Chapter 2: Under a False Starry Sky

The activities of our Astronomy Club aren't limited to just celestial observation.

Of course, observation is our most important activity, but getting permission to use the rooftop late into the night isn't easy. On top of that, even when we do get permission, sessions are often cancelled due to the weather, just like last time.

So, about once a month, we have a day where we visit a planetarium. We can look at the starry sky without being affected by the weather, and it serves as a bit of a dress rehearsal for our next real observation. The shows change every month, so it’s always a fresh experience no matter how many times we go.

After a dozen or so minutes on a swaying train, the Astronomy Club members arrived at our destination.

It wasn't just groups of students like us; there were also several couples who looked like working adults, likely there to soak in a romantic atmosphere easily accessible in the city.

"I’m glad Yuria could join the club today."

While waiting for Inou-sensei to return from buying the tickets, Miharu spoke to the girl beside her: Kunitomo Yuria.

A girl with a healthy, sun-kissed tan and a short haircut, Yuria flashed a bright smile.

"Seriously, sorry about last time. I’d given it my all at track and was totally wiped. But hey, that observation session ended up being a total downpour, right? I guess I was lucky to skip out!"

The two had been childhood friends since before elementary school, and they were close enough that they both still belonged to the track and field club. Thanks to Miharu scouting Yuria to dual-club with us, we’d cleared the requirement of having three members and avoided being disbanded.

"More importantly... aren't you two going to get the premium seats?"

Yuria pointed with a grin at an advertisement on a digital sign on the wall.

"Ah, well..." As Miharu hesitated embarrassedly, I answered for her.

"There’s no way we’re sitting in those embarrassing seats. We’d be more of an attraction than the stars."

The "premium seats" were the seats at the very front of the planetarium. Unlike the standard single-person seats, these were sofa-style seats that could accommodate two or more people. In short, they were seats specifically for couples, with a price tag that was also a bit "premium."

There was nothing to block the view of the people in the premium seats; in fact, they were positioned lower than the general seating, so it was like being on display for everyone else.

"But you can legally get close to each other in the dark, you know? You’re both a little interested, aren't you?"

As Miharu’s childhood friend, Yuria naturally knew about our relationship. So she took every opportunity to poke fun at us like this, which was a pain.

"I... I’m not really into those, either. It’s a bit much to be in full view of everyone."

I was relieved to find that Miharu shared my sensibilities.

"Haa, you’re both so shy."

Easy for you to say.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, everyone. I’ve got them."

Just then, Inou-sensei returned, fluttering the tickets in one hand.

"It looks like the seats were already mostly filled by reservations, so we won't be able to sit together in a single block."

"Where's your seat, Miharu? I’m D-3."

"I’m D-2."

The two girls showed each other the tickets the teacher had handed them at random. They were sitting next to each other.

"What about you, Shibukawa?" Yuria turned toward me with an expectant look in her eyes.

"B-1."

The moment I answered, Yuria slapped her forehead. "Oof."

"Getting separated from Miharu... you’ve got no luck, Shibukawa. Here, take this."

My ticket was snatched away, and Yuria’s ticket was shoved into my hand instead.

"You want to sit next to her, right?"

"You didn't have to go to the trouble—"

"It’s fine, it’s fine! In exchange, don't go doing anything weird to Miharu just because it’s dark. Well, I’ll allow you to go as far as holding hands."

"You're the only one thinking about 'weird things'!"

"Anyway, I’ll leave you two young ones to it."

This girl... she’s just ignoring me.

"Alright, everyone, let’s go—"

Inou-sensei led the way to the entrance of the planetarium like a teacher leading a field trip. Well, I guess she was literally a teacher leading a field trip.

The inside of the planetarium was dimly lit, with relaxing music playing to make you forget the hustle and bustle of the city and your daily fatigue. It was a space cut off from everyday life. We walked inside, found our seats, and sat down.

People often think planetariums are just about looking up at images of the stars, but they’ve evolved quite a bit lately. They use sound systems to play healing music, or show special collaborations with popular anime—it’s become more like a unique type of movie theater.

Since there was still some time before the show started, the room was filled with the sound of hushed whispering.

"See you later, then."

Yuria and Inou-sensei, whose seats were further away, split off, and Miharu and I sat down next to each other.

The front row was filled with those "premium seats." Young men and women sitting on sofa-like clouds were flirting shamelessly in full view of everyone. Surprisingly, the section was full. Every single seat was taken by a couple. It seemed there were far more people who didn't care about being watched than we’d thought.

"Don't those people feel embarrassed, being watched by everyone?" Miharu muttered awkwardly, looking down at the couples on the clouds.

"Geez, and they’re supposed to be adults."

It wasn't that I wanted to peek, but the white of the premium seats stood out significantly in the dim theater, and since they were in the front row, they were forced into my line of sight whether I liked it or not.

The couples seemed to have eyes only for each other, staring intently at one another. Then, without a word, as if by some unspoken signal, their faces began to drift closer...

"U-whoa."

Beside me, Miharu was at a loss for words.

I felt the same way. I’d never seen a real kiss before. It was common enough in movies and dramas, but seeing it in reality, the sight of lips pressing against lips felt incredibly... raw.

"......"

The conversation with Miharu died out completely, leaving an awkward atmosphere in its wake.

Just as the seat cushion was starting to feel incredibly uncomfortable, the buzzer announcing the start of the show rang out through the theater—our savior.

I never thought the day would come where I’d feel so grateful for the standard "Thank you for visiting us today" announcement.

Miharu and I both let out sighs of relief and looked up.

The starry sky was projected onto the dome, accompanied by a narrator's voice. The theme for today, the autumn constellations, spread across our field of vision.

The Great Square of Pegasus and Andromeda were introduced, along with the myths that inspired the constellations. As far as planetarium shows go, it was quite impressive.

Listening to the explanation of the celestial bodies while looking up at the stars, I was reminded of when I first met that girl.

On that day, at a campsite at night, I’d looked up at the summer sky with that girl, watching as the full moon was slowly eclipsed. Her confident way of speaking still lingered in my ears.

Though, back then, what I’d really been staring at wasn't the eclipse, but her profile.

"If you find a new comet, you can give it your name. Isn't that amazing? Your name will keep flying through this universe forever and ever. For hundreds of years, thousands of years... maybe even longer."

Even though we were about the same age, the way she spoke so fluently about space and stars made her seem incredibly mature. I couldn't look her directly in the eye, so I only stole glances. That’s why the memory of that girl in my mind was always blurred, as if I were looking through a telescope that was out of focus.

I had been so nervous that I didn't remember much of what we’d talked about.

But the one thing I remembered clearly was when we were about to head back to our respective tents.

"Someday... you have to find me, too."

A request for a reunion, followed by her lips lightly brushing my left cheek.

She’d kissed me on the cheek.

I only truly processed the fact after her back had disappeared from view. My left cheek felt so hot, it was like it was burning. At the same time, I realized she’d been in control from beginning to end, and I felt frustrated. I’d been so uncool.

That’s why, afterward...

"Say, don't you want to hold hands?"

A seductive breath and a voice brushed against my left cheek—the same cheek where the sensation of that girl’s kiss was etched.

My consciousness was snapped back to reality, and I hurriedly turned to my left.

The face I saw was shaped similarly to Miharu’s, yet it was completely different. And it was far closer than I’d imagined.

"S-Sayuki-san?!"

"Hehe. Did I surprise you?" Sayuki-san whispered in a voice small enough to be drowned out by the narration, her eyes twinkling with mischief.

Even in the darkness of the theater, the reason I hadn't noticed Sayuki-san sitting there was because she was in her private clothes. She was wearing a thin white blouse paired with long denim pants—a city style that a career woman might wear on her day off. I’d always thought she was mature, but seeing her dressed like this made me feel even more intimidated by her "older sister" vibe.

"W-what are you doing here?"

Still keeping my voice low, I stole a glance at Miharu on my right. Miharu was staring intently up at the show, her eyes sparkling, and she didn't seem to have noticed Sayuki-san.

"Just as promised, I came to support the shy Ryuuichi-kun. I told you I’d give you some advice, didn't I?"

"The seat next to me... that’s quite a coincidence."

"It's not a coincidence. I knew which seat you’d be in, so I reserved the one next to it in advance."

"Is that... from your memories of the first loop, too?"

"Exactly. You're catching on, Ryuuichi-kun."

Sayuki-san on my left was the future self of Miharu on my right.

Previously, when she’d told me that story, I’d still been half-skeptical. But now, she’d made something happen that was hard to attribute to mere coincidence. This person really was...

"So, aren't you going to hold hands with Miharu?"

Sayuki-san’s face drew closer in the silence, and I hurriedly pulled back to put some distance between us.

"I... I don't have to do it right now."

"You should do it now, precisely because the situation is so perfect."

"But Miharu just looked really embarrassed when she saw that couple flirting. Wouldn't she hate it if I did that to her?"

"It’s true that I was embarrassed, but part of me wants to be a little bold, too."

Part of me...

Hearing Sayuki-san—who was right in front of me—describe the feelings of the Miharu on my right from a first-person perspective felt incredibly strange.

"B-but..."

"Geez, you’re so slow. Look, this is how you do it."

At that moment, a soft sensation overlapped my left hand. A small, pillowy feeling that seemed to cling to the skin on the back of my hand. It was moist and cool, and it felt... good. It took me a moment to realize that it was Sayuki-san’s right hand.

"S-Sayuki-san, w-wait, stop..."

A voice that didn't even sound like my own leaked from my mouth, pitched far higher than usual. Sayuki-san closed one eye and placed her left index finger against her own lips.

"Shhh."

When I hurriedly clamped my mouth shut, Sayuki-san smiled as if to say, Good boy, and brought her lips close to my ear.

"Keep looking forward. If you keep staring this way, Miharu will catch on."

Manipulated by that whisper laced with sweet breath, I turned back to face forward with a hazy head.

"Ryuuichi-kun’s hand is big, as always. It’s a bit firm... it feels like a boy's hand. Holding hands like this brings back memories."

"Even if you say that, I have no memory of it."

"I see. So this is the first time for you, Ryuuichi-kun? Hehe. You’ve had your 'first experience' with me before Miharu."

"P-please don't put it in such a weird way."

"Don't worry. I’ll teach you everything."

My protest was silenced by her sweet, melting whisper.

Sayuki-san’s hand moved like a separate living creature, turning my hand over and pressing our palms together. The sensation of our skin sticking together was electric. My heart began to pound even harder.

"At first, you just lightly overlap your hands. Then, casually press your palms together like this, and after a while, you put your fingers between hers..."

Sayuki-san’s five slender fingers slipped between mine, intertwining like a predatory tarantula. My left hand, gripped firmly, felt numb, as if venom had just been injected into it.

"You try squeezing back, Ryuuichi-kun."

"B-but—"

"What, can you not even hold a hand unless it’s that first love of yours?"

I shouldn't have let her get to me, but I found myself squeezing back in a momentary flash of heat.

"Nng. That’s a bit strong."

"S-sorry." I hurriedly relaxed my grip.

"Hehe, it’s okay. It didn't hurt. But if you did that to the current Miharu, she’d probably be startled. Don't overthink it. Just be gentle. Here, let's try it one more time."

One... one more time?

Sayuki-san’s hand, which I thought had pulled away, covered mine again. In the dim light where we could hardly see each other, we remained in contact for a long time. It reached a point where I couldn't tell where my hand ended and hers began—as if we were melting together.

Then, Miharu whispered to me from my right.

"Ryuuichi-kun, what’s wrong? You're sweating a lot."

The face turned toward me was clouded with worry.

"Ah, no, it’s fine."

"You don't look 'fine' at all. Does your stomach hurt? Or is it a headache?"

Crap, I wasn't going to be able to fake my way out of this.

"...T-truth is, I’m feeling a little sick."

"I knew it! Let's get out of here right now!"

As Miharu started to stand up, I reflexively grabbed her hand with my right.

"I-it’s okay! There isn't much left until the show ends. I can hold out until then."

"...Are you sure?"

When Miharu sat back down, I let go of the hand I’d been gripping so forcefully.

"But you shouldn't push yourself..." Miharu’s worried expression didn't clear.

"If we leave now, it’ll be a nuisance to the other guests."

"...Okay, I understand. But really, don't overdo it."

That was close. If Miharu had stood up, she would have seen me holding hands with Sayuki-san on my left in plain view.

My heart ached at the thought of lying to Miharu when she was so genuinely worried about me...

Even while I was interacting with Miharu, Sayuki-san didn't stop her hand’s movements. If anything, she tightened her grip on my fingers as if urging me to hold Miharu’s hand.

No, that’s impossible. It would be incredibly unnatural if I tried to hold her hand right after saying I felt sick.

As I screamed that in my head, a hand was softly placed over my right hand.

"It’s okay. I’m right here with you."

It was Miharu’s hand.

Placed over the back of my hand to reassure me, it felt like a blanket gently draped over a sleeping child.

"Miharu, sorry."

"No, don't worry about it." Miharu showed her white teeth in a bashful smile. "...Ehehe. This is the first time we’ve held hands."

Until the end of the show, Miharu kept her hand over my right, occasionally stroking it as if she were putting a child to sleep. She whispered sweet things like, "Are you okay? Don't hold back," and "Tell me if it gets too bad."

I felt incredibly guilty toward Miharu, but my head was far more occupied with Sayuki-san’s hand moistly intertwined with my left than with Miharu’s hand gently resting on my right.

Sayuki-san didn't let go of my hand until the very end. If anything, she became more clingy, as if she were trying to provoke me. Like a candy being rolled around by a tongue, I was toyed with relentlessly.

Because of that, the sensation of my first time holding my girlfriend's hand was completely melted away from my memory.

"Thank goodness. You look like you've got some color back," Miharu said.

We had just left the planetarium. Stepping back into the brightness of the lobby, Miharu peered into my face with a look of pure relief, her hand over her heart.

"Yeah. I’m feeling a bit better now. Sorry for worrying you," I replied, offering her a quick apology before scanning our surroundings.

Patrons who had been in the show with us were milling about, heading toward the exits, but Sayuki-san was nowhere to be seen. By the time the lights had come up at the end of the program, she had already vanished from the seat to my left. If she’d slipped away to avoid a direct confrontation with Miharu, she certainly wouldn't be hanging around the immediate area.

"Hm? Did something happen to Shibukawa?" Kunitomo asked, joining us and tilting her head in confusion.

"Yeah, Ryuuichi-kun started feeling sick during the show," Miharu explained.

"Seriously? You okay, man?" Kunitomo’s eyes searched mine, her usual teasing edge replaced by genuine concern.

"I’m fine now. Don’t sweat it."

Kunitomo usually lived to give me a hard time, but she was surprisingly considerate when it actually mattered. The fact that I’d made them worry sent a sharp pang of guilt through my chest.

"Man, that was a great nap. I feel like the week's fatigue has just washed away," Inou-sensei said, stretching her arms toward the ceiling with a satisfied groan.

Sensei, don't you think you could stand to worry about your students just a little bit more?

"Ryuuichi-kun, you shouldn't let your guard down. You need to stay hydrated," Miharu said, thrusting a bottle of sports drink toward me. She froze an instant later, her face turning a vivid shade of crimson as she jerked the bottle back. "Ah! S-sorry! I forgot I already drank from this. I’ll go buy you a fresh one!"

"It’s fine. I can get it myself. You guys just wait here," I said, catching her before she could dash off.

I set off in search of a vending machine. I wasn't lying when I said I felt better, but the cold sweat I’d been drenched in during the show had left me feeling like a parched desert. My throat was sandpaper.

I’d walked for a minute or two when I finally spotted a machine. Before I could reach it, a hand tapped me lightly on the shoulder.

"Good work, Ryuuichi-kun. You really held it together today."

In the bright light of the lobby, Sayuki-san’s mature ensemble was even more striking. It was only now that I realized the sleeves of her white blouse were actually see-through—a delicate, sheer material that offered a faint glimpse of her slender arms. I knew it was just fashion, but seeing it made me feel like I was trespassing on something private. I felt my pulse quicken.

"Oh? Are you angry with me, perhaps?" she asked.

I’d only looked away because I was flustered, but she had clearly misinterpreted the gesture. Not that she was entirely wrong to think I might be annoyed.

"Why would you do something like that?" I demanded.

"Holding your hand the whole time? Ahaha, I’m sorry. Your reactions are so fresh and nostalgic that I just couldn't help myself. Besides, you ended up holding Miharu’s hand too, so it worked out in the end, didn't it?"

"I mean... I guess."

"Honestly, Ryuuichi-kun, if you get this stiff just from holding hands, we’re going to have a problem. How are you going to handle the... more intense things we’ll be doing later? Ah, but I suppose that’s still a matter for the future," she said, playfully pressing a hand to her lips as if she’d let a secret slip.

Intense things. My mind immediately began to fill in the blanks of what lay beyond a simple hand-hold.

No, get a grip! She’s just messing with you.

"Sayuki-san, now that you’ve come back to the past, don't you have anything better to do? In movies or manga, people usually have some grand purpose. Saving a loved one's life, or saving the world... that kind of thing."

When I asked, Sayuki-san’s playful expression vanished, replaced by a gravity that seemed far too heavy for a high school girl.

"Well... this is just my hypothesis, but I believe time possesses a certain 'restorative force.'"

"A restorative force?"

"Yes. Even when I try to change the past, a counter-force acts to pull things back toward their original state. Even if I can't return things to exactly how they were, they get restored to something close to it. In the end, the great flow of history can't be diverted. All I can really do is tinker with the casting of the characters."

If she really was Miharu from a second loop, she must have tried to avoid various tragedies after returning to the past. But based on what she was saying, it sounded like those efforts hadn't been entirely successful.

"I suppose it just means that no matter how much a person who shouldn't exist—like Asada Sayuki—interferes, the past isn't going to change all that much."

"Wait... what do you mean, 'shouldn't exist'?"

"In the first loop—when I was living as 'Miharu'—there was no such person as Asada Sayuki. Originally, Asada Miharu was an only child."

My brain ground to a halt.

"What? H-hold on. But you’re right here. You exist as Miharu’s older sister, don't you?"

"Even if you tell me that, the facts are the facts. Asada Miharu had no older sister. That is the history I know."

"Is that... a time paradox?"

"Exactly. I am a walking contradiction. Pretty cool, right?" Sayuki-san looked strangely proud of herself.

"But if a twin sister who never existed suddenly appeared, wouldn't that change Miharu’s life significantly?"

"You'd think so, but it hasn't changed much at all. I tell her to study, and she doesn't listen. I tell her to use a parasol so she doesn't get sunspots, and she ignores me. In the end, Miharu is still running along the exact same rails I did in my past... Sigh."

She let out a heavy breath, her shoulders sagging.

Knowing the future probably made her want to meddle in everything, especially when the subject was her own past self. I could relate; if I went back in time, I’d have plenty of advice for my younger self. Hey, kid, tell Santa to get you some N-Vidia stock.

But from Miharu’s perspective, she had no idea this was advice from her future self. She probably just saw it as a nagging older sister and tuned it out. It was hard to blame her.

"Anyway, let’s set that aside. We need to plan our next move to get you and Miharu closer together." Sayuki-san clapped her slender, pale hands together, signaling a change in topic. "First things first, Ryuuichi-kun: your sense in gifts for a girlfriend is catastrophically bad."

"Wow, okay. Thanks for the sudden drive-by insult."

"You’re planning on giving Miharu a giant teddy bear for her birthday, aren't you?"

I recoiled, nearly tripping over my own feet. "H-how did you... I was going to give that to her during the observation camp next month."

"Because I’m the one who received it in the first loop. During the Geminids observation camp next month."

Being confronted with the contents of a gift I hadn't even given yet was incredibly awkward. Being told it was tacky to my face was even worse.

"But when I went to the department store with Miharu, she was hugging that giant plushie and saying how cute it was over and over! That’s why it’s currently waiting in the back of my closet!"

"Oh, so you already bought it. Listen to me, Ryuuichi-kun: 'cute' and 'want' are two very different things. Sure, that bear is big and fluffy and warm—I used to hug it so tight I couldn't sleep without it—"

"So she did love it!" I felt a surge of triumph for a gift I hadn't even presented.

"But! As a first gift from a boyfriend, it’s just... wrong! A stuffed animal is childish, she can't carry it around with her, and it just sits at home looking pathetic. I felt sorry for the thing."

"Fine. Then what should I get her?"

"Don't worry, I’ve already thought of a few candidates. For example, how about some of this makeup?"

Sayuki-san pulled out her smartphone and naturally closed the distance between us, leaning in to show me the screen. It was a flowery, chic site featuring cosmetics and fashion recommendations—the kind of place a guy like me would never visit in a million years.

Wait, she’s too close!

The physical proximity made it impossible to concentrate on gift-shopping. The faint, floral scent of lavender from her hair, the soft sensation of our shoulders brushing—my five senses were being bombarded with information I didn't know how to process.

"If not makeup, then maybe small accessories like a wallet or a keycase. ...Oh, that reminds me. What was that keychain you showed me the other day? The one with the star?"

Sayuki-san stopped scrolling when she hit a picture of a cute keycase and turned to me, as if a memory had just surfaced.

"Uh, that... it’s a memento, I guess..."

"...Is it from 'that girl'?"

I’d tried to be vague, but she nailed it instantly.

"Yeah. Something like that."

"Hey... can you show it to me one more time?"

I wasn't sure why she cared so much, but I didn't have a reason to refuse. I pulled up the image on my phone.

"It was a commemorative item from an astronomical event I attended when I was little. If she was at that same campsite, she probably would have received one too. I was thinking that maybe..."

"I see. So that’s what it was." She nodded, seemingly satisfied.

"I guess there are some things even you don't know, Sayuki-san. Even in your second loop."

Knowing she wasn't entirely omniscient gave me a small sense of relief. Sayuki-san puffed out her cheeks in a slight pout.

"Well, in my first loop, Ryuuichi-kun never told me a thing about 'that girl.' I had no idea you two had matching keychains."

"S-sorry."

I apologized instinctively under her accusing gaze, though upon reflection, I wasn't entirely sure what I was apologizing for.

"...But just because she was at the campsite doesn't necessarily mean she has one, does it?"

Wait, what did that mean?

Before I could ask for clarification, a sharp, energetic voice pierced the air.

"A-ha! There you are!"

I turned toward the source of the noise.

"What are you doing? Everyone’s waiting! Miharu’s been running around like a headless chicken, thinking you collapsed somewhere!"

It was Kunitomo. She stomped toward us, cheeks puffed out in annoyance, but she skidded to a halt the moment she noticed Sayuki-san standing next to me.

"Oh... uh, do you two know each other?"

"..."

Sayuki-san looked away for a moment, then seemed to resign herself to the situation as she turned back to Kunitomo.

"It’s been a long time, Yuria-chan."

Kunitomo furrowed her brow, staring at Sayuki-san’s face for several seconds. After a brief loading period, she let out a loud "Ah!"

"S-Sayuki-san! What are you doing here?"

"I just happened to be at the planetarium as well. I saw Ryuuichi-kun and we got caught up in conversation."

"Oh, right. I forgot you liked stars too. Wait... you know Shibukawa?"

"Of course I do. He’s my sister's boyfriend."

"Oh, right. Yeah, that makes sense. Ahaha..."

Come to think of it, Kunitomo was Miharu’s childhood friend. It stood to reason she would know Sayuki-san, the twin sister. In fact, Kunitomo and Sayuki-san were childhood friends themselves.

And yet, there was a palpable wall between them. There was an awkwardness to their interaction, like two people who had lost a mutual friend and were suddenly forced to be alone together.

Kunitomo eventually steeled herself and looked up.

"Um... Sayuki-san? I don't think it’s a good idea for you to be so... friendly with Shibukawa."

"...What?"

Sayuki-san’s eyes widened in rare surprise. Kunitomo pressed on.

"I mean, you’re incredibly attractive, Sayuki-san. If you get that close to a guy, he’s bound to fall for you. Right?"

She shot a look at me, and I immediately looked away.

"I just don't want anything weird to happen. If Miharu ends up losing anything else to you... it would just be too cruel."

"...Losing?"

At that word, Sayuki-san’s brow twitched. A cold aura began to radiate from her, and I felt the temperature of the lobby drop ten degrees in an instant.

"I have never taken a single thing from Miharu, have I? When we played make-believe, I let her be the heroine. When she was running outside, I lent her my sunscreen over and over so she wouldn't burn. I think you of all people would know that, Yuria-chan."

Her tone was gentle, but there was an unmistakable edge to it. This wasn't a flare-up of passion; it was a quiet, freezing anger.

Kunitomo flinched, but she didn't back down.

"I... I’m sorry. I shouldn't have said that. I know it’s not your fault, Sayuki-san. It’s just that you have everything, and Miharu has spent her whole life suffering because of it..."

Suddenly, Kunitomo’s hand shot out and grabbed my ear, yanking it hard.

"Ow, ow, ow!"

"But this guy is the first boyfriend Miharu has ever had. She cares about him so much. I don't want anything to break what they have, so..."

"...I understand."

Sayuki-san retracted her aura and let out a small, tired chuckle.

"You’re saying I’m being too careless in how I approach my sister's boyfriend. I'll reflect on that. I hear you loud and clear, Yuria-chan, and I’ll be more careful from now on. So let’s drop it, shall we?"

"Yes. Thank you."

Kunitomo’s expression softened, and Sayuki-san returned the smile.

"Thank you for always looking out for Miharu."

"Of course. She’s my best friend." Kunitomo puffed out her chest with pride.

"And yet, I’m not included in that 'best friend' category, am I? Despite being your childhood friend too."

Sayuki-san murmured the words with a touch of loneliness, sending Kunitomo into a flustered panic.

"N-no! It’s just... I’ve always looked up to you, Sayuki-san! I meant what I said earlier—you’re amazing. It would be disrespectful to just call you a 'best friend.' You’ve always felt like you were in a different league... someone way up in the clouds."

I was sure Kunitomo didn't mean any harm by it. Sayuki-san had clearly been mature beyond her years since they were kids, and Kunitomo probably thought she was paying her a compliment.

"...Maybe what you said earlier was right, Yuria-chan. There was something I’ve wanted to take from Miharu for a long time."

"What was it?"

"...You. I’ve always been so jealous of Miharu for having a best friend like you."

Kunitomo blinked in confusion. "M-me? Ahaha! I’m not that special! I’m definitely not worth someone like you being jealous over!"

Even as she said it, she turned beet-red with a grin. Sayuki-san watched her with an expression I couldn't quite place—like someone looking at a piece of childhood clothing they were about to throw away. When she noticed me watching, she quickly smoothed her expression into a polite smile.

"Ryuuichi-kun, I’m sorry about today. For everything."

"Oh, no... thank you for the help."

Sayuki-san turned back to Kunitomo.

"See you later, Yuria-chan. You’re welcome at our house anytime."

"Yeah! For sure!"

Once Sayuki-san had walked away and disappeared from view, Kunitomo finally let out a long breath of relief.

"Phew. Seriously, Shibukawa, what were you doing sneaking around with Sayuki-san?"

"I wasn't sneaking. She just caught me and gave me some advice on what to get Miharu for her birthday."

"Huh? I thought you were going with the giant teddy bear. I thought that was a great idea."

I remembered consulting Kunitomo about it a while back.

"I changed my mind. I thought it might be too childish for a high school girl. I figured her twin sister would know her tastes better, so I was just listening to her. You overthink things way too much."

"Ah... sorry. I guess I did go a bit overboard. I feel a little bad now."

Wow, look at her being humble.

"Sayuki-san is your childhood friend too, so why are you so awkward around her? You’re totally different when you’re with Miharu."

Kunitomo made a face like someone who had just tried cilantro for the first time.

"...I know, but I’ve just never been good with her."

"That’s a surprise. I didn't think there was anyone you couldn't handle."

"Of course there is! What do you think I am, Shibukawa?"

A socially dominant force of nature with zero delicacy, I thought, but I kept it to myself.

"You probably know this, but Sayuki-san is technically the same age as us."

"Well, yeah. She’s Miharu’s twin."

"But she’s been acting like a grown-up forever. Even when we were tiny, she was always using a parasol and slathering herself in sunscreen. She was doing hardcore UV protection way before most girls even care about their skin!"

"So that’s why her skin is so pale. Makes sense."

"That’s not all. Miharu says she drinks soy milk twice a day, morning and night, without fail. And she never skips her... bust-up massages!"

"T-that’s... dedicated."

"They looked exactly alike when they were kids, like proper twins. But now look at the difference between them. It just goes to show how much effort matters, you know?" Kunitomo stared off in the direction Sayuki-san had gone, a faraway look in her eyes.

"So, Sayuki-san has always felt more like an adult than a childhood friend to me. She’s a childhood friend, sure, but she’s hard to approach. I don't really have many memories of playing with her. I think it’s the same for Miharu. She probably spends more time playing with me than with her own sister."

"...Do they not get along?"

"It’s not that. It’s just that Miharu has a major complex. I mean, her sister is top of the class, athletic, got hand-picked for the Student Council, and on top of that, she’s a polite, humble beauty. If you had someone like that in your family, you’d feel like you were living in their shadow too."

Being on her second loop probably meant she knew how to handle everything with maximum efficiency. Life is like a game; the second playthrough is always smoother than the first.

Sayuki-san said it was hard to change history, but her own life was a different story. She was free to make whatever choices she wanted. While the rest of us were struggling through our first run, she was basically a cheat-code player. I couldn't help but feel a little envious.

"Hey, Shibukawa."

The voice was serious, and the expression Kunitomo turned toward me was unlike any I’d ever seen on her.

"...Don't you dare betray Miharu."

"Huh? What’s that supposed to mean?"

"Miharu’s been so much brighter ever since she started dating you. I’m actually rooting for you guys, believe it or not."

"You have a funny way of showing it. You usually just give me grief."

"That’s what you call 'tough love,' okay?" A bit of the usual Kunitomo returned as she smirked. "Miharu always acts like a bright, cheerful girl around you, but she’s actually really sensitive. She bottles things up. So make sure you’re really looking at her."

Her gaze was unwavering. Kunitomo could be a pain, but her love for Miharu was the real deal.

"I get it. You’re actually a decent person, aren't you?"

"Heh heh heh. You bet I am! You can praise me more if you want."

Relieved by my answer, she shook off the serious mood and puffed out her chest again.

"Since I’m working so hard for you two, you better invite me to the wedding. Leave the speech to me—I’ll give a three-hour detailed account of how you two met."

"You idiot. You’re getting ahead of yourself."

"Oh? Does that mean you are thinking about it eventually...?"

"Stop talking nonsense. Let’s get back to Sensei and Miharu."

Exasperated, I started walking, leaving her behind.

"Ahaha! You’re blushing! You’re totally blushing!"

She was a star sprinter for a reason; she caught up to me in an instant. Kunitomo stuck to me like glue all the way back to the planetarium entrance where the others were waiting.

"Ah! I’m so glad you’re okay, Ryuuichi-kun!"

Miharu’s face lit up the moment she saw me.

Once we were all reunited, we woke up Sensei—who had found a bench and returned to the land of dreams—and started our separate ways home.

Outside, evening had already settled in. Faint pinpricks of starlight were beginning to peek through the eastern sky. Seen from the middle of the city, the night sky looked murkier and harder to read than the artificial stars of the planetarium.