Episode 54 – Like a married couple? No way!

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The School’s Top Idol Is Acting Like She’s My Childhood Friend for Some Reason and Just Keeps Closing the Distance on Her Own…?! ~Stop Getting All Gloomy on Me Just Because I Turned You Down!~

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Fifteen days left until the cultural festival.

The day of the photo shoot for the school promotional posters had arrived.

In the classroom after school, the students on the hospitality team were doing a final check of their costumes, while the decoration team was carrying the finished signs and props out into the hallway.

And there I was, standing in front of the blackboard still wearing my boys’ apron, while Rino inspected my appearance.

“Seita, don’t move.”

“That’s enough, isn’t it?”

“Your collar’s a little crooked.”

“I just fixed it, didn’t I?”

“You touched it afterward, so it went back.”

Rino’s fingertips carefully smoothed out the collar of my uniform.

Her face was close.

It was close, but lately, I haven’t been flustered by this kind of thing anymore.

No, that’s a lie.

My heart is still pounding like crazy.

It’s just that, on the surface, I’ve become able to handle it. You could also say that my teenage insecurities, worn down by days of relentless strain, are losing even the strength to scream.

“Next, your hair.”

“Do we really need to go that far?”

“Yes, we do.”

Rino reached for my bangs and began shaping them with her fingertips.

Perhaps because she’s had to help people get ready for work so many times, her movements were practiced.

“Seita, look down a little.”

“Like this?”

“Yeah.”

When I obediently followed her instructions, Rino’s face came even closer.

I could see every single one of her eyelashes.

I remembered the words she’d asked me in the hallway yesterday.

[Are you starting to like me?]

And I’d answered.

[I am.]

The moment I thought back on it, a wave of heat rose from deep within my body.

I looked away.

“Seita.”

“What?”

“Your face is red.”

“It’s hot in the classroom.”

“The window’s open.”

“My apron’s thick.”

“But it only covers from the waist down.”

Rino laughed cheerfully.

Don’t cut off my escape routes one by one.

“Is it because we’re standing so close?”

“If you’re aware of it, move away.”

“No way.”

Her answer was immediate.

“I want to see Seita up close today.”

“We’re going to be in a photo soon, aren’t we?”

“Photos aren’t the same as the real thing.”

Even after she finished fixing my hair, Rino didn’t move away right away.

She placed her hand on my cheek and looked closely at my face from the front.

“Yeah. You look cool.”

“Don’t say that.”

“It’s true.”

“That makes me even more nervous.”

“Then just look at me.”

“Even though we’re taking a photo?”

“Just until right before the shot.”

She’d said those words to me before.

When I was afraid of being in a group photo, Rino told me to just look at her.

It’s the same today.

A poster that every student in the school will see.

Me standing next to Rino.

Just imagining it makes my heart flutter.

But I didn’t think about running away.

“Okay.”

“Really?”

“If I just look at you, Rino, I’ll be a little more at ease.”

When I answered, Rino’s hand paused on my cheek.

“Seita.”

“What?”

“When the shoot’s over, can I give you a hug?”

“Why would that happen?”

“Because what you just said made me happy.”

“That has nothing to do with the cultural festival shoot, does it?”

“It’s a reward.”

“For who?”

“For me.”

“Don’t give yourself a reward.”

Rino puffed out her cheeks in displeasure, but finally stepped away from me.

“Once it’s over, if we can be alone together…”

She added quietly.

I didn’t answer and just checked the strings of her apron.

But I didn’t refuse either.

Rino seemed satisfied with that alone and happily reached for her own apron.

“Rino, the string in the back is twisted.”

“Huh?”

“Don’t move.”

I moved behind Rino and untied the knot on her apron.

Until yesterday, that was something Rino used to do for me.

I straightened out the twist in the strings and tied them again behind her waist.

Her slender waist.

The sweet scent wafting from her hair.

The moment I became aware of it, my fingers almost stopped moving.

“Seita.”

“Don’t move.”

“Seita’s tying my apron for me.”

“You can see that, can’t you?”

“I want to take a picture.”

“How am I supposed to take a picture like this?”

“I’ll ask Hara-san.”

“Don’t ask he.”

But it was already too late.

“Did you call me?”

Hara, who had been checking props a short distance away, was grinning as she held her smartphone.

“I didn’t call you.”

“That was a great shot just now. Takahara-kun tying Rino’s apron.”

“Don’t take pictures.”

“I already did.”

“Delete it.”

“I’ll send it to Rino.”

“Thanks.”

“Don’t let Rino thank either!”

Even Shinozaki glanced over at us and muttered in a sleepy voice.

“It’s like getting ready for a wedding, isn’t it?”

“It’s the school festival.”

“You’re getting quicker with your comebacks.”

Laughter rises from the crowd around us.

Even as I felt my face grow hot, I didn’t give up halfway through and finished tying Rino’s apron.

“That’s good.”

I gave the knot a light tug to check it.

Rino turned around.

“Thanks, Seita.”

“You’re welcome.”

As I replied naturally, Rino reached around her back and touched the knot I’d tied.

“I’m definitely not untying this today.”

“Won’t that be a hassle when you change?”

“I’m going to wear it all the way home.”

“You’re planning to go home wearing an apron over your uniform?”

“Because you tied it for me, Seita.”

“I’ll tie it for you again tomorrow.”

The moment the words left my mouth, Rino froze.

It took me a moment to realize what I’d just said.

[I’ll tie it for you again.]

It sounded as if it were a given that I’d be by Rino’s side time and time again from now on.

“Seita.”

“…What?”

“Tomorrow, too?”

“You’ll be wearing it on the day of the cultural festival, right?”

“Will you tie it for me then, too?”

“If you can’t do it yourself.”

“I can’t.”

“Don’t answer so quickly.”

I know I can do it.

But Rino was happily pressing her hand against my back.

Seeing her face, I lost the will to correct myself.

　※　※　※

The photo shoot took place in the wide hallway near the entrance.

To introduce each class’s performance, the executive committee members were being photographed one by one.

Haunted house costumes.

Festival happi coats.

Flashy dresses for the play.

Amidst all that, we stood side by side, wearing matching aprons and holding the finished sign and menu.

The senior in charge of photography adjusted the camera’s position.

“Hoshimiya-san, move a little more toward the center. Takahara-kun, move over next to her too.”

I took a step closer as instructed.

Our shoulders touched.

Rino’s fingertips brushed against my hand from behind the sign.

“Seita.”

“What?”

“Are you nervous?”

“Pretty nervous.”

“Look at me.”

I looked at Rino.

She wasn’t giving the camera her perfect smile; instead, she was smiling at me with a gentle expression she reserved just for me.

“Seita, you look cool today, too.”

“Don’t say that right before the shot.”

“I’m glad you’re standing next to me.”

“Rino.”

“I like you.”

“Stop it right now.”

I couldn’t help but laugh.

At that moment, the shutter clicked.

“That was a good one!”

The senior in charge of photography called out.

Damn it.

I’d laughed while still looking at Rino instead of the camera.

“One more shot—this time, please both face the camera.”

“Okay.”

As Rino replied, she hooked her little finger around mine from behind the sign.

No one could see it.

It was a connection just between us.

This time, we looked straight ahead.

But thanks to the warmth coming from beside me, I wasn’t as scared as I had been before.

“I’m taking the picture. Three, two, one.”

The shutter clicked.

After taking a few shots, the senior checked the screen.

“The atmosphere is really nice. You both look natural—I think I’ll use this photo.”

The screen showed Rino and me standing side by side, both wearing the same apron.

Rino was smiling beautifully.

I looked more natural than I’d expected, too.

Our shoulders were touching, and our bodies were leaning slightly toward each other.

If the words “Café Yūgure” were added below the photo, it would make a great advertisement for the shop.

However, it also looked like it was promoting our relationship more than the event itself.

“Seita, I want this photo.”

“You’ll get the digital file later, right?”

“I want one just of the two of us.”

“Isn’t that the one we just took?”

“One that we won’t show anyone.”

“What’s the difference?”

Rino tugged on my sleeve.

“A closer shot.”

“We’re in the middle of a poster shoot.”

“After we’re done.”

The senior in charge of photography heard our conversation and laughed.

“If you’d like, should I take one with phone?”

“Please do.”

“Don’t ask him to do that.”

But Rino had already held out her phone.

We set the sign down on the floor and repositioned ourselves.

“Takahara-kun, could you move a little closer to Hoshimiya-san?”

The senior told me.

When I moved my body slightly closer, Rino wrapped her arms around me as if to fill the gap.

“Rino.”

“He told me to get closer.”

“There’s a limit, isn’t there?”

“Do you mind?”

“…I don’t mind.”

Rino pressed her cheek against my shoulder.

Still wrapping both her arms around mine.

“I’m taking the picture.”

The camera was pointed at us.

I tried to look straight ahead.

Just before I did, Rino whispered in my ear.

“Seita, I love you.”

“You—”

The moment I turned around, the photo was taken.

The screen showed me facing Rino, and Rino smiling, looking only at me.

We were close enough that our noses almost touched.

We were pressed close together, and Rino hadn’t let go of my arm.

The senior who took the photo fell silent for a moment.

“…This looks more natural than the poster.”

“Should we use this one?”

Rino asked happily.

“Don’t use it.”

“But it seems like it would be good for publicity.”

“Publicity for what?”

The upperclassman handed the phone back to Rino while stifling a laugh.

“Let’s keep this one just for the two of you.”

“Thank you.”

Rino stared at the photo she’d received and immediately saved it as if it were a treasure.

“I’m sending it to Seita, too.”

“I don’t need it.”

“I sent it.”

My phone vibrated.

I had no say in the matter.

When I opened the screen, a photo of us gazing into each other’s eyes at close range appeared.

I didn’t even think about deleting it.

On the contrary, I saved it on reflex.

“Did you save it?”

“……Just in case.”

“Just in case of what?”

“In case Rino loses it.”

“So we both have the same photo.”

Rino looked genuinely happy.

Seeing her face, the corners of my mouth turned up just a little.

We had just finished taking the photo and were about to head back to the classroom.

A few female students were walking down the hallway toward us.

One of them spotted Rino and called out.

“It’s Hoshimiya-san!”

In the blink of an eye, all eyes were on us.

“Were you taking photos for the cultural festival?”

“Who’s that guy next to you?”

“Is he on the organizing committee with you?”

It was harmless curiosity.

Even so, my body stiffened reflexively.

People were looking at me standing next to Rino.

We didn’t belong together.

Why her?

Even though no one had said anything yet, a voice formed on its own in my head.

I started to take half a step away from Rino.

At that moment, Rino took my hand.

Without hiding it.

Right in the middle of the hallway.

“Seita.”

She didn’t pull me hard.

She was just holding my hand, as if to confirm I was there.

The female students’ gazes turned toward our clasped hands.

A murmur spread through the crowd.

“Rino, people are watching.”

“Yeah.”

“Are you sure this is okay?”

“What about you, Seita?”

Rino asked back.

I looked around.

I was scared.

I still don’t like being the center of attention.

Part of me wanted to run away.

But I didn’t want to let go of her hand.

“……I’m a little scared.”

“Then, should we hide?”

“No.”

I squeezed Rino’s hand back.

“Let’s keep going like this all the way to the classroom.”

Rino’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Are you sure?”

“As long as you’re right here beside me.”

This time, I took a step closer on my own.

We returned to a distance where our shoulders touched.

I tried my best not to look at the expressions on the faces around us.

Instead, I looked at Rino.

She was smiling so happily she looked like she was about to cry.

“Seita.”

“What?”

“I want to hug you right now.”

“We’re in the hallway, so hold off.”

“What about when we get to the classroom?”

“Everyone’ll be there.”

“I’ll find a place where it’s just the two of us.”

“Put that determination toward preparing for the cultural festival instead.”

We started walking, still holding hands.

I could hear a faint murmur behind us.

My fear hadn’t gone away.

Still, my feet didn’t stop.

The old me would have pulled away from Rino the moment I felt someone’s gaze.

I would have made excuses about not wanting to cause her trouble, but really, it was to protect myself from getting hurt.

Today is different.

Rino wants to be by my side.

And I want to walk beside her, too.

So even if I was a little scared, I didn’t want to let go.

“Seita.”

“What?”

“I want to walk holding hands on the day of the cultural festival, too.”

“There’ll be too many people.”

“We did it today.”

“There aren’t that many people today, are there?”

“Then, just for a little bit.”

“……If it’s during a break.”

“Promise?”

“I promise.”

Rino’s fingers intertwined deeply with mine.

Fifteen days until the cultural festival.

The promotional poster will feature me smiling next to Rino.

And on our phones, there’s a photo that’s much closer than that—one we don’t plan on showing anyone.

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Maigetsu

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