◆ Chapter 4: “It’s a Secret, Okay?” She Said

Today was a day off from school.

Well, to be precise, today was the start of the break.

Golden Week. That wonderful time of year had finally arrived.

And this time, thanks to the alignment of public holidays and weekends, the string of days off was particularly long.

I didn’t know if it was eight or nine consecutive days, but either way, we had a lot of time off.

People would take this chance to do what they wanted and go where they wanted.

And of course, I was no exception.

“Nii-san, I’m going shopping. Is there anything you need?”

“Mmm.”

“…There is not. Well then, I’m off.”

At the sound of a clank, I lifted my face from the novel in my hands.

I felt like I just heard Aina’s voice.

…Well, whatever. It’s probably just my imagination.

Having reached that conclusion, I dropped my gaze back to the page. My consciousness was once again swiftly drawn into the book.

…

Piron.

…

Piron.

…How annoying.

I picked up the smartphone I’d left on the table and, without checking the screen, switched it to silent mode.

I’ve decided to spend this entire long weekend indulging in my hobbies. Replying to messages before bed should be sufficient.

Still, the book I’m reading now is a real winner.

It’s a four-book series, and each volume is quite thick, so I have a feeling I’ll be able to enjoy it for a while.

I’m glad I took the plunge and bought them all at once. For things like this, binge-reading is definitely the most fun.

There are many other works I’m looking forward to, so I should just keep reading.

“Nii-san, I’m home.”

“Mmm.”

“What would you like for lunch?”

“Mmm.”

“…You don’t want any. Please be sure to eat dinner, at least. It’s scheduled for seven p.m.”

“Mmm.”

“Also, I received a message from Shizuno-san earlier.”

“…Mmm.”

“It’s because you won’t look at your messages, Nii-san. She left a message. She said, ‘I want to see you today!’ Would it be alright if I invited her over?”

“Mmm.”

“Understood. I’ll let her know, then.”

………………

…………

…

Oh, so that’s what that line meant!

If so, then the actions of the two confidants certainly make sense. I see.

But in the end, it’s only a matter of time. If they don’t disrupt the enemy’s plans, their disadvantage won’t change.

“…Phew.”

After reading the last sentence, I placed the first volume on the table.

It was getting quite interesting. The first volume ends at a good point.

I’m thankful I have the second volume on hand. Well, thanks to myself, that is.

Before starting the next one, I decided to make some tea.

I went down the stairs and headed for the living room.

I believe I had some rather expensive tea I’d gotten from my part-time job.

“Ah, you’ve come down, Nii-san.”

“It’s Sakuraba-kun!”

…Hm?

It feels like there are more people here than there should be.

“Shizuno-san was kind enough to come over, and yet you’re just reading all the time.”

“Eh… Whoa, you’re right. Yunagi-san is here.”

“I knew you weren’t listening to me.”

Aina said something strange and then shook her head in exasperation for some reason.

I had no idea what she was talking about, but it was somehow irritating.

I looked over and saw two sets of drinks and a half-eaten cake on the table.

“Excuse me for intruding, Sakuraba-kun. Hey, can I go to your room later?”

“Eh, no.”

I want to read my book in peace, by myself.

“You can’t. She’s your guest, Nii-san, so you must entertain her properly.”

“I’ll leave it to you, Aina.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. Hurry up and take her with you.”

With that, Aina gave Yunagi-san’s back a gentle push toward me.

I instinctively caught her with my hands to keep us from bumping into each other.

“Aina, that was dangerous.”

“It’s fine as long as you’re paying attention, Nii-san. Well then.”

Aina slammed the door shut. But then, as if she’d remembered something, she came back and handed me Yunagi-san’s cake and drink.

With a sigh, I then passed them to Yunagi-san.

“…Go on up to the room. I’ll be up after I make my own tea.”

“O-Okay! I’ll be waiting!”

After seeing off Yunagi-san, who nodded with an exaggerated smile and slightly flushed cheeks, I returned to the living room.

As I was boiling water in the kitchen, Aina came trotting over.

“You can’t keep reading your book when Shizuno-san is here.”

“I will.”

“Hey.”

“That’s my plan for today. I don’t want to be disturbed.”

“…Hah, what’s so good about a guy like this?”

“My thoughts exactly. I hope she comes to her senses soon.”

When I said that with as much sarcasm as I could muster, Aina narrowed her eyes at me.

That day, the first day Yunagi-san came over. I told Aina almost everything about the strange relationship between me and Yunagi-san.

And Aina must surely be aware of my intentions.

To make Yunagi-san lose interest. To make her realize that I’m not such a great guy.

“Is that to say… you’re going to be deliberately mean to her?”

“No, I won’t do something so unfair, nor is it necessary. If she gets to know me properly, it will happen naturally.”

“…Well, I suppose that’s true.”

“You could at least deny it a little.”

Aina let out a dry sigh and left the kitchen.

For all her appearances, she’s a meddlesome one. Aina might be on Yunagi-san’s side.

Well, not that I have any intention of losing.

After that, I returned to my room with a tumbler of tea.

When I opened the door, Yunagi-san was sitting by the bed, her back ramrod straight for some reason.

Looking closer, I saw that the pillow I had been using as a backrest while reading was back on the bed.

“Oh, the pillow.”

“Hic! Wh-What about the p-p-pillow?”

“…No, nothing. Did you pick it up off the floor?”

“Eh! Ah, yeah! I picked it up! Just picked it up!”

“…I see. Thanks.”

What else could she have done besides pick it up?

And something about Yunagi-san seems off.

…Well, whatever.

Deciding not to worry about it, I placed my tea on the desk and pulled the second volume of the series I was reading from the unread section of my bookshelf.

“Yunagi-san, you can, well, do whatever you want. I’ll be reading this.”

“Okay, I will!”

Yunagi-san gave a wonderfully cheerful reply. I was very grateful.

I then lay down on my bed, face up, and, as declared, began to read.

It would be a lie to say her presence didn’t bother me. But right now, I just wanted to read the continuation.

“…”

…

…This is distracting.

No, being here itself is fine, but…

“Yunagi-san.”

“Hm, what is it?”

“…Why are you staring at me?”

Yunagi-san was facing the table, but she had been staring at my profile as I lay on the bed the whole time. I don’t know what she was so happy about, but she had a big grin on her face.

“Because you said I could do whatever I wanted.”

“Yes. No, I mean, that’s true, but. Aren’t you bored? Didn’t you bring any homework or anything?”

“I’m not bored. Just watching you is fun.”

There wasn’t a single hint of jest in Yunagi-san’s voice.

Could it be that she was being serious…?

“Look, I feel bad for ignoring you and reading my book. But I’ve decided to read this today. So, you should do something too.”

“Okay. So I’ll watch you, Sakuraba-kun.”

“…Alright, let me rephrase. I can’t concentrate when you’re watching me, so please stop.”

“Ehh.”

“Not ‘ehh.’”

“It’s fine. It’s not like you’re going to wear out.”

“That’s not the point. I’m saying it’s distracting.”

“You don’t have to mind me.”

…This person is impossible.

I placed a bookmark in my book and took a sip of tea.

As if in sync, Yunagi-san also took a bite of her cake.

Looking at Yunagi-san again, who was swaying happily with a grin, I felt a sense of my strength draining away.

“…I still don’t understand why you like me so much.”

“Kind. Cool. Cute. And I like your voice and eyes, too.”

She said without a single hesitation, then her cheeks flushed.

For some reason, I’m even more thrown off today than usual…

“I mean, think about it, Sakuraba-kun!”

“…About what?”

“Just a month ago, I’d never even spoken to you. But now, I’m friends with Aina-chan and I even get to be in your room…”

“…”

“Could there be anything more luxurious than this? That’s why I’m fine with you ignoring me. Besides, I don’t want to bother you.”

Yunagi-san’s tone was cheerful, yet utterly serious.

Really, this beautiful girl is, how should I put it…

“…Want to watch a movie?”

“Eh…?”

I felt as if something inside me had deflated.

For today, it was my loss.

Of course, the match wasn’t over yet.

“A movie… well, we can watch that together. I’ll read my book after you go home.”

“R-Really?! …Ah! N-No! It’s okay, just read your book! You decided to, after all!”

“No, it’s fine. I don’t feel like reading anymore. It’s better to read when I want to.”

“A-Are you sure? Hee-hee… Yay. Thanks, Sakuraba-kun!”

…Look at how happy she is.

Seeing Yunagi-san raise her hands in joy, I once again admitted my defeat for the day.

Really, what’s so great about someone like me…?

“But I get to decide what we watch. No complaining, even if you’re not interested.”

“Aww, I want to watch a romance movie.”

“You get carried away too easily.”

“Hee-hee, just kidding.”

With a smirking Yunagi-san beside me, I used the remote to turn on the TV.

I have a few works I’m interested in on the streaming service I usually use.

I’ll try to pick something mainstream. Thinking that, I realize how much of a pushover I am.

“Let me see!”

Yunagi-san came over to my side, pressing her body against mine.

Our shoulders brushed firmly, and I couldn’t help but feel my heart skip a beat.

Was that unconscious, or was she doing it on purpose…?

Thinking that, I glanced at her face, and contrary to my expectations, it was beet red.

She noticed my gaze and quickly turned away.

“…Don’t look.”

“…If you’re embarrassed, you shouldn’t do it.”

“It’s fine… I’m your girlfriend, after all.”

“…”

What is this? This atmosphere.

It’s almost like… we’re a real couple.

No… are we not a couple in the first place?

It was forced, and it’s not mutual, but the fact remains that we both agreed to “go out.”

But if you were to say we’re “lovers,” that would probably be wrong.

What is the correct way to describe our relationship?

…No, let’s stop this conversation.

It will end eventually. There’s no point in thinking about it.

“Oh, what about this one? Our Time. It looks like it could be touching.”

“That one’s famous for being a flop.”

“Eh, really? Then never mind.”

“You’re just picking things at random, aren’t you?”

“Because I don’t know much about movies.”

“But you met me for the first time at a movie theater, right?”

“That was just a coincidence. Oh, right. Do you have the movie from back then?”

“That one’s not on streaming yet. It hasn’t even been six months.”

“Oh, too bad.”

In the end, after some back and forth, we decided on a movie to watch.

It was a foreign film called Waiting at the Bottom of the Water, which had been released a few years ago.

It had good reviews, and since it was a mystery with some romance elements, Yunagi-san agreed to it.

“Is it scary?”

“Maybe. The key visual is pretty creepy.”

“I see. Then, here.”

Yunagi-san said, and suddenly held out her hand to me.

The first time I really saw her hand.

It was rounder, whiter, and smaller than I had imagined.

“…What?”

“Hold my hand.”

“No.”

“Why not?! You said it might be scary!”

“It’s not scary.”

“It is scary!”

“Hey, it’s starting, so be quiet.”

“You’re so mean—!”

Yunagi-san puffed out her cheeks and finally turned back to the TV.

With a sigh I’d lost count of, I adjusted the volume on the TV with the remote.

“…Hey, Sakuraba-kun.”

“What is it now?”

“…Why did you help me back then?”

Back then.

Yunagi-san said.

“Back then” must surely mean that time.

That day, when I cleaned up the popcorn she had spilled and gave her a new one.

This time, Yunagi-san didn’t look at me.

“To be honest… I don’t really remember.”

“…Yeah.”

“But, I think I probably wanted you to enjoy the movie.”

“…”

“Because it’s a waste to watch a movie while you’re feeling down. If you’re going to watch it, I want you to enjoy it. And I didn’t want to watch it thinking that you were watching it while you were sad.”

“…I see.”

“So… I’m not particularly kind. I’m not a good person. It was just for my own sake. In other words, your feelings are—”

“I know.”

Yunagi-san said, cutting me off.

Her eyes narrowed, smiling as if with affection.

Yunagi-san was beautiful.

So beautiful, and she looked so truly loving, and happy.

“I know. That’s why I thought you were wonderful back then, Sakuraba-kun.”

After that, she said nothing more.

I did the same and focused my attention on the movie.

I thought that if I said anything more in response, it would be useless.

No, in fact, I felt that the more I did so, the more I would put myself at a disadvantage.

“Thank you, Sakuraba-kun.”

Yunagi-san said as soon as the movie ended.

All I could do was nod and say, “Yeah.”

◆ ◆ ◆

After that, day in and day out, I immersed myself in reading and movies.

As I did so, the long break, which had at first seemed so long, was now down to just three days.

I hadn’t made any progress on my homework, but I had finished twelve novels and nine movies.

As a pace, it wasn’t bad. I had come across a few good works, so the harvest was excellent.

On this day, too, I had been reading in my room since morning.

If I could maintain this pace, it would be a very satisfying long weekend.

…Or so I thought.

“Nii-san.”

“…What?”

Without knocking, Aina opened the door to my room.

Such a selfish person. And for some reason, she seems to be dressed to go out.

“I’m going shopping with Shizuno-san.”

“…Hmm.”

Aren’t they getting a little too friendly? Is this also the work of Yunagi-san’s charisma?

To think she’s even managed to get Aina under her thumb, how fearsome.

“Take care of the house, okay?”

And now, Yunagi-san herself peeked her head in through the door.

When did she get here…? And she comes over a lot, this person.

“…Take care of the house, which means you’re planning on coming back, Yunagi-san?”

“Of course!”

Yunagi-san nodded vigorously. It was unclear what she meant by “of course.”

Well, at least I don’t have to entertain her, so that’s something.

“Well then, we’re off.”

“We’re off!”

With cheerful voices, the two of them went down the stairs, talking happily.

I wish they’d at least close the door.

But still, thinking about it again, it’s strange.

Yunagi-san and Aina. They seem like complete opposites, yet they’ve become friends so quickly.

Well, Aina, for all her appearances, is a friendly person.

…No, but I see.

Yunagi-san had said that Shirato-san was her best friend.

And it’s true that Shirato-san has a similar atmosphere to Aina.

Surprisingly, Yunagi-san might find it easier to get along with girls like that.

“Well then.”

Now that the mystery was solved, I decided to go back to reading.

If Yunagi-san was coming back, it would get noisy again. I should make some progress on my book while I can.

I brought the tumbler to my lips and lay down on the bed.

My eyes fell on the page, and I tried to recall what I had read so far.

“…”

…………

“…”

…For some reason, I can’t concentrate.

Perhaps because I had clearly thought that, my concentration immediately dropped to near zero.

My eyes slide over the words. The scenes don’t form. The meaning of the sentences doesn’t enter my head.

“…”

I tried to think about the reason, then stopped.

My mind was clearly thinking about Yunagi-san.

More precisely, about that incident when she came over last time.

—I’m fine with you ignoring me, Sakuraba-kun.

—Kind. Cool. Cute. And I like your voice and eyes, too.

—Thank you, Sakuraba-kun.

Yunagi-san’s voice, her expression, from back then.

I had managed to forget, but seeing her again brought it all back.

“…Hah.”

I closed the book. Placing it by my pillow, I stared at the ceiling.

I had thought it would be a much easier victory.

That Yunagi-san would soon get tired of someone like me, get fed up, and leave.

But so far, there was no sign of that.

On the contrary, I feel like I’m just becoming friends with her.

No, of course, I have no intention of acting in a way that would make her dislike me, so the more time we spend together, the more natural it is that we become more familiar, but…

“…This is a problem.”

To be honest, in the last few days, I had watched several romance movies for study purposes.

And they were the kind of mainstream works I usually don’t choose.

But honestly, I didn’t get any hints from them.

Or rather, before that, I couldn’t sympathize with the psychology of the characters at all, and I couldn’t grasp the content.

I felt like I had rediscovered just how unsuited I am for romance.

“What should I do…”

A sense of with no end in sight, and a muddle of disorganized thoughts, spread through my mind.

I have to find a way to break through.

Otherwise, someday, it might be just as Sou said.

—You’re going to lose, Aoto.

In my mind, Sou grins. I shake my head vigorously, forcing the image away.

To be so annoying even when he’s not here, that’s just too much.

“…………No, wait a minute.”

Suddenly, I felt like a good idea had come to me.

I don’t have to solve this on my own.

I should use whatever I can. I should rely on those I can rely on.

I felt a lightness spread through my chest.

Nothing has been solved yet. But at least, compared to before, there is much more hope.

“Alright, now that that’s decided.”

I took out my smartphone and quickly did what needed to be done.

My heart feels even lighter. As expected, there’s a reason they say strike while the iron is hot.

After that, I went back to reading.

This time, I was able to immerse myself easily, and I forgot about time as I turned the pages.

By the time I noticed, it was already getting dark outside.

I checked my phone and saw a message from Aina from a little while ago.

“We’ll be home soon. We’ll get takeout for dinner.”

Tonight was Aina’s turn for dinner. It seems she decided to buy something.

I shook my still-groggy head and went downstairs.

I entered the kitchen and drank some cold tea.

After emerging from a book, it takes a while for my consciousness to fully return to reality.

They should be back soon, so I’ll just wait in the living room.

Ding-dong.

Just as I was about to sit on the sofa. The doorbell rang, and I instinctively headed for the entrance.

It must be Aina and the others, I thought, but as I walked, I realized that was strange.

If Aina was home, she wouldn’t ring the doorbell.

Then it must be a delivery, or some kind of solicitor.

As I was vaguely thinking, the handle of the front door made a click sound.

Slowly, the door opened.

Letting herself in means it was Aina after all, right?

My assumption was immediately betrayed in the next moment.

“Ah, Aoto. Good, you’re here.”

It was Tsubaki.

My short-haired childhood friend entered the entryway with a familiar motion and raised a small hand in greeting.

“Eh…”

“You seem… out of it? Did you just wake up?”

“…No, I was reading.”

“Ah, I see. Sorry to drop by so suddenly. I was in the neighborhood and thought I’d come get the book you said you’d lend me the other day.”

“…Ah, that one.”

As I answered, I felt a commotion starting in my head.

Tsubaki.

She’s here now.

Her being here is… yes, very… bad!

“Hey! Tsubaki! I get it! I’ll bring the book right away, so just go home for now!”

“Eh… It’s fine, I’ll take it now.”

“No! Really, I’ll be right there! For now, it’s bad if you’re here…!”

“Wh-What is it? Aoto, are you still half asleep?”

“I’m not asleep!”

In fact, my brain is finally starting to work properly!

“Just, hurry up and—”

Click.

A sound.

The door opens behind Tsubaki.

Someone who doesn’t ring the doorbell is either family, or with family.

As expected, there stood Aina, and beside her, Yunagi-san, her eyes wide with curiosity.

“Oh?”

“Yu—!”

“…This is.”

Time stops.

Even receiving my desperate eye contact, Aina didn’t move a muscle.

No, she must not have been able to.

“Eh… Aina-chan… and… Yunagi-san?”

I have to think of an excuse.

It’s important to switch gears. From this point on, no matter how much I struggle, it’s impossible to bluff my way out.

“…Here, some tea.”

I placed a mug on the table with a clatter in front of Tsubaki, who was waiting in a formal sitting position in my room.

The room was silent, enveloped in a strange tension.

“Hmph.”

Tsubaki deliberately made a sound, showing her rejection.

She turned her face to the window, her well-shaped nose held high.

“What is the meaning of this, Aoto?! Why is Yunagi-san here?!”

“Well, this is, um, a coincidence, or unavoidable, or there are reasons, or there aren’t…”

“Nii-san, you’re being incoherent.”

“But what are you doing here, Tsubaki-san? This is Sakuraba-kun’s house.”

“Hey! Yunagi-san! You idiot!”

“I’m his childhood friend! I’m different from you.”

“Childhood friend, so just a friend, right? I could be Sakuraba-kun’s friend, too. Or I could be Aina-chan’s friend. Just because I’m here, is that any reason to get so upset?”

“Wh-…?! Aoto!”

“Why me…”

“Well then, I’ll be going.”

“Hey, Aina! Don’t run away!”

“Aoto! I won’t let you get away either!”

“Sakuraba-kun, shouldn’t you just say it? It’s not fair to leave her with a misunderstanding.”

“M-Misunderstanding…? What! What do you mean!”

“Aah… this is a complete mess…”

—Yes.

In other words, after that, there was an exchange like that between us.

In the end, Yunagi-san, who had become defiant and was saying dangerous things, was sent home, and Aina quickly took refuge in her room.

And so, it was decided that I would explain the situation to Tsubaki one-on-one, but…

“…This is good tea.”

“I’m not forgiving you for something like that.”

It seems I won’t be forgiven.

Then it’s all over for me.

“Explain.”

“…Well, um, how should I put it.”

I found myself mumbling.

It wasn’t that I had been doing anything I couldn’t tell Tsubaki about.

In fact, I had even thought it would be easier to talk to Tsubaki, who knew my foolishness well.

But—

“…Grrr.”

Tsubaki narrowed her eyes and let out a low growl. She crossed her arms in front of her chest and glared at me.

The intensity is incredible. Is she the devil?

At this rate, it’s too hard to explain. And why is she so angry?

“…Calm down for a second.”

“I am calm.”

“Then, calm your anger a little more. I’ll explain everything properly.”

“…Fine.”

Tsubaki let out a breath. The intense anger that had been radiating from her seemed to soften a little.

It seems she hadn’t completely turned into a monster yet.

After that, I explained the various things that had happened with Yunagi-san over the past few weeks.

Of course, I omitted inappropriate things like the reason Yunagi-san fell for me, or the strange atmosphere in my room.

While I was talking, Tsubaki was silent with a scary face.

But sometimes, she would frown deeply, or narrow her eyes even more, and I could feel the waves of her emotions.

Especially when I said, “and so, I ended up inviting Yunagi-san over,” Tsubaki growled again, “grrr,” and made me tremble.

“…And so, today, I ran into Tsubaki, just like that.”

After the long story was over, I took a sip of the tea I had prepared for myself.

I was surprised by how thirsty I was, and the coolness and moisture soaked into my body.

“You should break up.”

Tsubaki said, out of the blue.

“No matter how you look at it, you should break up.”

“Well… yeah, that’s right, or rather, I want to do that, or…”

“Then break up.”

“If it were that easy, I wouldn’t be struggling like this…”

Did you even listen to my story? I tried my best to explain.

And when she says “break up,” it somehow makes me imagine a strange situation.

Like, an affair partner pressuring someone to divorce their wife…

“Because it’s unhealthy! Impure! Insincere!”

She hit me with a trifecta.

Well, I can’t deny it. But I have my side of the story, too.

“I know that. I’ve weighed the pros and cons and thought about it. But right now, this is the best thing to do.”

“It’s not!”

She won’t listen, this childhood friend of mine…

Well, Tsubaki is a person of common sense and has a strong sense of justice, so I understand why she can’t understand.

“…No wonder you’ve been acting strange lately.”

This time, Tsubaki’s voice was unusually weak.

And it was somewhat lonely, and seemed to tremble slightly.

Suddenly, I was assaulted by a strange sense of guilt. I couldn’t help but look away from Tsubaki, which made things even more awkward.

“I’ll talk to Yunagi-san.”

“Hey! You can’t do that!”

If she did that, it would be a huge mess for sure.

Even just now, at the entrance, the atmosphere was a little tense.

And Yunagi-san is being too defiant. I feel like that just raised Tsubaki’s anger by another level.

“Because you’ll just get talked into it again, Aoto!”

“I wasn’t talked into it… We discussed it, and it was a mutual agreement between me and her.”

“Her…?”

Tsubaki’s eyes moved with a glare. I flinched.

“Just a third-person pronoun. Anyway, this is our problem. I appreciate you being concerned, Tsubaki, but I’d like you to refrain from getting involved more than necessary.”

“…”

“Even if I reject her, Yunagi-san probably won’t give up. In that case, it’s better for her to get to know me properly and understand what a boring person I am.”

Surely, she would understand this.

Tsubaki is smart, so she should understand my logic.

Or so I thought—

“…”

Tsubaki did not nod for a long time.

She clenched her hands tightly on her lap, her face downcast as she bit her lip.

Her expression was not one of anger, but of deep sadness.

I was once again assaulted by guilt.

“…I’m leaving.”

“Eh… ah. No, I’ll walk you home. It’s late.”

“It’s fine. See you.”

She said briefly, and then downed the now-cold tea in one gulp.

Then she slung her bag over her shoulder and stood up with a start.

“Tsubaki.”

“…What is it?”

She stopped at the door and turned to me.

Her voice lacked spirit. And her shoulders seemed to be slumped in dejection.

Tsubaki is scary today. But she also seems unusually unstable.

“Yunagi-san is unconventional, but she’s not a bad person. No, in fact, if you take this matter out of the equation, she’s a very good person. You can see that, right, Tsubaki?”

“…Maybe so.”

The fact that she doesn’t just deny it in a fit of anger is what makes Tsubaki who she is.

I don’t want her to misunderstand Yunagi-san.

And—

“It won’t get out of hand. So, I want you to just watch over me for a while. If I get into trouble, I’ll be sure to consult you, Tsubaki. I’m an idiot, so it’ll probably happen soon enough anyway. So, please.”

“…Alright.”

She said in a voice that was barely a whisper, and then gave a small nod.

There is no lie in this statement.

Among my friends, there is no one more reliable than Tsubaki.

That’s why I want her to understand my decision. To accept it.

It might just be my own selfish wish, though.

“Well then, be careful.”

“…Yeah.”

The door closed with a slam, and I could faintly hear Tsubaki’s footsteps going down the stairs.

A little while later, I looked out the window and saw her figure walking toward her house.

“…Well then.”

Without even a moment to catch my breath, I immediately picked up my smartphone.

I opened my messaging app and sent a single word to my chat with Yunagi-san.

“Lecture.”

Usually, she replies right away.

But today, Yunagi-san didn’t even mark the message as read, let alone reply, for a while.

◆ ◆ ◆

The day after all that trouble.

I cut my reading short and got ready to leave the house before noon.

“Hey, Sakuraba-kun.”

“Morning.”

Shirato Kasumi-san arrived exactly ten minutes before our meeting time.

Her sleepy eyes peeking out from under her neatly trimmed bangs, and a somewhat detached, cool atmosphere.

Looking at her, it sometimes becomes hard to believe that this person is Yunagi-san’s best friend.

The meeting place was next to the lottery ticket booth in front of the station.

Today was Saturday, and there were a few other people who looked like they were waiting for someone.

“Sorry for calling you out so suddenly.”

“It’s fine.”

Shirato-san gave a curt reply and then looked at me silently, as if to urge me to start walking.

It’s true that neither of us are the type to make small talk for the sake of an icebreaker.

I nodded and immediately started moving toward the restaurant I had decided on.

“This is a secret from Shizuno, us meeting like this.”

“Yeah, that seems for the best.”

“She’s a worrier, you see. If she doesn’t know, that’s for the best.”

I agree.

Of course, there’s nothing shady about me meeting with Shirato-san today.

But knowing Yunagi-san, if she found out about this meeting, it would surely lead to a lot of trouble.

As Shirato-san said, there’s no need to tell her.

“But if she does find out, it’s better to admit it right away. If I’m not there, you shouldn’t say anything foolish, Sakuraba-kun, and just call me first.”

“Y-Yes. Understood.”

I couldn’t help but reply in a formal tone to Shirato-san’s brisk instructions.

She must surely understand much more than I do.

Mainly, in terms of how to handle Yunagi-san.

“Here it is. Come on, in you go.”

“Mm.”

We arrived at the set-meal restaurant I had chosen as our meeting place, and I invited Shirato-san in.

We were shown to a tatami-mat seating area, and we both sat down and looked at the menu together.

This was one of my favorite Japanese restaurants. The balance of taste and price was good, and the atmosphere was calm.

And most importantly, the clientele was mostly middle-aged, and there were hardly any young people, especially students.

I figured we could talk slowly here without worrying about being seen.

“You’re treating me, right?”

“Yeah. It’s a promise.”

I would pay for the meal.

Under that condition, Shirato-san had accepted my sudden invitation.

In reality, a transaction like this is helpful for me, too.

By doing this, I can ask for Shirato-san’s help without hesitation.

And she, in turn, has a reason to cooperate, since she’s being treated.

In other words, this is like a contract to get advice without any strange maneuvering.

“Then I’ll have the ‘Deluxe Eel Set.’”

“It’s my fault for not specifying a price, but could you choose something a little more modest?”

“Then I’ll have the ‘Eel Set.’”

“It’s my fault again for not being specific, but I’d prefer if you chose something other than eel.”

“Then I’ll have the ‘Grilled Eel Set.’”

“I am truly sorry. Please keep it under fifteen hundred yen.”

“Alright, alright.”

As she flipped through the eel pages, Shirato-san giggled cheerfully.

It seems she was teasing me.

She’s usually so deadpan, it’s hard to tell when she’s joking.

“You’re surprisingly interesting, Sakuraba-kun.”

“Honestly, that’s my line.”

“Then I’ll have the ‘Teriyaki Yellowtail Set.’”

“Okay. An excellent choice.”

“Oh, even with dessert, it’s still just under fifteen hundred yen.”

“Actually, there’s this thing in Japan called consumption tax.”

“Are you saying you regret giving a price without specifying whether it was tax-included or not?”

“Ah, alright, I get it. Fifteen hundred yen before tax, then.”

Shirato-san laughed again.

The relaxed expression she showed, which she rarely showed at school, was refreshing.

For all her appearances, she might be a surprisingly cheerful person.

After ordering Shirato-san’s dessert set and my own fried horse mackerel set, we both drank our tea at the same time.

The fact that hot tea is served first is one of the reasons I like this place.

“So, what did you want to talk about?”

“Ah, yeah. I’m in a bit of a bind.”

Without waiting for the food to arrive, we dove into the main topic of the day.

It might be a long conversation, so this pace might be just right.

I told her in as much detail as possible about my recent problem: “How can I make Yunagi-san lose interest in me?”

That I don’t want to date Yunagi-san, or anyone for that matter.

That I’m dating her under the assumption that she’ll dump me.

But she’s stubborn, and I haven’t found a way to break through.

Shirato-san listened to my story quietly while eating the set meal that was brought to our table.

During that time, she didn’t show any surprise, laughter, or frowns.

She just nodded occasionally and let out short sounds, like a snort.

“—So, I was looking for someone I could rely on for a good idea.”

“And that’s me, I take it.”

“Exactly.”

To signal that my story had come to a natural pause, I took a slow sip of my miso soup.

For some reason, Shirato-san stared at me for a while before letting out a small sigh.

“You know I’m Shizuno’s friend, right?”

“I do.”

“Do you think I’ll help you, Sakuraba-kun?”

“I don’t know, but you are without a doubt the most suitable person to consult about my problem.”

When I said that, Shirato-san’s eyes widened slightly, and she looked at me again.

As she said, this is like asking the enemy for help.

But at the same time, it’s also the most efficient method.

“Of course, I’m sure you’re on Yunagi-san’s side, Shirato-san. She is your best friend, after all.”

“…So then.”

“But you’re also my friend now, Shirato-san. Even if Yunagi-san was the reason.”

“…”

“And most importantly, you don’t seem like the type of person to turn a deaf ear to a serious request for advice like this. That’s one of the reasons I came to you for help.”

Shirato-san looked down silently and gazed at the fish bones left on the plate in front of her.

As I waited for her words, I thought carefree things, like how beautifully she eats her fish.

“…I think I understand a little why Shizuno fell for you, Sakuraba-kun.”

“Eh… wh-what, all of a sudden?”

“No, it’s nothing. I’ll have my dessert.”

“Ah, yes… please do.”

That was a strange thing to say.

But it was probably better not to press the issue too deeply.

“Alright. I can’t go so far as to say I’ll cooperate, but I’ll help as much as I can.”

Shirato-san said, her face becoming a little more mischievous than before.

I recognize this expression.

This is the face she sometimes shows when she’s talking to Yunagi-san.

“Thank you, I’m in your debt.”

“I have to at least do enough work to earn my meal.”

“A meal and dessert.”

“Dessert is a separate stomach.”

“I’m not talking about stomachs.”

Shirato-san giggled again and scooped up a modest amount of matcha pudding with her spoon.

It was my recommendation, with a perfect balance of the sweetness of the cream and the bitterness of the matcha.

“Sweet and bitter.”

“Forget the lame food review. So, what do you think I should do?”

“Seriously?”

“Seriously.”

“Hmm. Well then, first, to confirm, you want to make it so Shizuno falls out of love with you without deliberately doing anything mean or being cold, right, Sakuraba-kun?”

“Right, right.”

“And you believe that you’re not the kind of person Shizuno would like, or be a good match for, and that if she comes to her senses, her feelings will cool, right?”

“That’s right.”

Exactly.

As expected of the cool and intelligent Shirato-san. She’s quick on the uptake, which is a huge help.

“I’m not trying to deceive or hurt Yunagi-san. It’s just that it would be boring to date me. I want her to understand that I can’t, and have no intention of, having the kind of romance she wants. If she does, then I’m sure we can go back to a proper relationship.”

“…Hmm.”

“…Um.”

“Are you kind of an idiot, Sakuraba-kun?”

“Ehh…”

H-How did it come to this…?

“Because there’s a possibility that your premise—that she’ll lose interest and her feelings will cool if she gets to know you—is wrong, right? To not doubt that at all is uncharacteristic for a logical person like you, Sakuraba-kun.”

Shirato-san said calmly and without hesitation.

The reason I don’t doubt the premise.

That is…

“…Because it’s obvious. Anyone can see it, there’s no room for doubt.”

“You think so? In the first place, I think you and Shizuno are a pretty good match.”

“…That’s not possible.”

I’m not cut out for romance.

That is absolutely, without a doubt, true.

I’d rather do what I want on my own than talk to people or be with them. That’s more fun for me.

In contrast, Yunagi-san, who can so straightforwardly convey her feelings to the person she loves, who can be so earnest, who can be overjoyed and dejected. A dazzling, wonderful girl.

There’s no way we could be a good match.

If we were together, we would both be unhappy.

In the first place, Yunagi-san is kind, bright, and praiseworthy.

And she’s an incredibly cute, flawless girl.

I can’t imagine there are many guys who would be a good match for her.

Let alone me.

“Well, even if that’s just my subjective opinion, the fact is, Shizuno shows no signs of her feelings cooling at all, right? In that case, no matter how unlikely it seems, shouldn’t you at least doubt the premise once? To stubbornly refuse to do so means you’re either an idiot, or there’s some other reason. Which is it?”

Shirato-san’s words were slowly, yet deeply, trying to pierce me.

Relying on her might have been a mistake.

I was already starting to think such a selfish thing.

She was reliable. But she was also too sharp.

“You’re not going to answer.”

“…”

“…Well, fine then. I’ll let it slide.”

Shirato-san ate the last bite of her pudding and licked her lips.

I was annoyed to find myself feeling relieved.

“But even if that premise is correct, it’s not working out, right?”

“Well… that’s true. That’s why I need a breakthrough.”

“A breakthrough, huh. Shizuno is a one-track-mind kind of girl.”

One-track-mind.

That word did seem to suit Yunagi-san well.

“The more time you spend together, the easier it is to see the other person’s bad points, right? That’s why lately, I’ve been trying to make an effort to do that.”

“And you invited her to your room, watched a movie together, and still no results. I still think you’re a good match, but that’s not an option this time, right?”

“It’s not.”

“Hmm.”

Shirato-san placed a slender finger on her round chin.

She was a little scary a moment ago, but now it seems she has shifted her focus.

“The purpose of spending time together is to get Shizuno to know you better, right, Sakuraba-kun?”

“Mm… well, that’s right. And as a result, I hope she gets fed up with me.”

“The more I hear, the more twisted it sounds. But well, if you’re going to go that route, shouldn’t you try more varied situations?”

“Oh, situations.”

That’s a new perspective.

“You want the other person to get to know you as quickly as possible. In that case, it’s inefficient to keep doing the same thing, right? In that sense, I think inviting her over was a good idea.”

“Hmm… I see, that makes sense.”

That means I should do more varied things with Yunagi-san.

I want to break up, yet I’m increasing the time we spend together. It feels contradictory, but to achieve my goal quickly, this does seem to be the optimal solution.

“Shirato-san, you’re a genius.”

“Are you really going to do it? I’m worried you don’t understand, so I’ll say it just in case, but I think Shizuno will be very happy. Lately, she’s been telling me all about you all the time.”

“That’s… I’m sorry about that. But I’ll do it. It’s come to this, so it’s a head-on battle.”

“Hmm. A head-on battle, huh. To be honest, against Shizuno, I think your chances are slim.”

Shirato-san said something ominous and then slurped the remaining tea in her teacup.

My chances are not slim. In the end, no, in the near future, I will win.

“Sakuraba-kun, I…”

“…Mm.”

“I want Shizuno to end up with a good person.”

Shirato-san looked straight at me.

Her sleepy eyes, which I couldn’t read. But the color of her eyes seemed deeper than usual.

“…Right. Me too.”

Neither I nor Shirato-san spoke of this any further.

◆ ◆ ◆

The night after the secret strategy meeting with Shirato-san.

After finishing my shift, I was waiting for someone in a familiar food court.

This place, on the last day of Golden Week, had a somewhat somber atmosphere.

Well, I suppose that’s understandable.

“Why do long weekends have to end…”

“…What are you talking about, all by yourself?”

A voice, laced with exasperation, came from behind me.

I looked over and saw my childhood friend, Yuno Tsubaki, and next to her, my bad friend, Naotsuka Sou.

The stylish Sou and the beautiful Tsubaki. Seeing them side-by-side in their casual clothes, they looked like a good match.

Well, their relationship is far from good, though.

“Yo, Aoto. You’re treating?”

“Eight hundred yen, including tax.”

“Alright, alright. You’re being awfully specific.”

As he said that, Sou placed his bag on a seat and headed for the takoyaki shop in the food court.

I am a person who learns from my mistakes.

“You should buy something too, Tsubaki. A thousand yen including tax is fine.”

“I don’t want anything.”

She said briefly, and then quickly sat down across from me.

It wasn’t that she was being considerate; Tsubaki was probably still angry.

Just like a few days ago, when I told her about my relationship with Yunagi-san.

I could almost hear her saying, “I’m not going to be treated by the likes of you.”

“So, what’s this about?”

Sou asked as soon as he brought back his takoyaki, which was topped with mentaiko and cheese.

If I recall, seven hundred ninety-two yen including tax. Hold back a little.

“Isn’t it obvious? I want advice on how to win against Yunagi-san.”

Just after I said that, Tsubaki’s eyes narrowed slightly.

In contrast, Sou was grinning cheerfully, his cheek resting on his hand on the table.

“…Before that, one thing.”

“Yes, Tsubaki.”

“Naotsuka… you knew, didn’t you?”

She said with a thorny voice, glaring at Sou out of the corner of her eye.

“Well, yeah. I’m Aoto’s best friend, after all.”

Sou laughed playfully. Tsubaki frowned and let out a heavy sigh.

By the way, the reason I chose Sou as the person to tell about my situation with Yunagi-san was simply because it would be a pain if he were left to his own devices.

“Today, I wanted to get opinions not only from my best friend Sou, but also from the reliable Tsubaki. I want you to help me.”

“You’ve gotten awfully honest, Aoto.”

“To be honest, I’m struggling. Yunagi-san is tougher than I expected.”

It’s the same as when I asked Shirato-san for advice yesterday.

Right now, I’m in a situation where I should do whatever I can.

I’m not so much of an idiot that I can’t realize that.

By the way, Tsubaki was still glaring at me with a dissatisfied expression.

I’ll consult with Tsubaki soon. It had only been two days since I had declared that.

Perhaps she was amazed at my sheer patheticness.

“I invited her over and tried to make her experience how boring it is to spend time with me, but it didn’t work out. In fact, she seemed to be having fun. This is not good.”

“So, Yunagi-san is still head-over-heels for you, huh?”

“…Well, whether ‘head-over-heels’ is the appropriate expression or not, you can assume that.”

“Is this some new kind of bragging?”

Sou said with a look of exasperation. Then, Tsubaki, who was next to him, glared at him again. It was genuinely scary.

“First of all, just to confirm, Aoto.”

“What is it?”

“You still don’t like Yunagi-san, right?”

Sou asked, for some reason looking proud of himself, and then popped a piece of takoyaki into his mouth.

He chewed with a steady rhythm. Wasn’t it hot?

“I don’t.”

“You sure? This is an important question, so answer honestly.”

“It’s true. She’s a nice and cute person, but it still has nothing to do with me.”

“Hmm. So he says. What do you think, Yuno?”

For some reason, Sou then turned the conversation to Tsubaki.

I thought she would be reluctant, but Tsubaki answered with a surprisingly soft attitude.

“W-Well… I guess it’s true. It’s Aoto, after all.”

“Oh, as expected of a childhood friend. You’re in perfect sync.”

“Naotsuka, be quiet.”

In the end, she was still in a bad mood and cut him off.

Sou, unfazed, was still grinning.

“Of course, it’s not like I haven’t been thinking about it. For now, I’m planning on spending more time with her. So, I’d like your advice on what to do with Yunagi-san.”

Up to this point, thanks to Shirato-san’s advice from yesterday, I had been able to set a course. And I was prepared for a certain amount of risk.

The problem was, what should I do?

“Hey! Why would you do that! Don’t you want to break up with her!”

Tsubaki raised her voice for the first time today.

I don’t think she needs to be that angry.

“I do want to break up. But for that to happen, I need Yunagi-san to quickly and correctly understand me. It may seem contradictory, but I should probably increase our communication. And in various situations.”

“Th-That’s…”

Tsubaki frowned and was at a loss for a reply.

Well, it’s undeniable that it goes against intuition, so this reaction is natural.

But Tsubaki looked less like she was having trouble understanding and more like she was sulking, like a child. It was an expression I rarely saw on her.

“Yuno’s just worried that Aoto will be taken away from her, right? Yep, yep.”

“Wh-! Th-That’s not it!”

“Oh, seems you’re wrong, Aoto. Too bad.”

“Of course she’s wrong…”

If anything, Tsubaki should be the one who understands how hopeless I am the most.

“Do you have any good ideas? I’ve already tried inviting her over, so something other than that.”

“Well, you know, there’s only one thing for it.”

Sou answered immediately.

In contrast, Tsubaki remained silent, still looking sullen.

Perhaps I couldn’t expect much cooperation from her.

“What’s that?”

“A date.”

“…So it comes to that.”

A sigh escaped me.

To be honest, I had come to the same conclusion this morning. If you think about it logically, it’s inevitable.

As I frowned, I saw out of the corner of my eye that Tsubaki’s face had become even more dissatisfied.

“When a man and a woman want to get to know each other deeply, there’s nothing but a date.”

“But a date isn’t a situation, it’s more like a general term for events that couples do. Specifically, what should we do?”

“Let’s see. Well, when you say date, it ultimately comes down to where you go. An aquarium date, a festival date, or just shopping.”

“Somewhere nearby is no good. It’d be bad if someone we know saw us.”

In that respect, inviting her over was quite safe… or it should have been.

I never thought Tsubaki would show up. Well, there’s no point in thinking about that kind of accident.

“And it would be better if it’s not too busy. The ultimate goal is for her to get to know me, or rather, for me to get to know her.”

“I see, I see. In that case, the answer that I, the date master, have derived is…”

“…”

“An amusement park date.”

Sou said, his eyes sparkling.

An amusement park… hmm.

“And your reasoning?”

“It’s far away, and there’s a lot of waiting time. Plus, you do all the eating, shopping, and moving around together.”

“Oh… that’s true!”

The persuasiveness, the speed with which he came up with it.

As expected of someone who spends his days indulging in romance.

“In fact, amusement park dates have a high probability of being the catalyst for couples breaking up. I myself have had a close call.”

Sou said, puffing out his chest proudly. Close call means he managed to get through it, I suppose.

“Alright, now that that’s decided.”

“You’re going to ask her? She’ll be so happy, Yunagi-san.”

“Ugh… well, that can’t be helped. I’m prepared for it.”

“Prepared, huh?”

Grinning, Sou hasn’t stopped smiling today. He’s as mean-spirited as ever.

I glanced at Tsubaki and saw that she was also looking at me, and our eyes met.

Tsubaki narrowed her eyes and mouthed something silently. I-di-ot. I think that’s what she said.

Well, I won’t deny that I’m an idiot.

After that, we, or rather, mainly me and Sou, looked for an amusement park suitable for a date.

During that time, Tsubaki, looking uninterested but clearly listening to our conversation, ate the two-scoop ice cream that I ended up treating her to.

I’ll ask Yunagi-san as soon as I get home.

When I made that resolution, I felt a slight, sharp pain deep in my heart for some reason.

◆ ◆ ◆

I still don’t really understand what love is.

I understand it in theory.

What happens to people when they fall in love. Novels and movies explain it clearly.

But when that emotion is born within me.

Will I really become like them? That’s the only thing I don’t know.

I think my best friend, Yunagi Shizuno-chan, was the same as me until a little while ago.

But lately, she’s been head-over-heels in love. Watching her from the side, I think it’s strange, but at the same time, it makes me a little happy.

I think Shizuno has the power to make the people watching her happy.

Since that’s the case even for someone like me, it must be an incredible power.

I first met Shizuno in middle school.

Endlessly friendly, endlessly kind. She was also easy to get along with, and unpretentious. And her slightly selfish side only served to enhance her charm.

She’s amazing, I thought.

She was the complete opposite of me, who is laid-back, logical, and twisted.

If you ask which of us wanted to become friends, it was definitely me.

When she’s with me, Shizuno seems more relaxed than usual, and that made me happy.

“You’re so lucky, Kasumi, you’re always so natural.”

Shizuno said to me once.

It wasn’t sarcasm; I could tell she truly meant it from the bottom of her heart.

“I feel calm when I’m with you.”

“Hey, don’t hug me so tight.”

“Let me hug you tight.”

I grumbled as she hugged me from behind.

I tried my best to hold back the smile that was about to escape.

Shizuno was always considerate of those around her.

And she was a little tired of it.

With a super cute face, a great personality, and very popular. I think she consumed a lot of energy to maintain that image.

But that wasn’t because she was forcing herself to be nice to people, or trying to be well-liked.

It was simply that Shizuno was a girl who could genuinely work hard for a very natural and positive motivation: she wanted to be kind to people, and she wanted to be friends with lots of different people.

However, even for Shizuno, when it came to romance, things were a little different.

To be more blunt, she had a certain negative feeling toward romance.

After all, all the boys around her were in love with Shizuno.

Of course, the girls were too, but the eyes of the opposite sex were different.

The boys were always trying to get on Shizuno’s good side. Or, conversely, they would tease her a little.

Shizuno was not good at that kind of communication, which included flattery.

That’s why she never had a boy she liked, and she didn’t seem to want one either.

“I wonder if I’ll ever be able to fall in love.”

Hearing Shizuno’s self-deprecating voice, I thought.

I hope she finds a good person.

She’s such a kind, cute girl.

She has to find a good person. A world where that happens is the right kind of world.