"Now then, about the plans for afterward..."
It took a little while for everyone to soothe the sulking Nishikawa-san, but she seemed to have finally regained her composure.
With that settled, we composed ourselves and got back to the conversation.
"First, the staff has already reported to my father, so there is no reason to rush anything in particular. Therefore, I was thinking of holding a celebration... no, that's not quite right, is it? An appreciation party? Yes, I was thinking of an appreciation party. How are your schedules?"
Everyone checked their own availability in response to Nishikawa-san's proposal, but no one spoke up to decline.
"It looks like everyone is free. I will handle the reservation, then. Do you have any preferences?"
"Where are you planning to take us, Eririn?" Natsumi asked.
"If there are no specific requests, I was considering a restaurant or a hotel again."
Wait, shouldn't we consider the budget first?
Last time, Nishikawa-san covered the entire bill, but I couldn't let that happen again this time...
"By the way, who’s paying?" I asked.
"Do not worry, please leave that to me."
"Um, Nishikawa-san, you paid last time, too. If it's the same again, I’ll feel quite bad about it..."
By saying this, I realized I might be making it sound like everyone else should chip in, but I couldn't just say, "Well then, please take care of everything," like I had before.
"Takanashi-san, you really are dutiful," Nishikawa-san replied with a faint smile. "Please, don't hesitate. Consider this a reward for your cooperation in eliminating a cancerous element from the Nishikawa Group."
"Score! I won't hold back, then!" Natsumi cheered.
"Honestly... Natsumi, why don't you follow Kazunari-san's example for once?"
Sara-san scolded Natsumi-senpai, who was rejoicing with her hands in the air, while Nishikawa-san watched the two of them with a wry smile.
Somehow, I got the feeling that this was what their daily life was like when Nishikawa-san was still with them.
It was a heartwarming sight... and it made me wonder. If I had been born just one year earlier, would I have been able to share in this life too?
"Oh, Takanashi-san, is something the matter? I can't quite put it into words, but you had a very complicated expression on your face just now."
It seemed I had been caught by Nishikawa-san, who happened to be facing my way.
A complicated expression... I wondered what kind of face I was making.
Hearing Nishikawa-san's observation, Sara-san spun around and approached me with a slightly panicked look.
She stood directly in front of me, searching my eyes for a moment, then she placed her hand on my cheek and gently stroked it.
"Kazunari-san, is something on your mind?"
"...No, it's nothing major. I just happened to think that if I had been born one year sooner, I might have been able to see you all together like this up close, or even joined in. That's all."
It was just a fleeting thought, and I hadn't intended to think too deeply about it.
Whatever Sara-san felt, she wore a slightly pained expression as she placed her hand on my chest and leaned in closer.
"Hmm, but if Takanashi-kun were the same age, the way you met would have been different," Natsumi chimed in. "In that case, there's a high chance Sara would have treated Takanashi-kun just like any other boy."
There was certainly a possibility of that.
If that had happened, I might have been too shocked to ever recover...
"True, if the circumstances of our meeting were different, our relationship might have changed," Sara-san said. "However, no matter what form it took, I am certain that I would have ended up like this with Kazunari-san. Perhaps I might have even done this for you in the classroom."
Sara-san tilted her head slightly and gave me a dazzling smile.
"I might not have even been able to talk to you, though, Sara-san."
I couldn't imagine myself ever approaching her. Even if I had fallen in love, I probably would have just watched from afar, never able to make a confession.
"Hehe... it would have been fine. I would have been the one to fall in love first, so there is no problem."
"No, I think I would have fallen for you at first sight even faster."
"But, even in our current relationship, I was already in love... I just hadn't realized it from the beginning..."
"I probably—"
"Aaaagh! Just give it a rest already!!!"
Natsumi-senpai's scream echoed through the venue, and I realized we had done it again.
Everyone's gazes were piercing and painful.
But Sara-san didn't seem to mind at all...
"The result is the same either way, right?" Hanako-san said, her words clearly speaking for the group as everyone else nodded in agreement. "We're not making any progress, so cut it out."
Why were we even competing over that?
"Sara-san, Hanako-san is right. This—"
Mwah...
Before I could finish, Sara-san's face suddenly closed in. I felt the soft sensation of her lips on my cheek, very close to my mouth, and my words died in my throat along with my ability to move.
I wondered how many seconds I stayed frozen.
As Sara-san slowly pulled away, she looked a bit embarrassed, yet she wore a mischievous smile.
"......I was the first, okay?"
"............Yes."
That was unfair.
I had no choice but to admit defeat.
"............"
Wait, what!?
I was left completely speechless.
Honestly, those two really are...
Even Hanako-san, who usually has the most endurance for this stuff, was staring with her mouth agape.
"...If Takanashi-san were a classmate, I'd be forced to witness this every single day, wouldn't I? Please tell me you're joking. If that were the case, I would actually die," Eririn muttered in a low, genuinely terrified tone.
"Well... there would definitely be daily casualties," Natsumi added. "The girls would get fed up, and the boys would pick on Takanashi-kun out of jealousy, and then Sara would roar at them... I can see it clearly."
Well, that might be a little entertaining in its own way, but I'd prefer not to be forced to vomit sugar every day.
"But I respect Satsukawa-senpai," Tachikawa-san said, her eyes sparkling with admiration. "Today was truly amazing. I admire a woman who can become that strong for the person she loves."
Certainly, from a girl's perspective, I suppose you could look at it that way.
It's just that, while Sara's personality was strong to begin with, when it comes to Takanashi-kun... she's on another level.
"Let's just leave those two alone and move things along. It'll be faster," Hanako-san suggested.
"Good idea. As long as Kazunari and Satsukawa-senpai are together, I'm sure they won't care where we go," Yuji agreed.
There was no doubt about that.
I guess Eririn's recommended shop is fine, then.
"Then I'll settle on a place............ I simply cannot keep up with those two," Eririn sighed.
It wasn't just Eririn who felt that way.