After school, on the day Yuzuru and Arisa had been happily messaging each other—
Yuzuru was summoned to the rooftop by Ayaka and Chiharu.
“What do you want, Ayaka-chan, Chiharu-chan?”
Did they come up with some silly prank again?
Yuzuru asked, thinking something rather rude.
“Can I ask you something straight up, Yudzurun?”
“Go on…”
“Do you actually like Arisa-chan?”
At Ayaka’s question, Yuzuru felt his face grow slightly warm.
Scratching his cheek to hide his embarrassment, he looked away as he answered.
“Well… it’s pretty obvious, isn’t it?”
Objectively speaking, it was clear that Yuzuru liked Arisa.
At least that much, he was fully aware of.
“Then you realise Arisa-san likes you too, right?”
“…Yeah. I think it’s mutual.”
He answered Chiharu calmly.
The other day—though it had been in her sleep—Arisa had clearly said she loved him.
There was no doubt about it.
“Hmm.”
“Oh really…”
Hearing his answer, Ayaka and Chiharu—
“That’s so cold, Yudzurun!”
“We’re your childhood friends—you could’ve talked to us!”
Grinning mischievously, they nudged him.
They were clearly enjoying this.
Which was exactly why he hadn’t wanted to tell them.
“Since when? Was it her birthday present? Did you already like her then?”
“Or was it around the pool? Did you spend Christmas together?”
“Enough already!”
Yuzuru forcefully pushed the two away and sighed.
“You two would just tease me like this… That’s why I didn’t want to say anything.”
“And yet, you didn’t exactly try to hide it.”
“If you’re embarrassed, perhaps you should be a bit more mindful of your surroundings?”
“Yeah, yeah… my bad.”
As Yuzuru replied irritably, the two gave wry smiles.
“Come on, don’t sulk.”
“Have you told Soichiro-san and Ryouzenji-san yet?”
“I have… And well, since I’ve told you, it’d be unfair to keep it from Nagiri-san too, so you can tell her. …But don’t tell anyone else.”
At that, both of them nodded firmly.
“Of course. We can keep secrets.”
“We know what should and shouldn’t be said.”
Whether they were truly tight-lipped or not aside—
They had never betrayed his trust before.
So he decided to believe them.
“So then, why haven’t you confessed yet?”
“Is it something pathetic like you can’t make up your mind? Or is it more like, ‘we’re basically already a couple, so it’s fine’?”
Yuzuru shook his head.
“I am going to confess. …At the right time, in the right way. Remember what Arisa said before—she wants something romantic.”
Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten.
He shot them a look.
After all, the reason he even knew that was thanks to Ayaka’s bizarre command during that king’s game.
“I see… as expected of Yudzurun. Unlike someone else.”
“…”
“…”
Yuzuru and Chiharu immediately understood who she meant—and chose to say nothing.
Realising the awkward atmosphere, Ayaka quickly changed the subject.
“So there’s nothing we can help with, huh?”
“Well… if anything, you could let Arisa know that the reason I haven’t confessed isn’t because I don’t like her—or because I’m indecisive. She’s probably getting impatient.”
If he were in her position, he’d definitely feel uneasy about why the other person hadn’t confessed yet.
Maybe even frustrated.
But Yuzuru wanted to confess himself.
He didn’t want Arisa to beat him to it.
And he certainly didn’t want her to think he was unreliable.
“Got it. I’ll tell her you’re the kind of man who acts when it matters.”
Chiharu nodded.
Then Ayaka, who had been thinking quietly until now, spoke up.
“Hey, if you and Arisa-chan do start dating… what about at school?”
“Hm? Well… probably keep things the same. She doesn’t want people to know.”
As far as everyone else was concerned, Arisa wasn’t interested in romance at all.
So if she suddenly started dating Yuzuru, her “friends” might not take it well.
That was what she was worried about.
“But if you go on dates, people will find out eventually, right?”
“Once you’re actually dating, there’s no need to hide it so strictly, is there?”
“Well… that’s true. But still, going from nothing to suddenly dating—it’d feel abrupt.”
That would imply she’d been deliberately hiding it.
Which, from her perspective, wasn’t ideal.
“Then just make it not abrupt. I’ve got a pretty good idea when you’re planning to confess… so just close the distance at school before then.”
“That makes sense, but… how? We haven’t really interacted much at school before. Wouldn’t suddenly getting closer seem unnatural?”
They needed a natural trigger.
At that, Ayaka puffed out her chest confidently, grinning.
“Leave it to me! I’ve got the perfect plan.”
“A perfect plan? What kind of plan?”
“Well, you see—”
“I see! As expected of Ayaka-san!”
The two of them got excited, leaving Yuzuru behind.
As the person involved, he couldn’t exactly ignore this “perfect plan.”
“…So what is it?”
“You’ll see tomorrow.”
“Just trust us.”
Watching his childhood friends puff their chests out with confidence—
Yuzuru couldn’t help but feel a little uneasy.
The next morning.
“Good morning, Yuzuru-san. Here you go.”
“Ah, Arisa. Morning… thanks.”
As usual, Arisa had come to deliver his lunch.
He accepted it with a smile.
Normally, he would return the cleaned lunchbox along with feedback—
But since she’d just been ill, he’d declined the day before.
“Are you sure you’re not pushing yourself? You could’ve taken today off too… though that sounds a bit strange.”
Arisa narrowed her eyes and smiled.
“I’m fine. Honestly, I wanted to make it yesterday too. …I actually enjoy making your lunches, you know?”
“…I see. Well, if that’s the case.”
It would be rude to reject her kindness.
So Yuzuru relented—but added one thing.
“I just don’t want you overexerting yourself.”
“I understand. I’ll keep it within reason. …If it ever starts feeling like a chore, I’ll let you know.”
She said it lightly, almost teasingly.
Yuzuru smiled.
“Well then, I’ll head to school first.”
With that, she turned away—
Looking just a little reluctant.
Yuzuru felt the same.
“Hey, Arisa.”
“Yes?”
She stopped and turned back.
Her flaxen hair swayed softly.
“…Would it be fine for us to walk to school together?”
“In the morning, it’s different from the afternoon… there are too many people around.”
After school, everyone leaves at different times, so it’s less noticeable.
But in the morning, students arrive around the same time.
It would draw attention.
“I see…”
“I’m sorry…”
“No, it’s fine. Sorry for asking.”
Watching her walk away—
Yuzuru found himself hoping, just a little, for Ayaka and Chiharu’s “perfect plan.”
Then, at lunchtime.
Yuzuru stood up to go eat with Soichiro and the others.
As he stepped out of the classroom—
“Yudzurun, let us join you today.”
Ayaka called out to him.
Behind her, Chiharu waved into the classroom and said—
“Since we’re at it, Arisa-san too. What do you think?”
