Chapter III | Cowardice

 

♣♣♣

 

Winter break ended, and my last stretch of high school life began.

The third-years who were cramming for exams were doing mock tests almost every day. I was also aiming to get into the same university as Tenma-kun, working my way through past exam papers.

 

During one particular lunch break.

I was having Enomoto-san teach me while looking at my mock exam results.

“Here. Yuu-kun, you’re getting stuck on this again.”

“Ah, you’re right…”

“It looks like it uses a different formula at first glance, but the content is the same, y’know.”

“Hmm. I really don’t get this…”

Isn’t it way too unreasonable to ask for reading comprehension in math?

As I was struggling, Shiroyama-san, who was watering the LED planter on the other side of the room, cheered me on.

“Yuu-senpai, you can do it’!”

“Thanks.”

What a good kid…

With my brain completely exhausted from studying for exams, just that alone was enough to make Shiroyama-san look like a saint.

Just then, the science lab door opened and Mera-san came back. She had gone to take care of the flowerbeds.

Rubbing her hands, she rushed under the heater and barked out.

“Argh, it’s cold! Making someone water plants outside on a cold day like this is just plain sadistic! And they even have the nerve to complain about the water temperature!”

“Thanks, Mera-san.”

“C’mon, Senpai! You don’t have any respect for me, do you!?”

“Like I ever had any from the start…”

Hmm.

I’m grateful that she does her work so carefully, but having her complain like this every time she does something is mentally taxing. Saku-neesan really is amazing for being able to handle this Mera-san so well. Even if her love life is a mess, she’s incredible as a manager. Well, not that I’m one to talk…

As she received a disposable hand warmer from Shiroyama-san, Mera-san spoke triumphantly.

“I mean, do you even get our positions here? With a single word from me, your precious flowers could meet a tragic end, y’know? You get that, right?”

“…”

Those words could definitely be taken as a threat.

It could certainly be said that she holds my life in her hands right now. My future could easily be crushed depending on Mera-san’s mood.

…With that in mind, Shiroyama-san and I exchanged a look.

“Nah, Mera-san wouldn’t do that.”

“Kaako-senpai wouldn’t do it, right!”

As we nodded at each other, Mera-san’s face turned bright red as she yelled.

“Why not!? Are you sayin’ it’s fine if I really do it!?”

“Because you’re getting paid by Saku-neesan for this flower-tending part-time job. If you did something like that, I’d have to tell Saku-neesan, y’know.”

Mera-san is my Saku-neesan’s sla—…loyal subordinate.

Or rather, since she’s aiming for the ‘Easy Street to Full-Time Employee Course’ to become a regular employee at our convenience store after graduation, she can’t afford to lose Saku-neesan’s trust. …Well, it’ll be a complete living hell for her after she actually gets the job, though. It’s fine, the employee benefits are pretty generous, after all.

Having been hit right where it hurts, Mera-san faltered.

“Ugh…!”

Well, in the first place, Mera-san isn’t the type to pick fights herself.

It’s just that because of our initial beef, she’s just been keeping up that same energy. I know that, and the misunderstanding was cleared up during the match with Makishima the other day, so I know I need to change my attitude too.

But, I don’t know, it’s just this awkward feeling of it being too late now that keeps me from being honest. …Who even wants a tsundere like me anyway?

“No, but I am grateful. If you hadn’t taken this on, Mera-san, it would’ve been hard to balance it with my exam studies. That’s why I asked Saku-neesan to give you a little bonus for your work, though.”

However, Shiroyama-san wagged her finger with a “tsk, tsk, tsk.” Then, with an extremely smug look on her face, she gave me advice on the so-called maiden’s heart.

“Yuu-senpai. Girls still want to be praised with actual words, y’know? Kaako-senpai was complaining a ton the other day about how you never say ‘thank you’ to her, y’know.”

“~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~!”

Mera-san was once again pierced by Shiroyama-san’s heartless exposé.

“Why do you always have to say things like that—!”

“Gyaaah! If you want to be thanked, it’s best to just ask for it—!”

“I’m telling you I don’t need it—!”

…How peaceful.

As I was soaking in the brief moment of peace, Enomoto-san, who was beside me, forcefully turned my face towards the textbook.

“Yuu-kun. This formula is the same, too. You’re getting stuck in the same place as before.”

“Ah, you’re right…”

I just can’t help but get stuck here.

When you’re studying for exams, if you’re not used to studying in the first place, the information doesn’t stick in your head efficiently. Since I only started studying seriously this past year, there are a lot of things I can’t memorize in one go.

Just then, Mera-san yelled.

“Don’t ignore me and study—!”

“What are you sayin’ to a student taking exams…?”

In fact, this is the first time anyone’s ever told me “don’t study.” Normally, I’d gladly obey, but just for now, I’ll face my textbook with an iron will!

Mera-san, still fuming, continued to grumble.

“I mean, you’re planting a whole lot of different kinds, but which ones are you gonna use for that match? If you don’t tell me, it’s gonna be a problem for me too, y’know.”

“…”

I see.

Mera-san’s point has some merit. To be honest, I haven’t decided on a specific theme yet… but there is one thing I have decided on.

“I’m using all of them for this match.”

The ones I’m currently growing in the school flowerbeds.

The ones I’m growing in the planters in this science lab.

And the flowers I’m growing at my house.

Each one may be small, but if you count them all, it’s an enormous number.

 

—I’ll use all of them to adorn a single model.

 

Mera-san’s eyes widened as she confirmed.

“Eh? All of them? You’re gonna make that many accessories?”

“Well, yeah. In the first place, my opponent this time, Murakami-kun, isn’t an accessory creator but a designer.”

“What do you mean?”

“Uhm…”

I took out my phone to explain.

…But Enomoto-san slapped my hand with a sharp smack.

“Yuu-kun, study.”

“Yessir…”

My girlfriend is so spartan, I have no choice but to pass…

“Shiroyama-san. Could you search for Murakami Jun online for me?”

“Yes!”

While I was tackling the next problem, Shiroyama-san searched on her phone.

And as expected, the two of them let out cries of surprise.

“Whoa! He’s amazing!”

“Eh. You’re seriously going up against this guy? That’s impossible…”

I know how they feel.

Even now, I can hardly believe it myself.

When you search for the name Murakami Jun, the first thing that comes up are the pieces from that overseas competition.

Female models that looked like flower fairies, adorned with gorgeous floral accessories.

His wild and fantastical style, which broke the quiet image of Japanese creators, was strongly received by overseas users as well.

I finished solving the latest math problem and stretched with a grunt.

“Besides, the model isn’t Himari this time, y’know. I still don’t really know Kirishima-san’s strengths as a model yet. Including that, I’m preparing a lot of flowers.”

“I see~…”

Mera-san sighed… and then, this time, she looked at me with a very suspicious gaze.

“…Eh? So, right now, you’re making me grow flowers for a match you’re going to lose? I’m losing my motivation, y’know?”

“Uuuuugh…!”

It’s all in how you say it, you jerk.

I feel like I’ve learned something before my exams. I’ll be careful with my wording during the interview, okay!

“Eh~? Senpai’s gonna win~? Really~?”

“Sh-Shut up. Just this once, I’m seriously planning on winning, okay.”

As we were bickering…

“Study.”

“Gwah!?”

Enomoto-san’s merciless chop assaulted me!

Hey, this isn’t my fault, is it!?

“Even if your mouth is talking, keep your hands moving. Every minute and every second is precious, you know.”

“Yes…”

As expected, I couldn’t talk back and turned to my textbook.

As I was thinking about the formula for the next problem, Enomoto-san sighed.

“Well, but it’ll be okay. The match between Hii-chan and Murakami-kun.”

A month ago.

Enomoto-san said the same thing Kureha-san did when she presented the details of the match.

“Because Hii-chan doesn’t have any dream she wants to fulfill so badly that she’d kick Yuu-kun down for it, y’know.”

To kick down.

For some reason, that phrase sounded so raw that I reflexively stopped the hand holding my mechanical pencil.

“No, that’s not true. Himari’s decided to do her best as a model and…”

To my weak rebuttal, Enomoto-san repeated herself matter-of-factly.

“She doesn’t. In the first place, she’s trying to be a model for the sake of your accessories, Yuu-kun. It would be meaningless if you couldn’t get your sister’s investment because of that.”

“…”

The reason Himari wants to be a model.

I somehow know that she’s probably trying to fulfill her promise to me. In fact, according to Kureha-san, there would be no penalty for Himari if I won.

Himari is smart.

And because she’s smart, she’s the type of person who can prioritize her own gains and losses in situations like this.

But…

 

Summer vacation.

She failed her first modeling job in Tokyo and cried so much.

I had never seen Himari like that before.

She somehow managed to recover… but at that time, to be honest, I was a little scared.

 

I felt like Himari was going somewhere far away.

 

At that time, I was just thinking that I had to encourage Himari somehow.

But looking back on it now… my feelings were complicated.

I’m selfish.

She’s done nothing but help me all this time, yet the moment Himari tries to leave the nest, I become aware of my own loneliness.

Even though she decided to seriously aim to be a model, I’m also wishing for a future where we can work together just like before.

I know there’s no such convenient future… and it makes me sick that I feel a little bit relieved by what Enomoto-san just said.

(Am I really, from the bottom of my heart, cheering for Himari…?)

Am I, who’s wavering over something like this, really worthy of calling myself Himari’s best friend?

…As I was thinking about that, the science lab door opened.

“Yo! Are you studying hard, eh!”

“Ah, Himari…”

Speak of the devil, and she shall appear.

Himari cheerfully sat down across from me and glanced at my textbook. Then she chuckled with a “pffft.” Seriously, stop subtly flexing your university acceptance on me…

“What’s up? Weren’t you called by a teacher or something?”

“Ah, that’s over, so it’s fine. More importantly, listen to this!”

As if making a grand announcement, Himari showed me her LINE screen on her phone and said.

“Yume-chin and Murakami-kun are coming here this weekend, y’know~”

“Eh? Seriously!?”

“Apparently, they’re going to come for meetings several times before your exam, Yuu. Maybe once every two weeks?”

“I see. In that case…”

I’ll have to think about Kureha-san’s admission test by then.

The theme of the match hasn’t been announced yet, but I have the flowers I’m growing. I need to consider their direction and the image of the model, Kirishima-san…

As I was thinking seriously, Himari chimed in with a smile.

“Well then, we’ll have to work hard and think of places to go have fun, right!”

“Have some sense of urgency!!”

This girl was totally in tourist mode.

No, I get it. Her friends are coming to her hometown, so of course she’d want to show them around a little.

Murakami-kun’s coming too, so this isn’t someone else’s problem for me either.

“Alright. Then, on the weekend, I’ll also…”

Just as I started to say that.

Enomoto-san, sitting next to me, smiled sweetly. A thick textbook was fluttering in her hand.

“Yuu-kun? You haven’t forgotten what you’re supposed to be doing, have you?”

“Ugh…”

Beyond that smile, I feel an indescribable pressure.

…Yeah. She’s right.

I’m only barely in the passing range as it is. If I let my guard down now and fail, it’ll be a total disaster. I didn’t realize it until I experienced it, but exams are tough…

“I-I’ll just show my face during the meeting time, so Himari and Rion can show them around…”

“Ahaha. Roger that~”

Himari moved next to Enomoto-san with a wry smile.

And they began to whisper and consult about where to take Murakami-kun and the others.

“Hey, Enocchi. Where should we go for lunch?”

“Hmm. They both went back with your sister right away last time, didn’t they? It’s practically their first time, so a well-known place would be good, don’t you think?”

“Then maybe that chicken nanban place that’s famous over there too? Should we go to ‘Nao-chan’ or ‘Ogura’?”

“Hmm. I prefer ‘Nao-chan,’ but they’re from the Kanto region, so I think they’d be happier with tartar sauce, don’t you think?”

…They look like they’re having fun.

This is that thing. The thing where you get all excited planning a trip.

(N-No, I really do want to join in, even just for a bit. You need breaks when you’re studying, after all…)

As I was about to be possessed by such wicked thoughts, Shiroyama-san, who had approached me at some point, was staring intently at me.

When our eyes met, she smiled sweetly and made a guts pose with both arms.

“Yuu-senpai! You can do it!”

“…You’re right.”

My worldly thoughts were instantly purified by my junior’s sparkling, evil-crushing aura.

Seriously, this girl is too perfect for guiding people down the right path. I wonder if she could watch over my studies next to me until my exams are over…

 

♣♣♣

 

And then, Saturday.

I’d been tackling my studies in the Inuzuka family’s living room since morning. Hibari-san, in his holiday-version turtleneck, looked at my recent mock exam result sheet and said.

“You’ve been getting a stable B-rank recently.”

“Yes. Somehow…”

According to Sasaki-sensei, if I can perform at this level on the actual exam, I’ll probably pass.

However, there are apparently many cases where people don’t feel well on the day of the exam or get nervous and can’t perform at their best. It’s already the middle of January… less than a month until the exam, so I can’t let my guard down yet.

Hibari-san said with a calm smile.

“Well, Yuu-kun, you’ve been to Tokyo several times, so you know your way around there to some extent. You probably won’t feel lonely and shrink away, I’d imagine.”

“That’s, yes. Tenma-kun said he’d accompany me on the day, too.”

It really feels like they’re taking care of everything.

I mean, if Tenma-kun accompanies me, won’t that cause a huge scene…? Well, he’s attending that university, so it’s unlikely he’ll be spotted by his fans and get mobbed. Probably. Surely. Perhaps… Eh? It’ll be fine, right?

Then, as if to reassure me, Hibari-san gave an exaggerated shrug.

“Hah. My ambition of getting Yuu-kun into one of the Six Major Universities…”

“Please try that again in your next life…”

Saying things like this makes me feel like he’d seriously reincarnate until we meet again, which is way too scary…

At noon, I had some stewed udon handmade by Ikuyo-san, and after a short break, I started my afternoon studies. The gentle miso soup seeped into my brain, tired from studying and the cold…

And then, in the early afternoon.

I heard the sound of the Inuzuka family’s front door opening, followed by a cheerful voice.

“Yahoo—! Yuu, it’s your beloved me—!”

Himari’s voice was cut off by a scream of “Mogyaaaah—!?”

A punishment from Enomoto-san must have been dealt. My proficiency in understanding the situation without even looking is something I really can’t be proud of…

Multiple sets of footsteps walked down the hallway.

Eventually, the fusuma slid open, and there was the expected group of people.

Himari and Enomoto-san.

And Murakami-kun and Kirishima-san.

…However, Murakami-kun and Kirishima-san looked extremely awkward.

“Ah, Natsume Yuu. Um, now that we’ve met, your time has come…”

“…Right.”

…As expected, seeing these two in Himari’s house feels really out of place.

On top of that, they’re both unusually nervous and their energy is a bit low. Well, Murakami-kun seems pretty much his usual self, though.

And at the appearance of the two new faces, Hibari-san broke into a radiant, golden smile. For some reason, I feel like the brightness in the room went up a bit. You didn’t turn up the lights, did you???

“Well, welcome. Murakami-kun, we met in Tokyo in the spring, didn’t we? And Kirishima-kun, I’ve heard about you from Himari.”

Then, with a smooth motion, he swept his bangs back, his pearly white teeth flashing with a glint.

“I’m Himari’s older brother, and the head of this family, Hibari.”

He just casually said he’s the head of the family, didn’t he?

There’s no way I misheard that. This guy, taking advantage of Gorouzaemon-san being hospitalized with his back again, just casually snatched the top spot, didn’t he?

And at the sudden appearance of a handsome older man with the overwhelming aura of a big shot, Kirishima-san and Murakami-kun tensed up.

“N-Nice to meet you. Now that we’ve met, your time has come!”

“Kirishima-san. Is that really appropriate at this time…?”

“Sh-Shut up! It’s my style, so it’s fine, isn’t it!”

“Yeah, but we don’t know if he’s the type to get jokes, y’know…”

Whoa. It’s refreshing to see Murakami-kun making a retort…

And Hibari-san, who had been loosely declared war upon, laughed and turned towards me.

“Yuu-kun. I’ll be working in my study for a while, so call me when the meeting is over, would you?”

“Ah, yes. Thank you.”

I moved my textbook to the corner of the table, and Hibari-san left the living room.

…Then, as if the thread of tension had snapped, Murakami-kun and Kirishima-san slumped down. Breaking into a cold sweat, they stared in the direction Hibari-san had left.

“Wh-What’s with that guy. He had this ‘not-your-average-joe’ aura about him…”

“I met him at the agency in spring, but his vibe was so different it freaked me out…”

Eh? Is that how it was?

I couldn’t help but tilt my head. I didn’t get that kind of vibe from Hibari-san at all today.

“Himari. Was Hibari-san giving off that much pressure?”

Himari answered with a wry smile.

“He was~. Onii-chan can control the direction of his aura, you see~. Maybe it just didn’t hit you, Yuu?”

“What does ‘controlling the direction of your aura’ even mean? Stop dropping battle manga terms in the real world without any explanation, it’s making my brain short-circuit…”

He’s becoming like a master who teaches the protagonists how to fight. There’s no training arc in the real world!

I offered some barley tea from the kitchen to the exhausted Kirishima-san and the others. After drinking it, the two of them seemed to have regained a good deal of their vitality.

And once again looking around at the wide garden outside the window, they raised their voices in confusion.

“I mean, Himari’s family really is rich, huh…”

“It’s so spacious it’s a little off-putting…”

Their reactions are so fresh.

Me and Enomoto-san are completely used to it. If we don’t periodically get a dose of common sense like this, our own sense of it will get skewed…

It was only then that I finally greeted the two of them.

“It’s been a while… though has it only been about a month since we last met?”

“Yeah. Oh, I have a souvenir from Itou-san for you.”

“Really? I’m sorry to make him go to the trouble…”

It was a sparkling box that looked like it was sold in a department store.

I immediately opened the lid to find translucent sweets lined up inside. What is this? It’s seriously like a jewelry box. A commoner like me can’t even tell if these are Western or Japanese sweets. As expected of a former idol, his souvenir game is on another level…

As I was marveling at the gift from Tenma-kun, Kirishima-san continued.

“Also, I have a message from Kureha-san for you.”

“From Kureha-san?”

Himari, who had apparently already heard, grinned.

“The detailed rules and schedule for the match have been decided, y’know~”

“Detailed rules?”

“You said it the other day to Mei-chan and the others, didn’t you, Yuu? That you still don’t know the judging method or the theme.”

“Ah, I see.”

Last time, I only heard the general outline of the match.

Kirishima-san crossed her arms and continued in a dramatic manner.

“First, this match is a ‘Photograph.’ A creator and a model will pair up to create the best photographic work.”

I know this much.

The pair is me and Kirishima-san.

And our opponents are the pair of Himari and Murakami-kun.

…At first I thought Himari and I would be a team, so I was surprised by this combination.

“So what are the detailed rules?”

Kirishima-san read out the message from Kureha-san on her phone.

 

• The photoshoot will be conducted on the day by a photographer arranged by Kureha-san.
• The photos taken will be developed on the spot, and points will be awarded by a majority vote of multiple judges.
• This will be repeated for a maximum of three photos each, and the first pair to win two points will be the victor.
• Flowers will be selected for each of the three themes, but it is not a problem to use several types of flowers for one theme. However, once a flower has been used, it cannot be used for other themes.

 

“…I see. So it’s like a ‘Photograph Three-Round Match’, I guess?”

“That might be an easier way to picture it.”

I thought about the content of the test.

Three photographs, each with a theme.

And the rule that the same flower cannot be used twice.

This is a test that combines both a test of expressive power and a commercial aspect of whether one can mass-produce their work.

According to the rules, the pair that captures a total of two themes will be the winner, but…

“By the way, who are the judges?”

Murakami-kun answered my question.

“Itou-san, Sanae-san, and… probably Shiiba-san. That guy has a good eye for art.”

“Ah, that’s true…”

During summer vacation of my second year of high school.

When I was allowed to participate in Tenma-kun’s solo exhibition, I got advice from Yatarou-san, whom I had just met. I was surprised at how accurate it was… well, I was more surprised to learn later that he had a deep connection with Saku-neesan.

“Does that mean everyone’s coming over here?”

“Well, it’s an admission test for a new comrade we’ll be working with from now on. I guess she wants us to judge for ourselves, right?”

I’m grateful for the sentiment, but isn’t this getting a little too exaggerated?

Well, it’s easier to understand than Kureha-san’s arbitrary and biased judgment like before, though.

“But, if that’s the case, something’s strange, isn’t it…”

Enomoto-san nodded at my words.

“Ah, you think so too, right?”

Himari tilted her head at our conversation.

“What is?”

“Well, it’s clearly overkill, isn’t it…”

It takes half a day to get from Tokyo to this town, transferring between trains and planes.

No matter how much free time Tenma-kun has as a university student, or Yatarou-san has, it doesn’t make sense for them to go out of their way to act as judges. All the creators Kureha-san sponsors should have their own activities. And Sanae-san should be about to graduate from university.

Considering that, this rule seems strange.

 

The photos taken will be developed on the spot, and points will be awarded by a majority vote of multiple judges.

 

This part clearly stands out.

Thinking rationally, only the photography staff should visit, and they could just send the data of the three photos they took to Tokyo. The judging can be done anywhere. The atmosphere of this town is unlikely to affect the judging.

But Himari didn’t seem to get it.

“Hmm. I don’t really…”

“Well, you commute to Tokyo every month, so you’re used to it. If you get used to it, maybe it doesn’t feel strange, huh.”

In the first place, there are people like Murakami-kun and Kirishima-san who travel a lot for work on a daily basis.

If I’m told that’s just how things are at Kureha-san’s place, then that’s the end of it.

(Well, maybe I’m just overthinking it…)

I’ve developed a habit of looking at things cynically with a “well, it’s Kureha-san…”

More importantly, right now, I have something else to prioritize.

“Kirishima-san. I’d like to discuss the direction of the work right away.”

“Right. Let’s get it over with quickly, shall we.”

Kirishima-san clapped her hands with a pan, pan.

I feel a slight Kureha-san-ness in her actions. She probably respects the way that person is always clapping her hands. …I hope she doesn’t end up resembling her in her love of scheming.

“From here on, we’ll split into two groups for the meeting. Himari and Murakami-kun, could you go to another room?”

“Eh? We’re not all doing it together here?”

“…You, really. What’s the point of showing your hand to your opponent in the upcoming match?”

That’s true…

I said something incredibly stupid. I haven’t gotten rid of the feeling that we’ve all been doing this together.

So, Himari and the others headed to the next room. As expected of the Inuzuka house, there are plenty of empty rooms.

And as they were moving rooms, Murakami-kun turned back.

“Natsume-san.”

“Yeah. What’s up?”

“…”

Murakami-kun was staring at me with a serious gaze.

“I’m going to be serious about this.”

I nodded casually at his words.

“Ah, yeah. That’s a given, or rather… I’m the one who should be grateful you’re going along with this test. I’ll be learning from you.”

I bowed my head deeply.

This match has no merit for Murakami-kun. And yet he accepted… We’re not in a position to be having a match in the first place, so I’m incredibly grateful. Well, that also means my chances of passing are getting slimmer, though…

I’ll take it all in and move forward, so I’ll challenge this with all my might too.

…But.

“…?”

For some reason, Murakami-kun was looking at me with an incredibly conflicted expression.

Huh?

Did I say something weird? Maybe I was speaking in dialect without realizing it and he didn’t understand what I meant… No, the dialect in my hometown isn’t supposed to be that strong.

Murakami-kun nodded as if giving up.

“Right. I look forward to working with you…”

“…”

I feel like I’ve really disappointed him…

Did I really say something weird? As I tilted my head, for some reason, Kirishima-san sighed.

 

♣♣♣

 

And so, once again, I entered a meeting with Kirishima-san.

The three of us who remained in this room were me, Kirishima-san, and Enomoto-san.

…I’m still a little nervous. We challenged an immersive attraction together in Tokyo during summer vacation, but I was so absorbed in it back then.

I mean, what’s with Enomoto-san glaring at me since a while ago? Could it be that the incident when I first met Kirishima-san during summer vacation is still dragging on? If so, my role here is crucial…

“K-Kirishima-san. How was the train?”

“Let’s see. I got a seat on the train, so I wasn’t particularly uncomfortable, but…”

She continued, choosing her words very, very carefully.

“It was my first time traveling with just Murakami-kun, so it was a bit awkward.”

“I-I see…”

I can kind of imagine it.

Murakami-kun is generally not very reactive, and I get the image that Kirishima-san is more lively with people who have big reactions like Himari. I can easily imagine a scene on the express train here where Kirishima-san was the only one talking…

“So, what are the three themes for the match?”

“Ah, about that…”

Kirishima-san checked her phone.

“Let’s see… ‘Cosmos,’ ‘Earth,’ and ‘Human.’”

“So abstract…!”

The themes were much more ambiguous than I had expected.

Since I was told to adorn the model with my own work, I thought the direction would be more focused on the two models. Is this task meant to be interpreted as ‘the model is also part of the work’ rather than ‘adorning the model with the work’?

In that case, it seems I need to delve a little deeper into the ‘Photograph’ match itself.

“This is tough. I’ve left everything from photography to uploading to the site to Himari for our accessory sales…”

In other words, my understanding of photographic works is lower than Himari’s.

Moreover, Himari has been actively working on her Instagram for the past year under Kureha-san’s instructions. Frankly, her level of proficiency is on a completely different level.

On top of that, this theme is…

“This theme is more geared towards Murakami-kun, isn’t it?”

“I knew it…”

Well, that’s a given.

It’s an admission test to measure my abilities, so it would be strange if the theme was advantageous to me.

I’m at a disadvantage in my understanding of photography, and I’m also at a disadvantage with the theme.

Kureha-san is really testing me here…

As we were groaning, Enomoto-san tilted her head.

“Is this theme that different?”

“Because the image differs depending on the receiver… the judges, y’know. Even if I insist that my work follows the theme, if the judges aren’t convinced, I won’t get any votes…”

To give Enomoto-san an easier example…

“If the theme was something like ‘The Four Emotions,’ wouldn’t it be easier for you to imagine, Rion?”

“You mean expressing ‘The Four Emotions’ with flowers, right?”

“Exactly.”

Enomoto-san thought for a moment…

“For ‘Joy,’ maybe smiling at the camera adorned with bright flowers… or something?”

“Ah, that’s right. Brightly colored flowers with happy flower language, and the model’s smile. I think the judges would be convinced by that. Only then can we move on to the next judging criterion of ‘Is it interesting as an artistic work,’ but…”

Just like gardenia flowers.

The flower language is ‘to bring joy,’ and the flower itself has a pure white, clean image. That alone might not be enough, but there would be no complaints about it being the main feature. I can also expect a contrast with Kirishima-san’s energetic impression.

However, this time’s theme doesn’t seem to be that simple.

“How am I supposed to express ‘Cosmos’ with flowers…?”

“Thinking about that is the creator’s job, isn’t it?”

“That’s true, but…”

Kirishima-san, you’re so spartan…

“Anyway, we have less than two months until the match, and I have university exams in between. Considering the working time, I want to solidify the image within a week.”

I launched the camera app on my phone.

“Kirishima-san, is it okay if I take a few pictures? This time, it’s less about making Kirishima-san stand out and more about Kirishima-san being a part of the work. I want to use them as a reference to solidify the image.”

“Sure. Take as many as you want.”

Without any hesitation, she immediately struck a determined pose on the spot.

…I thought this during the play in summer vacation, but this girl’s atmosphere changes when she’s in model mode. There’s a certain kind of intensity, like Kureha-san or Hibari-san. When she turns those sharp eyes on me, I can’t help but be taken aback.

Maybe this is the disposition of a top model. …Well, I can feel Enomoto-san’s gloomy aura from behind me, so there’s no way I can let it show on my face. My girlfriend is so cute when she’s jealous.

I continued to take several photos.

Since she knows I’m an amateur photographer, Kirishima-san changes her poses and expressions one after another without waiting for instructions. And it’s not just random poses she likes, but ones that seem necessary for me to consider the theme.

For example, just the range of her expressions alone, from joy to sadness, from an everyday, simple look to one that feels a deep emptiness. Honestly, if I were directing her, I wouldn’t have been able to get these kinds of expressions.

As expected of the natural acting talent that even Tenma-kun and the others acknowledge.

She’s apparently gained some on-site experience since then, so her understanding of what’s required has probably deepened. Thinking about it this way, being paired with Kirishima-san might have been a stroke of luck for me.

But, what should I say about this…

“Kirishima-san, you’re really motivated, aren’t you…”

Then Kirishima-san smugly swept her hair back.

“Of course I am! I made a promise that if I win this match, I’ll get a big job!”

“Eh? With Kureha-san?”

“That’s right. And besides, my opponent is Himari. I can’t lose a confrontation with that woman. Even if it’s a private showdown like this one.”

She crossed her arms confidently and declared clearly.

“I’m a woman who will become the world’s number one model. It wouldn’t look cool if I wasn’t always ahead of Himari and acting as her wall.”

“…”

A grand declaration of rivalry. Her unwavering eyes overwhelmed me.

…I can’t just say we’re a hastily formed pair.

“I understand. I don’t know if I can beat Murakami-kun in the quality of my accessories, but I’ll do my best to create accessories that will make Kirishima-san shine.”

When I smiled, for some reason, she returned a conflicted look.

“…”

“Eh? What?”

Did I say something weird?

Kirishima-san turned to Enomoto-san with a somewhat sour face.

“Hey, Rion. Is this guy always like this…?”

“Y-Yeah. He is, but what about it?”

Enomoto-san also asked back, looking puzzled.

For some reason, Kirishima-san looked at our attitudes with pity.

“…Well, whatever. Let’s take more pictures.”

“O-Okay…”

Although there was a part of me that felt somewhat unresolved, our meeting progressed smoothly.

 

♢♢♢

 

We went into our pair meetings, and I moved to a separate room with Murakami-kun.

This is the second living room. Apparently, it’s where my grandpa’s apprentices used to stay. Now it’s a room that can be used for anything.

There, I heard the three themes for this match.

“I see~. ‘Cosmos,’ ‘Earth,’ and ‘Human,’ huh~. With those three themes, Murakami-kun seems to have the advantage, huh~.”

“…Yeah.”

Murakami-kun nodded calmly.

…Hmm. This kid’s energy level is so different from Yume-chin’s that it’s a little awkward, y’know~. But then again, watching him talk to Ten-ten and the others, he doesn’t seem like the aloof type who’s all “I like being alone.” It’s pretty rare for me to have trouble making conversation with someone, y’know?

No, I am the bewitching woman, Inuzuka Himari! Even if this is a temporary party, as the older sister here, I’ll warm up the place perfectly!

“Alright~! Let’s win this in one go~!”

Yeah—! High five—!

…was what I tried to do, but Murakami-kun had absolutely no reaction. In fact, he looked away, annoyed.

“Natsume-san is preparing for this while studying for his exams, after all. If we lose with this much of an advantage, we’ll be a laughingstock, y’know.”

And then he said, as if spitting the words out.

“I mean, this won’t even be a match from the start.”

Gulp.

…H-Huh? Did the atmosphere just get super cold? Why? Was there anything in that conversation to get mad about? Maybe Murakami-kun isn’t really into this match~?

(W-Well, unlike Yuu, Murakami-kun is already well-regarded by the public. Maybe his pride won’t let him be used as a foil for a new member audition like Yuu’s…?)

As I stood there completely frozen… Murakami-kun, sensing my state, started to frantically search for words.

“Eh? Ah, no…”

Then he looked down and stared at his own hands.

Come to think of it, I think I remember Miko-chan saying something like, “Murakami-kun is the type who thinks he’s talking out loud but is actually just talking in his head.” As expected of a creator, I wonder if he’s just clumsy.

And then Murakami-kun let out a big sigh, as if he had come to a deep understanding.

“Ah, I see. I’ve kinda felt it for a while now… and I thought we weren’t on the same page earlier, too…”

“?????”

You’re looking really down, aren’t you?

Maybe I’m misunderstanding something?

“Um, Inuzuka-san. While we’re at it, let me be clear…”

Then he looked up and gazed at me with pity.

“We’re going to lose this match.”

“…”

I slowly chewed over those words in my head.

“I see…”

Murakami-kun’s words.

Of course, he means that the Yuu and Yume-chin pair will win this match.

I get it.

Murakami-kun is cool, but he’s passionate about his work. On top of that, he has both achievements and pride.

For that Murakami-kun to declare something so clearly before the match even starts means…

 

My eyes flew open and I slapped him on the shoulder with a smack!

 

“What’s this, what’s this~! So you love Yuu way too much too, Murakami-kun!? You say all that, but you’re totally planning to go easy on him, aren’t you~! That’s right, you did say you wanted to work with Yuu starting next year, didn’t you~. I mean, if that’s the case, you should’ve just said so sooner…”

“…”

Ah, crap.

I could tell Murakami-kun was genuinely irritated. I see. So he’s this type. I have to read the aura around him rather than his expression, or I’ll step on a landmine!

(Eh, um. So does that mean my guess was wrong…?)

I sat in seiza and faced Murakami-kun.

“A-Ahem. So, what do you mean?”

Murakami-kun was completely dumbfounded… I wonder why. This kid is supposed to be a year younger than me, y’know~. For some reason, I’m the one who’s acting like a child. I really need to control myself.

“Um. It’s hard to explain this in a way that Inuzuka-san would understand, but…”

And then, with a serious expression, he stated clearly.

“In this match. As a premise, our pair is weaker.”

“Eh?”

I thought about what that meant.

The content of this match is ‘Photograph.’

It’s a competition where a creator and a model pair up to create a good photo.

The point of focus is probably the combination.

I’m paired with Murakami-kun.

And Yuu is paired with Yume-chin, who is above me.

I think Kureha-san’s objective is probably to seal away the unspoken chemistry between me and Yuu, who have worked together so far… and to test how far Yuu can go on his own.

“Well, I get it. No matter how much Murakami-kun wins, the main character of this ‘Photograph’ is the model. Since I’m losing to Yume-chin in terms of experience, we’re at a disadvantage, right?”

“Ah, no, that’s not, it’s different…”

Oh?

Murakami-kun still looked troubled by my response. He bit his nails impatiently and muttered with a hint of irritation.

“Why do the people here think I’m on a higher level than Natsume-san…?”

…What do you mean?

If anything, I’m the one who feels like, “What are you talking about?”

“Because you’re the one who’s more highly rated, Murakami-kun. I mean, personally, I like Yuu’s accessories better, but…”

“No. That’s exactly it…”

Murakami-kun said, looking utterly exhausted.

There doesn’t seem to be any hidden meaning in his attitude. I, who am good at reading people’s moods, know this best. Still, his words were incomprehensible.

(…Um. Maybe Murakami-kun is being serious?)

As I finally began to realize that, Murakami-kun said, looking fed up.

“You’ve never seen my work up close, have you?”

“No…”

And then, Murakami-kun revealed a shocking fact.

“About half of my flowers are failures. Or rather, I’ve never once finished one at a level that I’m satisfied with. That’s why I use volume to cover it up.”

“Eh…?”

I was dumbfounded by his confession.

“Natsume-san doesn’t fail at that. He finishes everything with a truly perfect gradation. Even if he says something is a failure, it’s probably higher quality than my successful pieces…”

Murakami-kun continued, staring at his own palm with regret.

“Especially that preserved flower of a snake gourd he made in the spring… when I saw that, I didn’t get it. It’s normally impossible to process such a small flower. If you were to make it, you’d normally dry the fruit, right? And he did it with perfect precision… No, that’s right. If there’s a person in front of you who can just make something like that so normally, it’s no wonder the people here have a skewed sense of things.”

He clenched his hand tightly, roughly scratched his head, and let out a big sigh.

“Honestly, he’s a monster. What kind of concentration do you need to do such perfect work? I don’t feel even a hint of carelessness from his accessories. And he says he ‘does it because he likes it,’ so he’s seriously impossible to deal with.”

“B-But last year, Kureha-san said so, didn’t she? That if you search online, you can find plenty of accessories similar to Yuu’s…”

During the summer vacation of my second year.

It was when Kureha-san came to take me to the entertainment agency. At that time, Kureha-san was definitely serious when she said that.

But Murakami-kun looked at me with a somewhat dumbfounded expression.

“Kureha-san has a good eye for people. Important qualities as a creator, a self-disciplined mentality… it’s rare for that person to misread others.”

And then, with a sharp gaze, he said.

“But, Kureha-san isn’t a flower professional. In her eyes, all flower accessories probably look the same, don’t they?”

“…!”

I finally understood what he meant.

Murakami-kun’s eyes filled with strong determination, and he clenched his fist tightly.

“I’m going to seriously try to win against Natsume-san this time. But to be honest, I don’t think I’ll be able to reach him. The level gap isn’t something that can be closed in a month or so. That’s why…”

He said, staring intently at me.

“For us to win, Inuzuka-san has to win.”

The words were suddenly thrust upon me.

My response to that naturally spilled from my mouth.

“Th-That’s impossible…”

I answered without hesitation, despite my confusion.

Because I’m just a model to make Yuu’s accessories stand out, y’know.

I even lost to Yume-chin during summer vacation and ran back home so miserably…

 

There’s no way someone like me can win.

 

To my frightened-sounding reply—.

“…I understand.”

Murakami-kun said, his expression unchanged.

“I’ll win this match on my own. Inuzuka-san, just follow my instructions.”

With that, he walked out towards Yuu and the others’ meeting room.

…Left behind, I stood there, frozen.

My heart was pounding loudly.

My head felt like it was about to explode.

Me, win against Yuu?

When I didn’t even intend to compete in the first place?

 

I didn’t know what to do with those unexpected words.

 

♣♣♣

 

Mid-February.

Tokyo.

I finished my last day of exams and left the examination hall.

As I was walking through the campus where a cold winter wind was blowing, looking haggard, Tenma-kun came running from the direction of the cafe.

“Yuu-kun! Good work!”

“Ah, thanks. I somehow finished…”

“How confident are you?”

“I finished every subject with quite a bit of time to spare, so I don’t think I made any writing mistakes, but…”

Now that it’s over, it felt surprisingly straightforward.

I wouldn’t go as far as to say “is this all there is to it?”, but I even have the feeling that the usual mock exams were more difficult. I’m grateful to Hibari-san and Sasaki-sensei. I’ll splurge on their souvenirs.

But of course, I’m also anxious…

“But the interview…”

“Ahaha. You’ve been worrying about that the whole time, haven’t you, Yuu-kun?”

“Was my reason for applying okay? I couldn’t very well say ‘because I want to go to the same university as my friend’…”

“I think what I heard yesterday should be fine, though.”

“But I was nervous, so I might have been a little awkward. They say the examiners are veterans, so they might have seen through my pretense and thought I was lying…”

“Lying is an exaggeration. You’re just choosing one of your many reasons for applying, aren’t you? Besides, you seem like the type who’s strong under pressure, Yuu-kun, so you’ll be fine. You were fine at the other universities, right?”

“What if I fail all of them, even the safety schools…”

“Yuu-kun…”

Tenma-kun gave a wry smile at how scared I was.

As we were walking towards the main gate, a cold gust of wind blew. I closed the front of my coat and groaned, “Ugh.”

“Winter in Tokyo… is too cold…”

“Apparently, a cold wave is coming, y’know. The timing was bad.”

“Why do they hold exams at the coldest time of the year like this? It affects public transport too, so I think it’s inefficient.”

“You have a point, but it’s not a problem that can be solved by complaining, y’know.”

As we were talking, I got a message on my phone.

Ah, it’s Himari and Enomoto-san. ‘How were the exams?’ huh. Let’s see, I’ll reply ‘Praying to the heavens’ in the group chat…

“Yuu-kun. You’re going home tomorrow afternoon, right?”

“Yeah. I’ll go straight to the airport after I check out of the hotel.”

This exam tour ends with this top-choice university.

I chose universities for my second and third choices that I could take earlier to get used to the exam atmosphere. This was also Hibari-san and Sasaki-sensei’s advice.

“Then, Sanae-san is also free tonight, so let’s go have dinner together. Is there anything you want to eat?”

“Really? Wow, what should I get…”

I feel like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders.

Well, Kureha-san’s admission test is still left. That aside, it’s a fact that a burden has been lifted. If I pass, that is.

“I didn’t have much of an appetite until yesterday, so I’m in the mood for something heavy today…”

“Okay, let’s have yakiniku.”

We rested at a cafe near the university for a while and met up with Sanae-san in the evening.

Then we headed to a yakiniku chain restaurant near the hotel I was staying at. It’s a restaurant that’s often talked about on social media.

“This is my first time at this restaurant…”

“Ah. It seems they have very few branches in Kyushu, y’know.”

We sat at a table for four.

Tenma-kun and Sanae-san were sitting across from me. Tenma-kun took the tablet and immediately started ordering.

“Yuu-kun, kalbi or loin…”

“Kalbi!”

“You’re decisive at times like this.”

While we were waiting for the food, Sanae-san offered some kind words.

“Natsume-kun. Good work on the exams. I hope you passed.”

“Yes. If I failed, my sister will scold me, so…”

My parents paid for my travel expenses this time, but I was told that if I have to take the late-term exams, it’ll be on my tab. I wasn’t expecting much from her in the first place, but what a sister…

Just then, the first wave of meat arrived.

When I placed the kalbi on the grill with the tongs, it made a sizzling, fragrant sound. Ah, this is it. This sound alone is enough to make me feel better. Doesn’t the sound of meat grilling have a relaxation effect? I wonder if some smart person will prove it.

As I was thinking such silly things, Tenma-kun said with a laugh.

“By the way, Sensei went back to his hometown for New Year’s. He’s never gone home before, so I thought it was unusual… but I never thought he’d go to see your sister, Yuu-kun.”

“Ah, that… I was surprised too when Yatarou-san was suddenly there…”

Sanae-san tilted her head.

“What do you mean?”

“Apparently, Sensei and Yuu-kun’s sister have pledged their futures to each other.”

Pledged their futures… huh.

Seeing that situation, who would have put it that way? In reality, it was a relationship where he was prostrating himself and she was kicking him, a relationship where she clearly wore the pants. …It was probably Himari or Enomoto-san.

Although the content was quite beautifully embellished, Sanae-san listened with amusement.

“Oh my. So he has a partner like that.”

“I didn’t know either. There are quite a few girls in our group who are fans of Sensei, so if this information gets out, it’ll be a disaster.”

“Fufu. Yatarou-san is always so fussy, but he’s very considerate, isn’t he?”

Tenma-kun reacted with a twitch to that surprisingly positive evaluation. Without breaking his gentle smile, he asked, as if in fear.

“…You’re not one of them, are you, Sanae-san?”

“Of course not. I prefer a more reliable man.”

Sanae-san bluntly cut him down and took a sip of her oolong high.

Apparently, she’s in the mood for a drink today. …For some reason, I don’t mind at all when Saku-neesan does it, but why does my heart pound when Sanae-san is drinking at the same table?

As if getting cheerful from the alcohol, Sanae-san asked.

“Natsume-kun, are you preparing for Kureha-san’s admission test now?”

“Ah, yes. Well, if I pass university, that is…”

“I heard about it. You’re pairing up with Yume-san to compete against Murakami-kun, right?”

“Yes. It feels like a reckless match, but…”

Ah, that’s right.

Tenma-kun and Sanae-san are helping me with that match too.

“By the way, Sanae-san, you and Tenma-kun agreed to be judges, right? Thank you for doing so during such a busy time.”

“Not at all. I’ve already finished my graduation thesis, so I’m thinking of it as an early graduation trip. Kureha-san is paying for the travel expenses, so if anything, I’m lucky.”

“What are your plans after graduation?”

“Hmm…”

Then, a complete change.

The cheerful atmosphere from before vanished. For some reason, she let out a gloomy sigh and answered in a dark voice.

“In the end, I decided to stay with the group and help Kureha-san. It’s a behind-the-scenes job, just like Yatarou-san’s…”

“Ah, I see…”

She seems really conflicted about it.

Well, I can’t say I don’t understand how she feels. Honestly, seeing how Yatarou-san is treated, well, you know. He seems to have it really tough. …That’s a very sugar-coated expression, though.

“Huh? But didn’t you say before that you were scouted by some agency?”

“Apparently, the president of that agency disappeared with the money the other day…”

“Oof…”

How transient.

As expected of the entertainment industry. I wonder if that happens often. I hear about it in the news and stuff… but no, that can’t be happening so easily.

“Well, Kureha-san pays well. For better or for worse…”

“Y-Yeah, I guess so…”

What should I say… As I was wondering, Sanae-san suddenly had a ‘ping!’ moment. It seems she had an idea, but I have a bad feeling about this.

As expected, Sanae-san chugged her oolong high.

Then she stood up and quietly moved next to me. She suddenly brought her body close and whispered with a slightly heated breath.

「It would be quicker if you became my permanent place of employment, Natsume-kun…?」

“Um…! I have Rion right now, so…!”

Stop testing my self-control so suddenly~~~~!

Then, Tenma-kun, unable to watch any longer, shrugged his shoulders and chided her, “Sanae-san.” Sanae-san giggled and returned to her original seat.

“That’s a shame.”

“That’s bad for my heart…”

What a mischievous older sister.

She actually enjoys this kind of mischief more than Kureha-san, doesn’t she? What she’s doing isn’t that different from Himari, but because she’s a university student, she has a strange allure that’s hard to deal with…

To compose myself, I ate some grilled meat.

Mmm, this meat is delicious… I haven’t had much of an appetite recently due to exam stress, and the long-awaited fat seems to seep into my body.

Then, as she ordered her second oolong high… Huh? It’s her second, right? When did five empty mugs line up there?

Well, anyway, Sanae-san said with a smile.

“Natsume-kun, is the production of your work for the admission test going well? The match content was quite large-scale, so preparing the flowers must be tough, right?”

“Ah, yes. I have my local juniors taking care of the flowers, so it seems we’ll have enough. I’ve been checking on them, but studying was the priority. Their work is meticulous, and if I didn’t have their cooperation, I would have had to buy them from a store.”

“That’s good to hear. And with Yume-san?”

“We’ve had two meetings so far, and I think we’ve gotten a good grasp of the direction. All that’s left is to finalize the design and make it all at once… or so I hope.”

Well, that depends on the results of my exams.

If things go badly, I’ll have to do it concurrently with my preparations for the late-term exams.

“…It’s more hectic than I thought. I thought I’d have more leeway.”

“Fufu. In reality, working as a freelancer after becoming a full-fledged member of society is kind of like that. It’s a very Kureha-san-like test.”

“That’s true. And what should I say… the content of the assignment is quite difficult.”

“Oh? Wasn’t it ‘Photograph’?”

“It is, but the theme is…”

That three-round match.

The themes are ‘Cosmos,’ ‘Earth,’ and ‘Human.’

I have a few designs in mind… but frankly, I’m more anxious about whether they’re really okay.

“Let’s see. This kind of trial and error always plagues creators, y’know. Since there’s no right answer, it’s about how well you can make it look like one, isn’t it.”

“Make it look like one?”

“Yes. In short, if you can appeal with ‘this is a good thing,’ you win.”

“Eh… Is that all there is to it…?”

Doesn’t that mean that the one who does a better job at advertising wins, rather than the one with better content?

No, I don’t think that can overturn an absolute difference in quality… but it means that the more closely contested it is, the one that stands out more wins.

“Well, for someone like you, Natsume-kun, I can see why you wouldn’t be convinced, y’know. But if this match were a real business negotiation, it would be a matter of ‘the one that sells, wins,’ you know?”

“…That’s certainly true.”

In the first place, this admission test is to judge ‘how much I can prove my return as a creator.’

In that case, what Sanae-san is saying is extremely valid.

“…But, is it okay for you to tell me something like that?”

Sanae-san is a judge for this match.

I feel like it’s not very fair to teach the judging criteria beforehand…

“Fufu. If we’re talking about fairness, Murakami-kun’s commercial experience is on a whole different level, you know. In fact, if I didn’t give this much advice, it would be unfair.”

“I-Is that so…?”

Sanae-san and the others are more experienced with these kinds of standards than I am.

I’m sure that’s the right way to think about it… but hmm, it still feels a little fuzzy…

(But, this is probably the reality…)

It means that the standards are different from doing it as an extension of a hobby like before.

As long as I’m doing it commercially, in the end, there’s the great justice of sales. Before I question the rights and wrongs of the theory, I just have to do my best to adapt.

“I understand. In my next meeting with Kirishima-san, I’ll try to discuss that point as well.”

“Yes. Do your best.”

Just then, Sanae-san noticed Tenma-kun’s state.

Tenma-kun had been grilling meat with a smile on his face the whole time. While listening to our conversation, he had piled up the cooked meat on a serving plate.

…Huh?

Is something off?

No, he’s the same gentle Tenma-kun as always. He’s not the type to talk a lot in the first place. He usually takes on this kind of behind-the-scenes role at meals.

He was his usual self until we came to this restaurant.

But something feels a little off… I feel like his atmosphere has changed a bit since he heard my conversation with Sanae-san.

“T-Tenma-kun?”

“Hm? What’s wrong?”

“Ah, no, you look like you’re thinking about something?”

“Eh? Ah… Ahaha. Don’t mind me. Well, would you like to order anything else? It’s your consolation party today, Yuu-kun, so don’t hold back. Here, want to try ordering this most expensive one?”

“…”

Y-Yeah, something’s definitely off.

He’s not in a bad mood… it doesn’t feel like that. If anything, he seems to be brooding over something. Because of that, he’s a little overly cheerful… is that how I should put it?

As I was watching him, for some reason, Sanae-san gave a wry smile.

“Tenma-kun, if you have something to say, why don’t you say it? I’m sure Kureha-san knows that you’ll say it for her.”

“…”

What’s going on?

As I was tilting my head, Tenma-kun shrugged. He looked as if he wanted to say, “I’m no match for Sanae-san.”

“I was wondering whether or not to tell you, Yuu-kun, but…”

And then Tenma-kun said, in a slightly serious tone.

“This admission test probably has not only Yuu-kun’s but also Himari-san’s future on the line.”

“…Eh?”

What does that mean?

Those were unexpected words for me. This admission test was supposed to be to determine whether I was worthy of Kureha-san’s investment.

Seeing my confusion, this time Sanae-san supplemented.

“This isn’t just limited to Kureha-san’s perspective, but… Natsume-kun and Himari-san, you two have a strong image of being a duo, y’know.”

“Yeah. Well, I guess that’s true, but…”

We’ve been chasing our dreams together until now.

It’s only been four years… no, if we’ve been together for four years, it’s not strange for there to be that kind of atmosphere.

“Is it because my accessories are biased towards Himari’s image?”

Saku-neesan pointed it out to me once, but my accessories tend to be designed to suit Himari.

I thought I had corrected it over the past two years, but perhaps I haven’t been able to do it perfectly. I was originally making them for that purpose, and there’s no doubt that she’s the base of my accessories…

However, Tenma-kun shook his head at my question.

“No, your accessories aren’t that much of a problem, Yuu-kun. A design with a strong influence from the model Himari-san can also be rephrased as a unique characteristic. You need some kind of signboard to appeal to clients, and you’ll be able to think of designs that suit each client, Yuu-kun. Determining that is one of the significances of this model shuffle.”

“Then, what’s the problem?”

Tenma-kun showed a slight… just a slight hesitation.

“As it stands, Himari-san hasn’t caught up to your level as a creator, Yuu-kun. It seems Kureha-san intends to use this test to also assess Himari-san’s future potential as a model.”

“Himari? No, but she’s been working hard at her lessons and…”

“That’s just the basics. That alone is just getting to the starting line, you can’t make a living as a pro with just that. Himari-san’s problem is her mental strength in a pinch… I guess.”

He said, and continued with a solemn expression.

“I’ve heard about how Himari-san failed at Gou-san’s job during summer vacation. And what happened then… I have an acquaintance at that studio, too.”

“…”

That incident during summer vacation.

Unable to answer the photographer’s almost unreasonable riddle, Himari lost a job opportunity.

I don’t know the difficulty of living in the entertainment world.

Still, I had an inkling that the place Himari had decided to live in was a world where such people were fiercely competing.

And how difficult it is to survive there…

If I’m told that Himari lacks the experience she’s accumulated for that, then it’s probably true.

Himari doesn’t have enough experience.

That’s why I thought she still had some time…

“But, even if Himari loses, things will stay the same as before…”

Kureha-san’s words at the end of the year.

That person belittles others as easily as she breathes, but she never lies. Still, thinking back on it, it does seem like there was a slight implication.

Maybe I shouldn’t have taken those words at face value?

“That’s right. Even if Himari-san loses, things will be the same as before.”

Tenma-kun affirmed the bad feeling that had sprouted in me.

“The past six months of being completely ignored without being given any work— will continue to be the same as before.”

“…!”

His eyes stared intently at me.

I almost felt as if he was slightly blaming me for my shallow thinking.

“…No way.”

I was at a loss for words.

It’s true that Himari’s days were filled with nothing but lessons.

She wasn’t given any work like during summer vacation… but isn’t that just because she’s a student? Isn’t it a result of considering the trouble of commuting between her hometown and Tokyo?

No, even I know that Kureha-san isn’t someone who would care about such things in the first place.

I looked at Sanae-san, but she just shook her head apologetically.

What does this mean?

Or maybe in Tenma-kun’s group, this isn’t such an unusual event.

“Yuu-kun. Kureha-san seems to have revised her expectations for Himari-san downwards after the summer job. Originally, just from what I heard, she had three jobs planned. But she judged that it was too early for Himari-san and reassigned all of them to other models.”

“…”

“Kureha-san is certainly prone to prioritizing her emotions, but she’s a person who can make calm judgments when it matters. Especially when it comes to work that involves others. As proof, Yume-san has been given several jobs over the past six months.”

I could only listen to Tenma-kun’s words in silence.

In my head, my conversation with Himari at the end of the year was spinning round and round. Himari had laughed and said it would be better if she intentionally lost, that I was more important than her.

The strange feeling I got from Kureha-san at that time was actually something I shouldn’t have overlooked.

(If I win this match, Himari will be abandoned…)

I thought back on Himari over this past year.

She was fooling around as usual, but… I had certainly seen Himari making a serious effort. She had been trying even harder since the incident during summer vacation…

(What should I do—)

My mind felt like it was turning into a mess.

In the first place, this match is not only a competition with Himari, but there’s also the huge wall that is Murakami-kun. And on top of that, being told this, what am I supposed to do…

“Yuu-kun.”

Tenma-kun’s call brought my thoughts back to reality.

“This is my own personal wish. I don’t intend to force it on you, and I don’t have the right to. Still, if I were to state just one wish of mine…”

Then he stared straight at me and declared clearly.

“I want to see your work, one that’s obsessed with winning even if it means kicking down your one and only best friend.”

“…”

I couldn’t answer.

How heavy Tenma-kun’s words were. He’s a kind older brother who always thinks of everyone. This past year, he must have seen Himari’s efforts at the agency.

And yet, Tenma-kun says something so cruel to me.

At the same time, I felt like it showed his trust in me.

Can I become a partner he can work with in the future? Do I have enough resolve to be worthy of that trust? …Or perhaps, for Kureha-san’s admission test, whether or not I can meet Tenma-kun’s expectations will be the biggest judging criterion.

“…”

I still couldn’t answer.

You don’t need to answer now, Tenma-kun said.

And that he was looking forward to seeing my work on the day.

I don’t remember the taste of the meat after that, and in fact, I only came to my senses on the bed of the hotel I was staying at.

Staring at the pure white ceiling illuminated by the faint light, I repeatedly asked myself.

 

…It was a little over a month until Kureha-san’s admission test.