"All right, let's try this again... Congratulations on your Miss Contest Victory and the Best Couple Grand Prize!!!"
Clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap!!!!
This time, there wasn't a trace of mockery in the air. Warm applause and cheers rang out from Minamin, the audience, and even the other contestants, offered purely to celebrate our win. It made me feel a mix of genuine happiness and overwhelming embarrassment.
"Well... rather than a couple, they're basically a married pair already."
"That's what they're saying, Kazunari-san?"
"No, what exactly do you want me to say to that?"
"Hehe... I shall leave that up to you."
The title of Miss Contest Runner-up—an accolade I wasn't sure was an honor or a disgrace for a man—had vanished, and Sara-san's mood seemed to have fully recovered. I breathed a sigh of relief.
Now, the only remaining problem was the group of female students who were seizing every chance to tease us. I suppose I only had myself to blame for providing these young maidens with such prime bait.
"Satsukawa-san, you have to show me your engagement ring later!!!"
"Me too!"
"I want to hear all the details!!!"
"Yes. If I am free, I do not mind," Sara-san replied.
"Yes! Satsukawa-san, you've really changed!"
Watching her interact so casually with the others was a relief. I had been worried that her earlier confession about "utilizing her aloofness" might trigger some rejection from the other girls, but looking at her now, those fears seemed unfounded.
"Now thennn, the mood is perfect, so let's kick off a Question Corner that doubles as a winner's interview right now!!!!"
Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooh!!!
Clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap!!!
The audience erupted at Minamin's sudden declaration. A Question Corner... were we really doing the same thing they were doing before I barged onto the stage?
"Alright, then... who has a question!!!"
""Meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!""
I flinched. Just like before, it felt like a children's stage show. Hands shot up everywhere with incredible energy. Even with the empty seats, the view from the stage was nothing short of spectacular.
But putting that aside... why were Hanako-san and Tachikawa-san raising their hands too?!
"Who... shall... it... beeee... alright, you! From the precious few members of the male audience who worked hard to stay behind, I choose you!!!"
Minamin struck a mysterious pose and pointed at a student in a small group of males at the very edge of the audience. He was one of the two in that group who had raised their hands. A staff member immediately jogged over and handed him a microphone.
"Alright, tell us your name!"
"I'm Takeshita!! Nice to meet you!!"
"Takeshita-kun, then! Go ahead and ask your question with all your might!!!!"
"Yes!! First, I have a question for Satsukawa-san... is the Vice President really, truly, truly, truly your fiancé?!"
"After watching everything that has happened up to this point, I honestly cannot understand why you would need to confirm it further," Sara-san said. "But if you still find it hard to believe, I will say it as many times as necessary. We are formal fiancés who have pledged to marry one another with the approval of both our parents. I have promised that I will marry him in the future and become Kazunari-san's wife."
Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!
"Whoa, whoa, she said 'wife'!!! She said 'spouse'!!"
"Satsukawa-san is going to be his wife?! If I were a guy in that spot, I'd die happy right now!"
"Wait, no! Takanashi-kun, it's too early for you to die!!"
"Exactly! Our fun has only just begun!!!!"
This was bad... no matter what was said now, it was just becoming more fuel for them. Please, stop asking questions that throw bait to these young maidens with insatiable curiosity! Since Sara-san answered everything directly when it concerned me, they were going to turn into a perpetual motion machine at this rate.
"Is that all for your questions?" Sara-san asked.
"Ah, please tell us how you usually address each other!!!"
"How we address each other? I call him Kazunari-san, just as I am now."
"And I call her Sara-san."
"Huh? But Satsukawa-san, earlier you called him 'Darling'..."
"That was... well, it is my wish to call him 'Darling' once we are formally married, and Kazunari-san was kind enough to accept that. As part of that, I have started calling him that occasionally."
"Oh, I see! In that case, what about Takanashi-kun..."
"No, I..."
"I have asked Kazunari-san to address me as 'Sara' without honorifics," Sara-san interjected. "However, I do not wish for this to be limited to after our wedding. Personally, I would like him to call me that normally as well."
"Muhuhu... Takanashi-kun!! Why don't you grant your wife's wish right now?!"
Behind Minamin's sugary attitude, I felt a distinct darkness. She was definitely getting her revenge for the earlier chaos.
"Um... Kazunari-san," Sara-san whispered.
I groaned. She was looking at me with those expectant eyes. The audience—the love hyenas known as young maidens—were leaning forward, staring intensely at us.
"Kazunari-san..."
"...Sara."
"Yes, Darling♪"
Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!
Dammit... laugh if you want! When Sara-san called out to me with that sweet, spoiled tone, I had no power to resist. I had already come this far; I wasn't going to hesitate over something like this now.
"Haa... haa... even if I expire right here, I have no regrets!!!"
"Darling... Darlinggggg... gufuh!?"
"Wait?! Medic?! Mediiiiic!!!!"
"Satsukawa-san calling him 'Darling' has way too much destructive power!!!!"
"All right, Takeshita-kun, thank you truly... truuuuly much!!! Man... Takanashi-kun, you're a real man!!!!"
"...No comment."
"Hehe... Kazunari-san is a very reliable and the most wonderful man in the world."
"Um... when you take it so sincerely, I start to feel a bit guilty—ahem! Well then, since you're right next to him, how about the person beside him too!"
Calling it a "side note" was a bit rude, but the person who received the microphone seemed happy enough, so I guess it wasn't a problem.
"I'm Haru. Please tell us your first impression of the Vice President when you first met."
"Let's see... our meeting was a bit special, so strictly speaking, it might not count as a first impression," Sara-san said thoughtfully. "But the first thing I felt was that he was similar to me."
"Eh? Similar...?"
"Yes. When we first met—though the situation likely played a part—Kazunari-san's eyes were filled with a sense of disappointment and loss, a kind of resignation that was plain to see. He didn't even try to hide his blatantly suspicious expression toward me, despite it being our first meeting. The version of Kazunari-san that I had seen before, overflowing with kindness, was completely hidden away. The emotions of great sadness and rejection he showed immediately after I spoke to him... from that alone, I knew instantly that Kazunari-san had despaired over something and had become unable to trust others. That figure felt as though it overlapped with me—someone who had despaired of others, grown disgusted, and had been rejecting those around me. That is why I felt he was similar to me."
"I see... thank you very much."
It was true that back then, I hadn't even trusted Sara-san. No matter how close we became, I was fundamentally convinced I would be betrayed eventually, so even the smallest thing fueled my distrust. In reality, I was searching for someone to save me, yet I was trying to close off that hope myself. The same had been true for Sara-san, who had been rejecting the world around her. We were kindred spirits.
"Wow... that was a really deep story," Minamin said. "It felt very meaningful, and there are a lot of parts I'm curious about... but you probably wouldn't tell me even if I asked, so let's move to the next question! You there!"
"I'm ta-ta. Please tell us about Satsukawa-san's relaxation method!!"
"My relaxation method?"
"Yes!! If there's something that makes you feel at peace... or something you do to rest your body, please tell us!!"
Honestly, this question was a lifesaver. The air had started to get a bit heavy, so this was a welcome change. Besides, I was interested in the answer too; if it was something I could do for her, I definitely wanted to hear it.
"In that case, I think I enjoy doing housework; it serves as a good change of pace for me."
"Housework? For example, what kind of things...?"
"For example, when I am preparing a meal, I feel happy just remembering the way Kazunari-san looks when he eats my food so deliciously," Sara-san said with a smile. "And I find it fun to systematically do the cleaning so that Kazunari-san can spend his time at the house even slightly more comfortably. As for the laundry, Kazunari-san's—"
"Wait, wait, Satsukawa-san? Rather than housework, isn't that just stuff you do for Takanashi-kun?" Minamin pointed out.
"Hehe... perhaps you could say that?"
Sara-san showed a slightly mischievous smile. The fact that this wasn't a joke, and that she truly felt that way, was something I understood better than anyone else. However, while it was a very Sara-san-like answer, that was just daily life; it didn't really count as something I could do for her.
"I see... thank you very much! Also, if it's not too much trouble, please tell us about that relaxation method!!"
"My relaxation method? Let's see... one thing that comes to mind immediately is a hug, I suppose?"
"...Eh?"
"A-A hug?"
"Yes. When I am hugging Kazunari-san is when I feel the most peace. It is as if my heart overflows with affection for him and I am filled with happiness... besides, Kazunari-san is truly adorable when he acts spoiled against my chest. Looking embarrassed while still seeming so happy as he clings tightly to me... hehe. When he shows me such a side of himself, I just—"
"Wha—!!! Sara-san, stop!!!! Stopppppp!!!!"
I had let my guard down! I should have easily predicted that her relaxation method would involve me somehow. I had been so distracted by her happy smile as she began her explanation that I completely missed the timing to cut her off.
"Wait! It was just getting to the good part!!!"
"Hey now! This is a question for the wife, so the husband should stay quiet!!!"
"Did she say a hug just now?! She said Takanashi-kun clings to Satsukawa-san's large chest!!"
"Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!! Takanashi-kun, you're too bold!!!"
"No, no, they're living together, so that's probably just the beginning... muhufufufu!!"
"It's coming!!! My Maiden Sensor is picking up pink radio waves loud and clear!!"
"No way, loud and clear?!"
"...Good grief, it's turned into another uproar," Natsumi-senpai sighed.
"...Well, it is Sara, after all," Eri said.
"...Because she's a wife," Hanako added.
"...That's true; she is Satsukawa-senpai. By the way, someone do something about Nishikawa-san," Tachikawa-san noted.
Since the uproar in the audience was clearly audible, I could tell exactly how the maidens' delusions were running wild. To let my guard down at a term like "relaxation method"... I was such an idiot!
"Wow... thank you for that magnificent display of lovey-dovey boasting!!! ta-ta-san, good job!!!!" Minamin and the questioner both struck a smug pose and exchanged thumbs-ups. What was even happening?
"I-I am very sorry, Kazunari-san. I inadvertently..."
"N-No. It's okay. But, um, about private matters..."
"You are right. Regarding things at the house, I will try not to say anything unnecessary."
"Yes, please do that."
For now, I hoped I had avoided the worst. I had to ensure that top-secret, dangerous information like the fact that we take baths together or sleep together every night didn't leak out.
"Tch... what a shame," Minamin muttered.
"Hey, you..."
"Nyahaha, just kidding! Now then, for the next person... I'd like a woman this time... you there!"
"Heeey!! I'm Masami!! Please tell us the catalyst for you two meeting!! Also, which one of you asked to start dating?! Tell us the place too!!"
I had expected this kind of question eventually. The problem was that I didn't want to tell others about the incident on the rooftop. And I definitely wanted to avoid talking about the flowerbed to keep our precious place of rest from becoming a noisy attraction. How should I handle this?
"This might be the catalyst for our meeting... but the first time I came to know of Kazunari-san was when I saw him trying to help a lost girl," Sara-san answered.
"A lost girl?"
"Yes. It was the girl Kazunari-san was holding during the singing screening."
"Ah, that girl!! I see, so that's the connection... no wonder she was so friendly with Takanashi-kun."
"Yes. That day, the very soft and kind gaze Kazunari-san directed toward her... even though he was troubled by Mio-chan, who wouldn't stop crying, he never gave up and worked desperately to comfort her. He was a bit clumsy, but it was so heartwarming that it left a deep impression on me. I knew at a glance that he was a sincere and truly kind person. Afterward, seeing him walk away holding hands with Mio-chan to look for her mother... I felt drawn to him and couldn't stop thinking about him. But when we first met at school, given the situation, I didn't know how to approach him at all..."
"Sara-san..."
"I see... that's a wonderful encounter!! So... did you feel that Takanashi-kun was your destiny, Satsukawa-san?!"
"Yes. Our meeting was both destiny and an inevitability."
"Hyah, thanks for the treat!!!"
Destiny and inevitability. The people hearing those words would probably only think of them as boasting, but I had a firm realization that our meeting and our bond truly were inevitable. When I thought about how much we had overcome and how we had found exactly what we were both searching for in each other, it wasn't something that could be dismissed as mere coincidence.
"And the confession...?"
"I was the one who did it," I said, jumping in. "At a place known as a sanctuary for lovers, on the way back from the Summer Festival."
"A sanctuary for lovers?"
"Yes. It's in another prefecture, so the location is hard to explain, but it's a famous spot locally."
I felt that this was something that had to come from me. Even if I didn't explain everything, I should at least provide the necessary information.
"Is that so... thank you very much!!"
"Yes!! Masami-san, thank you very much! Hmm... that turned into such a nice story that it's hard to tease you guys now~"
"Hey."
"Oops, excuse me, my true feelings slipped out! Well then, the next person... how about the man over there who's been waving so aggressively!"
"I'm Satoshi!! Please tell us how you two spend your holidays!!!"
How we spend our holidays? This question seemed simple, but it was actually quite difficult. Because of various circumstances, we hadn't really had many opportunities for a proper date. At most, it was a shopping date for daily necessities, or we often just relaxed at home. Other than that, it was cheering for Natsumi-senpai and Hayato, or being called to the Satsukawa family home.
I suddenly felt a surge of guilt toward Sara-san.
"We are usually busy with things like the Student Council, so we spend most of our holidays relaxing," Sara-san explained. "If we have shopping to do, we go on a date for that... but when we have no business, we basically spend our time leisurely at the house."
"Is that so? By the way, what specifically does 'leisurely at the house' look like?"
"Let's see... we do cleaning and laundry that we can't do on weekdays, and sometimes I look over Kazunari-san's studies. Other than that, I bake cakes or cookies to have during study breaks... ah, when we take a break, I often give him a lap pillow. When I stroke his head, Kazunari-san becomes a sleepyhead immediately. He has such an adorable sleeping face that I could forget the passage of time just by gazing at him... hehe. I cannot help myself, and I find myself kissing him over and over..."
Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!
"Wait!!! I-I said, Sara-san, no more than that!!!!"
Since she seemed to be enjoying herself, I was prepared to endure some embarrassing stories about me, but this was just too much! At this rate, I was going to be labeled as a super-spoiled man who did nothing but cling to Sara-san.
Eh? Was I wrong? I knew the truth better than anyone!
"Haa haa... I'm going to die... I'm going to die of sugar overload... but I have no regrets!!!"
"Satsukawa-san's character has completely broken down. To think she was the type to flirt like that twenty-four-seven..."
"This is a classic example of how appearances can be deceiving, isn't it?"
"Wait, isn't it less that Takanashi-kun is acting spoiled and more that Satsukawa-san is just being too aggressive?!"
"Gufufufufu, this is... I bet things are incredible at night..."
"Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaa!! You can't say that out of a maiden's mouth!!!"
"Wow... Takanashi-kun, thank you for the feast!!!"
"...You're welcome."
Whether it was because the shackles of the Miss Contest had been removed or if she was truly taking her revenge on me, even Minamin was showing her curiosity as a bystander to the fullest. There was no one left to stop her.
Could it be that I was currently all alone?