Chapter 1 | “Forever Inseparable” for Flag 2.

♣♣♣

Two years have passed since those middle school days.

It was mid-May of our second year in high school.

The weather was gradually transitioning into the rainy season, and the humidity was slowly increasing. On a drizzly morning, I rode my bike to school along the wet road.

If I were to describe the unique characteristic of a rural high school, I’d say it’s the “slight inconvenience of commuting.”

The school was too far to walk to, and the area was too spread out. Public transportation was out of the question. There were only two train stations in the city, with local and express trains running just once an hour. The buses were no better, with only one or two per hour. If you missed one, you’d have no choice but to call your parents to pick you up.

So, we mostly relied on bikes to get to school. During the rainy season, that meant always having to wear a raincoat.

This time of year was humid, and the raincoat didn’t completely protect you. You’d arrive at school damp, squeeze into the crowded bike parking area, carefully take off your raincoat while being mindful of others, stuff the soggy raincoat into a plastic bag, and then put it back on for the ride home.

You’d repeat this every day until the rainy season ended. It was hell.

When I finally reached the bike parking area, I folded my wet raincoat and stuffed it into a plastic bag. After locking my bike, I let out a big sigh.

“…I wanna go home.”

That was my honest feeling.

But the heaviness in my heart wasn’t entirely because of the rainy season.

…It was my first big fight with my best friend.

The outcome wasn’t quite what I had imagined.

Yesterday, I had mustered up the courage to declare that I’d follow Himari to Tokyo. I planned to give her the best flower accessory I’d ever made and confess my true feelings.

…But I chickened out at the most crucial moment, and the confession never happened.

Well, it’s partly Himari’s fault too. She suddenly said, “I’ve decided not to go to Tokyo after all.” For me, that confession was a do-or-die moment. When an escape route appeared out of nowhere, I couldn’t help but take it.

Oh, by the way, the flower that symbolizes “desperate resolve” is called Yabudemari, a deciduous shrub in the honeysuckle family. It blooms with beautiful flowers—small yellow bisexual flowers in the center, surrounded by larger white decorative flowers. It’s like a natural two-toned bouquet.

It also has another meaning: “Don’t abandon me.” That was me yesterday, huh? …Haha, not funny.

After a night had passed, I really didn’t want to face Himari today. I even thought about skipping school, but that would just make people speculate too much.

(…For now, I’ll act normal. I have to keep behaving like her best friend.)

As I left the bike parking area, I headed toward the shoe lockers. Walking under the tin-roofed outdoor corridor, I noticed a familiar umbrella approaching from the other side.

That blue polka-dot umbrella…

“Hey, Yuu-kun! Mornin’!”

It was Himari.

Her smile this morning was as radiant as ever, enough to blow away the gloomy rainy sky.

Over the past two years, she’d grown a bit taller, and her figure had become more mature. Her wavy hair, now a natural, tousled short bob, suited her well.

But her almond-shaped eyes, still the same marine blue, hadn’t changed at all.

My best friend, with her transparent, fairy-like cuteness. As always, she was a monster of a beauty who could make our rural school’s drab uniform look like a brand-new fashion piece.

By the way, Himari had a third option for commuting: by car.

Her older brother, Hibari-san, worked at the city hall, so he usually dropped her off on his way to work. If he was busy, her mom would drive her, or she’d take the bus.

If she commuted by car, she should’ve gone straight to the shoe lockers. Normally, we’d greet each other in the classroom. It was rare for us to run into each other here. …Was she waiting for me on purpose?

…Nah, it didn’t matter right now.

Sooner or later, I knew this situation would happen.

“…………”

I took a deep breath.

Then, I put on a perfect smile and gave a casual salute with my index finger.

“Yo. Himari, mornin’.”

I even flashed a toothy grin. Not that my teeth actually sparkled, but it felt like the right attitude. I was probably sporting a refreshing smile that could rival an idol’s.

But Himari recoiled in disgust.

“Ew, that smile’s creepy. What’s wrong, Yuu-kun? Did you eat something bad?”

“You’re being harsh. It’s a super handsome smile, right?”

“Hmm, I dunno. You’ve got this gloomy vibe, so it looks more like you’re holding in a stomachache or something.”

“What the hell!? That’s the complete opposite!”

Himari laughed as she closed her umbrella.

She stepped under the tin roof and started walking beside me. Her shoulder was close enough to almost touch mine, but not quite. It was that almost imperceptible distance

“Oh, Yuu-kun. By the way, did you watch Monday Late Show yesterday?”

“Nah, I didn’t. I was so tired yesterday that I went straight to bed after getting home.”

“Ah, I see. No wonder you didn’t reply to my messages. You were busy, huh?”

“Yeah, I might’ve prioritized making accessories too much.”

We continued with our usual banter… but was it really our usual banter?

“Wait, yesterday was Wednesday, though…”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“I mean, Monday Late Show is on Mondays, right?”

“…………”

It’s called Monday Late Show, right?

As I stared at her, Himari tilted her head cutely, still wearing that adorable smile.

Her face twisted for a split second—like she’d just realized something—but it was so quick I might’ve imagined it. Then, she burst into laughter.

“Yuu-kun, you’re the best!”

“Ow!?”

She suddenly slapped my back hard.

“Wh-What? What’s going on?”

“Hehe. I was actually testing you, Yuu-kun.”

“Huh? I don’t get it. What do you mean?”

Himari struck a triumphant pose and declared, “I wanted to see if you could stay calm no matter what. That’s a must for any creator!”

“…Is there really a connection between being a good creator and knowing what day it is?”

I mean, she’s definitely hiding something, right?

Since Himari wasn’t coming clean, I decided to drop it. There was no way I could win an argument with her anyway.

Himari turned her face away from me, fiddling with her bangs while her cheeks turned red.

“…Ah, crap. Now that I think about it, I haven’t had time to watch TV since the day before yesterday.”

“Well, that makes sense. You’ve been busy with moving preparations and all…”

“Don’t listen to a girl’s private thoughts!”

“Why are you hitting my shin with your umbrella!?”

Unreasonable!

Himari-san this morning seemed a bit emotionally unstable, huh? …Well, I guess canceling her plans to go to Tokyo at the last minute must’ve been tough.

(Oh, right. About yesterday, that ring… …Hmm?)

Then, I realized something.

“…Huh?”

The words slipped out.

Himari looked up at me and tilted her head.

“What’s wrong?”

“It’s about yesterday’s ring…”

Yesterday’s ring.

The nirinsou ring I gave Himari was gone. She’d been wearing it on her left middle finger, but now it was missing.

“Oh, here it is!”

Himari suddenly reached into her pocket.

She pulled out a leather choker with a transparent resin ring attached to the metal clasp. Inside the resin was a miniature nirinsou preserved flower—the ring I’d made as a symbol of our friendship.

“Himari. You turned it into a choker?”

“Yeah, I figured wearing a ring to school would be too much.”

Ah, I see.

I hadn’t thought of that.

Our school was relatively lenient about uniforms, but a ring would definitely stand out too much. She’d broken her previous choker, so this was a good alternative.

“By the way, the belt part is still the old one. Want me to replace it with a new one?”

“Nah, this is fine.”

“But I stepped on it…”

“It’s fine. It’s part of the memories, right?”

Himari wrapped the choker around her neck and tilted her chin up so I could see it clearly. The transparent resin ring swayed gently below her small Adam’s apple.

“This is the first accessory you ever gave me, right?”

“…Yeah, I guess.”

I hesitated for a moment.

I almost blurted out, “You’re so cute I could die, I love you.” That would’ve been way too much for the morning. Himari’s words were so embarrassing that they actually helped me stay calm.

…But I was relieved. I’d been worried that after a night, she might say, “I’ve cooled off. I don’t need this ring anymore.”

“…Hmm?”

Himari was looking up at me with a sly smile. She covered her mouth with her hand and spoke in a suggestive tone.

“Did you think I’d say, ‘I don’t need this ring anymore’?”

“Uh…”

Crap. I’d let my guard down.

Seeing my reaction, Himari narrowed her eyes even more. She looked like a cat that had found a particularly amusing prey.

“Hehe. Yuu-kun, do you like me that much? If you like me so much, why don’t we just date?”

“…………”

Ugh, she’s so annoying…

Himari was poking fun at me, looking way too happy about it. Just yesterday, she’d been as dry as a dead tree because of our fight.

She pulled out a Yoghurppe paper-pack juice from her bag and stuck a straw in it. She’d loved this stuff since middle school.

(…This is why I messed up the confession at the crucial moment.)

I’m not okay with the way things are now. I plan to confess properly someday, and to do that, I need to toughen up and not let Himari’s teasing get to me.

…Don’t underestimate the mental strength of someone who once decided to drop out of school.

“Hey, Himari.”

“Huh!?”

When I grabbed her shoulders with a serious expression, Himari let out a strange squeak. Her eyes widened, and she froze on the spot, even dropping her umbrella.

…Huh? That wasn’t the reaction I expected.

I thought she’d just tease me with something like, “Ew, Yuu-kun, are you harassing me?”

Maybe she’s been acting weird because of what happened with Enomoto-san. Her reactions are a bit over the top… or maybe she’s just being more girly than usual. Or maybe I’m just imagining things.

Well, whatever. I’ll just continue with my payback. Himari’s the expert at teasing, and after two years of being on the receiving end, mimicking her should be a piece of cake… right?

Let’s see, this is how Himari does it, right?

“Hey, I’ve been thinking about something lately. I realized that I really can’t live without you, Himari. I like you so much it’s driving me crazy. So, if you’re okay with it, would you go out with me?”

I fabricated a love confession, making it sound as convincing as possible. The words came out more smoothly than I expected, probably because they were half-true.

When I thought about it calmly, this was pretty cringy, huh?

But I can’t back down now. If I get flustered here, Himari will just tease me even more if I ever confess for real. I’m sure I sounded pretty convincing. Himari’s been frozen with her head down this whole time.

Time to finish this. I took a deep breath, looked Himari straight in the eyes, and said:

“Just kidding! Did I scare you? Did I?”

I did it! My heart was pounding like crazy. Of course it was. Even as a joke, I’d just declared my love to the girl I liked.

But this should’ve shaken Himari up a bit…

“Huh?”

She looked completely bored.

She was playing with her bangs, her expression utterly uninterested as she avoided my gaze.

“Hmm. Is that so?”

…Ugh!

This hurts more than I expected!

I immediately admitted defeat and crouched down, hanging my head.

“…Sorry. I got carried away.”

“Pfft. You think you can take down the undefeated love champion, Himari-chan, with such a half-baked attempt? You’re a hundred years too early for that, Yuu-kun.”

I had no comeback.

Seriously, couldn’t she have reacted a bit more? I always tease her back when she does this.

Himari poked my butt with her umbrella, and I slowly stood up.

After changing into my indoor shoes at the shoe lockers, I was about to head up the stairs when Himari spoke.

“Oh, Yuu-kun. Go on ahead.”

“What’s up?”

“Hmm. Just something~♡”

She pointed toward the restroom. …This was one of those things you don’t ask about.

After parting ways with Himari, I started climbing the stairs. Once I was alone, the foolishness of what I’d just done hit me like a truck.

“What the hell was I thinking…”

I held my head in my hands on the landing.

I’d been so conscious of Himari that I’d lost all sense of restraint. This wasn’t good. Even as a joke, acting on impulse like that was really not good.

After all, I’m Himari’s best friend.

Even if I’ve come to terms with my feelings for her, that doesn’t mean I should just go for it. I can’t.

Because Himari still sees me as her best friend.

To me, Himari is more than just someone I like—she’s my benefactor. She’s been dedicating her life to promoting my flower accessories. I can’t betray that with my selfish feelings.

…At least until I can stand on my own as an accessory creator, I need to keep these feelings locked away.

(Hang in there, Natsume Yuu. Live up to Himari’s expectations, even if just a little!)

I tried to shift my focus and started thinking about my next accessory project…

“Oh, Natsume! There you are!”

“Huh?”

It was our homeroom teacher. She looked pale and was beckoning me over.

What was going on? It was rare for her to call me by name. The only times she’d done so were when she needed me to pass something to Himari or something like that.

“Good morning.”

“Yeah, good morning… Wait, no!”

Huh…?

This teacher was usually so low-energy, but she seemed unusually energetic this morning.

“Did I do something wrong?”

“You did! You messed up! Come to the staff room!”

So it was about me after all.

What could it be? …Well, I’ll find out when I get there.

♢♢♢

After waving goodbye to Yuu-kun, I headed into the restroom.

No one else was around. Perfect. As expected of me. Even in small moments like this, I manage to seize every opportunity. That’s proof of my cuteness and talent, right?

“Hehe~♪”

Humming to myself, I closed the stall door.

I took a towel out of my bag, folded it into quarters to make it thicker, and then pressed it against my face.

“Uwaaaaaaaaaaahhhh!!”

I screamed with all my might.

Using every ounce of energy in my body, I exhaled air from my lungs relentlessly.

“Hah… Hah… Hah…”

Once I was done screaming, I pulled out every Yoghurppe I had from my bag. Quickly stabbing straws into them, I shoved three packs into my mouth and drained them with a jyuuaa sound, leaving the cartons empty.

(…Just made it in time!)

Cool down… complete.

Letting out a deep breath, I put the towel back into my bag.

I neatly folded the cartons and wiped my mouth with a quick swipe.

“Yu… Yuu, you’ve got some nerve…”

That was close.

I never expected him to counter like that.

For a moment, I panicked, wondering if he was being serious. If it weren’t for yesterday’s incident with the Yoghurppe shooting out of my nose, I would’ve completely lost it. It’s one thing if it happens when we’re alone, but if it happens before the other students arrive, I’d be done for.

…My feelings for Yuu can never be discovered.

I have to continue monopolizing Yuu as his “best friend” just like always.

And when I help Yuu achieve his dream of opening his floral accessory specialty shop, creating a 100% unshakable bond… That’s when I’ll finally confess my feelings to Yuu!

Until then, there can’t be even a hint of doubt. You’ve got this, Himari. You can do it. I’ve made enough jokes of this nature with Yuu that there’s no way he’d ever think my feelings are actual romantic ones. …Pfft, saying that out loud almost makes me want to cry!

Anyway, I stepped out of the bathroom stall.

As I washed my hands with the jaaah sound of running water, I thought.

…Still, it didn’t feel all that bad.

Even if it was a joke, having Yuu come on so strongly wasn’t bad at all. Actually, it was pretty great. Maybe I’m just realizing now that I might be a little masochistic? Or is it just because it’s a new kind of action from Yuu that feels fresh?

(One more time… No, I could take it as many times as he wants to do it.)

I wonder if I can find a way to incorporate that into our “best friend” dynamic. Like, when I do something, Yuu responds with, “Himari, do you like me that much?” and we turn it into a running gag. Like a comedy duo’s boke and tsukkomi routine, maybe?

As I left the bathroom, groaning and mulling it over, I saw some girls running towards me.

“Ah, Himari-san!”

“Perfect timing!”

They were my fellow second-year classmates. We’re in different classes this year, but we were together last year. They even bought some of Yuu’s accessories before.

“What’s up?”

The girls stopped running and, looking a little excited, said,

“Hey, hey, hey, can we ask you something!?”

“Sure, go ahead.”

“So, um, about this…”

As they spoke, a thought crossed my mind: Oh yeah, I could just directly ask Yuu to do that whenever I want! I’m so clever!♪—Wait a second, huh? Isn’t this… Yuu’s business card as the floral accessory creator “you”? The ones I’ve been handing out to people?

“What about it?”

The two exchanged glances, and with an oddly fired-up expression, they asked,

“This ‘you’ person, we heard it’s Natsume-kun, who’s always with you. Is that true!?”

It took me a moment to process their words. …In that instant, the perfect, miraculous plan I’d been crafting in my mind was blown away completely.

♣♣♣

After hearing some incredibly depressing news in the staff room, I returned to the classroom.

There was still time before homeroom, and only a few students were in the classroom.

(…Huh? Himari’s not here.)

I thought she’d have arrived before me.

Just as I was wondering about it, I felt a tap on my shoulder from behind. Turning around, there was Himari… looking really, really angry.

“Yuu! Come here for a second!”

“Huh? Wait, hold on—Whoa!?”

She grabbed my arm out of nowhere and dragged me out of the classroom.

There was a perfect little space for private conversations by the emergency exit. During lunch, lovey-dovey couples often took it over, but it was thankfully empty this morning.

“Yuu! Where were you at such an important time!?”

“I was in the staff room…”

“The staff room? Did something happen?”

“Uh… well…”

As I averted my gaze, Himari furrowed her brows, sensing something was off.

“Yuu… you didn’t do something bad, did you?”

“No, it’s not that bad, I mean…”

Her piercing gaze made me confess.

Hearing it, Himari’s face paled rapidly.

“Yuu. Did you… hand in blank papers for all your midterm exams?”

“…Yes.”

Himari’s hair seemed to bristle… or at least it felt like it did.

“Why on earth would you do that!?”

Of course, she scolded me like crazy.

“Well, um… I wanted to focus on making accessories…”

“Wha—!?”

Himari flinched.

Realizing she partly contributed to this situation, her energy visibly dropped. She took off the nirinsou ring she had made into a choker and examined it closely.

Disassembling the preserved nirinsou flower, creating miniatures of them, and floating them in a resin ring… Even I have to admit, it’s not something you can make overnight.

Not just that. All the flowers we’ve been cultivating in the school’s garden as part of the gardening club were also collected, processed, and turned into accessories.

I was ready to leave school and hadn’t been thinking of anything else.

“…I recently realized this, but Yuu, you’ve got a weird kind of recklessness.”

Himari pressed her fingers against her temples, groaning.

Don’t praise me so much… No, wait, this isn’t praise at all.

“Apparently, supplementary lessons won’t cut it. They’re giving me a makeup test this Sunday. If I pass all subjects, they’ll let me stay…”

Honestly, I’m impressed they offered a compromise at all. It’s not like I have the same reputation as Himari as a model student or anything. By all rights, they could’ve just said, “Goodbye, good luck with life.”

“And if you don’t pass?”

“Expulsion…”

Himari let out a long, exasperated sigh.

“You handed in blank papers; of course that’s what happens. Anyway, you’ve got no choice but to study hard. I’ll help you, so let’s work on it together after school, okay?”

“S-Sorry. Thanks, Himari.”

…Phew, that’s a relief.

If Himari had just given up on me with a “Handle it yourself,” I’d probably already be filling out transfer paperwork for a school in Tokyo.

“By the way, Himari, what about you? What happened?”

“Ah!? That’s right! I almost forgot because Yuu’s such an idiot!”

I just got called an idiot by a girl I like…

What is this? It’s hitting so hard. The fact that I’ve always let it slide as her “best friend” makes the insult sting even more. It’s like being stabbed with a dull knife.

Then, with a serious expression, Himari declared:

“‘You’ got exposed!”

“…Me?”

In other words, people found out that I’m the one making the flower accessories?

…Huh. Well, okay then.

“Is that so.”

“Yuu, aren’t you a little too calm about this!?”

“I mean, it’s not like I was actively hiding it or anything…”

If anything, the one who wanted to keep it a secret was Himari.

When I tried to hide it from Enomoto-san, it was because she seemed emotionally attached to my accessories. I wanted to “protect her memories.” …Though that didn’t last long since she figured it out right away.

“So, does everyone know now?”

“Not sure. The girls who came to talk to me earlier seemed to have pieced it together from your last Instagram post.”

“Oh yeah, I was in that one, huh?”

That Instagram photoshoot took place at Enomoto-san’s family pastry shop.

I have a sweet tooth, so they treated me. Just like Himari said, it was incredibly delicious, and I couldn’t help but focus entirely on the food.

…Then Makishima, that jerk, took pictures without permission and posted them on Instagram.

“Well, isn’t it fine? I mean, it’s not like it’s a bad thing that people know.”

“It is bad! If people find out Yuu can make such cute accessories, then…”

“If they find out I can make accessories?”

Himari glared at me sharply and shouted at the top of her lungs.

“Yuu might end up being popular with girls!!”

“What the heck are you talking about…?”

Seriously, what is she on about?

I wasted my energy trying to take her seriously.

“I’m not gonna be popular. Don’t be stupid.”

“You don’t get it, Yuu! There are people out there, like Enocchi, who are into stuff like this!”

Ow. Ow, ow, ow.

Why is she whacking me on the shoulder like this?

“Calm down, calm down. You’re acting like some weird switch just flipped.”

How is it that she called me an idiot so calmly about my makeup test, yet she’s losing it over something like this? Honestly, that’s what’s shocking.

“And anyway, even if I were popular, how would that be a problem for you? You were the one trying to set me up with Enomoto-san, doing all kinds of unnecessary things.”

“Ugh…!”

For some reason, Himari was shaken.

She avoided looking at me, fiddling with her index fingers nervously.

“Th-that’s… you know. There’s always a chance something like last time could happen, right? You’re pretty weak when it comes to being pushed, Yuu. If someone says, ‘I wanna be your model~!’ you’d probably go along with it without thinking. Plus, my brother said that guys are creatures who make the same mistakes over and over again…”

“Can you please stop bringing that up already…”

She’s still holding a grudge about that time I tried to make Enomoto-san my exclusive model, huh…

Just yesterday, I made a life-altering declaration to Himari. I’m not about to let this slide. With a sigh, I looked at the choker around her neck.

“Hey, Himari. I know this is repeating what I said yesterday, but I’m going to say it again.”

“Eh, ah… y-yeah!”

Himari stood stiffly at attention for some reason, her face turning bright red. Her pale skin became flushed with a deep crimson, like autumn leaves coloring a zen rock garden.

…Ugh, if you’re going to act like that, it’s making me feel embarrassed too. Ah, whatever. Homeroom is about to start, so I’ll just go for it. No hesitation.

I touched the center of the choker on Himari’s neck—the ‘best friend’ ring. Himari flinched, swallowing hard.

“There’s no one else I’d give this ring to but you, Himari. As long as you have it, you’re my number one model.”

“…………”

Himari nodded repeatedly, like a bobblehead.

…Man, this is so embarrassing. If anything, this feels even worse than a love confession. Yesterday’s whole ordeal keeps playing back in my mind, and it’s brutal.

But at least I got the message across. Perfect. Now, all that’s left is for Himari to laugh it off, saying, ‘Heh, Yuu, you’re so obsessed with me!’ like she always does.

As expected, Himari gave me her usual smug grin and said,

“Heh, so… Yuu, you really do like me that mu—”

Huh?

She stopped at ‘mu.’ Her face was still bright red, and it wasn’t going away. She clenched her fists tightly, half-bent over as if she was trying to force something out.

“L-l-like… l-li-li-liii…!!”

“Hey, Himari? Himari-san? You’re sweating bullets—are you okay?”

“Aaaahhhhhhhh!!”

“Guh—gah!?”

Slap! She smacked me across the cheek.

She actually hit me. And she didn’t hold back!

“What the heck, why did you hit me!?”

“Because you’re saying such cringy stuff first thing in the morning!”

“Okay, fine, that was on me, but you didn’t have to slap me for it!”

Himari pulled two Yoghurppe from her pocket.

I instinctively caught one as she handed it to me. Without a word, we turned away from each other, standing back-to-back, and stabbed our straws in at the same time. Then we both drank in unison.

…Alright. Calmed down. Thanks, lactic acid bacteria. You’re a lifesaver today, too.

I glanced over my shoulder. Himari did the same. Our eyes met for a moment before we both quickly looked away.

…This is weird.

The vibe between Himari and me feels normal again, right? Before our fight, we’d throw out cheesy lines at each other all the time. Mostly Himari, though, like when she’d say, ‘Yuu, your passionate gaze is the best~♡.’

Even though we’re still supposed to be ‘best friends,’ something feels… slightly different.

Why? Maybe it’s natural for things to be a bit awkward after yesterday’s chaos.

…If only we had mutual friends who could smooth things over. But Himari aside, I don’t really have anyone like that.

“…Hm?”

With my mind settled, I finally noticed someone’s gaze on us. Himari seemed to notice too, and we both turned our eyes toward the hallway.

Enomoto-san was peeking at us.

Her most eye-catching feature was her beautiful, slightly reddish-black straight hair.

Her almond-shaped eyes gave off a somewhat sharp impression.

She wore her uniform loosely, with her neckline opened wide.

She was in the same grade as us but in a different class.

Enomoto Rion. My first crush.

She has countless nicknames: Enochhi, Rin-chan, and so on. She also has a rule: she always calls her close friends by nicknames.

She wasn’t glaring exactly, but her eyes were fixed on us in a way that felt tense. Her natural expression always looked a bit displeased, so it was hard to tell what she was feeling.

After an awkward silence, she finally opened her mouth.

“Good morning, Yuu-kun.”

“…Morning, Enomoto-san.”

She always starts with a greeting, no matter what. Must be proof of her good upbringing.

By the way, Yuu-kun is me, and Himari is called Hii-chan.

“Uh, Enomoto-san? Why are you here?”

“Someone in my class said you two came this way.”

“Oh, so you came looking for me. Sorry about that. By the way… how long have you been standing there?”

“Since Hii-chan yelled, ‘Yuu might end up being popular!’”

…Ah.

In other words, she heard that whole incredibly embarrassing conversation. Oh yeah, she also saw yesterday’s exchange with Himari. …Nope, I’m dying inside.

“Uh, Enocchi…”

“…………”

Himari tried calling out to her, but Enomoto-san turned her face away, pouting slightly.

Then, with a slight bow, she muttered, “Excuse me.”

Her silky black hair swayed beautifully, and I couldn’t help but think how great it would look in an accessory photo shoot.

“Enomoto-san!?”

She tried to run away but tripped over her own feet!

I was worried for a second, but she quickly got up, shot us a teary glare, and dashed off.

Watching her retreating figure, Himari and I felt completely drained.

“…Yuu. Did something happen between you and Enocchi?”

“…Aren’t you the one she’s obviously avoiding, Himari?”

We exchanged looks and let out a dry laugh.

(Actually, something did happen. While Himari and I were fighting…)

Still, thanks to her interruption, the tense air between Himari and me had eased. We sighed and turned back to the immediate problem at hand.

“A-anyway, we need to focus on your makeup test first. The exposure issue can wait; getting expelled would be the real disaster.”

“True. But what should I do?”

“You study. That’s what. Don’t worry, if we leave it to my brother, it’ll be fine.”

Even though I brought this upon myself, the thought of studying weighed me down.

“From today until Sunday, no accessory-making after school. We’ll be having study sessions instead.”

“You’re a lifesaver…”

If only life came with a reset button.

…Actually, I feel like I’ve thought the same thing before.

♢♢♢

That said!

Honestly, the issue of “You” being exposed is a much bigger problem than Yuu’s makeup test.

During lunch break, I was walking down the hallway alone.

Yuu was holding down the fort in the science room. Seriously, if you’ve got time for that, just memorize one page of your textbook! There are only three days left until the Sunday makeup test.

Seriously. Yuu is such an idiot, making me pick up the slack for him. What’s with that blank sheet of paper submission? That’s a whole new level of stupid. Sometimes I wonder, “Is your brain even functioning properly?”

…Well?

If it’s a tragedy born out of his overwhelming love for me,

I guess I can’t help but not feel too bad about it.

I mean, let’s be real, Yuu is just too into me. A girl as cute and devoted as me doesn’t come around every day. For a shy guy like Yuu, it’s only natural that he’d lose his rationality a little, right?

…No, it’s not me who’s the problem.

It’s Yuu. He’s just too in love with me. Got it?

Anyway, I’ll leave the makeup test in my brother’s hands. Right now, I need to figure out where this exposure is coming from.

Because Yuu is so mentally fragile. If girls start screaming over him, it might make him too nervous to focus on making his flower accessories.

Not that I’m worried about “Oh no, Yuu might get stolen by some other girl!” or anything.

Nope, that’s not something Himari-chan would ever lose her cool over!

(After all, I’ve got this ‘Best Friend’ ring right here.)

Hehehehehe~.

I reached up and touched the choker around my neck.

This ‘Best Friend’ ring isn’t like just any other flower accessory. It’s a one-of-a-kind, completely custom-made piece designed solely for me.

That’s what I call the power of the official wife. Honestly, if you think about it calmly, no one but me could ever handle being the partner of a flower-accessory addict like Yuu. Why did I get so hysterical earlier? Ugh, so embarrassing.

As for Enocchi, well, I basically won already!!

I really am sorry, though. I do like Enocchi, but this is different. I don’t make mistakes when it comes to knowing what I really want. I’m a ruthless woman who will go after exactly what I want and throw everything else aside.

I’m really sorry, truly. I’ll find you a great guy to introduce you to next time. Well, not as great as Yuu, obviously. But you’re cute, Enocchi. You’ll be fine with anyone.

I’ll keep Yuu to myself as my ‘best friend’ and seize my happy ending.

To do that, I’ll need to eliminate one particular obstacle, no matter what.

Even if it’s for Yuu’s sake, I’m not thrilled about it. But as his partner, it’s my responsibility, so it can’t be helped.

Borrowing my brother’s words: “It’s all part of creating an environment where Yuu can focus on making accessories.”

(I already have an idea of who’s behind it, so let’s deal with this quickly.)

I opened the door to the rooftop. A wide-open space, surrounded by metal fencing, stretched out before me.

In one corner, a couple was flirting. The girl was letting the guy rest his head on her lap while he fanned himself with a folding fan.

I didn’t know the girl, but the guy was my target. A flashy, good-looking dude. Figures he’d be here—there’s that saying about fools and smoke always rising to high places.

Smiling sweetly, I called out to him.

“Makishima-kun. Got a minute?”

Makishima Shinji.

Yuu’s only male friend, Enocchi’s childhood buddy, and the guy I hate more than natto and paranormal phenomena combined. If it weren’t for Yuu, I’d never talk to this guy voluntarily.

Makishima-kun, lounging leisurely while enjoying a lap pillow from his underclassman girlfriend, slowly sat up and yawned. Noticing me, he casually snapped his fan shut.

“Oh, Himari-chan. You’re earlier than I expected.”

“Heheh~. So it was your doing.”

“Of course. The identity of ‘You’ was just a minor topic of discussion before. It wasn’t easy to rekindle interest and blow it up this much.”

“This guy… always doing unnecessary stuff.”

Makishima-kun turned to his worried-looking girlfriend and said,

“Don’t worry. This is the partner of the ‘Natsu’ I told you about.”

Natsu is what Makishima calls Yuu, short for Natsume Yuu.

The girl seemed to understand and, looking at me, said, “I’m rooting for you!” with a mysterious cheer. What’s with this girl? She’s kind of scary. Even I, Himari-chan, could only respond with a vague, “Haha, thanks!”

“She said she has something to talk about regarding Natsu. Could you give us some privacy?”

“Got it. I’ll wait over there, okay?”

“No. Once we’re done, I’ll be heading to tennis club practice.”

“Then I’ll head back to class.”

With that, the girl picked up her empty lunch box, bowed politely, and jogged off. Watching her leave, I couldn’t help but feel curious.

“…She seems different from your usual type. A quieter girl.”

“Does she?”

“I thought you liked girls who were more… experienced?”

“That was middle school, Himari-chan. Your impression of me hasn’t been updated at all, has it?”

Why would it?

It’s not like I’ve ever paid attention to you. If Yuu didn’t think of you as a friend, I wouldn’t even bother talking to you.

“Hahaha. You really hate me, don’t you?”

“Obviously. Thanks to you, I nearly died once, remember?”

Makishima-kun shrugged nonchalantly.

With a pained expression, he scratched his head and replied bluntly,

“Honestly, I don’t like thinking about that time either. That incident really changed how I see things. Turns out, experienced girls can be a handful when they get serious.”

“I don’t care about your epiphanies, but I don’t recall you ever apologizing to me.”

“Apologizing to me wouldn’t have made sense, would it? At that time, I was in a bit of a pinch myself. The other four girls teamed up to try and lock me away…”

“Okay, okay, I get it! That’s enough. I don’t care about that anymore. What I do care about is why you exposed ‘You’ now.”

With a grand gesture, Makishima-kun spread his arms wide.

“The reason is obvious. It’s all for Rin-chan’s victory.”

“…………”

His smug expression was infuriating.

“Let me make one thing clear. Yuu belongs to me. I like Enocchi, but I’m not giving Yuu up for anything.”

“Oh? So you’ve fallen for Natsu? I never expected Himari-chan, who once denounced love as a nuisance, to soften up this much.”

“…As a best friend. Don’t get it twisted. I might’ve pushed Enocchi to make a move, but if it’s going to mess up my relationship with Yuu, then she’s out.”

Makishima-kun smirked wickedly.

“You’ve changed your stance a little, haven’t you, Himari-chan?”

“Huh?”

My irritation flared.

The way he mocked me reminded me of someone else. Someone who annoyed me just as much. …No, I don’t need to hear about any ‘boomerang effect.’

Makishima-kun, still exuding an air of provocation, continued:

“In the past, you’d laugh it off with a ‘Haha, maybe!’ But now you’re so tense. If you’re that desperate, Natsu might start suspecting you have feelings for him.”

“…………”

This guy is seriously infuriating.

Stay calm. Stay calm, Himari. If I let his words get to me, it’s over. To cool down, I pulled a Yoghurppe out of my pocket and took a big sip.

…Alright, I’m good now. Himari-chan is a cool-headed woman.

“Sorry to disappoint you, but things aren’t going your way, Makishima-kun. Yuu chose me over Enocchi. He’s loyal, and he won’t stray.”

Makishima-kun sighed dramatically, looking bored.

“Do you really think so?”

“……What’s that supposed to mean?”

My glare must’ve ticked him off because he grinned as if everything was going according to plan.

“Natsu is loyal, sure. I’ll admit you’re winning right now, Himari-chan. But the future? Who knows. Not even a second ahead can be guaranteed.”

He flicked his fan toward my face.

“If that loyalty of his ever wavers, even for a moment, getting it back might be more difficult than you think.”

He slowly unfolded the fan, covering his mouth with it. His sharp eyes glimmered with malicious amusement.

…Ugh, I hate those eyes. Out of everything about him, I hate those eyes the most.

“Let’s be clear. Himari-chan made a mistake. If she really wanted Natsu, she should have taken him to Tokyo right then and there. She should have decided the outcome before it became apparent that she herself did not match up to Natsu’s resolve to give up everything.”

“……I don’t understand what you mean?”

He lets out a sigh and closes his fan.

“You’ll understand soon enough. Sorry, but for us, Himari-chan is not even a threat.”

“………”

Saying something ominous, Makishima-kun left.

I think about the meaning of his words on the rooftop, where there are no other students.

……That guy is annoying, but he’s always been strangely clever. Honestly, I have no idea what he sees. He’s unpredictable in a different way from Onii-chan.

Ah, my head is a mess. Manipulating things is my privilege.

Anyway, I understand that revealing this ‘you’ is a strategy to bring Yuu and Enocchi together. But why would leaking it to the outside make Enocchi advantageous?

Rather, if we consider what’s best for Enocchi, shouldn’t we hide Yuu’s true identity?

……Oh well. For now, I have to focus on the make-up test until the weekend. It’s not like something will happen to Enocchi in the next few days.

♣♣♣

…Before I knew it, the date had changed, and I was studying for the exam with Hibari-san.

This is bad. I’m exhausted. I’m dying. Hibari-san is incredibly strict. I seriously studied all three years of high school material. My head hurts so much.

It’s just before 2 AM now. Only 6 more hours until school tomorrow.

I haven’t seen Himari since then either. She brought me onigiri for dinner, but I couldn’t even enjoy that. If I looked away for even a moment, Hibari-san’s mysterious glare would fix me in place and make me study. …Compared to when we first met, his skills have become truly inhuman. Does everyone become like this when they work at the city hall?

Hibari-san said, tapping the reference book on the table.

“Hmm. It took more time than I expected. My skills must have declined.”

“No, no. That’s my fault.”

“Not at all. Yuu-kun, you understand things faster than I thought. Though the information was a bit chaotic in some parts. If it were more streamlined, we could have finished an hour earlier.”

Nodding, he checked the schedule on his phone.

“We can only allocate study time on Friday after school and all day Saturday. Having the make-up test on Sunday morning is tough.”

“Honestly, being able to review this much at this stage is already a win…”

“HAHAHA. That confidence is reassuring, but studying isn’t that easy. Right now, we’ve just crammed the information. Making it stick requires a lot of repetitive practice.”

Well, that’s true. Even with accessory making, just learning a new technique isn’t enough. To make it your own skill, you need to practice it many times more.

Hibari-san checked the clock and clenched his fist in frustration.

“However, this is troubling. If I go home now, Yuu-kun won’t get enough sleep. To make the studied content stick, even a little bit… every minute, every second of sleep is necessary!”

…He’s really emphasizing this.

What? Does he want me to leave right away? That’s obvious, but I’m really tired too.

“Understood. Well, thank you for tomorrow as well…” I started to say as I packed my things, but suddenly my shoulder was grabbed. Ouch, ouch, ouch. What? Did I say something wrong?

As I was confused, Hibari-san smiled.

“Yuu-kun. That’s not what I meant, is it?”

“Huh?”

He gently handed me a yukata, a cup of instant noodles, and a toothbrush set. If I were to name it, it would be the “Inuzuka-style Overnight Stay Set.” …Incidentally, there was also a bottle of Hibari-san’s scotch.

“Tonight, let’s stay up all night talking with your future brother-in-law♪”

“Hibari-san? Didn’t you just say that sleep is important?”

“HAHAHA. Yuu-kun, are you embarrassed? It’s okay. I’ve already gotten Sakura-kun’s permission. Nothing will stand in the way of our night.”

“No, no, no. Look, I don’t have my uniform for tomorrow…”

“It’s okay. I have your uniform for tomorrow prepared here. The size is perfect!”

“How do you know my size…?”

Even Himari wouldn’t know that. It’s seriously scary.

I grabbed my things and ran to the exit of the great hall.

“I’m sorry, but I really have to go home… Guhaa!?”

“I won’t let you!”

As I tried to escape, I was tackled from behind and rolled onto the tatami mat. Even though he’s retired, his sharp attack, feared as the “Fang Wolf” during his college rugby days, is still alive!

The strongest ace who shook the entire Kanto region was crying and shouting in the middle of the night!

“Come on! Himari always gets to play with Yuu-kun, and I only get to see you during these chores. Tonight, let’s talk about love! Today is the day I’ll hear what you think about Himari!”

“I’m sorry for always asking you to do chores! Hibari-san, Himari is here! It’s not right to stay over at a house with a girl!”

“Then, if Himari says it’s okay, it’s fine, right!?”

“You’re acting like a child!!”

“Yes, I’m a child! I’ll take back the important things I lost when I became an adult!”

“It sounds like you’re saying something good, but it’s just selfishness, right!?”

The fusuma slid open quietly.

On the other side, Himari sighed as if to say, “Good grief.” …It seems she was awake.

“Yuu. The bath is ready, so go take one quickly.”

“Oh, okay…”

With that casual remark, my stay was confirmed.

♣♣♣

While guiding me to the bathroom, Himari let out a dry laugh.

“Sorry about my brother. He’s been super busy with work lately. He’s under a lot of stress, so he deserves a little reward every now and then.”

“Well, it’s my fault for dragging him into my studies in the first place… Wait, am I some kind of offering?”

Himari burst out laughing.

She was wearing a yukata with a blue flower pattern. Probably morning glories. The colors were a bit faded, but there was no doubt it suited her perfectly.

“Isn’t wearing a yukata at home a bit too fancy?”

“Huh? Are you saying Himari-chan, who’s mastered the art of blending Japanese and Western styles, is so cute that you want to hug and kiss her right now?”

“I didn’t say that! I didn’t say that at all!!”

I didn’t say it, but I did think about it.

For a moment, I thought she could read my mind, and my heart almost stopped.

By the way, the glimpse of her collarbone peeking out from the neckline was also amazing. Personally, I think yukatas look better on slender girls. But I’ll avoid saying more to prevent a war.

“This belonged to my grandma. My grandpa loved it so much that he’d loosen his purse strings whenever she wore it. So, I wear it during this time of year.”

“You’re the worst. Turning your grandpa’s memories into money? That’s messed up.”

“Hehe~. I’ll use that allowance to take Yuu-kun to Mister Donut.”

“Oh, so I’m an accomplice now…”

I bowed my head in the direction of what seemed like a hospital.

I’m so sorry. I couldn’t resist the allure of Angel Cream.

“Wait, did you stay up waiting for me?”

“Nah. I’m usually up this late. I just took a bath and was cooling off.”

I couldn’t help but react to the word “bath.”

A freshly bathed beauty… The collarbone bonus added extra value, and things were getting dangerous. If I added my accessories to this… Hmm. Her hair was wet, so maybe the neck area? Actually, flower accessories and post-bath vibes don’t seem to mix well.

As I was pondering whether “post-bath accessories” could be a marketable idea, I met Himari’s intense gaze.

“Yuu-kun. Are you staring too much?”

“Ah, no, I was just thinking about which accessories would go well with your yukata…”

Himari pinched her collar and slightly lifted it, showing a mischievous smile.

“I didn’t say you couldn’t look, though?”

“Stop it!?”

I quickly averted my gaze.

She’s the same old Himari. She should really think about the mood… Though the tan lines from her usual choker were kinda hot.

When we reached the bathroom, I turned on the light.

“Here you go. Put your clothes in the laundry basket. You’ll be back tomorrow anyway, so I’ll have the maid wash them by then.”

“Seriously? Thanks… Whoa!”

The changing room had an old-fashioned hot spring vibe. Maybe it used to accommodate a lot of people back in the day. Given the family’s prestigious background, it’s possible that apprentices or workers stayed over.

Peeking into the bathroom, I was greeted by a large bath. A hinoki wood tub, big enough for about five people, was filled with steaming water. The room was filled with thick, white steam.

Wow~. This is amazing~. It’s like something out of a manga~.

I’ve been here to hang out a few times, but this is my first time staying over. Which means it’s also my first time using this bath. The exhaustion from my hellish study session faded, and I felt my spirits lift.

“Alright. Let’s get started…”

…Huh? The floor of the changing room is a bit wet.

Well, of course. Himari just took a bath here.

(Himari’s bathwater, huh…)

For some reason, I found myself clutching my head.

No, no, no. I mean, I kinda got pushed into this by Hibari-san, and Himari’s acting normal, but staying over is kinda dangerous, isn’t it?

If this were last month, I might not have worried, but now it’s a bit… problematic. First of all, Himari, you shouldn’t be so accepting. I’m a guy, you know?

…Well, I guess it means she trusts me that much.

(Don’t overthink it, Yuu. Just like making accessories, all I need to do is live up to Himari’s expectations…!)

I took off my clothes and entered the bath.

There were three washing areas. Which one did Himari use…? No, no. What am I thinking? Am I an idiot?

For now, I chose the washing area in the corner, closest to the entrance. It’s more relaxing in a corner in such a big bath. Totally a small-town guy move.

I quickly rinsed my body with hot water. Once I warmed up, I felt a bit calmer…

“Yuu~. I’m gonna open the door a bit~.”

“Whaaa!?”

Without waiting for my response, the door behind me opened. I let out a scream and covered my chest and lower body with my arms.

When I turned around, Himari peeked in with a “Pfft!” and laughed.

“What, are you a virgin or something?”

“Shut up!? I’ve never been seen naked by a girl before!!”

“But Yuu-kun, didn’t you say you took a bath with Sakura-san the other day?”

“Stop phrasing it in a way that causes misunderstandings! That was just Sakura-nee helping me wash Daifuku!”

Daifuku is my family’s white cat. It’s white, but its belly is black. When it curls up to sleep, it looks like a rice cake filled with red bean paste.

“Wait, why did you open the door?”

Himari held out a packaged body towel.

“Here. A towel to wash yourself. I also prepared a new bath towel, so use that.”

“Ah, thanks. I forgot… Huh?”

When I reached out to take it, she dodged. I tried again, and she dodged again.

“Himari, what are you doing?”

“Yuu-kun~. You worked really hard today, didn’t you~?”

“Well, yeah. Feels like I did a lifetime’s worth of studying.”

What’s she getting at?

With a mischievous smile, Himari grinned widely.

“Hehe~. As a reward, how about I wash your back for you~?”

“Wha—!?”

I couldn’t help but burst out laughing.

What is this girl saying!?

“Hey, Himari. Stop saying stupid things.”

“I couldn’t help you with your studies, so I thought I’d at least reward you a little~.”

“That’s not something you do with a guy and a girl. Hibari-san is here too, you know.”

“But we’re ‘best friends,’ even if we’re a guy and a girl, right?”

As I hesitated, Himari poked her cheeks provocatively.

“Or maybe… Yuu-kun sees me as a girl now~?”

“…………”

I was annoyed.

It’s just her usual teasing, right? I’ve figured it out by now. No offense, but compared to last month’s “Should we try it?” shock, this is kinda underwhelming.

Remember when I counterattacked Himari’s teasing this morning? I failed then, but I’m not always the one getting teased.

“Then go ahead and do it.”

“Eh…”

Himari froze.

Her cheeks turned bright red. In the steamy bathroom, the color stood out beautifully. She fidgeted awkwardly, saying, “Ah, um…?”

Wow, she’s cute… Wait, no!

Even with my study fatigue, I messed up.

But now she knows. I’m not always the one getting teased. In this teasing war, we’ve reached a balance of power…

As I was thinking that, Himari muttered shyly.

“O-Okay. Then I’ll get undressed too…?”

“Eh…?”

The changing room door closed.

Then, there was the faint sound of clothes rustling.

(……………………Wait, what?)

Beyond the frosted glass, I could see a shadow moving as she undressed…

Wait, she’s just washing my back, right? She doesn’t need to get undressed for that… No, no, no. That’s not the point. Himari-san, aren’t you being a bit too bold?

Her face peeked out again. It was much redder than before.

“Yuu-kun. It’s embarrassing, so close your eyes, okay…?”

“Ah, okay…”

Okay, my foot.

Overwhelmed by the situation, my body obediently complied. As I closed my eyes, I heard her step into the bathroom.

Is she really coming over here?

My body stiffened. I could feel her slowly moving behind me.

The same position she always hugs me in during science club…

This is bad. Calm down. No, no way. How can I stay calm in this situation? If this were a month ago, as ‘best friends,’ maybe… No, even then, it’s impossible!?

This is way more dangerous than the “Should we try it?” moment in the science room. Because she’s undressed. The same Himari who I confirmed was unbearably cute is now behind me…

Crap. Remembering that made me recall the heat of her breath back then. Her yogurt-scented breath had brushed against my bangs.

Gently, her hands touched my shoulders.

(Oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no…!)

I opened my eyes wide.

Through the mirror, I made eye contact with the person behind me—

“Hey, Yuu-kun. I’ll wash your back for you♪”

“…………”

It wasn’t Himari, but a naked handsome guy.

When I looked at the changing room door, Himari was peeking out, trying to stifle her laughter. She was still fully dressed in her yukata.

“Himariiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!?”

I stood up and opened the door, but Himari was already gone.

From the hallway beyond the changing room, I heard the sound of her running away and her explosive laughter fading into the distance.

It’s 2 a.m.! If this were a normal house, the neighbors would definitely complain… Wait, that’s not the point!

I let out a deep sigh and returned to the washing area.

I washed my body next to Hibari-san, who was acting completely normal.

“Hibari-san. Isn’t this kind of prank going too far?”

“Hahaha. I didn’t think it would actually play out like Himari said. You two really understand each other.”

I’m not happy about it, though.

Why do I have to perform some kinda risqué rom-com skit in front of my best friend’s relative? Did I do something terrible in a past life?

(And I wasn’t expecting anything, okay!?)

Hibari-san poured water over his head. The wax washed away, and his bangs hung down damply. Like this, he looked like a somewhat shy young man.

Then, Hibari-san said with a laugh,

“But do you two always play these kinds of dangerous games?”

Gah…

I almost had a heart attack. The fact that we’d been carefully hiding this had finally come to light.

“Ah, no, well. Himari just does it, and she won’t stop even if I tell her to… Ah, but of course, nothing wrong ever happens!”

“Ahaha. You don’t have to be so defensive. I don’t have the right to interfere with how Himari interacts with her best friend.”

Hibari-san hummed a tune… He’s a fan of Nishino Kana, huh? As he carefully washed his body, he said,

“Himari’s lucky to have met a sincere boy like Yuu-kun.”

“No, no, no. You’re overestimating me.”

Honestly, I’ve started to develop some feelings for her, and I’m not sure how long my self-control will last.

As I washed my body in frustration, I joined Hibari-san in the bath. Even with two guys stretching their legs, there was plenty of room. This is something I’d never experience at home. I’m glad I stayed over today.

As I enjoyed the spacious bath, Hibari-san said with a refreshing smile,

“But hey, if you can’t hold back anymore, just go for it♪”

“Hey, Onii-chan. What are you saying?”

“Huh? Don’t you think our Himari is cute?”

“That’s why we’re best friends!”

“I see. So, you’ve also sworn off interacting with 3D women…”

“That’s not it! Wait, Hibari-san, did you make some dangerous vow like that?”

“That’s a problem. If that’s the case, my plan to make you my brother-in-law by marrying Himari…”

“Listen! Hey, listen!”

Hibari-san suddenly perked up.

He grabbed my shoulder firmly, his teeth gleaming as he gave a thumbs-up.

“Don’t worry. Even if you lose your virginity in real life, it doesn’t mean you’ve truly graduated from being a virgin.”

“What are you even saying? I seriously don’t get it!”

“Even if your body is tainted, your heart can remain pure!!”

“Can you stop pushing your trauma about relationships onto me in a slightly angry tone!?”

I think this guy’s stress from his busy job is making him a bit hyper.

As I desperately tried to calm him down, he eventually let out a satisfied sigh.

“Well, enough jokes…”

Were those really jokes?

I’m starting to feel really uneasy.

“By the way, I’m glad you and Himari made up.”

“Eh…”

My heart skipped a beat.

What does he mean? Does he know about the fight between me and Himari…?

“Hahaha. Of course, I know. After all, it’s me♪”

His words were way too convincing…

Wait, if that’s the case, isn’t it way too embarrassing? Why does he know about our first, innocent fight as best friends? …Eh. Does he know about last month’s “Should we try it?” moment too? That can’t be, right?

As I trembled, Hibari-san nodded and continued.

“It became such a big deal, and I was worried if Himari could properly apologize. She’s been pretty spoiled growing up, right?”

“Well, that’s obvious.”

“Hahaha. I like how Yuu-kun doesn’t mince words♪”

Phew. If only I could exchange this goodwill from him for some from Himari, life would be easier!

…Huh? Wait, something feels a bit off about what he just said.

“What do you mean, Himari apologized?”

“Huh? Didn’t Himari apologize properly yesterday? I heard you two made up, but I was worried if things were really going well. Today, you two seemed as close as ever…”

…Yeah, something’s definitely not adding up.

Because I was the one who apologized, and I was the cause of the fight. Himari didn’t do anything wrong.

“Well, we did make up. But I was the one who apologized. Himari didn’t do anything wrong…”

“…………Huh?”

Hibari-san’s tone dropped several levels.

At the same time, he stood up from the bath with a splash.

“H-Hibari-san?”

Hibari-san stood like a statue, staring at the water’s surface. His expression was completely blank, but his pitch-black eyes were gleaming intensely.

“Fu, fu… Fuhahaha!”

“Hibari-san. Wh-what happened?”

“No, no, it’s nothing much. It’s not your fault, Yuu-kun. If I had to say, it’s just the second most humiliating event in my life… that’s all.”

“That sounds like a pretty big deal, though…”

As I trembled from the bottom of my heart, Hibari-san turned sharply toward me.

On her face was her usual… no, perhaps the gentlest smile I’d ever seen since we met.

But, I don’t know why. Seeing this expression made me feel a chill running through my core… like I was looking at one of those “paintings that kill you if you look at them three times.”

“Yuu-kun. Can you tell me more about it?”

“…Ask me anything you’d like.”

Probably, Himari did something again. I could tell that intuitively, but there was nothing I could do about it.

Himari, I’m sorry.

The next time we meet, I might not be able to look you in the eye and say, “We’re best friends, right?”

♢♢♢

“I was so shocked—!”

“I was so shocked───────!”

“I was so shocked～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～!!”

After I went “Pfft—!” at Yuu, I went back to my room and rolled around on the bed.

It’s been about 10 minutes, but my heart still won’t calm down. What’s this? Is my body acting weird or something?

I kept replaying Yuu’s comeback in my head.

I never thought he’d actually counterattack like that. If I hadn’t built up some resistance from this morning, I would’ve been completely caught off guard!

Luckily, Onii-chan showed up, so I hurriedly switched places with him!

(…What would’ve happened if Onii-chan hadn’t been there?)

Since I was the one who brought it up, I can’t just say, “Just kidding, lol,” right? I mean, that’d mean I lost. So, was I really washing his back? No, no, no, I didn’t take my clothes off, of course!

But still… being alone with Yuu in our bath?

“Uwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhh!!”

Pressing her face into the pillow, she screamed desperately.

Only now did it occur to her that the game she was playing might be “quite dangerous.” No, it was Yuu who wanted to do it, and she wanted to do everything for him if she could. Rather, the thought of him doing it with someone other than her was truly unbearable.

But what if it ruined their relationship?

Their bond as best friends had been as perfect as it could be. Yet, just by Enomoto joining, it had become such a mess.

There was also the issue of that girl’s off-balance power dynamics, but the fact remained that their relationship wasn’t as impregnable to outside attacks as she had thought.

…Starting something new could potentially break what they had.

“Truthfully, it would be right to just keep everything as it was…”

But, but?

This wasn’t bad either!

Somehow, Yuu had started to fight back, and there was this strange tightrope-walking feeling, an exciting thrill that sent shivers down her spine. It had been nice to just watch the old Yuu, who was always so embarrassed, but this was also addictive. Irresistibly charming.

She had seen somewhere that “people who like spicy things actually like pain,” and maybe she was one of those. This morning, she had jokingly thought, “Am I actually a masochist?” and it might not be entirely wrong.

“Phew. But I’m tired…”

Love consumes a lot of calories.

It wasn’t just the mischief with Yuu. Makishima-kun’s restlessness was also worrying, and the possibility of “you” being exposed was a huge issue. Plus, Enomoto…

(I never thought I’d get a message like this…)

There had been a single message in her chat with Enomoto last night. …It’s really hard to let go of everything but the most important thing.

Ordinary daily life was using up a lot of energy. She had never felt this way before, but everything related to Yuu was so distracting.

(Could this be what it feels like to have your heart flutter with love…?)

I never had any interest in Nishino Kana before, but now her brother’s singing was stuck in my head.

I feel like I’ve completely turned into a lovesick girl. Just the thought of Yuu staying over made my fingertips tremble uncontrollably. I’ve never felt like this with any other boy before.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door.

She jumped up from the bed and hastily fixed her hair.

(Uh, could it be Yuu!? Wasn’t he having a guy’s night with Onii-chan!)

This is bad, this is bad, this is bad.

Why did he come? Could it be… e, that kind of thing?

Whoa, I let my guard down. So Yuu is a boy after all. Or rather, did I wake him up because of me? What is that a little exciting.

But, this is not the time to joke!

Ah, come on! In this case, I have to steel myself! It’s not the time to be scared of trying new things, right? Rejecting strangely might make things worse with Yuu!

She hugged the pillow tightly and also pulled the Nolinso Choker from the desk. After all, it was the first memory, and this was indispensable!!

“C- Come in…”

Her voice wavered a bit.

Don’t worry, don’t worry. Yuu-kun, he must be nervous too. Even if it’s a very late first love, I am a hundred battles hardened “demoness” when it comes to dealing with boys!!

Yuu opened the door and showed a slightly nervous face… but he didn’t.

“Himariiiii. Hey, let’s talk with Onii-chan aaaaaaahhhhhhh”

“…………”

It wasn’t Yuu but the ikemen with the explosive hair.

Onii-chan was super angry. He had been in a good mood just now, so something must have happened while he was in the bath… Well, there is something I can think of.

Thinking “Yabeee-,” she looked at her fingertips. They were trembling fiercely.

This wasn’t the trembling of love. Her survival instinct was warning her of danger. I was so focused on Yuu that I didn’t notice at all. Himari-chan, a lifetime of negligence☆

…This is why love is a nuisance.

♣♣♣

The following Friday was a turbulent day.

It started with the morning commute to school. I was heading to school with Himari in Hiyoko-san’s car…

“Himari, what’s wrong…?”

For some reason, Himari was crying in the back seat.

In the morning, when we met, she just mumbled something like “yu, yu, go, gohe nna, aau…” which I couldn’t tell if it was a greeting or a moan.

And Hiyoko-san in the driver’s seat, dressed sharply in a suit, was cheerfully humming a tune. Of course, it was Nishino Kana. If I went to karaoke with this person, I’d probably be listening to a medley the whole time, right?

Well, that’s not really important.

“Um, Hiyoko-san…?”

“What is it, Yuu-kun? Ah, about the study plan from today on, it’s just repetition. Just work through the problem sets I’ve chosen and you’ll be fine. On Saturday, we’ll repeat the mock exams I’ve edited. At this point, it’s just about getting your body used to the rhythm of the test.”

“Uh, thank you very much. No, rather, what about Himari…?”

“Ah, right. I almost forgot. Lack of sleep hampers learning efficiency. I’ve prepared some relaxation items that I use. Feel free to use them. Good studying is a cycle of moderate tension and moderate relaxation.”

Taking off her sunglasses, she smiled cheerfully.

Ah, this is one of the Inuzuka family’s secret techniques, “Silence with a Smile.” Once you’re hit with this, it’s useless to say anything.

…Last night, after I told her everything I knew, Hiyoko-san left me behind and went to Himari’s room. While I was sound asleep in the guest room, something must have happened between the siblings. And I realized that it wasn’t my place to interfere.

What exactly had touched Hiyoko-san’s ire? I just told Himari I was sorry and gave her the “best friend” ring…

“Himari, you’ll be watching over Yuu-kun’s studies during school, okay?”

“Ah, uh, uaaahh…”

No response.

At this point, it’s no longer human communication. But it felt like I shouldn’t comfort her. My survival instinct was telling me not to take Himari’s side just now.

In the end, I didn’t quite understand, but I was certain about one thing: “Maybe I should stop thinking about becoming Hiyoko-san’s adoptive brother…”

When Hiyoko-san pulled the car over to the side of the road near the school, we got out.

“Hiyoko-san, thank you.”

“Yeah. See you after school today.”

The black luxury car drove away smartly, and I looked at Himari.

She seemed a bit calmer than before. While cooling her eyes with a towel wrapped around some ice, Himari was sniffling. …Even in this state, she had prepared something to cool down, which shows she’s used to being scolded.

“Himari, are you okay?”

“U- Uh, yeah. Onii-chan’s pressure is gone, so it’s better than before…”

…There was pressure?

I didn’t quite understand, but it seemed there was some kind of profound interaction among the experts. They were really like characters from a battle manga…

“Anyway, what happened? Did I do something wrong?”

“Yuu isn’t at fault. Please, don’t ask any more…”

She didn’t seem to be in the mood for thinking something like “Isn’t crying Himari cute?” Normally, I would try to cheer her up with some casual talk, but I was also stressed about the test…

A cold shiver ran down my spine.

Himari seemed to feel the same way. Her face suddenly changed, and we both turned around together.

“Ah…”

“Ah, um…”

There was Enomoto-san with a rather stern expression.

The heat drained away. And yet, for some reason, sweat burst out. Both Himari and I were completely frozen.

What is this? A modern ninja? The way she keeps adding new attributes every time we meet is way too hard on my heart.

“Yu-kun. Good morning.”

“G-Good morning, Enomoto-san.”

Still, we didn’t skip greetings. I really wanted to say that her education was thorough, but rather, the atmosphere felt like a horror movie right before someone dies.

“E-Enomoto. Good morning?”

“…………”

Himari greeted with an awkward smile.

But Enomoto-san turned her face away without a word. Himari missed the timing and was unusually flustered.

Or rather, thinking about it again from yesterday… Could it be that Enomoto-san is ignoring Himari?

“YuU-kun. Did you just get out of Hii-chan’s car?”

My heart skipped a beat.

Eh, was I seen? I didn’t notice at all.

“Hiyoko-san drove me. I stayed at Himari’s house yesterday…”

“Ah, Yuu! Idiot…!”

Eh? …Ah, crap!

I realized my slip of the tongue, but it was too late.

Enomoto-san widened her eyes and repeated in a daze.

“You stayed at Hii-chan’s house?”

“Ah, well, it’s not a big deal or anything…”

And the moment I slipped that out—she glared at me sharply.

“…Staying at a girl’s house is not a big deal?”

“Ah, well! That was just a slip of the tongue!! You know, Himari and I are best friends, right!? We occasionally visit each other’s homes, so it’s kind of an extension of that…”

Why am I even explaining myself like I’m justifying some kind of infidelity?

It’s not that I don’t feel good about being envied by such a cute girl. But I’m not in a position to be happy about it.

…Because I did that thing with Enomoto-san.

“Besides, last night I was studying with Himari’s brother the whole time!”

At that, Enomoto-san tilted her head in confusion.

“Studying…?”

“Uh, actually…”

Come to think of it, I haven’t told Enomoto-san about it yet.

It’s super embarrassing, but I briefly explained the flow from yesterday. Enomoto-san still had that unreadable expression.

But then she said something completely unexpected.

“I’ll go too.”

Huh?

Without waiting for our response, Enomoto-san clenched her fists tightly.

“I’ll stay over too.”

…That one sentence would bring about further chaos.