Episode 344: Blessings

「Marina-san, don’t think about anything else… I just want you to tell me your feelings.」

「My… feelings?」

「Yeah. Forget the matching, the voices around us, and all the extra stuff, and just tell me… Marina-san’s feelings?」

I speak to her slowly, carefully, and gently, so Marina-san does not get unnecessarily nervous.

Thanks to Kazunari, I feel like the sadness Marina-san was showing earlier and her frightened gestures have faded a bit.

She still seems a little confused… but I’m sure she will listen to what I have to say calmly now.

「Um… well. I have never dated a boy before, so I couldn’t really feel my own feelings… but… but you know? During the tennis match, when I saw the people around me calling you by name, Hayato-kun… I felt frustrated. I wondered why I was calling you Yokogawa-kun when everyone else was calling you by your name. When I thought about that… I suddenly felt so frustrated…」

「…Why did you feel frustrated?」

「Yeah… I didn’t know why I was frustrated myself. But you know… when I thought that, all the times I spent with Hayato-kun and your happy smile just kept… kept coming to my mind. I thought to myself that I was the girl who gets along with Hayato-kun the most… that I’m the one by your side more than anyone… and when I thought that, I was able to call your name. Then Hayato-kun won the match and called only my name… when I realized I was special, I felt happy and full of joy… so you see, this feeling of mine is surely… surely…」

The thing Marina-san was feeling then was likely a sense of rivalry born from jealousy.

It was a sign of possessiveness toward me, and it must have been born from the desire to be by my side more than anyone else.

If that is the case… then I have no reason to hesitate anymore!!

「Marina-san, I will say it again… no, I will say it as many times as it takes. I want you… only you, to be by my side. I want you to be laughing by my side always. I want you to be happy. I love your smile… just having you next to me makes my heart warm. It makes me feel happy. Because you are that kind of person, I don’t want to let you go. I don’t want to give you to anyone else!!」

「I… I want to be by Hayato-kun’s side too… I want to be the closest one to you while you laugh. Because… because I love Hayato-kun. I don’t want to see Hayato-kun laughing by the side of any girl other than me… I don’t even want to imagine it. I don’t want any other girl to take you. Even though I’m the girl who is closest to Hayato-kun… and yet, why did I!! …I…… hyah!?」

My body moved naturally… even I was surprised by it.

It was too slow even to go down the stairs, so I jumped off the stage all at once and ran straight toward Marina-san.

Giving myself over to that momentum, I reached out my arms and…

The body of Marina-san, whom I hugged for the first time, was surprisingly small… and fragile…

So I gently but firmly pulled her into my arms, as if to make sure I did not break my most precious treasure.

「Ha, ha, Hayato-kun!!??」

「Thank you… Marina-san. I am happy… that you said you love me.」

「Eh…… love? Hayato-kun…… me… fwahhhhhhhhhhhh!!!???」

「M-Marina-san!?」

「I, I, I said I love you… I said I loved you out loud!? I really said it!!!!」

「Marina-san?」

「Hieeeeeee…」

When I tightened my hug slightly, Marina-san let out a soundless scream… eventually she went quiet, and when I stole a glance at her face, it was bright red as if she had reached her limit…

But you know…

When you show me an expression like that… I also…

「Marina-san… you don’t need to care about what others say at all. It doesn’t matter. The important thing is how I and you feel, and no one can bind that. I will not let anyone interfere. If someone says something, I will…」

「That is right. If your feelings for each other are mutual, there is no need to hesitate for even a second.」

「Sa, Satsukawa… senpai?」

「The nonsense of the masses is not worth worrying about. Why should two people who love each other hold back for the sake of something so worthless? It is nothing more than the howling of a loser, a pathetic and miserable whimper.」

「Ugh!?」

The voice of Satsukawa-senpai, which did not hide any of her various feelings of contempt, echoed through the entire venue, enough to make one feel a chill just by listening.

At that cold and sharp tone, the audience that had been making a commotion went silent all at once… and I felt Marina-san catch her breath slightly in my arms.

「Todo-san, you said that we were amazing, did you not? And that you have nothing. But… that is not possible, you know? If you were truly a person with nothing, there is no way you could act alongside us.」

「…Eh?」

「You have a warm and gentle atmosphere that puts those around you at ease. You have a straightforward heart without any double meanings, able to treat others with kindness. And you are the greatest conscience of this group, which is something every one of us recognizes. You certainly possess something that we could never imitate, you know? So hold your head high. Be proud. No matter what anyone says, you are our comrade and an irreplaceable friend… our best friend.」

「Sa… Satsukawa-senpai… I… I…」

「Furthermore, you do not need to worry about the voices around you. It is impossible that anyone calling themselves a fan would interfere with the two of you. If they cannot even do that much, they have no right to call themselves fans. A true fan wishes for the happiness of the person they support, after all.」

To be honest, I didn’t think Satsukawa-senpai would back me up… no, that is not it.

This was not backing me up, it was just her giving a follow-up to Todo-san.

But… just as Satsukawa-senpai is making clear, I must prevent the feelings toward me from turning into malice toward Marina-san at all costs.

Protecting Marina-san from all of that… that is my responsibility, and it is more important than anything.

「Well… to begin with, whether they are a fan or not, anyone who speaks ill of Todo-san behind her back is equally our enemy. I assume there is no one here who does not understand what that implies?」

「She’s right. If you’re prepared to make enemies of us… go ahead and try.」

Following Satsukawa-senpai, who wore a dangerous atmosphere, Natsumi-senpai projected a blatantly bloodthirsty air.

At this point, it was the greatest and strongest warning to the students of this school… and there was no student who didn’t understand the terrifying consequences of making enemies of these two senpai.

The influence of Satsukawa-senpai alone is immeasurable, but adding Natsumi-senpai as an enemy on top of that would naturally…

「Natsumi-chan’s friends are our friends!!」

「Everyone!! Do you understand what Natsumi-chan means!?」

「Even if it is just backbiting, we will never forgive you!!」

As expected, the voices that began to rise from everywhere in response to Natsumi-senpai’s statement belonged to the well-known Yuzuki Natsumi Fan Club.

Yes… making an enemy of Natsumi-senpai meant making an enemy of the largest force in this school, which implied that there would be eyes watching in almost every classroom, inside the school, on the way to school, and in every possible place. And being glared at by the two big names, Satsukawa-senpai and Natsumi-senpai, on top of that…

Especially from the perspective of the female students, there could be no greater fear.

But I…

I have no intention of leaving this to others.

「Everyone listening to this, everyone who always supports me. As you have heard, this person… Todo Marina-san is the most precious person to me. I can no longer hold these feelings back. No matter what anyone says, I will see this love through. So… if you have something to say, I want you to say it directly to me!! I will take on as much as you have. But Marina-san… if anything happens to Marina-san, I will never forgive you!! No matter who it is, I will never forgive you!!」

I don’t think I have ever shown such a strong attitude toward anyone before.

But this one thing… only when it comes to Marina-san, I will never give in!! I will never forgive!!

Marina-san is… I will definitely.

「Hey everyone!! If Hayato-kun can be happy with the person he loves, shouldn’t we be the first ones to celebrate!?」

「That’s right!! Like Satsukawa-san said, you aren’t a fan if you can’t say congratulations to Hayato-kun and her!!」

「Aren’t you ashamed of making Hayato-kun say something so painful!?」

「If anyone complains about those two, we will never forgive them!!」

The people who began to agree with me were the ones who always lead the support for me. I knew it immediately just by listening, because they were the voices of the people who have supported me without fail since I joined the tennis club at this school.

I’m so grateful for those feelings…

「…He-Hey, what do we do?」

「…Wh-What can we do…」

「…It would be bad to complain in this atmosphere… I mean, it would be no joke to be glared at by those two.」

「…If we get found out, we will be made an example of and ignored by everyone until graduation.」

「…If it goes badly, even the boys will avoid us. It’s not worth it.」

「Hayato-kun, girlfriend-san, congratulations!!」

「It is a bit frustrating, but we are supporting you!!」

「That is right, be happy!!」

「Don’t ever make Hayato-kun cry!!」

「Wait, isn’t it the other way around!?」

「Eh… whaaaaaaaaaa!?」

「Marina-san… everyone is saying congratulations to us.」

「Y-Yeah. But, i-is it really okay… for it to be me…」

「I’m telling you it has to be Marina-san, you know? And yet… are you still worried?」

「Th-That is, well…」

「I love Marina-san. Marina-san loves me. That is everything, right?」

「Love… uuu… i-it is embarrassing… Hayato-kun, you are mean.」

Showing her bashfulness in my arms, Marina-san’s face turned red in an instant.

When she shows such an adorable gesture, I feel all sorts of things as a man… but it is too early for that, so I endure.

「Marina… it’s just like Satsukawa-senpai said, you know? You said I was amazing, but from my perspective, Marina is way more amazing. You have so many things I don’t have. But… I guess you don’t notice those things about yourself, do you?」

「Yoko…」

「Given Marina’s personality, it might be hard to have confidence… but you have confidence that you are number one for Yokogawa-kun, right?」

「…Yeah.」

「Then it’s fine. if you have confidence in the most important part, the rest is just a bonus. So…」

「Yoko… I… I…」

「Yokogawa-kun… please take care of Marina. This girl is my best friend… she is the precious girl who became my very first best friend.」

「Tachikawa-san… yeah, leave it to me.」

「Sniff… Yoko…」

「Come on, Marina… don’t cry, give him a smile.」

「I can’t… hic…」

Unable to hold back her tears, Marina-san let out her emotions like a child while having her head stroked by Tachikawa-san in my arms.

Those tears, which seemed to wash away all the lingering feelings deep in her heart, were still tears of joy…

So there was no need to hold back. For now, until she is satisfied… and from now on too…

「「One, two!!!!」」

「「Hayato-kun!!! Todo-san!! Congratulationssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss!!!!」」

Clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap!!!!

I will accept everything about Marina-san.

No one else… but me!!

Kazunari POV

「It seems they were finally able to be honest.」

「They were… By the way, Sara-san, soon…」

「No. This is a punishment, after all.」

「…Yes.」

As a best friend, I’m very happy that the two of them were safely united. Especially since I have been watching over Hayato since he first became conscious of Todo-san. I noticed Hayato’s impatience as their relationship didn’t progress as he hoped, so this result is especially moving for me… but, well.

「Um…」

「Yes. What is it?」

「No… what… haa… Satsukawa-san, you are too honest with your own desires.」

Minamin’s voice, full of exasperation, perfectly described our current situation… which means.

「It’s only natural. It’s impossible for me not to express my affection for Kazunari-san honestly.」

「Yeah, sure.」

「Um, Sara-san… I have already sufficiently… mgh.」

「Kazunari-san, that is a no-no, okay? Please reflect on your actions there for a little longer.」

「Ophay…」

「Reflect… I have never heard of a pink lecture like this… what is going on in these two’s heads?」

「Is there a problem?」

「No, not at all.」

The sensation of something very soft and happy being pressed against my face… or rather, squished. It attacked me mainly from both sides, making an intense appeal to encourage deep reflection.

But what I said earlier was something I absolutely had to say for the sake of those two, and I’m sure Sara-san understands that… but apparently, that is that.

「Kazunari-san… please never say such sad things again, okay?」

「Sara-san…」

The force holding my head tightened even more, and I was actually starting to feel a bit short of breath… but this was the result of my own words, and it was something I promised to accept.

So…

「No, it’s not just about not saying it. Do not even think it. I will not allow you to remember it. Please forget all of it, completely.」

「Yes… I’m sorry.」

「If you feel like you are about to remember, I will do this for you anytime. I will overwrite everything so that you can never remember again. So…」

Chu…

Chu…

…Sara-san repeated light pecking kisses on my forehead… and after doing that for a while, she finally seemed satisfied and wrapped her arms around my back and head, hugging me gently as if to envelop my whole body.

Even if this looks like her usual self, there is no mistaking the sad expression Sara-san wore… even if it’s something I don’t care about personally, I swear I will never say anything like that again.

「I’m sorry, Sara-san…」

「No, I fully understand that Kazunari-san said it for their sake. But…」

「Yes…」

「It really… made me sad, you know? …Kazunari-san, you idiot…」

「I’m sorry.」

「Therefore… as a punishment, please listen to my selfishness tonight, okay?」

「U-Understood.」

「WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT!!?? T-Tonight!? What are you two talking about!!??」

「Eh? ……Ah!?」

Crap!! It was a reflex!?

B-But this is by no means an unwholesome talk, it’s purely because we are having a wholesome and pure relationship, and what Minamin is imagining is completely off base…

KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!

「T-T-T-Tonight!!??」

「Kyaaaa!! This is an unexpected appeal from Satsukawa-san!!!!」

「T-Tonight… what’s going to happen!!?? What is Satsukawa-san’s selfishness!!??」

「Well, obviously, that kind of thing or this kind of…」

「Noooo, a maiden shouldn’t say that!!!!」

Yes… I understand.

No one would believe that fiancés who are even living together are having a completely pure and wholesome relationship with nothing at all, right?

Yes, yes, I know.

But… it’s the truth.

「…Those two really have no shame… they’re too honest with their feelings.」

「…Honestly… I would be troubled if you forgot about me. I need to give him a lecture as his Big sister for that move earlier.」

「…You just want an excuse to dote on him anyway, right Hanako-san?」

「…That is one way to put it.」

「…Everyone is way too honest.」

「…Marina, maybe being too honest is not good after all…」

「…I-I could never do anything like that.」

「…Haha, you’re right. That’s a bit much for me too… maybe?」

「…I-If all those things keep happening around me… I can’t stand it… uuu.」

「…Ah, Nishikawa-san is back…」

「Aaaaaah, we are out of time, so I am going to decide the awards on my own authority nowWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!」

「Wait, wait, wait, Fukazawa-san!! Deciding the awards, this is a Miss Contest, and all the awards have regulations, right!?」

Apparently still alive, the Chairman showed one last bit of resistance.

But with the Miss Contest awards already treated as an afterthought, saying something like that now…

「I mean, it’s not even functioning as a Miss Contest anymore!!?? Give it up already, Chairman… I gave up a long time ago!!!!」

「No wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!!」

Whether he finally broke at Minamin’s words, the Chairman slowly collapsed… slumping down right where he stood.

The way he collapsed looked like slow motion to my eyes, so clear and sharp…

So I really, truly… we really destroyed the Miss Contest.

「Alright, we’re going to hold the ceremony now, so you fresh couple over there, come here too!!!!」

「…Marina-san?」

「Hieee!? I-I can’t, I can’t… it’s too embarrassing…」

「Right. Sorry, we will stay here.」

Hayato stepped in front of Todo-san to protect her.

I don’t think he needs to be that intense about it… but well, they just started dating. I guess it can’t be helped.

「Yeah, yeah, you guys are close. Alright, let’s start the ceremony!!!!」

When Minamin made the declaration,「that BGM」you often hear at ceremonies started playing from the speakers, and staff members hurriedly brought some papers from the wings.

Don’t tell me… are they giving us certificates?

「Yes. Because of that… Takanashi-kun and Satsukawa-san, congratulations!! You have brilliantly!! Received the inaugural Best Couple Grand Prize and… the inaugural Baka-Couple Grand Prize at the same time!!!!」

「Wait!?」

What is a Baka-Couple Grand Prize!?

No one said anything about that until now!?

Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!

Clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap!!!!

「Kazunari-san, it seems we received the Best Couple Grand Prize.」

「No, that is true, but the Baka-Couple…」

「We received the Best Couple Grand Prize.」

「O-Okay.」

So we are going with the plan to ignore that… understood.

「Yes, here is the certification… but before that, Satsukawa-san, do you have any intention of letting go of Takanashi-kun soon?」

「Is there a problem?」

「NO, NOTHING AT ALL…」

Of course, I have tried to pull away a few times. But every time, Sara-san puts strength into the hands wrapped around my head and back, making a「no-no, okay?」appeal.

When that happens, the option of resisting by force just flies away somewhere for me.

「Well… I will give it to this baka-couple later… now, moving on to the announcement for the Best Couple Runner-up!!! The fresh couple that was formed by a surprise intrusion!!!! Yokokawa-kun and Todo-san pair, who just received a grand celebration from the audience!!!!! And also!!!」

And also?

Is there something else!?

「The Natsumi-chan and Tachibana-kun pair, who pulled off a princess carry at the tennis court, have also won the Runner-up prize brilliantlyyyyyyyyy!!!!」

「WHAAAAAAA!!!! H-How do you know about that!!!!!!!!!!!!」

「Mufufufu, don’t underestimate my information network, Natsumi-chan? If you want, I can show the video of the scene where you confessed while being carried on the screen…」

「WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!! STOP IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!」

「N-Natsumi-san!!??」

Enveloped in Natsumi-senpai’s scream and the audience’s massive cheers… an event that had so many unexpected occurrences ended with everything turning out right, the Miss Contest… no, the Best Couple Contest.

「Kazunari-san.」

「Sara-san?」

「I shall treasure the engagement ring.」

「Yes. If possible, every day…」

「This is the proof of the engagement I received from Kazunari-san. I shall wear it every day.」

「Please do. I will wear this tie too.」

「Fufu… not just that tie, I shall be the one to put it on you every day… it’s a promise, Dear?」

「U-Understood… Sara.」

「Yes♪」

And so, the curtain closed…

「Daaaaah, stop flirting every chance you get!!!!!!!!」

「And you, delete that video alreadyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!!」

The curtain closed!!