Episode 250: The Usual Ending

It turned out that for some reason, Hanako-san and I had been slapped with some nonsensical accusation of being「lovers who enjoy a big sister and little brother setting.」

That in itself was surprising, but the fact that people thought I was the kind of person who enjoyed something so… problematic… no, the fact that they were convinced that was the case with us was a bit of a shock.

Just how exactly had our classmates been looking at us until now?

「Do not get the wrong idea. Or rather, do not say such baseless things when you know nothing at all.」

「Ugh…」

「Sorry… maybe we interpreted things a bit too conveniently…」

Hanako-san wasn’t hiding her indignation, and she questioned the two of them with a sharp tone.

Interpreting things conveniently means there was a part of them that intentionally chose to interpret things in a more「interesting」way. I used to see girls like this all the time back then, so honestly, I have no desire to get involved with them.

「Hey, did you tell the whole class that, by any chance?」

「We wouldn’t say it to everyone. Just, you know, our group of friends in class… mostly…」

At least they seem to have some sense of guilt, given their apologetic attitude. From the look of things, it doesn’t seem like they’re lying, but I wonder how big that「group」actually is.

And as is often the case, I can already see the punchline: it’s definitely spread from there to everyone else in the end.

「H-Hey… are you and Hanasaki-san really not a couple, Takanashi-kun?」

「We are not.」

「But she said you were precious to her!」

「Is it strange to have someone precious to you even if you aren’t lovers?」

「Eh!? N-No, it’s not that…」

Hanako-san is usually bad at explaining things, but today she was making her points clearly and effectively. Her voice was blunt and her responses were mechanical, but that actually cut out the fluff and made the conversation move along quickly.

And as various things were revealed to be misunderstandings, even the classmates who weren’t part of the conversation started wearing expressions of shock.

That meant there was no doubt the entire class had been mistaken about my relationship with Hanako-san.

…Well, I guess some of that is unavoidable if you don’t know the circumstances.

「S-So, things aren’t like that between you and Hanasaki-san, right, Takanashi!?」

Just as almost all the misunderstandings were cleared up, Yamakawa cut into the conversation with a level of excitement that was clearly different from those around him.

…Right, now that I think about it, this guy was misunderstood too.

Yamakawa, who had fallen in love with Hanako-san at first sight, had been quite proactive about trying to talk to her, especially at the beginning. Hanako-san had brushed him off like he was a nuisance, but before I knew it, I’d stopped seeing him do that.

I thought he’d just given up after getting no response, but looking at this, that probably wasn’t it.

Like the other classmates, he likely misunderstood our relationship and was trying to give up.

「You are persistent. I told you we aren’t.」

「Ohhh, yes!」

Those were Hanako-san’s annoyed words of denial.

But Yamakawa let out a cry of joy because he’d gotten the answer he was hoping for. Normally, this is the kind of scene where I’d want to tell him「Good for you,」but since I clearly understand Hanako-san’s feelings…

「In the first place, Kazunari’s lover is right there.」

And finally, Hanako-san brought the straying conversation back to the main point…

As if to prove that she wasn’t my lover…

She slowly shifted her gaze to lead everyone’s eyes toward「there.」

Following her lead, everyone’s eyes gathered toward the spot Hanako-san was looking at.

Of course, there was only one person at the end of that gaze.

The Goddess who had been watching the turn of events with a slightly displeased look… because only Sara-san was standing there.

The boys stared blankly at Sara-san, and eventually, they began to shake their heads as if denying something. And then, their gaze began to look like they were clinging to Sara-san for something, as if they were seeking salvation from a Goddess.

「…H-Hey… it’s not true… right?」

「…N-No way… that’s impossible… there’s no way…」

「…B-But then, what about that thing we saw earlier…」

「…No way… really…」

The boys let out voices filled with a desperate hope that it was a mistake and that they didn’t want to believe it.

Thinking about it that way, this look of seeking salvation from Sara-san was just like Yamakawa’s earlier, expecting a word of denial like「That is incorrect.」

No, they were probably begging for it.

But… that’s exactly why…

It might sound bad, but this might be the perfect timing for me too.

Even now, these guys look like they don’t want to believe it. If I had been talking alone, there’s a high chance I would have been laughed off and ignored.

But Sara-san is here right now.

Now that the conversation has gone this far, there’s no reason to keep quiet and let it pass.

If I make a declaration and Sara-san acknowledges it, these guys will have no choice but to accept it.

If I make the declaration during this chance, I might be able to reduce the number of guys hitting on Sara-san before the beauty contest. That’s exactly what I want.

Even though it came out of nowhere, this is my chance to make a declaration.

Alright…

「Everyone, listen for a sec…」

「Yes. If you are looking for Kazunari-san’s lover, that would be me.」

「「「 ……………………………………………Eh???? 」」」

「To be more precise, I am his fiancée rather than just his lover.」

Wait…?

Uh… my resolution… no, wait, has something like this happened before…?

As if it were the most natural thing in the world, as if there were no room for doubt, Sara-san made the declaration so simply, so decisively.

And then…

The eyes that had been gathered on Sara-san all turned toward me at once.

As if they had seen or heard something unbelievable, they all looked at me as if to ask,「Is that story true?」

Even though Sara-san had just made a clear declaration as if to say,「Why state the obvious?」

Even so… my classmates looked like they didn’t understand what had been said to them.

As they stared at me blankly, it was as if they were simply demanding an explanation for what was going on…

But on the flip side, that meant the opportunity for me to speak had come around.

「T-Takanashi… what… does this mean…?」

「F-Fiancée?… Fiancée… Fiancée??」

「…Does that… I mean…?」

「…E-Eh, T-Takanashi-kun… with Satsukawa-senpai…」

「Yeah, Sara-san and I are engaged.」

「Yes. Kazunari-san is the one who will become my husband.」

I finally managed to say it!

What’s more, we were able to declare it together!

With all these conditions met, these guys should have no choice but to accept it.

「「「 …………………………………………… 」」」

Suddenly, I realized I’ve had a lot of experiences lately where people are surprised by me.

The reason, of course, is that they’re surprised by my relationship with Sara-san.

The big fuss during the break earlier was one thing, but my close friends and all the student council members have been shocked every time I’ve reported my relationship with Sara-san.

In other words, what I’m trying to say is…

The classmates right in front of me now were far surpassing anything I’d seen before.

Their eyes and mouths were wide open to the limit, and yet, not even a faint whisper came out.

I’ve heard that when people are truly shocked from the bottom of their hearts, they can’t even make a sound. In other words, isn’t this exactly that?

However, that also seemed to be temporary…

「「「 WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 」」」

「「「 IT IS A LIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 」」」

!!??

A massive synchronized scream, split perfectly between the guys and the girls.

The shout, which far exceeded my imagination, sounded almost like a cry from the soul (mainly from the guys).

I thought the earlier commotion was amazing, but this was on a completely different level.

Having such a loud voice directed at me, I was the one feeling flustered in a different way now.

「It’s a lie… it’s a lie… it’s a lie… it’s a LIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!」

「Satsukawa-senpaiiiiiii, Satsukawa-senpaiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!!」

「Takanashi… with Satsukawa-senpai… marriage!? …Aaaaaagh!!!」

「Aaaaaaaaah, God is deaddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd.」

Guys shaking their heads and making a scene, guys drifting away like sleepwalkers, guys hanging their heads and crying out, guys whose eyes wouldn’t focus as if they were in a daze… the reactions were truly varied and diverse.

「No way, no way, no way… seriously… seriously!?」

「…Whaaaaa!? No way, no way, no way, I can’t believe it… this isn’t a dream!!??」

「Kyaaaaaaaaa, this is crazy, crazy, crazy!!!!!!」

Unlike the guys, the girls weren’t denying reality but were simply excited and hyped up. They were looking at each other and making a huge fuss, saying「This is crazy!」

…Unrelated, but I wonder why girls always repeat「This is crazy」when they make a scene?

「S-S-Satsukawa-senpai, is it true!!!!????」

「It’s a lie, right!!!! Marriage with Takanashi is a lie, right!!!!????」

「Please tell us it’s a joke!!! Please!!!!!!」

Even though she’d said it so clearly, they still didn’t believe it… no, they just didn’t want to believe it.

With desperate looks on their faces, the boys crowded around Sara-san, seeking a word of denial.

And Sara-san gave those boys a cold look.

「I am neither bored nor eccentric enough to tell jokes to strangers I have not the slightest interest in. Also, you are being a nuisance, so move away.」

「Not the slightest!?」

「No interest!?」

「A nuisance!?」

「Wife, you’re being too honest.」

「My apologies, it was just bothersome.」

「「「「「 BOTHERSOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!?????????? 」」」」」

A gaze as cold as ice and a voice so emotionless it felt like pure loathing.

It’s been a long time since I’ve seen Sara-san this strict. To be honest, it makes me happy in my own way…

Lately, I felt like she’d become more approachable, but it seems she hasn’t changed at all toward other guys.

「Takanashiiiiiiii!!! Is it trueeeeeeeee!!!」

「It’s a lie, right!? It’s a joke, right!?」

「If you’re going to be honest, now’s the time!!!!!!!」

And then, the guys who still couldn’t give up rushed toward me too. Grabbing onto my body with desperate looks, they tried to make one last stand, demanding I deny the answer they should already know.

This is annoying, do I have to be even clearer!

「Knock it off!! I proposed to Sara-san because I love her!! And she accepted. It is not a lie or a joke, it is the truth!!」

Not to repeat Sara-san’s words, but this is seriously a nuisance!

It’s embarrassing to make such a clear declaration, but this isn’t the time for that!

I threw the declaration at the guys who wouldn’t give up, intending it to be a final ultimatum. I put all my strength into it, a serious declaration that included my actual feelings!

If I say this much, even these guys who are slow to understand should get it. In fact, if they can’t understand this, then dealing with them is just too much of a pain.

「「「 ………………… 」」」

Whether they were surprised by my intensity or the words finally got through, the people crowding me were suddenly standing there blankly.

And my declaration, which was practically a shout, seemed to have drawn attention not only from the group making a fuss but also from the classmates who weren’t participating. All the attention that had been on Sara-san was now on me.

But the same was true for Sara-san…

With her cheeks flushed red, she was staring at my face dreamily, as if she were in a fever.

I couldn’t take my eyes off Sara-san like that, and when our eyes met…

A joyful smile overflowed from Sara-san, and she happily and slowly hugged my chest.

「I am so happy… that was the first time you have said you love me, Kazunari-san…」

「…Eh? Wait? I-Is that so?」

There’s no way… but even when I tried to remember… now that she mentioned it, I felt like I didn’t actually have a memory of saying it like that myself…

「Yes! You are quite shy, Kazunari-san, so you do not say things directly very often.」

It’s true that there were various things I wanted to say but couldn’t because it was embarrassing.

That said, this is a different matter. Even though Sara-san had been saying she loved me all this time… it meant I hadn’t been properly saying it back.

I feel so bad for Sara-san!

「I-I’m sorry… but, about Sara-san… um… I-I… I do love… you… after all.」

As I said it, I felt disappointed in myself.

I was able to say it so clearly earlier, but the moment I became conscious of it, I couldn’t say it smoothly. It’s not that I couldn’t say it, but I don’t think this counts as having said it, even for me.

Why am I like this… I should at least be a little more…

「Fufu… you are so cute, Kazunari-san. It is alright. I have received your feelings quite clearly.」

Even so, the kind Sara-san was genuinely happy even with my clumsy「I love you.」It made me realize my own patheticness all over again, but I have to do my best so I can at least say it more naturally.

「Of course, I love you too… my dear husband♪」

「Me too… Sara.」

「Fufu… well done. You shall have a reward later.」

I think my response this time was one of the best I’ve ever done.

Since Sara-san evaluated it that way too, she even said she’d give me a reward.

I still fumble a bit with the response to being called「husband.」But I think I’ve become able to give a decent response in my own way.

In exchange, the punishments might disappear, which feels like a bit of a waste in its own way…

No, but if I feel like it, I could always just take the plunge and act spoiled…

「Idiot couple, think about where you are.」

「「 ! 」」

Hanako-san’s sharp voice was full of exasperation. Hearing that, we realized we’d entered our own world before we knew it.

Having been pulled back to reality, I quickly checked my surroundings…

And there, a scene 180 degrees different from before was unfolding.

「「「 ……………………………….. 」」」

「…Haha… it’s a dream… this is a dream… yes, this is a dream… dream… dream…」

「…M-My Goddess is……… the Goddess is………」

「…Husband… husband… it’s a lieeeeeee」

「…I see…… so that’s how it is……」

「…It’s impossible… it’s just impossible now…」

The group that had been crowded around us began to retreat one by one with blank expressions.

Hanging their heads as if they could no longer recover, they slunk back to their seats… no, some were even picking up their things and leaving the classroom.

Their melancholy backs almost seemed to have the word「Despair」floating over them… and none of the classmates watching them said a word to the retreating boys.

And before I knew it…

The boys who had been around us had all disappeared. And only about a third of the boys remained in the classroom.

「T-Takanashi-kun… you’re amazing…… in various ways.」

「…W-What was that just now?」

「The atmosphere changed all of a sudden, didn’t it…」

「A-As expected of a fiancé… to have Satsukawa-senpai… act like that… it’s like a lie…」

「Ah, by the way, while you and Satsukawa-senpai were flirting, the boys’ eyes were completely dead (lol).」

And the lukewarm gazes and reactions from the girls… hurt a little.

It seems I successfully managed to win this battle, which could be called the opening skirmish for the beauty contest.

However, the reason for that victory wasn’t something cool like my determined efforts, but simply the same messy conclusion as usual.