Chapter IV | “Burning Feelings”

♣♣♣

After finishing the make-up exams, Monday arrived.

By the final week of May, noticeable changes began to appear in school life. I was no exception. But I won’t say it out loud. It’s not like I need to say it—it’ll come to me anyway.

As I climbed the stairs to head to the classroom in the morning, someone waved at me from the floor above.

“Yuu~! Ohayou!”

Of course, it was Himari.

She seemed to have been waiting for me on the landing. As usual, she had too much free time.

As I reached the top of the stairs, Himari stepped lightly toward me. Her freshly cleaned short-sleeved blouse was dazzling, and her skirt fluttered gracefully. The cardigan wrapped around her waist perfectly complemented her androgynous image.

In other words, summer uniforms were now in effect.

Our high school, like others, switched to summer uniforms starting in June. I’d seen a few people wearing them since last week, but most started today, the beginning of the week. I, too, had come to school in my summer uniform.

“Good morning, Himari. Thanks for helping me with the make-up exams.”

“Nah, it’s partly my fault anyway.”

Himari coughed lightly, as if to change the subject.

She tilted her body slightly, placing her index finger on her lips in a somewhat seductive manner. With her other hand, she tugged at her collar, teasingly revealing a glimpse of her collarbone.

…As expected of a professional model. She had a firm grasp of my fetishes.

I knew what she wanted—she wanted me to compliment her summer uniform.

But I couldn’t just fall for her trap. If I complimented her, for the next three days, she’d call me things like “Yuu who loves my summer uniform” or “Yuu-kun who can’t take his eyes off my summer uniform.” Thanks to that, some of my classmates seem to think I’m a “collarbone enthusiast” or a “nape fetishist.” …Well, they’re not wrong, but still!!

Anyway, I smiled and said,

“Oh, Himari. Did you watch The! Tetsuwan! DASH!! yesterday?”

“Hey! You’re doing that on purpose, aren’t you?”

“Shut up. I haven’t forgotten how you publicly humiliated me in front of our classmates last year.”

“It’s fine. Everyone has one or two perverted tendencies they can’t talk about.”

“Those are things you keep to yourself and enjoy alone. They’re not something you flaunt in public!”

“Eh? Are you picking a fight with me, who openly declares my love for Yuu-kun’s eyes in public?”

“Wait, are you seriously spreading that around? You’re kidding, right?”

“Nah. I get asked a lot, ‘What do you like about Natsume-kun?’”

“Stop it. What if people misunderstand again?”

“Misunderstand how?”

“Uh, well…”

…It’s obvious, isn’t it?

Himari looked up at me with a teasing glint in her eyes, as if saying, “Oh? How do you think people will misunderstand us?”

She knew exactly what she was doing. She was trying to make me say it.

Normally, I’d be flustered in this situation, but today was different. I’d anticipated this scenario because of the uniform change. I hadn’t been her best friend for two years for nothing.

(This is my chance for revenge from last week…!)

Stay calm, Yuu. You can do this.

I knew where I’d gone wrong before. I’d been too embarrassed and revealed the punchline too quickly.

Looking back, Himari always waited for me to react before teasing me. The moment I’d go “W-wait…!” she’d strike with a “Pfft—hah!”

The key is patience.

It’s like studying. Results come after enduring the struggle. I’d learned that patience at the Hibari Cram School! I tried to put on a serious expression and… (omitted)!

“They’ll think we’re dating. You’re secretly hoping we could date, aren’t you?”

I even added a wall slam for good measure.

There was a time when Himari and I were in a similar situation, and she’d turned bright red and flustered. Based on my analysis, she’s surprisingly bad at this kind of cheesy stuff!

(Come on, hurry up and turn red, flustered and panicking. Actually, this is way too embarrassing, so please hurry up, Himari-san…!!)

Just as I thought that, my uniform collar was grabbed.

Huh? Why is Himari-san covering her mouth and looking down? And why do her eyes look a little teary, like she’s about to cry? No, it’s not like she’s crying because she’s being teased—it’s more like “My feelings finally got through, and I can’t hold back my emotions…”

Well, her cheeks are red, but it’s not quite what I expected.

“…Then, will you really go out with me?”

Huh?

Himari placed her hand on my cheek. My body stiffened instantly.

Himari’s face drew closer. This is bad. Why are her eyes closed? And why are her lips slightly puckered, like she’s ready for… no, we’re on the stairs, for crying out loud! Other students might come by any second…

Ah, we’re going to bump into each other!

…………

………………………Ah, I remember this pattern.

When I cautiously opened my eyes, Himari was teary-eyed and trembling. Her face was bright red, but it was far from the reaction I’d been aiming for. …Well, yeah. That makes sense.

“Pfft—hahahahahahaha!!”

“…………”

The moment Himari burst out laughing,

My full-powered flick landed squarely on her forehead!

“Ow────!!”

“Did that really hurt!?”

Himari recoiled, hitting her head against the wall behind her with a thud. She let out an undignified scream.

“Yuu, stop copying Enomoto’s rebellious spirit!”

“Shut up! It’s your fault for doing something so misleading!”

“It’s just that Yuu’s a total noob at romance. Setting yourself up for self-destruction is hilarious.”

“It hurts that I can’t deny that…!!”

Seriously, how is Himari so good at teasing me? I’m about to cry…

“Well then. I got a good reaction out of Yuu, so let’s head to class.”

“…I just want to go home.”

As we were talking, a voice called from the bottom of the stairs.

“Ah, Yuu-kun.”

There aren’t many people who call me “Yuu-kun.” In fact, there’s only one person in the world who does. Looking down, I saw Enomoto-san hurrying up the stairs.

(Wow…)

Well, the exclamation probably says it all. If you solve the equation “Enomoto-san + summer uniform = ??” you’ll understand. As a harmless introvert, I could never say it out loud.

Then, Himari muttered with a serious face,

“Ugh. Enomoto. Your chest is as violent as ever.”

“You’re as blunt as ever…”

In spring, she’d worn her uniform loosely, and the layers had hidden it, so I hadn’t noticed.

But with the summer uniform, that wasn’t possible. She was wearing a cardigan over her short-sleeved blouse, but that wasn’t enough to hide it. In a different way from Himari, this rural high school’s plain uniform didn’t look plain at all…

Unaware of our lewd thoughts, Enomoto-san reached the top of the stairs. She caught her breath and fixed her bangs.

“Yuu-kun. Good morning.”

“G-good morning.”

…Crap. If my face looks too relaxed, she’ll be disappointed.

I absolutely have to stay calm and act normal here, or I’ll die. Hang in there, my facial muscles!!

“Enomoto-san. Your summer uniform looks great.”

“Ah, thank you…”

Instead of her usual “Ehe,” she was fidgeting shyly, adjusting the length of her skirt. Wait, hold on. That’s a pattern too? Have mercy. I’m not in a position to say this, but I really don’t want her doing that in front of other guys. …Not that I’m in any position to say that!!

“…………”

Suddenly, I felt a piercing gaze from beside me.

When I looked, Himari was smiling at me with a scary expression.

I know what she’s thinking. “The reaction you gave to me, who’s fresh and cute under the midsummer sun, is totally different! I’ll kill you!” Well, I admit Himari has her own charm in every season, but what happened earlier was entirely due to her usual behavior.

“Yuu-kun. Do you have any plans starting today?”

“Ah, yeah. Before thinking about new designs, I need to organize my surroundings.”

“Organize your surroundings?”

“First, I’ll reopen orders for accessories and sell the ones I made in bulk using the school’s flowers. While doing that, I’ll think about new designs. This time, I’ll start by growing the flowers, so I need to prepare thoroughly.”

“Ah, I see.”

Enomoto-san clenched her fists.

She must have realized it was her turn as the new behind-the-scenes member. That’s exactly right, but Enomoto-san, your band practice comes first, okay?

“Then, see you after school.”

She waved and headed to her classroom. She looked cool and cute as she left.

“It feels kind of strange.”

“Yuu. Why are you getting all sentimental?”

“Until just a while ago, it was like, ‘Well, let’s get started.’ But with Enomoto-san here, the atmosphere feels different.”

“Ahaha. That’s because she’s a girl in love.”

She casually brushed it off.

Well, that matter still hasn’t been resolved.

But eventually, I’ll have to make it clear. I can’t leave Enomoto-san hanging like this forever.

Plus, my feelings for Himari are still a mess. Even though it seems like nothing’s changed, the situation is completely different.

…Back then, Saku-neesan described my relationship with Himari as a miniature garden. She said that figuring it out was necessary for me to move forward as an accessory creator.

Is this really it? In terms of stimulation, I have more than enough to spare every day.

Well, I doubt anything will change much from here.

…Little did I know, a change that would make that confidence seem like a distant memory would occur that very afternoon.

♣♣♣

The science room in the separate building was the base for Himari and me in the gardening club.

Mainly, we used LED planters to investigate flowers that could be easily grown indoors and regularly compiled reports. Officially, it was research on therapeutic effects and activities beneficial to social welfare.

But behind the scenes, it was a workshop for creating my flower accessories and growing the flowers needed for materials. Don’t get me wrong—we were just making effective use of the leftover time after the gardening club’s activities. …Well, Himari mostly handled the gardening club stuff.

Today, we had a rare meeting. Me, Himari, and Enomoto-san. We sat around a six-person table, eating the cookies Enomoto-san brought while discussing future activities. They were delicious.

“So, we’ll start by clearing out the inventory?”

“Yeah. Even though they’re preserved flowers, the newer ones look better.”

Enomoto-san asked,

“But since they’re preserved, they won’t wilt, right?”

“I might have mentioned this before, but preserved flowers are fresh flowers put into a near-death state to prevent wilting. Simply put, the flowers are still alive. That’s why their color changes over time. They’re most vibrant now, but they’ll gradually become more muted.”

That in itself adds character, but since we show samples through photos, the newer, more vibrant ones catch the eye more. The ones made earlier sell less over time.

“Until now, I’d post a single sample on Instagram and make preserved flowers based on the number of orders. But this time, since I’ve already made them, it’s a race against time.”

“I-I see. That sounds tough…”

Enomoto-san was seriously taking notes on her phone. She’s so diligent.

“What happens if they don’t sell?”

“Ah, don’t worry about that. It hasn’t happened recently, but before I started selling through Instagram, there were times when they didn’t sell well. I’d keep some for people who liked the muted ones and give the rest to local acquaintances.”

“Local acquaintances?”

“Like the flower shops I usually work with or the stores that helped with Instagram shoots.”

“Ah, like the place that made the parts for my hairpin?”

“Yeah, that’s right. I’ll probably visit that craft shop too. I’d be happy if they used them, and it might attract customers interested in our activities. If there are any left, I’ll also give them to the ikebana class I attended or leave them at the convenience store.”

Himari sipped her Yoghurppe and said with a grin,

“We even asked my brother to have the city hall take some once.”

“Ah, that happened. That was rough. It was right after I started selling through Instagram. I’d enthusiastically made a lot, but hardly any orders came in. Hibari-san took pity on me and entered them into a local craft fair sponsored by the city hall.”

In return, I was put to work during a community cleanup volunteer event. But thanks to that, I got to know the craft shop and other local stores, which helped shape the direction of my Instagram account.

Anyway, we’d settled on a plan for the future.

“We’ll choose a few from this inventory and post them on Instagram. It’d be great if a store could help with the photoshoot…”

Suddenly, Himari poked my shoulder.

When I looked, she was smugly tapping her chest.

“…I know. You’re the model, Himari.”

“Nfufu~. Sorry, was that too pushy?”

She’s picked up some annoying moves lately.

Then, I made eye contact with Enomoto-san. She clenched her fists and leaned forward.

“I-I’ll handle the behind-the-scenes stuff!”

“I know. You don’t have to compete with Himari.”

What’s with this declaration system? Do you have to do this every time?

As we were talking, something unexpected happened.

“Helloooo────!!”

A loud voice accompanied a knock on the science room door.

We looked at each other.

Who could it be? We rarely had visitors after school. Recently, Enomoto-san had been coming by often, but Makishima had only come once during his spying session. Even the club advisor hadn’t been here in who knows how long.

“Hmm?”

Through the frosted glass, I could see the silhouette of what looked like a female student. No, multiple students. I could faintly hear lively chatter from the other side.

“Is anyone here?”

“But the lights are on…”

…I feel like I’ve heard this before.

Anyway, I decided to answer. We weren’t doing anything suspicious, and there was no need to pretend we weren’t here.

When Himari opened the door, two girls—one with a ponytail and the other with blonde mid-length hair—peeked into the science room.

“Yahhoo~! Himari-san!”

“Yahhoo~! Natsume-kun too!”

…Ah, I remember them.

They were the girls who’d talked to me when I visited Makishima’s class last week. They knew I was “you” and were a little interested in flower accessories.

“Hey, Himari-san. Can we come in?”

“Or are we interrupting?”

Himari made a slightly annoyed face for a moment but quickly put on her model student smile and welcomed them.

“Wow! What’s up, you two? Come on in~♪”

…Himari’s magic is terrifying.

Oblivious to her true nature, the two girls happily entered. They placed their bags on the table and dragged over chairs.

Suddenly, they let out an excited gasp at the unexpected group.

“Ah, Enomoto-san’s here too! Wow, the beauty level in this room is off the charts!”

“Natsume-kun, you’re popular, huh? Heh, impressive. As expected of an accessory craftsman.”

I couldn’t respond and just awkwardly smiled. …It felt less like welcoming classmates and more like encountering a bear in the woods.

(…Is Enomoto-san friends with these two?)

Enomoto-san, usually cool and composed, was silent. …Ah, no. She was just frozen stiff by the sudden awkward atmosphere. She didn’t seem like friends with them.

…Wait, what!?

Suddenly, the two girls sat on either side of me. Without hesitation, they started patting my shoulders and hands.

“Hey, hey, hey, hey. Which one? Which one’s your favorite?”

“You know, I’m guessing Himari-san’s the main wife, and Enomoto-san’s the mistress?”

“Eh? But isn’t Enomoto-san dating that playboy? They were together in that Instagram post, right?”

“Really? I saw him walking around Aeon with a first-year from the tennis club the other day.”

What’s going on? Are they talking to me? Or are they just playing a game to make me uncomfortable?

Seriously, they’re so high-energy.

They’re like the extrovert representatives, a different type from Himari. Honestly, they’re not my type. …Well, they don’t seem malicious, though.

“So, what’s up with you two?”

Himari steered the conversation back.

The two girls, sensing the boss of the room, quickly explained.

“Well! We just met Sasa-chan, and he said Natsume-kun’s make-up exams are over!”

“Sasa-chan.” That’s Mr. Sasaki, the career guidance teacher.

Even the scary career guidance teacher gets a nickname—these two are definitely high-level communicators.

“So, we came to get the accessories you promised to make for us!”

“We’ve been looking forward to it so much!”

…Huh?

Himari and Enomoto-san also looked at me with a “Wait, you promised that?” expression. I’m the one who wants to know!

(Wait, but…)

I feel like I remember something like that.

When was it? The only time I talked to these girls was last week when I visited Makishima’s class… Ah!

“Make accessories for us too!”

“W-well, if I have time. I’m kind of busy with make-up exams right now…”

…I did say that.

But who takes that seriously? I thought it was just lip service. Extroverts are scary.

“So, when will you make them?”

“Ah, well. There’s preparation and all, so I can’t do it right now…”

“Wow, so professional! Ah, but since you’re selling them, that makes sense.”

“Ah, no, I’d appreciate it if you didn’t pull on my hand like that…”

They laughed for some reason. Did I say something funny?

I forced a laugh, trying to brush it off, when I felt a cold gaze piercing me. When I looked, Himari and Enomoto-san were glaring at me with intense eyes.

(Eek!?)

They looked seriously displeased.

It’s not like I want to flirt or anything. Can’t you help me instead of just watching?

I pointed to the cardboard boxes of accessories piled on the table.

“Ah, well. You can take anything from there.”

“Ehhh────!? That’s so boring!”

“We want custom orders!”

Of course, it would come to that.

I get how they feel, but I’ve only just gotten some free time.

Just as I thought that, Himari sighed and came to my rescue.

“For now, can we just hear your requests? We have a lot to do, and this is all based on Yuu’s willingness. Plus, custom orders might cost more, so you’ll need to consider your budget, right?”

“Ah, right, right! Sorry. I thought it’d be the same as the ones you sell.”

The ponytail girl pointed at the blonde.

“Well, this girl’s celebrating her one-year anniversary with her boyfriend next month!”

“She wants matching accessories, but nothing’s caught her eye yet.”

I asked,

“So, two of the same design—one for her and one for her boyfriend?”

“Y-yeah!”

The blonde girl nodded with a smile.

As I watched her, I thought,

(…This is interesting.)

Until now, my accessories had been aimed at female users.

That was my main target demographic, but this new perspective of approaching other groups felt fresh.

Himari looked at me. When I nodded, she responded to the blonde girl.

“Yuu’s willing to consider it.”

“Yay!”

The blonde girl cheered, while the ponytail girl looked surprised.

“Eh!? But Natsume-kun didn’t say anything, right?”

“Ah, you’re right!”

“Wow. It’s like they’re in sync or something!”

“They’re so in tune with each other!”

…That was an unnecessary comment.

As I felt awkward, Himari stepped in with a sigh.

“Well, I am the main wife, after all.”

The two girls squealed in excitement. …I could feel Enomoto-san’s piercing gaze on my back. Why am I the one suffering here?

Himari cleared her throat.

“Anyway. Depending on the design, budget might be an issue, so we’ll need to discuss it with your boyfriend. Can you arrange a time?”

“Yeah, yeah! Lunch break should work.”

“Then, you know my LINE, right? It’s not urgent, so just send me a few time options, and…”

As Himari took charge, I stepped back from the conversation. I took a Yoghurppe from Himari’s bag and sipped it to cool down. …Talking to unfamiliar girls is exhausting.

(…Hmm?)

Enomoto-san was diligently taking notes on her phone.

“Yuu-kun’s expression means ‘willing to consider’…”

“You’re so serious.”

I couldn’t help but tease her, and Enomoto-san made a V-sign with a blank expression. Well, I wasn’t exactly complimenting her…

“See you later!”

“Take care!”

When the two girls left, the tension finally broke.

I slumped onto the table.

“I’m done for…”

“Yuu. Your mental strength is too weak. You just decided to actively engage with users to aim higher, and now you’re complaining?”

“Those two are too aggressive. I’d prefer quieter customers.”

“Actually, I think the aggressive ones are more likely to want accessories…”

Enomoto-san eagerly asked,

“W-what should I do!?”

“Enomoto-san, calm down. First, we need to talk to her boyfriend.”

“Ah, right. Ehehe…”

Honestly, her shy smile alone is healing enough. I’d never say it out loud, though!

“For now, we’ll consider their request while clearing out the inventory…”

And so, the first job of our new “you” system began.

♣♣♣

Three days later.

We invited the blonde girl and her boyfriend to the science room.

I was nervous the whole time, especially since they were third-years. …Well, Himari handled most of the conversation.

After discussing everything, the two left.

The three of us gathered around the notes from the conversation. As I skimmed through them, I muttered,

“It’s kind of an unexpected pair.”

Himari tilted her head.

“Really? Her boyfriend seemed nice.”

“That’s exactly why it’s surprising…”

A girl like that, who’s the epitome of an extrovert, dating someone like him?

I’d expected someone more like Makishima—a flashy guy. But instead, a gentle giant showed up. While they were talking, “The Bear in the Forest” kept playing in my head…

“Ahaha. It just means she looks beyond appearances, right?”

“They were really lovey-dovey, huh…”

They were all over each other the whole time—holding hands, leaning on each other. It felt like they were in their own world. This is the same science room we always use, right?

Enomoto-san made a slightly awkward face and said,

“Yuu-kun and Hii-chan are always like that, though…”

“Seriously…”

That’s kind of a shock.

When I looked at Himari, her cheeks turned red as she said,

“Then, why don’t we just…”

“We’re not dating! And Enomoto-san, stop raising your hand like ‘What about me!?’”

The pressure is intense.

I want to focus on making accessories right now, so please hold off on that.

“So? What do you think after seeing them?”

“…I’ll take the job. I’ve got an idea.”

Himari looked surprised at my quick answer.

“Heh. That was fast. You struggled so much with Enomoto-san’s request.”

“Well, her boyfriend said he doesn’t usually wear accessories. If he’s not picky, it’s actually easier.”

“I see. Enomoto-san’s already fashionable, after all.”

“Exactly. He seemed open to suggestions, so I’m actually looking forward to it.”

I had a vague idea of the theme.

My experience with Enomoto-san’s request probably helped.

“This time, the theme is ‘Matching Accessories.’ I want to use Japanese cornelian cherry flowers. They bloom until May on the calendar, so it’s iffy whether they’re still in season.”

Himari reacted with a “Huh?”

Enomoto-san tilted her head in confusion.

“Japanese cornelian cherry?”

“It’s a deciduous tree that blooms in spring. You might have seen the fruit, Enomoto-san…”

I searched for images on my phone.

The small, red, gummy-like fruit appeared. Enomoto-san’s eyes widened when she saw it.

“Yuu-kun. I’ve seen this before.”

“Japanese cornelian cherry is distributed all over Japan. If you’re not in the city, you might have seen it on your way to school.”

“The yellow flowers are cute and pretty too.”

“Yeah. In Japan, they’re also called ‘Harukoganehana.’ They’re a symbol of spring, combining brightness and delicacy.”

And in autumn, the fruit, called ‘Akisango,’ is beautifully vibrant.

“What’s the flower’s meaning?”

“‘Endurance,’ ‘Durability,’ and ‘Mature Spirit.’”

“But for matching accessories, shouldn’t it be a love flower?”

Enomoto-san’s question was valid.

But I had my reasons.

“Japanese cornelian cherry is a flower that symbolizes health and vitality. Watching them, I felt that instead of emphasizing love, it’d be better to wish for something more substantial.”

By the way, the fruit is used in health drinks. It’s the perfect plant to symbolize health.

“Her boyfriend’s in the baseball club and wants to continue in college. If she’s thinking of him, this feels right. …Well, it might sound a bit old-fashioned.”

Himari and Enomoto-san exchanged glances and nodded.

“Sounds good. But we’ll need to secure the flowers first.”

“I think it’s a good idea too. The flowers are cute.”

Thanks.

I was worried it might sound too cheesy.

And so, we decided on Japanese cornelian cherry matching accessories. We immediately started searching for the flowers through flower shops and acquaintances.

♣♣♣

At the start of the next week, we invited the blonde girl and her boyfriend back, thanks to Himari.

We’d managed to secure the Japanese cornelian cherry flowers, so we proposed the matching accessories. Of course, we explained the meaning behind them. After all, if the clients didn’t approve, it’d just be our narcissism.

“…So, what do you think? Budget-wise, since we found the flowers quickly, it should fit within our usual price range.”

I explained directly.

I was super nervous, but the two listened intently. Then, they looked at each other and nodded.

The blonde girl gave a thumbs-up.

“If it’s cute, it’s a go!”

“Thanks!”

We immediately started taking measurements.

Himari and Enomoto-san handled the blonde girl, while I measured her boyfriend with a tape measure. Since we’d decided on necklaces, I focused on his neck measurements. As I worked, he shyly said,

“I don’t really think accessories suit me. What do you think about necklaces…?”

“Not at all. You have a solid build, so it’ll look good. We’ll use soft-looking parts, so don’t worry. Ah, when you wear it, keep your chest open. It’ll look less awkward if you show it off properly.”

“R-really? …You seem brighter than before.”

“…I’m just not good at talking to trendy girls.”

“…Ah, me too. My girlfriend’s the only exception.”

We laughed together.

Huh. I can see why the blonde girl chose him. He’s really calming to talk to.

Two weeks later, the accessories were complete.

The quality was solid, and the couple’s reaction was great. Since these accessories weren’t for general sale, we posted them on Instagram as a work sample.

Meanwhile, the inventory clearance plan was progressing. We’d found a store for the Instagram shoot and were heading there this weekend. Everything was going smoothly.

…Looking back, things were going too smoothly, and that was the start of this incident.

♣♣♣

Mid-June.

The rainy season had been declared, but it hardly rained as much as they said.

Every year, I wondered why the news showed so many dam images, but apparently, back when I was born, it used to pour daily during this season.

Like last month, I walked to school under the threat of rain, studied under the roof, and made accessories after school. That was my routine during the rainy season, and it included peaceful days with Himari. Since last month, Enomoto-san had joined us. That was all it was supposed to be.

That afternoon, we had another visitor in the science room.

“I heard ‘you’ makes custom accessories. Is that true?”

A cheerful girl with a fluffy bob cut asked. She was with a friend.

Apparently, she wanted to impress her senpai in the club and was wondering if I could make an accessory that matched his taste.

…But more importantly, who is she?

I’d never met her before. Himari subtly made an ‘X’ with her fingers and shook her head. Enomoto-san, who’s in the band, didn’t seem to know her either. She was frozen stiff.

As usual, Himari smiled and asked,

“Where did you hear about that?”

It turned out that the ponytail and blonde duo had been enthusiastically spreading the word about “you.” It had become a hot topic, especially among the sports clubs.

For now, we sent the underclassmen girls away.

Himari cooled down with a Yoghurppe and muttered,

“First, we need to figure out how far this has spread.”

“I’ll ask the band members during practice.”

As I packed the inventory accessories for shipping, I said absentmindedly,

“But is it really something to panic about?”

“Huh? Yuu, you seem pretty calm…”

“It’s not about being calm. I’m just wondering if there’s really that much demand for my accessories at our school.”

“Ah, I see. That’s pretty sharp of you, Yuu…”

“Sorry for being sharp, I guess…”

Himari checked the sales history of “you” on her phone.

“I’d need to check the proper data on my computer, but so far, customers under 20 make up less than 10% of the total…”

“Right. My accessories are priced pretty high.”

This was thanks to Himari’s insight.

If you price a product low, you’ll attract more customers. But at the same time, the brand’s value decreases. If you focus only on short-term profits and price things too low, you won’t be able to raise prices later when you have your own store. This was something Himari had realized from watching businesses rent her family’s land since she was a child.

…What I’m trying to say is, my accessories aren’t something high schoolers can just casually buy.

Customers under 20 make up less than 10% of the total. And if we limit it to just our school, it’s an even smaller number. I think the blonde girl and her friend only bought them in their first year because the prices had dropped over time.

Even though Himari had been modeling for Instagram, no one had been eager to uncover the identity of “you.” That was partly because people were more interested in daily TV shows than the creator of a product they couldn’t afford.

“By the way, Enomoto-san, why are you raising your hand?”

Enomoto-san then spoke up with a serious expression.

“But there might be cases like mine!”

“Well, I’m not so sure about that…”

No offense, but Enomoto-san’s situation feels like a miracle.

Honestly, aside from Himari and Enomoto-san, I’ve never seen anyone still wearing the first-generation flower accessories from middle school. …I feel a bit guilty, so I just made a slightly awkward expression.

The empty Yoghurppe carton Himari was drinking from made a slurping sound.

“Well, Enomoto-san might have a point.”

“Really? Why?”

“Up until now, Yuu was just an unnoticeable introvert, right? But things might be different from now on…”

“Wait, wait, wait. What do you mean ‘from now on’? There’s nothing going on!”

“No, no, no. Yuu, you’re being too optimistic. The situation changes every moment.”

“Just because I’ve become a bit more noticeable, does that mean there’s a problem?”

Himari crushed the empty Yoghurppe carton in her hand!

“If Yuu becomes popular…”

“Yuu-kun might become popular!!”

Himari got her punchline stolen by Enomoto-san and went “Grungh…”

Meanwhile, Enomoto-san was tugging at my sleeve.

“Hey, Yuu-kun. That would be a problem, right?”

“No, Enomoto-san, just stay quiet for now. It’s holding up the conversation.”

Enomoto-san pouted.

“Yuu-kun, you’ve been so sharp lately…”

“Ah, sorry. I guess I’ve been acting like Himari without realizing it…”

But Enomoto-san is just naturally like this, unlike Himari, who does it on purpose. Thinking about it, treating them the same way might not be right…

Just as I thought that, Enomoto-san clenched her fists.

“That means you’re catching up to Hii-chan, right!”

“So positive.”

If she’s fine with it, then I guess it’s okay…

“Anyway, I think Himari and the others are overthinking it. And if you think about it, isn’t this a good thing?”

“Is it?”

“I decided to actively engage with users to aim higher, right? If they come to me, that’s something to be grateful for.”

“Well, that’s true. It’s different from trying to sell to users who aren’t interested…”

As we were chatting leisurely, there was a knock on the science room door. When we opened it, there was a group of three girls. …Different from the ones before.

One of them nervously spoke to us.

“Um, excuse me! We heard that ‘you’ is here!”

“…………”

We exchanged glances, our mouths twitching.

…This might not be the time to be grateful.

♣♣♣

Three days later, during lunch break.

We were in the science room, dealing with another visitor. The girl was excitedly asking,

“Is it true that wearing ‘you’ accessories guarantees love!?”

No, it’s not.

There’s no confirmed spiritual effect like that.

…After hearing her request, we sent her away. We locked the door and slumped onto the table.

“I’m so tired…”

“I’m feeling the strain of this back-to-back workload too…”

“When I go to band practice, everyone keeps asking me to make accessories for them…”

I lifted my head.

Himari was organizing the order details in her notebook.

“Himari, how many is this now?”

“This one makes 12…”

“You’re kidding…”

“Including the guys, it’s around 16…”

“There are that many…?”

For the past few days, accessory orders had been nonstop. We were so busy handling them that we couldn’t even work on making new ones.

Why is this happening? I didn’t lower the prices. Users who never showed interest before are suddenly coming out of the woodwork.

As Himari looked over the previous requests,

“Hmm. I think the custom orders are having too much of an impact.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, before, we were selling ready-made products, right? But now, we’re offering fully custom-made accessories. For about the same budget, they can get something unique to the world. That’s bound to raise expectations.”

…I see.

That makes sense. It’s like when you go on a school trip and everyone buys souvenirs with their names on them.

“Plus, those two are really good at promoting.”

“Those two? The ones who ordered the Japanese cornelian cherry accessories?”

“Yeah. Listening to them, I realized their promotion tactics are evolving. At first, it was just about original accessories. Then it became ‘one-of-a-kind custom accessories,’ and now it’s ‘accessories that guarantee love.’”

“Ah, so that’s how it is…”

They’re adding more enticing angles based on the girls’ reactions.

Flower meanings are usually tied to love, after all. If people believe that flower accessories bring romantic luck, many will easily buy into it.

Enomoto-san let out a tired sigh.

“Can’t we ask those two to stop promoting…?”

“Well, about that…”

Of course, we’d thought about it.

Actually, right after school that first day, Himari and I went to talk to them. But instead, they suggested, “Let us be your promotion captains!”

“When they smile so brightly and say ‘Leave it to us!’, it’s hard to refuse…”

“I didn’t expect it to get this big either. Since we already said ‘okay,’ it’d be awkward to back out now…”

More importantly, their efforts have the benefit of bringing customers to us without us having to do anything.

The reason we’re in this situation is because we underestimated their influence and didn’t handle it properly from the start. It’s our fault, so we can’t deny their goodwill.

“But honestly, aren’t those two a bit too into it…?”

“My brother mentioned something about that yesterday. He said young people are more motivated by seeing the results of their efforts than by money. Employers take advantage of that, leading to problems like low-paying part-time jobs…”

Let’s set aside the harsh realities for now…

“Anyway, the only thing we can do is handle the requests properly.”

“But we’ve never had this many before. Can you handle it, Yuu?”

“I have to. We have plenty of inventory for online sales, and next month’s finals… well, I think I’ll be fine thanks to the Hibari Cram School.”

“Ugh, I’m so anxious…”

For now, we decided to close the science room.

If we stayed here, we’d inevitably have to deal with visitors. It wouldn’t completely stop the orders, but it might slow things down a bit. We’d just have to come up with a good excuse for those two.

Himari, Enomoto-san, and I walked down the hallway aimlessly.

As we walked, we discussed our future plans.

“But where will we work…?”

“Isn’t the only option the spare room at my house?”

“Yeah. But then Hibari-san will…”

“But your room is a mess because of Daifuku-kun, right?”

“What about McDonald’s…?”

“No, that’s not feasible. Spreading out all that equipment there would be a nuisance.”

Enomoto-san puffed out her cheeks, looking a bit sulky.

“Yuu-kun, I won’t be able to come…”

“…………”

So cute… I mean, no.

I almost said it out loud. Good job, my facial muscles.

“Enomoto-san, what’s your home situation like?”

“Since I started band in high school, I only help out at home on days off. Right now, I help with the early morning prep, so even after club activities…”

Himari suggested,

“Then, Enomoto-san, you can have my brother take you home. Your bike…”

As we were talking, a familiar face approached from down the hallway.

It was Makishima. He was walking alone, which was unusual.

“Nahaha. I thought I saw someone surrounded by a bunch of beauties, and of course, it’s Natsume. What a coincidence, huh?”

“Hey, Makishima. Do you always have to be so sarcastic?”

And then Himari hugged my arm tightly, blatantly asserting her ownership. We’re in the hallway, so other students might see… Enomoto-san, don’t try to copy her on the other arm!!

“Um, Himari-san?”

“Nfufu~. What’s wrong, Yuu~?”

“It’s just hard to walk like this, so stop…”

“Eh~? It’s the same as always~. Yuu’s such a shy guy~♡”

No, it’s not like this all the time… well, maybe it is. Enomoto-san said it’s similar to that blonde couple, and I can see why…

I glanced at Enomoto-san on the other side.

Over there, Enomoto-san’s face was bright red, and she was looking at me with a “Should I do it too? Should I?” expression.

“No, Enomoto-san, you don’t have to…”

“But Hii-chan’s doing it…”

“Even so, you don’t have to…”

Honestly, that would be dangerous. Himari’s used to it and can stay calm, but if Enomoto-san did it, things would get out of hand.

“Makishima, help…”

“Such a spoiled brat. …Rin-chan, stop bothering Natsume. And physical contact too often will make it less effective when it really matters. Save it for the right moment.”

Enomoto-san said, “Ah, okay,” and backed off. She then quickly typed Makishima’s advice into her phone. …She’s really serious, huh?

“Makishima, are you seriously a love coach?”

“Nahahaha. Rin-chan’s a fast learner. She’ll surpass Himari-chan in no time, so look forward to it.”

He snapped his fan open and closed, sparking a rivalry with Himari.

“Hey, Himari-chan? You’re clinging to him, but he doesn’t seem to notice, does he?”

“Nfufu~. Too bad~. Yuu’s heart is racing so much it might stop~. Makishima-kun, you should worry more about when your kouhai will get tired of you~?”

“Oh? That was a jab at a love-struck maiden, but you took it quite seriously, didn’t you?”

“…!?”

For a moment, Himari’s face twisted in annoyance.

I sighed.

“Himari, Makishima. More importantly, your conversation is so embarrassing. Can I just run away? Huh, can I?”

For some reason, both Himari and Makishima sighed.

“This is why Yuu’s such a wimp.”

“The phrase ‘a big tree with no use’ was made for Natsume.”

You two get along way too well when it comes to dissing me.

By the way, udo (Japanese spikenard) is famous as a spring vegetable, but when it grows too big, it becomes too tough to eat and too soft to use as building material. Hence the proverb “a big tree with no use.” And when udo matures in summer, it blooms with beautiful, snowflake-like flowers. Some say they look like dandelion fluff. Udo doesn’t survive the winter, so it’s not actually a tree… but, uh, this trivia is pointless.

“Anyway, Natsume, how about grabbing a meal with me sometime?”

“Uh, that sounds suspiciously specific…”

“Nahaha. Don’t be like that. You can’t work on accessories today anyway, right?”

…I see.

I excused myself from Himari and the others and headed to the rooftop with Makishima.

♣♣♣

When we reached the rooftop, there was a underclassman girl there.

I recognized her. She was Makishima’s current girlfriend. When she noticed us, she smiled brightly and bowed her head to me. …As always, her “good girl” aura was overwhelming.

“Were you two meeting up?”

“Ah, yeah, we were.”

Hey, wait.

What about this awkward atmosphere… wait, huh? The girlfriend read the room and left with a “See ya☆”

…She’s a sharp one.

“Why is she dating you, Makishima?”

“Hmm. Honestly, I don’t know either. We’re both in the tennis club, and at some point, we started hanging out together. It just happened, but I’m not sure if she really likes me.”

Ah, I see.

I’ll never understand the love lives of popular guys.

“But Natsume, you look pretty worn out.”

His completely unapologetic attitude was, as usual, something else.

“Makishima, you revealed ‘you’ to stir up this situation, didn’t you?”

“Nahaha. Natsume, you’ve learned to doubt me, huh? That’s a good trend. I’ll answer with a yes.”

…I knew it.

Everything that’s been happening feels a bit too smooth. I can’t quite put it into words, but it feels like someone’s pulling the strings.

“Are you the one having those two promote the accessories?”

“No, that’s not it. It’s entirely their own initiative.”

“Then why are they so enthusiastic…?”

Even if my accessories become popular, those two don’t get anything out of it.

Sure, I made custom accessories for them, but they paid for them. Their actions go beyond that.

Makishima answered,

“Those two are what you’d call ‘otaku-friendly gyaru.’”

“Huh? Otaku-friendly gyaru?”

“It’s internet slang. They’re pure extroverts, but they can interact with students of any type on the same level. They’re the second most popular girl duo in the second year, after Himari-chan. Didn’t you know?”

I didn’t.

…But now that he mentions it, I think they talked to me a few times in my first year. I was always thinking about accessories and didn’t respond properly, though.

“Those two are natural busybodies. They act purely out of goodwill. They think your accessories are amazing, so they’re enthusiastically spreading the word. I swear that’s the truth.”

“So there’s no ulterior motive?”

“Well, they’re a rare type. …That’s why I chose them to reveal ‘you.’”

“What do you mean?”

Makishima opened his fan and smiled while hiding his mouth.

“Pure 100% goodwill can sometimes surpass 200% malice.”

“…I don’t get it.”

I don’t understand the meaning, but I can tell he’s up to no good.

“The reason I wanted to talk to you today is to apologize in advance.”

Then Makishima declared nonchalantly,

“If things go as I expect, you’ll probably face a bit of a mental challenge.”

“Huh…?”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Wait, what kind of reaction are you expecting me to have after hearing that…?”

“Makishima. Back during Enomoto-san’s accessory showcase, you were messing with Himari too, right? Seriously, what are you trying to do?”

Makishima suddenly spread both his arms wide.

It was his usual signature pose. Then, with a somewhat ecstatic expression, he said,

“Everything is for Rin-chan’s victory.”

“No, I’m asking why you’re so invested in Enomoto-san.”

“Isn’t it natural to wish for the happiness of your childhood friend?”

“It would be, if it were anyone else. But coming from you, it lacks credibility.”

Makishima let out a dry laugh.

“I owe Rin-chan a huge debt. A debt so big that it wouldn’t be worth it unless I make her first love come true.”

“…………”

Behind his usual frivolous expression, there was a serious gaze. As I stared at him, Makishima shrugged.

“You can hit me if you want. After what happened last time, Natsu, you have every right to.”

“…Well, I do feel like telling you to stop doing unnecessary stuff.”

I sighed and honestly expressed my feelings.

“But it can’t be helped, right? If I were to support my best friend Himari in her love life, I might end up doing the same thing as you. If our important goals clash, something like this might happen, don’t you think?”

“…………”

Makishima looked at me with a blank expression.

Eventually, he chuckled softly, closed his fan, and poked my chest with it.

“Can you really support her? Even though you’ve fallen for Himari-chan yourself?”

“That’s hypothetical, hypothetical!”

Makishima burst into loud laughter.

“Na-ha-ha. That’s why I like you, Natsu♪”

“No, seriously, I don’t want to hear a guy say he likes me, so spare me.”

Really, I ended up becoming friends with such a troublesome guy.

…Whether it’s Makishima or Hibari-san, I wonder if I’m just the type to attract weird guys.

♣♣♣

Just like that, two weeks passed.

After school.

In one of the rooms of the Inuzuka family’s mansion, I was working on making accessories. There were just so many types. Not just the flowers, but the shapes of the accessories were all over the place. I carefully assembled each one, making sure not to make any mistakes.

Surprisingly, the flower part didn’t take as much time. After removing the pigments and drying them, there was a lot of waiting time.

During that time, I worked on the base parts of the accessories.

“…Alright. That’s one part done.”

I let out a deep breath.

How many is this now? After that, more orders came in, and I’ve made about 20 so far. The accessories for the students who ordered first are almost done.

Just as I was thinking that, I felt someone’s presence behind me. Before I could turn around, Himari hugged me from behind, wrapping her arms around my neck.

“Yuu~. How’s it going~?”

“Oh, Himari…”

I was a little surprised.

Seriously, I still get nervous. Makishima said I looked calm even when Himari hugged me, but honestly, my heart was pounding like crazy. …She can’t hear my heartbeat, right?

“Oh, sorry. I let myself into your house even though you weren’t here…”

“Ah-ha-ha. It’s fine. Grandpa and Mom are really happy that Yuu’s here, you know?”

When I consulted Hibari-san, he said it wouldn’t be good to leave the science room empty. So, Himari agreed to stay there until 6 PM. To focus on my work, I headed to the Inuzuka house right after school.

Grandpa had been discharged from the hospital, and Mom was home too. Despite that, they let me in like it was nothing. They even let me use a spare room, so my work was going smoothly.

On top of that, they were spoiling me like crazy.

Just look at this mountain of snacks on the table. Even if my brain needs sugar while working, there’s a limit, you know? …Ah, Royce’s chocolate potato chips are so good. Sometimes, a mobile vendor truck comes to the Aeon parking lot.

“Oh, by the way, Mom said she’s making sweet and sour fried chicken for dinner tonight, since it’s your favorite.”

“Seriously? You don’t have to go that far for me…”

“It’s fine, right? Our family is full of picky eaters, so Mom said it’s actually easier to plan the menu this way.”

“Well, if that’s the case, then it’s fine…”

On the first day, Hibari-san and Grandpa got into an argument over whether to have high-end sushi or Italian for dinner, but it ended when Mom said, “Do you have a problem with the meals I make?” …That was the moment I realized Mom might actually be the most powerful person in this house.

Himari happily ruffled my hair while looking at the accessories on the table.

“How’s it going?”

“The environment Hibari-san set up for me is so amazing that I might just collapse from how perfect it is…”

“Pu-ha. Feel free to collapse. My brother will take over the family business, and I can just live a carefree life, maybe even in a common-law marriage or something.”

“That last part was unnecessary, you know…”

Honestly, it’s no joke.

I had to prepare equipment for the science room too, so they went out of their way to set up new equipment here.

It’s almost the same as what I usually use, but it’s clearly an upgrade. Tasks like curing resin are faster and more stable. Even after working continuously, I don’t feel as fatigued. And most importantly, the finished products just look better. The equipment feels like it’s part of my hand, like it’s an extension of me.

…In this day and age, a lot of things are cheaply available, but expensive things really do offer their own benefits. This experience made me realize that again.

“But even so, working non-stop for two weeks is exhausting…”

“Well, yeah. You’ve been holed up here all the time except for school… Oh, can I have that chocolate over there?”

I held out a Royce almond chocolate to Himari. She pecked at it like a little bird and popped it into her mouth. …For some reason, that felt kind of erotic.

No, no. Best friends, best friends. Best friends don’t look at each other in an erotic way.

“When’s dinner?”

“Mom was cutting the chicken earlier, so maybe in about an hour?”

“Then I’ll take a little break.”

“Sure. I’ll wake you up when Enocchi gets here.”

I decided to take a nap.

Lately, I’ve been working here until midnight, and even after going home, I’ve been thinking about accessory designs, so I haven’t been sleeping much. I want to sleep during breaks too, but people keep talking to me. Especially since Himari started staying in the science room, I’ve been spending more time alone.

“…So, what are you doing?”

“Hey, Yuu. Over here, over here.”

Himari was sitting seiza-style, patting her lap. …You’re kidding, right?

“No, I was just reaching for that cushion… Hey, don’t hide it behind you.”

“No way~. In fact, refusing my cute lap pillow? Yuu, are you really that dumb?”

No, it’s because you’re cute that I’m refusing.

…Well, whatever. No one’s around to see, and once Himari decides something, there’s no stopping her.

Guided by Himari, I rested the back of my head on her lap. It was a strange sensation. I could see the ceiling and Himari’s cheerful face.

(Huh. Is this…?)

As I stared at Himari’s face with a certain suspicion, I thought I saw a ‘💢’ mark appear on her forehead.

“Hey, Yuu…”

“Wh-what is it?”

“You weren’t thinking that if it were Enocchi, you wouldn’t be able to see her face, right?”

Gulp…

What the…? Is this girl psychic? She hit the nail on the head without missing a beat. I quietly averted my gaze to who-knows-where.

“That’s not true at all. Himari-san’s lap pillow is seriously the best!”

“Uwa~. Yuu, you’ve been picking up some of Makishima-kun’s sleazy habits lately, huh? I think you should stop that, you know?”

She started tapping my forehead in a satisfying rhythm.

Ouch, ouch. Stop hitting my forehead, seriously, stop… stop!!

“You’re so persistent! Let me sleep!”

“Kyaa~! Yuu, no tickling! Ahaha, seriously, stop!”

After getting my cheeks slapped repeatedly, I had no choice but to surrender.

I slumped down, feeling an indescribable fatigue wash over me. …I wonder if I can use the bath here today. I wonder when Hibari-san will be back.

“Hey, Himari. Can I ask you something?”

“Hmm?”

I decided to ask something a little embarrassing, letting the comforting drowsiness take over.

Otherwise, I wouldn’t be able to brush it off if I messed up.

“You said something back when you were making Enomoto-san’s accessory, right?”

“What did I say?”

“You know, that you wanted a ‘love’ accessory made just for you.”

“…………”

Ngyah!

For some reason, she pinched my nose.

“Don’t remember such embarrassing things.”

“Hey, that’s way too unfair…?”

Well, it’s my fault for bringing it up so suddenly.

But when I’m making custom accessories like this, that thought just won’t leave my mind. After all, that’s the only thing I didn’t make.

“What? Yuu, did you start having ‘feelings’ for me?”

“Shut up. I’m asking about you.”

“Me?”

“You used to hate romance, right? Back in middle school, you got pushed into the road by Makishima’s ex-girlfriend. …So, how about now?”

“Hmm~~…”

Himari groaned in a way that made it hard to read her emotions.

Hey, stop tying my bangs. You’ll undo it, right? As I fidgeted internally, Himari quietly answered.

“I hate it.”

“Then why did you say you wanted a ‘love’ accessory…?”

“Ah-ha-ha. Back then, it was because Enocchi was so cute, you know? I got carried away by the excitement.”

“Well, I can understand that…”

…I see. So that’s what it was.

I thought maybe Himari had started falling in love. …I even worried that she might have found someone else she liked.

It’s strange.

Before, even if Himari got a boyfriend, I’d just think, “So what?” At most, I’d hope he’d treat her well.

But now, it’s different. I don’t want to hand her over to some guy I don’t even know. Even if it’s not as a lover, I want her to stay by my side as a best friend. And I know I can make that happen. I realize how selfish that thought is.

But that would be dishonest to Himari. Himari is kind, so if I wished for it, she’d probably do it. She’d probably give up on love, not get married, and stay my best friend forever.

That’s why I can’t take advantage of her kindness. Because I know that, I strive to be better.

To repay the friendship Himari promised me during our middle school cultural festival.

To at least be recognized as an equal by Himari.

…I don’t think the happy future we’re looking for lies down this path.

♢♢♢

“He fell asleep…”

Yuu mumbled something as he drifted off to sleep. I was too busy playing with his bangs to listen, but it was probably about accessories.

He must be tired. Well, of course. He’s been focusing on making accessories non-stop lately.

Actually, he seems even more passionate than before. Well, he was passionate before too, but back then, it was more like, “As long as I’m satisfied, it’s fine.” His eyes sparkled so brightly when he was making accessories, like a child’s, full of innocence.

Now, something fundamental has changed. Ever since he made Enocchi’s ‘first love’ hairpin, he’s been diving deeper into accessory-making. His eyes aren’t just sparkling—they’re burning. He’s overflowing with the desire to aim higher.

The current Yuu is thrilling. But at the same time, it’s a little scary. I worry he might leave me behind and go somewhere far away. Or that he might burn out before long.

…Maybe it’s because of Enocchi.

Well, of course. If a cute girl like her kept saying “I like you,” any normal guy would get fired up. Thinking about that makes my chest hurt a little.

But it’s fine.

I decided a long time ago that I’d always support Yuu. No matter where he goes, I’ll follow him. And at the end of that path, I decided I’d make him mine.

I lightly tapped Yuu’s defenseless sleeping face.

He looks so at ease. I can’t wait to see his reaction when he realizes his bangs are tied up later.

“It’s not a lie.”

I hate romance.

These past two weeks, because of all the orders from love-struck girls, my time with Yuu has decreased. People really don’t care about others’ circumstances. Romance is truly a curse.

“It’s not a lie.”

The reason I wanted that ‘love’ accessory was just because I got caught up in Enocchi’s enthusiasm.

Because now, I don’t want a ‘love’ accessory. As long as I have this twinflower ring, I believe Yuu will always stay by my side.

…But lately, I’ve started thinking that maybe romance isn’t so bad.

Spending time with Yuu is hundreds of times more fun than before.

I’ve also started wanting to cherish Enocchi more than before.

I still dislike Makishima-kun, but I’ve started to think that maybe even he has something important to him.

As for my brother… well, he’s a little scarier than before.

But if someone asked me if I wanted to go back to the time when we could sincerely call each other “best friends,” I’d definitely say no.

Because if I hadn’t realized I liked Yuu, I wouldn’t have wanted to grasp even greater happiness than this.

My life is definitely the most fun right now.

…Really, truly, it’s not a lie.