Chapter 2: As Flexible and ever-changing as a string

A couple of days after the career observation group assignments, after school.

I was summoned by Mrs. Uzumasa, the information technology teacher and homeroom teacher of our class. As I walked down the sunlit hallway toward the staff room, I could hear voices coming from inside.

“Seems like you skipped morning classes again, Kei.”

“Meh. It’s not compulsory education anymore, so it’s my choice, right?”

When I reached the staff room, I could hear the conversation continuing.

“You know, if you keep lazing around with that attitude, you’re not going to turn out well as an adult.”

“Ugh. Mrs. Uzumasa, you’re saying that? I thought you were on my side…”

“There’s no ‘side’ here. I’m just talking about possibilities.”

“Hmm… I just think, like, effort and trying hard and all that stuff is kinda lame, you know? Do you get what I mean?”

“I don’t get it, and I don’t intend to. You’re already putting effort into avoiding effort, aren’t you?”

“Huh? What do you mean? Effort to… avoid effort?”

“Exactly. I’m not telling you not to skip. I’m telling you to skip well. That’s the essence of effort.”

Mrs. Uzumasa’s voice was soft, almost like she was speaking to a young child.

“I don’t really get it, but I think I kinda do! Mrs. Uzumasa, you really are a true ally. Thanks!”

Kei Kyosaka came out of the staff room door.

“Oh, hey, Akari Kyosaka! What’s up?”

Her uniform was disheveled, and two ripe cocoa pods peeked out from her chest. Her vibrant aura hit me full force, and I faltered a little.

“I got called in by Mrs. Uzumasa… haha.”

“Ah, Akari. Come in.”

“Ah, yes. I’m coming… Well, see you later, Kei.”

“Yep, see ya, Akari-chan!”

I gave Kei a quick nod and then stepped through the staff room door.

Mrs. Uzumasa was sitting in her chair, and our eyes met. It was… a little scary.

Here’s the translated text with the provided glossary applied to the character names:

—

A petite woman, barely 150 centimeters tall.

Yet, she possesses a piercing gaze that makes one shrink back.

“So, Kyosaka, is eavesdropping your hobby?”

“Ah, no… I just heard voices from inside, so… I couldn’t help it. Sorry.”

“I’m not angry. After hearing my conversation with Tsukasa, what do you think?”

“What do I think…?”

“Don’t overthink it. Just say what you honestly feel. Where you focus, how you interpret it—that’s entirely up to you.”

Honestly, what I think…

“Well… I feel like the last exchange just changed the perspective without actually solving anything. The fact that Tsukasa is skipping class hasn’t changed, after all…”

Mrs. Uzumasa advised Tsukasa to at least put effort into skipping class skillfully, but I’m not sure if that’s really for Tsukasa’s benefit.

Just by shifting the perspective to something positive, nothing has actually been resolved.

“Hmm. I can’t help but feel that you and I are somewhat alike.”

“No, I don’t think we’re alike at all.”

Since around last summer, Mrs. Uzumasa has been calling me out like this to chat about random things. Maybe she sees me as a boredom-relieving toy, or perhaps she’s worried about how I’m doing in high school.

Probably both.

She’s a bit of an odd person, so I can confidently say we’re not alike.

“I said I feel something similar, not that we’re the same. Your misinterpretation is quite something.”

That’s just sophistry. But I keep that thought to myself.

Seeing my puzzled expression, Mrs. Uzumasa raises her right hand in a “stop” gesture.

“Listen, Kyosaka. What you call ‘perspective’ is something incredibly delicate yet ambiguous. Interpretation and perspective are subjective, changing shape and color depending on the individual. There are as many values in this world as there are people—no, even more, considering the subtle nuances. For a mere kid like you to perfectly understand all of that is impossible. That’s why the answer always lies within your own heart. ‘One is all, all is one,’ as they say.”

A sophist alchemist stands before me.

“…That’s a discussion about the nature of perspective, but the fact that Mrs. Uzumasa is condoning skipping class hasn’t changed, right? It doesn’t seem like anything’s been resolved.”

“Listen, Kyosaka. In life, most problems don’t get resolved.”

“That’s quite the pessimistic view…”

“I’m just stating facts. This isn’t unique to you. From the moment we’re born, we’re programmed to carry this kind of burden.”

Hmm. That’s a very information-science-teacher-like way of putting it. It’s a dry, realistic perspective that suits Mrs. Uzumasa. In some ways, it reminds me of Sakurako.

A strength I don’t possess—the strength to assert one’s own perspective and draw understanding and empathy from others. I envy that strength, but I don’t aspire to it.

Because all I want is a little courage to acknowledge my own weaknesses.

“This conversation ends here. I didn’t call you out to engage in pointless debates.”

You’re the one who started it!

“…So, why did you call me out?”

“Ah, about that. Kyosaka, it seems you’re quite adored by those three.”

Those three would be Chikage, Tsukasa, and Sakurako.

“Yesterday after school, during the career observation sign-ups. If too many students want the same placement, it’s usually decided by lottery. But those three came to me beforehand and pleaded—no, begged—that even if their own requests weren’t granted, they wanted yours to be. If other students had heard, it could’ve led to misunderstandings.”

I’m at a loss for words.

“The ‘Three Beauties of the School.’ I know they’re called that among the students. For such prominent students to make such a conspicuous move—do you understand what this means, Kyosaka?”

“No…”

“Smoke, Kyosaka. The bigger the fire, the more smoke rises.”

“Rumors, you mean?”

“Exactly. Rumors change shape like smoke depending on how people interpret them. If those interpretations escalate and create a major misunderstanding, what will you do? What if that misunderstanding becomes fatal for you, me, and those three?”

“Fatal? Huh…”

“It’s a figure of speech, but it’s close enough.”

This is exaggerated. But I keep that thought to myself. Mrs. Uzumasa’s sharp gaze compels me to.

“Please share your thoughts, Mrs. Uzumasa.”

“Very well. If a baseless rumor spreads that those three approached me to negotiate on your behalf, they might be seen as trying to cheat the system. And in the worst case, I could be held accountable, and you’d make even more enemies at school. These days, people share articles based on headlines without reading the content, right? It’s the same principle. This isn’t a threat.”

I gulp.

“Kyosaka. You might even be labeled as a hypnotic, brainwashing scumbag.”

“That’s going too far… Even for speculation!”

“It’s just an example. No one can imagine why those three dazzling girls would go so far for an unremarkable guy like you. Brainwashing or hypnosis—that’s the kind of explanation people would lean toward.”

“T-that’s rude…”

“I said it’s just an example. You’re unremarkable, but you have a neutral face. You probably appeal to girls, don’t you? I wouldn’t know.”

“If you don’t know, then don’t say it.”

But I think I understand what Mrs. Uzumasa is getting at.

“So, in short… the actions of those three are a black box to other students, impossible to understand. But the implications are open to endless interpretation, right?”

“Haha, it’s getting interesting, isn’t it?”

This person is clearly enjoying herself.

“So… you called me out because you have a plan, right? A secret strategy to nip this baseless rumor in the bud.”

“You’re as unsettlingly perceptive as ever… It saddens me to think that the malice of others has made you this way.”

“…I might sue you someday.”

“Fool. You wouldn’t take such jokes seriously or misinterpret them, would you? In this day and age, I have to deal with kids whose heads are filled with social media accordingly. Teachers choose their students too. I trust and have expectations for you, Kyosaka.”

There are moments when I’m glad she’s my teacher and moments when I wonder why someone like her is even a teacher. This is one of those times.

“Pfft, how many times have I told you this? I was bullied as a kid too. It’s irresponsible to say this, but it made me stronger. Forgive me for not being able to say I’ll fix everything for you.”

This is the seventh time I’ve heard this story.

“I don’t think I’ve been bullied. At most, some behind-the-back comments. And this is my own problem, so you don’t need to worry about it.”

“That’s where you and I differ. I blamed others. I got fed up with the stupidity around me and kept calling everyone kids. Justifying myself by calling them kids made me feel a little better.”

That’s such a Mrs. Uzumasa-like way of coping.

“The structure of the schoolyard is simple. Those who grow up and find the rules of kids immature get pushed out. The structure of society is simple too. Those who remain kids and can’t grow up get pushed out. And most people blame their weaknesses on their environment or others. You don’t blame your weaknesses on anyone. Be proud of that strength.”

—Not blaming others for my own responsibilities, huh? I want to be like that because I’ve pushed my responsibilities onto someone important and run away before.

But, well, I won’t say that.

…All I can do is carry it forever.

“We’ve gone off track. To remove the baseless rumors surrounding you, me, and those three, we need to spread a fabricated story first—that I assigned those three a job no one else wanted.”

“A job no one wants, huh? …You don’t mean.”

“You catch on quick, Kyosaka. That’s right. I drew the short straw again this year.”

“…Last year, it was under your direction too.”

The job no one wants, held in early June—an awkward time.

Back in elementary school, it was fun.

In middle school, it made me feel gloomy.

For high schoolers, it’s practically a punishment. Some schools delegate it to the PTA, staff, or professional cleaners, but not this school.

“Pool cleaning… right?”

“Yeah. A wonderful tradition of valuing student initiative or whatever. Thanks to that nonsense, this crappy volunteer activity with no volunteers is happening again this year. And I’m the supervisor. Again. …Damn that vice principal!”

I don’t know how Mrs. Uzumasa ended up as the supervisor, but her frustration with the unfairness seeps through her words. …It was the same last year.

“So, here’s the plan. We’ll use those three as bait. Guys are idiots, after all. They’ll line up to volunteer just to catch a glimpse of the beauties in wet clothes. Once enough guys gather, the girls will follow. And I’ll use those fools’ shallow desires to my advantage. After all, those three planted the seeds. Don’t you think they deserve some perks? Right, Kyosaka?”

“You’re definitely going to get sued someday.”

“I’ll cross that bridge when I get there. I’ll flip off this world where you can’t even speak your mind and go live in the countryside, farming fields. I’ve always been drawn to bartering. Back to the point. To rewrite rumors with rumors, mixing in a plausible fabrication is the best approach, I think. What’s your take?”

This is so haphazard. But more than that…

There’s something I can’t help but bring up.

“Um, Mrs. Uzumasa. I’ve been thinking… wouldn’t this plan actually accelerate the rumors about me instead of dispelling them?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Well… the story is that those three were assigned a troublesome job by you and tried to use it as leverage to get their career observation requests approved. That’s your script, right?”

“Yeah. That’s right.”

“Then, doesn’t that mean the ‘fact’ that those three tried to negotiate on my behalf remains unchanged?”

“Sigh. Kyosaka, it’s already common knowledge that those three have a thing for you. Isn’t it much nicer to think they tried to do something for you through fair trade rather than cheating? Not brainwashing, just affection. Isn’t that wonderful?”

“My sense of having done nothing just skyrocketed.”

“Your position might feel a bit like a gigolo, but don’t worry about it.”

I’ll worry about it.

To remove baseless rumors, even more baseless rumors are going to spread.

Well, not that the gigolo part is entirely untrue. Of course, I haven’t told Mrs. Uzumasa about that. But I feel like she’s seen through my nature.

“Taste hardship while you’re young. Painful experiences are the best spice in life.”

“So it’s decided that I’ll suffer, huh…”

“You’re the one who knows best how much attention Chikage, Ono, and Sakurako get at school. Your relationship with them is already skewed. If you’re going to be the guy they’re infatuated with, you’d better be prepared to face the backlash. I’m not saying you should listen to others’ words. Those who act self-righteous while tearing others down are the real villains—and you know that well.”

That’s deep. It’s true that the world is full of duality. Calling our relationship ‘skewed’ while offering advice—this teasing is Mrs. Uzumasa’s way of showing affection, so I’ll take it positively for now.

“Mrs. Uzumasa… can I ask you something?”

“Sure. Go ahead.”

“It’s… I’m aware that I’m skewed too, so personally, I don’t care about the jeers from outsiders anymore…”

“So you’re saying you can’t stand seeing those three get hurt?”

“That’s a given. But that’s not what I mean… What I’m worried about isn’t the outsiders, but the insiders…”

“What are you trying to say? Spit it out.”

“Well… the three of them each want different things from me. There are boundaries, but they’re vague. If the balance breaks, we might reach a point of no return… But I don’t want to make them sad or hurt them, so…”

“Kyosaka, where do you find students consulting their teacher about their love life?”

Ahhhhhhh! …I was trying to be vague about it.

“But 90% of my worries boil down to this…!”

“What a luxurious problem. You might get stabbed in the back by a guy someday. Well, I get what you’re saying. I’ve heard similar concerns from those three too. Why do I have to play counselor here?”

“…I’m ashamed. But I can’t talk about this with anyone else. I can only rely on you, Mrs. Uzumasa.”

“You… this natural-born charmer. Fine. I’ll give you a hint.”

Mrs. Uzumasa snaps her fingers.

“It’s simple. There are radicals and moderates, and Sakurako is skillfully navigating the middle. But when the three of them are together, the radicals pull the moderates in, and the radical faction grows. That’s what’s happening.”

“Yes, exactly.”

“Hahaha. It’s simple. Just wear a condom.”

“…Are you serious?”

“Scary, aren’t you? Can’t take a joke. …Ahem. Let me share my analysis.”

“Please do.”

“Red lights and buttons you shouldn’t press. People always want to cross the line they’re not supposed to. If the line you’ve drawn means ‘I won’t allow any further relationship,’ then of course they’ll rebel. Think about the essence of that line again. You’re the one who gives it meaning, Kyosaka. It’s not just about doing or not doing something. Even a battle of wills is a form of drawing a line.”

Her words were a rapid-fire sequence that far exceeded my brain’s processing speed.

But in that moment, it felt like dots connected into lines.

—You can go this far because you’re a gigolo, right?

—No, no, because you’re a gigolo, you absolutely can’t cross this line.

I realize now that I’ve been engaging in a battle of wills like this.

“Additionally, if those three want different things from you, then prepare three lines. Draw lines that each of them can accept.”

“…Yes. I feel like it’s all clicked into place.”

“Good. Then go. I have work to get back to.”

I bow my head and leave the staff room.

The conversation went off track, but I’ve fulfilled the purpose of Mrs. Uzumasa’s summons.

I continued walking down the hallway.

“Hey, isn’t that Kyosaka-kun?”

“Yeah, that’s the guy everyone’s been talking about. The one Tsukasa-chan and the others are so smitten with.”

“They’re not dating or anything, right?”

“Isn’t it a bit much that he’s even influencing their career exploration choices?”

“Wait, is that even allowed? Like, can he really do that?”

“I don’t know. What do you think Mrs. Uzumasa will do? She seems pretty laid-back about that kind of thing.”

“Kyosaka-kun… do you think he’s actually a player or something, despite how he looks?”

“Why don’t you just talk to him? You said he was cute back in first year.”

“No way. Compared to Tsukasa-chan and the others, the bar’s way too high.”

“Who knows? There might be a chance. Kyosaka-kun seems really kind.”

…Just as Mrs. Uzumasa had said, strange rumors were already spreading.

Now, how should I explain this to everyone?

(Honesty is probably the best approach, but…)

Lost in thought, I changed my shoes at the shoe locker and stepped out of the school building.

—

The open-cut plaza, surrounded by steps like a colosseum’s seating area.

This spot in front of the school entrance was usually bustling after school, with sports teams stretching or working out, and music clubs practicing on their own. As a member of the “go-home club,” I felt a slight sense of alienation as I climbed the steps.

──Then,

“Wait up, Kyosaka-shi~i!”

Suddenly, a voice called out from below the steps.

I stopped near the protective net of the sports field. Turning around, I saw Ishida-kun, his hair tied back, jogging up the steps while swaying slightly.

“Haah, haah… Finally caught up…”

“I-Ishida-kun? What’s up? What about your club…?”

“…Nah, don’t worry about it. It’s more of a hobby group than a serious club, honestly. I don’t take it that seriously. Anyway, I saw your lonely figure through the window, so… I came running.”

I see. So, he ran all the way here from the clubroom just to catch up with me.

Ishida-kun must have his own important place to be, yet he took the time to come after me.

I couldn’t help but feel genuinely happy about that.

“That’s a lie, Ishida-kun. I know you’re serious about your club.”

“Fuhaha. As expected of Kyosaka-shi. You saw right through me, huh?”

“It was obvious. …But still, thank you for coming after me.”

“Kyosaka-shi. Don’t belittle yourself like that. It’s an insult to those who care about you.”

Ishida-kun’s tone was completely serious, with no hint of joking.

“Ah, yeah… You’re right. Thank you.”

“Ah, my apologies. I didn’t mean to sound like I was scolding you…”

“No, it’s fine. I could tell you were saying it because you care about me.”

“Y-yes. So, is something troubling you? If there’s anything I can help with, just say the word.”

Ishida-kun cautiously offered, keeping an eye on my expression.

“Before that, can I ask you one more thing?”

“Sure, go ahead.”

“Why do you go so far for someone like me…?”

“Because we’re friends.”

Whoa. That was an instant reply.

His straightforwardness caught me off guard.

“Ah, sorry. I know I’m a bit of a weirdo, so I might be mistaken. Maybe you don’t see me that way. Maybe you don’t want to be friends with someone like me. But still, let me say it.”

“W-wait, Ishida-kun… Let me say it first.”

…Well, the answer was already clear, and Ishida-kun had already said it, but…

If I didn’t put it into words now, I felt like I’d really become “someone like me”…

“I… I also want to get closer to you, Ishida-kun.”

“O-oh.”

“We’re… already friends, right? Probably… no, definitely.”

“Ah… Yes, indeed! You and I are friends!”

We both averted our eyes, scratching our cheeks as if to hide our embarrassment.

Ishida-kun’s clumsy but genuine kindness felt a little awkward.

At the same time, through Ishida-kun, I realized just how much emotion Chikage, Tsukasa, and Sakurako always poured into me. And at the same time, I realized that Ishida-kun and I had become friends without even needing to put it into words.

What mattered wasn’t labels like “guy” or “girl,” “friend” or “lover,” “family” or “freeloader”… It was something deeper. Like, even if the label of “little sister” disappeared from the world, I was confident I’d still love Akari. Yeah, that’s it.

(…I see. Maybe that’s what “drawing the line” is all about.)

──Ishida-kun’s clumsy yet straightforward feelings.

──The task of “drawing the line” that Mrs. Uzumasa had advised me about.

Those two pieces seemed to click into place in my mind.

—

(What those three gave me──)

It was something precious that couldn’t be measured in words.

There were lines I had to protect for their sake, but…

I needed to be more flexible. More honest.

What did I want with Chikage, Tsukasa, and Sakurako? What could I do for them?

…And what did I want for myself?

Thanks to Ishida-kun, I remembered that I had already found the answer long ago.

(Then what I need to do is──)

—

On the way home, Ishida-kun and I stopped by a candy store and bought some Usimen to eat.

While we were there, I asked for his help with cleaning the pool, and he agreed without hesitation. I couldn’t help but admire his kindness. After that, we ended up talking about…

“Actually, I… I have feelings for Maya.”

“Yeah, I kind of figured. I thought you two were already dating, but I guess not?”

“W-what!? Me and Maya are dating!?”

“Uh, don’t ask me that.”

…stuff like that.

“Kyosaka-shi, what do you think about the placebo effect?”

“That’s a tough one. I think there are some illnesses that can be cured by the placebo effect.”

“Oh? What makes you say that?”

“Well, if you eat Ramune candy thinking it’s medicine, sometimes your fatigue just disappears.”

“I can’t even imagine that.”

“Bananas or gummies work too. The power of sweetness and belief is no joke.”

“Hmm. Maybe you’re just craving sugar, Kyosaka-shi.”

We had a lot of fun talking like that. Spending time with Ishida-kun was really enjoyable.

“I’m a bit late, huh.”

“Sorry, everyone. Thanks for waiting.”

In a custom-renovated 3LDK apartment, I peeked into the living room to find Chikage, Tsukasa, and Sakurako casually dressed and causing a ruckus.

Is that… a stuffed animal? Sakurako, wearing a tank top and shorts, was clutching it tightly while Chikage and Tsukasa, dressed similarly, were trying to snatch it away.

Noticing the sound of the door opening, all three turned to look at me simultaneously.

Sakurako quickly hid the stuffed animal behind her back. Immediately, Chikage and Tsukasa shielded her. …What? I don’t get it. They were just fighting over it, and now they’re teaming up to hide it?

“Ah, Kei, your face looks all shiny. Did something good happen?”

“Huh? You think so?”

“Yeah. You’re late too, so… did you, like, get approached by a super cute girl or something…?”

“If that’s the case, then my shiny face must be thanks to the ‘Chikage effect.'”

“Huh? W-wait, Kei, are you saying that I’m… a super cute girl?”

Chikage, cheeks in her hands, grinned smugly, while Sakurako slipped the stuffed animal-like thing into her pocket.

“Of course, that’s what I mean. Hey, Chikage, what was that thing Sakurako was holding just now?”

“Kei, come here for a sec.”

“Ah, sure. …Hey, Tsukasa, what was that thing Sakurako was holding?”

“Never mind that. Just sit down for now.”

Urged by Tsukasa, I sat down across from the three of them, who were lined up on the sofa.

“Kei. I know you were called in by Mrs. Uzumasa. But you’re a bit late. We’re more worried about you than you might think. So, please keep us in the loop.”

“Ah, right. …Hey, Sakurako? What was that thing you were holding just now?”

“Kei. Please keep us in the loop.”

Sakurako repeated the same line like an RPG NPC. So, stuffed animal-related questions are off-limits, huh? …Well, I guess I’ll just stick to the “see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil” approach.

“Ah, yeah, sorry for not keeping in touch. It’s just… a lot happened.”

I explained how I stopped by a candy store with Ishida on the way back and gave them a brief rundown of my conversation with Mrs. Uzumasa.

“Ahaha, Kei, you’re totally being used by Mrs. Uzumasa.”

Huh? I blinked in confusion at Tsukasa’s remark.

“Well, I mean, sure, we’ve been a bit out of control lately, but like, asking for the school trip to be held here or whatever—that’s just a simple request, right? No harm in asking.”

“But the rumors are true. I heard some whispers about it on the way back… Sorry for bringing this up in front of everyone.”

When I added that, the three of them exchanged glances and nodded.

It seemed like they had some idea of what was going on.

“Kei, you don’t need to worry about it. I’m used to these kinds of rumors, and so are Tsukasa and Sakurako.”

“Chikage’s into sugar daddies. Tsukasa’s for sale. I’m the principal’s mistress. We’ve had rumors like that spread about us before.”

“Yeah, back in middle school, there were a ton of those. It’s hilarious, right? Like, no way that’s true.”

…The three of them were laughing, but I couldn’t find it funny at all.

I hadn’t known about this. That’s why it made me so angry. The rumors floating around Tōryō High were more like the kind of admiration boys have for idols or celebrities. But the fact that I hadn’t even considered this possibility made me feel utterly pathetic.

“…I hate it. I hate the idea of you guys getting hurt by baseless rumors.”

That was my honest feeling.

The three of them exchanged glances again… and smiled awkwardly.

“Um, Kei, it’s just that we’re used to it by now, so it doesn’t really hurt anymore. We get that you’re worried about us, okay? But you don’t need to stress yourself out over it.”

Chikage smiled warmly, and Tsukasa and Sakurako nodded in agreement.

I could tell they were putting on a brave face to keep me from worrying.

And that made me feel even worse—like I was making them go out of their way for me.

I clenched my fists tightly.

“That’s just because you’ve gotten used to being hurt. You’ve become numb to the pain.”

“Kei…”

“…Kei.”

“Kei.”

Their voices overlapped.

“I don’t want to be so cold-hearted that I can just watch you guys get hurt and act like it’s nothing. I can handle it if it’s about me. But when it’s about you guys, I don’t think I can stand it.”

If there’s a line to be drawn, then this is probably crossing it. I’m not their boyfriend or anything, and I should just nod along and listen to their wishes. But…

“Let’s talk about this properly. Let’s think about it together, all three of us. Let’s make sure these weird rumors don’t spread. I think going along with Mrs. Uzumasa’s proposal might be the best option.”

…If wanting to do everything I can for the people I care about is selfish, then fine, I’ll be selfish. If it’s hypocritical, then so be it. I’m a weak person, and pretending I don’t feel this way is much harder for me. So, I won’t back down here. I’ll push through no matter what.

Maybe my feelings got through to them, because all three of them looked at me with more seriousness than usual. Their eyes burned with a quiet determination.

“…Then, Kei, don’t try to carry it all by yourself, okay?”

“Totally. We like Kei, so if some weird rumors start spreading about you, it’s like, what’s even the point?”

“Agreed. We’ll make it so clear how much we care about Kei that spreading rumors will just seem stupid.”

Huh, wait. Were we talking about something that intense?

Everyone’s eyes seem kind of… focused.

“Ah, that’s a good idea, Sakurako. I heard something annoying the other day too, like, ‘They’ve only been close for a month, and they’re already all over each other.’ …When people say stuff like that, it just makes me want to be even more clingy.”

“Like, they probably can’t even imagine us spending every second together, right? I wanna tell them, ‘You guys only go on dates with your boyfriends for like five or six hours on weekends, don’t you?'”

“To add to that, it’s not about the amount of time but the intensity. We should make that visible. The best defense is a good offense.”

Uh-oh, the conversation is definitely heading in a dangerous direction.

“So, Kei. …Let us recharge with your energy, okay?”

“I want Kei to pump me up too. Like, getting ready for battle or something.”

“Agreed. Kei’s essence is essential. It’ll double our attack power.”

…I see. Their usual impeccable teamwork.

If the serious atmosphere was gray or black, it’s now been abruptly replaced with a pink, lovey-dovey vibe. Their strong desire to get all lovey-dovey is palpable.

Lately, whenever things got to this point, I’d start panicking, thinking, “This is bad,” or “What should I do?” But now, with my mind clear, I feel more composed.

“That’s all well and good, but you guys are getting a bit off-topic, don’t you think?”

I looked at each of their confused faces in turn.

“The point of this conversation was to work together to stop these weird rumors, right? There’s no need to provoke anyone, and we’d rather handle this peacefully. So, how about we save the lovey-dovey stuff for after this is all settled… and, uh, take it slow?”

I felt a bit embarrassed and scratched my cheek as I made the suggestion.

“…Hmph, that just sounds like you’re putting it off. Stupid Kei.”

I expected Chikage to voice her dissatisfaction here.

Next would probably be Tsukasa.

And then Sakurako would deliver the finishing blow.

While anticipating their verbal barrage, I started formulating a plan in my head to make everyone happy.

“Kei, you’ve been kinda avoiding us lately, haven’t you?”

“I agree with Tsukasa. You’ve been rejecting contact. It’s very lonely.”

“…N-no, it’s a misunderstanding. You know, we had that long weekend recently, right? So, I was thinking… maybe we could have a sleepover… or something. Taking it slow means, like, that kind of thing…”

I tried to hint at something I thought would make them happy, though I was a bit vague.

As expected, Chikage, Tsukasa, and Sakurako all leaned forward from the sofa, their eyes gleaming.

“K-Kei, a sleepover…?”

“W-wow, that’s… a hot topic.”

“A chance to absorb a large dose of Kei’s essence.”

“…Kei, you’re not backing out, right? You’re committed now, okay?”

Chikage pulled out a voice recorder from who-knows-where.

Her preparedness was something else! If this were the old me, I’d have made a snarky comment, but Chikage, being a voice actress, always carries a recorder for voice checks or something.

“Don’t worry, I’m not backing out. But let’s get back on topic. I want to do my best to make sure these weird rumors don’t spread. To do that, I think the quickest way is to let everyone know about the situation—that Chikage, Tsukasa, and Sakurako were given annoying tasks by Mrs. Uzumasa.”

I looked at each of them as I explained my thoughts.

“The pool cleaning is on Saturday, right? And there’s no school the next day. So, once everything’s done… how about a sleepover? If you guys are okay with it, of course. And if Tsukasa doesn’t mind…”

Since this apartment is both Mellow’s workspace and Tsukasa’s place, her permission was essential.

“N-no problem. In fact, it’s more than welcome.”

Tsukasa’s face turned bright red as she gave a thumbs-up of approval.

(Why is she blushing…?)

…Is she already fantasizing about that day?

“Kei. I apologize for calling you neglectful the other day. You’ve been thinking about a lot of things.”

“Sakurako, you don’t need to apologize. I… I just want to be with you guys, that’s all.”

I scratched my cheek awkwardly.

“「「「Aww…」」」” Their voices overlapped.

“…K-Kei, you’re being so sweet.”

“L-like, my heart’s racing… This is bad.”

“Absorbing a large dose of Kei’s sweetness.”

All three of them were blushing. My face felt hot too.

“W-well, that’s settled then… Tonight’s dinner is gratin, so look forward to it.”

I told the three of them, who were still in a daze, and quickly headed to the kitchen to hide my embarrassment.

──A sleepover── crossing that line is probably fine.

There are many kinds of lines.

Lines in relationships. Lines in the heart. Lines in physical intimacy. Lines in events.

Mrs. Uzumasa advised me that it’s up to me to give meaning to those lines.

What’s okay and what’s not. If I lump everything together under the assumption that I’m just a “hanger-on,” everything becomes ambiguous. The meaning of the line changes depending on how you draw it.

I don’t have a clear answer yet. But I want to make the three of them happy in my own way. That’s my unchanging feeling.

(Alright… I’ll do my best.)

I rolled up my sleeves with determination and started cooking.

June 8th, Saturday.

School is closed today, but it’s pool cleaning day. The meeting time is 9 a.m. There’s still some time to spare, so I decide to spend it communicating with my beloved younger sister in the living room.

“Hey, bro. How’s it going? Have you mastered Himo’s ACT 2 yet?”

“…Well, about that. It seems like ACT 2 has a flaw.”

“Hmm? A flaw?”

Akari, dressed in her usual tracksuit, bites into a rice cracker placed on the chabudai with a crisp crunch.

“Yeah. ACT 1 was the same, but… basically, Himo is all about role-playing. You fit yourself into a scenario where you can maintain your composure by imagining a situation that keeps you calm, and then you shift your perception of reality. But that shift… it gets transmitted to the other three, you know?”

Akari nods while munching on the cracker, crunch crunch.

“I managed to keep my cool by convincing myself that Karasumaru Chikage is my little sister. But if Chikage didn’t actually want that, then no matter how well I played the role of her brother, that shift in perception would probably still get through to her, right? And the same goes for the other three…”

After finishing the cracker with a loud crunch, Akari starts rinsing her mouth with tea.

“I see. But, bro, the secret training was originally meant to help you stop being so awkward, right? Like, to become a guy who can set up safety nets so you don’t get too deep into things?”

“Well, yeah, that’s true.”

“It’s pretty common for goals and purposes to get mixed up over time. Maybe you’ve just developed a new goal, something you feel you have to do.”

“…A goal, huh? Yeah, that makes sense. I guess… I just want to see Chikage, Tsukasa, and Sakurako’s happy smiles.”

Akari leans her elbows on the chabudai and laughs, kera kera.

“Don’t tease me. But yeah, my goal is… to make everyone happy. I think that feeling hasn’t changed. And I’ve just recently come to realize that again…”

I scratch my cheek awkwardly as I respond.

Akari looks at me with a sly grin, her mouth curling into a smirk.

“What’s with that smug look?”

“Nah, im just thinking of my bro’s such a cool guy

“Is that sarcasm because I’m doing this himo stuff?”

“You shouldn’t say ‘this himo stuff.’ There are people who want you to be their himo, you know?”

“Oh… yeah, I got a similar comment from Ishida-kun the other day.”

“That new friend of yours, right? You should cherish that guy. People like that are rare these days.”

“I know.”

She’s such a perceptive little sister.

“Anyway, to sum it up, your goal is to make everyone happy, right? So the next step isn’t about being a himo who can adapt to any situation, is it?”

“Huh? What do you mean? Adapting?”

Here she goes again with her wild ideas.

I reach for a rice cracker and take a crisp bite.

“Yeah. Basically, it’s about becoming someone who can be whatever your partner wants you to be. If one of those three wants a boyfriend-girlfriend relationship, then you act like a boyfriend. Oh, I’m making it sound easy, but it’s actually really hard. If you could pull that off, you could even become an actor. Nishishi.”

I see… so that’s another way to look at it.

“It’s the complete opposite of ACT 2.”

“Yep. ACT 2 is about guiding yourself toward the image of what you want to be. But what I’m talking about is guiding yourself toward the image of what they want you to be. Oh, I just thought of a new himo ultimate move.”

“ACT 3, right? Obviously.”

“You forgot the Himo’s. It’s Himo’s ACT 3.”

Here’s the translation of the text with the character names as per the glossary:

—

While striking a pose of a famous manga character, Akari says with a smug look on her face.

Her arms form a figure-eight shape, slightly bent, fists clenched, and her right shoulder pulled back slightly… Seriously, how much does she love this?

I let out a wry smile as I scratch my head.

While we were chatting like this, the clock hands had already pointed to eight.

“I guess it’s about time to go.”

“Alright, good luck out there. I’m gonna catch some more sleep. My dad’s snoring is so loud, I can’t sleep at all. Nishi-shi.”

“Haha. Well, Dad’s snoring is on another level. Alright, I’m off.”

After finishing my preparations, I headed to the café where Mrs. Uzumasa was waiting before making my way to Kuzuryo High.

—

“You’re late, Kyosaka Kei. Everyone else is already here.”

As soon as I opened the café door, Mrs. Uzumasa’s voice rang out.

Looking around, it was true—everyone except me was already there. Chikage, Tsukasa, and Sakurako were sitting on the sofa, sipping coffee and tea.

“Faaah… Kei. Good morning… Faaah.”

Chikage greeted me with a yawn.

As usual, she seemed to struggle with mornings, her eyes still half-asleep.

“Morning, Okei-han.”

“Good morning, Kei-kun.”

“Morning, everyone. Sorry I’m late, Mrs. Uzumasa.”

“Sit wherever. Order whatever you want, but I’m not paying a single yen for you.”

Thinking of her as a stingy adult, I took a seat in the empty space.

Since it was a privately-owned café, there was an ashtray on the table. Mrs. Uzumasa tapped an unlit cigarette against the ashtray while sipping her iced coffee through a straw.

“You’re not smoking?”

“I don’t smoke in front of students. Just enjoying the vibe.”

“Mrs. Uzumasa, you’re surprisingly principled in some ways.”

“It’s not principles—it’s defiance. In today’s world, there’s a built-in program to attack smokers at any opportunity. Flashing this around is my way of being sarcastic.”

“You’re a model smoker, huh?”

I let out a wry smile and ordered a glass of water.

“Alright then. Since everyone’s here, let’s get to the main topic. We don’t have much time, so let’s keep this brief.”

Mrs. Uzumasa raised the corner of her mouth slightly.

“────Next, we’ll create a confrontation between me and you all.”

“Ah, that sounds good.”

“Oke Hazama.”

“Got it. I’ll protest with ‘abuse of authority.’ That’ll be the signal to start.”

“Alright, let’s go with that. The rest can be improvised.”

The meeting wrapped up in just a few minutes. As expected, she’s efficient.

After finishing her iced coffee, Mrs. Uzumasa put the unlit cigarette back in its pack, checked the bill, paid exactly her share, and left the café briskly.

“Shall we head out too?”

“Yeah… Faaah… I’m sleepy.”

“Chikage, were you up late again last night?”

“…Mmm, I was on a long call with Kei. Ehehe.”

“Then why doesn’t Okei-han look sleepy?”

“Lately, since Chikage calls me late at night, I’ve been taking naps earlier to adjust.”

“Pro-level adjustment. As expected of Kei-kun. Chikage, you should care a bit more about Kei-kun’s health.”

“It’s fine, Sakurako. I do it because I want to. Oh, let me carry your bags. Hand them over.”

I took the three of them’s bags and left the café.

Then, with the three of them chattering noisily behind me, I made my way to Kuzuryo High.

Translation:

Passing through the school gate, I walked along the edge of the field and followed the path leading to the pool.

When I reached the shaded area near the facility, where I could look up at the fence surrounding the pool, I saw that nearly twenty students had already gathered there. Everyone seemed full of energy.

“Good morning, Ishida-kun. Let’s do our best today.”

I spotted Ishida-kun and called out to him.

“Hey, Kyosaka. Let’s give it our all today. I’ve already talked to the club members.”

“Thanks. I appreciate it.”

“No problem, that’s what friends are for. Let’s deepen our fiery male friendship!”

“You’re so sweet, you two. This is the perfect time to deepen mixed-gender friendships, don’t you think?”

“Good morning, Misasagi-san.”

“Good morning, Kyosaka-kun. I’m so excited about cleaning the pool!”

“Hmm… I did this last year too, and it’s pretty hard work.”

“Really? But it’ll be fun if we all do it together, right? Right, Mitsunari?”

“Indeed. It will surely become a good memory.”

Misasagi-san and Ishida-kun laughed together.

“Hey, Kei… Let’s make lots of memories together too, okay?”

Chikage tugged lightly at the sleeve of my shirt.

Tsukasa was waving to the girls in our class.

Sakurako was staring expressionlessly at Ishida-kun and Misasagi-san.

“Yeah, of course. But Chikage, we have to focus on cleaning too, okay?”

“Fai~”

Still sleepy but seemingly happy, Chikage smiled through her mask.

“W-wow, Mitsunari. It’s so dazzling, I can’t even look.”

“My apologies, Kyosaka. It seems Maya has been overwhelmed by the aura of the Three Princesses.”

“…Ahaha, I can’t say I don’t understand.”

“Wait, so you’re not just close with Tsukasa-kun, but with Maya-chan too?”

“She even invited me when we were deciding groups for the career observation trip.”

Tsukasa and Sakurako joined the conversation.

“This flow, this timing! Hey, Tsukasa-chan!”

“What’s up, Maya-chan?”

“Well, I was just wondering… Is it okay if I ask? Like, how did you and Kyosaka-kun become friends, and what’s your relationship like now?”

Misasagi-san’s “Inquisitive Curiosity” had been activated.

“H-hey, Maya. Don’t trouble Tsukasa-hime like that.”

T-Tsukasa-hime?

“B-but… I’m just curious, you know? Hehe. If it’s hard to answer, you don’t have to. Just tell me what you can.”

Misasagi-san’s pressure was relentless. Everyone’s eyes were on us.

I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but I guess everyone’s curious.

“Our relationship with Kyosaka? Hmm… Well, in one word—”

“Hey, kids! Everyone here? Change quickly and gather by the poolside. We’re assigning cleaning duties.”

Cutting off Tsukasa’s words, Mrs. Uzumasa appeared, already dressed in a T-shirt and shorts, ready for work. Misasagi-san clicked her tongue in annoyance.

“As I explained earlier, today you’ll be working hard. And you’ll get wet. Girls, show some basic consideration for the boys.”

“Teacher, does that mean we’ll see through their clothes?!”

“Ew, boys are so gross!”

Mrs. Uzumasa’s warning only heightened the boys’ excitement.

The girls seemed a bit put off, but even as they called the boys gross, there was a sense that they were enjoying the youthful atmosphere. Maybe that’s just part of being a student.

And so, we headed to the changing rooms assigned to us.

After changing, we gathered by the poolside.

I was wearing a T-shirt and shorts, with a towel wrapped around my head. Last year, I sweated a lot, so the towel was essential. Looking around, the boys were all dressed in their own unique styles, which was amusing.

As for the girls, most of them were wearing shirts or gym clothes over their school swimsuits.

“Kyosaka.”

“Ishida-kun.”

“What a glorious sight.”

“Yeah, it’s kind of dazzling.”

Ishida-kun and I couldn’t help but stare at the dazzling scene.

I never expected the “see-through countermeasures” to involve school swimsuits.

For the girls, it must feel like showing off their underwear. But for the boys, whether it’s underwear or a school swimsuit, if it’s see-through, it doesn’t matter.

Among them, the most eye-catching were, of course, the school’s three beauties—

Chikage was wearing a blouse over her school swimsuit.

Tsukasa had paired her swimsuit with gym clothes, tying the hem into a bun.

Sakurako, on the other hand, was wearing a blouse and skirt—zero see-through countermeasures.

…Uh, Sakurako-san… You’re at least wearing sandals, but…

That outfit is only going to attract more attention from the boys, isn’t it?

Well, it’s very much like Sakurako, so it fits her. The three of them, with their legs stretching from their thighs to their sandals, were perfectly targeting the hearts of the adolescent boys.

“W-wow, Karasumaru’s godly style is on full display… Damn.”

“Ono’s really grown this past year, huh?”

“That’s probably an exaggeration. Tsukasa’s chest is still a size smaller.”

“You don’t get it. It’s her legs… Ah, I wanna be sandwiched between those smooth thighs…”

“Wow, Daigo-san is on another level. See-through is the best.”

“G-glorious.”

“Why are those three hanging out with someone like Kyosaka…?”

As the boys were having this exchange, a loud voice cut through the chatter.

“Alright, everyone’s here! Now, let’s assign the cleaning duties!”

Mrs. Uzumasa, megaphone in hand.

“This time, Karasumaru, Ono, and Daigo have volunteered to take the lead in cleaning the pool. In recognition of their initiative, Karasumaru will be the leader, with Ono and Daigo as her assistants.”

“Wait… Leader? Me…?”

“I didn’t volunteer, Mrs. Uzumasa just forced this on me.”

“Abuse of power.”

The farce had begun.

“Shut it. Quiet. Stop complaining. You three have the trust of your peers. People like you naturally end up in these roles.”

“Hmm… I don’t really get the whole ‘trust’ thing.”

“Same. Mrs. Uzumasa, isn’t this some kind of harassment?”

“There are over eighty types of harassment nowadays. This probably falls under one of them.”

“Using harassment as a shield is also harassment. Don’t think an old-fashioned teacher like me will bow to such nonsense. Salary cuts, disciplinary dismissal, bring it on! Osu!”

…Even if it’s an act, calling yourself old-fashioned is something else.

“But, you do have a point. So, your request the other day was your way of getting back at me for pushing this annoying task on you, huh?”

Mrs. Uzumasa and the three of them continued to ad-lib, following the script.

All of this was to dispel the baseless rumors.

“Listen up, kids. When adults negotiate with kids, they usually offer some kind of reward. There’s been a rumor going around that these three negotiated with me about the career observation trip, but that’s their ‘right.’ It’s only natural to reward those who’ve contributed. Though, keep in mind that I don’t have that much authority.”

“Wait, you don’t have the authority?!”

Tsukasa deliberately interjected, causing laughter among the students.

This lightened the mood.

“Mrs. Uzumasa is like that, huh?”

“Yeah, she’s always trying to fit students into her own narrative.”

“Totally. She probably thinks the world revolves around her.”

Some of the girls whispered among themselves, but there was no malice in their voices. In the end, Mrs. Uzumasa played the villain, which showed her maturity.

“But hey, it’s true that Kyosaka was doing something shady behind the scenes, right?”

At that moment, one of the boys spoke up.

“H-hey, Mimurodo, keep it down.”

The student who voiced his dissatisfaction with me was Mimurodo-kun.

We’re in different classes, so we’ve never spoken.

Ishida-kun immediately glanced at me, but I stopped him and stepped out of the circle.

Mimurodo-kun was tall and well-built, clearly a baseball player type. He noticed me approaching and glared at me, suggesting he wasn’t the friendliest person.

“I wasn’t doing anything shady. Stop making baseless accusations. If anything, you’re the one spreading rumors.”

“Oh, what’s that?”

“Don’t think I didn’t hear your gossip. I heard everything.”

“Kyosaka, you better have proof before you say that.”

“I just heard it with my own ears.”

Mimurodo-kun clicked his tongue.

“Let me make this clear. I don’t care if you talk behind my back. But I won’t tolerate you spreading baseless rumors or insulting Chikage, Tsukasa, or Sakurako.”

“W-what the hell? When did I insult Daigo-san?!”

Mimurodo-kun raised his voice and stepped closer to me.

(His right foot is forward…)

The time it takes for a cesium atom to vibrate 9,192,631,770 times—

“Hey, Mimurodo! Hands off—”

—approximately one second. Before Mrs. Uzumasa’s voice reached us, I dodged Mimurodo-kun’s grab, slipped to his left, and tripped him.

“Ahhh, damn it…!”

The surroundings began to buzz with murmurs. Mrs. Uzumasa also stood there, dumbfounded and wide-eyed.

Oh no… I might have gotten a bit too heated. But if that burly Mitsunari Ishida had grabbed me, who knows what he would have done? This was a necessary measure.

“Whoa… I didn’t know Kyosaka was such a fighter…”

“That guy went to nationals in kendo back in middle school.”

“Huh? Really? …But that looked more like aikido or something.”

“The dojo he used to go to taught both classical martial arts and modern kendo.”

“Seriously? Wait, how do you know all this?”

“I was at that dojo too. The instructor was so scary I quit after a week…”

I overheard the voices from the sidelines.

(…So there was a fellow student from the dojo here.)

…It’s true, the sensei was an anachronistic, merciless drill sergeant.

…Even though we were supposed to be learning kendo, we were also trained in hand-to-hand combat for some reason.

But never mind that for now.

“Damn it… I’m gonna knock you out.”

Mitsunari Ishida glared at me as he stood up.

“Fine, but I’m not about to let you hit me for free.”

I glared back at him.

The tension between us made the surroundings fall silent.

Just then—a shadow stepped between us.

“—Kei-kun. That’s enough.”

The color of cherry blossoms swayed in front of my eyes.

“Sa… Sakurako?”

Her presence was as sharp as a finely honed blade.

“From here on out, this is my role.”

As if she could cut down everyone here with that sharpness.

“This isn’t a declaration—it’s a declaration of war.”

It was as if her very soul was forged from tamahagane steel, and Sakurako calmly made her announcement.

Gulp. Everyone, regardless of gender, held their breath.

“From now on. Any hostility, insults, slander, or attacks directed at Kei-kun will have to go through me. If you’re ready to go all out, I’ll meet you head-on. I’m strong. And I’ll return it a thousandfold.”

Her declaration left both the boys and girls around us intimidated.

Then, that sharp edge of hers turned toward Mitsunari Ishida.

“You’re jealous of others’ happiness, so you lose your own. I’ve never once heard Kei-kun speak badly of anyone. That difference alone shows the absolute gap between you and him.”

“D-Daigo-san…”

“The other day, you confessed to me. I ignored it. For that, I apologize. But if you’re going to take it out on Kei-kun, I won’t stand for it. Absolutely not.”

Sakurako’s sudden coming out with this and her apology seemed to shock the surrounding students, causing a stir. …Ah, so that guy who confessed to Sakurako in the library the other day…

(It was Mitsunari Ishida, huh…)

I only caught a glimpse of it back then, but I see now… I was mistaken.

“I’m not perfect either. I’ve hurt people too. Of course, Kei-kun isn’t perfect either. But he’s someone whose charm more than makes up for his flaws. There are very few people who can take action without hesitation when it comes to doing what seems impossible. Kei-kun is one of those people.”

Sakura said to Mitsuhito. Every single word of hers shook my heart.

“You should also do your best. It’s fine to start changing from now.”

“D-Daigo-san, I…”

“That’s enough, kids. Stop playing around with your youth and get back to work. Be extra nice to Mitsuhito, kind girls, got it?”

Mrs. Uzumasa forcefully brought the curtain down, interrupting our argument.

Mitsuhito, comforted by the kind girl, Atsumi-san, returned to the group of boys with a face that looked like he was about to cry, yet somehow refreshing and pure.

As for Sakura…

She began preparing to start cleaning the pool as if nothing had happened.

“Hey, Kei… Sakurako said what I wanted to say, but Tsukasa and I feel the same way, you know?”

“Wait, Chikage. If you say that, there’s nothing left for me to say. Well, that’s how it is, so there’s no need for you to bear it all alone, Okeehan.”

“…Thank you, Chikage. You too, Tsukasa.”

While being supported by Chikage and Tsukasa, I kept my eyes on Sakura’s back.

She’s strong. I thought so before, but now I truly realize the strength of Sakura’s mental fortitude. To come out as ‘being confessed to’ in that situation…

…It could have led to Mitsuhito holding a grudge against her.

It was indeed a double-edged sword.

But Sakura managed to pull it off and stood her ground.

(I intended to stand in the frontlines, but ended up being protected instead…)

Without hesitation to lower her own impression, she raised my evaluation with a double-edged sword. From an outsider’s perspective, Sakura took no damage. Fully armed, she decisively cut Mitsuhito down.

(Sharp words can sometimes bounce back at you)

Yet, if that doesn’t faze her…

Sakura’s strength must be on a completely different level from mine.

As Chikage and Tsukasa tapped my shoulders, I walked up to Sakura.

And then, I spoke to her back.

“Thank you, Sakurako.”

At Kei’s words of gratitude, I lower my eyes.

“Thanks aren’t necessary. It was you, Kei, who pulled the trigger. I just placed my hand over yours.”

“…You’re strong, Sakurako. I need to learn from you.”

There’s a sense that Kei thinks of me as a strong woman.

But I can assert confidently that it’s not true. I’m not strong. Rather, I’m weak. Very weak.

I’m just scared of letting Kei see that truth. I’m terrified of exposing my vulnerability.

Even so, I want to be strong. I don’t want to lose to anyone, I don’t want to yield to anyone.

As someone born into the prestigious Daigo family, I was blessed with talent.

Beauty and intellect. A sense for writing. And a high self-esteem, further polished by amassing knowledge. I’ve deluded myself into thinking I’m a strong woman.

Especially in front of Kei. Because I love Kei.

──And Kei, he often praises me.

“Sakurako handles everything flawlessly,” he says.

But this isn’t true either. There are far more things I can’t do than I can.

When a stranger drops something in front of me, I hesitate to pick it up and call out to them. But Kei doesn’t hesitate. When someone with a white cane is stuck at a crosswalk, Kei immediately says, “The light’s green now,” and offers his hand to guide them.

That… lack of hesitation, that’s something I can’t do.

There’s something incredibly important, something that’s a little hard for us carefree teenagers to understand, that Kei possesses.

I know that Kei is disliked by some of the boys at school, but supported by a certain group of girls.

I’ve tried to analyze the reasons myself, and the answer came quickly.

If the classroom trash bin is overflowing, Kei doesn’t hesitate to clean it up. To the person who last threw away trash, it’s an annoying sight. But Kei takes the initiative to handle it. When a girl forgets her pencil case and is flustered, Kei immediately lends her a mechanical pencil and eraser from his own. When she thanks him later, Kei says,

“It’s all about helping each other out. Don’t worry about it.”

To each their own. I admire someone who can casually say something like that.

This reflexive kindness and consideration are things other boys can’t imitate. It’s understandable that he’d be labeled a flirt. But that’s most likely the core of Kei’s nature. Me, Chikage, and Tsukasa—we’re probably all drawn to Kei because of that. Because he’s just too kind.

That’s why there are still wounds I can’t expose. Because Kei isn’t just a kind person.

Sometimes he’s strict, sometimes cold, sometimes warm. Someone who can be both poison and medicine.

I love Kei. Being with Kei makes me happy.

But what about Kei? He says he doesn’t need money. But if I hadn’t taken advantage of his vulnerability, this weakness of his, would I still feel this way?

…If I looked around the world, there might be plenty of men more suitable than Kei.

But that’s sophistry. Sophistry and poison. Without considering the possibility of meeting someone better, without having my heart wounded by men, it’s just the ramblings of a clown. I hate empty words like that. They make my skin crawl.

“Daigo. I’m your only ally, you know──”

Once the words stick, they won’t wash off, no matter how long I soak in the bath.

From fourth grade up until my first year of high school, I’ve never once trusted men. And then, in my second year of high school, I met Kei.

Meeting him felt like a gift from God.

Because he thinks I’m strong.

Because I want him to touch me.

Because I want him to give me warmth.

Because I want him to overwrite my weakness. This impurity that still clings to me. My memories. There are men who’d fall for me, a despicable person who wishes for such things.

But I’m sorry. I have no interest in people whose hearts feel transparent.

What they want isn’t me──it’s my body──I can see that much.

But Kei is an exception. He’s someone I want to touch me, but he doesn’t easily do so.

It’s frustrating. Men like this make me arbitrarily disappointed, and as if they’ll naturally turn to better people when they find them.

Love is painful. Love hurts. Love is bitter. Love is lonely.

“Kei. Our duty today is to complete the work we’ve taken on, each in our own place.”

“Ah, yeah. You’re right. Well, do your best, Sakurako.”

“You too, Kei.”

Love is precious.

I watch Kei’s retreating back with my eyes.

What do I want to become with Kei?

If this were a story, what kind of ending would I want?

Even if I ask the question, no answers come. But I have to keep searching for them.

Life is vague. And yet, this series of unreasonable calculations is as frustrating as the humidity of June.

The pool cleaning assignments have been decided.

I’m in charge of scrubbing the floor tiles with a deck brush.

This task of scraping off chunks of mud requires stamina and patience.

Scrub, scrub, scrub… Ugh, it’s hot.

Although June isn’t full-blown summer yet, the temperature is still high. I adjust the towel on my head and continue scrubbing when I notice some students start playing around with a hose, having lost focus.

Water splashes everywhere, but no one seems to care. A beautiful scene unfolds before my eyes. The girls’ T-shirts are see-through, clinging tightly to their swimsuits…

“Hey, hey, Kyousaka-kun is looking over here.”

“Oooh, Kyousakaa-kun!”

Crap, I’ve been noticed by girls whose names I don’t even know.

I quickly avert my gaze and return to scrubbing the floor. It feels wrong to wave back here. My instincts are telling me so.

“Ke…i?”

…A resentful voice comes from behind.

(As I thought…)

When I turn around, as expected, Karasumaru Chikage is standing there with a displeased look.

“Muu… You were just ogling other girls, weren’t you?”

“…It was beyond my control.”

“Hmm, beyond your control, huh? You never look at me like that.”

Her cheeks are puffed out so much that it’s noticeable even through her black mask, clearly upset.

Sigh… I wish there was a rule banning skin exposure for women.

I know it’s a thought that doesn’t fit this era of valuing diversity, but I’d like to be forgiven for getting excited over unexpected glimpses of skin.

…Otherwise, men are going to feel more and more out of place.

“Uh, Chikage? …What did you just say?”

“Nothing… just, Kei-kun, come with me. I’m assigning you a different task.”

“Huh? But we’ve already got our assignments. I shouldn’t just leave my spot, right?”

“It’s fine. I’m in charge.”

Chikage insists on her own logic, determined to have her way.

She grabs my hand and drags me towards the back of the pool.

We pass by the poolside, the stairs, the hallway, and finally arrive at the girls’ locker room.

“Chikage-san?”

“Go in.”

“No way. That’s definitely not okay. Other girls use it to change, you know?”

“All their stuff is in the lockers, so it’s fine. The locker room needs cleaning too, or it’ll get gross.”

“Okay… Then I’ll just head to the boys’ locker room instead—”

I feel a tight grip on the back of my neck as Chikage stops me in my tracks.

“We don’t have time. If someone comes, it’ll be a hassle.”

“…You’re planning something inappropriate, aren’t you? If someone comes, it’ll be bad.”

“Kei?”

“Ch-Chikage. After we finish cleaning, there’s a sleepover tonight, right? Can’t you wait until then?”

“That’s that, this is this. It’s now. I want to be close to Kei right now.”

(…I think she needs to let off some steam.)

Giving in to Chikage’s persistence, I step into the girls’ locker room.

The overwhelming scent of girls fills the air.

My lungs are already filled with guilt.

“Hey, Kei. Come here.”

Chikage pulls my hand firmly, leading me to a corner of the locker room.

The chilly air of a shower booth.

The overhead shower, resembling an inverted lotus flower, catches my eye, but Chikage pays no attention to my conflicted feelings. She closes the curtain and twists the faucet.

…It’s cold.

“Hehe… Now that the sound won’t leak out, we can do this without worry, right?”

“Ch-Chikage-san? …We promised not to cross the line, right?”

“We did. But that just means no obvious indecent stuff, right?”

“W-Well, yeah.”

“…Hehe. We’re both soaked. You were observing how the other girls’ clothes became see-through earlier, right? So observe me too.”

Dripping wet hair, her white blouse becoming almost transparent.

The contours of her swimsuit gradually become visible, revealing artistic curves.

(…I wasn’t observing. It was beyond my control.)

“Ch-Chikage, you look cute today.”

“Are you making fun of me?”

“N-No… I mean, you look beautiful.”

“No, that’s not heartfelt. You’re still trying to be vague.”

“I really mean it!”

“You idiot, Kei.”

Chikage blushes and rests her head on my chest.

“I’m more possessive than you think.”

…Yeah, I know.

“That’s why seeing you look at other girls makes me uneasy, and I get jealous.”

…Yeah, I know that too.

“And also, my sex drive might be a little stronger than Tsukasa and Sakurako’s.”

…That’s new to me. Despite the shower, I’m still heated as Chikage removes her black mask and looks up at me.

“I want to do more… I’ll make sure to pay you properly. Okay?”

“It’s not about the money… It’s about our hearts. Especially with these things, we shouldn’t act on impulse.”

“…My heart says it wants to be closer to you, though?”

“I understand your feelings. But it’s not the right time.”

Ignoring my words, Chikage takes off her wet blouse. It falls with a heavy, wet sound, echoing in the shower room. Then she turns off the shower.

“What’s not allowed, and where’s the line? …If you don’t tell me everything, I might cross it.”

“That’s sneaky…”

“Hehe, you’re sneaky too, Kei.”

Chikage’s gaze locks onto mine as she pulls down the strap of her swimsuit slightly, revealing a glimpse of her beautiful skin.

“…Hey, Kei. Since the shower’s off, don’t make too much noise, okay? It might leak outside. …I’ll control myself too.”

“Chikage… we can’t.”

As she presses her soft chest against me, Chikage whispers in my ear.

“…This way, we can be even closer. …Let’s kiss.”

This is bad. My voice isn’t getting through.

Nghh

Chikage wraps her arms around the back of my neck and kisses me passionately. She doesn’t stop there, entwining her tongue in my mouth aggressively.

Slurp… slurp… lick… gulp…!?!!

“Pah… haa, haa… Chikage… I really can’t.”

Breathing heavily, I push Chikage’s shoulders firmly.

“…Can’t? Hmm… I thought it’d be a reward since you were so cool earlier…”

She had poured her saliva into me. …And I swallowed it.

“R-Reward?”

“Your face says it was delicious, though? Or was it bad?”

“N-No comment… I think the situation is bad.”

“Muu, you’re trying to dodge again.”

“I’m not dodging. It’s just that… I care about you, Chikage.”

“…If you care about me, then why can’t we cross the line? …As my male companion, you should keep me happy.”

Chikage raises her voice and fully slips the straps of her swimsuit down.

Her bountiful chest is now fully exposed.

I take a step, then another, closing the gap.

I wrap my arms tightly around her slender body.

“Ahh! Y-You idiot Kei! Hugging me is cheating…!”

Well, you’re cheating too.

“L-Listen, Chikage.”

“…No, I don’t want to.”

“Don’t say that. …Moving forward would be the easy thing to do, really.”

I try to speak in a calm, clear tone.

It’s embarrassing, but I’m serious.

“…Men have less restraint than you might think. I’m no exception. I do have… those kinds of thoughts.”

Chikage nods slightly in my arms.

“Even now, I’m barely holding back. But I don’t want to misinterpret your feelings based on a momentary impulse or convenience…”

Chikage nods again.

“I won’t run away. I’ll never run away from your feelings. Not out of impulse or temporary excitement… When you truly feel that way, I want you to come to me. But I don’t think now is that time.”

“…Why do you think that?”

“I’m sorry if I’m mistaken. But, Chikage… you’re thinking that crossing that line would make me more than just your male companion, right?”

“I… I do, but…”

“Right? But, well, it’s me we’re talking about. Even as your boyfriend… I’d probably still be like this. Pathetic, I know.”

“…Kei, you’re such a wimp.”

“…I’m sorry.”

“…You’re sneaky. Always seeing through my feelings like that…”

Chikage buries her face in my chest and rubs her head against me.

“…I really do want to take it step by step, deep down.”

She continues in a muffled voice, still pressed against me.

“…But sometimes my heart gets overwhelmed by anxiety and impatience. I start thinking that if I just go all the way, you’ll finally be mine. I know I shouldn’t, but I don’t really understand you, and it scares me, and I just want to know, and… sometimes I can’t stop myself. I even thought about just locking you up.”

“Huh?”

“Just kidding.”

Chikage tilts her head slightly before burying her face in my chest again.

“…So, I’m happy. Knowing that you’re really thinking about me. …I really feel like I’m being cared for.”

“Yeah.”

“But… on the other hand, I’m a little sad. …I really do want to be close to you.”

“Chikage, I’m happy you feel that way. But we should get back to the others soon.”

“Muu, I know. …Then, we can continue at the sleepover, okay?”

“O-Okay.”

I release Chikage and take a step back.

“Hey, hey, Kei… What do we do?”

“Huh? About what?”

“…We’re both soaking wet.”

“You’re the one who turned on the shower full blast!”

…Honestly. Acting without thinking ahead. It’s very much like Chikage, though…

“Our clothes, right? I’d appreciate it if you lent me a towel.”

“Y-Yeah. I have one in the locker.”

“If we wring out our clothes, they’ll be fine. Everyone’s wet, so we won’t stand out much.”

“You’re so calm in situations like this, Kei… I’m the only one who panics. I feel like an idiot.”

“You’re a bit of an airhead sometimes, Chikage.”

“…What do you mean by that?”

“Exactly what I said.”

“Geez, I kind of hate Kei today… I’m done with you.”

“S-Sorry.”

“Hehe… But I’m a little happy too. These little exchanges. If you were my boyfriend and not just my male companion… Would things like this be more normal? Would you… hate that?”

…Boyfriend, huh.

(I knew she was concerned about that.)

I recall the conversation with Akari this morning.

The phrase “a versatile male companion.”

A male companion who can be anything to suit their partner’s needs. I have to draw the line, but… I think it’s okay to cross this one.

It’s a bit scary to try out the “Male Companion ACT 3” (named by Akari) on the spot.

But if Chikage wants it… I’ll—

“N-No, I don’t hate it. In fact, I’m happy.”

“Huh? Kei, what did you say?”

“I’m not saying it again. You’ll get carried away.”

“…Muu, Kei, you’re getting a little cocky.”

Chikage puffs out her cheeks and then looks at me intently.

If I were Chikage’s boyfriend,

Would I surprise her with a kiss now—as naturally as expected?

“You know, I think I hate Kei toda—… Mmph—”

I press my lips against her soft ones. It happens naturally, without resistance.

“…I said I wouldn’t say it again, but I didn’t say I wouldn’t answer…”

“…”

“That… was my answer.”

“……………”

There’s no response.

Maybe just a normal kiss wasn’t enough for Chikage after all.

“You kissed me.”

“…Y-Yeah.”

“You did it first. I didn’t even ask. …You kissed me. You kissed me. You kissed me.”

“Ch-Chikage?”

“Kissed… I got kissed… I got kissed…”

Ah, no. This is completely tripping her up.

Chikage was muttering like a broken record, repeating the word “kiss” over and over, and then she started pinching her own cheek. It seemed she was trying to hurt herself to figure out if this was a dream or reality.

“Ch-Chikage… Hey, snap out of it. We need to get back to the others.”

“Kissed… I got kissed… I got kissed…”

…Wow, the effect is way too strong.

…Ah, I’ll save ACT 3 for a more critical moment.

Leaving Chikage, who had fallen into this tripped-out state, for the time being, I finished up the cover-up—no, the post-event cleanup—and, taking her hand, left the dressing room.

With the pool cleaning finished, Mrs. Uzumasa offered words of appreciation and distributed paper cups filled with cold barley tea. After hours of continuous physical labor, everyone was exhausted from the heat and fatigue.

“Eh? After all that hard work, just barley tea? Only barley tea? Isn’t it barley tea for summer? Do you expect a better reward, you idiots?”

There’s no argument about barley tea in summer. But last year, we also got ice candies. Precious sugar.

“Mrs. Uzumasa, wasn’t it our tradition to have the students clean without hiring professionals?” The gentle girl, Atsuda, asked. That’s something I’m curious about too.

“That’s why we upheld the tradition and cleaned. But, it never finishes in one day every year. Why we’re leaving the rest to professionals this year, that’s a valid question from Atsuda. You guys, for now, be thankful to Daigo.”

Everyone had a ‘?’ floating above their heads as they all turned to look at Sakurako.

“Well, er, how should I put it? This year, there was talk of canceling swimming classes due to budget issues, but a significant donation was made to the school. To tell you the truth, Daigo’s father made that donation. Thanks to that, we could hire professionals, and you kids can have swimming classes this year as well.”

A moment of silence.

“Eeeeeeeeeeeh?!” Everyone’s screams echoed in the pool.

Sakurako, as cool as ever, gracefully sipped her barley tea.

“Daigo, I can’t even sleep with my feet facing you.”

“You’re free to sleep however you like.”

“Oh, is that so? Whether it’s tradition or not, finishing the troublesome pool cleaning in one day and making good memories with all of you feels great. Truly, thanks to Daigo’s father.”

With the enthusiasm of someone chugging a can of beer, Mrs. Uzumasa stretched deeply.

“Sakurako… what’s this? I hadn’t heard anything about it.”

“Right. You could’ve told us.”

Chikage and Tsukasa closed in on Sakurako.

“I wasn’t hiding it. There was just no need to tell you. It was something my father did, not me.”

Sakurako answered softly, lowering her eyes.

Amazing… I had heard Sakurako’s family was one of the top prestigious families in Kyoto, but encountering such a scene in person, I’m at a loss for words at the sheer scale.

“Mrs. Uzumasa.”

“What is it, Daigo?”

“Career observation. I know you don’t have the authority, but I hope you can do what you can. That’s why I took on the chores willingly.”

“Alright, got it. I’ll tell the other teachers you spoke favorably. Haha, I can picture the vice-principal’s bitter face.”

Mrs. Uzumasa, do you have no pride? Getting students to leverage their influence for a teacher is pathetic.

But it went as Mrs. Uzumasa predicted…

Rumors are best nipped in the bud.

Otherwise, there could’ve been rumors that Sakurako used her family’s influence to negotiate with Mrs. Uzumasa…

But after witnessing that scene where she confidently confronted and decisively dealt with Mitsunari in front of everyone… if there’s a student who could still spread such rumors, that person would be a hero.

“Kei. If you marry me, I’ll give you the life you desire. Both Akari and your father, the Daigo family will take full responsibility.”

Given this context, coming up with that line just shows how mentally strong Sakurako is, as tough as steel.

“Hey, hey, flaunting your family background is nonsense.”

“…That’s right, Sakurako. I can do anything for Kei.”

“Don’t worry, it’s not an issue. I’ve got roles for both Chikage and Tsukasa. Namely, the mistress positions.”

“Hmph, I’m Kei’s number one. He kissed me himself earlier, remember?”

Chikage clung to me triumphantly, causing Tsukasa and Sakurako’s expressions to freeze. Tsukasa aside, even Sakurako, who rarely shows agitation, was affected.

In other words, this topic is like some kind of powder keg.

So, how shall we navigate through this difficult situation…

“Kei, explain.”

“…As much as we’re getting excited, I’m sweating buckets, so I’m gonna go shower first.”

Huh? Tsukasa seems off. What’s up?

“Ah, I want to go home and have a drink!”

Sakurako and Chikage are as usual, but Mrs. Uzumasa’s mood is also strange.

Summer really makes people act weird, seriously.

It’s a sleepover.

After finishing cleaning the pool, I went back home, took care of some preparations, and then, with Akari giving me a pep talk, I headed to Tsukasa’s house via the old Nara street.

I’ve brought my change of clothes, toothbrush, and everything else I might need.

“U-um, excuse me…”

“What’s up, Kei? You’re being all formal.”

“Ah, well… it just feels kind of fresh, I guess.”

It’s a familiar 3LDK apartment. It’s the workspace of the popular doujin circle ‘Mellow’ and also Tsukasa’s home, a place I practically hang out at every day. Yet today, it feels like a different world. A girl’s room. Well, it always is, but…

The sleepover situation is making me feel restless.

“Fresh? That’s funny. How many times have you been here? Anyway, Chikage and Sakurako went out shopping, so just put your stuff down and relax, Kei.”

Tsukasa is wearing a loose T-shirt and black shorts with white stripes.

It’s not a particularly unusual outfit for her, but for some reason, it feels incredibly stimulating today.

Is it because her hip line is so clearly visible?

…No, that’s usual too, though.

The two of us sit on the sofa, trying to relax—no, more like fidgeting.

“Hmm… I still can’t calm down.”

“What’s up? Are you a bit nervous or something?”

“…Probably. It’s my first time staying over at a girl’s house, so…”

“Oh, r-right. So… it’s your first time at my place…”

We both turn our faces away, exchanging awkward, hesitant words.

The tension and guilt are overwhelming, far more than usual.

While this is going on, I hear some rustling noises from the entrance.

Chikage and Sakurako must be back.

“We’re home… Oh, Kei, you’re already here.”

“Kei-kun. We’re not letting you sleep tonight. We’re staying up to play until morning.”

Chikage and Sakurako, dressed almost exactly like Tsukasa, return carrying shopping bags from the supermarket. They’re wearing outer jackets, but it’s clear they’re dressed casually. …I’m getting even more nervous now.

“Ahaha… Let me take those bags. I’ll start cooking dinner first.”

I take the shopping bags from Chikage and Sakurako and head to the kitchen.

(Haaah. I need to come up with some strategies now…)

That’s right. A sleepover means exactly that.

Tonight, I’ll be spending the night with Chikage, Sakurako, and Tsukasa.

(…I think my sanity might break before anything else…)

Sigh… I know it’s a luxurious problem to have, but I can’t help but feel tense thinking about what’s to come.

Around 8 PM.

“Thank you for the meal. Kei-kun, it was delicious as always.”

“Haaah… it was so good. It’s been a while since I had salmon baked in foil…”

“Same here. Kei, thanks a lot. It was really good.”

The long hand of the clock has just passed the 2, and dinner with the four of us is over.

Sakurako, Chikage, and Tsukasa all seem very satisfied, so I’m relieved.

9 PM.

“Tonight, we’re playing to the fullest. Let’s start with the Queen’s Game.”

“Hmm? Sakurako, you mean the King’s Game, right?”

“It’s a bit different. Kei-kun is our puppet. So even if he becomes the king, he doesn’t get to give orders.”

“That’s hilarious. So Kei’s completely at our mercy, huh?”

“Ahaha… please, go easy on me…”

10 PM.

“I’m the queen. Numbers 2 and 3, kiss.”

“Hehe… I got number 2. Hey, Kei, what’s your number?”

“Ah, um… number 1.”

“Wa-wait?! So that means Tsukasa and Chikage have to kiss?!”

“T-that’s the rule. Naturally.”

Even Sakurako seems a bit hesitant.

“Hey… Tsukasa, why don’t we show Kei something really intense?”

“W-well, okay… Kei, do you get excited seeing girls kiss each other?”

“Eh, I don’t know… it’s my first time, so I’m not sure.”

“Tsukasa, it’s faster to just try it out. Here…”

Chikage and Tsukasa’s lips meet.

That bizarre sight is… honestly, it’s so stimulating I might get a nosebleed.

11 PM.

The Queen’s Game is over, and it’s bath time.

“Kei-kun. I’ll wash your hair for you.”

“…Yeah, please.”

“Then I’ll scrub your back, Kei.”

“Ah, okay. —Wait, Chikage… stop, stop! …You’re supposed to use the scrubbing towel, not your hands…!”

Chikage’s D-cup chest is pressed against my back.

The soft friction and the feeling of the bubbles are making my thoughts even more hazy.

…My head is spinning.

—I-it’s fine. This is a line I can cross… probably.

When I glance at the mirror, I see Tsukasa looking down.

When our eyes meet, she quickly looks away.

Midnight.

The night has deepened, and my eyelids are getting heavy. Sakurako is sleeping like a princess, completely defenseless, and Chikage is already fast asleep, utterly exhausted.

(Huh, they’re surprisingly early sleepers…)

…As for Tsukasa, she slipped out to the balcony once everyone had fallen asleep.

(She’s definitely acting strange.)

She’s been like this since we finished cleaning the pool.

Worried, I follow her out to the balcony.

Leaning on the balcony railing, Tsukasa is gazing at the moon in the night sky.

…Her back view looks somewhat lonely.

“Sigh… I’m really no good. Why can’t I just be more honest with myself?”

“…Ts-Tsukasa?”

“Wha-whoa?! K-Kei?! What are you doing here?!”

“S-sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.”

“W-what’s up? Can’t sleep or something?”

“No… well, I was worried about you, Tsukasa…”

“Oh… I guess I’m the kind of girl who worries Kei, huh?”

“Of course. What’s wrong? You’ve been acting strange all day…”

Under the moonlight, Tsukasa’s profile looks a little flushed.

“Of course… hehe. Right now, I’m in the middle of worrying. I’m… just empty, you know?”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, it’s a recent worry… Compared to Chikage and Sakurako, I feel like I’m nothing, you know? That’s what’s been bothering me.”

“I don’t think that’s true. You said something similar the other day, didn’t you?”

“That was about my chest, wasn’t it? Well, I don’t have much there either… I’m completely lacking in every way.”

“…I’m sorry.”

I’m caught off guard by her sudden self-deprecation and don’t know how to respond.

“So, what’s wrong? If there’s something bothering you, I’ll listen.”

“…Thanks. …Hmm, how do I put it? I’ve been thinking for a while now, Chikage is really straightforward with her feelings towards you, right? And Sakurako uses her quick wit to keep everything in check while still making her moves on you.”

Our perspectives are similar.

We both try to see the bigger picture and view ourselves objectively.

For better or worse, Tsukasa’s personality is to always step back a little.

It’s kind of endearing, though I shouldn’t laugh.

I lean on the railing and decide to watch Tsukasa’s profile as she spills her heart out.

“…Even during today’s pool cleaning, Sakurako was so cool. She’s willing to take on the whole world for your sake. It was amazing. …And Chikage snuck off with you, right? You two were alone, doing who knows what…”

“Eh? Ah, yeah.”

“When I saw that… I just felt like I didn’t belong. Hehe…”

“…Are you serious?”

“……No, not like that. It’s just… I feel like I’m nothing compared to them.”

She’s having a self-deprecation sale.

“Tsukasa, stop putting yourself down. There must be something else you want to say. I’m here to listen to all of it.”

“Urgh, if I could put it into words, I would’ve done it already! …I don’t have Sakurako’s way with words, or Chikage’s ability to express her feelings directly, or your ability to understand people’s emotions… I don’t have any of that, you know? I hope you understand that.”

“I don’t have that kind of ability either.”

“I wonder. Well, if you’re willing to listen, maybe I’ll tell you. …Actually, what I just said… is part of everything I’ve been thinking. There are moments when I realize I’m just empty.”

“Hmm. Give me a moment to think about it.”

“Sure… Kei, thanks.”

Twenty-five o’clock.

“I thought about it in my own way. Tsucchi says she has nothing, but I don’t think so. In fact, I think the opposite.”

I lean on the balcony railing, looking up at the night sky as I start the conversation.

With the observational skills I’ve honed as a “himo,” I’ve watched Tsucchi, this girl, closely.

That’s why I understand something.

“Tsucchi has ‘nothing,’ and that’s her something.”

“Hey, don’t just casually double down on that diss.”

“It’s not a diss! It’s the opposite, I’m telling you!”

I don’t expect her to fully grasp this nuance, but I want her to.

“Chikage and Sakurako’s presence is undeniably strong. They’re like the city.”

“Oh? So what, you’re saying I’m the countryside with nothing?”

“Well, yeah, but—”

“Huh… so this is a double-diss now?”

“No, it’s not.”

I think Tsucchi’s low self-esteem is a kind of defense mechanism.

But that’s all part of her personality, her charm. It’s okay to be weak. It’s okay not to be strong. I feel like somewhere in her heart, she’s waiting for me to touch on that.

“Look, people who live in the city often say they find solace in the countryside, right? I think there are plenty of people who seek ‘nothing.’ Tsucchi, you look like a gyaru, but you’re actually pretty normal. A normal girl.”

“Normal, normal, stop repeating it! It’s annoying!”

“No, what I mean is… the simple times I spend with Tsucchi are really comforting and healing for me. So, I don’t think you need to compete with Chikage or Sakurako in terms of personality.”

“That’s a long spiel. What’s the point?”

“I’ve said it multiple times. I like Tsucchi just the way she is.”

“Wh-what?! Really?!”

Tsucchi’s face turns bright red, and her eyes dart around.

“…Are you wrapping this up with a payoff now? How much of this was calculated?”

“I didn’t set up any payoff.”

“Ugh. I’ve been told this before, but this situation is just impossible. It’s too embarrassing… I’m gonna die…”

She ends up covering her face and sitting down on the spot.

“…Hey, Tsucchi. I know you’re shy and have trouble being honest. But… at times like this, just be honest. I’ll do whatever I can for you.”

I take my elbow off the balcony railing and crouch down to look Tsucchi straight in the face. Times like this—no, especially times like this—I want her to rely on me.

“Kyuu… are you trying to make me die of embarrassment? You idiot, Kei…”

Tsucchi mutters something while hiding her face.

“W-well… the other day, Sakurako said she wanted to see the ‘rough’ side of Kei.”

“R-rough…?”

“Yeah… but, you know… I think I want to see that side of Kei more than Sakurako does…”

“In this context?”

“Y-you said you’d do anything for me, right?”

I scratch my head while staring at Tsucchi.

(Anything, huh… Alright…)

I’m a “himo” who can adapt to anything.

I’ve already practiced being the perfect “himo” for Chikage—『Himo’s ACT 3 (named by Akari)』.

I’m not too confident about the “rough” side, though…

But if it’ll make Tsucchi happy… then I’ll—

“Tsukasa. Why are you hesitating over something so trivial? Come here.”

“Huh?! W-what?! You’re calling me by my first name all of a sudden?!”

I grab Tsucchi’s hand and pull her up forcefully from where she’s crouching.

“If you don’t like it, I’ll stop immediately. Close your eyes.”

“…Alright, alright… here I go… okay.”

I imagine myself as the “rough” type and grab Tsucchi’s shoulders.

Then… I press my lips against Tsucchi’s, her eyes closed—

“Mmm.”

Around twenty-five thirty…

“…S-sorry, Tsucchi! I think the ‘rough’ type is a bit too much for me.”

“Funny. You went back to your usual self so fast. That’s why I like you, Kei.”

“S-sorry.”

“It’s fine. I think I like the normal Kei more than the ‘rough’ version anyway.”

Tsucchi leans out over the balcony railing and looks up at the night sky.

“Hey, Kei. Doesn’t the moon tonight look super photogenic?”

Following Tsucchi, I look up at the moon too.

Yeah, you’re right. It’s beautiful.

It’s not a full moon, but it’s still bright enough, and its light is gentle. The moonlight illuminates me and Tsucchi like a spotlight. The scene is somehow funny, and I—no, we—can’t help but laugh.

Twenty-six o’clock.

Tsucchi and I return to the quiet room and sleep in a “river +1” formation with the other four.

And so, the first sleepover with the three of them ended peacefully… or so it seemed.

The next morning, Tsucchi saw me being clung to by Chikage and Sakurako, who were in their underwear (they must have gotten up and taken off their clothes at some point…) and shouted,

“Uwaaaah, Kei! Give me back the memories from last night!”

Her face twisted in fury as she approached me, but that’s another story…