I’d never forgotten a single detail about the girl standing before me.
Her smooth, dark brown hair reached down to her shoulder blades. Her height was... short. She was petite, even for our age group; back in elementary and middle school, she’d always been the very first in line when we stood in order of height.
I remembered every little thing about her.
Elementary school, middle school, and high school—we had spent all that time together. She was a childhood friend I’d known for nearly ten years.
When I asked why in the world she was at this hotel, she replied—
"I—I see. So you’re working a part-time job here..."
"Yep. I did a resort job back in tenth grade too, remember?"
The girl spoke with her hands planted firmly on her hips.
I see, so that was why she was dressed like a server.
She wore a long-sleeved white shirt with the sleeves rolled up against the summer heat. Below that was a black skirt covered by a garçon apron in a muted crimson.
The uniform had a classical, slightly elegant feel, but the girl I knew had always preferred clothes that were easier to move in. If it was for work, though, it made sense.
"B-But, I’m surprised you managed to get a job at a place like this."
"Someone at the hotel I worked at last year recognized how hard I was working and introduced me to an even better gig. That’s how I ended up at a high-class place like this."
"Huh, so that’s how it happened..."
"It’s really nice here, isn't it? It’s huge, and it’s got such a great atmosphere... Hey, Itsuki, did you know? That three-star room at the very top is apparently a members-only place for celebrities that normal people can’t even stay in. It’s like a different world from us. I really admire that kind of thing."
"Yeah, I guess so..."
I couldn't stop breaking out in a cold sweat.
Even though it was the middle of summer, I felt a chill all over my body. Was this the power of the famous retreat, Karuizawa...?
"So, Itsuki?"
A sharp gaze pierced me from diagonally below.
"What about you? Why... are you here...?"
The girl pressed closer, tilting her head with a deceptive sweetness.
"Well, actually, the thing is..."
"Unlike me, it doesn't look like you're working, but considering your family situation, it’s not like you’re here on vacation either, right~?"
"Um..."
"Hmmmmm~~?"
Her intensity was so overwhelming I felt like a punch might fly at me at any second.
"Itsuki-sama."
Suddenly, a voice called out from behind me.
When I turned, I saw Ms. Shizune in her maid uniform and Hinako in her Young Lady mode.
"It seemed like you were taking a while, so we came to see how things were. And this person is...?"
Under Ms. Shizune’s watchful gaze, the girl put on a bright, friendly smile.
"Nice to meet you. My name is Yuri Hirano."
The girl—Yuri—gave a polite little bow.
When she looked up again, her face was plastered with a beaming, radiant grin.
"I’m Itsuki’s childhood friend!"
"...A childhood friend, I see."
"Yes!"
Yuri gave a high-spirited reply.
Ms. Shizune must have sensed trouble. Her eyes flicked toward me.
It pained me, but I gave a firm nod.
"Yuri... knows everything about my past."
In other words, she was someone I couldn't easily hide my identity from.
Sensing the gravity of the situation, Ms. Shizune suppressed a sigh and nodded back.
"It appears we will need to adjust today’s schedule."
◆
We canceled our plans for a stroll and decided to explain the situation to Yuri instead.
We moved the conversation to my two-star room.
When Hinako entered my room unexpectedly, her eyes fixed sharply on the bed for a split second before she quickly looked away. I knew she probably wanted to dive headfirst into it with everything she had, but she was currently in Young Lady mode. She’d have to endure. Besides, she’d been asleep the entire car ride here.
"...Alright, I’ll explain everything."
Sitting across from Yuri, I began to describe my current situation.
Just before we entered the room, Ms. Shizune had whispered into my ear, "Go with the Tennoji-san pattern." That meant I should give Yuri the same explanation I’d given Tennoji-san. I explained everything—except for Hinako’s true personality.
"...And that’s the long and short of it."
"Heeeeh? I seeee. Hmmm..."
Yuri kept nodding along, her face a complete mask of expressionless neutrality.
Her eyes were terrifying.
"So, Itsuki, after your parents skipped town and left you stranded, you were picked up by the daughter of the famous Konohana Group. Since then, you’ve been working for Hinako Konohana-san here as an attendant? And you’re even attending that super-famous Kikou Academy..."
That was exactly right. I nodded.
"Okay. At what point does the joke end?"
"...It’s all true."
"No way. I can’t just believe that. It sounds like the plot summary of a manga."
I couldn't blame her for thinking that.
However, it was the absolute truth. I just had to make her believe it.
More than that, I was worried about Ms. Shizune, who had been busy communicating with someone on her phone for a while now.
She had been on a call the entire time I was explaining things to Yuri. I felt a faint prickle of tension, wondering who she was talking to and for how long, when Ms. Shizune finally pulled the phone away from her ear.
"I have confirmed the details."
"Huh?"
As Yuri tilted her head in confusion, Ms. Shizune tucked her phone into her pocket and continued.
"Miss Yuri Hirano, sixteen years old. A second-year student at Ryugu High, the school Itsuki-san previously attended. Father's name is Heizo, mother's name is Nanae. Your family runs a diner called Hiramaru that has been in operation since your grandfather's time. It is a popular establishment that is bustling with local customers day and night."
"Wait, what?! How do you know all that...?"
"The construction of your family's shop, your insurance, and even your bank accounts are all handled through companies within our group. Your information was in our customer list."
Yuri’s mouth fell open in shock.
It seemed her personal information had been dug up using the exact same methods as mine. In this country, it was likely quite rare for someone to have absolutely no connection to the Konohana Group. Seeing Yuri standing there in a daze, the sheer scale of the Konohana Group hit me all over again.
"Itsuki-san's explanation is entirely factual. Do you believe us now?"
"I—I believe you. Or rather... I’m too scared not to..."
Yuri was visibly intimidated.
I understood. I really, really understood that feeling.
I’m used to dealing with Ms. Shizune now, but I was exactly like that at first.
"Sorry, Yuri. For making you worry."
"I—I wasn't particularly worried about you or anything."
Yuri averted her gaze.
"...But you know, there are some weird rumors about you back at school."
"Huh?"
"The teacher said you just transferred, but everyone kind of knew about your family situation. By now, people are whispering all sorts of things—that you’re working in the red-light district, or that you’re on a tuna fishing boat, or that you were sold at a slave auction."
There’s no way it’s that last one.
"Well, I get the situation now. I’ll come up with some lie to tell the people at school."
"Yeah... that helps."
"Hmph, don't sweat it."
When I offered a brief thanks, Yuri puffed out her chest with a smug look.
I’d seen that gesture hundreds of times, and I had a premonition.
Ah, here it comes.
"After all—I’m Itsuki’s big sister!"
"We’re the same age, you idiot."
It was an exchange we’d had more times than I could count.
A sigh escaped me naturally.
"Big... sister...?"
Hinako looked puzzled.
I didn't have any siblings. Both Ms. Shizune and Hinako were well aware of that.
"Um, this girl was born six months before me. Because of that, she’s always tried to act like a big sister since we were kids. We’re actually the same age, so you don't need to pay her any mind."
"Heeeh?! You’re gonna say that? After I took care of you in all sorts of ways when you were busy with your part-time jobs!"
"Well, that’s true, but..."
I was weak when she brought that up.
However, seeing her smug face was so annoying that I didn't want to admit it.
"Itsuki should show me more respect!"
"...Coming from a shorty like you."
"Wh—Whaaaat?! It’s the age gap that matters, not height!"
"I told you, we’re the same age!"
If anything, I was the one who was more often mistaken for the older sibling.
We continued the same bickering we’d done for years.
I suddenly realized Ms. Shizune was watching us with her eyes wide.
"Um, is something wrong?"
"No... it simply seemed rare to see Itsuki-san use that kind of language."
What kind of language?...Ah, calling her a shorty and stuff.
It was true that I probably wouldn't say things like that to anyone but Yuri.
"Anyway, what’s with you? Getting your hair and clothes all neat and tidy like this."
"The environment I’m living in is special. I’ve been working hard at it."
"Hmm....Cheeky for an Itsuki. There!"
"Ah, hey, don't touch me!"
Yuri stood on her tiptoes and ruffled my hair.
I looked at her face to complain—but her expression was a soft, gentle smile.
"You have a habit of tensing up your shoulders even when you don't need to, so you should relax a little. It’s summer vacation for you too, right?"
"...Even if you say that."
Just when I thought she was teasing me, she was being considerate. It was moments like this that made it impossible to hate Yuri, and why I always ended up being grateful to her despite everything.
"You certainly seem very close."
In that instant, I felt as if a blizzard had suddenly rolled in.
A terrifying, overwhelming pressure froze the very air.