"...Ho-hoh."
My inner 'producer with his arms crossed in the back row' leaked out as I flipped through the surprisingly thick Cultural Festival pamphlet. Despite my cynicism, I was actually pretty impressed. I’d helped with the Executive Committee, so I thought I knew most of the secrets, but it turned out I’d been kept further in the dark than I realized.
Kouetsu High School’s festival was massive compared to others. Well, I’d only experienced Kouetsu’s since middle school, so I didn't actually know what other schools were like. Still, the pamphlet was way too professional for a school event. The variety was overwhelming. While first-year classes like ours stuck to simple things—riddle contests or rest stops—the second and third-years really leaned into the complex stuff. The seniors were even running cafes in other rooms. The Chemistry Lab is huge, after all.
I was buzzing like a kid the night before a trip to a theme park when Ohtsuki-chan started tapping her attendance book against the podium to get our attention.
"Alright! Head straight home today and rest up for tomorrow! Don't go wandering off and getting into trouble!"
Was she psychic? I was literally just thinking about killing time at a convenience store or a rental shop’s game corner, even if I didn't need to buy anything.
"You're the one acting all fidgety, Ohtsuki-chan," Yamazaki said with a half-grin.
"M-Moo! Don't say that!"
She got even more flustered. It wasn't the fidgeting of excitement, though; it was pure nerves—the 'I hope to God nothing goes wrong' kind of anxiety.
Nothing good usually happens when you do something out of the ordinary at times like this... I'd better just play it safe. I’d thought about pulling an all-nighter for a personal Eve Festival, but that was easily the riskiest move. The 'oversleeping flag' was flying high.
"—Alright, take care, everyone. Class Rep, if you please!"
With the call from our Class Representative, Iiboshi-san, we were dismissed. Despite Ohtsuki-chan's warning, some stayed behind to chat, while others were already making plans for karaoke. I felt a bit bad for Ohtsuki-chan. Her eyebrow was twitching... Honestly, it felt like trouble was brewing right this second. Time to bail.
"See you tomorrow, Natsukawa. Ohtsuki-chan looks like she's about to blow, so you'd better get out of here fast."
"Eh?"
Ohtsuki-chan’s temper tantrums were seriously draining. It was one thing for her to just scream and get it over with, but she tended to stay in a foul mood for a whole week. She’d hold onto it forever. Then, just when you thought something good happened and she was back in a chirpy mood, she’d get careless, screw something up, get chewed out by the Vice Principal, and then take it out on us with her complaining. It was the ultimate demonic combo. Full combo finish!
Ashida and the other club members still looked busy. Looking back, I really didn't have much to do. I’d been helping the Student Council, the Disciplinary Committee, and the Executive Committee, but without those tasks, I was basically just a guy with too much time on his hands. Most people would hate being tied down after school, right? I wondered why I’d worked so hard.
I heard bits of conversation as I walked through the hallway toward the School Entrance. Karaoke, bowling, their own Eve Festivals—everyone was ready to party. Wait, seriously? Is everyone actually planning to go wild? Was the day before a big event always this hype? Am I the weird one for wanting to go straight home and sleep early?
"—Is there... a solo karaoke place nearby...?"
Overcome with a sudden sense of restlessness, I reached the School Entrance and pulled out my map app. I was just about to type 'solo' into the search bar when someone spoke to me from behind. I jumped, reflexively sidestepping. My finger slipped, and I felt a wave of despair as I saw that I'd just searched for the word 'Alone.' Who did this?! Who turned me into Mr. Lonely?!
"...Eh?"
"I thought you were told not to wander off..."
"O-Oh... sorry."
"It... It's not like you need to apologize..."
Wait, what? Why was Natsukawa here? And why was she out of breath? Her hair was a bit of a mess—it looked... dangerously alluring.
Seeing my favorite girl in such a disheveled state nearly sent me over the edge. She took a deep breath, composed herself, and looked up at me with a grumpy pout. Wait, wasn't she still digging through her bag when I said 'See ya' earlier?
"You're fast. In a hurry?"
"No, not really... That's not it."
"?"
I glanced down at my phone. The search for 'Alone' had brought up a place called 'Bar Solo.' The world is a kind place. I might need that one day; I’ll memorize the location.
I tucked my phone away. Natsukawa stood there, hands hidden in her oversized sleeves and clutched to her chest. She looked up at me with a serious expression.
"Let's go home together?"
"Eh? Yeah."
...Wait, what? She just said it, right? 'Let's go home together.' She said it so clearly there was no way I misheard. Maybe I wasn't Mr. Lonely after all...?
"...Seriously?"
"Seriously... What's with that tone?"
"No, I just thought maybe you rushed over here for that."
"Wh—!"
Ah, crap. Too late. I’d said it jokingly, but Natsukawa turned away with a huff. It sounded like I was assuming she liked me... I should have learned from Nee-chan's training that saying unnecessary things is a one-way ticket to trouble. I never learn.
"...Am I in the way?"
"No way. Let's go."
"What’s with you... acting so cool?"
She pouted and started changing into her outdoor shoes. It felt like she might just stomp off ahead of me if I wasn't careful, so I hurriedly shoved my indoor shoes into my locker. It was a strange feeling. The entrance was packed with students leaving with friends, and here I was, doing the same as if it were the most natural thing in the world. And with Natsukawa, no less.
"Is this the first time we've actually walked home together like this?"
"Eh...? We've done it plenty of times..."
"No, I mean... usually Ashida’s there, or it’s late at night... I think this is the first time you've actually asked to walk home together."
Every other time was just me pestering her, or waiting for her, or following her—wait, those 'every other times' make me sound like a stalker. Why did she actually invite me?
"Thinking about it, it is pretty weird. What's the occasion?"
"Ah..."
Recalling my past behavior made me doubt myself. Even if that was months ago, I still felt a bit paranoid. I didn't want to get hurt anymore regarding Natsukawa, and I certainly didn't want to hurt her.
"Because..."
"Yeah?"
"Because... you were talking with Kei the whole time today..."
"Yeah... wait, what?"
That wasn't the answer I expected. I thought it would be a deeper, more cumulative reason... but she's focusing on today? We’re already at the point where we can just walk home together? It felt so much like a normal friendship that I skipped being flustered and went straight to calm. This is definitely going to hit me later. My heart will probably explode the second I get home.
"You were doing riddles and stuff... It's unfair."
"Oh..."
Small fingers poked out from her oversized sleeves and gripped my right wrist, giving it a little shake. Her hand was sweatier than I expected; the damp, humid warmth seeped into my skin.
Forget the past. The present is what matters. You can't be happy if you can't enjoy the now. You can't change what’s done, and if she isn't bothered by it, why should I be? I’m incredibly lucky right now.
"Natsukawa."
"Mm, what...?"
"Your fingers are thinner than I thought."
"—!?"
I traced the tips of her fingers with my thumb, savoring her warmth. When I spoke my thoughts about her unresisting hand, she let out a sharp breath and pulled back—though not fast enough to be a rejection. Even if she thought I was being a creep, even that made me happy. I guess I really haven't changed at all.
Natsukawa tucked her hand back against her chest, looking up at me with a bewildered face. Then, her expression began to shift. Was she angry? Or...
"Let's go."
".........Yeah."
As we walked out of the school entrance, her reply from behind me was so faint I almost missed it.