She must have been studying for the midterm that was looming in
two weeks, or perhaps she was simply killing time; her textbook and
notebook were spread open on her desk, but her mechanical pencil
was not in her hand, instead lying forlornly atop her notebook.
At the sound of the door, Komachi's listless expression turned into a
bright smile. "Ohhh, Bro."
"Hey, you're early," I said as I headed for the seat that, at some
point, had become my spot.
"Well, if Komachi doesn't come, it won't get unlocked." She shrugged
casually with a little chuckle before picking up the mechanical pencil,
flipping through her notebook, and resuming her studying.
It had been just about a month since the Service Club had been
remade.
Along with the seat of club captain, Komachi had also taken on the
job of locking and unlocking the clubroom door, and it was fair to say
she'd been doing a satisfactory job. Since she was coming first to the
clubroom every single time, she really was handling it well.
Thinking about it now, the former captain had also come to the
clubroom before anyone else, and it seemed that strict
conscientiousness had been passed on to the next generation.
Then thinking about Yukinoshita made me remember. "Yukinoshita
and Yuigahama said they're not coming today," I said.
"Yeah, I heard," Komachi answered without looking up from her
textbook.
"Oh, okay Page | 100
Well, she was basically the club captain, so she would be keeping in
contact with the relevant parties. Komachi didn't ask the reason for
their absence and instead just skritched along with her mechanical
pencil.
Well, not that I want her to ask why.
This was part of the surprise.
It had been about one month since Komachi had assumed the office
of Service Club captain. These days, we were just getting used to this
new organizational structure. Yukinoshita and Yuigahama had come
up with the idea of giving her a present to celebrate becoming club
captain, and then we decided to make it a surprise.
I did briefly think, If it's just a present for a party or anniversary, then
just give it to her normally… But presenting it on an ordinary day
would actually make it more of a surprise.
I tend to find myself wondering what might happen around every
single turning point, not only birthdays. An old man going to work on
his last day before retirement totally expects to get a bouquet, after
all. So from this perspective, even Komachi wasn't going to assume
she would get a present around now. This wasn't even a one-month
anniversary.
To leverage this surprise to the utmost, it was vital to keep Komachi
from being suspicious. If all three of us were out at once, she'd
obviously wonder if something was up. I was here to create an alibi,
to keep her from getting suspicious.
So it was a welcome thing to be spared the extra work. I doubt I
could really fool Komachi entirely. Maybe Yukinoshita and
Yuigahama had taken that into consideration, and that was why
they'd contacted her. Page | 101
Long story short, Yukinoshita and Yuigahama were both busy, so
Komachi and I would be all alone for club time that day.
The sound of her mechanical pencil was particularly loud in the silent
clubroom.
Even though we were often alone together at home, and it was
common for us to spend time not really talking and just petting the
cat, this quiet bothered me a lot. Was it because we hadn't really
ever been alone together in the clubroom specifically before? I just
felt weirdly anxious.
But I'm too shy to just say that… So I found myself laying out my
books on my desk, even though I normally never do.
Might as well follow Komachi's lead and study. I clicked at the head
of my mechanical pencil and started scribbling out the answers to
the set of problems in my notebook.
It tended to slip my mind—or rather I wanted it to—but despite
appearances, I was a student in preparation for university entrance
exams. I had to take these spare moments here and there to study.
Our mechanical pencils made light sounds for a while, playing a mild
ensemble.
We never even studied together at home, so I couldn't keep my
attention from sliding to the presence sitting diagonally across from
me. Tap-tapping the end of my mechanical pencil on my notebook, I
pretended to think while I glanced over to check on her.
A month had passed since she'd started at this school, so I was used
to seeing her in the uniform: blazer with slightly overlong sleeves,
blouse with the first collar button open, a loosely tied ribbon. It was
normal enough to me that I could really examine her.
Hmm… Page | 102
Now that I'm seeing her properly, she looks pretty good in that. If I
may say so of my own sister, she is hyper-cute at the very least.
While she still had a girlish innocence, the playful hairpin that clipped
her bangs and her casually worn uniform had a liveliness in them.
She gave off a sense of carefree cheer.
I was sure she was popular in her class. In the "Cutest Girl in Our
Class Derby" that the boys would be doubtless be holding regularly,
they'd probably be having conversations like The most popular is, of
course, this one, Komachi Hikigaya! and She's the classmate I'm most
looking forward to seeing more of! I hope she gives it all she's got!
and then she'd be the favorite to win the race. What? Hey, you're
looking at my little sister in that way? I'll kill you? (dark smile)
Knowing nothing of what was going through my head, Komachi just
read through her textbook, making the cowlick sticking up on top of
her head boing back and forth with each thoughtful nod.
She tucked the hairs that swished down behind her ear, then stuck
her red pen back there, too, while her highlighter squeaked across
the paper. Then she smooshed the marker against her cheek and
cocked her head, apparently checking her work.
She must have sensed my gaze then, as she glanced over at me. Then
with a mildly disgruntled look, she opened her mouth. "What?"
"Nothing," I said, shaking my head ever so slightly. No, really, it's
nothing. I did want to say Close your blouse button, but if I carp at
her about that, she'll hate me…
Komachi huffed out her nose in dissatisfaction, and then she
dropped her eyes to her textbook once more. Page | 103
The conversation ended there, replaced by the squeak of her
highlighter, the skritching of her red pen drawing circles, and then
some bored groaning from me.
Now that I was actually watching Komachi study in uniform, I really
couldn't help but worry about how she was doing. Is my dear girl like
this in her classes, too, I wonder?
Once I was struck with the urge to visit her class, a fatherly mood
rose inside me. I cleared my throat and opened a reference book
with a rustle of pages. "…How's school?"
Despite creating a weighty atmosphere of importance, the words
came out too curt. You couldn't even tell who I was muttering at,
and our eyes didn't meet, either.
That line and that gesture were the image of the mid-century dad at
the breakfast table, first spreading out a newspaper to speak to his
adolescent son… Those dads are way too socially awkward, aren't
they?
Komachi could only stare back at me. Then she cracked an
exasperated smile. "Who's that supposed to be? Dad? And we're at
the same school."
"Oh, well, I mean, we do see each other in the clubroom, but I don't
know how things are in your class." I was a little unhappy about
being put in the same category as our father, but I had been just
about to ask slightly more intrusive things, like Have you made
friends? or Think you can get a boyfriend? Can't blame her for calling
me Dad!
Whenever my parents asked me questions like that, I always wished
earnestly for them to leave me alone, so I'd like to give myself credit
for not picking those ones. Page | 104
My feelings must have gotten across, because Komachi folded her
arms with a hmm as she tried to give me a real answer. "Hmm…
Well, true." Tilting her head, she groaned again, but eventually, her
head popped up again, and she replied with a super-serious
expression, "Normal."
"I see…" Well, that was the only answer to give. I would answer the
same if our parents asked that, too.
It's too much of a hassle to explain any friendships in detail,
especially school friends. I don't want to make them worry, but also,
talking about stuff like that directly with them is embarrassing.
So that limits you to the use of three remarks: "Okay," "Nothing
much," and "Normal."
Yeah, yeah. I get that, I get that.
But I was still worried anyway, so I couldn't not ask. I've recently
come to learn how a parent feels, wavering between helicoptering
and nonintervention.
When Komachi was little, she'd come to me to report all sorts of
things. Listen, listen! she'd say, or Hey, so Komachi did… But then she's
grown up so fast. She's fully in puberty now, I thought, a single tear
forming in my eye.
But Komachi waved her hands, expression serious. "No, no, not a
rebellious phase. It really is just normal. Komachi does have friends
like normal, and I'm keeping up with my classes like normal, and I'm
enjoying myself like normal. So, well, normal?" she said. Her
expression was very flat—indeed normal. From her face and the way
she talked, I didn't get the sense that she was trying to cover or avoid
anything.
She had to be having a peaceful time at school, without any major
complaints, grievances, or anxieties. Maybe it was so peaceful, she Page | 105
had to use the world normal to explain it. If that's what she was
going to say, then I had no choice but to accept it.
"Oh, I see… All right, then," I said.
Komachi nodded. "Yeah. Or, like, you're the only one who's in a
rebellious phase, Bro. Komachi normally talks about school with
Mom, too."
"Huhhh... What about Dad?" I asked.
"Eh-heh-heh. Dad's busy, so…" Komachi laughed cutely, avoiding the
question.
But that wasn't necessarily a complete lie. Our father was actually
busy at work every day, so it was true enough there wasn't much
overlap in our lifestyle time slots. On weekends, Dad and I would
both be sleeping hard, so we ultimately only saw each other around
mealtimes. Well, Mom's also busy, too. Since both our parents have
the inheritance factors "Corporate slave ," at this rate, I'll wind
up inheriting that, too.
As I was trembling with such thoughts, Komachi cleared her throat
and stabbed a finger at me. "And hey, you don't talk with Dad,
either."
"That's not true. I'm always talking with him about how he should
give me money," I said proudly.
"Whaa…? That's even meaner than Komachi…" She drew away in
horror.
But I can't help that—I'm too busy studying for entrance exams, so I
can't get a part-time job. Being in this position is costly in various
ways, what with buying reference books and taking mock tests and
such. Making the fullest use of this to come up with suitable reasons
to extort money from him is my main source of income. Page | 106
"But that's the only common topic of conversation I have with Dad.
There's nothing for it, right?"
"That's a sad father-son relationship… Your own flesh and blood
can't come up with a topic of conversation…," Komachi muttered
sorrowfully as she gave me a pitying look.
"Well, that's just how it is with fathers and sons, not like I know. All
you can talk about is money, or your impressions of the new
Evangelion."
"Hmm… You've got a closer father-son relationship than Komachi
thought…" Komachi's expression shifted from its former sorrow to a
mildly discomfited wry smile. She was even pulling away slightly.
Well, it's no wonder she would be put off by that… My dad and I are
both the same in that once we start talking about our opinions, all
we can say is "Thanks…" It hardly ever turns into a real
conversation… Most people would get weirded out seeing us—two
guys hardly meeting each other's eyes, looking into blank space as
they say "Thanks…"
Well, Dad's one thing, but if Komachi was talking about school with
our mom, then she should be fine.
She said so herself; she was having a normal, good, uneventful, and
unchanging time at school.
"…Well, so long as you're not having any particular problems, okay
then," I said.
"Mm-hmm." And then Komachi nodded back at me and faced her
textbook again.
I watched her until my mind started to drift.
A pleasant wind was blowing through the open window. Page | 107
In the distance, I could hear the vigorous calls of sports club
members cheering for their teammates, as well as out-of-tune notes
from the brass band.
It sounded like there were new members in all the clubs. The after-
school melody had become more irregular, but that just gave it an
extra shot of lively energy.
Right now it was all disharmony, but with each following day, they
would fall into sync, and eventually, it would become beautiful
background music that we would remember fondly.
Inclining my ears to the sounds out the window, I turned my head to
survey the clubroom.
The room was quiet, with just the scratching of a mechanical pencil
and the occasional slide of a turning page.
The feeling that came over me was something like nostalgia—had
the room been this big before? My eyes lay still on Komachi, who
was sitting diagonally across from me.
The two of us were alone.
Komachi was silently reading her textbook, seemingly undistracted
by anything.
The image was similar to the scene I'd witnessed in this clubroom
just one year ago.
A girl reading a book in the slanting light.
It was a vivid reminder of her, back then.
If I hadn't been dragged here on that day, would she still be reading
alone here in this room, unchanging?
What a pointless thing to imagine. Page | 108
No matter how you wonder about what-ifs, you can't turn back time.
Even if I could do it over, if I couldn't carry forward this memory, the
result still wouldn't change. In the end, I would have been brought to
this room.
So there was no point in this line of thought.
But if I were to try to find a point…
…I could say this hypothetical was a hint to how Komachi might be
someday.
I would only be able to stay in this clubroom a bit longer. Graduation
was waiting in less than a year. After we'd left, would she still be
here, passing the mundane hours after school by herself? Here in this
room, without the girls and no scent of tea?
The idea made my heart clench.
I'd known it would happen eventually, but it hadn't felt real until I
saw Komachi alone in the clubroom like this.
"Komachi," I said. Her face popped up, and she tilted her head to ask
without words, What?
"Do you wanna recruit new members?" I said with no preface at all.
She blinked. Eventually, surprise and confusion showed on her face.
"Where's this coming from…?"
"I mean, the other clubs have new members… I was thinking it'd be
nice if we had some younger members, too." I couldn't say that it
was because I'd just imagined a scenario that had prickled my heart,
so I chose to be evasive instead.
Komachi narrowed her eyes at me. "Bro, I thought stuff like that was
too much trouble for you. Like, you treat Taishi so bad." Page | 109
"That's not true. I don't hate hierarchical relationships when I'm the
one on top." I puffed out my chest.
Komachi was horrified. "The worst kind of senior…"
"Anyway, Taishi's…you know. Not really a junior, more like Kawa-
something's little brother, or Keika's older brother." Taishi would
indeed count as my junior at school, but since I've known him from
before he came to this school, I didn't really think of him that way.
If we became members of the same club or something and saw each
other on a daily basis, I'm sure that relationship value would be
updated, and I would be able to recognize him as my junior, but at
this point, he was stuck as a maggot who had come near Komachi.
…Of course if I say anything about maggots or whatnot, Komachi
will get upset with me again. Let's not share that one, I thought,
swallowing my words.
Komachi continued to look at me skeptically; she could probably tell I
was trying not to say something unkind.
But upon hearing the pleasant sound of a metal bat and an off-key
trumpet, she slid her gaze out the window. "To be honest, Komachi's
also thought about…" She gave a weak sigh.
Apparently, I didn't even have to worry about it, because Komachi
was thinking about the future, too. Phew…
But that relief only lasted a brief moment, as Komachi folded her
arms with a hmm, making a face that put a wrinkle between her
eyes. "Even if we were gonna recruit people, it's hard to explain this
club, you know."
"Ahhh…yeah." That got an automatic agreement from me. This club
probably did seem pretty inscrutable to other people. Page | 110
Despite being called the Service Club, it wasn't like we were engaged
in any service activity or what you might call "volunteer activities."
Lately, we had functionally become subcontractors for the student
council, and the consultation and requests that occasionally came in
were all very personal matters. It would be hard to explain to a third
party.
It's different if you have a straightforward goal like with baseball,
soccer, or rugby, such as Koshien, nationals, or Hanazono, but
unfortunately, I've never heard of anything like an "Advice
Consultation World Championship."
I remembered before, when we were preparing for the Christmas
event and I'd run into Kaori Orimoto, she'd burst out laughing, and I
repeated what she'd told me then. "If you say 'We're the Service
Club,' it's just like…'What does that club do?'"
"Hmm… Yeah, our activities are one thing, but there's a lot of other
things, too…," Komachi said with a wry smile, then nodded and took
us back to the beginning of this talk. "Well, what we do is kind of
annoying and kinda unique, so I think it might be okay not to push
canvassing. When you don't fit in, you just quit, right? Like you with
your part-time jobs," she said, sticking up her index finger and
wagging it.
"Y-yeah… Well, that's true…" Using me as an example was a
convincing argument. Once you get to be a golden flaker-outer of my
level, you just need to make one application phone call to pick up on
the atmosphere of the workplace and then flake out of the interview.
Plus, people flaking out is rampant even with part-time jobs you can
get paid for, so with a club where you work for free, I wouldn't be
surprised if they dropped out in seconds. Page | 111
We could work our butts off canvassing, but if they just quit anyway,
we'd wind up right back where we started. In fact, we'd even be out
the cost of advertising.
We couldn't just aimlessly canvass. We also had to put in some effort
to keep people from quitting.
I hear these days, all the corporate slaves are working hard to keep
new employees from quitting… And when they train the new
employees, they get directions from HR saying not to upset the
newbies. But really, shouldn't reevaluating the system of
employment and wages come first? If they worked four days a week
for a generous ten-million-yen salary, they'd never quit, you know?
But it wasn't the time for me to be thinking about my future. This
was about the future of the Service Club.
It was too uncertain whether a total outsider would be able to fit in
with this incomprehensible club. It would be faster to go scout
someone who'd fit in from the start, best we could tell. This is what
you'd call head-hunting.
"What about your friends?" I asked her. "Nobody wanting to offer
some service?"
"Huhhh…? That sounds like you're looking for a maid… And it's not
like Komachi wants to do any service work…" She twisted up her lips
like eugh.
What a coincidence, I don't have even a sliver of service spirit,
either. If neither the club captain nor the members have any interest
in service, then…what does this club do?
As I momentarily pondered this, Komachi put a hand to her jaw.
"Hmm, well, I think my friends probably won't want to. They're Page | 112
either already in clubs, or they've decided they weren't going to join
any."
"Huhhh… Yeah, by this time, I guess they would already be in one," I
said.
Komachi shrugged with a wry smile. "Basically."
It had been about one month since the start of the year.
The period for trying out clubs would soon be over, and those first-
years with the motivation would be focusing their efforts in the clubs
they had aspirations for.
But nobody had shown up to join as a temporary member or sit in on
the Service Club, which brought us to the present.
Part of why we hadn't done anything to secure new members was
that we'd all been busy since the joint prom, so I was forced to admit
there was nothing we could do. We hadn't even expected the Service
Club would keep going in the first place, so we hadn't made any
preparations.
I racked my brain. Should we start doing something now,
mayhap…?
But Komachi was the one at the center of this, and she didn't seem
to care. "Well, there's no point in rushing it. It'll be okay for a while
like this. Komachi'll think about members later."
"Yeah?" I said with full skepticism.
Komachi nodded. "Yeah… Besides, it's not so bad for Komachi to get
this room to herself." A nasty smirk rose on her face.
"Ohhh… Like, hearing you put it that way, now I'm kinda jealous…" Page | 113
"Right, right? It's like my own private room at school. I'm a VIP." She
chuckled smugly, with silly gestures as if she was about to break into
a cheery little dance.
But my brain couldn't help but pull up that scene I'd imagined
before, and I found a touch of sadness in that smile.
I didn't know what Komachi was really thinking behind those words.
But she was the one who had rebooted the Service Club, and she was
in charge. I would be leaving in less than a year, so maybe it wasn't
something I should be cutting in on.
Just…if it's possible…
I was unconsciously looking at the door.
If possible, if someone would appear like on that day without
knocking, flinging open that rattly door…
It was a terribly selfish desire.
But then suddenly, that door shuddered and clunked. Komachi
noticed it, too, and looked over as it slowly opened.
A warm but refreshing summer breeze blew from the window into
the hallway. The wind swished through the visitor's pale hair and
ribbon at her chest.
Without asking permission, she marched into the room like she
owned the place—Iroha Isshiki.
"Heeeey, guys." Closing the rattling and creaking door behind her,
she stuck up two fingers in a yo sort of wave.
When Komachi saw her, a smile appeared as if she was too
exhausted to stop it. Page | 114
Iroha Isshiki was both the student council president and the soccer
club manager.
And, if I may add, not a member of the Service Club.
And yet you just keep showing up here… Eh, it's totally okay,
though. So long as you don't bring any land mines that are gonna be a
huge hassle.
Well, well, whatever is my lady's business this fine morrow? I looked
over at Isshiki to see her taking a seat in the chair that had been
designated hers at some point. She was glancing all around the
room.
"…Ummm, sooo where are Yukino and Yui? They not here today?"
Isshiki's gaze drifted to the two empty seats. Normally, that was
where Yukinoshita and Yuigahama would be sitting, but
unfortunately, they were off that day.
"They said they had some stuff to do, so they're not coming," I
answered.
"Yep, yep, so today is Komachi and Bro working as a pair," Komachi
added.
Isshiki put a hand to her chin. "Mgh. Really? Oh, darn…"
"Huh, what…? Is there some kind of problem?" I asked, fearing she
might have come here with another unreasonable demand from the
student council.
Isshiki beamed a bright smile and then nonchalantly remarked: "No,
just thinking the tea server isn't here…"
"Just what do you take Yukinoshita for?" I said with a scandalized
look. She better not think the Service Club is a café or something… Page | 115
Isshiki clunked her forehead with a tee-hee-blep-bonk, shooting off a
wink and sticking out her tongue with a smile. "Just kidding. "
I would no longer be fooled by that; it was way past the point now
where I would think, Aw nooo, this girl is soo cunning-cute! But she is
cute… She is cute, but that's that and this is this, and I had to ask the
nature of her business. I mean, she is cute, though?
"Oh, then Komachi will pour the tea today," Komachi said.
"Thanks, Okome-chaaaan! " Isshiki tittered tee-hee.
Komachi replied "It's nothing, it's nothing" as she rose from her seat.
Wow, that Okome-chan nickname has actually stuck… Maybe I'll
call her Rice-chan at home, too! But Rice-chan won't call me "Brother"
in that refined and respectful way, I mused as Rice-chan skillfully
prepared the tea.
But I couldn't just sit around like this, waiting for the tea to be
served. I glanced over at Isshiki, prompting her to continue like, So,
what're you here for? She'd just muttered "Oh darn," so it was
probably some new hassle.
When Isshiki saw me look at her, she cleared her throat. "If you
muuust call it work, then yes, I did more or less come with work.
There was a little something I wanted to ask you about…" She put
her index finger to the end of her chin, cocked her head, and sighed.
I could tell she was worrying about whether to bring it up.
Then her gaze moved to the empty seats.
Hmm, I don't know what she came to ask us about, but it seems like
she wanted Yukinoshita and Yuigahama to hear it. Nothing for it but
to get her to come back another day…
But before I could say anything, Komachi jumped on it. "Oooh, a
request?" Her eyes sparkled, filled with eagerness. Page | 116
Well, the Service Club was for getting requests and consultations and
stuff. Maybe she was excited to finally get some activity that was
Service Club-like.
Komachi quickly finished preparing the tea, switched the electric
kettle on, and bounced back to her original seat.
Then she turned to Isshiki and swished the hair off her shoulders
with the back of her hand.
Uh, your hair isn't long enough to swish…, I thought, and then
Komachi swished it back a second and third time with an incredibly
serene smile on her face. "Then let's hear what you have to say.
Please take a seat," she said, putting on an extremely composed
persona as she indicated Isshiki's seat.
This left Isshiki bewildered, mouth half-open. "No, no, I'm already
sitting… Wait, is that your Yukino impression? Ha-ha! It's nothing like
her… Wait, actually, it kinda is like her."
Komachi swished her hair back again as if batting away Isshiki's half
laugh, then touched that hand to her lips. "Komachi is simply
conducting herself as the club president. Komachi wouldn't
designate this as an impression of Yukino." Komachi's impression of
Yukino Yukinoshita was getting more and more exaggerated.
"Ohhh, you nailed it—she does talk pretentiously like that." Isshiki
jabbed a finger at her like, That's it! and burst into giggles.
C'mon now, girls. Don't, like, be a jerk or whatever.
I considered telling them off in a gyaru-like way, but making jokes at
the expense of people higher than you on the food chain, mainly
when they're not in the room, is just what younger people do. It
would be crass to stop such behavior. I dunno why I needed to be a
gyaru, either. Page | 117
But don't take it too far, now… If she saw that impression, she'd get
very huffy about it. Well, her sulky mood has its own appeal…, I
thought as the two girls further entertained themselves with
impressions of their elders.
"Huhhh. So then maybe I'll try practicing yahallo," said Isshiki.
"Ohhh! I'd love to see you go all in on a yahallo!" Komachi replied.
"That would be hilarious all by itself."
"…Hold up? Hilarious is kind of a weird word to use. You don't mean
it like laughing at me, do you?"
"No, no, not pffft at all."
"You're totally laughing at me…"
Despite this conversation, I doubt Yuigahama would be mad if Isshiki
did greet people with yahallo.
However, that would be forgiven precisely because Yuigahama and
Isshiki had a trusting relationship. If someone not all that close to
her—like Zaimokuza or the UG club guys, for example—teased her
about it, that would honestly be really scary. She'd be like, Stop it in
a low tone of voice, and then it'd be like, Oh shit, she's actually mad.
…Though I suppose that's also nice for what it is. Like how she'll
occasionally let her genuine anger show—I can kinda get into that?
This Hachiman guy is always getting into everything.
But anyway, teasing someone when they're not around can be a sign
of how much they're loved. This tends to be used as an excuse for
backbiting, too, but, well, as far as I could see, this was within the
scope of friendly playing.
Yukinoshita and Yuigahama are both adored by their juniors, huh?
As I was pondering these matters, the electric kettle eventually made
bubbling sounds, and the water started to boil. Page | 118
Kettle in hand, Komachi hummed as she poured out the tea. A
familiar aroma gradually wafted into the air, rising along with the
steam.
While that was steeping, Komachi set out my Japanese teacup and
two paper cups. It seemed she wasn't going to use Yukinoshita's and
Yuigahama's cups, even though they were absent.
Holding the teapot in her hands, Komachi briskly poured the black
tea into the cups—she was hardly green at this, after all (ha-ha).
"Okaaaay, here you go," she said.
"Ohhh, thanks." I raised the offered cup above my head in gratitude,
then took the first sip. Mm, I'm feeling great today, and the tea is,
too…
So I was enjoying the tea as usual, but Isshiki wasn't reacting so well.
She took one sip, then another, squinting and scrutinizing the surface
of the tea in the paper cup as if checking something. "Hmm…"
Isshiki's meaningful sigh made Komachi scowl. "Hmph! You have
something to say? Is there some problem with it?"
Isshiki waved a hand at that. "No, it's fine… I was just thinking,
Yukino sure is good at making tea, huh?"
"Ahhh… Yeah, compared with her…" Komachi's sigh sounded almost
resigned, and she nod-nodded like that made sense to her, too.
But I wasn't about to do the same; I had a question mark above my
head. "Huh? Does it taste that different?" I slurped another mouthful
to let my palate examine its structure. I held it in my mouth for a
while to check, but the taste spreading over my tongue was black
tea. If she'd changed it to oolong tea or green tea, of course I would
be able to tell, but black tea is always just black tea. Page | 119
Huh… I don't get it at all… Is something different? I looked over at
the one who'd made it.
Komachi shrugged with a wry smile. "It's the same tea leaves, but
still…" Then she put a hand to her chin with a hmm and started to
think. "Maybe it really does make a difference after all."
"Ohhh, did you change something?" I asked.
Komachi smiled vaguely. "You know, 'cause love is the secret
ingredient."
Hmmm! That makes it sound like there's no love in this teaaa!
Well, it's true that just now, Komachi poured the tea in a quick,
offhand, and almost careless manner. I'd been admiring her
efficiency due to experience… Could it be there's no love in her
regular cooking?
So I found myself doubting Komachi's love, but Isshiki shot that
down. "No, no, it's just a different technique. Yukino puts a lot of
time and effort into it."
"Hmm… Really…?" I tried thinking back on when I'd seen Yukinoshita
pour tea, but I couldn't quite remember how much time she'd taken
on it. Well, I think all her gestures are careful, not just when she
makes tea, so maybe she's just refined in general…
But someone with an eye for it probably would see a difference.
Paper cup in hand, Isshiki took another drink. "When Yukino makes
it, it's like, Black tea! But Okome-chan's feels like, Tea… It tastes like
what you drink at home."
"You don't have to say it like that…," I grumbled. "Except I kinda get
what you mean." I do drink Komachi's tea regularly, so it tastes
exactly like home to me. Put nicely, it's simple and reassuring, I
suppose… Page | 120
Since she wasn't being explicitly dissed, it seemed Komachi didn't
quite know how to react to these comments about her work. "But,
like, isn't that more about your mental image of the tea…?" she said,
frowning.
Isshiki nodded. "Well, that's part of it."
"Komachi can't do anything about that, though…" With a dry laugh,
Komachi acquiesced. She was shrugging like Tora-san going, If you're
gonna tell me that, it's over.
Well, we're a house of common plebs after all… You can't avoid the
sort of humble domesticity apparent in not only the taste, but the
way Komachi moves and comports herself. You can't compare that
to the Yukinoshita family, with their air of high society.
But that humble housewifeyness is Komachi's charm, and that's
precisely what makes her the little sister of the world.
It seemed Isshiki understood that without me having to make such
arguments, as she was nodding like Huh, uh-huh and going "Wellll, I
guess."
But then something must have struck her, as the motion of her head
suddenly stopped.
Then she turned her whole body toward Komachi and swished the
hair off her shoulders with the back of her hand.
Uh, your hair isn't long enough to swish off with your hand… Hey,
wait. Is this déjà vu? I was thinking when Isshiki swished her hair a
second time, then a third, and put that same hand to her temple.
Then she breathed an exasperated sigh with a light shake of her
head.
"My, that's not at all the case, is it? Komachi, if you must imitate me,
I would prefer it if you could also imitate my manner of making tea." Page | 121
Isshiki's lips were wide in a smile that communicated absolute
smugness.
Komachi and I both instantly snerked. Trying to hold back my
laughter made a really weird sound.
Komachi failed in the end. "Wee-hee-hee!" But then after some time
giggling, she wiped the corners of her eyes and offered her
compliments to Isshiki. "That was good, Iroha! That's so her; it really
is!"
Isshiki proudly puffed out her chest. "Heh, right? The key point for
Yukino really is the smugness."
"Don't call it smugness…" She doesn't mean it like that.
…I think, but I dunno. That girl sometimes gives you the sense that
she's reeeally enjoying letting you have it. Not that I hate it, really. I'd
even say I find it pleasant, so I would like to continue humbly
receiving her smugging in the future as well. I'm sure that smugness
is part of why these two love her, too…
Meanwhile, said pair were both swishing their hair, jerking their
chins away, and smiling smugly for their imitations. Oh, now they're
really enjoying themselves.
Eventually, the impression contest seemed to end with Isshiki's
victory. Komachi applauded her and gave her a big nod as if to say,
Some fine work there. "Y'know, impressions really are more on point
when they're malicious. Komachi would expect no less."
"I'm not being malicious!" Isshiki argued fiercely, smacking the desk.
Komachi stared back at her, cocking her head. "Really?" She was
looking at Isshiki with innocence too pure to be genuine.
Unconcealable delight flickered deep in her eyes. Page | 122
"Really! Honestly, what do you take me for…?" Isshiki groaned and
narrowed her eyes at Komachi.
But Komachi didn't seem to care in the least, putting one hand to her
cheek as she twisted around coquettishly. "Huhhh?" she drawled in a
sickly sweet tone. "But, Irohaaaa, aren't you aaaalways like that?
Personally, I think maaaaybe it could fit you."
"That right there, that's a malicious impression. Hey, look, this girl's
sense of ethics is totally broken." Isshiki turned to me to protest. And
yet a single glimpse of that impression, which was supposedly
nothing like her, was enough for her to recognize herself in it. She
disregarded it as if to say, Feh.
But it seemed that was a satisfying reaction, in Komachi terms, as
Komachi was happily tittering eh-heh-heh. Oh, maybe she's glad Isshiki
got her impression? Aw no, what the heck, how precious is that… Now
this exchange feels kinda heartwarming…
"Yeah, yeah, the malicious ones really are on the money!" she
cheered.
…Or so I thought, but no, she was full of evil intent!
Komachi sighed in satisfaction, like, I got her there!
"I'm telling you, it's nothing like me…" Isshiki sighed in mixed
exasperation and resignation. Then she glanced over at me. "It's not,
right?" she asked.
"Nope," I answered with confidence. "Not enough cunning. Needs
more cunning," I declared emphatically.
"That defense is not encouraging…" Isshiki's shoulders drooped in
dejection.
Hey, but I was trying to sound really convincing, though… Page | 123
"And hey, I'm not cunning or manipulative or whatever," Isshiki said,
pouting as she jerked her face away.
"Uh, you're doing it right now… Wow, unbelievable… Is she doing it
unconsciously…?" said Komachi. Her voice was filled with
astonishment—even shock.
But I'm forced to say that view is a little shallow.
Clearing my throat with a little hnn, I laid my elbows on the desk in
the Gendo pose and spoke in a low voice. "You've got it wrong,
Komachi."
Perhaps because my tone was so serious, Komachi and Isshiki both
looked at me with a start. Their gazes were both somehow tense and
anticipating. With their attention on me, I continued with incredibly
weighty, grave importance. "Isshiki is fully aware she's being
manipulative. But that isn't all she is. While she builds on a
foundation of cunning, that's not the highlight, and there's a certain
kind of defiance to it. She's like, I know I'm being manipulative, but
this is me, okay…" I stopped there, and after a full pause for effect, I
finished the monologue. "…It's what you would call a cunning that
isn't fawning," I said with a smiling sigh, and a moment of silence fell.
Then Komachi said, sounding totally weirded out, "Whoaaa, he
makes a whole speech about it… But it's not like he's way off base, so
we'll say it's fine." Apparently satisfied, she gave a couple of big
nods.
"Right? That's what's nice about Isshiki," I said.
"I get it, I get it. She goes all out being cutesy, which is cool."
"Exactly."
Unexpectedly, Komachi and I wound up holding a "Competitive
Presentation on What We Like About Iroha Isshiki." Page | 124
There's so many other things, you know! Nice things about Irohasu!
All right, then I wonder what card I should draw next! Her looks go
without saying, and mentioning that to her face would be super-
embarrassing, too. If I was going to lavish her with praise to make fun
of her, I wanted to go more for her inner attributes and spirit. So I
guess it's gotta be that; her unique way of getting close to you is
nice. She'll completely ignore those she's disinterested in but then
come talk to you once she gets used to you, bringing a joy like
encountering a wild animal.
I was about to lecture about such matters at length, but I was cut off
by a tug on my sleeve.
I looked over to see Isshiki, face downturned and trembling. "U-um…
Please stop… That is really embarrassing and I actually totally
noway… And, like, it's not even true…," she muttered rapidly, cheeks
bright red. Then she fanned her face with a palm and sighed. Since
her eyes were on the floor the whole time, I got a good view of her
pink ears peeking out from her pale hair.
Seeing her get genuinely shy about direct compliments is so
precious…, I thought, and I couldn't help but observe it closely.
It seemed Komachi was the same way. She must have been trying to
get a good look at Isshiki's response, as she was leaning all the way
forward to peer at her face.
Isshiki jerked even further away.
"Tee-hee-hee," Komachi tittered. "No, no, it is true. You're a
wonderful person. No matter how others react, you stick to your
own style… It's not easy to pull something like that. I actually respect
it, in a sense. Wow, you really are cool…" Eyes closed, Komachi
mocked her with excessive praise and apparent admiration. Page | 125
"StopitstopitcutitoutOkome—" Isshiki desperately tried to stop her,
but even when she grabbed Komachi's shoulders and shook her back
and forth, Komachi showed no signs of relenting.
"You don't care what people say, even if they hate you! You're
unfazed! You shrug off whatever anyone tells you! It's cool!"
Komachi gushed with glee.
"Uhhh…" Isshiki was horrified and bewildered in equal measure. "I'm
not unfazed, though, and I don't shrug it off."
But Komachi completely ignored her, thrusting a fist out as she sang
further praises out loud. "The strength to not cave to peer pressure!
Ignoring rumors and backbiting! Iroha is so great! Mesmerizing,
inspiring!"
"Whoa, no, I get hurt like anyone else when people hate me! Rumors
and backbiting and stuff like that really get me down." Isshiki was
waving her hands hard in front of her chest as she denied absolutely
every compliment.
But Komachi, dreamy and entranced, touched a hand to her chest
and closed her eyes so she couldn't see as she continued, "Komachi
has always thought that you're so cool all the time—being yourself,
no matter what other people think…"
"Hold on? Stop characterizing me like that? And don't lead everyone
to think it's, like, okay to hate me?"
"That's what Komachi respects about you."
"Okome, listen to me! I want people to like me. I want to be loved,
okay? What is this? Do you hate me?" Isshiki asked sourly.
Komachi cocked her head. But then with utter nonchalance, she
answered immediately, "In a sense, I actually fairly seriously kinda
like that sort of thing about you." Page | 126
She said it so blithely and so equivocally, Isshiki blinked two, three
times. But eventually, it seemed she figured out what that meant.
Isshiki snapped her jaw shut and pressed her lips together, and then
she started constantly fixing her bangs. "U-uh-huh…," she mumbled
under her breath. "I see…"
Seeing her reaction, Komachi smiled brightly.
And then there was me, watching the two of them like Huh… with an
unaffected, dapper, and kind of awkward smile.
But in my heart, I was sobbing from how precious it was. Ohhh my,
all aboard the SS KomaIro! Awww, Iroha-chan is normally such a
teasing master, but now she's been bested by Komachi, another
teasing master.
Well, this was mostly just Komachi getting carried away teasing, but I
don't think it was all entirely a joke. And she wasn't necessarily
wrong, either. It's true that the way Isshiki sticks to being herself,
however other people react, is cool.
On the other hand, as Isshiki herself said, hearing people saying
things had to get her down. But I think what makes Isshiki cool is that
even if she mopes, loses heart, and feels uncertain, in the end, she'll
put on her cutest, most charming smile.
Oh no, at this rate, we'll wind up holding the second "Competitive
Presentation on What We Like About Iroha Isshiki." I'll win this one for
sure…
As I was all fired up and ready for a rematch, Isshiki cleared her
throat as if attempting to cover her shyness as she pushed her paper
cup forward. "…More, please," she muttered quietly. The paper cup
was already empty. Page | 127
Considering all she'd said about it being common or humbly
domestic or whatever, she had in fact drunk all the tea Komachi had
made.
Komachi smiled gladly. "Sure!"
And then, teapot in hand, she gleefully and diligently poured
another, and Isshiki expressed her gratitude with a quiet "Thanks."
Watching this interaction, I was already starting to consider putting
together an organizational committee for the third "Competitive
Presentation on What We Like About Iroha Isshiki."
Once I was comfortably drinking tea and munching on snacks, I
suddenly remembered something.
Because of that Service Club imitation show and the "Competitive
Presentation on What We Like About Iroha Isshiki" and whatnot,
we'd wound up having quite the mad tea party, but didn't Isshiki
come here to do something?
"Isshiki," I said.
She was munching on one of the cookies we had to go with the tea,
and she was just reaching out for another. "Hyeah?"
"Wasn't there some reason you came here?" I said, and her hand
froze.
"Ah."
"Ah."
Both Isshiki's and Komachi's faces were saying, I completely forgot…
Well, I'd completely forgotten, too, so I totally wasn't going to judge. Page | 128
Isshiki withdrew the hand that had been reaching out for the snacks,
then petted and flattened the wrinkles of her skirt, straightened her
posture, and started over.
"If you muuust call it work, then yes, I did more or less come with
work. There was a liiiittle something I wanted to ask you about…"
She put her index finger to the end of her chin as she said exactly the
same thing as she had before.
"Oh-ho? Then let's hear it." But this time, of course, Komachi didn't
do an impression of Yukinoshita. Her expression was sharp and
serious as she prompted Isshiki to continue.
Though Isshiki nodded back, her eyes were still on the seats of the
two absentees, Yukinoshita and Yuigahama. "I'd actually prefer it if
Yukino and Yui were here…"
"Then next time works. Next week, or the week after that, or after
that. Right?" I looked over at Komachi, and she nodded back.
"…So my brother fully intends to put it off, but what will you do?"
"Hey? Can you not accurately commentate on my intentions?"
Aw geez! With my little sister in my workplace, my normal
techniques for sneakily slipping out of things won't work. I don't know
what to dooo! If she says something like that beforehand, then none
of my prepared excuses will work, will they?
So I was thinking, but Isshiki seemed to not pay much mind to that,
waving a hand in annoyance. "Oh, that's okay, that's okay. It's just
the usual anyway."
Aw geez! It looks like none of my excuses would work, right from the
start! Well, Isshiki's known me long enough, too, so unsurprisingly,
she knew what I would say. Page | 129
And Isshiki did have a composed little smirk on. "Besides, I know how
to deal with him at times like these," she said, then cleared her
throat experimentally, straightened in her seat, and scraped her
chair across the floor to face me directly.
"Um…," she addressed me weakly, voice shaking slightly. A heated
breath slipped from her pink lips, which were shiny with colored lip
gloss, as she examined me with upturned, ephemerally moist eyes.
"…We can't…do it?" she murmured hesitantly, her trembling fingers
squeezing the front of her uniform. Her tone, gestures, and
expression were all very emotional.
When she asks me like that, it's really hard to shoot her down…
As I was overwhelmed—hyperwhelmed, even—Isshiki did a full one-
eighty and scoffed in utter contempt. "See, down in one shot." She
puffed out her chest like, How d'you like that?
"Ohhh." Komachi clapped in applause.
But I could only say sourly, "No, you're underestimating me. I'm
already used to that, and there's such a thing as being too obvious
about it… I can clearly tell whether you're serious or not, at least."
Well, even if I am used to it, though, it's not like it doesn't get my
heart racing! I thought, but I kept that to myself and scowled at them
instead.
Then Isshiki totally flipped from her earlier elated smile, narrowing
those big eyes of hers into a cool expression. "Huhhh." Her tone
oozed skepticism, as if to say, I dunno… Then something apparently
occurred to her, and she smirked enchantingly.
She reached out to grasp my cuff and tug me close. When I leaned
toward her, she whispered softly into my ear, "…Are you sure you
want me getting serious?" Page | 130
Her voice was hushed, soft, and sweet—not just tickling my earlobes,
but making me tremble to my spine. I bent backward away from her,
and when I looked at her again, she pressed a fingertip to the
bewitching smile on her glossy lips.
I shook off her examining gaze and just barely shook my head.
"Stopstopyou'rekindascaringmeI'lllistensostop," I rattled off rapidly
in an attempt to cover how she'd gotten to me.
Isshiki must have been satisfied by my reaction, as she released my
sleeve, puffed out her chest with a smug chuckle, and offered
Komachi a triumphant smile. "See?"
"You're so easy, Bro." Komachi gave me a condescending look.
No, you've got the wrong idea. There's nothing like that with
Isshiki—it's just my ears, okay? My ears are a bit of a weak point… But
if I were to expose my kinks as an excuse, that look of condescension
would turn to contempt.
While I was busy escaping from Komachi's gaze, I took the
opportunity to crack my neck and shoulders. "Anyway, what did you
want to talk about, actually?" I asked, as if the exchange just now
had never happened.
Isshiki folded her arms to consider her wording, touching her hand to
her jaw with a hmm. "Well, I'll leave the details for when Yukino and
Yui are here, but for now, I'll just bring up the short version."
"Oh?" I'm not sure I like how she phrased that…
I've heard it's generally accepted in adult society that just the short
version by itself is an unblockable death flag.
At first, they'll bring up something like Do you have time next month?
I might ask you for a favor. It'll probably be okay, though, but then
once it is later and you have no time, they'll suddenly shove in that Page | 131
item and get legitimately angry with you and be like, I told you to
open up next month, didn't I? …Or so I have heard.
However, since I'd asked what she'd come for, I had to listen to this
short version of hers. With just my eyes, I prompted her to continue.
Isshiki gave me a little nod and began. "The truth is, during summer
vacation—"
"I'm not helping," I said, reacting so fast you'd think I was botting.
After seeing his footwork, it was easy.
Komachi promptly flipped out. "Bro! That was fast! So fast! Probably
anyone but Komachi would've missed a rejection that fast!"
Uh, I mean there's no way I can help during summer vacation… Did
you not see that word, vacation? Besides, I am more or less studying
for exams. I can't be focusing on other things during the summer that
will decide the rest of my life. Especially when I haven't done any exam
studying yet!
But Isshiki must have understood my rationale, as she readily agreed.
"Oh, no, I don't really need help. I wouldn't send a third-year out
during summer vacation; I'm not totally heartless." She was waving a
hand in front of her chest like No, no.
Reeeeally? You're not heartless? "Oh, I see…" I eyed her doubtfully.
She huffed. "Really. I'm not even planning to send out the vice
president."
"Huh…" If even the chief of the Victims of Iroha Isshiki Association
is getting exempted from labor, then it seems I can trust this a little
bit… Now I can relax and listen. "So what're you doing?"
"There's a school information session for prospective students. Well,
the school admin will be putting on the info session, and the student
council is just helping a little." Page | 132
"An info session, huh…?" I made listening noises like hmm, hmm, but
this wasn't ringing any bells. I turned to Komachi to confirm. "Did our
school do something like that?"
Komachi's reaction was lacking. She tilted her head like Hmm? with
her eyes pointed upward. She considered awhile but finally shook
her head. "Dunno? Maybe…"
"Huhhh…? You were just studying to get into here, though…"
"Yeah, but I didn't go to the information sessions or anything… And
hey, three years ago, you were trying to get in here, too."
"I don't remember that far back…" The only real memories I have
from the summer vacation of my final year of middle school are of
the summer courses at cram school.
And you know me—I'm such a deadbeat, I only took the exams for
this school because it seemed like I could pass. There's no way I
would drag myself to a try-hard event like an information session.
Well, if it was like the rumors I've heard about post-university
employment, where participation in the info session is vital for entry,
then I would be forced to go—or if it was like an internship, with
some perk like a leg up in selection down the line, that's something
else.
However, if it's just a formal function to explain things, then no thank
you.
In the first place, few people will actually listen to explanations.
With home appliances and the like, most people will not read the
user manual. It's commonly known that everyone just kinda fiddles
with it for a while, then says something like I see—I basically get it,
and about 80 percent of the functionality is wasted. And I am no
exception there. I'm so bad that I only just found out yesterday that Page | 133
our drum-type washing machine has a mysterious "air iron" function.
Oh look, another function I won't touch with a ten-foot pole.
It seemed Isshiki had already taken into account that we wouldn't
care, as she shrugged in resignation. "Well, that's basically about the
size of it. I've never attended, either. It mostly seems like it's for the
parents…" She let out a big agh, then shrugged again as if to say,
Good grief. "But it seems like some middle schoolers are coming, so
we have to prepare for that."
"Prepare? Are you gonna put something together?" Komachi asked,
blinking her big baby eyes.
Isshiki nodded as if she found this all a hassle. "We talk about what
the school's like, and then, well, some kinda tour where we actually
look around the school buildings… Also taking questions and stuff?"
she said, thinking over each item with a finger on her chin. It seemed
the specifics hadn't been entirely firmed up yet.
Making lazy interjections, I listened until I had a vague outline of this
school information session.
When she brought up the school tour, that one thing in particular
made it easier to imagine.
To a middle schooler, I'm sure even just entering a high school
building would be a little bit of an event, so that would actually make
them happy. At the very least, if I were a middle schooler, I think that
would legit get my heart racing.
Let's try imagining it a bit. Imaginate and calibrate.
—Summer vacation.
In the seething heat, the rising air shimmers over the asphalt. Page | 134
The pleasant sound of metal bats ringing out in the distance, the
loud buzzing of cicadas.
The school, on the other hand, is completely silent and undisturbed.
Not a soul can be seen inside. The hallway is entirely quiet.
A casually worn summer uniform, a thin skirt.
A cute older girl walking ahead.
During the school tour, when she asks why I'm choosing this school, I
answer, "'Cause it's closest to my house." She laughs in exasperation,
saying, "Whaaat?"
But then, when we part ways…
…she gently tugs my sleeve and touches my shoulder.
"…I'll be waiting," she whispers and smiles—
...…Yeah, that's nice. Nice. Can I join that tour, too?
Without letting any of all that on my face, I hmmed as if to say, Oh
yes, I was very, very deep in deep thoughts. Oh, that's nice… Very
nice… Hmm, nice…
"So in other words, it's, like…basically an open campus?" I said.
"Ah, that's the idea." Isshiki jabbed the finger that had been resting
on her jaw at me.
I see. Call it an open campus, and I can get the picture.
Well, even if some teachers made impassioned speeches from the
podium of the gym or auditorium or whatever to explain this and
that, I doubt middle schoolers would actually listen. Maybe the
parents would. Page | 135
Third year of middle school—in other words, fifteen years old—is the
age when you race out on a stolen bike and go around breaking the
windows of the school at night. Which means guiding them around
the school building and telling them where the most breakable glass
is should really draw interest to our school.
As it was all coming together in my head, Komachi, diagonally across
from me, clapped her hands. "Ohhh! Open campus! Now that you
mention it, Komachi's heard of that before…" She suddenly folded
her arms and gave a little mmg.
Isshiki looked at her sharply. "You know about those, Okome-chan?"
Komachi responded with an incredibly heavy nod, then flipped
through the notebook in her hands. "Yes. Open Campus, the magic
words that open a notebook…"
"I'm not talking about the brand name." Isshiki immediately waved a
dismissive hand with a serious look.
Her cold treatment made Komachi stroke her cowlick as she giggled a
little eh-heh-heh as if to say, Yeah, of course.
Aw, nooo! That Komachi-chan, she's such a jokester! She's cute, so
I'll totally forgive her, but if she were saying that sincerely, I would've
made her write out a real earnest essay of apology in that Campus-
brand notebook.
"Well, I do have a vague idea. Though not what it is specifically,"
Komachi said as she glanced over at me. Her gaze was seeking an
explanation, like But what does it all meeeeean?
So be it. I shall explain for your sake.
"An open campus is…well, in plain terms, a school tour event at a
university or technical school. They have trial classes, you sample the Page | 136
school cafeteria, and they show you the research labs and stuff…and
introduce you to clubs? Apparently," I said.
Komachi gave me a smattering of applause. "Ohhh, as expected of a
third-year."
"Well, you know." I flashed her a cool smile, but I haven't actually
gone to one, either.
Man, once you get to your third year of high school, discussions
around you tend to turn to entrance exams, so stories like that float
your way. You know those people, the ones who will tell you in
sordid detail about stuff like I hear the open campus from such-and-
such a place is good or I hear the commerce department will be
interesting this year or But more importantly, did you know about the
urban legend of that school? Or maybe that's just the male friend
character in dating sims.
When I showed off my limited knowledge on the subject, Isshiki
made listening noises like hmm-hmm. "Well, a trial class or sample
lunch is obviously out of the question. I'm thinking maaaaybe we'll
do a general school tour, plus introduce the clubs."
"Hmm… Isn't that enough? Not like I know," I said.
"Whoa, you sound like you don't care…," Komachi said with a
dejected look.
But there wasn't actually anything else I could say. For one thing, the
keener type who would bother coming to a formal-sounding event
like a school information session would obviously be happy no
matter what you did. And then a cute older girl doing the tour and
club intro and all that would thrill the boys, and the girls would see
her as a role model. Page | 137
So I honestly was taking an optimistic outlook, like So, well, isn't that
fine? But Isshiki wasn't so happy. Curious, I shot her a look asking,
What's up?
Isshiki sighed hesitantly with a mildly troubled expression. "So I have
to make up a pamphlet introducing those clubs…" She paused there,
flicking a glance over to Komachi for just an instant before turning
back to me to finish. "But what do we do about the Service Club?"
"Why're you asking me…?" I reflexively avoided the question.
Despite Isshiki's wry little smile, earnest seriousness lay in the depths
of her gaze. With her eyes fixed on me, I was forced to consider what
she meant by that question.
This probably wasn't just about work.
I got the feeling she was asking what we planned to do about this
club in the future, down the road.
The image I'd envisioned when I'd arrived at the clubroom that day
rose in my mind again.
The following year, or a year and a half from now.
A girl reading a book in the slanting light of the sun.
The sight of Komachi, left behind alone in this room.
If I wanted to avoid making that fiction real, it would be best to tout
the club to the new students.
But I wasn't the person to be asking about that. Komachi had been
the one to take on the care of this club, of this place. We had
accepted that this thing would inevitably end, and she had inherited
it for us.
I was just the recipient of her blessing. Page | 138
Though I was slightly anxious that this might keep her tied down.
I looked over to see Komachi scratching vigorously at her head as if
at a loss. "Ahhh… Who knows… Komachi hadn't been thinking about
it. For the moment, though…," she said, with an examining glance at
me. That was about the same as what she'd told me before when we
were alone together. Though she didn't bring up any concrete pros
and cons, the evasive way she spoke suggested that she was leaning
toward no.
If Komachi wanted to put it off for a while, then I would take over
from here. I specialize in deferral, putting things off, and
procrastination. "Do we have to put something in that pamphlet?" I
asked.
Isshiki furrowed her eyebrows, considering with a hmm. "This is
supposed to be an official club, more or less, so I think it's kinda
sketchy to not mention it. The school admin will probably check it,
too, so…"
"I see…" Any document being handed out at a school information
session had to be checked by the school.
If the club wasn't in the pamphlet despite existing as an official club,
then it was plenty conceivable that would be pointed out, and they
would come to check.
If we weren't going to put it in, we would need an appropriate
rationale.
The activities of the Service Club were fuzzy and dubious, after all.
If we drew attention to ourselves, then the school was bound to find
it suspicious. It was bad enough that even I, a member, still
wondered what the heck the Service Club was. To avoid future
trouble, it would be best not to give them excuses to dig into it. Page | 139
So I was racking my brain like All right, so what do I have to do to
sneakily slip out of this one? when Isshiki let out a light phew.
"Well, I wouldn't say it's a rush, so if you could just think about it,"
she said, then looked at the empty seats.
Komachi's eyes were on the same spot. "All right. It's a bit difficult to
decide only on Komachi's discretion, so we'll try talking with Yukino
and Yui tomorrow." She clasped her hands into fists in front of her
chest to pump herself up. Zoi!
This would affect the future of the Service Club. Yukinoshita and
Yuigahama would also have their own thoughts about it. I had some,
too. Whether I was going to put those into words or not, we should
have the opportunity to communicate them.
So then, deferring a conclusion until tomorrow…, I thought, and I
suddenly realized something.
…Tomorrow?
"Uh, tomorrow's kinda eh. I won't be here," I said, and both girls
went blank-faced at the exact same moment. They cocked their
heads in opposite directions.
"Oh, really?"
"Did you have something?"
"Prep school tour. And a trial class, too," I said with some smugness. I
may not look it, but I am studying for entrance exams, you know.
Although it was pretty late now to still be choosing a prep school.
The both of them made totally apathetic huhhh and ahhh noises.
"Huhhh, really?" said Isshiki. "Well then tomorrow Yukino and Yui
will be in attendance…so maybe I'll pop in then." Page | 140
"It's been a while since it was just us girls!" The two of them
chattered cheerfully together.
At this point, I had an unfortunate announcement to make.
"Uhhh… Um, Yukinoshita also might not come?" I said, my gaze
sneaking away in spite of myself.
It's not like I had anything to feel guilty about…and yet I was
assaulted by such intense embarrassment that I could die.
There must have been something real funny about that, as Komachi
and Isshiki both went "Mumu!" like the Rakuten Card Man, attention
fully on me.
"Ah, that's what it is…" Eventually, Komachi seemed to figure it out,
nodding oh-ho, oh-ho with a spreading warm smile.
Isshiki, on the other hand, wrinkled her nose in protest and let out a
big, fat sigh. "Ah! There it is. Using the prep school tour as an excuse
for your crap date."
"Don't use that language…," I said, scandalized. But I couldn't exactly
tell her off because whether it was a date or not was yet to be
resolved. Yes, hello, that's me.
There are a lot of things like trial classes or free tryouts out in the
world, but not all of them are made with good intentions.
There are many unexpected pitfalls. For example, subscription
services that declare the first month free, but if you read the
contract carefully, they'll casually stick in the condition that you have
to continue for two months or more; or if you apply for some
supplement that says, like, "Act now and you get a free gift," then
you'll never find the cancellation page for your whole life and they'll Page | 141
just keep sending it to you. You can apply so easily online, but then
you have to cancel over the phone. What's up with that? Thanks to
that, we've got a lifetime supply of some supplement my dad
ordered that's, like, supposed to be an amazing combination of soft-
shelled turtle and black vinegar and something something. This stuff
is gonna make the turtles go extinct soon, come on.
As they used to say way back when:
Nothing is more expensive than free.
Free services will generally have a catch. The free service exists
because there is some return exceeding the sunk cost in some form,
and someone, somewhere, is losing out. The turtles are getting
saddled with the risk of extinction, after all.
That's exactly why, even if it's just a prep school tour and trial class, I
make sure to read though all the detailed regulations in the school
brochures they give you. I read them deeper than textbooks or
reference books.
From what I've read of such material, what with the unstoppably
declining birth rates of our times, any prep school these days will
have enacted various policies for gaining new customers.
At the prep school I was touring that day, aside from having regular
lecture-based classes, they also incorporated a generous and
courteous support system, with online classes, archived class videos,
and an associated smartphone app for academic help and whatnot,
as well as mentors attached to each individual for whatever.
Checking over all that stuff with the staff and asking questions ate up
quite a lot of time. So by the time I left the prep school, the sun had
completely set.
That's not good—I've gotta hurry, or I'll leave her waiting… Page | 142
We were taking different classes. And then, if you considered the
time after that for asking them questions about the tour and such,
we would be leaving the prep school at different times. So it would
be natural for this to move to meeting somewhere else afterward…
Although the conversation we'd had trying to figure out whether we
would do so had felt incredibly unnatural.
Regardless, we'd decided we would be meeting at a café that was
pretty close to the station.
I headed there at a trot.
The café windows were west facing, so at sunset, they had the blinds
inside the window lowered to keep you from seeing into the shop
from the outside.
But I had the feeling she would be at the back there, waiting and
reading a book.
When I entered the café, it was just as I had imagined, and I found
Yukinoshita in a corner at the back, quietly turning a page in her
paperback.
She looked hazy under the indirect lighting and the evening sun
peeking through the blinds, just like a painting. Even though she was
just sitting and reading a book, the girl called Yukino Yukinoshita was
picturesque.
I'd seen a very similar scene before.
But one thing about her now was very different.
Her lips were split in a smile, and her eyes tracing the characters
were gentle.
The feeling I'd had back then that she was hard to approach, that if I
were to step into that space I might ruin it, was no more. I quickly ordered just a coffee at the counter register and headed for
that seat.
"Sorry for making you wait," I called out, and Yukinoshita popped up
her head.
Then she smiled softly. "Oh, no. I only just arrived," she said, closing
her book and tucking it into her bag. But her royal milk tea on the
table had gone cold, and it looked like its volume had significantly
decreased.
When she saw me observing the cup, she cleared her throat quietly
as if to distract from that and picked it up for a sip. "My class was
pushed back a little… You too?"
"The class ended on time. But there was a bunch of stuff I wanted to
check—what it's like studying there and scholarships and stuff."