It was morning.
I met up with Natsumi-senpai and the others at our usual convenience store, and the four of us set off along the school route we had walked so many times before.
While we enjoyed the usual idle chatter, the topic of conversation eventually shifted toward the upcoming term-end exam…
"Ugh… how depressing."
Natsumi-senpai let out a heavy sigh, her voice oozing the genuine distaste she felt. Come to think of it, I don't think I had ever actually heard much about her grades before.
"If you studied properly on a regular basis, you wouldn't have to worry just because an exam is coming up," Sara-san remarked.
"That might be easy for you to say, but I’m in a sports club!"
"Natsumi-senpai, you really should apologize to every sports club member in the country for that," I said.
"Yeah, yeah, sorry about that."
Setting aside her reckless logic that being in a sports club made studying impossible, there was certainly a common perception that club activities made it difficult to find time for schoolwork. But then again, plenty of people managed to balance both and maintain excellent grades…
Yeah, Natsumi-senpai definitely owed them an apology.
"Hanako-san is a transfer student, so she’s obviously on the side of people who can study," Natsumi-senpai mused. "Which leaves…"
"Ah, I’ll have you know I study properly too, okay?"
A meaningful glance was directed my way, so I cut her off before she could say anything. I was working hard on my studies—especially now that I had a clear goal in mind.
"Well, Takanashi-kun does have the Strongest Private Tutor by his side, after all," Natsumi-senpai teased.
"I’m not sure about that phrasing…"
"A private tutor who handles cleaning, laundry, cooking, and housework in general, takes care of her husband to the absolute fullest, and teaches him while being at the top of the grade academically? If that’s not the 'Strongest,' I don't know what is."
"Even if you put it that way, it’s all perfectly normal to me," Sara-san replied with a modest smile.
"It might be normal for you, but that’s not the general public’s opinion," Natsumi-senpai countered.
To Sara-san, all of it was just part of her daily life; she seemed to have no awareness of just how special she truly was. That was exactly why I had to make sure I never forgot my gratitude—and why I had to continue putting those feelings into words.
"Truly, thank you as always, Sara-san."
"Fufu… Let’s work hard together for our future, shall we? ♪"
"Yes."
To fulfill my promise to Masaomi-san. To pursue my own goals and dreams. And most of all, for my future with Sara-san… I had to work even harder!
The incident occurred the moment I pulled off my shoes at the school entrance and swung open my shoe locker door.
Even if it was a cliché situation in manga or anime, it was something that should have had absolutely nothing to do with me. In other words, this was a development that defied all logic. Moreover, the sight gave me a visceral sense of déjà vu—and not in a good way.
"Kazunari, what are you holding… a letter?"
"Ah—well…"
"Kazunari-san, is something wrong?"
"There was a letter in Kazunari's shoe locker," Hanako-san explained.
"…Eh?"
Hanako-san stared suspiciously at the envelope in my hand, while Sara-san’s smile froze in place. Natsumi-senpai had already headed to the club room, so she wasn't there to witness the tension.
Now then…
"The nerve of some people, considering Kazunari already has a wife," Hanako-san muttered.
"Um, Kazunari-san…"
"For now, we won't know anything until we check the contents," I said.
"T-That’s true. It’s not necessarily a love letter," Sara-san added, trying to sound hopeful.
If this were Hayato, there would be a high probability that it was a love letter—actually, that would be the only possibility (I’d seen it happen many times). But in my case, I had a history of being called out by idiots in this exact same pattern.
I couldn't afford to be careless.
"I’ll open it right here."
"No, that’s…"
"It’s fine. I’ll look at the contents by myself."
I was fairly certain this wasn't what it looked like, but I didn't want to do anything that would make Sara-san feel anxious even for a second. It was best to reach a conclusion right here and now.
"Let’s see…"
First, I checked both sides, confirming there was no name written on the outside. Then, I slowly peeled off the sticker on the back to avoid tearing the paper and pulled the contents out of the plain, unadorned white envelope.
Inside was a single sheet of letter paper—a cute one bordered with pink hearts. At this point, the possibility that the sender was a girl became quite high… but it was too early to jump to conclusions.
As for the content itself…
"'I will be waiting for you on the rooftop after school today. If possible, I would like Sara-san to be present as well. —Rena Kusuhara.'"
That was what it said.
To be honest, this was a total curveball. Since she specifically requested Sara-san's presence, I couldn't even begin to imagine what this was about. Or rather…
Who was Rena Kusuhara again?
"Kazunari-san, what does it say?"
"She wants Sara-san and me to go to the rooftop together after school."
"…Me as well?"
"That’s way too unexpected. Is the sender a guy or a girl?" Hanako-san asked.
"It says Rena Kusuhara."
"Kusuhara… I feel like I've heard that name somewhere before," Sara-san mused.
"The stupid woman who caused the scene at the Miss Contest," Hanako-san clarified.
"Ah, her."
Now that she mentioned it, I remembered that the Stuck-up Woman's real name was something like that. It seemed Sara-san had genuinely forgotten her as well. It couldn't be helped; while her temporary presence had been intense, overall, she left a rather thin impression. I wasn't entirely sure why.
Anyway, setting that aside.
"A letter from that woman… I have nothing but a bad feeling about this," Hanako-san said.
"What shall we do, Kazunari-san?"
"Let’s see…"
Given the person involved, there was definitely a chance she’d just throw some nonsensical grievance at us or start more pointless trouble. But I also thought about settling things once and for all to eliminate any future headaches. Plus, considering the report I’d received from Nishikawa-san, this might be the right time.
"Then, I’ll—"
"I understand. I shall go with you," Sara-san declared.
"Eh?! S-Sara-san?"
"This entire matter seems to have originated from the friction between her and me. If so, I believe I should be there to bring some sort of closure. Besides…"
"Besides?"
"There is no way I would let you go alone… You're mean, Kazunari-san…"
"Ugh…"
Sara-san puffed out her cheeks in a protest that was easily the cutest thing in the world. This was more than just a foul—it was off the charts.
"Hah… The letter says for both of you to come, so just go together quietly. And stop flirting every single second," Hanako-san sighed.
"Well, that’s true, but…"
"There’s no room for argument if you put it that way," I conceded.
The letter explicitly asked for both of us, but I still had a natural instinct to avoid bringing my precious fiancée into a suspicious situation. However, as Sara-san said, a direct conversation might be necessary to put an end to it.
"Sara-san… then please come with me after school."
"Yes. I won't let her lay a single finger on you, so please rest easy."
"No, that’s supposed to be my line…"
"I’ll provide backup just in case things go south," Hanako-san added. "Kazunari, go with your wife."
"Understood. Thank you, Hanako-san."
"I look forward to your support," Sara-san said.
Since I didn't know what was waiting for us on the rooftop, I decided to accept Hanako-san's offer. If the Stuck-up Woman couldn't be trusted, it was best to have some insurance. Still, there was no guarantee she’d be alone, and if things turned physical, I couldn't let Hanako-san do anything too reckless.
If I was going to protect Sara-san, it seemed like a good idea to set up one more safety net.
Thinking about the meeting after school made me feel restless, but I made sure to focus on my classes regardless. This was important to me, and it was a promise I had made to Sara-san so as not to let my life revolve entirely around studying.
By valuing my time in class, I could make my review sessions at home more efficient. That led to more free time, which in turn allowed me to have a fulfilling private life—that was Sara-san's teaching.
"Rise, bow!"
With that, afternoon homeroom ended, and the time for our "showdown" arrived. I was scheduled to meet Sara-san at the Student Council Room before heading to the rooftop together. What the Stuck-up Woman had to say… well, only God knew.
"Well then, I'm off."
"I'll move after a short delay, so just act normal," Hanako-san instructed.
"Roger."
I spoke to my reliable big sister and headed toward the Student Council Room. The extra insurance I’d arranged had managed to get into position just in time, so even if things went sideways, we should at least be able to avoid Hanako-san having to do anything dangerous.
After that, as long as I protected Sara-san, everything would be fine.
"Oh…"
"Fufu… Good work today, Kazunari-san."
I bumped into Sara-san on the stairs as she was coming from the hallway. It looked like our homerooms had finished up at almost the exact same time.
"I suppose there’s no reason to go to the Student Council Room now."
"Yeah. Shall we head straight there?"
"Yes."
After that brief exchange, Sara-san took her fixed position at my right side, and we headed for the rooftop. As we climbed the stairs, I happened to glance at her. Noticing my gaze, Sara-san gave a soft, gentle smile and tightly squeezed my hand.
"It’s all right. No matter what happens, I will definitely—"
"Sara-san, I told you this morning, didn't I? That’s my line."
"No, I really must be the one to—"
"Sara, this is my job."
"Ka-Kazunari-san…?"
It might have been a bit of a low blow, but I spoke firmly to reason with her. Whether she thought I was just trying to look cool or not, it was my role to protect her in the end. I wasn't going to budge on that.
"Yes… I understand."
"Sorry for being so blunt."
"No… um… I was happy to hear it…"
Sara-san gazed at me, looking a little dazed, before her cheeks flushed and she looked down shyly. Of course, I was fully aware that I’d just said something incredibly cheesy, so I was feeling pretty embarrassed myself.
"Well, s-shall we go?"
"Yes… Darling."
"Sa-Sara-san!?"
Sara-san clung tightly to my arm and pressed herself against me to hide her face. This kind of reaction was rare—what was going on?
"Um… what’s wrong?"
"…It’s your fault…"
"Eh!?"
"Because you were acting so reliable… I just…"
"No, I didn't mean it like that."
"But… I wanted to protect you too, and then you went and said something so unfair… I'm so happy I can't find the words…"
"E-Eh… um."
What was I supposed to do? Sara-san was being so incredibly cute and sweet that I didn't know how to respond! I hadn't intended to provoke such a reaction, but seeing her like this… what was a guy supposed to say?!
"Fufu…"
Leaving me in a state of mini-panic, Sara-san let out a small laugh. When she finally looked up, her expression was still shy but radiant. Smiling bashfully, she stood on her tiptoes…
"Darling… thank you."
"N-No, I meant every word."
"Yes… I'm so happy…"
Her face drew closer… and closer… until the distance between us finally vanished.
"Darling… I love you… Mnh."
Her whisper was sweet enough to melt my heart, followed by the soft sensation of her lips against my cheek. With my love for her overflowing, I renewed my vow deep in my heart.
I would protect Sara-san, no matter what.
When we stepped onto the rooftop—a place with many complicated memories for me—we found one person waiting for us. I scanned the area, but no one else was in sight. There weren't many places to hide up here anyway, so it didn't seem like we needed to be on high alert for an ambush.
"Hello, Takanashi-san, Satsukawa-san. Thank you for responding to my sudden request," Rena said.
She didn't seem particularly tense, nor was she her usual sarcastic self. The Stuck-up Woman stood there with a dignified air, offering a conspicuously polite greeting. To be honest, her attitude was so unexpected that it was almost suspicious.
"I don't mind," Sara-san replied. "I don't know why you called us here, but you must have a reason for going to this much trouble."
"That’s right. I intend to have a serious conversation today, so I don't plan on doing anything unnecessary."
"I’m glad to hear it. However, let me say this just in case: if you have any ill intentions toward Kazunari-san, I will crush you with everything I have."
"!?"
A dangerous edge crept into Sara-san's voice. I wasn't the only one who noticed; the Stuck-up Woman flinched for a split second.
"I-I am well aware of that. You really are an open book when it comes to Takanashi-san, aren't you?"
"Kazunari-san is everything to me. I will never forgive anyone who tries to harm him."
"I see… having someone you can care about that much, I honestly can't help but feel envious. Especially since you two are actually going to be together…"
"Well, thank you for that."
This was really throwing me off. It went without saying that her aura was different, but I couldn't feel any hostility toward Sara-san in her tone. In fact, she genuinely seemed to envy her.
"…The conversation is drifting," Rena continued. "Let’s get to the point. Though, it’s not really a discussion—I’d just like you to listen to what I have to say."
"Very well. Let’s hear it then. I won't interrupt, so feel free to speak."
As Sara-san spoke, she shifted slightly closer to me. I didn't know if there was a specific reason for it, but it certainly made me feel more at ease.
"Please don't be so guarded. I just… I wanted to apologize to you both."
"…An apology?" I blurted out.
"What do you mean by that…?"
I hadn't intended to interrupt, but her statement was so out of left field that I couldn't help myself. This was beyond unbelievable. What could have caused such a total change of heart?
"Regarding the incident at the Miss Contest… I was so obsessed with winning that I acted quite childishly. I’ve been reflecting on that. I’m truly sorry."
"…I don't know why you've suddenly become so sensible," Sara-san said cautiously. "As far as I'm personally concerned, I don't particularly mind what happened. But if I had to say anything, it's that you're a nuisance, so I'd like you to never involve yourself with us again."
"I understand. I promise I won't hold any more pointless hostility."
"I see. Then no further apology is necessary. You probably aren't satisfied deep down anyway; you're likely just acting because you felt a necessity to apologize."
"What!?"
At Sara-san's blunt observation, the Stuck-up Woman looked stunned. It seemed Sara-san had hit the mark. If so, it made sense why she had suddenly turned to apologizing after being so persistent.
"Hey… why did you view Sara-san as an enemy so much?" I asked. "Even I can tell that she has a policy of not interfering with people unnecessarily."
"That’s true. I certainly don't recall her ever doing anything directly to me," Rena admitted.
"Then…"
"But… personal emotions are difficult to control. Whether there was a direct cause or not…"
"What is that supposed to mean…?"
Her answer was vague, but I could gather that—as we already suspected—the root of this conflict was her own one-sided ill will. It wasn't a surprise, but I still didn't understand why she had let it get that bad. Unless that was addressed, wouldn't the tension just simmer forever?
"There’s something I've been curious about," Sara-san said. "Perhaps because I’ve avoided interacting with people as much as possible, I tend to cause unnecessary misunderstandings. I've realized that quite a bit lately… but did I do something to you, even unconsciously?"
"……"
Rena didn't give a direct answer. She just stood there in silence, casting a meaningful glance my way. One thing was certain: this was all fueled by her own victim complex.
"I see… it seems that was indeed part of the reason," Sara-san continued. "In that case, let me offer an apology as well."
"Eh?" I gasped.
"…Huh?" Rena echoed.
"To be honest, I don't recall doing anything specific, but if I said or did anything that offended you, then I apologize. I am sorry."
Sara-san gave a small, polite bow. I was shocked. It didn't seem right for her to be apologizing.
"W-Why do you have to apologize, Sara-san?! This is just her own victim complex!"
"Do you even know what you're doing?!" Rena shouted. "No matter how you look at it, I was the one who started this! Why on earth do you need to apologize to me?!"
"I don't particularly want to be enemies with anyone," Sara-san explained calmly. "I don't necessarily want more contact than required, either, but more than that, I want to avoid pointless conflict. I don't want it to affect my precious Kazunari-san in the slightest."
"Ah…"
I wanted to jump in. There was no reason for Sara-san to apologize to this woman, and I couldn't stand it. But…
"Sara-san…"
"Fufu… please don't make that face. I’ll be fine. If she’s satisfied with this, then there’s no problem. I’m sure I was at least partially in the wrong."
Even if I didn't like it, if I interrupted now, wouldn't I be throwing Sara-san's efforts—and her feelings—back in her face? There was no way I could do that.
"…Why… why are you like this?!" Rena’s voice shook with frustration. "If you apologize to me here, I… I have no place left to stand!"
The Stuck-up Woman was practically screaming now, her dignified mask completely shattered. She looked pained and humiliated as she glared at Sara-san.
"The one in the wrong was me! I was the one who came at you for selfish reasons! I resented the fact that I couldn't beat you no matter what I did, so I tried to justify myself by making you out to be the villain! And then…!"
"……"
"Yes! I know! Just as Takanashi-san said, it was all just my own victim complex! I took your attitude in the worst possible way and convinced myself you were a disgusting, calculating woman who only acted for popularity! Even today, I only came to apologize because of my own circumstances—deep down, I wasn't satisfied at all!"
She was spiraling now, confessing everything in a desperate rant. It was exactly what I’d expected, but it was still something to see someone with her pride admit it so bluntly.
"You knew that, didn't you?! So why are you being so humble?! The old you would have… you would have crushed me completely!"
"The past is one thing, but I am different now," Sara-san replied firmly. "As I said, there is nothing more precious to me than Kazunari-san. If it’s for him, bowing my head is no major sacrifice."
"Precious… thing…"
Rena fell silent, her eyes wide as she looked back and forth between Sara-san and me.
"Fu… fufufu… ahaha…"
"What is it?" I asked.
"Fufu… no, I just realized how foolish I've been. In the end, I haven't…"
She trailed off, muttering something to herself with a self-deprecating smile.
"…The truth is, I knew. I knew my assumptions about Satsukawa-san were all wrong. I just one-sidedly hated you because of my own jealousy… but I suppose I didn't want to admit it."
"I don't quite follow your reasoning, but…"
"It doesn't matter. But since you've gone this far, I can't let it end like this. My pride won't allow me to leave it so vague."
"I don't understand," Sara-san said. "It’s not a complicated story. I apologized because I might have been at fault."
"Even so. It’s true that I lost to you… but I don't want to be a pathetic person anymore."
"…I see."
I didn't really get what was happening either, but it seemed she felt miserable because Sara-san had shown her more grace than she deserved. She had probably come to give a formal, hollow apology, but she couldn't let herself settle for that anymore.
"Let me apologize properly," Rena said. "I misunderstood you on my own and was horribly abusive. I’m sorry. I just didn't want to admit that I couldn't beat you. Looking back, it was just childish vanity…"
"……"
"Also, regarding the man who leaked the story about your cohabitation… he is an associate of mine. The responsibility lies with me, so please forgive him."
"As I thought," Sara-san said. "There were several unnatural details, so I had a faint suspicion."
"…You even predicted that? You truly are something else."
I was surprised too. To think Sara-san had already deduced that… but if she knew, then why?
"If you knew, why didn't you say anything to me?" Rena asked. "Even without proof, I wouldn't have been surprised if you’d taken some kind of action."
"It’s simple," Sara-san replied. "I had already intended to announce the Engagement from the start. Naturally, I was prepared to talk about the cohabitation if needed. You just happened to go first; in the end, it didn't change anything."
"You’re not bluffing, are you…? I see. Fufu, how truly pathetic. I went to such lowly lengths with my little tricks, only to realize I was just dancing alone the whole time."
Rena let out a dry, hollow laugh, her eyes looking far away. She looked like a complete clown.
"However," Sara-san added, "if it had negatively impacted Kazunari-san, it would be a different story. If that had happened, I would have crushed you with everything I have, just as I declared."
"You really don't waver, do you…? So, because Takanashi-san wasn't hurt, you didn't care? Is that it?"
"To put it simply, yes. Your tricks and that man are both irrelevant to me."
"Honestly… I didn't think you had this kind of personality. Without knowing that, I… I really was an idiot."
Rena let out a long sigh, her self-deprecating smile lingering. But she looked different now—as if all the tension and hostility had finally drained out of her.
"Takanashi-san, I apologize to you as well. I'm sorry for everything. If there is something you can't forgive…"
"…Well," I started, "to be honest, I can't forgive the way you've insulted Sara-san up until now. I especially don't want to forgive what you did at the Miss Contest."
Even if the conflict was born of misunderstanding, it didn't mean everything was just water under the bridge now that she’d explained herself. There were lines people shouldn't cross, and I felt she had crossed them. But…
"But… that’s for Sara-san to decide, not me. Nothing happened to me personally, and if she chooses to let it go…"
"…Kazunari-san."
No matter how I felt, it was Sara-san’s decision. All I could do was respect her wishes.
"Fufu… you really are entirely focused on Satsukawa-san, aren't you?" Rena noted. "You truly are… a perfect match."
"Don't get the wrong idea. I haven't forgiven you yet. I’ll be watching to make sure you don't do anything else to Sara-san."
"As I said, I have no intention of interfering anymore. Besides… given my position, I can't afford to be your enemy anymore anyway."
"…I see. So there’s a reason like that too. I'm convinced."
"Um?" I was still a little confused. I knew her father was a President at a Sawa Group Company, so I figured it was something to do with that.
"Don't get the wrong idea," Rena added. "While that was a factor, it wasn't the trigger for my apology. Though it’s true that trying to apologize just for the sake of appearances only ended up making me feel even more frustrated."
"You're a handful," I said. "Why didn't you just apologize normally from the start?"
"This is just my personality. It doesn't change that easily… probably."
"In my experience," Sara-san said with a radiant smile, "if you have an encounter that overwrites everything you've been up to that point, you might be able to change all at once."
She wrapped her arm around mine as she said it. She was clearly talking about how our meeting had changed her.
"Phew… seeing how different you are from last year, I suppose there’s some weight to that theory," Rena admitted. "But unfortunately, I haven't had such an encounter yet… although that one person was shocking in a different way."
"Who?"
"No one. Anyway, that’s all I wanted to say. I’ve exposed a rather pathetic side of myself, but it’s too late now. I don't plan on being friends with you, but since it looks like we’ll have a long association ahead, I’ll be sure to treat you properly."
With one last bit of spite, the Stuck-up Woman gave a cool, sharp bow and started walking toward the rooftop door. I thought about just letting her go, but Sara-san stepped forward.
"I have no intention of being friends either, but as long as you don't do anything strange, I will treat you normally. However…"
"However, don't cause trouble for Takanashi-san… right? I get it. But… I’ll also be watching to see if Takanashi-san can truly become a man worthy of his position, you know?"
"That is a groundless concern," Sara-san countered. "If anything, you all should be careful not to hold Kazunari-san back."
Sparks practically flew between them for a moment. I was still a little lost about what "position" they were referring to—did it have something to do with the Student Council President conversation from before?
"Fufu… as I thought, this kind of relationship feels most natural with you," Rena said.
"I wouldn't know. You’re just a nuisance to me, so please don't involve yourself with us unnecessarily."
With that final exchange, the Stuck-up Woman turned on her heel and left the rooftop without looking back.
As I watched her go, I wondered if this was a final settlement or if the rivalry would just continue in a different form. But at the very least, I was glad we had managed to avoid any serious trouble.
That was how I felt, anyway.