Yuusha-kei ni Shosu: Choubatsu Yuusha 9004-tai Keimu Kiroku [LN] Bahasa Indonesia

 Chapter 1: The Mysterious Senpai

What exactly is a "friend"?

According to the dictionary, it refers to people who get along and associate with each other intimately.

People who have similar hobbies and values, who enjoy being together, and who can open their hearts to one another.

"Haaah..."

I let out a sigh in the morning classroom.

No one was near my desk by the window. Today, like every other day, school life was boring.

"—and so, we were tryin' to bike all the way to Tokyo, right?"

A cheerful voice drifted from the center of the classroom.

"But right around the time we hit Saitama, a bunch of guys just gave up."

It was the so-called "top-tier" clique of the class, the group of popular kids who dictated the classroom's atmosphere.

Holding court at the center of that circle was Akazawa, this class's mood-maker.

"Dahahaha! Well, no duh!"

"I'm surprised you even made it to Saitama. We're in Maebashi, you know?"

As the others laughed, Akazawa passionately argued his case.

"No, no, distance-wise, that's barely the beginning! They've got no guts!"

"I bet no one actually thought you were gonna go all the way to Tokyo."

"That was probably just you, Akazawa. You're still such an idiot. But hey, that's what's funny about you."

"What?! You mean I was the only one who was serious?!"

The classroom erupted in laughter at Akazawa's exaggerated reaction.

"Hey, why's everyone laughing?!"

Because you're too damn loud, I thought. Even I can hear you perfectly fine all the way over here by the window.

I offered my silent retort as I watched Akazawa and his friends get worked up over their pointless conversation.

It's not that I didn't feel a twinge of envy.

But for me, this spot in the corner of the room was where I belonged.

Half a year had passed since I enrolled in Gunma Prefectural Sanrin High School. Summer vacation had come and gone, and now the second semester was underway.

The social hierarchy of the classroom was pretty much set in stone. For better or worse, I was still a loner.

Spending my school days alone was boring. But the comfort of boredom wasn't so bad.

Boredom is the absence of emotional stirrings. It isn't fun, but it isn't painful, either.

"Minase, you got a sec?"

Being spoken to so suddenly made me jump a little.

It was a classmate, Kuroi. We hardly ever spoke.

"...What is it?"

"I forgot to do the math homework. Mind if I take a look?"

Kuroi pressed his hands together in a pleading gesture, a look of apology on his face.

He probably came to me because all his actual friends had already turned him down.

I had, in fact, done the math homework. I'd be annoyed if he made a habit of it, but this was the first time.

"...Sure, whatever."

"Whoa, seriously? You're a lifesaver!"

Kuroi's face lit up with surprised joy when I handed him my notebook.

He then eagerly began copying the answers into his own.

There were only five minutes until first period, but there weren't many problems, so he'd probably finish with time to spare.

"Thanks, man. You're a good guy, Minase."

Kuroi flashed a toothy grin as he handed my notebook back.

"...I don't know about that."

"Nah, you totally are!"

"...Thanks."

He clapped me on the back a few times, and I responded with a polite, forced smile.

Kuroi was one of the popular kids, part of that top-tier clique. Honestly, our vibes didn't match at all.

"By the way, you're in the basketball club, right, Minase?"

I just wanted him to leave, but Kuroi struck up a conversation.

"...Yeah. How'd you know?"

"Kinda surprising, you know? Is our boys' team any good?"

"...Nah, we're regulars at getting knocked out in the first round of the prefectural qualifiers."

"Oof, really?"

Even if it was only occasionally, Kuroi was about the only person who ever talked to me.

If I were ever going to make a friend at this school, he was probably my only shot.

Thinking that, maybe it was worth trying to put a little effort into the conversation.

"You've been playing basketball since middle school, Minase?"

But then, with a casual tone, Kuroi asked about my past.

Suddenly, my body felt heavy. Thump, thump, thump. The sound of my own heart was deafening.

"...Yeah."

But it's okay. This much is just basic information.

"Come to think of it, which middle school did you go to?"

"...I went to Yoshizawa Middle."

"Whoa, you come from pretty far out. You bike?"

"...Yeah. It's about a forty-minute ride."

"Wow, that's rough. No way I could do that."

I realized I'd broken out in a cold sweat.

Whenever someone asked about my past, it felt hard to breathe.

"...Where do you live, Kuroi?" I asked, trying to steady my breathing.

If I made the conversation about him, he wouldn't pry any further into my past.

"I'm over in Fujimi. It's about a ten-minute bike ride from here."

Just as I'd planned, Kuroi started talking about himself.

"...I see. That's close."

I was managing to hold a natural conversation.

At this rate, maybe Kuroi and I could actually become friends.

Maybe I could make a friend without ever revealing my past.

"Probably 'cause of that, my curfew's super early. My parents are crazy strict."

"...Is that so?"

"How 'bout your parents, Minase?"

In an instant, that budding hope froze solid.

"Like, the other day, I was just a little late coming home and—"

Kuroi must have noticed the change in my expression, because his brow furrowed.

"Wh-what's wrong, Minase?"

"...Sorry, I gotta go to the bathroom."

"Huh? But class is about to start."

"...It's fine. I'll make it back."

It was a mistake to even think about making a friend for a single second.

I keep my past a secret. I don't want to tell anyone.

And you can't make friends without opening up about yourself.

That's why I'm fine just being a loner.

A crowd had formed in the hallway during lunch break.

It seemed the top scorers from the recent midterm exams had been posted.

I'd heard that more and more schools were stopping this practice, but ours still did it, probably to foster a sense of competition.

A little curious, I peered at the bulletin board.

Three large sheets of paper were posted there.

From left to right were the first-, second-, and third-year results, listing the names and scores of the top fifty students.

Under the first-year list, at number forty-four, was my name: Minase Shuuto.

My grades were usually around the upper-middle range, but I'd done better than usual this time. Not that it mattered, as long as I wasn't failing. It's not like anyone would get mad at me for bad grades.

"Whoa, Tsukimi-senpai is insane, as always."

A student looking at the board next to me muttered under his breath.

His eyes were fixed on the top of the second-year ranking sheet.

Second-year, first place—Tsukimi Kaede.

Her score was 492, a full thirty points higher than the student in second place. It was an overwhelming victory.

"Isn't that score, like, way too high?"

"That's Tsukimi Kaede for you. And our exams are pretty tough, too..."

Many of the students gathered at the board were talking about her.

Gunma Prefectural Sanrin High School was a top-tier prep school, boasting one of the highest deviation scores in the prefecture.

And even among its students, Tsukimi-senpai's grades were in a league of their own.

"Amazing..."

Even a loner like me knew who Tsukimi-senpai was.

She was the ace of the girls' basketball team. I'd heard she'd even become the new captain starting this fall.

The boys' team, which I was on, always practiced on the court right next to them.

"Hey, speak of the devil..."

"Whoa...! Look, look!"

"She's as beautiful as ever today..."

The crowd suddenly started to buzz.

The throng of students in front of the board parted, and a beautiful girl appeared.

Large, round eyes, a delicate nose, and full lips. Her features were exquisitely arranged, framed by glossy, semi-long hair. Her slender frame was adorned with a pair of large breasts that swayed with her every movement.

It was Tsukimi-senpai.

The word "gorgeous" suited her perfectly.

If someone told me she was a famous idol, I wouldn't have doubted it for a second.

"See, see? Kaede's in first place, just like I said!"

"We already knew that. There's no way Kaede would ever miss first place."

The two girls flanking Tsukimi-senpai chattered away.

"Ahaha, maybe I just got lucky?" Tsukimi-senpai replied with a gentle smile.

"There's no way that's luck when you're ahead by over thirty points!"

"Kaede, there's a point where modesty becomes insulting. And I'm the one in second place, you know?"

The two girls beside her were probably central figures among the second-years as well.

But standing next to Tsukimi-senpai, they seemed to fade into the background.

"Well then, maybe I just studied a little bit more than everyone else?"

The simple act of Tsukimi-senpai tilting her head seemed to soften the atmosphere around her.

"You're amazing as always, Kaede. And you stay so late for club practice, too."

"Seriously. I could never do what you do."

"That's not true. Let's work hard together. Okay, you two?"

Looks that captivated everyone, a brilliant mind, the skill to be the ace of her team, and the leadership to be entrusted with the captaincy. On top of all that, a wonderful personality that never let her show off her talents.

I could see why they called her "perfect."

They say heaven doesn't grant two gifts, but apparently, it has no problem handing out three or four.

"U-Um, Tsukimi-senpai!"

A loud voice suddenly cut through the air. It belonged to a first-year boy, just like me.

I recognized his face. He was in the class next to mine, on the soccer team. A handsome guy who was popular with the girls.

As the crowd murmured, Tsukimi-senpai smiled at the boy and asked, "What is it?"

"You're Kurami-kun from the first year, right?"

"Y-You remember my name?!"

"We spoke once about a month ago, didn't we? Of course I remember."

Tsukimi-senpai said it like it was the most natural thing in the world, but I doubt most people would remember someone they'd only talked to once.

"So, Kurami-kun, did you need something from me?"

"Y-Yes! The truth is, I'm in love with you, Tsukimi-senpai!"

It was a direct, straightforward confession, right here in front of everyone.

The surrounding students gasped. I could even hear a few shrieks mixed in.

If nothing else, the guy definitely had guts.

"It was love at first sight! If it's okay with you, please go out with me!"

Kurami held out his hand to Tsukimi-senpai as he spoke.

It was an honest confession, not some cheesy attempt to act cool. It was actually kind of refreshing to see.

Tsukimi-senpai was a flower on a high peak, completely out of reach, but Kurami was handsome, so maybe he had a chance.

As the students around them held their breath, Tsukimi-senpai gave a troubled smile.

"I'm sorry."

That was her answer.

"...I see. Thank you for answering."

Though disappointed, Kurami bowed his head politely.

"I'm happy you feel that way. But I'm sure you'll find someone much better for you than me."

Tsukimi-senpai's way of turning him down was like a textbook example.

She'd probably been through this kind of situation countless times.

"...Do you... have a boyfriend?"

"No. I'm not seeing anyone," she said, shaking her head at Kurami's question.

In that moment, I felt like... our eyes met.

"—But there is someone I'm interested in."

Tsukimi-senpai said it with a little laugh.

A wave of shock rippled through the crowd.

"Whaaat?! Is that true?!"

"Wait a minute! You never told me that!"

Even the two girls who had been standing beside her were now pressing her for details.

"Fufu, that's because I never said anything."

Tsukimi-senpai spoke teasingly, then brought a single finger to her lips.

"—This is our little secret, okay?"

Of course, there were far too many people here to keep a secret.

And yet, there was a certain charisma about her that made you want to nod along anyway.

Watching the whole exchange in front of the bulletin board had eaten up more than half of my lunch break.

I still hadn't eaten the bento I'd bought from the school store. Where should I eat?

The true pleasure of eating alone was finding a comfortable space.

In other words, a place with no people. This school was unnecessarily large, so there were plenty of spots if you looked for them.

"Um, excuse me? Do you have a moment?"

As I walked down the hall, a voice called out to me from behind.

"...Me?"

I turned around to see a petite girl.

She had a cute, still slightly childish face, and a chest that seemed disproportionately large for her frame.

Her long black hair flowed down to her waist, and her every small gesture exuded an air of purity.

Even though we were in different classes, I knew the name of the most popular girl in the first year.

Kazemiya's ditzy personality and small, cute appearance had made her the school's idol.

"You're a first-year, right? I need a little help with something, if you don't mind."

Kazemiya ran up to me, looking up with pleading eyes. She was standing way too close.

"...I guess, but what do you need help with?"

"Really? Thank you so much! Could you come this way?"

She grabbed my arm and started leading me away. She was surprisingly casual about physical contact for a member of the opposite sex.

She led me to the library. There were a few other girls inside, but the room was filled with silence.

"The book I want to check out is on the very top shelf over there. But even with the stepladder, I can't reach it... so I was looking for someone tall."

"...I see."

So that's why she'd asked a complete stranger like me for help. There were only girls in the library.

"...What's the name of the book?"

"Um, it's called The Puzzle-Solving Girl Who Doesn't Know Love by Hikari Natsumiya..."

The book she wanted was a light literature-style teen mystery novel.

Honestly, I was surprised. She didn't seem like the type to read books.

Still, it would be rude to say that out loud.

I stepped onto the ladder, grabbed the book she wanted, and handed it to her.

"Thank you!"

Kazemiya's eyes sparkled. As she took the book, her hand brushed against mine. She was really big on body contact!

"By the way, what's your name?"

"...M-Minase Shuuto."

My voice cracked, a result of her suddenly grabbing my hand.

I barely talked to people as it was, so today was just full of unusual events.

"Minase-kun, huh? I've always admired tall guys~."

Kazemiya beamed at me, then took another step closer.

"...Don't you think you're a little close?"

"Hm? You think so? This seems pretty normal to me~."

I could see why she was so popular with the guys.

She'd probably led on countless boys just like this.

Well, I wasn't going to fall for it. Objectively speaking, she was cute, I'll admit.

But no one would ever approach a socially awkward loner like me without some kind of ulterior motive.

"You were surprised, weren't you?" Kazemiya asked, hugging the book I'd given her.

"...Well, a little."

"You're not going to laugh?" she asked, blinking her wide eyes.

"...Laugh? Why would I?"

"Because people always laugh at me. They say stuff like, 'A mystery novel doesn't suit you at all~'."

She let out a hollow little laugh.

"...Everyone has one or two surprising sides to them," I said.

It's not like I've always been this way. Just a year ago, I had plenty of friends.

"...You're a kind person, Minase-kun."

Kazemiya's eyes softened, and her words sounded more mature than before.

"Hey, Kanon-chan! There you are!"

A sudden shout made Kazemiya's shoulders jump.

A group of popular guys from the class next door came piling into the library.

"You just disappeared on us. We were wondering where you went."

"We were just talking about going to karaoke after school today."

The girls in the library shot them annoyed looks, but the guys paid them no mind.

"Ah, sorry! There was just a book I wanted to borrow..."

Kazemiya pressed her hands together as they approached.

"You're reading a novel? That's hilarious."

One of the guys snatched the book from her hands and flipped through the pages.

"Yeah, this author's books are really interesting!"

"Haha! You sure you can understand something with this many words, Kanon?"

"Hmph, how rude! I get good grades, you know!"

"Yeah, yeah. You're such a good girl, always studying so hard~."

A circle formed around Kazemiya, naturally pushing me out.

I could feel the unspoken pressure, a clear "Don't you dare talk to our Kanon" vibe.

Well, I had no intention of making waves in my boring daily life, so I wasn't about to force myself into their conversation.

"We shouldn't be so loud in the library. Let's head back to class for now!"

At Kazemiya's suggestion, the group of popular guys left the library.

I left as well. Down the hall, I could see their retreating backs.

"Did you see her?"

"She was totally fawning all over them. So gross."

"Just 'cause she's a little cute, she thinks she can have guys wrapped around her finger~."

I could hear the girls inside the library gossiping about Kazemiya.

"Kanon is definitely a total slut."

"I know, right? She pretends to look troubled, but you know she's loving the attention."

"Guys are so stupid, getting fooled by someone like that."

Even I, who didn't know her well, had the impression that she only ever hung out with guys.

The fact that they were bad-mouthing her meant she probably wasn't well-liked by the other girls.

...Witnessing the darker side of human nature never leaves a good taste in your mouth.

After school, the classroom instantly became a flurry of activity.

Most people were heading to their club activities. I was one of them.

I'd ended up skipping lunch, so I found a random empty classroom to eat in.

As I quickly shoveled down my bento, I heard the sound of girls' laughter approaching from the hallway.

I figured they would just pass by, but the door to the classroom slid open.

"Huh? What're you doin' in here?"

A group of first-year gyarus filed into the room.

Sanrin was a prep school, so flashy students were rare, which made this group stand out, for better or worse.

"...As you can see, I'm just eating the bento I missed during lunch."

"This is our spot, you know?"

"...My apologies."

Arguing would only lead to trouble.

I had just finished eating anyway, so I decided to make a quick exit.

"What's your name?"

But for some reason, the gyarus surrounded me.

"...Minase Shuuto."

"Year and club?"

"...First year, boys' basketball. Do you need something?"

"Hmph. Boys' basketball, huh..."

The leader of the group glared at me.

At this point, I think she's less of a gyaru and more of a delinquent. This is terrifying.

I think her name was Miyazawa. She was pretty famous for being a troublemaker.

"...I don't have any money, if that's what you're after."

"Did you seriously think we were gonna shake you down?"

"Hilarious. What century are you from?"

The two gyarus standing behind Miyazawa cackled.

"Um... if you don't need anything from him, maybe you should let him go?"

The one who timidly spoke up to Miyazawa was the last member of their group, standing a step behind the others.

Like the other three, she had a gyaru-like appearance, but her looks were clearly a cut above the rest.

Ash-blonde hair in loose curls. Her makeup further accentuated her well-defined features. She had piercings in both ears, the buttons of her blouse were open at her chest, and her skirt was folded short, exposing her thighs.

Ogino Misato.

Alongside Tsukimi-senpai and Kazemiya, she was apparently known as one of the "Three Great Beauties of Sanrin."

My source was just rumors from the guys in my class, though.

"Huh? What are you talkin' about, Misato? We're just having some fun messing with this guy."

Miyazawa scoffed at Ogino's words.

Seriously, isn't her behavior a little too delinquent-like?

I can see why people are scared of Miyazawa. It's a shame, because she's not bad-looking.

"Oh, r-right..."

Ogino forced a blatant, placating smile.

It was obvious she was terrified of Miyazawa. Is that how it is even within the same group?

"Misato, you're so bad at reading the room~."

"We're having fun right now, so don't get in the way."

Miyazawa's two lackeys chimed in, laughing along with her.

I was getting a firsthand look at the power dynamics of their group. It seemed Ogino's position was pretty low.

"But, I think Minase-kun is probably uncomfortable."

"It's rare for you to talk back to me, Misato."

"S-Sorry..."

While trying to placate Miyazawa, Ogino glanced at me over her shoulder.

The meaning of that look was clear: Run for it. I was grateful.

While their attention was focused on Ogino, I quietly slipped out of the empty classroom.

"...Huh? Where'd that creepy loner go?"

Heh. Too bad for you. Creepy loners have a weak presence.

The boys' basketball team I belong to is your typical weak team that gets eliminated in the first round of the prefectural qualifiers.

We're not skilled, and we're not motivated. There are fifteen members, but some days, only half of them show up.

I'm not particularly motivated either, but I don't have anything else to do.

I just figure it's healthier than wandering the streets with no purpose.

"Aaalright, let's get practice started."

Once a decent number of members had gathered, our captain, Sudou-senpai, made the announcement.

"Man, Ishii was so annoying in math today."

"I know, right? He kept lecturing us even after class was over."

While the other members shot hoops and chatted idly, I took a shot from the three-point line. The ball swished through the net without touching the rim and bounced back to me.

"You're as good as ever, Minase."

The one who spoke to me was Arikawa, a teammate from my year.

Even on the basketball team, I was a loner, but Arikawa was the only one who ever tried to make small talk with me.

"...You think so?"

"Not many people can sink threes like that. It shows you practice on your own every day."

As Arikawa said, I always stayed behind to practice my shooting.

"...It's just to kill time, though."

I was simply trying to delay the time I had to go home for as long as possible.

"Haha, don't be so modest."

"...I just like shooting. I don't really care for the other drills."

"If you got better at dribbling, you could probably make the starting lineup, you know?"

"...It's fine. I don't really want to play in games anyway."

"Haha, you really are a weird one, Minase," Arikawa laughed cheerfully.

"You practice so hard, but you don't even want to be in the games."

"...Yeah, I guess so."

It was only natural for him to find it strange, but I had my reasons.

I actually wanted to get a part-time job, but our school rules forbid it.

"But how late do you usually stay and practice, Minase?"

"...Usually past eight. That's around when the gym closes."

"Seriously? Aren't your parents worried? I think you should have some days where you go home early."

Arikawa was just saying it out of kindness.

He was a good guy, worrying about a loner like me.

I knew that. But my heart was rapidly growing cold.

"Well... it's good to be dedicated to practice, I guess."

Sensing that I wasn't going to say any more, Arikawa clapped me on the shoulder.

Then, he walked past me to talk to some other team members.

"—You're too slow, Haru! Get back faster!"

Meanwhile, a sharp voice echoed through the gym. The owner of that voice was running up and down the adjacent court.

Our gym was luxuriously large, with three full courts. From the entrance, the boys' basketball team used the right court, the girls' team used the center, and the volleyball team used the left. Which meant the girls' basketball team was right next to us.

Unlike us, their practice was dead serious.

Sharp commands flew back and forth, and the members' movements were crisp and precise.

"The girls' team is really fired up today. Wonder if it's 'cause they made the prefectural top four in the summer?"

"I don't know how they can work that hard every single day. They were weak until last year."

"Well, I can see why they'd want to bet on Tsukimi."

Before I knew it, the guys on the boys' team were also watching the girls practice.

And at the center of their attention was—

"—Kaede!"

Tsukimi-senpai, her name being called, received a pass.

Then, with a drive so fast it was like she'd vanished, she left her defender in the dust.

A cover defender immediately stepped in, but with skillful handling, she broke her opponent's posture and leaped toward the basket. She even dodged a third defender who rushed in to block her, releasing a layup.

The ball left her hand and swished cleanly through the net.

For a moment, the entire gym fell silent.

"Nice shot!"

"That's our Tsukimi-senpai!"

"Hey, was that move not, like, god-tier?!"

A chorus of cheers erupted from the girls' team.

"Whoa, she's way too good."

"That girl's not human..."

The members of the boys' team were also buzzing about Tsukimi-senpai's play.

Her skill was on a completely different level from the other members. She could probably hold her own even against guys.

"Alright, defense, let's get fired up!"

The Sanrin girls' basketball team had reached the final four in the summer prefectural tournament.

And the one who had pushed them there was Tsukimi-senpai.

Originally, they were a weak team, only slightly better than the boys'. But now, with Tsukimi-senpai as their new captain, they were practicing like a powerhouse.

"Next up is three-man weave!"

"Um, can we take a short break...?"

"Oh? Should we take a break then?"

Normally, if a weak team started doing high-intensity drills, you'd see a flood of dropouts.

The reason that didn't happen was thanks to Tsukimi-senpai's charisma and the careful way she looked after her teammates.

"How about we just push a little longer?"

Instead of getting angry at the underclassman who complained, Tsukimi-senpai just smiled at her.

"Ugh... Okay. I'll do it!"

"Fufu, thanks. We'll take a break after five minutes, so don't slack off!"

At Tsukimi-senpai's call, the atmosphere on the girls' team grew tense once more.

Her leadership was incredible.

When I first heard about her reputation upon entering high school, I thought it was an exaggeration, but now I understood.

Some people in this world are just built different.

Like a protagonist from a story, chosen by the gods to be perfect.

"Aaalright, that's it for today!"

Sudou-senpai announced the end of practice.

The clock showed 7:00 PM. The usual end time.

"Ah, I'm beat."

"Oh yeah, didn't we have homework?"

"Crap, I forgot. What a pain..."

The members of the boys' team left the gym, chatting amongst themselves.

"You staying, Minase?"

Arikawa called out to me, as I was still on the court.

"...I'm gonna practice a little more before I head home."

When I answered, Arikawa looked like he wanted to say something.

"Mina—"

"—It's fine. I'll head home early."

I cut him off before he could finish, and he fell silent.

"...Alright. I'll leave the mopping to you, then."

Arikawa turned his back to me and gave a little wave.

He was good at reading people, so he probably sensed that I was shutting down the conversation.

This was for the best. Unlike with my classmates, some communication was necessary, but I wanted to maintain a certain distance from the guys on the team. They were my teammates, but they weren't my friends.

"Well then..."

Now, I was the only one left on the boys' court.

Being alone was calming. No one would talk to me.

But... now the long, long night would begin.

It was 7:00 PM. If I assumed my bedtime was midnight, then the "night after club activities" was five hours long.

To me, those five hours felt many times longer than the entire day.

I knew the reason. It was the pressure of having to go home.

For me, the night after returning home meant pain. That's why I didn't want to go home.

Staying late for club and personal practice was a desperate measure to make the long night feel even a little bit shorter.

When I have nothing to do, my mind wanders to unnecessary things. But if I keep my body moving, I can distract myself.

"One ninety-one, one ninety-two..."

I continued to shoot, my mind empty.

At 7:30, the girls' team on the next court also finished their practice.

Not many of them stayed behind for individual practice, probably because of their high-intensity drills.

Today, like every other day, only one person remained on the adjacent court.

"...Same as always, huh."

Tsukimi-senpai was setting up cones in a circle and starting to practice her dribbling.

The volleyball team that used the court on the far side had also gone home long ago, so the only people left in the gym were me and Tsukimi-senpai. It had been like this ever since I joined the club.

She's so good, yet she stays late to practice every single day. It's incredible.

Of course, we'd never spoken. We just practiced on our respective courts.

I was probably the one who witnessed her efforts more than anyone else. That's why I hoped those efforts would bear fruit. But realistically, the final four was probably their limit.

Beyond the prefectural top four, there were only powerhouse schools. They'd managed to upset one of them in a close game over the summer, but that was due to Tsukimi-senpai's sudden awakening and the opponent having an off day. In terms of team strength, they were still outmatched.

And the number one team in the prefecture was a super-powerhouse, a regular at the national tournament.

The difference in the number of players, the quality of facilities, and the intensity of their practice was overwhelming.

In fact, they had been crushed by a huge margin in the semifinals when they faced that number one team.

Basketball isn't a game you can win by yourself.

Tsukimi-senpai was outstanding, but the skill level of the other players was overwhelmingly inferior compared to the powerhouse teams. Not that you could blame them. Until she joined, they were a weak team.

If the other members had the drive to surpass Tsukimi-senpai, then maybe they'd have a chance.

But the only one here right now was Tsukimi-senpai herself. That fact was a little sad.

...Maybe I'm getting too invested, just from watching her practice next to me all the time.

It's not like we've ever even talked.

"...Guess I should head home."

I muttered to myself as my shots started to miss badly.

It was past 8:00 PM. My body was exhausted. Any more than this would affect me tomorrow.

I dreaded going home, but it's not like I had a choice.

"Leaving already?"

Someone spoke to me.

There was only one person in this gym right now who could possibly be talking to me.

I whipped around to find Tsukimi-senpai standing right in front of me.

"...Uh. Well, I'm tired, so..." I stammered, completely flustered.

"I see."

Tsukimi-senpai wiped the sweat from her neck with the towel slung over her shoulder.

"Then I guess I'll call it a night, too."

"...Huh???"

Her response was so unexpected that it took me a moment to react.

"Just wait a second, okay?"

"...Eh?"

Wait a second? Me? Wait for Tsukimi-senpai? ...Why?

While a string of question marks filled my head, Tsukimi-senpai returned with her bag.

"Sorry to keep you waiting."

She prompted me as I stood there, dumbfounded.

"Come on, you're heading back to the club building, right?"

"...Y-Yes."

I followed after her, completely at her mercy.

I was walking through the school at night, alone with the most beautiful girl in school.

How did this happen all of a sudden?

Seeing my confusion, Tsukimi-senpai let out a small laugh.

"You're Minase-kun, right?"

"...You know my name."

"Well, when someone's practicing on the court next to you every day, you're bound to learn their name."

"...Is that how it works?"

"It's the same for you, isn't it? You know my name, right?"

"...Well, you're famous, Senpai."

"Ahaha, I guess that's true."

Tsukimi-senpai laughed cheerfully, even though she was just talking to someone like me.

Honestly, it was baffling. Why did she suddenly start talking to me?

"You're wondering why I suddenly started talking to you, aren't you?" she asked, as if she'd read my mind.

"...How did you know?"

"I'm good at reading people's minds."

Tsukimi-senpai smiled faintly.

Her eyes seemed to be peering directly into my soul, and it was a little frightening.

"I'm grateful to you."

"...Grateful?"

"Because you're always here next to me, working hard. It makes me want to work hard, too."

"...Are you, by any chance, messing with me?"

"You're so suspicious. I'm being serious, you know?"

Tsukimi-senpai stopped at the vending machine area just before the club building.

"My treat."

She pointed at the machine, inviting me.

"...I'm not very good at making interesting conversation, you know."

"Ahaha, I wouldn't ask that of an underclassman. Don't be so guarded."

"...In that case, I'll have a Coke."

Tsukimi-senpai bought two drinks.

One was the Coke I'd asked for, and the other was a can of black coffee.

Even her choice of drink was mature. I can't stand the bitterness of black coffee.

"If you weren't here next to me, I probably would have slacked off a lot more."

"...You slack off sometimes, Senpai?"

"I'm only human, you know? If no one's watching, I'll cut corners sometimes."

Seeing her wry smile, I felt for the first time that she was actually human.

"Thanks for everything. Here, have a seat."

Tsukimi-senpai sat down on the bench next to the vending machine and patted the spot beside her.

"...Well then, if you'll excuse me."

Honestly, the situation felt completely unreal.

Sitting next to the Tsukimi-senpai, just chatting.

The area around the club building was completely silent.

It was late. There was probably no one else left at school.

"I'd like to get to know you better."

Tsukimi-senpai whispered, and my heart skipped a beat.

"...Are you sure you're not messing with me?"

"Ahaha, you're too suspicious. I'm not lying."

"...It's just that there's no reason for me to believe you."

"I thought you might be similar to me."

Tsukimi-senpai was staring intently at me.

"...Me, similar to you, Senpai?"

Even as a joke, the gap between us was too vast to be funny.

I was the guy shrinking in the corner of the school, while she was the one shining in the center. We were polar opposites.

"You know, I'm not actually as amazing as everyone thinks I am."

The words sounded like they had spilled from the bottom of her heart.

"And you're not being your true self either, are you? You're putting on an act."

"...What do you mean?"

When I asked, Tsukimi-senpai gave me a mysterious smile.

"Because, Minase-kun—you're hiding your true abilities, aren't you?"

It was true. I usually acted like a first-year who was just a little good at shooting.

If I went all out in basketball, I'd inevitably stand out.

"...I guess there's no point in making excuses."

Of all people, Tsukimi-senpai was the one person who could see that I was hiding my skills.

Because during my individual practice, I always played for real.

I thought she wasn't paying any attention to me, but I guess I was wrong.

"It's not just your basketball skills. That personality is a fabrication, too, isn't it?"

But her next question genuinely shocked me.

How could she possibly know that? We'd never even spoken before.

"...Why do you think that?"

"You're a loner, but the way you keep your distance from others is unnatural."

Tsukimi-senpai stared at me, as if analyzing me.

"You pause for a beat before you speak, which I think is a sign of awkwardness, but you seem too calm for that to be the case."

"...I just don't show my emotions much."

"At first, I thought I was just imagining it. But you have the same scent as me."

Her guess was correct.

I had constructed my current persona to protect my secret.

A gloomy loner who spends his time in the corner of the classroom. A quiet outcast with a weak presence.

I wasn't sure what she meant by "the same scent as me," though.

"...Now that you know my secret, what do you plan to do?"

This was the first time anyone had seen through my disguise. Could it be that she knew my secret?

If so, I'd have to silence her.

"I could tell you... but how about I give you a hint instead?"

"...Has this turned into some kind of puzzle?"

"A puzzle presented by a mysterious beauty. Isn't it fun?"

"Do you normally call yourself a mysterious beauty?"

That was a far cry from the image of the perfect Tsukimi-senpai I'd had until now.

"Wh-What? You got a problem with that?"

When I stared at her blankly, Tsukimi-senpai pouted, a blush creeping onto her cheeks.

"...No, not at all."

It felt like her expressions had suddenly become much richer.

Usually, she always wore that artificial-looking smile.

"I hate the night," she said suddenly.

"...Is that the hint?"

"Yep. And you're probably the same, right?"

"...Why do you think that?"

"Because you look like you're afraid of going home."

This girl really had been watching me closely.

To have a stranger I'd just spoken to for the first time see through me so completely was terrifying.

"...Where did you hear about me?"

"I didn't hear it from anyone. I've just been watching you for a long time."

"...For what purpose?"

What could she possibly gain from observing someone like me?

I was just a guy who spent his days shrinking in the corner of the classroom. I had no value.

"That's the answer to the puzzle. Try to solve it."

Tsukimi-senpai hates the night, and we have that in common.

Apparently, that fact was a hint to her objective.

"If I ask a few questions, will you answer them?"

"If it's something I can answer, sure. But, let's see... it wouldn't be fun if you figured it out right away... Oh, I know! Let's play it like the 'Sea Turtle Soup' game!"

An idea seemed to strike her, and she tapped her fist into her palm.

"'Sea Turtle Soup'?"

"It's a reasoning game, also known as a lateral thinking puzzle."

Looking strangely excited, Tsukimi-senpai explained the rules.

"First, I'll present the problem. In response, you have to ask me, the questioner, questions that can be answered with 'yes,' 'no,' or 'irrelevant' to gradually uncover the truth."

Was turning this into a game just her being playful?

The mystery of Tsukimi-senpai only deepened. And that made me want to know the answer even more.

"However, I won't answer any questions I don't want to, so keep that in mind."

"...Understood."

More than anything, leaving this girl alone was dangerous. She might pry into my secret.

For what purpose is Tsukimi-senpai trying to uncover my true identity?

"You seem pretty sharp, Minase-kun, so let's limit it to five questions."

It seemed she wasn't going to make it easy for me.

I had been optimistic that if I had unlimited questions, I'd eventually find the answer.

"...And if I fail?"

"You can try again tomorrow."

I took a sip of my Coke and thought.

There were plenty of hints in her words and actions so far.

Pointing out my facade, Tsukimi-senpai had said, 'You have the same scent as me.'

'You know, I'm not actually as amazing as everyone thinks I am.'

From those statements, I could infer that Tsukimi-senpai also had a hidden side.

In fact, the current Tsukimi-senpai was occasionally showing expressions that were different from her usual self.

"...Is your usual personality your true self?"

"No."

Her expression didn't change as she shook her head.

That confirmed it. Tsukimi-senpai had another, true personality, just like me.

"...Is the reason you approached me because you saw a similarity between us?"

"Yes. But that is not the answer."

As a result of observing me, Tsukimi-senpai had discovered our shared trait of having a hidden side.

...But why was she observing me in the first place?

'I hate the night.'

I recalled the first hint she gave me.

'Yep. And you're probably the same, right?'

'Because you look like you're afraid of going home.'

Tsukimi-senpai's words flashed through my mind. 'You're the same,' huh.

"...Do you hate the night because you don't want to go home?"

My question must have hit the mark, because Tsukimi-senpai smiled and nodded.

"Yes."

Even though I'd asked it myself, it was hard to believe.

It seemed Tsukimi-senpai also had reasons for not wanting to go home.

If that was the case, she was similar to me. Maybe even her reason for staying late to practice was the same.

'Because you're always here next to me, working hard. It makes me want to work hard, too.'

Still, I couldn't believe those words were a lie.

She wasn't just killing time; Tsukimi-senpai was giving her all in her individual practice.

We both didn't want to go home, and we both had a hidden side.

What did Tsukimi-senpai want from me, now that she'd approached me with these two similarities in mind?

And she apparently had a hidden side that I didn't know about. Could it be—

"Are you... trying to use my secret to make me your slave?!"

"Th-That's not it at all! I'm not some kind of evil overlord! You're completely wrong!"

I thought I'd arrived at the truth, but Tsukimi-senpai frantically denied it.

It was good that she wasn't an evil overlord, but now I was down to my last question.

Honestly, I had no idea.

Seeing me racking my brain, Tsukimi-senpai pouted.

"...You seem to be overthinking it. I think the answer is much simpler."

"Simpler...?"

Hearing that, an idea popped into my head.

But it was impossible. There was no way the Tsukimi-senpai would—

"—Do you want to be my friend?"

Tsukimi-senpai’s cheeks flushed as she averted her gaze. Is she embarrassed?

"Well, that's... more or less correct, I guess? Congratulations."

"...I only said it because I couldn't think of anything else. I didn't actually think I was right."

It was just a process of elimination.

I mean, the Tsukimi-senpai wanting to be friends with someone like me?

If I said that out loud at school, everyone would laugh their heads off at my ridiculous delusion.

"S-So... what's your answer?" Tsukimi-senpai asked timidly.

She was nervously twirling a strand of her hair around her finger. Was that a habit of hers?

"...What's my answer to what?"

"To... being friends?"

"Ah..."

Of course, my answer was already decided.

"I refuse."

Tsukimi-senpai blinked a few times.

"E-Even though you have the chance to get close to such a beautiful girl?" she asked, looking utterly dumbfounded.

She's the one saying that? I thought, but... as a teenage boy, I had to admit her point had some weight.

Still, I'd already decided not to make any more friends. Not even for Tsukimi-senpai.

"...You already know, don't you, Senpai? That I keep my distance from people."

She'd said as much herself just a moment ago, so she had to understand.

"I have a policy against making friends. It's not that I dislike you or anything."

Tsukimi-senpai let out a sigh of relief, her hand on her chest.

"Oh, th-that's a relief..."

Her expressions had been changing so rapidly. Was this her true personality?

"So, if that's all you wanted, I should probably get going..."

The moment I tried to say excuse me, Tsukimi-senpai cut me off.

"Then how about being comrades?"

"...Comrades?"

"Yes! If you can't be friends, being comrades should be fine, right?"

A "friend" is someone you get along with and associate with intimately.

A relationship where you share similar hobbies and values, enjoy being together, and can open your hearts to one another.

A "comrade," on the other hand, is someone who shares a common goal.

As long as you're working toward the same objective, you don't necessarily have to be close.

So, yes, I suppose being comrades wouldn't be a problem.

In fact, while I didn't have any friends, I did have teammates in the club.

A relationship where we cooperated for the shared purpose of enjoying basketball.

"Even so... comrades for what?"

"To spend the nights we hate together, of course!"

"Having comrades around isn't going to make me start liking the night."

"No, it'll change. If you have comrades, the night will surely become fun."

"That's probably because you can open your heart to those comrades, Senpai."

Being around someone you can't be open with would only make things more stressful.

"That's not it," Tsukimi-senpai said, refuting my point. "Even if you can't open your heart, you can still create a comfortable space with people you can trust."

I understood what she was trying to say.

"Comrades who just have fun spending the night together. A superficial relationship where we don't interfere in each other's secrets. That's the kind of relationship I want from you. Even if we can't be friends, how about being comrades?"

"...I'm sorry, but I'll have to refuse that offer as well."

If such a relationship could truly exist, it might indeed be a comfortable place.

But that was just a hypothetical. Realistically, I couldn't imagine such a relationship ever working out.

More than anything, I had no reason to trust Tsukimi-senpai, a person I'd just spoken to for the first time today.

"You really are just the person I thought you'd be. You've passed the trial."

As I shook my head, Tsukimi-senpai, for some reason, let out a soft chuckle.

...A trial? What was she talking about?

"There is a place where the very relationship you think is impossible has been made a reality."

Watching my brow furrow, she continued.

"—I want to invite you to my secret base."

Even after I'd refused her twice, Tsukimi-senpai wouldn't give up.

In fact, she looked even happier than before.

"Secret base?"

"It's the place where I spend the nights with the comrades I trust."

"...And you want to add me to that group? Why?"

If she already had comrades she could trust, she could just spend her nights having fun with them.

Why try to drag me into it? And with such a roundabout invitation, no less.

"That's simple. I can't believe you don't get it..." she said, looking a little bashful.

"—I just thought it would be more fun if you were there with us."

Honestly, I was happy.

She made me feel happy.

It had been a long time since anyone had said something like that to me.

"You can just come for a tour. I just want you to see it first."

Tsukimi-senpai held out her hand to me.

Comrades who just spend the night together. A superficial relationship where we don't interfere in each other's secrets.

Apparently, there was a place where such a convenient relationship existed.

...I couldn't say I wasn't interested.

Because I had been searching for a way to interact with people while still protecting my secret.

I couldn't trust Tsukimi-senpai. There was no reason to trust someone I'd just met.

But... she made me want to trust her.

"It's settled, then!"

When I took her outstretched hand, Tsukimi-senpai grinned like a child.

After changing into my school uniform in the clubroom, I stepped outside.

There was a figure standing in front of the vending machines near the gym entrance.

"Hey! Good work today."

It was Tsukimi-senpai, who also changed back into her uniform.

"Alright, let's get moving!"

With high spirits, Tsukimi-senpai started walking in the opposite direction of the school gate.

There was something off about her childish mannerisms. It was clearly different from her usual self.

I'd caught a glimpse of it during our conversation earlier, but...

"...Your whole personality has changed, hasn't it?"

"Fufufu~, this is the real Tsukimi Kaede!"

From a cool, mysterious beauty to an expressive, cheerful, and innocent girl.

So this was her true nature. It was so unexpected, she seemed like a completely different person.

"...Are you sure it's okay to show this side of you to me?"

"I'm inviting you to my secret base because I trust you, you know."

I also had a gap between my true self and my public persona, but I didn't think it was as extreme as hers.

"...What did I do to earn your trust?"

"I had that roundabout conversation with you to find out if I could."

"...Come to think of it, you did say something about me passing a trial."

"That's right. I took the liberty of testing you, and I determined that you can be trusted."

"...What were the specific conditions for passing?"

"One, that you wouldn't pry into my secrets."

Tsukimi-senpai's "secret" probably referred to her family situation.

It was true that when she said she didn't want to go home, I hadn't asked why.

If I asked about someone else's family, I couldn't complain if they asked about mine in return.

"The other was that you would turn down my offer to become friends."

"...What if I had accepted?"

"I probably would have pretended to be friendly for a little while before fading away. Because I'm not looking for friends, I'm looking for comrades. Well, I guess it depends on how you define the words."

"...That's a pretty clever trap. Especially after making me solve it with your 'Sea Turtle Soup' game..."

"The very fact that you didn't fall for it is why I can trust you."

Apparently, those were the two trials. Pass them, and you get invited to the secret base.

"...Then what are the conditions for taking the trial in the first place?"

"It has to be someone I want to spend the night with. Specifically..."

Tsukimi-senpai continued as she walked.

"Someone who, like me, has a hidden side and doesn't want to go home."

"...I see."

"People who are similar can sense each other's situations, right? Those are the kind of people I want as my comrades."

Finally, all the pieces fell into place.

"...So that's why you were observing people who had the potential to become your comrades."

"Yep. There wasn't much information on you, Minase-kun, so I was trying to be very careful in my assessment."

"...How many comrades do you have, Senpai?"

"Three. All of them passed the trial, just like you."

I wondered what they were like. Would I be able to get along with them?

"It's okay, they're all good people!" Tsukimi-senpai said, as if sensing my concern.

"...By the way, where are we going?"

We chatted as Tsukimi-senpai led me deeper into the unnecessarily large school grounds.

The further we went, the darker it got, a clear sign that this area wasn't meant for nighttime visitors.

And yet, she seemed used to it, navigating without hesitation using only the light from her phone.

"Fufufu... look at that."

In the depths of the night's darkness, I could see an old building.

"The old PE warehouse. It's not used anymore."

Come to think of it, I'd heard something about that.

The old warehouse was in an inconvenient location, so they'd built a new one.

It made sense. Having a storage building in this corner of the school would be a pain just to carry equipment to the sports fields. Even I, who ate my lunch alone in deserted places, had never ventured this far. You had to go to the very edge of the massive campus to reach it.

"This is our secret base."

A faint light was leaking from the supposedly unused warehouse.

Tsukimi-senpai grabbed the double doors and, spreading her arms wide, slid them open with a rattle.

The inside of the lit warehouse was surprisingly clean.

Old, unused sports equipment was pushed to the back, and a large carpet was laid out in the foreground.

A round table sat on the carpet, and three figures, a mix of a boy and girls, were sitting around it.

Strangely enough, the inside of the old PE warehouse looked just like a living room.

"Greetings, my fellow comrades! Another beautiful night, isn't it?"

Tsukimi-senpai entered the warehouse with a cheerful greeting.

I, on the other hand, was frozen at the entrance.

"Fufu, are you surprised?" she asked, a satisfied smile on her face as she watched my reaction.

"...Well, yeah..."

I think any student from this school would have the same reaction.

That's how shocking the group of people assembled here was.

"So this is the new comrade you were talking about?"

The one looking at me with suspicion was Akazawa Yō.

The ace of the baseball team and the mood-maker of my class.

He was supposed to be a lovable idiot... but he had a strangely calm demeanor.

"Can he be trusted?"

His sharp gaze was fixed on me, as if sizing me up.

These were Tsukimi-senpai's comrades. Which meant they all had a hidden side.

I was quickly made to understand that Akazawa was no mere happy-go-lucky idiot.

"Huh? You're the guy from... earlier today."

Looking at me with surprise was Kazemiya Kanon.

The school's idol, popular with the boys for her pure looks and adorable personality.

"If you invited him to the secret base, that must mean he passed the trial, right?"

Kazemiya's atmosphere was also completely different from when I'd met her during the day.

The way she shrugged her shoulders with a look of annoyance was something her usual self would never do.

"Of course. Minase-kun passed the trial. That's why I brought him here," Tsukimi-senpai replied to Akazawa and Kazemiya.

Then, she gently shook the shoulder of the last person, who was sleeping with a cushion as a pillow.

"Hey, Misato. I brought a new comrade!"

The gyaru with dyed hair, an open collar, and a short skirt opened her eyelids. It was Ogino Misato.

"Faaah... morning, Kaede."

Ogino rubbed her sleepy eyes and tilted her head as she looked at me.

"...A new comrade?"

"...Not yet. I'm just here for a tour, for now."

At my answer, Ogino murmured as if she'd just remembered something.

"Oh, you're the guy from the boys' basketball team. Sorry about yesterday. For getting you involved."

She must have been talking about when I got cornered by her group of gyarus.

"...Don't worry about it. Nothing happened, and you helped me out, Ogino."

"Right. Then you should be grateful to me."

"...Didn't your story just do a complete one-eighty?"

"Fufu, just kidding. A flying magic joke."

...Ogino's deadpan expression made it not sound like a joke at all.

"A flying magic joke."

Did she just repeat it because I didn't react? Her conversation style was so forceful.

Just like Akazawa and Kazemiya, Ogino was completely different from her usual self.

So this overly laid-back personality was the real Ogino?

"Alright, Minase-kun, please introduce yourself."

"...Minase Shuuto. Class 1-1. I'm in the boys' basketball club."

"Class 1-1?" Kazemiya said, glancing at Akazawa.

"Yeah, he's in my class."

"...You remember me, Akazawa?"

"Of course I know the faces of my classmates. We've never talked, though."

"What? You've never talked? Even though you're in the same class?"

"Minase doesn't hang out with anyone in the classroom. He's always alone."

"So he's a loner. How pathetic."

Kazemiya pitied me without a second thought. Wasn't she being a little too harsh?

"—Though, if Kaede invited you, that's probably not your true self," Akazawa added.

The three of them—Akazawa, Kazemiya, and Ogino—were all looking at me with assessing eyes.

Looking at them again, it was a strange combination. Their daytime social circles didn't overlap at all.

"In any case, if you passed the trial, then you're welcome here. Welcome to the 'Don't Want to Go Home' Alliance."

As if to ease the tense atmosphere, Akazawa offered a calm smile.

"...The 'Don't Want to Go Home' Alliance?"

"That's the name of our organization! It's pretty on the nose, right?"

Tsukimi-senpai, sitting on the carpet, patted the spot next to her.

"Come on, Minase-kun, have a seat."

"...Okay."

At her prompting, I entered the warehouse, took off my shoes, and stepped onto the carpet.

"...This carpet is really soft."

"Right? I'm the one who brought it here!"

"...Huh?"

I did think it looked brand new, but...

"You think they'd just leave a carpet lying around in an old PE warehouse?" Kazemiya said, shrugging her shoulders in exasperation.

"It was a huge pain to carry it here in the middle of the night, you know."

"...I can imagine."

Even with five people sitting on it, there was still plenty of room.

The fact that it was so soft meant it was thick, so it must have been incredibly heavy.

"...Why go to all that trouble?"

"Because don't you want to build a secret base in the school at night?"

Her motive was like that of a child.

Tsukimi-senpai's eyes were sparkling.

"...Well, I can understand the excitement."

"Right?! I knew it! Minase-kun, you are truly worthy of being one of our comrades!"

She grabbed my hand, squeezing it tight and shaking it up and down in her good mood.

"I don't really care where we are, as long as I can kill time," Kazemiya said.

"I agree, but a comfortable place is always better. In that respect, this place is perfect," Akazawa added.

"Yeah. No one uses the old warehouse, and no one ever comes around here. It's the perfect spot for a secret base," Ogino chimed in.

"...I see."

It seemed there was a good reason they'd chosen this place for their secret base.

"...Did you bring that, too?" I asked, looking at the floor chair Akazawa was sitting on.

"Yeah. Just the carpet would make my back hurt."

Ogino was using a cushion as a pillow, and Tsukimi-senpai and Kazemiya were sitting on floor cushions.

It seemed they had each come up with their own ways to make their nights here more comfortable.

"Oh, do you need a cushion too, Minase-kun?"

Tsukimi-senpai brought another cushion from the back of the warehouse.

"...Is it really okay to bring in this many personal belongings?"

It seemed like it would be a huge problem if they got caught.

"It's fine. We won't get caught unless something really crazy happens."

Tsukimi-senpai said it with a mischievous wink.

"...Why?"

"Because during the day, we keep this place locked with a padlock."

She showed me a dial combination lock.

"...Is that allowed? Doing something like that?"

"What are you talking about, Minase-kun? Of course it's not allowed!"

"...Then maybe you shouldn't say it with so much confidence."

For some reason, my retort sent Tsukimi-senpai into a fit of laughter.

The impression I'd had of a perfect, almost artificial person was a lie. She was so expressive, her mood changing from one moment to the next.

The carpet was clean, but was it really okay for her to be rolling around on it like that? Every time she moved, the hem of her skirt shifted in ways that I honestly found very distracting. Her healthy thighs were tantalizing.

"Kaede-senpai, calm down."

Kazemiya placed her foot on the back of the still-rolling Tsukimi-senpai, holding her down.

"Guh, gweh..."

"...She's groaning. Is she okay?"

"When she gets too rowdy, stepping on her is the best way to handle it."

It was quite a sight.

The Tsukimi Kaede was being stepped on by the Kazemiya Kanon.

The fact that neither Akazawa nor Ogino seemed surprised meant this was probably a common occurrence.

"...So, what exactly do you guys do here?"

"We're just a group that spends the night together. We don't have a set schedule. Some days we just chat, some days we play board games, and some days we study," Tsukimi-senpai explained with a serious expression.

...The fact that she was still being pinned by Kazemiya's foot made the scene incredibly surreal.

Perhaps feeling a little awkward herself, Kazemiya cleared her throat and removed her foot.

"After summer vacation started, I was just wandering around the school after club practice and found this place. I thought it was perfect for me, since I don't want to go home, so I started killing time here."

Tsukimi-senpai sat up as she continued her story.

"But being alone was lonely, so I decided to look for comrades."

The bar she set for her comrades was high.

She must have had a hard time finding the other three.

"It was surprisingly easy, actually."

But contrary to my expectations, that's what she said.

"Because after club activities, you guys were the only ones left at school."

...I see. It was the perfect way to smoke out the people who didn't want to go home.

"...If you found this place after summer vacation, that means the Alliance was formed pretty recently, right?"

"That's right. I approached Yō-kun, Kanon-chan, and Misato, in that order."

"Yeah. Kaede and I formed the Alliance. That was about a month ago," Akazawa said.

"When she first approached me, I thought it was some kind of scam," Kazemiya added.

"The Alliance is brand new. So Shuuto should be able to fit right in," Ogino finished.

Akazawa, Kazemiya, and Ogino all nodded in agreement with Tsukimi-senpai.

Ogino had started calling me by my first name already. Not that I really cared what they called me.

"...Are you planning on recruiting more members?"

"Nope. I've invited everyone I wanted to," Tsukimi-senpai said, shaking her head.

"If we get too many people, the chances of getting caught will go up."

"And this place isn't that big. Five people is just about right," Akazawa said, looking around the warehouse.

It was true. Six or seven people would probably feel cramped.

"Besides, if there were any more students who didn't want to go home, it'd be the end of the world," Kazemiya said, conveniently forgetting her own situation.

A moment of silence. Then, Kazemiya's gaze fell on me.

"...You're not going to ask, are you?"

She didn't specify what, but I knew what she meant.

Akazawa, the happy-go-lucky idiot, was now an intellectual and calm person.

Kazemiya, the cunningly innocent and pure girl, was now a cold, sharp-tongued realist.

Ogino, the meek gyaru, was now a moody girl who did things at her own pace.

Just like Tsukimi-senpai, all three of them had personalities that were like night and day compared to their usual selves.

And apparently, none of them wanted to go home.

If you asked me whether or not I was curious about their circumstances, of course I was.

But...

"...We're not supposed to interfere in each other's secrets here, right?"

I'd been told that this secret base was a place where that rule was upheld.

That's why I was here for a tour in the first place. I wasn't about to break that rule myself.

"Hmph..."

"It seems you really did pass the trial."

"Kaede wouldn't lie. I believed in you."

Kazemiya, Akazawa, and Ogino's expressions softened.

It seemed my refusal to pry into their secrets had earned me their trust.

"Now that everyone has acknowledged Minase-kun, I'll explain the Covenant," Tsukimi-senpai announced.

"...The Covenant?"

That sounded pretty grandiose.

"This Alliance has rules that must be followed, and we call them the Covenant."

Tsukimi-senpai began to explain them smoothly.

One: You shall not speak of this Alliance or its secret base to anyone.

Two: The night is for freedom. However, you shall not interfere in your comrades' secrets.

Three: The secret base shall be used from the end of club activities until 10:30 PM.

Four: The relationships within the Alliance shall not be brought elsewhere.

Those four rules were apparently the Covenant of the "Don't Want to Go Home" Alliance.

"...This feels like a secret society."

"It's not like a secret society, it is a secret society."

In Tsukimi-senpai's hands was a document with the Covenant written on it, and she wore a smug look on her face.

"If you want to join the Alliance, you'll have to sign this contract."

"...You're taking this very seriously."

"Doing it this way makes it easier for you to trust us, right?"

"...I see."

Tsukimi-senpai chose her comrades herself.

So, by the time she brought them here, she already had a certain level of trust in them.

But the other members didn't. That's why she'd set up these rules.

So that everyone could spend the night together, trusting one another.

"I'll explain the intent behind the Covenant. First, if anyone finds out we're using the old warehouse without permission, we'll lose our sanctuary, and it'll affect our reputations. So, keep it a secret, okay?"

"...Understood."

Yeah, we'd probably get more than just a slap on the wrist.

Worst case, we could get suspended. This secret base came with a considerable amount of risk.

"The second part of the Covenant is about not prying into each other's secrets. I probably don't need to tell you that, right?"

"...Right."

A superficial relationship where our secrets were safe.

It was a rule designed to enforce the very thing I was looking for.

"The third part is simple. If we were here during the day, there'd be a higher chance of someone finding us, right?"

So that's why they limited it to after club activities. To lower the risk.

"...Why until 10:30?"

"Any later than that and it'll affect you the next day, right? It's not good to stay too long."

I see. So they used a time limit to force themselves to go home.

Even for the "Don't Want to Go Home" Alliance, they still had to go home eventually.

In the end, we were just high school students being supported by someone else.

"...Then what about the fourth part?"

"It's because our relationships here are separate from our daytime ones that we can spend the night freely. So our relationship is a secret. In other places, we have to pretend we don't know each other."

So even if we happened to talk during the day, we'd have to act like we were meeting for the first time.

"These are the four parts of the Covenant that bind us. Do you understand?"

"...Yes."

Comrades who just spend the night together. A superficial relationship where our secrets were safe.

That was the purpose of the "Don't Want to Go Home" Alliance. The four parts of the Covenant existed to achieve that purpose.

If there was one thing I was curious about, it was...

"...What's the penalty for breaking these rules?"

"You die."

"...Huh?"

"Socially."

"That's... terrifying."

For Tsukimi-senpai, it would be easy. All she'd have to do is spread a bad rumor about the person.

No one would doubt her words. She'd built up that much trust.

"Also, anyone who commits a major violation of the Covenant will be expelled from the Alliance."

That was a given. You can't trust someone who breaks the rules.

"Any questions?"

"No... I understand perfectly."

This was Tsukimi-senpai's sanctuary, the "Don't Want to Go Home" Alliance.

It was certainly close to the ideal relationship I'd been searching for. It was worth coming to see. The question was whether or not I would join.

"—I want to turn the night after club activities into our own special time of youth."

Tsukimi-senpai said, holding out her hand to me.

"I'll ask you again. Minase-kun, will you become one of our comrades?"

"..."

Honestly, I felt I should refuse.

Even if it was close to what I was looking for, spending my nights in a place like this was insane.

The right thing to do was to go straight home after club activities.

"I trusted you the moment I brought you here. Even if you don't join us, I don't think you'll be the one to expose this place. Whether or not you join the Alliance is up to you."

As Tsukimi-senpai spoke, Kazemiya glared at me.

"If this place gets exposed because of you, I'll kill you."

"...Socially?"

"No, physically."

"...That's way too scary."

Kazemiya's true nature was quite intense.

"...Well, whatever. I guess it wouldn't be so bad if you were here. Not that I know," she added, turning her face away with a huff.

"As I said before, you're welcome here," Akazawa said, looking me in the eye with a calm smile.

"If Kaede invited you, then you can be trusted. Let's hang out here together," Ogino added, her expression blank but her invitation genuine.

If I became comrades with these four, maybe I could spend my nights having fun.

I had a feeling I could. But I couldn't trust them. The thought of them finding out my secret was terrifying.

Silence filled the secret base as they waited for my answer.

"...Please give me one night to think about it."

In the end, the only words that came out of my mouth were a request to postpone my decision.

It was 9:00 PM when I left the secret base.

I got on my bike and started pedaling the long way home.

The closer I got, the heavier the pedals felt, as if they were made of lead.

I knew it was just my imagination, but still.

I stopped at a convenience store on the way to buy dinner, and finally arrived in front of my house.

It was a small, Japanese-style single-family home.

Before I put my hand on the sliding door of the entrance, I took a deep breath.

It felt like gravity had doubled. I could never get used to it.

I slid the door open as quietly as I could. There were two pairs of shoes in the entryway. It seemed both my aunt and uncle were home. It was late, so that was to be expected, but I couldn't help but feel a sense of dread.

As I passed the living room, my uncle was watching TV.

He must have heard me come in, because he glanced in my direction.

Our eyes met. Time stopped. My body was frozen, as if I were paralyzed.

After a moment, my uncle turned his gaze back to the TV without a word.

"...I'm home."

I bowed my head and headed to the room I'd been given.

My aunt wasn't in the living room. She was probably holed up in her own room.

My aunt and uncle were rarely in the same space together. Whenever they saw each other, they would just fight.

It was hard to breathe. Only when I was in this house did it feel like I was underwater.

It got a little easier once I was in my room.

It was a barren, six-tatami mat room with just a futon, a round table, and a dresser.

When we left our old house, I'd thrown most of my things away.

I couldn't be a burden to my aunt and uncle, and most of my belongings had just looked like trash to me.

I ate the convenience store bento I'd bought. It didn't taste good or bad.

I never ate dinner with my aunt and uncle. The three of us all ate separately.

After that, I brushed my teeth, took a shower, washed my practice clothes, and returned to my room.

I hung my laundry on the drying rack I'd set up in the window frame, then laid out my futon on the tatami mats and lay down.

Even with the lights off, the feeling of suffocation didn't go away. My mind was wide awake, and I couldn't fall asleep.

No matter how much time I killed at school, the night was long again today. I couldn't wait for the boring daytime to arrive.

I looked at the clock. Not even an hour had passed since I'd gotten home.

I could hear my aunt and uncle's angry shouts coming from the living room.

They must have run into each other and started fighting again. It had happened countless times over the past year.

If I, an outsider, tried to intervene, they would just tell me, "This has nothing to do with you."

And that was on a good day. There were times when they both blamed me, saying, "This is your fault."

Even if I pulled the covers over my head, I couldn't completely block out their voices.

This wasn't my place. Because this wasn't my home.

Where was the home I was supposed to return to?

How could I make this suffocating feeling at night go away?

How could I make this long night shorter?

'—I want to turn the night after club activities into our own special time of youth.'

Tsukimi-senpai's words flashed through my mind.

The events of today felt unreal.

But this suffocating feeling was proof that it wasn't a dream.

If I were with those four, could I turn this suffocating night into a special time of youth?

I'd said I needed a night to think about it.

That meant I had to come up with an answer before this night was over.

Would I give up and accept my current situation, or would I believe in Tsukimi-senpai's words?

The night was long anyway. I closed my eyes and decided to face my own feelings.

The next day.

After a boring day, night arrived.

When I visited the secret base after club activities, everyone was already there.

"Looks like you've made your decision," Tsukimi-senpai said.

I nodded in response.

"—From now on, please take care of me."

I said, bowing my head.

I still didn't have a reason to trust the four people here.

But this place had rules, and it had penalties.

So, I could trust the organization known as the "Don't Want to Go Home" Alliance.

That was the reason I'd decided to join.

"I knew you'd say that."

Tsukimi-senpai must have known that's what I would say.

That's why she was smiling, unfazed. This girl really was incredibly perceptive.

But the next moment, her expression melted.

"Welcome to the group~!"

She grabbed my hand and shook it up and down.

"Well, it's not like we do anything special here," Akazawa said with a wry smile, clapping me on the shoulder.

"Just so you know, if I don't like you, I'll kick you out," Kazemiya said, glaring at me with a huff.

"Congrats~," Ogino said, clapping her hands with a blank expression.

"Alright, today is Minase-kun's welcome party!"

"Fine by me, but what are we going to do?" Kazemiya asked in response to Tsukimi-senpai's excited proposal.

"Minase-kun, have you ever played a board game before?"

"...No, I haven't."

Even back when I had friends, we always played outside.

So I'd hardly ever played any kind of game.

"Then I'll teach you the joys of board games!"

Tsukimi-senpai rummaged around in the back of the warehouse and pulled out what looked like several boxes.

"What are those?"

"Board game boxes," Akazawa answered for me.

As if that wasn't enough, Tsukimi-senpai also pulled out a bag of potato chips from the back.

"...You have everything, don't you?"

"It's a secret base! Of course we have snacks!"

With a smug look on her face, Tsukimi-senpai spread the bag of chips on the center table.

"Let's see, something simple would be good for today. Like 6 Nimmt! or Skull? Or maybe One Night Ultimate Werewolf... Codenames? Hmmm, I want to play them all~."

Her eyes sparkling, Tsukimi-senpai gazed at the board game boxes.

"Kaede-senpai loves board games," Kazemiya explained.

"...She did start talking really fast all of a sudden, so I figured."

"She makes us play with her every time."

There weren't many ways to kill time in a small warehouse like this.

And if you wanted something multiple people could do... it made sense that they'd end up with board games.

"I like playing board games with everyone," Ogino murmured, looking a little happy.

Her expressions didn't change much, but I could read her emotions from her tone and gestures.

"...Well, it's a good way to kill time," Akazawa said, a faint smile on his lips.

His intellectual expression was a world away from his usual idiotic persona.

He'd probably be popular if he was always like this, but he must have his reasons for not being so.

Now that I'd decided to join the Alliance, I couldn't pry into his secrets.

In return, they couldn't pry into mine. That was the second part of the Covenant.

"Alright, I've decided! Today, we're playing Codenames!"

I'd heard the name before.

If I knew it, it would be a famous board game.

"This game is team-based, so first, let's split into two teams!"

"With five people, one team will have three members."

"Then I, the experienced player, will team up with the board game beginner, Minase-kun!"

"...Understood."

For some reason, Kazemiya was looking at me with a mocking expression.

"You're teamed up with Kaede-senpai. You've already lost."

"...Why?"

"Because Kaede is super bad at board games."

"Wh-What?!"

Ogino's words were blunt. Tsukimi-senpai looked utterly shocked.

"...Is that true?"

Tsukimi-senpai was brilliant and had excellent powers of observation. I would have thought she'd be good at board games.

"I think Day Kaede would be super good," Ogino said, making a statement I didn't quite understand.

"But Night Kaede is a total dork."

"Wh-Who are you calling a dork?! I'm your senpai, you know!"

Tsukimi-senpai puffed out her cheeks at Ogino's words.

It was true that now that she was showing her true self, she did seem a little more clueless than usual.

"...Even if you're letting your guard down, your intelligence shouldn't change, right?"

"That's what we thought at first, too."

"But no matter how many times we play, Kaede always loses."

Kazemiya and Akazawa chimed in.

"...R-Really?"

It was hard to believe, but they had no reason to lie.

"Minase-kun, you don't have to believe them. I'm the one who usually wins," Tsukimi-senpai said, frantically trying to correct them.

"...Usually when?"

"I've never seen you win, Senpai."

"Night Kaede is dumb."

But her underclassmen were relentless.

"...Who should I believe?"

"Your own teammate, of course!" Tsukimi-senpai pleaded, tears welling up in her eyes.

"...Understood."

Either way, it was already decided that I was on her team.

So I had no choice but to believe her. There was no way someone's intelligence could change between day and night.

"Let's show them what we're made of! The three of them!"

She'd been standing really close this whole time. As a teenage boy, it was making my heart pound.

"...A-Anyway, please explain the rules."

"Right! Just a second."

Tsukimi-senpai opened the board game box.

Inside were three types of cards.

First, there were cards with some kind of word written on them.

Next, there were cards with a picture that looked like a puzzle.

Finally, there were cards that only showed the colors red, blue, white, and black.

"We're going to split into two spy organizations and find the agents belonging to our respective organizations. First, we'll lay out twenty-five word cards on the table."

"I'll do that," Ogino said, and began arranging the word cards on the table.

"The only person on each team who knows which agent is an ally and which is an enemy is the Spymaster."

So we were split into those who find the agents and those who give the clues.

"The Spymaster has to use a one-word hint and a number to tell their teammates which cards are their agents. For example, if the Spymaster says 'Fruit, two,' their teammates will choose two cards related to fruit. That's the basic way to play."

"...I see. Like 'apple' or 'orange,' right?"

So the Spymaster, who knows the answers, has restrictions on their hints.

And the teammates have to guess the cards the Spymaster intended from those limited hints.

"Right. But you have to be careful. If you accidentally choose an enemy agent, the other team gets an advantage. And if you choose the 'Assassin,' you lose immediately."

Tsukimi-senpai showed us the puzzle-like card as she explained.

The five-by-five grid corresponded to the word cards laid out on the table.

Each square was assigned one of four colors: red, blue, white, or black.

There was only one black square. Tsukimi-senpai pointed to it.

If red was our color, then blue was the enemy. White was a neutral bystander, and black meant we lost if we chose it.

The puzzle-like 'key card' had the answers written on it, and only the Spymaster from each team could look at it. It seemed to be a game where you played a word association game based on the Spymaster's hints, and the first team to find all of their 'agent cards' won.

"...I think I get the gist of it."

"Well, you'll figure out the details once we actually start playing," Kazemiya said with a shrug.

"Alright, let's begin~."

"Is Tsukimi-senpai the Spymaster for our team?"

"Let's do that. Yō-kun's team can decide who their Spymaster will be, too."

At Tsukimi-senpai's words, Akazawa, Kazemiya, and Ogino's team began to confer.

"Akazawa can do it, right?"

"Yō is good at this kind of thing. You be the Spymaster."

"Got it."

It seemed Akazawa was trusted for his board game skills.

His grades at school were supposed to be bad, but was that an act, too?

As a result of rock-paper-scissors, Akazawa's team went first.

There were nine red cards and eight blue cards. The first team would be red.

"Alright, I'm going to choose the key card, so no one look except for me and Yō-kun."

Tsukimi-senpai shuffled the key cards, drew one, and showed it to Akazawa.

"Mmm... this one's tough."

She was probably trying to figure out how the key card corresponded to the word cards.

"I've already decided. Let's start with 'Battle, three'," Akazawa said calmly, in contrast to Tsukimi-senpai, who was furrowing her brow.

So, among their agents, there were three words that could be associated with 'battle'.

"This one?" Kazemiya said, pointing to the card that said 'Cannon'.

That was definitely related to 'battle'.

"'Soldier' and 'Boxing' are here, too. And... 'Baseball'?" Ogino added, pointing out three more cards.

"'Cannon' and 'Soldier' are definitely right. The question is the last one..."

"I feel like 'Boxing' is a closer fit, image-wise."

"I agree. Then let's check 'Cannon,' 'Soldier,' and 'Boxing,' in that order."

Kazemiya and Ogino agreed and told their Spymaster, Akazawa.

Akazawa then took out three red cards, their team's agent cards.

He placed them on top of the 'Cannon,' 'Soldier,' and 'Boxing' cards.

"Correct. Well done."

"Hmph. The first three are a given."

"Yeah. The real challenge starts now."

While the three of them were having that exchange...

"Th-They got three right off the bat..." Tsukimi-senpai groaned, a grim expression on her face.

"I guess I have to take a risk, too."

"Ts-Tsukimi-senpai...?"

I had a bad feeling about this.

The more cards you try to get at once, the broader the word you have to use for the hint.

In that case, it would be harder for the guesser—me.

The risk of choosing a completely unrelated word card was also high.

I thought it would be safer to give a hint that linked two or three words, like Akazawa did.

"I believe in you, Minase-kun—'Human, five'!"

"...F-Five?"

Our team, the blue team, only had eight cards in total.

If we got all five, we'd only have three left. Victory would be within our grasp.

But were there really five cards that could be conveniently linked to 'human'?

"That's a bold move. But..."

"I have no idea what she's getting at."

The opposing team's Kazemiya and Ogino furrowed their brows in suspicion.

Akazawa, who knew the answer, remained silent so as not to give any unnecessary hints.

"...Hmm."

The game was simple, but it had a lot of depth.

For example, if you wanted your team to pick 'apple,' you could just say 'Fruit, one.'

But if you played it too safe, you could fall behind the other team.

However, if you took too big of a risk, it would become difficult for the players, like it was now.

"It's okay, I know you can figure it out!" Tsukimi-senpai said, offering encouragement that had no basis in reality.

"Spymasters aren't supposed to give any extra information, right?"

"Hmph, cheering is allowed."

Tsukimi-senpai pouted at Kazemiya's sidelong glance.

"...Leave it to me."

I'm not very confident, but I have no choice but to think.

I carefully studied the word cards laid out on the table.

"...Well, 'Organism' has to be one of them, right?"

Humans are organisms. It's the first thing that comes to mind in a word association game.

Tsukimi-senpai and Akazawa, who knew the answer, didn't react to my muttering, but Kazemiya nodded.

"Yeah. That's probably the main one."

"After that... 'Cooking' maybe, or 'Bath'? As in, human activities..."

"'Robot' is also an option," Ogino suddenly chimed in.

"...'Robot'? Why do you think that?"

"Because they're made by human hands."

"...I see."

I could kind of understand Ogino's logic, but it felt like a bit of a stretch for this game.

"...Are you trying to confuse me?"

"Hmph. I'm on the enemy team. It's your fault if you get confused," Ogino retorted, completely unapologetic.

"...Even if 'Robot' is one of them, that's still only four cards."

There had to be one more card that Tsukimi-senpai wanted me to guess.

The candidates were probably 'Pet,' 'House,' or 'Smoothie.'

You could argue they were all related, or that none of them were.

There were too many ambiguous options.

"There's no way you can read Kaede-senpai's mind," Kazemiya said with a mocking laugh. I shook my head.

"No... I'll do it."

To overturn their perception of her as a weak board game player, I had to get this right.

"You look like you're having fun, Minase," Akazawa remarked, a faint smile playing on his lips as he watched me.

"...Do I?"

"Yeah. A lot more than when you're in the classroom, at least."

It was true, I didn't feel that suffocating pressure here.

But it was also a different feeling from the boredom of the daytime.

My heart was stirred by this extraordinary situation.

...Does that mean I'm enjoying this?

"Well... maybe I am."

And it was all thanks to Tsukimi-senpai for inviting me here.

To repay that kindness, I had to guess the cards she intended.

"First, I'll flip 'Organism.' There's no way this one is wrong, right?"

Tsukimi-senpai's expression didn't change as I made my choice. Changing her expression here would give me information, so I figured she was being intentionally blank... but something about her felt off.

With a clumsy hand, she took a black card and placed it on top of 'Organism.'

"..."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"..."

An awkward silence hung in the air as we all stared at the black card.

"...So?"

"...Um, that means we lose. I'm sorry..."

Tsukimi-senpai was breaking out in a mysterious cold sweat, while Akazawa had his head in his hand.

"B-But 'Bath,' 'Cooking,' 'House,' they were all related to humans..." she stammered, shrinking under our silent pressure and rattling off excuses.

"...No matter how you look at it, 'Organism' is the most related one, don't you think?"

"W-Well, yeah, but... I wanted to connect 'Robot' and 'Pet,' too..."

It seemed Ogino's guess had been correct.

"...If you're stretching the association that far, couldn't almost anything apply?"

"...W-Well, yeah."

Tsukimi-senpai's eyes were darting all over the place.

"Do you get it now? This is Night Kaede," Ogino said, crossing her arms with a triumphant, smug look.

"Listen, Kaede. The first thing you need to do in this game is avoid the black card," Akazawa explained, telling her the very thing she had just explained to me.

"I-I know that!"

"I wouldn't have to say it to someone who actually knew."

Tsukimi-senpai was on the verge of tears.

...Where did the person who was so confidently explaining the rules just a minute ago go?

"Aaargh! And here I thought you, of all people, would understand me, Minase-kun!"

"...Huh? Are you seriously blaming me for this?!"

"Don't worry. Anyone can see this isn't your fault," Kazemiya said, taking my side for once, which was a relief.

...It seemed that Night Tsukimi-senpai really was a total dork.

"A-Anyway! That was just a little mistake! Let's have a rematch!"

"...Alright. But please play properly this time."

When I pressed her, she nodded her head vigorously.

"Leave it to me! I'll be serious next time!"

After that, we played three more rounds of Codenames with the same teams. We lost every single one.

"Board games aren't about winning or losing! The important thing is that everyone has fun!" Tsukimi-senpai wailed in frustration, but there was some truth to her words.

We may have lost every game, but the night had felt short.

The night that I had always felt was so long had passed in what felt like an instant.

And for me, that was reason enough to be here.

ToC

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