Chapter 2: “The Visit of the Ice Queen”

“—Nii-nii… sleepy…”

After finishing dinner and taking a bath, Kokoa, nestled in my arms, started to doze off drowsily. It was already past eight, so it was time to put her to bed.

“Let’s get you to bed, okay?”

“Mmm…”

I stood up, still holding Kokoa, and carried her to my room. Laying her gently on the bed and tucking her in, I stroked her head softly.

“Good night, Kokoa.”

“G’night… Nya-shai…”

She was already half-asleep, it seemed. I’d let her rest peacefully.

“—Suu… suu…”

About five minutes later, I could hear Kokoa’s adorable little snores. Careful not to wake her, I quietly left the room and headed to the living room.

“Mom said she’d be late tonight, so maybe I’ll get a head start on the laundry.” Since Kokoa was still young and needed constant attention, I usually handled household chores after she was asleep. I still hadn’t done my homework, and there was a ton to get through. If I didn’t finish quickly, I’d lose precious sleep time.

So, while I was tackling the chores—

Ding-dong♪

—the intercom at our house chimed.

I had a bad feeling about this… If it was Mom, she wouldn’t bother ringing the intercom. And door-to-door salespeople didn’t usually show up this late at night.

Just who could it be? The face on the monitor gave me the answer.

“Good evening. May I come in?”

Reflected on the screen was a cool, composed beauty in her school uniform—Suzumine-san, stating her request matter-of-factly.

I never imagined she’d show up. So, the reason she hadn’t come to class was because she wanted to talk to me without Misaki around…

“It’s pretty late. Can’t this wait until tomorrow?”

“You’re a smart guy, so you must know why I went out of my way to come here.”

No smile, no anger. Her emotionless, flat tone sent a chill down my spine.

“It’s about Misaki, right? If so, wouldn’t it be better to talk with her present?”

“That girl being there would just stall the conversation. Or perhaps I should wait outside until your mother comes home?”

She was subtly implying she wouldn’t leave until she got what she came for. How did she even know my mom wasn’t home? That was another thing bugging me—but obviously, I couldn’t just let her stand outside.

“Fine, I’ll open the door…”

She had come prepared to settle this, while I was caught off guard. It was clear who had the upper hand. I wanted to avoid any trouble, but…

“—Come in.”

“Sorry for dropping by so late.”

When I opened the door, Suzumine-san stepped inside casually. If she knew my mom wasn’t back yet, you’d think she’d hesitate to enter like this—especially since she wasn’t exactly fond of guys.

“If you’re aware it’s late, couldn’t you have picked a better time?”

“I’m coming from cram school. Your place is pretty far from my tutoring center, and I still rushed over, you know?”

So that was why she was still in her uniform. To think she’d go this far just to talk… Fortunately, the atmosphere felt surprisingly relaxed. At least she wasn’t as tense as she was at school.

“My little sister’s asleep, so keep your voice down.”

“Oh, don’t worry. As long as you don’t try anything weird, I won’t have a reason to raise my voice.”

Fair point—she was cool-headed, so she wasn’t the type to get loud without cause. If she did raise her voice, it’d mean something serious was up. It was only natural she’d be on guard, being alone with me. Honestly, I’d be more worried about a girl who wasn’t cautious in this situation.

“So, what’s this about? Here to complain?”

I cut to the chase, wanting to get to the point. If we took too long, Mom might come home, and I’d rather she leave sooner than later.

“Complain? About what?”

But Suzumine-san just tilted her head, looking genuinely confused.

Wait, that wasn’t it…?

“I figured you were mad about me and Misaki. You’re her childhood friend, so I thought you’d have some opinions about it.”

“I’m starting to get a sense of how you see me.”

Apparently, she didn’t like what I said, because she narrowed her eyes and shot me a sulky glare. I didn’t think I’d said anything that bad…

“No offense meant. It’s only natural to worry about your childhood friend, right? If she’s dating some guy you don’t like, you’d want to speak up. That’s normal.” Misaki’s other friends had already given me an earful, after all. I thought that was a pretty standard reaction.

“Misaki can date whoever she wants. It’s her choice.”

Suzumine-san let out an exasperated sigh. Maybe, being so calm and collected, she just didn’t care much about what others did?

“That’s a mature take, but isn’t it a bit cold for a childhood friend?”

“Oh, you’re one to talk?”

For some reason, her eyes sharpened for a split second. Did I say something wrong…?

“Whatever.”

Seeing my confusion, Suzumine-san sighed again. She seemed annoyed but appeared willing to let it slide for now.

“It’s not like I wouldn’t speak up if I thought Misaki was making a mistake. But I don’t think what’s happening now is a mistake.”

Returning to the topic, she locked eyes with me, her gaze serious.

“So that’s why you didn’t show up to class during all the commotion this morning. But if you’re fine with it, why bother coming here now?” If she was okay with everything, there was no need for her to go out of her way to visit. It wasn’t like we were close enough to just chat casually.

But—almost as if she’d been waiting for me to ask—she let a sly smile curl her lips.

“You two aren’t really dating, are you?”

“—!”

Her sudden, direct question made me catch my breath for a moment. That boldness and confidence—it was definitely her greatest strength. Though for whoever was on the receiving end, it was a total pain.

“Aren’t you asking the wrong person? If you want to know, ask Misaki.”

Careful not to give anything away, I put on an exasperated face and met her gaze. If she was fishing for answers, I needed to dodge skillfully.

“I don’t want to ask Misaki.”

“Why not?”

These two—one was hiding something, the other didn’t want to ask. Were they really childhood friends? That was what I was thinking, but—

“In this situation, if I asked her, she’d have no choice but to lie. So, to avoid making her lie, I’m not asking. I hate lies.”

It seemed she was avoiding it precisely because she understood Misaki so well.

“Hold on, don’t childhood friends usually just talk openly?”

I threw the same kind of question at her that I’d asked Misaki, partly because it didn’t add up and partly because I was curious how she’d respond.

“Can I share my theory first?”

Instead of answering right away, she made a request.

“Sure, go ahead…”

“Thanks.”

Surprisingly, Suzumine-san thanked me. She was probably just as serious and polite as she seemed.

“Misaki has her reasons for not wanting a boyfriend. So, it’s strange to think she’d suddenly start dating a guy she wasn’t even close to.”

As expected, Suzumine-san knew about Misaki’s trauma. She didn’t go into detail, likely considering I might not have heard it from Misaki herself. They were often together at school, so it was no surprise she’d know about her friendships.

“And?”

She looked like she had more to say, so I prompted her to continue.

“So, I think the answer lies in what Misaki said in class today. During the summer festival, she got hit on by some guys, and Shirai-kun pretended to be her boyfriend to help her out, right?”

As she spoke, Suzumine-san’s eyes gleamed with unshakable confidence. That was some serious conviction.

“Maybe that’s what a normal guy would do. But you know my reputation, don’t you? You think I’d go out of my way to get involved in something that messy?”

It was tricky since she knew so much about Misaki, but I decided to play my role as the fake boyfriend and make my case. The kids at school thought I was aloof and cold, so they’d never expect me to step in and help.

However—

“You? You’d totally help her.”

For some reason, Suzumine-san didn’t buy it.

“No, I wouldn’t…”

“Hmm?”

Oh, I could tell by her tone. She didn’t believe me one bit.

“Anyway, let’s move on.”

“Don’t just brush it off!”

She dismissed it so casually that I couldn’t help but call her out.

“It’s pointless arguing about it. You’re not gonna budge, and neither am I.”

True, I wasn’t planning to admit anything, but why was she so stubborn about this…? It was weird to feel like she trusted me when we barely interacted. Even when we’d talked at school for some reason, she’d been as curt with me as she was with other guys.

“Back to the point. You two played the fake couple, but too many students saw it. Then, when Misaki got flooded with questions on the chat app, she must’ve thought: if she kept up the fake relationship with Shirai-kun, she’d escape the whole ‘confession circus.’”

Suzumine-san placed a hand on her chin, confidently laying out her deduction. I wanted to quip, “What are you, a detective?” but she was in a relatively good mood, so I didn’t want to risk ticking her off.

“You’re calling it a ‘confession circus’ too, huh?”

“Well, it’s practically a spectacle at this point.”

She answered coolly, as if it was no big deal. As expected, she was treating it like it was someone else’s problem.

“Doesn’t that make you mad? Your childhood friend’s being turned into a sideshow.”

“Trying to change the subject? That won’t work.”

“No, that’s not what I meant…”

Tch, she saw through me.

“Fine, I’ll answer your question. I do have some thoughts about the people treating it like entertainment, but the guys confessing to her? They’re all serious. There’s no way to stop them.”

I see, that made sense… It was easy to misunderstand, but the confession circus wasn’t just people gawking for fun—the guys confessing to Misaki were genuinely serious. Even the basketball team captain, who was super popular with girls, had been dead serious when he confessed. That was why Suzumine-san had been turning a blind eye. It was tough to shoo away the onlookers when you couldn’t stop the root cause.

“You’re kinder than I thought.”

“Oh, your true thoughts are slipping out, huh?”

My accidental comment made her react instantly, a smug grin spreading across her face.

And then—

“I’ll get mad, you know?”

—she said, her voice dropping several octaves.

Yeah, that was legitimately scary.

“I was complimenting you, wasn’t I…?”

“You said ‘than I thought.’ So, you’re saying I don’t look kind, right?”

She had to know that was how she came off… Well, I couldn’t say anything more without digging myself deeper.

“So, is my theory correct?”

I thought we’d gotten off track, but she hadn’t forgotten. Now, what should I do…?

“If I say you’re wrong, would you believe me?”

“If you say so definitively, I’d believe you.”

…I see. I could tell from her face. She really did seem ready to believe me. But—her eyes were also saying, “You know what happens if it’s a lie, right?” At this point, since she’d figured out so much, I might as well spill—but I’d made a promise to Misaki. I couldn’t break that.

“I’ll leave it to your imagination.”

“…That’s sneaky.”

When I dodged the question, Suzumine-san pouted, clearly displeased. I knew it wasn’t the answer she wanted.

“This is between me and Misaki. I don’t owe you an explanation, and I’m not obligated to tell you anything.”

“…”

Suzumine-san narrowed her eyes, falling silent with a grumpy expression. I had the moral high ground here, so she probably couldn’t argue back. Besides, if she was so detached that Misaki dating someone was “her choice,” it was inconsistent for her to care whether it was a lie or not.

“Haa… Guess this was a waste of time.”

It looked like she was finally giving up. Good thing this hadn’t turned into a bigger mess.

“So, why doesn’t Misaki just tell you the truth?”

“You won’t confirm if my theory’s right, but you’re asking that?”

“I’m curious.”

I knew Misaki’s side of the story, but I wasn’t sure if Suzumine-san, who understood Misaki so well, would give the same answer. I just wanted to know what she really thought.

“Haa…”

She let out a reluctant sigh.

“Misaki thinks that by lying to dodge all those guys’ feelings, she’s betraying them. So, she’s afraid I’d hate her if I found out.”

“But if that’s the case, why don’t you just tell her you’re not mad? You’re not, right?”

Despite knowing Misaki was lying, there was no trace of anger in Suzumine-san. She was clearly not upset about this. It was probably just Misaki overthinking things.

“Misaki’s been struggling with the confession circus, so if she’d just been honest with me, of course I wouldn’t be mad. I think it’s a decent solution, all things considered. But just because we’re childhood friends doesn’t mean I’m obligated to spell it out for her, and I’m not about to coddle her that much.”

It seemed she was thinking something along the lines of, You’d better brace yourself and just say it. She had the mindset of a parent or a teacher, didn’t she…? To her, even though we were the same age, Misaki might feel like a little sister.

“Thanks for answering my question. And, uh, sorry for making you come all the way out here.”

“Hehe, it’s kind of funny seeing you apologize.”

I’d dodged giving her a straight answer, but since Suzumine-san had answered me, I figured I’d at least say sorry. For some reason, though, she put a hand to her mouth and let out an amused giggle. Wait, was this the first time I’d seen her laugh around a guy…?

“I came here on my own, so there’s no need to apologize. Besides, I’ve got one more thing to talk about, you know?”

“Ugh, there’s more…?”

“Oh, come on, you don’t have to act that reluctant.”

Apparently, my reaction rubbed her the wrong way, because Suzumine-san narrowed her eyes like she was pouting. She had a surprisingly age-appropriate side to her, huh?

“I just don’t want my mom getting the wrong idea.”

“Relax, she probably won’t be back for a while.”

“Okay, but I’ve been meaning to ask—why do you know so much about my parents?”

Since the opportunity presented itself, I decided to ask. But she just snorted and shrugged her shoulders.

“I don’t tell people who were mean and wouldn’t answer my questions.”

It looked like she was getting back at me. Misaki and her—both of them had a surprisingly childish side, didn’t they…?

“Come on, I wasn’t being mean, was I…?”

“It’s the same thing to me.”

“Ugh… fine, fine. So, what’s this other thing you wanted to talk about?”

She clearly wasn’t going to tell me anything until I spilled, so I gave up trying to pry it out of her. Let’s just get this over with so she could leave. That was what I thought, but—

“Thank you for looking out for Misaki. She can be a handful sometimes, but she’s a good girl, so please take care of her.”

She thanked me with the gentlest smile.

“…”

“Well then, good night.”

And with that, she left, looking quite pleased with herself.

…Okay, seriously, what just happened…?

◆

“—Nii-nii, carry me!”

The next morning, as soon as Kokoa was ready for preschool, she spread her arms wide in front of me. Since I always carried her to preschool, she asked for it like it was the most natural thing in the world.

“Kokoa, don’t you want to try walking on your own sometimes?”

“…”

I suggested it just to see what she’d do, but Kokoa’s eyes immediately welled up, pleading silently.

She really wants to be carried.

Honestly, it’d probably be better for her to walk and strengthen her legs, but…

“When you get a little bigger, you’ll walk on your own, okay?”

She’s still so young, so I decided to carry her.

“Mmm…!”

Kokoa happily pressed her cheek against mine, then started rubbing her face against me. Such a little clingy sweetheart, as always.

We left the house and headed straight for the preschool on foot. The preschool is pretty close to home, so we can walk there.

“—Sensei, morning!”

“Good morning, Kokoa-chan. Good morning to you too, Shirai-san.”

When we arrived at the preschool, Sasagawa-sensei greeted us with a warm smile.

“Good morning. Please take care of my little sister today.”

“Pwease, take care!”

When I bowed, Kokoa mimicked me and bowed too. It’s like our morning ritual.

“Leave it to me. Shirai-san, do your best at school too!”

“Thank you. Kokoa, be a good girl, okay?”

“Mmm…! Nii-nii, bye-bye!”

“Bye-bye.”

Kokoa waved energetically, and I gave a small wave back. Then I turned my gaze to the teacher.

“…”

“Um, is something wrong?”

As I was about to say goodbye and head to school, I noticed Sasagawa-sensei staring at me intently. She doesn’t usually do this…

“Hehe, I’m glad it’s you, Shirai-san.”

“…? What are you talking about?”

“Oh, just something on my mind.”

Sasagawa-sensei gave a cryptic smile and shook her head. I have no idea what she means.

I want to ask her to explain, but… unfortunately, I’ve got a train to catch. Miss it, and the next one’s not for another thirty minutes.

“Sorry, I’ve got to catch my train, so I’ll head out.”

“Yes, take care!”

“Excuse me.”

I bowed to Sasagawa-sensei and glanced at Kokoa again. She flashed an adorable smile and gave a tiny wave. That alone makes me feel like I can tackle the day.

Waving back at my cute little sister and the teacher, I headed toward the station.

◆

“Why are you here…?”

The moment I arrived at the station, the blunt thought slipped out. Because—

“M-morning, Raito-kun.”

Misaki was standing near the ticket gate.

We hadn’t made plans to go to school together, and our nearest stations are different. She’s supposed to be commuting from a station two stops further from school than mine.

Running into her on the train would be one thing, but there’s no way we’d just happen to bump into each other at the station.

“Waiting to ambush me? Nice hobby you’ve got there.”

“Is that something you say to your girlfriend…?”

Misaki gave an awkward smile as she approached me. Well, she’s my fake girlfriend, I thought, but I kept that to myself.

“If you wanted to go together, you could’ve just texted me yesterday.”

“Um…”

Misaki fidgeted with her fingers, looking up at me with hesitant, sidelong glances. Oh, she’s definitely done something, hasn’t she?

I stayed quiet, waiting, and she spoke up again.

“So, earlier… Hiyouka-chan was like, ‘You’re dating, but you don’t go to school together?’”

“And you blurted out that we were meeting at this station, huh?”

“Yeah…”

Is this girl okay? It feels like she’s willingly walking into her own trap.

“You should probably stop making a habit of lying to get out of things.”

For a moment, I recalled the festival, but that’s beside the point. Sure, there are times when you have to lie. But if you start relying on lies to get through everyday life, you’ll lose people’s trust.

“You’re right… I’m sorry…”

“No, don’t apologize to me… ugh, whatever. You don’t usually meet up with Suzumine-san to go to school, right?”

“Yeah, since we live next door, we just end up going together naturally…”

If that’s the case, Suzumine-san probably won’t dig too deep. My concern was that if Misaki had promised to meet Suzumine-san and me, it’d be weird for her to get off at this station.

She’d either need to tell Suzumine-san she couldn’t meet up or ask me to ride the train to her station. But if she didn’t make plans with Suzumine-san, then it’s just a matter of her meeting me, and I could’ve adjusted my train time to make it work—no problem.

They probably go to school earlier than me, maybe on an earlier train. Though, knowing Suzumine-san, she might see through the inefficiency… but without proof, she won’t call it a lie outright.

“It would’ve been less suspicious if you’d said you were picking me up at my house.”

“I didn’t think that far…”

“Well, it’s fine. A lie’s a lie either way.”

I’ll have to cover for her with Suzumine-san at some point. Since she somehow knows so much about my family, I can probably mention taking Kokoa to preschool to smooth things over.

…The problem is figuring out how to bring that up with the Ice Queen herself.

“…”

“Hm? Something up?”

After passing through the gate, I noticed Misaki staring at my face, so I asked.

“Are you… maybe thinking about how to back me up with Hiyouka-chan?”

“How’d you guess?”

“You got all quiet at this exact moment, like you were planning something, so I thought maybe…”

I almost forgot, since Misaki gets all clumsy around Suzumine-san, but—she’s actually pretty sharp. If I remember right, she’s always second in our grade, right behind Suzumine-san, who takes first every time.

When it comes to studying, I can’t even hold a candle to Misaki.

“You really are kind, Raito-kun…”

“Nah, I just don’t want to make an enemy of Suzumine-san. It’s for my own sake, not kindness.”

“…Do you, um, like Hiyouka-chan or something?”

“…Huh?”

Her question was so out of left field that I had to take a few seconds to process it.

“Y-you don’t have to make that scary face…!”

“No, wait, how does this turn into me liking Suzumine-san?”

“Well… Hiyouka-chan’s cute and smart, and, um… you two already knew each other, right?”

Misaki glanced up at me cautiously, like she was studying my reaction. She might be testing me or something. I’m not entirely sure what’s going on, though.

“Knew each other? You mean, like, before the festival?”

I mean, we’re classmates, so obviously we’ve known each other for a while…

“No, like, before we even started high school… wait, am I wrong?”

“I only met Suzumine-san after starting high school.”

“Really…?”

Okay, why’s she responding with a question? Wait, did I maybe meet Suzumine-san somewhere before and forgot?

If she remembers and I don’t, that could explain why she’s been so cold to me at school. Then again, she’s cold to all the guys, so I’m probably overthinking it.

“Anyway, no, I don’t like Suzumine-san. Honestly, I don’t like anyone.”

“Oh, good…”

Misaki let out a relieved sigh, visibly relaxing as she pressed a hand to her chest. This is—

“If you liked Hiyouka-chan, it’d make things really complicated with our situation, you know?”

Yeah, that’s what I figured. There’s no way Misaki likes me. Still, she’s kind of a confusing girl.

“—Oh, the train’s here!”

I was starting to wonder if she’s been leading guys on like this, but the train arrived, so we dropped the topic.

◆

“—Raito-kun, do you think we could go on a date this Saturday…?”

During lunch, as I was savoring Misaki’s homemade food, she peeked up at me with those big, upturned eyes. Her face is way too close…

By the way, she’d already finished eating. Naturally, I fed her.

“To convince everyone, right?”

“Yeah… I think it’d be better if we went on a date in front of people early on.”

I get where Misaki’s coming from. There are still plenty of people who doubt we’re actually dating. If we’re seen going on a date, it’ll help sell the story faster.

If we go somewhere students hang out, someone’s bound to notice. But—

“Sorry, I should’ve asked earlier, but… is it okay if Kokoa comes along on the date?”

Since our mom works, I’m usually the one looking after Kokoa. That doesn’t change on weekends.

Mom’s off on Sundays, but she works six days a week—early mornings to late nights—so I want her to rest on her rare day off. That means Kokoa’s with me on Saturdays and Sundays.

I figured a date with a kid in tow might be a turn-off, but—

“Of course, that’s fine! I’d love to hang out with Kokoa-chan too.”

Misaki nodded with a cute smile. For someone who loves kids like Misaki, it might actually be a bonus.

If you just look at stuff like this, we probably get along pretty well. Well, we’re not a real couple, so that’s probably part of it.

“Thanks. Kokoa’ll be thrilled.”

“Hehe, I hope so. Kokoa-chan’s so cute, after all.”

“She’s an angel.”

“Haha, she’s finally graduated to full-on angel status!”

Up until now, I’d always said “like an angel” or “kind of,” so declaring it outright must’ve struck her as funny. But seriously, Kokoa is an angel. Anyone who meets her would get it.

“She’s cute, so what can you do?”

“You never seem like the type to get all mushy, but you’re totally head-over-heels for Kokoa-chan, huh?”

“That’s not quite right, is it?”

I don’t exactly wear my heart on my sleeve with a goofy, lovestruck grin. Instead, I might be spoiling her rotten in my own way.

“I kinda wish I had a Onii-chan like you, Raito-kun.”

“Is that a new pickup line or something?”

“No need to flirt when you’re already my boyfriend, thank you very much.”

I tried to tease her, but she just shot back with a radiant smile. She’s really got a knack for this sort of thing.

Does she turn into a total klutz around Suzumine-san because of some kind of trauma? Maybe that’s why she gets flustered and does weird stuff.

I thought about it, but there was no way to confirm it. Who knows where Suzumine-san might be eavesdropping? …That girl’s got ears like a bat, I swear.

“I’m being totally serious here, and you’re just brushing it off. That’s not cool.”

“My bad, it didn’t sound serious at all.”

“That’s harsh! I bet everyone who sees you would want you as their Onii-chan, Raito-kun.”

Yeah, right. No way that’s true. She knows how much the class hates me, doesn’t she?

“Flattery that’s completely detached from reality just feels gross, you know.”

“Isn’t your self-esteem a bit too low? You should have more confidence in yourself…”

Misaki lets out a sigh, staring at me like she’s got something to say. Even with that exasperated look, I’m not sure how to respond…

“Is that something you say to a guy everyone hates?”

“Everyone else just doesn’t get it.”

“From their perspective, you’re the one who doesn’t get it, Misaki.”

Honestly, I’ve heard that kind of talk more times than I can count. One person against the majority? It’s obvious who’s in the right.

“I see things differently from them…! I’m not looking at the surface—I see what’s inside…!”

Apparently, my words rubbed her the wrong way, because she started puffing up with anger. It’s not worth getting that worked up over, is it?

“So, my face is a mess, but my personality’s great, huh?”

“That’s not what I meant, and you know it…!”

Why’s she slipping into polite speech all of a sudden? Is it a habit?

“But that’s how it sounded, right?”

“You’re deliberately twisting my words, aren’t you!?”

Oh, she’s back to casual speech. So, she goes formal when she’s lecturing, huh?

“Dunno, that’s just what I heard.”

“Mrrgh…!”

Now she’s puffing out her cheeks like a chipmunk. I get that she’s sulking, but it makes her look so childish. The contrast with her usual self is kind of… cute, I guess. Just a tiny bit, though.

“Being mean isn’t nice…!”

“Alright, alright. I was just letting my real thoughts slip, yeah?”

“You’re not getting it at all…! Why are we even talking about your real thoughts!?”

What’s going on here? This is starting to get fun.

“What I’m saying is, everyone only sees the Raito-kun who pushes people away on purpose. They don’t see the Raito-kun who’s thoughtful and helps out when someone’s in trouble…!”

Maybe I teased her too much, because Misaki suddenly leaned in close. Our faces were so near I could feel her breath, but she was too mad to notice.

“I’m just a guy who changes how he acts depending on the person. I’ve got no reason to be nice to those jerks, so their impression of me is spot-on.”

“You helped me when I was in trouble, and you were kind to me…!”

“You thinking I was kind is just a misunderstanding, Misaki.”

At the very least, I wasn’t trying to be kind. The way I treat Kokoa versus Misaki is proof of that.

“Why are you so stubborn about not admitting it…!?”

“I’m just stating facts.”

“Mrrgh…!”

Once again, Misaki puffs out her cheeks in frustration. This time, they’re even puffier than before. She must be really ticked off.

“There’s no need for you to get mad, Misaki…”

Feeling like I’d gone too far, I tried to calm her down. I need to keep things friendly with her, so I can’t afford to let this turn into a fight.

Well, if anyone’s more inconvenienced by a fight, it’d probably be her.

“But you’re always putting yourself down, Raito-kun…!”

“And why does that make you mad?”

“……”

When I broke it down for her, Misaki fell silent. Maybe she’s trying to come up with a counterargument.

And then—

“You’re… right?”

She tilted her head, looking puzzled. Seems like even she doesn’t quite know why. Yep, Misaki’s got that natural airhead vibe, doesn’t she? I couldn’t help but think so.

◆

“““—Ah…!”””

As Misaki and I were heading back to the classroom, we ran into Suzumine-san in the hallway.

Normally, I’d just pass by without a word, but Misaki’s here now. Since they’re close, they might stop to chat.

“Should I head back first?”

I asked, just to be considerate. They might want to talk alone.

“No, it’s fine.”

“Yeah, if we need to talk, we can do it at home. Our houses are right next door, and our rooms face each other across the windows.”

Guess my concern was unnecessary. With their rooms facing each other, they can probably talk anytime.

Alright, then, back to the classroom—but first, there’s something I need to do.

“By the way, sorry about this morning. You were walking to school with Misaki, right?”

“Yeah, I was, but…?”

When I brought up the morning, Suzumine-san gave me a sour look. It’s not like she hates the topic—she just doesn’t want to talk to me.

“I can’t take the train until I drop my little sister off at daycare, so I asked Misaki to get off at that station. Since you two usually walk together, I figured I messed things up for you.”

This way, from Suzumine-san’s perspective, Misaki didn’t lie to her. Whether she buys it is another story.

“It’s not like we made a promise to walk together, so don’t worry about it. It just kinda happened naturally.”

Misaki said the same thing. If they both feel that way, then there’s no issue. Good thing she’s reasonable.

“By the way, could you not talk to me at school? I don’t like talking to guys.”

“……”

Scratch that. She’s cold as ice. Absolute zero levels of cold. Why do I have to deal with this kind of attitude?

“H-Hold on, that’s kinda harsh to Raito-kun…!”

Unable to stand by, Misaki hurriedly jumped into the conversation. The nosy onlookers, sensing tension, started gathering with whispers of “What’s going on?” This is gonna be a hassle…

“You know I don’t like guys, Misaki.”

“But Raito-kun is…”

“Doesn’t matter. Even if he’s your boyfriend, I’m not making exceptions.”

What’s with that? She really emphasized “exceptions” there… Maybe there’s a reason her attitude’s different at school versus at home.

If that’s the case, it’s probably not about her being mad at me for forgetting something. Alright, one potential landmine defused.

But—the spark in front of me is still burning.

“Even if it’s you, Hiyouka-chan, if you say mean things to Raito-kun, I’m gonna get mad…!”

“Oh, really…?”

For some reason, the two of them are now glaring at each other, completely ignoring me. Wait, aren’t they supposed to be best friends?

“Hold up, hold up. Why are you two gearing up for a fight?”

If these two start arguing because of me, my reputation’s gonna take an even bigger hit. People will say I manipulated Misaki and drove a wedge between her and Suzumine-san, or that Suzumine-san finally snapped because she couldn’t stand my nonsense. Rumors like that will definitely spread.

I’m already getting glares from everyone—things getting worse might actually lead to real trouble.

“We’re not fighting…”

“Yeah, we were just talking normally, right?”

Whether they know how I feel or not, they both decided to play dumb in this situation. The vibe was anything but normal…

“Misaki, don’t pick fights with others over me. That’s not good for you.”

At this rate, Misaki’s gonna start snapping at anyone who badmouths me. If she keeps that up, it’ll never end.

And naturally, people will start judging her for being so aggressive—it’s a vicious cycle. We shouldn’t let pointless conflicts spiral.

“But… when people who don’t know you say bad things about you, it just… it bugs me…”

But Misaki didn’t nod in agreement. She’s got no intention of making that promise.

“What’s wrong with a girlfriend standing up for her boyfriend? If anything, if she can’t do that, isn’t she a failure as a girlfriend?”

Surprisingly, it was Suzumine-san who backed Misaki up. I get what she’s saying, and she’s probably right, but… why do I feel uneasy?

These two were the ones about to clash, and I was trying to stop it, right? How’d this turn into me versus both of them?

Of course, Suzumine-san probably didn’t mean it that way—she’s just supporting Misaki’s stance.

“Still, fighting’s no good, right?”

“Sure, you’re right. So, why don’t you, Shirai-kun, start acting in a way that doesn’t get you criticized?”

Suzumine-san narrows her eyes, flashing a sly, almost wicked grin. She’s got a point—my actions are what cause people to talk smack about me in the first place—but still…

“Do you listen when people tell you to be nicer to guys, Suzumine-san?”

“No way, that’s impossible.”

“Same here. I’m not planning on changing.”

She probably knew I’d say that. Still, she threw it out there, maybe as a “at least think about it” kind of jab.

“I know what’s good about you, Raito-kun… you don’t have to force yourself to change.”

Maybe Misaki thinks there’s some deep reason behind my behavior, because now she’s taking my side. I appreciate her understanding, but—I push people away because I think half-hearted friendliness is more trouble than it’s worth.

There’s no grand motive behind it. I’ll have to explain that to her eventually.

“Alright, alright, quit flirting right in front of me.”

“—!? N-No, that’s not what I…!”

Suzumine-san shakes her head with a “good grief” vibe, and Misaki’s face turns red as she panics. She’s getting teased…

“Looked like flirting to me.”

“It wasn’t…!”

“You’re totally spoiling your boyfriend, though.”

“That’s a different thing…!”

Yep, the heavy atmosphere’s completely gone, replaced by that special kind of vibe only girls can create. I’m starting to feel like a third wheel, so I’ll leave the rest to these two besties.

With that, I headed back to the classroom alone. —Though, I did get an earful from a sulky Misaki later.

◆

“Raito-kun, wanna walk home together?”

After homeroom ended and school was out, Misaki came up to me with a bright smile, her bag in hand. Instantly, I felt the classroom’s collective death glares zeroing in on me. These guys never learn.

“Don’t you usually go home with Suzumine-san?”

“Hiyouka-chan’s got tutoring in town—Okayama Station—so her train goes the opposite way from ours.”

“Oh, so you two always split up at the station closest to school.”

If their routes diverge partway, there’s no need to leave school together.

“Alright, let’s head out.”

I’ve got to pick up Kokoa, but that’s after getting off the train. Until then, I’m with Misaki, and walking home together helps sell the whole “couple” thing to everyone else.

Well, Misaki’s been the one taking the lead on that front, but since this fake-dating thing is for her sake, I won’t sweat it. Me initiating would be out of character anyway. It’d probably make people suspicious.

So, we headed to the shoe lockers together, and—

“……”

There was Suzumine-san, arms crossed, waiting in silence. That’s not what we agreed on.

“Misaki?”

“Huh…? We didn’t make any plans, though…”

I checked with her, and it seems this was unexpected for Misaki too. At least it’s not her being forgetful this time.

“Heading home together?”

“Is that a problem?”

When I checked with Suzumine-san, she tilted her head with a sulky expression. I don’t think she has to act that put out about it.

“Not really a problem… but is there something you want to talk about?”

“Can’t I just walk home with Misaki if there’s nothing to discuss?”

Yeah, this is awkward. That’s why talking to her is always such a pain.

From an outside perspective, I probably come off as standoffish as Suzumine-san does. …No, surely I’m not that bad, right?

“Awawa…”

As the tension between me and Suzumine-san thickened, Misaki visibly panicked. She’s got it rough, huh.

“It’s fine, isn’t it? You two are close. I’m not gonna be that boyfriend who demands to walk home alone with her or anything.”

Suzumine-san probably isn’t tagging along without a reason. Maybe she wants to talk about something privately, away from other students, and will bring it up once we’re somewhere quieter.

“Good, that helps. Misaki, you’re okay with it, right?”

“U-uh, yeah…”

When Suzumine-san turned her gaze to Misaki, she nodded, though clearly hesitant. Even if we don’t know her reasons, Misaki probably doesn’t mind walking home with her.

We set off, the air between us heavy and strained. Not a single word was spoken, making it the most awkward moment I’ve ever experienced. I never thought I’d see the day where I couldn’t handle the awkwardness.

That’s how oppressive the silence was.

The one to break that heavy atmosphere—

“So, what are you two doing for summer break?”

—was, surprisingly, Suzumine-san.

We were heading toward the station, and while there were other students around, their numbers were few. Most were staying late for club activities, so no one was close enough to overhear our conversation.

That’s probably why Suzumine-san felt safe speaking up.

“Summer break plans? Haven’t really thought about it.”

I answered honestly before Misaki could say anything unnecessary. Otherwise, I might end up with plans I didn’t even know about.

“It’s almost summer break, you know?”

“I get what you’re saying, but… can’t we just figure it out once break starts? There’s plenty of time.”

“…”

This guy’s never gonna be popular. That’s what Suzumine-san’s narrowed eyes and icy stare seemed to scream.

Whatever, it’s not like I’m dying to go on dates anyway.

“When I want to hang out, I’ll just ask him. It’s fine.”

Misaki flashed a smile, backing me up against Suzumine-san’s obvious displeasure. To be fair, the only times we hang out are when she invites me, so she’s not lying.

“Well, whatever…”

“That doesn’t sound like you’re okay with it…?”

She’s clearly not happy. She probably suspects we’re not actually dating, but since it’s none of her business, I don’t get why she’s so annoyed.

“Misaki, you’ve exchanged contact info with him, right?”

“Huh? Yeah, of course…”

Why’s she asking that? Misaki nodded, her face full of confusion. I felt the same way.

Suzumine-san answered our bewilderment with action.

“Then let’s exchange contact info too.”

She held out her phone toward me. Yeah, I have no idea how that follows.

“W-Wait, Hiyouka-chan!? Raito-kun’s my boyfriend, you know!?”

“Yes, I’m aware.”

While Misaki freaked out, Suzumine-san nodded impassively, as if it didn’t faze her at all. That only made Misaki more frustrated.

“You’re asking for a guy’s contact info when he’s already taken!? And not just any guy—my childhood friend…!”

Unable to accept Suzumine-san’s actions, Misaki desperately tried to stop her. She’s doing the right thing as a girlfriend, but… we’re not actually dating, so there’s no need for her to go this far.

Probably just acting to keep up appearances.

“If something happens to you, I’d need to contact him, wouldn’t I?”

Unlike the flustered Misaki, Suzumine-san responded with her usual calm. She’d likely anticipated Misaki’s reaction.

“But…!”

“Sorry, Misaki, but Suzumine-san’s got a point. Exchanging contacts makes sense.”

I don’t want to keep playing these mind games face-to-face every time. Having a way to talk honestly with her, outside of meeting in person, would be useful.

Plus, since she’s the one suggesting it, she probably has something she wants to say.

“I’m his girlfriend…”

Unaware of my reasoning, Misaki puffed out her cheeks and pouted. Fake or not, it seems she genuinely didn’t like her “boyfriend” exchanging contacts with another girl.

“Don’t worry, he’s not the type to cheat. If you want, I’ll show you our messages.”

To soothe the sulking Misaki, Suzumine-san gave a small smile. So she does smile around me outside of school, when other students aren’t around.

“Well, if you say so…”

Misaki nodded reluctantly. She seems convinced, but… she’s not exactly saying she trusts us enough to not check those messages.

“Well, I’ve got a train to catch, so I’ll head off.”

Once we exchanged contacts, Suzumine-san’s business was apparently done, and she hurried ahead. Her train must be earlier than ours, and we’d cut it close while swapping info.

Missing it would mean waiting twenty or thirty minutes for the next one.

“…”

“Don’t give me that look…”

With Suzumine-san gone, Misaki shot me an unreserved glare of discontent. She really didn’t like that, huh.

“I’m not planning to cheat or anything. Besides, we’re not actually dating, so you don’t need to act that upset, right?”

“I know, but it’s complicated… Also, you swapped contacts with her so easily. Are you sure you don’t like Hiyouka-chan…?”

“Didn’t I swap contacts with you just as quickly?”

I don’t recall hesitating with her either.

“When I asked, you made a face like you didn’t want to.”

So that’s why she’s extra salty about it.

“That was just because it caught me off guard, not because I didn’t want to.”

“Hmmm…?”

Misaki clearly wasn’t buying it, giving me a skeptical side-eye. Even if she doubts me, I haven’t done anything wrong, so it’s not like it matters.

In the end, Misaki kept shooting me suspicious looks until the train arrived.

While we waited, I got my first message from Suzumine-san.

Are you two going to the beach…?

That was her question. Apparently, she wanted to tag along if Misaki and I were going to the beach.

According to Misaki, Suzumine-san loves the beach but hasn’t gone since middle school because she hates getting hit on. No wonder she was so curious about our summer plans.

◆

“So, about today…”

“Hm?”

As the train swayed, Misaki spoke up, her expression oddly serious. Is she still hung up on the contact swap?

“If you think back to earlier, I don’t think Hiyouka-chan dislikes you. I mean, she even exchanged contacts with you…”

The topic was about earlier, but it seems she wanted to focus on a slightly different angle.

“Yeah, that’s the logical conclusion.”

Not many people would willingly exchange contacts with someone they hate, unless it’s for work or some unavoidable reason.

“But I don’t think her thing about disliking guys is a lie either.”

“I know…”

Misaki averted her eyes, looking uncomfortable. So Suzumine-san does have an issue with guys, and there’s a reason behind it.

“Um… this is something I’d like you to keep secret, but…”

“If it’s that sensitive, maybe you shouldn’t tell me at all.”

I don’t know what she’s about to say, but nothing’s guaranteed once you share a secret. I wouldn’t intentionally spill it, but there’s always a chance I could slip up—or react in a way that lets Suzumine-san know I’m aware of something.

“It’s not like she swore me to secrecy… It’s just something Hiyouka-chan doesn’t like talking about.”

“Well, I’ll do my best not to let it slip.”

She’s giving me reasons why it’s okay to tell me, so she clearly wants to share. I’ll listen, but the most I can promise is to be careful.

I could just not hear her out, but if she’s going out of her way to tell me, it’s probably important.

“Thanks. So, um… back in middle school, Hiyouka-chan had a bad experience on a train… and ever since, she’s been wary of guys.”

A bad experience on a train, leading to her distrust of men. That alone was enough for me to piece it together.

“I see… No wonder she doesn’t want guys getting close.”

Since she probably doesn’t want it spelled out, I kept my response vague. Someone as beautiful as Suzumine-san would definitely attract unwanted attention.

I’ve witnessed a situation like that once before. The girl involved was terrified, so being on the receiving end must be horrifying.

The guy I saw got hauled off by the police, but that wouldn’t erase the victim’s trauma. Wounds like that don’t heal easily.

“Yeah… But with you, I think she’s always seen something in you, even back in our first year. Like… she’s noticed you’re kind, in her own way.”

“Really? She’s been giving me the same cold shoulder as every other guy since first year.”

At this point, I’ve figured there’s some reason for her behavior.

“Maybe she has her own way of thinking about it.”

Misaki seems to share that view. Otherwise, the difference in her attitude at school versus outside wouldn’t make sense.

“So why do you think Suzumine-san sees me as kind?”

Knowing Misaki, it’s probably a misunderstanding, but I’ll hear her reasoning. It might give me a hint about why Suzumine-san’s a bit nicer outside of school.

“It’s hard to explain, but… back in first year, I was telling her about some boys confessing to me and how it was overwhelming. She said if you confessed to me, I should probably accept it.”

Misaki glanced at my face nervously, dropping a bombshell that was hard to process.

“And how am I supposed to take that…?”

“To me, it felt like Hiyouka-chan respects you a lot, but she doesn’t necessarily like you in that way… or at least, that’s what I thought.”

“You don’t sound too sure.”

She’s slipping back into polite speech again.

“I-I mean, I always thought she wouldn’t recommend a guy she actually likes to someone else…!”

Called out, Misaki visibly flustered.

“No, that’s a fair assumption, right?”

She’s panicking, which means she’s starting to think maybe that’s not the case. Even I can guess why she’s second-guessing herself.

“But earlier, she so casually asked for your contact info. I feel like Hiyouka-chan, of all people, wouldn’t exchange contacts with a guy who has a girlfriend, even if it was for a reason. She hates getting tangled up in messy situations.”

I get what Misaki’s saying. But she’s missing one key detail.

Suzumine-san has likely figured out we’re not actually dating. So Misaki’s assumption about “a guy with a girlfriend” doesn’t hold, and Suzumine-san wouldn’t care.

Still, telling Misaki that would probably lead to her slipping up and digging her own grave with Suzumine-san. I can’t just blurt that out.

“She probably thinks it’s fine since it’s you. Based on the message she sent, it seems like she just wants to go to the beach.”

“Maybe, but…”

Misaki’s still not convinced. As her childhood friend, she knows Suzumine-san well, so it’s probably bugging her.

“There’s no actual problem here, so why worry? It’s probably just you overthinking things.”

From what I’ve seen of Suzumine-san, this isn’t going to turn into some dramatic showdown. She’s smart and, like me, seems to avoid unnecessary drama.

“But if I’m not overthinking… Hiyouka-chan might really resent me…”

Well, yeah, that’s a fair concern. Even childhood friends have lines they won’t forgive being crossed.

But—

“If that were true, like you said, she wouldn’t have recommended me to you, right? Even if you’re not overthinking, this is the outcome Suzumine-san wanted. There’s no reason for her to resent you.”

I don’t know her exact intentions, but if her suggestion came true, she’s not the type to complain about it. She’s pretty straightforward, for better or worse.

“R-Right…! I think so too…!”

“Yeah, so don’t stress about it. If anything, make sure you don’t say something weird to her because you’re overthinking.”

With Misaki, that’s the real concern. She tends to fumble around Suzumine-san and might let something slip. That’s more likely to make Suzumine-san mad than anything else.

“Okay, I’ll be careful…”

As Misaki nodded, we arrived at my stop, so I said goodbye and headed off to pick up Kokoa.