Chapter 4: The Sea, the Ojou-sama, and the Childhood Friend

The next morning.

As I was having breakfast in the hotel dining hall as usual, a small figure approached.

“Morning, Izuki!”

Hands were placed on both my shoulders.

Turning around, I saw my childhood friend, Yuri, standing there.

Hinako and the others greeted Yuri with a polite “Good morning.” I gave a casual “Morning” in return before looking at Yuri’s face.

“You seem awfully cheerful. Something happen?”

“Not really? Just thought you’re not someone to be underestimated, that’s all.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

Tilting my head in confusion, I noticed Tennouji-san and Narika, seated across from me, faintly blushing—or so it seemed.

I’d had a hunch that Yuri had been scheming something behind the scenes these past few days. Knowing Yuri, she wouldn’t cause trouble for anyone, but could she have been talking with Tennouji-san and the others?

“Oh, by the way, I made that salad, so eat it carefully, okay? Though I mostly just chopped stuff.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

Pointing at the plate, Yuri spoke, and I responded with a half-hearted nod.

But then, I felt a strange unease.

“…Yuri?”

“What?”

“Are you… forcing yourself or something?”

There was a brief pause before her reply.

“Huh? I’m not forcing anything.”

I couldn’t quite discern the truth behind her words, but I knew Yuri could be stubborn in moments like these, rarely changing her attitude.

For now, I had no choice but to take her word for it. With that thought, I nodded.

“You’ve got time to worry about me? Don’t you have an exam today?”

“Ugh… yeah, you’re right.”

She was spot on.

Today was the exam for the summer course. I’d diligently prepped and reviewed since the first day, so I’d kept up with the classes, but I had no idea how I’d score.

Honestly… I wasn’t confident.

“Is it really something to get that nervous about?”

“Well… if I get a bad score, I’ll be stuck with Shizune-san drilling me with Spartan-style studying until the end of summer break…”

“Shizune-san, you mean that maid, right? Sounds nice! Getting hands-on lessons from someone that beautiful—any guy would be thrilled, no?”

“That’s only because you don’t know how intense her Spartan methods are.”

I said it with a straight face, and Yuri nodded, slightly taken aback, with a hesitant “R-right.”

“How about you, Konohana-san? Ready for the exam?”

“I believe I’ve prepared as usual.”

Answering Yuri’s question, Hinako took a sip of her Assam tea. I’d heard Assam contains caffeine, so I’d been drinking it often during the summer course.

“Konohana Hinako. For the record, I’ve prepared even more thoroughly than usual.”

“Tennouji-san is quite diligent.”

“W-Well, I strive to be so every day. …No, that’s not it! This time, I’ll settle things once and for all!”

“Please go easy on me.”

Lately, Hinako seemed to have figured out how to handle Tennouji-san.

Figuring out how to handle her could also mean she’d come to understand Tennouji-san better. If anything, it felt like Tennouji-san’s changes were the cause. Respecting her own will, not just her family name, Tennouji-san had started to carry a friendlier vibe.

“Narika, you holding up okay?”

“Oh, me? I’ve already given up. Even after the summer course, I’ve got a tutor coming to my place.”

Narika said it with the dead-eyed stare of a fish.

I was one step away from that same despair, so I couldn’t treat it as someone else’s problem.

“Well, no point stressing now, right? Just buckle down and do your best. If you bomb it, I’ll make you another hamburger set.”

“…Right.”

Yuri was right.

At this point, I had to steel myself and face it.

“I’m counting on that hamburger set.”

“Don’t give up before you start!”

Yuri lightly smacked my head.

…From what I could see, she was back to her usual self.

Earlier, she’d seemed like she was forcing it, but maybe I was overthinking it.

“By the way, everyone, what are your plans for tomorrow’s day off?”

After sipping her soup, Tennouji-san glanced around at our faces and asked.

The summer course would end with today’s exam. Grading would take a day, so tomorrow was a day off, with results announced the day after.

“I haven’t decided on anything.”

“Same here.”

Narika agreed with me, as I hadn’t made any plans yet.

“I haven’t decided either, but… since it’s a rare chance, going somewhere fun might be nice. I’d like to forget about studying for a day and enjoy the break.”

I wholeheartedly agreed with that.

It was summer break, after all. After focusing so hard on studying, a little reward-like event wouldn’t hurt.

“In that case, how about going to the sea?”

Hinako suggested.

The sea? We tilted our heads, and Hinako continued.

“It’s about a two-hour drive from here to a beach on the Japan Sea side. It’s not a private beach, so there’ll be other people around, but…”

“That sounds wonderful! Summer means the sea, after all. I’m in!”

“I-I’d love to join too, please!”

Tennouji-san and Narika immediately agreed.

The summer course had been so intense that I’d completely forgotten, but now that I thought about it, we’d been talking about the sea in the car before arriving in Karuizawa.

Still, I was surprised.

(Hinako inviting everyone is pretty rare…)

Or rather, Hinako planning any event was unusual in itself.

If there weren’t any prying eyes, she’d drop her act. I’d figured Hinako would prefer to spend a rare day off lounging in her hotel room.

“T-The sea with friends…! Oh, the event I’ve dreamed of…!”

Narika was so overwhelmed with emotion that she looked ready to cry.

“W-Wait!? B-But I didn’t bring a swimsuit!”

“We can buy one on the way. There’s a Konohana Group store near the beach, so we can stop there.”

“O-Oh, right. That makes sense.”

I hadn’t brought a swimsuit either, so I’d need to buy one.

“U-Um… is it okay if I come along too?”

Yuri timidly raised her hand and asked.

Hinako smiled warmly and nodded.

“Of course.”

“Phew, thank goodness… When you mentioned a private beach, I thought a commoner like me might not be welcome.”

“If the timing had been right, I would’ve invited you to a private beach.”

“O-Oh… Gotta love having Ojou-sama friends…”

Yuri dramatically clutched her chest in exaggerated delight.

“But Yuri, what about your job?”

“Oh, I’m off tomorrow, actually.”

“I thought you’d be super busy, but you’re getting proper days off, huh?”

“I planned to spend some time on cooking research, so I asked for a lighter schedule. Plus, the kitchen’s pretty physical work, so they make sure we get solid breaks.”

I knew from visiting Yuri’s house countless times that kitchen work was demanding.

In a high-end hotel like this, sloppy work wouldn’t cut it. To keep the kitchen staff sharp, breaks were apparently scheduled generously.

“We should probably head to the classroom soon.”

Tennouji-san checked the time and said.

“Good luck on the exam, everyone!”

Sent off by Yuri, we left the dining hall.

As we walked to the classroom in a group, I quietly slipped to the back and spoke to Hinako in a low voice.

“Hinako, were you thinking about the sea trip this whole time?”

“Mm… I talked it over with Shizune and decided.”

That explained how she knew about the beach on the Japan Sea side.

It wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment idea, then.

“But is it okay to invite everyone? You’ll have to keep up your act with people around, right?”

“It’s not a private beach, so it’s the same either way.”

Fair point.

“Besides… I thought you’d be happier this way, Izuki.”

Hinako looked straight into my eyes as she said it.

It felt like she’d seen right through me. …During the summer course, we’d been with the same group the whole time. I did want to hang out with everyone if we got the chance.

“Thanks. I was thinking it’d be more fun if we all went together.”

“Hehe… I’ve got you all figured out, Izuki.”

Hinako puffed out her chest proudly.

At that moment, Tennouji-san, walking ahead, noticed we were lagging and turned back.

“Is something wrong, you two?”

“No, it’s nothing.”

Hinako instantly slipped back into her Ojou-sama mode.

I gave a wry smile. …I don’t think I’ll ever get used to this switch.

◆

The day after the exam.

It was two in the afternoon. We’d left the hotel in the morning, stopped at a department store to buy swimsuits, had lunch, and finally arrived at our destination.

“…The sea.”

It was a painfully bland comment, but it was indeed the sea.

In middle school, I’d gone to the sea once for a school event called Nature Camp. But the Tomonari family was so broke we couldn’t afford transportation, so Yuri’s family drove me. We barely scraped together money for food, but for the month after I got home, I had no meals except dinner.

That meal might’ve been the most luxurious of my middle school years.

Thinking back brought tears to my eyes.

“Looks like you’re done changing.”

As I waited outside the changing room in my swimsuit for the girls, Shizune-san called out to me.

She was, as always, in her maid uniform.

“You’re not wearing a swimsuit, Shizune-san?”

“Want to see me in one?”

Shizune-san asked with a mischievous grin.

I felt my cheeks heat up and looked down to hide it.

“You’re still not used to this. Hard to believe you’re spending every day with Ojou-sama.”

“…I’m trying my best to be careful, you know. Especially during bath time.”

“That’s a commendable attitude.”

The trick, by the way, was to not look directly but keep her in the corner of my vision. That way, I could just barely handle Hinako’s high-exposure outfits.

“I’m prioritizing work today to ensure everyone’s safety. This isn’t a private beach, after all—it’s a public beach with lots of people.”

“Sorry, it feels like I’m the only one having fun here.”

“Don’t worry about it. Thanks to you being considerate, I’ve gotten more rest than usual.”

Shizune-san said with a gentle expression.

It seemed she’d genuinely had a chance to recharge.

“Besides, the Konohana family has already stationed a hundred security personnel at this beach. My burden isn’t that heavy.”

“I-I see.”

As expected of the Konohana family. They move fast.

Glancing around discreetly, I spotted a familiar burly man walking the beach in just swim trunks. …Right now, this beach probably had the equivalent of a hundred lifeguards.

“By the way, Izuki-san, how did the exam feel?”

“…I did everything I could, at least.”

Honestly, I wasn’t sure. The subjects we covered were different from what we learn at the academy, so even after solving the problems, I was full of anxiety.

“That’s good enough. I’m looking forward to the results.”

“Y-Yes…”

To me, that was nothing but added pressure.

“Sorry for the wait!!”

At that moment, a loud voice came from the women’s changing room.

Yuri came bounding over, waving her arms enthusiastically.

Right beside her were three dazzling Ojou-sama.

“Nice weather, isn’t it?”

“Indeed, it’s almost blindingly bright.”

“Ahh… I’m living my youth right now…!”

All three seemed to be soaking in the surreal vibe of the sea, looking noticeably excited.

My eyes fell on something Yuri was holding.

“Yuri, that’s…”

“A beach ball! I bought it when we stopped at the department store.”

I hadn’t noticed. While buying swimsuits, I’d been a bit separated from the girls, so she must’ve picked it up then.

“More importantly, Izuki, don’t you have something to say?”

“Ugh…”

I knew, in theory, what I was supposed to say in moments like this.

I looked at the four girls standing before me. Narika and Tennouji-san were fidgeting, looking oddly shy. Even Hinako, maintaining her Ojou-sama composure, had a faint blush on her cheeks.

Hinako’s swimsuit was a white off-shoulder design with frills on both the top and bottom. The frills softened her silhouette, giving a refined and adorable impression. There was a pure, untouchable beauty to her, almost too perfect to approach.

Tennouji-san wore a blue bikini with a pareo wrapped around her waist. The shoulder straps, made of some special material, faintly reflected sunlight like a necklace, and the pareo had intricate patterns. It was eye-catching yet elegant, perfectly suited to Tennouji-san’s style.

Narika’s swimsuit was a black bikini with small white polka dots. It seemed designed for both looks and ease of swimming. Her toned body, sculpted by regular exercise, had not an ounce of excess fat, boldly showcasing her slender frame.

Yuri’s swimsuit had an orange bikini top paired with beige shorts. Though she was short and not exactly well-endowed, the lively vibe of her outfit suited her perfectly.

After taking in all their swimsuit looks, I cautiously opened my mouth.

“………………Everyone looks great.”

“Coward.”

Yuri muttered under her breath.

Praising women’s swimsuits fluently was beyond my mental strength.

Then, I noticed the Ojou-sama were staring at me intently for some reason.

“Izuki, your body’s, uh, pretty toned, huh?”

Narika mumbled.

“Yeah… haven’t you gotten, like, way more muscular?”

“…Well, a lot’s happened.”

Thanks to Shizune-san’s rigorous training.

“Still, I didn’t realize a public beach could get this crowded.”

Tennouji-san said, looking around.

“Do you usually go to private beaches, Tennouji-san?”

“Yes. Or indoor pools. I use those when I don’t want to tan.”

“I can’t really picture you tanned, Tennouji-san.”

“Oh? I used to tan a lot when I was younger. Believe it or not, I was quite active back then.”

That surprised me for a moment, but then it didn’t seem so far-fetched. Tennouji-san is always graceful but also has an energetic vibe.

A tanned Tennouji-san… that might actually be pretty charming in its own way.

As I unconsciously imagined it, Yuri approached.

“Hey, Izuki, did you put on sunscreen?”

“Huh? …Oh, crap. Forgot.”

“Figured as much. …Can’t be helped.”

Sighing, Yuri pulled sunscreen from her bag.

“C’mon, lie down there.”

“W-Wait, I can do it myself!”

“You can’t put sunscreen on your own back, can you?”

That’s true, but…

It felt pointless to resist, so I lay down on the sheet.

“Here we go!”

Yuri straddled my waist.

She’s light, so it wasn’t a problem at all, but…

“Um, Yuri? You’re a bit close…”

“What’s there to worry about? We used to take baths together, didn’t we?”

““Baths together!?””

Tennouji-san and Narika’s eyes widened.

“That was with both of you in swimsuits, right?”

“Huh? No, it wasn’t… Why swimsuits…?”

Hinako was asking something odd.

I didn’t quite get it, but maybe she was surprised in her own way.

“Just to clarify, that was when we were in elementary school, okay?”

With a sigh, I added the detail, and Tennouji-san and Narika stroked their chests in relief. Hinako also calmed down as usual.

I wish she wouldn’t make it sound like we were still doing it recently.

…Though I’m still bathing with Hinako now, I’ll definitely keep that to myself.

“All done!”

“Ouch! Don’t slap me!”

A sudden smack on my back made me jump up.

“Haha! Look at that perfect red handprint!”

“You…!”

Yuri bolted toward the sea, and I chased after her.

My sandals slipped off, and I felt the sand directly under my feet.

The heat of the ground made me hop, and in that moment, I truly felt like I was savoring summer.

◆

“Take that!”

With a shout, Yuri spiked the beach ball upward.

The ball arced through the air, heading toward me.

“Whoa!”

The wind threw it off course, but I stretched out my right hand and hit it upward.

The ball sailed toward Hinako.

“Hup!”

“Here we go!”

Hinako sent the ball up, and Tennouji-san directed it toward Narika.

“Hah!”

The ball veered off in the wind, but Narika swiftly jumped, caught it, and sent it back toward Yuri.

She’s the only one putting in that much energy.

Narika’s athletic prowess was shining even in beach sports.

“Not bad!”

Yuri flashed a fearless grin.

I just realized, but everyone here is good at sports. Hinako and Tennouji-san excel in both academics and athletics, I’m training my body too, and Yuri’s always been pretty good at sports.

Naturally, even a casual game of passing the ball turned intense.

“Simply hitting a ball back and forth in the sea like this is surprisingly profound, isn’t it?”

“Yeah, it really works your legs and core. This is great exercise.”

The Ojou-sama were enjoying it from a weird perspective.

I wondered if they even noticed… the attention they were drawing.

A group of unbelievably beautiful girls gathered in one place, all in swimsuits. Men and women, young and old, were staring at us.

“…Izuki, you deal with this all the time?”

“…I only got used to it recently.”

Yuri and I, at the epicenter of those gazes, were incredibly nervous.

I recently learned that the Ojou-sama are conscious of the attention they get and adjust their behavior accordingly. They must have noticed these stares too. But for them, being the center of attention is just another day, so they don’t care at all.

“Still…”

“? What’s up?”

Feeling the weight of the surrounding gazes, I glanced at Yuri.

It’s no surprise that the three Ojou-sama have stunning looks, but upon closer inspection, Yuri, standing among them, isn’t bad-looking either. As her childhood friend, I know her ordinary past and down-to-earth values, but setting aside that bias, couldn’t she hold her own against them?

“…Yuri’s pretty cute too, you know.”

“W-What’s that!?! Are you stupid?! You’re so stupid!!”

“Ow, ow, stop hitting me!”

She smacked me repeatedly to hide her embarrassment.

At that moment, a ball came flying with ferocious speed.

Turning back slowly, like a rusty fan, I saw Hinako smiling brightly at me.

“Tomonari-kun, the ball.”

“Y-Yes, ma’am.”

Better not stir things up further. I quickly grabbed the ball and passed it to Tennouji-san.

With a thump, the beach ball soared high and fell toward Narika.

I expected her to smash it back, but… the ball passed right by Narika and splashed into the water.

“Miyakojima-san, is something wrong?”

“I-I might be a bit tired! I-I’m going to take a break!”

With an awkward expression, Narika distanced herself from us.

Puzzled, I noticed her looking at me with eyes that seemed to beg for help.

“I-Izuki, come over here.”

She beckoned me subtly, so I casually approached her.

“What’s wrong?”

“…My swimsuit got swept away.”

“Huh?”

“I-I must’ve moved too vigorously…”

Now that she mentioned it, her top was— I almost looked to confirm but hurriedly averted my eyes.

“Sorry! I’m taking a break too!”

For now, I excused myself under the pretense of resting.

I approached Narika, careful not to look at her.

“Wouldn’t it have been better to call one of the girls instead of me?”

“…N-Now that you mention it.”

Why didn’t she do that? Narika looked confused, but I was the one who wanted to ask.

Narika’s swimsuit was black. I searched the crowd but couldn’t find it.

“Maybe it got swept toward those rocks over there.”

“W-Wait, don’t leave me alone!”

“Okay, but… want to come with me?”

“Y-Yeah. If I pretend to swim, I can manage…”

Narika followed, crouching low.

Probably to hide her upper body, she pressed close to me, but I wished she’d realize how risky that was. Would it be too harsh to point that out when she’s already cornered…?

At the rocks, with fewer people around, Narika relaxed.

There, between the rocks, floated a black swimsuit.

“Found it!”

I grabbed it and tried to hand it to Narika, who was hiding behind a rock.

“W-Wait! Don’t look this way!”

“S-Sorry!”

I quickly averted my eyes and handed her the swimsuit.

“…Y-You can look now.”

With her permission, I turned back.

Narika had properly put her swimsuit back on.

“What a relief. Shall we head back?”

“Yeah… Thanks for the help.”

“Don’t mention it.”

I wasn’t sure if it was common, but maybe bikini-style swimsuits come off easily.

“Moving around so freely like that, it’s no wonder your swimsuit came off.”

“Y-Yeah. I meant to take it easy at first, but Hirano-san was tougher than I expected. I got carried away.”

“Yuri’s good at sports too, after all. Last night, we were messaging, and she kept saying she wanted to go all out.”

“Messaging…”

Suddenly, Narika looked down.

But then, with a determined expression, she met my eyes.

“I-Izuki, could you come a bit closer?”

“Huh? Sure, but what—”

Before I could ask what she was up to,

Narika swiftly closed the distance and thrust her right arm forward with force.

“Hah!”

“Whoa!?”

The martial arts prodigy Miyakojima Narika’s palm strike grazed my cheek.

Even with my self-defense training from Shizune-san, I couldn’t react at all.

A loud thud echoed from behind.

Narika’s strike had missed my cheek and hit the rock behind me.

“W-Why a slap…?”

“A slap!? N-N-N-No, that’s not it! This is a kabedon!”

“A kabe… don? …A kabedon?”

It wasn’t like I thought, “Oh, a kabedon, that’s all.”

If anything, it only deepened the mystery.

“I-I heard that doing this would… you know, make us closer, Izuki.”

Narika explained haltingly.

“…Who told you that, by the way?”

“…Hirano-san.”

Figures, I thought, nodding.

There’s no way kabedon culture is a thing among Ojou-sama. I didn’t teach her about it, so it had to be Yuri.

“…Kabedon isn’t as foolproof as you think, Narika.”

“I-Is that so?”

“Also, doing it in that outfit makes it hard to know where to look…”

I said, looking away.

Narika blinked in confusion for a moment but quickly understood,

“—!?”

Panicking, she stepped back and covered her chest with both hands.

Her embarrassment seemed to hit its limit, and she crouched down, clutching her head.

“Ughhh… All day, Izuki’s seen me at my most embarrassing…!”

That’s kind of always the case, but I kept that to myself.

“…So, what were you trying to do?”

After some time, when Narika had calmed down, I asked.

She stood slowly, her glistening eyes meeting mine.

“…Izuki, there’s something I’ve been wanting to ask for a while.”

I nodded slightly, and Narika spoke.

“What exactly is your relationship with Konohana-san?”

Her tone was oddly serious.

The intensity in her voice was overwhelming. It took me a few seconds to suppress my unease.

“What do you mean? I told you before—I’m working at Konohana-san’s house.”

“But you call Konohana-san by her first name, don’t you?”

“!”

How did she know that?

Speechless, Narika continued for me.

“You probably didn’t notice, but you called Konohana-san by her first name in front of me once. …You’re really on a first-name basis with her, aren’t you?”

I had no idea. Normally, I’d never do that.

Was it back when I was still getting used to being a caretaker? Even then, I was careful… No, forget it. She already heard it, so the timing doesn’t matter.

An excuse flashed through my mind. For example, I could say there’s another Konohana at the estate where I live, and to avoid confusion, I started using first names. It’s a stretch, but it’s plausible.

But I hesitated.

As an employee, I mustn’t cause trouble for the Konohana family. Still, I wanted to avoid lying as much as possible.

“Yeah, that’s right.”

In the end, what slipped out was an affirmation.

“While working at the Konohana estate, I got close to Hinako. …Probably closer than you think, Narika.”

Narika’s eyes widened at my shift to Hinako’s first name.

“But if I called her that at the academy, it’d draw attention to Hinako. We already live in the same estate, even if it’s a big one. If weird rumors spread, it’d cause trouble for Hinako and the Konohana family. So, in public, I call her Konohana-san.”

Narika seemed convinced and, at the same time, showed a knowing expression.

Calling her “Hinako” in front of Narika was a one-time thing.

From now on, I’d go back to normal. With other Kiou Academy students staying in Karuizawa, some might even be at this beach.

“…That’s so like you, Izuki. Always thinking of others, not yourself. …How am I supposed to complain when you put it like that?”

Narika let out a deep sigh.

She seemed frustrated, but—

“But, now that I think about it, we’ve been calling each other by our first names from the start, haven’t we?”

“Ugh… T-That’s true, but…”

Narika struggled to articulate the dissatisfaction swirling in her heart.

She raised and lowered her arms, trying to sort her emotions into words.

“But, still… I want to be someone more special to you, Izuki!”

Was it her clumsiness that made her words so powerful?

Narika sometimes threw her feelings at me with such directness.

Unsure how to respond, I froze, lips sealed.

“S-So, Izuki!”

“Y-Yes?”

“W-Would you, um, exchange email addresses with me!?”

“…Huh?”

How did she arrive at that conclusion?

My brain stalled, unable to process.

“I-I want to message you too, Izuki! Not just at the academy, but on breaks too!”

Oh, that’s what she meant.

“…Yeah, you’re right. Come to think of it, we haven’t exchanged contact info yet, have we?”

It was honestly long overdue.

I rarely messaged anyone other than Yuri, so I’d completely forgotten about exchanging contacts.

“Let’s go grab our phones. …We’ll exchange email addresses, but these days, people mostly use apps for messaging, so we’ll start with that for you, Narika.”

“O-Okay. Teach me how.”

We navigated the uneven rocks back to the beach.

As small waves lapped at our feet, Narika suddenly spoke.

“Izuki, that mark on your back—is that from Hirano-san smacking you?”

“Oh, it’s still there, huh? Doesn’t hurt at all anymore, so no need to worry about it.”

“…”

Narika suddenly goes quiet.

The next moment, a sharp smack echoes from my back.

“Ow!? Wait, why!?”

“…It’s nothing.”

Why did I just get whacked on the back?

Puzzled, I climb up onto the beach.

Come to think of it, I haven’t seen Hinako or the others. Are they all taking a break or something?

“You two, over here!”

Yuri, sitting under a parasol, spots us and calls out.

Narika and I head toward the parasol. Hinako and Tennouji-san aren’t around.

“Just you, Yuri?”

“Don’t make it sound like I’m some loner, okay? Konohana-san and the others are in the changing room reapplying sunscreen, so I’m keeping an eye on our stuff.”

I didn’t mean it like that, especially since the real loner is standing right next to me.

“Anyway, where’d you two wander off to?”

“We were looking for some shade, but couldn’t find a good spot.”

“Oh, gotcha. Well, it’s pretty hot even under the parasol, so…”

Yuri fans her face with her hand, trying to stir up a breeze.

Not a bad excuse on the fly, if I do say so myself. Yuri doesn’t seem suspicious at all.

I grab my bag from under the parasol and pull out my phone.

“Narika, you got your phone?”

“O-oh, yeah!”

As Narika digs her phone out of her bag, I catch a glimpse of her contacts list. The sparse number of entries makes my heart twinge with a hollow ache, but we can work on filling it up together. If Narika puts her mind to it, she’s more than capable of making that list grow.

“All set with the registration.”

I confirm that we’ve successfully exchanged IDs without a hitch.

Just then, I spot Hina and the others heading our way.

I start to slip my phone back into my bag—but right before I do, it buzzes.

“Hm?”

A message pops up.

It’s from Narika.

Narika: I’m not planning to lose to anyone, nya!

Reading the message, my eyes instinctively flick to Narika standing in front of me.

She looks away, her cheeks tinged with embarrassment.

Of course, her very first message would have a typo—classic Narika. Maybe she’s not used to typing on her phone yet.

The true meaning behind her words hits me, vague but undeniable.

Still… I can’t help but think there’s no need to compete over something like that.

I quickly tap out a reply to Narika’s message.

Izuki: Narika’s got her own unique charm, nya!

Narika’s face lights up as she reads the message, savoring the moment—until she notices the “nya” at the end and tilts her head in confusion.

A beat later, she realizes her own typo and lets out a startled, “Ah!?”

“I-Izuki, you’re so mean…!”

Hey, that’s my line.

Don’t go throwing me off like that out of nowhere.

◆

After regrouping with Hinako and the others, who’d finished reapplying their sunscreen, we dive back into playing at the beach.

We chat lazily on the sand, and when the heat gets to us, we swim again.

It feels like such a summer thing to do.

What was I even doing last summer? My memories are fuzzy, probably because I was drowning in part-time jobs.

But this summer? I’m pretty sure I’ll remember it for the rest of my life.

“I’m feeling a tad parched.”

“Oh, I’ll go grab drinks for everyone.”

We’re lounging on floaties, taking a break after swimming our hearts out. My energy’s back, so it’s perfect timing. I climb out of the water, grab my wallet from my bag, and head off.

“Tomonari-san.”

As I’m slipping on my sandals, someone calls out from behind.

“Oh, Tennouji-san?”

“Carrying drinks for five people by yourself sounds like a challenge, doesn’t it? Besides, I’m the one who mentioned being thirsty.”

Tennouji-san slips on her sandals as she speaks.

Together, we head toward the vending machines.

The closest one has a short line forming. Buying for five might take a while and hold up the people waiting, so we opt for a farther one instead.

“Izuki-san.”

As the crowd thins around us, Tennouji-san switches to my first name.

“…There might be Kiou Academy students nearby, you know.”

“Even if there were, they wouldn’t hear us at this distance and volume.”

She’s got a point, but still…

I let out a small sigh, giving in.

“You’re pretty bold, Tennouji-san.”

“Indeed. I always strive to live boldly and fearlessly.”

Yeah, if I had to pick someone who embodies that four-character idiom, it’d definitely be Tennouji-san.

But even if her voice doesn’t carry, her appearance sure draws eyes.

Her dripping-wet golden curls gleam in the sunlight, a phrase like dripping with elegance flashing through my mind. Her vibrant, eye-catching figure is on full display, perfectly matching her striking presence.

Yeah, I shouldn’t stare.

Even for someone like me, who’s used to Hina’s swimsuit, this is a bit too much.

“Oh? What’s this…?”

As we approach the vending machine, Tennouji-san tilts her head curiously.

Oh, right. Maybe someone like her, an Ojou-sama from Kiou Academy, has never used a vending machine before.

“This is called a vending machine, and—”

“D-don’t treat me like a fool! I know that much!”

“Whoa, my bad. Yeah, of course you’d know.”

Thinking about it, vending machines are everywhere these days. She’d have seen plenty just commuting to Kiou Academy. No way she wouldn’t know.

For a moment, I hesitate over what drinks to get. Part of me wants to pick something weird to mess with everyone, but I go safe with sports drinks for now. Maybe I’ll pull that prank another time.

I hand two cans to Tennouji-san and carry three myself.

Yeah, hauling all these alone would’ve been a pain. Good thing she came along.

“…?”

Tennouji-san stares at the cans in her hands with a look of genuine bewilderment, inspecting the lids, sides, and bottoms. Then, out of nowhere, she nods as if she’s figured something out.

“Is the can opener sold separately?”

“Pfft—!”

That catches me so off guard I nearly choke.

She knows about vending machines but not canned drinks, apparently.

“N-no, you open it like this… pfft.”

“D-don’t laugh! Don’t you dare laugh!”

I pop the tab and take a sip to show her, and Tennouji-san’s face flushes bright red.

She starts smacking me lightly, but it’s so cute it doesn’t hurt at all.

“W-well, we got drinks for everyone, so let’s head back.”

My voice wobbles a bit, still fighting back laughter.

Tennouji-san puffs out her cheeks in a pout as we walk back together.

Partway there, she suddenly stops.

“Izuki-san, how about we chat for a bit?”

“Chat?”

“Yes… I have something I’d like to discuss.”

Her expression suggests it’s no light topic.

I wait for her to continue, and Tennouji-san takes a deep breath, mustering her courage.

“This is… well, a hypothetical!”

It’s clearly about herself.

She’s not great at lying.

“Imagine there’s this incredibly promising young girl right here!”

“Incredibly?”

“Yes, incredibly.”

No clue how incredible we’re talking, so I just picture someone on Tennouji-san’s level for now.

“This girl is destined to rise to the top of this country, or at least stand among its elite. But her heart isn’t made of steel. Deep down, she longs for someone to stand by her… someone she can rely on.”

I nod, urging her to go on.

“If that girl asked you to stand by her side… Izuki-san, what would you think?”

Her question makes me pause.

What does she mean by what would I think?

Noticing my confusion, Tennouji-san elaborates.

“To stand by her, you’d naturally have to overcome all sorts of trials. The work would be grueling, failure wouldn’t be an option, and you’d be leading thousands, maybe tens of thousands of people…”

Her eyes lock onto mine.

“…Wouldn’t that feel like a lot of pressure?”

Her gaze wavers slightly.

Maybe the summer heat’s been fogging my brain, but it’s only now that I fully grasp what she’s getting at.

Tennouji-san seems to be wrestling with some anxiety.

She’s well aware of how much she stands out. That’s why she’s seriously considering the feelings of whoever might stand beside her. It’s a sentiment I don’t easily relate to.

People like me—ordinary folks—often worry about similar things in our own way. I’m not good enough for her. I can’t live up to his expectations. I don’t have the right to speak up to them. Even students at Kiou Academy probably have thoughts like that.

But Tennouji-san’s case is the opposite.

She’s picking up on our hesitations and trying to be considerate in return.

The ones being tiptoed around aren’t clueless. They notice when people keep their distance or act overly cautious, and eventually, they might start to think, Maybe I don’t belong here with them.

(As for me…)

What about me, then?

The person in question is someone as incredible as Tennouji-san—high status, powerful, and admirable in character.

If someone like that asked me to stand by their side…

“…Yeah, it’d probably feel like a lot of pressure.”

That’s my honest take.

Tennouji-san lowers her gaze.

“But I’d also feel incredibly honored.”

At my next words, she looks up.

I run the scenario she described through my mind. The result? Alongside the anxiety, other emotions start to bubble up.

It’s a bit embarrassing to voice them, but I trust Tennouji-san won’t tease me.

I choose my words carefully.

“As you know, I’ve been struggling every single day since starting at Kiou Academy. But weirdly, I find myself enjoying those days.”

From the beginning to now, and probably moving forward, it’s been nothing but challenges.

Yet, I’ve managed to stay positive through it all because—

“…I think it’s because I feel proud.”

“Proud…?”

“Yeah. The struggles are real, but I feel prouder of my days at Kiou Academy than anything else. Being in this amazing environment, competing with incredible people… I’m constantly reminded of my own shortcomings, but every time I overcome them, I feel fulfilled.”

Without that sense of fulfillment, I’d have given up long ago.

“So, my answer to your earlier question is the same.”

I meet Tennouji-san’s eyes and say it clearly.

“If that girl asked me to stand by her side… I’d feel proud.”

Pressure is proof of responsibility.

Being entrusted with responsibility is proof of trust.

If an incredibly promising girl like Tennouji-san described trusted me enough to ask that of me, I’d definitely feel proud.

“…I see.”

Tennouji-san nods quietly.

Seeing a hint of joy in her expression, I can’t help but voice a nagging thought.

“Um, Tennouji-san, that girl you’re talking about… it’s you, isn’t it?”

“…No, it’s not. I’m not that promising yet.”

The yet implies she’s aiming to be.

“But hearing you say that has helped me make up my mind.”

Tennouji-san continues, a playful glint in her eyes.

“I’m going to aim even higher. So high that no one can keep up.”

With a bold, defiant smile, she declares it.

Her eyes burn with a newfound, challenging spirit.

“Specifically, what’s your plan?”

“I haven’t decided yet, but I’m thinking of changing my approach.”

“Approach?”

“Now and always, I’ve wanted to surpass Konohana Hinako. …It’s frustrating to admit, but she’s my ideal, my clearest goal. But once, when I tied with her on an exam, I started to wonder. Beating her in academics alone might not feel like a true victory.”

Tennouji-san goes on.

“I’m not giving up on surpassing Konohana Hinako. But maybe I don’t need to fixate on academics alone. That’s what I’m thinking.”

Of course, I have no intention of losing in academics either—she adds.

It’s true that Tennouji-san has always seen Hina as her rival, but their competition has mostly centered on exams, grades, and academic achievements.

She once tied with Hina on an exam and felt both accomplishment and a strange unease. She must have wondered if charging down this path would truly satisfy her. Having worked so hard and glimpsed the finish line, she’s now considering other routes.

“Well, I’ll figure out what to do next, but… I want to polish something that Konohana Hinako doesn’t have, something that’s uniquely mine.”

She seems to be mulling over her options, still unsure of her direction.

Wanting to help, I rack my brain.

Outside of academics, what is Tennouji-san exceptional at…?

“…You’ve got a lot of charisma, Tennouji-san.”

I blurt out the first thing that comes to mind.

“But Konohana Hinako has that too.”

“No, it’s… how do I put it? It’s a different kind of charisma.”

I struggle to articulate it.

But there’s definitely a distinction between Hina and Tennouji-san.

“…Charisma, maybe.”

The difference between them.

I’m starting to put it into words.

“I think you have this magnetic charisma. Like, the ability to bring people together, to make them want to follow your lead… That’s probably something Konohana-san doesn’t have.”

Hina isn’t the type to enjoy standing in the spotlight. She could probably handle it if she had to, but she finds it draining.

So, that’s where Tennouji-san can outshine her.

Knowing Hina’s true nature, I’m certain of it.

Tennouji-san might just shine brighter than Hina when it comes to connecting with others.

“…I see.”

Tennouji-san nods, taking it in.

“Charisma… bringing people together… Yes, that feels right. Those are definitely my strengths. Even against Konohana Hinako, I don’t feel like I’d lose.”

By putting vague feelings into words, she seems to gain clarity about her own emotions.

“Besides… if you say so, it gives me even more confidence.”

Tennouji-san murmured this while looking at me, her eyes alight with determination.

“Thank you, Izuki-san. I can see clearly now what I need to do.”

Tennouji-san bowed her head.

There was no trace of hesitation in her voice anymore.

“For starters, aiming for student council president doesn’t sound like a bad idea, does it?”

“Student council president?”

“Oh, you didn’t know? The student council election at Kiou Academy is happening in two months. I had planned to sit it out because of family obligations, but… I’ve just decided to run.”

In that single moment, she seemed to have hashed out a concrete plan.

Kiou Academy is already filled with exceptional students. Becoming student council president here would require extraordinary effort. Even for Tennouji-san, it’s bound to be a challenge.

“If there’s anything I can do to help, just say the word. I’m in.”

“Oh, absolutely. When the time comes, I’ll make sure you feel proud to have supported me, Izuki-san.”

Trust poured through her gaze.

To live up to that trust, maybe I should start putting in some effort myself.

“Shall we head back?”

“Yeah.”

Together with Tennouji-san, I returned to the others.

“By the way, Izuki-san, those red marks on your back—are they from Hirano-san?”

“Uh, no, probably some from Narika too. She smacked me earlier for some reason.”

“…”

Tennouji-san’s expression turned complicated.

“…I’d love to write my name there, but since I don’t have a pen, this will have to do. Take that!”

“Ow!?”

Tennouji-san slapped my back.

Why does this keep happening…?

◇

A few minutes after Izuki and Mirei headed off alone toward the vending machine.

Yuri silently observed as the two returned.

“We got some drinks.”

Izuki carried three cans, Mirei two, making a total of five. One of them was already open—probably Izuki’s.

(Oh… something definitely happened between them.)

The distance between Izuki and Mirei seemed just a tad closer than before.

Mirei had once confided in Yuri about something. She must have discussed it with Izuki. Judging by their demeanor, it looked like Mirei got the answer she was hoping for.

(I pretended not to notice earlier, but it seems like he was alone with Miyakojima-san too, doing something… Looks like both of them took a step forward.)

Yuri had also noticed Izuki and Narika heading toward the rocks earlier.

The distance between those two had shrunk as well.

For Yuri, who was rooting for both pairs, this was a reassuring outcome.

(…Hm?)

Suddenly, Yuri noticed something off about Hinako, who was standing beside her.

Hinako, always wearing a warm, approachable smile… now had a faintly bitter expression.

“What’s wrong, Konohana-san?”

“Oh, it’s nothing.”

Despite her words, Hinako’s face remained stiff.

Her gaze was fixed on the two in front of her—Izuki and Mirei, who seemed just a bit more chummy than before.

It almost looked like she was fretting over their relationship—

(Why’s she making that face…? Hinako doesn’t even like Izuki that way.)

Yuri tilted her head, puzzled.

◆

Before I knew it, the sky had darkened.

Summer days are long, so the boundary between evening and night feels blurry. None of us probably noticed when dusk slipped away. That’s how much fun we were having.

It was getting chilly, so we left the beach.

After showering and changing, we regrouped to find a barbecue setup waiting for us.

“We’ve prepared a barbecue set for you.”

Shizune-san said with a respectful bow.

A grill with a net, charcoal, tongs, and an assortment of meats and vegetables were all ready. We could start right away.

“It’s been a while since I’ve done this in Japan.”

“In Japan?”

Tennouji-san’s comment caught my attention, and I tilted my head.

“In countries like America, where home parties are common, barbecues are a frequent event. They’re a kind of social gathering.”

“I see…”

That’s a global perspective.

But it makes sense. The authority of the Ojou-sama here isn’t limited to Japan. Hinako must have plenty of overseas experience too.

“By the way, did you grill the meat yourself at those barbecues?”

“Huh? Isn’t barbecue something professional chefs handle?”

“…For us commoners, it’s something we make ourselves.”

It’s not about right or wrong, but her response was exactly the misunderstanding I expected.

Tennouji-san started fidgeting.

Narika showed a similar reaction.

“…How about we try making it ourselves this time?”

“Y-Yes! I’d love to try!”

“I-I want to make it myself too…!”

These Ojou-sama are brimming with curiosity.

Not just Tennouji-san, but Narika apparently has no experience cooking either.

“Then let’s all make it together.”

Yuri said with an enthusiastic grin.

If Tennouji-san and Narika lack experience, Hinako probably does too.

But with Yuri, who regularly cooks for customers, we should be fine.

“We’ll be nearby. Please call if you need anything.”

Shizune-san bowed and stepped away from us.

This beach is next to a park where camping is allowed, and there’s a water facility between the beach and the park for washing dishes.

We all carried the ingredients there first.

“Alright, let’s start by washing the vegetables.”

Yuri put her hands on her hips, psyching herself up.

Then a question popped into my head.

“By the way, have any of you ever cooked before, barbecue or otherwise…?”

The Ojou-sama shook their heads.

Yeah, figured as much, I muttered inwardly.

It seems the Ojou-sama have never cooked at all.

“…We’ve got our work cut out for us.”

After a brief silence, Yuri murmured.

Her kindness hid the unspoken words: mostly me.

I may not have barbecue experience, but I’ve fried ingredients in a cheap pan plenty of times. I should probably help out actively.

Hinako bowed apologetically to Yuri.

“Please guide and instruct us.”

“Sure. Barbecue is just cutting and grilling, so it’s not a big deal. I’ll handle the knives with Izuki, and you three can take care of the simpler prep work. Specifically…”

Yuri quickly gave instructions.

Glancing at the ingredients and aluminum foil we brought, she continued.

“…Let’s make some foil-wrapped potatoes too. Can you peel the potatoes over there? Put the washed ones here.”

“Understood.”

The three Ojou-sama—Hinako, Tennouji-san, and Narika—picked up potatoes and peelers.

While they worked on the potatoes, Yuri and I handled the other vegetables.

“Yuri, are onion rings okay?”

“Yeah. Oh, pass me those king oyster mushrooms.”

I handed Yuri the pack of mushrooms.

It was a brand I’d never seen before. The packaging itself shimmered gold.

“…As expected, I’ve never cooked with ingredients this fancy.”

“…These are really something, huh?”

“Yup. And the meat? All BMS12.”

“BMS…?”

“In simple terms, the highest grade possible. There’s even Chateaubriand.”

I only know meat grades like A5 or B4, but apparently, there are other standards too.

These onions are probably expensive too. Unlike the mushrooms, they’re just in a net, so I can’t tell the brand, but I decided to handle them more carefully than usual.

I cut off both ends of the onions first. It makes peeling easier.

“You’re pretty skilled.”

“I’ve been doing stuff like this since I was a kid. Cooking, sewing—it was all my job at home.”

Come to think of it, I’ve never shown Yuri my cooking.

During taste-testing sessions, I offered to help a few times, but Yuri always shook her head, wanting me to just relax.

It feels kind of refreshing.

Occasionally marveling at Yuri’s deft hands, I enjoyed the cooking process.

“You were always good at home ec, weren’t you? The teachers praised you a lot.”

Yuri said while lowering her knife.

I vaguely recall something like that.

“Come to think of it, Kiou Academy doesn’t have home ec classes.”

“Huh. I guess for Ojou-sama, cooking and sewing are usually left to the help.”

“Yeah. When you put it that way, it’s no wonder they can’t cook.”

I finished slicing the onions into rings.

Now, how are the Ojou-sama doing?

I checked on them just to be safe.

“I understand! You hold it like this!”

“No, the angle of this blade… I bet you’re supposed to hold it upside down.”

They hadn’t even peeled a single potato yet.

Tennouji-san and Narika were debating how to hold the peeler.

Hinako stood silently, tilting her head while slipping her fingers through the handle’s hole, twirling and swaying it. She was keeping quiet to maintain her perfect Ojou-sama composure, but like the other two, she clearly had no idea how to use it.

“…Looks like we need to teach them how to use a peeler first.”

Tennouji-san’s grip looked especially dangerous.

I glanced at Shizune-san in the distance, and she was watching us with intense anxiety— a rare sight compared to her usual poised demeanor. I’d probably get scolded if this continued, so I hurried over to the three.

“Tomonari-san! Who’s right!?”

“You’re all wrong. You hold it like this—”

Both Tennouji-san and Narika thought they were correct, and they looked so dejected it was like I could hear a thud. I ignored it.

I explained in detail how to use the peeler and how to remove potato eyes.

To an outsider, this might look like a recipe for disaster, but I wasn’t too worried. These girls are Kiou Academy’s Ojou-sama. Once taught the right method, their sharp minds would quickly adapt and master it.

Seeing Hinako and the others quietly start prepping, I returned to my station.

I’d finished the onions, so I moved on to preparing shiitake mushrooms, removing the stems and scoring the caps.

Then I noticed Yuri staring at me intently.

“I’m impressed… You’re really used to this.”

“Used to it? Well, not as much as you, but I’ve done some cooking—”

“Not that.”

Yuri placed a bundle of vertically sliced king oyster mushrooms on a plate.

“You’re used to teaching Ojou-sama. They were listening to you so seriously. Do you have these kinds of interactions often?”

Holding a bell pepper, Yuri rinsed it under the water while asking.

“We’ve shared some pretty intense moments, so I’ve built a bit of trust with them.”

“Huh. That’s impressive. Being relied on by Kiou Academy’s elite.”

Yuri held each bell pepper under the running faucet.

“…I wonder where the Izuki I used to take care of went.”

She murmured, her gaze lowered.

Her profile looked just a little lonely.

◆

“Alright! The meat’s ready!”

The meat, grilled alongside the vegetables, was finally ready to eat.

As I approached with a plate, Yuri used tongs to serve me some.

“It’s delicious!”

“Yeah, it feels strangely extra tasty!”

From salt-and-pepper-seasoned to sauce-marinated, we stuffed our mouths with various meats. Even the refined palates of the Ojou-sama were clearly satisfied.

“The effort we put in was worth it, wasn’t it?”

“Exactly! That’s the thing, Konohana-san! That’s the real joy of cooking!”

Hearing Hinako’s comment, Yuri, the chef, spoke with infectious delight.

“Food you worked hard to make tastes great, right? But when someone eats it and says it’s delicious, it feels even better.”

Yuri passionately explained.

After hearing this, Tennouji-san and Narika suddenly started grilling meat and vegetables.

“Tomonari-san, the meat’s ready.”

“Izuki, the onions are done.”

They placed meat and onions on my plate.

For the Ojou-sama, just grilling is probably cooking enough.

“Uh, both are delicious.”

The two Ojou-sama beamed with joy.

“The dishes Hirano-san brought are delicious too.”

“Thanks. It was worth getting good ingredients from my part-time job.”

Hinako’s paper plate held not just barbecue meat and vegetables but also a few dishes Yuri had prepared at the hotel in advance.

She brought them in case the barbecue wasn’t enough, and she also wanted to practice techniques she learned at her job.

“I realized this time that my cooking skills still have a long way to go, but I’m confident in my palate. The quality of the ingredients is obvious, but this deep, delicate flavor is something that can only be achieved through years of study. I can feel Hirano-san’s sincerity toward cooking.”

“H-Haha… Being praised that much is kinda embarrassing.”

Being complimented by someone as refined as Tennouji-san must have thrilled her. Yuri’s face flushed with joy.

“This hamburger is delicious, but this meat is wonderful too. What dish is this?”

“That’s ginger pork. Glad it suits your taste.”

“This fried thing is great too. It’s so… appetizing!”

“That’s katsu croquette. …Don’t Ojou-sama eat ginger pork or katsu croquettes?”

Come to think of it, those dishes aren’t on the Kiou Academy cafeteria menu.

The Ojou-sama might not know these so-called B-grade gourmet foods.

“Tomonari-kun, what did you usually eat at Hirano-san’s house?”

Asked by Hinako in her Ojou-sama mode, I rummaged through my memories to answer.

“Hm? I think… hamburgers, katsu croquettes, and ginger pork, maybe.”

Suddenly, the lively atmosphere froze.

Tennouji-san glanced at the dishes Yuri brought and opened her mouth.

“…It’s all Tomonari-san’s favorite dishes, isn’t it?”

“Ehh!? N-No, I mean… it’s just a coincidence! A coincidence!!”

Yuri scrambles to explain, flustered.

“I-I mean, it can’t be helped, right!? Izuki was my taste-tester, so naturally, my best dishes ended up leaning toward his preferences!”

I figured it was something like that, but the Ojou-samas just let out a skeptical “Hmmm” while nodding vaguely.

“Still, this… it’s really delicious.”

While eating Yuri’s cooking, Shizune-san murmurs in admiration.

“I can see why your family’s restaurant is thriving. This flavor is convincing… The barbecue meat is incredibly tender too. Hirano-sama, did you do something special with it?”

“Well, that meat was injected with apple juice using a meat injector. It was already good quality, so it’s less about softening it and more about adding a twist to the flavor.”

As she speaks, Yuri holds up a silver syringe-like tool to show them.

Before grilling, Yuri had briefly explained. Apparently, there’s a technique where soaking meat in fruit juice can soften it, but with that syringe-like tool, you can inject the juice directly into the meat. It softens quickly, and even thick cuts get seasoned all the way through in no time.

“…Hirano-sama, you’re working part-time in Karuizawa to hone your cooking skills, correct?”

“That’s right, but…”

“If you’d like, would you consider working for us?”

“Huh!?”

Yuri’s eyes widen, and Shizune-san continues.

“You have school on weekdays, so perhaps one day on the weekend… a single day a week would suffice. If you’re open to it, we can discuss further.”

The sudden proposal leaves Yuri frozen in place.

With a creak, as if her neck were rusted, Yuri slowly turns to face me.

“I-Izuki… what do I do…?”

“Don’t ask me…”

This came out of nowhere for me too.

As we both stand there, stunned, Shizune-san speaks again.

“No need to be so formal. From our perspective, Hirano-sama holds something of a leverage over us, so consider this a way to ensure her discretion.”

“Leverage… oh, you mean Izuki.”

She’s referring to the fact that I’m attending Kiou Academy under a false identity.

Now I see what Shizune-san’s thinking.

Her interest in hiring Yuri as a chef is genuine, no doubt. But on top of that, she wants to keep Yuri, who knows my secret, close to the Konohana family.

It might sound harsh, but she wants to put a leash on her.

She’d prefer to keep Yuri where she can see her.

“…I have my family’s restaurant to think about, so I need a little time.”

“Understood. I await your response.”

Shizune-san nods at Yuri’s serious reply.

Yuri’s family restaurant must keep her busy. She’ll have a lot to discuss.

That said, for Yuri, who’s passionate about sharpening her cooking skills, this offer must be incredibly tempting. Her eyes are blazing with ambition.

We continue eating, polishing off both the barbecue and Yuri’s dishes.

“Phew, I’m stuffed.”

Tennouji-san rubs her stomach, looking satisfied.

“Alright then, let’s wrap things up with this!”

With that, Yuri pulls a large, flat bag from her backpack. Inside are tons of long, cylindrical objects.

A fireworks set. …When did she even prepare that?

“Hirano-san, what are those…?”

“Oh, you don’t know? They’re fireworks!”

“Fireworks, like the ones shot into the sky, right? Can such small things make those?”

Hinako and Tennouji-san look puzzled.

I see. It seems the Ojou-samas only know about big, launched fireworks.

“These are the kind you hold in your hand. …Just watch.”

Yuri lights the tip of a firework with a sparkler stick.

After a moment, yellow sparks burst forth.

“I-It’s burning!? Water! Someone bring water!!”

“It’s fine. You’re supposed to enjoy it like this.”

Yuri calmly reassures the panicking Tennouji-san.

Once the Ojou-samas grasp that handheld fireworks are meant to be like this, they silently watch the sparks crackle and scatter.

“They’re beautiful, aren’t they?”

“…Indeed.”

For the Ojou-samas, the charm of handheld fireworks seems to be a novel experience. Come to think of it, when I was a kid, my eyes probably sparkled like theirs do now.

“Narika, did you know about these kinds of fireworks?”

“Yeah. In the summer, the candy store I frequent sometimes sells them. But this is my first time seeing one lit up. …The colors are so vibrant, it’s kinda fun.”

Narika’s entranced by the fireworks too.

“There are all sorts of other fireworks, so let’s have a blast!”

Yuri starts introducing different types of fireworks.

As we all play together like this, it feels like the invisible wall between commoners and the elite melts into the darkness of the night. Hinako and the others, so curious about the handheld fireworks, remind me exactly of me and Yuri when we were kids.

Even if we come from different worlds, this shared moment is proof we can feel the same emotions.

“Everyone, I’ve prepared drinks.”

Just as we’re starting to tire from playing, Shizune-san calls out to us.

“Perfect timing, I was just getting thirsty.”

“Same. I might’ve inhaled some smoke.”

Only a few fireworks remain. Once we use them up, we’ll head back to Karuizawa.

Even knowing the day has to end, we want to stretch it out as long as possible. We want to savor every moment of today, to etch it into our hearts. I get that feeling.

Especially for the Ojou-samas, who are so busy. Days like this, where they can just enjoy themselves, must be rare. Their first time at a non-private beach, their first time grilling meat themselves, their first handheld fireworks. Today must’ve been a great experience for them.

“Phew…”

Hinako, standing beside me, lets out a slow breath.

I check to make sure no one’s around and speak to the real Hinako.

“Hinako, you’re tired, huh?”

“…Just a little.”

Hinako does look exhausted, but she also seems fulfilled.

For her, part of the fatigue comes from keeping up her act, but today, it’s probably just from playing so much. After all, we’ve been at it all day. Not just Hinako—I’m worn out too.

I glance around again.

Everyone else has gone to grab drinks.

No one’s watching us now.

“Wanna take a break here for a bit?”

“Mm.”

Hinako and I crouch down on the beach.

“…I wanted to make something for Izuki to eat too.”

Hinako says sadly.

She can’t do what she wants while she’s acting.

I feel for her, carrying that burden.

“Then, how about making me something when we get home?”

“…Mm. Look forward to it.”

Hinako says cheerfully.

Even if it’s just instant ramen, if Hinako makes it, I’ll be happy.

“Did you have fun with the fireworks?”

“Mm. They were fun.”

Hinako nods brightly.

“Have you ever done fireworks, Izuki?”

“Yeah, though not that often. Didn’t have much time to play, and money was tight.”

So, for me too, fireworks are a bit of a rare treat.

Now that I think about it, they’re just as colorful as I remember.

“But I’ve done sparkler fireworks plenty of times.”

“Sparkler fireworks…?”

“Yeah, hold on, I’ll grab some.”

I take a few sparklers from the bag of fireworks Yuri brought.

Returning to Hinako, I light one right away.

“You burn the tip like this… and gently point it downward.”

For a brief moment, the flame blooms like a tiny flower. Then it curls inward, forming an orange orb.

From the faintly trembling orb, sparks scatter endlessly.

“Ooh…”

“Pretty, right?”

“Mm. It feels a bit different from the fireworks earlier. …I wanna try too.”

“Figured you’d say that, so I brought a bunch. I’ll light them for you.”

I’m not confident letting Hinako handle the flame right now, so I light it for her.

“Ooooh…”

Hinako stares at the sparkler, her eyes sparkling.

“Why did you do these so many times, Izuki?”

“…Well, they’re cheap.”

I say it hesitantly, not wanting to ruin the mood.

But Hinako doesn’t seem to mind at all.

“Sparklers are cheap and last longer than other fireworks. That’s probably why my parents bought them for me. …Back then, they were one of the few fun things I had, so I’d play with one each day, taking my time. I’d try to make them last as long as possible or shake them to mess up the shape. …All things considered, sparklers are my favorite.”

By the way, the Tomonari family once tried using sparklers as a substitute for candles. It didn’t work out, and we were all bummed. If it had, we could’ve saved on food costs.

That’s just one of the memories tied to them, I guess.

Staring at the crackling orb of fire brings back good memories and bad ones alike.

Compared to back then, my life now is undeniably better. I don’t want to go back to the past, not even a little. But even I feel a touch of nostalgia, it seems.

I want to embrace that feeling. Even if the past wasn’t great.

“Something… you’re attached to, Izuki?”

Hinako asks, gazing at the sparkler.

“…Yeah, maybe so.”

It’s probably one of the few things I’m truly attached to.

I realize that in this moment.

“Then, me too…”

Hinako murmurs, staring at her sparkler.

Her beautiful face, lit by the orange glow, slowly turns to me and smiles.

“Me too… I like these the best.”

Hinako says gently, smiling.

That face—somehow, it looks more beautiful than ever.

The sound of the waves and the crackling of the sparkler suddenly feel distant. All I can see is Hinako’s gentle, fleeting smile, illuminated by the flickering light.

My heartbeat stays steady.

But my mind’s a blur.

I want to keep looking at that face forever.

The nostalgia I was steeped in shifts into something calmer, warmer.

“You twooo! Your drinks are gonna get waaarm!!”

Tennouji-san’s loud voice snaps me back to reality.

Hinako seems to have recovered already.

I’m thirsty too, so let’s head over to the others.

“Let’s go.”

“Mm. …Carry me.”

“Someone might see, so not now.”

“Tch…”

I give a wry smile at Hinako, who’s always looking for a chance to be spoiled.

In that moment’s vibe, I almost gave in.

We start walking together.

On the way, almost instinctively, I shield my back with both hands.

“…Izuki?”

“Oh, uh, I’ve been getting slapped on the back a lot today. No idea why, but the spot Yuri hit got smacked by Narika and Tennouji-san too…”

“Hmm…”

It happened so many times in a row that I reflexively guarded my back.

Hinako seems to think for a moment, then asks,

“…The swimsuit you wore today, where’d you buy it?”

“That was, I think, from a store under the Konohana Group…”

I recall the shop we stopped by before heading to the beach.

“Where do you usually live, Izuki?”

“The Konohana estate.”

“Who do you usually work beside?”

“You, of course.”

Wondering what she’s getting at, I answer, and Hinako nods, satisfied.

“My total victory… Nothing to worry about.”

“?”

I don’t quite get it, but it seems Hinako has no intention of slapping my back.

Well, the other three didn’t hit that hard, so it’s not a big deal. …Though, Narika’s might’ve stung a bit.

“Izuki. …What do you think of Hirano-san?”

Hinako asks out of the blue.

“What do I think? She’s just my childhood friend, that’s all.”

At my answer, Hinako makes a strange face.

It’s not that she dislikes my response—it’s more like she’s frustrated, as if her clumsy question didn’t get at what she really wanted to know.

“…Do you want to meet up with old friends, Izuki?”

Hinako asks again.

This time, the question feels slightly different.

“Yeah, I guess. It’d be nice to see them once in a while.”

“…Got it.”

Satisfied this time, Hinako falls silent.

As we approach the others, Hinako switches back to Ojou-sama mode.

Watching her straighten her posture, I tilt my head.

What was the point of those questions?

◇

Yuri takes a sip of the drink in her glass. It’s a homemade sports drink, apparently. The refreshing citrus scent and faintly sweet taste stand out.

The drink, prepared by the Konohana family’s maid, Shizune, is served in what looks like an expensive glass. The choice to avoid casual options like plastic bottles or paper cups hints at the refined elegance unique to the elite.

“Huh, where’re Izuki and Konohana-san?”

After quenching her thirst, Yuri notices that Izuki and Hinako aren’t nearby.

“…Now that you mention it, they aren’t here.”

“I’ll go check on them.”

Yuri grabs two glasses and sets off to find them.

When they started the fireworks, it wasn’t that dark yet, but now the night has deepened so much that she can barely see a few meters ahead. The moon happens to be hidden behind clouds.

But finding Izuki and Hinako is easy. The glow of the fireworks leads her right to them.

Their faces are illuminated by the sparkler’s light.

They haven’t noticed Yuri approaching. While they’re lit up by the glow, Yuri’s shrouded in the darkness of the night. They probably can’t see her from there.

Yuri starts to bring them their drinks but stops when she sees their faces in profile.

(…Ah)

Hinako’s expression, bathed in the sparkler’s light, is calmer than Yuri’s ever seen.

It’s not just her usual friendly demeanor. There’s a tenderness, a joy, a serene peacefulness like she’s half-asleep… Though Yuri hasn’t known her long, she can tell right away that this is a special expression.

In that moment, Yuri senses it.

(I see… Konohana-san feels that way too.)

Yuri grasps the true nature of the emotions Hina holds.

She stretches her legs in the opposite direction from where she was heading toward the two.

It’s probably best not to approach them right now. That’s what she thinks.

“…Huh?”

Suddenly, Yuri notices her steps feel heavy.

The sea breeze feels colder than before. The stickiness on her skin is oddly unpleasant.

Izuki certainly has enough good qualities to be liked by the opposite sex.

But to be this adored—to have such strong feelings directed at him—Yuri never could’ve imagined.

(What is this… this feeling?)

A murky unease builds inside her.

The Izuki Yuri knows is a boy with a lingering air of awkwardness.

The Izuki Yuri knows is a guy who gets way more nervous talking to girls.

Even his build is different. The Izuki Yuri knows wasn’t nearly that sturdy.

Now that she thinks about it, his demeanor is off too. The Izuki Yuri knows didn’t stand with such a straight back.

Just a few days ago, when she fed him home-cooked food in his room, she thought he hadn’t changed from before—but spending time together makes her slowly realize that’s not true.

The Izuki Yuri knows and the Izuki standing in reality don’t align.

The Izuki in reality almost seems to have no flaws she can point to anymore—

“…No way.”

That can’t be right.

The Izuki in her mind and the Izuki in reality—she forces the two images to overlap.

Izuki’s a good-natured guy, the kind who somehow ends up liked by everyone.

But he has to have a few flaws.

If he doesn’t, then I—

Then Hirano Yuri’s reason for existing—