Warm, soft, and filled with a sense of security and bliss... I drifted in a comfortable haze. I supposed the phrase "a dreamlike state" was coined for exactly this sensation.
But suddenly, I felt that presence slowly but surely start to move away.
Driven by a desperate desire not to let it go, I reached out half-unconsciously and hugged it. The comfort enveloped me once more, setting my heart at ease.
"Fufu, Kazunari-san, you really are such an affection-seeker. Haah... you're truly adorable. I need to get up soon and start on breakfast and the bentos... but I don't want to leave your side either, Kazunari-san."
I thought I caught the sound of Sara-san's voice, and my consciousness flickered awake for a moment. Just for a moment, however.
"Nn... Sara-san...?"
"Ah, did I wake you? We still have plenty of time, so please rest a little longer..."
As she whispered into my ear, she slowly stroked my head as if to lull me back to sleep. I felt myself being enveloped by something soft again... that sensation...
Monday.
Sara-san's birthday was a day that would remain a lifelong memory for me. It was a fun, happy, and unforgettable day—one I never wanted to let fade.
Our first kiss, the success of the surprise Present Operation, and the birthday party had all concluded without a hitch. While some parts could have used a bit more polish, I felt I could give myself a passing grade.
And now that it was over, it felt as though I had woken from a dream and returned to my ordinary daily life.
Perhaps that was why... yes, I must have simply let my guard down.
After meeting up with Natsumi-senpai at the convenience store and exchanging greetings, the conversation immediately turned to the events of last night.
"So, Sara stayed over again last night, didn't she? Hey... did you two really sleep together?"
"Of course. But Kazunari-san seemed quite exhausted, so he fell asleep right away. Fufu... this morning, Kazunari-san was being quite the affection-seeker even before he was fully awake."
"No..."
It was true; although I had been half-asleep, I hadn't wanted to let go and had clung to Sara-san's affection until the very last second. This was just a lapse in focus caused by yesterday's fatigue and the relief of everything ending successfully.
"An affection-seeker... I'm afraid to ask just how much you're pampering him. Well, if Sara is happy, it's not my place to say anything. But Takanashi-kun, I really can't tell if you're amazing or just totally hopeless..."
Natsumi-senpai sighed with a look of half-exasperation. Of course, I understood the implication, but I chose not to take the bait. It wasn't as if Sara-san understood it, anyway.
"Still, yesterday was fun. How should I put it? That group just feels unusually right together."
"True, I feel like I could enjoy doing anything if it's with that group," I agreed.
"Yes. Even I find myself having fun in a way that makes my past self seem like a lie," Sara-san added.
I hoped everyone else felt the same way... no, I was sure they did. Since things had turned out this way, I really wanted to start planning that trip we had talked about. I should probably consult them soon, considering the budget and logistics.
"Morning—"
The classroom felt noisier than usual when I walked in.
Ever since those certain individuals had quieted down, this class had become surprisingly peaceful, which made this restless atmosphere stand out.
"Morning, Takanashi!"
"Yo, Takanashi, did you hear the news?"
"No, I just got here. I haven't heard a thing."
"This idiot said the same thing to us," one of them joked.
It seemed Yamakawa was the only one of the trio getting worked up. I wondered what the topic was today.
"So? What's Yamakawa so excited about?"
"Apparently, a transfer student is coming!"
"Wait, I was going to be the one to tell him!"
"It doesn't matter who says it, the news is the same."
I asked for a bit more detail. According to the source, our homeroom teacher had been spotted entering the staff room with a girl no one recognized. That was enough to set the rumor mill spinning.
"He said she was super cute, so that's why Yamakawa is all fired up."
"Is it really a transfer student, though? Couldn't it just be a guest or something?"
"Takanashi has a point. But the rumor has already taken on a life of its own, and the classroom is in the state you see now."
I see. Well, transfer students were a rarity, and if a rumor about them being cute started spreading, it was only natural for some guys to get their hopes up.
As for me? I had Sara-san. Even if a world-famous idol transferred in, I wouldn't have been interested.
"Good morning, Takanashi-kun."
"Did you manage to get some rest over the weekend?"
Judging by that comment, the two girls from the Natsumi-senpai Fan Club had noticed my lethargy.
"Good morning. Was I really that easy to read?"
"You were uncharacteristically dozing off during class. It was just a hunch."
The bell rang.
Slide...
"Morning. Everyone, get to your seats."
Only the homeroom teacher entered the classroom at first, but I could see a silhouette through the frosted glass of the door.
"Well then, let's do our best today too."
"Yeah."
The trio and the two from the Natsumi-senpai Fan Club returned to their places, and I sat down to wait. Everyone seemed restless, their eyes glued to the hallway. Yamakawa, in particular, looked like a puppy desperately trying to obey a "stay" command while vibrating with excitement.
"Teacher! Who is that in the hallway!?"
Apparently, Yamakawa didn't have the patience to "stay." There was something comical about the way he vigorously shot his right hand up to ask.
"You're certainly sharp when it comes to girls. Well, it looks like most of you have noticed, so I'll introduce her. Hey, come on in."
It was officially a girl, then. Well, I wasn't particularly—
Slide...
The classroom door opened again, and the person who walked in was...
Wait, what?
"Alright, go ahead and introduce yourself."
"Riko Hanazaki. Nice to meet you."
Eeeeeeek!?
"SHE'S REALLY HE—RE!"
At Yamakawa's sudden shout—which was practically a scream—the classmates, the teacher, and Hanako-san all flinched.
Come to think of it, I remembered that guy saying Hanako-san was exactly his type...
Wait, that wasn't the point! Why was Hanako-san at this school!? And in this class, of all places!?
The buzzing in the room grew louder, with "cute" being the most common word whispered among the guys. As for me, I was staring blankly in shock until I made perfect eye contact with Hanako-san. She was staring right at me.
She gave a fearless, mischievous grin. I was clearly her target.
"Now, about Hanazaki's seat..."
"Yes, yes, yes! The seat next to me is wide open!" Yamakawa shouted, starting his aggressive appeal. He was sitting in the very back row, the corner seat by the window—prime real estate for some, though he was currently the only one in that row.
"I suppose so, over there—"
"Teacher, I want to sit next to Kazunari."
"...Kazunari?"
"...Who's Kazunari?"
"...Anyone know him?"
"...I don't know who that is by the first name."
"Kazunari... does she mean Takanashi?"
"Wait, really?"
""""" What!? """""
Everyone's eyes converged on me at once.
Hanako-san, stop it! And besides, that seat is already taken!
"Hm? What, are you an acquaintance of Takanashi's?" the teacher asked.
"Hehe... our relationship isn't anything as light as that."
""""" Whaaaat!? """""
At this rate, the class next door was going to complain about the noise. While my classmates descended into a frenzy, Hanako-san watched me with a smirk. Yamakawa was staring at me just as intensely, his expression a mix of betrayal and awe.
"I-Is that so? Well, if someone you know is nearby, it might be easier for you to settle in. Maeda-san, would it be alright if you moved next to Yamakawa?"
"Sure! I'll move right now~" Maeda-san replied cheerfully. She packed up her things and moved with the vibe of someone who just scored a better seat anyway. The empty spot next to Yamakawa was finally filled.
"Alright, Hanazaki will take the seat next to Takanashi. Takanashi, make sure to show her the ropes."
"Okay..."
Hanako-san walked straight to the seat next to mine and sat down. For a moment, I thought I was hallucinating, but it was definitely her. Her somewhat short stature, her youthful face, and her distinctive twin-tails were unmistakable.
"Hanako-san, what in the world..."
"It's hard to talk here. I'll explain the details later," she whispered. "For now, I'll be counting on you here at school, too."
"...Understood. I'll be in your care, too, Hanako-san."
I was shocked, but I was honestly happy to have a close friend nearby. I had grown more accustomed to this class recently, and it felt like things were going to get even more lively now that Hanako-san had joined us.
"Are you happy your Big Sister came to be near you? If it makes you that happy, then transferring was worth the effort."
She usually wore a blunt expression, but lately, she had started showing me smiles like this. I decided I had to help her blend into the class as quickly as possible.
...By the way, I really should ask her soon why she always calls herself "Big Sister." It implied she saw me as a younger brother, and given how she used my first name today... I felt a twinge of guilt toward Sara-san.
"...Hey, what kind of relationship do you think those two actually have?"
"...Doesn't feel like they're just acquaintances."
"...Agh, I'm dying to know. What's the deal?"
"...They couldn't be lovers, right?"
"...Didn't she call him by his first name?"
"...S-She's so cute..."
I could hear the whispers coming from every corner of the room. They were definitely talking about us.
Morning homeroom ended earlier than usual. I suspected the teacher had cleared some time specifically so Hanako-san could talk with her new classmates. He actually did something thoughtful once in a while.
The moment the teacher closed the door, a crowd swarmed Hanako-san. Being in the seat right next to her, I was swallowed up as well.
As expected, the initial wave consisted of girls. I felt like running away from the sheer intensity of it, but I couldn't just abandon her.
"Hanazaki-san, nice to meet you!"
"Wow, you're really cute up close!"
"I hope we can be friends!"
"Eh!? Uhm..."
Everyone started talking at once. I understood the excitement of a new transfer student, but not even a saint with ten sets of ears could process all that. Naturally, Hanako-san was overwhelmed and looked troubled.
"Hey, if you all talk at once, Hanako-san won't be able to answer. At least take turns."
I worried that speaking up might get me shunned again, but I couldn't just stand by. I braced for the girls' reaction.
"Hanako-san?"
"Whoa, there really is something between you and Takanashi-kun!"
"Wait, wait, what kind of relationship is it!?"
"You said earlier it wasn't a 'light' relationship, right?"
"Idiot, more importantly, he just called her by her first name!"
Ugh... I had made it even worse. Now I was being dragged into the interrogation, and the chaos was spiraling.
"Everyone, it's just as Takanashi-kun says. Hanazaki-san is overwhelmed."
"Yeah, let's all calm down a bit."
"Sorry for being so noisy, Hanazaki-san."
Supportive voices finally reached me from the back of the crowd. Pushing their way through were the students who often talked to me. Thanks to their intervention, the other girls regained their composure and offered apologies.
"It's fine. You don't have to apologize. Once again, nice to meet you," Hanako-san said.
It was her usual blunt way of speaking, but since the others didn't know her, they seemed to think she was actually angry. Seeing the troubled looks on their faces, I decided to provide some backup.
"Hanako-san isn't angry, so don't worry about it. She's always like this."
"I am not 'always' like this."
"No, you definitely are."
"Muu."
"...Fine. She's not 'always' like this," I corrected with a sigh.
"Very well."
Strange. Why was I the one being scolded when I was the one trying to help her?
"E-Er, so you're really close with Takanashi-kun?"
"Yes."
"""" Heeeey! """"
I had a feeling I was being completely misunderstood. I had thought things would become fun, but it looked like there would be more to it than that. This was the start of Hanako-san's Transfer Drama, and it was already thick with both anticipation and anxiety.