The day before summer holiday began, report cards were handed out along with a sheet listing each student’s class ranking.
“Fifth place, huh. That’s higher than before.”
Looking at the results of the in-school mock exam, Yuzuru nodded in satisfaction.
There were roughly three hundred students in his grade.
Since the school was classified as a college preparatory school, placing fifth was a rank he could be proud of.
(I wonder if Yukishiro managed to get first place again.)
Normally, class rankings were only disclosed to the individual student.
However, the names of the top ten students were posted outside the faculty office, so anyone could check them there.
Normally, Yuzuru didn’t care in the slightest about other people’s rankings.
But this time… he felt like taking a look.
So Yuzuru went to check the ranking list.
It was a little crowded since it had just been posted.
“Yukishiro is… first again.”
It seemed her hard work had paid off.
Even though it had nothing to do with him personally, he felt a little happy.
“Wow—Yukishiro-san is first again.”
“Looks like it—wait, Ayaka-chan!?”
“Hey there, Yuzurun!”
Before he realised it, Ayaka Tachibana was standing right beside him.
For some reason, she was grinning mischievously.
Yuzuru had a bad feeling about this.
“Hey, Yuzurun. Why were you checking Yukishiro Arisa’s ranking?”
“We’re in the same class. I mean,… it’s not that strange, is it?”
“Ehh, really? You don’t usually care about people’s grades unless they’re someone close to you.”
Sharp as ever, Yuzuru sighed inwardly.
Then he glanced at the ranking list.
“Oh right, Ayaka-chan. Congrats on third place.”
“Yep. Same as last time. By the way, Soichiro-kun is eighth, and Nagiri-san is tenth.”
“Nagiri Tenka, huh… She’s pretty smart.”
From her appearance alone she looked very serious, so it wasn’t that surprising.
“So, Yuzurun. Forget Nagiri-san—why were you interested in Yukishiro-san’s ranking? Wow, you just made a really obvious ‘Can we please change the topic’ face. So you don’t want to be questioned about it? That means there is some kind of relationship, right?”
“The reason I made that face is because my nosy childhood friend keeps asking questions when I only mentioned something I happened to notice. Since she’s my classmate, it’s not strange to care a little about how she did.”
If they were in completely different classes, it might seem odd.
But they were classmates.
Wondering about a classmate’s grades wasn’t strange.
When Yuzuru answered like that, Ayaka rested a hand on her chin and began thinking.
“Yeah, that’s true… When I think about it again, maybe I’m just overthinking. But still… something’s not sitting right with me. There was a reason I suspected you, Yuzurun… Ah! I remember!”
Ayaka clapped her hands.
Then she flashed a wicked grin.
“The person you gave a birthday present to—was it Yukishiro-san?”
“Who knows?”
Yuzuru’s heart pounded painfully.
But he was the future head of the Takasegawa family.
Keeping emotions off his face, playing dumb, lying—those were things he could do.
In fact, even Ayaka, who had good instincts, couldn’t read the truth from his expression.
“Hmm… maybe I’m overthinking it?”
“…Just focus on progressing your romance with Soichiro instead of sticking your nose into my business.”
“Don’t worry—Soichiro and I are all lovey-dovey.”
(If only that were really the case.—)
Yuzuru sighed as another girl—Soichiro’s childhood friend—came to mind.
Come home at least once during summer holiday.
That had been one of the conditions for Yuzuru living alone.
That said, since he had a part-time job, he didn’t plan to stay long.
At most, about two weeks.
So he packed his belongings into a carry-on suitcase and boarded the train to return home.
Then—
“Oh? Yukishiro?”
“My, Takasegawa-san. What a coincidence.”
He ran into Arisa, who was already sitting in one of the seats.
Her eyes moved to the suitcase he was holding.
“You mentioned you were going back to your family home.”
“Yeah. …What about you, Yukishiro?”
“I was thinking of going shopping for summer clothes.”
It really seemed like a genuine coincidence.
Still, he felt a little lucky to have run into her.
“Well then… see you again in two weeks.”
They had said the same thing when they parted the previous Saturday.
But since they had still had school afterward, that hadn’t truly been their last meeting.
And since they hadn’t exchanged greetings at school, this felt like a good opportunity.
“Yes. I’m looking forward to seeing you again in two weeks.”
Arisa replied calmly.
It wasn’t like they were parting forever.
They would see each other again in just two weeks, and they could always contact each other by phone or email.
There was no reason to feel particularly sad.
The two exchanged brief farewells and promised to meet again in two weeks.
At that time, neither of them imagined it.
That their promise to meet again in two weeks…
would not be kept.
They never expected things would turn out like that.
Three days after summer holiday began.
Arisa was quietly working through her summer homework.
Then suddenly, as if interrupting her concentration, her phone rang.
(Hmm?)
There weren’t many people who would call her.
When she checked the caller ID…
it was Yuzuru.
Hello?
…Yukishiro?
Well, it is my phone.
…Fair point.
His voice sounded slightly tense.
(Why would he call?)
Arisa felt a small pang of worry.
If it weren’t urgent, he could have just sent a message.
What’s wrong?
I… have a small favour to ask. Is now a good time?
Yes, it’s fine.
She had just been thinking of taking a break anyway.
Perfect timing.
Um… I really don’t want to force you or anything. You can refuse if you want.
…What?
I feel really bad asking something like this.
What is it? …If you keep building suspense like this, I’m going to start getting nervous too.
(Is it really that serious?)
Arisa felt her heartbeat quicken slightly.
…I’d like you to go on a date with me.
A date? Like the entertainment complex from before?
She remembered how fun that place had been.
But Yuzuru quickly denied it.
No, not that. …My grandfather already prepared two tickets.
I see… That’s rather meddlesome.
He claims someone gave them to him, but who knows if that’s true. I tried to refuse… but then he said, ‘What kind of couple doesn’t go out even once during summer holiday?’ And I couldn’t argue with that.
…That is a fair point. Alright, I’ll go with you.
After all, Arisa had been the one to propose this engagement arrangement in the first place.
If anything, she should have been the one making suggestions before Yuzuru’s grandfather got involved.
This was partly her oversight.
Yeah, I’m glad you said that, but…
So where are we going?
Since he mentioned tickets, she imagined something like an amusement park or a film.
…It’s a—
Sorry, could you repeat that?
For a moment, noise cut through the line and she couldn’t hear him.
She asked him to say it again.
After a pause—
…The pool. I was wondering if you’d go to the pool with me.
