Chapter 3: Love and a Sleepover During Golden Week
Plans for GW (Golden Week)
“Hey, Ritsu~. Hell is coming for me soon… Save me, please~.”
Lunchtime. As I was spreading out my lunch on my desk, Kawaguchi came running over with a pathetic voice.
He clung to my desk and looked at me with teary eyes.
It’s honestly unfortunate how a big, muscular guy doing that doesn’t look the slightest bit cute.
Kambayashi, who had come over more slowly after him, peeled him off and gently chided, “Your lunch is going to fall.”
“Save you? What, something bad’s happening?”
“If it’s you, Ritsuemon, I figured you could do something! A training camp in the mountains? I’m seriously gonna die out there!”
“Hey, Kambayashi. Burial or cremation, which do you think’s better?”
“Hmm, that’s a tough one. Oh, but before that, do you think a school uniform is fine for the funeral?”
“Should be fine, right?”
“Can you not talk like I’m already dead?!?!”
Saying that, Kawaguchi grabbed Kambayashi by the shoulders and shook him vigorously.
His head bobbed back and forth as Kambayashi joked, “Ugh, I’m getting dizzy~.”
“So, what’s got you so worked up?”
“Golden Week’s coming up, right? While the rest of the world’s on vacation, I’ve got hellish training camp! Five whole days… from morning till night… running back up the mountain trail after every meal… Someone’s definitely gonna die…”
“Huh. So, Kambayashi, what are you doing during the break?”
“I’m helping out with the training camp. I kinda got asked to.”
“Oh yeah? That sounds rough.”
“Totally. But someone’s gotta look after the kids, too. I’ve resigned myself to it.”
“Babysitting, huh~”
“You guys lost interest in me way too fast!!”
This time, I got grabbed and shaken.
Our classmates nearby giggled as they watched.
Well, it’s just our usual antics, so it was probably more like, “There they go again.”
As we kept chatting—
“Heeey~! I heard someone say ‘kids’—are you talking about Kurumi~??”
Matsui, who was nearby, turned toward us and puffed up her cheeks as she spoke.
“We were just talking about what we’re doing during the break.”
“Oooh, that conversation~”
“So, what about you, Matsui?”
“Fufufu~ I got asked to be a helper during the break, so I’m going to lend a hand! Apparently, if Kurumi cheers for them, they can win~!”
“Like a lucky beckoning cat or something.”
“Yup! With a nya~on, I’ll cheer everyone up!”
Matsui giggled and made a catlike gesture, giving a playful wink.
She mimicked a cat with her whole body, and her skirt crept dangerously high.
That kind of move might come off as calculated, but maybe because it was energetic ol' her doing it, it didn’t feel off-putting at all.
Yeah, it’s probably because she’s like that that they ask her to come cheer.
Just watching her would probably ease people’s nerves.
Though… she’s totally getting stared at.
I mean, with moves like that, of course she’s drawing attention, but still…
“What are you doing, pretending to be a cat? Look, everyone’s watching, it’s embarrassing.”
She must’ve had the same thought as me.
Suzune came over with Rurina and reached out to press down on Matsui’s skirt.
“Ehh~? Come on, Kirinee~”
“I don’t mind if you do it, but maybe be a little more aware of your surroundings? I mean, you’re not wearing pants.”
“Muu. But kitty-chan’s cute…”
“Even if it’s cute, it’s still a no.”
“Ah! I know! Then you should try it too, Kirinee—then you’ll get how cute it is!”
Her eyes sparkled as she said, “Let’s do it together~,” trying to pull Suzune in.
Suzune blushed and quickly turned away.
“Not happening…”
"No waaay... I really wanted to see you do the kitty pose~!"
"There’s no demand for that kind of thing."
"There is! Right, everyone??"
Matsui looked around at the other classmates, seeking agreement.
(I’d totally love to see that.)
(Cool-as-ice Kirisaki acting like a cat? That’s totally my thing!)
Voices like that filled the air, though the guys all pretended not to hear.
Well, Suzune looked seriously annoyed... It’s no wonder they were too scared to say anything out loud.
"Anyway... I don’t do that kind of thing."
"So stingy~!!"
Matsui lightly patted Suzune like a pouting child throwing a fit.
Usually that would break someone down, but Suzune clearly had no intention of giving in.
Watching the two of them go back and forth, Rurina—
[I'll do it.] (...She looks so sad. In that case, maybe I should do it instead.)
She wrote that down and held it up for us to see.
(T/N: Cute)
And then, right away, she mimicked Matsui, striking a beckoning-cat pose with her hand—expressionless, yet still.
Without saying a word, she tilted her head just slightly in a cute way, and it really did make her look like a cat.
(Kurusu-san as a cat is totally a yes…)
(The silence makes it even better!!)
…Our classmates sure are honest with their desires.
They're getting way too hyped over this…
Well, I’ll admit—it was cute.
As I was thinking that, Suzune came over and spoke to me in a hushed voice.
“Hey, Ritsu.”
“Yeah?”
“Do you like that kind of stuff? Those gestures, I mean.”
“I don’t dislike it. I mean, I think most people wouldn’t, right?”
“Hmm…”
“You don’t sound that interested for someone who asked.”
“That’s not true. I’m super interested~”
“Didn’t feel that from your tone at all.”
“Really? Well, anyway, I’m glad to know that sort of thing is a yes for you, Ritsu.”
Suzune gave a sly, meaningful smile.
“Guess it’s about time I get going with Rurina to prepare for the next class.”
“Want me to come help too?”
“No need for three people. Besides, we’ve got a kitty to round up first. C’mon, Rurina~”
Rurina nodded in response to Suzune calling her.
Then, as the two of them approached me, Rurina once again did the cat pose from earlier, looking straight at me.
(…Do I look good as a kitty? Meow...)
Unlike before, her expression was softer, more gentle.
When I clapped my hands lightly, she gave a shy, pleased little smile.
“See you later,” Suzune said, and then left the classroom with Rurina.
With the two of them gone, the classroom quickly returned to its usual noisy, chaotic atmosphere, and the weird excitement from earlier vanished like mist.
“Oh, right. We got sidetracked, but what about you, Ritsu—any plans for this long break?”
“I’m planning to just enjoy myself moderately. It’s a rare vacation after all.”
“A date, maybe?”
“Yeah, probably. Though everywhere will be super crowded, so that’s kind of a downer.”
“That can’t be helped. But hey, times like this are when a couple’s bond gets tested, right?”
“Yeah, that’s true. I’ll make sure not to mess up.”
“Hmm~? I don’t really get it, but like, what kind of stuff should I be careful about??”
“Not showing frustration over long wait times, not being rude to staff, never looking at your phone, keeping the conversation going... stuff like that.”
“There’s that much to think about…?”
“Haha. That’s the bare minimum. You never know what’ll kill the mood for them.”
“Man, for real? I learned a lot just now—thanks, man.”
Kawaguchi nodded, looking genuinely impressed.
Although, to be honest, everything I just listed came from a random article I’d read about “things that kill the vibe on dates.” I’ve never actually experienced any of it.
I don’t even go to places like that to begin with.
Crowded amusement parks and sightseeing spots just give me a headache…
Too many voices around means I end up hearing all kinds of inner voices too.
(…Phew. Finally done with student council work… A conversation this juicy? No way I’m not jumping in! Time for intel gathering—let’s gooo!)
That scheming little inner voice came drifting my way, and when I turned toward the sound, I saw Hinamori walking straight toward us.
The moment our eyes met, she tilted her head with an angelic smile.
She was clearly in top form today, as usual.
"Fufu. Looks like you’re all having fun chatting. Could it be… love talk?"
"Wait, how did you even jump to that conclusion?"
"A group of boys and girls talking together… sounds just like youthful romance. I love it!"
"Yeah yeah. We’re not talking about that, though. And you really do love that stuff, huh, Hinamori?"
"Of course I do. All girls love love stories! Listening to heart-fluttering moments just melts the soul~"
"That so…"
"You don’t sound very into it, huh? (As always, such a lukewarm response! But don’t worry—I will drag you into my arena by force if I have to!)"
Maybe it was the number of classmates around, but Hinamori was acting a bit more reserved than usual.
Trying hard to keep up her pure, demure act.
"Listen up, Kaburagi-san. You’re not exactly uninvolved in this either, you know?"
"Huh?"
"This time of year is when relationships really start shifting. I call it… Golden Week Magic!"
She declared this with absolute confidence, but judging by the puzzled looks on everyone’s faces—including mine—it didn’t seem like anyone else got the reference.
We all just tilted our heads and looked at each other in confusion.
"Golden what?"
"Fufu. Think about it: a new class environment, new surroundings… and now that we’re in our second year, people are starting to change how they look too. It’s the stage of growth—bodies becoming more mature, even if our hearts are still catching up. That imbalance creates a storm of new couples!"
"Really? Kurumi doesn’t really get it~"
"For example, take a look at this. This is the number of new couples that formed this month. Ah, by the way, this is based on my investigation, so the numbers might be a bit off. (…Gotta be extra careful with people who are already taken. I do not want to be labeled 'the girl who stole someone’s boyfriend.' That’d be such a hassle.)"
"Hina-chan, you’re amazing! You even know stuff like that?"
"That’s what the student council is for."
"Student council is so cool! It’s like a squad of elite pros!"
"Fufu. I won’t argue with that~"
…She’s not even pretending to be humble, huh.
But then again, she’s always overflowing with confidence.
"So what about you, Hina-chan? Any plans for Golden Week?"
"I’ll be helping out at home. It gets pretty busy this time of year."
"Ehh? Then you won’t get to rest at all!"
"It’s nothing new. I’m used to it. And it’s not every single day, so I do get a bit of free time. After all, my Golden Week plans are kind of legendary. (…Well, actually, I’ve hardly ever gone anywhere fun during break. I did get one day off this time, but instead, I’ve been roped into doing extra math practice. Ughhh…)"
Her inner voice sounded so full of despair…
Even though she’s smiling so brightly, there’s this tragic aura just pouring off her.
Yeah… not being able to enjoy the holidays while everyone else is is definitely rough.
This might’ve been one of those “you shouldn’t ask” situations…
"Ah!"
"What’s wrong?"
"Hina-chan! I totally forgot—I have that training camp meeting thingy!"
"Oh dear… then you better get going, quick!"
"Ughhh they’re gonna scold meee… Kanchan, Gussan, come with me~"
"I get Gussan, but… me too?"
"You’re gonna make Kurumi go alone? That’d be useless! I’ll get yelled at and it’ll hurt, you know??"
"You don’t have to say that with such confidence… sigh, alright. I’m coming too."
"Ugh, fine. No choice, huh."
Matsui led the two of them out of the classroom.
Yeah… no one can really say no when she gives you that watery-eyed puppy stare.
"Off they go."
"Yep. Guess I’ll finish up my lunch and get ready for the next class."
"Next is math, right?"
"Oh boy, can’t wait."
"Don’t you mean can’t escape hell?"
"Whoa. That’s a seriously cold look..."
"You're looking at me like I killed your parents or something."
"Really, Hinamori is just hopeless at math."
I give a wry smile and shrug my shoulders.
"Don’t say that. Even if you’re bad at it, if you keep at it without giving up, you can overcome it."
"Will I be able to get a perfect score?"
"You’ll probably be able to get at least half, right?"
"That’s still kinda meh, isn’t it?"
"You’re always hovering around failing, so that’d be an improvement, no? Well, if you need help, I’ll teach you."
"Eh, you’ll teach me? Thank you so much!"
"It’s fine. As long as I’m free."
"I see… (If that’s the case, I can use studying as an excuse to go out during the break… Maybe I could even visit Kaburagi-san’s house and search for his weaknesses. Fufufu… this is a devilish plan.)"
"If we’re doing it, it’s going to be at school."
Hinamori looks blank for a moment, then her face turns red as she realizes her thoughts got seen through.
"I-I wasn’t… thinking about going to your house or anything, okay?"
"Sorry, sorry. I just figured that’s what you were thinking. No way a girl would go to a guy’s house, right?"
"Ah, um… Kaburagi-san, you’re really mean."
She sticks out her tongue in protest and walks back to her seat.
I glance at her out of the corner of my eye and see her pulling out her phone and fiddling with it.
A little while later, my phone vibrates, and I get a message from Hinamori.
‘You are going to help me study, no matter what!’
Simple, considering how long it probably took her to write it.
…Well, since I said it, I’ve got to follow through.
I reply, ‘Got it. I’ll make time.’
When I glance at Hinamori, she’s looking at her phone with a really happy expression.
(For the first time in my life… I’ve got plans during Golden Week that aren’t just staying at home~! Sakura, total victory!! This is gonna be fun~)
A heart's voice loud enough to be a shout.
It made me feel a little embarrassed—you don't have to be that happy, I thought.
But seeing her so innocently overjoyed, I couldn’t help but smile.
Hinamori’s Counseling Session
──Normie couples, please explode.
I hate Golden Week.
Especially seeing the so-called riajuu types—that’s what I hate even more.
People like that will be out there tomorrow, all excited and having the time of their lives during the holidays… haaahh.
For example, people with a partner will probably go on dates, and college students or working adults with money might even go traveling.
Even if you don’t have a boyfriend or girlfriend, you can still hang out with friends.
Or you might go out with your family to eat something delicious.
…There’s also club activities, sports teams, piano lessons—if I start listing them, there’s no end.
Golden Week has all kinds of ways to be spent.
That’s probably why, like that classmate earlier, everyone gets so hyped up for long breaks.
But unfortunately, I’m different.
If anything, I’m bad with long holidays.
Summer break in particular—it’s nothing but the worst time of the year.
Yeah yeah, I know.
Depending on how you look at it, I’m probably pretty fortunate.
My future is, in a way, already set, so I don’t have any of those vague anxieties. And my family’s pretty stable too…
But still… when I look around, I can’t help but feel jealous.
So I end up flipping through travel magazines, checking out recommended sightseeing spots, even imagining my “ideal date” or whatever.
Imagination is free, after all… though, it does get kind of depressing…
In the end, it’s not so much that I hate it—I’m just jealous and bitter…
Haaahh. I really am ugly on the inside…
As I changed back into my uniform, I let out a heavy sigh.
"What's wrong? You look kind of down—was gym class that tiring?"
"N-No, not at all. Gym didn’t tire me out at all."
【Don’t push yourself】
"I'm really fine. Wait, why are you carrying a cooler bag?"
【I brought honey lemon】
"Ah, they say it's good for recovering from fatigue~"
【If you’d like some】
Urged by Kurusu-san, both Suzune-chan and I accepted the honey lemon she offered.
…She’s really prepared, huh.
And it looks like she even brought other things too…
Could it be… for Kaburagi-san?
Well, no way. That’s probably not it.
I enjoyed the perfectly balanced sweet and sour flavor, and once I finished, I turned toward Kurusu-san.
"It was delicious. Thank you so much."
"Thanks, Rurina."
【Don’t mention it】
Kurusu-san gave a slightly awkward smile and bowed her head a little.
She still doesn’t seem very good at smiling, but I think her expression’s gotten a little softer compared to before.
It’s still hard to read her face sometimes, but… somehow, she seems kind of happy.
Maybe… was she happy that we ate what she brought?
Hmm… I don’t really know.
Kaburagi-san always seems to understand Kurusu-san perfectly though…
Thinking about that just makes me realize how much I still lack in reading people… huh?
While I was lost in thought, I felt something gently brush against my shoulder.
When I turned around, Kurusu-san was shyly reaching out her hand, and when our eyes met, she jumped a little in surprise.
“U-Um, is something wrong?”
【I’d like to consult you about something】
“Of course! Did something happen?”
【I want to hear your recommendations】
“Recommendations? Ah—could it be for Golden Week??”
When I said that, Kurusu-san nodded enthusiastically.
Looks like I hit the mark.
If that’s the case, then I know exactly what I need to do.
“Fufufu. If that’s what you’re after, then leave it to me! You can count on me like you’re boarding a mighty ship! When it comes to GWM, I’m flawless.”
I placed a hand on my hip and tapped my chest proudly with the other.
Fufufu… Personally, I think that was a pretty smooth delivery.
As expected of me.
“…Hmm? ‘GWM’?”
“You don’t know, Suzune-chan? It stands for Golden Week Master~”
“Don’t say that like it’s common knowledge or something! I’ve never heard that in my life.”
“Fufu. In my world, it’s common sense.”
“So basically, that makes it nonsense.”
“Mumu. Did you say something?”
“Nope, nothing~”
—I heard all of that, just so you know!
Well, she’s just teasing me a bit, so it’s not like I need to get worked up over it.
After all, my heart is broader than the sea!
“S-So, Suzune-chan? I’ll start sharing ideas now, okay?”
“You’re acting like you’re holding something back really hard… Are you sure you’re okay?”
“No problem at all. My heart is as calm as an active volcano.”
“Can you even call that calm?”
I took a deep breath and centered myself.
Then, wearing my usual gentle expression, I looked at the two of them.
…For some reason, Kurusu-san is clapping now.
“In any case, leave the advice to me. I’m a pro when it comes to having fun!”
“You say that, but don’t you mostly just help out at home?”
“Well, yeah, pretty much. I’ve barely gone out to have fun at all!”
“You say that with such pride? Well… good job, I guess.”
“Thank you very much! But thanks to that, my imagination is top-tier, so I can at least provide you with the best plans~”
“Eh, ah… right. Um, sorry.”
“…When you look at me like you pity me, it actually kind of hurts, you know?”
【Cheer up】
“Kurusu-san, please don’t pat my head~!”
Suzune-chan and I both gave a dry laugh as Kurusu-san gently patted my head for some reason.
She treated me like a little kid, so I gave her a look of protest.
Then I gave a small cough to reset the mood.
“Alright, let’s get back on track. Before we get into ideas, I’d like to hear what you’re hoping for. Kurusu-san probably needs time to think, so let’s start with an example—Suzune-chan, go ahead.”
“Eh, me?”
“There are lots of ways to spend the time, but Suzune-chan, do you have anything in mind you’d like to do? Or any preferences or conditions? I’ll use my internal search engine to figure out the best options for you!”
—At the very least, I’ve got the knowledge for it.
I’ll do my best to meet both of their requests.
If I can answer perfectly, they’ll definitely say, “Wow! As expected!!”
“Well, since you offered, I guess I’ll ask…”
“Please do, please do~”
“Hmm… like, for example… what if I wanted to spend time together…?”
“That’s super vague.”
“It’s fine, okay… I don’t really know either…”
Suzune-chan looked a bit embarrassed and turned her face away.
…That reaction is so cute.
Should I give her a little push here?
She’s probably trying to figure out how to spend time with Kaburagi-san, after all.
“If we’re going with the classics, I’d say… at home. Of course, going out to a tourist spot for a date is nice too, but being somewhere relaxing has its own charm. Plus, at home you can even show off your special skills.”
“Show off my skills… Yeah, maybe I’ll be brave and try visiting his place.”
“Fufu. Do your best.”
I hope it goes well.
Becoming closer is always a good thing.
Next up…
I turned my gaze to Kurusu-san.
She immediately held up her tablet like she’d been waiting for her turn.
【A place where I can feel at peace】
“A place to relax… let’s see~. A vacation home, maybe? Well, assuming you have one.”
【What’s good about a vacation home?】
“Spending time somewhere different helps refresh your mind, and being surrounded by nature is super soothing~”
【I don’t have a vacation home…】
“If it’s nature you want to enjoy, then maybe a countryside kominka—a traditional Japanese house—would be nice. Of course, if that’s not an option, even forest bathing would──”
【I want to go to a kominka!】
“O-Oh, I see. Please do try it out.”
【Thank you, Master】
She reacted so fast I barely had time to breathe.
I’m more shocked at how quickly she typed.
Still, she seems kind of excited and cheerful now~
If my suggestions helped her organize her thoughts, then I’m happy.
“Thanks, Sakura.”
“Not at all~ Please enjoy it for me, too!”
“Yeah. But if you end up having any free time, let me know. I’ll definitely make time.”
“Fufu. I’d love that, if it happens.”
Even if it’s just a polite gesture, it still makes me happy.
It’d be nice if we could hang out one day, but this time might be tricky.
I changed into my uniform and started fixing my hair in the mirror.
Thanks to P.E., the top of my hair was kind of messy.
“Mumumu… This won’t do at all for a maiden.”
“Sakura, let’s go already—!”
“Ah—go ahead without me! I haven’t fixed my hair yet… I can’t show myself like this.”
“…Got it. We’ll go on ahead, but the next class is in the chemistry lab, okay?”
“Fufu. I know.”
Suzune-chan said that and left the room with Kurusu-san.
Kurusu-san looked like she wanted to wait for me, but Suzune-chan picked up on it and pulled her along.
I just wanted a moment alone… to let my guard down a little.
“Hmm. My shoulders really are stiff~”
I stretched my body out with a big motion.
Then I checked my hairstyle in a small mirror and made sure my expression looked okay.
“Alright, perfect. Time to get pumped for the holiday starting tomorrow!”
I’ll look forward to hearing everyone’s stories when we come back.
Just listening to fun stories can be fun in itself.
There’s no point in getting caught up in every little up and down, after all.
As I was thinking that, my phone buzzed and lit up.
A message from Kaburagi-san popped up on the screen:
“Is the day after tomorrow okay for studying?”
“Fufu. That’s right. I made plans with my friends this time…”
A smile naturally spilled across my face, and at the same time, I felt my cheeks grow warm.
Realizing the change in myself, I quickly came to my senses and pulled at my cheeks, trying to bring my expression back under control.
A Sleepover with Suzune
The first day of Golden Week.
I had come to school to study with Suzune.
Even though we weren’t exam students, we’d been studying since morning, with breaks only around mealtimes.
Maybe because we were both focused and didn’t chat much, before I realized it, the sun had set, and it was completely dark outside.
I stretched and let out a breath.
“Hmm, let’s call it here. I overdid it—my hands hurt.”
“Same here, I think I’m tired too. My shoulders are so stiff~”
“Even though it’s a holiday, we’ve been studying this late... I know I’m saying it myself, but we’re pretty serious, huh.”
“Ahaha. True~. But, maybe it was worth coming, since I could concentrate so well.”
Suzune laughed happily while packing up.
Just as I was about to say something else, the chime signaling the final school departure time rang out, as if urging us to go home.
“Crap, we gotta leave quick.”
Hastily putting away our reference books, we stepped out of the school.
We walked side by side, as people who’d finished their club activities passed by on their bikes.
Since they passed right beside us, I tried to walk more on the roadside.
“There’s still a lot of people out even at this hour, huh.”
“Yeah.”
“Wanna change the route? The bikes are kinda scary.”
“Hmm? Sure, I don’t mind.”
Led by Suzune, we changed our route and walked along a countryside path by the rice fields.
True, there were fewer people and no scary bikes, but it was a big detour to the station.
Which meant... what I was worried about was—
“The last train comes pretty early, right? Think you’ll make it? It’s almost 10 PM.”
“Hmm? Well, probably just barely, I guess?”
When I asked, Suzune answered casually, completely different from my worried tone.
...Is she really gonna be okay?
I knew pretty well where Suzune lived.
It wasn’t exactly close from here, and if we were talking last train, the cutoff was around 11 PM.
If the train got delayed even a little, she might miss a transfer and not be able to get home.
And on top of that, school is already far from the station—we’re making it even worse with this detour…
I figured we’d make it if we walked fast, but Suzune didn’t seem in any rush at all—she was just enjoying the conversation.
…Something’s not sitting right with me.
On top of that, her bag today is weirdly big.
I thought she just brought a ton of reference books, but she hadn’t taken out that many kinds.
If she were a student preparing for entrance exams, she might carry a bunch around for cram school.
It’s not like it’s too early to start exam prep, but…
Still, it’s the kind of bag you’d take on a trip or something… huh?
A question popped up in my mind—and I felt like I had reached the answer.
To confirm it, I asked—
“Hey, Suzune. Are you… maybe planning to stay somewhere overnight?”
I pointed at the big bag she was carrying and asked.
Suzune blinked her large eyes, then smiled sweetly.
“Hey… can I come over to your place now?”
“Eehhh?”
“Why the broken Japanese? I meant it literally—so, is it okay??”
“I knew it… so I didn’t mishear…”
So that’s why she wasn’t worried about the last train, and didn’t plan to go home in the first place.
I let out a sigh and looked at Suzune’s face.
“See, it’s Golden Week starting today, right? So I was thinking—it’d be fun to have a sleepover~”
“I mean, I get how you feel… but what about my opinion?”
“Hm? Didn’t you just say it?”
“There’s no way I’d be okay with that—it’s way too sudden.”
“Well, if Ritsu says it’s impossible, I’ll give up. Aaah, but my bag’s so heavy… and I’m cutting it close for the last train, so running is rough… and this thing is really heavy…”
“…………”
“It’s hard for a delicate girl, you know… Isn’t there some kind soul out there who could help me~?”
“You were planning to stay over from the start, weren’t you?”
I gave a wry smile and shrugged at Suzune’s attitude.
She wasn’t even trying to hide it—it was such an over-the-top act, it was almost funny.
Suzune gave a vague smile in response to my question.
“Ah, you caught on?”
“It was way too obvious…”
“Ahaha, sorryyy. But I just… really wanted to talk with Ritsu more, and that’s the only thing I could think of. If I said something ahead of time, you’d just dodge it anyway.”
She seemed to know she’d been pushy, and looked a little apologetic.
Then she looked up at the night sky and fell silent.
…Maybe if I made more of an effort to meet her halfway, I’d start to see things more clearly too.
Watching her, I suddenly remembered something my sister once said, and that thought crossed my mind.
“…Alright. But I don’t have much I can lend you, like clothes or anything.”
“That’s fine. I brought everything I need.”
Suzune spoke in that usual voice of hers that didn’t show much emotion.
But still—
(…I’m so glad. But my heart’s racing… I’m gonna die from this…)
From her calm façade, a voice like that spilled out loud and clear.
*
“I'm sorry to bother you... (First impressions are everything…)”
Suzune stepped inside, greeting a little shyly.
Luckily, it looked like my sister wasn’t home—there was no response.
Instead—
(…She’s not here? That means… we’re alone together!? Wh-Wh-What do I do…!?)
She seemed really nervous. I could hear her inner voice loud and clear, which didn’t usually happen.
Her expression didn’t change... or, well, maybe her face was a little red?
I mean, if she’s that tense, it’s making me feel self-conscious too...
“W-Well, come on in.”
“Y-Yeah.”
We both ended up talking weird.
Sitting side by side on the sofa, silence hung between us.
This is so awkward...
Trying to break the tension somehow, I turned to look at Suzune—and bumped heads with her, thunk.
“Ow…”
“Oww…”
Rubbing our heads, our eyes met.
We were probably thinking the exact same thing.
We were so in sync, it was kind of funny—and we both burst into laughter with an “Ahaha!”
“Ahh, that was hilarious. So funny~”
“Terrible timing, though.”
“Totally. Oh—hey, are you hungry??”
“Hmm? Now that you mention it, we haven’t had dinner… and now that I’m thinking about it, I’m really starving.”
I held my stomach for emphasis, and Suzune broke into a cheerful smile.
I smiled back—and then she leaned against me from behind, looking up at me from below.
“Maybe… it’s time for me to step up?”
“Huh?”
“I’m grateful to Ritsu, so I thought I’d repay that kindness.”
With those words, she sat up and began rummaging through her bag.
“…Why do you have a frying pan?”
“I said I’d repay your kindness, didn’t I?”
“Well, yeah, you did. But how does a frying pan connect to that...?”
“Huh? You, of all people, can’t figure it out just by looking?”
“Quit trying to provoke me like that…”
“Ahaha! Sorry, sorry.”
“So yeah, I’ll cook something.”
She pulled out an apron and, for some reason, struck a smug pose. I let out a sigh.
I silently gave her a long, deadpan stare.
Suzune, tilting her head in confusion, clearly didn’t understand what I meant by that.
“………………”
“I’m going to cook, okay?”
“I heard you the first time. No need to repeat it.”
“Then why’d you go quiet?”
Her voice had a slight pout to it.
“Look, like I said before—aren’t characters like you always bad at cooking? You know, like they try really hard but mess up, and then say something like, ‘I-it’s not like I made this for you or anything!’?”
“Haa… what exactly are you expecting from me…? The fact that you can mimic that voice so well just makes it more annoying.”
“Well, acting’s kind of my specialty.”
“Anyway—whatever you say, I’m going to cook now, to repay my debt.”
“Okay, okay, I get that you want to show gratitude. But why does it have to be through cooking?”
“Why not~?”
“I’ve got a bad feeling about this…”
She was speaking in her usual tone, but I could tell—there was a certain determination behind her words.
I glanced at her hands. No obvious signs like bandages or anything cliché like that…
But seeing the suspicion in my eyes, Suzune pouted unhappily.
"At least trust me a little, will you?"
"You’re not gonna end up with some black, unidentifiable lump or anything, right?"
"That doesn’t happen in real life! You watch too much manga."
"You’re not gonna wash rice with, like, J○y or something…?"
"That’s way too biased! I do know to use water, okay?"
She puffed out her chest proudly, wearing a smug grin.
Still, I couldn’t quite shake the image, and kept throwing her a doubtful look.
"Alright then. If you’re that worried, how about we make it a little competition?"
Suddenly, she struck a pose with the frying pan like she was challenging me to a duel.
"...A competition?"
"Yep. You’ll eat what I make, and the contest is: Would you want to eat it again, or not? If your tongue is impressed—I win."
"A contest means… there’s a penalty game, right?"
"Of course. The winner gets to ask the loser for one thing. Anything they want."
"Anything, huh... You sure you wanna go there?"
She was full of confidence, but man—those words were dangerous.
What if I took her seriously and asked for something totally out there?
Or maybe… she was just messing with me, like always.
If that’s the case, maybe I should scare her a little—make her back out of the whole punishment idea.
I gave her a sly grin, trying to intimidate her.
"Oh? You’re really okay with this? If I win, you don’t know what I might ask for."
"I don’t mind. Ask whatever you like."
"...You sure about that?"
"I mean, it’s not like you’d ever actually go through with it. You’ve got a surprisingly chicken side, Ritsu. You were totally hoping I’d back off if you said that, weren’t you~?"
"………"
"Ahaha! Bullseye, huh? You’ve still got a long way to go, Ritsu."
She giggled challengingly, clearly convinced I wouldn’t dare ask for anything big.
I stared at Suzune in silence.
She glanced away with a teasing smirk. “I mean, Ritsu’s basically like a grandpa—your ‘request’ would probably be something like a shoulder massage, right?”
"…………"
"What, nothing to say now?"
"...You’re really okay with this?"
"Huh...?"
I locked eyes with her, completely serious.
I didn’t look away, even when she did—just kept staring.
...If I go this far, she’s gotta back down.
Just as I expected, even the usually calm Suzune seemed caught off guard.
(Wait… is he being serious right now...?)
I heard the panicked voice in her head.
Any second now, she’ll get flustered and call it off…
…Huh?
For some reason, Suzune’s face turned bright red, and she started trembling slightly.
When I reached a hand out toward her, she flinched, just a bit, and looked up at me with wide, uncertain eyes.
…Something about the air between us had changed. Or maybe it was just me getting flustered now.
What the hell am I supposed to do—
"Hey, Ritsu! I'm back from drinks~. I saw some shoes by the door—Kurus—oh?"
Just like that, the awkward tension between us was shattered by a sudden voice from the hallway. The door to the living room swung open.
“…Huh? Sensei?”
"Ah—well, this is, um…"
"Wait a sec… did you just say Kurus?"
Our eyes met. A brief silence fell over the room.
Then both of them turned their gaze on me.
Ahh, crap… I messed up.
I got so caught up in the moment, I completely forgot she was supposed to be coming home.
"Riiitsu~? Is there another little secret you’ve been keeping?"
Ugh... that smile is terrifying.
And just like that, I found myself having to come clean to Suzune about my sister.
*
"I didn’t know about any of this, you know? Not a thing."
Her voice was icy, and the moment I heard it, I instinctively dropped into a formal kneeling position.
She sat there with her legs crossed, giving me that signature dead-eyed glare of hers, making absolutely no attempt to hide her irritation.
By the way—just so we're clear—my sister had already checked out and was off in dreamland.
She must’ve really gone hard on the drinks. Now she was sprawled out on the floor, mouth hanging open like some kind of abandoned puppet.
…This is when an adult should step in.
I complained in my head, of course. But naturally, no one heard me.
Putting my hands together, I turned to Suzune with my best apologetic face.
"I just… didn’t find the right time to bring it up. Sorry."
"You mean you never planned to say anything, right?"
"Aha… yeah, kind of hard to argue that."
"Sigh… Well, whatever. It’s not like it really matters to me. But I will say—Ritsu, you sure love keeping secrets."
"…That sounded kind of sharp."
"That’s because it was sharp."
She made no effort to mask her irritation, her lips still slightly pouting.
"And Rurina knew, huh? Well, at least that clears one thing up."
"Aha… yeah."
"So you stayed over, right?"
"I mean… things happened."
"Riiight. Sure. Uh-huh… Ohhh."
She poked my cheek with her finger and let out a long sigh.
Then her gaze drifted over to Saya, still passed out on the floor.
"Well, I guess knowing she’s your sister explains a lot about the whole Mochizuki-sensei thing."
"You mean Saya?"
"Yeah. If she’s your sister, it makes sense you two get along so well."
"Ah, yeah, I get that."
"I mean, I was starting to think you just had a thing for older women. I bet there’s still plenty of people who totally misread that."
"Wouldn’t surprise me."
"Knowing you, you probably let people assume that on purpose. I mean, she’s a gorgeous school nurse, and people already think she’s your type. Makes it easier for other girls to give up before even trying, right? Am I wrong?"
"I mean… not entirely."
"Hmm. Well, I guess I’ll go with that for now. Feels good to have it cleared up."
Stretching her arms up high, Suzune let out a content sigh and gave me a bright, toothy grin.
The irritation on her face had vanished, and she honestly looked a little refreshed.
"Alright, guess it’s time I finally make that dinner. Can I use whatever’s in the fridge?"
"Yeah, go ahead. There should be enough to work with."
"Okay~"
"Oh, but just so you know… I am pretty picky when it comes to food."
“Ahaha! Then you just wait right there, nice and patiently!”
With that, Suzune turned toward the kitchen and started cooking.
──Thirty minutes later.
“I sincerely apologize for doubting you.”
A flawless dogeza.
Forehead pressed to the floor, angle perfect, form immaculate. A true masterpiece of an apology.
Sigh… I lost. Completely.
That was all I could think as I looked up at Suzune, who now stood before me with her arms crossed, clearly reveling in her victory.
To put it simply—her cooking was incredible.
And I’m not just saying that. I was totally caught off guard by how good it was, to the point that I found myself scarfing it down like some cliché anime protagonist.
All she made was an omelette rice.
But seriously—why was it this good?
The fluffy, melty texture of the eggs, the perfect balance of flavor like she knew exactly what my taste buds wanted, and even the presentation—it was wrapped so neatly that just looking at it made my mouth water.
“Well, I guess you believe me now, huh?”
“Ahaha… Yeah, sorry. But with skills like that, you could’ve just brought a lunchbox to school from the start.”
“Ugh, do you know how much of a pain mornings are? Especially when I live so far from school.”
“Fair enough. Making a bento every morning would probably eat up your entire prep time.”
“Exactly. And besides… I like talking with you in the morning. Without that slow, peaceful start to my day, I just can’t function.”
“Yeah, I get that. It’d totally throw me off too.”
“Right?”
Our little morning routine had been going strong since the beginning of the school year.
Just like Suzune said, I liked those mornings too. They gave me a sense of calm before the chaos of the day.
And if she had to spend all that time making lunch, we’d lose that for sure. Her commute was already long enough as it was.
“Well then, I’ll go ahead and clean up the dishes.”
“Oh, I’ll bring the plates. I mean, I should at least do the washing, right?”
“I’ll handle it all the way through, thanks. But, you better be ready.”
With a bright smile and a little hum, Suzune started tidying up, clearly in high spirits.
“Now, what should I wish for? I’m really looking forward to your punishment game~”
She teased, tossing little glances my way with a mischievous grin every time our eyes met.
Once everything was cleaned up, she sat down beside me on the couch.
“So, what kind of level do you think would be fair?”
“Go easy on me, please.”
“Fufufu… In that case──”
Just as she was about to announce her demand, a bright flash of light poured in through the window, causing both of us to instinctively glance that way.
A literal interruption—rain pounded against the glass with surprising force.
Outside, lightning split the sky, followed by a delayed rumble of thunder.
“…I’m just glad it didn’t start raining until after you got here,” I said, turning toward Suzune seated next to me.
“…………”
“Suzune?”
For some reason, her expression was pale, and her face seemed somewhat tense.
The cheerfulness she had just moments ago was completely gone—she was frozen.
…What’s wrong?
Outside flashed again, and this time the sound of thunder followed almost immediately.
It seemed to have struck even closer than before.
“Kyah!?”
A surprisingly cute voice rang out beside me.
When I turned to look at Suzune, she averted her eyes.
“That voice just now…?”
“…I-I don’t know.”
“You don’t know? But it’s just the two of us here.”
“Haha, no way… must’ve been a hallucination—”
Outside flashed once more, and with a scream, Suzune clung to me.
She wrapped her arms around the back of my neck, trembling all over.
In the end, she didn’t even try to put on a brave face—her actions said it all.
“Suzune?”
“…Shut up.”
As she said that, she held onto me even tighter.
A sweet scent tickled my nose, and the softness characteristic of a girl pressed against me—but it didn’t seem like I had the luxury to pay attention to that right now.
“Hey… don’t tell me… you’re afraid of thunder?”
“…Yeah.”
Suzune replied weakly.
Each time the thunder rumbled, her body twitched and trembled in fear.
And each time, the strength of her grip around me grew stronger.
“Hey, you okay?”
“…Sorry. I really can’t handle it… It’s embarrassing, but…”
“Everyone has things they’re bad with. There’s nothing to be embarrassed about.”
“…Thanks.”
She gave a small thank you and then went quiet.
I tried to comfort her by gently patting her head.
Suzune glanced up at me, and when our eyes met—her eyes brimming with tears—she quickly hid her face again.
“…When I was a kid… there was a thunderstorm, and the power went out. My parents couldn’t make it home. I was still too little to stay by myself… It was a whole day. A whole day alone…”
“…That’s why you’re afraid of thunder.”
“Yeah. The fear from that time… I just can’t get it out of my head. I’m an adult now, and I know it’s probably fine, but… just hearing the sound makes my body react…”
“I see…”
“That’s why… being like this makes me feel safe…”
Suzune murmured softly.
“Hope it clears up soon.”
“…It’s complicated for me though.”
“Complicated?”
“No, never mind.”
Even when we peeked outside, it only seemed to be getting stronger, with no sign of letting up.
After staying like that for a while, the loudest thunder yet roared—and the house went completely dark.
“…Power outage.”
“It’s okay, it’s okay. The lights will be back on soon.”
“…Yeah.”
She had just talked about her trauma with power outages—and now this unfortunate timing.
Suzune shifted her position, pressing even closer against me.
Because I couldn’t see anything, I became all the more aware of everything.
…Her breath tickling my ear.
…The heat that made my heartbeat race.
All of it felt like it was shaking my very soul.
In that situation, where only the sound of rain and thunder could be heard, Suzune suddenly broke the silence.
“…Ritsu.”
“What is it?”
“Please… the punishment game…”
“Huh? The punishment game, in this situation…?”
“…Yeah…”
Suzune spoke in a small voice, then fell silent.
After a brief pause, she finally opened her mouth again.
“Please… I want to stay like this for tonight.”
I gently patted Suzune’s head and gave a short reply. “Yeah.”
To avoid thinking about it too much, I turned my face toward the window.
The struggle between instinct and reason continued until morning.
A little bit of jealousy
—Ding dong
I woke up to the sound of the doorbell.
In the end, I’d been up until morning, and had only fallen asleep about an hour ago.
“…What a mess.”
Next to me was Suzune, curled up and sleeping on the sofa.
She had been pretty terrified by the thunder, but now she looked completely at peace, sleeping soundly with a relaxed expression.
As for my older sister—she had somehow ended up with her stomach exposed in a way that made me, as her younger brother, extremely embarrassed.
…Yeah, this situation is just all kinds of over.
Wait, the doorbell’s ringing!
I grabbed a pen—out of habit—and rushed to the front door.
Expecting a delivery, I opened it… only to find a familiar face standing there.
“…Rurina?”
[I’ve come to repay the favor] (…Always act quickly. That’s the rule.)
“Ah—got it.”
[Please feel free to request anything] (I’ll do my best for Ritsu. Eii eii oh~)
“Thanks. But there’s not really anything I need help with…”
[You look tired. Did something happen?] (...You’re smiling, but it feels kind of forced. I need to keep a close eye on you… I’m worried.)
As always, her honest feelings came through loud and clear.
But I couldn’t exactly tell her the reason I was tired was because I had spent all night wrestling with my self-control…
I placed my hand on Rurina’s head and ruffled her hair.
She narrowed her eyes happily.
“Thanks for worrying. But I’m okay. I just stayed up too late, that’s all.”
[Studying?]
“Yeah, something like that. Oh, but anyway—come in. Standing around in the entryway must be tiring, right?”
Rurina nodded with a small motion and slipped off her shoes.
After neatly aligning her heels, she stepped up into the house and headed straight to the living room.
Ah… crap, that way—
(…Ah, Suzune’s here. You two get along really well. Sensei looks comfy too.)
Rurina looked at the two and smiled.
Despite seeing Suzune sleeping and my sister lying around indecently, she didn’t show any sign of discomfort—if anything, she seemed pleased by the warm atmosphere.
I had a feeling Suzune would complain later like, “You let her see me sleeping?”… but oh well.
(I want to hang out with Suzune again. Maybe go shopping together…)
I heard her voice faintly say that.
Guess I have no choice… I should at least wake Suzune. That way Rurina can enjoy herself too.
Thinking that, I approached Suzune.
But—
“…Rurina?”
She grabbed onto my shirt, and I turned around.
(…What is this feeling? It’s a bit unsettling… kind of hazy and heavy.)
Rurina didn’t meet my eyes, just held onto the hem of my shirt and gently swayed it side to side.
She didn’t say a word—just kept swaying.
“Do you… want it to just be the two of us?”
When I asked, Rurina gave a small nod.
Listening closely, I could hear a whisper in her heart: (I don’t think you should wake her…)
…This was Rurina’s way of being kind, wasn’t it?
She’s always sensitive to things like when people are tired.
Satisfied with that reasoning, I pointed toward my room.
“Then, shall we go to my room?”
[Yeah] (Ritsu’s room again… makes me happy.)
“Okay then, let’s go.”
I let Rurina into the room, then went back to the living room to pour some tea.
I glanced at the two sleeping girls, checking to make sure I hadn’t accidentally woken them up.
I could still hear soft breathing—it seemed they were both sleeping soundly.
…Out like a light. I’m glad I didn’t wake them.
I let out a small chuckle and brought the tea over to Rurina.
When I returned to the room, she was sitting up straight, and when our eyes met, she gave me a gentle smile.
“This is barley tea. Still… your expressions really have softened a lot.”
[I'm working hard at it. (…But it’s still hard when I’m around other people. With Ritsu, though, I don’t get nervous.)]
“You're serious about this, huh. But the results are definitely showing, so no need to rush.”
[I’m covering all my bases.]
“Haha, well that’s good to hear.”
When I laughed, Rurina's expression softened along with mine.
Thinking back to when we first met, the change was honestly heartwarming.
Compared to when she first came to my room, it’s night and day.
…Yeah, it’s these kinds of moments that really feel special.
[Did something good happen?] (…You’re smiling so much.)
“Nah, it’s nothing. But, hey… it is Golden Week. Are you sure you’re okay spending it at my place? I can’t really entertain you much, so I imagine it’s not exactly thrilling.”
[No problem.] (Just being with Ritsu makes me all happy… ehehe)
“I-I see.”
Her inner voice was so adorably honest that it caught me off guard and made me stumble a bit.
I think this every time, but it’s just unfair how calm her expression is while her thoughts are so cute…
As I was thinking that, Rurina lightly tapped my shoulder and showed me her tablet screen.
[Today’s goals: Refresh and surround myself with nature.]
“Uh… well yeah, I guess this place is full of nature. But why all of a sudden?”
[I asked Hinamori-san for recommendations.] (…She said ‘a place with lots of nature and a traditional house.’ The only place that came to mind was Ritsu’s home.)
“Ah… I get it now.”
Hinamori doesn’t know about my house, so she probably just gave advice based on Rurina’s preferences.
It just so happened that, of all the places Rurina knew, only mine fit the description. Still, what really concerned me was that Rurina needed to refresh herself in nature to begin with...
I looked into her eyes out of concern, but she smiled brightly and pulled a headband with cat ears from her bag.
“That’s… cat ears?”
[Cute?]
“Well, I mean, cats are cute…”
When I replied, Rurina put the headband on, got down on all fours, and posed just like a cat.
Through the gap in her clothes, I caught glimpses of her underwear, and I suddenly had no idea where to look.
[Nyaa~] (…My best cat pose. Taught to me directly by Matsui-san.)
“…" (T/N: Bro died)
(Ah… He went quiet. Did I mess up…?)
“N-No, it’s not that it’s bad…”
[Did that cheer you up?] (If it’s not bad, then… good. But, wait—your face is red?)
“Y-Yeah! I feel cheered up! No doubt about that!”
Seeing her look so down for a second, I hurried to reassure her. In response, she raised one hand like a beckoning cat.
…Yeah, no doubt. She is cute.
But also kind of reckless… or maybe just too carefree.
“Thanks. But, Rurina—just be a little more careful, alright? Like, with your clothes…”
[It’s fine.] (…It’s just Ritsu here, so I feel safe.)
No, I’m the one who can’t feel safe…
I swallowed that thought and just gave a wry smile.
“…Still, what brought this on all of a sudden?”
[You didn’t like it?] (I heard boys would be happy with this… Was I wrong?)
“It’s not that I didn’t like it. I mean… I am happy, so I guess it’s all good?”
[If Ritsu’s happy, then it’s okay.]
Rurina seemed satisfied and repositioned herself beside me.
By the way, it didn’t look like she had any intention of taking off the cat ears.
…Well, they do suit her, so I guess it’s fine.
“Oh right. You looked pretty tired the other day—feeling better now?”
[Thanks to you, I’m full of energy!] (…Since that day, the tension in my shoulders has gone away.)
“That’s great to hear.”
[Thank you, as always.]
“Nah, it goes both ways. You tend to push yourself too hard, Rurina, so even if I don’t say anything, make sure to take breaks, alright? Like last time—you can always nap if you need to.”
[Got it. But… I’m more worried about you, Ritsu.]
“Me?”
[You’ve been troubled lately, haven’t you?] (…That’s how it seems to me. Like there’s something weighing on your mind.)
“……”
(There’s not much I can do… That’s why, even just a little—if I can help Ritsu relax in my own way, I want to try.)
Her unspoken words reached me in that moment of silence.
After what happened with Suzune, the other classmates didn’t seem to notice anything—but Rurina clearly sensed something. She’d been extra attentive ever since.
She must’ve picked up on something… and that’s probably why she came to see me today.
Even if she didn’t know the details, she just wanted to cheer me up.
That thought alone made my chest feel warm—and also, a little embarrassed.
“…Am I really that easy to read?”
[I am your apprentice.]
“Hah. So the apprentice’s extra sensitive to changes in her master, huh?”
[Ritsu understands me well too, so… same thing.]
She puffed her chest out proudly and made another little cat-like motion with her hands.
“Haha… Well then, when you’re feeling down, I’ll be sure to cheer you up too. Deal?”
When I said that, she gave a small, bashful smile and leaned against me.
Being with her like this… it was comforting. Soothing.
It felt like the closeness between us wasn’t just about physical distance anymore.
At least—that’s how it felt to me.
Hinamori Sakura is spinning her wheels.
"Where shall we meet up?"
I was staring at the simple message I'd typed into my phone.
"Hmm. Just the wording alone doesn’t really carry any subtext..."
Normally we talk face-to-face, so I’ve never tried making a move through digital means like this before.
I do think it’s better to keep messages simple so they’re easy to read, but... it doesn’t seem like I’ll be able to get him to use his imagination and make his heart flutter at the thought of me... or anything like that.
"If that’s the case, then I guess a phone call is the only way... But no, I can’t! If I’m the one to call, I’ll lose the upper hand~!"
I set the phone down on the desk and cradled my head in my hands.
Groaning with a phone in hand like this... I hate that I look just like a lovestruck girl.
To think he’s making me think this much... fufufu. As expected of Kaburagi-san.
He’s not someone you can deal with using normal methods.
And that’s exactly what makes it worth the effort!
Things not going my way—that just doesn’t happen for me~ …………wait, huh?
Don’t tell me... did he anticipate that I’d be agonizing over this, and he’s just teasing me...?
"With Kaburagi-san, that’s totally possible... In that case, I’ve got to strike first! I’ll call him and hit him with the ‘Gasp! A call from a beautiful girl!?’ tactic!"
I pulled up Kaburagi-san’s contact and went to press the call button—
"Hyai!?"
The screen suddenly lit up and the phone vibrated, making a weird noise escape my mouth.
On the screen, it read: Kaburagi Ritsu (Natural Enemy)
"He even predicted this...?"
Just as I was about to take action, the phone call came.
I was so shocked, I couldn’t hide it.
It feels like I’m dancing in the palm of his hand, just like always.
Mmmrrrgh... once again, he’s made the first move.
Should I just answer the call honestly?
Or maybe... wait and let it ring once more?
No... this is a time to be bold.
Resolving myself, I reached to tap the screen.
But right at that moment, the call screen disappeared and switched back to his contact info.
My finger, already in motion, hit the call button—and I ended up calling him instead—
Wait, doesn’t this make it seem like I noticed his call and hurried to call back!?
This makes it look like I wanted to call him!!
"Hello? Hinamori?"
"Konnichinya!"
Caught off guard, some bizarre language came out of my mouth.
"Uh, yeah? What did you just say?"
"It’s nothing! More importantly, sorry I missed your call. I called back right away, but..."
"You called so fast, I thought you were holding your phone the whole time and just making me wait."
"Ahahaha... No way that’s true! It was just a coincidence~ Kaburagi-san, you’re so self-conscious, huh?"
"Haha. Just kidding. Hinamori wouldn’t do something like that."
"O-of course not!"
Th-that was close~!
I somehow managed to bluff my way through, but isn’t he way too sharp!?
W-well, that’s exactly what makes him a worthy rival!
Clearing my throat with a small cough, I pulled myself together.
"Now then, Kaburagi-san. Where shall we meet up? If we’re going to study, a café could work too. I’ll leave it to you?"
"Let’s see... A café might be crowded, right? Weekends tend to get packed."
"That’s true~. Mmm… is there any good place..."
I could hear Kaburagi-san’s troubled voice over the phone.
Ideally, I’d like him to be the one to suggest the meeting place.
That way, I can maintain the upper hand—
"…Hey, who’re you talking to~?"
Huh?
That voice just now... wasn’t that Suzune-chan?
Am I imagining things…?
Ahh—no good! Once I start wondering, I can’t stop myself from asking!
"Um, Kaburagi-san?"
"What is it?"
"Could it be… is Suzune-chan there with you?"
"Want me to put her on?"
"Ah, that’s okay…"
So she is there…
That’s cheating, you know—Kaburagi-san.
Well, I suppose from Kaburagi-san’s perspective, just hanging out with a friend might not count as cheating.
He did say before that he likes ‘understanding people,’ when we talked about girlfriends.
And considering how close he and Suzune-chan are, maybe it’s already been approved by his girlfriend.
Alright, let’s not let it bother me.
"Then, about your schedule, Kaburagi-san—"
"Rurina, how long are you going to keep wearing that cat outfit… huh, me too!? No way, not happening!!"
"...Huh?"
"Ah, sorry. Don’t mind that."
"I-I see…"
Are they having… a cosplay party or something!?
Cat outfits… wait, don’t tell me, it’s that kind of shameless—
No, hold on just a second!!
"Kaburagi-san, I think I heard Kurusu-san’s voice just now, but… don’t tell me… are you all at your house?"
"Yeah, we are."
He admitted it so easily!?
What is going on…? Why is everyone there?
Ah—don’t tell me, Suzune-chan being at his house is because of what I said before the break?
Wait… but Kurusu-san was talking about enjoying nature or something…
If there’s any chance this makes sense...
"Forgive the question, but... is your house, like, a countryside-style traditional home or something?"
"Hm? I don’t know if it fits the definition exactly, but it might look that way. Why?"
"N-no! It’s nothing… really."
It’s my fault everyone ended up gathering there, isn’t it!?
What do I do...
It’s not turning into some kind of love-triangle disaster... right!?
If his girlfriend shows up and they all run into each other, this’ll be a total mess...
And if that happens, it’ll be so awkward, and—
More than that!
If this turns into a huge incident, it’ll be really hard for me to pull off my plan where I confess and then say, “Huh? You like me too? I’m sorry. Kaburagi-san already has a girlfriend—please take good care of her,” and gracefully bow out!
This is a serious crisis... In that case, the only option left is to be there too and explain everything face-to-face if it comes to that!
Also... I might be feeling a little left out by not being invited... just a little... n-no no no!
That’s not it!!
"Heeey, Hinamori~? Huh? Is the call still connected…?"
"Sorry, I was just lost in thought."
"Lost in thought?"
"Well, don’t worry about it. More importantly—if it’s okay with you, may I come over as well?"
"To my house?"
"Yes!"
I heard a thoughtful hmm on the other end.
But soon after—
"Sure. I’ll come pick you up at the station near school, so just let me know when you’re arriving, okay?"
"Understood. I’ll see you then."
"Alright. See you later."
The call ended, and I let out a small sigh.
I’ve somehow cleared the first hurdle.
Now I just hope no trouble arises...
Since it’s partially my fault, if anything does happen, I’ll need to take responsibility and make sure it gets resolved properly...
"Still, going to Kaburagi-san’s house, huh? This will be the first time I’ve ever been to a boy’s house..."
The moment I realized that, my awareness kicked in, and my face suddenly felt hot.
...Maybe summer’s just around the corner.
Ugh, this is the worst.
Until the heat in my face cooled down, I kept fanning myself with my hands.
*
“Sakura, make yourself at home, okay?”
“Hey, don’t go giving permission like you own the place.”
“Fufu, excuse me for intruding.”
I smiled as I stepped into Kaburagi-san’s house.
Thanks to the trip over here, I wasn’t nervous at all anymore.
The surprise of learning various things had completely overridden any of those kinds of feelings.
“Alright then, Ritsu. I’ve got something to take care of, so I’m heading out for a bit.”
“Got it. Thanks again for the ride earlier.”
“Don’t worry about it. I’ll be back in time to see Hinamori off.”
With that, sensei left the house.
Seriously, their relationship is something else… Haha.
Well, it’s probably for the best not to mention they’re actually siblings. People would tease them or make it a hassle.
Alright, now then, time to speak with Kaburagi-san...
I walked up beside him and spoke in a low voice.
“Kaburagi-san… Just to make sure.”
“Hm?”
“We’re not heading toward some kind of love-triangle disaster, right?”
“Nope, no problem.”
“...And where does that instant confidence even come from… sigh.”
I let out a sigh at Kaburagi-san’s carefree attitude.
He’s the one with the least sense of danger here... honestly.
Still, since I’m partly responsible this time, I’ll do what I can to handle things!
I steeled myself with resolve.
Just as I was about to quietly speak to him again, Kurusu-san came over and looked at me with her big eyes.
“U-Um, is something the matter?”
Without saying a word, Kurusu-san stood next to Kaburagi-san from the opposite side of me.
Then, pressing up right next to him, she looked up at him.
...So she can make that kind of expression too.
Honestly, the impact is insane.
Usually, her expressions are so stiff, but the way she looks at Kaburagi-san is incredibly charming.
And then...
[Ritsu, are you studying?]
“Yeah, I promised. Hinamori’s not great with math, after all.”
[I’ll study with you too.]
“Of course, go ahead. Do you have your materials with you?”
[No problem.]
“That’s great. You’re always so prepared.”
He patted her on the head, and she blushed happily.
The air between them turned sweet, and just watching them made me feel embarrassed.
Wait... isn’t that totally the face of a girl in love!?
So that’s how it is after all!?
Wow, what a sight to behold.
“What’s up, Sakura? You’ve got a weird look on your face.”
“W-What do you mean!? I always have a lovely expression on!”
“Riiight? It looked more like you were grinning to yourself, though.”
“It’s just your imagination. Right, Kaburagi-san?”
“Hey, don’t drag me into it…”
Kaburagi-san sighed with a tired look.
He glanced at me, seeming to be pondering what to say.
Surely, he’s just trying to choose the best possible compliment from a long list.
Fufu. I really am a sinful woman, aren’t I?
Finally, he seemed to settle on something, and spoke up.
“Well, I mean, Hinamori’s always fun to watch, so I never get bored.”
“That’s your way of saying you’re totally captivated by my everlasting beauty, right?”
“Ah yeah, totally. Smitten~”
“...You were totally monotone just now. There was no heart in those words. And you’re treating me way too casually.”
“Well, I mean, that’s how it always is, right?”
“Mmm... That’s true, but I still feel the need to object!”
“Then what should I do?”
“You should treat me more like a girl! I’m this cute, after all!”
“Yeah yeah.”
“Geez!”
As we were bantering like that, I suddenly felt someone’s gaze on my back.
When I turned around, I saw Suzune-chan and Kurusu-san staring at us like they wanted to say something.
I’d been so caught up in the conversation, I hadn’t noticed...
Waaah, they’re seriously staring at me~.
“Sakura, you seem like you're really being yourself around Ritsu. You look like you’re having fun.”
[More lively than usual?]
The two of them—clearly in love—were giving me these deadpan stares.
I could totally feel the “potential rival” vibes in the air.
“Y-You’ve got it all wrong!”
I waved my hands in denial.
“A-Anyway! Let’s focus on studying! That’s what I came here for today!”
“You’re pretty motivated, Hinamori...”
After that, we spent the rest of the day together, taking plenty of breaks, all the way until evening.
*
It was a little past seven o’clock.
As always, fun times pass in the blink of an eye, and now that it was time to go home, I found myself riding in sensei’s car.
Outside the window, there weren’t many streetlights—like a dark world scattered with a few twinkling stars.
“The countryside sure gets dark at night.”
“Yeah, and with Saya’s wild driving, it feels like you’re on a ride at an amusement park.”
“Want me to drop you off right here?”
“I’m sorry!!”
That light exchange made me laugh without thinking.
Heh. Just from the atmosphere, you could tell how close they are.
This is the first time I’ve seen this side of Kaburagi-san.
…Sigh, I really don’t want to go home.
I bet Suzune-chan and Kurusu-san are still playing cards right about now.
I wanted to stay longer too, but since I’ve got more work to help with starting tomorrow, it can’t be helped.
Can’t just go around being selfish…
Still, I can’t help but feel a little envious of their freedom.
While I was lost in those thoughts, Kaburagi-san, who was sitting next to me, spoke up.
“Sorry about that. I was planning for it to be a full-on study session, but it kinda turned into playtime partway through.”
“Hehe. It’s fine. Study groups at a friend’s house usually get off track anyway. If anything, that kind of thing feels more like youth—it’s wonderful.”
“That so? Well, if you’re okay with it then great. You really like the word ‘youth,’ huh?”
“I don’t think anyone dislikes it, you know? There’s something really appealing about moments that can only happen because we’re in high school.”
“But if it’s something you admire, then you still have time to live it out, right? If anything, you’ll have even more material for your favorite kind of romance talk.”
“Oh? Is there another juicy story you’re keeping from me?”
“…I’ve got nothing. If anything, wouldn’t you be the one with something to share?”
“Nope, nothing for me either~”
I gave a little shrug as I said that.
Even if he asked, all I could offer is that much.
I couldn’t bring myself to talk about any of the changes in my feelings, or say something like, “Yeah, I totally like someone right now~”
Well, that can’t be helped.
“…Well, maybe someday, yeah? If you meet someone who really sees what makes you special, you might fall in love before you know it.”
“Kaburagi-san... Are you trying to raise your likability score by cheering me up? If so, you’re a total amateur~ That’s not nearly enough to win me over.”
“Don’t lump me in with you. Geez.”
Kaburagi-san turned his face toward the window, looking slightly annoyed.
“I’ll make it up to you next time. I don’t like going back on promises.”
“A promise?”
“I said I’d teach you, but I don’t think I really followed through. Sorry about that.”
“That’s kind of you, but really, I had fun, so it’s okay.”
“You sure?”
“We did get some studying done, and it was way better than doing it alone. Studying by yourself just isn’t fun.”
“I actually kind of like working through things alone in silence, though.”
“Hehe. I used to be like that, too.”
Back then, I didn’t really have a choice but to study alone.
It was just how things were—and I didn’t know any world beyond that small one.
But now, things are different.
There are people I can talk to, people I can be close with—like Kaburagi-san, who’s gotten to know the real me.
“These days, it’s fun. Doing things together with everyone… Oh, right—Kaburagi-san.”
“Yeah?”
“Let’s hang out again sometim——no, never mind.”
Ahh, geez! What was I about to say!?
This is totally the car’s fault! The closed-in space is messing with me!
Nope, no way am I going to be the one doing the inviting.
Whew. That was close. I barely managed to stop myself in time...
“If it’s nothing, then fine. But don’t let yourself get swept up and let your grades drop, okay?”
“Hehehe. I’ve got everything under control.”
“Especially in math, right?”
“Lalala~ I can’t hear you~!”
I covered my ears as I said it, and he just gave me a laugh that said, you’re hopeless.
Then, as if something came to mind, he gave a little clap.
“You’re helping out again starting tomorrow, right? I’m rooting for you.”
“Not that I need cheering on. For me, it’s as natural as breathing.”
“Oh, bold words.”
“Naturally. I wish you could see how gracefully I work—it’s quite the sight to behold.”
“Now that, I’d really like to see.”
After that, Kaburagi-san and I spent the ride to the station chatting about this and that—just idle, easygoing conversation.
Chapter 3 END
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