Chapter 3: Only Those Who Have Never Been Rejected May Cast Stones at the Losing Heroine
The sun is already high in the sky in the morning.
Cracking open a can of coffee, I stared up at a sign that read: Roadside Station: Mokkurul Shinshiro.
It's about a 50-minute drive north from Toyohashi, in the town of Shinshiro.
"Why am I even here…?"
Don't blame me for saying that out loud. When a minivan with a “beginner driver” sticker pulled up in front of my house, and I saw Tsukinoki-senpai poke her head out from the driver's seat, I pretty much knew resistance was futile.
Yanami and Komari were already in the car. I had sort of resigned myself to it all, but I didn't expect to get dragged outside the city like this with zero time to prepare.
Shinshiro is known as the gateway to the mountainous Oku-Mikawa region of Mikawa. It's also where the Battle of Nagashino happened ages ago or whatever.
That's about the extent of my knowledge. The point is, I'm out here in the middle of the mountains.
According to Tsukinoki-senpai, Yakishio is staying at her grandma's house here in Shinshiro. It's still a long way off, so we stopped at this roadside station for a break.
But since senpai isn't showing any signs of getting back on the road, I ended up sipping my mildly sweet canned coffee in front of the open sign.
"…Oh yeah, senpai sent over that novel."
Better read it now before it becomes a hassle later. I clicked on the email attachment-
*
Literature Club Report – Summer Edition
<The Sleeping Forest of Writers> by Koto Tsukinoki
A man in a kimono trudged wearily down a sun-dappled forest path.
He muttered, looking annoyed.
"Hey, shorty. How much further are we walking?"
Floating ahead of him is a tiny figure, fluttering in the air. It's about the size of a starling, with wings like a dragonfly's sprouting from its back.
The little creature didn't say anything, just drew a big arc in the air. As the man squinted, a small Western-style mansion gradually came into view down the path.
"Fancy place to be living, huh."
The man spat those words with mock bitterness, then tossed a coin at the winged guide. The fairy-like creature vanished, melting away into the air with the coin.
Kawabata is in this world.
Even when Dazai heard that from Mishima, he didn't really care, but once he found out Kawabata had been put in charge of organizing the reincarnated, his interest was piqued.
The place is two days away by carriage and on foot.
The house where Kawabata apparently spends most of his time is a charming two-story home draped in ivy, though a bit tiny for someone acting as the ringleader of all the reincarnated.
Since no maid came even after Dazai waited, he rang the doorbell.
To his surprise, the one who answered was Kawabata himself. Caught off guard, Dazai choked on the introduction he had carefully prepared.
Kawabata gave a short "ahh" and then stared at Dazai with sharp, round eyes.
"Come in. I'll make some tea."
He then turned his back and said that softly.
The interior gives off none of the atmosphere of the world they have come from.
The room is strangely cramped, barely eight tatami mats in size, and not even a sofa in sight. Dazai was led to one of the chairs around a small table.
Kawabata is dressed in the local fashion, his outfit evoking the image of a Christian priest. With his back turned, he stood by the kitchen counter, preparing tea.
"No maids today?"
"No need for one here. A bit of magic and a few fae servants do the trick."
As Dazai looked around the room, one corner stood out.
Beakers and flasks are neatly arranged, like a chemistry lab.
"Have you heard of a plant called Nirukine?"
Kawabata asked suddenly, with his back still turned.
"First time. If I brew it into tea, will it cure my nervous breakdowns?"
Dazai joked poorly. Kawabata didn't laugh. He silently poured hot water into the teapot.
"When processed in a special way, it produces a tasteless, odorless liquid. Just a sip, and you'll sleep soundly."
"So it's like this world's version of a sleeping pill?"
Kawabata didn't answer that. He brought the pot and cups over to the table.
"No matter how hard you try, the person won't wake up. They will sleep straight through, completely unaware of anything that happens from beginning to end."
"That's sketchy. Not that I'm one to talk, but is it really safe to drink?"
"Insomnia is basically an occupational hazard for writers. It's far better than something like calmotin." [TL: It's a hypnotic drug Dazai had used twice in an attempt to take his own life.]
He said this as he poured the tea into Dazai's cup.
In front of Dazai, the cup filled with a light brown liquid, steam curling up from its surface.
"These tea leaves are from the Solidea Highlands. The flavor's a bit like Ceylon."
Kawabata pushed the nearly overflowing cup toward Dazai. He hesitated, unsure whether to reach for it.
Just then, the door burst open with a loud slam.
"Sensei, aren't you gonna play with us today?"
"Ah! There's someone we don't know!"
"Who is he?"
All three have pale green or blue hair, immediately marking them as non-human.
"Hey now, we've got a guest. You girls should head home for today."
Kawabata's stern voice cut through the chaos. The girls pouted and protested but eventually left just as noisily as they had entered.
Dazai stared at the now-closed door, clearly dumbfounded.
"What were those girls? They don't seem like elves."
"Oh? You can tell?"
"Their manners are atrocious. Even cafe waitresses have more grace than that, let alone elves."
"But when they are asleep, there's no difference."
Kawabata said this as he turned his bulging eyes toward Dazai.
"Bit of a mood killer, wasn't it? Now, drink before it gets cold."
"Very well, I shall… but before that, there's something I would like to ask."
Dazai only pretended to reach for the cup, pulling his hand back quickly.
"I heard you know where Akutagawa-sensei is. Please, I'm begging you. Won't you tell me?"
Kawabata stared in silence. Dazai looked away, feeling awkward under his gaze.
"When I came to this world, I was given something called a Skill."
By now, the steam rising from the tea has thinned. Kawabata spoke as if trying to deflect the question.
"My Skill is called <Kotodama>. Once someone agrees with what I say, they are compelled to follow through. No matter what might be in the tea."
Dazai's eyes widened in disbelief. His own hand is moving on its own.
"Kawabata-san, what is this…?"
"I said 'drink', and you replied 'very well '. <Kotodama> has been activated."
It wasn't just his hand that refused to obey him. Ignoring his own will, Dazai's body lifted the cup to his lips, and his throat swallowed the tea. The hot liquid seared his throat, but he couldn't stop.
Dazai slammed the now-empty cup down onto the floor with full force. The drug seemed to be kicking in already. His body is growing heavier.
"Maybe I should've let it cool a bit more, but this tea's best while it's hot."
"What are you planning to do to me after making me drink this?"
"Akutagawa-kun isn't going to see anyone."
Kawabata took a sip of his own tea as his cold eyes stared blankly at the wall.
"Not that you would listen even if I said so. I figured your body would understand better than your head."
Dazai followed Kawabata's gaze, struggling to catch his breath from the burning in his throat.
Within this well-crafted, timeworn building, one wall stood out as clearly newer. It looks like a recent addition with new walls and a door.
That's what had felt off the moment he entered.
Compared to what he saw outside, this room was too small. There has to be another, disproportionately large room beyond that door.
"Well then, the Nirukine should be in full effect soon."
"But didn't you drink it too?"
"I had the cup specially rigged. This tea is far too good to waste."
"I see. Well then, that's a relief."
A faint, mocking smile curved on Dazai's lips.
"What do you mean by that, Dazai-kun?"
"Didn't you notice? While those girls were making a fuss, I swapped the cups."
Kawabata's eyes flew wide open. In a flash, he dumped his tea onto the floor.
"Oh? You believed me? You're more trusting than I thought, sensei."
Dazai stood, swaying slightly, yet the heaviness that had weighed down his body was completely gone.
"What's the meaning of this? Didn't you switch the cups?"
"My Skill is called <Liar>. When someone believes one of my lies, it becomes true for them."
Kawabata shot him a sharp glare, but Dazai only smiled, entirely unfazed.
"I didn't switch anything. What you drank was my lie."
Dazai walked over to Kawabata, now down on his knees, and roughly undid the cord at his chest.
"So this is your idea of revenge?"
"At this point, I don't hate you anymore. I even owe you a debt."
He lifted Kawabata's petite body into his arms and opened the strangely out-of-place, pristine door.
Beyond it is a dim room with nothing but a massive bed in the center.
A sweet scent lingered in the air.
"No rush. We've got plenty of time. Let's dance a little until you feel like talking about Akutagawa-sensei."
*
After finishing the story, I looked up at the perfectly clear sky. What exactly made that the all-ages version...?
Still mulling over modern content restrictions, I headed toward the building. Near the entrance, by the hot snacks corner, I spotted Yanami standing with her arms crossed.
"Yanami-san, what are you doing?"
"Ah, Nukumizu-kun. Perfect timing."
She was staring intently at some freshly grilled goheimochi.
Goheimochi is mashed rice shaped into a sandal-like oval, skewered, slathered in miso sauce, and grilled. It's a classic roadside snack in Japan's Chubu region.
"Do you want some?"
"...Nukumizu-kun. I've been thinking about carbs."
"Ah. You've gone and thought about it, huh."
"I have. Around ten thousand years ago, humans transitioned from a hunter-gatherer lifestyle to agriculture. That means… it was also the beginning of the carbohydrate era."
"Wow, really? Is this going to be a long story?"
Naturally, she nodded, like of course it is.
"Since then, carbohydrates, the core of our staple foods, have played a massive role in human history… It's not even an exaggeration to say carbs have enslaved humanity."
"So what you're saying is you want to eat goheimochi?"
Yanami shook her head.
"No. I mean, it's time I reconsider how I approach carbs in my life."
I don’t really get it, but I think this is what's going on:
"You've been eating too much somen and got fat-"
"I haven't gained weight! Yanami-chan's still got her killer body for the 15th year in a row!"
She snapped back before I even finished my sentence.
"But, Yanami-san, I saw this show recently that said people might have been eating just as many carbs even before agriculture started."
"Wait, really?"
"I mean, it was tough to live off of hunting alone, right? They would also gather nuts, eat plants, and dry stuff to store. It wasn't all meat all the time."
Yanami folded her arms and fell deep into thought.
"So, what you're saying is... I can eat the goheimochi?"
Do whatever you want, girl. I pulled out my wallet.
"Hold on, Nukumizu-kun. Are you seriously about to buy one? Right in front of me while I'm trying to cut back on snacks?"
"I don't know about your diet restrictions, Yanami-san. But I just thought I would try it again after a long time."
She glanced at me out of the corner of her eye.
"...Is, like, giving me a bite not an option?"
"Sharing goheimochi sounds kind of gross. Feels like it would get all moist and mushy."
"Can you not make it sound like my mouth is what's moist and mushy?"
"Well, if it's too dry, that's another kind of problem. You should probably see a doctor."
…Yeah, and now I've completely lost my appetite.
Leaving Yanami staring longingly at the goheimochi, I headed into the building.
Break time's over. Time to get senpai moving again. After all, we came all the way out here to see Yakishio.
I found senpai chatting with Komari over by the souvenir section.
"I still think the plum jam should go on the left, don't you?"
Tsukinoki-senpai gently set a jar of plum jam on the shelf.
"N-No, plum j-jam goes on the r-right…"
Komari lined the jam up to the right of the venison curry.
Senpai put a light fist to her mouth, eyebrows furrowed in thought.
"The venison curry does have a strong presence, but left just doesn't feel right. Doesn't the sourness of the plum jam give off kind of a delinquent youth vibe?"
"B-But that's exactly why… we p-put it on the right… g-generational shift…"
…What are these two even doing?
As I hesitated to say something, Tsukinoki-senpai finally noticed me and cleared her throat with a dramatic little cough.
"Nukumizu-kun, I believe an explanation is in order."
"No thanks, I'm good."
"Oh, come on now. Just hear me out. In society, there's a persistent and exaggerated stereotype that fujoshi types see top and bottom dynamics even in something as innocent as a pencil and eraser."
With a theatrical sigh, senpai covered her eyes with one hand and shook her head.
"Isn't it just tragic?"
"What you two were doing just now doesn’t fall under that category?"
"That was purely a thought experiment. Like brain training."
Isn't brain training supposed to be less corrupt?
"When a new anime is announced, being able to generate the optimal pairings instantly is a matter of life and death for us. That's why we need to keep our brain synapses sharp and active at all times… Think of it like warm-ups in a sports club. A basic discipline for any self-respecting Literature Club member."
So the Literature Club is that terrifying, huh? I might need to seriously rethink how I interact with them going forward.
"I kind of hate that I understand what you're saying. So, what's with the whole right and left thing?"
"See, when you write something in horizontal text, like Top x Bottom, the 'top' goes on the left, right? So left means top, right means bottom."
Komari nodded enthusiastically.
"T-That way, w-we can... d-discuss things... even in public."
Just because you can doesn't mean you should.
"So that's why the plum jam goes on the bottom- uh, right side?"
"What are you saying? Plum jam is obviously the top."
"P-Plum jam is the b-bottom."
Faced with Komari's stubborn declaration, Tsukinoki-senpai narrows her eyes in thought.
"So then the venison curry is the top? But saying spicy food equals top feels a bit too simplistic..."
What happened to left and right? You're both in public, okay?
"B-But curry's spiciness… i-it hurts the other person. T-That's why..."
At Komari's words, senpai clapped her hands in admiration.
"Ohhh…! They want to love each other, but they can't touch because it would only cause pain… That's so intense!"
For a moment, Tsukinoki-senpai was totally fired up, but then her expression darkened, and she bit her lip.
"But my brain has already locked in with plum jam as the top...!"
"T-That can't be helped."
Komari nodded. What is this conversation?
"Um, more importantly, senpai, shouldn't we get going soon?"
The two fujoshi turn their sticky stares toward me.
"Eh, what? Why are you both looking at me?"
"No choice. Nukumizu-kun, you decide."
Tsukinoki-senpai nodded at me.
"N-Nukumizu, decide."
Komari peered at me through her bangs, glaring.
…What kind of authority am I suddenly being given here?
"Uh, well then... let's just go with this."
Under their intense gazes, I lined up the packages at random.
"Whoa, inserting the boar ramen here? Bold move, Nukumizu-kun."
"Th-That's an advanced play."
Wait, did I just grab the wrong item and mix it up with the venison curry?
Well, if they are satisfied, that's fine by me. Now that we're done here, let's hurry up and head out-
"Nukumizu-kun, come here for a second!"
Tsukinoki-senpai's eyes sparkled as she grabbed me and dragged me over to the next shelf.
"Look, there's a bunch of pickles for sale over here too. Want to continue the discussion here?"
"O-Oh... p-pickled burdock root..."
"Komari-chan, opening with a strong play, huh?"
"E-Ehehe..."
While the two of them were all excited, I stared blankly at the rows of pickles lined up in front of me.
Uh, can we go now…?
*
I stared out the minivan window at the lush green mountains. It's already been 4 hours since we left the roadside station.
"Where are we...?"
We were supposed to be heading to Yakishio's place, but Tsukinoki-senpai hasn't been moving in that direction at all. She keeps taking detours however she pleases, and time's been flying by.
If I don't say something soon, this woman will keep driving through mountain roads until the sun sets…
"Senpai, maybe we should actually start heading toward Yakishio-"
As if to drown out my protest, the car jolted with a heavy thud. Tsukinoki-senpai turned the wheel forcefully while slamming the brakes.
"Uh, was I supposed to turn on the blinkers before turning?"
"S-Senpai, t-that's... the w-wipers..."
Komari said in a strained voice from the passenger seat.
"Huh? Was it the lever on this side?"
"P-Please look at the road..."
A charming scene typical of someone who just got their license.
To be honest, it's been like this ever since we left Toyohashi, so Yanami and I, sitting in the back, have completely gotten used to it.
Watching Komari's continuously fresh and frantic reactions has honestly been quite impressive.
Tsukinoki-senpai glanced back at me through the rearview mirror.
"Come to think of it, Nukumizu-kun, weren’t you going to say something earlier?"
"Um, are we really heading toward Yakishio's place?"
"This time for sure. It should be around here. You just need to trust your senior."
Tsukinoki-senpai laughed cheerfully.
When I believed those words earlier, we ended up at the Nagashino Castle ruins after the roadside station. Then she said, "This time for real", and before I knew it, we were soaking in a hot spring. We're fully in tourist mode now. To be honest, I'm actually kind of enjoying it, too.
"At this point, I'll leave it to you, but we're definitely heading deeper into the mountains, right?"
"Who knows why that is? Oh, by the way, total change of subject, but did you know that if we keep going straight like this, we'll end up in Nagano Prefecture? Wild, right?"
"Are we really changing the subject? Crossing a prefectural border is not okay."
Just as I was about to push further, the car jolted again with a loud thunk. Yanami, who had been dozing next to me, woke up.
"Woah, was I asleep? Are we there yet?"
"Not yet. Yanami-san, you're drooling."
"...I'm not."
She wiped her mouth with the tissue I handed her.
Well, right now, the tanned girl is more important than the drooling girl. I leaned toward the driver's seat.
"It's getting close to evening. Are we still not at Yakishio's place?"
"Don't worry. We're almost near her grandmother's house. Gosh, what a long trip."
Is that so? I brought up the map on my phone.
"...We're like twenty minutes from the roadside station. Didn't you say it was far from there?"
"Well, knowing you, Nukumizu-kun, if I said it was close, you would’ve wanted to head straight there, wouldn't you?"
Of course I would. That's literally why we came here.
"Life needs a little redundancy. Long story short, I just wanted to have some fun."
"Well, points for honesty. But still, today's main goal was-"
"See, that's exactly why I don't like this part of you, Nukumizu-kun."
Yanami cut in from the side.
"That negative attitude of yours is the problem. We went sightseeing. We soaked in a hot spring. We ate delicious food. Isn't that already mission accomplished for today?"
She said it proudly, a grain of rice stuck to her cheek.
After having katsudon at the hot spring restaurant, Yanami has been in high spirits. She napped and even drooled a little. That's how content she is.
"Yanami-san, weren't we supposed to come here to meet Yakishio...?"
"...Yeah."
That awkward pause. She totally forgot.
Wait a second. If I'm the only one surprised here-
"Wait, hold up, Yanami-san, Komari, you both knew today's plan from the start? I was the only one left out!?"
Yanami and Komari flash a wordless, wicked grin.
"Now, now, don't fight, you two. If you're mad, take it out on me instead. Onee-san here just loves Nukumizu-kun's reactions."
Tsukinoki-senpai said with a laugh. Does she even realize who caused all this?
Still, if she's calling my reactions her favorite, I can't afford to react carelessly. The best way to shut down a troublesome otaku is to cut off their supply.
"Nukumizu-kun, for real this time, we're good. I put Yakishio-chan's grandma's address into the GPS."
"That's fine, then. But how did you even find out where Yakishio is? She hasn't replied to emails or LINE."
"I told you, the girls' track team captain asked me. Back when I was in the student council, I helped her out a lot. Even now, she comes to me for advice. I actually went with her to meet Yakishio-chan's mom."
…Student council? Senpai was? There's too much information at once. I can't process any of it.
"I have even more questions now, but I'll set them aside. So basically, her mom asked you to check in on Yakishio?"
"Well, something like that. Both her mom and her grandma are worried because Yakishio-chan's been acting strange."
Tsukinoki-senpai glanced at the car's navigation screen.
"We're almost there. Get ready for an emotional reunion, everyone. Got your opening lines planned? No teasing anyone who cries, okay?"
The GPS announced we had reached our destination. The roadside widened here, and Tsukinoki-senpai pulled over.
"Alright, this is the place. See any buildings that look like they’re it?"
"...Is this really the right spot?"
Both sides of the road are surrounded by thick, overgrown trees. Yanami rolled down the window and looked around.
"That sign over there says <Tire Chain Installation Zone>."
Even for someone from the Yakishio clan, living out here seems unlikely…
As all eyes fall on her, even Tsukinoki-senpai started to look uneasy, poking at the GPS screen in a panic.
"That's strange. Based on the address I got, this should be the area..."
"Why not call Yakishio's mom?"
"Well, I don't actually know her home number. The track team captain probably does."
She said this while dialing, but no one picked up, so she left a voicemail. Tsukinoki-senpai then slumped back into the driver's seat with a sigh.
"Ahh… Until the track team captain gets back to me, we'll be waiting here a while. Anywhere you guys want to go?"
Yanami raised her hand at those words.
"In that case, could I suggest something? There's a super photogenic spot nearby."
"Sure. Do you know the exact location?"
Yanami checked the map on her phone.
"Umm... if we keep heading north on this road for a bit, there should be a side path just past a sign on the left."
"Alright, let's go!"
The minivan's tires screeched as it lurched forward again, the body swaying. Komari screamed again.
Following Yanami's navigation, we arrived at the spot in under three minutes. The car started to slow down.
"Is that it? Looks like it leads down."
Tsukinoki-senpai pulled over to the shoulder of the road.
There's a narrow path leading down toward a river, but it doesn't look like a car can make it down there.
"Doesn't seem like there's any parking. I'll wait in the car. You three go on ahead."
"Are you sure? Leaving you to watch the car by yourself?"
"I'm waiting on a call anyway. Plus, I need to call Shintaro."
"Prez?"
"...Truth is, I totally ditched a study session I promised him today. Time for a little excuse-making session."
I see. It's probably best to give her some alone time. It looks like even she has a soft spot when it comes to her boyfriend.
The remaining three of us headed down the side path and arrived at the river.
It's about 10 meters wide, shallow, but the current's fast.
The spot where we came down is flanked by rocky riverbanks on both sides, and at the narrowest point, there's a small stone bridge reinforced with concrete.
It's so small and simple that calling it a "stone path" might be more accurate than calling it a bridge. There isn't even a railing.
Yanami handed me her phone.
"Nukumizu-kun, it's that bridge! I'll stand over there, and if you risk getting swept away and take the picture from downstream, we'll get a perfect Insta-worthy shot!"
"If you're okay with your phone getting swept away too, sure."
"I've got insurance, so it's fine."
Fair enough. I've got student insurance too, so I guess I'm good.
Yanami stepped onto the stone bridge and flashed a beaming double peace sign.
"Okay, Nukumizu-kun, take the shot!"
Luckily, I can take it from the riverbank, so I circled downstream and raised her phone.
If I frame it just right, cutting out her feet, it really does look like she's standing in the middle of the river. Definitely a photogenic shot.
"Hey, Komari, since we're here, want to be in the photo too?"
I glanced around for her, only to see her crouched down, peering between some rocks.
"What are you doing?"
"T-There's a river c-crab."
Oh? A river crab? Now I'm interested. I crouched down next to Komari.
"Where? That gap there?"
"Y-Yeah... d-don't talk too loud. It won't come out."
Fair enough. I fell silent and peered into the gap between the rocks. ...Ah, something moved in the back there.
I watched intently, excited- and then I heard a dry, sharp "clink".
Clink? Do crabs even make noises like that...?
I stayed quiet, holding my breath, when suddenly I heard something bump against my foot.
Puzzled, I turned around. Yanami, standing on the bridge, wound up and hurled a rock right at me.
"Whoa! Watch it! Why are you throwing rocks!?"
"What do you mean why!? You told me to pose and then just ignored me! I looked like a total idiot, all excited by myself!"
I honestly forgot. Getting rocks thrown at me by a losing heroine feels justified in this case.
"Sorry, Yanami-san. I got so caught up in this river crab that I completely spaced. Totally my bad."
"Eh? You seriously forgot, even though I was posing right there? How are river crabs that captivating...?"
I mean, they have got those cool little pincers and stuff.
Still, I can't risk another rock barrage. I calmed her down and finally took her photo.
"Nukumizu-kun, did it come out okay? Do I look more photogenic than the crab?"
"Yeah, definitely photogenic."
"Nukumizu-kun, that was so monotone. Komari-chan, wanna be in the shot too?"
Komari jumped slightly when she was suddenly addressed.
"Ueh…? I-I'm good. I-I'm watching the c-crab."
"You too, Komari-chan? Are they really that amazing? Is it because they’re tasty?"
No, we all have standards beyond just flavor.
"Come on, cheer up, Yanami-san. Do you want to do a video too?"
"Ohh, nice. You're finally getting the hang of this, Nukumizu-kun."
Wait, am I? Since when? Better be careful.
While shooting a very emotionally flat video of Yanami, I glanced around at the scenery.
Yakishio's grandma's house should be close by. What kind of person is Yakishio's ancestor, living all the way out here in the mountains?
…Hmm? Yanami's just standing still, even though I'm filming a video.
"Why aren't you moving?"
Yanami fidgeted, smoothing down her hair.
"Now that you're telling me to move, I don't really know what to do. I thought I would sing something, but I don't remember the lyrics."
"What about a nursery rhyme? Like Zou-san?" [TL: A famous nursery rhyme about elephants made by the poet Michio Mado.]
"Wouldn't that just make me seem kinda tragic? Is that okay?"
Probably not.
In the end, I recorded an extremely dull video of Yanami just waving her hand. Then, suddenly, a shadow appeared at the edge of the frame.
A small face framed by a short haircut, long sun-tanned limbs.
It's the person we came to see… Yakishio.
I nearly called out without thinking, but she put a finger to her lips with a mischievous smile. It means "shh".
Quietly, Yakishio sneaked up behind Yanami. Seeing my weirded-out expression, Yanami tilted her head.
"Nukumizu-kun, what's wrong? Did a king crab show up? Snow crab?"
As Yakishio inched closer, she slowly opened her arms toward Yanami.
"Uh, it's something even rarer…"
"For real!? Horsehair crab!?"
The moment Yanami crouched down with excitement, Yakishio hugged her from behind.
"...Ah."
In perfect judo throw form, the two of them toppled straight into the river. A piercing scream rang out.
…This isn't my fault, right? Those two fell in all on their own.
I've got video evidence, so even if it comes down to it, there shouldn't be any suspicion on me.
I pressed the stop button on the recording and, while thinking vaguely about judo weight classes, headed over to pull them out.
*
I sank deep into a claw-footed sofa, gazing up at the tall, open ceiling above.
We're now at Yakishio's grandmother's house. After Yakishio fell in the river, she brought us all here.
It's a solitary house tucked deep beyond the village. Unexpectedly, it's a two-story Western-style building. According to Yakishio, it used to be a vacation home on the market that they renovated.
Her grandfather works overseas, so her grandmother lives alone here. Apparently, she's out shopping at the moment.
Doors line the hallway on the second floor that overlooks the open-ceiling space, and it seems there are quite a few rooms. The interior furnishings are simple, but the shelves are packed with English books, barely leaving any space.
Yanami and Yakishio are currently in the bath.
Glancing at Komari, who was sunk deep into the large sofa, I walked over to Tsukinoki-senpai, who was being rocked gently in a massage chair.
"Senpai, do you have a moment?"
"What is it, kouhai? I'm currently having my stiff body worked over... ahhh, yes... my pelvis... it's returning to where it belongs..."
Tsukinoki-senpai's face is one of utter bliss.
I glanced toward the bathroom door. Yanami and Yakishio still haven't come out.
"Pelvis aside, it's good that we were able to meet Yakishio, but what do we do from here?"
"What do we do? Isn't it great that she looks healthy? Ooohhhhhh..."
The chair hammers her back, making her body tremble violently.
"That's exactly why I'm asking. I know it's fine to get obviously down about it, but when she's acting all cheerful like that, it actually makes it harder to say anything."
That's right. Ever since that TV sketch-like surprise entrance earlier, Yakishio has been high-energy all the way through. But that doesn't mean I'm so naive as to take it at face value, not with her.
"Your tendency to want to resolve everything quickly is one of your biggest flaws, you know."
"Sigh..."
"Even forced cheerfulness is still cheerfulness. The first thing you should do is just be there for her."
With a hissing sound, the massage chair powered down.
Tsukinoki-senpai stepped off the chair and gently shook the shoulder of the dozing Komari.
"Okay, Komari-chan, it's free now. You're up next."
"Fuah!? M-My shoulders a-aren't stiff…"
"Now, now. Think of it as educational. Come on, over here."
Pulled over and seated in the massage chair before she could resist, Komari let out flipped, squeaky little yelps. Her screams are still the cutest thing about her.
"Ohh, everyone's taking turns, huh? Nice chair, right? I use it every day!"
Yakishio returned, towel-drying her hair. The simple outfit, a tank top and shorts, suits her well.
"Yakishio, you didn't get hurt or anything, did you?"
"I'm fine. But man, I didn't think we would actually fall in the river. Yana-chan was heavier than I thought-"
"Lemon-chan! Did you just say something!?"
Yanami's voice boomed from inside the changing room.
"I didn't say anything! I just almost said something!"
"You did say it! Anyway, Lemon-chan, just come over here for a sec- quietly!"
"Did I forget something?"
Her voice is way too loud for "quietly".
After chatting about something in the changing room, Yakishio trotted back and grabbed Yanami's white bag.
"Is something wrong with Yanami-san? Don't tell me she's hurt-"
Yakishio waved her hand in front of her face.
"No, no, not that. It's just that Yana-chan doesn't really fit in my clothes-"
"Lemon-chan! Didn't I say it was a secret!?"
"Oops, sorry, I forgot. But it's just Nukkun, so it's fine, right?"
"Well, yeah!"
Is it really fine…?
…Listening to the two of them bicker like this, I started to feel unsure whether that thing from four days ago actually happened.
Like, maybe it never did. We could just go on acting like nothing happened, as always. If only it could really stay that way.
As I leaned back against the sofa, lost in those thoughts, Yakishio sat down beside me.
The scent of shampoo and soap, and just a trace of citrus.
"Nukkun, why were you guys even in a place like that?"
"By chance... I was just hanging out nearby. I was the one who got surprised when you popped up like that."
"What's that supposed to mean? You make me sound like a raccoon or something."
We laughed softly at that. Then, a quiet moment ensued, and Yakishio's subdued voice broke the silence.
"That was a lie, wasn't it, Nukkun? You asked Mama, didn't you?"
"Huh? Well, uh... I mean…"
"Thanks for being so considerate of me."
Before I could even see her face, Yakishio suddenly stood up.
At that moment, the door leading to the entryway opened, and an old lady stepped inside.
Her silver-streaked hair hints at her age, but her naturally straight posture immediately draws the eye.
Even with wrinkles, her refined features remain elegant. There's no doubt. This must be Yakishio's grandmother.
"Welcome back, Grandma!"
Yakishio hurried over and took the shopping bags from her.
"Some of my friends from school happened to be in the area. They got a little wet, so I brought them in."
"Lemon, were you playing in the river again? You didn't cause trouble for your friends, did you?"
"It's fine! I just kinda fell into the river with them."
As her grandmother began to speak, Tsukinoki-senpai stepped forward.
"Thank you for having us. We're all part of the Literature Club at Lemon-san's school. I'm sorry for dropping in so suddenly."
"Ara, welcome. I'm glad you came. Is the friend who fell into the river alright?"
She extended a hand, and Tsukinoki-senpai took it warmly.
"Yes, thank you. We were able to use the bath. Lemon-san helped us out."
"I'm glad to hear that. I was worried she might have dragged you all out here against your will."
With that, she glanced at her granddaughter. Yakishio stuck her tongue out and shrugged.
"Lemon-chan! You said there would be ice cream after the bath!"
Yanami emerged from the changing room, a towel draped over her shoulders, her cheeks flushed a warm pink.
When she spotted Yakishio's grandmother, she quickly straightened her posture.
"A-Ah! Thank you for having me! I'm Lemon-san's classmate."
"Welcome. I'm sorry my granddaughter gave you any trouble. Lemon, have you offered them tea yet?"
"I'm on it! I'll bring it out now. Grandma, I'm taking some ice cream too, okay?"
Yakishio walked off toward the kitchen alongside Grandma
……Huh. She's Yakishio's grandma, and yet she's just a normal and gentle lady.
As I watched their backs, Yanami plopped down next to me on the couch.
A sweet scent tickled my nose. Even though they probably used the same shampoo and soap, for some reason, the way Yanami smells is completely different.
"I heard this in the bath, but Lemon-chan's grandma used to be a university professor."
Wait, so that makes Yakishio... the granddaughter of a former university professor?
"Then how did she turn out like that...?"
"Beats me…"
Yakishio returned with her grandma, carrying a tray with barley tea and ice cream.
"Please, make yourselves at home. If you would like, why don't you stay for dinner?"
Were we supposed to stay for dinner? I hesitated, unsure what to say, when Grandma clapped her hands.
"Oh, I know! Since it's a special occasion, how about ordering sushi? Does anyone have anything they don't eat?"
"We couldn't possibly trouble you that- mmgh!"
A cushion smothered my face just as I was about to decline politely.
"Yes! We can eat anything!"
Yanami cheerfully answered while putting her full weight on me, pinning me down on the sofa.
"H-Hey, Yanami-san, I can't... breathe...!"
"Nukumizu-kun, how about you keep quiet for a bit?"
Pinned down by a pushy girl at 15 years old, someday, I'll brag about this moment.
*
In the mountains, night falls fast. Once the slanting sun disappears behind the ridge, the sky is instantly overtaken by darkness.
Seated around the table, I gazed up at the night sky through the skylight.
The moon is out tonight, yet the stars are still clearly visible.
"Nukumizu-kun, aren't you gonna eat? If you don't hurry, it will all be gone."
Yanami's cheerful voice snapped me out of my thoughts. She popped a piece of anago sushi into her mouth, pressed her hand to her cheek, and shuddered with delight. [TL: Cooked saltwater eel simmered in a broth.]
"It's so fluffy and delicious! Ah, can I have some of the pickled ginger?"
She moved a mountain of pickled ginger from the sushi tray to her plate and tossed half of it into her mouth.
"So, you gave up on the low-carb thing? Sushi is mostly rice, right?"
"I'm just cutting out snacks, okay? A balanced diet with carbs and fats is essential for beauty... Wait, Nukumizu-kun. You can't eat sushi in one bite?"
Why is she coming at me over how I eat sushi? I ignored her and took a bite out of a tamago nigiri, split neatly in half. [TL: Egg omelet that has been cooked with sugar and miso soup.]
"Stuffing your mouth full gets exhausting, you know? I need to take breaks while I eat."
"Eating... makes you tired...?"
Yanami looked at me with genuine confusion.
Alright then, how about this? I slid the tray with sukeroku sushi in front of her. [TL: Combination of inari sushi (fried tofu filled with rice) and maki sushi (rolled sushi)]
"See? You get it with futomaki, right? They are big, so one bite is-" [TL: A type of maki sushi that's more than 5 cm in diameter.]
"Hmm? Can I have one?"
Before she even finished her sentence, she had already popped a futomaki roll into her mouth.
More than being exasperated, I'm honestly just impressed watching her eat- ah, she already swallowed it.
"...Maybe eating it in one bite is the right way after all. I'll try a little harder."
"I don't really get what you're talking about, but go for it. Oh, can I have another piece of hamachi sushi?" [TL: Yellowtail fish.]
Yanami tossed another piece of hamachi into her mouth.
The area around Yanami has the highest sushi depletion rate on the table by far…
"Komari, you should start eating too. It's disappearing way faster than I expected."
As for Komari, she has been frozen for a while now, just staring at a gunkan sushi with red caviar on top. [TL: A small circular sushi rice ball with seaweed wrapped around, and then you put various toppings on top.]
"R-Red caviar… It's my first time... It's a little... scary..."
I see. If it's a girl's first time, it should be treated with care. I'll leave her be.
I sipped my red miso soup while observing everyone around the table.
Surprisingly, Yakishio's grandmother and Tsukinoki-senpai seem to be getting along well, happily chatting about food.
Senpai occasionally lets slip the phrase "bride training," and now I'm starting to worry. Is she actually serious about that "lifetime employment" stuff she said in the clubroom the other day…?
Yakishio is choosing the expensive-looking pieces and placing them on Komari's plate.
"Here, Komari-chan. Try this one."
"U-Uni... and... m-mushroom?"
"It's abalone. It's squishy and delicious."
"O-Oh, I-I've never had e-either before…"
Komari's "firsts" are being taken one after another. I guess that's what you would call a summer of new experiences.
I'm done after six pieces of nigiri and one inari sushi.
While scooping out my chawanmushi with a spoon, I kept glancing at Yakishio. [TL: Steamed egg custard.]
…In the end, we still haven't had a proper conversation with her. I can't exactly bring up what happened the other day with her grandmother right here.
Noticing my gaze, Yakishio set down her bowl of red miso soup.
"Nukkun, what's up? You've been looking this way."
"Ah, no, I was just wondering when you'll be coming back."
"I haven't really decided yet, but I was thinking maybe I'll stay here until the day before the opening ceLemony. I mean, I am still planning to go to school, okay?"
She quietly closed the lid of her bowl and smiled softly.
...Well, I guess this is as far as we go for today. After finishing the chawanmushi, I placed my hands together in thanks.
Yakishio seems capable of holding a conversation, and she has an appetite. Thankfully, she's in a different class from Ayano and Asagumo-san, so things might settle down once the new term starts.
There's no need to fix everything all at once. Reality isn't a game or a novel. We don't always get clear answers. Everyone lives their life carrying some kind of uncertainty.
To borrow Yanami's words, we're simply worried about Yakishio, and we're trying to be there for her. If that message gets across, then maybe that's enough, at least for now.
*
Night has completely fallen.
The sukeroku tray in front of Yanami has somehow been emptied without me noticing, and Komari is wide-eyed at the taste of her first uni.
Meanwhile, Tsukinoki-senpai is still in a deep conversation with Yakishio's grandmother.
"But Grandma, isn't it lonely living alone out here in the mountains?"
"With the internet nowadays, it's not inconvenient at all. And my granddaughter brings guests like you from time to time."
She reached out and gently patted Yakishio on the head. Yakishio gave a bashful, happy smile. Seeing a good opportunity, I spoke up to senpai.
"By the way, senpai, will we be okay heading back? It's already pretty dark outside."
"We'll be fine. It's the same road we came in on. You worry too much, Nukumizu-kun."
Tsukinoki-senpai laughed brightly, holding a cup of tea.
Thinking back on how she drove earlier, I can feel nothing but anxiety. But there's no other option. We have to get home with her behind the wheel.
As I sipped my tea and mentally prepared myself, Yakishio suddenly perked up, as if she had just had the best idea.
"Hey, everyone should just stay the night! There are plenty of rooms!"
The conversation briefly halted, and I picked it back up.
"Thanks, really, but none of us brought any clothes to change into."
…Wait a second. I dug through my memory.
After falling into the river, Yanami changed into fresh clothes, didn't she? Now that I think about it, everyone except me brought fairly large bags. I glanced toward Tsukinoki-senpai.
"...Senpai. Don't tell me you planned for us to stay overnight from the start?"
"I told you to bring a change of clothes just in case we ended up staying, didn't I?"
She said it like it was no big deal. Then, a moment later, her eyes blinked as though she just remembered something.
"Oh, did I forget to tell you, Nukumizu-kun?"
Yeah, first I have heard of it. That's right. This is exactly the kind of person she is.
"I've got nothing with me. And anyway, wouldn't it be a burden to have us all staying over suddenly?"
Yeah, having four guests would definitely be a lot of work.
Yakishio's grandmother is probably troubled by it.
"Ara, don't worry at all! I would be delighted to have you stay!"
Her face beamed as she clasped her hands together.
...Come to think of it, we did get her address from Yakishio's mother. She knew we were coming. Maybe she expected us to stay from the beginning.
I timidly raised my hand.
"Um... I mean, I don't even have a change of clothes or anything."
"Leave it to Grandma."
Yakishio's grandmother gave a reassuring thumbs-up.
Yakishio, Yanami, and even Tsukinoki-senpai followed suit, raising their thumbs in unison.
Komari glanced around at everyone, then shyly held her thumb up too.
…Even Komari did it.
There is no helping it. I gave up and raised my thumb.
*
The room Yakishio's grandmother led me to is on the second floor.
Tall bookshelves reached the ceiling, packed with books, most of them related to engineering, with a good number in Japanese mixed in.
"It's a little cluttered, but please stay here for tonight. My husband's always overseas, so don't worry about space."
As she spoke, she handed me a neatly folded set of pajamas and a brand-new pair of underwear.
"I'll bring you a toothbrush later, too. Is there anything else you need?"
"No, I'm good. Thank you very much…"
I fumbled over my words. Even though she's the grandmother of someone I know, having a complete stranger treat me this kindly feels oddly uncomfortable.
Maybe she didn't notice how I felt, or maybe she did. Either way, she suddenly bowed her head.
"I'm sorry for making you stay the night like this."
"Eh? Um, you really don't need to apologize…"
"You all came because you were worried about Lemon, didn't you?"
"Well... that's more or less true, I guess."
"I can tell something happened with her. But it's exactly because we're family that there are things we can't say or ask. I'm glad you came."
After saying that, she looks at me with a gentle gaze, like she's looking at a little child.
"You're Nukumizu-kun, right? You're not quite how I imagined from Lemon's stories, but Grandma's rooting for you, so do your best, okay?"
"...Huh?"
Rooting for me? For what?
"Wait, she talked about me?"
"Oh yes. She's been telling me about you for quite some time now. I never thought I would get to meet you this soon."
This is turning into something weird. For quite some time? Yakishio's been talking about me?
"U-Um, wait a second. I'm not Lemon-san's boyfriend or anything. We have only really started talking recently."
"...Is that so?"
I nodded with a small gulp.
"I think... maybe I'm not the person your granddaughter was talking about. I mean, I suspect something happened between her and that guy, and that's why she suddenly came here."
I chose my words carefully as Ayano's face came to mind.
Yakishio's grandmother stayed silent for a moment, then asked, with a gravity that wasn't there before:
"This person you're talking about, Nukumizu-kun... he's not Lemon's boyfriend, is he?"
I shook my head slowly. An awkward silence settled over the room.
"...I see. That makes things clearer. And now I feel even worse for having you worry about Lemon so much."
"Ah, no, it's okay. In a way, I guess we're kind of involved too."
Though calling us 'involved' is a stretch. Still, it's too late to be nitpicking semantics.
"So then, how about you?"
…What? I blinked, confused, as she gave me a knowing look.
"Lemon, well, even from her grandmother's eyes, she's quite a cute girl, you know."
"Yeah, I would say so. She's pretty popular at school, too."
I agreed honestly, and Grandma gave me a wink, her large eyes reminding me of Yakishio's own.
"Then maybe you ought to move a little faster."
"Wait, what are we talking about?"
She didn't answer. Instead, she just smiled gently and opened the room's door.
"In any case, you're very welcome here. Please take your time and relax."
*
Dinner ended with a flawless victory for Yanami.
Everyone must have been tired. After a quick round of cleanup, we all started getting ready for bed.
Yanami, having eaten way too much, was the last to roll herself off the sofa and retreat to her room. The once lively living room is now silent.
"So even Yanami has a limit..."
If this were a light novel, it would be one of those "gap moe" moments where the strong character reveals an unexpected weakness.
But does watching a glutton character groan from overeating actually count as moe? It doesn't for me, at least…
I laid on the bed and stared at the ceiling.
I'm too drained to try and sort out the jumble in my head.
Before I knew it, I drifted off to sleep.
...How long was I out?
Looking at the dimly lit clock in the dark, it seems midnight has long since passed.
Feeling thirsty, I left the room and headed downstairs. We were told we could help ourselves to drinks in the fridge, so I decided to take them up on that.
Just as I grabbed a bottle of mineral water and turned to head back, I noticed someone sitting on the dark living room sofa.
"...Yanami-san?"
"Oh, Nukumizu-kun. You're still up?"
Same cheerful voice as always. It looks like Yanami's stomach has already claimed victory over the sushi.
After a brief moment of hesitation, I sat down across from her.
"Got a bit thirsty. Did Yakishio already go to bed?"
All the girls were supposed to be sleeping in the same room.
"She left earlier. Said she was going for a run or something."
"This late at night?"
I half-rose instinctively but sat back down just as quickly.
I wouldn't know where to look for her anyway. I don't know the area and would probably just get lost, so I gave up and opened my bottle.
"That kind of woke me up, too, you know?"
Yanami stretched her arms up, slightly arching her back.
I quietly listened for any other sounds and spoke up once I was sure no one was around.
"Yanami-san. Did you talk to Yakishio about what happened the other day?"
"You mean the part where she accidentally confessed?"
I nodded. Yanami shook her head.
"I see. Well, yeah, I guess it wouldn't be easy to bring up."
"Hmm... there's that, but more than anything, I feel like I would say something I shouldn't."
Something she shouldn't...?
"I stepped into all this because I didn't want Lemon-chan to be the only one painted as the villain. But, well, how do I put it, basically-"
Yanami trailed off, searching for the words as she gazed up at the tall, dark ceiling.
"...I can't really be on either side this time."
"Either side?"
She began to speak again, more seriously now.
"Asagumo-san, right? I get that it's scary being in a new relationship. Seeing your boyfriend act totally different around someone else and way closer with her than with you, it's gotta mess with your head."
She twisted her fingers together nervously, over and over, as she kept going.
"But that's just how it is, isn't it? Her boyfriend and Lemon-chan already had all this history between them. Time, memories, and even so, she fell for him. If Asagumo-san feels insecure, then she should talk it out with him. Trying to test their relationship in some half-hearted way is just not right. Absolutely not."
Yanami took a deep breath and closed her eyes.
"Just as an example... in our case, I'm sure Karen-chan must have felt insecure too after she started dating. Being with Sosuke, there must've been moments where she sensed my presence lingering somewhere."
…Her presence. I repeated that phrase silently in my head.
"Wait, don't tell me, Yanami-san, you're a stalk-"
"No way! That's impossible!"
She let out a sigh, clearly exasperated.
"That's why I don't like this part of you, Nukumizu-kun. For example, when I visited his house, how did his mom react, or how he seems totally at ease in shops that most guys wouldn't go into? Karen-chan would've figured it out, right? That it was me. Even having one thing in his room that doesn't really fit, stuff like that makes you uneasy. And there were definitely things I gave him or we picked out together."
...Though, there's always a chance he threw it all out without a second thought.
Yanami furrowed her brow as if something suddenly dawned on her.
"...Wait. Maybe those two are way past that stage already? No, wait, they are definitely past it. Ugh, what am I even thinking about at this hour?"
This is bad. Yanami's spiraling.
"You okay? Should I get you some sugar cubes or something?"
No response. Just her low muttering as she started counting prime numbers under her breath.
"Uh, Yanami-san…?"
Clap! She suddenly slapped her knees.
"Alright, I'm over it! I'm good now!"
Thank god. Looks like she made it through.
"Where was I again? Right, Karen-chan didn't try to test Sosuke or drag me into anything… Well, maybe a little. But that's only because she was trying to be considerate in her own way. She would never pull something like what Asagumo-san did."
"That might be partly the guy's fault too, though."
I cut in a bit abruptly.
Not because I had a solid counterargument or anything.
It's just… Something about it made me want to stop Yanami from talking any further. A selfish impulse, really.
Interrupted, Yanami pouted slightly, dissatisfied.
"Well, yeah, that's true..."
"I don't think Ayano's a bad person either. But just because someone's dense doesn't mean it's okay to make others feel uncertain. With how he acts, it's no wonder Asagumo-san felt anxious, right?"
"But Asagumo-san-"
"Let's stop there."
I instinctively raised my hand to cut her off. Yanami frowned puzzledly.
"What's with you tonight, Nukumizu-kun?"
"I just... I mean, I don't really want to hear you speak badly about others."
What am I even saying? That came out kinda gross, even to me.
"Sorry. That was weird. But if someone's going to do the complaining, leave that to me. Yanami-san, you should-"
"Got it!"
Yanami shot to her feet with a burst of energy.
"Okay, then this will be the last thing I say! Lemon-chan's not hiding her feelings at all! If she's gonna call it an accident, then she should've just said it a whole year earlier!"
...You're the last person who should be saying that. Her so-called "last comment" doesn't show any signs of ending.
"Asagumo-san, Ayano-kun, if they like each other, they should just talk it out and clear things up! Seriously, all three of them are totally hopeless! They better reflect on this properly!"
She let out a huge breath after letting it all out in one go.
"Alright! Now I'm done! Starting now, it's well-behaved Yanami-chan time!"
"Uh... Welcome back, well-behaved Yanami-san."
...That said, crude as her delivery may be, she's not wrong.
Ayano and Asagumo-san. In the end, it's something the two of them need to talk about directly.
And Yakishio’s guard, for someone who willingly got herself involved, was way too low. The ones who dragged her in, Ayano and the others, weren't seeing what was around them.
"But, you know, I'm Lemon-chan's friend. And if I talked to her right now, I think I would end up telling her this."
The "well-behaved Yanami" stopped there, her words hanging.
"...Tell her what?"
I prompted her to continue. And then, Yanami showed me a look I had never seen from her before.
"Just go out with him already."
In the dimly lit room, I can't take my eyes off that expression.
"Just take him. Asagumo-san already said she's willing to step aside, didn't she?"
"But still, that's..."
"Lemon-chan wouldn't go for it. Even if she can't accept it, I know it's the right thing. Even I can tell."
With that, Yanami returned to her usual soft smile and dropped back onto the sofa.
...I took a long drink from my water bottle, trying to fill the silence.
It's at times like this that I feel the difference between Yanami and myself.
Even if she lost, Yanami fell in love properly. She's connected with so many people, and she always speaks her mind without hesitation. Sometimes, when I'm facing her, I feel an almost childlike sense of restlessness, like I'm lagging behind.
"…I think I'll go for a walk."
"At this hour?"
"The moon is beautiful tonight. Thought I would walk a bit."
The words came out first, and my feelings slowly followed behind, hazy but settling into place.
…Back when I chased after Yakishio, I couldn't do anything. I still remember her lonely figure as she stepped onto the bus clearly.
Yanami, who had been silently watching me, finally spoke.
"…There's a shrine down the slope, along the path we came up."
"So what?"
"Lemon-chan goes there whenever she wants to think."
She rubbed her eyes, sleepy now. I turn away out of embarrassment.
"…Not like I'm going to look for Yakishio or anything."
"Oh really? Then maybe I'll go."
Yanami flashed a mischievous, slightly teasing smile.
"And I'll turn Lemon-chan into a bad girl like me."
"…Please don't."
One bad girl is more than enough. I gave up and rose to my feet.
*
I walked down the gravel path, lit only by the moon.
I went back to the room to change out of my pajamas and into the clothes I wore during the day. Wearing them again feels a little gross, but trying to have a serious conversation in pajamas just didn't feel right.
"...Yakishio really better be out here."
The mountain path has no streetlights, and once I step beneath the trees where the moonlight can't reach, I can barely even see my own shoes.
Eventually, I reached a paved road. Worried about my phone battery, I turned on the map. Looks like the shrine's up ahead.
I veered off the road and headed toward the shrine grounds. Then, the path suddenly opened up.
It's a clearing with several massive cypress trees towering overhead.
The moon disappeared behind the clouds, and the area sank into a deep darkness.
I froze in place, unable to move.
Sha.
I heard the faint sound of someone's foot pushing off the ground.
I turned toward the sound and waited for a moment. The clouds parted, and moonlight began to pour through the cypress grove.
There's a figure.
Sha.
It's Yakishio. She kicked off the ground and broke into a run.
Then she stopped abruptly, brushing her hair back with both hands.
Sweat flew through the air, catching the moonlight and scattering like glitter.
-So beautiful.
That was the only thought in my mind. I stood there, simply staring at the scene in front of me.
She returned to her starting point, got into position again, and took off, only to stop once more.
She kept repeating it. Over and over, again and again.
I don't know how many times I watched her do it before I realized Yakishio's eyes were on me.
It felt strange, like a character in a landscape painting suddenly meeting your gaze.
"Huh? Nukkun? What are you doing here this late?"
She said it in her usual casual tone, combing her hair with her fingers.
"I heard you went out for a run. I just got a little curious."
"Perfect timing. I was practicing my starts. Time me, will you?"
She tossed a stopwatch my way. I just barely managed to catch it.
"Alright, just time me from when I start until I pass that tree over there."
"Yeah, got it."
It's only about 5 meters. She starts, then stops. Over and over again.
"What was my time?"
"Uh, exactly one second?"
"That's totally different from earlier. Are you sure you're timing it right?"
"I am timing it right. It's just that measuring down to tenths of a second accurately isn't exactly something humans are great at."
"Come on. At least try to get one more decimal place in there."
Still smiling, Yakishio lifted the hem of her T-shirt to wipe the sweat from her face. Her sun-tanned stomach was briefly exposed, but she didn't seem to care at all.
"I'm pretty wiped out. Nukkun, wanna take a break?"
"Wait, you get tired?"
"What do you think I am? Of course, I do."
Following Yanami's stuffed-belly moment, now even Yakishio's tired. Quite a rare experience.
Yakishio began walking toward the shrine building peeking out between the trees.
"No one's here, huh. It's my first time coming at this hour."
After passing through the two torii gates lined up in the shrine grounds, she turned back and waved me over.
Feeling like I was being led into another world, I followed her through the gates.
Yakishio sat on a bench and patted the spot beside her. I hesitated a little, then sat down on the opposite end.
"You came all the way here, so I thought you had something to say to me... Wait, aren't you kinda far!?"
"Uh, but…"
Yakishio shifted over and sat beside me.
"I'm not saying you need to come closer, but if you keep your distance like that, it still kinda hurts, you know?"
A quiet protest from Yakishio. I apologized honestly.
"It's fine. So, you came because of what happened the other day, right?"
"Yeah. I get how you feel, but still. When we can't reach you, everyone gets worried."
"Sorry, it's a bad habit of mine. When I panic, I just bolt."
Yakishio looked solemn as she gazed up at the sky.
"I really didn't mean to confess how I felt. But things turned out like that, and I didn't know what to do."
I can understand wanting to run away. She had decided to keep her feelings buried deep down, only for them to come out like that.
"I kept hoping time would fix it somehow. That after a while, things could go back to how they were-"
"I don't think that's possible."
Now that her feelings for a guy who already has a girlfriend have been exposed, there's no going back.
Of course, going out together like before is out of the question.
"Does that mean I can't stay by Mitsuki's side as a friend, too? I don't want to get in their way, you know?"
Yakishio looked at me with pleading eyes. I suppressed the urge to feel sorry for her and slowly shook my head.
"You met up with Ayano, didn't you? I happened to see you two the other day."
"Saw... huh!? T-that was- uh, um, that-"
Yakishio jumped to her feet in a fluster, and I raised both hands in a "calm down" gesture. It's the same one I usually use to settle down Kaju when she gets worked up.
"It's okay, I get it. You were just giving Ayano some advice, right?"
"...So even that has been found out, huh."
Yakishio plopped back down like her strength had left her.
"Ahaha... So you found out everything, huh. Kinda embarrassing."
She scratched her cheek awkwardly to hide her embarrassment.
"Ah, wait, does Yana-chan know too?"
"Yeah, sort of. And Komari probably noticed way earlier. Tsukinoki-senpai knows too."
"Ugh, even Komari-chan, huh."
"And now that everyone knows how you feel, it's not like things can go back to how they were."
"Yeah... I get that."
Yakishio lowered her head and, after a pause, started speaking again, carefully picking her words.
"Mitsuki... He has been kind of unsure about how to deal with Asagumo-san."
She picked up a small pebble near her feet and threw it.
I didn't hear the sound of it landing. It just disappeared into the darkness, like it got swallowed up.
"It's his first time dating a girl, right? So, like... he doesn't know how far he should go or how to build the relationship, that kind of stuff. He's struggling with it."
"Okay, yeah, but listen. Relationship talk is one thing, but stuff like how to deepen a romantic relationship- that's not the kind of thing you should be asking a girl. I mean, wouldn't that bother you too?"
Yakishio waved her hand dismissively.
"Come on, I'm not a kid. They're dating, so of course, stuff like that's going to come up. I'm in high school too, you know."
…It looks like even Yakishio accepts that much.
They are not progressing at the pace of the Hakamada–Himemiya couple (tentative), but they are high schoolers. They will deepen their bond in their own way, little by little.
"I mean, I'm sure they have held hands or whatever. And eventually-"
"Wait, didn't they already kiss?"
"Ki!?"
Yakishio wobbled.
I don't even know how to describe it, but she definitely swayed.
"Those two... they already... kissed and stuff...?"
Shoot. She didn't know that part. Ayano must have been oddly considerate and kept quiet.
"Ah, well, I mean, that much is kinda expected, right? They are a couple."
"But isn't it kind of soon?"
"Do you really think I would know what's too soon or too late?"
"...No."
Glad we're clear. People tend to forget, but we're talking about me here.
"Right… I mean, they are dating and all…"
Yakishio lowered her face onto her thighs with a soft plop.
"I know that, I really do. But still-"
"Yakishio, if you keep acting like things are the same as before, I think the same kind of thing is going to happen again."
"...Yeah."
"I'm not saying you should stop being friends or anything. But even if your relationship with Ayano doesn't change, their situation will."
"...Yeah. I know that. That's why I kept supporting him as a friend. I told him he should face his feelings properly and express them clearly in words. I was trying to accept this reality, too. I really thought I was doing okay. But-"
Yakishio sat up and murmured in a soft voice:
"I wanted to be... cute. I wanted him to think I looked cute."
Well, of course, she was going to see the guy she liked.
"I don't think there's anything wrong with that."
But she slowly shook her head at my words.
"After club, my hair and clothes are always a mess, right? Usually, I wouldn't care and just go home. But because I was going to see Mitsuki, I got worried. What if I smelled sweaty? Still, I didn't want him to think I was trying too hard, so I would go home and change first, then pretend I came straight from club. And for the days I didn't have time to go home, I kept a spare uniform in the clubroom."
Yakishio closed her eyes and smiled as if she remembered something sweet. Probably recalling the quiet, happy moments just the two of them shared.
But her smile went away when she opened her eyes again.
"...At first, I really did just intend to help him out with advice. But then, when we actually met, I got so excited... I started wishing it could just stay like that forever. And then-"
Her lips began to tremble, and she clenched her fists tightly.
"And then, just once... just one time, I thought something really awful."
"Awful...?"
"I thought, what if those two broke up someday. I thought something that terrible..."
Her voice caught, and the words didn't come out.
I wanted to say something, yet Yanami's words came to mind.
"Just take him."
A completely different expression on Yanami's face flashed through my mind.
In front of me, Yakishio bit her lip, trying desperately to hold back her tears.
"Mitsuki... he relied on me. And yet, I-"
She wrapped her arms around herself, like trying to hold her trembling body together.
"I... I'm a bad girl..."
A single, heavy tear fell from Yakishio's eye. That one drop opened the floodgates, and tears began spilling down in streams.
And then, as if something snapped, she broke into sobs.
"I... I... I'm sorry... I'm so sorry..."
While Yakishio wept beside me like a heartbroken child, I just sat there, silently, without saying a word.
The only thing I could do was just sit beside her and stay with her.
Even if Yakishio were to forget this night someday-
I decided I would be the one to remember her tears.
*
How much time had passed, I didn't know.
Maybe she has calmed down a bit. Yakishio sniffled, then wiped her tears away with the back of her hand.
"...Sorry. I just went on and on about myself."
"It's fine. I'm the one who brought up something hard to talk about. Sorry for that."
Yakishio shook her head quickly. "No, no."
"Heh... I showed you something embarrassing again. Don't tell anyone I cried, okay?"
She smiled at me through tearful eyes. I couldn't help but smile back.
"I can keep your secret. But can I tell you something too?"
"As hush money? Sure, go ahead. What's up?"
I cleared my throat.
"So, this is a story about a female friend of mine."
"You have friends...?"
Not the part you should be hung up on.
"I do, believe it or not. Anyway, this friend of mine, her situation's a lot like yours. A guy she's really close to got a girlfriend."
"...Yeah?"
"She really does wish them well. She doesn't interfere or cause drama or anything. But if you ask me-"
"...If you ask me?"
"She totally gives off the vibe of someone who's just waiting for a chance to swoop in."
"Wait, what!? That makes her sound like a terrible person! Nukkun, you're friends with someone like that!?"
Unfortunately, yeah.
"But she doesn't want to ruin their relationship. That's why she's trying to build something new to find a new kind of closeness so she can genuinely cheer them on. Because she doesn't want to deny the fact that she likes him, or the fact that she still wants to be close."
"...That sounds nice and all, but she's still kinda waiting for a chance, isn't she?"
Yeah, probably.
"So, what am I supposed to take away from that story?"
Good question. I glanced up at the night sky, thinking it over.
"Let's see. How about this? Compared to that girl, you're a way better person, Yakishio."
Yakishio looked up at the same sky.
"...Maybe. I do feel a little better now."
Glad to hear it. Thank you, bad girl.
Leaning back on her hands, Yakishio looked up at the night sky beside me.
"I'm really lucky, huh. Even after everything I did, everyone was still worried about me and came all the way here."
"That's because you're Yakishio. Everyone cares because they believe in you."
"...Huh?"
Yakishio looked at me like she saw something rare.
"Nukkun, you're being super nice today. What's going on? Did you get a cat or something?"
"No... just a late-night thing. Forget it."
Late nights are dangerous. If Yanami saw me like this, she would definitely laugh. I glanced around without thinking.
"What's with the looking around?"
"Just thinking maybe it's time to head home. Yanami-san is worried too."
"Oh no, Yana-chan's still up? I feel bad now."
I brushed the dust off my pants and stood up.
Yakishio started to rise too but then seemed to think of something and sat back down again.
"Here."
She extended both hands toward me.
"What's wrong? You see a bug-"
Mid-sentence, I let out a wry smile and reached my hands out.
She grabbed them and pulled herself up.
"Look at you, Nukkun. You've gotten a bit smoother."
"It's the late-night talking. Yep, just the late-night."
I started walking quickly to hide my embarrassment. Yakishio fell into step beside me.
"Hey, Nukkun."
"What?"
"I'll do it. I'll talk to them properly. Mitsuki and Asagumo-san."
"Even Asagumo-san?"
"Yeah. I was meeting with her boyfriend behind her back. I want to apologize face-to-face."
...Yakishio hasn't realized that Asagumo-san already knows.
I thought about telling her, but I decided it wasn't my place.
Both Yakishio and Asagumo-san should be the ones to speak for themselves.
"I think that's the right call. Want me to let Asagumo-san know? She has been messaging me a lot and is worried about you."
"Thanks, please do. I'll work around her schedule."
Judging from how Asagumo-san was last night, it probably won't turn out badly.
"...And one more thing. Nukkun, I want to ask you for a favor."
Yakishio's eyes, cast downward, showed a hint of unease.
"Sure, but what do you need me to do?"
"Talking to Mitsuki... I'm still scared. Like, if no one's watching, I might just run away. So, um, that's why-"
She gripped the hem of my shirt tightly with both hands.
"So I was wondering if you would come with me! Not like a guard or anything, but just having someone there gives me courage. I know I've already asked too much, but I-"
"Yeah, I don't mind."
At my answer, Yakishio looked a little stunned.
"...Huh? Really? That was a quick yes."
"I said it quickly, but it's not like I took it lightly. Well, how should I put this..."
"How should you put it?"
"I guess I just thought... it's fine."
"Aww man, I thought you were about to say something cool."
"When the moment actually comes, those kinds of lines never come out, you know?"
With a sigh of exaggerated exasperation, Yakishio planted her hands on her hips and gave me a look.
"That's why I don't like this part of you, Nukkun."
Spinning on her heel, she started walking ahead with light steps.
"What does that even mean…?"
Maybe she heard my muttered complaint because she looked over her shoulder, flashed a bright grin, and said:
"Not telling."
Then, she picked up the pace.
*
The next morning.
Yanami put her hands together with a "Thanks for the meal" and stacked her dishes, still half-asleep.
"Ugh, sleepy... Nukumizu-kun, you okay?"
"I slept as soon as we got back. You couldn't fall asleep?"
I placed the last bite of toast in my mouth, topped with the remaining marmalade. Yakishio's grandmother's marmalade isn't overly sweet, which is just how I like it.
"I don't even remember what time I fell back asleep. I'm so sleepy I could barely eat breakfast."
She said, then let out a huge yawn without even bothering to cover her mouth. For the record, she already had three slices of toast this morning.
...Last night, when Yakishio and I got back, Yanami was waiting outside the front door.
She only said a few words, chuckled softly, and then walked back to the room with Yakishio, the two of them poking each other in the side as they went. I saw them off and then collapsed onto the bed without even changing.
And this morning, I was jolted awake when Yakishio flung the door open with a bang.
"Komari-chan, want seconds on salad? You have only eaten half your toast."
"I-I can't eat that much t-this early in the m-morning..."
Yakishio's now pestering Komari, who's struggling with even half a slice of toast.
Today, Yakishio is as bright and energetic as ever.
That sense of unease I had been picking up on since we reunited is gone now.
Maybe I'm just imagining things. But even if that's the case, the time we spent last night wasn't meaningless. Just being able to think that makes it worth it.
As I sipped my tea and watched Yakishio and the others bicker, I suddenly noticed Yanami staring at me intently.
"Hey, Nukumizu-kun. That T-shirt..."
"This? Yakishio lent it to me. I should wash it and give it back."
I didn't have a change of clothes, so honestly, I was grateful.
At that moment, Yakishio, who had been chatting with Komari, chimed in.
"Yeah, it's mine. I'm glad it fit you okay."
"Wait, this is your T-shirt? Huh? Seriously? Should I take it off?"
I had totally assumed it belonged to her grandfather. Even if it has been washed, is it really okay for me to wear a girl's shirt?
"It's just a spare. Don't worry about it. I was gonna lend it to Yana-chan yesterday, but the size-"
"Lemon-chan!?"
Yanami yelped, her voice cracking. So this is the shirt that didn't fit her yesterday.
"You promised you wouldn't say that!"
"But it's fine if Nukkun wears it, right?"
"It is not fine!"
Honestly, these two are way too loud for this early in the day. I finished the last sip of tea and started stacking dishes.
As I stood, I caught sight of the T-shirt I was wearing. This is from Yakishio.
...This shirt didn't fit Yanami, right? My shoulders are definitely broader, so that means it was too tight around the chest, which means…
Ah, no good. Now I'm imagining all kinds of things.
As I tried to cool my head by picturing Kaju's face, a slender arm suddenly wrapped around my shoulder.
"Yo, ladykiller. Had yourself a fun night, huh?"
The one clinging to me far too casually is Tsukinoki-senpai.
"Could you not whisper right into my ear? Also, would you please back off a little?"
Come on, I was finally calming down, and now this ruined everything.
"Looks like things went well, didn't they? I gotta say, Nukumizu-kun, you have got more game than I thought."
"I didn't really do-"
I started to deny it, then quickly rephrased.
"In the end, all we can do is watch over them. Anyway, can you seriously give me some space?"
"Ara, even with me, you get all flustered? Onee-san is so happy~"
She ruffled my hair with both hands, clearly enjoying herself.
"N-Nukumizu... even with s-senpai... that's sexual h-harassment..."
As usual, Komari looked at me like I was a piece of garbage.
"Don't you think I'm the one being harassed here?"
This right here is how false rumors and malicious reputations are born.
As I stepped back and watched the noisy group of girls from a distance, Yakishio's grandmother approached with a teapot in hand and stood beside me.
"Nukumizu-kun, would you like a refill on tea?"
"I'm good, thank you. And thank you for the meal."
She nodded, then narrowed her eyes at the girls laughing together, a warm smile on her face.
"Lemon's lucky to have such good friends."
"Maybe so. The Literature Club girls are... pretty unique, in a way. They have zero hesitation."
"Oh my, I was talking about you, Nukumizu-kun."
With a cheerful smack on my back, she laughed and stepped into the lively circle around Yakishio.
...So that's where Yakishio got her habit of smacking people.
Leaving the chatter behind me, I picked up my dishes and headed for the kitchen.
Intermission: Hon-Nagashino Station, JR Tokai Iida Line
Hon-Nagashino Station on the Iida Line. From the SUV that stopped in front of the station building, a sun-kissed girl steps out.
"Thanks, Grandma. I'll call once I get home."
The girl waving toward the driver's seat is Lemon Yakishio.
Through the open window, her grandmother looked at her with a worried expression.
"Lemon, I don't mind driving you all the way home, you know."
"No, it's okay. I want to spend a bit of time thinking on my own."
"I see. Then be careful, all right?"
"Okay, Grandma."
Lemon walked over to the driver's side and gave her grandmother a hug through the window.
…Four days ago, Lemon had suddenly contacted her grandmother.
When she said she was at the station, her grandmother rushed to pick her up, only to find Lemon looking like a doll with a pasted-on smile.
Now, Lemon is smiling like she always does. Or perhaps she looks just a bit more grown-up, but maybe that's just a doting grandmother's bias.
Her grandmother reached out to straighten the angle of Lemon's hairpin.
"Lemon, you have got such wonderful friends."
"...Yeah. You're right."
After another quick hug, Lemon waved her hand high and dashed into the station building.
She passed the brown chairs in the waiting area and headed through the unmanned ticket gate.
Crossing the track via the platform's level crossing, she saw a few scattered passengers waiting for the train.
...I can't keep running away forever.
Lemon slapped both cheeks with her hands.
Her Literature Club friends, who came all the way to check on her, should be on their way to Toyohashi by now, riding in their senior's car.
Now, she has to settle things herself. Her feelings and her relationship with Mitsuki.
The ride from Hon-Nagashino to Toyohashi takes about an hour.
As she looked around the platform for the boarding spot, she noticed a familiar figure.
Dressed in an orange sundress and wearing a large hat, a girl stood at the far end of the platform.
Ba-dum. Her heart skipped a beat. Lemon placed a hand on her chest, took a deep breath, and walked toward the girl in the sundress who was gazing back at her.
"...Asagumo-san."
"Yes. This is the first time we're meeting just the two of us, isn't it?"
Asagumo bowed her head deeply.
Why are you here? Lemon almost asked but then shook her head with a self-deprecating smile.
She knew the answer. Asagumo came to see her.
"How did you know I would be here?"
"Nukumizu-san told me that you wanted to talk with me. He also shared your schedule."
"You figured out it would be this station? You didn't have to come all the way here. You could've just waited in Toyohashi."
"I wanted to talk to you as soon as I could."
Asagumo took off her hat, tilted her head slightly, and smiled gently.
"Yakishio-san, I would like to ask you something, too. Will you talk with me? I want to know more about you."
Lemon saw it behind her calm smile, a flicker of anxiety, maybe even fear.
Sensing that, the last bit of wariness lingering in Lemon's heart melted away.
"...Yeah. Thank you."
As if chasing the distant rumble traveling along the rails, the platform speakers announced the approaching train to Toyohashi.
The two of them instinctively looked toward the train pulling into the station.
"Asagumo-san, the train's here."
"It is. Shall we ride it back together? Or shall we wait for the next one and talk in the waiting room?"
"If you don't get on this one, what will you do afterward?"
"I'll just take the next train."
"In that case, I'll be on that one too."
The two of them looked at each other and burst into laughter.
With a soft sound of brakes, the train stopped in front of them.
Asagumo pressed the button, and the door opened with a quiet chime.
"Here you go, Yakishio-san. If you miss this one, it's a whole hour until the next."
"Thanks, Asagumo-san."
"You're welcome."
Just as Asagumo was about to board behind her, she suddenly spun on her heel, flipping her skirt, and dashed back onto the platform.
"What's wrong?"
"Just wait a second!"
Asagumo tossed something into the platform trash can, then leaped back onto the train.
With the sound of the doors closing behind her, she placed a hand on her chest and let out a deep breath.
"Asagumo-san, what did you throw away?"
"...Just once, I broke a promise I made with Nukumizu-san. One last time, so I could truly put an end to it."
"Huh? A promise with Nukkun?"
Lemon blinked, her big eyes fluttering in surprise.
"Yes. But please, keep it a secret from him, okay?"
Asagumo flashed a playful smile, pressing her index finger to her lips.
Lemon couldn't help but smile back.
She once heard that people can never truly understand each other, and that's exactly why they talk.
There are people you can't fully understand. There are so many things you don't know.
And for the first time, Lemon found herself thinking that she wanted to know more about Asagumo.
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