Chapter VI | “Immortal Love” for Flag 2.

♢♢♢

Three days later, on Thursday.

A message came down from Sasaki-sensei.

For now, there’s no punishment. The parents who complained were explained the situation by Sasaki-sensei, and they were satisfied with a refund. The same goes for the other students. If any students want to return their items, they can bring the receipt and the accessory to the staff room.

(Haa, that’s a relief…)

For now, I’m hanging on by a thread. Onii-chan said, “It’s fine to leave it to Sasaki-sensei,” but that person really cares about the students, huh? Even when Onii-chan and the others were in high school, they were apparently taken care of a lot by him.

……However, the announcement about returning the accessories during morning homeroom was hard to swallow. The gazes of my classmates pierced through me. Even though it was to prevent other students from placing orders, this public execution will probably take a toll on Yuu-kun’s mental state.

Well, I’ll support him perfectly here.

That’s what the main wife is for, right? With Himari-chan’s gentle, enveloping love, Yuu-kun’s trust in me will skyrocket.

I reached out to Yuu-kun, who was sitting next to me, and gave his back a firm pat. He turned to me in a fluster, his mouth twitching as he spoke.

“Huh? What? What’s this all of a sudden?”

“Hmm? Just saying, let’s keep doing our best, okay?”

“…Ah, yeah.”

After saying that, Yuu-kun turned his face away from me and looked out the window.

……Yuu-kun. He hasn’t been himself these past few days.

Well, of course. After seeing something like that happen right in front of him, it’s no wonder he’s in shock.

I wonder if I can cheer him up somehow. But Yuu-kun is the type who finds his hobbies in his work. Since becoming friends with me, he’s taken an interest in TV and games, but it’s more like researching trends. The only time he truly relaxes is when he’s interacting with flowers.

For now, let’s go out and have some fun this weekend to shake off the bad vibes.

And then, starting next week, we’ll resume activities as the new “you.”

It’s fine, it’s fine.

In the face of our long-held dream, this is just like tripping over a small pebble.

♢♢♢

That afternoon, unfortunately, I had a committee meeting.

After it ended, I hurried to the science room.

On the way, I ran into Enocchi in the hallway.

“Ah, Enocchi. What about the brass band club?”

“I told them I’d take a break today.”

“Sorry about that. Is it still awkward?”

“No. The kids in my club hadn’t ordered any accessories yet.”

The two of us headed to the science room where Yuu-kun was waiting.

“Hii-chan. What are you going to do now?”

“Hmm. For now, I think we’ll take a break this weekend. I’m thinking of taking Yuu-kun somewhere to help him clear his mind.”

“Eh, is that okay?”

“What do you mean?”

Enocchi looked uneasy, clutching the moonflower bracelet on her left wrist.

“But he went through something so terrible, right? Can he really switch gears that easily…?”

Hearing that, I laughed. “Pfft.” I gripped the choker around my neck—the ring that symbolized our best friend bond.

“Ahaha. It’s fine, really. Yuu-kun’s love for flowers is extraordinary. He’s never missed a day of touching flowers, you know? He’ll bounce back quickly and get absorbed in making accessories again.”

“…………”

Even so, Enocchi’s expression didn’t brighten.

She looked straight at me and spoke clearly.

“Because he loves it, when it breaks, the scars will last a lifetime.”

“…!”

The words I was about to say got stuck in my throat. I took out a Yoghurppe from my pocket, sipped it, and cooled down.

“Is shaking me up like this also part of Makishima-kun’s plan?”

Enocchi pouted.

“Shii-kun has nothing to do with this.”

“But this situation was orchestrated by Makishima-kun, right? It wouldn’t be strange if Enocchi was involved too, huh?”

Enocchi snapped back with a “Katchoon!” kind of tone.

“That’s not it at all! Hii-chan, are you doubting me!?”

She’s rising to the bait. I smirked.

“Eh~? But Enocchi, you’re pretty cunning despite acting all innocent, right? Like during the last study session, you pretended to be asleep and clung to Yuu-kun, didn’t you?”

“…!!”

Enocchi’s face turned bright red, about 50% more than usual. Then, she denied it in a voice loud enough to echo through the annex.

“I wasn’t pretending to be asleep!!”

“Pfft~. You’re totally flustered, which means I hit the mark, huh? Besides, after all that effort to look stylish, saying you weren’t expecting anything is a lie, right?”

“That’s because I might have met your family…”

“Oh ho~? You’ve been coming to my house for a while now, but have you ever put that much effort into looking stylish before~?”

“~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~!!”

As we were making a racket, a voice called out from down the hallway.

“Hey, Himari. This is a hallway. Don’t make so much noise.”

“Ah, Yuu-kun…”

Yuu-kun was carrying a small cardboard box.

Wait, why am I the only one being scolded? Enocchi was making noise too, you know?

Yuu-kun walked over and joined us like it was nothing.

“Yuu-kun, weren’t you in the science room?”

“I was at Sasaki-sensei’s place. I picked up the returned accessories.”

“Ah, I see. What about the money you fronted?”

“I paid it back together. The teacher said it wasn’t necessary, but I couldn’t just leave it at that.”

When we arrived at the science room, Yuu-kun unlocked the door and went in first.

Before entering, I turned back to Enocchi in the hallway. I glared at her face head-on and spoke in a voice Yuu-kun couldn’t hear.

“My Yuu-kun isn’t as weak as you, Enocchi.”

“…………”

Enocchi glared back at me, looking displeased.

“Hii-chan. That part of you, I really hate it.”

“…………”

We both stuck out our tongues at each other and entered the science room.

Yuu-kun had already opened the cardboard box and was arranging its contents on the table.

There were about 10 in total.

I won’t say all of them, but about half had been returned.

The fact that the teachers had raised it as an issue had a big impact. Even if the parents didn’t find out, it’s understandable that students would want to return accessories that had become a problem at school.

Enocchi picked up one of them, looking sad.

“What will you do with these?”

“Hmm. It’s a shame, but we can’t resell them. We’ve already posted them on Instagram as personal achievements, and if there are any small scratches, it could be a problem.”

Small scratches… At those words, our gazes naturally focused on a certain accessory.

The crocus flower dyed purple.

In the end, we processed this one with a refund too.

“I still can’t accept it.”

Yuu-kun sighed and put it back in the cardboard box.

“It can’t be helped. From their perspective, they probably think we tricked them into buying it.”

“Can you really accept that, Yuu-kun? After working so hard to make it…”

“It’s not entirely wrong, you know? We were okay with taking orders under the pretense that our accessories would make love come true.”

“…………”

Something feels off.

For Yuu-kun, this is a very mature opinion, isn’t it? Usually, Yuu-kun is the one grumbling, and I’m the one calming him down.

(Well, whatever. If Yuu-kun has made up his mind, it’d be weird for me to keep nagging.)

Besides, see?

Back then, I got emotional and ended up hitting that girl, right?

That was bad. It’s a good thing Sasaki-sensei understood the situation and mediated, and the other party was too scared to say anything. But the timing was really the worst. If things had gone badly, there could have been complaints from parents and even suspension for violent behavior. …Yeah, I need to restrain myself.

(Well, the atmosphere’s a bit heavy, huh? As the mood-maker and a beautiful girl, it’s my job to liven things up!)

I cleared my throat.

Then, clapping my hands together, I spoke in an extra cheerful voice.

“So! Let’s go somewhere fun this weekend to change the mood. Yuu-kun, you’ve been pushing yourself too hard lately, so you need to rest properly. Enocchi, you’re coming too, right?”

“Y-yeah. I’ll ask my mom, but since it’s not a busy day, it should be fine.”

“Nice! That’s what I expect from the members of the new ‘you’! Then, let’s go somewhere far for a change? How about the big Aeon mall next door? There’s a movie I’ve been wanting to see.”

“Ah, then I want to go to the tea shop. After drinking the cherry sage tea at Yuu-kun’s place, I’ve been wanting to try something new…”

Enocchi picked up on the mood and went along with my suggestion.

As the two of us made fairly serious plans for the weekend, we turned to Yuu-kun. I put on my cutest god-tier smile, clasped my hands together, and struck a begging pose.

“And then, starting next week, let’s talk about our future plans, okay? We haven’t decided what to plant in the flowerbed for the custom accessory orders, so let’s shift back to our original activities, yeah?”

“…………”

Yuu-kun stayed silent for a while.

Then, as if talking to himself, he muttered.

“…Hey. I’ve been thinking about something.”

“Hmm? What’s up?”

I covered my mouth with my hand.

“Ha! Don’t tell me you’ve already got the next accessory in mind? Wow, you’re really something, you flower freak. I’m surprised, but I love that part of you, Yuu-kun~♪”

I said while patting his shoulder.

But Yuu-kun didn’t even glance at me and said something unexpected.

“──I think I’ll stop making accessories until I graduate from high school.”

The room fell silent.

Huh?

What was that just now? …Did I mishear?

I stared at Yuu-kun’s profile. He averted his face, as if trying to escape my gaze.

I turned to Enocchi. She had a sad look on her face… but also a resigned expression, as if she had realized something.

I laughed awkwardly and spoke alone.

“Ah, ahaha~. Yuu-kun, that joke’s a bit too much, don’t you think? If you keep pulling pranks like that, you’ll lose your friends, you know~?”

“…………”

I tried to poke Yuu-kun’s side, but he brushed me off roughly. Yuu-kun spoke in a resigned tone.

“I’m serious. After this, I finally understand. It’s wrong to make money as a student. It causes trouble for a lot of people, so for now, I’ll stop my activities…”

I hurriedly stopped him.

“W-wait a second. You don’t have to say it like that. Sure, we made a mistake this time, but Sasaki-sensei said it’s fine to continue as long as we don’t sell to minors…”

“But it’s true that people think our activities are bad, right? You’ve noticed how much we’ve been talked about behind our backs lately, haven’t you?”

“I-I know, but you can just ignore that, right? Those people are just looking for something to do to kill time.”

“That’s the opinion of someone with a strong mental like you. For someone like me, I can’t stand being stared at like that.”

……Something’s off.

It’s true that Yuu-kun isn’t very strong mentally. But ever since he started acting with me, he’s built up quite a tolerance to other people’s gazes. Even when our classmates teased him about his relationship with me, he’d brush it off lightly.

I shook Yuu-kun’s shoulder.

“Hey, hey? Calm down, okay? Here, have some Yoghurppe.”

I took out a Yoghurppe from my bag and offered it to him, but he slapped it away. Annoyed, I struggled to shove the straw into his mouth.

While holding down my arms, Yuu-kun groaned.

“I mean, it’s fine, right? I’m not saying I’ll never make them again. If I think of it as time to broaden my horizons until graduation…”

“What if ‘you’ is forgotten by then!? There are still two years until graduation!?”

“If that happens, we’ll just start over from scratch. We already know how to promote on Instagram, so we can make a comeback quickly. No, if we learn from our past mistakes, we can do even better…”

“Onii-chan said it! Opportunities are like wandering travelers! If you let go of them once, they’ll never come back! If you can’t ride the momentum when it counts, you’ll be a virgin forever!”

“Sorry for being a virgin!! Can you stop throwing in those nasty jokes at a time like this!?”

The straw of the Yoghurppe was just about to reach Yuu-kun’s mouth when he pushed me back with all his might!

“Himari, cut it out!”

“Ngyah!?”

The force caused me to crush the carton in my hand. The Yoghurppe sprayed out of the straw and splashed onto Yuu-kun’s uniform.

“Uwah! Himari, you…!”

“I-it’s your fault! You suddenly said you want to stop making accessories…”

“I said until graduation! After I graduate, I’ll rent a room for a workshop and focus entirely on my work. Until then, I’ll work part-time and save money…”

I clung to the hem of his uniform with a desperate feeling.

“I-I don’t want that. I’ve always said it, right? I love the look in your eyes when you’re making accessories the most. Hey, there’s a reason, right? Did someone say something mean to you again? If there’s anything I can do…”

“…………”

Yuu-kun stared at my face. His expression looked sad… or maybe disappointed.

Then, he averted his gaze and muttered.

“…What? So you’re saying I’m worthless if I don’t keep making accessories?”

At Yuu-kun’s dismissive tone, I faltered.

“T-that’s not what I’m saying. I just think it’s a waste to throw away all the effort we’ve put in for our dream…”

“…!”

Yuu-kun shook off my arm.

Then, driven by emotion, he shouted at me.

“Opening an accessory shop is my dream, right!? You’re just helping out, so you have no right to force me like this!!”

“…!?”

I fell silent.

……What’s that?

Sure, that’s true, but…

You’re the one who doesn’t need to say it like that, right?

“…………”

I clenched my fists tightly.

Anger welled up inside me as I glared at Yuu-kun, who wouldn’t even look at me.

I grabbed all the accessories on the table and threw them into the cardboard box. I carried it over and opened the window of the science room. From the second floor, I could see the roof of the bike parking area below.

“H-Himari…?”

Yuu-kun tried to say something, but I didn’t stop.

I lifted the cardboard box above my head……

“W-wait, what are you…!?”

“Hii-chan!”

……I gently placed the cardboard box back on the table.

“~ ~ ~ ~!!”

I took out a Yoghurppe from my bag and chugged it down. Then, I crushed the carton in my hand.

I’m so cool!!

“…………”

“…………”

Yuu-kun and Enocchi were staring at me in shock.

Their identical reactions somehow rubbed me the wrong way. Still feeling incredibly irritated, I shouted at the top of my lungs.

“I understand how Yuu-kun feels now!!”

I roughly wiped my tear-filled eyes and ran out of the science room.

♢♢♢

That night.

As I lay face down on my bed, there was a knock on the door. I threw the lip balm on my bedside table at the door, and it opened from the other side.

Onii-chan sighed as he looked at me.

“Himari. What are you sulking about without even eating dinner?”

“…Yuu-kun said he’s going to stop making accessories.”

Onii-chan went into thinking mode.

Kasha, kasha, kasha—his brain was working at full speed to accurately assess the situation… Then, he let out an exaggerated sigh.

“And you’re upset because you were treated like an outsider when it comes to Yuu-kun’s dream?”

I flailed my legs in frustration.

Onii-chan pressed his fingers to his forehead as if he had a headache.

“Himari, are you an idiot? It’s obvious that Yuu-kun’s mental state is fragile after what happened. Yet, you keep pushing him with ‘next, next,’ so it’s no wonder he lashed out with things he didn’t mean.”

I kept flailing my legs in protest.

I’m not an idiot. It’s Yuu-kun’s fault. I’ve been trying my best too, so it’s not fair for him to say things like that.

Sure, I know Onii-chan is right. Ideally, I should respect Yuu-kun’s opinion… or at least pretend to, and wait for him to recover.

But I couldn’t do it.

It’s not about the promise I made with Onii-chan to not lie. Something deeper, something instinctive, refused to let me say those words.

“…But what if Yuu-kun never comes back after that?”

What if, at that moment, I had lied and said, “Then let’s take a break until graduation”?

And then, two years later… what if Yuu-kun had completely lost his passion for flower accessories?

What would happen to me, who’s always by his side?

What if Yuu-kun’s passion was truly gone, and he was in a place beyond recovery? What if my cheap, comforting lie had pushed him over the edge?

At that moment, I remembered.

Just two months ago, when Yuu-kun and I had a falling out.

My careless lie about “going to Tokyo” had deeply hurt Yuu-kun. And that lie had come back to bite me.

I couldn’t forget how anxious I was that night, thinking Yuu-kun might abandon me. I don’t want to go through that again.

I’m scared.

I’m so scared.

Words are something you can never take back. Why is there no right answer when it comes to a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity? What should I say to make everything work out?

Sure, if it were about winning Yuu-kun over romantically, I know it’s a golden opportunity. I don’t think it’s wrong to take advantage of someone when they’re vulnerable. After all, it’s part of the strategy. If you can’t ride the momentum when it counts, you’ll never succeed.

But, but…

The Yuu-kun I’d get that way isn’t the Yuu-kun I want.

What I love most is Yuu-kun when he’s focused on making flower accessories. That passion, burning like a marble about to burst, is what captivated me.

I can’t be satisfied with being second best.

I have to get what I want most, or it’s not a victory for me.

Because even before I fell in love, what connected me and Yuu-kun was our friendship. Just because I fell in love doesn’t mean I want to throw that away.

I’ll take both friendship and love for myself. That’s why I decided to bind Yuu-kun as my best friend.

(But if Yuu-kun ends up drifting away because of that, it’s meaningless. Ugh…)

As I squirmed like a worm, Onii-chan chuckled.

“Himari, you’re starting to get it.”

“Huh…?”

I lifted my face from the pillow.

Onii-chan smiled gently and nodded slightly.

“That’s fine. You didn’t do anything wrong.”

I sat up abruptly.

“Right!? Right!? I didn’t do anything wrong, right!?”

“Himari, you’re being annoying.”

“Onii-chan, you’re so mean!?”

Onii-chan snorted and replied.

“When I told you not to lie, I meant ‘be true to yourself.’ You have a habit of immediately trying to read people’s moods and running away. Someone like that would have a hard time properly supporting someone as straightforward and earnest as Yuu-kun. It might not have been intentional, but it’s a good sign that you asserted yourself as strongly as Yuu-kun did.”

“Then, then! Onii-chan, you have a way to get Yuu-kun back on track, right!?”

Catching my expectant gaze,

Onii-chan shook his head clearly.

“No.”

“Huh…?”

When I asked again, he repeated firmly.

“There’s nothing we can do about this situation.”

“…………”

I was dumbfounded.

I won’t say I didn’t have ulterior motives. Onii-chan loves Yuu-kun, and I thought if I begged him nicely, he’d help.

But Onii-chan didn’t take back his words.

He came into the room and knelt in front of the bed. Matching my eye level, he gently patted my shoulder.

“Yuu-kun has to overcome this on his own.”

He began to explain patiently.

“In the end, being a creator is about having a dialogue with yourself. Whether you stick to your principles even if it doesn’t sell, or bow to trends in exchange for wealth, the final judgment comes down to whether you can accept yourself.”

He paused for a moment, then muttered, “…‘Final judgment’ is a good phrase. I’ll use it in the next meeting,” before continuing.

“This time, Yuu-kun tried to pursue his ambition and was hit head-on by a client’s malice. But that’s not because he was unlucky. It’s an obstacle he’ll inevitably face if he continues down this path. Even if his work is tarnished by a client’s selfish demands, does he have a reason to keep making accessories with a forced smile? He’s at a crossroads where he needs to reevaluate that.”

With that, he removed his hand from my shoulder.

He stood up slowly and looked out the window, avoiding my gaze. His eyes seemed to be looking at the night sky… or perhaps tracing some distant memory.

“Those who can keep moving forward are the ones who survive in the end. And that’s not something that can be fixed by encouragement or comfort from others. In the end, it’s something you have to figure out through your own dialogue with yourself.”

Then, he looked at me again.

And asked simply.

“Himari, what can you do?”

Without waiting for my answer, he continued.

“It must have been a difficult decision, but you’ve accomplished the task I gave you. And in doing so, you’ve come closer to being an equal best friend to Yuu-kun. That’s praiseworthy.”

“That kinda sounds like sarcasm, though…”

“Just take the compliment for once. Honestly, that cynical side of you is definitely from Grandpa.”

I puffed out my cheeks, and Onii-chan shook his shoulders in amusement.

“Himari, as I’ve said before, a best friend relationship can’t exist if the power balance is skewed. In that sense, your relationship with Yuu-kun has been surprisingly insincere.”

“What’s that? Are you bringing up how I lied to Yuu-kun again?”

“This isn’t about the time you sent Enomoto’s sister home. I’m talking about the power balance in your friendship.”

“…………?”

What does that mean?

As I wondered, Onii-chan explained.

“I hinted at it back then too. Your relationship has two sides: friends and business partners. As friends, you’ve been shamelessly indulging in Yuu-kun’s kindness. But as business partners, I think it’s the complete opposite.”

“The complete opposite? What do you mean?”

“When it comes to making accessories, Yuu-kun has been relying too much on you. While you’ve been overprotective of him, Yuu-kun has been lazily accepting that as the norm. …Thinking about it, Sakura-kun’s challenge to ‘make a love accessory’ was a perfect shake-up.”

Onii-chan smiled… no, smirked quite mischievously. Even though he’s at home, his work face is showing.

“Talent is like a flower. If it’s cultivated in a closed-off space like a miniature garden, it becomes surprisingly fragile to external stimuli. Sooner or later, Yuu-kun needed training to adapt to his environment. But the ‘miniature garden’ you two had built over two years was in the way.”

With that, he clenched his right hand into a fist.

Then, with his left hand, he made a gesture as if smashing it.

“You, of your own will, rejected returning to that miniature garden. Instead of retreating into a space of laziness, you suggested moving forward. The important thing is that it wasn’t forced by an external pressure like me, but by you as his partner. That’s why I praised you.”

With that, he patted my head. Then, he ruffled my hair into a mess. Seriously, Onii-chan has such a bad personality.

“Now, first, as friends, you’ve come closer to being equals. From here on out, it’s Yuu-kun’s turn to step up as an equal business partner.”

Then, he fixed me with a sharp gaze.

“Himari, this time, we can’t help Yuu-kun get back on his feet. But your role isn’t over yet. As Yuu-kun’s partner in fate, what can you do?”

After finishing, Onii-chan left the room, saying, “Make sure you eat dinner.” I ended up staying on the bed, thinking about Onii-chan’s words until Okaa-san got angry and kicked the door open, shouting, “Enough already, eat your dinner!!”

What can I do for Yuu-kun?

……By the time I reached a conclusion, the white morning sun was seeping through the thin clouds.

♣♣♣

The day after Himari blew up.

The next day, Friday, passed surprisingly quietly. Himari’s behavior… was no different from usual. She attended classes as usual and chatted with her classmates as usual.

The only difference was that she didn’t even glance at me.

After school, I watched Himari pack her textbooks into her bag out of the corner of my eye. My stomach hurt. In fact, the fact that this fight was quieter than the last one made it feel even more oppressive.

I took a deep breath and casually spoke to her.

“Uh, hey, Himari. Do you have time now?”

“…………”

I thought she’d ignore me, but Himari surprisingly turned to look at me.

“Sure.”

We picked up our bags and left the classroom. The gazes of our classmates, who had sensed something was wrong, stabbed into my back.

Without thinking, my feet carried me to the science room. As usual, I unlocked the door and went in.

“Uh, so…”

“…………”

I approached Himari, trying to calm my pounding heart.

Himari’s expression was hard to read. She looked angry, but also like her usual self. Either way, she seemed a little cold.

“About yesterday… I think I went too far. I shouldn’t have said those things, and I should have listened to your opinion…”

“Did Enocchi and Sakura-san scold you?”

Ugh.

She hit the nail on the head. After Himari left yesterday, I got scolded a lot. When I got home, Saku-neesan found out and gave me another lecture.

“…Yes.”

“And what do you think, Yuu-kun?”

“Well, of course, I know I was in the wrong. Being irritated isn’t an excuse, and I know you’ve been working hard…”

“Not that.”

She stopped me with a sharp tone.

Not that?

When I looked up, my eyes met Himari’s marine-blue ones. She crossed her arms and stared at me intently.

“What are you going to do about making accessories?”

“Ah…”

My hands trembled slightly.

I clenched my fists to steady them and answered.

“…That hasn’t changed. I’m going to stop making accessories until I graduate.”

“What will you do in the meantime?”

“What do you mean? I’ll just live normally. I might find a hobby to distract myself or focus on studying. If I’m going to run a shop in the future, it wouldn’t hurt to study that too…”

Himari listened silently until the end. Then, she muttered.

“If Yuu-kun wants to quit, that’s fine.”

Her expression didn’t change.

In the same calm tone, she declared.

“Then, I’ll quit too.”

Huh?

Before I could ask, Himari continued.

“If Yuu-kun stops making accessories, I’ll stop being your best friend. Yuu-kun and I will just be acquaintances. We won’t hang out like we used to. That’s fine, right?”

“Wha…!”

I hurriedly stepped closer.

“W-wait a second. You don’t have to be so mad. I know you were really pissed about what I said yesterday, but I didn’t mean it, and if there’s anything I can do…”

“But you’re not going to make accessories, right?”

“W-well, yeah, but…”

Himari took out a Yoghurppe from her pocket. She stuck the straw in and drank it all in one go.

She crushed the carton and grabbed my tie, pulling me closer.

“Yuu-kun, opening your shop has been my dream too, you know? You can’t just decide to quit on your own!”

Her marine-blue eyes burned with strong emotions. For a moment, I was captivated by their beautiful sparkle.

“Sure, being with Yuu-kun is fun. I want to stay best friends. But if my dream gets trampled on because of that, then we’re not partners in fate anymore!”

Himari roughly let go of my tie. The force made me stumble back, losing my balance and falling onto a chair, which toppled over.

As I stared up in shock, Himari bit her lip and said.

“I’m not going to be a gentle girl like Enocchi. Sorry, but this time, I’m leaving you behind!”

She slammed the science room door open and ran out into the hallway. The sound of her slippers faded into the distance.

I was left alone in the science room, staring blankly at the ceiling.

“…You’re the one who tried to quit on your own, though.”

♣♣♣

After the weekend, it was Monday afternoon.

The old man teaching classical literature adjusted his glasses and paused the lesson.

“…Did something happen again?”

His gaze was fixed on me and Himari.

We glanced at each other, then both looked away.

“No, not really…”

“Nothing’s wrong…”

The old man gave us a suspicious look.

“You’re unusually quiet today. Normally, I have to tell you to quiet down…”

“…Sensei, you said that last time too.”

As we sighed, the teacher said, “Did I?” and resumed the lesson.

Himari and I glanced at each other, then both looked away again.

♣♣♣

After school.

I watched Himari pack her textbooks into her bag out of the corner of my eye. Since that declaration of separation, I’ve felt a subtle distance between us.

“Hey, Himari. Do you have time today? I was thinking of going to Aeon…”

Her marine-blue eyes stared straight at me.

“Ah, sorry. I have plans today.”

She rejected me coldly.

Before I could say anything, Himari picked up her bag and left the classroom. One of the girls in class teased, “Not going with your partner today?” and Himari replied with a laugh, “Nfufu~. I’m popular, after all.”

And then, I was left alone in the classroom.

The gazes of my classmates stung a little. They probably think I fought with Himari again. …Well, they’re not wrong.

I fled the classroom.

Himari was long gone. I checked the shoe lockers, but her shoes weren’t there either.

(…Did she really go home?)

Well, whatever.

I don’t have the right to force Himari to do anything. Since I declared I’m not making accessories anymore, there’s no reason for her to stick around after school.

She’s popular, so she’s probably hanging out with other friends. I’m alone, but that’s just my nature. …I’ve just gone back to how I was before I started hanging out with Himari.

“…………”

After making sure no one was around, I punched the wall.

I leaned my forehead against it and let out a sigh.

(…Isn’t she being a little too cold?)

Well, I get it, though.

I chickened out on my own and broke our promise. On top of that, I said those terrible things. Unlike our last fight, this time, it’s 100% my fault.

I’m so pathetic. I’m ashamed that I relied on the assumption that Himari would stay by my side because she’s kind.

(Maybe, deep down, I was just ‘the guy who makes accessories’ to Himari after all.)

In the corner of the hallway, there was a fire extinguisher. For some reason, I crouched in front of it. Then, I spoke to it like I would to a flower.

“But what can I do? I just don’t want to do it anymore…”

The surface of the fire extinguisher glowed red. It felt like it was saying, “But bro, isn’t that what makes you cool?”

“I know, but there are times when you just can’t do it, right? You wouldn’t understand, being a fire extinguisher and all…”

The fire extinguisher seemed annoyed. “Well, from my perspective, I’m just a useless fire extinguisher during peacetime too. But enduring the boredom of normal times is its own kind of hardship…” It started a long lecture.

I hurriedly made an excuse.

“Ah, sorry. I didn’t mean to insult fire extinguishers or anything… Hmm?”

On the glossy surface of the fire extinguisher, I suddenly saw a shadow.

I turned around sharply to find Enomoto-san staring down at me.

“Yuu-kun. What are you doing?”

“…………”

Gah!

Did she see all of that?

Isn’t this way too embarrassing? A high school boy talking to a fire extinguisher? What’s wrong with me?

As I wished for death, Enomoto-san looked around and said.

“Yuu-kun. Where’s Hii-chan?”

“Ah. Himari went home early…”

Then, Enomoto-san clenched her fists.

“Then, let’s go home together.”

“…Okay.”

We went to the bike parking area together and got our bicycles.

After leaving school, I tentatively asked.

“Enomoto-san. What are we doing today?”

“What are your plans?”

“I was thinking of going to Aeon, but it’s not urgent or anything.”

Countless tulle ribbons peeked out of Enomoto-san’s bag. Her eyes sparkled.

“Then, let’s go to your house.”

“…Okay.”

Overwhelmed by her confident expression, I nodded.

♣♣♣

As we walked home, we made small talk.

“By the way, Enomoto-san. Is it okay with the brass band club? You’ve been hanging out with me since the weekend.”

“The cultural festival competitions are in the fall, so it’s fine. Right now, we’re just practicing songs to cheer for the sports teams.”

“Cheering for the sports teams?”

“If they make it to the regional finals, we all go to cheer. This year, the baseball and tennis clubs are doing well, so we’re practicing their requested songs.”

“I see. But if you don’t practice, won’t someone say something?”

“Cheering is voluntary. Since we can skip school, people who like that kind of thing participate.”

“Ah, I see. That’s why Makishima took time off for matches last year.”

I remembered because we were in the same class in first year. Back then, he kept saying, “If Natsu joined the tennis club, we could make it to nationals next year!” …As if being tall alone would get you to nationals.

As we chatted, we arrived at my house.

At the entrance, we ran into Saku-neesan, who was heading to the convenience store.

“Oh, Rin-chan. Welcome again.”

“T-thank you for having me. …Here, if you’d like, have some cookies during your break.”

She took out a small bag of cookies from her bag and handed it to Saku-neesan.

Saku-neesan happily accepted them, saying, “Yay!” and patted Enomoto-san’s head.

“You’re such a good girl, unlike my sister. Well, I won’t say anything about your taste in men this time.”

“Saku-neesan, just go to the convenience store already.”

“Haah. My foolish little brother, not even talking to me. Honestly, bringing girls home like he’s some big shot…”

Saku-neesan slipped on her shoes and went outside.

Before crossing the street to the convenience store, she suddenly turned back.

“Ah, there are some expired condoms in the living room trash. If you’re going to do it, make sure to use them properly, okay~?”

“Saku-neesan! Just go to the convenience store already!!”

Saku-neesan smirked and went into the convenience store.

After seeing her off, I hurriedly closed the front door.

“That person really only says unnecessary things!”

Enomoto-san’s cheeks were slightly red as she smiled awkwardly.

“But it’s nice that you’re so close.”

“That’s just her public face. When there are no girls around, she kicks me around.”

I led Enomoto-san into the empty living room.

I cleared the plate of toast crumbs that Saku-neesan had apparently eaten and put it in the sink. As I did, Daifuku peeked out from behind the TV and meowed.

“!!”

Enomoto-san readied her tulle.

Daifuku also took a hunting stance, drawn to the scent of the tulle.

“…………”

“…………”

The two stared each other down.

“…!!”

“…!!”

The two clashed sharply! After a brief struggle—only the tulle was elegantly snatched, and Daifuku fled the living room!

“Aahh~…”

Enomoto-san collapsed in despair.

She stared at her hands, trembling at the edge of hopelessness.

“Why? Why won’t it like me…?”

“Hmm. That guy usually loves girls, though…”

I could kind of guess the reason. Enomoto-san is the type to go all out for things she likes, so she probably scared him.

I poured some cherry sage tea and placed it on the table.

When I turned on the TV, a commercial for My Hero Academia was playing. Come to think of it, last week Himari was in a bad mood because her favorite character got taken out.

“Enomoto-san. Is there anything you want to watch?”

“No. That’s fine.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. I think I can do well today.”

I took out the PS4 from beside the TV and connected the cables.

It was the FPS we played last time. Basically, a game where you shoot stuff. I have it because I sometimes play online with Himari.

We started an online match. We joined a room with players from around the world. When the round started, we were split into two teams and ran around the field.

“Wah, wah, wah!”

“Enomoto-san. You should hide in the buildings for now.”

Ah, I got shot from behind and finished off.

The screen went black. While waiting to respawn, I checked the name of the player who took out Enomoto-san.

Enomoto-san clenched her fists.

“I’ll remember that name. Next time, I’ll win.”

“You didn’t even fight back, though…”

After respawning, we looked for that player.

“Enomoto-san, there!”

“Yeah!”

Enomoto-san’s assault rifle spat fire.

And all the bullets missed perfectly!

“Wh-why!?”

“…………”

The reason was obvious.

This girl swings the controller around like crazy. There’s no way she’s hitting anything like that.

Should I tell her, or just watch? …No, no, I’m not thinking about admiring Enomoto-san’s chest bouncing as she swings the controller. I’m not Himari, so I’ll teach her properly.

“Enomoto-san. You need to stabilize your aim.”

“What’s aim again!?”

“You know, when you look through the scope, the screen shouldn’t shake…”

“Yuu-kun. I don’t know how to do it!”

She’s like a mom.

Well, I’ve never played games with my mom, though.

After a while, the round ended.

Enomoto-san’s score was… 4 kills, 12 deaths. Two days ago, she had 0 kills, so she’s improved a lot. When I first started, I couldn’t even get 1 kill after a week.

Enomoto-san looked satisfied.

“Yuu-kun. This is fun.”

Facing her smile head-on, I nodded.

“Yeah, it is.”

When I smiled back, Enomoto-san smiled happily too.

A new round started. Enomoto-san’s character ran across the field. It was a grassy area with a large settlement in the center, which was the usual battleground.

Staring at the screen, Enomoto-san said coolly.

“Yuu-kun. I can tell right away when you’re lying.”

“Ugh…”

I sighed. I tentatively asked about her earlier words.

“Uh, what gave it away…?”

“You’re too cheerful. Yuu-kun is usually more aloof.”

She cut straight to the point.

It was completely true, and I had no rebuttal.

“I’m not lying. Playing games with you is fun.”

“But you look happier when you’re making accessories.”

“That was last week. After what happened, I don’t want to make them anymore.”

Enomoto-san sighed.

Then, she looked at me with accusing eyes.

“Yuu-kun. The truth?”

“No, I just told you the truth…”

Why is she puffing her cheeks like that?

This rare expression, which I’d never see at school, struck a sharp blow to my chest. She’s super cute, but I really didn’t want to see it in this interrogation space.

Enomoto-san sipped her tea and said.

“You’re lying.”

“Wh-why?”

Enomoto-san answered with a smug look.

“Someone with such a weak heart wouldn’t have lasted over two years with Hii-chan.”

“…I have no rebuttal for that!!”

That’s way too accurate and unfair.

Himari is fun to be with, but she’s also the type to stress you out just as much. The closer you get, the more her selfish, moody side shows. That’s the magic of Himari.

That’s why Himari has a wide circle of friends, but she doesn’t get too close to anyone besides me. If she gets too close, they’ll see her true nature and find her annoying. That’s true whether the other person is a guy or a girl.

It’s the other person’s fault.

I honestly thought that.

Enomoto-san understands the essence of how to interact with Himari. She’s already seen through my superficial reasons.

I coldly brushed her off.

“…It’s none of your business, Enomoto-san.”

“It is.”

“Why? Sure, it’s a shame that the accessory sales fell through after you went to the trouble of helping, but…”

However, Enomoto-san didn’t back down.

Her expression was full of strong determination. She had no hesitation at all. She declared clearly.

“I decided to become the most important person to Yuu-kun and Hii-chan.”

“…………”

She was straightforward.

I couldn’t see any lies in her eyes.

Why?

Why is she so pure?

……Why does she try so hard for someone like me?

I gritted my teeth.

This is no good. I can’t convince Enomoto-san with such a half-hearted excuse. Realizing that, I took a deep breath to calm myself.

Then, I spat out.

“…You’re annoying.”

“Huh?”

I glared at her head-on.

My first love. The person who got me into flower accessories. The kind girl who sticks with me even when I’m rotten and takes care of me. …The girl who’s liked me for seven years.

I know. I’m just a kid.

But what else can I do? Kindness can hurt sometimes. Even if someone reaches out to you, it just makes you more frustrated.

“I said you’re annoying. Sure, I get that you’re being kind, but you don’t have the right to meddle in my relationship with Himari. I really hate that selfish part of you. It pisses me off, and I want you to leave right now.”

“…………”

Enomoto-san stared at me in shock.

Of course. If someone you’re being kind to says something like that, anyone would be put off.

Just as I thought that, Enomoto-san put her hands on her cheeks.

“Ehe.”

She smiled shyly.

(…Huh?)

As I stared in shock, she turned to me with a start.

She cleared her throat awkwardly and straightened up like she was ready for battle.

“Ah, sorry. We were in the middle of talking.”

“No, no, no. Why are you fixing your posture? And why are you blushing and looking happy?”

“Because Yuu-kun saying such unfiltered things makes me feel like you’re getting closer to Hii-chan.”

“That’s weird!? I feel like I just said something pretty harsh, though!”

Then, Enomoto-san said matter-of-factly.

“Because I can tell right away when Yuu-kun is lying.”

“…!?”

Enomoto-san pointed her index finger sharply and began her critique.

“First of all, there’s no emotion in it. Your fight with Hii-chan the other day was much more intense. I could tell you were speaking from the heart, and even though you were yelling incoherently, it felt real. Compared to that, your words just now were technically correct, but they felt too calm…”

“Stop critiquing me with a straight face!? I seriously want to die right now!!”

As I slumped back on the sofa, Enomoto-san sat next to me and stared. She showed no signs of leaving.

“…………”

“…………”

But strangely, I felt more at ease than before.

I sipped the cherry sage tea. The aroma had a relaxing effect. It was funny how even in a situation like this, that knowledge was ingrained in me.

“…Can you come to my room for a bit?”

I led Enomoto-san upstairs.

The door to my room was slightly ajar, and Daifuku’s meows came from inside. When I opened the door, he hurriedly slipped past my feet and ran away.

“Yuu-kun? What’s… the… eh?”

Enomoto-san was speechless at the state of my room.

The room was a mess of broken accessories. The design sketches for new accessories were crumpled and overflowing from the trash can, covering the floor. The closet was wide open, and the pots inside had toppled over, spilling soil everywhere.

It looked like a robbery had taken place. Enomoto-san turned to me.

“Did the cat do this!?”

“Ah, no, Daifuku has nothing to do with it. It’s been like this since last week…”

I hadn’t let Enomoto-san into my room over the weekend. I didn’t want her to see it like this. I picked up one of the accessories on the glass table and handed it to her.

“…Who does this look like it’s for?”

Enomoto-san looked at it and answered without hesitation.

“Hii-chan.”

“…Yeah.”

I felt relieved at her answer.

If she had tried to be considerate, I would have wanted to die right there.

“…Back then, I didn’t feel anything.”

Enomoto-san furrowed her brows as if to say, “What are you talking about?”

Ah, I see. The more serious I am, the more incoherent I become. I carefully chose my words as I spoke about that time.

“When the crocus accessory was destroyed right in front of me… I didn’t feel anything. I worked so hard on it, even sacrificing sleep, but when it was destroyed so cruelly… I felt nothing.”

At that moment, I remembered.

It was the same when I reunited with Enomoto-san in front of the vending machine. Back then, my accessory had broken too. The moonflower bracelet had snapped, and the resin part had fallen onto the hallway floor.

I had coldly thought, “Ah, it’s reached the end of its lifespan.”

I’m not an artist; I’m a craftsman.

I pour passion into my accessories, but I rarely look back at them.

……But isn’t that strange?

I’m not a robot; I’m human. I have emotions. How could I be so calm when something I worked so hard on was destroyed by someone’s selfish malice?

A work is like a child. What kind of parent wouldn’t get angry if their child was hurt?

Sure, maybe some exist. But in society, such parents are considered abnormal. If you’ve worked hard to raise your child, isn’t it natural to get angry?

If I don’t have that, then what is the essence of the passion I pour into my accessories? What is the root of this ‘burning desire’? If I don’t love the accessories themselves, then what am I loving when I create them?

“But when Himari yelled at those girls on my behalf, I realized something. …Maybe I’ve been making accessories just to make Himari happy.”

Enomoto-san said nothing.

She just stared at me, urging me to continue.

“At first, it was because I wanted to give them to Enomoto-san… I loved beautiful flowers, so I made accessories. But ever since that cultural festival in middle school, I think I changed. For the first time, I met someone who understood what I loved.”

Sure, at first, it was like that.

I was happy when I made beautiful accessories and Himari was happy with them. I wanted to make even better ones.

But somewhere along the line, my priorities shifted, and making accessories became a tool to keep Himari close. I didn’t want to lose my first real friend, so I ended up trying to keep Himari happy.

……When I saw the crocus dyed purple, I realized that.

“The underclassman who destroyed that accessory and I are no different. I didn’t deny the lie that ‘my accessories make love come true’ because I wanted to look cool to Himari. For the sake of my pride, I used that girl’s feelings for her senpai as a stepping stone.”

It’s the same with my other clients. I’ve been using everyone’s feelings as stepping stones just to flirt with Himari.

When I realized that, I felt disgusted with myself.

Thinking that I’m special… that my feelings for Himari are worth sacrificing others for… I had made a terrible mistake.

It’s dirty.

My pure feelings are this dirty.

I don’t think something like this is worthy of Himari, who’s staking her life on helping me. Even though I understand it in my head, my heart, now that it knows love, keeps calling out for Himari.

I try to shake it off, but lately, I can’t focus on making accessories at all. Even when I finally finish one, Enocchi says it’s “Himari’s accessory.”

“That’s why I thought I’d just distance myself from making accessories. Maybe I won’t even restart after graduation. If I keep going like this, I’ll just be dishonest to both the accessories and the clients.”

“…………”

After listening to my monologue, Enomoto-san touched my cheek.

“Yuu-kun…”

It was a surprise attack, and my body stiffened. Enomoto-san’s beautiful face was staring straight at me.

Her lips formed a small smile.

The hand on my cheek took on a strange shape.

…A fox?

You know, like in shadow puppets. Using the middle finger and thumb to make a circle, and the other fingers to make ears… Hmm?

Ah, no, that’s not it…

This isn’t a fox… it’s…

“Seriously?”

She flicked my forehead!

“Ouch!?”

Huh? Why?

Why did she flick me? And her fingers are really strong!

As I stared in shock, Enomoto-san puffed out her chest proudly. What a smug face. …Ah, I see. She’s been holding a grudge because I always say “Seriously?” to her, huh?

“Yuu-kun. You’re overthinking it. Wouldn’t it be better to take it easier?”

“…!”

For some reason, those words irritated me.

It felt like she was worried about me, but it wasn’t that. Saying “You should take it easier” is something you can only say if you’ve never struggled like this.

Thinking that, I ended up shouting back.

“Well, it’s easy for someone as straightforward as you, Enomoto-san! But for someone as introverted as me, it’s natural to overthink things! Stop throwing logical arguments at someone who can’t do it!”

I was out of breath from shouting so loudly. Compared to earlier, this was completely different. Well, that’s fine. I just didn’t want to talk to Enomoto-san anymore.

With that feeling, I glared at her… but.

Enomoto-san just looked confused.

“Me, straightforward? About what?”

“Wh-what do you mean…?”

Asked so innocently, I faltered. My earlier momentum fizzled out.

“Well, you’re always helping out at your family’s shop even though you’re still in high school, and you’re always working hard in the brass band club, right? And you’ve always been there for me…”

Enomoto-san made a puzzled face.

Then, she said as if it were nothing.

“I’ve always hated helping out at the shop.”

“…………”

For a moment, silence filled the room. The sound of a light truck passing by on the road outside could be heard.

“Huh?”

I couldn’t help but ask.

Enomoto-san calmly rubbed her thumb and index finger together.

“I have zero motivation. Why do I have to be worked to the bone just because I’m the daughter of the owner? My older sister is in Tokyo doing whatever she wants, so why do I have to clean up her mess?”

I was stunned by her unexpected confession.

Enomoto-san continued without hesitation.

“The brass band club isn’t a big deal either. I only joined because my friends were joining. That’s why I’m skipping today to play games at your house.”

“…………”

Enomoto-san sat down on the bed.

She hugged her knees and observed me with an amused look.

“Yuu-kun. I’ve always thought you had some misconceptions about me. But when I heard that I was your first love, it clicked. You’ve idealized me based on your memories from elementary school, haven’t you? Am I wrong?”

Then, she chuckled.

For a moment, she looked more mature than usual.

“I’m a human with emotions, you know?”

With that, she patted the spot next to her on the bed.

It felt like she was saying, “Come sit down.” Well, this is my house, but… fine, I’ll sit.

When I sat down, Enomoto-san continued.

“I have things I don’t like too, and I want to skip things that are bothersome. When you and Hii-chan fight, I think it’s lucky because I can have you all to myself. But I hide it well because I want you to think I’m cute.”

“But, still, somehow…”

“Is it really that strange that I don’t give up even after being rejected so many times?”

“Well, yes…”

Enomoto-san rested her cheek on her knee and smiled shyly.

“Because I like you, Yuu-kun. Anything is fun if it’s with you. I’m not interested in games, but I like playing them with you. I even like it when you brush off my advances. Even if your feelings aren’t directed at me, just having you respond to my words makes me really happy.”

Her cheeks were slightly red.

For some reason, I thought that expression was the cutest I’d ever seen.

“For the past seven years, I couldn’t even hear your voice. Just hearing you say my name makes the boring world shine so brightly.”

She said such things without a hint of embarrassment.

Then, she tugged on my sleeve.

“Huh? Wh-what?”

Enomoto-san held out her hand, looking slightly dissatisfied. It looked like she was holding out a rock-paper-scissors ‘paper’… no, wait, that’s not it.

“Fifth time.”

“…………”

She stared at me intently. It felt like she wouldn’t let me go until I answered.

I raised the white flag and answered properly.

“I-I’m sorry.”

Enomoto-san smiled. “Ehe.”

…It’s so disorienting. Talking to Enomoto-san feels strange. She’s a different type from Himari, but in the end, I feel like I’m just being played with.

The gloomy feelings from earlier had somehow disappeared.

“But lately, making sweets… has been a little fun.”

When I turned to look, she brushed the hair behind her ear. Today, she wasn’t wearing the tulip hairpin. For some reason, I felt it was a shame.

“Because Yuu-kun said my cookies were delicious.”

“Me?”

Enomoto-san nodded slightly.

“Since I was little, my mom always told me. ‘Anyone can make something good. But only someone with a kind heart can make something that touches people’s hearts.’”

“…Your mom sounds nice.”

Enomoto-san smiled softly.

“I always thought, ‘What is this old lady saying?’”

“Hey. That’s way too harsh. Give back my feelings for thinking it was a nice story.”

I really didn’t want to hear such awkward family secrets.

Enomoto-san laughed without a care.

“But now, I think I understand. I make sweets because I want to touch your heart, and my mom says they’re getting better too.”

She stroked the moonflower bracelet on her left wrist. …I still feel like it’s watching me. It’s kind of scary.

“It’s fine if you make accessories to make Hii-chan happy. If it happens to make others happy too, that’s great. And if it accidentally tramples on someone’s love, who cares? It’s not like high schoolers would believe that ‘accessories that make love 100% successful’ exist. They’re like charms, right?”

Wow, she said it…

I couldn’t help but smile.

“Enomoto-san, you’re pretty harsh, huh…”

“Sorry for not being your pure first love.”

Enomoto-san bowed her head playfully, then burst out laughing. Then, she spoke gently.

“I’m fine with a Yuu-kun who doesn’t make accessories. If there’s something else you want to do, I’ll do it with you. If it makes you feel better, I’ll be happy too.”

She looked up at me with slightly anxious eyes.

“Me or Hii-chan. Which will you choose?”

“…………”

I stayed silent.

It’s strange. In the end, she didn’t say anything special. She just said the obvious things in an obvious way.

Yet, why do I feel so at ease?

It wouldn’t have worked with anyone else. Even if Himari had said the same thing, I probably wouldn’t have been convinced.

Is it because she’s my first love?

No, that’s not it either.

It’s because Enomoto-san doesn’t deny me.

She accepts all of me—the dirty parts, the pathetic parts—and still acknowledges me.

That’s a charm that goes beyond being my first love or being beautiful. It’s a unique charm that only Enomoto-san has.

“…………”

If I could just give up on making accessories… if I could just focus on Enomoto-san, I’m sure I’d be happy.

After all, there’s no doubt about it. I reunited with the girl I met at the distant botanical garden in elementary school. Thanks to the moonflower accessory, we exchanged words for the first time… and now we’re spending time alone together like this.

Himari said it was fate.

I think so too.

Every time I reject Enomoto-san’s confession, a faint question crosses my mind. “Why am I rejecting her?” There’s no reason not to date her.

A happy future is promised.

It’s within reach.

…But Himari isn’t there.

Emotions are really troublesome.

They’re the driving force behind people’s actions, yet why are they so fickle? If I could just keep loving Enomoto-san as my first love, I would have been so happy.

They’re fickle. Really troublesome.

Yet, why are my feelings for Himari so stubborn?

If emotions were just fickle, I wouldn’t have to suffer like this. I don’t hate Enomoto-san at all. In fact, I’m sure I’m starting to develop feelings that could be called affection.

But even so, I can’t forget Himari’s face.

The way she looks when she wears my accessories and takes photos for Instagram is burned into my mind. I want her to smile at me like that, so I keep making accessories that suit her. In that moment when she’s taking the photo, I can see her pure smile head-on.

I’ve been making accessories because I wanted to monopolize Himari. The more I realize that, the more it roots me to the spot.

That one sentence she said at the middle school cultural festival.

‘I love the look in your eyes when you’re making flower accessories.’

For the first time in my life, I met someone who saw my worth. Until then, not even my family had understood my passion. But she clearly said, “I love it.”

How happy that made me.

How much it saved me.

To me, Himari is like a twinflower.

The twinflower is a perennial that grows wild in the mountains. It’s named for the two flowers that bloom on a single stem.

A small flower. An unremarkable flower. In a world full of beautiful flowers, it’s the kind that would go unnoticed.

But to me, it’s irreplaceable.

Its flower language is ‘friendship,’ ‘cooperation’—and ‘never parting.’

The cold sting of the rain, the sharp pain of the wind.

Even the warmth of the sun after overcoming those hardships is something the twinflower shares with its partner.

My dream.

To open a flower accessory shop with Himari.

Choosing that is probably foolish.

After all, once I take that step, there’s no turning back. Even if I get tired of it along the way, I can’t quit. A world where I’m always forced to aim higher is hell.

But even in that hell, there must be flowers that bloom.

After all, I’ve already met Himari, my partner in fate. No matter how hard the path, I want to walk it by her side.

…Thinking about it, why do I always forget something so simple? I hate how weak my mental state is.

“Enomoto-san. I’m sorry for always making you worry…”

And once again, Enomoto-san smiled gently.

“It’s fine because I like doing it. Besides, I know I’m about 10 laps behind.”

Her kindness left a stinging pain.

Just as I was about to say something, Enomoto-san clenched her fist.

“But now it’s down to about 7 laps!”

“So optimistic.”

What’s with that determined face? It’s totally ruining the mood.

“Yuu-kun. Go apologize soon.”

“Huh? Apologize? Right now?”

Enomoto-san nodded firmly. Then, as if to say, “I’ll go with you,” she stood up and smoothed out her skirt.

“Yuu-kun. Let’s go.”

“But isn’t Himari hanging out with other friends?”

It’s not even 6 PM yet, so it’s hard to say if she’s home…

Just as I thought that, Enomoto-san looked at me pityingly.

“Yuu-kun. Do you not know what Hii-chan does after school?”

“…Huh?”

Enomoto-san sighed. “Really, what’s wrong with you?”

♣♣♣

Enomoto-san and I returned to the school’s bike parking area.

It was past 6 PM. Summer was approaching, so it was still relatively bright. After parking our bikes, we went around to the back.

There was an abandoned flowerbed here. It was the place where Himari and I grew flowers for the gardening club. After the incident with Himari in May, we had harvested all the flowers.

Since then, we hadn’t grown anything.

So, this flowerbed should have been left to wither…

“Huh?”

The flowerbed had been neatly maintained.

Not only that, but there were rows of freshly planted seedlings. Judging by the shape of the leaves, they were cosmos, salvia, duranta… all flowers that would bloom in the fall after summer passed.

Who did this?

No, it was obvious. There’s only one person besides me who would use this flowerbed. But no matter where I looked, I couldn’t see her.

“Uh, excuse me…?”

A voice called out from behind, and I turned around with a start.

Himari, in her gym clothes, was standing there holding a large watering can. It was filled to the brim, sloshing with water.

It was the outfit Himari always wore for gardening work. Even with a towel around her neck and a straw hat, her beauty made her look like an idol in a magazine photoshoot.

Her face was a mess of sweat and dirt. There was an intense aura about her, and her usually clear marine-blue eyes were clouded.

“Uh, Himari. What’s going on?”

“No. I can’t tell an outsider.”

“Outsider? I did apologize, you know.”

“But if you’re not going to make accessories, you’re still an outsider, right?”

“Then what am I supposed to do!?”

“You’re the one who’s acting like a spoiled brat, asking me that. If you want forgiveness, show some sincerity.”

“S-sincerity…?”

As I hesitated, Himari’s eyes sparkled.

“Hmm. First, let’s have a ‘Himari-sama Appreciation Day.’ Once a month, Yuu-kun has to do whatever I say…”

…Huh?

Enomoto-san moved behind Himari. She knocked off the straw hat on her head. Then, she delivered an iron claw to the back of her head!

“Owowow…!? Enocchi, why? I didn’t do anything wrong~!?”

“Hii-chan. Don’t you have something to say to Yuu-kun first?”

“…Tch. Don’t bring a bodyguard with you.”

She clicked her tongue in annoyance.

Himari awkwardly handed me the watering can.

“…There’s something I haven’t told Yuu-kun.”

“Me? What is it?”

Himari glanced at Enomoto-san.

Enomoto-san made an iron claw gesture with her right hand, and Himari reluctantly turned to me.

“I, uh… well…”

Then, she awkwardly bowed her head.

“I’m sorry for lying about going to Tokyo before…!”

“…………”

Himari apologized.

I stared at her in surprise. I thought Himari would just sweep it under the rug.

That made me calm down a bit.

Honestly, I couldn’t blame Himari entirely. In fact, I was the one at fault back then. If our positions were reversed, I might have done the same thing.

No, actually, I’m worse for trying to use our friendship as a shield and silently follow her to Tokyo.

Thinking about it, we’re even in our own ways.

“It’s fine. Whether it was true or a lie, you’re still the most important person to me.”

“…………”

Himari stared at me intently.

Her marine-blue eyes seemed to glisten for a moment… then.

“Take this!!”

She snatched the watering can from me and dumped it over my head!

“Himari!? What are you doing!?”

Himari fiddled with her soaked bangs and looked away.

“No reason.”

“Who dumps water on someone for no reason!?”

“Shut up! I’m not trying to hide that I was about to cry or anything!”

“No one was thinking that deeply about it!!”

Enomoto-san hurriedly said, “I’ll go get a towel!” and ran back to the school building.

Suddenly, it was just the two of us, and it felt awkward.

I wondered what to say… Wait, what do you even say to a girl who just dumped water on you? This is way too rare of a situation.

As I hesitated, Himari spoke.

“After what happened, I get that making accessories is hard for you. But I love watching you make them. It’s my favorite thing in the world.”

Drops of water fell from Himari’s hair. Without wiping them away, she stared at me.

“So, when you feel like making them again, just say the word. I’ll always be here waiting.”

“Huh…?”

Those words finally made me realize.

Why the flowerbed was so neatly maintained. And why there were seedlings and seeds ready to be grown.

“I’m keeping this place ready for when you come back. As your partner in fate.”

With that, she touched the choker around her neck. She gently gripped the transparent resin ring that symbolized our ‘best friend’ bond.

“That’s my answer to this.”

She smiled shyly.

…I’ve always loved beautiful things.

The rainbow shining after the rain, the youth movies depicting boys’ friendships… or the flowers that captivated me in elementary school.

And the best friend who first gave me friendship.

Since middle school, the more beautiful Himari became, the more miserable I felt. Even now, it’s the same. I’m not the kind of person who can dedicate myself so selflessly.

But if Himari says I’m the most important to her… maybe I can swallow even that dirty inferiority complex and accept it.

“…When I said I was stepping away from making accessories, it wasn’t really because the accessory was destroyed.”

“Huh?”

I averted my gaze, as if escaping her eyes.

Covering my mouth with my hand, I mumbled my confession.

“I realized I’ve been making accessories just to make Himari happy. I felt bad for the clients, so I thought I needed some time to cool my head… I panicked on my own, sorry!”

“…………”

Himari stared at me blankly.

I turned my back to her, but she immediately circled around to face me. No, no, no, what are you doing? When I tried to turn away again, she slapped my shoulder and held me in place.

Then, Himari burst out laughing.

“Pfft hahahahahahahahahahahaha!!”

She pinched and patted my cheeks and head rhythmically while grinning from ear to ear.

“Ahaha, Yuu-kun, you’re so hopeless! You’re way too into me, aren’t you? If you say that much, I guess I have to forgive you! Not that I’d be swayed so easily, of course! After all, I’m a beautiful girl loved by the gods! It’s too good for someone like you, but if you’re that desperate to make up, I guess I have no choice!”

“You talk way too much!?”

“Of course I do!? What else am I supposed to do in this situation!? Even I’d die of embarrassment if I stayed quiet!?”

“I totally agree! But there’s such a thing as atmosphere!!”

Both of our faces were bright red.

Himari bumped into my shoulder with a “Take this!” She wrapped her arms around me and smiled up at me.

Then, she brought her lips close to my ear and whispered in her usual tone.

“So, are you really going to date me?”

“…………”

I stared at Himari’s beautiful smile.

If it weren’t for this mischievous teasing, maybe I could have honestly conveyed my feelings. But no, that’s impossible. After all, I haven’t lived up to Himari’s expectations at all.

“I’ll never date Himari!”

My angry shout and Himari’s “Pfft hahaha!” laughter echoed under the cloudy sky before the rainy season ended.

My pure feelings aren’t necessarily beautiful.

But it’s too soon to call them ‘ugly’ and throw them away.

No matter how dirty my desire to monopolize her is, if I acknowledge it and nurture it, maybe one day it will bloom into a beautiful flower, even in hell.