Part 3
A whole day passed, and it was the next day after school.
Himari wasn’t around because of a committee meeting.
This kind of thing happened often. I tend to forget it, but Himari is seen as a model student. She’s actively involved in committee work and volunteer activities.
...Well, it’s probably largely to keep up appearances for her family. Being born into a wealthy household must come with its own challenges.
Before heading to the science lab, I stopped by the vending machine corner to buy a Yogurppe. I’ve gotten hooked on lactic acid drinks because Himari often has me drinking them.
I inserted a coin into the vending machine and pressed the button. A paper carton dropped into the pickup slot.
"Sometimes, the quiet isn’t so bad."
Spending time with Himari is fun, but Dad once said a true man knows how to enjoy silence too. I know he only said that because he couldn’t win an argument with Mom, but I don’t dislike the sentiment—it’s kind of dandy.
"...Huh?"
Ahead, a female student was walking toward me.
She had straight black hair with a slight reddish tint.
Her eyes were sharp, giving her a somewhat stern impression.
Her uniform was worn loosely, with the front of her shirt open wider than usual.
Judging by the color of her tie’s stripes, she was in the same year as me—second year.
I didn’t know her name. I don’t think she was in my class last year, either.
...I thought she was incredibly beautiful.
Though, if I were to compare, Himari’s beauty had a calming quality. It was like she was a forest spirit dwelling in a serene woodland. In a game, she’d be the kind of character who restores your health when travelers meet her.
But this black-haired girl gave off the impression of a sharp knife. To put it simply, she seemed modern, or maybe… the type who would casually badmouth her boyfriend behind his back. She had a similar vibe to my older sisters.
“……”
She glared at me sharply.
Uh-oh. She caught me staring. I quickly averted my gaze… I’m just a simple guy, after all.
By the way, I have a love-hate relationship with beautiful women.
It might sound contradictory, but what I mean is: “They’re great as inspiration for accessory designs.” Actually talking to them, though? That’s terrifying. Nope, not happening. Beautiful women are at their best when they’re silent.
Even now, I was imagining what kind of accessories would suit this black-haired girl.
From a glance, she seemed like the type who’s consciously stylish. Her makeup was perfectly done, and she hadn’t forgotten to accentuate herself with accessories. Hair clips, a necklace… She had just the right amount of adornment above her neck. More wouldn’t necessarily make it better.
That meant the only space left for my imaginary accessory was below her neck. She had light-colored nail polish, so a ring might clash too much. That left her wrist as the best target.
(Yeah, something like a relaxed bracelet… wait, what?)
What caught my eye was her left hand, resting lightly on the bag slung over her shoulder.
On her wrist, there it was—my flower-themed accessory.
The Queen of the Night.
Its petals were white, large, and lustrous—a flower that could be described as the epitome of beauty. The flower’s meanings matched its striking appearance: “Dazzling beauty,” “Fleeting love,” and “I just wanted to meet you, even if only once.”
…I remember it.
The Queen of the Night has blooms about the size of a palm. After preserving it as a dried flower, I carefully disassembled the petals and stamens to create accessories. Just like Himari’s choker, I encased the pieces in resin, shaping them into a heart, and then attached them to a metal bracelet.
That was one of the items I sold two years ago at our junior high school culture festival. It was one of my best works from that time. The emotional resonance of the flower’s meanings made it unforgettable.
…So there’s still someone besides Himari who wears one of my pieces from back then.
Unlike exposed preserved flowers, resin-encased ones can last for years with proper care.
But, in the end, accessories are just accessories. For women, they’re like fleeting companions—meant to match a moment, a phase. Unless it’s something special like a wedding ring, I always thought only a weirdo like Himari would keep wearing the same accessory forever.
It doesn’t make me sad. That’s just how it is.
I’m confident in my work, but I don’t expect the people who buy it to feel the same way forever. Thinking they’ll treasure the emotions I put into a piece indefinitely? That would be sheer arrogance.
So yeah, I was just a little surprised.
(Was someone that beautiful really one of my customers…?)
It’s no wonder I don’t remember. Back then, I was stuck handling payments and barely had time to breathe.
For now, I’ll treat this unexpected reunion with the Queen of the Night as a small, heartwarming episode to share with Himari when I get home. She’ll definitely tease me with, “Wait, don’t tell me you’ve fallen for her? Really fallen for her?”—I can already see it coming.
I took the Yogurppe from the vending machine and passed by the black-haired girl.
She stepped up to the vending machine and pulled out her wallet. Probably grabbing something to drink after her club activities.
As I walked away, I inserted the straw into the drink’s carton. Then it hit me: “Oh, right, I was supposed to save this for later.”
Should I buy a second one? But if I went back now, it’d look a bit suspicious…
I glanced over my shoulder, hoping the black-haired girl had already left. But nope, she was still there, just about to insert her coins.
That’s when I noticed something.
The Queen of the Night bracelet on her left wrist had suddenly vanished. Had she put it into her bag in the meantime? With that thought, my eyes instinctively drifted downward.
At the same moment, the black-haired girl lowered her gaze to pick up the drink she had purchased.
“──Ah.”
That sound—whose voice was it?
It might have been hers. The unexpectedly soft and cute tone made me think so. Or maybe we both said it at the same time. Either way, our eyes were locked on the same thing.
At the black-haired girl’s feet…
The Queen of the Night had fallen to the ground.
The bracelet’s joint had snapped. It was something I’d made using materials bought with our middle school club budget. Wear and tear over time was only natural. Honestly, it had lasted surprisingly long.
My feelings about it were… well, indifferent.
Not calm, exactly… no, indifferent was the right word. I’ve made hundreds of accessories. While I pour passion into each one, I rarely look back on them.
After all, accessories are consumables.
They’re meant to be fleeting encounters, and that’s their value.
If you misunderstand that essence, it’s not a viable business. What Himari and I strive to create is something unique but not irreplaceable. Not art for art’s sake, but craftsmanship.
But maybe, for this girl, it was different.
“No… no way!”
The black-haired girl hastily picked up the accessory.
She carefully wiped the resin surface with her handkerchief, checking for scratches. Just from her movements, I could tell she valued the accessory deeply.
She touched the worn and broken part, then quickly withdrew her hand as if startled. She must have accidentally pricked her fingertip on the sharp edge. She brought her finger to her lips, but her gaze never left the broken accessory.
Her eyes… they looked a little teary.
She seemed like the type who’d just toss a broken accessory into the nearest trash can. Yet here she was, staring at it as though her world had ended. That expression pierced me.
And before I knew it, I’d spoken to her.
“I can fix that, you know…”
“Huh?”
The black-haired girl looked up at me with a puzzled expression.
But I found myself staring at the black-haired girl’s beautiful face. …Why? I’m terrible with beautiful women. Honestly, if it’s someone I’m meeting for the first time, I can’t even make eye contact.
And then—almost as if to snuff out the nervous flutter in my chest—she spoke coldly, cutting through it all.
“What’s your deal, all of a sudden?”
Oof, that was harsh…!
It was just one sentence, but it carried enough force to shatter the atmosphere completely.
Well, yeah. If a stranger suddenly said, “I can fix that accessory for you,” you’d obviously think they were sketchy. If this happened outside of school, I’d probably end up explaining myself to the police.
And besides, if she wanted to fix it, she could just go to any accessory shop. Although, since it’s a custom piece, she might be reluctant to trust anyone with it.
“Ah—sorry. Uh, it just looked like you really cared about it, so I… Just forget I said anything.”
And then I ran.
The trail of Yogurppe I spilled from my straw was evidence of my escape, but I had no time to worry about that.
This was so embarrassing.
If I told Himari about this, she’d laugh so hard, saying something like “Pfft! Oh my gosh!” with that smug grin on her face. No way I’m telling her. I’m taking this one to the grave!
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