V2...

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EPILOGUE

*****

“Great work, everyone!”

Kaho-chan raised her glass as the rest of us followed with a cheerful, “Cheers!”

Right after the closing ceremony, We’d dropped by a café near our school.

By ‘we’, of course I meant me, Kaho-chan, Ajisai-san, followed by Mai and Satsuki-san, all five of us. The revival of Mai’s group! Yay!

While drinking her cream soda, Kaho-chan grinned, her body swaying in excitement.

“Summer break starts tomorrow~!”

“Do you have any plans for the summer, Satsuki-chan?”

“Let’s see. I have a lot of books I want to finish. I’ll probably spend my break reading books in the bath, immersing myself for whole days at a time.”

“Wouldn't that damage your books, reading them while dipping inside a bath?”

“That’s because of the humidity inside the bathroom. If I open the window and let the air circulate, it’ll be okay. I also have a book stand anyway.”

“Th-that’s right. Satsuki-san’s bathroom is quite amazing, you know.”

Sitting at the edge of the table, I finally found an opening to join their conversation, so I took the chance and put on my best smile. After I said that, Mai also joined in and said, “Right,” like she agreed with me.

“Certainly, the Koto household has a great taste in arranging their bathroom thanks to Satsuki’s meticulousness. Which reminds me, why would you know about that, Renako?”

“Eh?”

Mai tilted her head, a smile plastered on her face. Her slightly-opened eyes didn’t smile at all though…

This was followed by Ajisai-san, with a voice like she was in shock. “Re-Rena-chan…?”

Th-this mood...I felt like my blood was draining from my body.

Could it be that I just did something again……..? (In a bad way)

As if she was enjoying the whole charade, Kaho-chan also joined in.

“Eh, what does it mean, what does it mean?! Explain yourself, Saa-chan!”

“It wasn’t something that grand. She just came over.”

“Hou?”

Satsuki-san confronted Mai’s agitated stare while stroking her own hair, saying “That’s not something strange, right? Having friends over in your house.”

I felt like my head was being jerked around.

The contractual relationship between us was now over.

Our formal relationship as lovers, those heart-throbbing moments, the suffocating everyday life.

But to be honest, the Satsuki-san who played her part as the virtuous wife was adorable, and I had also greatly enjoyed our time together.

That’s why, I thought once everything was over, we would go back to being strangers in the same social circle.

When I heard those words from Satsuki-sanー

“Sa-Satsuki-sa~~~~n…..!”

“Eh, wha, Rena-chan you’re crying?!”

“Rena-chan?!”

“Wh-what’s wrong with you…?”

Sniffle.

My hardships for the past two weeks hadn’t been in vain.

“B-because...Satsuki-san, you said that, we are friends~~~........!”

“Just because of that?”

“That’s important for me~~~~~~~~!”

Aah, not good. I couldn’t hold back these tears, which kept flowing.

Although I was pretty sure that these people would find me funny with this kind of reaction, Kaho-chan and Ajisai-san unexpectedly took my arms, embracing them.

“Me too, me too, I’m also Rena-chan’s friend!”

“Y-yeah, m-me too...we are fr-friends, okay?!”

“Kaho-chan, Ajisai-san~…”

How warm...everyone was so warm….

It only made me cry more though.

Aah, Mother, Father, Little Sister, I really had great friends...they were very kind even towards someone like me…it was like a dream.

“You really are weird.”

Satsuki-san looked at me with her cold eyes...

But, she had already said that we were friends...she really said it...hehehe…

“Why are you crying while grinning…”

“She’s really interesting, right?”

Mai stroked her chin while flashing an adult-like smile.

“She’s my idol.”

“Since a long time ago, I really haven’t been able to comprehend your preferences.”

“My preferences have never changed, since a long time ago. I like pretty things, you see?”

“It’s currently covered in tears and snots though, are you sure…?”

“Pretty, right?”

She answered Satsuki-san while settling her gaze on me, smiling. I couldn’t agree more with Satsuki-san about not being able to understand Mai’s preferences.

Ah, Satsuki-san handed me a pocket tissue...how kind...friends…

“You look pathetic, and you make us stand out.”

“My apologies…”

“Ah, here, me too.”

“Then, you could use this too.”

I also received pocket tissues from Ajisai-san and Kaho-chan. Now I held three pocket tissues in my hands...a friendship of pocket tissues...

“Let’s leave it at that. Why are we gathering today again? Don’t tell me it’s to celebrate my return to the group?”

“Of course not, since celebrating every minor thing would be troublesome. Which is why we wouldn’t do something like this each time you leave and return.”

“......I wouldn’t do something like that.”

“Personally I’d like to do stuff like this once a week. It’s fun after all.”

“I won’t do it!”

Like giving a barking dog their favorite bone, Mai set a long box in front of the annoyed Satsuki-san.

“...the heck is this.”

“Happy birthday, Satsuki.”

Satsuki-san blinked and looked rather perplexed.

“...I see now. I was very busy lately that I’d forgot.”

“And with this, you’ll become the older sister for a while, eh.”

“That’s right. Well, since I’m older now, I will stop being menacing since it was kinda meaningless.”

Satsuki-san accepted the gift genuinely and turned to face us. We had already prepared our own gifts and handed them over.

“Here you go. Happy birthday, Satsuki-chan.”

“Thanks, Sena. I’m happy that you’re celebrating with us.”

“Satsuki-san, my friend! This is a gift from Renako, your friend! A proof of our friendship!”

“Annoying…”

“How mean!”

Lastly, Kaho-chan gave a huge thumbs up, a wide grin on her face.

“I’m so glad we somehow made it by this day! I had been anxious these days, thinking we couldn’t make it!”

That was the main reason why Kaho-chan was in such a hurry for them to make up.

She had simply wanted to celebrate Satsuki-san’s birthday with everyone. We’d already joined the same group after all. Of course she wanted to celebrate this as our first special day.

“...could it be that was the reason why…”

“Well! Right!”

Kaho-chan brought out her other thumb and joined them like doing a thumb sumo.

“.....thank you, everyone.”

“Saa-chan is embarrassed! How cute! Can I take a picture?!”

“You definitely can’t.”

“Alright! I’m going to take it now!”

“I’ll break both you and your smartphone into pieces.”

“Me included?!”

Good grief, how lively.

As expected, this group was lacking without Satsuki-san’s sharp comebacks.

Huh, this felt good after all...she really was an irreplaceable existence to us.

Fufu, friend.

I let out a carefree grin from ear to ear. I think my face wouldn’t go back to its normal condition for today.

While I was enjoying my moment, I vaguely overheard Mai’s whispers to Satsuki-san.

“Unlike those times, right now we are surrounded by great friends. We’re not alone, and we won’t be alone, Satsuki.”

Hearing that, Satsuki-san appeared solemn, and then she nodded.

“You’re right...it’s just like you said.”

She agreed with Mai as she stared at the four gifts on the table before her.

Yup...that was right. I also felt the same.

What Mai had said, it hadn't meant for Satsuki-san to stop trying. Of course that wasn’t what she was trying to convey. It was just that she wanted Satsuki-san to stop cornering herself and live her life a bit more freely.

Well, the gold chain that had bound her up until now was a pretty robust one, and apparently it still strongly bound her.

But Satsuki-san probably already has the key to unchain herself from those shackles.

“Ah right.” Satsuki-san changed the topic and she pulled something from her bag.

“Mai, I also have something I want to give you.”

“Oh my, what is it? A trophy?”

“...for what?”

“I just blurted out something I’d like to have.”

“...I’ll consider that for your birthday. This is what I wanted to give you.”

The thing that Satsuki-san handed over to Mai was a sheet of paper that was rolled into a scroll.

Ah, her test results.

“This is?”

“Just open it and you can see for yourself.”

Mai opened it and read the paper, gradually becoming completely dumbfounded.

“........Eh?”

“I bet you immersed yourself in practicing, right? I’d already said it before, right? That I would give it my all for everything I did.”

Satsuki-san clasped her hands together and rested her chin on them, beaming.

“This is my first victory over you, huh.”

AFTER-EPILOGUE

*****

“And that’s the case, so I’d like you to console me.”

“Wait, no, I don’t really get what you just said.”

It was noon on the very first day of summer break. I was in Mai’s mansion.

We sat side-by-side on a huge, L-shaped sofa. Mai looked dispirited as her shoulders drooped, and she rested her body on mine. You’re close, too close.

Today I had come over to retrieve something I had left here during our match, but look at this…well, I couldn’t change what had already happened, so…

“Because I lost to you in the game, and on top of that Satsuki also beat me in the test....not even I can accept this sudden reality that’s trampling me…”

“Other than that stuff with Satsuki-san, you’ve already crushed me completely in other subjects. That’s not enough for you, eh…”

“That’s not true. I also lost the chance to tie the knot with you after all.”

She really sounded dejected, so I shut my mouth.

Ultimately, I was one of the main causes of this...of course it was hard for me to say something in this situation…! I had completely crushed her hopes with that last headshot. Ugh, these guilty feelings…

But then, Mai flashed a weak smile.

“...even though I’d said that, actually I hadn't really intended to marry you if I won the match.”

“R-really?”

“Aah. This isn't the Shakespearean time period where I can just snatch you through a battle after all. What I really want is the moment you choose me based on your own decision and your feelings.”

I couldn’t help but think that Mai, who said that with pride and earnestness, was admirable.

“Even though you looked so desperate…”

“It’s my policy to face a battle with everything I had. If not, that would be a huge disrespect to my opponent...or so I thought.”

Mai folded her hands together and slouched, looking really depressed.

“So I really faced two consecutive losses, eh...against you and Satsuki…”

“Uuuh.”

Today Mai had her hair down, so she was in her lover’s mode. Considering this situation, it would probably be better if I don’t meddle further for my own sake, but…

Seeing Mai being timid like this, of course I couldn’t help but feel a twinge in my chest. That was the truth. Especially after recalling how I’d kept looking after Satsuki-san and neglected her these two weeks.

That’s why, well...if it was only for a bit.

“Aah, geez. Alright then.”

I sighed heavily. What was with my attitude? That wasn’t the behavior of someone who wanted to comfort others.

I patted my long skirt on my lap.

“Lap pillow.”

“Eh?”

“I’ll do it for you.”

Mai looked at me with disbelief.

“........”

Huh...I thought that she would totally jump in at my suggestion. What was with this awkward mood?

I felt cold sweat starting to flow.

I often gave my little sister a lap pillow, so I thought it wasn’t a huge deal...

And that was when the social recluse me from my middle school period emerged, gloomy as always.

“Eh this is something that usually happens in manga, right? Y’know, like those kisses out of gratitude. But those things, they’re stuff that happens when the giver really sees herself as someone worthy to give something like that, right? Uuwwaaah, what’s with that excessive amount of self-confidence? Cringe.”

Stop it!

No, that wasn’t what I meant, really! I wasn’t that kind of woman! I thought this would make her happy since it was Mai! You really had no idea how Mai was!

“Hurry up, lap pillow, here.”

“No, but—”

“Lap pillow!”

I dragged Mai and forcefully made her head rest onto my lap. Lap pillow complete!

“Muu...so forceful…”

“Right back at you. Why’re you being so reluctant...Satsuki-san had already decided to stand on her own feet, and you also chose to try and rely on other people besides her, right?”

I repeated what she had said during our ryoutei meeting. Mai moved her mouth, mumbling, “Muu...I really did say that...”

Even though she was okay with kisses and probably stuff more than that...I couldn’t understand why she was being so embarrassed by a mere lap pillow. It wasn’t like I had zero reluctance to do something like this, but seeing her reaction somehow lessened my embarrassment.

I gently caressed Mai’s hair. I could smell a refreshing scent like sun rays from her strands.

“I already said this before, but it’s okay to make mistakes. It’s normal to lose at something. You always do your best after all.”

“Kuh.”

Mai buried her face into my lap. H-hey, you.

But well, it wasn’t like she was intending to do something indecent, she was just trying to hide her embarrassment. While she couldn’t show her face, her legs were kicking around, hitting the sofa.

“I felt like feelings I couldn’t describe are overflowing!”

At last, Mai fell into a swamp of contempt. And she was struggling…

“You’re already used to having people’s stamps of approval and praises, so why are you like this now because of what I’d said…”

“Of course, since being a winner is part of my ordinary life...but I really never had people praise me for losing, for doing my best.”

It seemed like she wasn’t used to being spoiled like this. I see.

Somehow I was slowly enjoying this.

“I see, I see. But it’s okay, since I perfectly understand how hard you try. Fufufu, Mai-chan is really an admirable girl, good girl…..fufufu.”

“You, that side of you...you’re...geez……!”

Mai’s ears got redder with each passing second.

I was getting excited since it was like coaxing a splendid person from the valley of failure.

But it was really alright, since Mai was too powerful anyway. It was okay to stop trying for a short while. By doing this, I felt like we were becoming closer. That was why it was okay for her to stop being her usual Super Darling self, since being an ordinary girl was enough sometimes.

Especially this time, she had really tried her best to suppress her own desires, seeing me off with Satsuki-san almost everyday. Actually, that was really helpful.

“Thanks to you, I was able to befriend Satsuki-san.”

“Honestly, I was feeling quite reluctant about that...but if that made you happy, then great.”

I kept caressing her hair. To think that I had this valuable head on my lap, with my hands running through her hair...it made me nervous…

Seeing Mai showing me her vulnerable side made my heart tighten.

No, I meant it as a friend. It wasn’t like I had something romantic going on inside, don’t misunderstand…

“Even though it would be great if you stay meekly like this, it feels easier after all...”

“...are you going to be happier if I’m like this?”

When she asked me that, I thought for a while, a bit lost. But then I shook my head.

“Nn….….nope. It’s okay to be your usual, Mai. You can be angry when you feel anger, laugh when you want to laugh, feel down when you are down. Just be your usual self.”

It was my role to push myself to my limit to get others’ stamps of approval after all.

Mai was okay by being herself. Since I wanted to be friends with her, the real Mai.

…..well, things like that, seeking from others what I didn’t have, it was just the mere selfishness of this ordinary person.

Haa. Mai let out a sigh.

“Just now, I think I fell deeper than before.”

“Mu….”

If Mai was someone who starved for approval from others, then Satsuki-san was her polar opposite.

I think I’d just said stuff that I shouldn’t have said, so I took out my defense shield, just in case.

“What I said wasn’t what you think...I spoke as a friend, okay?”

“Even though you think like that, it’s also alright if I keep this love for you inside my heart. That’s how our relationship, Rema friends, is, right?”

“Somehow it feels like you turned this situation in your favor!”

Mai slowly lifted herself up. She’s taller than me, so she was looking at me from above. She brought her face closer to mine, and that’s when I felt my heart beat faster.

“Renako, how many times did you kiss Satsuki?”

“Eh, err, uhhh.”

She grabbed my wrist. Crap, this was dangerous.

The relaxing mood from before vanished in an instant.

I counted them on my fingers. That time when I slept over at her house, when she came over to my house, and lastly in the washroom during the match…

“A-around three times, I think…..?”

“Three times in two weeks………..? Why are you so….”

“W-wait! It’s a misunderstanding!”

Satsuki-san did everything! It didn’t mean I had strong sexual desires! That absolutely wasn’t the case!

I floundered about, looking for excuses, but before I managed to say anything, she had already forcefully sealed my lips with hers.

Uuh...our first kiss after two weeks.

No, well...Rema friends’ limit was kissing between friends after all...this much was okay, this was perfectly...okay…

Mai pulled her face away and licked her lips, resting her hands on my cheeks.

“Since you said that you don’t mind me being true to myself...it means it’s okay for me to lash out these suffocating feelings inside my chest. I no longer have to hold back, right?”

Eh, we’re going in that direction? In the fulfilling-desires way?

“Wait, it’s better if you can hold back a little...there’s a limit on how far a friend would be willing to accept every part of you after all…”

“Of course, I wouldn't do things that would hurt you.”

Once again, she joined our lips together and pushed me down onto the sofa.

In short, she was intending to see how far she could go before I started to get uncomfortable with the whole thing, with this kiss…

And that’s why she wouldn’t let me go...

Our second kiss was longer.

She repeatedly enveloped my lower lip in hers, biting it gently like she was slowly chewing it.

The power had already left my body. I stared at her, who was on top of me, intoxicatedly. Gazing at me, she flashed a bewitching smile.

Oh no, as expected, being seen in this state was so embarrassing.

I covered my face with my hands, and then confessed.

“Uu, uuhhhh…..listen. Honestly, I felt a lot of guilt reflecting on my actions these past two weeks. So, as long as you don’t overly do it, I won’t push you away, so don’t be too hard on me...”

Mai let out a troubled expression.

“Are you trying to challenge my ability to control myself?”

“No, wait, I’m absolutely not trying to do that.”

“Good grief, you’re really an unfair one.”

Once again, she put her hands on my cheeks and pulled me into another kiss.

But she didn’t do it forcibly. She gently licked my lips with her tongue and then slowly inserted it inside my mouth. Could it be that it felt like this since I hadn’t tried to push her back, choosing to accept all of her…? No, of course that wasn’t the case!

In any case, she was really licking each nook and cranny of my mouth. It felt like my body was filled with Mai. I couldn’t think straight.

Haa, haa...th-that was an intense experience…

“Three times, for now.”

Judging by the impact, rather than three times I felt like we had just did it 300 times though…

She smiled, appearing satisfied.

“I love you, Renako. Let’s have an enjoyable summer together.”

“Yeah, um...yes…”

Just like Satsuki-san, who had harbored a sense of rivalry toward Mai, of course Mai also held the same feelings towards Satsuki-san. Thanks to that, I totally understood now.

I truly would never accept something like contractual lovers with other people ever again. I was a woman who learned from her past regrets and mistakes after all…

No, not just other people. It applied to everyone, definitely!

Mai and I wouldn’t become lovers. Having my heart beat faster, feeling my chest tightening until it was painful, the nights when I couldn’t sleep, that kind of relationship...no thanks.

With both of my hands, I pushed Mai, who was still on top of me, and said in a loud voice, “As best friends! We’re spending our summer break as best friends, so please take care of me!”

With this, the match between Mai, Satsuki-san, and I had come to an end….

And then, the new curtain leading to a brand-new kind of chaos had been lifted.

*****

Translator's Note:And we're done with the second volume. Since the third volume is coming soon, I'll also pick it up after I'm done with Arioto's third volume (again, if someone intended to pick one of this series go ahead an just message me, I'll gladly hand them over).

Edit: After some consideration I've decided to work on Watanare's third volume first, the prologue might come around May's first/second week. I'm sorry for Arioto's reader, but I will try to cut the usual working time so I can work on Arioto soon.

For more detailed info about the novel, click

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