Chapter 4: Lemon Yakishio Finally Speaks Up
The following night. I'm at the manga section of Seibunkan Bookstore, browsing the light novel shelves.
...Yesterday, on the way back from Shinshiro, I had ended up listening to Tsukinoki-senpai's nonsense the whole ride, and before I knew it, we were already in front of my house.
That had left me with a vague feeling that everything was already over. But there was still one thing left.
Just as we promised, Yakishio and Ayano are going to meet and talk. Tonight, I'm supposed to walk Yakishio to the place they agreed to meet at.
After dinner, I left the house earlier than necessary. I couldn't stay still. I felt too restless.
It's more like post-defeat cleanup at this point. What even comes after something like that?
Thinking that, I absentmindedly reached out toward one of the shelves.
"Oh, the new volume of <JK Eats> is out."
The official title is <A High School Girl Came With the Apartment I Rented, but the Food Expenses Are Killing Me>.
It's a story about a high school girl who moves in with the MC and their shared life together. It's famous for its realistic tracking of utilities and grocery expenses.
Apparently, in the latest volume, a new heroine joins the household, forcing the MC into even more extreme budgeting.
"...Wait, he starts delivering newspapers now?"
Where is this story even heading?
As I was engrossed in the blurb on the back cover, someone tapped me on the back.
"Nukkun, I knew I would find you here."
"Huh? Yakishio?"
The person standing next to me is Lemon Yakishio.
"When I went to your house, they said you were near the station. So I figured it had to be here."
"Well, okay, but what's with your outfit?"
Yakishio's wearing a tank top and running shorts. Standing in the light novel section of the bookstore, she looks wildly out of place…
"I was out running just now. Besides, I always dress like this, don't I?"
She grinned, completely unfazed.
"But you know, you're about to meet Ayano."
"It's fine. I want to talk to him as myself, the way I always am."
Yakishio stared straight ahead at the shelves in front of her.
"These are light novels, right? Think I could read one?"
"Huh? Yeah, most of them are pretty easy to get into."
"I still haven't picked a book for my summer reading assignment. Which one's the thinnest?"
"...You do realize tomorrow's the last day of summer break, right?"
"I'll just say I forgot it at home. That buys me a week. If I'm lucky, the teacher will forget too- oh, this one looks interesting."
She reached for a book, and I shook my head after reading the title.
"Don't. That one starts with the MC sprinting naked through the middle of town."
"Then how about this one?"
"Also no good. The first color illustration has the protagonist being pinned down by an 800-year-old half-naked loli."
"...I was trying to pick normal-sounding titles, you know."
"Which just makes your instincts even more impressive."
After promising I would lend her something decent for the report, we left the store together.
It's already dark outside. Beneath the city lights, Yakishio stretched with a big yawn.
"Man, reading now and then might be good for me. I feel smarter already."
Calm down. You haven't even read a single line yet.
Now then, it's still a bit early. What should I do?
Initially, the plan was to meet up near Yakishio's house and head to the meeting spot with Ayano together.
As I checked the time on my watch, Yakishio grabbed my arm and veered at the digital display.
"Hey, Nukkun, what are you gonna do now? Gonna walk?"
"Uh, I was thinking of killing some time and then taking the tram."
"Hmm, I see."
Yakishio mumbled, sounding a little let down, and kicked the ground lightly with the sole of her shoe.
"Well, that can't be helped. I'll run a bit more and then head over."
"Got it. Then I'll meet you there like we planned."
I said that, but I could feel something was wrong with her.
Now that I think about it, if she came all the way here because she heard I was around…
Scratching my head, I glanced off in a totally unrelated direction.
"Ah, but if we walk from here, we will get there at just the right time. I haven't been exercising much lately, so maybe I'll walk after all…"
My painfully obvious monologue was met with an equally transparent reply from Yakishio.
"Ohh, come to think of it, I did get cold muscles from all that reading. Maybe walking instead of running is just right~"
I sneaked a glance at Yakishio and caught her looking at me, and we both burst out laughing.
"Right, Yakishio, you're headed to the same place, huh?"
I doubled down on the act.
"Yeah, what a coincidence. Oh well, guess I'll keep you company."
Yakishio laced her fingers behind her head and shot me a teasing sidelong glance.
I returned it with a sheepish smile, and the two of us started walking side by side.
*
It was a little over 40 minutes to our destination. And the whole time, our conversation was just normal, casual chatter.
We talked about summer homework, the looming start of the new school term in two days, and the scary-but-kind senior in the girls' track team-
Gradually, Yakishio's words began to taper off. We are getting close.
The place where she's meeting Ayano is the elementary school that the two of them used to attend.
As we walked along the road around the school, I peered past the fence to check things out.
"...Looks like the lights are off."
Now that I think about it, isn't this technically trespassing?
"It's almost time."
Yakishio placed a hand on her chest, took a deep breath, and then lifted her head with a quiet "Okay."
"Alright, I guess I'll go."
"Hey, Yakishio. I know it's a bit late to ask this, but is it really okay to just walk into an elementary school like this? We're not going to get in trouble?"
"It really is a bit late…"
Well, it was bothering me.
Yakishio put her hands on her hips and shook her head with an exasperated sigh.
"They keep the place open during the day, and it's fine as long as you're not being loud or causing trouble. I'm used to this kind of thing."
Is she a repeat offender or something…? Well, not my problem if someone gets scolded.
Just as I was about to send her off warmly, Yakishio gently poked my chest.
"Nukkun, you said that weird stuff on purpose because I looked nervous, didn't you?"
"Huh? Nah, not really..."
"Thanks. I'll be okay on my own from here on, so wait for me, okay?"
Ah, so I am walking her home afterward. Standing alone in a residential neighborhood at night is just awkward and kinda spooky…
Maybe she noticed me glancing around uncomfortably, Yakishio raised an eyebrow.
"Nukkun, were you seriously gonna let a girl walk home alone at night?"
"Of course not. I would be honored to escort you."
"Good. I'm counting on you."
With her usual cheerful smile, Yakishio raised one hand toward me.
...? I considered five possible meanings behind the gesture before cautiously raising my hand in return.
"Alright then, time to settle this!"
With a loud clap, she slapped my hand in a spirited high-five, then took off running, vaulting cleanly over the back gate fence in one go.
...Yeah, she's definitely a repeat offender.
*
Bathed in moonlight, the elementary school field looked much smaller than Lemon remembered.
Back then, every inch of this place had been bursting with fun. By the time the school started to feel just a little cramped, it was already graduation day.
Walking slowly, Lemon ran her fingers gently along the familiar playground equipment.
In the darkness, the empty structures look a little lonely. She found herself vaguely wishing morning would come sooner.
…Is Mitsuki here already?
As she looked around, she spotted a tall figure standing uneasily near the white Stevenson screen at the edge of the field.
Suddenly, her vision blurred for a moment.
She exhaled deeply, suppressing the urge to break into a run, and instead walked forward one step at a time, carefully grounding each foot.
It's only when she's nearly in front of him that she realizes: she hasn't thought at all about what to say first or what kind of expression to wear.
With an awkward, uncertain smile, Lemon stood before Mitsuki.
"Mitsuki, thanks for coming."
"No... I should be the one saying that."
That voice was familiar even from before it deepened with puberty.
Seeing the unsure, almost lost look on Mitsuki's face, Lemon felt a quiet sense of relief.
He didn't know what expression to bring here either. He came without an answer, just like her.
"It's nostalgic, huh. How many years has it been?"
Lemon spun on her heel and started walking, gesturing for Mitsuki to come along.
He followed half a step behind her.
"For me... it's been four years since graduation."
"Then it's the same for me."
She cried so much at the graduation ceremony. And even though the school was close enough to visit anytime, she never came back, convinced she could always come back later.
She jogged toward a piece of playground equipment, a jungle gym mixed with a slide. As Lemon lifted her gaze, Mitsuki shook his head.
"It's dark, so don't climb up there. It's dangerous."
"I won't. I'm not a kid anymore."
Caught red-handed, Lemon pouted like a child whose mischief had just been found out.
"The swings, too, it's been forever, hasn't it? Didn't we use to pump as high as we could and try to jump off?"
"That was you. Didn't you twist your ankle doing that?"
"...Yeah, I did. Whoa, I remember this tire, too."
No sooner did she say it than Lemon hopped onto one of the half-buried tires.
There were no specific rules on how to use them. As kids, they jumped on them, over them, under them. They just played however they wanted.
Lemon lightly hopped across the row of tires and then sat on the last one.
"Were they always this small?"
"I think so. Probably just felt bigger, by the time we were upperclassmen, we didn't play on these anymore."
Mitsuki sat on the tire next to her as he spoke. Lemon's lips curled into a small, involuntary smile.
Just sitting side by side like this is enough to make her feel content.
This is probably the last night they will spend together like this. They both let the silence linger, savoring it.
"...We started talking around second grade, right?"
Lemon finally breaks the quiet, as if reminiscing about the past. Mitsuki nodded silently.
"You know, my first impression of you wasn't great. You spent all of recess just reading books. I was like, 'What's this kid even doing?', you know?"
Hearing this confession 8 years later, Mitsuki let out a small laugh.
"Back then, I had this weird mission in my head. It's like I had to read every book in the library."
"Then... do you remember the first time I talked to you? Well, maybe not."
"It was when you hurt your foot, right?"
Second grade, fall. Lemon had sprained her ankle jumping off the swings. It wasn't a serious injury, but since she couldn't run around, she got bored and started pestering Mitsuki, who was reading a book.
"...You remembered."
"Of course I did. There I was, seriously reading, and the class troublemaker came over to bug me. It was practically traumatic."
"That's how you remember it!? Not like a sweet memory of a poor injured girl and the two of us reading together?"
"You got bored in 5 minutes and made me explain the whole book to you, remember?"
"I did, huh. You would tell me in detail what was happening in the story."
Lemon giggled. Mitsuki, who had been putting on a mock frown, broke into a smile too.
"Books usually put me to sleep, but when you were the one telling me the story, I could actually listen."
"That's why even after your foot healed, we kept reading together."
That was when it started. Every time it rained, or was too hot, or too cold, Lemon would come up with an excuse to sit beside Mitsuki and read.
"But I really didn't think I had to summarize the entire <Harry Potter> series for you."
"Hey now, I should be the one complaining. The movies were nothing like what you told me! And you even said Harry ends up marrying Hermione- that was a total lie!"
"Sorry, I didn't think you would actually believe that."
"Ugh, then I'm just an idiot, right?"
Mitsuki couldn't hold it in anymore and burst out laughing. Lemon tried to say something in protest, but ended up laughing with him.
Wiping the corners of her eyes, Lemon exhales.
"...Seriously. So nostalgic."
"Yeah. It has already been 8 years, huh?"
If they kept talking like this, morning would probably come soon.
She wanted that, honestly. But it was her responsibility to move the clock forward here. Lemon mustered her resolve and began to speak.
"...Back in the second year of middle school, when I said I wanted to aim for Tsuwabuki High, no one took me seriously. Can you believe that? Even the teachers just laughed and brushed it off."
"With your grades back then, anyone would have thought the same."
"But you didn't laugh."
"I didn't think it was possible, though."
"Right! I remembered! You didn't laugh, but you did say I had no shot with the general entrance exam!"
Lemon shot him a mock glare.
"And you even told me to give up on general admissions and focus on the recommendation track. That was mean."
"Your grades were way below average, alright..."
Tsuwabuki High is one of the top academic schools in the prefecture. Normally, Lemon's grades wouldn't have made it even close.
"Then why did you help me, Mitsuki?"
"Because... I mean, if a friend asks for help, anyone would."
Friend. That word made Lemon drop her gaze without thinking.
She and Mitsuki are friends. They always have been. Even now.
"...You went that far for a friend, huh. You even taught me how to boost my internal scores. How did you even find all that out?"
Mitsuki hadn't just helped her prepare for tests.
He had researched how each subject teacher graded and worked to raise Lemon's internal scores up to the recommendation cutoff for Tsubaki.
"I just kept asking questions and worked my way into the teachers' good graces. At that point, I could've run a career counseling session myself."
"But you even found out their birthdays and wedding anniversaries, wasn't that taking it a little far?"
"If it could help, I did it. But still, you're the one who became track team captain and made it onto the podium at the prefectural meet."
He had even encouraged her to run for captain, knowing the prefecture would host the national qualifying event in her second year of high school.
"And you worked hard at studying, too. By your third year, your grades were at the top of the class."
"Only within the school. I was still below average on the regional mock exams."
In the latter half of middle school, Lemon and Mitsuki had worked together shoulder to shoulder and steadily built their way toward high school entrance exams.
Clubs. Entrance exams. From the outside, it probably looked like she was clearing every hurdle with ease.
But the time they spent, the feelings they built together, those were something only the two of them could understand.
And to Lemon, that meant everything. She could never say it aloud, but it was something she was secretly proud of.
"But I still don't get it..."
Lemon curled inward, as if hugging the vague feelings she couldn't make sense of.
"What don't you get?"
"I mean, all the stuff you did for me. You had your own entrance exams, too. No one would go that far just because we're friends."
Her voice was half-pouting, like a stubborn child. Mitsuki gave a troubled look.
"...You told me, didn't you? The reason you wanted to go to Tsuwabuki. That your family's full of scholars and lawyers, and you felt self-conscious being the only one who couldn't keep up."
"You remember that. It wasn't just my parents. Pretty much everyone in my family went to excellent schools. Even though they always said I didn't have to worry about it, I still didn't want to be the one dummy who couldn't measure up."
Lemon whispered, "You remembered that" again, almost to herself. Then, as if making up her mind, she lifted her head.
"But you know, that's not the only reason."
Her voice became different. Something in her tone made Mitsuki instinctively straighten up.
"I wanted to go to the same school as you."
Her gaze was direct. Mitsuki forgot to breathe as he looked into her eyes, caught.
"Lemon…"
"I told you the truth, didn't I? So now it's your turn, Mitsuki."
"...My turn?"
"Why did you do all that for me?"
Maybe he realized there was no way to dodge it anymore. Mitsuki clasped his hands together and lowered his eyes to the ground.
"...I wanted to go to the same school as you, too."
He spoke in a low, hesitant voice.
"You know, once we got into middle school, you started standing out more and more. You were winning competitions, getting called up at assemblies to be recognized, and were always surrounded by people. So popular."
He drew a deep breath, like anchoring himself before continuing.
"To me, you looked so far away. So bright it hurt to look. That's why I was really happy when you relied on me, and I was excited to think we could end up in the same school as well."
Mitsuki tried to keep speaking, but couldn't quite put it into words. He opened his mouth several times, only to close it again. And in the end, he said nothing.
"...So that's how you felt about me."
Lemon gently swept away the silence that followed.
"At the time, I was just happy and overly excited. I had no idea how I really felt or anything like that. But now…"
Mitsuki caught himself mid-sentence. He swallowed the rest. He couldn't say it aloud.
They both knew. That's why Lemon spoke.
"I'll say it for you."
Mitsuki looked up, startled, as if afraid.
Lemon gave a gentle smile, then spoke with an even gentler voice.
"Mitsuki, you were in love with me, weren't you?"
Silence. That was his answer.
At this point, neither denial nor confirmation had any meaning. Mitsuki began to speak again, calmly this time.
"I've never really understood that kind of thing until now. With Chihaya…"
He hesitated for a moment, unsure if he should go on.
"It's okay. You can keep going."
"…After I started going out with Chihaya, the feelings I had for her, the way my heart moved when we were together, I tried to really understand it all."
It had been less than a year since he met Asagumo Chihaya.
"And I realized, this is what it means to love someone."
But because of everything that had built up before that, he was able to understand even in such a short time.
His feelings for Asagumo Chihaya. And his feelings for Lemon.
"...I'm happy. Yeah, I'm really happy."
Lemon murmured quietly, then looked at Mitsuki with a shy, bashful expression.
"But I-"
Before he could go on, Lemon gently layered her words to ease his heart.
"Because, really, isn't this just the happiest thing? The person you love loves you back. That alone makes me more than happy."
-Even if I can't stay by your side.
That final thought, Lemon sealed away in the depths of her heart.
It was a love that ended the moment she realized it.
That's why Lemon smiled brightly at Mitsuki.
"Hey, what was it about Asagumo-san that made you fall for her?"
"Well… is it okay if I say it?"
"Isn't it a bit late to ask that?"
Lemon laughed it off. Mitsuki began speaking, carefully choosing his words.
"...I want to work with books in the future."
"Huh? You mean you're going to join a publishing company? Or become a writer or something?"
Lemon's voice jumped in surprise at the unexpected revelation.
Mitsuki stared intently at the palm of his hand.
"I don't even know what I'm capable of yet, or what I specifically want to do. But if it's something related to books, then I want to go to university in Tokyo, and spend those 4 years learning everything I can."
His mature profile. Lemon, half captivated, found herself wondering-
He was asked why he fell for Asagumo, and he started talking about this…
"...Could it be that the same goes for Asagumo-san as well?"
"Yeah. Chihaya has a similar dream. Or rather, she was the one who gave form to the dream I had been vaguely thinking about."
"That's amazing, both of you. You have already thought that far ahead."
"To me, you're the amazing one, Lemon."
Somehow, something clicked quietly into place in her heart. Lemon looked up at the night sky.
Mitsuki looked up, too. Lemon pointed at the sky.
"Hey, that star over there's really bright, isn't it? Is that the North Star?"
"The North Star's in a different direction. If it's bright, then it's probably part of the Summer Triangle. Look, you see those three big stars in a triangle shape?"
"Hmm… I can only find one. It's kind of red. Could it be Mars or something?"
Mitsuki followed her gaze and nodded with an "Ah."
"That's probably Antares in the constellation Scorpius."
"Hmm, a scorpion, huh?"
Even though they are looking up at the same sky, Lemon and Mitsuki are seeing different stars.
Thinking that with a touch of loneliness, Lemon found herself thinking about Asagumo Chihaya.
She's someone who shares the same dream as Mitsuki. Someone who could walk the same path as him.
"Mitsuki, don't let go of Asagumo-san. You need her."
"...Yeah."
Once again, a thin silence spread over the two of them.
They both knew. There were no more words left to be said here.
Someone had to bring down the curtain.
"Lemon, shall we head back?"
He must have felt it was his role to end things. Mitsuki stood up, as if shaking off his feelings.
"I'll stay here a bit longer. I think I just want to be alone for a while."
"...Will you be okay?"
Lemon nodded. I'll be fine, she whispered in her heart.
"Don't worry. Once I've rested a little, I'll be back to my usual cheerful self."
*
It's been about twenty minutes since Yakishio illegally snuck in through the back gate.
"...Yeah, let's just go with a cat."
That was the conclusion I came to as I peered into the darkness at the back gate of the elementary school.
If we got caught for trespassing, I already had an excuse lined up. I could say a stray cat had wandered onto the school grounds..
"Let's say it's a tortoiseshell. I'll call her Nyaruko or something."
Nyaruko would be a stray cat, one that didn't warm up to anyone, except for me. It would only eat the food I gave it. Let's also assume she is a girl in case she turns into a human…
While I was searching on my phone for cat pictures to use as alibis, a tall shadow suddenly loomed in front of me.
"Nukumizu. What are you doing here?"
"Meow!?"
The voice belonged to Ayano. I had been so absorbed in image hunting. I didn't notice him coming out of the school.
"...Ah, um, I was going to walk someone home."
"Me?"
As if.
Caught off guard without my usual conversation prep, I cleared my throat and reset.
"It's late, so I'm here to walk Yakishio home."
I glanced past Ayano's body, trying to get a look at the school grounds.
"Is Yakishio still inside?"
"Yeah, she said she just wanted to be alone for a bit."
Maybe he noticed the worried look on my face. Ayano continued, a little hesitantly.
"...Don't worry. I properly talked with Lemon. Sorry, I'll leave the rest to you."
Ayano's expression was calm. Knowing him, I couldn't let my guard down completely, but just this once, I decided to trust him.
"I don't know what I can do, but at the very least, I'll walk her home."
Ayano didn't move. When I glanced at him, our eyes met- by coincidence or not.
"Chihaya told me. That thing about you liking Yanami-san- it was a lie, wasn't it?"
"Yeah, well…"
Right, that was one of the setups, too.
Ayano stared at my face for a moment, then muttered softly.
"You're a good guy."
"Huh? Where did that come from?"
"I was just thinking about everything that had happened. Most people wouldn't go this far just for a friend."
…? A friend? Who's he talking about?
"If you mean Yakishio, it's not like we're exactly friends."
"What are you talking about? You're clearly friends."
"No, like, we never explicitly confirmed it. And I don't know if Yakishio even sees me as a friend. We haven't gone through a mutual communication process or anything."
As I rattled off excuses at full speed, I recalled the final day of the first semester.
That day, I found out I had somehow become friends with Yanami. It was a shockingly surreal event, but one that had taught me a lot.
"...Even I don't think you need a formal declaration to become friends."
"Oh, good, that's a relief."
"What I'm saying is, if you think of someone as a friend, but it turns out they don't think the same about you, isn't that super embarrassing?"
"Nukumizu, that's really just overthinking things…"
Ayano started to laugh it off, but then suddenly, his expression turned serious.
"...No, maybe you're right. I've never really thought about it like that."
Ohh, a kindred spirit at last. I nodded vigorously.
"Right? That's why the confirmation process is important."
"I get that, but when it comes to Lemon, you're definitely overthinking it. I mean, you and I became friends at some point, too, didn't we?"
"Wait, we're friends?"
That comment slipped out before I could stop it, making Ayano stagger.
"Seriously? I'm kinda about to cry over here."
…Hold on. Is he seriously considering me his friend?
Well, if that's how it is. It's not like I'm totally against the idea or anything.
"Uh, then… well… I look forward to working with you, even though I'm a bit lacking."
"That's a reply to a marriage proposal, you know."
Ayano laughed in amusement, and I couldn't help but laugh with him.
Last time, I was the one proposing. This time, I was the one being proposed to.
After a round of laughter, we noticed a tanned, exasperated face staring at us from behind the gate.
"Geez. I'm over here getting all sentimental, and what are you two doing?"
Yakishio chirped, then climbed over the fence with ease.
"Just guy talk. Right, Nukumizu?"
Ayano nudged me with his elbow. I cautiously nudged him back.
"Uh, yeah… something like that."
Is this what talking between friends is supposed to be like? Maybe I'm laying it on too thick…?
While I was quietly holding a one-man reflection session, Ayano placed a hand on my shoulder.
"Alright then, Lemon, make sure Nukumizu gets you home safe."
"You too, Mitsuki. Don't go crying on the road just because it's dark."
Looks like Ayano's heading off here.
Well, that makes sense. He has Asagumo-san now. He can't just go around being alone with other girls.
Yakishio came up beside me and, as usual, gave my back a good slap.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Nukkun. Let's go home."
"Ah, yeah. Sounds good."
As I said that, I glanced at Ayano as he turned to leave.
A bunch of different thoughts swirled in my head, but I chose to ignore them. I decided to act before thinking.
"Yakishio, sorry. Can you wait a second?"
"Nukkun? What's up?"
I grabbed Ayano by the arm and led him to a spot far enough that Yakishio couldn't hear us.
"Hey, what is it, Nukumizu?"
"At the very end, you should at least walk her home properly."
Did he understand what I meant? Ayano's expression stiffened.
"...We already talked. Anything more would be unfair to Chihaya."
"That might be true… But setting all that aside, just a little more wouldn't hurt, right?"
"But still…"
We both turned to look at Yakishio. From a distance, she was watching us anxiously, clearly unsure of what was happening.
"You're just walking her home, right? Is that really such a big deal?"
"I told Chihaya I would talk to her. But anything beyond that…"
"...Would be cheating, maybe."
My throwaway comment made Ayano think seriously for a moment, but eventually, he let out a resigned smile.
"Don't tell Chihaya."
"Just don't do anything you would have to hide."
I gave Ayano a light shove toward Yakishio.
"Alright, Ayano. She's all yours."
"Wait, hold on, Nukkun?"
"Yakishio, I've got something to take care of. Let Ayano walk you home."
"Eek!?"
Yakishio straightened up instinctively, and Ayano, scratching his head awkwardly, stepped toward her.
"It's dangerous out at night. Let me walk you back, yeah?"
Yakishio nodded obediently.
"...Okay."
I watched the two of them from behind as they walked off together.
Now that I think about it, Ayano isn't wearing the bracelet he got from Asagumo-san today.
"How much of this is him just being clueless…?"
I shrugged my shoulders and let the thought go.
On nights like this, maybe it's okay for someone to be just a little bit naughty.
If Asagumo-san were here, she would probably also say, "It's only natural to walk someone home."
Even so, maybe it's fine if there's a little secret between Yakishio and Ayano.
That's what I thought as I walked home alone through the night.
"Hey, Mitsuki."
"What is it?"
"I love you."
"Lemon, you-"
"What?"
"No, just… Thanks. That makes me happy, Lemon."
"Hehe…"
"Hey, can I ask for just one selfish favor?"
"A selfish favor?"
"Yeah. Let me say just one thing, my first and last selfish request. Even if Asagumo-san never finds out."
Lemon's tear-filled brown eyes mirrored Mitsuki's reflection.
Mitsuki nodded.
What she wanted was a small secret shared just between the two of them.
And then, Lemon Yakishio finally spoke up.
Epilogue: Beyond the Happy Ending
Two days after that night. The morning of the new semester.
"It's over…"
I sighed as I headed toward the front door in my school uniform.
That's right. Summer vacation has finally come to an end.
Waking up without setting an alarm, grinding online games in an air-conditioned room, then making the rounds on manga websites until noon.
In the afternoon, reading light novels or manga, checking out seasonal anime streams. At night, doing just enough homework to convince myself I had been productive, then going to sleep feeling like I did something with my day… Those kinds of days are now over.
This morning, I checked the date on my phone three times before finally coming to terms with reality.
"Well, what's done is done..."
Murmuring that to myself like a mantra, I glanced at my reflection in the full-length mirror by the entrance.
Neither my clothes nor my hairstyle have changed since the first semester. While fixing my bedhead with a bit of fuss-
"Onii-sama, are you heading out already?"
Step, step, step. Kaju came trotting in her uniform.
"It's the new school semester. Being late would make me stand out."
Even as I thought that it sounded like an excuse, I reached out and patted Kaju's head as she came up beside me.
"Kaju, your new semester starts today, too. Be careful around cars, alright?"
"Yes, and you too, onii-sama."
Kaju, who had been smiling softly, suddenly took on a more admonishing expression.
"Your tie is crooked, onii-sama."
She tightened my tie with precision. For all her sweetness, she's a little fussy when it comes to appearances.
With her hand still on my tie, Kaju stared intently at my face.
"What is it? Is there something on my face?"
"Maybe it's just Kaju's imagination. But onii-sama, you look a little happy."
Happy? Huh. Even though school is about to start again, how could I possibly look cheerful?
"It's because you helped me out this morning. I'm just in a good mood."
Let's go with that. Kaju smiled from ear to ear at the lip service I gave on the first day of the new semester.
"Hehe. Shall we elope together, onii-sama?"
"Nope. I'm off to school now."
When I opened the front door, Kaju slipped on her slippers and came trotting after me.
"Huh? What?"
"Hold still just like that, onii-sama. Look straight ahead."
Just behind my right shoulder, I heard two clinks.
Turning around, I found Kaju holding a flint in her hand, beaming at me with a full smile. [TL: A custom called kiribi in which you send someone off by striking a stone with steel so that sparks fall on their back to protect them from harm.]
"Have a safe trip, onii-sama."
*
When I stepped out from the platform of Aidaimae Station, I merged into the flow of students wearing the same school uniform.
Some walked while chatting with friends, while others, like me, silently made their way forward alone.
I wonder how they spend their time in class. Some probably carry this moment into their school day, while others might switch between different faces.
…I cut off my sentimental thoughts and slowed my pace, stepping out of the stream of people.
As I loosened the tie Kaju had tightened, I felt a soft tap on my back.
"Good morning, Nukumizu-san."
The one who came to stand beside me is Asagumo-san. I froze for a moment, and she bowed her head.
"Uh… right. Good morning."
"I didn't know you commuted by train too, Nukumizu-san."
Well, I don't exactly stand out.
As I searched for the right words, Asagumo-san straightened her back and began to speak while facing forward.
"A lot happened. But I managed to talk things through properly with Mitsuki-san and Lemon-san. I think I'll be able to maintain a good relationship with both of them from now on."
"That's good to hear."
I meant it from the bottom of my heart. As I glanced around, I leaned in just slightly toward Asagumo-san.
"Um… I've been meaning to ask you this for a while now."
"What is it?"
I lowered my voice and continued.
"About the GPS thing. Did you also plant one on Yakishio…?"
Without changing her expression, Asagumo-san kept her gaze fixed forward and began to speak.
"Did you know, Nukumizu-san? There's a limit to the kind of batteries that can be fitted into tiny transmitters. At most, they last a few days."
"Huh. I see."
What is she even talking about?
"A device that has lost its function, what should we call it, I wonder? A transmitter? Or just junk?"
Asagumo-san touched her index finger to her chin and looked up at me theatrically from below.
"What do you think it is, Nukumizu-san?"
It's a dead transmitter, obviously. Giving up on finding a better answer, I changed the subject.
"…You know, Asagumo-san. You're kind of different from the impression I had of you at cram school."
"Ara? And what kind of impression was that?"
"I thought you were, like… more demure, serious-"
I trailed off and gave a wry smile.
What's the point of having an impression of someone you have never spoken to?
Asagumo-san placed a hand on my shoulder, rose slightly on her toes, and whispered into my ear.
"Didn't you know? I may look like this, but I'm a bad girl."
"…I know that now."
Asagumo-san looked down, stifling a laugh.
As my own mouth relaxed in response, someone suddenly clapped me hard on the back.
"Chiha-chan, Nukkun, good morning!"
The one greeting us brightly is Yakishio.
Her cheerful smile blew away the lingering tension from everything that had happened lately. I did my best to return it with a smile, however awkward.
"Uh… yeah. Morning."
"Good morning, Lemon-san."
Yakishio wedged herself between the two of us.
"So you two were together. Nukkun, sorry to cut in on your fun, but I'm borrowing Chiha-chan."
Chiha-chan, huh. Guess that comes from Chihaya. Those two sure got close fast.
"Sure, I don't mind."
"…Thanks, Nukkun."
With a smooth wink, Yakishio linked arms with Asagumo-san.
"Come on, Chiha-chan, let's go!"
"Yes, Lemon-san. Well then, Nukumizu-san, we'll be off ahead."
The two of them quickened their pace, leaving me behind.
"Hey, Chiha-chan. About that shampoo you recommended, can I really come pick it up today?"
"Yes, I have some in stock, so you can have it. If you would like, I can teach you a full hair care routine too."
…Still, those two sure are close. Like, really close.
Asagumo-san is playing with Yakishio's hair, and Yakishio's just letting her do whatever she wants. Outrageous. I need more.
While I was carefully observing their backs without letting my guard down, I heard the sound of a bicycle brake.
A tall male student got off his bike and came up beside me.
"Morning, Nukumizu."
"Ayano. Morning."
And there he is, Mitsuki Ayano, the clueless protagonist and the root of all this chaos. They just keep showing up one after another. Maybe I really am some kind of stamp rally checkpoint.
"So, what's up with those two?"
"I've got no idea either, but they seem to be hitting it off like crazy."
Ayano let out a small sigh.
"Apparently, Chihaya already knows all my embarrassing stories from back in the day. Honestly, it's exhausting."
I see. So I'm being made to listen to a romantic brag-fest first thing in the morning.
Second time already. Even I'm getting tired of this. I think I understand a bit of what Yanami feels.
"Good for you. Next time, leave me out of it."
"Hey, Nukumizu."
Ayano wrapped an arm around my shoulder.
"When you fall for someone, you have to tell me. I swear I'll have your back."
Ugh… He's exactly the last person I want to tell…
Not that I even know how you're supposed to fall for someone. I try to picture the faces of the girls around me.
…If I were to date someone, I would prefer a more normal girl. Ideally, someone who doesn't even come out of a smartphone screen.
Yakishio and Asagumo-san noticed Ayano and waved with a smile.
"Ah, good morning, Mitsuki!"
"Ara, good morning, Mitsuki-san."
Ayano waved back at them.
"Morning, you two. Alright, Nukumizu, let's get going."
Sorry, but I'm already exhausted this morning. Yanami's calling me out after school today. I need to conserve my strength, or I won't stand a chance.
"I'll take it slow and head over later. You go on ahead."
"Alright. See you later, then."
After seeing the trio of good-looking people off, I walked through the school gate. Now then, I'll just keep things quiet from here on out. Once I'm in the classroom, it will be time to mentally tune out until after school.
"You there… young man…"
…Hm? I feel like someone just called out to me.
I stopped walking, but there wasn't anyone familiar nearby. I decided to ignore it and keep going, when-
"You… Literature Club boy…"
"Eek!?"
I jumped at the voice that whispered right next to my ear.
Clinging closely to my back stood Shikiya-san from the student council. She stared at me with an even paler face than usual.
"Uh, Shikiya-senpai, do you need something?"
Without a word, Shikiya-san reached toward my throat.
Her long fingers tightened the knot of my tie, making me freeze in place.
"Um, uh…"
"For the new semester… your tie… tighten it properly…"
I stayed frozen from the sudden turn of events, and Shikiya-san, looking a bit confused, withdrew her hand.
"Sorry… that was… unnecessary meddling…"
Huh? What's that supposed to mean?
Shikiya-san pulled something out from the knot of my tie and placed it into my hand.
"Well then… I'll… be going now…"
What she gave me was a single long strand of black hair. This is Kaju's hair. Why was it in the knot of my tie?
"She's surprisingly careless."
As the strand of hair flew off into the wind, I watched Shikiya-san's retreating figure.
Ah, come to think of it, I never returned her handkerchief…
"N-Nukumizu… w-what are you d-doing this e-early in the morning?"
"Again… wait, no, Komari. Morning."
I've decided not to be surprised anymore. The one who appeared, straddling her bike, is Komari. The white helmet really suits her. I honestly think she should just keep it on all the time.
"Shikiya-senpai was fixing my clothes or something."
"B-Before that. That g-guy…"
"Ayano from Class D. You saw him once in the clubroom, right?"
I wasn't sure she was even listening. Komari started mumbling to herself.
"A-A delinquent first… n-now glasses… honor student…"
Beneath her helmet, Komari's eyes gleamed ominously.
Wait. What kind of fantasy is she having now?
"Hakamada's not a delinquent. And I'm not going to stop your illegal delusions, but you really shouldn't say stuff like that in public."
"S-So… it's a s-secret relationship?"
Something seemed to click. Komari's cheeks tinted slightly, and she looked up at me with a radiant smile.
That- don't do that. It's kind of cute. And what you're saying is still totally unhinged.
"There's no secret or public relationship. I'm gonna be late, so I'm going."
Leaving Komari behind, I headed for the shoe lockers.
First day of the new semester. Why am I already this exhausted in the morning?
I swore to myself that starting tomorrow, I would take an earlier train.
*
After school, the emergency stairs of the old building.
It's already September, and the lingering summer heat has faded before I noticed.
With the evening breeze brushing my cheek, I stood next to Yanami, who had called me out here, both of us gazing down at the school grounds.
"…So, why was I the only one left out of what happened?"
Looking displeased, Yanami tore open an ogura sandwich from the neighborhood bakery. [TL: Sweet red beans.]
As I poked a straw into a milk carton, I answered.
"Well, it's not like you asked. And you know, this kind of stuff isn't something you can just go around telling people."
"Uh, no. I'm pretty involved, you know? I was totally caught up in the whole thing."
While biting into her ogura sandwich, Yanami leaned her elbow on the railing.
"Well, if everything's settled peacefully, then fine. What matters most is how Lemon-chan feels."
Down at the edge of the school grounds, the track team is starting their warm-up.
Even from a distance, one of the tanned girls stood out by getting scolded for starting to run off on her own.
"Anyway, Yakishio's doing fine. At the very least, there's no need to worry anymore."
Yakishio settled her own problems by herself. We were just outsiders to the very end.
Romantic drama, lovers' quarrels, only the people involved can really resolve those.
"By the way, Yanami-san. I thought you said you were cutting out snacks?"
Finishing her ogura bread, Yanami brushed off her hands proudly.
"Nukumizu-kun, I achieved victory."
"Right. Congrats."
Sensing an oncoming pain-in-the-neck conversation, I tried to end it there, but Yanami pressed on.
"Thanks to my improved diet, I lost 250 grams in just one week."
250 grams…?
"Isn't that within the margin of-"
"If you scale that to a month, that's 1 kilogram. Which means a guaranteed victory lies ahead for me."
…Shoot. That one careless comment was my downfall. I switched to nodding along with an empty mind.
"But then I realized something. At this pace, I would lose 12 kilos in a year, right? That's probably a bit unhealthy, don't you think?"
Yeah, I would say it is a problem. Mostly inside your head, though.
With a smug look on her face, Yanami continued presenting her bizarre theory.
"So basically, to maintain my current diet and my current figure, I'll need to gain 1 kilogram per month. It's like a reverse strategy."
"…Wait, let's slow down and think about this. That logic- is it sound? Are you sure it's okay?"
Yanami nodded at me with full confidence, unshaken by my unease.
"Nukumizu-kun, the scale doesn't lie. By the way, 1 kilogram of fat is about 7,200 kilocalories. That means I need to eat an extra 20 cups of noodles' worth of calories."
Yanami pulled out a second ogura bread.
"In other words, fo fere fhinking foad foo-"
Don't talk with your mouth full. Yanami gulped down the bread stuffed into her cheeks.
"This is a mathematically proven proactive diet method. Maybe I should publish a book about it."
"If the book gets published, I'll be asking for a signed copy."
The results of Yanami's diet will be revealed soon enough, mostly around her waistline.
As I sipped on my milk, I lazily watched the school grounds.
Classes resumed on day one of the second semester. Any lingering holiday mood was unceremoniously blown away, and the usual days were back again.
Incidentally, it seems Amanatsu-sensei's desperate marriage hunt during Obon didn't go too well.
"Come to think of it, Prez said the new issue of the club journal was done. I should stop by the clubroom later."
"Oh, I already picked up your copy. Here, Nukumizu-kun."
Yanami pulled a booklet out of her bag.
The completed club magazine has an illustration of two men staring at each other on the cover. The clothes, clearly added later, stand out awkwardly from the rest of the drawing. I wonder what the original illustration looked like…?
I flipped through the club magazine I received.
"…Tsukinoki-senpai really went and published that, huh?"
Skipping through the pages, one distinctly different section caught my eye.
It's Yakishio's picture diary.
She wrote about our visit to her Grandma's house.
The drawing shows five boys and girls inside a car. The car is headed toward a castle straight out of a fairy tale. The emblem drawn on the castle looks like the crest of Tsuwabuki High.
Now that I think about it, Yakishio wasn't actually in the car…
No point in trying to understand what goes on in Yakishio's head. I turned the page.
Next is Yanami's short story. Her last piece has been a flash fiction centered on unspoken crushes and fried chicken skewers.
I wondered what this one would be about. Ignoring the author beside me, I began to read-
*
Literature Club Report - Summer Edition
<Good Morning to You> by Anna Yanami
This morning, I also pretended to read a magazine in the convenience store while I watched through the glass.
At the 7-Eleven along the school route, the magazine corner offers a good view of the intersection. Of course, that includes the boy who waits for the light to change every morning.
Today, I'll greet him with a "good morning." And if I can muster the courage, maybe we'll walk to school together…
Just then, a savory aroma caught my attention.
A clerk called out, "Freshly made smoked coarse-ground sausage just out of the fryer!"
7-Eleven's hot snacks are all my favorites.
Smoked coarse-ground sausage is cased in natural casing, giving it a signature snap when you bite into it. The smoky aroma stimulates the appetite, and thanks to its modest size, it's easy to eat even in the morning.
They are usually prepared early in the day, but today they must have just finished making them.
He hasn't arrived yet. I quickly lined up at the register.
And of course, now the register has a line. I waited nervously, and finally, it was my turn.
"One smoked coarse-ground sausage, please!"
"That will be 116 yen, please."
"Here you go. Ah, I have the exact change."
As I pulled the money from my wallet, I heard a familiar laugh from beyond the automatic doors. He's waiting at the light with his friends at the intersection.
Then, the pedestrian signal turned green.
"No need to put it in a paper bag! I'll take it as is!"
I accepted the sausage-on-a-stick and reached to put away my wallet, only to realize both my hands were full.
If I stayed like this, he would walk off.
After a brief hesitation, I clamped the sausage sideways between my teeth and dashed out through the closing automatic doors.
(Note: Even sideways, you must never walk with a stick in your mouth.)
I have to say good morning to him.
"OO-kun, good morn-"
The sausage slipped from my mouth. I caught it mid-air, but by then, the signal had already turned red. My shoulders slumped.
He has already crossed the street and is laughing with his friends in the distance.
Once again… I couldn't greet him.
The freshly made sausage, for some reason, tasted just a little bit bitter.
*
After finishing Yanami's short story, I closed the club magazine. For some reason, I really want a sausage now…
"Your story's actually pretty good, Yanami-san. It's overflowing with love for sausages."
"Really? I knew actually eating one would pay off."
Finishing her second bun, Yanami suddenly shifted to a serious expression.
"Hey, Nukumizu-kun."
"What's with the sudden serious tone?"
"…I got a boyfriend."
Huh!? What kind of out-of-nowhere confession was that?
"Uh, congrats?"
"No, I don't actually have one…"
Which is it?
Groaning, Yanami lowered her head.
"I posted too many vague hints on Instagram, and now there's this rumor among my friends that I got a boyfriend. They said I have to bring him when we all hang out next time…"
"Can't you just deny it normally?"
Yanami snapped back at my suggestion.
"Come on, I dropped so many hints! If I suddenly say, 'I don't actually have a boyfriend,' don't you think it'll be like, oh, Yanami got dumped again, huh'?"
"Boyfriend… again…?"
Did she ever even have a boyfriend? I feel like that's probably not right…
While I was debating whether or not to comment, Yanami's eyes sparkled with mischief as she leaned in toward me.
"So I was thinking, what if I got someone to play the part instead?"
"Play the part? As in, the boyfriend?"
"Yeah. If I just show someone off once, it keeps up appearances, right?"
So basically a fake boyfriend?
Sounds like something straight out of a rom-com. I have no intention of getting involved, but I can't lie, I'm getting curious.
"Huh. That does sound kinda fun."
"Right? So, Nukumizu-kun, I have a favor to ask."
A favor? For me? Don't tell me she wants me to play the boyfriend…?
Part of me really doesn't want to get involved, but another part of me, the part raised on light novels, is undeniably intrigued.
"So… what exactly do you want to ask me?"
I struck a pose at a 45-degree angle, putting on my best cool expression. Yanami leaned in closer.
"Okay, so what I want to ask you is-"
"Y-Yeah…?"
Yanami suddenly closed the distance between us.
"Could you ask Ayano-kun if I can borrow him for a bit? He has the looks and he's an honor student, so I figured he's perfect for the role!"
"…Are you serious?"
There's no need to hear her answer. Those eyes are serious.
I silently leaned my elbow against the railing and looked up at the sky, now thoroughly tinged with autumn.
The summer, with all its chaos, is already over.
Let the second semester be peaceful, please.
"So, Nukumizu-kun? Did you hear what I said? Will you ask him for me?"
Yanami leaned against the railing and looked at me with eyes full of hope.
My answer is already decided.
Turning to Yanami with a gentle smile, I opened my mouth and said:
"…Yanami-san, how about you get a real boyfriend?"
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