Chapter 3: Other People's Feelings and Your Own are Two Different Things

"...You've got to be kidding me...?"

I looked around the room and muttered in astonishment.

No... it wasn't a room. It was basically a house.

Day three of our Izu trip. We had arrived in Shuzenji, a hot spring town nestled in the mountains. The Chairman had led us to a hanare—a detached suite—tucked away in a corner of a high-end ryokan. The suite was divided into three rooms: one that was clearly over ten tatami mats in size, a smaller one, and a bedroom that was also well over ten mats. Two of them had terraces overlooking a spacious pond.

"Senpai, Senpai! Come over here!"

Following Chinana's voice, I found myself looking at an open-air bath. It was a private rotenburo large enough for all six of us to get in at the same time and still stretch our legs out comfortably. And this apparently counted as the indoor bath.

This isn't a room, it's a goddamn villa...

"I'm glad I was able to book it," the Chairwoman said as I returned to the Japanese-style room. She was sitting on the terrace facing the garden, leisurely gazing at the pond.

"With this special suite, all six of us can stay together, and Kiminaga-kun can sleep on a futon in a separate room. You can rest easy, right?"

Well, yeah, but...

I was afraid to even ask the price. How many tens of thousands of yen did this room cost, making the last inn look modest in comparison...?

When I heard we were going to Izu, I'd thought it was a surprisingly close destination for a rich person's vacation. Turns out my perspective was just too common. My apologies for underestimating you...

Thus, having been given the smaller Japanese-style room as my private quarters, I dropped my luggage and flopped onto my back on the tatami mats.

...This is so luxurious I have no idea what to do.

For now, all I could do was feel the texture of the expensive-looking tatami on my back and stare at the expensive-looking ceiling.

Just then, I heard the soft sound of a fusuma screen sliding open, and Chinana entered.

She closed the screen, knelt down beside me, and whispered in a hushed voice.

"Senpai, Senpai."

"What is it?"

"We're in a hot spring town, so... let's go for a little walk... just the two of us."

The last words were added with a hint of shy hesitation.

As someone who had survived the fierce assault of Meru and Kikuri last night, her modesty felt refreshingly innocent.

I wanted to say yes, but was this a good idea? As a guy who technically has a girlfriend, would this count as cheating? It probably would... I had a feeling.

Just as I was about to suggest a compromise of all of us going together, the fusuma slid open again, and Meru poked her head in.

"...Thieving cat."

"Hya!?"

Chinana spun around and jumped like a cat startled by a cucumber.

Meru opened the screen completely and entered the room.

"Trying to secretly lead my man away... how audacious of you, for my own sister."

"...Senpai looked tired from dealing with Meru-nee, so I just thought I'd help him relax, that's all."

"You're not tired, are you, Shikimi?"

"Sorry, but I'm fucking exhausted."

"Aww..."

When I answered her loaded question with my honest feelings, Meru let out a dissatisfied whine, then added,

"But last night was pretty wild, wasn't it."

"Eh!? Senpai!?"

"You and Kikuri were the only ones acting wild...!"

In truth, while claiming that absolutely nothing happened and it was all a misunderstanding was a bit of a stretch given the sexually charged atmosphere, I had to protest this gross exaggeration.

"Now then, ladies, I have some valuable information for you!"

Kikuri, who had appeared at the doorway at some point, announced in a clear voice.

"Did you know that there are five bridges in the Shuzenji hot spring town? They each have nicknames: 'Misome Bridge,' 'Akogare Bridge,' 'Musubare Bridge,' 'Yorisoi Bridge,' and 'Yasuragi Bridge.' Each one has a legend related to love. Going around to all of them is called the 'Love Bridge Tour,' and they say if you cross them with someone you have feelings for, you'll be blessed with a good relationship."

"Huh... every place has stories like that, doesn't it," I said, tuning it out, but the look in Meru and Chinana's eyes instantly changed to that of predators zeroing in on their prey.

"Shikimi, let's go together."

"Senpai! Let's go together!"

The two of them leaned in close, peering into my face as I lay on my back. I was frozen, unable to back away.

Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Kikuri's grinning face. So her goal was to stir them up...! You'd better have an exit strategy for this!

As if my silent protest reached her through my gaze, Kikuri added, "It's not like you have to cross the bridges alone with someone. The peaceful solution here would be for all of us to go together."

Then she looked behind her.

"Ranka! What about you?" she called out to Ranka, who was sitting in a floor chair eating the complimentary rice crackers.

She crisply bit a cracker in half, glanced at my face—which was paling under the pressure from Meru and Chinana—and then said brusquely, "...I'll go too. I'm bored anyway."

She seemed to be keeping her distance from us, but apparently, she didn't want to be left alone either. You lonely little thing...

And so, leaving the Chairwoman in the room, the five of us set out to explore Shuzenji.

Even if they were bridges with some kind of legend, to my eyes, of course, they just looked like ordinary bridges with vermilion-painted railings.

"Togetsu Bridge—also known as Misome Bridge. This one is for praying for a good match... basically, for the blessing of meeting someone nice," Kikuri explained, looking at her smartphone. The babbling of the Katsura River below us was quaint, but being told it was a "power spot" of that sort still didn't resonate with me.

But for the girls, it was a different story.

"We don't need this one, do we, Senpai?" Chinana said with a smile, letting her shoulder gently brush against mine.

"Shikimi already has me, after all," Meru added, lightly placing her hand on my elbow.

The two of them had been obeying my very reasonable request not to be so clingy in public, but in exchange, they were bombarding me with a series of suggestive, light touches.

".................."

And watching all of this was Ranka, in complete silence. Awkward.

"This is Kokei Bridge—also known as Akogare Bridge. This one grants blessings for success in love. It says you should think strongly about the person you like while crossing."

"Senpai, who are you thinking about right now?"

"You don't need this, do you, Shikimi? You already have a girlfriend."

".................."

And on to the next bridge.

"This is Katsura Bridge—also known as Musubare Bridge. It seems this one is for praying for children."

"How many kids do you want, Shikimi? I think two would be nice."

"Talking about kids is way too heavy! Let's just enjoy the romance we have now, right, Senpai?"

".................."

And on to the next bridge.

"This is Kaede Bridge—also known as Yorisoi Bridge."

"............!"

"............"

Before Kikuri could even finish explaining the bridge's significance, Chinana and Meru were pressing their shoulders hard against me from either side. I don't think they meant to crush me like a vice; apparently, this was their idea of "cuddling."

"And finally, Takishita Bridge—also known as Yasuragi Bridge. This one offers blessings for a harmonious marriage."

Hearing that, the two of them finally calmed down. It seemed they were trying to act out the part of a happy couple. Or perhaps they just couldn't picture what being married was like.

The whole tour took about an hour, and I have never spent a more stressful period in my entire life. All I could do was keep my hands up like a salaryman wary of a false groping accusation and stay silent.

I had always thought that this so-called rivalry in love was something conducted more insidiously. But they probably didn't have the know-how to do it skillfully, and could only express their desires like children.

They must have been even more childish seven years ago. What must I have been thinking back then, being caught between them... I can see why I'd want to forget, I thought, understanding just a little.

After visiting the five bridges, we browsed through souvenir shops and shooting galleries, then proceeded down a narrow alley towards Shigetsuden hall.

Shigetsuden was a historic wooden building, weathered by wind and rain, which Hojo Masako had sent to Shuzenji Temple to pray for the soul of her son, Minamoto no Yoriie.

Next to it, in front of Yoriie's tomb, was a pedestal about waist-high. On top of it sat a peculiar stone shaped like a lotus flower.

It was called the O-ukagai-ishi, or "Wishing Stone."

"Make a wish with all your heart and lift it. If it feels light, your feelings will be conveyed—that's what it says," Kikuri said, reading the sign. This hot spring town really was a cluster of romance-themed power spots.

"It's just a chunk of rock. Of course it's going to be heavy..."

"Well, it's all in your state of mind."

There were many ten-yen coins scattered around the stone. It was a mercenary detail, but their presence seemed to enhance the stone's value.

Meru silently stood before the pedestal and cupped the stone with both hands.

"I wish for Shikimi to become more honest with himself."

"Hey, you're not normally supposed to say it out loud."

After voicing her wish for all to hear, Meru lifted the stone with a grunt.

Her arms trembled.

Then, she gently placed the stone back on the pedestal and said with a nonchalant face, "It was light."

"Liar."

No way, not with those scrawny arms.

Shoving Meru aside, Chinana now reached for the Wishing Stone.

"I wish for Senpai to become a fan of petite, slender girls!"

With that, Chinana held her breath and lifted the stone.

Her arms trembled.

Gently placing it back on the pedestal, Chinana turned to me with a bright smile.

"It was light!"

"Muscles don't lie, you know."

If we follow the legend of this stone, does that mean only the wishes of buff muscleheads can get through?

Meru, who had been pushed aside, looked at Chinana and gave a small, scornful smile.

"So you've given up? On the possibility of growth."

As she spoke, she ostentatiously lifted her own ample chest with her arms.

In response, Chinana pouted.

"Chinana-chan is cute enough without any extra baggage!"

As the two of them shot daggers at each other with their eyes, Ranka stepped between them with an exasperated look.

"Stop fighting over something so stupid!"

"Bigger is cuter, right? Ran-nee?"

"Ah, that's cheating! Ran-nee, you also use your big boobs as a selling point!"

"The hell I do!!"

Ignoring the bickering sisters, I stood before the pedestal with the Wishing Stone.

Your feelings will be conveyed... was it? Those two were making wishes like it was a shrine, but I guess that works too?

"In that case..."

—To my future self. Please, I'm begging you, find the answer.

With that thought in mind, I lifted the lotus-shaped stone.

Thanks to my part-time job, my arms didn't tremble like the other two.

But... even so...

............This stone, was it always this light...?

'May—be—'

A rusted memory flashed through my mind.

"I hereby banish Kiminaga from the party!!"

"WHAAAT~~"

Banished from the famous rich four-sisters party, I now enjoy a slow life on my own in the hot spring town.

All things considered, Ranka is the most sensible one. Thank goodness she banished me. Thanks to that, I was able to take my time browsing for souvenirs to bring back to my family, and for the first time in a while, I had some time to myself. Humans really do need time free from troublesome social interactions.

Besides, there was something I wanted to think about.

The memory that had flashed through my mind when I lifted the Wishing Stone... Could it be that I had lifted that same stone seven years ago?

If so, what kind of wish had I made back then...?

Lost in thought, I walked back to the center of Shuzenji.

Passing in front of Akogare Bridge, I walked along the river until I saw a triangular-roofed gazebo. It seemed to be a footbath. I'd been walking a lot, so I thought it might be nice to take a break. As I approached the gazebo, I saw a familiar figure sitting on the bench, feet soaking in the water.

It was Chinana.

She was by herself, looking down at her phone. She wasn't swiping up, the characteristic motion of someone scrolling through a social media timeline or short video app. She was just staring silently at the screen, her eyelashes slightly lowered.

Her expression was somewhat dark. A cooled expression that looked sad, yet resigned...

"Chinana."

When I called out to her, she looked up with a start and noticed me.

Instantly, a light like the sun shone on her face.

"Senpai! I thought you were banished?"

"And you? Did the party fall apart and disband now that I'm gone?"

"If that's the case, then does that make me the heroine for finding you again?"

Chinana said, tilting her head mischievously.

There wasn't a trace of the gloomy atmosphere from a moment ago.

I walked over to Chinana, took off my shoes and socks, and sat down beside her. A gentle warmth seeped into me from my feet soaking in the hot water.

Perhaps surprised that I would come and sit next to her on my own, Chinana spoke with a hint of shock.

"I-is this okay? Sitting next to you... It'll count as cheating, you know?"

"I'm not so heartless that I'd ignore someone looking that down over something so trivial."

That's right. If being that cold is what's 'correct', then I really don't need a girlfriend.

Chinana's breath caught in her throat and her eyes widened slightly. She let out an embarrassed little laugh, "Ehehe," as if to cover it up.

"So you saw me after all..."

"Was something bothering you?"

"It's nothing, really. I just failed another audition I took."

Chinana smiled as she said it lightly. It was a well-practiced smile.

"It's really no big deal. I'm taking auditions constantly, it's a numbers game. Failing is more common than not. It's like the lottery, you know?"

"I see..." was all I could say.

Chinana had gained a lot of attention for her performance in her debut work, but she hadn't landed any major roles since. I knew she was worried about it, and I knew she was working hard to break through her current situation.

That's why I couldn't take her dark expression as lightly as her words suggested.

...It feels like déjà vu... I feel like I've seen that dark face somewhere before.

Something inside me was telling me I couldn't ignore it.

"...Chinana, why did you want to become a voice actress?"

"Huh?"

Unable to think of any great words of comfort, all that came out was that sudden question.

As Chinana tilted her head in confusion, I continued.

"I just realized I'd never asked. There's not much I can do for your voice acting career besides cheer for you from the sidelines, but if I know your motivation, I might be able to say something a little more meaningful."

"You'll cheer for me?"

"Of course I will."

"Like you did for Meru-nee's tournament?"

"Don't say it like that..."

But she was right. I had learned what it meant to cheer for someone else from Meru...

"I'm just kidding," Chinana said with a small laugh, splashing her feet in the footbath.

"Well... to tell you the truth, I originally started out as a child actor."

"Really?"

"There are actually a lot of voice actors who started out as child actors. But, well, I didn't make it big as one at all. And then a lot of other things happened... I completely quit acting for a while, but..."

Chinana spoke of her past as she looked down at the ripples in the footbath.

"But I always loved acting... Still, for various reasons, I couldn't go back to being a child actor, or an actor in general... That's when someone suggested to me, 'Why don't you try being a voice actress?'"

"...And that someone was?"

"Umm... Senpai, do you know about our background?"

"Yeah. I heard the gist from Ranka, and the Chairwoman explained it to me in detail."

"Well, in that case... it was my foster parents, the ones who took care of us before we came to the Kichijouji family. They were a really kind old man and woman..."

"...I see."

I had wondered for a moment if it might have been my past self, but it seems I was just being conceited.

"So, there's no really special reason. Sorry it's so ordinary."

"No, it's fine. There's no hierarchy when it comes to reasons for having a dream."

"It's a relief to hear you say that. Sometimes I feel embarrassed by how weak my own story is."

"It's plenty strong. Your current environment itself is."

"That's true, it really is, but..."

Looking down at her own feet, distorted by the refraction of the water, Chinana said in a small voice, like a single drop of water falling, "It's really tough, isn't it? Being surrounded by so many amazing people..."

"............Yeah, it is."

When I got first place in the school on a test, I felt like I'd become someone special.

But Kikuri, Ranka, Meru, the Chairwoman, and even my little sister Shinomi.

Every last one of them is amazing, and sometimes I feel small, having only worked a little harder at studying, something anyone can do.

No matter how much I study, I don't have a vision for what comes next.

I, who can't even have a dream, am destined to be buried among those who live in one.

"Even so, you have to keep going—with everything you've got," I murmured.

Chinana smiled, looking happy, and leaned her shoulder just a little closer to mine.

The rustling sound of leaves enveloped me from all sides.

It was a bamboo grove that looked like it was straight out of a TV drama. Densely packed, artificial-looking green bamboo stalks towered over a small path paved with stone slabs running through the middle. It was a corner of Shuzenji aptly named Chikurin no Komichi—the Bamboo Grove Path. We had passed through here during the Love Bridge Tour, but my mind had been a blank slate back then. I thought it might be nice to walk it alone.

As I walked between the bamboo, the path opened into a circular clearing. In the center was a round, stage-like platform made of bamboo. I sat on it and leaned back, lying down.

I could see the sky, framed in a circle by the bamboo branches and leaves.

...It feels like time has stopped.

When was the last time I'd spent time doing absolutely nothing like this? Ever since the Kiminaga family company went bankrupt, I had packed my schedule with part-time jobs whenever I had a free moment, always with a textbook or reference book open. Since I started the housekeeping job, it's been dealing with those sisters. I once took Ranka on a "digital detox," but maybe I was the one who needed a detox all along.

The feeling of melting into the vastness of nature...

"...What are you doing?"

Along with the voice, Ranka's face inserted itself in front of the sky.

It seems like whenever I lie down, someone always comes to peer down at me...

The moment I thought that, Ranka's face looked, for a split second, much younger.

"A Kichijouji detox."

"Huh?"

"I'm purging the stress you all give me with the grandeur of nature."

Ranka made a dissatisfied face and sat down on her bottom next to my head.

"Looked to me like you were grinning like an idiot with your nose in the air."

"Your vision must be pretty filtered."

"...Well, I can see that it's tough for you. Those two are so pushy..."

Ranka was probably talking about her two younger sisters, but the real mastermind is the eldest.

Still lying down, I looked up at Ranka's profile.

"This place is nice. It feels like time is flowing more slowly."

"Yeah, and it's Insta-worthy."

"It's been a while since you've been here too, right? Why not forget about social media for a bit?"

"Well, yeah. But it's an influencer's job to spread their perspective."

"—You admit it?"

In that moment, a silence fell, as if time really had stopped.

"...Eh?"

As Ranka looked at me, I sat up.

"You admit it—that it's been a long time since you've been here."

"...Eh... um..."

"Did you really think I hadn't noticed? —You remember, don't you? About seven years ago."

Ranka's behavior had been suspicious for a while. Not just since this trip started, but there were signs before, if I thought about it.

For example, during the digital detox, I think she was just way too easy to persuade. For someone who claims to hate men, for her to be won over so easily... it could only be because she remembers the past. I don't know if she remembered from the start, or if she remembered at some point along the way...

I grabbed the shoulders of the flustered Ranka, trapping her.

"If you remember, then tell me, Ranka—did I choose you?"

Are you—Sakurato?

Ranka steadfastly avoided my gaze, her lips pressed into a tight line as if holding something back.

Then, she squeezed her eyes shut tight.

"—I don't know! What are you talking about!?" she screamed, shoving me away and fleeing further into the bamboo grove.

I lay down again on the round bamboo stage and thought.

On the first night, Sakurato had called me right after I spoke with Ranka.

If there was something in our conversation that made her anxious...

Do you know the name of that weird space by the window in a ryokan?

It's called a hiroen. It's written as 'wide veranda'. It's probably called that because it's wide enough to put a table and chairs. Probably.

The detached suite we were staying in also had one, and I had spread my reference books out on the table there.

So calming... The time spent simply plugging memorized formulas into equations was calming me down more than I could have ever imagined. I was ashamed to admit I'd never known this feeling before.

The women were probably at the grand public bath right now. Even Kikuri and Meru wouldn't try to join me in the public bath. So I decided to get my daily routine out of the way now.

The scratch-scratch sound of my mechanical pencil on the notebook. When I looked up, a silent garden. The quiet, peaceful passage of time was unknotting my tense heart.

But as expected, whenever I had a free moment, my mind would drift to those recurring memories.

One of the four sisters is always in my memories from seven years ago. That serves as proof to me that I was close with them back then. But... to be told that I held special feelings for just one of them, and chose only that one, still doesn't feel right.

On what basis did I make that decision?

Growing up watching that father of mine, how could I have allowed myself to do that?

The answer has not yet returned to me...

—Trrrrring!

"Hm?"

A simple ringtone came from my smartphone, which was sitting on the edge of the desk.

I picked it up. It was from my little sister.

"Hello? Shinomi?"

'Hey! Shikimi-kun, you having fun on your trip?'

A familiar, cheerful voice made my lips curve into a smile.

"More or less. I'm getting hit with a bit of culture shock, though..."

'Culture shock?'

"Want to see it? The world of the truly rich..."

I switched to a video call and showed her the Japanese garden spreading out beyond the window.

'Eh!? That's the inn's garden!?'

"That's not all."

I gave Shinomi a room tour of the detached suite. Shinomi was completely freaked out by its size and luxury, and when she saw the open-air bath, she reacted with a sketchy Chinese-like "Aiyaaa!"

'No way! I heard you were doing housekeeping at a rich family's house, but they're seriously loaded!'

"It's almost unsettling. I'm more suited to sharing a room with you."

'That's a sweet thing to say. I'll give you a little something special when you get back.'

"Something special?"

'I'll treat you to half a Pockin' Ice.'

"The kind you break in half with your knee? You're still eating those...?"

I thought only elementary school kids ate that kind of ice pop.

Shinomi, swaying back and forth on the video call, said, 'This makes me kind of happy. Being able to talk to you when you're so far away.'

"You're being unusually sentimental."

'Well, duh. The flip phone you used to have was so beat up that forget video calls, you couldn't even email properly, remember?'

"That's not true. I could send and receive them just fine."

'No way, the lag was insane!' Shinomi shook her head vigorously. 'Remember that one time? I emailed you a shopping list asking you to pick stuff up on your way home from school, and your phone only started ringing after you got home. It took forever to receive anything because it was so busted. You can't even call that email!'

Come to think of it, she was right... There were times it was so bad I had to manually sync it just to get messages. There was probably a lag of about 10 minutes from sending to receiving—

"...Hm...?"

Wait a minute. If that's the case—

"...Sorry, Shinomi. Can I call you back? I just remembered something."

'Huh? What's up all of a sudden? What happened?'

I stood up from my chair as I spoke.

"I think I might have... found the answer."

◆

I was soaking leisurely in the open-air bath, enjoying not the view of the bamboo grove at night spread before my eyes, but the sight of my cute little sisters.

"Meru, have you gotten bigger again? The contrast between your waist and the line of your underboob is a work of art. You mustn't neglect your strength training to maintain your figure."

"Mm... got it."

"Kiku-nee... critiquing your sister's naked body and then giving her orders is a little creepy, I think..."

As Chinana gave me a slightly recoiled look, I rested my elbow heavily on the edge of the tub.

"What are you talking about? When women bathe together, they compliment each other's breasts. That's common knowledge."

"Like hell that's common knowledge!" Ranka retorted as she entered the bath.

That's strange. That's usually how it goes in anime and manga.

"Chinana, for how slender you are, you're surprisingly well-endowed too."

"Meru-nee? You don't have to take what Kiku-nee says seriously, you know?"

"Let me see."

"Kya!? W-wait a sec...!"

"Hmm... You're at least a B..."

Meru and Chinana started playfully splashing each other. They may spark when Kimiko-kun is between them, but without him, they're still the same close sisters they always were.

...This is ideal.

What I want, as I've told Kimiko-kun, is for the five of us—him and the four of us—to get along happily. If that can be achieved, I don't care who among us ends up with him—well, that might be a bit of an exaggeration—but I truly wouldn't mind.

The collapse of seven years ago must not be repeated.

For that to happen, the best way is for everyone who has fallen for Kimiko-kun to compete for him on equal footing, creating an equilibrium.

'A wall of peace will fall if not supported from both sides.'—I think I saw a line like that in some game. It's exactly true. To support the wall of peace that now stands between us, we all need to put in the effort...

That's why—there can be no one who seals their own feelings away and holds back.

"You're awfully quiet, Ranka."

I called out to Ranka, who was sighing contentedly at the edge of the tub.

I had noticed that Ranka had been keeping a bit of a distance lately. Kimiko-kun and Meru probably noticed too.

If I think back to when it started, I can more or less guess the reason.

It was from that time—when Meru reported that she had become Kimiko-kun's provisional girlfriend, and Chinana confessed to him.

"You don't have to act like the big sister. It's okay to let loose a little more."

Ranka shot me a sideways glance.

"That's because a certain eldest sister is unreliable."

"When the time comes, even I can be a big sister."

"I doubt it."

The armor Ranka wore was difficult to break. I'd have to push a little further.

"What do you think, Ranka?"

"About what?"

"About Kiminaga-kun."

I could see Ranka's expression harden ever so slightly.

"Your sisters are completely smitten with him. I thought you might not be entirely indifferent yourself."

"...What about you then, Kiku-nee?"

"Me? Of course, I love him."

My sister looked at me with suspicion, and I gave a wry smile.

"Don't look at me with such doubt. I'm being serious, for once."

"...Then you should be more upset about it. With other girls clinging all over him like that."

"Kiminaga-kun said the same thing to me. But I really believe that the best thing would be if all of us could get along with him."

"Are you trying to build a harem?"

"It's polyamory. At least, I accept that way of thinking."

It seemed to be an unfamiliar term for her; Ranka looked confused, but I won't bore her with a pedantic explanation. We live in an age where diversity is respected. She probably got the gist of it.

"Other people's feelings and your own are two different things."

I scooped up the hot spring water with my hands and said, "No matter what's going on around you, I think you should be honest with your own feelings. What you do about the situation specifically is a conversation for after that."

"...Why..."

A dark voice mingled with the sound of the water.

"Why, Kiku-nee... can you say things like that... so calmly?"

"I told you just now, I—"

"You remember, don't you!? Who it was that broke us seven years ago!"

Ranka's cry echoed through the grand bath, and Meru and Chinana, who had been playing, turned around in surprise.

Even I stiffened up, looking up from the water at Ranka, who had stood up in the tub.

Who it was that broke us—

"Ranka... you..."

Her face contorted as if she was about to cry. She quickly turned away, got out of the bath, and hurriedly left the bathing area.

I see... So she...

She's been regretting that all this time.

◆

I moved from our detached suite to the main building and peeked into the salon. Kikuri was sitting leisurely in a rounded, white lounge chair, gazing at the pond that spread out before the window.

She seemed to be in an unusually pensive mood, but maybe she was just zoning out after her bath.

"Kikuri."

As I approached and called out to her, she turned to look at me with a slow movement and smiled.

"Well hello, Kimiko-kun. Did you come to see me in all my post-bath, sexy glory?"

"How can you be so positive about everything? I was looking for you because there's something I wanted to ask. I was waiting, but you didn't come back to the room."

I sat down in the lounge chair next to Kikuri's, leaned forward, and rested my elbows on my knees.

"You sent me an email before I switched to a smartphone, right?"

"Hm? Uhh... was it the one reporting that you got my contact info?"

"Yes, that one. Can you show it to me?"

Kikuri tilted her head.

"Weren't all your emails transferred to your smartphone?"

"They were, but what's important is comparing them."

"Hmm... I don't really get it, but sure."

Kikuri picked up her smartphone from the glass table in front of her, fiddled with it for a moment, and held it out.

"This is it, right?"

"Thanks."

I took it and looked at the screen.

The content was nothing special.

'Got your contact info! Looking forward to talking with you!'

That was it. The body of the message wasn't what was important.

Sent date and time—March 8th, 7:06 AM.

"I knew it..."

"Knew what?"

"Look at the same email that my phone received."

I showed Kikuri the email I had transferred from my flip phone, which was now displayed on my own smartphone.

The received date and time on it was this:

March 8th, 7:16 AM.

"...It's off by 10 minutes?"

Kikuri frowned, comparing the two identical emails.

"That's right. My phone back then was a piece of junk, and it took about 10 minutes to receive an email."

"That can happen...? I never used a flip phone until it got to that point, so I didn't know."

"In the worst cases, I had to manually sync it just to receive anything."

"And so?"

Kikuri looked at me, handing back my smartphone.

"What does this 10-minute gap mean?"

"It means that the photo email that was sent to me must have also been sent 10 minutes before the time I received it. ...With that in mind, let me ask you, Kikuri. This email was sent right after my contact info was shared, right?"

"That's right, I think it was right away. We got your contact info at, I believe, exactly 7:00 AM."

"Now, with that in mind, look at that email again."

I showed Kikuri the email with the photo attached.

Kikuri looked at the screen, her eyebrows raising slightly.

"This is..."

'You'll choose me again this time, won't you?'

The email, which bore that message, was timestamped as follows:

Received Date—March 8th, 7:03 AM.

"The actual time it was sent would be 10 minutes before this—meaning, 6:53 AM."

"Wait a minute. In that case—"

Kikuri hit upon the core of the issue.

"—Doesn't that mean this email was sent before your contact information was shared with us?"