After listening to a general explanation from the teacher, we decided to officially sign up for the accessory class. The fees were quite reasonable for the simpler items, and we were told that as long as we didn't choose anything too complex, it wouldn't take much time.
I had already spent a fortune on the ring, so I was scraping the bottom of my budget... but since Sara-san managed our living expenses separately, I figured it wouldn't be a problem.
With that in mind... I decided to go all out!
I wanted to make something for Sara-san, of course, but also for Mayumi-san and Masaomi-san, who were always taking care of me. And I wanted to give one to Hanako-san as well.
And then... there were my parents.
I knew it; I had sensed it myself on some level. Ever since that incident, a certain lingering resentment toward my parents still remained deep inside me.
So, while I wasn't exactly using this as a mere excuse...
I had never given my parents a proper present before, and even though this wasn't anything grand, I wanted to hand it to them. I wanted to tell them—even if it was only a single sentence—that I had finally been able to overcome my past self.
I had reliable companions now.
I had someone I loved more than anyone else.
I had someone who loved me more than anyone else.
For the sake of Sara-san, the most important person in the world to me, I could become strong to no end...
In reality, I probably wouldn't be able to say it in such an exaggerated way. But at the very least, I wanted to tell them that I was okay now.
That was what I had decided.
"Well then, please choose whichever kit you like."
The teacher brought a cardboard box out from a shelf and lined its contents up on the table.
Inside were crafting kits with photos of the finished products on the covers. There were standard bead types, artificial flower types, and even ones shaped like animals or wooden furniture—or perhaps they were objects? Regardless, there was a surprising variety.
With so many options, it was hard to choose, but the prices were apparently all the same. She told us we were free to pick whatever caught our eye.
"The artificial flower versions are more like a corsage. If you're looking for something for everyday use, the bead types are the standard choice. The animals are quite popular as well, you know?"
A corsage... I’d heard the word, but I didn't really understand the difference.
If they weren't for everyday use, did that mean they were meant for parties or special occasions?
Hearing that only made me more conflicted. If they were for special occasions, I felt they should wear something more substantial. People like Mayumi-san and the others surely already owned high-end jewelry for those situations.
In that case, I should probably stick to something for everyday use.
"This one... and this one..."
"Kazunari, are you really going to do that many?"
"That’s just how Kazunari is. I'm sure he's included ones for Hanako-san and the other people who look after him," Yuji said.
"Indeed. Takanashi-san is that kind of person," Nishikawa-san added.
"Is that... a compliment?"
"Of course. I quite like that about you, Takanashi-san."
"……"
When she said something like that so casually and without a hint of hesitation, I didn't know how to respond. I felt a little...
"Kazunari, are you blushing?"
"Shut up!"
"Fufu... I'll get scolded by Sara-san if I'm not careful. But it's true that I find you quite likable, Takanashi-san. I think you're a very wonderful man."
"No, like I said..."
I could tell immediately that Nishikawa-san, who wore a smile full of composure, had no ulterior motives. It didn't feel like she was forcing herself to flatter me either; she was likely just being genuine.
But that was exactly why it was so embarrassing. I mean, stop it!
"I see. Now I understand a little better why Sara says Takanashi-san is cute. So that’s what it is."
"Um, please, have mercy and leave it at that."
"…That’s the part that triggers it, I see."
"Huh?"
"Fufu, it's nothing. Now, I shall choose mine as well."
Nishikawa-san, sporting a somewhat mischievous smile, began browsing the crafting kits. What was with her lately?
"…Kazunari really does attract a specific type, doesn't he?"
"…I think he probably tickles their maternal instinct."
"…I see. Given the lineup, that’s incredibly persuasive."
The kit I chose consisted of parts already shaped like flowers or stars out of beads, which were then tied to the main body of the brooch called a shower base. Once the main parts were attached, the area around them would be decorated with colorful beads.
Since there was no need to sew with a needle, it was easy in one sense, but it was tedious manual labor that took a fair bit of effort.
However, as I finished the second and third ones, I naturally got used to the process.
By the way, I saved the ones for Sara-san, the most important one, and the semi-mains like Mayumi-san and Hanako-san for the very end. I wanted to make them as well as possible, so I planned to finish them only after I had mastered the technique.
Therefore... the very first test production was for my dad.
In truth, I felt like I wanted to make something a bit more elaborate to give him, but it was impossible physically, budget-wise, and time-wise.
Because I had so many to make, I was inevitably falling far behind the others. The other three had already finished and were currently waiting for me.
But if I rushed, I would only mess up, so I tried to stay as calm as possible.
"Kazunari, this includes the ones for your mom and dad, right?"
"Yeah, they're in here."
"I see... Hey, Kazunari. When you hand these over, you should really have a proper talk with them."
"Yuji?"
Where was this coming from?
When I stopped working and looked at Yuji, something seemed off. He looked more serious than usual—to be blunt, he looked dead serious.
But I had originally intended to talk to them when I handed these over anyway. Like I’d thought earlier, there were things I wanted to tell both my dad and my mom.
However, I felt like Yuji was pushing for something deeper. Which meant...
"Yeah. One way or another, I was planning to talk with my parents."
"I see. Then that’s fine. I said something unnecessary; forget it."
"It wasn't unnecessary. You were worried about me, right? Thanks."
"……"
Since it was Yuji, who knew about my past better than anyone, he was probably telling me to address that incident.
Even the fact that I still didn't show my face at my family home was ultimately because I still had some lingering resentment in my heart. It wouldn't be surprising if Yuji had noticed that. He was likely just worried.
I was naturally grateful for Yuji's feelings, and I would never think his concern was misplaced.
"…Honestly... Kazunari is just..."
"…He is, isn't he? I truly envy Sara."
It wasn't just about saying thanks or telling him not to worry; perhaps it was necessary to talk a bit more... and maybe to apologize.
Maybe the time had finally come to face my parents properly.
"Alright, that’s all of them finished."
The first one I’d made had a slightly poor balance because I wasn't used to it yet.
Well, I guess this is fine for a start.
They were just beads, but because the teacher gave me various extras, the final products looked more flamboyant than I expected... probably. Most likely.
"Good work, Takanashi-san. You were faster than I thought you’d be."
"No, not really. It's already well past the scheduled time..."
"It's quite alright. I don't have any other plans for today."
"Yeah, it was actually fun watching you work with such a desperate look on your face," Hayato teased.
"Your expressions were shifting a mile a minute. Were you thinking about each person while you made theirs?" Yuji asked.
"Ugh..."
Now that they mentioned it, it was true that I’d been having fun imagining if they would be happy or what they would look like.
"Kazunari's thoughts show on his face immediately, after all."
"…Is it really that obvious?"
"Yeah. Well, it seems like Satsukawa-senpai and Hanako-san can see right through you regardless of that."
"Sara only looks at Takanashi-san no matter what she's doing, after all. I'm sure she can notice even subtle changes that we wouldn't understand."
"Now that you mention it, Hanako-san was watching Kazunari quite a bit too."
"That's true. You're loved, Kazunari."
"……"
Whether they were praising or flattering me, I didn't know what their angle was. Or were they just teasing and making fun of me? Was there something on my face?
"Haa... I would be happy if someone as straightforward as that appeared for me too... yes, truly. Why is it always me... like this, always, always, always..."
"""……………"""
I could see it... something dark and ominous swirling around Nishikawa-san...
Jokes aside, Nishikawa-san was muttering to herself as if venting her anger at something—or someone—invisible.
Something must have happened to her again.
I figured it was a sign of kindness to leave it alone. Let sleeping dogs lie.
Having achieved all our objectives, we said our goodbyes once more and returned to the car.
I had learned a lot today, and the fact that I’d found one of my future goals was an unexpected bonus.
Once we were in the car, the conversation turned to what to do for our late lunch.
Nishikawa-san suggested, "If you don't have any candidates, I can secure a hotel restaurant right now."
Since she came out with such a typical young lady suggestion, I asked her to put that on hold.
If we had such a formal meal at this hour, it would ruin dinner, and besides, eating at a hotel was impossible for my budget. If we went, Nishikawa-san would inevitably end up treating us again... and that was absolutely not okay this time.
"What should we do?"
"I'm fine with something light," Yuji said.
"Me too. To be honest, I'm even fine with McD's."
"Wait, with Nishikawa-san here, that’s..."
"Oh, that sounds lovely. Shall we do that if everyone is okay with it?"
""" Eh!? """
Wait, Nishikawa-san at McD's!?
It's not that there's anything wrong with it, of course. It's just that the image didn't fit at all. To be blunt, it felt like a massive mismatch.
"Um... I feel like you're all misunderstanding something, but I am a normal high school girl too, you know?"
"T-That’s true..."
"Now that you mention it... but still."
I understood Yuji and Hayato's feelings perfectly. Especially after seeing her majestic aura today, I couldn't connect Nishikawa-san to a scene of her munching on fries and eating a burger. I’d only ever seen her eating gracefully at first-class restaurants with a fork and knife.
"W-Well, if Nishikawa-san is fine with it, I have no problem at all."
"Yeah. I'm fine with that too."
"Me too. Actually, it's been quite a while since I've been to McD's."
"Oh, Takanashi-san, isn't that rare for a high school boy?"
"No... it's just that Sara-san..."
""" Ah... """
For some reason, the moment I mentioned Sara-san's name, they all reacted as if they completely understood everything.
But they were definitely misunderstanding. They probably thought it was because Sara-san would get angry or give me a warning, right?
For the sake of Sara-san's honor, I’ll say this: she would never get angry at me for something like that. Well, she might give me a mild reprimand...
"Just so you know, it's not like Sara-san told me it's forbidden, okay?"
"Oh, is that so?"
"I totally thought it was about getting scolded."
"Me too. Then why?"
"When I go home, Sara-san makes the best meals imaginable, so there's no reason to specifically choose McD's, right?"
"""…………"""
Actually, I didn't eat out much to begin with. When I went on a date with Sara-san, unless there was a specific reason to eat out, she would make a bento for me. On nice days, we’d eat in spots with a great view.
"I see... so it was just flaunting your romance."
"Yes, yes, thanks for the treat."
"Well... that’s just like you."
"W-What’s that supposed to mean?"
I’d only told the truth, but they had turned incredibly cold...
But that’s because they didn't know how delicious Sara-san's food was. If you knew you could eat that every day, anyone would agree there was no need to eat out.
"Well... certainly Sara's cooking is outstanding," Nishikawa-san admitted.
"Is it really that good? Kazunari praises it to high heaven, saying it's delicious no matter what."
"I see it often during lunch break, but that’s all handmade without any frozen food, right? I think that’s pretty amazing. I've never actually tried it, though."
"If you're eating bento together, why don't you ask Kazunari for a bite?"
"Do you really think there's a man alive who could ask for that in front of Satsukawa-senpai?"
"""……………"""
With Hayato's single sentence, everyone's gaze gathered on me again.
Certainly, even if it were Yuji or Hayato, I didn't think Sara-san would give her okay so easily. However, if Sara-san made something for everyone from the start, I think it would be fine. But the usual bento was something she made specifically for me, so both Sara-san and I would absolutely say no.
Well, if I said that, they'd just accuse me of bragging again, so I kept my mouth shut.
"Nishikawa-san, thank you so much for today."
"Not at all. Being present for such a memorable day for two of my precious best friends is a pleasure for me as well."
"Ahaha... W-Well, I certainly think of it as an anniversary too."
Today was the anniversary of purchasing the first ring I would give to Sara-san. Furthermore, it was a day that would remain a lifelong memory—the day I bought the ring for my formal proposal.
"I am looking forward to your heroic performance on the day of the Miss Contest."
"Yes. Leave it to me."
"Fufu... I'm sure Sara will be so happy she'll end up crying. I'm quite envious."
"No, well, I mean..."
Remembering the day I gave her the locket, it wouldn't be surprising if that happened. But if she cried because she was happy—if she cried out of pure bliss—then even those tears would be a precious treasure to me.
"…Yuji, when are you going to give yours?"
"…Well, I'm thinking about it. More importantly, what about you?"
"…I'm going to start making a clear move soon. It seems like Todo-san won't notice me unless I go for a direct hit."
"…Is that so?"
"…As it is now, we're just good male friends. Besides, if it's just about being friends, I'm probably losing to Kazunari."
"…I see. It's a bit cliché, but good luck."
"…Yeah. I'll do my best so she's at least conscious of me by the time the Autumn Festival rolls around."
"Did something happen with the Autumn Festival?"
"" !? ""
It seemed like Yuji and Hayato were discussing something, but I only caught the part about the "Autumn Festival." That was probably the festival held at the shrine near the school the week after the school festival, right?
Was Yuji coming too... wait, had he already made plans with Natsumi-senpai? That seemed likely.
"No, it's just that shrine near the school..."
"Ah, now that you mention it, it is around that time. That festival has various anecdotes, and it's a fond memory for me now..."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. It's a large festival, after all. People gather from the surrounding school districts, not just ours. When I went with Sara and Natsumi, the boys were just everywhere... Sara got seriously angry, and Natsumi said her foot slipped and ki—no, it's nothing. It was such a nuisance that the Execution For—no, this is also nothing."
"""…………"""
She definitely just tried to say "Execution Force." And that Natsumi-senpai "kicked" someone away.
When I’d heard about the festival before, I’d half-jokingly imagined such inside stories, but were they really using muscle to clear the area in the shadows? Rich people are terrifying...
No, if Sara-san was kept safe, then I should be honestly grateful.
"Uh... thank you?"
"Eh? Whatever for?"
"No, it just sounds like Sara-san was well-protected..."
"…Fufu, Takanashi-san, you really are unwavering. You and Sara are quite the match."
"I-Is that so?"
Nishikawa-san looked at me with a heartwarming smile. I supposed I could take that as a compliment. Being told we were a good match was always nice to hear.
"The festival sounds like it would be fun now. Since everyone is gathering for the school festival anyway, it would be great if we could all go to the Autumn Festival together..."
"That sounds like a plan. Actually, I was thinking of talking to everyone about it at the school festival. And about the trip, too."
"Yes, I definitely want to go on that trip."
"I'm in. It sounds like fun."
"Same here. It sounds much more enjoyable than an official school trip."
That was a relief... the topic of the trip hadn't come up at all since then, so I was worried it had been a heat-of-the-moment idea. But everyone remembered. We’d have to make some serious plans... I was really looking forward to it.
"Alright, then let's hash out the details at the school festival."
"Yes, I'm really looking forward to it."
"Roger!"
"The things to look forward to are piling up. Though I'll have to ask for a schedule that doesn't interfere with club activities."
That would probably be the same for Natsumi-senpai. It would be great if we could find a time that worked for everyone... well, that was another thing to discuss at the school festival.
"Well then, I'll take my leave for today."
"Yes, thank you so much for everything!"
"You're very welcome. I'll see you again on the day we pick up the rings. I'll be in touch."
With a polite bow, Nishikawa-san returned to her car. Truly, I owed her a lot for today.
"Well, I'm heading off too. See you at the school festival."
Waving his hand, Yuji headed toward the station and vanished into the crowd. Finally, only Hayato and I were left.
"Shall we head home too?"
"Yeah. I'm sure your wife is waiting."
"Hey..."
"But it's true, isn't it?"
"Well... yeah."
Being called his "wife" instead of his "girlfriend" felt a bit strange. But then again... it was a fact.
Anyway, the ring had been successfully ordered. I’d also finished the presents for everyone who looked after me.
Actually, I’d made one for Nishikawa-san too... but obviously, the very first person I was going to give one to was Sara-san. So, I’d save hers for the next opportunity.
Time to head back to the house where Sara-san was waiting.
I hoped she’d like the brooch...