"How do they look? Do they suit me?"
"Yeah, they're cute."
"Hehe♪"
"You're in a high mood."
"Well, it is my earring debut, after all!"
Spinning around in high spirits, Ashida showed off the small pearl earrings on her ears. Even if they were just replicas, they were smaller than the real thing—subtle and tinted with a faint pinkish hue that seemed to match her tastes perfectly.
The Handicraft Club consisted entirely of girls, many of whom seemed quite haughty. Apparently, there had long been a high concentration of students from the "West" side in that club. Having heard about the friction between them and the "East" side from the Student Council crowd, I had been a bit on guard, but they had treated us without any visible prejudice. They were, however, extremely talkative when it came to the subject of dressing up.
"With your looks, you should wear something a bit more daring. Judging by your build and hairstyle, you likely belong to a sports-related club, but that’s exactly why you have such a wide range of potential when it comes to the 'gap' in your appearance. In particular, those pale, cherry-blossom lips of yours possess a charm more potent than any high-end accessory. So, when should you bring that out? Right now."
After receiving a sales pitch like that from a senior who sounded like a professional jeweler, Ashida had been completely charmed. She ended up purchasing a pair of earrings that were quite overpriced for a Cultural Festival project. Having even received thorough "after-sales service" on how to put them on correctly, we were now at the present moment. Was that senior a pro? Her future career was certainly secure.
"Aichi, take a picture! Take a picture!"
"Okay... say cheese!"
"Ehe."
"...Wait, it’s a video?"
"Hey!"
Despite her complaining, Ashida was all smiles. Seeing her like that, Natsukawa seemed to get caught up in the excitement herself, her mood high enough to play a little prank. It was true that Ashida, with her smile in full bloom, was perhaps more charming in motion than in a still photo. Knowing Natsukawa, she likely had that intention in mind.
After Ashida struck a proper pose and finally got her photo taken, Natsukawa started editing it. In the meantime, Ashida came over to flaunt them to me.
"Hehe."
"I get it, I get it. They suit you perfectly."
She gave me a smug look as if to say, See? They look good, right?! It was rare for Ashida to be this confident regarding her feminine charm. When Ashida, whose trademark was making unconscious moves, came at me with this much intent, she was a formidable opponent.
"Ew, how half-hearted. Praise me more properly."
"You’ve got a face that’s meant to go viral."
"That’s not what I meant at all!"
For my part, I found myself averting my eyes to hide my embarrassment in front of Natsukawa. Just as the advice had suggested, those earrings truly did highlight Ashida's cherry-blossom colored lips. My eyes kept drifting toward them, and it was incredibly awkward.
"Hey..."
While I was busy regretting getting flustered by Ashida in front of Natsukawa, Ashida leaned her face in close, making me reflexively flinch. She wore a somewhat accusing expression.
"Wouldn't it have been nice to buy something for Aichi, too?"
"Well, you heard her. You heard what that senior said."
"I mean, that’s true, but..."
Ashida whispered her dissatisfaction, but a novice at gifts like me didn't have the courage to pick out a present for Natsukawa in front of a senior who was at a professional level. It would have been different if she had given me a nudge, though.
"Nothing here would suit you. You are overflowing with charm, starting with those jewel-like eyes, and that is exactly why you shouldn't add anything more for the sake of fashion. It’s ironic, but rather than wearing elegant accessories, smearing mud on your cheeks would only make your beauty stand out more."
The senior had dared to declare such a thing, leading to a moment where Natsukawa had looked quite dejected. Since the girl hadn't actually been insulting her, it was hard to get angry. And of course, Natsukawa had no "safari-esque" hobbies like that. Talk about failing as a professional, discouraging a customer from buying. Well, I suppose she wasn't actually a professional.
"Besides... I’ve already prepared something for Natsukawa..."
"Eh? Oh..."
Ashida's expression turned worried as she remembered. That was right—Natsukawa's birthday was on Halloween at the end of this month. I had only told Ashida about what I had prepared for that day.
"Should I reconsider the ring? That senior did say it was better not to give Natsukawa accessories."
"Wait, is that your reasoning? Isn't there a more fundamental problem here?"
"Does adding any more brilliance to the already charming Natsukawa only become a burden...?"
"I think she'll feel a different kind of burden entirely."
Ashida looked at me with the eyes of someone watching a pitiable creature. Every time the small pearls on her earrings swayed, my eyes were drawn back to her lips. Damn it... what was with those lips? They were scandalous!
Despite Ashida's skepticism, I felt the fact that it was handmade made it a significant improvement compared to the brand-name items I used to give her in previous years. In terms of price alone, it was appropriate for a normal birthday present. It was just that the preparation period and effort were different. The fact that it had taken the form of a ring was merely a stroke of coincidence.
"I think, probably, what that senior meant by 'shouldn't add' wasn't about all accessories."
"Eh?"
"Just that it shouldn't be silver or jewels or things like that."
"Uh, yeah? Meaning?"
"Kei, I sent the photo."
"Oh, really?"
"Ah, wait..."
Called by Natsukawa, Ashida began checking her smartphone. I didn't get to hear the most important part. Sense in that area was too much for an ordinary high school boy to handle. I would need to find the answer by the time Natsukawa's birthday arrived. There was still a little time left, so I’d have to ask her again later.
"...Huh? Where’s the photo?"
"I only sent it to Kei."
"Ah... I see."
"What, do you want it? Do you? Should I send it to you?"
"So annoying... yeah, send it over. I'll make Nee-chan learn from it."
"Don't use it for something so terrifying!"
"You really should show your sister some respect..."
Once Ashida had finished polishing up her look, we returned to the classroom to drop off our things. Next was finally the Fashion Show in the gymnasium. Specifically, it was the Costume Contest. In a way, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call this the hidden main event of the Cultural Festival.
Entering the noisy, darkened gymnasium, the place was packed with people, boys and girls alike. Looking toward the stage, I saw a senior boy carrying a bass drum, looking like he was struggling with the weight. They might have been performing in a band until just a moment ago. Looking closely, I could sense an atmosphere around the room as if everyone had just finished having a great time.
"Did you want to see that?"
"Either way. I think I would have enjoyed it, but you're not the type who likes noisy crowds, right, Aichi?"
"Ugh... true. I might find it a bit much..."
I had only recently come to understand it, but Natsukawa's standard for behavior often revolved around whether Airi-chan would enjoy it or not. Even if she couldn't handle festival-type noise, she was probably fine with the high-energy excitement of amusement parks.
In the space for students near the stage, we lined up in the order of Ashida, Natsukawa, and then me.
"What's this Fashion Show going to be like? Honestly, it’s a girls' event, isn't it?"
"I’m looking forward to it! Especially after that talk about how to choose accessories earlier!"
"Yeah. I might be looking forward to this kind of thing, too."
On the contrary, if you asked if I was personally interested, I might have trouble answering. I was only here because the Young Lady, Shinonome, had asked me to come. The ratio of girls around us was high, making me feel a bit out of place, even though I was the one who had invited the other two. My only expectation was the simple fact that cute girls would be walking out in cute clothes.
"Whoops. Oh yeah, the app..."
"Ah, right. There’s some kind of voting app, isn't there?"
"Was it through the school's homepage?"
Since I had already installed it, I showed them how to use it. It was a super simple, makeshift design, and it wasn't really something that required much instruction. Who made it was a mystery even to me, though apparently, it had been around for several years.
"I wonder if Rin-sama will walk the stage."
"She’s not the type... though I'd like to see it."
"..."
Given her rigid personality, that possibility was slim. If Shinomiya-senpai were to appear, she’d probably come out as part of the Disciplinary Committee Family, with Inatomi-senpai and Mita-senpai tucked under her arms. I could already hear the girls' high-pitched screams in my head.
"...What about your sister?"
"I don't even want to imagine it."
"You don't have to rub your arms like you're getting goosebumps..."
"What kind of face am I supposed to make watching my own Nee-chan walking around overtly radiating sex appeal? I could understand it if it were a pro-wrestling entrance, though."
"I think it would suit her, though..."
It was sad that I couldn't reach an understanding with Natsukawa on this, but that wasn't something that was going to change. This was surely a feeling unique to siblings. I wondered what kind of mindset people whose parents or siblings were idols had. I was certain it was complicated.
"Whoa, incredible..."
While we were talking, I realized the stage had been decorated lavishly, and the lighting had shifted to more dramatic colors. The ordinary banner that had been hanging behind the stage until just a moment ago had been replaced by a modern, giant monitor. I didn't even know our school owned something like that.
"It looks like it’s starting...!"
Along with Ashida's excited voice, American pop music began to play.