vol. 3 ch. 3
After seeing a Tsuwabuki student couple leaving, only the senpais, Komari, and I are left in the classroom.
It's less than 10 minutes left from the closing time of 4 PM. The crowd in the west building slowly faded away.
"Well, that's all of the 40 desserts for sale. How about the ones used for distribution?"
Tsukinoki-senpai turned around and closed the coin box.
"We still have some cookies left. No guests will be coming anymore. I think that's enough."
Around half of the club magazines were gone. Even though people who got it may not finish it, it's delightful to hand these to them.
The end of the festival is approaching.
It feels weird. It's a mixture of regret and comfort.
Komari and Tsukinoki-senpai are having an intense discussion about the relationship between Soseki and his disciples. Why are they so worked up about a fictional short story…?
It's almost like we're back to our leisure time in the club room.
The speaker plays a soothing song.
This is the song that plays in shops that are about to close. I checked the watch. We only have 5 minutes left.
"It feels everything is over whenever I hear
I mumbled to myself. Komari suddenly shot me suspecting gazes.
"T-This is
"Eh? But we've sung this at graduation ceremonies, right? They have different names."
"T-That's…"
Tsukinoki-senpai joined our conversation when we were arguing about our fuzzy memories.
"Whether it's
I don't think they are the same, but let's leave it there.
We fell silent subconsciously and listened to the music from the speaker.
Including the prep work, this marks the end of the long Tsuwabuki Fest.
Tsukinoki-senpai hugged Komari's head.
After that, Komari put her head on senpai's shoulder.
"...Thank you, everyone."
Prez's mumbles broke the silence.
"I'm not a very passionate president. I've always been causing everyone trouble."
Prez bowed at us deeply.
"Thank you. Thank you…for putting up the best exhibition ever."
-Clap, clap, clap, clap.
Tsukinoki-senpai started clapping.
Komari and I followed soon.
"...What's wrong, Shintaro? Why did you turn away from us?"
Tsukinoki-senpai loves tricking people. However, her smile today looks unprecedently mature.
"Nothing. …It's nothing."
Literature Club's Tsuwabuki Fest Exhibition
Number of Attendees: 117. Dessert Sold: 40. Club Magazines Distributed: 14.
Compared to popular clubs, this is a depressing result.
This doesn't mean the Literature Club will change either. It's just a sense of self-satisfaction.
I wanted to help Komari at the start. In the end, I'm already doing this for myself. That's how it feels.
The student council president's calming voice can be heard from the speaker.
"It's 4 PM. I hereby announce this is the end of the 98th Tsuwabuki Fest!"
*
Tsukinoki-senpai and I are waiting for the car at the south gate of Tsuwabuki High School.
Senpai's parents are helping to move the borrowed tatamis. Prez and I helped with the loading.
…Eh, speaking of Prez, where did he go?
"Senpai, do you know where Prez is?"
"I asked him to take my school bag from the venue. My wallet and phone are in there."
"Komari is still there as well. You could've asked her."
"It's not good to ask your kouhai to run errands for you, right?"
But a boyfriend is okay?
I wanted to complain, but then I suddenly realized we wouldn't have many interactions like this left.
"...The senpais are retiring from the Literature Club. It feels kind of lonely."
I mumbled to myself as I watched the cars passing the road.
"Ara, you'll say things like this too? I thought you would say these two troublemakers were finally gone."
"Talking good is a lubricant in interpersonal relationships, after all."
"Oh, Nukumizu-kun. You're getting smart-"
Tsukinoki-senpai and I exchanged looks and smiled. We then stopped talking.
While that conversation sounded like social manners, it just conveyed our loneliness.
I broke this sudden silence forcefully.
"Komari seems to be very stressed about being the next president."
"...I guess."
"The president's meeting is at next weekend, right? She has to introduce herself and talk about the activity report there. Even though she just has to read from the script-"
However, it's not so easy for Komari.
"Just for a little while. Can you continue to support her?"
"...If only I can."
The mood feels forlorn. However, a smile appeared on Tsukinoki-senpai's face.
"But that's already Nukumizu-kun's mission. I don't mean anything love-related. No matter how worried I am, only you can continue staying with her. The time has come."
The senpais' high school life is coming to an end.
They are seeing different places and treading on a different path than us.
"I feel like I don't truly know Komari."
"Really? I think Komari-chan still relies on Nukumizu-kun a lot, right? That's why I want you to become the vice president and support Komari-chan in my place."
"But I'm…still different from you two."
-I'm saying discouraging things now.
It's not for anyone else. She's the only person who can hear these pathetic words.
"It's the same during Tsuwabuki Fest as well. That girl put everything on her shoulders. Only Tsukinoki-senpai and that other person can approach the place that matters to her the most and is locked off from anyone else."
I turned around and looked at the school.
Prez is going to the empty classroom on the second floor of the west building, the venue of the Literature Club.
He's alone with Komari in the same classroom.
"...Prez is getting late. Should I go back to the classroom too?"
Upon hearing that, Tsukinoki-senpai showed a mocking smile.
"Nukumizu-kun, you actually want to talk about Shintaro and Komari-chan, right?"
"Ah, no, but…"
I stuttered.
"If we are here, it means the two of them are in the classroom, okay?"
Tsukinoki-senpai remained silent.
Feeling awkward, I reached my hand into my pocket. I touched a small box.
It's the cigarette candies I got from the shooting range. I took out one and put it in my mouth before handing the box to Tsukinoki-senpai.
"Senpai, do you want one?"
"Sure."
Tsukinoki-senpai smiled and took out one from the box.
"-You know, I'm actually a bad woman who only looks calm on the surface."
"Oh."
Tsukinoki-senpai pinched the candy between her fingers. She put it between her lips as if she was really smoking.
"I already knew Komari-chan liked Shintaro before she even confessed. 'But that girl wouldn't do anything, right?' 'She would let it end as a sweet and sour memory, right?' That was what I thought at the time."
Senpai shrugged jokingly.
"Don't get the wrong idea. I love Komari-chan the most. However, I must have underestimated that girl. As a woman, I'm closer to Shintaro. I thought that I wouldn't lose."
"Well, …then that happened in the end."
Senpai gazed at my face behind her glasses.
"During the night of the trip, if Komari-chan didn't muster her courage, if Shintaro and I continued misunderstanding each other, the result afterward would've probably been different."
"That's…"
I couldn't finish my sentence.
-Senpai thinks she should be the one to protect Komari. She thought Komari was a sensitive girl.
In a sense, she's right. However, this cute kouhai seems a little stronger than the senpai thought.
"...In the end, I managed to find my way toward happiness by stepping on Komari-chan."
"So, that's why you purposefully let those two have some time to be alone?"
Guilt is still lingering in Tsukinoki-senpai's heart.
I more or less understand that. It's like what senpai said. Interpersonal relationships are constantly changing. Losing a hoof nail at the start may mean giving up an entire country in the end.
Sometimes, your eternal feelings may not be rewarded, either. I've been witnessing scenes like that everywhere recently.
"...He'll get taken by someone one day if you keep causing trouble."
I reminded her. Senpai answered with her usual confident smile.
"I'll force him to fall for me again if that happens. I'm 18 years old, after all."
Tsukinoki-senpai chewed the cigarette candy between her fingers.
Senpai laughed for a while. Then, she suddenly looked anxious and glanced at the school building.
"...But they are indeed a bit late."
"I thought you allowed them."
"There's a limit on everything, right?"
Eh, …this person is quite selfish, even though I knew that already.
"I'll call Prez and ask him, okay?"
"Probably not. I don't want him to feel like I'm suspecting him. So…"
Senpai promptly put her hand on my shoulder.
"Nukumizu-kun, can you secretly go check up on them?"
…This person is so selfish.
*
Evening, west building.
The slanted sunlight pierced through the window and stained the corridor yellow.
All rooms seem to have finished removing items related to Tsuwabuki Fest. There's no one around.
We've almost finished cleaning the classroom the Literature Club used as the venue. The only thing left is taking off the exhibits on the wall.
I arrived and looked into the classroom. Only Komari remains. Prez seems to be gone. I don't know whether I missed him or not.
I wanted to leave, but I stopped upon seeing Komari's face.
Komari is gazing at the exhibits on the wall alone in the evening classroom.
After a while, Komari finally decided to walk over. She made up her mind and reached her hand out.
She still couldn't reach it even after straightening her body. Komari stood on tiptoes, yet her fingertips only slit across thin air.
I entered the classroom and reached my hand over Komari's head.
"N-Nukumizu…!"
"Komari, we can take this down, right?"
Komari nodded gently. I paid attention to not breaking it as I peeled off the paper and put it before us.
"Even I think it's pretty well-made. It's too much of a shame to throw it away."
"D-Did you even do anything?"
Komari complained as she turned around and observed the classroom under the sunset.
Influenced by her, I also turned around. The empty tables extend to the other side of the classroom.
"...I-It's all over."
Komari muttered.
I wanted to say something, yet nothing came out of my lips. I could only maintain the silence.
If Prez's here, perhaps he can say something that suits the mood.
At times like this, that person will show a slightly troubled expression and search for words that are considerate of her feelings.
"Right, did Prez not come? He should be taking Tsukinoki-senpai's school bag here."
"H-He did and left already."
I still missed him, after all. I tidily put the peeled papers on the table to avoid creases before glancing at the clock.
"It's time for me to go back. I have to help move the tatami."
Komari didn't answer. She just stares at the stacked papers.
I feel like I can't excuse myself from this place.
"Did you talk to Prez?"
…Why am I asking this?
My heart grew turbulent. Komari looked at me in surprise.
The silence is awkward. I quickly pieced my words together as if I was making an excuse.
"Uh, well, it's because you don't have many opportunities left to talk to Prez, right? So, you…"
Komari sighed and nodded.
"I-I thanked him properly."
"I-I see. He has looked after me a lot as well. I have to express my gratitude to the senpais again afterward properly."
"N-Nukumizu only joined the Literature Club recently, right?"
Hey, is this girl trying to put on airs with her experience?
I crossed my arms chicly.
"Actually, I'm your senpai on paper. I showed up on the first day of the visit period. It's just that I didn't realize I was already in the club after signing it."
"D-Don't forget I was the one who dug you out of the grave, you ghost member."
"I didn't know I was buried…"
A suspicious girl suddenly talked to me during a lesson break in July. That girl was Komari.
I feel like that happened very recently, yet it seemed so far ago.
"Komari joined the club in April, right? Did anyone else come to visit?"
"I-It was the last day of the visit when I went for the first time. I-I was the only one there."
Komari's eyes squinted as she looked outside the window.
The evening sky is growing darker and darker.
Komari crossed her fingers and tightly clenched them together.
"...I-I was really happy after j-joining the Literature Club. I-I really appreciated the senpais too."
Is she mumbling to herself, or does she want me to hear her out? She continues vaguely.
"P-Prez really appreciated me as well. H-He said the Literature Club could only go so far because of me."
"...That's great."
"Y-Yeah."
Three months before I was dug out of my grave.
The time that Komari had spent with the senpais must have been peaceful and full of sunshine.
I wonder about Komari's view of the ripples caused by our participation afterward.
However, it's unavoidable that those two will disappear one day. If we didn't show up-
The image of Komari sitting alone in the club room came to my mind.
"...T-The senpais are retiring too."
"Yeah, they probably won't visit the club room frequently, right?"
Komari slowly nodded in agreement.
"A-After the new year, they probably won't even come to school because of the exam. The moment they have decided their f-future…is when they graduate."
It will be November tomorrow.
The second semester will be over after the final exam. I feel lonely whenever I think of how much time we have left.
"S-Slowly, I will be seeing Prez less and less. A-As for the Prez in my heart, his image will get blurrier and blurrier. I-I don't like that very much…"
Her voice gradually disappeared. Komari lowered her head. Her bangs covered her eyes.
-The days full of sunshine will eventually set. Her feelings for Prez will turn into a memory bit by bit.
Komari must feel lonely, right?
"...Isn't that nice too?"
I mumbled to myself.
Komari frowned and glared at me.
"W-What…is so nice about this?"
"How should I put it? Even though I don't like the saying that anything can be solved with time, I feel some things can only end over time."
"Hmph, even though you aren't rejected at all."
Eh, …you can brag about being rejected as well?
If that's the case, I was denied by a girl who I haven't fallen in with love yet. I'm not planning to confess to her, either.
"I-I do understand what Nukumizu is trying to say. It's just that-"
Komari sat on the table.
"H-Holding onto these feelings while I wait for it to be over is agonizing. I-I'm so glad that I told him how I felt slightly today."
…? What does that mean?
Feeling lighter after displaying something she has been holding onto means…
"Wait, did you confess again?"
"Wha!? N-No way."
Glad to hear that. Prez didn't reject the same girl twice. I sighed in relief.
"I-I just asked whether there was a possibility of him liking me."
Komari fiddled with her fingers in a slightly awkward manner.
"What does that mean?"
"W-Would he fall in love with me if Tsukinoki-senpai wasn't there? That's what I asked."
Ha!? Is something wrong with this girl?
However, I resisted my urge to question Komari and took a deep breath.
"Then? How did Prez answer?"
"...P-Prez is really kind, so-"
After that, Komari smiled forlornly.
This smile is Komari trying her best to act tough. The sunset during the evening overwhelmed her feelings.
Whichever answer it might be, everything is already over.
No matter how much consideration or comfort she got, no matter how this ending would be called.
Prez's kindness has slit a minuscule wound on Komari's heart like a soft thorn-
I sat silently on the table next to Komari. Komari whispered to herself.
"W-Would it be different i-if I had never confessed?"
Komari's red hair is swaying under the sunset.
I was attracted. I nodded vaguely.
"...Maybe."
A different future. In that world, I wonder who will stay with Komari day and night and who will slowly grow distant from her.
Komari pondered about it for a while. She slowly squeezed her words out.
"I-Including Tsukinoki-senpai, I love the time the three of us have spent together. H-However, I-I felt I would be okay with all of these collapsing during the night of the trip. I-It's because just l-leaving beautiful memories…isn't something I want.
Komari came off the table. She turned away from me with her hands behind her.
Facing the disappearing sunset, Komari turned around and faced me.
"-I'm so glad that I fell in love with Prez."
She carried a sincere smile. For some reason, I stopped breathing for a moment.
"I see."
I finally squeezed that sentence out.
Komari nodded embarrassedly.
Suddenly, Komari seems to have realized something. She quickly started pulling the bottom of her uniform.
"W-What am I saying to Nukumizu…?"
"Well, I'm the best person you got if you want to talk to someone. I have few friends, after all."
I jumped down from the table and looked at my watch on purpose.
"I totally forgot about senpai. I should leave."
"M-Me too…"
I looked back at the classroom as we were about to leave. Komari followed soon. She slightly bowed before dashing through the corridor.
I lowered my head to the classroom before walking shoulder-to-shoulder with Komari.
Komari glanced at my face.
"P-Prez and Tsukinoki-senpai left the Literature Club to me because they believed me. T-That's why I want to answer their expectations."
"Tsuwabuki Fest only went so well thanks to Komari's effort. I think you've already worked hard enough."
Komari shook her head.
"T-This is thanks to everyone. I-I have to do that alone next time. Otherwise-"
Komari exhaled deeply. She repeated.
"Otherwise, I-I won't be able to defend the Literature Club."
Her appreciation for the senpais and the responsibility for being asked to protect the club.
It's not bad that Komari wants to move forward, yet I feel a tinge of pain in my chest…
"...Sure, do your best. But we're with you as well. So, don't push yourself too hard."
"T-Thank you, Nukumizu. B-But-"
Komari said that sincerely. She smiled nonchalantly.
"I'll be fine."
Komari's smile is so refreshing that it hurts.
Until the end, I still don't know how to answer her smile.
Intermission: Older Brother and Little Sister
Afternoon, Tsuwabuki High School.
Belonging to Class 2-3 of Momozono High School, Asami Gondou, affectionately nicknamed Gon-chan, is peeking at the photos in the camera over her friend's shoulders.
What is displayed on the screen is her friend's brother, Kazuhiko Nukumizu's snapshots- or sneak shots.
As for her friend, Kaju Nukumizu continued checking these photos joyfully.
Gon-chan took a piece of her rainbow cotton candy and handed it to Kaju's mouth.
"That's a beautiful shot. Anyway, Nuku-chan, I'm glad you can see your brother."
Nuku-chan, which is Kaju, ate the cotton candy handed by Gon-chan. She showed a satisfied smile.
"I didn't show my face. That's how I got these natural shots of onii-sama. Look, Gon-chan. This is onii-sama choking over udon! This is a rare SSR shot!"
"Oh, I see. That's great."
Gon-chan said that as she took off the yellow part of the cotton candy.
…Her friend Kaju is a brocon. At least, that's how Gon-chan sees it.
Of course, she has seen situations that surpass this limit. However, if "brocon" already exists in the world as such a convenient term, it's better to classify Kaju in this category.
"Well, that's your main goal, right? Let's decide where we're going next."
Kaju didn't answer. Instead, she kept staring at the photos on her camera.
This is a high school girl in white clothes. She's pointing her skewered dango at onii-sama.
"...Hey, how does Gon-chan think about onii-sama and Yanami-san?"
"The Yanami-san you're talking about is this gorgeous girl in the photo. If that's the case…"
Ignoring her ghost costume, she seems to be a brilliant, cheerful, and popular girl.
Gon-chan attempted to balance out friendship and reality in her mind as she thought of an answer. Kaju continued.
"...Actually, Kaju is planning to confirm these two's relationship today."
Kaju switched between photos on her camera.
The next one is a petite girl with a small pigtail next to her head.
She lowered her head. Her pupils undoubtedly arouse a boy's desire to protect her.
"However, after I came here, I witnessed Komari-san going on a savage attack. Onii-sama is very kind. That's why he may be attracted by a protection-seeking girl. Also, there's another one-"
Kaju couldn't keep her cool anymore. She frowned.
"Basori-san from the student council was an absolute blind spot. Maid costume with cat ears. She's hitting all of the correct places of onii-sama, including 2D and 3D. I can clearly tell from him saving 72 images of that alone."
She suddenly exposed her brother's fetish.
"Onii-sama will slowly cultivate their relationship after meeting someone sincerely considerate of him. …However, a maid with cat ears suddenly intrudes on the scene. This is absolutely not part of Kaju's scenario. How about I just-"
…How about what?
Gon-chan felt something was wrong. She tore off the red part of the cotton candy and shoved it into Kaju's mouth.
As for Kaju, she swallowed a mouthful of cotton candy with intense emotions.
Gon-chan attempted to change the topic by putting the brochure in front of Kaju.
"Nuku-chan. Forget about that. Let's check out the Judo Club. They are doing cross-dressing competitions for all years."
"...Even though Kaju doesn't mind, I don't expect Gon-chan to like this. That's a surprise."
"A man's body is more attractive the bigger it is, right?"
"More attractive the bigger it is…?"
Kaju is confused, yet she nods at her friend gently.
"Gon-chan's tastes are weird, but Kaju thinks it's good as long as you're happy.
…Is she being honest, or does she just don't want to ruin their friendship?
Gon-chan judged in her heart before nodding with a smile.