Chapter 5: The Three-Body Problem of Love

Ever since that training camp, I had been avoiding both Miharu and Sayuki-san. On the surface, I kept up our conversations, and I replied to their LINE messages frequently.

But as soon as school ended, I would head home alone. I honestly didn't know how to face either of them anymore.

Today was the same. I made it back to my house before either of them could speak to me.

That was all well and good, but with nothing specific to do, I stayed in my school uniform and stared blankly at photos of celestial bodies I’d taken on my phone.

Then, the chime of the doorbell rang out.

My parents both work, so I’m the only one home until they get back. Thinking it might be a delivery, I checked the intercom camera.

"“Hello. ...Hehe, I came.”"

Sayuki-san, standing there in her school uniform, winked as if she knew I was watching her through the screen.

“Wh-what are you doing here?”

"“Well, Ryuuichi-kun, you’ve been blatantly avoiding me lately. If that's the case, I have no choice but to come to you, right?”"

“That’s not it... I never told you my address, did I?”

Sayuki-san chuckled.

"“Honestly, Ryuuichi-kun. I was invited over to your house plenty of times before, you know? I know exactly what's in your room, the feel of your bed, and even your scent—I know everything.”"

I’m sure I must have invited Miharu over in the first loop.

While I still hesitated, Sayuki-san puffed out her cheeks.

"“Hey, look out the window. It’s started to rain, and I don’t have an umbrella, so I won't be able to go home for a while.”"

Following her words, I looked toward the window. Sure enough, a light rain was pattering against the glass.

She probably had a folding umbrella in her bag, but once she said she didn't have one, I had no choice but to let her in.

“Excuse me.”

Sayuki-san lined up her shoes at the entrance and made her way to my room as if she owned the place.

“Wow, it hasn't changed at all. Even if I've been here many times, it feels nostalgic for the ‘me’ of the second loop.”

She looked around the room like she was visiting a relative's house she used to play in, and then she noticed the star-shaped keyholder hanging from a corkboard leaned against the wall.

“Is this the keyholder from that event you mentioned?”

“Yes. It was a souvenir from the stargazing event I attended in elementary school. I always thought the girl who had this was "that girl".”

“I’m sorry. I seem to have let you misunderstand for a long time. If I’d known there was such a precious memento, I would have participated in that event too.”

Sayuki-san poked at the keyholder with a regretful look on her face.

“You really didn't know about this?”

“All I heard from the first-loop Ryuuichi-kun was that you met a girl who knew a lot about space at that campsite during your summer vacation and watched a lunar eclipse together. Well, since the "girl" in the first loop was someone else entirely, it makes sense that you never told me.”

There aren't many opportunities to see a lunar eclipse during summer vacation in elementary school. That information alone would have been enough to pinpoint when she could meet me. With that narrowed down, Sayuki-san must have dragged her family to that campsite on those specific days.

Turning her gaze away from the keyholder, Sayuki-san sat down on my bed without a hint of hesitation. Despite being alone in a boy's room, she didn't seem nervous at all. If anything, I was the one whose heart was racing.

The presence of a girl—a foreign object—in my familiar room. For Sayuki-san, it was nothing new, but for me, it was a first.

Just having her sitting there made me feel as restless as if I’d wandered into someone else's room.

I took a deep breath to steady my nerves, steeled my resolve, and spoke.

“So, um, what did you come here for? Sayuki-sa... Miharu.”

I almost called her Sayuki-san, but I quickly corrected myself to her real name.

“Hehe, you’re so formal, Ryuuichi-kun. Sayuki is fine.”

“But actually...”

Sayuki-san gave a slight shake of her head, her long hair swaying like a pendulum from her shoulders.

“It’s fine. I’ve grown fond of my current name. Besides, it’s a hassle to keep switching back and forth, isn't it? If you accidentally called me ‘Miharu’ in front of the current Miharu, things would get complicated.”

She was right; I couldn't deny the possibility of a slip-up.

“...I understand. Then, I’ll keep calling you Sayuki-san.”

“Yes, good boy. I came here today to tell you something good.”

As her weight sank into my mattress, she whispered a provocative remark.

“It was cold outside, but it’s nice and warm in here with the AC on. Maybe a little too warm.”

With a flushed face, she pinched the ribbon tie of her uniform and pulled it loose, as if undoing the ribbon on a gift.

She loosened her collar and unbuttoned her blouse. As her cramped chest was liberated, a faint, sweet scent of her body rose from her sweat-dampened cleavage. The aroma released from her body's humidifier seemed to fill the room.

I found it difficult to swallow without making a sound.

“...So, what are you going to tell me?”

Sayuki-san looked up at me, then averted her gaze teasingly.

“I could have told you at school, but you’ve been avoiding me lately, and I was a little afraid of someone overhearing. That’s why I came directly to your house. I knew your parents wouldn't be home at this time, too.”

“...”

What had we done in this room when my parents weren't home in the other timeline? Various images bubbled up in my mind like carbonated bubbles and vanished.

“So, are you still interested in the undiscovered comet?”

At those words, an image of a pale star with a long tail flashed through my mind.

When asked like that, of course, I had to say yes.

I had already found that girl, who was my original goal, but as an astronomy lover, I couldn't suppress my pure curiosity. I wanted to see with my own eyes a comet that no one else had found. If I was lucky, I wanted to name it. I couldn't lie about that feeling.

I had supposedly fulfilled my wish to reunite with that girl, yet here I was, trying to fulfill another dream. Just how greedy was I?

Once you get one thing, you start wanting something else.

As if seeing through my hesitation, Sayuki-san spoke.

“You don't have to hold back on the things you want.”

Her words, which affirmed my desires, loosened one of the brakes on my self-control.

“In that case... will you tell me?”

“Hmm, I wonder what I should do.”

She put a finger to her lips, putting on a show of thinking it over.

“If you're not going to tell me, what did you come here for?”

“Maybe I should add a condition? As punishment for avoiding me lately.”

Sitting on the bed, Sayuki-san leaned back on her hands, slightly parting her beautiful legs beneath her short skirt.

It was a position that allowed her to lie back on the bed at any moment.

"“...If you hold me, I’ll tell you.”"

My heart leaped so hard I thought it would burst through my ribs.

“...Are you... serious?”

“Do you think I'm joking?”

A girl was right in front of me, ready to welcome me. That fact began to warp the foundations of who I was.

Perhaps I’d set the AC to the wrong temperature, because my body felt abnormally hot. I could feel sweat seeping from every pore. My boiling blood seemed to concentrate in a single point.

“Kyaa!”

A happy-sounding shriek brought me back to my senses. Before I knew it, I had grabbed Sayuki-san’s shoulders and pinned her to the bed.

“...If you keep teasing me like this, I... I won't be able to hold back.”

I looked down at Sayuki-san’s feverish face.

“...It’s okay. Anytime.”

Her legs slowly spread like a flower in bloom. The petals of her skirt were pushed up by her thighs, gradually revealing the violet-colored stamen hidden within.

I couldn't help but be conscious of her body, which was entirely different from when she was that girl.

Along with the memories I had cherished for so long, I wanted to tear her apart. The more beautiful a thing is, the more I wanted to defile it. A beast-like urge welled up inside me.

I wanted to throw away everything that bound me. Just then, the smartphone in my pocket vibrated incessantly.

I tried to ignore it, but the vibration wouldn't stop. If it was a call, it might be better to just reject it.

Thinking that, I pulled out the phone, only for my entire body to go rigid.

Asada Miharu.

Sayuki-san, sensing who the caller was from my expression, remained lying on her back and questioned me with her eyes: What are you going to do?

The reason I thought I’d thrown away came rushing back at the last second.

I hurriedly pulled away from Sayuki-san, retreated to the corner of the room, and tapped the answer button.

“M-Miharu? Actually, right now—”

“Did you see it?”

Miharu’s mysterious words cut off my attempt to make an excuse.

“See what?”

“The photo. I sent it just now.”

With that, she hung up. I checked my notifications and saw that she had indeed sent an image right before the call.

The moment I opened it, I felt as if I’d been struck in the back of the head.

It was a selfie of Miharu.

The problem was what she was wearing—or rather, what she wasn't.

She was dressed in nothing but a black bra and panties, appearing almost as she had the day she was born. Both pieces were made of lace and embroidery, giving them a very mature design. Because of the gaps in the embroidery, her bare skin was visible even through the fabric, so it hardly counted as being covered.

What’s more, they were side-tie panties. If I pulled the ribbons on either side of her hips, she would be completely exposed in an instant. It was as if she had decorated herself with black ribbons to present her body as a gift.

“? What’s wrong?”

Sayuki-san sat up on the bed and looked at me curiously.

“N-no, it’s nothing.”

I couldn't let her see this!

Feeling like I’d accidentally clicked on an adult ad, I turned the screen away from her and frantically called Miharu back.

“What on earth are you thinking?!”

“How was it?”

I was taken aback by Miharu’s teasing tone.

“Sending something like that all of a sudden... I mean...”

“Is there a problem? We’re dating, aren't we? You can send all sorts of things to me too, Ryuuichi-kun. I’ll make sure to take a good look.”

“All sorts of things...?”

“But I’m glad you liked it. I’m going to wear that to the next rooftop stargazing session. ...If you want to see it in person, just let me know.”

Her voice tickled my ear.

“Stop making fun of me—”

I was about to snap at her when...

“Also, if you see Onee-chan anywhere, tell her to come home before dinner.”

At those words, the anger that had reached my throat was pushed back down.

...No way. Does she... know?

I stole a quick glance at Sayuki-san on the bed.

“I’m at home, not at school. I have no idea where Sayuki-san is.”

I tried my best to stay calm, but I might not have been able to hide the awkwardness.

“Ah, I see.”

Miharu’s response was as calm as the surface of a still lake.

“I’ve been messaging her for a while, but she hasn't even read them. I thought she might be talking to someone... but if it isn't you, then that's fine. Well, see you at school.”

She hung up without revealing her true thoughts.

What was that at the end?

Was it really just an incidental message, or was it...?

The events of the training camp flashed through my mind.

After the kiss with Sayuki-san, we’d spent the whole night observing and photographing the Geminids, finishing up just before dawn. We woke up the next morning. During the drive back from the campsite, everyone except Sensei was fast asleep, so there had been almost no conversation.

How was Miharu acting then? I was so preoccupied with Sayuki-san that I didn't remember a thing.

Had she noticed something?

“What did Miharu want?”

Sayuki-san asked with a slightly dissatisfied expression.

“...I’m sorry. Today... let’s not.”

“Did you lose your motivation?”

I think Miharu might be suspicious of us.

I could have said it, but Sayuki-san probably wouldn't care.

“Aah, what a shame,” she whispered, looking bored as she turned her gaze toward the window. “Looks like the rain has stopped.”

As she efficiently straightened her disheveled clothes, I spoke up apologetically.

“Um... since I couldn't fulfill the condition, you don’t have to tell me about the comet.”

“Ahaha, don’t worry about that. It’s okay, I’ll tell you.”

Sayuki-san laughed as she picked up her smartphone.

“B-but the condition—”

“I told you, it’s fine. Here.”

A notification appeared on my phone—a message from Sayuki-san.

It contained a date and time three days from now, along with directions and constellations to use as landmarks.

This was likely the information for finding the unknown comet.

“Is this really okay?”

“I was planning to tell you from the start anyway. I’m not that mean of a woman. What happened earlier was just a little joke. Well, if I could have, I was planning to go all the way, though.”

Her usual bewitching smile held just a faint trace of regret.

“...Besides...”

Sayuki-san stood up from the bed and leaned in close to my ear.

Her faint, sweet scent and breath brushed against my neck.

“We’re dating, after all. If we want to do it, we can do it anytime, right?”

Peaceful days—the kind where the only thing left to do was wait for winter break to begin. In stark contrast to the deepening winter chill outside, the school building was filled with a buoyant, cozy warmth, buzzing with students who could practically taste the upcoming long holiday.

And yet, I had been summoned to the back of the school building after hours. Tucked away in the shadow of the structure, the area was devoid of people; the only thing greeting me was a relentless cold front that left my entire body shivering uncontrollably.

“I’m really sorry about the training camp. I caused you a lot of trouble,” the girl who called me out said.

Kunitomo was dressed in her Track and Field uniform—short sleeves and shorts—and just looking at her made me feel colder. Despite the fact that her tanned skin was exposed to air that shouldn't have felt like anything but ice, she didn't have a single goosebump. Is her nervous system broken or something?

“I told you, I’m not worried about it. If that’s all you wanted to talk about, I’d really like to head back to the club room and thaw out.”

“Oh, wait. Is this for the rooftop observation tonight? Did you need help setting up?”

“No. I just wanted to organize the photos we took at the camp before the actual prep starts. It’s a one-man job, so don't worry about it. You and the others can just meet us on the roof once your track practice is over, like we planned.”

Tonight was the last rooftop observation of the second semester. While we could technically get permission to use the roof during winter break, the school would be completely locked down during the New Year's holidays when the custodians weren't around. In practice, tonight was the final observation of the year.

“Ah, I see. Well, either way, sorry for calling you out when you’re busy,” she said.

“Forget it. So, what’s the actual business?”

“Uhh, well... how do I put this...”

A long, awkward silence followed—unusual for someone as blunt as Kunitomo—before she finally bit the bullet.

“Did something happen... at the training camp?”

“...Define ‘something,’” I replied, striving for a flat, even tone to hide my agitation.

“I can’t quite put my finger on it, but Miharu’s been acting weird lately. Surely you’ve noticed, Shibukawa?”

“What exactly is ‘weird’?”

“A little while ago, when we were changing into our uniforms in the locker room... Miharu was, well...” Kunitomo trailed off, looking down at her feet. “She was... wearing... lacy...”

“Huh?”

She had mumbled it so quietly I had to ask for clarification. Suddenly, Kunitomo’s face turned bright red all the way to the tips of her ears, and she screamed at me as if it were all my fault.

“She was wearing slutty lingerie!”

I didn't cover my ears in time. Her voice pierced my eardrums, leaving a sharp, high-pitched ringing in its wake.

“Miharu used to wear sports bras all year round! She didn't have a seductive bone in her body! And then she shows up in that... something so aggressive... like, something you specifically wear to show a man! That hussy isn't the Miharu I know!”

Kunitomo seemed to be reliving the sight of the underwear, as if steam were literally billowing off her head. She was worrying about this like a concerned father; she was surprisingly pure-hearted under that tough exterior.

“I-Is that your kink?!” she demanded.

“No! It caught me off guard too!”

“...Which means you did see it. You saw Miharu’s underwear.”

Damn it. Slip of the tongue.

“Well, I mean, yeah.”

“Explain.”

The flush on Kunitomo’s face vanished instantly, replaced by a gaze as cold as the winter wind.

“...It happened a few days ago...”

Resigning myself to my fate, I pulled out my phone and flicked through my LINE history with Miharu, explaining the exchange from a few days prior. Naturally, I kept the fact that Sayuki-san had been there a secret.

Once I finished explaining Miharu’s recent "erratic" behavior, Kunitomo made a sour face.

“I knew it. Something is wrong.”

“And here I thought it was because you’d been whispering things into her ear,” I said.

“It wasn't me! I mean, sure, I advised her to be more proactive, but I never told her to start playing the seductress with such... specific details!”

“Are you sure about that?” Given her usual antics, I found her hard to believe.

“I’m serious! Look, she even sent me these messages! I didn't know what to do!”

She shoved her phone screen toward me, showing a chat log with Miharu. The date was the night everyone had returned home from the training camp. My eyes drifted to a message Miharu had sent that night.

"How do you create cleavage?"

To that blunt question, Kunitomo had replied with a worried, "What’s gotten into you all of a sudden?" followed by, "I don't really know, but this site has a bunch of info," along with a URL.

“...I didn't know how to do it, so I panicked and looked it up for her...”

“Well, asking you in the first place was her first mistake,” I muttered.

“Hmph. Is that a crack about me being small?”

“I didn't say a word about that.”

When I shot back, Kunitomo suddenly took on a triumphant look for some reason.

“Just so you know, you can make cleavage even if you’re flat! There’s the classic breast pads, of course. Then there’s the technique of gathering fat from your sides, or using tape to pull and fix things in place, or even using makeup to draw it on—there are tons of ways!”

Man, she really did her research.

Kunitomo cleared her throat, bringing the conversation back on track.

“Setting that aside, Miharu’s definitely been weird since right after the camp. I figured things had just progressed between you two, but...”

“...Well, that is technically true.”

“Look, it’s your private business, so I won’t dig too deep. But the current Miharu feels like she’s pushing herself too hard, and it worries me. You’re the only one she can rely on, so get it together, okay?!”

She gave me a sharp smack on the lower back. It was a powerful blow that left a lingering, throbbing pain.

“I-I get it, just stop resorting to violence!”

“I’m counting on you. Make sure you two stay happy together.”

Despite everything, Kunitomo gave me a supportive smile at the end. She truly cared for her best friend, and it seemed she’d at least somewhat accepted me. I felt a genuine sense of gratitude for that. That said, if I actually put that gratitude into words, she’d probably let it go to her head, so I kept my mouth shut.

“Anyway. See ya tonight.”

With that, Kunitomo took off toward the grounds where the Track and Field club was practicing. As expected of a sprinter, her back—vanishing like a gust of northern wind—was out of sight in an instant.

I had ended up talking to Kunitomo for longer than expected, and my body was thoroughly chilled. Stepping back inside the school building, the blast from the heaters warmed both my body and soul.

I headed straight for the Astronomy Club room. As I’d told Kunitomo, I intended to organize the photos from the recent training camp. We had to submit an activity report to the Student Council at the end of the fiscal year, so it was best to get the materials ready now.

Ah, wait. No one’s in the room right now, so the heat won’t be on. Having an AC unit was a blessing, but the fact that it took forever to warm the whole room was its one Achilles' heel.

However, when I opened the door, a wave of cozy warmth spilled out, defying my expectations.

It seemed I had a guest. Someone was sitting at the long table with a laptop open, but when they realized I had arrived, they offered a smile as soft as winter sunshine.

“I took the liberty of letting myself in, Ryuuichi-kun. Here, come over.”

Sayuki-san gestured to the empty folding chair next to her. The laptop in front of her had a label sticker that read "Student Council Property". She must have been doing student council work until I arrived.

“So, are you mentally prepared? It’s finally happening tonight.”

“Yeah, I guess,” I nodded vaguely.

There was no way I was actually prepared.

Tonight, a previously undiscovered comet would be found. If I just pointed the camera at the coordinates and time Sayuki-san had told me, I would be able to capture it. It all felt so surreal.

“What’s wrong? You look a bit down.”

“Well, in reality, someone else is supposed to be the one to find that comet, right? It feels a bit like I’m stealing their thunder... I feel a little guilty.”

“It’s okay. In the first loop, that person was the only one who discovered it.”

Her sweet words acted as a balm, thinning my guilt.

When a new comet is discovered, it’s named after the discoverer. However, if multiple people find it simultaneously, up to three names can be attached to it.

In other words, if the original discoverer was alone, as Sayuki-san said, then even if I came forward as a discoverer, the comet would bear both our names. I would simply be hitching a ride on the achievement, not stealing it. ...At least, that was the logic.

Whether that was truly the "right" thing to do, though...

Thinking about it any further was a dead end. I peeked at Sayuki-san’s laptop to change the subject.

“What were you working on here, Sayuki-san?”

“Just various bits of Student Council business. As a first-year, I’m at the bottom of the pecking order, so they dump all sorts of things on me. I won’t be able to do much once winter break starts, so I have to finish it now.”

She spoke while entering numbers into spreadsheet software. Was it club budget allocations or something of that nature? It was a topic that interested me, so I found myself staring intently.

“Hey now. No peeking.”

Sayuki-san puffed out her cheeks playfully and reached out, covering my eyes with her hand.

“Alright, alright. I won’t look.”

“Good. If you’re going to look at anything, it should be me.”

When she lowered her hand, her laughing face was right in front of mine.

“You have Astronomy Club work to do too, right, Ryuuichi-kun? Let’s finish our chores together.”

I opened the Astronomy Club’s laptop next to her. The data from the recent camp had been imported, so I began sorting through it. Photos of the starry sky went into the reference folder; photos of the campsite went into the activity log for next year’s planning.

“I actually thought you’d be in the club room before me, so I was surprised when I found it empty. Did you have something to do?”

Sayuki-san began talking, the rhythmic sound of our typing serving as a pleasant background track.

“Kunitomo called me out to the back of the building.”

“Yuria-chan did? For what?”

“She apologized for missing the training camp. And she mentioned that Miharu’s been acting strange lately.”

“Miharu is probably just in high spirits. It’s because things have progressed between the two of you.”

Sayuki-san didn't seem concerned in the slightest.

But was that really all it was?

I hadn't told Sayuki-san that Miharu had sent me a selfie of her in her underwear. Had Sayuki-san experienced this exact event during the first loop? Or was this a change that was only happening to the current Miharu?

“Come to think of it, it was cold outside, wasn't it? Let me warm you up.”

The sound of typing stopped, and I realized Sayuki-san was facing me. She reached out with both arms and leaned in.

She pulled me into a soft embrace, and my entire body was enveloped in the warmth of another person. Since she had been indoors the whole time, her body was toasty. It felt like soaking in a hot spring; I felt like my very bones were going to turn to mush if I stayed like this. I was drowning in her body heat.

“T-Thanks. I’m okay now.”

Splashing my consciousness with a bucket of cold reason, I grabbed Sayuki-san’s shoulders and gently pried her off.

“Oh, and here I wanted to hug you more.”

Turning toward the dissatisfied Sayuki-san, I gathered my courage and made a suggestion.

“Um... don't you think we should tell Miharu the truth?”

“What truth would that be?”

“That you’re the Miharu from the second loop.”

“...”

“To me, you’re the second-loop Miharu, but to Miharu, you’re just her big sister, Sayuki. I mean, at this rate, it’s basically...”

“Cheating?” Sayuki-san gave a small giggle. “Were you still worried about that?”

“‘Still’?! How can I not be?”

“I think you have a point, Ryuuichi-kun. But how would you ever get Miharu to accept that?”

“If you predict future events over and over again like you did with me, she’ll have to understand eventually, right?”

“Listen. Understanding something and accepting it are two very different things. Even if I made a bunch of prophecies and made her believe I came from the future, she would never accept it. I can guarantee that... because I am ‘Miharu.’”

Those were the words of the person who had actually come from the future. No argument could be more persuasive than that.

“In fact, if she knew the truth, it would only make her suffer more. So, let’s keep our relationship a secret. It’s for everyone’s sake.”

It was a cunning excuse.

Once again, Sayuki-san pressed her body against mine. She hugged me tightly from the front, her ample chest pressing against my face. My words were stifled as my face was buried between the soft, shifting mounds.

Still, I felt I had to say something, and I managed to lift my head.

“B-But, Sayuki-sa—”

I couldn't move my lips any further; they were sealed by Sayuki-san’s own.

A sweet, soft, blissful silencing.

When her lips slowly parted from mine, she wove a spell of words.

“I’m your "Girlfriend" from the second loop. So this isn't cheating.”

It was a luscious incantation that made me forget what I knew in my heart was wrong. It was like a drug—numbing my reason, erasing my anxiety, and dissolving my guilt. All that remained was a lightheaded, optimistic mood.

But if I became addicted to this, one day...

“...Hey, Ryuuichi-kun. We still have time before the rooftop observation, right?”

Once again, the sweet drug was poured into my ear.

We spent the time alone together in the club room—which felt unseasonably hot—until the night sky became perfect for astronomical observation.

That night.

After finishing the evening observation with Miharu and the other track club members on the roof, we returned to the club room for a nap. The clock on my phone read 10:00 PM.

According to Sayuki-san, the comet could be photographed around 5:00 AM tomorrow. Furthermore, due to the weather and the sunrise, the window for photography was only about twenty minutes. If we missed that window, we wouldn't be able to capture the unknown comet on camera.

To ensure we didn't miss the shutter chance by even a second, we needed to get some solid rest now and prepare for the main event tomorrow. After a quick late-night snack, we immediately began preparing for our nap.

“Everyone, set your timers and make sure you’re up by 2:00 AM,” Sayuki-san said, looking around at the members. Miharu pouted in dissatisfaction.

“Hmph. Don't start bossing us around, Onee-chan. You’re not even a club member. For that matter, why are you even participating in tonight’s observation?”

“Oh, what a cruel thing to say. I helped out with the Astronomy Club’s training camp, so I have every right to participate as an observer, don't I?”

“Just because you helped doesn't mean you can sleep over at school when you aren't an official member.”

“I submitted an additional application, so there’s absolutely no problem.”

“...Hmph. You’re certainly well-prepared.”

Next to the grumbling Miharu, Kunitomo looked like she wanted to say something too, but her mouth remained tightly shut. She likely felt indebted to Sayuki-san for filling in for her when she’d had to miss the camp on short notice. Instead, she shot a sharp glare at me.

Can't be helped. It’s the President’s job to mediate.

“Hey, don't fight with your twin. The Astronomy Club has so few members that we always welcome visitors and walk-ins. If you can’t get along, I’ll use my authority as President to kick you both out.”

“Whoa, that’s harsh! That’s totally an abuse of power!”

“Exactly. You’re just the president of a tiny club; do you really think you can go against the Student Council?”

As expected of twins—or rather, the same person—they criticized me in perfect unison.

“I’m the one who got direct permission from the school to use the rooftop for this observation. Whether you’re a member or on the Student Council, follow the rules.”

When I laid it down like that, the two of them groaned and settled down. Good enough.

“By the way, where’s Inou-sensei?” Miharu asked.

“Still in the faculty office. She said the end-of-year work is piling up. She mentioned she’d drop by later, though.”

As I answered, I pictured the teacher’s face, which had been sporting some pretty deep dark circles under her eyes.

“It really feels like the Teacher-Running Month,” Sayuki-san remarked.

T/N:Teacher-Running Month (師走 - Shiwasu): A traditional Japanese name for December. The kanji literally mean "Teachers running." The folk etymology suggests that it's the time of year when everyone—even busy teachers/monks—has to run around to finish their year-end tasks.

Miharu tilted her head at the comment. “Huh? What do you mean?”

“It’s another name for December. It means the month is so busy that even teachers have to run around.”

Even after Sayuki-san explained it, Miharu didn't seem to quite get it.

“Hmm? The teacher? Is running? Like, in the track club?”

“Forget it. It’s nothing,” Sayuki-san said, turning away and giving up on the explanation. She looked somewhat embarrassed; she probably couldn't stand seeing her own past lack of culture.

As for Miharu, she didn't seem to care at all. In fact, she was acting completely like her usual self. That was what made it scary. Behind that unchanging, bright smile, I wondered just how much Miharu had actually sussed out.

“Alright, everyone, let’s get some sleep,” Sayuki-san called out, and we finally began our preparations.

That said, "preparations" just meant pushing the desks and tables to the edge of the room and rolling out the sleeping bags we’d used at the camp in the newly cleared space. I spread mine out on the floor and crawled in immediately. I absolutely couldn't afford to miss the new comet in a few hours, so I needed to sleep quickly. If I messed up because I dozed off during the shoot, it wouldn't be funny.

“Well then, nighty-ni—”

Just as I was about to say it, a sleeping bag was flopped down right next to mine, and Miharu lay down in it. Despite there being enough room for four people to lie down comfortably, she was close enough to be touching me.

“I think I’ll go to sleep while looking at Ryuuichi-kun’s face~”

Lying on her side, Miharu smiled broadly at me.

“O-Oh. Okay.”

I didn't exactly have the authority to refuse her. Even so, her face was incredibly close.

Feeling awkward about looking her straight in the eye, I let my gaze drift downward, only to realize that the top two buttons of Miharu’s blouse were undone. My eyes were drawn to her loosened collar.

Perhaps because I had seen so much of Sayuki-san’s chest, I couldn't deny that Miharu’s was lacking in volume. Nevertheless, her slender, healthy skin had a charm different from adult sexiness, and I couldn't help but be captivated.

And then, I noticed it—the glimpse of seductive black underwear covering the slight swell peeking out from the collar of her blouse. I could only see a portion of the lace and embroidery on the fabric, but it was unmistakably the same one from the selfie she’d sent me.

M-Miharu, you actually wore that tonight?!

The thought that such scandalous attire was hidden beneath the school uniform I saw every day was more provocative than if she’d just shown me the underwear outright.

“Hmm? What’s wrong?”

Miharu leaned in even closer, looking up at me. A faint smile colored her lips. She definitely wasn't her usual self.

“Y-You. Are you... really wearing it?”

Miharu smiled, her cheeks flushing slightly.

“Ehehe. I told you I’d wear it, didn't I? ...So, do you want to see more?”

Miharu’s index finger lightly tugged at the V-neck of her blouse, revealing more of the erotic underwear. All of my cognitive processing power was hijacked by my vision, and my language center froze.

“Miharu. If you sleep with your sleeping bag wide open, you’ll catch a cold.”

At that moment, Sayuki-san arrived, her voice colder than the outdoor air, and she forcefully yanked up the zipper of Miharu’s sleeping bag. With a sharp zip, the bag was closed, and Miharu’s body was swallowed up to her collar.

I felt a mixture of relief and disappointment.

“Hmph. I’ve been trained by the track club, I’m not cold at all. If anything, the sleeping bag is too hot.”

Miharu, now looking like a silkworm with only her face poking out, puffed out her cheeks.

“Don't be vain. What will you do if you get sick?”

“I’m an idiot, so I don't catch colds.”

“That’s just a superstition. Anyone can get sick, and even if you don't show symptoms, you could pass the virus to someone else, right? Even if you’re fine, what if you give a cold to Ryuuichi-kun?”

“...Guh.”

She looked frustrated at being unable to win the argument against Sayuki-san.

“This isn't an elementary school field trip, so stop fooling around. I’m turning off the lights now.”

Saying something that sounded exactly like a teacher on patrol, Sayuki-san snapped off the lights.

Good grief. Now I can finally sleep in peace.

I closed my eyes and imagined the brilliance of the comet we were supposed to see tonight. Soon, I heard the sound of Miharu’s rhythmic breathing. Perhaps because she’d exercised so much with the track club earlier, she was a quick sleeper.

I needed to get to sleep too.

I kept my eyes shut for a while, but the more I tried to sleep, the more my heart raced, keeping me awake. I shifted my arms and legs around inside the sleeping bag, but there was no sign of drowsiness. The excitement of discovering an unknown comet was warding off sleep.

What if I can’t sleep at all and end up oversleeping when it matters most?

As that anxiety began to take hold, I felt someone lie down next to me.

“...Still can’t sleep?” a breath tickled my neck.

“S-Sayuki-san?”

“Stay quiet. We don't want to wake Miharu. Though, once that girl is out, she’s usually out for the count.”

Since she told me to, I stayed on my back and listened to Sayuki-san’s whisper right next to me.

“You were looking at Miharu’s chest earlier, weren't you? Technically, Miharu is your girlfriend, so I can’t help it if you two flirt, but I did get a little jealous. So, here is your punishment.”

Immediately after, a faint pain ran through my earlobe. It was being pinched by something hard. It hurt, but... in a way, it felt good. It was the kind of pleasurable pain you get from a massage.

Wait, could this be...

“Nnh.”

Sayuki-san’s feverish breath sounded even closer than before, turning my suspicion into certainty.

She was nibbling on my earlobe.

I couldn't keep pretending to be asleep—or rather, if I kept my eyes closed, the sensation in my earlobe would overwhelm my entire body. The stimulation was too strong, so I snapped my eyes open.

“Sayuki-san, p-please st—haugh!”

The moment I tried to protest, the pressure of her teeth increased, and a strange sound escaped my throat.

“...Fufu, what a cute reaction, as always. You really haven't changed at all since you were a little kid. You’re so fun to tease.”

“S-Stop treating me like a child! I’ve grown a lot since then!”

When I accidentally raised my voice, Miharu groaned and tossed in her sleep next to us. Sayuki-san and I held our breath, waiting until we heard her rhythmic breathing again before letting out a sigh of relief.

“But it’s true, isn't it? Even back during that summer vacation, you couldn't say anything back after I kissed you. You just let me have my way with you.”

“I-I said something back immediately! I said I’d find both the comets and you one day!”

To my younger self, that had been a declaration of war—the most resistance I could muster. However, it seemed it hadn't reached Sayuki-san.

“...Did you? It was so long ago, I’ve forgotten.”

“You and your convenient memory... agh.”

Stimulation ran through my earlobe again. She bit down lightly, as if leaving a mark with her front teeth, and then traced over it with the tip of her tongue. She spoiled me like that for a while, then went back to shallow biting. The "carrot and stick" treatment was repeated until my earlobe was completely sensitized.

Was my ear an erogenous zone this whole time? N-No, Sayuki-san is actively developing it... hah.

In the end, just as she’d said, I was toyed with just like that night in the summer.

“There, all done. I think you’ll be able to sleep now. Whenever I did this for you in bed, you always looked so happy as you drifted off, Ryuuichi-kun.”

My energy completely drained, I listened to Sayuki-san’s whisper with a dazed head.

What is she talking about?

I didn't even have the energy to voice the question. I closed my heavy eyelids and fell into a sleep as deep as lead.

５

I’d been worried that the sheer mental exhaustion from the night before would keep me pinned to my bed, but the sharp chirp of my smartphone alarm managed to drag my consciousness back to the surface.

Exactly 2:00 AM. Dead of night.

Everyone else seemed to wake up at almost the same time. We immediately began our preparations. We hauled the tripods, cameras, and telescopes we’d prepared beforehand up to the rooftop and began calibrating them toward the eastern sky.

In a world draped in slumber, I didn’t mind this frantic, busy work. Once the equipment was ready to intercept the new comet, we settled in to wait.

“You’re really fired up this time, aren't you?” Miharu asked, looking at me with a puzzled expression. I’d been peering through the viewfinder over and over again.

“You think so? Seems like business as usual to me,” I replied.

“Hmm. Usually, you’re a bit more... relaxed? Like a ‘hope for the best, expect the worst’ kind of vibe. But today, your eyes are different. You’ve got the eyes of someone going in for the win.”

I hadn't intended to act any differently, but maybe I’d let my excitement leak out without realizing it.

“Well, to be honest, today is one of those rare days—maybe once a year—where the conditions to see a comet are absolutely perfect. The probability of discovering a new one is higher than ever, so I guess I’m just taking it more seriously than usual,” I said, offering a half-truth to cover up the fact that I already knew the future.

“Oh, I knew it! In that case, I really hope your dream comes true today, Ryuuichi-kun. I’ll do whatever I can to help, so just say the word!”

Miharu looked up at me, practically radiating the energy of a puppy wagging an invisible tail.

“The best thing you can do, Miharu, is nothing at all. Just try not to get in the way,” Sayuki-san said as she approached, holding a canned coffee in each hand. “Here, you two. Some caffeine to wake you up.”

“Thanks,” I said.

“Hey! What do you mean, ‘get in the way’?!” Miharu pouted as she took her coffee.

“Exactly what I said. Don’t stand in front of the lens during a long exposure, and don't trip over the tripod legs. Just... don't do those things,” Sayuki-san clarified.

“...I—I won’t!” Miharu stammered.

To be fair, that had happened before. But that was back when she’d first joined the club; it couldn't be helped.

“Anyway, just stay away from the cameras,” Sayuki-san added.

“Fine, fine. It’s not like I can do anything useful anyway,” Miharu grumbled, retreating into a sulk.

This was a problem. When Miharu got moody like this, it threw off my rhythm. This was a comet shoot I absolutely couldn't miss; I wanted everything to go exactly as planned, in a stable environment.

Then, a thought struck me. Come to think of it, I hadn't had a single ginger cookie today.

They were Miharu’s specialty, something she always served at these events. Usually, she’d show them off with a bashful but happy smile. Was she intentionally holding back today because she was trying to "change" herself?

“Man, I’m starving,” I muttered, loud enough for those around me to hear.

“Huh? Are you hungry, Ryuuichi-kun?” Miharu turned back toward me, her eyes shimmering with expectation.

“Well, yeah. Look at the time. I could really go for a midnight snack.”

“I—I see. Yeah, that makes sense.”

“Did you not bring the usual today?” I asked.

“...! I—it doesn’t matter, does it? Those things aren't even that good,” she replied, her voice wavering.

“That’s not true. I like them.”

“R-Really?”

“Yeah. To my palate, it’s not really a stargazing session until I’ve had your cookies. It’s become a part of the routine.”

Miharu began fidgeting nervously with her bangs.

“...I see. Well... I’m sorry. It’s just, today... the cookies... well, they didn't turn out great...”

“So you didn't bring them?”

“No, it’s not that. I wasn't trying to be stingy or anything...”

From her tone, I was certain she had them. She just hadn't found the right moment to bring them out. No matter how much one tries to change, deep-seated habits are hard to break. I hoped that by sharing her ginger cookies like we always did, Miharu would finally return to her usual self.

But then—

“In that case, would you like to try some of mine?”

Unexpectedly, Sayuki-san held out a Tupperware container toward me. Inside was a mountain of dark brown, perfectly shaped star-shaped cookies.

“Oh, uh... where did these come from?” I asked, caught off guard.

“I thought we might need a midnight snack. I made plenty, so please, everyone, help yourselves.”

With the offer laid out like that, I couldn't exactly refuse.

“Wow! Onee-chan’s handmade cookies!” Miharu chirped, her voice sounding forced and innocent.

I picked one up and bit into one of the star’s points.

“Whoa... these are amazing,” I whispered, the compliment slipping out before I could stop it.

The texture was perfect—crispy and light with a satisfying crunch. The chocolate chips were distributed with mathematical precision, creating a golden ratio of sweetness and bitterness. It was as if she’d thoroughly analyzed my taste buds and fired a shot directly into the center of the bullseye. I finished the cookie in seconds.

Miharu and Kunitomo both reached in as well. After just one bite, Kunitomo’s eyes went wide.

“These are... truly delicious,” Kunitomo admitted, her honest thoughts leaking out.

Miharu was already reaching for a second.

“It’s been a while since I had your cookies, Onee-chan. They really are the best. How do you get the bake so perfect? ...You really can do anything, can't you?”

Her voice, forced into a smile, sounded like it was on the verge of cracking into tears.

“...Miharu? Your voice is shaking. Are you okay?” Kunitomo asked, leaning in with concern.

“Ah, u-uh, yeah. Sorry. I just got a little chilled all of a sudden. I’m gonna go grab my jacket!”

With that, Miharu bolted. Her back disappeared into the school building in an instant.

Was she crying?

“I, uh, realized I forgot some of the observation gear in the clubroom. I’ll be right back. You two wait here,” I told Sayuki-san and Kunitomo before chasing after Miharu.

“Alright, but come back soon,” Sayuki-san said. Her face was clouded with unease. She was silently reminding me that the window for the comet's appearance was closing.

Inside the building, most of the lights had been turned off to save energy. The heating was off in most areas too, so while it was better than being outside, the hallways were still quite chilly.

I headed for the Astronomy Club room. Just as I suspected, the light I’d turned off earlier was glowing from beneath the door. I threw the door open. Miharu was there.

“R-Ryuuichi-kun?”

She spun around, startled. In her hands, she held a Tupperware container identical in shape to the one Sayuki-san had brought. Inside was a mountain of ginger cookies.

“I knew it. You did bring them,” I said.

“These... well. They were a failure,” she replied, shoving the container roughly back into her bag. “Besides, Onee-chan’s cookies are way better, right? Nobody wants my gross cookies anyway.”

“That’s not true. Don't be so self-deprecating.”

“...It’s not self-deprecation, it’s a fact. Onee-chan is smarter, she’s a better cook, she’s more thoughtful, she knows more about the stars... Compared to her, I’m just...”

“Miharu...”

What was I supposed to say to her? No matter how hard I searched my heart, I couldn't find the right words. I felt like I was looking up at a night sky where heavy clouds had swallowed every single star.

“Even so... as Ryuuichi-kun’s girlfriend... I’ve been trying so hard to think of what I can do... and...”

Miharu looked up and took a step toward me.

“Ryuuichi-kun, you want to find a new comet someday and name it, right? Your dream is to leave proof that you existed, even after you’re gone, right?”

That was a dream given to me by that girl—by Sayuki-san—but it wasn't a lie. I nodded silently.

“Yeah. It’s a dream anyone who does this for a hobby aspires to.”

“...I’m too stupid to help you with a big dream like that, and I’m not useful like Onee-chan. But... I thought maybe I could do something close to it.”

“Something close?”

I had no idea what she was talking about. Fulfilling my dream partially? What did she mean?

Before my bewildered eyes, Miharu’s face turned a deep crimson as she reached for her lower abdomen. She slowly began to stroke the area just below her navel.

“Naming something... leaving proof you were alive... in a way, couldn't you fulfill that... by making a baby...?”

It took several seconds for the meaning of those words to process. After a long delay in my brain's circuitry, only one sound escaped my lips.

“...Huh?”

“...So, with me... do you want to... try making a baby?”

As my mind descended into utter chaos, Miharu grabbed the hem of her skirt and, with a look of intense shame, slowly began to lift it.

The curtain rose, gradually revealing the base of her long, slender legs. Her fine-grained skin reflected the overhead light, glowing white like polished marble. And there, in the center, sat a pair of black underwear that looked like a shadow against her skin.

It was a pair of adult lace-and-embroidery side-tie panties—a jarring contrast to Miharu’s innocent persona. The thin fabric offered a precarious cover for her most intimate parts, held in place only by the ribbons tied into bows at her slender hips.

“...This is the only thing I could think of,” she whispered.

Her face couldn't possibly have been any redder. Her hands were shaking violently, yet she kept her skirt held high, exposing herself to me. Because she was trembling with shame and nerves, the two ribbon bows at her sides fluttered like the wings of butterflies, as if inviting me to catch them.

“W-Wait! Just—take a deep breath. I’ll do the same. Come on, in and out.”

We breathed together for a moment. Then we locked eyes again. Even so, Miharu showed no intention of lowering her skirt.

“...Why won’t you do it?”

Finally, tears began to well in her eyes.

“Is it because... I’m not attractive?”

“No! It’s because you’re important to me! Of course, I want to do it someday, but... not in a place like this, and not just because things reached a breaking point. I don't want to hurt you, Miharu.”

“...I see. You really are kind, aren't you?”

Whether she was convinced or simply giving up, Miharu finally let go. Her skirt succumbed to gravity and draped back over her legs. It felt as though the temperature in the room instantly dropped five degrees the moment she was covered again. The sweat that had been prickling my skin began to recede.

“Come on, let’s get back to the roof.”

The moment I turned and opened the door to the hallway, I was shoved violently from behind.

I spun around just as the door slammed shut. When I tried to pull it back open, I heard the click of the lock from the other side. As I expected, it wouldn't budge no matter how much force I applied.

“H-Hey! Miharu! What are you doing? Open up!”

“...Sorry. If I look at your face, I probably won’t be able to say it,” Miharu’s trembling voice came from behind the door.

“Say what?”

“The breakup.”

“...Are you serious?”

“Yeah. This relationship started with my confession, so I figure it’s my job to end it too... Ryuuichi-kun, you wouldn't even touch me after I did something that embarrassing. You’re already bored of me, aren't you?”

“I told you, that’s not it! It’s because you’re important! If we’re going to do that, we should do it properly, somewhere with the right atmosphere—”

“...Then why did you kiss my Onee-chan?”

“...!”

The spear-tip of her words was sharp, piercing my chest. I heard the sound of the hollow excuses I’d built up inside me come crashing down.

...So she did know.

Miharu had known all along and kept quiet. She’d kept her mask on. That was why she’d been acting so strange lately. I hadn't noticed at all that she was crying beneath her smiles. Or rather, I’d pretended not to notice. I’d been optimistic and pathetic, thinking that things would just continue as they always had.

What should I do? Should I tell her everything?

The truth is, Sayuki-san is the "you" from the second loop.

Ridiculous. What good would saying that do? Could the current Miharu even comprehend it? Would she accept it?

A thousand excuses flashed through my mind, and I hated myself for only thinking about how to deceive her.

“...I’m sorry.”

In the end, all I could manage was a clumsy apology a child could have given.

“You don't have to apologize. I’ve always thought you and Onee-chan looked good together anyway... Besides, you two were old acquaintances, right? There’s no way someone like me could compete.”

“H-How did you even find out about that?”

“Earlier, while we were napping, Onee-chan was talking about how you hadn't changed since elementary school, right?”

“What?”

But at that time, I’d heard Miharu’s rhythmic breathing...

Miharu answered the question in my heart.

“I’m a good fake-sleeper, aren't I? To be honest, I couldn't sleep at all because I was so embarrassed about showing you those panties.”

If she’d heard that conversation, there was no room left for excuses.

“Hey, when did you two meet? I used to follow Onee-chan around everywhere when we were little, but I never knew about you.”

“...We weren't exactly 'acquaintances.' We just met once at a campsite during a summer break in elementary school. Sayuki-san taught me a lot about the stars back then...”

“Heh. So Ryuuichi-kun’s ‘person of destiny’ was my Onee-chan? It’s like a fairy tale that you two met again. I guess everything makes sense now. I was just the cupid who brought you two together.”

That’s not it. My meeting with Sayuki-san was something she’d engineered from the start; I’d been in the palm of her hand all along. It wasn't destiny or anything romantic like that. But even though I knew that, I didn't think I could make Miharu understand.

It wasn't even that I liked Sayuki-san more. To me, they were both "Miharu."

“I’m the one at fault here... You have every right to be angry. ...Please, open the door. I’ll take whatever you have to say. I want you to tell me everything you’re feeling.”

I put a little more force into the handle, trying to open the door. But it remained firmly shut, just like Miharu’s heart.

“No. If I see your face now, my emotions will get messy and I won’t know what I’m saying.”

“I don't care what you say to me.”

“...I want to break up beautifully. I want to keep the memory of being Ryuuichi-kun’s girlfriend as a good one. I don't want to ruin it at the very end.”

Memory.

That word signaled that our relationship was becoming a thing of the past. No, that was only natural. With what face could I possibly continue to act as Miharu’s boyfriend now?

My heart couldn't keep up with the fact of the breakup. Having Miharu by my side had become something I took for granted. But it wasn't something to be taken for granted at all; it was something fragile that could be broken by the smallest thing.

I was drowning in regret. What should I have done?

“...Leave me alone for a while. Don't worry about me, go find that comet with Onee-chan. I’m... I’m rooting for both of your dreams.”

Her final words were squeezed out in a voice as tiny as the buzzing of a gnat, and then Miharu went silent. No matter how much I knocked, there was no reply.

Perhaps I should do as she said and leave her alone. At the very least, a guy like me shouldn't be the one by her side. I backed away from the door, intentionally making my footsteps loud so she would know I was leaving.

But I didn't have the heart to go back to the roof. I didn't know how I’d explain this to Sayuki-san or Kunitomo. I trudged aimlessly down the dim hallway.

“My, my. President-kun, what are you doing in a place like this?”

Suddenly, Inou-sensei appeared before me. With her messy long hair and pale complexion, her visual impact was a bit much for a midnight encounter in a school building. Normally I would have jumped out of my skin, but in my current state, it didn't even register.

“I finally saw a light at the end of my overtime work, so I was just heading up to the roof to check on the Astronomy Club.”

“You’ve been working this whole time? It’s 2:00 AM.”

“Just between us, I meant to work but I fell into a deep sleep and only just woke up. So while I’m perfectly rested and energetic, you look like death warmed over, President-kun.”

“...A lot has happened.”

“I’m still a teacher, you know. If you have troubles, I’ll listen.”

I didn't think I’d get a coherent answer from Inou-sensei, but it would be rude to refuse.

“Well... I had a fight with Miharu.”

“Ah, one of those. Not a study-related problem then?”

“If it were about my studies, I wouldn't be looking like death warmed over.”

“What should I do? Honestly, I’m not very good at these kinds of talks.”

“...I know. It’s fine.”

“Hmm. Interpersonal friction is difficult because everyone has their own answer. I’m bad at it. In math, ‘no solution’ can be the correct answer, but this is different.”

The teacher crossed his arms and thought seriously. Just that gesture was enough for me to be grateful.

“You’re right. That’s why I thought I’d keep my distance for a while... eventually, time will...”

I knew full well that time wouldn't solve this, of course. But sensei saw right through my hesitation.

“However, I think the attitude of continuing to search for an answer is just as important as it is in mathematics.”

“...Do you think I can even find one?”

“Who knows? But you can at least get closer. Your subject isn't some celestial body millions of kilometers away—it’s a girl standing right in front of you.”

Sensei might be right. This wasn't like stargazing where the objects were forever out of reach.

I wanted to talk to Miharu one more time. The feeling finally began to bubble up inside me.

“But sensei, Miharu has barricaded herself in the clubroom. I’m not in a position to just go see her...”

“Well, it can't be helped. Allow me to grant you the power of an adult for just such an occasion.”

With a somewhat theatrical tone, sensei reached into her lab coat pocket and pulled out something as if it were a secret gadget. Held high in her right hand was a key.

“Here. The faculty master key. Why don't you go fetch her like a prince on a white horse?”

“...T-Thank you so much.”

I clutched the key and, without even properly thanking him, took off running down the hallway.

I arrived back at the clubroom door. It was shut tight, reflecting Miharu’s current state of mind.

“Miharu. It’s me. I want to talk. Just one more time.”

No response.

“I’m sorry. I’m coming in.”

I shoved the key into the lock and forced it open. I stepped softly into the room. The heating had been cut to save power, and while it was better than being outside, it was still cold. For a second, I didn't see Miharu and panicked, but then I spotted her curled up in the corner of the room. She was sitting with her knees pulled to her chest, her face buried in them to hide her expression.

“Miharu,” I called out softly.

“Go back to the roof already. You’re going to find that comet, right?”

Her back didn't move as she replied in a hoarse voice.

“I can't just leave you here.”

“...”

Miharu didn't argue back. As I looked down, wondering what to do, I saw her Tupperware container overturned on the floor. The ginger cookies were scattered everywhere. It looked like she’d dropped them—or maybe thrown them—after she’d kicked me out.

I knelt down, picked up a star-shaped cookie with a chipped corner, and put it in my mouth.

“...This is sweet.”

Compared to her previous ginger cookies, this one was significantly sweeter. The ginger scent was suppressed, and the sharp edge it used to have was gone. It wasn't my imagination. I picked up another one from the floor and ate it.

“Yeah. Definitely sweet. ...Did you adjust this for my tastes?”

I kept tossing cookies into my mouth, one after another. My mouth was getting pretty dry, though.

“H-Hey! How long are you going to keep eating stuff off the floor?!”

Finally, Miharu looked up in a panic. The areas around her large eyes were swollen from crying.

“Your cookies are addictive. If I don't eat these, it’ll interfere with my observations,” I said.

“...How are they? This time?”

“They’re tuned perfectly to my preferences. They’re delicious.”

“...I’m glad.”

“But I miss the old ones too. They were addictive because of that edge. ...That’s why I want to keep eating your cookies. Not just on observation nights, but on dates too...”

I looked directly into her slightly swollen eyes and spoke my honest feelings.

“That’s why I don't want to break up.”

Miharu stared back at me. I could see a swirl of emotions deep within her bloodshot eyes.

“...But you like my Onee-chan, don't you?”

The question was barely a whisper. I didn't lie to my heart. I answered honestly.

“I do.”

Miharu’s expression remained blank.

“The kiss with Sayuki-san wasn't just me getting caught up in the moment. I was serious. That hasn't changed.”

Because Sayuki-san was also "Miharu." I knew this feeling probably wouldn't reach her. There was no way it could.

“I like you both. I can't choose one and discard the other. I like you both equally. I know this is a mountain of problems, but I want to face them properly.”

It sounded like nothing more than the trashy excuses of a cheater. But I had to say it with total sincerity.

“So, please... go out with me again.”

This time, the confession was mine.

“...”

Still, there was no noticeable change in Miharu’s expression. How she was taking these words—the worst words I could have possibly said—was something only she knew.

“People call that 'two-timing,' you know. Do you really think you can solve this?”

Her words stung.

“O-Of course.”

I nodded, and Miharu let out a dry laugh.

“...It’s impossible. You’ve always got nothing but stars in your head. You don't even see me.”

She was right.

“I’ll make sure to see you from now on!”

“Even when an undiscovered comet appears? Even if I go somewhere far away? Even if my Onee-chan is right in front of you?”

She peered into my eyes as if trying to measure the depth of my intent. I looked straight back into her gaze.

“Anytime, anywhere... no matter where you go, I will definitely find you.”

Come to think of it, I’d made a similar declaration to that girl. The moment I realized it, that girl’s image overlapped with Miharu’s again. How many times had I felt this déjà vu? Even knowing about Sayuki-san, they still overlapped...

However, Miharu was looking up at me with a bewildered expression.

“What is it?” I asked.

“...I feel like I’ve heard those words somewhere before...”

For a moment, our gazes remained locked.

Before? I didn't think I’d say something so embarrassing more than once in my life. Miharu knit her brows, searching her memories.

“...Where was it? A long time ago, during summer break... at a campsite...”

The fragments of words Miharu whispered began to dig up my own memories. The oppressive summer heat, the smell of grass, the deafening chorus of cicadas, a full moon being carved away by shadows. The memories of that girl gained color and saturation.

Why was I remembering this so clearly? I wanted to know what this feeling meant, so I spoke those words exactly as I remembered them.

“"...I’ll definitely find you. The new comet, and you too!"”

In that instant, Miharu’s face lit up.

“Yes! That’s it!”

Wait, how did Miharu know that? I’d said that to that girl—to Sayuki-san...

“A long time ago, on a family camping trip, a boy said that to me,” Miharu said, looking off into the distance. “It was the middle of the night, and my Onee-chan, who I’d been stargazing with, suddenly disappeared. While I was looking for her, someone called out to me... That boy probably mistook me for my Onee-chan. We looked a lot alike back then. ...But how do you know that, Ryuuichi-kun?”

Sayuki-san hadn't been the only one at the campsite that day. Miharu had been there too. Of course she had, if Sayuki-san was there on a family trip. And back then, unlike now, the two of them looked so much alike they were practically identical twins. It was no wonder I’d mistaken them for the same person.

So, while the one who kissed my cheek that day was Sayuki-san... the one I’d made the promise to face-to-face was... Miharu.

There were two of "that girl." Just like Sirius, which is actually two stars.

“...It was me. I was at that campsite too.”

I could tell my voice was shaking. Miharu blinked several times before letting out a cry of shock.

“Wh... Whaaat?!”

“I’ve been looking for that girl I made a promise to for a long time... and it was you, Miharu.”

Even after learning Sayuki-san was that girl, something hadn't felt quite right. Like a puzzle piece was still missing. Now, finally, the hole was filled. The fact that I’d seen traces of that girl in Miharu wasn't a mistake at all.

I had found her.

“W-Wait, wait. Even if that’s true, the one you were looking for was my Onee-chan, right? I mean, even back then, you only made that promise because you mistook me for her!”

Miharu waved her hands frantically in front of her chest.

“But the fact that I was looking for you is also half-true. Because the person I made the promise to... was you.”

“B-But...”

“I see. I’ve been looking for both of you this whole time. Sayuki-san, who taught me about the stars, and Miharu, who I made the promise to.”

Miharu looked away, clearly flustered.

“In that case, I want to properly fulfill that promise. I want the three of us—me, you, and Sayuki-san—to find a comet together someday. I know this relationship isn't 'right,' and I don't know if there’s a solution. But won't you let me face this head-on?”

“...”

The silence felt as long as the time it takes for the light of a distant star to reach Earth. Finally, Miharu let out a breath.

“I’ve always been in my Onee-chan’s shadow, so when you told me you’d ‘find me,’ I was actually a little bit happy.”

She’d been looking far away, but now she focused her gaze back on me.

“...Maybe I’ve been looking for you too, Ryuuichi-kun. This whole time.”

After a deep sigh, she continued. “Fine. Let’s figure out our future together. The two of us... and Onee-chan. All three of us.”

“...Does that mean...”

“Come on. Let’s make up.”

Miharu tilted her head back and closed her eyes. I wasn't so dense that I didn't know what she was asking for. I leaned in and pressed my lips against her cute, pouting ones. They were moist and soft, but possessed a firm elasticity that pushed back against mine.

This was my first kiss with Miharu.

When I pulled away, Miharu immediately opened her eyes and puffed out her cheeks.

“That was short...”

“Huh?”

I didn't expect her to say that.

“That wasn't nearly enough. You were way more intense with my Onee-chan. That’s not fair.”

Then, Miharu came at me. She pressed her lips to mine and suddenly forced her tongue into my mouth. Her tongue, smaller than Sayuki-san’s, moved clumsily and almost violently inside my mouth. It was an unpracticed, awkward kiss.

This wasn't an adult’s kiss; it was the kiss of a child struggling to become an adult.

But she didn't stop there. Once our tongues and lips parted, she kissed my right cheek. Then the tip of my nose. Then my eyelids. Then my left cheek. A rain of kisses fell all over my face.

“...Onee-chan stole the first kiss on the lips, so I’m going to take every other ‘first’ there is.”

Miharu whispered with lips still trailing a thread of saliva. After covering my face in kisses, she moved to my neck. The front of the kiss-rain continued its descent, reaching my collarbone.

“This is in the way.”

Muttering with annoyance, Miharu began unbuttoning my dress shirt. She pulled the undershirt down, exposing my collarbone and chest, and pressed her lips there too.

“M-Miharu. Wait, hey. Any more than this is...”

Miharu’s kisses kept moving downward. She pulled the hem of my undershirt up and plunged her face inside. At the same time, a ticklish sensation ran across my navel.

So far, it was okay. I could still endure this. But if she went any lower...

My prediction was correct. Miharu pulled her face out from under my shirt and finally reached for my belt.

“W-Wait, wait. What are you planning?”

“I told you, didn't I? I’m taking every first besides the lips.”

Miharu’s gaze was fixed on my lower half.

“Any more than that is seriously bad! Think about the time and place!”

“Did you think about that when you were kissing Onee-chan?”

I was silenced. Miharu’s hand was on my trousers. She looked ready to pull them down.

Just then—

Miharu suddenly let go of my belt and ran to the clubroom door. She threw it open with a bang. Entering the room as if she’d fallen in was—

“I knew you were peeping, Onee-chan.”

Miharu looked down at Sayuki-san, who was supporting herself on the floor, with a mischievous smile.

“I—I was just... it’s almost time for the observation, so I came to get you...”

Sayuki-san scrambled to her feet, fidgeting with the long hair draped over her shoulder. She was trying to maintain her composure, but her agitation was painfully obvious.

“Your face is beet red, Onee-chan. And it’s winter, but you’re covered in sweat.”

“...”

Sayuki-san turned her red face away, avoiding Miharu’s gaze.

“Did you know she was outside?” I asked Miharu.

“I’ve been feeling a gaze for a while now. How did I know? Well, we are twins. Maybe it’s telepathy.”

The contrast between Sayuki-san, who was looking away in embarrassment, and Miharu, who wore a confident smirk, was striking. But considering they were twins—and the same person from different timelines—maybe this reaction wasn't so strange.

“Anyway, since you were eavesdropping, you already know. It’s the three of us from now on. You can't have Ryuuichi-kun all to yourself anymore. Too bad!”

“...Are you... are you really okay with that? With Ryuuichi-kun having two girlfriends...?”

“No, I’m not. I want him to look only at me.”

Miharu looked back and forth between me and Sayuki-san.

“But up until now, I wasn't properly looking at him either. I just thought of him as my own possession that you didn't have. That makes me a failure of a girlfriend.”

Miharu looked down apologetically. She didn't have to apologize for a single thing.

“Even so, I want to start over. I want to be a proper girlfriend.”

Miharu looked at me and smiled—her usual smile. No, it wasn't completely her usual smile. It was a smile that was a little bit lonely, but also a little bit forward-looking.

“Ryuuichi-kun, are you really okay with this?”

In contrast to the now-resolute Miharu, Sayuki-san turned a bewildered expression toward me. The gazes of my two "girlfriends" gathered on me, waiting for my words.

“I am. I can't choose one over the other, so I want to choose the option where we’re together... I know this is unconventional, and part of me feels like it’s wrong.”

“Well, duh. If people find out you have two girlfriends, imagine the rumors,” Miharu said, shaking her head.

“But... I want to break free from the gravity of common sense. ...And I think the three of us can do it.”

“After all, to break free from Earth’s gravity, you only need to go 1.41 times faster than orbital speed, right?”

Miharu quoted the words I’d once said to her and nodded powerfully. “I feel like we can do that. Not twice as fast, or three times as fast—just 1.41 times. We can manage that, right, Onee-chan?”

“...”

Even after Miharu threw the ball into her court, the clouds didn't clear from Sayuki’s face.

Seeing her Onee-chan like that, Miharu clapped her hands together sharply.

“Alright! Now that we’ve got that all settled... I’ve already had my ‘Ryuuichi-kun refill’ for the day, so it’s your turn, Onee-chan. I’ll head back up to the roof for now. Don’t take too long—get finished and get up there, okay?”

“Huh? M-Miharu?”

Leaving a bewildered Sayuki behind, Miharu practically breezed out of the clubroom.

For a long while, the two of us stood in the remaining silence.

“...I think she was just trying to give us space. She’s grown quite strong, hasn't she?” Sayuki murmured.

“Well, she is the past version of you, after all,” I replied.

“No... the me back then was much weaker. I didn't even understand my own feelings, and I never truly looked at you properly, Ryuuichi-kun. The Miharu of now is completely different from the me I used to be.”

Sayuki gazed toward the door where Miharu had vanished, but then she suddenly let out a sharp gasp.

“Oh! The time! Ryuuichi-kun, we have to get to the roof, fast!”

She grabbed my arm, trying to pull me toward the exit. But I didn't move. I didn't even need to look at a clock to know why.

Looking out the window, the arrival of dawn was unmistakable. The sky was flooded with a dazzling sunlight. With the horizon this bright, any hope of photographing a comet was gone.

“The time limit’s up, but I don't mind,” I said. “My desire to find a new comet was originally just a means to find that girl again. I have no lingering regrets.”

“Are you sure? All the time you spent looking at the stars, all that knowledge you gained... that was real.”

“...I’m sorry. I told a little white lie just now.”

Having dabbled in astronomy as much as I have, I understood perfectly well how much effort and sheer luck it took to find an unknown comet. A ticket to a legacy that most people wouldn't find in a lifetime was passing right before my eyes. Even so, I couldn't bring myself to run for the roof.

“Finding a comet was just a means to an end at first. But while I was studying and chasing after them in my own way, I think I started to take it seriously. So, if I’m honest... yeah, I hate to miss this chance.”

“Then—!”

Sayuki’s hand tightened on my arm, urging me forward.

“I do hate to miss it. But... it’s okay. Thanks to meeting the two people I was looking for all this time, a dream that was supposed to be a ‘means’ has become a real dream. I’ve finally learned to want to find a comet for the sake of the discovery itself.”

“Then why?”

She looked at me as if to ask why I was being so sluggish. I bared my true heart to her.

“...Because it’s a ‘real’ dream now. I don't want someone to just tell me where it is. I want to find it with my own strength. No—I want us to find it with everyone’s strength.”

“Oh...”

Realization finally dawned on Sayuki. The tension left her hand, and her arm dropped to her side.

“I see. Of course. That should have been obvious... I’m sorry. I didn't even realize. In the first loop, and even now, I’ve failed to understand you...”

“Don’t take it so hard. I was just trying to sound cool.”

I tried to comfort her, but the shadow didn't leave her face.

“Every time I looked at Miharu, I felt so irritated. It was painful to see the pathetic version of my past self. It felt like my past mistakes were being shoved in my face, and I hated it.”

Her true feelings began to drip out, one by one. I could feel her cold, closed-off heart beginning to melt like snow under the morning sun.

“...But that wasn't the real reason. In the end, I was just frustrated with myself. I haven't grown at all since the first loop; I’m just orbiting the same spot over and over like a satellite. I hated being that person. ...I’m sorry, Ryuuichi-kun. I’ve made a complete mess of your life...”

“You don't need to apologize. You’re the one who gave me a real dream, Sayuki.”

“No. You found that dream yourself. I didn't do anything. I haven't done anything a girlfriend should do. I’m a failure... in both the first loop and the second.”

She kept her head bowed, and I searched desperately for the words to reach her. There were a galaxy’s worth of words sparkling in my mind, but connecting them into a sentence that could reach someone else’s heart was incredibly difficult. Still, I had to keep searching. Just like I searched for comets.

“...In order for my dream to come true, I’m going to need you from now on, Sayuki.”

If I was going to accept her as she was—as my girlfriend from the second loop—I had to say it.

“I need you.”

“...Ryuuichi-kun.”

She slowly, tentatively, lifted her gaze to mine.

“I won’t be able to find a comet without your support and your knowledge of astronomy. And of course, I need Miharu too. Like I said before, I need both of you. ...So, someday, let’s all find a comet together.”

I said it to fulfill the promise I’d made to both of them back then, even if I hadn't realized there were two of them at the time.

“...”

“It might take a lifetime for an amateur to find an undiscovered comet. But I want you to stay by my side for that dream, for as long as it takes.”

“...Yes. Of course.”

Finally, a gentle expression returned to Sayuki’s face. I cupped her cheeks in my hands and pressed my lips softly against hers.

This kiss was different from the first one. It was innocent—the light brushing of lips against lips. I savored the sensation slowly, carefully, like stepping onto fresh, untouched snow. Sayuki narrowed her eyes and accepted me.

Right after kissing one girlfriend, Miharu, I was locking lips with the other, Sayuki.

Society might call this cheating, or two-timing. But I had no intention of being trapped by the gravity of common sense. No matter what anyone said, this was pure love.

I have always, single-mindedly, loved the girl named "Asada Miharu". From the past to the present, and into the future.

Between the current Miharu and the second-loop Miharu, just because their timelines are different doesn't mean they are different people. To me, choosing only one would be the true act of insincerity.

And so, I kissed my girlfriend from the second loop.