“Mmm, this is delicious!”
As if to prove the theory that there was always a second stomach for dessert, six different types of cake were lined up in front of Natsumi-senpai. I liked sweets as well, but eating that much would probably make me feel sick halfway through...
“Haa... Natsumi, you’re so lucky. Even eating one slice makes me nervous,” Nishikawa-san murmured with a sigh, her eyes fixed enviously on her friend.
“That’s because I’m in a Sports Club! I’ll burn it all off during Club Activity tomorrow, so it’s fine!”
Maybe it was just because I was a guy, but I didn't think she really had anything to worry about.
“You really do look like you're enjoying that, Yuzuki-san,” Yuji remarked. I was sure everyone else was thinking the same thing.
Natsumi-senpai blinked. She looked down at the cake speared on her fork and then, for some reason, held it out toward Yuji.
“Hmm? It’s because it really is good. Want a bite, Tachibana-kun? Here, ahn.”
“Eh!? Wait, what!?”
Now there was a sight I never expected to see. To think that the stoic Yuji would actually look flustered and panicked!
“Hmm? What’s the matter? Are you saying you won’t eat my cake?”
Natsumi-senpai was clearly enjoying herself as she teased him. She slowly brought the fork closer to Yuji, a mischievous grin plastered on her face. Yuji, on the other hand, was completely overwhelmed, looking like he was agonizing over whether or not to open his mouth.
“Sara... that’s the first time I’ve seen Natsumi do something like that. Is there something going on between those two?”
“I wonder. For the time being... ah, hold still, okay? I’ve been curious about them myself lately as well...”
Wipe, wipe.
“Shall we try asking them later?... Here, ahn.”
Chomp... chew, chew.
Yeah, this cake really was delicious.
“Ugh... you two are just begging for someone to call you out, aren’t you? I’m trying to have a conversation here... Takanashi-san, why are you just naturally letting Sara wipe your mouth and feed you?”
“Eh!?”
Familiarity was a terrifying thing. I hadn't even realized that I’d been accepting Sara-san’s doting as a matter of course until it was pointed out.
“Is it not fine? I am doing this because I want to. Kazunari-san, I would hate for you to feel like you have to hold back.”
“Y-Yes.”
Sara-san looked at me with a pained expression as she made her plea. She was essentially telling me that this made us both happy, so there was no reason to stop... which meant, of course, I wasn't going to!
I answered her with a smile instead of words, and a look of pure joy spread across Sara-san’s face.
“Next is this one. Here, ahn.”
Chomp... chew, chew.
“What is with this cake? I can’t taste any sweetness at all.”
“Eh? That shouldn't be possible...”
“It pisses me off that I’m taking damage just by sitting here. I’m going to go barge in.”
“Ah, so that’s it...”
After muttering something to Yoko, Hanako-san picked up her entire plate of cake and suddenly stood up. She was probably planning to go mess with Takanashi-kun. For all her complaining, Hanako-san really did seem to like getting involved with him. I wondered if she actually liked him? But she had to know how attached he was to Satsukawa-senpai. She’d mentioned before that she just found him interesting... so maybe they were just friends?
“Todo-san.”
The voice belonged to Yokokawa-kun. I think that was the first time he’d ever addressed me directly.
“Hmm? Did you need something?”
“Thanks for earlier. It meant a lot to me.”
Yokokawa-kun flashed his signature Handsome Guy Smile. Honestly, seeing it up close like this, I could see why he had so many fans.
“No, it wasn't anything special. Are you feeling better now?”
“Yeah, thanks to you. Anyway, would you mind if we talked for a bit?”
Talk? I didn't usually spend much time talking to Boys, so I just hoped I could come up with something interesting to say.
“Sure. But I might be a little boring to talk to, you know?”
“I’m sure you won't be. Well then, if you’ll excuse me.”
Tap, tap.
When someone tapped my Shoulder, I turned around to find Hanako-san standing there. She was holding out a fork with a piece of cake right in front of my face.
What was this about?
“Ahn.”
Chomp.
I reflexively opened my mouth, and she semi-forcibly shoved the cake inside. I didn't have much choice but to eat it.
Chew, chew... gulp.
“I couldn't taste any sweetness. How about you, Takanashi-kun?”
“No, it was perfectly delicious.”
She couldn't taste the sweetness? Was that even possible? I suppose if she’d eaten something even sweeter right before this, it might happen. While I was still trying to figure out why she’d asked such a strange question, Hanako-san suddenly gave a wry grin.
“...Kazunari-san?”
!?
Don't tell me, this pattern again...
Feeling a wave of panic that was becoming far too familiar, I hurriedly turned back. Surprisingly, Sara-san looked perfectly calm.
“Is something the matter? Honestly, Kazunari-san, you mustn't move around so much.”
Wipe, wipe.
Apparently, because the cake had been shoved in so abruptly, my face was a mess again. As Sara-san began wiping around my mouth, she cast a glance toward Hanako-san.
“Hanako-san, I don’t mind since you are a Friend, but please don’t be so forceful. It would be a problem if Kazunari-san were to choke. ...There, that should do it.”
After giving Hanako-san a gentle warning, Sara-san finished cleaning my face and offered a soft smile. There was an unmistakable air of composure in her expression.
“!? S-So this is the composure of the Legal Wife... I’ve been defeated...”
Hanako-san looked utterly shocked, as if she’d just been dealt a finishing blow. She trudged back to her seat with her head hanging low.
I mean, "Legal Wife"?
“Um... Sara-san?”
“It is fine. Hanako-san is a Friend, after all. If I were to be too strict with your friends, it would only cause trouble for you, Kazunari-san...”
I see. She was making an effort to appear composed, but she was definitely still holding back her real feelings to some extent. Well, if our positions were reversed, I would definitely be jealous too.
“...However, if you get unnecessarily close to other women... I won’t like it.”
Sara-san secretly pinched my sleeve and gave it a tiny tug. She looked so adorable that I had to fight to keep a silly grin off my face.
“Well then, thank you for your hard work today, everyone.”
Once everyone had returned to their seats, Nishikawa-san began her closing remarks, signaling that today’s events were finally over. It had been a long, incredibly dense day, and all that remained was the drive home. Unlike the trip here, we were going to drop Yuji and the others off at the station first before heading back to our original Meeting point.
“Now, Takanashi-san, please give us the final greeting.”
I’d assumed she would handle it herself, but the ball was suddenly tossed into my court. When I looked at Nishikawa-san, she was staring back at me as if this were the most obvious thing in the world.
“This group was formed with you at the center, Takanashi-san. Therefore, it is only natural that the final words belong to you.”
...She was right. This group had started because of the history between me and those two. I felt a bit nervous with everyone’s eyes on me, but I wanted to express my gratitude, so I decided to give it my best.
“Um... first, I want to say thank you to everyone. Thanks to you, The Yamasaki Matter has been settled. Even though what happened with Yuzuha was unfortunate, I think we’ve finally reached a conclusion. I definitely couldn't have made it this far without all of you. Truly, thank you so much.”
When I bowed my head, everyone else followed suit for some reason. I suppressed a chuckle as we all looked up; as our eyes met one by one, they all returned my gaze with smiles.
Nishikawa-san, Hanako-san, Tachikawa-san, Todo-san, Hayato, Yuji, Natsumi-senpai... and Sara-san.
I never would have dreamed that someone as isolated as I used to be could find such wonderful companions.
“Even when I was ready to give up, you taught me that we could share the burden together... that friends are there for each other. I’m truly happy. If the 'me' from a year ago could see this, he wouldn't believe it was real. That’s why I want to cherish this connection. I don’t want today to be the end. So, let’s definitely meet up again. From now on, I’d love it if we could get together just to have fun. Or even if someone is in trouble. So, instead of saying goodbye, let's end today with a 'see you later'!”
I’d given it everything I had. Everyone had listened to my speech with serious, attentive faces. And as soon as I finished—
Clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap!!!
As if my words had touched their hearts, everyone stood up at once, welcoming me with brilliant smiles and a thunderous round of applause.
“I am truly grateful to you, Takanashi-san. Not just for the business with Yamasaki, but for the chance to meet such wonderful people. I certainly hope this connection continues.”
“Next time, I want to go on a trip together!”
Natsumi-senpai’s exclamation following Nishikawa-san’s words seemed to catch everyone’s interest.
“That sounds great!”
“Yeah, we have to do more fun things now that we’re all friends.”
“I want to go somewhere too.”
Tachikawa-san, Todo-san, and Hanako-san immediately chimed in with their agreement.
“I’m in. I think any trip with this group would be a blast,” Hayato said, and Yuji nodded along.
“I agree as well. I’d love to plan something soon!” I said.
“I will follow wherever Kazunari-san goes,” Sara-san added, as consistent as ever.
“In that case, if a Nishikawa Group Resort is acceptable, I can make the arrangements. Shall we start planning?”
“Agreed!!!”
Even though no details were set, the excitement on everyone’s faces told the whole story. I was looking forward to it just as much as they were. And so, with a chorus of enthusiastic voices, this long day finally came to an end.