“That’s why humans go through cycles of dating and breaking up, right?” “Yeah... But I don’t intend to repeat the cycle of breaking up.” “Everyone says that.” “What about us? Are we repeating the same mistakes, even though we supposedly know better?” “I don’t consider myself to be that foolish.” There is a certain level of determination that I harbor. Yume must have it too. We won’t repeat the same mistakes—our return to dating each other is a manifestation of that determination. Yume chuckled quietly. “Of course, I think you’re the smartest in school.” “That sounds fishy...” “It’s just a momentary thing. There are times when I think you’re the cutest in school, too?” “...That’s unusual. Is this heading towards dirty talk?” “You seem aware of it.” “It goes both ways.” “There are times when you’re the coolest, so rest assured?” With a soft expression, Yume leaned on me, giving me a mischievous upward glance. When I lightly supported her slim waist, Yume smiled again. “Really, you’re so naughty. I wouldn’t have known if I didn’t become your girlfriend.” “Likewise, I wouldn’t know this much about you unless I became your boyfriend.” “Someone must have made you naughty, huh?” “To be honest, you were always like that.”
“I’m the innocent one! You have no idea how terrible the others are when there are no guys around.” I thought she was mostly talking about Isana, but well, now’s not the time to mention another girl’s name. “Innocent, huh... I never had that image of you even before we got back together.” “I didn’t think you had a cool image either. It goes both ways, right?” “I never claimed to be cool...” “That’s what makes you cool! But then again, you’re the type who gets excited after just a little kiss, aren’t you?” Feeling a bit annoyed by those words, I raised an eyebrow, and Yume grinned provocatively. “If you have a problem with my little analysis, why not prove me wrong? Show me I’m mistaken.” ...So that’s how it is. She’s definitely not innocent after all. “That’s what I wanted.” Saying this, I brought my face closer towards Yume. Yume closed her eyelids as if accepting it. And as our lips met, I felt the familiar sensation of her. After a few seconds of our kiss, Yume gently opened her eyes and asked, “How was it?” “......” I remained silent for a while, then, as if to silence Yume this time, I sealed her lips again. After finishing a deeper kiss than before, Yume wore a seductive smile and whispered, “Wait until we get home, okay?” —And at that moment, there was a rustling sound nearby.
Yume Irido ◆ The Figure Of A Person ““!?”” Both Mizuto and I jolted, turning our shoulders in the direction of the sound. Towards the towering hotel wall, there was a manicured shrub bed. From its shadows, right at this moment, a single figure swiftly escaped towards the pool entrance! “W-Who!?” As I shouted in surprise, the figure exited the pool and entered the hotel. D-Did they see us...? Or rather, were they peeking!? While I was dumbfounded, Mizuto quickly reacted. He chased after the figure towards the pool entrance. Slightly delayed, I followed suit. Entering the building, the figure was no longer in sight. The corridor ahead split into paths leading to the men’s and women’s changing rooms. Mizuto glanced back at me, nodding, then entered the men’s changing room. Understanding his intention, I entered the women’s changing room. Inside, there were only vertically aligned lockers and a swimsuit drying machine silently sitting in the corner. No one was here... Exiting the changing room, I stepped into the hotel corridor. Despite scanning the well-lit corridor from side to side, there was no sign of the figure, not even the sound of retreating footsteps. The hotel corridor had a hard surface, and there should have been footsteps—had they already escaped? A little later, Mizuto emerged from the men’s changing room. “Did they already get away?” Mizuto asked, scanning the surroundings like me.
“Yeah... seems like it.” “...This could be a problem.” Furrowing his brow slightly, Mizuto spoke. “The fact that someone went out of their way to peek and stayed silent about it suggests it might be a fellow student, not another hotel guest. We don’t know if they overheard our conversation, but even if they didn’t, what we were doing is more than enough...” “Wh-wh-wh-what should we do!? Our relationship...!” It will definitely spread. Rumors will circulate. And if that happens, maybe even our parents would find out...! “Calm down. There are people on this floor too.” I immediately hushed. It was faint, but there were voices that sounded like high school students... Others from our school were on this floor as well. “Let’s go back to the pool for now. We need to assess the situation properly.” Agreeing with Mizuto’s composed words, I returned to the pool through the women’s changing room. Mizuto, stepping onto the wooden deck, headed towards the well-manicured bushes where the figure had hidden before. Arranged along the hotel wall were rounded, pruned shrubs. There was a small gap between them and the hotel wall, which was where the figure had concealed themselves. “Were we being watched the whole time...?” “I don’t know if it was the whole time. But then again, I didn’t notice you coming out to the pool, and similarly, that peeping tom might have quietly entered and hidden.” Saying so, Mizuto knelt down to the spot where the figure had hidden.
He was surprisingly calm... Isn’t he scared? What if our secret is exposed...? After scanning the ground, Mizuto directed his gaze towards the round shrubs. “...This is...” He brought his face closer to the shrubs and started massaging the back of his neck. It was a habit of his when he was deep in thought. “Take a look at this.” Shifting his body a bit backward, Mizuto pointed to a specific spot on the shrubs. I also crouched down and peered into the indicated location. Among the thin branches of the shrub, the tip of one branch seemed to be tinged with red. “Could this be... blood?” “Yeah. And it’s still not dry.” Mizuto touched the tip of the branch, and his fingertip got stained with a red color. “The peeping tom probably got a cut from the twigs while escaping...” Come to think of it, there was a rustling sound... Was it at that moment? “None of us students have smartphones right now.” Mizuto abruptly said. “Meaning they can’t spread information through social media or anything like that... Plus, they probably couldn’t take photos or videos. They can’t roam around with decisive evidence.” “S-So, that means...?” “If we want to find the culprit, we only have until the end of the school trip,” Mizuto explained, pointing to the blood-soaked branch left by the figure—the evidence the culprit left behind.
“By that time, this wound should have healed. What should we do?” After that, I parted ways with Mizuto at the elevators and went straight back to my room. Being seen while I was with Mizuto—by whom? For what purpose? When asked what to do, I couldn’t immediately come up with an answer. Surely, the best option would be to find the culprit and ask them to keep quiet, but success was not guaranteed. And if things escalated, I would need to prepare myself to come out and confess the truth. Never did I imagine that on the first day of the school trip, we would find ourselves in such an awkward situation. Mizuto reassured me that things wouldn’t turn out badly. We hadn’t done anything wrong, right? That’s right. We haven’t done anything wrong. Even so, I couldn’t shake off the anxiety. For a while, Mizuto comforted me by putting his arm around my shoulder. Opening the door with a sigh, I peeked into the bedroom from the hallway. Only Asuhain-san was there, studying with her reference book open on the desk. “I’m back.” As I said that, Asuhain-san looked up and replied, “Welcome back.” Feeling exhausted, I collapsed onto my bed. Despite the slight awkwardness between us, I was glad to have someone in the room. If I had been alone, the anxiety might have overwhelmed me. “Have you been studying all this time?” I asked Asuhain-san, trying to divert attention from my unease. “Yes,” was Asuhain-san’s short response.
“Still need to take a bath? It’s getting late, but...” Glancing at the clock, it was almost 9:30 p.m. We had thirty minutes until lights out. Asuhain-san looked at the clock and replied. “Yes, you’re right. I’ll go now.” She closed her reference book with a snap. Hmm... What a business-like conversation. As she put the reference book back into her bag, she took out a change of clothes, disappearing into the bathroom. At that moment, I thought I glimpsed an open band-aid packet inside her bag. Ran Asuhain ◆ Wound I placed the change of clothes on the washstand and began to undress. Unbuttoning the shirt, slipping my arms out of the sleeves, and loosening my belt to let my denim pants fall to the floor, I saw my reflection in the washstand mirror wearing only underwear. Normally, this would be the time when I’d feel gloomy, looking at my needlessly large bust. However, now, my mind was preoccupied with something more depressing than that. “......” I silently looked to the outside of my right thigh. There, a bandage I had just applied was visible.
[1]: ROM as in “read only member,” someone who only watched others from the sidelines while not engaging in romance themselves. [2]: In Japanese romance games (eg. dating sims or visual novels), the term “flag” can refer to a romantic event which either raises a character’s affection points for the player, or locks the player into that character’s route. This act can also be often referred to as “raising a character’s flags.” [3]: In gyaru language/culture (ギャル文字), ‘shi’ (し) is often added to the end of sentences as a colloquial way of emphasizing a statement.
Chapter 2 - A Perplexing Second Day Yume Irido ◆ Reason Loosens In The Morning My eyelids were pierced by the morning sunlight as I vaguely awakened to consciousness. I realized that my whole body was wrapped in something soft. There was a pleasant scent... and cute sleeping breaths near my ears... I slowly opened my eyelids. Before me was none other than Higashira-san’s sleeping face. “......” “...Suhaaa~...” Somehow... I’m being held. Like a body pillow. Of course, I don’t remember sleeping like this with Higashira-san, so it seems like she rolled over to my side while sleeping and ended up hugging me, considering that we’re sharing the same bed. “Higashira-san, Higashira-san...” “Suhaah... suhaah.” No good, she won’t wake up. In that case... I inserted my hand between Higashira-san and me, grabbing a handful of the plump flesh pressed against me. “Unya... nya...?” Uwaaa... No bra. My fingers are sinking... “Nnmn... fuu... Ah♥” The moment a seductive voice leaked out, Higashira-san’s eyes popped open. Our eyes met. “Good morning.” “...Fueh?”
Blinking several times, Higashira-san gradually blushed, still in the groggy state of waking up. “D-D-Did we... perhaps... finally...!” “No, no. Higashira-san, you just came over to my side while sleeping. And what do you mean by finally?” “Oh... I see. I’m sorry about that... But, if that’s the case, why are you holding my breasts...?” “I thought maybe you’d wake up if I did this.” “Ah, I see...” Actually, they were just so big and soft that I wanted to touch them, but since it was morning, I decided to play it off with that excuse. “S-Sorry. I’ll move away right away...” “It’s not a big deal. In fact, Higashira-san’s body is warm and soft, so it makes me want it in the morning...” Maybe it was because I’m still a bit groggy, I held Higashira-san’s body tightly in response to my desires. She blushed even more, and her eyes darted around in confusion. “W-Wait, Yume-san...!” “Sorry. Is it bothersome?” “It’s not that, but... this much stimulation in the morning...!” “Fufu. You look so flustered... cute♥” As I said, pressing our foreheads together, Higashira-san turned as red as a boiled octopus and relaxed her body. “It’s fine... if it’s you, Yume-san... Please be gentle...” “Hmm? Well, if you say so—” “Yaaan♥ Don’t suddenly do that...♥” “What on earth are you two doing so early in the morning?!”
The blanket that was wrapping us was forcefully removed. Akatsuki-san, holding the sheets, looked down at me and Higashira-san with eyes full of anger. I attempted to explain. “N-No, we were just fooling around...” “Then count me in too!” As if trying to wedge herself between us, Akatsuki-san dove in with her petite body. As the three of us made a commotion in the morning, Asuhain-san watched us with an exasperated expression. Mizuto Irido ◆ Meaningless Incident “What will you do if you end up getting entangled like that?” As we went around the breakfast buffet, I said that to Yume, who was next to me. Yume avoided eye contact, looking awkward as she scooped pasta onto her plate. “Well... it’s because Higashira-san reacts so cutely. I just couldn’t help it...” “Hard to believe I’m hearing this from someone who seemed so worried about me cheating.” “But, that was just like girls’ casual bonding! It’s just like a joke!” Yume, in a hurry to deny, was wearing a camisole layered over her shirt with tight jeans. Probably chose comfortable clothes for walking around a lot today. I responded with a sigh in exasperation. “Even if that’s your intention, it won’t matter if the other person takes it seriously.” “Eh?” “She’s the type that would go for either gender, Isana I mean.” “I-Is that so?”
“I know she has an unusual interest for the female body. Whether it’s just an appreciation of content and illustrations, or if she has genuine romantic attraction towards other girls, only she would know—or maybe she herself doesn’t even know.” She was the type who hadn’t even experienced her first love until she confessed to me. Now, I don’t even know if she’s interested in real romance. It seems like her sexual desire was more than the average person, though. Yume, blushing slightly, murmured as she looked down. “I-I see... I need to be careful...” “...What about you? With girls I mean.” “N-No, no, no! I don’t swing that way!” Yume waved her hands frantically to deny. It doesn’t matter either way, but depending on the situation, it seems like she’ll need to raise her guard a little more. After that, Yume tilted her head and muttered in puzzlement. “But then, why such a reaction today... She was normal until yesterday…” ...I hope Isana’s not holding back something. A life of abstinence without even time to draw illustrations could be stressful. Anyway, thanks to her incident with Isana, she doesn’t seem to be too concerned about last night’s incident. I thought she might be more anxious, but it seems like it’s a blessing in disguise. Talking too much with just the two of us might make others suspicious, so after filling our trays with enough food, we returned to the seats we had reserved in advance. All six members of our group were gathered there. Each dressed to match the weather of Okinawa. Kawanami in a clean T-shirt and shorts, Minami in an oversized T-shirt with mysterious English words, Asuhain in a fluffy shirt tucked into culottes, and Isana in a long skirt like a high-class lady in a summer resort.
It seems that Isana had the other girls pick out clothes for the school trip. Even though she started drawing various fashion styles in illustrations, she’s still indifferent to herself (or rather, even in illustrations, she tries to draw school uniforms whenever she gets a chance). During breakfast, the plan for today was supposed to be discussed by our group—or so it should have been. Kawanami and Minami, for some reason, had difficult expressions and were tilting their heads. “What’s wrong, Akatsuki-san? You’re furrowing your eyebrows.” When Yume pointed this out while placing her plate on the table, Minami, who was tearing a piece of sausage with a fork, explained. “No... there seems to be something strange happening.” “Strange?” “Just now, Yoshino and the others came.” Kawanami said, leaning his elbow on the table. “They asked something weird. What do you think it was about?” “Stop being mysterious. Just say it.” “‘Have you seen a booklet?’—That’s what they said.” A booklet? “Do you mean the booklet for the school trip? Did they lose it?” “No, that’s the thing—they say it got stolen.” “Stolen?” Both Yume and I exclaimed at the same time. “Strange, isn’t it?” While munching on scrambled eggs, Isana spoke up. “Stealing a booklet, what’s the point in that?”
“Well, you know... everyone should have the same one. I guess the class number is printed on it, but that’s the only difference...” This time around, the booklet given to us students had no space for writing a diary. It only contained essential notes and schedules. As Yume pointed out, the only difference was the printed class number on the cover. There shouldn’t be any value worth stealing for. “No, but, in the first place—” I said, stopping there. Yume looked at me with a puzzled expression. “In the first place... what?” “...No, nothing. Just had a slight misunderstanding.” Feeling a sense of impending complication, I swallowed the question that came to my mind. How did they even find out it was stolen? Yume Irido ◆ A Seemingly Ordinary Investigation A booklet for the school trip was stolen— Fortunately, it seems that the incident from our secret meeting yesterday hasn’t spread, and I decided to set aside the figure of the person in my mind who escaped at that time for now. First, I’ll talk to the people involved about this strange incident. It was like a responsibility we Student Council members had, as the teachers asked us to take care of things if anything happened during the school trip. As for Asuhain-san, the other Student Council member, she’s not yet familiar enough with her classmates to approach them so casually, so this seemed like a situation where I should take the lead. However— “...Why are you following me too?” As I rode the elevator to the seventh floor where the girls’ rooms were, Mizuto tagged along behind me.
“I’m accompanying you. You don’t seem to have the aptitude for a detective.” Mizuto said with an expression that was hard to read, as if he didn’t care about the current situation at all. I pursed my lips and responded. “I’ve read more mystery novels than you, you know?” “In mystery stories, the mystery geek is usually the Watson character.” “Ugh...” Can’t argue with that. If we were to determine which one of us is Holmes and which one is Watson, it would undoubtedly be Mizuto—he is the smartest person in this school, after all. That statement was not meant as a joke. However, even as his girlfriend, I also have the duty as a Student Council member to resolve the problems of the students. “Stay quiet and wait behind, alright? Suddenly having a guy enter the girls’ room might be unsettling.” “Is that the type they are, those three?” “...If you were worried about that sorta thing, you should’ve said so.” Certainly, Yoshino and her friends in our class—or rather, in Rakuro High School—are quite flashy. They clearly don’t seem to be the type to be compatible with someone like me, and if you didn’t know anything, going alone to meet them might seem worrisome. Mizuto probably accompanied me out of consideration for me—at least that’s what I’ll choose to believe, as that sounds more comforting. I thought about informing Yoshino through the phones we group leaders received, but it seemed she had probably turned it off as I couldn’t connect to a call. So, reluctantly, I knocked on their room door without a prior arrangement.
“Yeees? Who’s there? ...Hmm? Yume-chan! What’s up?” Yoshino, who opened the door from the inside, fortunately, had changed into casual clothes. However, she was wearing a small off-shoulder top with denim hot pants, exposing shoulders and thighs freely, a somewhat questionable appearance in terms of decency. I turned back to Mizuto in a hurry, but he didn’t seem to mind. “Well, you see—” As I explained the matter, Yoshino nodded in understanding and peered at Mizuto behind me. “I get it, but what about you, Mizuto-kun?” Before I could explain, Mizuto casually interjected, “Don’t mind me. I just came to make sure my not-so-reliable little sister doesn’t mess up.” “Little sister? I thought she’s your onee-chan though?” “Older sister is right.” “Little sister is correct.” Mizuto and I glared at each other. Even though we became a couple, we still had yet to reach an agreement on this matter. Yoshino laughed cheerfully with a “Ahaha!” “Being step-siblings sounds tough! Anyway, come on in. I’m getting tired of keeping the door open.” Welcomed by Yoshino, we entered the room. In the bedroom with four beds, there were three other girls. Two of them were flashy girls often seen with Yoshino, and the other one, due to Yoshino’s group needing one other person, ended up getting mixed in with Yoshino’s group—a quiet girl with glasses. Her situation resembled my junior high days, and it tugged at my heart. “So, about the stolen booklet... was it stolen from the room?”
I wasted no time and got to the matter at hand, and Yoshino responded, “Exactly!” “The booklet should have been in my bag in the room the whole time, but when I looked for it this morning, it was nowhere to be found! Right guys?” Yoshino’s two friends chimed in with “Yeah!” and “Seriously annoying!” After a slight delay, the remaining other girl nodded silently. “I hate to doubt you all, but did you search thoroughly inside the room? Under the beds, for example.” The inside of the room was impressively cluttered with signs of life after just one night. Clothes were scattered on beds and chairs, and the table was overflowing with cosmetics. For some reason, in front of the window, there was a camisole that more or less resembled a bathing suit and a pair of hot pants hanging out. It looked as if someone had been living in this room for about a month. In such a room, losing something wouldn’t be surprising. Perhaps Mizuto was also astonished as he rubbed the back of his neck while gazing at the clothes hanging by the window. “I’m telling you! We didn’t lose it; it was stolen!” With an irritated voice, one of Yoshino’s friends, the one with twintails, named Imayuki, raised her voice. “I woke up in the morning, searched my bag, and thought, ‘Oh no, it’s stolen!’ When I checked everyone else’s bags, theirs were all gone too! How can all four people in this room lose the same thing at the same time!?” All four at once... if that’s the case, thinking it was stolen is more natural. “Even so, I’ll help look just in case? Maybe you guys overlooked something.” “Eh? Ah, well...” “Even if you say that, let’s pass on that, Yume-chan.”
After Imayuki showed hesitation, Yoshino followed up. “We’ve already searched thoroughly, right? Besides, it’s not pleasant to have someone rummage through your belongings, right?” “Ah, yeah. Then it’s alright. Sorry for not being considerate.” “It’s okay, it’s okay. More importantly, Yume-chan, don’t you have a spare booklet?” “I don’t have a spare... I only printed the necessary amount. If it’s okay with you, I can lend you mine, but... there are some notes written on it. Is that okay?” “Oh, it’s fine, it’s fine! If needed, we’ll borrow from the guys! In return, if you’re in trouble, feel free to rely on us, okay? Our groups will be pretty much together for most of today!” Come to think of it, Yoshino’s group also has the marine experience course this afternoon. We’ll be going to the same places all day. “Yeah, of course. If anything happens, don’t hesitate to tell me.” “Thanks! You’re a goddess!” With that, we left Yoshino’s room. While heading to the elevator hall, I looked at Mizuto walking beside me. “How was it? You didn’t even say anything in the end.” “They started talking on their own. I didn’t need to say anything.” “They started talking on their own...? What?” Mizuto looked up at the ceiling for a few seconds as if considering something, then gazed at my face with a mischievous smile. “Elementary, my dear Watson.” [1] ...Did he really notice something? But because I like mystery novels, maybe he thought I’d want to figure it out myself... “...How mean!”
“I’d prefer you to say I’m sharp.” It’s the classic move of the detective’s role, teasing someone else with the answer, but experiencing it myself is so infuriating! With my pride as a mystery enthusiast on the line, I decided not to ask anything. Mizuto Irido ◆ The Fourth Issue On the second day of the school trip, the morning destination was American Village—a town resort strongly reflecting the atmosphere of the United States. Being mainly a shopping district, the actual impression upon seeing it was more like a theme park inspired by America rather than a faithful reproduction. The entire town was colored in vivid hues like a bag of foreign candies, and coming from a town where even the McDonald’s sign is brown, everything here seemed bright and flashy. Although the groups were divided by class, the interests of boys and girls tended to differ. While Yume and her friends were captivated by unique vintage clothes and accessories, I, along with Kawanami, wandered around focusing on food establishments. It’s not like I had much interest in either, so I just chose the option that seemed slightly more enjoyable—also considering it doubles as lunch. “Oh, this looks good!” Taking a bite of the fusion between onigiri and sandwich, a concoction involving pork, egg, rice, and seaweed, Kawanami exclaimed. Resting my chin on my hands, like I’m in a tavern from another world, I said, “You seem to be having fun.” “It’s impossible not to enjoy yourself in Okinawa! Why are you making that difficult face?” “There’s something on my mind...”
“Is it about what Yoshino and the others were making a fuss about?” “Among other things...” Currently, I’m facing three issues. The first is the sudden confession from Asuhain. The second is the peeping tom who witnessed Yume and I secretly meeting up. The third is the theft of Yoshino and her group’s booklets. I could just ignore all of them, personally, but considering Yume was concerned, I couldn’t leave the thought of them alone. “If Yume could just ignore such trivial matters, it would be so much easier...” “But you like her because she’s not like that, right?” Kawanami asked me with a grin. While I had decided to express my affection for Yume straightforwardly, I had no obligation to entertain this guy. “Kawanami, do you know anything? You’re always talking about how you have a lot of connections, right?” “About the booklet incident?” “Yeah.” “For now, I don’t think any of the guys are involved in that.” “Are you sure?” “I’m pretty sure. I don’t have my phone, so the information accuracy I have is lower than usual, but I occasionally check in with other groups to get an idea of the situation. If Yoshino and the others really had their booklets stolen, it’s likely the work of the girls.” “I suppose...” “You seem like you knew that from the start.”
“I had a hunch. According to Yoshino and the others, their booklets were stolen from their room.” “Ah...” Kawanami expressed agreement. Though his grades were mediocre, he wasn’t slow-witted. “So, any leads on the culprit?” “I can’t say for sure yet. I don’t want to create a false accusation and ruin the atmosphere of the school trip. I’d like to proceed with this carefully.” “You’ve learnt to become considerate about the atmosphere... Love changes people, huh?” “I could read the atmosphere from the start.” While munching on a pork and egg onigiri, enjoying the view of the emerald-green sea under the blue sky, Kawanami suddenly spoke. “Huh? Isn’t that Asuhain-san?” I looked at where Kawanami was pointing, and among the crowd of people, a familiar petite figure was walking alone, blending into the mix of Japanese and Western faces. “What’s she doing alone? She should be with Minami and the others, right?” From this distance, her expression wasn’t visible, but her steps seemed somewhat wandering. In my mind, the scene from the bus yesterday resurfaced. Just like how she leaned her head on my shoulder, seemingly lost, she was truly wandering through the exotic streets like a lost child right now. I wrapped up the partially eaten onigiri and placed it on the wooden table. “I’ll leave this here for a bit.” “Hey, wait!”
I stood up and hurried through the crowd. When I reached Asuhain, I lightly tapped her small shoulder and called out. “Asuhain.” “......” The moment Asuhain looked at my face, she twitched her shoulders slightly. Did I startle her? While measuring the appropriate distance, “What are you doing alone? Where are the others?” “......” Asuhain remained silent for a while, casting her gaze down to the ground. “I don’t need your concern. I just wanted to walk around by myself for a bit.” “You don’t have a smartphone. Going solo isn’t a good idea—” “Please stop.” With a firm voice, Asuhain interrupted me and turned away. “I don’t want to talk to you.” Swiftly, she disappeared into the crowd. ...Well she hadn’t exactly opened up, yesterday’s Asuhain showed a desire to seek understanding from me, like a hint of expectation. However, from the back now distancing itself from me, I could feel nothing but thorough rejection. It seems another problem has arisen. The fourth issue—why did Asuhain’s attitude suddenly change on the second day? Yume Irido ◆ The First Step
As I was exploring the stores filled with Christmas goods with everyone, Yoshino-san and the others came over. “Yooo~! Did you find anything cute?” As we discussed in the morning, Yoshino-san’s group was exploring the same area as us. Our group wasn’t always together with theirs, but they stayed within sight, occasionally approaching us like this. “......” And as always, Higashira-san would hide behind me. Yoshino-san was in the same class as Higashira-san during the first year, so I thought they were relatively used to each other in the current class. But... maybe she’s not comfortable with these gyaru-style girls after all. Yoshino-san, accompanied by three girls from her group, approached us and peered behind us as if searching for something. “Where’s Ran-chan? Weren’t you guys together earlier?” “Eh?” When asked, I turned around. Asuhain-san had been following us at a modest distance all along. I hadn’t actively spoken to her much, given the avoidance, but through Akatsuki-san, I tried to interact with her as much as possible. But now, she was nowhere to be found. Did she get separated somewhere? It’s crowded, so that thought was not impossible, but I didn’t notice because she rarely spoke. “Oh! There you guys are!” At that moment, Mizuto and Kawanami-kun arrived at the entrance of the store. It wasn’t a coincidence. Kawanami-kun, who was walking ahead of Mizuto, was clearly searching for us.
“What’s up? Feeling lonely with just the guys? Looking for some feminine charm?” “It’s not like that.” Brushing off Akatsuki-san’s playful banter, Kawanami-kun spoke. “We saw Asuhain-san alone a while ago, and came to check if you guys were aware of it.” “Eh! We were just talking about that! We just noticed she wasn’t around. If you saw her, you should have brought her with you!” “Irido tried to talk to her, but she seemed to have escaped.” “Escaped?” “Well, more like... she said she wanted to be alone. It seems like she didn’t get permission from you guys.” Alone... Considering Asuhain-san’s personality, it wasn’t unimaginable. But based on our experience working together in the Student Council last year, she shouldn’t just go off alone without saying anything. She’s usually conscientious and tries to communicate properly in situations like this... What could Asuhain-san be thinking when she distanced herself from us? Somehow, it felt like something not to be ignored. If we continued to play with everyone and left Asuhain-san alone, the distance between us might grow further. At least, I would feel sad if I were in her shoes. She might maybe feel that she was not needed... and probably couldn’t fit herself in the mood we had. “...I’m going to look for her.” As I said that, Akatsuki-san immediately chimed in. “Then I’m coming too!” “Nah, I’ll be fine alone. I’ll be back soon. Um, let’s meet up at Depot Central, okay?”
If I were Asuhain-san, I’d feel guilty about making a large group search for me. It’s better if I go alone—no, maybe that’s what I want. “I spotted her around the area with barrel-like chairs along the seaside,” Mizuto said succinctly. “Go through the building and head to the far west. She might still be there.” “Got it. Thanks!” Lightly patting Mizuto’s shoulder, I hurriedly left the Christmas shop. ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ As instructed by Mizuto, I visited the seaside area to the west of the village. Neat rows of barrel-like outdoor seats were set up along a wide promenade, and countless tourists continued to shuffle through. I made my way through them, and as I passed by a white railing, an expansive view of the emerald green sea filled my vision. Where did Asuhain-san go? I scanned left and right, searching for the petite figure of my classmate. Though there were many tourists, a fraction of them were foreigners, and another fraction consisted of families. Students on school trips made a small fraction of the crowd—especially small girls like Asuhain-san. So, if I search thoroughly— “There she is!” Several dozen meters ahead, a girl was leaning on the white railing, gazing at the sea alone. I recognized her outfit—a loose shirt paired with girly culottes. Despite seeming uninterested in fashion, she had a good sense of style, which I had thought about before. I walked along the railing and called out to her. “Asuhain-san.”
She glanced at me silently but quickly averted her eyes towards the distant sea in an instant. I hesitated for a moment about what to say. Saying, “I searched for you,” felt a bit pushy. Asking, “What are you doing here?” seemed too obvious. So, in the end, all I could do was speak about what was right in front of us. “The sea... it’s beautiful, isn’t it?” “Yes, it is.” An awkward silence hung in the air. It felt strange, as if we were meeting for the first time. Even though we had spent half a year as members of the Student Council together, it was almost as if our relationship had completely reset. Would we continue like this, awkwardly avoiding each other, drifting apart after the Student Council term ended, never meeting again? Ah—How many times had I repeated such things? I had lived skirting around everything in front of me, avoiding reaching out for things that might be within my grasp. Even when I entered high school, all I did was rely on the weapon of being the top-ranked entrance student, waiting for someone who might become a friend to talk to me. Even with the Student Council, I hadn’t thought about joining until I was invited by President Kurenai herself. But... I should have learned my lesson. The experience of reaching out boldly for what I wanted and what I didn’t want to let go of. —Ah, how troublesome. “Asuhain-san, do you want some ice cream?” “What?” Asuhain-san looked at me with a puzzled expression, the look in her eyes conveying, “Can’t you read the atmosphere?”
I pretended not to notice for now. Overthinking now will definitely make me miss my chance. “It’s hot, right? I’m starting to crave ice cream. Come with me!” “Wa-wait a sec!” I forcibly took Asuhain-san’s hand and pulled her along. I knew this forceful approach well, having been on the receiving end already multiple times before. Thanks Akatsuki-san. ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ Returning to the direction from where Mizuto and the others were, we lined up at the ice cream shop for a while. Asuhain-san chose a blue soda ice cream flavor that resembled waves, while I opted for an unfamiliar chinsukō (Okinawan cookie) flavor. Since the inside of the shop and the building were crowded, we took our ice creams outside. There happened to be a vacant bench near the roadside trees, so the two of us settled down there. Although the sun was shining, it was relatively cool compared to midsummer in Kyoto. I scooped the milky white ice cream from the cup with a spoon and tasted its sweet flavor, providing a momentary sense of relief from the heat. “When I saw they had chinsukō flavor, I wondered what it would be like... but, you know, I’ve never had regular chinsukō before in the first place.” It tasted like a variant of vanilla and cookies, not as extravagant as I had imagined from the name. It was just delicious. Next to me, Asuhain-san scooped a spoonful of the blue wave-patterned ice cream from her cup. Taking a bite, she held the spoon in her mouth, prompting me to ask, “How is it?”
“...It’s delicious.” “How about we exchange bites? I’m curious about the flavor you got too.” “Haaaah—” “Here, open wide~” “Eh? ...Mmpf.” As Asuhain-san hesitated and opened her mouth, I thrust the spoon with the milky white ice cream into it. Seeing her surprised expression, I smiled and said, “How is it? Which one do you like better?” “Well, if I had to choose... I think I prefer this one.” “Oh, really? Then, let me taste yours too. Come on, ahh~” As I opened my mouth, Asuhain-san awkwardly fed me the spoon with her clear blue ice cream. The refreshing flavor enveloped my tongue. Indeed, it was cool and refreshing, perfect for summer. “I might like this one better. Want to exchange cups?” “Haaah... I don’t mind...” We exchanged each other’s cups. While eating ice cream, I almost unilaterally continued with a stream of unrelated chatter. I talked about what the other Student Council members might be doing right now, recent class discussions, and more. Even without substantial responses from Asuhain-san, I kept talking, knocking on the door as if I couldn’t stop. By the time both cups were empty, Asuhain-san, for the first time, spoke up on her own. “Why do you care about me, Irido-san?” She murmured while staring at the empty ice cream cup.
“I thought I was... boring. And I thought you were meant to be more... reserved.” Words cut out like pieces from a swirling mind. What answer did Asuhain-san want? I pondered for a moment, but I couldn’t grasp it. “To be honest, I’m pushing myself a bit right now.” So, I had to cut out my own thoughts and convey them. “But if I don’t push myself, things might end. I felt like if we awkwardly let things continue, without resolving or breaking ties, things between us would somehow fade away. I saw that future. I didn’t want that... I thought.” “You and I are just fellow members of the Student Council... After our terms in office end, we won’t talk. That’s natural, isn’t it...?” “I see... Maybe.” I couldn’t find the words to deny it. Just fellow members of the Student Council—it didn’t feel right. If not that, then friends? I felt like I didn’t know enough about Asuhain-san to confidently assert that. “But... it’ll be lonely, won’t it?” Even if that were true, it wouldn’t change my feelings. “The first time we met, the trip to Kobe, working hard together on graduation ceremony preparations... It’s all still in my head. So, if you’re not close by, it would be lonely...” Asuhain-san listened silently to my words. There are memories we shared. There are moments we went through together. If that’s the case, wanting to continue them in the future is surely not wrong. “I know that you’re avoiding me for some reason. Maybe I did something wrong... I still don’t know what it is, and if you don’t want to talk about it, I won’t ask. But... I don’t want to drift apart from you, Asuhain-san. That’s the one thing... I wanted to convey.”
Through my relationship with Mizuto, I had learned that conveying feelings was crucial. I wouldn’t indulge in the idea that someone would understand another person without speaking up. If the other person remained silent, I would go and talk to them. It’s entirely different from myself in junior high—it’s what I consider the ideal version of myself. “Thank you for listening... Shall we go back to where everyone is?” As I stood up, Asuhain-san nodded slightly and stood up too. The distance between us hadn’t closed. But, I felt like I had taken a step towards it—a step that mattered. Mizuto Irido ◆ In The World Of The Sea Once we checked into our accommodation for the second day of the trip in Nago, we split into different areas of the hotel grounds based on our chosen activities. Our group’s choice was snorkeling and a banana boat experience. Twelve people in total—our group and Yoshino’s group from the second-year class 7—selected this course. After changing into swimsuits and wearing wetsuits over them, we gathered on the beach within the accommodation’s premises. Sitting on the shore, we received instructions from the instructor, practiced breathing with snorkels, and learned hand signals for underwater communication. Finally, each group boarded a boat and set off to the sea. The clear sky showed a perfect sunny day. The sunlight reflected on the sea, sparkling and shining. Just peering into it, Yume, Kawanami, and Minami were elated. Only Isana sat huddled at the edge of the boat, looking tense. “May we return safely from the sea...” “Don’t take it so seriously.”
I sat next to my best friend, giving her stiff back a light pat. “The waters we’re heading to aren’t that deep. And it’s not like you have thalassophobia.” Even someone like me wouldn’t push Isana if she was afraid of the ocean. It’s just that she’s not comfortable with swimming, being a bit clumsy in sports in general. But I judged that as long as it’s an activity without competition, Isana can enjoy it without any problems. This is something I feel myself; 90% of the reason for my dislike in physical activities lies in being forced to compete with others in physical education classes, or getting out in a moment in dodgeball, turning into a useless puppet in football, or falling behind in long-distance running. These experiences usually lead people to become physically inactive. Compared to that, snorkeling is simple; you just float in the sea as the instructor says. Well, at least that’s my expectation of it as it’s my first time. “Take it easy. Think of it like you’re at an aquarium.” “There’s no risk of drowning in an aquarium...! Unless the tank breaks...” “We’re really going tomorrow, so don’t jinx it. Don’t worry, we’re wearing life jackets. You won’t sink even if you want to.” “That’s right!” The female instructor smiles, crouching down and saying to Isana, “We’ve taken plenty of safety precautions, so enjoy the sea with peace of mind! If you feel uneasy, don’t hesitate to rely on me anytime!” “Ye-yeah...” ...Well, she should be fine. Though it seems she still doesn’t have the composure to be not nervous around adults she just met. As we arrive at the point, we finally disembark from the boat and peer into the world of the sea. Actually, I wasn’t completely calm myself. After all, it was my first time swimming in the open sea. There were no swimming classes at
Rakurou High School, and except for some practicing beforehand, it had been a while since I swam. However, I forgot about all of that as I peered at the dazzling coral reefs shining in the sunlight that penetrated from the surface of the ocean. I’m not usually the type to be easily impressed by nature, but indeed, it felt like peering into a different world. Following the instructor’s guidance, we swam around, savoring the underwater world. Yume, Minami, and Asuhain were playing around with the colorful fish that inhabited the coral reefs. Since Yume brought Asuhain back from American Village, it seems they’ve grown a bit closer. Asuhain still seems a bit reserved, but Yume was actively trying to deepen their relationship, much like she did with Minami. I couldn’t help but feel nostalgic. Even though she made her high school debut, it seemed like her fundamental personality hadn’t changed at all. Perhaps it was innate, something that couldn't be changed by effort. But towards Asuhain, Yume was actively trying to strengthen their relationship with forcefulness, much like Minami did when she initially first became friends with Yume. I remembered my junior high school days. There was an awkward girl who had isolated herself from others—and despite not having that kind of disposition, I tried to involve myself with her. Well, compared to Yume’s efforts now, my efforts from my junior high days and Minami’s from last year definitely had some impure ulterior motives. While being pulled in different directions by the enthusiastic Kawanami, I snuck a few glances at Isana. With widened eyelids behind her goggles, she seems completely absorbed in the underwater world. It seems there was nothing to worry about anymore. As I got used to swimming, I noticed Yume gesturing subtly.
I gently moved away from Isana and Kawanami and swam towards Yume. There, I found a school of tropical fish, palm-sized and striped. As Yume reached out to the school, some of the fish playfully nibbled at her hand. I followed suit, and the fish nibbled at me too. I had a simple impression—they were alive. Something that couldn’t be felt through the glass of monitors or aquariums was undoubtedly there. Through the goggles, I meet eyes with Yume, and we share a smile with just our eyes. What’s this... I’m unexpectedly enjoying myself. I’m sure the me from junior high would be disappointed if he saw my future self enjoying a school trip like this. Yume Irido ◆ The Figure In The Dark “It was amazing, right?! Everything was so vividly blue!” “Y-yes, indeed...! The fishes were constantly swimming in front of me...!” “I’m really glad it’s sunny today. It was just pure blue when we looked up, it was as if we were really melting into the ocean.” After finishing our snorkeling experience, we removed the upper part of our wetsuits and discussed our impressions on the boat. The bikini swimsuits we wore underneath, including Higashira-san’s, were bought by the three of us. Especially when deciding on Higashira-san’s swimsuit, Minami-san was enthusiastically involved. However, now, despite having her cherished swimsuit right in front of her, Minami-san only talked about the sea. “I don’t often visit it, but I think I might really like the sea.” While gazing at the rippling water, Minami-san said, “Just like Yume-chan said, it really feels like melting it’s away... small things don’t
seem to matter anymore while we’re here. Next time, I think I’ll save money and come on my own. Hey, Kawanami!” Kawanami-kun, suddenly brought into the conversation, didn’t seem bewildered at all. “Yeah, sounds good! I wanna try surfing next time, it looks fun.” “Surfing! That’s way too trendy and outdoorsy!” “I’ll become a glistening, bronzed sea man...” “That doesn’t suit you!” Minami-san and Kawanami-kun both laughed cheerfully. In the meantime, I spoke to Asuhain-san, sitting next to me. “How was it for you, Asuhain-san? Did you enjoy it?” “Well... in a way, it left a deep impression on me.” With a somewhat refreshed expression, Asuhain-san continued. “Just as Minami-san mentioned, it feels like the small me was melting and disappearing into the sea... It’s been a while since I spent time without thinking about anything.” Since the morning incident, Asuhain-san had started talking more normally than before. But right now, she seemed especially talkative. Perhaps it was the power of nature. By the way, Mizuto was leaning on the edge of the boat, looking dazed. It seems he got tired from the unfamiliar exercise. He chose the marine experience course to help Higashira-san with her lack of exercise, but it’s not like I was in the place to speak for others. We had a brief interval when our boat reached the shore. During this time, it seemed okay to play in the sea as usual. However, since I’m not particularly athletic, I watched Yoshino-san’s group playing on the beach from under the beach umbrella. It was then when Akatsuki-san brought me a well-chilled canned juice.
“You did well!” “Thank you.” Pulling the tab on the canned juice, Akatsuki-san sat next to me. And just as I was about to take a sip of the juice, she looked at me with a mischievous expression. “You’re good at handling things, Yume-chan♥.” In response to her suggestive tone, I involuntarily spit out the juice from my mouth. “Eh? Wh-what are you talking about?” “You skillfully fooled around with Irido-kun while Asuhain-san and Kawanami weren’t looking. You’ve become quite sly... Though I find it a bit lonely as your friend, you know~” “Being called sly makes it sound like I’m a cunning person...” As I chuckled, Akatsuki-san continued. “You’ve become surprisingly more open to crossing dangerous bridges, you know~? Last night at the pool too...” “Eh!?” Why would Akatsuki-san mention that...? She might have noticed my meeting with Mizuto, but she shouldn’t have known about our encounter at the pool...! Could it be that Akatsuki-san was the one hiding in those bushes— “I want your gratitude! I was keeping an eye on you!” “Eh? Keeping an eye... what do you mean?” “I thought you’d meet Irido-kun at 9 p.m~, so I’m sorry for doing this, but I took the initiative and got there about 10 minutes early and watched you enter the pool. Then, by chance, I ran into Sakamizu-chan and others from another class, and I kept watch at the pool entrance as I was chatting with them. I made sure not to disturb your secret meeting, Yume-chan!”
Come to think of it, when I left the pool once, I felt the presence of other students on the same floor... Was that Akatsuki-san and the others? “...But, isn’t that pretty much stalking?” “Teehee.” Well, if I’m being honest, I might have done the same thing if I was in her shoes. After all, it’s something that piques your interest. Oh, I see. So Akatsuki-san was at the pool entrance... all the time we were talking— —Wait a moment? “How long were you keeping watch like that?” “Well, until you and Irido-kun came out together, of course~” “During that time, did no one else enter or exit the pool?” “Well, of course not. I was watching closely, after all!” ...What could that mean then? If that’s the case... what happened to the figure we chased? There should be no other exits at the pool entrance... At least, the only escape route should be the entrance Akatsuki-san was watching over. The culprit we were chasing must have been seen by Akatsuki-san, without a doubt. However... Akatsuki-san claims not to have seen anyone enter or exit the pool where we were. And she was talking to Maki-san and other classmates, providing herself with an alibi. There should be no lie in her testimony. If that’s the case, where did the culprit go? Did they vanish like smoke...? ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆
Finishing the banana boat experience with a new mystery hanging over us, we entered the changing room. Higashira-san sighed heavily as she placed her hand on the wetsuit zipper. “Phew... finally some relief...” “Well, it must have been cramped! With your curves sticking out like that!” As usual, Akatsuki-san started her teasing routine, sliding the zipper in all directions around Higashira-san’s chest. Then, she started to tug at the neck part over her face, extracting her arms from the sleeves. “Dwoaaah!” Akatsuki-san’s petite body was blown away by Higashira-san’s released H-cups. Wait no, there’s no way that happened. She definitely just wanted to react like that. But at the same time, it’s true that it must be challenging to change with a large chest, so it was probably better to have someone help. “Asuhain-san, would you like me to help too?” “Uh, we-well... then, please, if you don’t mind.” I opened Asuhain-san’s wetsuit zipper. It was much easier than opening my own. Then, just like Akatsuki-san did, I pulled it off, removing the upper part of her wetsuit by tugging at the sleeves. After that, I swiftly rolled up the lower part. It felt like taking care of a younger sister. I was an only child after all, so I find this kind of thing a bit enjoyable— —That’s how I felt. But the moment Asuhain-san’s thighs were exposed, that feeling disappeared. But not in a way comparable to the ulterior motives Akatsuki-san might have. On the outer side of her right thigh—
There, a band-aid was attached. “...Asuhain-san. Is this...?” “Ah... that’s...” Asuhain-san seemed somewhat reluctant and explained, “Yesterday... well... I got cut just a bit. It’s almost completely healed now, so don’t worry.” “I see...” I was only able to verbalize just that. Mizuto had mentioned it. The person who peeked at our secret meeting had a cut somewhere on their body, made by a branch from the bushes— Asuhain-san peeled off the wet band-aid by herself. Underneath that band-aid— —There was a thin cut, resembling the kind made by a sharp bush branch. Mizuto Irido ◆ What Can A Lover Do At A Time Like This The second-day accommodation, summed up in a sentence, was like a little town with various resort amenities, such as a hotel and other resort facilities nestled in the mountains adjacent to the beach. Students who had completed their various experience courses gathered in front of the accommodation building within this complex. The teachers were currently taking attendance, and once that was done, most students would have free time until dinner—supposedly. However, one of our class groups was running late. Thanks to that, we, the rest of the students of the class, were able to enjoy our free time a bit earlier. “...Hey, come here for a moment.” During that time, Yume discreetly tugged at my sleeve.
Without saying anything on the spot, Yume subtly moved us away from the class. She seemed to have something she wanted to discuss, so following her back, I headed toward the large pool near the hotel. Perhaps to create a tropical atmosphere, palm-like trees surrounded the pool. Illuminated by the setting sun, casting long shadows, Yume stood there. “What’s wrong?” I asked Yume, who subsequently lowered her gaze. Yume remained silent for a while, as if lost—or perhaps confused—before finally opening her mouth in a hesitant tone. “Actually... it’s about the culprit from last night...” “...Did you find any clues?” Yume nodded and said. “There was a cut... on Asuhain-san’s thigh.” “...Asuhain, huh?” “Aren’t you surprised?” “The person who saw us must undoubtedly be among us, yet there’s no rumors about us spreading. I was expecting that it might be someone relatively close to us. There’s also the fact that they came to the pool aiming for the place where we were meeting... And there’s a chance they saw us entering the pool by coincidence, but equally likely is that they deduced we’d meet there from some conversation.” Honestly, I was about 60% certain that Kawanami was the culprit. However, if the culprit turned out to be Asuhain, it would explain the change in her attitude today. She might have stopped bothering me now that she knows about our relationship and felt awkward around Yume... “So... what are you going to do?” I asked Yume. “If the culprit is Asuhain, she probably won’t spread such a rumor. Pretending not to notice won’t cause any problems.”
“...Yeah.” “But you still look dissatisfied.” Yume’s face remained cloudy. She wasn’t angry, but there were probably lingering questions she had. Why did she peek at our secret meeting? Asuhain isn’t the type to engage in such base actions personality-wise. There must be a reason—reasons known only to her. But Yume seems to be hesitating to ask. Is it okay to confront Asuhain, who she’s finally become friendly with? “You know, you’re not the type who’s good at playing the werewolf, right?” “Eh?” Yume, caught off guard, raised her gaze. “You’re not the type to skillfully hide your true self. The reason you’ve been doing well with the whole honor student act is probably because that’s close to your true self, right? I can’t imagine you going along while hiding something that bothers you.” “Well... that might be true, but...” “If you’re going to gather the courage to do so, it’s better to do it sooner.” I placed my hand on Yume’s shoulder and said, smiling. “Compared to dating a step-sibling, this should be a piece of cake, right?” As I smiled, Yume looked up and gave a troubled smile. “Indeed.” Certainly, Yume had probably decided to confront Asuhain herself.
But she wanted me to push her. Not only because I’m involved, but also as a couple tied by the same fate. “I’ll... try to find out. There seem to be a lot of unresolved issues between me and Asuhain-san.” “Do your best.” These short and simple words were the most I could offer. Yume Irido ◆ Timing Is Everything Returning to the class, I was met with the group that was running late making excuses to the teacher. It was a group of three girls and three boys, but the girls who took the lead seemed to have misunderstood the assembly time. There seems to be a slight disagreement happening. Our class, 2-7, has 15 girls and 15 boys, making a total of 30 students. Perhaps due to Yoshino-san’s influence, the girls have a somewhat stronger presence. The boys usually don’t seem to mind, but during events like this, there was the presence of slight tension. After the attendance was taken, there was a meeting with the group leaders. Five representatives from each class gathered to report on the day’s activities. Apart from the tardiness incident, it seemed like there were no major issues. Following that was dinner and recreation. It truly was an Okinawan experience, with everyone enjoying soba and a live performance of island songs. Once that was over, our much-anticipated free time had arrived— “Ahh... it really feels like a resort, doesn’t it?” Our room in today’s accommodation had a balcony, allowing us to enjoy the tropical trees and the nighttime beach view. Akatsuki-san sat on the chair placed on the balcony, leisurely taking in the scenery. “It’s nice, you know? Moments like this where we can just do nothing. It feels like my heart can finally rest.”
“Surprising... I thought Akatsuki-san was the type who’d die if not doing something.” “I’m not a workaholic!” Her voice teasing rebuttal sounded somewhat gentle as I sat on the adjacent chair. Considering the breadth of her social circle, Akatsuki-san likely dealt with communication through social media much more than I did. Maybe taking some time away from the smartphone for detox was necessary. “Let’s go to the souvenir shop later, Yume-chan.” “Yeah, I also want to buy something for the Student Council seniors.” While saying this, I snuck a glance around the room. Higashira-san lay sprawled on one of the beds, seemingly exhausted, while Asuhain-san was reading a reference book on another. I need to find an opportunity to be alone with Asuhain-san at some point. As Mizuto said, the longer I wait, the harder it’ll be to ask. “Asuhain-san, do you want to come too?” When I turned back and asked, Asuhain-san lifted her face from her reference book. “Asuhain-san probably wants something too, right? Souvenirs for the President and Vice President!” “Yes, you’re right. They’ve been very helpful.” Alright. It seems I’ve succeeded in getting out of the room together for now. As long as we stay in the room, the chance for a private moment won’t come. “What about Higashira-san?” Akatsuki-san asked, and Higashira-san swung her hand lazily while lying on the bed. “I’ll pass... I don’t have anyone to give souvenirs to.”
“Your mom or dad, maybe?” I chuckle, but Higashira-san showed no sign of getting up. She seems quite tired after all. “Well then, let’s leave her be.” Saying so, Akatsuki-san stood up from her chair. Despite saying we’d go later, she seemed keen on heading out now. I followed suit and entered back into the room. “We’re going, Asuhain-san.” “Yes.” Asuhain-san returned her reference book to her bag and retrieved her wallet before getting off the bed. Then, the three of us left the room, leaving Higashira-san behind. Once outside the lodging facility, we walked along the road. Illuminated by vibrant lights, the palm trees planted along the roadside added a tropical touch to the night. While the scenery was dazzling, the surrounding sounds were calm. Only the gentle sound of the waves echoed from afar. Listening to the ocean’s melody, I truly felt that we had come a long way. Living in Kyoto, opportunities to get close to the sea are scarce (we’re more inclined to visit Lake Biwa usually). As we followed the curving road, a souvenir shop came into view. It was a single-story building with a large eave extending over the entrance. Upon entering, the space resembled a small supermarket, filled with a variety of items such as chinsukō (Okinawan cookies), sata andagi (Okinawan doughnuts), handicraft, and folk art like Shisa figurines. In the midst of these shelves, familiar faces caught my eye. “Oh, yo.” Kawanami-kun raised his hand casually, and next to him, Mizuto looked at me in silence. Akatsuki-san waved and approached the two.
“How commendable of you. Choosing souvenirs and all.” “I’m the diligent type when it comes to this. You know that, right?” “What about me?” “You? Not a chance. Do you know how stingy you can be?” Smiling at their familiar banter, Mizuto sent a meaningful glance my way. For a moment, his eyes shifted to Asuhain-san next to me. Understanding his intention, I prompted Asuhain-san. “Asuhain-san, wanna look for some souvenirs over there.” “Oh... yes.” Now’s the chance, with Akatsuki-san and Kawanami-kun engaged in friendly banter. Asuhain-san and I discreetly moved towards the edge of the store. I’m sure Mizuto would help and buy us some time too. Mizuto Irido ◆ Confirmation I subtly confirmed that Yume and Asuhain were quietly moving away. Fortunately, it seemed Kawanami and Minami hadn’t noticed. It was crucial not to attract unnecessary attention from these two; otherwise, the situation might escalate further. Casually engaging in conversation with the two, I managed to buy some time. Then, Minami suddenly recalled something and showed an expression as if she was thinking about something. “Hey, Irido-kun, I asked Yume-chan about this earlier, but...” “Oh, what is it?” “......” Rather than responding to me, Minami glared at Kawanami, who eagerly tried to listen in on the conversation.
“I wasn’t talking to you. You nosy bastard! Shoo, shoo!” “Alright, alright, I got it. I’ll just cover my ears over there, okay?” Kawanami surrendered, raising his hands as if proclaiming his innocence, and headed towards the back of the store. He diligently covered his ears while browsing for souvenirs. Seems like she’s really managed to tame this guy. Then, Minami, speaking in a lowered voice, continued the conversation she had started earlier. “Yume-chan and I talked about it last night... Did something happen?” “Something?—Wait, before that, what’s this about last night?” “There’s no need to hide it. I saw it all. You two together at the poolside.” “Why were you watchi—Nevermind, asking that won’t get me anywhere.” “Tehee.” Call it stalking or surveillance, it was her specialty either way. “By the way, just to confirm, how long and when were you watching us?” “Around 10 minutes before 9 p.m—so around 8:50 p.m. I didn’t have my phone, so I can’t give you the exact time, but it should have been around then.” “Staking out then, huh...? So, did you see anything happen during that time?” “After talking with Yume-chan, she seemed lost in thought. I was wondering if something happened then. You guys are not fighting or anything, right? It didn’t feel like you guys had that kind of atmosphere.” “Something happened, but...”
I hesitated a bit on whether to tell her about last night’s events. If I did, she could likely use her extensive network to help. However, I had a separate suspicion about her. Moreover, her best friend, Yume, couldn’t bring herself to talk about it with her either. “What did you talk about with Yume? Tell me a bit more.” “Not much different from our conversation now. I told her I kept watch at the pool entrance from the moment Yume-chan went in until you two came out.” “What?” If her story was true, it begged the question: where did the fleeing culprit disappear to? “Is there anyone who can confirm that story?” “Yeah. Sakamizu-chan and Kanai-chan were with me.” “Who else knew you were keeping watch?” “Just me? I’m not gonna tell anyone about this by the way.” “I see...” Yume would be pondering this too. For mystery enthusiasts, this was the perfect setup—a locked-room scenario. And if that were the case... “Hm?” Wait a minute... Hold on. No, it couldn’t be. That’s impossible. Given the discussion we had this morning due to one group running late, I had asked Yume later; who was the first to return to their room? “Haah...” “Come on! Both of you are lost in thought! What’s going on?” “Minami-san... Sorry, but could you answer one more question without asking anything else?”
“I’ll answer. What is it?” “You said you were watching until we came out. Was that until the first time? Or was it until the second time we exited the pool?” “Ah, that. It was the second time. I saw you guys coming out once, then going back inside, and then coming out again until you two headed towards the elevators!” “I see...” It would make sense if she had stopped watching us after we came out the first time and entered the hallway. But if she watched until the second time—no, it couldn’t be. Ran Asuhain was not the culprit. Yume Irido ◆ I Bet You Wouldn’t Get It Anyways While gazing at the shelves filled with colorful Ryukyu glassware, I awaited the opportunity to broach the subject. I had hoped to confirm the facts with Asuhain-san in a natural flow of our conversation somehow... but it seemed impossible to set up. In the end, I had no choice but to brace myself. If it was a misunderstanding, that would be fine. Even if it were the truth, I wouldn’t be angry. I just wanted to know what she was thinking—that’s all. Glancing shyly at Asuhain-san, who was silently observing some Ryukyu glassware, I cautiously opened my mouth. “Hey... can I ask you something a bit strange?” Asuhain-san turned her face towards me. Swallowing once, I realized I couldn’t bring myself to meet her gaze directly, so I asked my question. “Yesterday around 9 p.m... where were you and what were you doing?”
I thought it was a strange and impolite question, even for me. But I had no way to sugarcoat it further. As expected, Asuhain-san furrowed her brows with a puzzled expression and responded with her own question, “What’s the intention behind that question?” “Sorry. Actually... during that time, I was meeting the person I’m in love with.” I confessed. Asking such a question meant I had to confess honestly. And while concealing the fact that the person was Mizuto— “At that moment, it seemed like someone saw us. I’m curious about who it was. So, if you know anything...” I trailed off. Glancing sideways, I checked Asuhain-san’s reaction. She wasn’t looking at me anymore. Fixated on the vivid Ryukyu glass, she murmured deeply and heavily. “—You’re really innocent, aren’t you?” “...Eh?” Unexpectedly, I found myself staring at Asuhain-san’s face. “Everytime you open your mouth and talk about love affairs with such delight... no matter how much I resent it, how much I struggle listening to it, you don’t care at all...” “Asuhain-san...?” “I’ve been thinking about you all this time.” The moment she said this, Asuhain-san raised her face, locking her eyes with my—perhaps confused—gaze. She then lowered her gaze, lips pressed together, seemingly frustrated and embarrassed. I couldn’t do anything. I didn’t know what the right thing to do was. In the midst of this, Asuhain-san turned her back.
“Asuhain-san!” Ignoring my voice, Asuhain-san rushed out of the shop. Reflexively, I chased after her, dashing onto the illuminated road—her retreating figure disappearing into the darkness. Just in time, I caught up. I gripped Asuhain-san’s arm. “What’s wrong, all of a sudden...!?” With her back still turned to me, Asuhain-san answered as if forcing the words out. “It’s not... all of a sudden.” “Eh...?” “I’ve been... suffering... I didn’t want to admit it... frustrated... my head, my heart, everything’s a mess.” Asuhain-san’s shoulders trembled. As if a dam on the verge of bursting— “Why do I have to think about you so much? I didn’t ask for this... I want it to stop as soon as possible...” “Did I do something...? If I—” “You... didn’t do anything. I’ve been... thinking of you as a rival all along!” A rival— I remembered. The challenging look in her eyes when we first met in the Student Council room. The determined gaze she directed at me every time there was a test. Come to think of it—I hadn’t received that gaze since we became second-years. No. Not since becoming a second-year. But since Asuhain-san surpassed me and became the top student at the end of our first-year exams—