Yuri placed a cluster of vertically sliced king oyster mushrooms onto a plate.
"You’ve grown quite accustomed to teaching these Young Ladies things. And they were listening to you so intently... Do you have interactions like this often?"
Yuri picked up a bell pepper and asked the question while rinsing it under the tap.
"We’ve shared a fair amount of quality time together. I’ve managed to build a certain level of trust with them."
"I see. That’s pretty impressive—being relied on by people from Kikou Academy."
Yuri held the bell peppers one by one under the running water.
"...I wonder where the Itsuki I used to look after went," she murmured, her gaze remaining cast downward.
In profile, she looked just a little bit lonely.
◆
"Alright! The meat is done!"
The meat that had been cooking alongside the vegetables was finally ready. As I approached with my small plate, Yuri used a pair of tongs to serve me.
"This is delicious!"
"Yeah. Strangely enough, it tastes exceptionally good!"
We savored various cuts, from those seasoned simply with salt and pepper to those glazed in savory sauce. Even the Young Ladies, with their refined palates, seemed thoroughly satisfied.
"It was worth the effort of making it," Hinako remarked.
"Yes! Exactly, Konohana-san! That’s precisely the real thrill of cooking!"
Hearing Hinako’s comment, Yuri, the group's resident chef, spoke with visible joy.
"Food you worked hard to prepare always tastes good, right? But it feels even better when someone else eats it and tells you it’s delicious."
As Yuri spoke with passion, Tennoji-san and Narika suddenly began grilling meat and vegetables with renewed vigor.
"Tomonari-san, the meat is ready."
"Itsuki, the onions are done."
Meat and onions were piled onto my plate. For the Young Ladies as they were now, simply grilling something was quite the culinary achievement.
"Um, they’re both delicious."
The two girls’ faces brightened with delight.
"The dishes you brought are also wonderful, Hirano-san," Hinako added.
"Thanks. It was worth bringing the high-quality ingredients I got from my part-time job."
The paper plate Hinako held contained not just the BBQ fare but also several dishes Yuri had prepared in advance at the hotel. Apparently, she had brought them along thinking that a barbecue alone might be insufficient. She also mentioned wanting to practice the techniques she was learning at work.
"I’ve been painfully reminded that my own culinary skills are still severely lacking, but I remain confident in my palate," Tennoji-san said. "The quality of the ingredients is a given, but this deep, delicate flavor could only be produced through long periods of research. Your sincerity toward cooking really comes through, Hirano-san."
"N-Hehe... being praised that much is actually a bit embarrassing."
Yuri’s face turned red with joy. It clearly meant a lot to be recognized by someone like Tennoji-san, who undoubtedly possessed a discerning tongue.
"This hamburger steak is magnificent, but this meat here is also delicious. What do you call this dish?"
"That’s ginger pork. I’m glad it’s to your liking."
"These fried things are good, too," Narika added. "It’s a flavor that really works up an appetite!"
"Those are menchi-katsu....I wonder, do Young Ladies not usually eat ginger pork and menchi-katsu?"
Now that she mentioned it, those items weren't on the menu in the Kikou Academy cafeteria. The Young Ladies were likely unfamiliar with dishes that fell under the category of B-grade gourmet.
"Tomonari-kun, what did you usually eat at Hirano-san’s house?"
Asked by Hinako in her Young Lady mode, I searched my memories for an answer. "Hmm? If I recall... it was hamburger steak, menchi-katsu, and ginger pork."
Suddenly, the previously lively atmosphere froze.
Tennoji-san glanced over the dishes Yuri had brought and spoke up. "...These are all Tomonari-san’s favorites, aren't they?"
"!? No, well... i-it’s a coincidence! A total coincidence!!" Yuri offered a flustered excuse. "I-It can’t be helped! Itsuki was my taste-tester, so my signature dishes naturally lean toward his preferences!"
I had assumed it was something like that anyway, but the other Young Ladies gave suspicious, half-hearted nods of "I see."
"However, this... really is delicious," Ms. Shizune murmured with admiration as she ate. "It is a flavor that makes it clear why your family’s restaurant is so prosperous. Even this barbecue meat is very tender. Hirano-sama, did you use some sort of trick for this?"
"Um, I used a meat injector to pump apple juice into that meat. Since the original cut was good, it’s more for a variation in flavor than for tenderizing it."
As she spoke, Yuri held up a silver, syringe-like tool. She had given a brief explanation before grilling; apparently, soaking meat in fruit juice was a known tenderizing technique, but using that tool allowed the juice to penetrate the center of thick cuts quickly, seasoning and softening them simultaneously.
"Hirano-sama, you are working part-time in Karuizawa because you want to hone your culinary skills, correct?" Ms. Shizune asked.
"Yes, but..."
"If you like, would you care to work for us as well?"
"Huh!?"
As Yuri’s eyes widened, Ms. Shizune continued. "Since you have school on weekdays, either day of the weekend... a part-time shift once a week would be fine. If you are willing, Hirano-sama, I will look into it."
Yuri froze at the abrupt proposal. Her neck turned slowly toward me with a mechanical stiffness.
"I-Itsuki... what should I do...?"
"I mean, don't ask me..."
It was a sudden proposal for me as well. As we both stood there in surprise, Ms. Shizune spoke again.
"There is no need to be so formal. On our end, it is as if Hirano-sama has caught us in a moment of weakness, so consider this something like hush money."
"Weakness... oh, you mean Itsuki."
She was referring to the fact that I was attending Kikou Academy while concealing my true identity. I could see Ms. Shizune's reasoning. Her desire to hire Yuri as a chef was likely sincere, but she also wanted to keep Yuri—who knew the truth about me—within the Konohana family's reach.
To put it bluntly, she wanted to keep Yuri on a leash where she could be watched.
"...I have my family’s shop to think about, so please give me a little time."
"Understood. I shall await your answer."
Ms. Shizune nodded at Yuri’s serious reply. Yuri's family home was busy, and there were many things to discuss. However, for someone who wanted to polish her cooking skills, this proposal was clearly attractive. Yuri’s eyes burned with a quiet ambition.
We finished the meal, devouring both the barbecue and Yuri’s prepared dishes.
"Phew, I am quite full," Tennoji-san said, rubbing her stomach contentedly.
"Well then, the finale has to be this!" Yuri pulled a large, flat bag out of her pack. Inside was a large number of long, cylindrical objects. It was a fireworks set. I hadn't even noticed her preparing it.
"Hirano-san, what on earth is that...?" Hinako asked.
"Wait, you don’t know? They’re fireworks."
"Fireworks... you mean those things that are launched into the sky? Do they really come out of things that small?"
Hinako and Tennoji-san looked puzzled. It seemed the Young Ladies only knew about professional displays.
"These are the handheld type. Watch."
Yuri used a lighter to ignite the tip of a sparkler. A moment later, yellow sparks began to fly.
"I-It’s on fire!? Water! Someone bring water!!"
"It’s okay. These are meant to be enjoyed like this," Yuri said calmly to the panicked Tennoji-san.
Once the Young Ladies understood how handheld fireworks worked, they stood in silence, watching the crackling sparks.
"It’s beautiful, isn't it?"
"...It is."
For them, the joy of handheld fireworks was a brand-new experience. I remembered having that same sparkle in my eyes when I was a child.
"Narika, did you know about these?" I asked.
"Yeah. In the summer, they’re occasionally sold at the dagashi shop I frequent. But this is the first time I’ve seen one actually lit. It’s vivid and fascinating."
Even Narika was captivated.
"There are plenty of other kinds, so let’s enjoy ourselves!" Yuri said, introducing different varieties.
Playing together like this made me feel as though the transparent wall between commoners and the upper class was melting away into the night. Hinako and the others, fascinated by the sparklers, looked just like Yuri and me when we were kids. It was proof that even if we lived in different worlds, we could share the same simple emotions.
"Everyone, I have prepared drinks."
Just as we were starting to feel a pleasant exhaustion, Ms. Shizune called out to us.
"I was just starting to get thirsty."
"Me too. I think I’ve inhaled quite a bit of smoke."
There were only a few fireworks left. Once they were gone, we planned to head back to Karuizawa. Even knowing the day was ending, everyone seemed to want to stretch it out. They wanted to savor every last second and etch it into their hearts. I understood that feeling well.
The Young Ladies were busy people. Opportunities to enjoy a day like this were rare. A public beach, a barbecue they helped cook, and handheld fireworks—today had been a series of firsts for them.
"Phew..."
Hinako, standing beside me, let out a slow breath. Confirming no one else was around, I spoke to the real Hinako.
"Hinako, you’re tired, aren't you?"
"...Just a little."
She was definitely fatigued, but she also looked deeply fulfilled. In her case, the acting added to the exhaustion, but today she had simply played hard all day. I was tired too.
The others had all gone to get their drinks. Right now, no one was watching.
"Shall we rest here for a bit?"
"Mm."
The two of us crouched down on the sand.
"...I wanted you to eat something I made, too," Hinako said sadly.
While she was in "Young Lady mode," she couldn't do the things she truly wanted. I felt for her.
"Then, can you make me something once we get home?"
"...Mm. Look forward to it," Hinako said with a happy smile. Even if it turned out to be cup ramen, I’d be glad if she was the one who prepared it.
"Did you enjoy the fireworks?"
"Mm. They were interesting." She nodded brightly. "Have you done fireworks before, Itsuki?"
"Yeah. Not that many times, though. I didn't have much free time or money."
This was a first in a long time for me as well. It brought back memories of the colors and the smells.
"However, I did senko hanabi many times."
"Senko hanabi...?"
"Yeah. Wait a second, I’ll get some."
I pulled a few incense-stick sparklers—senko hanabi—out of Yuri’s bag. Returning to Hinako, I lit one.
"You light the tip like this... then point it gently downward."
For an instant, the fire bloomed like a tiny flower before pulling inward to form a glowing orange orb. Sparks scattered incessantly from the faintly trembling bead of light.
"Oh..."
"It’s pretty, right?"
"Mm. It feels different from the others....I want to try."
"I brought plenty, thinking you’d say that. I’ll light it for you." I didn't quite trust the current Hinako with a lighter, so I did the honors.
"Ooh..." Hinako stared at the sparkler with wide, shimmering eyes. "Why did you do this one so many times?"
"...Well, because they’re cheap," I said hesitantly, not wanting to spoil the mood.
But Hinako didn't seem to mind.
"They're cheap and they last longer than other fireworks. I think that’s why my parents bought them. Since they were one of my few forms of entertainment back then, I’d play with them carefully—one per day. I’d try to make them last as long as possible, or shake them to see if the bead would fall....In the end, these are my favorite."
I remembered the Tomonari family once trying to use them as a substitute for candles to save money. It hadn't worked, and we’d all felt pretty down about it. But even those stories were part of the memory now.
Staring at the crackling orb of fire, both good and bad memories surfaced. My life was infinitely better now than it had been, and I didn't have the slightest desire to go back. Yet, I still felt a sense of nostalgia. I wanted to embrace that feeling, even if the past hadn't been perfect.
"Is it... something special to you?" Hinako asked.
"...Yeah, maybe it is." I realized that at this very moment.
"Then, me too..." Hinako murmured.
Her face, illuminated by the orange glow, slowly turned toward me. She smiled.
"I... like this one the best, too."
She spoke with such a gentle smile that, for some reason, she looked more beautiful than ever. The sound of the waves and the crackling sparks seemed to fade away. Only Hinako’s ephemeral smile, flickering in the firelight, remained in my vision.
My heart was steady, but my mind felt slow. I just wanted to keep looking at her. The nostalgia I had been feeling was being replaced by a warmer, gentler emotion.
"You two! Your drinks are going to get warm!"
Tennoji-san’s loud voice snapped me back to reality. Hinako seemed to have recovered her composure instantly. I was thirsty too, so it was time to rejoin the group.
"Shall we go?"
"Mm....Carry me."
"Someone might see us, so no."
"Cheer..."
I gave a wry smile as Hinako tried to act spoiled the moment she saw an opening. With the atmosphere just now, I might have actually given in.
As we started walking, I almost unconsciously protected my back with both hands.
"...Itsuki?"
"Oh, no, I’ve just been hit on the back a lot today. Yuri did it, then Narika and Tennoji-san hit me in the same spot..."
"Hmm..."
Because it had happened three times in a row, my body was reacting reflexively. Hinako seemed to consider this for a moment.
"...The swimsuit you’re wearing today, what shop did you buy it at?"
"One of the Konohana Group’s affiliate stores, I think..."
"Where do you usually live?"
"The Konohana estate, obviously."
"Who do you usually work beside?"
"Hinako, of course."
As I wondered where this was going, she nodded with satisfaction. "My total victory... no need to worry."
"?"
I didn't quite get it, but it seemed she wasn't going to hit me.
"Itsuki....What do you think of Hirano-san?" she asked suddenly.
"What do I think? She’s my childhood friend. That’s all there is to it."
Hinako made a complicated face. It wasn't that she disliked the answer, but rather she looked frustrated with her own question, as if she hadn't quite asked what she really wanted to know.
"...Do you want to see your old friends?"
"Well, yeah. I’d like to see them occasionally."
"...I see."
Whether she was satisfied or not, she fell silent. As we approached the others, Hinako switched back into her public Young Lady persona. Watching her perfectly straight posture, I tilted my head. I wondered what all those questions had been about.
◇
Yuri took a sip of her drink—a homemade sports drink with a refreshing citrus aroma and a faint sweetness. The glass Ms. Shizune had provided was clearly high-end. The fact that they didn't use plastic bottles or paper cups even at a beach spoke to the meticulous, effortless luxury of the upper class.
"Wait, where are Itsuki and Konohana-san?"
Having quenched her thirst, Yuri realized they were missing.
"...Now that you mention it, they are not here," Tennoji-san noted.
"I’ll go find them."
Yuri took glasses for the both of them and went to search. It hadn't been that dark when the fireworks started, but the night had deepened rapidly. The moon was hidden behind clouds, making it hard to see more than a few meters ahead.
However, she found them easily. The light of the sparklers guided her.
Their faces were illuminated by the tiny sparks. They didn't notice Yuri approaching. While they were bathed in light, Yuri was shrouded in the darkness of the night. From their perspective, she was invisible.
Yuri moved to bring them their drinks, but seeing their expressions, she stopped in her tracks.
(...Oh.)
The expression on Hinako’s face was calmer than anything Yuri had ever seen. It wasn't just a polite, public face. It was affectionate, joyful, and carried a peacefulness almost like a pleasant dream. Even though Yuri had only known her briefly, she could tell this was a special look.
In that instant, Yuri’s intuition flared.
(I see....So Konohana-san feels that way, too.)
She understood the true nature of Hinako’s feelings. Yuri turned her feet, which had been moving toward them, and walked in the opposite direction. She felt it would be better not to interrupt.
"............Wait."
Suddenly, Yuri noticed how heavy her feet felt. The sea breeze felt colder than before. The salt on her skin felt strangely unpleasant.
Itsuki certainly had qualities that would make the opposite sex like him. But she had never imagined he would be cherished this much.
(What is this... this feeling?)
A cloud of unease gathered in her chest. The Itsuki Yuri knew was a plain boy who could never quite shake his awkwardness. The Itsuki she knew would have been much more nervous talking to a girl.
Even his physique was different. He hadn't been that sturdy. His posture was different, too—the Itsuki she knew didn't stand with his back so straight.
A few days ago, when she had fed him in the hotel room, she thought he hadn't changed at all. But spending time with him now, she was forced to realize little by little that he was different. The Itsuki in her memories and the Itsuki standing before her didn't overlap.
In fact, the Itsuki in reality seemed to have no flaws at all.
"..................No."
That couldn't be right.
The Itsuki in her head and the Itsuki in reality—she forcibly pushed the two images together. Itsuki was a good-natured guy who people liked, but he had to have flaws.
Otherwise, I————.
The very reason for Yuri Hirano’s existence would————.