Translator: Soafp On the way to the nearby supermarket, the three of us—Yui, Kokoa-san, and I—chatted about all sorts of things. Before long, though, the conversation naturally returned to the phone call at the ramen shop. Kokoa-san gave a slight shake of her head. "Lately, during lessons, I sometimes catch myself thinking... Was everything I worked so hard for just so I could meet a man like that again? Whenever that thought crosses my mind, all my strength just drains away." "But you're not being an idol just for him anymore, right?" "That's right! That's the only thing keeping me going." The fact that she could only say she was " the only thing " made it obvious. Kokoa-san was mentally exhausted. And who could blame her? Then perhaps... Couldn't she replace her lingering feelings for Nagasawa-senpai with something else? (What matters are the memories themselves.) She had wanted to see Nagasawa-senpai again because she wanted to reconnect with those memories. If that was the case, then maybe the person she shared those memories with didn't necessarily have to be Nagasawa-senpai. ...Of course, unlike what we'd talked about in the park before, making up fake memories wasn't the answer. Ah. I knew someone. "Kokoa-san, how close were you with Yuna-san?" "Yu-chan...?" "Yeah. I was wondering... maybe you don't really want to see her?"...

Translator: Soafp After parting with Shizuno and leaving the school, I stopped to do a bit of shopping before heading home. I bought new notebooks, stationery, and reference books—things I used to pick up little by little, but this time I made sure to properly stock up. Money was a bit tight, but if I wanted to keep this motivation going, I couldn’t afford to hold back. When I got home, I went straight to my room. I put my bag down and was about to plug my phone into the charger when— something strange caught my eye. “Whoa… what is this…” There were over thirty messages on Lean. My phone, which was usually dead silent, was now flooded with notifications. Hesitantly, I opened it… Every single message was from Maaya. "Good evening♪ What are you doing now?" "Eh? Are you busy?" "Are you okay? Did something happen?" "Reita-kun?" At first glance, it looked like she was just worried about not getting a reply—but the messages were sent every five minutes. It’s one thing if I hadn’t replied for half a day, but five minutes? That’s way too impatient. And there were still more messages below. "Are you ignoring me…?" "Hey, you’re actually reading them from the notification screen, right?" "At least mark them as read" "Don’t be mean" And now she was...

Yuuya: Heh. It just means I understand those two better than you do. I am their friend, after all. Yuuya sent me that message with a smug little air to it, and it honestly pissed me off a bit. I had wondered what was going on when he suddenly messaged me out of nowhere, only for the content to be the kind of thing that made me doubt my own eyes. No, no, there’s no way that’s true~ I snapped back in my head, but I could already see exactly how it would go if I actually replied with that. It would turn into a pointless back-and-forth where neither of us backed down. So I decided not to waste my time and turned off my phone screen then and there. The truth was, during that whole mess, I had ended up connecting with Naegi-san on Laiso, though Yuuya didn’t know that either. Thanks to that, I also knew what Naegi-san’s current condition was like. The official reason I had added her was because I wanted to thank her, but… somehow, I could sense the heartbeat of a loner in Naegi-san too. From what I had heard from Yuuya, she had started living with her boyfriend right after entering university, so she probably never even had time to make friends. And I could also...

Translator: Soafp Maybe Airi left it here on purpose. ...She really doesn't leave anything to chance. Unaware of it, Nagasawa-senpai continued speaking. "You aren't serious about Miyo anyway, are you?" "I already told you. I'm not dating Kokoa-san." It was like he wasn't listening to a word I said. No, it didn't even seem like he had any intention of having a real conversation. How someone like him had managed to win over so many women was beyond me. "Just so you know, Miyo may not look it, but she's a very fragile girl. If you hurt her, I won't let you get away with it...!" Did he think he was Kokoa-san's father or something? Her real father, Burn-san, had entrusted her to me, telling me to look after his daughter. I let out a deep sigh before answering. "Of course I care about Kokoa-san. I'd never do anything to hurt her." After all, I was her sponsor. I might spoil her, but I'd never neglect her. "More importantly, there's something I want to ask you." "What?" "The person who jumped at school today... it was the club president, wasn't it?" "..." Nagasawa-senpai didn't answer. He simply kept eating his noodles in silence. "Don't you feel anything?" "...What if it was?" "Even if she wasn't your girlfriend, she was someone you slept with...

“Is your body all right now?” Facing me again in the backyard, Naegi-san wore an expression like she had finally shaken something off. In other words, she had made up her mind. In that case, the only thing I needed to worry about was her physical condition. “Ah, yeah… I caused you all kinds of trouble. I’m sorry.” “It’s way too late to worry about that now, so don’t let it bother you. So, Naegi-san, what are you planning to do from here?” “Um… I thought I’d try to make a fresh start and do my best. So I’m planning to drop out of university and work. My credits for the first semester were already hopeless anyway.” “I see.” I see. So Naegi-san intended to work too, even if only to help Nishida pay back a little of the debt he was carrying. Still, even then, I felt like she did not have to go as far as dropping out of university. “So, what’s Nishida planning to do? That’s the important part.” “I-I don’t really know… but he did say he’s going to get a proper, honest job and pay back the debt. It seems like he’s changed his mind a little.” “…Is he not planning to come back to university either?” “I wonder… But I feel like university is the least of...

Translator: Soafp "A third-year female senior." Of course, there were countless girls who fit that description. But only one person came to mind. Yui seemed to reach the same conclusion. She turned toward me and spoke in a trembling voice. "C-Could it be... t-the club president...?" Exactly. If the person who had died in Airi's place was the Photography Club president, everything would fit. She matched the conditions, and there was even a plausible motive. (Pushed to her absolute limit, and then abandoned even by Nagasawa-senpai...) Most likely, Nagasawa-senpai hadn't been lying when he said he had cut ties with all the women she had stolen from others. On top of that, she had been accused of offering female club members to Nagasawa-senpai. Whether the accusation was true or not, causing a scandal like this must have earned her severe criticism from the alumni who had entrusted her with the position of club president. Especially since the Photography Club had such a strong reputation. Takagi looked back and forth between Yui and me with a puzzled expression. "Eh? What? Do you guys actually know something?" "No, it's not like we have proof, but..." Making sure nobody else could hear, I leaned close to Takagi's ear and quietly whispered the Photography Club president's name. "Ah... yeah, that does sound pretty likely..." "...You think so?"...

For the time being, Naegi-san was taken to the hospital, and it turned out that there was nothing inside her that even resembled a child. “...Good for you, Nishida. You managed not to become a murderer.” “Hm? What’s up, Yuuya? Why so sudden?” “Nothing. Just a mutter on the level of an apothecary’s monologue.” After the whole string of procedures was finally over, Temari, Mahiro, and I headed home. For some reason, Temari had ridden in the ambulance along with Nishida. Leaving everything to Temari, who was basically unrelated to the mess, would have felt wrong even for me, so Mahiro and I had followed after them too, reluctantly. Still, even though they had been dragged into this whole shitshow hard enough to be ridiculous, what felt strange to me was that neither Temari nor Mahiro was spilling any complaints. Why the hell not? It is fine, you know. Just like piss or love juice, you can dribble out your grudges whether you are doing it reluctantly or with your shame parts. We are the only ones here anyway. The relief that it did not turn into an absolute disaster had apparently glossed over everything. ... Well, still. The whole thing had happened because Naegi-san had thought about how she should raise a child someday if she ever had one, and as a...

Translator; Soafp Going to school with me? ...Why? To be honest, I had absolutely no idea why Kokoa-san had suddenly suggested that. If I remembered correctly, her middle school was several stations away by train. We'd just end up getting off at different stations almost immediately anyway. "Just to be sure, there's no special reason for this, right?" If she was being stalked, or if she thought she might run into Nagasawa-senpai, then I'd understand. If it was something like that, I'd be the one going to help her. Kokoa-san shook her head. "It's not anything that serious!" "...Then why?" "Ehh, you're really going to make me say it? Do you absolutely have to hear it from Kokoa herself? Ren-sama, you're so cruel~" How did that make me the bad guy? "Hehe." Airi let out a small laugh. "Ren-kun likes making girls say things themselves, after all." "I-Is that so?" "Kokoa-san, don't worry about it. Airi's talking about something completely different." If anything, Airi seemed far more enthusiastic about being the one taking orders than I ever was... In any case, it wasn't something Kokoa-san needed to hear. Lowering her voice slightly, Kokoa-san spoke. "The truth is... I've never really had any friends to go to school with before. So I thought maybe it would be nice with you guys..." "Ah." Both Nodoka...

Translator: Soafp “M-Miyo...?” Nagasawa-senpai reached out toward Kokoa. His fingertips were trembling uncontrollably. Kokoa glared at him with eyes as cold as ice. “Who are you?” “M-Miyo...!” “Please be quiet. The only person allowed to call me that is Ko-kun.” “Guh...” I was honestly surprised. Kokoa was usually friendly with everyone, so seeing her make such a cold expression was shocking. Did she really hate Nagasawa-senpai that much? Kokoa wrapped herself tightly around my arm. “Come on, Ren-sama. Let's go take those photo booth pictures! Oh, right. Maybe I should put one of our two-shot photos on my phone?” “...As an idol, I can only see that ending badly.” Nagasawa-senpai's knees shook as he shouted. “W-Wait! I was wrong! P-Please! Just give me one chance!” Kokoa pulled on my arm and quickened her pace. I hesitated for a moment, but there was no point staying behind. As she wished, we headed back to an arcade. Behind us, there was a loud crashing sound as Nagasawa-senpai fell. “Miyooooo—!!” Kokoa never looked back. We entered a different arcade this time and spent a while playing various games. Finally, we took some photo booth pictures. Nodoka proudly set one of the newly taken photos as her phone wallpaper. “This kind of feels a little gyaru-ish! Maybe my gyaru level just increased by 10%!” “So that makes...

Translator: Soafp I instinctively pulled Nodoka closer and gently stepped back, trying to calm her down. As expected, an arcade employee came running over after hearing Nodoka's scream. "Sorry. We'll leave right away." If this caused any more commotion, we'd only be bothering the arcade. Nagasawa-senpai seemed to reach the same conclusion. We headed straight for the arcade exit and moved to a quiet park nearby. Still in my arms, Nodoka looked up at me and spoke in a small voice. "S-Sorry... But I was really scared..." "I know. It's okay. Stay like this until you calm down." "Okay." Nagasawa-senpai looked at us and snorted in exasperation. But he quickly looked away and fixed his gaze directly on Kokoa-san. "Miyo, why are you with this guy again?" "This guy? Who are you talking about?" Kokoa's voice was strangely cold. "Who else? This Fukagawa guy!" Nagasawa-senpai pointed at me irritably. Whenever Kokoa was involved, this guy became emotional instantly. Normally, he always acted composed, as if nothing I did could ever affect him. "Ko-kun, I heard about it. Yu-chan's condition is really bad, right?" "Ugh... Yeah, that's true." "You've had it rough too, Ko-kun. I had no idea. I never imagined that was the reason you moved away." Nagasawa-senpai's younger sister was named Yuna, if I remembered correctly. According to the detective's report, Yuna-san...

Translator: Soafp "Yaaay~!" Together with Nodoka, Airi, and Yui, I brought Kokoa-san to a karaoke place. Apparently, this was Kokoa-san's first time ever doing karaoke. "So, what do you think of my skills!?" A huge 98 appeared on the screen. As expected of a rapidly rising idol. Not only was she a great singer, but she instantly raised everyone's energy too. But... Nodoka loudly protested. "Isn't it cheating to sing your own song!?" "Then Nodoka-san should sing her own song too!" "Like I have one of those!!" The fact that we were casually hanging out in the same karaoke room as an idol whose own songs were available in karaoke machines... Even now, it felt like an absurd situation. The intro of the next song began playing. "Ah, it's my turn." Nodoka stood up and grabbed the microphone. The song was one of the hottest hits at the moment, boosted by its drama tie-in. But one thing surprised me. "Nodoka, you've been to karaoke before?" "O-Of course I have! I'm a gyaru, after all!" She's still pushing that image, huh? I'd honestly assumed she'd never been to karaoke either, just like Kokoa-san. Maybe she'd come with her family before. Yui quietly explained. "Actually, Nodoka has come with me and some other girls before. But she got so nervous that she never sang a...

Translator: Soafp “Ughhh! I don't get it!!” In the apartment that had finally started to feel a little familiar, I was tutoring my next-door neighbor, Shizuku Saito, in the not-so-spacious living room. “Hey, keep it down. You'll bother the neighbors.” Shizuku slammed her textbook shut and collapsed onto the desk. “Try a little harder. It's only been about an hour.” “Nope. If I study any more, my brain's gonna melt.” She was the one who asked me to help her study because exams were coming up, yet she still couldn't stick with it. “Saito... Shizuku, your grades aren't exactly good, are they? At this rate, you might end up taking make-up exams.” “Huh!? Make-up exams!? No way am I doing that!” “Then work harder. If you studied at least three hours a day, that probably wouldn't happen.” “No way!” The high school we attended wasn't particularly low-level, but it wasn't especially prestigious either. Shizuku wasn't stupid. If I had to point out a problem, it was that she was a slow learner. If she could just develop some persistence, she'd be able to overcome that. “What should I do with her...” Ignoring the sulking Shizuku, I absentmindedly worked through the problems in her textbook. I had no intention of showing off my abilities, but the classes at my current school felt incredibly easy....

Translator: Soafp There was still a little left to unpack, but most of it was finished. ...Even though there wasn't that much stuff, it was more exhausting than I'd expected. Maybe it was because this was my first time moving and I didn't really know what I was doing. "G-Good work." Yui handed me a cold drink. As expected of my childhood friend. She knew exactly what I'd want to drink at times like this. "Thanks. Good work to you too, Yui." "No. If anything, I can't thank you enough. You're letting someone like me live with you." As I twisted open the cap, a thought crossed my mind. The confident Yuzuki from before was gone. No matter how I looked at it, I couldn't think that was a good change. And yet, I didn't want her to return to the way she used to be. The fact that I felt that way made me seem selfish and contradictory. "Kokoa is here too!" Suddenly, Kokoa-san's face appeared upside down, filling my entire field of vision. ...Apparently she'd leaned over my shoulder from behind. "Kokoa-san, thank you for helping today as well. We finished much sooner than expected thanks to you." "It's nothing! Ren-sama has helped me so much already, so this is just my way of saying thanks!" Kokoa-san smiled brightly. As expected...

Translator: Soafp I never imagined that Kokoa disliked cheating this much. I knew I shouldn't jump to conclusions, but perhaps the trauma stemmed from her parents' divorce. I gave a small nod and replied. "Alright. I'll tell you everything I know about Nagasawa-senpai." "Wow, as expected of Ren-senpai!" "It's not exactly a condition, but could I ask you for one favor in return?" Keeping a serious expression, I continued. "There's something I want to talk to you about regarding your agency." "M-My agency?" "Yes. It's something pretty important. After hearing it, can you promise me you'll seriously think about your situation with the agency?" If Kokoa left her current agency, there was a chance she'd lose not only the name Jirai-chan Syndrome, but also the song that had helped launch her career. There wasn't any immediate danger visible yet, and she had obligations to the other members as well. I couldn't imagine her abandoning the agency so easily. (But knowing and not knowing are completely different things.) At the very least, she could be cautious. She could prepare herself in her own way. That was far better than remaining completely unaware. Kokoa gave a small nod. "Okay. If Ren-senpai says it's important, then there must be something to it. You've never been wrong before." "Thank you. Well then... actually, I'm moving tomorrow." "So...

Translator: Soafp The following Saturday. I had come to school because Takagi and I had been assigned to guide visitors around the campus during the open school event. By now, I had completely gotten used to Takagi's deeply tanned face. "Hello, senpais! I'm Kokoa from Jira-chan Syndrome!" ...Standing before us was Kokoa-san in a sailor uniform, as energetic as ever. Of course, she wasn't alone. There were about four middle school students with her, apparently her classmates. (Fortunately, she doesn't seem to be acting like she knows me.) If she had started calling me "Sponsor-sama~" or "Ren-sama~" as usual, I would definitely have been bombarded with questions. At worst, rumors could spread and turn into a scandal. As expected, Kokoa-san had a strong sense of professionalism. Takagi cleared his throat and began the tour. "Um, I'm Takagi, a first-year student, and I'll be guiding you around today. This is Fukagawa, also a first-year." "Nice to meet you." "Then let's get started." Since I was only filling in, Takagi handled most of the tour. My role was limited to occasionally answering questions and keeping an eye on the five students from the back of the group. Since everyone obediently followed Takagi's instructions, there was hardly anything for me to do. (Still, Kokoa-san seems oddly isolated.) There seemed to be an invisible wall between her...

Translator: Soafp After school, I waited for Shizuno in a secluded hallway along the path to the student council room. We hadn’t made any plans to meet, but if she really was going there every day, she was bound to pass through here. After a few minutes of waiting, just as expected, Shizuno appeared. “Oh… Reita, what are you doing in a place like this?” “Hey. I wanted to talk to you about something.” After a brief greeting with the slightly puzzled Shizuno, I got straight to the point. “Lately, it feels like something’s off with you. Did something happen?” “…Not really. I’m the same as always.” “No, even Maaya and the others are saying the same thing. Something must’ve happened.” “Well, I won’t say nothing’s wrong… but it’s just something minor.” She said it like it was nothing, but her words lacked their usual sharpness. Honestly, I expected her not to tell me outright, so I decided to press her a bit. “Heh… don’t tell me you’ve got a boyfriend or something?” I smirked, teasing her. “Hehe, that’s a pretty boring joke coming from you.” “So I’m wrong? Well, I guess that makes sense. Apparently you ranked number one on the ‘girls who definitely don’t have a boyfriend’ list.” “…What kind of list is that? That’s in poor taste.” Shizuno frowned like...

Translator: Soafp After hearing the detective's interim report, I ended the call. A sigh escaped my lips. Kokoa-san... why did she have to end up at a talent agency like that of all places? “Ren-kun, was that the detective?” “Yeah.” “It was about Miyoko-san, right? What did they say?” “It seems that agency has borrowed money from a predatory loan shark.” Apparently, even before launching Jirai-chan Syndrome, the agency had poured large sums of money into several other business ventures. Every single one of them had failed. Desperate to keep the company from going under, the president had apparently borrowed money from people who weren't exactly legitimate lenders. “Threats and violence are apparently an everyday occurrence. If you can't repay them, they sell you into the sex industry. That kind of crowd.” “...That's awful. They're even worse than my father's creditors.” Hideki-san's case had merely involved personal debts. At the very least, they hadn't been illegal loan sharks. Though honestly, there wasn't much difference in practice. Nodoka, who had been listening from the kitchen, widened her eyes and hurried over. “T-Then doesn't that mean the yakuza are probably involved too!?” “There's a good chance.” “R-Ren, you're not thinking of doing anything stupid, are you!? You absolutely can't get involved with yakuza!” “I know.” ...Though in truth, I'd already gotten involved once because of...

Translator: Soafp Takagi filled me in on the details. It hadn't made national headlines, but several local newspapers and media outlets had apparently picked up the story about our school's photography club. Naturally, it was about Nagasawa-senpai. “Apparently, the parents of club members, along with alumni, are making a huge fuss about it. In the end, the PTA decided to file an official complaint.” Takagi pulled out his phone and showed me the screen. The article had already spread nationwide through the internet. It had exploded across social media and become the target of ridicule. Ayumi-san had probably been helping spread it around. “So that's it? The club just gets shut down?” “Nope. Sounds like Nagasawa-senpai is getting disciplinary action too. He was suspended before, and this time they're saying he probably won't avoid expulsion.” Seriously, where did Takagi get all this information? Maybe he was secretly a detective. His sources were absurdly fast. “I see.” “What, that's all? Your reaction's pretty weak considering how much trouble that caused you.” “Well, yeah. But somehow... I just don't really care anymore.” Honestly, I was surprised myself. I'd expected to feel a strong sense of satisfaction, like they finally got what they deserved. Maybe the trauma had faded more than I realized. Maybe thanks to Nodoka and Airi, I'd gradually regained my confidence. And even...

Translator: Soafp Somehow, we managed to reach an understanding with Nodoka's parents. The amount of money needed for her father's startup turned out to be less than I'd expected. ...Though when Nodoka tried to get permission for us to live together, even her father couldn't hold back his tears. After that, I headed home with Airi and Yui. “Everything worked out nicely in the end, Ren-kun.” “Yeah, I guess it did...” To be honest, I felt that if Nodoka's father had punched me, I wouldn't have had the right to complain. The only reason he was willing to overlook things to some extent was probably because I'd saved his daughter's life. More than anything, it was because of Nodoka's own determination. “But honestly... it kind of leaves a bad taste in my mouth. It feels like I bought Nodoka with money.” Even if it had been part of a strategy, the deciding factor that made her father agree had still been my offer to become an angel investor. Of course, he hadn't actually sold his daughter for money. He had simply realized he could no longer oppose us, and I'd offered him a way to back down gracefully through the investment. That was why he had lowered his spear. “Ren-kun, you're overthinking it. It's not like you lured an unsuspecting Nodoka with money....

Translator: Soafp On that day, I went all the way with Nodoka and Airi. As a side note, I ended up breaking my own record by a margin that surprised even me. But this was where we let our guard down. The four of us were completely exhausted and fell asleep like logs. “So, um... does this mean that you're dating our Nodoka?” By a stroke of bad luck, Nodoka's parents had come home earlier than usual and happened to run into us. For the moment, we were seated across from each other at the dining table. Even so, cold sweat was running down my back like a waterfall. “Yes, that's right...” There was no way I could say, “Your daughter is my pet.” Besides, she was practically my girlfriend anyway. Nodoka's father glared at me. “What you did with Nodoka is something I can't forgive, even if I were to take a hundred steps back!” “Dear, what are you saying!?” Nodoka's mother immediately smacked her husband on the back. “Um... your name was Ren, right?” “Yes.” “If Nodoka consented to it, then there's nothing that can be done about it now. What's happened has happened.” “N-Nodoka, is that true!? Did you actually agree to it!?” Nodoka's father leaned toward his daughter with enough force that it looked like he might spray saliva...

Translator: Soafp Speaking of which, today was supposed to be the day I went all the way with Nodoka and Airi. ...So much had happened in between that it had completely slipped my mind. "Alright, then let's go." As soon as I said that, the two girls smiled and hooked their arms around mine from either side. Were we really heading straight for the love hotel district? For some reason, my heart started pounding. "T-Then I'll head home first..." Yui muttered quietly, keeping her eyes lowered. Damn. If things continued like this, I'd be leaving Yui alone. And Yui still loved me. Making her watch the man she loved head off to a love hotel with other girls would be far too cruel. (What should I do...?) I had to keep my promise to the other two. But I couldn't stop worrying about leaving Yui by herself. Maybe I should at least walk her home first and ask Mom to keep an eye on her for a while. No, come to think of it, Mom might still be drinking with Ayumi. If only I'd asked Kokoa earlier. "Yui-san." At that moment, Airi spoke up. "Want to come with us?" "...Huh?" "Just to watch, of course. No touching." No, what kind of conversation was this? Was she seriously suggesting that Yui watch what we...

Translator: Soafp "I knew it! You're Ko-kun! I wasn't completely sure because you've changed so much... but there's no mistaking that face!" Kokoa-san's sudden interruption left all of us staring in surprise. It didn't seem like she had jumped in this time to stop the argument. Her eyes were focused entirely on Nagasawa-senpai. Nagasawa-senpai pointed at himself in confusion. "Me?" "Yeah! Who else would I be talking about? Ko-kun, don't you remember me?" "Umm... Where did we meet again...?" "Come on! It's not like I dyed my hair like you did! The only thing that's really changed about me is how I dress!" Kokoa-san pulled out her phone and opened her photo album. There was a picture of her as a child. Of course, she wasn't dressed in her current dark-fashion style. She looked like an ordinary elementary school girl. She was even wearing glasses. Peering at the photo, Nagasawa-senpai's eyes widened. "D-Don't tell me... Miyo...?" "That's right! Honestly, you're terrible!" "No, you've changed way too much..." To be fair, I agreed with him on that point. Aside from her hair color, almost nothing remained of her former appearance. More importantly... "So Miyo-san's Ko-kun turned out to be this guy." Airi whispered quietly, though loudly enough for me to hear. Then even Nodoka, who had been trembling behind me, cried out in shock....

Translator: Soafp After finishing at the shooting gallery, we wandered around the festival stalls. We tried goldfish scooping and ring toss, but as expected, Nodoka's interest remained firmly focused on food. Before anyone noticed, she was carrying a stuffed animal in one hand and several bags of festival food in the other. "Nodoka, you've got sauce on your face." "Huh? Where?" "Hold still." I pulled out a handkerchief and wiped the stain from her cheek. How focused did she have to be on eating to get sauce all the way there? Watching us, Airi let out a small laugh. "Nodoka-san really is like a spoiled pet being pampered by her owner." "That's true! Nodo-san is more like a cat than a pet!" "R-Really? What part?" "The way you're always prickly and nagging everyone, but the moment your master isn't around, you get all depressed?" "Putting everything else aside, I do not nag that much!" So she was admitting she was prickly. "Ehhh? You nagged me before." "That's because Kokoa-san never cleans properly! Nobody could stay quiet after seeing that mess!" "At least my dad doesn't nag me like that." Suddenly dragged into the conversation, Burn-san flinched. Everyone's gaze turned toward him, and he awkwardly scratched his head. "W-Well... actually, I'm not very good at cleaning either..." "..." "..." So that was hereditary too....

Translator: Soafp "Nice to meet you. My name is James Burn, Kokoa's father." Burn-san handed me a business card and greeted me politely. Since I didn't have any business cards of my own, all I could do was awkwardly introduce myself. ...Maybe I should have had some made. "My daughter told me that you've saved her life several times." "No, no, it was really just coincidence." "Even so, if it weren't for you, Fukagawa-san, I might never have seen my daughter again. Thank you very much." Burn-san bowed deeply. Honestly, I had no idea how to respond. Still, it didn't feel bad. If anything, it felt like all the things I had done for Kokoa-san had finally been rewarded, at least a little. "...However, Fukagawa-san." "Yes?" "My daughter is still only a middle school student. And you already have several wonderful young ladies—" "Dad!! What are you saying!?" Kokoa-san, still riding on her father's back, covered his mouth with both hands. Did Burn-san think Kokoa-san was in love with me? Besides, Kokoa-san was supposed to have someone else she liked as her first love. Apparently, he wasn't very knowledgeable about his daughter's romantic life. "S-Sorry, Ren-sama! My dad isn't very good at Japanese!" ...No, aside from his pronunciation and intonation, his Japanese was perfect. I cleared my throat and tried to change the...

Translator: Soafp It was afternoon, and I was starting to get ready for the summer festival. I had already arranged a meeting spot with Kokoa-san. I wonder if Kokoa-san is really going to be okay... "Nodoka-san." Holding a delivery box in her arms, Airi peeked her head through the gap in my bedroom door. "Sorry, could you help me put on my yukata for a bit?" "Ah, sure." Nodoka quietly got up from my lap and headed to the next room. Only Yuzuki and I remained in the room. Amid the awkward silence, Yuzuki spoke softly. "Um... have a good time. I'll stay home and watch the house properly." "Huh? What are you talking about? Yui's obviously coming too." "Eh? I-Is it okay if I come too?" Had she really thought she was going to be left behind? ...Well, considering everything, it wasn't hard to understand why. "Yui, put on your yukata and—" The moment I started to say it, a certain photograph flashed through my mind. That picture from the summer training camp. Yuzuki, dressed in a yukata, being held by Nagasawa-senpai. I immediately shook my head. This was a different yukata. And now, her hairstyle and makeup were completely different too. That's right. The girl in front of me wasn't Yuzuki. She was Yui. "Can you get changed into your yukata?"...

Translator: Xre We got back in line at the entrance, bought our tickets, and re-entered the premises. There had already been a long wait outside, but inside, it was just as crowded. A thick line of people snaked up the slope leading to the indoor pool. “Ugh, why is it so packed? Is something going on today?” “That’s strange. There wasn’t supposed to be any event or anything.” As Ayaka and President Suzuka looked confused, little Amane-chan, who was craning her neck to look ahead, spoke up: “Hey, isn’t that the Kiyohara brothers? You know, the ‘Charismatic Delinquents’?” Far ahead in the line, there was a dense, black-clad crowd. Sunburned, tough-looking men and heavily made-up women. The kind you’d run into late at night on the second floor of a Don Quijote store. At the center of that gathering were three towering figures, heads and shoulders above the rest. “The Kiyohara brothers—are those the three guys?” Amane-chan nodded. “They’re martial artist YouTubers. Ever heard of ‘Pro Fighter Picks a Street Fight’?” “……” Nope. Never heard of it. When I hear “Kiyohara,” all I can think of is that old baseball captain. I guess not knowing these trendy things means I'm not “normal”… How embarrassing. “Sorry, I’ve never heard of them. Can you tell me more?” Amane-chan explained without the slightest hint of annoyance....

Translator: Soafp Kokoa-san helped me find a good apartment. So I felt I should do something to thank her. But I never imagined she'd invite herself to the summer festival. "More importantly, doesn't your foot still hurt?" Even a mild sprain doesn't heal immediately. From experience, sprains often hurt more the day after than right after the injury. "That's true, but having a day off and staying stuck at home the whole time would be super depressing!" She should just stay home and rest... Maybe she's the type who can't sit still. Come to think of it, she'd sneaked out of the hospital before and had even shown up at my house unannounced. "But isn't it hard for you to walk properly right now? Can you even go?" "W-Well..." Apparently she hadn't thought that far ahead. "Ah! Ren-sama can just carry me on his back!" "...What?" "You know, like in shojo manga! The scene where a girl hurts her foot at a summer festival and the boy carries her!" "..." Too many things to criticize came to mind at once. Those scenes usually involve a girl who was walking around normally and then gets hurt halfway through. The boy carries her because he has no choice. Nobody goes out from the start assuming they'll be carried piggyback. Between that and the time she...

Translator: Soafp “F-First time...” Nodoka swallowed nervously. The conditions were finally all in place. At this point, there was no way Ren would hesitate anymore. “Just asking, but are you hoping your first time will be with only Ren-kun?” “To be honest, I can't say I don't feel that way... But I actually think it'd be better if Senpai was there too.” “Why?” “...So I won't run away again like I did at the inn.” Nodoka wanted to go all the way with Ren. In fact, if Ren were the one, she felt she wouldn't even mind getting pregnant. But the fear that came with it being her first time still lingered. The memory of that night—when she ran away despite finally having the chance she'd wanted so badly—was still vivid in her mind. “Then don't worry. I have a good idea.” “Y-You do...?” “Want to hear it?” When Nodoka nodded, Airi leaned over and whispered into her ear. The instant she heard it, Nodoka's face turned bright red all the way to her ears. “Y-You want our first time to be like that...?!” “But that way you won't be able to run away, right?” “T-That's true. But would Ren even like something like that...?” “He'd probably complain and make sarcastic comments, but his body would react honestly.” “...That's true. For all his...

Translator: Soafp “Yamato  Makino-kun, are you feeling better now?” “Yeah… yes…” A gentle voice. “I think things will be difficult from now on, but please don’t forget to take care of yourself.” From now on… I… “I… don’t have any confidence… in myself…” “This may sound like the irresponsible words of an adult, but I know that you are an exceptional person.” “I’m… not exceptional at all…” I was just a loser. I had always been confident in my academics, but… in the end, I failed… “I guess… there was never… anything special about me…” “And what if there wasn’t? That’s perfectly fine. There aren’t many people who can keep fighting through adversity the way you have. That’s why I call you exceptional.” Someone who can keep trying…? What good was that…? No matter how hard you try… if there are no results… “It’s alright. You can believe in yourself.” It’s alright…? I couldn’t think that way. But even though I had barely spoken to this person before… For some reason, they felt dependable. Into my empty heart… Just a little… Tono-san’s words found their way in. “Aizawa… hey.” Lately, I found myself spacing out a lot. “Aizawa, are you listening?” At home, at school… It happened everywhere. “Huh…? Yes…” Hearing my name, I snapped back to reality. “Aizawa, translate this English passage.”...

Translator: Soafp I’m not exactly an expert myself, but I had made okonomiyaki once or twice before. So I took the spatulas from Airi and Kokoa-san and started cooking in their place. I somehow gathered the crumbled batter back together and cooked it again. ...No matter how you looked at it, it resembled monjayaki more than okonomiyaki. “You're pretty amazing, Ren-kun. It's delicious. The appearance is a bit... questionable, though.” “Seriously! Ren-sama, you're actually pretty good at cooking, aren't you? The appearance is a bit... questionable, though.” “You both always have one unnecessary comment too many.” To begin with, Airi had supposedly been learning how to cook from Nodoka. She had said she didn't even know what medium heat was, so maybe cooking was secretly Airi’s weak point. Not that I was any good at cooking myself. As we talked, the restaurant door opened. “Hey! You started eating without us!” A familiar voice rang out. When I turned around, it was exactly who I expected. Nodoka. I was about to joke back when my eyes were drawn to the girl standing behind her. “Whoa! Yuzu-san really changed her image!?” Kokoa-san was the first to react. Jumping to her feet, she grabbed Yuzuki by both shoulders and pushed her in front of me. Yuzuki flinched in surprise, then quietly asked, “H-How do I look...?”...

Translator: Soafp BOOOOOM—!! A tremendous clap of thunder roared across the stage, which lay submerged in dim darkness. The next instant, a blinding white flash illuminated the audience. When the thunder faded, a single spotlight quietly shone onto the stage. Five girls lay collapsed there. Then, without any instrumental accompaniment, a faint singing voice emerged. “I wish you’d stop thinking about breaking up with me... before I bury a landmine in front of your house... ♪” Supported by the other four girls, the red-haired girl at center stage slowly rose to her feet. The venue erupted in deafening cheers. “WOOOOOOO!!” After that, with the support of the other four members, Kokoa-san limited herself to upper-body movements and focused entirely on singing. The setlist had also been rearranged, reducing dance-heavy songs and increasing vocal-centered cover songs so she could perform naturally while seated in a chair. “Looks like we'll somehow get through this, President.” Airi whispered into my ear from beside me. “Yeah. Good work to you too, Airi.” “I didn’t do anything special.” Airi had spent the entire time on the phone alongside the manager, coordinating the sudden changes. All I had really done was cover some additional expenses and suggest a few ideas. Other than that, I had barely done anything. Even so, seeing my suggestion actually take shape on stage felt...

Translator: Soafp “W-What’s with the way you’re saying that!? Are you accusing me of intentionally breaking Kokoa-chan’s shoes!?” In response to my question, Ayano-san—the black-haired bob from Jirai-chan Syndrome—raised her voice angrily. Well, naturally she would deny it. “I never asked whether you intentionally broke them. I simply asked whether anything came to mind.” “T-That’s basically what you meant! You’re suspecting me right now, aren’t you?” “It’s entirely possible you accidentally dropped them while bringing them over, isn’t it? So why immediately jump to the conclusion that we’re talking about deliberate sabotage?” “Ugh…” Airi snorted dismissively. “Isn’t it obvious, Master? Ayano-san has a guilty conscience.” “W-What a ridiculous accusation! Do you even have any proof? Treating someone like the culprit without evidence is insane!” To be fair, Ayano-san was right. We had no proof. In the end, the strange-looking fracture was nothing more than speculation from amateurs like Airi and me. Still, if she were truly innocent, instead of snapping “Where’s your proof?” her first response should’ve been, “I only carried them over.” Though admittedly, that was just my intuition too. (Still… maybe I should apply a little more pressure.) If this incident really was intentional and we let it slide ambiguously, the harassment would almost certainly escalate. And if that happened, Kokoa-san might eventually be driven into a corner badly enough to...

Translator: Soafp “Alright then, we’re heading out!” Nodoka and Yuzuki left together for Yuzuki’s makeover. I tried to go along too, but Nodoka stopped me, saying, “Then it wouldn’t be a surprise.” So in the end, only Airi and I remained in the apartment. …As usual, Anna-chan was downstairs with my mother. “Well then, Ren-kun.” Airi wrapped her arms tightly around me and deliberately pressed her chest against my face. “Before Nodoka-san and the others come back, let me give you my first—” “No, we definitely can’t do that here.” Anna-chan and my mom were downstairs, after all. “Then shall we go out too? Destination: a love hotel.” “…I don’t mind, but are you really okay with overtaking Nodoka?” “Ara, Ren-kun’s already managing his harem now. That’s a good sign.” There were countless things I could’ve responded to, yet somehow I couldn’t come up with a single proper comeback… If I simply acted on my desires, this delicate relationship would collapse instantly. That was exactly why I’d been trying to stay careful about everything. Though admittedly, it still bothered me how everything seemed to be unfolding exactly according to Airi’s plans. Even so, I was honestly satisfied with the relationship the three of us had built together. “So then, Ren-kun, what should we do now?” “Hmm… Wanna play a game or something?” “I...

Translator: Soafp After walking Nodoka home, Airi, Yuzuki, and I returned to the apartment together. Until we found a new place to live, Yuzuki would stay in the room next door, while Airi would stay in my room. Apparently, Nodoka had at least told her parents about me, but it was difficult to find time for them to actually meet me. After getting out of the bath first, Yuzuki peeked into my room and spoke. “Senpai, you’re next.” “Alright.” Airi, who had been sitting beside me, stood up and left the room. Yuzuki, dressed in her pajamas, remained standing there awkwardly. After Airi left, Yuzuki stared quietly at the empty space beside me. “You can come sit over here.” “O-Okay…” Yuzuki timidly approached and sat down beside me. Before, that had been perfectly natural. But now, an unbearably awkward silence hung between us. Then my eyes suddenly stopped on her pajamas. (Have I seen those somewhere before…?) They were the familiar pajamas Yuzuki had always liked wearing. So there was nothing strange about her wearing them. And yet now, instead of feeling like part of everyday life, they brought back another memory entirely— “Ugh…!” The moment I remembered, nausea surged up inside me. I shouldn’t have remembered that. Regret crashed over me all at once. “W-What’s wrong? D-Don’t tell me it triggered your...

Translator: Soafp First period was art class. We had to move to a different classroom. I used to go together with Ryosuke, but lately I’ve been moving around on my own. There’s been a bit of distance growing between us. Mostly because I’ve been avoiding him. Honestly… I’ve even thought about just cutting ties with him altogether. He’s probably noticed the change in me. I don’t know if he’s realized that I’ve regained my memories, but he’s definitely aware that I’m trying to distance myself. But the fact that he hasn’t said anything about it is what makes it unsettling. I can’t make any careless moves because of that. If possible, I don’t want to make him my enemy. He might seem calm now, but back in middle school, Ryosuke was seriously dangerous. The kind of guy who would force things to go his way if he didn’t like something. Once he flipped the switch, there was no stopping him. If I can just quietly create some distance like this, that would be ideal… but I’m not sure things will go that smoothly. With that concern in mind, I was walking down the hallway toward the art room when— I suddenly noticed someone peeking out from behind the corner, gesturing for me to come over. It was Maaya. Seriously… I told her not...

Translator: Soafp “Eh? Into this apartment building?” Caught off guard by Kokoa-san’s unexpected suggestion, I instinctively hesitated. To be honest, this apartment complex hadn’t even been on my list of possibilities. “Yes! This place is really spacious, right? If everyone lived together here, I don’t think there’d be any problems at all!” “Well, that’s true, but…” “And on top of that, the security is perfect. It’s full of advantages, you know?” Kokoa-san began listing the benefits of the building one by one. Services that rivaled a luxury hotel, fully equipped shared facilities. Not to mention the station was right in front of the building, making transportation incredibly convenient. As for the building itself, apparently the lighting, ventilation, and soundproofing were all flawless. “Huh, soundproofing, huh? That’s important.” …Airi responded with a strangely suggestive tone. Sometimes, the way Airi’s mind worked felt oddly like an old man’s. Nodoka tapped on her phone a few times before looking up. “Ren, doesn’t this place actually seem really good? Even if we take the train, it doesn’t look like it’ll take that long to get to school.” “You think so?” So it was well within commuting distance. And just like Kokoa-san said, both the size and quality of the apartment were filled with advantages for us. …Though unwillingly, I knew that all too well after being forced...

Translator: Soafp "Ehhhhhhh—!? Yuzuki is going to live together at Ren’s house too!?" When we went downstairs and gathered around the dinner table, I briefly explained what had happened in the room earlier. Of course, I left out the part where Yuzuki had been crying and seemed mentally unstable. As expected, Nodoka leaned forward and let out a bewildered shout. Yuzuki lowered her gaze. “Sorry, Nodoka. I won’t get in the way or anything…” When she apologized like that, Nodoka probably couldn’t bring herself to push any harder. She quietly pulled back the upper body she had leaned forward. Honestly, under normal circumstances, it wouldn’t have been strange for at least a slap to come flying my way. Maybe because the other person was Yuzuki, Nodoka couldn’t fully direct her frustration at her. “If Ren decided that, then I don’t mind… but still, it kind of feels like I’m the only one being left out, so maybe I don’t like it…” With the tip of her chopsticks pressed against her lips, Nodoka puffed out her cheeks. Even the corners of her eyes were starting to moisten. This is bad. This was genuine jealousy. I hurriedly tried to call out, “N-Nodoka!” but at that moment— Mom cut in. “Honestly, my son really doesn’t understand a woman’s heart! I wonder who he takes after. This...

Translator: Soafp Two weeks have passed since my date with Maaya. Since then, we’ve started talking occasionally—only when no one else is around. We’re not quite as close as we used to be, and there’s still a bit of distance between us, like two people who’ve only just met. But at least the wall that once stood between us is gone. That said… a new kind of awkwardness has taken its place. The whole “I ended up touching her ch*st” incident. It seems Maaya has calmed down and realized just how embarrassing what she did was. Now, even if my gaze drops just slightly, she immediately remembers that moment and turns bright red. Every time that happens, things get awkward again. It really drives home the fact that we’ve both, in more ways than one, grown up. Well… it’s not the same kind of bad tension as before, so it’s probably not something to worry too much about. On the other hand, Rin has been glaring at me nonstop. She was already wary of me, and after what happened with Maaya, things have only gotten worse. Maaya did explain the situation, so at least the misunderstanding has been cleared up. But the fact that I didn’t pull my hand away immediately—and even went so far as to give it a squeeze—has been exposed,...

Translator: Soafp I stayed silent for a while. Thinking back on it, ever since breaking up with Yuzuki, I had never seriously listened to what she wanted to say. My mind had already been made up. I figured that eventually she’d forget about me anyway. (She really has changed compared to before.) And for me, it was definitely a change for the better. At the very least, she was nothing like the Yuzuki from that “nightmare.” That much was certain. Just hearing her talk with Nodoka in the other room earlier had made me realize that. (Besides… the nausea’s gotten a lot better too.) I didn’t know whether it was because Yuzuki had changed, or because my trauma had started to fade. Of course, even now, if her face got too close, memories of the “nightmare” resurfaced and made me dizzy. Still, at least now, I could hold a conversation with her. I gave a small nod and finally spoke. “Alright. Yuzuki, are you okay right now?” “Eh? O-Of course I am…” Her eyes were still red from crying while talking with Nodoka earlier. She clearly hadn’t fully sorted out her emotions yet, and part of me wondered if I should’ve waited longer before bringing this up. Airi got off the bed and walked over beside Nodoka. “Ren-kun, we’ll go start preparing dinner...

Translator: Soafp After visiting a total of four shops, our date finally came to an end. And now, having returned to the meeting spot from this morning, we exchanged our parting words. “Thanks for going on a date with me today, Reita-kun.” “Did you have fun?” “Yeah. It was the most fun day of my life.” “That’s a bit much…” I appreciated her saying that, but honestly, I wanted to believe it was just flattery. If she really meant it, I’d be more worried about her life than anything. “It’s not an exaggeration. I really… had fun.” “I see…” But it seemed like she was being sincere. Well, I did have fun too—enough to lose track of time for once—so maybe it wasn’t a lie after all. It seems she treasured our past more than I realized… …Anyway. Before we part, there’s still one thing I have to do. I need to apologize to Maaya. I ended up putting it off all this time. If I miss this chance, I might never get another one. “Maaya.” I steeled myself and faced her. “Hm? What is it?” “About back then… I’m sorry. For saying I hated you.” “……!” At my words, Maaya’s eyes widened in surprise. But soon after, her lips curled into a small, happy smile. Instead of getting angry, she was happy…...

Translator: Soafp Inside one of the rooms in Ren’s house—mainly the room Airi used—Nodoka and Yuzuki sat facing each other. In Nodoka’s eyes, the Yuzuki sitting across from her overlapped with the girl from the first semester, the one in gym clothes who had shouted at her in anger. —How is making lunch for someone else’s boyfriend supposed to help me!? —Girls like you are called homewreckers!! —After doing something like that to me, how can you still call yourself my friend!? —At the very least, I don’t consider someone like you my friend anymore!! Nodoka had always thought Yuzuki was an energetic and kind girl, so the fierce anger directed at her that day had been so sudden that all she could do was stand there confused. But looking back now, she could understand why Yuzuki had exploded like that. Back then, when everything was still new to her, Nodoka couldn’t even imagine how badly her actions might be misunderstood. (No… maybe it wasn’t just a misunderstanding.) Nodoka had never had friends or a boyfriend before. She hadn’t even understood where friendship ended and romantic feelings began. If she had only seen Ren as a male friend, she never would have thought about making him homemade lunches. Only afterward did she realize she had already started falling for him back then. The...

Translator: Soafp Wait, why a maid outfit? I still hadn’t even caught up with the situation yet— “Maid outfit!? I-I want to see it!!” Kokoa-san’s excitement shot up higher than anyone else’s. Before anyone could stop her, she had already pulled it out of the Don Quijote bag herself. Yuzuki’s cheeks flushed faintly red as she glanced at me. “I brought it because I figured, if I’m going to be a maid, I should at least have the outfit…” Come to think of it, Yuzuki was always the type to start with appearances first. More importantly, that maid suggestion hadn’t been metaphorical at all—it was literally meant as “maid.” Airi snorted dismissively. “You’ve never worn one before?” “Well, I mean… obviously. Normal people don’t exactly get chances to wear maid outfits.” “Oh really? So you never wore one for your beloved otaku boyfriend?” “Ugh…” By “otaku boyfriend,” she meant me, right? Airi was blatantly provoking her. But Airi herself had been the one who suggested calling Yuzuki here in the first place, so what exactly was she thinking? “We’ve worn ultra miniskirts, micro bikinis, and animal-ear cosplay outfits already. Right, Nodoka-san?” “Huh? Y-Yeah… I mean, Ren does seem to like cosplay when it comes down to it.” Yuzuki’s hands trembled slightly. But unable to find a comeback, she just tightly pressed her lips...

Translator: Soafp At Airi’s words, my eyes widened in shock. A maid… there was no way… But before I could say anything, Kokoa-san raised her voice first. “Well, of course I’ve imagined it before! Wait, what? Is Secretary-san going to become my maid?” “As if. I might consider being Ren-kun’s maid, but being Miyoko-san’s maid? Absolutely not.” “When you reject me that completely, it actually hurts a little!?” I grabbed Airi’s wrist before she could pull out her phone and whispered into her ear. “What are you trying to do?” “I want to test it once. To see whether she’ll really do as we say.” “No, but…” “If it’s for saving Kokoa-san’s life, the more people helping us, the better, right?” Airi had a point. At the very least, Yuzuki already knew about my precognition and believed me. If we explained Kokoa-san’s situation, she’d probably accept it too. “Of course, if you really hate the idea, we can stop. But if you’re going to have to face Kitayama-san eventually anyway, wouldn’t it be better for her too if she could help like this?” She was right. The biggest reason I’d been trying to stop Airi was because facing Yuzuki felt awkward. If I’d already accepted part of Yuzuki’s proposal, then I needed to move forward too. “…Alright. I’ll contact her myself. Kokoa-san, would...

Translator: Soafp The next day. To work on our summer homework together, we headed to Kokoa-san’s apartment. My room was obviously too cramped, and having an idol spend long hours at a male sponsor’s house also felt questionable in a lot of ways. …Though, to be fair, a male sponsor constantly visiting an idol’s apartment was probably just as questionable. “Ren-samaaa~” The moment we stepped out of the elevator, Kokoa-san was already waving both hands wildly, like she was trying to call out to someone far away. Did this girl greet every guest this dramatically? And apparently, the “-sama” thing had completely become permanent now… “When I heard you were going to do my homework for me, Ren-sama, I was deeply moved!” “I never said I’d do it for you. I said I’d help.” “I’m joking, joking~. But I really was surprised! I never imagined Ren-sama was still a high school student.” “Please keep that a secret. In this industry, people tend to look down on you because of your age.” “Of course! There’s no woman more tight-lipped than Kokoa!” People who say things like that are usually the least trustworthy. “Come on in! You’re all the very first repeat visitors to ever come to my house twice!” Apparently her manager had visited once, been completely horrified, and never returned. Well, after seeing...

Translator: Soafp [Shizuno Pov] Rin and I were relaxing with tea at a café across from the sweets shop, watching Maaya and Reita. “Watching those two kinda makes me want to fall in love too…” Rin muttered as she lazily stirred the ice in her iced tea. Just a moment ago she looked ready to jump out of her seat when Maaya tried to feed Reita cake, yet now she sounded oddly sentimental. As always, Rin’s emotions were all over the place. “Then why don’t you? You’re cute, Rin. If you wanted to, you could date anytime.” “Well… I don’t wanna go out with someone unless I actually like them.” “You don’t have anyone you like?” “Nope. Not right now.” So that means she used to, right? Maybe Rin liked Reita too after all. We never really talked much about romance among us childhood friends, so I never truly knew what everyone felt inside. But Rin was close with him too—maybe not as much as Maaya, but still close enough that it wouldn’t be strange. “What about you, Shizu? Still not interested in romance?” “Yeah. Not interested at all.” “Man… what a waste. You’re seriously beautiful, you know.” “Even if you say that, I’m not interested, so it can’t be helped.” I said that calmly while taking a sip of my tea, but—...

Translator: Soafp “Whaaat!?” At Airi’s words, Nodoka let out a loud shout before I could. “A d-date? You’re planning to leave Ren alone with Kokoa-san!?” No, before that, I couldn’t even imagine Kokoa-san agreeing to it. She was an active idol. Because she took her work seriously, there was no way she’d casually do something that could invite misunderstandings. And lately her popularity had been skyrocketing, so she probably didn’t even have the time for that. “That’s not what I mean. We’ll all go on a date together.” “Isn’t that just hanging out together? More than a date, I mean.” Like when we all went to eat yakiniku yesterday. “No, Ren-kun. Even if you’re doing the same thing, declaring that it’s a date changes the meaning completely.” “Does it…?” “It does. It seems you’re still trapped by fixed ideas, Ren-kun. A date doesn’t necessarily mean a man and woman going out one-on-one.” “Well, I guess Senpai does have a point there.” This was weird. Was I the one with strange common sense? Whenever I talked with these two, I started wondering what normal even was anymore. “But setting that aside, I’m her sponsor right now, remember? Isn’t it pretty bad if a sponsor asks an idol out on a date?” Kokoa-san was probably only being kind to me because she was being considerate...

Translator: Soafp “Where is this…?” I instinctively looked around. A thin trail of smoke quietly rose from the incense burner. Between the white funeral flowers, I could see long wooden memorial plaques bearing the names of the senders. (Th-this can’t be…) At the very center of the altar was a framed funeral portrait. The moment I saw the face in the photograph, my hands began trembling uncontrollably. The girl in the picture wore an innocent smile. —It was her, with that vivid red hair. (Kokoa-san’s funeral…?) Why? I should have saved her from both the lightning strike and the train. The strength drained from my legs. As I staggered, someone beside me quickly caught my body. “Are you alright, Fukagawa-san…?” It was Kokoa-san’s manager. Dressed in black mourning clothes, her eyes were swollen red. My thoughts were a complete mess. Even so, I couldn’t stop myself from asking. “What in the world happened to Kokoa-san…?” The instant the words left my mouth, I realized how insensitive they sounded at a funeral. But the manager visibly panicked instead. “Th-that’s the thing… I-I don’t know either. It had nothing to do with me. It’s true, please believe me.” She didn’t scold me for being rude. If anything, she sounded like she was hiding something shameful. If this had been illness or an accident, she wouldn’t...

Translator: Soafp Airi explained the situation to me in detail. Apparently, while Nodoka and I had been at the love hotel, Yuzuki had approached Airi. “What to do is entirely up to you, Ren-kun.” “…What do you think, Airi?” “Well. Honestly, I still can’t fully trust Kitayama-san. I don’t think she’s someone worth getting back together with to that extent.” Airi calmly and logically listed her reasons. Even if it was for the sake of her dreams, she had neglected her boyfriend. Despite being her childhood friend, she barely noticed the things that truly mattered. And yet her jealousy and possessiveness were stronger than anyone’s. Above all— She possessed the kind of nature that could betray me. “That’s pretty harsh…” “But you know, from my perspective, there’s also a part of me that’s grateful to Kitayama-san.” “Grateful?” “If the two of you had stayed lovey-dovey forever, would I ever have had a chance to get close to you? Absolutely not.” That was true. If I had never seen that horrifying vision of Yuzuki, I would’ve continued dating her. No matter how cute Airi was or how much she tempted me, as long as Yuzuki was my girlfriend, there was no way I would’ve looked elsewhere. More importantly, it would’ve been wrong to do so. Nodoka quietly muttered: “In that sense… I kind of...

Translator: Soafp After taking a bite of something sweet, Maaya seemed like a completely different person, all her earlier tension melting away. “Mm~ so gooood~♪ I’m so happy~♪” Inside the dessert shop filled with the scent of sweets, Maaya happily stuffed her cheeks with shortcake. She looked cute, but the way she devoured it, and the fact that she didn’t even notice the cream on her lips, made her seem a bit sloppy. Like I’ve said before, on the inside she really hasn’t changed at all. It suits her, though. “Hey, can I have a bite of your chocolate cake too, Reita-kun?” “…Sure.” She looked at me with those wanting eyes, so I handed her my untouched cake. “Thank you~♪” And then she took a bite that was definitely more than just “one bite.” I wasn’t that hungry anyway, but her greediness—just like before—was kind of amusing. “Mmm~ this one’s good too~♪” Enjoying the chocolate cake, Maaya smiled happily again. It was the kind of expression that made you smile just watching her. …When was the last time I felt like this? It made me realize just how harsh and bleak the environment I’d been living in was. “Then, here’s my thanks.” “Hm?” “Here, say ahh.” “…Wait.” I wondered what she meant by “thanks,” and then she held a piece of cake up...

Translator: Soafp I tried to convince myself that Nodoka’s words were just some naughty joke between lovers, or maybe a form of affection. So I patted her head and deliberately brushed it off lightly. “Alright, alright. Nodo-chan is my cute little pet.” “…Aren’t you just trying to wave it away? I’m serious.” Keeping a completely serious expression, Nodoka puffed out her cheeks slightly. No, come on. Who would seriously think someone genuinely wanted to become a pet? Well… aside from Airi. “I mean, uh… I was the one who brought it up, but it was more like an extension of roleplay. I didn’t mean I actually wanted that kind of relationship.” “Then was it a lie when you said you wanted to keep me because I’m like a cat? Does that mean you don’t actually think I’m cute and don’t even want me around?” “No, that’s way too extreme…” “Then if I say I want to become your pet, shouldn’t you just accept it? There’s no problem, right?” There were nothing but problems. Nodoka’s eyes were so serious that I genuinely had no idea what to say. Honestly, could someone really end up thinking this way just because they liked someone that much? “Let me ask one thing first. Why do you want to be a pet instead of a girlfriend?” “I should...

Translator: Soafp Led by Hayami-senpai, I sat down on a bench in a small park right beside the supermarket. The senpai sitting next to me kept gently rubbing my back as I continued crying without stopping. “Have you calmed down a little?” “Y-Yes…” The note Tono-san had given me. I came to the place written on it… but Yamato wasn’t there. “The last time we talked was probably during last year’s cultural festival. It’s really been a long time.” That’s right… this was the first time I’d talked with Hayami-senpai since then. Back then, she was famous as the most brilliant girl in school. Even now, the senpai worrying about me was still beautiful, kind, and wonderful… “Senpai, are you working here…?” She was wearing an apron, probably the supermarket uniform. “Yeah. I work part-time here.” “A part-time job…” “Hard to imagine, right? Our school technically forbids part-time jobs, and I doubt many students secretly work either.” At Kaimei Academy High School, most students come from wealthy families. Of course there are middle-class students too, but since the school’s primary focus is academics, there probably aren’t many people who would bother working part-time just for spending money. “Surprised? That I’m working at a supermarket?” “Ah… um…” Honestly, I was surprised. “The pay here is minimum wage, but everyone at the company is really...

Translator: Soafp Nodoka sat down on the edge of the bed. Her face was bright red, her back perfectly straight, and her hands rested neatly on top of her knees. Even then, she kept nervously swallowing and glancing over at my face. (She really seems excited about this somehow.) The words saying she was fine without protection probably hadn’t just slipped out because of the mood. Even if I pushed her down right now and gave in to my desires— Nodoka would probably accept it. No, she might even welcome it. I climbed onto the bed too and sat beside her. “So, are we doing it like this?” “I-I mean… do whatever you want.” “Then if we kiss, it’s going to taste like yakiniku. You okay with that?” “Eh!? T-that might actually be kind of gross!” Nodoka suddenly sprang to her feet and hurried into the bathroom. Chuckling softly, I opened the bag Airi had given me. The things I’d ordered online were properly inside. When I took them out, one of the items had a sticky note attached. —Nodoka-san will probably be happier if Ren-kun puts this on her himself. …What even was this comment? Had Airi started giving me instructions now? She kept saying she wanted to be a slave heroine, but maybe she was actually the master instead. (Well, I’ll...

Translator: Soafp Yuzuki had been unable to eat and had shut herself up in her room ever since she watched the footage from the summer training camp. (Do I really have to break up with Ren like this…?) From their kindergarten days, they had laughed together, cried together, and sometimes even fought—memories of those days with him flashed through her mind like a revolving lantern. She could no longer imagine a life without him. And yet, to think that she would be the one to betray him. To only realize how important Ren was in such a way. It was only after being rejected that she truly understood the weight of it. “Ren, Ren…” She wanted to see him. She wanted to feel his warmth directly. She wanted to be wanted by him. For his sake, she felt like she could truly do anything. Yuzuki buried her face into the pillow and sobbed uncontrollably. At that moment, the door to her room quietly opened. “Yuzuki…?” Hearing her crying, her mother Ayumi approached gently and placed a hand on her back. “You still can’t give up on Ren-kun, can you…” “There’s no way I can. I can’t bear living a life without Ren from here on. I absolutely need him… and yet I’m the one who kept hurting him…!” “Calm down. The one who...

Translator: Soafp Three days passed since the promise, and finally the day of the date arrived. I took several trains and waited for her in a plaza in front of an unfamiliar station. If we came this far, there was no way we’d run into anyone we knew. I even did a light disguise, just in case. A fresh, clean outfit that didn’t feel like me at all, styled hair, and a mask. Even I barely recognized myself, so there was no way anyone else would. For the record, nothing like “getting closer” happened between me and Maaya over these three days. If anything, it got even more awkward. At school, if our eyes met, we’d both immediately look away, and we ended up coming here without exchanging a single word. With things like this… was a date really going to be okay? It felt like it might just be silence the whole time. Just as that uneasy thought crossed my mind— “Sorry to keep you waiting…” Maaya arrived. Even though I told her the location, she recognized me instantly despite the disguise. Guess that’s childhood friends for you. Looking closely, Maaya had disguised herself too. A black knee-length skirt, a pastel pink frilly blouse, a black mask, and a cute ribbon on her chest. Her hair, usually worn down, was tied to...

Translator: Soafp It seemed that Nodoka intended to head straight to a love hotel like this. Kokoa’s sudden appearance had thrown things off, and she was probably pretty irritated about it inside. “But, um… the things we prepared, I left them at home. We’ll have to go back first.” “If that’s the case, don’t worry, Ren.” With that, Airi held out the bag she was carrying to Nodoka. “I brought them with me. Everything’s in here.” “…” So she wasn’t even trying to hide anymore that she had opened the package addressed to me. Maybe Airi had already checked everything in my room. She seemed like the type who wanted to know everything about the person she liked. “What are you going to do, senpai? I-I don’t mind if you come with us…” “Oh? Is it really okay if I go too? That would mean your first deep kiss would be shared between the three of us.” “Eh? Th-that’s…” Wait, how did this turn into a three-person deep kiss? …Well, going to a love hotel with two girls was already strange enough. “At first, it can just be the two of you. But later, the three of us will do it.” “O-Okay…” They settled it between themselves far too easily. Even though I was supposed to be involved, my opinion didn’t matter at...

Translator: Soafp Kokoa’s words made my eyes widen in surprise. Unlike the lightning incident, I had thought she hadn’t noticed anything this time. Maybe she was sharper than she looked. “Well, it was probably just a coincidence though!” ““……”” Nodoka and Airi both looked like they wanted to say something. I glanced at them, silently telling them to stay quiet. After a moment, Kokoa spoke again, this time more softly. “Did you see the news about last night’s train accident?” “Yeah… I saw it on the morning news.” “That station… it’s one I use a lot. And the man in his thirties they said died… we weren’t super close or anything, but… we talked sometimes.” From what she described, whenever she hit a wall in her idol work, that man would give her thoughtful advice as an adult, helping her through tough times. Even though he must have been exhausted himself from working long hours, he still listened seriously to her complaints. “…I don’t know why, but I keep thinking… maybe that man became my substitute. Like he took my place… There’s no proof or anything, though.” I couldn’t confirm it. But I couldn’t deny it either. Most likely, her intuition was right. Even if it was just the result, I had chosen her life over his. “Ah, this got really dark, didn’t...

Translator: Soafp How on earth did Kokoa-san figure out my home address? My thoughts were a complete mess. Of course, I’d never told her—or her agency—where I live. And it’s hard to imagine Airi or Nodoka letting it slip. (Come to think of it… it was the same during the trip.) The memory of when Kokoa escaped the hospital and suddenly showed up in front of me flashed through my mind. At the time, I was too shocked to question it—but now that I think about it, it was strange. How did she even figure out which inn I was staying at? “Sponsor-sama, you’re there, right~? You’re the one at the intercom right now, aren’t you?” “…Ah, yes, sorry. This was so sudden. I’ll open the door right away.” I didn’t understand what was going on. But I couldn’t just leave her standing outside forever. Maybe sensing the situation, Nodoka and Airi stood up as well and followed me to the entrance. When I opened the door, Kokoa was standing there exactly as she appeared on the monitor. “Sorry for showing up so suddenly!” She bowed politely. …At this point, it almost feels like her usual strategy is to force her way in first, then apologize after. Still, something felt off. She looked like she was forcing her energy more than usual. (…Ah....

Translator: Soafp ““I-it’s finally over…”” The special event, which felt both long and somehow short at the same time, finally came to an end. The three of us—me, Nodoka, and Airi—sat deeply in our folding chairs, completely drained, letting our bodies sink back into the backrests. Nodoka turned to Airi. “Senpai, where would you rank this compared to all the part-time jobs you’ve done?” “…Pretty high up there. Let’s see… about as tough as moving jobs, I’d say.” “Isn’t that one of those jobs that’s famous for being brutal?” “Yeah. It’s been a while since I’ve been this tired.” I felt it again today too. …Physical labor really isn’t my thing. “Sponsor-sama, so you were here?” Kokoa, now changed out of her outfit, approached us while handing out drinks. “We should be the ones bringing you refreshments. Sorry about that.” “No, no! You helped out so much—really, thank you!” Kokoa bowed politely. In moments like this, she’s genuinely well-mannered. It was tough, but it felt worth helping. “Are you heading straight home after this?” Just as I asked that— “Ah, wait a second!” Kokoa quickly pulled out her phone and snapped a selfie. Apparently, she was going to post it on Twitter with a thank-you message. “Alright, let’s move on to the next part of the schedule!” “…Huh? Isn’t it over for today?”...

Translator: Soafp “What? Huh… trans… fer…?” Yamato transferred schools…? What… is going on…? “Wait, what does that even mean!? Why would Yamato suddenly transfer!?” “I-I don’t know! We just heard the rumor a little while ago!” Why…? What is happening!? Even when I asked my classmates for details, there was no more information than this. I rushed out of the classroom and went to Yamato’s class. There, too, everyone was talking about him. But when I asked the students in that class about Yamato, the answers were the same—they didn’t seem to know the circumstances either. “Toru! Y-Yamato transferred schools!” I spotted Toru walking down the hallway and rushed up to him. “Ah… yeah… it seems like it.” “What is going on!? I haven’t heard anything!” “I-I didn’t either… I only heard it from the homeroom teacher this morning…” “So it’s true!? He really transferred!?” “If the teacher said so… then it must be true…” “T-that’s… no way…” It was so sudden that I couldn’t process it. “W-why!? Why did he suddenly transfer!? I wasn’t told anything!?” “I told you… I don’t know either…” Toru looked down, his answers coming out weak and uncertain. “Why did this suddenly happen!? Tell me!” “I-I already said I don’t know! Why are you getting mad at me!?” “Because you made a promise! You said you’d solve...

Translator: Soafp We all ended up doing a full cleanup of Kokoa-san’s house. There were cosmetic samples, cardboard boxes, paper bags, leftover food, out-of-season clothes, single socks, all kinds of mail… That said, most of the trash had already been packed into bags. Just carrying it outside made the room look completely different. “Whoa— the room got so much bigger!” Kokoa-san’s eyes widened after just a bit of cleaning. We, on the other hand, were completely exhausted, slumped down on the living room floor. Since Kokoa had work afterward, we couldn’t push her too hard, so in the end, the three of us did most of the cleaning. Nodoka glared at Kokoa. “It didn’t get bigger— it was always this big! You just made it feel cramped by using it like that!!” “Y-yes… I’m sorry…” There was no trace left of the nervous Nodoka from earlier. Instead, she now sounded completely natural lecturing her, like she’d suddenly become her mother. I wonder if this is what she’s like when she scolds Anna. “B-but more importantly, Kokoa-san… there’s something I’ve been wondering…” The next moment, Nodoka switched back into introvert mode. Maybe inside her, gyaru mode, housewife mode, and introvert mode are all installed like separate apps. “For color care, what do you usually do? I didn’t see any color shampoo or anything like...