Chapter 2: A Promised Defeat for You, Remon Yakishio
The chorus of cicadas rained down relentlessly.
The second period the next day was PE under the blazing summer sun. After finishing class and shoving the last hurdle back into the equipment shed, I wiped away the sweat trickling down my face.
I've thought about this for a while now: the rule that students with attendance numbers matching the date have to clean up is way too advantageous for number 30 & 31.
"This is so unfair~"
Grumbling, I brushed the dust from my hands.
Right, I need to hurry and change. Being the only one left, awkwardly pulling off my shorts after everyone else is done, is not how I want to spend my break-
Clatter. The sound of the storage room door slamming shut. The area was plunged into dim shadow.
…Wait, am I locked in? Is this bullying? Am I really being bullied?
Panicking, I spun around.
Standing there in the dimly lit shed, with an almost shy expression, is Remon Yakishio. The sweat-soaked gym uniform clinging to her body made the toned lines of her figure all the more noticeable.
"…Yakishio-san?"
The scene before me is like something straight out of an anime, and I can't help but catch my breath.
With downcast eyes and her hair stuck to her cheek, Yakishio brushed it aside and took a step toward me.
"Hey, Nukumizu. I need to talk to you for a second."
"Okay…?"
Typically, this would be the sort of moment where you would expect something dramatic- or maybe even romantic. But unfortunately, I'm not naive enough to fall for that.
In rom-com terms, there just isn't enough buildup between me and Yakishio for some kind of gym storage room event to happen.
"Hey, what happened with that thing we talked about?"
"Uh, what thing?"
In other words, this isn't a love-related event at all. It's just a case of me overthinking things. Knowing that, there's no reason to feel flustered.
"You know, about Mitsuki borrowing those books from the Literature Club. Has he come by to get them yet?"
Oh, that. Nope. I haven't even told Ayano that he can borrow them.
Yakishio clasped her hands behind her back and, with a shy smile, started tapping the floor with the tip of her shoe.
"If you want… I could, like, deliver them to him for you or something?"
"They are an entire collection, so carrying them all at once is going to be a pain. It would be better if he came to pick them up himself-"
Seeing Yakishio fidgeting like she wants to say something, even I finally caught on.
"Then how about you tell him for me? Let him know I gave the green light, so he can come by anytime."
"Got it! Leave it to me! I'll make sure he knows!"
In the dimly lit gym storage room, Yakishio's sunny smile practically lit up the space.
The way the light streaming in reflected off the dust particles made it look like they were sparkling around her, adding a kind of magical glow.
"Okay, I'll tell him to swing by after school today!"
"Wait a second, hypothetically speaking..."
"What?"
Yakishio tilted her head, her smile not fading an inch.
We have known each other since middle school, so I feel like I owe her a bit of advice.
"What if, for example, he comes by on a day when you don't have club practice?"
That's right. If I could finesse the situation just right, she might end up tagging along to the clubroom with him. Depending on how things play out, I could even leave the clubroom to the two of them for a couple of hours-
"My club practice? Why does that matter?"
Yakishio blinked her wide, round eyes, tilting her head in genuine confusion.
"Uh, like, maybe on that day you could casually drop by the literature club for a visit? I don't think anyone would mind, Yakishio-san."
If I lay it out this clearly, surely she must understand what I mean.
"A visit… me?"
Wait, hold on. You get what I'm saying, right?
"I mean, if you just pass the message to Ayano, that's where your involvement ends, right? But if it's on a day when your club is off, you could tag along with him. Even if you can't invite him smoothly, you can just use it as an excuse to visit the clubroom. You would still run into him there."
Yakishio widened her already round eyes even further, then clapped her hands together as if struck by a revelation.
"Ohhh, I see! Nukumizu, you're smarter than I thought!"
Her face lit up with a bright smile, and she gave me a hearty slap on the shoulder. Ouch.
"Nukumizu, you're actually a pretty good guy. Guess I had you all wrong!"
This class is absolutely riddled with misunderstandings about me.
"But, uh, don't get the wrong idea, okay?! I mean, it's not like that for Mitsuki and me! We're just friends-"
"Now? You're going to say that now? Isn't it a little late for that?"
Even the lively, queen-bee-like type Yakishio, who rules the top of the social ladder, is still just a kid when it comes to romance.
Pouting to hide her embarrassment, Yakishio stuck out her lips.
"Anyway, it's hot in here! Let's just get out of this place already. How long are we gonna stay in here?"
She flapped the collar of her gym uniform to cool herself as she spoke. Like I'm the one who decided to hang out here.
Yakishio reached for the door.
"Huh? That's weird…"
"What's wrong?"
We tried opening the door together, but it wouldn't budge. Yakishio turned back toward me, looking puzzled.
"...Um, maybe the door's locked from the outside or something?"
"What?! Hey! Somebody! We're still in here!"
"Nukumizu! Don't yell like that!"
Yakishio suddenly wrapped her arm around my neck in a tight hold, pulling me back. Her arm is slick with sweat, and something soft pressed against my back-
Wait, no. That's not important. What's more pressing is how uncomfortably sticky her sweat is. How is she sweating this much?
"I-I can't breathe!"
I tried to push her off, but she had way more strength than I expected. No chance of escape.
"C-Can't… breathe…"
I frantically tapped on her arm with my hand, hoping she would let go.
"Ah, sorry! Are you okay?"
"W-were you trying to kill me...? Why did you stop me from calling for help?"
"Well, you know how our PE classes are combined with Mitsuki's class, right?"
"...So, should we call Ayano then?"
"No! That's not it! If Mitsuki saw me alone with a guy in the gym storage room…"
Yakishio fidgeted, nervously twisting her fingers.
She looks kind of adorable all of a sudden- but, seriously, this isn't the kind of situation for that.
"But if we don't hurry, everyone's going to head back to the classroom."
"When the next class comes in, they will open the door. Just hang tight for a bit."
"Then everyone will know we were stuck in here together."
"Well, uh, maybe you could dress like a girl or something…?"
"Wouldn't it be faster if you dressed like a guy, Yakishio-san?"
This conversation is going nowhere. Meanwhile, it seems like everyone else has already left. The only sound now is the relentless chirping of cicadas outside.
Yakishio grabbed the window frame near the ceiling and pulled herself up effortlessly to take a look outside.
"Huh? Why isn't anyone coming?"
"…Yakishio-san, could it be that the next PE class…is in the pool?"
"What?"
The bell for the next period rang.
"Wait, then why weren't we in the pool?"
"The teacher said the pool was booked for the second-year swimming tournament until the second period."
"Ohhh, right! So, it's back to the pool in the third period. No wonder there's nobody out on the field…"
The cicadas droned on, their chirping growing even louder in the quiet.
"Hey! I'm still in here! Somebody!"
"Help! We're stuck in here!"
After a while of shouting for help, we both slumped to the floor in exhaustion.
The weather forecast this morning said the high today would reach 35 degrees- the first official scorching day of the summer.
The temperature in the storage room keeps climbing relentlessly. My sweat, once streaming freely, started to slow down. It's not that I have gotten used to the heat- it feels more like I'm running out of sweat altogether.
"This isn't good. When do you think help will come?"
"The track team will probably come by lunchtime…"
Wow. There's literally a puddle forming around Yakishio from all her sweating. Her metabolism must be on overdrive.
"Hey, Yakishio-san, are you okay?"
"I'm fine. I'm more of an impala than a Thomson's gazelle, after all."
"Wow, so Yakishio-san is an impala, huh."
…What is she even talking about?
"Yeah, so running on all fours is faster, you know? Which means sprinkling water works on spotted hyenas..."
"Wait, hey."
This is bad. She's definitely not okay.
I need to do something. Looking around, I notice the windows are near the ceiling, fitted with security bars. Escape through there isn't happening.
Alright, then. Something that can make a loud noise. Maybe there's a megaphone or a whistle in here…
As I rummaged through the shelves, I pulled out a dusty sports bag from the back. Opening it, I found some women's clothes and towels mixed in with an old, half-empty water bottle.
For a split second, I had hope- but the bottle's contents were covered by a thick layer of mold. Gross. Giving up on that, I put the bag back, only to find a can of cooling spray at the bottom.
"Yakishio-san! Look! Cooling spray!"
Yakishio, who had been staring off into space, lit up at the sight of it.
"Nukkun, you genius! Quick, spray me!"
...Nukkun? Is she calling me that now?
Yakishio turned her back to me, peeling off her sweat-soaked gym uniform in one swift motion. She's wearing a sports bra, but her pale, glistening back stands out starkly in the dim light of the storage room.
"Whoa! Wait a second!"
"Hurry! Up!"
I never imagined a day would come when a girl would be begging me for something like this.
Trembling slightly, I sprayed the cooling mist onto her back. She let out a noise somewhere between a gasp and a moan.
"My front next!"
She spun around to face me. Wait, hold on- isn't this kind of a lot? Her stomach's fully exposed, and those tan lines are… distracting.
As I sprayed her, her abs twitched, and she made another weird sound. Look, I swear, anyone would feel a little weird in this situation. I'm not to blame here.
"Feeling better now?"
"A little… starting to cool down…"
She murmured, collapsing to the floor with a blissful expression.
"Wait, wait, wait! Stop! Don't take that off!"
"What's the big deal? We're both girls, aren't we, Nukkun? I'm all sticky from the sweat- just hand me a towel already."
Huh!? Does she think this is the locker room or something!? She has completely lost it.
Keeping my gaze firmly averted, I grabbed a towel from the bag and handed it to her just as she was about to pull off her bra.
"P-Put your clothes back on once you're done wiping!"
"...Huh, wait. That's the old bag I lost ages ago. So it's been here this whole time."
Still drying herself off, Yakishio peeked inside the sports bag.
"Hey! Yakishio-san! Clothes! Put on your clothes!"
"Oh, there's a drink left in here!"
Wait, drink? Don't tell me it's that bottle.
I glanced at her from the corner of my eye, and sure enough, she was about to put her lips on the moldy, disgusting water bottle.
"Hey! You can't drink that!"
"Hey, Nukkun! What are you doing?!"
She lunged at me, trying to wrestle the bottle back.
"Whoa! I-I'm not looking! I swear I'm not looking!"
"It's mine!"
Hey, there's something soft pressing against me! There's really something soft pressing against me now-
"Hey, is someone in there?"
A familiar voice cut through the chaos. It's our homeroom teacher, Konami Amanatsu.
"Sensei! We're here! Please open the door quickly!"
The door rattled and then slid open with a loud clatter.
Finally, freedom. Amanatsu-sensei looked inside, her expression freezing as her jaw dropped.
"What on Earth are you two doing?"
…Actually, maybe we aren't saved, after all.
Yakishio, still half-naked, is pinning me to the floor. It's a scene that isn't just "on the line" but has clearly crossed it.
"...Well, I'll just come back when you're done."
"Don't close the door! Don't close it! Sensei, help me out here!"
"You know, back in my day, we were a bit more open about these sorts of things, but even we didn't-"
"Sensei, I don't need your commentary! Just do something already!"
I managed to push Yakishio off me, and she flopped onto the floor, completely out of energy.
...Let me say this loud and clear one more time. I didn't see shit.
*
Oral rehydration solution, a mixture of salt and glucose dissolved in water, is used for emergency treatment of dehydration.
Our school's infirmary always keeps a supply on hand.
"Phew, OS-1 is crazy delicious…"
"Yeah, it really hits the spot..."
Even idiots like us are given it generously.
Amanatsu-sensei crossed her arms, gazing at us with a look of exasperation.
"You two can skip the rest of your classes and rest in the infirmary. As for you, boy, I'll let your homeroom teacher know. What’s your class and name?"
"I'm Nukumizu from your class, sensei."
I have already given up on her remembering me.
"Really? Oh, well. Konuki-chan, I'll leave the rest to you."
Taking her place in front of us is the school nurse, Konuki-sensei.
I always thought the idea of young, attractive school nurses was just an urban legend, but Konuki-sensei shattered that assumption. She crossed her long, slender legs with a fluid motion, radiating an aura that could only be described as dangerously charming. Her mischievous smile made my heart skip a beat.
"How are you two feeling?"
"Uh, w-we're fine now. Thanks."
I couldn't help but fumble over my words. Why is Konuki-sensei so unnecessarily seductive?
"Sensei, can I have seconds?"
Yakishio, as spacey as ever, held out her empty bottle toward Konuki-sensei.
"Of course. Here you go. Drink it slowly."
"Yay!"
With a childlike grin, Yakishio eagerly started on her second bottle of OS-1.
Suddenly, Konuki-sensei's expression turned serious.
"Heatstroke is no joke. It's life-threatening, and it can leave you with permanent damage."
"Yes, we're sorry."
"It's fine. When you're young, these things happen. Sometimes, the more something burns, the harder it is to stop…and restrictions just make things more intense, don't they?"
"…Sorry, what? What do you mean by that?"
"Ara, ara, no need to spell it out."
She placed her index finger gently against my lips, smiling playfully.
"Whatever you two were up to… it will stay our little secret, okay?"
It feels like she has completely misunderstood the situation. Explaining it would just be a pain, so I decided to change the subject.
"Uh, Konuki-sensei, are you close with Amanatsu-sensei?"
"Yes, I am. We were actually classmates here at this school."
"So, you're our senpai. What kind of student was Amanatsu-sensei?"
"It’s probably hard to imagine, but she was a bit clumsy and reckless."
…Nope, I can totally imagine that.
"We used to come to this infirmary together all the time. Mostly because she was always tripping over something."
Konuki-sensei chuckled softly as if recalling fond memories from her school days.
"…I never thought I would end up working in this school, in this very room."
Konuki-sensei said, crossing her stocking-clad legs and gazing nostalgically at the ceiling.
"Sensei, is there something on the ceiling?"
"The stains on it- they are just the same as they were back then."
"You remember something like that?"
What is this, some story about her being sickly and always lying in the infirmary? Then she grows up, becomes a school nurse, and comes back here to work? That would be a nice little story.
"Well, it's only natural. From that…position… the ceiling is always in view."
...Correction: This person is definitely insane.
"Now, once you've finished drinking, go lie down on one of the beds for a while."
She said, pulling back the curtain that separated the beds.
Konuki-sensei helped the drowsy Yakishio onto one of the beds, then took the empty bottle from my hand.
"Alright, you rest too. You're probably more worn out than you realize."
"Thank you. I'll take a short rest."
I lay down on the bed, and my eyes were drawn to the same ceiling stains Konuki-sensei had mentioned. For some reason, the image of her in our school uniform flashed through my mind. Shaking off the thought, I pulled the blanket over my head.
…Sensei, seriously, I don't need that kind of information.
*
As the echo of the bell faded away, I turned over in a half-asleep daze.
How long have I been out? Judging by the faint chatter coming from the hallway, it's probably already lunchtime.
Through a gap in the curtain, I can see Yakishio sound asleep. Her shirt has ridden up, exposing her stomach. I wonder if she’s gonna catch a cold, but going in to pull the blanket over her seems… inappropriate.
"Ahh, I don't feel like eating lunch today."
And as the words left my mouth, I realized they were true. Yeah, lunch just sounded like too much effort. I didn't have much of an appetite anyway, so I decided to just stay put until the break ended.
As I was savoring the soft texture of the sheets against my cheek, Konuki-sensei suddenly yanked the curtain open with gusto.
"Nukumizu-kun, you have a visitor."
Behind Konuki-sensei stood Yanami, waving at me cheerfully.
"Huh? Yanami-san? Why are you here?"
"I heard that you and Remon-chan got carried to the infirmary. Are you alright?"
"Yeah, thanks for checking in on me. Yakishio-san seems to be sleeping soundly, too."
I said as I sat up on the bed. For some reason, Konuki-sensei was looking at me with eyes full of anticipation.
"Yanami-san brought you your lunch, Nukumizu-kun. Ara, ara, your hands are pretty full, aren't they?"
"Uh, sensei, I think you might be misunderstanding something here."
Konuki-sensei nodded sagely as if confirming her own conclusions.
"Right, I understand. I'll leave you two alone. Yanami-san, you're welcome to use this room for a while."
"Thank you, sensei. Let's eat, Nukumizu-kun."
With a cheerful smile, Yanami held out a bag containing my lunch.
Konuki-sensei grinned mischievously, not even bothering to hide it, as she left the room.
"It locks from the inside, so take your time."
She added as the door clicked shut behind her. How did someone like her even become a teacher…? The same goes for Amanatsu-sensei, honestly.
"Hm? What's that?"
I noticed something behind the stack of books on Konuki-sensei's desk: the lens of a smartphone camera.
…What is it trying to record? I quickly reached over and stopped the video recording.
"Nukumizu-kun, what's wrong?"
"Nothing. Alright, let's dig in."
Yanami and I sat facing each other, and she pulled out a large plastic container. It seems she has given up trying to fit both of our portions into a regular lunchbox.
Inside is a big, fluffy yellow mound.
"Omurice?"
"Yep! I'm pretty confident about this one. I managed to wrap it perfectly, too."
She stabbed a spoon into the center of the omelet and began cutting it into pieces.
…So, how are we supposed to eat this? Surely, she doesn't mean for us to take turns eating from the same container. No way, right?
As I hesitated, Yanami handed me a small white plate.
"I borrowed it from the home economics room. Here, hold the plate."
With minimal care, she tipped the contents of the container onto the plate, where it landed with a sloppy plop. Couldn't she have done that a little more neatly?
"Alright, hands together. Let's eat."
"Ah, yes. Let's eat."
It has been ages since I last had omurice. As I took my first bite, a familiar taste filled my mouth. Ah, yeah, this is precisely how omurice tastes.
"It's good, right? So, how much would you price it at?"
"Let's see. 400 yen…?"
"400 yen? Not bad at all."
Yanami nodded to herself, spoon in hand, as if she had just made some grand conclusion.
Well, it's not like I was wrong. If I went to the local supermarket and bought a bento, 400 yen would be just about right.
"This is what they call 'sontaku', right?"
Yanami suddenly said something obnoxious.
"...Uh, what does that mean?"
"You know, the unspoken consideration. Giving a low price feels disrespectful to the person who made it, so you hold back. But at the same time, you don't want to seem stingy, so your pride gets in the way. On the other hand, giving it a high price feels like you're getting ripped off, which you can't justify to yourself."
She's not wrong. I had no comeback, and apparently, no need for one, as Yanami continued with a smug look.
"And so, the compromise of 400 yen… Am I wrong? Huh? Am I?"
You're not wrong. But let me remind you. I'm being considerate of you here.
"Nukumizu-kun, let me ask you this: That 400 yen. Was it really the amount you wanted to give?"
Alright, then. Let me humor Yanami's impassioned speech.
"Okay, then. I won't hold back. 300-"
"No, no, no! Not that way!"
Wait, how is that wrong in this context?
"Sheesh, you scared me. That's why I don't like this part of you, Nukumizu-kun."
What do you mean, Yanami-san?
"Don't worry, I'll shatter this 400-yen barrier for you."
Bang! Yanami dramatically pulled out a thermos.
"Ah, I see. You're trying to boost the value with soup."
But just because there's soup doesn't mean the value automatically increases. In today's cutthroat food industry, free soup with lunch is practically standard. Some cafés even throw in some coffee and toast in the morning.
Yanami opened the lid of the thermos and poured its contents over the omurice.
"When did I say this was soup?"
"Wait, is that…white sauce?"
So that's why she hadn't put ketchup on the omurice. While I prefer ketchup, the extra touch of white sauce adds sophistication. It's the kind of thing a man with refined taste would appreciate. I have no choice but to revise the score.
"450-"
No, wait. Knowing her, she's probably planning to stack even more toppings to inflate the price further. I can't jump to conclusions yet.
"Huh? Did you say something just now?"
Nice try. I'm not falling for it. I stayed silent and took a spoonful.
"…What is this? It's amazing!"
"Hehe… I used a special white sauce made by the Imperial Hotel, an end-of-year gift that had been sitting around unused. Now, tell me, how much would you pay for this taste? The Imperial Hotel's flavor!"
…Damn, I've been cornered. Once the name Imperial Hotel is dropped, there's no way I can suggest a half-hearted price. If I did, I would be ridiculed as someone either ignorant of fine cuisine or too poor to appreciate it.
"5-500 yen."
"500 yen, sold!"
Yanami smirked, one corner of her mouth curling upward.
I have been completely played. But still, considering how things unfolded, I would say I kept the damage to a minimum-
"Wow, you guys seem to be having fun over here."
Yawning broadly, Yakishio emerged from behind the curtain.
"Ah, Remon-chan! Morning! Feeling better?"
"Yep, totally fine. Just needed some rest, now I'm good as new."
"Yakishio-san, I'm glad to see you're okay. For a moment there, I was really worried about-"
My mind flashed back to her barely dressed state in the gym storage room. My thoughts spiraled, leaving me flustered. Yakishio gave me a puzzled look as she plopped into a chair.
"Hey, Nukkun. I don't really remember what happened after a certain point. How did things turn out?"
"Uh, w-well! Amanatsu-sensei came to rescue us!"
"Oh, I don't remember that at all. So, Amanatsu-sensei also helped me get changed?"
She tugged at the collar of her gym uniform as she spoke, and for a brief moment, the image of her pale skin resurfaced in my mind.
"Yes! Amanatsu-sensei helped you change! I didn't see anything! Definitely didn't see anything!"
"Obviously. What kind of guy would look at a girl while she’s changing?"
"Nukumizu-kun, that's a little creepy, you know."
The two girls shot me cold stares as I floundered. Please, stop calling me creepy. It makes me want to die.
"Anyway, what's that? It looks delicious."
"Right? I made it! Here, say ahh."
Yanami held out a spoonful to Yakishio, who took a bite with a delighted expression.
"Whoa, this is amazing! What's this sauce? It's incredible!"
"Right? It's the Imperial Hotel's special sauce. Though Nukumizu-kun didn't quite grasp its value~"
Yanami grinned at me mischievously as she fed Yakishio another bite- from my plate, no less.
"Here, one more bite for you!"
"Excuse me, is Remon here?"
Clatter. The door slid open, and poking his head inside was none other than Mitsuki Ayano. He caught sight of Yakishio mid-bite, her mouth wide open, and couldn't help but let a small smile creep onto his face.
"M-Mitsuki!?"
Yakishio immediately sat up straight, her back stiff as a board. Even under her tanned skin, it's obvious her face has turned bright red.
"I heard you collapsed from a heatstroke. Looks like you're doing just fine."
"N-No, I'm totally about to faint! Mitsuki, you came to take care of me, right?"
"Here, I brought you something. Thought you could eat this."
He said, holding out a bag containing jelly packs and apple juice.
"For me?"
"Though, if you're this lively, maybe you don't need it."
"I do! I wasn't feeling well enough to eat earlier, so this is perfect. Thank you!"
"Yeah, I can see that."
Ayano reached out and lightly touched Yakishio's cheek.
"M-Mitsuki…!?"
"You've got rice stuck to your face. Your cheeks can't eat, okay?"
He chuckled, plucking the grain of rice from the corner of her mouth.
"T-Thank you."
"Alright, I'll be heading out then."
"Wait! If you would like, why not stay for a bit? Yana-chan made this omurice, and it's delicious!"
Yakishio said quickly, trying to stop him from leaving.
"Omurice, huh?"
"Mitsuki-san, there you are."
Another voice came from the open doorway. A cute, cheerful face peeked in. It's Chihaya Asagumo, one of Mitsuki Ayano's cram school friends.
"Chihaya? What's up?"
"I know there's no cram school today, but I thought I would head to the self-study room. Want to come along?"
"Sorry, I have to head home early today. I'll see you tomorrow at cram school."
"Got it. I'll text you later tonight, then."
Chihaya Asagumo said with a breezy wave as she left. Ayano let out a light laugh.
"Jeez, I already said I’ll see you tomorrow, didn't I?"
He's not too displeased despite his words.
…Wait a second. These two? The vibe between them feels… different from back when I used to go to cram school with Ayano.
"Alright, I'm heading back to class. Don't push yourself too hard, Remon."
"Y-Yeah. Thanks a lot!"
Yakishio watched Ayano's retreating figure, her face completely overtaken by the expression of a girl in love.
"...So, there's definitely some love vibes radiating off Remon-chan right now."
Yanami said, nudging me with her elbow as she had somehow appeared at my side.
"Yeah. It seems like Yakishio-san has a thing for Ayano."
"Really? That's kind of an unexpected pairing."
"I've known them both since middle school, but I think the two of them have been together since elementary, maybe?"
"They are childhood friends, in other words."
…Childhood friends, huh? So that's how Yanami sees it.
Noticing my lack of reaction, Yanami sighed and shrugged dramatically.
"Listen, Nukumizu-kun. There are two kinds of girls: childhood friends…or homewreckers."
That's a bold classification, to say the least. Yanami, her expression suddenly serious, turned to me.
"So, who was that girl earlier?"
"Asagumo-san. She's been in the same cram school as Ayano since the third year of middle school, I think."
At that moment, as if snapping out of her dreamy state, Yakishio suddenly leaned forward over the desk, nearly causing the plate to bounce into the air.
"Hey, what do you guys think about Mitsuki and Asagumo-san?"
"Hmm, they seem close, but they just met recently, right? They’re probably just friends."
"Right?! Just friends, totally just friends!"
"...But didn't they give off kind of a couple-esque vibe earlier?"
"Ha?" (x2)
The energy from the two of them made me flinch involuntarily. Scary.
"Huh? W-What?"
"Nukumizu-kun. Do you seriously think a fleeting year could ever compare to the long history of childhood friendship nurtured from elementary school on?"
"Exactly! Yana-chan totally gets it!"
I'm pretty sure I just saw a ten-year veteran lose to a recent two-month newbie, but okay.
"You know, Remon-chan, I can't help but feel like we're kindred spirits. I'm rooting for you."
"Thanks! That really cheers me up!"
Well, it's good she's feeling better. That's nice and all, but-
"Uh, Yakishio-san. That's my lunch, by the way."
"Huh? Oh, is it? It's delicious, Nukkun. You should try some, too."
"Yakishio-san, the spoon you're using is mine…"
"Hmm? Go ahead. Take it."
Yakishio wobbled the spoon up and down in her mouth like some kind of invitation.
With a mix of resignation and irritation, I pulled the spoon out. It slid free with a slightly slick, unsettling sensation that somehow felt… Nope. Nope. Just my imagination. Never mind that it's completely covered in her saliva.
Feeling my mood drop further, I shoved the spoon back into her mouth.
"Ugh!"
"I'm not really hungry, so go ahead and eat more if you want."
Come to think of it, I've always been bad with sharing drinks or utensils. I have forgotten since I rarely find myself in those situations.
"Nah, I would feel bad. I'll at least leave you a little."
Right, a little. Thanks.
"Oh, by the way, Nukumizu-kun. Komari-chan left a message for you. She said to come to the clubroom after school no matter what."
Yanami said that mid-bite. What now? Did the student council find something else to scold us about?
I glanced across the table at the two munching girls before me.
Yanami and Yakishio. Both are undeniably cute, but their personalities are a bit…much. There's also something about Yakishio that radiates a losing heroine vibe, which somehow feels similar to Yanami's energy.
As I pondered these things, Yakishio suddenly shoved a lukewarm spoonful of omurice into my mouth. The mix of sauce and egg spread across my tongue.
"Huh!?"
"I left some for you, see?"
She said casually, standing up with a burst of energy.
"Alright, I'm heading back to class. Tell sensei I'm grateful!"
Wait, hold up. Did she seriously just do that? A spoon from her mouth into mine? Who even does that? Does she think she can get away with this just because she's cute? Well, she is cute, but that's not the point.
While I sat there frozen, Yakishio walked out. Yanami, watching the whole scene unfold, gave me a mischievous grin.
"Huh, someone's looking a little red."
"No! That's not true!"
"Indirect kiss, huh? Tsk, tsk. Don't go having weird thoughts while at school."
"I-It's nothing like that!"
I grabbed the plate and shoveled what was left of the omurice into my mouth, trying to drown out Yanami's teasing.
"Oh, by the way, I'm going shopping with a friend today, so I won't be dropping by the Literature Club."
"Got it. Thanks for letting me know."
Wait, does that mean she plans on visiting the Literature Club regularly? I thought she didn't even know what we did there.
"Are you sure you can go to the Literature Club alone? Won't you get lonely and cry?"
What's that supposed to mean? Is Yanami teasing me again?
When I glanced up, however, she was looking at me with an expression of genuine concern.
…Wait, is she seriously worrying about me?
"I can go to the club on my own, no problem."
"Really? That's a relief. Well, good luck!"
Yanami's tense expression relaxed into a smile, and she scooped up the remaining grains of rice with her spoon.
…Just what kind of character am I in Yanami's mind?
*
That afternoon, in the Literature Club room, Tsukinoki-senpai cast a serious gaze over me and Komari.
Komari, who had been nervously fiddling with her fingers, quickly hid her hands under the table when she noticed me looking at her.
"So, the reason I've gathered you two here today is…nothing less than a major announcement regarding the future of our Literature Club's activities."
With an exaggerated flourish, senpai raised both index fingers dramatically.
"There's a troublesome matter and a fairly troublesome matter. Which one should I start with?"
"Is there no 'not troublesome' option?"
"If you insist, I could go with the long, dull, soul-crushingly tedious matter."
"...Uh, no, thank you. Please start with the troublesome one."
Nodding grandly, Senpai lowered one finger and began.
"It's time to graduate from the days of simply reading books. We're venturing into the realm of writing as well!"
"Wait, so the Literature Club wasn't writing anything before this?"
"Hey now, we used to write! Back in the day, we even published club magazines. There was even talk about a member winning the Minister of Education's Award- though that turned out to be a rumor. Or maybe not. Actually, definitely not."
So, it was definitely a rumor.
"Then why aren't we writing now?"
"You just don't get it, do you?"
Tsk, tsk, tsk! Senpai wagged her finger dramatically and smirked.
"Claiming we'll write but never actually doing it- that's who we are."
Komari nodded earnestly in agreement. Is this some kind of Literature Club inside joke?
"To be honest, the student council called us out at the last club presidents' meeting. They pointed out that while our stated activities include writing, we haven't been producing anything at all."
"I see."
"I thought we had cleverly hidden that part, but somehow they found out. I wonder how…"
A certain ominous student council member came to mind.
…Shit, I need to change the subject.
"So, we're going to make another club magazine?"
"No, printing costs and distribution are a hassle. That's why…"
With a triumphant expression, Tsukinoki-senpai held up her smartphone.
"We're setting sail into the vast sea of the internet! We're going to post on <Become a Literary Master>!"
Clap, clap, clap. Komari inexplicably began applauding. Tsukinoki-senpai raised her hand to silence her like this was a rehearsed act. Suspicious.
"It doesn't matter if it's a short story or just the first chapter- what's important is that we upload something."
True, using a website eliminates the hassle of printing and distributing. For a school club, it's a pretty reasonable idea.
"And now, onto the fairly troublesome matter."
Oh, right, there's still one more. I instinctively straightened my back.
"In line with our new goal, we'll be having a Literature Club training camp this weekend!"
"Huh?"
"I managed to reserve two rooms at the Youth Center in Tahara. We're going this weekend."
"Hold on a second. This weekend? That's the day after tomorrow."
"The modern publishing industry demands speed! Momentum is the key, and I'm not letting you younger folks outpace me. Can you two keep up?"
Komari, overwhelmed by senpai's enthusiasm, almost started clapping again before stopping to type on her phone. She showed us the screen.
<Honestly, I would rather spend the weekend at home.>
Yeah, I'm not exactly thrilled about this either.
"Hmph… you two just don't understand. But will you still feel that way after hearing this word?"
Tsukinoki-senpai's smirk deepened, and for some reason, her glasses glinted ominously.
"Kanzume."
Huh? She doesn't mean tuna cans, right? Oh, wait, she must be talking about the writer's term for being confined to a hotel room to finish a manuscript. But so what?
"O-Ohh…"
Komari, looking starry-eyed, gazed off into the distance. Wait, what's that reaction?
"Doesn't it sound thrilling? Stirring?!"
"Y-Yes! Kanzume! S-So cool!"
Komari nodded furiously, her neck almost a blur. Really? Is it? Honestly, I don't get it.
"You can write on your phone, on paper, whatever works for you. I'll bring my laptop so we can handle uploading during the camp."
"But we haven't even decided what to write yet."
"Writing can wait until the weekend. For now, just come up with a plot for whatever you want to write."
I have always had a few vague ideas in mind for something I might write someday, but this is way too sudden.
"Do you already know what you're going to write, senpai?"
"Well, since it's <Become a Literary Master>, I'm thinking of doing an isekai story."
That was…unexpected. I didn't take her for someone who followed trends.
"The story begins with Mishima committing seppuku and reincarnating into another world. Dazai, unable to bear being apart from him, drowns himself in the Tamagawa River to follow him. That's the hook."
…Senpai, could you at least try to lean into the genre's conventions a little?
"Um, isn't the timeline backward? Didn't Dazai die first?"
"Ah, trivial details like that can be ignored when crafting fiction. What matters is the love they share for each other."
"Komari-san, is that normal?"
I whispered to her.
<It is. You just don't get it, Nukumizu. Literature is about capturing the human heart.>
Komari didn't even look up as she typed her response on her phone.
"Besides, in the version of reality I'm using, getting hit by the Yamanote Line train can be cured with a quick trip to a hot spring. Sadly, though, my story's R18, which means I can't share it with you."
Wait a second, isn't this supposed to be a club activity?
"R18… not good…"
Wait, what? Who said that just now?
"Whoa!"
Looking toward the bookshelves, I spotted a shadow blending into the dim light- it was Shikiya-san, the second-year student council secretary. Unlike my startled reaction, Tsukinoki-senpai only spared her a brief, knowing glance.
"Shikiya, how long have you been here?"
"Who knows… I was waiting for someone…and fell asleep for a bit…"
Shikiya tilted her head with an air of lethargy, staring at me with her melancholic gaze.
"At least…you're doing…activities. Impressive…"
Without looking at her notebook, she scribbled something down and then collapsed into the chair next to her with a nearly inaudible sigh.
"Tsukinoki-senpai… if you're doing a training camp, submit the form…"
"Got it. I'll have the club president bring it in by tomorrow."
"The student council…is always watching…"
It's okay if you're watching, but could you at least blink once in a while? Now, even Komari has hidden herself behind the bookshelf.
"Shikiya, does the student council have it out for us?"
"No… we're targeting… all clubs… cutting costs… shutting down… annihilation…"
That's a terrifying thing to say.
After a while, Shikiya-san left the room without another word.
What's her deal? I still haven't figured out how to process that person.
"Um, senpai. Do you know Shikiya-san?"
"Yeah, we had a bit of history back in the day. Normally, she's even quieter than that. She basically doesn't move at all."
"How does she even manage high school life like that?"
"Surprisingly, she's got great grades. I heard she ranked in the top ten of our year on the last test."
No way. A gal but also a high-achiever? That's way too appealing a character setup for me. If she weren't so terrifying, she would be perfect.
"Senpai, you also seem like you would be good at studying."
I barely finished the sentence before Komari kicked my chair.
"N-Nukumizu! T-Tsukinoki-senpai's grades are f-forbidden territory in this club!"
"Wait, senpai, are your grades bad?"
I stopped short of saying, but you wear glasses…
"Let's just call them full of potential. What about you? You took the midterms recently, didn't you?"
"Uh, yeah. I think I ranked 37th in our year."
For a moment, both of them fell silent in surprise. Do I really seem like I would do worse than that?
"That's…not very inspiring."
"Y-Yeah, so m-mediocre. R-Reflect on it."
Wait, what? Why am I suddenly getting roasted here?
"What we're saying is, there should be something. Like, you could be a top-tier cool honors student, locked in a rivalry with the number-one guy in class. Or, on the other end, struggling to avoid failing and secretly taking lessons from a sadistic class president. There's gotta be some potential there."
No thanks. I don't need that kind of potential.
"Honestly, s-senpai's situation, r-ranking, like, 222nd might actually be…more interesting."
"Well, I do have a certain charm when it comes to that range."
Why is she getting embarrassed?
If I remember correctly, our school has six classes per grade, with 38 students in each. That makes 228 students per year…
"Are you okay, senpai? Isn't this your last year before exams?"
"I'm fine. I'm fine. I've got decisiveness, after all. I've already decided on my target schools."
"...Uh, you know it's the schools that do the deciding, right?"
I have been fooled by the glasses and her beauty, but this person is kind of a mess.
"Uh, s-senpai, what s-should we do on Saturday?"
Prompted by Komari's question, Tsukinoki-senpai began searching on her phone as if she had just remembered the trip.
"Let's see. We'll take the Atsumi Line, head south until it feels right, and get off somewhere. There'll probably be a bus or something. Yeah, I'm sure there will be."
…This plan sounds very not okay.
"Alright then, let's meet around 7 or 8 in the morning at the Aidaimae Station gate."
Senpai said with a cheerful smile.
Yeah, this is definitely not okay.
*
On my way home from the club room, I made a detour to the Seibunkan Bookstore's main branch in front of Toyohashi Station. It's the largest bookstore in the city and perfect for checking out new releases.
Since we're posting on <Become a Literary Master>, it's essential to keep up with the latest trends.
I have already checked out the site's popular works and trending keywords, but web novels turned into books are often released in large formats. They are shelved separately from paperbacks, so I want to see the in-store situation.
"As expected, isekai dominates…"
Isekai has often been likened to comedy skits or period dramas, with its endless attempts to differentiate itself while simultaneously building a shared genre framework. It's fascinating how this ecosystem has developed.
"Looks like this is the target to aim for."
"N-Nukumizu, you're in the w-way."
A small girl suddenly shoved me aside.
"Huh? Komari-san? What are you doing here?"
"R-Research. I d-don't really understand light novels, so I thought I would study up."
Komari gazed at the colorful covers with curiosity.
"R-Recent light novels…are r-really big, huh…"
"Yeah. The large-format section mostly consists of books adapted from web novels. Most of these are just your average trash isekai with overpowered MCs."
"I-It's that, right? R-Reincarnation and stuff?"
"Pretty much. The genre has seen recurring themes over the past decade: reincarnation, cheat abilities, and slow-life stories. These two seemingly contradictory elements, overwhelming power and a relaxing, peaceful life, actually have a common origin in the desires of people worn out by the harshness of the real world."
"C-Common origin?"
"It's full affirmation. A world where no one gets hurt. A gentle, forgiving place."
"I-Isn't a wholesome, feel-good theme e-enough?"
"It's not bad, but you need cheats or an awe-inspiring skillset. The main audience, the adults, know that even in an idyllic isekai world, a laid-back retirement isn't attainable unless you have something extraordinary."
"B-Being a grown-up is h-harsh…"
Komari sighed deeply, her shoulders slumping.
"Victory and praise through battles, peace and love through a slow life, these two elements are fundamentally the same. It's just a matter of using different frameworks. Lately, there's been a rise in female-targeted genres, like doormat heroines or stories branching out from broken engagements into variations of exile narratives-"
"…T-too long. So, um, even t-titles that seem similar h-have reasons behind them?"
Reincarnation, cheats, and now long explanatory titles? I've answered that question in my head countless times.
"A title is essentially a product description aimed at readers. Like, <One-Filling Ham Cutlet Sandwich!> It naturally ends up being formulaic yet distinct."
"W-Wow. So, do you a-already have a t-title for what you're going to write, N-Nukumizu?"
"Of course. The ultimate, optimal title would be <The Sage of Another World Uses Reincarnation Cheats to Aim for a Lush Slow Life>. With that, I'll aim for the rankings-"
"T-That one's already h-here."
"Huh?"
Ah, she's right. There it is. And it's already up to Volume 5.
Ah, great. Turns out it's already been done. My mental draft even had the protagonist marrying his sixth wife by the latest volume.
"H-Hehe…"
Komari couldn't hold back her laughter.
"Y-You were so confident, but it already e-exists!"
Damn it. I can't argue with that.
"Well, how about you, Komari-san? Do you know what you're going to write?"
"I…I'm not interested in i-isekai. Mine's more like…this."
She led me to a corner of the general paperback section. The shelves are filled with romance novels and supernatural-themed stories, including books that have been adapted into dramas and movies.
"A-Actually, I've already s-started writing s-something…"
"Wait, seriously?"
Shoot. She's ahead of me.
"So, uh… do you have a title yet?"
I tried to sound casual, but I was ready to shamelessly steal her ideas if they were good.
Blushing slightly, Komari held out her phone.
<The Spirits Cafe's Cozy Case Files>.
Judging from the title, it seems to fall under the category of character-driven light novels. Unfortunately, I don't know much about that genre. Curious, I glanced at the nearby shelves to see what was popular.
"Huh, there's a book with the same title here."
"N-No, look closer. That o-one says Case Records. M-Mine's Case Files."
"...So, does that make it a different title?"
"O-Of course."
Komari puffed out her chest proudly.
"So basically, you're saying not to worry about overlapping titles, huh?"
"Y-Yours was blatantly overlapping! M-Mine's completely different!"
"Yours is basically the same thing, Komari."
"D-Don't just call me by my n-name!"
Komari shot me a glare that was supposed to look intimidating but came off more like she was sulking. Wait a second.
"You're the one who started calling me by just my name first. Besides, adding -san all the time is a hassle."
"I, well, I guess that's t-true, but…"
Grumbling to herself, she fidgeted with the hem of her uniform, clearly not satisfied but unable to argue. As usual, she's a handful.
"Alright, I'm going to grab a book and head home."
"P-Please wait! I…Is Y-Y-Yanami coming t-today?"
"Huh? No, she's not. Why?"
"T-That's not what I meant! Is Y-Yanami…going to join the club?"
"I don't know. She seems interested in visiting the club room, but why? Are you worried?"
Maybe Komari just wanted another girl in the club. It would make things less awkward for her.
"Y-Yanami is…cute."
"Well, yeah, Yanami's cute. What about it?"
"C-Cute girls aren't supposed to be in…L-Literature Clubs."
Hold on. Apologize to every literature club girl in the country right now. Do it.
"Come on, that's not true. Look at Tsukinoki-senpai. She's beautiful, isn't she?"
Wait, hold up. Praising one of the only two female members in this conversation makes the other one…
"S-She doesn't count. I'm just… I'm like this…"
"No way. Don't put yourself down like that."
As expected, this is turning into a headache. Time for damage control. Maybe if I focus on her good points, I could salvage this.
I glanced at Komari's profile out of the corner of my eye. Her pale lips, trembling slightly, are subtle but delicate. Her eyes, partially hidden by her bangs, are big and striking despite their understated double eyelids.
"You've got a nice face too, Komari. There's nothing for you to feel bad about."
"U-Una!?"
Her bag slipped from her hand, and she practically jumped away from me. Blushing furiously, she muttered in a strained voice.
"#MeToo…moment…"
"What!? No, no, I just said what I thought! There wasn't anything weird about it!"
Why am I being accused of this just for giving a compliment?
Komari glared at me with trembling indignation, and I sighed inwardly. Well, if she dislikes me that much, there's nothing I can do about it.
"You're right. Talking about someone's appearance, even as a compliment, was out of line. My bad."
"I-It's fine, as long as you understand…"
I'm only going to the club because I was asked to, and yet I'm being treated like this?
"I'll smooth things over with Yanami-san, and I'll cut back on how often I visit the clubroom."
"E-Eh? Hey, h-hold on…!"
Ugh, this has become such a pain. I'll just buy a book and get out of here.
As I turned to leave, Komari suddenly smacked the back of my head with her palm.
"Ow! What now!?"
"I-I mean… no! That's not what I meant!"
Komari stammered, looking flustered as she stepped closer, still angry for some incomprehensible reason.
What even is this? Is she mad at me or mad in general? This feels like I'm being yelled at for no reason.
"I-I'll get senpai to s-scold you! So you b-better show up to club t-tomorrow!"
"Fine, fine. I'll come tomorrow, okay? So stop getting so worked up."
Still not satisfied, Komari typed furiously on her phone and shoved it in my face.
<Not just tomorrow. Always.>
And with that declaration, she turned and sprinted away.
What the hell just happened? I seriously don't understand. Not one bit. She even spat a little while yelling.
Feeling drained, I wiped the droplets off my face.
*
It had gotten pretty late by the time I left.
Though peak summer was over, the evening sun still painted the city in a faint reddish hue. Soon, the sky would darken with hints of blue, and daytime would fade away completely.
With an inexplicable sense of unease creeping over me, I quickened my pace on the way home.
Ahead of me, I spotted a familiar figure in a school uniform. Illuminated by the vivid evening sun streaming diagonally through the gaps between buildings, it's my younger sister, Kaju, walking with heavy-looking shopping bags in hand. Somehow, I felt a slight sense of relief and grabbed the bags from behind her.
"You scared Kaju! Onii-sama, are you just getting back now?"
"Yeah. You're out late too, Kaju."
"Mom and Dad said they would be home late, so Kaju ended up chatting with friends for a while."
Peeking into the bag, I saw fresh udon noodles, green onions, quail eggs, and yam... No doubt, she's planning to make our family staple, Toyohashi-style curry udon.
Suddenly, I noticed Kaju glancing up at me with a slightly upward gaze.
"What's up?"
"Onii-sama, Kaju will be away from home this weekend. Is that okay?"
"I don't mind. Why are you asking, though?"
"Well, Kaju thought you might feel lonely. You won't cry all by yourself, will you?"
Why does everyone assume I'm some kind of needy, lonely guy? Seriously, it's getting old.
"I'll be fine. Besides, I'm heading out this weekend, too, for an overnight club training camp."
"Eh!? So you've finally made some friends, onii-sama?"
"Wait, no, it's not like that-"
Before I could finish, Kaju darted off with quick, excited steps and burst into a dried goods store nearby.
"Excuse me! Could Kaju have some of your best adzuki beans? Kaju is making celebratory red rice!"
"Oh my, Kaju-chan. Did something good happen?"
The shop owner asked as he came out, wiping his hands on his apron. Kaju, of all people, seems to know a surprising number of folks around here.
"Well, Kaju's onii-sama has finally made his first friend! Kaju thought it would be great to hand out celebratory red rice to mark this occasion."
"Well, that's great news. You're the older brother, right? We've all been worried about you at the shopping district meetings."
Wait, what? Since when did this become a topic of discussion? Does this mean I can never show my face in this shopping district again?
"We were even thinking of making you a checkpoint for the stamp rally. But I guess that's unnecessary now, huh?"
Please don't. Seriously, stop.
"Anyway, it's such a happy occasion. Kaju-chan, I've got some glutinous rice here too. Take it as a gift for your celebration."
"Thank you so much, sir! By the way, onii-sama, what kind of friends are they? They must be wonderful, just like you, right?"
Kaju's eyes sparkled as she pressed me for details.
"Uh, well, um..."
"Wait, could it be...a girl!? What should Kaju do!? Kaju guesses it's Kaju's duty as your sister to interview her personally-"
"No, I didn't exactly make a friend. I just joined the Literature Club, so there are senpais and classmates there..."
"Wait, so you didn't make a friend…?"
"Uh, no…"
The store fell utterly silent. The motion-detecting lights clicked off with a faint clack. Dark.
"On second thought, please make it soybeans. Kaju will simmer them gently with kelp."
"...Ah, yeah, sure. I'll throw in some barley for free, too."
The atmosphere turned funeral-like. Did I do something wrong?
"Uh, um, I'll try a bit harder from now on."
"...Alright, but please don't push yourself too much, okay?"
With that somber mood still lingering, we headed home.
"Even so, joining a club and going on a training camp, it's your first time doing something like this, isn't it?"
"The last time was probably that Boy Scouts trip I was forced to go on in fifth grade."
That summer vacation is still a trauma for me.
"Joining a club, going on trips like this... Onii-sama, you're taking small steps forward, aren't you?"
"Hmm, maybe. Feels more like I'm just going with the flow, though."
"Even so, isn't that fine? Sometimes, it's good to ride along with a positive current."
Kaju gave a gentle smile and reached out to pat my head.
"You've been working so hard, onii-sama. Yes, good job."
Then she firmly grabbed one of the shopping bag handles from me.
"What's this? You're helping me carry them now?"
"Yes. Today, Kaju is going to spoil you as much as Kaju can, onii-sama."
Illuminated by the evening sun, Kaju's smile seemed to glow in the twilight streets.
I couldn't help but give a wry smile as I slowed my steps to match hers.
Still, having my own little sister spoil me like this feels... well, a mix of embarrassing and undeserved.
...Alright, your brother will try just a little harder.
<Current Loan Balance: 2,367 yen>
*
Literature Club Report
<Is It the Wait That's Painful, or the Loneliness of Sleeping Alone?> by Koto Tsukinoki
The sharp snap of a shogi piece striking the board echoed all the way down the hallway.
A man in a military uniform slid the shoji door open gracefully. Sitting cross-legged in front of the shogi board is another man, clad in rumpled cotton clothes with the look of a lazy vagrant. He idly scratched his unshaven stubble with a sly grin, as always.
The man in the uniform raised his voice, shouting.
"Why are you in a place like this?"
The man in the kasuri-patterned clothing looked up for a brief moment, startled by the sudden intruder. Upon seeing the man in military uniform, he lowered his gaze back to the shogi board.
"Oh, it's you, Mishima-kun."
Leisurely, yet with a faintly melancholic expression, he toyed with a shogi piece between his fingers.
"So, I've finally accomplished my great goal and ended up on this side. But I seem to have no idea what I'm doing here."
The crisp sound of a piece being struck against the board echoed. It almost seemed as though his aim was merely to make noise rather than play the game properly.
"Clothes, shogi, all sorts of things... Those elves sure do know how to create things I've never seen before."
He cast a brief glance up at Mishima.
"And on top of that, elven women are...attentive caregivers."
With a self-deprecating smile, he slammed another piece down onto the board.
Mishima sat heavily across from him with a thud.
"Dazai-san. Do you know where this is?"
"They said it's some kind of 'otherworld', but it's not all that different from Tsugaru. The lords of the forest are just as pompous as ever."
"You've met Mori-sensei?"
"Indeed, that man has a blonde girl at his beck and call. No matter where you go, people's nature doesn't seem to change."
He chuckled, jingling a piece in his hand.
"You always make light of things like this. Sitting around rotting away here won't solve anything. You need to rebuild yourself under Mori-sensei's guidance."
"All you talk about is that big boss of yours. What, didn't you come here to see me?"
Dazai leaned closer to Mishima, whose silence was palpable.
"I heard about it. You split your stomach open, didn't you? How did it feel? Did it hurt?"
Mishima didn't answer. Instead, he reached for the shogi board and moved his king one step forward.
"...I still can't bring myself to like you, Dazai-san."
"Even if you say that, the fact that you're here means you do like me after all."
Dazai brushed the shogi board aside, then grabbed Mishima's hand instead of a game piece, pulling it roughly toward him.
"Dazai-san, I-"
"Come on, admit it. You like me, don't you?"
With surprising strength for someone as frail as a consumptive, Dazai pinned Mishima's well-trained body to the tatami mat-
The following has been censored by the club president's authority.
*
Friday morning. The classroom has a vaguely restless atmosphere.
Everyone is exchanging greetings with friends, probably working out their weekend plans. Even with smartphones as ubiquitous communication tools, face-to-face interactions still formed the foundation of human relationships.
It's a healthy way of living, though it comes with its own minor inconveniences.
"...Freedom, huh."
Resting my elbows on the desk, I clasped my hands and muttered to myself.
Freedom and loneliness are two sides of the same coin, as they say. For someone like me, there's no need to bother with the hassle of coordinating weekend plans.
...At least, that's how it should have been.
Last night, thanks to the ever-unreliable Tsukinoki-senpai, I ended up having to research train and bus schedules for tomorrow's training camp.
Last night, thanks to the ever-unreliable Tsukinoki-senpai, I ended up having to research train and bus schedules for tomorrow's training camp.
The fact that I also looked into nearby sightseeing spots was purely incidental. It definitely wasn't because I was excited. Not at all.
"Morning, Nukkun!"
"Huh? Uh, good morning…"
Why is she greeting me? Confused, I glanced at the seat in front of mine, where Remon Yakishio was now sitting down.
"Yakishio-san? Uh, what's up?"
"What's up? It's morning, so, you know, I'm saying good morning."
Well, yeah, sure, but are we close enough to be exchanging morning greetings and having casual conversations?
Ignoring my bewilderment, Yakishio tilted her petite face slightly and started speaking.
"So, I was thinking about yesterday in the gym storage room. Right after school today-"
"Wha!? Y-You remembered that!?"
How can she be so calm after recalling that scene?
"I didn't see anything! I swear I didn't see anything!"
I mean, sure, I didn't see anything, but the sensation through her gym clothes was still burned into my memory. Soft...but at the same time, there was a gentle, firm elasticity. Unable to meet her gaze directly, I ended up awkwardly averting my eyes.
"Huh? What are you talking about? I'm talking about lending a book to Mitsuki."
"...Book?"
"Yeah, you said I could come borrow it, didn't you? Are you feeling okay, Nukkun? Maybe the heat's getting to you?"
"Oh, uh, right. That. Yeah, yeah, totally, that. Got it."
"Alright then, after school, okay?"
After waving her hand, Yakishio quickly headed to her seat. I let out a relieved sigh.
...Huh? What's this? I feel the eyes of the class on me, mainly from the guys.
Why on Earth are the boys staring at someone like me, the background character? And they are definitely not friendly gazes. They are full of jealousy and malice…
"-That's what happened, but why, though?"
The location has shifted to the emergency staircase during lunch break. Yanami pulled out her basket and answered my question nonchalantly.
"Well, it's because Remon-chan is pretty popular. And you were chatting with her like you're close or something."
"Wait, she's popular? Huh, I see…"
I see. Hmm, popular, huh?
"...So, who's popular again?"
"What? I said Remon-chan. Are you okay?'
No way. Her? She's popular? Sure, she's cheerful and cute, but- have you met her?
"Remon-chan is bright and adorable. Sure, she has her quirks, and the fact that she even got into Tsuwabuki High is considered one of the Seven Wonders of the school, but still."
Yanami nodded to herself as if convincing herself of the truth.
"Bright and adorable, after all."
I see. Well, if that's the case, I can't argue. She is bright and adorable.
I glanced down at today's bento. Inside the basket are two portions: rice balls, sausages, karaage, broccoli, and other straightforward ingredients, all neatly packed with toothpicks for easy sharing.
Yeah, this setup makes it easy to share. But more importantly-
"...Why didn't we just do this from the start?"
"Right? This is clearly the way to go, isn't it?"
Yanami murmured, equally puzzled.
"Yeah, this is the right answer."
I agreed, picking up a rice ball. What was all that effort before for, anyway?
Hand-folded bento boxes, rice falling apart mid-bite, omelet rice devoured in an instant... Memories of past lunchtime disasters flashed through my mind like a montage. Not all of them were the bento's fault, though.
"More importantly, Nukumizu-kun, about that training camp you mentioned earlier. It sounds like it's going to be fun."
"I don't know about that. They said we would be locked in a room to write, so I'm not sure how fun it will actually be."
As I peacefully chewed on my rice ball, the crunchy texture made me glance down. The filling is none other than the pride of the Mikawa region: pickled cucumber slices.
"An overnight trip, huh? So, the girls going are Tsukinoki-senpai and Komari-chan?"
"Yeah. And for the guys, it's just me and Tamaki-senpai."
Yanami started fiddling with her smartphone, searching for something.
"There's a beach nearby, too. My swimsuit from last year should still be fine."
"Wait, swimsuits are something you replace every year?"
Also, are you planning on coming as well?
"Well, not necessarily every year, but don't you want to see a new one?"
"Not necessarily every year, but don't you want to see a new one?"
"Want to see one? I mean... didn't you just buy a new swimsuit this year?"
"Huh? What are you talking about, Nukumizu-kun? I didn't."
Yanami stepped back slightly, her face twitching.
"Uh... that's kinda gross...or, actually, super gross, maybe?"
She just called me gross twice. Twice.
"No, I mean the one we all got. We're first-years, so we did that group order for the school-designated swimsuits, remember?"
"...Oh, that."
Yanami nodded in understanding for a moment but then shook her head with a disappointed look.
"Using a school-designated swimsuit at the beach is a bit much. Honestly, underwear would be better."
"Wait, is it really that bad?"
Does this mean they wear such embarrassing outfits during class?
"It's bad, and honestly, Nukumizu-kun, even knowing I misunderstood earlier, that comment was a one-strike-you're-out level of gross."
That's three times she has called me gross now. I need to change the subject before she makes a tally mark.
"So, the training camp is overnight, so it will take up the whole weekend. Are you okay with your schedule?"
"Well... About that... I ran into my aunt on the way home yesterday."
Yanami suddenly lowered her gaze and spoke in a somber tone.
"Your aunt?"
"Yeah. You know, Sosuke's mom. Sosuke and I are childhood friends, so our families are close."
Oh great, here comes another complicated story.
"She said, 'I haven't seen you coming to pick him up in the mornings lately. What's going on?' Heh, it's funny, right? He has a girlfriend now, so it would be weird for me to be waking him up."
"Y-Yeah, I guess."
"And then she asked me, 'Did you and Sosuke have a fight or something?' It reminded me of how we used to fight over the stupidest things when we were kids."
Yanami stared off into the distance, her gaze following the drifting clouds.
"...If it had just been a fight, at least we could've made up."
Please stop bringing up topics that are hard to respond to.
"So, because our parents misunderstood and thought Sosuke and I had a fight, they are planning a surprise BBQ this weekend. Together."
Yanami leaned in closer, her eyes pleading.
"That's why I'm begging you! Take me to the beach!"
She's saying stuff straight out of a 20th-century drama.
"No, you don't have to go that far. Why not just go hang out somewhere else?"
"You're underestimating my dad's BBQ obsession! He'll keep grilling until I come home, no matter how late it gets!"
"Uh, then maybe you could just stay over at a friend's house?"
"Staying at a friend's house means we would have to talk about romance, or the vibe would get super awkward. Unlike you, I don't want to lose friends, okay?"
How casually rude. Also, I don't even have friends to lose.
While I was struggling to come up with a way to refuse her, Yanami stared at me with a suspicious side-eye.
"Hey, are you trying to find a way to stop me from coming?"
"No, of course not. Look, you could just explain the situation to a friend and ask for their help."
Hearing this, Yanami frowned as if troubled.
"...How do I put it? I don't want to drag my friends into anything related to Sosuke."
"Ah, so you haven't mentioned any of this to them?"
"There's no need to bring it up, right? My friends probably know but are tactfully avoiding the subject. So, I just act normal."
Squinting as if the sunlight were too bright, Yanami added softly,
"You might not realize it, but I'm considerate too, you know?"
"You could stand to show me a little consideration, too."
I couldn't help but retort, to which Yanami muttered quietly,
"Well... there aren't many people I can talk about stuff like this with except you, Nukumizu-kun."
"...Uh, um. Okay."
I feel like she has said something similar before.
At this point, turning her down would feel heartless. Resigned, I pulled out my phone.
"I'll ask senpai, but...Yanami-san, you're not a club member, right?"
"I'll join! I'll join right now, so could you give me Tsukinoki-senpai's contact info? I'll ask her myself."
"I only know the group LINE for the club. Even if I wanted to share it, I don't know your LINE ID."
Yanami blinked at me, confused.
"Just add me from the class group chat."
Ah, the class group chat. The class…
"Wait, there's something like that?"
"...Hmm?"
Yanami went silent for a moment. Then, as if something had just dawned on her, she awkwardly glanced down at her phone.
"Uh... sorry about that. Um, how should I put it..."
Her eyes darted nervously.
"But, you know, this kind of thing feels...very Nukumizu-kun-like, doesn't it? Like, part of your charm or something."
What kind of consolation is that? "Charm" isn't some magical word you can just throw around to fix everything.
"It's fine. I don't mind that much. I only just started using LINE recently anyway."
"R-Right! It's just part of your individuality! So, how about we exchange IDs? Do you know how to do that?"
"Leave it to me. There's that shaky-shaky thing we do, right?"
When I joined the Literature Club group chat, I had no idea what I was doing and ended up handing my phone over to Tsukinoki-senpai to sort it out. But now, I've looked it up online. I've got this.
"What's that? There's no such thing."
"Huh?"
No such thing? What happened to shaky-shaky? Where did it go?
"Here, just pull up your QR code."
…Wait, how do I even do that? As I hesitated, Yanami grabbed my phone and started fiddling with it without asking.
"Alright, I've sent you a request. Just hit accept."
"Oh, uh, yeah. So that adds the other person to my contacts?"
"Exactly. Now, Nukumizu-kun, invite me to the Literature Club group."
As I nervously finished the process, Yanami nodded in satisfaction.
"By the way, how did you and Remon-chan get so close?"
Yanami casually asked as she counted the remaining karaage with a toothpick.
"Do we really look that close?"
"Well, she even gave you a nickname."
Nukkun, huh. Honestly, I feel like it just popped into her head while I was half unconscious in the gym storage room, and somehow, it stuck. Anyway, if I think about my connection to Remon Yakishio…
"Well, remember the guy who showed up in the nurse's office? Mitsuki Ayano from Class D."
"Oh, the guy Remon-chan was shooting her love beams at? He was pretty good-looking, wasn't he?"
"Ayano mentioned wanting to borrow a book from the Literature Club, and Yakishio was the one who acted as a go-between."
"Hmm~"
Yanami muttered as she tossed the remaining karaage and broccoli into her mouth.
"Hey, should I start calling you Nukkun too?"
Huh? Why would you do that?
"50 yen a day."
I averted my gaze from Yanami's sparkling eyes.
"I'm fine. I don't need it."
...Kaju, is this what they call an optional extra?
*
The fifth period ended. I wandered the hallway, avoiding people, trying to kill time during the break.
Once the next class is over, I'll have to head to the clubroom to discuss tomorrow's training camp. If I recall correctly, Ayano and Yakishio are supposed to join the discussion as well. Things have gotten unexpectedly busy. I kind of miss the quiet days of last week.
I stepped out of the school building. The faucet by the field is usually swarmed with students after gym class.
Today, however, I casually turned the tap without anyone around. During the pool season, this faucet became a hidden gem, wholly deserted. The distance from the classrooms, the fact it's outdoors, and the unique sense of purpose it offers sets it apart from other sinks.
The faintly earthy taste of the water is oddly refreshing. After taking a sip of the lukewarm water and wiping my mouth, I looked up-
And locked eyes with a familiar face doing the exact same thing in front of me.
"N-Nukumizu? What are y-you doing here?"
At the opposite faucet is Chika Komari, sipping the same water. She looks genuinely annoyed by my presence.
"I was thirsty, so I came to grab a drink."
"W-Wait, you came a-all the way out here just for t-that?"
Komari shot me a look of disbelief. What's with her? She's kind of irritating.
"You're one to talk. You're probably wandering around drinking water because you don't feel like staying in the classroom."
"S-Shut up. I...I'm doing this as p-part of my research. Y-You know, like studying the school's f-faucets or something!"
Research, huh? I smirked inwardly. Does she even know who she's talking to?
"Komari. Just so you know, I take my knowledge of this school's water supply very seriously. If you're going to claim that, I hope you have some well-thought-out insights to back it up."
"T-Then, tell me: which f-fountain did you drink from this m-morning?"
Komari's gaze turned sharp and serious. Thus began the grand battle of Water Fountain Chronicles.
"For the first and second periods, I mainly stick to the east side of the fourth floor, by the third-year classrooms."
"A-And why is that?"
"Here's the thing: throughout the school, the water left in the pipes during those hours is from the day before. That water has lower chlorine content, and in summer, it hasn't had time to heat up yet. In short, you can enjoy water in optimal condition from the fourth floor in the morning."
Komari let out a small gasp as if impressed.
"The closer the water source is to the tank, the better the quality. However, freshness comes at the cost of a stronger chlorine smell. This balance of freshness and faint chlorine is a rare find, only available at this time of day."
As I finished my explanation, I confidently ran a hand through my hair. Perfect.
But just as I was savoring my imminent victory, Komari flashed a mischievous grin, showing off her teeth.
"H-Heh, how s-shallow."
"What? What's that supposed to mean?"
"T-The east side of the f-fourth floor. Y-You drink it b-before or d-during lunch on p-purpose."
Lunchtime? That's absurd. Higher floors are unsuitable for drinking water at later hours.
"Why? By lunch, the chlorine smell is stronger, and the water's lukewarm."
"Amateur… w-warmer water is gentler on the stomach."
Komari's smug expression radiated confidence. Despite the sinking feeling I had, I couldn't give up yet.
"Why? But the chlorine smell is still-"
"O-On the contrary, y-you get used to the chlorine smell…"
"Get used to it?"
Why would anyone want to get used to the smell of chlorine just before lunch? Wait, don't tell me-
"T-To…make the smell of the r-restroom...less n-noticeable."
"Eek!?'
Oh no. That's something I didn't want to know.
"At least go to the club room!"
"U-Using the clubroom at lunch is p-prohibited. People were s-skipping class to h-hang out there..."
So, someone's little act of laziness caused this kind of sadness?
"Komari. Why don't you come to eat lunch where I do?"
"Ueh!?"
What's with that reaction? She's as rude as ever.
"I'm not saying we should eat together. The emergency stairs in the old building are quiet and comfortable. You could eat on a different floor than me."
"I-I'll think about it."
Komari avoided eye contact and hurried off. Well, she's still a bit prickly, but I think she's gotten a little more comfortable since we first met. After all, we just had an entire conversation without using our phones.
Shit, the next class is starting.
Following Komari, I quickly dashed back into the school building.
*
That afternoon, after school, in the club room.
Mitsuki Ayano, who had come along with Yakishio, picked up the final volume of the collected works of Kobo Abe.
"Seeing it all together like this is impressive. Which one should I borrow?"
Watching him, Tsukinoki-senpai folded her arms in satisfaction. Welcoming not only Yanami as a new member but also Ayano and Yakishio as visitors, senpai was clearly in high spirits.
"Don't hold back. Borrow as many as you like."
"Have you read all of these, senpai?"
Ayano, while flipping through the catalog, ran his finger along the spines of the books.
"I've only read <The Woman in the Dunes> and <The Box Man>. I gave up on <The Wall> at the very beginning of Karma's introduction."
"That's...literally the opening of the whole thing, isn't it?"
Taking it as a joke, Ayano laughed and pulled a book from the shelf.
"Alright, I'll borrow volume 12 for today."
Standing behind him, Yakishio peeked curiously at the book in Ayano's hands.
"Mitsuki, if you start in the middle, won't the story not make sense? Shouldn't you borrow volume 1 first?"
She came out with this.
"Huh? Oh, nah, it's fine. This isn't the kind of series where the whole thing is one continuous story."
"Oh, really? So it's not like <One Piece>, then."
"Yeah, it's a bit different. This volume has a play I've been wanting to read for a while."
This guy knows how to handle Yakishio. Though there's still the lingering question of Asagumo-san, these two unexpectedly seem like a good match.
I shifted my attention to Yanami. Wearing a paper crown labeled "New Member", she's cheerfully munching on Pocky while humming. She seems pretty pleased with how her hosting efforts have gone.
"By the way, Ayano-kun. Are you interested in joining the Literature Club?"
Tsukinoki-senpai finally made her move, inviting him in with perfect timing.
"I am curious, but...I'm busy with cram school, and I would feel bad if I couldn't contribute to club activities."
"Oh, not at all. Not at all. You could just come by to borrow books whenever you feel like it. We'll leave all the club work to Nukumizu-kun, and you can treat the bookshelf as your personal library. On top of that-"
Tsukinoki-senpai's glasses gleamed suspiciously.
"Our club has a tradition of providing the school's library committee members. We've got connections to influence new book acquisitions."
"Wait, seriously?"
"Seriously, seriously."
"Well, I'll think about it then."
I can't tell what he's honestly thinking, but he seems interested. Holding the club recruitment flyer, he began reading it with curiosity.
"Why don't you join, too, along with your cute girlfriend?"
Now, she's going after both of them as a pair. Tsukinoki-senpai shifted her attention to Yakishio.
"Eh!? M-Me? Are you calling me his girlfriend? My my, that's quite flattering~"
Yakishio cheerfully accepted the flyer, clearly in a good mood.
"But I'm already in the Track and Field Club, so it might be tough for me."
"Oh, we totally welcome dual memberships! In fact, all our members are in more than one club."
Wait, seriously? What kind of club did I even join?
"If you ever want to skip track practice, you can use us as an excuse. Like, 'Oh no, the club president made me come!' or something."
That's practically the devil's whisper. Tsukinoki-senpai os wearing an extremely mischievous grin.
"See? A fun school life is all about using what's available to you. Right, Ayano-kun? You would like it too if you got to spend more time with your girlfriend, wouldn't you?"
"Huh? Mitsuki, would you like that too?"
Yakishio leaned forward, her eyes sparkling. Hey, shouldn't you be denying the whole "girlfriend" thing right about now?
"Haha, I would feel bad for Remon. We're not dating or anything."
Ayano carefully placed the book he borrowed into his bag as if to close the topic.
"Huh, really?"
"She has been pretty popular ever since we were kids, so someone like me doesn't stand a chance."
Ayano said this with a refreshing smile as he slung his bag over his shoulder.
"Well, I'll borrow this for now. I'll come back on a day I don't have cram school-"
"I don't have a boyfriend or anything! And just because I'm popular doesn't mean I'm okay with anyone!"
Yakishio interrupted him, grabbing his shirt and pulling him closer. Ayano blinked in surprise, his eyes meeting her tanned face with a hint of confusion.
"I-I see... Sorry, did I say something weird?"
"It's not that, but... um, I... sorry."
Tsukinoki-senpai, noticing the strange tension between the two, looked back and forth at them before blurting out-
"Huh. Even if you're not dating, you still kinda give off that vibe."
She just had to say something unnecessary. Is this senpai a secret airhead?
"Huh? W-W-W-We aren't like that at all!"
"No, really, we're not. Besides, I have a girlfriend."
With those casual words from Ayano, Yakishio's flustered, bashful smile froze entirely in an instant.
"Huh? What's wrong, everyone?"
Ayano looked puzzled.
Clatter. The clubroom door opened.
"G-Good after-"
Komari peeked inside, glanced around the room-
Bam. Then, she immediately closed the door and fled.
"Remon. Did I say something weird again?"
"Uh, um, Mitsuki. You...got a girlfriend...?"
Somehow, Yakishio managed to reboot herself and force out the words.
"Oh, yeah, just recently. I guess I hadn't told you yet, Remon. I'll introduce her to you some time."
Mitsuki Ayano scratched his cheek sheepishly, giving a slight bow.
"Ayano, hold on a sec. Is your girlfriend by any chance Asagumo-san?"
I had to ask just to confirm.
"Figured it out, huh? Yeah, that's right. I'll properly introduce her to you next time, Nukumizu."
He flashed his usual refreshing smile before turning back to Yakishio.
"Well then, Remon, shall we go?"
"Huh?"
"You wanted me to go shopping with you, right? There's still some time before cram school."
Ayano's innocent eyes sparkled. Wait, is this guy the dense type?
"Uh, um, I mean...something suddenly came up. Yeah, I decided to join the Literature Club, so I thought I would stay here for a bit."
"Oh, I see. Well, then, I'll head out first."
With a polite bow, Ayano left the room. ...Now, what do I do about this awkward atmosphere?
In the eternal silence that followed, Yakishio looked ready to collapse. Panicking, I quickly pulled a chair over for her.
Just in time, she sat down, only to hold out her hand toward me.
"Uh, what?"
"The club registration form. Hand it over."
While scribbling her name on the form, Yakishio muttered to herself.
"So... Mitsuki... has a girlfriend all along, huh... haha... What have I even been doing all this time...?"
Yeah, probably just running in circles. Not that I would say that out loud.
Yanami plopped the "New Member" crown on Yakishio's head with a soft thud.
"Well, uh... for now, good job."
"...Yeah. I'm...so done."
Yakishio wrapped her arms around Yanami's waist and buried her face in her stomach.
Before the sound of her sniffles reached my ears, I grabbed Tsukinoki-senpai and pulled her out of the clubroom.
"...Um, did I do something wrong?"
It seemed she had finally caught up with the situation as she glanced nervously back at the room.
"Yes, you did. Please reflect on this deeply."
With a sigh, I pulled out my phone and opened my notes.
"Anyway, about tomorrow's training camp. I've looked up the train and bus schedules, so I'll send them to the group chat later. We're meeting at the Aidaimae Station gate, right?"
"Yeah, but, hey, Nukumizu-kun."
"I'll also send everyone a final list of what to bring. Oh, and since we haven't heard back from Prez, could you double-check with him just in case?"
"Nukumizu-kun, hold on. I mean, you know, a lot just happened in the clubroom, didn't it? Maybe we should talk about that first?"
"Didn't you just crash straight into it instead of easing the situation, senpai?"
"...Ugh, you're pretty blunt, huh?"
Well, it's just a feeling, but I think this is the kind of person who needs things spelled out plainly.
"I'll stick around here and keep an eye on things, so feel free to go wherever else-"
Huh. Komari peeked out from behind a corner in the hallway, half her face visible. Is she curious about what's happening over here?
"Senpai, could you do something about Komari, please?"
"Got it. I'm good at this. Leave it to me."
Tsukinoki-senpai wiggled her fingers as she approached Komari. Startled, Komari bolted. Senpai gave chase.
Ah, what a hassle. Being a loner isn't just about passively avoiding people, it's an active choice to keep your distance from trouble.
Leaning against the wall, I stared at my phone, and a message from Yanami popped up.
She wanted to know if I wanted to grab tea on the way home. Well, she could do whatever she wanted, but why did she invite me?
I was about to decline when her follow-up message made me do a double-take.
The place she suggested is a family restaurant a bit farther from the school, the same one where Yanami had just been rejected a few days ago.
*
"Welcome! Please sit wherever you like!"
The cheerful voice of a staff member greeted us as we stepped inside the familiar family restaurant. Nothing about the interior seems any different from usual. The three of us had walked 20 minutes from school to reach this family restaurant in the neighboring town.
Yanami plopped down on a sofa seat and patted the spot next to her.
"Remon-chan, sit here."
"Yeah, thanks."
Yakishio obediently sat down, her demeanor oddly subdued. She might have had a better chance with Ayano if she had always been this reserved.
"Yana-chan, I didn't know there was a place like this around here."
"Right? There aren't many Tsuwabuki students here, so it's a hidden gem."
I found myself staring at Yanami as she cheerfully browsed the dessert menu.
...This is the same restaurant where she got dumped by Sosuke Hakamada. What's up with her unbreakable mental fortitude? Who brings a friend they are trying to cheer up to the very place where they themselves were rejected?
"What's wrong, Nukumizu-kun? You're not even looking at the menu."
"It's just this place…"
Yanami tilted her head in confusion.
"N-No, it's nothing. By the way, we're each paying for our own food, okay?"
"Of course, Nukumizu-kun."
Well, if she's okay with it, then so be it. Yanami pressed the call button for service.
"Talking about money in front of a heartbroken girl? That's pretty tactless, don't you think? Remon-chan, today's on us."
Having Yanami lecture me about tact felt...odd. Also, she casually included me in "us" without asking.
"Fine. We'll split the cost of Yakishio-san's meal between me and Yanami-san."
"Eh, but I feel bad…"
"Think of it as a celebration for joining the Literature Club. Order whatever you like."
"Remon-chan, just lean on us today!"
After saying that, Yanami tilted her head, suddenly curious.
"...Wait a minute. I joined the club today, too."
"For you, Yanami-san, we'll celebrate another time. Oh, excuse me, we're ready to order."
There's no way spoiling her will lead to anything good. And as if to prove me right, she ordered a hamburger from the dessert menu, of all things.
"Oh, and make the rice a regular size, please."
"Yanami-san, are you sure you'll be okay eating that before dinner?"
"Don't you know? Sweets are the mortal enemy of dieting."
How exactly is eating a hamburger before dinner diet-friendly?
Yakishio pointed at the dessert menu.
"Then I'll have the Black Thunder Parfait."
"What's that? I want one too for after my meal!"
Yanami immediately added the same parfait to her order. I guess sweets aren't her enemy after all.
"Also, we'll take a large serving of fries and three drink bar passes. Oh, and Yanami-san, you're paying for your own meal."
This is important, so I'll keep repeating it.
"Yeah, yeah, I know. Nukumizu-kun, this is why you don't have any friends."
I watched as the two of them walked off together toward the drink bar.
Yanami seems back to her usual self. That's reassuring, but it also feels a bit anticlimactic.
In the end, I spent the next hour listening to their grumbling while watching Yanami effortlessly devour her hamburger.
Still, by the time we left, Yakishio had started smiling again every now and then, so I guess it wasn't a complete waste of time.
"Yakishio-san, we'll take care of the bill, so could you wait outside for us?"
While waiting in line at the register, I sent Yakishio ahead. Yanami looked at me with mild surprise.
"Oh, Nukumizu-kun, that was actually pretty thoughtful of you."
"It's nothing special. Besides, you've got to be nice to the makeines-"
…Hm? Did I just say something dangerous because I let my guard down?
"Uh, you know, make…"
"Make what, exactly? Hey, tell me."
"You know, um... McCain! Like that guy, McCain!"
"Your friend?"
As if.
"I mean, that famous American politician."
"Why are you suddenly bringing that up?"
Good question.
I glanced around for something to bail me out and noticed a poster on the wall advertising an American Burger Fair. Following my gaze, Yanami clapped her hands together in understanding.
"Ah, I see! So, next time, we're eating burgers, right? Okay, I'm looking forward to it!"
In other words, she's implying I should pay next time, too. But if it can erase my slip of the tongue, I suppose I don't have much of a choice.
When my turn came at the register, I handed the receipt to the cashier.
"Hey, Nukumizu-kun, speaking of which, we never settled up for lunch today, right?"
"Oh, that's right. Uh, how about 500 yen? It was good, after all."
"Got it! 500 yen, received!"
Yanami beamed, clasping her hands together happily.
Okay, so the remaining balance was 2,367 yen, and today's lunch was 500 yen... right, that leaves 1,867 yen.
Incidentally, the total bill here at the register already far surpasses her remaining debt.
"Seriously, this isn't me treating you. Yanami-san, you still owe me money."
"Geez, you're so persistent. Like I've been saying, this is exactly why you don't have friends, Nukumizu-kun. Oh, by the way, I have a T-Point card!"
"Fine. I'll cover half of what Yakishio-san ate and my share. I've got just enough."
I laid out some coins on the tray.
"Alright. So, for the rest..."
Yanami opened her wallet- and then suddenly froze.
"Hm? What's wrong?"
Surely she's not out of money, right? Even Yanami wouldn't pull something that absurd... right? That would just make her a complete idiot.
Yanami's body began trembling slightly, almost imperceptibly.
"Don't tell me you're out of money..."
Yanami lifted her face, her eyes glistening with tears, and looked straight at me.
"Um, Nukumizu-kun…"
Is this girl…really just…an idiot?
Without a word, I handed her a 1,000-yen bill.
<Current Loan Balance: 2,867 yen>
Intermission: Sensei Will Tell You What's Really Bugging You
"...But didn't they give off kind of a couple-y vibe earlier?"
"Ha?" (x2)
Late at night, in the nurse's office. The school nurse, Sayo Konuki, is jotting something down in her notebook while listening to voices through her earbuds.
"You know, Remon-chan, I can't help but feel like we're kindred spirits. I'm rooting for you."
"Thanks! That really cheers me up!"
After drawing a circle around Nukumizu's name in the center of the page, she connected it with lines to Yakishio's and Yanami's names.
"...A love triangle, huh?"
That day, the secret smartphone recording had been discovered, but they hadn't noticed the voice recorder.
Now then, how should this conversation be interpreted?
Despite the love triangle, the two girls seemed to get along quite well. While parts of their conversation were unclear, there was no sense of tension or rivalry between them.
Given that, the possible explanations might be as follows:
One. Nukumizu and Yakishio are sneaking around behind Yanami's back, enjoying the thrill of getting as close to being caught as possible.
Two. Yanami is fully aware and has given her approval, allowing Yakishio to join in on the fun.
Konuki twirled her pen and added another possibility to the list:
Three. Rather than being unaware, Yanami takes pleasure in silently observing their infidelity.
As soon as she finished writing, Konuki shivered.
(What even is this? That's way too advanced…!)
That Nukumizu guy- despite his unassuming appearance, he's a surprisingly skilled player.
Back when she was a student, Konuki's "wildest" moments involved juggling two or three relationships and dealing with the ensuing drama. To think that a mere first-year is already venturing into such a higher realm.
"I'm getting old..."
The air conditioner groaned loudly as Konuki leaned back against her chair, letting her thoughts drift. As she stared at the ceiling, a faint sound of sand being kicked reached her ears.
During the day, it would have been drowned out by the usual noise, but now it was unmistakable. Konuki straightened up, her teacher instincts kicking in. If there's still a student lingering on school grounds at this hour, she has to step in.
Peering out the window, she saw the darkened school grounds. A female student in a uniform was crouched in a starting position. Then, with a sudden burst of motion, she sprang forward and began running, her figure almost melting into the darkness. For a moment, Konuki found herself captivated by the graceful sight.
"You there. What are you doing at this hour?"
Having hurried out in her house slippers, Konuki found herself staring in surprise when she saw the girl up close. Is this a coincidence?
"Ara, ara, it's you from the other day."
"Oh, sensei. What are you doing here so late?"
The girl responded with an innocent expression, then continued cheerfully,
"It's Friday night, you know."
"...Teachers have their own reasons."
No way could Konuki admit she had been checking her recorded data on a Friday night.
"Besides, shouldn't I be the one asking you that? It's already past 9 PM."
"I just felt like running all of a sudden. I skipped club practice today."
The girl pulled a sports drink from her bag and took a long gulp.
"Alright, it's time for you to head home. Or should I walk you part of the way?"
"Sensei, can I run one last 100 meters?"
"You're still going to run?"
Konuki gave a wry smile, but the girl simply flashed a bright and cheerful grin in return.
"I feel like I can run even better this time."
She gazed ahead into the night toward the unseen goal. Her sweat was left unwiped.
"I feel like I'm about to grasp something."
If Konuki had something she could throw herself into with this much passion at that age, would her youth have been different?
"Fine. Go ahead, run."
Not that she regretted the choices she made, of course.
"But only if you give it your all."
It's just that the girl in front of her shone far too brightly.
The tanned girl responded with her biggest smile of the night.
"Of course!"
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