The hum of the engine was the only sound in the car.
I kept my head bowed, unable to find the words.
I stole a quick look at I-chan’s face; she looked remarkably serene.
"I used to admire him," she murmured.
"Admire?"
"Yamamoto-kun."
"Wait... you admired him?"
"That’s a bit of a mean way to put it," I-chan said with a laugh. "Would you really say that about your own boyfriend?"
"W-we aren’t exactly dating."
"What?" I-chan looked genuinely surprised. "Even though you’re living together?"
"Yeah..."
"...Are you holding back because of Akari?"
"Huh?"
I glanced over and saw I-chan watching me with a piercingly serious gaze.
"It’s not like that."
"...Then why?"
"It’s not for any grand reason." I turned my gaze out the window. "I’m just... a little embarrassed. I can’t even look him in the eye. Confessing is completely out of the question."
I-chan didn't respond immediately.
When I looked back, she was staring at me, her mouth slightly agape.
"What? Are you seriously that cute...?"
"I don't even know what that's supposed to mean."
"You’re actually a huge coward when it comes to this stuff, aren't you, Megu?"
"Ugh... You and Akari are the only ones who say that."
"Well, we’ve known you for a long time."
I wasn't sure if it was just the length of time or something else, but during our High School Days, I-chan and Akari had always truly seen me. Back then, almost every guy who approached me was a total deadbeat. Honestly, hearing her say that made me a little happy.
"S-so, anyway, what was it about him that you admired?"
I was happy, but I didn't think my racing heart could take much more, so I changed the subject.
"I was always in 2nd Place in the Grade on our tests. He was always first. Part of me felt a real sense of rivalry toward him. There were times I worked myself to the bone just to try and beat him, but I never could. At first, my admiration was just that—respect for his intelligence."
"At first...?"
"We were in the same class during our First Year, remember?"
"Right."
"I was the Class Event Manager for the School Festival back then."
"Oh, I think I remember that."
A hazy memory surfaced of I-chan working herself to exhaustion during that time.
"Everyone else—including you, Megu—was so uncooperative. Not that I could really blame anyone. I wasn't particularly motivated either. I only started complaining because I was the one stuck with the responsibility."
"...Yeah."
"But even then, Yamamoto-kun was the one who helped me with my work."
"What?"
During the First Year festival, Yamamoto should have been drowning in his own duties for the Executive Committee. And yet, that man had used his precious spare time to help with the class project as well?
The man had unbelievable drive.
More than that, I was struck by just how badly he must have wanted that School Festival to be a success.
"I was so happy that he helped me with the tasks no one else would touch. He’d listen to my problems and give me perfect instructions. It saved me. I think that’s when my feelings started shifting into something more romantic."
I remained silent.
"...But honestly, he’s impossible. Yamamoto-kun is just way too fussy."
"Tell me about it."
I had seen his obsessive, perfectionist side plenty of times. I couldn't help but agree.
"I’m a pretty laid-back person, right? I realized I wouldn't be able to stand having someone as nitpicky as a mother-in-law by my side all the time. That’s why I decided to turn those romantic feelings back into simple admiration."
I-chan gave a small, wry smile.
So that was the story.
It made sense. Yamamoto’s personality was incredibly meticulous, and I could easily see how that would be a burden for some. If I-chan had recognized that they were incompatible, it was a sensible choice.
"By the way, what’s your husband like?"
"He’s a Venture Company President, five years older than me."
"Wow. How did you meet?"
"My parents set it up, mostly. It’s not like I was in a rush to get married, but... well, one thing led to another."
I-chan meaningfully rubbed her stomach.
"Congratulations."
"Ahaha. Thanks."
"...No regrets?"
"None. Not a single one."
"...I see."
I-chan was definitely easygoing, but she wasn't the type to lie. If she said this, then it had to be the truth.
I-chan had no lingering doubts about her marriage. And her past feelings for Yamamoto had long since been resolved.
Or so I thought.
I recalled a conversation I'd had with Yamamoto recently. I remembered a night when I’d been consumed by jealousy.
"...Hey, I-chan?"
"Yeah?"
"You told Yamamoto that you wanted to study together with him until the second semester of our third year, right?"
If what she just said was true, she should have given up on him in their first year. But I-chan had kept approaching him after every single test, right up until the Third Year Second Semester.
Was I-chan...
I didn't think she was that kind of person. And yet...
"...Sorry. I lied about that part."
"Why? I-chan, you’ve never been much of a liar..."
"...I didn't have a choice. I couldn't try to take away my best friend's boyfriend."
I-chan looked in the rearview mirror at Akari, who was fast asleep in the Rear Seat.
...Right.
Akari and Yamamoto had dated for three months starting right After the School Festival. It was the exact same time that I-chan had stopped chasing him.
"Hey, I-chan?"
"Hmm?"
"Why did you invite Yamamoto to the Wedding Ceremony this time?"
I heard I-chan catch her breath.