Chapter 7

Chapter 4 Our Way Home “This makes three days in a row. It’s becoming a huge deal.” It was morning in the classroom. Normally, we would be having first period, but instead, a special school assembly was taking place. Classes had been canceled for the day, and you could feel it in the air. I nodded at Fuyuko’s words and thought back to three days ago. “The first-year girl I found was bleeding, too.” I’d run up the stairs and found a girl collapsed in front of the girls’ bathroom, unconscious and bleeding from her upper arm. I’d called for Ms. Koyomi right away, but her injuries weren’t serious or life-threatening. However… “It’s kinda scary that other students have been getting hurt the same way for three days straight.” Haruru was right. Starting that day, a series of bloody incidents had taken place at our school. All three victims suffered the exact same injury: bleeding from their shoulders or upper arms. The only saving grace was that they hadn’t suffered any further violence or theft. “According to the rumors, all three victims were attacked from behind. They were strangled, and their arms were injured while they were still out of it.” “Hey, Fuyuko, something like that would take a lot of strength and skill, right? I’ve heard that taking out your opponent with a choke hold is common in judo or self-defense drills.” “Yeah. I’m pretty knowledgeable about this stuff, so I get it—but even an adult man would struggle to actually do it, let alone a high school girl. It’s definitely not something delicate maidens like us could pull off.” One wrong move, and the victims could have easily been killed. Fuyuko’s soft murmur sent more chills down my spine. If I’d arrived just a little earlier, the same thing might have happened to me. “In your case, you heard a scream, right? Meaning the victim was surprised by someone suddenly appearing, and the crime occurred in the small window before you arrived. The culprit must be pretty skilled.” “Ha, ha-ha… All I can say is I was lucky.” “That’s right! Nagi, you always wander off when we leave you alone, so I’m kinda worried!” “You don’t need to worry about that, Haruru. I won’t be acting alone, at least until the culprit’s caught. I won’t stay late after school, either.” Except for make-up classes, club activities and the like had been suspended after school. Students taking make-up classes were required to walk with a teacher or friend while on school grounds. “I hope the police catch the culprit soon. If I keep going home straight after school, I’ll become the ace of the go-home club for real… Oh, right!” Haruru stopped and leaned over her desk like she’d just had an idea. “Since we’re all here today, why don’t the three of us have a sleepover?” “‘S-sleepover’?” I yelped at the unexpected suggestion. “Now that you mention it, we’ve never had a sleepover before.” “Right?! Like Haruru said, we’re business friends. We have to make a decisive pitch here.” “To who?! We’re not ‘business friends’!” Classmates who were only in it for personal gain—those types seriously gave me the ick. “Yeah! Nagi and I really are friends. But Miss Shirahama has defaulted on her friend payments for the month, so there’s a little distance between us.” “Ha-ha-ha… I told you not to mention that in front of Nagisa. I’ll go to an ATM later and withdraw eighty thousand yen, so can you just wait?” “If a high school girl earned and paid that much every month, she’d be paying income tax with a little more effort! Why eighty thousand, though?” “Lucky number eight. It means that we’ll always be friends. Best friends forever, Nagi!” “You guys have a relationship so twisted, it makes being a sugar baby pale in comparison. Actually, it’s more like blackmail than sugar.” As usual, I cut the stupid chitchat short and got back on topic. (Although, was Fuyuko actually checking her bank balance on her phone? Probably just my imagination!) “I’m fine with a sleepover, but whose house are we having it at?” “I live with my grandparents, but it’s fine! They go to sleep at eight PM and wake up at four AM, so as long as we’re quiet, there’s no problem!” “The Agarie family is the ultimate in ‘early to bed, early to rise’… What about you, Fuyuko?” “I live with a really busy aunt, so I think the house will be free. The only thing is she comes back at random times, so it might get awkward.” “I see. Then we can use my place. But it’s basically a studio.” There was a bed and a sofa, so a sleepover with the three of us should still be fine. Their eyes sparkled like I’d never seen before. “Nagisa’s place! I’ve always wanted to go! I definitely wanna go!” “Me too, me too! I’m sure it smells great! She probably has diffusers!!” “For sure! I wanna smell her pillows!” “Then I get dibs on her room socks!” “Anyone who smells anything in my room without permission gets wasabi shoved up their nose. Anyone who goes through my stuff without permission gets their fingernails peeled off. Anyone who touches my person gets thrown out on the spot. Can we follow those rules?” The two of them cheerfully raised their hands with a “Yes, ma’am!” when I laid down the law. They probably had no intention of listening… I was a little worried, but whatever. My friends would never do anything I truly disliked. “Then go home for now and come to my place in the evening when you’re ready.” “Got it! I’ll bring some food and other stuff, too. Haruru, can you bring a boatload of rubber bands?” “Roger that! And don’t forget the big watermelon, Fuyu!” “Hey, you guys, you’re not planning to wrap a lot of rubber bands around a watermelon and make it explode for a video, right? You’re kidding, right? Right?” We headed for the shoe cubbies after planning everything out. On the way, we ran into Ms. Koyomi, who looked more exhausted than usual. “Oh, it’s the Autumnless Trio. I see you’re getting along as well as ever.” “And you’re the only one who uses that lame nickname,” I said. “Are you still working?” “I am, Miss Natsunagi. Because of the incident, teachers are required to regularly patrol school grounds. Today’s my turn, so I hope nothing unusual happens.” “Oh, so that’s why you look so depressed…” “Koyo! More booze isn’t the answer when you hate your job!” “She’s right, Ms. Koyomi. If you don’t mind, I’ll listen to you and give you a hug.” Ms. Koyomi finally smiled after Haru and Fuyuko tried to cheer her up. “Thank you. When the restrictions on after-school activities are lifted, feel free to visit the nurse’s office anytime. Well then, good-bye.” I felt a bit regretful just going home as we watched Ms. Koyomi wave good-bye and leave. Even though there were still some mysteries left in this incident, it seemed I wasn’t needed. Once the police were involved, any proxy detective or high school girl who was poking around would just be getting in their way. I forced myself to accept it and let go of any lingering regrets. I’d just indulge in my life as a high school girl a little more than usual today. “Hey, Fuyuko, Haruru, what do you think high school girls eat at sleepovers?” It was evening, and Fuyuko and Haruru had come over to my place. This was nice. Really nice. Definitely fun. The best. But there was a problem unfolding in front of me. “Takoyaki parties or pizza parties are popular. Also, just lazing around in your pajamas eating snacks.” “I’ve done both of those! And don’t forget bringing a popcorn maker and eating freshly popped popcorn with soda while watching a movie!” “Uh-huh, that sounds right. A girls’ night has that sparkly vibe, right? Then why are we making yakisoba and yakitori on a hot plate?!” The aroma diffuser in my room was dead. The hot plate Fuyuko had brought sat on my stylish, glass-topped table. The savory smell of the sauce had taken over my apartment, along with the sizzling sound of grilling thick noodles and skewered chicken. “A street stall? Is my room a street stall now?! Are you having a festival?!” “Ha-ha. Nagisa, your room isn’t a street stall. I think someone’s having a little too much fun.” “Yeah! How about I poke one of your eyes out with these skewers? I’ll take one and do it now!” “Nagi, you’re scaring me… You’re usually so kind, so why are you mad? Sniff.” “Because I’m pissed! I’m the one who wants to cry here! Sigh… Well, whatever.” I gave up and put the kitchen exhaust fan on full blast while opening the balcony window. At least it wasn’t fried food. “It’ll be fine. Right, Haruru?” “Sure will be! Not only did we bring juice, snacks, yakisoba, and yakitori, but we also brought air fresheners! Isn’t that a big brain move?” “I feel like there were better ways you could have been considerate? Sigh… I’m not mad, so it’s fine. Well, I am mad, but I’ve given up. All the yelling made me hungry.” I sat on the sofa and was presented with a mountain of yakisoba and soda. The two idiots looked like they were having so much fun. I guess that’s why I always forgave them. Maybe I was sappy and stupid, too. I took up my chopsticks and picked up a bite of the yakisoba Fuyuko was holding out with both hands. Then I chugged the soda Haruru had poured with my free hand. “Mmm… It’s too good,” I said. “Now stop acting like you’re my minions and eat up. It won’t be as good if it gets cold. Heh-heh.” The two of them exchanged looks and nodded happily. “Nagisa! The yakitori’s really good, too, so eat all you want!” “Nagi! Tell me if you’re thirsty. I’ll pour you a refill!” Good grief… We were such idiots. The three of us were ridiculously dumb. Probably anything would have tasted amazing if we were eating it together. That’s how much fun we were having. That’s how it is, not being alone anymore. We ate and had a great time playing some games on the TV that Haruru had brought. I didn’t have any at my place—in fact, I’d never played a video game before in my life—so it was really new and interesting. I thought I might have played on a handheld in the hospital when I was little, but most of my old memories were so vague that it might have been a dream. Right. Compared to my life back then, I was living a dream every day. What should I do? I’m so happy. I’d gotten to experience so many normal things, and if I wasn’t careful, I was going to cry. “Well, now that we’re done playing games…” As the night wore on, Fuyuko suddenly clapped her hands and took charge of the sleepover. “Should we finish up with a thrilling bath that makes your heart race…? Heh-heh-heh.” “Oh, no way. I’m fine with Haruru, but I’m instinctively rejecting you, sorry.” “Wh-why?! That’s a sleepover classic! Girls taking a bath together, frolicking, feeling up each other’s boobs and comparing them! That was my dream!” “Then you can pay for that kind of experience at the establishment of your choice when you grow up. Haruru, want to get in together?” “Yes! I can’t wait to take a bath with you, Nagi! I wanna use a bath bomb that has a toy inside!” A purehearted gyaru and an evil prince—the choice of who to bathe with was easy. The rejected prince sniffled quietly. “…Sniff. The two of you are always leaving me out like this, even though I love you both and would give my life for you. It’s such a cruel, thankless role… Sob, sob.” Fuyuko covered her face with both hands and let out a sob. Huh? Was she really crying? “Nagisa shyly undressing and getting angry when I grope her breasts while we’re together in the bath…my heart fluttering when I see her moist profile… None of my dreams are going to come true!” “U-uh? Fuyuko? Those super-creepy dreams aside… Don’t cry like that. If you promise not to do anything, I-I’ll take a bath with you!” “Hot damn! Thank you! Then let’s get into that bathroom right away! Hell yeah!” “You faker! You tricked me into committing! That radiant smile is the worst!” “Nagi. Should I read the room and leave you two alone?” “Why?! If you’re reading the room, you should be protecting me!” In the end, the three of us took a bath together. All sorts of things happened when we took off our clothes, washed our bodies, and soaked in the tub…but I’ll skip all that. A lot of amazing things happened to me, but whatever anyone says, what happened in the bathroom is a secret. After that, the night passed in the blink of an eye. We had a pajama-reveal event after our bath, and to my delight, Haruru gave me a brand-new pair of pajamas as a present—fluffy loungewear with shorts that were super easy to move in. By the way, Haruru was wearing a cat kigurumi as pajamas. Fuyuko had plain middle school track pants and a T-shirt. We were all super on-brand, which was fun. Even though I had a sofa and a bed, we wound up chatting on the futon I laid out on the floor and fell asleep before we knew it. “…Hm? Oh, right.” When I woke up in the middle of the night, I was lying in bed next to Haruru for some reason. No one was on the futon where we’d all just been. I didn’t see Fuyuko on the sofa next to the bed, either. Suddenly, I noticed that the curtains of the window leading to the balcony were slightly open. I slowly slipped out of bed so as not to wake Haruru and pulled them back. “What are you doing out here, Fuyuko?” When I opened the window, I saw Fuyuko sitting on a small chair on the balcony. “Oh, Nagisa. Did I wake you up?” “No. I’m a light sleeper, so I wake up in the middle of the night sometimes. Can I sit with you?” It was a little chilly on the balcony but not unbearably so. It wouldn’t be long before the cold weather was over. I really liked this time of year, when I could feel the gentle breeze of summer on the horizon. “I tend to sleep in short cycles. At most, I’ll wake up after about three hours.” “Really? Not sleeping properly is horrible for your skin. It would be a shame to waste that pretty face of yours, Fuyuko.” “Ha-ha. I trained myself to do it in middle school, and it became a habit. I was a pretty disappointing kid back then. But…that wasn’t the only reason I woke up.” “What happened when you were sleeping?” “I had a dream,” Fuyuko answered simply, looking at the sky. I did the same. It wasn’t the right season for the stars to be beautiful yet, but I could see two stars, side-by-side. “When I was sleeping with my face buried in your pillowy breasts—yikes, that’s a scary face. I didn’t mean to! I just happened to fall asleep there!” “Hmm… And?” “I was talking with someone in my dream, listening to the soothing sound of their heartbeat. She was a little bossy but stunningly beautiful, and she didn’t listen to a word I said.” I placed my hand over my chest as I listened to Fuyuko’s story. Was it you? Were you the one talking to my friend in her dream? “She was mostly talking at me, but in the end, I was nodding and agreeing. When I woke up, I’d forgotten everything…but it’s been so long since I’ve dreamed that I was surprised.” “So that’s why you were getting some air on the balcony.” “That’s right. Then I carried the two of you to the bed— Hey. Um…Nagisa.” “Hm? What? It’s not like you to be shy.” “Can I…hold your hand?” I thought she was joking or harassing me like usual, but I could see in the moonlight that Fuyuko’s profile was a deep red. I could tell it wasn’t a joke when I saw that her eyes were slightly damp. “…Okay. This is the first time I’ve seen you so serious.” “Really? I think I’ve always been honest with you and Haruru.” Fuyuko’s long, pale fingers gripped my hand. They were a little warm. But her fingers and palm felt a bit rough—not like you’d expect from a girl. I’m sure it was proof of the life Fuyuko had carved out for herself before she met me, a side of her I didn’t know. “Ah, wait…Fuyuko, aren’t you moving a little fast?” “Why? Don’t you like me? I know I like you, so I want to stay like this.” “You’re making it hard to say no…” Bit by bit, our fingers entwined like lovers’ would. “Ha-ha. I always thought I’d do this sort of thing with a boy… Ah!” Before I knew it, Fuyuko had turned to face me. She wrapped her free arm around my back…and gently pulled me close. “Fuyuko…? Was your dream that scary?” “Nagisa, my instincts are very sharp, just like Haruru’s palate. The things I have a hunch about tend to come true. Of course, I’m wrong sometimes.” Her fingers linked with mine, and the arm around me tightened a little. “I think in the future…you’ll take a different path than us. A day will come when you’ll have to do something only you can do, that you’ll only be able to handle because you’re you. That’s how I feel.” “…Do you mean after we graduate? Like…career paths?” “No, something much bigger than that. Ever since I met you, Nagisa Natsunagi, I’ve had this feeling about you. And it’s only grown stronger by the day.” Thump, thump. The rhythm of my heart had quickened. “But, Nagisa…even if you become someone, I’ll be your friend. I’d risk my life for you, even if it meant going up against the whole world’s sense of good and evil.” I thought she was just my friend who always teased me. But to hear those words from her, they sounded almost like a confession… I felt happiness, joy, and just a little bit of confusion and loneliness. “What are you talking about? You and Haruru will always be precious friends to me. Even if it means going up against the whole world, I’ll be on your side, too!” If someone were to see us now, they’d probably laugh at us, a couple of immature high school girls getting carried away. But I didn’t care what anyone thought of me or what anyone said, because we truly cared about each other. “Thank you, Nagisa. Well…can I kiss you?” “Huh?! N-no! No, no! I don’t know what you mean! We’re both girls!” “You’re so old-fashioned. Did you think I was saying I liked you for character development?” “Yeah, I actually totally did.” “Wow, that hurts. But these are my true feelings. So…please? I want you to close your eyes.” Huh? No way? Is she really going to kiss me? Her right hand was holding mine, and before I knew it, it was around my shoulder. Was my first kiss going to be with Fuyuko? Fuyuko was my precious friend, and I guess I didn’t really mind it… Whoa, her eyelashes were long. Her skin was flawless. Her face was too beautiful! “…D-don’t put your face so close to mine, Fuyuko…” “Don’t tease me, Nagisa. What’s the point of getting embarrassed over a simple kiss?” “Y-you can’t kiss me, because I haven’t brushed my teeth! Nn, that tickles…!”