A week had passed since the start of summer vacation.
Sara, who had joined the top-tier group in both name and reality, was hanging out with those members again today. And after they parted ways, she met up with me.
“Today we all went to see a movie, and then we had a discussion about it at a family restaurant!”
Sara explained happily. Well, I had been secretly observing them, so I already knew the situation.
“It was a horror movie, so I was scared… and I ended up clinging to Yuzuki-chan…”
“What kind of face was Touyama making?”
“She was just as scared as I was, so I tried holding her hand.”
Sara spoke with a beaming, blissful expression.
“And then, I wasn't scared anymore.”
“Isn't it more interesting if it's actually scary, since it's a horror movie?”
“Maybe so, but…”
We walked home while chatting like that. It wouldn't have been a huge problem if we were seen, but I chose a path with few people just in case.
“For now, the immediate goal has been achieved.”
“Yeah. Every day is so much fun. I really feel like I'm experiencing youth.”
“What's next? Maybe you should get yourself a handsome boyfriend?”
“…T-that can wait for now.”
Sara said, her cheeks flushing slightly.
“More importantly!”
“Why the sudden shouting?”
“…I want to tell Haku-chan thank you, properly.”
Fidgeting with a bit of embarrassment, Sara turned to face me. Then, she gave me her brightest smile.
“Thanks to Haku-chan, I'm happy! …Thank you.”
“Thanks to you, I got to see the best story. Thank you as well.”
We were in the same boat, after all.
“Did you enjoy my story?”
“Yeah. So, keep entertaining me from here on out, okay?”
When I told her that, Sara fired herself up, saying, “I'll do my best!”
“So, keep directing it for me. The story of my youth!”
“Truth is stranger than fiction.”
In other words, reality is more interesting than creation. I wonder which one my current role as a director falls under. If you call it creation, it's creation; if you call it reality, it's reality. It possesses elements of both. By tinkering with Sara's story, I realized something.
Wait, isn't this version more interesting?
The story that Sara chooses and I guide becomes something fascinating. I'll continue to cooperate with the youth that Sara weaves and enjoy the ride.
‘I think it's fine for the stagehand to have some youth too, don't you?’
For some reason, Ruka's words crossed my mind. I shook my head.
“Is something wrong?”
“No, it's nothing.”
I have no interest in my own youth. To be more precise, someone like me isn't worth having a ‘youth.’ So, I shall continue to operate in the shadows of the classroom. In order to make the protagonists of the story stand out even more.
“You haven't forgotten about the one-day date voucher with me, have you?”
Ruka, who had visited my house, smiled as she spoke.
“Of course I remember… but are we going now? Where?”
“Isn't it obvious? In the summer, you go to the beach!”
August. Summer truly begins.
“Come on, let's go!”
In the season of youth, I encounter the greatest story of all. Pulled along by Ruka's hand, in a way that drags me right into the middle of it.
