Episode 174: Sara POV

The time goes back a little, right after the bus departed.

「Have a good trip!!」

The faint sound of Kazunari-san’s voice and his smile, which hid a lingering loneliness, pulled at my heart. I couldn’t tear myself away from the window for a long time.

For one week starting today, I cannot see Kazunari-san, I cannot take care of him, I cannot touch him… I cannot even hold him.

However, so as not to waste the feelings of Kazunari-san, who sent me off with all the brightness he could muster, I am going to enjoy this school trip.

「Sara, stop that already and just sit down normally.」

Deep in thought, I was snapped back to reality by Natsumi, realizing I was still pressing my hands against the window.

「My apologies, I just…」

「No, you don’t have to apologize. But if you keep doing that, people are going to start snooping around and asking if something happened, you know?」

「Natsumi-chan, it’s too late for that. Ugh… I really want to ask right now, but I’ll hold it in until we’re at least in our groups for the activities.」

「Right? I’ve never seen Satsukawa-san look so heartbroken before.」

「Satsukawa-san is so cute… Natsumi, just a little bit…」

「No.」

Natsumi is sitting next to me, but the seats in front and behind are filled with members of the same group.

Because of that, it is easy to talk, but it means they saw my pathetic display.

「Satsukawa-san, are you really that lonely?」

「That is… yes. To be honest, I am lonely. However, I have sworn to enjoy this school trip.」

Now that I think about it, other than Natsumi and Eri, I have no one I can truly call a friend, so I have never gone out to play in a group. Excluding everyone I was with during that recent incident, this might be the first time since my middle school trip.

Middle school… back then, every boy in my group gave me a bothersome confession… let us forget that, I do not wish to remember.

This school trip is an all-girls group, so I am grateful that there will be none of that.

「Sworn? O, oh? Well then, let’s enjoy it with us!」

「Yes, I look forward to your company.」

That is right, I promised Kazunari-san that I would enjoy the school trip.

Therefore, I will try to enjoy it in my own way… Kazunari-san.

「It’s finally here! My top-priority spot!」

「It’s not just yours, though!」

「Exactly, I’m serious about this one too.」

Everyone looks very lively.

And for good reason, this shrine is famous as a national treasure, but it is also famous for fulfilling prayers for love, enough so that even I, who had no interest in romance, knew of it.

When we were informed of the school trip schedule at school, I remember how delighted everyone was to learn this shrine was one of the destinations…

I am sure many were desperate to make a wish here.

There is one particular shrine building within the grounds for that purpose, and the moment we were allowed free time, everyone began moving in the same direction at once.

My classmates, and naturally those from other classes as well, were all heading for the same place.

However, as someone whose love has already been fulfilled, I must be honest and say I do not have a great deal of interest.

「Come on! We’re going too!!」

That said, we are in a group, so I cannot be the one to disrupt the harmony.

And it is not as if I am completely uninterested.

「Got it, got it, so don’t run.」

While saying that, Natsumi also looks like she’s having fun. Since we are here, I should offer a prayer as well.

Instead of the fulfillment of love, perhaps a prayer that I can continue to make Kazunari-san happy forever… is that a bit strange?

But it is fine, I shall not think too deeply on it.

「This year… this year for sure!」

「Let me become a couple with XX-kun!!」

「Please…」

They are surprisingly desperate, and their enthusiasm reaches even me as I stand beside them.

Is this what romance is originally supposed to be like?

Having been troubled so much by foolish men, and then suddenly meeting my fated person, Kazunari-san, perhaps my experience is not like the normal romance of others.

I would like to ask them what it is like for them sometime.

「I wonder what I should do…」

Natsumi hasn’t offered her prayer yet, and she is looking around restlessly behind me.

It is rare for her to be so hesitant.

「Natsumi-chan, you should make a wish too.」

「Exactly, you want a boyfriend too, right, Natsumi?」

「Wait, you aren’t going to say you already have one too, are you?」

「No, I definitely don’t have a boyfriend, but…」

「Then make a wish!」

Ah, that reminds me of that story.

In the end, I never did ask Natsumi about that matter.

「By the way Natsumi, regarding Tachibana-san, what kind of mmmgh!」

When I tried to ask, Natsumi covered my mouth with incredible speed.

Such surprising reflexes, she truly is the ace of the tennis club.

「Eh!? What!?」

「Hey, wait, why are you covering Satsukawa-san’s mouth!?」

「Wait, wait, don’t tell me Natsumi-chan… Satsukawa-san, tell us more about that!!」

Naturally, everyone would be curious after such an obvious action.

「No! It’s nothing, I don’t have a boyfriend or anyone else!!」

Natsumi is showing panic while denying it.

Did I perhaps pick the wrong time to ask?

However, if there is someone she likes, she should just be open about it. I do not think there is any need to hide it.

…

Oh dear, this is bad, I am starting to find it difficult to breathe.

Natsumi, please let go.

「Suspicious!」

「Interrogation for Satsukawa-san and Natsumi decided for tonight!!」

「No objections!!」

「I said you’re wrong!!」

Taking the chance when Natsumi’s hand loosened, I succeeded in pulling away.

Haa, that was suffocating.

「Sa~ra~… honestly… just you remember this.」

I feel like Natsumi’s face is a bit flushed.

Does she not realize it herself?

This… I already have a story to tell Kazunari-san as a souvenir.

「We’ll interrogate Natsumi tonight, but Satsukawa-san, aren’t you going to pray?」

「I have already finished.」

「What did you wish for!?」

「Fufu… one must not tell others their wishes, you know? Therefore, it is a secret♪」

「「「…………」」」

I did not intend to say anything particularly strange, but I wonder what happened to everyone?

They look as if they have frozen in shock.

「Sa, Satsukawa-san just did something so playful…」

「What should I do, Satsukawa-san is so cute.」

「C, could this be that thing where a woman changes when she falls in love…」

Changing when one falls in love… it is true, I may have changed.

However, if I have changed for Kazunari-san’s sake, I believe that is a happy change.

「So cute~」

「Whoa, with charms this cute, I don’t know how many to buy.」

「How many types for the fulfillment of love are you planning to buy?」

I can understand the feeling of hesitation.

After all, I am also hesitating while looking at the cute charms spread out before me.

By the way, charms are not something one「buys」but rather something one「receives」… but would it be considered annoying of me to point that out?

Regardless, there are so many… with them being this cute, my eyes keep wandering.

Safety for the home, good health, fulfillment of a great wish, fulfillment of love.

While looking at them in order from the edge, I discovered a pair of charms.

Kazunari-san and I, each holding one of a matching pair… that is very good!

I wonder what kind of charm this is?

「Meoto-mamori (Couple’s charm)」

……Married couple!?

T, this is surely still too early!

B, but, Kazunari-san and I as a married couple… a married couple… oh dear, we are still high school students!

No, in the first place, if I were to buy such a charm, and Kazunari-san were to think of me as a heavy woman… that would be bad! If that happened, I would surely cry.

It is a wonderful pair of charms, but I shall pass on this.

「Satsukawa-san, what have you been squirming and agonizing over since a moment ago… oh!?」

「A couple’s charm!?」

「Wait, Satsukawa-san and her guy are that far along!?」

I was brought back to reality as the voices of surprise reached my ears; I had been lost in thought while holding it.

It seems I was surrounded by everyone before I realized it, and they saw the charm in my hand.

「…Ah!? N, no! This is still too early for us!!」

「She said ‘for us’!!」

「I want to hear! Tell us that story!」

「Wait, wait, Satsukawa-san, are you planning a student marriage…」

「No, as I said, this is!!」

In my panic, a hand was placed gently on my shoulder with a soft thud.

When I reflexively turned around, Natsumi, wearing a very gentle smile, patted my shoulder two or three times.

「Look, calm down. If you make a scene in a place like this, it’ll bother the people around us. You guys too, save that kind of talk for tonight.」

Seeing how composed Natsumi was, I felt my own feelings begin to calm.

It was a mistake for someone like me to get so flustered.

「…I am sorry Natsumi, I just panicked.」

「Sorry Natsumi-chan.」

「I’ll look forward to hearing this story tonight.」

「Sorry.」

「As long as you understand. By the way Sara, if you can’t decide because they’re all too cute, should I pick one for you?」

Natsumi, who had been nodding as she listened to our apologies, suddenly made such a proposal.

Natsumi is very kind.

It is true that no matter which one I choose from these, they are all undoubtedly cute, so perhaps letting my best friend choose is an option?

「That is… true. Since you offered, I will let Natsumi choose the one she thinks is best…」

「Then this one!!」

As if she had already decided, she immediately selected a cute, pink charm.

Taking my hand and placing the charm in it, she then pulled my arm toward the counter.

「One of these, please!」

Natsumi spoke those words in my stead, and the shrine maiden at the counter received it from my hand with a smile and placed it in a bag.

Ah, come to think of it, I did not check what kind of charm it was.

Well, it is a charm, so there can be nothing bad about it no matter which one it is, and it is something Natsumi chose for me after all.

After everyone had received their charms, we moved to a different spot.

Everyone seemed to have chosen charms for the fulfillment of love or for meeting a good person, and they were already getting excited showing them to each other.

Natsumi is…

「By the way, Natsumi-chan chose fulfillment of love!!」

「There really is someone!」

「T, this doesn’t have a deep meaning!! I’m just a little bit curious… I mean, why do you even know!?」

It seems she was caught in the act of choosing.

Even so,「a little bit curious,」does that mean it really is Tachibana-san?

This is a story that I am also curious about.

「Satsukawa-san, what did you choose?」

When the talk turned to me, I remembered that I had not yet checked my own charm. I shall check it now.

「Let’s see, mine is…」

I pulled the cute pink charm out of the bag.

When I saw the characters written on it, I reflexively froze.

「!?」

「Whoa, Satsukawa-san is bold!!」

「Eh, what is it? …Ehhhhh!?」

「Sa, Satsukawa-san…」

「N, no, this was Natsumi’s doing… Natsumi!!!!」

T, this is far too early no matter how one looks at it.

It was my fault for not checking, but I never expected that Natsumi, who was acting so gentle, would choose this.

「A~re~? Was it something different~?」

Natsumi showed no sign of remorse, looking at me with a smirk and a nasty grin.

At this point, I clearly realized that Natsumi’s behavior until just now had been an act… I had been tricked.

「Natsumi! No matter what, this is…」

「It is almost time to depart~」

Just as I was about to interrogate Natsumi, I heard the voice of the bus guide.

It is already that time… it cannot be helped, I shall put this matter on hold.

I hurried to put the charm back in its bag and hid it in my own bag.

「Tch, what a shame, I guess the rest of the story is on hold until tonight.」

「I want to hear the full story from Satsukawa-san.」

「I wish it would turn into night already.」

Haa… honestly.

If this is seen, will it not be misunderstood that I am thinking of such a heavy matter despite being a high school student? This is definitely going into hiding.

…However, if the time comes when this is needed… I would be happy.