Chapter 10: The Hopeless Girl

♥♥♥

“Hayasaka-senpai is so mature!”

Hamanami shouts. She’s not yelling for comedic effect—it’s because she’s tipsy at an izakaya, and the place is loud.

After classes, I went to the campus practice room for the university festival stage, practicing taiko drums with the volunteer group. The festival committee brought enough happi coats for everyone, and Hamanami was among them.

Hamanami was on the cultural festival committee in high school, and now she’s doing it in university too.

“You’re a festival fanatic, huh?”

“What’s that supposed to mean from someone wearing a happi and banging taiko drums?”

After that exchange, we decided to grab drinks, ending up at an Okinawan cuisine izakaya near the university, chatting away.

“So, Hayasaka-senpai is celebrating Kirishima-senpai and Touno-san being a couple, supporting Tachibana-senpai, who’ll probably be heartbroken about it, and moving on to a new love herself.”

“Hayasaka-san called it the ‘Hayasaka Plan.’”

“Hmm~”

Hamanami makes a serious face while eating sea grapes.

“Back in high school, I’d have yelled, ‘Hayasaka-senpai’s dumb plan is totally gonna flop!’ But, yeah, when we met her at the beach, she did seem more mature. It’s possible things could go according to her plan…… Though, her newfound allure might complicate things……”

Grumbling and nodding, Hamanami adds, “It might actually work out neatly.”

“Tachibana-senpai seems to be thriving as a university student too.”

She shows me her phone screen, displaying Tachibana-san’s SNS.

There are photos from a film screening hosted by the same art university’s film department, some mysterious art objects, and pictures from a spontaneous beach trip with friends.

“Feels super art-school vibes~”

Many photos show Tachibana-san with about five music department friends. She’s always at the edge, making a peace sign with a nonchalant expression.

“Tachibana-san’s grown too, huh?”

Back in high school, she was more of a lone wolf. Now she has friends and seems to be enjoying university life.

“Tachibana-senpai decided to push forward on her own.”

Hamanami scrolls back through the SNS posts. Apparently, Tachibana-san started this account when she dropped out of high school. And post-dropout, she was surprisingly playful.

Her first post reads:

I pretended to be dead in the living room, and Mom bought me a game. I ate chips, drank cola, and played until morning. My little sister got mad.

From there, it’s a diary of her indulgent life—snacking and gaming.

The uploaded images are mostly game screenshots, with her player rank steadily climbing. But about a month in, things shift slightly.

If I pass an exam, it’s like graduating high school, and I can go to university. Mom casually left some study materials on my desk. Looks like she figured out I’m enjoying NEET life.

From then on, posts about studying start appearing.

My sister bought a ton of study guides. My family’s ganging up on me.

I studied for a whole hour today. Played games for seven.

I’m a genius. I solved a super hard problem. My time has come.

Apparently, the problem I solved yesterday was high school freshman level. I don’t remember learning it.

Tachibana-san, as expected, was a girl who hated studying. There are signs she explored other options too.

I worked hard on cooking and cleaning. If I’m good at housework, maybe my sister will support me in the future. When I said that, she looked genuinely terrified.

What about streaming piano videos? Some people in cosplay, emphasizing their chest, get insane view counts.

On second thought, I’ll skip piano streaming…… My chest is plenty big, but the world lacks taste, so it might not get views.

These comedic posts continue, but at some point, the tone shifts.

I can’t keep going like this. I really want to study music at university.

I hurt people.

I’ll go to university and become a proper girl. Then I’ll meet them. I don’t know what’ll happen, but I want to apologize to the people I hurt.

From there, Tachibana-san studied hard, passed the high school equivalency exam, and enrolled in art university a year late.

She honed her craft, made friends, and even established a base in Kansai.

“Her SNS doesn’t say much about her music activities. I couldn’t find anything, so she’s probably not using her real name.”

Either way, Hamanami says, sipping her shikuwasa sour,

“I was shocked to hear she lost her voice, but she seems to be doing pretty well.”

“She enjoyed her NEET life to the fullest too.”

“Tachibana-senpai feels more mature too. So, if she finds out Kirishima-senpai has a new girlfriend, I think she’d step back.”

But, Hamanami continues,

“Like Hayasaka-senpai said, she’ll probably be deeply hurt. Tachibana-san decided to become a proper girl to meet you and Hayasaka-san, after all.”

If things go on like this, I’ll likely meet Tachibana-san soon through Touno. What words should I say to her then?

“The Hayasaka Plan to support Tachibana-san feels pretty convincing……”

“Yeah. It’ll probably work out fine. No need for Hamanami’s quips either.”

“So I don’t have to be Hamanami Police anymore?”

“We’ve grown up.”

“It’s a bit lonely, but that’s definitely better—”

Hamanami’s words cut off.

“What’s wrong?”

“My Hamanami Radar’s going off! Beauty Index maxed out, Troublesome Coefficient at infinity! This is a case for Hamanami Police! But Hayasaka-senpai’s back in her seaside town, and Tachibana-senpai should still be in Tokyo, so where—”

Hamanami looks around frantically. And then—

“There! A hopeless, immature girl spotted!”

She points to a table in the same izakaya.

There, a stunning girl with light-colored hair is surrounded by guys, being plied with tons of alcohol. Blonde hair, blue eyes, refined features, but with a cute, innocent expression.

It was Miyamae Shiori.

♥♥♥

This summer, we all went to the beach. Afterward, Miyamae bought a DSLR camera and rejoined the photography club she’d briefly been part of. She’d left because the club president dumped his girlfriend in the club to hit on her, making things awkward. But with the president gone, she returned.

“I need to learn how to connect with people properly.”

But because of her looks, Miyamae’s always treated as a romantic target.

This time’s no different.

“I’ll figure it out. Otherwise, it’s just the same thing again.”

She even said it’s fine if people see her that way.

“I need to get a boyfriend. Kirishima belongs to Touno, after all.”

That summer, Miyamae had a faint crush on me. We went to Kyushu together, and I met the grandma who raised her. But knowing Touno liked me, she hid her feelings from her and told me to date Touno.

“Kirishima, you’re my friend. As long as we stay friends forever, that’s enough.”

With that mindset, Miyamae started working on becoming a new version of herself. Her talk about getting a boyfriend wasn’t a lie—she’s been going to mixers and such.

And now, that Miyamae was at the same izakaya as me and Hamanami, being forced to drink heavily by a group of guys.

“Feels like the afterparty of a mixer.”

Hamanami says.

“Those guys, all after Miyamae-san, probably dragged her out alone.”

Three stylish, modern-looking guys surround Miyamae on both sides and in front, constantly pushing beer mugs toward her.

“When I went to the restroom earlier, I overheard those guys at that table.”

“What’d they say?”

“A beauty like her is rare. We’re definitely taking her home. Let’s mess her up.”

Ugh, they look like decent guys, but that’s gross, Hamanami recoils.

“I knew Miyamae-san was the type to fall for bad guys, but this is worse than I thought. Should we help her?”

“Let’s watch a bit longer. She might handle it herself.”

“Has this kind of thing happened a lot?”

“Yeah, this is like the fourth or fifth time.”

I’ve gotten direct calls from Miyamae asking me to pick her up, and sometimes girls from drinking parties call Yamame-sou’s rickety landline to report a Miyamae emergency.

“She needs to learn to handle this herself. I won’t always be around.”

“True.”

So, we keep an eye on Miyamae.

“Wanna come to my place now? We can chill on the sofa and drink.”

One of the guys says. But Miyamae, though drunk, shakes her head.

“Not going~”

“Why not?”

“‘Cause my friend said I shouldn’t go to a guy’s place so easily~”

I’d drilled that into her beforehand.

Nice, Miyamae, you’re getting it!

“Oh, too bad. My dog’s super cute, and I wanted to show it to you, Miyamae-chan.”

“A dog? I wanna see! I’ll go!”

Oi, that’s way too easy! I think.

But—

“No, I can’t. I won’t go after all.”

Miyamae shakes her head again.

“I promised Kirishima. So I won’t go to a guy’s place when I’m drunk.”

My heart swells with pride at Miyamae’s growth.

Nice going, keep it up! Take that first step toward becoming a strong girl, I cheer silently. But—

“Miyamae-chan, let’s have a drinking contest!”

“That kind of drinking’s no good~”

“But, Miyamae-chan, you want to make lots of friends, right?”

“Yup~”

“This is the best way to make friends.”

“Really?”

“Everyone does drinking contests to become friends. Didn’t you know?”

“Oh, I didn’t know…… I was the only one who didn’t…… Okay, I’ll do it!”

No way, that’s obviously a lie! My inner scream doesn’t reach her, and the drinking contest begins.

Miyamae’s strong with alcohol. But the guys are drinking plain water from their mugs.

“I’m getting kinda drunk~”

“I’m gonna lose~”

The guys say this blatantly, but clueless Miyamae doesn’t notice and keeps drinking.

Soon enough, Miyamae’s wobbling.

“Friends~ I’ll make friends~”

She mumbles, swaying.

It’s warm today, so Miyamae’s dressed lightly—a T-shirt and short overalls, her white thighs and arms exposed.

The guys lean in close to the now incoherent Miyamae.

“So hot.”

“Once we hook up, she’ll do anything.”

“This face is unreal~”

It’s like you can hear them swallowing hard. They’re about to touch her.

“Kirishima-senpai, this is bad. The hopeless game’s over. Let’s save her!”

Hamanami says, and I stand up, “Yeah.”

Miyamae……

“Business as usual, huh!”

♥♥♥

“Kiirriishiimaa! Kiirriishiimaa!”

Miyamae clings to me as we walk down the night street.

“Isn’t this distance a bit weird?”

Hamanami says, and Miyamae, still glued to me, tilts her head.

“Why? Kirishima and I are friends.”

“Huh?”

Now Hamanami tilts her head.

“Miyamae-san, do we have different ideas of ‘friends’? Am I wrong?”

At the izakaya, I went to Miyamae’s table and called out to her. When I said we’re heading back, she stood up, saying, “Going home~.” The guys looked like they wanted to say something, but they were stunned by the weirdo in a kimono with a kokyu on his back.

That’s how we left the izakaya, and now the three of us are walking.

“Kirishima~ Kirishima~”

Miyamae, completely plastered, hugs my arm tightly. Her chest presses fully against me.

“This is definitely not friend stuff!”

Hamanami says,

“Am I the drunk one? This looks way beyond friendly affection!”

“Kirishima~ I love you~ Love you so much~”

“She said it! She just said ‘love’! Hamanami Police, duly noted!”

“Hamanami-chan, you’re so loud.”

Riding her drunken momentum, Miyamae speaks with her dialect slipping out.

“I mean ‘love’ as friends. I’ve got no intention of messing with Touno and Kirishima’s relationship.”

Then, turning to me, Miyamae says in a clingy tone,

“Hey, Kirishima, can we hold hands?”

“Ambivalent! Your words and actions are totally contradictory!”

Hamanami shrieks. At that, Miyamae makes an “oh” face.

“Hamanami-chan, could you take a picture for me?”

“Huh?”

Miyamae hands her phone to Hamanami, who, caught in the moment, starts the camera and gets ready. Miyamae and I lean our heads together, making peace signs. Pachari, the shutter sounds.

“Um, I took it, but is it okay to keep this? This photo feels kinda…… real, like you’re actual lovers……”

Hamanami says nervously, and I reply,

“It’s fine. Miyamae and I are friends, but sometimes we act like lovers.”

Hamanami’s face goes blank.

“It’s been a while since I met someone this confusing~”

Hamanami starts stretching, saying, “Here we go, here we go.”

“Say that one more time?”

“Sometimes Miyamae and I act like lovers. And Touno’s okay with it.”

“Got it.”

Hamanami rolls her shoulders, clears her throat with an “ahem, ahem,” and then, with the highest energy of the night, shouts,

“Y-y-y-you massive idiot!!”

“No, no, there’s a reason for this.”

I’m a man who learns from the past, and I’m not about to repeat my high school mistakes. “Sometimes acting like lovers” is a figure of speech—more accurately, it means occasionally taking lover-like photos.

Miyamae was raised by her grandma, Yukari-san, who’s been hospitalized again. Yukari-san knows Miyamae’s a hopeless girl and worries she’ll get caught by a bad guy. So, like when I visited her in Kyushu, I’m continuing to act as her boyfriend in photos to reassure Yukari-san.

Touno heard the situation and gave it her okay.

I explain this to Hamanami.

“We don’t do anything beyond taking photos, so it’s fine.”

“I guess that makes sense, but……”

“Once Miyamae gets a real boyfriend, I won’t need to do this. She’s pretty motivated to find one too.”

Though tonight’s mess is the result of that.

“Hmm~”

Hamanami thinks hard, her face serious.

“Well, Kirishima-senpai’s grown up since starting university, so I guess no mistakes will happen. But—”

Hamanami looks at Miyamae, who’s still clinging to me unsteadily, and says,

“I don’t recommend piling on more gunpowder. I said earlier that Hayasaka-san and Tachibana-san might not need Hamanami Police because they’ve got self-control. But that’s just self-control. Deep down, there’s always some hidden feelings.”

While we’re talking, we reach a T-junction. Miyamae and I go right, Hamanami goes left.

“So, I’m heading back to my apartment, but don’t mess up with that barely conscious person, okay?”

“I got it, don’t worry.”

“Then, I’ll be off!”

Hamanami says and walks away.

I wave at her back. Then, after a few steps, Hamanami turns around, points at me sharply, and says,

“I warned you! Stop the war! Don’t make Kyoto ground zero! Peace!”

♥♥♥

After parting with Hamanami, I’m at a park with Miyamae. She got so unsteady she collapsed against me.

I sit her on a bench and give her water from a vending machine bottle. Gradually, Miyamae starts to sober up.

“Huh, Kirishima?”

Seeing me next to her, Miyamae tilts her head.

“Why’re you here?”

“That’s where we’re starting~?”

Miyamae’s face turns glum.

“Did I mess up again?”

“Just a little.”

I explain how she was plied with alcohol and almost taken to some guy’s place.

“They seemed like nice people……”

“Miyamae……”

She really has no eye for guys.

“You’re going to drinking parties and mixers, but maybe you don’t need to rush?”

“No way. If I’m gonna stay friends with you, Kirishima, I need to get a boyfriend soon…… I need to find someone I love, or else I…… I……”

Miyamae starts sniffling.

“Wait, are you a weepy drunk too?”

“Fue, fue…… Fueee~!”

I didn’t know since she’s usually strong with alcohol, but when she’s drunk, Miyamae’s a total handful.

For a while, I keep giving her water and rubbing her back.

Once Miyamae calms down, I say,

“Alright, let’s head back.”

“Okay.”

We start walking again.

The quiet night street echoes with autumn insects. Temples and traditional Japanese house walls line the path, creating a refined atmosphere. Miyamae follows meekly, three steps behind.

“Hey, Kirishima.”

“Hm?”

“What would’ve happened if I’d gone with those guys today?”

“Well—”

I soften what the guys were saying in the restroom, avoiding blunt terms, but Miyamae seems to understand.

“I was in real danger……”

She slumps, saying if she’d gone, the three guys would’ve taken turns with her.

“But you saved me, Kirishima.”

“I just dragged you out of the izakaya, that’s all.”

“You really care about me, Kirishima.”

Miyamae looks down, blushing.

We walk like that for a bit, but then Miyamae starts lightly tapping her hand against the back of mine. Then, with an “Ei!” she grabs it with force.

“Oi!”

“I’m drunk and can’t walk! Drunk and can’t walk! Can’t walk~!”

“Alright, alright, I get it!”

Since Miyamae’s making a fuss, I reluctantly hold her hand and walk.

“I’m only holding it so you don’t trip and get hurt, got it?”

“Yup.”

But Miyamae’s voice is totally clingy now. Her hopeless-girl switch is flipped, and, as expected, she grips my hand with both of hers.

“Kirishima’s hand is big and warm.”

She says, pressing her face into the sleeve of my kimono.

“It smells nice too.”

“That’s incense. I’ve been burning it in my room lately.”

“Kirishimaa…… Kirishimaa…… Kirishimaa……”

With moist breaths, she presses her whole body against me.

“You’re the only one who saves me, Kirishima…… The only one who protects me……”

I feel Miyamae’s alcohol-warmed body heat. Her stunning face alone stirs my heart, and her T-shirt stretches tight over her chest, forcing me to notice.

“Oi, Miyamae, that’s a bit—”

As I start to speak, I realize why those guys at the izakaya were so excited.

Miyamae’s wearing short overalls—or maybe a salopette.

The straps keep it from slipping despite being oversized, but the loose fit and her short T-shirt create a big gap at her waist, exposing what’s underneath.

A glimpse of light green underwear and a bit of her white hip peek out.

“Oi, Miyamae, that. That’s the kind of carelessness I’m talking about.”

“Huh?”

Pointed out her exposed underwear, Miyamae’s face turns bright red. “Th-this,” she stammers, pulling away from me and hurriedly pressing her clothes down with both hands.

Normally, the shy Miyamae would snap, “No pervy stuff!” But today’s Miyamae is different. Staring at my face, she says,

“Kirishima, are you blushing?”

“Uh, no—”

“You’re feeling that way because of my body, aren’t you…… You’ve grown to feel those things too, right?”

Miyamae stops in her tracks. And then—

“If it’s you, Kirishima, it’s okay.”

Twisting shyly, she lets go of the clothes she was holding down. The light green underwear and white skin peek out again.

“Oi, Miyamae!”

“You know, the other day, you saved me too, right? That time a girl from my department at a mixer called you.”

“Is it really okay to give Yamame-sou’s landline as an emergency contact?”

I got a call about Miyamae being in trouble and went to the bar, but it had already broken up. Searching around, I found her, drunk like today, about to be dragged into a public restroom. Apparently, the guy had been saying since the party that he wanted to do things with her pretty face and small mouth.

“When I heard about it later, it made me feel so gross. I didn’t want to do that.”

But, Miyamae says shyly,

“I thought about what it’d be like if it was you, Kirishima.”

“Why would you run that thought experiment?”

“And I realized, if it was you, I’d be okay with it. Even if you were forceful, I’d accept it, and I’d try my hardest to make you happy.”

Blushing, with a sensual air, Miyamae steps closer to me.

“If it’s you, Kirishima, it’s okay…… If you want to look, go ahead…… If you want to touch, you can…… Whatever those other guys wanted to do to me, if it’s you, it’s okay……”

“Miyamae, you’re still drunk, aren’t you?”

Lately, Miyamae’s been touching me with a soft, intimate manner. Tonight, that’s in overdrive. Alcohol is scary.

“Guys want to be with lots of girls, right? They can just do it, right?”

“You’re picking up all the wrong info.”

“You blushed earlier, Kirishima…… You’re feeling that way because of my body……”

That seems to have flipped her switch.

“It’s okay. Isn’t it hard for guys to hold back? I’ll do it. Because you’re my friend, Kirishima. I’d do anything for a friend.”

“Oi—”

Miyamae grabs my hand.

Her weird talk makes me imagine things for a moment—slipping my hand into her salopette to touch her light green underwear or her doing things with her mouth. But—

“No way!”

I shake off Miyamae’s hand.

It was to suppress the lust stirring in me, but my voice came out loud, and I turned away, so Miyamae thought I was mad. She starts apologizing in a timid voice, “Sorry, sorry!”

“I heard some friends have that kind of relationship, so I thought maybe with you, Kirishima! Sorry, sorry!”

I know those kinds of friend relationships exist, but—

“I won’t say it again. Don’t be mad, don’t be mad! Sorry, sorry, sorry~!!”

Miyamae clings to me, her face on the verge of tears. She’s becoming more and more of a hopeless girl!

“I’m not mad, I’m not mad.”

I grab her shoulders and say gently,

“But our friendship isn’t like that, right?”

Some people might casually do those things with friends. But at the very least, Miyamae doesn’t see those acts as that light. And—

“I have Touno. I only do those things with Touno.”

“Yeah. Sorry, I said something weird. Sorry. I won’t say it again. I’ll listen to you, Kirishima.”

Miyamae says, stepping away from me.

As we walk, we discuss ways for Miyamae to safely find a boyfriend. For now, we decide that when invited to mixers or drinking parties, she won’t reply on the spot. She’ll take it home, consult Touno or the Yamame-sou crew, and vet the people before joining.

We’re not exactly experts at judging people, but it’s better than Miyamae deciding alone.

“Yeah, I’ll do that.”

Miyamae nods vigorously.

“Sorry about today. I got drunk and said some weird stuff.”

At the door of her room in Sakura Heights, Miyamae says,

“I totally get that you’re with Touno. I don’t want to get in the way, and above all, both you and Touno are super important friends to me.”

Then, with a bright smile like the rising sun, Miyamae says,

“I’m really looking forward to our promise ten years from now.”

The promise to go to Tanegashima together and watch a rocket launch.

“So, I’m gonna cherish our friendships so much.”

That’s how it is.

I think Miyamae looks best when she’s smiling like this.

With that, I was about to say, “See ya,” and leave when—

“Wait a sec.”

Miyamae stops me.

“I wanted to give you this.”

She pulls a small paper bag from her purse and hands it to me.

“What’s this?”

“A watch.”

From the bag, it looks pretty high-end.

“I saw it while shopping and thought it’d suit you, Kirishima. If you like it, use it.”

Miyamae offers it with pure eyes, absolutely certain I’ll accept it.

“Uh, well, stuff like this……”

I fumble for a response, my mind spinning on what to say. That’s when—

The door to the next room opens.

“What’s going on?”

Of course, it’s Touno, in her casual loungewear.

Touno looks back and forth between Miyamae holding out the paper bag and me, saying,

“What’re you guys doing?”

♥♥♥

I’m in the bath with Touno.

Soaking in the tub, I hold her from behind. Touno loves curling up small to be held by me. When we sleep together in bed, she scoots down, pressing her face to my chest. When I hug her like a kid, she makes a blissful face.

“By the way, is Shiori-chan okay?”

Touno leans back against me, her wet hair and soft skin warmed by the bath.

“It’s great that she’s trying to find a boyfriend, but I’m worried she’ll get caught by some shady guy.”

While Miyamae was offering me the watch, Touno came out of her room next door.

Shiori-chan, did Kirishima-san save you again?

Touno said, and Miyamae looked down, embarrassed.

Kirishima was drinking at an izakaya, so I protected him from weird girls and brought him back to you, Touno,

Miyamae joked, then said, Alright, you two be good! She pushed me toward Touno, slipped the paper bag into my kimono sleeve, and went back to her room.

Nothing more happened, and Touno had her usual expression, but she must’ve felt something.

Kirishima-san, um, I’d like you to stay over tonight,

she said shyly, and even after we went inside,

I want to…… take a bath together tonight……

So here we are, soaking in the tub together.

“Also, Shiori-chan’s got way too much style.”

Touno nudges me with the back of her head as she says,

“A fancy watch like that doesn’t suit you, Kirishima-san.”

“Yeah, you’re right.”

Touno goes quiet for a moment.

“Um…… you’re not gonna wear it, right?”

“Nah, not the watch or that coat I got the other day either.”

When the autumn breeze started blowing, Miyamae gave me a similar gift—a really cool trench coat.

“N-not that I mind!”

Touno says hurriedly.

“It’s your choice, Kirishima-san, and I know Shiori-chan doesn’t mean anything by it……”

Thinking of Touno’s feelings, I say,

“I stick to my kimono, so what Miyamae gives me doesn’t really match.”

“R-right! Exactly!”

“Yeah. In winter, I’ll wear a hanten.”

“A hanten alone would be too cold, so I’ll knit you a huge scarf to wrap you up in!”

No matter the circumstances, it’s natural to feel uneasy if your boyfriend gets gifts from another girl. So no matter how much Miyamae gives me, I won’t wear them. Sorry, Miyamae, I think. But first, I need to reassure Touno.

“It’s all good.”

I say, patting Touno’s head.

After the bath, we get ready for bed and slip into the same futon. In her single bed for one, we snuggle close, hugging and kissing as usual.

Things heat up, and we start undressing each other.

I touch Touno’s chest. Her large, soft breasts, bigger than my hands, shift shape with my movements. Her bath-warmed body grows even hotter.

“Kirishima-san……”

Touno kisses my shoulders and neck, then looks at me with feverish eyes.

I prepare, and we become one.

We embrace, melting into each other.

Touno and I have a pretty great relationship. She’s busy with her club, and I’m tied up with my Erich-inspired activities. But when we have time, we go out together, cook at each other’s places, watch movies side by side on TV, or get intimate like this.

But there’s a tiny smoldering issue. Just a little—

“Kirishima-san…… I love you……”

Touno trembles, her voice rising.

“Um, from behind too……”

Blushing shyly, Touno gets on all fours.

“Kirishima-san, it’s amazing, ah, ah!”

The sound of our bodies fills the room, soaking the sheets, as Touno keeps moaning.

I know what’s going on.

Normally, Touno tries to keep her voice down during intimacy. But lately, she’s been letting it out on purpose.

Even with her face red from embarrassment, she lets her body react freely, her voice unrestrained.

She must feel something about Miyamae. No matter how close they are as friends, if someone has strong feelings for her boyfriend, she can’t just let it slide.

So she’s deliberately letting her voice carry.

It’s her way of staking her claim on me.

And—

I know that Miyamae, in the next room, is hearing all of this through the wall.

♥♥♥

Kyoto’s used book fair is famous in the summer.

The Shimogamo Noryo Used Book Festival, held in the Tadasu Forest at Shimogamo Shrine.

But in autumn, there’s another book fair at Hyakumanben Chionji Temple.

That day, I was walking down Hyakumanben Street toward the autumn book fair.

It was after morning lectures, in the early afternoon.

I was after philosophy books. I used to struggle with philosophy, but that was because I misunderstood it. Philosophy isn’t just knowledge—it’s a practical method for understanding what’s happened in your life and figuring out how to move forward.

Those who never waver don’t need philosophy. It’s for when you stumble. Like how I needed Erich, and still do.

Nietzsche, Kant, Hegel, Descartes.

And people crave words themselves. Poetry.

Goethe, Hesse, Borges, and the Beatles.

I was heading to the book fair for those, but lofty thoughts get tiring after a few minutes. It’s autumn, so I start thinking about fishing for saury by the sea or grilling them on a shichirin. And those thoughts circle back to Touno and Miyamae’s relationship.

On the surface, they’re as close as ever. But there’s no doubt a tiny thorn has pricked their bond. A small crack.

We’re a tight-knit group, so it’s natural to be concerned. But this is manageable. The cause is simple.

The affection I felt from Miyamae in Kyushu has grown too big. Every time I help the hopeless Miyamae, her feelings for me grow. That loop is complete, and it’s making Touno a bit anxious.

But Miyamae herself hasn’t changed her stance since she stepped back for Touno’s sake. She supports me and Touno and is motivated to find a boyfriend.

There’s just a slight gap between Miyamae’s heart and her actions.

But time will surely fix that.

Miyamae will find someone else to love.

Right now, I might be the guy she trusts most. But that’s largely because I’m the first guy she got close to. As she meets other guys, that will fade.

People look forward, fall in new love, and live on.

Love is something you earn through daily effort. A mindset of loving others. A skill. It doesn’t require a fated person or a special encounter.

Miyamae can be happy without me.

Sure, being liked by a girl like Miyamae gives me a ticklish joy.

But I’m not the type to get swept up in that anymore. I can quietly wish for her happiness and help her as a friend.

Once Miyamae gets a boyfriend, the tiny thorn in my relationship with Touno will come out easily.

I just need to reassure Touno while helping Miyamae find a boyfriend.

And we’ll all stay close, watching the rocket launch in Tanegashima ten years from now.

There’s no problem. No one gets hurt, and we all stay happy.

With this Kyoto-style Kirishima Plan in mind, I reach the entrance to the book fair at the temple grounds. That’s when—

Across the street, a girl pulling a rolling suitcase catches my eye. Seeing her, I’m hit with a nostalgic yet lonely pain, my chest tightening.

A chic dress, long black hair, an expression that seems cold.

The afterimage of another youth of mine.

An unforgettable light.

It was Tachibana-san.