Chapter 2: Thanks for Waiting, Karen Himemiya
It's been a week since the Literature Club got its advisor.
Contrary to my initial worries, Konuki-sensei is surprisingly attentive.
She's willing to listen to anything and will even go out of her way to look things up if she doesn't know the answer.
The fact that she tries to leave me alone in the infirmary with the girls, or that she insists on explaining everything using stamens and pistils is a minor issue.
It's Monday afternoon. Tsuwabuki Fest is coming up this Saturday.
On my way back from the infirmary to class, I passed by a group wearing pumpkin-head masks in the hallway.
"Pumpkins bloom with both male and female flowers on the same plant, huh..."
That random trivia just slipped out. It's something I asked Konuki-sensei about.
Apparently, it's to avoid self-pollination. Still, why did she bring that up while I was talking about Kaju…?
"Excuse me. Coming through, please!"
I stepped aside at the voice, and this time, a group of girls in witch costumes rushed past me, carrying a giant broom. With so many students in costumes this year, the festival is shaping up to be a full-on Halloween party.
As the weekend approaches, the entire school is growing more hectic. The usually quiet after-school corridors are just as lively as they are during the day.
I've got a class project meeting coming up, too. And after that, I'll need to drop by the clubroom. Today's going to be busy.
A floral scent drifted by just as I passed by the stairs.
…What was that?
I stopped instinctively. The soft, flowery fragrance seems to be coming from the top of the stairs.
I glanced up casually and saw a girl teetering her way down, arms completely full of supplies-
"Awawa! Get out of the way!"
Wait, this line. This totally came from a light novel.
I got buried under a pile of falling supplies before I could react.
…What just happened?
For a moment, I thought I had blacked out. I'm flat on my back, and everything in front of me is pitch black.
I tried to recall the last thing I remember.
I was walking down the hallway when a bunch of stuff and a girl came tumbling down the stairs.
Something soft yet heavy slammed me to the floor-
"Kya!"
"Huh!?"
Suddenly, my vision cleared. Right in front of me are four vertically stacked ribbons.
And above them, a familiar, well-formed face…
"…Himemiya-san?"
Karen Himemiya. The girlfriend of Sosuke Hakamada, who is Yanami's childhood friend. It's no wonder I was completely thrown off.
Because Himemiya-san is currently straddling me, cheeks blazing red, hands clutching her chest.
So the soft, springy thing that covered my eyes just now must have been…?
My gaze instinctively shifted to her ribbons.
Noticing that, her face flushed even deeper, and she raised her right hand high-
*
"I'm sorry! I'm soooo sorry!"
With a loud clap of her hands, Himemiya-san bowed deeply.
Holding my throbbing cheek, I found myself bowing back on reflex.
"Uh, no, I should be the one saying thank you."
What am I even saying?
Still, crashing into a girl in the hallway and getting slapped afterward…
Allow me to say it. This is peak rom-com.
"Nukumizu-kun, are you hurt anywhere? No bumps or anything?"
"Uh, yeah, I'm fine…"
"Good! You weren't moving for a while, so I got really worried!"
The moment Himemiya-san smiled-
Shimmering lights began to dance around her. Probably some themed BGM too, just not audible.
As I stood there, completely captivated, Himemiya-san looked up to the sky.
"Yikes, this is a mess, though."
She quickly scrambled to gather the black fabric scattered around us.
Did she drop it when we crashed?
"Um, let me help. It's half my fault too, after all."
I reached out for the cloth that had fallen on the floor. The large black fabric looked like a stage curtain.
Once I folded it back up and stacked it, it turned out to be quite a pile. She was carrying all this by herself?
"Thanks! Here, carry half."
Himemiya-san plopped the heap of fabric onto me with a thud.
Her smile sparkled with glittering light.
"Uh, um…"
"Because half of this is your fault, right? Then carry half of it to the classroom."
As I flailed, Himemiya-san gave me a crisp wink. That was dangerous. If I hadn't squinted at the blinding glow, I would have died on the spot.
…Wait a minute. So this means we're walking to the classroom together? Honestly, I would rather avoid that. I'm too nervous.
Muttering things like "ah" and "yeah", I deliberately started walking on my own.
"Hey, hey! Nukumizu-kun, wait up!"
"Eh… what?"
"Well, we're going to the classroom anyway, so let's walk together. I've always wanted to talk to you."
Talk, she says, but the only connection I have to Himemiya-san is through Yanami. Or did Yanami say something to her…?
Tense and on edge, I glanced beside me and saw Himemiya-san looking apologetic.
"Um, Nukumizu-kun. Is it really not a good idea for me to talk to you?"
"Ah, no, it's not like that."
…That's not a lie. I'm just flustered walking next to Karen Himemiya.
Her gentle, soft girl aura is on an entirely different level from Yanami's.
If I had to put it in TV terms, it's like thinking 4K was amazing and then finding out there's an 8K OLED screen. Also, I won't say where exactly, but some of the specs are clearly in the 100-inch class.
"Hey, Nukumizu-kun, this is the first time we've talked like this, isn't it?"
"Now that you mention it… maybe."
While casually avoiding a male student walking toward us, Karen Himemiya naturally drew closer to me.
"You're close with Sosuke and Anna, right? I hear stories about you from both of them all the time, so I already feel like I know you quite well."
"Uh, I talk with Hakamada now and then, but I wouldn't really call us friends..."
"Huh, I see. Then let us all just become friends together."
She said it cheerfully, radiating a sparkling light.
Wait, is that how friendship works? And is it okay to just make friends with your boyfriend's friend on your own...?
"Uh, I mean, that's kind of sudden-"
"Is it a bother?"
"It's not like that, but..."
"Then it's settled. Nice to meet you, Nukumizu-kun."
"Uh... yeah..."
Somehow, Himemiya-san had this strong, dazzling kind of pushiness… It's different from Yanami's vibe, it’s a whole other thing.
Just then, Himemiya-san glanced around and leaned her upper body closer to me.
Her long hair swayed lightly, and a whiff of what must have been perfume tickled my nose.
"So then, my friend Nukumizu-kun. Don't you think Anna's been acting strange lately?"
"...Strange? Yanami-san?"
She's always strange, but has something else happened?
With an adorably serious nod, Himemiya-san continued.
"I mean, Anna's been buying the 12-piece takoyaki at the station building lately, not the 15-piece one."
That's still a lot.
Unable to even comment, I stayed silent as Himemiya-san went on, her tone filled with worry.
"Just the other day, we went out to eat, and Anna actually turned down a free upsized portion, you know? There's no way she's fine. Something's definitely wrong."
That's probably just because of that Yanami-style diet she started around summer and failed miserably at. But whenever she's with me, Yanami still eats like normal…
While I was pondering over Yanami's eating habits, Himemiya-san lowered her head gloomily.
"...Yeah, I guess I'm the last person who should be saying that."
"Ahh... well... yeah."
It's good that she's self-aware.
But more than that, something she said caught my attention.
"Do you hang out with Yanami-san a lot lately?"
"Since the second semester started, we have been hanging out more again, I guess. How about you join us, Nukumizu-kun?"
"Ah, no, that's okay."
Himemiya-san widened her eyes at my answer.
"Huh? I thought you were close with Anna, since you're in the same club and all."
I don't know if we're close exactly, but there's no need for me to butt into their group. I have decided not to get caught between yuri and couples.
"If I joined, it would just make things awkward..."
"Ehh, you don't have to worry about that~"
Himemiya-san chuckled cheerfully.
"Actually, it's the opposite. I'm more worried that I might be making Anna uncomfortable. I figured if you were there, Nukumizu-kun, Anna would be happier."
She would be happier if I left a meat-wrapped rice ball there instead of myself.
"Uh, well, Yanami-san seems to be thinking things through in her own way, so maybe it's best if you just keep treating her like always."
I said that, glancing sideways at Himemiya-san.
...Yeah, this person's seriously cute.
She's taller than Yanami, but somehow all her features are delicate and finely put together. Some parts are even bigger than Yanami's, and more than anything, she sparkles.
Just then, Himemiya-san stared straight at me.
"W-What...?"
"Ohoho. You really do watch Anna closely."
"It's not like I'm watching her; she just ends up in my field of view."
"Nukumizu-kun, you really are just like Anna said. You're a good guy."
She said that with a soft chuckle.
While we were talking like that, we reached the classroom. I found myself oddly relieved.
As I tried to enter, a girl stood right in the doorway, blocking the entrance.
"Ah, 4K-"
No, it's not. It's Yanami. My muttered slip made Yanami lift an eyebrow as she turned around.
"4K?"
"Uh, it's nothing."
"You're with Karen-chan. That's a rare pairing."
Saying that, Yanami took the stage curtain from my arms.
"Hehe, we just ran into each other. He helped me carry it."
Himemiya-san gave a little wink.
Yanami looked at the atmosphere between us with a puzzled expression.
"Huh. Well, whatever. Oh, right, Nononmura-san was looking for you, Nukumizu-kun. You have a meeting with your group, right?"
Nononmura-san...? She's the girl that’s on the props team with me, I think.
"...Nukumizu-kun, the meeting's starting."
"Ah, sorry."
Without even waiting for my reply, Nononmura-san turned on her heel and walked away.
Even though she's the tallest and should be the most noticeable among the girls in our class, her presence is so faint. I can't help but feel a strange sense of sympathy.
"Thanks for helping me!"
"See you later, Nukumizu-kun."
After the 12K duo left, I followed Nononmura-san and sat down in one of the chairs set aside for the props team.
Including me, there are four members. The other two are guys, but as expected, they also have that faint presence.
Nononmura-san started speaking in a low mumble without looking up.
"...Now that everyone's here, I'll start the explanation. For the <Street Halloween> event, we'll need props. Please stick the printed illustrations onto cardboard and cut them out with cutters. The list of items to make and the materials are here. Please finish by Friday morning."
Saying it all in one breath, Nononmura-san stood up with her materials. The other two silently picked up their supplies and returned to their seats.
What an extreme efficiency-first mentality. Coming right after the Himemiya Realm, this place felt as comforting as being home.
I returned to my seat and checked the list.
Five bats and spider webs, and ten pumpkins and Jack-o'-lanterns.
"That's a lot of pumpkins..."
No doubt this was influenced by Yanami's input.
I tried making one, and honestly, my pumpkin turned out pretty cute.
Alright, I'll do the rest at home. If I don't get to the clubroom soon, Komari will start making a fuss.
I put the materials into a tote bag and stood up.
As I left the classroom, I glanced at the props team. Everyone was quietly working at their own seats.
...This group's vibe is so calming.
*
When I opened the clubroom door, Komari was the only one there, scribbling something into a notebook.
When she noticed me, she quickly snapped the notebook shut.
"Y-You're late. W-What were y-you doing?"
"Reporting progress to Konuki-sensei, and going over the class project meeting. Komari, are you really sure your class is okay?"
As I sat down across from her, Komari glared up at me.
"N-No one said a-anything about c-class stuff…"
"O-Oh... right. Well then, let's get straight to checking out the sweets."
I had already checked Yanami's schedule. Locking the door behind me, I took a bag out of my backpack.
I brought the final version of the sweets that Kaju and I had been testing and perfecting over the weekend.
For this exhibit, we have prepared four types of sweets.
The first one is based on an episode from Natsume Soseki.
"First, sugar-coated peanuts, which Soseki liked. We modernized it a bit with cocoa powder, so give it a try."
When I offered her the bag, Komari hesitantly popped one into her mouth.
"D-Delicious. D-Did you m-make this?"
"No, my little sister made it. Same with the other sweets."
"W-What did you do, t-then…?"
"I washed the dishes and gave shoulder massages. Oh, and I did the wrapping myself."
Seeing that Komari seemed convinced, I pulled out the next sweet.
The second one is based on Osamu Dazai's novel <Cherries>.
"Next is <Cherries>, so it's a cherry pound cake. Taste-wise, it's the top recommendation."
Komari narrowed her eyes, staring at the little wrapped bag.
"M-Marble pattern...? I-It's so pretty."
"My little sister used canned dark cherries and colored them with the syrup."
"...Y-You know, m-maybe you should just s-swap bodies with your s-sister."
In that case, I would end up becoming a middle school girl. Not a bad alternate timeline.
As I entertained that delusional story in my head, I handed Komari the remaining sweets.
"The last two are from picture books. First up, <Swimmy>."
"F-Fish cookies?"
<Swimmy> is a picture book about a lone small fish with a different color than the others. Among the cookies in the bag, there is one chocolate-flavored cookie mixed in. A way to both reproduce the original and cut down on ingredient costs.
"S-Something smells r-really nice. W-What did you p-put in?"
"Uh... I dunno. I just saw my sister shaking a tiny bottle over it."
"Y-You really didn't do a-anything, huh…"
How rude. I even brought in the laundry for Kaju's sake.
And lastly, <Guri and Gura>, a picture book about two little field mice.
I remembered as a kid being enchanted by the scene where they used a found egg to make a castella in a frying pan.
"This is a small castella cake, but I found paper cups shaped like frying pans. The handles come separately, so we can attach them after baking."
"I-It's just like the p-picture book..."
Komari's eyes sparkled as she picked up the mini castella.
"Y-Your sister's a-amazing."
"I'm the one who found those containers, you know. You could at least praise me a little."
I braced myself for a retort, but instead, Komari gave me a slack, sheepish smile.
"N-Nice job, N-Nukumizu."
"O-Oh. Well, I am the eldest son, so this much is nothing if I get serious."
What's going on with Komari? I'm so not used to getting compliments that I don't know how to react…
Feeling awkward and fidgety, I noticed Komari trying to stash the mini castella into her bag.
"You're not going to try it?"
"I-I've got little ones at h-home, s-so I'll take i-it back."
Oh, right. Komari has a younger brother and sister.
"Then why don't you just take all of them?"
"Ueh? T-Two are enough."
"But you will need three if you include yourself, right?"
I forcefully pressed the sweets onto Komari.
If I left them here, Yanami would just end up eating them anyway. In a way, I'm helping her with her diet.
"Alright, so the sweets are all set. We will start making them for real tonight and bring them in the day before."
"A-And the recipes and some p-photos of the cooking, too."
"Got it. I'll put them together."
Alright, that wraps up the planning. Things move along so much smoother without Yanami around…
"I'm going to hang around the clubroom a bit to work. What about you, Komari?"
"I-I'm returning books to the l-library. I'm done r-researching."
They must be for the research exhibit. There are piles of thick books stacked on the table.
Komari tried to shove them into a large tote bag and stand up, but she wobbled and collapsed back into the chair.
"You okay?"
"I-I'm fine. It's just a l-little heavy."
She somehow managed to get up, but her footing was unsteady.
"How did you even carry all that here?"
"T-The school's copy m-machine is c-cheaper, so I wanted to use it. I-I brought them little by little to the c-clubroom. I-I have to r-return them today."
Can't be helped. I stood up and grabbed Komari's bag.
"I'll carry half. Which library are you returning them to?"
"T-The Central Library. It's o-on the way home."
At that point, Komari looked at me suspiciously.
"Ueh…? Uh, N-Nukumizu, you're c-coming too?"
"Well, you're on a bike, right? You will definitely wipe out if you go alone."
Still holding the bag, I started to leave the clubroom, but Komari fidgeted like she wanted to say something.
"If you're worried about it, I'll stay at a distance."
"T-That's not it. Y-You don't have a b-bike, right?"
...Oh yeah, that's true. But walking all the way to the library sounded exhausting.
"Sorry, Komari. Looks like this mission was too much for me."
I tried to hand the bag back, but Komari gave me a look like I was a piece of trash.
"Y-You said it yourself, so take r-responsibility."
Yeah, that's the look. The usual Komari is back. Still, the problem is, I don't have a bike…
While I was thinking about that, one face suddenly popped into my mind.
*
Coming out of Class 1-D's room, Ayano handed me a bike key.
"Don't worry about it. Use it as much as you need. I don't mind if you're late."
That usual, easygoing smile of his could make even a guy like me fall for him.
"Thanks. I'll take care of my errand and come right back."
"If you don't need to come back to school, just ride it home."
"How are you getting home then?"
As I hesitated, Ayano gave me a look full of hidden meaning.
"I usually bike to school, but Chihaya takes the train, right? I kinda wanted to ride the train home with her, just once."
…This guy is really looking for any excuse to flirt. I decided to just accept it quietly as part of the rental fee.
"The other day, we rode home together on my bike, which was technically against the rules, but Chihaya really insisted, and I couldn't say no. So this time, she said we should go home by train together-"
Alright, I have listened enough to pay the rental fee. I raised the bike key to cut him off.
"Thanks, really appreciate it. Should I bring the bike to your house after?"
"Just leave it in the bike rack by the cram school near the station. I have a spare key."
After thanking him once more, I headed for the bike parking lot.
There, wearing a white helmet and looking half-asleep, Komari is standing around blankly.
"Sorry to keep you waiting. Got a bike."
"T-Took you long e-enough. H-Hurry up. L-Let's go."
As soon as I said it, Komari quickly straddled her own bike, clearly having been itching to get moving.
Hmm, wait, could this be…
"Komari, wait a second."
"W-What is it, N-Nukumizu?"
Thinking about it carefully, isn't this a going-home-from-school-with-a-girl event? In a light novel, this would be an important scene leading into the climax.
My first scene of going home with someone of the opposite sex. Is it really okay to treat it this sloppily?
"...Sorry, Komari. It's your first time too, and yet here you are, treating it so casually."
"W-What's with y-you saying gross s-stuff all of a s-sudden...?"
Komari made a blatantly disgusted face and started pedaling her bike.
"N-Nukumizu, s-stay away f-from me. Y-You're gross."
"Calling me gross is just unnecessary…"
"Gross" somehow hits harder than "creepy".
Thinking about that, I started pedaling my bike after Komari.
*
Toyohashi City Central Library. The largest library in the city.
Recently, a stylish new library opened up near the station, but I have been coming to this historic building since I was a kid, so I feel attached to it.
After finishing returning her books, Komari walked past the counter and entered the children's section.
"After going through all the trouble of returning books, you're borrowing more again?"
"F-For the exhibition s-script, I-I need to borrow s-some picture books next. A-Also, for the little o-ones at home."
Komari crouched down in front of the picture book shelves.
Her narrowed eyes stared at the titles of the picture books.
She seems a little tired, and it probably isn't just my imagination.
"How's the progress on the exhibition?"
"I-It will take a b-bit longer."
Saying that, Komari hunched her shoulders awkwardly.
For the research exhibition, she planned to handwrite her manuscript onto a poster board that's over a meter tall.
Tsuwabuki Fest is this Saturday. There would be no classes on Friday for preparations, but there are four exhibitions in total. Ideally, we would want to start getting ready as soon as possible.
"I can take on at least one of them."
Holding a picture book, Komari gave me a flat stare.
"Y-You haven't even f-finished your m-manuscript for the club m-magazine. G-Go write it."
"...Yeah, I'll write it."
A club member who doesn't meet deadlines has no rights.
I gave up trying to argue and peeked into the picture book Komari had opened.
It's a story where a ghost appears in front of a child who stays up late.
"I remember that picture book. How did it end again?"
"Y-You get turned into a g-ghost and taken a-away."
An impressively refreshing bad ending.
Tucking a few picture books under her arm, Komari stood up with a satisfied expression.
"You're borrowing quite a few books that aren't for the exhibition, too."
"T-The smallest rascal at home w-won't go to sleep u-unless I read them a picture b-book before bed."
Komari, who was heading toward the counter, suddenly stopped walking.
"What's wrong? Forgot something-"
"D-Duck your head."
Without warning, Komari tugged downward on my uniform.
"Whoa, what's gotten into you all of a sudden?"
"T-The seniors are here."
"Seniors?"
Peeking secretly from behind a bookshelf, I saw Prez Tamaki and Tsukinoki-senpai coming down the stairs directly opposite the counter.
"We don't have to hide-"
The words died on my tongue.
The two of them are walking hand in hand, smiling warmly at each other. They looked so much more grown-up than they did at school.
Komari's small shoulders hunched beside me.
...The person who has turned her down is now walking happily alongside her kind senior.
Showing her face there would probably make Komari unbearably miserable right now.
It's not like those two would ever reject her or anything.
If we went over, they might even be genuinely happy to see her.
Precisely because of that, she probably didn't want to show herself together with me.
...Even after the two seniors disappeared from view, Komari remained frozen behind the bookshelf.
Just as my legs were starting to get tired from crouching, I carefully chose my words and spoke.
"Um… maybe they were just using the third-floor study room or something. You know, for exam prep."
A completely meaningless line.
But that prompted Komari to rise to her feet slowly.
"I-I'm going to b-borrow the books."
The petite figure was placing the books on the counter.
When the librarian spoke to her, Komari flailed around, explaining with hand gestures. That figure, different from her usual self, conveyed not so much a sense of charm as an overwhelming sense of helplessness.
After finishing the checkout process and returning to me, Komari muttered in her usual downward-facing voice.
"I-I'm going home to work on the e-exhibition script, okay?"
"Uh… please wait, Komari."
I called out reflexively to her back as she tried to leave.
…Wait, why did I even stop her?
"Ueh? W-What?"
Komari turned around, looking confused. I decided to just wing it and kept talking.
"There's a family restaurant up ahead where the road meets the highway, right? Do you want to stop by for a bit?"
Komari looked at me suspiciously.
"B-But I don't have any m-money…"
"Then I'll treat you."
"W-Why?"
...Yeah, fair point.
Anyone would be thrown off if they were suddenly told they would be treated. It's not like she's Yanami.
"Well, I just wanted to eat dessert there. Going alone, people stare at you, you know?"
"Y-You're not the t-type to care about that, a-are you?"
Yeah, exactly. It's harder when it's someone who half knows me.
"Anyway, just come with me! You can order whatever you want."
"Eh, um... I-I don't mind, I guess."
Seeing Komari nod, pushed along by my momentum, I secretly let out a sigh of relief.
Why did I invite Komari? That doesn't matter.
I just didn't want to let her go home alone. That was enough of a reason.
*
The usual family restaurant. Tsuwabuki students rarely show up here.
I took a sip of my cocoa and glanced at Komari sitting across from me.
She's holding her cup of hot strawberry au lait with a puzzled look on her face.
...Come to think of it, this was the same seat where I first met Yanami.
"Here's your pudding soft serve~"
The ever-cheerful waitress placed a dish in front of Komari.
"I-I was fine with just the drink."
Sigh, Komari doesn't get it at all.
"Listen, if you order food, you get a discount on the drink bar. In other words, ordering food is like getting money back... You could think of it that way."
"W-Why do you suddenly sound like Yanami?"
Wait, did I really sound like Yanami just now? Seriously? That's depressing…
Komari stared intently at the surface of the pudding, a little cross-eyed, and carefully dug her spoon into it.
"N-Nukumizu. Y-You're being c-considerate, aren't you?"
"Well, I mean, after running into something like that, a little, yeah."
"I-I'm not bothered. T-They are dating, so h-holding hands is normal."
Komari frowned and glared at me.
"A-And they are always t-together at school, too."
"But still, you know, outside of school feels different."
I took a big gulp of my now-cooling cocoa.
"At school, no matter what, we're sharing the same space, right? Outside, it's like they are in a world we don't know. Like they have a place that's just for the two of them."
...I said too much.
I looked into the cup to avoid the awkwardness.
Komari silently scooped up some pudding with her spoon.
"Here's your heaping plate of french fries~"
The waitress's cheerful voice echoed again.
Looking at the big plate placed on our table, Komari made an exasperated face.
"W-Weren't you h-here to eat dessert?"
"Yanami-san goes for a hamburger steak for dessert. Compared to that, fries are basically sweets."
When I offered her some fries, Komari hesitated before picking up a small one between her fingers.
"D-Don't get the wrong i-idea about the library. I-It's not like I hid b-because they were together."
After some hesitation, Komari placed the fry onto her own plate.
"I-I was part of their g-group too in the first semester-"
Her face lowered, her voice small, almost like she was talking to herself.
"I-It just feels lonely now that I'm not t-there anymore."
Maybe thinking she had said too much, Komari tried to cover it up by drinking her hot strawberry au lait all at once and let out a tiny "Hot..." under her breath.
Prez turned down Komari before summer break.
There's no point bringing it up now, and I know she's come to terms with it in her own way.
She still got along well with Prez and with Tsukinoki-senpai.
There was no problem at all. Komari's love had ended properly, and she had cleaned up after it perfectly.
Almost too perfectly.
"B-Both of them w-were really nice to me w-when I joined in April."
Komari quietly set her glass of water down.
"I-I didn't have any f-friends in class, so they a-always hung out with me. A-And it was the first time s-school ever felt this fun."
Staring at the misshapen pudding, Komari gave a self-deprecating, powerless smile.
"I-It went back to the w-way it was…"
A long silence.
I emptied my cup and finally spoke.
"Tsukinoki-senpai, she would probably be happy to hang out with you anytime, you know, as a break from exam studying."
"Y-Yes."
"And Prez isn't avoiding you either."
"I-I know."
Komari's bangs fell forward, casting a shadow over her eyes.
"I-If I hadn't c-confessed, maybe the t-three of us could have s-stayed together a little longer, is what I was t-thinking."
I couldn't say anything. I just stayed silent.
Right before the awkwardness filled the space between us completely, Komari spoke again.
"A-After Tsuwabuki Fest, the s-seniors will leave. I-I have to be okay on my own."
...We weren't close enough that I could just casually say "I'll be there", and I didn't have the confidence to say it either.
"If there's anything I can do, just tell me anytime."
That's all I could offer.
Komari shook her head.
"I-I can handle the president m-meetings and the a-activity report myself."
And then, almost as if trying to convince herself, she quietly added.
"I-I have to do it alone."
...Students from another school passed by, laughing, next to us.
Almost like she had waited for the restaurant to empty out a little, Komari stood up.
"W-Well, I'm h-heading home then."
"Yeah. I guess I should, too."
After we paid and left the restaurant, it was already completely dark outside.
The wind has picked up.
The west wind carried a hint of winter, and I instinctively moved to stand upwind as Komari unlocked her bike.
"T-Thank you for t-treating me."
"Same here. Thanks for coming along."
We exchanged words, trying to be considerate of each other.
It somehow felt uncomfortable, and I turned my back to her on the spot, pulling out my phone.
While checking a message from Kaju, I let out a sigh.
When it was Yanami, when it was Yakishio too, all I ever did was just be there. It's not like I had actually done anything.
Just like always, I tried to butt in unnecessarily.
Just like always, I couldn't do anything.
While thinking about that and typing a reply on my phone-
Thump.
I felt something bump against my back.
"...Komari?"
"S-Sorry. I-I'm just a l-little sleep-deprived and s-stumbled."
Pushing off my back, Komari immediately mounted her bicycle.
"Hey, are you okay?"
"I-I'm fine. I live c-close anyway."
Pulling her helmet low over her face, Komari started pedaling away, wobbling slightly.
As I watched her receding figure, I thought back to what Komari had just said.
She said she stumbled because she was sleep-deprived. And sure, that's what she said, but-
When Kaju was feeling down, she used to lean against my back too.
The weight from back then had felt exactly the same.
*
Two days later, Wednesday. With Tsuwabuki Fest coming up on Saturday, preparations are in full swing.
Of course, I'm no exception, working silently in a corner of the classroom.
"That's it for the pumpkins. Next up is the bats."
After stacking up the pumpkin decorations on the edge of my desk, I looked around the classroom.
The back of the classroom has been sectioned off with blackout curtains to create separate changing rooms for boys and girls.
At the moment, Yanami and the rest of the top group in our class are busy with costume fittings.
Meanwhile, in front of the blackboard, the props team is hard at work.
Apparently, the backdrop for the skit at the <Street Halloween> event would be made using a horizontal banner.
By decorating a long piece of fabric, it could be spread out to transform any location into a stage. The bats I'm working on now would probably be used to decorate that banner.
The Literature Club's exhibition preparations are also moving forward, albeit a little behind schedule. The only manuscript left to collect is Tsukinoki-senpai's.
On the way back from the library trip with Komari… Her small voice, leaking out with her weakness.
Is she alone in the clubroom today?
Feeling a strange sense of restlessness, I gripped the cutter knife. Suddenly, cheers erupted from behind me.
I stopped what I was doing and turned around. The one who appeared under the spotlight of everyone's attention is Karen Himemiya.
Her outfit is a black-and-pink themed mini-skirted one-piece dress, apparently designed to look like a devil girl.
...Still, Himemiya-san is really something.
Setting aside the ridiculously proportioned bust, there are heart-patterned tights, a tail ending in a heart shape-
Even if it's supposed to be a devil, doesn't it look kind of succubus-like...? Is that really okay…?
While I was getting all fidgety by myself, the next to appear was Sosuke Hakamada.
He's wearing a tailcoat-style vest and a black cape. A vampire costume.
Hakamada has a good figure, and standing next to Himemiya-san, they look ridiculously photogenic.
"I feel bad for Yanami-san, but those two really do suit each other…"
As I muttered that under my breath, a white figure suddenly slid into my field of vision.
"Hm? Did you call me?"
With a laid-back voice, Anna Yanami appears before me.
Dressed in white traditional Japanese clothing, she spun once in place while holding her sleeves out.
"See? See? Not bad, right?"
"Uh, that outfit is…"
A white burial kimono, and a triangular paper on the forehead. In other words-
"A corpse display…?"
"A ghost! Nukumizu-kun, what did you just say!? You think there's such a healthy-looking corpse!?"
There's no such thing as a healthy ghost either.
"I get it, but... why a ghost?"
"Well, you know, Japanese ghosts have that fleeting, delicate image, right? I thought maybe I should go for that vibe too, now that winter's coming."
Fleeting and healthy… Well, maybe that's its own kind of thing.
The realm of moe is constantly evolving. I guess I should root for Yanami, too.
And then, for some reason, Yanami started staring at me curiously.
"Eh…? What?"
"Nukumizu-kun, when I talk to you in class, you're all stiff, you know? Where's that usual scalpel-like tongue that cuts into people's hearts?"
"Am I always like that?"
"Yeah, pretty much."
"Huh, is that so…?"
"Yeah, it's true…"
Yanami shrugged dumbfoundedly.
"Today's Nukumizu-kun feels kinda off."
My life has been off ever since I met you.
"Well, whatever. Nukumizu-kun, you're in charge of props, right? I have a favor to ask."
Yanami picked up a pumpkin-shaped card from the desk and perched it on her shoulder.
"Since we're at it, I kinda want to add more of a ghostly vibe. Can you make a few will-o'-the-wisps like this?"
"Sure, but how big do you want them?"
"Um, like a good, snack-sized portion? Somewhere around there."
Her idea of a snack-sized portion... would volleyball-sized be good enough?
"Ah, yeah. Got it. I'll just make them appropriately."
"Hey, Yanami, practice is starting."
A guy cut in, almost butting into the conversation.
He's dressed as a member of the Shinsengumi. If I remember correctly, his name is Nishikawa or something.
"Okay, I'm coming! See you, Nukumizu-kun, I'm counting on you!"
Waving her hand lazily, Yanami walked off.
For some reason, Nishikawa shot me a sharp glare before following after her.
…What? You don't want me to make will-o'-the-wisps for you too, do you?
She acts like that, but Yanami is popular. Guess that's how it is.
Sure, Yanami's cute, but guys who only go after her looks... I don't know.
As I was cutting out bat shapes, feeling a bit irritated for some reason, a shadow fell over my hands.
"Nukkun, look. Scary, right?"
Good grief, now it's Yakishio. When I looked up, there was a round belly right in front of me.
Yakishio, wrapped in bandages, is holding both her hands out toward me.
"Yakishio, we're in public. You should probably cover your stomach."
"I'm a mummy, so this is normal. See? Looks good, right?"
Still, there's way too much skin showing. She's only wrapped her chest and waist with bandages. It's practically a swimsuit.
Her body lines are showing... way too clearly, and wait, could it be-
"Yakishio, are you seriously not wearing anything under those bandages...?"
"Yeah, but is that a problem? I mean, I'm properly covered-"
She barely finished speaking before a group of girls from the class swarmed around her.
"Lemon, come over here for a second." "You're out~" "Hey, boys, stop staring!"
"Huh? What's going on? Wait, hey-"
Yakishio, now surrounded by a wall of girls, disappeared into the changing room.
...Yeah, even for Halloween, that prank went a little too far.
As I was quietly savoring the afterimage burned into my retinas, a vampire swirled his cloak and plopped down across from me.
"Nukumizu, did you see that? I couldn't see much thanks to the girls guarding her."
Sosuke Hakamada whispered as he leaned in.
"Well, I was right in front, so I saw most of it."
"For real? How was it?"
Man, straight to the point. Hakamada is still a true nice guy.
"Honestly? It was incredible."
"I knew it! Man, I was one step too slow!"
As Hakamada clutched his head in frustration, two shadows crept up behind him.
"So-su-ke!"
The 12K duo, Yanami and Himemiya-san, made their appearance.
"Anna, looks like it's time for a scolding."
"Yup. Karen-chan, you grab that side."
The two of them each grabbed one of Hakamada's arms and dragged him off without giving him a chance to protest.
"Wait, I didn't see anything!"
A vampire is being dragged away by a ghost and a demon.
As expected of the protagonist, the visuals are flashy too. Meanwhile, a background character like me should just quietly keep cutting out bats.
Hm? Looks like Yanami is giving me a sulky stare.
"Nukumizu-kun, I'll be having a word with you later too."
…Why me?
I gazed into the bat's round little eyes and let out a deep sigh.
*
The next day after school. Thursday, with just two days left until Tsuwabuki Fest.
I'm with Prez Tamaki in the school's printing room. Now that we have finally collected all the manuscripts, with Tsukinoki-senpai's being the last, we have come to print the club magazine.
While watching sheets of paper being spat out of the copier one after another, Prez tapped buttons on the control panel.
"Once the printing's done, write the number of copies into the ledger and submit it to the staff room. I'll explain the details at the end."
After explaining how to operate the copier, Prez sat down on a chair, manuscript in hand.
"So Koto actually wrote something new after all. She told me she was going to submit an old piece."
"Ah, but this time, there's no steamy scenes. Since we're distributing it publicly, even senpai had the sense to hold back."
"Wish she could read the room all the time..."
Prez stared tiredly at the manuscript.
Apparently, dating comes with its own set of troubles, too.
With the copier's whirring as background music, I lowered my gaze to the trial print of senpai's story-
*
Literature Club Report - Autumn Edition
<The Silent Crab> by Koto Tsukinoki
A port town in another world.
In a dimly lit corner, there stood a large tavern bearing the sign "The Swaying Moonshadow Inn".
Pushing open the double doors revealed a wide, open hall, where adventurers raised mugs of ale and shouted boisterously.
In a private room at the back of the hall, separated by a single door, a man in traditional Japanese clothing sat alone, leaning his elbows on the table.
The man took a tiny, reluctant sip of ale from his mug, then tossed a piece of simmered fish into his mouth. Grimacing, he sipped the ale again.
After repeating this a few times, the oak door to the private room opened. With the loud voices from outside rushing in behind him, a man in a military uniform entered the room.
"I got tired of waiting, Mishima-kun. Look, the nasty ale's already on my second mug."
The man in traditional Japanese clothing raised his mug, his face already starting to flush with drunkenness.
"I have my own business to attend to, you know. You're always so sudden, Dazai-san."
As Mishima, the man in the military uniform, sat down across from him, his military sword clattered noisily.
"Business, huh. More like scheming. Thanks to you introducing me to that Kawabata fellow the other day, I ended up walking from one end of the world to the other. Thus, Selinuntius was betrayed by Melos, who had fallen into the clutches of the authorities." [TL: Both are characters in Dazai's short story <Run, Melos!>
Dazai drained the rest of his mug and glared at Mishima.
"Cheer up. It's not much, but I brought what you asked for."
Mishima, giving a strained smile, handed over a small glass vial to Dazai.
Taking it, Dazai opened the lid and found it filled with fine, translucent white powder. His face lit up with the brightest smile of the day as he dabbed a bit onto his finger and licked it.
"This is astonishing. It's indistinguishable from real MSGs."
"It wasn't easy to get, you know. But really, to come all the way to another world and ask for something like this, you're quite the eccentric, Dazai-san."
"You say 'something like this', but listen, elves are unexpectedly considerate, yet when it comes to food, they're utterly hopeless. No, in this world, neither the food nor the drink is any good."
Dazai held the vial above his plate and sprinkled the MSGs over it like falling snow.
"The only thing I can absolutely trust in this world is MSGs."
Satisfied after recklessly scattering it around, Dazai carefully closed the lid and tucked the vial into his sleeve.
"You must be thirsty too, Mishima-kun. Let's drink. I happen to have some sake today."
At Dazai's loud clap, from the shadowed area near the candle-lit table, a black-clad girl rose silently to her feet. Mishima instinctively reached for the hilt of his sword.
Unbothered, the shadow girl silently pulled out a small ceramic sake bottle.
"They kept me waiting ages just to heat it. Well then, let's get started."
When Dazai offered his cup, the shadow girl poured the sake.
Then, she offered the bottle to Mishima. Reluctantly, Mishima picked up a cup.
"Mishima-kun, you're surprisingly timid."
"It's hard to relax when I'm being served by something that looks like a blotted ink painting."
Mishima downed the poured sake in one gulp.
"Being too scared is rude, you know. You can't even make out this girl's eyes, nose, or even the contours of her face, but I figure she's actually quite the beauty."
Dazai, resting his chin on his hand, took a tiny sip from the edge of his cup. At first, Mishima had been startled too, but after downing a few cups, he must have gotten used to it. He even started talking to the shadow girl who was serving the drinks.
"Hey, can you change your shape freely? Like, could you turn into a sturdy man, like one of those Greek sculptures?"
"Quit it. We don't need any more of that rough look around here."
Dazai emptied his cup and thrust it out carelessly. The shadow girl quietly refilled it.
"Speaking of which, I got my hands on another rare item. You there, fetch it for us."
The shadow girl nodded and melted into the floor as if seeping into it.
"You have something else too, Dazai-san?"
"You're lucky today. Crab. I heard there's something like a hairy crab here, so I ordered it."
Unlike the beaming Dazai, Mishima's expression stiffened.
"What's wrong? Don't like crab?"
"I like the meat, but I can't handle seeing the actual creature. Even with canned crab, I make sure to peel the label off first."
"What a coward. Fine, I'll take care of it for you."
Dazai abruptly stood up and, with tipsy steps, circled around behind Mishima.
"Here we go again, Dazai-san's bad habit. You're planning some prank, aren't you?"
"Enough with the backtalk. I'll show you elf magic."
Dazai pulled a hand towel from his sleeve and blindfolded Mishima.
"How's that? You can't see the crab now, right?"
"Well, true, but now I can't see anything at all."
As Mishima chuckled and tried to remove the towel, Dazai pressed his hand down on top of his.
"Better be careful. That's a magic towel. Once it's tied, you'll have to obey whatever the other person says."
"Trying to trick me again, Dazai-san? That won't work. Your skill is called <Liar>, right? Believing a lie until it becomes the truth... that's so very you."
"Tch, so you caught on. Must be that meddling Kawabata-sensei putting weird ideas in your head."
Dazai joked lightheartedly and released his hold on Mishima's hand.
"But this time, I'm serious. Hurry up and take off the towel before something dangerous happens. The elf magic is starting to stir."
Laughing at Dazai's clownish act, Mishima reached to untie the towel.
Then, just as if he noticed something, his hand stopped.
"Please wait. Dazai-san, you just said the magic part was true, and told me to take off the towel. If I remove the blindfold now, wouldn't that mean I've accepted your words as truth?"
The frivolous expression vanished from Dazai's face.
"As expected, you're sharp. Aren't you curious to find out whether my skill can really activate with such a word trick?"
"I honestly can't tell anymore what's true and what's a lie. Feels like the alcohol's hitting me faster than usual today."
Without letting him see, Dazai placed a cup into Mishima's outstretched hand. As Mishima downed it in one gulp, Dazai placed both hands on his shoulders from behind.
"You just said you're getting drunk faster, didn't you? Maybe something was slipped into it."
"Another lie, huh. Where does your real intent even lie?"
"A writer's trade is deceiving people with words. We lie as naturally as we breathe. That's what we are, aren't we?"
Spitting out those words with a sarcastic tone, Dazai wrapped his arms around Mishima's body.
"So? Are these arms circling around you just another lie, too?"
"Ah, as I thought, I really can't bring myself to like you."
"I don't mind. Because deep down, you actually do like me."
At that moment, the shadow girl appeared soundlessly from the floor, carrying a large plate piled with crab.
At Dazai's glance, she silently placed the plate down and melted back into the cracks in the floor without a word.
While unbuttoning the golden buttons on Mishima's military uniform, Dazai muttered softly to himself-
Crabs are nice because neither the eater nor the eaten says anything unnecessary.
*
Having finished reading the manuscript, Prez exhaled in relief.
"Looks like there's no need for any presidential censorship this time."
"...Do you really think so?"
In his third year with the Literature Club, even Prez seemed to have been slowly corrupted by Tsukinoki-senpai.
"So, how's the preparation for Tsuwabuki Fest going? The big day's the day after tomorrow."
Prez asked, looking worried.
"We'll have the baked goods for sale ready by tonight, and there's still all of tomorrow for setting up the venue, so we should be fine. After that, we're just waiting on the research exhibit manuscript."
I answered lightly, but inside, I was drowning in anxiety.
That's right. The most crucial part, the exhibit manuscript, is still not finished.
"Komari-chan seems to be struggling with her manuscript, huh?"
"I told her over and over I would help, but she just said not to worry, she would have it done by tomorrow."
The last task left is copying the manuscript onto a display poster board.
We would have to get help from the seniors to deal with that part tomorrow.
The printing of the club magazine is about halfway done. We are folding the printed papers in half.
The magazine we are making this time is just a simple copybook, stapled together.
While silently folding paper, I tuned my senses to my surroundings.
It's just Prez and me in the printing room. There's no sign of anyone outside.
"...Prez. You already watched this week's <Tendochi>, right?"
<Tendochi>, short for <Natural or Calculated: Which Are You Picking?> A school romantic comedy anime where a natural airhead girl and a calculated girl battle over the MC.
The latest episode featured the popular character, Miku-chan, oversleeping and forgetting to put on her bra... a delightful yet embarrassing comedy episode.
"Miku-chan has such an impressive figure. And yet, despite being in such a hurry, she forgot to wear a bra. Is that something that could realistically happen?"
Prez stopped folding papers.
"As your senior, I'll tell you plainly, Nukumizu."
After giving it a weighty pause, Prez spoke up solemnly.
"A girl with that much to carry would absolutely not forget her bra."
I almost leapt out of my chair.
"In other words, you're saying that Miku-chan purposely came to school without wearing underwear, aren't you, Prez?"
Prez nodded silently.
One of the main heroines has fallen. If Miku-chan turned out to be a calculating girl, that meant the bathhouse surprise in Episode 2, the confession scene through the glass in Episode 5- everything has been calculated from the start.
"But... but I... I alone will believe in Miku-chan's innocence till the end... No, I do believe in her!"
Maybe my earnest feelings got through. Prez smiled with a mature air.
"Yeah. Nukumizu, you stick to the path you believe in. I'm on Team Alice, the flat-chested one, anyway."
"Prez...!"
A hot understanding passed between us. While exchanging wordless looks, the door to the printing room suddenly burst open with a loud noise.
"There you two are!"
The one who burst in is Tsukinoki-senpai. Prez hurriedly stood up.
"No, wait, Koto! That bra talk just now wasn't about you-"
"What are you even talking about!? It's Komari-chan! She's in trouble!"
Grabbing Prez's shoulders, Tsukinoki-senpai shook him hard.
"Um, did something happen to Komari?"
Senpai now turned to me, her expression desperate, stepping in close.
"I heard Komari-chan collapsed in the classroom! Do you two know anything about it?"
...Wait, Komari collapsed?
"Senpai, please calm down. If she collapsed somewhere in the school-"
I took out my phone, and just as expected, a text message had come in. It's from our club advisor, Konuki-sensei.
"There's a message from Konuki-sensei. She says Komari's in the infirmary."
"The infirmary! I'm going!"
Tsukinoki-senpai turned to dash out of the room, but Prez caught her hand.
"Wait, don't you have remedial classes today? If you skip it, you'll seriously get held back."
"I don't care! I need to be there for Komari-chan-"
"Koto!"
Prez turned Tsukinoki-senpai to face him and gripped both her shoulders tightly.
"Calm down. Even if you get held back running around like this, Komari-chan won't be happy about it."
"But... but if I had just been by her side like I should have..."
With tears threatening to fall, Tsukinoki-senpai lowered her head. Prez gently placed a hand on top of it.
"Have a little more faith in your juniors."
"...Okay."
Tsukinoki-senpai nodded obediently. Prez then looked at me with a serious expression.
"Nukumizu, go check on Komari-chan first. We'll come later."
"Eh, is it okay if I go?"
I asked, uncertain. Prez gave me a firm nod.
"Of course. I'm counting on you, Vice Prez."
*
When I opened the infirmary door, I locked eyes with Konuki-sensei, who had a phone pressed to her ear.
She slid the phone back into the pocket of her lab coat and beckoned me over.
"Welcome. The cute knight has arrived."
"Sensei, is Komari okay-"
Konuki-sensei raised a finger to her lips.
"The princess is asleep. Keep your voice down."
"Uh, what happened to Komari?"
Konuki-sensei glanced back at the bed surrounded by curtains.
"Overwork and lack of sleep. She's fine. There's no injury."
"...I see."
Relieved, I let the tension drain out of me and sank into a chair.
I'm not saying it's okay just because it was from a lack of sleep. But the fact that it wasn't something serious. That alone is something to be glad about.
While I was sending a message to Prez, Konuki-sensei came to stand in front of me at some point. She's always so close…
"Do you know why Komari-san ended up so sleep-deprived, Nukumizu-kun?"
"She hasn't been sleeping because of the festival preparations. I think the fatigue just built up."
"I see. So young."
Konuki-sensei pulled a chair right up beside me and sat down. Too close.
"Around your age, there's just so much going on, right? Wanting to see how far you can push yourself, I've been there too. Nukumizu-kun, would you like to hear that story?"
"Ah, no, I'm good."
Really, I'm fine. Please don't make that face like you were hoping I would ask.
When she realized I wasn't going to show any interest, Konuki-sensei crossed her legs with a look of mild disappointment.
"You're always so cold, Nukumizu-kun. But I think giving something your all is wonderful."
"For those so-called youth memories?"
My own words came out sharper than I intended, and I regretted it the moment they left my mouth.
Konuki-sensei responded with a gentle smile.
"Yes, just memories. Nothing more, nothing less. But they are ones you can only make right now."
Looking nostalgic, Konuki-sensei gazed up at the ceiling. When I followed her gaze, I saw a stain up there.
"I've left behind a lot of beautiful memories in this school, too."
"...You left them behind?"
"That's right. You leave memories somewhere, and just occasionally let yourself feel nostalgic about them. That's enough."
Just then, she suddenly stood up with a serious expression.
Komari peeked out through the gap in the bed curtain.
"Komari-san, you're awake? You should rest a bit more."
"I-I need to pick up my l-little sister from p-preschool…"
Taking an unsteady step forward, Komari nearly stumbled. Konuki-sensei quickly rushed over to catch her.
"Are you okay? Nukumizu-kun, bring a chair."
At her words, I hurried to grab a stool and bring it over. Sensei gently helped Komari into the seat.
...Until she said something, my legs hadn't even moved. I felt pathetic about that.
"Sensei, can't we ask Komari's parents to come pick her up?"
"They are at work, and I haven't been able to reach them. I did leave a message, though."
Sensei leaned in and looked closely at Komari's face.
"I'll call your little sister's preschool for you. Can you tell me which one it is?"
"M-My little brother's h-home alone, too. S-So, I have to g-go home, anyway."
Komari somehow managed to stand, but her legs were unsteady. Supporting her, Konuki-sensei gently patted her on the back.
"Got it. I'll drive you home in my car. And I'll go pick up your little sister for you as well."
That's the best plan. If the school nurse's handling it, there's nothing to worry about.
"Nukumizu-kun, do you know where Komari-san's house is?"
"Eh? Well, yeah."
...Could it be that this is leading where I think it is? As if seeing right through my heart, Konuki-sensei nodded.
"Then come along with us."
*
It took about 15 minutes by car from Tsuwabuki High School.
Komari's house is tucked into a corner of an old residential district.
Among rows of similar-looking single-story houses, we found the nameplate reading "Komari" and rang the doorbell.
After waiting a while with no response, we used the key from Komari's bag to open the sliding front door and peeked inside.
"Hello…?"
Komari's parents shouldn't have been home, but there's a definite presence coming from inside the house.
Right, she mentioned she has a little brother. Cautiously, I stepped inside.
Click. The sound of a switch flipping, and the entryway light came on.
"...Who are you?"
Standing there is a small boy, probably around early elementary school age.
"Uh, I'm from the same school as your sister-"
"Nee-chan!"
The boy dashed down the entryway in his socks, slipping right past me.
Looking over, I saw Konuki-sensei helping Komari out of the car, practically carrying her.
The boy rushed over and, from the opposite side, helped support Komari's body too.
"Good boy. Komari-san, can you walk on your own?"
Still with her eyes closed, Komari gave a small nod.
Supported on both sides by the boy and Konuki-sensei, Komari made her way toward the house. Uh... what exactly am I supposed to be doing...?
As I stood there frozen, the boy shot me a look like he was watching an idiot child.
"Could you move out of the way a little, mister?"
Ah, right. Standing at the entrance is blocking the way. I quickly stepped aside.
*
...How did it come to this?
A children's room, separated from the living room by a sliding fusuma door. Seated formally on the tatami in front of me, Komari lay in bed, breathing softly in her sleep.
Konuki-sensei and Komari's younger brother, Susumu-kun, had gone to pick up their little sister from preschool, leaving just Komari and me alone in the house.
The pajamas Konuki-sensei has changed her into are pink with a star pattern. That faint, childlike look stirred something uneasy in me. In the quiet room, only the soft ticking of the wall clock could be heard.
Just before leaving, sensei had whispered into my ear.
"-Nukumizu-kun. Whatever you do, don't take your eyes off Komari-san."
"Eh? But she's asleep. Wouldn't it be better to just let her rest?"
"As a school nurse, I'll trust my instincts here. Keep a close eye on her, okay?"
For some reason, she slowly traced her fingertip across my chest.
"Uh, um, sensei-"
"Not a single breath, not a single heartbeat of Komari-san's should go unnoticed, alright...?"
...Her whisper and breath lingered by my ear.
Trying to shake off the vague sense of unrest, I glanced around the room.
It's a 6-tatami room. Two study desks and a bookshelf pack the space full. The desk with all the dictionaries lined up is probably Komari's. When I stood up and approached it, I saw a stack of books and a mass of copies piled on top.
These must be research materials for Tsuwabuki Fest's exhibition. Sticky notes are plastered all over them.
Opening one of the marked sections, I found handwritten notes beside highlighted passages.
There is a notebook left open as well, with a flow chart that looks like a structure plan.
At a glance, it seems like the overall outline has already been figured out.
But turning this into actual text would be a huge task…
When I looked up, I noticed a photo next to the class schedule pinned on the wall.
It's from this summer, when the Literature Club went to the beach.
Next to Yanami and Yakishio, smiling happily in their swimsuits, Komari is wearing a hoodie with a clearly displeased expression. Amid the otherwise bare and plain area around her desk, that one photo stood out brightly.
For someone like Komari, who stubbornly rejects help from others, that single picture must be important-
Just then, I heard the soft rustling of a futon behind me.
Is it too warm? Komari stretched her arms out from under the blanket, and small fingers peeked out from the sleeves of her pajamas.
Komari stirred for a while, but then began breathing steadily once again.
...A petite frame, about the same size as Kaju's. The way she clutches her pajama sleeve like she's seeking comfort makes her look just like a child. And yet, that small head of hers is packed with wild fantasies and stories.
Even now, maybe, inside that dream of hers, a villainess noblewoman is using modern knowledge to rise to power. Or perhaps-
"Nuku…mizu…"
...Huh? Nukumizu? Wait, did she just say my name in her sleep?
While I panicked, Komari rolled over casually.
"Y-You dummy… That's a cauliflower…"
What kind of dream is she even having?
Seems I was worried for nothing. Seeing Komari's grinning, goofy sleeping face, I felt all the tension drain out of me.
When I glanced at the hanging clock, I saw that it had already been about 30 minutes since sensei and Komari's little brother left for the preschool.
They said it's close by, so they should be back any minute now.
No, at this point, it wouldn't be strange if they are already home.
I suddenly felt a gaze on me and turned around to face the sliding door behind me.
"...Sensei, what are you doing?"
Peeking through the crack in the sliding door is Konuki-sensei's face. Below hers, the small face of Komari's little brother, Susumu-kun, lines up beside it.
"No need to be shy. Now, go ahead. Continue."
"There's nothing to continue. A little kid is watching, you know."
"You're right. That was careless of me."
Konuki-sensei gently placed her palm over Susumu-kun's eyes. That's not really the issue here.
I stepped out of the kids' room and into the living room, closing the sliding door behind me.
"I was only keeping an eye on her because you asked me to, sensei."
"Ara? But it was such a nice mood, don't you think? Right, Susumu-kun?"
Sitting on sensei's lap, Susumu-kun looked up at me curiously.
"Are you nee-chan's boyfriend?"
"Huh? No, I'm not."
"Then are you her friend?"
"Uh, I mean, we're just in the same club-"
His clear eyes looked up at me, and I reflexively averted my gaze.
"...Yeah. I'm her friend."
Susumu-kun's face lit up instantly.
"Hina! Look, it's nee-chan's friend! He's not scary!"
...Hina? Looking over, I saw a little girl peeking in from the hallway connecting to the entryway. She looks like a miniaturized version of Komari.
She stared at me from a distance, then gave a quick little bow and darted away.
Whoa. Who is that adorable creature?
"Ara, Nukumizu-kun. Looks like Hina-chan likes you."
"She totally ran away from me, though."
Susumu-kun chased after Hina-chan and left the room.
"Oh, right, Komari-san's mother got in touch. She's leaving work early and is on her way home now."
That's a relief. Her mom being here is way better than me hanging around.
As the tension drained from my body, that cute little creature peeked back in through the doorway.
Trying not to look intimidating, I gave her a friendly smile.
"Hello. I'm Nukumizu, your big sister's friend."
"............"
As if making up her mind, Hina-chan came toddling over.
Then, she poked at her hair, which was tied up the same way Komari wore hers.
"Same as nee-chan."
"Huh? Ah, yeah, it's cute."
Lowering her head shyly, Hina-chan once again turned and ran away.
...What was that just now? Adorable, but still.
"See? She likes you."
Smiling at me, Konuki-sensei left the room to follow after Komari's younger siblings.
She likes me, huh…?
The time is now 5:30 in the evening. It's a relief that Komari was alright, but the day's work is still completely unfinished. Just as I was wondering what to do next, the sliding door to the kids' room slowly opened.
Standing there in the open doorway is Komari.
Star-patterned pajamas. Messy bedhead. With her eyes half-closed, she stared blankly into space.
"Komari, you're up?"
"Bath…room…"
Nodding with a sleepy expression, Komari suddenly opened her eyes wide.
"Una!? W-Why N-Nukumizu!?"
"Eh? You collapsed at school, so we brought you home."
Komari retreated into the kids' room and glared at me through the crack in the sliding door.
Then, glancing down at herself-
"P-P-Pajama…!?"
"Oh, the pajamas? Konuki-sensei changed you into those."
"M-My little sis…"
"Your sister? Sensei went to pick her up with your little brother. They are playing in the other room."
...Komari went silent.
"T-Then, N-Nukumizu, w-what are you d-doing here…?"
That's what I would like to know, too. As I questioned myself, Komari mumbled under her breath.
"I-I'm fine, really."
"Yeah? That's good, then."
...Yeah, no, that's not "good" at all. I have known for a while that Komari is pushing herself too hard. I even noticed the signs, and all I did was worry about her.
Even though the seniors have entrusted her to me, I have been completely useless.
I turned to face Komari, who was peeking out from behind the sliding door.
"Hey, Komari. Can you send me the draft of your research exhibition write-up?"
"W-Why…?"
There was a hint of caution in Komari's voice.
"You collapsed. I can't let you push yourself any further. Sorry for leaving it all to you till now."
"B-But Nukumizu…"
"Take the time to rest your body. Leave the rest to me. It's okay, I'll get the seniors to check it too, so just relax-"
"Nu! Nukumizu!"
Her sudden shout froze the room.
From behind the crack in the sliding door, her voice came out small and strained.
"P-Please let me w-write it all the way t-to the end."
She still wants to keep writing? The words of protest that were about to leave my mouth, I swallowed them down.
"...When do you think you will finish?"
"B-By tomorrow m-morning."
She means she's going to write through the night.
Knowing her, even if I tried to stop her, she would write anyway. I let out a wry smile, careful not to let her see it.
"Alright. Once it's done, send the data to everyone in the club."
"S-Sorry."
"No worries. But only if you promise me one thing."
"A… promise?"
"Leave everything else besides the manuscript to us, and take the day off tomorrow. Don't think about anything. Just rest. That's my condition for letting you finish it."
"B-But tomorrow's the setup."
"Well, let me have at least one cool moment too, would you?"
A dumb line. I braced myself, expecting some kind of sharp retort, but instead, a quiet "okay" reached my ears.
The tension left my shoulders in an anticlimactic sigh.
Alright, now that that's settled, I should contact Prez- hm?
Komari still isn't moving from behind the sliding door. She keeps glancing over at me, sneaking looks as if she's unsure.
"Komari, you should at least get some more sleep, yeah? Come on, get back under the covers."
"N-No, but…"
"Your siblings are with Sensei, so until your mom gets home, you should get some rest. Come on, no need to hold back."
"T-That's why…!"
Komari suddenly slid the door open with force and hurled a pillow straight at my face.
"T-The bathroom! T-That's what I said!"
As her footsteps pitter-pattered away down the hall, I peeled the pillow off my face.
...So she prefers buckwheat husk pillows, huh.
*
By the time I returned to school, it was already completely dark outside.
The outer corridor along the courtyard is packed with students preparing for Tsuwabuki Fest.
Avoiding the crowd, I cut through the unlit courtyard and looked up at the school building.
The windows of the classrooms surrounding the courtyard glowed brightly.
-It's that pre-festival excitement.
In Toyohashi, there's a big night market at the beginning of summer.
I always liked that time of day before sunset, when the food stalls were still setting up. I remember pestering my parents to leave the house early when I was little.
"That's not like me at all."
I spoke aloud as if to push down the rising giddiness.
The one who pays the price for getting carried away is always me. The spotlight of a festival belongs to the protagonist.
At the far end of the west building, when I opened the clubroom door, Prez was quietly sitting in a chair.
On the table are stacks of the completed club magazines. He must have finished them while I was gone.
"You're back. How's Komari-chan doing?"
"She seems a lot better after a nap. Is Tsukinoki-senpai still in remedial class?"
"Koto's right there."
In the corner of the clubroom, Tsukinoki-senpai sat curled up in a chair, hugging her knees.
This person's on-off switch is surprisingly sharp. Though 99% of the time, it's stuck on "on".
"Uh, senpai, are you okay?"
"Komari-chan didn't get hurt or anything?"
She looked at me with a weak gaze through her glasses.
"No, she's totally fine. Konuki-sensei's with her, so there's nothing to worry about."
"I see… If it's the school nurse, then it's okay..."
Tsukinoki-senpai murmured like she was trying to convince herself, then buried her face into her knees.
"...We just wanted her to still enjoy coming to school even after we are gone. We were hoping the Literature Club would become a place where she felt she belonged, so we decided to watch over her from a distance."
"You said it before, too. That you wanted Komari to grow stronger."
Just like the ones left behind, the ones leaving worry too.
"Do you think… maybe Komari-chan thinks we pushed her away? If I had just properly talked to her-"
"I was the one who suggested it. It's not your fault, Koto."
With that, Prez crouched down beside Tsukinoki-senpai.
Still with her face lowered, Tsukinoki-senpai reached out her hand, and Prez Tamaki gently took it.
For some reason, the image of Komari popped into my head as I watched the scene in front of me.
"I don't know what Komari's really thinking, but I don't think she's upset with you two."
You can't truly know what's in someone's heart, especially not a girl's.
Even though I've spent a decent amount of time with Komari, I don't really understand what goes on in her head.
However-
"She's just a little stronger than you both think."
That pile of materials. The sticky notes covering every inch. Those tiny, round handwritten notes…
Komari's effort is etched in my mind.
Prez relaxed his expression.
"...Yeah. I'll believe in Komari-chan, too."
He said that as he placed a hand gently on Tsukinoki-senpai's head when she finally looked up.
"Um, so about Tsuwabuki Fest preparations..."
The festival is already the day after tomorrow.
We need to finish Komari's research exhibition tomorrow and complete the venue setup as well.
"About that. Nukumizu, I'm sorry. Again."
Prez bowed deeply.
"Huh? Why are you apologizing? Please, raise your head."
"I ended up leaving all the Tsuwabuki Festival prep to you guys. Komari-chan collapsing is on me, too."
It's no one's fault. Komari's doing all of it by her own choice.
As I hesitated to explain that, Prez lifted his head like he had made up his mind.
"I'll handle the rest of the exhibition manuscript. I can't let Komari-chan push herself any more than this."
"Shintaro, let me do it! Supporting Komari-chan is my job!"
Saying that, Tsukinoki-senpai sprang to her feet.
...Komari, and both my seniors, they all try to take on everything themselves.
The three of them are more alike than they realize. That thought made me kind of happy as I shook my head slightly.
"This time, can we let Komari finish it to the end?"
"...Is that really what Komari-chan wants?"
"Yes. It's her own decision."
"But Komari-chan just collapsed. Don't you think this is too much-"
"She's taking the day off tomorrow. So just for tonight, please look the other way."
Silence fell.
The idea of pulling an all-nighter right after collapsing- it's only natural that neither of them could respond right away.
"...Is this our fault?"
Tsukinoki-senpai was the one to break the silence.
"Is it because we're retiring? Or-"
She looked directly at Prez Tamaki before continuing.
"Is it because Shintaro is retiring? Is that why Komari-chan's pushing herself so hard?"
"...Maybe so. But I don't know how Komari really feels."
Her feelings of love are already over. Nothing would change at this point.
Even so, she's pushing herself, squeezing out every last bit of emotion, just to turn the person she loved into someone she "used" to love.
And to turn the days the three of them spent together, those irreplaceable moments, into memories. That background character, just like me, is giving it everything she has.
Maybe that's just my own selfish delusion. But even so, I want to let her do it her way.
"She's the junior you’re so proud of, right? Please just trust her."
Prez, who had been listening quietly the whole time, gave a small shrug like he was finally giving in.
"...Alright. You're the one in charge this time."
Tsukinoki-senpai looked like she was about to say something, but Prez Tamaki placed a hand gently on her shoulder and shook his head slowly.
"Now then, Nukumizu. What should we be doing from here?"
"Huh? From here…?"
There are no classes tomorrow, just festival preparations all day.
We will finally have access to the exhibition classroom starting tomorrow.
"After homeroom in the morning, can we all meet at the classroom venue? I'll talk to Yanami-san and Yakishio myself."
"Good. Until then, everyone should focus on what they can do individually. You have your own tasks, right, Nukumizu?"
"...Right."
Right about now, Kaju is probably making a huge batch of sweets all by herself.
She's probably sulking from being left out too long. I'll have to spoil her a little once the festival is over…
*
Friday, the day before Tsuwabuki Fest.
The digital display on my watch reads exactly 7:00 AM.
Stifling a yawn, I looked around the empty classroom on the second floor of the west building.
This is the Literature Club's venue. Although it's called an "empty classroom", it's regularly used for elective classes and make-up lessons, so I've been here a few times.
The reason I came this early is simple. I wanted to get a head start. Just this once, I wanted to look a little cool too.
At dawn, Komari had sent her exhibition manuscript to everyone. It's a massive piece with over 50,000 words.
I'll read through it later. First, I need to get the venue set up.
After hauling desks to the hallway more than a dozen times, I finally cleared out the back half of the classroom.
...This is actually pretty exhausting.
As I rubbed my lower back and reached for the next desk, it suddenly became lighter.
"Nukkun, I told you. Leave the heavy lifting to me."
A clear voice, bright like midsummer.
Yakishio effortlessly lifted the desk to chest height as if to show off.
"Huh? What are you doing here, Yakishio?"
"What do you mean 'what'? I'm a Literature Club member too, remember? This goes out in the hallway, right?"
Without missing a beat, Yakishio carried the desk out to the hallway with a spring in her step.
"But I said in the message that prep starts after homeroom."
"I heard from Yana-chan that you were trying to do everything on your own again, Nukkun."
She jogged back from the hallway and stacked two desks together vertically.
"Just because Komari-chan overworked herself and collapsed doesn't mean you should be doing the same."
"I'm not overdoing it. I just thought I would get as much done as I can-"
"Getting help from others is also something you can do, you know?"
With a flash of white teeth, Yakishio lifted the stacked desks as if they weighed nothing.
"It's not exactly repaying a debt or anything, but I just wanted to help out too."
…That "debt" she mentioned must be referring to what happened at the end of summer.
What I managed to do or couldn't do when I just let things carry me along… Even now, I'm not sure.
"If you're talking about summer break, I didn't do much. You really don't have to think of it as something you owe me."
Yakishio gently lowered the desk she was holding.
"...You might say that, Nukkun. But I was really happy back then, you know?"
With a slightly serious look, Yakishio locked eyes with me and repeated her words.
"You made me really happy."
Yakishio's gaze met mine. Those deep-colored eyes almost pulled me in.
"...Thanks. So, will you help me out?"
"Of course! Nukkun, you should rely on me way more!"
She said it with a slap to my back, loud and sharp. That hurt.
Beaming a radiant smile, Yakishio swiftly carried off the stacked desks.
I tried copying her and stacking the desks myself, and immediately gave up. They are heavier than I thought.
"Come to think of it, you said earlier that you heard about me from Yanami-san, right?"
"I did. Yesterday, Yana-chan told everyone-"
Just as she returned from the hallway, Yakishio cut her sentence short.
Following her gaze, I saw Yanami standing in the classroom entrance.
Peeling open a convenience store rice ball with a smug grin on her face.
"Tuna mayo is the pinnacle of human ingenuity. I hereby bestow the Yanami Prize upon whoever invented it."
A sudden breeze swept in, and Yanami's hair fluttered, catching the sunlight.
The plastic rice ball wrapper floated down like a petal.
"Good morning, Yana-chan!"
Yakishio dashed over and gave her an enthusiastic high-five.
"Good morning, Lemon-chan. And Nukumizu-kun, so surprised you have gone speechless?"
"No, just pick up your trash, please."
"...I was going to pick it up after, okay?"
Muttering under her breath, Yanami begrudgingly gathered the wrapper.
So, it's clear now. Yanami did tell Yakishio. But still-
"Yanami-san, how did you know I would come early this morning?"
"Imouto-chan told me. I mean, you didn't tell me anything about yesterday. Even when I said I would help, all you said was 'I'm fine'. So I had no choice but to ask your sister, right?"
Crunching into the rice ball, the sound of crisp seaweed echoed as she took a big bite.
"Wait, when did you even exchange contact info with Kaju...?"
"Don't be stingy. We're club members too, you know. We care about Komari-chan just as much. Right, Lemon-chan?"
Yanami brushed past my question and opened her second rice ball. Man, she eats fast.
"Exactly. Nukkun, you're being too distant."
"Uh, okay, sorry to you both for that. But seriously, when did you exchange contact info with Kaju-"
"Nukumizu-kun, I do hope you haven't forgotten about us."
A familiar voice chimed in, cutting right over my question.
When I turned around, Tsukinoki-senpai and Prez were standing side by side.
"You two came this early, too?"
Prez gave a small wave to Yanami.
"Yanami-san was the one who called us over. Can't let you hog all the spotlight by yourself, Nukumizu."
Next to him, Tsukinoki-senpai's glasses gleamed sharply.
"When I thought about it, this is basically like participating in a doujin event, right? In a way, you could say I’m in my element."
"...Senpai, this is a Literature Club exhibition, okay? We're not putting out any weird books."
"Don't worry. I'm 18, so I can sell those books if I want."
"Please save that for after you graduate."
Seeing her acting like her usual self made my shoulders relax a little.
"What's with that grin? Are you laughing at my face?"
"No, it's just... I'm kind of relieved to see you doing better than I expected."
Tsukinoki-senpai gave a mature little smile.
"Sorry for making you worry. Shintaro and I talked a lot last night and settled things nicely. I'm 18, after all."
"...Koto. Can I talk to you for a second?"
"What's wrong, Shintaro? Why the scary face?"
"Just come."
Prez then dragged Tsukinoki-senpai out to the hallway.
...Whatever happened last night, I don't want to know.
"Um... anyway, thanks, everyone. Really."
As I said that, Yakishio gave me a meaningful wink.
"Nukkun, you sure you haven't forgotten someone?"
Huh? Everyone in the club's here except Komari.
"Ah, so you were all here. Mitsuki-san, this way."
Why is she here? Asagumo-san entered the classroom with Ayano at her side.
While I stood there stunned, Ayano gave his usual, friendly smile.
"I told you. I would always lend a hand. Seems like there's something we can help with after all."
Ayano gave a subtle nod, and Asagumo-san opened her notebook to show me.
"Lemon-san shared the exhibition draft with me. I read through it during the walk to school and sketched out a layout draft."
"You're saying you read it… But it's 50,000 words long."
Asagumo-san nodded, her forehead slightly glistening.
"Yes. I'm deeply moved. It's a wonderful piece, filled with the writer's heartfelt thoughts. Especially the section re-evaluating the relationship between Soseki and his disciple from a unique perspective, it was incredibly compelling-"
Asagumo-san's monologue continued.
Still, that manuscript is about half the length of a paperback novel. It's one thing to have read it, but to actually turn it into a layout plan…
Half in doubt, I picked up the notebook.
"To keep it easy to read, I drafted a proposal to summarize everything across 8 sheets of poster paper. I took inspiration from newspaper layouts and also included a section for children, with illustrations inside bordered frames."
"You based it on newspapers?"
"Yes. There's no way a visitor could read all this. The idea is for them to get a general sense from the headlines and pictures, then pick out the parts that interest them."
As I flipped through the notebook, I saw rough sketches for all 8 poster sheets. It really does resemble a newspaper layout.
"Wait, you even planned where each article should go? While on your way here?"
"Of course. I have most of the content memorized."
Asagumo-san said it as if it were nothing.
Looking closer, I noticed the detailed layout notes included the manuscript's page and line numbers.
While I stood there, overwhelmed by Asagumo-san's competence, Yanami gave a smug thumbs-up as she sipped from a carton of coffee milk.
"See? We've got it covered, so relax."
Why is she acting like she deserves credit?
Ayano pointed at the notebook.
"The original manuscript is already written with a newspaper layout in mind. We're thinking of borrowing a computer from the IT room to try arranging it in a real layout."
If these two say they can pull it off, then they probably can. I actually trust non-Lit Club Tsuwabuki students more than you would think.
But one problem remains.
"Do we even have time to copy all this onto poster paper? We have other prep work too, so it might be a bit much."
"I have an idea for that. Mind showing me the notebook?"
Prez returned from the hallway and took the notebook into his hands.
Behind him, Tsukinoki-senpai gazed at his back with a dreamy expression.
Those two weren't doing anything weird out there, right? Please say they weren't…
"If we submit the data by noon, I know a vendor where we can have it printed with a large-format printer. Ayano-kun and I will finish the layout before the deadline and plan to pick up the final prints ourselves."
Ayano nodded in agreement.
…Wait a second, these two?
"Prez and Ayano, do you two know each other?"
"This is actually the first time I've met Ayano-kun in person. Though I was introduced to him just last night."
Last night?
Then Yakishio held her phone out to show me something.
"Last night, Yana-chan made a LINE group for us to communicate. I invited Mitsuki and Chiha-chan too."
"…I'm not in that group."
I sulked, and Yanami gave me a look like I was a child who didn't understand anything.
"Look, Komari-chan and you tend to take on too much, so we made the group to help support you. Komari-chan's not in it either."
I get that, but it still stings a little.
Prez looked around at everyone with a formal expression.
"For the exhibition, it will be me, Ayano-kun, and Asagumo-san. Nukumizu and Koto will handle the venue layout and prep. Yanami-san and Yakishio-san, I would like you two to support Nukumizu when your class prep duties are free. Can I count on you all?"
Yanami held out her hand, and Yakishio and Asagumo-san layered theirs on top.
"Come on, Nukumizu-kun, you too."
Yanami looked up at me insistently.
When I hesitantly placed my hand on the pile, Prez raised his voice.
"Alright! On the day before Tsuwabuki Fest, let's give it our all!"
"Yeahhh!" (x4)
"Y-Yeah…"
I was late. Trying to hide my embarrassment, I shrank into myself, only for Yanami to bump my shoulder.
"Huh? What…?"
"Well? What do you think of the amazing work of Consultant Yanami-chan?"
Right, I haven't canceled that contract yet.
"In that case, shall we renew for next term?"
"Yup. I look forward to working with you."
With a smile, Yanami bumped into me again, then wiped her mouth where a grain of rice was stuck.
*
After we finished moving the unused desks into the hallway, the overall layout of the classroom started to take shape.
Yanami and Yakishio are writing explanations on the blackboard.
"Nukumizu-kun, so what's next?"
Like someone done with warm-ups, Tsukinoki-senpai adjusted her glasses with a flick of her finger.
"Let's see. Once we post the displays, set out the snacks and the club magazines, we'll be mostly done."
"…Aren't you putting up a sign or anything like that? If you're going to sell snacks, you should at least have a menu."
"They are writing that on the blackboard right now."
"But then you can't see it unless you actually enter the classroom. And without decorations, the place looks barren. Where are you planning to set the magazines?"
"Uh, I was just going to put them on some randomly placed desks."
Tsukinoki-senpai went to grab her bag and pulled out a piece of fabric.
She draped it over a desk and arranged the magazines on top.
"See? Just laying down a cloth changes the presentation entirely. And this is a must."
With that, she placed a small sign reading "New Release Available".
"What's that?"
"Like the 'Cold Noodles Now Available' signs or those cedar balls at sake breweries."
Huh. It suddenly looks like an actual event.
"We'll also need a notice. Something like: 'These are stories written by the club members, and we're giving them away for free if you're interested.' At the very least, that much information is necessary. Don't tell me you were just going to leave them in a corner of the classroom?"
…That was exactly my plan.
Tsukinoki-senpai glanced around sharply.
"So, Nukumizu-kun, where are the decorations or the paper for the signage?"
"Eh? We don't really have anything like that."
Her expression darkened instantly.
"Wait a second, Nukumizu-kun. How exactly were you planning to set this classroom up?"
"Uh, first, we would post the research displays in four corners of the room. Then next to those, I would place snacks themed around the display and a stamp station."
"Okay, okay, and then?"
And then…?
"Um, that's all."
"…Alright, everyone gather up! You two over there, too. Come here."
Tsukinoki-senpai clapped her hands loudly.
Brushing off chalk dust with quick pats, Yanami and Yakishio came over.
"It's worse than I thought, so I'll be taking over the coordination of the venue setup."
I have been replaced.
"For tomorrow's event, we'll need to make flyers and posters, and decorate the venue. Let's start by listing the necessary materials."
Tsukinoki-senpai pulled out her planner and began jotting things down swiftly.
"We'll need a full set of colored paper and double-sided tape. If we're handling money, we should prepare a coin case and a ledger, too. I have a cash box at home, so I'll bring it later. For change, one roll of 100-yen coins should be enough. I'll take care of that too. Also, looks like we don't have any baskets for the snacks. Nukumizu-kun, did you already prepare the stamps and cards?"
"I was thinking of buying them once I had a free moment-"
"Let's get those ready now, too. Can someone go shopping?"
"I'll go!"
Yakishio raised her hand energetically. Tsukinoki-senpai tore a page from her planner and handed it over.
"Once the 100-yen shop nearby opens, get everything on this list. Don't forget the receipt. It's a lot, so Yanami-san, can you go with her?"
"Sure thing! But we also have class prep to do, so we can't help out for too long."
"No problem. As long as you get the shopping done this morning, Nukumizu-kun and I can handle the rest."
...What happened? This isn't the Tsukinoki-senpai I know.
Wasn't she supposed to conserve her IQ outside of BL talk…?
"Alright, we have a lot to do. Let's keep working until the bell rings."
With another clap of her hands, senpai sent Yanami and the others back to the blackboard.
Okay… I think I'm supposed to make flyers and posters. As I looked around the classroom again, Tsukinoki-senpai held her watch up to my face.
"You said your old school would lend us some tatami mats, right? I've arranged for a car. We'll head out before noon."
"Old school or not, the only one I know there is my sister."
It's been a few months since I finished those three years of middle school, and it already feels so far away.
The day before Tsuwabuki Fest, a long day has begun-
*
I paused and looked up at the clock on the wall. It's 2 PM already.
The exhibition manuscript has been submitted just before the deadline. Prez went to pick it up after receiving the completion notice.
As for me, I spent the morning making flyers and posters, and had just finished laying out the tatami we borrowed in the classroom.
Ayano, who had helped carry the tatami, gave me a pat on the back.
"Well then, we'll go help out with our class now."
"Good luck, Nukumizu-san."
Asagumo-san said with a polite nod, wiping the sweat from Ayano's brow with a towel.
"Thanks, both of you. You really helped me out."
After seeing Ayano and Asagumo-san off with a word of thanks, I was left alone in the classroom.
Tsukinoki-senpai went to return the vehicle we used to transport the tatami.
Yanami and Yakishio were scheduled to be fully occupied in the afternoon with rehearsals for the <Street Halloween> skits.
…I worked hard today. Praising myself, I sprawled out across the center of the tatami mats.
All I had originally planned was to prepare the display and snacks, but now that I've actually done it, there was way more to handle than I had expected.
Even the car, we had to rely on Tsukinoki-senpai. I wouldn't have managed anything on my own…
"Oh, not bad. The venue's starting to look proper now."
Tsukinoki-senpai returned to the classroom. Somehow, she looks more dependable than ever before.
"Thank you. Though I didn't expect you to show up in a truck."
"My family runs a business. That one's still legal with an ordinary license."
Dressed in a jersey, Tsukinoki-senpai sat down cross-legged beside me with a grin.
"Still, I'm surprised. I thought this school didn't allow driving cars."
"Of course it's not allowed. If they catch you, it's straight to suspension."
…Wait. What did she just say?
"I was in the passenger seat, though."
"If they catch you, it's suspension."
Senpai tugged at her jersey and showed it to me.
"You think I'm wearing this for fun? Even I know it would be a bad idea to drive a truck while wearing a school uniform."
…If she understands that much, just go one step further and stop there.
Senpai held out a bottle of tea.
"But I was surprised. Your little sister is adorable and super popular, too. Those boys who helped carry the tatami… aren't they her fan club or something?"
"No, you must have misheard. They are just kind passersby. Besides, getting all worked up over the opposite sex in middle school? Way too early."
At my firm declaration, Tsukinoki-senpai gave me a doubtful look.
"…Nukumizu-kun, are you maybe a siscon? Now that I think about it, didn't you bring little sister-themed light novels to the clubroom?"
I mean, I can't exactly leave it lying around at home.
"Fantasy and reality are different. You write BL too, but you wouldn't want Prez to have a boyfriend, right?"
"If he showed me, I would gladly accept it. No, rather, I would say I would burn with passion."
Uh… is that actually okay?
"Well, even if you're not a siscon, it's only natural to be curious. Your sister's super popular, after all."
"When I was still at that school, she was just an ordinary student. Actually, she was more the opposite of popular."
"Really? That's surprising."
…I remembered how things were a year ago, when Kaju had just started middle school.
"She went around telling people, 'The most amazing older brother in the world goes to this school too', and that started a rumor among the first-year girls. That there was this incredibly handsome third-year named Nukumizu."
"Wow, so you were a heartthrob in middle school, huh?"
"Then the next rumor came: there's no such third-year. Kaju Nukumizu is cute but kind of a weirdo."
I opened my bottle of tea.
"She kind of stood out during her first year, in a not-great way. That's why today, seeing her getting along with everyone really put me at ease."
…But as her big brother, I refuse to acknowledge any so-called fan club.
Tsukinoki-senpai had been grinning at me for a while, but then her expression turned curious.
"Come to think of it, have I met your sister somewhere before? She looks familiar."
"I think this was the first time you two have met."
…Wait. During the Literature Club retreat in July, Kaju was secretly spying on us. It wouldn't be surprising if she had had a near encounter with senpai.
But having that come out would be a hassle…
"I think it's just your imagination. This should have been your first meeting."
"Hmm, maybe you're right. Must have just felt like that."
As Tsukinoki-senpai stared up at the ceiling, I took a long drink of tea, keeping my poker face intact.
*
When I stepped into Class 1-C's room a little before 4 PM, the atmosphere was completely different from the morning.
The walls are covered in blackout curtains and decorations, and the blackboard has big, decorative letters reading <HAPPY HALLOWEEN>. It has totally transformed into a Halloween party venue.
My seat has apparently been moved somewhere, too. Left without a place to go, I stood there aimlessly until a soft floral scent enveloped me. My brain cued up its usual background music.
"Trick or treat!"
Standing before me in a dramatic pose, one leg raised and pointing straight at me, is none other than the devil girl herself: Karen Himemiya.
…Wait, am I in the way, just standing here?
I quietly shifted to the side and tried to make myself inconspicuous, but Himemiya-san came straight at me.
"Hey hey! Nukumizu-kun, give me a reaction!"
Wait, was that line earlier directed at me?
"Uh, okay then, treat, please. Though I don't really have much in the way of candy on me…"
"O-Oh… Nukumizu-kun, you can be more casual about it, you know? I was ready to go all 'No candy? Then it's prank time!' kind of vibe."
That sounds kind of lewd.
"Oh, I have a Black Thunder. Would this do?"
"Well, well, how very courteous. I accept your offering with gratitude."
Himemiya-san took it with a straight face, then couldn't help but break into giggles.
"Geez, Nukumizu-kun. If you get all stiff like that, it will seem like I'm bullying you. Here, give this candy to Anna."
"To Yanami-san?"
I looked where Himemiya-san pointed, and Yanami sprawled out on a flattened cardboard box in the corner.
She's wearing a white robe and a triangular white cloth on her head, lying on her back with her fingers folded over her stomach.
Did she finally die?
"Anna's tired and hungry. And I think she's also really hungry."
She said it twice. That's how bad it must be.
With the Black Thunder in hand, I walked over to Yanami.
"Yanami-san, want this?"
Drowsing off, Yanami slowly raised herself.
"…Nukumizu-kun?"
Still groggy, she took the Black Thunder and began munching on it.
"You're a lifesaver. The store was sold out of bread. And the canteen's closed today too."
"Wait, don't tell me you didn't eat lunch?"
Yanami nodded.
"Yeah. I only had a cup of instant noodles."
You did eat, though.
"Oh, right, the classroom looks totally different now, right? We helped decorate it, too."
"So the <Street Halloween> event isn't held outside?"
"There'll be stuff like commemorative photo sessions in the classroom as well. Nukumizu-kun, didn't you read the event plan?"
I only read my assigned part. I stayed silent, earning a dead-eyed glare from Yanami.
"Please take an interest in your class's event too, okay?"
Can't argue with that. I nodded obediently.
"So, is the Literature Club side doing okay? I haven't really been able to help much."
"It's mostly done. Once Prez gets back, we just need to do the final touch-ups."
Unbelievably, the Literature Club's prep work is going better than expected. Tsukinoki-senpai's competent awakening is a very welcome surprise.
"I'll head over once things settle down here- ah, I got chocolate on my costume!"
Leaving Yanami behind as she made the stain worse by rubbing it, I turned to the class bulletin board. I'm pretty sure the event plan for the class display had been posted.
Standing in front of the board, I focused my eyes on the schedule.
The <Street Halloween> skit is made up of seven acts total. Not everyone would perform in every act. Yanami only has three appearances.
During the rest of the time, they would be walking around campus, handing out candy to kids, and taking photos with them.
"Are you not dressing up, onii-sama? Kaju thinks a prince's costume would suit you well."
"I'm backstage staff. I'll be with the Literature Club during the event anyway-"
…Hm? That voice just now…
"Kaju!? What are you doing here!?"
"Hehe, Kaju just kinda showed up."
Right, she did.
Beaming up at me with a full smile, my sister Kaju watched as I processed the situation.
"You can't just come to school without permission. Come on, I'll walk you out-"
As I tried to escort her out of the classroom, she calmly reached up and straightened my necktie like it was second nature.
"Onii-sama, your tie was crooked. Did you eat a proper lunch?"
"Uh, yeah. More importantly, let's get you-"
"Nukumizu-kun, that's no way to act when your little sister went out of her way to bring treats!"
Cutting into the conversation was Yanami, carrying a large furoshiki-wrapped bundle in both hands. [TL: Traditional Japanese wrapping clothes.]
"Treats? Kaju brought those?"
"Yes. Kaju wanted to make something for everyone to enjoy, so here's a large batch of inari sushi."
Yanami's eyes lit up at the mention of inari sushi.
"Everyone! Nukumizu-kun's little sister brought us treats!"
At Yanami's announcement, the whole class turned to look.
Alright. While everyone's distracted by the inari sushi, I'll sneak Kaju out of here.
But contrary to my expectations, all the girls immediately surrounded her.
"Who's this girl? She's so cute~" "They said she's Nukumizu-kun's little sister!" "Nukumizu?" "Her uniform's cute. What school is that?"
Kaju looked a little startled at first, but quickly returned to smiling.
"I'm Kaju Nukumizu. Thank you all for always taking care of my big brother!"
She gave a deep bow, and a wave of delighted squeals broke out from the girls.
…Welp, this can't be helped now. According to light novels, girls are weak to cute things and sweets. I'll just have to count on Kaju's improvisational skills.
As I watched from a distance, Yakishio came to stand beside me.
"That's the Momozono Middle School uniform, isn't it? So your little sister goes to the same school we did."
"Well, yeah, she's my sister."
Yakishio is dressed as a mummy, but the costume is modest, with her body line mostly covered. The girls of our class have successfully defended against the boys' dreams with conscience.
As Kaju noticed the two of us talking, she slipped out of the crowd and came over to stand in front of us.
"Um, you must be Yakishio-san, right? Kaju has heard all about you from onii-sama!"
At that, Yakishio nudged me with her elbow, grinning.
"Nukkun's been talking about me at home, huh? Aww, I'm blushing!"
…Have I ever even mentioned Yakishio at home?
"Anyway, Kaju, you really should be heading home now. You can't just wander into a high school, you know."
"Ara, but Kaju got permission from your homeroom teacher. What a kind and wonderful person!"
Kind and wonderful… hmm, I don't know about that.
As I searched my memory for contradictory past episodes, the very subject of those rumors appeared behind Kaju.
"Nukumizu, your little sister has a good eye for people. Learn from her."
Amanatsu-sensei clapped her hands.
"Hey, is everyone here? Sorry, I'm late. Let's get homeroom started."
Even with Kaju here, we're just going to roll into this that casually?
"Tomorrow's arrival time is the usual. The front gate locks at 8 PM tonight. If any of you want to stay later, let me know in advance. That's it for homeroom."
Amanatsu-sensei gently placed her hand on Kaju's head.
"We have received a treat of inari sushi from Nukumizu's little sister. It's first come, first served, so play nice- hey, Yanami! Don't just start eating on your own!"
As the inari sushi free-for-all began, Kaju came to stand beside me.
"Onii-sama, your class is so lively."
Is it? I don't really know, but if Kaju says so, maybe it is…
"Alright, Kaju. I still have prep work to do, so I'll walk you to the school gate."
"In that case, the south gate, please. Mom's waiting there in the car."
As we left the classroom and walked together down the hallway, Kaju linked her arm with mine.
"Ehehe, it's like a date on school grounds, right up to the gate."
"Hey, don't cling to me in public."
When I pulled my arm free, Kaju puffed up her cheeks in dissatisfaction.
"Then hold my hand instead and I'll let it go. If not that, then lend Kaju your jacket, please."
"My jacket? Are you cold?"
I took off my blazer and handed it to her. Kaju happily slipped it on.
"Yup, it's warm. Ehehe, it's all toasty and baggy."
Kaju, walking backward in high spirits, nearly collided with a passing student.
I grabbed her shoulder and pulled her close.
"Hey, don't fool around while walking. Stay by your big brother's side."
"...Yes, onii-sama."
She must have realized her mistake, because she started walking quietly beside me.
Good grief. Even Kaju, for all her poise, is still a kid. It's only natural that she would get excited on her first visit to a high school.
"Kaju, I'm not mad at you, okay?"
"Yes, onii-sama. Kaju made two kinds of inari sushi: one with mixed ingredients, and one with wasabi. There's plenty, so please make sure to have some."
"Wow, that sounds great."
That's what I said, but by the time I got back, they would probably be gone.
After all, there's a Yanami in Class 1-C…
*
7:30 PM, the day before the main event. The Literature Club's Tsuwabuki Fest exhibition, <Reading You Can Eat>.
All preparations have been completed.
Together with Tsukinoki-senpai, Prez, Yakishio, and I, the four of us gazed at the venue with deep satisfaction.
"Perfect! You all did an amazing job."
Tsukinoki-senpai gave us a proud thumbs-up.
As I exhaled in relief, Yakishio gave me a loud slap on the back. That hurts, seriously.
"Try to look a little more excited, Nukkun!"
Ugh… even faking a smile wears me out.
Prez looked over us with a wry grin.
"The real thing's still ahead. Everyone, get a good rest tonight so we're ready."
"Got it!" (x3)
Exactly. The festival hasn't even begun yet. I should head home soon to rest for tomorrow…
"Well, I'll be taking Koto home now, so we'll get going."
"Then I'll go get eaten by a wolf on the way, see ya~"
"Don't say weird stuff in front of your juniors…"
After seeing those two flirt their way out of the room, Yakishio slung her bag over her shoulder.
"Nukkun, let's head out too."
"Yeah, right. Uh…"
I glanced down the hallway, but there was no sign of anyone.
Yanami is still caught up with class preparations and hasn't made it here yet.
"I'm going to stay a bit longer to take pictures of the venue. I need to submit them to the student council."
"Got it. Then I'll head home first. Later!"
"Thanks for today. See you tomorrow."
After watching Yakishio jog out of the room, I looked around the venue.
The two third-years have already left, so I'm alone in the spacious classroom.
Four types of displays, snacks, decorations, and accessories.
We have been making things up as we went, and yet somehow managed to pull it all together.
The displays are completed by the trio led by Asagumo-san. Yanami and Yakishio gathered people, and the decorations and accessories are entirely under Tsukinoki-senpai's direction.
Kaju baked the snacks and prepared the tatami. As for me- well, I did my best, yeah.
Just before I could be consumed by existential emptiness, Yanami walked into the classroom in her uniform.
"Good work, Nukumizu-kun."
"You're pretty late, Yanami-san."
"I was cleaning the chocolate off my costume, and it took longer than I thought. Oh, the displays look great!"
Yanami walked over to the wall displays. I subtly slid the desk with the snacks a little farther away.
"That one's the research display on Dazai. It's themed around his short story <Cherry>, and digs into his personal relationships and views on family. It's actually a pretty interesting piece."
"<Cherry>… as in the fruit, right? I've never read it, but from the title, it sounds like a cute story."
"Well, kind of. It starts with the protagonist ditching his family to go drinking at a bar with some women."
"…That's not what I imagined at all."
"He sits there eating cherries, moping and saying stuff like, 'I suffer more than my kids do…' That kind of story."
"Why would you pick something like that for a school festival display?"
Good question.
"It's a well-known story, so there's a lot of trivia around it. I mean, Dazai's death anniversary is even called the Cherry Memorial Day."
"You didn't have to tie that particular story to his death anniversary though, did you…?"
There's no end to the questions. Best she just reads the display.
Yanami muttered to herself while reading the wall article, but eventually fell silent.
"…Shoot, I ended up reading it seriously."
"What's wrong with that?"
"Well, I mean, aren't I supposed to be the Literature Club's designated straight man? Just quietly absorbing information like this kind of goes against my role, you know?"
"Straight man…?"
I could say a dozen things to that, but I held myself back.
"Oh, right, there are tatami mats."
Saying that out of the blue, Yanami ran over to the tatami mats and flopped down.
"I love the smell of tatami. Did you borrow these from the Tea Ceremony or Flower Arranging Club?"
"Yeah, something like that."
Just one character off from the Judo Club. Close enough. [TL: 茶道部 (Tea), 華道部 (Flower), 柔道部 (Judo).]
Yanami sat up and started rummaging through her bag.
"I snuck out this evening and bought some bread. It was a miracle. There were still two whipped cream buns left!"
As I gave a vague response, Yanami patted the floor next to her.
"Come on, sit down. I'll give you one. Let's eat together."
With that, she offered me one of the cream buns.
"You're giving this to me? Wait, you mean you're giving me food!?"
"Uh, yeah? Why are you saying it twice…?"
I'm just surprised. I took the bun and sat down next to her.
It's the kind Yanami likes, coated in whipped cream on the outside. As I bit into the edge, the sweetness soaked into my tired body. I had never had one before, but this is really good…
"But now that I'm looking at it again, this is kind of amazing, huh~"
Yanami licked the cream off her finger as she glanced around the classroom.
"Yeah. I didn't think we would end up with a display this impressive."
I said it casually, but truthfully, I'm kind of moved.
We're a small, underdog Literature Club. Even after getting permission to use a whole classroom, I was worried we wouldn't be able to make use of it.
But now that it's all set up, I know-
"Komari-chan's going to be really happy, huh?"
"…Yeah. And she worked really hard too."
I felt like Yanami had just read my mind, and for some reason, it embarrassed me.
A 50,000-word exhibition. Who knows how many people will actually stop to read it, let alone read the whole thing. Still, Komari put everything she could do right now into 8 sheets of poster paper.
After popping the last bite of her bread into her mouth, Yanami murmured softly.
"It's like a love letter, isn't it? From Komari-chan."
A room full of love letters sent to the one she likes, and also meant to help send him off.
That's how it looked through Yanami's eyes.
"…That might be one way to see it."
I gave a vague answer and took another bite of bread.
"You don't see it that way, Nukumizu-kun?"
Yanami looked at me with surprise.
It's true. There's no doubt Komari's feelings for Prez are in there.
But the days she spent with the seniors after joining the Literature Club, I think they meant far more to her than we can imagine-
"This whole display, you know… I think it holds her memories, her gratitude, and her resolve to protect the Literature Club as its president… all of it, everything."
"I see. So that's what you think, Nukumizu-kun."
Her reply came in an unexpectedly gentle voice.
That calm tone loosened something in me, and another piece of my true thoughts slipped out.
"…I guess, if I don't believe that, it gets kind of hard."
She gave up sleep for days, pouring herself into a letter that could not and must not reach its recipricant.
What surfaced in my mind was the image of Komari's back, seated at her desk in a dim room.
Yanami sat silently beside me as those feelings I couldn't put into words pressed in.
"…I kind of understand how Komari-chan feels."
She mumbled quietly.
"Like you said, I know Komari-chan treasures Prez and the Literature Club a lot."
"Yeah, of course."
"But even knowing how much it means to her, on the night of the trip, she still confessed, ready to let go of it all."
Even if she didn't stand a chance, even if she lost everything, she still put all her feelings on the line.
"She might have come to terms with it, even said she had given up… but feelings that strong don't just disappear."
Yanami hugged her knees, her gaze drifting somewhere distant.
"…When you can't say 'I love you', when you know there's nothing you can do about it, and you still want to let those feelings out, Komari-chan writes. Lemon-chan runs-"
She didn't say anything after that.
The classroom, washed in fluorescent white, has fallen completely still.
With a quiet sense of loneliness growing inside me, I stared around the room just like Yanami did.
"When I heard the seniors were retiring, I felt a little uneasy too. So I get why Komari would push herself to show everything she has now."
I put the half-eaten bread back in its wrapper and set it down on the tatami.
"Once the new year starts, third-years can stop coming to school. We have less than two months left of things being like they were."
Even if you do nothing, the other person will eventually disappear from your life.
As I stayed silent, not putting it into words, Yanami tilted her head with a composed look.
"So what if you let it fade?"
"When you're giving up on something, isn't it normal to just wait it out?"
At least, that's how I've always lived, and I know it's the easiest way.
"…Yeah. I would do the same. I am doing the same. But, you know, Komari-chan… she's hopelessly a girl."
"A girl?"
"Yup. That's why she made herself say her feelings out loud. Even if it was forced, she gave it a clear ending so that she could get ready for her next love."
Next love. I couldn't believe what I was hearing and instinctively questioned it.
"…Did Komari fall for another guy or something?"
"Who knows? Komari-chan's cute, after all. Nukumizu-kun, if you keep dawdling, someone might get ahead of you."
Yanami leaned toward me with a teasing glint in her eye, as if daring me.
"Ahead of me? It's not like I'm in a race to win Komari over or anything."
"Huh… that's what you took from that?"
Yanami let out a dramatic sigh and shrugged her shoulders.
"Ahh, I see. That's just how you are, Nukumizu-kun. Classic."
I don't know exactly what she meant, but I know I'm definitely being dissed.
"Speaking of which, what about you, Yanami-san? You know, that guy dressed up as a Shinsengumi member…"
"Nishikawa-kun? What about him?"
He interrupted our conversation in the classroom earlier. That's all it was, but somehow, I got a feeling from it.
"I think maybe he, uh…"
I trailed off for no apparent reason.
"He what?"
"Um… maybe you two get along well?"
"Hmm, who knows. We have started talking a bit more lately. So what?"
Yanami replied while chewing bread again.
Wait a second. Didn't she finish eating earlier?
"Hey, that's my bread…"
Ignoring my feeble protest, Yanami suddenly lit up like something had just clicked in her mind.
"Hmm? Hm hm hmm?"
"W-What…?"
With a mischievous grin, Yanami leaned in to peer at my face.
"Wait a second… are you jealous of Nishikawa-kun? Seriously?"
Wha!? What the hell is this girl saying?
"T-That's not-"
Yanami swayed side to side with a playful smile on her face.
"I see, I see~ So telling me to get a boyfriend was just a cover-up because you were embarrassed, huh? No one says 'go get a boyfriend' unless they're trying to hide something~"
She's still holding a grudge about what I said on the first day of school?
"If I got a boyfriend, would you feel lonely? Aww, Nukumizu-kun, that's kind of cute."
"L-Like I said, it's not like that. I was just a little curious."
"It's fine, it's fine. If I fall for someone, I'll properly introduce him to you. No sneaking ahead on your part either, okay?"
"No… that's not… not what this is…"
While I buried my head in my hands, Yanami cheerfully munched on bread, humming.
Then, I noticed the strange stillness around us.
It's past 8 PM. The school has gone quiet. You could feel the absence of people.
I slowly lifted my head.
"…Hey, maybe keep your voice down."
"Huh? Why?"
I raised a finger to my lips, then leaned in close to Yanami.
"Yanami-san-"
"Eh? W-Wait, hold on…!"
Letting out a squeaky voice, Yanami scooted away in a panic.
"I said, stop yelling."
"Nukumizu-kun, it's too early for school festival magic! Tomorrow! Let's talk again tomorrow, okay!?"
What is she even talking about?
"No, I mean, Konuki-sensei is filming us with, so please don't say anything weird."
"...Huh?"
Yanami slowly turned around and saw Konuki-sensei aiming a camera at us from the hallway window.
Once she realized she had been spotted, she waved at us with a smile.
"Don't mind me. Just pretend I'm a stain on the ceiling. Go on, carry on."
"There's nothing to carry on. If you're here, at least say something."
I stood up, brushing off my blazer.
"I didn't want to interrupt, you know? But if you're finished, I'm going to close the front gate now."
"We weren't doing anything to begin with. Anyway, Yanami-san, let's go home."
Still sitting on the tatami, Yanami looked up at me with a dazed expression.
"...Eh?"
"Come on, they are closing the gate. Can you stand?"
She gave a wordless nod and sluggishly got to her feet.
Even on the way to the entrance, following behind the teacher, Yanami got uncharacteristically quiet.
"You seem kinda out of it. You okay?"
"Y-Yeah, I think so."
"By the way, Yanami-san, what were you panicking about back there?"
"Huh!? That's your fault, Nukumizu-kun!"
"Ouch!?"
Yanami jabbed me hard in the side and stormed off with heavy steps.
…Seriously? What is she so mad about? It's not like violent heroines are still a thing these days.
"Ara ara, you two are quite the passionate pair. Is that how you usually get yourselves fired up?"
I don't really get what she means, but there are things in this world that are better left misunderstood.
I ignored Konuki-sensei, picked up my pace, and chased after Yanami's back, still as unreadable as ever.
Intermission: Try Not to Disturb Your Neighbors Too Much
Before sunrise, Chika Komari adjusted the angle of her ribbon in the mirror, standing in a dimly lit room.
Beside her, her elementary school-aged younger brother is still asleep, breathing softly.
Careful not to wake him, she gently slipped on her blazer. The cold morning air brushed against her skin through her blouse.
Last night, she had gotten a call from Koto-senpai.
She had said the exhibition was perfectly ready, and hearing that made Komari feel both relieved and frustrated in equal measure.
That she wasn't there for it. That she hadn't made it to the end.
Komari glanced at her brother's sleeping face one more time before sliding open the fusuma door.
Today is the day of the Tsuwabuki Festival. Today would be the last time the seniors would be with the Literature Club.
After quietly locking the front door, Komari let out a deep breath. She had managed to leave without anyone noticing.
Leaving this early is sure to worry her family.
Suppressing a yawn, she turned and saw a familiar minivan parked outside her house.
And there, standing in her school uniform, glasses gleaming in the morning sun, is a Tsuwabuki student.
"Good morning, Komari-chan."
"Ueh!? S-Senpai, what are y-you doing h-here…?"
"When we talked on the phone yesterday, I knew you were plotting something. And bingo, I was right."
Koto Tsukinoki jerked a thumb over her shoulder, pointing sharply at the car behind her.
"There's no way I'm letting a sleep-deprived Komari-chan go by herself. Now, get in!"
"B-But I slept plenty last night, a-and if someone s-sees you driving, y-you will get in t-trouble…"
"That's true. But who cares! Let's go!"
Koto forcefully guided Komari into the passenger seat, then started the engine.
Blasting from the car's speakers is a cheerful voice CD in which two mature-sounding men are proposing to each other.
"S-Senpai…"
"Isn't it great? I save this one for special occasions."
"W-We're still n-near my house, so c-could you turn it down, p-please…"
At Komari's very reasonable request, Koto went completely serious and turned down the volume without protest.
"You're right. Disturbing the neighbors is a no-go."
"Y-Yeah…"
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