The following day after the school festival, after being woken up sparta-style by Kureha, I made my way to school, and ran into Konoe on the way there. Or rather, it seemed like she had been waiting for me.
“…Yo. What’s up, not going to school with Suzutsuki?”
“Yeah. She warned me that you might leak my secret, and told me to watch over you.”
“………”
That Devil Suzutsuki again, she’s probably trying to be considerate here, right. Annoys me even more. It might just start snowing now, or the world might end.
After the events on that rooftop, Konoe and I managed to make up. The second we met, we both equally apologized, and Konoe kept crying the entire time. Not to mention that her apology was broadcasted to the whole school, so some secret assassins of the [S4] came after me to punish me for making Subaru-sama cry. Even so, we somehow managed to make up…and got back to being friends. However…
“……”
Now, neither of us said anything, as we’re just silently walking along the street. So awkward! How do I say this, because we just went through a fight yesterday, it’s clear that we’re extremely conscious of each other. Not to mention that whole incident with the first kiss. But…regarding that incident, it’s clearly all my fault.
After all, if I had just explained everything at the animal cafe, nothing of that would have happened, and Konoe didn’t have to cry like that. That’s why I want to be the first one to take a step closer to her right now, but…
“Ah, morning, stupid chicken.”
Suddenly, an impact shook my body. It was a bike, which bumped into me at a relatively slow speed.
“…! You wench, what are you doing this early in the morning?!” I somehow managed to correct my posture after leaning forwards, and screamed in anger.
“So annoying. This is called skinship, okay. Just another gentle greeting in the morning.”
Twintails glittered in the morning sun. Taking off her helmet, Usami Masamune said something outrageous like it was the most normal thing in the world. What kind of skinship is this supposed to be? Are you my little sister? I’ll only allow extreme physical violence when it’s someone from my family.
“…Hmpf.”
The second Konoe saw Usami, she narrowed her eyebrows. Maybe she doesn’t think too well of her? Well, Usami pretty much caused the entire incident, I guess. That’s probably why Konoe and Usami were glaring at each other in silence…Oh crap, maybe I should try and run away? I feel like there’s a hellish fight about to break out here. In the worst case scenario, I have to at least protect this town.
“—I like you, Subaru-sama.”
Suddenly, without any warning, Usami suddenly said that.
““Huh?”” Two voices overlapped, naturally belonging to me and Konoe.
However, Usami completely ignored us, and continued.
“No, that’s not it. I’ve liked you for a while, Subaru-sama. However, that’s over now. My first love ended right here. I just wanted to tell you and get over it.” Usami explained with a fresh expression.
…Ahh, I get it. This must be her way of dealing with things. She would stop admiring Subaru-sama, stop seeing herself in the isolated prince. Instead, she would go her own way, and be needed because it was her.
“……”
It’s fine. I’m sure you can change. After all, not even Konoe managed to change on her own. A single person can never break out of solitude. That’s right, if you have friends, they can help you with that. Even if you’re lost, they can push your back.
“Then, I’ll be going on ahead. I thought of showing up for club practice for once.” Usami grabbed the throttle of her bike, and smiled with a refreshed smile.
The engine started revving up. In the midst of that, with a voice about to disappear, she spoke up.
“—I’ll heal you.”
“Huh?”
“Your gynophobia. I’m telling you that I’ll help you fix that. It’s almost summer break, so we’ll have lots of time. I’ll save you from the path of BL and gayness.”
“……”
“Not to mention…You’re actually troubled, right? That’s why I’m going to help you. After all…” She paused for a moment. “We’re friends!” She forcefully grabbed my finger, and said these words with a pinky promise.
This is a way for friends to exchange a promise.
“Also…call me by my given name.”
“Huh?”
“L-Like I said, I want you to call me by my given name…Call me Masamune. Since we’re friends, that much is normal, right?”
This is pretty embarrassing, you know. The only two girls I call by their first names are Kureha and Nakuru, but they’re little sister and junior.
“Come on, hurry up.” Usami urged me with a sharp voice as always.
…Jeez. Can’t help it then. I took a deep breath, and opened my mouth.
“—Masamune.” I slowly called out her name.
“~~~!”
For some reason, Masamune swiftly averted her gaze, and grew silent. Not to mention that her cheeks were beet red…T-This nasty rabbit, she’s actually embarrassed now. Not even knowing how embarrassed I feel…
“Maybe I should call you Usami after all?”
“Wha…” Masamune’s eyes shot towards me. “Y-You idiot! I definitely won’t forgive you if you do that!” She pouted.
…Well, can’t help it then. But, it’s not all bad. If this is the sign that she thinks of me as her friend, then…
“…Hey.”
There, Masamune started fidgeting with her fingers in front of her chest, and muttered with a faint voice.
“…One more time…”
“…Huh?”
“A-As I said…call me Masamune one more time.”
“…Masamune.”
“~~~!”
“Masamune, Masamune, Masamune…”
“~~~~~~! Idiot! Stupid chicken! You don’t need to overdo it !” She started blushing even more furiously.
She averted her eyes again, muttering a faint ‘…Idiot’, and tightly closed her lips. What is this, you’re still not satisfied?
“…Stupid chicken.”
There, Masamune looked up at me with a cute smile that almost had me entranced.
“—See you later!”
She must have felt embarrassed to be called by her name, or happy all the same, but after sharing a promise that we’d see each other again, she drove off like the wind.
“…Still.”
She’ll help me fix it, huh…That was a pretty one-sided declaration. I mean, it’s my fault, but…now things just turned even more messy I feel like. But even so…
“…That nasty rabbit.”
As I thought—that charming smile fits her much better than anything else. As I watched the bike drive off, that thought filled my head. It’s getting close towards the end of June. Just as Masamune said, summer break is about to begin…
“…Jirou.”
Faintly beneath the sound of the engine, I heard Konoe’s worried mutter next to me.
“We’re…friends as well, right?”
“Yeah, of course.”
When I gave her an immediate response, she showed a relieved smile, and started walking with a nod. So that I won’t fall behind, I started walking myself…Still, summer break, huh. I feel like things will get much more noisy compared to before.
Konoe Subaru, Suzutsuki Kanade, Sakamachi Kureha, and now even Usami Masamune: We have a crossdressing butler, a rich lady, my little sister, and…an average citizen? There’s no way things will be any calm with these members around. Also, I feel like that glasses junky won’t stay still either…How do I say this, even though the school festival ended, an irregular event in my daily life, it feels like that was only the beginning.
“…Well, whatever.”
Although I might not know what is going to happen in the future, I at least decided to not live with any regrets. After all, who needs half-baked regrets. We all don’t need that in order to move forward. And, having regrets doesn’t make things better. The school festival ended, so…this is simply the aftertaste.