Chapter 5 | The Spread of (Questionable?) Rumors

August ended, and September arrived. The new semester was finally here. Until last month, the calendar hanging in my house was filled with images of sunshine, watermelons, and sunflowers—things that screamed summer. But flipping to the next page revealed a full moon floating in the night sky and pampas grass swaying in the breeze.

Outside, the scorching heat lingered, offering no real sense of the changing seasons just yet.

“A whole year since then, huh…”

In the morning, I dragged myself out of bed and mumbled to myself while preparing breakfast, my head still foggy.

The seasons had cycled through since last year, bringing me to my second autumn in high school.

Will you be my friend?

It all started with a single sentence from a girl in my class. Over the past year, the web of relationships around me had done a complete 180.

Back then, I could only retreat into my own shell, alone. But one by one, people started calling my name, beckoning me with smiles and open hands.

I never used to understand why some students said school was fun.

But now a new morning feels… just a little exciting, maybe.

“Morning, Maki. School starts again today. Did you finish your assignments?”

“Of course. You good, Umi?”

“…I spent the entire day at Yuu’s place yesterday. Oh, and for some reason, Nina was there too.”

“Figures. Well, good job surviving.”

The last day of summer break is practically a rite of passage for students—a chaotic scramble to finish everything. Seems like Umi got her fair share of that experience.

Judging by her wry smile, I could almost picture the scene at the Amami household yesterday. I reached out and gently patted her head, as if to thank her for her efforts.

“Hehe… you’re getting really good at head pats, Maki. This feels so nice.”

“Yeah? Glad to hear it.”

Since summer, my physical closeness with Umi has only grown. Bit by bit, I’m starting to understand her body—her sensitive spots, the places where she’s tense, the areas where a gentle stroke makes her melt with contentment.

The secrets of Umi that her friends like Amami-san or Nitta-san don’t know—those belong to me, her boyfriend, and me alone.

And Umi? She knows pretty much everything about me too.

“Oh, right. You’re wearing your blazer starting today, huh? Isn’t it hot?”

“Super hot. But, you know, it’s autumn now… A whole year’s gone by already.”

“…Yeah.”

“So, how was it for you, Maki? Did this year fly by?”

“Half and half, I guess. The first six months dragged on like hell, but the next six? It was like light zooming past.”

“Haha, literally half and half, huh? And now?”

“I’m in the light all the time.”

“Got it. Same here, then.”

It’s been almost a year since Umi and I became friends, and about nine months since we started dating. Days with Umi slip by so fast if I’m not paying attention.

Even now, it’s like that. I’m just chatting with my girlfriend, thinking it’s no big deal, but a glance at the clock tells me it’s already time to head to school.

An hour in real time feels like five or ten minutes. Sometimes I wonder if time really flows the same for everyone.

“Alright, it’s time. Shall we head to school?”

“Yup.”

Hand in hand, Umi and I left the house together, as natural as breathing. When we first started dating, I was too shy to do this in public, but now? I don’t care who teases us—I lace my fingers tightly with hers and never let go.

Umi’s my girlfriend. There’s no need to be embarrassed about it.

It’s the first day of classes after summer break, but since we’ve been coming to school almost daily for sports festival practice since mid-August, there’s no post-vacation haze.

That said, the real shift to second-semester mode won’t hit until after the sports festival this weekend.

“! M-morning, you two…”

“Morning, Yuu. I headed home before midnight, but how’d it go after that?”

“I was at it until just a bit ago, but I managed somehow.”

“Nice work, bestie. You did good.”

“Hehe~ Praise me more~”

These two best friends are as tight as ever, but it hasn’t always been smooth sailing.

They’ve had their share of heart-to-hearts and even moments where a rift formed for the first time. But now, here they are, as close as ever. They’ve made it work.

I’m not about to say “all’s well that ends well” or anything cheesy like that.

But for now, I think this is good enough.

“Oh, look, the usual scene. This makes it feel like school’s really back in session, doesn’t it?”

“Yo, Maki. Morning, Asanagi, Amami-san.”

“! Whoa, Nina and Seki-kun? Morning! That’s a rare combo… Wait, don’t tell me, while I wasn’t looking—!”

““No way, seriously, get real!””

Their synchronized denial was instant. …But am I imagining things, or do they actually look kinda good together? Not that it means anything romantic—just that they vibe well as friends. When it comes to love, it’s a whole different story.

A year’s taught me a lot, but the subtleties of relationships are still a mystery.

“Alright, I’ve got cheer squad practice, so I’m heading off. Sorry to ditch you four, but I’m not here to lose!”

“Except you’re already losing spectacularly in the love department?”

“Guh!”

“Nozomu, no…! Nina, that’s a low blow.”

“Oops, my bad.”

“…Nina, you’re gonna get decked one of these days.”

“Yeah, yeah. Go on, get to your practice.”

This back-and-forth is practically a ritual for the five of us now, and it makes me feel like the second semester has truly begun.

With a fresh mindset and new friends—okay, calling them that feels a bit embarrassing—but with these people by my side, I’m looking forward to another fun year.

…But as I settled into my usual routine, a grating noise interrupted, like static cutting through the calm.

—Hey, look at that guy over there.

—No way, really? Wow, with that face, he’s got quite the fan club.

—One’s his girlfriend, and the other two are his ○○, right?

—Whoa, that’s wild.

Umi, Amami-san, and Nitta-san keep their cool, acting like nothing’s wrong, but their expressions are noticeably tense.

“Things had calmed down for a bit, but now I’m somehow part of the Class Rep Harem too. Any ideas, Class Rep?”

“Hmm… I don’t think I’ve done anything to stand out in a bad way. Right, Umi?”

“Yeah. Since Maki and I are dating, I don’t mind people talking about that, but… maybe some weird rumor’s going around? Yuu, have you heard anything from the underclassmen or seniors on the backboard committee?”

“Huh? W-well, I don’t know… Everyone on the committee’s super nice, so I’d like to think they wouldn’t say anything like that.”

For now, nothing specific comes to mind.

A guy (me) hanging out with three girls (Umi, Amami-san, and Nitta-san) is bound to attract attention, and if people are just gossiping for laughs, it’s annoying but ignorable.

We’ve dealt with similar whispers on and off since freshman year, but this time, with the sports festival in the mix, the rumors seem to have spread to other grades, and they’re annoyingly persistent.

I thought we’d managed to shut it down after our two-legged race practice, but apparently not.

“Normally, I’d say ignore it, but… Nitta-san, could you do a little digging?”

“Sure. If I haven’t heard about it, it’s probably not coming from our grade. I’ll ask some friends who know underclassmen, see what I can find out.”

“Then I’ll poke around too, maybe while helping out with student council stuff. I can ask Takizawa-kun or the other members. They’re all pretty serious, so they might not know about nasty rumors, but it’s worth a shot.”

It’s not about hunting down a culprit, but knowing the cause would help us figure out how to handle it.

…What a pain, stirring up trouble right before the sports festival.

“I’ll… just keep doing my thing, I guess. Umi and Nina are handling it, and I don’t want to worry Nagisa-chan or Yama-chan unnecessarily.”

“Yeah. With how things are, Amami-san’s bound to stand out no matter what.”

The plan is for Amami-san to act normal while we track down the source of these (supposed?) rumors. It’s all about dividing roles.

And, of course, I’m involved too, since I’m somehow the star of this bad press (or am I?).

After sorting out our tasks, I headed to the classroom with Amami-san.

…From what I could tell, our classmates were acting normal. They glanced at me and Amami-san walking in together, but after half a year, it’s become routine in this class. They probably just think, Oh, it’s Maehara again.

It’s business as usual, and right now, that’s oddly comforting.

“Morning, Amami-chan. You look exhausted. Did you pull an all-nighter on assignments?”

“Huh? Oh, y-yeah! Haha, summer break was just too fun, so I kept putting it off. You’re the same, right, Nagisa-chan?”

“Don’t lump me in with you. I finished everything in July.”

“What, seriously? …Arae-san, you act all chill, but you’re secretly super diligent, huh? A studious gal?”

“Yama, shut it.”

Watching from the sidelines, I’m sweating bullets, but they’re managing to keep things just normal enough.

In times like this, I’m curious about Arae-san’s reaction. She usually stays out of our business, so even if she catches wind of something, she’d probably let it slide—

“Oh, hey, Maehara—”

“! …Y-Yes, what is it?”

“Don’t give me that look. …After the opening ceremony, meet me. And don’t even think about bailing, or I’ll make you regret it.”

“I feel like I’ll regret it either way…”

“What was that?”

“Nothing, nothing!”

Arae-san’s sudden summons sent a ripple through the classroom.

Is Maehara finally getting taken down? Or maybe it’s the opposite—a total plot twist! But one fierce glare from Arae-san silenced the murmurs in an instant.

She’s practically cemented her place as Class 2-10’s resident tough girl (or maybe the secret boss).

“Behind the gym. You know the drill—come alone.”

“…”

“Tch, don’t worry. It’s not a big deal. I just don’t vibe with that guy.”

“…If you say so.”

If it’s not some secret talk, I can just fill Umi in later.

But the fact that Arae-san’s going out of her way to talk to me about something “not a big deal” probably means it’s not great news.

“Alright, that’s that.”

As Arae-san returned to her seat, Yamashita-san and Amami-san naturally tried to ask her what was up. But Arae-san’s unusually serious expression left them hesitating.

“Um, Nagisa-chan… what was that about with Maki-kun—”

“It’s none of your… Tch, if you wanna know, ask Maehara later. I’m out.”

Sounds like it’s something that involves Amami-san too.

This out-of-the-blue talk from Arae-san is intriguing, but part of me just wants to pretend it never happened.

After homeroom, the second-semester opening ceremony took place in the gym without a hitch. It was the same old routine, nothing worth mentioning, but with Arae-san’s thing on my mind, I barely registered the club awards or sports festival announcements, my head in the clouds.

Once the ceremony ended and students started heading back to their classrooms, I slipped out of the class line and made my way to the back of the gym as promised.

After waiting a bit in the quiet shade, Arae-san, who’d snuck out at a different time, spotted me and approached.

“…Yo.”

“Hey. So, what’s this about…?”

“Yeah. No time to waste, so I’ll make it quick.”

Arae-san held out her phone toward me.

“…This picture. Ring any bells?”

“! That’s…”

On her phone screen was a photo of me in my school uniform and Amami-san in her gym clothes, a blue headband tied around her head. The lighting was a bit harsh, and it was slightly blurry, probably snapped in a hurry, but it wasn’t hard to tell who was who.

It was definitely me and Amami-san.

And here’s where the problem starts.

“Arae-san, where’d you get this?”

“From a first-year girl I got to know during sports festival practice. Apparently, it’s been making the rounds among the blue team’s first-year girls. …They’re saying Amami-senpai was kissing a guy with a girlfriend after school.”

“…That’s a nasty story.”

That explains why Arae-san was cagey with Amami-san this morning.

Since Nitta-san and Umi are already looking into this, it’s only a matter of time before Amami-san finds out.

I want to say it’s a baseless lie, but the photo being used as “evidence” has fueled its spread, making it a juicy piece of gossip.

In the circulating image, it doesn’t outright prove that Amami-san and I were kissing, but the angle is just ambiguous enough to make it believable.

“Maehara… just to be sure, and I mean just to be sure—did you and Amami ever… you know, do anything like that?”

“Nope. Also, this image is edited.”

“! …For real?”

“Probably. Look closely—the background doesn’t quite line up, especially around where Amami-san and I meet.”

“Oh… yeah, you’re right.”

Someone likely used a phone app to tweak the original image to make it look like we were kissing, but in their rush to mash us together, they left a few sloppy mistakes.

The image is a bit grainy, so at first glance, it seems convincing—that’s the trick.

It’s probably just a fluke that it turned out this way, but it’s a dirty move.

And the timing? Most likely from when I was helping with the backboard finishing touches the other day.

I didn’t notice anyone else around then, but clearly, someone was there.

Amami-san and I were only close for a split second… but who’d have thought that moment would come back to bite us?

Still, this gives me a rough idea of what’s going on. Now we just need to share this info and figure out our next steps.

“That’s all I’ve got for now. …Sorry for dragging you into this mess.”

“No, we were already trying to figure this out, so… thanks, Arae-san. For looking out for us.”

“It’s not like that. It’s just that Amami’s been stirring up so much noise lately, it’s getting on my nerves… Oi, Maehara, quit smirking.”

“Sorry, it’s just—you’re such a tsundere, Arae-san—”

“What did you say?”

“N-Nothing, that’s still terrifying…”

I’d better stop before I actually get clobbered, but Arae-san’s a good person who cares about her friends.

Not many people would go this far for Amami-san.

…The only flaw is that her “tsun” side is way too sharp.

“Alright, catch you later.”

“Yeah, later.”

After parting ways with Arae-san, I immediately sent a message with the image she’d shared.

Last year, I would’ve had to deal with this alone, but now I’ve got a girlfriend I can talk to and friends I can rely on. Even dependable underclassmen are in my corner.

There’s no need to shoulder this by myself. I can reach out to everyone I trust, and we’ll tackle it together.

After morning practice following the opening ceremony, it was lunchtime. At the cafeteria’s student council table, our group of five, along with the new student council president, Nakamura-san, and vice president, Takizawa-kun, made seven of us crowded around.

The topic, of course, was the photo Arae-san had shared and where it came from.

“I’m so sorry, everyone… The sports festival is this weekend, and because of my carelessness—”

“Yuu, don’t even go there. Sure, you and Maki might’ve been a bit careless, but the real problem is whoever spread this photo.”

Combining the info Nitta-san and Umi gathered, it’s clear the rumors about me stem from this image.

If we trace it back, we should eventually find the source—the person who took the original photo and edited it—but it’s not that simple.

“Yuu-chin, just think back. Any guesses? Like, did you turn down a confession over summer break or something?”

“Nope. I was mostly with Nagisa-chan, Yama-chan, or the backboard committee kids at school, and no one called me out or anything.”

“Right… What about you, Class Rep?”

“Hmm… Can’t say I have any clear leads, but I wouldn’t say nothing either.”

Last year, around the cultural festival, there were some snide remarks and jealousy thrown my way—How’s a guy like you so popular?—but it was just a small group in our class, and it fizzled out on its own.

I figured this would die down the same way, but I underestimated it.

“Normally, ignoring it’s the way to go, but that leaves Maehara’s bad rep hanging. Being friends with someone popular is tougher than it looks, huh? Especially when it’s a girl. …Guess I should watch out too, huh, Souji?”

“If it’s you, Mio-senpai, you’d probably enjoy this mess and dive into catching the culprit with glee. …Of course, I’d back you up 100%.”

“I only heard about this from Maki today, but… what’s the point of this? Making fun of Maki, making Amami-san feel awful—what’s fun about that? I don’t know why they did it, but it’s just… in such bad taste.”

Nozomu’s quiet comment earned a nod from everyone at the table.

We’re all human. Everyone feels jealous at some point—about grades, sports, friends, love, money. I’m no exception; most people have been there.

But that doesn’t mean it’s okay to act on that jealousy in a way that hurts others, directly or indirectly. The moment you can’t keep it in check, you’ve already lost.

What’s worse this time is that someone’s spreading fake images and lies, trying to paint a bad picture of me and Amami-san for people who don’t know the truth.

…No matter the reason, it’s unforgivable.

“So, what’re we doing? If we’re hunting for the culprit, I’m in, but… Maki, what do you want?”

“Hmm… Ignoring it could let things spiral out of control, so ideally, I’d like to nip it in the bud, but with how far this has spread, tracking down the source might be tough.”

It hasn’t been long since that two-shot was taken, but the fact that we got this info from multiple sources means it’s likely already spread far and wide. Plus, given the nature of rumors, even asking around might not get honest answers, and we could end up with conflicting info that makes it harder to pin down the truth.

“Ignoring it might embolden them, but flat-out denying it feels like giving the culprit attention, which isn’t great either… Nina, got any bright ideas?”

“Don’t look at me…”

Our conversation stalled, and a heavy silence settled over the table.

Maybe, like before, we just keep acting unbothered and slowly rebuild our reputation, like we did with the two-legged race practice… No, that risks making it seem like we’re admitting to the false rumors.

What should we do? As we sat in silence, each lost in thought…

“—Um, Maehara-senpai.”

“! Takizawa-kun, what’s up?”

“Could you leave this matter to me?”

“Huh?”

Surprisingly, it was Takizawa-kun, who’d been an outsider in this discussion, who broke the silence.

His raised hand and the serious look in his eyes told me he was planning something.

Even Nakamura-san, sitting next to him, seemed caught off guard, blinking rapidly at his sudden resolve.

“Uh… sorry, could you repeat that?”

“Let me handle the culprit hunt.”

“You mean, just you, Takizawa-kun? We don’t need to help?”

“Yes. It’s easier for me to move alone… or rather, it’s harder with you seniors involved, so if possible, I’d like you to focus on the sports festival and leave this to me.”

He’s clearly got a plan, but as a senior, it feels wrong to dump this on an underclassman alone… As I hesitated over his sudden offer, Nakamura-san chimed in, bowing her head to us.

“Maehara, can I ask you to trust him too? I don’t know what he’s planning, but it’s clear he really wants to help you all. …Right, Souji?”

“Yes. You’ve all been so good to me, and I want to repay that kindness, even just a little. You’re all great people, and it pisses me off that someone’s trying to tear you down with stupid lies. …For once, I’m actually angry.”

The usually calm and gentle underclassman was, for the first time, visibly upset, biting his lip in frustration.

He’s got his own reasons for stepping up—maybe he’s been through something similar in the past.

“Takizawa-kun’s offering, but… what do you all think?”

“I’ll go with whatever Maki decides. Either we all tackle it together, or we trust Takizawa-kun and wait—both have pros and cons. What about you, Yuu?”

“…I’ll leave it to Maki-kun too. I mean, this is partly my fault, so I’m not exactly in a position to call the shots.”

“I’m fine either way… but if I had to pick, I’d say the sooner this misunderstanding’s cleared up, the better.”

“If Taki wants to take it on, why not let him? The guy’s insanely competent—you can tell from how he’s been handling stuff lately.”

Nozomu’s the only one fully backing Takizawa-kun, while the others are leaving it to me. Looks like the final call’s mine.

…It’s a tough choice, but…

“Alright, Takizawa-kun, I hate to put this on you, but can we count on you?”

“Got it. Don’t worry, I’ll keep you updated every step of the way.”

I’m curious about how he plans to track down the culprit, but I’ll hold off on prying and save that for later.

For now, we’ll follow our reliable underclassman’s lead, throw ourselves into the remaining sports festival practice, and make the most of this once-in-a-high-school-lifetime event.

The practice period that started in summer was over, and the first weekend of September arrived. The sports festival was finally here.

Thanks to nonstop setup work since Saturday, the venue was fully prepped for spectators and guests.

It was just past 7 a.m., still early, but the field was already buzzing with students watching the final setup by the vendors.

The backboard installation was in full swing behind the stands, where students from the red, blue, yellow, and white teams were gathered.

As the students’ handmade masterpieces were unveiled, cheers erupted from each team.

“Nozomu’s red team went with a red ogre, huh? It’s got a traditional vibe, like something you’d see in an old scroll…”

“The school had a ton of reference materials, so they used those for the design. They struggled without any art club members, but considering that, I think they did a solid job.”

Some teams had trouble finding talent due to the team assignments, but the red team, along with yellow and white, pulled off impressively high-quality work. Even if the execution wasn’t perfect, it’s the fact that everyone came together to create it that matters.

The red, yellow, and white backboards went up one by one, and finally, it was our blue team’s turn.

It was already near perfection when I last saw it, but Amami-san had rallied the team to keep refining it until the last minute. I was dying to see how that blue dragon had transformed.

“Whoa…”

The moment the completed blue team backboard was raised, I could only mutter in awe.

Amami-san wasn’t kidding—it was leaps and bounds better than before. Each scale shimmered brilliantly, but it wasn’t just pretty; the fangs and claws captured the dragon’s raw ferocity perfectly.

…All with just blue and white.

“What do you all think? I was worried we didn’t have enough time, but…”

“What? You think there’s more to improve? Yuu-chin, that’s just unfair. Look, the other teams are totally stunned!”

As Nitta-san said, everyone was just staring, completely captivated by the blue team’s backboard.

The other teams’ work was great too, but Amami-san’s obsessive attention to detail made ours stand out like a masterpiece.

“Umi, what do you think? I worked hard!”

“Worked hard? You went way overboard, girl… But seriously, Yuu, it’s amazing. You put in a solid month from summer break to now. Great job.”

“Thanks, Umi… hehe.”

Amami-san, who’d looked a bit anxious during the setup, now wore a relieved smile as Umi patted her head.

It must’ve been tough—her first time leading a project, working with unfamiliar materials and a massive canvas. I’m genuinely glad her hard work paid off.

“Oh, Maki-kun, thanks for helping out, even just a little. See that water splash part you did? The other members were like, ‘It’s awesome!’”

“I barely did anything, like one tiny panel… but if it helped, I’m glad.”

“…Everyone.”

“Huh?”

“Oh, n-nothing! Hehe, I just thought if you’re happy, Maki-kun, then I’m happy too.”

I thought I heard Amami-san mumble something, but I was too focused on the backboard to catch it.

She seems to be acting normal, but… maybe she’s still bothered by the photo deep down.

Even if you decide to act like everything’s fine, it’s hard to actually feel that way.

“Anyway! Setup’s done, so let’s enjoy the sports festival! And since we’re doing this, we’re gonna win! Come on, everyone, let’s form a huddle. Gotta kick things off with a bang!”

“The four of us? If Yuu’s into it, I’m game… Maki, come on, get your hand in here.”

“I’m being dragged into this, huh… Alright, fine, since Umi says so.”

“This hyped-up morning vibe is kinda embarrassing… but it’s not something you get every day, so why not? Seki, you’re joining too.”

“We’re technically rivals today, but… if it’s about celebrating our efforts, I’m in.”

One by one, we stacked our hands on top of Amami-san’s, forming a small huddle.

The fake kiss photo, the baseless rumors, the bad vibes—they’re still swirling around us, refusing to die down.

But in times like these, we need to stick together.

“Alright, Maki-kun, lead the cheer!”

“What? Me? This totally felt like your moment, Amami-san. I’m not prepared for this at all…”

“You’ll be fine! A cheer’s just something simple like ‘Let’s do this!’ or ‘Here we go!’ Right, Umi?”

“Yeah, you’re kinda our group’s leader, in a way. It feels more fitting for you to do it than Yuu.”

“Yup. Oh, Class Rep, if you mess up, you’re buying us all drinks.”

“Nina, don’t jinx me like that… Nozomu, if it’s gotta be someone, I’m cool with you taking it.”

“Thanks, Maki. But you’ve got this.”

Back when our group first formed, I thought I was just tagging along as Umi’s boyfriend, nothing more.

But the more time we spent together, the more I realized everyone was looking to me, rallying around me in their own way.

Umi, Amami-san, Nitta-san, and Nozomu—they always respect my thoughts and feelings. Sure, they tease me or roll their eyes sometimes, but at the end of the day, they’re watching out for me.

Am I really the leader of this group? I’m not confident enough to say that, but I’ve secretly been hoping to become someone they can rely on, even just a little.

“Alright then… Whatever the results, let’s give it our all. …Here we go!”

“““…Pfft!”“”

“W-Why’s everyone laughing? I know it’s not my thing, but come on, at least try to play along!”

“Haha, sorry, sorry. It’s just—you trying so hard is kinda adorable, Maki.”

“Pfft, Class Rep, getting nervous over a cheer? That’s hilarious.”

“Maki-kun, you don’t have to be that embarrassed. We’ll stick with you to the end.”

“Sorry, Maki. But honestly, I think it’s pretty cool.”

I fumbled it a bit and killed the vibe, but… maybe this is just our style.

“Ugh, whatever… Just, everyone, do your best. But don’t overdo it, and stay safe.”

“““Got it!”“”

With the warm, lively atmosphere intact, the curtain was about to rise on our first—and only—high school sports festival.

“—We vow to showcase the fruits of our training and make this biennial sports festival the most unforgettable yet!”

With Nakamura-san’s opening declaration as the new student council president, the morning events kicked off.

The morning’s main focus was events like the two-legged race, centipede race, obstacle course, and scavenger hunt—meaning it was our time to shine.

Participants for the two-legged race, please line up at the entrance gate. I repeat—

The moment the announcement came from the broadcast booth at the sports festival HQ tent, I felt two quick pats on my back.

It was Amami-san and Nitta-san, seated right behind me.

“Maki-kun, go get ’em!”

“Class Rep, don’t trip!”

“No clue how we’ll place, but I’ll give it my all, as always.”

Pushed along by their encouragement, I left the stands and spotted Umi jogging toward me, already waiting.

“Maki, everything okay? No sore feet or feeling off?”

“I’m good. A little nervous, but otherwise perfect. Even hit the bathroom already.”

“Nice. …Wanna hold hands?”

“…Yeah.”

Side by side, we headed to the entrance gate, fingers tightly intertwined, psyching ourselves up for the race ahead.

Our hands trembled slightly from nerves at first, but once we felt each other’s warmth, that faded away.

We’re ready to perform just like we did in practice.

“Maehara, Asanagi-chan, sorry to keep you waiting. …Heh, you two are as lovey-dovey as ever, even in a place like this. I’m jealous.”

“Morning, Maehara-senpai, Asanagi-senpai.”

“You two, nice work.”

The student council duo, our teammates, arrived a bit late.

As the new student council’s first major event, even they seemed a little frazzled by the hustle.

“Nakamura-san, you sure you didn’t need our help today? We promised to pitch in until the festival’s over, so use us as much as you want.”

“It’s tough, but if you’re stuck helping, you won’t get to enjoy yourself, right? This is your first—and only—sports festival with Maehara, so stick by his side.”

“Really? Okay, but if anything comes up, don’t hesitate to call. I’ll help anytime… with Maki. Right?”

“Of course.”

Even though we haven’t known them long, Nakamura-san and Takizawa-kun are important to us. When someone’s in trouble, we’ve got to help each other out.

…Especially since Takizawa-kun’s already working on something for us.

Careful not to draw attention, I quietly spoke to him.

“Hey, Takizawa-kun, about that thing…”

“…”

He didn’t say anything, but his firm nod reassured me he’s got it handled.

I mouthed a quick thanks and rejoined Umi at the entrance line.

—Next up is the team two-legged race. Athletes, take your positions!

At the announcer’s cue, the competitors moved into place.

The running order and rival teams were the same as during rehearsals, but everyone’s been training since then, so we can’t let our guard down.

…Of course, Umi and I have been putting in the work too.

So far, the red team’s leading the scoreboard by a small margin, with the other three teams vying for second. To keep from falling behind, we need to aim for the best placement possible.

We tied our ankles together with a stocking rope, and Umi and I stood up.

“Maki, whatever happens, let’s have fun.”

“Yeah. Have fun, but aim to win if we can.”

“Exactly. …Alright, let’s do this!”

We let go of our hands and locked shoulders instead, stepping up to the starting line as the ultimate dorky couple.

The race had already begun, and a slight stumble by the first runners put our blue team in last place. But the gap wasn’t huge—our performance could still turn things around.

“Maehara-senpai, Asanagi-senpai, give it your all! Even if you can just shave one or two seconds off the lead, me and the third-year senpai will handle the rest!”

“…Got it!”

I nodded firmly to our dependable underclassman and took the baton from the previous pair.

“Umi.”

“Yeah!”

Without a word, we launched forward in perfect sync.

Our practiced start was flawless, and we quickly overtook the third-place team.

“Nice one, you sappy couple!”

“Umi! Maki-kun! Go for it!”

Amid the chaotic cheers from the field, Nitta-san and Amami-san’s voices cut through, spurring us on as we hit top speed in no time.

Our steps and rhythm aligned perfectly, putting pressure on the team ahead.

We were this close to catching second place, with only the leader left… but the finish line was already in sight.

“Maehara, Asanagi-chan, come on!”

Aiming for Nakamura-san, who was waving at us from the starting line, Umi and I charged full speed ahead.

It was over in a matter of seconds.

“Nakamura-san, you’re up!”

“Leave it to me!”

We didn’t snag first, but we tied for second with the team next to us in the baton handoff.

We gave it everything we had. Now it’s up to the others to finish strong.

“Maki, nice work. All that practice paid off.”

“Yeah, I survived your brutal training regimen, after all.”

I was nervous going in, but now that it’s done, I feel oddly refreshed.

The roars of encouragement from the field, the cheers erupting from the stands, the play-by-play from the broadcast booth hyping up the race.

And over at the stands, the four teams’ colorful cheer performances.

It’s so lively that I’m almost regretting not taking school events seriously before.

“…Hey, Umi.”

“What? …If it’s about a reward, I’ll give you one later.”

“No, not that… I mean, I’d love a reward, don’t get me wrong.”

“…Yeah?”

“Thanks, Umi. For showing me this moment.”

“You’re welcome. So, think we can add this to our memory album?”

“Oh, absolutely.”

Sora-san’s probably in the parent section, snapping pics of Umi and me in action. Along with our summer beach trip and my birthday, I’m already looking forward to flipping through those memories later.

—And now, it’s down to the anchor leg! Will the red team hold their lead, or can the blue team pull off a comeback?

The announcer’s voice cranked up the excitement even more.

“Takizawa-kun, it’s all you!”

My cheer was met with a raised fist from the vice president, drawing a wave of high-pitched screams from part of the blue team’s stands.

Takizawa-kun’s unusually intense expression reminded me, somehow, of Amami-san in a moment from long ago.

Chapter 6 | Two Resolutions

Under a scorching summer sky, the morning session of fiercely competitive events came to an end in a flash, and it was time for the lunch break.

We temporarily left the field and were cooling off in the shade on campus, sharing a meal together.

Sora-san, who had come to watch the sports festival and film our efforts, had gone out of her way to prepare bento lunches for us.

According to Sora-san, she’d made enough for three people, including herself… but thanks to Umi’s quick thinking, she invited Amami-san and Nitta-san to join us, which saved the day (Nozomu was off preparing for the afternoon’s cheer battle).

In other words, it was that much food.

“Alright, everyone, great job so far! Cheers!”

“Yuu-chin, isn’t that a bit premature? I mean, sure, we totally killed it in the morning session, but still.”

From the three-legged race to Nitta-san and Amami-san’s centipede race and other events, we fought hard, and as of now, the Blue Team was in second place. There’s a bit of a point gap with the leading Red Team, but we’re holding our own pretty well.

The ice-cold barley tea tasted absolutely divine.

“Maki-kun, I was watching from the stands, and you were so fast in the three-legged race. You and Umi were in perfect sync, too. Oh, here’s the photo.”

“Oh, uh… thanks.”

It’s probably a shot of us right before crossing the finish line. On the digital camera’s screen, there we were, lips clenched, chasing down the runner ahead of us.

Seeing myself from this objective angle still feels a bit embarrassing, but among all the photos taken so far, this one’s probably the coolest… or at least, it looks pretty decent.

“Maki, let me see… Huh, not bad for Mom’s photography skills.”

“Oh, come on, Umi, that’s rude. If I keep at it, even I can get the hang of it. Though, I’ll admit, it’s mostly thanks to the new digital camera I just bought.”

“Wait, Sora-san, you got a new camera?”

“Yup. It was a bit pricey, but I figured I’d be using it for a long time, so why not?”

“R-Really…?”

I did notice it felt unusually sleek and lightweight when I held it… but was it really okay for me to be one of the first subjects captured by it, alongside her daughter?

“By the way, Yuu-chan, isn’t Eri-san here today? I was hoping we could cheer together if she was around…”

“Oh, sorry, Auntie. My mom had a rare errand today… She wanted to come, but she’s meeting someone who helped her with work back in the day. And Dad’s on a business trip.”

“Oh, that’s a shame. Well, I’ll just have to take tons of photos of Yuu-chan’s heroics to show Eri-san later. Let’s start with one of Yuu-chan chowing down on an onigiri.”

“Mmph? Mmph-mmph?!”

“…Yuu, either eat the onigiri or strike a peace sign, pick one.”

With exchanges like that, the mood grew even brighter and livelier.

If only I didn’t have any worries, this would probably be even more fun.

Sora-san’s bento was so delicious that we polished off the side dishes and onigiri in the lacquered box in no time. After thanking her and parting ways, we headed to the stands early to prepare for the afternoon session.

After picking up our assigned panels from Yamashita-san, the props crew, I was about to head back to my seat when—

“—H-Hey, can I talk to you for a sec?”

“? Sure.”

I turned around to see two male students standing there.

Judging by the color of the embroidery on their gym uniforms, they were definitely first-years… but then I quickly remembered they were teammates from the three-legged race.

“…Uh, what’s up? Something you need to talk about?”

“No, it’s not a big deal or anything… We just wanted to thank you for covering for us during the three-legged race. Right?”

“Yeah. We had a good start, but then we tripped up halfway… Thanks to you seniors pulling through, we didn’t get blamed too much for it.”

“Wait, did someone say something like, ‘If you guys hadn’t screwed up…’?”

“…”

At my words, the two nodded silently.

Thanks to Umi and me, plus Nakamura-san’s efforts and Takizawa-kun’s stellar performance as the anchor, our three-legged race tied for first with the Red Team—the moment that got the Blue Team stands the most hyped in the morning session. But it seems some people still had snarky comments.

“Don’t worry about it. Sure, we could’ve shaved off a bit more time, but that doesn’t mean we would’ve taken sole first place.”

Even if our entire Blue Team ran flawlessly, it’d mean nothing if our rivals did the same. There’s no room for “what-ifs” in competition.

“We all gave it our all, and that’s how we tied for first. I’m good with that, and I hope you are too.”

“Yeah… you’re right.”

“Sorry for bothering you with this dumb stuff.”

“Nah, it’s fine. It’s tough, but let’s keep pushing through the afternoon together.”

“…Right!”

Seemingly reassured by my calm response, the two boys returned to their seats with relieved expressions.

—Man, that senior’s actually pretty cool, huh?

—Yeah, he doesn’t seem like he’s hiding some shady side or anything. Sure, it’s a bit jealous-making that he’s got that harem vibe going on.

—Haha, all the senior girls around him are super cute, right?

Seems like they’re a little jealous, but at their level, it’s no big deal… Honestly, it feels more normal to have that kind of reaction.

“Maki, that was nice.”

“Yeah. It’s proof that if you work hard, someone’s bound to notice.”

It might only be a few people for now, but all we need to do is focus on what’s in front of us.

Those guys just reminded me of that.

Feeling even better with some new allies in my corner, the chime signaling the start of the afternoon session rang right on cue.

Kicking off the afternoon was the cheer battle—each team’s cheer squad had just changed into their gakuran uniforms and made their entrance.

Among them, the one getting the loudest cheers from our Blue Team was, of course—

—Arae-senpai, you’re so cool!

—Look over here, please!

—Can I take just one photo?!

Arae-san sighed, her expression practically screaming, What’s with this? And no wonder—until recently, her fanbase (mostly first-year girls) was small, but somehow it’s ballooned to the size of an entire class.

Her flashy gakuran and the sarashi wrapped around her chest, combined with her already tall and striking figure, made her look as cool as any guy. But to think she’d capture the hearts of so many junior girls like this?

Amami-san had the guys’ attention, but when it came to the girls, Arae-san was the undisputed queen.

“Hehe, Nagisa-chan’s become quite the celebrity, hasn’t she?”

“…Ugh, I’m never doing this again.”

“This is our last year, so you’re good! Oh, and we’re taking a photo with Yama-chan later, so don’t take that off when you’re done.”

“Why’re you making decisions for me?! Ugh, fine, it’s hot as hell, so make it quick—five minutes max.”

“! Thanks, Nagisa-chan, I love you!”

“Oh, come on! This thing’s hot, so stop hugging me already…!”

A few months ago, those two were at each other’s throats, but now look at them.

With Amami-san’s people-magnet charm, it wouldn’t be surprising if, in another six months, they’re not just “friends” but full-on “besties.”

“Amami, our turn’s coming up, so let’s go. …Oh, and Maehara.”

“Huh? Me?”

“Who else, idiot?”

“Ouch, harsh… So, what’s up?”

“We need to talk about that image thing. Once the sports festival cleanup’s done, come to the student council room with Amami and the others. I’ve told you now, so don’t forget.”

“?? The student council room? Why there… Hey, Arae-san—“

Without waiting for my response, Arae-san rattled off her message and dashed toward the entrance gate for her next event.

“What’s her deal, calling my precious boyfriend an idiot and stuff? Maki, you can totally ignore her.”

“Well, I did fall into my usual bad habits there… But why the student council room of all places? Sure, it’s private, but…”

Using the student council room means Arae-san must’ve cleared it with either Takizawa-kun or Nakamura-san.

I’d love to go ask Takizawa-kun about it right now, but he’s probably busy in the operations tent preparing for the afternoon events. And we’ve got our own cheer battle prep, so all we can do is wait.

“…For now, let’s focus on what’s in front of us. If Arae-san, who usually keeps her distance, is calling me out, it’s gotta be something serious.”

“Maybe. Knowing her, she’s probably got a suspect in mind and plans to drag them to the student council room.”

“Could be… But it wouldn’t surprise me if Arae-san pulled something like that.”

When it comes to problem-solving, Arae-san can be a bit more forceful than us, so it’s entirely possible we’ll end up confronting the person who spread those nasty images and rumors after school.

Just thinking about it makes me feel all jittery and restless.

“Well, Arae-san did say something like ‘everyone come,’ so we’ll be fine if we stick together. If cleanup’s done, we can probably get Seki to join us too.”

Cramming five people into the not-so-spacious student council room might be a bit much, but safety in numbers, right? With Nozomu, Takizawa-kun, and Arae-san there, things shouldn’t get too heated.

“So, see? Yuu-chin, you don’t need to look so worried. If push comes to shove, Asanagi’s got your back, right?”

“Me? …Well, yeah, if Yuu’s in a pinch, I’ll protect her. Using Nina as a shield.”

“Hey, protect me too!”

The usual banter lightened the mood just a bit.

I genuinely admire this side of Nitta-san.

“Heh, jeez, Nina-chin… But thanks. I feel a little better now.”

“Yeah? Good then.”

“Yup, good. Ehehe, alright, I’m heading out too.”

“…You’re all lowkey mimicking me again.”

With the mood back to normal, we geared up for the afternoon session.

All resolutions would come after that.

Starting with the cheer battle, the afternoon session roared on with club relay races, team tug-of-war, pole-toppling, and cavalry battles, with students swarming the field in a chaotic, exhilarating frenzy. Now, only the final event remained: the team relay race.

This race featured one boy and one girl from each grade, six runners total, and it was a dramatic event where rankings often flipped—a fitting finale for the sports festival.

—And now, the race is reaching its climax, with only the sixth anchor leg to go! Which team will be the first to cut the tape for victory?!

As the fifth runner took off, the standings were: Red in first, White in second, Yellow in third, and our Blue Team in fourth. A baton handoff mistake early on set us back, but thanks to Amami-san and Takizawa-kun’s efforts, we were still in a tight pack, not far behind.

“Come on, everyone, you can do it…”

I watched the race unfold, holding my breath, as the baton finally reached the anchor.

While most teams had third-years as anchors, Red Team had uniquely chosen a second-year.

…And that was Nozomu.

“Seki, trip or something! Or drop the baton!”

“Seki, please, let us have this one!”

“Seki-shi, ever heard of reading the room?”

“…”

The familiar girls in the Blue Team stands bombarded Nozomu with jeers, but knowing his personality, he wouldn’t hold back one bit. The heckling was half in jest anyway.

“—Tch!”

With a textbook baton handoff and a blazing start, Nozomu dashed off, drawing sighs from the other three teams’ stands.

—Red Team’s too strong! I mean, track, soccer, rugby, and now the baseball team’s ace as anchor? Let’s hope for a fairer team split next year! The other three teams put up a good fight, though!

Even the broadcast booth couldn’t help but comment, and with that, the team relay—and the sports festival—ended with Red Team’s total victory.

Despite the point gap with first place, Blue Team held steady in second. We didn’t win, but it was a solid result.

“Stuck in second till the end, huh… Still, it was fun, right, Maki?”

“Yeah. Tiring, but yeah… Yawn, ugh, I’m suddenly super sleepy.”

“I’m pretty wiped out too, honestly.”

It’s been weeks since Umi and I decided to run the three-legged race together—practicing almost every day, even through summer break. But it was worth it.

The training built my stamina, toned my body… and more than that, it strengthened my teamwork with Umi, deepening our bond in a way I can feel.

This was my first real sports festival, and looking back, I’m glad I took it seriously.

“…Students, great work today. Use tomorrow’s substitute holiday to rest up and prepare for classes next week. That’s all—dismissed!”

With Student Council Vice President Takizawa-kun’s closing remarks, the sports festival, prepared over the course of a month, finally came to an end.

It was my first and last sports festival in high school, so I wanted to savor the afterglow a bit more… but even after cleanup, our own resolution wasn’t quite settled.

“Maki-kun, um…”

“Amami-san… Yeah, I know. Let’s go, everyone.”

With the backboards and stands fully dismantled by the crew, the campus returned to its usual self. We headed to the student council room, as Arae-san had instructed.

Even with most students still lingering on campus, the area around the student council room was eerily quiet, making the once-noisy field feel like another world.

It’s true—this place could easily cover up a raised voice or two… No, we’re just here to talk, so no matter what, we need to stay calm.

I knocked lightly on the student council room door, and Nakamura-san’s voice came from inside.

—Yes?

“Nakamura-san, it’s me, Maehara… Uh, Arae-san from our class told us to come here.”

—Come in. …Oh, it’s just me for now, so don’t worry. Souji filled me in already.

“Excuse us.”

“Hey, hey, the whole gang’s here!”

Nakamura-san greeted us as we opened the door. She’d already changed back into her uniform and seemed to be working on the next event. Tough job.

“Souji and that wheat gal—er, I mean, Arae Nagisa, right? I’ll step out before they get here, so call me when you’re done. I’ll be in the library.”

“Sorry, Nakamura-san. Between the class match and now this…”

“It’s fine. Dating Souji means I’ll probably deal with this kind of thing again, so it’s good to get a sense of patterns and solutions. …Oh, should I move the desks to the side?”

“We’re not gonna fight or anything, so leave them as is.”

“Got it. Well, take your time.”

Tucking a file of documents under her arm, Nakamura-san left the student council room.

The stage was set. Now we just had to wait for Arae-san, Takizawa-kun, or both.

“…Yuu, just a heads-up—don’t let your emotions get the better of you. If you start getting mad or can’t hold it in, grab the hem of my shirt, okay?”

“I’m fine. I won’t pull a class match stunt again. …But if something does happen, can I count on you?”

“Yup, leave it to me. Nina, you’re on board too, right?”

“You got it! Honestly, I got dragged into this mess too, so I might end up saying too much.”

It wasn’t a long ordeal, but we all felt the sting of it, and I’m sure everyone, including me, has a lot to say to the culprit.

Lies and rumors spread like wildfire, but repairing the damage to one’s reputation and silencing the chatter takes far longer.

Even if the perpetrator sees it as a harmless prank, the victim bears a heavy burden. We need to make that crystal clear.

…I just hope they’re reasonable.

A few quiet minutes passed. Then, through the frosted glass of the door, the silhouettes of multiple people approaching appeared.

—Maehara-senpai, you in there?

“Takizawa-kun… Yeah, we’re good.”

—Got it. Here we go…

After a knock, Takizawa-kun and Arae-san stepped inside.

So, Takizawa-kun was in on this with Arae-san too.

“Maehara, Amami, Nitta, and… jeez, you guys brought a whole entourage. Talk about overprotective.”

“What’s wrong with that? We’ve all been through enough hassle because of this.”

“Hmph, whatever, do what you want—it’s not my problem. Vice President, you take it from here.”

“Understood. Before we explain, everyone, please take a seat. …That includes you, Ooyama-senpai.”

“…”

Following Takizawa-kun and Arae-san, another figure entered, flanked by the two as if to block any escape, and took a seat.

“Ooyama-kun.”

“…Hey.”

The short male student who muttered without meeting my or Amami-san’s eyes was Ooyama-kun, our classmate since first year.

If Takizawa-kun and Arae-san brought him here, that means…

“So… you’re the one who took those hidden photos of me and Maki-kun?”

“Yeah, pretty much. I just took the shots. My friend’s the one who did the shoddy editing and spread them to the first-years.”

“Your friend, huh? And where are they now? Doesn’t seem like they’re here.”

“…They sold me out and bolted. Their grade, name, contact info, even their address—it’s all out there, but they’re still playing hard to get. Idiots, the lot of them.”

Head bowed, Ooyama-kun answered my question with a self-deprecating tone.

If we take his word for it, he only took the photos, and the rumors themselves weren’t his doing.

…Still, grilling him like this is going to take forever.

“Uh, Takizawa-kun, could you take it from here?”

“Sure. Let me walk you through what happened.”

Why were Takizawa-kun and Arae-san working together? How did they track down Ooyama-kun?

There were plenty of questions, but first, I’d hear the details from Takizawa-kun.

According to him, he and Arae-san weren’t initially collaborating. They each separately investigated the source of the rumors, targeting a group of first-year girls suspected to be the origin.

Takizawa-kun leveraged his looks and charm to the max, while Arae-san enlisted the help of her newfound fans (sort of?) from the sports festival.

Through their efforts, they both zeroed in on a first-year girl who held key information about the rumor’s source.

Apparently, she’s cute and popular with some boys but has a big mouth, spilling private details about acquaintances without hesitation, which hasn’t earned her many friends among her female peers.

According to Arae-san, “I just acted a bit friendly, and she spilled everything.” Her loose lips were an issue, but thanks to that, they quickly identified the culprit—Ooyama-kun and his supposed “friend.”

From there, things likely unfolded as Ooyama-kun confessed.

He insists on calling them “friends,” but I wouldn’t call someone who throws you under the bus like that a friend.

They may have escaped for now, but they’ll have to face the music soon enough. For now, though, we deal with Ooyama-kun.

“Ooyama-kun, I…”

Why was he near us that day? Why did he take those photos? Why did he pass them to his friend?

Was it all a coincidence, or was it deliberate?

If it was deliberate, what was his motive?

There’s a mountain of questions, but I wasn’t sure where to start.

“…If you’ve got something to ask, just say it. In this situation, I’m not gonna lie to save face. Honestly, that side of you, Maehara, has always pissed me off.”

“…Ooyama-kun.”

His glare seemed to confirm my suspicions, but with Takizawa-kun and Arae-san here, we needed him to come clean.

“Alright, I’ll ask.”

“Go ahead.”

“Why did you do this?”

“…Simply put, jealousy. The hidden photos were honestly a spur-of-the-moment thing.”

“So everything else was intentional?”

“Pretty much. I showed the photos to my friend, like, ‘Hey, check this out.’ But I didn’t expect him to edit them and spread rumors for kicks… Even I was kinda shocked.”

Slumping his shoulders in resignation, Ooyama-kun began to lay bare his feelings.

He’s about my size, but sandwiched between Arae-san and Takizawa-kun, he looked a size smaller than usual.

“I felt bad for you and Amami-san, but I didn’t feel guilty or anything. If anything, it felt kinda satisfying. You guys are living it up, so I figured it was about time you got a taste of pain.”

“…What’s that supposed to mean? Gross.”

Nitta-san shot Ooyama-kun a disgusted look as he spoke with a smug, almost defiant grin.

Her words were blunt and harsh, but I couldn’t help agreeing with her.

I’m sure we all felt the same, even if we didn’t say it out loud.

“Last year, I didn’t care about you, Maehara. You were always alone, impossible to read, oblivious to the vibe, just pathetic. Since our seats were close, I’d talk to you when we made eye contact, but that was it. The class lumped us together, but I was like, ‘Don’t group me with him.’ I never showed it, but it ticked me off.”

Back then, I felt a bit of camaraderie with Ooyama-kun, but that might’ve bruised his pride instead.

Even if we were similar in build, speech, or class status, our inner selves weren’t the same.

We were classmates for a year, and even in the same class now, we never became friends. That’s probably why.

“I was near the bottom of the class too, but I wasn’t the bottom. I believed there was someone lower than me—you, Maehara. My high school life was pretty miserable, I’ll admit, but I wasn’t completely alone. I had some fun moments here and there.”

“But that was only until last year’s culture festival, right?”

“…Yeah. So I’ve been jealous of you for almost a year now, huh?”

It’s been nearly a year since Umi and I became “friends.” That day marked the start of my once-dull life bursting into color.

At first, it was just Umi. Then Amami-san joined, followed by Nitta-san.

After the culture festival came Christmas, and I got closer to Nozomu. Christmas, New Year’s shrine visits, Valentine’s, Umi’s birthday—this past year has been a string of firsts, each memory etched deeply in my heart.

Sparkling, warm moments that fill me with joy.

But while my life transformed, Ooyama-kun…

“I know it’s my own fault, and I tried to forget about you, Maehara. I brushed you off when you talked to me, ignored you as much as I could… but every time I tried, your circle just kept getting louder and livelier, like it was mocking me.”

A life growing brighter and brighter versus one stuck in the same miserable, dark rut.

With people like Nozomu and Amami-san—standouts at school—always by my side, the contrast must’ve felt even starker to him.

I can understand his pent-up frustration and jealousy to an extent… but that doesn’t mean I’m saintly enough to forgive everything he did.

“How did things end up so different? There wasn’t that much of a gap… No, last year, you were definitely in a worse spot than me. If I’d just had a bit of luck, I could’ve—“

“No, that’s not true.”

And I wasn’t going to let him ramble on unchecked.

“I won’t say it’s impossible, but I can tell you it’d be tough for you as you are now, Ooyama-kun. Sorry, but that’s how it is.”

“Why? You don’t know unless you—“

But Ooyama-kun’s words cut off there.

Because he saw the reactions of everyone else in the room.

“No way, seriously, this glasses guy…”

“I’ve got my own blind spots when it comes to Maki, but even I’m not as hopeless as you.”

“Ooyama-kun, um, I’m sorry, but that’s just…”

“…I might have to get on my knees and beg you to stop.”

I was pretty mad myself, but the irritation from Umi and the other three girls was on another level.

I don’t know what Ooyama-kun’s misunderstanding is, but if he thinks I’m only in this circle out of pity, he’s dead wrong.

I’ll admit, the encounters I’ve had since last fall were largely due to luck and timing. If Umi hadn’t reached out to me back then, my life wouldn’t have changed, and I’d probably still be a loner.

But that’s not what happened.

“You might not know this, Ooyama-kun, but I worked hard. I faced a lot of embarrassing moments, bared feelings I didn’t want anyone to see, even cried in front of the person I love. I messed up plenty, caused trouble, failed sometimes.

…But even so, I gave it my all. That’s why everyone here accepts me. Umi, Amami-san, Nitta-san, Nozomu, and even Takizawa-kun and Arae-san here—okay, maybe I went too far with Arae-san.”

“…Maehara, you wanna get decked?”

“N-Now, now, Nagisa-chan, Maki-kun didn’t mean it, so let’s cool it, okay?”

“Tch…”

Mentally thanking Amami-san for calming Arae-san, I continued.

“—So, like I said, I think it’d be hard for you to end up like me, Ooyama-kun. Not unless you change your mindset, at least.”

Keeping my tone as calm as possible, I laid out the reality.

That maybe he and I are fundamentally different kinds of people.

Almost everyone in the room nodded in agreement with my words.

“…You’ve changed, Maehara. You weren’t like this before.”

“Yeah, I have. That’s how important these connections are to me.”

With that, I took Umi’s hand, who was standing close by my side.

The girl who taught me the joy of spending time with someone, the warmth that makes me forget loneliness—the most precious, beloved person in my life.

For her, I can keep pushing forward, no matter what comes.

“That’s about all I wanted to say. …So, Ooyama-kun, you can go now.”

“Huh, really?”

“Yeah. I get why you did it, and the rumors should die down after this. …Anyone else have something to say?”

“Nah. I’m tired and just wanna go home and sleep.”

“Same. …Well, I’ve got club activities after this.”

“If Maki’s fine, I don’t have anything to add. I’m kind of an outsider here anyway.”

Nitta-san, Nozomu, Umi—all good. That leaves Amami-san.

“Yuu, what about you?”

“I’m good too… Oh, wait, actually, can I say one thing? There’s something I have to say.”

Stepping forward for the first time, Amami-san, who’d been quietly observing from a slight distance, spoke up.

For a moment, Umi, her best friend, shot her a worried glance, but there was no sign of the anger from before, so it wouldn’t escalate like her clash with Arae-san during the class match.

“Listen, Ooyama-kun.”

“Y-Yes…?”

“Don’t be so scared. It’s really just one thing, I promise.”

Taking a small, deep breath, Amami-san flashed her usual bright smile and said,

“—Ooyama-kun, don’t do this again, okay? Make sure to tell your friends too.”

“…Huh?”

“Got it?”

“…Y-Yes, I understand.”

“Ehehe, great. See you after the break, then. Thanks for working hard on the backboard crew with me.”

“Uh, I didn’t really… W-Well, bye.”

Grabbing his bag in a hurry, Ooyama-kun fled the student council room as if escaping Amami-san, and with that, the matter was tentatively resolved.

Or so it should’ve been.

“…Hey, Amami.”

“? What’s up, Nagisa-chan? Why the shocked face?”

“Did you eat something weird or what?”

“Oh, come on, I love food, but I’m not that bad—like, I’m not gonna pull a Rocky. Oh, Rocky’s our golden retriever at home, by the way.”

“No, that’s not what I meant… Oi, Nitta, you deal with her!”

“Why’re you passing this to me? Yuu-chin, you seem kinda… off today. Is it because that glasses guy really got on your nerves?”

“Ooyama-kun? Hmm, what he did was definitely wrong, and I hope this is the last of it, but… I wouldn’t say I hate him or find him gross or anything. He did his part on the crew without slacking, too.”

“Oh, okay. You’re pretty kind, Yuu-chin.”

Everyone except Amami-san had noticed something off about her demeanor.

Normally, in moments like this, Amami-san wears her emotions on her sleeve. In this case, that’d be anger—she’d call out what’s wrong directly, sometimes even brushing off attempts to stop her as she confronts the issue head-on.

Her clash with Arae-san during the class match is a prime example.

So, we—Umi and I especially—braced ourselves for a similar scene with Ooyama-kun.

—Ooyama-kun, don’t do this again, okay?

But the way she said it with her usual smile somehow felt chilling.

She said she wanted this to be the last time.

But if Ooyama-kun or his friends repeated the same mistake, what would Amami-san do?

I couldn’t help but wonder, because in that moment, she carried a cold aura, unlike her usual self.

“Phew. Alright, the rumor mess is sorted, so let’s head home. Oh, hey, guys, since we’re here, how about hitting up a family restaurant for a post-sports festival celebration? Like a ‘good job, everyone’ party. What do you think? Nagisa-chan and Takizawa-kun, you in?”

“…I’m not into that stuff, so I’ll pass.”

“Thanks for the invite, Amami-senpai, but I’ve got to wrap up some work with Mio-senpai, so I’ll have to decline.”

“Aw, bummer. …What about the rest of you?”

“It’s a rare chance, so I’ll tag along with Yuu. I’m parched from all the tension.”

“If Yuu-chin’s going, count me in. There’s nothing to eat in my fridge at home anyway.”

“! Ehehe, thanks, you two. Seki-kun’s got club stuff, so… looks like the usual four of us, then.”

“…My participation’s just assumed, huh?”

“Hehe, well, Maki-kun’s always a package deal with Umi, right?”

Sticking out her tongue with a playful grin, Amami-san seemed no different from her usual self.

But that glimpse of her earlier, that unfamiliar side, didn’t feel like a fluke.

“…Maki, ready to head home?”

“Yeah, let’s go.”

I’d expected to leave with a clearer mind. The culprits behind the cruel rumors were identified, and after the break, we could start fresh.

Thanks to everyone’s help, we’d mostly achieved our goal… or so I thought.

“No next time, huh?”

“? Maki, did you say something?”

“Oh, no, nothing. Just talking to myself.”

A faint unease lingered, marking the end of that summer.