"Still, I can see why Itsuki would be entranced. Real Young Ladies look stylish even in their pajamas..."
Yuri gazed at Hinako and the others with a hint of envy.
For the record, Yuri’s own pajamas consisted of a camisole and a hoodie on top, with matching gray short-shorts. Because of the hoodie, it gave off more of a loungewear vibe than pajamas, but more importantly, I had been on edge for a while now.
Whether it was the fit or the cut of the camisole, her chest had been looking quite precarious for some time. Consequently, every time Yuri shifted her posture, I was forced to avert my eyes.
"...To be honest, you’re the one who’s the biggest distraction here."
"Huh?...Hey, don't look at weird places!"
Unable to endure it any longer, I decided to speak up.
Yuri turned her back to me and zipped up her hoodie. We might be childhood friends, but I was still a guy. I wished she wouldn’t be quite so relaxed around me.
"Perverts aside, let’s get this pajama party started."
Since I couldn't deny that I’d seen a bit too much, I let the "pervert" comment slide just this once.
"So? What are we talking about? Since it’s a pajama party, does that mean love talk or something?"
"T-That sort of thing feels a bit premature..."
"Oh? Really?"
Yuri looked puzzled as Narika shook her head, her face turning bright red.
Since Young Ladies generally lacked romantic experience, their immunity to the subject was much lower than that of ordinary people.
"Since we have the opportunity, I would quite like to hear more about the two of you."
"I would also like to hear stories about your past together."
Hinako agreed with Tennoji-san’s suggestion.
Yuri and I glanced at each other.
"Stories about me and Itsuki, huh? It usually boils down to me cleaning up his messes."
"No, it usually boils down to you dragging me all over the place."
"How rude. I didn't drag you that much."
"Yuri... don't tell me you've lost your memory!?"
"I haven't! I'm saying that while perfectly remembering everything!"
It was such an unbelievable claim that I genuinely doubted her sanity for a moment. Who was the one who had summoned me out late last night?
"Now that you mention it, Hirano-san, you did say yesterday that you used to take care of Tomonari-kun," Hinako remarked.
She certainly had made that bold claim yesterday morning.
"That's right. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say I was the one looking after Itsuki."
"That is a massive exaggeration."
I quickly corrected her.
However—
"It's an exaggeration, but... in reality, there were many times things would have gone badly if Yuri hadn't been there."
Hinako and the others turned their gaze toward me. I continued, reminiscing about the past.
"Once I started high school, I was buried in part-time jobs every day, so I couldn't really participate in class gatherings. Because of that, I was secretly worried that my classmates might think poorly of me... but unexpectedly, I was able to fit in without any trouble."
I still remembered that strange feeling. I had started working part-time immediately after enrollment to earn money for rent, food, and tuition. Because of that, I couldn't attend class mixers, and I had braced myself for a year of isolation.
But in reality, for some reason, the class had welcomed me warmly. It was as if they already understood the circumstances I was facing.
"When I thought it was strange and asked a classmate about it, it turned out that Yuri had been subtly telling everyone about my situation....The reason I was accepted was thanks to her."
During our first year of high school, Yuri and I were in the same class. According to what I heard later, she had spent the mixer I missed explaining things about me. She told them in broad strokes that I had to work a lot due to family circumstances and that my social life would be thin because of it. Crucially, she refused to give specific details about my parents when asked, respecting my privacy while still speaking up for me.
When I first heard about that, I was truly moved. I might have even shed a tear or two. Yuri had been supporting me in ways I never even realized.
"Well, as far as I'm concerned, I only did what was natural," Yuri said, appearing exceptionally pleased with herself. "After all, I am Itsuki's big sister!"
"We're the same age."
I gave her my standard retort as she puffed out her chest with a smug look.
"Speaking of which, there was something I wanted to ask Tennoji-san."
"Oh? What is it?"
Yuri changed the subject in an obvious manner.
"It was about two months ago, I think... The person at the arcade with Itsuki was you, wasn't it, Tennoji-san? Your outfit back then was totally different, so I didn't realize it at first, but..."
"Yes, that is correct. It was indeed me."
"Heeh... So, could it be that you two are on pretty good terms...?"
"Wh—!? N-N-No, Tomonari-san and I are not in that kind of relationship...!"
Tennoji-san's face turned beet red.
A silent, awkward atmosphere filled the room. While the only sound was the ticking of the clock, Hinako spoke up.
"For the record, I also went to that same arcade with Tomonari-kun."
"Eh?"
When Hinako said this with a soft smile, Tennoji-san was taken aback.
"F-For the record, I went too."
"Eh?"
As Narika spoke up timidly, Hinako was the one taken aback this time.
A heavy silence descended. I didn't quite know why, but I felt like intense sparks were flying between the three Young Ladies.
"Itsuki... you've become a total scumbag behind my back, haven't you?"
"A scumbag!?"
"You perverted scumbag."
Her words were harsh. Tennoji-san aside, Hinako and Narika only went with me because they had asked...
Just then, Narika's eyes began to dart around the room.
"Um... has there been a nice smell coming from somewhere for a while now?"
"Ah, I was practicing my cooking a bit earlier."
"Cooking?" Narika tilted her head.
"Yuri's family runs a diner, and she's training to be a chef herself."
I added the explanation, remembering that only Hinako and I knew about Yuri's background. Now that she mentioned it, there was a savory, slightly acidic aroma in the air.
"If I'd known we were having a pajama party, I should have at least made some sweets."
"You make sweets too...?"
"Yeah. Well, we don't really serve them at the shop, so it's more of a hobby."
Yuri was being modest, but I remembered her being quite skilled at it. She had made some for me a long time ago.
"Oh, that blender is one of our company's products."
"Eh, really?"
Yuri's eyes widened in surprise as Tennoji-san pointed toward the kitchen.
"I treasure that blender because even though it's small, it's easy to take apart and clean."
"I shall tell the developers. They worked very hard on that design; I am sure they will be delighted."
Tennoji-san nodded happily, as if it were her own achievement. In fact, she probably thought of it that way. She knew the exact struggles the designers went through for a single product. Her sense of ownership was incredibly high. The joy of the Tennoji Group was her joy as well.
"Still, there are some strange connections, aren't there?"
"The Tennoji Group is involved in many industries, so this is not particularly rare....Though I suppose the same could be said for Hinako Konohana."
Tennoji-san looked at Hinako with eyes tinged with rivalry. Hinako nodded with a wry smile.
"For example, the beds used in this hotel are from the Konohana Group."
"B-Beds...? Now that you mention it, that thing was incredibly comfortable..."
The bed in my room was also exceptionally nice. It was likely a luxury brand not available to the general public.
"By the way, um, does Miyakojima-san's family have anything like that...?"
"My family just runs a sporting goods company. Unfortunately, we don't really make anything related to cooking or hospitality....However, those white sneakers left at the entrance. Are those yours, Hirano-san?"
"Ah, yeah, they are..."
"Those are our product. My family originally developed athletic shoes, but we have been expanding into lifestyle sneakers for the general public recently."
"I-I see... is that so..."
Yuri was blinking rapidly, no longer knowing how to respond.
"The diversification of fashion is being welcomed across various industries," Tennoji-san noted.
"Yes. Like how mountaineering gear has gained mainstream appeal, or how fishing equipment manufacturers have successfully moved into apparel after rebranding their logos. There have been many such trends lately."
"According to a fabless manufacturer in the Tennoji Group's apparel line, recently—"
The conversation had entered a high-level corporate domain. I nodded deeply as I watched Yuri, who was frozen with her mouth hanging open.
"I understand, Yuri. I had the same reaction at first."
"...You've been having a hard time too, haven't you?"
That's right... I really have. You have no idea how much effort I put in just to behave naturally at Kikou Academy...
"Oh, excuse me. We seem to have gotten off track."
Tennoji-san apologized. Well, since Yuri got to hear the kind of conversations that were normal at the academy, it was probably a fresh experience for her.
"Right... by the way, I had something I wanted to ask Konohana-san, too..." Yuri said, turning her attention to Hinako. "Actually, this morning, I saw Itsuki leaving Konohana-san's room... what was he doing there?"
"—!"
I was struck speechless by the sudden thrust of her blade. Tennoji-san and Narika's eyes went wide as well.
Damn it, Yuri... I can't believe she asked Hinako directly instead of me. I had completely let my guard down, thinking she would corner me privately later. I remained silent, trying to suppress my panic.
However, Hinako simply smiled as if she had nothing to hide.
"Ah, now that you mention it, I completely forgot."
Hinako stood up and rummaged through the bag she had brought. Now that I thought about it, she had brought a bag with her for some reason.
"Tomonari-kun. I'll return this to you now."
With those words, Hinako pulled out the notes I had borrowed in her room last night. Strictly speaking, it was a stack of loose-leaf paper rather than a notebook.
"I happened to wake up a bit early today. While I was out for a walk, I ran into Tomonari-kun. Since he seemed to be struggling a bit with his studies, I was giving him some advice."
"...This is definitely Itsuki's handwriting."
Yuri peered at the papers she received from Hinako. Wait... you can even recognize my handwriting?
"W-Well, Tomonari-san does work for the Konohana family, so such things are bound to happen."
"Y-Yeah. They probably have to coordinate for work purposes sometimes..."
Tennoji-san and Narika spoke in a flustered manner. It almost seemed like they were trying to convince themselves.
"...Really? Something feels a bit off about this... hmmm..."
Yuri was the only one who remained unconvinced.
I was terrified that if she pried any further, I would slip up. Deciding it was best to retreat for now, I stood up.
"Ah... um, I'm starting to get thirsty. I'll go buy some drinks for everyone."
Without even waiting for an answer, I beat a hasty retreat from Yuri's room.
(...He ran away.)
Yuri stared straight at the door Itsuki had just disappeared through.
Running away meant there was something to hide. She could tell that if she kept digging, she would find more than a few secrets.
"What kind of person was Tomonari-kun at his previous school?" Hinako asked, sitting on the bed.
Though she didn't show it, every time Yuri looked at this girl, she felt a overwhelming difference in "feminine power." With her refined features and elegant movements, the girl seemed to embody the very image of Kikou Academy.
Yuri hid her complex feelings and looked back at the past.
"Itsuki wasn't really the center of the class or anything....But he was respected."
The Young Ladies' faces lit up with curiosity.
"Everyone could see how hard he worked every day. He was working part-time with everything he had on both weekdays and weekends, and he kept up with his studies too. His social life suffered because of it, but no one ever disliked him....To be honest, even if I hadn't laid the groundwork, I think everyone would have eventually come to understand him."
As Yuri recalled the past, she spoke with a sense of nostalgia.
"Because he’s so straightforward, people trusted him. And since he’s such a soft-touch, people often came to him for advice."
"He certainly is a soft-touch."
"He is quite soft-hearted indeed."
"Yes, he is far too kind for his own good."
The level of agreement regarding his "soft-heartedness" was incredible. It seemed that guy was being just as helpful to people at Kikou Academy as he had been back home.
"...Well, because he's like that, it leads to some problems too."
When she said that, the Young Ladies' eyes widened. Apparently, they hadn't noticed that side of him yet.
(...These three seem trustworthy, so maybe it's okay to tell them.)
Yuri decided it was alright to talk about it. Having helped with her family's diner for years, she was confident in her ability to read people. She could feel that all three of them trusted Itsuki deeply. These were not the kind of people who would intentionally make him unhappy.
"Itsuki was confessed to by a girl in our class back in our first year of high school."
Eh!?
"Well, he turned her down, though."
Mirei and Narika looked visibly relieved. Yuri noted their reaction but continued, setting the observation aside for a moment.
"It's just that the way he turned her down became a bit of a topic....It was about a month before the confession happened. Itsuki's father was in poor health and couldn't work for a while, so Itsuki became much busier than usual."
Hinako and the others were listening with intense focus. Ah, these girls really do care about him, Yuri thought. That was exactly why they needed to hear this.
"Itsuki is a soft-touch, so he worked himself to the bone to support his parents. But there are limits to how much one person can do....In Itsuki's case, he tends to sacrifice himself first."
"Sacrifice himself...?" Hinako looked puzzled.
"At the same time Itsuki got busy, that girl I mentioned started liking him....She wore her heart on her sleeve, so it was obvious to everyone. She didn't seem to have any intention of hiding it either, probably wanting Itsuki to notice her."
Whether it was the way she tried to catch his eye or the constant attempts to be alone with him, Yuri didn't know how much of it was calculated. However, the girl was a good person. That was why the rest of the class had decided to leave them be, thinking the romance would be good for him.
"But you see, when she finally confessed to Itsuki... it turned out he hadn't noticed her feelings at all."
Everyone except Itsuki had known. Even students in the next class had realized it, yet Itsuki, the target of her affection, hadn't noticed a thing.
"Itsuki is someone who can work incredibly hard for others. But on the flip side, he has a habit of neglecting his own needs....I suppose his background plays a part. Having endured so much since he was young, he has a hard time imagining a future where he is actually happy. That's why he never thinks about wanting luxuries or even just relaxing. He's become dense when it comes to romance, too. He probably thinks a normal 'youth' is something meant for other people, not him."
Itsuki probably wasn't even aware of this trait. And even if he were, it would be difficult to change. Helping others isn't inherently wrong, after all. Given his personality, Yuri suspected he would do the same thing even if he knew.
"And! That! Is! Why! I had no choice but to look after him! As his big sister!"
As his childhood friend, only Yuri had seen this self-neglecting tendency from the start. That was why she had been secretly managing things with their classmates. Since Itsuki was going to ignore his own well-being, someone else had to do it for him. Yuri had taken that role upon herself.
Having finished her explanation, Yuri looked at the others. The three Young Ladies were silent, their expressions somber.
"Um... wait? Sorry, did I make things too gloomy?"
She had only intended to point out that Itsuki wasn't perfect, but the three of them had taken the story much more deeply than she had expected. Did they value him that much? Or did they hold feelings for him that went beyond mere friendship?
(...Come to think of it, Tennoji-san and Miyakojima-san's reactions earlier were strange.)
When she mentioned the confession, they were clearly shaken. And when she said he turned it down, they were clearly relieved.
As Yuri was analyzing their reactions, the doorbell rang. When she opened the door, Itsuki was standing there with a convenience store bag.
"I'm back....Wait, what's with the atmosphere? Were you talking about something?"
"We were talking about how you got confessed to in your first year of high school."
"Hey."
Itsuki pretended to be annoyed at her for sharing his personal history. Yuri knew he wasn't actually angry; he was just embarrassed to have the spotlight on his past.
"In the end, how exactly did you turn her down again?"
"...I told her things were difficult at home and I didn't want to drag her into my mess."
"I see....This is a bit late to ask, but was she your type?"
"No, I don't really know. I'd already decided in my heart to turn her down, so I felt like thinking about whether I liked her or not would be disrespectful..."
It was a very Itsuki-like answer.
"I mean, when it comes to your type—"
Yuri cut herself off and glanced at the three girls. Mirei and Narika were clearly waiting for the rest of the sentence with bated breath. Hinako’s expression remained unchanged. Was she truly uninterested, or was she just a master of hiding it?
(Hmm...)
Yuri weighed the situation carefully.
"...As his big sister, I think I need to investigate this a little more."
"? Investigate what?"
Itsuki tilted his head, looking completely lost.