V2C1 Part2

Parsed with an automated reader. The content accuracy is not guranteed.

*****

By being lovers, it didn’t mean that we had to stick with each other while at school. In fact, everything was just like the usual before we were going out.

Of course, we also didn’t do stuff like long phone calls or exchange romantic messages.

Eh….then what are we going to do during this relationship….? Loving each other….? Huh, that one is the most impossible choice.

There was only one thing that changed, which was that we always spent our time together after school, just the two of us. Umm, our relationship sure was a modest one.

Regardless, everyone in our group didn’t say anything and perhaps assumed that it was part of Mai and Satsuki-san’s make-up plan. In fact, what I did...was really part of it, and they were not wrong to assume it like that, I thought...

And so, today too, I walked home together with Satsuki-san.

It was only a walk to the station, but unexpectedly we had a normal conversation (it’s the truth).

“Amaori, what’s your hobby?”

“E-eh? Me?”

I asked in return even though she was the one who asked. Satsuki-san looked at me like it was obvious. Yeah, of course…

“For now, I want to know you better.”

My hobby, huh…

Gaming, watching videos about gaming, browsing the Internet, watching anime, stuff like that…

No matter which one I chose, it’ll definitely put her off. If I told her that, I could clearly imagine Satsuki-san saying something like, “Huh, everything sounds stupid, it’s a fitting hobby for you.”... I couldn’t say it.

No, but there was also the possibility where Satsuki-san secretly loved playing games at home, “I see. Actually I also love playing games. My playtime for Monster Hunter has reached 20,000 hours.” Let’s put a bet for this one chance!

“Umm, if I should pick one, I like games, I guess.”

“Games, as in something like ‘The Game of Life’? That’s something you can play by yourself?”

This was a reaction from someone who had never touched a video game in her whole life!

“E-eh, yeah, something like that.”

“Amaori.”

Her voice didn’t reflect any emotion. It made my heart skip a beat.

“Why are you lying?”

“Eh.”

Those magical eyes that could read people’s hearts instantly uncovered the weaknesses that lay inside my own heart.

“Even though I asked a question for the sake of knowing you better, if you aren’t being honest, it’ll be meaningless. Just answer it properly.”

I cried, “Uuuh, I’m sorry.”

“Wa-wait, why are you crying?”

I managed to keep it in so the tears didn’t flow, but Satsuki-san had made a really reasonable argument. It inflicted a perfect damage to my mental stats.

“Actually, I love playing games. The kind of games when you play as a detective and shoot your guns—bang-bang-bang—towards people. A barbaric type of game…”

As I thought, doing this was hard, Satsuki-san…

I bet she was looking at me like she’s looking at trash. “I see, since your real life isn’t going well, you unleash your resentment through the game. I think these kinds of people are called fanatics, right? That’s pitiful.” She must be thinking something like that or other prejudices that often came from adults in television programs!

Satsuki-san nodded her head.

“Something that's called ef-pee-es, huh.”

“Do you have knowledge about those, Satsuki-san?!”

“Somehow I feel like you contempt me.”

“That’s nonsense! It’s just, since you always have this strict and uptight air around you, I thought that you labelled games as something bad! Like, it’s something for failures since it only makes you dumb!”

“I think those kinds of people with that stereotype are quite rare at this modern age, though…Well, my mother plays them once in a while, so I’m familiar with them.”

“Your mother…that’s unexpected.”

That was very surprising. Considering it was Satsuki-san’s mother, normally I would never consider that possibility…

“You thought that my mother was the type with sharp glasses who only say ‘Study, study!’ each time she opened her mouth?”

“You read my mind!”

“I’m not.”

She looked at me and formed a smile.

“But you’re right, I often hear those kinds of impressions about her even though she’s not like that. Well, it’s not like you’ll have the chance to discover the truth, though.”

“Ah, sure.”

From her smile, it was as if she was looking at me like she wanted to know something. What was it, what was it?

“Is it fun? That ef-pee-es?”

“Eh!? Well, umm, I wonder! It depends!”

“That’s a given, right. What I want to know is your thoughts on that.”

“R-right...Umm, then, I...like them. Whenever I play my games, I can forget about everything else…”

Satsuki-san let out a small giggle.

“I think I get it. When I find an interesting book, I always get so absorbed that I lose track of time and forget to sleep and eat..”

“Hee...ah, what kind of books do you like?”

“I don’t have any preference since I generally like books, but if I should mention a genre, I think something that focuses on humans…”

Humans. I looked like I didn't understand what she meant, so Satsuki-san took a deep breath and explained it normally.

“Something about human emotions...I guess. It’s often mentioned that people’s true nature will appear in critical situations, right? Or a situation when everything is hopeless but the character still desperately tries to look forward. I especially like it when everything is written in a frank manner.”

“I see, ah, I also like stuff like that!”

“...really?”

“Eh, I really am being honest right now!”

Satsuki-san let out a smile when she saw me looking desperate.

“I get it, I was joking.”

“B-bully…!”

“Why were you looking so desperate?”

“That’s…”

I avoided her gaze.

“I don’t want to be hated, by you…”

I peeked at Satsuki-san’s reaction. She looked a bit surprised since her eyes were wide open.

I was aware that I desperately faked a lot of things to make me look better on the surface. I also knew that my true self was just a nobody. That was why, I was sure that Satsuki-san would definitely hate me when she discovered that…

But as if she was ignoring the weaknesses I buried inside, she opened her mouth,“I won’t hate you.”

“Eh?”

I couldn’t hide my surprise.

Satsuki-san tucked her hair behind one ear and the corner of her mouth lifted slightly.

“I never liked you that much since the beginning anyway.”

“Wait a minute!!!”

I thought she would indulge me with her kindness, but my hope was crushed in an instant.

Satsuki-san might just well be like a game with a rapid buff-and-nerf system, someone who I couldn’t read well.

We arrived at the station, and since our houses were in opposite directions, we said our goodbyes right before the ticket gate. When I headed to my platform, she called me from behind.

“Hey, Amaori.”

“Y-yes?”

I prepared myself for the incoming spiteful remarks, but it seemed like I was wrong.

“If you want, I have this novel I just finished...want to borrow it?”

“Eh? Okay, let me!”

“It’s okay if you don’t want to...huh, that was quick.”

“I’m interested in seeing what kind of books you usually read!”

“...I see.”

Satsuki-san took a book from her school bag and handed it to me.

“You can return it when you’re done. I think the story is to your liking, but if you find it boring, you don’t have to push yourself to finish it.”

“Thank you!”

With this, I could have a better conversation with her, and reading books was also one of my hobbies anyway. During my lonely time in middle school, I mainly spent my days in the infirmary or library after all…

Satsuki-san looked a bit restless somehow.

“I rarely do things like recommend a book to other people, but I think I should do at least this much.”

Eh, is she being dere right now...?

Suddenly reminded of her marriage declaration yesterday, my cheeks grew hot.

It was late to say this now but, we are kinda dating now, right…? Borrowing her book like this, really sounded like something that lovers would do…

“When I’m looking at you, it makes me want to do better.”

Eh. My heart beat is getting louder. Do better, in what…?

Satsuki-san let out a neat smile.

“Even though we are dating, you keep dodging the question, acting distant, and keeping up an appearance. Thank you for showing me a splendidly bad example so I can learn.”

“My utmost pleasure!” While hugging the book I borrowed from her, since it was irritating, I answered her with a yell.

Inside the train, I took a seat and opened the book she lent me.

The cover had a familiar sensation and was nice to touch. It felt like it still had Satsuki-san’s warmth left on it. I unconsciously brought my face closer to the book and just before I sniffed it, I broke myself out of my trance.

What the heck was I doing. Time out, that did not count. Let’s just read the book.

My experience with reading was limited to light novels, and this time it seemed like she had lent me...classic literature? Uh, if this turned out to be a kind of difficult book, it might be too hard for me…

When I started reading, it turned out that the writing style was something that was easy to read, which was what I had thought initially.

The story was about a 27-year old office lady as the protagonist. Uh-huh, let’s see how it goes.

I see. Starting from the third page, the protagonist met this female high-schooler and slowly, it turned into a series of displaying their carnal desires over and over, while the depiction of their dramatic moment was written carefully.

………………………

Feeling the blood rushing to my face, I closed the book in my hand with a loud thud.

It seemed like the other passengers were looking at me oddly.

Koto Satsuki...Koto Satsuki………

My body was shaking to contain my feelings, while I silently lashed out with my anger.

The heck with, “I think the story is up to your liking”!!?

***

And with that.

The next day, I went to school with the main intention of complaining to Satsuki-san. When I met Mai the first thing in the morning, she greeted me with a dazzling smile just like the morning sun, and my heart instantly filled with guilt.

“Good morning.”

“G-good morning…”

Without thinking, I gave her a simple reply to avoid talking with her any further and went straight to my seat.

“Fumu,” Mai looked like she was convinced with something judging by her reaction, but since her voice was hazy, I couldn’t really be sure about that.

Once again, I couldn’t stop my negative thoughts. I was getting swept away by Satsuki-san and ended up agreeing with her condition to date her after all.

While I was having my battle with Mai to decide our relationship between lovers and best friends, I had carelessly agreed to date Satsuki-san even though it was just for two weeks…

Unfaithful? Unhealthy relationship? This was a huge problem considering her feelings...but this was for the wellbeing of Mai and Satsuki-san’s relationship., In short, I was doing this for Mai’s sake!

So this was not a form of betrayal, and wouldn’t become a problem! Probably!

Aah, a human’s relationship is so complicated!

But still, yeah, in the end, they would make up after two weeks and the atmosphere wouldn’t be as bad as before. I just needed to bear with this situation for a while and it would be over. I could do this. Yup.

And just after I thought of that this morning!

“Renako, just a moment.”

“Eh? ...Geh!”

Mai called out to me during lunch break.

W-what was the deal with this girl! Do the Royals really have special skills?!

We walked along the corridor side by side. Right now, Mai had her hair tied up, so she was in her best friend mode. It gave me a sense of relief.

“E-err, rooftop?”

“No, I’m sorry, being outdoors during this season is bad since my skin is pretty sensitive to UV rays. But since it’s an important place for us, I’ll prepare an umbrella so we can talk there if you want.”

“Too conspicuous...then, where are we heading to? Empty classroom?”

“A quiet place.”

Nevertheless, considering her popularity, the place that was able to let Oozuka Mai have a private talk was scarce in this whole school. It would be different after school, but right now we were in the middle of lunch break. Even right now, she kept returning the greetings of other students we met while walking.

I believed that Mai was aware of this fact...wait, was she? I was getting worried. She wouldn’t lead me to the broadcasting room and shout her love there while the whole school listened to it, right…? It was bad enough when we were at the party last time, but if she did something like that, I guarantee that the whole school would ignore me…

We arrived at the school’s entrance and Mai changed into her outdoor shoes and headed outside. Were we heading to some sketchy place?

I was wrong. Mai’s legs kept moving toward the school’s gate. I see. If we talked outside the school, there wouldn’t be any students who were able to listen to our conversations.

I was wrong again. When I exited the gate, there was a black limousine waiting for us right in front of me.

Ha? …...Ha?

A woman in a black suit who looked like the driver stepped out and opened the door to the back seat.

“Please go inside, darling.”

Mai took my hand and escorted me inside.

The interior was pretty wide, complete with a table that might have been the same size as a billiard table. There was also a refrigerator inside. Along the wall, there was a wide variety of western liquors lined up.

Uooo, this was the world inside a movie…

I took a seat and felt like my hip was getting sucked in by the cushion. So soft…

Mai sat facing me and crossed her beautiful leg. What an overwhelming dignity.

“Since no one would dare come here, we can talk about anything, right?”

“You’re right, but...yes, you are definitely right, but still?! Why are you so smug with a face like saying, ‘It’s a great idea, right?’?! Rather than being creative, this is plainly exploiting the power of money to win the battle!”

“It’s a win anyway, who cares about the means. Want to drink something? Scotch? Bourbon? Or should I order a cocktail?”

“Do you have your own set of laws so you can completely ignore Japanese law?! Where can you find high-schoolers who spend their lunch-break drinking cocktails?!”

“It’s another secret just between two of us. Somehow our secrets keep multiplying, huh?”

“We’re breaking legal drinking age, though?! I never thought the day where my own classmate invites me to do something like this would come!”

While we were bickering with each other, the driver had already finished pouring Perrier inside some glasses and served them. Huh, so it’s just fancy water…

Wait, no, now’s not the time to be calm. We still hadn’t touched on the main problem.

I was sure that she called me out here to talk about Satsuki-san. I needed to explain this to Mai in a calm and precise manner.

Mai let out a smile and asked me her first question.

“...it seems like you’re getting along with Satsuki as of lately. Since when did your relationship become like that?”

“Ah, umm, the thing is!”

The sudden question put my mind in a blank state. I was really weak when it came to the real thing!

“That’s, somehow, uuuh...what was it again, umm...actually it started the day before yesterday, umm, I just thought that it would be great if we get along with each other, kind of thing!”

I placed my hand on the back of my head while letting out an awkward laugh.

“No, it’s...umm…”

“Yes?”

Mai tilted her head a little. I let out a weak groan.

“Please allow me to apologize.”

“Why is that? Renako, did you do something that you need to apologize for?”

“Uhh, I wonder...I just need to say it.”

I groaned again, a bitter expression on my face.

“Listen, Mai...we are friends, right...?”

“For now, we are Rema friends, right?”

I anxiously moved my hand like holding an imaginary basketball. I needed to say it.

“If, by any chance, you get involved with a person, but it’ll cause a clash with other parties since they are having different intentions…What do you think I should do when I am trapped in that kind of situation?”

“I never thought that you would answer my question with your worries.”

Mai let out a bitter smile.

My worries…? So that’s it, this was that kind of thing…

“Let’s see, I get it, Renako.”

But Mai does look like someone I could depend on when it came to things like this. Wait, really? Are you sure you’re not deceived by her gorgeous appearance, brain?

“I bet Satsuki planned something to get back at me and she asked you to cooperate, which led you to your anguish since you feel bad for me. Am I wrong?”

“Eh...how did you know…?”

“That’s a given, since I am Oozuka Mai.”

With a charisma like a princess who dearly loves her subjects, she neatly summed up my problem in one go.

“What a cool friend I have…”

I restrained myself before other feelings grew for Mai (best friend version).

“And so, your anguish was born out of love you had for me.”

“Ah, that one is wrong.”

I rejected her notion instantly, but Mai didn’t seem like she minded it.

“Of course I know. You are a lovely person who always thinks about your surroundings, that’s why you’re always torn between your friends’ circumstances. But since that’s one of your good points, I won’t dare to complain about that. I don’t mind if you have someone beside you for now, since I’ll make sure that you’ll come back to me, and this Oozuka Mai will be your last.”

What was she...an empress...!?

“Instead, I’m quite glad seeing you get along with Satsuki since it’ll also benefit me. Even though she looks like that, she’s a very gentle person inside. I’m sure you’ll have a great relationship with her.”

So Mai thought of Satsuki-san as someone like that…

Mai who had her hair tied up looked more mature than usual. So this was the quality of Ashigaya High Schools’ super darling...someone who took away every student’s heart, our school’s Goddess of the Sun…!

“Err...Mai and Satsuki-san knew each other since before we enrolled in high school, right?”

“Aah, that’s right. We first met during spring in our fifth grade.”

“Since elementary school...”

They were practically childhood friends then. Somehow it was a bit confusing.

“Huh, you two had a period when you were attending elementary school…?”

“I was born normally as a baby and grew up to become the current me after all. But I’m glad that I met you in high school, since the childhood me was a foolish little girl.”

“Really!?”

Mai looked a bit shy and placed her finger on her lips.

“Aah, I thought it was natural for everyone to shower me with their adoration. I was a textbook spoiled little lady. I didn’t realize how lucky I was with everything that had been given to me since I was born. A really naive and arrogant little girl.”

That was...not really different from her current self, right…? Still, I didn’t dare to point that out since the other party was Mai.

“Satsuki is one of the very few friends I have who know about me from back then. Honestly, I have a lot of embarrassing things I don’t want to remember...Before, I said that you are my destined person, right?”

“Eh? Yes.”

The topic suddenly changed.

“The fact that I met you back then won’t change. It also applies to my encounter with Satsuki. She’s someone who has always stayed beside me since then. We spent our days together for a long time and made a lot of irreplaceable memories.”

“Yeah, I see...”

I have never had any interactions with friends up until middle school...But I understood how Mai felt.

During my truancy, it was a very dark period for me, but my sister stayed beside me even though we often bickered and she showered me with harsh words. Even so, it still saved me somehow and things had turned out to become like this.

But unlike Mai, I couldn’t be honest and praise my sister, saying she’s a good person. As I thought, Mai really was more mature than me.

“In short, Mai really likes Satsuki-san.”

Not just as a normal friend, but her precious friend.

Mai giggled at my words.

“I wonder about that, since currently the other party is unwilling to talk to me.”

“Yeah...that’s it, that’s the case!”

I enthusiastically pointed my finger at her.

“If you think of her as someone precious, just hurry and make up!”

“Even though you told me to make up, it’s not like I have any problems with her, though?”

“Eeehh…?”

In response to my disappointment, Mai shrugged her shoulders.

“Satsuki is stubborn and won’t give up once she sets her mind on something no matter how much time has passed. It’s okay, you can play along with her plan and help her achieve what she wants.”

While saying that, she let out a very confident smile.

...but that, she just agreed on something that spelled trouble, though...

“Really? Are you really okay with me playing along with her plan?”

“It will reduce my time with you, and it will be hard for me, but I’m okay with that much. You also want to do that, right? Then what I should do is respect your wish. Please take care of Satsuki for me.”

Facing Mai who showed her Empress’ level of generosity, I asked her one last time.

“Are you sure? To let her do as she pleases? Are you really, really sure?!”

“Aah, I already said it, right? We still have a lot of time until our graduation to deepen our relationship. It won’t be a problem to make one or two stops for our growth. The minimum age of marriage is 18 years old anyway.”

I wondered if Mai agreed on doing this much since she still felt guilty about what happened back then...

“Is that so...okay then…”

Deep down, I was really thankful for her benevolence.

With this, I could reduce the remorse and pain I had during my time with Satsuki-san. I didn’t know how much she understood, but...thank you, Mai.

Mai let out a small breath. She looked at the glass with the Perrier inside with a cloudy face.

“If only I knew we'd spend time with just the two of us like this, it would have been great if I hadn’t tied up my hair this morning.”

“B-but, since you tied it up, you helped me a lot with your advice as my friend.”

“Really? I'm really glad if that's the case,” Mai answered with a crisp laughter.

“If you choose to become my lover, I will treat you four times better and won’t let you meet any hardship in your life. Of course I’ll make sure to spoil you every day. How about it?”

“No thank you! I’m trying to challenge myself to become a better person and you offer me that?!”

Mai’s affection was really overwhelming. I felt like she was always trying to spoil me.

For me, a pinch-of-sugar level of affection with a normal friendship sort of bond was good enough.

***

“Amaori, let’s go home.”

“Y-yes.”

Just like her initial plan, Satsuki-san fully intended to show how good our relationship was by leaving the classroom together like this but I couldn’t really put my feelings on it. Sounded like me alright...

When I walked toward the door, my gaze met with Mai’s and I waved my hand.

“U, umm...see you tomorrow, Oozuka-san.”

“Aah, be careful on your way home. See you tomorrow.”

She replied my farewell with a bright smile that filled my vision. Suddenly the witch came to obstruct my view.

“Now hurry and go home, dear.”

“Ah, huh.”

What was she thinking, to use that word with that tone! Someone will catch on if you’re being that direct, Satsuki-san!

“............”

Mai still displayed her usual smile on the surface, but her cheeks twitched for a moment there!

Uuuh, she perfectly made use of my personality for her own benefit…

Once we reached the corridor, I questioned her behavior, “Aren’t you being too forceful, Satsuki-san?”

“I already told you that I would treat you well, right?”

Eh!?

She looked at me, all shaken up, through the corner of her eyes and formed a thin smile.

“Let’s go.”

“W-where…?”

“A good place.”

Satsuki-san dragged me toward someplace she wanted to go...Hieee, I’m still underage, you know...!?

Ah, we arrived at our destination.

It looked old and quiet, the lighting was pretty dim, and I felt like we were entering our own secret base since I didn’t feel anyone’s presence other than us. The chilly temperature lingering around the air enveloped our skin.

“This is a library!”

“That’s right.”

“It’s very refreshing since they have air conditioning!”

“That’s great, right? Now stop being rowdy.”

Aye aye.

This was a public library located a bit far from our school. We sat side by side at the studying corner. It seemed like she usually borrowed her books from this library.

“Umm...and so, what did you mean by ‘treat me well’ exactly?”

“Of course, I’ll tutor you.”

“Is that so…”

Satsuki-san looked confused when she saw my reaction.

“Why did you cover your face with your palms? It’s not like you’re delighted that you want to cry, right?”

“It’s just that I hate my own thoughts.”

I wanted to curse myself who had that kind of imagination during our trip here...I wondered why I thought of stuff like that considering it’s Satsuki-san we’re talking about…

“Whatever. Anyway, we’re going to have final exams starting next week. How much studying have you done?”

“Eh?”

Why did she ask me like I’ve already touched my study material?

“A-around thirty minutes…?”

There were days like that...when I had homework to do…

We spent a lot of time studying in school anyway, so why should we study during our time at home? That's complete nonsense, right…?

Satsuki-san’s eyebrows were twitching.

“You sure are able to maintain your grade with that kind of attitude, huh. What was your average score during the last test?”

Errr...I tried my best to remember and answer her question. Satsuki-san let out a huge sigh when she heard my score.

Ah, that reaction hurts.

“You see, I really don't want to date someone with terrible grades.”

“An immediate prickly reaction...Uuh, nonetheless, it’s still pretty average, even though it leans on the lower side.”

I had desperately studied so I could attend Ashigaya High for the sake of avoiding my old classmates after all. Of course most of the students have better learning abilities than me…

“If you’re going out with me, you should at least place yourself in the top 10, or else it would be troubling for me.”

“Huh, that’s harsh. Placing myself in the top 10 where not even three people can achieve it…!?”

“There’s precisely 10 people who are able to achieve it.”

Her gaze felt like she was looking at a big idiot.

“I won’t ask you to become first place like Oozuka Mai, but Sena always maintains her grade on the top 10, even Kaho can do that much.”

“For real!?”

Uwaah...what a huge shock…

I understand if it’s Ajisai-san, but I always thought that Kaho-chan is on my level…

As I thought, you needed to be a top elite if you wanted to interact normally with people like Mai! A completely different breed than this perfectly normal Amaori Renako…

Looking at me who became gloomy, Satsuki-san stared at me from my side.

It would make me nervous if you suddenly entered my field of vision like that.

Satsuki-san seemed aware of her own beauty, but she’s totally indifferent to what kind of damage she could inflict with that look...for me, both she and Mai have the same destructive power!

“I don’t really care but, Amaori, you have a huge inferiority complex, right? If by any chance you can reduce it by your own ability, why not try doing it? I think it wouldn’t hurt to try.”

“Uh…”

I felt like I got punched by her fair argument…

“Let’s see, I might’ve asked too much for top 10. It’s not good to force someone to achieve good grades that way. Still, I think getting good grades as the results of your efforts is pretty fulfilling, don’t you think?”

“That’s...I think I can understand…”

It’s the same with playing fighting games. It’s fun when you’re able to defeat your opponent, but it excites me more when I realize that my skills have gotten better. The moment of triumph only lasts for seconds, but the moment when I figure out which part of me is able to improve, it makes me want to do even more.

When I thought about my smiling practice, intensive make-up training, and everything that I did to improve myself...I thought working hard did suit me.

Studying, huh…

“Well, my mother will be happy if I manage to improve my grades…”

“That’s a good thing.”

“You’re right…”

“Then, let’s start. Take out your textbook.”

“Yesh…”

And with that, our studying session began.

At least, rather than a cheerful event like Surprise☆Sparkling Barbecue Party!, my study session with Satsuki-san felt completely normal. A thought like ‘this is impossible, totally impossible, just let me die’ never occurred in my mind.

“Excuse me, Satsuki-san. May I ask about this problem?”

“Which one? Aah, this one really is a bit complicated. Listen well, to solve this problem you should change the logicー”

Unexpectedly, Satsuki-san was really good at teaching others since it was easy to understand her explanation.

When I had a problem, first she would confirm which part I didn’t get, and then she would break it down step by step and explain them to me systematically. She wouldn’t make a fool of me or get angry and annoyed at my question. She was really being objective and very patient when she taught me.

“Could it be that Satsuki-san is the type of a good wife who’ll properly take care of her good-for-nothing husband...like, you usually look cold, but you are very kind when you teach me...something like a carrot-and-stick approach?”

“It’s not like I’m doing it on purpose. But I think being too harsh during times like this isn’t a good thing. It would be different if you get more motivated by being taught harshly though.”

It’s okay. I was completely okay with the current arrangement.

“When you are in a relationship, are you the type that will say, ‘It can’t be helped,’ and then take good care of your partner? Someone who likes taking care of someone…?”

“I've never been in one, so I can't answer that question…”

Satsuki-san twitched her eyebrows and her cheeks were getting red.

“It feels funny when you look at me with that kind of look…”

“Eh? No, uh, huh, no that’s not, I didn’t say it in particular meaning, it’s just a hypothetical situation. I simply thought that your lover will have it great if they have you as their partner.”

“...right now you are that partner.”

“Ah, t-that’s true.”

Looking at the flustered Satsuki-san made my body grow limp. Huh, this is weird. I frantically swung my hands to hide my embarrassment.

“F-for example, if it’s Mai, she’ll simply brush it off with a face like saying, ‘It can’t be helped it if you don’t get it.’”

“If you compare me with her right now, it will only trigger my annoyance, so please be careful next time.”

“Yes.”

I took a mental note of that and shut my mouth obediently.

We went back to studying.

“And then, the part right hereー”

The movement of her finger somehow gave off a sense of indecency. I held myself from gulping.

I tried to call the Mini Mai inside my head so I could suppress these weird thoughts. Mini Mai looked composed while saying, “You don’t have to mind me,” with a graceful smile. No, no, do your job!

“I couldn’t do this back then.”

“Huh?”

When I was in the middle of fighting my own battle, Satsuki-san said that out of nowhere.

“It was hard for me to understand the concept of what I learned. Well, I am still troubled by that even now. I wasn’t really good with studying, that’s why I thought studying was a boring activity to do since I should repeat the same thing over and over to get the grasp of it.”

So even Satsuki-san had that kind of phase in her life.

“Even then, I still continued to struggle.”

“And so you’ve become strong.”

Satsuki-san let out a giggle.

“Those were nostalgic memories. Back then, no one could beat Mai both in study and sports. Everyone showered her with an abundant amount of praises and considered her as someone extraordinary. But that was wrong. I knew that she put a lot of effort to achieve everything in her life, and it made me regard her as a normal person, which means I could take victory over her and that’s why I challenge her every time.”

That smile on her face wasn’t a form of self-mockery. It was simply a face remembering the memories from her past. A beautiful, sepia-colored smile.

Up until now, the mark of their path wasn’t very visible so people couldn’t understand their bond. But now, I feel like I’m starting to discover that path.

Currently, both Mai and Satsuki-san won’t speak to each other, but the fact that they are best friends still remains. This might be something I shouldn’t worry about in the first place.

It made me relieved that I was able to joke around her.

“I see...well then, it means as long as I put a proper amount of effort, I might be able to snatch the second place, right?”

“As long as you strive for it.”

Sheーwho was once the same as meーanswered me with a smile. Since I’m a simple person, I might get easily led around by this good-wife-and-wise-mother-like partner.

“If that’s really the case, I’ll try to put in more effort than usual. Just kidding!”

“Aah, forgive me, let me make a simple correction.”

Satsuki-san let out a smile once again.

“As long as you push yourself until you reach your limit and vomit blood, I’m sure that you'll be able to do it.”

“I think I’ll do stuff moderately!”

That day, I discovered another side of Satsuki-san I’d never seen.

I didn’t realize that in the days after that, I would discover another side of hers that I’d never imagined.

OMAKE

*****