"...Huh?"
I stood there, completely dazed by a development I hadn't even begun to imagine. Her words implied that Natsukawa felt something... positive toward me. No, that was impossible. It had to be. I’d spent years pestering her and causing her nothing but trouble.
"Listen, Sajocchi. I don't know all the details myself, but Aichi told me a bit. As of this morning, she’d already decided on a 'scenario' in her head where you were going to meet Ai-chan. That’s why she was so prickly with you all day. I mean, you were really making her impatient today. And lately, too—you haven't been interacting with her at all."
"What...?"
I couldn't quite grasp it. I tried to mentally digest the words that had just reached my ears.
Calm down. Let’s organize this. Natsukawa was planning to introduce me to Airi-chan. The reason wasn't clear yet, but for Natsukawa, it was practically a settled matter, which is why she’d approached me several times at school.
But then, why did she drag me out forcibly at lunch, or grab me by the collar on the roof earlier? Was it because she couldn't forgive me for hanging out with Murata and Koga and talking about vulgar things? Wait, does Natsukawa even care about what I do in the first place...?
"Wait... Natsukawa, does this mean..."
"—Leaving."
"Huh?"
"I'm going home!!"
"Wait! Hey! Natsukawa! Your stuff!"
Natsukawa suddenly bolted upright. With a face as red as a beet, she stormed out of the family restaurant without even picking up her things. She walked to school, and her family should be home, so it wasn't like she'd be locked out, but still...
"..."
"..."
I stood there frozen, hand outstretched as if to stop her. This was bad. From an outsider's perspective, I probably looked like some pathetic guy whose girlfriend had just dumped him and run. No, wait, did having Ashida here change the narrative? People probably thought, Ugh, is he two-timing them? What a scumbag.
"...U-Um, excuse me, sir?"
"Ah, we're leaving now. Sajocchi, money."
"......Right."
Amidst the indescribable atmosphere, Ashida snatched the wallet I pulled out, took her own, and headed to the register. Following her instructions like a puppet, I gathered everyone's belongings and followed dazed behind her. I tried to look at the situation objectively, but it was no use. I was just narrating the events as they happened. My head was spinning.
I didn't start regaining a proper sense of my surroundings until we left the restaurant and turned onto a quiet street.
"...I can't remember anything except how cute Natsukawa was..."
"You'll remember the rest soon enough, whether you want to or not."
"...All right."
It was starting to get dark, so when I offered to walk her home, she replied, "The streetlights start a bit further up, so just to there." I felt like I was making a weirdly "cool guy" move that wasn't like me at all, but I think I was just trying to distract myself from the mental fog by moving my body.
One thing, though, as we walked. I’d been carrying everyone's bags this whole time. Especially Ashida’s—this sports bag was humongous. There was definitely a volleyball in here. It kept thumping against my butt with every step... Do people even bring volleyballs home?
"——You understood from what happened earlier, didn't you, Sajocchi?"
"Un-Understood what...?"
"That Aichi doesn't actually think you're that gross. You've been told that for years; haven't you ever thought it was just her way of saying 'hello'?"
"Being told that for years made me think, 'Ah, she really means it.' Besides, it doesn't mean she doesn't hate me, right?"
"I guess so. But I bet Aichi’s thinking it too. Like, 'Huh? Wait a minute...'"
"What's that supposed to mean...?"
"Maybe it's fine for you to stay that way, Sajocchi. At least I think you've said everything you wanted to say. But like I told you before, I think it's best if you don't forget this one thing."
"...?"
"—To Aichi, you're already one of the people in her 'place to belong'—her group."
"..."
The streetlights came into view. Ashida stripped the bags from me, including Natsukawa’s. As I stood there, suddenly feeling light, Ashida shoved me with her sports bag.
"What was that for?"
"It’s not about whether it feels good or bad. There’s no way someone wouldn't be happy to have someone like them. Even if that person is gross and annoying, they still act as a support that maintains your confidence."
"So I am gross."
"—Even so, anyone would be shocked and anxious if one of their 'places' suddenly disappeared."
"..."
Leaving me with those words, Ashida gave me one last shove and ran off. She should have been irritated, but as she left, she had a strange, smirking grin on her face. What really pissed me off was that she didn't deny the "gross" part even once. That's just like you, Ashida.
"...Maybe I'll buy a meat bun on the way home."
A night in early summer. A gadget on my phone's home screen informed me the temperature was twenty-seven degrees. It should have been hot, but my body felt chilled, not even breaking a sweat.
At the entrance, the family’s shoes were lined up. My father's leather shoes were by far the most worn out. Without a word, I took some shoe cream from the cabinet and placed it next to them. I wasn't going to polish them, though. I didn't want to touch them.
When I opened the living room door, I saw the kitchen and dining area to the left, and the TV and two sofas to the right. My mind was still numb; I’d walked in as if on autopilot, but then I paused, trying to remember what I usually did first when I got home.
"What are you doing? At least say 'I'm home.'"
"Ah, I'm home..."
My mother, who was washing dishes, scolded me, so I headed toward the TV in the back. If I recalled, I usually dropped my school bag around here right after coming home... then, saying I was tired, I'd sprawl out on the sofa and take off my socks—
"......You don't actually have to reenact what I said, you know."
"...Shut up."
The sofa, with its back to the entrance, already had an occupant. Said occupant was lying down, completely absorbed in her phone. One sock had been tossed aside, and the other, perhaps having proven difficult to remove, was rolled halfway down her foot. To the K4, this would likely be a defenseless sight to drool over. Me? I felt nothing.
Seeing the tyrant in such a state, I realized something was missing and smirked a little.
"—Sorry, Nee-chan. I said some rough things."
"Huh...? You..."
I held out the bag. Looking at the meat bun inside, Nee-chan’s expression turned complicated. Go on, what's wrong? Eat up. It's your favorite, isn't it? Go ahead, sprawl out on the sofa like you own the place and browse your phone while stuffing your face with a meat bun your brother bought for you. Go on, go on.
"...I-I don't want it."
"...Hmm."
Come to think of it, I couldn't imagine Nee-chan not having bought a meat bun for herself since then. If I gave her this, I wondered how many she’d have had today. She'd definitely get fat. I really didn't want to see her taking her anger out on the scale again. I guess I'll eat it myself.
"—I mean, you were the one being treated roughly, weren't you?"
"Well, that was..."
Hey, why are you looking at me with such pity? This is what you're always doing to me! Don't act like you're not on that side. Hey! Don't throw your sock at me!
"So, what were you doing with those girls?"
"Stop asking like something unusual happened."
"You're totally spaced out. Something happened, didn't it?"
Ugh...! Since I apologized, she was being incredibly nosy. She wanted an answer? Because she was weirdly worried about my "youth" and all that, it made it incredibly hard to answer...
"...I don't know. Too much happened and I'm just in a daze. I want to go to sleep."
"Hmm, fine. Not that I care anyway."
Yeah, right. This sister of mine was definitely curious. Between what she'd heard from others and the "youthful" advice I'd received from her... it was incredibly itchy and uncomfortable to think she was worried about me. She was way too socially awkward...
"...Oh right, I have something I want to say to you, too."
"W-What is it...?"
"Worry about yourself before you worry about others. Seriously, those four guys in the Student Council... as your brother, I don't even know how to react to that."
"Wha—!? N-No, it’s not like that!? Those guys aren't...!"
"...Well, knowing you, you’ll probably be picky when it comes to choosing, but I know all too well what happens to someone possessed by dreams and ideals. You should probably figure out where to draw the line while you still can."
I hate getting involved in trouble, but family was a different story. I didn't want the atmosphere at home to get super heavy. I might as well take this chance to say my piece.
"——Gulp!"
"Ah...!?"
Nee-chan’s wide-open mouth ambushed the meat bun I was holding. Surprised, I let go, and it was sucked into her mouth in an instant. Curse this tyrant...! What kind of cheek pouches did she have?!
"Mmf...! Hmph emmm mmm mmm mmm mmm!"
"I have no idea what you're saying! Take this!!"
"Mnh!!?"
As she stuffed her cheeks full with the meat bun bulging out of her mouth, I took a burst of photos with my phone. Leaving my sister scrambling to hide her face, I retreated from the living room. I vowed to get in touch with the K4 soon and sell these.
Later, when Nee-chan walked slowly into my room brandishing a metal bat, I truly thought I was going to die.