Chapter 5: I Know

♢♢♢

Hayasaka-san has a close friend.

Sakai Aya.

A girl with a short haircut. She wears thick-framed glasses with bangs hanging over them.

She seems plain, but apparently, that’s by design.

It was one morning.

I was late and trying to sneak into school through the back gate. As I climbed over the iron gate and jumped down, a car pulled up a short distance away.

A foreign car, its body gleaming silver.

A girl got out of the passenger seat, walked toward me, and started climbing the gate.

“Perfect timing. Kirishima, give me a hand.”

At her request, I helped her over the gate.

The moment she landed, her bangs shifted briefly, and I realized it was Sakai.

“You look different without glasses.”

When I said that, Sakai hurriedly pulled a case from her bag and put her glasses on.

“The one who drove me was my big brother.”

That excuse was a stretch, and she seemed to know it.

“Did you…… see something, Kirishima?”

“If you mean you kissing your brother in the car.”

I saw it clearly.

“But kissing family isn’t weird. Based on Western values, I mean. Though I’m pretty sure you’re an only child, Sakai.”

“Oh, man.”

Sakai brushes her hair up and takes off the glasses she just put on. Then,

“A college student I’m living with.”

She said it casually, words unimaginable from her usual self.

“So, Kirishima, wanna skip class together?”

“I’m not gonna tell anyone.”

“Well, let’s chat a bit.”

And so, we’re cooling off at the bike shed, talking.

“By the way, a third-year girl came to our classroom the other day, right?”

“The one freaking out about her boyfriend being stolen?”

A third-year guy fell for an unfamiliar second-year girl and broke up with his girlfriend.

The third-year girls wanted to warn the second-year not to mess with other people’s guys, but they couldn’t find her.

“That was you, wasn’t it, Sakai?”

“I didn’t mean to steal him.”

Without her glasses, Sakai looks calmer than anyone our age.

“You’ve got to try things out.”

Sakai says.

“Do you think you’ll find your ideal partner with just one love? That’s way too lazy. You fall in love over and over, date different people, and maybe then you find the one.”

“I read in some book that, based on a U.S. social experiment, a company needs to meet a hundred people to hire good talent.”

Love might be the same. To find the ideal partner, you fall in love with lots of people.

“So I make a point of getting close to anyone I’m curious about. Really close.”

I see.

“You’re living a free love life, Sakai.”

“And you’re experimenting with love, right, Kirishima?”

A hot summer breeze blows through. From the bike shed, you can see the pool clearly.

Beyond the fence, girls in navy swimsuits are getting wet.

Tachibana-san is standing by the poolside.

She looks like she could melt into the blue sky, a true summer mirage.

Feeling my gaze, Tachibana-san turns toward me. For a brief moment, our eyes meet.

Her turn to swim comes, and she disappears from view.

“Did Hayasaka-san tell you about us?”

Sakai says, “She didn’t.”

“But Akane’s terrible at hiding things.”

Seems she knows everything.

“Come on, tell me about that stuff.”

“It’s not really something to share with others.”

“It’s fine. You know my secret now.”

Sakai presses on, undeterred.

“You’re liked by Tachibana-san, too, right? She was just staring at you.”

“I wonder.”

“A girl doing a club alone with a guy means something.”

“But she has a fiancé.”

“Doesn’t matter. Tachibana-san only has eyes for you.”

“If it was just a fiancé, I might think that, too.”

The situation’s a bit more complicated.

Tachibana-san told me her mother’s company is profitable thanks to her fiancé’s father’s business. In other words, the Tachibana family’s livelihood depends on her fiancé’s family.

After tests, in the clubroom, Tachibana-san explained it all matter-of-factly.

“I get it. You’re scared that if she chooses you, it’ll ruin her family, Kirishima.”

“I saw her career survey once.”

“The music department at an arts university, right? With private lessons, that takes time and money. Honestly, she shouldn’t have time for a club, but the fact that she’s still spending time with you—maybe think about what that means.”

Tachibana-san’s a love newbie, curious about all sorts of things.

Honestly, I feel like I could take advantage of that. But when I think about her happiness, I hesitate to make her abandon her fiancé.

“If I were you, I’d let the fiancé stay and get ‘close’ with Tachibana-san first, then figure out the rest.”

That’s the action-oriented perspective. Still.

“You’re Hayasaka-san’s friend, so I thought you’d be mad knowing I’m doing this.”

“Akane’s love is her own. Butting in would be tacky.”

“Does Hayasaka-san know you’re into free love?”

She doesn’t, Sakai says.

“It’s too intense for a good girl.”

“Hayasaka-san seems to resist being called a good girl, though.”

It’s a cute rebellious phase, Sakai says.

“You know, Akane’s been practicing cooking lately. Wants to be a good girlfriend.”

“For her number one, right?”

“What’s your favorite food, Kirishima?”

“Eggplant simmered in broth.”

“That’s what Akane’s practicing.”

As serious as ever.

“Number one and number two, huh? But can you really separate it that cleanly? Love’s something you can’t control, even for yourself.”

Sakai takes off her chest ribbon and unbuttons her blouse.

There’s a small mark near her collarbone.

“No way.”

“Yup, a hickey.”

I can’t help picturing the guy in the driver’s seat kissing Sakai’s neck. For some reason, the scene feels like it’s in a college student’s apartment bed in the morning.

“Your face is red, Kirishima.”

“You’re a bit too advanced, Sakai.”

“Am I? It’s normal. Wanting to touch and be touched by someone you like is super natural. Guys want to touch girls, too, right?”

“Girls feel that way, too?”

“No way Akane or Tachibana-san aren’t interested.”

I’ve got some guesses.

“To girls, you’re the type they want to throw those feelings at, Kirishima.”

“Huh?”

What does that mean?

“Am I, like, pretty hot?”

“No way. Just a glasses guy.”

She’s blunt.

When I ask why, then, Sakai answers instantly.

“You seem tight-lipped.”

“That’s it?”

“It’s important. More than a good-looking guy, a guy who keeps secrets is better. Girls feel safer doing stuff they can’t tell others about.”

With that, Sakai buttons her blouse properly, puts on her glasses, and lets her bangs fall.

The usual plain girl is complete.

“So, Kirishima, you might be in for some trouble.”

♢♢♢

In movies or dramas, girls are often portrayed as super pure.

But real girls might be a bit more complex.

I’m not some good girl.

Hayasaka-san says that and often tries to touch me.

Like Sakai said, girls might have those interests, too.

What about jealousy or possessiveness, then?

I once asked my first crush not to get close with other guys.

Do girls ever feel that way?

I skip class, lie on the clubroom sofa, and think about this stuff.

Sakai’s progressive love life hit me hard.

But I end up falling asleep. I wake up halfway through second period.

Something soft and wet touches my ear. That familiar sensation. A shiver of pleasure runs down my spine.

“Finally awake.”

Tachibana-san is leaning over, peering at me.

“You’ve got a licking habit.”

As she tries to lick my ear again, I hurriedly sit up.

“I’ve got a lot to say, but first, give me back my glasses.”

She must’ve taken them while I was sleeping. Tachibana-san’s wearing my glasses.

“Wearing those will ruin your eyes.”

“I’m resting them on my nose, so it’s fine.”

“I can’t see anything without them.”

Tachibana-san nonchalantly touches the lenses with her fingers before handing them back.

I wipe the fingerprints off with a lens cloth.

“It’s class time.”

“You too, President.”

“Why are you here, Tachibana-san?”

“You were at the bike shed but didn’t show up for class.”

“Oh, right, you saw me.”

“Why were you with Sakai-san?”

“Just ran into her. How’d you know it was Sakai, though? Without glasses, she’s like a different person.”

“Her posture, the way she hugs her elbow when she talks—it was totally Sakai-san.”

Tachibana-san’s observation skills are scary.

“Anyway, President, since we’re here, let’s do some club activities.”

Tachibana-san opens the Love Notebook.

It’s the banned volume, with a page titled Hands-Free Game Basics.

Another product of the author’s wild imagination, following the ear mystery.

“Didn’t we say no club during test period, Tachibana-san?”

Besides, we’re the Mystery Research Club, not the Love Club.

“Come on, I want to learn more about love.”

Tachibana-san pushes the notebook toward me insistently. I push it back.

“President, you’ve been avoiding me lately.”

“That’s not true.”

“You suddenly put the club on hold.”

“It’s test week.”

“When I asked you to tutor me, you refused.”

“That’s……”

“But you tutored Hayasaka-san. That kinda hurt, you know.”

Tachibana-san makes a lost puppy face, and my chest aches a bit.

“You like Hayasaka-san, President.”

“It’s normal.”

“Hayasaka-san likes you, too.”

“Why do you think that?”

“She’s gentle with you one moment, blunt the next—super inconsistent. That happens when you like someone, right?”

She’s observant.

“But you’re forgetting something, Tachibana-san. Hayasaka-san has someone else she likes.”

“That’s the tricky part. She’s supposed to have a crush, but it looks like she likes you, too.”

Tachibana-san stares at my face as she speaks.

“And you seem to like Hayasaka-san, but it also looks like you like another girl.”

“Who’s this other girl?”

“Me.”

I’m struck.

Tachibana-san’s question is too direct.

Don’t you like me?

That’s what she’s asking, so calmly, so naturally, shockingly flat.

I try to respond as coolly as possible.

“If everything you’re feeling is true, then a bunch of people are shooting love arrows in all directions, and it’s a total mess.”

“Exactly. So I want to check the answers.”

Tachibana-san leans closer.

“Tell me the truth. Who does Hayasaka-san really like? Who do you really like, President?”

“That’s……”

Of course, I can’t spill the truth, no matter what.

So I dodge, shifting the topic to throw her off.

“What about you, Tachibana-san?”

“Me?”

“Do you know who you like?”

When I ask, Tachibana-san replies, “I’m testing.”

“I’m almost at the point of understanding how I feel when I do certain things with certain people.”

She’s holding the Love Notebook.

“Let’s do this game. I want to test my feelings more.”

“No, that’s not okay.”

“Why? Why not?”

“I told you before. If you have a fiancé, you shouldn’t ask other guys for stuff like that.”

“Who decided that?”

“Society says it’s not okay to do that.”

“Isn’t that just you deciding it, President?”

Sharp. But.

“Wrong is wrong.”

“If you don’t do it, I won’t let you go to class.”

“If you pull that, I’ll actually get mad.”

When I say that, Tachibana-san says, “I want you to get mad.”

“I put fingerprints on your glasses earlier because I wanted to see your angry face. I want to see all your expressions. I want to know how I feel at those times.”

Tachibana-san doesn’t give up.

“President, do you really not want to? You’re saying that, but it doesn’t look like it.”

She’s seen through me. It’s true—I want to do the things written in the Love Notebook with Tachibana-san.

But her fiancé’s existence nags at me. If it negatively impacts her family and makes her unhappy, I’d never forgive myself. So, for now, I decide to fend her off.

“Fine, let’s do it.”

I grab her hand and pull her close. Our faces are so near, it’s like we could kiss.

“But forget the basics. Let’s do the advanced version.”

The Love Notebook’s Hands-Free Game has a basics section and an advanced one.

Naturally, the advanced version is more intense.

“W-Wait, all of a sudden?”

Tachibana-san’s eyes widen, her face turning bright red.

“Advanced version!”

She’s just a love newbie—strong on offense, weak on defense.

For good measure, I brush her hair aside and blow gently on her ear.

“Fumii!”

Tachibana-san lets out a weird squeak, shakes off my hand, covers her ear, and backs away.

Lately, I’ve been embarrassing her like this to fend her off.

But her blushing lasts only a few seconds before she returns to a straight face and says.

“You did that to dodge the question, didn’t you, President?”

“Did I?”

“I just want to know who you really like.”

Tachibana-san is trying to understand love.

Hayasaka-san’s feelings, my feelings, and her own. But—

“Love isn’t something you can easily check answers for. People’s hearts are complicated. That’s why we imagine how others feel and end up agonizing.”

“Got it.”

Tachibana-san regains her calm and says.

“Then I’ll check the answers myself.”

“How?”

“An emotion test.”

That sounds ominous.

“It’s your fault, President. You won’t tutor me but you’ll tutor Hayasaka-san. You push me away but hang out with Sakai-san. That’s why I’m doing this.”

With that, Tachibana-san leaves the clubroom.

I wipe my glasses again and fix the collar of my uniform, messed up from sleeping.

What on earth is Tachibana-san planning to do?

During the next break, wails erupt from Tachibana-san’s fanboys.

The reason: Tachibana-san is wearing her boyfriend’s tie.

That was the start of Tachibana Hikari’s emotion test.

♢♢♢

In the morning, Tachibana-san calls out to me at the school gate.

“Morning, President.”

A men’s tie is knotted at her chest.

“What do you think?”

“Looks good. Cooler than a ribbon tie.”

“How do you feel right now, President?”

“Normal.”

My reaction seems to disappoint her, and Tachibana-san says, “Hmph,” before walking off.

I really didn’t feel anything.

I just thought the summer morning and Tachibana-san made a refreshing combo.

Meanwhile, Tachibana-san’s fanboys are sighing.

Their hope was that she was distant with her boyfriend. A nominal boyfriend meant they had a chance. This lovey-dovey tie incident crushed that hope.

“You okay, Kirishima-kun?”

Hayasaka-san calls out to me on the covered walkway.

It’s during first period, heading to the lab for a chemistry experiment.

“About what?”

“You know, Tachibana-san. She seems super close with her boyfriend.”

“That’s nothing. Doesn’t bother me.”

“Are you secretly enjoying the frustration again?”

As we’re talking, Tachibana-san approaches from the opposite direction.

She’s holding a carton of black vinegar drink. Health-conscious.

“You two look cozy.”

Tachibana-san speaks to Hayasaka-san.

Since that time at the station building, they’ve been fairly friendly.

“Hayasaka-san, you really like the President, don’t you?”

“N-No way!”

Hayasaka-san hurriedly responds to the blunt question.

“It’s normal, just normal.”

“Hmmm. I’m pretty close with the President.”

As she says this, Tachibana-san presses herself against my arm. Instantly, Hayasaka-san’s face tenses.

“Hey, Tachibana-san, we’re at school.”

“True.”

“And you have a boyfriend, right?”

“So what?”

“You have a boyfriend, but you’re, like, clinging to Kirishima-kun……”

“Just some President-and-club-member bonding.”

“R-Right. Yeah, that’s true. It’s great that you two are close. I’m happy when you guys are close.”

Hayasaka-san forces an awkward smile.

Hayasaka-san, you can’t make it that obvious.

Tachibana-san’s just testing us. She seems satisfied with Hayasaka-san’s reaction.

“Oh, class is starting.”

She says, popping a straw into her black vinegar drink, sipping it as she walks away.

“Kirishima-kun, let’s head back to the classroom for a sec.”

Hayasaka-san, still with a plastered-on smile, says it with a “lend me your face” vibe, so we return to the empty classroom.

“You and Tachibana-san seem to be getting along great.”

“Sorry, somehow.”

“It’s fine, it’s fine. That’s how it should be. She’s your number one, after all.”

Despite saying that, Hayasaka-san’s grip on her textbook is so tight her fingers are white.

“Your chest looks cooler than usual today, Kirishima-kun.”

“Does it?”

“You’ve got it unbuttoned to the second button. But what’s up with Tachibana-san all of a sudden? She’s close with her boyfriend but clinging to you.”

“That’s because.”

I explain that Tachibana-san has started testing our feelings.

“Hmmm, so she was trying to make me jealous like that.”

“Probably.”

“Well, I don’t care about that at all.”

She cares a lot.

“It’s not like it shows on my face.”

Her smile is scary.

“I know I’m number two. Seeing her show off doesn’t faze me. I’m totally fine.”

I can practically see a wrathful deity behind her. Hayasaka-san takes a deep breath, then stares at me intently.

“By the way, Kirishima-kun, you bought hair gel but barely use it, huh?”

“Mornings are rushed, and I keep forgetting.”

“That’s no good. It’s part of grooming. I’ll put some on for you.”

As she says this, Hayasaka-san pulls her own hair wax from her bag.

She brought it because of swim class, apparently.

Hayasaka-san stretches up, reaching to apply the wax to my hair.

“There, all done. Looks good.”

The floral scent of cherry blossom and lily of the valley wafts around.

It’s the same scent always lingering in Hayasaka-san’s hair.

“You’ve gotta look cool in front of Tachibana-san. For Tachibana-san, okay?”

♢♢♢

During lunch break, I’m sprawled on the sofa as usual. I wanted to listen to music, but since that’s not an option, I try to sleep instead. That’s when Tachibana-san walks in.

She comes close and, once again, touches my glasses’ lenses with her fingers.

“That won’t make me mad.”

“I just want to see all your faces.”

Then Tachibana-san sniffs the air. The next moment, she grabs my head with both hands and starts smelling my hair.

“Hmmm, I see.”

She says with a cold expression.

“This is a challenge to me, right?”

“Your nose is sharp, Tachibana-san.”

“Hayasaka-san’s sweet scent doesn’t suit you, President.”

With that, Tachibana-san pulls out her own hair product from somewhere, slathers it on her hands, and applies it to my hair. The refreshing citrus-mint scent overwrites the other.

I can’t wash my hair, so I’m stuck like this for the day.

After lunch, as we pass in the hallway, Hayasaka-san whispers to me.

“You smell like Tachibana-san. She put it on you, huh?”

When I turn around, Hayasaka-san smiles brightly at me.

“That’s great.”

Her smile is terrifying. Her eyebrows are twitching slightly. Zero resistance to provocation.

“I’m totally fine. I knew I was number two from the start. I don’t get jealous, so it’s all good.”

Hayasaka-san says this and walks away.

I start heading back to class, but I’m somehow worried about her and started to follow.

In the covered walkway, Hayasaka-san is muttering with vacant eyes.

“Why’s she touching my Kirishima-kun…… She’s got a boyfriend…… Just because she’s pretty……”

♢♢♢

Tachibana Hikari’s emotion test continues.

One day, another wail rises from Tachibana-san’s fans.

She’s listening to music through earphones. Normally, Tachibana-san is a headphone girl, always wearing wireless ones with a gold logo on white, known for their heavy bass.

Naturally, rumors spread that those earphones are her boyfriend’s.

Plus, she’s supposedly humming alternative rock—sharp, piercing sounds—something she’d never listen to. It’s a known fact that girls’ music tastes change under their boyfriends’ influence.

After school, Tachibana-san enters the clubroom, earphones in, humming alternative rock.

“What do you think?”

“Earphones are cooler for summer.”

“Hmph.”

Looking bored, Tachibana-san takes two pencils from my pencil case on the coffee table and leaves.

I can keep a poker face when I want to.

But Hayasaka-san can’t. She reacts dramatically.

“You gave pencils to Tachibana-san, too, huh?”

During break, Hayasaka-san approaches me.

She must’ve noticed Tachibana-san using the pencils in class.

“I wasn’t the only one you gave them to.”

“Sorry.”

“It’s totally fine!”

It doesn’t seem fine at all.

“By the way, Kirishima-kun, could you lend me your gym clothes?”

“Gym clothes?”

“I need them for tech class, but I forgot mine.”

“But I used them in gym. They’re sweaty.”

“That’s fine. That’s perfect.”

This time, Hayasaka-san’s fans let out near-screams.

She’s wearing ill-fitting boys’ gym clothes, so of course they would.

It’s a classic “boyfriend shirt” situation.

The pure Hayasaka-san would never do that. It must be a coincidence—she borrowed male gym clothes from the infirmary. Her diehard fans forcibly conclude as much.

But Tachibana-san, with her keen observation, wouldn’t miss it.

After gym class, she corners me in the hallway.

“Those were yours, right, President?”

“It just happened.”

“Hayasaka-san’s totally showing off to me.”

“Don’t provoke her too much.”

“She started it, flaunting those pencils.”

Hayasaka-san was doing that?

“Anyway, lend me your gym clothes, too, President.”

“There’s no use for them today.”

“I’ll wear them at home.”

“What kind of emotion is that?”

♢♢♢

The mysterious battle between the two escalates day by day.

Tachibana-san grabs deodorant spray from my bag, uses it inside her blouse in front of me, then deliberately passes by Hayasaka-san.

Hayasaka-san claims she forgot her textbook and takes mine.

With both of them doing all sorts of things, during break, I finally escape to the student council room.

“Kirishima, you look wrecked.”

Maki says.

“What’s with your hair?”

“Two types of wax got mixed together multiple times, I guess.”

I explain what’s been happening to Maki.

“So everyone freaking out about Tachibana being all lovey-dovey with her boyfriend was her trying to get at you?”

“She’s testing emotions.”

“Hayasaka’s simple, so she fell for the provocation. Tachibana’s surprisingly belligerent, so it turned into a fight. No wonder stuff’s been disappearing from your things.”

Maki’s noticed all along. Pencils, gym clothes, and more.

“In girls’ schools, showing up with a boys’ school bag is a status symbol, apparently. Boyfriend bragging, maybe? This is the Kirishima version of that.”

“What should I do?”

“Nothing. Nothing at all. When two girls are fighting, there’s nothing a guy can do.”

Suddenly, Maki says, “I’m outta here.”

“What’s up?”

“You’ve got a visitor. For you, right?”

I see Sakai, Hayasaka-san’s friend, peeking through the gap in the student council room door.

“I’m kinda bad with her.”

Probably because Sakai and Maki are a bit alike. I thought of it but didn’t say it. Sakai likely doesn’t want her true self known too widely.

Maki leaves, and Sakai steps in.

“You were just talking about Akane, right? Her thing with Tachibana-san.”

Sakai says. She came to talk about this, too, it seems.

“At this rate, Akane’s gonna go yandere. That’d be cute in its own way, though.”

“Is she that unstable?”

“When we walked home together, she was muttering to herself the whole time.”

Why does Tachibana-san do that? Kirishima-kun’s all I have. Don’t take him. Wait, am I allowed to be mad? No, I can’t, right? I’m number two. Kirishima-kun is my…… what was it? Right, number two. So I have to stay quiet……

She kept saying stuff like that, even with Sakai right there.

“It’s fun watching a girls’ fight as a spectator, but as Akane’s friend, I’d rather you tell Tachibana-san to stop. Akane’s mentally fragile. She’s naturally a number-one type, not deft enough to handle being number two.”

“But would Tachibana-san listen to me? Maki said guys can’t stop girls’ fights.”

“Normally, yeah. But Tachibana-san would listen to you.”

“Why do you think that?”

“Because she could test Akane’s feelings but didn’t have the guts to test yours.”

She’s so inexperienced in love, Sakai says.

“You knew everything from the start, didn’t you?”

“What do you mean?”

“Playing dumb huh.”

Sakai says.

“The tie, the earphones—all that was yours, right?”

♢♢♢

There’s no way I’d get jealous seeing my own tie or earphones. The alternative rock she was humming was my favorite song.

“Give them back already.”

“What to do? I kinda like these.”

Tachibana-san touches the tie. Her chest pocket holds an MP3 player with earphone cords wrapped around it. No way Tachibana-san would use low-tech wired earphones.

The tie and earphones were swiped by Tachibana-san while I was sleeping in the clubroom.

On the afternoon after finals, we face each other quietly in the clubroom.

She probably wanted to wear her boyfriend’s things to see your jealous face, Kirishima.

Sakai had analyzed it that way.

But she was scared you’d hate her for flaunting her boyfriend, so she only tested Akane’s feelings. Tachibana-san’s surprisingly timid.

I don’t know the truth. Either way, I need my stuff back.

Hayasaka-san probably realized the tie’s true owner, which is why she got so competitive. She likes that I never take off my tie, even in summer.

“I’ll give them back.”

Tachibana-san says, opening the Love Notebook.

“If you play this game with me.”

“I told you, I’m not doing that.”

“But it looks to me like you want to, President.”

“No way.”

I say it firmly. Tachibana-san suddenly looks deflated.

“Sorry. I was being selfish.”

“You don’t have to feel that bad.”

“I won’t ask anymore.”

She grabs her bag and starts to leave, still wearing the tie and MP3 player. I need those back. So—

“Hey, wait!”

With my hands clasped behind my back, I block Tachibana-san’s path.

“You’re totally into it, President!”

“In exchange, give me back the tie.”

“Deal, I promise.”

Tachibana-san smiles. She looks a bit happy, and, well, I’m glad she’s pleased.

“So, shall we?”

“Let’s give it a try.”

The Hands-Free Game, Basics Edition.

That’s how it went.

♢♢♢

The Hands-Free Game is one of the silly games in the Love Notebook.

As usual, a note says the fun depends on the players’ finesse.

The rules are simple: spend twenty minutes in a locked room without using your hands.

Tachibana-san and I sit on sofas facing each other across a coffee table.

Both of us have our hands behind our backs.

We start the game, but there’s barely anything you can do without hands.

Plus, the rules are so vague, we don’t even know what to do.

Time passes in silence.

Even for a game made by an IQ 180 author, this feels like a flop.

That’s what I’m thinking when it happens.

“My hair’s in the way.”

Tachibana-san sways a strand of hair dangling on her cheek.

“President, tuck it behind my ear.”

I see, that’s her move.

That’s the crux of this game: getting the other person to do what you can’t.

But since we can’t use hands, we have to use other parts of the body. And there aren’t many parts that move deftly besides hands.

“You sure?”

“Hurry. It’s tickling.”

Challenge accepted.

I move to Tachibana-san’s side and lean close to her profile. A nice scent wafts from her. I take the strand of hair on her cheek in my mouth. My lips brush her cheek, but Tachibana-san keeps a calm face.

I slowly move the strand behind her ear. It’s not that hard.

But then, I find myself, under the pretense of tucking her hair, tracing the contour of her ear with my tongue. Like she once did to me. No, it’s not because her ear is beautifully shaped or that its intricate form captivated me or anything like that.

I just wanted to embarrass Tachibana-san and end this quickly. Really. It’s not an excuse.

But Tachibana-san shows no sign of embarrassment. The love newbie seems to have grown a bit.

“Thanks.”

Tachibana-san says with a composed face.

“Also, I’m thirsty.”

Conveniently, a paper cup of water is on the table.

The paper is soft, so you can grip the rim with your mouth.

Tachibana-san is well-prepared. She totally gets this game.

“Alright, here goes.”

“Okay.”

I take the paper cup in my mouth and bring the opposite rim to Tachibana-san’s lips. Our foreheads nearly touch, faces close again.

Tachibana-san’s face is, as expected, beautiful, and seeing it up close makes my heart restless.

The screws in my head start loosening.

Tachibana-san puts her lips on the cup’s rim. Naturally, my lips are on the opposite rim.

Through the paper cup, we’re connected.

It’s not an indirect kiss. Our lips exist simultaneously on the cup’s rim.

Call it a bridging kiss. A simultaneous kissing act.

No, this is basically a kiss. We’re connected.

Somehow, it feels deeper, more intimate than a regular kiss.

I tilt the cup to let her drink. But I tilt it too quickly, and most of the water spills. Tachibana-san’s thin lips and white blouse get wet.

“Sorry.”

“Wipe it off.”

There’s a hand towel on the table, too. Man, she’s really prepared.

I take the sky-blue hand towel in my mouth and wipe the water from Tachibana-san’s lips. Her skin is so pale and delicate, almost translucent, so I wipe gently.

“My lips are still wet.”

“Got it.”

The towel’s thick, so there’s no direct sensation.

But through the towel, my lips are definitely touching Tachibana-san’s.

That fact makes me dizzy.

Tachibana-san’s cheeks are flushed.

While wiping, I feel like she’s pressing her lips against the towel. If this towel weren’t here, what would it feel like? How would I feel?

“Wipe everywhere that’s wet.”

“Alright.”

I move to her neck, wiping. Her pale nape.

Then her blouse. It’s slightly see-through where it’s wet. The scent of fabric softener. The material is thin.

Shoulders, chest, skirt.

I press my face through the towel to both wet and dry spots.

I don’t know why I’m doing this. My rationality is starting to crumble.

Tachibana-san doesn’t resist no matter where I wipe.

She just lets out sweet sighs. I feel her body. And—

It feels like anything is allowed.

I’m seized by an urge to embrace Tachibana-san’s delicate frame but hold back. I can’t do that. I pull away before my rationality completely vanishes.

“Done wiping.”

“Thanks.”

Tachibana-san has an almost euphoric expression.

Her breathing is shallow. Maybe, like me, her screws are starting to loosen.

“President, anything you want me to do?”

“Well, I moved a bit, so I might be hungry.”

“Perfect, there’s this.”

On the table is a silver packet of Pocky.

“You can eat these.”

We’re completely in sync. No words needed anymore.

Tachibana-san takes the silver packet in her mouth and offers it. I bite the other side.

We pull in opposite directions, and the packet opens. We place it on the table. Perfect teamwork.

Tachibana-san takes a Pocky stick in her mouth and offers it.

I take a bite from the end. The Pocky shortens.

As it shortens, Tachibana-san’s lips, holding the Pocky, get closer.

Another bite. It shortens. Her lips get closer.

One more bite, it shortens, her thin lips draw near.

If the Pocky disappears, we’ll be at zero distance.

Tachibana-san, you’re okay with that, right?

All I can see is her lips. The context is fully set.

Tachibana-san knows it, too.

It’s fine.

As if saying that, she tilts her chin up, offering her lips.

The relative distance of our love is this Pocky. Soon, that distance will be zero.

Kissing the person I like most, driven by emotion.

Tachibana-san is stylish and original. She’d surely give me an incredible, unique kiss, unlike anything I’ve experienced. Not something ordinary people would do, something I’d never think of, thrillingly improper and insanely good.

Tachibana-san, like a supercar—unique, original, with otherworldly beauty.

Kissing such a girl in just a moment. My number one, the best, the original—

But just before the kiss.

Tachibana-san suddenly pulls away.

Mercilessly, the remaining Pocky ends up entirely in my mouth.

Were you expecting a kiss?

Tachibana-san flashes a mischievous smile.

I totally expected it.

I’m like a dog denied a treat. I wanted it. The kiss. Nowhere to put these feelings.

I can’t take it anymore. I want to steal Tachibana-san’s lips, even by force. But—

The sensation in my mouth reveals her true intent.

The cracker part of the Pocky.

The part Tachibana-san held in her mouth is wet and soft.

I’m chewing it. Something that was in her mouth is now in mine. It’s more forbidden, more sinful than a kiss.

The moment I swallow, an indescribable thrill courses through me.

“How was it?”

“You might be a genius, Tachibana-san.”

“Still hungry?”

“Very.”

We repeat the same thing until the Pocky packet is empty. Frantically, messily, Tachibana-san holds it, I bite, I’m denied at the last moment. Repeat, repeat, repeat.

We move to the next packet. Maybe next time she’ll let me kiss her. Holding that hope.

I want to kiss. I want to kiss so bad.

More, more Pocky. Give me Pocky. More, give me more. More. I want it, Tachibana-san, I want it, Pocky, more, more Pocky, more, more, popopopo.

I’m gone. The wet cracker broke my brain, and I’m done for.

Tachibana-san’s breathing is ragged, her eyes unfocused. She’s gone, too.

The last packet. I have a feeling. This is it.

Kissing while we’re both this far gone would be incredible. Probably mind-blowingly good.

With the best premonition, we open the final silver packet together.

But—

The timer signaling twenty minutes rings.

A goofy sound brings a wave of deflation.

As usual, we snap back to reality and reflect.

What were we thinking?

“The banned book’s games shouldn’t be taken lightly.”

“…………Yeah.”

♢♢♢

For a while, I collapse on the sofa, drained.

Then Tachibana-san straddles me.

“Hey?”

It’s a pretty risqué position. Her skirt is messy, exposing a lot of her white thighs. If it were Hayasaka-san, it’d definitely be intentional, but with Tachibana-san, it’s hard to tell. Either way—

“The game’s over.”

“Just returning the tie.”

Tachibana-san unties the tie she’s wearing and wraps it around my collar.

Getting a tie put on feels like we’re newlyweds, and my heart skips a bit.

“Don’t tease Hayasaka-san too much.”

“Okay.”

Tachibana-san nods obediently.

“I don’t need to anymore. I understand.”

“Understand what?”

“Hayasaka-san has two kinds of love, right?”

One is her love for her senior. The other is her love for me.

“I only have one kind of love, so I didn’t get it.”

Similarly, Tachibana-san continues.

“You have two kinds of love, too, President.”

One is my love for Hayasaka-san. The other is……

Tachibana-san stops there.

Instead, she touches my cheek.

“Hey, let’s kiss.”

She says.

“I’ve never done it, so I want to try.”

Tachibana-san leans closer. I grab her shoulders to stop her.

“No way.”

“Why not?”

“This kind of thing isn’t right. It’s unfair to your boyfriend.”

“That guy’s not my boyfriend.”

“Huh?”

“A relative of my fiancé. He just acts like my boyfriend to keep guys away.”

Shocking truth. But.

“You still have a real fiancé, right?”

“Yeah.”

“And you can’t break it off, can you?”

A slightly prying question.

Tachibana-san nods, and though I knew it, it stings.

“My mom’s company is doing well because of his dad. I know how hard she’s worked, so I can’t say no.”

Tachibana-san pulls away from me and stands up.

“You don’t like girls with fiancés, do you, President?”

“It’s not like that.”

“But you won’t kiss me.”

“It’s not right,” I say.

“I see. Then I’ll never kiss anyone my whole life.”

“Why?”

“Hey, Shirou-kun.”

Tachibana-san suddenly calls me by my first name.

“Do you know?”

“Know what?”

“Back in the karaoke room, we talked about your first love.”

The story from when I was little, telling the first girl I liked, I don’t want you getting close to other boys.

“You remembered a ten-year-old story pretty well.”

“It was my first love.”

“But the truth’s a bit different.”

Tachibana-san says.

“To be exact, you told that girl, I don’t want any other boy to even touch a single finger of yours.”

“That’s even more embarrassing.”

“Yeah. But that girl took it seriously. Even ten years later, she can’t touch other boys, doesn’t want to be touched by them, and can’t feel her heart race unless it’s with that boy.”

Tachibana-san’s glass-like eyes hold me captive.

“Hey.”

Her cool hand touches my cheek.

“Do you know?”

“Know what?”

Tachibana-san leans so close that a slight move would make our lips meet, and says.

“You know that girl was me, right?”

I can’t say anything.

I know that saying something here would change our relationship drastically. But for some reason, Hayasaka-san’s face flashes in my mind, and I still can’t speak. Maybe I’m scared of the change that speaking would bring.

After staring at each other for a while, Tachibana-san pulls away.

“Well, whatever.”

She gets ready to leave and walks out of the clubroom without a second thought.

Alone in the room, my eyes fall on the Pocky packet.

I pick up a stick and put it in my mouth.

It’s not enough. Seems I can’t be satisfied without that wet cracker anymore.

Tachibana-san, you really got me.

While eating the Pocky, I recall her words.

You know that girl was me, right?

I know.

That’s why you’re special, Tachibana-san, and no matter what, you’re my number-one girl.