My groggy mind snapped awake. I’d clearly made a foolish misunderstanding.
"So, I'm sorry to bother you when you're sleepy, but—"
"—I get it."
I gently moved Yuri aside and climbed out of bed.
While Yuri blinked in surprise, I went through a series of light stretches.
"What do you need me to do?"
"Well, I have plenty for you to do... but you aren't even angry? You were dragged out of bed at this hour."
"You're in that much trouble, right?"
"..................Well, yeah."
Yuri nodded apologetically.
If it were someone I didn't know, I might have had some choice words about being woken up so suddenly... but this was Yuri. She wasn't the type of person to do something like this without a good reason.
"Um, thanks. You're quick on the uptake, which helps."
Usually, I was the one being helped. It wasn't just tonight; I had been under Yuri's care for years. If I could be of use to her, I’d shake off any amount of sleepiness.
"I'm happy to help you, Yuri."
"~~!? L-Look...! Stop saying... such heavy things...!!"
"I’m just being honest."
"Ah, geez! Just get ready already!"
With her face flushed red all the way to her ears, Yuri scurried out of the room.
If I was heading into the kitchen, I needed to look presentable. I opened the closet, pulled out a pair of slacks and a clean shirt, changed quickly, and followed her out.
I caught up with Yuri, whose cheeks were still crimson, and we headed for the kitchen together.
"Did you ask Ms. Shizune where my room was?"
"Yeah. I thought about bringing you a snack earlier, so I asked her beforehand. In the end, I didn't have a second to spare, and you were already out anyway..."
She might have knocked, but since the door was unlocked, she’d simply walked in. At this point, I wasn't embarrassed about Yuri seeing my sleeping face.
On weekday nights, I usually studied in my room and kept the door unlocked so Hinako could visit whenever she pleased. I had happened to crash early today, but thanks to that, I didn't feel too bad waking up.
"Then, first, help me with the prep work."
"Understood."
Once we arrived at the kitchen, Yuri quickly issued instructions. Putting on the apron she handed me, I began prepping the ingredients. Since I had a fair amount of experience working part-time at restaurants, I could handle the basics.
Beside me, Yuri stared intently at the menu written in her notebook, her expression grave.
"...I have to increase my speed. Have I not quite grasped the timing for the poêlé yet? But I can't sacrifice the texture of the skin..."
It seemed she was practicing a fish dish. The ingredient was momiji-dai, a sea bream that reached its peak season in autumn. Poêlé is a French cooking method involving searing in a frying pan. Fish cooked this way resulted in crispy skin and a plump, tender interior.
I had acquired this kind of knowledge through my etiquette studies. However, I couldn't do the actual cooking. When I handed the prepped fish to Yuri, she immediately set to work.
"You seem fine."
Seeing Yuri moving her knife with silent precision, the words slipped out.
"What do you mean?"
"No, it's just that you looked nervous when you first came to the manor."
"Oh... that's what you meant. It wasn't exactly nervousness, though."
I tilted my head. Was she not nervous?
"I was fired up," Yuri spoke as she ignited the stove. "Even now, I'm only occasionally allowed to handle the seasoning. Basically, I'm still just a prep cook....I want to use this opportunity to snatch a higher post if I can. For me, this substitute role is a real battle."
She adjusted the heat as she spoke.
I had been mistaken. Yuri hadn't been nervous from the start. She had been trembling with ambition. From the moment she heard about the substitute role from Ms. Shizune, Yuri had probably been thinking of nothing but proving her worth as a chef.
Hearing Yuri's resolve, I slapped my own cheeks with both hands.
"...Alright!"
The loud clap! echoed, and Yuri jumped in surprise.
"W-What was that all of a sudden...?"
"No, I just thought I should focus too."
Things like Narika, or what President Minato had told me... I decided to set aside the worries cluttering my head for now. First, I would focus properly on what was in front of me.
Besides————I had already found a way to resolve those concerns.
"I'll share the menu with you just in case. But I might make some adjustments, so use it only as a reference."
"Isn't the menu already decided? Are you allowed to change it?"
"If it's a good adjustment, they'll definitely adopt it. The chefs here are those kinds of people."
It seemed Yuri had built a relationship of trust with the Konohana family chefs in a place I didn't know about.
But I see... so there was room for adjustment.
"...I'll check the participant list for the social gathering."
"The participant list? Why... wait, can you even see that?"
"Just in case something like this happened, I got the file from Ms. Shizune beforehand."
It was a task I had intended to start tomorrow, but I would begin now.
"If I take statistics on age, gender, and background, I might see where the demand lies, right?...I'll also check the time slots when the food is served. If possible, I'll look at data from past gatherings too..."
Even cooking was a business if you changed your perspective. If I analyzed the data with the same logic as the Management Game, there would surely be patterns I could identify. I would treat the participants of the social gathering as a market and think about what kind of products would meet their demands.
I had thought there was no point in analyzing demand if the menu was already fixed, but if Yuri was going to attempt arrangements, that was a different story. I immediately brought my laptop from my room and began the analysis.
"...Because you're acting like that, I'm fired up too."
I heard Yuri's small voice from behind... but I couldn't hear the words clearly.
"Did you say something?"
"Nothing!"
When I looked back, Yuri was staring intently at the frying pan. Her expression looked almost happy.
◆
During the day, I was interviewed at the academy, and at night, I helped Yuri. Those busy days passed in a flash, and finally, the day of the social gathering arrived.
The venue this time was a luxury hotel in the city. They had chartered a magnificent party room on a high floor. It was a buffet style to facilitate smooth conversation, and by the time we entered the venue, many people had already gathered.
Since Hinako and I couldn't let anyone know we were living together, we entered the venue separately. After entering with Ms. Shizune, I waited for Hinako, who was supposed to come with Kegon-san.
"Itsuki..."
Hearing Hinako's voice, I turned around.
Hinako was wearing a light green dress. In her Young Lady mode, she was overflowing with elegance, but her facial features still held a touch of innocence, and pastel colors suited her perfectly.
"Hinako. Is that a new dress?"
"Mm. It's going to get cold soon, so I had it made with a thicker fabric."
The fact that she said it was "made" rather than "bought" really drove home her status. Well, the suit I was wearing had also been provided by the Konohana family.
"It looks good on you."
"Ehehe... It looks good on you too, Itsuki."
Hinako smiled shyly, looking delighted. With the change in seasons, it seemed we were both in the middle of a wardrobe change. We spent all our time together, but this was a time when I would occasionally notice these subtle shifts.
"Then... it's a pain, but I'm going to do my rounds of greetings."
"Yeah, I'll be watching from the back. If anything happens, I'll come running."
Hinako looked ready to head off for greetings as if it were a chore. Usually, we would act separately like this, but—
"Itsuki-san. Please accompany the Young Lady today."
"Eh?"
Ms. Shizune, who was watching over us, interjected.
"Is that okay?"
"There is no problem....You will understand once you actually begin the rounds."
I didn't understand her meaning, but I did as I was told and followed Hinako through the venue.
Men who were conversing with glasses in hand stopped talking the moment they saw Hinako and made space for the two of us. It was a sight that showed at a glance what kind of special treatment Hinako received in upper class society. But that was in exchange for the weight of the responsibility she carried.
"Hinako-chan. Good evening."
"Good evening."
The person spoke with a casual attitude, perhaps having known Hinako since she was a child.
"Oh, and you are... could you be Tomonari-kun?"
The man who greeted Hinako asked while looking at me.
"Yes. Um, how do you know me...?"
"I heard about you from Kegon-san. He said that today his daughter Hinako-san and her friend Tomonari-kun would be attending the social gathering together."
So he had been telling people that... I realized why Ms. Shizune had said it was no problem.
"I saw the Management Game. None of your ideas were limited to the scope of a game; they were all focused on reality....It wasn't just that you happened to be good at games. I could tell that you properly study real business."
"...Thank you very much."
I hadn't expected to be praised for the Management Game in a place like this, and I expressed my gratitude while feeling strangely detached.
After that, we conversed briefly with them and then continued through the venue. No matter who we greeted, they all seemed to know me. I had been told that the business world was paying attention to the Management Game, but its influence was greater than I had expected.
So many people had come to know about me... It didn't feel real. When had things come this far?
"Don't zone out."
The greetings ended, and as we started walking again, someone spoke to me. I turned around—and there was Kegon-san. Ms. Shizune was also standing behind him. She gave a silent bow.
"Hold your head high. Someone standing next to Hinako shouldn't be walking while staring at their feet."
"S-Sorry."
Perhaps because I was lost in thought, I had unconsciously lowered my gaze.
"Um, Kegon-san. Why did you introduce me to everyone...?"
"You achieved such results in the Management Game. At this point, it would be more unnatural for there to be no connection between you and Hinako....From now on, this sense of distance is fine."
With that, Kegon-san walked away.
"How was it?" Ms. Shizune asked. "How did it feel to attend a social gathering standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the Young Lady?"
I couldn't answer immediately. I remembered when I had just become a caretaker... the time Hinako was having dinner with the executives of a shipbuilding company. Back then, perhaps because fatigue had built up, Hinako had practiced the three-second rule in front of them, and it had ruined the atmosphere.
At that time, I wasn't allowed to stand next to Hinako at the table. I couldn't help her. But this time, I was right by her side. I was standing next to her.
"...I don't want this view to be for tonight only." I spoke with surging determination. "Someday, I will become someone who belongs here as a matter of course."
"Yes, I am rooting for you."
Ms. Shizune, seemingly satisfied, followed after Kegon-san. When I tried to resume our greetings, I noticed that Hinako's gait was strangely stiff.
"Hinako?"
"...Mm, muu."
Hinako's face was bright red, and she was looking down in embarrassment. Thinking about it calmly, I might have said something quite mortifying. I felt like I would become awkward too if I thought about it, so I looked into the distance to calm myself.
"Hey, you two."
A tall man in an elegant suit approached. It was Takuma-san.
"Gah..."
"Haha, Hinako. Don't drop your act just because I'm here."
Despite Hinako showing blatant rejection, Takuma-san didn't seem to mind at all.
"Itsuki-kun. Were you able to greet everyone properly?"
"Yes, I think so..."
"Then that's good."
What did that mean? Would it work to Takuma-san's advantage for me to foster connections within the Konohana Group?...Am I overthinking it? When it was Takuma-san, I couldn't help but suspect an ulterior motive. He might have just been normally praising me.
"By the way, look at that." Takuma-san pointed to the neighboring table. There, two men were exchanging greetings awkwardly.
"O-Oh, well, well, if it isn't Hamada Motors..."
"H-Hello, Konohana Motors... Hahaha..."
Both of them were talking with forced smiles while dripping with cold sweat. A cold sweat also dripped from my forehead.
"Oh dear, they've ended up in an awkward relationship because of Itsuki-kun."
"I-Is it my fault...!?"
"Naturally. Because you said in the Management Game that Hamada Motors might be planning a hostile takeover of Konohana Motors..."
I did say it...! I certainly said it...! But that was just an analysis of the Hamada Motors within the game... no, wait a minute.
"...Wasn't it you who was operating Hamada Motors in the game, Takuma-san?"
"Come to think of it, that's right. Then we're accomplices."
Could I somehow make it Takuma-san's sole crime?
"Well, that was half a joke."
"Half...?"
Not all of it? I glared at him.
"It can be settled as a joke because it's a game, but it's a problem that wouldn't be funny if done in reality." Takuma-san suddenly spoke with a serious expression. "Even if you think you've made the best move, you can sometimes create unexpected enemies....What do you think you should do in such a case?"
Takuma-san looked at me with testing eyes. A thought experiment: what if this incident really happened in reality? Since I had created an enemy through my own actions, it might be better if I didn't move carelessly. If so, what I should do is—
"I would rely on someone like you, Takuma-san."
"That's good." Takuma-san nodded contentedly. "In that spirit, make sure to study how to win people over as well."
"Win people over..."
"The circle of people circulates. If you know that, you'll be able to control it as well."
After saying that, Takuma-san moved elsewhere. The circle of people circulates. It was an abstract expression, but for some reason, I somehow understood. When talking to Takuma-san, there were many things I could intuitively grasp. Did we have similar sensibilities?
"Muu..."
Beside me, Hinako was puffing out her cheeks in displeasure.
"...Hinako?"
"...Rely on me... not that person."
Hinako said while pinching the hem of my suit. I couldn't help but chuckle.
"You're right....I'll do that."
I didn't want to trouble Hinako too much... but since I felt a bottomless eeriness from Takuma-san, I might actually rely on her if the previous situation ever occurred in reality.
"We've finished the greetings for now, so shall we eat something while we can?"
"Mm!"
Together with Hinako, who had secretly dropped her act within a range where the people around wouldn't notice, we headed toward the buffet tables. At social gatherings, one sometimes couldn't even manage to eat because of the busy greetings, but tonight seemed fine. Since the participants were mostly people related to the Konohana Group, many of them were already known to Hinako, and she was able to finish the greetings quickly.
Taking a plate, I looked at the arranged dishes. Among them was the momiji-dai poêlé.
"This is the dish Yuri made."
I put the sea bream on a plate together with Hinako and tried it.
"...It's delicious, right?"
"Mm....This is truly delicious."
It wasn't that my tongue was failing me; it received high praise from Hinako as well. Glancing casually around the venue, I saw others eating the same dish. They took a bite casually... then their eyes widened slightly as they focused on the meal.
A good response. Yuri's cooking was being recognized. Moreover, this taste... I knew it because I had helped, but it wasn't the originally decided menu; it was something Yuri had arranged. It seemed it had been adopted after all our trial and error.
"It makes me feel proud just watching."
"...It's a bit embarrassing to be praised so clearly."
While I was gazing deeply at the guests, Yuri's voice spoke from behind.
"Yuri—"
I froze. Yuri was wearing a beautiful dress. It was black and elegant in its simplicity. I felt a mature atmosphere from her that was entirely different from the usual Yuri.
"Yuri, that outfit is..."
"The head chef was being considerate....I said I was fine without it, though."
She said that, but Yuri didn't look entirely displeased. She was bewildered by the unfamiliar attire, but she was clearly happy to be wearing such beautiful clothes....I understood that feeling. Since I became a caretaker, I had been blessed with many opportunities to wear high-quality clothes, and I often felt both tension and joy.
Therefore, I also knew the words that were best to hear at a time like this.
"It suits you."
"U... r-really? I don't have much confidence." Unusually for Yuri, she sounded hesitant. "Well... thanks."
Yuri looked away, her profile dyed red. Hinako also smiled at her.
"It truly suits you."
"Thanks....Hearing it from Konohana-san makes me feel relieved."
Hey. Believe my words too.
"Can I assume your work is over for now?"
"There's still the cleanup. But there's nothing until then, so I was told to go see how the actual customers are doing."
Perhaps she had passed the peak of busyness. Knowing Yuri, she must have intended to work as hard as she could regardless, but the head chef had given her a break under some appropriate pretext.
Once again, we looked at the adults enjoying the food.
"Yuri, you did it."
"Yeah. —How's that for you!" Yuri laughed happily.
Truthfully, I felt like giving her a high-five, but if I made too much of a scene, it might leave a bad impression on Hinako. I had to restrain myself.
"Did you make this dish?" Suddenly, a man nearby spoke to Yuri. It seemed he had overheard our conversation.
"Ah... yes. My name is Hirano."
"And your age?"
"I'm seventeen."
For a moment, the man looked surprised....Well, since Yuri was short, he might have thought she was the daughter of an associate.
"I apologize for the late introduction. This is who I am." The man handed a business card to Yuri. I could only see it slightly, but it suggested he was a restaurant owner. This was a social gathering of the Konohana Group; there was no worry about someone falsifying their identity.
"T-This shop... is the... that three-star one...?"
In front of the astounded Yuri, the man nodded. He seemed to be the owner of a quite famous establishment.
"Hirano-san, would you like to work at my shop? If it's you, you could become a chef in ten years of training. If necessary, you can even study in Europe."
The word "chef" in the culinary world refers to the head of the kitchen, a position that only one person holds in an establishment. Yuri had been in charge of the French dish this time. Since he had found potential in that taste, his restaurant must be French. In that case, it wouldn't be strange for him to have connections in Europe.
Isn't this—a huge deal? Had the road to success as a chef just opened up?
"I am very honored by your offer. Thank you very much." Yuri bowed deeply.
I had fully expected her to be visibly delighted, but Yuri's reaction was calmer than I thought. On the contrary, a touch of anxiety flickered in her eyes.
"However, I have one question....If I accept that offer, would I become exclusive to your restaurant?"
"That is correct. My restaurant is not always recruiting. If you accept, you will be living and working with us starting next month."
The restaurant owner spoke as if it were natural. Although he didn't explicitly say so, it sounded like she might even have to quit school. Yuri had known. This offer wasn't something to be simply happy about. It was an ideal career path, but the sacrifices were too great. Especially for Yuri, it wasn't just school she would be sacrificing.
"Right now, I'm also helping at my family's shop. Is it possible to do that in parallel...?"
The owner answered after thinking for a moment. "That would be difficult. Since we would be hiring you, we wouldn't want to raise you half-heartedly."
I felt a sense of professional pride in the owner's tone. He didn't just want to hire her; he intended to responsibly raise her into a first-class chef. It was a gracious offer... but abandoning her family's shop was a difficult choice for Yuri. Her dream was to make her family's diner into a nationwide chain. Leaving Hiramaru, even for training, would be putting the cart before the horse.
(...What will she do?)
Right now, Yuri was seeing two paths. One was the path of becoming a cook at Hiramaru Diner while training at her family's shop and the Konohana family. The other was becoming a chef at a first-class restaurant.
As I watched Yuri wavering, I remembered my own situation.
Should I support Tennoji-san or Narika? The moment Narika said she aimed for Student Council President, that question had crossed my mind. The answer hadn't come yet.
If it were Yuri... what kind of answer would she give?
Yuri finally spoke. "I'm sorry. ——————That is a bit... impossible!"
Seeing Yuri bow, the man looked shocked. He probably hadn't expected to be rejected so quickly. Of course, Hinako and I were also surprised. But Yuri immediately raised her head and continued.
"Um, please let me negotiate! I really can't leave my family's place..."
"Hmm, even if you say that..."
"Then, won't you come to my shop once!?" To the man's lukewarm reaction, Yuri made a proposal. "Our food is delicious, you know? It's a diner, so the style is different from yours, but I have confidence in the skills....If the reason is that you don't want to raise me half-heartedly, then if my shop's level is high, it shouldn't be a problem, right!?"
"That is..."
That was certainly true.
"I can also guarantee Hirano-san's skills." Hinako added. "I presume this scouting was a judgment based on potential, but it hasn't even been half a year since Hirano-san started training with the Konohana family. In other words, her ability mostly consists of what she has cultivated at her family's shop."
The words of the Konohana heiress resonated with the man.
"I recommend that you visit her shop....I'm sure you won't regret it."
"...I understand. Then Hirano-san, could you give me the address?"
Yuri immediately pulled out a notepad, wrote the address, and handed it to him. After receiving the note, the man promised, "I will definitely go," and left.
He had originally refused to let her hold two jobs, saying he didn't want to raise her half-heartedly... but in truth, it was probably simply due to the restaurant's standards. For a serious establishment, it was natural to prohibit side jobs. It was clear as day which would be easier to prioritize: someone who worked there every day, or someone who worked there only half the week.
Even so, Yuri had sought a third way. She had implicitly conveyed that she would be a sufficient asset even with half the time. She had made that decision in an instant.
"Konohana-san... thanks for the backup."
"No. I only spoke my mind." Hinako smiled gently.
The two laughed together, and after a while, Yuri looked at me.
"...What is it, Itsuki? That face."
"No. I just thought, you were really able to say it so clearly..."
I was probably quite surprised. But Yuri tilted her head slightly.
"I mean, I can't choose what I can't choose." She said it like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
For a moment, I was dumbfounded, but then I couldn't hold back my laughter.
"As I thought, Yuri is the strongest."
That's right. It had been like that from the start. Yuri Hirano had been the strongest ever since I met her. Hadn't she just said it recently? That she prioritized herself. That she was greedy. Yuri possessed a greed that went to any lengths for her goals.
What a refreshing way to live. I felt honestly envious.
"...Yuri, actually, there's something I want to talk to you about. It's already late, but could you make some time for me today?"
"I don't mind, but can't you talk about it now?"
"Yeah. I'd like to talk in private if possible."
The moment I said that—Hinako turned her head toward me with incredible speed and stared at me with bloodshot eyes.
Whoa, scary.
"T-T-Tomonari-kun...? W-What exactly is this... business...?"
"Eh? No, it's a bit difficult to explain..."
Why was she so shaken? While I was perplexed, Yuri chuckled.
"That was a short friendship."
Hinako made a face scarier than I had ever seen.
Eh............ what............? Are they fighting............?
◆
After the social gathering ended, I began cleaning up the venue along with the other servants. Yuri also cleaned up in the kitchen. Hinako, exhausted from her acting, returned to the manor first with Ms. Shizune, and I was scheduled to return later by car.
Having finished the cleanup early, I left the venue first to talk with Yuri. My diligent work had paid off, and the other servants had readily given their consent. After waiting for a while on the second floor of the hotel, Yuri arrived. We decided to talk in the atrium overlooking the first-floor front desk.
"Um, so... what was the consultation...?" Yuri asked fidgetily.
I looked straight at her and spoke. "Actually, I'm in a bit of a bind—"
"Yeah, I knew it. I figured it was something like that," Yuri said with a sigh.
"Um, Yuri...?"
"Just wait a second. I'm messaging Konohana-san to clear up the misunderstanding right now."
While tapping away at her smartphone, Yuri spoke. Misunderstanding? What was she talking about? After a while, she put her phone in her pocket.
"...So, what's the trouble?"
Relieved, I conveyed the situation straightforwardly. "...Recently, a girl confessed to me."
"No way!?" Yuri’s eyes went wide.
"Is it something to be that surprised about?"
"Of course! You might be desensitized, but that person is probably a student at Kikou Academy, right!? Which means you were confessed to by a purebred, genuine Young Lady!? That's a textbook reverse-Cinderella story!!"
Oh, I see... that's how it is. Indeed, thinking about it, it was an incredible thing for me—someone who was a struggling student until a year ago—to be confessed to by a Young Lady of Kikou Academy.
"By the way, you were lying, weren't you?"
"Eh?"
"When we went home in the car together, you said that while more girls were talking to you, nothing like that had happened."
"Ah... at that time, I hadn't made up my mind to consult you, or rather..."
"I knew you were worried about something after that... but I didn't think those two things were connected."
It seemed she had noticed I was troubled, but she hadn't thought it was romance at Kikou Academy.
"Wait... who is it!? Someone I know!?"
"...Sorry. For her sake, please let me keep it a secret."
When I had received a consultation from Narika before, I had asked the same thing, and she’d kept it secret for a similar reason. Now that I was in her position, I understood how she felt. In particular, Yuri knew Narika, and I hesitated to mention the name.
"...Huh? Wait, so about the consultation..."
The excited Yuri gradually regained her composure, but then she looked intensely perplexed.
"Um... I-Itsuki, that confession... are you going to... accept it...?" Yuri asked, her eyes wavering anxiously.
But the answer to that very question was what I wanted to talk about.
"...I'm troubled about that."
What I wanted to consult about wasn't how to accept it or how to reject it, but how I should face this confession in the first place.
"Uuuuuu..."
Yuri turned her back to me and held her head while pacing. Like me, she seemed to be wavering between her own emotions and the responsibilities she should fulfill...
"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaah, geeeeeeeeeez!!" Finally, Yuri let out a loud cry. When she turned back, her eyes were filled with determination. "I'll help you!! Because I'm Itsuki's older sister!!"
"A-Ah... thank you...?"
"First! Tell me why you're worried!" Yuri pointed at me sharply.
However, I couldn't even answer that.
"What, you can't even answer that?" At Yuri's words, I gave a short nod.
Now that it was pointed out, I realized I hadn't organized a single emotion yet. Was I such a pathetic person? To me, as I looked down, Yuri let out a small sigh.
"Did you feel bothered when she confessed?"
"...I didn't feel bothered."
"Then, do you think you would be happy if you went out with her?"
"...I think so."
There was no way I would feel bothered, and I'm sure I could be happy. That's precisely why I was worried.
"Do you... like her?"
To Yuri's question, I thought for a moment. "..................I like her."
For an instant—Yuri made an incredibly sad face.
"But............ I feel it isn't an emotion straightforward enough to match what she’s giving me."
Yuri's eyes widened. On the other hand, for me... there were things I realized only after saying them aloud. Ah... that's right. This was my worry.
"I like her... but I don't have the confidence to love her straightforwardly enough to respond to her feelings."
The worry took shape and spilled from my lips. Yuri listened seriously.
"Not having the confidence to love her straightforwardly... does that mean your eyes will wander to other women?"
"No, it's not like that... it's more like I focus on other things."
It wasn't that my eyes would wander to other girls. But I felt as if my attention would wander to other matters.
"...What is it that you want to prioritize most right now?"
What I wanted to prioritize most right now. That was...
"...Winning the Student Council election. Studying to become a consultant. Becoming someone who can support everyone someday... and standing proudly beside them."
"You have a lot," Yuri said quietly. "...And you're serious about all of them."
She spoke with a voice that held a faint sense of resignation, as if to say, Then it can't be helped.
"Just say that honestly." Yuri spoke with a tone that suggested there was no other way. "I suspect she fell in love with that part of you. So I'm sure she'll understand."
"...Is it okay? With such a vague feeling."
"If it was love at first sight, it might not get through, but if you're popular, it's with people you've been with for a while, right? Then I think it'll reach her."
Well, I didn't remember being loved at first sight... but Yuri might be right. It might be a convenient way of thinking, but I felt that Narika... would understand.
"But well, understanding and forgiving are different things." Yuri looked straight into my eyes. "Your answer means prioritizing your own goals over the other person's feelings. You shouldn't think that everything will be resolved clearly and cleanly with that."
"...You're right."
I might hurt her. I might be hated. I needed to carry that anxiety.
"At least, if I were told that..."
"...If you were told?"
Yuri was briefly at a loss for words. "First, I'd give you a punch."
That's harsh.
"I'd slap you too."
An unexpected follow-up.
"And then, I'd shower you with every insult I could think of..."
It seemed I would also be subjected to a mental attack.
"And then..." Together with a thin breath, Yuri spoke. "And then.................. I'd go home...... and cry............"
Yuri's voice was trembling.
"...I see."
I might make Narika feel that way. I could still turn back now. However............
"...Even so, there are things I want to do right now."
The desire not to hurt the other person could sometimes transcend consideration and become self-satisfaction. Narika was a cool woman. She was a classmate I respected. That was precisely why I didn't want to become her lover out of self-satisfaction.
If I was going to do it—I wanted to date her proudly, with my head held high, without any guilt. I thought that discarding my ambitions for Narika's sake would be an insult to her.
"............Right." Hearing my reply, Yuri gave a quiet nod. "Is that all for the consultation?"
"Yeah....Thank you, Yuri. You helped me."
Yuri wore a smile that as much as said, Oh well. It was proof that she was as happy as if it were her own business that I was moving forward, regardless of the choice.
Looking at the front desk, the servants were walking out of the hotel. The cleanup was over. I had to join them.
"...I'm pathetic." My true feelings spilled out. "Talking with Yuri, I realized....I'm the kind of person who thinks so indecisively."
And because I didn't want others to know that, I was bad at consulting people. Because I wanted to hide my own wretchedness, I didn't want to reveal my worries. I was a person with such a small heart. However, even so—
"No, your indecisiveness isn't something that just started tonight, is it?" Yuri said nonchalantly.
Having expected that reaction, I burst into laughter.
As I thought. Only to Yuri could I talk about anything. To me, Yuri was————someone I could rely on more than anyone else. She was easier to be around than anyone. She was the strongest, invincible, and always supported me... she was that kind of girl.
"I'd be happy if you'd continue to help me."
"I'll help you anytime," Yuri spoke with a reliable smile. "Because I'm Itsuki's older sister."
◇
After the conversation ended, Itsuki joined the servants and returned to the manor. Yuri was scheduled to join the kitchen staff and be sent home, but the cleaning was not yet finished. She thought of going to help immediately, but the head chef had insisted she take a break.
"..................Older sister, huh."
She remembered the words she had just told Itsuki. His consultation was nothing much... just a romantic consultation that could be found anywhere. Truly, nothing much. A story you would experience many times just by living normally...
However... she had never expected to receive it from Itsuki.
(I guess it's impossible now...)
Because I'm your older sister. —Those words, which she had chanted hundreds of times, had now turned into mere bravado. Itsuki probably hadn't noticed yet, but it was only a matter of time before he realized.
Recognizing him as an opponent she couldn't lose to—
Conscious of him as a man she liked—
She couldn't act like an older sister to such a person.
"............Ahhh."
As night transitioned to late night, Yuri gazed at the dim hotel. She remembered what Itsuki had said before.
—Yuri might indeed be greedy... but in the end, she has a kindness that makes her give in.
That might be true. If she were truly greedy for herself, she should have told him, "You should reject that person," during the consultation. But she couldn't. In the end, she could only give the correct advice that drew out Itsuki's true feelings. As a result, Itsuki seemed to be rejecting the confession, but that didn't mean she could feel relieved.
Because she had understood. Unexpectedly—she had come to know.
(............Even if I confessed, it would probably be the same answer.)
She had been surprised when she heard he was confessed to, and when Itsuki said he liked that person, she felt a loneliness as if her heart were being squeezed. In the end, when Itsuki decided not to date that person, she was honestly a little happy. But... at the same time, she realized something.
I'm probably the same. Even if I confessed now.................. Itsuki would return the same answer.
"...Don't cry, me....It's not like I've been rejected or anything..."
Her vision blurred. She shouldn't cry yet. Don't feel as if you've been rejected on your own. Right now... the only one who has the right to cry is the girl who confessed to Itsuki.
"Daaaaaaaaah!!"
She shouted to blow away the fuzziness in her heart. Her voice echoed more than she expected.
(In the end... it means my eye for people was correct, doesn't it?)
She wanted to say just one thing to the girl who confessed to Itsuki. I'm the one who staked my claim to him first—
Well, that wasn't something to be proud of.
—Let's think positively.
How would that girl react after hearing Itsuki's answer? Perhaps she would give up. If so—that would mean one less competitor. If Yuri were in that girl's position, she would punch him, slap him, shower him with insults, and then go home and cry...
Even so, she would never give up. Because Itsuki's answer was, after all, very much like him.
(......I won't give in.)
She wouldn't give in on this. She clearly denied Itsuki's words she had remembered earlier. She would show them. That there were things Yuri Hirano would never give in on—
"—Alright!!"
She slapped both cheeks to pump herself up. She realized that even if the one rejected this time were herself, she wouldn't give up. In that case, there was no reason to be down.
She might have been a little frustrated that someone had confessed before her. And she might have felt a little guilt, as if she had snatched away only the answer, even though she hadn't confessed yet.
(...By the way, it's not Konohana-san or the others, right?)
Hearing it was a student of Kikou Academy, several people came to mind. As far as she remembered their state at the gathering, Yuri thought that at least Hinako didn't seem to have confessed. If so, then was it the golden-drilled ojou-sama, the seemingly cool ojou-sama who was like a samurai... or another student entirely.
(I wonder if Konohana-san knows about this...)
Should she tell her? No... she shouldn't say anything careless. While Hinako was said to be perfect, she had a delicate heart. Knowing about this might throw her off.
We've both fallen in love with a difficult person...
She inadvertently let out a sigh.
"...I can't afford to lose."
The poor, good-natured childhood friend who lived in the neighborhood... had, before she knew it, become a fine young man pursued by various young ladies.
Don't give me that, she thought... But at the same time, she felt a surge of pride.