Chapter 168

It was lunchtime, and Torigoe and I were alone in the physics room, just like old times. It was cold when we arrived, but now that the heating had been on for a little while, we were starting to feel pretty comfortable. “So it’s the beach gang going to the Christmas party,” Torigoe said, chopsticks still in her mouth. She’d kept on her scarf and thrown a blanket over her shoulders when we first came into the room, and hadn’t yet taken them off. “We don’t want it to get too big, so I decided to stick with close friends only. It’ll be me, Fushimi, you, Himeji, and Shinohara. Also Deguchi and Mana. I think that’s everyone we need.” “Yup. Agreed. It should be a lot of fun.” Our group chat, titled “Beach Gang,” was seeing activity for the first time in a while. After some back-and-forth in the chat, we decided to hold the party at a karaoke place that let us bring in our own food. Deguchi had already made the reservation. “But first, we have to pass our exams,” I said, my smile forced. Torigoe hung her head. “Don’t remind me. I’ve heard every subject is gonna be difficult this time around.” “Well, I’ve been studying.” “Don’t brag about doing the bare minimum.” Torigoe giggled. “Hey, I’m working harder than ever before.” “Yeah, yeah, got it.” Hina’s strict training was paying off, and even I could tell I was improving. “So Hiina’s fine not being with you today?” asked Torigoe. She was confused about why I’d shown up to lunch alone. “She said she didn’t want to ghost her friends, so she’s eating with other people today.” “How admirable. She’s a real honors student.” Torigoe’s tone was equal parts sincere and sarcastic. “That’s just the kinda girl she is.” “Hiina’s popularity with the other girls is exploding right now. They’re super impressed she’s still spending time with them despite having a boyfriend.” “They know?” “You thought they didn’t? People saw you leave together after Himeji’s play. It was pretty obvious.” Torigoe finished saying her piece, then she went back to eating. She was stuffing her cheeks like a squirrel. I’d figured the news about Hina and me would get out once I told Deguchi, but this was a little ridiculous. It just went to show how popular Hina was, with both boys and girls. “And what do they think about her dating me?” I asked. Torigoe had told me once before that she was on the class’s group chat. She didn’t strike me as the type, but it was a great source of information. “No one’s surprised. I think they were all expecting it.” I sighed in relief. “That’s nice to hear. I was afraid they’d say I don’t deserve her.” “No way,” said Torigoe immediately. “What? You sure?” How could anyone think we’re a good match? She was a beautiful girl, well-known around school, and popular with everyone. And her performance at the school festival had earned her even more fans. “You’re like the leader of our class, and your short film won an award. Don’t underestimate yourself.” Torigoe…! Do you really see me like that? Somewhere deep down, I’d been worried she resented me for choosing Hina—that I might have lost a dear friend. “Well, if you say so,” I said. “That’s good to hear.” “A few people aren’t too pleased, though. They’re saying you chose her based on her looks.” “…” I was reminded of the day of the closing party, when Torigoe stuck her head out of the window in the growing dark. In the end, all you care about is looks! “Oh, I don’t mean me, by the way. That’s what Mii said.” “Shinohara?!” She thought the same thing? “That’s not true,” I said. “But I guess no one’s gonna listen to me now, huh?” “I wonder.” She tilted her thermos and poured the contents into the little cup that doubled as a top. White steam rose up from the surface as it hit the air. She could have drunk directly from the thermos, but I knew why she didn’t. She brought it to her lips to take a sip, then put it right back down. “Ow, hot!” “If thinking I chose her for her looks makes you feel better, go ahead. I don’t mind.” “I just think I have a right to a sarcastic remark or two.” “Do as you please.” “Ha-ha-ha.” She laughed out loud. I’d been worried we might never talk like this again. If it meant I was wrong, a few barbs were no big deal. After that, we moved on to recent news. I told her about Hina’s first job, and we chatted about our New Year’s plans. Then Torigoe updated me on the progress of her novel. I was surprised how much we had to talk about. Eventually, the door rattled open, and Hina appeared. “It’s so warm in here!” she said. “Come on in, Hiina.” “You shouldn’t turn on the heating when there’s no class, you know.” I should have expected a scolding from the class rep. “It was on when we got here,” said Torigoe. “The teacher probably forgot about it after fourth period.” “Well, if you say so,” said Hina, falling for the lie. Torigoe’s good. “I see you two are as chummy as ever.” Hina was smiling, but there was something dark about her tone. I could practically see the black aura oozing out from her. “R-really? I’m not sure I’d say that…,” I replied, trying to weasel out of the situation. But Torigoe quickly chimed in, once again employing her “right to a sarcastic remark.” “We were always like this,” she said. “Nothing’s changed. If anything…it was you who got between us.” “Huh?” said Hina. “What do you mean?” “Nothing.” Torigoe turned around, a smirk on her face. “Don’t bully Hina,” I said. “She’s not used to it.” “You’re using her first name now?” Torigoe blinked in surprise. “Yeah, since the other day. Some stuff happened,” Hina said proudly. “Then you can call me Shizuka, Takamori.” “I’m not doing that.” “Too bad.” She shrugged. Apparently, it was just a joke. “So, what’s this ‘stuff’ that happened?” “Huh?” Hina froze. “Takamori must’ve been stubborn. He doesn’t mind nicknames, but he’s really resistant to first names.” Torigoe knew me well—it was true, I preferred to call people by their last names. It was pretty special for me to call someone by their first name. “Nothing happened. Nothing at all.” Hina shook her head. You’re making it so obvious… Aren’t you an actress? I resisted the urge to tease her, not wanting to spill the beans myself. Torigoe was sharp. She’d figure it out in no time. “Reeeaaally?” she asked. “We didn’t get intimate or anything!” Hina cried. “Hina, you can’t just say…” Torigoe’s gonna see right through that euphemism. Torigoe fell silent and blushed. She looked at Hina, then at me, then back to Hina. “Uh. Uhhh…?” She looked away, then back at us, then fell silent again. She totally knows! I bet she just imagined us going at it! “It’s almost time for class,” said Hina, looking at the clock. “We should go.” Torigoe and I stood up. “Ahem.” Torigoe cleared her throat. “T-Takamori… Just don’t forget to use protection.” Our eyes met, and we both turned red. The cat’s out of the bag. Why’d you have to go and say that, Hina? Torigoe had never had any qualms talking about sex before, but it seemed even she got embarrassed discussing it in front of someone with experience. “Y-yeah,” I said. I had indeed used protection. “Shii, Ryou, let’s go.” Students were starting to show up for their next class, and at Hina’s urging, we finally headed out. “…I thought couples usually waited a bit longer before doing stuff like that,” said Torigoe. It felt like she was attacking me for going too fast; I didn’t know how to respond. “I guess Hiina’s an overachiever both as a student and as a girlfriend.” She wasn’t too far off, actually. Hina was very serious, and her love for me sometimes made her go a little too far. Like when she came into my room for the first time in years, or when we kissed over Golden Week, or when she sneaked into our room during the school field trip. If it weren’t for my trauma, we might’ve wound up doing it much earlier. She was just as serious about being my girlfriend as she was about academics, and that seriousness sometimes left her with regrets. “It wasn’t really Hina that came on to me…” “P-please, I don’t need the details.” Torigoe slapped my arm. “Hey, you brought it up,” I said. “I thought you were curious.” “I am curious, but I didn’t ask.” “…” We saw Hina staring at us with a blank expression, so we stopped talking. “She’s so scary!” Torigoe whispered. I nodded back discreetly. Shizuka Torigoe Lately, I was studying with Himeji every day after classes. As we walked from school to the nearest library, people on the street would turn to look at her. I’d seen commercials for her play on TV, and rumors were spreading about her past as an idol. Her popularity was through the roof. Some younger girls from our school waved at her and wished her good luck, and Himeji smiled back at them. As expected of an actress, she was good at PR. As soon as we were alone, she put on a self-satisfied smirk. “Four shows left,” she said. “Oh, really?” Himeji was bragging about how busy she was again. By now I was used to it. Stuff like this didn’t even make me jealous; she should be telling Hiina instead. We passed through a set of automatic doors into the library, then walked to the study room. It was full of students from other schools preparing for their entrance exams. We came here to meet up with Mii. “Lady Hime needs help studying again? Why, who better to help her than I…?!” When Mii heard that Himeji and I were studying together, she was filled with a keen sense of duty, practically frothing at the mouth. Real fans were something else. “I can’t wait for the party,” I said. “Me neither. I’m going to destroy Hina at karaoke.” Himeji smirked. “Easy now. We’re supposed to be having fun,” I whispered back, careful not to disturb those around us. “Don’t you want to get back at her?” I immediately knew what Himeji meant. She pursed her lips and said no more. I was probably the only person who knew how she was feeling. She’d been getting ready for our study session, but now she paused, her hands suddenly still. I reached out and gently hugged her. “Wh-what are you doing?!” she said. “For now, we’ve only got each other for comfort.” “Please, I’m above such things…” Despite what she said, she didn’t let me go. I’d been prepared for this outcome for a long, long time. I’d held on to a tiny shred of hope, but at the same time, I’d been getting myself ready for the inevitable. Himeji was different. She was too confident and proud. Maybe she’d been the exact opposite—almost completely sure he’d choose her, with only a tiny, stubborn sliver of doubt. To borrow Himeji’s words, we were as different as an ignorant frog stuck in a well and a killer whale swimming freely in the deep blue sea. But despite her shock, she’d knocked it out of the park with her first show. I was impressed with her consummate professionalism. She hadn’t let her sadness defeat her. Or maybe her job was what kept her from sinking into depression. Himeji was proud, but she was also fragile. What an adorable girl. I patted her back. “Ah. Mii’s here.” Himeji pushed me away the moment she saw Mii by the entrance. Faced with an avid fan, her expression was soon back to normal. We waved Mii over, and she sat between us. It was time to get to work. Ryou Takamori “Oh, Hina’s running late?” It was the day of the Christmas party, and Mana was waiting for Hina to arrive, determined to give her the customary fashion check. “She said she has work to do,” I explained. Mana checked her hair and clothes in the mirror by the entrance. I already had my shoes on, ready to go, but Mana ignored me and kept staring into the mirror. “Hina’s a star all of a sudden, huh?” “I guess.” “You must feel pretty cool, as her boyfriend!” “I dunno about that, but I was hoping she’d be successful.” “How mature! …Okay, all done!” Mana held on to my shoulder as she put on her boots. “Spend a lot of time with her, and give her a lot of kisses, m’kay, Bubby?” “Why?” We stepped outside just as Himeji was about to ring the bell. “Right, Ai?” said Mana. “Right what?” “Hina’s gonna be late today because of work,” I said. “Already acting like a star?” Hah!” Himeji snorted. Hina had only recently told Himeji about her new agency and her job as a hairstyle model. Himeji had reacted much the same as she had just now. Needless to say, they’d started arguing immediately. “What is it this time?” she asked. “Hair model for a free newspaper again?” “I didn’t ask.” I stepped outside, and the two girls followed. “Now you’ve got a sense of style, Ai,” said Mana. “Heh. Of course.” Himeji smirked and started bragging about her clothes. I barely understood anything she said, but Mana did. “Oh yeah, that brand is so cute,” she said. “I wish I had the money!” “You hear that, Ryou?” “Yeah, yeah. We’ll see,” I said vaguely. The truth was, I’d bought something for Mana when I bought Hina’s present. Whether she’d like it was another matter. I’d been able to afford it thanks to my new responsibilities at work. With the start of my video editing job, Mr. Matsuda had added a little extra on top of my regular paycheck. I was shocked at how much he gave me for such a simple task, but he claimed most people made even more. That was why I could afford to more or less empty my pockets at the moment. Next month, I’d have more than twice this month’s salary in my bank account. There was no need for me to worry about overspending. The three of us rode the train all the way downtown. We were meeting up at the karaoke place, so we headed straight there. “Ryou,” said Himeji. “Mr. Matsuda said, and I quote, ‘Oh, why doesn’t Ry just join the companyyy?’” Himeji had known him for a long time and was good at mimicking his delivery. “I know. He’s so obviously setting me up. Giving me good equipment, a job I’m interested in, a sense of accomplishment, good pay…” Wait a second, what’s the drawback? “Setting you up for paradise?” Mana cackled. “I agree with him,” said Himeji. “If you don’t have any complaints, you should join up.” “I appreciate it, but I still want to go to college.” I’d told Mr. Matsuda the same thing. I’d even asked to take a break next summer so I could focus on entrance exams. If I kept going like this, I’d be in too deep to get out. I’d intended to quit after summer break. “Mr. Matsuda might be a calculating adult,” said Himeji, “but he has a good eye for valuable people, and that includes you and me.” I was happy to have my work acknowledged, of course. “Well, if I end up changing my mind, I’ll let you know,” I said, putting an end to the topic. The others—Torigoe, Shinohara, and Deguchi—were already at the karaoke place. Torigoe looked around. “So Hiina’s arriving late?” “She’s just scared I’ll crush her in our competition,” said Himeji. “You know that’s not true,” I replied. “We’re already checked in, let’s go!” said Deguchi. He led the way, carrying a bunch of snacks. Shinohara held a paper bag with the care of a mother protecting her chick. That’s the cake, huh? Wouldn’t it be safer in a fridge than in your hands? And lo and behold, there was a small fridge in the party room. Shinohara put the cake inside, and I breathed a sigh of relief. The room was about fifty square feet, with a large display bigger than my TV at home and plenty of lights on the ceiling. “Takayan, did you bring it?” I shot Deguchi a thumbs-up. He raised his hand, and I gave him a high five. I’d finished editing the video he’d been asking for, from when we went to the beach. The plan was to play it today. Of course, I hadn’t made the pervy cut Deguchi wanted. I’d made a heartwarming compilation of our summer memories for everyone’s enjoyment. “If we connect this cable to your phone, we can put it up on the big display.” Deguchi showed me the cable he’d brought, and we both nodded. “What’re you drinking, Bubby?” “I’ll get it later. Just leave my cup.” “Stop acting like a big shot in front of your friends!” I totally wasn’t embarrassed to have my sister coddling me in public… Definitely. Mana went around asking everyone what drinks they wanted. She was so considerate. I ended up helping her out, and we filled up everyone’s cup and headed back to the room. “Oh, right, Mii, did you bring the lighter?” asked Torigoe. “Don’t worry, I have everything.” “Wait. Boss, you smoke?” asked Mana. “I don’t smoke! And how many times have I told you not to call me ‘Boss’…?!” Shinohara frowned, and Mana giggled and apologized. “This is pretty fancy,” said Himeji, looking around at our setup. “Yeah,” I replied. Hina had suggested the idea, but in the end, Deguchi wound up arranging everything. “Why is the cake in the fridge all wrapped up like we’re not supposed to see it?” Himeji cocked her head to the side. “I know, right?” I knew why. I was just playing along. There was no need to hide a Christmas cake. But that wasn’t what this cake was for. When the others had told me the plan, I’d agreed immediately. Obviously, it wasn’t a cake celebrating Hina and me getting together. Someone here would be pretty mad if it was. And this cake was for them. “Let’s not worry about it, though,” I said. “But I didn’t pay enough for a cake,” Himeji insisted. “And I’m the one with the most money.” No need to brag, okay? Himeji was the type of person who sounded like she was showing off even when she wasn’t. “I think we’re supposed to chip in later.” Our budget was for more than just karaoke and snacks, and I was pretty sure the amount Deguchi had told Himeji was significantly lower than what the rest of us had paid. “Well, okay.” Himeji didn’t sound entirely convinced, but she let the matter go. Everyone sat down on the couch, drinks in hand, and Deguchi stood at the front with the mic. “Ahem, ahem, testing. Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for gathering here on this holy day, the nativity of yours truly.” “It’s not your birthday!” I shouted. “Just say cheers, Degu!” added Mana. “My friend Takayan found happiness amid the heartbreak of the school festival, but I am left alone in the stinging December wind… Please enjoy the following piece.” “Stop being dramatic.” “Get off the stage, Degu!” We played along and heckled him. “Is this a comedy routine?” Torigoe murmured. Himeji got tired of waiting and gulped down her juice. The moment her cup was empty, Shinohara attacked. “Do you want more orange juice, Lady Hime?” “I want tea.” “Tea it is.” Shinohara skipped over to the door. “Don’t spoil her, Shinohara,” I said. “What’s the problem?! I want to spoil her!” “ManaMana, you have entrance exams next year, right?” said Torigoe. “Don’t you need to study?” “Nah. I’ve got this. I’ll be going to your school, Shizu.” “Oh, really?” The party was beginning, and Deguchi still hadn’t gotten to say cheers. “Stop it! No more partying until I say cheers!” he shouted. “Just give up, man,” I said. “You guys are like dogs that haven’t learned to stay.” “No one’s listening.” “CHEEEEEERS!!” He shouted with all his heart, but no one was paying any attention. Mana and Torigoe were chatting about exams, and Shinohara was enthusiastically serving Himeji as the latter talked about her job. “Takayan, let’s sing.” I guess this is the perfect time, since everyone’s distracted. We’ll be like background music. “Why do girls talk so much?” he asked.