Chapter IV | Turning Point.

♣♣♣

“Welcome!”

“One grilled piece, coming right up!”

The lively voices echoed through the sushi restaurant. We were at a sushi place along Route 10.

Kandagawa.

A locally beloved sushi restaurant, deeply rooted in the community. It boasted a rich menu, offering everything from sushi to local dishes.

The fresh fish caught locally was firm, and the grilled local chicken was superb. It was a bit pricey, so my family only came here for birthdays or my parents’ wedding anniversaries. During Obon or New Year’s, you’d have to wait in line until closing if you didn’t have a reservation.

Since it was a weekday today, we were seated immediately. Or rather, Himari knew an alum who worked here, and unless it was peak season, she could pull some strings to get us in.

Sitting around the table in the tatami room, Himari raised her teacup.

“Alright, let’s begin Yuu’s new accessory unveiling party!” “Yay!”

I gave a half-hearted response and clinked my teacup with hers.

Sipping the hot tea, I suddenly felt in the mood for sushi. As I was serving myself some pickled ginger, I noticed the two across from me looking dazed.

“Enomoto-san, Makishima. You two not eating?” “That’s not the point, is it!?”

It was Makishima who retorted sharply.

Enomoto-san was shrinking back, glancing around nervously.

“Natsu! I heard we were having a meal, but why a serious sushi place like this!?”

“…Hii-chan. This place is pretty expensive, right?” I tapped away at the tablet used for ordering.

Well, it was true. The place was filled with families and working couples. There were no other groups of high school students in uniform.

Himari snorted.

“Makishima-kun. If you didn’t want to come, you didn’t have to, you know? I only invited you because Yuu insisted.”

“Ugh!? Using Natsu as an excuse is cowardly! That’s exactly what I hate about you!”

“Can’t you two just get along during meals…?”

Well, whatever. I continued inputting the order without worrying about it.

I started with grilled mackerel sushi. The warm, freshly grilled mackerel sushi was the best. The flesh crumbled softly in my mouth, and the fat melted juicily. You’d never get this at a supermarket.

And Himari always ordered the tomato and mozzarella salad. It came in a large plate meant for multiple people, but Himari would finish it all by herself, which was impressive.

When I passed the tablet to Makishima and the others, they took it with a tired look.

“You guys definitely have a messed-up sense of money…” “I’ve only been here for my birthday…”

They said that, but they still went ahead and ordered.

Makishima went for the sushi platter and grilled local chicken. That was the basic choice for locals.

Enomoto-san ordered seasonal tempura. This time of year, it was always the bamboo shoot tempura with plum paste. That stuff was delicious.

As we started eating, Makishima asked,

“Normally, wouldn’t a celebration happen after the photoshoot?”

Since I had just put a piece of mackerel sushi in my mouth, Himari answered for me.

“After posting on Instagram, we’re swamped with orders for a while. Yuu focuses on making more, and I help with packaging. It takes about a month to settle down.”

By then, the idea of a celebration feels off. I’d rather just go home and sleep.

“I see. Being popular is tough, huh?”

“Nah, don’t hype it up. It’s just that with personal effort, it takes that long.”

If we had better equipment, we could be more efficient.

But that’s hard while still in high school. More than anything, we don’t have much free time. I want to graduate soon, rent a workshop, and focus on making accessories…

Makishima smirked.

“So? Can we see this new piece you mentioned?” “Yeah. I guess I’ll show it a bit early.”

I pulled a rectangular paper box from my bag.

This time, the theme was Love. It was delicate, so I paid extra attention to the accessory case’s atmosphere. I used red Japanese paper, which I got from a craft store that had helped with an Instagram shoot before.

When I opened the lid, a vivid red preserved tulip flower appeared. I carefully picked it up with gloved hands.

“This time, I made it into a hairpin. I imagined it blending into Enomoto-san’s black hair with a hint of red. I’ve told Enomoto- san before, but tulips change their petal opening depending on the day’s temperature. This time, I processed it at over 20°C… when the petals are fully open.”

“Natsu, this is amazing. I didn’t know tulip petals could open this wide.”

I handed the gloves to Makishima so he could hold it too. “What about the hairpin part? It’s not metal, is it?”

“It’s lacquered wood. I ordered it from the same store where I got the accessory case. It’s not mass-produced, so it’s a bit pricey, but…”

“No, no, it’s really good. Don’t you think so, Rin-chan?” “Y-yeah. It’s really pretty…”

Just as I was about to hand it to Enomoto-san, Himari suddenly cut in.

“That’s right!”

“Whoa, you scared me!”

I almost dropped the hairpin. I quickly reached out and barely

caught it. …That was close. It almost became soy sauce-flavored. “Himari! That was dangerous!”

“Ah!? …S-sorry. I just got excited.” She laughed awkwardly.

I had made a few extras, so there were spares.

But this one had the best color. I wanted to use it for the photoshoot.

“And after the shoot, I plan to give this to Enomoto-san.” “Really!?”

“Whoa, you scared me!?”

This time, Enomoto-san leaned over the table.

I almost crushed the hairpin in my hand. What’s going on? Is today some kind of prank day? Did they air a prank show on TV yesterday or something?

“Enomoto-san, what’s wrong?” “Ah, no, it’s just… Yuu-kun…” Her gaze was fixed on the hairpin.

“All the accessories we’ve used for shoots before, Himari has kept them. So, I plan to give this one to Enomoto-san.”

“R-really? Is it okay?”

“Since you’re helping us out… Ah, if you’d prefer something else…”

“This is perfect! …Ah, this is perfect!”

“O-okay. If you like it, then it’s fine.” “Yeah. It’s really cute.”

Meanwhile, Himari was nodding enthusiastically as she captured the hairpin with her smartphone camera.

“Really, this feels like Yuu’s masterpiece. I think it’s super cute too. It’s definitely going to break sales records!”

“Oh, uh… thanks…”

“I’ve already come up with a sales catchphrase. The red flower of fate that connects loved ones. It’s a play on the red string of fate, you know?”

“You don’t need to explain it. But isn’t it a bit early?”

“Not at all. Being aware of this kind of thing changes the model’s expression, you know?”

She turned to Enomoto-san. “Right, Enocchi?”

“Eh? Y-yeah. Maybe…”

“So, this catchphrase is decided. The red flower of fate that connects loved ones. It fits Yuu and the others perfectly.”

…That last part was clearly unnecessary.

Lately, Himari had been saying things like this a lot. She seemed to be trying to make me and Enomoto-san more aware of each other.

This must be annoying for Enomoto-san too.

“Hey, Himari. You’re misunderstanding something…” Suddenly, Makishima raised his voice.

“That’s right, Natsu! Why don’t you put it on Rin-chan right now!”

“What are you suddenly saying…?”

Can you stop competing with Himari at weird times?

I made eye contact with Enomoto-san. Her cheeks were slightly flushed as she leaned closer to me.

“T-then, please…” Seriously?

Enomoto-san, you’re really… no, you’re way too easily swayed by the mood. I really hope you don’t get caught by some shady guy in the future.

“Go on, go on.”

“Natsu, show us your manliness!”

Shut up, you hecklers. You only get along at times like this.

As the two of them pointed their smartphone cameras at us, I took the hairpin. Enomoto-san was looking at me with an intense gaze.

…What is this?

My heart’s pounding… and why are Himari and the others

suddenly silent, just staring at us? Couldn’t they tease us more? This is getting way too serious and embarrassing.

I brushed Enomoto-san’s bangs to the side and tucked them behind her ear. She squirmed slightly, ticklish. I carefully inserted the hairpin and secured it in place.

As expected, the vivid red of the tulip stood out beautifully against her black hair.

“How’s this…?” “T-thank you…”

She smiled shyly again.

…She really looks happy. It’s making me feel a bit weird too.

When I glanced at Himari and the others, they were also looking away, seemingly embarrassed.

“Wow. Yuu, this is a bit too erotic…”

“Hmm. I suggested it, but maybe this wasn’t something to do in public…”

What do you mean!?

Are you saying my accessory goes against public decency!? “A-anyway! The main event’s over, so let’s order more!”

“Hey, Himari. Order the most expensive sushi. Tuna and crab, all of it.”

“Eh!? Yuu, I have to show the receipt to Onii-chan later!”

“Shut up. You made me go through that embarrassing moment, you think you’re getting off scot-free?”

As for Himari, I’ll make sure Hibari-san scolds her properly later.

♣♣♣

Looking at the clock, it was almost 8 PM.

We had eaten well, so it was about time to leave. “Enomoto-san, how are you getting home?”

“Ah, Shii-kun’s older brother is picking us up, so I’ll ride with them.”

The perks of being childhood friends. That’s a relief.

Makishima had gone to get the last round of drinks. He came back shaking a glass of melon soda.

His expression was strange. He was frowning, glaring at Himari. “…It’s about time.”

……..?

I thought I heard him mutter that.

As he sat down, Makishima suddenly said,

“By the way, Natsu, what are your plans moving forward?” “Plans?”

Makishima smirked.

He took a big gulp of melon soda and slammed the glass on the table.

“Let me be blunt. Make Rin-chan your exclusive model.” “…Huh?”

The room fell silent.

Himari… no, even Enomoto-san looked at Makishima as if hearing this for the first time. Amidst this, Makishima continued with a theatrical gesture.

“Natsu, you really liked Rin-chan during this photoshoot, didn’t you? This accessory is stunning. From what I see, you two have great chemistry. It’s not a bad idea, right?”

“Well, Enomoto-san is beautiful, and I’m grateful, but…”

“Exactly! You get it! Rin-chan is beautiful. Talent like hers isn’t easy to find. If she continues as your exclusive model, she’ll shine even brighter. Join hands with Rin-chan and aim higher.”

“You’re jumping ahead. You’re ignoring Enomoto-san’s feelings.”

This seems like Makishima’s usual impulsive idea.

It’s not like Enomoto-san benefits from my accessories, so I can’t burden her like that.

“If Yuu-kun is okay with it…” “Wait. Seriously?”

Enomoto-san… actually agreed.

She’s easily swayed… no, it didn’t feel like that. Her expression showed her true feelings. If anything, Makishima’s meddling gave her the opportunity.

…In that case, I have no reason to refuse. “Well, if my model says she’s happy…”

Just as I was about to accept… “──That’s a no!!”

…It was Himari.

Her voice was unusually loud. No, not just loud… it sounded almost like a scream.

It wasn’t just me and Enomoto-san who were startled. The families at nearby tables were also looking over in surprise.

Only Makishima looked satisfied, his mouth twisting into a smirk. Himari, as if snapping back to reality, hurriedly said,

“S-sorry! My voice was a bit loud, huh?”

She forced a bright smile and responded to Makishima’s proposal.

“Of course, Makishima-kun’s idea is good. I’d welcome Enocchi too. But I don’t think it’s good for Enocchi.”

“…Why not?”

Makishima asked, slightly annoyed.

“Yuu, you know this, but our promotional account’s followers have grown a lot this past year, right?”

“Yeah, sure.”

It’s only been about a year since we started on Instagram.

“But we get hate comments too. Stuff like, Don’t get cocky just because you’re cute or That girl who photobombs dessert pics (lol). I can handle it, but hate from anonymous accounts can be tough if you’re not used to it. Enocchi doesn’t need to deal with that, right?”

Makishima immediately countered.

“But she’s already modeling for this Instagram post. Your logic doesn’t hold.”

“There’s a difference between a one-time guest and a continuous exclusive model. The more you’re in the spotlight, the more likely you are to attract haters…”

“Isn’t that where you, as her senpai, come in? Or are you just lazy about taking on more work?”

“It’s about whether Enocchi is suited for it, isn’t it?”

“Do you really think that? You already know Rin-chan isn’t that weak. In fact, she’s intimidating you right now.”

“…What are you trying to say?”

“…What do you think I’m trying to say?” The atmosphere was getting strange.

The argument was heating up… no, the two of them were getting more confrontational. They usually bickered with me in the middle, but this felt different. What exactly was bothering them?

“Both of you. Calm down…” “Yuu, stay out of this!”

“That’s right. Natsu, this isn’t your concern!” Wasn’t this about my accessory model!?

Himari added more reasons to object.

“What about helping out at home? And the wind ensemble club? You’ve been spending all your time here for the past few weeks. Juggling three things is impossible.”

“Hahaha! I already figured out your production schedule from this incident. You said earlier that after one Instagram post, you focus on sales for a month. From there, you decide on a new theme, grow the flowers… at most, modeling would only take two weeks every three months. It’s not like it would take up all your time.”

“But if we do it, we’d need her for the cultural festival too. And submitting flower reports is pretty tough…”

“What are you talking about? This is about Natsu’s exclusive model, not joining the gardening club. You’re missing the point.”

Makishima glared at Himari, looking amused. “Himari-chan. Why are you so flustered?”

“Ah, I’m not flustered? I’m just thinking about Enocchi…” Himari looked at me.

Her expression was unusual for her. Instead of her usual carefree attitude, she looked like a fragile girl.

Like a child about to cry because their favorite toy or doll was about to be taken away by their parents. …Desperately clutching it, begging for someone to help.

“Right, Yuu?” “Hmm…”

I thought about it.

Himari’s points were valid. There were indeed hate comments. The more popular the account got, the more those kinds of people appeared.

But in the end, it’s just jealousy. They’re jealous because Himari is cute. As Makishima said, if we provide proper mental care, it’s manageable.

More importantly, what about Enomoto-san’s feelings?

We dragged her into this for our own convenience. It would be insincere to just say goodbye after using her. Himari handles order processing and other tasks, so reducing the model’s burden would be a benefit. There’s no reason to refuse.

“Well, if she says she wants to do it, it’s fine, right?” “…!?”

Himari’s face twisted.

“Y-Yuu? Are you serious?”

“I mean, I am, but more importantly, I don’t get why you’re so against it…”

“B-because! We’ve worked so hard together, just the two of us!”

“It’s not like we made a promise to only ever work as a duo. We brought Enomoto-san in for a fresh perspective, right? And it worked out great. If she’s willing to keep helping, turning her down would be weird.”

“W-well, yeah, but…” Himari fell silent.

Awkwardly, she sipped from her Calpis straw.

“Also, Himari. You’ve been acting kinda weird lately, you know?”

“W-weird? What do you mean…?”

“You keep pushing this whole love thing way too hard. Sure, it’s an important element when selling to women, but you don’t have to force it. …You always say you don’t get romantic feelings

anyway.”

Himari’s always had a more refreshing, androgynous image.

She shines as a model when surrounded by nature and the seasons, like we’ve done before. There’s no need to stubbornly stick to a genre she’s not comfortable with. Having Enomoto-san join us would actually be a strength in terms of role distribution.

…Well, that’s the official reason, anyway.

But more than that, there’s something else bothering me. That’s closer to my real feelings.

“And if we keep making accessories based on themes like this, and you keep pulling pranks like that… it’s kinda annoying, you know?”

“…!?”

Himari’s face turned bright red.

I was subtly referring to what happened in the science room the other day. She seemed to get the hint.

Honestly, I don’t want Himari putting me in those heart-stopping situations anymore.

Because if she keeps doing that… I might end up falling for her.

We agreed no romance, so avoiding that risk is only natural. Up until now, we’ve been touchy-feely and made dirty jokes, but it never felt like there was any real romantic tension.

If Himari keeps pushing me with stuff like, Wanna try it out? and tries to kiss me again when we’re making love-themed accessories… honestly, I don’t think I can stop myself. That’s why I want someone like Enomoto-san around to keep Himari in check.

Ugh, just thinking about this is exhausting.

“So, sorry, but I can’t side with you this time, Himari.” “       ”

Himari stayed silent.

Did I make her mad? Well, she’s the one in the wrong here. She’s the one who invited Enomoto-san in the first place, so her objections now are just selfish.

…As I was thinking that, I noticed Himari’s hands moving frantically. She was rummaging through her bag, muttering something under her breath.

“Cool down, cool down, cool down. It’s okay, Himari, you can do this…”

“H-Himari? What’s wrong?”

“H-haha. Nothing? It’s fine? I’m just looking for my Yoghurppe…”

“But you already drank the last one earlier…” Himari froze.

The warmth drained from her expression. “…Sorry. Cool down… not happening.” “Huh?”

When she turned back, Himari was smiling.

And with that full-faced smile… she flipped her Calpis glass over my head. Of course, it drenched me completely.

“…………”

“…………”

Enomoto-san stared at me, dumbfounded.

Even Makishima looked surprised, his mouth hanging open. Himari, still smiling, gnawed on her straw and said,

“Let’s break up?” “     ”

Huh?

What did she just say?

As I sat there stunned, Himari repeated herself clearly. “Let’s break up.”

“…Huh?” Break up?

Break up, like… I’m not talking to you anymore? Back in elementary school, the boys used to make a big deal about that. Not that I’d know… I didn’t have any friends.

“H-Himari. You’re joking, right…?” “…Joking?”

The next moment, Himari’s smile twisted like a demon’s. And the straw in her mouth snapped in two with a crack!

“Yuu, I’m seriously breaking up with you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” “Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat!?!”

Our screams, mine and Himari’s, exploded through the shop by the Kandagawa River.