"…Mmm."
The morning temperature had begun to dip past "cool," making the comfort of the blankets feel even more inviting. Without thinking, I found myself instinctively seeking out warmth.
As I drifted in the space between sleep and wakefulness, listening to the faint chirping of birds, I felt myself enveloped in something incredibly pleasant—something different from my usual bedding. I was overcome by a desire to surrender to it completely.
"Muu… nnn…"
"Fufu… Kazunari-san."
Chu…
I felt something soft and ticklish against my forehead.
Pulled by that sweet sensation, my consciousness rapidly flickered to life.
"Nnn… mmm?"
"Kazunari-san, good morning."
It was Sara-san's usual wake-up greeting. However, unlike most mornings, her voice came from an incredibly close distance.
Actually, judging by this presence… and the sensation enveloping my entire body, this heaven-like comfort…
No matter how I looked at it, Sara-san was still hugging me.
"G-Good morning, Sara-san."
"Yes, good morning, Kazunari-san."
I slowly opened my eyes, but as expected, I saw nothing but darkness. That was only natural, considering I was currently buried in Sara-san's heaven.
"…Sara-san, are you running late today?"
"No. If anything, I would say you woke up early, Kazunari-san."
"…Is that so?"
"Yes. Normally, this is the time I would be getting out of the futon."
"Eh… is it still that early? By the way… um."
I debated whether or not to mention it, but Sara-san was holding me much more firmly than I had anticipated; I couldn't move at all. I had only just realized our position, but was it possible we were like this every morning?
"Fufu… no moving, okay? I haven't finished my Morning Recharge yet, so please stay right here and let me hold you a little longer, Kazunari-san."
"R-Recharge? Alright, I understand for now…"
Come to think of it, I remembered Sara-san mentioning something about a morning recharge before. So this was what she meant.
"Ah, that’s right. Since you’ve gone through the trouble of waking up, Kazunari-san…"
"Yes?"
"Kazunari-san… please look at me."
"…A-Alright."
I knew exactly what she was planning to do.
After all, when I looked up, Sara-san’s expression was already melting with sweetness.
"Mmm…"
Chu…
Sara-san slowly closed her eyes and leaned in, stealing my lips.
As usual, she took the lead, but since it made us both happy, I didn't mind. I just had to make sure I showed my own resolve when the moment called for it. That was the deal.
"Fufu… once again, good morning, Kazunari-san."
"Good morning, Sara-san."
When we pulled apart, the melting expression receded, and Sara-san smiled with her usual gentle warmth. There was a hint of mischief in her eyes, too.
"Now I’ll be in top form today!"
"Haha, well, that's good."
"Yes! Besides… we still have about five minutes left…"
"………"
Gyu…
Hearing that, I took the initiative to hug her back, burying my face into her as I returned to my fixed position.
Five minutes—that meant it was okay to be a little spoiled, and that she wanted to dote on me. I was certain that was what she was trying to say.
So, I decided to take the plunge. If I was wrong… well, I’d cross that bridge when I got to it.
"Fufu… for these next five minutes, please let me pamper you to your heart's content, Kazunari-san?"
As she said that, I had a feeling it wouldn't end in just five minutes. But still, it was nice to have a morning like this once in a while.
"Morning, you two~"
"Good morning."
We met up with the other two at the usual convenience store and began the slow walk toward school.
Looking up, the sky was a magnificent autumn blue with hardly a cloud in sight—a perfect day for the school festival.
However, the morning commute felt slightly different than usual. Ah, right—today was Sunday. The lack of salarymen in suits and the absence of trucks on the road made sense now.
"Wife, did something happen?"
Hanako-san, who had been peering curiously at Sara-san’s face, suddenly voiced her suspicion. As far as I knew, nothing out of the ordinary had occurred.
"Why do you ask?"
"You seem to be in a better mood than usual. Considering the Miss Contest is today, it feels unnatural."
"Now that you mention it, you're right. You’re usually so grumpy about the Miss Contest, but you’re practically glowing…"
Natsumi-senpai trailed off, her face twisting into a look of blatant disgust as she shifted her gaze toward me.
In truth, I had realized the reason during their exchange. It seemed Natsumi-senpai had arrived at a conclusion that wasn't far from the mark.
"I see… you're happy because Kazunari acted sweet and spoiled in the futon this morning."
"…How did you know?"
"How could I not?"
Even though it was Hanako-san who had guessed it (she was incredibly sharp), Natsumi-senpai was the one who snapped back. It had already been universally accepted that Sara-san's mood depended entirely on me—though that was hardly news at this point.
"Fufu… Kazunari-san is so honest and sweet when he's under the blankets…"
"Sara-san, stop!"
I knew she was just happy and wanted to share, but that phrasing was problematic in too many ways. I wanted to believe these two wouldn't misunderstand, but her words were still loaded with dangerous implications.
"…D-Don't tell me, you two…"
"…It’s fine. What Wife says is literal. It means exactly what she said and nothing more."
"R-Right… honestly, don't be so misleading."
"I am simply speaking the truth, though?"
"I know that!!"
Because she had no ulterior motives, Sara-san remained perfectly calm, while Natsumi-senpai turned bright red from reading too much into it. Hanako-san, meanwhile, was completely unfazed—she really did have a heart of iron.
As for me, I had no idea what Natsumi-senpai was imagining that made her blush like that… yeah.
"Hah… I’m almost afraid to ask what your life at home is actually like."
"It’s better if you don’t. I suspect there’s a lot more to it than this."
Sharp… as expected of Hanako-san.
If they found out we even took baths together, they’d never believe that "nothing happened." We absolutely had to keep that a secret, especially from our parents.
"But Sara, we're one thing, but you should really avoid hinting at your cohabitation elsewhere. If the school finds out…"
"I believe that will likely be fine."
"Really?"
"Yes. The school side told me to consult them if I have any trouble."
It was true; our homeroom teacher had said something to that effect. Considering the support and follow-up we’d received lately, it was almost certainly Mayumi-san’s doing.
"My prediction is that the school knows they live together and is tacitly approving it," Hanako-san added. "Normally it would be an issue, but they can’t exactly object if they’re officially engaged with the guardians' permission."
"Eh… d-do they know that much?"
"If anything, they have to know that much to handle any potential issues. Wife’s mother is more than capable of doing that level of groundwork and foundation-laying at this school."
"I-I see…"
"Yes, Mother would certainly go that far without hesitation," Sara-san agreed.
"That sounds like Mayumi-san, alright…"
In my mind, I could practically hear a cheerful voice saying, “Nfu-fufu~ Mother-in-law will do her best for her cute son!♪”
I instinctively glanced around, but she wasn't there. Mayumi-san was terrifying—she had such a presence that I could hear her voice even when she wasn't around.
Wait, did Hanako-san understand Mayumi-san a little too well?
"By the way, Natsumi, are you ready for your match today?"
"Ah… it should be fine. The opponent isn't someone I can take lightly, but if I can just play the way I’ve practiced."
"Natsumi-senpai will be fine," Hanako-san said. "The ball will bounce and attack the opponent’s face with a lethal trajectory…"
"No, that’s physically impossible."
"Then, every ball the opponent returns will somehow land perfectly back in your hand…"
"Stop, Hanako-san. Don't go any further than that."
I sensed a "Instruction from God" warning me of an impending emergency, so I hurriedly moved to cover Hanako-san's mouth. I just hovered my hand over her lips, not actually touching them, but it was enough to stop her.
"…Does tennis really have such incredible techniques?" Sara-san asked.
"Of course not!!" Natsumi-senpai barked.
"I was joking, naturally."
"…………"
Natsumi-senpai stared at the cutely smiling Sara-san with a scornful look before shifting that same glare toward me.
Hey, don't look at me. This is just Sara-san being playful. We’ve gone to cheer for her so many times; there’s no way we wouldn’t know the basics of tennis.
"Anyway, I’m glad to see you're not overly tense," I said.
"Well, I suppose she can't afford to lose while Tachibana-san is watching her from the stands," Sara-san teased.
"Guh…"
Natsumi-senpai was immediately thrown onto the defensive the moment Yuji’s name was brought up. It looked like teasing, but I knew Sara-san was just trying to help her relax and ease her nerves.
"Ah…"
"Hmm? What is it, Takanashi-kun?"
I accidentally let out a sound as I realized something important.
Come to think of it, Natsumi-senpai hadn't publicly announced her relationship with Yuji to the rest of the school, had she? Even if her fans were mostly girls, she was still carrying a bit of a powder keg.
"N-No, I was just wondering if Yuji had ever come to watch a match before."
"Ah, that. Actually, no. We haven't had any big matches since we started dating, and since I have practice even on my days off, we haven't had much time for dates… wait, what are you making me say!?"
"Whoa, that's not my fault…"
"Natsumi, I won't allow you to falsely accuse Kazunari-san," Sara-san interjected.
"I can't overlook that either," Hanako-san added.
"Yeah, yeah, the usual pattern…"
Phew, I managed to gloss over it. I was saved by the usual banter between Sara-san and Hanako-san.
I was honestly curious about that situation, but I couldn't risk stressing Natsumi-senpai out with unnecessary talk right now. She needed to focus on her match.
Still…
Between me, Hayato, and Yuji… why did all of us have such similar points of concern?
"Good morning!"
"Morning!!"
"Good morning everyone."
Student Council members were gathering at the headquarters tent in front of the main gate. It was almost time for the morning assembly—the final meeting to confirm today's schedule.
Thanks to our experience yesterday, the admission management preparations were perfect, and all potential issues, like the entrance object, had been resolved.
The only thing left to worry about was the number of guests, but…
"Whoa, this is insane."
"It really is. Is this the line for some legendary wall circle at a convention?"
"Wait, there are even security guards for traffic control!?"
"Yeah, the teachers took action after seeing the chaos yesterday."
Even a quick glance showed that the opening wait line was significantly longer than yesterday's. Perhaps because it was Sunday, there were many more families and students from other schools. Thankfully, with the traffic control in place, it didn't look like we’d need to go out there ourselves.
"Now then, since everyone is here, let's begin the morning assembly."
Sara-san’s voice dropped in tone, instantly sharpening the atmosphere. Her dignified, transparent voice commanded everyone’s attention.
"Good morning, everyone."
"""Good morning!"""
"The Rinka Festival, which has felt long even including the preparation period, ends today. Today is the main event. Since it’s Sunday, we expect many families. This means the risk of lost children is higher, so please be proactive in reaching out if you see anyone who looks troubled."
"""Yes!!"""
"Next…"
Sara-san went through the list of precautions, followed by the final schedule check and assigned areas. We finished setting up the color cones, and the Newspaper Club stood by next to them. Everything was ready. All that was left was to open the gates.
"Man, I’m really looking forward to the Miss Contest today."
"I have a break in my shift, so I’m going to go cheer for Satsukawa-san!"
"But wait, does Satsukawa-san even want to win?"
"Even so, she's the Student Council representative."
"Satsukawa-san, how are you feeling?"
"The same as usual," Sara-san replied. "I haven't the slightest intention of trying hard, though."
"Haha, you're as consistent as ever."
"It’s just a nuisance. I want it to be over as quickly as possible."
True to her words, her face practically screamed, “This is a pain.”
But even while saying that, the fact that she was still planning to participate was surprising. If it were the usual Sara-san, I wouldn't have been shocked if she just canceled at the last minute.
Keen—
The speakers let out a bit of feedback, followed by the familiar, high-pitched anime voice of Fukazawa-san.
"Suuuuu……… GOOD MORNINGGGGGGGGGGG EVERYONEEEEEEEEEEEE!!"
"""GOOOOD MORNINGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG!!"""
"Hmm, your voices are too small… I can’t hear youuuuuuuuu!!"
She was in a soundproof room, so obviously she couldn't hear us… but putting that aside, Fukazawa-san’s broadcast had begun. She was as high-tension as ever. It was impressive that she could be that energetic so early in the morning. She was a pro, in her own way.
"Today is finally the last day of the Rinka Festival!! The main events are lined up one after another!! The volunteer bands in the gymnasium are in top gear today with special guests, and some sports clubs are holding invitational matches!! There’s even more to see than yesterday; it’s going to be a busy day for all of us!!!"
I usually skipped the gym events, but I was interested in the brass band and the drama club. The volunteer bands… not so much. With a schedule this packed, it was impossible to see everything.
"And then, and thennnnn… this afternoon, on the schoolyard special stage… finally, finally, the event you’ve all been waiting for… the Miss Contest is herereeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!"
"""OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!"""
"Uwah…"
"Gross…"
When "Miss Contest" was called, a heavy, oppressive roar from the boys echoed through the entire school. The disgusted reactions of the female Student Council members mirrored my own feelings. It was honestly a bit much.
"The emcee will, of course, be me—Minamin!! Listen up, you guys, just because I'm cute, don't you dare go voting for me, okayyyyyyy!!"
"""MII-NAMIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIN!!!"""
"""………"""
There was a strange anti-climax in the air—as if the excitement of the school was actually dampening our own spirits. I understood they were having fun, but I just couldn't keep up. Was it our fault for being too cynical?
"What a bunch of idio—"
"Stop right there."
Another "Instruction from God" hit me, so I hurriedly covered Hanako-san's mouth. This had been happening a lot lately. God had decreed that it would be dangerous for Hanako-san to finish that sentence.
"And that’s not all!! For this year’s Miss Contest, at long last, that person will be making an appearance!!! Everyone with time needs to gather at the stage!!!!"
"""OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!"""
The loudest, most oppressive roar yet thundered across the campus, and I could even hear it echoing from the road outside. That meant the number of general guests coming just for the Miss Contest was likely massive.
But more than that… Sara-san looked absolutely miserable.
Even I was startled by the sheer frigidness of her gaze. It was absolute zero.
Under the weight of that pressure, the boys in our immediate vicinity were visibly trembling.
"Mmm…"
Chu…
In the midst of the tension, Hanako-san seized the moment and kissed the palm of my hand while Sara-san wasn't looking. She was really pushing her luck. It was ticklish and gave me a slight shiver.
"Whoa… it looks like the entry list for the Miss Contest leaked to the public."
"Satsukawa-san is famous in the neighboring schools, after all. I wonder how this is going to turn out."
"It won't turn out like anything," Sara-san said coldly. "I’m only appearing because I have to. I’ll be phoning it in."
"I figured. Honestly, I’m surprised you aren't canceling."
"No, I’ll go. That is a separate matter."
"Well, good luck."
"I won't be wishing for luck."
It was strange. If it were the usual Sara-san, she would have ignored the whole thing and gone home. I wondered if it was just her sense of responsibility as president keeping her here… I was a little worried.
"Alright, it's time for the countdown!! Are you readyyyyyyy!!"
"""OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!"""
"Here we go! Ten, nine, eight—"
"Seven—"
"Six—"
"Five—"
Sara-san looked at me and smiled, and I returned it. Hanako-san was grinning as she held hands with Todo-san. I felt like I could see the smiles of everyone else who wasn't currently with us.
"Three, two, one—"
And so, the second day of the Rinka Festival…
"ZEROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!"
"The final day of the Rinka Festival is now opennnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn!!"
The curtain had risen.