Now then, Sakura and I had officially become boyfriend and girlfriend, but...
What on earth was I supposed to do?
Having accepted her confession, even if only for a limited period of one week, I needed to act the part of a boyfriend.
Even if, deep down, I didn't harbor romantic feelings for her.
That was the absolute condition for her returning to high school.
However, if asked what that actually entailed, I had no idea what the right answer was.
Did holding hands and going on dates make someone a girlfriend?
If we told each other we liked one another, even as a lie, did that count as dating?
This was... a difficult conundrum.
To put it in perspective, it was like asking where friendship begins.
That line differed from person to person; in the end, it was purely a matter of personal feeling.
In my case, since I didn't particularly love Sakura, all I could do was at least behave like a boyfriend... but there were no couples nearby to use as reference.
Wait, didn't I have the perfect models right here?
Then I would use them as an example for how to conduct myself this week.
I called out to her as she stood dazed and flushed in the back room.
"Sakura."
"Hm-mm?"
"Do you have any favorite foods?"
"Where's this coming from all of a sudden?"
"Knowing your partner's preferences is only natural for a boyfriend."
"...!"
For some reason, Sakura blushed and took a step back, catching her foot on a cardboard box and nearly taking a spill.
"Whoa?!"
She almost crashed to the floor, but I managed to catch her by the back in the nick of time.
I looked down at her from point-blank range.
"Are you hurt?"
"...!!!"
Scrambling quickly to her feet, Sakura fidgeted bashfully.
"Y-Yeah, totally fiiiine~~"
"I see. That's good then. There are a lot of things I'd like to ask, but we're on the clock right now, so let's save it for later. Right, it would help if you could message me your hobbies and preferences. I won't be able to memorize everything all at once anyway."
I'd compile and manage them in a spreadsheet later.
"Come to think of it, we haven't exchanged contact info yet. Do you have your smartphone on you?"
"..."
"Why are you freezing up?"
"No... it's just, you're being so forward, Subaru, it caught me off guard."
"If you don't like it, I can stop."
"N-No! Please, by all means, keep it up just like this!"
"Leave it to me."
Alright, for now, I had Sakura's contact information.
This should be enough to start with.
Returning to the lobby, Sakura dashed behind the front desk and vigorously fanned her face with a round paper fan.
Then, she chugged down a glass of barley tea in one gulp.
As for me, the moment I stepped out, I was cornered by Murata-senpai.
"Subaru-kun, let's exchange contact info! Also, if you'd like, how about we grab dinner together tonight? I'm a local, so I know some great spots."
"I appreciate the offer, but I have a girlfriend, so I must decline."
Pfft! Sakura spat out a spray of barley tea.
As Shizuka-chan chimed in with a disgusted, "Big sis, that's gross," Sakura started coughing and sputtering, her eyes wide as saucers.
What is she doing?
"H-Huh? Um, when I asked earlier, you said you weren't seeing anyone..."
"That was true. But just a moment ago, Sakura confessed to me, and we started dating."
"No waaaay?!"
Murata-senpai dropped her smartphone in sheer shock.
A sickening clack echoed against the floor.
Picking up the device timidly... yikes, the screen was completely shattered.
"Murata-senpai, here."
"..."
Accepting it in stunned silence, she swayed from side to side as she trudged over to Toshiie-san.
"M-Manager... sniff, can I request off for my entire next shift?"
"O-Oh, yeah. Well, take it easy and get some rest. You can clock out for today."
"...Okay."
With that, Murata-senpai slouched her shoulders and disappeared into the back room.
We still haven't exchanged contact info, though.
◇
It was June.
It was still a stretch to call it summer, but standing in the evening sea breeze along the coast, the arrival of the season was unmistakable.
Having wrapped up our first day of business, I was cleaning up together with Sakura.
I washed the snorkels used by customers and checked the gear for any damage while I was at it.
Sakura had been acting strangely all day, but before long, she had bounced back to her usual self.
Right now, she was cheerfully working while humming a tune.
"Hmm-hmm-hmm~♪"
What a simple creature.
She fell into despair quickly, but her recovery speed was equally astounding.
Well, I suppose that was just like her.
"Whoa, you're super pretty!"
While taking in the wetsuits hung out to dry in front of Blue Note, a passing man called out to Sakura.
"Hey there! If you're free, wanna hang out after work?"
It was a deeply tanned man carrying a surfboard under his arm.
A surfer, perhaps? With a very practiced demeanor, he casually raised a hand in greeting.
"Ah, sorry. I have a darling!"
With zero hesitation, Sakura shot him down, making the surfer choke on his words.
"Come on, what's wrong with just grabbing a bite?"
"Ehehe, I'm crazy in love with my darling, so no can do!"
Saying that, Sakura shot me a wink...
She was practically floating on air.
It was hard to believe she was the same person who had been moping yesterday, prepared to repeat a whole school year.
Watching the surfer retreat dejectedly, our shift finally came to an end.
With some free time before dinner, Sakura invited me down to the beach.
During her off-hours, it seemed she liked to go windsurfing.
"Impressive. Can you do it on your own?"
"Ehehe, I can only handle a beginner's board for now, though. Actually, the reason I chose this place for my trip was that I wanted to try this."
"Like catching the wind to heal your broken heart?"
"Yeah, exactly! You really get it, Subaru!"
Sakura beamed and leaned in close to peer into my face.
"Though, there's no need for that anymore. Right now, I'm super happy."
"Even if it's a relationship with an expiration date?"
"Yep! I can worry about that stuff later. After all, it'd be a waste not to enjoy this moment to the absolute fullest!"
Against the backdrop of an ocean dyed in evening orange, her blonde hair caught the light and shimmered radiantly.
"Ah, I found a pretty seashell!"
Sakura proudly held up a white conch shell.
"Hey, Subaru, you're not joining in, right?"
"Yeah, I'll just read here."
"Then, catch!"
Catching the shell she tossed my way, I sat down on the sand.
Floating her board with its folding sail in the shallows, she paused and looked back over her shoulder.
"...Oh, right, I forgot to mention. When you turned down Murata-chan's invitation, it made me really happy."
"I am your boyfriend, after all."
"Ehehe, but it's trouble if you make me fall for you even harder."
"Isn't that up to you?"
"Well, I guess so. That's why I plan to do my best not to fall too hard for you. I definitely won't lose to you, Subaru. Or to that dog!"
Well, whatever.
Considering the future, there were bound to be plenty of complications, but for now, I was glad to see Sakura back in high spirits.
As she hopped deftly onto the board, I called out to her.
"I forgot to mention something too."
"What?"
"When I told Toshiie-san that we were dating, he gave us half a day off to celebrate. Tomorrow afternoon, we're going on a date."
"WHAAAAT?!"
Sakura plunged headfirst into the sea with a heavy splash, then popped her flushed face back above the surface.
"S-Subaru..."
"Leave it to me. I'm putting together the ultimate date plan."
Guaranteed maximum satisfaction, no matter who the audience was.
Blowing bubbles through the seawater, Sakura mumbled something under her breath.
"Glub-blub-blub... I don't think I can beat Subaru after all..."