Fellow Losers Chapter 5

 

A One-Day Date

The weekend finally arrived. And yet, this was only the first weekend.

I was amazed that it hadn't even been a week since that dramatic, life-altering event took place.

Originally, I was supposed to go see a movie with the girl I loved most today.

However, that girl was no longer that girl, the date plans naturally vanished into thin air, and I ended up spending the entire morning just spacing out.

Even before we became lovers, she—Karen—and I had spent the majority of our lives together.

As far back as I could remember, it had been a very long time since I had a day off without Karen around.

I had absolutely no idea how I was supposed to spend my time—just as I was aimlessly pondering this, my phone vibrated.

"14:00, meet in front of the station."

A blunt notification. It could only be her.

"Does the advanced class not have school today either?"

"Only in the morning. So 14:00 gives me plenty of time to go home and change clothes."

"I see. Then it would be better if I invited you from my end."

"Oh my, then I suppose I'll just wait for you."

Even though it wasn't explicitly written, for some reason, I could hear a secondary audio track playing in my head saying, "All Lies." You are absolutely right.

After finishing that exchange with Mamiya, I got up from my bed.

Because my schedule had suddenly gone from completely blank to fully booked, I had to start getting ready immediately.

...Well, having said that, I was actually just restless and couldn't calm down.

"Come to think of it, meeting up in casual clothes... this might actually be the first time..."

While arbitrarily excluding yesterday's tracksuit look from the count, I muttered to myself.

Moreover, regarding Mamiya, I had genuinely never seen her in anything other than her school uniform. So the image of Mamiya = uniform was so ingrained that... nope, I completely couldn't imagine her in casual clothes.

Since she said she was going home to change, she would definitely be coming in casual clothes... but I felt like she would look good in anything, making it even harder to imagine. After all, she even wore her uniform so perfectly.

"By the way, what exactly are we going to do after meeting in front of the station?"

Depending on the destination, the appropriate outfit changes.

Although guys have fewer choices than girls, depending on the clothes I pick, I might end up embarrassing Mamiya-san... for example, if it's a classy place like that cafe from last time...

"Mmm..."

I once heard a saying: "The battle begins the night before." It means that advanced preparation is the key to a successful date.

I felt like I didn't have nearly enough time to agonizing over this... Ah, seriously, she should have just told me yesterday!

"...No, if that were the case, I should have taken the initiative to invite her yesterday. If you say the battle started yesterday..."

However, complaining about it now wouldn't help.

Thinking back, I probably never agonized much over what to wear on dates in the past. Because we were childhood friends, I knew Karen's tastes, and I roughly knew what kind of places we'd go, so I could pick out clothes almost subconsciously.

The reason I was agonizing blindly like this was because I didn't really know Mamiya-san yet. What kind of clothes she liked, what kind of person she wanted to walk next to...

While I certainly didn't want her to dislike me, it was also true that I simply wanted her to be happy. Although making such a big fuss over an outfit felt a bit exaggerated... I did have an imaginary enemy to contend with, after all.

"...I still have thirty minutes to struggle."

Pumping myself up once again, I reached into my closet.

◇

"Sorry to keep you waiting, Watanuki-kun. Did you wait long?"

"No, I just got here too."

Actually, I really did arrive just in the nick of time. Right before leaving the house, I stubbornly started second-guessing myself again, wondering if this outfit was really okay.

I smiled in response to Mamiya, who had arrived for our meetup... but that forced smile was quickly shattered.

"...What?"

Looking somewhat displeased—no, looking rather uneasy—Mamiya pouted and averted her gaze.

She fiddled with her long hair with her right hand, seemingly a bit nervous.

"Nothing, I just think it looks incredibly good on you."

"...Even if that's just flattery, I'm happy."

Mamiya heavily emphasized the word "flattery," glaring at me with half-lidded eyes as if she couldn't stand me. Although she didn't believe me at all, it wasn't flattery in the slightest, so I explicitly denied it.

"It's not flattery. I have no intention of saying pretentious things like that."

"What do you think of it?"

As expected, she asked with a skeptical tone... however, she quickly looked away again, as if trying to hide her embarrassment.

The truth was, Mamiya was truly beautiful... it was a bit unexpected.

Her outfit—if I were to describe her coordination simply, I'd probably say it was full of a spring-like vibe.

A knit dress paired with boots, a combination that felt simultaneously cool and warm. It didn't feel like she had intentionally dressed up to be overly trendy. Yet, it gave off an approachable, friendly... and cute impression.

I say it was unexpected because, for someone who looked as cool and mature as her, this outfit felt a bit youthful. I thought she would dress more formally...

"I'm not very good with clothes. It's a bit embarrassing to say this as a high schooler, but I've almost never picked out my own clothes."

"Is that so?"

"At least since starting junior high, there was always the convenient option of a uniform. This outfit is my mom's taste too."

It was hard to imagine getting through all her days off with just a school uniform... but it seemed her social circle wasn't very wide, so perhaps that was enough.

"Well, I did plan to pick out something that looked nice from the closet... but since I got a compliment, I'll consider it a passing grade. Of course, the one you complimented is my mom, so I'll be sure to tell her when I get back."

"No, please don't..."

"Really? I guess I won't then."

After all, Mamiya and Shibaki's engagement was presumably still ongoing. For her to be going on a date with another guy, and specifically changing into casual clothes after school to do so... I couldn't even imagine what her parents would think if they found out, but it definitely wouldn't end well.

"I think your outfit looks very nice too."

"Ahaha, thanks for the compliment."

For the record, there was probably nothing particularly praiseworthy about my outfit. A long-sleeved T-shirt, jeans, and sneakers... it felt like the absolute standard.

In the end, I went with a safe choice. Well, being safe isn't a bad thing.

"So, um... where is our destination today? ...Ah, come to think of it, it's my turn to decide where to go this time."

"Incorrect. Didn't you show me around the neighborhood yesterday?"

"No, that doesn't count..."

"Once is once. A favor owed is a favor owed."

She's quite strict... No, if she's fine with that, then I have nothing to say.

"Besides, I've already decided on the place we're going today. It's this way."

Mamiya started walking as if to lead the way—but immediately stopped.

"............"

"Mamiya?"

"You officially broke up with that woman, right?"

"Eh, yeah. I intend to... that is."

Bringing it up again still made my chest ache, but it was the truth. I couldn't wallow in sentimentality; I had to properly accept it...

"In that case, it won't be a problem even if an acquaintance sees us, right?"

"Eh?"

She murmured this meaningfully, and then—took my hand.

"There's a saying in this world: 'He who would do great things should not be above small things.'"

"Uh... I think it means that if you want to start something, you have to start with the things right in front of you?"

"Exactly. And even if we are a fake, an imitation, if we are going to engage in a romance, failing to practice the simple things will render the goal itself hollow."

"I don't not understand what you're trying to say... but, is this it?"

"Yes. A couple is something that holds hands for absolutely no reason, right?"

For absolutely no reason... well, it's certainly not to prevent getting separated in a crowd or anything.

"So, for today, let's just make holding hands pointlessly our mission. Although it feels a bit inconvenient to move around, we might unexpectedly get used to it."

"A mission... U-Understood. If you think it's okay, Mamiya."

"And that too."

"That? ...What's 'that'?"

Mamiya immediately let go of the right hand she just said we should hold for now, and swiftly pointed her index finger right in front of my nose.

I tentatively looked behind me, but there was nothing that seemed to fit the description.

"The way we address each other. 'Mamiya' this, 'Mamiya' that... using such a distant name for your girlfriend is weird, isn't it?"

"Eh, is it distant...?"

"I don't really know either, but there should be a more intimate way to call each other. For example............ Amo-kun, or something."

"A-Amo-kun...?"

"I-I don't know! It's just that, in the mang—book I read yesterday, the nicknames felt something like that!"

She was definitely going to say 'manga' just now, wasn't she.

It seemed Mamiya was also studying romance in her own way... and her reference material appeared to be manga. It's true that the world is filled with more romance manga than one could read in a lifetime.

"Following that logic, what should I call you, Mamiya?"

"............Making me say it myself, you really are sadistic, aren't you."

"No, that's a misunderstanding!"

It's true that, following the "Amou = Amo-kun" nickname theory, having to suggest her own nickname would be incredibly embarrassing.

I'm the one who should be giving her a nickname here... If I follow the rule, hmm...

"Then I'll call you, Sachi... I guess."

This... is way more embarrassing than I imagined.

Even though it wasn't my own name, no, just the thought of calling her that made me feel inexplicably embarrassed!

Somehow, it felt exactly like a pair of idiot lovers...

"S-Sachi..."

Then, Mamiya, having been called that, turned bright red, while the corners of her mouth twitched and spasmed as if she were enduring something.

"...Somehow, I feel like I'm being made fun of. Is it just my imagination?"

"It is. I completely don't mean it that way."

"I see... I suppose so. The fact that there's absolutely no malice makes it even worse, though."

Nicknames have that side to them as well.

Sometimes they make people feel close, but sometimes they inevitably seem a bit childish, or give off a teasing vibe.

"If only there was a cooler-sounding nickname... Watanuki Amou, Watanuki Amou..."

"You really don't have to force yourself, you know?"

"No, giving up before even trying is unacceptable."

Perhaps a certain switch had been flipped; Mamiya started seriously agonizing over it.

"We still have time before we reach our destination. Come on, Watanuki-kun, you think about it too."

"I-I know."

Of course, she meant thinking of a nickname for her.

Mamiya Sachika. Mamiya Sachika...

Because I had never given anyone a nickname before, I completely couldn't think of anything...

Just like that, faced with this sudden task, we even forgot about holding hands like we initially agreed, entirely engrossed in racking our brains along the way.

Our first holiday date began with this rather chaotic feeling.

◇

"...Ah, we're already here, Wamonusu—mm, this one sounds a bit forced too, doesn't it."

Is it really just 'a bit' forced?

I finally breathed a sigh of relief, glad that this period of time was finally over.

The nickname-giving battle had turned into something resembling a muddy free-for-all. We had pretty much exhausted all the basic patterns, and it was now like a situation where you turn a toy box upside down and play with the dust stuck in the corners.

Like "Mami-chan," "Mamin," "Miya-chan," and so on, patterns playing around with her last name.

"Sachi-chan," "Sachichi," "Chika-chan"... et cetera, et cetera, her first name was thoroughly toyed with as well.

Mixing the last name and first name, or vaguely poking fun at her appearance—sigh, it was truly a last resort. Even though I didn't expect a good nickname to be born from this right from the start, we still continued this hollow thousand-swing batting practice.

The final result was "Wamonusu"... combining the "Wa" from Watanuki and the "Mo" from Amou, and summoning "nusu" from somewhere. Mamiya probably didn't want me to dig too deeply into it either.

...Well, let's put that aside for now.

"I really didn't expect the destination to be here."

The place Mamiya brought me to was an arcade.

It was one of a few scattered around the station. Although I had been here a few times, I never expected Mamiya to be the one to bring me.

"Although right now it feels like we just finished playing a high-difficulty game."

"True."

I nodded, feeling a slight, squeezing fatigue in my head.

Unexpectedly, coming up with nicknames took quite a bit of effort. Having to draw associations from the other person's name or traits, and stifling my embarrassment to say catchy phrases out loud. However, in the process of pondering these nicknames, it allowed me to understand Mamiya a bit deeper, which perhaps wasn't a bad thing.

"I've always been quite interested in it. It's just that the hurdle to go in alone is a bit high, right?"

Following ramen, Mamiya was unexpectedly the cautious type... No, an arcade is a closed space, so it's not strange for a girl to be wary about going in alone.

"That's a bit surprising. Do you play games often?"

"No, I have some experience with board games, though... But aren't these kinds of arcades occasionally attached to places like hot spring inns? I've been curious about what they were like since I saw them as a kid."

"Ah, arcades in places like that do make you inexplicably want to play, don't they."

"I see... If there's a different kind of fun to be had, maybe we could try it out sometime."

"Eh?"

"What's wrong?"

"...No, it's nothing."

How should I put it, she seemed quite enthusiastic about the idea of going on a hot spring trip with me... No, that's not it. It's not like anyone said she was going with me.

"Alright, don't just stare at the sign, let's go inside. Games are meant to be actually played... right Amou?"

"Ah... yeah, Sachika."

My hand was grabbed, I was pulled along... and she called me by my first name without any honorifics.

I immediately understood the rule.

Was it because I was wracking my brain trying to come up with a nickname for her earlier, and my head was full of thoughts of her?

Right now, even being called normally by my first name, I felt absolutely no resistance.

◇

There are all sorts of games in an arcade, even though I'm an amateur... but to me, they can roughly be divided into two categories.

One is purely for enjoying the gaming experience. The other is where you can win prizes based on your performance.

Mamiya-san seemed to prefer the latter.

"Hehe."

"...What is it. Is it that funny?"

"No, I just thought, 'as expected'."

For someone as smart and serious as her, rather than just playing games to kill time, she preferred games that offered some kind of return. While this was just my own imagination, guessing this correctly made me find it a bit amusing.

"These are called claw machines, right? Some stores put these machines outside, don't they?"

"Yeah."

"So I'm just saying they look familiar."

Even while saying this, Mamiya was carefully inspecting the prizes displayed in the machines one by one.

Despite her tough talk, she didn't seem to have any intention of stubbornly going to play other games.

"...! This is!"

During this, Mamiya's eyes changed. She was staring intently at a character plushie from a national hit game, specifically the highly famous yellow mouse.

"Interested?"

"Ugh... y-yeah. I'm not really familiar with this kind of thing... but I know this child! I remember, it can't evolve unless you give it a special stone, right!"

To anyone familiar with the series, this was considered fairly basic common knowledge.

However, Mamiya's eyes sparkled as if she had unlocked a universal truth.

"You know a lot, don't you?"

"It's just knowledge someone taught me in kindergarten, though. It's probably outdated by now."

While speaking, Mamiya took a 100-yen coin from her wallet and dropped it into the slot. It seemed she had locked onto her target.

I watched as she operated the claw to try and grab the plushie... but it merely brushed against its fluff.

"Ugh, it seems it's not as simple as it looks."

"If it were that easy to catch, they wouldn't be able to run a business. Let me try."

"Could it be, you have some expertise in this?"

"Not that much, but there was a time I watched some tutorial videos and practiced..."

Saying this, I pulled out my own money and started the claw machine.

It was a plushie just the right size to hold with both hands. The trick for this type is to loop the arm or hook the tag... Is it here?

Aiming at the spot, I released the button.

The claw slowly moved toward the tag on the plushie's rear—by chance, it successfully hooked it on the first try!

"Wow! Amazing! That's incredible!!"

"To think I actually succeeded on the first try... This must be what they call beginner's luck."

Even I was shocked.

The claws on these machines aren't strong enough to easily bear the weight of the prizes. But thanks to it cleverly hooking the tag, it was able to be transported all the way to the chute without dropping.

"Here, for you."

"Eh, are you giving it to me?"

"Did you think I wouldn't?"

There was no way Mamiya didn't know who wanted it, and who I caught it for.

"Then, the money..."

"I told you it's fine!"

It was just the cost of a single play. It didn't even qualify as showing off.

For her, she might feel resistant to owing such a one-sided favor...

"This is a present from your boyfriend, Sachika."

In the end, I felt saying it straight like this was the fastest way. Although I felt inexplicably embarrassed.

"I-I see."

Perhaps that embarrassment was contagious, because even Mamiya became docile.

She looked down, accepted the plushie... and immediately hugged it tightly to her chest.

"Ah... thank you, Amou."

Being honest made her look childish and very shy. But she still wanted to express her gratitude.

Seeing this cute attitude of hers made me happy too. My meager amount of luck hadn't been wasted.

We put the plushie in a prize bag and started scouting the claw machines again. Thanks to easily clearing the first hurdle, even if she wasn't that interested, she could casually challenge them. But as expected, the only one caught easily on the first try was that very first one.

"You mentioned you practiced for a while; was there a prize you wanted?"

While playing a claw machine, Mamiya initiated the conversation. She was probably trying to probe into my interests...

"Because Karen said there was something she wanted."

"Ah..."

Mamiya awkwardly looked down. I thought I had answered casually, but it seemed I still made her worry.

"Don't worry about it. It's in the past... If I keep running away, there will never be an end to it."

I have many memories with Karen. She has been present for the majority of my life, so it's hard to consistently avoid her. If I feel pain and regret every time, I probably wouldn't be able to do anything.

To be honest, there are still many things I haven't fully let go of. While there's a saying "once the scar heals, the pain is forgotten," applying it here, the scar still feels quite fresh.

It's just that swallowing all of this alone is too difficult. So, I decided to try relying on Mamiya.

Although it's selfish... I felt that if it was Mamiya, she would accept me.

"Then I'll ask bluntly, was she happy back then?"

Perhaps sensing my feelings, Mamiya didn't change the subject, but instead boldly took a big step forward.

"No, I didn't manage to catch it in the end. Because I was frustrated, I practiced thinking I would definitely succeed next time... But, going to the arcade was only that one time. You see, it's quite loud here."

There's the store's background music, and the various game machines also emit sounds.

Although the scale varies from store to store, this place, and the arcade I went to with Karen back then, both fall into the noisier category.

"It seems she didn't adapt really well to that kind of environment."

"Selfish... No, honestly, regarding that point, it's not like I don't understand those feelings. Even now, I feel a bit restless."

Saying this, Mamiya hugged the plushie tight, prize bag and all.

"However, I think I'd still like to try again. I did experience success... and constantly having you give me things doesn't really suit my personality."

"I'm glad you said that."

At the very least, it meant my practice, which I thought was wasted effort, had meaning... ah.

While talking and operating the claw machine, I happened to move the cushion I was aiming for into a good position.

"Ah, what a pity. It got stuck on the acrylic panel at the chute..."

Although Mamiya murmured this regretfully, this was actually perfect.

The claw strength at this store is set pretty high, and from this position—.

"Sachika, you might be able to catch it next time."

"Eh, really?"

"Yeah. Right now it's resting—ah, leaning right against this chute area, right? So if you cleverly lift its rear to shift the center of gravity, you can make it drop into the hole."

"But depending on how it falls, it might bounce off somewhere weird, right?"

"If that happens, it can't be helped."

"Ugh... that's a lot of responsibility."

Although I honestly nodded because I felt resistant to declaring it "easy," it seemed to have inadvertently caused her unnecessary pressure.

I remembered the look in Karen's eyes the first and only time we came to an arcade. I challenged the machine several times aiming for the prize Karen wanted... and failed to catch it in the end.

Although Karen acted considerate towards me, she was definitely disappointed. I didn't notice it then, but thinking about it now, it was only natural.

It's obvious from the fact that arcades were never put on our date itinerary again. While there was some consideration for me, she simply found it boring.

Reflecting on this now, to prevent Mamiya from repeating that experience, I wanted her to win the prize with her own hands.

Mamiya mentioned earlier that she experienced success. But if she could experience the success of catching a prize herself, today's experience would surely become an even more positive memory.

While I didn't have to come back to an arcade, if Mamiya was willing to come play here again, that would be wonderful.

However, if it turned into a failure experience instead, she might slump her shoulders in dejection, and might even blame herself for wasting my efforts, staying depressed all day.

Mamiya is serious, and unexpectedly sensitive. Although it feels a bit awkward for me to say this, having hurt her with thoughtless words multiple times.

(So...)

I thought for a moment about how to make it go smoothly. If it succeeds, it's Mamiya's achievement; if it fails, it's my fault—if only there was a way to do that...

"...Amou?"

Seeing me silent for a few seconds, Mamiya-san asked with confusion and a hint of unease.

"I was thinking if there was a good way. And... I thought of one."

"What do you mean?"

"Sachika, lend me your hand."

This wasn't the usual phrase for asking for help; it was a literal request.

I placed my hand over hers as she tilted her head in confusion.

"Eek!? Wh-What...!?"

"Let's press the button together. I'll tell you the timing."

Slightly surprised by her somewhat shrill reaction, I simultaneously explained my intention.

While I didn't know if this was the absolute best method, it was more reliable than verbal cues, and this way, the responsibility could be split in half.

"...You really do have that side to you, don't you."

"That side?"

"It's nothing. Then... let's consider it a joint effort."

Saying this, Mamiya-san swiftly turned her face away. Her neck was slightly flushed. However, if she was unwilling, she definitely would have unceremoniously shaken my hand off.

I inserted a 100-yen coin in place of her, as her hand was resting on the button. Then, I overlaid my hand on hers again.

"Alright, here we go."

I gave the signal and pressed the button together with her hand.

For a split second, I felt her body stiffen, but she quickly relaxed, letting me guide her.

However, I didn't have the spare attention to focus on that—I was carefully watching the movement of the mechanical arm. The target was the edge of the cushion. I imagined hooking it there, flipping it over, and stuffing it into the goal.

Of course, I couldn't say it would absolutely go smoothly, but I hoped it would. Praying like this, I released my hand at what I deemed the optimal position, and Mamiya followed suit.

The mechanical arm descended as imagined, and lifted the cushion as imagined. Mamiya and I watched with bated breath. The moment it lifted, my heart pounded wildly; if the machine shook erratically and dropped it, it would be a disaster.

Endure, endure, endure until the very end—thump, the cushion fell into the prize chute.

"We did it..."

Rather than joy, Mamiya murmured as if breathing a sigh of relief.

Then she retrieved the cushion from the chute—looking closely, it was quite a strange cushion.

To describe it bluntly—no, there's no need for bluntness, there's only one sentence to describe this.

"As expected, it's a giant pudding."

"Yeah."

Mamiya nodded, staring intently at the pudding-shaped cushion before... handing it to me.

"Here you go."

"You looked like you hesitated for quite a while there."

"Rather than hesitation... it just felt wrong to claim it as my own. It was practically like having you win it for me."

The one who initially showed interest in this cushion was Mamiya.

Then we took turns playing, and it finally fell on Mamiya's turn, and she was the one who pressed the button.

This was undoubtedly Mamiya's achievement... however, judging by her expression, she probably wouldn't accept that reasoning.

"Well, regarding me... I was just like a coach. Although I gave various instructions, the one who actually made the decision was you, Sachika. So this is your achievement."

"...I see."

Mamiya stared intently at the pudding once more—and for some reason, handed it to me again.

This time, her expression was even more triumphant than before.

"Then, I will shamelessly hand it over. This is a present for you, Amou."

"Eh, wait, wasn't this what you wanted, Sachika?"

"I never said a single word implying that. I accepted the plushie you won for me, so isn't it only logical that I give you what I won in return?"

So the reluctance she showed earlier was because of this reason.

"Although I thought the design was interesting, I meant it would be interesting to see you holding it, Amou."

"It was for me from the start? You should have just told me."

"Hehe, it was to see you so surprised you couldn't even hide your embarrassment properly. It wouldn't be fun if I spoiled it, right?"

It seemed I really did make the expression she described. No, the truth is I was incredibly surprised, and felt very embarrassed...

"Understood. Then I'll gratefully accept it."

"Make sure you treasure it for me... or something like that, is that what normal couples say?"

"Then... 'I treasure you the most, Sachika', or something like that, I suppose I should reply like a normal couple too."

I responded like this while accepting the pudding cushion.

This didn't require anyone pointing it out, nor did I need a mirror. Without a doubt, my face must be as bright red as hers right now.

Ah, there's absolutely no way I could say lines like this if I wasn't joking. Forget my face catching fire, it's practically about to explode...!

◇

After that, we took a quick look around the store and left the arcade.

Mamiya seemed interested in some of the other games as well, but since we had already spent quite a bit of money on the claw machines, she seemed to have decided to save that fun for next time.

I had also broken several thousand-yen bills, and regarding that, I had nothing but gratitude for her.

"Well then, let's both take good care of them."

"Yeah. I guess I'll put it by my pillow for now."

"Good idea."

I gave Sachika the character plushie, and Sachika gave me the pudding-shaped cushion, so we had essentially exchanged gifts. Thinking back, this might actually be the first time we had ever given each other presents.

Thinking about it that way made it feel all the more special.

"Mmm—... I feel kind of tired now."

"It's because you were concentrating so hard. How about we call it a day here?"

"You're right. It's already evening; it's about time we wrap up the date. Well then, Watanuki-kun, see you later."

"Ah... yeah, Mamiya—"

With the date over, the way we addressed each other reverted to normal.

Just as that sense of loneliness brought a pang of reluctance to my heart—.

"Huh?"

A deeply familiar voice reached my ears.

Goosebumps erupted all over my skin. Even before my brain fully processed it, I knew exactly who that voice belonged to.

"What are you doing here, Akkun?"

"...Akkun."

Mamiya quietly repeated the nickname.

There was only one person who called me that. Looking back... just as I thought, Karen was standing there.

Even though it was Saturday, Karen was wearing her school uniform for some reason... No, perhaps it wasn't 'for some reason.' If you have to go to school on the weekend, you have to wear your uniform. Even if it's just to cheer on a club activity.

As expected, her relationship with him hadn't been severed; this probably wasn't the first time she had gone to school on a day off, either.

"That person............ is the one I saw before, right?"

Karen narrowed her eyes as she looked at Mamiya.

Her voice was colder than usual, clearly laced with hostility.

"Akkun, who is that person?"

But that hostility was directed solely at Mamiya.

When she shifted her gaze slightly and looked at me, Karen's expression... was exactly the gentle, cute version of her that I had dedicated my first love to.

"Sh-She is..."

Faced with that smile, the words were almost dragged out of me by force—however, as if shielding me, Mamiya took a step forward.

"Eh, what?"

"............"

Mamiya didn't say anything. But even from her back, I could tell she was glaring at Karen.

"...Akkun, could it be you're being harassed? Honestly, you really are hopeless without me around, Akkun."

"...Hopeless?"

Karen ignored Mamiya and spoke to me, and Mamiya, addressing this Karen, spoke up for the first time—the air grew heavy.

Come to think of it, this was the first time these two had encountered each other since that day.

To Mamiya, this was the girl who stole her fiancé. Furthermore, she had just heard every single detail about what happened yesterday directly from me.

And to Karen... even standing face-to-face like this, Karen showed absolutely no sign of realizing that Mamiya was the witness from that day.

"...Akkun, let's go? I don't know who she is, but I'm getting a bad vibe from her."

Aggressive words that didn't suit Karen at all—no, perhaps this was also another side of her that I had always refused to face.

However, I didn't have the luxury to think about it so calmly. This was a highly volatile situation.

I knew I was shaken by Karen's sudden appearance, but what was even more terrifying was not knowing when Mamiya might explode.

Just hearing about it from me was enough to make her furious; now, face-to-face, she must clearly understand that the facts hadn't been exaggerated in the slightest. Looking closely, her shoulders were trembling slightly as she endured it—the fuse had clearly been lit.

I didn't know when she would explode... No, I had to do something before she exploded...

But, contrary to that feeling, the words wouldn't come out right away—.

"How much longer are you going to pretend to be his girlfriend?"

"...Huh?"

Mamiya spoke first.

"I heard about it. You broke up with him—with Amou."

"...Amou?"

Calling me clearly by my first name like that was probably not to extend today's date, but a provocation.

Indeed, just from that alone, Karen showed obvious displeasure.

"I don't understand why a total stranger like you is saying things like that, but Akkun and I are childhood friends. You have no right to butt in—"

"I do."

Mamiya cut Karen off, overpowering her words.

"He and I are dating—doing something akin to dating, that is."

She said it. She said it loud and clear.

Although she used an exquisite, slightly vague phrasing that was close to the truth, in this situation, that level of nuance probably didn't matter.

In fact, this seemed to be quite a shock to Karen, whose face froze as if she'd been struck by a peashooter.

"You cheat on him. Yet despite that, you still show possessiveness over him as if he were your property; that's not something you can just get away with by acting cute, you know."

"...Akkun, let's go? You'd choose me, wouldn't you, Akkun?"

Clearly showing her displeasure, Karen completely ignored Mamiya's words.

Did she think there was no point in arguing, did she think she could win this spat just by dragging me into it, or... did she not even consider me a factor at all?

"It's like talking to a brick wall... Or rather, talking to you is just a waste of time. Let's go, Amou."

"Wait... Akkun!"

Karen called my name intensely, almost like a reprimand.

Ignoring that voice, Mamiya took my hand.

Pathetically, I just let my hand be pulled and followed Mamiya... and seeing us like that, Karen didn't chase after us.

Did you believe that even if you didn't chase me, I'd come back on my own? Or conversely, were you so stunned you couldn't move? ...No, thinking about it won't give me any answers. What Karen was thinking, I completely...

Just like that, we walked in silence, on and on—.

"...I'm sorry. I said that on my own without your permission."

"Eh?"

"Saying things like we were dating. Well, I wasn't entirely wrong, was I?"

"Yeah... you don't need to apologize. If anything, I was the one who—"

Originally, I was the one who should have been the shield. I should have been the one to figure out how to handle it.

"Don't worry about it. I just wanted to do it. Plus, I wanted to confirm if she really didn't remember me."

"...Yeah."

"More importantly, seeing her in person is even more intense than hearing about it. Should I say she has tunnel vision, or is she just inexplicably confident? With that kind of attitude, I wouldn't be surprised if she ambushed you in front of your house."

"I think that's entirely possible. Let alone the front of the house, he's close with my family too, so there's even a chance she'd just head upstairs into my room first... I need to be mentally prepared."

I couldn't help but sigh. How depressing.

"You haven't told your family yet."

"It would be great if I could just tell them everything... but I don't have the emotional bandwidth for that right now."

"Of course. Even I... feel the same way."

It wasn't that I didn't trust my parents. It was just that, precisely because our families were so close, my parents doted on Karen as if she were their own daughter.

There was certainly the pride issue of not being able to admit I was cheated on, but the scariest part was the possibility that they would take Karen's side and say, "It's your fault." That wasn't out of the realm of possibility.

Ah, even though I was having so much fun just moments ago... now my head was completely stuffed with thoughts of Karen again.

"...Mamiya, can I give this cushion back to you..."

"Eh? Why?"

"I feel like if I bring back the cushion you gave me, it'll just add fuel to the fire."

If it got torn apart by brute force, that would be the worst.

You went through the trouble of giving it to me. If possible, I want to treasure it too... but for that very reason, I felt it was best not to take it.

"So—"

"...Amou."

"Yeah?"

"The date definitely isn't over yet. Could you give me a little more—no, could you give me a little more time, Amou?"

Emphasizing my first name, she squeezed my hand even tighter, stronger than before.

As if pouring in her will to absolutely never let go.

"Sachika..."

"Yeah..."

She smiled and nodded.

Just seeing that smile made me feel like I could forget about Karen, even if just a little.

◇

I was led by the hand by Mamiya for nearly twenty minutes.

This time we didn't think about nicknames or anything; we just walked in silence, holding hands the whole way.

Strangely, it wasn't boring at all. While I was a little anxious about where we were going, the warmth transmitting from her hand gradually calmed my nerves.

"It's here."

The place Mamiya brought me to was a completely unremarkable, ordinary apartment building.

Could it be... without leaving any room for doubt, Mamiya walked right into the entrance and familiarly pressed the elevator call button.

This was undoubtedly—.

"It's not my house, you know."

"Is that so!?"

I was completely wrong!

Having seen right through my thoughts, yet without a triumphant smile, Mamiya stepped into the elevator.

However, as I followed her in, I didn't miss the slight twitch at the corner of her mouth as she stood in front of the control panel.

◇

We took the elevator to the seventh floor.

During that time, Mamiya just played with her phone and offered me no explanation whatsoever... My anxiety began to swell.

At this point, I had no intention of doubting Mamiya, but being brought to such an unremarkable apartment—and not even her own home—I couldn't think of a single reason why.

(Maybe this actually is her house... No, that's probably impossible.)

I knew Mamiya's family was quite well-off. Although I didn't know the exact extent, the vibe of this apartment felt more geared toward the general public rather than the wealthy class.

So it didn't match my impression of her... although that was my only basis for thinking so.

Just as I was thinking this, the elevator arrived at the floor, and following Mamiya's lead, I stopped in front of the second door. Room 702. There was no nameplate, just a public broadcasting sticker attached to the door.

"............"

Still without offering any explanation, Mamiya pressed the intercom.

A light chime echoed inside, followed by some inexplicably frantic clattering sounds... I instinctively swallowed hard and watched—

"You're already here!? Seriously, I haven't even finished cleaning yet!"

The door was thrown open in a panic, and a man rushed out.

He had dyed blonde hair and wore a stud in his left ear. He was tall, well-proportioned, and had a refined aura; a man who looked a few years older than us.

"I already contacted you."

"It hasn't even been thirty minutes yet! Seriously, what were you going to do if I was in the middle of enjoying a date or something!?"

"You don't have a girlfriend."

"Th-That's true, but... hearing you say it actually hurts more—huh?"

Mamiya speaking in a flat tone, and the man complaining vehemently in response.

This man finally noticed me standing next to Mamiya.

"...Who?"

Then, pointing at me, he asked Mamiya. Completely clueless about the situation myself, I also looked at Mamiya.

"My boyfriend."

"Hah!?"

The volume of his voice made my body involuntarily stiffen.

Watching his eyes widen and his jaw drop in an incredibly exaggerated reaction, I vaguely deduced their relationship—and simultaneously realized just what an unbelievable bomb Mamiya had dropped.

I felt an unpleasant cold sweat breaking out... Mamiya, could it be you've brought me to an incredibly dangerous place?

"Don't yell so loudly. You'll bother the neighbors. Hurry up and let us in, Onii-chan."

Completely unfazed by his reaction, Mamiya bluntly tossed out those words.

Onii-chan—meaning Mamiya's older brother. Looking closely with that in mind, those well-defined facial features indeed shared a vague resemblance.

To tell an older brother like that that I'm her boyfriend... Th-This isn't something that can just be laughed off as a joke, is it...!?

"N-No, wait, you, b-boyfriend..."

"Excuse the intrusion. Come on, you come in too, Amou."

Perhaps losing her patience, Mamiya pushed past her brother and barged into the entryway.

Her insistence on continuing to use my first name probably meant, just as she said earlier, that the date was still ongoing... but wasn't this just pouring oil on a fire?

Of course, there was no way I could push past the brother and walk in like she did... Faced with this sudden trial, I could only stand frozen in place right alongside the brother.

◇

The inside of the room felt like a standard bachelor pad.

Although it was my first time in a place like this, with loungewear piled messily in the corner and empty convenience store bento boxes stacked in the sink... that overwhelming sense of lived-in reality was hard to describe as anything other than a very typical single guy's apartment.

Anyway, I was seated in what looked like a combined living room and bedroom.

Sitting directly across from me on the other side of a low table was the older brother, resting his chin in his hand and glaring directly at me. He was completely on guard... which I entirely understood...

Meanwhile, the crucial Mamiya-san had gone to the kitchen, which was connected to the hallway, to make tea. Even though there was only one door separating us, I felt incredibly uneasy.

"You, what's your name?"

The older brother asked lazily, yet with an air of intimidation.

"M-My name is Watanuki Amou..."

"Watanuki, huh... By the way, earlier, didn't Sachika call you by your first name, 'Amou'!?"

"I-Is that so... haha..."

I had sensed it as clearly as day.

This guy is a siscon! ...That might be a bit too harsh of a way to put it, but he is undoubtedly a brother who cares very deeply for his sister!

And, what's incredibly problematic is that, based on Mamiya-san's initial statement—.

"You punk, are you really dating Sachika?"

"Ah, no, um..."

"No, there's no way Sachika would joke about something like that. But, thinking about it that way, something still feels off no matter how you look at it... right, Amou boy?"

"Ugh...!"

Being glared at with sharp eyes, I shrank into myself.

The 'something off' he mentioned definitely referred to that matter. Since they are family, it's only natural he knows.

However, I didn't know how to bring that topic up... and the brother obviously wouldn't appreciate this kind of reaction from me.

"You bastard... did you possibly do something to Sachika—"

"Stop it."

The moment his voice rose to a near-threat, Mamiya, opening the door, stopped him.

"Look, Sachika..."

"Do you think I'm the kind of woman who would bow to coercion and commit an act of infidelity, Onii-chan?"

"N-No, I didn't think that, but, you know, because..."

"I fully intend to explain everything in order, Onii-chan, so calm down first."

Taking control of the situation with perfect composure, Mamiya placed the teacups on the low table.

Although confused, perhaps to calm his nerves, the brother immediately downed his cup of tea in one gulp.

"Another cup!"

"You're not going to try and pressure Amou again while I'm doing this, are you."

"I won't! I absolutely won't!!"

"Sigh... Sorry, wait just a little longer."

Mamiya apologized only to me and returned to the kitchen once again.

The brother made an awkward expression like a scolded puppy, and waited in silence until Mamiya returned.

◇

Then, about ten minutes passed—.

"...Mmph, mmph!"

The brother seemed to be trying to shout something, his face flushed bright red as he pleaded his case.

However, no sound came out—because right as Mamiya started explaining, she slapped a piece of duct tape over his mouth.

Her reasoning was that she was afraid he'd immediately start yelling, making it impossible to continue the explanation.

However, regarding this one thing, I felt the brother wasn't actually at fault.

After all, he had just suddenly been told by his sister, "My fiancé cheated on me."

His face being bright red right now definitely wasn't due to lack of oxygen; the blood must truly be rushing to his head.

"Onii-chan, if you promise not to make a fuss, I'll take it off."

"Mmph! Mmph mmph mmph!!"

"I see. Then let's leave it like this for a while."

As if interpreting something, Mamiya sighed in exasperation.

"Um..."

"It's probably something along the lines of, 'If you let me go now, I'll definitely go kill Souichi, so just leave it like this until I calm down.'"

"How can you understand that so clearly!?"

"It's just a wild guess. But, looking at his state, even if it's not a bullseye, it's probably pretty close."

Saying this, Mamiya pulled out her phone and started looking at it.

Even now, the brother was still going "Mmph mmph," trying to shout something, but he was being completely ignored.

I had no idea what I was supposed to do... so for now, I just sat in quiet silence, waiting for time to pass.

◇

Then, about ten minutes later...

"My name is Takayuki Mamiya. Just call me Takayuki, Amou boy!"

Perhaps it was stinging; her older brother—Takayuki—introduced himself like that while rubbing the area around his lips.

His expression couldn't exactly be called gentle. However, despite being stiff, he didn't look angry at me; rather, it seemed more like sympathy.

That was because Mamiya had unreservedly recounted Shibaki and Karen's betrayal, even showing him the video evidence she had recorded at some point.

Karen and I were childhood friends, and we had been dating. By chance, Mamiya and I witnessed the scene at the exact same time. Utterly heartbroken, we formed a pact as fellow losers, licking each other's wounds.

That was our fake romance—the true nature of Mamiya's "boyfriend" declaration... Takayuki-san had already come to understand this.

"But, um... how should I put it. My place is pretty small, isn't it?"

After some thought, he finally squeezed out those words. However, I didn't quite catch what he was getting at.

"We can just squeeze in and sleep."

"Squeeze in, meaning sleeping on the floor? Who and who?"

"Amou and I."

"N-No... Onii-chan absolutely forbids it! After all, Amou boy isn't actually your boyfriend!"

"He is my boyfriend. Even a fake-boyfriend is a boyfriend."

"Ugh... even if he were a real boyfriend, it's still a no! It's too early for you! Amou boy and I will sleep on the floor! Sachika, you can sleep comfortably in my bed, enveloped in my scent!!"

"Gross."

"It's not gross!!"

Mamiya-san's tone remained as flat as ever, but in stark contrast, Takayuki-san was passionately making a fuss. A lighthearted sibling banter thus unfolded.

Leaving those trivial details aside for now—

"Um, about today, Onii-san—"

"You don't have the right to call me Onii-san!"

I feel like there's a slight misunderstanding there...

"...Are you saying I'm staying over at Takayuki-san's place?"

Unsure whether I should be asking Takayuki-san or Mamiya-san, I let my gaze wander back and forth between them as I asked.

"Yeah, that's about the size of it. Right, Sachika?"

"Yes. Though I didn't tell you."

"You didn't tell me!?"

"Consider it a small reward."

Mamiya smiled smugly. Faced with her like that, I couldn't help but smile wryly, but Takayuki-san was different. He looked somewhat dumbfounded...

"To think you would prepare a reward like that..."

"Is it that surprising, Onii-chan?"

"Well, if you ask if it's surprising... you weren't originally the type of character to say things like that, right?"

"That just means my character settings weren't thought out thoroughly enough."

As expected, Mamiya replied with a flat attitude.

Thinking back, there was indeed a sense of incongruity. Mamiya's attitude towards Takayuki-san was always somewhat cold. But it didn't seem like she hated him either. After all, she was the one who had taken the initiative to come here this time.

Furthermore, this attitude of hers—forgive my rudeness—also matched the first impression I had arbitrarily formed of her.

Aloof, lacking in emotional expression. To put it nicely, she was proudly independent; to put it harshly, she was unsmiling. She was that kind of character.

That unapproachable aura even made me feel a slight sense of resistance... although it was only for a brief moment.

After talking with her, I found she was surprisingly easy to get along with, and through spending time together, I realized she was actually a girl with a rich array of expressions. It's just... perhaps this is her true self.

"Amou's ex-girlfriend that we mentioned earlier might have already broken into Amou's room and is lying in wait. As his current girlfriend, I have an obligation to protect him from harm."

"Man, I'd like to say she wouldn't go that far, but after hearing the description, she completely sounds like someone beyond my comprehension... Oh well. Amou boy, if you're staying the night, make sure to contact your parents properly. Also, I have terrible sleeping habits, so brace yourself!"

Takayuki-san... my initial impression of him was also scary, but now he is cheerful, gentle, and cares about me. That gentleness shares something in common with Mamiya-san.

"Thank you very much. And, um, I'm sorry."

"No need for the apology in the second half... Wait, no, you should apologize! My precious weekend is ruined, so you better reflect on this!"

"It's not like you had any plans anyway. There's no need to apologize, Amou. I was planning to come over tomorrow regardless. As you can see, this brother of mine is a slob in every way, so I occasionally come over to help him clean up or prep his meals."

"Ugh... to have such a capable little sister, Onii-chan is truly blessed..."

"At a time like this, you should be saying, 'I'm sorry for being such a useless older brother,' shouldn't you?"

"You're demanding an apology from me!?"

The siblings' interaction was lighthearted yet had a difference in temperature, causing the corners of my mouth to relax into a smile.

However, that atmosphere lasted for only a brief moment.

"Still, that bastard Souichi is unforgivable."

Those words from Takayuki-san instantly made the air heavy.

That was a given. To him, Mamiya being hurt by Shibaki was several times more important than me being cheated on by my girlfriend.

"I have to tell Dad and the others about this right away—"

"You can't do that, Onii-chan."

"Why not!? We've already got the evidence!"

"It's not the right time yet."

Whenever this topic came up, I could only be a bystander.

After all, a fiancé relationship is different from a boyfriend-girlfriend relationship; it holds much more weight. Furthermore, the two of them should be aligned on the direction of this matter.

Yet, for some reason, Mamiya stopped him, almost as if she were counseling her older brother.

"Listen to me, Sachika. I know you are the kindest girl in the world, with the most beautiful heart."

"That's absolutely gross... Don't give me that 'Listen to me'."

"I'm being completely serious here!"

Saying so, Takayuki-san cleared his throat as if to change the subject.

"I know you're looking out for Amou boy. To be honest, your Onii-chan here doesn't entirely understand what this fake romance thing is all about, but I don't intend to deny it either. It's just that, no matter what, it's best to settle things between you and Souichi as quickly as possible."

"You're talking about making it clear which side is at fault, right?"

"Exactly."

At fault... in other words, the topic of whether the responsibility lies with Mamiya-san or Shibaki when the engagement is broken off.

As things stood, Shibaki, who cheated and had relations with another woman, was one hundred percent the guilty party. Depending on the circumstances, there might even be things like compensation for breaking off the engagement.

"But, if you and the boy act like you're dating, and Souichi's side finds out about it, the situation could end up reversing, you know."

Even with the video evidence, for instance, if it appeared that my relationship with Mamiya-san existed before that video... in other words, Takayuki-san was worried about the risk of it being misunderstood that Mamiya-san was the one who cheated first.

Of course, no such fact existed, and no evidence could possibly appear... but the situation would undoubtedly become complicated.

My existence would become Mamiya-san's weakness. For something like that to happen—

"It's fine, Onii-chan. You too, Amou. There's no need to make that kind of face."

""Eh!?""

Mamiya smiled triumphantly. Faced with that smile that seemed capable of blowing away our doubts, both Takayuki-san and I could only feel bewildered.

It's fine...? Being suspected of cheating... how can she brush it off so lightly!?

"I don't particularly want to win against him. At best, it would be fine if it ended in a draw."

"Huh? Why?"

"That's because... my goal isn't to win a lawsuit, but to completely and utterly erase the engagement."

Erase the engagement...? Isn't Shibaki's infidelity enough on its own...?

"Shibaki's parents are good people. If I had to point out their only flaw, it would probably be that they dote on their only son too much."

"Yeah, that's true."

"You know it too, Onii-chan. Every time they see me, they say how wonderful it would be if Souichi could marry me."

Shibaki's parents held Mamiya in high regard. Since it was an arranged engagement decided by the parents, it wasn't surprising...

"Suppose we present the evidence now and push to break off the engagement. Those two would definitely be shaken, and this time they would probably genuinely scold their precious son severely. However... after that, they might come and beg for a chance."

"A chance... you mean, for you and Souichi to get back together?"

"Yes. They would say they'll lecture him thoroughly so he never commits such infidelity again. They'll re-educate him. Therefore, could we please hold off on breaking the engagement... They might even get down on their hands and knees and beg; it's not completely out of the question."

"Ugh... perhaps..."

My knowledge of Shibaki's parents was limited to the fact that his father was a professional tennis player, but judging from Takayuki-san's reaction, it seemed entirely possible that it could happen.

"If those two really said that, I... or rather, my parents probably wouldn't be able to refuse. Even if they were indignant, they might say they'd turn a blind eye this one time just to save face for them. Then, the engagement wouldn't be broken, and I'd be bound forever until that man cheats again, or until we actually get married..."

There was a grinding sound. I heard the sound of teeth clenching. It came from Mamiya.

"Then I'd lose the two benefactors who took care of me since I was little, as well as my parents. It truly is hell."

"N-No, it's not set in stone that things will turn out like that, right?"

"Yes. And precisely because of that, I want to ensure it absolutely doesn't turn out that way. I will be the one to propose breaking off the engagement. Of course, the fault lies with the other party... but, our side will be at fault too. Because even though the engagement hasn't been annulled yet, I already have another important person by my side. No matter how you look at it, it'll be impossible to repair the relationship, right?"

It was like trying to glue a branch broken in two back together, but one or both of the pieces had already warped, and the fragments didn't align at all. A situation like that.

Even if she had to take on a burden of blame, she wanted it to be too late by the time both sets of parents interfered... That was why she chose me.

Suddenly, my eyes met hers. I had been looking at her as she spoke, so it was natural, but even though she met my gaze, she was visibly shaken—and immediately looked away.

"So, for now, I want to keep this a secret just between us. You understand, don't you, Onii-chan?"

"O-Oh... I get it, but still..."

Takayuki-san nodded somewhat stiffly while glancing over at me.

He accepted it too... or rather, he had no choice but to accept it. Because right there in the room was someone who looked even more shell-shocked than him—namely, me.

He had just heard the circumstances behind our fake romance. However, judging from Mamiya's current state and my reaction to hearing her story, he probably realized that I, too, was learning about the true reason for the very first time just now.

"......"

An awkward atmosphere flowed through the room.

For three people who were about to sleep side-by-side in this single-occupancy room, the mood was a bit too heavy.

"...By the way, Sachika. I know Amou boy can't go back, but you can go home, Sachika! There's nothing to be awkward about!"

"How could I possibly leave him alone at your place, Onii-chan, and go back by myself?"

"T-That's true... I mean, you say that, but..."

"...It's just, I'm a bit tired today and don't have the energy to make dinner. So... Amou, do you want to go to the convenience store together to buy dinner?"

"Eh? O-Okay."

At this sudden invitation, I nodded reflexively.

I wondered if it was okay for Takayuki-san not to come along, but he made a shooing gesture with his hand and replied, "Alright, you two go ahead."

While realizing that he was being considerate of my feelings, I followed Mamiya and stood up.

◇

We took the elevator down and stepped out of the apartment building.

Outside, the sky was already beginning to darken.

"...I'm sorry."

No sooner had we started walking than she apologized to me.

"Why are you apologizing?"

"About what I said earlier... you think I'm using you, don't you?"

"Using me... how should I put it."

From a certain perspective, one would indeed think so. Mamiya being with me was, in the end, a show for Shibaki and his family, as well as for Mamiya's parents. Takayuki-san had accepted this too, which was why, despite having a sister complex, he had planned to let Mamiya go home and didn't tag along to the convenience store, allowing me and her to be alone.

"Well... I was definitely a bit surprised."

"I figure."

"But, there's no need to apologize."

"...Why?"

"Why... I can only say... because there's no need to."

Simply put, because I wasn't hurt. Trying to find a reason to justify a situation where nothing was wrong in the first place was surprisingly difficult. Some lies would inevitably get mixed in.

However, Mamiya didn't look like she accepted that. She looked at me with the kind of eyes that wished to be reprimanded.

So, I tried to dig a little deeper into the reasons why I wasn't hurt...

"...Probably because I've accepted this reality."

"Um... wh-what do you mean by that?"

"Ah, no, I'm not saying you're a bad person or anything, Mamiya. It's just that I... well, I don't have a very high evaluation of myself. Rather, I'm a good-for-nothing, so..."

I couldn't organize my words well. Just as I was wondering what to do, my gaze inadvertently fell on a side street where there was a small park.

"Is it alright if I talk a bit about myself?"

"...Yeah."

I proposed, pointing to a bench over there. I felt that continuing to talk while standing would take a bit too long... Mamiya nodded, and we sat down side-by-side.

"I... used to play tennis. I went to a tennis academy in elementary school, and joined the club in middle school. I loved tennis, it was fun... and I was quite confident. I even felt I was the best in the club. But, right before the summer of my second year in middle school, I got injured."

"Injured..."

"Yeah, it wasn't a serious injury. I should say it didn't affect my daily life, and well, it's already healed now. Really, it was just a minor injury... but, as a catalyst for me to give up tennis, it was more than enough."

Even now, as long as I maintain my exercise level, there's absolutely no problem. Thanks to my seniors repeatedly threatening me, saying, 'If you slack off and don't exercise after retiring, you'll gain weight in a flash,' I still kept up with minimum exercises like running, even after giving up tennis.

It's just that, right after I gave it up, it was truly agonizing.

"I originally loved tennis and had genuinely poured my heart into it. Although I wouldn't dare say I wanted to become a pro, I did want to advance in tournaments, and even thought about continuing to play when I entered high school. Precisely because of that, when it suddenly vanished from my daily life, the sense of loss was incredibly strong... and the one who supported me back then was Karen."

Ultimately, the reason I could never be truly tough on her—the reason I couldn't completely resent her betrayal—was because of that debt of gratitude, which made me feel like I owed her.

Karen had always supported me when I played tennis, and even after I could no longer play, she still stayed by my side.

"I wanted to answer to that kind of Karen, I didn't want to make her regret choosing me, so after I couldn't play tennis anymore, I studied desperately. I wanted to be acknowledged, I wanted to have confidence, I wanted to find something else that could be my foothold."

"But, in the end, Karen didn't choose me either... She only stayed by my side because we were childhood friends, that's all."

Having lost tennis, my academics—which I had resolved to work hard at next—didn't reach a level sufficient to hold onto Karen.

My self-affirmation had long been shattered to pieces. If I were asked a question like "What are your strengths?"—the kind they ask during high school entrance interviews—my mind would surely just go blank now.

"I have nothing. I don't even have anything that belongs to me, nothing I can puff out my chest and say, 'This is what makes Watanuki Amou who he is'... So, when Mamiya-san was kind to me, I just thought you were a nice person who was merely taking pity on me."

"H-How could that be...!"

"Even if it were just that, it wouldn't matter. But, even someone like me still has feelings of not wanting to just constantly take, of feeling apologetic. So, if I can be of help to Mamiya-san... I won't get hurt, and there's absolutely no need for Mamiya-san to apologize."

Well... although I felt I had taken a rather long detour, I had finally faced my own feelings.

With this, Mamiya-san's anxiety should be dispelled too—

(...Eh!?)

"......"

Why is her expression super gloomy!? Wh-Why!?

Did I say something weird...? Thinking that, I looked back on what I had just said—

(...D-Did I just say some incredibly depressing stuff!?)

I was so focused on desperately getting my thoughts out that I hadn't considered at all what Mamiya would think hearing such a dark topic. I had just been rambling on about how much I had lost; how could she not worry!

"I-I'm sorry! Um, please forget all the weird things I just said... Anyway, I'm really grateful to you, Mamiya. If you hadn't been there at that time, I'd definitely still be deeply depressed right now, maybe even shutting myself in my room. I might have even desperately clung to Karen's words about being 'childhood friends' and been forced to accept her relationship with Shibaki..."

Although I smiled wryly as I said it, it wouldn't be strange at all if things had actually turned out that way, so I couldn't really laugh about it.

Because even while nursing the fatal wound of being betrayed by Karen, I probably would have had no choice but to rely on Karen.

"Using your relationship with me to push forward with breaking the engagement... saying 'using' definitely sounds too cold, but if you put it that way, didn't I also use you, Mamiya, to get back on my feet?"

"Perhaps... that's true..."

"So I truly am very grateful to you, Mamiya. Although I suspected you once, even if I suffer a terrible betrayal in the future, these feelings won't change. Because the fact that I was saved by you, will not disappear."

Regarding my suspicion of her yesterday, this was how I sorted out my thoughts. So, I truly felt that I had no eye for judging character... Even so, I still wanted to believe in Mamiya until the end. Even if I truly ended up being betrayed like that... when that time came, I would be able to accept it calmly.

"Watanuki-kun..."

Mamiya lowered her head and tightly clenched her fists.

As if searching for words, or perhaps hesitating, she repeatedly opened and closed her mouth—

"It's true, those things were all coincidences. Bumping into Souichi's cheating scene, you being there at the time, all of it............ However, the reason I chose you wasn't solely because of that."

"Eh?"

"I... have known about you since a long time ago. Saying something like this might make you feel uneasy again, but you are by no means unrelated to me. That is absolutely not the case."

Mamiya's words carried hesitation, yet it was as if she were entrusting her body and soul to honesty. She seemed very stiff, desperately trying to organize her words—.

"...!"

Right at that moment, her phone vibrated.

"...Hello, Onii-chan?"

It seemed to be a call from Takayuki-san.

Mamiya stepped away with an apologetic look, listened intently to what the other party was saying, and nodded a few times.

"Yeah, understood. Then... phew. Sorry for taking a call so suddenly."

"It's fine, it's fine. More importantly, what was it about?"

"He said that since we're going to the convenience store, we should buy underwear for you while we're at it, that's all."

"Ah... I definitely need that."

"You can borrow pajamas from Onii-chan. Also, about what I was saying earlier..."

"...Hehe."

"Eh, why are you suddenly laughing!?"

I suddenly burst out laughing, leaving Mamiya feeling bewildered.

"Ah, well, even though this has absolutely nothing to do with the direction our conversation was taking..."

"If it has nothing to do with it, that makes me even more curious!"

"Ah—no... I've been thinking since earlier, the way you call Takayuki-san 'Onii-chan' is kind of cute, Mamiya."

"C-Cute...!? I mean, isn't that a perfectly normal way to call him!"

"Well, you say that, but..."

Judging from Mamiya's aura, it felt like a more mature term of address like "Nii-san" would suit her better. Calling him "Onii-chan" felt a bit childish... that was probably what caused the surprising gap in contrast.

Mamiya, blushing, protested against me as I couldn't help but laugh out loud.

According to her, because she had been calling him that since she was little, suddenly having to change it now would feel awkward instead. Although that was a perfectly valid reason... it didn't change the fact that it was cute.

"Hey, how long are you going to keep laughing, Watanuki-kun!?"

"Ahaha, I'm not laughing, I'm not laughing."

"You have the nerve to say that!?"

The mood completely changed. The heavy atmosphere from earlier vanished into thin air, and whatever Mamiya had originally planned to say came to a halt... But, this was fine too.

Mamiya's expression faintly revealed some kind of heavy determination.

Although I couldn't imagine at all what she was going to say, whatever it was, it wouldn't be too late to listen to it when the day came that Mamiya could speak about it more easily.

At the very least, there was no need to make her say it as the price for me showing off my past scars.

I had learned a little bit more about her. About her family, and about her situation with Shibaki's parents.

It felt like... an adult topic that I absolutely couldn't relate to personally. But, perhaps precisely because of that.

Right now, just seeing Mamiya show an innocent smile fitting for her age made me happy enough.

(Even though I said something along the lines of "I don't have anything"...)

Just by looking at her smile, I felt like I had found a little bit of meaning in being here.

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