[Vol 2] Tsun'na Megami-sama to Darenimoienai Himitsu no Kankei Chapter 3

Chapter 3 - Let’s Go to Kamakura

 

“Ah, no… I’m so embarrassed for showing such an unsightly side of myself.”

Whether she was truly embarrassed or just feeling hopeless, Kurotsuki scratched her cheek awkwardly with a strained smile. After that little incident, Yukimiya and I ended up sitting at the same table with her—side by side, facing Kurotsuki.

I never imagined I’d run into her in a place like this. Not only that, she was eating alone… and had ordered an absurd amount of food—so much that even a heavy eater would be stunned.

Yukimiya looked just as shocked, her eyes widening as she stared at the plates on the table.

“Vice President Kurotsuki, are you really going to eat all that?”

“Huh… ahahaha… well, I… um…”

Kurotsuki averted her gaze, clearly flustered. What Yukimiya said wasn’t wrong—if one person ate all that, it’d definitely exceed any reasonable calorie limit.

She used to be a little chubby, but after dieting, she got her figure back. So what happened this time? I couldn’t help but wonder.

Even though she looked hesitant, Kurotsuki clenched her hands beneath the table, steeled her resolve, and finally spoke.

“Actually… um… I’ve been on a bit of a diet…”

“...A diet?”

Yukimiya’s eyes widened, and even I was surprised. With a body like hers, she’s still dieting?

Seeing our reactions, Kurotsuki shrank even further into herself, her face turning pink.

“And… this is kind of like a rebound from holding back for too long…”

“Ah~ So that’s why you’re eating this much?”

Yukimiya hit the nail on the head, and Kurotsuki slumped over the table in defeat.

Well, it’s not like she needs to go that far though.

Yukimiya seemed to think the same—she tilted her head slightly, looking at Kurotsuki with concern.

“But… you really don’t look like someone who needs to diet at all.”

Her gaze fell on Kurotsuki’s stomach.

I thought so too. Even when she’s wearing her school uniform, I never once thought she had a belly. If anything…

She’s actually really slim—maybe even a bit too much.

But Kurotsuki didn’t seem satisfied. She shook her head and sighed softly.

“No… it’s still not enough. I can still pinch a bit of fat around my stomach, and since I’ve been skipping my workouts lately, my body line’s gotten kind of blurry.”

“Oh, I see…”

Yukimiya, who probably never worried about dieting in her life, scratched her head and rubbed her own stomach absentmindedly.

I mean, I’ve never actually seen either of their stomachs, but… is that really something to worry about? I guess girls have their own kind of struggles…

Kurotsuki looked frustrated, too.

I took a sip of cola from the drink bar—but something suddenly felt off. Wait, what was that? There was this weird feeling I couldn’t ignore.

Trying to figure out what it was, I glanced back at Kurotsuki.

“Wh-what is it, Hazukichi!? Don’t stare at me like that, you idiot!”

“Yes, President Yatsuhashi. It’s very rude to stare at a girl who’s worried about her body like that.”

Even though they both scolded me, I kept looking at Kurotsuki. Maybe because she couldn’t take my stare anymore, she covered her stomach and looked like she was about to cry from embarrassment.

Rubbing her stomach… Wait. Rubbing her stomach… That reminds me of something. Ah!

“Kurotsuki. You’ve been rubbing your stomach a lot… Is that because you’re worried it looks bloated?”

“Eh. Ah.”

Judging by her reaction, Yukimiya seemed to realize it too. Her eyes went wide as she looked at Kurotsuki.

“Guh… D-did you notice? I thought I hid it pretty well… but you caught me, Hazukichi…”

She scratched the back of her head with an embarrassed grin. Even though it was Yukimiya who noticed first, not me… So that’s what it was.

Yukimiya and I exchanged glances and both let out a sigh of relief. Thank goodness—so it wasn’t anything weird. Honestly, she almost gave us a heart attack.

Seeing our reactions, Kurotsuki looked even more confused.

“W-what? What’s with you two?”

“It’s nothing… It’s just, you see—Yukimiya said you were rubbing your stomach with this gloomy look on your face.”

“H-hey, don’t pin it all on me!”

Yeah, it’s totally your vague wording that made this sound weird in the first place.

“Yocchan’s been looking kinda down lately, so I thought… maybe something was bothering her…”

“Something bothering me?”

“Yeah, like… some kind of personal problem you couldn’t really talk about.”

I wasn’t sure how to phrase it, so it came out sounding hesitant. Kurotsuki tilted her head, and after a moment, her face turned bright red as the meaning sank in.

“W-w-w-what are you saying!? Y-you pervert, Hazukichi! Idiot! Harasser!”

“Stop shouting that loud in public!”

Seriously, in this day and age, people can make a big deal out of nothing!

Even though she was still fuming with a bright red face, Kurotsuki suddenly got a serious look from Yukimiya, who had just taken a sip of her grape juice.

“But, Vice President Kurotsuki, President Yatsuhashi only said that because he was really worried about you. So please forgive him, okay?”

“Yeah, I really was worried, you know.”

Thanks to Yukimiya’s calm words and my follow-up, Kurotsuki looked flustered, her lips curling into a small pout.

“...Hazukichi, thanks. And… sorry for making you worry.”

“It’s fine. I know you’re not that kind of person, Yocchan.”

“O-of course I’m not! Things like that… should be saved for after marriage…!”

That’s a surprisingly old-fashioned view, huh?

Haah… Now that the tension had finally eased, I suddenly felt hungry. Since one problem was solved, I figured I could enjoy my meal in peace today.

I started ordering my usual favorites from the touch screen—doria, mentaiko pasta, and spicy chicken.

Watching me, Yukimiya tilted her head curiously from beside me.

“What are you doing?”

“Oh, this is how you order food here. You can just pick whatever you want too.”

After showing her how to use the touch screen, she started tapping it carefully, clearly unfamiliar with the system.

Yeah, she definitely doesn’t go to places like this very often.

As I glanced at her, Kurotsuki suddenly let out a startled “Eh?”

“What’s wrong?”

She looked back and forth between us, her expression puzzled. Was there something weird about us?

Before I could figure it out, she suddenly asked—

“Eh… wait a second, why are you two spending your day off together?”

“……”

Ah… crap.

Now that she mentioned it, we really had been together a lot lately. Or rather—I completely forgot to think about how that might look to others.

Sure, we’re neighbors, but to anyone else, we’d just look like classmates hanging out.

And on top of that, we’re the type to butt heads during student council meetings, creating all sorts of tension.

So yeah… seeing us together on a weekend would definitely seem weird from an outsider’s perspective.

What should I do? What should I do? What should I do?

The longer I stayed silent, the more suspicious Kurotsuki would become.

I racked my brain as hard as I could, desperately trying to come up with an excuse, but no good ideas came to mind.

Even though I was thinking as hard as possible, this gray lump of mine refused to produce a single brilliant idea.

Maybe there was no way out anymore. Maybe it was better to just give up and tell the truth…

Just when I was about to stop thinking and confess everything, Yukimiya—who had been looking at the tablet—brushed her hair back and sighed.

“Vice President Kurotsuki. Actually, there’s a reason for that.”

“A reason…?”

Kurotsuki tilted her head, and I turned my eyes to Yukimiya as well. What was she going to say?

But it seemed like she already had a plan. She glanced at me as if to say, 'Leave it to me.'

“...Once Golden Week ends, we’ll have our midterm exams, right? This guy is hopeless at studying. So, he begged me on his knees to teach him.”

“Oh, I see!”

I didn’t do that!? I never got on my knees!? Why did Kurotsuki accept that explanation so easily!? Do I really look like the kind of guy who’d kneel just to study!? …Well, if the situation called for it, maybe I would. I might even lick someone’s shoes if it came to that. But apparently, Kurotsuki completely bought Yukimiya’s explanation. She crossed her arms and nodded.

“I see. Wow, Hazukichi, you even kneeled down just to catch up in class. That’s impressive.”

“H-Haha... y-yeah, something like that.”

“Well, the lessons at Shiramine are really hard. I heard the exams are much tougher than at other schools. Hang in there, Hazukichi!”

With a slice of pizza in hand, Kurotsuki smiled brightly and gave me a thumbs up.

So she really believed it, huh? I guess... that’s fine then?

Still, just to make it clear for the record—I never kneeled.

Damn it, these two really love bragging about Shiramine...

I started getting a little annoyed and narrowed my eyes at Kurotsuki.

“Anyway, how about you, Kurotsuki? Are you ready for the exams?”

“Yep. I ranked eighth in the last midterms. I can follow along in class just fine, and I study regularly at home too.”

...Seriously? Eighth place…? Huh? Did I hear that right?

“Uhh… eighth place? Seriously?”

“Why would I lie about that?”

This time, I got a cold stare from Kurotsuki. Unlike Yukimiya, her beauty had a different kind of sharpness to it. I wasn’t used to being stared at by a girl like her, so I instinctively turned my gaze away.

Yukimiya, who had just finished ordering, must’ve overheard our conversation. She set down her tablet and nodded firmly.

“What Vice President Kurotsuki said is true. I saw her name on the ranking list posted in front of the staff room.”

Ohh… so she really did get eighth place. For some reason, that hit me kind of hard. I wasn’t sure why, but still...

I can’t afford to slack off like this… I need to study harder.

Meanwhile, Kurotsuki started eating heartily again, as if a weight had been lifted off her shoulders. Before long, the food we ordered finally arrived.

In front of me were doria, mentaiko pasta, and spicy chicken. In front of Yukimiya were shrimp salad, corn soup, and carbonara.

Her eyes sparkled as she looked at the dishes—probably things she didn’t often get to eat at home.

Well, I don’t really cook pasta at home either… Maybe I should try making it for her next time.

“Wow… everything looks so good.”

“Hyouka-chan, have you never been to a place like this before?”

“No. I usually eat at home.”

Come to think of it, I rarely eat out either. Eating at restaurants all the time drains your wallet fast, and besides, I have to teach Yukimiya how to cook. So naturally, we end up eating at home more often.

Suddenly, Kurotsuki seemed to remember something. Her eyes lit up, and she leaned forward slightly.

“Oh right! You said you can cook, didn’t you? You also mentioned your lunch was homemade. Hyouka-chan, that’s amazing…!”

“…Yes, that’s right.”

Hey, don’t just lie like that!

I’m the one who made it, you know!

I shot Yukimiya a sharp look, but she stubbornly refused to meet my eyes. Fine, whatever.

As I silently ate, I noticed Kurotsuki kept staring at Yukimiya. Even Yukimiya, who was usually calm, began to feel uneasy and picked up a napkin to wipe her mouth.

“…What is it, Vice President Kurotsuki?”

“Ah, it’s just… you eat so enthusiastically. Oh, not that I’m saying the food’s bad or anything! It’s just that students from Shiramine usually eat fancier meals, right? So I thought maybe food from a family restaurant like this wouldn’t suit your taste.”

“Th-that’s not true. I usually just eat homemade food. And I rarely eat out, so food like this actually feels really refreshing to me.”

Sorry, all I can cook are homemade dishes.

What’s wrong with that, anyway? Cooking simple meals like this might come in handy someday. Who knows—maybe when I get a girlfriend? Or after I’m married with kids?

For just a brief moment—really, just a second—Yukimiya glanced my way. But she quickly turned back to Kurotsuki, so maybe I was just imagining it.

“Besides, I know how precious it is to have someone cook for me… That’s why I always eat with gratitude. Always.”

This time, she looked straight at me without hesitation.

So… she really does appreciate it, huh.

Feeling a little flustered, Yukimiya hurriedly took a sip of her corn soup. Kurotsuki, smiling brightly, gazed at her in admiration.

“Yeah… that’s so true. As expected from you, Hyouka-chan. You were really raised well!”

“…Not really.”

Yukimiya gave a faint, bitter smile and went back to sipping her soup.

But I didn’t miss that short pause just now.

As someone who knew about Yukimiya’s family situation, I could kind of understand how she must’ve felt.

Her relationship with Korekiyo-san had been improving lately, but the tension with her stepmother still lingered… it was a tough situation.

Still, I decided not to say anything and just chewed on the mentaiko pasta in front of me.

It was just bad timing—that’s all. I happened to witness Yukimiya and Korekiyo-san arguing, and that’s how I got dragged into all this. But at the core, it’s not really my place to get involved. Yukimiya herself once said she didn’t want others meddling in her family affairs.

So, I had to respect that boundary and keep my distance.

Once we’d all finished eating, Yukimiya and Kurotsuki ordered dessert, while I just got a drink from the bar to wash away the oily aftertaste in my mouth.

…Wait a second. Kurotsuki, you’re still getting dessert!?

I swear she ate twice as much as we did earlier. How does all that food fit into that slim body of hers!?

Just as I was starting to feel slightly exasperated, Kurotsuki suddenly went, “Ah!” as if she’d just remembered something.

“Oh right, I almost forgot. Actually, there’s something I wanted to discuss with you two.”

Discuss? Don’t tell me this is about her diet?

“Sorry, but I know nothing about dieting.”

“Not that! It’s about Kamakura! The field trip!”

Eh? …Ah, crap. I completely forgot about that. What now? I haven’t prepared anything!

As I began to sweat nervously, Yukimiya gave a small nod.

“I wanted to discuss that too. Since we’re all here, why don’t we go over it now?”

So I was the only one who forgot. Damn, that’s embarrassing.

Just as Yukimiya was about to take out her phone to look up information about Kamakura, Kurotsuki grinned and stopped her.

“Sure, we could look it up on our phones, but how about we just go there ourselves and do an on-site survey?”

“A survey?”

I frowned. I never thought I’d hear the word survey during my school days.

Yukimiya folded her arms thoughtfully, seeming to consider the suggestion.

“Well, searching on our phones is convenient. But if we go there ourselves, we can see things more clearly—like the distance between each stamp checkpoint.”

She had a point… Maps sometimes make places look close, but they’re actually pretty far apart. By visiting in person, we could check if the event route was practical.

“Besides,” continued Kurotsuki, “as student council members, we’ll be stationed at the stamp post until noon, right? Then in the afternoon, we’ll be making rounds for reports. So we won’t have much time to enjoy Kamakura. We might as well have some fun ahead of time!”

“So that’s your real motive, huh,” I muttered, giving her a sharp look.

Kurotsuki just stuck out her tongue playfully and laughed. Damn it, she’s cute. Fine, I’ll forgive her.

After hearing the suggestion, Yukimiya thought for a moment, then smiled faintly as if giving in.

“Alright, I agree. I also wanted to take my time visiting shrines and historical sites.”

“Yes! I knew we’d get along, Hyouka-chan!”

With sparkling eyes, Kurotsuki immediately pulled out her phone and started listing places she wanted to visit.

“Fresh shirasu, dango, croquettes, crepes, sausages, cafés, tea shops…”

“Hey, Kurotsuki, that’s all food! Aren’t we supposed to be inspecting the stamp course? And what happened to your diet, huh!?”

“Eh, there’s also a dog café, an owl café… Ah, and a cat café too! Let’s go there!”

“Sure. Especially the cat café—that’s a must.”

Even Yukimiya looked excited. Didn’t you just come from a cat café today? Just how deep does your love for them go?

And for the record, we’re not going to a cat café on this inspection trip. You’d just sit there and refuse to move the whole time.

As the two of them chatted, Kurotsuki turned to me with a curious look.

“Hazukichi, is there anywhere you want to visit?”

“Zeniarai Benten.”

“Wow, sticking to your true desires, huh…”

What’s wrong with that? Everyone likes money.

TLN: Zeniarai Benten, or Zeniarai Benzaiten Ugafuku Shrine, is a popular Shinto shrine in Kamakura, Japan, where people wash their money in the spring water inside a cave. It is believed that money washed here will double or multiply in the future.

Apparently, I was the only one thinking that way, because both of them looked shocked. Alright, alright, I’m a broke student, okay? Liking money isn’t a crime!

“...Anyway, let’s put aside what President Yatsuhashi said for now. The real question is, when should we do this inspection? Tomorrow’s too soon, and the day after’s the last day of the holidays…”

“Then how about the first weekend after Golden Week? It’ll probably be crowded, but time-wise, that’s the most convenient, right?”

“...Yeah, that makes sense. Let’s go with that, then.”

Both of them started adding the schedule to their phone calendars. I followed along and did the same, feeling a faint sense of excitement.

When was the last time I planned a trip with someone like this? Back when I was in Kuroba, we just went places on a whim, whenever the mood struck.

“Ah~ this is getting exciting! I don’t feel gloomy anymore at all!”

“That’s good. In that case, stop with the extreme dieting from now on, okay?”

“U… okay…”

After being gently scolded by Yukimiya, Kurotsuki awkwardly nodded and shrank a little.

“Exactly. You’re still a high school student, so there’s no need to worry about dieting. This is your precious high school life—enjoy it to the fullest with your friends.”

With that, Kurotsuki raised her hand energetically.

“Since we’re going, I’ve got a proposal for you, Hyouka-chan!”

“This isn’t a fun trip, it’s an inspection… But what is it, Vice President Kurotsuki?”

Since it was a proposal from a fellow student council member, Yukimiya straightened her back attentively.

“This!”

“Huh?”

Kurotsuki suddenly pointed straight at Yukimiya with a sharp motion.

Startled by her unexpected action, Yukimiya’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Let’s stop with the formal titles like ‘Vice President Kurotsuki’ or ‘President Yatsuhashi.’ We’re friends now, aren’t we?”

“Eh, umm…?”

That was a completely unexpected proposal from Kurotsuki, leaving Yukimiya momentarily speechless.

While Kurotsuki leaned forward with a sparkle in her eyes, Yukimiya instinctively leaned back, overwhelmed by her energy.

Then, she turned to me as if seeking help.

“I think that’s a good idea. If it helps us get along better, I’m all for it.”

Of course, I sided with Kurotsuki. I also thought that calling each other with suffixes like '-kun,' '-san,' or '-chan' made things feel closer and more friendly.

After I gave her a gentle push she could lean on, Yukimiya finally sighed in resignation.

“Haa… Fine then. In that case… Kurotsuki-san.”

“Hmm… Honestly, I’d prefer if you called me ‘Youko-chan’ or ‘Yocchan,’ but for now, that’ll do.”

With her arms crossed, she puffed out her chest proudly. What a superior attitude...

“Come on, Hyouka-chan. You should call Hazukichi by something more casual too. Maybe ‘Yatsuhashi-kun’ or ‘Hazuki-kun.’”

“Ugh…”

Pushed by Kurotsuki, Yukimiya looked at me, her cheeks slightly red.

I could feel her tension, and without realizing it, I straightened my posture too.

She always called me that at home, so why is she suddenly nervous about it now? What’s going through her head…?

If she keeps acting like this, she’s going to make me nervous too.

Yukimiya hesitated again and again, her lips parting, then closing.

Then, she clasped her hands together in front of her chest and looked up at me with timid eyes…

“Y–Yatsuhashi-kun…”

She called my name softly.

I’d heard her say it plenty of times before, but for some reason, this time a strange tension crept up my spine, accompanied by a wave of heat. Sweat gathered in my palms, and my breathing felt slightly uneven.

W-what the heck is this...? I’ve heard her call me that so many times, so why does it feel so weird now...?

“A-Ah.”

I wish I could’ve given a smarter response, but no words came out. Saying nothing would’ve been even more awkward, so I just nodded.

“Alright! Now we’re all friends! Ehehe, I’m getting even more excited for our Kamakura inspection trip!”

Friends… huh?

For some reason, I felt like the distance between Yukimiya and me had actually grown wider instead. Or maybe it was just my imagination.

After finishing dinner and leaving the family restaurant, Kurotsuki quickly hopped on her bike and rode off, leaving just the two of us behind.

“…………”

“…………”

With the person who usually livens up the atmosphere gone, only silence remained… Damn, this is awkward.

There’s definitely a weird vibe between us—it must be because of what just happened earlier.

But standing awkwardly in front of the restaurant isn’t helping anyone either; we’d just be in the way.

“Aah… let’s go home.”

“Y-yeah. Let’s go.”

Judging by her stiff reply, she was feeling just as awkward as I was.

In that weird atmosphere, Yukimiya and I walked home together toward our apartment building.

Normally, there was a bit of distance between us when we walked—but this time, it somehow felt even farther than usual.

Who was it again that said using '-kun' makes people feel closer?

Oh right, that was me.

I needed to shake off this awkwardness somehow.

“S-still, I didn’t expect Kurotsuki to be there. I never thought she’d eat at a family restaurant.”

“Eh, y-yeah, true. But now that I know why she looked a bit down, I feel relieved.”

…So that’s why Kurotsuki seemed unmotivated, huh.

Wait, was she really just worried about her weight?

Well, maybe that’s part of it. But I can’t help but feel like there’s something else she’s hiding. Hopefully, it’s just my imagination.

I remembered that lonely look she had when she was alone… And the way she confronted me, anger in her eyes, when she realized Yukimiya had been acting distant. Then her expression—full of worry and unease. And that bright smile she wore, as if to cover all of it up.

Suppressing her true self, hiding her fragile heart, and playing the role of a cheerful, friendly girl— That was Kurotsuki Youko.

Thinking back on all her expressions, I finally realized it.

Yocchan is still hiding something.

…Hopefully, I’m just overthinking it.

“Yatsuhashi-kun, what’s wrong?”

“…No, it’s nothing. I was just thinking, I’m glad Kurotsuki didn’t pry too much into our situation earlier.”

“Fufu, you’re right. …Thank goodness our secret relationship is still safe.”

Walking slightly ahead of me, Yukimiya turned back and smiled gently under the streetlight.

The light shone down like a spotlight, illuminating her as if she were the main actress on stage. I couldn’t help but stop and stare at that sight, mesmerized.

Wait… what did she just say a ‘secret relationship’ …?

“Well, it’s true that if people found out we were neighbors, things would get troublesome.”

I slipped in a subtle correction and caught up to her. If I left her wording as-is, it’d definitely cause some misunderstandings.

Kurotsuki wasn’t the gossiping type, but if this rumor ever got out and spread, that’d be a headache. Neighborsーhalf-living togetherーdating… that kind of rumor would still be fine. But if it went further—to ‘living together’ or even ‘married’ —that’d be impossible to handle.

Rumors have a way of spiraling out of control. Better to prevent trouble before it starts.

 

After that, we walked in silence until we reached our apartment building.

But instead of returning to her own room, Yukimiya followed me inside mine.

She set her bag down—

Putting it in her usual spot by the wall, she lay down on the sofa and closed her eyes.

“Haaah… As I thought, I’m exhausted.”

“If that’s the case, why don’t you just go back to your room?”

“…I’m tired, yeah, but not sleepy. Maybe it’s because I’m still thinking about the cat café, my head feels kinda clear.”

Ah, I get that feeling. When your body’s tired but your mind’s still active.

Meanwhile, I was starting to feel sleepy myself—probably thanks to the relaxing time we had with the cats earlier.

Still, what does that have to do with her coming into my room though…?

…Well, no point in overthinking it now.

“Do what you want, but I’m gonna take a shower. If you’re heading to your room, just go. You don’t need to lock the door.”

“Alright.”

As she replayed the videos she took at the cat café, Yukimiya muttered softly to herself. Haaah, seriously…

I grabbed my tracksuit I usually wore as pajamas and headed to the bathroom.

Looking in the mirror, I realized I had way more cat hair on me than I’d thought. Guess the lint roller didn’t get everything. Good thing Kurotsuki didn’t notice.

I tossed my clothes into the washing machine, then stepped under the shower and let the water wash over me.

Sure, soaking in the bathtub would be better for getting rid of fatigue, but since I live alone, filling it up every time just feels like too much work.

I let the water flow, washing away the day’s exhaustion and sweat. Finally, I felt refreshed again.

“Hm?”

Her shoes were still by the door. So she hadn’t gone yet.

When I checked the time on my phone, it was already past nine. Well, she often stayed late like this anyway, and her room’s right next door, so it wasn’t a big deal.

Drying my hair with a towel, I walked into the living room— only to find Yukimiya fast asleep on the sofa, breathing softly and peacefully.

“Fuu… haa… nn…”

“…Seriously, this girl.”

She really was tired, but this was way too careless. Falling asleep in a guy’s room like this… if it wasn’t me, that could’ve been dangerous, you know?

I’m all for gender equality—but still, waking her up would be the proper thing to do… But…

“Jeez… she’s sleeping so peacefully.”

The cold, sharp expression she usually wore, that slightly curt attitude— none of that was there anymore.

I didn’t know what kind of dream she was having, but she looked genuinely happy as she slept.

Waking her up now… would’ve felt almost cruel.

Well, guess I’ll just let her sleep.

The problem was, I didn’t have a spare futon for guests. …At the very least, I should cover her with a blanket so she doesn’t catch a cold.

I went into my bedroom and grabbed a large blanket. …Wait, this doesn’t smell weird, right?

I think it’s fine. Still, it’s kind of weird how we can’t really tell what our own scent smells like.

After checking, I gently draped the blanket over Yukimiya. She immediately pulled it closer, curling up like a cat.

…Yeah, I guess that’s all I can do for now.

Watching her sleep so peacefully made me feel sleepy too.

Tomorrow’s still a day off, so I could stay up late if I wanted… but whatever, better to sleep now.

“…Good night, Yukimiya.”

I turned off the living room light and went into my bedroom.

If I ended up unable to sleep just because she was next door…

…Well, turns out I wasn’t that sensitive after all. The moment I hit the bed, my consciousness faded away.

Yeah, I guess I’m pretty thick-skinned when it comes to stuff like this.

 

[Hyouka's POV]

 

“Fuu… haa… nn… mmh…?”

…Huh…? Where… am I…?

When I opened my eyes, what I saw wasn’t my own room filled with cat-themed stuff.

In the dim light, I could make out a tidy, clean room with simple, elegant furniture.

For a moment, I had no idea where I was… but… could this be Yatsuhashi-kun’s room…?

I rubbed my sleepy eyes and slowly sat up.

Ah, no… my head still feels heavy. I can’t think straight.

My body felt weak, and I ended up lying back down on the sofa again.

It feels like I just had a nice dream. I can’t remember what it was about, but… I felt wrapped in something soft and warm…

"………"

…………Wait. Why am I sleeping in Yatsuhashi-kun’s room!?

“!?”

I hurriedly sat up and checked myself from head to toe.

There was no sign my clothes were disheveled, and no indication that anything inappropriate had happened—or that Yatsuhashi-kun had done anything to me.

…Well, I knew he wasn’t the kind of guy who’d ever do something like that, but still, it’s better to be sure.

Could it be… I just fell asleep in his room without realizing!?

I can’t believe how careless I was.

I mean… it’s true that I trust Yatsuhashi-kun, but still, a girl sleeping in a guy’s room—if something had happened, it would’ve been too late.

I must’ve let my guard down because I’ve gotten too comfortable around him… I really need to be more careful.

I glanced at the clock in the room. It was already past three in the morning.

Normally, that’s way too early to wake up, but either way, I can’t keep sleeping here. Not that I could fall back asleep, anyway.

Still, heading back to my room right now wasn’t an option either. Even if Yatsuhashi-kun said it’s fine to leave the door unlocked, I can’t just leave while he’s still asleep.

While I was trying to calm down my messy thoughts, something slipped off the sofa and fell to the floor.

“This… is Yatsuhashi-kun’s, right…?”

It looked like he’d covered me with a thick blanket so I wouldn’t catch a cold.

…Even though it’s already May, the air in the early morning is still chilly.

I guess… I’ll keep the blanket for a bit longer.

I picked it up and wrapped it around myself.

Even though it was thin, it still felt so warm.

I sat back down on the sofa, staring blankly at the dimly lit room without doing anything.

This blanket… it’s actually kind of nice. For some reason, it feels so…

…!?

“Hyaa!”

Reflexively, I jumped up in a panic and threw the blanket back onto the sofa with all my strength.

Gasping, I shook my head and tried to calm myself down.

O-okay. Calm down. Calm down, me.

Haa… I must be really exhausted. Otherwise, there’s no way I would’ve fallen asleep at a guy’s place.

Ugh, it’s so hot… my body feels warm all over. There’s no way I’m getting any sleep like this.

…Maybe I should change clothes.

Wearing the same thing since yesterday is definitely uncomfortable… it should be fine to leave the room unlocked for just a moment, right?

 

[Hazuki's POV]

 

“Eh… You’re still here?”

It was already past seven. When I woke up, Yukimiya was gracefully sitting on the sofa, enjoying her coffee (with extra milk and sugar).

I had to blink twice—I didn’t expect her to still be here. If I remembered correctly, she’d fallen asleep on the sofa last night, and I had covered her with a thin blanket. I thought she had gone back to her own room after that…

After taking a sip from her mug, Yukimiya looked at me with her usual cold gaze.

“That’s a rather rude way to greet someone in the morning. …Good morning, Yatsuhashi-kun.”

“I wouldn’t have said that if you weren’t still here this early in the morning. …Good morning.”

Jeez, but… you get how I feel, right?

As I drank a glass of water to moisten my throat, I glanced back at Yukimiya. Her outfit was different from yesterday’s. Yesterday, she wore something simple when we went to the cat café, but today she was dressed in a lace-trimmed dress.

So, she actually went back just to change clothes…

“If you went back to change, why didn’t you just stay in your own room?”

“How could I? The world’s dangerous these days. What if a burglar broke in?”

When she said that, I couldn’t argue. If a burglar entered while I was asleep and I just kept sleeping until I got stabbed or something… that wouldn’t be funny at all.

“Sorry for making you worry.”

“I wasn’t worried about you. I just don’t want the apartment next door to become a crime scene. I happen to like this building.”

“Right.”

Yeah, I figured as much. There’s no way she was actually worried about me.

As I gave a wry smile and sighed, Yukimiya continued, “Besides, if something happened to the person who usually helps me out, I’d feel bad about it.”

“…Isn’t that basically the same as saying you were worried about me?”

“You’re so stubborn. Go wash your face and wake up already.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

Seriously, she’s not cute at all.

After brushing my teeth, washing my face, and changing out of my pajamas, I returned to the living room. Yukimiya had already washed her cup and was heading toward the door.

“Heading back to your room?”

“Yeah. I’m going to rest in my room today. Study on your own for now, okay? Make sure you actually study.”

“Are you my mom or something?”

Though come to think of it, even my own mom never said anything like that to me.

“What are you having for lunch?”

“I’ll try cooking for myself today.”

“Alright then. See you tomorrow. I’ll be waiting.”

When I said that without thinking, Yukimiya’s eyes widened for a brief moment.

Huh? Why? Did I say something weird?

I replayed my words in my head, analyzing them carefully… but I didn’t think I said anything strange. Then why did she react like that…?

We stared at each other for a few seconds before she slightly lifted the corner of her lips and reached for the doorknob.

“Yeah, see you.”

Without looking back once, Yukimiya left. Seriously, what was that just now…?

After locking the front door, I made myself a cup of coffee and sat down at the low table.

Studying alone, huh… Well, with my current ability, I might be able to finish all the homework for Golden Week by myself. Every once in a while, studying quietly on my own doesn’t sound too bad.

I pulled out my homework from my bag and spread it across the table. For something meant for Golden Week, the amount of work felt more like summer vacation homework. Well, at least the deadline was still after the second half of Golden Week, so I had plenty of time.

Alright, then—let’s get started—

“Uuuuhhh… nyaaaaaaa…!”

“Eh?”

What? What was that sound?

A cat? No, that didn’t sound like a cat. Besides, that voice… it came from Yukimiya’s room…?

Reflexively, I turned toward the wall. From there, I could still hear Yukimiya’s groans.

“Ughhh… ugh, why did I have to fall asleep in his room…?!”

…Ahh. So she’s just having flashbacks about her own terrible mistake.

I get it. I really do. I’ve had those kinds of moments too—when embarrassing memories from the past suddenly resurface and make you curl up in regret.

For her sake, I decided to pretend I didn’t hear anything.

I should finish as much homework as I can before the Kamakura field trip in the second half of Golden Week.

Putting on my earphones and turning on my favorite music, I focused on my assignments.

And just like that, the days went by. After getting through the awkward school days between holidays and a few student council meetings, Golden Week finally reached its second half.

This year, the second half of Golden Week lasted four straight days. Online news and social media were full of posts about how crowded tourist spots across Japan were.

Now that I think about it, this might be my first time visiting a tourist spot during Golden Week with someone else. Before this, whenever I hung out with Junya and the Kuroba gang, we’d only go to nearby arcades or bowling alleys—budget-friendly stuff, you know.

And now, I’m going to a tourist spot with two beautiful girls… You really never know what life has in store for you.

Our meeting spot was in front of the nearest station. I deliberately left at a different time from Yukimiya to avoid being seen walking together. If anyone spotted us, it would definitely cause trouble.

Lost in thought, I waited alone for Yukimiya and Kurotsuki.

…But.

“They’re taking their time, huh…”

We were supposed to meet at nine, but it was already fifteen minutes past.

If it were Kurotsuki who was late, I could understand—she gave off that kind of laid-back vibe. But Yukimiya being late… that was surprising. I always thought she was the punctual type in situations like this.

…Could she have gotten into an accident or something? No, that can’t be it. There aren’t any dangerous spots between the apartment and the station.

There must be another reason for the delay. I should just wait patiently.

To kill time, I started fiddling with an app on my phone while waiting for them to show up.

And then—

“Hazukichi?”

“Uwah!?”

Geez, that scared me…!

Someone suddenly leaned close and peeked right into my face—it was Kurotsuki, dressed casually.

With an innocent look, she stared at me. But when she saw my startled reaction, a mischievous grin spread across her face.

“What’s that look~? Don’t tell me you’re shocked because Youko-chan’s just too cute?”

“T-that’s not it!”

Anyone would be surprised if someone suddenly got that close to their face.

…Though I won’t deny she’s cute. She really is.

But come on, don’t underestimate a high school boy’s lack of resistance to girls. I’ve never been that close even with Yukimiya, so this level of proximity is definitely new territory for me.

Kurotsuki giggled, clearly satisfied, then gave me a playful salute.

“Alright then—good morning, Hazukichi!”

“…Good morning, Kurotsuki.”

I stepped back slightly and took a look at her outfit.

She was wearing black shorts paired with a short white camisole. Over that, she had a long cream-colored cardigan left open, revealing her shoulders. Her footwear was thick-heeled sandals.

Her look was completed with a necklace, earrings, and several bracelets. Despite all the accessories, she still managed to give off an elegant—and honestly, rather cute—vibe.

To be honest, I expected her to show up in something bolder.

“Wow, just in time!”

“Just in time?”

Since when is being fifteen minutes late considered ‘just in time’? What kind of time dimension is she living in?

“Relax, relax~. …Eh, Hyouka-chan’s not here yet?”

“Nope. She hasn’t contacted me either.”

“Same here. Weird, right? Hyouka-chan’s never late. I’m actually getting worried.”

Even Kurotsuki, who’d known her longer, seemed puzzled. That meant this really was out of character for Yukimiya.

Maybe I should try calling her… or at least, that’s what I was thinking—until Kurotsuki suddenly pointed at something.

“Hazukichi, look! Hyouka-chan’s here.”

“Huh?”

I followed her gaze—and there she was.

Yukimiya walked toward us, wearing a flowing light-blue skirt that swayed gently with each step. Her top was a blouse with sheer sleeves, neatly tucked into her skirt.

For shoes, she wore comfortable sneakers—practical for walking. Her hair was tied up in a ponytail, giving her a livelier vibe than usual.

Normally, when she visited my apartment, she’d wear something simple and functional. But today, she was clearly dressed with care.

She looked a little out of breath, with a faint sheen of sweat on her forehead—she must’ve run all the way here.

“Haa… haa… S-sorry… I took a while deciding what to wear…”

“Ah, it’s fine by me, but…”

“I just got here too, so don’t worry! By the way, Hyouka-chan, your outfit’s sooo cute~! Ehe, let’s take a selfie together!”

Kurotsuki immediately scooted closer to Yukimiya and raised her phone for a photo.

Well… she’s cute, no doubt about it.

Yukimiya’s always cute, but today’s outfit gave her a totally different impression from when we went shopping for cat trinkets.

It’s funny how just one outfit can change the whole vibe of a person so much.

“Eh, Kurotsuki-san, you’re too close!”

“Come on, relax~. Think of it as your punishment for being late!”

You’re late too, you know. Don’t act all innocent.

I shrugged and watched the two of them. One had a graceful, modest style, while the other was flashy and gyaru-like. They were total opposites, yet somehow, standing together, they looked surprisingly in sync. Maybe it’s because they both naturally gave off a confident aura?

I let Yukimiya handle the overly excited Kurotsuki while I scanned the surroundings.

As expected, people were starting to stare at us. Two pretty girls with contrasting styles were bound to draw attention. Guess I’ll be on bodyguard duty against random guys today… I already feel tired.

“Hey, you two. The train’s coming soon.”

“Okaaay! Yay, I’m so happy to hang out with Hyouka-chan~!”

“Kurotsuki-san. This isn’t hanging out—it’s a preliminary survey for our school field trip. W-wait, don’t pull me—!”

Ever since that day at the family restaurant, the distance between Kurotsuki and Yukimiya seemed to have gotten smaller.

Yukimiya still looked a little bewildered, but she didn’t seem to mind it too much either.

Watching the two of them from behind, I followed quietly.

We had to transfer trains twice before finally boarding the Enoshima Electric Railway. During the trip, Kurotsuki got excited seeing the ocean, then again when she noticed how close the train tracks ran to the houses along the way. And every time that happened, Yukimiya would scold her.

“Uhehe. This is actually my first time going to Kamakura!”

“Me too,” I replied.

“Same here,” added Yukimiya.

Well, no wonder. From where we lived, Kamakura was quite a distance away. Plus, neither of us were the type to travel far—mostly because of our family situations.

After being rocked around in the train for several dozen minutes, we finally arrived at Kamakura Station. Along with a large crowd of passengers, we stepped off the train together.

“Phew~! We’re finally here~!”

As if she had been holding back the whole trip, Kurotsuki raised both hands high and stretched her body.

Because of that, the hem of her short camisole lifted a little, revealing a glimpse of her perfectly shaped belly button.

...Okay, honestly. She didn’t look like she needed to diet at all. Her stomach even had a faint outline of toned muscles. My eyes reflexively followed the sight—please forgive me. I’m a boy.

So, Yukimiya, please don’t look at me with that expression.

“Haa... Kurotsuki-san, your stomach’s showing. Be careful, there’s a certain ‘wild animal’ eyeing you,” Yukimiya said dryly.

“Huh? Oh... Geez, Hazukichi, you perv~.”

Hey, wait, I didn’t even do anything wrong, did I!?

As if that wasn’t enough, Yukimiya quickly covered her own body with her bag and gave me a suspicious glare.

“Hazuki-kun, your eyes are kind of suspicious.”

“I-I wasn’t thinking anything weird!”

Sure, Kurotsuki’s outfit was a bit different from her usual style, but I’d already seen Yukimiya in plenty of different outfits. This wasn’t something worth panicking over anymore.

Ignoring their looks, I turned my attention to the surroundings.

Near us was a small plaza with a clock tower. Around it were several shops—like a matcha ice cream shop and a baby castella stand.

Of course, Kurotsuki wouldn’t overlook that. Her eyes sparkled, and she pointed excitedly.

“Look! Look! A matcha ice cream shop!”

“Indeed. This requires investigation.”

Eh, ah—

Before I could even stop them, both of them had already rushed into the shop.

Uh... weren’t we supposed to be surveying locations for stamp rally checkpoints today? So why are we starting with snacks...?

“Hey, Hazukichi, come on in too~!”

“…Ooh.”

Well, fine. Seeing them having fun, I kind of wanted ice cream too.

Once inside, I ordered a premium matcha soft serve. Yukimiya got a gelato with the highest matcha intensity level, while Kurotsuki chose a soft mix of matcha and houjicha.

With our ice creams in hand, we sat in the plaza near the clock tower and began to enjoy our treats. Meanwhile, Kurotsuki took on the role of photographer, snapping pictures of each of our desserts.

My matcha soft serve was topped with a rich layer of matcha powder. But since the ice cream base was also matcha, the flavors blended perfectly.

“Mmm~ This is good! The matcha and houjicha mix has an amazing balance of flavor!”

“This gelato is great too. It really brings out the full depth of matcha.”

“Really? Hey, Hyouka-chan, can I try a bite? I’ll let you have some of mine too~.”

“Sure.”

The two exchanged tastes of their ice creams and smiled happily.

It looked delicious... I wanted to try some too, but asking for a bite felt kind of awkward for a guy. Especially after that 'indirect kiss' incident before—I’ve been overly conscious about stuff like that ever since.

But of course, Kurotsuki, who didn’t know about that, suddenly held out her ice cream to me.

“Here, Hazukichi. Try it, it’s really good.”

“N-no thanks. I mean… that’d be an indirect kiss, right…”

Ugh, I felt embarrassed even saying it. I just wanted to vanish.

Kurotsuki, however, sighed with an unimpressed look and shook her head.

“You’re still hung up on that? We’re close enough already, aren’t we? Besides, it’s not like I’m feeding you directly or anything.”

“Teenage boys tend to think about those kinds of things,” Yukimiya commented.

“So weird,” Kurotsuki muttered.

Whatever.

After finishing my ice cream down to the cone, I took out a small trash bag I’d brought and tossed the wrapper inside. That way, I could collect trash anytime if needed.

“Oh, nice one, Hazukichi!”

“Of course. I’m a reliable guy, you know?”

“Wow! Japan’s number one!”

“If you’re going to praise me that half-heartedly, maybe don’t bother at all.”

Sure, I started it, but still, this was kind of embarrassing.

After Yukimiya finished eating and packed up the trash, we finally prepared to head toward our first destination—the Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine.

…But before that—

“Alright! Next stop—Komachi Street!”

“A worthy investigation awaits.”

Yeah, I knew this would happen.

Komachi Street was way too crowded with tourists, making it unsuitable for a stamp rally checkpoint. Originally, we were just supposed to pass through… but of course, plans changed.

Well, being the only guy among two girls, democracy wasn’t on my side here. I just had to go along with the majority vote.

As we walked down Komachi Street, restaurants offering seafood lunches, snack stands selling croquettes, menchi katsu, and satsuma-age lined both sides. Souvenir shops too—everywhere was packed with tourists.

“Hyouka-chan, what do you want to eat?”

“Hmm… Since we already have plans for lunch, maybe something light for now.”

“Then how about menchi katsu?”

“Sounds good. After something sweet, I’m craving something savory.”

Wait. Which part of menchi katsu is light!?

We joined the long line at a famous shop that used Hayama beef. Naturally, I lined up too. No one said I couldn’t eat.

After buying three portions, we continued walking down Komachi Street while munching on them.

The road was packed with people heading both toward the shrine and back to the station. If we got separated, finding each other again would be nearly impossible.

“Yukimiya, Kurotsuki, stay close to me.”

“Aye aye, captain!”

Good response, soldier Kurotsuki.

But the next moment, she suddenly linked her arm around Yukimiya’s… and then wrapped her other arm around mine.

…Eh!? What’s she doing all of a sudden!?

“There, now it’s safe. Mufufu~”

No, this is definitely not safe! Sorry, Kurotsuki, even if you look pleased with yourself right now…!

“K-Kurotsuki-san, this is a bit…!”

“K-Kurotsuki! You’re going too far…!”

Yukimiya and I both tried to pull away, but Kurotsuki only tightened her grip, pulling us even closer together.

“Eh~? But Hazukichi’s the one who said not to stray too far. Besides, this way’s safer so we don’t get lost, right?”

Okay, yes, I did say that—but not like this!

A-and also, her chest…!

Does she not realize it? Or is she aware and just pretending not to notice? Or maybe… she doesn’t see me as a guy to begin with?

Whatever the case, Kurotsuki showed no intention of letting go.

I exchanged a glance with Yukimiya, who just sighed in resignation. She clearly knew there was no stopping Kurotsuki once she got like this.

The stares from people around us were sharp.

Especially from the guys—pure, burning envy.

Yeah, I get it. Just walking with two pretty girls was enough to make people jealous, and now one of them was clinging to me like this. No wonder I could feel those daggers of envy stabbing into my back.

If I ended up walking between them like this… just imagining it was terrifying. I might actually get beaten up by random bystanders.

Even after we finished our menchi katsu, Kurotsuki still didn’t let go.

As we walked, the two kept buying one snack after another—soft senbei, honey ice cream, croquettes, matcha crepes, and who knows what else.

Seriously, are they even okay eating that much!?

“Ahem. Didn’t you two say you’d only get something light before lunch?”

“Yeah, these are light.”

“Uh-huh. Totally fine so far.”

“O-okay, if you say so…”

I already knew Kurotsuki had a big appetite since that family restaurant incident, but I didn’t expect Yukimiya to be like this too… Usually, she ate about the same as me, maybe even less. Guess that’s how she stays in shape… Women’s stomachs are truly a mystery.

After a while, Yukimiya suddenly stopped walking. Naturally, Kurotsuki and I stopped too.

“Yukimiya, what is it?”

“Ah… That store looks really pretty.”

I followed her gaze and saw a small shop selling accessories. Judging by the exterior, it seemed to specialize in glass crafts. Most of the customers were women, with a few couples and tourists mixed in. Even from the outside, the delicate glass ornaments looked charming and beautiful.

I was a little surprised. I didn’t expect Yukimiya to be into shops like this.

“Ooh~! Looks great! Let’s go in!”

“W-wait, Kurotsuki-san…!”

Ah… they went in without me. It suddenly felt kind of lonely.

I hurried in after them. The place was a bit cramped but filled with all sorts of items—tiny glass ornaments, chopsticks, fans, even towels.

While the two of them were enthusiastically browsing the glass trinkets, I started looking around the other shelves.

I liked these kinds of things too. They were nice to look at and surprisingly practical.

As I carefully examined the items, something caught my eye. This is…

Just as I picked it up, Yukimiya and Kurotsuki walked over.

“Hey, Hazukichi~. We bought some souvenirs for ourselves, you not getting anything?”

“Ah, yeah. I’ll grab something too. You two can wait outside.”

“Okaaay~.”

After watching them leave, I went to the counter and paid for my item.

Outside, the two of them were chatting cheerfully. When I walked up, they finally noticed me.

“Welcome back, Yatsuhashi-kun. What did you buy?”

“Ah, just a little souvenir.”

I slipped the item into my bag, while Yukimiya looked at me curiously.

“Yatsu—”

Before she could finish, Kurotsuki suddenly threw her arms around Yukimiya.

“Hyouka-chan, look! A cat café! You love cats, right?”

“W-what…!? We can’t skip this! I need to inspect it to see if it’s suitable as a checkpoint for the stamp rally…!”

“Wait, hold on.”

There’s no way that could ever be a checkpoint! And if Yukimiya went into a cat café, she’d never leave for the rest of the day.

Grabbing both of them by the scruffs of their necks, I dragged them off toward Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine. It felt like walking two giant pets—a dog and a cat. If I let my guard down for even a second, they’d run off in opposite directions.

After a grueling effort to keep the two of them under control, we finally made it out of Komachi Street.

For some reason, I felt completely exhausted. Those two had way too much energy.

Following behind them, I was still catching my breath when Kurotsuki suddenly shouted.

“Ah!”

“What is it? You see a UFO?”

“No! Look, Hazukichi, we’re here!”

“Eh? …Ohh…”

The view suddenly opened up before us. From here, I could see a massive crimson torii gate and a long path leading straight to the main shrine building.

On both sides of the bridge stretched a large pond, and aside from the main hall, there were also the Benzaiten Shrine, a museum, a national treasure exhibition hall, as well as a café and several resting areas. The place was quite vast—perfect for a relaxed stroll.

Even Yukimiya and Kurotsuki, who were usually full of energy, went silent for a moment, mesmerized by the grandeur of the place.

“Waaah…”

“This is amazing… Kurotsuki-san, can you take a photo for me?”

“Got it!”

At Yukimiya’s request, Kurotsuki started snapping lots of pictures. Meanwhile, Yukimiya jotted down notes in her notebook about interesting details. At least this time, they were seriously focused on their assignment.

Honestly, when they’re not fooling around, they really look like capable girls… when they’re not fooling around. That’s important, so I’ll say it twice.

“How’s it look?”

“Let me see… Hmm, the angle’s not high enough. Yatsuhashi-kun, can you take the picture?”

“Hm? Sure.”

I took the smartphone from Kurotsuki and raised it as high as I could to take the shot.

I tried several times, but even though I was taller than them, the angle didn’t change that much.

“We should’ve brought a folding chair or a selfie stick, huh.”

“I think this looks fine, but… what do you think, Hyouka-chan?”

Yukimiya looked at the screen, placing her hand on her chin in thought.

After a few seconds, she nodded… and then looked straight at me.

“Be my stepping stool.”

“You’ve gotta be kidding me!?”

She said it so casually!? Of course, I refused!

However, Yukimiya only gave me a puzzled look.

“Why not? It’s a rare chance to be stepped on by a cute girl, you know?”

“Obviously I don’t want that! Only a small fraction of people enjoy that kind of thing—and I’m not one of them!”

“…So you’d rather be the one stepping on a cute girl?”

“NO!!”

Don’t just accuse me of having weird fetishes!!

“Fine then… we’ll just use the one you took.”

“Wait, Hyouka-chan! I’ve got a great idea. Hazukichi, squat down!”

Huh? Don’t tell me… Kurotsuki’s also planning to use me as a stepping stool!?

Feeling a bad premonition, I took a step back, but Kurotsuki pouted.

“I’m not gonna step on you! Just squat already!”

“…Like this?”

I obeyed and crouched down. But… what on earth was she planning?

Suddenly—thud! Something heavy landed on my shoulders. I felt something cold and soft brush against my face.

Wait… is this… Kurotsuki’s thighs!?

“Okay, Hazukichi! Stand up!”

“‘Stand up’ ? You mean, carry you on my shoulders!?”

“Yup!”

What an idiot.

“Get down.”

“Nope.”

“Get down now.”

“Nah-ah. Oh, and don’t move your head, Hazukichi. It tickles.”

Then get down already! Please!

I’m a high school guy in his prime, you know!? Being treated like this isn’t just embarrassing—it’s nerve-wracking! Especially with all these people watching like it’s some sort of public spectacle!

I feel my brain boiling!

“Y-Yukimiya! Say something!”

Normally, she’d scold someone for behaving rudely, right? But instead, she nodded thoughtfully, like she just got inspired.

“Interesting. Yatsuhashi-kun, try standing up.”

Damn it. I have no allies here.

Haah… fine, let’s just get this over with.

I took a deep breath, planted my feet firmly, and stood up with Kurotsuki still perched on my shoulders.

Heavier than I thought, but manageable.

Because I moved so suddenly, Kurotsuki hurriedly grabbed my head for balance and pressed her legs tighter against my shoulders.

Stop! That’s too close! And her shampoo smells way too good!

“Waaah! So high up!”

“Hey, stop admiring the view! Hurry and take the picture!”

“Okay!”

I heard the sound of several clicks from above my head. But what really made me panic were the gazes of the onlookers! Not only were they staring—they were taking pictures too!

Seriously, don’t post those on social media! If this goes viral, I’ll sue for face rights violations!

“Okay! Got it!”

Kurotsuki, still sitting on my shoulders, handed her phone to Yukimiya.

Yukimiya checked the photos and smiled in satisfaction.

“Hmm… these are good. From now on, Yatsuhashi-kun will be our tripod.”

“Nice job, Hazukichi.”

Is that supposed to be praise… or an insult?

“The pictures are also very clear. As expected of you, Kurotsuki-san.”

“Heheh, I got praised~”

Hey, don’t bounce around on my shoulders!

“H-hey, that’s enough, right? I’m putting you down now.”

“Eh~? Come on, just a little longer. You’re so stingy~”

Annoying.

Without another word, I crouched and lowered Kurotsuki from my shoulders.

Playing with a man’s feelings like that… unforgivable. But also… thanks, that actually felt kinda nice.

Averting my eyes from the curious stares around us, I lowered my head and stepped into the shrine area for a look around.

Along the path to the main hall, food stalls lined the way, and the atmosphere was quite lively. I didn’t expect a place like this to allow food vendors.

As we glanced at the stalls, we passed by the horseback archery grounds and climbed the steep stone steps leading to the main shrine. The steps were quite steep, but still climbable… though—

“Haa, haa… t-this is tougher than I thought…”

“Haah… I-I’m kinda… out of breath…!”

Yukimiya and Kurotsuki had beads of sweat forming on their foreheads. If this much already exhausted them, just how little do they exercise? Studying at home is great and all, but sometimes you really need to move your body, you know.

I adjusted my pace to match theirs, climbing the stone steps little by little.

“Come on, you two can do it~”

“Hmph. Coming from you, that sounds like mockery.”

I was just trying to cheer them up, but why did it sound like an insult!?

With firm determination, they climbed the stairs step by step. Once we reached the top, a grand gate came into view.

The massive gate standing before the main shrine was painted bright red, and on its plaque was written 'Hachimangu.'

Kurotsuki took a photo of it, her eyes shining in awe.

“Whoa~... So this is the famous Zuishin Gate, huh? Not Nio statues, but guarded by the God of Archery and the God of the Left Minister.”

“Look, the ‘八’ on the plaque is shaped like doves. It’s said that when the Hachiman Shrine was relocated, the doves guided the way.”

“Fufu. Somehow, that’s kind of cute.”

Meanwhile, the two of them were chatting about various facts regarding Tsurugaoka Hachimangu.

I was a bit surprised and looked at them, but Yukimiya caught my gaze and frowned slightly.

“Yatsuhashi-kun. What’s with that look?”

“Eh… I’m just surprised you two know so much.”

“Of course. We did some research beforehand. We’re here for the event survey, not for fun.”

You could’ve said that to yourselves a few minutes ago. You two looked like you were just playing around earlier.

Feeling a bit dizzy, I started reflecting. Yukimiya was right—we were here for the survey, yet I didn’t do any research at all.

Ugh, embarrassing. I can’t even complain about others now.

Just as I was mentally shrinking in shame, Kurotsuki suddenly waved her hands frantically.

“D-Don’t be sad, Hazukichi! Um… actually, it was me and Hyouka-chan who agreed to do the research ourselves!”

“W-Wait, Kurotsuki-san…!?”

Kurotsuki’s confession made even the usually composed Yukimiya panic.

I didn’t get it. Why didn’t they tell me to join in their research?

I turned to Yukimiya curiously.

She let out a quiet sigh and awkwardly tucked her hair behind her ear, as if trying to change the subject.

“Y-Yatsuhashi-kun, you’ve looked really busy lately… I know you’ve been working hard on a lot of things, so I just couldn’t bring myself to add more to your plate. That’s all—no other reason. R-really.”

“Yeah! I heard Hazukichi’s been helping classmates study too, and living alone must be tough. So we thought we’d handle the research instead. Sorry if it felt like we left you out.”

Ah… I see now.

They had a point. Even though one of Kurotsuki’s worries had been resolved, with midterms and this event coming up, I was still swamped. If I had to add one more task on top of that, I probably would’ve collapsed again.

I’d already reached my limit once and passed out from exhaustion.

Both of them had been considerate of my situation in their own ways.

“Sorry for making you two handle everything.”

“Don’t worry about it, Hazukichi. Right, Hyouka-chan?”

“Yeah. We should’ve told you earlier instead. Sorry, Yatsuhashi-kun.”

If this went on, it’d just turn into an endless apology loop, so I smiled and nodded.

Alright then, I’ll just enjoy this trip with my two lovely guides.

With them leading the way, we prayed at the main shrine, visited the treasure hall, and eventually exited the grounds.

Just then, Kurotsuki suddenly shouted excitedly, her eyes sparkling as she pointed ahead.

“Look, look, Hazukichi, Hyouka-chan! They have omikuji! Let’s draw one!”

TLN: Omikuji are Japanese fortune-telling paper slips that visitors can draw at Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples

“Sure, let’s do it. You too, Yatsuhashi-kun?”

“Ah, of course.”

I’d drawn omikuji before during Hatsumoude with Junya and the others, but this was my first time doing it outside of that.

Kurotsuki went first, followed by Yukimiya, and then me.

When I opened mine… Suekichi. I was sure I’d get Daikichi, but turns out my confidence was baseless.

“What about you guys?”

“Daikichi.”

“Same.”

Huh? Both of you got Daikichi!?

I checked their papers—yep, no mistake. Damn, they both got the best luck possible.

While I was busy being amazed by their fortune, Kurotsuki peeked at mine.

“You got Suekichi, huh, Hazukichi?”

“Don’t look.”

“Well, at least it’s not Kyo. That’s still decent, right?”

That’s true. If I’d gotten Kyo right before exams, that would’ve felt way worse.

In the 'studies' section, it said to work harder. Well, I’ll take that as divine advice.

As I read more carefully, Kurotsuki, still peeking, pointed to another section.

“Oh, look, Hazukichi! In the ‘Machibito’ section, it says ‘They’ve already arrived.’ That’s good, right?”

“But below that, it says ‘There will be hardships.’”

I didn’t really believe in omikuji, but seeing something negative written there still made me a little uneasy. Or was that just me?

“So, what about you two?” I asked.

“Mine’s full of good stuff. For Machibito, it says ‘Look around you.’”

Not a single person asked about her Machibito. But… Kurotsuki has a boyfriend, huh? I wonder what kind of guy he is. As long as he makes her happy, that’s fine by me.

Kurotsuki kept her cheerful smile as she turned to Yukimiya.

I followed her gaze just as Yukimiya folded her omikuji and slipped it into her wallet.

“Mine’s similar.”

“Who’s your Machibito?”

“I forgot.”

Why are you so curious about Machibito anyway? Is this just how girls their age are? …Well, maybe not Yukimiya. She doesn’t seem the type to believe in stuff like that.

“Besides, they say if you tell others what your omikuji says, its power weakens.”

“Seriously!? Waaah! Hazukichi, forget everything you just heard!”

Guchi! Guchi!

Hey, don’t pinch my sides repeatedly! If you want me to forget, shouldn’t you hit my head instead!?

After barely managing to restrain the rampaging Kurotsuki, we retraced our steps back along the path. We checked out the Genpei Pond near the Benzaiten Shrine and then left Tsurugaoka Hachimangu.

“So, this place is officially one of our checkpoints, right?”

“Of course. I’ve already reported it to the teacher.”

As expected of Yukimiya. She really handles everything perfectly.

After leaving Tsurugaoka Hachimangu, we walked back to Komachi-street. It looked like we were going to have lunch next.

Come to think of it, even though we’d been snacking nonstop earlier, these two could still eat. The stomach capacity of girls truly is a mystery.

“Where should we eat?”

I asked, and Kurotsuki eagerly replied.

“Since we’ll be riding buses, trains, and rickshaws later, let’s pick somewhere near the station. We can finally eat raw shirasu!”

So she had it all planned out, huh. That was surprisingly well thought out.

I followed behind the two as we made our way through Komachi-street

Along the way, they nearly stopped several times, tempted by various shops, but I somehow managed to keep them focused on the goal.

Eventually, we arrived at the restaurant—a seafood place right near the entrance to Komachi-street. The signboard had 'Shirasu' written in big letters.

Well, Shonan and Kamakura are famous for shirasu, after all...

Since it was lunchtime, we had to wait nearly twenty minutes before getting in. Eventually, we were shown to a table in the far corner. Yukimiya and Kurotsuki sat side by side on the sofa, while I took the chair opposite them.

When I opened the menu to see the options… crap, expensive. Well, makes sense—it’s a tourist spot. So this is the standard price, huh.

The two of them, though, didn’t seem bothered at all and casually browsed the menu from top to bottom.

“Everything looks delicious… Hyouka-chan, what are you getting?”

“Hmm… I’ll go with the Houseki-don.”

“Oh, nice choice! Then I’ll get the Ultimate Special Kaisendon!”

Houseki-don, Ultimate Special Kaisendon… Wait, those are insanely expensive!? Spending that much money so easily… as expected of rich girls from an elite school.

“Yatsuhashi-kun, have you decided?”

“Ah, yeah… I’ll just have the Kama-age Shirasu-don.”

“Alright.”

While Yukimiya called the waitress to place our order, Kurotsuki turned to me, tilting her head slightly.

“Are you sure? It’s a rare chance to try raw shirasu, you know.”

“A broke high school student who doesn’t even have a part-time job can’t afford to spend that much on a single meal.”

If I divided the price, one serving of their meal would be equal to eight to ten of my usual meals. With that much money, I could live for three days!

...Honestly, I did want to try the raw shirasu. But what could I do? My allowance from home wasn’t unlimited.

Once Yukimiya finished ordering, the atmosphere at the table grew quiet for a bit.

No good. Now that I’d started thinking about it, I couldn’t stop wondering.

“...Sorry if this sounds nosy, but—how much allowance do you two usually get?”

“I don’t know what’s considered normal, but mine’s about this much.”

“Same here, roughly. From my dad.”

When I saw the numbers they indicated with their fingers, I went completely silent. It seemed to be a whole digit higher than what I’d imagined.

Seriously...? They’re still high schoolers, but they get that much pocket money...? I do get living expenses for staying on my own, but my actual allowance isn’t even half of theirs.

So this is what it’s like for the kids of Shiramine High... I felt like I’d just witnessed social disparity firsthand.

Feeling the sting of class difference, I looked back at the menu in front of me.

Still, the food looked amazing. Besides tuna, salmon, and shrimp, there were also fish roe and sea urchin. In my entire life, I’d only eaten fish roe and sea urchin a handful of times—and that was at a conveyor belt sushi place. Even so, it had tasted good back then.

After waiting a little while, the dishes Yukimiya and Kurotsuki ordered were brought to our table.

The seafood bowls were piled high with glistening, colorful ingredients—just looking at them was enough to make your stomach growl. They were truly picture-perfect kaisendon.

Then, my dish arrived as well. Up close, even this kama-age shirasu looked incredibly appetizing. With the addition of a soft-boiled egg, the presentation was surprisingly elegant.

“It’s been so long since I had kaisendon. It looks really good.”

“Yeah, this would totally look great in a photo!”

Yukimiya first admired her food with her eyes, while Kurotsuki snapped a few pictures from different angles. Their personalities were really shining through here.

I, on the other hand, wasn’t into taking photos, so I clasped my hands together.

“Itadakimasu.”

I placed the soft-boiled egg on the rice, broke it slightly, drizzled some soy sauce, and took a bite.

Ohh... The savory flavor of the shirasu spread through my mouth, blending perfectly with the smoothness of the egg. The faint aroma of soy sauce drifting up my nose made it even more delightful. So this was what people called a mariage in the culinary world? Well, not that I really knew what that meant.

“Mmm...! This is amazing!”

“Right? Even the other seafood besides the shirasu tastes so fresh and rich.”

It seemed they were really enjoying their meals too, eating with enthusiasm as if they hadn’t already stuffed themselves earlier.

The taste of raw seafood really was something else... Wait, what am I even thinking? Don’t get greedy.

I quickly turned my gaze away from their bowls and focused only on my own meal. Sorry, kama-age shirasu-chan. From now on, you’re the only one for me—

“Yatsuhashi-kun, want a bite?”

“Huh?”

Without realizing it, I looked up.

With a slightly resigned expression, Yukimiya pushed her bowl toward me.

“You’ve been staring like you wanted some... Fine, have as much as you want.”

“Whoa, Hyouka-chan, that’s so nice of you! In that case, I’ll share mine too!”

Following Yukimiya’s lead, Kurotsuki also slid her bowl my way.

W–what’s going on here? Why are they suddenly being so generous... Wait a sec...

I gave Yukimiya a suspicious look.

“...Don’t tell me—you’re both already full, aren’t you?”

“............Of course not.”

“Y-yeah! I’m still hungry, really! There’s no way I—”

Say that while actually looking me in the eye.

Haa... Just as I thought, they’d clearly overindulged earlier.

Well, whatever. After all the recent indirect-kiss incidents, I wasn’t the kind of guy who’d refuse food just because of that.

Besides, getting to eat at a place this nice wasn’t something that happened every day. If it’s free food, then of course I’ll take it!

“Alright then, just eat as much as you can. If there’s any left, give it to me—I’ll finish it off.”

“……”

“……”

Zuiii!

“Hey! Don’t just dump more than half of it on me, geez!”

“Ugh... I–I overate...”

As a high school guy with a decent appetite, I didn’t expect to end up finishing nearly three whole bowls. When was the last time I ate this much? Probably that time I took on a six-bowl ramen challenge against those idiots from Kuroba.

Feeling completely stuffed, we walked toward Yuigahama Beach—one of the stamp rally points—to walk it off.

Though my stomach felt heavy, the distance wasn’t too far, and gradually the food began to settle.

Listening to the gentle rhythm of the waves, we sat on the stone steps.

I glanced to my side and saw my two friends looking at me with slightly guilty expressions.

“You two... next time, think about your stomach capacity before ordering, okay?”

“But... I really wanted to eat it... Sorry.”

“Ehehe... S-sorry, Hazukichi.”

Well, I guess it couldn’t be helped. It was a trip, after all. I could understand wanting to try food you didn’t get to eat every day... Still.

I turned my eyes back to the sea.

The sparkling surface of the water reflected the sunlight—it was so beautiful. I felt like I could just sit here forever without doing anything.

Since it wasn’t summer yet, the sun wasn’t too strong, and the temperature was pleasantly mild. There were barely any people playing on the sand or swimming. In the distance, I could see boats and yachts gliding over the waves, while closer to the shore, a few tan-skinned men and women were enjoying surfing.

I let my body relax as I listened to the sound of the waves... until I suddenly realized something.

My stomach... felt weird. No, actually—it hurt. Badly.

“Ugh... damn... I really did overeat... s-sorry, I gotta hit the bathroom...!”

“Alright. We’ll wait here.”

“Take care, Hazukichi~”

Ugh... this is humiliating! Running to the restroom after being seen off by two cute girls... how pathetic!

But I had no other choice. My final line of defense was about to collapse.

Aaaargh... I’ve never felt less cool in my life...!

 

[Hyouka's POV]

 

I watched Yatsuhashi-kun leave, and then it was just me and Kurotsuki-san left alone.

Kurotsuki-san stretched her body with satisfaction and rubbed her stomach. Even though she had eaten so much, her belly didn’t look the slightest bit bloated. Her figure remained as beautiful as ever.

“Haaah... Maybe this is a rebound from my diet. I ended up eating more than usual,” she said.

“Same here. Since I rarely eat out, I guess I went a little overboard... I feel like I’ll still be full even tomorrow.”

Or maybe I wouldn’t need to eat at all for an entire day. I really did eat too much.

Yatsuhashi-kun’s cooking was delicious, but food from outside had its own kind of charm too. I didn’t eat out very often, so this was a rare treat.

While waiting for him to return, the two of us just sat there quietly, gazing at the sky and the sea.

We’d been eating since morning. Combined with the warm weather, drowsiness started to creep in. We still had to continue our survey later this afternoon, so hopefully we’d be able to finish it properly.

Kurotsuki-san looked sleepy too. She let out a big yawn and rubbed her eyes.

“It’s been so long since I’ve had this much fun. The last time I hung out with friends was probably back when I still used to play with Hazukichi,” she said.

“Oh yeah? What about during middle school?” I asked.

“Ah... um, things happened back then, so I guess... the number of my friends was... zero.”

She scratched her cheek awkwardly.

What? That’s hard to believe. With how outgoing she is, there’s no way she didn’t have any friends in middle school.

There must be something behind that story. I wanted to ask her more, but when I turned toward her...

“Eh? Youko?”

Someone other than the two of us called out Kurotsuki-san’s name.

That voice... for some reason, it rubbed me the wrong way. I felt like I’d heard it somewhere before.

I looked around and saw a young woman with short, reddish-brown hair who looked quite cute.

She was wearing a short skirt and an oversized hoodie. In her hand was a branded handbag.

Her accessories were flashy, but still within reason. Her makeup was perfect too.

This person... I think I’ve seen her before at the cat café.

From the way she called out, she seemed to know Kurotsuki-san. Could she be her middle school friend...?

I glanced to the side.

When I looked at Kurotsuki-san...

“......”

Her face was pale, her eyes downcast, and her body trembling.