"Huh? No, that's not it! I might have said something that sounded close to a confession, but—"
Sunny flustered, while Summer slumped in disappointment.
"Can you start from the beginning and explain it all calmly?" I suggested.
Sunny took a few deep breaths to steady herself.
"Well... it's a bit awkward for me to say this, but I'm a bit of a lonely person and I really dislike being alone."
With a hesitant start, Sunny began to explain.
"As I mentioned earlier, my parents both work, so I'm often home alone. Those moments are painful for me. So, Shuhei, I'm not asking for every day, just occasionally, could you spend some time with me in the evenings?"
Hearing that, I regretted how naive my earlier thoughts had been. At the same time, a swell of happiness filled me knowing that Sunny was relying on me. As a friend and as a man, I wanted to be there for her.
"What time should we meet at Anywhere?"
"Huh?"
"Well, if we head straight there after school in our uniforms, we might get caught by the night patrol, so I'd like to change first."
"...Is that okay?"
Sunny blinked in surprise, as if she hadn't expected me to agree, and I couldn't help but smile wryly.
"It's your idea, Sunny. I've accepted it. I'll stick by you as much as you need."
"Thank you so much, Shuhei-san!"
"Whoa!?"
Sunny leaped into my chest, and we ended up in an awkward embrace. Summer, who had been watching, silently cheered with a fist pump.
This position was certainly drawing attention, as several classmates pointed and whispered about us, and a passing teacher shot us a suspicious glare.
"Sunny, stop! We're getting a lot of looks!"
Honestly, I wanted to stay like this a little longer, but it was wise to break away quickly to avoid any misunderstandings.
"Th-that's embarrassing. But I really want to lean on Shuhei... though the thrill of possibly being watched is kind of exciting too..."
Sunny had awakened to a new kink.
"Hey, calm down! I get it! If there's nobody around, feel free to lean on me as much as you want, but for now, just rein in those feelings!"
"Alright, you two. Give me your attention!"
At that prompt, Ethan glanced over to find Aoi Yuki poised with her phone at a provocative low angle, clearly ready to snap a picture.
"Aoi Yuki?! What are you doing?!"
"Can't you tell? I'm taking pictures. This one has great potential to sell."
"Don't make comments like that! Delete it!! Erase it from your memory and your phone right now!!"
Ethan shouted in distress, but Aoi Yuki continued snapping away, unfazed. "Next time, the photos will be going viral. Stay tuned!"
"Stop with the weird narration, Jasper!!"
I really hoped they wouldn't seal my fate with a bad ending like in some anime preview. Honestly, it felt like no one was trying to help me out in this situation, and I was on the verge of tears.
"Ethan—!"
Suddenly, a girl with soft crimson hair pushed through the crowd, running toward me. Seeing her, I thought, finally, my moment of salvation has arrived.
"Kaba!? Thank goodness. You're the only one on my side—"
"I'm going to hug you tightly!"
But the figure that appeared was not an angel of salvation; it was a devil. Kaba latched onto me from the opposite side of Sunny, her soft, distinctly feminine touch pressed against my arm.
Ah… so Kaba is the kind of girl who looks slimmer in clothes. The contrast between her appearance and the feel of her against my arm is surprising… She's so soft. Amazing! I couldn't help but think this in my head.
"Hey, stop it!! You're making things worse!!"
I shouted to defend my honor.
"Hey, Shuhei! Aren't you getting tired from all that yelling?"
"I am!! But you guys are making me yell!! And stop taking pictures!!"
"Appearing before Sunny was her ultimate rival, Autumn. Next time, the tumultuous curtain rises. Duel Star—"
"Jasper, stop!! Think about copyright for once!!"
"Ehe!"
Jasper stuck out his tongue playfully and tapped his head. This guy is completely unrepentant. But he's cute, so I'll let it slide.
"Alright, everyone! Time to head back to class; it's almost time to start!"
"""Okay!"""
The teacher's authoritative tone brought the noisy break to an end.
*
"…Oh right, I forgot."
After lunch break, as I was moving to the next class with Jasper and the others, I realized as soon as I arrived that I had forgotten something.
"Wait, Ethan, did you forget about today's cooking class?"
"I completely did! I was wondering why everyone had extra stuff besides their textbooks."
"Oh no… I think you can borrow an apron and chef's hat from the teacher if you ask."
"Yeah. If I had realized during lunch, I could have borrowed one from Summer, but it can't be helped."
I headed to the teacher, who was already set up for the class, to borrow an apron and chef's hat. By the time I returned, Jasper and the others were fully prepared and waiting. I couldn't help but admire the sight of them dressed for cooking, which I don't see often.
"Girls in aprons really are a sight for sore eyes. What a treat!"
"Are you tired of seeing Summer in hers?"
"There's a world of difference between my sister in an apron and my classmates in them. It's the rarity that makes it special."
"I don't quite get that feeling, but at least I think Shuhei looks fresh in an apron!"
Aoyuki, who had been closely observing me finish tying my apron, shared her thoughts.
"Yeah, Ethan, you look great! You seem like you'd really know how to cook."
"As long as I have the ingredients, I can manage most recipes. But I just want to confirm, can Jasper and Momiji actually cook?"
I already knew Aoyuki could, but I had no idea about these two since I had never had the chance to ask. Since we're in the same team, it was crucial to clarify this—it could be a matter of life and death.
"I can cook really well. You can trust me with anything from Japanese to Western to Chinese dishes, even desserts!"
Jasper replied confidently. Although they still didn't know what they would be making in today's practice, there seemed to be no issue with expectations.
"My specialty is instant ramen!"
"I see. Well then, Kaba, you're in charge of washing up and taste-testing. I won't require you to do anything else."
"Really? Then I'll make sure to fulfill my designated task!"
"…Ethan, that's kind of harsh, don't you think? It's almost funny that the person being sidelined doesn't even seem to care… or maybe hasn't realized it."
"Okay, so it'll be me, Shuhei, and Jasper handling the cooking."
"Agreed!"
"Sounds good!"
"Understood!"
Just as they settled into their roles, the chime signaling the start of class rang out. According to the home economics teacher, today's activity would involve creating a dessert based on given ingredients. After a brief explanation, the classmates began sorting through the ingredients. There seemed to be plenty available, so they took their time choosing, deciding to wait until the crowd thinned out to pick their supplies.
"Eggs, butter, pancake mix, milk, sugar, heavy cream… and we have a decent selection of fruits and powders too. It looks like we can make cookies or cupcakes based on the recipe!"
"How about stacking a few pancakes and decorating them with whipped cream and fruit? I just want to wrap this up and relax," I said.
In our cooking class, we needed to take photos of the sweets we made and compile a report. We could either create something elaborate to score higher or whip up something simple and enjoy a little downtime.
"Do you have any ideas, Kaba?"
"I'm not the one making them, so it's up to you, Ethan," she replied with a playful tone.
"Hmm," I mused, resting my chin on my hand.
If we were going to make something, I wanted to return the favor to Sunny and Summer. Cookies or cupcakes seemed like the logical choice, but they lacked excitement. Stacking beautifully topped pancakes was tempting too, though it would take more effort. Still, the joy they would bring would be worth it.
"Ethan, if you don't decide soon, we're wasting time!"
"Alright... Let's go with Jasper's suggestion and make cookies. It'll take some time, but we'll have the downtime to relax once Sky is here."
"Got it. Let's gather the necessary ingredients and equipment."
"Okay!"
We then divided up our tasks and got to work on the cookies.
Later, I found myself by the quiet stream for the first time in a while. The gentle sound of flowing water and the rustling of grass and flowers enveloped me, creating a serene melody from nature. Lost in thought, I embraced the tranquility of twilight.
I glanced down at my phone. There was still plenty of time before my meeting with my friend. I considered surfing the web to pass the time, but decided instead to enjoy the beauty of the surrounding nature, slipping my phone back into my pocket.
The stars above shimmered on the water's surface, sparkling like scattered jewels. It was a breathtaking sight, evoking the ephemeral beauty of the Milky Way.
Speaking of the Milky Way, it inevitably reminded me of the tale of Tanabata. The story of Orihime and Hikoboshi, who can meet only once a year on Tanabata. What thoughts fill their minds while they're apart? Even if it's a consequence of their own actions, what binds them under such harsh restrictions?
"...Is it love?"
The story of Tanabata is one of eternal love. If so, surely love must be the connection between them. Yet, having never experienced love myself, I couldn't grasp its true strength.
"Hey, what is love?"
Feeling someone behind me, I tossed out the question as a casual greeting.
"I wouldn't know, Sunny. You don't understand love either."
Sunny, arriving exactly on time, responded to my abrupt question without hesitation.
"So? Why do you ask?"
"Look at the river. The stars reflecting on the water make it look like the Milky Way, don't you think?"
Sunny settled down beside me, both of us gazing at the shimmering river.
"Ah, is love perhaps like the Tanabata story? I love that tale," she said.
"So, you mean if you had a boyfriend, you'd only want to meet once a year?"
"No, no, it's not the same! Just because I like the story doesn't mean I dream of that kind of love. I want to see the person I love every day—I want to be with them."
"Then what do you like about the Tanabata story? From what you've said, there's nothing to admire."
"But Orihime and Hikoboshi truly love each other. The way they long for one another is beautiful."
"That's true. So, are you yearning for that kind of relationship?"
"Not just me—most people probably think the same way, right? If you fall in love, of course you want it to be mutual."
"Unrequited love is just painful, isn't it?"
As those words left my mouth, a vision of Kaba appeared in my mind. She had always liked me, and I felt guilty for keeping her waiting without giving a clear answer.
A quiet moment passed, with only the sound of Sunny's breathing reminding me that I wasn't alone. We were fulfilling the promise of being together, but I wondered if that was enough for Sunny. When I turned to look at her, we happened to meet each other's gaze, locking eyes in a shared moment.
"…"
"…"
I think to myself again—Sunny is an exceptionally cute girl. Plus, she's bright, full of energy, and possesses a talent that easily wins everyone's affection, bringing smiles to those around her. With someone like her, she could have chosen anyone to be with—classmates like Summer or even Jasper and his friends. Yet, Sunny chose me over anyone else.