”

“It’s a really important meeting. If those docs aren’t done, two years of work go down the drain. Heh, a great chance to see my junior grow.”

“Sounds like a flag…”

Nah, it’ll be fine, right?

As I get a bad feeling, Himari pops her head up from the backseat.

“Jeez, Onii-chan! Stop flirting with Yuu!”

“Quiet down. Today, I’m hogging Yuu-kun. Also, the road’s narrow from here. Buckle up—it’s dangerous.”

“Saying that…”

The car jolts with a thud.

…Whoa, we hit something.

“Hibari-san, what was that?”

“Probably ran over a fallen rock. My bad, I missed it.”

Looking back, Himari’s squirming in the backseat.

“H-Hi…ta…han…da…!”

“What?”

Hibari-san sighs.

“She was fussing and bit her tongue. I told her to buckle up…”

We drive along a narrow riverside road for a while.

Many spots are barely wide enough for one car, making it tough to pass oncoming traffic. Being a mountain road, it’s a bit rough too.

“I heard it was a tourist spot, but it feels so remote. Yeah, covering it all in one day would’ve been impossible…”

“Right? I’d heard about it, but it’s my first time driving here. Mom’s been through a few times and suggested borrowing this car, so I’m glad I did.”

“That’s why it’s not your usual foreign car today. Did Ikuyo-san come here for leaf-viewing too?”

Hibari-san smiles warmly.

“This is a land of nature’s rugged warriors.”

“Oh, that kind of…”

I recall Ikuyo-san from the other day, shouldering a hunting rifle.

Such a beautiful natural spot, yet you and I see different things here… Like some emo J-POP song.

Further along, old houses line the narrow road.

“There’s a lot of nice stone walls along the mountains here.”

“The land’s sloped, so they built houses with stone walls. The terraced fields are gorgeous too—this area’s one of Japan’s top hundred terraced fields.”

“Our hometown’s quietly full of spots like this, huh.”

Chatting like that, we reach our destination.

“Yuu-kun, here’s the first tourist spot.”

“Ohhh!”

“Amazing…”

Mitake Valley.

Said to be one of the prefecture’s best leaf-viewing spots.

The wide riverbanks are lined with vivid red maple trees, their leaves fluttering in the wind—an epitome of elegance.

Plenty of tourists are here too, enjoying the peak season. We park in the lot and take in the stunning view.

“Incredible. I’ve never seen leaves this dense before.”

“Yeah, impressive. A week later, and they might’ve all fallen. Perfect timing.”

Hibari-san says that… then stumbles for some reason. I quickly support him, and he gives a wry smile, “Sorry about that.”

“…Phew. Alright, I’ll wait somewhere with fewer leaves for a bit. Contact me when you’re done sightseeing.”

“Huh? You’re not viewing the leaves with us?”

“Heh. That was the plan, but…”

Then I notice.

Hibari-san’s face looks pale. Could he be feeling sick?

It’s possible. Someone as busy as Hibari-san might’ve pushed himself to make time today. I feel bad for dragging him into our selfish request…

As I genuinely worry, Hibari-san smiles faintly.

“Seeing the leaves makes unwanted faces flash in my mind. I can’t quite stay calm.”

“That Tokyo bad older sister trauma runs deep…”

Coming leaf-viewing and ending up like this is such a rare case.

Seeing Hibari-san drive off, sweating bullets, Himari and I decide to explore the area for now.

“Hibari-san… will he hold up till tomorrow?”

“Who knows? It’s Onii-chan—he’ll gut it out somehow.”

There’s a plaza near the parking lot, so we snap some commemorative pics first. Apparently, they hold an annual local festival here this season.

And that plaza is insane.

The ground covered entirely in red leaves is a sight you won’t find just anywhere.

“It’s like a crimson leaf carpet…”

“This pretty, I kinda wanna roll around on it~!”

“For real!”

I wanna do it! I wanna lie spread-eagle and carve proof that I was here!

As I fidget excitedly, Himari pulls me along with a wry smile.

“Hey now, there are other people here, so no doing anything that’d bother them, okay~?”

“Grr…”

Fair point, so I follow obediently.

Like a proper tourist spot, there’s a walking map by the bridge. According to it, there’s a course along the river.

“Oh, a loop route along the river, huh.”

“Three kilometers total… maybe an hour on foot~?”

“It’s a mountain path, so it might take a bit longer… Let’s try it, and if it seems tough, we’ll turn back.”

Saying that, we start the walking course. It’s a path sandwiched between the mountain and the river.

Passing under rows of colorful autumn leaves feels like stepping into a paradise.

“Amazing. This is seriously a stunning view!”

“This might be the first time I’ve seen you snap so many pics with your phone, Yuu~!”

No, no, you have to take pics of this.

Looking across the river, I see other leaf enthusiasts with cameras. Some are decked out in serious gear, and I can’t help but admire them a little.

Taking a cue from their style, Himari snaps a photo of the leaves against the sky from below.

“Whoa~! I got such an emo shot!”

“Nice, that’s cool. It’s like the leaves are falling into the sky…”

“Totally desktop wallpaper material.”

“The vibes…”

We walk side by side through the breathtaking scenery of the clear river and autumn leaves.

“The water’s so clear that the leaves reflected on it look beautiful too. It’s like there are leaves in the river.”

“Hehe~♪”

“Himari? What’s up?”

“I was just thinking, since it’s you, Yuu, you’re probably like, ‘I wanna turn these leaves into accessories~’ or something~♪”

“Oh…”

A leaf flutters down and lands on Himari’s head. I pick it up, marveling again at its beauty.

Sure, it’d be great to turn such gorgeous leaves into accessories…

“I do feel that way, but maybe not today.”

“Huh? Really? Leaves this pretty don’t come around often, you know?”

“I didn’t bring any collection containers. And besides…”

I smile at Himari.

“Today’s about being lovers with you, Himari. My hobby can wait.”

“…”

Then Himari—

Her face suddenly flushes bright red.

“Pfft—! What the heck, what the heck!? You’re suddenly polishing your ‘make me happy’ skills! It’s embarrassing, jeez~!”

“Ow, ow, ow! Stop smacking me…”

Even if it’s to hide her embarrassment, couldn’t she do it in a cuter way? Her attack power’s high as ever, but her defense is still paper-thin.

Just as I’m thinking she’s got zero vibes, she suddenly grabs my hand.

Himari squeezes my fingers happily.

“Phehe♡”

“H-Hey, it’s a mountain path, so it’s dangerous.”

“Ohh~? Yuu-kun, you started it, but you’re all weak and pathetic against a counterattack~?”

“Shut up. I’ll take you on. Don’t blame me if you trip.”

“If I do, I’ll just use you as a cushion, so it’s fine~♪”

“The vibes…”

We reach a spot where the leaves are even more vivid.

The forest opens up on both sides, forming a natural clearing. It might’ve been nice to bring a picnic sheet and eat lunch here.

“Whoa… This is even more amazing…”

“Yuu, wanna take another pic?”

“Yeah, let’s take as many as we want.”

“Hehe~! Since we’re here, let’s make it a memorable one, right~?”

“Sure. Anything works, doesn’t it?”

“Hold on, just trust me on this one.”

Himari mutters something sneaky.

“Wait, seriously?”

“Seriously~♪”

Against the backdrop of the leaves, we make a heart shape with our hands together—‘♡’.

“…”

Gah…!

What an embarrassingly cheesy pose. It feels like my life gauge just got wiped out.

But Himari’s beaming happily as she holds up her phone.

“Let’s stay a couple that never fades, forever~♡”

“Oh…”

It’s a great photo.

The vivid leaves blend perfectly with Himari’s cheerfulness. My smile’s a bit stiff, but that’s unavoidable.

In cases like this, as long as Himari looks cute, it’s fine. The guy’s face doesn’t matter.

(Well, as long as Himari’s having fun, that’s what counts.)

I’d been worried she might be down after quitting “you” at the culture festival.

But seeing her enjoy lover life like this, I realize it was baseless. As long as I hold it together, there shouldn’t be any issues.

With fresh resolve, I clench my fist.

“I’ve decided to treasure Himari as my lover.”

“…”

Huh?

Himari’s staring at me with an intense look.

“Uh? What?”

“…Yuu, you might’ve said that out loud.”

I freeze for a moment.

Then writhe over my freshly minted dark history moment.

“…Let’s hurry! They say mountain weather changes fast!”

“Y-Yeah! Haha…”

We keep going along the walking course in awkward silence.

By the time we complete the loop, the sun at its peak has started to dip. The shadows of the leaf-covered trees stretch longer than before.

“T-Two hours, huh…”

“Mountain paths are tough, huh~! Good thing we came early.”

“Hope Hibari-san isn’t tired of waiting.”

“Before that, hope he hasn’t hit zero HP from Kureha-san’s curse~!”

It’s the kind of joke that doesn’t feel like a joke, which makes it worse.

Just as I’m about to call, I notice something.

“Himari, the signal…”

“Whoa! No bars at all!”

Classic remote area…

At this rate, we’d have to walk back… As I search for a signal, a compact car approaches.

Of course, it’s Hibari-san in the driver’s seat.

“Hibari-san!”

“Onii-chan, perfect timing~!”

Hibari-san rolls down the window, takes off his sunglasses, and flashes a sparkling grin.

“I noticed there’s no signal and came to check. Looks like I timed it right.”

“Thank you. We just got back from the walking course… Huh?”

Hibari-san’s face is still deathly pale.

Groaning in pain, he opens the passenger door.

“Yuu-kun, quick…”

“G-Got it!”

I hop in hurriedly, and he drives off.

Once we leave the leaf-heavy area, he seems to recover a bit. …Seriously, isn’t Kureha-san’s curse too strong? Is this what high school romance drama is like? Hellish…

“Hibari-san, maybe we should ditch the leaf-viewing tour and head back today…”

“No, we keep going. I’ll be fine after resting at the inn.”

“But it’ll affect your Monday meeting. Oh, I heard the rest stop we passed got renovated and looks nice now. Saku-nee said their seasonal chestnut soft serve is delicious. We could stop there, eat something tasty…”

“I get that you’re worried about me, Yuu-kun. But I have to do this!”

Pure desperation.

Is leaf-viewing supposed to be this life-or-death…?

“Hibari-san, why are you so set on this…?”

“…”

Hibari-san’s expression turns serious.

He exhales and starts speaking quietly.

“Yuu-kun, let’s have one tough talk.”

“Y-Yes…”

“The world runs on balance. Over-logging leads to disasters; wealth circulates to enrich the economy.”

“That’s a tough topic, but I kinda get it.”

No clue why we’re talking about this now, though.

“So, weighing one side too heavily disrupts that balance. It’s the prelude to the world’s collapse.”

“Y-Yeah, maybe…”

“For world peace, we need to keep things balanced here.”

“Uh, sure… Wait, what are we talking about?”

Hibari-san takes off his sunglasses.

Then flashes a dazzling smile that could charm every woman in the world.

“During summer break, that wicked witch stayed overnight with you by chance, right? If I don’t do the same, it’ll feel like I lost to Kureha-kun.”

“What are you saying with that cool smile…?”

Got it—his motive’s clear. He’s burning with rivalry against Kureha-san while hanging out with me. High school romance drama is way too deep…

As I slump, Himari pipes up from the backseat.

“Onii-chan, forget that—what about tonight’s rooms? Obviously, Yuu and I are together, right~?”

“What are you saying? I only booked one room.”

“Huh? You’re in the same room too~? Ugh, no way~!”

“Foolish little sister. It’s just me and Yuu-kun, obviously.”

“…Then where am I?”

Hibari-san says calmly,

“You’re sleeping in the car.”

“That’s cruel!?”

No wonder there’s a sleeping bag in the back. Totally taking it out on Kureha-san…

And somehow, the sparks fly my way too.

“Then Yuu’s sleeping in the car with me!”

“That’s a bit much…”

“Jeez! At this rate, Yuu’s chastity’s in danger!?”

“From who? Hey, who’s gonna steal it?”

“You romcom protagonist—!”

“Caught between my lover and her brother—what kinda romcom is this…?”

Even for an all-around catch, this is overkill.

In the end, Himari gets her own room too.

Guess I’ll need to file a complaint with Kureha-san next time we meet…

♣♣♣

Late into the night.

We check into an inn in Takachiho.

It’s a lodging themed around flowers, and true to its claim, beautiful blooms are decorated everywhere.

The entrance’s hearth and crimson railings are lit by soft orange lights. The exterior looks like a typical guesthouse, so the elegant interior catches me off guard.

In the inn’s special room, I’m writhing in awe.

“T-To think there was such a hidden gem…!”

Hibari-san sips warm tea and chuckles brightly.

“Glad you like it. Mom recommended this place too. The building’s old, but the price is reasonable, the food’s delicious, and the service is top-notch. The location’s not bad either.”

“The flowers are the best part. I could stay here forever…”

“Haha. You’re unshakable, Yuu-kun.”

As we enjoy some calm guy talk, Hibari-san suddenly glances at the next room.

Beyond that wall, Himari should be lounging alone, maybe even asleep by now.

“Yuu-kun, you’ve decided to go forward with Himari as lovers, right?”

“Oh… Yeah.”

It’s my first time formally discussing this with Hibari-san.

It feels kinda awkward.

Hibari-san’s supported me and Himari a lot as partners-in-fate. I can’t help feeling guilty about our current state, where it might seem like I’m infatuated with love.

But Hibari-san continues gently.

“No regrets about that?”

“None at all.”

I answer clearly. Our relationship might’ve shifted with the flow, but my feelings for Himari are real.

Hibari-san nods.

“I see… No, don’t misunderstand. If that’s the path you’ve chosen, I won’t say anything. If it affects ‘you’ activities, I’ll step in to help.”

“Th-Thank you…”

He’s probably serious…

As I feel his overprotective pressure, Hibari-san sighs.

“Just a little worried, though.”

“Worried?”

“Even as lovers, I don’t think Himari will settle down.”

“Specifically…?”

Hibari-san shrugs.

“She’s the type who loves breaking her own rules, right? I’m anxious she’ll cause trouble for you again…”

“Oh, well… That’s part of what makes Himari great.”

“Haha. You’re generous, Yuu-kun. If it were me, I’d have considered sending her to hell a million times by now.”

“Uh, that’s a joke, right?”

“…”

“It’s a joke, right!?”

Hibari-san laughs. Seems I dodged that one…

“So I’ve decided—I’m done meddling in Himari’s actions. Rion-kun can handle ‘you’ activities, and I’ll just watch from now on.”

“Oh…”

“So I need you to think about Himari even more than before, Yuu-kun.”

“More than before…?”

Hibari-san’s expression turns slightly serious.

He shifts his gaze and rests his chin on his hand, choosing his words carefully—a rare sight that makes me sit up straight and listen intently.

“If Himari’s about to mess up, rein her in for me. This is my last task for you, Yuu-kun. It’s absolutely necessary for the future.”

“…”

I lower my eyes at his words.

I get it. We once became partners-in-fate to sell accessories—a relationship where I depended on Himari in a way.

She filled in my gaps. I owe her, and even as friends, there was an uneven power balance.

But as lovers, we need to be equals. Otherwise, it’s not a healthy relationship.

Himari must’ve realized that too, which is why she stepped back from accessory sales when we became lovers, while still supporting my time with it.

Hibari-san presses the point.

“Just spoiling someone isn’t true love. Got it?”

“…Yes.”

I nod firmly.

I chew over his words and etch them into my heart.

Hibari-san smiles, relieved.

“Well, once you’re officially my little brother-in-law, feel free to spoil me all you want♪”

“You ruined it…”

I get that he’s trying to lighten the mood… Wait, he is trying to lighten it, right?

Either way, his kindness strikes me.

“Hibari-san, did you set up this overnight trip just to have this talk…?”

“Nope. I just wanted to stay over with you, Yuu-kun. This was a bonus.”

“Hibari-san…”

Total ruin.

I always wonder if Himari and Hibari-san are really related, but moments like this scream sibling vibes…

“Now, what anime should we watch tonight? How about Bocchi the Rock!? It’s a band thing, but even if you’re not into music, Yuu-kun, you’ll enjoy it. Our local bookstore had life-sized character cutouts…”

“Can’t we watch anime at home?”

“Heh. Lately, Grandpa’s been extra nosy. Did you notice him peeking last time I stayed up late?”

“What am I to the Inuzuka family…?”

Lately, I’ve gone beyond son-in-law to some grand minister treatment.

As the convo settles, Hibari-san’s phone rings.

“Hm? Maybe Himari?”

He says “excuse me” and takes the call—it sounds work-related. This late on a holiday, it must be urgent.

I keep quiet, but the conversation takes a weird turn. Confirming it, Hibari-san repeats, pale-faced,

“Th-The meeting docs got ripped to shreds…?”

Huh?

The absurdity makes me jump.

“What happened…? …Oh, I see. …No, if you say so, I believe you. I’m not doubting it. …I’ll figure out a response and call back soon.”

He ends the call calmly and sighs.

I cautiously ask the drooping, grave-looking Hibari-san what’s up.

“Apparently, while bringing the docs home, a drunk driver crashed into them. They’re fine, but the bag with the docs and USB got wrecked…”

“That’s awful…”

…Wait, is this my fault?

Did I jinx it by saying “flag” earlier? Seriously?

“S-Sorry…”

“Haha. It’s not your fault, Yuu-kun…”

Hibari-san laughs, but he’s clearly drained. That was two years of work, right…?

“That junior I mentioned—this happens a lot. I value their seriousness and talent, but they’ve got terrible luck. Clumsy, or maybe cursed. Well, at least they’re not hurt.”

“W-What now? Those were important docs, right?”

Hibari-san said they’re critical for Monday’s big meeting.

“If I had the data, recreating them wouldn’t be hard…”

“But the USB’s gone too, isn’t it?”

Hibari-san sighs again.

“…No, I’ve got it.”

“Huh?”

He pulls out his bag and opens it.

Inside is a slim laptop.

“It’s right here.”

“Whoa…”

Unreal.

That means…

“I can work from here!”

“What the—!?”

I hallucinate a lightning bolt striking.

As expected of a capable adult.

Always ready for trouble—will I ever become this impressive?

Hibari-san sets up on the table and says,

“Yuu-kun, sorry, but could you move to Himari’s room for a bit?”

“Oh, if it’s distracting, I can just sleep…”

Hibari-san shakes his head.

With a sad smile, a tear rolls down his cheek.

“I can’t let you see me like this…”

“What do you usually do at work…?”

He works at city hall, right? Not some underworld cleaner? His eyes are bloodshot, and I swear I see ominous wings behind him. A hidden demon lord in modern times?

Returning to normal, Hibari-san laughs jokingly.

“Kidding—since it’s urgent, there’ll be a lot of calls. It might keep you up. I’ll text you when I’m done.”

“Oh, got it. I might get in the way too…”

“Personally, I’d be more motivated if you cheered me on in a cheerleader outfit…”

“Who’d want a dude in a cheer costume???”

Yikes. Hibari-san’s brother-in-law jokes are more chaotic than usual. This must be really dire.

I message Himari, and she replies instantly. Good, she’s awake.

“Then I’ll hang out in Himari’s room.”

“Yeah. Sorry about this.”

As I stand, Hibari-san hands me something.

“Oh, right. You haven’t bathed yet, right? Take this.”

“Huh? Oh, thanks.”

Bath? What’s this—amenities, maybe…? I take it.

It’s matching roomwear, same as Hibari-san’s.

“So you won’t forget my warmth even when we’re apart!”

“How do I even react…?”

Wearing a shirt from my girlfriend’s brother after a bath? What’s this—brother-shirt instead of boyfriend-shirt?

I flee to the other room.

I knock, wait for a reply, and enter.

“Himari, sorry.”

“Nah~! It’s Onii-chan’s fault, so it’s fine~!”

Himari’s sprawled on the bedding, swinging her legs while messing with her phone. She seems to have too much space.

“Himari, can I use the indoor bath here?”

“Sure~! Take your time~!”

She’s in fluffy roomwear, steaming from the bath she’s already taken.

I enjoy the cypress bath too.

It’s not as big as the Inuzuka family’s, but the inn’s unique charm feels great. I stretch out my legs.

“Man, I owe Hibari-san so much…”

Paradise, paradise… I mutter old-man-ish stuff and sigh.

I sink into the cypress bath.

Then burst out with a splash.

“Alone with Himari—this is bad, isn’t it…!?”

I writhe alone, yelling “Uooooh!” It’s pretty creepy, but I’ve got no room to care.

G-Girlfriend, alone at an inn at night… Unlike with Enomoto-san…

Come to think of it, we’ve always hung out together naturally, but never stayed overnight somewhere fun.

I’ve crashed at Himari’s place a few times, but we slept in separate rooms…

“It’s just till Hibari-san’s done, but… will that even finish tonight?”

I don’t get adult jobs, but he said dozens of documents. So tonight, it might just be me and Himari.

(Are we finally crossing that last line…?)

No, wait.

This is unplanned, and even Himari wouldn’t think that far…

No, no, no, no! She’s a femme fatale! Unlike me, she’s probably used to guys—she’s beyond my simple predictions…

Wait, no way! We’ve only kissed so far—worrying about this out of nowhere is so creepy of me…

“Alright, nope! I’m pretty tired today, so I might just crash…”

Concluding that, I get out of the bath.

But as I reach for the door, I freeze.

“…Maybe I’ll wash again.”

Not because I’m expecting anything, okay?

We hiked a mountain path today, so better safe than sorry. I don’t wanna stink.

I change into the brother-shirt and finally leave the bath.

It’s oddly quiet—maybe Himari’s asleep… Ugh.

Somehow, there are now two sets of bedding.

Himari looks up at me, then awkwardly averts her eyes. Her cheeks are flushed, and her eyes seem a little teary.

…Huh? Wasn’t this not a thing?

“Yuu, looks like Onii-chan’s gonna take a while…?”

“Y-Yeah…”

Why’s she confirming that?

My heart starts pounding naturally. Wait, for real? Really real…?

Himari sits up and casually crosses her legs. Her fluffy roomwear shorts reveal her fresh-from-the-bath, dewy thighs.

Oh no, I just gulped. She didn’t hear that, right? My heart’s going crazy—it might explode.

Himari’s cheeks tint slightly as she gives a suggestive smile.

She’s totally reading my nerves. It’s a seductive vibe worthy of a femme fatale, and I can’t help but fumble.

“So, Yuu…”

“Y-Yeah…”

She takes the lead, guiding my inexperienced self. It’s a bit pathetic, but I know from experience that acting tough here won’t end well.

Wait, are we really doing this…?

Screw it—don’t chicken out. Get it together, Yuu Natsume.

I decided to make Himari happy as her lover!

Then Himari reaches behind her and pulls something out.

It’s a Switch.

With a dazzling smile, Himari says,

“Let’s play Pokémon!”

“Oh…”

Oh yeah, a new one came out recently…

Oblivious to my mood dropping below zero, Himari excitedly turns on the Switch. Oh, that’s a laugh point—Switch on the Switch.

“Man~! Life’s been all about accessory-making lately, so I’ve held off on deep games like this~♪”

“Yeah, if you start in spare time, they never end.”

“Onii-chan’s iPad’s here too, so we’ve got unlimited movies tonight, huh?”

“Should’ve prepped some late-night snacks…”

Looks like she’s fully set on pulling an all-nighter.

We’ve got more leaf-viewing tomorrow… but I don’t object. Himari’s so back-to-normal it’s honestly a relief. D-Don’t get me wrong, I wasn’t expecting anything! Who am I even tsundere-ing at…?

“Here, Yuu, play~♪”

“Dumping it on me already?”

“I just feel like watching someone else play right now~!”

“Yeah, that mood happens…”

We stream a movie on Hibari-san’s iPad while gaming on the bedding.

Man, what a chill time. If Himari was up for that, it’d have happened already. Geez, I feel dumb for worrying.

“Himari, which starter?”

“Oh, the fire one—it turns into a pretty girl in the end, so nice!”

“Checking the wiki right off the bat—such a modern kid…”

No, really, totally normal.

Our usual vibe… except—

“…Why’re you on top of me, Himari?”

She’s been lying on my prone self, peering over my shoulder at the Switch screen, and says smugly,

“Secret move: Lovey-Dovey Couple Browsing Zexy Pose!”

“Engaged couples actually do this…?”

“Our wedding’ll be at a chapel by the highway—good traffic access~♡”

“That’s way too practical, stop it…”

Trading jabs, my heart’s still racing.

I feel Himari’s softness against my back. Her warm, post-bath breath tickles my ear every time she talks—it’s torture for a teenage boy.

“Uh, Himari-san? Can you get off a bit?”

“Huh~? Why~?”

“You know what you’re doing…”

“Ooh, nice reaction~! Can’t let the class call you a dense protagonist anymore~♪”

“Wait, they call me that? Hey, I need details on this, seriously.”

Unable to hold back, I push up with a “Hup!” and Himari rolls off.

“Yuu, what the heck!?”

“Shut up. Ask your own heart.”

I stand to grab water from the fridge to calm down, but my foot tangles, and I fall onto Himari.

“Ow… Huh?”

Himari’s face is super close.

As I freeze, she blushes faintly.

“Back in first term, in the science room, you pinned me down like this, right~♡?”

“If my memory’s right, I got pulled down?”

“Hehe~! Yuu’s so flustered by his dark history he’s rewriting it, huh~?”

“You always play dumb when it’s inconvenient…”

I let out a big sigh.

Her passion for teasing me this much is almost impressive.

“Look, you might think this is a golden chance to make me ‘puha,’ but I’m not falling for something this obvious—huh?”

Suddenly, Himari says in a serious tone,

“Hey, Yuu.”

“W-What…?”

She hesitates a bit before asking,

“Do you… maybe regret becoming lovers with me?”

“…”

That’s crossed my mind a few times these past months.

I talked with Saku-nee before the festival and mulled it over. So my answer comes surprisingly easily.

“Sure, I miss our old dynamic sometimes. Casual hangs can feel more fun at times. I thought a relationship like this would come after I got more confident, but…”

I look straight into Himari’s eyes.

Part of being her lover is easing these insecurities, I think.

“But I like you, Himari. So I absolutely don’t regret it. Believe that.”

“…”

Himari quietly stretches out both arms.

She hugs me tight and says happily,

“Yuu, I like you too~♡”

“Y-Yeah, thanks.”

So cute… I end up with a curt reply. My romance level’s still elementary-school-tier.

Himari nibbles my ear with a whisper,

“Don’t ever let me go, okay?”

“Yeah. I’ve got you, Himari.”

…Before, this’d be where a “Pfft!” hit, but—

If this sweet, lingering happiness is a lover’s privilege, then yeah, I prefer this.

♢♢♢

Plop—a droplet falls from the ceiling into the bath.

Soaking in the tub, I savor the bliss and squeal to myself.

This is so nice! Total lover vibes! Even I couldn’t just barge in that mood. I thought Yuu might shy away, but he took it in stride!

Pufu. Lovers really are different, huh? There’s a one-of-a-kind happiness friends can’t touch. Sorry, Enocchi, but I’m never letting this go!

We’ve peaked as lovers.

Yuu’s gotta feel the same.

I feel a solid certainty. The bigger I grow in Yuu’s heart, the less he’ll handle “you” without me.

Now he just needs to say, “Himari, come back to ‘you,’ please?” He’s stubborn, though—might feel bad for Enocchi and hesitate to ask.

That’s where I’ll cleverly nudge him. Geez, Yuu’s been a helpless sweetie without me since forever~!

Anyway, the plan’s on track, so tonight I’ll bask in this blissful moment~!

“Alright~! Onii-chan’s work’s not ending soon, so I’ll play with Yuu’s sleeping face tons~♪”

I warm up thoroughly and step out of the tub.

As I’m about to leave the bath—the mirror catches my eye.

My face isn’t smiling at all.

…Huh?

What’s this? I look shockingly cool. Like, full-on icy vibes. It feels familiar… Oh, it’s that face Onii-chan makes sometimes. Creepy~!

Huh~?

That’s weird~! I’m so happy right now, aren’t I? Peak lover phase, no exaggeration, right?

But then—

“Why… does my heart feel so cold?”

It’s not enough.

At first, becoming lovers was all “happy-happy endless summer,” but over time, I can’t ignore it.

It’s like I’m always hungry, craving something more thrilling.

So what happens when we hit a point with no greater happiness left?

How do I warm this coldness in my heart?