Chapter I | “Forever Inseparable”

♣♣♣

Early April.

It was right after we started our second year of high school.

Spring in the countryside is calm. Actually, rural areas are so tied to the calendar that events are predictable. This time of year is always relaxed.

After school, a group of girls were chatting excitedly in a corner of the classroom.

“Hey, did you see Himari-san’s post this morning? It was amazing, right?”

“I thought so too. She’s so cute!”

The two were looking at their smartphones.

The post they were talking about was Himari’s Instagram update from this morning. It was a photo taken at a café along Route 10 during spring break.

The photo showed her on a cool wooden deck, holding a new Hyuganatsu gelato.

[T/N: Hyuganatsu is a citrus fruit and plant grown in Japan, it’s a mutation of an orange.]

Her ears were adorned with preserved flower earrings featuring lily of the valley.

Her marine blue eyes peeked out from behind large sunglasses, captivating and mysterious. Outside the window, the blue sea of Hyuga-nada stretched out.

The temperature had risen sharply this week, and the photo vividly captured the feeling of summer.

Himari had started posting on Instagram after entering high school.

Thanks to her natural charm, she had gained over 50,000 followers in less than a year. It was astonishing.

She was famous locally, and whenever she posted something new, it caused a stir. If you went to the mall after school, you’d hear similar conversations among girls from other schools. …This is the countryside for you. How boring can it get?

My seat was next to hers…

Himari was calmly packing her textbooks into her bag.

As always, she had this inexplicable aura about her. Even the plain, rural school uniform looked like a brand-new fashion item on her. It was fascinating.

Over the past two years, she had grown a bit taller. Her legs, in particular, had become noticeably longer, giving her a stunning figure that often drew the boys’ attention.

There was also a subtle sensuality in her expression now. Her thin, well-shaped lips glistened with a faint gloss, and every time she licked them, it sent the surrounding boys into a frenzy.

Her long, flowing hair… had been cut quite boldly. But the natural, slightly messy short bob suited her playful personality perfectly.

Only her translucent marine blue eyes remained unchanged. Almond-shaped and wide, they were as captivating as ever.

The ethereal beauty of two years ago had matured, yet she had also become more carefree and mischievous. It perfectly reflected Himari’s innate contrarian nature.

The two girls approached Himari’s desk to chat.

“Where’s this place?”

“If you head toward the city on Route 10, you’ll find it easily. The gelato is a limited-time menu until fall, they said.”

“What about the earrings? Can I buy them at the mall?” “Those are custom-made, so they’re not sold in stores.” “Aw, really? I want them too!”

Himari handed them a business card.

It was from a flower accessory creator, simply labeled “you.”

“You can order them online through the QR code on the card. If you use this key code, delivery is free. You can use it as many times as you want, even for a single item.”

“Really? Thanks!”

After that, they invited her to hang out after school.

They were planning to go to karaoke. Honestly, in this town, after-school activities were pretty much limited to the mall, karaoke, or Sushiro.

Quite a few people were joining, including some from other classes due to the recent reshuffling. They probably wanted to get Himari into their group.

…The authority of the local elite’s daughter was still strong, even in high school.

No, if anything, it was even stronger than two years ago. Her second-oldest brother, who worked at the city hall, was leading a regional development project. As part of that, a new highway had finally opened, making travel to neighboring prefectures much easier. The Inuzuka family’s stock had skyrocketed.

To their 120% goodwill and 120% ulterior motives, Himari smiled sweetly and said, “Hmm, what should I do?”

For a moment, I thought her gaze flicked toward me. “  ”

I slung my bag over my shoulder and stood up.

Without saying goodbye to anyone, I left the classroom. The hallway was filled with students heading home or to club activities. Some were already in their gym uniforms.

I headed to the science room in a separate building. Using the key I borrowed from the staff room, I unlocked the door. Inside were six tables, each seating six. I placed my bag on the front table by the window.

At the back of the science room were large steel shelves.

I unlocked the bottom drawer of the right shelf. Inside were LED planters. These were excellent for growing plants indoors without worrying about pests.

The winter-blooming flowers had already been harvested. Now, spring seeds and seedlings were planted.

Amaryllis, lavender, carnations, marigolds…

I took photos of all of them to document their growth. After refilling the water, my gardening club duties were done.

Now it was time for my personal project.

I locked the LED planter drawer and unlocked the one above it. I pulled out two cardboard boxes.

Opening one, I found it filled with sealed containers I’d bought at the hundred-yen store. I took one out and checked its contents.

Inside were a large amount of desiccant and the preserved petals of a pansy.

I checked the color of the petals. The vibrant yellow had deepened slightly, giving it a nice, subdued tone. The petals

showed no signs of deterioration. Now, it was just a matter of drying…

“Alright.”

I opened the other box.

This one contained my tools. I took out a pair of tweezers from the toolbox and put on vinyl gloves. Then, I opened the sealed container.

Using the tweezers, I carefully picked up the pansy petals. “…Looking good, right?”

Yeah, they looked great.

Actually, they looked really good. I was worried the petals might be too thin and fall apart, but…

For now, I’d let them rest… It’d be a shame if the petals fell off. “Alright, time to get serious.”

I prepared my desk magnifier.

Using it, I began crafting the flower accessory.

First, I threaded the petals onto a ring. This was the most delicate part. I couldn’t damage the petals, and it had to look good.

I carefully completed the task and quickly secured it with adhesive.

The angle, appearance, strength… all good.

Next, I worked on the earring base. I shaped the wire and metal sticks into the earring form. Since the pansy was yellow, I used a bluish metal to create a cool contrast.

Finally, I combined the base with the ring holding the pansy. This time, I aligned the pansy to face forward when worn, so it would look like the flower was blooming from the earlobe.

I used a soldering iron to fuse the base and the ring. A mistake here would ruin all my previous work. If the soldering iron even slightly touched the flower, it would burn instantly.

The science room was silent.

In the distance, I could hear the brass band club practicing. The quiet was comforting. It felt like the calm before a duel between Edo-period swordsmen.

…Now, let’s do this properly.

I brought the soldering iron close to the joint and the solder, barely touching it before pulling away. …It felt a bit weak. I

hadn’t done it in one go. A second attempt… the solder blob was a bit larger, but it should be fine. It wouldn’t detract from the flower’s appearance.

Finally, I applied patina solution to the soldered area to prevent corrosion and add color. This would help mask any minor color changes.

One side was done. I held it up to the desk lamp to check. “…Okay.”

I wiped the sweat from my forehead.

The moment an accessory was completed was always satisfying. It was like being in my own world, completely cut off from the outside.

I really loved this alone time.

My sisters called me gloomy, but that’s just how I was born. I’m a creator. Only by embracing solitude can I truly face myself…

“Wow, this one turned out cute too.” “…!?”

My peaceful silence was shattered without warning.

Slender arms reached over my shoulders from behind, wrapping around my neck.

It was Himari. She had her arms around my neck, peeking over my shoulder at the accessory in my hands.

“Hehe, did I surprise you?”

As she tilted her head, her silky hair brushed against my cheek. Her sparkling marine blue eyes stared straight at me.

The Anemone choker she’d worn since middle school glinted faintly.

“Himari. Don’t hug me suddenly when I’m using a soldering iron. Also, how long have you been here?”

“About an hour. I tried talking to you, but you totally ignored me.”

Himari reached over and turned off the soldering iron. “From now on, it’s time to play with me, okay?” she whispered in my ear, as if to say.

“Yuu, you dummy.”

“Hey, I still have the other one to finish…”

“I’ve had enough of your sparkly eyes for today, so we’re closing up. Go make up with your partner, okay?”

“O-Okay, just stop talking in my ear…” Himari sipped from a Yoghurppe juice box.

Then, she pulled another Yoghurppe from her skirt pocket and stuck the straw in my mouth. I gratefully took a sip.

Ah, refreshing. I’d been so focused on my work that I hadn’t

realized how thirsty I was. …Though I’d prefer something like Pocari Sweat over lactic acid drinks.

“Himari, didn’t you get invited to karaoke earlier?”

“Huh? I turned them down.”

“That’s a waste. There were some people from other classes you’ve never met before. You could’ve hung out with them.”

“Hmm. That wouldn’t have been bad, but I didn’t want you giving me jealous looks.”

“I wasn’t giving you any. Stop making up my feelings.” Himari giggled.

It was like she was saying, “I’m giving you the luck of monopolizing the cutest girl in the world, so be a little more

grateful or I’ll kill you.” Well, she was cute, but pushing luck on someone felt more like a scammer’s tactic.

“But you were totally giving me those hot looks.”

“I was just remembering the cultural festival in middle school. Your hair was so long back then.”

“Speaking of which, you’ve gotten taller, Yuu. Weren’t I taller than you back then?”

“…………”

I stood up to test it, and Himari, still hanging from my neck, squealed and flailed her legs. …It wasn’t that Himari hadn’t grown much; I’d just grown too much.

Checking the clock, it was already past 5 PM. “Hey, can you get off me already?”

“Nope. This spot on your back is my VIP seat.” “VIP seat…”

Well, I was used to it by now.

“…Weekdays are always slow. If I could work at home, it’d be easier.”

“Your room’s still no good?”

“My cat keeps playing with the flowers mid-process. That guy finds them no matter where I hide them.”

“Ahaha. Why don’t you just work at my place? We have extra rooms, and you could use one as a workshop.”

“No way. Your brother always brings over expensive sushi.”

When the whole family goes out of their way to welcome you, it’s awkward for a teenage boy. …I expected rural powerhouses to be scarier.

“Besides, I’m running out of flowers lately.” “You could just buy them from a store.”

“I want to use something I’m confident in.” “…I see.”

Why did she look so happy about that?

I’d known Himari for a while now, but I still couldn’t figure out what made her happy.

Honestly, I never thought we’d still be best friends two years later. Himari had so many friends, and I thought she’d get bored of me quickly…

“It’s all thanks to your Instagram, though.”

The “you” Himari had mentioned earlier was, well, me.

Her Instagram wasn’t just a hobby; she used it to promote my flower accessories.

Like in this morning’s gelato post, Himari always wore my flower accessories in her photos. Her account linked to a site where people could order them if they liked what they saw.

It was a strategy to raise funds for a store and promote my accessories at the same time.

We’d tried various things during middle school. I’d frequented

local bazaars, uploaded the crafting process to YouTube… In the end, this worked best. Apparently, “beautiful girl × flower accessories” was an easy sell.

“Speaking of which, Himari, what happened with that talent agency that contacted you the other day?”

“Ah, I turned them down. I told them I’d stay local until high school.”

“Seriously? That’s a waste.”

“Ahaha. If I went that far, I wouldn’t have time to promote your accessories.”

“They even said they’d come all the way out here to meet you.”

“Hmm. If the world finds out how cute I am, it’d be trouble. What if some oil tycoon falls in love with me and proposes? There’d be a tragic war among his wives.”

“Where do you even get that confidence? No one’s worried about that.”

As she happily watched me work, Himari’s juice box made a zuzu sound.

Then, she took my empty juice box and said, “You’re done with this, right?” before neatly folding both and putting them in her pocket.

“Well, Yuu and I are fate-bound partners, so if Yuu can’t get married, I’ll have to take responsibility. I’d feel bad for your parents, you know?”

“Can you stop that? Ever since you said that, your brother’s been calling me ‘brother-in-law’ and it’s awkward.”

“What’s wrong with that? Just become his brother-in-law already.”

“No way. I already have my hands full with you. There’s no way I can handle your equally chaotic brothers too.”

“It’s fine. Our mansion is huge. Three families could live there with plenty of privacy.”

“Why are you assuming your brothers would live with us!?”

The thought of being surrounded by Himari and her brothers from morning till night sounded like pure torture.

“If you don’t like it, you could just get married first, Yuu? It’s been over a year since we started high school; haven’t you found someone you like yet?”

“…Well, about that.”

“Oh? You still can’t forget your first love?”

“Shut up. It’s not that I can’t forget her. I just haven’t had a meeting as impactful as that one.”

“An impactful meeting, huh? Wasn’t that the girl you helped when she got lost at the botanical garden?”

“Yeah. The hibiscus we saw together was so beautiful. She was wearing a white dress, quiet and cute. She kept holding onto my sleeve because she was lost too, and it was adorable.”

“…………”

Himari stared intently at my profile.

Then, with a serious expression, she poked my cheek. “…I’ve been meaning to say this for a while.”

“W-What?” Himari snorted.

“That girl might just be a creepy fantasy of yours.” “I’ll kill you.”

“Or maybe you hallucinated her because you love flowers too much…”

“How is that any different from a creepy fantasy!?”

“Your dreamer personality is part of your charm, Yuu. But maybe it’s time to start looking at real girls, don’t you think?”

“W-Why? What’s wrong with that…”

“Because even if you reunite with your first love, it’d be embarrassing if you’re still a virgin, right?”

Her words stabbed me right in the heart.

I fumbled and almost dropped the equipment I was holding. “It’s fine! I’m not even thinking about reuniting with her!”

“Hmm. Not even trying to hide your virginity. I like that about you, Yuu.”

“Besides! It’s because you’re always clinging to me at school that everyone thinks I have a girlfriend!”

That was my ultimate counterargument.

But Himari just covered her mouth, giggling, and patted my chest. “Eh? But I’ve had boyfriends here and there, you know? It’s just

that you’re not emitting enough pheromones. Don’t blame me.”

“And the guys you rejected keep spreading weird rumors about me! Why do people think I stole you from them!?”

“That’s because I only talk about you in front of them, right?”

“Stop causing me trouble!! I don’t even know where the landmines are at school anymore!”

“It’s not like I date them because I like them, you know?” “Then why do you date them?”

“Hmm? To kill time?”

“Ugh. That part of you really creeps me out.”

“Ahaha. I still don’t really understand romantic feelings, you know?”

It had been two years since that middle school cultural festival. When it came to love, we were still the same as ever.

“Well, I guess it’s fine as it is. I’d be in trouble if no one wanted me by the time I’m 30.”

“Are you seriously planning not to get married until the store opens?”

“I don’t even plan to get married in the first place. But if Yuu gets married before me, I might really be forced into an arranged

marriage. That’s something I really want to avoid.”

“Stop using me as a shield. Just go get married already, to anyone.”

“The candidates are all old men, you know? Yuu, would you really be okay with me marrying someone as old as my dad?”

“Wait, seriously?”

“Yeah. My young body would be defiled by some greasy old man’s hands…”

“Y-Yeah. You really drop some creepy erotic phrases sometimes, even though you’re a girl…”

“Sorry for being such a naughty girl~” “That’s not the cute image I had in mind…”

More like a middle school boy picking up dirty magazines in a rundown park.

Talking about how so-and-so senpai and his girlfriend did it in such-and-such place, that kind of vibe. …Even though she’s such a beauty, I really don’t feel any excitement.

“By the way, do arranged marriages still happen these days?”

“They do. If I’m not careful, I might have to go through a series of them right after graduating high school. Photos of me are

probably already circulating among acquaintances. That’s why I haven’t decided on my future path yet.”

“Ah. That’s why you submitted a blank career form in first year and got scolded…”

“I just wrote ‘Yuu’s wife’ because they told me to write anything, but I got scolded instead…”

“You deserved that.”

Don’t go using my name without permission.

No wonder the teachers kept asking me if I had my phone with me since then. Sorry, but even if I have it, I don’t plan to use it anytime soon.

“…But arranged marriages between wealthy families still happen in this Reiwa era?”

It feels so outdated. I’d hate to have my life decided like that.

And the candidates are all twice my age…

“Well, I’ll be your shield then. …We’re best friends, after all.”

I said something cool like that and turned around with a determined face.

Then, Himari’s face turned bright red as she tried desperately to hold back her laughter. Her cheeks puffed up like a squirrel’s, trembling.

I immediately realized… I’d been played. “Pfft—! Just kidding~♪”

“I’m gonna knock you out!?”

“There’s no way arranged marriages like that still happen. Have you been reading too much erotica?”

“You’re the one who brought up greasy hands!!” Himari laughed for a while, then ruffled my hair.

“Don’t worry, I won’t abandon you halfway. I plan to enjoy this VIP seat for a while longer.”

Her arms around my neck tightened. I tapped her arms in protest.

“My neck~. This VIP seat is choking me~.”

“The man with the most comfortable neck in Japan~.”

“What kind of title is that? I’m not happy about it at all?”

“The woman with the most comfortable arms to be held by in Japan~.”

“I wonder about that. You’re a bit too thin… Ouch, stop putting so much strength into your arms!?”

As we fooled around like usual, the 6 PM chime rang.

Sports clubs could stay until 8 PM, but cultural clubs usually ended here. The separate building was being locked up one by one. We had to leave before then.

“Let’s call it a day here.” “Yeah~.”

“Don’t just say ‘yeah.’ Help me out.”

And get off my neck already. Stand on your own feet. Don’t just hang there giggling. Dragging me around is really choking me, you know?

“Alright, Himari-san. Roll call for going home. Tools, okay.” “Flowers, okay.”

“Keys, okay.”

“Mood for McDonald’s on the way home, okay?” “Hmm. I kinda feel like sushi today.”

“Oh, really? Then I’ll text my brother. ‘Yuu wants to eat sushi today, so buy the expensive one~’…”

“Sushiro on the way home is fine! Okay!?”

[T/N: Sushiro is a popular sushi chain in Japan.]

“…Sigh. Brother-in-law is so cold~.” Who’s your brother-in-law!?

After locking up the science room, we headed home. This was my everyday life with Himari.

The little world we’d built over these two years.

And it was going almost perfectly. The gears only started to slip slightly the next day.

♣♣♣

The next afternoon, a full day later.

Himari wasn’t there because of a committee meeting.

This happened often. It was easy to forget since she was always around me, but Himari was a model student. She was quite active in committees and volunteer work.

…Well, it was probably more about maintaining her family’s reputation. Being born into a wealthy family was tough.

Before heading to the science room, I stopped by the vending machine area to buy a Yoghurppe. Since Himari always made me drink it, I’d become a bit addicted to lactic acid drinks.

I inserted coins into the vending machine and pressed the button. The juice box dropped into the retrieval slot.

“It’s nice to have some quiet sometimes.”

My dad used to say that true men enjoy silence. I know it was just an excuse because he couldn’t win arguments with my mom, but I didn’t hate the sentiment.

“…Huh?”

A girl was walking toward me from ahead. She had slightly reddish-black straight hair.

Her eyes were narrow, giving her a somewhat sharp impression. Her uniform was worn loosely, with the collar slightly open.

The color of her tie indicated she was a second-year like me.

I didn’t know her name. We hadn’t been in the same class last year.

…She was really beautiful.

Even among beautiful girls, Himari was the comforting type. Like a fairy living in a serene forest. The kind that would heal a

traveler’s stamina in a game.

But this black-haired girl was more like a sharp knife. Modern, you could say. The type who’d casually badmouth her boyfriend behind his back. She had the same vibe as my sisters.

“…………”

She glared at me.

Crap. She noticed me staring. I quickly averted my gaze. …I’m just a small-town guy.

By the way, I’m bad with beautiful girls, but I like them.

…It feels contradictory, but what I mean is, ‘They’re good references for accessory motifs.’ Honestly, talking to them is terrifying. Beautiful girls are best when they’re silent.

Even in this moment, I was imagining an accessory that would suit the black-haired girl.

From the brief glance I got, she seemed like the type who put effort into her appearance. She wore makeup well and didn’t

forget accessories to enhance her look. Hairpins, necklaces… For the face and above, this was the right amount. More isn’t always better.

That left the area below the neck for my accessories. She had light nail polish, so rings would clash too much. That left the wrists…

(That’s right. Something like a loose bracelet… huh?)

What caught my eye was her left hand resting on her shoulder bag. On her wrist was one of my flower accessories.

Queen of the Night.

A flower with large, white, glossy petals, synonymous with beauty. Its flower language matched its appearance. ‘Gorgeous beauty,’ ‘Fleeting love’—‘Just once, I want to meet you.’

…I remember.

The Queen of the Night petals were palm-sized, so after preserving them, I divided the petals and stamens to make the accessory. Like Himari’s choker, I encased it in a heart-shaped resin and attached it to a metal bracelet.

It was one of my best works from the middle school cultural festival. The flower language was so emotional that it stuck in my memory.

…Was there someone other than Himari who still cherished my old work?

Unlike bare preserved flowers, resin-encased ones could last for years with proper care.

But ultimately, they were just accessories. For women, accessories were fleeting. Unless it was something special like a wedding ring, no one would keep wearing the same piece forever. Only an eccentric like Himari would do that.

It wasn’t sad. That was just their fate.

I was confident in my work, but I didn’t force that on buyers. It would be arrogant to expect them to keep the feelings I poured into my work forever.

Well, I was just a bit surprised.

(Was she among the customers back then…?)

It was no wonder I didn’t remember. It had been chaos at the cash register back then.

Anyway, this reunion with the Queen of the Night would be a heartwarming story to tell Himari later. “Did you fall for her? Did you fall for her~?” I could already see her teasing me.

I took the Yoghurppe from the vending machine and passed the girl.

The black-haired girl took out her wallet in front of the vending machine. She was probably buying something for club activities.

As I walked, I stabbed the straw into the juice box. Then I remembered, “Ah, this was for later.”

Should I buy another one? But going back now would seem suspicious…

Was the black-haired girl still there? I turned around to check.

…She was still there, inserting coins into the vending machine.

That’s when I noticed something.

The Queen of the Night bracelet on her left wrist had suddenly disappeared. Did she put it in her bag just now? Thinking that, I looked down.

The black-haired girl also looked down to pick up her drink.

‘—Ah.’

I wasn’t sure whose voice that was.

It might have been hers because it sounded cuter than I expected. Or maybe we both said it at the same time. Either way, our eyes were fixed on the same thing.

At the black-haired girl’s feet…

The Queen of the Night flower accessory had fallen.

The joint on the bracelet had broken. It was something I’d bought with the middle school club budget. It was natural for it to deteriorate. In fact, it had lasted surprisingly long.

My feelings were… well, cooled off.

Not that I was calm… More like, detached. I’d made hundreds of accessories. I poured my passion into each one, but I rarely looked back.

After all, accessories were consumables.

They were meant for fleeting encounters, and that was their value.

If I misunderstood that, I couldn’t run a business. What Himari and I aimed for was something unique yet not. We were craftsmen, not artists.

But maybe it was different for her. “Ah, no…!”

The black-haired girl hurriedly picked up the accessory.

She carefully wiped the resin surface with a handkerchief, checking for damage. Just from that, I could tell she cherished it.

She touched the broken part and quickly pulled her hand away. She must have pricked her finger on the sharp edge. She sucked on her fingertip… but her eyes remained fixed on the broken accessory.

Her eyes looked a bit teary.

She seemed like the type who’d toss a broken accessory into the nearest trash can. Yet, here she was, looking like her world had ended. It struck a chord in me.

So, I couldn’t help but speak up. “I can fix that…”

“Huh?”

The black-haired girl looked up at me in surprise.

But I was staring at her beautiful face. …Why? I’m bad with beautiful girls. Honestly, I can’t even make eye contact with strangers, but…

Then she coldly said:

“What do you want all of a sudden?” Ugh, harsh…!

Her words had a destructive force that shattered the atmosphere in an instant.

Of course, it made sense. If a stranger suddenly offered to fix your accessory, you’d be suspicious. If this happened outside school, the police might get involved.

Besides, she could just take it to an accessory shop or hardware

store for repairs. Well, they might refuse since it’s a custom piece, but still.

“Ah, sorry. Um, it just seemed really important to you, so I… Forget I said anything.”

Then I ran away. The Yoghurppe I’d spilled created a trail, but I didn’t have the luxury to look back.

So embarrassing.

If I told Himari about this, she’d probably laugh her head

off. “Pfft—!” I’m definitely not telling her. I’ll take this to my grave!

♣♣♣

Two days later, during class.

It was a classical Japanese lesson, but I couldn’t focus at all. Actually, I’d been like this for a while now.

…If I let my guard down, the black-haired girl’s cold stare would flash back. That look like I was some kind of bug. Sure, I was suspicious, but was it really that bad?

—Pokon.

A crumpled memo flew over from the seat next to me. Unfolding it, I saw “Mr. Pervert~. Please pay attention in class~” written in cute round letters.

“…………”

I glanced to the side and saw Himari grinning.

When I ignored her, another memo ball came flying. This one said, “Should I find that girl for you? Maybe it’s fate~ (lol).”

I folded it and put it in my pocket. Finally, Himari’s fist came flying. She lightly punched my right shoulder.

“Don’t ignore me!”

“This is clearly an ignore-worthy situation. Did you really think I’d fall for this elementary-level provocation?”

“Huh? How can you say that about my kindness?”

“Kindness, huh? What are you planning to do if you find her?” “Hehe. Maybe I’ll record Yuu getting rejected and make a

video~.”

“Rejected. Absolutely rejected. Why are you assuming I’d confess in the first place?”

“It’s fine. Even if you get arrested as a pervert, I’ll take you in. Oh, but if I’m already married by then, sorry~.”

“That’s beyond irresponsible…”

“Eh? Then should I seriously take you? Want me to issue a reservation ticket? A thumbprint will do~.”

“I already said I don’t want that… huh?”

I suddenly noticed the surrounding students’ eyes on us.

The old classical Japanese teacher at the podium was staring at us. “Natsume-kun. Don’t disturb Inuzuka-san’s studies, okay~?” Why me!?

Himari had a good outward appearance, so it always looked like I was the one bothering her. …Himari magic is unforgivable.

“Your response~?” “I’m sorry…”

The classical literature class ended, and it was lunch break.

As I was preparing my convenience store bread, Himari rested her chin on my head from behind. Then, she started tapping my shoulder rhythmically with a pen pen pen.

“It’s your fault I got scolded, Yuu~”

“You’ve got some nerve to say that. How thick-skinned are you…?”

I shook my head up and down, bumping into Himari’s chin with a gon gon gon. Himari let out a series of “Au! Au! Au!” sounds, like a seal.

I could hear the girls in our class whispering, “Those two are all over each other all day,” “They’ve been like that since last year,” “Ugh, just explode already.” Sorry, everyone… my best friend

here has no sense of time, place, or occasion…

“By the way, Yuu. Are you still hung up on what happened the day before yesterday?”

“I’m not hung up on it. I’m perfectly calm.”

“And yet, you haven’t made any progress on your work since then.”

“Ugh…”

“Don’t worry about it~ Being treated like a creep by a beautiful girl is kind of a reward in itself, right?”

“That’s not how it works. Who even told you that?”

“My brother. When I told him you got treated like a creep by a beautiful girl, he said, ‘I’ll pay you to switch places with me.’”

“Why is it that someone so good-looking and nice can have such a messed-up fetish?”

“Ahaha. Maybe it’s genetic~” “Genetic…”

“Everyone in our family has at least one fetish, you know? My grandpa went to Europe because he had a thing for blue eyes.”

“So, that’s what you inherited, huh?”

“Exactly~ I’m an eye fetishist, so right now, Yuu’s passionate eyes are my absolute favorite♡”

“Well, thanks…”

By the way, the incident with the black-haired girl the other day—of course, I couldn’t take it to the grave. Thanks to that, I’ve been at Himari’s mercy for the past two days.

“But hey, isn’t it great? There’s still someone out there who treasures your first flower accessory.”

“Yeah. She’s a real weirdo.”

“Hey, hey! I treasure the choker you made me too, you know~?” “Honestly, I think you’re the weirdest one of all…”

Up until now, I’ve made Himari plenty of new accessories. But this anemone choker is the one she’ll never let go of.

Not that I’m ungrateful… It’s just that, for some reason, thinking about it makes me feel itchy.

While I was talking to Himari, a classmate called out to me. “Natsume-kun. You have a visitor~”

A visitor for me? That’s rare. No offense, but I don’t have as wide a social circle as Himari. I’m really bad at after-school hangouts.

As I headed to the hallway, the visitor poked their head into the classroom.

“Hey, Natsu! I came to hang out!” “…Oh, it’s you, Makishima.”

A guy with messy brown hair waved at me with a carefree vibe. Makishima Shinji.

We were in the same class last year. We started talking because we sat next to each other right after starting school. This year, we’re in different classes, but we still greet each other when we pass in the hall or during joint classes.

In other words, he’s my only male friend… Well, that’s a roundabout way of saying it, but basically, he’s my only friend besides Himari.

“What’s up, womanizer?”

“Ahahaha! Straight to the point, huh? That’s why I like you♪” Makishima is a natural-born playboy.

He’s hit on countless female students, and every time, it ends in chaos. He’s like a modern-day swordsman. The moment he showed up in our classroom, several girls in our class clicked their tongues with intense expressions. You can tell just how

much trouble he’s caused… Seriously, how does he have such strong mental fortitude?

“If you’re here to borrow my English dictionary, I didn’t bring it today.”

“That’s not why I’m here. There’s something I want to ask you, Natsu.”

By the way, “Natsu” is me. It’s short for Natsume Yuu.

As I was wondering what he wanted to ask me, Himari called out from behind me.

“Oh, it’s Makishima-kun~ What’s up?” “Hey, Himari-chan. How’s it going?”

“Mhm~ Thanks to you, I’m having a great time in high school~”

“That’s good to hear. I’m glad I’m lending you my Natsu.”

Himari’s eyebrow twitched. She suddenly wrapped both arms around mine and responded with a prickly smile.

“That’s right~ Thanks for always playing with my Yuu, Makishima-kun~?”

“…Tch!”

Bachi bachi bachi bachi…

Hey, wait. Why are you two glaring at each other over my ownership? I’m my own person! And my parents are the ones paying my tuition!

“…You two dated in middle school, right? Why are you so hostile now?”

By the way, Makishima is apparently Himari’s ex-boyfriend from before she met me. I was pretty surprised when I first heard that… Well, I guess relationships in the countryside are pretty

tight-knit. Both of them are the type to move on quickly, so it’s kind of whatever at this point.

Himari let out a knowing “Hmph” and smirked.

“Even if it was just to kill time, I’d rather not remember my past with this guy~”

“You’re really harsh, aren’t you? Did I do something wrong?” “Because Makishima-kun was playing the field, I got a ton of

backlash from the girls, and they gave me a really hard time, you know~?”

“Ahaha. If you accept confessions out of curiosity even though you don’t like them, that’s what happens. Consider it a lesson for underestimating me and putting me on the same level as other

guys.”

As expected of the king of scumbags, he’s really good at brushing things off.

…Now that I think about it, Himari’s aversion to romance might be because of Makishima. I just found out, but this guy’s really something else.

“So, Makishima, didn’t you have something to ask me?” “Ah, right. I almost forgot.”

And then Makishima got to the point.

“The day before yesterday after school, did you talk to a girl by the vending machine?”

“A girl?”

The day before yesterday… does he mean that black-haired girl? As soon as I realized that, my blood ran cold.

“Is she your current girlfriend? I mean, I did talk to her, but it wasn’t like I was hitting on her or anything…”

“No, no. That’s not what I mean.”

He poked my chest with his index finger.

…Well, it’s fine, but… this isn’t the kind of communication I’m used to from guys, so it’s kind of confusing.

“But yeah, it was you, Natsu. When I heard the description, I had a feeling it might be you.”

“Description? What do you mean?”

The finger that was poking me slid sideways.

When I peeked into the hallway from the classroom door, I saw the girl we were just talking about. In other words, the black- haired girl.

“Ah.”

“…Hello.”

That’s all she said before turning away coldly. She’s as aloof as ever.

Makishima’s poking attack exploded right on her forehead!

“Hey, hey! Rin-chan, you’re the one asking for a favor here. At least greet him properly!”

“Ouch! Shin-kun!” Shin-kun?

Ah, Makishima Shinji, so Shin-kun. And hey, can you stop flirting in front of someone else’s classroom? You’re going to get glared at by everyone else… Huh? Wait, I feel like a boomerang just flew back at me.

“Makishima. What’s your relationship?”

“She’s the daughter of the Western confectionery shop behind my house. In simple terms, she’s my childhood friend. She’s one of

the few girls I’ve sworn not to lay a hand on. Be nice to her, okay?”

“Huh. Thanks for the completely unnecessary info in the second half.”

So childhood friends of the opposite sex really do exist in real life.

And she’s such a beauty too. I’m impressed. Makishima’s also good-looking, so they’re like a manga couple.

As I was admiring them, Himari reacted.

“Oh~ It’s Enocchi! So the girl Yuu was talking about was Enocchi?”

“Enocchi?”

The black-haired girl also seemed to recognize Himari. “…Hii-chan?”

Hii-chan? …Ah, Himari, so Hii-chan. It’s like a nickname war just broke out.

…But before that, isn’t this social circle way too small? Why does everyone except me know each other? I’m feeling a bit left out here. Can someone explain?

“Himari. What’s your relationship?”

“You’re involved too, Yuu. Remember? She’s the younger sister of that influencer who helped us during the cultural festival.”

Then it clicked for me.

It was during our middle school cultural festival when my flower accessories started selling because of an influencer’s tweet.

Himari’s brother was friends with that influencer. Through that connection, Himari and the black-haired girl must have met.

Himari’s social skills are on another level.

“So, um…”

“…Enomoto Rion.” Ah, her name.

It’s a cool name, just like her appearance.

“So, Enomoto-san. You’re here for me, not Himari?” “ ”

She looked really displeased. I mean, I didn’t call her here, but still…

This isn’t getting us anywhere. Sensing that, Makishima urged her on.

“Rin-chan. If you don’t state your business soon, Natsu’s going to be in trouble, you know?”

“Shin-kun. Stop calling me that…” Ah, Rion, so Rin-chan.

I wonder whose habit it is to give nicknames like that— Makishima or Enomoto-san? Well, it doesn’t matter either way.

“…Um, this.”

Enomoto-san held out both hands.

On her palms was something I recognized. “The accessory from that time?”

The moonflower metal bracelet. The clasp was still broken. No wonder she wasn’t wearing it on her left hand today.

As I was thinking that, Enomoto-san stated her request.

“I called some accessory shops and home centers, but they said they can’t repair non-brand items… My friends also said it’d be faster to just buy a new one…”

“Ah, I see.”

So she wants to ask me to repair it again, huh?

That’s a relief. I thought Makishima might say something like, “Don’t lay a hand on my girl!”… Wait, is my image of him too outdated? This isn’t a yakuza movie.

“Is after school today okay?” “…Mhm.”

With that, Enomoto-san turned away. I guess that’s her way of agreeing.

“Alright, I’ll take this then… Whoa?”

When I tried to take the accessory, she pulled her hand back.

What’s this? What kind of vibe am I supposed to respond with here? We just met, so I can’t read her character yet. Please stop doing things like this.

“…I’ll keep an eye on it so it doesn’t get broken.” “Ah, I see…”

She doesn’t trust me, but whatever.

I don’t really care either way. If she’s that attached to it, I guess it’s fine.

“Then, can you come to the science room after school?” “…Mhm.”

With that, it seemed like today’s after-school would be different from usual.

♣♣♣

That afternoon.

While waiting for Enomoto-san in the science room, I asked Himari about her personality.

“So, Himari, you and Enomoto-san know each other through your brothers?”

“Yeah~ We were close in elementary school, but not so much now. We were in different classes last year too.”

“Huh. So you went to the same elementary school?”

“Well, not exactly~ We only hung out a few times a year back then.”

“Like at family gatherings?”

“Ah, close. But it wasn’t family—it was when I helped deliver cakes.”

“…Cakes?”

“Makishima-kun mentioned it, right? Enocchi’s family runs a Western confectionery shop.”

“Ah, I see.”

So they hung out while helping with the family business.

“Enocchi’s family’s cakes are amazing. They’re really popular in the neighborhood.”

“Huh. I’d love to try them sometime.”

“We still order cakes from them, so do you want to come to the next birthday party? My mom’s birthday is next month?”

“No way. Why would I, a classmate of her daughter, crash your mom’s birthday party? That makes no sense.”

“She’s been lonely since you stopped coming over~” “That’s exactly why I shouldn’t go…”

Why are the people in that house so eager to have me over? If I did go, what kind of tone should I even use to give a congratulatory speech?

“Anyway, back to Enocchi. We started hanging out while delivering cakes, but by the time we were in upper elementary, we stopped seeing each other. We were in different school districts, so we didn’t meet at all.”

“Did you know she was attending our high school?” “Yeah. We talked a few times in our first year.”

I think I understand their relationship now.

But it’s impressive that she remembers friends from so long ago. I can only remember one or two guys I played baseball with in

elementary school… Wait, that’s kind of sad, isn’t it? “So, you went to different middle schools?”

“Yeah~ I think she got the moonflower accessory through her sister.”

That makes sense.

Either way, she doesn’t seem like the type to get involved with me.

“And does she know I’m the one who made it?”

“I think it’s better not to tell her~ Enocchi seems really attached to that moonflower accessory, right?”

“I don’t know if she’s attached to it, but she definitely treasures it.”

“Then it’d be sad to give her any weird thoughts, don’t you think?”

“Hey. Is the fact that I made it a ‘weird thought’…?”

“Not in that way~ It’s just that precious memories are best kept pure, right? No matter what the information is, it might ruin the memory. It’s kind of inconsiderate to pour water on someone’s precious memories, don’t you think?”

Ugh. She has a point.

It’s not like I want to brag about it, so I’ll just keep it to myself.

…As I was thinking that, Himari, who had misunderstood something, nudged me with her elbow.

“Aha~ So, Yuu, you’re using this as an opportunity to go after the cake shop’s beautiful daughter with huge breasts, huh~?”

“No way. Wait, what do you mean ‘huge’?”

Himari’s expression turned serious. She crossed her arms and nodded with a “Hmm.”

With a distant look in her eyes, she reminisced.

“…They’re huge. I saw them during a joint P.E. class in our first year, so I’m not mistaken.”

“Seriously…?”

Her uniform’s so loose, I didn’t notice…

Wait, why does it even matter if I noticed? Stop putting weird ideas in my head.

“Back in elementary school, she was as cute as a doll~ And now, in high school, she’s turned into such a glamorous beauty. Ah, she’s totally my type…”

“Huh. Now that you mention it, you do like that type of beauty. She has the same vibe as my sisters…”

“Yeah~ I really like your sisters too, Yuu. Beautiful people are treasures of the world, aren’t they~?”

“But despite that, this is the first time I’ve heard you talk about Enomoto-san. Aren’t you close?”

“…………”

Suddenly, her expression turned serious.

She stretched out on the table and spoke as if recalling a sad memory.

“I want to be close to her, but she’s been avoiding me a bit~”

“Huh? You? That’s rare for someone with your social skills.”

“Well… Right after we started high school, we were changing together during a joint P.E. class. And then…”

I had a feeling where this was going.

Specifically, I noticed Himari’s hands moving suspiciously.

“Ah, I don’t need to hear the rest. I have a bad feeling about this.”

“It was a spur-of-the-moment thing! The chance to grab

something so magnificent only comes once in a lifetime!” “I told you not to say it! No wonder she’s avoiding you!”

“You’d do the same if you saw something like that in front of you, right!?”

“No, I wouldn’t! What if someone heard you!?”

As we were arguing, the science room door suddenly opened.

Of course, it was Enomoto-san. She stood there with a cold

expression, staring at us. …Did she hear us just now? Well, it’s not my fault, but still…

Enomoto-san spoke with her usual cool demeanor.

“…Hello.”

“H-Hello…?” Hello…

I’m not sure if that’s the appropriate greeting for this situation, but at least it doesn’t seem like she heard our conversation.

“Ah, where’s Makishima?” “Shin-kun has tennis club today.” “Ah, right. That’s true.”

Sports clubs have practice, so it can’t be helped. But honestly, I was hoping he’d be here as a buffer for the conversation.

“So, Enomoto-san, do you have club activities?”

“I’m in the wind ensemble club, but today’s a day off.” “Ah, I see. Um…”

I need to think of a topic…

As I was panicking, Enomoto-san held out the moonflower accessory.

“Enough small talk. Please fix it.” “Ah, understood…”

I don’t want to get close to her, but her coldness is almost making me cry.

Hey, stop laughing, Himari. She’s probably wary of me because of your sexual harassment.

“Alright, I’ll start…”

I had Enomoto-san sit in a chair facing me and took the broken bracelet.

First, I checked the damage. As I expected, the joint part had deteriorated. Simply put, the rings that were fitted together had rubbed against each other, weakening their durability.

I’ll need to replace the parts entirely. Unfortunately, I don’t have the exact same ones, but I have similar ones in stock. They’re not from the hundred-yen store this time, so they should be more durable.

…As I was thinking that, I remembered what Himari had said earlier.

“Ah, Enomoto-san. Can I ask you something?” “…Can’t you fix it?”

She doesn’t trust me…

Well, that’s to be expected. To Enomoto-san, I’m just ‘some creepy guy who’s good with his hands.’ If Himari and Makishima weren’t here, she probably wouldn’t have asked me for help.

“Ah, no. It’s just, um…” “…Can you just say it clearly?”

Enomoto-san crossed her arms and tapped her fingers impatiently. She’s clearly irritated… Wow, her chest is really big. It’s almost spilling out of her arms… Wait, that’s not the point. Himari, stop putting weird thoughts in my head.

At that moment, Himari stepped in.

“Stop, stop. Enocchi, you’re scaring him~” “…Hii-chan.”

She still looked a bit dissatisfied, but she stopped pressing me.

“Yuu’s a bit of a scaredy-cat, you know~ He’s actually trying really hard with new people, so could you be a little kinder to him~?”

“I’m not angry or anything…”

“But, Enocchi, you’ve had a deep frown this whole time. Here, look at this?”

“…!?”

Himari suddenly held up a hand mirror, and Enomoto-san was startled. She leaned back in her chair, her arms flailing in the air.

“Huh? Enocchi?”

“Ah, wait, wha—… Gyaaah!?”

She fell backward, chair and all. Himari and I just stared blankly at the scene.

…I guess people freeze up in moments like this. “Enocchi!?”

“Hey, are you okay!?”

Himari and I hurriedly helped her up.

Fortunately, she didn’t hit her head or anything. But she did slam her elbow hard, and her eyes were teary.

“…Uu, uu.”

“Hey, Enocchi? I’m sorry, okay? Are you alright?” Suddenly, Enomoto-san let out a loud cry.

“You said you could fix it, so hurry up and fix it!” “O-Okay. My bad (?)…”

I didn’t expect her to fall so dramatically… Is she actually… you know, kind of clumsy? “Enocchi, you’re as clumsy as ever~” Himari just said it outright!

Enomoto-san’s face turned bright red as she retorted. “That was your fault, Hii-chan!!”

“Well, I mean, seriously? …Pfft!” “~~~~~!?”

Enomoto-san’s right hand grabbed Himari’s head sharply.

She started squeezing tightly, and Himari let out a dull scream while slapping at her arm.

“Hii-chan, I really hate you! You’ve always been insensitive, and you took all the keychains and dolls I liked!”

“I give! Enocchi, I give! Your iron grip is too much! You’ve built up so much arm strength from making sweets, you can’t do that! My skull’s screaming!!”

“Shut up! I’m finally getting revenge for all the grudges I’ve built up since elementary school!”

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry! I won’t do it again, ahh!” Wow…

This is the first time I’ve seen Himari get dominated like this. I guess Enomoto-san is immune to Himari’s usual antics since

they’ve known each other for so long. …I should learn from this stance.

After releasing Himari, Enomoto-san glared at me sharply. Her expression was like a demon’s, full of intimidation.

“Natsume-kun. Hurry up and fix it!” “O-Okay. I’ll do it right away.”

I hurriedly picked up the broken accessory.

It’s bad for Enomoto-san, but the atmosphere has lightened a bit.

Knowing that she’s had a hard time dealing with Himari makes me less nervous. …Though I didn’t want her to be the buffer.

“Before I start the repair, I need to confirm something. I can fix it, but I’ll need to replace some parts. Is that okay with you…?”

“Huh… You can’t fix it as it is?” She looked really unhappy.

“These parts were originally from the hundred-yen store. Those stores cycle through products quickly, so I doubt they still have the same parts from two years ago.”

“…You bought them at the hundred-yen store?” “Ah, no. It just looked like that kind of material.” That was close, too close.

I don’t think I need to hide it, but I agreed with Himari to keep it quiet.

Enomoto-san hesitated about replacing the parts.

She must have some kind of attachment to it. Himari seemed to notice that too and was struggling to convince her.

But it’s true that the same parts are hard to come by. That’s probably why the accessory shops and home centers refused to repair it.

I could try contacting the hundred-yen store to find the

manufacturer… but it’s likely the production line has ended. I

doubt they’d manufacture parts just for this repair. It’s probably an overseas product, and the manufacturer might not even exist anymore.

To repair this, Enomoto-san will have to compromise. If she can’t, then even I can’t fix it.

“I’ll keep the moonflower resin part as it is. I promise that. And if I use more durable parts, it’ll last longer in the future.”

“But…”

“If that’s not possible… how about putting it in a display case and decorating your room with it? I can make a decorative piece that matches your wishes.”

“…………”

She looked back and forth between the bracelet and my face. She looked like a child struggling to make a decision.

Her first impression was harsh, but maybe she’s actually quite pure-hearted. She seemed to get along well with Himari earlier too.

As I was thinking that, Enomoto-san spoke. “…I want to wear it.”

“Then, is it okay to replace the parts?” “…Mhm.”

She reluctantly agreed.

…That took a while. Honestly, I’m exhausted. I’m not used to

listening to people’s requests about accessories, and I just want to go home and take a bath. …Well, most of this exhaustion is

probably Himari’s fault.

“Alright, I’ll start preparing. Please wait a moment.”

I unlocked the steel shelf at the back and took out a cardboard box of tools. It also contained a case of material stock.

From it, I selected a metal stick with a color and shape similar to the bracelet. It was coral-colored and about one centimeter long. I placed it on the table to visualize how it would look when connected.

“How about this?” “…Mhm.”

“I’ll need to measure your wrist size.” “…Is this okay?”

I wrapped a measuring tape around her left wrist.

It’s about the same size as Himari’s. But Enomoto-san’s might look better with a bit more room to match her style.

“Alright, I’ll start the repair.” “…Okay. Please.”

First, I disassembled the moonflower bracelet.

It’s simple, though. Just cut it with thin-nosed pliers. Since it was already deteriorated, it didn’t take much force.

But I had to be careful not to damage the moonflower resin. It’s easy, but I had to be precise. Seriously, who made such a finely connected piece? Oh, right, it was me.

…Done.

I should maintain the resin part too… but if I touch it too much, she might feel uncomfortable. Nice, me. You’re considerate.

As for the joint part… “…Hey, Hii-chan.”

“What’s up~?”

“What’s your relationship with this person?” “Huh? Are you interested? Do you like Yuu?” “N-No! I was just curious!”

“Hmm. It’s kind of sad how strongly you denied that~” “So, what is it?”

“We’ve been best friends since middle school~” “Best friends?”

“Yeah. Is that weird?”

“…No. So what are you two doing in the science room?”

“It’s for the gardening club. We grow flowers in the shelves here. There’s also a flower bed behind the bike parking area. Here, take a look at the shelves?”

“Wow. What’s this? There are these cute round containers with flower buds lined up…”

“They’re LED planters. You can grow plants indoors even

without much sunlight. They’re great for keeping leafy vegetables fresh too~”

“That’s amazing. I didn’t know things like this existed…”

“By the way, I haven’t watered them today. Enocchi, want to try?”

“U-Um. Sure…”

“Here’s the watering can. The flowers have names, so call them by name and say ‘You’re so cute’ while watering them~ Flowers are pure, after all.”

“O-Okay.”

“Start from this side: ‘Akari,’ ‘Izumi,’ ‘Ui’…”

“Akari-chan. Izumi-chan. Ui-chan. Y-You’re so cute…” “Yeah, yeah. That’s good~ Keep it up. From here, it’s

‘Kekekekeke,’ ‘Kokokoko’…”

“It’s like you’re mass-catching Pokémon for IVs!?”

“Ahaha~ I couldn’t remember all the names, so~ Yuu remembers them all, though.”

“Wow… That’s impressive…”

“Yuu’s smarter than me when it comes to things he’s interested in~ It’s such a waste.”

“But, Hii-chan. I’ve never heard of a gardening club…”

“That’s because Yuu and I started it last year~ We haven’t recruited any members yet.”

“What do you do in the club?”

“Usually, we observe and grow flowers. We compile reports on flowers that are easy to grow indoors. It’s under the pretense of having therapeutic effects for social welfare~”

“Pretense…”

“Remember the flowers decorating the school gate at last year’s graduation ceremony? Those were grown by us.”

“Ah, the ones the seniors plucked as souvenirs after the ceremony?”

“That’s the one. It’s fine, but I wish they’d taken them more neatly~”

…The metal stick connections are done. Yeah, this should work.

Now, I just need to connect the resin part…

“Hii-chan. This person hasn’t reacted at all this whole time…”

“Yuu’s always like this when he’s working. Even if a vase broke next to him, he wouldn’t notice.”

“…Did you test that?”

“Ahaha. Last year, when I was changing the flower water, I accidentally did it~”

“Huh…”

“He can’t hear this conversation either. You can touch him now, and he won’t notice. Want to try?”

“Huh?”

“Like this. Do this here…” “W-Wait. Isn’t that bad…?”

“Mhm~ Ah, I should take a photo too.” “Uh, Hii-chan. Won’t he get mad later…?”

…Done.

This should be good enough. If I had more time, I could refine the details… but I promised Himari to keep it simple.

As long as she’s satisfied with this, it’s fine… “Hmm?”

I felt something strange on my head. Specifically, it felt like my hair was being pulled.

Then, Himari held up a hand mirror. “Here, Yuu. A mirror♪”

“Huh?”

My hair was tied up with countless red ribbons. “Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!?”

I couldn’t help but scream at the sight. These were the ribbons I had prepared for packaging the accessories!

“Himari, what are you doing!?”

“You screamed like a girl, Yuu… Pfft, haha!” Himari pointed at me and burst out laughing.

I tried to untie the ribbons, but my hair was tangled, and I couldn’t get them off.

“Ugh. These won’t come off! You fix this!”

“O-Okay. I’ll untie them, so you keep working, Yuu~”

It’s your fault in the first place, you know?

Himari started untangling the ribbons from behind me. I left that to her and handed the bracelet to Enomoto-san.

“Um, Enomoto-san. Can you try it on for now…?” “…Mhm.”

I wrapped the bracelet around her wrist.

The size was as expected. Now, it’s just about how it feels to wear.

When I looked up, I met Enomoto-san’s eyes. For a moment, her cheeks puffed up… and then she burst out laughing.

“Don’t laugh! Hey, Himari! Hurry up and take these off!” Behind me, Himari groaned.

“Yuu, sorry~ I tied them too well. This is hard to undo~” “Are you serious!?”

“It’s fine~ If I can’t untie these by the time I’m 30… Hmm. I’ll just shave your head.”

“Shouldn’t you take responsibility and say, ‘Just leave it to me’!? Don’t avoid responsibility at the most important part!”

Himari’s cheeks turned slightly red.

“Eh, Yuu. If you’re still single by 30, are you planning to marry me? …I’ll tell my brother, then.”

“Stop pushing your brother’s responsibilities onto me while blushing!?”

“Well~ He’s really questionable when it comes to marriage. I definitely don’t want to take care of him in his old age~”

“But you can’t just throw that onto a stranger!” “Yuu, you’re so selfish sometimes~”

“I’m the selfish one!?”

As we were talking, Enomoto-san suddenly let out a laugh. “Pfft, haha. Hii-chan. It’s definitely Hii-chan’s fault… Hehe.” We were stunned.

Her previous wariness was gone, replaced by a childlike smile. When I turned to Himari, she smirked.

“See? It’s thanks to me.”

“…You definitely just made that up.”

Well, it’s good that the atmosphere has lightened.

After checking the bracelet’s size, I moved on to attaching the clasp.

♢♢♢

‘Hey, Hii-chan. What’s your relationship with Natsume-kun (this person)?’

When Enocchi said that…

To be honest, I felt a little irritated. Let me make this clear.

I don’t see Yuu as a romantic interest.

I mean, I don’t really understand romance. Is it really that important?

‘Himari-san, are you dating Natsume-kun?’

Since I started hanging out with Yuu, I’ve been asked that hundreds of times. I’m getting calluses on my ears.

First of all, if it’s a classmate, fine, I can tolerate it. It’s natural to be curious, right? But sometimes, even students from other grades ask me. Out of nowhere, they’ll interrogate me, ‘What’s your relationship with Natsume-kun?’

Isn’t that terrifying?

I was asked again at the committee meeting the day before yesterday.

A third-year senpai… What was their name? Well, whatever. It doesn’t matter as long as it’s not Yuu. Anyway, a somewhat good-looking senpai (compared to me) suddenly said to me:

“You’re always with that tall guy, right? Don’t you think you’re a bit mismatched?”

I smiled and replied.

“Does that concern you, Senpai?”

The senpai, realizing they had no chance, quickly fled. It’s disgusting.

Because, isn’t that wrong?

Shouldn’t you ask what kind of person Yuu is first? Is Yuu’s value determined by whether he’s dating me or not?

It’s stupid.

People who don’t understand Yuu’s value have no right to deny my value. At the same time, they have no right to impose other values on me.

Can men and women be just friends? Of course, they can.

If they can’t, then what is this feeling? Is this desire to support Yuu’s dreams just a means to kiss or do something more?

It’s ridiculous. If I wanted to kiss Yuu, I wouldn’t go about it in such a roundabout way.

I’m tired of people like that. I don’t mean to deny their way of pursuing romance, but I don’t want them projecting it onto us.

I want them to understand that not everyone shares the same values. And if possible, I hope that whoever becomes Yuu’s girlfriend will accept our values too.

Because it would be lonely to just say goodbye once he gets a girlfriend.

As I was thinking that, the sky clouded over, and it started to rain.

It happened just as Yuu finished the bracelet. After leaving the science room, we changed our shoes and stood there, staring blankly at the sky.

Yuu looked like the world was ending as he watched the rain fall. “Himari. Wasn’t it supposed to be sunny all day today?”

“Ah, they said it would cloud over by evening.” “Seriously? I didn’t check…”

But the rain icon only appeared after midnight. The weather forecast was surprisingly accurate.

So, what should we do? Well, the outcome is obvious. As I expected, Yuu started to move.

“I’ll head home first. I have my bike. See you tomorrow.” “Why don’t you take the bus with us?”

“No, it’s fine. There’s no bus at a good time tomorrow morning.” With that, he left quickly.

I know he’s lying a little.

The truth is, he’s embarrassed because Enocchi is here. Yuu has low immunity when it comes to girls. He probably can’t stand

being in the same space with a girl he doesn’t know well.

(At this rate, it’ll be a while before Yuu gets a girlfriend…)

…That’s why I was surprised when Yuu approached Enocchi on his own. What’s even rarer is that Yuu could talk to her without looking away, even though it was their first meeting. I guess it’s because of the flower accessory incident, but still, it’s unusual.

But once I realized it was Enocchi, it made sense.

This girl is genuinely beautiful. She’s on a completely different level from the average pretty girl. It’s not an exaggeration to say she’s the second cutest after me. She has the potential to blow away Yuu’s ‘slightly awkward around girls’ attitude in an instant.

Beautiful face, great figure. Despite her cold demeanor, she’s actually incredibly kind. No matter how much I tease her, she always forgives me in the end. That’s why I feel comfortable around her. Plus, since her family runs a Western confectionery shop, she’s apparently good at cooking too. She’s the perfect girl to marry.

(Maybe Yuu’s spring has finally come~?)

Hmm. But Yuu’s the type who’s only interested in flowers… I sometimes wonder if he’s really like that.

It’s like two north poles of a magnet. If one of them were more proactive, there might be a chance? Enocchi’s vibe doesn’t seem completely uninterested either. This girl never shows a smile to people she genuinely dislikes.

“…Hii-chan?”

While I was nodding to myself, Enocchi spoke up. “Huh? Ah, sorry, sorry. What was it?”

“I checked the bus schedule. The next one’s coming soon.” “Ah, right~ Let’s head home together then~”

I opened my foldable umbrella, and we walked to the bus stop in front of the school.

Sharing an umbrella with a beauty. Hehe. This is a total perk. Sorry, Yuu. Really, thank you for getting soaked on your way home. Don’t catch a cold tomorrow~

“Hey. Hii-chan.” “Ah, what is it?”

“You haven’t been listening to me at all. What’s wrong?” “I was just wondering if Yuu’s okay~”

I can’t exactly say I was admiring Enocchi. She’d be weirded out again.

Beautiful people are treasures of the world. Admiring them has nothing to do with gender. I want to take her home. I’ll pamper her until she’s completely at ease.

…Come to think of it, Yuu hasn’t been coming over to my place much lately.

It’s probably just puberty, but it’s a little lonely.

My family’s also been waiting for Yuu to visit. I guess Yuu’s personality just resonates with the Inuzuka family’s DNA~

“…So, …right?”

“Whoa! Enocchi, sorry! I wasn’t listening again!” Oops. She’s really mad.

Enocchi’s never been straightforward, but her emotions show on her face. Ah, but that intense stare is kind of… No, bad thoughts.

Now, with a pouty, angry expression, Enocchi repeated herself. So cute.

“Hii-chan, are you really not dating that person?” “That person?”

“…Natsume-kun.” “Hmm~?”

Ah, so that’s what this is about…

While I was speculating about Yuu and Enocchi, Enocchi was also speculating about Yuu and me. When you gaze into the abyss, the abyss gazes back.

“We’re really not dating. We’re just best friends.”

“But earlier, you said something about getting married…”

“Ahaha. That was just a joke~ Everyone in our class has heard it.”

“But for a guy and a girl to be together that much…”

“If that’s the case, then everyone in the world must be doing it, right?”

“…Ugh. Well, I guess.” So cute!

Just saying ‘doing it’ made her blush! You look so modern, but are you actually innocent!?

Ah, I want to take her home. I want to take a bath together. I want to easily engage in the kind of communication that guys envy, using my privilege as a girl.

Not that I’m only attracted to the same gender or anything.

‘People should be honest about their desire to admire beautiful things.’

 

That’s my motto.

And—the fundamental reason why I’m helping Yuu.

Well, Yuu isn’t exactly a pretty boy. He’s average? Decent? We’ve known each other for so long that I can’t really judge anymore. He’s not bad, I guess.

It’s not about that. It’s his eyes that I like.

The way his eyes shine like rainbows when he’s making flower accessories. I don’t know why, but I love it. It resonates with

something deeper than the Inuzuka family’s DNA.

They’re like burning marbles, filled with passion. But there’s also a fragility that makes me feel like they’d break if I touched them.

That’s Yuu’s value to me.

I think I’ll never be able to leave Yuu. We’ll always be best friends. That will only end… when Yuu stops making flower accessories.

That’s why I’ll keep helping Yuu forever.

This feeling probably won’t be understood by others. So I don’t talk about it. People attack what they can’t understand. I know that because of these marine-blue eyes.

I want to keep sitting in this ‘special seat’ that’s only for me. “Hii-chan!”

“Ah, sorry! …What was it? Is the bus here? Are you coming over? Want to take a bath together?”

“I don’t get the last one…”

Oops. I got a little too honest with my desires.

Ah, don’t back away like that. The distance between us feels so cold. It’s fine, I won’t hurt you. …It’s really not fine.

“Hii-chan. Can I ask you something?”

“Hmm~?”

She looked serious. Maybe this is a genuine question?

Sure. Go ahead and consult with this big sister. If it’s within the reach of my grandpa and brother’s influence, I’ll help with anything.

“Hii-chan, have you ever had a boyfriend?” “That came out of nowhere~ What’s up?” “Ah, well, you seem popular…”

“Yeah~”

“You’re not denying it…”

It’s a fact, so there’s no point in denying it. Being humble would just sound sarcastic.

But a boyfriend, huh? …That’s an unexpected direction.

“I get them often, but I usually break up quickly~ It’s more like I date them to break up, you know?”

“Date them to break up…?”

“You know how some people are really pushy even after you reject them? So, I date them for a bit, let them realize we’re

completely incompatible, and then break up. It’s less messy that way.”

“Is that okay?”

“From experience, rejecting them outright is more likely to cause trouble. That’s why I have a separate phone for that. I give the

troublesome ones that Line account and then say, ‘My parents take my phone at night,’ so I don’t have to reply to messages.”

“Wow. That’s impressive…”

“Not really~ During that time, I can’t hang out with Yuu. It’s

really stressful. If it turns into a big mess, it’ll trouble my brother too, so it’s a hassle for me as well.”

Being born with the fate of being popular is such a pain.

No matter how quickly I break up, I usually can’t get my Yuu fix for about a week. And Yuu’s always like, ‘You broke up again? You really can’t keep a relationship, huh?’ which is kind of annoying.

“But yeah, that’s how it is. Can I help with your problem, Enocchi?”

“Well, um…”

Enocchi spoke carefully, choosing her words.

“Among them, was there anyone who confessed to you without knowing what you looked like?”

“…Huh?”

That was completely unexpected.

By ‘among them,’ she means my ex-boyfriends (lol). I don’t remember all of them, but someone confessing without even knowing what I look like… What kind of situation is that?

“Ah, like someone you met online?” “Not even someone I know…” Huh!? Not even someone you know?

So it’s one-sided? Then…

“Ah, like an actor or a comedian!” “It’s kind of similar, I guess…”

“But you don’t even know what they look like, right? What do you mean?”

The more I think about it, the less I understand.

I was so frustrated that I lightly slapped Enocchi’s back. “If you have something to say, just say it clearly!” “Ugh. …Okay.”

Enocchi finally got to the point.

“My family runs a Western confectionery shop, right? My sister always wanted to move to the city, so I thought I’d take over the shop…”

Oh? The conversation suddenly turned from love talk to a touching story.

I like how, despite her cuteness, she’s a bit socially awkward, just like Yuu. If Enocchi takes over the shop, the Inuzuka family will always be loyal customers. I just decided that.

“And? And?”

“When I help with making sweets, my mom often says, ‘Anyone can make something good. But only kind-hearted people can

make things that touch people’s hearts.’ I guess she wanted me to become a kind-hearted person…”

Ah. I see.

I think I understand what she’s trying to say.

“So, you found something that touched your heart? And even though you’ve never seen their face, you fell in love with them, right?”

“Y-Yeah. Something like that…”

She averted her gaze, her cheeks turning red.

Hmm. She’s serious about this. And she’s so cute. Is this okay? She’s cuter than me in this moment.

Sorry, Yuu. I thought there might be a chance earlier, but this is a no-go. Unfortunately, this beautiful, earnest girl already has

someone else in her heart. Better luck next time. You’ll have to stick with being my best friend for a while longer!

As I was playing around with my mental image of Yuu, Enocchi spoke.

“I don’t know what they look like. But I feel like they’re nearby…”

“Huh? Why?”

“Because they’ve been in your Instagram for a long time.”

…In my Instagram?

What? What does that mean? My Instagram is for promoting Yuu’s flower accessories, right? Was someone in it?

Is this a horror story? Scary. Wait, I’m bad with this stuff. Enocchi, don’t just drop something like that out of nowhere…

(──Ah, no.)

They’re in it. They’ve always been in it.

Enocchi didn’t say ‘the guy is in it.’ If I organize her story, she doesn’t even know what they look like.

But she knows their icon. It’s something they made that captivated her heart.

“Ah, Enocchi? Why did you bring this up? You said you didn’t like me, right? You’ve been avoiding me at school too…”

“…………”

Enocchi raised her left hand.

On her wrist was the moonflower bracelet.

A flower that blooms beautifully for one night and disappears the next.

Its flower language is ‘Glamorous Beauty,’ ‘Fleeting Love’—and ‘I Only Want to Meet You Once.’

“…‘You’ refers to Natsume-kun, right?”

Enocchi’s words weren’t a question. They were a confirmation of fact. No matter how I answered, she would trust her intuition.

I think I was arrogant.

I thought I was the only one who could understand Yuu’s worth.

A ‘special seat’ prepared just for me, just for my sake. There’s no substitute, and I never doubted that it was the same for Yuu.

…But my belief that Yuu and my friendship is the ultimate value is just my own self-centeredness.