Epilogue

The week after the athletic festival.

“Um, Miyakojima-san?”

“W-What is it?”

The environment surrounding Narika was visibly changing.

After school. As I approached Class B’s classroom, Narika was, as expected, being called out to by someone today as well. Though slightly flustered, she responded slowly and politely.

(This should put my mind at ease.)

Seeing Narika being approached by all sorts of people, I felt a wave of relief.

It might seem like she’s getting extra attention because the athletic festival just ended, but this should have softened her unapproachable aura.

She still gets startled every time someone talks to her, but that’s probably just her natural personality.

If only she could overcome that shyness someday…

“Hey, isn’t Miyakojima-san, like, the one with all those rumors?”

At that moment, I overheard a conversation between two boys walking down the hallway.

“…The rumors seem like nonsense. She’s got normal friends and everything.”

“Huh, really?”

I glanced back discreetly… and there was the guy I faced off against at the athletic festival.

The same guy who acted cold toward Narika and hid his feelings for Hinako was now speaking up to clear the misunderstandings about her.

As I stood there, surprised, our eyes met for a brief moment.

He gave a slight nod before walking off as if nothing had happened.

“Izuki!”

Narika called out to me from Class B’s classroom.

I’d planned to just sneak a peek and leave, but it seems I got caught.

“You look busy.”

“Well, actually, a classmate said they want to start kendo. They asked me to help with practice, so we were discussing schedules.”

Narika said it with a cheerful tone.

“Nine times out of ten, it’s because of you.”

“Tch, that’s not certain… but if it’s true, I’d be happy.”

“Your old image was just a misunderstanding. This is how things should be. You can hold your head a little higher, you know.”

Narika bashfully lowered her gaze.

As far as I’m concerned, she deserves even more praise.

“Seriously, the final match was incredible.”

“Y-You think so?”

“Yeah. It was… I fell for you.”

“Fell for me!?”

“It was insanely cool. Gave me goosebumps, even. Our class is still talking about it. The swordmaster has arrived, they say.”

“Oh, that’s what you meant…”

For some reason, Narika’s shoulders slumped.

From now on, Narika will probably start connecting with all kinds of people.

And when that happens, moments like this—where it’s just me and Narika talking—might become rare.

If that’s the case, then before that happens… there’s one thing I have to say.

“…I won’t forget.”

With complete sincerity, I told her.

“What you said to me on the day of the athletic festival, Narika—I won’t ever forget it.”

“Eh, ahh…”

I looked straight into Narika’s face as best I could.

Her cheeks flushed red, and she averted her gaze.

“…Why are you getting embarrassed? You’re the one who said it.”

“W-Well, yes, but thinking back on it now, it’s kind of embarrassing…”

Through the gaps in Narika’s beautiful black hair, I could see her ears, bright red.

My ears were probably a similar shade.

Seeing Narika act so shy, I couldn’t help but mutter.

“We’re not the same as we used to be, huh.”

“Y-Yeah… I’ve grown too, you know!”

Her cheeks still flushed, Narika puffed out her chest proudly.

(You don’t have to tell me—I already know…)

My heart’s been pounding so hard it hurts this whole time.

Narika’s not a kid anymore.

She’s a girl my age who, every now and then, throws me completely off balance.

“Oh, right, Izuki. My father’s actually here at the academy for work right now… Want to come talk with him?”

That was almost certainly an attempt to change the subject, but this time, I went along with it.

However, the new topic was tricky in its own way.

“Talk, huh… I’m pretty sure your dad hates me…”

“Hmph? No way! Like I told you before, my father actually likes you.”

Narika did say that, but I still couldn’t quite believe it.

“If you’re nervous, I’ll go with you.”

Narika said it with a bright, reassuring tone.

It might be pathetic, but honestly, that made me feel a lot better.

As we left the school building and headed toward the gymnasium, I spotted Musashi-san. He must’ve been there for something related to the gym’s equipment.

Musashi-san noticed us.

“Tomonari Izuki, huh.”

“H-Hello, it’s been a while.”

It hadn’t even been that many days since I visited Narika’s house, so “a while” might’ve been the wrong choice of words. My nerves were making me overthink everything.

That’s when I noticed a woman in a kimono standing next to Musashi-san.

Our eyes met, and she gave a quiet bow.

“I’m Miyakojima Otsuko. It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”

“Yes, it’s been a while…”

Narika’s mother. I’d met her when I was little.

Her posture was perfectly straight, and every gesture was refined. Unlike Narika’s dignified air, she gave off a gentle, approachable vibe.

The atmosphere Otsuko-san exuded softened Musashi-san’s stern presence.

Thanks to that, I managed to regain my composure—

(Wait…?)

A sudden question popped into my head.

(Why am I so scared of Musashi-san, anyway?)

His appearance is intimidating.

His words are harsh.

The memory of being scolded for taking Narika out when we were kids has stuck with me.

His appearance, his words, that impression… they’re the same reasons Narika was misunderstood.

“Um, Musashi-san. When I was a kid, you scolded me for taking Narika out, right…?”

“Scolded?”

Musashi-san furrowed his brow.

“I don’t recall that. If anything, I believe I thanked you.”

Thanked…?

I don’t remember that at all… What’s going on here?

“Tomonari-san.”

Otsuko-san, who had been silent beside Musashi-san, spoke up.

“This might be hard to believe, but my husband is terribly bad with words.”

“Bad with words…?”

“Yes. It’s caused us quite a bit of trouble.”

Otsuko-san let out a sigh and glanced at Musashi-san.

“That day, what did you say to Tomonari-san?”

“Hm… If I recall correctly…”

Musashi-san searched his memory.

When I took Narika out without permission and she got hurt, Musashi-san called me over.

To a terrified me, Musashi-san—

“Thank you for entertaining my daughter today.”

He said simply,

“…Next time, I’ll make sure you have fun too.”

“Eek!”

He said it with a terrifying, almost demonic grin.

The sheer intimidation made me step back instinctively.

But then, Musashi-san looked puzzled.

“When I said that… for some reason, you ran off in fear.”

He seemed, if anything, a little dejected.

Wait, could it be…?

“Um, did you mean, like, you’d beat me up or something…?”

“No. People often misunderstand, but my husband’s words carry no hidden meaning.”

Otsuko-san explained on Musashi-san’s behalf.

Looking at Musashi-san’s face, there was no sign of deceit.

So… there really was no deeper meaning?

(I… I was just misunderstanding him?)

The tension in my shoulders melted away.

“Next time, I’ll make sure you have fun too”—those words weren’t a threat to beat me up for letting Narika get hurt. They were a genuine, “Come back and have fun next time.”

In my memory, Musashi-san was far scarier, clearly scolding me.

But it seems that was an image I created all on my own.

Musashi-san was just… bad with words, but kind at heart.

Just like everyone at the academy misunderstood Narika, I had misunderstood Musashi-san.

“By the way, we have no intention of treating you differently because of your family’s circumstances. Your mother and I… don’t quite get along, but that won’t make us cold toward you.”

“…Thank you.”

What an open-hearted person.

I bowed deeply.

“Musashi-san, I’m sorry for misunderstanding you all this time.”

“No… It’s enough that the misunderstanding is cleared.”

Musashi-san’s voice lifted slightly with a hint of warmth.

But that left me with another question.

“Um, when you said Narika’s weakness was my fault, what did you mean?”

“That… I meant that it only seemed that way because you were trying to make Narika act like everyone else.”

Musashi-san explained.

“Misunderstandings will eventually fade. Once you graduate from the academy, the world values ability. There’s no room for petty rumors. I believed that if Narika continued to grow as she was, she would become a leader feared by many, just like me. …She never needed to be ordinary.”

Having cleared up my image of Musashi-san, I could finally understand the true meaning of his words.

In other words, Musashi-san was certain that Narika’s fearsome reputation would only last during her time at the academy. Once she entered society, that fear would turn into awe—something closer to respect.

Compared to ordinary students, Narika’s social life seemed lonely, so I tried to help. But Musashi-san didn’t think Narika needed to be compared to ordinary students at all. It was, in a way, a respect for her individuality.

Musashi-san understood Narika’s strength in his own way.

That’s why he thought she was fine as she was…

(Believed…?)

That sounded like the past tense.

“Now, I think this is for the best.”

Musashi-san declared.

“I lived my life thinking only of becoming an exceptional leader. But Narika… she’s different. Watching you two, I’ve learned that.”

He looked at me and Narika as he spoke.

Narika blinked in confusion, but I had a vague sense of what his gaze meant.

Musashi-san had realized that Narika wasn’t someone who thrived alone—she was the type to live supporting and being supported by others. That other person didn’t have to be me. It could be Taishou, Asahi-san, Tennouji-san, or Hinako… Narika was better off with someone by her side.

“Oh, Father! I completely forgot, but why didn’t you tell me Izuki was coming to visit me? I was utterly shocked!”

“That… I thought it would make you happier if it was a surprise.”

“It didn’t make me happy!”

Narika snapped sharply.

The commanding aura radiating from Musashi-san vanished in an instant. His shoulders seemed to droop ever so slightly.

This guy might be a much more normal dad than I thought.

“If you’d told her, she could’ve dolled herself up more, right?”

“Exactly as Mother says—w-w-w-wait, no! That’s not what I meant! It’s not like that!”

Narika’s face turned beet red as she glanced at me.

Sure, sure, I thought, chuckling it off.

“By the way, Tomonari-san, have you signed up for the summer seminar?”

“Summer seminar?”

I tilted my head at Otsuko-san’s question.

“Every summer, Kiou Academy holds a summer seminar. I picked up some materials earlier while here for work… Would you like one? I have an extra.”

I thanked Otsuko-san and took the pamphlet she handed me.

It seems there’s an event similar to a camp, along with classes taught by renowned instructors.

Participation is optional, and you need to register in advance.

It piqued my interest, so I figured I’d ask Shizune-san about it.

“The location is… Karuizawa, huh.”

As classic as it gets. But I couldn’t help but think that only a select few get to enjoy such a classic experience.

(Speaking of Karuizawa…)

I remembered an old acquaintance, a girl who went to the same high school as me.

If I recall, she mentioned working a resort job in Karuizawa during our first year of high school. She said it was a fresh, fun experience, and she might be participating again this year.

If I join the summer seminar, maybe I’ll run into her in Karuizawa—

“…Nah, that’s probably overthinking it.”