Episode 363: Matching

Since we stood out so much during the School Festival, our visibility today is off the charts too.

Not to mention, all the girls are in yukatas today… on top of having all three beauties together, with a lineup like this, there was no way literal「festival mood」idiots wouldn’t start crawling out of the woodwork.

But strangely enough, a mysterious phenomenon has been occurring where the guys I’ve flagged as potential threats just seem to vanish into thin air, so… it’s been perfectly peaceful so far, which is a huge help.

「…Takanashi-san, thank you for your concern.」

「Nishikawa-san?」

「I’ve increased the personnel compared to last year, so nothing should happen. Please rest assured.」

「I-I see. Then, well.」

I had plenty of things to nitpick about what「increased personnel」and「rest assured」meant, but… well, it’s Nishikawa-san.

For now, I’m imagining something like that wall of people who secured a space for us during the beauty pageant.

「Hehe… it seems Tachibana-san and Yokogawa-san managed to hand theirs over safely too.」

「Eh? …Ah, oh, the brooches?」

「Yes. As someone present during the making, I was curious.」

「Right… they were hesitating for a while. Oh, did you give one to Tachikawa-san too?」

「Yes. When I took her home after the School Festival…」

I only just noticed it, but「that」brooch is pinned to Tachikawa-san’s yukata sash, just like the matching ones Sara-san and the others have.

But…

「Hehe… if I’d known it would be like this, I should have made one for myself too.」

Nishikawa-san laughed self-deprecatingly as she said that, and as expected, there was nothing on her yukata.

I hadn’t anticipated this situation at all, so I never thought she’d end up feeling「left out」… I should have given it to her sooner.

Honestly… I’m no better than those other guys.

「Nishikawa-san, this.」

「Yes?」

I pulled a plain, unadorned little paper bag out of my drawstring pouch. Nishikawa-san tilted her head curiously as she accepted it.

「Um, what is this?」

「Open it and see.」

「Y-Yes.」

Nishikawa-san stared at the bag with a tense expression and slowly peeled off the tape.

Once she finished, she reached into the bag with a look of trepidation.

「…Eh?」

What appeared from the bag was, of course, one of the brooches I’d made that day.

The shape was different from the ones I gave Sara-san or Hanako-san… in fact, I’d made every single one, including Natsumi-senpai’s, a different shape, so you could say they were custom-made.

However, they’re still just made of beads, so there’s no denying they look a bit cheap overall.

「Eh… w-why? Um… this is?」

「I’m always in your debt, Nishikawa-san. Of course, I don’t think a single thing like this is enough of a thanks.」

「………」

「And… as a best friend, I also just wanted to give you something personal. I’m sorry it’s such a cheap little…」

「That’s not true!!」

「!?」

Nishikawa-san, who had been staring intently at the brooch, suddenly shouted and looked at me.

Her expression seemed troubled… or maybe like she was holding back joy, I felt like I could see a glimpse of that complexity.

「This brooch is more than anything I’m wearing right now… no!! Compared to all those calculating, expensive gifts I’ve received, there’s no comparison!!」

「Eh, no…」

「But… um, is it really okay for me to receive this?」

She lowered her eyes and cast a quick, apologetic glance toward where… I didn’t even have to check, Sara-san was surely standing.

It’s true that if I’d given this to her in secret, Sara-san might have had some thoughts even if I didn’t mean anything by it, but.

「Sara?」

「There’s no problem at all. I’ve already heard about this from Kazunari-san… and besides.」

「This is so typical of Kazunari.」

「Yes. Kazunari-san is a wonderful man who can be naturally considerate like this… as for me, I have no words other than proud.」

「In the end, you’re just flirting again!!」

「I’m not flirting. Besides, why would I not be happy that my husband is a wonderful gentleman?」

「Similarly, there is no big sister who wouldn’t be happy.」

「Ugh… I knew their answers from the start… I’m so stupid!!」

Natsumi-senpai stomped her feet in frustration and glared at me for some reason… though the comments from the unshakeable Sara-san and Hanako-san were one thing.

To begin with, there’s no way I wouldn’t report this kind of thing to Sara-san.

At most, I just hadn’t decided when to hand it over.

「Nishikawa-san?」

「…Thank you. In that case, I’ll accept it without hesitation.」

「Yes, please do.」

She finally seemed to be at ease. Nishikawa-san wore a beaming smile and hurriedly started pinning the brooch on. She seemed a bit flustered, though, as her hands were a little shaky.

「Hehe… how is it?」

Looking happily at the brooch on her yukata sash, Nishikawa-san struck a light pose like a fashion model. She was blushing, though, so she must have been quite embarrassed.

「Yeah, yeah, it suits you well… wait, you prepared one for me too, but didn’t you make one for yourself!?」

「Ahaha… I didn’t think that far.」

「Hey, Takanashi-kun. Did you predict things would turn out like this?」

「No, I didn’t really predict it. But I realized your portion was missing when I made them… so I wanted to make one and give it to you.」

I don’t think something like this makes up for all she does for me, but it was just a small token of my gratitude and a gift from a best friend.

「Kazunari made them for Satsukawa-senpai’s parents and even his own parents… but I didn’t realize he’d even prepared one for Nishikawa-san. I didn’t notice that.」

「Really. Being that considerate in a situation like that is something I have to take my hat off to.」

「Ehehe… as expected of Takanashi-kun!!」

「N-No, this is…」

It didn’t feel bad to be praised like this, but I felt like it was only natural… because if anyone else were in my position, they probably would have done the same thing.

So, as far as I’m concerned, I don’t think I did anything particularly special.

「Hehe… you’re truly wonderful, Kazunari-san♪」

「Big sister is proud too.」

Even so, seeing Sara-san and Hanako-san looking as happy as if it were their own success made me feel a little bit proud.

「Takanashi-san… thank you again. Honestly, this is the first time in my life I’ve felt happy about a gift from a man.」

「Eh!? R-Really?」

「Yes! So I will cherish this brooch as a treasure♪」

「I-I understand.」

It was rare to see Nishikawa-san frolicking and showing her joy so openly… but that’s exactly why I knew she wasn’t just being polite and was genuinely happy.

So, I guess this is what they call a rewarding feeling.

「Ah, I see it!!」

Right after we turned at the intersection, Todo-san, who was walking in front, called out happily… and what came into view was a crowd and a row of stalls beyond anything we’d seen so far. The stall lights were shining brightly, creating a scene that felt like a whole other world from here on.

「Alright, let’s go!!」

「N-Natsumi-san!?」

「Whoa, wait, Yuzuki-senpai!!」

「Sigh, Natsumi is such a child.」

「Hayato-kun, let’s go too!!」

「Yeah, shall we?」

After seeing that sight, Natsumi-senpai started a mad dash as if she couldn’t wait another second. Yuji chased right after her, and everyone else followed.

And…

「Kazunari, let’s go too.」

「Kazunari-san, shall we?」

「Yes!」

Well then, let’s…

Enjoy the festival to the fullest!!

「Are you really going to eat all of that?」

「Of course!! Why wouldn’t I eat what I bought!!」

Right now, Natsumi-senpai was in the middle of a grilled food party with takoyaki, skewers, and grilled corn in both hands. And since she said this was only the beginning, I had a feeling this food tour was going to be even bigger than she’d declared.

「H-Here, Yuji!!」

「Wh-What?」

Natsumi-senpai shoved a piece of takoyaki on a toothpick toward him, looking a bit grumpy and blushing slightly.

If she’s embarrassed, she should just be bold about it, but the way she suddenly reverts to her normal self is quite maidenly.

「L-Look!!」

「Eh, wait!?」

And Yuji was also glancing over here, looking like he was bothered by something.

Caring about what people think in a situation like this, he’s still… just kidding.

「Here, Kazunari-san, say aahn…」

「Aahn… chomp… mgh mgh… yeah, not bad.」

「Hehe… this texture is the type you like, Kazunari-san.」

「Yeah. I’m definitely on the chewy side.」

By the way, Sara-san and I were enjoying a crepe we just bought at a food truck. Since we want to try a little bit of everything, we’re basically sharing.

「…Kazunari-san, don’t move, okay?」

「Eh? …Wap.」

Sara-san pulled out a handkerchief and carefully wiped around my mouth. Did I have cream or something on me?

「…Guaaa!! They’re flirting again!!!」

「…I finally got to see a goddess in a yukata, but I don’t want to see that!!!」

「…He is the enemy!! An eternal enemy to our association of single guys!!!」

「…Wow. As expected, there’s already an uproar.」

「Well, those two don’t care about the carnage around them at all.」

「…A-Ahaha, they’re standing out as much as ever, it’s a bit embarrassing…」

For the record, it’s not that I don’t care at all about the eyes around us. But since Sara-san’s stance is to not care at all, I naturally end up that way too… though it’s a bit late for that.

Besides, there’s no need to even think about which one takes priority.

「Hey, hey, just a… whoa!?」

「You, you’re so cu… h-h-hey…」

Suddenly, a pair of flashy guys called out (clearly aiming for Sara-san)… but the moment I thought that, they bumped into a mysterious group that appeared from nowhere and were forcibly taken… I mean, carted off.

Apparently, the reason we’ve been able to spend our time in peace was because of this… I’m honestly grateful, though.

「Kazunari-san, say aahn♪」

「Aahn.」

「Kazunari, next is this.」

「Hanako-san, I cannot permit that.」

「Regrettable…」

Hanako-san’s shoulders slumped at Sara-san’s coolly delivered refusal. But I guess an「indirect whatever」is outside the allowed range, so it can’t be helped.

「Hmm… does Satsukawa-senpai feel a bit different than usual?」

「Really? I’m not particularly conscious of it…」

「Mgh mgh… isn’t it that? Maybe she’s remembering the summer festival.」

「Natsumi, stop talking while you’re eating. It’s unrefined.」

「Now, now, let’s not sweat the small stuff… chomp.」

「Summer festival… ah, you mean when Takanashi-kun confessed to Satsukawa-senpai?」

「Yeah. I remember that day vividly.」

Indeed… even without Natsumi-senpai saying it, that day is an irreplaceable memory for us that we’ll never forget for the rest of our lives.

So, it’s only natural that even just the elements of a「festival」and「yukatas」would strongly remind us of it.

「Hehe… indeed, being like this brings back memories of that day.」

「Me too. Being that nervous and gathering all my courage… it was a first in my life.」

「For me too, feeling that happy was a first in my life. In fact, just remembering it like this… I’m so happy I could shiver.」

Was she remembering that day?

Sara-san looked at me with moist eyes and softly leaned against my right arm.

But I felt exactly the same way.

「When I think that the infinite happiness in my hands right now started from that moment on that day… everything related to it feels precious.」

「It’s the same for me. And from now on, I’ll be with you… by your side.」

「Yes. I will definitely make you the happiest person in the world.」

「I’ll definitely make you the happiest, Sara-san…」

「Hehe… in that case, I’m already the happiest woman in the world, you know?」

「No, no, then I’m also…」

「Kazunari-san…」

「Sara-san…」

「They’re starting again…」

「Honestly, going straight into their own world from the tiniest trigger is quite a feat.」

「How many times do I have to tell you not to feed the stupid couple?」

「「Yes… sorry…」」

I can hear you perfectly, you know.

I don’t know why Natsumi-senpai and Tachikawa-san are bowing their heads there…

And Nishikawa-san, please don’t look at me with such a fed-up face. Those eyes are a bit scary.