Morning homeroom was primarily focused on confirming the details for the Parental Observation Day scheduled for this coming Saturday.
The third and fourth periods were designated for observation. While it was currently unclear how many guardians would actually attend, the school’s tradition suggested a high turnout. This was a relief, as I had been worried my mother might be the only one there; I had heard that, generally, parents didn't show up much for high school observations. In that sense, this school was a bit of an outlier.
"Man, I really don't want them to come," one student groaned.
"Me neither... I wonder if mine would consider skipping if I asked now," another added.
Listening to the guys grumble, it was clear that the boys were particularly opposed to the idea. The girls didn't seem to mind as much, though.
To be honest, I was firmly in the camp of those who would rather their parents stay home. However, since I knew Sara-san was genuinely looking forward to the Parental Observation Day, I had resigned myself to being a supporter of the event.
"Kazunari, your mother is coming, right?" Hanako asked.
"She is. Actually, given various circumstances, there really isn't any other option but for her to come."
"...Option? What do you mean by that?"
"Well, Sara-san is really looking forward to meeting my Mom..."
As I offered that vague explanation, Hanako suddenly began to giggle, as if she had found something incredibly amusing. I wasn't entirely sure what part of that conversation was supposed to be a joke.
"Kazunari, do you actually call your mother 'Mom'?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah. Why?"
"I see... How boyish. That's actually quite cute."
...Cute?
Apparently, Hanako found it endearing that I called my mother "Mom." Since that was how I always addressed her, I didn't find it strange at all. If I were still calling her "Mama," I could understand being laughed at, but "Mom" felt like a fairly standard term for a guy to use.
"Ugh, my Mom is coming too," a student nearby sighed.
"It’s so embarrassing when your Mom shows up."
"My mother is coming, too," Hanako noted. "She mentioned that she’d like to introduce herself to your mother if she’s there, Kazunari. She told me to ask you about it."
"........."
It was only natural for parents to exchange greetings. If it were just a standard, "Thank you for taking care of my child" sort of thing, there wouldn't be any issue. However, given the somewhat complicated history I shared with Hanako’s mother, I felt a flicker of unease. If they happened to start talking about the "brother and sister" dynamic, it was obvious that things would get messy for me. I could already see a future where I’d be interrogated and forced to confess every detail to my Mom once I got home...
It... it should be fine, right?
"H-Hanasaki-san, is your mother coming as well?"
Yamakawa had drifted into our conversation before I even realized he was there. He was radiating his usual awkward tension; it was painfully obvious how conscious he was of Hanako. It was almost funny to watch, even if it felt a little mean to think so.
"She is. Did you have a reason for asking?"
"N-No, I was just... curious, I guess."
"?"
I thought Yamakawa had mellowed out lately, but he still seemed to freeze up when talking to her directly. All the cheerfulness and ease he usually showed when hanging out with us vanished the moment he addressed her.
"Good grief... he really is indecisive," Kawamura sighed.
"He should just get rejected already so he can move on," Tanaka added.
It seemed Kawamura and Tanaka had joined us as well. From the sounds of it, they were already operating on the assumption that Yamakawa would be shot down. I felt a bit sorry for him, but looking at Hanako’s cold demeanor, I had to agree it was likely a lost cause.
"N-No, never mind! Uh, by the way, lately you've been calling Takanashi by his first name..."
"...? Kazunari is special. What is it you're trying to get at?"
Irritated by Yamakawa’s vague attitude, Hanako’s voice took on a sharp, prickly edge. The impact was visible; Yamakawa’s shoulders slumped in a way that was almost too easy to read.
"And that's the end of that," one of his friends whispered.
"I mean, Hanasaki-san has Takanashi, so why can't he just give up?"
"Hey, don't drag me into this," I interjected.
Why was my name being brought up as if I were her boyfriend or lover? As a best friend who knew about the emotional scars Hanako carried, I genuinely wanted her to find someone suitable. If Yamakawa was serious, I didn't intend to interfere pointlessly.
However, if Hanako found him a nuisance, that was a different story entirely.
"Y-Yeah, you're right. This is his problem to deal with... yeah."
"We might need to talk some sense into Yamakawa later..."
The two of them muttered as they pushed the dejected Yamakawa back toward their seats.
The next class was PE, my least favorite subject.
At this school, boys and girls were generally separated for physical education, and two classes would conduct their lessons jointly. Today, the girls were scheduled to use the gymnasium, which meant we were headed for the school grounds.
As for the lesson itself... if it was a ball game, I’d be happy. Soccer was actually fun for a class activity. But the worst-case scenario would be something like a marathon. I desperately hoped to be spared from that.
When we finished changing and headed out to the grounds, the students from the other class arrived at the school building around the same time. We practically bumped into each other, and one person jogged out from the crowd to meet me. It was Hayato.
"Kazunari, did something happen?" Hayato asked, immediately noticing something in my expression.
"Nothing, really. I was just hoping we wouldn't have a class I hate since we're outside today."
I answered honestly, and Hayato nodded with a small, understanding smile.
"You still hate PE as much as ever."
"It's not that I hate it, I'm just not good at it. You're in a sports club, so you're probably used to this."
Having done PE with him for a long time, I knew Hayato excelled at just about any sport, not just tennis. Compared to everyone else, his athleticism was on a different level—and I wasn't even worth comparing to him.
"Well, I guess it feels easy compared to club practice. If you want, you could come exercise with our club after school sometime?"
"No thanks. I have Student Council duties. Even if I didn't, I’d pass."
"That's a shame. But the offer stands whenever you're interested."
I knew Hayato was being sincere. He had invited me to the Tennis Club before, and while I appreciated the kindness of my best friend, I was a person who preferred to say "no thank you" to anything involving a sports club.
"H-Hey, look! She's looking over here!"
"No way! Crap, I’m getting pumped!"
"Idiot, she's not looking at you."
"She's definitely not looking at you either!!"
While I was talking to Hayato, the guys around us suddenly started making a commotion. They were all staring at the school building. As the excitement spread, I got curious and followed their gaze.
"Kazunari... look up there."
Hayato was the first to spot the cause. He pointed toward the third floor of the school building, near the music room and Home Economics room. I looked closely and saw several female silhouettes looking out from the window.
"Ah."
Among them, one girl stood out instantly. Even from this distance, there was no way I could mistake her. It was my Beloved Goddess. Sara-san was looking straight at me and noticed the moment I looked back. She flashed a radiant smile and gave me a small wave.
"...Whoa... I've never seen Satsukawa-senpai smile like that."
"...So the rumors about Satsukawa-senpai softening lately are true."
"...Yeah, I heard that too."
"...Seriously?! Man, do I have a chance?"
"...Sigh... I could die happy if someone like that were my girlfriend."
Sara-san seemed to be trying to tell me something. She opened her mouth slowly and wide, shaping each syllable.
Do... your... be... st...?
I couldn't read her lips perfectly, but when I filled in the blanks, it was clear she was saying "Do your best!"
To show her I’d understood, I waved back. Seeing my response, Sara-san looked delighted that her message had gotten through and waved back with both hands this time.
"...H-Hey, is that... could it be...?"
"...It looks like it to me, too... what's going on...?"
"...No, they're just both in the Student Council, right?"
"...Y-Yeah, that's it. No deeper meaning, right?"
"「「「............」」」"
"Alright, gather around for warm-ups!"
I had been so absorbed in our long-distance communication that I hadn't noticed the teacher arriving on the grounds. The bell hadn't even rung yet, so I thought we had a little more time.
However, since the teacher had given the signal to assemble, I had to end things with Sara-san. For one final sign-off, I gave a large, deliberate wave. In response, Sara-san brought her clenched fists up to her chest in a cute fighting pose. She was definitely telling me to "fight on!" The sheer cuteness of the gesture was so powerful I had to struggle to keep from writhing in embarrassment.
"Where are you boys looking?!"
The teacher’s roar wasn't just for me. Looking around, there were several guys dazed and staring at the upper floor of the school building. They were undoubtedly captivated by Sara-san, and I felt a sudden impulse to shout that she had only been waving to me and it had nothing to do with them.
Of course, I wouldn't actually do that here... but still...
"Haa... haa..."
Despite the motivation I’d received from Sara-san, my bad premonition had come true. The lesson waiting for us was the worst possible scenario. I felt like I had plummeted from heaven to hell. The contrast was so extreme it felt like the universe was cruelly balancing itself out.
In short, today’s PE was a genuine, literal hell: an endurance run.
To make matters worse, while I was struggling to breathe, some guys started talking to me as if they were trying to harass me.
"Haa... haa... Hey, Takanashi, I heard Satsukawa-senpai has been a lot more approachable lately."
"Haa... haa... How is she in the Student Council?"
"Haa... haa... That might be true, but what about it?"
"...So it really is true! Yes!"
I was in too much pain to have a real conversation. As for Sara-san’s personality, based on her behavior in the Student Council Room, she had definitely mellowed out. However, that didn't mean she had become "approachable" to other men. I didn't know why those guys were so happy about it, but it certainly wasn't going to lead to anything good for them. That much was easy to imagine.
It also served as a reminder of a certain "plan" I had in mind.
By the time the class was nearly over, the school grounds were a scene of absolute carnage. Everyone had been pushed to their limits, and no one had the energy left to even stand. The demon teacher, looking down at us with satisfaction, triumphantly announced he was ending the class early as if he were doing us a massive favor. I wasn't the only one who felt a surge of resentment for actually being happy about it. Almost every student glared at the demon's back as he walked away.
As I lay flat on the ground for a while, only one thought occupied my mind.
I feel bad for Sara-san... I got my gym clothes so dirty.
That was the only thing I felt.