Episode 147: Strategy Meeting, Part 2

The strategy for Yamazaki was set.

That just left Yuzuha…

「About Yuzuha, I’ll tell you my thoughts first. I want her to see the exchange between us and Yamazaki with her own eyes.」

「So you’re paying her back for what she did to Tachikawa-san?」

It was only natural for Natsumi-senpai to see it that way.

I’m sure everyone else thought so too.

Tachikawa-san’s expression hardened slightly.

「Natsumi, let’s listen to Kazunari-san until the end.」

Sara-san might’ve realized I had another reason in mind.

「If everything about Yamazaki is exposed, Yuzuha will have no choice but to understand how he really felt about her, whether she likes it or not. That’s why I want to show her reality first.」

My reasoning was partly because Yamazaki was pulling the strings behind the scenes with Yuzuha, but also because, thanks to everyone, we finally had a plan to corner him for sure.

「I can’t put it well, but I don’t just want Yuzuha to have a hard time. I want her to understand what she’s done. Suffering for that is her own fault. But if she truly reflects on it after that… if she wakes up…」

Everyone listened to me in silence.

So, I continued.

「I’m sure you all feel the same, but I know I’m saying something naive. Let me be clear about this: in the end, I have no intention of forgiving Yuzuha. I’ll never forgive her. But as a childhood friend who’s looked after her since we were kids… I want to give her at least a little bit of…」

When I got that far, I was gently hugged with a soft, enveloping sensation.

Of course, it was Sara-san.

「Kazunari-san, I understand your feelings well. If that’s what you want, I’ll make sure it happens. Truly… no, it’s because you’re that kind of person that I fell in love with you. Please decide what to do about Sasagawa Yuzuha.」

(And I’ll take on the role of the villain. In order for Sasagawa Yuzuha to regret her own actions, she must experience pain as well. If that’s the case, that is my role…)

Looking at everyone else, some were giving wry smiles or looking exasperated, but not a single person looked displeased.

「I didn’t have anything happen with that person in the first place, so I’ll leave it to you.」

「Same here.」

Nishikawa-san and Hanako-san seemed willing to leave it to me.

「Right. I think it’s fine for Takanashi-kun, the one who suffered most, to decide.」

「I agree with Natsumi-senpai. Though, since I’m involved in a way, I plan to be in the mix a little.」

Natsumi-senpai and Hayato seemed okay with it too.

「…I want revenge on that woman, too. But if exposing Yamazaki’s true nature results in her walking the same path I did… then I’ll consider that payback enough.」

「If Yoko is satisfied, that’s fine with me.」

Tachikawa-san concluded that hitting Yamazaki would basically satisfy her… and Todo-san went along with it… they listened to my selfishness.

「I’ve seen Kazunari as a middle schooler more than anyone here… even when he was going through hell. Because I know how he’s felt about Yuzuha, I understand he can’t fully throw those feelings away, even if the feeling of not being able to forgive is stronger. If Kazunari wants to give Yuzuha a chance, I’ll watch over it just this once. There won’t be a second time.」

Yuji knows everything, both how much I cared for Yuzuha and my absolute worst days in third year.

He took it all in and still told me he’d leave it to me.

Everyone accepted my selfishness.

I was truly grateful and happy.

I thought I’d lost everything in middle school, but now I’ve found people more precious than I could ever compare.

Yuzuha, this is the last thing I can do for you…

If you still won’t wake up even after this… I…

「Then, is this flow okay?」

The general outline was decided; all that was left was to do it.

I wouldn’t worry about minor errors; Yamazaki was already done for.

As a result, Yuzuha suffering for it was her own fault.

I’d make her regret thinking she could mess with me again.

「Now then, let’s put the difficult talk aside and have some dinner.」

Nishikawa-san declared that because a dinner party was planned for after the meeting.

「I’m hungry.」

「I’m looking forward to it.」

「I wonder what kind of place it is.」

It was no wonder Todo-san and the others were excited.

The place Nishikawa-san had reserved was a famous restaurant.

And she’d booked the whole place… is that really okay?

「Eri, is this really okay?」

「Natsumi made a strong request for it.」

「If Eri-rin is there, there’s no way I’m not going.」

Apparently, it was a place Sara-san and the others knew.

They hadn’t looked surprised by the car, either… well, they’re friends, so they might’ve already experienced the same kind of shock we did.

「Um… I don’t really know table manners or anything…」

Since it might be a problem later, I thought I’d mention it now.

Wait, is everyone besides me okay with it?

「Oh, it’s fine. Since we’ve reserved the whole place, there’s no one else there, so the restaurant won’t say anything… or rather, I won’t let them.」

Nishikawa-san told me with a bit of a playful tone.

That’s a relief.

Since I’d heard it was a high-end place, I was worried I’d need to study up before arriving.

「But if you’re gonna keep dating Sara, it’s a good idea to learn them, you know?」

Is that so?

But I guess so. For example, we might go to places like that on anniversaries or for celebrations… and I want to show at least that much reliability.

「Then, let’s add a little chance to study table manners during dinner.」

Sara-san must’ve felt it was necessary for me too, because she offered to help.

Honestly, I want to eat Sara-san’s cooking without any worries, but I guess studying is necessary too…

「Fufu… it’s okay. Understanding the basics isn’t that difficult. Besides, I want you to be able to enjoy my food without hesitation, so…」

「Sara, the way you said that makes it sound like you’re the one cooking Takanashi-san’s meals.」

Nishikawa-san bit back again.

Ah, right, she probably wouldn’t know about that.

「Yes? I’m the one making them.」

「「「「…Eh?」」」」

It wasn’t just Nishikawa-san who reacted to that single sentence.

The trio of Hanako-san, Tachikawa-san, and Todo-san all raised their voices too.

「Come to think of it, Takanashi-kun lives alone, right…」

Todo-san muttered.

Wait, Todo-san didn’t know either?

Hearing that mutter, Nishikawa-san reacted instantly.

「Hey Sara, surely you don’t mean… at a single man’s house?」

「It’s Kazunari-san’s house.」

「「「…」」」

And so, our private lives are being exposed again.

Since Sara-san isn’t the type to be shy about these things, she has a habit of answering honestly whenever she’s asked.

「Every day… making food at a man’s house, just the two of them…」

I have a feeling Nishikawa-san is about to drift away again…

「Shocking… a live-in wife at high school, that’s so e…」

「Hanako-san, you can’t say that!!」

Hanako-san tried to say something, but Todo-san put a massive stop to it.

Yeah, that’s not good.

「Um… well, we’re… well, still mumble mumble… a wife is…」

Sara-san suddenly started swaying her body back and forth, muttering something with a bright red face.

「S-Sara-san, please calm down.」

「Hah… after acting like a married couple all this time, what’s she talking about now…」

I could clearly hear the line Natsumi-san muttered.

It really is too late for that. Well, my philosophy is that if the two people involved are fine with it, there’s no need for others to meddle.

Besides… I want Kazunari to be happy.

「Well, I’m relieved it didn’t turn out as grim as I expected.」

But that Yokogawa guy seems like he’s got something on his mind. He’s been glancing over here for a while.

「Tachibana-kun seemed a bit reluctant.」

It’s not that I’m reluctant, but considering what Yuzuha did…

That said, if I think about what would actually satisfy me regarding Yuzuha, I don’t think it’s just hurting her to vent about the past.

That wouldn’t solve anything.

In that sense, maybe Kazunari’s feeling of wanting to「make her understand」isn’t wrong. I have that feeling.

However, if that’s the case…

「I’ll tell Kazunari later, but I’m going to take some independent action on the day.」

「Eh? Really?」

(To make Kazunari’s wish come true, I need one more person…)