Episode 362: Compliments

The bustle in front of the station today is a bit different from usual.

Of course, while there’s the typical weekend busyness, including the number of cars entering the rotary and the groups hanging around, there are a lot of people who seem to be meeting up or picking others up, likely for the same reason as us.

Naturally, among them are the usual idiots shouting and making a scene without a care for those around them, but regardless, it’s definitely livelier than usual.

「It doesn’t look like they’ve arrived yet.」

「Just as you say that, they’re here.」

At the same time Hanako-san said that, a car slid smoothly into the rotary.

With a body significantly larger than average and a sleek black finish that drew everyone’s eyes, anyone could tell at a glance it was a「super」luxury car.

And since there aren’t many people who’d use such an amazing car on a daily basis, well, you know.

「Sorry to keep you waiting.」

「Good evening.」

「We’re here~」

And arriving at just the right time were Hayato, Todo-san, and Natsumi-senpai.

Now everyone was finally here.

「Whoa… S-Satsukawa-senpai, you look so beautiful!! And Hanako-san, you’re way too cute…」

「Hehe… thank you very much. You’re also really adorable and it suits you well, Todo-san. Right, Kazunari-san?」

「Yeah. I think you’re cute, no flattery intended.」

「Ehehe, thank you! You look cool too, Takanashi-kun!」

My own evaluation aside, Todo-san’s appearance in a yukata was truly cute enough to be surprising.

A yukata with a modest, quiet design, featuring small yellow plum blossoms on a cream background.

Her hair, tied small to the side, was beautifully decorated today with pink ribbons and flower ornaments.

While the overall impression was reserved, it was a look full of Todo-san’s characteristic cuteness that suited her perfectly.

And…

「Todo-san, that’s…」

「Y-Yeah. Well… Hayato-kun did.」

On the sash of the yukata worn by the shyly looking-down Todo-san, the handmade brooch Hayato had made with us that day was displayed.

「I see. You finally got to give it to her, Hayato?」

「Ahaha… I just couldn’t find the right chance.」

「He was probably just overthinking the timing to look cool and ended up missing the opportunity.」

「Gugh… Y-You’re as harsh as ever, Hanako-san.」

At Hanako-san’s merciless comment, Hayato’s smile completely twitched.

But I understand that perfectly as a fellow guy, so I kind of wanted to tell her to go easy on him.

「Instead of trying to be extra, just be honest…」

「Sorry for the wait, everyone.」

「Yahoo~ It’s been two weeks~」

Rushing in to save Hayato from his pinch, or rather, just arriving at the right moment, were Nishikawa-san and Tachikawa-san, dressed in flamboyant yukatas like the rest.

I didn’t know if they’d planned this, but with a group like this all gathered in yukatas, I could feel the attention from those around us becoming even more intense…

「Whoa!? S-Satsukawa-senpai, you’re seriously way too beautiful!!」

「Hehe… thank you very much. It suits you well too, Tachikawa-san?」

「Really!? Ehehe, I really went all out for once… wait, no!! That level of beauty is a foul!! It’s definitely a regulation violation!!」

「W-Well, even if you say that…」

Against Tachikawa-san, who was hyper-excited for some reason, Sara-san looked somewhat bewildered.

But the expression「foul」was actually quite spot on, because I also think Sara-san’s beauty is truly at a level that should be illegal.

「Good evening, Takanashi-san.」

「Good evening, Nishikawa-san… wait, where’s Yuji?」

「Hehe, I didn’t want to kill the mood, so I left them alone together.」

With a mischievous look, Nishikawa-san glanced over at Yuji and Natsumi-senpai, who were talking in a seemingly good atmosphere.

「She just didn’t want to have to watch them flirt, so she evacuated early.」

「Wait!? I can hear you, Hanako-san!!」

「Oops, my mistake.」

Hanako-san, who (apparently) accidentally let that slip, quickly took cover behind my back, or rather, isn’t she just clinging to me now!?

「Ahem… W-Well, you see, Takanashi-san. I was purely…」

「I-I know. You’re a kind person, Nishikawa-san.」

「Hehe… thank you.」

To be honest, I figured it was fifty-fifty, but there was no need to go out of my way to say that.

And Hanako-san, please stop writing「GJ」with your finger on my back. It tickles a lot.

「…Phew, we really are standing out. I fully expected this the moment I heard Sara was wearing a yukata.」

「Yeah. We’ve been getting stared at ever since we arrived. There are even swarms of guys who look like they’re looking for a chance to hit on us.」

「I bet. Well… even looking as another girl, Sara is so beautiful today it’s breathtaking.」

「Haha…」

Certainly, the Sara-san of today, well, to be accurate, she always is, was just way too beautiful, so much so that it was no wonder even Nishikawa-san felt that way.

And the biggest factor was that for someone like Sara-san, who was the epitome of a traditional Japanese beauty, Japanese clothes and yukatas were just too perfect a match.

Which is exactly why she was drawing even more attention than usual.

But…

「Um… if we’re talking about drawing attention, the same goes for you, Nishikawa-san.」

「…Eh?」

「It’s true that Sara-san is so beautiful today I’d be captivated if I let my guard down… and Hanako-san is cute too… but the same can be said for you, Nishikawa-san.」

「E-Excuse me…?」

Of course, Sara-san wasn’t the only reason things had escalated into such a huge spectacle.

It was likely because everyone, starting with Hanako-san, was cute, and there was a synergistic effect from everyone being together.

But Nishikawa-san, because she already had qualities that rivaled Sara-san’s, her appearance in a yukata was also exceptionally eye-catching.

A vibrant yukata with a clean white background and large, colorful blue roses.

Her hairstyle was a bit different from usual, a fancy ponytail with braids going up to the area above her ears.

It was adorned with a large ribbon and a shimmering hairpin, with a triple flower ornament made of what looked like sparkling jewels adding extra color.

Moreover, her elegant presence, which was a dignified and somehow refined counterpart to Sara-san’s, was further highlighted by the flamboyance of the yukata.

「U-Um… Takanashi-san?」

「Um… I-I’m telling you now, I’m not just saying this to be nice. I really think you’re beautiful…」

「I-I know!! I’m well aware that you’re that kind of guy, Takanashi-san… s-so, well, that makes it even more flattering…」

「Nishikawa-san?」

「I-It’s nothing!! Anyway, thank you!!」

「Y-You’re welcome!?」

Nishikawa-san’s face was visibly flushed, and she shyly looked down whenever our eyes met.

And I was also extremely embarrassed, as I was aware that I’d blurted out some pretty cringeworthy lines, even if it was in the heat of the moment.

「Kazunari… am I cute?」

And in that situation, Hanako-san, still clinging to my back, suddenly said that… wait, I already told you that earlier, didn’t I!?

You want me to say it again!?

「Ugh… well.」

「Kazunari…」

At Hanako-san’s voice, which I rarely ever hear sounding so cutely pleading, my heart skipped a beat for a second.

And whether she knew how I felt or not, she started poking my back and squirming as if to hurry my answer… stop that, it’s giving me the chills!!

「U-Um… Takanashi-san, I’m also… b-b-beau… tiful…」

Wait, even Nishikawa-san is starting to say something!?

If you’re too embarrassed to say it properly, you really don’t have to force yourself, you know!?

「Kazunari-san, well, as for me…」

「Sara-san is truly beautiful and dazzling, so wonderful I feel like I could stare at her forever.

But that’s not just limited to today. I always… every single day, I truly feel that way.」

「…I’m so happy. For you to say that to me makes me truly blissful…」

Sara-san leaned softly against my arm, staring straight at me with slightly moist eyes.

I couldn’t take my eyes off her for even a second, as if drawn into her clear, beautiful eyes… wait, huh?

Sara-san, when did you get there?

「………」

「Pfft… Eri-rin, that’s too bad, wasn’t it?」

「W-Why is it too bad!?」

「No reason… but still, Takanashi-kun, you really can dish out compliments to Sara as easily as breathing.」

「Well, it can’t be helped. That’s just who Kazunari is.」

「That’s Takanashi-kun for you.」

Ugh…

I couldn’t deny that at all, in fact, I felt like I’d been surprisingly honest just now, even to my own surprise.

But if I thought about how it’s just because Sara-san is that special to me, I didn’t feel bad at all… wait?

Hanako-san, weren’t you on my back?

「…Phew, when it comes to stuff like this, I’m completely outmatched.」

「Me too. It’s really impressive that he can say how he feels so directly.」

「No, well…」

Were the two of them bonding over being genuinely moved, or were they just teasing me indirectly…

And even though I wanted to snap back, I couldn’t find the right words.

So…

「Er… well, anyway, shall we head out soon?」

「Y-You’re right. Since we’ve all gathered, it’s a waste of time to just stay here forever.」

「No objections!! Candy apples, buttered potatoes, grilled corn, and everything else are waiting for me!!」

「It’s seriously nothing but food…」

「Shut up, you’re coming with me!!」

「Eeeeek…」

Yuji, who basically couldn’t go against Natsumi-senpai, was apparently already drafted into the gourmand tour.

By the way, we’re passing. The wise man stays away from danger.

「Kazunari-san… if it’s not a bother, would you mind trying the shooting gallery?」

「…Eh? I don’t mind, but shooting galleries at festivals like this usually don’t have any decent prizes…」

「Kazunari, don’t go any further.」

「Oops, my mistake.」

Bad, bad… I almost let a forbidden topic slip… wait, that’s not it.

「Hehe… please rest assured, I understand that perfectly.」

「Um… y-you’re right.」

Sara-san probably only understood the surface level, and the true darkness went much deeper… wait, I should really stop there. It’s not like that for all of them, anyway.

「Well, it’s not that I want a prize… I just want to see your gallant figure once more, Kazunari-san.」

「Eh…?」

「Show me that side of you… one more time…」

「I-I got it! If that’s the case, I’d be happy to!」

Seeing Sara-san blush and say such a wonderful thing, there was no way I wouldn’t get fired up!!

If that’s the case, I’ll give it my all…

「Yuji!! You’re participating too!!」

「Yeah, yeah, I know without you telling me. So Kazunari, I’m in too.」

「Yuji…」

「Ah, I’m joining too, of course. I know I can’t beat you two, but it’s the taking part that counts!」

「Hayato… I got it.」

It seemed like a rematch of the School Festival had been decided unexpectedly.

Things had taken an unexpected turn in an unexpected place, but no matter who my opponent was, I wouldn’t lose for Sara-san’s sake!!

「Whoa, this might get interesting!!」

「It’s okay. Kazunari will win this time too.」

「I wonder about that. It was a close race last time, after all, so Yuji will win this time.」

「You’re as funny as ever. The idea of Kazunari-san losing is impossible, even if the world flipped upside down.」

「U-Um, I think Hayato-kun will do his best too… so…」

And here, an off-field battle had also suddenly begun.

The strongest tag team of Seiryu and Suzaku was clashing head-on with Byakko, sparks flying…

and a chihuahua was timidly joining in from a distance.

How did it come to this… well, it was definitely because of Natsumi-senpai’s love for festivals.

「Now, now, now that that’s settled, let’s really get going. If we stay here forever, we’ll just draw a crowd of eyesores!」

「「Okay!」」

The picture of an older sister leading a group of excited children, or rather, the picture of Nishikawa-san.

But she was right, it definitely seemed like the number of those types was increasing.

We haven’t even arrived yet, and if it’s already like this, what on earth is going to happen…

I might need to find a good time to talk to Nishikawa-san and Yuji about this.