Epilogue
IN CLASS 3-A, HIMARI CAME DASHING OVER TO Saito’s desk.
“Good morning, Saito-kun! Hey, hey, look at this! I found a really weird mushroom on my way to school! You must know what it’s called, right?” Her voice was bright and bouncy as she held out her overly decorated smartphone for him to see. Himari was her usual cheerful self. Very normal for her—but something about the situation felt off to Saito. He leaned in, lowering his voice so the other classmates wouldn’t hear.
“I might just be imagining things, but…you asked me out on a date, didn’t you?” said Saito.
“Yup!” answered Himari.
“And if I remember correctly… I turned you down, didn’t I?”
“Yup!” Himari nodded energetically.
“So why are you acting as if nothing has happened?”
When he turned her down, Saito had braced himself for an awkward relationship with her moving forward. He’d figured Himari would never talk to him again. But her attitude hadn’t changed one bit. Even Saito, who had little experience with romance, knew this wasn’t normal.
Himari rested her chin on his desk and smiled without a care. “Oh, that doesn’t matter. Just because you turned me down doesn’t mean my feelings for you changed. If you say no, I’ll just ask again!” she said with a grin.
“…You’re incredible,” he said sincerely.
“Huh? Was that a compliment? Yay!” She raised both hands in celebration.
She really is amazing. Saito couldn’t help but be impressed by Himari’s courage to boldly pursue relationships with others, not to mention her resilience in the face of rejection.
“You know, I did the same thing when I wanted to be friends with Akane. Even though she kept brushing me off, I kept at it until we became besties.” Himari leaned in close, locking eyes with Saito. “So I won’t give up on you, either. I’ll definitely make you fall for me some day.”
“Oh…uh…” Her generous sharing of these bold and honest feelings made the back of Saito’s neck grow warm. Being liked by someone as charming as Himari—it wasn’t unpleasant at all. If only Akane could be this straightforward…
Saito scratched his cheek, brushing the thought aside. “Hey, keep it down. If the rest of the class hears, it’ll be a pain.”
“Why? I don’t mind even if everyone knows! I mean, you already know how I feel,” said Himari.
“I mean, I’m the one who’ll have trouble.”
“Ohh, right. You might get stabbed or something, huh,” quipped Himari.
“I-I won’t get stabbed…right? Probably?” Saito couldn’t be sure.
“I get confessions all the time, you know. I’ve turned them all down because I only have eyes for you, Saito-kun, but…those boys might have a lot of resentment.”
“Stop trying to scare me,” said Saito.
Himari laughed playfully. “Ha ha, you got me!”
Just then, Shisei strolled over to Saito’s desk. “I won’t give Ani-kun to anyone except for someone who meets Shise’s standards.”
“Whose perspective are you even speaking from?” asked Saito, exasperated.
Shisei tilted her head. “Father’s, maybe?”
“Aren’t you supposed to be my ‘little sister’?”
“I’m your cousin, but also both sister and father. I, Shise, exist within all beings,” she declared.
“So you’re a spirit or something?” said Saito wryly. Somehow, that assumption didn’t seem all that far-fetched.
“Do I meet your standards, Shisei-chan?” asked Himari with a serious face.
“That depends on your efforts. For starters, I’d like you to give me about a hundred thousand melonpan as a token of sincerity,” said Shisei.
“A h-hundred thousand?! Okay, I’ll do my best!”
Saito tried to put an end to Shisei’s madness. “Stop extorting people.”
“It’s fine! I’ll do anything for Saito-kun!” Himari declared with an unshakable smile.
From the corner of the classroom, Akane was watching the group. She was relieved to see that things weren’t awkward between Saito and Himari.
However, seeing these two being so close still made her restless. Perhaps asking Saito out once had made Himari a little bolder. Now she was clasping Saito’s hands in both of hers, enthusiastically chatting away. Saito must have been happy, too, being loved by Himari—someone Akane trusted more than anyone. Someday, Himari would probably win him over. That was how it should be. That was what she should be rooting for.
“I won’t lose.”
The words slipped out before Akane realized it. She quickly covered her mouth.
“What am I even saying?”
A burning heat stirred deep within her body. Something long dormant had awakened. And though this girl didn’t yet know what it was, its name would one day become clear.