“What do we do?”
The top-tier group was visibly strained.
It was during lunch break in the classroom. Although Sara and the others were gathered in the center of the room, it couldn’t be said that the conversation was lively. The reason was that Touyama was staying outside the circle. Touyama didn’t go so far as to actively kick Sara out of the group, but whenever Sara joined the circle, Touyama would slip away. In such a situation, there was no way Akagami and the others could have a spirited conversation.
As a result, Sara had stopped participating in the group circle as much. Of course, she still interacted with the individual members, but when they gathered as a group, Sara avoided joining in out of consideration for Touyama. That, naturally, was also based on my instructions. Naturally, Akagami and the others took this situation seriously.
After school, Akagami, Ruka, and Shidou gathered at Iccho.
Iccho was a local chain restaurant centered around Gunma Prefecture. It was a family restaurant and izakaya hybrid with all-private rooms, making it very convenient to use. My favorite menu item was the "Success Yakisoba."
Akagami and the others were using a spacious room that could hold up to six people. Aoki was absent, as usual, because of club activities.
Instead of calling Ruka for eavesdropping like usual, I entered the room after hearing the plan from Ruka. This way, it would appear as though Ruka had invited me.
“Kageyama. Thanks for coming.”
Akagami gave a light wave as a greeting. In the tatami-style room, Akagami and Ruka were sitting side-by-side, and the spot next to Shidou was empty.
“No worries, it’s fine. I’m always free, anyway.”
I replied as I sat down on a zabuton cushion and closed the sliding door behind me.
“Want something to drink?”
I looked at the menu Shidou handed me and ordered a Cola. On the table were their respective drinks and a mountain of french fries.
“You can have some fries~. My treat,” Ruka said, sliding the plate toward me.
As for why they were being so incredibly attentive…
“Shall we get straight to the main point?”
“Yeah. Now that Kageyama, our collaborator, is here.”
“The ‘Yuzu-Sara Besties Operation,’ huh… The name is tacky.”
“Hey! I came up with that!”
It was because I played a vital role in this operation. This was the second stage of the ‘Exorcism Operation’: ‘The Taming of the Flame Dragon.’ Needless to say, it was a plan to soothe the anger of the flame dragon known as Touyama and make them friends.
For the record, I also thought the ‘Yuzu-Sara Besties Operation’ was tacky. Ruka had no sense of style. Ruka glared at me with a look of dissatisfaction. I ignored it—we needed to move the conversation forward.
“…Okay, I’ll explain the plan again~”
Regardless of the name, I was the one who proposed this plan, but for the sake of appearances, Ruka was the face of it.
“Kageyama-kun invited us to a stargazing event on Mt. Akagi. Let’s all participate in this event and get Yuzuki-chan and Ginjou-san to make up… or rather, let’s make them friends!”
Ruka declared with a raised fist and plenty of enthusiasm. I added a supplement to Ruka’s outline of the plan.
“It’s an event hosted by an acquaintance of my parents. They gave me permission to bring friends. So, I was looking for people who might be interested, but since it’s a night event, I couldn’t find anyone… That’s when Oukura-san approached me.”
“When I heard Kageyama-kun was looking for participants, I thought, ‘This is it!’ I mean, don’t you think it’ll be super romantic if the two of them look up at the stars together?”
Ruka’s explanation was fluffy.
That couldn’t be helped, as my reasoning for selecting this was equally fluffy.
I mean, a reconciliation event is way more emotional under a starry sky!
…No, of course, that wasn’t the only reason. Sara is knowledgeable about stars. If it’s stargazing, I figured they wouldn’t run out of things to talk about.
“Yuzuki gets swept away by the atmosphere, so it might actually work, right?”
Shidou agreed, though his comment was relatively rude toward Touyama.
“I don’t think just looking at stars will solve everything, but it seems like a good catalyst,” Akagami said.
I nodded in agreement.
“But doesn’t it feel like we’re just using the stargazing event as a tool?”
“Oh, I don’t mind that at all. I’m only participating to be polite anyway. If it helps Akagami-kun’s plan, then it was worth me suggesting it.”
Of course, the explanation of the circumstances I gave earlier was a lie. The only truth was that the organizer of the stargazing event was an acquaintance of my parents. The acquaintance was an event producer—if he felt like it, creating a makeshift event was a piece of cake. I had a small ‘favor’ to call in from him, so he agreed immediately.
“The schedule is to meet at Maebashi Station at 19:00. We’ll take a car and arrive at the Shinsakadaira parking lot on Mt. Akagi around 20:00. It should end before 23:00. General participants can stay later, but we’re high schoolers. Of course, I’ll drive you all home.”
“You’d even do that for us? That’s a huge help.”
“Maybe they’re just trying hard to get young people interested in the stars?”
It was natural that the arrangements were so thorough. I had planned it for this specific purpose. Furthermore, although it was rushed, it was planned as a real event, so there were general participants. If it were a non-existent event, they might not be able to get permission from their parents. I had to ensure that level of credibility. Besides, if there were general participants, my acquaintance could make some money.
“The event content is simple: just stargazing with telescopes. There’s a lecture by an accompanying astronomer, but you don’t need to worry too much about that.”
There were three reasons why I was moving openly this time.
First, leaving everything to Ruka would be too much of a burden.
Second, being there in person makes it easier to give instructions. The climax is the timing where controlling the narrative becomes truly difficult. If I were on a call or in a distant location, the information I could obtain would be limited.
Third, simple selfishness. I wanted to see the climax of the story with my own eyes. By being involved in some capacity, I could secure a natural position to be present.
“I’ll RINE the details later.”
“Thanks. Honestly, I’m actually looking forward to it.”
“I know, right~! Stargazing at night with everyone! That’s so ‘youth’~!”
Ruka agreed with Akagami.
“But the problem is the specific details of the plan, isn’t it?”
“If we leave the two of them alone under the starry sky, won’t it just naturally turn into something good~?”
“You’re being way too optimistic… though it would certainly be best if it worked out that way,” Akagami countered Ruka’s airy comment.
“…First of all, what was the cause of the fight? I think it depends on that,” I interjected, pretending to know nothing.
Since I wasn’t a member of the top-tier group, it was more natural to ask.
“That’s the thing, I don’t really know. I think the final exam rankings were involved, though,” Akagami said, crossing his arms.
He really is dense when it comes to romance.
“No, you know the cause,” Shidou said.
“Eh, really?”
“I know too. But I’m not telling Kouichi-kun~”
“What! Why not!”
“…Well, that’s how it is. You get the drift, right?”
“I see.”
Shidou gave me a wink. Handsome guys can make anything look good.
“What do you mean, ‘I see’?” Akagami looked bewildered.
“But if that’s the cause, wouldn’t it be hard to resolve?”
“In the end, it depends on whether the two of them actually want to make up.”
Ruka cut in response to Shidou’s line.
“I don’t know about Yuzuki-chan, but Ginjou-san wants to make up.”
“Will the current Yuzuki even come to an event where Ginjou is present?”
“Oh, no need to worry about that part,” Ruka said confidently.
Any concerns that might collapse the premise of the plan had, naturally, been crushed first.
“I invited Yuzuki-chan first and she said yes. She can’t back out now.”
“…Ruka’s surprisingly sharp, isn’t she?”
At Shidou’s impressed mutter, Ruka’s face twitched slightly. However, immediately after, she puffed out her cheeks and gave Shidou a cute glare.
“Hey, what’s that ‘for Ruka’ supposed to mean~?”
“Hahaha!”
Shidou laughed it off.
Since I was having Ruka act as my proxy for the plan, it was undeniable that her behavior differed slightly from her own character. If I used her too much, these kinds of questions would arise, so I wanted to increase my number of pawns.
“Maybe we don’t need to think too concretely about the plan’s details?” Akagami murmured.
“I think Yuzuki actually cares about Sara. But she’s got a lot of different emotions cluttered up inside her, and she hasn’t sorted them out yet. That’s why she’s keeping her distance for now. She’s clumsy. She’s always been like that. She’s easy to misunderstand.”
Without realizing the crucial part, Akagami hit the core of Touyama’s nature. As expected of a childhood friend.
I had also analyzed Touyama’s thinking and reached a similar conclusion.
“Maybe they’re two of a kind. Ginjou-san is also easy to misunderstand,” Ruka added.
“Yuzuki is harsh, and Ginjou is cold. At least, that’s how they look to everyone else,” Shidou agreed.
“Ultimately, it’s a problem that time will solve. But if things stay like this for a while, it’ll be boring for us. It’d be more fun if the two of them just made up already, right?”
Akagami said this and smiled, showing his white teeth.
“If we move too much on this end, Yuzuki might feel like it’s too artificial. So, I think just providing the venue is about the right amount of help, don’t you think?”
His words were persuasive. Ruka and Shidou nodded in agreement.
“It’ll be fine. It’ll work out somehow. After all, both of them are great people!”
In his optimistic assertion, Akagami possessed the charisma of a protagonist.
But in reality, I felt he was half-right and half-wrong. This was because Akagami didn’t realize that he himself was part of the cause. I agreed that time would solve things if left alone, but I didn’t believe things would just work out by charging in without a plan.
That said, that was the part I could handle by giving Sara instructions.
“I’m looking forward to the stargazing. I actually really like looking at the stars.”
The event date was set for one week later.
July 24th. The night of the last day of the first semester. In other words, the eve of summer vacation.
As usual, the three of us gathered in an empty classroom after school.
Sara was in such a good mood that it was obvious even while she was in Witch Mode.
“Stargazing… I’m looking forward to it.”
“This is no time to be floating on air.”
“…Y-you’re right. What should I do?”
Touyama’s reaction to learning that Sara was coming was a curt “Oh.”
The fact that she wasn’t opposed meant there was definitely a chance.
“First, I’ll give you information on Touyama’s hobbies and favorite things. Ruka, please add any supplements as we go.”
To earn Touyama’s affection, having prior information is useful.
“Her hobby is collecting shoujo manga. She has a tendency to daydream, and apparently, when she’s alone, she often indulges herself by projecting shoujo manga scenarios onto her own life. Her favorite food is omurice. Same as Akagami’s. While practicing cooking to become Akagami’s bride, she ended up liking omurice herself. By the way, when she was a child, Touyama wrote ‘bride’ as her dream for the future.”
“…You’re bringing up things even I didn’t know?”
Even Ruka’s cheek twitched, and Sara was staring at me with a look of utter disbelief.
“H-how do you know so much…?”
“I told you before. I used to be a ‘viewer.’”
I continued to feed Sara other small tidbits about Touyama that might be useful.
It was a complicated feeling, knowing that the more I told her, the further the distance between us seemed to grow.
“Well, I’ve told you for now, but just use these as conversation starters if they seem to fit. If you use them too much, you’ll seem too knowledgeable and creep her out, so be careful with the balance.”
“By the way~”
Sara nodded vigorously at my words.
Since she had a living example right in front of her, she must have found my warning incredibly persuasive.
Ruka closed the distance between us.
“You’ll go on a date with me after this is over, right?”
The pressure from her smile was unusually strong.
It was true that I had forgotten about the one-day date right. It had been postponed time and time again.
“…Fine.”
“Yay!♪”
Ruka clung to my arm.
“…You two are close.”
Sara watched us with a somewhat envious gaze.
The last day of the first semester arrived quickly.
At the all-school assembly, we were forced to listen to the principal’s needlessly long speech in this damn heat. There was no air conditioning in the gymnasium. There were fans, but they were a drop in the bucket. Was he trying to kill us?
While an aura of “just hurry up and finish” drifted even from the teachers, the principal continued his pointless rambling about the consciousness of being Nijisora Sei and taking time to consider a life dedicated to the duties of a student. By the time the principal finally finished, everyone was drenched in sweat. The air conditioning in the classroom felt like a salvation.
During evening homeroom, a restless energy floated through the entire classroom. It was only natural, since summer vacation started tomorrow. My own tension, however, hadn’t changed much. Summer is the season of youth and full of events. I could expect developments that would make the story more interesting. On the other hand, when school is out, it becomes harder to observe the story. The merits and demerits balanced each other out.
“I’m looking forward to tonight.”
Akagami and the others were also making a fuss in the center of the classroom.
“Are you guys going somewhere?”
“We’re going stargazing at Mount Akagi.”
“Wow, that sounds like so much fun. Nice~”
Meanwhile, Sara was reading a book at her desk. She had returned to her previous, ambiguous position.
“…What time was the meeting?”
On the other hand, Touyama, who was next to Akagami, asked curtly.
“Seven o’clock at Maebashi Station. Everyone, don’t be late~!”
Ruka answered Touyama’s question while issuing a warning to the whole group.
“Ginjou-san! I’m counting on you today!”
Perhaps mindful not to leave Sara alone, Aoki rushed over to her.
“…Yeah.”
As the classroom buzzed with such conversations, our homeroom teacher, Sakura-sensei, appeared.
“Well, it’s summer vacation!”
After concisely explaining the notices for the break, Sakura-sensei curled the corners of her mouth upward.
“Enough with the stiff talk, right? Enjoy your summer vacation, just don’t go too overboard!”
“As expected of Uta-chan sensei! You get it!”
“That! Don’t call me Uta-chan sensei!”
Shidou reacted to the teacher’s words, and the classroom livened up with their usual banter. Everyone’s tension was getting a bit weird. I guess this was the influence of summer vacation.
I was starting to look forward to the nighttime stargazing event. Even though the days are long in summer, it had finally grown dark by this time. Once the sun set, it became a bit cooler. Still, it was far from a comfortable temperature.
As I waited in front of my house, a white HiAce wagon pulled up. When I climbed into the passenger seat, a man who looked old for his forties gave a small bow.
“Yamashiro-san. Thank you for your help today.”
“Yo, Usuhito-kun. It’s been a while.”
He was an acquaintance of my parents who had helped put this event together.
“Thank you for agreeing to such a request.”
“No, no, it’s fine. You’ve been a big help to me, Usuhito-kun.”
Thanks to Yamashiro-san, this had become a proper event.
Incidentally, I often helped Yamashiro-san with his event production business. It was just a way to earn pocket money, but there were times when Yamashiro-san made an unreasonable demand and I managed to make it work. I had kept that as a ‘favor’… I never imagined the day would come where it would be useful in this way.
“Shall we head out then? To Maebashi Station.”
Sara lived nearby, but it would be slightly unnatural to pick her up first. I had it arranged for her to meet at Maebashi Station, just like everyone else.
It took less than ten minutes by car from my house to Maebashi Station. We arrived at the roundabout shortly.
There were still about ten minutes until seven, but it seemed everyone had already gathered. After he parked the car, I opened the window and waved.
Ruka noticed and urged everyone to come over.
Despite the streetlights, it was still dim. I couldn’t see everyone’s faces clearly. However, as they drew closer, I noticed something. Akagami and Touyama were missing.
“Huh? Where are Akagami-kun and Touyama-san?”
“They aren’t here yet, but they RINE-d saying they’ll be here soon.”
“Then there’s no need to worry. We still have about ten minutes until seven.”
Shidou informed me while showing me the RINE group chat screen. It didn’t matter, but this group chat of theirs was named ‘Our Fantastic.’ Apparently, Akagami named it, but it didn’t have any particular meaning. What is with that?
Also, Sara was a member of this group chat. Though she almost never spoke.
“Everyone, you can get in. It’s hot outside.”
“Got it! Ah, thank you for today~!”
At my prompting, Aoki greeted Yamashiro-san and climbed into the HiAce wagon.
“Sure thing, welcome~”
Yamashiro-san gave a light reply. The others followed.
I looked back from the passenger seat.
With the interior light on, everyone’s faces became clearly visible.
I’d seen them a few times, but since they usually wore uniforms, their private clothes felt fresh.
Shidou wore a short-sleeved shirt and loose-fitting wide pants. He had several necklaces layered together—in private clothes, he looked twenty percent more of a playboy than usual.
Ruka wore a navy shirt and a white skirt. Since it was a stargazing event, she was dressed for movement, but the overall look was a cute coordination.
Aoki wore a mini-skirt adorned with lace. It didn’t fit the image of Aoki, who was bad at fashion, so perhaps Ruka had chosen it for her. She seemed a bit restless, as if she wasn’t used to the outfit, which was quite cute.
Sara wore a simple dress. The straightforward approach that highlighted the quality of the material was based on Ruka’s advice. She had a jacket for warmth draped over her lap.
Even though it was midsummer, I had explained that it was better to bring a jacket since they would be climbing a mountain at night, but it seemed many of them prioritized their fashion. Well, I think it’ll be fine.
“Ah, here they come.”
Shidou, who had been looking out the window, muttered. Following his gaze, I saw Akagami and Touyama running toward us, looking flustered.
As Shidou opened the rear door, Akagami said, slightly out of breath, “Did I make it just in time?” Checking the clock, it wasn’t seven yet.
“You’re safe.”
“Phew, that was close…”
Touyama lightly slapped the head of Akagami as he made a gesture to wipe away sweat.
“It’s because you were sleeping so carefree.”
“No, see, I thought I’d take a short nap and I ended up crashing…”
The two of them had that conversation as they climbed into the car.
It was Shidou who asked with a smirk, “Did Yuzuki go to wake Kouichi up again?”
“That's right. I couldn’t get a hold of him at all, so I figured he was sleeping.” Touyama gave a snort. A light ripple of laughter broke out.
This car was an eight-seater. In the back row were Shidou, Aoki, and Sara. In the middle row were Ruka, Akagami, and Touyama. In the front row, of course, were Yamashiro-san and I.
“Alright, can we head out?”
Once I confirmed everyone was on board, a chorus of replies came back. Yamashiro-san drove the HiAce wagon forward.
From here, it would be a journey of about forty minutes to an hour to the destination.
“Did you eat dinner? I was sleeping, so I haven't eaten.”
“I made some sandwiches for you, Kouichi.”
“Eh, seriously? Yuzuki, you’re my hero.
“Hmph. Why don’t you just eat them with me once we get to the mountain?”
“I brought snacks too-! Let’s all eat together!”
The conversation in the car livened up immediately.
That said, from my position, I could only hear the conversation between Akagami, Touyama, and Ruka. I couldn’t hear what Sara and the others in the back row were saying.
Still, I felt that lately, Touyama had been trying quite hard to appeal to Akagami. Bringing homemade sandwiches was something she wouldn't have done before.
Perhaps, by declaring Sara as her rival, she had become more determined.
“I want to eat them right now…”
“Be patient. It’s someone else’s car. Just put up with it for a bit.”
Listening to that heartwarming exchange, I put on some suitable BGM.
Yamashiro-san, who had been driving in silence, asked me.
“Usuto-kun, are you okay with not joining in?”
“I’m quite fond of this vantage point.”
When I answered, Yamashiro-san gave a wry smile.
“You haven’t changed in that regard. I honestly wondered if you’d had a change of heart.”
“Is it because I used a ‘favor’ I’d never used before? Until now, I was just a simple otaku, but I’ve decided I want to become a creator.”
“Meaning you’ve grown curious about trying to move the plot yourself?”
“That’s part of it… but the main reason is—”
As I spoke, I glanced over my shoulder at the backseat.
Sara was chatting with Aoki. Though her expression remained unchanged, she was surely enjoying herself.
“There’s someone I want to see happy.”
The words flowed from my heart more smoothly than I expected. If I were merely observing, Sara would surely spend a miserable youth. If I could make her happy through my direction, I wanted to do it. In the end, that was the only reason.
“…You’re experiencing youth too, aren’t you, Usuto-kun?”
Yamashiro-san said this with a soft smile.
The car climbed up Mount Akagi in the night. When I opened the window, a cool night breeze flowed in. Crickets were singing. Having left the city behind, there were few lights. Aside from the occasional oncoming car, the area was completely deserted. Trees grew thick on both sides of the road, and beyond them lay a darkness that obscured the view.
“Man, climbing a mountain really gets me hyped!”
Even though the scenery wasn’t anything special, Akagami was pressed against the window, looking delighted.
I’ve been thinking lately that the ability to enjoy anything is the most essential skill for a riajuu. Or more accurately, the mindset of trying to enjoy everything is what matters. If you start something thinking it’ll be boring, even something interesting will end up feeling dull.
“We’re almost there.”
At Yamashiro-san’s words, everyone grew excited.
As promised, in less than ten minutes, we arrived at an open parking lot. This was our destination, the Shinsakadaira Parking Area. A few cars from other participants were parked here and there, but the overall space was incredibly vast. As I stepped out of the car, a cold wind brushed against my cheeks.
“Wow, it’s so chilly~!”
Ruka said this as she threw on a jacket.
“You’re right! I want to stay in the mountains forever~”
Aoki seemed to be comfortably soaking in the breeze.
At this altitude, it was cool but not too cold—the perfect temperature.
“…I can’t see anything around me at all.”
“What’s wrong, Yuzuki? It’s rare for you to cling to me.”
“Shut up. Turn the light on already.”
Touyama apparently disliked the dark. She was clutching Akagami’s sleeve. When Akagami turned on his smartphone light, she looked slightly relieved.
In truth, without a light source, it was pitch black. The streetlights along the road cast a faint glow, but you couldn’t even see a face unless you were at close range. A smartphone light was an absolute necessity.
“Alright, I need to set up the telescope, so please wait a moment.”
With that, Yamashiro-san left our group.
I felt a bit restless for a moment.
That said, when I looked up at the sky, the object of our visit stretched out before us.
“Wow, it’s beautiful…”
It was Touyama who whispered that. Following her gaze, I saw the stars twinkling in a cloudless night sky.
“Amazing! I’m so glad it’s clear!”
Aoki frolicked loudly, snapping photos one after another. She took photos of herself flashing peace signs with the starry sky in the background, but she lamented, “It’s not working at all!”
Well, it was dark. The flash likely made her face look terrible.
“Ginjou-san! Do you know where the Summer Triangle is?”
“That one is Deneb, that one over there is Altair, and this one is Vega.”
“Eh? I have no idea!”
“…Look for the bright stars. Do you see the direction I’m pointing?”
“Ah, I think I see it!”
Listening to Sara’s explanation, Aoki was happily excited.
These two are really becoming friends. Choosing a stargazing event had indeed been the right call. First of all, Sara, who is knowledgeable about stars, was speaking more fluently than usual. I felt as though her voice was somehow more buoyant.
“Sandwiches taste the best when you eat them in the mountains.”
“…Really? I just made them with whatever was left over.”
For Sara, perhaps enjoyment was taking priority over nervousness just for now.
“I’m still happy. Thanks, Yuzuki.”
“You’re way too happy over a mere sandwich. You’re not a child.”
Meanwhile, Akagami was sitting on a ledge, eating the sandwich Touyama had made. Touyama was sitting beside him. It was hard to see in the dim light, but looking closely, the distance between them was closer than usual.
“I think I’ll take a little walk. I’m curious about the telescope setup too.”
Shidou walked toward Yamashiro-san and the others. He quickly vanished into the darkness of the night.
“What are you doing~?”
On the other hand, Ruka had drifted over to my side.
“I’m observing everyone.”
“It’s too dark to see anything, though…”
“I feel it through the atmosphere. Besides, I can hear the conversations.”
“It’s a bit too advanced for me to understand… I want to feel things with my own hands.”
As she spoke, Ruka secretly squeezed my hand.
“…Hey.”
“You can’t see anyway, because it’s dark.”
I looked at her to protest, but Ruka was gazing up at the starry sky.
“This is part of my reward, so just go along with it.”
I am weak when it comes to the mention of rewards.
Pulled by Ruka’s hand, we moved away from the car. Soon, even the silhouettes of the others vanished, and we were alone.
Even the voices of Aoki and the others faded, leaving only the rhythmic chirping of insects.
Honestly, I was surprised by my own behavior. Prioritizing Ruka’s request over observing Sara and the others.
I could have just said, ‘We can go on a date anytime.’ That would have been the simple way to refuse.
And yet, looking at the happy expression on Ruka’s face, those words wouldn’t come out. Even in the dark night, her golden hair seemed to glow. A cool breeze blew past my shoulder. The hand I held was faintly warm.
“You know, I understand Yuzuki-chan’s feelings very well,” Ruka murmured as we walked slowly.
“If there’s someone your favorite person is blatantly following with their eyes… you get jealous.”
I didn’t believe myself to be so dense that I wouldn’t understand what she was saying. However, I am no actor, so I couldn’t think of a clever response.
“Gradually, it starts to feel unpleasant. Thinking things like, ‘If only that girl wasn’t here.’ I get fed up with my own bad personality for thinking that, even for a second. Even though the feeling of enjoying being with them is also genuine.”
Ruka stopped walking and looked up at the stars. I thought this was a very relatable, down-to-earth youthful struggle. Normally, I should have been enjoying this.
However, the moment I became a party involved, those feelings suddenly vanished.
“I think there are two solutions.”
“…Specifically?”
“Wait—”
“One is to give up on you. If I do that, I won’t feel jealous, right?”
“And the other?”
The moment I asked, Ruka closed the distance between us.
Before I had time to stop her, Ruka dove into my embrace. Her arms wrapped around my waist. Just like that, lips met lips. I couldn’t move, as if time had stopped. Ruka gazed at me with a melting expression.
“The other is to make you look my way.”
I wonder how many seconds passed before our lips parted.
Ruka’s lines were all bravado, but her face was as bright red as a boiled octopus.
“S-so? Did it… make your heart race? It’s allowed if we’re on a date, right?”
She wasn’t far off. My heart was pounding. There was no denying that fact.
“…I’ve told you before. I’m just the stagehand.”
“Even if you’re a stagehand, I think it’s okay for you to have a youth of your own.”
I couldn’t look Ruka in the eye as she made the suggestion.
“I’ve told you many times. I have no interest in my own youth.”
The words were the same as always, but they felt like they were sliding off the surface, failing to land.
“I guess I can’t win over Thin-kun with just this much, huh…”
Ruka pouted, her lips curling outward.
“…Besides, I think I’ve hit my limit for today.”
“…It’s okay, I’ll try harder next time.”
From that whispered remark, it was clear that Ruka was also at her breaking point.
“…Let’s just head back. We’re at the climax of the story.”
“Y-yeah. Let’s do our best with Sara-chan’s direction!”
Engaged in awkward conversation, we made our way back to the others.
“…I wonder what conclusion Yuzuki-chan reached?”
Ruka’s casual comment on the way back lingered strangely in my ears.
In the darkness, we were gathered together with the general participants. Then, we were taught how to use the telescopes set up in the parking lot.
“Saturn is very visible at this time of year.”
The person explaining was apparently an astronomer. He had readily accepted Yamashiro-san’s sudden request. He probably had no idea he was being brought in for a high school reconciliation event.
“Wow, the stars look so close!”
“Eh, I want to see too. Can we swap?”
“Of course! Sharing the emotion with Ruu!”
The girls were squealing with excitement as they peered through the telescopes. For those waiting their turn, the astronomer provided various explanations. It was a simple but well-executed event. Yamashiro-san really is capable.
By the time we had all taken our turns and reached a moderate level of satisfaction, we were all sitting on a ledge, eating snacks we had brought along.
Eating snacks while gazing at a beautiful starry sky tasted like youth.
“I’m gonna hit the restroom for a sec.”
With that, Akagami left the group.
“I’ll go too.”
“Oh, a buddy-bathroom trip?”
“Don’t put it that way!”
Touyama chased after Akagami.
There was a tourist information center here, and restrooms were installed. The center was obviously closed at night, but the restrooms should be usable. I quietly slipped away and followed Akagami and the others. In this darkness, my natural lack of presence was amplified by twenty percent.
“Isn’t that star incredibly beautiful?”
Ruka seemed to have noticed me, but by pointing at the starry sky, she managed to divert everyone’s gaze. A masterful assist. I’ll take advantage of it and check on Touyama and the others.
“What is it, Yuzuki?”
“Just shut up and come over here for a second.”
“Nothing.”
The two of them, having emerged from the restroom, sat down on a bench by the tourist information center.
“Oh, there’s a vending machine. Want something to drink?”
Touyama’s blunt tone betrayed a hint of nervousness.
“I’ll take a Hot Lemon, then. It’s getting a bit chilly.”
As Akagami spoke, he put coins into the machine and bought two Hot Lemons.
“…Thanks.”
Handed one of the drinks, Touyama said it simply.
“It’s warm.”
“Summer break starts tomorrow, it’d be pathetic to catch a cold now.”
Laughing, Akagami gulped down his Hot Lemon. Touyama gazed at Akagami’s profile.
“…Hey, Kouichi.”
“What?”
“Do you… want me to make up with Ginjou?”
A moment of silence fell following Touyama’s question. Akagami looked at Touyama, looking surprised.
“…Well, if you’re asking whether I want you to or not, then yeah, I do.”
“Right. I mean, we all went out of our way to participate in this event.”
Touyama had obviously realized the intent behind the event.
“But I don’t want to disregard your feelings.”
“My feelings… huh.”
Touyama murmured, looking up at the starry sky.
“Kouichi, which do you think should take priority—friendship or romance?”
“I can only tell you my own opinion.”
“That’s fine.”
“Friendship. I… don’t really understand romantic feelings.”
“…I see. Right.”
Akagami was likely answering with sincerity, but for Touyama, it was a cruel answer.
“…What about you, Touyama?”
Touyama stood up abruptly. Then, she stepped around to face Akagami, who remained seated.
“…What is it, Yuzuki?”
“There’s something I want to tell you.”
This pattern, then.
I sent a signal in the ‘Aosaku Group’ chat.
“I… about you…”
Footsteps approached—tap, tap, tap.
“Wait!”
Touyama turned around in surprise. Sara was standing there, out of breath.
“You… you were actually able to raise your voice that loud.”
Sara spoke to the shaken Touyama.
“Come over here! Um, just Touyama-san!”
Having said her piece, Sara cut between the two of them and marched forward.
“W-what was that all of a sudden…?”
“I don’t know, but I think she has something to tell you.”
Touyama seemed bewildered, but the atmosphere was no longer conducive to continuing the previous conversation.
“…Anyway, I’ll go.”
In the end, she chose to follow the abnormally agitated Sara.
“…What was that about?”
Only Akagami, who knew nothing, was left behind. I signaled Ruka. I’ll have someone go collect Akagami.
“Hey, Kouichi. What are you doing here? Where’d Yuzuki go?”
Shidou, who had come looking for Akagami and the others, called out.
“I-I don’t know…”
“Huh?”
Leaving the confused Akagami to Shidou, I decided to follow Sara and the others.
“…Right.”
Sara stopped on a hill beyond the wide parking lot.
“So, what is it? Why did you bring me all the way out here?”
Touyama questioned Sara in a harsh tone.
“You’re aware you stopped my confession, right? Are you prepared to end our friendship over this?”
Sara had taken a risk that made such a reaction inevitable. Now, while I was the one who told her the timing, the action itself wasn’t my instruction. This was a path Sara had chosen for herself.
“…Why did you try to confess?”
“Isn’t it obvious? I love Kouichi.”
“Even if you confessed now, it wouldn’t work.”
Sara said it bluntly. Sara had heard directly from Akagami that he didn’t have anyone he liked. Therefore, Sara was certain that Touyama’s confession would fail.
“You don’t know until you try.”
“…I think you know better than anyone.”
Touyama glared at Sara, as if she had been hit where it hurt.
“So, what are you trying to say?”
“…No.”
“…Is that confession really for your own sake?”
“Huh? Of course it is! I won’t lose to you! I just thought I’d make a move and win, just like I said!”
Sara shook her head.
“Didn’t you just want to feel relieved?”
“Because…”
“…H-how can you say something like that!!”
The reason Sara was more talkative than usual was simple. I had predicted several of Touyama’s behavioral patterns and informed Sara in advance. Then, after coordinating with Sara, we had decided on response plans for each pattern.
This was Plan C. A situation Sara had hoped wouldn’t happen.
“Because Touyama-san is a kind person.”
Touyama likely couldn’t forgive the current state of the group being split because of her. Being as hard on herself as she was on others, she had grown to hate the version of herself that was harsh toward Sara. Jealousy is a troublesome emotion. Ruka had said earlier that she understood Touyama’s feelings. However, Ruka and Touyama had chosen different paths.
Ruka chose the path of trying to make me look her way.
On the other hand, Touyama chose the path of giving up on Akagami.
Even though the actions they took were similar.
Touyama’s expression twisted in pain.
“…I knew. I didn’t even need to confirm it to know that Kouichi hates romance. That’s why I kept these feelings sealed away. I didn’t want to be a nuisance to Kouichi.”
Touyama began to speak in fragments.
“Just being by his side was enough—until you came along.”
I had always thought Touyama was just shy when it came to romance. Strictly speaking, that wasn’t the case. She had been suppressing her feelings for Akagami’s sake.
“Ever since you arrived, Kouichi has only been concerned about you. He kept talking about how interesting Ginjou-san is. Do you know how it felt for me to listen to that right next to him the whole time?”
Tears began to spill from the corners of Touyama’s eyes.
“And to top it off, you even took over the role of tutoring. Looks, grades… there’s nothing I can beat you at. That’s why I thought that, at the very least, I could win at romance, but…”
Touyama collapsed, crouching on the spot.
“…Kouichi really doesn’t like me.”
Touyama let out sobbing gasps. Sara stood there, flustered.
Her gaze caught me hiding in the brush. Don’t look here.
Sara was clearly asking, ‘What should I do?’
With a gesture, I urged Sara—‘Sit down next to her!’
“Touyama-san.”
Sara spoke tentatively as she sat beside Touyama, pulling her knees up to her chest.
“…So, you were trying to get rejected?”
“That’s right. If I were rejected, I could just give up. And…”
Touyama continued, her gaze remaining cast downward.
“I couldn’t be friends with you while harboring these kinds of feelings.”
…What an unbelievable tsundere.
Sara blinked in surprise.
“What is it?”
“I… I was a little afraid of you, Touyama-san.”
“Naturally. I don’t recall ever being kind to you.”
“But… I also admire you.”
“…Huh? You admire me?”
“I want to be like you, Touyama-san—someone who can carry herself with such confidence at the center of the class.”
“…I can tell you’re more clumsy than you look,” Touyama replied.
Those at the top of the class caste have keen observational skills. After spending this much time together, she had likely begun to grasp Sara’s true nature, even through her Witch Mode.
“In the end, why did you go out of your way to stop my confession?”
At Sara’s question, Touyama looked up.
“…Because I said I’d support you, Touyama-san.”
“…You’re an idiot.”
Touyama gave a small snort. It seemed she had regained a bit of her usual self. Eventually, Touyama let out a deep sigh and stood up.
“…You’re right. I don’t know what was gotten into me.”
Touyama now had an air of resolution about her.
“…I’m glad.”
“Eh?”
Sara said this with a smile. Touyama’s eyes widened, and she froze on the spot.
…I felt the exact same way.
“You… you just smiled, didn’t you?”
Sara looked puzzled. It seemed she hadn’t noticed. But in that moment, Witch Mode had definitely deactivated, and the corners of Sara’s mouth had softened.
“Did I?”
“Yes you did! You definitely smiled!”
“Eh…?”
Sara touched her cheeks with both hands, and by now, she had already reverted to Witch Mode. Though it was only for a moment, the fact that she could smile in front of Touyama was a clear sign of growth.
“I didn’t know you could make such a cute face when you smile.”
“If I was smiling… it’s thanks to everyone.”
“So it’s not specifically thanks to me?”
“Including you, Touyama-san—it’s thanks to everyone.”
Sara stood up and faced Touyama. For a brief second, her gaze caught mine, hidden in the brush.
Sara took a deep breath. She looked as if she had made a decision.
I hadn’t heard anything. What was Sara planning to do now?
“Touyama-san. Will you be my friend?”
The answer was provided almost immediately.
“You…”
As if summoning every ounce of her courage, Sara reached out her hand toward Touyama. Touyama stared at Sara’s hand in surprise. The hand was trembling slightly. There was a hint of fear in the gesture itself. Of course, Touyama knew. She knew that Sara struggled with physical contact with others.
“…Do you actually think we can’t be friends unless we declare it?”
Then, with a faint smile, Touyama gently took Sara’s hand in a slow motion. Sara didn’t pull away. Timidly, she squeezed Touyama’s hand back.
“I already consider you a friend, you know?”
“R-really…?”
“Friends are just people you decide are friends.”
Still holding hands, Touyama looked up at the starry sky.
“…Can I call you Yuzuki-chan?”
That was a suggestion I had given to Sara.
“Sara.”
“Ah—”
Calling someone by their name is a simple way to close the distance between two people.
“In that case, I’ll call you Sara too.”
“…Okay, Yuzuki-chan.”
The two of them continued to hold hands as they exchanged names. They remained there, gazing at each other from a close distance. Under the starry sky, combined with the location, the atmosphere was wonderful. Eventually, Touyama gave a crinkly smile and pulled on Sara’s hand.
“Let’s go back to everyone, Sara!”
The two of them jogged down the grassy hill.
The moment I thought, That’s dangerous—
“Ah, oh no… Kyaa! Ah!”
“U-u-hyah!”
The two of them tumbled right down the hill. Since this was no longer a laughing matter, I rushed over in a panic. Because the slope of the hill was gentle, they were both unharmed.
“…I’m covered in mud.”
Caked in dirt, they chatted happily with one another. The two stood up and ran side-by-side toward the lit parking lot. The wind that brushed past my shoulder seemed to push them forward. Despite being on a mountain at night, the wind felt strangely warm, like midsummer.
I had been shown a wonderful story. Feeling deeply satisfied, I rejoined the group.
“Huh? Where did Kageyama go?”
Akagami noticed my return and asked with a puzzled look.
“Sorry. Just went to the restroom.”
“Ah~ your stomach got chilled, huh? Be careful.”
Grinning, Akagami gave my shoulder a light pat.
“You’ve got a glow on your face,” Ruka whispered, her eyes slightly narrowed. “Was it really that interesting?”
“Yeah. It was worth my hard work behind the scenes.”
“Hmm… well, as long as you enjoyed yourself, Usuhito-kun, that’s what matters most.”
With that, Ruka left my side.
I joined the circle where Sara and the others were. Sara and Touyama were happily taking turns looking through the telescope. Sensing that the two had made up, the group was visibly excited. Between the high energy of the start of summer vacation and the late-night adrenaline, they looked truly happy.
Strictly speaking, they were just looking at the stars. And yet, it is precisely because I am with everyone that I can enjoy it. Mixed into the circle, Sara’s expression seemed somewhat softer than usual.
“Ah… a shooting star,” Sara murmured softly.
“What, seriously!?” Aoki exclaimed excitedly.
“It was so beautiful~” Ruka smiled happily.
“We’re seriously lucky,” Akagami cheered.
“Whoa, for real? I missed it!” Shidou cried, clutching his head.
“We should have made a wish,” Touyama replied.
Ah, reality is wonderful. It provides events like this. While everyone was chatting and getting worked up, Sara secretly hurried over to me.
“Did you see it too?”
“Yeah, perfectly.”
That was a lie. In truth, I had been looking at nothing but Sara’s face. Despite coming for astronomical observation, I had hardly looked at the sky at all.
“Did you wish for something?”
“I couldn’t think of anything… because Haku-chan already granted my wish.”
“It’s only just beginning.”
Besides, I am merely supporting Sara from behind the scenes.
“Even so, it’s thanks to Haku-chan. That’s why I made my wish about Haku-chan.”
“About me?”
“Yeah. The wish that popped into my head was—”
Sara smiled beautifully, like the moon illuminating the night.
“That Haku-chan can be happy from now on and forever.”
My position was one step removed from the rest of the group. Since Sara currently had her back to everyone, I was the only one seeing this expression. Therefore, it wasn’t that strange that Sara could smile this way. And yet, her smile burned itself into my eyes and wouldn’t leave. The smile she gave me now—the one directed at me, the man behind the scenes—was more captivating than the smile she had shown Touyama in the story.
—Or so, I was made to feel.
