V6 Epilogue 1: Golden Value part 1

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Translator: Soafp

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[Kazuhiro PoV]

“I'd always been envious. Frustrated, miserable… I looked at life with despair—”

At an open terrace café, the two of us sat facing each other.

I spoke my feelings aloud, letting out the pent-up gloom that had been weighing on me. I knew it was necessary. If I wanted to start over, I had to completely clear out the black, stagnant sludge that had been building deep in my heart for years, or else it would just settle there again someday. And then I'd reach out desperately for air, blaming others in the process.

“It’s fine now. From here on, you just have to decide how you want to live.”

Sitting across from me, Misaki Himiyama smiled gently.

To me, Kazuhiro Okamoto, those words looked kind at first glance, but they were actually harsh. Choosing meant taking responsibility.

That day when a reunion had been suddenly organized, the place Yukito Kokonoe had built was dazzling and warm.

It made me feel like it was being shown off to me. No—he had actually shown it off.

He had shown me the difference between the gloomy, cold place full of resentment I had been trying to create and his own.

And on top of that, he forced me to make a cruel decision—Which world did I want to live in?

The option of heading toward ruin together—I understood well what kind of future that would bring. I struggled with emotions I couldn't neatly sort out. But as for what those feelings I'd averted my eyes from truly were… I didn't even need to answer. They were envy.

And there was one more thing—I was afraid. Afraid of Suzuka Sanjoji's resolve.

I had always looked down on her as pathetic, pitiful, and small-minded, but in that moment, without a doubt, I was afraid.

It was a firm, unshakable decision that she would never forgive me. There would be no leniency. Her eyes had said as much.

It was the first time I had ever been faced with such strong hostility from an adult.

The frail figure in the rain that had once pleaded for forgiveness was gone. I had been overwhelmed, my fighting spirit crushed.

I didn't know what had caused such a change in her heart in such a short time. And whoever had led her to that change… it was probably that man.

Suddenly, the thought of trying to bring someone down with a petty trap felt empty. Regret came crashing in.

“I've decided… I'm going to try to become a teacher again.”

“…I see. So, once again, you'll be—”

“Yeah. I took a detour, but I've decided to take back my life too.”

I widened my eyes at Misaki Himiyama's words. I couldn't hide my surprise at this fact I was just now learning.

“Okamoto-kun, will you support me?”

“Y-Yes! I don't have the right to say this, but… please, do your best!”

There was no reason not to support her. After all, I was one of the people who had crushed her dream in the first place.

“It was a future I thought was gone. But Yukito-kun found it, buried as it was.”

“Kokonoe did?”

I didn't understand. It didn't match the Yukito Kokonoe I knew from the past.

But Kokonoe had also presented me with two futures—one happy, one unhappy.

“It's fine. You held your ground. And you're still young, so you're free—your future is up to you. That's why you mustn't do anything that would hurt yourself or someone else ever again, okay?”

“Yes.”

In the past, I would have never accepted such lecturing words, but now I nodded honestly.

Either way, I couldn't seem to go against Misaki Himiyama's words. I didn't have much experience with grown women, and it embarrassed me to the point that I couldn't look her directly in the face.

“You made a very valuable choice. You didn't lower your own worth. That's something to be proud of.”

Could I live with my head held high? Could I believe in it?

A golden value—my shattered self-esteem, once again held close to my chest.

“If you ever worry or have trouble, anything at all—if it's something I can do, I'll help you. You're not alone. Ah, though maybe talking to Yukito-kun would be faster?”

I wasn't alone. There was someone I could rely on. Her sincere words made my chest warm.

It was exactly what I had always wanted more than anything else—at last, I had gained a trustworthy connection with another person.

I was even starting to connect again with the classmates I had reunited with that day.

Could I go back? Could I get it back? That brightness from those days… my soiled youth.

To hide my emotions, I took a sip of coffee. A sudden question came to mind.

“…Come to think of it, what's your relationship with Kokonoe?”

I asked the question that had been simmering in me. When I'd seen them before, they had seemed quite close. Considering the past, it didn't seem possible at all. What on earth…?

“My relationship with Yukito-kun? Hmm, let's see…”

After thinking for a while, Misaki Himiyama clapped her hands as if she'd figured it out and answered.

“Next head of the Himiyama family's main house.”

“Pfft!”

Coffee sprayed out of my nose. I coughed violently, unable to stop.

“O-Okamoto-kun, are you okay!? Here, wipe with this.”

I took the neat handkerchief she handed me and wiped up the coffee. The scent lingered in my nose.

“You mean you're related to Kokonoe!?”

“Rather than relatives… more like my grandfather's successor.”

“I… I don't really get it…”

Complicated family circumstances. It sounded messy. Even if she explained in detail, I didn't think I could understand.

Trying to calm my shaken thoughts, I grabbed my cup with trembling hands and took another sip of coffee.

“Or rather… my fiancé.”

“Pfft!”

Once again, coffee sprayed from my nose. The shock was so great I thought it might come out of my ears.

“What's wrong!? Are you feeling unwell or—”

While Misaki Himiyama fussed over me, the mysteries surrounding Yukito Kokonoe only multiplied.

(I'd better not get too involved…)

A strong sense of foreboding filled me. After all, I couldn't imagine someone like Yukito Kokonoe—who had been utterly shunned at the reunion—being popular. He was like some rare animal in a zoo cage.

“Whoa! What happened here? It's a total mess!”

“K-Kokonoe? This is just… I spilled some coffee, that's all—”

As I was wiping down the table, the man in question, Yukito Kokonoe, showed up.

I had actually been planning to meet him here to tell him something.

But for some reason, he was holding a megaphone and carrying a placard. His presence was… intense.

“Hello, Yukito-kun. What's with you? You look like some sort of activist…”

Yukito Kokonoe frowned and gave off a very serious atmosphere.

It made me tense without even knowing why.

“Well, you see, there was this demolition demonstration? Or something like that happening nearby, so out of curiosity I decided to join in. But somehow they seemed to like me and I ended up having to give a speech on stage. It was just a mess. I mean, I didn't even know what they were demolishing. A bluefin tuna or something?”

“Yukito-kun. I think that's something you shouldn't talk too much about. It's dangerous in all sorts of ways.”

As always, I had absolutely no idea what he was talking about. Why did he even join in!?

“I thought you'd just ignore my contact…”

“I was there for the demonstration anyway. You had something you wanted to talk about, right? First, modern monetary theory is—”

“Yukito-kun, you've been influenced by the demonstration!? And you even switched the topic completely!”

“Ha!? What on earth was I…?”

Kokonoe sat down and ordered a cheesecake and a rare cheesecake. This guy…

He was already doing whatever he wanted right after arriving, which gave me a headache, but today's main topic was something else.

I'd been agonizing over whether I should say it or not. At the moment, nothing had happened yet. It would be too late once something did, but that didn't mean I could do anything about it myself. It was an extremely sensitive matter.

Would this be considered a betrayal? Maybe it was just self-preservation. But… if I wanted to restart once more, without any worries, together with everyone in that warm place, I couldn't just pretend I hadn't seen it.

“It's about the AI I used.”

“I see. Is this about how the jobs disappearing due to AI were the complete opposite of what was initially predicted?”

“Wait, I wasn't bringing up any social issues like that!?”

“To think the jobs taken would be the creative ones…”

Well, yeah, physical labor is hard for AI. No, that's not the point I was trying to make!

“Anyway, back to the topic… I made fake images using AI.”

Using AI to defame someone—if you wanted to, it was just too easy.

I had been asked by a classmate how to use AI, and he taught them. He didn't know what it would be used for. He had no need to know, nor any reason to dig. They didn't talk at school. They weren't friends; they belonged to different groups. Someone unrelated to me.

However, I had been feeling that it would be dangerous to just leave it alone.

“Okamoto-kun?”

Himiyama Misaki looked at me with a puzzled expression. If it ended up just being needless worry, that would be fine. But…

“—There might be someone other than me who's misusing AI.”

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[Yukito PoV]

“Listen, yes, I was the one who said I wanted to thank you. Yes, I admit that.”

The moment we left the changing room, she came at me bristling with anger marks, protesting immediately. Sanjoji-sensei was fidgeting shyly, but it wasn't hidden at all.

Her waist was slim, and her assertively proud, selfishly voluminous br*asts looked like they might spill out at any moment. No—let me be blunt. They were spilling out.

Her legs were shapely, and her glamorous, stunning proportions betrayed no signs of her age. Even her trademark charming mole made its bold statement.

Any fabricated image would be just that—fabricated. It wouldn't do her beauty justice at all.

“But! But! How exactly is this a thank-you gift!?”

She pointed her index finger sharply at me. My eyes were being poisoned by the sight before me.

“Come on, Sensei. If you're going to call it a thank-you, at least do something like this.”

“There were plenty of healthier ways to thank you!”

“Like what?”

“Well… like… homemade cooking, maybe?”

Perhaps lacking confidence, Sanjoji-sensei poked her fingers together, her voice trailing off. Cute.

“Homemade cooking? For me, who's been training under the head chef? For me, who's reputed to be good at cooking?”

“Ughhh! Don't force me to face the reality that I'm losing in terms of feminine skills!”

She was frustrated, but honestly, those bountiful assets of hers were overwhelming in the femininity department. What violent twin peaks. To be honest, in terms of size, they were on par with, if not surpassing, my mother's.

In construction, there's a demolition method where a wrecking ball is suspended from heavy machinery—that's called “mince demolition.” But Sensei could probably demolish anything. Incidentally, mince demolition is now banned.

And no wonder—if humanity had to endure its reason being demolished by hers, there'd be no defense.

“If it's homemade cooking, then next time, please treat me to something like toast with jam.”

“Just because I live with my parents doesn't mean I can't cook, you know?”

She leaned in with a half-lidded glare, pressuring me. I averted my eyes and started reciting the periodic table in my head.

I did want to try Sanjoji-sensei's cooking, but that could be for another time.

Right now, Sensei and I were at an indoor pool. And it was reserved just for us.

“Why on earth are we at a pool in this season?”

“It's heated. With the change of seasons, catching a cold would be bad, right?”

“That's not the problem! And this swimsuit—th-this tiny and thin—”

“Even Yukito-GPT said you look so stunning it's surprising.”

“I can't just be happy about that kind of compliment! Delete that indecent AI immediately!”

Sanjoji-sensei was wearing a golden bikini. Against her tanned, sun-kissed skin, the golden bikini shone brilliantly. Since she often ran with Inukichi, her healthy figure was dazzling.

“What could possibly make you think of a golden bikini!?”

“It was trending on social media just recently…”

I didn't know why it had become a hot topic, but I wasn't about to miss the chance. I'd secretly made one just for this.

“How is it a good idea to just instantly jump on a trend and make an old woman wear it…?”

“Because it would be a waste not to use it after I went through the trouble of preparing it.”

“Why would you prepare it in the first place…?”

Still, it was only because I had prepared it beforehand that the Golden Bikini Sensei had been born. Secretly, I had also sent one to Sayuri-sensei. I was looking forward to her reaction.

“Having glasses with it really brings out your unbalanced charm.”

“Umm… could you not evaluate me so calmly while I'm embarrassed?”

Sensei gave me a sulky, gloomy look, but there was a reason for all this.

“But Sensei, you know how swimsuit episodes are necessary, right? Hinagi and the others already had theirs.”

“There's a system where it comes around in order!?”

Of course, that's exactly right. It's not good to create a difference over something like this.

It's not just Hinagi and the others—Mio-san, Tristy-san, Goddess-senpai, and Goddess-sensei have all shown their swimsuits too. For Sensei to not have a swimsuit episode after all that would be utterly unacceptable.

If I had to put it into words, it's practically a duty. I only suggested it out of a sense of responsibility.

“Because we live in an equal society.”

“I wish equality would just disappear!”

Sensei having fallen to the dark side, is resisting the currents of the world. Very anarchic!

Sanjoji-sensei may be sulking, but… her figure is just too good.

“It's not like we can play around where people can see us.”

“That's true, but…”

Now that the doctored image incident has been resolved, there's nothing to feel guilty about—but that doesn't mean we can just act brazenly either. To avoid unnecessary speculation, we still need to show a minimum of discretion.

And that discretion means a private booking. This way, we can enjoy ourselves without worry.

If you say, “Then you just shouldn't meet privately at all,” well… that's not the same thing, is it?

“I thought it might be good to help you refresh yourself, since you've been feeling down.”

The mental strain the teacher had been enduring lately was beyond imagination. An extreme level of stress.

She looked so pained it was hard to watch. No matter how bravely she acted, there are limits.

We managed to resolve it early, but given how malicious the incident was, the chances were far higher that it would worsen or drag on. If that happened, it would have become a huge deal, and keeping it under wraps would have been impossible.

The fact that Akari Toki got off with just a suspension was practically a miracle. If a police report had been filed, it would have been treated as a case of AI abuse, widely reported by the media, and could easily have developed into a social issue. Toki and Okamoto would have faced punishments far harsher than expulsion.

It was truly a reckless act—ruining one's life for no worthwhile return.

And if it had come to that, Sanjoji-sensei who was the target would have been left with even deeper scars.

If the media had dug into the motive and dredged up the past, Himiyama-san—who was trying to move on—wouldn't have been unaffected either. The past is over now.

A bad end that no one wanted, one where everyone ends up unhappy—that was the one thing we had to avoid.

“Kokonoe-kun…”

“Luck tipped barely in our favor. We were saved by the slimmest of margins.”

What Kazuhiro Okamoto's decision saved was far greater than he probably realizes.

Sanjoji-sensei gently clasped my hand with both of hers. They were trembling slightly.

“…Thank you.”

“It was Okamoto who brought his emotions to a conclusion.”

Okamoto had seized a shining future with his own hands.

“If you hadn't prepared that place, if you hadn't gathered everyone—Misaki-san included—his feelings would never have reached us. We wouldn't have been able to overcome the despair…”

It was a lot of work to coordinate. But it was worth it. This time, I really did it right.

Tears welled in the teacher's eyes.

…Have I managed to atone for my past mistakes?

Once, my own rash actions had caused a commotion. I was the one who created the problem.

By rights, I should have been the one to be judged the harshest. And yet the ones who suffered were Sanjoji-sensei, Himiyama-san, Toki, and Okamoto. I alone went on living as if nothing had happened.

“I'm sorry, Sensei.”

I bowed my head deeply. Even if I repent, I will never ask for forgiveness. This is a burden I must carry. I will never make them sad again. I etched that vow into my heart.

“I was the arrogant one. The real you… you're more honest and kind than anyone.”

Sensei's hand caressed my cheek. A smile filled with such compassion it could captivate anyone at a glance.

I was truly relieved that she could keep smiling. The result was worth more than gold.

Worth more than gold… just like that golden bikini. Heh. Right! I pulled something from my bag.

“Alright, before we swim, let's put on some sunscreen!”

After all, I didn't get the chance to put it on Hinagi-chan and the others at the beach, so here it makes its comeback.

“I'm already nicely tanned though…”

“What!? Sensei, why would you do something so reckless!?”

It suited her vitality perfectly, but it was still an awfully bold challenge.

A gorgeous body with a gorgeous golden swimsuit… Is Sanjoji-sensei a celebrity?

“Haaaah!? Don't you dare say you've forgotten! This is your fault! Yours!”

“How rude! Don't blame me! …Oh, wait, I remember. It is my fault.”

“Can you please stop sweeping me along with that ridiculous pace!?”

Still, the effects of the tanning salon were remarkable. A tanned sensei was nice too.

But now that the incident had been resolved, the era of Alternate-Color Sensei was coming to an end, and that was a shame.

“Damn! So this is the last time I'll see you like this… But that's a loss for humanity…”

“What could possibly be that serious!? And besides, this is an indoor pool!”

“I won't give up until the end! You know—that thing! There's a chance we can get a tan from the lighting!”

“…They're LEDs, though.”

Her sharp and perfectly accurate rebuttal cut right through me. I sulked.

“Uwaaah, you’re the type who always completely destroys every argument I make!”

“Please don't stick weird labels on me! I'm not good with people like that either, you know…!”

Yeah, they exist. The “truth-punch” types—people you'd really rather avoid if possible.

But there are some things I just can't give up. A solid conviction that will never waver.
So, I decided to throw a tantrum.

“Nooo, nooo, I wanna put it on! I wanna put sunscreen on you!”

“Do you have no shame or dignity!? Fine! Fine, I get it already!”

Flustered and at a loss, Sensei quickly gave in to my demand. That worried me a little. I stopped flailing, stood up straight, and asked:

“Sensei, you're not the type to get pressured into buying stuff from door-to-door salesmen, are you? You've gotta be firm when saying no.”

“Don't suddenly turn serious like that!”

I've always thought she seems a bit too easy to sway, too easily pressured. But this was just harmless fooling around, a joke to lighten the mood. After all, putting sunscreen on an unmarried woman of marrying age is a brain-meltingly inappropriate act.

“A-And besides, the only person I'm weak against is… you…”

“…Sorry, what?”

Sensei faltered, cheeks faintly flushed, glasses fogging up.

“Kokonoe-kun, you're my favorite, so when you say something, I just… can't seem to resist. Fine. If you want to put it on so badly, go ahead. I won't run or hide!”

Sanjoji-sensei reached for the knot of her golden bikini. The golden bikini slipped loose.

“Uh, um…”

“This… is my way of saying thanks.”

Her voice was soft, almost a whisper, sweet enough to melt. Through the fogged glasses, I caught a glimpse of her clear, transparent eyes.

“The contrast with your tan lines is just… dangerously sexy…”

“Uuuuh… what am I going to do… If anyone finds out about this, I'll definitely get fired…”

Sensei's natural skin was pale, so the contrast with her tanned areas was striking—like a conclave deciding between two equally compelling candidates.

Which version of her was more attractive? At this point, maybe it should be decided by a vice-principal election.

We couldn't stay flustered forever. Time to shake off this questionable atmosphere.

“Let's just swim and have fun, Sensei!”

“Y-Yeah, you're right. I kind of feel like moving my body now, too.”

We did a proper warm-up before stepping into the pool. The warm water felt great.

“How about a swimming race?”

It was an indoor pool, not an amusement facility—no slides, no water playground. Just the two of us here. Honestly, there wasn't much to do.

“To tell the truth… I'm not very good at swimming…”

“Really?”

Huh. That was unexpected.

In middle and high school, subjects are divided among teachers, but in elementary school, the homeroom teacher often handles swimming during the summer.

I always thought that to pass the teacher employment exam, you had to be proficient in both music and swimming.

“Of course, I can swim at a basic level. But the more important thing is knowing how to rescue or resuscitate children if they're drowning. As long as you can swim reasonably well, it's fine. And in some municipalities, swimming is handled by specialist instructors.”

That made sense. It was more practical. Everyone has things they're not good at.

“Yeah, like piano—you can't expect a teacher to be great at everything.”

“Well, it's my job, so I do my best. And I'm actually good at piano. But as for swimming—since I've never really gone to the beach, and I haven't been to a pool in years—I'm probably really rusty.”

True enough, in daily life, there aren't many chances to swim.

“What's your best stroke, Sensei?”

“Hmm… I'm not sure. If I had to say, maybe backstroke?”

If it were butterfly, the golden bikini wouldn't be able to withstand the chest pressure and would probably burst off.

“Alright, then you do backstroke. Since there's a difference between men and women, I'll wait five seconds before starting.”

“Eh? You actually want to race?”

“Why not? It's not a serious competition—just for fun.”

Sanjoji-sensei suddenly looked alarmed.

“Wait! Knowing you, if we do a race, the winner will get to make the loser do something indecent! That's definitely where this is going!”

What a baseless accusation. An outrageous slander! Unforgivable!

“Don't underestimate me! And are you saying everything so far has been wholesome?!”

“So you're aware of it yourself?!”

“Indeed I am.”

I had no rebuttal.

“Alright, how about this: the loser has to reveal one secret. How's that?”

If I do say so myself, that was a fair compromise. Not everything has to be indecent.

“…A secret? Anything?”

“Yeah. It could be a past failure, your weight, or even your embarrassing diary entries.”

“That's a battle I can't afford to lose. Though… hearing your secret sounds scary.”

“I'll tell you my stock account password.”

“Absolutely not! Do you know how common unauthorized logins are these days!?”

Everyone, make sure you've got device authentication and phone verification enabled for security.

Sensei got into position for backstroke. Winning didn't matter—it was just about having fun.

“Okay, I'll start now. Ready?”

“Um, maybe give me a little more of a handicap—”

“Go!”

And just like that, our deadly serious life-or-death battle began.