Episode 264: Always Their Own World

Why did it end up like this…

I didn’t want to cause any trouble for Sara-san. That’s why I had absolutely no intention of ever entering her classroom…

And yet… the current situation is the absolute worst.

「…H-Hey… isn’t that him!?」

「…Whoa… speak of the devil.」

「…Is he here to deliver a finishing blow to the guys who already died?」

「…What’s going on? What is even happening here!?」

I’m the one who wants to ask what’s happening!?

Regardless, this is the worst possible development!!

But…

「Yuri, seriously, this is bad!!」

「L-Let go of his arm right now!!」

The two seniors had been frantically warning Yuri-senpai for a while now. But I didn’t have the luxury to care about that.

The biggest source of my panic was the fact that I was going to cause trouble for Sara-san at this rate.

But… that’s not the only thing, after all…

「Now I can see Sara-san.」

No matter what kind of excuses I make, I can’t hide my true feelings in the end.

That’s right, I really wanted to see Sara-san.

Even while thinking pretty words like not wanting to be a bother or just needing a single glimpse, once I found myself in this situation, even if it was due to circumstances beyond my control, I couldn’t help but think that now I might actually get to see her.

So… where is Sara-san?

「It’s fine, she’ll actually be happy—」

Grabb!!

!?

Another hand suddenly reached out and clamped down on Yuri-senpai’s arm, which was still gripping mine.

Then, her arm was yanked upward as if it were being twisted.

「OWOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOW!!!!!!!!!!!!」

「Yuri-san… before you start talking in your sleep, take your hand off him first.」

「「 Hieeeeeeeeeeee!!! 」」

A voice suddenly rang out from right beside me.

Following that, the two seniors who had been warning Yuri-senpai let out shouts that were practically screams.

A dignified, crystal-clear voice.

But it lacked the usual gentleness she directs at me, replaced by a sharp, stern tone mixed with displeasure and anger.

There was no way I could mistake the owner of this voice.

「A-Aaaah…」

Yuri-senpai let out a sound that seemed to carry a sense of total despair.

Standing right next to her, Sara-san was expressionless… no, that’s not quite right. It was a look of cold fury directed at Yuri-san, a silent glare… it’s hard to describe.

But the one thing I could say for sure was that she was radiating an incredibly cold, spine-chilling pressure. And she looked dangerously volatile.

「…S-S-So scary…」

「…I’ve never seen Satsukawa-san like that before.」

「…Whoa, she’s legitimately pissed, isn’t she!?」

「Yuri-san, this is the last time. Take your arm off Kazunari-san. You understand what I am saying, don’t you?」

Vigorously nodding!!!

With her arm still being twisted by Sara-san, Yuri-senpai nodded up and down so hard it looked like she was headbanging. She was desperately appealing that she「understood.」

And then, her other arm that had been wrapped around mine finally let go.

Phew… I managed to escape the dangerous zone (from a guy’s perspective).

「Hmm… you still haven’t learned your lesson, have you… Yuriiiiii!」

Whoa, when did she get here!?

I turned around instinctively to find Natsumi-senpai, who had somehow circled behind us, reaching out for Yuri-senpai. Then, with that same momentum, she began to pinch her cheek as hard as she could.

Yikes, that looks painful.

「Ugyaaaaaa!! Ith hurth, ith hurth, ith hurthhhhhh!!」

「Aaaaah.」

「Told you so…」

「Come on, get over here before Sara kills you!」

While pinching her cheek, Natsumi-senpai gave Yuri-senpai a powerful tug.

Matching that movement, Sara-san let go of her arm.

And as for Yuri-senpai… I’ll say no more…

「Yuri-san, I will never forgive anyone who causes an inconvenience for Kazunari-san… prepare yourself for later.」

「I-I-I’m thorryyyyyy.」

At Sara-san’s remark, which practically dripped with bloodlust, Yuri-senpai stammered out an apology while trembling. Then, with Natsumi-senpai still pulling her cheek, she was slowly led away like some kind of criminal.

…I feel like I’m starting to understand the power dynamic between these people.

「Takanashi-kun, didn’t you come here because you had business? You’d better hurry, there isn’t much time left. I’ll take care of this idiot.」

「Ah… um… okay.」

Natsumi-senpai was right, but in this situation, there was no way I could say something as embarrassing as「I just wanted to see your face.」

「Fufu… this is the first time you have visited me here, Kazunari-san. Is something the matter?」

Reversing her previous demeanor, Sara-san welcomed me with her usual gentle smile. I felt relieved by it, but at the same time, the guilt I’d forgotten came rushing back.

「No, um, I’m sorry.」

「Please do not apologize. I am happy, you know?」

「…………」

「Kazunari-san?」

「Sara-san…」

Ah, it’s no use…

Just having Sara-san right in front of me makes the feelings I’ve been suppressing overflow on their own.

Sara-san is smiling at me, talking to me. She’s by my side.

My favorite, truly beloved Sara-san.

This isn’t a dream or an illusion. As my lover, as my fiancée, not in some world of possibilities, but in reality, Sara-san is standing right next to me.

Softly…

I couldn’t find the words and just kept staring at Sara-san.

But when Sara-san saw my face, she immediately stepped closer and pulled me into an all-encompassing hug.

Not just my body, but my heart too, she literally enveloped everything, healing me. A warm embrace filled with Sara-san’s kindness.

「「「 WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT!? 」」」

「It’s okay… it’s quite alright. I am right here by your side, Kazunari-san. I shall do this for you whenever you wish. So, please do not be afraid…」

Sara-san moved her arm to the back of my head, applying pressure to gently press my face against her chest.

That place was warm and soft, the one spot only I was allowed to be.

「I’m sorry, Sara-san… I…」

「You do not need to force yourself to speak. Once your heart has settled, you can tell me then. For now, just stay like this… and be a good boy, okay?」

Stroke, stroke…

In Sara-san’s infinitely gentle embrace, I found myself unable to say anything more.

Being stroked on the head, being held tight, I felt like I was melting into the comfort of it all…

「…Whoaaaa… dragging him here was totally worth it.」

「…Wow… seeing this right in front of me is way too crazy…」

「…Satsukawa-san’s face is… sweet… sweet… sweet…」

「「「 AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!! 」」」

「…Yikes, this is total overkill for the boys.」

「…So Satsukawa-san can make an expression like that too…」

「…I-I mean, the way she treats him is way too different from other guys, isn’t it?」

「Haa… honestly, Sara, I didn’t tell you to go that far, you know?」

「I simply judged that for the current Kazunari-san, this would be better than talking. Right, Kazunari-san?」

「U-Um… yeth.」

It wasn’t just because Hanako-san told me to, but somewhere in my heart, I had wanted to feel at peace. I can’t deny that it ultimately led to me wanting to be pampered by Sara-san.

And I guess Sara-san saw right through those feelings, which is how we ended up like this.

「…However, unfortunately, we do not have much time left.」

Right… I hadn’t even thought about the time.

I couldn’t see a clock, but it felt like the bell could ring any second. It’s a shame, but I should probably wrap this up.

「Sara-san, thank you. I’m okay now.」

I knew perfectly well that saying I was okay in this state had zero credibility. But I couldn’t just keep acting like a spoiled kid forever.

「Are you truly alright? If you are lying, that’s a no-no, alright?」

「…Guhhk!!」

「…Yuriiiiiiiii!!」

「…Did she say it!? Satsukawa-san just said ‘no-no’!?」

「I feel like I’ve seen this scene somewhere before…」

「「「 …KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!! 」」」

「…Satsukawa-san is way too cute!!」

「…What was that ‘no-no’!? What was that!? Her character has changed too much!!!!」

「「「 …GUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!! 」」」

「Yes, I’m really okay now. Because Sara-san did this for me, I’m already fine.」

Honestly, I think I’m simple enough to make myself laugh.

But just by having her do this, the panic and anxiety I felt earlier, and everything else, just blew away.

Pointless「what-ifs」are ultimately just「past possibilities that might have been,」and there’s no reason to feel anxious in this reality.

Because the fact is, we’re like this.

「Fufu, I am glad to hear it. I shall… finish the rest for you after we finish lunch, alright?」

「…Please.」

I didn’t mean it as a quip, but my true feelings just spilled out.

Maybe I’m still carrying it with me unconsciously in a different sense, but right now, I just can’t suppress my feelings for Sara-san.

「…………」

「Sara-san?」

What is it?

Sara-san’s reaction…

Squeeeeeze

「S-Sara-san!?」

In a complete reversal from her previous calm, Sara-san suddenly hugged me with all her might.

My face was completely buried between those two soft, happy things, and I couldn’t even move.

「…You are unfair. If you show me such a cute side of yourself, Kazunari-san, then I won’t be able to let you go, will I…?」

T-This is a problem…

I know in my head that I have to leave, but I don’t want to leave either…

「「「 GUHHK!!! 」」」

「「「 KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!! 」」」

!!??

C-Crap!?

I forgot this was Sara-san’s classroom!!!

「…A… a… a… AAAAAAAAAA」

「…It’s a lie… this has to be a lie.」

「…I can’t… I can’t, this is just too much.」

「「「 …Aaaaaaaaaah 」」」

「Ah-ha, don’t look at me… Sara, you’re going to run out of time!」

I did it again. I did it again.

And this time, in Sara-san’s classroom… I definitely caused trouble for her, didn’t I!?

I’m reluctant to go, but I really have to get back to my room!!

「Sara-san, thank you very much. I’m going back to class.」

「Yes. I shall hold you properly later, alright?」

Sara-san slowly released her hold on me, looking just as reluctant.

I also had a hard time making the final break, but I steeled myself and pulled away.

And once we separated, we just stared at each other for a brief moment.

Yeah, I’m okay now.

Oh, and a word to Natsumi-senpai…

「Natsumi-senpai, sorry for the commotion.」

「Don’t worry about me, you’d better get back to your own class fast!」

「Heh heh, Takanashi-kun, I’m glad—HIGYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!」

「You stay quiet!!」

Natsumi-senpai pinched Yuri-senpai with all her strength.

That looked like it really hurt… although I think she deserved it.

But since I got to see Sara-san as a result, I’ll offer a mental thanks to Yuri-senpai anyway.

「Sara-san, see you later.」

「Yes.」

Sara-san wore a broad smile and waved as she sent me off.

I waved back, and as I left the room and closed the door…

「「「 IT’S A LIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!! 」」」

「HOGYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!! IT HURTHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!」

「Yuri-san, come here for a second!!!!!!」

…Anyway, time to head back to class.