Epilogue

“And so, congratulations on passing the special assignment at the top.”

“Thank you very much.”

“Yeah. Don’t let your guard down from here on out, got it?”

“Yes. I’ll make sure to work even harder going forward. Thank you for taking the time to encourage me.”

With those words, I leave the principal’s office. It’s Monday morning at seven, the start of a new week. The rankings for the assignment are posted on the bulletin board, and I’ve secured first place. I somehow managed to cling to life, huh? With that thought, I head to the classroom.

The assignment, huh. Getting first place on the midterm exam. The fact that Himeka-san didn’t praise Himeno back then.

Things might already be veering down a path different from the game, but what exactly does it mean that something different from the game has happened?

I think about it for a while but can’t figure it out, so I stop dwelling on it and start walking.

“Ah, Riku! Chuki chuki!”

When I enter the classroom, Himeno, who’s in a different class, is there. It’s just past seven in the morning, and the fact that no one else is around feels both reassuring and unsettling, a strange sensation.

“What’s up, coming here so early in the morning?”

“I realized I’ve fallen for you all over again, Riku, and I couldn’t hold back, so I just had to come!”

The reconciliation between Himeno and Himeka-san, and taking first place in the exam—both goals have been achieved. But I still haven’t managed to make them realize that I’m not the Riku they all loved… No, Himeno probably already knows. Otherwise, she wouldn’t use phrases like “the old Riku.”

So I decide to ask her directly.

“Is it really okay, Himeno? I’m not the Minato Riku you fell in love with, you know?”

“It’s totally fine. When you think about it, the old, overbearing me isn’t the me of now either, and I’d be troubled if someone called that me the real me. The me who loved the game’s Riku is a different person from the me now, too.”

“Oh, is that how it works?”

“Yep. The current me loves the current Riku. That’s all there is to it. People change every day, so if you’re going to be in love, you’ve got to keep updating your feelings, right?”

“When you put it that way, I guess so.”

“Uh-huh. It’s like blinking — close your eyelids and open them, and it updates instantly. So, Riku, chuki. I love how your skin’s got this healthy glow today, chuki, and you’re so cool, chuki.”

“Haha…”

“So, Riku, I’ll keep loving you forever, so you can choose me with confidence, okay? ♡”

Putting the whole “choosing or not choosing” thing aside, I’d been feeling a bit iffy about myself in this world, but… yeah, I guess it’s okay. She loves the me that I am now.

The reconciliation with Himeka-san led to a happy ending that neither the game’s protagonist nor a real-world high schooler could’ve reached, so maybe the me in this world isn’t so bad after all.

“Riku, why’re you smiling like that?”

Himeno suddenly peers into my face.

A gal game heroine’s face, so beautiful it’s almost too much, right up close. The face of a super cute girl who likes me.

My face heats up, and I hurriedly open my mouth.

“Don’t worry about it! By the way, how’s the second round with Himeka-san going?”

Himeno purses her lips into a frown.

“Mother’s being way too stubborn, so it’s still ongoing. Looks like we’ll have to fight it out for the full round.”

“Yeah, that sounds like Himeka-san, alright.”

“Right? She was being such a pain this morning, it was the worst.”

“A pain? How so?”

“She brought this homemade bento that looked like something a high school girl would make and was all like, ‘Hmph, even my first attempt turned out this good. Hmph, no way you could pull this off, Himeno, could you? This is the kind of talent needed to be the head of the Yukishiro family. If you understand the difference in our class, you should give up on becoming the head. Oh, but you’ll probably say it’s not delicious even if it is, so why don’t you have a friend try it and get their opinion? Hmm, maybe that cheeky male student would be a good choice?’ or something like that.”

“Yeah, that does sound like a pain.”

“Right? So I ate it for breakfast. Seeing Mother all teary-eyed felt so satisfying.”

Listening to her, I think to myself.

They’re getting along pretty well, all things considered.

“Hehe, well, yeah. Just to be sure, though, there’s nothing going on with Mother, right?”

“There’s really nothing.”

“Phew, that’s a relief. If something was going on between Mother and my boyfriend who’s in the same grade, that’d be, like, way too much.”

What would happen if I told her about all the teasing, like poking her in the side or messing with her?

Yeah, no need to even think about it. Better keep that to myself.

“Ah!! Himeno’s stealing a march on us!”

“That’s not fair!”

With those voices, Wakana and Yui burst into the classroom.

Why do they all show up like they planned it or something…?

“Hey, Himeno? Lately, Riku’s been totally monopolized by you, so I came here to have him to myself for once, and what’s this, Himeno? You’re saying you still haven’t had enough?”

“That’s a bit too greedy, don’t you think?”

Despite her love rivals showing up, Himeno remains unnaturally calm.

“Yui, Wakana. I already thanked you over the phone, but let me say it again properly. The wedding went off without a hitch. Thank you so much for helping out.”

As Himeno gracefully bows her head, Wakana and Yui shoot her suspicious looks.

“Huh, why’re you acting so composed?”

“Yeah, it’s kinda annoying.”

“Oh, really? I was just sincerely thanking you, that’s all.”

You can’t take her words at face value. Himeno’s “Oh, really?” has the exact same vibe as an idol going, “Ehh, I’m not cute at all~!” and Yui and Wakana plaster on strained smiles.

“Hey, Himeno, are you picking a fight with me?”

“Yeah, I’m ready to take you on anytime.”

“Haha, you two say the funniest things, Yui, Wakana. Fights only happen between people on the same level. I see Riku as Riku, so I’m on a stage way ahead of you two. It’s sad, but at your level, you can’t even pick a fight with me.”

At Himeno’s words, Yui and Wakana flash pitch-black smiles.

“Oh, you’re not getting away with that.”

“Himeno, I don’t know why, but you’re seriously pissing me off.”

Oh no… Another tense, cutthroat showdown’s starting.

“Riku, why’re you just standing there? Hurry up and choose me so we can shut these two idiots up.”

“I kinda like it when Riku-kun ignores me, but not right now, you know?”

“Riku, I already know I really like you. Isn’t it about time you returned my feelings?”

Cornered by the three of them, I ask one question.

“By the way, are we holding grudges?”

“””Oh, absolutely!!!!”””

Looks like my life’s still very much in danger.

My daily life, wrestling with my relationships with these three, goes on.