Episode 114: Yukata

「So, what happened?」

Seeing how Sara-senpai wouldn’t leave my side, Natsumi-senpai spoke to us with an exasperated look.

「Well… let’s just say they’re getting along.」

Hayato gave a bit of awkward backup while laughing wryly.

It was lunch break(?), and we were supposed to eat together. When we arrived at the meeting spot, it looked like Hayato and Natsumi-senpai had already met up.

Initially, Natsumi-senpai had a wry smile when she saw me show up with Sara-senpai stuck to me, but after seeing Sara-senpai refuse to let go, she seemed to have become fed up.

「Sara-senpai.」

A pouting Sara-senpai is cute too, but I felt bad leaving her in that mood.

I called her name and tried petting her head.

「I’m sorry, Sara-senpai. Next time I’ll turn them down more clearly… It doesn’t make me happy to be talked to by anyone other than you.」

As I told her that slowly while stroking her head, Sara-senpai seemed to cheer up, and her clinging changed into a gentle lean.

「…Man, I know, I know, but that Satsukawa-senpai… even seeing it right in front of me, I still can’t believe it.」

Hayato was looking at us with an expression that said he’d just seen something unbelievable.

「It’s okay, even I didn’t think it’d turn out like this.」

I wonder what exactly was “okay” about it…

「Here, say ahh.」

Munch. Munch, munch.

「Hey? Isn’t your right hand already… no, never mind.」

I thought Natsumi-senpai was going to make a quip, but she suddenly seemed to remember something and pulled back.

That was a reaction I hadn’t seen before…

By the way, Hayato was still eating his bento with that surprised look on his face.

I should probably get to the main topic quickly.

「So, because of an invitation from Mayumi-sa… Sara-senpai’s mother, we’re able to go to a fireworks festival. I was wondering what you guys thought?」

「I’m down! I happen to have a day off from club activities. How about the boys?」

「Yes, we’re off too. But is it really okay for me to go along?」

Hayato asked tentatively, probably worrying more about Sara-senpai than Natsumi-senpai.

When I looked at Sara-senpai, she nodded as if to say she understood.

「…Whoa, these two are communicating with their eyes.」

I ignored Natsumi-senpai’s quip for now.

「Yokogawa-san, please don’t worry about me. Since Kazunari-san is the one inviting you, I have no problem with it at all.」

「Hayato, let’s go together.」

Hearing Sara-senpai’s subtle persuasion and my words, Hayato nodded happily.

「Thanks, then I’ll go with you… Kazunari, thanks.」

The reason he went out of his way to thank me twice was probably because he felt he’d been given a chance with Natsumi-senpai.

Actually, as a friend, I want to give him at least that much support. Plus, selfishly, since I want to be alone with Sara-senpai, I have the ulterior motive of wanting to leave Natsumi-senpai in his care.

「Alright, it’s decided then! Nfufu… that means I’ve gotta break out the yukata. Takanashi-kun and Yokogawa-kun might just fall for me.」

「As far as Kazunari-san is concerned, such a thing will not happen, so there will be no trouble, you know?」

Sara-senpai replied to Natsumi-senpai’s joke with a straight face.

Even though it’s a fact, Sara-senpai getting worked up over little things is cute.

When I arrived at the station, Hayato was already there.

It looked like he just came in normal casual clothes.

Since Sara-senpai was wearing a yukata, I wanted to come in a yukata or something similar too, but I only had those at my parents’ house, so I had to come in casual clothes.

If Hayato had shown up in a yukata or a jinbei, I would’ve really stood out…

「Kazunari-san, sorry to keep you waiting.」

「Sorry to keep you both waiting!」

Hearing Sara-senpai and Natsumi-senpai’s voices from behind, I turned around. And there stood Sara-senpai in a yukata…

「…………」

I guess this is what people mean when they say they’re at a loss for words.

Sara-senpai in a yukata was… truly, truly beautiful. Her long, straight black hair was pinned up, and she was carrying a cute cat-patterned drawstring bag.

And that yukata appearance… it’s over for me.

I feel pathetic for my lack of vocabulary that only lets me call this「beautiful.」How on earth can I praise this Sara-senpai with a satisfactory expression?

「…Kazunari-san.」

「……………」

「? Takanashi-kun?」

「Hey, Kazunari?」

「……………」

「This is hopeless.」

I was so entranced that I couldn’t hear the voices around me.

「Um… Kazunari-san…」

「Sara-senpai… you’re really beautiful. I want to say so much more, but I just can’t think of the words…」

Being too moved, the thoughts in my head just slipped out. When I said that, Sara-senpai looked down and started fidgeting shyly.

「I’m sorry, but you’re just so beautiful that I…」

「Th-thank you. I understand. I understand that you’re happy, so please leave it at that… um, it’s embarrassing…」

With a bright red face, Sara-senpai timidly approached me. When she got right beside me, she clung to my arm as if to hide her face.

Sara-senpai was so cute like that, and we just stood there like statues until Natsumi-senpai got mad at us.