Vol. 2 Chapter 100 – To Do It or Not (1)

I slowly closed the door to avoid making loud sounds.

While listening to the karaoke sounds echoing from downstairs beyond the hallway, I reflected on what had just happened in this room.

I probably had the right to be angry with her or look down on her.

The reason I didn’t exercise that right was because I felt some empathy for her.

Regardless of malicious intent, light that’s too strong sometimes burns the bodies and hearts of those nearby.

The admiration for Asahi Hikaru… which turns into jealousy and inferiority complex would be especially strong for someone of the same gender.

Of course, that didn’t make what she tried to do right.

If something had happened that could harm Hikaru, I wouldn’t have forgiven her either.

But since no one was harmed, this was probably for the best.

She wasn’t completely freed from her obsession… but she should have at least realized her mistake.

I let out a breath filled with various emotions and started walking down the hallway.

For now, let’s return to everyone.

The excitement and tension about spending time alone with Hikaru and what we might or might not do had completely dissipated.

As I walked down the hallway, practicing in my head how to act like nothing happened while turning the corner—

“Wah! You scared me… wait, Reiya-kun?” (Hikaru)

“H-Hikaru…!?” (Reiya)

I ran into Hikaru coming from the opposite direction at the same timing.

“What are you doing? On the second floor?” (Hikaru)

“Eh? N-no… I was just taking a walk… wondering if this building has the same structure as the other one… Ah, of course I didn’t go into any rooms…” (Reiya)

While thinking my lies were pathetically poor, I spun makeshift words.

“Hmm… is that so?” (Hikaru)

“S-so why is Hikaru on the second floor?” (Reiya)

Since I was obviously being suspected, I turned the conversation back to her.

“Me? Kyo called me up here… she said she had something to talk about and to wait in the back room.” (Hikaru)

Hikaru said that while looking past my shoulder toward the back room.

I see…

If I hadn’t been able to refuse, apparently tremendous hell was waiting.

Even though that would have been impossible, imagining it made my skin crawl.

“Ah, about that… I have a message from Sakuramiya-san…” (Reiya)

“A message?” (Hikaru)

“Sakuramiya-san seems to be feeling a bit unwell after all…” (Reiya)

“Eh? Really?” (Hikaru)

“Y-yeah… so she’s going to rest a bit and said to handle the business later… she asked me to tell Hikaru when I bumped into her earlier… something like that…?” (Reiya)

Despite being clumsy, I somehow made up an appropriate lie to cover things up.

“Eh~ is that so? I wonder if she’s okay…?” (Hikaru)

Without any suspicion, Hikaru spoke with genuine concern.

Her feet moved slightly toward the back room.

From Hikaru’s position, wanting to check on a friend who wasn’t feeling well was natural, but—

“S-she said she wants to be alone right now, so it might be better not to go…” (Reiya)

I piled on more lies to stop her movement.

While I felt bad about deceiving her, having the two of them meet right now wouldn’t be good for either of them.

“But if she’s not feeling well, shouldn’t someone stay with her?” (Hikaru)

“T-that’s…” (Reiya)

I was momentarily at a loss for words at such kind and reasonable concern.

“S-she seemed physically okay… maybe it’s accumulated mental fatigue? You know, the pressure of having to entertain everyone as the organizer…” (Reiya)

I somehow managed to complete the lie.

Hikaru stared into my eyes for several seconds, then—

“Ah… I see. That makes sense. Then I’ll just send a PINE message later with my thanks.” (Hikaru)

Whether she believed my lie or sensed something, she gave up on going to see Sakuramiya-san for now.

“Well, let’s go back downstairs! Everyone still seems ready to keep playing!” (Hikaru)

She offered her hand with her usual smile.

I took that hand to return to normalcy and head toward the stairs, but…

“W-wait a minute…” (Reiya)

The desire that should have disappeared from earlier grabbed my hair from behind.

“What’s wrong? Aren’t you going?” (Hikaru)

Hikaru peered at my face suspiciously as I stopped.

“Um… since we’re here, would you like to look at the night view together…?” (Reiya)

Going out to the balcony from the second floor, a perfect starry night sky was displayed in the wide open view.

“Wow…! So pretty…!” (Hikaru)

At the scenery impossible to see in our usual living area, Hikaru expressed her admiration using her whole body.

“Look, look! The ocean is so beautiful too!” (Hikaru)

When Hikaru pulled my hand toward the railing, I could see the sea where we’d played during the day.

Unlike daytime, the sea spreading out in black was sparkling like another night sky, reflecting the light of the moon and stars.

“It’s really beautiful…” (Hikaru)

“Yeah, really beautiful. I thought I was used to seeing the ocean, but this is truly exceptional.” (Reiya)

I felt a sense of luxury at monopolizing such breathtakingly beautiful scenery with just the two of us.

Right now was when I most truly felt ‘I’m glad we came today.’

We enjoyed that scenery together for a while, holding hands.

“Today was really fun, it was worth forcing myself to come even if it was a bit much.” (Hikaru)

“Come to think of it, you cleared your practice schedule to come?” (Reiya)

“Yeah, so Mom gave me a bit of a lecture.” (Hikaru)

Saying that, Hikaru laughed somewhat sheepishly.

“You’re leaving in the morning tomorrow?” (Reiya)

“Yeah, I want to go back and at least hold my racquet lightly. If I take two whole days off, my sense might get dull.” (Hikaru)

“It’s really tough…” (Reiya)

“It’s tough in a way, but it’s something I love doing. Plus today gave me perfect energy replenishment!” (Hikaru)

“Replenishment… normally people get tired from playing and want to rest…?” (Reiya)

“Really? Playing makes me think ‘I’ll work hard at practice tomorrow!’ and motivates me.” (Hikaru)

Apparently it was presumptuous of me to measure that inexhaustible stamina by ordinary standards.

“Especially when I can spend time with Reiya-kun… right?” (Hikaru)

The hand holding mine was squeezed a bit tighter with warmth.

Our gazes intertwined as I was drawn into eyes that sparkled even in the dim darkness.

Ah, this is that kind of moment… I thought—

“Mm…” (Hikaru)

As expected, she lightly pressed her lips to mine.

Maybe she’d applied lip balm against dryness before bed, as they felt slightly moist and soft.

“Ehehe, I got today’s first kiss.” (Hikaru)

Hikaru wore a mischievous smile like she’d accomplished something.

“What’s that concept…” (Reiya)

Even though it probably wasn’t really the case, it somehow felt like a kiss after a long time, making me embarrassed.

“I realized we hadn’t kissed today.” (Hikaru)

“Well, we were in front of everyone the whole time…” (Reiya)

“I’d totally welcome it in front of everyone though!” (Hikaru)

“I’d be too embarrassed for that… Also, saying ‘welcome’ means you want me to initiate?” (Reiya)

“Of course, doing it myself is still embarrassing…” (Hikaru)

“What’s that…” (Reiya)

We bantered like that and laughed together.

There was jealousy toward her attractive charm and inferiority toward her natural talents.

What I’d said about empathizing with Sakuramiya-san wasn’t a lie.

But seeing that smile up close like this, I could reconfirm that I loved Hikaru far too much for anything else to matter.

“Hmm… but today really was fun…” (Hikaru)

Hikaru stretched greatly while looking out at the night view.

“It’d be nice if we could come together like this next year, and the year after that…” (Hikaru)

“Yeah. Though coming here might be tough for my financial situation.” (Reiya)

“Well, you know… we could ask Kyo again…!” (Hikaru)

“That might be difficult… next year it’ll be officially open with lots of customers…” (Reiya)

“Eh… then somewhere else… but I’d prefer here if possible…” (Hikaru)

Hikaru puffed her cheeks while slumping against the railing.

Such childish aspects also felt truly endearing.

“Well… as long as I’m with Hikaru, anywhere would be fun for me…” (Reiya)

So I said something a bit out of character.

“I feel the same way—anywhere with Reiya-kun would be fun!” (Hikaru)

Meanwhile, Hikaru returned that quite naturally and leaned against me.

“C-come to think of it… didn’t you invite Hino-san this time? Was she busy with summer courses?” (Reiya)

Feeling a bit embarrassed, I changed the subject.

“Hm? Ah… when I invited Ayaka with ‘Let’s go to the beach! I’ll pick out a swimsuit that suits you!’ she refused with ‘Swimsuit? Absolutely not.'” (Hikaru)

“Ah… well, I figured that would happen…” (Reiya)

After that, we continued casual conversation for a while.

She let me hear about reflecting on today’s memories and various things about the female participants we’d had little interaction with before.

Even then, Hikaru talked about everyone proudly as if they were herself.

“Well… shall we head back soon? If we disappear too long, everyone might worry.” (Reiya)

“Yeah. Ah, but… wait a minute.” (Hikaru)

When I suggested returning, Hikaru stopped and took out her smartphone.

“Since we’re here, let’s take a photo with the night view in the background?” (Hikaru)

“A-ah… yeah, sure.” (Reiya)

“Then come closer? Come on, get your face really close too…” (Hikaru)

When I moved close enough for our shoulders to touch, Hikaru brought her face close enough for our cheeks to touch.

“Okay… cheese!” (Hikaru)

The shutter clicked as we both made expressions toward the front camera, mine somewhat awkward.

This continued several times with different angles and expressions.

As I was about to suggest we should really go while watching Hikaru satisfiedly look at the photos—

“Next, I’ll take some with Reiya-kun’s phone!” (Hikaru)

“I don’t need to take any if you just send me those later…” (Reiya)

“It’s fine! Different cameras might take even better photos!” (Hikaru)

“If you say so, then okay…” (Reiya)

Having no particular reason to refuse, I reached for my smartphone in my pocket to hand it to Hikaru.

However, having somehow managed to enjoy time alone with Hikaru as intended, I’d completely forgotten about another dangerous item I’d put inside.

“Ah…” (Reiya)

I tried to catch what spilled from my pocket when taking out my phone, but it slipped through my hand and fell to the balcony floor.

‘0.01mm’

A ring-shaped package was exposed under the moonlight.