We Should Have Slept While Only Holding Hands, And Yet?! Volume 3 Chapter 7

7. Festival

✿✿✿

The festival has begun.

Our school held their festivals in the middle of October, and they utilized the weekend by holding the festivals on a Saturday. It was a small event. In the first place, the scholastic aptitude test was next month, so the majority of the third-year students didn’t participate. I’ve also said this several times already, but there aren’t a lot of people who even look forward to this event.

“We’re running a cafe! Come and take a look!”

“Miss, come and play with us! Come, come, we’re doing a host bar!”

Well, despite all that, it’s still a festival, so it’s obviously going to be noisy. But the soccer club, are you guys sure you’re allowed to do that? They’re probably doing that because it was approved, though.

After school ended yesterday, the atmosphere around the school changed completely within the span of a single day. Almost to the point that it felt wastful for a festival we were only doing for one day.

The classrooms which all used to look the same were decorated differently according to each club’s activity. Some clubs decorated their rooms extravagantly, while other clubs gave their rooms a calm vibe. I could tell that each club did their best to erase the normal classroom atmosphere and spruce things up to match whatever events their clubs were doing. We had done the same thing, after all.

I could hear people advertising here and there, and students who seemed to want to look around the festival were walking through the hallways in groups. Some of them were even dragged into the classrooms by the people who were advertising and were made to visit their shops.

I had scoffed at this atmosphere last year, but I felt differently about it this time around.

How should I put it? Should I say that this practically useless and noisy atmosphere was nice or should I say that it lifted my spirits a bit? As I thought, is it because I’m personally taking part in the festival this time, or is this also because I’ve changed?

From what I could tell, roughly half of the entire student body was participating in the festival. Additionally, if you include the students from other schools who were here to see their friends, people who had already graduated, and family relatives like the siblings of some students, then this was quite the number of people.

The majority of people wandered around the schoolyard and the first floor. Many of the clubs were doing their best to attract people to their booths and sell things to them. Just as I expected, it would have been fine for our club to have accepted an entrance fee. Isn’t selling food and making money and making money through an entrance fee the same thing?

Furthermore, as one would expect, the success of a festival depended on publicity. The advertisement was important. I don’t know where they got their outfits, but the members of the soccer club over there were all wearing suits for their host bar, and the other clubs were also trying to attract attention in their own way by wearing appealing and matching outfits. Excluding them, there were also people walking around in interesting outfits as well. I could see people wearing character onesies, and there was a person cosplaying. Isn’t their cosplay really high-quality?

“Welcome! The Creative Science Club is doing an exhibition!”

And our club was······.

“······Why exactly are you all in that getup?”

No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t understand why everyone was wearing a maid outfit even though they weren’t related to our club activities whatsoever.

It’s the usual for Jihye, but Saeyeon, Jaim, Jayeon, and Upperclassman Nabom were wearing maid outfits as well. Albeit, it was also interesting since each outfit was altered slightly to match everyone’s respective characteristics.

“Because I thought you’d like it? I also thought it’d be okay since it’s for the festival.”

No, this doesn’t have anything to do with whether I like it or not. After Saeyeon said that with a giggle, Jihye smiled brightly and spoke.

“I suggested it. I did consider a different outfit since you already see a maid uniform frequently, but I felt like this would be fun to do on a day like this. Moreover······.”

“Moreover?”

“You said that you wanted to put me on display, so I tried dabbling a bit. I’m not on display, but this is close enough, isn’t it?”

Jihye said that with a wink and Jayeon continued in a teasing tone.

“Mom and Jihye went through a lot to make these behind your back for everyone, Dad. I helped as well. So, how do we look?”

“It’s also nice since Mom made these herself.”

“What do you think, Underclassman Jin Jaro? Is your heart beating fiercely? Are you on cloud nine since your desire has finally become a reality?”

It’s also amusing in its own way to see the three Jaims act like this while in maid outfits. I feel like we should have just done a maid cafe instead.

“I also prepared your outfit just in case, Jjaro. Do you want to try it on?”

“No! Why’d you even make that?!”

Were they actually being serious back then?! So that’s why they seemed interested in the idea!

Saeyeon covered her mouth as she giggled before she then asked.

“More importantly, Jjaro, how are the other clubs? Are they getting a lot of people?”

“Ah, yeah. A lot of people came. Though it feels like the majority of them are only staying on the first floor or in the schoolyard.”

I had come back after they told me to check out the other clubs earlier. They probably intended to get changed while I was gone. Everyone looked disappointed once I told them that.

“That’s unfortunate······. We worked hard preparing for this······.”

“As I thought, is our location bad? Mm······.”

“Well, there will probably be some people coming up after looking around the first floor. We’ll start getting people then.”

“Why don’t some of us go down and advertise?”

“Ah, that’s a good idea. If we go downstairs while in these outfits, then a lot of people would come.”

“It’ll definitely make for some good advertisement······.”

I wonder if maid outfits can actually advertise for an exhibition.

Our club is doing an exhibition. In order to do this, we removed all of the desks and chairs from the classroom and lined up all of my noteworthy inventions against the wall. In the middle of the room, there’s an area where you can personally test out some of the devices. Like the lie detector and Multi, my prototype robot maid. Things like these. They aren’t related to maids at all. No, well, there is a robot maid prototype, an actual robot maid, and my goal is to make one, but······.

“Does it matter? We accomplished our goal to prevent the club from being disbanded by simply having opened an exhibition like this, and wouldn’t you like it if a lot of people saw your inventions while we’re at it, Dad?”

Everyone nodded in response to Jayeon’s words. I don’t know if this is actually a good thing, but, well, it’d be bad if we didn’t see any gains despite everyone having worn these outfits.

“All right, fine. It’s the festival and it’d probably be a loss if we just stayed here like this. Let’s do that, then.”

“Oh? You’re being more agreeable today, Dad.”

“Then how should we split the groups? I think that we should make it so half of us stay here and the other half goes around advertising.”

Once Jaim had said that, Saeyeon smiled and started counting our current members with her finger. Nanda said that he’d come after he finishes his preparations for his concert, so we currently have 6 people. We should be able to split it up equally, then. I waved my hand and spoke.

“I’ll stay. I won’t be of any help if I went around to advertise, and I have to stay behind to give people explanations on what things do anyway.”

“Everyone here is able to explain everything we have on display, though. Then let’s do this. The team that goes out to advertise can go around looking at the other clubs while they’re at it. Once they return, the two teams can switch.”

“That’s a good idea. I’ve been wanting to look around the festival as well.”

Everyone agreed with Upperclassman Nabom and Jihye. We decided to determine who would stay behind through rock, paper, scissors.

After a couple of rounds, Upperclassman Nabom did a peace sign after having won with scissors and grinned.

“Then it’s decided.”

“Ehehe······. We’ll be going first, then, Jjaro.”

“Do your job properly, okay, Dad? Don’t call people untaught masses and don’t get mad if they laugh at some things since your inventions actually are pieces of junk. Okay?”

“Do you think I’m a kid?”

The first group to look around the festival and advertise was Saeyeon, Jaim, and Upperclassman Nabom. Jihye, Jayeon, and I were going to stay behind and welcome the visitors.

“I look forward to going around with Master later.”

“Jihye, don’t get any weird ideas, okay?”

“Oh well. Dad, we’re going to look around together later, okay?”

“Stop linking your arm with mine. You can’t do this in front of other people, you know?”

Fortunately, it seems the group staying behind didn’t have any particular complaints about this result. Jaim looked at Jihye and Jayeon as if she couldn’t trust them, Saeyeon waved at us with a smile, and Upperclassman Nabom looked at the two with a complicated smile on her face as they left the room.

“They’re gone.”

“Yeah, they’re gone.”

Once the sound of their footsteps disappeared into the loud noise outside, Jayeon and Jihye uttered those words and smiled at each other.

“······Don’t tell me you guys planned this?”

Both Jayeon and Jihye showed a mischevious and satisfied smile.

“We have to let Big Sis Nabom spend time with her family as well, don’t we?”

“There’s probably a lot she wants to talk about with them.”

“······Wait. You knew as well, Jihye?”

Putting Jayeon aside, I asked back in response to Jihye’s remark. Ah, did they know each other in the future? Jihye smiled before answering.

“I had a vague feeling this was the case. Although I fully learned the truth when the older Miss told me on that day.”

“Sorry, Dad. I didn’t intend to tell her, but I was feeling a bit weak back then.”

Jayeon said that with a wink. It seemed like she was asking me to overlook this, so I just smiled wryly.

“In any case, once I found out, Miss Nabom’s actions started to look a bit cute. It was also fun to think that the small and adorable Miss would grow up to become like that.”

Jihye spoke and giggled as if telling me to not worry about it too much.

“More importantly, this is nice. This energetic atmosphere. Should I say that it feels like I’m alive? I can feel everyone’s enjoyment.”

The second floor was quiet, but thanks to that, we could hear the energetic voices outside and on the first floor more clearly. Jihye looked a bit jealous as she went over to the window and looked outside with an interested gaze.

Come to think of it, Jihye spent most of her time only in the house. Different from Jaim, we didn’t encourage her to go outside because she was a robot maid from the future, and Jihye herself seemed to have understood this as she didn’t go outside unless she was going out to buy groceries. The only people she knew were our group and the small number of Jaim’s friends. She got along with the old ladies in the neighborhood and some store employees, but that was it. The reason why they even have this sort of relationship is due to the fact they all believe Jihye being a robot maid is a joke.

This might be why Jihye enjoys gossiping so much. Her desire to connect with others and deepen her relationship with them.

“······Jihye, how about going out to look around as well?”

Jihye turned back to me and smiled.

“It’s all right. The three of us will be going out together later anyway. When the Missus and the two Misses bring guests, I also have to explain things to them.”

I turned to look at Jayeon. Jayeon nodded. Once I saw her response, I spoke once more towards Jihye who had already turned to face the window again.

“If you want to go around by yourself, then just say so.”

“······.”

Jihye turned to look at me with blinking eyes.

“If it’s just explaining things, then Jayeon and I are more than enough. There are a lot of people in eccentric outfits today, so it should be okay. You can also give our club some publicity while you’re at it. Here, here’s some allowance.”

I gave Jihye some pocket change as she stared at me blankly. Jihye looked down at the money I had given her as if she were hesitating before letting out a small sigh and smiling.

“······Wouldn’t it cause misunderstandings if you send me off after handing me money, Master?”

“It’s better than giving you money to stay here, isn’t it?”

Am I wrong? If it were the latter, then it’d be sad for several reasons.

Jihye chuckled and spoke as if she had resigned herself to her fate.

“If Master wishes to spend time alone with your older daughter that much, then I should pardon myself. I’ll be back later.”

······It must be because she resembles Saeyeon, she’s sharp when it comes to certain things. Right before she left, Jihye gave a slight bow to Jayeon before disappearing out the door.

“Heeh, so you’re properly worrying about Jihye as well, huh? This part of you might make you a little different from the previous Dad. Ah, of course, I left with Mom and Big Sis Nabom last time, so I wouldn’t know.”

After Jihye had said that while furtively poking my side, I rubbed the place she poked and spoke.

“Well······. I’m indebted to Jihye.”

This probably isn’t enough to pay back that debt, though. Jayeon tilted her head at my response, but she must have had a rough guess as to what I meant as she leaned her body against mine.

“Still, we’re alone together now, huh?”

“Don’t try anything funny.”

“Isn’t that a weird answer to give when you hear that you’re alone with your daughter? What am I even going to do?”

Jayeon pouted and stuck her lips out at me as I averted my gaze. Rather than sulking, it felt more like she was intentionally expressing her discontent in a cute manner. Like usual. As proof of this, she was poking my side with her finger. I let out a small sigh.

“Hey, Jaim. Before people come, I wanted to ask you something while we’re alone······.”

“Hm? What is it? Ah, is that why you sent Jihye away? What do you want to say this time? You aren’t going to get mad at me like last time, right?”

While Jayeon quickly started to giggle, I asked my question.

“You······. Your relationship with me in the future actually isn’t good, is it?”

“⎯⎯⎯······.”

Once I uttered those words, the smile on Jihye’s face froze.

“Should I say that it was as I expected······?”

A bitter smile appeared on my face once I saw her reaction. Jayeon hastily opened her mouth to deny it, but she eventually resigned herself and slowly looked away. I could hear her mumbling.

“How, did you find out?”

“A lot of people have been calling me dense, so I’ve been doing some thinking lately. Coming to this conclusion was easy after I gained a few clues.”

This might be cruel. However, I still wanted to confirm it.

The first clue was, as I expected, the fact that she would latch on to me excessively.

The explanation that she latches on to me because she gets along with me in the future is plausible. However, after a certain point, it becomes suspicious.

Especially if it feels like she’s begging me to pay attention to her.

“Also, the fact that you’re acting like this with your personality is weird.”

Of course, different from before, I think Jaim is cute, and we might become closer in the future. However, be that as it may, I don’t think that I would like it if Jaim latched on to me that much.

Because it’s me. Because it’s the twisted me.

“There’s also what Jihye said earlier.”

Jihye said that she didn’t know that Upperclassman Nabom was Jaim. This means that they never made contact in the future. Jayeon grows up to become Upperclassman Nabom. If you consider how Upperclassman Nabom dislikes Jayeon, then there definitely must be a reason······.

“You barely ever talked about young Jaim either.”

This was the biggest reason.

Jayeon was the result of the current Jaim not returning to the future and growing up here. She should have seen Saeyeon pass away and Jaim being born. If she really did get along with me as she had said, then she would have talked about them, but she didn’t.

“······And I also know the reason why now.”

At the very least, I now knew why she had been like this.

A shadow gradually cast over Jayeon’s face. She looked away and I did the same.

“······You’re right. It was all a lie. I’m a liar, after all.”

Jayeon spoke in a resigned voice.

“But, why are you saying this now of all times?”

Jayeon’s eyes were filled with resentment as she turned to say this to me. I didn’t avoid her gaze this time.

“You acted as if you didn’t know until now, but why are you bringing this up during the festival, while we’re alone together? Did getting mad at me last time not satisfy you? Isn’t this cruel······?”

Her eyes of resentment slowly changed into that of sorrow and the glint in her eyes changed into disappointment and despair. I thought this was cruel as well. Jayeon may have accepted my apology, but she could have still been in the process of patching up her heart after that incident. She probably was.

“Yeah. You guessed right, Dad. We don’t get along at all. When I told you that you were nice to me and we spent our time happily together in the future, I was lying. I merely wished these things were true. But······.”

Her eyes became red. She rubbed her sleeve against her eyes.

“That, was the only wish I had in life until now. Because I knew that, at the very least, the you in this time period would accept me. Since this was the only time my cold dad treated me nicely. But······!”

“Calm down. That’s not what I was trying to say. This is also why I’m bringing this up now.”

I placed my hand on top of Jaim’s head right when she was about to blow a fuse. I messed her half-curled hair which had been passed down to her genetically. Her headband which went with her maid outfit became skewed. Her ponytail which was being held by a clothespin waved around.

“······Then what were you trying to say?”

“I’m trying to say that I’m sorry. ······To be exact, I’m going to be sorry. Something along this line? This doesn’t sound right.”

I wanted to say this eloquently, but I didn’t have that sort of talent.

I understood why Jayeon said she liked me and why she wanted me to like her. However, Jayeon must also know as well. Similar to how I started to believe that the future can’t be changed ever since I found out about the truth and that this was just a struggle. This is probably why she kept emphasizing to me that the future can be changed back when I was completely clueless.

Because I would end up like her if I were to find out the truth. Like how I’ve been distancing myself from Jaim and Jayeon. Jayeon was probably acting nonchalantly because she knew this.

Seriously, it’s in times like this I can tell that she’s my daughter to a painful degree. She thinks the same way as I do, and only in the bad way.

“······I can’t guarantee you this since I’ve found out.”

Upperclassman Nabom said that the future can’t be changed.

Jayeon said that the future can be changed.

I found out that the future can’t be changed. However, despite this,

“I said this before, but I don’t pray. I’ve decided to do whatever I can and can’t.”

Giving up and falling to the ground are easy things to do, but this all most likely happened because I couldn’t do that. I’m stupid, stubborn, and twisted, so I can’t be satisfied.

“So keep an eye out when you get back to the future. See whether the future has changed or not. If it’s you, then you should be able to tell.”

Upperclassman Nabom had said that the only people who can notice a changed past and future are the observers. Then, at the very least, that means Jaim should be able to notice a change.

“······So why are you saying this now of all times?”

“Because it’s the festival. It’d be a waste to worry about this and that. Even if it’s a festival that no one is really expecting much from, it’s still a festival.”

Jayeon’s gaze softened slightly, so I smiled.

“We’ll be going on a father-daughter date later, so it’d be awkward if we’re constantly worrying about these sort of things during it, right?”

“What’s a father-daughter date supposed to be? Seriously, you only learned bad things from Big Sis Nabom······.”

Jayeon said those words while grumbling, but she also smiled.

I started to hear the sound of people on our floor. The sound of their footsteps was coming our way. I removed my hand from Jayeon’s head. Jayeon let out a sigh and adjusted her headband.

“It seems the publicity worked. Now then, the guests have arrived. This is your dad’s first exhibition, so you have to help properly, okay?”

“Trying to act like a dad only at times like this.”

The first group entered.

ÅÅÅ

“I’m sorry for keeping this a secret until now.”

While burying her words in the loud atmosphere, Upperclassman Nabom spoke in a truly apologetic tone with a slightly stoic look on her face. I naturally glanced at Mom’s face carefully.

Whenever he opened his mouth, Dad would always talk about how the school festivals here were boring, and Mom told me that they were different from the school festivals I’ve seen in manga, but I could still feel the energetic and boisterous atmosphere around me. The atmosphere might have been influencing me even more since I’ve never been to these sort of events before.

It also seems like Mom, Big Sis Nabom, and I really stuck out, considering how everyone would turn to look at us at least once whenever we walked by. It’s a given, seeing how there were three pretty girls wearing high-quality maid outfits. Although it felt like the gazes directed towards me were that of people who were looking at something ‘cute’ and not ‘pretty’. Well, whatever.

“Are you······ surprised?”

Big Sis Nabom had used this opportunity to reveal her identity while we were in this atmosphere.

Different from usual, Big Sis Nabom looked scared, as if she were afraid to hear Mom’s response. As if she were scared of being punished. Mom continued to walk forward in silence while receiving Big Sis Nabom’s gaze. Mom seemed different than usual as well.

“······You finally told me, huh.”

Mom then smiled and turned to face Big Sis Nabom. Those words made Big Sis Nabom inhale sharply. Mom smiled brightly and looked forward again as she spoke.

“That aside, it’s a bit amazing······. Ah, would it be better for me to continue speaking formally? Hmm······. I’m not sure if I should talk formally or informally······.”

“······Were you silent until now because you couldn’t decide which to do?”

Mom simply beamed in response to my drained question.

“In any case, for Jaim to grow up to be older than me. It feels somewhat amazing. There’s also the fact that there are three Jaims. Even though I haven’t given birth to Jaim yet. Ehehe······.”

Once Mom said that while scratching her head with a smile on her face, Big Sis Nabom, whose mouth was slightly agape, asked a question hesitantly.

“Did you perhaps, already know······?”

“I’m not as dense as Jjaro is. I had a vague feeling this was the case. Although I only became certain of it at that moment.”

“That moment······?”

Big Sis Nabom opened her usually half-closed eyes widely and Mom responded with a teasing look on her face.

“Back when I said ‘a wife should leave her husband alone if he wants to spend time by himself.’ you said, ‘that will most likely make your marriage last longer.’. That’s something Mom told me and I told it to Jaim.”

“Just that?”

That was something anyone could have said.

Mom scratched her cheek shyly.

“Other than that, there were some small occurrences as well. Like how you would know things which only me, Jjaro, and Jaim should have known. You didn’t say anything, so I pretended to not notice.”

“······You really are amazing, Mom.”

“That’s because I’m your mom. Your dad seems dense, though.”

Mom laughed in response to Big Sis Nabom’s wry words.

“What, so you already knew? I was worried for nothing.”

Honestly, I thought that Mom absolutely wouldn’t have known. If she did know, I thought she would have been really shocked when she found out. That’s why I didn’t like hiding this from Mom, but I decided to act as if I didn’t know until Big Sis Nabom told Mom herself. I was worried a second ago.

Mom grabbed my hand while I was grumbling to myself. She was smiling.

“Still, thanks for worrying about me, Jaim. And the other Jaim, too.”

Mom grabbed Big Sis Nabom’s hand as well. Mom swung both of her arms and smiled happily.

“Thanks for worrying about me, the both of you. I’m happy. Ehehe······.”

Her smile looked as if she didn’t mind that Big Sis Nabom had kept this a secret until now and that I had also kept my mouth shut.

That smile really defined Ja Saeyeon as a person.

Mom spoke while looking back and forth between me and Big Sis Nabom.

“Then, shall we go have some fun without your dad? We can have a girls-talk. Like we did with Mom.”

“Would that be all right? You were really looking forward to spending time alone with Dad.”

She didn’t show it on the outside, but Mom has been looking forward to this festival. Dad has been acting strangely around Mom as of late, after all. Mom knew this, so that’s probably why she’s been looking forward to this festival. If it’s a noisy day like this, if it’s a day like this where they could make a lot of memories together, then maybe Dad would lighten up a bit. Ultimately, this is the type of person he is. He’s unfittingly sensitive when it comes the atmosphere around him, and he does his best to go along with the mood.

Last year, Dad didn’t spend time with Mom during the festival. Until that point, he preferred being by himself, after all. He hated and liked that. But it was different now. I could now tell how Dad felt towards Mom. Therefore, at the very least, I wanted to grant Mom’s wish on a day like this.

However, Mom responded to my careful question with only an innocent giggle.

“Mhm······. I still have a lot of days to spend together with Jjaro. Nabom······. Ehehe. It’s a bit weird calling you this. In any case, you said you were going back to the future after the festival, right, Nabom? Then today is the last time we can play like this.”

That’s right, huh. Big Sis Nabom said that she was leaving. That’s why she’s been looking forward to this festival as well. Because Mom is a person who prioritizes me and Dad over her own greed.

However, Big Sis Nabom’s expression was weird.

I think if you mixed surprise and guilt evenly together, then that expression would appear. Her mouth was half-agape and her eyes were wide open and trembling.

Why was she making that face? Instead of being happy.

“Don’t make that face. We should enjoy a day like today!”

Before I could even ask, Mom placed her finger on Big Sis Nabom’s lips and smiled. She winked at Big Sis Nabom slyly.

“······.”

I could tell that something was being kept as a secret. Even Mom was hiding something, from me.

Furthermore, I had a feeling that, for some reason, this was probably the same thing which Dad has been hiding from me as well. Everyone has been hiding something. There’s something only they know. I’m curious. I want to know.

“······But are you sure it’s okay for us to just walk around like this and not advertise? I don’t think people would know what we’re dressed up for.”

However, instead of asking about it, I let out a small sigh to exhale my curiosity and spoke. Mom and Big Sis Nabom turned to look at me once I did.

At the very least, let’s bear with it for today.

Mom gave that response, after all. No matter how curious I may be, even if I have to continue bearing this curiosity and anxiety afterward, it would be nice if everyone could be happy for just this one day.

Mom and Big Sis Nabom must have figured out my intentions already. I take after Dad, so my emotions also appear all over my face.

“You’re right······. It’s a bit embarrassing, though. I’m not sure what I should say either.”

“Certainly, people most likely won’t know what we’re trying to gain publicity for when we’re wearing outfits completely unrelated to the exhibition. How should we go about advertising······.”

The two were probably smiling in order to end that topic.

“If I knew this would happen, then I should have prepared a sign.”

It wasn’t long before Big Sis Nabom had gone back to her usual tone and expression. Mom seemed to also go along with that change and went back to using formal speech.

“Then should we try advertising verbally? Mm······ The ‘Creative Science Club’ is holding an exhibition on the 2nd floor! Please come and take a look!”

Despite saying that it was embarrassing earlier, Mom put both of her hands around her mouth and shouted. It quickly got buried underneath the loud atmosphere, but there were still a couple of people who turned to look at Mom. I guess I should also help.

“It’s an exhibition of the inventions created by the self-proclaimed genius scientist, Jin Jaro! You can also try out some of the inventions!”

Several more people turned to look at us once I shouted. Among them, there were a couple of the older girls who would sometimes play with me here at school.

“Ah, Jaim! What are those clothes? Are you doing something as well?”

“I’m helping my dad’s club. Why not drop by and have a look?”

They looked at each other wryly before shaking their heads.

“Mm~ We do want to go since you’re asking us to, but I don’t think it would be that fun.”

“Oh······? That’s unfortunate······.”

I tried to speak in a way that evoked sympathy, but I honestly also thought they wouldn’t really have that much fun at our exhibition, so I didn’t insist. They waved at us and turned their bodies.

“Such discourteous words.”

I wound up looking up towards the sudden voice I heard above my head. It was Big Sis Nabom who had only been watching until now. On a side note, her breasts are way too big. I can’t see her face. I moved a bit to the side so that I could.

“Ah······. U-Uhm, that’s not what we meant······.”

Due to the sudden obtrusion, the appearance of the eccentric upperclassman who was renowned throughout the entire school, the girls faltered. With her usual half-closed eyes, Big Sis Nabom smiled lightly. It was her usual smile, but it felt gentler today.

“If it were a normal exhibition, an exhibition by a club that invents things, at that, then it could indeed be boring. That’s why we’ve prepared many things.”

“R-Really······?”

“How about taking a quick look? We have a lot of fun things!”

Mom smiled and said that towards the girls who were hesitantly backing away.

“Mm······. Ah, we have a lie detector where the ears go right up if you tell a lie, so you can try playing truth or dare with it, and what else do we have······?”

“I honestly don’t think that alone would be able to make people come, but······.”

Putting Mom, the one who suggested the idea, aside, I wonder if Dad and Big Sis Nabom really thought this could attract people.

“A lie detector? You have something like that? It might actually be interesting.”

“······Huh?”

If you react like that, then wouldn’t that make me look silly? Mom smiled due to the favorable response and did her best to advertise dad’s exhibition. Big Sis Nabom also helped to convince the girls.

“Then, since Jaim also asked us to, how about we check it out?”

“Let’s also find out if this girl really has a boyfriend or not!”

“I really do! All right, then, Jaim. Good luck~!”

In the end, it seems they decided to take a look at our exhibition as they went towards the stairs while chatting. Mom and Big Sis Nabom had a satisfied smile on their faces as they watched the girls go.

“Our first success.”

“Ehehe, we just have to keep doing this. At any rate, let’s continue advertising while looking around! Oh, let’s also visit the other clubs!”

“······Seriously, I don’t understand how that attracts people.”

“People normally don’t get the opportunity to use a lie detector. They can chat while playing around with it. I hope Jjaro doesn’t say something weird······.”

“It should be fine since Underclassman Jin Jaro isn’t by himself. Now then, let’s continue like this.”

Thus, we enjoyed the festival.

✿✿✿

“Oh, so you’re properly doing an exhibition.”

The moment I turned my head towards the sound of the door opening, I saw a gorilla. I mean my homeroom teacher. I was in the middle of giving an explanation to some people, so I only glanced at him before going back to my explanation; however, Jayeon, who had been on standby for people to come ask questions, came over to me.

“Jjaro, I’ll handle it from here. You can go talk to the teacher.”

“······I’ll leave it to you, then.”

I did contemplate about what I should do for a second, but I felt like I should probably have a talk with my homeroom teacher, so I passively nodded my head. As Jayeon told the people that she would be taking over the explanations, I went over to my homeroom teacher.

“You didn’t have to come to me. Weren’t you in the middle of giving an explanation?”

“Did you not make all that noise because you wanted me to come?”

“You were supposed to act as if you didn’t notice that. I came to see how you guys were doing. I saw Saeyeon advertising downstairs, too.”

My homeroom teacher, who seemed to be in a good mood today, grinned once he heard my remark and looked around our buzzing gallery.

“You have a fair amount of guests, huh? Have a lot of people come so far?”

“So does this mean our club won’t be disbanded?”

He nodded his head while looking around the classroom. It was bustling with people, not, but we did have several guests checking out my inventions. I could hear the sound of a couple of girls chat while using the lie detector and a couple of boys making Multi do some simple cleaning tasks.

“Yeah, the condition was to hold an exhibition. You did quite a decent job, so the other teachers shouldn’t have any complaints.”

He smiled in satisfaction as he turned to look at me.

“I’m already here, so why not give me a tour as well? Honestly, I knew you made things, but I never knew what you made.”

“Well, all right, then. Then starting from my first historical invention······.”

I was going to do this anyway. I nodded and proceeded with my explanations which I had already done several times today.

Truthfully, it isn’t very fun listening to someone talk about a bunch of inventions. Only the people who are interested in these sort of stuff would find it interesting. Nevertheless, my homeroom teacher listened to my explanations with a serious look on his face. Honestly, the fact that I was seriously explaining what I’ve done until now to this person who would always talk to me as if I were bothersome, to this person who would always ignore me, felt weird.

“Jaro.”

“Yes?”

“Good job.”

He looked at me and said that as if he were proud of me. This was the first time this person had ever looked at me with that type of gaze and said these sort of words to me. My homeroom teacher glanced around the classroom and spoke.

“Honestly, I didn’t expect you to go this far. Of course, you’ve definitely changed a lot this year, but I thought you would either prepare something to stroke your own ego or just give up since you’ll be in your last year next year. I’m happy that you didn’t do either.”

“······.”

“How was it? Getting together to prepare, talking to people, and creating connections with others. It wasn’t bad, was it?”

“······As I thought, so that was your intention.”

“Naturally. No matter what you say, I’m still your teacher.”

He grinned broadly before continuing.

“I’m not a teacher that teaches you how to study. It’s my life policy to teach the students I’m in charge of how to live properly. Teaching a narcissistic person who thinks they can live by themself that living with others is better is a part of that.”

“······Is that so.”

“Don’t make that face. I’m not saying that you’re a bad kid. Looking at all this, you certainly are impressive. The title ‘greatest prodigy scientist of this era’ definitely suits you.”

He was probably just paying me lip service, but the tone of his voice sounded rather proud.

I felt like, I was being acknowledged.

Up until now, I didn’t like my homeroom teacher. I believed that everyone besides myself was simple-minded. A person who shows off because they’re older. A person who tries to teach me things despite being better than me at nothing. That’s what I thought until now. Past tense.

“Hello, Teacher.”

Before long, Jayeon came over and bowed her head courteously. The teacher turned towards Jayeon and grinned widely.

“So you’re Jaro’s relative that’s been coming to school occasionally, huh?

“Yes. I’ve been staying at his place lately and I’ve been coming over to play sometimes. My name is Jin Jayeon. I’m sorry for sneaking in all the time.”

Once Jayeon greeted the teacher in a well-behaved and courteous fashion, which was unusual for her, he turned to me and grinned.

“The number of your family members has been gradually increasing lately, huh? I doubt you would, but you better not do anything weird just because you’re living with a couple of girls, okay? Things that would make it troublesome for your teacher.”

“I won’t. This girl is going to go home soon, anyway.”

My homeroom teacher then turned his head and patted Jayeon’s head. While patting her head, he spoke in a volume which only Jayeon and I could hear.

“I see, how did the piece of candy back then taste?”

“······!”

Those words made Jayeon’s embarrassed smile stiffen. Naturally, my expression stiffened as well. The teacher gave a broad laugh and spoke.

“You don’t have to put your guard up so much. Ah, you have some more guests. Can you handle them, girl? I’ll be borrowing Jaro for a bit.”

“Ah······. Okay.”

Jayeon wavered, but she went towards the new guests while throwing glances at us several times. I turned to face my homeroom teacher once I watched her leave.

“······How did you know?”

“I’ve been working as a teacher for 15 years now. If I’m incapable of recognizing this much, then I wouldn’t be able to recognize any of my students who come to visit after graduating. She looks just like the little lady.”

He had a teasing grin on his face as he placed his hand on my shoulder.

“Stop being so nervous. I don’t have any ill intent. I’ll simply leave it as you having some complicated family matters. Including the weird thing that little kid said at the beginning of the year.”

After patting my shoulder with a grin, he then spoke in a serious tone.

“I just want to say, as your teacher, don’t push yourself too hard.”

“······.”

“If you’re dealing with a difficult matter like this, then you can handle it together. You’re one of the very few students I’ve taught who’re extremely smart and talented. It’s true that you’re twisted, but it’s fine if you are. Honestly, be it big or small, everyone is twisted in their own way and that’s what makes their personalities. Just don’t become twisted towards a weird direction. Don’t twist into a direction where you poke other people or get in other people’s way. That’s it.”

The classroom door then slid open behind us. My homeroom teacher turned to look at the door before grinning at me.

“Now then, the person who should be at your side has come. Go.”

“Ah, you’re also here, teacher? Welcome!”

I turned my head. A smiling Saeyeon was standing at the door. Our homeroom teacher spoke with a content smile on his face.

“I came to see how you guys were doing. That’s quite the unique outfit today, huh? Is that your festival uniform?”

“Yes! It’s pretty, isn’t it? Jjaro likes these clothes. Ehehe······.”

“I see, so you like those type of clothes, huh, Jaro?”

“······Stop looking at me with that teasing smile. It’s my preference, so please respect it.”

“I didn’t say anything. In any case, I’ll be leaving, then.”

“You’re leaving already? You should look around a bit more.”

“Saeyeon, Jaro already explained everything to me before you got here. I’m a teacher, so I have to go check what the other students are doing as well. Now then, you two should use this opportunity to look around the festival together.”

After waving his hand at Saeyeon who seemed a bit disappointed, our homeroom teacher opened the classroom door and left. Saeyeon turned towards me and asked.

“What did you talk about with the teacher? Did he say your club won’t be disbanded?”

“Yeah. He said it’s fine since we did a good job with our exhibition.”

I probably don’t have to say anything more than this.

“More importantly, where are Jaim and Upperclassman Nabom? Why’d you come by yourself?”

“Ah, the two of them left saying they’re going to help prepare for Nanda’s performance. Something about getting a banner and stuff like that ready.”

“It’s already that late?! I’m the one who prepared those and they didn’t even tell me?!”

“······How long have you been standing there?”

I let out a small sigh as I turned towards Jayeon who had walked right over to us in no time. Did she even give the guests a proper explanation? Jayeon pulled on the edge of my clothes as she spoke.

“I’m going to go as well, so you and Mom can take over, right? Do you know how much I’ve been looking forward to Nanda Oppa’s performance?!”

“Hey, are you trying to take a break by yourself? I want to take a break, too.”

I’ve been talking for a while, so my throat was starting to become soar. In any case, I wanted to take a break as well. Once I said that, Saeyeon tapped her lips as if she were troubled and spoke.

“Mmm······. I’m okay, but Jjaro should definitely take a break. It’d be too hard for me to explain things by myself······. I also want to see Nanda’s performance. What should we do······?”

“There’s no need to worry. I’m here now.”

The door slid open as Jihye announced her entrance. She has quite the hearing. How did she hear us?

“I’ve had more than enough fun throughout the festival, so you can go have fun now, Master. I’ll handle things here.”

“······You definitely look like you’ve had fun.”

There were some drawings on her face, she was holding a caricature, a colorful variety of food from a bunch of different stalls, and a brochure in her hands, and her wrists and neck were overflowing with random accessories.

“But wouldn’t it be too much for you to take care of this place by yourself?”

Jayeon and I were able to manage because we either worked on a rotation or handled guests at the same time. Jihye answered my question with a smile.

“Ah, were you not aware, Master? The major events have started in the assembly hall, so there aren’t as many people wandering around now. Moreover, if my calculations are correct, then the majority of the people who would be interested in our exhibition should have already come and gone. I believe I’ll be more than enough to handle everything by myself.”

Certainly, there aren’t a lot of people left in the classroom. A few more people have left while we were talking and now there was truly only a couple of people left. Saeyeon gave Jihye a worried look as she asked.

“Would that really be all right, Miss Jihye? Didn’t you want to see Nanda’s performance as well?”

“I’m suggesting this because I’m okay with it. You don’t have to worry. Well, it’s not like I don’t want to see Mr. Shin Nanda’s performance, but since I left Master and went to have fun by myself, I should show some consideration here. Either way, it wouldn’t be right to make Master look after the classroom longer, and we can’t leave the classroom unattended.”

Jihye spoke with a bright smile on her face.

“Furthermore, the older Miss has already left.”

I turned around once I heard those words. Jayeon really was gone. She seriously must have wanted to go. I smirked and confirmed with Jihye one last time.

“Then you’re really, really all right with this, right?”

Once I asked this, Jihye answered me with a wink.

“I’m truly fine. Now then, get a move on, you two. You can take your time looking around the festival while on your way to the assembly hall.”

“All right. Thanks.”

I nodded my head at Jihye as a genuine sign of gratitude and grabbed Saeyeon’s hand while she was still hesitating. Saeyeon immediately turned to face me.

“Ah······.”

“It’d be more insensitive if we didn’t leave when she’s going this far to make us go. Let’s go, Saeyeon.”

“······Okay.”

Saeyeon looked up at me with slightly widened eyes, but they soon narrowed happily as she nodded. Her cheeks looked a bit red. If I think about it, this might be the first time I’ve grabbed Saeyeon’s hand first.

“All right, we’ll be back.”

“Have a fun trip.”

Jihye bowed courteously with a bright smile on her face.

✿✿✿

With Saeyeon’s hand in mine, Saeyeon and I walked through the middle of the courtyard.

We went through the exhibitions of the other clubs, looked at the plastic models which the Crafts Club had put together, saw the drawings the Art Club had done, and visited the other departments. Naturally, we also visited Saeyeon’s Cross-stitching Club.

“Oh, you’re finally here. I was wondering when you’d come.”

“Ehehe······. I’m sorry for not helping with the exhibition.”

Saeyeon scratched her head and apologized, but her other club members all shook their heads. As if it were all right and that they didn’t mind.

This was one of Saeyeon’s distinct characteristics which I also envied the most. Normally, clubs have to deal with a lot of work when preparing for the festival, and even if it’s for the sake of the person you like, everyone would give you an unpleasant look if you don’t help out; however, that wasn’t the case for Saeyeon. Everyone was understanding and they supported her. Although there have been some people who hated her because there was either a misunderstanding or they thought Saeyeon was just pretending to be cute, after some time, they started getting along as if they’ve been friends for a long time.

“But······.”

“I didn’t think you’d come like this······.”

“Jaro has definitely changed a lot as well, huh?”

“······Well, yeah.”

Saeyeon’s friends giggled as they said that in a teasing manner towards me who was holding Saeyeon’s hand, but instead of getting embarrassed and avoiding their gazes, I grinned at them.

“Wow, that’s annoying in its own way······.”

“I wanted to watch over them warmly, but I’m getting a bit jealous of Saeyeon······.”

“You’re not the reason why she feels jealous, so get rid of that shit eating grin, Jin Jaro. Sheesh······.”

Even their complaints didn’t bother me today.

“Look, Jjaro. I made this one!”

“······You put this on display?”

······This might be a bit embarrassing.

The cross-stitching which Saeyeon had proudly held out towards me was an image of me and Saeyeon.

In a cute, cartoon-like style, Saeyeon and I were holding hands while smiling broadly. Saeyeon scratched her cheek.

“I wanted to add Jaim and Miss Jihye, but I didn’t have enough time. I’m going to add them in later.”

Once Saeyeon did her usual ‘ehehe’ laugh, I smiled as well.

Before going around the 1st floor, Nanda’s performance was going to start soon, so we headed towards the assembly hall first. The school band or the light music club must have been performing as the assembly hall was booming with people. I strengthened my grip slightly in order to prevent the hand I was holding from slipping out. I locked fingers with hers so they would stay firmly in place.

“Mm······. I can’t see where the two Jaims and Big Sis Nabom are.”

[Now the following performance will be by one of our students who recently became popular in an audition program! The rising trot star, 2nd year, Shin Nanda shall begin his performance!]

“Kya! Nanda Opp! Look over here, Nanda Opp!”

“Super☆Star☆Shin☆Nanda! Take me, Oppa! Opp!

“Shin Nanda Opp! You’re so cool! Please look over here!”

“······There they are.”

I didn’t think Upperclassman Nabom would also go with the flow like that.

Compared to the applause and cheers around them, the three Jaims’ screaming sounded truly ecstatic. Not only did they actually create a banner and were currently holding it up together, but they also prepared glow sticks. They really like him, huh? While this all occurred, Nanda went on stage.

“He still has the same sense of fashion······.”

As I expected, he was wearing his sparkling suit today as well. The lights were all focused on the stage, so it almost looked like he was emitting a radiant light. Nanda tapped the mic in his hand to make sure the audio worked before grinning and bringing it to his mouth.

[Ah······. Can everyone hear me? Thank you all very much for coming to see my performance. Different from the previous performances, I’ll be singing a trot song, so I hope you enjoy.]

“You’re really going to do it, Nanda?”

“Who sings trot songs these days?!”

“Your opening is too long. Hurry up and start!”

A couple of people who appeared to be Nanda’s friends heckled him jokingly. There was even a couple of guys who threw some empty water bottles. Well, this is also the fun that comes from a school festival. Albeit, the three Jaims glared daggers at the people who threw stuff. Nanda smiled pleasantly.

[Hahaha, I appreciate the warm welcome. Now then, I, manly man Shin Nanda, will be putting my all into this song. The name of the song is ‘Grab Your Hand’⎯⎯⎯.]

The music started the instant he finished that line. Nanda’s performance began.

The buzzing crowd soon became quiet as they were drawn into the song.

As if even the sound of breathing would be a hindrance. As if it would be a waste if they weren’t able to hear Nanda’s singing because of it.

I ended up holding my breath despite the fact that I’ve listened to Nanda sing several times already.

“Wow······.”

Saeyeon’s mouth fell open as she stared in awe with sparkling eyes. I felt a bit sad by this, but Saeyeon held my hand tightly.

Like the lyrics of the song which Nanda was singing right now.

[If I just grab your hand⎯⎯⎯.]

I also held her hand tightly.

Due to Nanda’s singing which was reverberating throughout everyone’s chest, the three Jaims weren’t able to make any noise either. For some reason, I could tell that this was Nanda’s greatest song. That’s what I felt.

However, instead of worrying about losing, about being stolen from.

Instead of disliking this, ridiculing this, or feeling anxious because of this, I simply smiled lightly.

Nanda’s song came to an end and the music stopped.

“······Woooo!”

After a moment of silence, a roof-shaking applause and cheers filled the assembly hall.

“Nanda Oppaaaa! Nanda Oppaaaaa, you’re the best-!”

“Shin Nanda! Shin Nanda! Shin Nanda! Shin Nanda!”

“······Hk, uu, uhkk······.”

“······.”

But those three are really breaking the mood. Nanda gave one final bow as he received a thunderous applause before he waved towards the three Jaims and gave them a wink. Naturally, the three were in a complete state of madness and Upperclassman Nabom wound up fainting. I’m not sure how, but Nanda must have figured out where we were as he turned to look at me and Saeyeon before smiling

[I’m dedicating that song to the two people over there.]

He really didn’t have to go out of his way to say that.

Several gazes followed Nanda’s line of sight and fell upon us.

I felt my face heating up. Saeyeon was also startled as she shyly hid her face behind my back. Nanda winked at us once he saw me rub the back of my neck since I really couldn’t do much else. Seriously, this guy. While I was smiling bitterly, a few people started to clap before it eventually spread throughout the assembly hall. Don’t the students of this school like clapping a little too much?

······Well, it wasn’t that bad, so I gave them a little wave.

“Ah, that was embarrassing.”

After hearing only Nanda sing, we left the assembly hall to go through the rest of the stuff on the 1st floor. Saeyeon was fanning her reddened face with one hand.

“Sheesh, that guy likes messing with people too much.”

“You say that, but you look like you enjoyed it, Jjaro.”

“Well······ it wasn’t that bad, was it?”

Saeyeon blinked in surprise once I turned and said that to her with a grin before giggling.

“Ehehe······. You’ve been acting strangely today, Jjaro.”

“If it’s strange, then do you prefer the old me?”

“······This part of you as well. Such a meanie.”

Saeyeon poked my side after I said that with a grin.

“Welcome home, Master!”

“······What are you guys doing here?”

When we went into a nearby daily cafe to just have a light chat, we saw some girls from our class wearing maid outfits. Everyone beamed at me once I gave them a pitying look.

“We thought this might be fun to do during the festival.”

“We looked into what maid cafes were after what happened last time.”

“But I didn’t think Saeyeon would be wearing a maid outfit too. Do you want to work here as a part-time job for a bit? We’ve been doing surprisingly well! We don’t have to worry about our club funding for the rest of the year.”

“More importantly, you two have completely become a couple, huh? I didn’t expect the two of you to come in while holding hands.

“Ehehe······.”

Saeyeon blushed slightly and giggled in response to the teasing. The gazes directed towards me was embarrassing, but I didn’t make up an excuse.

“In any case, have a seat! It’ll be on the house since you two have been doing so well together.”

“We also got this maid cafe idea thanks to you, Jaro.”

We were led through the slightly crowded cafe and to a table in the corner. Since it was on the house, it seems we didn’t have the liberty to select what we wanted as they simply brought us two cups of coffee. Saeyeon dropped a bunch of sugar cubes into hers.

“If you put in that much, it’ll just become sugar water.”

“I like it better like this. I don’t like bitter things. You always make a face whenever you drink coffee, too, Jjaro.”

Saeyeon stirred her cup with a straw and smiled.

“You should stop drinking it black all the time and try it sweet sometimes. Mom said that if you eat or drink sweet things, then you’ll feel better and become happy.”

“Then let me have a sip.”

Saeyeon seemed pleased by my request as she turned the straw she had been using towards me. No, that’s not what I was asking for······. Saeyeon spoke teasingly.

“All right, have a sip. It’s nice because it’s sweet. Try it.”

“······Do you think I wouldn’t be able to drink it because of this?”

“Ah······.”

Saeyeon opened her eyes widely. A thick sweetness spread throughout my mouth from the small straw. This was different from the bitter taste I’ve had until now. A sweetness that made it feel like my tongue would melt. It reached far into my head.

So this is Saeyeon’s flavor. This sweetness.

With a completely red face, Saeyeon meekly brought her mouth around the straw which I had tilted back towards her.

✿✿✿

The two of us continued to go around and visit a bunch of places.

Saeyeon almost got caught by the Host Club, so I brought her out. We both had face painting done on us and we wound up pointing at each other’s faces and laughing. We made some couple accessories at the DIY Club. We received a tarot card reading at the Mystery Club, although it felt like the wrong place to be doing this sort of thing. We also took a polaroid picture together. Saeyeon took the picture while linking our arms, pressing her cheek against my shoulder, and doing a peace sign with her other hand.

We talked. Talked about things we couldn’t talk about lately, unimportant things, casual topics I would always talk to Saeyeon about, trivial things like these.

Meanwhile, every time we went through the halls and entered classrooms, people we knew would either make a teasing or joking comment.

“Oh, Jaro and Saeyeon are finally going around together like a pair of lovebirds?”

“Must be nice, Saeyeon~. Your face is just overflowing with happiness.”

“Damn it, you’re acting lovey-dovey during the festival as well?! Blow up, normies!”

“Look at Jaro’s face. He’s really loving this today.”

“Congrats, Saeyeon!”

“You’re still students, so have a healthy relationship, okay?”

“Does this mean Upperclassman Ha Nabom is free?”

“When did the two of you get so close?”

“You two didn’t actually only sleep while holding hands, did you?!”

“I’m jealous······. Must be nice······.”

“Some people have to deal with their scholastic ability test next month, but those two are······.”

“Jaro sure has changed a lot as well, hasn’t he?”

“Well, I knew this would happen one day.”

“I hope you guys stay together for a long time!”

If it were the old me, then I probably would’ve hated these comments.

I wouldn’t have gone around holding hands like this either.

I would have taken such warm comments as a type of ridicule.

But now······.

“Ehehe······. Thanks!”

I gazed at Saeyeon’s brilliant smile from the side.

Saeyeon responded to everyone’s comments, waved at them, giggled, and brought her body closer to mine.

This might be what Saeyeon had always dreamed about until now.

For a very, very long time. Probably far longer than I can remember.

To be at my side like this, smiling together, holding hands, matching our footsteps, and looking towards the same direction as we walk forward.

It didn’t matter whether this was for a short period of time or not.

The sun was already starting to set by the time we finished seeing everything.

The majority of the students had already gone home and all of the classrooms which had been decorated for this single day of the festival went back to how they used to be one by one, making it seem as if everything that happened today was a dream, a fantasy.

We walked through the now somewhat empty school grounds together. Even though we should be going back to our exhibition to help clean up, Saeyeon and I didn’t stop walking. We wanted to walk a little bit longer if possible.

I looked at Saeyeon.

Large eyes.

Long, fine eyelashes and eyebrows that drew a gentle curve.

A charmingly pointed nose.

Loose, moist lips and the white teeth I could see between them.

Soft and slightly blushing cheeks. Well-shaped ears. A milky white nape. Fine, soft hair.

Her fragrant, long, brown hair that fluttered in the wind. Each strand was as soft as silk.

Her marginally sunken collarbones, protruding breasts, and narrow wrists which I could hold in one hand.

Small hands that fit perfectly in my own hands. Delicate fingers interlocked with mine. A warmth that spread throughout my body from our hands.

All these things, made me think of a single thing.

I want to be next to her.

I want to be next to Saeyeon.

She doesn’t have to do anything. I don’t want anything more than this.

I don’t have the desire to get my childish dream and petty pride acknowledged.

I simply wish to hold her hand like this and constantly stay at her side.

“······Ehehe. As I thought, it must have been because of the festival, but I had fun.”

Saeyeon spoke while scratching her cheek.

“Last year, I came to the festival by myself.”

Saeyeon gazed far into the distance as she said that. The wind started to blow since the sun had set. Saeyeon brushed her hair behind her ear.

“Jaim wasn’t here last year, after all. I was also, well······. Yeah.”

“Mhm, that’s right. You changed a lot, Jjaro.”

Saeyeon continued to look forward with a calm and delicate expression on her face. She looked as if she were reminiscing the past. We were still holding hands.

“Actually, I was starting to worry because you’ve been distancing yourself from me.”

“······Sorry. Even though I said I wouldn’t.”

Saeyeon shook her head.

“No, it’s okay. There are times when you want to be alone, after all. It’s not like I’m unable to understand that. I also······.”

Saeyeon reached out towards the sky with her free hand. The couple ring which we got earlier shined in the glow of the setting sun.

It was an unimpressive and cheap ring which was made by the Handicrafts Club.

Nevertheless, Saeyeon smiled as if it were the most valuable treasure in the world.

“There’s the older Jaim and Big Sis Nabom, so I now know that you must have been thinking about a lot of things.”

“So she told you, huh?”

“I’m disappointed in you, Jjaro. You really are dense. Really. I think you should start looking at the people around you.”

“······So you already knew.”

“I thought you knew as well.”

Saeyeon covered her mouth and giggled. I couldn’t give her an excuse, so I just rubbed the back of my neck. Saeyeon grinned at me.

“Seriously, you’re so dense, Jjaro.”

“Yeah, I’m dense. I’m really dense.”

“Jjaro.”

Saeyeon stopped, so I stopped as well.

“I know a lot of things besides that.”

I couldn’t say anything.

“I’m not an idiot. I think and ponder about things a lot. That’s why I can tell that you’ve been hiding a lot of things from me and what those things are. I know that you’re trying to bear it all by yourself and that you’re keeping it a secret in consideration of me.”

Saeyeon smiled warmly as she looked into the distance.

“I thought about why Jaim came here, what Jihye was about to say before you had stopped her, and why you’ve been distancing yourself from me lately, so I have a guess. While waiting for you to tell me yourself, believing that you’ll need me one day.”

“······Is it fine, for me to need you?”

“I told you several times already. Similar to how I need you, Jjaro, you can need me as well.”

Jihye answered my hesitant question.

“There’s no way that I would ever come to hate you first and break up with you.”

While looking straight at me, she spoke as if this were the most obvious thing in the world.

“I made my decision back when I was little. That I would become your family, Jjaro. That I would become a member of your family who, no matter what happens, would never leave you. I treated you like a part of my family since we were little, after all.”

“······But you got mad at me back then. You asked me why I had treated you nicely.”

“All things aside, of course I’d be mad when you said something like that to me. Don’t you also think you went a bit too far, Jjaro? Do you know how much I cried?”

“······Sorry.”

I wasn’t in the position to say that. Once I lowered my head, Saeyeon, who had been pouting angrily, did her usual laugh.

“That’s why I went back to your side, Jjaro. Since I decided that that’s where I have to be. So, once more, from now on, no matter what you say, I won’t leave your side even if you try to push me away. I absolutely won’t let you go on my side.”

Saeyeon’s tone sounded as if it were filled with confidence as she said that.

And at the same time, it also felt like she was coaxing me gently.

I know everything.

So share it with me.

Look towards the same place as me.

“······Saeyeon, you’re, going to die.”

“Mhm.”

“In only 2 years, you’re going to die.”

“Mhm.”

“If you stay with me, then you’re going to die in 2 years.”

My vision became blurry.

I want to look in the same direction as her, but my eyes kept avoiding Saeyeon’s.

“Jjaro.”

Once she called out to me, I stopped rubbing the corner of my eyes and looked at her. Saeyeon turned her body towards me. She placed her free hand on the back of my head and pulled me into her chest. I could smell Saeyeon’s body. Saeyeon stroked my head and pressed her cheek against the top of my head. Her hair tickled my cheeks.

“It must’ve been hard holding this all in by yourself.”

Even though she was just told that she was going to die.

“You must’ve had a hard time, huh?”

Instead of worrying about that, she was more concerned about how much of a hard time I had.

“I’m sorry that you had such a rough time because of me. And.”

She apologized to me who had hidden this from her and never tried to tell her.

“Thank you for worrying about me so much.”

She simply stroked my head and smiled.

Because of those words, that smile,

I finally understood.

I’ve obtained the thing which I’ve constantly been searching for.

Why I was born.

The meaning of my life.

I wanted to know the answers to these questions.

I wanted to be needed by someone.

I lived my life wanting to be told by someone that they needed me, that they wanted me, and that it was okay for me to be around. I thought this was the answer.

That there was a meaning to my birth.

That there was a meaning to my life.

Even though the answer was right next to me, I lived my life until now completely unaware.

Ja Saeyeon. My childhood friend. The girl who’s like my little sister. The girl who’s like my older sister. The person I love. My future wife. And, this person who’s like my mother as she comforts me like this.

The girl who’s able to fall under all of these categories that can be established between a boy and a girl.

“It’s okay.”

Saeyeon rubbed her head against my cheek and held me tightly.

“In the end, I won’t disappear from your side, Jjaro.”

My body gradually started to tremble. Saeyeon held my body still.

“Even if I’m not here, I’ll disappear after leaving behind someone who needs and loves you, so I won’t disappear from your side.”

“······Ja Saeyeon.”

I barely managed to squeeze out her name.

“Hm?”

“Live long.”

“I will.”

“Just one day is enough, so live longer than me.”

“I will.”

“You don’t have to do anything. I’ll do everything for you, so, even if it’s just by a single day, live longer than me.”

“I will.”

“It’s a promise. You know I don’t like liars, right?”

“I know. ······Jjaro?”

“Hm?”

“Let’s, have a child.”

“Okay.”

“They’ll be our proof that you and I were alive and that we loved each other.”

“Okay.”

“They’ll be our proof that we held hands and look towards the same place.”

“Okay.”

“Even if I’m not here, they’ll be my gift to you that will always be by your side.”

“Okay.”

“It’s a promise, okay? You promised to never lie to me, didn’t you, Jjaro?”

“······Yeah.”

I barely managed to raise my head. Despite the refraction from my tears and my hazy field of vision, only Saeyeon’s face was as clear as day.

There’s a saying that only the things you can perceive exist. Therefore, this meant that what I can see right now was the only thing that existed in the world.

If so, then clearly, my everything is······.

“······Can I kiss you?”

Saeyeon giggled in response to my question.

“It’d be better······ if you didn’t ask and just did it.”

I pressed my empty hand against Saeyeon’s cheek. It was soft. It was warm. I carefully slid my hand behind Saeyeon’s neck as I cherished this sensation. Her hair strands going between my fingers.

“······Mm.”

Saeyeon brought her empty hand in front of her chest. Her small hand fit perfectly into mine and became a fist.

Saeyeon slowly closed her eyes. I did as well.

The second time was completely different compared to the first.

It wasn’t as long as last time either.

It was a short kiss where our lips only touched and separated after a brief moment.

A kiss that was so short that the soft sensation disappeared almost instantly.

“······Ehehe.”

Saeyeon opened her eyes slowly and scratched her cheek as she let out a laugh.

If you could decide when your own story ends, then I wanted to end mine right now.

I wanted everything to stop at this very moment.

How nice would it be if this were possible?

This is what I thought.

✿✿✿

“······Are you really going to leave without telling anyone?”

Upperclassman Nabom nodded in response to my question.

“Today’s festival worked well enough as a farewell. Any more than this would just make everyone feel regret. It’s best not to leave behind any lingering attachment.”

After cleaning up the classroom we had borrowed, Upperclassman Nabom only told me that she was going back while we were returning my inventions back to the club room.

“Everyone is going to be sad. I was planning to hold a farewell party for you and Jayeon in addition to our after party tomorrow.”

Upperclassman Nabom simply shook her head, so I tried persuading her more.

“Why are you trying to go back here and not your room?”

“Let’s say······that it’s too painful for me to be in this time frame any longer.”

Upperclassman Nabom smiled wryly as she spoke.

“······Is this related to your failure that Jayeon mentioned? Because your plan had failed. Something along these lines?”

Upperclassman Nabom smiled in response to my careful question.

“No. My plan has succeeded. Perfectly.”

It was the same eery smile which I had seen before.

“······However, it’s just that I’m the one who failed.”

“What’s that······.”

Upperclassman Nabom placed her finger on my lips. It was as if she were telling me to not say anything more because she wasn’t going to answer me.

“Underclassman Jin Jaro.”

While looking straight at me, Upperclassman Nabom spoke with a sad gaze.

“Let me give you one final advice, Underclassman Jin Jaro.”

“Advice······?”

Upperclassman Nabom nodded. She brought her face close to mine, almost as if she were going to kiss me, but Upperclassman Nabom, no, Jaim furtively leaned towards the side and whispered into my ear.

Those words put me at a loss for words.

“······.”

“······Well, you probably know this already.”

Upperclassman Nabom smirked at my blank look. Her expression was filled with regret as if she were feeling remorse for having said anything, as if she had told me nothing good.

“Now then, let’s part ways like this. I don’t want to show you my final moment here, so please leave the club room. I want to be alone as I see the end in the one and only place I was ever able to protect. It’s my final wish.”

I have to stop her. I’m not sure why, but I feel like I have to stop her here. My instincts, which I didn’t have much of, was telling me this.

However, Upperclassman Nabom’s eyes were pleading to me. To not stop her. To send her off like this.

As usual, I only had a short amount of time to think.

I stuck my hand out towards Upperclassman Nabom.

“······If possible, stay healthy over there as well.”

“······You too, Dad. Stay happy.”

Upperclassman Nabom grabbed my hand.

“And.”

The instant I was going to shake her hand, Upperclassman Nabom strengthened her grip and pulled me in. I lost my balance and stumbled a bit, and, at that moment, a warm and wet sensation touched my cheek. I looked at Upperclassman Nabom.

“······Your lips belong to Mom, but your cheeks should be fine, right?”

She grinned sadly.

I felt restless for some reason. It wasn’t a smile that looked sad because she was leaving, but, how should I put it, it was like she was looking at someone pitiable.

“Then head on home. Aren’t Underclassman Ja Saeyeon, Miss Jaim, and Miss Jihye waiting for you? I’ll be going home as well.”

After showing me that smile, Upperclassman Nabom turned around. It was like she didn’t want to show her face anymore, as if she didn’t want me to look at her.

So, I turned around, and walked away.

I didn’t say anything more, either.

I didn’t expect her to leave like this. I wanted to make her stay. However, I knew that I had no way of stopping her. Even if I tried to make her stay here by force, Upperclassman Nabom would go back anyway. Before tomorrow. Without anyone knowing. Like this.

It was already dark outside. Only a single shadow was leaning against a wall near the entrance of our club room. Jayeon must have been tired as she asked a question with a sleepy gaze.

“······Did she go?”

“······She said she’s going to.”

I wanted to turn around and confirm it, but I figured that would be discourteous. I simply continued forward while Jayeon followed behind me. Our footsteps went towards the back of the school building where you could still hear the sound of some classes cleaning up.

“I don’t know what I should tell the others tomorrow. Everyone will probably be sad if they find out that she left without saying anything.”

“Just tell them the truth. She did this when I was little as well. Without saying farewell.”

“······Is that so?”

I barely managed to utter that response. I took a deep breath to calm myself down before then asking.

“Where are the others?”

“They went home first. Everyone was tired, so they said they’re going to go to bed first.”

“We did stay up late last night to prepare for today and everyone also woke up early today, so they must be tired. We were walking around all day as well.”

“Did you have fun walking around with Mom?”

“······Well, yeah.”

I nodded and gave a straightforward response to Jayeon’s question, even though she had said it teasingly. There’s no reason for me to get embarrassed after all this time.

“You two did kiss, so it must have been.”

“······.”

But this was a bit embarrassing. I stopped and turned to look at her. Jayeon spoke with a big grin on her face and her hands behind her head.

“Why are you suddenly getting embarrassed now? I already know everything. Do you know how much Mom is going to brag about it tomorrow?”

“······It’s a relief that Upperclassman Nabom had already left.”

After managing to let out a sigh, I started walking again. A pair of footsteps followed behind me.

“I’m also going to go back today.”

“······.”

I stopped again and turned to face Jayeon once more. With her hands still behind her head, Jayeon nodded.

“I actually finished repairing my time machine already. I only stayed for the festival. I already had a talk with Jihye, so she’s probably waiting for me at home.”

“······Why are you leaving today as well? Everyone was looking forward to tomorrow. Even Nanda said he was coming.”

Her and Upperclassman Nabom both, they were leaving so abruptly.

“Is something going to happen tomorrow? Are you trying to leave today so you don’t have to witness whatever is going to happen?”

Jayeon shook her head.

“It’s not like that. It’s just, I’m going back because my work here is finished. I have to go back to the future as well. I’ve been here for too long.”

“One more day is fine, isn’t it? Besides, in the future, you······.”

“······.”

“······Sorry. That was insensitive of me.”

I averted my gaze once Jayeon gave me a blank look. I heard Jayeon let out a sigh.

“You being insensitive isn’t anything new, Dad. I’ll forgive you. Still, I have to go back today. There’s something I want to quickly confirm as well. I’m curious as to whether I was truly able to change the future a bit by what I’ve done here, and I’m also curious as to whether you’ll happily welcome me back or not.”

“······You won’t listen to me even if I try to convince you to stay, will you?”

“Unfortunately, yeah.”

Jayeon smiled bitterly and spoke.

“If possible, I also want to stay here longer. Big Sis Nabom probably feels the same, but the time for me to leave has come. If I stay here any longer, then I wouldn’t want to return more.”

“The future could change if you stay.”

“······.”

“······Fine. I won’t stop you.”

I finally relented and nodded. It seems that was enough for Jayeon as she smiled. She started following me again.

We went passed a couple of apartment complexes before we eventually arrived at home. The maid outfit Jayeon still had on was bothering me, but, fortunately, other people didn’t seem to mind. Once we got inside, I found Jihye lying on top of the worktable in my room. Like usual, she was completely still as if she were dead.

“Then I’ll begin, Dad.”

After changing into the clothes she had been wearing when she first came here, Jayeon moved her hands proficiently and opened Jihye’s cover before connecting a couple of wires to her time machine terminal. She also connected some wires to my work computer.

“Can I ask one thing?”

“What is it?”

Jayeon glanced at me.

“The fake name you introduced yourself to everyone with, it was ‘Jin Jayeon’, right? Where exactly did you get that name from?”

“······Haah. I knew you weren’t sharp, but isn’t this too much?”

Jayeon let out a deep sigh in response to my question and spoke.

“I took a single letter from both yours and Mom’s names. Ja from Jin Jaro, and Yeon from Ja Saeyeon. Jayeon. Jin Jayeon.”

“······Was that it?”

I thought there would be something more to it. I had been thinking into it deeply. Jayeon let out another sigh.

“What do you mean ‘is that it’? I put a lot of thought into this name to make it seem like I’m your and Mom’s child while also appearing like a relative.”

Jayeon continued with a dry smile on her lips.

“The name is proof that you and Mom loved each other, proof that you and Mom continued to live your lives loving each other.”

“All right, all right. I’m sorry.”

“More importantly, how’s the power output? Is it being controlled properly?”

I meekly apologized to Jayeon’s grumbling and went back to looking at the computer monitor. I could hear the motor unit inside Jihye start to move. Jihye didn’t get up, but she said that her wires might get tangled, so I disassembled them for now.

“Yeah. It’s being controlled properly. I just have to stabilize it within this field, right?”

“I’m leaving that in your hands, Dad, so if I get flung into a weird time frame again, then it’s your fault.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll make sure to send you home properly.”

I examined Jihye’s inner workings through the operating system on the monitor as I responded.

I felt a bit guilty since this was sort of like I was taking a peek at Jihye’s mind.

Despite everything, Jihye was still a robot. In other words, a computer. A computer that gives a response according to the information that is given. I don’t know how she’s able to give such human-like responses, but it’s possible to take a glimpse at her data since she was still a computer. It was similar to looking through a hard drive.

It’s not like I want to peek into Jihye’s mind; however, with my current ability, I can’t analyze a time machine or make a robot maid like Jihye. That’s why learning from my future self is also an option. Bootstrap paradox? Who cares. My objective is to change the future.

“······Huh?”

I then discovered something. A blocked-off area of her data that was locked with a password. Something felt off about this to me.

At first, I thought it was related to her core operating system or some trade secret, but it turned out to be a simple memory data. Information that even Jihye herself was prevented from accessing.

“What’s this······?”

“Dad? What’s up?”

Jayeon looked at me curiously once I accidentally let those words slip off of my tongue. I shook my head. I didn’t want her to find out that I had been peeking inside of Jihye’s data.

“N-No, it’s nothing.”

However, I thought to myself.

Why was this data here? I’m not sure what it is, but I feel like I could unlock it if I tried. It wasn’t hidden that deep, after all. It was placed in a location where it could be easily taken out at any time and checked if needed. It was as if it wanted someone to look at it.

“Okay, with this, the preparations are all over now!”

If I put some effort into opening this, then I most likely could. Just this very fact alone piqued my curiosity. In the end, I’m still a scientist. I can’t hold back my curiosity.

But······. I’ve messed up many, many times because of this way of thinking. From Saeyeon’s death to the reason behind it. The mistake of not being able to push down my desire to be myself.

“Dad? What’s wrong? Is something the matter?”

I then heard Jayeon’s voice behind my back. I turned around in surprise, but Jayeon was already looking at the piece of information on the monitor.

“······What’s this?”

“N-No, it’s not like I was particularly peeking into Jihye’s data······.”

“It’s some memory data······. It was classified? Why was something like this classified?”

I tried to quickly make up an excuse, but it seems Jayeon’s interest was going down a similar path. Jayeon turned to me and asked.

“Do you know what this is, Dad?”

“······No, I don’t know either. I just found it now.”

I gave up and gave Jayeon an honest answer. Jayeon stared at the monitor with her hand against her mouth as if she were thinking deeply about something.

“Dad, Jihye came from a future further than me, right?”

“What about it?”

“Don’t you think that this might give us the information on why Big Sis Nabom becomes like that?”

“······What do you mean?”

I asked back as Jayeon pointed at the monitor. Jayeon turned to me with a serious look and continued.

“I know that Big Sis Nabom is my future self, but I have no idea what could have possibly happened to make me make that sort of decision. I can only assume that there’s a reason, but don’t you think we could learn why if we look at this?”

Well, I also didn’t understand either. What exactly happens to Jaim to make her turn into Upperclassman Nabom. What her so-called plan was. Why she told me earlier that her goal and her plan were two separate things. Why she told me that she had information contamination.

As Jayeon said, we might be able to learn about these things if we look at this; however, I’ve already made a similar mistake several times.

“Hm······. Why is it so loud······?”

It was at that moment the door opened. Jaim entered the room in her pajamas while rubbing her eyes. She let out a yawn with a sleepy look on her face.

“Huaaah······. Are you two not even tired? Are you trying to make repairs today as well? You should take a break today······.”

Jaim muttered sluggishly, but once she saw Jayeon in her normal outfit, her eyes shot open. Completely shaking off her drowsiness.

“Why are you wearing those clothes are this hour?”

“Ah······.”

Jayeon knitted her brows and hit her forehead with her palm as if she had messed up. Once Jaim saw that action, she entered the room and spoke.

“Don’t tell me you’re about to leave? We were planning to have an after party for the festival tomorrow and also do a farewell party for you and Big Sis Nabom. But why?”

“······I felt like it would become even harder for me to leave if I stayed any longer. That’s why I wanted to leave in secret. I already planned to do this a while ago.”

That answer seemed to upset Jaim as she frowned.

“How’s that all right?! Then did you agree to the idea of having a party tomorrow just to trick everyone? Why are you acting however you please?”

“Sorry, but I still have to go now. If I see Mom’s face tomorrow, then I’m not going to want to leave. Explain things to Mom for me, okay?”

“Why are you asking me to tell her?! Go tell her yourself!”

Once Jaim shouted that at her angrily, Jayeon smiled bitterly and turned to me.

“······I feel like Mom is also going to wake up at this rate, so I’ll be going now, Dad.”

“······All right.”

“Dad?!”

Jaim must have thought I would be on her side as she turned and yelled at me, but I shook my head.

“Jayeon must have thought about this for a long time before coming to this decision. Just let her go. She won’t listen to us even if we tried to stop her.”

“But this isn’t right! Mom’s going to be sad!”

“Mom’s going to be sad no matter when I leave. I’ll be going then, Dad. I’ll leave it to you.”

“All right.”

“If you two keep this up, then I’ll wake Mom up myself! Mo⎯⎯⎯.”

“Jin Jaim!”

Jayeon yelled at Jaim sternly right when she was about to shout.

“We’re both Mom’s daughters. I don’t want to see Mom get sad either. Regardless, that doesn’t mean I can just continue to stay here. It might be fine delaying it by a day or two, but as those days continue to pile up, they’ll eventually become the future. I’ve already been selfish so I can’t continue being greedy any longer than this.”

Jaim continued to give Jayeon an unsatisfied look even after she had paused, but Jayeon patted her head anyway.

“You’ll probably find out later, but Big Sis Nabom and I are also trying our best to change the future like you. I’ll continue to do my utmost even after I return to the future, but if I also fail, then you have to succeed me.”

She was stern, but Jayeon spoke warmly to her younger self as if she truly were her older sister.

“I’ll leave Mom, Dad, and our yet-to-be-born younger selves in your hands. All right? I’m going back because I trust you. Promise me.”

Jayeon stuck out her pinky finger and smiled.

“······What are you trying to make me promise.”

“That, no matter what happens, you won’t lose or give up.”

Jaim stared at Jayeon for a moment before she finally grabbed Jayeon’s pinky finger with hers.

“I wouldn’t have done that even if you didn’t make me promise.”

“Good.”

A satisfied smile appeared on Jayeon’s face as she backed away. This time, she spoke to me.

“Dad, you can’t forget either. I know that we might not be able to change the outcome, but still, you can’t give up. Okay?”

“······Yeah. Have a safe trip.”

I nodded in response. Jayeon lifted up her terminal and started pressings some buttons on it. I also turned to look at the monitor. Jaim brought her hands together as if she were praying. Jayeon chuckled once she saw that.

“Move your hands instead of praying.”

“······That’s my line, kid.”

“So? Good lines are meant to spread. Now then, I’m activating it now!”

Jayeon turned back to smile at me before she pressed the final button on her terminal. The numerical values on the monitor started to change. I could hear the sound of Jihye’s power source running.

“······Bye.”

After she uttered those words, Jayeon departed.

Without leaving a single trace.

✿✿✿

1 year later.

Once Saeyeon and I entered our third year of high school, Jaim was transferred to an elementary school. She couldn’t keep following us to high school, after all. Jaim appeared like she was rather satisfied since she was able to go to school with Heyeong and other kids her age. Albeit, the classes seemed to bore her.

Shortly after we graduated high school, Saeyeon and I had Jaim. I went to university while Saeyeon was able to become a housewife like she always wanted. As time gradually passed, Saeyeon smiled happily as she gazed down at her swollen stomach.

“······It’s weird thinking that I’m inside here······.”

While placing her ear against Saeyeon’s stomach, Jaim spoke in an intrigued and amazed voice as she listened to the sound of her yet-to-be-born self moving around. Honestly, I thought it was more peculiar than it was amazing.

A year later, Saeyeon gave birth to Jaim. As we already decided beforehand, we named her Jin Jaim.

Afterward, once the cold winter had passed and the forsythias started to bloom underneath the warm sunlight, the world entered the season of spring where everything began anew. During that time where everything was beginning anew, Saeyeon died.

There wasn’t a single cloud in the blue sky.

TL Note: Thanks for reading the chapter. Now ain’t that quite a way to end a chapter? Bringing back the same diary page which you guys saw in volume 1. There are less than 100 pages left in the volume now. The last 3 chapters of this volume (this chapter included) is the point in this series I’ve been somewhat hyping since volume 1. Well, I’m not sure if I should say ‘hype’, it’s the big rollercoaster I mentioned before. It really messed me up during my first read through.

At any rate, I actually do want to translate this section as fast as possible, but my finals are next week, so I have to balance this with my studying. I’ll try my best regardless. I had like a couple of more things I wanted to say here but I forgot. Oh well, I’ll probably remember it by the time I’m done with the next chapter.

I’ll see you guys in the next release.