“Th-That was an awful experience.”
We were in our classroom after school. Nanase flopped on top of her desk, exhausted.
“You went through a lot,” Hikari said, forcing a smile. She sat down at the seat next to Nanase’s.
Class 1-2 had defeated all the other classes, even the second-years, and snagged a shiny gold prize. That’s right—we had cinched first place. Earlier, our class was celebrating, but now it was just the three of us. The others had gone to their clubs.
“Good work,” I said.
After Fujiwara had slipped up, Nanase had frantically explained everything from start to finish, and somehow cleared up the misunderstanding that there had been “authorized cheating” going on. Well, it looks like it’s been dispelled on the surface, but I’m dubious that everyone took her word at face value.
“I explained everything, but there are clearly still people who are suspicious... How vexing.” Nanase was enveloped in a dark cloud. It was hard to believe that she’d been the linchpin of our win.
“Suspicious of what?” Hikari asked.
“That Haibara-kun and I are having an illicit love affair.” Nanase raised her head and pursed her lips together in a discontent pout.
Yeah... There’s definitely going to be people who think that. This is what happens when you give people excess info.
“You’re asking the impossible. That misunderstanding isn’t going to disappear just like that,” Hikari remarked.
“I mean, at one point I thought you might’ve had feelings for me too,” I said.
Nanase’s mouth flapped open and closed.
Hey, of course I’d get the wrong idea! It’d be weirder if I hadn’t, given how much you depended on me!
“H-How could you both say that?!” Nanase exclaimed.
“Um, well... You would feel safe after holding his hand. That’d normally only happen if you liked him, right?” Hikari pointed out, exasperation tinting her voice.
Hey, stop it! You don’t need to flex your mighty powers of observation against your best friend! No, wait, she’s not even using her powers of observation. There are some mysteries in this world that are better off left unsolved, though.
“Th-That’s not it! I don’t have romantic feelings for Haibara-kun! I just...”
“You just?” Hikari repeated.
Nanase squirmed for a while, extremely reluctant to complete her sentence. Then, she glanced bashfully at me and whispered, “I just thought that if I had an older brother, it’d feel like this...”
✦ ✦ ✦
Older brother... It’s because I’m like an older brother? Oho, onii-chan, am I now? A beautiful girl who’s my oshi considers me an older-brother figure, huh?
While I was turning her words over in my head, Hikari looked like she was trying her best not to laugh. “I-I’m sorry, Yuino-chan... It seems it really was a misunderstanding.”
Nanase covered her face with her hands. “Just kill me already.”
Absolutely not. I won’t allow my younger sister to die! “From now on, call me onii-chan!”
“I’ve had enough! Please, kill me! I can’t go on any longer!”
“You’ll get along well with Namika.”
Nanase burst into a bawl and moved to open the window, but Hikari hastily stopped her.
“Y-Yuino-chan, calm down! And Natsuki-kun, what are you saying?”
Ack! What on earth did I just do? It was like I drifted off into a dreamworld. I don’t know what happened, but one thing’s for sure: Hikari’s giving me a subzero stare.
✦ ✦ ✦
Hikari and I walked home alone together for the first time in a while. The sky was dyed with the colors of sunset. As night drew closer, the temperature gradually fell as well. Nanase had left on her own in a hurry, exclaiming, “I don’t want to feed the misunderstanding any further!”
Also, apparently she doesn’t want to see me right now. How cruel! Even though I’m her older brother...
“You look like you’re thinking about something stupid,” Hikari said.
“Don’t be mean. I’ll have you know I’m thinking of something very sacred.” Yeah, me declaring that I’m Nanase’s older brother? Apparently that wasn’t a dream.
Hikari quietly stared at my face for a moment and then sighed. “Well, a lot happened, but I’m glad we resolved it all safely.”
“Yeah.” Looking back now that it’s over, our choir was a huge hit, and we won gold! It looks like Nanase’s overcome her condition too. A bunch of sacrifices had to be made along the way (like Nanase’s image), but we got good results. “The next thing is to see if she can play in a competition.”
“I think she’s probably fine,” Hikari said hesitantly, “but that’ll depend on Yuino-chan.”
With today’s success in hand, Nanase would consult with her psychiatrist. The decision of whether or not she could attempt a piano competition would be up to her doctor’s discretion.
“I’m sorry, Hikari.”
“Huh?”
“You left her in my hands because you trusted me, but you must’ve been conflicted about it.” To be honest, I didn’t know what the correct course of action was. I want to help Nanase as her friend. I want to treasure Hikari as her boyfriend. Both desires were constantly on my mind, and I was indecisive. Then Hikari gave me a push. “I feel like I took advantage of you.”
In hindsight, there was probably a better way to handle the situation. The distance between Nanase and me has shrunk too much. Hikari might feel uneasy on the inside.
“That’s not true. I’m the one who took advantage of you.” Hikari hung her head apologetically. “I didn’t have the confidence that I could help her on my own, so I leaned on you. I figured you wouldn’t be able to intervene if I didn’t ask you to.”
As usual, her assessment of my psyche was spot-on. If she hadn’t given me permission, I would’ve prioritized being a good boyfriend.
“That’s why, Natsuki-kun, I want to thank you for helping my best friend.” Hikari smiled brightly at me.
“It wasn’t just because of me. Our class helped too, and you’re the one who came up with the hand-holding idea. Plus, Nanase worked the hardest of all. I didn’t—”
“‘Do much’? You shouldn’t be so humble!” She jabbed my shoulder with her fist.
“I don’t think I’m being humble, though.” In truth, I wish I had come up with a smarter way to resolve this. For example, utilizing my previous life’s experiences to formulate a spectacular solution! Maybe someone who isn’t me could’ve done that if they had traveled back in time. But the fact of the matter is that I’m the one who’s here, an unremarkable college student. That’s why I can’t become some almighty hero.
“I think I have an idea of what’s going through your head.”
Huh?! Did she realize that I’m a time traveler?! Nah, no way.
“I’m going to say something girlfriendlike now. It’s embarrassing, so I’m only going to say it once, okay?” Then she took a deep breath. “Natsuki-kun, you’re my hero!” she yelled loudly and slapped my back.
She had seen right through me.
“Thank you, Hikari.”
On top of that, her words gave me courage.
“I’ve gained a little self-confidence.”
I can’t always handle problems flawlessly. However, if I want to live without regrets, then all I can do is do whatever I’m able to in the present, with everything I’ve got. “By the way, can I ask you something that’s been on my mind?”
“Hmm? Sure, you can ask me anything!”
“Hikari... Did you kinda enjoy making me and Nanase touch each other?”
“Whaaat?!” She had shouted so loudly that she began to cough.
“S-Sorry. Of course you wouldn’t, right?”
“O-O-O-O-O-Of course not! Why would you say such a stupid thing?!”
Wh-Why is she so shaken up? “Huh? Did you actually?”
“N-No... No, I didn’t! I won’t admit it! I’m not into that sort of thing!” The way she shook her head with such desperation seemed comical for some reason. She looked like a criminal frantically denying their crime with “Show me the proof! Where’s your proof?!”
We both fell silent.
“Um, well...” Hikari eventually said.
“Yes?”
“Remember how you left me and ran off to look for Miori-chan when she disappeared?”
I hadn’t expected her to bring up that episode. Hearing her mention it stunned me silent.
“I... I don’t want to admit it, but...” she continued, cheeks flushed, “th-that time...my heart ached a ton...but it also felt a little good.”
I was taken aback. What is this well-to-do young lady saying?
“I-It’s your fault, okay?!” Hikari cried out, tears welling up in her eyes.
“I’m sorry,” I said haltingly. “Hikari, it is my fault.”
“Stop it! Don’t look at me like I’m a pervert!”
Evidently, I have awoken a wild kink in the girl I love.