I nearly succumbed to Sara-san’s overwhelming moe attack, but I managed to pull myself together through sheer willpower and the judging looks from those around me.
I felt like thinking about it any further was going to be dangerous in more ways than one, so I knew I needed to shift my focus… yet, despite the earlier talk about sizes, I couldn't stop thinking about the yukata.
Because the image of Sara-san in a yukata was a precious, irreplaceable memory for me.
On that day, her beauty had literally robbed me of my words. The memory of that emotion remained vivid even now, and I truly believed that seeing her like that had been the final push I needed to confess my feelings.
That was why my attachment to the image was so strong.
"……-nari."
And then, there was Sara-san’s smile—looking truly happy from the bottom of her heart when I made my confession. Her clear, beautiful eyes welling with jewel-like tears, and her hair done up in a style different from the usual that suited her so perfectly…
"Kazunari-san!"
"!?"
Startled by my name being called so loudly, I snapped back to my senses only to find Sara-san had closed the distance while I wasn't looking. As she peered intently into my eyes, her bashful expression made my heart skip a beat. I must have been so deep in my own world that I hadn't even noticed her getting so close.
"Kazunari-san, is something the matter? Um… your face looks…"
"No, no, Satsukawa-san. You have to ask him what kind of indecent things he was thinking with that leering grin on his face."
"I-I wasn't thinking quite that far. However, you did look like you were imagining something very pleasant…"
Since it followed our previous conversation, she probably thought I was still dwelling on those other "sizes." It would be a problem if she pinned me as a closet pervert for staying silent, so I decided to be honest.
"I was remembering you in your yukata, Sara-san. You were so truly beautiful then… I honestly believe you’re the person who suits a yukata better than anyone else in the world. I don't think there's another woman alive who looks that good in one. You’re absolutely the best. Of course, you’re more wonderful than anyone even in your everyday look, but—mgh!"
Squeeze…
Just as I noticed a bright-red Sara-san closing in, she had already wrapped her arms around my head and pulled me into her embrace with sudden force. She guided me into her fixed position, a special move of hers that forcibly silenced me without any room for argument. In other words, she wanted me to stop right there.
I had only intended to express how wonderful and beautiful her yukata-clad figure was, but I must have gotten a little too passionate. It appeared I had retreated into my own world again, but I felt it couldn't be helped. The impact of seeing Sara-san that day was just that great—it was something I would remember for the rest of my life.
"Honestly… I told you 'Me!'… but you’re being a mean Kazunari-san, so this is your punishment."
"Mugu…"
"Of course I’m happy to be praised, but it's embarrassing when you go that far… You were staring at my… earlier as well… You’re being mean today, Kazunari-san…"
I certainly hadn't intended it that way, but it seemed I had ended up making her feel quite self-conscious. Setting the praise aside, I suppose I was at fault for what happened earlier… However, if I were allowed an excuse, I am a man, after all…
"Have you reflected on your actions?"
I nodded.
"Yes, good boy♪"
Pat, pat…
When I nodded obediently, she seemed to cheer up (I'm sure she wasn't even slightly angry), and after loosening her embrace, she gently stroked my head. I was relieved she had calmed down.
"…What are these two even doing…?"
"…Punishment? This is what she calls punishment?"
"…Yeah… Their sensibilities are as warped as ever…"
Everyone fell silent.
"If you like it that much, Kazunari-san, shall I wear a yukata at the house as well?"
"Eh!? No, that's…"
"Satsukawa-san actually tells jokes too, huh?"
"Yeah. It’s obvious she would, but it’s still fresh to hear…"
"Eh? I wasn't joking, though?"
Again, the room went silent.
Personally, I had realized from the start that she was being serious. It wasn't that Sara-san never joked, but if she judged that something would make me happy, she would seriously consider it even if it sounded like a jest.
There was no doubt that if I actually asked her to do it, she would seriously start wearing a yukata at home.
"Um, your yukata-clad figure is special to me, Sara-san. That’s why I want you to wear it on special occasions."
"I understand. If you'll praise me so much, Kazunari-san, I shall proactively look for opportunities to wear one in the future."
Sara-san seemed satisfied with that and slowly let go of me. She looked a little reluctant to pull away, and I felt the same, especially since it was hard to talk like that. To be honest, since it had only been for a short time, I felt a tiny bit disappointed myself.
"Sigh… same as always, I see."
"I've finally gotten used to it… By the way, the talk about yukata reminded me—isn't there a festival coming up soon?"
"Ah, the festival at the shrine nearby? I think it’s next month."
Since I wasn't originally from this hometown, that kind of information was truly appreciated. An autumn festival at a shrine was the perfect event.
By the way, even though it was nearby, I had heard that the shrine where Yukie-san lived didn't hold festivals, so they must have been talking about a different shrine in the vicinity.
"Come to think of it, it is that time of year. Last year, Natsumi and Eri invited me and the three of us went together…"
"Weren't the pick-up artists relentless?"
"Right? It seems like it would be bad enough with just Satsukawa-san, but with Nishikawa-san and Natsumi-chan there too, it sounds like there’d be an uproar from all the idiots trying to hit on you."
Setting aside Sara-san, the usual, composed Nishikawa-san was a beautiful young lady by any measure, and Natsumi-senpai was a renowned stylish beauty popular even with other girls. It wasn't hard to imagine that if the three of them were together without any men, things would get chaotic.
"No, it was fine. Eri was there, after all."
"Eh? Does being with Nishikawa-san make it okay?"
"Did Nishikawa-san chase them off?"
"No, there were… um, various things around Eri."
Sara-san was being a bit vague, but the most likely possibility associated with Nishikawa-san was something like bodyguards… SP following her.
I had never seen such people during our usual interactions, but I knew they had been stationed disguised as staff at the venue where we settled things with Yamasaki. If that was the case, it wouldn't be surprising if they moved secretly in the shadows to handle such things.
Regardless, now that I knew there was a festival, there was only one thing for me to do.
"Sara-san, for this year’s festival, would you go with—"
"Yes♪ It looks like there will be an opportunity to wear a new yukata right away."
Before I could even finish my sentence, Sara-san nodded with a smile. She might have predicted I would invite her the moment the topic came up.
Still, this gave me another thing to look forward to, and on top of that, I would get to see Sara-san in a brand-new yukata… I couldn't wait.
"Good work, everyone~"
Just as the conversation hit a lull, Todo-san, one of the Double Angels, entered the Student Council Room. Meanwhile, the other half of the angels who claimed to be my big sister still hadn't recovered from her earlier shock.
"Good work, Todo-san~"
"Good work~"
"Good work~"
"Good work, Todo-san."
"Yeah, good work. Hey, wasn't there a huge commotion in Takanashi-kun’s class?"
"Eh!?"
"Hm? Did something happen with the first-years?"
Former President Uesaka-san reacted immediately to Todo-san’s mention of a "huge commotion." Even though he had been a complete bystander until a moment ago, his sudden interest in that specific part might have been some kind of conditioned reflex from his time as president.
As for whether something happened in my class… well, "too much" happened was more accurate.
What Todo-san was talking about was undoubtedly "that." I suppose it was only natural for such a massive uproar to be heard in other classrooms.
"I could hear intense shouting and what sounded like screams from one of the classes. When I was talking to Yokokawa-kun earlier, he said it seemed to be coming from Takanashi-kun’s classroom next door…"
Since Hayato was in the neighboring class, he definitely would have heard the noise. If it could be heard even in Todo-san’s class, perhaps it had echoed through the entire first-year floor.
"Ah, that was…"
"Was it about my mother causing trouble for Kazunari-san? Or…"
"Satsukawa-senpai’s mother?"
"Wait, what? What’s this about Satsukawa-san’s mother causing trouble for Takanashi-kun…?"
"Did she storm the class or something?"
"No, well, she pretended to be Kazunari-san’s mother and attended the Parental Observation Day."
「「「 Ehhh!? 」」」
This was apparently shocking enough that even the male officers who weren't part of the conversation cried out in surprise. Even with the logic that she would be his mother-in-law in the future, I still thought she had gone too far this time. Naturally, anyone else would be even more stunned to hear it.
"That's beyond just storming in."
"Won't the teachers scold her if she gets caught?"
"Takanashi-kun, were you okay?"
"I seem to be okay for now. The class ended without any major issues."
"Is that so? Huh… but if that's the case, then what caused the shouting?"
"That, of course, was because a different problem occurred."
"A different problem?"
Before I knew it, Hanako-san had recovered and returned to her fixed position on my left. Everyone's gaze turned toward me after hearing Hanako-san’s comment, as if demanding a prompt explanation, but Hanako-san continued talking without missing a beat.
"Kazunari and his wife officially went public as fiancé and fiancée."
The room went completely silent as everyone stared in speechlessness, but only for a moment. Suddenly, they all started glancing at each other, and after exchanging some meaningful signals, they all nodded in unison.
What was with that reaction?
"…It’s finally happened, hasn't it…"
"…Well, I wonder how things will turn out now…"
"…The real movement will probably start on Monday, I guess."
As if the time they had expected had finally arrived, the officers began checking in with each other. Former President Uesaka-san looked particularly serious as he thought for a moment, then turned to Hanako-san.
"Hanasaki-san, as for the classroom…"
"Leave it to me…"
It seemed they understood each other perfectly through that brief exchange. Going by the flow of the conversation, they were undoubtedly discussing some kind of response to our relationship going public.
Being shown such meaningful exchanges made me feel slightly anxious.
If something were to happen because of today's announcement, tomorrow was Sunday, so it would be fine—but it wouldn't be surprising if things started moving from Monday onward. I should probably stay on my toes.