Shujinkou no Osananajimi ga, Wakiyaku no Ore ni Guigui Kuru [LN] Bahasa Indonesia

 

Chapter 1: A Secret Christmas Date

"Ah, Kanon, you didn't say Uno~!" Kaede cheered playfully.

"...So annoying. Could you tone down that triumphant attitude?" Kanon snapped back.

"Eeeh, so mean!?"

"It's just sour grapes. Don't worry about it," Akazawa reassured.

"Huh??? I haven't lost yet, you know. I just got two more cards."

The night we'd finally taken back was as lively as ever.

December 22nd. Three days before winter break. The five of us were all gathered together once again today.

The location: the Old Gym Storage that was no longer in use.

The members: myself—Minase Shuuto, Tsukimi Kaede, Kazemiya Kanon, Ogino Misato, and Akazawa Yō.

A secret gathering of five people who had absolutely no connection to one another during the day. That was "The Don't Want To Go Home Alliance."

The time was 10:00 PM. The night had grown late, and we were likely the only ones left in the entire school.

Outside it was freezing cold, but thanks to the electric heater Kazemiya had brought in, it was nice and warm inside.

Our goal was simply to have a good time together at night. That was all.

By the way, we were currently in the middle of playing Uno.

The globally popular card game that absolutely everyone knew.

Playing a simple board game like this once in a while was nice. It was easy to just casually enjoy.

The game was already entering its final stages, and the first to win and clear her hand was Ogino.

"Zzz... zzz..."

Said Ogino was currently wrapped up in a blanket, fast asleep right beside me.

"Nyaa..."

I assumed she was doing it unconsciously, but the way she rubbed her cheek against the blanket made her look just like a cat.

During the day, Ogino always hung out with the gyaru clique, pasting on a fake smile, but at night, she was completely different.

Unlike her tense daytime persona, she was completely relaxed around us. It was actually quite cute.

—And it wasn't just Ogino. Everyone here had a daytime face and a nighttime face.

Naturally, I was no exception.

During the day, I barely spoke and maintained my status as an absolute loner, but at night, I could converse with everyone normally.

"And that's Uno," I said as I laid down a card.

Tsukimi-senpai glared at me with palpable frustration.

In this game, you were required to declare "Uno" when you were down to your last card.

If you forgot to say it, the penalty was drawing two more cards.

Kazemiya had forgotten earlier, but I certainly wasn't going to make the same mistake.

"Ugh... Minase-kun, I can't believe you didn't forget to say Uno...!" Tsukimi-senpai whined.

She let out a frustrated groan and shot me a resentful glare.

As usual, Tsukimi-senpai's expressions changed at a dizzying pace during the night.

The daytime Tsukimi-senpai was a perfect second-year student who possessed the holy trinity of top-tier grades, stellar athleticism, and striking beauty.

She was the sole second-year in our alliance, and she served as our leader.

But even the so-called perfect Tsukimi-senpai showed a completely different face at night—when she was in front of us.

Specifically, she became much brighter and more energetic than usual, but in exchange, she turned incredibly clumsy and scatterbrained!

As if to prove that point, she still held a massive handful of cards.

"You really need to focus on actually reducing your cards first, Tsukimi-senpai," I pointed out.

"Kaede. The point of this game isn't just to catch people forgetting to declare Uno," Akazawa added.

Uno was a game where the winner was the first person to get rid of their entire hand.

Which meant that the person with the fewest cards was closest to victory.

"I already know thaaat!"

Tsukimi-senpai wailed, tears welling in her eyes.

I took a moment to reassess the battlefield.

Kazemiya had been penalized for forgetting to declare, bringing her up to three cards. Akazawa had two, and I had only one left.

Meanwhile, Tsukimi-senpai was still sitting on a whopping seven cards.

Granted, the reason she was losing wasn't entirely because she was bad at the game.

"Here's a 'Skip', Kaede," Akazawa announced.

"Whyyy!?" she shrieked.

Using his card's effect, Akazawa skipped over Tsukimi-senpai, who was sitting right next to him.

Yep. Akazawa had essentially been targeting Tsukimi-senpai this entire time just to mess with her.

Tsukimi-senpai's nighttime reactions were highly entertaining, so I totally understood where he was coming from.

She could probably make a killing as a popular streamer.

"Well then, I'm out," I said.

Setting that aside for now, I placed my final card on the pile, finishing in second place right behind Ogino.

"Grrgh... I refuse to be dead last...!"

Tsukimi-senpai groaned in frustration.

"Draw Two, Kaede," Akazawa declared.

"My cards increased again!?" she cried.

Akazawa always played the role of the class clown during the day, but that wasn't his true nature.

He was actually quite calm, collected, and highly intelligent. His poor test scores were entirely intentional.

When it came to our nighttime board games, Akazawa was able to fully unleash his true capabilities.

Though to be fair, he usually leaned more towards maximizing his own entertainment rather than actually trying to win.

"Yō-kun, aren't you just targeting me?" she asked.

"Because that's what's most entertaining," Akazawa replied.

Tsukimi-senpai pursed her lips in clear dissatisfaction.

"Hmph, serves you right," Kazemiya scoffed.

Having been caught failing to call Uno by Tsukimi-senpai earlier, Kazemiya was now grinning ear to ear.

"Why don't you just plummet straight to hell while you're at it?"

"So mean!? I am absolutely not losing to you, Kanon!"

On the other hand, the daytime Kazemiya—who played the role of a sweet, calculating school idol—also acted completely differently at night.

She was cold, strong-willed, and completely unleashed her sharp tongue.

"Hehe, it's too late for you. The difference in card count is too massive," she sneered.

She continued to mock Tsukimi-senpai, who was still struggling in vain despite her practically guaranteed defeat. Was her personality completely rotten or what?

After that, Akazawa and Kazemiya finished in that order, leaving Tsukimi-senpai in dead last.

"Uuugh... I lost again..."

Tsukimi-senpai flopped face-down onto the carpet.

"Kaede, you're way too weak," Ogino muttered.

Ogino, who had woken up at some point, ruthlessly gouged at Tsukimi-senpai's heart with a single, blunt remark.

"Grrr! I'm definitely winning the next one! Let's go again!" she demanded.

"Alright, alright. Just one more round then."

Kazemiya agreed in a tone usually reserved for humoring a petulant child.

"Hey, aren't you treating me like a kid? I'll have you know I'm everyone's upperclassman here!" Tsukimi-senpai protested.

"Then how about you start acting more like one?" Akazawa retorted.

"No thaanks. The whole reason I'm here is because I don't want to do stuff like that!"

"...Yeah, you've got a point. My bad."

Akazawa chuckled wryly as he watched Tsukimi-senpai pout.

And so, yet another fun and lively night slowly deepened.

Ever since Tsukimi-senpai's welcome-back party, all five of us had been gathering here every single day.

I figured there were two main reasons for that.

The first was that, having almost lost it, we had all realized just how important this alliance was to us.

And the second reason was—

"It's almost winter break, huh," I remarked.

"...It's going to be hard for us to meet up once the long break starts."

When I broached the topic, Kazemiya responded with a hint of loneliness in her voice.

This secret base could only be used at night. It was a measure taken to minimize the risk of getting caught.

However, no matter how late club activities dragged on during holidays and weekends, they rarely lasted into the night. Therefore, alliance activities were generally suspended on days off. Not that it was strictly forbidden or anything, though.

"Should we pick a day to meet up?" I suggested.

"Nah, wouldn't our club schedules and times be all over the place?" Akazawa pointed out.

I was in the Boys' Basketball Club, Tsukimi-senpai was in the Girls' Basketball Club, Akazawa was in the Baseball Club, Kazemiya was in the Girls' Tennis Club, and Ogino was in the Light Music Club. Since we were all in different clubs, our weekend schedules naturally didn't align.

On weekdays, club activities took place right after classes, so we generally finished around the same time.

"...In that case, it sounds like meeting up during winter break is gonna be impossible," I muttered.

"Well, clubs are usually off during the New Year's holidays anyway, so it can't really be helped, can it?" Akazawa reasoned.

Besides, winter break was only two weeks long to begin with.

A night without alliance activities dragged on forever, but I figured I could barely manage to endure two weeks of it.

"—Should we exchange contact info?"

As I sat there pondering, Tsukimi-senpai made a completely unexpected suggestion.

"...Are you sure?"

Ogino asked, looking surprised.

"It wouldn't be a violation of the Covenant or anything, right?" Tsukimi-senpai countered.

Now that she mentioned it, she was right.

Up until now, we had merely been companions who spent the nights together.

We visited the secret base on weekday nights. We hung out with whoever happened to be there. That was the extent of our relationship.

There hadn't been any long breaks since the alliance was formed, so there had never been a need to exchange contact info.

But the second rule of the Covenant had recently been revised, and this was how it stood now.

1. You must not speak of this alliance or the secret base to anyone.

2. The night is free. Therefore, companions may share their secrets and help one another.

3. The permitted usage hours for this secret base are from the end of club activities until 10:30 PM.

4. Interpersonal relationships from within the alliance must not be carried over outside of it.

—The current us could help one another.

"If we can coordinate when to meet up on RINE, there's no need to stress about it, right?" Tsukimi-senpai asked.

No one had any objections to her proposal.

If we could stay in touch, we'd probably be able to organize some gatherings during winter break.

It wouldn't be as frequent as our usual meet-ups, but that couldn't be helped.

"Now that that's settled, let's hurry up and swap info," Kazemiya prompted.

She and the others immediately began exchanging their RINE contacts.

"Come on, Minase. You too."

"...How do I do that?" I asked.

"Huh? Are you seriously telling me you don't use RINE?" Kazemiya stared at me in disbelief.

"I have the app downloaded, at least."

"Unbelievable. This is exactly why loners are..."

Kazemiya ended up teaching me how to add contacts.

My RINE friend list, which had been stuck at '0' this entire time, was finally updated to '4'.

Back in middle school when I actually had friends, I hadn't owned a smartphone yet.

"Thanks, Kazemiya."

"...That was the first time I've ever seen a friend list with literally zero people on it," she mumbled.

"How many do you have, Kazemiya?" I asked.

"Roughly two hundred or so. Though most of them are guys."

"Isn't that way too many!?"

"This is a perfectly normal amount. Right, Misato?"

"I have about twenty. I don't really have a lot of friends," Ogino replied.

Ogino's social circle seemed heavily skewed toward the gyaru clique she normally hung out with.

Compared to Akazawa, Kazemiya, and Tsukimi-senpai, it didn't seem like she was particularly well-connected.

Though she still completely dwarfed a loner like me, obviously.

"...I definitely asked the wrong person. What about you, Akazawa?" Kazemiya pivoted.

"I've got around four hundred, I think. But Kaede probably has more than me, right?"

"Umm, I have around six hundred. Though there are a lot of people I barely even talk to," Tsukimi-senpai answered.

So this was what the top of the school caste looked like...

"Ugh, my chats are piling up again."

Kazemiya sighed as she stared at her RINE screen.

"Are you not going to reply to them?" I asked.

I had accidentally caught a glimpse of her screen, but Kazemiya had active chats going with a massive number of guys.

"If I reply too quickly, they'll think I'm into them, so I intentionally leave some time between my responses."

Kazemiya navigated to a chat log with someone.

"It's always stuff like this."

She tilted her screen to show me as she spoke.

On the chat screen, the following conversation was displayed:

Kiritani: "Wanna go together sometime? I hear this movie is super good."

Kanon: "You're right! It looks really interesting!"

Kiritani: "I'm free on the first day of winter break, if you're down."

Kanon: "I'd love to go~. But wasn't that day Christmas?"

Kiritani: "That's why I'm asking lol"

"...That's uncomfortably raw," I muttered.

It was the textbook definition of a flirtatious exchange between a guy and a girl.

"I already left him on 'read,' so I'll have to respond," Kazemiya murmured.

"Are you gonna go? On the Christmas date?"

"...No, I'm not. He'd think I was actually interested in him if I did."

"If you're not interested, shouldn't you just tell him that directly?" I asked.

From the looks of it, the guy was definitely getting the wrong idea.

"...If it was that easy, I wouldn't be struggling."

Kazemiya said, casting her eyes downward.

"You tell me that stuff all the time, though. Like, 'Don't get the wrong idea,'" I pointed out.

"That's because we're here... I can only say things like that because it's you."

Now that I thought about it, I had never once seen the daytime Kazemiya speak so bluntly.

Her nighttime self was so toxic that it was easy to forget, but during the day, she interacted with everyone with a sweet, soft demeanor.

Judging by her words and actions, skillfully juggling her two personas was likely proving to be quite difficult for her.

"I'm happy that they like me, but..."

"You don't want them seriously putting the moves on you?" I guessed.

"Exactly. I have absolutely zero intention of tying myself down with a boyfriend," she admitted.

Being the idol of the grade came with its own fair share of headaches, it seemed.

...Honestly, I couldn't help but feel like she was asking for the impossible.

Kazemiya's usual attitude was undeniably flirtatious and suggestive.

With the way she acted, it was only natural that a bunch of guys would get the wrong idea.

Leading people on while simultaneously wanting to avoid any serious romantic advances was inherently contradictory.

"Then shouldn't you just treat them like normal friends?" I suggested.

"Treating them like normal friends, huh. And what exactly does that look like?" she challenged.

"...Now that I think about it, I've completely forgotten."

"What the hell is wrong with you? You're the one who suggested it," she snapped.

Kazemiya shot me an exasperated glare.

How did you even make friends again...?

Up until a year ago, I had done it completely naturally, but now I couldn't even remember how.

"You see, I just want to be loved."

Kazemiya said, her expression turning somber.

"And in order to achieve that, this is the only method I know."

Kazemiya intentionally behaved in a way designed to win over the male student body.

I'd assumed she did it because she wanted to be popular, but strictly speaking, that wasn't the case. Kazemiya simply wanted to be loved.

She had told me before that she had constructed that persona entirely for the sake of being loved.

"...So you want to be loved, but you don't necessarily want to love anyone back?" I asked.

"It would be nice if someone like that existed out there somewhere," she replied vaguely.

In other words, the daytime Kazemiya acting all sweet and subservient to guys was merely the result of her choosing the path of least resistance to earn affection. But the kind of 'love' Kazemiya truly sought was fundamentally different from romance.

If that was the case, Kazemiya's actions were incredibly contradictory.

It was hard to say she was taking the right approach toward achieving her true goal.

As if seeing right through my thoughts, Kazemiya let out a self-deprecating laugh.

"I already know... I know that what I'm doing makes no sense."

"...Kazemiya."

"Don't step any closer."

I leaned forward, but Kazemiya drew a clear, decisive line between us.

"This is my problem. It... has nothing to do with you."

Once she said that, there was nothing more I could do.

Thanks to the revision of the second rule in the Covenant, we were now allowed to help one another.

But that was only if the person in question actually wanted help. Now that Kazemiya had flat-out rejected me, my hands were tied.

"—Minase-kun, Kanon, are you two even listening?"

While Kazemiya and I were deep in conversation, Tsukimi-senpai called out to us.

"Sorry, what was that?" I asked.

"What were you two whispering about over there?"

"Nothing important, really."

Kazemiya brushed her off with a shrug.

"Hmph..."

Maybe it was just my imagination, but Tsukimi-senpai's gaze felt noticeably colder than usual.

I hadn't even done anything wrong... so why was this sudden chill running down my spine?

"We've all exchanged contact info, but you need to make sure no one finds out about this, okay?"

Tsukimi-senpai firmly nailed down the warning in a sharp tone.

"You're saying we shouldn't carelessly let anyone see our RINE screens, right?" Akazawa clarified.

"Yeah. Honestly, it's probably safest if you just keep our chat hidden altogether."

"...Ugh, what a pain."

Ogino frowned in obvious distaste.

"Misato, this is all to protect our haven, you know?"

"...Well, then I guess it can't be helped."

Persuaded by Tsukimi-senpai, Ogino gave a reluctant nod.

Honestly, part of me felt like we didn't need to go that far...

Then again, you never knew what might end up exposing this place.

We were clearly violating school rules here. We couldn't be too careful.

"Now then, with the warnings out of the way, I've made the group!" Kaede-senpai announced.

A RINE notification popped up on my phone.

It seemed a group chat for the five of us had just been created.

The group icon was a crescent moon floating in the night sky.

The group name was set to "IKD."

"What's with this group name?" I asked.

"It's short for the 'Don't Want To Go Home Alliance.' It's better than using the actual name, isn't it?"

Well, she had a point. If someone happened to catch a glimpse of my RINE screen and saw a group chat called the "Don't Want To Go Home Alliance," it would definitely raise some questions.

"But 'IKD' is so cryptic it might actually make people even more curious..." I pointed out.

"There's tons of group chats with completely nonsensical names out there," Akazawa chimed in.

"There are?"

Akazawa shoved his phone screen in my face.

A list of dozens of group chat names lined the screen.

"Sakurai Class"... A class RINE group, maybe?

"Let's Go Grab Grub"... So simple it was actually impossible to tell who was in it.

"The Listen to Satou Shou's Complaints Club"... Apparently, they listened to Satou Shou complain. Who the hell was Satou Shou?

"Dragonic Fire II"... Why "II"?

"Sanrin Baseball Club"... Thank God. Finally, a group name that actually made sense.

"...See? Totally nonsensical, right?"

And those were just a few examples. He had plenty of other bizarrely named group chats.

"True, if 'IKD' was buried in all that, it really wouldn't seem out of place..." I murmured.

More importantly, this guy had way too many friends.

"You're the only one with a bunch of weird group chats like that," Kazemiya said, shrugging in exasperation.

Thank God. Apparently, Akazawa wasn't the standard for normal high schoolers.

"You got a better idea?" he retorted.

"No, 'IKD' is fine by me. I'm just going to hide the chat anyway," Kazemiya replied.

"Guess I'll hide it too..." I muttered.

"In your case, Shuuto, you don't have any friends to peek at your phone anyway, so you're fine," Ogino stated bluntly.

"...I guess you're right."

I found myself agreeing before I realized what she'd actually said.

"Wait, Ogino. It's not that I don't have friends. I just choose not to make them."

"What's the difference?"

There was a difference. The nuance mattered.

"A group chat with everyone... I'm happy," Ogino said, smiling warmly as she gazed down at her phone.

In the "IKD" chat, everyone was already exchanging greeting stamps.

But mixed in with all those notifications was another one.

It was a direct message from Tsukimi-senpai.

Tsukimi Kaede: [Are you free on Christmas?]

I reflexively looked up at Tsukimi-senpai sitting across from me.

However, she wasn't looking at me.

"By the way, Kaede-senpai, weren't we going to play another round of Uno?" Kazemiya asked.

"Oh, right! Kanon, shuffle the deck!" Tsukimi-senpai exclaimed.

"Why me?! You came in last, Kaede-senpai, so you should do it!"

Tsukimi-senpai was completely engrossed in her conversation with Kazemiya.

...But looking closely, her cheeks seemed a little red.

"So, um... Christmas is coming up soon, isn't it?"

I remembered Tsukimi-senpai bringing up the topic of Christmas the other day.

"So, well, if you'd like, you and I could..."

She had clearly been trying to invite me out then.

Akazawa had interrupted and the moment had passed, but it seemed she was actually serious about it.

Christmas Day, December 25th, was the first day of winter break.

As far as my schedule went, I had club practice in the morning, but my afternoon was completely wide open.

How should I reply?

A Christmas date with Tsukimi-senpai. Obviously, I wanted to go.

After all, I liked her—as a girl. And I'd already told her as much.

But... did someone like me really have the right to date anyone?

I still didn't have an answer to that. Well, maybe I was just being overly self-conscious.

Actually, if you looked at it objectively, that was definitely the case.

Tsukimi-senpai was the most beautiful girl in school. Was there any way she'd fall for someone like me?

Tsukimi Kaede: [Our Fake Lovers Contract is still ongoing, right?]

While I was hesitating, another message arrived from her.

Minase Shuuto: [We never explicitly declared it over, so I guess so.]

Tsukimi Kaede: [Then it's still ongoing!]

Minase Shuuto: [I could always end it right here and now, you know.]

Tsukimi Kaede: [The contract cannot be terminated without mutual agreement!]

Minase Shuuto: [That's the first I've heard of that rule.]

It really seemed like Tsukimi-senpai wanted to keep up this fake relationship.

If that was the case, did she actually like me? I couldn't think of any other reason why.

Tsukimi Kaede: [I think lovers should go on a date for Christmas.]

Minase Shuuto: [Even fake ones?]

Tsukimi Kaede: [Fake or not, we're still lovers!]

Minase Shuuto: [Are you seriously trying to brute-force this logic?]

Tsukimi Kaede: [You agree with me, don't you?]

She was definitely brute-forcing it.

I shot a quick glance at Tsukimi-senpai across the table.

In the middle of shuffling the cards, she peeked over at me, too.

Our eyes met. Tsukimi-senpai's shoulders gave a violent twitch, and she quickly looked away.

Her ears were bright red. And when she averted her gaze, she ended up making eye contact with Kazemiya instead.

"K-Kaede-senpai, is something wrong?"

"...No, it's nothing."

Tsukimi-senpai immediately smoothed her expression back to normal.

She had just flipped the switch. From her night persona to her day persona... meaning, her "perfect older sister" act.

Tsukimi-senpai's night persona was terrible at hiding her feelings, so it was a good call on her part. She was quick on her feet.

"Hmm...?"

Even so, Kazemiya eyed her with a hint of suspicion, having witnessed the abrupt change in her expression firsthand.

"Anyway, the cards are shuffled! Let's get back to playing Uno!"

Reverting to her energetic night persona, Tsukimi-senpai began dealing the cards.

"I'm definitely going to win this time!"

Judging by how smoothly she derailed the conversation, she hadn't just switched back to her original persona.

She was most likely using her daytime mask to act out her true nighttime self. What a convoluted situation.

Unusually enough for her, even Tsukimi-senpai's competence fluctuated depending on which persona she wore.

Her "older sister" persona—the daytime mask constructed to replicate her late sister, Tsukimi Sakura—was overwhelmingly capable.

However, her night persona—her true self—could only be described as delightfully clumsy.

She was probably running her brain at maximum capacity during the day, whereas she let her guard down at night.

...Under normal circumstances, there wouldn't have been any need to switch to her day persona right now.

The reason she had to was to protect the secret Tsukimi-senpai and I shared.

For now, we were keeping our Fake Lovers Contract hidden from the rest of the alliance.

I was the only one who knew what had happened to Tsukimi-senpai that made her leave the alliance once before.

A secret just between the two of us.

There was something profoundly unsettling about that phrase.

Tsukimi Kaede: [Takasaki Station. 2:00 PM.]

Kaede-senpai was firing off direct messages to me between turns in Uno.

I couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt about carrying on a secret conversation behind everyone else's backs.

Minase Shuuto: [I still haven't said I'm free, though...]

Tsukimi Kaede: [The boys' basketball club only has morning practice that day, right? The girls' club is the same, by the way.]

It seemed she already had my club schedule figured out.

Tsukimi-senpai had plenty of friends in the boys' basketball club, so finding out my schedule would've been a piece of cake.

If I accepted her invitation, it meant I'd be meeting her during the daytime, but...

Minase Shuuto: [Wouldn't a daytime date violate the Fourth Covenant?]

Tsukimi Kaede: [It'll just be the two of us, so it's fine. It's only a problem if someone sees us, though.]

Minase Shuuto: [...Does that really not count as bringing it into the outside world?]

Tsukimi Kaede: [Wait, do you actually not want to go?]

Minase Shuuto: [No, it's not that...]

Tsukimi Kaede: [Then let's go!]

The Fourth Covenant: "Thou shalt not bring the human relations of the alliance into the outside world."

There was definitely some room for interpretation, but it seemed the alliance leader had already made her ruling.

Of course I was happy that Tsukimi-senpai was inviting me on a date, but... was she really okay with it being me?

With no answer in sight, the night steadily wore on, just like every other day.

December 24th.

Christmas Eve also happened to be the day of the second term's closing ceremony.

Today's schedule consisted of the morning assembly, the closing ceremony, and then homeroom. We'd be done by the morning.

I had club practice in the afternoon, but it would probably be over by evening.

Since practice would end before it got dark out, no one would be showing up at the secret base today.

We could check attendance through the "IKD" group chat now. The alliance had certainly become much more convenient.

—But "convenient" also meant more connections.

Our relationship, which used to be nothing more than spending our nights together, was slowly beginning to change.

There were bound to be good and bad sides to that.

Tsukimi-senpai and I had become friends, and eventually even lovers—albeit fake ones.

By sharing a secret, we'd become more than just comrades.

I liked to think we'd evolved from a superficial relationship to one where we could truly open up to each other.

I wanted to build that kind of relationship with the rest of the alliance, too.

But that didn't mean everyone else felt the same way.

"I'm against it. The Second Covenant is the reason people gathered here in the first place. I don't know what happened between you and Kaede, but... there are still people here who want to protect their secrets."

Just like Akazawa had said on the day we debated the Second Covenant.

"This is my problem... It has nothing to do with you."

Just like Kazemiya had drawn a line in the sand the other day.

"I want this alliance to be a place where we can help each other out when we're in trouble."

While that was my current goal, what I wanted to avoid above all else was the collapse of the alliance.

Held together by a delicate balance, the alliance could easily fall apart from the slightest trigger.

I had learned that the hard way from the incident where Tsukimi-senpai nearly left us for good.

That was exactly why I wanted to cherish the haven we'd managed to reclaim first and foremost.

...However, my most pressing dilemma was Tsukimi-senpai.

Tsukimi-senpai was trying to turn our fake relationship into a real one.

In the end, I couldn't find a single reason to turn down her invitation for a Christmas date.

So, I sent her a stamp that said "OK."

She fired back a stamp of an overjoyed rabbit.

...No, I know.

I was well aware that from an outsider's perspective, I was the crazy one for confessing my romantic feelings for Tsukimi-senpai without a shadow of a doubt, only to wish for our relationship to remain at a standstill.

The only reason I had confessed in the first place was to save her.

Tsukimi-senpai had convinced herself that her "true self" was worthless and tried to throw it all away. I wanted to thrust the reality that there was someone who loved the real her right in her face. That was why I laid my true feelings bare.

Had I not been pushed into a corner like that, I probably would have gone my whole life without ever telling her how I felt.

At the end of the day, I just didn't have the confidence.

I couldn't imagine Tsukimi-senpai ever finding happiness dating a guy like me.

There had to be better guys out there for her. I couldn't help but think that. Like Akazawa, for instance.

"Hey, come on, this is way too much homework for winter break!"

Speak of the devil. Akazawa was standing in the center of the classroom, shooting his mouth off as usual.

"It's basically the same amount as summer break, isn't it? Even though winter break is only half as long."

"So it's gonna feel like twice the work! Come on, you guys gotta help me out!"

"No way. Do it yourself."

"What?! Don't abandon me here!"

"You're just totally hopeless at studying, Yō."

Surrounded by the popular crowd, everyone laughed as Akazawa played the part of the pitiful clown.

In reality, Akazawa could easily breeze through his homework without breaking a sweat, but no one would believe it even if I told them.

—No one except us alliance members who knew his true colors, that is.

"Hey, you lot, hurry up and get to the gym," our homeroom teacher ordered, interrupting Akazawa and the others as they idled around the classroom.

My classmates began filtering out, so I simply went with the flow and made my way to the gym.

As a loner, I had no one to talk to. It was the same boring daytime routine as always, but I was fine with that.

Because making friends inherently meant opening up about my past to some extent.

And for me, talking about my past to others was nothing short of a trauma. I'd only managed to tell Tsukimi-senpai because it was her, but I was still far from completely overcoming it. The fact remained that I didn't want anyone casually prying into my baggage.

Though if it were the other members of the alliance, I might just be able to muster the courage.

Before I knew it, I had arrived at the gym while lost in thought.

The gym was far noisier than usual, given that the entire student body was gathered here.

We lined up by class—first-years, second-years, then third-years—and sat down on the floor.

The floor of the gym was freezing. Like, genuinely cold. Our gym didn't have any heating facilities, after all.

While I rubbed my hands together to keep warm and waited for the ceremony to begin, someone stepped up onto the stage.

Short hair, striking features. She was tall, a female student who definitely looked like she'd be popular with other girls.

—Kusunoki Kaya.

She was the student council president of our school, and arguably the second most famous person here right after Tsukimi-senpai.

She wasn't particularly popular with the guys, but she had a massive following among the girls. The exact opposite of Kazemiya.

"Good morning, everyone. I am your student council president, Kusunoki," she began, taking her place in front of the microphone and addressing the crowd with an air of absolute confidence.

"Today marks the end of the second term. First of all, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to you all for living each day to its fullest... and to everyone who participated in our school events, club activities, and committee work."

President Kusunoki's tone was crystal clear, her voice projecting effortlessly across the room.

"Starting tomorrow, we will be on winter break. With more free time on your hands, it's easy for your daily routines to slip. Please don't ruin your health by staying up late or cramming too much into your schedule. Obey traffic laws. Be mindful of how you use social media. These are all common-sense things, but I want you all to consciously make the effort to uphold them."

What she was saying was pretty standard fare, but her words naturally commanded attention.

Was this what they called charisma? She possessed the exact same aura as Tsukimi-senpai during the day.

"And finally. The discipline of this school is not maintained by any one single person. It relies on each and every one of you being conscious of upholding our rules. ...Over the course of the second term, I noticed numerous violations of school regulations. I ask that you lend me your strength so that we can make this school an even better place when we return for the third term."

She concluded her speech with a sharp, stern warning.

President Kusunoki was known for having a calm and gentle personality, but she was notoriously strict when it came to rule-breaking.

Ever since taking office in the fall, she had been working closely with the disciplinary committee to enforce the school's regulations.

Naturally, she was highly regarded by the more serious students, but she had a terrible reputation among the delinquents.

The problem with the school's tightening surveillance was... well, the alliance's activities, of course. Squatting in the Old Gym Storage without permission was a blatant violation of school rules. Not to mention the sheer amount of personal belongings we'd smuggled in. It was harder to find a rule we weren't breaking. Honestly, just considering the time of night we met up, we were practically violating city ordinances, too.

It was easy to see why Tsukimi-senpai was being so cautious.

If anyone ever found out, we would lose our sanctuary in the night.

The Four Covenants, having changed form, were no longer meant to restrict our relationships with one another.

They were rules necessary to protect our haven from outside threats.

I had to engrave that into my mind and tread very carefully going forward.

The closing ceremony concluded without a hitch, and soon it was time for club practice.

We'd received our report cards for the second term, but my grades were thoroughly mediocre—nothing good, nothing bad.

If I had to point something out, it would be the teacher's comments section: "While he shows a diligent attitude toward his studies, there are concerns regarding his communication skills." That was way too blunt. Shut the hell up.

"Alright, time for practice..."

Sudou-senpai, our captain, called out with his usual lack of motivation.

The New Year brings the High School Athletic Federation's Rookie Tournament. Technically, this should be our earnest preparation for it, but...

"Sudou-senpai, what's our goal for the next tournament?"

The one who asked, sounding exasperated, was Arikawa Seiji.

He was the de facto leader of the first-years and the kind of guy who'd even look out for someone like me.

"Hm? That's obvious, isn't it? Surviving the first round!"

Sudou-senpai triumphantly thrust his fist into the air.

"In that case, let's put some more spirit into it. We're not winning anything at this rate."

Arikawa was arguably the most motivated person in the club. He even stayed behind for extra practice on occasion.

"...Well, Arikawa has a point. All right! Let's go, boys!"

With a halfhearted attempt to fire themselves up, practice began.

To me, the club was just a means to an end. A way to kill time and delay going home.

The nights were endlessly long, but moving my body made the time seem to pass a little quicker.

I wasn't staying late for extra practice to get better, either.

I wasn't aiming to become a starter, nor did I particularly care about winning games.

That's why I'd been doing just enough to blend in, making sure not to stand out.

Lately, however, I'd had a bit of a change of heart.

If even someone like me gave it my all, would I be able to build a little self-confidence?

Could I become a man worthy of Tsukimi-senpai... someone capable of making her happy?

I liked basketball. That was why I chose it as a way to kill time. I kept my skills hidden because standing out too much seemed like a hassle. But if I kept running away like that, I felt like I'd never change. If I was going to take that first step, now might be the time.

"Minase, pass!"

During a five-on-five intra-squad scrimmage.

For the first time, I ignored a senior's call for a pass.

I drew my defender out with a pass fake, then blew past him with a drive.

"Whoa, seriously!?"

I heard Kanou, a fellow first-year I'd just blown past, gasp in surprise from behind me.

It was an understandable reaction. I usually just waited in the corner; I'd never made a move like this before.

"Help!"

"I got him!"

Our captain, Sudou-senpai, stepped up to cover.

He lacked motivation, but he was the best player on the team, which was why he'd been named captain.

—That being said, he was no match for me when I was actually trying.

I glanced at the hoop. Wary of a shot, Sudou-senpai's center of gravity shifted slightly upward.

I went between the legs into a crossover, blowing past Sudou-senpai on his right and leaping toward the basket without losing momentum.

"Wha—!?"

"Not on my watch!"

Arikawa jumped up under the rim, trying to swat my layup away.

However, there was no need to force my way past him here. Because if two players were coming to cover me, that meant two of my teammates were wide open. I threw a no-look bounce pass. Receiving the ball completely unguarded near the hoop, my teammate casually sank the shot.

"...Huh?"

A brief hush fell over the court.

Everyone was staring at me in shock.

Being the center of attention for the first time in a while was kind of intimidating...

"...Nice shot."

I tried complimenting the senior who'd made the basket to deflect attention, but it was pointless.

...Did I overdo it a little?

"What the hell, Minase! You can actually play!"

Sudou-senpai threw his arm around my shoulder. Ah, you're suffocating me!

"If you can pull that off, you're a starter for the New Year tournament!"

"...Well, there's still a chance it was a fluke..."

"That was no fluke. I'm not that blind."

"...Right."

It seemed I wasn't going to be able to talk my way out of this one.

Well, I hadn't planned on hiding it anymore—hence going all out—but old habits die hard, you know?

"Well, being motivated is never a bad thing. Keep it up!"

Sudou-senpai slapped me on the back and called for the ball.

"Have you decided to aim for a starting spot, perhaps?"

Arikawa walked over, looking pleased.

"...Yeah, I figured I'd put a little more effort in."

"Nice. I've been waiting to hear that."

Arikawa flashed a bright smile. Honestly, it didn't feel too bad.

I happened to glance over at the adjacent court, only to find Tsukimi-senpai looking right at me.

Looking rather surprised, she let out a soft smile and mouthed something to me.

Judging by the movement of her lips, it was probably something along the lines of...

"Looking cool."

Meanwhile, Tsukimi-senpai was standing out in the girls' basketball club's practice today as well.

Driving deep into the paint, she kicked the ball out with a sharp pass.

Catching the pass wide open, her teammate sank the three-pointer.

"Nice shot! Let's make some noise out there!"

Tsukimi-senpai called out gently to her teammates as they played.

Even though she was wearing her daytime persona, her demeanor felt completely natural.

Until now, Tsukimi-senpai had been bound by the obsession that she had to win.

She was trying to fulfill Sakura-san's dream of reaching the Inter-High.

Now freed from that burden, she was most likely just enjoying the game.

However, there was still one thing bothering me.

Since she had reconciled with her mother, there was no longer any need for her to act like Sakura-san.

Despite that, she was still maintaining her "older sister" persona. She'd told me it was because suddenly changing her personality would be unnatural, but maybe there was some other reason.

For the first time in a while, I actually felt fatigued after practice.

After all, it had been over a year since I'd gone all out like that.

I'd always taken my solo after-school shooting drills seriously, but practicing alone and playing with a full squad were two completely different beasts. The instinct required for a five-on-five game didn't just come back overnight.

Even so, it seemed to have left quite an impression on my teammates.

By the way, when they asked why I'd been hiding my skills, I replied, "I didn't want to stand out," to which they retorted, "Are you a light novel protagonist or something?" Oh, shut up.

Since I'd suddenly shown my true colors, I was fully prepared for them to pry into my past, but surprisingly, no one really pushed the issue. Thanks to that, I was able to stay behind for my solo practice in peace.

On the adjacent court, Tsukimi-senpai was also staying late for extra practice.

Just the two of us in the expansive gymnasium.

I didn't mind this time we spent practicing without exchanging a single word.

I silently continued shooting three-pointers. Swish, brick, swish, swish, swish.

In an actual game, even the best shooters only made about thirty percent of their threes. That was due to defensive pressure. So, if you weren't making them in practice, there was no way you'd hit them in a real match.

As I focused on my form, the time had somehow crept past seven in the evening.

Since it was the closing ceremony today, school had let out early, and club activities were wrapped up before five. That meant I'd been practicing on my own for over two hours. I might have overdone it a little. I was exhausted.

I checked my phone while taking a breather and saw I had a message on RINE.

Tsukimi Kaede: [Can you come to the secret base today?]

Glancing at the adjacent court, I saw Tsukimi-senpai was still practicing her dribbling.

The message was sent ten minutes ago. She must have fired it off during a break.

I thought we had agreed there wouldn't be any Alliance activities today since practice was supposed to end before dark.

Well, as someone who desperately didn't want to go home, I certainly wasn't going to complain.

I decided to push through and practice just a little longer.

When I changed into my uniform and arrived at the secret base, Tsukimi-senpai offered a little wave.

"Hey, Shuuto-kun! It's another beautiful night!"

When it was just the two of us, Tsukimi-senpai called me by my first name.

"I thought you weren't showing up today?"

"I suddenly changed my mind! I saw you showing off out there, after all!"

Tsukimi-senpai practically chugged her cola, which she'd probably bought from a nearby convenience store.

"Aaah, this really hits the spot after practice!"

"You sound like a drunk old man."

"Hey, how mean! Saying that to a mysterious beauty like me!"

"Most of that mystery has already been unraveled, you know."

"...True. You've uncovered everything about me."

"I can't deny it, but please don't phrase it so suggestively."

I retorted as Tsukimi-senpai dramatically pretended to cry.

"So anyway, what made you change your mind?"

She peered at me with a curious gaze.

She was definitely asking about me suddenly going all out at practice.

The reason was obvious, but telling her directly was a bit too embarrassing.

"...It's a secret."

"A secret!? At this point, what could you possibly have to hide from me!?"

"Tsukimi-senpai, please calm down."

I somehow managed to soothe a fiercely pouting Tsukimi-senpai.

"Well, whatever... I've been wanting to see you play for real, anyway."

"Is that how it works?"

If so, it was worth the effort.

"Isn't it normal for a girl to want to see her boyfriend looking cool?"

I nearly did a spit take.

"F-Fake boyfriend, you mean."

"I've always had this little fantasy of cheering on my boyfriend from the sidelines!"

"If you do that, our relationship is going to be exposed, you know!?"

"Isn't it normal for the girls' team to cheer for the boys' team?"

"Well, as long as you don't call me by name..."

"And give you a little secret wave, too!"

"You aren't just doing this for the thrill of it, are you?"

Caught up in the rhythmic banter, Tsukimi-senpai let out a soft giggle.

"I'm joking, of course. Protecting this place is our number one priority. That hasn't changed."

"That's a relief."

"Hey, that's mean! Did you doubt me?"

"Well, you don't have a reason to avoid going home anymore, do you?"

"...Right. I only come here because I like this place. That's all there is to it."

Tsukimi-senpai nodded, a tinge of melancholy lacing her voice.

"...Sorry. That sounded a bit cold."

"No, what you said was simply the truth. I'm not offended."

"Can I ask you something?"

"What is it?"

"Why are you still wearing your mask, Tsukimi-senpai?"

"...You're really going to ask that?"

She shot me a deadpan glare.

"Even though you kept your own reason a secret earlier."

"...Fair point. My bad."

"How about a trade, then?"

I hesitated for a moment.

But I was far more curious about why she was maintaining her facade.

Besides, it was a little late to get embarrassed when I had already confessed my feelings.

"Fine by me."

"I have a few reasons."

Tsukimi-senpai offered a brief prelude and held up her index finger.

"First, to lower the risk of the Alliance being discovered. If my personality changed overnight, people would definitely start snooping around to figure out why, right? If that happens, I wouldn't be able to come to the secret base anymore. Keeping things exactly as they've always been draws the least amount of attention."

"...I see."

Tsukimi-senpai was already the most famous person in school.

And the gap between her daytime and nighttime personas was drastic. An abrupt shift in behavior would undoubtedly cause a commotion.

"Second, acting like my 'older sister' has become a choice for me now. I'm not being forced into it anymore, so it's not painful. And I'm not stretching myself incredibly thin like I used to, so... in a sense, I think I've already distanced myself from the whole 'sister' role."

What had truly tormented Tsukimi-senpai was trying to match Sakura-san's physical capabilities.

It was something she could only barely replicate through excruciating effort.

However, she no longer had to push herself to meet those standards now that she had reconciled with her mother. Emulating a personality wasn't particularly difficult, so wearing the mask wasn't a source of stress for her anymore.

"My next goal is probably to perform as well in my true state as I do during the day, I guess?"

"Given that it's currently not possible, it really does feel unnatural..."

Whether she was wearing a mask or showing her true colors, she was still the same person.

I'd always thought it was strange how she instantly turned into a clumsy mess the moment her true self emerged.

"It's like there's a switch in my brain! Anyway, putting that aside..."

Tsukimi-senpai held up a third finger.

"Third, there are a lot of people who genuinely admire the daytime version of me. I don't want to betray their expectations. After playing the part for so long, I feel like it's my responsibility."

The only reason Tsukimi-senpai was the most famous student in school was because of her daytime persona.

If she had led with her nighttime personality, I doubt she would have ever drawn this much attention.

"And who knows... if people saw the real me, they might just think I'm a total klutz!"

"They might think that?"

"They might, right?"

"I'm pretty sure it goes beyond 'might'..."

I decided to hold my tongue.

Under the weight of my deadpan stare, Tsukimi-senpai cleared her throat.

"Okay! I told you my reasons. Now it's your turn, Shuuto-kun!"

"...We're talking about why I went all out at practice, right?"

"Yep!"

"I decided I wanted to become a man worthy of you, Tsukimi-senpai."

"Nn... Nnngh!?"

Perhaps completely unprepared for such an answer, Tsukimi-senpai turned beet red.

"Y-You really just say things like that without a second thought, don't you?"

"Well, I was too embarrassed to say it, which is why I kept it a secret... You're the one who dragged it out of me."

"...I know, but..."

"..."

"..."

Things had suddenly gotten incredibly awkward.

"Why does trying your best translate to becoming someone worthy of me?"

"I just thought... if even a guy like me dedicated himself to something, I might actually be able to change."

When I bared my heart, Tsukimi-senpai offered a gentle smile.

"The moment you decided to try, you already started changing, Shuuto-kun. I'm rooting for you."

"...Thank you."

Strangely enough, just hearing her validate my feelings made me believe I was on the right path.

"...Looking forward to our date tomorrow."

Tsukimi-senpai muttered under her breath.

"We've only decided on a meeting time. What's the plan?"

"I've got a great idea! Do you mind leaving the itinerary to me?"

"In that case, I leave it in your capable hands."

"...It's my first time hanging out alone with a boy."

"Well, me too..."

...Was it my first time?

I suddenly wasn't so sure anymore.

Before I knew it, Tsukimi-senpai was glaring at me with eyes as cold as absolute zero.

"Ah! You went quiet! Who did you go with!?"

"I was thinking about when I was a kid!"

"This is why I can't trust you former normies!"

For some reason, she was taking out her completely unwarranted frustration on me.

The next day. Christmas.

After finishing morning practice, I threw together a quick lunch.

I swung by my house, took a shower, changed into some casual clothes, and swiftly made my exit.

I parked my bike at Maebashi Station and hopped on a train bound for Takasaki Station.

As Sanrin High students, we typically stuck to the Maebashi area.

Choosing Takasaki was likely an intentional move to ensure we wouldn't run into anyone from school.

Still, it was the most bustling city in Gunma, and it was Christmas Day. There was a chance we'd spot a few familiar faces.

While waiting at the ticket gates as planned, a woman I didn't recognize called out to me.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, Shuuto-kun."

"...Huh?"

As I stood there stunned, the supposedly unfamiliar woman lowered her sunglasses.

It was Tsukimi-senpai. She was wearing a hat and sunglasses, and her hair was tied back in a single tail.

She had on an ivory Chesterfield coat over a pair of denim jeans. She looked incredibly stylish.

"You look like a celebrity," I said.

"It's a disguise. So that Sanrin High students won't recognize me."

Tsukimi-senpai proudly declared.

Dressed like this, and combined with her height, she looked to be around twenty years old.

"They won't recognize me like this, right?" she asked.

"Well, you're right about that. Even I didn't recognize you."

As long as Tsukimi-senpai's identity wasn't compromised, we didn't have to worry about Sanrin students noticing us.

I wasn't wearing a disguise, but I had absolutely zero name recognition anyway. Even my own classmates probably barely remembered my face. Well, my basketball club members might remember me, since I ended up showing my true skills.

"So, where are we going today?" I asked.

"Actually, there's a place I've been wanting to go to for a long time!"

Tsukimi-senpai beckoned me with a wave of her hand and started walking through Takasaki Station.

"Where is it?" I asked.

"That's a surprise for when we get there♪" she replied.

Tsukimi-senpai was secretive as always.

I walked beside Tsukimi-senpai, who was in such a good mood she looked like she might start skipping at any moment.

It might be obvious since it was Christmas, but the area was crowded and packed with couples.

I felt like I would lose sight of Tsukimi-senpai if I took my eyes off her for even a second.

Grab.

Suddenly, she took my hand.

"......Just to make sure you don't get lost. Just in case!" she insisted.

Tsukimi-senpai firmly linked her hand with mine.

She tried to keep a straight face, but her cheeks were flushed crimson. This senpai was way too cute.

And so, just like all the other couples around us, we walked hand in hand.

After walking for about ten minutes from Takasaki Station, we finally made it out of the crowd.

There was no longer any worry of losing her in the crowd, but Tsukimi-senpai still showed no sign of letting go of my hand.

"This is our first time hanging out just the two of us, huh," she noted.

"Well, of course it is," I replied.

"Shuuto-kun, you really don't have a single romantic bone in your body, do you?"

Tsukimi-senpai shot me a reproachful glare.

"We're lovers, you know? Treat the mood with a bit more care!" she scolded.

"We aren't real lovers, though......"

"But our fake lovers contract hasn't been terminated yet!"

It seemed she really intended to push her way through with that logic.

"Why are you so fixated on this contract?" I asked.

"T-That's...... uh, well......"

Perhaps she hadn't expected such a direct question; Tsukimi-senpai's eyes darted around nervously.

"Right! To gain romantic experience! Meaning, I'm having you act as my practice partner, Shuuto-kun!"

Tsukimi-senpai answered with a smile that practically screamed, I've got it!

"A practice partner, huh."

"Yep, exactly. That's why you can use me as your practice partner too, Shuuto-kun, okay?" she offered.

In what world did a guy use the girl he liked as a practice partner? She was completely missing the point.

"......By any chance, do you hate continuing to play pretend lovers with me?"

My silence must have made her anxious, as she hesitantly tried to read my expression.

"Of course I don't hate it. I already told you that I like you as a woman, didn't I?" I said.

"R-Right...... you did...... I can't believe you can say something like that without blushing......"

Tsukimi-senpai muttered under her breath.

There was no point in hiding my feelings when she already knew about them, so I was just leaning into it.

"It's just that...... a sudden, drastic change is a little scary to me," I admitted.

When I expressed my honest feelings, Tsukimi-senpai gave a soft nod. "I see."

"You're right, I...... might have been rushing things a bit. Let's take it slow!" she agreed.

"So it's decided that we're moving forward?"

"Well, you like me, right?"

"......I do, but."

"Ehehe~" Tsukimi-senpai let out a goofy, relaxed laugh.

Turning our fake relationship into a real one meant shifting into an entirely new dynamic.

That change would surely come with both good and bad aspects.

And I suspected it would likely be an irreversible change.

That was why, for now, I wanted to stay in this suspended state just a little longer.

Playing at being lovers with a friend.

It was strictly a disguise, strictly a contract. Once it ended, we could go back to being friends.

Right now, that level of relationship felt the most comfortable.

"Alright, we're here! Shuuto-kun!"

Eventually, Tsukimi-senpai came to a halt in front of a certain shop.

An old wooden lattice sliding door adorned with a single round dice decoration. A small shop name was embroidered on the edge of the noren curtain. It seemed to be called "Dice Cafe." Through the window, I could see wooden tables, and board game posters plastered the walls. An aroma of roasting coffee beans drifted from the weathered yet stylish exterior.

"Is this a board game cafe, by any chance?" I asked.

"Yep! I've been wanting to come here at least once~"

Tsukimi-senpai gleefully chatted as she walked inside.

A bell rang to announce our arrival, and a store clerk guided us to a seat.

"Is this your first time at our establishment?" the clerk inquired.

"Yes!"

Tsukimi-senpai answered cheerfully as she took off her disguise hat and sunglasses.

The clerk gasped the moment he saw Tsukimi-senpai without her disguise. I understood how he felt. You'd think she was a celebrity out incognito or something. But in reality, she was just an ordinary person who happened to be the most famous girl in school.

"Our cafe operates on an hourly system and requires a one-drink minimum order. Please refer to this for our rates."

Glancing at the price list, it looked like it would be 1,200 yen for two hours plus the cost of drinks (around 500 yen).

"Shuuto-kun, they have a five-hour pack, too! Isn't that cheap?"

Tsukimi-senpai pointed at the bottom of the price list with sparkling eyes.

Written there was a five-hour pack for 2,000 yen. True, considering the time, it was a good deal, but...

"......Do you really intend to stay for five hours?" I asked.

"Yeah! If you're okay with it, Shuuto-kun!"

"......Understood. I'll stick with you."

I succumbed to Tsukimi-senpai's beaming smile. I was a weak man.

"By the way, do you have any experience playing board games?" the clerk asked.

"Plenty! I'm an expert!"

Tsukimi-senpai boasted.

The reason she wasn't wearing her "Day" persona was probably because there weren't any Sanrin students around.

In a space where no one knew "Tsukimi Kaede," there was no longer any need to play the role of "Tsukimi Sakura."

"I also have, well...... a decent amount, thanks to getting dragged along by her," I added.

"Haha, in that case, I'll skip the explanation. What would you like to play today?" the clerk asked.

The shelves the clerk gestured toward were lined with an enormous number of board games.

"Since we're here, it'd be nice to play one I don't own~" she mused.

"If a board game requires more people, I or the other staff can join in, and it's also possible to play with other customers. Though that will depend on the other customers' preferences, of course."

"Uh-huh, I see. By the way, Shuuto-kun, are there any board games you want to play?"

"Let me think......"

We approached the board game shelves and carefully observed the selection.

Among them were a few board games I had played together with Tsukimi-senpai before.

If I had a preference for certain types of board games, it would be easy to suggest one, but.

"As long as I'm playing with you, Tsukimi-senpai, anything will be fun," I said.

After giving it some serious thought, that was the conclusion I arrived at.

"......"

"Tsukimi-senpai?"

Looking beside me, I saw Tsukimi-senpai looking down, her face bright red. She was seriously way too vulnerable to direct attacks.

"Haha, you've got some moves, boyfriend-kun," the clerk chuckled.

Seeing the two of us, the clerk teased me.

To be more precise, I was a fake boyfriend, but there was no point in explaining that.

"Please stop getting embarrassed over every little thing......" I sighed.

"......Why are you calling me Tsukimi-senpai?"

Tsukimi-senpai glared at me with reproachful eyes.

"Huh?"

"We're lovers right now, aren't we?"

"......Er, Kaede-san?"

"Good."

Though her face was still flushed, Tsukimi-senpai gave a satisfied nod.

To an outsider, we looked like exactly like a foolishly lovey-dovey couple, which was starting to make me feel embarrassed, too.

The clerk was wearing an expression like he had just found a fascinating new toy.

"In that case, I have a recommendation for you," the clerk offered.

What the clerk brought to our table was a board game called "Pandemic."

"Ah, this one! I've been wanting to try this!"

Tsukimi-senpai's eyes lit up.

"It's supposedly a classic among cooperative games! It looks so fun!"

According to the explanation, it was a game where players work together to stop four viruses from spreading across the globe.

"Let's save the world together, Shuuto-kun!" she declared.

Clenching both fists in front of her chest, Tsukimi-senpai beamed at me excitedly.

Just seeing that smile on her face made me feel like coming here had been well worth it.

"Ah, that was super fun!"

By the time we left the Dice Cafe, it was already completely dark outside.

Which was no surprise. After all, we had been playing for a solid five hours.

If there was one flaw with board games, it was that they all required you to use your head, making them pretty exhausting.

By the end of it, my brain was so fried that I couldn't think straight anymore, and things had gotten quite sloppy.

Well, I was with Tsukimi-senpai, so it was still fun in its own way.

"Sorry for it not feeling like a very Christmasy date, you know?" she apologized.

"What would even count as a 'Christmasy' thing to do, anyway?" I asked in return.

"......I wonder?"

Our eyes met, and we both burst out laughing.

As complete beginners at romance, neither of us even knew the answer to that.

By the way, Tsukimi-senpai had taken off her sunglasses since it had gotten dark.

Instead, she was wearing a face mask. It seemed she was aiming for a more natural-looking disguise.

"Wait, it's freezing!"

Tsukimi-senpai shivered, her shoulders shaking.

Now that the sun had set, the temperature had dropped even further.

The air was biting cold against my skin, and each breath I exhaled bloomed into white mist.

"What are we doing next?" I asked.

"Since we're out, let's get some dinner together!"

"Everywhere looks pretty packed. Do you think we'll be able to get in anywhere?"

We were walking along the side of the road back toward the station, and nighttime Takasaki was incredibly bustling.

It was a natural sight for Christmas night, to be fair.

"T-True......"

Tsukimi-senpai groaned in thought, racking her brain.

"Maybe I should have made a reservation......"

"It's fine. You don't need to try so hard when you're with me."

Or rather, wasn't I the one who was supposed to be planning the date?

I had ended up leaving it all to Tsukimi-senpai this time. If there was a next time, I'd make sure to use this as a learning experience.

"Ah, look! Illuminations!"

As we neared the station plaza, the trees lining the street were twinkling with dazzling illuminations.

The street trees along the main avenue were draped in light at equal intervals, naturally drawing one's gaze further and further down the road. It was as though a second river of light was flowing directly above the street. I believed they called it the "Pageant of Starlight."

"Oh, how Christmasy," I remarked.

"I'm glad. We managed to secure our dose of Christmas cheer!" she cheered.

"Since we're here, want to take a walk around and look at them?" I suggested.

"Let's do that!"

Tsukimi-senpai practically skipped off, pulling me along by the hand.

The area around the illuminations was overflowing with people, and the noise was overwhelming.

The warmth of our joined hands felt like the only thing tethering me, detached from the hustle and bustle of the crowd.

"Huh?"

Tsukimi-senpai narrowed her eyes, as if she had just noticed something.

Following her gaze, I spotted a familiar face.

"......That's Kanon, right?"

"It seems...... so......"

Just a few meters ahead of us, Kazemiya was walking alongside an unfamiliar guy.

They were walking fairly close to each other. They were laughing together as they gazed at a brightly lit Christmas tree.

The two of them looked quite intimate.

And they were walking right in our direction.

"Crap, crap, let's run!"

Pulled along by Tsukimi-senpai, I hastily distanced myself from Kazemiya.

After all, our relationship was a secret even from Kazemiya.

Even though Tsukimi-senpai was disguised, it would be a pain if she recognized me.

......Still, I hadn't expected to see Kazemiya on Christmas.

"Are you going on that Christmas date?"

"......I'm not going. He'll think I'm actually interested,"

I recalled the conversation I had exchanged with Kazemiya the other day.

Could the guy she was with be the one she had been chatting with back then?

"The guy next to Kanon was Kiritani-kun,"

Tsukimi-senpai murmured after we had gained some distance.

That was the same name I had seen on Kazemiya's chat screen the other day.

"An acquaintance of yours?" I asked.

"Yeah. A second-year in the Boys' Tennis Club."

He had given off a somewhat frivolous impression, but he was a tall, handsome guy.

"Even though she said she was going to turn down his Christmas invitation... I guess she couldn't do it?"

Well, if Kanon decided to go, I don't really have the right to say anything.

"Hmm..."

But Tsukimi-senpai was lost in thought.

"Is something wrong?"

"Kiritani-kun is supposed to have another girlfriend, you know..."

"Huh?"

That was shocking news.

"Does that mean he's cheating?"

"There's a chance they broke up and I just don't know about it..."

Tsukimi-senpai said, looking troubled.

"But it feels weird to confirm that with him directly, right?"

"Yeah, that sounds like kicking the hornet's nest."

If they had already broken up, it would just open old wounds.

Even if they were still together, someone getting hurt was inevitable.

There was a chance that ignorance was bliss.

"...Yeah. Let's pretend we didn't see anything. We aren't even supposed to be here anyway."

"W-Well, just because they were together doesn't necessarily mean he's cheating..."

"...Shuuto-kun, is that how you think about these things?"

Tsukimi-senpai stared at me with a cold, reproachful gaze.

"No, no, I'm speaking generally!"

"Generally speaking, that's cheating!"

Smack! Tsukimi-senpai pointed her index finger right at me. Fair enough.

"Even if it's fake, you're my lover, Shuuto-kun, so you can't be doing things like that, okay?"

"...I-I know."

She stepped in so close our noses almost touched, causing me to reflexively look away.

"Look at those two, out here in a place like this..."

"Whew, getting heated, aren't we?"

Teased by the people around us, Tsukimi-senpai hurriedly backed away.

"A-Anyway! We've seen the illuminations, so let's get some food!"

She cleared her throat and declared.

After that, we went into a hamburger shop in front of the station.

It wasn't exactly atmospheric, but high schoolers without part-time jobs only have so much money.

We secured a corner table on the second floor, then went back down to order our hamburger sets.

"This is our first time eating out together!"

I received our hamburger sets alongside a bouncing Tsukimi-senpai.

"I mean, normally there isn't anywhere for us to eat out."

Sanrin High School is in the middle of nowhere, with only a convenience store and a supermarket within a five-minute walk.

During the Alliance's activity hours, the supermarket is already closed. The convenience store is the only place to buy a late-night snack.

There are a few places on the way home, but the Alliance activities end at 10:30 PM. There's no way high schoolers in uniform could get in. Even if we could, we'd stand out too much. It would start nasty rumors in the neighborhood.

"...Thanks for today. For keeping me company."

"What's with the sudden gratitude? I had fun too."

"But if we're only thinking about the Alliance's safety, this is nothing but a risk."

We want to protect the Alliance. To do that, we have to keep risks to a bare minimum.

Even so, Tsukimi-senpai wanted to go on a date with me so badly she even disguised herself.

"We haven't broken the Covenant. So it's fine, isn't it?"

Besides, even if our relationship were discovered, it's highly unlikely the Alliance's existence would be exposed.

"If you only ever think about the risks, you won't be able to do anything."

"...You think so?"

Even so, the sanctuary we cherish falls outside the bounds of societal ethics.

We know what we have to do to protect it. We have to keep obeying the Covenant.

And that is by no means an easy thing to do.

Five days had passed since the Christmas I spent with Tsukimi-senpai.

December 30th.

Winter break is depressing. Because, inevitably, I have to spend more time at home.

When morning comes, I wake up naturally. Even though it would be easier if I could just keep sleeping.

I left my room and headed to the living room, where my aunt was watching TV.

"Good morning, Auntie."

"...Oh, good morning, Shuuto-kun. Breakfast?"

"Yes, I'm going to make some toast."

She wasn't blatant about it, but she seemed a little annoyed.

Probably because of winter break, she felt like there was a foreign object taking up space in her house.

On school days, I'm barely home. So I can kind of understand how she feels.

I buttered my toast, poured some milk into a glass, put them on a tray, and returned to my room.

Eating my simple breakfast in my room, I thought about what to do today.

Since we've entered the year-end and New Year period, club activities are suspended, and I can't even get into the school.

In that case, I either have to do my winter break assignments at a coffee shop or just wander around outside until nightfall.

I packed my smartphone, wallet, winter break assignments, and pencil case into my bag and left the house.

The winter sky was perfectly clear. Just stepping outside made me feel a little relieved.

Christmas was over, and the world was in full year-end mode.

Heading toward the station, people returning to their hometowns stood out. People carrying large suitcases and souvenir bags were coming and going. I felt that unique year-end busyness in the air. Everyone was rushing, yet their faces looked somewhat tired. I wondered if the people here were on their way to greet their parents or relatives.

I don't have a hometown to return to anymore.

My relatives had a falling out over what to do with me. So I don't have any plans for the holidays either.

"Welcome."

I visited my usual coffee shop to finish up my winter break assignments.

"...Huh?"

There was a girl I recognized inside. She was staring at a notebook. It looked like she was studying.

Reacting to my voice, the girl looked up. Our eyes met.

It was Kazemiya. She stared at me with a terribly surprised expression.

"Is something the matter?" the clerk asked.

"Ah, no... it's nothing."

I hurriedly shook my head at the puzzled clerk.

Just because Kazemiya was here didn't mean I had to change my behavior.

—But Kazemiya looked around frantically before stopping me.

"Hey. Why are you ignoring me?"

"...H-Hey."

"You don't need to be so paranoid. I've never seen anyone from Sanrin at this coffee shop."

"...Well, true, neither have I."

As we exchanged those words, the clerk called out, "Are you acquaintances?"

"Yes. He'll join me at my table, please."

Kazemiya smiled sweetly at the clerk and said. You're just going to decide that on your own?

"You don't need to overthink things just because we're outside of school, do you?"

"...I suppose you're right."

Having just gone on a date with Tsukimi-senpai, I didn't have the right to complain.

I took the seat across from Kazemiya and ordered a coffee.

"So? Why are you here?"

"I came to study. I haven't finished my winter break homework."

"I'm studying too, but what are the odds?"

"Neither of us wants to be home, so isn't it more of an inevitability?"

"...Fair point."

Besides, there are only so many places in the city where you can kill time.

Especially if you add the conditions of not spending much money and being able to study.

This Cafe Maresu offers coffee for under 500 yen and clearly states you're free to study. It's very student-friendly. I wonder how they make a profit. I hear students from Ryoumei and Nijisora come here too.

"This is my favorite coffee shop."

"Is that so? What a coincidence. It's my usual spot too."

"Oh, really? Then you don't need to come here anymore."

"Why?! Come on, give me a break."

When I pleaded, even Kazemiya chuckled, as if she were just joking.

"Just don't go spreading it to other Sanrin students, got it? This place is precious."

"Who do you think you're talking to? I don't have any friends, you know?"

"That's the saddest comeback I've ever seen..."

Kazemiya stared at me with eyes full of pity. Stop it. Don't look at me like that!

"So, how much of your homework have you finished?"

"I finished my winter break assignments ages ago."

"...Huh? Then why are you studying?"

"...Who knows."

Kanon averted her eyes with a bitter expression.

"What about you?"

"I'm not even half done."

I answered while spreading my homework out on the table.

"...I'm jealous."

Not understanding what she meant, I furrowed my brow.

"About what? I'm the one who's jealous that you're already done with yours."

"If you haven't finished your homework yet, that means you aren't the type to study regularly, right, Minase?"

"...Well, yeah. I just study a bit before tests."

"But your grades are about the same as mine."

"Now that you mention it, I guess they are."

The top fifty students in regular exams are posted on the bulletin board.

Kanon and I usually hover around fortieth place.

"You must be naturally smart. I can barely scrape fortieth even after trying fairly hard."

The evidence of that effort was clear from her reference books and notebooks.

Her reference books were stuffed with sticky notes, and her notebooks were filled to the brim with writing.

She was studying this hard on top of her winter break homework?

"I'm just a slow learner."

Noticing my gaze, Kazemiya smiled self-deprecatingly.

"So, I have to work times harder than anyone else... just to be normal."

Even during Alliance activities, while the rest of us were playing around, Kanon was often studying.

"...I see."

I figured a clumsy attempt at comforting her would only backfire.

The truth is, I've never really struggled with studying.

I just maintain decent grades to avoid failing.

Coming from that position, I had no words for her.

"—Which brings me to my point. You're going to help me study."

Kazemiya smiled sweetly as she said it.

"Excuse me?"

"The Alliance is an organization where we help each other out, isn't it?"

"Well, I did say that, but I haven't finished my own winter assignments..."

"It's about this problem."

She clearly had no intention of listening to me.

"I don't understand how it gets to this answer."

Kazemiya showed me a math problem.

I tried calculating it and arrived at the answer without any trouble.

"Does this make sense?"

I showed Kanon my notebook, where I'd written out the calculation process.

Kazemiya blinked her eyes and said,

"You really are smart, aren't you."

"I'm just good at math and science. My weak point is English."

"Oh? I'm good at English. After all, you just have to memorize things."

"Then, can I ask you some English questions too?"

"I'd love to say no... but I suppose we can form a cooperative relationship here."

"I can't read this sentence at all..."

When I showed her the English text, Kazemiya translated it for me.

"For translations like this, you can just ask an AI and get the answer immediately."

"Ah, I just don't like relying on them, instinctively."

"I can kind of understand that. You do see people who get too dependent on them."

And so, we continued working on our respective studies.

"Is there some reason you're working so hard on your studies, Kazemiya?"

Taking a break, I took a sip of my completely cold coffee.

It was a simple question that slipped out naturally. I'd heard it took a ton of effort for her just to stay normal, but she looked like she was aiming even higher.

"...I used to have one. Now, it's just a habit I can't break."

She looked away, giving off an aura that said 'Don't pry any further'.

Kazemiya is full of mysteries. Which is to be expected, since all Alliance members have their secrets.

"...I wonder what I really want to do?"

Kanon cast her eyes down with a somber tone.

"...Did something happen?"

Thinking back, something felt off from the start.

Our meeting was a coincidence, but wasn't it strange for Kazemiya to call out to me on her own?

Even if we were outside of school, it was daytime. Normally, she'd only greet me with her eyes at most.

Kazemiya's gaze wandered slightly.

I hesitated whether to ask her about Christmas.

But if I asked, it would mean telling her I was there.

Considering my relationship with Tsukimi-senpai is a secret... I'd better not.

"I..."

I pretended to study while waiting for Kazemiya to speak.

But in the end, she stood up without saying anything.

"...Sorry. I'm going to head home now."

"Then I guess I'll wrap things up too."

I paid for our coffee, and we left the shop.

"Next time I see you will be next year, huh."

"...Yeah."

"Well then, have a happy new year."

"Kazemiya."

I called out to her small back.

"I'll always be here to help you, you know."

I had no idea what kind of worries Kazemiya was harboring.

So all I could offer were cliché words. Still, I figured it was better than saying nothing.

Hearing my words, Kazemiya turned around and smiled, looking as though she were about to cry.

"...Thank you, Minase."

With that, she walked off down the road home.

It might be a little late to notice, but she didn't show any signs of spending the end of the year with her family.

Were Kazemiya's worries related to her secret for not wanting to go home?

"...No, I shouldn't pry unnecessarily."

I shook my head lightly and switched gears.

I finished the winter assignments I'd been doing to kill time today.

I rode my bicycle home. The clock hands pointed to 8:00 PM. The night was still young.

If it were a school day, this would be the time our fun Alliance activities began.

As I lazed around in my room playing mobile games, the front door slammed shut with a bang.

That rough sound meant my uncle had come home.

"You're finally back?!"

"What, you got a problem with what I do?!"

"You're always like this! It's the end of the year, for heaven's sake—"

I didn't know what it was about, but my uncle and aunt had suddenly started arguing.

Even with my door closed, I could hear fragments of their loud voices.

It was the usual setup: my uncle came home drunk, and my aunt complained about it.

Even if I tried to intervene, I'd just get caught in the crossfire.

I decided to put my earphones in, listen to music, and let the long night pass.

I missed the time spent with the Alliance.

When there were no activities, I realized just how precious that place was.

Right now, the 'Don't Want To Go Home Alliance' was undeniably my emotional sanctuary.

I didn't even want to think about what would happen if I lost it.

The Alliance only held a few activities during the winter break.

We couldn't get into the school over the year-end and New Year period, and we all had our own plans. We were inevitably limited in how often we could meet, and even on those few occasions, not everyone was present. As I thought, I hate long vacations.

We could chat in our group and wish each other a 'Happy New Year,' but it hardly felt like we were sharing our time. As expected, that secret base was truly where we belonged.

Aside from that, there were no New Year-like events at my house.

If I had to name anything, it was exchanging 'Happy New Year' greetings on the morning of New Year's Day, and the allowance I always get at the beginning of the month being rebranded as a 'New Year's gift.' The amount was exactly the same.

Anyway, school was finally starting up again tomorrow.

This suffocating life would end, and the boring days and fun nights would return.

I was so excited I didn't think I'd be able to sleep for a while.

Lying on the futon in my room, I looked at my phone.

There was a message from Tsukimi-senpai in the 'IKD' group chat.

Tsukimi Kaede: [Who's coming tomorrow!]

There were three stamps attached to the message.

Naturally, they were from Akazawa, Kazemiya, and Ogino, and they were all thumbs-up stamps.

They must be signaling their intention to attend. I pressed the same stamp.

Kaede Tsukimi: [So everyone's coming! I'm looking forward to it!]

I could just picture a bouncing Tsukimi-senpai typing that out.

Akazawa: [Shall we throw a Happy New Year party?]

Misato: [Sounds good. Looks fun.]

Shuuto Minase: [I'll buy some snacks on the way, then.]

As we were happily chatting like that...

Kanon: [I have something I need to discuss tomorrow.]

Kazemiya sent a strangely stiff message.

To that, Tsukimi-senpai simply replied, [Understood.]

The fact that no one touched on the content of her consultation—could they possibly know something?

...For the record, as a loner, I didn't know a thing.

Related Posts