Chapter V | Please Pray for Me

 

♣♣♣

 

The graduation ceremony.

We are now leaving the school building that holds three years of our memories—

…I tried to immerse myself in such sentiments, but in reality, I was just incredibly sleepy. Ever since my university entrance exams ended, I’ve been rushing to build up a stock of accessory prototypes.

This time, the accessory is more difficult than any I’ve made before.

The key is the color scheme.

Preserved flowers are made by artificially coloring flowers that have been bleached once. And this time, it isn’t an exam to evaluate the accessory itself. It’s a competition based on the quality of the photograph taken of the accessory.

In other words, it’s not the quality of the work itself, but the creation of an accessory that’s more photogenic that is required.

There are many things to test beforehand, such as color choices, gradients, and even the direction and intensity of light during the photoshoot. There’s even the option of choosing a monochrome photo on purpose. I have to try all of that out within this month.

I used to post photos for my online shop, so it’s not like I have zero experience with this. Still, this is a fresh task in that the means and the end are reversed. An accessory for the sake of a good photo… that’s a subtly difficult task. Until now, it was always a photo for the sake of the accessory.

…And so. At my once-in-a-lifetime high school graduation ceremony, I spent my time dozing off, my head bobbing up and down.

The principal’s thankful words went in one ear and out the other, and I completely tuned out the student representative’s speech. Even for the diploma presentation, I just watched as the representative received it (and for some reason, it was Makishima…), so there was seriously nothing for me to do. I was a little late to stand up during the occasional “all rise” moments, but that shouldn’t be a problem… Though every time, I felt a wave of anger from Saku-neesan in the guardians’ seating area, but well, it should be fine.

Once the graduation ceremony safely concluded, we had our last homeroom, but…

“Uoooh…! You guys! Life goes on even after graduation! There will be tough times, but do your absolute best, y’hear…!”

““…””

We were all completely put off by Sasaki-sensei, who for some reason was the only one sobbing his heart out.

Yikes. This guy’s really lettin’ it all out…

Somehow, as homeroom progressed, he suddenly got overwhelmed with emotion. What were we talking about right before that? I think he was saying something about the three important “bags” in life. Does he have a dial for his emotions or something?

I’d always thought Sasaki-sensei was the type to laugh off graduation, saying something like, “I’m so relieved I don’t have to look after you brats anymore!” This unexpectedly different side of him surprised me a little… no, actually, I was still just put off.

Sasaki-sensei, getting more and more worked up on his own, for some reason started going around to each desk. And he gave each of us warm words of encouragement. What is this event? Is this one of those things you absolutely have to watch to advance the story?

Finally, he stopped in front of me and gripped my shoulders firmly with both hands. The attention felt a little more intense than what the other students got, and I had a bad feeling about this.

“Nyan-tarou!”

“Ah, Sasaki-sensei. Thank you for everything you’ve done for me.”

Also, my shoulders really, really hurt…

As I put on a strained “ahaha” laugh, his hands squeezed even tighter.

“You! You, of all people! You were the biggest handful in this grade…! You caused trouble every three months since you became a second-year, and I can’t count how many times the vice-principal nagged me about it! Unlike your sister Sakura and the others, you look quiet at first glance, which made you even more of a pain in the ass, ya bastard!”

“I-I’m very sorry…”

Wait, huh? Isn’t my treatment a little different from everyone else’s?

Aren’t you going to connect it to a nice memory like you did for the other students, sensei? Like, “You were always helping your friends with their studies. That kindness will serve you well when you become an adult.”

As if reading my confusion, Sasaki-sensei smiled gently.

“But, thanks to my stomach getting upset from dealing with your troubles, I finally found the resolve to quit smoking. Thank you for that.”

“I’m glad I could be of service…”

That’s not what I was hoping for…!

That’s just something you were forced to do when your life was in danger. Seriously, stop trying to force a rosy filter on my memories and making your eyes twinkle with unshed tears…

Eventually, the homeroom from hell ended, and we were dismissed.

(Alright. What should I do now?)

I looked for Himari… and saw her completely surrounded by a crowd of classmates.

Hmm. This looks like it’ll take a while. Everyone was super excited about the future supermodel (provisional) who was moving to Tokyo after graduation. I bet in about five years, they’ll all be bragging to people, “You know Inuzuka Himari? We were high school classmates~.”

Well, Himari still had things to do. She mentioned she had to greet the teachers too, since the Inuzuka family donates to the school.

(Rion said she was going to pop into the brass band club for a bit, which leaves me with nothing to do…)

Usually, I’d be taking care of flowers or making accessories right about now… but I’ve already cleared out all my accessory-making equipment from the science lab. I could just go home, but that feels like a bit of a waste. Heh, to think I, of all people, would have some lingering attachment to school life. …Why do I sound like an enemy character who’s reached a slight understanding?

Maybe I should go say hi to someone too… With that thought, I left the classroom and found the exact person I was looking for. Or rather, they were coming towards me.

“Natsume-ku~n.”

“Hey there~.”

Inoue Mao-san and Yokoyama Azumi-san.

They were the top social butterfly duo in our grade, and they’d helped me out a lot too. Sometimes their jokes went a little too far and put me in a tough spot, but they were kind girls who treated me as a good friend.

…As I was thinking that, the two of them suddenly extended their hands towards me. To be specific, they were making that finger-gun gesture. It was popular back in elementary school, wasn’t it?

Then, the two of them cheerfully called out.

“Freeze! We’re the Second Button Hunters!”

“P-Put your hands up!”

Uh, what’s that? That’s scary.

I’d suddenly been made into a wanted man. But what on earth is a Second Button Hunter…? All I could do was raise my hands, trembling like a pitiful lamb.

“What’s with you all of a sudden…?”

Then Inoue-san explained with a grin.

“Heheheh. We’re bounty hunters after your second button, Natsume-kun! With our indomitable spirit, we never let our prey escape!”

“Th-That’s right!”

Her partner, Yokoyama-san, is bright red and stumbling over her lines.

It seems I’ve been forcibly recruited into some kind of fun graduation event. Not that I’m complaining as a guy; an invitation from a couple of gals could be a memory to last a lifetime.

And so, I decided to get into character, just like Tenma-kun and the others in the play I saw in Tokyo. Like a cornered outlaw, I grit my teeth and asked.

“Wh-What do I have to do for you to let me go…?”

“Our goal is one thing and one thing only! Hand over that second button!”

“B-But this is a memento from my long-lost sister…”

“Stop your whining and hand it over! Or do you want something to happen to this woman!?”

As she said that, she grabbed Yokoyama-san for some reason and pressed her index finger to her temple.

Wait, huh? Wasn’t she your partner?

And Yokoyama-san, having made a brilliant job change from partner to hostage, looked back and forth between me and Inoue-san in confusion.

“M-Mao!?”

“The hostage will be quiet!”

“Th-That’s not it… everyone’s watching!?”

This is getting pretty interesting.

This might be a chance for me to level up as a creator. Take a bird’s-eye view of this situation and deduce the optimal solution.

“Kuh. To think I’d be reunited with my long-lost sister, who I thought was dead, in a place like this…”

“Natsume-kun, you too!?”

As I took on an “I have no choice but to accept your demands…” attitude, Inoue-san offered me a small pair of sewing scissors… wait, you came prepared? You guys seriously came here to take my second button.

“Now, cut it off yourself and hand it over.”

“I-I have no choice…”

I feel like the lines between good and evil have been blurred somewhere along the way, but whatever. Values of good and evil change depending on one’s position, after all. This just deepens the human drama.

I cut the thread of my second button and handed it over.

I mean, really, you can have my second button, I don’t mind at all… And hey, I guess girls these days still collect second buttons, huh?

“Alright. Mission success!”

“Mao, you went too far! Natsume-kun definitely thinks we’re weird now!”

“It can’t be helped. If we asked him straight up, he’d say Himari-san or Enomoto-san already called dibs~.”

“B-But it felt too real…”

“We’re graduating anyway, so what’s she hesitating for~.”

Please, stop having your post-mortem right in front of me…

(But compared to middle school, this would have been unthinkable.)

I used to find girls like them hard to deal with back in middle school, but I feel like I’ve gotten quite used to them after interacting with these two. Come to think of it, isn’t it thanks to them that I was able to act normally when I first met Kirishima-san?

As I was thinking about that, Inoue-san spoke.

“Natsume-kun, you’re not heading home yet?”

“Yeah. Both Himari and Rion still seem to have stuff to do. It’s kinda lame just waiting, so I was thinking of saying hi to you two.”

“Seriously!? We’re totally on the same wavelength!”

Inoue-san grinned and nudged Yokoyama-san next to her with her elbow.

“Azu~? Isn’t this like, telepathy~?”

“Q-Quit it, Mao!”

…This teasing ended up continuing right until graduation.

To be honest, I have a really hard time reacting to it. She makes sure not to say it in front of Enomoto-san, but Himari teases me about it sometimes.

“Thanks for everything, you two. I was really happy about you promoting my accessories and all that.”

“No, no! That whole thing blew up because of us! If anything, we should be the ones apologizing!”

“That’s not true. The result ended up like that, but I could tell you really liked my accessories. Besides, it was a good experience in its own way.”

“It helps to hear you say that, but~. We still feel kinda unfulfilled, y’know~.”

Inoue-san said with a wry smile, then as if she just had an idea.

“Alright, then if I find any girls in university who might like your accessories, I’ll promote them! I’ll do a good job this time, leave it to me!”

“Ahaha. Thanks…”

I’ll have to be on my guard to make sure that doesn’t lead to more trouble.

(Come to think of it, I’ve never talked to these two about what they’re doing after graduation.)

“University” implies Inoue-san is going on to higher education.

“Which university are you going to, Inoue-san?”

“I’m going to one in Fukuoka~. Same place as my boyfriend~.”

“Ah, I see.”

That’s the bear-like senpai who graduated last year.

We made a pair of accessories together with Inoue-san in our second year. I think it was a necklace using dogwood. I’m glad they seem to be doing well even from a distance.

I ask Yokoyama-san, who’s smiling happily next to Inoue-san.

“What about you, Yokoyama-san?”

“I’m planning on getting a job here in our hometown.”

“Oh, really? So you’re not going with Inoue-san?”

“Ahaha. We’re not going to the same university~. Unlike Mao, I’m bad at studying, and there’s nothing I want to do enough to leave the prefecture for.”

“No, I think that’s great. A kouhai of mine is all fired up about starting her career here in our hometown too.”

I’m talking about Mera-san, by the way.

Come to think of it, she got a raise at the beginning of the year, completely bypassing me. Well, I’m not planning on taking over the convenience store, so it’s not a big deal. Still, it’s complicated. I believed we were fellow slaves to Saku-neesan…

Well, let’s not think about Mera-san for now. Besides, our school isn’t exactly a prep school, so a lot of students actually choose to find employment after graduation.

“So, have you already decided on a job?”

“Ah, yeah. There was a place that would hire me as a full-time employee at a convenience store, and the atmosphere at the interview was good, so I decided on that.”

“A convenience store? Huh, that’s unusual.”

“Sasaki-sensei introduced me to a place he knows.”

“Huh. He’s surprisingly caring, for someone who looks the way he does.”

The two of them giggled at my words.

(But a convenience store, huh. They’ve really popped up all over our hometown, so I guess they’re all short-staffed.)

I was also genuinely surprised.

These days, even franchise convenience stores are mostly run by part-timers, so I’m surprised there are places with enough leeway to hire full-time employees. If I told Saku-neesan about this, she’d probably launch a raid, so I’ll definitely keep my mouth shut.

“My family runs a convenience store too.”

“Eh, really!? What a coincidence. That might be something.”

“What’s the store like? It’s tough working at a convenience store, you know. They say the environment has gotten better than before, but there are still some rough places…”

“It’s fine. They strictly enforce a two-day weekend, and they provide proper training for new employees. I heard you get paid leave and bonuses every six months, too. Sasaki-sensei even said it’s a hidden gem!”

Eh, seriously…?

That’s a world of difference from our place. Well, I feel like we’re just taking advantage of Shiroyama-san and Mera-san because they’re pretty proactive about taking shifts.

Yokoyama-san looks happy. She must be glad she’s found a good workplace. I can’t help but smile too.

“Plus, the chief is this cool, mature woman, and I kinda look up to her~”

“A cool woman, huh. What’s she like?”

“I guess you’d call her the cool type? She seems a little listless, but she has this kind of intensity. She said that the person working there now, Gutti-san? is leaving, so she really wants me to join. I wonder if someone who came from overseas to work is going back home?”

“…Eh?”

Did I just hear something I can’t afford to ignore?

A convenience store with a listless beauty and a part-timer named Gutti, huh…

No, that can’t be. There’s no way. Wait a minute. Didn’t she say Sasaki-sensei introduced her to that convenience store?

“H-Huh. What else is it like?”

“Umm, well. Even though it’s a convenience store, it doesn’t really look like the chain stores you see everywhere. They sell bento boxes and stuff, but they also have a huge selection of local sake… Oh! And they sell deer and wild boar meat in the freezer. It was less like a convenience store and more like a small supermarket.”

“…”

Faced with a happily chatting Yokoyama-san, I covered my face with both hands and groaned.

(That’s totally my family’s store…!)

This is definitely our convenience store. Besides, there can’t be two convenience stores in this city that call their part-timer ‘Gutei’—my sister’s lovely nickname for me, ‘stupid little brother’.

How can this be happening? It was already a miracle (in a bad way) that Mera-san applied for a job, but why is a second acquaintance from school joining?

And, true to form, her employment terms are better than mine. That’s actually the bigger shock. I’m sure I caused some trouble, but I should have contributed a fair amount too, right???

As I wallowed in my own gloom, Yokoyama-san tilted her head, looking puzzled. Ah, she doesn’t know it’s my family’s home. I’d rather she never find out, but it’ll probably come out eventually…

(But this is strange. Does our store really need such a major reinforcement of its workforce?)

Even though I’m moving to Tokyo, I’ve been mostly exempt from my part-time job this past year because of my exam studies.

Still, thanks to Shiroyama-san and Mera-san, the shifts should have been covered properly. Oh, could it be to reduce their burden? That’s possible. Saku-neesan has a soft spot for pretty girls, even if not for me. Well, Mera-san is also… if we’re just talking about looks… hmm, well, she’s soft on the pretty girl that is Shiroyama-san!

But the answer Yokoyama-san gave me far exceeded my expectations.

“Apparently, they’re opening a second store around next year, and I’ll be part of the opening staff? They have really high expectations for me, so I was thinking I should give it my all~.”

…I haven’t heard a thing about this???

Eh, a second store is completely new information. Are you sure you’re talking about my family’s convenience store? I haven’t heard anything from my dad or Saku-neesan, right? Just because I’m moving to Tokyo and won’t be involved anymore, is it possible they wouldn’t tell me something so important?

(So this is why Mera-san got a raise~~~~!)

As I agonized by myself, Yokoyama-san seemed a little taken aback.

“Natsume-kun, haven’t you been acting weird for a while…?”

“Ah, no. It’s nothing. Really, it’s nothing!”

I couldn’t possibly let her know I was on the verge of being ostracized by my own family, so I ended up being vague…

“Uhm, Yokoyama-san. Good luck.”

“Yeah!”

“Really, good luck…!”

“Y-Yeah? Why are you saying that with such a desperate look on your face…?”

Ah, crap.

Out of habit, my Saku-neesan crisis-avoidance radar just went off. She’s generally nice to girls, so as long as it’s not me, there shouldn’t be a problem.

“Well then, thanks for everything, you two. I’ll do my best in university too.”

“Yeah. Keep in touch, okay!”

Hmm. The way Inoue-san can just say things like that so smoothly really shows her natural communication skills.

After that, Yokoyama-san fidgeted a little, then gave a bashful, nervous smile. In her hand, she was clutching my second button that I’d just given her, as if it were a treasure.

“U-Um, I might not be able to see you again, but I’ll look at this and think of you, Natsume-kun…”

“Yeah. You’re right…”

I think we’ll probably see each other soon, though…

Specifically, during Golden Week or the Obon holiday when I come home. Well, I’m sure Yokoyama-san will find out soon enough. We might even run into each other before I move to Tokyo…

Please don’t let this become a part of Yokoyama-san’s dark history… As I prayed, I waved to the two of them.

“…”

And as I stood there in silence…

“Yo, Natsu. Quite the heartbreaker ’til the very end, are we now?”

“Gyaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!?”

A sudden tap on the shoulder from behind made me think my heart was going to leap out of my chest.

I turned around to find Makishima standing there. How long has he been watching? As I wondered about that, he spread open his folding fan and narrowed his eyes into a grin.

“Your challenge in university shall be learning how to handle girls who are not truly smitten. As you are now, you might just get stabbed one day, you know?”

“Sh-Shut up. Yokoyama-san isn’t that serious about it.”

“Ah, using the same excuse as you did with Rin-chan, I see. It is quite unacceptable that your accessory-making skills have progressed, yet you remain a complete dunce when it comes to romance. Well, I shall graciously guide you in that area. You may look forward to it.”

“I’ll have to seriously pass on that…”

Besides, nothing good ever comes from you getting involved…

“But man, you’re impressively missing buttons…”

Makishima was not only missing the front buttons of his jacket, but the buttons on his sleeves and dress shirt were also cleanly gone. If this weren’t him, he might have been reported for indecent exposure.

“Nahaha. Well, this is what it means to be a truly popular man. You’d only see results this grand in a shoujo manga these days, wouldn’t you now?”

Don’t say it yourself.

This guy has been like this all the way up to graduation. It’s a miracle he made it through without actually getting stabbed by a girl.

(Alright, where’s Himari…)

I peeked into the classroom.

Himari… still looks like she’ll be a while. No messages from Enomoto-san either. In that case, I guess I have a little more free time.

“Makishima. Want to get a drink?”

“Hmm…”

Makishima folded his fan and grinned.

“Very well.”

 

♣♣♣

 

We each bought a drink from the vending machine and sat down on a bench in the courtyard.

Hmm. This flowerbed has gotten pretty lonely, hasn’t it? Well, we only borrowed this space for the gardening club, so it was bound to end up like this after we graduated.

Shiroyama-san also said she’d quit the gardening club after we graduated. It seems she’s made friends in her class, and I’d be happier if she prioritized that.

Graduating students walk along the path to the bicycle parking area. Are they heading home to regroup with their friend groups? We have plans for a graduation party at Himari’s house too.

“Makishima, what are your plans after this?”

“A celebration with the lads from the tennis club. We probably won’t see each other much after this, but they were a good bunch, so I’ll have fun with them for one last time.”

“It’s rare for you to be making memories with just guys.”

“I never said there wouldn’t be any girls, did I?”

“…You better watch your back at night in university, man.”

Well, it’s Makishima we’re talking about, so I probably don’t need to worry.

Makishima laughed and took a sip of his café latte.

“How sweet. I have avoided such drinks, as they lead to weight gain. But it is not as bad as I imagined.”

“Come to think of it, are you going to continue tennis in university?”

“Nay. I don’t really have a reason to anymore.”

He says it so casually, even though he was so passionate about it before.

But Makishima’s expression was bright.

I guess in his own way, he’s managed to move on from something.

“Hmm… So, have you decided on anything you want to do?”

“Nothing in particular yet… but I was planning on moving out eventually, you know? It’s already decided that my older brother will take over the family business, so I’d just be a nuisance if I stayed. I figured I might as well try living in the city, and thus chose the same university as you. It would be more convenient to have an acquaintance from my hometown around, would it not?”

Ah, I see…

The ending between him and Kureha-san was partly my fault, after all. It’s not that I regret what I did, but I was a little worried about how he’d distanced himself from tennis since then.

Then, as if remembering something, Makishima said.

“Ah. That’s right. Pegasus invited me to join his theater troupe when I start university.”

“Eh, seriously?”

That was a pretty shocking statement, and I leaned forward a little.

“Eh? Why? How did that happen?”

“Apparently, my usual theatrical demeanor struck a chord with him. He said I have guts and that I probably wouldn’t get stage fright.”

“Ah, that’s definitely true…”

Now that he mentions it, I can kind of see it. He might actually be a good fit.

This guy is smart, and he’s a master at stirring people’s emotions. I really wish I hadn’t experienced that firsthand during my high school life…

“Just don’t cause any trouble with women, okay…”

“Nahaha. Is that not one of the great pleasures of being in a theater troupe?”

“What kind of enjoyment is that? Seriously, apologize to Tenma-kun and the others.”

This is bad, if he joins, the troupe will collapse from the inside.

It’s a venerable theater troupe founded by Yonekawa Nagisa… wait, huh? Do troupes like that even have a venerable history? I have the impression that members change frequently, so I’m not really sure.

At any rate, I’ll have to keep a close eye on him. Though, it’s probably impossible for someone like me to restrain his actions.

“By the way, what about your situation?”

“Eh? …Ah, you mean Kureha-san’s admission test?”

“Indeed. I heard from Rin-chan that the content is quite brutal again.”

“Brutal… yeah, you could say that.”

From the way he’s talking, he probably knows that Himari’s future might be on the line too.

“Anyway, I don’t know what Kureha-san is thinking, but I’m going to give it my all. If I keep worrying about unnecessary things, I won’t be able to create a work that will satisfy Tenma-kun and the others.”

“…”

Makishima stared at my face for a moment.

Then he chuckled as if he understood something.

“I was thinking of giving you some advice if you were still moping and worrying as you are wont to do… but it seems my help is not needed.”

“Wh-What’s that supposed to mean? Did I really seem that pathetic to you?”

“Undoubtedly pathetic. For a moment there, your words seemed almost comical.”

“Ugh…”

Just then, Makishima’s friends from the tennis club called out to him from a distance. Makishima waved back at them and stood up from the bench.

“I must be going now. I pray for your success in the endeavor.”

“Ah, yeah. Thanks.”

As I watched his retreating back, I thought to myself once again.

“…He really has mellowed out, huh.”

To think that Makishima would try to offer me advice.

I gave a wry smile and solidified my resolve for the admission test.

 

♣♣♣

 

— One month later.

 

The day before my admission test.

At Himari’s house, I was facing my final meeting with Kirishima-san.

Incidentally, Himari and Murakami-kun were also having a meeting in another room. Enomoto-san was apparently in the kitchen with Ikuyo-san, preparing lunch.

This formation had become quite familiar over the past two months.

As usual, we borrowed the guest room and sat facing each other at the table. In front of us were photos of the prototypes we had taken this morning.

I picked up one of the photos and groaned.

“The color of the accessory is darker than I thought…”

“You’re right. Can we fix this by increasing the brightness of the photo?”

“We might be able to, but wouldn’t that make Kirishima-san’s own brightness look weird?”

“If it’s digital data, we can process just a part of it later.”

“Seriously? Well, but still…”

Increasing the brightness of only the accessory.

It might be possible depending on how the lights are set up… but it would be a bad bet to count on that when we don’t even know what kind of equipment will be available on the day.

In that case…

“We’ll have to change the main accessory.”

“Are you sure? Do you have one that fits the theme?”

The number of flowers we had planned with Kirishima-san beforehand wasn’t that large.

However…

“Actually, there’s an accessory I haven’t told you about, Kirishima-san.”

I brought over a cardboard box that was stacked in the corner of the guest room and opened it on the table. Kirishima-san peeked inside and let out a surprised voice.

“What is this!? When did you prepare this many flower accessories!?”

Inside, there were rows upon rows of prototype accessories.

“Are they store-bought?”

“No. A condition of this admission test is that I have to use my own accessories.”

The origin of this massive amount of flower accessories.

It was, of course…

“Actually, I received a large amount of flower seeds from a teacher I know at the beginning of the year.”

It was Araki-sensei’s New Year’s gift.

Honestly, I didn’t think they’d be ready in time for this test… but surprisingly, I managed to get them all. I figured I might as well use them to try something. I have Shiroyama-san and Mera-san to thank for that.

Kirishima-san picked up the accessories one by one and said with an exasperated look.

“Still, how did you make this many accessories? Weren’t you studying for your exams until just recently?”

“Haha. I couldn’t make any accessories for the whole year because I was studying for exams. I got so absorbed in making the designs I’d been thinking about that before I knew it…”

According to Saku-neesan, it was apparently pretty bad.

I was so engrossed that I forgot to eat and apparently collapsed in the living room. I wondered why the living room, but my survival instinct probably drove my body towards food. Apparently, for a few days after that, there was a debate among the guardians of my house about “Is it really okay to let him live alone?” I seriously need to reflect on that…

“So, which flower will be the main one?”

“I guess we’ll decide after we take pictures of these accessories and develop them.”

“It’s almost noon, think we’ll make it in time?”

“The pose doesn’t matter, we just need to take pictures of you with the accessories while adjusting the lighting. If we rush it, we might just make it…”

“But what about the theme? It might not fit with the structure of the three-part series.”

That’s certainly a big problem.

But I have an idea about that.

“The theme for this competition is vague. I think we’ll be fine as long as we can frame it as a broad interpretation.”

The three themes are “Universe,” “Earth,” and “Human.”

Honestly, there’s no single right answer.

However, this admission test is a collaboration between a creator and a model. We can’t proceed without Kirishima-san’s agreement, as she’s the one expressing the theme. I thought she might refuse, but… after listening to my story with a serious face, Kirishima-san eventually grinned.

“Fine. In that case, let’s rethink the structure from scratch.”

“Really!?”

“Of course. In fact, why are you the one who’s surprised?”

I gave a wry smile at her valid point.

“Well, it was a long shot. Sorry to do this when the real thing is tomorrow.”

When I apologized, Kirishima-san flicked her hair back with a smug look.

“Who do you think I am? I can handle a change of this level with ease, even if it’s an hour before the shoot.”

Such refreshing confidence.

But it’s not just for show or bravado. Kirishima-san has a wide range of acting skills to pull it off. That’s why I can pursue the perfection of the photographic work until the very last minute.

(Honestly, this is fun.)

I’m sure there are many models out there like Kirishima-san who possess great weapons.

If I pass this admission test, I should get the opportunity to work with such models. There’s the aspect of improving my own skills… but my heart naturally pounds at that fact.

(Anyway, this should take care of the accessories, but…)

The next thing I need to confirm is…

A notebook was spread open between us. I had written down the details of this admission test in it.

 

“Photograph”

The creator and model will work as a pair to create three photographic works.

A photographer arranged by Kureha-san will take one picture of each, develop it on the spot, and then the judging will begin.

Since it’s a best-of-three format, the first to get two points wins.

 

These rules are almost too obvious now, but there’s something that I just can’t get off my mind.

I want to find an answer to it before tomorrow’s match. It’s just that my mental state was so strained from the exams that I couldn’t get our thoughts aligned.

Kirishima-san and I both crossed our arms and groaned.

“Looking at the rules alone, it seems pretty simple, though.”

“You’re right. Something smells fishy.”

On the surface, it’s just presenting photographic works in order.

The thing that snags me the most is that “that in itself is inefficient.”

“Kirishima-san. Are you familiar with photography?”

“Well, I’m a model, so I’m always taking pictures of myself, but… this time it’s with developed, physical prints, right? I don’t know how to develop photos, I’m afraid.”

To be honest, I’m not that familiar with it either.

According to a little research I did… even in this modern age of smartphones and digital cameras, it apparently takes a fair amount of time to develop photos. Even the photo shop in the mall said it would take at least an hour to develop data that was brought in.

And this time, a photographer handpicked by Kureha-san will be developing them individually. I don’t know how good their equipment is, but it’s unlikely to be faster than a photo shop.

In that case, it would take several hours to develop one photo.

If they develop and judge three photos in order…

“The weird feeling is definitely here…”

“I agree…”

Kirishima-san and I were on the same page.

“Even if we’re competing with three photos, there’s no need to develop them in order. We should just be able to develop all three at once and submit them in order.”

“Exactly. Developing and judging them in order… there’s no telling how much time that would take. Even if we start in the morning, we’ll finish at night. And while they’re developing, we’ll just be kept waiting, right?”

“Hmm, it’s too inefficient. It’s not like Kureha-san, who has established her status as a professional model…”

“Well, knowing Kureha-san’s personality, we can’t rule out the possibility that she’s doing it ‘just because it sounds fun’…”

That’s so true.

Knowing Kureha-san’s personality, it’s a trap that leads to us going in circles.

I wonder if Himari or Murakami-kun have noticed this strange feeling. Or if I ask Tenma-kun or someone, I feel like they might surprisingly give me an answer… no, asking a judge is probably a no-go.

Kirishima-san sighed and said.

“Well, anyway, even if we try to come up with a strategy, there’s not much we can do with these rules. It’s like playing rock-paper-scissors in order.”

“…Rock-paper-scissors, huh.”

That’s certainly true.

In the first place, since we don’t know what kind of work the opponent will present, there’s no way to prepare a countermeasure. And what’s more, the judging criteria of the judges are also an unknown.

I only know that Tenma-kun and Sanae-san will be participating, and it would be pointless to try to cater to their tastes. Those two have surely had their aesthetic sense for art honed under Kureha-san and Yatarou-san.

(…Normally, that would be the conclusion.)

I let out a breath and told Kirishima-san what I had been thinking about for the past month.

“Kirishima-san. About this match… can I come up with the strategy?”

Kirishima-san tilted her head, looking puzzled.

“Well, that’s fine. It is your admission test, after all. But didn’t we just say there’s no way to make a strategy right now?”

“That’s true, but… I actually have one thing I’ve thought of…”

 

I explained the “strategy” to her.

 

“…and that’s the gist of it.”

“…”

Kirishima-san was deep in thought with a difficult expression.

…Is it no good after all?

It feels like a trick that exploits a loophole in the rules. Kirishima-san actually has a personality that values playing fair and square, so I thought she might dislike it.

But surprisingly, Kirishima-san nodded.

“I think that could work.”

“Seriously!?”

Kirishima-san gave me a sidelong glance.

“Weren’t you confident about it?”

“Well, yeah. But I thought you might say no…”

“I see. It’s certainly not the orthodox approach. But it’s within the rules, and it even feels like they might be testing whether we notice this method…”

That’s it.

When I came up with this strategy, I realized the same thing as Kirishima-san. One of the odd feelings I had when I was told the rules of this admission test… the point of “why are they gathering judges and judging with developed works instead of just sending photo data” now has meaning.

“Besides…”

Kirishima-san grinned at my strategy.

“If the opponent is Murakami-kun, this will probably hit the mark.”

Whoa. Kirishima-san has a wicked smile on her face…

Well, I’m the one who thought of this, so I can’t talk. But this girl really does get along with Himari for a reason.

“But are you sure it’s okay? Do you remember the final rule of this admission test?”

“Ah, that’s fine. The extra accessories from before were for this.”

Preparation is key for this strategy.

Murakami-kun probably doesn’t expect me to come at him with a strategy like this.

“But what if Murakami-kun is thinking the same thing?”

“I wonder. In that case, I’ll be at a disadvantage either way, so I’ll just have to brace myself. In fact, if he comes with the same strategy, there’s a chance we can get an advantage with Kirishima-san’s strengths.”

Kirishima-san flicked her hair back smugly.

“Hmph! There’s no way I’d lose to Himari!”

“Th-That’s reassuring…”

Though it’s a little complicated for me…

“But can that strategy be applied to the three themes? You said you were going to use the additional flowers to change the main accessory, right?”

“Ah, that. Uhm…”

I had prepared several drafts beforehand, so I showed them to Kirishima-san.

“Which one is good?”

“Hmm. I don’t know much about flowers, so it’s hard to tell just by looking at the information.”

“Ah, I see. That’s a good point…”

So it’s up to my sense to choose.

The model this time is Kirishima-san. To be honest, we’re not that close, so I don’t know if I can make the most of her strengths as a model, but…

(No, if anything, this is a chance to prove what I’ve built up until now.)

I observed Kirishima-san again.

“…Yeah. Kirishima-san’s strength is definitely the breadth of her expression. I thought so during the summer vacation performance too, but Kirishima-san can pull off anything from cute to beautiful. She has her renowned acting skills, and her raw talent is already top-tier. To be blunt, isn’t she unbeatable as a model? The magazine photos from that summer vacation were also super cute, and it’s amazing how much confidence I have that Kirishima-san can match anything. On the other hand, that also leads to the challenge of whether the creator can handle a top-tier model like Kirishima-san. It’s something that fires me up, but at the same time, the idea of adding my touch to Kirishima-san, who already possesses a complete beauty…”

…Huh?

For some reason, Kirishima-san’s face in front of me has turned beet red. She’s awkwardly averting her gaze all over the place, what on earth… Ah.

I had been so engrossed in my analysis of Kirishima-san that I had moved my face extremely close to hers. This is that thing, isn’t it? The thing Makishima calls me a rom-com protagonist for…

I need to move away quickly… just as I thought that, I noticed Kirishima-san was holding her smartphone. And looking closely, the LINE chat screen was open.

What’s this? The other person is Enomoto-san… “Do something about your boyfriend!!” …it says?

 

At the same time I realized my mistake, my head was grabbed from behind.

 

I wonder why. This feeling is strangely calming. It really feels like the iron claw I’ve seen more than my own parents’ faces.

…As I was feeling all warm and fuzzy inside, the fingertips tightened their grip.

“Punishment.”

“Gyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!?”

Why!?

Did I do something to deserve divine retribution!?

Enomoto-san, who had appeared out of nowhere, made her right hand twitch while her eyes sparkled menacingly.

“At the second-year culture festival, I said it was one punishment for one act of flirting, right?”

“That rule is still active!?”

In the first place, I was just analyzing to decide on the direction of our work…!

“Um, Kirishima-san. When you call Rion, I’d appreciate it if you’d give me a word of warning first…”

“R-Right. My bad…”

And now, we continued to align our direction under Enomoto-san’s supervision.

Distance is important. Be very, very careful with the distance.

“…Alright. Let’s go with something like this.”

“I think that’s good.”

And then, I turned to Enomoto-san.

I lowered my posture as much as possible and humbly sought the approval of my girlfriend, who boasted immense destructive power.

“Um, how about this?”

“I think it’s good.”

“Thanks!”

Why do I have to undergo a philanderer inspection just to create a photographic work…? As I sobbed at the overwhelming injustice, Kirishima-san said sympathetically.

“You have it rough.”

“This whole thing started because you rang the alarm, you know…”

Just as our meeting reached a stopping point,

The doorbell of the Inuzuka house rang, and I heard Ikuyo-san’s voice as she went to answer it. Along with multiple footsteps, lively voices approached.

(Ah, that voice is…)

Enomoto-san’s face is twisted in disgust, while on the other hand, Kirishima-san has a happy smile.

When the fusuma of this guest room opened, the expected person showed their face.

“Hey there~☆ Yuu-chan, did I keep you waiting~?”

It was Kureha-san.

Come to think of it, she said she’d be coming on the afternoon train. Is it that time already?

“Thank you for your hard work. And thank you for this opportunity.”

“It’s fine~♪ Ah, Rion, you doing good~?”

However, Enomoto-san turned her face away with a “hmpf.” I’m impressed by how thoroughly she sticks to her “I hate my sister” character. Oh, I said “character.”

Then Kirishima-san, still smiling, rushed over to Kureha-san.

“Kureha-san!”

“Are Himari-chan and Murakami-kun in the other room~?”

“Isn’t ignoring me a bit much~!?”

She’s still teasing her, as always.

Well, I can’t say I don’t understand the feeling… As we were all feeling a bit awkward, Tenma-kun and Sanae-san also peeked out from behind Kureha-san.

“Yuu-kun!”

“Ah, Tenma-kun!”

We exchanged greetings with smiles.

I’ve thought this before, but it’s still so strange to see the Tokyo members here… Unaware of my feelings, Tenma-kun was looking around the room.

“Wow, so this is Himari-san’s family home. I’d heard about it, but it really is a magnificent mansion.”

“Yeah. I was pretty intimidated at first too.”

Sanae-san also looked around the room in the same way and exchanged greetings with us.

“Natsume-kun. How are things going?”

“Yes. We just finished a section of our meeting, so we were about to bring in the actual accessories and start the final adjustments.”

She nodded in understanding, then greeted Enomoto-san.

“It’s been a while, Rion-san.”

“Hello, Sanae-chan.”

“Has Natsume-kun been trying to sweet-talk any girls today?”

“He was targeting Kirishima-san just now.”

“My. What a troublesome person he is.”

Why me?

That was to consider the direction of the work! Seriously, stop perceiving me as if I’m Makishima!

(Tenma-kun and Sanae-san are acting as usual. As expected of the university student group…)

These two are members of tomorrow’s judging panel.

I heard there was one more person coming… and then I noticed a woman with messy hair and a hunched back hiding behind Sanae-san.

(Huh? Who is this person…?)

As I tilted my head, Kirishima-san reacted.

“Oh? Ritsuka, you came?”

“…!”

That hunched-back woman… she’s wearing what looks like regular loungewear. Did she come with Tenma-kun and the others dressed like this? The letters printed on her chest read “biriyani”… Could it be that biryani? Why? Is it some kind of code only her friends would get?

As I was getting confused, Kirishima-san sighed and started fiddling with the woman’s messy hair.

“You came here with your hair a mess like you just woke up again, didn’t you? And what’s with these flashy pajamas? Don’t tell me you flew here like that? The clothes I picked out for you to wear outside, did they not fit?”

“N-No. That ain’t it…”

“Then what is it?”

“Because the clothes Yume-san chose were a little too cutesy for the likes of me…”

“You have a pretty face, so they’d look good on you if you just dressed properly. What’s the deal with a stylist not caring about their own appearance? Trust is everything in this business, you know?”

“Ah, well… my appearance don’t matter none…”

“I’m telling you that if you look shabby, it’ll bring down Yonekawa Nagisa’s reputation.”

“Ah, ugh…”

That line sounds familiar.

I think Himari said something similar to me back in middle school to whip me into shape. A nostalgic memory.

“…Hm?”

That woman is staring at me with a very frightened gaze.

When our eyes met, she frantically looked away, her mouth twitching. From the flow of the conversation with Kirishima-san, this person is probably the final judge…

“H-Hello…”

“Ah, h-hello… hehe…”

She did manage to return my greeting, at least.

Who is she?

At least, I’ve never met her before. But if she’s here, that means she’s one of Kureha-san’s investment members, right? All the members so far have been social butterflies, so the difference in energy is enough to give me whiplash. And she’s a stylist… ah!

I surreptitiously checked with Tenma-kun.

“Tenma-kun. Is that person by any chance Akinashi-san?”

“Yeah, that’s right. She’s the final judge for this time.”

The nation’s top actress, Yonekawa Nagisa-san.

The person working as her exclusive makeup artist is this Akinashi Ritsuka-san. Himari mentioned she was introduced to her during our second-year high school trip.

…I had heard stories, but I can feel a pretty thick wall. I should try to communicate politely here.

“I-It’s a pleasure to be working with you.”

“Ah, yes… hehe…”

She won’t make eye contact…

And she’s trembling a little.

“Fufu. Akinashi-san is barely okay with women she’s just met, but she’s the type who takes a little time to warm up to men. Ah, but please don’t worry, it’s not like she dislikes you.”

“I-I see…”

“And besides, she was with Tenma-kun today.”

“Ah…”

Come to think of it, when I met Yonekawa-san during summer vacation, she said she wasn’t good with Tenma-kun because of his sparkly aura. So that’s part of the reason she’s hiding behind Sanae-san.

Tenma-kun laughed, not minding, and explained.

“Originally, Sensei was supposed to be the judge, but the members were biased in Yuu-kun’s favor. Kureha-san nominated her as a friend of Himari-san.”

“I-I see…”

Akinashi-san sighed tiredly.

“Wh-Why me… I don’t know nothin’ ’bout accessories…”

Come to think of it, according to Himari, she’s quite the homebody. She only goes out when she has work for Yonekawa-san.

Sanae-san soothed Akinashi-san.

“Hmm. I think it’s precisely because you don’t know about accessories. It wouldn’t be fair if all the members were too logical. Being able to choose by intuition is your strength, Ritsuka-san.”

“Ugh… but today… I had work with Nagisa-san…”

“It was just an interview for the promotion of her next drama, right? She herself said it wasn’t a job that required you, Ritsuka-san.”

“B-But… Nagisa-san being sullied by hands other than mine… I can’t bear iiiit…!”

She’s a super intense stan…

At first, my impression was that she was a timid person, but she’s the type to assert herself fiercely… I don’t dislike that.

And today’s members are… ah, is this everyone? I thought Yatarou-san would come too, but I don’t see him. Maybe he ran away, afraid of being caught by Saku-neesan.

“By the way, who is the photographer we’ll be working with this time?”

“Ah. Yuino-san will be here early tomorrow morning. I think they said they’ll stay here for two nights before heading back.”

“Yuino-san?”

“The director of the studio where Himari-san got a job during summer vacation. They’re a photographer themselves, so Kureha-san invited them to be on the photography staff this time. They also said the stylist, Yaguchi-san, would be coming along. Those two are good friends.”

“I see…”

As we were talking, the sound of light footsteps came from down the hallway.

And of course, the one who burst in was Himari.

“Waaah~! Welcome, everyone~!”

“Ah, Himari-san. Pardon our intrusion~.”

Then, with barely a greeting, Himari’s eyes landed on Akinashi-san.

“Eh!? Rikkachin, you came!? That’s super rare!”

“Ah, Himari-chan… hello… hehe…”

“Wow~, I wasn’t expecting you to come, Rikkachin, so this is ama… eh? You came in those pajamas? Does that mean on the plane too? You’re kiddin’ me, right???”

“Auh!?”

At the same point made by Kirishima-san, Akinashi-san looked utterly crushed.

…Well, you know. I’m a person of common sense, so I won’t point such things out.

(In any case, with this, all the preparations are complete.)

It’s finally time.

The big match that will decide my future.

If I win this, I’ll get Kureha-san’s support and connections. It will undoubtedly open up possibilities for the future.

As I clenched my fist, Kureha-san narrowed her eyes.

“Yuu-chan. Are you ready?”

“Yes.”

Kureha-san nodded, satisfied with my reply.

 

♣♣♣

 

After that, we prepared the photo samples, and somehow decided on the theme and direction.

We had the photos developed at a digital photo shop, but it still took several hours. The result only highlighted the inefficiency of this competition… but it seems even Kirishima-san doesn’t really know what to make of it.

In any case, my final meeting with Kirishima-san was over.

Around the same time, Himari and the others also finished their final meeting, so we left the Inuzuka house and headed to dinner together.

Kandagawa.

In a way, it’s the standard spot here in our hometown. Fresh seafood, local chicken, chicken nanban, and other regional delicacies. Tenma-kun and the others seemed to be enjoying it.

And to prepare for tomorrow, we ended the party early, and Tenma-kun and his group went back to their hotel by taxi. Himari also left in Hibari-san’s car.

I was walking with Enomoto-san along Route 10 to see her home.

“Rion, was it okay not to go home with Kureha-san?”

“My sister’s staying at a hotel anyway.”

“Ah, that’s true…”

Well, their relationship isn’t anything new.

I walked next to Enomoto-san with a wry smile. This was the time of day when Route 10 gets congested. A long line of cars formed at every red light.

The mundane scenery.

The thought that I wouldn’t be able to see it in a month was a strange feeling. I’m leaving the town I’ve lived in for eighteen years.

Hmm. It doesn’t feel real…

“Yuu-kun.”

“Hm?”

As I was lost in my own pensive thoughts, Enomoto-san was watching me with a gentle expression.

“It’s almost time, huh.”

“…Yeah.”

I immediately understood what she meant.

One year.

The results of this past year will be known tomorrow.

What is my value right now? Is it enough to meet Kureha-san’s standards, or will I be a disappointment?

The accessories are ready.

I was worried about preparing the flowers because of my exam studies, but Shiroyama-san and Mera-san grew them perfectly. The processing of the accessories I finished this month also went well. I can tell how much love and effort the two of them poured into their work.

Kirishima-san also actively gave her opinions during the meetings, and we were able to choose flowers with colors suitable for the photos. Whether the strategy I had planned beforehand will work is still up in the air… but now, all that’s left is to wait for the real thing tomorrow.

(Finally, it’s tomorrow…)

As if seeing through my nervous heart, Enomoto-san smiled gently.

“Do your best.”

“Yeah.”

“Go and kick Hii-chan’s butt.”

“Of course.”

Even as we exchanged such lighthearted banter, my nervousness wouldn’t fade.

The feeling of “is it still not enough” was greater than the sense of accomplishment of having done everything I could.

(No, but I did everything I could…)

It was when I was groaning to myself.

Suddenly, I felt a kiss on my cheek.

“…!?”

When I turned around with wide eyes… Enomoto-san, the very person who had launched the surprise attack, was blushing and smiling shyly. “Ehe.”

“A good luck charm to make the nervousness go away.”

“Ah, thanks…”

Her profile was illuminated by the lights of passing cars, and she looked incredibly cute.

Crap. I’m glad no one else is here. To be honest, if Tenma-kun or someone had seen that, I would have died of embarrassment.

(But thanks to that, I feel a little more at ease…)

It put some spirit back into my unfocused mind.

I took a deep breath and smiled at Enomoto-san.

“I’m going to win tomorrow.”

At my declaration, Enomoto-san gave me a thumbs-up.

“I’ll have a celebration cake ready for you.”

No, that’s a jinx…

I gave a wry smile and let my thoughts drift to tomorrow’s admission test.