Datasets:

winglian

/

visual-novels-json

like 7

Minamo: "Kirinokojima-sempai..." *I whispered his name, and my chest tightened once more. The mere act of calling his name was stealing my breath away.* Minamo: "Sempai, you idiot... You could have waited just a little longer for me..." *It wasn't like we planned to meet up or anything. I was being totally irrational. Still, I couldn't help feeling this way.* Minamo: "I wonder... when I'll see him next...?" *The very thought was painful. It gave me tremendous heartache.* *I couldn't fool myself any longer. I really _did_ like Sempai.* Minamo: "Sempai..." *Before I knew it, I had pressed my hand against my panties.* *Upon touching that specific spot, I noticed it was incredibly warm.* Minamo: "Oh no... I really can't stop myself now..." *I looked around one more time. I was alone; it didn't seem like anyone else was wandering around, either.* *But there was no guarantee someone wouldn't walk in.* *The thought of someone seeing me was a huge turn-on.* Minamo: "Aah... Ah, mm..." *I softly rubbed my clit through my underwear. It was rather hot and moist.* Minamo: "I'm already wet..." *How could I get wet just by sitting in Sempai's seat? I might be a bona-fide pervert.* *But I _was_ masturbating at his desk, so I must have been a pervert through and through.* Minamo: "Aah, mm... ah, aah, Sempai..." *Whenever I spoke his name, my chest and pussy grew tight.* Minamo: "Sempai... I love you..." *Saying, "I love you," out loud only made me clench even tighter. How wondrous.* Minamo: "Aah, Sempai... I love you... I love you... mmah, mm, aah..." *I could tell I was getting more and more worked up. I put more force into my wandering fingertips.* *Slosh... Slosh...* *I could now hear damp noises coming from my underwear. I was _definitely_ wet now.* Minamo: "No, Sempai... My underwear, is getting soaked..." *This wasn't my hand; it was Kirinokojima-sempai's hand. Kirinokojima-sempai's fingers.* *Sempai was touching me. I was getting super turned on by Sempai touching my moist pussy.* Minamo: "Aaan... mm, ah...! Sempai...!" *Slosh... Squick...* *Sticky lubricant began to flood out from inside of me.* Minamo: "My panties really are getting soaked... Ah..." *I stuck my hand underneath my panties. That fiery-hot region was exposed to the pleasant chill of the air.* *Rub, rub, rub...* *I moved my fingers noisily on purpose. Rubbing my entrance quickly and shallowly was my favorite.* Minamo: "Aan, aah... Sempai... mmaah... mm, aan, fuaaaah..." *I knew I shouldn't, but I couldn't contain my cries. I could feel my hand, which was fondling my lower half, getting soaked. I was so incredibly wet.* Minamo: "If I get too wet, I'll get Sempai's chair dirty..." *Despite saying that, I _wanted_ to sully it with my filthy juices. I wanted to leave my mark on his property.* *Was this the same as a cat or dog marking their territory?* Minamo: "I really _am_ a pervert..." *Rub, rub, rub...* Minamo: "Hyah, mm... mm, Sempai... aan, aaah... I love you! I love yooou...!" Minamo: "No... I can't, take it anymore... Sempai, stick it in me..." *I pushed my fingertips against my vaginal opening. I had hardly ever put anything inside before. It was kind of scary, actually. When I did stick my finger in, it was just to the first knuckle.* *But I couldn't take it anymore.* *I gently shoved that single finger into my dripping pussy.* *Squick...* Minamo: "Ah... mmm... Ah..." *It felt like I was choking. Like my body would turn inside-out.* *My own genitals contracted around my finger. The tremendous pressure surprised me.* Minamo: "Auh, oh... Sempai... More..." *I slowly pushed my finger deeper.* *Drip... Dribble...* Minamo: "Fuah, aah, aaaaah... Ah, oh..." *My finger was sucked in further by the second. How deep was it now? I had gone past my second knuckle, got scared, and stopped.* Minamo: "On no, Sempai... It's in so deep... Ah... Please, move...!" *I slowly moved my finger as I pleaded to myself aloud.* *Rub, rub, rub...* *Obscene sounds echoed through the quiet classroom with surprising volume. What would I do if someone heard these noises...?* *But it just got me hotter the more I thought about it. My hand didn't stop. I had to keep going until I came now...* *In that case, I had to come quick.* Minamo: "Ah, mm, aaah...!" *Rub, drip, dribble...!* Minamo: "Ah! Sempai, it's so intense... Kirinokojima... sempai... mm, mmuh, aaan... fuah, aaaaah..." *My body felt like it was reeling. This was it... I was really... going to come...* Minamo: "Sempai... I'm gonna come... mm, aah, I'm gonna come... I'm coming, I'm coming! Mm... Aaaaaaah!" *I couldn't stop trembling. Hot fluids gushed from my pussy over and over.* Minamo: "Aah, mmmah... I'm going to make, Sempai's chair... even dirtier..." Minamo: "Mm, aah... mm, aaah..." Minamo: "Sempai... I love you..."

Minamo: "..." *I'd done it now. Big time.* *In the end, I had gotten Sempai's chair really dirty. I managed to clean it up with a tissue, but I wondered if it would leave a lingering smell?* *As much as I had wanted to mark his chair with my scent, I was embarrassed now that I'd actually done it. Then again, I doubted he would ever find out.* Minamo: "I'm such an idiot. I should just go home." *I hurried out of the room feeling absolutely terrible.* Minamo: "...Huh?" Minamo: "...Sempai?" Tomoe: "Yeah. Mind if I come in now?" Minamo: "Huh...?" *Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?!*

Minamo: "..." Tomoe: "..." Tomoe: "Are you crying?" Minamo: "I'm not, but I want to." Minamo: "Why didn't you say something sooner?" Minamo: "Actually, it would have been equally embarrassing if you had." Tomoe: "I wasn't sure what was going on at first." *I was on my way home when I realized I'd forgotten something, so I came back to the classroom to get it.* *When I did, I heard someone's voice coming from inside. I briefly wondered if it was some sort of unseasonable ghost.* *But while I was listening closely, I realized it was a voice I'd heard before, and also knew it was a voice I _shouldn't_ be listening to.* *I went far enough away to be out of earshot while I waited for her to finish, but...* Tomoe: "I thought it was probably better if I didn't say anything." Minamo: "Well, yeah. But if you were going to do that, I wish you would have left me alone completely. You could have gone home and pretended you didn't see anything." Tomoe: "But I had to pick up what I forgot." Minamo: "What's more important: something you forgot or my womanly pride?" Tomoe: "Well... For me, it would probably be what I forgot..." Minamo: "You're so mean! You don't understand how other people feel at all, do you, Sempai?!" Tomoe: "But I was really curious about what happens next in the book I was reading..." Minamo: "So your curiosity is more important than my feelings?" Tomoe: "That's not really a fair argument..." *Wakamatsu was incredibly disheartened.* *I didn't think I was in the wrong, but after seeing her in that predicament, it felt like I was the one at fault.* Tomoe: "Sorry. I didn't think you'd feel so down. Next time I'll pretend I didn't see anything and go home." Minamo: "Th-There won't be a next time! If I did that sort of thing all the time, I'd look like a whore, wouldn't I?" Tomoe: "Oh, really? You don't do it all the time?" Minamo: "Jeez, do you really think of me that way? You're totally off, Sempai! You're a really strange guy." Tomoe: "Am I? Sorry about that." Minamo: "..." *I apologized, but Wakamatsu still looked hopeless.* Minamo: "Never mind. You just don't understand girls', or my, delicate feelings at all." Tomoe: "Guess not." *I knew that much already, but I had a feeling I wasn't supposed to understand, either.* Minamo: "For sure. So, never mind..." *Her shoulders were drooping immensely. It was pitiful to watch.* Tomoe: "Well, what can I say? We're young, so these things happen." Minamo: "Please don't cheer me up in such weird ways." Tomoe: "It _was_ weird, then?" Minamo: "Definitely. _Way_ too weird." Tomoe: "I see." *It didn't seem likely that I'd come up with anything else to say to cheer her up, either. That was too bad.* Tomoe: "Oh, I won't tell anyone about this, so you don't have to worry about it." Minamo: "That much is obvious!" Tomoe: "I see..." *Perhaps I should keep my mouth shut going forward.* Tomoe: "..." Minamo: "..." Tomoe: "..." Minamo: "...Please say something." Tomoe: "Huh?" *Just when I had decided to stop talking, she told me to speak. I just couldn't win.* Tomoe: "Oh, I felt like I kept saying the wrong thing, so I thought I'd be better off keeping quiet." Minamo: "I feel uneasy if it goes quiet." Tomoe: "That's definitely a problem." *It really was troubling. I was stumped, and Wakamatsu let out a huge sigh in response.* Minamo: "You really are a strange one, Sempai." Tomoe: "Am I?" *Well, I probably wasn't normal. I had no right to live such an ordinary life.* Minamo: "I've never met anyone like you. You're definitely one of a kind." Tomoe: "That's not horribly surprising. Everyone is unique in their own way." Minamo: "That's not what I mean..." Minamo: "...Never mind." *Wakamatsu went quiet, now seeming rather peeved. I _knew_ I would just provoke her further. Wouldn't I have been better off keeping my mouth shut?* Minamo: "...Hehe." Tomoe: "Huh?" Minamo: "Hehehe..." *Wakamatsu was giggling. I thought she was mad until seconds ago, but she suddenly started laughing.* Minamo: "I can't believe you, Sempai. Hehehe..." Tomoe: "I can't believe you, either." *This made no sense. Why was she laughing like that?* *But...* Minamo: "Huh? Is there something stuck to my face?" *Wakamatsu tilted her head, complete with a smile.* Tomoe: "No... I think this is the first time I've ever seen you smile." Minamo: "Huh? Is it really?" Tomoe: "I've seen you do it on TV and in magazines, but it may have been the first time I saw it with my own eyes." Minamo: "Is that so...? Well, that just goes to show how dull life normally is." Minamo: "TV appearances and magazine spreads are part of my job, so I smile even when I'm bored." Tomoe: "Then, you were amused just now?" *I still didn't know why she found it so entertaining.* Minamo: "Huh? No, just now was..." Tomoe: "You look really cute when you're smiling." Minamo: "Huh?!" *Wakamatsu just about jumped out of her skin in surprise.* Tomoe: "Did I say something weird?" Minamo: "Sempai, are you... an airhead?" Tomoe: "An airhead? What do you mean?" Minamo: "You must be, huh...? Oh, jeez!" *I didn't really get it, but Wakamatsu looked extremely conflicted. It certainly looked like me talking was only causing her trouble.* Minamo: "Aaaaaaaah~!" Tomoe: "Um... Sorry." Minamo: "Sempai, um!" *Just as Wakamatsu opened her mouth to talk, a car passed us.* *It stopped a short distance ahead. The road was otherwise empty, so it naturally caught my eye.* *The rear door opened, and someone stepped out.* *A woman stood beside the vehicle. It would normally be an event not worth paying attention to, but...* *It may have been the special ambience surrounding this woman that made me feel like I couldn't look away.* *It wasn't as if she stood out in any particular way. She wasn't wearing any make up, nor did she have an abnormal hairstyle.* *But that woman had this sort of aura that compelled people to focus their attention on her. Like some star you'd see on TV or in the movies.* *Especially her eyes. Those faintly narrowed eyes made her look both stern and cold. Enough that she seemed almost scary.* *Though I couldn't say why, I felt a sense of insecurity when our eyes met.* Minamo: "Huh...? ...Mama?" Tomoe: "Huh? Your mom?" *So, that was Wakamatsu's mother? Meeting her here was a surprising coincidence, but the bigger surprise was Wakamatsu's reaction.* *She had run into her own mother, so why was she so on guard?* *Her mother walked toward us in an eye-catching way, much like an actress up on stage.* Minamo's Mom: "Is he your friend?" *Her voice vaguely resembled Wakamatsu's, but aside from that, seemed like a voice I had heard somewhere before.* Minamo: "...Yeah. He's an upperclassman from school." Minamo's Mom: "I see." *She nodded with refinement and turned to face me.* *Those impressive eyes gazed at me. That was when I noticed.* *Those eyes weren't just stern, they were very sad.* Minamo's Mom: "I'm Minamo's mother. Thank you for always taking care of her." Tomoe: "...No, I don't do anything, really." *It was true. I hadn't done anything to be grateful for.* Minamo's Mom: "..." *She was staring me down hard, as if she were appraising me. Was she being cautious of me, assuming I was a man who had gotten close to her daughter?* *That might just be the normal way of things since she was an idol.* Minamo's Mom: "...Please take good care of her going forward. My daughter may not be able to come to school much, though." Tomoe: "Sure..." *All I could do was nod ambiguously.* Minamo: "..." *Wakamatsu remained silent during our exchange, almost like a frog being stared down by a snake.* Minamo's Mom: "All right, get in. We're going home." Minamo: "...Okay." Minamo: "See you later..." Tomoe: "Yeah." *Wakamatsu did as she was told and got into the car. However, her expression looked so depressed, she didn't look like the same person who had been smiling just moments before.* Minamo's Mom: "Goodbye." *Her mother followed suit, and they immediately departed.* Tomoe: "..." *I was well aware that family took all different shapes and forms.* *There was no way they were all good relationships. I knew that best of all.* *Even through my eyes, I got the impression their mother-daughter relationship was a bit peculiar.* Tomoe: "Oh well, not like it's any of my business."

Kiyohito: "I stumbled upon a huge secret." *Kiyohito said with a solemn look on his face.* Tomoe: "A huge secret?" Kiyohito: "Yeah, something that will floor you." Naruko: "What is it? You can't hype it up like that and then not tell us." Aine: "I am curious, too." Kiyohito: "Actually..." *Kiyohito kept us in suspense, then finally revealed his so-called "secret."* Kiyohito: "Minamo-chan's true identity is the idol, 'MINAMO.'" Tomoe: "...Ah." *That's all it was? I guess he figured it out, huh?* Naruko: "Huh? Minamo-chan is 'MINAMO'?" Naruko: "Is that true?" Kiyohito: "It is indeed! Nothing escapes these eyes of mine." Naruko: "Huuuuh? Minamo-chan is _the_ 'MINAMO'? Unreal..." Naruko: "Wait, that means MINAMO is a student at _our_ school? That's crazy!" Naruko: "Did you know about that, Yuri-san?" Yuri: "No, not at all. I don't know much about this 'MINAMO' person, either." Naruko: "Oh, you don't? She's been featured in magazines and on TV a few times." Naruko: "You haven't seen her face plastered all over the magazine covers at the convenience store or anything?" Yuri: "I do not really read magazines or watch TV..." Yuri: "Whenever I go to convenience stores, I feel like I have to buy something, so I try to avoid them." Naruko: "I-Is that so...?" Aine: "TV is so much fun, though..." Kiyohito: "It's totally a shocking secret. Right, Tomoe?" *Kiyohito practically glared at me when he said that.* Tomoe: "...Sure is." Kiyohito: "Oh, that proves it! You knew all along, didn't you?" Tomoe: "I guess." *He caught me red-handed, so I answered honestly.* *I kept my reply as nonchalant as possible, but I hadn't fooled Kiyohito's keen eyes.* Kiyohito: "What the heck, man? You knew and didn't tell me? Keeping secrets from friends isn't cool." Tomoe: "I wasn't trying to hide it. I mean, you can sort of tell if you look at her, can't you?" Kiyohito: "Just by looking...? Did you figure it out that easily, Tomoe?" Tomoe: "I wasn't familiar with 'MINAMO' the idol, so it took me a bit to figure it out, but..." Tomoe: "Once I got to know Wakamatsu and saw one of her modeling photos, I went, 'Oh, that's Wakamatsu all right.'" Kiyohito: "What the hell! A guy with as little interest in women as you could tell at first glance, and I of all people didn't notice until just now...?" Naruko: "Kirinokojima is sharper than he looks." Kiyohito: "No kidding, and he totally looks like he doesn't even care!" Tomoe: "Lay off. It's your own fault for not noticing." Kiyohito: "Ugh... You're right! I've got no excuse...!" Naruko: "You don't have to get so upset about it. I also didn't notice until just a second ago." Yuri: "I did not know anything about MINAMO-san the idol, either." Kiyohito: "Don't try to console me. I was so confident in my eye for women, but now I feel like that confidence has been crushed into a bunch of tiny pieces." Tomoe: "You're exaggerating." Naruko: "You know, it'd be good if your confidence took a hit." *Oh well. I guess the cat was out of the bag now. I knew Kiyohito would find out eventually, but it was nice while it lasted.* Tomoe: "Okay then, I'd like to formally make a request of everyone. Please keep this between all of us here." Tomoe: "Wakamatsu doesn't want the news spreading around school." Naruko: "Yeah, it would cause total mayhem if people found out an idol was enrolled here." Yuri: "Of course. Minamo-san does not look like she enjoys being the center of attention, either." Kiyohito: "You got that right. She doesn't really seem the type. That's how she was able to trick me so badly." Naruko: "By the way, wasn't her mother a celebrity, too?" Tomoe: "Huh?" Kiyohito: "Yup. A former pop idol. I think her stage name was 'Yukari Kotomi'?" Tomoe: "A pop idol?" *I remembered meeting Wakamatsu's mother. That explained the weird aura I felt around her.* Tomoe: "Yukari Kotomi... I feel like I may have heard that name somewhere before..." Aine: "Was Minamo-chan's mom famous, too?" Kiyohito: "I think most people in our parents' generation would know her. For that matter, we'd probably recognize a few of her songs if we heard them." Naruko: "They still play them on oldies radio stations." Tomoe: "Wow, they do?" Yuri: "Really?" *Hisaka-san and I had the same thought. Kiyohito looked between us, seeming bewildered.* Kiyohito: "Tomoe and Yuri-san really are similar. Almost like two peas in a pod." Naruko: "Oh, you're right." Yuri: "Y-You really think so?" *Hisaka-san gave me an uneasy, sidelong glance. Based off her expression, she seemed bothered by their unexpected comments.* *After all, Hisaka-san really disliked being the center of attention.* Tomoe: "Anyway, enough about that. Let's focus on Wakamatsu." Tomoe: "So, Wakamatsu's mom doesn't sing anymore?" Kiyohito: "Isn't she retired? Some of her songs were popular, but she sort of fell by the wayside after a while." Naruko: "Yeah, that sounds about right." Yuri: "Does that mean Minamo-san is trying to fulfill her mother's dream?" Kiyohito: "Hm, you sure about that? 'MINAMO' mainly does pin-ups, and isn't much of a singer." Aine: "That is just how Minamo-chan is." Kiyohito: "Yeah, maybe you're right. But she sure doesn't look like she's interested in pin-ups any way you look at her." *I agreed with him. Wakamatsu really wasn't the type to enjoy stuff like that.* *Especially when you considered her recent behavior and how uncomfortable she looked when she was around her mother.* *Was there a reason for that?* Tomoe: "..." *Anyway, I should probably tell Wakamatsu that everyone in our little group had found out who she was.* Tomoe: "Is Wakamatsu not coming today?" Aine: "Yes, it sounds like she is absent." Naruko: "Oh, I see. She must skip school so much because of her job." Kiyohito: "Sure looks like it. MINAMO's popularity sort of exploded, so she's been really busy." Aine: "Someone that famous likes Tomoe-san..." Yuri: "Is something the matter?" Aine: "Oh, no, uh... Oh, right!" Aine: "Do you not think it is incredible that someone so famous is our friend?" *Aine asked as she turned her attention toward me.* Tomoe: "Why are you asking me?" Aine: "Huh? N-No, I am asking everyone." *And yet she was only looking at me.* Tomoe: "Well, Wakamatsu is Wakamatsu." Kiyohito: "Sounds like a 'Tomoe' answer to me!" Aine: "B-But, she is an idol! Have you never wanted to go out with an idol, for example?" Kiyohito: "Oh, that'd be really cool. I'd love to go out on a date with an idol at least once!" Aine: "That is enough from you, Kiyohito-san." Kiyohito: "Huh? Did she just get mad at me?" Tomoe: "What brought this on, Aine? What are you trying to say?" Aine: "N-No, I am not trying to suggest anything in particular..." *She became evasive when pressed for answers, and refused to comment further. What the heck was going on with her lately?* Aine: "Oh, I know!" *She suddenly raised her voice.* Tomoe: "What is it this time?" Aine: "Um, Kiyohito-san, could I have a moment?" Kiyohito: "Huh, me? Sure I guess?" *They separated themselves from our group and were talking in private.* Tomoe: "What's with those two?" Naruko: "Who knows?" Kiyohito: "Huh? Seriously?" *I heard Kiyohito wail in surprise. Moments later, he glanced over at me angrily.* Kiyohito: "Hm, with Tomoe? Wonder why it's not me?" *What the heck was going on?* Aine: "That is the situation, so..." Kiyohito: "...Okay." *Their secret conversation ended, and they both came back.* Naruko: "What were you doing?" Kiyohito: "I came up with a great idea. Let's all hang out with Minamo-chan next time she has a day off." Aine: "Let us go!" Tomoe: "What the heck? That's what you two were being so secretive about?" *If that's really all it was, then Kiyohito's strange behavior only made it more confusing.* Naruko: "Now that you mention it, we haven't hung out together in a while. Yeah, let's do it!" Naruko: "You'll go too, right, Yuri-san?" Yuri: "Well... When you say 'hang out,' do you mean the sort of 'hanging out' that costs money?" Aine: "Oh, it is all right~ The ones who are _actually_ going are Tomoe-san and Mina─" Kiyohito: "Hey, hey, hey!" *Kiyohito interrupted Aine mid-sentence.* Aine: "Mngh, mngh, mngh..." Kiyohito: "Anyway, I'll email you the time and place. You're _definitely_ gonna join in, right?" *He directed that question solely at me.* Tomoe: "We're going 'together,' right?" Kiyohito: "Of course we are!" Tomoe: "All right, then. I'll be there, I guess..." Aine: "It has been decided! I am really looking forward to it!" Tomoe: "..." *Something about this just didn't sit right with me...* *Later that night, I received an email. The date was set for next Sunday.*

*It was now Sunday.* Tomoe: "Sorry to have kept you waiting." Tomoe: "Huh?" *I spoke to whom I thought was Wakamatsu, but upon a closer look, I realized it was someone else.* *...Or so I thought. It _was_ her, but she looked very different.* Minamo: "What's wrong?" Tomoe: "...Um. Well, you're wearing your hair like you do in magazines." *I knew she reminded me of someone. Today, Wakamatsu was dressed like in one of her magazine spreads.* *Actually, "reminded" wasn't quite right. She _was_ the same person.* Tomoe: "What's with you today?" Minamo: "Is it strange?" Tomoe: "Not strange, but... are you sure you'll be all right?" *I checked around us on reflex.* *Luckily for us, it didn't seem anyone had noticed her yet, but Wakamatsu definitely stood out when she dressed this way.* *Sets of wandering eyes were starting to focus on her.* Tomoe: "Wouldn't it be bad if people found out you're 'MINAMO'?" *Wakamatsu was a celebrity, and one whose popularity was on the rise. The chances of her being spotted by some fan were much higher if she walked around dressed like this.* Minamo: "You're right. It would be pretty bad if anyone found out MINAMO was on a date with some man." Tomoe: "A date?" *That blindsided me. This couldn't have been a date. After all, we weren't hanging out alone...* *...At least we weren't _supposed_ to be...* Tomoe: "..." *But we _were_ all alone at the moment.* Minamo: "What's wrong? You look a little tense." Tomoe: "Just thinking everyone else sure is late." Minamo: "Who else do you mean?" Tomoe: "Huh? I mean all of the others..." Tomoe: "...Let me ask you something. What were you told today was about?" Minamo: "Huh? What a weird question..." Minamo: "Didn't you ask me out?" Tomoe: "Ah, now I get it." *So _that's_ what was going on. She and I must have been tricked by Aine and Kiyohito.* *Damn you, Aine.* Aine: "Achoo!" Aine: "Aw, I sneezed..." Naruko: "Are you sick?" Aine: "Angels should not catch colds. Snf, snf!" Naruko: "Really? That's news to me." Aine: "Somebody must be gossiping about me." Naruko: "I bet it's Kirinokojima. He should be meeting up with Minamo-chan about now." Aine: "I hope it goes well! This is so exciting!" Naruko: "I'm positive he'll be mad at you after, though." Aine: "It's all ri─ Achoo!" *She'd be going without dinner tonight.* Minamo: "Um, Sempai... were you expecting to hang out with everyone today?" Tomoe: "...No, that's not it." *It wasn't Wakamatsu's fault. She'd only get upset if I told her I was suckered into it, so I decided to keep quiet.* Minamo: "Oh, I'm sure that's it. I knew it was weird that you'd ask me out." *...Or so I thought, but I guess she saw straight through me.* Tomoe: "Sorry." Minamo: "You don't have to apologize... So, what do you want to do? Should we go home?" *Had I imagined it, or did her voice sound a little lonely just now?* *Wakamatsu likely came out today expecting to have a blast.* *Whatever she had planned was a mystery to me. I doubted she'd have any fun hanging out with me.* Tomoe: "I'll leave it up to you. If you want to go home, we will." Minamo: "I-I don't mind if we go hang out." Tomoe: "You sure?" Minamo: "I mean, we've already come this far. It would be a waste if we went home now. So..." Tomoe: "Yeah, I guess you have a point." *We did come all the way out here, so it might be fun for us to hang out for a bit before heading home.* Tomoe: "Are you sure? There's no way you'll have any fun alone with me." Minamo: "You don't have to worry about that, Sempai. I'm totally fine." Tomoe: "Really? All right. If you say so." Minamo: "I'm sure! It's decided, then!" Minamo: "Let's start walking! Please join me for the day!" Tomoe: "Going for a walk? Well, sure..." *Where exactly would this lead to?*

Minamo: "Oh! That's cute!" *Wakamatsu ran ahead. There was a pet shop across the way.* Minamo: "Look, Sempai! This doggy is so cute!" Tomoe: "Yeah, it is." *There was a puppy on display in the shop window. Regardless of breed, most puppies are cute.* Minamo: "Thank goodness! You seem to like cute animals, too." Tomoe: "What do you take me for? It's practically human nature to find animals and babies cute." Minamo: "Never mind the complicated theories. What's important is that you and I have something in common." Minamo: "So, you like pet shops, Sempai?" Tomoe: "No, not really. I'd honestly say I dislike them." Minamo: "Huh? Why is that?" Tomoe: "Because I feel sorry for them. At this stage of their life, they should be playing with kids, not locked up in such a tiny space." Minamo: "Well, I guess..." Tomoe: "When I walk by a pet shop, I can only stand to look at it for a few seconds before I start to hear these little voices that say, 'Save me!' or 'Let me out!'" Minamo: "..." Tomoe: "You don't hear them?" Minamo: "That's enough. You're going to make me hate pet shops, too." Tomoe: "I think that's a normal opinion." Minamo: "Ugh! You're so weird, Sempai." *She said, seeming astounded. I didn't mean to say anything odd...* Minamo: "Well, that's okay. Now I know you're not a fan of pet shops." *She looked mildly satisfied. I couldn't really tell if she was mad at me or not.* Tomoe: "Is there really any benefit to learning new things about me?" *I sincerely doubted it. I had no idea what Wakamatsu hoped to get out of all this.* Minamo: "..." Minamo: "It's fine. Anyway, you promised to go out with me for the day." Tomoe: "That's fine, of course." Minamo: "Then let's try going over that way next!" *Wakamatsu tugged at my sleeve and started walking. If it was okay with her, then yeah, it was fine by me, too.*

Minamo: "Ugh, it's so cold!" *The weather was clear, but the wind from the ocean was strong today.* *The sun had started to wane, which only made it feel even colder. The salty breeze hitting us head-on had dropped the effective temperature quite low.* Tomoe: "We don't have to force ourselves to stay here..." Minamo: "Th-That's no good. Seeing the ocean is absolutely essential! Oh...!" Tomoe: "What's 'essential' about it?" Minamo: "What do you mean? For a da... Oh." *Wakamatsu started to say something, then stopped herself.* Minamo: "Oh, it's nothing. Forget that; it's the ocean, the ocean!" Minamo: "The ocean is so massive, huh?" Tomoe: "Well, yeah. Two-thirds of the Earth is nothing but water." Minamo: "It sparkles when the sun hits it." Tomoe: "It's your first name." Minamo: "Huh? What is?" Tomoe: "Can't 'Minamo' also mean 'water's surface'?" Minamo: "Ah..." Minamo: "You're right." *She was gazing at the sparkling body of water with a smile on her face.* Minamo: "The 'water's surface' is glistening. But... what about me?" Tomoe: "Wakamatsu?" Minamo: "I wonder, can I sparkle just like my name suggests?" *It worried me to hear the surprising degree of concern in her voice as she whispered that.* Tomoe: "Why do you ask?" Minamo: "Oh, it's not a big deal or anything... I just wonder if I've failed to live up to my namesake." Tomoe: "Who knows? You're plastered all over magazines and on TV. I'd say you're shining plenty. Wouldn't you?" Minamo: "Am I really? What do _you_ think, Sempai?" Tomoe: "Doesn't the opinion of the masses mean more than just mine?" Minamo: "I want to hear what _you_ think, Sempai." *For whatever reason, she was dead set on hearing my thoughts on the matter.* *Honestly, I wasn't terribly interested in pop culture. There was no way my opinion meant much of anything.* Tomoe: "I don't know a whole lot about those sorts of things." *I answered honestly.* Minamo: "Is that right...?" *Her shoulders and eyebrows drooped. Looks like I had disappointed her.* *Going out with someone was difficult. Your presence, actions, and comments all had an absolute impact on the other person.* *That would be all fine and well if it left a purely positive impact, but that couldn't be. Just like now, there would be many instances where you would hurt them.* *What should I do to avoid hurting her, then?* *It was impossible for me to constantly fulfill another's desires, so my only option was to never date anyone.* *That was the philosophy I lived by, but isolating myself had proven difficult. How did I end up getting involved with someone?* *This angelic uprising was a prime example.* Minamo: "..." Tomoe: "..." *Now things had gotten totally awkward.* Tomoe: "I guess it's about time for us to head back." *Perhaps going on a date was a bad idea. I was sure this wouldn't have happened if we'd come as a group.* Minamo: "Wait!" *When I tried to walk off, Wakamatsu stopped me. Her hand was squeezing the cuff of my shirt tightly.* Tomoe: "What is it?" Minamo: "I don't want to go home yet." Tomoe: "Uh, but..." Minamo: "If we go home now, then it would be meaningless." Tomoe: "Meaningless?" Minamo: "...Yes." *With that simple nod, she fell silent.* *Despite her confirmation, it didn't look like she was going to explain the situation any further. What did she mean by that?* *The "meaning" of "meaningless"... it was practically a puzzle.* Minamo: "..." *Wakamatsu remained silent. What should I do in such a situation?* Man: "Um..." *Suddenly, a younger, unfamiliar man spoke to us.* *He wasn't looking at me, but at Wakamatsu.* Man: "Are you MINAMO-san, by chance?" Minamo: "Ah..." *Someone had finally recognized her. Dread was written all over her now-rigid face. Was this bad?* Tomoe: "No, you've got the wrong person." Man: "Uh, but..." Tomoe: "You've really got the wrong person. She gets mistaken for her a lot due to the resemblence, though." Man: "Really? Well... I'm sorry." Tomoe: "It's okay." *With his head tilted in doubt, he put some distance between us. As if he hadn't fully accepted it, he glanced over at us occasionally.* *Since this was a popular dating spot, it was fairly crowded. That, of course, meant we were drawing lots of attention.* *We'd likely cause a commotion if we stayed here any longer. That was probably the last thing Wakamatsu wanted to happen.* Tomoe: "Let's go." Minamo: "Oh, yes..." Tomoe: "Keep calm. Act natural." Minamo: "R-Right..." *Wakamatsu nodded with a nervous look on her face as we started to briskly step away. Just then...* Man: "Um, on second thought..." *The man from earlier came back.* Tomoe: "Ignore him. Let's go." *I took her hand by force.* Minamo: "Ah..." Tomoe: "We're gonna run for it." Minamo: "O-Okay...!" *We broke into a run, our hands joined.* Man: "Ah...!"

*We stopped running after a while. Now that we'd come this far, there weren't many people around.* Tomoe: "Do you think we've gotten far enough away?" Minamo: "Haa, haa, haa..." Tomoe: "Are you all right?" Minamo: "I-I'm fine. You're pretty cool and collected, huh, Sempai?" Tomoe: "We only ran a little, so yeah..." Minamo: "I... can't breathe... Huff... Huff..." Minamo: "..." *She seemed to have finally caught her breath, but then fell silent once more.* Tomoe: "What's wrong?" Minamo: "Well, um..." *Wakamatsu's attention seemed focused on something below. I followed her eyes and realized I was still holding her hand.* Tomoe: "Oh, sorry." Minamo: "Ah, please wait." *I tried to let go, but that only made her grasp tighter.* Minamo: "..." Tomoe: "Um... I can't let go?" Minamo: "Wh-What's wrong with that? Do we _have_ to let go?" Tomoe: "I'm not sure we _have_ to... but won't it be strange if we keep this up?" Minamo: "W-Would it? I don't think so, personally." Tomoe: "Really? Isn't it unnatural for two acquaintances to walk around holding hands?" Minamo: "Wh-What makes you say that? It's just holding hands." Minamo: "Oh, y-you know! There were lots of people out today, so wouldn't it be better for us to hold hands so we don't get separated?" Tomoe: "If that happens, we could just call each other." Minamo: "It's not a big deal! Now that we're holding hands, there's no real reason to let go on purpose." *Wakamatsu was hurling excuses left and right to avoid letting go. It was kind of desperate.* *If she was that intent on it, I had neither reason nor the energy enough to deny her.* Minamo: "Right? It's okay, isn't it?" Tomoe: "Well... As long as you're okay with it." Minamo: "I-It's fine!" Tomoe: "Is it? All right, then. Sure, we can stay this way." Minamo: "Yes, just like this." *Still hand in hand, we started to walk again.*

*Winter days always felt so short. In the blink of an eye, the sky was already turning a murky shade of red.* Minamo: "It's so pretty, but..." Minamo: "I guess our day is over, huh?" *She whispered, sounding disappointed. Her tone of voice suggested that she had really treasured our time together today.* *Our hands were still joined.* *We hadn't been holding hands the entire time, of course, but Wakamatsu would demand it every time we started walking and would grab mine yet again.* Minamo: "We walked a lot today, didn't we? My legs feel like lead." Minamo: "Let's sit for a minute." *At her suggestion, we sat down at a nearby bench, and our hands finally parted. All of this hand holding had left me pointlessly warm all day, so now it felt chillier than it was.* *This wasn't supposed to be anything special...* Minamo: "Aw. It's already getting dark." *...but Wakamatsu was looking up at the winter's twilight with regret.* Tomoe: "Yeah, it is. We should probably head home soon." *Something told me we shouldn't stick together any longer than we already had.* *Wakamatsu pouted at me.* Minamo: "Already? But it's only 6 o'clock." Tomoe: "Yeah, it's almost dinnertime. Wouldn't it be better to eat dinner at home?" Minamo: "It's fine by me, really. Let's eat out, _then_ go home." Minamo: "Oh, how about that Italian place from earlier? Fast food or whatever is fine, too, I guess." Tomoe: "No, I've got to get home and eat." *Her high spirits crashed down with a thud.* Minamo: "Why?" Tomoe: "Aine is at home waiting for me, you know." Minamo: "She's not a child. She'll manage on her own. Doesn't Nakizaki-sempai cook for you two every day, anyway?" Tomoe: "She does, and she'll probably make us something today, too. Wouldn't it be wrong of me to not eat it?" Minamo: "...Couldn't you just call and tell her you'll be late?" *She was still standing firm.* Tomoe: "You want to eat out that badly?" *A shocked and depressed expression crossed her face as I asked that thoughtless question.* Minamo: "Do you really need to phrase it like that?" Tomoe: "What do you mean?" Minamo: "Come on..." *She choked on her words, seemingly overcome with emotion.* *Then, she gazed at me bitterly, her wet eyes glistening in the sunset.* Minamo: "Sempai, do you hate me?" Tomoe: "Where did that come from?" *This shift in the conversation baffled me, but it did leave me with a hunch...* *A hunch that I was now involved in something that I had previously been watching from the sidelines.* Minamo: "..." *She hung her head, her expression filled with worry. I genuinely hoped she would just keep quiet and go home.* *However, that was too much to ask for. Wakamatsu looked back up at me.* *The moment our eyes met, the thought, "Oh crap," came to mind.* Tomoe: "Hey, wait..." Minamo: "I love you, Sempai." *She said it faster than I could stop her.* *My horrible hunch had been correct.* Minamo: "I... love you, Sempai. That's why I want to be with you." Tomoe: "..." *Thinking back on it, Wakamatsu had been acting kind of strange lately. The only way to describe my slow realization on the matter was "thoughtless."* *Still though, I never expected her to go so far as to confess her feelings for me.* *I had a sneaking suspicion that going home the second I found out I'd been tricked would have been the correct choice.* Minamo: "Please say something." Tomoe: "That's easy for you to say..." *I had no idea how to respond to her.* Minamo: "Then I'll be even more direct. I love you. Please go out with me." Minamo: "You can answer now, right? With a yes or no." Tomoe: "Sorry, it's a no." Minamo: "Hey..." Minamo: "Don't you think you answered that a little too quickly?" Tomoe: "Agonizing over it won't do any good. My answer won't change." *It may have seemed cruel, but this was inevitable, whether I had faked it and gotten her hopes up or not.* *With teary eyes, she started to glare at me.* Minamo: "Do you hate me?" Tomoe: "It's not that. I don't hate you at all." Minamo: "Do you like someone else, then? Is it Nakizaki-sempai?" Tomoe: "Nakizaki? She's not like that." Minamo: "Then why? Maybe it's because... I'm just not attractive..." *She dejectedly drooped her shoulders. There was no need for her to get so shaken up about someone like me...* Tomoe: "I think you're very attractive. You're so cute, it should go without saying." Minamo: "Then why...?" Tomoe: "It's me, not you. It's all my fault." Minamo: "Your fault? How is it your fault, Sempai?" Tomoe: "The concepts of 'liking' and 'loving' someone are lost on me. I have no desire to date anyone, either." Minamo: "Huh? Really? Not at all?" Tomoe: "Not one bit." Minamo: "Is... that right...?" *Wakamatsu looked down sadly.* *It was a shame it came down to this, but I couldn't help it. I told her the truth, and it would only hurt her more if she continued to have feelings for me.* Minamo: "You've never wanted to date someone? Not at all?" Tomoe: "Huh? Well..." *Her unexpected question left me at a loss for words.* Tomoe: "..." *I couldn't formulate a proper response.* *No matter how many years passed, whenever I thought back to that time, it felt like my heart was being torn to shreds.* *That was how it had to be. I couldn't forget these feelings. Never.* *That was practically the reason I was alive today.* Minamo: "Sempai? Are you okay?" *She looked at me worriedly.* Tomoe: "...Sorry. I'm fine." Minamo: "But Sempai, you look like you're in pain." Minamo: "No, you look sad." *Wakamatsu corrected herself. "Sadness" and "pain" were very different.* Tomoe: "I don't look sad at all." *I had no right to be sad and behave like some tragic hero. I couldn't act depressed and draw other people's sympathy.* *I mustn't ever be at ease. I had to suffer more.* Tomoe: "I'm not sad at all..." Minamo: "Sempai..." *Everything suddenly went dark, and my head was wrapped in something warm.* *Wakamatsu softly held my head in her arms.* Minamo: "Please don't make that face. It's such a sad face..." Tomoe: "No. I'm not sad." Tomoe: "I have no right to feel sad." Minamo: "What do you mean? Nobody needs permission to be sad. You're strange for thinking that way." Tomoe: "That's right. I'm strange, so you're better off not falling for me." *When I practically spat that out at her, her arms briefly went lax. But she hugged me once more, as if to dispel her agitation.* Minamo: "No way... If you could stop loving someone just because they tell you to, life would be way easier." Minamo: "I fell in love with you, so there's nothing I can do about it." Tomoe: "...Yeah, you have a point." *Love wasn't something you could control. Despite how harsh I'd been to her, I knew that very well.* Tomoe: "But, you know... to fall for me of all people..." Minamo: "Which is why I'm telling you, I can't help it." *Wakamatsu said angrily. It was true, but I couldn't help wondering, "Why me?"* Minamo: "I've made up my mind. Sempai, please go out with me." *She released me from her embrace and stared me down as she said it. I suddenly felt dizzy.* Tomoe: "I don't understand why you came to that conclusion." Minamo: "Because, when a person you love makes a face like that, you just can't leave them alone." Tomoe: "Uh, like I said..." Minamo: "How about this, then? Will you go out with me on a trial basis?" Tomoe: "Huh? A trial basis?" Minamo: "R-Right, a trial basis. If you go out with me, then maybe you'll remember how it feels to love someone." Tomoe: "Sorry, but I don't think that will happen." Minamo: "W-We'll never know if we don't try! Let's do it!" *Wakamatsu frantically argued. In a way, it seemed incredibly desperate.* *I wondered why she had become so desperate for someone like me?* *They say, "Love is blind," and I guess it's true.* Minamo: "Please! Even if it's just for a little while! On a trial basis!" Minamo: "How about we say it's going out with a prospect of dating?" Tomoe: "Going out with a prospect of dating?" Minamo: "Th-That's right! What do you think...?" Tomoe: "...Ahaha." *Without meaning to, I laughed.* *I had heard of "dating with a prospect of marriage," but never "going out with a prospect of dating."* Minamo: "Wh-Why are you laughing? I really put a lot of thought into this!" Tomoe: "Oh, sorry. I wasn't trying to make fun of you. It's just..." Tomoe: "I thought it was cute." Minamo: "Huh? C-Cute...?" Tomoe: "Ah..." *Wakamatsu's face turned beet red. Damn, was that the wrong thing to say? That wasn't the sort of thing someone said when trying to turn down a confession of love.* Minamo: "I-I heard that! So take responsibility for it!" Tomoe: "Responsibility for what?" Minamo: "Responsibility for saying I'm cute! I... was super happy just now, you know?" Minamo: "Isn't making someone happy and then dumping them a terrible thing to do?" *She gazed up at me with resentment. It kind of made me feel like some rain-battered, stray kitten was staring at me.* Minamo: "Could we try going out for just a little bit? Think of it as practice. If you really hate it, then we'll call it off immediately." Minamo: "So..." *She paused for a moment, then stared intently at me. She was probably waiting for me to speak.* *What should I do?* *I doubted there was anyone else in the world I'd ever fall for. Love was the last thing on my mind.* *That being said, I didn't hate Wakamatsu.* *I never meant to upset her so badly. Part of me wanted to agree to her plan and make her happy.* *But...* Tomoe: "I can't fall in love. I don't want to find happiness with anyone, either." Tomoe: "I truly believe you'll be miserable if you're with me." *All the more reason why I couldn't accept her feelings for me.* Minamo: "Please don't decide that on your own. My feelings are _mine_ and mine alone. I'll decide whether I'm happy or not." Tomoe: "...I see." *Her opinion was reasonable. If she was sure, then I had my answer.* Tomoe: "...Got it. But it's seriously on a 'trial basis,' okay? If I say I'm done, we're calling it off immediately." Minamo: "Huh? So that means..." Tomoe: "Let's try going out." Minamo: "R-Really? Really, really, really?" Tomoe: "Really." Minamo: "Y-Yaaaaaaay!" *She cried out in a far-reaching voice and threw both hands into the air. Couples walking down the road turned to look at Wakamatsu and laughed.* Minamo: "Ah..." Tomoe: "You shouldn't do anything that makes you stand out." Minamo: "I-I know. I just got so happy..." *She was _that_ happy about it?* *I really didn't understand any of this. I wasn't worth being on the receiving end of such an emotional response.* Minamo: "So, you promise? Cross your heart?" Tomoe: "Yeah." *Against my better judgment, I agreed to do it. Would this really be okay, though? What in the world would become of "practicing" love?*

Tomoe: "I'm back." Tomoe: "Oh?!" *Upon my arrival, I was instantly greeted with an angelic close-up.* Aine: "How was it? How was it?!" Tomoe: "...Not wasting any time, huh?" *Now fed up, I stepped inside.* Aine: "Hey, hey, how did it go?" Aine: "Hey, hey!" Tomoe: "You're so persistent." Aine: "But I am so curious! What happened with Minamo-chan?" Tomoe: "Actually, what the heck happened to you guys?" *I glared hard at Aine as I took my seat. Her face instantly turned blue and she went quiet.* Aine: "H-Huh? Are you mad?" Tomoe: "Did you think I wouldn't be? You underhandedly made Wakamatsu and me go on a date." Aine: "I... I would not call it 'underhanded,' exactly. I meant well." Tomoe: "Whom did you think it would benefit?" Aine: "W-Well... Minamo-chan." Tomoe: "Wakamatsu?" Aine: "Because I thought Minamo-chan might like you, Tomoe-san." *I didn't know what had given her that impression before, but I guess she was right. After all, Wakamatsu _had_ confessed her love to me.* Aine: "Um, since you are so angry, does that mean, um... that it did not go well?" *That sounded difficult for her to ask.* Tomoe: "...Not especially. We started going out, actually." Aine: "I-Is that so...? I suppose an underhanded method like this would fail..." Aine: "Huh? Wait, what did you just say?" Tomoe: "Again, Wakamatsu and I started going out." Aine: "OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH!" *The angel let out a battlecry.* Tomoe: "Hey, you're going to get us in trouble if you keep yelling like that..." Naruko: "What, what, what?! I heard a huge scream! What happened?!" Tomoe: "See? Now you made Nakizaki come over." *Still, that was fast. Had she been lying in wait somewhere, expecting something to happen today?* Aine: "Naruko-san, please listen! Tomoe-san said he started going out with Minamo-chan!" Naruko: "Huh?! Kirinokojima and Minamo-chan?" *Nakizaki looked at me like she had seen a ghost.* Naruko: "Seriously?" Tomoe: "Yeah, for now. We're doing it as a sort of trial run." Naruko: "What do you mean 'trial run'?" Tomoe: "Who knows?" *I still didn't quite get it, either.* Naruko: "But you putting forth the effort to go out with a girl, even if it's on a trial basis, is some incredible progress." Naruko: "Progress, or maybe a revolution." Tomoe: "You're exaggerating." Naruko: "It's no exaggeration. You know it, too." Tomoe: "I guess..." *Yes, it might just be a revolution. Before now, I actively went out of my way to not get involved in stuff like this.* Naruko: "It _is_ a revolution." Tomoe: "Hm... But I wonder how it will go?" Aine: "What do you mean?" Tomoe: "It's highly unlikely how I feel about romance or falling in love will change." Tomoe: "I never want to hang out with anyone, much less go on dates. That still applies, even with Wakamatsu as my partner." Aine: "Really? Then why did you decide to go out with Minamo-chan, trial or not?" Tomoe: "Well..." *I remembered Wakamatsu's expression from earlier today.* Tomoe: "Because I didn't want to be the one to put such a sad look on her face." Aine: "A sad look?" Tomoe: "I don't want to date anyone. I don't think there's any meaning in the fun or happiness I would get from it." Tomoe: "But when I saw Wakamatsu earlier, I thought, 'I don't want to upset someone who approached me with such good intentions.'" Tomoe: "Doing that to her just felt wrong to me." *I knew I was someone who should never obtain true happiness. I didn't want that luxury in the first place.* *But I never intended for my selfishness to hurt another person... I didn't want that at all.* *All was well so long as I was the only one who got hurt. In fact, that's how things should be.* *In which case, what harm did it do to accept Wakamatsu's feelings?* Tomoe: "..." *Telling them about my internal struggles would only confuse them. That's why I stopped talking.* *Aine seemed confused by my silence.* *But Nakizaki...* Naruko: "That's great, isn't it?" *She said with a gentle smile, as if she had understood everything.* Tomoe: "Is it? You don't think it's dishonest?" Naruko: "Well, it _is_ difficult to call it a pure reason." Tomoe: "Do you think going out with me will make Wakamatsu unhappy?" Naruko: "Who knows? Doesn't that depend on how benevolent Minamo-chan is?" Tomoe: "How benevolent she is?" Naruko: "There's no need to think about it so hard. You shouldn't bear the entire burden alone." Naruko: "When it comes to love and quarrels, it takes two." Aine: "So love and quarrels are the same?" Naruko: "Well, they _are_ similar. Both mean confronting another person head-on." Aine: "Huh..." *Aine sounded dazed, but that was definitely the sort of example Nakizaki would give.* Naruko: "If this is what you've decided, then do it for real. Nothing you've gone through matters. You don't have to force yourself to become happy." Naruko: "No matter what happens, just promise that you will make her, and only her, happy." Tomoe: "No matter what happens... make Wakamatsu happy..." Aine: "I-Is it okay for you to say that? Personally, I think love means you have to be mutually happy..." Naruko: "It's fine. Since you're determined to be unhappy, concentrate on making her happy instead." Tomoe: "Is that really all right?" Naruko: "It is. And if you do..." Tomoe: "If I do?" Naruko: "I'm sure Minamo-chan will eventually make you happy, too." Tomoe: "...I doubt that." Naruko: "Anyway, if you hurt her or make her cry, I'll never forgive you!" Tomoe: "Got it. I'll give it a shot." Naruko: "Yeah, good luck." *Was this really okay? Even now, my worries continued to linger. I wondered if this was disrespecting Wakamatsu's feelings.* *But Nakizaki had called it a "revolution." She might be right about that.* *I never thought this would happen to me. Something I thought to be impossible was now developing before my very eyes.* *So I may as well give it a shot. Just as Nakizaki said, I should think only of Wakamatsu's happiness.* *What did it matter what became of me? Whatever happens, happens.* *If nobody else took any issue with that, then my mind was at ease.*

Tomoe: "I guess it's about time to wake up Aine." *Nakizaki was due to arrive soon.* *Our resident angel was prone to sleeping in, and wouldn't budge until someone else had woken her.* *Were all angels like this?* Tomoe: "Oh, is it Nakizaki?" *Although, it was rather unusual for her to ring the doorbell. She always waltzed in unannounced.* Tomoe: "Coming!" *It definitely didn't seem like her. Who else could it be this early in the morning, then?* Tomoe: "Yes, I'll be right there." *I opened the unlocked door.* Tomoe: "Huh? Um..." *I didn't recognize her at first, but she must have sensed that and sulked.* Minamo: "Don't tell me you don't recognize me? You're so mean." Tomoe: "Oh, no, I know. Wakamatsu, right?" Minamo: "That's right! Good morning." Tomoe: "Morning." *I took another look at her and realized just how different she looked today. She wasn't wearing glasses, and her hair style was different.* *This was how she looked when we went out, but at the time she had been in street clothes.* *I'd gotten so used to seeing her with glasses and braids while she was in her uniform that I couldn't tell it was her for a moment.* *For that matter, I didn't expect her to come to my house this early.* Tomoe: "What's up?" Minamo: "I thought we could go to school together." Tomoe: "Huh, to school?" Minamo: "You've got that 'Why would we do that' look on your face. We're dating now, so isn't going together normal?" Tomoe: "Is that how it is? Nakizaki and I always go to school together, and we're not dating." Minamo: "You and Nakizaki-sempai are special. It's way too convenient that you're neighbors who have been friends forever." Tomoe: "I don't really see it that way." *What was "convenient" about it, exactly?* Minamo: "I didn't know what time you normally leave, so I came early. Was I _too_ early?" Tomoe: "Yeah, actually. We're just about to have breakfast." Minamo: "Oh, I haven't had breakfast yet, either." Tomoe: "Huh, really?" Minamo: "This is when you're supposed to say, 'Why don't we have breakfast together?'" Tomoe: "Huh? ...Oh, I get it." Tomoe: "But Nakizaki is making us breakfast, so I can't really ask her to make another plate for someone out of the blue..." Minamo: "You keep on talking about 'Nakizaki, Nakizaki, Nakizaki'! Are you incapable of living without Nakizaki-sempai around?" Tomoe: "Yeah, pretty much. Without Nakizaki around, I wouldn't be alive right now." Minamo: "Ughhh..." Minamo: "Anyway, I'm coming in. Don't mind me!" *Wakamatsu stomped loudly into the house. Well, whatever.* Tomoe: "She looked kind of angry." *Looks like I had really pissed her off.* Naruko: "No matter what happens, just promise that you will make her, and only her, happy." *So soon after Nakizaki said that, too...* Tomoe: "Oh, Nakizaki again." *Nakizaki really did take good care of me, didn't she?* Minamo: "Sempaaaai! What are you doing?!" Tomoe: "Oh, I'm coming." *For now, I would just think about Wakamatsu.*

Naruko: "Morning." Minamo: "Oh, good morning, Nakizaki-sempai. Come on in." Naruko: "'Come on in'?" *Nakizaki turned to me with a blank expression.* *She probably felt strange being ushered into a place she thought of like her own home.* Naruko: "Actually... who are you?" *She looked at Wakamatsu and tilted her head. Like me, she couldn't tell who she was at first glance, either.* Minamo: "Oh, come on. It's me, Minamo Wakamatsu." Naruko: "Huh? O-Oh, Minamo-chan?" Naruko: "Right, right. You're MINAMO. Still..." *Nakizaki was ogling her in awe.* Naruko: "So this is the real you, huh?" Minamo: "Neither of them are fake. Both are me." Naruko: "I guess you're right, but..." *The way Wakamatsu dressed today had left a major impression on Nakizaki. Yes, this might be an incredible contrast to anyone used to her regular attire.* Minamo: "Oh, please look! I made breakfast!" Naruko: "Oh, really?" Tomoe: "So she says. She only baked bread." Aine: "Just eating bread makes your mouth all dry! What about fried eggs, sausage, or a salad to go with it?" Minamo: "Bread is more than enough. If you eat too much, you'll get fat." Aine: "Is... Is getting fat bad? Is there no point in living if you are chubby?" Tomoe: "What are you getting so worked up for?" Naruko: "Aine-chan, have you gained that much weight?" Aine: "Q-Quite a bit, actually... since coming here." Minamo: "This is a good opportunity then; go on a diet. A fat angel is a disgrace." Aine: "Th-That is not true. All the angels you see in pictures are pretty plump..." Aine: "Aww..." *With that distressed excuse, Aine exhaustedly hung her head. Was she that worried about gaining weight?* Naruko: "Oh, by the way, I heard about you and Kirinokojima." Minamo: "You already know? I guess that isn't all that surprising." Naruko: "Well, we _are_ neighbors. Congrats." Minamo: "Th-Thank you very much, but it is just on a trial basis for now..." Naruko: "So you're going to keep at it?" Minamo: "Y-Yeah..." Naruko: "Hm... Couldn't you just eat her up?" *Nakizaki turned my way with a devious grin.* *I wasn't sure how to answer and looked away. This was totally uncharted territory for me.* *It felt... kind of embarrassing.* Naruko: "Well, I guess that means you're all set on breakfast?" Aine: "Oh, we need it, we need it! Nothing but bread for breakfast really bends me out of shape..." Minamo: "It'll put you 'out of shape' for sure." Aine: "Ah, ooooh..." Tomoe: "Aine's starting to look like she's wasting away."

Minamo: "Then, Sempai said he could hear voices saying, 'Save me!' coming from the pet shop." Naruko: "Oh, that sounds like something he'd say." Aine: "Yes, it really does. The other day, when he prepared some sashimi for us to eat, he said..." Aine: "'They say fish don't feel pain. Is that true?'" Aine: "Stuff like that. Even though people were eating. Would that not just make you lose your appetite?" Tomoe: "I've never seen you lose _your_ appetite, Aine." Minamo: "Seriously, you don't have a romantic bone in your body, Sempai." Tomoe: "And I told you not to expect that from me." Minamo: "See, a totally mean response." Naruko: "Kirinokojima, be a little nicer to her." Tomoe: "I don't have the slightest idea what's right or wrong. No, worse than that..." *This was around the time when people were heading to school, so clusters of students were forming around us.* *Among them, plenty of eyes glanced over at our group curiously.* *Mostly boys, and they were likely looking at Wakamatsu.* Tomoe: "We're sticking out like sore thumbs." Aine: "Huh? It _does_ seem like a lot of people are looking at us." Naruko: "At Minamo-chan, I'm sure." Minamo: "Me?" *Wakamatsu scanned her surroundings. When she did, the students reacted with intrigue.* *Everyone _was_ looking at Wakamatsu after all.* Tomoe: "Are you going to be okay dressed like that?" Minamo: "I'm just acting normal." Naruko: "That's a celebrity for you; acting normal is all you need to do to stand out." Aine: "Have they figured it out?" Tomoe: "Who knows?" *I hoped they hadn't pieced it together yet, but based on how things were looking, it might just be a matter of time.* Kiyohito: "Oh, I spy a cutie I've never seen before!" *Kiyohito dubiously walked over to us, his eyes rudely wandering all over Wakamatsu.* Minamo: "Wh-What is it?" *Wakamatsu was frightened.* Kiyohito: "Oh, what? It's Minamo-chan?" Naruko: "Oh, you figured it out?" Kiyohito: "C'mon, there's no way I'd ever mix up a girl's face for someone else's." Naruko: "Is that something to be proud of?" Kiyohito: "What's up, changin' your look? What's with the change of heart?" Minamo: "Well..." Aine: "Please listen to this! Minamo-chan and Tomoe-san have started going out!" Kiyohito: "Huh, for real? Tomoe's into that now?" *Kiyohito looked at me as if he'd seen a ghost. It was the same reaction Nakizaki had.* Kiyohito: "It's legit?! Thank goodness!" Kiyohito: "Man, you actually had me worried. I assumed Tomoe had no interest in girls because he had a thing for dudes." Tomoe: "Huh? Where'd you get that idea?" Kiyohito: "Well, I thought you wouldn't be interested in girls anymore 'cause there's a hot stud muffin like me around." Tomoe: "That's never going to happen. Don't be stupid." Kiyohito: "Ahaha, kidding, just kidding! But..." *Kiyohito looked at Wakamatsu and me, then an uncharacteristically serious smile crossed his face.* Kiyohito: "I'm glad. Take good care of Tomoe, Minamo-chan." Minamo: "Huh? Uh, yes, you can count on me." *Then, for some reason, he shot a look at Nakizaki.* Naruko: "What?" Kiyohito: "Nah, it's nothing. Anyway, this is worth celebrating." Tomoe: "Worth celebrating, huh?" *I looked at Wakamatsu who was standing at my side.* *She had gone silent from embarrassment, but also looked happy. If she was fine with it, I guess I was, too.* Naruko: "But... are you going to be all right?" *Nakizaki asked, seeming worried about the whispering students surrounding us from afar.* Minamo: "It'll be fine." *She sounded certain, but would everything really be okay?*

Masahiko: "Is it true we have a celebrity enrolled at our academy?" *Fukue asked upon his sudden arrival.* Tomoe: "Hm..." *The rumors had apparently already reached the Student Council.* Kiyohito: "Looks like the cat's out of the bag." Minamo: "..." Mizuki: "Wow... MINAMO's really here." *Nose saw Wakamatsu and sounded astonished by her very presence. I guess she must have heard of her.* Masahiko: "Huh, so this is her?" Naruko: "What do you mean? You don't know about MINAMO?" Masahiko: "I do not. I don't partake in TV or vulgar photo-zines." Naruko: "Heheh, is that right? You certainly have some refined tastes." *Fukue and Nakizaki were as antagonistic of each other as ever.* Tomoe: "So, does the Student Council have some business with Wakamatsu?" Masahiko: "Hmph, not in the slightest. At least, not the _Student Council_." Tomoe: "What is that supposed to mean? That's an odd way to put it." Masahiko: "I meant exactly what I said. This isn't a matter which requires any comment from the Student Council, but what about the academy?" Tomoe: "The academy?" Naruko: "What does the academy have to do with anything?" Yuri: "Does our academy have some rule against working in show business by any chance?" *I was surprised by Hisaka-san's question.* *Pop culture was so far off my radar that I hadn't given it any thought, but I knew there were schools like that.* *Was ours one of them?* Minamo: "I don't believe it is. It isn't like that's why I was going out of my way to hide it." *Wakamatsu cleared up our doubts with ease. Fukue nodded as well.* Masahiko: "Our academy doesn't have any regulations against it, no." Aine: "Oh, that must mean it is fine, then?" Masahiko: "But, as far as I know, it's unprecedented. Her job coming to light might end up working against her." Masahiko: "I have no idea how popular she is, but if it causes too many headaches, then I'm sure the academy will speak up." Tomoe: "When you say 'speak up,' do you think she'll be expelled?" Masahiko: "I'm sure it would depend on her grades and attendance, but it's not out of the question." *He had a point. She _had_ been taking a lot of time off lately. Would they really use that against her?* Minamo: "I don't really care either way. If it becomes an issue, I'll quit." Tomoe: "Huh? 'Quit'...?" Aine: "You will quit school?" Minamo: "Huh? No, not that. I'll quit my job." Tomoe: "Huh?" Naruko: "You'll quit your job?" *I doubted any of us had seen that coming. It even took _me_ by surprise.* *Wakamatsu seemed confused by everyone's reactions.* Minamo: "Why are you all so surprised?" Yuri: "Because, it is not easy to become a celebrity even if you try, right? So to give it up so easily..." Minamo: "It's not like I became one by choice." Naruko: "Huh, really?" Minamo: "Yeah. I've got no attachment to this job at all." *She responded without hesitation.* *For that matter, it didn't seem like a bluff, either. She really did seem fine with quitting.* *But... something just didn't seem right.*

Kiyohito: "'Kay, it's over, all over~ Wanna hang out somewhere on our way home?" Tomoe: "I'll pass. I've spent a little too much this month." *Going out the other day with Wakamatsu was an unexpected expense.* Kiyohito: "The heck, you're so cold. Guys who skimp on their social lives the second they get a girlfriend are the worst." Tomoe: "I've _never_ had much of a social life." Kiyohito: "Yeah, I guess. That's even worse if you ask me, though." *Suddenly, loud noises began to stir outside of our classroom, and our classmates huddled near the door.* Minamo: "Oh, there he is." *I wondered what it could be until I spotted Wakamatsu.* *She was hiding behind the doorframe, but peeking firmly this way. She was waving her hand at me...* *She had apparently come by to pick me up.* Kiyohito: "Oooh~! It's gettin' hot in here!" Tomoe: "She really does stand out, huh?" Kiyohito: "Like crazy. That's a celebrity for you. She's got a whole different aura to her." Kiyohito: "You'd better go." Tomoe: "Yeah..." Minamo: "Visiting an upperclassman's classroom is pretty nerve-racking." Tomoe: "You didn't have to go out of your way to pick me up." Minamo: "...Was I bothering you?" Tomoe: "You're not bothering me, but you shouldn't do things that make you stand out so much." Minamo: "...I'm not standing out because I want to. I'm not doing anything that strange, am I?" Tomoe: "That may be true, but you need to think about your current situation a bit more." Minamo: "What position is that? Am I that weird?" Tomoe: "Well, you _are_ are celebrity..." *Wakamatsu grimaced the second the word "celebrity" left my mouth.* Minamo: "Then I'll quit show business entirely." *She declared.* Tomoe: "Is it okay for you to say something like that?" Minamo: "It is. Didn't I tell you? I'm not doing it because I want to." *Her expression sunk. She had indeed said that, but...* Tomoe: "I just don't get it. What do you mean, 'You're not doing it because you want to'? You didn't become a celebrity by choice?" Minamo: "..." *She remained silent. Was that a sensitive subject for her?* *There definitely seemed to be a reason, but was this a matter I should meddle in?* Tomoe: "...You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to, but otherwise, would you tell me?" Tomoe: "I can't say for sure that I'll be able to help, of course." Minamo: "...Fine, I'll tell you. Please listen closely."

*With the exception of a few couples scattered about, there was little sign of anyone wandering around on the observation deck.* *We sat side by side on an open bench, and Wakamatsu began to speak.* Minamo: "My mother was a singer a long time ago. A fairly famous one." Tomoe: "Yukari Kotomi, if I recall?" Minamo: "Correct. A so-called pop idol." Minamo: "I'm surprised you knew." Tomoe: "Kiyohito told me. I vaguely remember hearing something about it before, too." Tomoe: "So, that's why you went into show business?" *When I asked, she smiled rather lonesomely.* Minamo: "Yeah, something like that." Minamo: "I remember watching Mama's videos when I was little. So for as long as I can remember..." Tomoe: "It was your dream to become an idol?" *She gave a tiny nod. It sounded like a very natural story to me.* *If that were true, then why did she look so upset?* Tomoe: "Your dream came true then, didn't it?" *That's how it seemed to me, but she denied it by gently shaking her head.* Minamo: "I really wanted to be a singer, but all I'm doing are photo shoots." Tomoe: "Ah..." *"Show business" and "celebrities" were all lumped into a single category in my head. I hadn't been aware that those were broken down into subdivisions.* *In reality, even though they were all celebrities, there were singers, actors, TV stars, and more. Each of them were different in their own ways.* *Wakamatsu would currently be lumped in with "pin-up models," but what she really wanted to do was sing.* *The massive difference between those two occupations weighed heavily on Wakamatsu's mind.* Tomoe: "You can't sing?" Minamo: "..." *She didn't reply. Should I take that as her answer? No matter the job, things wouldn't always go the way you planned.* Minamo: "I wanted to become a pop idol like Mama. Have you heard Mama's... Yukari Kotomi's singing before?" Tomoe: "Sorry. I may have, but I'm not entirely sure." Minamo: "Is that so...?" *Looks like I disappointed her a little. I was disappointed in myself for doing that to her.* Minamo: "I wanted to sing like her. Her music always made people happy, and she always looked like a piece of jewelry, shining on stage..." Tomoe: "Why make it sound like it's all in the past? You could work toward that goal now if you wanted." Minamo: "No, I can't do it." *She shook her head. Why was she being so stubborn about this?* Tomoe: "Don't you dislike your current job?" *She gave a tiny nod to my question.* Tomoe: "Then why not just quit?" *That was my honest opinion. What reason did she, a student, have to be forced to do a job she didn't want? That was how I saw it.* Minamo: "I agree. But Mama..." Tomoe: "Your mom? Don't tell me she won't let you quit?" Minamo: "Yes..." Tomoe: "I see. But why?" Minamo: "My guess is she refuses to believe that her daughter is a failure, especially when she was once a famous pop idol." Tomoe: "For a reason like that?" Minamo: "That's the sort of person she is." *She said that so coldly. It didn't sound like she was talking about the same mother she admired and wanted to work in the same field as at all.* Tomoe: "I don't understand. Is being in show business really worth all of this?" Minamo: "There are people who think so. Especially people in the industry." Tomoe: "Really?" *I couldn't comprehend it, but I was sure there were people in the world with that sort of mentality.* Tomoe: "But you don't think so, right?" Minamo: "...I don't believe I should stick around if it means doing things I hate." Tomoe: "Then I think you should follow your heart. You probably can't ignore your mom's opinion, but at the very least, I'll back you up." Minamo: "Huh? Really?" Tomoe: "Of course." *I nodded reassuringly, and a relieved smile spread across her face.* Minamo: "...Thank you so much." Tomoe: "It's nothing..." *I couldn't help but feel embarrassed under her appreciative gaze.* *Was I the one who caused that smile? The thought made me anxious.* Tomoe: "Thanks for telling me all this." Minamo: "No, thank you for listening." Tomoe: "I guess we should be heading home now?" *I lifted myself from the bench which was now warm from our body heat.* Minamo: "U-Um..." *Her hand reached out and grabbed the hem of my uniform. Still half-standing, I looked over at her.* *Huh...?* *It took me a moment to realize her face inching closer to mine, and a soft, warm sensation brushing against my lips. Was the immaculate aroma that tickled my nose her shampoo?* *Wait, forget that, this was... a kiss? Wakamatsu was kissing me?* Minamo: "..." *She squeezed her eyes tight and simply pressed her lips against mine. Her hand trembled as it squeezed my hem.* *When I noticed how rattled she was acting, I started to feel incredibly sly and dirty for calmly observing her like this.* *Had I ever harbored emotions as genuine as these? There was a jabbing pain somewhere deep in my chest.* *Left with that mild pain and distant memory, Wakamatsu pulled away.* Minamo: "..." Tomoe: "..." Minamo: "P-Please say something." Tomoe: "Huh? But I'm not sure what to say..." Tomoe: "Are you sure you're okay with me?" *I was probably saying something stupid, but I couldn't help asking.* Minamo: "Of course I am. You're the one I want, Sempai..." Tomoe: "I see... Then it's fine by me, too." Minamo: "You think so? Really?" Tomoe: "Yeah, I do." Minamo: "Well, that's good..." *Wakamatsu gazed downward, still seemingly nervous. Her grip on the hem of my uniform never wavered.* *I shifted her hand away from my uniform and held it in my own.* Minamo: "Ah..." Tomoe: "It's getting late. Let's go home." Minamo: "...Yes." *We hardly spoke on the way back.* *With our hands joined, my thoughts trailed off as we walked. What could I do for this girl?*

Naruko: "This is about all we've got in the house." *Nakizaki put a bundle of magazines on the table. Wakamatsu was on the cover of the manga magazine on top.* Tomoe: "Wow, she's on the cover?" Naruko: "I'd say she's been featured on boys manga magazines a few times? You see her picture every once in a while when you stop by at convenience stores, too." Tomoe: "I never really shop at them." Naruko: "Totally stoic, huh? Hey, what's up with you suddenly asking to borrow magazines Minamo-chan's in, anyway?" Tomoe: "I thought I should learn more about her." *I looked around the house for any magazines she may have been featured in, but had no luck.* *That's when I decided to ask Nakizaki. She was an avid shounen manga reader.* Tomoe: "Hm, a swimsuit, huh?" *Wakamatsu's swimsuit photos were the opening showcase in this magazine.* Aine: "Wow! Minamo-chan has a nice body." Naruko: "No kidding. I'm jealous." *Nakizaki compared her breasts to those in the photos and got a somber look on her face.* *I'd never paid much attention to it, but Wakamatsu certainly did have quite a figure.* Tomoe: "...She's well endowed, huh?" Naruko: "How can you say that so calmly? It's kinda weird." Tomoe: "Don't call me 'weird.'" Naruko: "If you're really a man, shouldn't you be getting all excited and grinning like crazy? Smirk more!" Tomoe: "I can't just smirk on demand." Aine: "Tomoe-san is Minamo-chan's boyfriend, so perhaps he is already used to it and does not give it a second thought?" Naruko: "Huh?! Kirinokojima, have you and Minamo-chan already taken your relationship that far...?" Tomoe: "Of course not. We just started going out, and it's still a trial period." Naruko: "Y-You're right. Don't make such weird suggestions, Aine-chan." Aine: "I am sorry..." Tomoe: "Actually, you know about stuff like that, Aine?" Aine: "Like what?" Tomoe: "About carnal relations between human men and women." Naruko: "That's a graphic way to put it." Aine: "I have heard about lovers hugging each other while in the nude. Baring both body and heart." *Aine said while grinning happily. Just what scene had popped into that mind of hers?* Tomoe: "You're an angel; don't smirk." Aine: "Huh? But Naruko-san told us to." Naruko: "I don't really want an angel to smirk all that much, yeah..." Aine: "But is it not lovely? Since it is an act of love between two people." Tomoe: "'Lovely,' huh?" *I suspected she could only say that because she'd never seen or experienced it in real life. Not that I was particularly experienced myself, either.* Naruko: "Hey, hey, hey!" *Nakizaki was grinning from ear to ear. Everyone was acting really silly today.* Naruko: "Be straight with us, how far have you gone with Minamo-chan?" Aine: "Huh? Did you go somewhere with Minamo-chan?" Naruko: "No, that isn't what it means. So anyway, how about it?" *She asked with a grin.* Tomoe: "We kissed." Naruko: "Huh?! You kissed?!" Tomoe: "Well, more like she kissed me." Naruko: "_And_ Minamo-chan initiated it?! She's bolder than she looks." Naruko: "But if you've made that much of a woman out of her, there's no more running away." Tomoe: "What's that supposed to mean?" *I never intended to run away, but how should I reward her pure, honest feelings?* Naruko: "Oh, so that's why you asked for Minamo-chan's magazines." Tomoe: "Yeah, more or less. I don't see them very often." *I looked over the magazines from cover to cover and found mostly swimsuit shots. Given her excellent figure, it was no wonder this sort of picture was in such high demand.* Tomoe: "This isn't the job she actually wants, though..." Naruko: "Hm? Did Minamo-chan say that?" Tomoe: "Huh? Yeah... It sounds like she has something else she'd rather do instead." *Nakizaki picked up on my unintentional monologue.* *I was hesitant to explain in detail, and gave only ambiguous confirmation.* Naruko: "Something else she'd rather do... Hm... I see." *I stared at the shots of Wakamatsu again.* *She may have been smiling on those pages, but none of them looked genuine.*

Tomoe: "..." Tomoe: "She really does look like she's having a hard time." *The more I looked at Wakamatsu's modeling photos, the more pained she looked. Her smile was just for show.* *The fact she was smiling was impressive in and of itself.* Kiyohito: "Wow, it's rare to see you looking at stuff like that, Tomoe." *Kiyohito turned up and peeked curiously at what was in my hands.* Kiyohito: "Oh, it's just Minamo-chan? You've got some amusing hobbies, staring at your own girlfriend's pin-ups." Tomoe: "Hey. Does it look like Wakamatsu is smiling in these to you?" Kiyohito: "Hm? Yeah, about that..." Kiyohito: "Truth is, I don't actually like MINAMO that much. She's totally cute, and the whole big-boob lolita thing _is_ pretty hot, though." Tomoe: "Only you could outright insult a guy's girlfriend to his face." Kiyohito: "I'm not trying to insult her, really. I mean, it's never looked like she was doing it because she wanted to." Kiyohito: "Who wants to look at pin-ups taken against someone's will?" Tomoe: "Oh...?" *That was Kiyohito all right. He looked and acted foolish, but he could easily see through someone's true nature.* Tomoe: "So basically, she doesn't look like she's smiling in these to you, either?" Kiyohito: "Not at all. I wonder why she's in this line of work..." *Kiyohito looked legitimately perplexed.* Kiyohito: "I guess her internal conflict has seeped through a little, so the shots themselves came out decent. It's got this whole oppressed hottie meets stacked lolita feel to it." Tomoe: "Is being oppressed a good thing? That's pretty twisted." Kiyohito: "That's just how people are deep down. Don't tell me you believe all people are fundamentally good?" Tomoe: "No." Kiyohito: "Right, right? Even if you don't think about all this complicated stuff, her chest sure packs a punch all the same." Kiyohito: "I bet it's enough to land a fatal blow on any pubescent boy." Tomoe: "Wow, that much?" Kiyohito: "With a body like that, they might not let her quit." Minamo: "Hey, what the heck do you think you're talking about?!" *We turned to the sound of that angry shout and saw Wakamatsu glaring at us in a daunting pose.* Tomoe: "Oh, Wakamatsu?" Minamo: "Don't 'Oh, Wakamatsu' me! What do you think you're prattling on about while looking at my pin-ups?!" Kiyohito: "What else? About how your boobs pack a major punch, of course." Minamo: "Noooooooo! You're going to say that to the face of the girl you're talking about?!" Tomoe: "I'm totally complimenting you." Minamo: "Huh? You are?" Minamo: "Wait, do you feel the same way, Sempai? I don't care if it _is_ a compliment; please stop!" *We had apparently ticked her off. A woman's heart was a complicated thing.* Kiyohito: "'Kay. I'll keep my mouth shut and admire you with my eyes instead." Minamo: "Don't stare at me!" *She snatched the magazine away from him.* Kiyohito: "What the heck? You're so stingy." Minamo: "I'm fine being stingy. Jeez."

Minamo: "You don't have to look at my pin-ups anymore, okay?" *She was still pretty mad about earlier.* Tomoe: "Do you hate being looked at that much?" Minamo: "It's embarrassing when people I know stare at me like that. Please try to understand." Tomoe: "Sorry." *I apologized honestly, and her angry expression softened.* Minamo: "But... did you want to see me in a swimsuit that badly?" Tomoe: "No, that wasn't it." Minamo: "It wasn't?! What the heck were you doing, then?" *She started speaking more casually.* Tomoe: "I didn't really know what you did for work, so I thought I'd look into it at least once." Minamo: "Oh. Now that you mention it, you didn't know about me, did you, Sempai?" *Now she looked disappointed. Had I done something wrong?* Tomoe: "I think your pin-ups are good, though. They were all taken really beautifully." *I truly believed that. It really made me believe that celebrities were something special.* Minamo: "You do? Hearing you say that helps a little." Minamo: "But um... Weren't there a lot of shots that were fairly indecent?" Tomoe: "Yeah, I guess so. Weren't they taken that way on purpose?" Minamo: "Yeah. Since we get requests for them." Tomoe: "Requests?" Minamo: "You get it, right? What young guys want them for..." Tomoe: "Ah..." *I understood what she meant, and why her face was turning red.* Minamo: "Um... Sempai, did they, uh... turn you on at all?" Tomoe: "Huh?" Minamo: "..." Tomoe: "Turn me on?" Minamo: "You don't need to repeat it..." Minamo: "...So, did they?" Tomoe: "No, not really." Minamo: "They didn't...? I put a lot of effort into them, too..." *She looked pretty stunned by my answer. Maybe I _had_ done something wrong...* Minamo: "Do you, um... ever get turned on or whatever?" Tomoe: "I guess I don't." Minamo: "S-Seriously? There are guys who don't?" Tomoe: "I guess there'd have to be? You're looking right at one." Minamo: "But guys say it's like some sort of physiological phenomenon... Sempai, normally, do you, uh..." Minamo: "N-Never mind, forget it!" *She got halfway through her sentence before turning beet red and going silent. She seemed pretty worked up about this.* *Was it that rare for people our age to be disinterested in sex? Was it because I was a guy? Perhaps if I were a girl...* *Then I remembered something.* Tomoe: "Now that you mention it, you..." Minamo: "Ah! Y-You just remembered something weird, didn't you?!" Tomoe: "You know, the other day in the classroom..." Minamo: "Waaaaaaah! Y-You don't have to say it out loud! Please don't bring that up, okay?!" Tomoe: "If you're that opposed, then I won't." *Still, I couldn't get the memory out of my head. Girls did stuff like that too, huh?* Minamo: "...You must think I'm a pervert." Tomoe: "Huh? Not really." Minamo: "But you're a guy and don't, yet I'm a girl... Nothing like that?" Tomoe: "I told you, I don't." Minamo: "I-It's not like I do it all the time either, okay? It's just, well... being in that industry is incredibly stressful..." Minamo: "So I do it sometimes for stress relief... but just once in a while. Seriously, just on occasion, all right?" *I didn't even ask her, but she kept on talking.* *I see. She did it once in a while, then?* Tomoe: "You must have a lot on your plate." Minamo: "That's right, it's a ton of trouble..." Tomoe: "..." *The mood had taken a rather awkward turn.* *How did we land on this subject? Then again, I got the feeling she was the only one talking.* *Had she _wanted_ to talk about it?* *Hard to believe she had that sort of hobby. ...Could you call it a hobby?* Tomoe: "...Hm?" *I thought I could hear a melody drifting on the wind.* Minamo: "Ah..." *Wakamatsu noticed before me and was already looking toward the ocean. Beyond her gaze was a woman singing and playing guitar.* Tomoe: "Oh, it's a woman." *She was singing what sounded like an original ballad at the top of her lungs with her eyes closed.* *I couldn't call her singing great, but it did have a way of touching your heart.* Tomoe: "There are women who do that sort of stuff too, huh?" Minamo: "That's right." *Her expression looked rather lonely as she watched the singing woman. Why did she look so sad?* Tomoe: "Why don't you try putting yourself out there? I'll volunteer to be your bodyguard." Minamo: "Ahaha. I would be happy to have you guarding me, but it's impossible." Tomoe: "Why?" Minamo: "Because I'm not confident enough of a singer to let other people listen." Tomoe: "Really?" Minamo: "Really." *Come to think of it, I'd never heard her sing. Was she tone-deaf or something?* *Since her mother was a former idol, Wakamatsu was likely raised surrounded by music. Was it even possible for her to be tone-deaf?* Tomoe: "Your voice is so pretty. I'd like to hear you sing at least once." Minamo: "A-Absolutely not!" *An intense refusal. Was she that insecure about her singing ability? From a young age, Wakamatsu had dreamed of becoming a pop idol like her mother.* *Had she realized her singing was poor somewhere along the line?* *I wanted to know...* *However, if I harped on this topic any longer, it would probably just hurt her. On that thought, I didn't press the issue any further.* Minamo: "Let's just go." Tomoe: "...Yeah." *How long had it been since I'd held back asking a question after putting so much thought into it? My heart twinged as I considered how she must feel.* *What were these feelings, exactly?* Tomoe: "I'll take you home, then." Minamo: "Oh? You're willing to walk me home?" Tomoe: "I figured I'd try acting like a real boyfriend for once. Will you be at school tomorrow?" Minamo: "Uh, no. I'll be in and out of photo shoots all day tomorrow... but I am super happy I got to spend so much time with you today." Tomoe: "I see. I'm glad." Minamo: "Please lead the way." Tomoe: "Yeah."

Minamo: "I'm beat..." *I walked into my bedroom, then collapsed on my bed.* *Today had been my first job since I started going out with Sempai─albeit on a trial basis.* *Even on the best of days, my modeling work always interfered with what little time I had to spend with him. That thought was insanely heart-breaking.* *Besides that, something had been bugging me ever since yesterday.* Minamo: "Things got kind of complicated at the end..." *It was right before I said goodbye to him. I never thought we'd end up on _that_ subject.* Minamo: "It's that woman's fault for singing there." *Then again, she sounded awfully happy when she sang. I was sure it would be exhilarating to sing my heart out like that, too.* Minamo: "'You should sing too,' huh?" *Not a chance. Sempai might suggest otherwise, but I knew it was out of the question better than anyone else.* *I wasn't fit for modeling, and there was no way I could be a singer. Maybe there was nothing for me in this world? I was totally empty inside...* Minamo: "Sempai..." *That was okay, though. It was enough for me just to be by Sempai's side...* Minamo: "...All right, I'll redeem myself. I'll give him a call." *I couldn't bear spending the whole night feeling this way. Besides, I wanted to at least end the day with a fun conversation.* *I called Sempai from my cell phone.* Minamo: "Actually, I think this might be my first time calling him." *Would he actually answer?* *I didn't recall him ever talking on his phone before. He didn't seem the type to be interested in that...* Minamo: "Oh, you picked up!" Tomoe: "Hello? Is this Wakamatsu?" *Oh, it really _was_ him! ...Well duh, obviously.* Minamo: "Y-Yes, it's me. Minamo Wakamatsu." *I was super nervous for some reason.* *Was calling someone normally this nerve-wracking?* Tomoe: "It's rare for you to call. What's up?" *But I felt better the moment I heard his voice...* Minamo: "..." Tomoe: "Hello? Wakamatsu?" Minamo: "Oh, y-yes. I'm sorry." Minamo: "U-Um... Thank you for hearing me out yesterday. I wanted to thank you." Tomoe: "Oh, that? Don't worry about it. If you're fine with me, I'll listen anytime." Minamo: "Really? Thank you so much." *I couldn't help but feel elated. Why was I so happy to hear he would listen to me?* *Maybe it was because I never had anyone else willing to let me vent.* *Well, Aine probably would if I asked, but it wasn't the same.* Minamo: "Oh, are you free to talk right now? What were you doing?" *What _did_ Sempai do at home?* *I couldn't even begin to imagine what his private life was like.* Tomoe: "I was just folding laundry." Minamo: "Laundry?" *So working class! But I guess that was a given for someone living alone.* *Oh, but then there was Nakizaki-sempai.* Minamo: "Nakizaki-sempai doesn't do it for you?" Tomoe: "Nakizaki? She cooks for me, but it would be pretty terrible to ask her to clean and do my laundry, too." Minamo: "Y-Yeah, it would." *That was kind of a relief. Imagining Nakizaki-sempai folding his underwear made me feel kind of down.* Minamo: "Oh, right. If you'd like, I can come over and do your laundry next time." Tomoe: "Really? No, that wouldn't be right." Minamo: "I _am_ your girlfriend. It's not a big deal." Tomoe: "It's not that... Do you even know how to do laundry, Wakamatsu?" Minamo: "Uh, well..." *He wasn't fussing over me, but was instead worried over something far more basic?* *It was true. Cleaning? Forget about it. I had never done laundry before, either.* Minamo: "I will look it up online." Tomoe: "Huh? You don't have to go that far..." Minamo: "I'm sorry I can't be of help..." Tomoe: "Don't worry. I can do my own laundry at least." *How hopeless could I get? I might be a pin-up model, but I was a failure as a woman. I should study more.* *...Had I ever thought this way before? Was that just how much I loved Sempai?* *I truly loved him, didn't I?* Tomoe: "Wakamatsu? You there?" Minamo: "Oh, sorry. I'm still here." *Sempai's voice was just so relaxing. When I heard it, I just... I just...* *Got totally turned on...* Minamo: "..." Tomoe: "Oh, by the way, we saw your photo in one of Nakizaki's magazines earlier." Minamo: "Oh, yeah? ...Mm..." Tomoe: "Hm? What's wrong?" Minamo: "Oh... nothing..." *What should I do? I couldn't stop touching myself. Doing it while listening to Sempai's voice felt so good...* Minamo: "Mm... aah, mm, hyah... mm..." Tomoe: "Huh?" *Knock, knock...* Minamo: "Hyah?!" *There was a sudden knock at my door. It surprised me so much I nearly threw my phone.* Tomoe: "What's wrong?" Minamo: "N-Nothing..." Mizue: "Minamo?" *It was Mom.* Minamo: "Huh? Wh-What?" *I was so shaken, my voice trembled. Talking to Sempai was bad enough, but if she found out I was masturbating while on the phone, she'd surely disown me.* Mizue: "Are you on the phone with someone at this hour?" Minamo: "Uh... D-Did you hear me?" Mizue: "Is it a friend? If you talk too long, it'll be a bother for the other person." Minamo: "I-I know. I'm hanging up." Mizue: "Do that, and when you're done, come downstairs for a minute." Minamo: "Huh? Why?" Mizue: "Just do it." *With those brief words, Mama's presence faded into the distance.* *Phew. That was a close one. But why did she want me to come downstairs?* Tomoe: "Wakamatsu? You all right?" Minamo: "Oh, crap!" Minamo: "Hello, I'm sorry! My mama just..." Tomoe: "Your mom? Oh, that's why you sounded so strange." Minamo: "Uh, no... my voice sounded funny because..." *I absolutely _could not_ tell him it was because I was masturbating!* Tomoe: "I guess it's about time we say goodbye, then." Minamo: "Huh?" Tomoe: "Didn't your mom just get mad at you?" Minamo: "You heard?" Tomoe: "I could hear a little bit, yeah. Anyway, good night." Minamo: "Oh, yes. Good night." *I hung up, still shaken.* *Things had ended on a touchy note again. I wanted our conversation to end on a happier, more refreshing note...* Minamo: "Better head to the living room." *Seriously, what in the world was this about?*

*When I walked into the living room, I found Mama waiting for me. She stared at me with a scary look on her face, but I guess she always looked that way.* Minamo: "What? I was just on the phone." Mizue: "With whom?" Minamo: "'Who'...? Do I really need to say? It was just a friend." Mizue: "A 'friend,' indeed. Don't tell me it was a _male_ friend?" Minamo: "Huh...?" *Her comment was dead-on. I couldn't help but feel a bit shaken.* *Oh, no... I'm sure it showed on my face, too.* *Her expression didn't waver, but she wasn't the sort to overlook agitation in others.* Mizue: "I knew it." *She murmured, then sighed. I was caught red-handed.* Mizue: "Someone in the industry? Or was it someone from school?" Minamo: "I'd never date anyone from the industry... It was an upperclassman." Mizue: "An upperclassman, huh? ...Oh, well, that's fine." Minamo: "Huh? It is?" Mizue: "Break up with him immediately." Minamo: "...Huh?" *She said it so smoothly, it took me a moment to process what she had just said.* Mizue: "Why do you look so surprised? It's only natural. You're an idol." Mizue: "What do you intend to accomplish by dating an ordinary person, much less a boy from school?" Minamo: "What I intend to accomplish...?" Mizue: "Break up before the media gets wind of this, and before it becomes a problem. You've still got a long career ahead of you." Minamo: "...No." Mizue: "'No'? What do you mean?" Minamo: "I won't break up with him." *I looked her straight in the eye and refused her demands point-blank. This was probably the first time I'd ever talked back to her before.* *She looked a little surprised, but immediately let out an astounded sigh.* Mizue: "You don't have time to waste on worthless relationships. There are lots of things you have to do while you still have the chance." Minamo: "You don't get to decide what's worthwhile to me without my input!" *When I yelled back, her gaze turned cold.* *Her expression was arrogant and authoritative. Nothing I said made any difference to her.* *It wasn't always this tense between us. When had our relationship turned sour?* *As I thought, it must've been since I...* Mizue: "Anyway, break up with him. Men are lethal to idols. You know that much, don't you?" Minamo: "I-Idol this, idol that...! I'm just a pin-up girl. There are plenty of substitutes out there." Mizue: "That's not true. You've got a long, steady future ahead of you. So..." Minamo: "I don't want a job like that!" *My voice got unintentionally loud. She seemed legitimately surprised this time.* Mizue: "Minamo..." Minamo: "I've never enjoyed this line of work. This wasn't the career I wanted, and yet..." Minamo: "If you're going to put that much pressure on me, I'll just retire!" *After yelling that at the top of my lungs, I went pale.* *I finally said it.* *...I finally said something I shouldn't have.* Mizue: "...What will you do after you retire, exactly? After you retire, what do you have left?" Minamo: "I-I'll have Sempai!" Mizue: "And what will that upperclassman do for you? Will he take care of you for the rest of your life?" Mizue: "Are you planning to spend the rest of your life depending on men like that?" Minamo: "N-None of that matters right now! Is it wrong for me to fall in love with someone?!" Mizue: "It _is_ wrong. At least for now." Minamo: "...!" *I wanted to yell at her with everything I had, but my strength left me. It felt... meaningless.* Minamo: "...Fine, then I'm done." Mizue: "Really? You understand now?" Minamo: "I'm done. I'm going to retire, and I'm moving out of this house." Mizue: "What are you saying? You'll leave, and then what? There's no way you can survive on your own." Mizue: "This shows just how immature you still are. Children should behave and listen to what their parents tell them." Minamo: "That's enough! I've had it!" Minamo: "Thank you for everything you have done for me until today!" *I gave into my anger and bowed deeply to her. Then, I rushed out of the room without giving her a second glance.* Mizue: "Wait right th─! Minamo!" *I heard her call out to me, but I ignored her and ran out of the house.*

Tomoe: "Well, we'd better get to bed." Aine: "Oh, please wait! This show is super interesting." *Aine clung to the TV with all her might. This angel had become corrupted...* Tomoe: "Don't stay up all night just because tomorrow's a day off. You won't be able to wake up." Aine: "I will be fine. I will get up like I am supposed to." Tomoe: "So you say, but you've never woken up like that before. If you insist, I won't wake you up." Aine: "Sure, sure! Ahahahahaha!" *With no more than that vague reply, she kept her eyes on the TV and laughed.* *My mind was made up. There was no way I was going to wake her up tomorrow.* Tomoe: "I'm going to bed, then." Aine: "All right! Good night! Ahahahaha!" Tomoe: "...Hm?" *It was eerie for the doorbell to ring this late at night. It was almost never a good sign.* Aine: "Who could it be at this hour?" *It wasn't surprising that Aine looked uneasy, too.* Tomoe: "I'll go take a look." Aine: "Oh, I will go, too!" Aine: "Are you sure it is okay to go without a weapon or something? Shall I grab a kitchen knife?" Tomoe: "That would be way scarier." Tomoe: "Hello... Who is it?" *I asked with the door still shut.* Minamo: "Oh, sorry. It's me. Minamo Wakamatsu." Tomoe: "Huh? Wakamatsu?" *I exchanged a glance with Aine.* Aine: "I wonder what could be wrong this late at night?" Tomoe: "Who knows?" *Definitely not a good sign.*

Minamo: "I'm sorry to bother you so late." *Wakamatsu came inside, and looked absolutely exhausted. Something had definitely happened.* Tomoe: "That's fine. What's going on?" *She hung her head in response. It must have been difficult to answer.* Minamo: "Um, about that... Can I stay here tonight?" *She responded with a completely unrelated question. She wanted to stay here...?* Aine: "Did something happen at home?" Minamo: "I guess..." Tomoe: "Just tell me. If you don't, then you can't stay." Minamo: "I... I understand." Minamo: "The truth is... I got in a fight with Mama..." *The reason was relatively simple. I felt relieved to hear it was just mother and daughter butting heads.* Aine: "What caused it?" Minamo: "Well... She apparently became suspicious of Sempai." Tomoe: "Huh? Of me?" Minamo: "That I was going out with you..." Tomoe: "Oh..." *Her mother's face instantly popped into my head. She had looked kind of strict, huh?* Tomoe: "What did she say?" Minamo: "She wanted us to break up. She wouldn't listen..." Tomoe: "Well, that makes sense." *It was an extremely natural response.* Minamo: "Why are you just accepting it?! At this rate, she's going to tear us apart!" Tomoe: "Okay, let's just calm down." Aine: "Yes, let us calm down." Minamo: "I-I _am_ calm." *Wakamatsu bashfully pursed her lips and went quiet.* *Anyway, now I understood the situation.* *Her mom found out about our relationship and demanded she dump me.* *Wakamatsu fought back and ran away from home.* *Then she came here looking for help. So, what should we do now?* Aine: "Does your mom know you were coming here?" Minamo: "How would she? If she knew I was here, she'd drag me back home in a heartbeat." Aine: "But would she not be worried about you?" Minamo: "Let her worry. I'm not sure she even cares about _me_ in the first place." Aine: "That is not true. You should not say something like that." Minamo: "You don't know anything about her, Aine. She's..." *Groooooowl...* *A drawn-out, idiotic noise roared through the room: an empty stomach.* Minamo: "Ah..." *It apparently came from Wakamatsu.* Tomoe: "Are you hungry?" Minamo: "I ran away before I ate dinner..." Aine: "Then you cannot help getting emotional, can you? People get touchy when they are hungry." Minamo: "I didn't run away for a silly reason like that." Tomoe: "Either way, you should get something to eat." *I felt bad asking for her help this late, but I'd better call Nakizaki. I wanted to get her advice on the matter, too.* Naruko: "Here, it's ready!" *She came out carrying a couple of steaming bowls of food.* Minamo: "Wow, incredible... You made this out of leftovers?" Naruko: "I didn't have much left in the fridge, so I could only make something simple. Sorry about that." Minamo: "If you call this simple, then I'm hopeless..." *She apparently didn't know how to cook. I could see that, given her breakfast recently consisted only of bread.* Naruko: "Come on, eat up before it gets cold." Minamo: "Okay... Thank you for the food." *Wakamatsu dug in without hesitation. Her face brightened right up the moment she took a bite.* Minamo: "It's... so delicious!" Naruko: "Really? I'm glad. There's plenty more, so have seconds if you'd like." Minamo: "Yes, I will." *Wakamatsu concentrated on her meal. She must have been very hungry, or maybe she just liked the flavor, but she ate a lot.* Minamo: "This is really good. You're really good at cooking, aren't you, Nakizaki-sempai?" Naruko: "This is a pretty ordinary meal..." Minamo: "Please don't call this 'ordinary'..." *Her expression turned sad.* Naruko: "Well, take your time eating. So..." *Nakizaki turned to face me.* Naruko: "Why is Minamo-chan here this late?" Tomoe: "She apparently ran away from home." Naruko: "Huh? She ran away? That's not good." Tomoe: "Yeah. I wanted you to come over so I could get your advice on all of this." Naruko: "Now it makes sense." *Nakizaki seemed to understand the situation and how I felt, then crossed her arms and nodded.* Naruko: "First of all, I think her mom needs to know." Tomoe: "Yeah. But if I contact her myself, I think it will just make her worry more than she has to..." Naruko: "I'll have Dad call her, then. It's okay; my dad has a clever way of manipulating people." Tomoe: "I'm not sure 'manipulate' is the right word, but you're a huge help. Thanks." *That was one problem solved. Nakizaki was a real lifesaver.* Naruko: "So, what will you do? Put her up for the night?" Tomoe: "I think that's for the best. It's late, and they'll just end up fighting again if she goes home." Naruko: "Should I stay over tonight with you?" Tomoe: "Oh, would you?" Naruko: "I bet Minamo-chan's mom would feel a little better if Aine and I were here with her." Tomoe: "You're a huge help. I owe you." Naruko: "Really now~? I'll have you treat me somewhere later, then." *Nakizaki liked to joke, but she never made me follow through with promises like this.* *Helping people was her hobby, and she did it selflessly. Still, I'd have to come up with a way to thank her later.* Minamo: "Ahh. That was delicious. Thank you for the meal." *Sounded like Wakamatsu had finished eating.* Naruko: "I'll go ask my dad to make that call, then." Tomoe: "Sorry, but please do." Minamo: "Huh? Did Nakizaki-sempai go home?" Tomoe: "I asked her to take care of something for me. Never mind that; Wakamatsu..." Minamo: "Yes?" Tomoe: "You can stay here tonight." Minamo: "Huh? Really?" Tomoe: "Aine will be with you, but this is just for one night. You're going home tomorrow, okay?" Minamo: "No, I won't go home." *Oh well. She should cool off by tomorrow. There was nothing I could do about it right now.*

Minamo: "Thank you for letting me use the bath." *Wakamatsu returned from her bath.* *Her running away happened so spur-of-the-moment, she hadn't packed a change of clothes.* Tomoe: "Are you all right with that outfit?" *We were about to head to bed, but it was rather form-fitting.* Tomoe: "Oh, you know, we could ask to borrow something from Nakizaki?" Aine: "Oh, good idea. I will go ask her!" Minamo: "They were all too tight around the chest." Naruko: "I'm sorry..." *Nakizaki looked seriously depressed. She had offered several pairs of clothes for Wakamatsu to try on, but there were all too tight.* *Since she had a larger frame, I assumed Nakizaki's clothes would fit Wakamatsu just fine, but it didn't work out that way. Were they that different?* Naruko: "O-Okay, I'll go lay out the futons downstairs!" *Nakizaki ran away. She probably couldn't stand being around her for another second.* Aine: "I will go help her!" Tomoe: "Yeah, sorry about this." *Aine and Nakizaki left the room, and Wakamatsu and I were all alone.* Tomoe: "I wonder what we should do? Aine doesn't have any spare outfits." *She _was_ an angel, so we only had the bare minimum of clothing on hand for her.* Minamo: "I'm fine with what I'm wearing, really." Tomoe: "Will it be difficult to sleep in?" Minamo: "It probably will. Oh, then how about..." Minamo: "Would you lend me your clothes, Sempai?" Tomoe: "Mine? Wouldn't they be too big?" Minamo: "What would you think if I wore just a dress shirt and my underwear?" Tomoe: "Well... Wouldn't you be cold?" Minamo: "..." *Wakamatsu looked positively dazed. I had no idea what she'd been expecting.* *She peeked over at me briefly and blushed.* Minamo: "This outfit is fine. I'm sorry it is so unappealing." Tomoe: "Uh, it's not like sex appeal is really necessary." *What was she trying to accomplish by acting sexy?* Naruko: "I laid out the futons downstairs." Aine: "We put futons all over the house! It was so much fun!" Tomoe: "You set up that many? It's just the three of you. You didn't have to." Aine: "Too many is better than too few!" Tomoe: "Well, yeah, but make sure you put them all away tomorrow." *They may have been sleeping over, but no way could we share the same room. After the girls laid out futons in the living room, I had them sleep there together.* Minamo: "You're going to bed already? I finally got the chance to stay over, so it would be nice to stay up and hang out for a little while..." Tomoe: "You aren't here to play around." Minamo: "I-I know that..." Aine: "Let us play together downstairs and tell ghost stories! Ghost stories!" Naruko: "That's not what she had in mind." *Nakizaki smiled wryly at Aine as she gently gazed at Wakamatsu.* *Wakamatsu looked lonely and depressed. She must have really wanted the company.* Naruko: "Okay, let's go." Minamo: "Sure..." Minamo: "Good night, Sempai." Tomoe: "Yeah, good night." *The three of them left, and my room was finally empty again. I never expected such a crazy turn of events.* Tomoe: "Her mom is against it, huh?" *It made perfect sense. She _was_ an idol, after all.* *Tomorrow she would go home, but what would happen to us then?* *Would we be able to see each other like this again?* Tomoe: "I guess thinking about it isn't going to do any good." *What would be best for Wakamatsu? I would have to give it some thought.*

Aine: "Pii... Puu... Puu... Pii..." Naruko: "Zzz... Zzz... Mmngh mm..." Minamo: "Looks like they finally fell asleep..." *I wasn't feeling anxious or anything, but I couldn't fall asleep. I mean, this place was...* Minamo: "It's Sempai's house..." *We were in separate rooms, and there were other girls here, but I was under the same roof as the person I loved. It was normal to feel a little antsy. Especially since...* *I was kind of turned on...* Minamo: "...Huh?! N-Not good..." *My bad habit reared its head again... If Aine or Nakizaki-sempai realized I was doing it here, I was finished.* Minamo: "..." *May as well go to the bathroom or something and settle down.* Minamo: "..." *I couldn't help but feel more and more alert as time dragged on. I doubted any further attempts to fall asleep would be successful, either. What should I do?* *I could see the second floor from the stairway. It was, of course, dimly lit.* Minamo: "I wonder if Sempai is asleep..." *That was only natural. Of course he would be asleep.* Minamo: "He'll never know if I pop in and take a quick peek, right?" *Wait... Wasn't that kind of perverted? I was like some sort of stalker!* Minamo: "...Well, whatever." *My game plan was to go to the bathroom, then waltz into his bedroom half-asleep.* Minamo: "All right...!" Minamo: "Quietly... Quietly..." *I was careful to quietly open Sempai's bedroom door. It was pitch black inside.* Minamo: "He's the type to sleep in total darkness, huh?" *It made me a little happy to learn something new about him.* Minamo: "Sempai is... Oh, there he is." *His bed was located further in the room, and he was sleeping face-up.* Minamo: "Don't mind me..." *I silently tiptoed into the room.* Tomoe: "..." *Sempai was as stiff as a board.* Minamo: "Is he really asleep?" *I couldn't hear him breathing, and I grew worried when I couldn't see the rise and fall of his chest. Was he dead?* Minamo: "Excuse me a second." *There was no way he would hear me, but I warned him in advance before sticking my hand in front of his face.* Minamo: "...Oh, he _is_ breathing. Thank goodness..." *That was now obvious, but it was a really misleading way to sleep.* Minamo: "It's just like him, though." Tomoe: "..." Minamo: "He looks kind of cute when he's asleep, actually..." *More importantly, I had him all to myself now. I wouldn't be able to do this if he were awake, but it wasn't like he could really complain at this particular moment, either.* Minamo: "Hm... His eyelashes are longer than I would've guessed. Almost like a girl's." Minamo: "Oh, he kind of smells nice. Snf, snf... So this is what Sempai smells like?" *He had a calming scent. Did I always have a scent fetish? I'd just discovered something new about myself.* Minamo: "...What should I do...?" *I had initially planned on just watching him sleep, but now that I was here, I wanted to stay by his side forever.* Minamo: "Sempai sure is a deep sleeper..." *The thought of snuggling under the covers with him came to mind. Would he stay asleep if I did that, I wonder?* Minamo: "Just for a bit..." *Careful to not disturb him, I held my breath and lay down beside him.* Minamo: "..." Minamo: "It's cold." *Of course it was; I was lying beside him on top of the covers. Still, traces of his scent and warmth made it through to me.* Tomoe: "..." Minamo: "He's not waking up." *If he was this dead asleep, he might not wake up no matter what I did. In that case, I'd better get under the covers with him!* *Should he wake up, I could claim I was half-asleep and crawled into the wrong bed. Yeah, that's it!* *All right!* Minamo: "Quietly... Quietly..." *I took my time lifting the comforter and quiiiietly snuck under.* Tomoe: "..." *Sempai showed no signs of waking. He really _was_ a heavy sleeper... I just might get away with this.* *I was nice and snug beside him as he snoozed away.* Minamo: "...He's so warm." *Between that and his scent, I was sure it would be amazing to fall asleep like this...* Minamo: "Maybe I _will_ sleep here..." *If I got in and out of bed, I would surely wake him.* Minamo: "He's fast asleep, so I'll just stay like this for a while..." *With that, I felt totally at home beside him. This felt wonderful...* Minamo: "...Mm." Minamo: "...Huh?" *Oh no, my hand! My bad habit was rearing its ugly head!* Minamo: "But..." *This situation was total agony...!* Minamo: "..." Tomoe: "..." *He was out like a light. If he was going to be like this... then maybe just a little...* Minamo: "...Just a little." *He had conked out so hard, he would be none the wiser. Maybe I should try something I couldn't normally do on my own?* *All right!*

Minamo: "This might be going a little too far..." *With my nether region exposed, I straddled Sempai's face. If he woke up, he'd have a direct view of my womanhood.* *But... the more I thought about it, the more turned on I became.* Minamo: "Ah, aah... Sempai..." *I could feel his breath on my pussy. It was proof of his vitality.* *My loins had become so sensitive that I could easily feel his shallow breath hitting against me.* Minamo: "Ah, oh... Sempai... You, can look... mmm..." *I spread the lips of my pussy to show it off to him.* Minamo: "Ah, aah... It's in full view... Can you see, Sempai...?" *Of course he couldn't, and it would be rather troubling if he did... but some part of me wanted him to watch me, too.* Minamo: "Sempai... mmah, mm... Come on, aah... I'm already... soaking wet..." *I extended a finger to the center of my exposed honey pot.* *Squish...* *I earned a wet, sloppy sound and sensation in response. I was seeping with love juices.* Minamo: "Ah, I'm already this far along... I'm getting so wet... right in front of you..." Minamo: "Mmah, aah... It feels so good..." *I couldn't stop fingering myself. I felt a furious need rising from the pit of my stomach.* Minamo: "Mmhm, mmm... ah!" *My voice grew louder. I panicked and stopped rubbing.* *I took a timid peek at Sempai... Still asleep.* *He would obviously wake up if I got too loud. I had to be careful.* Minamo: "..." *However, the thought of keeping quiet and masturbating like this turned me on exponentially.* Minamo: "I guess I _am_ a pervert... Aaah..." *The tip of Sempai's nose was so close, it was nearly touching my privates.* *He probably couldn't tell since he was asleep, but he must be getting a noseful for sure.* Minamo: "No... Don't smell it... mmah, aah... mmm...!" *I rubbed my breast while I fondled and pleasured myself.* *Through my clothes... and gradually rubbed harder...* Minamo: "Mm... mm... fuaah... Mm, ah..." Minamo: "Hauh... Oh no, keeping quiet... is difficult..." *I couldn't hold back my cries.* *It had never felt this good before...* *I suddenly found myself rubbing even harder.* Minamo: "Mmm...♪" *Rub... Drip, sloosh...* Minamo: "Aah... that's a, dirty sound... I'm totally wet now..." *I was so wet, I wondered if it would dribble on his face.* *A slimy liquid was clinging to the tip of my finger.* *I moved my hand more to smear it around.* *Squick... Drip...* Minamo: "Aah... those noises... Sempai will hear..." Minamo: "Sempai... don't listen..." *I tried to stop myself, but I couldn't.* Minamo: "Sempai... I love you... Tomoe... san..." Minamo: "Faah, aah..." *When I called his name, the pleasure grew more and more intense.* Minamo: "Tomoe-san... Aaah, ah, aah... it feels so good... haah..." *Drip, drip, drop...* *The filthy noises were getting louder and louder.* *It felt good... and I wanted it to feel even better...* Minamo: "Just... lick it, already..." *I pushed my exposed privates even closer to his face. His breath hit them hard.* *Please lick me, Sempai....* Tomoe: "No, it would be pretty bad if I did." Minamo: "...Huh?" *I froze. It felt like my heart had skipped a beat.* Minamo: "...Huh?" *I nervously peeked beneath my crotch.* *Sempai's eyes were open and looking my way.* Minamo: "H-Huh? Weren't you asleep...?" Tomoe: "I've been awake the whole time, actually." Minamo: "...Huh?" *...Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?!*

Minamo: "If you were awake, why didn't you say something sooner?" *Wakamatsu was glaring at me bitterly. I felt bad for her, but she got what she had coming.* Tomoe: "I didn't think you would go that far with it." Minamo: "I-It's not like I was _planning_ on it..." *Her face illuminated in a beet red shade even in the darkness of my bedroom. Of _course_ that would be embarrassing.* Tomoe: "I've been a light sleeper for a long time. I wake up at the smallest sounds, or if someone's nearby." *I said "a long time" but I actually knew precisely when it started. Not that there was any need to tell Wakamatsu that.* *Anyway, I had noticed Wakamatsu the moment she entered the room.* *I thought she had simply wandered into the wrong room half-asleep by mistake.* *I originally thought she'd leave right away, but then she crawled under the blanket. Thinking about it now, I probably should have said something then.* *I never thought she would do _that_, though.* Tomoe: "But, uh... it was kinda difficult to say anything once you started." Minamo: "Ugh..." *There wasn't much else I could say to a woman straddling and pleasuring herself over my face. Even if I had, it really would've put Wakamatsu on the spot.* *I had no choice but to pretend to be asleep and let her go about her business. Or so I thought...* Tomoe: "I never expected you to make a move on me, either." *Once it reached that point, I had to speak up.* Minamo: "I-I'm sorry... The blood just rushed to my head..." Tomoe: "Way too much, at that." Minamo: "Just as you say..." *Wakamatsu was prostrating herself on the bed as hard as she could, but she briefly flicked her head up to glare at me.* Minamo: "But... you didn't think anything of it when I got into the bed?" Tomoe: "What do you mean?" Minamo: "Come on. You seriously didn't get any urges when a cute girl like me, not to mention one that adores you, snuck into your bed?" Tomoe: "Oh, that's how you meant it." *I thought back to that moment, but knew how I'd felt without needing to.* Tomoe: "Sorry, but not really." Minamo: "Wha...?" Minamo: "R-Really? Well, I _am_ an idol, you know..." Tomoe: "I told you, I'm not interested in stuff like that." *More specifically, I had trouble taking _any_ interest in my own desires.* *Whether it was wanting to do an activity, to eat, or to pleasure myself...* *I had no interest in any of it, and for that matter, I believed I mustn't wish for any of it.* Minamo: "What are you, a hermit?" Tomoe: "Nothing so admirable. In fact, my impression of hermits is that they're surprisingly pleasure-seeking..." Tomoe: "It's just... I can't let myself enjoy life." Tomoe: "I mustn't ever become happy." *Words I never thought I would ever say to another person suddenly slipped from my mouth. Wakamatsu looked mystified.* Minamo: "You... mustn't become happy?" Tomoe: "...Sorry, slip of the tongue. Forget I said anything." *However, you can never take something back once it leaves your lips. I couldn't force her to forget it, either.* Minamo: "..." *She must've realized that I didn't want to touch the subject any further, and remained silent.* *I had no idea what she thought of that clear declaration, but she stared at me with a tragic look in her eyes.* Minamo: "I don't really get it, but..." *Wakamatsu opened her mouth with resolve.* Minamo: "I believe everyone in this world deserves happiness." *That was probably the best thing she could come up with.* *It was a conventional statement, but knowing she put feeling into it touched my heart just a little.* *But, in the end, it was still just a cliche, and it didn't change how I felt. I was grateful to her, though.* Minamo: "Sempai..." *She had likely taken my silence as a rejection.* *Wakamatsu looked near tears and her face quivered in emotional distress, but she gritted her teeth and appeared to hold it back.* Minamo: "In that case, I will make you happy." Tomoe: "What...?" *I hadn't expected that sort of response, but her expression remained resolute.* Minamo: "I will make you happy, Sempai." *Her direct gaze took hold of me and wouldn't let go. It felt like I was engulfed by her huge eyes.* *I winced slightly at the force of her gaze. This was the first time I had ever felt this way due to someone looking at me.* *I hadn't noticed it before now, but perhaps a celebrity like Wakamatsu really was different from other people.* *For the first time, I could sense her aura.* Minamo: "I _will_ make you happy." Tomoe: "'Happy'...? Whoa!" *Wakamatsu suddenly reached out and embraced me. The impact caused me to fall back on the bed.* *I looked up and found her straddling me once more.* Tomoe: "What in the world?" Minamo: "I am going to make you happy, Sempai." Tomoe: "Happy... You mean have sex with me?" Minamo: "Well... Nothing else came to mind!" Tomoe: "Wakamatsu, you..." Minamo: "Wh-What?" Tomoe: "You've got nothing but sex on your mind..." *Smack!* Tomoe: "Ow." *She smacked my chest. No, "punched" might be a better word.* Minamo: "You're terrible. You make it sound like I'm some sort of nymphomaniac." Tomoe: "No..." *Although, all of the warning signs pointed to that conclusion.* Minamo: "Now that it's come to this, I am definitely going through with it. I want to please you." Tomoe: "No, I told you. I'm not interested in stuff like that..." Minamo: "I'm... a virgin." Tomoe: "Huh...?" *I never asked, but she volunteered that information. Her eyes seemed to be glistening in bewitched arousal.* Minamo: "I will give it to you. My first time..."

Minamo: "Is this right?" *She gazed up at me and asked with my crotch between her breasts.* Tomoe: "Wh-Who knows...?" *It was my first time, too, so how was I supposed to know? My cock being hugged by a pair of voluptuous breasts was an all-new sensation.* Tomoe: "Still, this is pretty amazing..." *Wakamatsu's breasts... I had seen them in her pin-ups a few times and knew they were large, but seeing them up close left a major impact.* *Not to mention, they were incredibly soft.* Tomoe: "Ooh..." Minamo: "Ah, did that feel good just now?" Tomoe: "Well, yes..." Minamo: "It's okay if I do it a little harder then, right?" *She brought her breasts closer together. The soft pressure grew more intense.* Tomoe: "Kuh..." Minamo: "Ehe... Pressing about this hard feels better, doesn't it? I wonder if I should rub you like this, then?" *Wakamatsu awkwardly jiggled her torso up and down. The way her smooth skin rubbed the entire length of my dick felt amazing.* Minamo: "Oh... Your penis just twitched?" Tomoe: "Well, because it felt good." Minamo: "Are you turned on? You're really sexy when you're turned on." Tomoe: "Am I? You're kind of lewd, Wakamatsu." *That thought popped into my mind yet again.* Minamo: "I-I'm not _that_ lewd. I'm normal." Tomoe: "Are you sure? Doing this was all your idea, not to mention what you did before in the classroom..." Minamo: "Y-You don't have to make a list." Minamo: "Fine, I'm a pervert. Do you... dislike pervy girls, Sempai?" Tomoe: "Not in particular." Minamo: "Really? Thank goodness." *She smiled in relief─a dirty smile. Wakamatsu was a total perv all right.* Minamo: "Oh... You're a perv yourself, Sempai." Minamo: "Look, stuff is oozing out of the tip." *I took a look, and transparent droplets were seeping from my prong. The droplets, like morning dew, were running down me in a string.* Minamo: "It's oozing out like drool." Tomoe: "That's a physiological phenomenon." Minamo: "But it means you're in a pervy mood, doesn't it?" Tomoe: "Well, yeah. Considering what we're doing..." Minamo: "I'm in a super pervy mood, too... It might be the first time I've ever gotten so turned on." *She muttered, then suckled on the tip of my dick that was poking out from her cleavage.* Minamo: "Mmph, mmph..." Tomoe: "Wait, Wakamatsu... Oh..." Minamo: "Sempai, you're turned on... I'm happy. I'll... make you feel even better..." *Wakamatsu licked my cusp zealously as she let out that hot sigh. She tightly clenched my cock between her breasts and rubbed my shaft with a fierce intensity.* Minamo: "Sempai... Aah, ah... aah... It's started to feel good for me, too... Rubbing... your dick, against my breasts..." Tomoe: "You're the one doing the rubbing, though. ...Oooh..." *Her pronounced nipples rubbed against the tip of my penis. My hips unintentionally bucked against her breasts.* Minamo: "Your cock's gotten super slippery, you know?" *Now that she mentioned it, there was an obscene, moist noise every time she rubbed her breasts against me.* Minamo: "It's... super dirty. Ah, mmm..." *Pleasured moans escaped her lips as she continued to rub her breasts along my shaft.* Tomoe: "Oh, oooh... Sounds like it feels really good for you, too, Wakamatsu..." Minamo: "Yes, it feels incredible. Your cock is so hard and hot..." Minamo: "Aaah, aan... aaah... There's a string of precum, coming from your tip, Sempai... aah, mmah..." *Wakamatsu wriggled her body sexily. There were damp, lewd squishes with each stroke of her breasts.* Tomoe: "Wow... Your breasts are slippery-smooth already..." Minamo: "That slippery stuff came out of you, Sempai. You've gotten them all moist, and it feels amazing... Mm, aah..." Tomoe: "Kuh, oooh... Wakamatsu..." *The stimulation from her breasts grew stronger and stickier. I would probably come if she kept going.* Minamo: "Aaah... Sempai, it looks like... I really am a perv..." Minamo: "I'm so wet now..." Minamo: "I... want _this_ now, Sempai..." *Squeeze...* *Wakamatsu took hold of my penis from both sides.* Minamo: "I'm going to put it inside me, okay...?" Tomoe: "Inside you...?" *This time, Wakamatsu straddled my waist. A quick glimpse of her pussy told me she was oozing love juice.* Tomoe: "Are you okay like that?" Minamo: "It'll, be fine... mm... faah... ah, aah..." *Schlp...* Tomoe: "Tsss... Oh..." *Lewd noises echoed around us as my cock was swallowed inside of Wakamatsu.* *I felt something stop me midway, but it eventually gave way and I was absorbed entirely down to my base.* Minamo: "Ah, aah... Ah...! It, went in... It's... my first time... yet it was, so easy..." Tomoe: "Doesn't it hurt, though?" *No surprise there. I could tell by her expression that she was in pain. Even so, she showed me a firm smile.* Minamo: "Way less than I expected... Maybe it's because, I masturbate regularly?" Minamo: "I'm not... loose, am I?" *Her lower half squeezed around me tightly, seemingly asking the same question in unison.* Tomoe: "Kuuh, ooh..." Tomoe: "Not loose at all... It's almost _too_ tight." Minamo: "Really? Does it feel good?" Tomoe: "Yeah." *I answered honestly. She felt absolutely incredible inside. It was a comfort I'd never experienced before, and I could feel her body heat directly.* *But man, was she tight. The walls of her pussy were squeezing and wringing my cock relentlessly.* Minamo: "I'm happy... It feels amazing for me, too..." Minamo: "Aah, mm... faah, ah, aaah...!" *Schlp, mmch, scmk...* *Wakamatsu slowly shook her hips.* Tomoe: "Oh, kuh... You're rubbing against me, like crazy... Oooh..." *A kind of pleasure I'd never felt before seethed from the depths of my body as the assorted surfaces of my penis rubbed against her inner walls.* Minamo: "Hmmm... Me, too... Your cock is rubbing inside of me... It feels amazing..." Minamo: "Aauh, mm, aah... Wow, mmk, mm, mmm... aaaaah...!" *Wakamatsu's voice was steadily growing louder, and the movements of her hips were rapidly increasing in speed.* Minamo: "Mm, aaaah... Your dick, feels so good... faauh, mm... ah... It's hitting... deep inside..." Minamo: "Mmmm, ah, mm... Ah, aah, auuuh... It feels, so amazing... I'm going crazy..." *Scmk, scmh...* *Titillating sounds echoed from our union. It may not have been my imagination that even my crotch felt hot and wet beneath her.* Minamo: "Yah, aah... I'm, way too wet... I'm gonna, get your pajamas and bed... dirty..." Tomoe: "It's probably too late for that." Minamo: "Aauuuh... I'm sorry..." *Despite her apology, she continued grinding her hips. Wakamatsu rubbed her entire body and genitals against me with an enraptured expression.* Tomoe: "Kuh, ooh... Wakamatsu, ooh..." Minamo: "Ah, oh... Sempai, your penis, is twitching inside me..." Tomoe: "Sorry, I'm going to..." *I'd never felt pleasure like this before. A feeling of climax welled up within me in the blink of an eye. A delighted smile crossed Wakamatsu's face.* Minamo: "It's... okay... Just like this..." *She whispered quietly and furiously pistoned her hips against mine. I couldn't resist the urge anymore...* Tomoe: "Kuh, ooh... Waka...matsu... kaaah...!" *My hips bucked up like they had a mind of their own. The tip of my penis struck Wakamatsu's deepest point.* Minamo: "Aah...! You're going, in so deep... Your dick, is rubbing, inside my stomach..." Tomoe: "Kuh, oh... Aaaah...!" *My apex grinded against Wakamatsu's depths. That thrust instantly brought me to my climax.* Tomoe: "Kuh... I'm coming... Aah...!" Minamo: "Fah, ah, aaah...?! Something's, coming out..." Minamo: "Ah, mm... ah... Something hot is... shooting into... my stomach... mm, faah, aaah...!" Tomoe: "Oh, aah... Wakama...tsuuu... aah...!" Minamo: "Ah, aah... It's still, shooting out... mhmm, hmmm, still, coming out... Something hot is... gonna overflow out of me...!" Tomoe: "Ah, oooh... oh..." *I shot every last drop of my load into Wakamatsu's clenching pussy as I felt her comfortable pressure around me.* *...*

Minamo: "Ah... My stomach is all gushy inside... Sempai, you came too much..." Tomoe: "Sorry, it felt good..." Minamo: "No, I'm happy you enjoyed yourself. Minamo: "It felt good for me, too." *She smiled radiantly in response. It was an incredibly impure smile, and even though I'd just ejaculated, it was enough to make my crotch throb once more.* Minamo: "Ah, mm... You are... wriggling around inside me..." Tomoe: "Oh... Sorry." Minamo: "You don't have to apologize for every little thing." *She smiled wryly this time. I was relieved to see her looking so satisfied.* Minamo: "If I quit being an idol, would you let me stay here forever?" *Wakamatsu suddenly asked.* Tomoe: "There's no way we can do that." Minamo: "Yeah. I know." *She smirked and pulled back docilely.* *Still, I stopped and imagined it for a moment. If I were to spend time with Wakamatsu like this every single day...* *Oddly enough, the prospect didn't sound unappealing, and even I thought that was strange...* Minamo: "But, please stay with me, just for tonight, okay?" *Wakamatsu nuzzled close to me and closed her eyes. It didn't take long for her to drift off to sleep.* *As I listened to the sound of her peaceful breathing, I felt my own consciousness slipping away...*

Aine: "Huuuh?" Aine: "Naruko-san, Naruko-san. It is so strange!" Naruko: "What's wrong, Aine-chan?" Aine: "I noticed Minamo-chan was gone, and I found her sleeping together with Tomoe-san in his room." Naruko: "Huh?!"

Tomoe: "She was half-asleep and on her way back from the bathroom last night and walked into the wrong room." *I answered calmly. If I remained calm and collected, she wouldn't be able to see through my lies.* Naruko: "Half-asleep, huh?" *...Or shouldn't have, anyway.* Naruko: "Is it actually possible you wouldn't wake up when someone else gets into your bed, Kirinokojima?" *Nakizaki said, her voice suddenly accusatory.* *Her expression told me she was convinced my retelling of events was impossible. Nakizaki knew me too well.* Minamo: "I-It's true. I accidently went into his room on my way back from the bathroom..." *Wakamatsu was way too shaken up. She may as well have said, "That was a lie just now," out loud.* *Nakizaki's glare turned cold. Needless to say, the silence was indeed frightening.* Naruko: "(You didn't do anything to Minamo-chan, did you?)" *She said with her eyes.* Tomoe: "(Of course not.)" *And I silently responded in kind. My sentiments should have made it across.* Minamo: "What are you two batting your eyes at each other for?" Tomoe: "Oh, nothing." Aine: "Tomoe-san and Naruko-san are conversing with their eyes." Minamo: "Conversing with their eyes?" Tomoe: "She's exaggerating." Naruko: "Right, right. Talking would just be a hassle." Minamo: "You two can communicate with your eyes...?" Tomoe: "We're used to it. We've been together a long time." Naruko: "Right, right." Minamo: "Hmph..." Minamo: "..." *Wakamatsu stared at me with a sparkle in her eyes.* Tomoe: "What?" Minamo: "Don't you understand?" Minamo: "..." Tomoe: "Your eyes are sparkling." Minamo: "I said, 'Last night was lots of fun,' with my eyes. Why don't you understand?" Tomoe: "There's no way I'd be able to tell." Minamo: "You understand when Nakizaki-sempai does it..." Tomoe: "I told you, that's different." Aine: "You two get along so well." Naruko: "For sure. They're like newlyweds." Minamo: "Newlyweds..." Minamo: "..." Tomoe: "Your eyes are sparkling again." *I more or less understood this time. It was probably, "She said 'newlyweds'! I'm so happy!"* Tomoe: "This isn't the time to get so worked up. You're going home today, remember?" Minamo: "Ugh... Please don't make me remember something so awful." Tomoe: "Don't run away from your problems." *Yeah right. I was in no position to say something like that.* Tomoe: "I'll go with you." Minamo: "You will come with me, Sempai?" Tomoe: "Only because you look like you'll run away if I don't..." Minamo: "Ahaha, it sounds like you understand me better now. That makes me happy." Tomoe: "Don't get happy; make amends. Anyway, I'll escort you, so you're going home today. And even if you don't, you're not staying here again tonight." Minamo: "I get it already. Aw, it was so fun, too..." *For all her whining, she did seem ready to go home. What a troublesome girl...* *Now all that was left to be seen was whether her mother would forgive her or not.*

Minamo: "..." Tomoe: "Not going in?" Minamo: "I-I'm going." *When I urged her forward, she finally started to move. To my surprise, she rang the doorbell installed in the front gate. Did she always do this?* *No answer.* Minamo: "Looks like she isn't home." *Wakamatsu sounded relieved and retrieved her house key.* Minamo: "Please come in for now." Tomoe: "...I suppose I could." *I couldn't just bail on her and head home. I had to explain what happened yesterday to her mother and apologize. I was worried about leaving the two of them alone together, too.* Tomoe: "Pardon the intrusion, then." Tomoe: "This house is huge." *The house itself was glamorous, with all the luxurious trimmings and furnishings that went along with it.* *However, some part of it felt kind of empty. It _was_ spacious inside, but there was more to it than that.* Minamo: "Have a seat anywhere you would like. I'll make some tea." Tomoe: "You know how?" Minamo: "I-I can at least brew tea. ...Are you okay with instant coffee?" Tomoe: "Yeah, the kind where you just mix in some powder, right?" *I agreed and sat down on the ridiculously fluffy sofa before surveying the room again.* Tomoe: "Do you live alone with your mom?" Minamo: "Yes. For as long as I can remember." *Wakamatsu answered as she prepared the powdered beverage.* Minamo: "My father was never around." Tomoe: "What do you mean?" *She said 'never around' instead of 'not around anymore,' which struck me as strange.* Minamo: "I've never met him. Mama's a single mother." Tomoe: "A single mother..." *So basically, she gave birth to Wakamatsu without getting married? Wasn't that sort of thing unusual for a celebrity?* Minamo: "Mom was still active when she gave birth to me. From what I hear, a lot of people were opposed to the idea, but she had me anyway." Tomoe: "I'm sure that was a lot of trouble for her." Minamo: "I'm sure, since she was an active idol giving birth out of wedlock." Minamo: "As time went on, she was getting less and less work and ended up retiring." *Wakamatsu's voice sank. Almost like she thought her very existence drove her mother to retirement.* Tomoe: "It's not your fault." *I knew it was cliche the second I said it. Sure enough, Wakamatsu's expression didn't change.* Tomoe: "No, I'm not trying to comfort you. I really think so." *I added a little to my comment. Her expression relaxed slightly.* Minamo: "You're not the sort of person who comforts others, are you, Sempai? Does that mean it is okay for me to believe in you just a little?" Tomoe: "Well, it's just my opinion." Tomoe: "I don't think anyone can take responsibility for their own birth. That's their parents' responsibility." *I did think everything beyond that point was entirely up to you, though.* Tomoe: "My guess is your mom wanted to give birth to you, even if it meant taking responsibility and making some sacrifices along the way." Minamo: "You really think so...?" Tomoe: "You disagree?" Minamo: "No... I used to feel that way, but Mom's changed." Tomoe: "How so?" Minamo: "At some point in time, she suddenly got really strict with me. I bet it's because she figured out I'm a has-been..." Tomoe: "A has-been..." Minamo: "I can't sing anymore. I'm the daughter of a pop idol, but I can't sing. That has got to be embarrassing for her, right?" *"Can't sing"... Was there a reason for that? Also, had she been berating herself like that all this time?* Tomoe: "Wakamatsu, when you say you can't sing 'anymore'..." Mizue: "Who is that?" *I heard an extremely well-carried voice.* *Before I knew it, a woman I recalled seeing once before appeared.* *Yes, I remembered her: Wakamatsu's mother. It looked like she had just gotten home.* Minamo: "Mama..." *Wakamatsu's mother was focused solely on me, and didn't acknowledge her daughter. I could feel her evaluating me from here, so I stood from the sofa.* Tomoe: "My name is Tomoe Kirinokojima. I go to the same school as Minamo-san." Mizue: "...Have we met?" Tomoe: "Yes. Just once." *Though she purposely asked, I was sure she remembered me. I could see it in her eyes.* *She seemed intent on taking the lead by making me answer her question.* Mizue: "I see, so it was you. I'm grateful for you taking care of Minamo last night." Tomoe: "Not at all. In fact, I should have pushed for her to come home sooner, even if it was by force." Tomoe: "I am very sorry." *I bowed for appearance's sake. She probably wasn't expecting any apologies from me, either.* Mizue: "So, you went out of your way to escort her, huh?" Tomoe: "Yes. I am sorry for coming into your home without your consent." Mizue: "It's fine. I'm sure Minamo kept you from leaving." *Wakamatsu's mom looked at her for the first time.* Mizue: "It was careless for you to be home alone with a man. What would you do if a reporter had taken a picture of you?" *Wakamatsu's expression warped at the sudden reprimand.* Minamo: "I-I don't care about that! I just brought a friend over!" Mizue: "A 'friend,' huh?" Mizue: "That's a rather convenient way of putting it. Didn't you say he was your boyfriend yesterday?" Minamo: "Well..." Minamo: "I'm retiring anyway, so I don't care what those reporters do." Mizue: "You're still saying that? You'll quit, and then what? What else can you do?" Minamo: "W-Well..." *Her mom fired one comment after another. Wakamatsu stopped talking and shriveled up on the spot.* Tomoe: "Please leave it at that." *I suddenly interjected.* *Her mom stared at me so hard you could practically hear it.* Mizue: "This has nothing to do with you. Thank you for escorting her, but you can go home now." Minamo: "Mama! He just listened to my selfish request! You don't have to talk to him like that!" Mizue: "I know. That's why I'm thanking him." Mizue: "This is between you and me. Wouldn't it be a pity to drag him into it?" Minamo: "Well, yes, but..." Mizue: "That's how it is." *I found myself staring at her face, and back at those eyes as they glared at me.* *She had pretty features you would expect of a former idol, and likewise, her angry expression had a ghastliness to it.* *And yet, was it just my imagination, or did she look fragile in some way? Like she might disappear any second...* Mizue: "...What is it?" *Had I stared too much? Her mom spoke up in protest.* Tomoe: "Uh, oh... It's nothing." Tomoe: "..." Minamo: "Sempai?" Tomoe: "Ah... No, excuse me." *After thinking about it, something still didn't feel quite right. Was I imagining it?* *It was just... I noticed it while observing her.* *Despite the intimidating air she perpetually exuded, when I looked at her closely, she seemed kind of worn out.* *Her skin and hair had no sheen, and her brash behavior made it seem like...* Tomoe: "Um..." *I boldly addressed her mother.* Mizue: "What is it?" Tomoe: "Do you feel ill at all?" Minamo: "Huh? Ill..." *Wakamatsu's eyes were wide in surprise, and her bewilderment was written all over her face.* *However... Her mother's expression remained firm.* Mizue: "I'm not. No need to worry." Tomoe: "I see... I am glad to hear it." Tomoe: "I will be on my way, then." *This was probably a good opportunity, but...* *Despite her response, why did I still feel concerned?*

Minamo: "I'm sorry, and after you went to the trouble of walking me home." Tomoe: "No, I should be the one apologizing. It looks like I wasn't much help..." Minamo: "No, that isn't true..." *She shook her head slightly, then looked up at me.* Minamo: "Um, what was that about earlier...?" *She must have wanted to know what my question for her mom had meant.* Tomoe: "Oh, nothing serious. Her complexion just looked kind of off to me." Tomoe: "Is she always like that?" Minamo: "Yeah. She always looks that way to me, anyway..." *Despite her answer, she didn't seem entirely confident.* Tomoe: "Oh, don't worry about it too much. I really didn't mean anything more by it." *It was nothing but a baseless hunch.* Tomoe: "For all your talk, you do worry about your mom, don't you?" Minamo: "Huh...? N-No, it's not like that." *Looks like I hit the bull's-eye. She was visibly shaken. Despite her protests, they had the stereotypical mother-daughter relationship.* *Not that I really knew much about it.* Tomoe: "Anyway, you'd better pay some attention to her." Minamo: "...I understand, but I don't think even death could keep her down..." Tomoe: "Don't say it like that. Just make sure you two work things out, okay?" Minamo: "'Work it out'... To do that, I might have to break up with you, though." Minamo: "Will you be okay with that?" Tomoe: "It's not like that's for certain..." Minamo: "I don't want to!" *Bam!* *Wakamatsu suddenly clung to my chest.* Tomoe: "H-Hey, someone will see us." *I tried to push her away, but Wakamatsu clung to me hard and wouldn't let go.* Minamo: "That doesn't matter. You are more important to me." Minamo: "I promised myself that I would make you happy." Tomoe: "Wakamatsu..." *My chest throbbed each time I heard those words.* *Make me happy...* *I had no desire to obtain personal happiness, but even though it had nothing to do with her, she was actively trying to make me happy. She wished for it, even.* *In the end, I really couldn't bring myself to think "I want to be happy" or "I _will_ be happy!" so my chest ached with guilt.* Tomoe: "...I get it. I understand how you feel, so let go already." Minamo: "..." *Wakamatsu reluctantly let go.* Minamo: "I am serious, okay? If it's for you, I have no attachment to show business." Tomoe: "I get that, but don't you want to give this show business topic some more thought? You've got to discuss it with your mom, too." Minamo: "There is nothing to discuss. She'll never listen to what I have to say." Tomoe: "And I'm telling you not to say that. You don't have to decide anything right now; let's take some time and settle this." Minamo: "Take some time..." Minamo: "That means you'll help me, right, Sempai? Taking our time." Tomoe: "Well, yeah." Minamo: "Understood. Let's take our time and settle this properly, then." *She was visibly upset moments before, but now she was all smiles. She was incredibly shrewd.* *However, this discussion made my heart feel a little lighter, too. How strange.*

Aine: "So she turned you away?" Tomoe: "She didn't turn me away, but I wasn't able to do anything, either." Naruko: "She sounds like a strict mom, huh?" Tomoe: "Yeah. She definitely seemed that way." Aine: "I wonder if Minamo-chan is really going to retire from show business?" Tomoe: "Who knows? Wakamatsu ultimately has to make that decision." Naruko: "Why do you make it sound like you're not involved. She _is_ your girlfriend, right?" Tomoe: "She is, but aren't this and that two totally separate issues?" Naruko: "How are they 'separate'? They're not different at all." Naruko: "Minamo-chan has a lot to deal with, so be more sympathetic for her." Tomoe: "I'm just being logical about it." Naruko: "What do you think of it then, Kirinokojima?" Tomoe: "I..." Tomoe: "...think Wakamatsu really is different from ordinary people." Aine: "Ordinary people?" Tomoe: "I don't know much about idols or whatever, but I do believe anyone beloved by so many people must possess a certain _something_." Tomoe: "And I can't help but feel that Wakamatsu has that _something_." Naruko: "Like she's got that 'X factor'?" Tomoe: "Is that it? This is all foreign to me, so I could be totally wrong, but she's definitely not like other girls..." Tomoe: "I don't know what it is for sure just yet, but I believe she holds that potential." *Wakamatsu said she didn't want to be a pin-up girl, and what she really wanted to do was sing.* *She believed singing was impossible for her, and had convinced herself of that.* *But was Wakamatsu just under the wrong impression?* *I thought Wakamatsu had more potential, but she was bragging that she had no attachment to the world of show business.* *Was that truly what was best for her, though?*

Tomoe: "Hey, Aine. I know it's winter break, but are you going to sleep forever?" Aine: "Mmuuh?" *Aine let out a weird mumble and got up.* Aine: "Auuuh... Please let me sleep a little longer. I went to bed very late yesterday..." Tomoe: "More like you got carried away and stayed up all night just because we're on break." *For an angel, she was human down to her core.* Aine: "Tomoe-san, why not go check on how Minamo-chan is doing?" Tomoe: "She's been busy working up until yesterday, so I couldn't get in touch with her. I should leave her be and let her enjoy her time off." Aine: "What does our break have to do with it? You are lovers, right? Try giving her a call..." Aine: "Yawwwwwwwn..." Tomoe: "Call her, huh?" *Yeah, there was probably no harm in calling her. She had called me once before, too. May as well give it a shot.* Tomoe: "..." Tomoe: "No answer, huh?" *I tried calling, but Wakamatsu didn't answer her cell phone.* *Was she somewhere she couldn't answer, or perhaps...* Tomoe: "..." *I hoped she wasn't in some sort of fight with her mom again.* Tomoe: "Oh, the phone." *Could it be Wakamatsu?* Tomoe: "Oh, nope. It's Kiyohito." Tomoe: "Hello?" Kiyohito: "Hey, Tomoe. Turn on your TV." *Kiyohito said the second I answered.* Tomoe: "The TV? What for?" Kiyohito: "Oh, forget it. It's over." Kiyohito: "Anyway, I'm heading over." Tomoe: "Huh? Did something happen?" Kiyohito: "It's Minamo-chan." Tomoe: "Huh?" *Kiyohito gave me the following report.* Kiyohito: "Take a look at this article." *I took the magazine Kiyohito offered me. It looked like a gossip-oriented weekly magazine.* Tomoe: "Which one?" Kiyohito: "That page, there." *I flipped through the pages and noticed the spine was worn from use.* Tomoe: "...Huh?" *I was at a loss for words. There was a picture of Wakamatsu and, unbelievably, me.* Aine: "What the? Is this Tomoe-san?" Naruko: "Oh, it really is!" *I was the photo's primary focus, but there was no doubt. This was taken in front of Wakamatsu's house.* *It was a well-captured, long-range photo of Wakamatsu clinging to me.* Tomoe: "I can't believe someone took a picture of us." *I hadn't noticed at all. That was a pro for you. ...Wait, this was no time to be impressed.* Kiyohito: "Hey, this is a good shot. Damn you, Tomoe. That sure is something juicy you're doing with a celebrity!" Tomoe: "Wipe that smirk off your face. This isn't the time." *Kiyohito was totally laid-back about all of this. Oh well, that's the sort of guy he was.* Naruko: "This is bad, isn't it?" Aine: "Huh? It is bad?" Kiyohito: "I'd say so. A pin-up idol hugging a guy on the side of the road is a hell of a scandal." Naruko: "The idol business is popularity-driven. Especially when it comes to men." Naruko: "I wonder if her popularity will plummet if people find out she's got a lover?" Kiyohito: "Most likely. I'm sure there are a few nasty posts about her online already." *Kiyohito started fiddling with his smartphone.* Kiyohito: "Oh, look." *There was a message board on his screen.* *It was teeming with slanderous insults toward Wakamatsu―particularly vulgar ones.* Aine: "What is this? Calling her 'secondhand goods' and a 'slut'?!" Tomoe: "You don't have to read it." *I couldn't stand to look at it and gave the phone back to Kiyohito.* Kiyohito: "These anonymous users are merciless these days. Once something catches on, they sling attacks left and right until they finally lose steam." Naruko: "Yeah, it's super scary." Kiyohito: "If it's this bad, think it's possible she could retire?" Tomoe: "Retire..." *Wakamatsu was saying she would quit show business, but she might be driven to retirement before she got the chance.* *She _might_ be overjoyed and consider it a godsend, but maybe...* *For that matter, what could I do?* Aine: "Shall I call her?" Tomoe: "I tried earlier, but she didn't pick up." Aine: "I will try her one more time." *Aine called Wakamatsu's cell from the house phone.* Aine: "..." Naruko: "No good?" Aine: "...Right. She is not picking up after all." Tomoe: "I see." Naruko: "She's probably got all sorts of problems at the moment, like reporters surrounding her place and stuff." *Now that she mentioned it, I felt like I had seen something like that on TV a few times before.* Tomoe: "Will Wakamatsu be all right?"

Naruko: "Couldn't get a hold of Minamo-chan, huh?" Tomoe: "Yeah." *I had called her a few times throughout the day, but I never got through; it always went straight to voicemail.* Aine: "I am worried." Tomoe: "Well, her mom is with her, so I'm sure she'll be fine." *Knowing Wakamatsu, she likely had several adults keeping an eye on her.* *They must know how to deal with situations like this. They _were_ pros, after all.* Tomoe: "..." Naruko: "You look worried." Tomoe: "...Why are you smiling?" Naruko: "Well, it's rare to see you look so worried." Tomoe: "That's not true. I worry about you, too, Nakizaki." Naruko: "Really? I worry about you all the time, too, Kirinokojima." Tomoe: "I know, and I'm grateful for that." *Despite saying so, I hardly ever had to be concerned about Nakizaki. She was far more levelheaded than I was.* *As such, I hadn't felt this anxious in a long, long time. Which likely explained why she said it was "rare" for me to look so frazzled.* *It felt like she could clearly see through the emotions I myself couldn't recognize, and I found it difficult to calm down.* Naruko: "I'll make something for us to eat, then." Aine: "Huh? It is Minamo-chan." *Aine murmured Wakamatsu's name as she looked at the TV.* *Not a second later, Wakamatsu's face was plastered on the screen.* Naruko: "Minamo-chan's doing an interview." *It was in front of her house. She was standing in front of the gate with reporters surrounding her.* Aine: "It says, 'Burning passion exposed!' Is this 'burning passion' referring to you, Tomoe-san?" Tomoe: "..." *I was far too focused on the television screen to acknowledge her question.* Reporter: "So, this man is just a friend of yours?" *The reporter launched his question.* Minamo: "...Yes." *Wakamatsu replied with a dissipating voice.* *He launched several more questions in rapid succession.* *Wakamatsu just hung her head, unable to answer any of them.* Reporter: "Does that mean you _aren't_ in love with this man, MINAMO-san?" *Among the others, that question seemed to be the loudest.* *Wakamatsu lifted her head, visibly taken aback. The agitation on her face was clear as day.* Minamo: "That's, um..." *Her gaze wandered once more before sinking in resignation.* Minamo: "I... don't love him. He... is just an acquaintance..." *A barrage of flashes followed her reply as she cast her eyes downward. Wakamatsu remained motionless under the flickering lights.* Naruko: "Oh, Minamo-chan..." Aine: "Is she crying?" Tomoe: "Huh...?" *Looking closely, I could see her shoulders were trembling.* *The camera flashes may have just made it look that way, but she definitely looked like she was crying.* Tomoe: "Wakamatsu..." Mizue: "Hey!" *Wakamatsu's mother suddenly appeared on the TV screen.* Mizue: "Please stop this unsolicited interview!" *Her mother stood between Wakamatsu and the cameras, causing the press to step back to a safe distance.* Naruko: "Is that her manager or something?" Tomoe: "No, that's her mom." Naruko: "Huh, really? She used to be an idol, right?" Tomoe: "Yeah." *Via the television screen, I watched as Wakamatsu's mother held her close and guided her into the house. The feed suddenly went dark.* Aine: "Do you think Minamo-chan is all right?" Naruko: "Yeah, she _did_ look like she was crying..." Tomoe: "..."

Mizue: "What was with that performance? Considering how much of a coward you were just now, I'm sure they're incredibly suspicious." Minamo: "..." *Some time had passed after the incident with the press earlier, but her mood had not yet improved, and she looked rather displeased with me.* *I did agree that it had been a shameful sight. I never thought I would end up crying on camera.* *I told the reporters that I didn't love Sempai, but it made me so upset I couldn't control myself.* Mizue: "We should expect some wild speculation from them for a while." Minamo: "In that case, wouldn't it have been better to tell them the truth?" Mizue: "Don't be stupid. If you had done that, you would never be able to work in this industry again." Minamo: "That's why I'm trying to tell you..." Mizue: "Besides, it's not a lie. You've already broken up with him. You're simply schoolmates with no deeper ties." Minamo: "W-We haven't broken up! Don't be selfish and decide that for me!" Mizue: "You're the one being selfish! How many sacrifices do you think I've made to get you this far?!" Mizue: "You're throwing it all away for some dull, ordinary boy!" Minamo: "What do you mean 'dull'?!" Mizue: "What's dull is dull! I'll never allow a dull boy like that to ruin your life!" Minamo: "What's with you going 'dull' this and 'dull' that! He's the most important person in the world to me!" Mizue: "'Most important'? You're too young to understand what's truly important in life." Mizue: "You should just do as I say. You may despise me now, but you'll thank me for all of this later." Minamo: "Th-There you go acting like you know everything! You don't understand me at all!" Mizue: "You're the one who doesn't understand! You don't understand just how much I've done for─" Mizue: "Urg..." *Mama suddenly clutched her chest, her face red with rage.* Minamo: "Wh-What are you doing? There's no need to get _that_ worked up..." Mizue: "Urg... Aah..." *She was looking worse by the second. Her once flushed face was quickly turning pale.* Minamo: "Uh, hey? Mama? ...Mama?!"

Minamo: "Come in." *I waited for Wakamatsu's reply, then opened the hospital room door.* *A heavy gloom pervaded the room and weighed down upon me.* *A haggard figure instantly leapt into my field of vision.* Tomoe: "Wakamatsu. Are you okay?" Minamo: "Yes, somehow. I am sorry for calling you out of the blue like this..." Tomoe: "Don't worry about it." *Wakamatsu's mother was sleeping soundly on the nearby hospital bed.* *Even accounting for her lack of makeup, her face was so paper-white that it worried me at first glance.* Minamo: "She is stable for the time being." *Wakamatsu must have realized how uneasy I was, and informed me before I could ask.* Tomoe: "I see. That's good..." Minamo: "..." *My response only made her look sadder.* *Seeing her this way made my heart feel like it was being crushed.* Tomoe: "Things... aren't looking good?" Minamo: "...That's right." *A tiny nod was all she could muster, and even that seemed difficult for her.* Minamo: "Mama... Mother has apparently been sick for quite some time." Tomoe: "Is it serious...?" Minamo: "...Yes. Mother is..." *Wakamatsu stopped mid-sentence.* *Judging by her behavior, it was abundantly clear to me just how bad her mom's condition actually was.* *I wanted to learn more, but I couldn't find the right words. I couldn't possibly ask, "Is she going to die?"* *But based on how Wakamatsu and her bedridden mother looked, nothing else needed to be said.* Minamo: "I heard the doctors told her some time ago that treatment wasn't possible... She... apparently hid it from me all this time." *My guess was right... I knew she couldn't be saved.* Minamo: "They said... it wouldn't be unusual for her to suddenly stop breathing..." Tomoe: "No way..." *I couldn't find the right words. This was far too sudden.* *I gazed at her bedridden mother's face once more.* *When we last spoke, she seemed rather worn out to me then, too. I guess it hadn't been my imagination after all.* *She had been in poor physical shape for a long time.* *How had she put up such a brave front while hiding it?* Minamo: "Sempai... What should I do...?" Tomoe: "Wakamatsu..." *It was difficult to imagine how Wakamatsu felt, and what I should do at a time like this.* *In the past, I had experienced two very sudden farewells.* *By the time I realized what happened, there was nothing I could do. I just had to accept it.* *However, things were different now. Wakamatsu's mother was still alive.* *And yet, her death was all but certain.* *What could anyone do at a time like this?* *There was a knock, and the hospital room door slowly opened.* Janitor: "Excuse me a moment." *A man said, then walked in. I recalled seeing him once before.* Minamo: "...Oh. The janitor?" Tomoe: "Yeah..." *I remembered him now. He was the janitor from our academy.* *But why was he here?* Janitor: "I'm well aware of the problem you two have. For now, let's just leave it at that..." *The janitor looked down at Wakamatsu's mother's face.* Janitor: "It has been quite a while." *His voice was but a tiny whisper.* *A long time... He definitely said that, which meant they knew each other.* Minamo: "Um... You know Mother?" Janitor: "Of course I do. There isn't a single person my age who wouldn't." Janitor: "That goes double for men. Back then, they all only had eyes for her." *His gaze turned nostalgic before once more focusing at her upon the bed. Then, his face warped into a sad smile.* Janitor: "You have grown old... although that goes for both of us." Janitor: "Still, seeing you like this is too much." *He smiled and attempted to tell a joke, but any way you looked at him, he seemed to be crying.* *It was obvious their relationship was more than just an idol and mere fan. I was convinced they had been close.* Tomoe: "Who are you?" Janitor: "Young people sure are hasty. I guess I should introduce myself, though." *Then he turned around to face us.* Janitor: "I'm Nangoshi. Tatsumi Nangoshi." *Tatsumi Nangoshi... A name I'd never heard before. The same seemed to go for Wakamatsu, too.* Nangoshi: "Once upon a time... when she was an idol, I was her manager." Minamo: "...Huh? Mama's manager?" *Nangoshi-san nodded in response.* *We had learned his true identity, but even so, I still didn't understand why he was here.* *The idol "Yukari Kotomi" had retired long ago.* Nangoshi: "The truth is, I knew about Yukari's... about your mom's illness." Minamo: "Huh? You knew...?" Nangoshi: "Sorry for keeping quiet about it, but your mother asked me to. She told me to keep it to myself." Minamo: "Really...? But why?" Nangoshi: "I guess it was about two years ago. I hadn't heard from her in many years, when she suddenly called me out of the blue. It was quite the surprise." Nangoshi: "When I heard what she wanted, I was even _more_ surprised. Of all things, she asked me to look out for you after she passed on." Minamo: "'After she passed on'...?" Nangoshi: "It was around that time when the doctors told her it was terminal." Minamo: "That long ago...?" Nangoshi: "But, of course, she continued her care. I called in a few favors after I heard the news. Through them, she met famous physicians and underwent numerous treatments." Nangoshi: "However, it wasn't enough to keep her illness from progressing." *With sad eyes, he looked back at her once more.* Nangoshi: "She never gave up on her future, but her gut told her she couldn't possibly be optimistic about the fight, and made arrangements for when she passed on." Nangoshi: "That's just how much she loves you." *Those words seemed to have jolted Wakamatsu's heart in a rather substantial way.* Minamo: "Mama... loves me..." *Despite the huge shock she had just received, Nangoshi-san simply gazed gently at her.* Nangoshi: "You know, she was truly worried about you. She constantly worried about how she was forcing you to model for pin-ups against your will." Minamo: "Huh? What is that supposed to mean...?" Nangoshi: "Your mom knew how much you wanted to sing. In fact, nobody valued your singing more. She was the one who held you in highest regard." Minamo: "Th-That's a lie. I mean, Mama..." Minamo: "Mama was forcing me to stay in show business due to her own selfish pride..." Nangoshi: "That's incorrect. The pin-ups were to help you create a foothold in the industry." Tomoe: "A foothold?" *I didn't really understand. Nangoshi-san smiled with narrowed eyes, as if conversing with a lousy student.* Nangoshi: "Modern-day idols are a bit different from idols back in the day." Nangoshi: "Especially in the sense that you have to enamor your fans with stunning performances, then deal with being prodded for precise comments by the media some time later..." Nangoshi: "Then, in the next moment, you need to put yourself out there and make people laugh like you were some sort of comedian on a variety show." Nangoshi: "Sadly, idols from back in Yukari Kotomi's day, who simply needed to shine up on stage and were admired from a distance, have nearly gone extinct." Nangoshi: "As much as you may want to focus on singing, CDs do not sell as well as they used to. No matter how talented, few rarely become successful artists." Nangoshi: "However, the road to stardom isn't closed off by any means. A degree of popularity is needed to that end." Tomoe: "A degree of popularity..." Nangoshi: "It is only when those in charge decide that you are 'profitable enough' to sing that they will give you their go ahead." Tomoe: "So, that's why Wakamatsu's mom was making her a model?" Nangoshi: "Exactly. Luckily, Minamo-chan has plenty of charm to enamor men." Nangoshi: "Her skill as an entertainer is nothing to scoff at, either. She's actually quite popular already." Minamo: "I have just been doing as I am told..." Nangoshi: "That's for the best. In your present state, you're just a raw ingredient. If crafted by a skilled chef, you'll become a most exquisite dish." Nangoshi: "What's more, your mom relied upon every connection available and had you prepared by the finest chefs possible. That's why you've become so well known." Tomoe: "So, Wakamatsu can become a singer?" Nangoshi: "She can. No... You might say she's just got a little further to go." *Nangoshi-san's expression warped with sadness.* Nangoshi: "Her dream was to one day see you sing on stage. She always sounded so happy whenever the topic came up." Minamo: "Huh? Mama did?" *She seemed reluctant to believe him. The woman he had just described was an entirely different person from the one I had heard about from Wakamatsu.* Nangoshi: "It's the truth. She has struggled to survive so she could one day see you on stage." Nangoshi: "She was given a year to live, but managing to survive twice as long only proves my point further." Tomoe: "One year to live..." *Despite her doctor only giving her a year, two had passed since she received that prognosis.* Nangoshi: "That's just how badly she wanted to see you sing. Even her doctor was surprised she lasted this long." Nangoshi: "Sadly, it looks like it's about time for her to pay the piper." Nangoshi: "This is your mom's family hospital. There were arrangements for me to get in touch with you if push came to shove." Nangoshi: "And tonight, I've finally made contact with you." *In other words, her mom truly had very little time remaining.* Minamo: "Mama..." *At last, Wakamatsu broke out into tears. The large droplets rolled down her cheeks.* Nangoshi: "I will carry out your mom's ambition. I may not look it, but I _am_ the man who discovered Yukari Kotomi and made her a star." Nangoshi: "I originally planned to cut ties with that world when Yukari Kotomi retired. That's how very much I adored her." Nangoshi: "Because I believed... there was no experience left that could ever thrill me more." Nangoshi: "But it's a whole different story if we're talking about her daughter. I'll devote myself to your management. As a singer, of course." Minamo: "Me, a singer...?" Nangoshi: "She made sure everything was ready for you in advance. It's your turn to work hard this time, Minamo-chan." Nangoshi: "Especially for your mother's sake..." Minamo: "I..." *Wakamatsu was stunned.* *About her mother, her singing career... With how sudden this was, she seemed to be having trouble putting her feelings in order. That was a natural response, of course.* *Nangoshi-san should know that, too.* Nangoshi: "Sorry to bring up all these confusing topics out of nowhere, but there's no time left." *Next, Nangoshi-san looked down at the bed.* Nangoshi: "She may not get her chance to see you on stage, but couldn't you at least tell her how determined you are?" Minamo: "It... can't be... This is... all so sudden... I... I can't..." Tomoe: "Wakamatsu..." Minamo: "I..." *Wakamatsu was completely speechless.* *With distressed, tear-stained eyes, she just stared at her bedridden mother.*

*Wakamatsu said she wanted to stay behind with her mother, so Nangoshi-san and I decided it was best to head home.* Tomoe: "That was a surprise. I never would have thought you were the former manager of a famous idol." Nangoshi: "I started to feel burned out once she retired, too." Nangoshi: "Any job was fine by me. This one just happened to be close to home." Tomoe: "Was Wakamatsu's mom really that incredible of a singer?" Nangoshi: "Indeed, she was the real deal. A genuine superstar from back when idols were most brilliant." Nangoshi: "As her manager, we were always together. However, I was also a big fan of hers, too. Maybe even her biggest." Nangoshi: "Her retirement put me in a slump. It was like my world was crumbling around me." Nangoshi: "I'm quite upset this time around, too." *Nangoshi-san smiled. I wondered why adults smiled even when they were sad?* Tomoe: "Is there really no hope for Wakamatsu's mom?" Nangoshi: "They've done everything they can, but it sounds like that's about run its course now." Tomoe: "Is that so...?" *Even though I couldn't comprehend the full extent of her pain, my heart ached at the thought of Wakamatsu's distress.* Nangoshi: "There's nothing more I can do to help her, but that isn't the case for Minamo-chan." *A sudden spark appeared within those sorrow-filled eyes.* Nangoshi: "If I can shape Minamo-chan into a fine singer, then that will make Yukari's... Mizue-san's dream come true. Her last, greatest dream." Nangoshi: "I will spare no effort to make that happen." Tomoe: "Is Wakamatsu really that talented?" *I asked him point-blank.* Tomoe: "She doesn't appear to have much confidence in her own singing ability, though." Nangoshi: "It seems so; but you see, that's where she's wrong." *Nangoshi-san answered distinctly.* *There wasn't a trace of doubt in his voice. I could tell he was speaking with absolute certainty.* Nangoshi: "She is Yukari Kotomi's daughter, after all. I've also heard her demo tape. She will definitely reach stardom." Tomoe: "Really? Then why does Wakamatsu think she isn't cut out to sing...?" Nangoshi: "There are various circumstances surrounding that. It was bad luck. Oftentimes, ability alone isn't enough to guarantee everything will work out in this world." Nangoshi: "However, once they hear her sing, everyone in the world will realize that she's a top-class songstress." *He looked more professional with every word. I didn't know much about him yet, but I felt as though I could trust what he said.* *Wakamatsu's dream to become a singer could come true.* *But when that time came, I would...* Nangoshi: "Which is why I want you to break up with her." *It was as if he had read my mind. His timing was so perfect, it startled me.* *I stopped midstep and gave him a sidelong glance. Nangoshi-san stood still, and was staring at me with a dreadful look in his eyes.* *They were seriousness incarnate─eyes that could kill a person with a mere gaze.* Tomoe: "Understood. If that's what Wakamatsu wants." *If it helped make her dreams come true, I would break up with her in a heartbeat. My entire motivation for dating her was to avoid hurting her in the first place.* Tomoe: "However, it seems she has given up on singing entirely." Nangoshi: "I'll do my best to motivate her." *His comments made it clear just how committed he was, and that he felt he _had_ to make it happen.* Nangoshi: "Anyway, I'll keep you to your promise." Tomoe: "Oh, yes. If it's for her, I will do it." *Nangoshi-san nodded, looking satisfied.* *I knew Nangoshi-san, the man who made Yukari Kotomi into a star, could make Wakamatsu's dream come true.* *If it was for the sake of that dream, I had no issue with breaking up with her.* *And yet, what was this gloomy feeling in my chest?* *Why did it feel like my heart was being choked?*

Aine: "Ah, Tomoe-san! How did it go?!" *Aine leapt at me the moment I walked through the door. How should I explain this to her?* Tomoe: "Actually..." *For starters, Wakamatsu's mother was in critical condition, and her former manager had suddenly appeared.* *To top it off, Wakamatsu's dream of becoming a singer might come true...* *I told her about all of it, from start to finish.* Aine: "So much has happened to her. I am sure Minamo-chan is conflicted." Tomoe: "I think so, too." Aine: "As are you." Tomoe: "Huh? Me?" Aine: "I mean, if Minamo-chan becomes a singer, you will have to break up with her, right?" Tomoe: "The idea doesn't really bother me. Not if it's in Wakamatsu's best interest." Aine: "Liar." *Aine didn't mince words.* Tomoe: "Why are you calling me a liar? I have no reason to lie about myself." Aine: "And yet you are. Tomoe-san, you love Minamo-chan, do you not?" Tomoe: "'Love'...? Well, I don't dislike her." Tomoe: "But our relationship isn't worth saving if it means sacrificing her dreams or happiness." Aine: "Believing that, even if it makes you suffer, is what it means to be human." *Aine wasn't even human, but she acted like she understood us.* Aine: "When you think about breaking up with Minamo-chan, your heart hurts, does it not?" Tomoe: "My heart...?" *I _did_ feel an irrational pain in my chest that I recalled feeling once before.* *The idea of never being able to see Wakamatsu again hurt me deep down, like my heart was being crushed to pieces.* Aine: "I am sure that is love." Tomoe: "Love?" *Was this love? I thought it over, but...* *Somehow, it didn't feel right.* *Just for the sake of argument, what would it matter if it _was_ love? Would that change anything?* Tomoe: "...Sorry. I honestly can't tell." Aine: "I see..." Tomoe: "Anyway, I'm going to help make Wakamatsu's dream come true. Is that wrong?" Aine: "...No. I do not think it is wrong. But..." *With that last trailing comment, Aine fell silent.* *It looked like she wanted to say something, but didn't know how to put it into words.* *Regardless, there was only one thing for me to do.* *I would support Wakamatsu, make her dream come true, and strive to make sure she became happy.* *That was all.*

*At the start of the new year, we began another school term.* Aine: "I wonder if Minamo-chan will come tomorrow...?" *Aine whispered worriedly. Wakamatsu's leave of absence had extended into the new term.* Yuri: "It sounds like she's really busy. I saw something about her on TV, too." *That was pretty out of the ordinary for Hisaka-san. She was probably worried about Wakamatsu and went out of her way to watch it.* *_Everyone_ was worried about Wakamatsu.* Naruko: "I'm worried about her mom, too." *I briefly filled everyone in on her mother's poor health. They knew she wasn't well, but I left out that part about her being "beyond saving."* *That was why, even gathered together as we were, everyone was short on words.* *It was as though their flames had been extinguished from the mere absence of Wakamatsu. Being down one person weighed quite heavily on us.* Aine: "Huh...?" *Everyone lifted their heads at the sound of Aine's voice.* *Wakamatsu was standing there.* Tomoe: "Wakamatsu." Minamo: "I am sorry if I worried all of you." *She bowed her head to everyone, and they greeted her with a smile.* Aine: "Do not worry about it! Hurry over here!" *Aine beckoned, but for some reason, Wakamatsu hesitated.* Tomoe: "What's wrong?" *When I asked, she looked at me.* Minamo: "I need to talk to you for a minute, Sempai." Tomoe: "To me?" *She wanted to talk me alone? Was it about her mom, or had Nangoshi-san told her about the conversation he and I had?* Naruko: "We're fine here, so go. I bet you're the only one who can actually help her, Kirinokojima." *Judging by their smiles, everyone else seemed to agree with Nakizaki. I appreciated the sentiment.* Tomoe: "Got it." Tomoe: "Why don't we go talk somewhere else, then?" Minamo: "Yes..."

*A strong, dry wind you would expect from a high altitude blew against us.* Tomoe: "Aren't you cold, Wakamatsu?" Minamo: "I am all right." *Wakamatsu didn't budge. If she was fine here, then I had no complaints.* Tomoe: "I'll ask you about it now, then. What did you want to talk about...?" *I prompted her, feeling a little nervous. Her brooding expression grew increasingly stiff.* Minamo: "I... honestly don't think I would make a very good singer." *She had to force herself to finish that thought. This had to be related to what Nangoshi-san had told me.* Tomoe: "Have you heard from Nangoshi-san?" Minamo: "He has come by the hospital every day to try and persuade me." Tomoe: "He's persistent. Doesn't that prove how highly he thinks of your singing?" Tomoe: "He told me that he heard your demo tape." Minamo: "I know, but..." Minamo: "I still do not think it is possible. Me, a singer...?" *Nangoshi-san hadn't managed to change her mind. She seemed utterly convinced that singing was nothing more than a pipe dream.* *However, he had openly praised her singing. Why did Wakamatsu have no confidence in herself?* Tomoe: "Why don't you believe in yourself? If there's a reason, could you tell me?" Minamo: "Well..." *She hesitated. Was it that difficult for her to talk about?* *If it gave her this much pause, then it must be.* Minamo: "The truth is... this isn't the first time we have discussed my singing debut." Tomoe: "Huh? Really?" Minamo: "Before I started modeling... the reason why I wanted to get into this industry in the first place was to become a singer." Tomoe: "I see. Then, why?" *Why work as a model when her passions were concentrated elsewhere?* *I realized it must have been a painful subject for her and hesitated to ask.* *However, Wakamatsu looked determined to tell me the whole story.* Minamo: "Ever since I was little, I always said I would become a pop idol like my mother, and she looked forward to it." Minamo: "But I was still so young, and by the time I reached an age where I could debut, Mother had already considered every possible approach I could take." Minamo: "Then, when I was in middle school, I met a producer she was acquainted with." Minamo: "I even made that demo tape for the meeting, but..." *Her expression grew gloomy. Based on her face alone, I assumed things hadn't gone well.* Producer: "You may have a knack for it, but that's all. You don't have the stand-out singing talent to make it internationally. You're nothing more than a mediocre idol." Producer: "Girls with your talent come by the dozen these days. You need more than that, or this world will chew you up and spit you out." *Those were the harsh things the producer said to her.* Minamo: "Mother bowed her head and asked for many favors, but nobody wanted to work with me..." *Recalling those past events brought her close to tears.* *As Wakamatsu's mom desperately bowed her head to that producer...* Producer: "'Yukari Kotomi' is a has-been. Telling the masses it's 'her daughter' won't be enough to hook them." *...That was the response she got.* Minamo: "It didn't matter to me, but Mother was so frustrated. It was painful for me to watch her go through that, all because of my own inadequacy." Minamo: "After that, the same producer backed the daughter of two leading celebrities. She is what they call a 'thoroughbred.'" Minamo: "I did not think she was that skilled of a singer, but you can work wonders with machines these days. It doesn't seem to be all that important of a factor." Tomoe: "That's kind of warped, isn't it? Aren't 'singers' supposed to actually sing? And yet..." Minamo: "All that matters is whether a given person will turn a profit. It extends far beyond the individual─the livelihoods of everyone they work with are also in the balance." Tomoe: "I understand that, but..." Minamo: "In the end, I do think that takes talent. That is how the world works, so they cannot disregard people who have proven their skills." Minamo: "The fact I couldn't make the cut proves just how incompetent I was." Tomoe: "That's not true..." Tomoe: "Doesn't everyone have their own taste in music? For example, Nangoshi-san definitely praised your singing." Minamo: "About that..." Minamo: "He has been a fan of my mother for a long time. He is looking at me through rose-colored glasses." Tomoe: "You shouldn't talk about yourself like that. I think Nangoshi-san can be trusted." *I wasn't saying that to comfort her. I truly believed it.* *But Wakamatsu's face screamed that she couldn't.* Minamo: "Either way, I can't sing anymore." Tomoe: "You can't sing? What does that..." Minamo: "I just can't. No matter how hard I try..." *Wakamatsu looked at me with a tragic look on her face.* *In spite of that, I could see a sliver of determination dwelling in those eyes.* Minamo: "I will sing for you, so please listen." *She readied herself, closed her eyes, and took in a deep breath. Then, she opened her mouth...* *To be perfectly blunt, her singing was unbearable.* *At first, she effectively lost her voice. Then, once she did start singing, it was quieter than even her regular speaking voice.* *This reminded me of everything she said earlier about singers. She could never sing in front of an audience like this.* Minamo: "This is how I have been ever since. I can't sing anymore..." *Wakamatsu confessed sadly after she finished her song.*

Nangoshi: "I see, Minamo-chan still can't..." *I told Nangoshi-san that Wakamatsu couldn't sing, but he seemed to have expected as much.* Tomoe: "You knew?" Nangoshi: "I heard from Yukari... no, Mizue-san. She is aware of it, too." Tomoe: "Really?" Nangoshi: "That only reaffirmed her decision to have Minamo-chan switch to modeling." Nangoshi: "She thought it was a better option than giving up and doing nothing." Nangoshi: "Of course, that was because her current agency wished to form a contract with her under that stipulation at the time." Tomoe: "I see... But, why can't Wakamatsu sing?" Nangoshi: "Doctors have examined her, but they all believe it's psychogenic. Beyond that, they didn't seem to know much." Nangoshi: "They said she might be able to sing again eventually, but it seems she still can't, huh?" Tomoe: "How is her singing, practically speaking?" Nangoshi: "My opinion is just as I previously stated. Past that, you should judge with your own ears." *With that, Nangoshi-san handed me a disc. It looked like a CD.* Nangoshi: "I burned the aforementioned demo tape to CD. The fidelity is lacking, but I think it'll be sufficient to tell how well she sings." Nangoshi: "I'd like you to listen to it and give me your honest opinion." Tomoe: "_My_ opinion? I'm a total amateur when it comes to this stuff." Nangoshi: "But you're not an amateur when it comes to Minamo-chan, are you?" Tomoe: "Huh? ...I am not really sure what that is supposed to mean." Nangoshi: "Ahaha. Really?" *Nangoshi-san laughed. I didn't think it was funny at all, though.* Tomoe: "Let me ask one more time. You _are_ trying to get Wakamatsu and me to break up, right?" Nangoshi: "Of course. Lovers are taboo for idols." *When we got talking like this, Nangoshi-san seemed to forget his own position.* Nangoshi: "Personally, I don't want to break you two up. I'm sure Minamo-chan will be sad, too. But from a business perspective, it's different." Tomoe: "I see." *This man was trustworthy... I really believed that. He had a professional aura to him above all else. I was sure he'd be able to help Wakamatsu.* *That is, if she could actually sing properly.* Nangoshi: "Give that a listen for now, then tell me what you think of it." Tomoe: "...All right." *Nangoshi-san insisted I listen to this disc. What sort of song could possibly be on here?*

Naruko: "Is this okay?" Tomoe: "Yeah, I think it'll probably be fine." *Nakizaki brought over a small boombox.* *This player was capable of playing cassettes as well. Sensei had been using it to listen to enka.* Naruko: "We're going to listen to this? Oh, is this a CD-R?" Tomoe: "Yeah, think we can play it?" Naruko: "Hm... I think it should be okay. Well, let's give it a try." *Nakizaki placed the disc inside the tray and hit the "play" button.* *The introduction immediately began to play.* Naruko: "Oh, I think I've heard this song before." Tomoe: "Me too." *It was a melody I had heard in the past. Could it have been during my childhood?* *I hadn't bought or listened to it on CD, but I seemed to recall it playing often on TV or street corners.* Naruko: "Oh, this is Minamo-chan's mom! Yukari Kotomi's song!" Tomoe: "Oh, is it?" *All I knew was that I had heard it before, but I had no idea who wrote it.* *This was supposed to be Wakamatsu's demo tape. In other words, she had chosen to sing her mom's song.* *When I listened carefully to the familiar melody, the singing began. It was Wakamatsu's voice.* Aine: "Wah..." *Aine listened quietly, her eyes wide with surprise. Nakizaki looked shocked, too.* Tomoe: "...This is Wakamatsu's real singing voice?" *It was completely different from what I heard before. She had a carefree tone which could reach the ends of the world, like the clear blue sky.* *I couldn't say why, but listening to this made my chest feel tight. It was a suffocating feeling, yet I also felt like I could listen to this song forever.* *In my mind, various memories naturally bubbled up and dissipated, reviving and fading.* *Many feelings I couldn't easily put into words seethed and receded time and again inside of me.* *I couldn't tell what was so great about it, but it touched my heart whether I liked it or not.* *If you were to describe such a thing as "moving," then I would be inclined to agree.* Naruko: "Something about it is really nice..." *Nakizaki's off-hand description was the perfect way to put it. There was definitely "something" nice about it.* Aine: "It is so good..." *Our resident angel was crying. Wakamatsu's song had literally brought an angel to tears.* Aine: "I want more people to hear Minamo-chan's singing." Naruko: "Yeah. It'd be a shame for them not to." *They said to one another, and I agreed wholeheartedly.* *I wanted not only to hear more for myself, but for lots more people to hear her singing.* Menes: "Is this Four-Eyes' singing?" Tomoe: "Ah... Menes?" *As if lured by the sound of Wakamatsu's singing voice, Menes appeared out of thin air.* Aine: "Oh, Menes-chan! That is right; this is Minamo-chan's singing!" Menes: "So, this is Four-Eyes'..." *Menes docilely and carefully listened to the sound from the CD player.* *It was unusual for her to show an interest in Wakamatsu. I had thought she hated her.* Aine: "Hey, hey, Menes-chan! Minamo-chan's singing is so great, is it not?!" Menes: "..." *Menes didn't answer, but I could tell by looking that her heart had been moved.* Menes: "Is this _really_ that four-eyes' singing?" Tomoe: "It's true. You can't believe it?" Menes: "Indeed... If that _is_ her, then..." Tomoe: "Then, what?" Menes: "...Never mind, it's nothing. Well, not bad for a four-eyes, huh?" Aine: "There you go with those malicious comments again~! I know you like it, too!" Naruko: "That's right! You're here because you heard her song, right?" Menes: "Sorry to burst your bubble. I just dropped by to flirt with my Darling~!" Tomoe: "Don't stare at me with that shady look in your eyes. Anyway, what were you going to say before?" *Menes had cut herself off mid-thought, and I was curious what was on her mind.* Menes: "It's nothing, really. More importantly, we can sleep together today, right?" Tomoe: "Why would you think that would be okay? Of course not." Menes: "What the heck? Stingy!" *Menes was back to her usual self. Was what happened earlier really nothing? For some reason, it really bothered me.* *As I was thinking about that, Wakamatsu's tune came to an end.* Naruko: "Say, Kirinokojima. I really like Minamo-chan's singing." *Nakizaki voiced her thoughts aloud.* Tomoe: "Yeah, I do too." *I normally didn't listen to music, but Wakamatsu's voice captivated me.* *It left me feeling frenzied. I couldn't tell if it was a good or bad thing, but my heart was all abuzz.* *I definitely wanted to listen to more of Wakamatsu's singing. Had my heart ever been swayed by music like this before?* *In the end, my feelings didn't matter. All that was important was for Wakamatsu's dream to come true.* Menes: "..."

Tomoe: "I wonder if Wakamatsu's at the hospital again today?" *She'd been staying there with her mom for a while now.* *If she didn't take it easy, Wakamatsu would surely collapse from exhaustion.* *Then again, Nangoshi-san was with her, so she would probably be fine.* Tomoe: "I'll visit them tomorrow." *Then I would sit down and have a talk with her.* *Earlier, I had given my impressions of the demo tape to Nangoshi-san over the phone.* *I reminded him once more that Wakamatsu and I were going to break up in order for her to move forward and accomplish her dreams.* *In the end, he seemed confident I would keep my promise after listening to her song.* *Essentially, he had me right in the palm of his hand.* *But I didn't care about that. In fact, I was grateful for it.* *As long as Wakamatsu was able to sing again, I would do whatever I could...* Menes: "Thinking about Four-Eyes?" Tomoe: "Huh...?" *Menes suddenly appeared before me.* Tomoe: "Menes... You're still here?" *She disappeared after our previous discussion, so I didn't expect her to come back so soon.* Menes: "What kind of greeting is 'you're still here' supposed to be? Didn't you say we were going to sleep together today?" Tomoe: "Again, I never said that." Menes: "Hehe, you truly are stubborn." Tomoe: "I'm not stubborn. I'm just not interested in stuff like that." Menes: "But you're going out with Four-Eyes, aren't you?" Tomoe: "There are... a lot of reasons for that." Menes: "'A lot of reasons,' huh? An awfully convenient explanation." *What in the world was she hinting at? Had she come here just to gossip?* Tomoe: "If you have something you want to say, just say it." *With that, her expression immediately turned completely serious.* Menes: "Four-Eyes can't sing right now, correct?" Tomoe: "...How do you know about that?" *If I remembered correctly, Menes shouldn't know anything about Wakamatsu's condition. Had Aine told her?* Menes: "I can tell. That four-eyes' heart is probably fractured." Tomoe: "...Huh?" *Those words left me utterly speechless.* Tomoe: "Wakamatsu's heart is fractured?" Menes: "Probably. That song from earlier must have been recorded beforehand, but then something happened that caused her heart to fracture." Tomoe: "Ah..." *She was right. Wakamatsu was deeply scarred and could no longer sing.* *Could she no longer sing due to her heart being fractured?* Tomoe: "So, if we return her heart shard, then Wakamatsu will...?" Menes: "It's possible." Menes: "Of course, there's nothing we can do without the shard itself." *That was true. I couldn't do anything to help if I didn't have that shard.* Tomoe: "Where in the world is Wakamatsu's shard...?" *Suddenly, the phone rang. Late-night phone calls always made me feel anxious.* *I hesitated, but answered anyway.* Tomoe: "Hello?" Tomoe: "...Huh?"

*By the time I rushed to the hospital, Wakamatsu's mom was already in critical condition.* Tomoe: "Wakamatsu." Minamo: "Sempai..." *She looked at me with red, bloodshot eyes. She had been crying.* Tomoe: "Your mom..." *Wakamatsu feebly shook her head. It probably meant she had very little time remaining.* Mizue: "Minamo..." *That muffled voice brought us back to our senses. Her mom was lying on the bed with her eyes opened.* Minamo: "Mama!" *She glanced at Wakamatsu with murky, sickly eyes, as if to tell her everything was all right, before looking toward me.* Mizue: "So... You came...?" *She forced out a few brief, agonizing words to me.* Tomoe: "I am sorry." Mizue: "There's nothing... for you to apologize for... I was hoping... to talk to you... too..." Tomoe: "Huh? To me?" *Her mom feebly nodded.* Mizue: "Please... let me be alone with him... for a moment..." *Wakamatsu's mom spoke to her.* *Her voice was powerful, and to a shocking extent. It was surprising she could project such a voice when she was this weak.* Minamo: "But..." *Wakamatsu hesitated.* *It was a natural reaction. Her mom hadn't approved of me yet.* *Which would mean she most likely wanted to talk about...* Minamo: "..." *Wakamatsu glanced over at me.* *I gave her a big nod back, implying it was all right.* Minamo: "...I understand." *Wakamatsu nodded in return.* Mizue: "Thank you." Minamo: "Huh...?" *Wakamatsu seemed surprised, but her mom closed her eyes, acting as if she hadn't noticed.* Minamo: "...Please call me when you are done, then." *She said before leaving the room. Her mom and I were now alone in her hospital room.* Mizue: "..." *I waited for her to speak first. I doubted she had enough time or energy for idle chatter.* Mizue: "To be blunt, I'm still unsure." *Wakamatsu's mom started to speak and opened her eyes.* *Those eyes gazed up at me. Her pupils were trembling, like she was struggling to make a huge decision.* Tomoe: "Unsure about what?" Mizue: "I haven't decided what sort of person you are." Tomoe: "What do you mean?" Mizue: "Whether you're dependable, and whether I can trust you or not." *She closed her eyes after seemingly saying that to herself. With her eyes still shut, she continued to speak.* Mizue: "When I first saw you, I felt something. 'There's something about this boy.' But I didn't know what that something was." Mizue: "But I figured it out the next time we met. I thought... 'Isn't this kid missing something?'" Mizue: "I'm not sure what it is, though." Tomoe: "Missing something..." *Her comment hit incredibly close to home. I had met a number of people in recent months who were "missing something."* *Still, I never imagined anyone would describe _me_ that way.* *...No. Perhaps I had realized it long ago, but I wasn't worth fussing over.* *Nothing in the entire universe could possibly matter less than whether my heart was fractured or not.* *I simply found myself agreeing strongly when the suggestion was made. It was true─I really might be missing a piece of my heart.* Tomoe: "Yes, I'm sure you're right about that." *In a way, it was refreshing to admit.* *She seemed baffled by my honest reply, and stared blankly at me.* Mizue: "You're such a mysterious young man. You're making less and less sense to me." Mizue: "But..." *After saying that, she gazed at me once more.* Mizue: "Minamo loves you, right?" *Those were, beyond a doubt, the words of a mother.* *It may have been the first motherly comment I had ever heard come from her mouth.* Mizue: "Stealing you away from that girl pains me; it cuts right through me." *That was surely because this woman loved Wakamatsu more than anything else in the world. As far as she was concerned, Wakamatsu was literally a part of her.* Mizue: "But I want her dreams to come true. I believe that will be what's best for her." *Then, her mom took in a painful breath.* Tomoe: "You shouldn't force yourself so much..." *However, she shook her head side to side.* Mizue: "I don't have much time left. That much is clear." Mizue: "That's exactly why, as long as I can pave the way for her to live a happy life from now on, even if it's alone..." Mizue: "That's the last thing I can do as her mother... The one thing I must do..." Mizue: "I resolved myself and even made her hate me for that very purpose..." Tomoe: "Is that the point of her current job?" Mizue: "At the moment, I'm her one and only connection to the entertainment industry." Mizue: "I never proved a very helpful connection, but it was far better than having no connection at all." Mizue: "Even though she hates modeling, if she quits and I pass away, she really will lose all contact with this industry." Mizue: "As such, she should work like her life depends on it, whether it be doing pin-ups or whatever else, and form industry connections. She can quit any time she wants in the future." Tomoe: "So that's why you forced her into it, even if it made her hate you..." *That was her reason for making Wakamatsu into a pin-up girl?* *She was a mother who truly and deeply cared for her daughter.* *In spite of this, she forced her daughter to do modeling work, knowing full well she'd be despised for it.* *That must have been incredibly painful for her.* *But she did it anyway, believing it would lead to a better future for her daughter.* *For the first time, I felt envious of Wakamatsu─envious that she was born to a mother this great.* Mizue: "Could I ask you one thing?" *She shot an appraising gaze at me.* Mizue: "What is 'happiness' to you?" Tomoe: "Huh...?" *That unexpected question floored me.* Tomoe: "What brings me happiness?" *That required no thought whatsoever. It was a totally foreign concept.* *I did not wish for happiness, nor was I capable of experiencing it.* *I was a sinner─a human who must never, ever be happy.* Tomoe: "If I had to say... nothing." *I answered honestly. A tinge of pity surfaced in her gazing eyes.* Mizue: "I don't know what sort of hardships you've gone through, but I doubt someone who doesn't know what happiness is could make someone else happy." Mizue: "Maybe, just maybe, you _could_ make Minamo happy..." Mizue: "That thought did cross my mind, but I guess I was hoping for too much. That's the only conclusion I can reach right now, and since I have no time left..." *The glint of pity vanished from her eyes. In a complete shift in tone, she stared through me with that stern expression from before.* *Within her murky eyes dwelled a light so piercing, it was hard to believe she was severely ill.* Mizue: "Please break up with Minamo for me." *Her request quietly echoed through the hospital room, and likewise resounded with my heart.* *I had fully expected her to say it, but it weighed more heavily upon my heart than I ever could have imagined possible.* *Still, this wasn't a decision I had any right to make, nor was I given any other options.* Tomoe: "I understand. I will do just that." *I clearly spoke the one and only answer afforded to me.* *However, my heart felt uneasy the moment I said it. An emotion resembling regret spread through my chest.* *Why did I feel this way _now_?* *Why, when I had no choice, and simply arrived at the natural conclusion?* Mizue: "...That's a shame." *I couldn't tell what she was referring to.* *Was it a "shame" that I couldn't make Wakamatsu happy? Or was she displeased by my answer...?* *No, that should have been exactly what she wished for. No other answer made sense.* Mizue: "Could you call Minamo for me, then?" *It sounded like this conversation was now over. Wakamatsu's mom closed her eyes, seeming exhausted.* Tomoe: "All right." *I left the room and called Wakamatsu. She passed by me and entered the room.* *I didn't follow her in. This was a moment reserved for a mother and her daughter only.* *Wakamatsu and her mother talked about all sorts of things for quite some time.* *...* *...* *And then, that night, her mother passed away in her hospital bed as Wakamatsu cared for her.*

*I visited Wakamatsu's house at her request to help sort through her mother's belongings.* *Between her mother's passing and attending to her funeral arrangements, as well as keeping up with everything else, she looked absolutely exhausted.* Minamo: "I am sorry. I can't handle all this on my own." Tomoe: "You don't have to worry about it. Time is the one thing I've got plenty of." *I had so much of it, I wanted to give it all away. To Wakamatsu's mom, for example.* *However, no matter what I did, that wasn't an option anymore.* Minamo: "Okay, let's start over here." Tomoe: "Got it." *I started packing belongings according to Wakamatsu's instructions.* Minamo: "..." *Although the funeral was over and things had settled down for the most part, she looked as worn down as you would expect.* Tomoe: "Do we really need to pack her stuff away so soon?" Minamo: "But... I can't relax unless I keep myself busy." Tomoe: "I see. Let's do this, then." Minamo: "Okay." *I knew exactly how she felt.* *When a gaping hole is opened in your heart, people subconsciously try to fill it with something.* *That was why she couldn't stay still.* *But it was a relief to know she wanted to fill that emotional hole. It meant she was at least trying to get back on her feet.* Tomoe: "There's a lot of old-looking stuff here, huh?" *They appeared to all be things she had brought out from her mom's room.* Minamo: "I am not sure what we might find, either." *As she said that, she opened a tattered box.* Minamo: "Huh? Is this a video tape?" *She was holding an aged cassette in her hand, but it was pretty small for a video tape.* Tomoe: "Isn't that one of those 8-millimeter video things? I think Nakizaki had some at her house a long time ago, too." Minamo: "So, it was taken with a camcorder?" Tomoe: "Maybe it was." *Wakamatsu stared at the tape intently. She must have been curious about its contents.* Minamo: "What do we need, to watch this?" Tomoe: "Do you have an old video camera? We should be able to watch it if we hook it up to the TV." Minamo: "A camera... I do think we had a few lying around. I will go take a look." Tomoe: "This looks like the right one." *There were several different types of camcorders in her house─most likely for work-related purposes.* *There was an 8-millimeter video camera among them.* Minamo: "Can you hook it up?" Tomoe: "Maybe like this?" *I hooked up the red-white-yellow-colored cable that was bundled with the video camera to the TV.* Minamo: "Oh, it worked!" *I was able to mirror the camera's image on the screen by switching to the TV's composite input.* Tomoe: "It's pretty grungy-looking." *It was an old machine, not to mention the original footage was of poor quality.* *The image was incredibly fuzzy, likely as a result of blowing it up on a big screen.* *There were also crackling noises as it played.* *But Wakamatsu's eyes were glued to the screen where a small child was displayed front and center.* Minamo: "This is me." *I had figured as much. The tape included footage of the house, and on screen was Wakamatsu herself.* *She was around four or five years old, and was in front of the camera with a precocious look on her face.* *It seemed her mom was the cameraman. Her narration was captured while she filmed.* *That voice sounded inexplicably happy.* *Her mom sounded like she was having so much fun. I was shocked to hear her gentle, loving voice.* *The young Wakamatsu could surely sense that as well. She looked very, very happy.* Mizue: "What do you want to be when you grow up, Mi-chan?" *Wakamatsu had apparently been called "Mi-chan" when she was little. It was enough to make you smile.* Minamo: "I want to be an idol just like you, Mama!" *She replied innocently. It was a scene from a happy household, one that gripped tightly at your heart.* Mizue: "Do you like your mama as an idol, Mi-chan?" Minamo: "I love you!" Mizue: "What is it about me you love?" Minamo: "Your singing!" *That was her very first answer. Her mom responded with a delighted laugh.* Minamo: "Also, you wear really pretty costumes, and you sparkle when you're on stage! I want to sing, too!" Mizue: "You're really good at singing, too, Mi-chan. Would you let your mama hear you sing one more time?" Minamo: "Sure!" *The young Wakamatsu sang a song into the toy mic in her hand.* *It was neither good nor bad; it was simply a very childish singing voice.* *However, her song sounded very happy, enough to make those who heard it happy themselves.* *My memory suddenly felt jolted, and my chest ached.* Mizue: "You're good at singing, Mi-chan. When Mama hears you sing, she feels very blessed." Minamo: "Mama..." *Wakamatsu stared at the TV screen and began to cry.* Mizue: "Your songs make everyone who hears them happy. Make sure you become a singer who brings everyone happiness, okay?" *Her delighted voice was addressing the young, singing Wakamatsu.* Minamo: "Mama..." *That may have been the breaking point for the present-day Wakamatsu who gazed desperately at the television screen through her tears. She covered her face with both hands.* *Tears spilled through the gaps between her fingers.* Tomoe: "Wakamatsu..." *The video had come to an end, but Wakamatsu held back sobs and cried for a long, long time...*

*By the time we stopped sorting through everything and I headed home, the sun had set.* Minamo: "I am sorry for earlier." *Wakamatsu said while walking. I told her it wasn't necessary, but she wanted to walk me home.* Tomoe: "Don't worry about it. It was a great video." Tomoe: "I think it put me in a good mood, too." Minamo: "Huh? It did?" *I nodded back to her.* *To be honest, I wasn't sure. I still didn't fully understand the emotion called "happiness."* *After all, I shouldn't be able to feel "happiness."* *However, a part of me wanted to say, "It made me happy."* *The fact that I felt that way meant it had surely moved me in some capacity. I felt an itch in the unreachable depths of my heart that made me want to squirm.* *I couldn't tell if that was in response to experiencing "happiness."* *But that video had definitely made me remember what happiness was.* *No, perhaps rather than the video, it had been the young Wakamatsu's singing. Her song was like happiness given form.* Tomoe: "When I heard your song, I felt happy." *In truth, I may not have known what happiness was, but I wanted to believe that was how I felt, and dared to put it into words.* Minamo: "My song made you happy...?" *She seemed considerably surprised, and stood there, mouth agape. I smiled and nodded at the sight of her surprised expression.* Tomoe: "Remember what your mom said? Anyone who heard your... who heard Mi-chan's singing would become happy." Tomoe: "I couldn't agree more." Minamo: "My... singing..." Tomoe: "'I want you to sing songs that bring happiness to everyone that hears them'..." Tomoe: "That was your mom's wish... no, her dream, right?" Minamo: "..." Minamo: "Even on the verge of death, Mama said she wanted me to sing... but I can't sing anymore." Minamo: "But she listened to me sing... and said, 'What a nice song'... and smiled at me..." Minamo: "Sempai, I am really frustrated... In the end, she never got the chance to hear me sing properly..." *Those words escaped her mouth through heavy sobs. Tears overflowed from her eyes.* Minamo: "It was what Mama wanted... She was so strict with me, but she believed I would be able to sing again someday..." Minamo: "And at the end... Mama said she was sorry for everything she had done..." Tomoe: "Wakamatsu..." *Wakamatsu was so upset her voice was shaky. I stroked her back and comforted her as she cried. After a few deep breaths to regain her composure, Wakamatsu looked up at me.* Minamo: "You..." Tomoe: "Yeah?" Minamo: "You felt happy when you heard me sing... right?" Tomoe: "Yeah, I did." Minamo: "Really?" Tomoe: "Really." *I answered without hesitation. The fact that I was able to answer honestly meant a part of me felt like it was probably true.* *Her song _had_ conjured happy feelings within me...* Minamo: "Sempai... can I... really sing?" Tomoe: "I'm sure you can." *I recalled what Menes had said about Wakamatsu's heart being fractured.* *Would she be able to accept the shard of a dream she had once lost─to accept a heart which would chase after that lost dream?* *...Knowing Wakamatsu, I was sure of it. I wanted to believe everything would be all right.* *I knew she would be able to sing again if I returned the shard to her.* *Was that truly the only thing I could do for her...?* Tomoe: "I'm sure you'll be able to sing." Minamo: "..." *Wakamatsu burst into tears and muffled her voice with her hands. She stood in place, her body trembling, as she quietly sobbed.* *I wanted to hug her tiny body, but I resisted that urge for dear life.* *The urge immediately dissipated, and once it did, it left me feeling mystified as to why I felt that way in the first place.* *As she continued to cry...* *I stood beside her in silence until she calmed down.*

Naruko: "Is Minamo-chan absent again today?" Aine: "Looks like it." Kiyohito: "She won't be coming for a while, then?" Aine: "That is right. Our teacher and and classmates are worried about her." Naruko: "She's gone through a lot. She just needs time to rest." Aine: "You are right... but I wonder if Minamo-chan is doing okay?" Kiyohito: "Do you know anything, Tomoe?" Tomoe: "I don't have a clue, either." *I didn't tell them that I had met up with her yesterday. Even if I did, it wouldn't help anything.* Tomoe: "But... knowing Wakamatsu, I'm sure she'll be all right." Naruko: "Hmm... You really think so?" *Nakizaki squinted at me cynically.* Tomoe: "Of course I do." *When I answered, Nakizaki and Kiyohito exchanged a modest smile.* Kiyohito: "You must be getting lonely, huh? I bet you don't have any plans even though tomorrow's Sunday." Tomoe: "I don't." Kiyohito: "Why don't we hang out with you?" Tomoe: "Sounds more like you have too much time on your hands." Kiyohito: "Ahaha, you could say that. But going all out now and then's not a bad thing, is it? How about it, Nakizaki? It's been a while." Naruko: "Yeah, living it up for the first time in ages might be nice." Aine: "That sounds great. Let us go!" *Nakizaki and Aine seemed eager.* Naruko: "You should go with us, Kirinokojima. A little change of pace would be good for you." Naruko: "You've got to take care of yourself or you won't be able to support Minamo-chan, either." *There may have been some truth to that.* *More importantly, I was grateful that everyone was thinking of Wakamatsu and me.* Tomoe: "Got it. I'll join you tomorrow, then." *I should probably just give in.* Kiyohito: "All right, it's decided! Okay then, tomorrow we'll..." Kiyohito: "Hm? This simple, modest ringtone that sounds like it was probably left on default must be..." Kiyohito: "Is that yours, Tomoe?" Tomoe: "Yeah." Naruko: "It's rare to hear your phone ring, Kirinokojima. Oh, maybe it's Minamo-chan?" *I checked the screen.* Tomoe: "Yeah. That's her." *Wakamatsu was calling me.* Kiyohito: "That's incredible timing. Maybe she's asking you out on a date?" Tomoe: "No, I doubt that. Excuse me a second." *I apologized to everyone and answered the phone.* Tomoe: "Hello, this is Kirinokojima." Minamo: "I know that. I am the one who called you, Sempai." *The voice I heard was more cheerful than I had expected. What she said made sense, though. I guess there was no real need for me to answer the phone like that.* Minamo: "Thank you very much for everything yesterday." Tomoe: "Oh, don't worry about it. Forget all that; is something up?" Minamo: "Yes, it is about tomorrow. Do you have any plans?" Tomoe: "Tomorrow?" *I parroted back her words and looked over at everyone. They all had curious looks on their faces.* Tomoe: "Uh, tomorrow's a little difficult..." *I'd _just_ made plans with everyone.* Kiyohito: "Idiot, don't worry about us. Tell her it's okay." Tomoe: "Huh? You sure?" Kiyohito: "Obviously. Go on, tell her you're free." Tomoe: "Got it." Tomoe: "...I'm free." *I answered her, and could sense her relief through the line.* Minamo: "Can we meet up tomorrow?" Tomoe: "Sure, that's fine." Minamo: "Thank you very much. See you then." *I verified the time and place, then ended the call.* *I hadn't expected Wakamatsu to invite me out on her own. Was something up?* Tomoe: "..." Kiyohito: "What are you acting so dazed for? She asked you out on a date, didn't she?" Tomoe: "You think so? She just wanted to meet up." Naruko: "Come on, that's _totally_ a date. Look a little happier, why don't you~?" Kiyohito: "Minamo-chan will definitely be upset if you show up with that grumpy look on your face." Kiyohito: "Smile whether you like it or not. If you don't, it'll only make her feel anxious. That's how a man shows his kindness─it's his duty!" Tomoe: "I see..." *It was oddly convincing hearing that argument from Kiyohito.* Kiyohito: "Show her a good time tomorrow, okay?" Tomoe: "I'll keep that in mind." *He was right. She'd gone through a lot, so I needed to help take her mind off of everything and make sure she had fun tomorrow.* *I would work hard to make that happen.*

Minamo: "Oh, you're here already?" *Wakamatsu seemed surprised to see me.* Tomoe: "I didn't want to keep you waiting, or have someone recognize you." Minamo: "Wow, you were that worried about me? That is really kind of you." Tomoe: "If you say so." Minamo: "That makes me happy. Okay, let's have lots of fun today!" Minamo: "That New Year's buzz doesn't seem to have worn off just yet. There are so many couples around, and everything is so lively!" Tomoe: "Is it? You don't think it's a little crowded?" *It had never been this difficult to walk around here before.* Minamo: "Aw. You are going back to your usual, grumpy self. If you start talking like that, you are only going to spoil the fun mood we have finally got going!" Tomoe: "Oh, really? But I don't really know what I should do." Minamo: "What will I do with you? At times like this..." Minamo: "...you do this!" *Wakamatsu wrapped her arm around mine.* Tomoe: "Meaning?" Minamo: "Like I said, we just have to link arms and walk together. If we do this, we won't lose sight of each other no matter how crowded it gets." Tomoe: "Oh, that's what you meant." Tomoe: "So, all would've been fine earlier if I had held your hand instead of complaining about the crowd?" Minamo: "Jeez, you don't need to sit there and dwell on it. I would be happier if we linked arms; that is all." Tomoe: "Hm, is that how it is?" Minamo: "I mean, look, it is warmer this way, too! Everyone else is doing it, right?" *I looked around, and one after another, couples were walking by with their arms stereotypically linked together.* Tomoe: "I see. Why don't we follow their lead, then?" Minamo: "Yes!" *I walked through the throngs of couples arm-in-arm with Wakamatsu.* Minamo: "Isn't this our first time going on a date acting like a real couple?" Tomoe: "Is it? We've definitely gone on dates before..." Minamo: "That is just how it worked out. You didn't really seem all that interested..." Tomoe: "I didn't? I'm sorry." Minamo: "Oh well, it is fine. We will make up for that today." Minamo: "In exchange, please treat me to something tasty while we are out." Tomoe: "Sure. As long as it's nothing too expensive." Minamo: "Really? Yay!♪" *She looked so happy, I thought she might start skipping.* *Was treating her to a meal really that exciting? If so, I should have done this for her much sooner.* Minamo: "What should we eat, then?" Tomoe: "Huh? You do realize we just got here?" Minamo: "Hm... Okay, let's try the crepes over there!" Tomoe: "I've never had crepes before." Minamo: "Huh?! Are you serious?!" Tomoe: "Is it that surprising?" Minamo: "Come to think of it, what do you normally eat, Sempai?" Tomoe: "Basically whatever's brought over for me." *By which I meant, "Whatever _Nakizaki_ brought for me."* Minamo: "Nakizaki-sempai isn't always around, right? What do you do when that happens?" Tomoe: "I just don't eat, I guess?" Minamo: "What?! Why would you do that?!" Tomoe: "I don't care enough to cook for myself, and I don't really have an appetite." Minamo: "No appetite? ...Do you not have any basic, human desires? You will die if you don't eat, you know." Minamo: "I am worried about you. Seriously, thank goodness Nakizaki-sempai is around." Minamo: "After all, I..." Tomoe: "Yeah?" Minamo: "...Oh, nothing. Forget it, let's get the crepes, the crepes! We'll score your very first crepe!" Tomoe: "...Yeah. Let's go have some." Minamo: "Yes!"

Minamo: "Huh? You do not have any favorites, Sempai?" *Her surprised reaction was quite exaggerated. When it came time to order the crepes, we ended up talking about our favorite foods.* Tomoe: "It might be more accurate to say I don't really like anything in particular..." Minamo: "Really?" Tomoe: "Yeah, I just eat whatever's put in front of me." Minamo: "Then, what about hobbies...?" Minamo: "None, I'm guessing." Tomoe: "Well, I _do_ practice archery." Minamo: "Archery, like with a bow and arrow?" Tomoe: "Yeah. Nakizaki's dad is an archery teacher. He encouraged me to try it when I was a kid..." Minamo: "That is kind of cool! I want to see!" Tomoe: "Huh? You want to see me do archery?" Minamo: "I want to watch you shoot a bow and arrow!" Tomoe: "Well, you don't 'shoot' a bow, you 'draw' it..." Minamo: "Let's go!" Tomoe: "Huh? Go where?" Minamo: "To do some archery!"

Tomoe: "..." *Why was I here of all places?* Minamo: "All right, please give it a shot!" Tomoe: "Uh..." *What a pain. I never expected things to turn out this way.* *Because it was Sunday, no one was practicing or using the archery dojo. That was a relief...* Minamo: "Hurry, hurry!" Tomoe: "I got it. Okay, step back against that wall." Minamo: "Sure." *I made sure she was a safe distance away, then drew my bow like normal.* Tomoe: "..." Minamo: "Ah! Amazing, you hit it!" Tomoe: "...You don't need to get so worked up about it." Minamo: "Oh, I am sorry... Um, you got kind of serious just now. All I wanted was for you to give me a quick show..." Tomoe: "..." Minamo: "Hey, Sempai~?" Tomoe: "..." Kenzou: "A delinquent student has brought a woman into the dojo?" Tomoe: "Huh...?" *I obviously couldn't ignore that voice. It was Sensei.* Tomoe: "G-Good morning." *Even when I greeted him, his attention was focused solely on Wakamatsu.* Minamo: "Um, hello... Ah, I am sorry to intrude." *Wakamatsu timidly greeted him. She seemed to shrivel up due to how intimidating he looked.* *Was Sensei angry?* Kenzou: "Is she the real deal?" Tomoe: "Huh? What do you mean?" Kenzou: "Is this the real MINAMO?" Minamo: "Huh? You know about me?" Kenzou: "Indeed. I look through pin-ups once in a while!" Tomoe: "Huh? You do?" *Looks like Sensei knew her. Wait, was he a fan of hers?* *She had only just made her big break, so it was surprising he'd recognize someone who wasn't a national celebrity.* Minamo: "Um, thank you very much." Kenzou: "Not at all. Think I could get you to give me a little autograph or something later?" Minamo: "Sure. I would be happy to." *Wakamatsu had her business-smile on full display. I'd seen it on TV and in magazines, but this was the first time seeing it in person.* Kenzou: "My deepest sympathies for what happened to your mom." *Sensei bowed his head to her.* Minamo: "Uh, no... That is very kind of you to say..." Kenzou: "I'm a big fan of your mom's, of Yukari Kotomi." Minamo: "Oh, is that right?" Tomoe: "You were?" *I had no idea. Nakizaki had never mentioned it, either. Maybe she also didn't know?* Kenzou: "Well, that was a long time ago, but I loved your mom's singing." Minamo: "Th-Thank you very much..." *Although Wakamatsu was a bit bewildered, she did look happy. It made me kind of glad myself.* Kenzou: "Still, I never would've expected an uptight guy like you to take an idol for his girlfriend, Tomoe." Tomoe: "Huh? No, it's not like that..." *Our relationship was kind of complicated, so I wasn't sure how to answer him.* Minamo: "Thank you for always taking such great care of Sempai." *Wakamatsu bowed her head from beside me. She was totally acting like I'd admitted she was my girlfriend.* Kenzou: "No, no. I should be thanking you. I'm sort of like Tomoe's substitute dad, so please think of me as a father figure to you, too. Feel free to come to me if you need advice." Tomoe: "How do you figure that?" *It wasn't like we'd gotten married or anything.* Minamo: "Yes, please take good care of me!" *And yet she was going along with it cheerfully. How serious were they exactly?* Kenzou: "All right, why don't I teach you something? Do you have an interest in the bow, young lady?" Minamo: "Oh, yes! Please do!" *Sensei started showing her the ropes, and Wakamatsu followed along obediently.* *It was a heartwarming sight, and yet...* Tomoe: "..." *I realized then that Wakamatsu had been a little _too_ happy today...*

Minamo: "Ah, that was fun! Archery is really entertaining." Tomoe: "Is it?" Minamo: "Yes! It requires a lot of concentration and should be useful for my job, too." Tomoe: "Oh, maybe so." Minamo: "The sun is already going down, huh?" *She seemed reluctant to say goodbye and gazed out at the ocean which was dyed red by the sunset.* Tomoe: "Time goes by so fast, doesn't it?" *It would be dark out in another thirty minutes. These were surely the last rays of sunlight for the day. It was that sort of moment.* Minamo: "I guess it is about time for us to head home." Tomoe: "Yeah." *It might still be early enough for lovers out on a date, but we both felt it. We knew our day was coming to an end.* *Anything more would just become painful.* Minamo: "Thank you very much for today. It was so much fun." Tomoe: "I had fun, too." Minamo: "Really~?" Tomoe: "I'm serious. Today was the most fun I've had in my entire life." Minamo: "Ahaha, you are exaggerating. It could not have been the most fun you have _ever_ had." Tomoe: "It's not an exaggeration. It's true." *I repeated myself. Putting it into words helped me believe it for myself.* *Wakamatsu gasped at my comment.* Minamo: "...I am happy you feel that way. It was the most fun day of my life, too." *Although she was smiling, the look on her face made me wonder if she would burst into tears.* *That smile crumbled almost instantly. She looked back at the ocean to try and hide it.* *The last rays of light were shining off the water's surface.* *I stared straight at the glistening water to burn the image into my retinas. Like me, Wakamatsu also stared at the same scenery.* *How long would this sight remain within us? How long would we share this memory, and the time we spent together...?* Minamo: "..." *Wakamatsu mentioned going home, but she didn't budge. She simply stood there, completely motionless, as if waiting for some sort of cue.* *At long last, the sun finally set. The sky grew dark, much like the lights dimming on a stage.* Minamo: "...Sempai." *With that as her cue, she called out and looked up at me. I could see her smile in the twilight.* *But as my eyes adjusted to the darkness, I could tell that she was crying, yet trying desperately to smile.* Minamo: "I will give being a singer my best shot one more time." *Wakamatsu made her decision, and declared it with a smile as she cried.* Minamo: "I will set my sights on becoming a singer one more time... on making Mama's dream... and what was once my dream come true." Tomoe: "...Yeah. I figured you'd say that." Minamo: "Yes." *She smiled through her tears once more.* Minamo: "I knew you would say something like that, Sempai. You knew what I was planning." Tomoe: "Is that right? I guess it all works out, then." Minamo: "Yes." *She nodded and took in a deep breath.* *Then, she looked up at me with watery eyes while desperately trying to maintain her composure.* Minamo: "That is why we need to break up, Sempai." *Yes... I had expected as much.* *That was the entire purpose of today's date...* *...and why she had invited me out so suddenly, and was in much higher spirits than usual. It was all for this moment.* Minamo: "I will put my heart and soul into becoming a singer, so we can't see each other anymore." Minamo: "Love is taboo for idols." Tomoe: "Yeah, you're right." *I knew this was coming, but my chest hurt ever so slightly.* *Did breaking up with Wakamatsu make me feel lonely?* *If so... that made me kind of happy.* *It was proof of how important Wakamatsu was to me.* Tomoe: "I know you can do it. I'm positive you can become a singer that brings everyone joy." Minamo: "You really think so...? You think I can do it?" Tomoe: "You can." *I nodded firmly for her.* *She was trying so hard to hold back the tears, she couldn't speak any longer. She covered her mouth and choked back her sobs.* Tomoe: "Do your best." Minamo: "Yes..." *I wanted to hug her as she choked back sobs, but I couldn't.* *I knew that wasn't what she wanted. That's why I desperately resisted the urge.* *If I did, I knew she wouldn't be able to move on with her life. She wouldn't be able to leave this spot.* Minamo: "...!" *Wakamatsu swallowed back her tears and lifted her head.* *With grief, she smiled once more. Or at least she tried to...* Minamo: "See you later..." *Wakamatsu took a step back.* *With watery eyes, she agonizingly forced herself to smile.* Minamo: "Bye-bye, Sempai." *Wakamatsu waved to me, her face soaked with tears.* *In a carefree way, like we would meet up again tomorrow.* Tomoe: "Yeah, see you." *I gently waved back at her.* *In a similarly carefree way, like we would meet again tomorrow...* *But we would never see each other again. Even if we happened to cross paths at the academy, neither of us would say a word.* *Just before her smile crumbled, Wakamatsu turned her back to me.* *And just like that, she walked away.* *Her retreating figure grew tinier and tinier, her outline melting into the darkness.* *Then, at last, she vanished, as though she had never been there in the first place.* Tomoe: "Good luck." *In the end, I spoke into the now uninhabited darkness.* *With a voice that could no longer reach her.* *That night, Nangoshi-san called me. Wakamatsu told him, "I want to quit doing pin-ups and become a singer, so I want your help."* Nangoshi: "I'm very sorry for this, but I would appreciate it if you would refrain from visiting Minamo Wakamatsu in person ever again." *When he said that to me, I agreed to do just that.* *That was one of the very few things I could do to help Wakamatsu get closer to her dream.*

Aine: "Huh?! You broke up?!" *Aine's mouth went wide in shock, so much so that I feared her jaw might come dislocated.* Tomoe: "Are you okay?" Aine: "I... I am _not_ okay! Wh-Why?" Naruko: "That's right! Didn't you two go on a date yesterday?" Tomoe: "Well, yesterday was our 'last date,' so to speak." Naruko: "You're taking it really well..." Aine: "He really is. Why...?" Tomoe: "Wakamatsu made the decision to quit modeling and become a singer." Aine: "Ah..." *Aine kept any further comments to herself. She seemed to finally understand the situation.* Tomoe: "As such, we're no longer dating." Aine: "But... That's..." Tomoe: "After all, this was only a 'trial' period. This just proves that it was hopeless from the start." Aine: "B-But... Are you okay with that, Tomoe-san?" Tomoe: "Of course. It's Wakamatsu's dream we're talking about, you know." Aine: "But..." Naruko: "Aine-chan." *Aine tried to argue the point again, but Nakizaki stopped her. She must have known how I felt.* *No, Aine should understand, too. She was just irritated at the less-than-ideal reality.* *Of course, I did believe that ideal was one she only had due to her position as an angel.* Tomoe: "This is for the best. I hope she becomes a singer. I want to support her dream." Naruko: "But you two have to stop seeing each other to make that possible. She is an idol and all." Tomoe: "Exactly." *It was just that simple.* Aine: "But... Are you truly all right, Tomoe-san?" *I could answer that question without even thinking about it.* Tomoe: "I'm fine." Tomoe: "Perfectly fine, in fact. I was never qualified to date or be loved by someone else in the first place." Aine: "That... That is just..." Tomoe: "It's fine." *Aine disapproved of my negativity, but that wouldn't be enough to change anything about me as a person.* *No matter how much she tried to console me, my sins would remain unchanged.* Tomoe: "Forget all that. I have a favor to ask, Aine." Aine: "You are asking me for a favor?" Tomoe: "It's about Wakamatsu. Her heart is apparently fractured." Aine: "Huh...?!" Aine: "I never would have expected Minamo-chan's heart to be fractured..." Tomoe: "What do you think?" Aine: "I did not notice it... but if Menes-chan says so, I am sure she is right. Menes-chan is an excellent angel." Tomoe: "I want you to return Wakamatsu's shard to her somehow. She'll never be able to sing unless you do." *I remembered how Wakamatsu looked when she tried to sing and painfully forced out her voice.* *She couldn't possibly debut as a singer in that condition.* Aine: "In that case, I will naturally do as much as I possibly can..." *Aine was being evasive. Normally she would at least say "I will definitely find it and return it to her," too...* Tomoe: "It's rare to see you so unenthusiastic." Aine: "I cannot help it..." Aine: "I do not want to put it this way... but there is still time, you know?" Tomoe: "Time for what?" Aine: "If I return Minamo-chan's heart shard, and she is able to sing once more, then she will truly be out of your reach..." Aine: "But, if I do not return the shard, then you two could still..." Tomoe: "Aine." *I stopped her mid-sentence.* *I knew what she wanted to say, but I couldn't let her say it.* *Even if it was for my sake.* *Without her shard, Wakamatsu would never succeed. She wouldn't be able to sing at all, in fact.* *If we didn't give it back, then wouldn't she fail and come running back to me?* *...That was probably what Aine wanted to say.* *She wasn't saying it out of malice. Aine was only thinking of me. However, I couldn't make an angel say something so heinous.* Tomoe: "I've made up my mind. Wakamatsu feels the same way, too." Tomoe: "We met up a while ago and made sure of that." *Neither of us had said it out loud, but we didn't need words to convey how we felt.* *Over the course of that day, I knew we had made a true connection.* *It was then that we understood we both felt the same.* Tomoe: "Our wish is for Wakamatsu to become a full-fledged singer capable of bringing happiness to everyone who hears her songs." Tomoe: "That's all." Aine: "Songs that bring happiness to anyone who hears them...?" Tomoe: "Isn't that what angels do, Aine? You should be able to understand how Wakamatsu feels if you think of it that way." Aine: "That is..." Tomoe: "You of all people should understand how frustrating it is to not be able to sing, Aine." *Her guitar was still missing strings. It was for that reason that Aine was unable to sing.* *This was precisely why she should understand how Wakamatsu felt most of all.* Tomoe: "Hey, Aine. Let's help Wakamatsu sing." Tomoe: "I'm sure we can do that much. No, it's something only _we_ can do, right?" *Only angels could return shards. That was all the more reason that we had to do it.* *Aine lifted her head. I could tell a light had returned to her previously trembling eyes.* Aine: "I understand. Let us return Minamo-chan's heart shard to her." Tomoe: "...Yeah. Thank you." Aine: "In order to do so, we first have to find her shard." Tomoe: "Yeah..." *You can't return what you don't have, and since I couldn't see the shard, I couldn't look for it. I had no choice but to rely on Aine, an angel, for that aspect.* *This was surely the last thing I could do for Wakamatsu.* *That was why I wanted to find it, no matter what it took. I had to find the heart shard she had lost...* *I wanted nothing more than for her to sing with everything she had once more.*

*This was the most likely place for her shard to be, huh?* Tomoe: "Do you notice anything?" Aine: "Hm..." Aine: "I am sorry. It is a little difficult to tell from here..." Tomoe: "I suppose so." *It would be great if we could go inside, but I couldn't exactly ask her to break in.* Aine: "I will go take a quick look inside." Tomoe: "Ah..." Tomoe: "She disappeared. Yeah, I guess Aine _is_ an angel..." *She could hide her presence and move around as she pleased, unseen by humans.* *I'd gotten so used to her living like an ordinary human that it had completely slipped my mind.* *It would be great if she found it, but...* Tomoe: "It won't be that simple, huh?" Aine: "I am sorry. I could not be of any help." *Aine had returned from Wakamatsu's home empty-handed.* Tomoe: "I guess we have no choice but to look somewhere else." Aine: "You are right. Let us search anywhere Minamo-chan would be likely to go, every last place that she likely has a connection to!" *However, as expected, the search for Wakamatsu's shard was a difficult one.* Aine: "Come here, Minamo-chan's shard...!" Tomoe: "..." Aine: "Based on magazine articles, she used to go to that shop fairly often." Tomoe: "All right, let's try it out." Aine: "The information on the Internet said Minamo-chan got lost here a long time ago." Tomoe: "All right, let's take a look."

Aine: "It is not here..." Tomoe: "Sure looks like it..." *We couldn't find Wakamatsu's shard anywhere. A week had already passed since we began our search.* Aine: "I am sorry. I am not powerful enough..." *Aine's shoulders drooped apologetically.* Tomoe: "No, it's not your fault. I knew this would be difficult from the start." *Our time was limited, though...* *The seconds were slipping away. If this kept up and we didn't find the shard, Wakamatsu would...* *That thought made me lose my cool, but we'd never find it in a constant panic.* *Were we unable to help Wakamatsu?*

Aine: "Is nobody here?" Tomoe: "Seems like it." *It was 4AM. It was no surprise that the church was empty at this hour.* *Aine got down on her knees before the altar, closed her eyes, and prayed.* Aine: "I pray that we are able to find Minamo-chan's shard..." Tomoe: "An angel praying to a deity, huh?" Aine: "I will pray to whatever if it means finding her shard." *The angel huffed.* Tomoe: "Though, I guess it's an angel that's enshrined here, right? It's an angel praying to an angel." Aine: "It is fine. As long as we find it." Tomoe: "I wonder where Wakamatsu's shard could be?" *I voiced my thoughts aloud. We had searched high and low, but had yet to find it.* Tomoe: "It might not be in this city." Aine: "Maybe not..." *If that were true, then it was all over. It was beyond our control.*

Aine: "Tomoe-san! Tomoe-san, please come here!" Tomoe: "What is it? You're being so noisy." Aine: "Look at the TV!" Tomoe: "...Hm?" *It looked like there was some sort of interview on TV. I spotted Wakamatsu there, and was unsurprisingly shaken.* Tomoe: "Wakamatsu..." Aine: "They said Minamo-chan is going to make her singing debut soon!" Tomoe: "Huh...?" *There _was_ a caption like that on screen. She would apparently be debuting this spring.* *That meant there were still around three months to go, but...* Tomoe: "Can Wakamatsu sing now?" *No, I couldn't imagine that happening so easily while her heart was still fractured.* Aine: "Tomoe-san..." *Aine looked worried, likely because she knew it, too.* *Nangoshi-san was probably with her at that venue right now. If so, I guess I wouldn't be able to get in touch with him. I would have to check afterwards.* *I promised not to meet with Wakamatsu, but it likely would be okay if I only contacted Nangoshi-san.* Tomoe: "Wakamatsu..." *She looked quite pale, which was likely caused by nerves.* *Based on her expression, it didn't look like things had improved any more than we had imagined...*

*I immediately got a hold of Nangoshi-san, and we decided to meet at a local cafe.* Tomoe: "Sorry to call you out here like this." Nangoshi: "No, it's all right. I was thinking of talking to you, too." Tomoe: "I heard about Wakamatsu's debut." Nangoshi: "Yeah. It's sudden, but that's how it's turned out." *Nangoshi-san had a conflicted expression on his face. I could tell just by looking that it wasn't a completely joyous situation.* Tomoe: "Is Wakamatsu still the same as before?" Nangoshi: "Yeah, no change as of yet. She's undergoing voice training and counseling, and she's trying anything we can come up with, but..." *Nothing seemed to have improved.* Tomoe: "Can she make her debut in that condition?" Nangoshi: "We weren't able to move the date due to a variety of reasons. We'll have to do something in the next three months..." Nangoshi: "No, two months, actually." Tomoe: "Two months? Isn't her debut in spring?" Nangoshi: "That's when her CD goes on sale. Naturally, we have to finish recording it beforehand." Tomoe: "Yeah... Still, isn't this all incredibly sudden?" Nangoshi: "Yes. It's ironic, but Minamo-chan's popularity is growing whether she likes it or not now that Yukari Kotomi has passed away." Nangoshi: "The record company wants to market her nationwide with the tagline, 'The daughter of the legendary idol Yukari Kotomi will make a stunning debut and carry on her mother's dream.'" Nangoshi: "Because of that, we can't let this opportunity get away. Time is of the essence." Tomoe: "I see. Capitalizing on people's deaths is just something that happens in this industry, huh?" Nangoshi: "Don't say that. This is for Minamo-chan's benefit, too." Tomoe: "But... she can't sing yet, can she?" Nangoshi: "That is true..." *No matter how grand the plan may be, for now, it was all a pipe dream.* *Everything hinged on Wakamatsu's ability to sing.* *Even though that fundamental skill still eluded her...* Tomoe: "So, how is Wakamatsu doing?" Nangoshi: "She's taking lessons like her life depends on it." Tomoe: "But lessons obviously won't do her any good!" *I accidentally took a forceful tone, and Nangoshi-san looked at me with shock.* Nangoshi: "Lessons won't do any good...? What is that supposed to mean?" Tomoe: "Oh, nothing..." *Right. Her heart being fractured was a theory Nangoshi-san would never understand, nor could I explain it.* Tomoe: "...I just meant, if it were something psychological, wouldn't forcing it just backfire?" Nangoshi: "Oh, you might be right, but there's nothing else we can do. Sitting on our hands seems to be worse for her, too." *I could imagine Wakamatsu's distress. She was so close to taking hold of both her, and her mother's, dreams.* *It must have been so frustrating not being able to take that final step.* *She blamed herself and was internalizing all of those frustrations, thus piling on more and more lessons.* *But the path ahead would never open to her that way.* Nangoshi: "Anyway, we'll give Minamo-chan our full support. You don't need to worry about her, Kirinokojima-kun." Tomoe: "..." *He could tell me not to worry, but that wasn't possible.* *After all, Wakamatsu herself, Nangoshi-san, or even a doctor couldn't do anything about this.* *To think I couldn't be with her when she really needed me...* *To think I couldn't do anything for her...*

Kiyohito: "Hey, hey, did you hear about Minamo-chan?" Tomoe: "What about her?" Kiyohito: "About her debut event next month." Tomoe: "Huh? Next month?" *Did he just say "next month"? I thought she had two more months until the recording was finished?* Tomoe: "I heard her debut would be in spring." Kiyohito: "I heard she's doing a debut event before that. An invitation-only concert with a 2,000-ticket lottery." Tomoe: "There's an event like that...?" *Next month... That was right around the corner.* *We hadn't found her shard yet, so she wouldn't be able to sing.* *And now she had an event like that on her schedule?* Tomoe: "Is that especially big?" Kiyohito: "2,000 people _is_ fairly large. It's basically a publicity stunt, so I bet it'll be put on TV and broadcast on a large scale." Tomoe: "Really...?" Kiyohito: "Why don't you enter the ticket drawing, too, Tomoe? You might win big." Tomoe: "..." Kiyohito: "What's wrong, Tomoe?" Tomoe: "Oh, nothing..." *If she couldn't sing in front of all those people... wouldn't her heart sustain so much damage, it could potentially fracture again?* *I had to avoid that at all costs.* Naruko: "Oh, hey, Kirinokojima!" *This time Nakizaki showed up.* Naruko: "Minamo-chan is apparently coming to the academy today." Tomoe: "Huh?" *Wakamatsu appeared to be in the staff room.* Naruko: "It looks like she's going to be absent for a while. I wonder if she has to fill out some paperwork or something?" Tomoe: "I see. I'm sure school is out of the question for her right now." *There had been rumors of her quitting school outright, or transferring somewhere that was more tolerant of her show business work so that she could fully dedicate herself to it.* *I'd never confirmed those rumors, so I had no actual way of knowing...* *However, Wakamatsu had taken extended absences from school before. Even Aine had said it was rare to see her in class, nowadays.* Minamo: "Please excuse me..." Naruko: "Oh, she came out." *She was dressed like the old Wakamatsu, with glasses and her hair braided. She probably couldn't afford to stand out anymore, given her current position.* *Despite her efforts, I could tell she was exhausted when she came out of the staff room. She was staggering after taking a few steps.* Naruko: "She... doesn't look all that well, does she?" Tomoe: "Yeah..." *Given her behavior, anyone could take one look at her and get worried. She looked like she might collapse at any second...* Minamo: "Ah..." Naruko: "Ah!" *The instant I noticed how unwell she looked, Wakamatsu collapsed right before our eyes.* Tomoe: "Wakamatsu!"

Minamo: "I'm all right now. I am sorry..." *Wakamatsu bowed her head. As I thought, she looked feeble, and not at all "all right."* Naruko: "Don't you think you should rest a little longer?" *I carried her to the infirmary immediately after she had collapsed, and she had slept for around half an hour.* *It worried me that she'd been groaning all through her mere thirty-minute nap. I doubted she'd slept very well.* Tomoe: "I'll walk you home." Minamo: "No, I really am all right." *Wakamatsu stubbornly refused my offer. Probably because she'd been told not to see me.* Tomoe: "In that case, maybe Nakizaki can do it? That should be fine, right?" Naruko: "Yeah, I can take you home." Minamo: "But..." *Even now, she hesitated. Her expression looked forced, and seeing her that way was enough to make me feel terrible.* Tomoe: "Got it. Let's have Nangoshi-san come get you, then. Does that work?" Minamo: "...I understand. Let's do that." *She finally agreed, then called Nangoshi-san on her own.* Minamo: "Sounds like he will be here in ten minutes." Tomoe: "I'll stay with you until he gets here, then." Minamo: "No, you don't have to." Tomoe: "No, I'll wait. I'll just be here, nothing more." *I wasn't going to back down now.* *If I went home and something were to happen to her, I'd regret it forever.* *No matter what that meant, I didn't want to have any more regrets.* Naruko: "Okay then, I'll head home first." Tomoe: "Ah..." *Nakizaki rushed out before I could stop her.* Tomoe: "Damn her..." *Was she trying to be considerate?* *This was none of her business, and way too awkward...* Minamo: "..." *Wakamatsu hung her head, completely at a loss. What a pain...* Tomoe: "..." Minamo: "..." *She said Nangoshi would arrive in ten minutes, but something told me it would be an _extraordinarily long_ ten minutes.* Tomoe: "..." Minamo: "..." *The silence was heavy. We had vowed to never meet again, so I was hesitant to make small talk.* *It was probably the same for Wakamatsu. She maintained the painful silence between us.* *But...* Tomoe: "Don't overdo it. If you collapse, it'll all be for nothing." *I kept it short. That was the one thing I couldn't help but tell her.* Minamo: "...But trying my hardest is the only thing I can do." *Her reply was firm and unwavering, as if she wouldn't let anyone stand in her way.* *However, Wakamatsu would work herself to death if this continued.* *She knew it, and had been suffering for it.* *There was nothing I could do for her, despite all the pain she was going through.* Tomoe: "..." Minamo: "..." Minamo: "...Ah." *Wakamatsu stood up and staggered.* Tomoe: "Are you all right?" Minamo: "I-I'm okay..." *I subconsciously reached out and tried to support her, but she rejected it.* Minamo: "I-I am sorry..." Tomoe: "No... If standing is hard on you, you should sit instead." Minamo: "Yes, I will do that." *She squatted down in place.* Minamo: "..." Tomoe: "..." *She was so close, and yet so far away. Wakamatsu was immediately beside me, but there was nothing I could do for her.* *How utterly powerless was I? Nothing had changed since that one time when I was a kid.* *That was most assuredly because I had gone through life like a living corpse.* *That was why I'd never grown. Not only could I not make anyone happy, I couldn't save anyone, either.* *I closed my eyes and the world disappeared. There had been times I wondered how wonderful it would be if everything were to just vanish...* *That was true even now...* *But, I...* Minamo: "...Um." *Wakamatsu's voice brought me to my senses.* *When I opened my eyes, I found Wakamatsu standing beside me.* Tomoe: "What?" Minamo: "Um, I..." Minamo: "I promise I will be able to sing songs that make people happy. Sempai, that is how I'll..." Tomoe: "Huh...?" *Just as I was about to ask what she meant, I heard the sound of a car approaching.* Minamo: "Ah..." *I could see Nangoshi-san in the driver's seat. He got out and made his way over to us.* Nangoshi: "Minamo-chan, are you all right?" Minamo: "Oh, yes... I am sorry..." Tomoe: "It seems like it was just a small case of anemia. She rested in the infirmary for about half an hour and is managing okay, but she's still unsteady." Nangoshi: "I see. Thank you for everything. Please leave the rest to me." Tomoe: "Of course." *I looked at Wakamatsu, she looked at me, and our eyes met.* *Those eyes still looked eager to say something.* *But there was no time left.* Nangoshi: "Okay, shall we go?" Minamo: "...Yes." *Wakamatsu got into the car with Nangoshi-san's support. She was still somewhat uneasy on her feet when she got in.* Nangoshi: "Are you all right?" Minamo: "Yes..." *As I thought, she didn't look all right at all; her face was pale as she nodded.* Minamo: "..." *Even after getting into the car, she continued staring at me. I had heard exactly what she had said earlier.* *I wanted her to repeat it, as I was sure I had misheard her.* Minamo: "Sempai, that is how I'll make you happy." *That was indeed what she had said back then.* *Because I had questioned it, perhaps she thought I hadn't heard her. That may have been why she looked so upset.* *However, I had heard her loud and clear.* Nangoshi: "I'm truly sorry for all this. You're a lifesaver." *Nangoshi-san said to me.* Tomoe: "Um, Wakamatsu... looks like she really isn't feeling very well." Nangoshi: "That's right. She isn't happy with her singing and won't cancel her lessons." Nangoshi: "Even when she's alone, she hardly sleeps and keeps practicing." Tomoe: "Hardly sleeps... Won't she end up collapsing if she does that?" Nangoshi: "I know, but we can't keep an eye on her all day long, either. We all want her to get some rest..." *Even Nangoshi-san seemed worried. That's just how badly Wakamatsu was forcing herself.* *Was I part of the reason? Because she wanted to make me happy...?* Nangoshi: "Now then, I'm truly sorry for the trouble." *I couldn't respond to Nangoshi-san's final comment. He got into the car and left with Wakamatsu.* *"I'll make you happy."* *Was that the reason she was working herself into the ground?* *No, I had no doubt she was working so hard to make her and her mom's dream come true as well.* *Still...*

Aine: "Oh, they are running something about Minamo-chan on TV again." *They were holding Wakamatsu's debut event on the evening news. Her rising popularity seemed to have been influenced by her mother's passing.* Tomoe: "You haven't found her shard?" Aine: "No, not yet..." *Aine shrugged her shoulders apologetically.* *I wasn't blaming Aine in the slightest, but at this rate, Wakamatsu really wouldn't stand a chance.* *At that moment, the announcer received a briefing from what appeared to be an off-screen staff member. A news flash must have come in.* Announcer: "Uh, we have just received breaking news regarding Minamo Wakamatsu-san." Announcer: "Wakamatsu-san collapsed during work and has been hospitalized in a facility within the city." Tomoe: "Huh? Wakamatsu..." *...was hospitalized...?* Announcer: "We have received word that she has been diagnosed with occupational fatigue. She will be bedridden and canceling her work for the next few days." Announcer: "Additionally, her February debut concert is currently expected to continue as planned." Aine: "Tomoe-san... Will Minamo-chan be okay?" Tomoe: "..." *Receiving this sort of news right after worrying about her health... It was no surprise that she'd be shaken up.* *They said that she was overworked, but just how bad a shape was she in? If this kept up, would she really be able to stand on stage?* *Should I still support Wakamatsu in her current condition?* *Should I still support Wakamatsu in her current condition?*

Tomoe: "Of course I'm going to support her." *Wakamatsu was doing her best to make her dream come true. To fulfill her dream, and to keep her promise with her mom.* *Right up until she became hospitalized...* *What good would it do to _not_ support her?* *She was suffering because her heart was fractured. That was why she wasn't able to sing in the first place.* *After seeing her suffering like that, all I wanted to do was say, "Enough is enough." I wanted to tell her she didn't have to try so hard, to give it all up, take her hand, and run away with her.* *In doing so, we could be together again. I could stay close and support her.* *She might even be happier that way. I did believe that when times were toughest, it was sometimes okay to run away.* *But...* Tomoe: "On second thought, I _do_ want to support her." *I wanted to make Wakamatsu's dream come true, and most of all, I wanted to hear her sing. I wanted _everyone_ to hear her.* *So...* Tomoe: "I'll return the shard to Wakamatsu." *That was my only choice.* *But where in the world was the shard? And how should I go about finding it...?*

Tomoe: "...That's enough." *I believed Wakamatsu had done enough.* *Wakamatsu couldn't sing. She tried so hard until she collapsed, but nothing changed.* *In that case, why not rest a little while? Was there a reason for her to overdo it so much?* *Why did Wakamatsu have to push herself so hard all alone?* *If life had to be so cruel, then running away was fine.* *Human beings weren't that strong. Running away from it all to protect yourself, to make sure you don't break, had to be okay sometimes.* *And if it was for her sake, I knew I could help her now. There _was_ something I could do for Wakamatsu.* *Something I could do besides returning her missing shard.* Tomoe: "That's it." *Wakamatsu was most important.* *She was the one I wanted to protect...*

*I softly opened the door labeled "No Visitors," careful not to make a sound.* *There was no name on the hospital room's nameplate, perhaps due to her being a celebrity.* *I begged Nangoshi-san, and he informed me of which hospital room she was in and nothing more. It was a big help.* Tomoe: "..." *I held my breath and went inside. The room was nearly pitch black.* *Illuminated faintly by moonlight, I spotted a figure on the bed.* Minamo: "Uh... Ooph... Ah, aah..." Tomoe: "Wakamatsu..." *She was lying on the bed, her complexion pale, and she looked even more exhausted than when I last saw her.* *She appeared to be sleeping, but there was a cold sweat forming on her forehead, and she let out a weak, pained moan from time to time.* *Seeing her like that readily reminded me of her mother.* Minamo: "Oooh... Aah, ooh..." *The sight of her left me motionless. I never so much as imagined she'd be in this condition.* Minamo: "Aaah... aaaaah... Ooooh..." Tomoe: "Wakamatsu..." *Still, I had to stop her. I couldn't let this go on any longer. It wouldn't end with just her heart being fractured.* *If this kept up, she would break completely.* Minamo: "Auu... ooh..." Tomoe: "Wakamatsu...!" *I rushed over to the bed and hugged her. Her body was so unexpectedly slender and cold that it startled me.* *It hardly felt like I was embracing a living human.* Tomoe: "Wakamatsu..." Minamo: "...Sempai?" *Wakamatsu came to her senses in my arms.* *By acting now, she was still within my reach. I could still hug her like this. Thank goodness I came here.* Minamo: "Why are you here, Sempai?" *She asked me that childishly in my arms.* Tomoe: "I came to pick you up." *I hadn't given it a lot of thought, but that's what I ended up blurting out.* Minamo: "To pick me up? Where are we going?" Tomoe: "Anywhere is fine as long as it isn't here. Somewhere you won't have to suffer anymore." Minamo: "I can't do that. My concert is coming up, and I have to practice..." *She twisted around and tried to wiggle free from my arms.* Tomoe: "You don't have to do that. You don't need to try so hard anymore." Minamo: "I can't just give up. All of the arrangements have been made, including securing the venue and staff." Minamo: "I can't just quit on a whim. This is where I make my start." Tomoe: "You say that, but won't it all be for nothing if your body is destroyed in the process? No, not just your body, your heart, too... What will you do if you break your heart?" *Her heart had already fractured once. Couldn't it break even further if she kept this up?* *I shivered at the thought of her heart shattering to pieces.* Minamo: "But... Come on..." Minamo: "I still have to sing. I have to make Mama's dream come true. I will end up putting everything she has ever done for me to waste." Minamo: "I am positive she is watching over me..." Tomoe: "Even your mom would stop you if she saw you now. She would definitely tell you to rest a little." Tomoe: "She treasured you more than anything else in the world." Minamo: "But that's... but... I..." *She squirmed in my arms.* *Though her heart threatened to break, she was compelling herself to sing no matter what.* Minamo: "On second thought, I have to sing..." *I couldn't watch this for another second.* Tomoe: "That's enough...!" *I kissed her forcefully.* Minamo: "Mmm...?!" *As I kissed her, I hugged even tighter, to let her know she didn't have to go away anymore... so she wouldn't leave me again.* Minamo: "Mm... Mm, mmm..." *Her resistance wavered. I finally let go of her hand after her whole body went completely limp.* Tomoe: "That's enough..." Minamo: "Ah, oh... Sem...pai..." *She was finally looking at me directly. Tears were brimming in her eyes.* Tomoe: "That's enough... Let's stop this..." *There was a prickly feeling in my nose. I could feel the corners of my eyes getting wet.* Minamo: "Please... don't make such a sad face." Tomoe: "But..." Minamo: "...Is it really okay for me not to sing?" *Wakamatsu asked, practically to herself.* Tomoe: "Yeah, you don't have to anymore. You'll be with me. You'll be with me forever, so..." Minamo: "You will really be with me forever? You will always be by my side, even if I can't sing?" Tomoe: "Yeah, I will. That's why I want you to be there for me forever, too." *She went silent for a moment, then looked out the window. The white moon hung high in the sky.* *Wakamatsu faced the moon and seemed to whisper something to it.* *But her words were inaudible, and I couldn't tell what she had said. It looked like she may have said "I'm sorry."* Minamo: "...I understand. I will stay by your side. I won't go anywhere else." Minamo: "I will do as you say, Sempai." Tomoe: "Wakamatsu..." *This time, she clung to my chest. Desperately, like a child might.* Minamo: "So, please make me forget. Make love to me so hard, I forget everything entirely..." Tomoe: "Wakamatsu..." Minamo: "Sempai... Mmm..." *Wakamatsu looked up at me, and I stole her lips once more. Like so, I pushed her down onto the bed.* *I tore her clothing off.* Minamo: "Sempai... Aah... Mm..." *She didn't resist me in the slightest, so I was able to do with her as I pleased.* *And I had a feeling that was what she wished for, too.*

*Squiiiish...!* Minamo: "Ah, aaaaah...! Ah, mm!" *I shoved my cock into her still relatively dry pussy.* Tomoe: "Kuh, oooh..." *Her inadequately lubricated vagina somehow felt even tighter than the first time. I thrust and forced my way in all the same.* Minamo: "Aah, mm...! Sempai... Aaah... Eeeh, aah...!" *Squeeeeeeze!* Tomoe: "Kuh, ooh... Amazing..." *Her insides clamped down on me with intense pressure. It was so fierce that it felt like my dick was being gripped forcefully by someone's hand.* Tomoe: "Guh, Wakamatsu..." *It was so tight, I could barely move, but my penis gradually rubbed its way through her.* *Sloosh... Splash...* Minamo: "Fah, ooh... You're, moving... Your dick, is rubbing, inside me...!" *Wakamatsu's voice echoed quietly through the dark hospital room. It was possible someone outside could hear us, but that was the furthest thing from my mind right now.* *If somebody heard us, let them. If we were discovered, that was fine, too. I didn't care what happened after the fact anymore.* *For now, I wanted Wakamatsu to be as close to me as possible.* *Squick... Suck... Slosh...* *The sounds coming from our union seemed to be getting wetter with each thrust of my hips. Likewise, it was becoming easier to move, too.* Minamo: "Ah, mm... Ah! Sempai, mm... Ah... aah... It feels so good... Mm, aah... Ah..." Minamo: "Your dick... It's filling me, so much... Mmmoh, aaah...!" Tomoe: "You've gotten so wet inside..." *Squish... Drip... Dribble...* *Damp noises emanated through the room every time I moved. The splashes almost made it sound like we were playing in the water.* Tomoe: "Amazing... You're overflowing..." *Her brimming nectar was forming a stain in the sheets. This was a hospital bed, too... I'd be willing to bet we wouldn't get off with just a scolding if we were found like this, but I couldn't stop now.* Tomoe: "I'm going to do it harder." Minamo: "Ah... Mmaaah!" *Dribble, dribble... Slooosh!* Minamo: "Ah, Sempai...! Ahh, mm, aah...!" Minamo: "Amazing! It feels so good...! Stick your dick, all the way in...!" Minamo: "Aah, aah... Mm, ah... faah... yaah... aaaah...!" Minamo: "Sempai... Hmm, oh... Sempai, you'll really... be there for me... forever... right...?" Tomoe: "Of course. I'll be here with you forever, Wakamatsu." Tomoe: "You don't have to carry the burden of everything all by yourself anymore. I'll be there for you." Minamo: "Y-Yes... Yes...!" *She nodded over and over, tears brimming in her eyes.* *I stuck out my tongue and licked away the tears, hoping I could understand the taste of her anguish even a little...* *Gush... Splash, dribble...* *I thrust powerfully into her honey pot, attempting to loosen up her insides which were tense from sorrow and hardship.* Minamo: "Ah! Aah... Mm, aah! Sempai... Mm, oooh! Ah...!" *I could tell that I was gradually thawing away the pain and fatigue lurking within her.* *However, I was sure it would only be temporary. There was no way this act would bring her true peace.* Minamo: "Sempai... I love you... I love you...!" *She called to me, her voice practically crying. I answered her calls by fucking her relentlessly.* *When I did so and we rubbed against each other, our genitals fused with the friction, and it felt as though we truly became one.* *If this was how we were, we might be able to stay joined forever, red thread of fate or not.* Tomoe: "Wakamatsu..." Minamo: "Aah... Sempai..." *While I was the one inside of her, I experienced a strange illusion that she was inside of me.* *Our boundary lines became so fuzzy I couldn't even tell where I ended and Wakamatsu began.* Tomoe: "Forever... I'll be by your side forever and ever, so..." *That was all I told her as I felt myself reaching my limit. Her insides clamped tightly around me.* Minamo: "Yes... Mm, ah, aah... Stay with me, forever... Sempai... Forever..." Minamo: "Hmmmm, ah... aaaah... Mm, aaah...!" *Her voice grew loud, and at that very moment, her pussy convulsed around me tightly.* Tomoe: "Kuh... Wakamatsu... I'm coming!" Minamo: "Hauh...! Sempaaai... Aaaah!" Minamo: "Aauh, aah... It's, hot... There's so much... mm, aah... aah... so much shooting into me..." Tomoe: "Kuh, ooh..." Minamo: "It keeps on coming... Aaah, aah, so warm... Your semen is... so warm..." *Wakamatsu whispered, seeming satisfied. I felt a sense of unity with her deeper than I'd ever felt before. She felt so very close to me.* *This carnal feeling of oneness might not last very long. It might be a temporary feeling of togetherness which only existed while our bodies were joined as one.* *Still, this was all I could do. The one and only thing I was capable of was to vow to stay by her side...*

Tomoe: "I'm sorry I forced myself on you..." Minamo: "No, it is all right." *After getting dressed, Wakamatsu gazed at me with an afterglow of pleasure.* Minamo: "For some reason... I feel like I won't be able to sing anymore." *She said quietly. Her voice sounded sad, yet refreshed.* *Her expression was equally mysterious, looking both teary and relieved simultaneously.* *Whichever the case, she was finally at ease. Wakamatsu seemed relieved after giving up on something beyond her capabilities.* Tomoe: "That's fine. You don't have to force yourself to sing anymore." *Though she couldn't sing now, perhaps someday she would become able.* *If given an extraordinarily long time, she may discover a new song deep down in her heart, fractured or not.* *I had little faith that it would ever happen, but hope wasn't completely lost.* Minamo: "Will you really stay with someone like me forever?" Tomoe: "Yeah, of course I will. I'll always be there for you." *That was the one and only thing I could do.* *I had no idea how well I could support her, but that was the decision I had made.* Tomoe: "Let's go together." *I took her hand.* *Now that Wakamatsu had given up on singing and I had decided to be with her, we couldn't stay here any longer.* *If she didn't leave, she would have no choice but to stand on stage, even though she couldn't sing. If that were to happen, her heart would surely perish.* *Our only option was to run away.* Tomoe: "Let's go." Minamo: "...Yes."

Tomoe: "..." *The arrow sunk into its target in the darkness. It probably hadn't hit the bull's-eye, but I drew my bow not particularly caring if it did.* *I was emotionally shaken. It had been quite some time since I felt so distraught.* *Ripples formed in my heart whenever I thought about Wakamatsu or her shard. No, 'ripples' didn't even begin to describe the massiveness of these waves.* *Try as I did to ignore my heart's cries as I drew my bow, I couldn't.* Tomoe: "..." *Amidst those emotional outcries, I could hear a voice... It was the singing voice of a young Wakamatsu.* *The song from her demo tape was superimposed over it. This came as no surprise, but the two songs Wakamatsu sang sounded very different.* *What sort of song would Wakamatsu sing in the present day if she were able to sing once more?* *For that to happen, I would need...* Tomoe: "The heart shard..." *That was absolutely essential. There was no time left...* Menes: "Do you need my help?" *I heard a voice. Unlike the young voice from my hallucination, this was an adult woman addressing me. It was...* Tomoe: "Menes..." *Almost as if she had read my mind, Menes had appeared with perfect timing.* Menes: "Maybe I could find Four-Eyes' shard for you." Tomoe: "Huh?! Really?!" *Menes smiled daringly. Yes, that might be true. Menes had realized Wakamatsu's heart was fractured before anyone else.* *If _she_ looked, then maybe we really could locate Wakamatsu's heart shard.* Tomoe: "How did you know that Wakamatsu's heart was fractured, Menes?" Menes: "I told you, I noticed it when I heard that song." Tomoe: "The song..." *After some thought, I realized that had been from Wakamatsu's demo tape.* Menes: "It was obvious once I found out that was Four-Eyes singing. I mean, there's no way _she_ could ever sing so beautifully." Menes: "If that really was her singing, then I can only imagine it means the present day Four-Eyes' heart is fractured." Tomoe: "I see." *It felt like a light had been cast upon my dark and dreary heart.* *Either way, I had nowhere else to turn. I had no choice but to cling to whatever possibility there was left.* Tomoe: "I want to return Wakamatsu's heart shard to her. Will you help me, Menes?" Menes: "You're well aware I hate Four-Eyes, aren't you?" Tomoe: "I know, but I need to ask this one favor of you." *I would do anything to make this happen.* Menes: "True enough... Fine." *I planned to get down on my hands and knees if I had to, but Menes agreed without a fight.* Tomoe: "Really?" Menes: "Yes, I don't mind helping you out. However, I have one condition." Tomoe: "Which would be?" Menes: "You have to give me a kiss, Darling!" *Without a moment's hesitation, I embraced Menes.* Menes: "Huh...?" *Her mouth opened slightly from surprise, and I pressed my lips against hers.* Menes: "...?!" Tomoe: "..." *We stayed like that for several seconds, then separated.* Tomoe: "Does that work?" Menes: "..." Menes: "Okay. Pushy kisses are my favorite." Menes: "Still, I never thought you'd get so assertive. Who'd have thought you'd be capable of such an overbearing kiss." Tomoe: "Our lips barely touching wouldn't be much of a kiss. That's no better than pressing our hands together." Menes: "You lose points for sounding like such a killjoy, but, oh well; I'll let you off the hook." Menes: "That's just how important that four-eyes is to you, huh?" Tomoe: "Wakamatsu isn't wearing glasses anymore." Menes: "Oh, really? Well, it doesn't matter either way. I just want to call her 'Four-eyes.'" Menes: "But I get it. I'll find the shard and bring it back for you." Tomoe: "I'm counting on you." Menes: "But will you really be able to return the shard to that girl, Darling?" *Menes gauged me with her gaze.* Menes: "There's still time to change your mind. That girl will definitely fail as a singer if she stays the way she is now." Menes: "When that happens, you'll win her back in a heartbeat if you're the slightest bit nice to her." Tomoe: "It's all right. Things won't turn out that way." Tomoe: "I'll return her shard without fail." Menes: "...Hehehe, that look in your eyes is incredible. You look like you could even kill a man." Tomoe: "Don't make me sound so dangerous." Menes: "I understand how determined you are. It makes me kind of jealous, though." Tomoe: "Jealous?" Menes: "But it's all right. I'll be sure to earn that kiss." *Having said that, an alluring smile crossed Menes's face.* Tomoe: "I'm counting on you, Menes." *I really was. Placing my bets on Menes was my last resort.*

*The next morning, we took the first train out of the city.* *We boarded it with no destination in mind, changed over at another unknown station, then reached an unfamiliar town.* *A flat town with no hills. I bet there were no angels here, either.* *The only feature this town had in common with our former city was its view of the ocean.* Minamo: "Sempai, I can see the ocean." *We got off the train at that station with those few brief words from Wakamatsu.* *Next, we found a cheap-looking inn and checked in.* Minamo: "Hah... I was so nervous. I am surprised nobody spotted us." Tomoe: "Nobody will notice you if you act like you belong." *Wakamatsu wasn't in disguise or anything, but the inn staff didn't have much to say to us, either.* Minamo: "I signed my name, 'Minamo Kirinokojima.'" *Wakamatsu blushed. She used that name on the inn register.* Minamo: "You said I was your wife, huh?" Tomoe: "Well, we couldn't really pass off as being siblings. Aren't young married couples pretty common these days?" Tomoe: "Think about it. Didn't we see a bunch of couples around our age with kids on the ride here?" Minamo: "Oh, we did! Those kids were so cute." *Come to think of it, we had sex yesterday without using protection. I doubted anything would come of it, but I couldn't deny the slim possibility.* *What would happen to us if we had a kid in this predicament?* *I suddenly tried to envision it, but couldn't begin to picture that sort of future.* *I couldn't even predict how long we could keep up this lifestyle.* Minamo: "..." Minamo: "Oh, it is cheap, but we do have a TV." *She noticed how anxious I was and said that rather cheerfully.* Tomoe: "Of course they would have a TV." Minamo: "There must be something on at this hour..." *Wakamatsu picked up the remote, but gave up on the idea and put it back.* *There was a chance we would make the news. That had to be what she was thinking.* *Personally, I was confident we wouldn't. There was still time before her event, and Nangoshi-san and the others shouldn't have any reason to go public about Wakamatsu's disappearance just yet.* *Tracking us down and dealing with everything privately would be the best course of action.* *Then again, I couldn't say that for certain. Regardless of their staff's wishes, information leaks did sometimes happen.* Tomoe: "Everything will be all right." *I hugged Wakamatsu close. Her tiny body was shivering ever so faintly.* Tomoe: "It's all right. I'll be here for you forever." Minamo: "Yes..." *Her voice quivered despite our embrace, so I held her even tighter.* *I was sure Wakamatsu's disappearance had inconvenienced many people, especially Nangoshi-san, who had been so generous to her.* *That thought made me hopelessly terrified.* *The entire idea that we could become happy after troubling so many people was laughable.* *Nor did I think we _deserved_ to find happiness.* *We huddled our bodies together to make up for our many anxieties. We hugged each other close.* Minamo: "Sempai..." Tomoe: "You should get some sleep. You hardly slept yesterday, either." Minamo: "You are right." *Everything would be all better after a good night's sleep...* *That convenient delusion suddenly popped into my mind.* *No, that wasn't possible. That could never happen, but there was nothing wrong with dreaming about it, was there?* Minamo: "Come with me, Sempai." Tomoe: "Sure." *We both slept like babies, so deeply we didn't even dream.* *We woke up around midnight, then joined together again. We were hungry, but in place of food, we indulged in each other's bodies.*

*We welcomed the morning, still connected together.* Minamo: "Oh, the ocean..." *Wakamatsu whispered that quietly from on top of me. She was looking out the window.* *The sun was just beginning to rise, and we could see the ocean out the window. The water's surface was faintly highlighted by the light from the yet unseen morning sun.* Tomoe: "'Minamo'..." Minamo: "Yes?" *I was actually referring to the water's surface which shared her name, but Wakamatsu seemed to think I was saying her name and responded. Better just go along with the misunderstanding.* Tomoe: "This morning really fits the mood." Minamo: "Huh...?" Tomoe: "It's still dim out and we can't see the sun yet, but it's just beyond the horizon." Tomoe: "'The night is long that never finds the day'... I guess that's a pretty tired cliche, though." Minamo: "...Yeah. I am sure you are right." *Wakamatsu... no, Minamo smiled comfortably on top of me.* *This was sure to be a brief serenity. There may still be trials ahead that we would need to run away from.* *However, that night would someday end. Minamo and I would weather this dark night and dream of welcoming a true morning together.* *The simple fact we could be together was a true miracle.* *We would wait for the morning as we savored that miracle in the here and now.*

*After much wandering around, Menes finally turned up at Wakamatsu's house.* Tomoe: "So it _is_ here?" Menes: "...Probably." *However, she didn't sound too confident about it.* Menes: "I do sense it, but I can't say where it is from here. Let's just take a look around inside." Tomoe: "Please do." *If it was inside, then I couldn't proceed any further.* Aine: "It is all right! I am sure Menes-chan and I will find it together!" Tomoe: "Yeah, I'm counting on you." Menes: "Okay, we'll be right back." Aine: "Here we go!" *Menes and Aine vanished. All I could do now was depend on them.* *I'm counting on you two...* Aine: "Hah..." *Aine came back and sighed. She came up empty-handed.* Tomoe: "No luck?" Aine: "I am sorry... but Menes-chan did say it is probably in that house somewhere." *She had at least sensed it was inside, but had no idea where it actually was.* Tomoe: "Is Menes still at it?" Aine: "Yes, she is still looking. I am going to head back in again myself." Tomoe: "Please do." Aine: "You can count on me. Here I go!" *Relying on them was my only choice. It was irritating that I couldn't do anything.* Tomoe: "Good luck in there." *All I could do was pray...*

Tomoe: "..." *Menes and Aine frantically searched, but couldn't find Wakamatsu's shard.* *And then...* Kiyohito: "Minamo-chan's event is tomorrow!" Tomoe: "Yeah..." *Yes, Wakamatsu's debut event was imminent. We had run out of time.* Kiyohito: "What's up? You're totally pale. Are you worried about Minamo-chan?" Tomoe: "...A little." Kiyohito: "I get how you feel, but don't you think you're worrying too much?" *I must have had a pretty somber look on my face.* Naruko: "Hey, Kirinokojima." *Just then, Nakizaki turned up and looked quite flustered.* Kiyohito: "Why do you look so worked up? Come up with a funny one-liner or something?" Naruko: "It's nothing like that." Naruko: "Kirinokojima, they're saying Minamo-chan's been hospitalized again..." Tomoe: "Huh, she was?" Naruko: "Yeah, yesterday. Apparently she worked so hard, she collapsed." Tomoe: "She's overworked and was hospitalized..." *I knew this would happen eventually. My guess was she had finally reached her physical, or perhaps emotional, limits.* Kiyohito: "For real? Does that mean her concert's been postponed?" Tomoe: "Yeah..." *That was at least one silver lining. If Wakamatsu could avoid pushing herself too far, postponing the concert would be ideal.* *However, delaying the concert wouldn't prevent this from happening again.* *That is, until the underlying issue was resolved...*

Nangoshi: "No, the show is proceeding as scheduled." *I couldn't just sit still and do nothing, so I got in touch with Nangoshi-san. When I did, that was the answer I received.* Tomoe: "But I heard she collapsed. Will she be all right?" Nangoshi: "Yes, she's fine. She's already stabilized." *Was that true? His tone of voice was no different than usual, so I couldn't determine whether he was telling me the truth or not.* Nangoshi: "More importantly, did your invitation make it there okay?" Tomoe: "Huh? My invitation?" Nangoshi: "One should have been sent to you. It was by Minamo-chan's request." Tomoe: "She did?" Nangoshi: "It seems she wanted you to hear her sing no matter what." Tomoe: "..." *Wakamatsu suddenly felt very near to me. Was she still worried about me?* Nangoshi: "Personally, I didn't think inviting you was a great idea, but she wouldn't take no for an answer. As such, I hope you'll come listen if you're able." Nangoshi: "I believe she'll do her best if you are there." *Suddenly, I could sense some insecurity in his tone.* *As I suspected, Wakamatsu still couldn't sing. I was positive she wasn't in peak physical condition, either.* *Despite it all, she hadn't given up.* Nangoshi: "If your invitation doesn't arrive in time, just let me know when you get to the venue the day of and I'll make sure you get in." Tomoe: "...Yes. I'll keep an eye out for it." *The invitation had been delivered. It was in my mailbox which I hadn't checked in ages.* Tomoe: "Wakamatsu..." Menes: "When you say her name like that, it really does make me jealous." Tomoe: "Ah..." *Menes appeared. My heart instantly felt lighter, but I second-guessed myself when I saw her exhausted expression.* Tomoe: "Don't tell me you haven't found the shard...?" Menes: "Not yet, I'm afraid." *Even her voice was worn out. She must have been pushing herself quite a bit to locate the shard.* Menes: "Honestly, where could it be?" Tomoe: "Think we'll make it in time?" Menes: "We'll work something out." Tomoe: "Wakamatsu will be away from home tomorrow. Maybe it would be better if I came with you." *Tomorrow was the day of the event, so she should be leaving her home first thing in the morning.* *It might be skirting the law a bit, but it might be best if I helped in the search for the shard, too.* Menes: "We'll manage, so you go to the venue, Darling." *Menes said as she looked at the invitation in my hand.* Tomoe: "But..." Menes: "Four-Eyes is a coward, so you've got to be there for her. It's okay; I promise I'll find the shard..." *Menes said with a serious expression.* Tomoe: "...Got it. I'm counting on you." Menes: "Yes, leave it to me." *Menes vanished once again, as if she couldn't put even a second to waste.* Tomoe: "I'm counting on you, Menes." *Wakamatsu... Menes and Aine are working as hard as they can to find your shard, and I'm coming to cheer you on.* *So, do your best...!*

*When Wakamatsu appeared on stage in her full costume, the venue erupted with cheers. It finally sunk in for me that Wakamatsu really was an idol.* *There were so many people cheering for her. It really warmed my heart.* Tomoe: "Good luck, Wakamatsu." *It was time for the main event, but we still hadn't located her shard. Menes and Aine should still be searching for it as I spoke.* *Please, let them find it as soon as possible. Wishing was all I could do now.* *Really, why was I so powerless? How was it I couldn't do anything at all for her?* Tomoe: "I'm begging you, make it in time..." Minamo: "Everyone, I am grateful to have so many of you at my debut event." Minamo: "At this time, I, MINAMO, will be making my official debut as Minamo Wakamatsu the singer." Minamo: "Singing has been my dream ever since I was a child, and I am incredibly happy that I am finally able to take my first step toward my dream." Minamo: "This would not be possible without all of your support. Thank you very much." *Wakamatsu ruminated on and spoke those few brief words in a show of gratitude, but unsurprisingly, her expression was stiff with nervousness.* *Was she able to sing now? Was her standing on stage evidence of that, or was she up there in spite of it?* *I didn't want to imagine the latter scenario, but I couldn't bring myself to be optimistic that Wakamatsu could overcome that with a fractured heart.* Minamo: "I have prepared a beautiful song for my debut─one I am very fond of." Minamo: "I am a little nervous, but I want everyone to get excited when they listen to my song, so I will give it all I have got!" Minamo: "Please listen!" *A melody poured into the venue. Wakamatsu swayed in tune with the song, mic in hand.* *Her expression was completely stiff. It was plain as day that she was nervous. Could she really sing properly?* *The intro ended. Wakamatsu squeezed her eyes shut for a moment, then opened them, her expression filled with spirit.* *She began to sing.* *However, the crowd immediately became restless.* *Her singing couldn't be called great by any measure. In fact, it was downright subpar. She was off-key and constantly out of rhythm.* *Her singing was so terrible, you couldn't even cover for it by saying it was due to nerves.* *Sneers could be heard every which way. I could tell that the audience, which had at first erupted with cheers, was losing interest.* *Up on stage, even Wakamatsu had noticed the change in mood. It was clear that she was panicking, but there didn't seem to be anything she could do about it.* *The audience had just about had enough. In addition, Wakamatsu's singing was growing shoddier by the second.* *She was singing for dear life, and looked as though she might burst out crying.* Tomoe: "...!" *I couldn't stand idly by any longer and broke out into a run. I pushed through the crowd and headed for the stage.* Security Guard: "Hey!" *The security guards sensed something amiss and stopped me long before I ever reached the stage.* Tomoe: "Wakamatsu! You can do it!" *I yelled to her as several guards held me back.* Tomoe: "You can do it!" *That was all I could do for her now.* *However, my cheers were lost in the sea of noises and quickly disappeared.* *The members of the audience in my immediate vicinity simply stared at me, seeming annoyed yet curious.* Tomoe: "Wakamatsu...! You can do it!" Menes: "Darling!" *As noisy as it was, her voice was as clear as day.* Tomoe: "Menes...!" *I looked around and searched for her.* Menes: "Darling, over here!" *I found Menes in the standing-only section at the very back of the venue.* *Menes waved her hand in a wide arc, and I could see a ball-sized orb shining in her hand.* *My intuition told me it was Wakamatsu's shard. They found it!* Tomoe: "I'll be right there!" *I turned around and dashed to the back of the venue.* Security Guard: "Uh, wait...!" *The guards tried to pursue me, but ultimately lost sight of me in the crowd and never caught up.* *Wakamatsu, wait right there. I'll have your shard back to you right away.* *And then, I'll hear your song...* Menes: "The rest is up to you." *The shard had already been reformed into an arrow by the time I arrived. I took it from Menes.* Tomoe: "Thank you." Menes: "I'll stay close and watch you perform your angelery, Darling." *Menes crossed her arms and began acting like a spectator. Her behavior suggested her job was done.* *She had done enough. All that remained was for me to do _my_ job.* Tomoe: "..." *Up on the stage, Wakamatsu was suffering. I aimed and drew my bow in her direction.* *All the clamor, the noise from the gigantic speakers, the audience, and even Menes who should be immediately beside me... all of it vanished from my world.* *All that existed in my world now was my target─Wakamatsu─and myself. All else, material and aural, ceased to be.* Tomoe: "Shard... Minamo Wakamatsu's shard... Deliver the sentiments you carry, and that song, back to her." *There were no obstacles in my way. The shard flew at Wakamatsu in a straight line.* Minamo: "Ah..." *Wakamatsu's stopped singing, and the audience roared in displeasure.* Minamo: "Huh...?" Nangoshi: "Minamo-chan, sing!" Minamo: "Ah..." *Startled, she regained her grip on the mic.* *She began to sing once more. In that instant, there was a roar from the audience.* Tomoe: "Wakamatsu, you can do it."

Tomoe: "..." Kiyohito: "~~~" Tomoe: "Hm...?" Naruko: "~~~" Tomoe: "Huh?" *The two of them were talking about something, but I couldn't make out a word.* *Not a second later, Nakizaki reached out and ripped out my earbuds.* Naruko: "I thought something was strange. You had earphones in?" Tomoe: "Oh, I get it. That's why I couldn't hear you." *I wasn't used to wearing them, so I hadn't realized.* Kiyohito: "It's rare for you to listen to music. You actually own a CD player?" Tomoe: "It's Nakizaki's hand-me-down." Kiyohito: "Oh~" *Kiyohito held a single earbud to his ear and grinned.* Kiyohito: "Now I get it. This is Minamo-chan's single? Did you buy her CD?" Tomoe: "Of course I bought it." *Wakamatsu's CD went on sale without incident. It was a big hit in the media, and it seemed sales of her debut single were doing well.* Naruko: "I bought it, too. It's got a great feel to it, and Minamo-chan's singing is amazing." Kiyohito: "So did I. Yeah, Minamo-chan's singing's epic. I heard her recent concert was awesome, too." Tomoe: "Yeah." *Her debut concert the other day had been a real blast afterwards.* *Following the event, the media took quite favorably to it, and even tied it into sales of her CD.* Kiyohito: "She's probably going to be absent more often now. I bet you'll be lonely not being able to see her." Tomoe: "Yeah, I will." *Both Nakizaki and Kiyohito stared at me in surprise when I gave him an honest reply.* Naruko: "Wow, that's pretty direct for you." Kiyohito: "'The biggest fish is always the one that got away,' is it?" Tomoe: "Yeah, maybe it is." *I was only being honest, but they both looked like they'd seen a ghost.* Kiyohito: "You're being so honest that it's seriously creepy." Naruko: "I wonder if it's going to snow or something." *Nakizaki looked up at the sky, appearing genuinely concerned.* Tomoe: "It's already April. The snowy season is over." Kiyohito: "It _is_ pretty cold today, though." *Yes, it was cold, but I was sure it would be the last cold fit of the year. It was springtime now. Our eventful winter was over, and a new season was beginning.* Naruko: "Oh...?" *I noticed her presence at the sound of Nakizaki's voice.* Tomoe: "Ah..." Minamo: "Hello." *It was Wakamatsu. I never imagined I'd see her here again, so I was a little flustered.* Kiyohito: "Yo, it's been a while. You came to school?" Minamo: "Yes. I had some transfer procedures to take care of." Aine: "Huh? Minamo-chan, you are transferring?" Minamo: "Yeah, I am. Our academy doesn't forbid my line of work, but they probably would come down hard on me after a number of absences." Minamo: "I am transferring to an academy that is considerate of such things." Naruko: "I guess there's no way around it. I'm sure you're only going to get busier and busier, so this is how it has to be." Minamo: "Yes. I will do my best." *Wakamatsu seemed to have matured a great deal in such a short amount of time.* *She had become quite distant, which made me feel some degree of loneliness.* Minamo: "Um..." *Wakamatsu stared at me.* Tomoe: "Yeah?" *She was being mindful of those around us. She must have wanted to talk about something.* Kiyohito: "'Kay, it's about time for us to head back." Naruko: "Yeah. It's a little early, but why don't we?" *Kiyohito and Nakizaki started walking toward the exit.* Naruko: "Want to go with us, Aine-chan?" Aine: "Huh? ...Oh, you are right. Coming!" *They quickly departed, leaving Wakamatsu and me alone on the rooftop.* Minamo: "They are being considerate of us, huh?" Tomoe: "Haha, looks like it." *The mood changed as soon as we were alone. It felt relaxed, yet restless in a way.* *Still, things were a bit different from how they used to be. We felt way more formal with each other.* Tomoe: "I bought your CD. It was really good." Minamo: "Huh? You bought my CD, Sempai?" *She was surprised. Maybe I didn't look like the type to buy CDs.* Tomoe: "See? It's in here." Minamo: "Oh, you even have one of those? It doesn't suit you at all." Tomoe: "Yeah? You think so?" Minamo: "I do." *A brilliant smile crossed Wakamatsu's face, but she quickly turned shy.* Minamo: "But, I am really happy. I wanted you to listen to my song the most." Tomoe: "Yeah, I made sure to listen to it." Minamo: "Yes. Thank you very much." *She showed me a content smile and turned her attention to the far-off cityscape.* Minamo: "That moment... You did something, didn't you?" Tomoe: "Huh? When do you mean?" Minamo: "During my first concert." *My heart momentarily skipped a beat as I wondered if she had realized what I'd done, but I didn't let it show on my face.* Tomoe: "What are you talking about? I've got no clue." *Better just play dumb. There was no real need to bring it up.* Minamo: "Really? Never mind, then." *Wakamatsu answered, sounding unfazed.* *She may not have expected a clear answer in the first place. Her expression basically said that she knew all about it regardless.* Minamo: "I will manage on my own somehow." *She said only those brief words.* Minamo: "If you stayed by my side, I would've become dependent on you forever. Now that I'm on my own, I'm getting to the point where I can put my best foot forward." Minamo: "It _is_ a little lonely, though..." *Her smile seemed to transiently waver in the chilly wind, but only for an instant.* Minamo: "But, I will do my best on my own. I want to become a stronger person." Minamo: "Unless I get much, much stronger, I will never be able to make anyone happy. I don't think I will be able to sing songs that bring others happiness." *With that being said, there was no longer any sign of transience in the smile that I had seen just a moment before.* *It was filled with a resilience and hope which would bundle anything and everything in its embrace like the rays of the spring sun.* Tomoe: "Songs that bring others happiness, huh? Like your mom's songs?" Minamo: "Yes." Tomoe: "It would be great if you became a singer like your mom someday." Minamo: "It will definitely happen. Please continue watching me, forever and ever." Minamo: "I am sure that one day I will make you happy with my singing, Sempai." *Wakamatsu said that without looking at me.* *She would make me happy...?* *The fact that she wished for my happiness, the very thought that someone felt that way for me, instantly put me in a cheerful mood.* Tomoe: "...Yeah. I'll be looking forward to it." *I answered back without looking her way, either. Something just told me doing so was for the best.* *Would we be able to look each other in the eye again someday?* *If the day her songs made me happy came, then we would surely be able to.* *We envisioned that future as we gazed out over the city together─a future which sparkled like a sunny spot in spring.* Minamo: "Okay, I should be going." *She said and turned away from me.* *I thought I spotted something glistening in her eyes, but I couldn't tell for sure.* Tomoe: "Yeah, see you..." *As I watched her walk away, I was so overcome with emotion that I couldn't muster any better parting words.* Minamo: "Yes... This is goodbye." *Wakamatsu departed into the distance.* *I saw her off until she vanished through the rooftop door.* Tomoe: "...Do your best." *I softly called out to her beyond the door she had disappeared through.* Tomoe: "Do your best."

Naruko: "It's morning~! Rise and shine!" *Yet another noisy morning had arrived.* Tomoe: "I'm awake. You know I'm a light sleeper, right?" Naruko: "You might be awake, but if you haven't gotten out of your futon, then you're not actually 'up.' Come on, get out of bed already!" Tomoe: "Fine." Naruko: "Very good!" Tomoe: "You're awfully energetic this morning, Nakizaki." Naruko: "If you're not full of energy in the morning, then when _will_ you be? You just slept and are well rested, so you _should_ be energetic!" Tomoe: "Yeah, I guess you have a point." Tomoe: "Hey, I can see my breath." *Despite being inside, my breath came out as a nearly transparent cloud of white.* Tomoe: "Looks like it's going to be another cold day." Naruko: "Yeah, it's super cold! The roads are covered in ice!" Tomoe: "Winter's back, huh?" *It was that time of the year again─for that season that felt like a frozen prison.*

Aine: "S-S-So cold..." *The angel was shivering.* Naruko: "Angels get cold too, huh?" Aine: "I _am_ cold! I do not deal with the cold very well..." Tomoe: "What a wimpy angel." Aine: "Aaaah, I am cold! Tomoe-san, may I nuzzle up to you?!" Tomoe: "Huh? Nuzzle up to me?" Aine: "Whee!" *Aine tackled me and held onto me tightly...* Aine: "You are so warm and cozy!" *...Or so I thought. It looked like she was clinging to me because she was cold.* Tomoe: "Am I just a heater to you?" Aine: "A huge~ heater! Nice and warm!" *Aine was in such a good mood, she hugged me even tighter.* Tomoe: "It's hard to walk like this. Let go." Aine: "There is nothing wrong with this! Does this not feel warm, Tomoe-san?" Tomoe: "I don't really mind being cold." Aine: "Why? Do you like being cold?" Tomoe: "I hate it, but that's exactly why it's fine." *If I immersed myself in the things I enjoyed most, you couldn't exactly call that a proper punishment.* Aine: "You like it because you hate it? That is one preference that does not make any sense to me." Tomoe: "It doesn't need to make sense, so just get off of me." Aine: "No - can - do!" Tomoe: "Knock it off. People are watching." *Not that it mattered, but we were getting tons of stares, not to mention laughed at.* Tomoe: "Nakizaki, don't just stand there. Do something." Naruko: "..." *I was fed up, but when I turned around to face Nakizaki, she looked disappointed for some reason.* Tomoe: "Why are you making that face?" Aine: "Oh, Naruko-san, that is an interesting expression." Naruko: "Huh? Wh-What? Was I making a strange face?" Tomoe: "You looked kind of irritated." Naruko: "Oh, really? I didn't notice at all." Tomoe: "You didn't?" Aine: "Is something bothering you?" Naruko: "Hm... I'm not really sure, but when I saw you two flirting, I got this fuzzy feeling right about here..." *Nakizaki held a hand up to her chest.* Tomoe: "Fuzzy?" Naruko: "I'm fine now, but I wonder what it was?" *She _did_ look confused. It was rare to see her get this way, and left me feeling a bit baffled myself.*

Kojirou: "Isn't it love?" Naruko: "Huh? Love?" *Nakizaki had a meticulously foolish look on her face.* Kiyohito: "That doesn't look like the face of a woman in love to me..." Naruko: "Love... You're saying I'm in love?" Naruko: "Ahahahahahaha! That's impossible!" *Following that silly look was an incredibly hearty laugh.* *She was right, though. I'd seen plenty of women in love lately, and Nakizaki didn't quite fit the bill.* Kojirou: "Hm, maybe it's just my imagination? But when your chest gets all fuzzy, isn't that love?" Yuri: "Discomfort in your chest... Perhaps it's some sort of terrible illness?" Naruko: "Huh? Please don't say scary stuff like that." Tomoe: "I honestly doubt she's sick." *She _had_ been pointlessly energetic since first thing this morning.* Yuri: "I wonder what it could have been, then? That discomfort in her chest." Naruko: "Seriously, I don't think it's ever happened before. It's kind of like there's a me inside I don't know. I don't like it." *Nakizaki looked a little uncomfortable, and Aine stared at her thoughtfully.* Aine: "Um..." Naruko: "Hm? What is it?" Aine: "On second thought, I _do_ think those could be symptoms of having fallen in love..." Naruko: "Huh? Now you're saying it's love, too, Aine-chan...?" Aine: "Does nothing else come to mind?" Naruko: "How would I know? I've never been in love before." Aine: "Huh?! Naruko-san, you have never been in love?!" *Aine seemed quite shocked by this.* *Was it really so difficult for an angel to believe that a human her age had never been in love?* Naruko: "It kind of hurts that you're so surprised. Am I really that weird?" Aine: "N-No, it is not that you are weird, but..." Kojirou: "Not weird, but 'unusual' maybe? You seem pretty popular, but has anyone ever confessed their love for you?" Naruko: "Confessed their love? Hard to say..." Tomoe: "Are you sure it's never happened?" Kiyohito: "But it did. You got a love letter last year, remember?" Naruko: "A love letter?" Naruko: "...Oh. Now that you mention it, I did get something like that." Aine: "You forgot about it?" Tomoe: "Nakizaki doesn't have much of an interest in stuff like that." Naruko: "Come on, I'm just not cut out for romance." Aine: "What happened with the person who left you the letter?" Naruko: "What happened? Nothing really, I guess? I just told him thank you." Aine: "That is all you did? You did not go out with him or anything?" Naruko: "There's no way I'd do that." Aine: "'No way'...? Tomoe-san, what do you think about all of this?" Tomoe: "Why are you asking me?" Kiyohito: "Yup, yup. There's no point asking Tomoe. He's in the same boat." Aine: "Oh, you do have a point." *The same boat, huh? He could be right.* *Nakizaki may have been a bit of an oddball among girls her age, but that was why I'd been able to get along with her so mysteriously well.* *I often thought her aloof personality was the main reason we were able to maintain such an intimate relationship.* *So much so that I wondered if our meeting might have been fated.* *Knowing her had saved me more times than not, and for that, I was grateful.* Aine: "I wonder why they are so uninterested in love?" Aine: "Oh, could it be fate that I, an angel, alighted to this place to teach you two the beauty of love?" Kojirou: "Hm? 'An angel'?" Naruko: "Uh, well, about that..." Tomoe: "There's no deeper meaning to it, so please don't worry about it. She's just a little off her rocker." Kojirou: "Is she now? If anything is ever troubling you, come to the infirmary, all right?" Aine: "Sure... Please come here anytime you have love problems, too, Sensei!" Aine: "Angelic love counseling is available here year-round!" Kiyohito: "Come to think of it, we've got a few counselors here, huh? Nakizaki gives people advice all the time, too." Aine: "Oh, yes, now that you mention it." Kojirou: "Maybe you've put love on the backburner because you're too busy helping others?" Naruko: "Hm, you think so?" Aine: "It is kind of a waste. You definitely seem popular to me." Naruko: "Ahaha, being popular won't change anything." *Nakizaki stood there, laughing amusedly.* *None of the rest of us thought much of it since we were used to seeing Nakizaki like this, but Aine just tilted her head in confusion and gazed at her.*

Naruko: "Okay, dinner is ready!" Tomoe: "Sorry for the trouble." Aine: "Thank you for the food!" *The angel immediately sunk her teeth into the food.* Tomoe: "Nobody's going to take it from you, so you should actually chew your food properly." Aine: "It is so delicious, though! Naruko-san, you are a great cook!" Naruko: "Ahaha, thanks. I _do_ enjoy cooking. Besides, if I don't make it, we'll wind up with a couple of casualties." Tomoe: "Do you mean me? I'll be fine whether you worry about me or not." Tomoe: "I guess I shouldn't say that since you're always taking care of me, though." Naruko: "It's way too late for you to tell me not to worry about you now. It's become a habit." Naruko: "Okay, I'll come to pick up the dishes later!" *Aine watched Nakizaki leave with an unusually serious expression on her face.* Aine: "..." Tomoe: "What's up? Is something wrong with Nakizaki?" Aine: "No, it is not that..." Aine: "Naruko-san _is_ popular, right? She is cute, good at cooking, takes good care of people..." Tomoe: "That again? Yeah, if I had to say, she probably is?" *I searched my memory for any instances that stood out.* Tomoe: "I think a few guys asked her out when we were in middle school, too." Aine: "So she _has_ been confessed to before? But she has never gone out with anyone?" Tomoe: "As far as I know." *I'd never seen or heard of a Nakizaki in love, much less her being lovesick or actively going out with anyone.* Tomoe: "I'm sure if that happened, she wouldn't have time to keep a loner like me company anymore." Aine: "Oh, that is true. I am sure her boyfriend would be very jealous of you, Tomoe-san." Tomoe: "Jealous of me?" Aine: "Of course! I mean, you are always together, and get along so well!" Tomoe: "Yeah, I guess we may be kind of close." *When she put it that way, it made me wonder.* *Did Nakizaki and I look so close that others would be jealous of our relationship?* Aine: "Oh, I know! It would be best if you and Naruko-san dated each other!" Tomoe: "What sort of nonsense is that?" Aine: "Why is it nonsense? You do not dislike Naruko-san, right?" Tomoe: "Well, no, of course I don't." *There was no way I could ever dislike her.* Tomoe: "But I'm pretty sure I have said this before: we don't have that kind of relationship. That's why we've been able to stay together for so long." Aine: "Hm, is that right? I personally think you two look good together." *It was true that we had heard the line, "You two are totally going out, right?" on more than one occasion. It had come up less frequently lately, but it happened a lot when we first enrolled.* *Despite being in different classes at the time, we always walked to and from school together. Everyone seemed to think we were dating when they saw us like that.* Tomoe: "Hypothetically speaking, if Nakizaki and I did start dating, I don't think it would last long." *I could say that with some degree of conviction because I believed we'd been able to get along for so long _because_ we stayed friends.* Aine: "Are you sure about that? Don't you think Naruko-san has gotten awfully pretty lately?" Tomoe: "Huh? I don't think she's really any different from before." Aine: "Really? Come on, did she not say something about her chest feeling 'fuzzy' this morning?" Aine: "I still think that was her body telling her she has fallen in love. That is my angel's intuition." Tomoe: "Your intuition is unreliable." *Despite Aine's protests, I wasn't convinced Nakizaki had fallen in love. It didn't seem to me like she had changed in any way.* Tomoe: "Are you sure you're not just worrying over nothing?" Aine: "Yes, I _am_ worried about her. For some reason, she has been on my mind a lot lately." Aine: "With the way she has been acting..." Tomoe: "Is something _actually_ wrong with her?" *Of course I'd be worried after Aine worded it that way.* Aine: "Is it at all possible that... Naruko-san's heart might be fractured?" Tomoe: "...Huh?"

Naruko: "It's morning~!" Tomoe: "Yeah, morning." Naruko: "Oh, you're awake?" Tomoe: "I can see your underwear." Naruko: "Huh? Ah!" Naruko: "Ahaha~ Looks like I showed off something boring..." Tomoe: "No..." Naruko: "Oh, what's up? Do you really dislike my panties that much?" Tomoe: "It's irrelevant to me either way." Naruko: "Ahaha, guess so. Oh well, I'll get breakfast started, then." Tomoe: "...Phew." *After what Aine said yesterday, so much was on my mind that I felt awkward around her now.* Tomoe: "Nakizaki's heart is fractured, huh?" *Wouldn't that mean Nakizaki had fallen in love with someone? If that were true...* Tomoe: "I've got to help her." *I was surprised I came to that conclusion so easily. I never thought I would willingly support someone's love. Was this that angel's influence?* *If Nakizaki really was in love, _should_ I support her?* *I'd never so much as considered it before. Wouldn't love only bring her misery?* *That thought made me feel anxious.* *Love was something to be detested, to be avoided at all costs...* *I had a feeling I never would have wavered on this subject before, back when I believed in that wholeheartedly, but now...* *I felt like I was filled with nothing but doubts lately...*

Naruko: "So then, based on what Kiyohito said..." Girl: "U-Um...!" *A girl I didn't recognize called out to us from the school gate. Was it someone Nakizaki knew?* Naruko: "Um, can I help you with something?" *Nakizaki asked. I could tell by her body language that she wasn't familiar with this girl, either.* Girl: "Uh, um... Could I talk to Kirinokojima-sempai a second...?" Tomoe: "Huh? Me?" *It looked like she had business with me, not Nakizaki.* *Don't tell me I was seen performing angelery again? It would be pretty bad if I gained any more witnesses.* Tomoe: "What is it?" Girl: "Um... Um... Um..." *She was having a hard time speaking up. Maybe it _was_ about my angelery? What a pain.* Girl: "I... I love you! Please go out with me!" Tomoe: "...Huh?" *The girl had gone stiff, her head hung. I looked Nakizaki's way on reflex.* Naruko: "..." *Nakizaki was frozen solid, too. She looked quite shocked.* Naruko: "Ah..." Naruko: "Kirinokojima, say something." *Still shocked, she nudged me with a whisper.* Tomoe: "U-Um..." *Wow, someone confessed to me? I was glad I hadn't been caught, but...* Girl: "..." *The girl kept her head hung and blushed beet-red up to her ears.* *Confessing her love must have required a tremendous amount of energy.* *That much had become clear to me after performing angelery on so many infatuated men and women.* *But, my answer was obvious.* Tomoe: "...Sorry." Girl: "Ah..." *Her whole body seemed to shrivel up at that single word. My chest ever so slightly ached.* Tomoe: "But... Thank you." *Those words came out of my mouth smoothly, as if driven out by the twinge in my chest.* Naruko: "Huh?" *I heard a cry of surprise from my side before the girl in front of me ever got a chance. It came from Nakizaki.* Girl: "Well, um..." *The girl in front of me had a perplexed look on her face, too. Was it unnatural to say "thank you" even though I turned her down?* Tomoe: "Sorry, maybe that was weird of me?" Girl: "N-No, that's not it." Tomoe: "I see. I'm glad, then." Naruko: "..." Girl: "N-No, I mean... I should be saying that... Thank you very much." Tomoe: "Thank you? It's nothing..." *I was thanked in return. It was a mysterious feeling, being thanked after rejecting someone.* Girl: "Um, this is a bit late, but here..." *She handed me what looked to be a letter. Wait, a love letter?* *Something told me it was strange to accept such a thing after turning her down, but I'd feel even worse if I turned it away.* Tomoe: "I'll read it when I get home." Girl: "Yes, thank you very much. Okay then, I've got to go..." *She bowed her head several times before running off.* *Two girls who seemed to be her friends showed up, and the three of them walked away huddled together. It looked like they were watching over her from somewhere nearby.* Tomoe: "...All right, shall we?" Naruko: "Oh, y-yeah..." Tomoe: "What's wrong?" Naruko: "What do you mean...?" *Nakizaki looked engrossed as she stared at the letter in my hand.* Tomoe: "Oh, this? I wound up accepting it." Naruko: "Will you read it?" Tomoe: "Well, I _did_ take it, after all." Naruko: "Wow..." *Nakizaki hadn't expected that response.* Tomoe: "Is that so strange?" Naruko: "No, it's not... But..." Naruko: "Saying 'thank you' and accepting her letter... I was just thinking that you never would have done that before now." Tomoe: "You think?" *Now that she mentioned it, she might be right.* Tomoe: "I wonder what the old me would've done?" Naruko: "You probably would've ignored her and walked away. As for the letter, I'm sure you would've told her that it was pointless and refused it." Tomoe: "I see..." *Maybe she was right. I wonder why I said what I did earlier, then?* Tomoe: "Was that not like me?" Naruko: "What's the point in worrying about it? It's not like you did anything wrong." Naruko: "In fact, I think what you did was nice. That girl even thanked you for it." Tomoe: "She did. I don't get _why_ she thanked me, though." Naruko: "Because you thanked her yourself." Tomoe: "Because I thanked her..." *I most certainly did, but was that really the reason? Why I had even said such a thing was perhaps the bigger mystery here.* Naruko: "Maybe it was Aine-chan's doing?" Tomoe: "Aine's? Has she really had that much of an effect on me?" *That left me with mixed feelings. It certainly wasn't intentional.* Naruko: "Ever since Aine-chan showed up, you've seen all sorts of relationships. I'm sure you've thought about it a lot with her, too." Naruko: "Wouldn't that affect you?" Tomoe: "Hm... You sure about that?" *Yes, I probably thought about those couples a great deal. It would be more accurate to say that I had no choice but to think about them, though.* Naruko: "I think it's a good change." Naruko: "No, not a 'change.' It might just be you turning back into the old Kirinokojima." Tomoe: "How so?" Naruko: "I just mean, that's the sort of person you used to be." *Nakizaki asserted it with a smile, but I wasn't convinced.* Tomoe: "I don't really follow." *I'd never given much thought to what sort of person I was.* *If Nakizaki was describing the real me, then who the hell had I been until now, and who was I at this very moment?* *I fell into that labyrinth of thought and shook away the voice in my head. There was no point in thinking about stuff like that.* Naruko: "If you ever happen to find someone you like, tell me! I'll make sure you two get hitched!" *Nakizaki struck her chest passionately. As reliable as she made herself sound and look, none of that sounded even remotely necessary.* Tomoe: "I told you, I'm not interested in love. I'm sure you're fully aware." Naruko: "Well... There's no reason for you to be so dead set about it, either." Tomoe: "I'm not making the decision lightly. Anyway, let's hurry up and go home." *Nakizaki should have understood that there was no way I'd ever love anyone.* *Isn't love something you do because you want to be happy?* *However, that was something I had no right to wish for.* Naruko: "..."

Naruko: "Phew..." *I could see Kirinokojima's room out my window. The lights were on, so he must be in there.* Naruko: "Hah..." Naruko: "Oh... What's with me? I've been sighing all day." *I recalled what had happened just as we were heading home. The girl who ran up and confessed her love to Kirinokojima.* *She was probably a first-year. Was she not aware of his reputation, his hatred of love, and how harshly he had rejected people before?* *Something told me she must have.* Naruko: "It must have taken a lot of guts to confess to him knowing that..." *Nothing could be scarier. Telling another person you love them while knowing you would be rejected and never being given the time of day was a really courageous thing to do.* *But that girl braced herself and did it anyway.* *That's probably why she looked so surprised when Kirinokojima thanked her for it.* *She even thanked him back...* Naruko: "Hah..." *Another sigh. Why was I sighing so much?* *I couldn't get the image of that girl confessing her feelings to Kirinokojima out of my mind. Whenever I thought about it, it became difficult to breathe.* *Why did I feel this way? Kirinokojima was just a friend.* *...At least, that was what I'd decided.* Aine: "Naruko-san!" Naruko: "Oh, Aine-chan." Naruko: "Come in." *I opened the door for her, and she walked inside.* Aine: "I came to return the manga I borrowed!" Naruko: "Oh, the shoujo manga. You finished reading it?" Aine: "Yes! It was very informative! I will just leave it here." Naruko: "Yeah, leave it wherever." Aine: "...Hm?" *Aine-chan stared at me.* Naruko: "What? Is there something stuck to my face?" Aine: "No, it is not that. You just look kind of out of it." Naruko: "Oh, do I?" *She noticed. Aine-chan did have quite the eye for people.* Naruko: "Maybe I'm just a little worn out today? But, I'm fine." Aine: "Are you? I would hope so..." Aine: "Oh, right. Tomoe-san read the letter earlier." Naruko: "Oh...?" *I was shocked since I knew instantly it was _that_ sort of letter.* Aine: "When I asked him about it, he said it was a love letter." Naruko: "Yeah, I know. I was there when it happened." Aine: "Oh, is that so?" Aine: "I am kind of surprised. Despite how gloomy he is, Tomoe-san is very popular." Naruko: "Yeah, it _is_ surprising. Girls have actually asked him out a few times in the past." Naruko: "He's a gloomy guy, and doesn't say much, but I guess girls find that mysterious." *Yes, that was right. That sort of thing had happened several times up until now.* *I never thought much of it before, so why was it bothering me so much this time?* Aine: "Wow, Tomoe-san is quite a stud, huh? ...But I guess he always turns them down?" Naruko: "Yeah, he's never given the okay even once. As far as I know, anyway." Naruko: "I doubt he ever said yes when I wasn't looking, either. Kirinokojima isn't a sneaky person, and he has no reason to hide it from me." Aine: "So basically, that means he has never gone out with anyone. Still..." *Aine suddenly grinned and looked at me.* Aine: "Naruko-san, you really _do_ know everything about Tomoe-san." Naruko: "Huh? Y-Yeah, we've been together for a long time, but I don't think I know _everything_..." Naruko: "He's never told me about anything from before we met, either." Aine: "How long have you two known each other?" *Aine-chan sounded super curious about the subject and asked me one thing after another.* Naruko: "We met a little before we started elementary school, I guess?" *The scene came rushing back to me as I spoke.* *A young Kirinokojima. At the time, he had just moved in next door to us.* Tomoe: "I'm Tomoe Kirinokojima. Nice to meet you." *A little brazen, but with nothing really all that special about him, either. He was an ordinary boy for his age.* *But, I was drawn to him for some reason. I remembered that kid being on my mind a lot.* *Thinking back on it now, I may have sensed a darkness no kid should have inside of him.* *I was too young to piece it together at the time, but it probably had something to do with his family's situation.* *He had a slightly complicated home life.* *Although I didn't know the details, I remembered being very concerned about him. And yet...* Aine: "Naruko-san?" Naruko: "Ah..." *I had briefly lost myself in my memories.* Naruko: "Yeah, that's right. We met before we started elementary school, and he moved in next door." Aine: "Hm, that sounds surprisingly normal." Naruko: "Ahaha, and what would an abnormal meeting be? Dramatic encounters aren't all that common." *Actually, it was.* *"Dramatic" might not be the right word, but I would bet what happened shortly after that was something no ordinary person would go through in their entire lifetime...* Naruko: "..." Aine: "True enough. That is too bad." Aine: "What was Tomoe-san like back then?" Naruko: "Huh? Kirinokojima? Well, he was pretty rambunctious, and he got into fights with his friends, too." Aine: "Huh? Tomoe-san did? That is unexpected! In fact, I cannot believe it!" Naruko: "Ahaha, right? Totally different from how he is now." Aine: "Really? When did he start acting like he does now?" Naruko: "Well..." Naruko: "Tomoe-kun! Tomoe-kun, hang in there!" Naruko: "..." Aine: "Um, Naruko-san?" Naruko: "Oh, sorry. I'm kind of in a daze today. Maybe I've got the heater turned up too high?" Naruko: "Aine-chan, are you hot?" Aine: "No, I am all right..." Naruko: "Really? Could I open the window for a bit?" Aine: "Oh, yes, go ahead." *I threw open the window. Cold air from outside poured into the room all at once.* Naruko: "Ah, it feels nice." *Opening the window only made the light from Kirinokojima's bedroom feel even closer. Then, a shadow appeared against the glass, and it opened.* *Kirinokojima's face appeared.* Aine: "Oh, it's Tomoe-san. Heeeey!" Tomoe: "Don't 'hey' me. So you _did_ go over there?" Tomoe: "Sorry to bother you so late, Nakizaki." Naruko: "Oh, uh-uh. It's fine, really." Aine: "I asked Naruko-san what you were like when you were a kid!" Tomoe: "What I was like as a kid?" *Kirinokojima's brows furrowed.* Naruko: "I didn't tell her anything bad. Just about when you first moved here and whatnot." *That sounded like a total excuse.* *I was thinking back on the past for the first time in ages. It really shouldn't bother me given how long ago it all happened, but...* *...No, it wasn't in the past. It was still going on, even now.* Tomoe: "..." *Kirinokojima stared at me, and we locked eyes.* Naruko: "..." *It felt like he was staring into the depths of my soul, so I quickly looked away.* Tomoe: "...Aine, it's about time for you to come back. I'm going to bed." Aine: "Oh, yes! Okay, Naruko-san, I am going back now." Naruko: "Oh, yeah. Good night." Aine: "Good night!" *Aine-chan left.* Tomoe: "Good night, then." Naruko: "Yeah, night. See you tomorrow." Tomoe: "Yeah, see you tomorrow." *The window across from me closed.* *"See you tomorrow."* *How many times had I said those words? How many more times would I be _able_ to say those words?* Naruko: "I'm acting kinda weird lately, huh?" *Why was my heart beating so loudly?* *Little by little, he seemed to be changing, and it felt like I was being left behind.* *"Left behind"? Had I had been at a standstill this whole time?* *Had our time frozen in place ever since back then?* Naruko: "...It's cold. Guess I'll close the window." Naruko: "...Ah." *Something white lightly descended from the heavens.* Naruko: "It's snow." *It threw me back into my memories all at once. Memories of long ago...* *Of that cold, snowy day...*

Aine: "Tomoe-san! It is snowing! It is snow, snow!" *Aine yelled loudly as she rushed in. She was just like a puppy.* Tomoe: "You're way too riled up over a little snow." Aine: "But it is snow! I love it so much." Tomoe: "You love snow, huh?" *I remembered a certain girl who used to say things like that. Of course, most kids did tend to like the snow.* Aine: "Do you hate snow, Tomoe-san?" Tomoe: "I... don't like it, no." Aine: "Aw, you do not? But it is so pretty. Why do you dislike it?" Tomoe: "Well... because it's cold." *I gave a vague answer.* Aine: "Huh? That cannot be the real reason." Tomoe: "Why do you say that?" Aine: "Because, Tomoe-san, you do not care no matter how cold it is." Tomoe: "..." *That was true. I preferred the piercing cold over tranquil, warm weather.* *But I always had a subconscious, negative reaction to snow. It made me remember what happened that day...* Tomoe: "Anyway, I just hate it. Never mind. I'm going to sleep." Aine: "Oh, please wait. Please do not turn off the lights until I am in my futon!" Tomoe: "You're an awfully demanding angel." *I waited for her to get under the covers and turned off the lights.* Aine: "Wah, the futon is so cold! I wonder if that kitty cat will show up?" Cat: "Meow!" *The stray cat must have heard her calling and really _did_ appear.* Aine: "Oh, it came, it came! Please get in my futon." Cat: "Meow!" Aine: "So soft and snuggly." *Aine looked quite happy after successfully luring the stray into her futon. Personally, I would be satisfied with a futon as ice cold as a casket.* Tomoe: "Good night." Aine: "Oh, could we talk for a little while?" Tomoe: "Huh? That came out of nowhere." *She always started snoring the second she got into bed, so why did she want to talk today?* Aine: "I am kind of worried about Naruko-san." Aine: "You said she has never loved anyone. Is that true?" Tomoe: "As far as I'm aware... Why?" Aine: "It bothers me that she has never loved anyone before. Could it be that she 'cannot' rather than 'has not'?" Tomoe: "Didn't you bring that up the other day?" *I remembered what Aine had said before. I sensed she had nodded in the darkness.* Aine: "Yes. Do you think her heart could be fractured?" Tomoe: "Are you sure it's not your imagination? She seems fine to me." *I couldn't answer any other way. I mean, Nakizaki was always so cheerful. She had nothing in common with someone who had a fractured heart.* *People with fractured hearts had all given up on something. A heavy shadow loomed over them perpetually.* *Did Nakizaki have a dark and gloomy side to her? To me, she seemed more like the sun, shining upon all those around her.* Tomoe: "You sure you're not seeing things? People who have never loved another person aren't really _that_ unusual." Tomoe: "Besides, you've never said anything about this until now." Aine: "That is true, but..." Aine: "Indeed, but I never imagined her heart would be fractured before now, and never sensed anything of the sort, either." Aine: "However, I _have_ started to sense it. Something about her may have changed." Tomoe: "Nakizaki changed?" *Nakizaki had mentioned that I had changed as well.* *I hadn't noticed it, but if I _had_ changed, then it might be possible she did, too.* *My impression of Nakizaki hadn't changed much since we were kids.* *The image I had of her in my head was of a kid who had become an adult as-is. Almost like time had completely stopped for her.* *Of course, you might be able to say the same about me.* Aine: "Naruko-san... Perhaps something happened to her when she was young? Something significant enough that her heart fractured..." Tomoe: "Something..." *An incident which caused her heart to fracture?* *I gave it some thought, but nothing came to mind.* Tomoe: "I don't know. If something did happen, it may have been from before we met..." Aine: "Why not ask her directly?" Tomoe: "Don't." Aine: "But..." Tomoe: "Nakizaki looks perfectly content to me." Tomoe: "Every person we've returned shards to was suffering or worrying about something. I understand wanting to help people in need..." Tomoe: "...But there's nothing wrong with her." Aine: "Well... Would you not agree it is similar to the case with the president?" Tomoe: "By 'president,' you mean Fukue?" *His scowling face popped into my mind.* Aine: "His heart did not seem fractured either, did it?" Aine: "That was because so much time had passed since it fractured. He had gotten to the point where it just seemed normal." Aine: "If Naruko-san's heart is fractured, then I am sure it must have happened in her childhood..." Aine: "That is why I am certain she grew up with a fractured heart, and it just became natural to her." *I understood what Aine was saying. While it made sense, Nakizaki just didn't fit my impression of a human with a fractured heart.* Tomoe: "...Either way, wouldn't it be best to just leave her be?" Aine: "Huh? But..." Tomoe: "If she considers her current lifestyle to be normal, and is completely unaffected by it, then why not leave her that way?" Tomoe: "Couldn't it hurt her worse if she remembers it now? If her heart fractured and healed naturally, there's no reason for us to give it back and reopen her old wounds." Aine: "But... If we do nothing, her heart will stay fractured forever." Aine: "If Naruko-san's heart _is_ fractured, do you truly believe it is best to leave her that way?" Tomoe: "..." *"Nakizaki's heart is fractured." If that were true...* *Indeed, the very thought left my heart in a frenzy. A part of me wanted to do something to help her, but...* Tomoe: "You're just assuming things. We don't actually know whether her heart is fractured or not. Arguing about it is pointless." Aine: "You are right, but..." Tomoe: "Don't interrogate her over each and every little detail of her past, okay? Everyone has things they don't want to talk about." Aine: "Tomoe-san, are you sure nothing comes to mind that would suggest her heart may be fractured?" Tomoe: "No, nothing." *There _was_ one incident where Nakizaki saved me when we were kids.* *But at the very least, that incident had nothing to do with her directly. I was sure it wasn't the sort of thing that would cause her heart to fracture.* Tomoe: "Nothing comes to mind, really." Aine: "Is that so...?" Tomoe: "If I think of something, I'll let you know. I'm worried about her, too, you know." Aine: "I am sure you are. Okay, when the time comes, please do." *Aine had come to terms with it for now, closed her eyes, and became quiet.* *I, on the other hand, was wide awake.* Tomoe: "..." *Nakizaki's heart might be fractured.* *Had that really happened?*

*Kirinokojima's bedroom went dark. He must have gone to bed right after Aine-chan came back home.* *As for me, I couldn't fall asleep at all.* *After talking to Aine-chan about the past, I grew nostalgic and pulled out a photo album.* Naruko: "Ah, this really takes me back!" *There were a lot of photos of me when I was young. It _was_ my personal photo album, so I guess that was a given.* *As I flipped through the pages, a single photo came into view.* Naruko: "It's Kirinokojima." *Him as a kid, to be exact. I suspected it was the first photo we had taken together.* *In the photo, we were eating ramen at my house. When was this taken? It may have been the first time he came over to play.* *He still had a slightly devilish look on his face back then. He definitely seemed like a mischievous little boy.* Naruko: "I guess even Kirinokojima was like this once, huh?" *It was kind of touching. I was a tomboy and Kirinokojima was lively, so we got along well and quickly became good friends. As playmates, of course; gender wasn't a concern.* *We played baseball, rode bikes on expeditions through unfamiliar neighborhoods, and made secret bases in the mountains together, too.* *Despite our close friendship, there was a time where we couldn't play together for a while.* *It was during that time when he started wandering off somewhere on his own.* *I was always left behind.* *As such, I didn't really know what had happened to him. I had a vague idea, but didn't know for sure until some time later.* *By the time I became aware of it, Kirinokojima had been scarred for life.* *So scarred that there wasn't a thing I could do about it.* Naruko: "..." Naruko: "Ow..." *There was a pain in my chest again. Why did my chest hurt so much? Something must be wrong with me lately.* Naruko: "I guess I _will_ go to sleep." *Not that I knew whether I actually could.* *When I first saw Kirinokojima, he was very tiny and skinny.* Tomoe: "I'm Tomoe Kirinokojima." Naruko: "Tomoekirinokojima?" *When I first heard his name, I couldn't tell where his first name ended and last name began. I remembered thinking his name was so long that it was a pain to say.* Tomoe's Mom: "Get along, you two, okay?" *Kirinokojima was being lead by his mom by hand. She was a very pretty lady, but I felt scared of her for some reason.* Kenzou: "I certainly hope you two will be good friends, too." Tomoe: "Yeah." *With that comment from my dad, Kirinokojima nodded slightly.* *He seemed a bit conceited and shameless. That was common for boys his age.* *However, I sensed a dark shadow looming over him. He just seemed fragile, somehow.* *I may have subconsciously taken an interest in that side of him.* *I invited him on my own, not because my dad told me to, and we somehow ended up playing together.* Naruko: "This is the park! Everyone plays here together, so come anytime if you want to join us, Tomoe-kun." Tomoe: "Got it." *Come to think of it, I called him "Tomoe-kun" back then. When had I started calling him by his last name?* *What prompted that change?* Naruko: "We come here to shop. Tomoe-kun, how much do you get for an allowance?" *I was given 300 yen a month back then. It wasn't nearly enough, so I was curious what the other kids got.* Tomoe: "I don't get an allowance." *But Kirinokojima answered me like so.* Naruko: "Huh? You don't get one?" Tomoe: "What do you do with an allowance if you get one?" Naruko: "What do you do with it...? I buy candy and stuff. Don't you eat candy, Tomoe-kun?" Tomoe: "I don't." *He answered like it was only obvious, but I was surprised. I never expected there to be a kid who didn't eat candy.* *And also, I remembered his mom.* *She was pretty, but her eyes were quite scary. She also seemed incredibly strict.* *Eventually, terrible rumors started to spread about her.* *I didn't fully understand the situation at the time, but thinking back on it now, I suspected the rumors were about his mom bringing strange men into their home.* *This area always had such a rustic mentality that everyone was sensitive to those sorts of rumors.* Kenzou: "Hm? Not playing with Tomoe-kun today?" Naruko: "I'm not." Kenzou: "Why?" Naruko: "Because, everyone tells me not to play with him." *Around that time, Kirinokojima had become a bit ostracized around the neighborhood and at school.* *That was also due to the bad rumors surrounding his mom.* *The vast majority of the other kids' parents had apparently thought we were better off avoiding him due to his immoral mother.* *At the very least, I suspected there were notices advising parents against letting their kids play with him going around to all the households in the area.* *It never happened to us, but Kirinokojima wasn't a very social kid, not to mention all the circumstances surrounding him at the time, so it was more than a child could process.* *I just went with the flow and ended up not playing with him either for whatever reason.* Kenzou: "We're neighbors, so go play together." Naruko: "Hm, but..." Kenzou: "Do you hate Tomoe-kun?" Naruko: "I don't, but..." *Some part of me was worried about him, but I was too young to even understand my own feelings at the time.* Kenzou: "The truth is, Tomoe-kun is lonely. That's why you should help him, Naruko." Naruko: "Tomoe-kun is lonely? Is he really?" Kenzou: "Take a good look at him. You'll see it if you do." Naruko: "Hm... all right!" *That was how I answered, but I still didn't understand. I didn't change how I dealt with him for a while afterward, either.* *Not until that accident occurred.* Naruko: "Tomoe-kun! Tomoe-kun!" Naruko: "Tomoe-ku─!" Naruko: "Huh...? ...It was a dream?" *I woke up, then realized I was in my own room.* *That was the first time I had dreamed of that incident in ages.*

*Just like back then, my emotions were in disarray.* *Whenever I felt uneasy, I would take refuge someplace high.* Naruko: "Hah..." *I let out a sigh, and my white breath climbed into the atmosphere. The sky was a depressing, metallic color.* *My body felt zapped of strength from the lingering aftermath of that dream well through the school day. It was as if it had stolen all of my energy.* *In my dream, I had screamed my lungs out.* Naruko: "I wonder if I talked in my sleep?" *It honestly worried me. If I had screamed out loud like I did in my dream, not only would you hear it outside my room, Kirinokojima would probably hear it all the way next door.* *He didn't say anything about it, so I _should_ be fine.* *Thank goodness for that, at least...* Naruko: "Hah..." *I couldn't stop sighing.* Aine: "Oh! It is Naruko-san." *Aine-chan and Kiyohito showed up together.* Kiyohito: "Hm, what's up? It's rare for you to sigh." *Kiyohito gazed at my face with worry.* Naruko: "It's nothing, really." Kiyohito: "You sigh even when nothing's wrong? That's a funny hobby all right." Aine: "Sighing is your hobby?" Naruko: "Of course it isn't. Stop saying such weird things." *I complained to Kiyohito.* Kiyohito: "Ahaha, for sure. Then again, that would mean something _is_ wrong with you." *Kiyohito was always like this. He would start off teasing you, then suddenly say something serious. Having him talk that way to me left me startled.* Kiyohito: "Is 'that' what it is? Tomoe getting confessed to by an underclassman?" Aine: "Oh, you knew about that too, Kiyohito-san?" *I was a little surprised too. It wasn't as if he was there yesterday, but word spread fast. Kiyohito grinned with elation.* Kiyohito: "You shouldn't underestimate how well connected I am. I _never_ overlook anything involving my friends' love lives." Naruko: "That's not something you should really be proud of." *As I replied with astonishment, the word "friends" stuck in my head. He was definitely referring to Kirinokojima and me.* *I wasn't so sure whether Aine-chan, Yuri-san, and Minamo-chan were also included in that description.* *They were all cute, so maybe he was including them? He _did_ like cute girls...* *He wasn't shy, and he could be quite likeable, too. However, it didn't seem like he valued everyone equally.* *Kiyohito had a surprisingly strong sense of solidarity, and was a major softy who was hospitable toward his friends.* Kiyohito: "So, what did Tomoe do?" Naruko: "Do you think Kirinokojima would say yes?" *I turned the question around on him.* Kiyohito: "I don't." *Kiyohito smirked and answered immediately.* Naruko: "Why ask when you already know the answer?" Kiyohito: "Guess so." Aine: "Yes, it is such a shame. However, Tomoe-san did read the letter very thoroughly." Kiyohito: "Was it a love letter?" Aine: "That is what he said." Kiyohito: "Wow. Tomoe took the time to read through a love letter?" *Kiyohito was surprised, too. Anyone who knew Kirinokojima well would undoubtedly be just as surprised.* Kiyohito: "Hasn't Tomoe changed a little bit lately?" *He asked with a thoughtful look. As I suspected, Kiyohito may have sensed it just like I had.* Naruko: "Yeah, maybe so." Aine: "You really think so?" *It seemed Aine-chan was the only who hadn't realized it yet.* *Of course, that stood to reason. Aine-chan didn't know the old Kirinokojima, after all.* *Kirinokojima had started to change around the time she appeared.* *In fact, it may have been Aine-chan herself that had changed him.* Kiyohito: "And, that doesn't have anything to do with your sighing, Nakizaki?" *Kiyohito suddenly asked me.* Naruko: "Huh? What're you talking about?" Kiyohito: "That girl confessing to him. I was just wondering if maybe how depressed you're acting was related somehow." Naruko: "I don't get what you mean." *I honestly didn't. Why would I be depressed over some girl saying she liked Kirinokojima?* Kiyohito: "Are you shocked that Tomoe is popular, for example?" Naruko: "Of course not. Girls asking him out every so often is nothing new." Aine: "That is true. Naruko-san is also fairly popular herself." Kiyohito: "Then why are you sighing now?" Naruko: "Like I said, it has nothing to do with Kirinokojima." *I was denying it so much, but Kiyohito was being really stubborn today.* Kiyohito: "Are you positive?" *Kiyohito suddenly got a serious look on his face.* *This sight was a true rarity. An undeniable intensity dwelled beneath his expression's surface.* Naruko: "What are you making that face for...?" Kiyohito: "Tomoe's actually a bigger mystery to me than you'd expect. I have no idea why he detests love so much, for example." Naruko: "That's because..." *I hadn't shared that story with Kiyohito yet. It all happened a long, long time ago.* *Besides, he had never shown any interest in the subject until this very moment.* Aine: "Oh, I do not know, either. Why does he?" *Aine-chan joined Kiyohito and started questioning me, too.* Naruko: "Don't ask me." *I couldn't share that information, so I had no choice but to dodge the question.* *By doing so, would Aine-chan go ask Kirinokojima?* *To be honest, I didn't want her to ask him about this. No, I hoped she would leave the subject alone entirely.* *Aine-chan aside, I was sure Kiyohito wouldn't ask Kirinokojima even if I told him to. He knew Kirinokojima better than to try that.* Kiyohito: "If I could ask Tomoe, I would've done it a long time ago. I've acted ignorant this whole time _because_ I can't ask him. Naruko: "Yeah, that makes sense. But I'm sure you know I can't tell you either, right?" Kiyohito: "Guess so." *Kiyohito's regular, silly expression returned as he gazed up at the cloudy sky, but I could still see an inkling of sincerity in those eyes of his.* *Something told me Kiyohito was different from usual today.* Kiyohito: "Normally I'd try not to let it get to me, but I do worry at times like this." *He whispered as if answering the voice in my head.* Naruko: "What do you mean 'times like this'? What're you so worried about?" Kiyohito: "When you two are acting totally different from usual, and on edge, at that." Naruko: "Huh? We are?" *Were we really acting that temperamental? I shot Aine-chan a questioning glance, but she simply tilted her head.* *I guess she hadn't noticed, either. This was something only Kiyohito had picked up on.* Kiyohito: "I know you two have known each other for a long time. I'm sure I'm out of the loop on plenty, and that only makes sense." Kiyohito: "But once in a while you two act this way, and I can more or less tell that the reason lies in your past together." Kiyohito: "When that happens, I feel like the odd man out and get kind of lonely. I can't do anything to help if you never fill me in, right?" Naruko: "..." *I was suddenly at a loss for words. This was the first time Kiyohito had ever said anything like this... the first time he'd ever said he was "lonely."* *Kiyohito was the type who _never_ said anything negative. I wondered if he believed saying something aloud would actually make it come true through the power of suggestion.* *Then again, he was probably just an optimistic guy.* Kiyohito: "I've pretended not to notice every time it's happened until now, but something seems different. I can definitely feel it in the air..." Naruko: "What the heck do you mean by that...?" *Hearing that from someone as perceptive as Kiyohito made me feel uneasy. What in the world was he so sure about?* Kiyohito: "It's vague, but that's the feeling I get. I can't pretend not to notice it this time, either." Kiyohito: "If I don't say something, then I feel like I won't be able to hang out with you guys anymore in the future..." Naruko: "What's that supposed to mean? You're overthinking this." *He seriously was. I'd never once thought something so dire was happening.* *But now that he'd said all this, I felt anxious.* *Like the power of suggestion really was taking hold of me.* Kiyohito: "Well, if you're saying you can't tell me, I'll just make a point not to pay it any mind." Kiyohito: "After all, I like Tomoe the way he is right now, too." *That "too" seemed to reveal that Kiyohito wanted to get to know a different Kirinokojima than the one here and now...* *It also made him sound confident that he would come to like this other Kirinokojima.* Naruko: "I can't speak for Kirinokojima, but... I'll just say he went through a very tragic love." Kiyohito: "A tragic love..." Aine: "He did?" Naruko: "Yes, and I'm positive he's blamed himself for falling in love with her ever since." Aine: "He has blamed himself ever since..." Kiyohito: "So that's why Tomoe won't fall in love? No... that's why he _can't_...?" Naruko: "I would probably feel the same way if I were him." Kiyohito: "So something like that happened? Got it. Thanks for telling me." Kiyohito: "But are you okay with that, Nakizaki?" Naruko: "Huh? Am I okay with what, exactly?" Kiyohito: "With Tomoe staying this way forever. That's fine by you?" Naruko: "Why are you turning the subject back to me?" Kiyohito: "Because, relationship advice is your specialty, right? Are you okay with neglecting Tomoe, who's failed in love?" Naruko: "My specialty...?" Naruko: "I don't know anything about romance. I just give advice that agrees with common opinion." Naruko: "Besides, I promised myself to always be a good friend to Kirinokojima." Kiyohito: "To be a good friend?" Naruko: "Yeah. To be a good friend who can stick with and comfort him." *After what happened, I decided that was how it would be...* Kiyohito: "You're honestly sure?" Naruko: "You're being awfully stubborn about this. Why do you keep asking me that?" Kiyohito: "Well..." *Kiyohito thought for a moment, but ultimately kept his mouth shut.* Kiyohito: "Well, if you're fine with it, I guess I am, too." *He played it off at the end. I was curious what he was going to say, but it would probably backfire on me, so I kept quiet.* Kiyohito: "All in all, you two make for a great team right now." Aine: "Oh, that is true. I think so, too!" Naruko: "I guess. We're old friends." *I went from mildly depressed to exhilarated. Hearing we made a "good team" may have made me happiest of all.* Naruko: "Sorry that I couldn't tell you much." Kiyohito: "Don't sweat it. I don't mind." Naruko: "Yeah." *He smiled to put me at ease and stared out at the distant cityscape, but the gloomy undertones of his expression marred the look.* Aine: "But..." *Aine-chan muttered practically to herself.* Aine: "It is not as though you and Tomoe-san will go on like this your entire lives without ever loving anyone, will you?" Naruko: "Huh...?" *When she said "your entire lives," my heart skipped a beat.* *Would I stay this way the rest of my life? I couldn't picture such a massive length of time.* *However, the thought of _never_ changing was overwhelming.* *It started to make me wonder just how content I truly was with the idea.* Kiyohito: "Isn't that a given? I don't think people like that exist." Kiyohito: "That's what I believe... but who knows if that goes for you and Tomoe?" *His response seemed to sincerely suggest we were abnormal, and he was probably right. We might _not_ be normal.* *But what was the reality of the situation? This obviously went for Kirinokojima, but I just couldn't imagine myself dating or getting married in the future, either.* Naruko: "I don't know about Kirinokojima, but I guess I probably won't." Aine: "Huh? That is strange! Everyone is capable of falling in love!" *Given Aine-chan's position as an angel, it was natural that she would say that.* *But...* Naruko: "I'm telling you, there are people in the world who aren't like that." *That was the only way I could answer. It was true, after all.* Aine: "Naruko-san, I knew it..." Naruko: "Huh? 'Knew' what?" Aine: "Oh, n-never mind. It is nothing." Aine: "..." *I was positive I would never love anyone. I didn't think I was capable of it.* *That was fine by me. I was better off that way.*

Aine: "On second thought, I _do_ think Naruko-san's heart is fractured!" *Compared to yesterday, Aine seemed entirely convinced of that fact.* Tomoe: "Did you talk to Nakizaki?" Aine: "Yes. After what you told me, I started to get that impression more and more." Aine: "I never noticed it before, but I realized something after hearing everything in detail today. Naruko-san might be hiding something." Tomoe: "Hiding something? What is it you think she's hiding, exactly?" Aine: "I do not know for sure..." Aine: "But, while she does seem to be very open-hearted, I can sense that she has built an incredibly tall wall around her heart and is blocking off everything past a certain point." Tomoe: "She has?" *Could somebody really wall off their heart like that?* Tomoe: "Then again, is that really so uncommon? There isn't a person alive who doesn't put up any emotional barriers." Tomoe: "People treasure most what is deepest down in their hearts. It's only natural people would try to protect it." Aine: "You do have a point..." Aine: "But is that not normally something done subconsciously? It is difficult for me to describe, but you could say Naruko-san is doing it deliberately..." *I didn't understand the point Aine was trying to make, but it sounded rather serious.* *Even I was a bit moved by how desperately Aine was standing her ground.* *Aine was completely adamant that Nakizaki's heart was fractured... I guess I couldn't ignore the possibility after an angel insisted upon it so much.* *This was none other than Nakizaki we were dealing with, too...* Tomoe: "If this turns out to be nothing, you're going without dinner." Aine: "Uh... R-Right!" Aine: "Oh, on second thought, going without dinner is a little much..." Tomoe: "Don't go weak on me now."

Aine: "Is this the place?" *Aine stopped and looked up at the church.* Tomoe: "I used to play here as a kid. The building was much more worn down at the time, but they've since rebuilt and cleaned it up." *This was the only place I could remember spending time with Nakizaki where something could have happened.* *Of course, I wouldn't have a clue if it had happened before we met, nor did I know every life event of hers even after we had, but this was a good place to start.* Aine: "So, something happened here?" Tomoe: "...Yes, but it happened to me." Aine: "Huh? To you, Tomoe-san?" *Yes, to me, and to "her."* *Nakizaki simply helped me out.* Aine: "What in the world did you go through, Tomoe-san...?" *Aine asked, but I pretended not to hear. I didn't feel like telling her so easily.* Tomoe: "Anyway, let's try going inside." *I urged Aine in without answering her. Truth be told, I didn't want to go in, either.* *The heavy atmosphere seemingly rejected me the moment I stepped into the church.* *A long time ago, coming here was the only thing I ever looked forward to, but now I wanted to avoid it at all costs.* *However, now wasn't the time for pointless arguments.* Tomoe: "Do you notice anything?" Aine: "No, nothing in particular..." *Aine answered as she scanned the interior. It was deathly silent, and nothing looked especially out of place.* Rios: "Looks like we have some unlikely guests." *A familiar voice echoed down from the high ceiling, and two figures suddenly appeared before us.* *It was the two peculiar-looking angels with black feathers.* Rios: "Do you have some business here?" *He was tiny in stature, yet he was looking down at us from the air. His expression, which seemed to disparage humankind, was suitably provoking.* Tomoe: "Are you two always here?" Helen: "We have not made this place our home, but you have a point..." Helen: "We learned of this place shortly before its reconstruction." Tomoe: "Before its reconstruction..." *That made my heart skip a beat. That time period nearly fell in line with when that incident occurred here.* *This church was rebuilt a short while afterward. I heard what happened here was the catalyst for it.* *For them to discover this place with such perfect timing... Was this just a coincidence?* Aine: "Um, did you happen to find a shard here?" *Aine asked them directly.* Tomoe: "There's no way they'd actually tell you that." Rios: "By 'shard,' do you mean this?" Tomoe: "Huh...?" *Before I knew it, Rios was holding a faintly shining shard in his hand. The object which flickered like the beating heart of a living creature did appear to be a heart shard.* Aine: "W-Was that shard dropped here?!" Rios: "It wasn't exactly 'dropped'... but I have no doubt that this is the shard you're both looking for." *There was no hesitation in his voice. His confidence was absolute.* Tomoe: "How can you be sure that's the shard we're looking for?" Helen: "You're searching for Naruko Nakizaki's shard, correct?" Tomoe: "Huh...?" Aine: "H-How did you..." *How could they know whose shard we were after? For that matter, how did they know about Nakizaki in general?* Rios: "The reason doesn't make any difference. All will be well as long as you can get your hands on this shard, right?" *He acted like he had seen straight through us. That grated on my nerves immensely.* Tomoe: "Do you have any proof that it's Nakizaki's shard?" *It was obviously _a_ shard, but I couldn't trust him outright.* Aine: "Please show it to me for a second." *Aine took the shard in her hand.* Aine: "Hm..." *She gazed at it from every angle and held it up to the light, but all she accomplished was making the wrinkles on her forehead more prominent.* Aine: "...It is no use. I cannot tell." Tomoe: "You can't?" Aine: "However, I believe I have felt something similar recently. It was when I was talking to Naruko-san about all sorts of things, and trying to peek into her heart." Tomoe: "Was that when you talked about that wall or whatever around her heart?" Aine: "Yes. What lay deep within her heart was a mystery to me then, but this feels exactly the same." Aine: "It has an incredibly strong will which is protecting itself from prying eyes..." *I guess Aine's point was that it felt similar to Nakizaki's heart even if she couldn't say for sure?* Tomoe: "Is that really enough to go by?" Rios: "I don't care if you believe it or not. The owner of this shard is better off without it anyway." Tomoe: "What does that mean?" Aine: "I do not understand, either. Could you explain?" Rios: "..." *Rios wouldn't answer.* Helen: "Allow me." *Helen, who was off to his side, took a half-step forward.* Helen: "That is because this isn't a shard that was 'lost.'" Aine: "It was not lost? What does that mean?" Rios: "That is to say, the owner discarded this all on their own." Aine: "They discarded it..." Tomoe: "All on their own?" *Aine and I glanced at each other. It took some time for me to understand what their comment meant.* Tomoe: "So that means... they threw away a part of their heart of their own free will..." Tomoe: "Is that correct?" Rios: "Your wits are about as quick as a snail." *Every little thing he said pissed me off, but it would appear I was right.* Aine: "Th-That is a lie! Nobody would ever willingly cast away their own heart!" *True, I couldn't believe that right away. How would you even go about doing such a thing?* *If you wanted to cut off an arm or a leg, you could use a tool of some sort.* *It would be more agonizing than I could imagine, so while I doubted hardly anyone could pull it off, that was at least "possible."* *There was no way "discarding" a piece of one's heart would come without pain. I knew that after seeing so many humans with fractured hearts.* *Every last one of them had been suffering. I could tell they were traumatized by what could appropriately be described as "heartbreak" from the very instant they fractured.* *However, those instances were like a car crash. The immense shock fractured their hearts regardless of their own wills.* *Not to downplay the severe pain a traffic accident could cause, but I _had_ to say severing your own limbs would be on a whole other level.* *He was suggesting the owner of this shard did that to themselves? And that the owner was Nakizaki?* Aine: "H-How did she do such a thing?" *Aine voiced what I had been thinking aloud. I had no idea how you would tear out your own heart in the first place.* Rios: "Through willpower." Tomoe: "Willpower? You're saying you can cast away your own heart through sheer determination?" Rios: "Precisely." Tomoe: "That's possible?" Rios: "Who knows? It's news to me, too, but there's no escaping the fact that the owner of this shard did precisely that." Rios: "Humans occasionally do unbelievable things. Things I wouldn't be able to believe if I hadn't seen them with my own eyes." *There was a rare tinge of admiration in his voice. For that reason, I felt like I could trust what he was saying.* *And if he was telling the truth, that meant this shard _had_ been discarded under its owner's own will.* *That made it extremely likely the shard _did_ belong to Nakizaki...* Tomoe: "Nakizaki cut out her own heart?" *I just couldn't believe it. Why would she do that? What in the world happened to her?* Rios: "This was intentionally discarded. I'm sure it would only bother her to have it returned." Aine: "Is that why you are advising against it?" Helen: "Do you think otherwise?" *Helen questioned her. She seemed to be waiting for Aine's answer with great interest.* Aine: "I think we _should_ return it." Rios: "Oh, even after she willingly cast it away?" Aine: "A fractured heart is still a heart. Leaving it incomplete would be unhealthy." Aine: "She is no longer able to feel the emotions she is meant to experience. That is just saddening." *Aine had a devastated look on her face.* Rios: "Hmph, that's hypocrisy." *Rios ridiculed Aine for her kindness.* Aine: "Wh-Why?!" Rios: "Because you're only thinking of yourself." Rios: "Why, and for what reason, did the owner of this shard endure such immense pain that they willingly discarded a piece of their own heart...?" Rios: "I have no other way to describe the lack of thought which leads you to simply say, 'It should be returned,' than sheer hypocrisy." Aine: "B-But..." *This time, her expression warped in agony.* Aine: "Is that not why we angels exist? To return shards to humans? By doing so, humans can become happy. That is the way it is supposed to be..." Aine: "If angels cannot return shards, then what in the world _can_ they do?" *Aine sounded like she might burst into tears as she protested. Rios looked down upon her blankly.* Rios: "Well, whatever. I'll entrust you two with this shard. Decide what to do with it for yourselves." *Rios readily handed over the shard to Aine.* *Aine accepted it and cupped it in her palms, much like you might an unhatched egg.* *The shard twinkled faintly in her hands.* Aine: "Is it okay for us to choose?" *After being so severely refuted, then suddenly being told to do whatever she wanted, Aine was left utterly confused.* Rios: "Since you came looking for this shard after all this time, that must mean something has changed. You likely have a better grasp of the current situation." Rios: "But don't forget. That shard is like the crystallization of a miracle." Rios: "Never forget how that girl felt, nor what she wished for when she discarded her own heart." Aine: "Her wish..." *Aine embraced the shard in her hands and closed her eyes, as if trying to feel the wish contained within.* *How in the world _had_ she felt when she discarded this shard? And what sort of wish could possibly be contained within it?*

Aine: "What should we do with this?" *Aine stared at the shard, seeming perplexed.* *It was rare for Aine to look so torn on returning a shard or not. This must have been Rios's influence.* Tomoe: "He ended up telling you to do whatever you want with it. Wouldn't you normally do just that?" Aine: "That is true, but..." *It looked like she was hesitating after all.* Aine: "What do you suppose she wished for?" Tomoe: "Who knows..." *As far as I knew, Nakizaki wasn't the type to give up on anything. What's more, I'd been with her forever.* *I couldn't recall any instances where she had been worried or having a rough time with anything in particular. She was always chipper and had a smile on her face.* *Or could it be she only used that expression when she was around me? ...If so, Nakizaki was an extraordinary actress.* Tomoe: "It's hard to believe there's a side of Nakizaki I knew so little about." *I was just a little shocked.* *Without ever realizing it, I'd come to believe I knew everything about her. That just proved how natural being with her had become for me.* *However, it was far more natural to _not_ know every little detail about another person.* Aine: "What do you think we should do?" Tomoe: "..." *This _was_ Nakizaki we were talking about. I couldn't afford to not think it over seriously.* Tomoe: "...On second thought, maybe we shouldn't return it for the time being. Nakizaki's heart may be fractured, but she's leading an ordinary life." Tomoe: "In fact, I'd say her lifestyle is _more_ respectable than average." Aine: "You may have a point." Tomoe: "In that case, shouldn't we avoid doing anything to throw off her life balance?" Aine: "Yes, you are right..." *In a rare turn, Aine didn't object after hearing my argument, but she didn't look like she'd accepted it, either.* Aine: "Um, may I ask you one thing?" Tomoe: "What is it?" Aine: "Is Naruko-san the same now as when you first met her?" *I could more or less tell what Aine was getting at.* *Aine suspected Nakizaki may have changed in some obvious way if her heart had fractured since meeting me.* Tomoe: "...She hasn't changed as far as I can tell. She's always been who she is." Aine: "She has...? In that case, it might be best to leave things alone for now." *She said that with a nod, albeit a seemingly forced one. Still, it looked like she couldn't come up with a good counterargument.* Tomoe: "If we're not returning the shard, what should we do with it?" *The shard gave off a dull, repetitive flicker on the table.* Aine: "I will take custody of it." Tomoe: "I see. Please do." *Although I said not to return it, we couldn't be careless with it knowing it was a piece of Nakizaki's heart. It was a relief to hear Aine would take care of it.* Tomoe: "Still..." *I gazed upon Nakizaki's shard once more.* Tomoe: "It's a pretty shard." Aine: "It truly is." *It was the prettiest of all the shards I'd seen to date. What sort of feelings were possibly packed within it?* *I succumbed to the urge to peek inside for the very first time.* *Wanting to spy on how another person felt truly was sleazy of me...*

Naruko: "Sorry, sorry! I overslept!" *Nakizaki apologized over and over as she ran.* Tomoe: "You don't have to apologize so much. I was careless, too." *I was wide awake, but I lounged around assuming I had time since Nakizaki hadn't come by yet. I never noticed how late it actually was.* *In any case, it was exceptionally rare for Nakizaki to oversleep. It only happened once every few years.* Naruko: "We couldn't eat breakfast, either!" Tomoe: "I'll be fine without it." Aine: "I feel fatally injured! I am hungry, and my legs feel weak." Naruko: "If you don't run like you mean it, Yuno-chan will send you out to the hallway!" Aine: "I have not even eaten. If I have to stand on top of that, I will die!" Naruko: "Do your best, then!" Aine: "Awwwww!"

Naruko: "I've been having a hard time sleeping lately." *It would seem the reason she overslept this morning was due to a lack of sleep.* Tomoe: "You're usually such a sound sleeper." Naruko: "Yeah, I agree." *Nakizaki was the sort who slept easily. I'd never heard of her having trouble sleeping before, much less being sleep deprived.* Aine: "Why are you unable to sleep?" Naruko: "Hm, I wonder? Nothing really comes to mind." Yuri: "Would you like a piece of candy? Eating sweets calms the heart, so it could make you sleepy." Naruko: "Uh, well... Okay." *Although she was hesitant, Nakizaki accepted the candy offered to her.* Naruko: "Thank you for the food." Yuri: "Help yourself." Naruko: "...Strawberry milk?" Yuri: "That's correct." Naruko: "It's sweet and delicious." Yuri: "Isn't it? I pray you will be able to sleep well tonight." *Hisaka-san whispered, as if reciting a prayer. Seeing her do so gave me the feeling she may have gone through some sleepless nights as well.* *Nakizaki may have been touched by Hisaka-san's gentle mood, and looked slightly calmer.* Yuri: "Is something troubling you?" Naruko: "It's not really anything like that... It's just, my chest has started to feel kind of fuzzy all of a sudden." Naruko: "I wonder why?" *Nakizaki was confused and didn't seem to completely understand it herself. Maybe something was happening to Nakizaki's body after all.* Tomoe: "Are you all right?" *I took a good look at her face and asked.* Naruko: "Why so serious? I just couldn't sleep; that's all." Tomoe: "Well, yeah, but..." Naruko: "What's with you? You're stepping on eggshells around me just because I couldn't get enough sleep." Naruko: "You're going to make me anxious if you keep looking at me that way." Tomoe: "You're right. I'm sorry. I don't mean anything by it." *Yeah, Nakizaki was right. Making her feel uneasy wouldn't help anything.* Naruko: "More importantly, winter break is just days away. We're gonna do it again this year─our customary cleaning spree!" Tomoe: "Oh, it's that time again already?" Aine: "Are you really cleaning so much you can call it a 'spree'?" Naruko: "We clean everything top to bottom at the end of every year, including places we ordinarily wouldn't bother with." Naruko: "We'll have you help us this year, Aine-chan." Aine: "It sounds kind of fun! Understood. Please leave it to me!" Yuri: "That really _does_ sound fun. Hehe." *Hisaka-san seemed amused by Nakizaki's excitement over cleaning and laughed.* Tomoe: "When Nakizaki gets involved, even a cleaning spree could make for a popular attraction." Naruko: "Guess so!" *Nakizaki was back to her usual, smiling self. It would be great if the year came to an uneventful end just like this...*

Aine: "Koff, koff, koff...!" *Aine got choked up by the dust.* Naruko: "Aine-chan, be a little more gentle with the duster." Aine: "Ah, I am sorry... I did not think there would be so much dust built up." Tomoe: "That's because we normally don't touch this stuff." Naruko: "That's what makes it a cleaning spree! We're going to clean it all thoroughly!" Naruko: "Mind if I go into your room and look under your bed and whatnot? If you're hiding any dirty books, I'm gonna find them all!" Tomoe: "I'm not hiding any, so it's fine." Naruko: "I guess you wouldn't. You're so dull, Kirinokojima." *Nakizaki sounded bored as she complained. Did she _want_ to find some dirty books?* Naruko: "Okay, next is Kirinokojima's room. Charge!" Tomoe: "Please don't. Let's just go there like normal people." Naruko: "Charge─!" Aine: "Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!" Tomoe: "That's something all right..." *Still, Nakizaki looked quite excited. Thank goodness.* Naruko: "I'll check underneath the bed!♪" Naruko: "Hm, there really aren't any." *She looked disappointed to come back empty-handed.* Tomoe: "Were you hoping to look through some dirty books, Nakizaki?" Naruko: "N-No way. Don't make such weird suggestions! I just wanted to experience an 'event where you find naughty books.'" Tomoe: "What sort of event is that supposed to be?" Naruko: "An event that makes you feel like your childhood friend has matured?" Tomoe: "Does stuff like that even matter?" Naruko: "Well, I guess you can't look at books like that with Aine-chan here." Tomoe: "I wouldn't even if she weren't." Aine: "Am I inconveniencing you in some way, Tomoe-san? Please do not pay me any mind and read whatever you like." Tomoe: "I'm telling you, I don't look at them." *Since she kept bringing up the subject, I couldn't help wondering if I _should_ read them. Perhaps Kiyohito had some on hand? Maybe I should ask him next time I saw him.* Naruko: "Oh, is this an album?" *Nakizaki had opened up a drawer I rarely went through. To be honest, I wasn't entirely sure what was in there.* Tomoe: "Maybe it is. I haven't seen it in ages." *I hadn't looked through any albums in forever since there was hardly anything in my past worth remembering. How long had I gone without opening one?* Naruko: "..." *Nakizaki would typically go into full-blown nostalgia mode with these things, but for some reason, she avoided reaching for it. Was she being considerate of me?* Aine: "Are there old pictures of you two in here?" Tomoe: "I've actually forgotten when these photos were taken." *Aine was ultimately the one to pick up the photo album. She opened it and peeked inside.* Aine: "Wow, so tiny. Is this Tomoe-san?" *Aine pointed at a photo of me when I was young enough to be in the single digits in age. This must have been right around the time when I moved into this house.* Aine: "Is this around the time you met?" Tomoe: "Maybe. That's likely when I started putting that album together." Tomoe: "Since I doubt I have any photos from any earlier." Aine: "Is that so?" Tomoe: "Mother wasn't one for taking many photos." Aine: "Your mother..." Naruko: "..." Aine: "Are there any pictures of your mom?" Tomoe: "Who knows? She didn't like having her picture taken." Aine: "Is that right...?" *Aine looked troubled. She probably thought she had asked a bad question.* Aine: "Ah! What is this one?" *In an attempt to cover up the awkward situation, she reached out for an old, seemingly homemade notebook.* Naruko: "Oh, that takes me back. This is our anthology from elementary school." Aine: "An anthology?' Naruko: "When we were changing classes, we made these as mementos. This was from when we were in third grade." Aine: "Hm, it even has things like this? It says, 'Field Trip Memories.'" Naruko: "Oh, yeah. People jotted down stuff like that, too." Aine: "Which means you two must have, too, right? What did Tomoe-san write?" Tomoe: "Beats me. I don't remember at all." Aine: "I wonder where it is? ...Ah, here it is!" Naruko: "Let's see... Oh, this?" Aine: "He wrote 'Today's Lunch.' It says, 'I think the curry for lunch is too sweet.'" Tomoe: "I guess I must have had writer's block." *That would explain why I wrote about what was on the lunch menu that day.* Naruko: "What did I write again?" Aine: "Let me see, Naruko-san..." *Aine turned the page.* Aine: "Oh, here it is. It's your 'dream for the future.'" Naruko: "Wow, I wrote something like that? I wonder what I put down? What does it say?" Aine: "Let me see... Oh, it says 'Bride.'" Naruko: "Bride?" *Nakizaki looked surprised.* Naruko: "Wow, I wrote that? A bride, huh...?" Tomoe: "Now that you mention it, I remember you forcing me to play house with you right after I moved here." Naruko: "Oh, that's right. We _did_ do that..." Naruko: "'Hey dear, do you want to have dinner? Or a bath?' and stuff." Aine: "Wow! You two did? That is charming." Tomoe: "Not really. The home loan payments were harsh." Aine: "Huh? You went the realistic route?" Tomoe: "I guess we did do stuff like that. Nakizaki, you used to say, 'I'll be a bride someday,' back then." Naruko: "Yeah, I did. I really did. I wonder when I stopped saying that?" Aine: "Your future dream was to be a bride? For that, would you not need a partner?" Naruko: "Hm? Yeah, I guess so." Aine: "Yet, even then, you never fell in love with any man?" Naruko: "Hm. I doubt I gave it that much thought. I _was_ just a kid, after all." Aine: "Is that so...?" *Nakizaki wanted to be a bride in her childhood, but the current Nakizaki had zero interest in love.* *Aine was probably thinking that discrepancy might provide some hint.* *However, nothing jumped out at me.* *The one thing I knew for sure was that I had a faint memory of her being more mature for her age as a child than she was now.* *I also had the feeling she used to be way more feminine, going around meddling with the boys around her.* *Of course, she may have just looked that way to me since girls mature faster emotionally.* Naruko: "Oh, it's this late already?! Time sure flies when you're having fun. Okay, back to cleaning!" Tomoe: "You got it." Naruko: "So then, how about here next?" Naruko: "Hm? What's this?" *Nakizaki pulled out a box I wasn't familiar with. What was it?* Aine: "Ah, that is..." Naruko: "Huh? It's empty?" Naruko: "Ah...?!" *In an instant, Nakizaki's body went stiff, like she'd grabbed hold of a high-voltage wire.* *Aine's eyes were so wide, I thought they were going to pop out of their sockets. She was staring at Nakizaki's fingers.* *I wondered what she was looking at, and looked down as well.* Tomoe: "Huh...?" *It was only for a split second, but in that instant, I could see a heart shard touching Nakizaki's fingertips.* *It was the shard Rios had entrusted us with─the one that belonged to Nakizaki.* *It emerged like a shadow for only a moment, then disappeared. Once it vanished, her hand drifted away.* Naruko: "H-Huh...? What just happened to me?" Tomoe: "Uh, that's what I'd like to ask. What's wrong?" *Is that where the shard had been?* *Had she reacted to it _because_ it was her shard?* Naruko: "I don't have a clue what happened... I couldn't move all of a sudden, and then..." Tomoe: "H-Hey, Nakizaki...?" Naruko: "Huh? What?" Tomoe: "Why... are you crying like that...?" Naruko: "Huh? Crying? Me?" *In shock, Nakizaki touched her face. Her hand came in contact with tears as they ran down her cheek.* *Then her hand drew back once more, like she'd felt an electrical shock.* Naruko: "Huh? Why...?" *An emotion resembling terror crossed her face as she checked her wet cheek one more time.* Naruko: "Why am I crying?" *She looked at us, mystified. The tears continued to stream down her cheek like a broken faucet.* Tomoe: "Nakizaki..." Aine: "Naruko-san..." Naruko: "Why am I crying so much? Why...?" Naruko: "...!" *Nakizaki held her chest and squatted down.* Tomoe: "What's wrong?!" Naruko: "My chest is... Ah..." Tomoe: "Hey, Nakizaki? Nakizaki!"

Tomoe: "Are you sure you're okay?" Naruko: "Yeah, I'm fine. See, I've got tons of energy!" *Nakizaki skipped around to show off how lively she was, but her face immediately became sullen with insecurity.* Naruko: "Still, I wonder what that was all about...? I started crying all of a sudden, and my chest started to hurt..." Naruko: "Maybe I should go to the hospital?" Tomoe: "Why not wait and see for a little bit? Haven't you been having trouble sleeping lately? You could just be worn out." Naruko: "Hmm, maybe you're right. If nothing else happens, then I guess all is well..." *Nakizaki must have been very surprised. As I expected, she seemed very uneasy.* Tomoe: "Anyway, it'd be wise for you to get a good night's rest." Naruko: "Yeah, I'll do that. Sorry to leave the cleaning spree half-finished." Tomoe: "I told you, it's fine. Say hello to Sensei for me." Naruko: "Oh, that's right. Could you not tell my dad about this? I don't want to make him worry." Naruko: "If it keeps hurting, then I'll talk to him myself." Tomoe: "Got it. I'll keep it to myself." Naruko: "Thanks. Okay, see you tomorrow." Tomoe: "Yeah." *Nakizaki returned home. Even after she was out of sight, I couldn't quite bring myself to look away from the direction she disappeared in.* *As I did so, Aine came out of the house.* Aine: "Did you see what happened earlier as well, Tomoe-san?" Tomoe: "Earlier... with the shard?" Aine: "...Yes. So, you _did_ see it." Tomoe: "That _was_ her shard, then? Did Nakizaki touch it without realizing it?" Aine: "Yes. Naruko-san touched the shard I left there on her own." *I guess that _was_ the shard I saw.* Tomoe: "But it seems like Nakizaki couldn't see it." Aine: "That is because I didn't make it visible for her. No human should be able to see it under normal circumstances, but..." *For some reason, I was able to see it, even if it was only for a moment.* Tomoe: "I'm curious about that, too. Anyway, it doesn't matter right now. More importantly, Nakizaki..." Aine: "That shard _must_ be Naruko-san's. How strongly it resonated with her confirms it." Tomoe: "Resonate..." Aine: "A shard will naturally resonate with its original heart when it is close by. Of course, only an angel can return one to its original form." Tomoe: "Did touching the shard jog Nakizaki's memory?" Aine: "I doubt that, but I do believe by resonating with it, her heart recalled the pain it felt when she originally lost it." Tomoe: "So that was the pain she felt in the past?" *Nakizaki held her chest and squatted to the floor, then said, "My chest suddenly hurts."* Aine: "The part of her heart she should have lost apparently aches." Tomoe: "The part she should have lost..." *I had heard of something called "phantom pain."* *For example, pretend there were a person who lost a finger in an accident of some sort. Despite losing their appendage, it would sometimes ache in certain situations.* *The pain was a mental phenomenon made possible when the signals in the brain got crossed. Perhaps the same went for the heart.* Aine: "The fact it resonated so strongly makes me believe that Naruko-san's heart faintly remembers its missing half." Aine: "Do you suppose that explains Naruko-san's recent and strange behavior?" Tomoe: "What's going to happen to Nakizaki next?" Aine: "I do not know. It may continue to subside uneventfully, or... occurrences like what happened today might become more frequent." *I remembered how Nakizaki acted earlier.* *It wasn't normal for people to cry like that. It was like her heart was crying, while the owner was completely unaware.* *And then there was that pain in her chest.* *If that were to become worse in the future, who knew what might happen to her?* *If the possibility existed, then we couldn't afford to leave her alone.* Tomoe: "What will happen to Nakizaki if we return her shard?" Aine: "She will regain the feelings she gave up on. Since I am not sure what those feelings are, I am not certain of what will happen to her afterward..." Tomoe: "The feelings she gave up on... Would that be love for another person?" *Nakizaki had loved someone... Strangely, the very thought gave me mixed feelings.* *Nakizaki wasn't mine. She should be free to love anyone she wants, and yet...* Aine: "I am certain that is the case, but it seems like her heart fractured when she was still little." Aine: "What in the world would a love that a child would willingly discard have been like? It is hard to believe someone so young could experience a love so tragic..." *That was true. I couldn't imagine it, either. As thickheaded as I could be, wouldn't I have noticed if she loved someone so deeply?* Tomoe: "Anyway, we'll never know unless we return the shard." Aine: "Yes..." *Aine drooped her shoulders apologetically.* *"Never forget how that girl felt, and what she wished for when she discarded her own heart."* *I recalled what Rios had said.* *What had Nakizaki given up on, and how had she felt when she did so? No matter what he said, I still didn't know. I couldn't even imagine such a scenario.* *But...* *Though they agonized all the while, hadn't the people I had returned shards to so far overcome various hardships and found answers on their own?* *Besides, Nakizaki was suffering even now. She was confused. She was undergoing change in some definite way.* *Despite leading a normal life, her heart _was_ fractured, and I couldn't ignore that fact anymore, given her condition.* *I considered her "dream" from when she was a child. The innocent dream, "I want to be a bride." A dream the modern-day Nakizaki had lost.* *If her heart remained fractured, that ordinary, innocent dream would likely be beyond Nakizaki's reach.* *Had she lost that dream when her heart fractured as well? If she regained her heart, could she regain that dream with it?* *Nakizaki had cried when she touched the shard. What could those emotions that stirred within her at that moment have been like?* *When I closed off my heart in childhood, Nakizaki had stayed by my side the entire time. It was practically thanks to her that I was able to stand here today.* *This just might be my chance to return that favor to her...* *...and more than anything else...* *I wanted Nakizaki to be happy.* Tomoe: "...Let's return the shard to Nakizaki." Aine: "Huh? Are you sure?" Tomoe: "I believe in her." *No matter what difficulties she might face, I was sure Nakizaki would overcome them if she recovered her heart.* *If I could help make that happen, I was prepared to do anything within my power.* Tomoe: "Let's return the shard to Nakizaki."

Kiyohito: "Happy New Year!" *Kiyohito was being quite silly today. It was still New Year's Eve. There was still time before the clock hit midnight.* Tomoe: "You're a little early." Naruko: "There's a limit to how hasty you can be." Kiyohito: "Hasty? I'm walking on the cutting edge of our time." Naruko: "Wow. Has the new year already come over there?" Aine: "It has? That is the cutting edge for you." *Aine was legitimately impressed.* Naruko: "Huh? Aine-chan, you believe him?" Aine: "Huh? Should I not?" Naruko: "..." Aine: "..." Yuri: "I don't have an offering or anything. Will I be all right?" *Hisaka-san was worrying about money with her sister, Momo-chan, at her side.* Momo: "Onee-chan, there's no offertory box in the church, so we'll be fine." Yuri: "Oh, is that right? That's a relief." Momo: "It's embarrassing for you to talk about money so much." Yuri: "Oh, I'm sorry..." Momo: "But, a New Year's shrine visit with everyone would be fun." *Momo-chan looked excited to go on an outing with everyone, and was in a good mood.* *With today being New Year's Eve, we decided to go on our first shrine visit of the year as a group. The one who proposed the idea was, of course, our fun-loving Kiyohito.* Kiyohito: "In this city, it's customary to visit the church at the start of each year. After all, there aren't any Shinto shrines around." Naruko: "But, aren't you worried that your wish won't come true if you don't at least make an offering?" Yuri: "Huh? That is worrisome." Momo: "It's all right! I'll pray together with you for the same wish you have!" Momo: "If we wish together, then the probability of it coming true will double. Right?!" Tomoe: "Does probability have anything to do with it?" *I said that out loud without thinking, and Momo-chan glared at me.* Minamo: "Sorry I am late." *Wakamatsu showed up at just the right time, and I was freed from that scary glare. With that, all of today's members had gathered.* Aine: "Tomoe-san." *Aine stealthily called out to me. I silently nodded back.* Kiyohito: "All right! Now that everyone's here, let's go!" Tomoe: "Oh, hold up a second. It's cold, so let's stop at a convenience store and buy some hand warmers." Kiyohito: "Hand warmers? You should get those ready ahead of time." Tomoe: "Sorry. I'll pass them out to everyone after." Kiyohito: "Oh, that sounds nice. It'll be cold tonight, so if that's how it's gonna be, you're good!" Naruko: "Want me to tag along?" Tomoe: "It's all right. Aine will go with me." Aine: "We will be fine on our own. Be back soon!" Naruko: "You sure? Take care, then." Aine: "Okay!" Tomoe: "We'll see you later at the church." *I waved and said goodbye to everyone.*

*I suppressed my emotions and took hold of my bow.* Tomoe: "The shard." Aine: "Yes, please take care of it." *Nakizaki's shard had already been reshaped into the form of an arrow. I took it and nocked the bow.* Tomoe: "Phew..." *An unusual tension surrounded me.* *When I thought about how the shard currently in my hands belonged to Nakizaki, and considered what would happen by returning it, I felt fairly frenzied.* Aine: "It is okay. We will support Naruko-san, no matter what happens." Tomoe: "Of course." *No matter what, I would do everything I could to help her.* *"Never forget how that girl felt, and what she wished for when she discarded her own heart."* *Rios's voice resounded in my mind once more. What in the world was that supposed to mean?* Aine: "Tomoe-san!" *Aine's voice brought me back to my senses. I spotted Nakizaki beneath us, walking along with Kiyohito and the others.* Aine: "Tomoe-san, are you all right?" Tomoe: "Yeah, I'm fine." *I needed to concentrate. I closed my eyes and counted to three.* *After doing so, my heart calmed. Then, I drew the bow.* Tomoe: "Oh, shard... Naruko Nakizaki's shard..." Tomoe: "Return to her heart, where you belong." *I aimed at Nakizaki and fired.* Naruko: "Ah..." Naruko: "...H-Huh?" Kiyohito: "What's wrong, Nakizaki? Spot a hot guy or something?" Naruko: "I'm not you, so I wouldn't stop and look at every guy I see, Kiyohito." Naruko: "It's not that, though. I felt something right around here..." Momo: "In your chest?" Minamo: "Are you sure it isn't your heart?" Yuri: "Your heart hurts? Would you like some medicine for heart palpitations, shortness of breath, and dizziness?" Naruko: "Oh, no, I'm okay." Minamo: "Hisaka-sempai, do you walk around with that on you?" Yuri: "There's no telling when something might happen." Kiyohito: "So, are you okay?" Naruko: "Um, yeah... I think I'm good. It felt like something hit me, but I guess it was just my imagination." Aine: "It seems to have made its way back safely." Tomoe: "Yeah." *Still, I couldn't drop my guard just yet. What was going to happen to Nakizaki now?* *No matter what lay ahead, we had to be there to help her.*

*It was January 1st, and a new year was upon us.* Aine: "There are nothing but specials on TV..." *Aine had been messing around with the remote and flipping through channels for a while now.* Tomoe: "That's how New Year's goes." Aine: "They are all shows I have never seen before, so I do not know which I should watch." Tomoe: "You don't have to force yourself to watch any of them. You could at least spend New Year's quietly." Aine: "It makes me feel kind of lonely if the TV isn't on." Tomoe: "You've been completely tainted by human society." Aine: "Oh, someone is here." Tomoe: "Maybe it's Nakizaki? She always brings me a plate of New Year's dinner." Aine: "I wonder how Naruko-san is doing?" Tomoe: "Yeah..." *She didn't seem to have changed much after her heart was made whole again.* *Perhaps a little distant at most?* *Had anything happened now that a full night had passed? It wouldn't be strange if she started to show signs of change.* *I couldn't shake this uneasy feeling that even if she wasn't like a whole new person, she might still turn into a stranger to me.* *I'd never felt so distraught during my past acts of angelery. Did that just prove how close Nakizaki and I were?* Aine: "I will go take a quick look." *Aine ran to the entryway. She opened the door, and I heard her tending to someone.* *Suddenly, Nakizaki's voice grew closer.* Naruko: "Happy New Year." *Nakizaki came in carrying a stack of food containers.* Tomoe: "Happy New Year. Sorry for the trouble again this year." Naruko: "No, no. You're always welcome. This is just the bare minimum." *She opened one of the containers, and inside she had prepared New Year's food for me. Her condition didn't appear to be particularly out of the ordinary, either.* Aine: "Naruko-san, how are you feeling?" Naruko: "Hm? How am I feeling?" Naruko: "It's a new year, so I've never felt better!" Aine: "You do?" *Aine glanced at me for a moment, then sighed in relief. I was also relieved to see Nakizaki was the same as ever.* *This _was_ Nakizaki, after all. It had probably been a shard from an old flame, so I doubted she would suddenly change after having it returned to her.* Naruko: "Um, so it's okay if I go with the usual plates? The ones we always use for New Year's." Tomoe: "Oh, those? I think they're up top in the cupboard?" *I assumed she wouldn't be able to reach, so I followed her into the kitchen.* Naruko: "Oh no, do you have something I could use for a stool?" *Sure enough, Nakizaki walked over to the cupboard and reached up, but it didn't look like she'd even come close to reaching.* Tomoe: "I'll get it." *I reached up from behind her.* *Nakizaki's shoulders touched my chest.* Naruko: "Ah..." Tomoe: "Ooph... Is this it?" *I showed her the dish I grabbed.* Naruko: "..." *No answer.* Tomoe: "Nakizaki? Was this not it?" Naruko: "...Huh?" Naruko: "Uh, y-yeah... This is it..." *Her face was red as she stuttered through an answer.* *That expression... wasn't very Nakizaki-like. My heart was racing just from looking at her.* Tomoe: "O-Okay, I'll set this aside, then." Naruko: "Y-Yeah..." *Nakizaki went back to preparing our food.* *Her movements were sluggish, like she'd suddenly shifted gears, or maybe even stalled out. This was really out of character for her...* Aine: "Is she not acting kind of... strange?" Tomoe: "Maybe so." *Nakizaki occasionally looked over at me, almost as if she were stealing glances...* *This was definitely weird...* Naruko: "I-It's all done." Tomoe: "Y-Yeah. Thanks." Naruko: "You're welcome." Tomoe: "..." *What was this feeling? It was like the air had grown thick or something. The ambience was fluffy yet slightly suffocating.* *Everything had been the same as usual until moments ago. What triggered this change?* *When I went to grab the plate earlier...* Tomoe: "Ah..." *My chest touched her shoulder, and she started to act odd ever since...* Naruko: "..." Aine: "Um, Naruko-san? Are you all right?" Naruko: "...Huh? Wh-What do you mean?" Aine: "You seem kind of spaced out..." Naruko: "I-I do? I don't really think so..." *Nakizaki looked at me, her face red. Our eyes met.* Naruko: "Ah..." *She overreacted and looked away. What was this all about?* Naruko: "Oh, o-okay, I'm going to head back. It's New Year's, so I've got to serve Dad his drinks..." Tomoe: "Oh, sure. I'll come over later and give him a proper New Year's greeting." Naruko: "Oh, really?" Naruko: "Ah, th-that's not what I meant..." Tomoe: "What are you talking about?" Naruko: "Err, uh-uh, it's nothing. Okay, see you later!" *Nakizaki ran out of the room. Only a sense of weariness remained, like a storm had passed.* Aine: "She was acting strange, was she not?" Tomoe: "Obviously." Aine: "She was beet red, ears and all. I have never seen Naruko-san act so shy before." Tomoe: "Shy... I see, that was shyness?" *It was very rare to see that sort of expression on her, so I hadn't realized it.* Tomoe: "But _why_ was she being shy?" Aine: "Well..." *Aine looked at me suggestively.* Aine: "It looked to me as if Naruko-san was shy because of you, Tomoe-san." Tomoe: "Huh? Because of me?" Tomoe: "...Why?" Aine: "'Why'...?" *Aine looked at me with astonishment.* *The look on her face all but said, "Why do you not understand?" It was unsettling that our usual positions had been reversed.* Tomoe: "I really don't get it. Spell it out for me." Aine: "That is most likely because... you were the person Naruko-san once loved." Tomoe: "...Huh?" Tomoe: "Nakizaki was in love... with me?" Aine: "Yes." Tomoe: "...What?"

*Nakizaki and I have gotten along well since we were kids.* *Actually, that might be misleading to say. She had simply treated me well.* *I went through a lot before moving to this city and was crippled by it. Crippled emotionally, I mean.* *My happy-go-lucky mother was constantly dating different men, and it had finally wrecked our living environment.* *I don't know what sort of trouble she had gotten herself into, but we couldn't stay where we were living any longer. Soon after, we moved into the home my maternal grandmother had left us.* *Considering the circumstances at the time, I was fairly mopey when we first came here.* *The one and only person who spoke to me when I was like that was the girl who lived next door: Nakizaki.* Naruko: "Play with me!" *She's always had a nurturing personality. She didn't abandon me, and she always seemed happy to talk to me, too. Because of her, little by little, I started to get better.* *Through her, I was able to make friends at school, and even started to play like a regular, healthy kid.* *For a short time, I experienced a fun childhood with Nakizaki.* *If not for what had happened, I'm sure those times would have lasted longer.* Tomoe: "I don't think Nakizaki loved me." *It was true that Nakizaki had been good to me, but that was just in her nature.* *I'm sure that she would have been just as warm and inviting to whomever else may have moved next door, even if it wasn't me.* Aine: "But that was surely the face of a maiden in love. You were the only one around, Tomoe-san." Tomoe: "But..." *I couldn't hide my confusion. Nakizaki felt that way about me?* Tomoe: "On second thought, it couldn't be." Aine: "Um, I understand how shaken up you must be... but is this not a good thing?" Tomoe: "How do you figure...?" Aine: "Because there is no way Naruko-san could have loved anyone else. Do you not love her, too, Tomoe-san?" Tomoe: "Well, I do love Nakizaki, but my 'love' and romantic love are completely different." Aine: "Are they? I personally think love is love, period." Tomoe: "Really? I think love comes in all shapes and sizes." Tomoe: "In any case, the way I 'love' Nakizaki is different from loving her as a woman." Aine: "Is that so...?" *Aine looked crestfallen by that response.* Tomoe: "Why are you disappointed?" Aine: "Because, I thought you and Naruko-san were suited for each other." Tomoe: "'Suited for each other'? We just make for a good team. That's all." Aine: "A good match is a good match. You have just been arguing semantics this whole time." *So she said, but words were important. If you changed the wording, you would also change the meaning.* Aine: "I believe the way she behaved is exactly how a girl in love with you would react, Tomoe-san." *Aine said that in retaliation, but it just didn't sit right with me.* *Why would Nakizaki fall for me? I couldn't shake that feeling.* Aine: "Is it more that Naruko-san has always loved you, but you are too thickheaded to have noticed it?" Aine: "I am sure that her heart fractured because you failed to recognize her feelings." Tomoe: "Is that really it...?" *If so, that would be inexcusable.* Tomoe: "It's the same either way, though. I can't actually date her." *If that were the case, not taking notice was probably the correct choice.* Aine: "You cannot date her...? Why make up your mind like that?" Tomoe: "I have no interest in romance. I thought you knew?" Tomoe: "I won't fall in love with anyone. I can't." Aine: "Even if that someone is Naruko-san?" Tomoe: "Even if it's Nakizaki." Aine: "Hmph..." *Aine grumbled, and her expression screamed dissatisfaction.* Tomoe: "There's no reason for you to make that face. You can't force people to like or dislike someone." Aine: "That is true... but I thought Naruko-san was important to you." Tomoe: "She _is_ important to me, but this and that are two different things." Aine: "I do not understand." Tomoe: "It's fine if you don't." Aine: "Hmph..." *Even now, Aine's face was a deep red as she glared at me on the verge of bursting with discontent.* *However, nothing she could say would change anything. It was pointless to fight it.* Aine: "What will you do about Naruko-san, then?" Tomoe: "I can't do anything for her. It's not like she's told me she loves me, either. All I can do is pretend not to notice." Tomoe: "Besides, we don't know for sure if she _actually_ loves me." *That was my one ray of hope.* Aine: "I am positive it is you. I am an angel, so I know these things." Tomoe: "You're a quack who only acts like an angel when it's convenient." Aine: "That is because I _am_ an angel!" *She was more of a child than an angel.* Aine: "You are so cold, Tomoe-san. Even after returning her shard and promising to help her." Tomoe: "Some things are within my power, and some aren't." Aine: "Do you hate her that much?" Tomoe: "Don't be ridiculous." Tomoe: "Of course I don't hate her. I want things to stay the way they are _because_ I want to keep liking her." Aine: "You want things to stay the way they are so you can keep liking her? What is that supposed to mean?" Tomoe: "Nakizaki and I have been able to maintain a good relationship for such a long time, ever since we were kids, because we stayed good friends with no regard for love or romance." Tomoe: "It's because we have a relationship where we trust each other from the bottom of our hearts, without worrying about being a man and woman..." Tomoe: "That's why Nakizaki and I were able to stay so close and make it this far." Aine: "So you cannot stay together forever if you have romantic feelings for each other?" Tomoe: "Love is transient. How could we possibly stay together forever?" Tomoe: "Besides, when people fall in love, they change." *The saying "love is blind" was true. When people fall in love, they stop seeing the world around them. Sometimes even their personalities change.* *Even the supposedly nicest of people could turn evil once they fell in love.* Aine: "That is not always a bad thing. Are there not times when a person changes for the better?" Tomoe: "Turns for the worse are more common." Aine: "And I am saying you are making assumptions." Tomoe: "I don't see it that way. Besides..." Tomoe: "I have no right to fall in love." Aine: "No right to fall in love... Tomoe-san, I do not believe anyone needs the 'right' to fall in love." Tomoe: "You're wrong." Tomoe: "At the very least, you need the determination to think, 'I'll make my partner happy. Let's find happiness together.' Right?" Aine: "That is a given." Tomoe: "But I don't think that way." Aine: "Huh? But you want Naruko-san to be happy, right?" Aine: "Did you not say you would do anything you possibly could to help her?" Tomoe: "I will do anything within my power, as long as it's for Nakizaki." Aine: "Then..." Tomoe: "But that doesn't apply to myself. I don't want to be happy. I can _never_ be happy." Tomoe: "I'm sure it would be rough on anyone if the person they're dating isn't happy." Aine: "That is also a given, but... why must you be unhappy, Tomoe-san?" *Aine looked at me with a pained expression.* Tomoe: "You shouldn't be so upset over this..." Aine: "It makes me very sad to hear you talk this way." Aine: "I want you to become happy, too." Tomoe: "Why do you think that way, Aine?" *Yes, she's just a mere angel.* *In the end, Aine was simply passing through. She wouldn't be staying here forever, so whatever happened to me in the future was none of her business.* *It was just her angelic nature making her that way.* Tomoe: "Anyway, I can't form a romantic relationship with Nakizaki, nor do I want to. I'll just feign ignorance." Aine: "And what if Naruko-san confesses her feelings to you?" Tomoe: "I'll think about that when it happens." *I didn't have the first clue what I should do when and if that time came.* *Nakizaki confessing to me... That would be a borderline terrifying event.* *It would be like going from living your whole life in a peaceful paradise to suddenly being ruled over by an unfamiliar lord.* *If that were to happen, I probably couldn't stay here any longer.* Tomoe: "I pray that never happens." Aine: "Hmph..." *Aine looked at me condemningly.* Aine: "If Naruko-san continues to bear such feelings that she cannot express openly, then I am sure she will end up suffering for it." Tomoe: "You might be right..." *Yes, she had a point, and it would all happen because I returned her shard. I would be the reason for her suffering...* *But...* Tomoe: "What do you want from me, then?" *I unintentionally blurted out that complaint. I really meant it, too.* Aine: "Well..." *My question left Aine speechless.* *She wouldn't dare insist I force myself to date her. There was absolutely no way I could do that.* *That being the case, what _should_ I do?* *"Never forget how that girl felt, and what she wished for when she discarded her own heart."* *The feelings Nakizaki had for me when she cast away her emotions... How _did_ Nakizaki feel at that moment?* *Why had Nakizaki done such a thing?*

*Krk...* *I woke up to the sound of a door opening. What's more, it sounded like someone was trying to be sneaky about it.* *It was the morning of the new school term. I thought it might be Nakizaki coming to wake me up, but it was way too docile for it to be her.* *Her standard procedure was to come in through the window.* Tomoe: "..." *I wondered who it could be, opened my eyes ever so slightly, and saw Nakizaki's face.* *What was going on? She seemed kind of hesitant...* Naruko: "He's still sleeping..." *She was peering at my "sleeping" face. I quickly closed my eyes.* Tomoe: "..." *I could feel her gaze even with my eyes shut. She was still looking at me.* *I figured she had come to wake me, but instead, she kept quiet and watched me sleep.* *What was she doing? What should I do? It was difficult for me to open my eyes now.* Naruko: "So cute..." *Huh...?* *I nearly reacted out loud without meaning to.* *"Cute"? ...She watched me as I slept and whispered that I was "cute"?* Tomoe: "..." *How incredibly uncomfortable. How long was she planning to keep this up?* Aine: "Mm..." *I sensed Aine tossing and turning.* Naruko: "Wah!" *Nakizaki yelped with surprise, and her watchful gaze finally disappeared. I let out a sigh of relief.* Naruko: "Oh, it's about time for me to wake him up. Um... Ahem." Naruko: "Kirinokojima, Aine-chan~! It's morning!" *She called to us, her voice somewhat more docile than usual. I kept up appearances by opening my eyes, and looking like I had just woken up.* Tomoe: "Oh, Nakizaki? Morning." Naruko: "Y-Yeah... Morning..." *Her face was red for some reason, and her eyes seemed unnaturally misty. I couldn't compose myself when she looked at me like that.* Tomoe: "Y-You came in through the front door? That's rare." Naruko: "Oh, y-yeah... I mean, if I came in the other way, you know... My panties..." Tomoe: "Panties? ...Oh." *She was talking about how I could see them every morning?* Tomoe: "Isn't it a little late for that?" Naruko: "W-Well yeah, but... Think about it. That's totally improper for a woman my age." Tomoe: "Yeah, I guess..." *Something about her was off. Between her odd speech and mannerisms, she hardly seemed like Nakizaki at all.* Naruko: "..." Tomoe: "..." *As she went silent, the conversation came to an abrupt standstill.* *We went silent first thing this morning; neither of us had any idea what to say.* Aine: "Fwaaah..." Aine: "Oh? Naruko-san, good morning." Naruko: "Oh, m-morning." Aine: "When did you get here? You were so quiet, I did not notice you come in." Naruko: "R-Really? But I really shouldn't be too noisy in the morning... Right?" Tomoe: "No, I don't mind if you're loud." Naruko: "Y-You don't? But, come on... It's improper." Aine: "'Improper'?" *Aine was equally surprised. "Improper" wasn't a word that ever came out of Nakizaki's mouth.* Naruko: "A-Anyway, it's time to get up. I've got breakfast prepared for you." Naruko: "S-See ya!" Aine: "Ah... She left." Aine: "Naruko-san is acting pretty strange this morning, huh?" Tomoe: "Extremely." *It was enough to leave _me_ unsettled. I had the feeling Nakizaki had changed...*

Aine: "We have not been to school in a while! I am looking forward to it." Tomoe: "You love school, don't you?" Aine: "Our friends are here, so it is fun! You feel the same way, right, Naruko-san?" Naruko: "..." *Aine asked, but got no answer. No sooner than I thought this was odd did Nakizaki look my way.* Naruko: "...Ah!" *When our eyes met, she panicked and looked away.* Tomoe: "...Aine asked you a question, you know." Naruko: "Huh? Aine-chan? She did?" *She apparently hadn't been listening.* Aine: "Oh, I was saying that school is fun. That is all." Naruko: "Oh, yeah, school is fun. I like it, too!" *What an incredibly awkward conversation. She was even blushing.* Tomoe: "Are you not feeling well? Do you have a fever or something?" Naruko: "I-I don't think so... Is my face red?" Aine: "It is." Naruko: "I-I see..." *Her face flushed a deeper shade of red.* Tomoe: "Actually, why are you wearing your hood today?" Naruko: "Um, it's because... my head is awfully chilly today, I guess?" Aine: "Oh, it is?" Naruko: "It would be a shame not to use my hood once in a while anyway. It's practically a decoration since I don't use it much." Naruko: "Is it funny that I am?" Tomoe: "Well, I guess it's fine." *It wasn't so much funny as suspicious. It almost looked like she was trying to hide her face from me.* *In spite of that, she was sneaking peeks my way from behind her hood.* Naruko: "..." *She continued staring at me. Did she think I wouldn't notice?* Aine: "Tomoe-san, you're being watched." Tomoe: "I know." Naruko: "..." *Yeah... She really was acting funny. If she really _did_ confess to me, then I...* Kiyohito: "Hey!" *Nakizaki's hood was pulled down from behind out of nowhere.* Naruko: "Hwaaahh!" Kiyohito: "Challo!" Naruko: "K-Kiyohito! What're you doing?!" Kiyohito: "I could ask you the same thing. Why are you wearing a hood?" Naruko: "Wh-What's it matter? I can wear whatever I want." Kiyohito: "Well, I've got no complaints even if you were to come to school wearing a bucket on your head, or even a bedpan." Naruko: "Who would wear a bedpan to school?!" Kiyohito: "Oh, that's a sharp comeback." Naruko: "Ah..." Kiyohito: "This is how Nakizaki's gotta be. Right, Tomoe?" Tomoe: "Yeah." *She was like her normal self just now. Actually, she may have been normal when dealing with everyone but me.* Naruko: "C-Come on. Even you, Kirinokojima? Are you saying I should come to school with a bedpan on my head?" Tomoe: "No, I'm not saying that." Naruko: "I'm not going to wear a bucket or bedpan!" Tomoe: "I know." *Nakizaki pouted, turned the other way, and put her hood back on.* Kiyohito: "What's going on? Why's our princess starting off the new term so cranky?" Tomoe: "Who knows..." *I couldn't possibly say, "Because she has a huge crush on me."* *Still, was she going to be like this forever? What a pain...*

Naruko: "..." *Nakizaki still seemed the same even well into the afternoon. She was off on her own a little way away, gazing into the distance.* Yuri: "Naruko-chan is very docile today." *Hisaka-san said, likely due to Nakizaki emitting an aura that made it somewhat difficult to approach her.* Yuri: "Did you have a fight or something?" Minamo: "Oh, a marital spat?" Naruko: "W-We're not married!" *Nakizaki reacted without warning. I was sure Wakamatsu meant it as a joke, so she was far more surprised by Nakizaki's outburst.* Minamo: "It is a joke. What is with that reaction?" Naruko: "B-Because... you acted like we were married." Tomoe: "You should've known that was a joke right away." Naruko: "Yeah, but..." *She looked disheartened by my reply.* Aine: "Tomoe-san, you should not be too hard on her..." Tomoe: "Nothing I said was that harsh, though?" Yuri: "But she is in a slump." Naruko: "Schmph..." *She was mumbling sound effects you'd make when upset. Looks like she really _was_ in a slump.* Minamo: "Seriously, what happened? Are you really fighting?" Tomoe: "We're not." *A fight would be better since we could make up. I had no idea how to handle this situation.* Yuri: "I don't know which of you is at fault, but I will give this to you both." *Hisaka-san handed me two pieces of candy.* Yuri: "Please give one to Naruko-chan, okay?" Tomoe: "It's coming from me?" Yuri: "I am sure if you give it to her with the intention of making up, she will understand." Tomoe: "No, we really _aren't_ fighting or anything..." Kiyohito: "Never mind, just give it to her. Go on." *Kiyohito pushed me in front of Nakizaki.* Naruko: "Ah..." Tomoe: "Um..." *I was at a loss for words. What good would it do for me to get nervous, too?* Tomoe: "...Here, this is from Hisaka-san." *I held out the candy I'd received.* Naruko: "Y-Yeah..." *Nakizaki timidly took the candy from my hand.* Aine: "Oh~!" Kiyohito: "Clap!" *There was sporadic applause. What was with this farce?* Yuri: "It was kind of like we were seeing a real proposal, like when he gives you the ring." Naruko: "A... A proposal..." *Nakizaki's face flushed a bright shade of pink.* Minamo: "Why are you taking this so seriously?" Naruko: "Huh? I-I'm not doing anything like that!" Kiyohito: "Hey, is that _actually_ what this is?" Tomoe: "No..." *I didn't know how to respond.* Kiyohito: "I wonder! Just get married already." Naruko: "Marr─?!" Kiyohito: "Wow. She's got it bad." *No kidding.* *Nakizaki was supposed to be a rational person with good common sense, but it seemed she couldn't contain herself anymore.* *Love truly was a nuisance.* *Who needs love...*

Naruko: "..." Tomoe: "..." *The trip home had become incredibly uncomfortable.* *Aine had run off somewhere with her friends from class, so Nakizaki and I were all alone.* *Damn you, Aine. Your timing couldn't be worse...* Naruko: "..." *There was no conversation. Nakizaki had fallen silent, and I could only come up with forced topics.* *Even if I had tried to come up with something, it would be needlessly transparent, so I couldn't speak up.* *During this uncomfortable silence, we eventually arrived home.* Naruko: "S-See ya. I'll bring you some food later." Tomoe: "Oh, sure. Sorry as always." Naruko: "Not at all... Okay, bye." *Nakizaki looked reluctant to say goodbye, but headed into her house.* Tomoe: "Phew..." *I let out a sigh. I didn't realize I had been holding my breath. How long was this going to last?* *But...* Tomoe: "Nakizaki won't say anything, huh?"