That night, after the Coming of Age ceremony.
“Huh? Yuzurun—come to think of it, where’s Arisa-chan?”
Dressed in a gown, Ayaka asked Yuzuru.
They were at a restaurant in a hotel.
They’d come to attend a reunion.
“Arisa didn’t go to our middle school, remember?”
Though it was a reunion, it was specifically for their middle school.
The only ones who had attended the same one as Yuzuru were Ayaka and Soichiro.
“Oh… right, that’s true. I guess it just feels like she did, since we’ve all been together from high school through uni.”
Ayaka said this while holding a glass of wine.
She already seemed a bit tipsy.
“So what’s Arisa-san up to, then?”
Soichiro asked, and Yuzuru answered—
“She’s at her own middle school reunion.”
At that, Ayaka nudged him with her elbow.
“Huh? You’re okay with leaving her on her own? She’s cute and sexy—you know guys won’t leave her alone.”
“It’s just a reunion. It’ll be fine…”
Arisa herself didn’t seem particularly attached to her middle school days—
but since it was a once-in-a-lifetime thing, she’d been willing to go.
And if she wanted to go, Yuzuru wasn’t going to stop her.
“But seriously, is she alright? She’s not great with alcohol, is she?”
Soichiro asked.
Yuzuru nodded slightly.
“I told her not to drink at all.”
That had been his main concern.
If she got carried away, drank too much, and lost control…
Thinking about it still made him uneasy.
“Huh. Is that why you’ve only been drinking orange juice and oolong tea?”
“Yeah. The deal was that I’d pick her up by car.”
Arisa liked alcohol, so she hadn’t been happy about being told not to drink.
Her condition had been—
“Then you have to come pick me up.”
In other words:
If I have to hold back, so do you.
“I see… So you’re picking her up in the car you came in?”
“Yeah. Why?”
Ayaka grinned mischievously.
Yuzuru and Soichiro exchanged glances.
Around the same time—
“So, Yukishiro-san, where are you these days?”
“I’m currently at—university…”
“Oh really? What a coincidence! I’m at a university nearby—”
“I see…”
Arisa was surrounded by former male classmates.
Not exactly surrounded—
but more like they’d naturally gathered around her.
(He didn’t used to come across this flashy…)
She half-listened to one of them talking, thinking to herself.
Back then, he’d worn glasses and had an unfashionable haircut.
Now he had contacts and dyed brown hair.
(People really do change… it’s kind of interesting.)
Some girls who had been plain had become glamorous.
Some boys who had been unimpressive had grown into handsome men.
And others—once the centre of attention—had become ordinary, in a less flattering way.
Of course, some hadn’t changed much at all.
Just seeing those changes made coming worthwhile.
Though, of course, it wasn’t all positive.
(I wonder when this conversation is going to end…)
She nodded along while inwardly sighing.
Every now and then, his gaze drifted towards her chest.
Her dress was somewhat revealing, so she didn’t take particular offence.
She’d been hit on plenty since starting university.
(But… do they not notice my ring? Or are they choosing to ignore it?)
Most men noticed the ring on her left hand and backed off quickly.
At least, that had been her experience at university.
“Since we’re here, want to exchange contact details?”
“Ah, um…”
“Yukishiro-san, long time no see.”
A voice cut in from the side.
Turning, she saw a man standing there.
Not particularly handsome—
but neat and presentable.
“Hey, I was in the middle of—”
“How are things going with your fiancé?”
Ignoring the man who’d been hitting on her, he spoke directly to Arisa.
The way he said it made it sound like he knew Yuzuru.
No—he did.
At last, the name clicked in her mind.
Kobayashi Shouta.
She remembered now—there had been some kind of incident when she’d gone shopping with Yuzuru and Ayumi.
The details were fuzzy, though.
“It’s been a while. …Yes, we attend the same university. We plan to get married after graduation.”
As she said it, she raised her left hand, showing her engagement ring.
Only then did the man who’d been hitting on her realise.
His expression twisted in irritation as he left.
“Want to talk somewhere else?”
“Sure, I don’t mind.”
They moved away.
After that exchange, they’d drawn some attention, so it was good timing.
“Thank you. That helped.”
Arisa expressed her gratitude.
Shouta hadn’t interrupted thoughtlessly—
he’d read the situation and stepped in to help.
“It’s nothing worth thanking me for. I just pointed it out. Honestly, not noticing is the strange part.”
He said it with a wry smile.
From his perspective, he’d only stated the obvious—
something even a child could figure out by looking at her left hand.
“You’re the first person who actually stepped in to help, though.”
Others had noticed, but kept their distance.
Either intimidated by the situation or unwilling to get involved.
“Ah… yeah, I suppose so…”
He scratched his cheek awkwardly.
In truth, it wasn’t pure kindness.
Watching it had been embarrassing.
That man—failing to notice the ring—reminded him of his past self.
He couldn’t bear to watch.
“…So, what are you doing these days?”
“I’m at a university in Kansai…”
They exchanged updates—
where they lived, what they were doing now.
“…But it really does seem like things are going well with your fiancé.”
“Yes… I suppose they are. …Is it that obvious?”
“You look happy when you talk about him.”
At that, Arisa covered her mouth shyly.
Seeing that, Shouta let out an exaggerated sigh, placing a hand on his forehead.
“To be honest… I kind of hoped things weren’t going well.”
“…What do you mean?”
Caught off guard, Arisa tilted her head.
Shouta looked at her and said—
“I liked you.”
“…What?”
Her eyes widened in shock.
“…Really?”
She had never even considered the possibility.
Seeing her reaction, he gave a slightly complicated smile.
“Yeah… was that really so surprising?”
“I never imagined it.”
“I… see.”
“…I’m sorry.”
He waved his hand to stop her apology.
“It’s all in the past.”
He said it with a light, refreshed smile.
Around eight in the evening, the reunion came to an end.
As Arisa waited at their meeting spot…
“Hey, Yukishiro-san. Got any plans after this?”
The same guy from earlier approached her again.
Apparently, he hadn’t given up.
“I’m going home.”
Her tone made it clear—
Not with you.
“So no plans then—perfect. I was thinking of heading to an after-party. Want to come?”
He’d taken “going home” to mean “no plans.”
Arisa frowned slightly.
“Do I really have to spell it out?”
“Sorry, I have plans.”
At that, he looked displeased—
then quickly forced a smile.
“I see. Then how about I walk you part of the way? It’s not safe for a woman alone at night…”
“No, thank you.”
If anything, it’s less safe with you, she thought.
“Come on, don’t be shy—”
He reached out towards her.
“Enough—!”
Just as she raised her voice to firmly refuse—
“Arisa.”
A clear, composed voice called out.
Looking up, she saw a car pulled up nearby.
It had an older design—
but it gleamed like new, impeccably maintained.
The kind of high-end car that made others hesitate to park anywhere near it.
“I’m here to pick you up.”
“Yuzuru-san!”
Her face lit up instantly as she ran towards it.
Clack—the door unlocked.
She opened it and got in.
“You’re late!!”
“The traffic was bad…”
“No excuses.”
“Alright, alright. …Want me to make it up to you somehow?”
“Then give me a kiss.”
“Sure—when we get home.”
“Not now?”
“It’s dangerous while I’m driving…”
Chatting like that, the two of them drove off—
leaving the stunned man behind.
“…Yeah. No chance.”
Watching from nearby, Shouta—who’d been about to step in again—muttered with a wry smile.
