Episode 56 – Until a Name Is Given to a Nameless Relationship

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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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Nine days left until the cultural festival.

On this day, our class was scheduled to hold a mock operation to simulate the actual event.

The desks in the classroom were pushed against the walls, and in their place, several two-seater tables were set up. Orange-tinted paper was pasted over the windows, and warm-colored shades were fitted over the light fixtures.

In front of the blackboard hung the sign for “Café Twilight,” which we had all worked together to complete.

If you walked into the classroom without knowing any better, you might think it was a real, small coffee shop.

“Takahara, are you ready to handle the cash?”

“We can’t use the coins for change until the actual event, so we’ll use paper money today. I’ve also checked the receipt numbers and the order sheet.”

“That’s what I expect from an executive committee member.”

“It’s because the seating chart Rino made was so easy to follow.”

As I replied to the boys on the customer service team, Rino, who was standing a little ways away, reacted.

Wearing her white frilled apron, she looked over at me happily.

“Seita, did you just compliment me?”

“I was just stating a fact.”

“Say it again.”

“Get back to work.”

“Getting a compliment from Seita is an important part of my job.”

“There’s no such job description.”

Rino laughed cheerfully as she began arranging glasses on a tray.

In today’s mock operation, our classmates—other than those in the customer service and kitchen teams—were playing the role of customers.

Just like in a real situation, we took orders, carried dishes, and passed the receipts to the cashier. Since we couldn’t use real food or drinks, the glasses were empty, and the plates held paper pancakes and pastries.

I was basically in charge of the cash register.

However, I was supposed to help with customer service when things got busy.

“All right, let’s start the mock operation!”

At Hara’s signal, the classroom door opened.

Our classmates playing the role of customers filed in.

Rino stood at the entrance, bowed, and smiled gently.

“Welcome. Welcome to Café Yūgure.”

Cheers erupted from inside the classroom.

No wonder.

Here was a top-ranking active idol, serving customers in her school uniform and an apron. It was easy to imagine that even during the actual cultural festival, huge crowds would flock here just to see this sight.

“Hoshimiya-san, you’re in charge of this table!”

“Can I take a picture?”

“You’ll be here for the actual festival, right?”

Male “customers” gathered around Rino.

They were all students from her own class.

It was just a customer service drill.

Rino was responding with a smile, without letting it bother her too much.

And yet.

Deep inside mc hest, I felt a strange flutter.

Rino smiled at another boy.

She’s called by name.

They’re chatting happily.

At work, I sometime stands next to even more men. During photo shoots, she might link arms with them or play the role of a girlfriend.

I understand that’s just part of the job.

Even though I understand that, right now I couldn’t bear to watch it happen right in front of me.

“Seita.”

Rino called out to me from in front of the cash register.

I looked up.

“Here’s the receipt for Table 2.”

“Just put it there.”

“…Okay.”

My reply must have sounded colder than I intended.

Rino’s smile faltered slightly.

“Seita, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

“You don’t look like nothing’s wrong.”

“You’re in the middle of a rehearsal, aren’t you?”

“But—”

“Get back to work. The customers are waiting.”

Another cold remark slipped out.

Rino looked down for just a moment.

Then, she put her professional smile back on and returned to her seat.

I went too far.

I know that.

Rino didn’t do anything wrong.

I just didn’t know how to deal with the feeling that had welled up inside me.

Jealousy.

I guess that’s what it is.

I hated seeing Rino smile at other guys.

For just a moment, I thought I wanted her to save that smile for me alone.

It’s selfish.

Even though I couldn’t even give our relationship a name, let alone say outright that I liked her, I wanted to have a monopoly on the smiles she directed at anyone else.

I didn’t think I had any right to do that.

So I acted cold toward her.

Not because of Rino, but to escape my own feelings.

The moment the mock sales presentation ended, I handed the ledger to Hara and left the classroom.

“I’m going to check on some supplies.”

Without waiting for a reply, I walked down the hallway.

I headed for an empty classroom where materials for the cultural festival were stored.

Pretending to check the contents of the cardboard boxes, I found myself alone.

I’m an idiot.

I have to apologize to Rino.

Even though I knew that, I couldn’t bring myself to go back right away.

It’s always been like that.

I’m not good at expressing my feelings.

When I get hurt or feel anxious, I put distance between us first.

Because if I reject the other person, I can end things before I get rejected myself.

But I didn’t want to do the same thing again.

“Seita.”

I heard a voice from behind me.

I turned around.

Rino was standing in front of the door.

She was still wearing her apron and looked a little out of breath.

“How was practice?”

“It’s over.”

“What about cleaning up?”

“I left it to Hara and the others.”

“You should go back, shouldn’t you?”

“Nothing’s more important than you, Seita.”

Rino closed the door and walked up to me.

Anxiety flickered in the depths of her eyes.

“Did I do something?”

“No, you didn’t.”

“Then why were you being so cold?”

“……I’m sorry.”

“I don’t want you to apologize.”

Rino’s finger tugged at the hem of my uniform.

“I want to know why. I’m scared of Seita leaving me without me understanding why.”

I hadn’t meant to push her away.

But from Rino’s perspective, that’s probably how my actions looked.

I’ll tell her if I get scared.

I’ll talk to her before I run away.

Even though I’d made the decision myself, I was about to do the same thing all over again.

“…I got jealous.”

I managed to squeeze the words out.

Rino’s eyes widened.

“Seeing you surrounded by guys and laughing made me feel bad. But it’s part of your job, so there’s nothing I can do about it, and you didn’t do anything wrong. Even so, I got upset for no reason and acted cold toward you.”

“Seita”

“We’re not even a couple yet.”

The moment those words left my mouth, Rino’s expression froze.

I knew I’d messed up.

But it was too late.

“Not a couple?”

Rino’s voice was trembling.

“Even though you called my name, held my hand, hugged me, and kissed me on the forehead?”

“That’s not what I meant.”

“Did you think I was the only one who mattered?”

“No.”

“To you, Seita, am I still nothing?”

The light faded from Rino’s eyes.

I instinctively grabbed her hand.

This time, I couldn’t let her slip away.

“I said no.”

I pulled her toward me.

Rino’s body brushed against my chest.

“I just meant that our relationship doesn’t have a name. I’ve never once thought of you as nothing, Rino.”

“Then what am I?”

“Someone important to me.”

“Is that all?”

“The closest person to me.”

“Anything else?”

Rino grabbed my chest and looked up at me, as if to keep me from getting away.

Her eyes were searching for an answer.

I, too, could no longer keep running away with vague words.

“I didn’t want you to smile at other guys when I wasn’t around.”

With every word I spoke, a ugly part of myself was laid bare.

“I hated seeing the expression you gave me directed at other people. I wanted to believe you were mine alone.”

Rino’s eyes wavered wildly.

“That’s selfish of me. Rino’s an idol—it’s part of her job to smile at everyone.”

“Seita.”

“Besides, I haven’t even properly told you I like you yet. And yet, I’m just being jealous—”

“I’m happy.”

She cut me off.

Rino was smiling with a face that looked like she was about to cry.

“I’m so happy.”

“Why?”

“Because you want to have me all to yourself.”

“It’s not something so beautiful.”

“I’m not beautiful either.”

Rino pressed her face against my chest.

“The truth is, I hate it even when you’re just talking to Hara-san or Shinozaki-san. I hate that there are moments in your life I don’t know about. I hate that the person you used to love is still inside you—I hate it all.”

Her arms wrap around my back.

“But I’m holding back because I don’t want to make Seita feel uncomfortable.”

“There are times when it doesn’t look like you’re holding back, though.”

“I really am.”

“Your standards are scary.”

“That’s why we’re on the same page.”

Rino pressed her cheek against my chest.

“Seita wants to have me all to himself. I want to have Seita all to myself, too.”

“Saying that out loud is way too dangerous, don’t you think?”

“But it makes me happy.”

After hesitating for a moment, I wrapped my arms around Rino’s back.

I held her close.

The tension slowly drained from her body.

“I’m sorry about earlier.”

“Are you going to be cold to me again?”

“I’ll try not to.”

“Promise?”

“If I start to get scared, I’ll tell you first.”

“What if I get jealous?”

“…I’ll tell you that, too.”

“Then I’ll tell you, too.”

“You already say way too much, Rino.”

“I’ll say even more.”

“Don’t make it worse.”

Rino laughed softly against my chest.

After we hugged for a while, she lifted her face.

“Seita.”

“What?”

“The smile I show other people is different from the one I show you, Seita.”

“Is that so?”

“Yeah. My work smile is for everyone who sees me. But when I smile at you, Seita, it’s because I want you to fall for me.”

My heart pounded.

“I’m happy when Seita looks at me. I’m even happier when you call my name. And if you touch me, I’m happy for the rest of the day.”

“That’s a lot to handle.”

“Only for you, Seita.”

Rino took my hand and guided it to her cheek.

It felt soft.

She rested her face against my hand, looking as if she felt safe.

“I only show this face to Seita.”

“What kind of face?”

“The face of a girl who can’t help but love Seita.”

I couldn’t stand it and started to look away.

But Rino’s hand touched my cheek and turned my face back toward her.

“Don’t run away.”

“You’re too close.”

“Do you mind?”

“I don’t mind.”

“Then look at me.”

An empty classroom.

Piles of cardboard boxes.

Far off in the hallway, I could hear the voices of my classmates cleaning up.

It was as if Rino and I were the only ones there, cut off from the hustle and bustle of the cultural festival, facing each other.

“Seita.”

“What?”

“Can I thank you for being jealous?”

“That’s not the kind of feeling you thank someone for, is it?”

“But for me, it was a reward.”

Rino stood on tiptoe a little.

Our faces drew closer.

For a split second, I thought our lips were going to touch.

My body froze.

Rino’s lips gently brushed against my cheek.

Just for an instant.

Leaving a soft sensation behind, she pulled away immediately.

I couldn’t move.

“…Rino?”

“It’s payback for when you kissed my forehead.”

“I didn’t say anything about my cheek.”

“Did you mind?”

“Well…”

I didn’t mind.

If anything, only the spot she touched felt hot.

Rino watched my reaction, her cheeks flushing with anxiety.

She was waiting to see if I’d reject her.

“I don’t mind.”

When I answered, Rino’s eyes lit up.

“Can I do it one more time?”

“Don’t get carried away.”

“Then, starting with Seita.”

“No way.”

“That was a quick answer.”

“Not today, anyway.”

After I said that, Rino froze.

I, too, realized I’d added an unnecessary comment.

“Today?”

“It just came out that way.”

“Will you do it tomorrow?”

“Don’t make a reservation.”

“What about the day of the cultural festival?”

“That’s why—”

“I’ll be looking forward to it.”

Rino laughed happily and hugged me close to her chest once more.

Aware of the lingering sensation on my cheek, I hugged her back.

Nine days left until the cultural festival.

During the mock sales event, we had a slight misunderstanding, and for the first time, we put our jealousy into words.

And I realized that even when Rino smiled at someone else, the way she looked at me was different.

Along with the faint warmth left on my cheek.

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Maigetsu

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