[Vol 2] Tsun'na Megami-sama to Darenimoienai Himitsu no Kankei Chapter 4

Chapter 4 - Farewell

 

“K-Kurotsuki-san, what’s wrong?”

I was shocked by her sudden change. It wasn’t like she was in pain—it was fear, the kind that comes from deep within. I had never seen an expression like that on Kurotsuki-san’s face before.

As I gently rubbed her trembling back, a woman suddenly appeared and approached us without any manners, then turned her gaze toward me.

“Eh? You’re that super cute girl from the cat café!”

“…Hello.”

So I wasn’t mistaken. If I remember right, she talked to Yatsuhashi-kun back then, though he didn’t seem to take her seriously.

I never expected to run into her again in a place like this.

The woman shifted her gaze from me to Kurotsuki-san and spoke in a long, dragging, annoying tone.

“Youko-chan, how could you ignore me like that? It’s been ages since we last met, you know.”

“Uh… ahaha… Y-Yeah, it’s been a while, Nakamori-san…”

Kurotsuki-san forced a smile and called her Nakamori. They didn’t look like friends at all. There was clearly something between them in the past.

For now, I decided to just observe.

“Huh? Did you change your hairstyle? Is this your high school debut or something?”

“Y-Yeah. Just felt like trying something new…”

She answered without looking at Nakamori-san’s face.

I could feel it clearly—she didn’t want to see her, didn’t want to deal with her, didn’t want to talk to her.

Nakamori-san laughed loudly, her voice grating to the ears, then looked down at Kurotsuki-san with a mocking smirk.

“Doesn’t suit you, you know. A blob like you trying to act all stylish? That limp black hair was way more fitting.”

“Blob…?”

What did she mean by that? How could someone say something so cruel after seeing Kurotsuki-san?

When I glared at Nakamori-san, she still wore that relaxed expression, like she couldn’t care less.

“You don’t know, do you, Miss Pretty? Back then, Youko was—”

“Stop it…!”

Suddenly, Kurotsuki-san clutched her head and crouched down where she stood.

But Nakamori-san didn’t stop talking.

“She was sooo fat everyone called her ‘the Blob.’”

...I see.

So that’s why Kurotsuki-san has always been so self-conscious about her body.

She gripped her clothes tightly, her face flushed red. It looked like she wanted to disappear from this world. I could almost hear her heart screaming those words.

“Slow, clumsy, always fumbling around. Couldn’t even look people in the eye, just curled up in her own little world like some pathetic nerd. Sure, now she’s pretending to be all stylish and skinny, but if you hang around her too long, even a beauty like you will end up fat, you know?”

“...I see. Now I understand.”

“Really? Then—”

“Yeah. I understand perfectly that your personality is trash.”

I stood up and stepped forward, shielding Kurotsuki-san behind me.

Surprised by my reaction, Nakamori-san stumbled back a few steps.

“W-What the hell!?”

“I should be the one asking that. I’ve been listening quietly, and all you’ve done is insult my friend nonstop... It’s honestly disgusting.”

People around us started glancing our way, curious about the commotion.

But I didn’t care. There was no way I could back down here.

“Kurotsuki-san is a good person. She treats everyone with sincerity, can get along with anyone even on the first meeting, and she’s one of the key members of the Shiramune Student Council.”

I still remembered how she lightened the mood during the lunch gathering after the merger between Shiramune High and Kuroba High.

If she only cared about herself and just wanted a peaceful life, there’s no way she could’ve done something like that.

Maybe it’s because she’s faced this kind of cruelty again and again that she became the person she is today.

“Kurotsuki-san is a cheerful person. No matter what happens, she always smiles and supports everyone around her.”

That cheerful spirit of hers had saved me more times than I could count.

In class, in the student council—she never lost her light.

Maybe at first, she was just trying to run away from who she used to be.

Maybe she was trying to build a new self to hide her past.

But not anymore.

That cheerfulness isn’t fake. It’s real.

“Kurotsuki-san is a strong girl. No matter how awful things get, no matter what people say about her, she never fights back with insults. She always stays true to herself.”

I couldn’t even imagine how much patience she must have. How much effort she puts in every single day, how hard she bites her lip and keeps pushing herself to become better… I couldn’t imagine any of it.

If I were to list all her good traits, the list would never end.

Fat?

Gloomy?

A nerd?

All of that is nonsense. Completely meaningless.

I turned and looked at Kurotsuki-san.

The tears she had been holding back finally spilled down her cheeks, smudging her makeup.

A girl this bright, with emotions so genuine and sincere…

Someone this precious to me…

How could I possibly let anyone hurt her?

I turned my glare back at Nakamori-san.

“Eek…!”

She flinched and let out a small yelp.

“You don’t know anything about her. You just look at the surface, judge what you see, and think you know everything… Out of all kinds of people, you’re the lowest.”

“Y-you…! How dare you…!”

Nakamori-san’s face turned red with anger.

Fuming, she raised her hand and stepped forward.

But I was ready. I’d learned martial arts for situations like this.

At that speed—

“Hyouka-chan…!”

“Eh…?”

Suddenly, Kurotsuki-san stepped in front of me, shielding me with her body—

SMACK!

A loud slap echoed, striking her cheek.

I hurried to catch her before she lost her balance.

“Ugh…!”

“K-Kurotsuki-san! Are you okay…!?”

Panic surged through me as I looked at her face. Her cheek was bright red from the slap. Not only that—her lip was split at the corner, and a small trickle of blood started to flow.

“I-I’m fine, really. It’s nothing.”

“Nothing? You’re bleeding…!”

“No, seriously. I’m fine.”

She lifted her head—not with a forced smile or fake bravery, but with a gentle, genuine one.

That smile… even as a fellow girl, I couldn’t help but be captivated by it.

So fragile, yet so beautiful… before I knew it, my hand was touching her flushed cheek.

Kurotsuki-san let out a small, embarrassed laugh, her brows forming a soft curve.

“Ehehe… Hyouka-chan, thank you.”

She wiped the blood from the corner of her lip, then turned to face Nakamori-san.

Maybe realizing she had actually hurt someone, Nakamori-san looked flustered.

“W-what!? I-it’s your fault for suddenly jumping in like that!”

“Maybe you’re right. But… there’s no way I’d just stand by and watch someone slap my precious friend.”

Kurotsuki-san gripped my hand tightly, her eyes sharp and unwavering as she faced Nakamori-san.

Her hand was still trembling slightly.

Of course it was—Nakamori-san was her source of trauma. There’s no way she wasn’t scared.

Then… at the very least, I should help her feel safe.

I gently squeezed her hand back.

She looked at me in surprise for a moment, then gave a small smile before turning her gaze back to Nakamori-san.

“You’re right. I used to be fat, gloomy, and awkward. From your point of view—as the ever-popular gyaru—you probably saw me as nothing but dead weight. That’s why you chose to bully me, isn’t it?”

She took a step forward. Nakamori-san instinctively stepped back.

It was obvious—she was starting to get scared.

“But that’s all in the past. Now, I’m surrounded by wonderful friends. I’ve grown. I’ve changed.”

Her grip was firm now.

I could feel the courage she’d built up radiating through the warmth of her hand.

“But you… you haven’t changed one bit. Still clinging to the past, still putting others down. That just proves you haven’t grown at all. It’s been over a year since we graduated middle school… What have you even been doing all this time?”

“Ugh…!”

Nakamori-san’s face turned red with rage and embarrassment. She clenched her fists tightly in frustration.

It was clear—the fight was already over.

Kurotsuki-san had faced her trauma head-on and overcome it with her own strength.

Amazing… she really was incredible.

I needed to learn from her too…

And just then—

“Hey, Rino! What’s taking so long—ugh, I just finished taking a dump, and… huh?”

Out of nowhere, a huge man appeared.

He was so tall we had to look up to see his face. Not just tall—broad too.

He was probably even taller than Yatsuhashi-kun, who was around 180 cm. This guy had to be at least 190.

His arms and legs were like tree trunks, his shoulders broad and solid. But he wasn’t fat—he was muscular, clearly trained.

“Ah, Shougo~♡”

Nakamori let out a flirty sigh and ran up to him.

Seeing them together, I immediately understood. So this was Nakamori’s boyfriend…

Looking at the two of them, I couldn’t help but wonder how they even ended up together.

“Sorry, sorry. So, who are these two cute girls?”

The man looked at us in a disgusting way, like he was undressing us with his eyes.

Even the boys at Kuroba High weren’t this blatant.

I felt a wave of discomfort and instinctively stepped back, tightening my grip on Kurotsuki-san’s hand.

“Listen, this gyaru girl here used to be my classmate. I just said hi after so long, and she suddenly started acting like I’m the bad guy. So annoying, right?”

“W-what?! You’re the one who picked a fight first…!”

This was unbelievable. How could she twist the truth so easily?

“Hyouka-chan, don’t bother. She’s always like this. The moment things don’t go her way, she flips the story around.”

So Kurotsuki-san had gone through this kind of thing before, huh…

I already thought Nakamori was awful, but this was worse than I imagined.

“Hey, Shougo. I’m pissed. Teach them a lesson, will you?”

“Hmm… Well, I don’t usually hit girls, but… if you’re asking me, Rino.”

Shougo shrugged and started approaching us, rolling his neck with a loud cracking sound.

This was bad. Really bad.

I knew a bit of self-defense, but the difference in our size was way too big.

Should I run with Kurotsuki-san? Impossible.

On soft beach sand like this, he’d catch up in no time.

The people around us just watched from a distance, unwilling to get involved.

What should I do…?

Please… someone… anyone…!

“Phew, made it just in time. Seriously, that was close.”

…………

“Yatsuhashi-kun. Seriously, that entrance of yours sucks.”

“Hazukichi, you were supposed to show up more dramatically! Like a cool prince swooping in to save us!”

“Eh? Why am I the one getting scolded here?”

Yatsuhashi-kun descended the stairs with a weary face after returning from the restroom.

I was relieved he was here… but even so, the size difference between him and that guy was ridiculous.

Even with Yatsuhashi-kun here, I wasn’t sure he could take on someone that big…

I glanced from Yatsuhashi-kun to the man—

“…Pre… Pre… Pre-Pre-Pre!?!”

The man suddenly went pale, staring at Yatsuhashi-kun with a terrified expression.

“Huh? …Eh? Shougo?”

“P-P-P-P-P-P-P-P-P-P-PRESIDENT!?!?”

…………

“””Huh……???”””

 

[Hazuki's POV]

 

After managing to defend the final line in that fierce battlefield, I finally made it back. At that point, the number of people present had grown to four, including Yukimiya and Kurotsuki.

One of them was a beautiful girl with short reddish hair. I think I’ve seen her before at the cat café. If I’m wrong, well, my bad.

And the other one… a tall, broad-shouldered man with a muscular build and a shaved head—Satou Shougo.

“Yo, long time no see, Shougo. How’ve you been?”

“Oossu! President, you’re lookin’ good too!”

“Hey, keep it down a bit. You’re too loud, man. You’re embarrassing me.”

Like a cheer squad member reporting to his commander, Shougo stood tall with his hands behind his back and bowed nearly ninety degrees. Man, this guy hasn’t changed one bit. At least that sandpaper-smooth head of his is still the same.

“How’s everyone else doing?”

“Oossu! Haruki and Yoshinobu started working in construction! Yuya’s learning how to make ramen with me!”

“Oh, that’s great. Sounds like everyone’s finally settling down.”

Hearing those familiar names made me feel a bit nostalgic. Maybe I should visit my old hometown sometime soon.

As I patted Shougo’s shoulder to cheer him up, Yukimiya—still looking stunned—walked up to me.

“Uh… Yatsuhashi-kun, who is this person…?”

“Oh, he’s a former student of Kuroba.”

“Eh!?”

Both girls widened their eyes in surprise, staring at Shougo in disbelief. Well, I can’t blame them. It’s hard to imagine a guy that huge and scary once went to our school.

Grinning, I reached out and rubbed Shougo’s shiny bald head. Still feels as smooth as ever.

“Back then, there were a few problem kids in Kuroba. When our schools merged, most of them either dropped out or transferred.”

“We really caused a lot of trouble for you, President…”

“Come on, it wasn’t that bad.”

Sure, they were called delinquents, but they weren’t like the biker gang types you’d see in old manga. They were just hot-headed, quick to fight, and… easily fired up, that’s all.

Those early days were rough, though. Keeping them in line took a lot of effort.

But reminiscing could wait. What mattered now was—

“So?”

I placed a hand on Shougo’s shoulder and tried to smile as brightly as possible, concealing the irritation starting to rise within me.

“What business do you have with these two?”

After all, it seemed like he’d been in some sort of argument with Yukimiya and Kurotsuki earlier. Obviously, I’d take their side.

Maybe sensing my irritation, Shougo frantically waved his hands and straightened up to explain himself.

“I-It’s like this… M-my girlfriend said she was humiliated by these two…”

“Huh?”

Seriously?

I turned around to look at the girls, but they both just shook their heads.

“We didn’t do anything. The woman with him used to be Kurotsuki-san’s classmate in middle school. Apparently, she used to bully her.”

“Yeah. Just now, she insulted me again. So I talked back, and then she slapped me. Look—right here.”

…Her cheek was still red, and there was a faint cut at the corner of her mouth.

The girl next to Shougo looked stunned, clutching at her clothes and bowing her head—like a kid who just got caught doing something wrong.

Ah… so that’s how it is.

“So you two… actually laid hands on my friends, huh?”

Okay, now I was seriously pissed. How were they going to take responsibility for this?

“W-We’re sorry!!!”

As soon as I glared at them, Shougo immediately grabbed his girlfriend’s head and forced her into a deep ninety-degree bow.

I had to give him credit for owning up to it so openly. He’s always been honest like that, even back in the day.

But still, I wasn’t the one who should be forgiving them.

I turned toward the two girls. Yukimiya just shrugged casually.

“Kurotsuki-san, what do you think?”

“M-Me!?”

“You’re the one who has the right to decide. You were the one bullied before, and you’re the one who got slapped today.”

Both Shougo and I looked at Kurotsuki.

She probably hadn’t expected to be put on the spot like this. She looked lost, as if searching for the right answer. But after a short moment, she clenched her fists and quietly spoke—

“…Like I said before, I’m not the same person I used to be. I’ve changed from the me I once hated, and now I have precious friends by my side. …So, I just want you to stop bothering me. If you can do that, I’ll forget everything—both the past and what happened today.”

“Tch… Don’t act so proud just because you’ve changed a little…”

“Guh!?”

Before the girl could finish her protest, Shougo pushed her head down even lower in another deep bow.

“Oossu! I’ll make sure she doesn’t cause any more trouble!”

“…Fine. I’ll hold you to that.”

Haah… Yocchan really is kind. She hasn’t changed a bit.

“Alright then, Shougo. Take her and go.”

“We’re truly sorry! Excuse us, President!”

Shougo grabbed his girlfriend by the wrist and hurried off, practically fleeing the scene.

Haah… that was unexpected. I didn’t think I’d be dealing with something like this—especially here in Kamakura.

As I let out a sigh, Kurotsuki suddenly collapsed where she stood.

“Kurotsuki-san, are you okay?”

“U-Uh… Ehehe… My legs feel weak…”

“No wonder. Let’s rest for a bit.”

Yukimiya glanced at me, silently asking for help.

Well, I couldn’t just stand there watching, so I stepped forward and offered my hand.

“Good job… You really did your best, Yocchan.”

“…U-Uh…”

Maybe it was the heat, but Kurotsuki’s cheeks were slightly flushed. Ah, I should’ve bought drinks earlier.

I helped her sit down by the stairs. Once Yukimiya sat beside her, she gave me a look that clearly said, “Go buy something to drink.”

Lately, I’ve gotten better at understanding what Yukimiya’s thinking. Maybe it’s because we’ve been spending so much time together.

“Well… you two must be tired. I’ll grab some drinks. Water’s fine, right?”

“Yeah, please.”

“Umm… Thank you, Hazukichi.”

Leaving the situation in Yukimiya’s hands, I walked toward the nearby vending machine, intentionally slowing my pace.

They probably wanted to talk privately—as girls. At the very least, I could be considerate about that much.

 

[Hyouka's POV]

 

I let out a quiet sigh and relaxed my shoulders as I watched Yatsuhashi-kun walk away. Finally, I felt like I could breathe a little easier.

It seemed Kurotsuki-san felt the same way. We both exhaled almost at the same time and smiled at each other.

“I’m glad, Kurotsuki-san. The problem that’s been bothering you for years is finally over.”

“Yeah. Thank you, Hyouka-chan. It’s all thanks to you.”

“I-I didn’t really do anything, though.”

The only thing I did was confront Nakamori-san because I didn’t like her attitude.

The one who really saved us back there was Yatsuhashi-kun.

But Kurotsuki-san didn’t seem to think that way. She shook her head, then reached out and held my hand tightly.

“When you stood up for me earlier, Hyouka-chan, I was really happy. Back then, no one ever helped me when I was being bullied…”

Kurotsuki-san’s gaze drifted toward the horizon, as if recalling her dark past.

“The only one who could protect me was myself. That’s why I worked hard to lose weight, learn makeup, become more confident… and hide my weaknesses so no one would ever see them again.”

Then, she smiled brightly and looked at me.

“That’s why, when someone like you stood up for me, it made me so happy. Thank you, Hyouka-chan.”

I couldn’t find the right words to respond.

The life she’d lived, the hell she’d gone through—those weren’t things that could be honored with a simple “You’ve done well” or “You’re amazing.”

So all I could say was, “I see…”

At times like this… if it were Yatsuhashi-kun, what would he say?

We both fell silent, gazing out at the sea without saying a word. Then, after a moment, Kurotsuki-san suddenly spoke up.

“Oh right, Hazukichi looked amazing back there, didn’t he?”

“Yeah… I was pretty surprised too.”

A big guy like that didn’t even dare to argue with Yatsuhashi-kun. I wonder what kind of person he used to be before our schools merged. I should ask him about it later.

As I thought about him, Kurotsuki-san kicked at the sand with her foot.

“But honestly, I wasn’t that surprised.”

“Huh? Why not?”

Scenes like that feel like something straight out of fiction. Even then, you’d probably only see them in old manga or dramas…

To see something like that in real life and still not be surprised—what kind of person was Yatsuhashi-kun in Kurotsuki-san’s eyes?

Maybe I was staring at her suspiciously, because she quickly waved her hands in a panic.

“Y-You’ve got it wrong! Hazukichi and I never did anything dangerous, okay!?”

“Of course, I know that.”

I hadn’t thought that at all. After seeing them up close, anyone who assumed otherwise would clearly be mistaken.

“The reason I wasn’t surprised… is probably because I know what Hazukichi used to be like.”

“Used to be? Yatsuhashi-kun?”

At that moment, I suddenly remembered the corkboard in his room.

There was a childhood photo pinned there—a boy who looked far more cheerful and mischievous than he does now, standing beside a quiet-looking girl.

That’s when I realized… that girl was Kurotsuki-san.

When I recalled that photo, Kurotsuki-san scratched her cheek with a shy smile.

“Hehe… Hazukichi has always been popular since way back. Not just with me—he talked with all kinds of kids. He was really the center of the class, the cheerful and energetic type.”

“That’s pretty different from the impression he gives now.”

These days, Yatsuhashi-kun didn’t seem like the cheerful, attention-grabbing type. He came off as calm, capable in almost everything except academics, and had the air of someone who’d already begun to mature.

But Kurotsuki-san didn’t seem to agree. She looked at me with a puzzled expression.

“Really? I think he’s still the same. The Kuroba Student Council members like him, and even the boys in his class talk about him often.”

“…Well, maybe you’re right.”

Now that I thought about it, I really had heard his name mentioned in the school hallways. Even the girls in his class seemed to be getting interested in him lately.

Haa… Well, it’s fine if they’re busy with love and all, but I hope they still remember to maintain their dignity as Shiramune students.

“Yeah. That’s why I think it’s amazing how Hazukichi could even earn the respect of a guy that big. There’s no way either of us could pull something like that off.”

I wanted to say “Not necessarily…” but I couldn’t.

Just like Kurotsuki-san said, maybe Yatsuhashi-kun really was an incredible person.

As I thought about him, I saw Yatsuhashi-kun walking back toward us from the distance.

When Kurotsuki-san stood up and waved, he waved back, holding a bottle of water in his hand.

Watching the natural and radiant way the two of them interacted, I narrowed my eyes slightly.

I was jealous. Their relationship looked so beautiful.

But at the same time… something inside my chest began to ache.

A heavy, prickling feeling that I couldn’t quite explain.

This feeling in my heart… what exactly is it?

 

[Hazuki's POV]

 

After taking a short break, we spent the rest of the afternoon exploring various temples and shrines around Kamakura—riding trains, buses, and even rickshaws.

Thanks to Yukimiya and Kurotsuki’s explanations, the trip never felt boring for a single moment. Before we knew it, it was already past five in the evening. The sun had begun to tilt westward, signaling that night would soon arrive.

After finishing our sightseeing, we boarded the Enoshima Electric Railway for the ride back.

At this hour, the train was fairly quiet, with only a few passengers besides us. After walking around all day, being able to sit comfortably on the way home was something to be grateful for.

We sat in a row—me, Kurotsuki, and then Yukimiya—watching the ocean shimmer under the evening light.

“Haaah... finally, I’m exhausted,” Kurotsuki sighed.

“Well, we did go through a few unexpected things today. It’s normal to be tired,” I replied casually.

“I-I’m really sorry for causing you guys so much trouble,” Kurotsuki said, bowing her head repeatedly.

Meanwhile, Yukimiya shot me a sharp look, as if trying to confirm something. It’s not like I was blaming anyone, though.

“Forget it. Anyway, there’s something I want to ask,” Kurotsuki said suddenly.

“What is it?”

“Why does everyone respect Hazukichi so much?”

Now both Kurotsuki and Yukimiya were staring at me curiously.

Well, I guess it must’ve been surprising for them to see that big, scary guy bowing his head to me earlier.

“I don’t know about being respected. I just… helped them out a lot back in school,” I said, keeping my tone light.

I started recalling those times—helping them apologize to teachers, picking up the kid who always overslept, apologizing to the owner of their part-time job, organizing study sessions for those about to fail… and plenty of other things.

As I calmly listed them one by one, Kurotsuki’s eyes sparkled with admiration as she nodded eagerly.

“Ooh, no wonder everyone’s so thankful to you, Hazukichi!”

“Well, even so, some of them ended up dropping out in the end. It kind of feels like my efforts were wasted.”

If only they’d taken things a bit more seriously, maybe they could’ve gone to the same school as me now… No, that’s impossible. With their academic ability, they’d never have made it into Shiramine from the start.

As I gave a wry smile, Yukimiya shook her head.

“That guy earlier was clearly grateful to you. I’m sure it was hard and exhausting at times, but more than that, you gained something much more valuable—bonds with the people around you. If you belittle that, aren’t you also belittling your past self?”

“…Hearing that from you is kind of reassuring.”

Yeah, back then, every day was tough. But at the same time… every day felt precious.

Shougo and the others, who used to be by my side, have now gone their separate ways.

Just realizing that made today’s reunion feel meaningful somehow.

I gazed at the sea, letting my thoughts drift with the waves of memory.

But Yukimiya seemed to still have something on her mind.

“Hey, Yatsuhashi-kun,” she called out.

“That guy earlier admired you, but he also looked scared. Don’t tell me you used to keep them in line through violence?”

“That wasn’t me. That was Junya.”

“Wait… you mean Minase Junya, your friend?”

As expected of Yukimiya—she even remembered the name of a guy from another class.

Meanwhile, Kurotsuki, who had been listening, widened her eyes in surprise.

“Eh, wait. You mean that guy who was with you on the stairs? The one with spiky hair, kind of tall, and… totally looks like a virgin?”

“Don’t bring that up…”

She wasn’t wrong, but… hey, we went to an all-boys’ high school! Cut us some slack!

“Yeah, that’s him. If anyone tried to mess with me, he’d show up and lose his temper. He was strong—and crazy. So yeah, people figured it was safer not to mess with me.”

“Whoa. So you were just the fox hiding behind the tiger.”

“That’s basically true.”

From the outside, it might’ve looked like I was just using his strength. But thanks to that, peace was kept at Kuroba. Fair trade, right?

Though, well… he did go overboard sometimes, and we had to apologize a lot. I even had to kneel beside him more than once.

Yeah, compared to those days, life now feels peaceful. And for that, I’m honestly grateful.

“Just as I thought, boys really are rough. Be careful, Kurotsuki-san.”

“Yeah. Hazukichi is scary.”

Eh? I didn’t even do anything, did I!?

But both of them edged a little closer together, subtly putting distance between me and them. Somehow, it didn’t feel like just physical distance—but emotional, too.

As the train gently rocked, we finally arrived at the nearest station. The sky outside was already quite dark.

In front of the station, the area was crowded with university students, high schoolers, and families enjoying their Golden Week holidays.

Unlike the bustling tourist spots, this everyday scenery felt oddly comforting.

Maybe Kurotsuki felt the same, because she stretched her arms wide without a care for the people around us.

“Fuaaah…! Finally home~…!”

“Yeah. Kurotsuki, where do you live? It’s already dark—let me walk you home.”

“It’s fine! I came by bike!”

With a confident smile, she pumped her fist in front of her chest.

Hey, why did she have to use that old joke again…?

“I’m the one who biked here, but Hyouka-chan walked, right? That’s more worrying. So Hazukichi, you walk her home, okay?”

“Eh. U-uhh…”

That request sounded way too much like she knew we lived in the same apartment building. My heart skipped a beat.

Eh, she doesn’t know… right? There’s no way she knows… right…?

“Hazukichi, I know Hyouka-chan’s cute, but don’t turn into a wolf escort, okay? That’s not allowed!”

“Of course not.”

I’m not that stupid. And besides, if I even tried something like that, Yukimiya would definitely beat me to a pulp. Not to mention, that’d be a full-on crime.

“Don’t worry, Kurotsuki-san. If that ever happens, I’ll destroy him without hesitation.”

“Oh, really~! Then I feel safe!”

What!? Destroy me!? That’s way scarier than just getting beaten up!

“Fufu. I’m only joking,” Yukimiya said with a triumphant smile.

That’s the problem! Your jokes always sound dead serious!

Just as the exhaustion from the day began to sink in, Yukimiya turned to Kurotsuki.

“About what happened today… I ended up learning about a past you probably didn’t want to talk about. Sorry.”

“N-no, it’s fine. I’ve been hiding the fact that I used to be bullied anyway…”

“Everyone has one or two things from their past they’d rather not reveal. Especially something painful like that,” Yukimiya said gently.

She was right. No one wants their friends to know they were once bullied. People can only talk about that kind of thing casually once they’ve truly moved past it.

We’re still just high school students… and for Kurotsuki, it’s only been a year since she got out of that kind of environment. Of course she wouldn’t want anyone to know.

Yukimiya stepped closer and softly placed a hand on Kurotsuki’s cheek.

“At Shiramune High, no one will ever hurt you like that again. But if anyone tries, make sure to tell us immediately. Anyone who stands in the way of your happiness… I’ll erase them from existence.”

As she said that, Yukimiya glanced briefly at me.

“Wait… ‘us’ ? Am I included in that group?”

“Ah… well, yeah. No matter what happens, we’ll always be on your side, Kurotsuki.”

“Hyouka-chan… Hazukichi… thank you!”

“Wah!?”

Overwhelmed with emotion, Kurotsuki burst into tears and wrapped her arms around Yukimiya.

Though a little surprised, Yukimiya eventually sighed and returned the hug.

Two girls, embracing under the flickering station lights.

The scene was so beautiful, so pure, that I unconsciously held my breath, unable to look away.

As I stared in a daze, Kurotsuki suddenly exclaimed, “Ah!”

“Hazukichi, do you want a hug too?”

“N-no, I’m good.”

Even if we were childhood friends, our bodies weren’t the same as they used to be. And after spending a whole year at an all-boys’ high school, my resistance to girls had practically disappeared.

Well, thanks to Yukimiya lately, I’ve been getting used to it again…

But if I actually hugged her now, I might misunderstand my own feelings and fall for her!

Yet whether she knew my inner panic or not, Kurotsuki flashed a mischievous grin.

“Aww, don’t be like that. Come here!”

“Uwah…!?”

W-w-wait, she actually hugged me!?

I froze completely, my mind going blank.

Meanwhile, Kurotsuki, who clung tightly to me for a moment, finally let go with a satisfied smile.

“Uhehe. Wow, my face feels so hot.”

“Then don’t do that.”

“You’re happy though, right?”

“…Shut up.”

Fine. I’ll admit it. I was happy.

There’s no way I wasn’t.

But I wasn’t about to say that out loud.

If I did, she’d definitely start teasing me again.

I turned my face away, scratching my cheek awkwardly.

Ah… I can tell my face is bright red right now, even without checking.

To distract myself, I reached into my bag to grab my water bottle.

Suddenly, my hand brushed against a paper bag inside.

Ah, right. I almost forgot.

“Yukimiya, Kurotsuki. Here, these are for you.”

I pulled out two paper bags and handed them over.

Kurotsuki blinked in surprise, while Yukimiya gave me a skeptical look.

“Yatsuhashi-kun, what’s this?”

“Gifts. You said you wanted something cat-themed before, remember? I couldn’t just give it to you alone, so I got one for Kurotsuki too.”

Because of everything that happened earlier, I had almost completely forgotten. That was close.

Kurotsuki, who had been confused a moment ago, suddenly had her eyes shining and cheeks flushed as she stepped closer to me.

“Really!? But I didn’t prepare anything in return!”

“It’s fine. Thanks to you two, I was able to enjoy this trip to the fullest. Consider this my way of saying thanks.”

“Eh!? Hazukichi, you’re actually kinda cool, huh!?”

Hahaha.

Go ahead, praise me more. Just don’t slap my back so hard—it hurts!

But unlike Kurotsuki, who was grinning brightly, Yukimiya looked a little guilty.

“Yatsuhashi-kun, um… about yesterday, I still feel a bit bad about that…”

“Don’t worry about it. I bought these because I wanted to.”

I wasn’t sure if they’d actually like them, but…

I just hoped they would.

“Hazukichi, can I open it?”

“Of course.”

The two girls exchanged a look before carefully unsealing the paper bags and taking out the contents.

For Yukimiya, I’d chosen a gold-plated metal bookmark shaped like two cats playing together. I thought it suited her, since she always carried a book around.

For Kurotsuki, I’d picked a Japanese-style handkerchief with a dog motif. When I tried to recall what she liked, I remembered the dog we used to play with near our houses.

“Nyaa~… The cats are so cute…!?”

Just as I expected, Yukimiya’s eyes sparkled with delight as she stared at the bookmark.

Yeah, anything cat-related is guaranteed to make her happy.

But unlike Yukimiya, Kurotsuki just stared silently at the handkerchief in her hands.

That’s strange. She’d been so lively just a moment ago.

W-wait, does she not like it?

Or maybe… it reminded her of the past—of the time she was bullied—and brought back painful memories…!?

At that moment—tears began to stream down Kurotsuki’s cheeks.

“Eh…!?”

“K-Kurotsuki-san, what happened!? What did this savage man do to you!?”

Don’t call me a savage! I didn’t do anything, okay!?

Both Yukimiya and I panicked, completely unprepared for this situation. But Kurotsuki quickly wiped her tears and shook her head.

“N-no… It’s not that… This pattern looks just like the dog we used to play with, Hazukichi… It just brought back memories…”

“Oh, so you noticed, huh? I picked that design because I thought it might remind you of those days…”

Now that I think about it, giving Kurotsuki something that would remind her of the past—especially when she wants to forget those painful memories—might not have been a good idea…

Damn it, did I just mess up…?

However, Kurotsuki didn’t look offended at all. Instead, she gazed at the handkerchief with a nostalgic smile.

“I just felt touched… Realizing that Hazukichi still remembers those times… ehe, it made me cry.”

“…You don’t mind?”

“Not at all! I’m really happy! Those days when I played with Hazukichi are precious memories I’ll never want to forget—like shining gold.”

Holding the handkerchief to her chest, Kurotsuki blushed softly and smiled shyly.

“Thank you, Hazukichi. This is the best gift I’ve ever received.”

“O-oh… I see.”

Seeing her so happy naturally made me happy too… but having someone express such pure feelings right in front of me—it honestly felt a little awkward.

After carefully putting the handkerchief back into its pouch, Kurotsuki tucked it into her bag and turned away from us.

“Alright then, Hazukichi, Hyouka-chan! See you later! Let’s hang out again sometime!”

“Yeah. See you, Kurotsuki-san.”

“Oh, see you at school.”

We watched as Kurotsuki ran off toward the bicycle parking area.

…And there she goes again. I told you this wasn’t supposed to be a casual outing, geez.

Once the energetic Kurotsuki disappeared, silence settled between Yukimiya and me.

This situation reminded me of a similar one before.

But well, silence between us had already become normal, so it didn’t feel awkward at all.

“Let’s go home.”

“Yeah. I’m exhausted today, I’m heading straight to bed.”

“Same.”

A whole day of walking around and dealing with unexpected events really drained both body and mind. If I was this tired, Yukimiya must’ve been even more exhausted.

We walked side by side, leaving the station area and heading into the residential streets.

The farther we got from the station, the quieter it became, and the number of people around us dwindled.

Once there was no one else nearby, Yukimiya let out a small sigh and relaxed her shoulders.

“You okay?”

“Yeah. I’m just used to keeping up appearances when there are people around… Now I can finally relax a little.”

Maybe… that was something ingrained in her by her stepmother.

If it had become such a reflex, then she must’ve been raised under pretty strict discipline.

Of course, I wasn’t dumb enough to point that out directly. I just acted normal.

“If you’re that self-conscious about being watched, then what does that make me?”

“Oh? So you’re human after all? I hadn’t noticed.”

“Hey, that’s rude.”

“Just kidding.”

Yeah, I know. If I couldn’t even take a joke like that, I’d be mentally exhausted just being around Yukimiya.

Without saying much else, we continued walking through the quiet neighborhood.

Before long, our apartment building came into view.

“Well then, Yatsuhashi-kun. See you tomorrow. I’ll come to your room like usual.”

“Ah. Get some rest, alright? Don’t catch a cold—you’ll only make things harder for yourself.”

“I should be the one saying that. If you get sick, who’s going to take care of you? Try thinking about my situation for once.”

“Heh, yeah, yeah.”

Jeez. Her mouth really never rests. That’s supposed to be my line, you know.

........Huh? Take care of me?

I froze mid-step and turned toward Yukimiya.

At the same moment, she also stopped and looked back at me.

I stared at her in confusion, and she looked just as puzzled.

Under the dim glow of the streetlight, our eyes met for a few silent seconds.

Then, Yukimiya’s face—down to her neck—suddenly turned bright red, and her eyes darted around nervously.

Eh…?

“Yukimiya, just now you said—”

“N-no! That’s not what I meant! I didn’t mean I’d be the one taking care of you or anything like that…!”

“No matter how you put it, that’s exactly how it sounded.”

“Shut up…!”

Still blushing furiously, Yukimiya dashed up the apartment stairs.

But then, she suddenly stopped, turned around, and looked down at me from above.

“…Good night, idiot.”

After saying that, she quickly disappeared into her room.

“…Yeah, good night.”

I knew she wouldn’t hear it, but I still replied with a wry smile.

…And that last 'idiot' was definitely unnecessary, you weird girl.