I decided to pull out the chabudai that I hadn't used once since moving into this apartment. It was originally junk from my family home that had been gathering dust in the closet, but it seemed its day in the sun had finally arrived.
As they watched me work, the three boys—who were still for some reason sitting in stiff seiza—finally reached their limit.
Collapsing out of their formal postures, they each began to groan in pain.
"Why were you guys even sitting like that?"
"I don't know... just because..."
"I felt like I’d be yelled at for having bad manners..."
"Something like that..."
Apparently, they had been sitting in seiza because they were terrified of being scolded by Sara-san. They clearly had a preconceived notion that she was an incredibly strict person.
Then again, considering that was her default stance toward anyone other than me, I couldn't exactly tell them they were wrong.
"Thank you for waiting."
Speak of the devil—Sara-san returned at the perfect moment. The tray she carried was loaded with various items, including teacups and sweets.
The trio remained as tense as ever around her; they stayed frozen and unable to move even as she placed the black tea and sweets in front of them.
"Kazunari-san, I will be tidying up the kitchen, so please call for me if you need anything."
"Sorry about that. I'll help you later."
"Fufu... housework is my job. Please don't worry about it and enjoy your talk with your friends."
" " "............" " "
Sara-san gave a light bow, left them with a "Please, take your time," and returned to the kitchen. The three of them watched her departing figure in a daze.
"...What was that... just now..."
"...Satsukawa-senpai has a side like that..."
"........."
It seemed they had moved past "unbelievable" and into a state where they simply couldn't hide their shock at Sara-san’s transformation.
However, that was likely unavoidable. At the risk of sounding conceited, Sara-san only showed her true self when she was with me. That was why most people only ever saw her in "Stupid Men Rejection Mode" or as "The Aloof Goddess who is Strict with Herself and Others" at school.
"More importantly, you guys had something you wanted to discuss, right?"
Setting that aside, listening to Yamakawa’s story took priority.
I predicted with almost total certainty that this was a talk about Hanako-san, and if that were the case, it wasn't as if I didn't have things to say myself. I felt bad for Yamakawa, but since he had brought the topic to my door, I intended to give him the plain truth.
"A-Ah, yeah. About Hanasaki-san."
"Right. What about Hanako-san?"
"......How do you think... she sees me?"
"............Huh?"
I expected the conversation to be about Hanako-san, but honestly, that question came out of left field. I couldn't think of an answer immediately and found myself at a loss for words. I assumed he had his own reasons for asking.
"Hey, Yamakawa. Since you asked it that way, does it mean you're prepared for me to say something harsh?"
"Y-Yeah. But the fact that you’re saying that means..."
"Then first, I want to ask: what part of Hanako-san did you fall in love with?"
I ended up ignoring his unfinished thought to confirm the most fundamental point first.
There was no doubt that the moment he first became interested in Hanako-san was when he saw the selfie photo sent to my smartphone. In other words, I already knew that the trigger was love at first sight.
I had no intention of denying a romance that started from a first impression, but if we narrowed the conditions down to "us," it would be strictly treated as an NG Case. This was because I, Hanako-san, and Tachikawa-san—who were all parties involved in a certain past incident—(and Sara-san by nature) felt a deep-seated loathing for people who discussed love based primarily on physical appearance.
That was exactly why I wanted to check if there was any other reason.
"It was love at first sight."
"...Well, I figured as much. And then?"
"I mean, I haven't really talked to Hanasaki-san much, and I barely know anything personal about her. But whenever I try to talk to her..."
"She gives him the cold shoulder. Even though she clearly acts like he's a nuisance, I think this guy is something else for still being unable to give up. Takanashi, tell him straight."
"I think today is a good opportunity. Since Takanashi is the one closest to Hanasaki-san, we thought he'd be more convinced than if we said it."
Let me organize the situation.
It was confirmed that Yamakawa was in love with Hanako-san at first sight, but he knew absolutely nothing about her and had hardly even spoken to her. In short, it was the worst kind of looks-oriented infatuation, and at that point, he was already out. Kawamura and Tanaka had judged it impossible based on Hanako-san's attitude and were trying to get Yamakawa to give up.
"Shut up! I'm talking to Takanashi—"
"She told you straight up that you were a nuisance the other day, didn't she?"
"It’s not like I officially confessed—"
"I mean, the whole class knows Hanasaki-san doesn't deal with any guys except Takanashi, right? That's why everyone accepted that the two of you were dating!"
"Just because Takanashi wasn't the guy, it doesn't mean she's going to suddenly drift over to you. Things aren't that convenient."
Yamakawa wasn't allowed to argue back by the other two; he was just opening and closing his mouth like a goldfish poking its face above the water. No sound was coming out, but in his mind, he was likely trying to protest.
But hadn't Yamakawa asked "how he was viewed" because he had a nagging suspicion himself?
If that was the case...
"Yamakawa, since you're the one who asked, I'm going to be blunt. As a basic premise, the pattern Hanako-san hates most is people falling for her at first sight because of her looks. Well, I'm the same way."
"......Eh!?"
In truth, I didn't want to go sticking my nose into other people's romantic affairs. But this was what Yamakawa had requested, and it was for Hanako-san's sake as well, so it couldn't be helped.
Startled by my words, Yamakawa suddenly began to panic, flusteredly stammering, "No, that's..." He seemed to be desperately trying to remember anything other than her looks that might have served as a trigger, but in the end, nothing came to him.
I watched him for a while, but he really couldn't think of anything else to say. Finally, he looked me in the eye and slumped his shoulders in defeat.
"...But you know, it really was the first time for me."
Then, as if pouring out his honest feelings, Yamakawa began to speak of his thoughts bit by bit.
"When I saw that selfie Takanashi had, it was like a bolt of electricity ran through me. And then, when I actually met her, I was even more shocked. How do I put it? It was like my ideal had taken physical form. And since a person like that miraculously transferred to our school, I thought it absolutely had to be destiny..."
His explanation was a bit fumbling, but I didn't fail to understand what he wanted to say.
He had found someone who was exactly his ideal, and he met her through the rare chance of her transferring in. That was why he had convinced himself it was destiny. From an outsider's perspective, one might call it a delusion or a convenient interpretation, but to the person who had fallen in love, it was perfectly sincere.
"But... everyone said she was dating Takanashi... and that she transferred here because Takanashi was here. I thought I had to give up then, but when I found out that wasn't the case..."
In the end, just as he was about to give up, finding out that the situation with me was a misunderstanding had reignited his feelings. Furthermore, the reaction had caused his emotions to swell even more, and he had simply been driven by momentum.
"Actually... I ran into Hanasaki-san on the way home Saturday, so I took a chance and called out to her. But she looked really annoyed... so I couldn't say anything more..."
This was the first I’d heard of that. Once he said that much, he looked down again as if to escape my gaze. Perhaps, after hearing my talk, he had finally realized the underlying reason why Hanako-san had treated him like a nuisance.
Hanako-san was showing it through her attitude, but this would likely only result in a vicious cycle.
In that case, I should provide some follow-up.
"Yamakawa, normally I think these kinds of things should be discussed between the people involved, but since the situation is bad, I'm going to tell you. To give you the conclusion first: I don't think Hanako-san will change her attitude in the future. I'm not just saying this randomly; I'm certain of it."
Even after hearing my definitive answer, Yamakawa didn't fall into a great panic. He seemed shocked, but he must have been braced for it on some level.
"I can't go into details, but both Hanako-san and I carried troubles stemming from the same cause. I'll tell you now: the reason I started living alone and the reason I didn't try to get involved with anyone in class was originally because of that. And Hanako-san also has trauma regarding men because of various things. Specifically, she hates frivolous men. Men who look frivolous are the same."
To be precise, she hated men who reminded her of Yamasaki the most, but...
"...I've been told I look stupid before, but I've never been told I look frivolous..."
"I see, so that's it. And that's how it connects to the part about her hating love at first sight?"
Yamakawa didn't seem to get it yet, but Kawamura had realized. Since he was the most quick-witted, common-sense person among the three, it wasn't surprising he noticed first.
"What is it? You figured it out?"
"Yeah. Takanashi said that even men who look frivolous are no good, right? You fell in love with Hanasaki-san at first sight, but in the end, that was just falling for her looks. You didn't look at her inner self at all. If that was the case, you should have at least waited until you knew each other and had some interaction, but you were way too flippant about showing your feelings from the start."
"............"
"Oh! If you put it that way, it definitely makes sense that she’d think you’re a frivolous guy. It looks like you think her personality is secondary as long as she looks good, and you look like a guy who flippantly hits on a woman you don't know at all."
"!?"
"It’s exactly as those two said. That's why Hanako-san felt a sense of loathing toward you. And once she thinks your core is like that, nothing you say afterward will work as a follow-up. It'll just be seen as you trying to gloss things over."
A frivolous man who approaches with obvious ulterior motives despite having no closeness, no connection, and knowing nothing about her—there was no doubt that was how Yamakawa was perceived. He had checked every single box for what Hanako-san (and of course, Sara-san) hated.
And there was certainly a basis for the point about follow-ups being ineffective. Even Hayato, who had a solid friendship with her, still had a line drawn against him because a lingering image of him being frivolous remained—even if it was a misunderstanding. It would be hopeless for Yamakawa.
"In other words... I was getting ahead of myself and kept doing the exact things Hanasaki-san hates most?"
This was a considerable shock to him; his eyes lost focus as if he were in a state of total abstraction. He had fully realized how many bad moves he had repeatedly made.
Of course, if the person he liked hadn't been Hanako-san, he might not have been rejected this thoroughly...
"...Hey, Yamakawa. I don't think you're a frivolous guy, and I think you're a good person. I do think you got a bit too carried away, but I can understand why you felt that way. But this time..."
"...Thanks for telling me. I'm convinced now. Thanks to this, I won't have to keep doing things Hanasaki-san hates."
It was an honest sentiment, but perhaps my follow-up was a bit too blatant.
Even without me finishing, he seemed to understand what I wanted to say. I had delivered the final blow, but because he had already suspected it himself, he was able to accept it.
"It looks like you're finally convinced."
"Yeah. I'll apologize to her one last time later."
"Talking to Takanashi really was the right choice."
Even if he hadn't been directly dumped yet, it seemed his mind was made up. Everything seemed to have clicked for him; while he looked sad, he also seemed somewhat relieved. In any case, if he was satisfied, that was for the best.
"Is your conversation finished?"
Sara-san returned at a timing that suggested she had been waiting for the talk to reach a natural break. Talking in such a small room, she would have heard us whether she wanted to or not; I suppose she had waited until we were done.
"Satsukawa-senpai, I'm sorry for taking up your time when you're busy."
Perhaps because his mind had settled, Yamakawa didn't show any signs of being afraid of Sara-san like he had earlier.
"No... as a result, I ended up overhearing your conversation, but there were parts that made me think as well..."
"?"
Did something in that conversation bother her? Sara-san showed a brief gesture of being lost in thought.
I was sure she had no intention of saying it here, so I’d try asking her about it casually later.
"My apologies, I digressed. Kazunari-san, it's almost lunchtime. What would you like to do? Shall we go out?"
Hearing Sara-san's words, I looked at the clock and realized it was already near noon. I must have been more focused on the conversation than I thought.
"What do you guys want to do?"
"I didn't mean to take up so much of your time, but we ended up staying longer than I thought. Sorry."
"Sorry, Takanashi. We got in the way even though Satsukawa-senpai was here. My apologies to you too, Satsukawa-senpai."
"No, it's quite all right. When I thought about it, I realized there is a possibility that Kazunari-san's friends might visit in the future as well. It seems it would be best for me to properly prepare things for guests."
I didn't know what our social circle would look like from here on, but it wasn't strange to think friends might come over. And that applied not just to me, but to Sara-san as well.
"Somehow... even though we came to Takanashi's house, it feels like Satsukawa-senpai is the one managing it..."
"I wouldn't say 'managing,' per se, but I am in charge of the housework for this house."
"!?"
Tanaka must have meant that as a monologue. He couldn't hide his surprise at the unexpected reply from Sara-san.
"...I never thought I'd have the chance to speak with Satsukawa-senpai."
"Indeed. If you were not a friend of Kazunari-san, I would likely never have had the reason to speak with you."
"I-I see..."
"Yes."
Kawamura also took a chance and spoke to Sara-san, but he was left at a loss for words by her overly direct response. Since Sara-san judged almost everything based on me, it was a perfectly normal answer for her—especially when dealing with men. At least, from my perspective.
"Um!! S-Satsukawa-senpai, do you come to this house often... I mean, do you often come here!? You seem really used to it, since you're even doing the tidying up and everything."
Perhaps because he had settled his feelings regarding Hanako-san, Yamakawa had regained his natural brightness. Although he seemed slightly nervous, he spoke to Sara-san without being intimidated.
"I do not 'come here.' I live here."
" " "......Huh?" " "
Since I’d started being with Sara-san, I felt like I’d been seeing a lot of these "stunned like they'd been shot with a peashooter" expressions. The three of them were currently exhibiting exactly that.
"......T-T-T-T-T-Takanashi..."
"...H-Hey, n-no way... no way..."
"...You're... lying............ right?"
"......It's true."
" " " !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! " " "
Beyond mere surprise, they seemed so struck by the magnitude of the impact that they couldn't even make a sound. Since it would have been a nuisance to the neighbors, I was glad they didn't scream.
"...A-A-A-A-Are you guys cohabitating!!??"
"...N-No matter how you look at it, that's insane!!!! If the school finds out..."
"There is no particular problem. We are engaged."
"Oh, then that's fi—Engaged!!??"
"NO NO NO!!!! C-Cohabitating and engaged to the Goddess... this is way too crazy!?"
"If you're engaged and living together, does that mean you have parental approval!!??"
"Y-Yeah."
" " " ............... " " "
Envy, fear, who the hell is this guy, unbelievable... I’d been getting these looks so often lately that I was starting to get used to them.