Haibara’s Teenage New Game+ - Volume 3 - Chapter 2

Chapter 2: Your Dream and a Secret Connection

I plunged into our summer vacation full of dreams and hopes... At least, that’s how it should’ve been, but I didn’t have any special plans the first week. Naturally I took on shifts every single day, but that wasn’t enough to keep me busy.

I should’ve made more plans to hang out with people... Well, I used to be a loner otaku, so I excel at happily passing the time by myself. It wasn’t the image of youth that I’d hoped for, but I spent the days in my own fulfilling way.

And so, another morning arrived. After I ate breakfast, I worked out—with extra focus on my abs in preparation for the beach—and then finished off my exercise with a jog. It was cooler than during the afternoon, but the midsummer heat was still fierce. I ran a moderate distance so as to not risk getting heatstroke, and took a shower at home to wash off the sweat.

Finished with my morning routine, I’d now entered free time territory. I read a novel Hoshimiya had recommended, watched a movie I’d rented from the video rental shop, and randomly searched for interesting YouTube videos. Before long, morning ended.

I typically made lunch on my own. My parents both worked full-time (my dad wasn’t around much in general because he was assigned to a different prefecture for his job), so only Namika and I were home during the day over summer break. If I left our meals to Namika, we’d end up only eating cup ramen, so I had no choice but to cook. Okay, sure, we could’ve bought boxed lunches from the supermarket, but making the food myself would be cheaper and tastier. Either way, it was a hassle to go outside for groceries in this sweltering heat.

“Thanks, onii-chan. It looks yummy!”

“Hey, who said you could eat already?”

“But there’s obviously two portions.”

“You clearly have no appreciation for the chef.”

“But ‘thanks’ was the first thing I said!”

I was admonishing Namika for digging in without waiting, but she ignored my complaint. We were like this pretty much every day. Once Namika finished eating, she immediately went out to play with her friends.

“My little sister doesn’t care about her big bro...” I lamented as I got ready for work.

I had work in the afternoon on most days, and each day I took the train to Café Mares in the blistering heat. Usually the café was on my way home from school, so the commute wasn’t terrible, but on days when I had to go there from my home, it felt extremely far. Maybe I made a mistake in picking this place for work...

“Hello, Haibara-kun.”

My negative thoughts were completely negated by Nanase’s appearance.

“Is something the matter?” she asked.

“Nope, nothing. I forgot you were on deck today too,” I replied. I can see Nanase at work. That alone is the incentive I need to work hard.

“Mm-hmm. Let’s do our best today.” She looked at me with a smile.

I wish you wouldn’t point that smile of yours in my direction without a care in the world. I’ll end up falling for you! Heh. Nanase really is my soothing solace. Only Nanase saves me. I thank thee today too. While I was offering up prayers and channeling my fan power to Nanase, Kirishima-san pinched my ear.

“Don’t just stand there! Hurry up and get ready,” she scolded.

“Sorry,” I said sullenly. I couldn’t tell her that I was praying or about the other nonsensical thoughts that had been going through my head, so I just apologized meekly. I swiftly changed into my work uniform and punched in my time card.

It won’t hurt to save up money for my school life. I can’t let any youthful opportunities escape me just because I lack the funds. Therefore, working is a means to create the best youth ever! I’m not working because I have nothing better to do! Nuh-uh! I desperately tried to convince myself as I washed the dishes.

“Haibara-kun, do you have a minute?” Nanase asked. It seemed like she was finished with working the floor for the moment. She sipped some water and let out a relaxed breath.

Honestly, even if Nanase weren’t here, this job would still be pretty enjoyable. I like working in the kitchen, and I’m friendly with Kirishima-san and the other employees now. So I’m not dissatisfied with the current status quo. Though, I must say, I am a bit lonely because I haven’t seen Hoshimiya at all. But it’s only been a week! I guess I feel this way because I’m used to seeing her at school every day.

Uta’s face suddenly flashed through my mind. I want to see Uta too, I thought spontaneously, which made me reprimand myself. With these half-assed feelings, it’d be insincere of me to approach Hoshimiya, or to date Uta when she mustered up the courage to declare that she’d make me look her way. I’m fully aware of that.

“Are you listening?” Nanase poked my cheek with her finger.

Don’t touch me so easily! You devilish woman... I’ll seriously fall for you, y’know?! No, no. If I fall for Nanase too, then my insides will be in chaos. I’ve got enough worries as it is, so please have mercy! Jokes aside, I really had accidentally sunk too deep into the recesses of my mind and completely ignored what Nanase was saying.

“Sorry, my bad. I was zoning out. What were you saying?” I said.

“It’s nothing major,” Nanase prefaced and then asked, “Haibara-kun, do you have a bit of time after work?”

Hmm... I get off at 7 p.m. today, right? Nanase and I should be on the same shift, so it should be fine. “Yeah. I’ve got time today,” I replied.

She looked a bit relieved to hear that. “I’d like to go to the nearby shopping mall. Could you come with me?”

“The mall? Of course, no problem at all.”

The biggest local shopping mall was a ten-minute walk from Café Mares. It was a handy place to go when I was unsure of what to do, and it was great for picking up daily necessities too. This was the first time Nanase had ever said she wanted to go to the mall together. In the past, she had asked me to come with her to the crepe shop or CD store on our way from school to work, or on our way home after work.

“Is there something you want to buy?” I asked.

“We’re going to the beach soon, right? I wanted to ensure I have all the necessities,” she replied.

“Oh, good point. We’d better start preparing.” I hadn’t given our trip much thought since it was still far off in the future, but there were definitely things I needed to buy as well, so this would be a good opportunity for me to tag along. Also, getting to shop with Nanase would be fire. “All right! Let’s go, go, go!” I deliberately answered as hyped as I could.

She smiled softly. “Okay, see you later, then.”

Her steps seemed somewhat sprightlier as she returned to the dining room floor.

***

When we left the café, the evening cicadas were crying. It was already past seven, but the sun had not completely fallen past the horizon yet. The clouds burned with the color of twilight. It looked like darkness would descend upon the sky at any moment.

“It’s much cooler now,” Nanase said in a cheerful tone as she walked next to me.

“If it were always this cool, then it’d be way more bearable outside,” I replied.

“True. I thought I was going to die on my way to work today.” She looked sick just recalling the heat from the afternoon and hung her head wearily. She was currently wearing a simple white T-shirt and a black pleated skirt.

She looks great in her work uniform, but her own clothes are cute too. If it weren’t summer vacation, I wouldn’t get to see her in casual clothes all the time. What a sight for sore eyes!

“So, what do you need to buy specifically?” I asked.

“Hmm. Sunscreen, a hat, a beach bag...” Nanase began listing various items.

I stayed next to her as we walked, matching my pace to hers. When I was on my own, I walked much faster than other people. That’s why when I was with my friends, I needed to make a conscious effort to slow down. Of my five friends, I’d spent the most time with Nanase. Now that I was able to pay attention to these small details to an extent, I could converse with her without any butterflies in my stomach.

“Also, I’d like to browse through some summer clothes,” she said.

The old me would’ve never believed there’d come a day when I could hang out with a girl without feeling nervous.

“And also,” Nanase continued as if she’d just remembered something else, “a swimsuit.”

N-Nanase’s swimsuit?! We’re going to choose one now?! O-Oh... Mm-hmm, I see. Why do I feel nervous all of a sudden? Why are my hands shaking?!

“I do want to pick up a swimsuit today...but you’d better not leer at me, okay?”

“O-Of course I won’t. Y’know, I was also thinking of picking one out too!” I said, voice cracking.

Nanase glowered at me, suspicious of the sudden squeaky enthusiasm in my tone, and pushed against my shoulder with her own. Does this mean you don’t trust me?

It instantly got cooler when we entered the shopping mall. The air conditioner was blowing on high and conversely actually made me feel too cold. It was right around dinnertime, so a lot of people were crowded around the restaurant section. I felt like I saw far more parents with their kids than usual because of summer vacation. There were also a lot of boys and girls our age coming and going in casual attire.

“Let’s stop by that supermarket,” Nanase said, sounding more chipper than usual.

I obediently followed her in. It wasn’t a good idea to oppose a girl when she was shopping. Never, ever say things like, “Haven’t we been here for too long?” or, “Can we go already?” either. I’d learned these important lessons from Namika and my mom.

We wandered around the supermarket, buying various things for our trip. Nanase also went to a clothing store and picked out a hat, sandals, summer clothing, a beach bag, and so on. I feel like she threw in some non-beach-related stuff too... Ah, well, she seems like she’s enjoying herself, and that’s what counts.

“Huh? You’re not gonna buy that?” I asked. Nanase had just put down the clothes she was looking at and left the store.

“I don’t have infinite resources. I’m prioritizing beach necessities today... I’ll refrain for now. Hmm. When I peruse stores, I always get an urge to buy things... It’s not a good habit,” she explained wistfully.

She continued on to the swimsuit section at our final stop. In contrast to how my nerves had jumped up several notches, Nanase rifled through the racks without a care. Am I the crazy one for getting jitters looking at swimsuits with one of the beauty queens of my class?

“How’s this one?” She picked out a swimsuit and held it against her body. It was a triangle bikini with a simple design.

She’s holding it over her clothes...but imagining her in that... I clammed up as the image took over my headspace. Nanase tilted her head to the side, puzzled by my sudden silence. Then, she looked down at her swimsuit, and her face gradually reddened.

“D-Didn’t I tell you not to leer at me?” she said restlessly, suddenly realizing how embarrassing the situation was.

“I... I’m not! I’m not leering!”

“R-Really?”

“Y-Yes, right. Now that I’m thinking with a clear head, I feel like I’ve done something rude to Uta,” Nanase murmured in an abashed tone. I briskly walked out of the girls’ bathing suit section.

It’s good we settled on the safest outcome and decided to look around separately. I’m not disappointed. No way! Of course I’m not! What reason would I even have to feel that way?

After we both purchased our respective swimsuits, we met up in front of the store.

“What kind did you buy?” I asked. Argh! I tried to use a normal voice, but don’t I just sound super curious and creepy? No, wait— Wouldn’t this be a natural topic of conversation after we both bought swimsuits?

“It’s nothing special, just an ordinary swimsuit,” she replied.

“I’d be surprised if you bought one that wasn’t an ordinary swimsuit.”

“You’re going to see it when we go to the beach, so can’t you wait?”

“That’s true.”

“What about you?”

“Well, you’re going to see it at the beach, right?” I threw Nanase’s own words back at her. She pouted at me, displeased. “Sorry. Honestly, guy swimsuits are all basically the same shape anyway, so it’s not like there’s much difference between them,” I said as I showed her the contents of my shopping bag.

Nanase closely scrutinized the one I’d bought, murmured a small sound, and then looked away. Yep, you definitely don’t care.

“Huh?” Her eyes widened in surprise.

I followed her gaze, and there stood...

“Oh? Yuino-chan and Natsuki-kun?”

...Hoshimiya Hikari in a flower-patterned dress.

“Wow! It’s been so long!” She smiled warmly and quickly walked over to us.

Seeing her for the first time in days, coupled with her unfamiliar clothes, I was struck by how adorable she was. But I felt a strange air of malaise from her...because when I’d first seen her, she had been wearing a strikingly dark look. The moment she noticed us, her expression made an instant one-eighty to her usual bright smile.

“What’re you two doing? Oh, on your way home from work?” she asked.

“That’s right. We figured it would be good to buy necessities for the beach trip,” Nanase answered.

“Wow, that sounds fun! What did you buy?” Hoshimiya asked.

Nanase began showing her the skin care products and other items she’d purchased. Hoshimiya gleefully looked through the goods.

“Hoshimiya, what brought you here?” I asked, once I felt the timing was right.

She looked uncomfortable and began beating around the bush. “Um, well, I’m actually here with my papa...” The moment she finally said that, we heard footsteps approaching us from behind.

“Hikari, are those your friends?” I heard a gentle voice ask.

I turned around to see a tall man. He was handsome, with clean-cut features and—accentuated by the suit he was wearing—gave off an intellectual impression.

“Good evening. I’m Hikari’s father, Hoshimiya Sei. Hello, Yuino-chan, it’s been quite some time since I’ve seen you,” he greeted us pleasantly. As Hoshimiya’s dad, he should’ve been relatively old, but he appeared very young. An amiable smile spread across his face, and I thought he looked like a very capable working adult.

Hold on... I feel like I’ve seen him before.

“Long time no see, Sei-san,” Nanase said with a small bow.

Oh yeah, she did say she’s known Hoshimiya’s dad for a long time. 

He turned his attention to me, so I hurriedly introduced myself and bowed as well. “Um, Hikari-san has helped me out a lot. I’m Haibara Natsuki.”

Hoshimiya’s dad, Sei-san, blinked at me in surprise. “Ah, I see. You’re Natsuki-kun. Hikari talks about you a lot.”

“Huh? Really?” I responded, astonished. Hoshimiya talks about me at home?!

“I’ve always wanted to meet you. This is perfect timing, so why don’t we talk for a bit—”

“H-Hey! Stop that!” Cheeks flushed, Hoshimiya tugged on Sei-san’s sleeve to end the conversation.

“Why, Hikari? I’m just a tad curious—”

She pushed her dad from behind, forcing him away from us. “W-Well then, you two! Let’s hang out later! I’m heading home now!”

It’s rare for Hoshimiya to be so agitated. It feels kinda new.

“Y-Yeah... See you,” I said.

But then Sei-san stopped walking. Puzzled, Hoshimiya tilted her head to the side and looked up at him, still trying to shepherd him away.

“That’s right. There’s something I want to confirm,” Sei-san said and turned around. Hoshimiya had only been able to move him because he hadn’t felt like struggling. As expected, the strength of an adult man was on a different level. If he wanted to continue the conversation, then Hoshimiya had no way of stopping him. “Hikari told me she wanted to go on a trip. Yuino-chan, you’re going too, right?”

Nanase assented with a nod. “Yes, that’s right.”

“Of course. I don’t have any qualms with that, but...” Sei-san trained his gaze onto me. My first impression after meeting him was that he seemed like a kind person, so I had forgotten that he was the same strict father who set Hoshimiya’s curfew and other rules...and I’d just remembered this fact now. “Are you going as well?”

Unprepared, I couldn’t answer the question immediately, and the reason behind my hesitation was clear as day. I knew I had no choice left, so I timidly said, “Yes. I am.” Is there a problem? I wasn’t told anything otherwise. Did Hoshimiya not tell him that there’d be boys on the trip?

“Just as I suspected,” Sei-san said in a low, matter-of-fact tone. Hoshimiya and Nanase were both looking down in silence. The genial atmosphere from moments ago had frozen over in the blink of an eye. “Hikari.”

“Yes?” she replied reluctantly.

“Lying is not a good habit. You told me there would only be girls going with you.”

“If I told you there would be boys too, I knew you wouldn’t give me permission,” Hoshimiya countered with defiant eyes.

“Hmm. Well, I knew you’d think like that.” Sei-san ran his gaze over Hoshimiya and then to me.

I felt intimidated from the way he examined me; the pressure he gave off was a blaring reminder that he was an adult. The way he reviewed me like he was evaluating a product filled me with a sense of déjà vu. Then, it suddenly came back to me. I do know this man! I’ve even spoken to him before. “Are you Star Flat Corporation’s...president?”

Sei-san blinked at me in surprise. “I’m astonished you know of me... Though, to be more precise, I am the vice president.”

Yep. Thought so! 

He was still the vice president because I was seven years in the past. But seven years in the future, Hoshimiya Sei would become the president. And in that future, Star Flat Corp. would be my first choice during my job hunt. That was why I recognized him. I had spoken to him once during my final interview. I’d also seen his face and profile on the company website. At the time, I’d noticed he shared the same family name as Hoshimiya, but it had never even occurred to me that he might be her father.

In seven years, Star Flat Corp. would be a top-ranked company with a workforce of thousands. It was currently just a midsize corporation, but it would expand at a tremendous rate soon. To describe what they did in simple terms, they made machinery. Their work coincided with the research I’d done in college, and the salary and benefits they offered were excellent, so my first choice had been to work with them in design and development.

Though I’d blazed through their first, second, and third screenings, the final screening was an interview with the president. I hadn’t been able to speak well, and I’d received a rejection email in the end. Afterwards, I subsequently failed around thirty other job applications. I’ve got a bit of a grudge against the president because of that. It’s definitely not unjustified resentment!

“Did you see our company’s website?” he asked.

“Yes, you might say that. I’m a little interested in your company’s field.” Why am I stiffening up? Calm down, me. I’m not in a job interview right now.

“Oh, really? You’re already thinking about the future at your age? Quite the promising student. I heard from Hikari that your grades are excellent as well. I hope you join us after graduating college. We’ll welcome you with open arms.”

Uh, sure, but you were the one who rejected me, though? Please don’t trigger my trauma. “Well... Yes. Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to change the topic,” I replied with a conflicted expression.

“No, I apologize. Here I am trying to recruit you out of the blue. When it comes to work, I tend to get carried away.” Sei-san awkwardly cleared his throat. “Setting that aside, let’s return to the main topic.”

The mood around us was now strange. Sei-san had practically ordered for the atmosphere to change.

“I’m terribly sorry to you and your friends, but Hikari will not be allowed to go with you on your trip.”

Hoshimiya had been quietly watching us until now. Her face crumpled, and her small body began to tremble. Welp, I saw this coming. “Is that because I’m going to be there?”

“As Hikari said, I would never permit her to go on a trip where boys were present. But that is not the main issue at hand. I already said this, but lying is a bad thing,” Sei-san stated impassively as he regarded his daughter with cold eyes.

Everything coming out of his mouth was a fair argument. There was no room for objection.

“It would only breed trouble if you thought lying to me could go unpunished.”

This was another family’s business to begin with. I had no right to intrude. So I couldn’t slip in a single word.

“I’m sure it’ll inconvenience the rest of you, but cancel Hikari’s portion of the trip.” Sei-san lowered his head to us in a formal manner, turned around, and left.

I locked eyes with Hoshimiya, who was standing frozen in place. She looked helpless, as if she’d burst into tears at any moment. “Are you okay with that?” I asked without thinking.

Hoshimiya started to say something in a quivering voice. “I...”

But her father interrupted her. “Hikari, let’s go.”

Hoshimiya’s body jolted with a start, and she followed Sei-san with her head down. She didn’t look back even once.

***

Nanase and I went to a hamburger steak restaurant inside the shopping mall. After I told my mom that I would be eating out, I took my seat across from Nanase. It was supposed to be a wonderful dinner with just the two of us, but the mood was awfully bleak. Nanase’s expression remained sullen the whole time.

This situation has turned into a huge mess. Hoshimiya is probably getting told off by Sei-san right about now. If I could’ve instantly reacted to his question with a lie, then there wouldn’t have been a problem.

“It’s not your fault,” Nanase said as if she’d seen right through my thoughts. “It’s unreasonable to expect you to have lied when you didn’t know anything.”

“Nanase, did you know?” I asked.

“I’m sorry.” She gave a small nod and then lowered her head. “Hikari asked me for advice on what to do. I’m the one who proposed she lie since it was the only option.”

And because of that, you feel responsible. You look so down in the dumps. “I’ve got a better picture of what happened now.”

“I... I didn’t think he’d ever permit her to stay overnight somewhere with boys.”

“Nanase, you’re close to Hoshimiya’s dad, right?”

“I’ve been relatively close to him for a long time now. I’ve been to Hikari’s house a few times too. I was permitted to visit, but that’s because he also dictated who Hikari was friends with. He used to talk to me often.”

He even chose his daughter’s friends, huh? Knowing him, he’d do it without batting an eye. I still clearly remembered my final interview like it had happened just moments ago.

“I see you have a clear idea of what you wish to accomplish.”

“Yes! I would like to leverage the research I did in college for your company and—”

“In that case, you may not be suitable for us.”

“Excuse me?”

“I don’t want you to think that you can do whatever you please here. Provided you do join us, I will decide what you do. I won’t even ask for your opinion. Do you understand? I have no need for pawns that have a will of their own.”

I remember being shocked by his words. From Hoshimiya Sei’s attitude alone, he seemed like a gentle and friendly man, but the more you spoke to him, the more his stubborn personality shone through. He basically never changed his opinions, and he thought of other people as his own little pieces to use in a game of chess.

Hoshimiya was no exception—I could tell her freedom was restricted greatly. Her curfew always sat on my mind, and I’d heard that she had a rigorous upbringing.

“It’s a tough problem. And it’s not like he said anything wrong today,” I remarked.

“Yes... I understand what he’s worried about too,” Nanase replied. Then she added in a scathing tone, “If you could even call that being worried.”

“Well... What else can we do? I want Hoshimiya to come with us too, but since he said all that, I feel like we can’t push the subject. And even if we think of a different plan... It’ll be hard to change plans since we’ve already reserved the cottage and everyone cleared those two days out.”

It’d be great if Hoshimiya could come. I want to play on the beach with her. But realistically, we’ll have to make a different opportunity to hang out with her. Even though I don’t want to let things end like this, a part of me is staying levelheaded. If I were the same person from seven years ago, I might’ve tried to persuade Sei-san directly and charged in headfirst. But I won’t act recklessly now. Perhaps it’s a bit unfortunate, but I’m more of an adult than I was back then.

“But Hikari said...that she wanted to come.” Words slowly began to spill out of Nanase, her head still hanging. “Even though her dad said no, I still want to go with her...”

Looks like Nanase’s taking this much harder than I am.

“It’s the first time Hikari has ever wanted to go somewhere so badly. Usually she would just give up at her dad’s direction, but she said she wanted to go no matter what this time,” Nanase continued.

“So she’s never rebelled against her father?”

“She did before in the past, but it was a pointless struggle...so she gave up midway. She said it was futile to rebel against him anyway, so she became obedient to her parents.”

Honestly... I can’t imagine my world being like that. My mom and dad are kind, and I had everything I needed during my upbringing. If I did anything bad, I would certainly be scolded accordingly. But my parents always respected my will.

“Hikari wanted to go, even knowing what her parents are like, so I wanted her wish to come true.”

And that’s why you decided lying would be the best option since Hoshimiya can’t openly rebel against Sei-san. I pointed at the hamburger steak meal set in front of Nanase and said, “Your food’s getting cold.” I’d started eating long ago. I’m sad, but I can’t live if I don’t eat.

Nanase slowly began to pick at her food. She was considerably crestfallen. It was obvious just looking at her, but sadly, I didn’t know what to say that would cheer her up. I had no experience consoling a depressed girl, and I didn’t have a solution to the larger issue either. At the very least, regarding today’s encounter, Sei-san had been in the right. If we did anything based solely on our feelings, we would just be children throwing a tantrum.

“I first began talking to Hikari around our third year of elementary school,” Nanase said, the words coming out slowly as if she was reminiscing about something from long ago.

“I knew you two went to the same middle school, but you guys were in the same elementary school too?”

“Yes. Hikari didn’t want to talk about her time in elementary school, so we kept quiet about it.”

Come to think of it, I haven’t heard Hoshimiya and Nanase talk much about the past. “She didn’t want to talk about it? Why?”

“Haibara-kun, you didn’t talk about your middle school days until we found out about your high school debut, right?”

“Well, yeah, I guess. And I still don’t really like talking about it... I don’t even want to remember those days...” And besides, middle school was over seven years ago for me, so I simply don’t recall the details.

“The reason Hikari doesn’t want to talk about her past is virtually the same as yours.”

“Are you saying she also went through a high school glow up? It doesn’t seem that way, though.”

“In her case, she was pretty much the way she is now back in middle school. She was the cutest girl in school—cheerful and bright like an idol. That was her, Hoshimiya Hikari. But she wasn’t like that in elementary school,” Nanase said and tacked on, “I shouldn’t be telling you all of this, but when I first spoke to her, she didn’t have a single friend.”

I found Nanase’s tale unbelievable. If she hadn’t been recounting all this to me herself, I wouldn’t have believed it.

“She was plain, meek, and always morose-looking. She was bad at talking, and she constantly stayed by herself, huddled up in a corner of the classroom, reading a book. We were in the same class all throughout elementary school, but I practically never spoke to her until our third year. Partly because I used to be a bit more spirited than I am now, so I was the center of our class.”

The two had grown close due to a coincidental encounter at the library: Hoshimiya had been reading a book that Nanase enjoyed, so Nanase had decided to reach out to her.

“Isn’t that book good?” she’d asked.

Hoshimiya had jumped with a start, but with her shoulders shaking, she’d replied, “You’ve read this?”

Nanase nodded, and Hoshimiya started talking about it unprompted. She was clumsy and stuttered here and there, but she frenetically tried to convey what was interesting and wonderful about the book, as well as what resonated with her heart. Finding Hoshimiya’s gushing adorable, Nanase became curious about her. From then on, Nanase began going to the library more, and Hoshimiya gradually became attached to her.

For Nanase, Hoshimiya was another name to add to her list of friends. For Hoshimiya, Nanase was her only friend. And as they played together more and more, they had become each other’s one and only best friend.

“But the more time I spent with her, the more I understood how much Hikari was bound by her parents.”

“I’m sorry. My parents said I can’t play with my friends for a while.”

“They told me I have to study after school until I rank first on our tests.”

“I’m happy for the invite, but they said I can’t play games.”

“I’m not allowed to talk to boys unless necessary, so I can’t be friends with him.”

“Then one day, Hikari invited me to her home.”

Nanase had thought it unusual, but she didn’t brood over it and went to Hikari’s house. Although it wasn’t a luxurious mansion, her house was a large and spacious single-family home. Sometime while the two of them were hanging out, Sei-san also joined in for some reason.

“At the time, I thought it strange, but now I understand why. He was testing me. He was there to see if I was worthy of being Hikari’s friend. When I recall the way he looked at me like he was evaluating a product, I still feel uncomfortable.”

After a brief conversation with Nanase, Sei-san had said this to Hoshimiya: “Hikari. You should be more like this girl. What are you saying? It’s not difficult. You’re my child, after all. You will be diligent and systematic: a bright, cheerful, and amiable girl.”

“Hikari changed at school after that.”

Little by little, bit by bit, Hoshimiya’s personality had transformed. She cut her long bangs that veiled her face, and her expression turned gentle. She stopped stuttering when she talked, spoke louder, and became able to initiate conversations on her own. Before she knew it, she had more friends than Nanase, and she stood at the center of their class, the spotlight even brighter on her than it had been on Nanase.

“I don’t think the current Hikari is a facade of lies. She simply used to be different. If she tried to revert back to her old personality, I’m sure she’d find that much harder.”

I’ve never thought that Hoshimiya was acting...though, there were moments where I felt like her reactions were robotic.

“She’s probably much better at hiding her emotions than we think... And she’s probably got a lot more on her mind and is suffering much more than we realize too. That’s why I wanted to help her, even if only a little bit.” Nanase stopped eating and finally looked up at me. “Say, Haibara-kun.”

I was captivated by her clear eyes.

“Do you...like Hikari?”

It didn’t occur to me to ask her to clarify what she’d meant by that. After all, no matter what her implication, my answer was obvious. “Of course. I like her a lot.”

Nanase looked at me with a forlorn smile. She took out a notepad and a pen from her bag and scribbled something down on a page. When she finished writing, she handed the piece of paper to me. “Please be there for her.”

Written in neat handwriting was the address of a café in Takasaki.

“I’m sure that you’ll be much more helpful than me.”

I didn’t know what meaning lurked behind her words, but I gave her a firm nod. I wanted to allay even the smallest amount of unease from Nanase’s heart. That was all I could do right now.

***

The next day, I went to the café that Nanase had pointed me to with the note. It was an inconspicuous shop located on a secluded backstreet quite far from Takasaki Station. Does this place even get customers? Not gonna lie, I don’t really want to go in. It looks like the kinda place that’d reject first-time customers. Still, I’ve come this far already, so I’m not turning back now!

I opened the door, and a soft chime rang. Contrary to the café’s desolate exterior, the inside of the store had a stylish ambience. The interior looked old, but it was beautifully maintained.

“Welcome. Take a seat where you like,” came a simple greeting from a middle-aged shopkeeper who hadn’t even looked my way.

The café gave off a feeling of being privately owned, which was comforting. The store was almost empty, with only two tables of customers: an elderly married couple chatting happily in seats by the entrance and a girl wearing glasses, working on her laptop, situated deeper within the store by the window.

I walked in and headed to the window seating. The bespectacled girl was deeply engrossed in her work, so even when I stood right next to her, she didn’t notice me and continued hammering away on her keyboard.

“Hoshimiya,” I called out to her.

She stopped suddenly and stiffly turned my way like a creaking robot. “N-Natsuki-kun?!” she shouted with a tempestuous voice inside the quiet shop.

“Shhh,” I whispered with my pointer finger to my lips. Hoshimiya covered her mouth in a panic. The elderly couple was peering our way curiously. I bowed at them apologetically and then took a seat across from Hoshimiya. She was still flustered by my unexpected appearance, so I called the shopkeeper over and ordered a coffee.

Hoshimiya opened her mouth when the shopkeeper had returned behind the counter. “Wh-Wh-Wh-Why are you here?”

You’re way too shaken by this; your eyes are swimming in circles. And here I thought you’d pulled yourself together a little while I was ordering. “Nanase told me about this place and asked me to drop by.”

“I... I didn’t hear anything about that from her!”

“I can tell from your reaction.” Hoshimiya’s got a different vibe today. She’s wearing big, black-rimmed glasses, and her hair’s tied behind her back. I would never see her like this in school. It’s like she’s relaxed. You know, off duty from school and socializing. It’s a fresh look and also very cute!

“Jeez... Yuino-chan, you...” She shot a displeased scowl out the window.

Drawn by her gaze, I also turned my attention outside. The sky was a perfectly clear expanse of blue, and we could hear the chirping cicadas through the window. It was another day of midsummer heat. Thankfully, the café’s air conditioner was functioning.

“I’m sorry about yesterday,” she said. The words trickled out of her slowly. “And now I can’t go see the ocean anymore.”

“Right... It’s unfortunate, but you can’t do much about it,” I replied.

“I’m really sorry. I’m the one who wanted to go to the beach too.” Her gloomy expression changed to a faint smile. “Have fun with everyone. Don’t worry about me.”

What should I say in response? While I fumbled for the right words to say, the shopkeeper brought my coffee. Seeking a reason to stay silent, I brought the cup to my lips. The bitter taste of black coffee calmed me. A hot brew in an air-conditioned store was truly divine.

“Are you writing a novel?” The words I’d strung together ended up as a question to change the subject. But it was something that had caught my eye. When Hoshimiya had been so absorbed in her work that she hadn’t noticed me, I’d seen a word processor pulled up on her computer screen.

“F-Figures... So you noticed?” She regarded me with a troubled smile.

I guess she didn’t want anyone to know? Well, I didn’t find out until today, so obviously she was hiding it from us. “I saw your screen. Sorry, I shouldn’t have looked without asking.”

Hoshimiya appeared embarrassed. After a moment, she said, “I was keeping it a secret.”

Is it such a big deal that she’d need to hide it? Even after finding out that Hoshimiya is writing a novel, I know she’s in the literature club, so it doesn’t feel out of character. Plus, I was already aware she’s a big reading otaku. Besides...

Nanase’s story from yesterday flashed into my head. “She was plain, meek, and always morose-looking. She was bad at talking, and she constantly stayed by herself, huddled up in a corner of the classroom, reading a book. We were in the same class all throughout elementary school, but I practically never spoke to her until our third year. Partly because I used to be a bit more spirited than I am now, so I was the center of our class.”

When I’d first heard that, I couldn’t imagine what Hoshimiya was like in the past. But now that I’d seen her in this plain form, there was a realistic weight behind Nanase’s words.

“Don’t tell everyone else, okay?”

“Sure, but why are you hiding it?”

“Well... It’s embarrassing. I wouldn’t like it if someone asked me to show them... Plus, writing novels isn’t a popular hobby. I don’t want people to think I’m weird.”

Well, it’s not hard to understand why she’d feel that way. I’m not biased since I’m an otaku at heart, but people who don’t get these sorts of hobbies might change their opinions of Hoshimiya. The five of us know that she loves novels and that she’s actually pretty nerdy, but the rest of the class and school probably don’t.

Hoshimiya is bright, kind to everyone, and the school’s cutest girl—she’s like a charming idol. I bet the majority of people perceive her that way. And she does tend to respond to anyone she’s not close to in a superficial way.

“I get it. I won’t tell anyone. Was Nanase the only one who knew?”

“Yeah. Yuino-chan has been reading my stuff for a while now.”

“I see... When did you start writing novels?”

“In elementary school. I was addicted to the world of literature, and I wanted to try writing my own. I thought if I could depict the world inside my head, I could surely create something interesting.”

The classic thought process of a production-type otaku! By the way, I’m a consumption-type otaku, so I’m satisfied just by consuming other people’s work. I’ve never considered creating something myself, which is why I respect otaku who want to create their own work. After all, consumption-type otaku like me couldn’t live if production-type otaku didn’t exist.

“Then you’ve been keeping this up for a long time already?”

“Yeah. I’m not getting much better at writing, though.” Hoshimiya let out a dry, self-deprecating laugh. Her vision fell to the laptop screen in front of her.

“What kind of novel are you writing?” I asked but then quickly added, “Or should I not ask too much about it?” She may talk to Nanase about it, but it’s possible she doesn’t want to talk to me about it. I’m honestly curious about her novel, but it’s probably better I don’t dig too deep.

Worried thoughts flew through my mind, but she shook her head. “No, it’s fine. I don’t mind since it’s you. I’m guessing Yuino-chan led you here with those intentions.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“She probably wanted to tell me, ‘have Natsuki-kun help you instead of me.’”

Unable to grasp the gist of Hoshimiya’s words, I cocked my head in puzzlement. Help? Help with what?

Seeing my confusion made her expression soften somehow. “Originally, Yuino-chan would read my novels and give me advice,” she explained. “To make my stories even more interesting.”

“And...she wants me to take over now?” I deduced. Hoshimiya nodded. “Uh, but why me?” I’m just your average otaku, and obviously I’ve never written a novel.

“Natsuki-kun, you share my interest in stories, and you read a lot of books too, right?”

“Well, I try to...”

“And when we discuss novels together, I’ve noticed that you have a very analytical eye. I’ve found your opinions really helpful. I told Yuino-chan about that aspect of you...so I think that’s why.”

I’m happy to be complimented, but I’m not sure if that’s actually true. Well, I am the type of otaku to drop lengthy musings about anime and manga on Twister and various blogs, so maybe I am proficient at putting my thoughts into words... Though it definitely doesn’t feel that way!

“Of course, only if you don’t find it annoying,” Hoshimiya said apologetically. She was still hanging her head, but she glanced at me with upturned eyes.

Aren’t you too crafty? I used to think she was a natural airhead, but after talking to Nanase, I’m starting to suspect otherwise. Her adorable expression wasn’t enough to defeat me. Of course I wouldn’t lose to it! But I wanted to give Hoshimiya peace of mind as soon as possible, so I accepted her request with a deliberately upbeat tone.

“Of course I don’t find it annoying! I’m very down! I’m curious about your novel, and I purely enjoy reading... And I want to do everything I can when a friend asks me for help!”

“Do you mean it? Thanks! You really are kind, Natsuki-kun.”

“But I don’t know if I’ll actually be helpful.” My half-hearted commitment was, in the end, because I lacked confidence in my own abilities. I had never given my opinion directly to the actual creator of a story before.

“If you give me your honest impressions, that’ll be plenty. The revisions are for me to think about,” she said and then rummaged through her bag next to her. Before long, she was handing me a thick stack of papers. It was her novel in printed form. “It’s more or less complete...but I’m concerned about the plot development.”

Written at the top was the title: A Tale of the Summer Sea (Temp.). She was likely still mulling over just what to call it. I read through the opening scene. It didn’t feel awkward to read—the sentences were well crafted and easy to digest. The whole thing seemed on par with professional writing. Wow, Hoshimiya wrote this?!

“Can I read it here?” I asked.

“Um, sure... But that is a whole book’s worth of words, you know?” she replied with uncertainty.

“I’m a pretty fast reader. We’re both here, so I figured it’d be nice if I could give you feedback today.” Also, this café is cozy and good for reading. It’s not just because I want to spend more time with Hoshimiya. No way! Of course not!

“Okay, then... In that case, I’ll work on something else while I wait.”

Though she’d said that, she kept glancing in my direction. It was a bit distracting at first, but as my eyes traced the text, I quickly became immersed in the story.

The story began when a boy and a girl met by the water’s edge. The genre was young adult mystery, and it was set at a high school by the sea. A smart girl and a boy of action worked together to solve trifling day-to-day mysteries. It read like a light novel, and the dialogue was also quite humorous. There were a few places where it was difficult to understand the methods behind some of the cases, or the solution came too easily, but the story was so compelling that I continued reading nonstop.

In the end, the girl fell in love with the boy. She was clever, but experiencing her first love made her panic. She agonized over how to approach the boy and eventually confessed her feelings. But the boy was hiding a secret from his past...

“So that’s what it was,” I murmured as the story came to an end and I returned to reality.

I lifted my head from the stack of papers to see Hoshimiya concentrating on me. When our eyes met, her shoulders jumped, and she turned away. She started doing a shoddy job at whistling nonchalantly, but it was far too late to pretend like she hadn’t been staring at me. Not that she could even whistle.

I ignored Hoshimiya’s terrible wind-blowing noises and stretched my neck, massaging my shoulders. Sitting still for an extended period of time had left me feeling quite sore. I checked the clock; two hours had flown by before I even knew it. I ordered an iced tea to quench the thirst that had built up, as well as to pay the fee for staying in the café so long.

“H-How was it?” she asked timidly.

“It was good. Hoshimiya, you’re amazing,” I said honestly.

“Really?” She broke out into a bright smile.

Not gonna lie, this was way more interesting than I thought it would be. I guess I underestimated her a bit. I never imagined she could write such a riveting story.

“Natsuki-kun, your praise makes me super happy!”

After giving my preliminary impressions, I jumped to the first question I had thought of once I’d finished reading. “Is the reason you wanted to go to the beach because of this story?”

A Tale of the Summer Sea—it was only a provisional title, but those words held enough importance to the story for her to use them as the title. Looking torn, Hoshimiya shook her head.

“I can’t say for sure, but I don’t think so. I simply wanted to go to the beach... I love the ocean enough that I wrote this story.” She peered out the window with a lonely gaze and rested her chin on her hand. “Playing around at the beach with everyone sounds like it’d be a lot of fun.”

When I saw that expression, I knew I had messed up. I’d asked out of pure curiosity, but it was obviously a sore spot for Hoshimiya. After all, I had brought up a trip that she couldn’t go on.

“Sorry. I shouldn’t have asked,” I said.

“Oh, um, sorry. That was a weird way to answer. I’m fine; it doesn’t bother me at all. It’s only natural you’d think that after reading this draft. I’m sure if I went with you guys, I’d be thinking about how to apply the experience to my story,” she said hurriedly. Clearly, she hadn’t meant to make me feel bad for asking.

We both sank into quiet introspection. The shopkeeper walked over to our table, as if having waited for precisely this moment, carefully placed my iced tea down, and left.

“S-So... What’d you think?” Hoshimiya asked shyly. “I’d like to hear any specific thoughts you have.”

“Right. The writing was really good. It was easy to read, and the images just flowed into my head. I like both of the main characters, and the mystery part is great too...but the last part of the book doesn’t quite sit right with me.”

“Thought so... You picked up on it too?” She sounded as if she were already aware of what the problem I’d found was.

I nodded. “Yeah. It was supposed to be about romance, but it felt more like a story about chasing after the boy’s past.”

How do I put this...? The story lost its sense of realism out of nowhere, and the boy’s personality changed suddenly, which threw me for a loop. The resolution to the problem at the end also felt forced. I tried to word my opinions in a gentle manner so I wouldn’t sound too harsh.

Hoshimiya nodded. “That’s the part I’ve been worrying about too.” She dropped her vision to her computer screen and pondered for a while.

Should I give more of my opinions now? There are a bunch of things I want to ask and say, but am I supposed to tell her? How much feedback does Hoshimiya want from me? Depending on what her goal is, the comments I should give her will change. Ultimately, I decided it’d be best to clarify. “Hey, Hoshimiya, can I ask something? What are you planning to do with your novel?”

“What am I planning? What do you mean?” She looked at me blankly.

I began listing off various examples as I counted them with my fingers. “Like, did you write this to satisfy yourself? Or did you want someone else to read it and enjoy it? Or maybe you want to enter it into a competition to win a prize. Do you want to be a professional writer? My opinions differ depending on what you’re striving for.”

Honestly, this novel is plenty good for amateur writing. There’s tons here to praise. If I had read this and someone told me a high schooler like me wrote it, I’d be blown out of the water... Well, if you can even call me a high schooler, but let’s ignore that for now.

Hoshimiya flipped through the novel, thinking hard. “All of the above, I think,” she said, tone intense. She looked up from the pages and regarded me with a serious expression. She didn’t wear the warm, gentle smile that I’d come to know—she almost seemed like a different person entirely.

“I want to create something I’m satisfied with. Something that will satisfy you and Yuino-chan...and all the people who’ll read it. If I can write something like that, then I can win a prize.” Her words were a declaration, one that sounded as if she were trying to convince herself. “And one day, I want to be an author.”

I felt a powerful determination coming from her. And yet, I could tell this was something she had been ruminating over for a long time. As of late, and especially right before summer vacation began, Hoshimiya had seemed strangely insecure. She would smile cheerfully, but suddenly a dark expression would take over... Her feelings were turbulent and shifted frequently.

“Of course I’m rooting for you, and I want to help you if you’re cool with it.” I don’t think anything will change if I point out her instability. I need to choose my words carefully. I want to help my friends fulfill their dreams by any means... And I’m glad that Hoshimiya has opened up to me about her secret that she’s been keeping from everyone else.

“I’ve never put how I felt into words before. Gosh, my heart’s pounding,” she said, hand on her chest to calm herself. “That’s right. I want to become an author. So I want to hear all your thoughts, Natsuki-kun.”

“Got it! Then I’ll point out the parts that bothered me. First, from the beginning...” I started listing all of the things I could think of one by one as Hoshimiya took notes. Then, we’d both brainstorm ways to fix the issue, and once we were in agreement, we’d move on to the next item. “I think this part needs more explanation. I didn’t quite understand what happened.”

“Hmm... The other explanations are long, so I wanted to cut down on that one. What should I do?”

“Maybe one of the characters could explain it instead of having it be exposition? I think it’ll be easier to understand that way, as opposed to using narration.”

“Oh, I see! That’s a good idea. Then...”

We bounced ideas off of each other over and over. It was fun! There was a gratifying enjoyment that came from working on something genuinely and seriously. Seeing Hoshimiya earnestly contemplate how to improve her story sparked something inside of me.

“Then, for this part... I can do this...” she mumbled as she stared at her screen.

When we reached a stopping point, I looked out the window. The sky had already turned a dark crimson. I’d finished off my tea already, but the ice had melted, leaving behind a little pool of water.

“Yikes,” I said when I saw the time. “It’s this late already?”

“Huh?” Hoshimiya tilted her head and looked down at her watch. Her mouth went wide, and she let out a little yelp. “S-Sorry, Natsuki-kun! I—”

“Your curfew? Sorry, I didn’t think we’d stay this long.”

“Yeah! I just got in trouble because of the trip, and now I’m going to get scolded again!” Her face paled.

Sei-san is very scary, I feel. “Don’t worry about me; you’d better get going.”

“Right. Um, I’m really sorry. You’re helping me...and now I’m ditching you.”

“Don’t sweat it. It’s summer vacation, so I’ve got free time to spare. Invite me out anytime,” I said from the bottom of my heart.

Hoshimiya packed her things in a frenzied panic and then grabbed my hands. Wait... She grabbed my hands? Huh? Hmm? Why is Hoshimiya holding my right hand with both of hers?

“Natsuki-kun, thanks for today. It made me really happy,” she said, her face at point-blank range. At such close proximity, her beauty was all the more apparent. Her porcelain white skin was devoid of any blemishes, and I could see myself reflected in her large, bright eyes. “I’m going to work hard.”

With that, she said goodbye to the shopkeeper and ran out of the store. The owner wordlessly bade her farewell. You can tell that Hoshimiya frequents this place a lot. They look like they’re very friendly with each other... Incidentally, Hoshimiya, what about your bill?!

***

That same night after I got home, Hoshimiya called me.

“Hello, hello. How’s it going?” I greeted her lightheartedly. However, she didn’t say anything back. “Hoshimiya? Can you hear me?”

She responded to her name, but her tone sounded much gloomier than usual. “Yeah, I can. Natsuki-kun, sorry about today. I forgot to pay the bill.”

“Don’t worry about that. I’ve got a job, so let me treat you every once in a while.”

“No. I’ll pay you back. Besides, you’re helping me with my novel, so I should be the one treating you to drinks. I’m so sorry... I was in such a rush that I forgot.”

“If you’re going to torment yourself that much, then you can pay me back for your stuff, but I’m gonna pay for mine. And anyway, I barged in on your secret spot in the first place, so seriously, don’t let it eat at you.”

We argued back and forth until we finally agreed that Hoshimiya would only pay me back for her portion.

“Okay, then you can get it back to me next—” I began.

“No. Can I give it to you now?” she asked.

“Right now?” I checked the clock in my room. It was already past 10 p.m. There’s no way Hoshimiya can go outside right now. It’s way past her curfew.

“This is the closest station to your place, right?”

As she said that, I received a message from her. It was a picture of my town’s station sign. The sky was dark—it had been taken at night. I doubted Hoshimiya had ever come to such a backwater, empty train station before. The fact that she had sent me a picture instead of just saying the name meant she was there right now. 

“I ran away from home. So I don’t have a curfew anymore,” Hoshimiya stated matter-of-factly.

My brain stopped working. Wh-What am I supposed to do here?! C-C-C-Calm down, Haibara Natsuki! I can ask her about what happened later. It’s dangerous for Hoshimiya to be alone in the middle of nowhere at an empty train station at night. I should meet up with her first and then hear what she has to say.

“W-Wait right there for me!” I yelled and then hurtled out the door without hanging up the phone.

***

The nights were cool, but sweating was a matter of course when running was involved. I arrived at my town’s station dripping with sweat. Maybe I hadn’t needed to rush this much, but I was so flustered that walking wasn’t an option. We were in the sticks, but thankfully there was still one streetlight lit.

I found Hoshimiya sitting on the stone stairs. Her expression was bleak, but I was relieved to see her safe. She stood up when she saw me approaching.

After a moment, she said, “Natsuki-kun, I’m sorry for coming without asking first.”

“Nah, it’s fine...but were you serious about running away from home?” I replied.

“Yeah. Papa and I had a bit of a spat. I couldn’t stand being there anymore, so I ran away.” Hoshimiya laughed sheepishly. She was clearly forcing herself to smile. “Anyway, here’s what I owe you.” She held out a one thousand yen bill, and I took it.

“You...came all the way here just for this?” I questioned.

“If... If I say yes, will you believe me?”

“I can pretend I do.”

“Sorry... I’m lying. I actually came here because I wanted to see you. I’m terrible for using my own mistake as an excuse to be here. I’m really sorry... I’m hopeless... No matter what I do, it’s always like this.”

Hoshimiya’s head is not in a good place right now. I don’t think it’ll go well if I tell her she should go home. I should stay with her right now. Once she’s calmed down, I’ll listen to her, and we can think of a solution together. But we can’t hang around the station late at night either. 

“Don’t worry, Hoshimiya. It’s all good,” I assured her. But what should we do? It’s almost time for the last train. If she’s going to take the train home, then she has to take the next one. But if she does get on, where will she go? She can’t go home. “Do you want to come over to my house for now?”

That was the only option I could think of in my rural town. My mom was coincidentally staying with our grandma today, so she wasn’t home. Though, my little sister would be there. Hoshimiya looked at me apologetically, but after some hesitation, she nodded.

She’s probably got no one else to turn to. I’m curious as to why she didn’t rely on Nanase, though. As a guy, I’d be over the moon if she chose me over Nanase, but realistically speaking, I bet that’s not what happened.

We walked side by side in silence down the summer night road, Hoshimiya following me as I led the way to my home. This situation is like something out of a dream, but I can’t feel happy about the circumstances. I’m simply worried about Hoshimiya. She’s kept her head down this whole time. It doesn’t look like she’s decided what to do next—she’s not thinking straight. 

And there’s another problem... It’s easy for her to say she ran away, but she’s a girl, and it’s nighttime. I wouldn’t be surprised if the police got involved. It’s honestly risky for me to invite her to my house in this situation.

“Hoshimiya, um...” I began carefully.

Sensing the hesitation in my voice, she spoke up. “I don’t think he’ll report this to the police,” she said. “If he did, it’d affect our family’s reputation negatively, after all.”

“I...see.”

“I’m sure he’s looking for me right now. He probably thought I went to Yuino-chan’s house, which is why he didn’t care that I left, but he should have figured out I’m not there, and he’s probably searching for me in a panic now.”

“Is that why you came to my place?”

“Yes, papa thinks Yuino-chan is the only person I can rely on, after all. I’m sorry for getting you wrapped up in all this. At first, I figured I’d run away on my own. I planned to ride the train until I got somewhere far away, but then I thought of you and I realized I didn’t pay for my drinks at the café, so I used that as a reason to come here, and now here I am depending on you.” Hoshimiya’s voice trembled as she spoke. She sounded like she might break out into tears at any moment.

“It’s fine. Please, depend on me. Friends help each other out when they’re in a bind.” Well, that sounded corny, but I really meant it. Besides, I don’t think the fault lies with Hoshimiya. I think Sei-san is the real cause here. Though, I won’t know for sure until I hear the details.

“It’s...scary.” Hoshimiya held her quivering arms as she walked. “It’s been a long time since I tried to rebel against papa.”

“Hoshimiya...”

“When I was younger, every time I disobeyed papa, he’d harshly reprimand me. Since then, I started living the way he told me to. You know... I’ve always been his little puppet.”

I’ve never seen her family dynamic, but somehow I can imagine. I got that impression based on how Hoshimiya and Sei-san interacted at the mall.

“Natsuki-kun, you saw, right? The kind of person he is.”

“Yeah,” I said after a beat. I know what kind of person he is a lot more than you might expect. He’s definitely not the type of guy that’d respect what his daughter wants.

“I’ve been acting as his ideal daughter my whole life. There was no point in defying him. I didn’t do anything he disliked, I gave up on the things I wanted, and I became someone he liked.” Hoshimiya moved up past me and continued talking as she peered up at the sky. “Did you know that I used to be a dreary, meek, and plain girl?”

She spun around and smiled brightly at me. “He hated the old me, so I stopped acting like that. I became cheerful, energetic, and cute—a popular girl who smiles at anyone and everyone at school... And that’s who I am now.”

I knew she was putting up a front, but her smile was no different from her usual one.

She suddenly erased all the emotion from her visage. “Maybe it’s because I’ve been writing since I was young. I didn’t find it hard to act as the personalities I’d created. I couldn’t do well when it came to my studies or sports, no matter how hard I tried, but once my personality and appearance were to my papa’s liking, he stopped getting mad at me.”

I’d heard this story from Nanase already, but the gravity of the situation felt heavier hearing it come from Hoshimiya herself. The girl standing before me was a Hoshimiya Hikari that I didn’t even know.

“Hey, Natsuki-kun... Aren’t I cute?” She stood in front of me with a faint smile.

I stopped walking and nodded.

“I worked hard to become this cute. If I couldn’t be cute, then papa would despise me. I actually wanted to become someone beautiful and cool, but papa prefers me like this.”

Suddenly, memories of Hoshimiya flashed through my mind.

“Ah ha ha, just kidding! I like androgynous fashion myself. I’ll buy men’s clothing too if it catches my fancy. I’m happy you think I look cool!”

“But I do want people to think I’m beautiful, and I’m still working on that.”

“Well... It’s embarrassing. I wouldn’t like it if someone asked me to show them... Plus, writing novels isn’t a popular hobby. I don’t want people to think I’m weird.”

I’d felt that there was something inconsistent about her before. There was a disconnect in how she carried herself compared to her hobbies and preferences. It wasn’t major enough that it weighed on my mind. The discrepancy had only made me think that people just had those sorts of dissonances or gaps in their personalities. But after hearing her speak now, everything was falling into place, and I was finally understanding her.

“So, Natsuki-kun. Are you disappointed?”

I shook my head back and forth. “Of course not. To me, you’ll always be Hoshimiya.”

“Even if I only said all this because I calculated that’s how you’d respond?”

“It’s true that I don’t know this side of Hoshimiya Hikari,” I began. “But everyone has secrets or facets that they want to hide from others. Humans have a lot going on inside. I’ve got plenty too. I don’t care if you have a bit more to hide than others.”

I have sides that I don’t want to show everyone else too. I’ve been exposed a little because of the Tatsuya incident, but obviously I’m still hiding more. And I haven’t told anyone that I’m a time traveler from seven years in the future. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that. Laying everything out doesn’t guarantee there’ll be a positive outcome.

“Natsuki-kun...” Hoshimiya stood still, nonplussed.

I walked past her. “Let’s go. We’re almost to my house.”

The streets were empty, but this wasn’t the sort of conversation we should be having in the middle of a residential area. I was still lost as to how to handle the situation, and there were probably kinder words I could’ve offered her, but I chose to follow my heart. That’s why though my words may have sounded cold, I didn’t think I had made a mistake.

***

I opened the door when we got to my house. No one greeted me, which meant Namika was probably reading manga in the living room or something. Perfect! We can get to my room before she notices.

“Thanks for having me,” Hoshimiya whispered nervously.

I lifted my finger to my lips, and the two of us quietly sneaked up to the second floor. I led her to my room and gave her the chair to sit in. I took a seat on my bed. Hoshimiya curled up on the chair and restlessly surveyed the area.

“So this is what your room looks like.”

I’m glad I tidied up my room. I happened to do a huge summer cleanup recently because of my newly received vacation downtime.

“This is my first time in a boy’s room. It’s quite well-kept,” she commented.

“Y-Yeah, right? Mm-hmm. It is indeed well-kept.” I nodded too enthusiastically as the nerves started setting in. It’s late at night. I’m in my room...with the girl I love. Just the two of us! 

“Why’re you talking like that?” Hoshimiya asked with a chortle.

My desk chair... Dresser, bed, bookshelf... Nice, they all look normal, I thought as I checked my room for any problematic items. Maybe my bookshelf has too many books and manga, but that’s about it.

“Oh, this series is really interesting!” She picked out a light novel from my shelf and flipped through it. She may have been a mystery buff, but in the end, she was a bibliophile like me, who’d read anything. “It’s fun perusing through other people’s books. You can tell what they’re into.”

“If you look too closely, I’m gonna get shy.”

Hoshimiya giggled. “Yep, you really are an otaku, Natsuki-kun. I knew you were one already, but it’s starting to sink in. Oh, you have the complete set of Shino’s Journey. This series was super good too!”

Hoshimiya looked like she was having the time of her life as she gleefully rummaged through my bookshelf. I guess she’s not thinking about anything else except for books. I need some more time to get used to her being in my room too. Let’s take a moment to calm down... Right as I thought that, the door to my room opened.

“Ah,” I uttered.

“Hey, onii-chan. Lend me the next volume of Maruto—” Namika strolled in with a super popular ninja manga tucked under her arm. She completely froze, blinking at Hoshimiya, who was standing in front of my bookshelf.

“G-Good evening?” Hoshimiya awkwardly bowed hello.

“Uh, um, yes... Er, good evening.” Namika’s mind was not totally with her, but she successfully managed to return the greeting. “W-Well, s-sorry for bothering you,” she mumbled, backing out of the room with the super popular ninja manga still tucked under her arm, and closed the door.

Hoshimiya and I looked at each other, and we both smiled wryly. Welp, I knew it would be impossible to hide, and I did mean to explain to Namika... Now that I put it off, it’s going to be a pain to explain! But you gotta do what you gotta do. I stood up.

Hoshimiya lowered her head apologetically. “Sorry for the bother.”

“It’s fine. She’ll get it if I explain.” I didn’t really believe that, but I wanted to reassure Hoshimiya regardless.

***

I went down to the living room, and Namika immediately grabbed me by the collar.

“Wh-Wh-Who was that?! Was that your girlfriend?!” she cried.

“No. Some stuff happened on her end, so I brought her over. She might stay the night,” I explained.

“Isn’t that even worse if she’s not your girlfriend?!”

“There’s a lot going on, okay? She’s my friend from school.”

“I never thought you’d ever bring a girl over...and one so cute!”

“Heeey? Are you listening?”

“What should I do? Should I call mom?”

“No, don’t... It’ll be a pain to explain. She’s not going to come home until tomorrow night, anyway.” Strictly speaking, I wanted to avoid my mom contacting Hoshimiya’s parents.

“O-Okay. Leave it to me, onii-chan!” Namika was getting giddy for reasons beyond me, and she gave me a thumbs-up.

Has she lost all her marbles?

“Um, should I sleep in the living room today?” she asked timidly.

It was an enigmatic question, and I furrowed my brows in confusion. But then, it hit me.

My sister and I slept on the second floor, and the living room was on the first floor.

“’Cause...y’know...the noise and stuff,” Namika mumbled, red-faced.

I poked her head, hard. “I told you, she’s not my girlfriend!”

“Then...she’s just a casual partner?!”

“Cool it, dumbass. We’re not gonna do anything like that, so stop worrying.”

I patted Namika’s head, and she gradually calmed down. She gasped when she came back to her senses and swatted my hand away. “Gross!” she exclaimed, blushing.

If you hate it that much, your onii-chan will be sad...

“Hey, wait, isn’t she Hoshimiya Hikari-san?” Namika asked once she’d fully regained her composure.

I was surprised by her question. “You know her?”

“Oh, she really is! I’ve seen her on Minsta before. She’s famous for being the cutest girl at Ryomei. The boys in my class look at Hoshimiya-san’s Minsta all the time.”

I didn’t know Hoshimiya was that famous... Namika’s middle school is far away and has no connection to ours. Though, I know she has an impressive following, and her posts definitely do get a lot of likes.

“Wow, the real deal is super cute... Can I meet her again?” Namika asked bashfully.

“Go to sleep already,” I replied and went back upstairs.

***

When I returned to my room, Hoshimiya was zoning out at the ceiling. She sat on the carpet with her back against my bed.

“Did you persuade your little sister?” she asked.

“Yeah, I managed,” I replied and sat down next to her.

Silence descended upon the room, and the reality of the situation suddenly dawned on me. It’s humid, so I’d better turn on the AC. I’m sticky with sweat because I ran to the station too. I need a bath...and not just me, Hoshimiya too. I tried not to think about it, but there’s nowhere else for her to go at this time of night. Which means...Hoshimiya has to sleep here.

“Are you gonna stay over?” I should’ve brought that up much earlier, but better late than never.

“Yeah,” she said with a nod.

“Then you probably want to wash up, right? I’ll go get a towel and a change of clothes for you.”

“Oh, I have clothes with me. I was planning on staying at a hotel after running away.” Hoshimiya patted the backpack under her arm.

I thought her backpack looked bigger than it had earlier today. So it’s actually full of stuff? Looks like she didn’t just get carried away and run away off the cuff. “Bath’s on the first floor.”

“Okay.”

It felt like the two of us were being very succinct with each other for some reason. I was stiffening up from nerves, and perhaps Hoshimiya was too. We went downstairs, and I led her to the bathroom. The living room lights were off—Namika had returned to her room. Hoshimiya placed her change of clothes next to the washing machine.

“The towels are over there. Feel free to use the shampoo and whatnot.”

Hoshimiya nodded.

“Cool... Then I’ll wait in the living room,” I said and skedaddled out of the bathroom.

The thought that Hoshimiya was going to take a bath in my house called to mind some uninvited imagery. To rid myself of those fantasies, I turned on the living room lights and TV. I picked up the remote and flipped to a music channel, but I couldn’t focus at all.

I could hear muffled shower noises coming from the bathroom. I closed the door to the living room, somehow successfully shutting out the distraction. Taking a slow, deep breath, I switched mental gears.

Hoshimiya is in a delicate state right now. That’s why she came to me for help. She’s depending on me, so I mustn’t think wicked thoughts! I am going to be someone she can rely on. Determination renewed, I continued watching the music show, though I could barely comprehend what I was listening to as time ticked by.

I didn’t know how long I’d spent in a stupor. Suddenly, I heard a knocking sound, and the door to the living room opened.

“Thanks for letting me use your bath,” Hoshimiya said when she came in, hair still damp.

She wasn’t wearing pajamas, but an oversized white T-shirt and cotton shorts. Her shorts were quite...short, so for a brief instant, I’d thought she was only wearing a T-shirt. Alluring thighs peeked out from underneath those two thin layers.

I unwittingly gulped.

“Hey, is there an outlet I can use?” Hoshimiya looked around the room, showing no signs of noticing the turmoil inside my mind. She held a dryer in her hand. It wasn’t ours, so she must’ve brought it with her.

“There’s one over there.” I pointed next to the sofa I was on.

Hoshimiya sat down beside me and began drying her hair. “Natsuki-kun, are you going to take a bath too?”

“Y-Yeah... Right. Okay, I’ll go take one now,” I said and fled from the living room, but now I had to face a different problem in the bathroom.

Well, what else can I say? When I imagine using a shower that Hoshimiya’s just used... It’s very you-know-what. And how can I not breathe in that sweet, lingering fragrance... Th-This is bad! Don’t think about anything!

I am the void. Right here, right now, I will reach zen. I will reach mushin... I put myself through the stringent mental training that I’d seen in battle manga and somehow finished showering safely.

***

After Hoshimiya finished drying her hair in the living room, the two of us returned to my room.

“We have a floor futon for guests, but where do you want to lay it out?” I asked her, opening the closet to double-check it was there. Hoshimiya’s a girl, so she might be scared to sleep in the same area as me. My parents won’t be home tonight, so we can bring the futon down to the living room.

I gave her a rundown of her options, and she shook her head. “I want...to stay here with you,” she replied, voice shaking.

I nodded wordlessly and laid the futon atop the carpet next to my bed. Hoshimiya took a seat on it, hugging her knees to her chest. I picked up the barley tea I’d snagged from the fridge earlier, poured it into a cup, and handed it to her.

“It’s... It’s cold,” she commented, sipping it slowly.

I sat on my bed, looking down at Hoshimiya, who was leaning against the side of the bed frame. I glanced at her smartphone screen—it was filled with missed calls.

After a moment, she murmured, “I should call them.”

“Yeah... You should at least let them know you’re safe,” I answered in agreement.

Just as I said that, she received another call. Displayed on the screen was, unsurprisingly, “Hoshimiya Sei.” She’d put her phone on vibrate, so although the call continued to flash on her screen, it made no noise.

“I’d better answer,” she said. Her face was pale, and her hands trembled.

I got down from the bed, taking a seat next to her. I grasped her free hand in mine and squeezed it encouragingly. She looked at me in surprise, but then gave me a firm squeeze in return.

“Hello?” she answered.

“Hikari?! Where are you right now?! I’ve been so worried!” Her father sounded considerably panicked.

He sounds sincere at least.

“I’m sorry.”

“Stop fooling around with this running away nonsense and come home this instant! Tell me where you are, right now! I’ll come get you!” he bellowed. Disregarding the actual contents of his words, not an ounce of kindness dwelled in his tone.

Hoshimiya’s slender fingers tightened around my palm. “Listen, papa... I’m not coming home.” Though her voice shook, her declaration was adamant.

“Hikari? Where is this attitude coming from? Is it because I told you to stop dabbling in writing novels? I said that for your sake. You should do something more worthwhile with your life. Surely you understand that? I know you’re a reasonable girl.”

“Stop dabbling in writing novels”? He told her what? “Do something more worthwhile”? What the hell is he saying?! His daughter’s been writing since she was a kid, and here he’s dismissing all her hard work for such a stupid reason?

“You’re wrong, papa. I’m not that kind of girl. I’ve just been suppressing the real me until now.”

“What are you saying? I don’t remember raising you to speak that way.”

“That’s right. I never intended to tell you how I feel because I’d already given up on just about everything. I thought it’d be better if I did whatever you said. After all, as long as I didn’t defy you, you wouldn’t get mad at me. I thought there was nothing else for me to do, even if I didn’t have as much freedom as other kids,” Hoshimiya said. She took a breath and then continued, almost yelling now. “But I can’t keep this up; I can’t give up on everything! Papa, even if you tell me no, this is something I want to do no matter what! I can’t stop writing after all the time I’ve poured into my novels. My dream is to be an author, and I won’t give up!”

“Hikari, I’ll say it a thousand times if I have to: I’m thinking about you—”

“Also! I want to hang out with everyone else. I want to go to the beach with them too! This is...the first time I’ve ever made such wonderful friends. I won’t distance myself from them—not a chance!”

Distance herself? What’s this about?

“What... What selfish drivel! Do you honestly think it’s acceptable for you to act this way?!”

“Why can’t I be selfish? Let me spread my wings more,” Hoshimiya said and hung up.

A hush fell over us, and all I could hear was the chirping of crickets from outside. Our hands were still intertwined; Hoshimiya showed no sign of letting go. She just continued to stare at her phone. Then, as if remembering something, she opened RINE and sent, “I’m at my friend’s house so don’t worry.” The recipient was not Sei-san, but her mom.

I couldn’t think of anything tactful to say, so I remained silent. I sat there and continued holding her hand—continued showing her that she wasn’t alone.

“I’ve tried to not treasure anything,” Hoshimiya said after a while. “As long as I didn’t care, I could give it up easily. In fact, I’ve already given up on most things. There wasn’t much I wanted in the first place...but it looks like I couldn’t become a doll.”

She paused for a moment before continuing. “Because there are things I just can’t give up on.”

As far as I was concerned, her ambition was exactly how youth had to be.

Hoshimiya let go of my hand and took out a sheaf of papers from her backpack. It was the draft I had read today. “I didn’t used to have friends, so books were my solace. I naturally came to love reading. Then, I started daydreaming and scrawling ideas on paper...and just like that, I fell in love with writing too. I want people to read my work and enjoy it. I want my words to reach lots of people... And eventually, I want to become an author.”

She traced the letters she had composed on her manuscript with a finger. “Today, after I left the café...I made it home before my curfew.” Little by little, she began to recount what had happened to spur her to disobey Sei-san and run away from home. “But papa was very upset for some reason...and he was already unhappy because of my lie about the trip.”

Though she hadn’t missed her curfew, it had been extremely close. Seeing how late Hoshimiya had returned, Sei-san interrogated her about what she’d been up to all day. She answered him honestly, telling him that she’d been writing a novel at the café—and that her friend had been there too.

Sei-san hadn’t held Hoshimiya’s hobby in high regard from the beginning, so he used this as an opportunity to order her to stop writing. I’d overheard him say something similar on the phone, but earlier he’d told her that she should be spending her time on more important pursuits, like studying, sports, and self-improvement.

She refused and shook her head, giving Sei-san a huge surprise. Hoshimiya always immediately conceded to his mandates, so it was unthinkable that she’d ever resist. He tried to persuade her, but Hoshimiya hated the idea so much that she refused to listen. Then and there, she’d told him that she wanted to be an author.

“His face looked so dumb. He must’ve been thunderstruck. I’d never told anyone that I wanted to be an author before, not even Yuino-chan... Until I told you today, Natsuki-kun.”

Of course, Sei-san had not taken this well. “I’ve never heard you mention this before! That profession is unstable. You won’t know if you’ll be able to succeed! It’s extraneous work!”

“Natsuki-kun, I’m grateful to you. I’ve been lying to myself this whole time. When I told you what I wanted to do, I finally became confident that writing was my dream—my future.”

Though Hoshimiya had been afraid of how Sei-san might react, she’d remained steadfast. But that made him want to restrict her more, rather than accept her determination. “Distance yourself from your friends,” he’d said.

“Because of the trip, he thought you guys were bad influences on me,” she explained. “Obviously, I told him I didn’t want to.”

“Then you must pick one to give up,” Sei-san had insisted, thinking he could control his daughter by forcing her to make a choice.

“I thought about it for a bit. If it had been the old me, I might’ve chosen to separate myself from my friends. I would’ve put up a wall between us by acting superficial... But both things are precious to me now,” Hoshimiya said. “Yuino-chan has always been with me...and after meeting you, Uta-chan, Reita-kun, and Tatsuya-kun... Before I knew it, I was so close to you guys and loved all of you.”

She turned to me, a faint smile playing on her lips. “I mean it. I could never bring myself to leave you guys now. It might not look like it, but I want to stay with you all.”

However, Sei-san would not yield. Hoshimiya hadn’t been confident that she could convince Sei-san in a quarrel. So she ran away from home as a show of retaliation.

“Yeah... I can’t believe he told you that! I can’t imagine life without you around,” I said.

“You’re so sly, Natsuki-kun, always spewing cool stuff like that.”

“I’m not trying to sound cool; I’m being honest! I mean that as a friend, you know?”

“Mm-hmm... I know. Thanks, it makes me really happy.”

The clock’s hands had moved right past midnight in the blink of an eye. We were engrossed in deep conversation, so neither of us had noticed how late it had become.

“We should sleep,” I suggested.

“Yeah.”

I left Hoshimiya’s side and got into bed. I heard rustling from the futon as she wormed her way under the blankets.

“Is it okay to leave the AC on while we sleep?”

“Yeah. But could you make it a bit warmer?”

“Do you like having a light on?”

“I prefer total darkness.”

“Got it. Well then, g’night, Hoshimiya.”

“Good night, Haibara-kun.”

I turned the light off and covered myself with a thin blanket. Normally I would be asleep by now, but my eyes were wide open, and I didn’t feel like I’d doze off anytime soon. The reason was self-explanatory: I sensed someone else in the room. I could hear clothes rustling and muted breathing—the girl I loved was sleeping in my room!

Suddenly, Hoshimiya whispered, “Natsuki-kun, are you still awake?” Apparently she wasn’t sleepy either.

“What’s up?”

“You know, I like you, Natsuki-kun.”

Oh, really? She likes Natsuki-kun, huh? Wait, she likes Natsuki-kun? She likes...me? Hoshimiya likes me?! Say what?! Why in the world?! What the hell just happened?!

“I like you and everyone else too. I love you guys.”

Oh, yes, of course... That’s what she meant. Like, “as a friend,” right? ’Course. I knew that from the get-go. I wasn’t shaken up in the slightest. Obviously!

“To tell the truth, I didn’t really like you much in the beginning.”

“Urgh... R-Really?” It felt like I’d just been stabbed with a knife.

“You seemed like a poser and acted kinda suspicious, but you were surprisingly optimistic, and you were really good at school and sports, even though you didn’t seem to try very hard. It was like you could do no wrong, and your face kinda irritated me.”

“S-S-Slow down... Can you stop there? My mental strength is as fragile as glass,” I said weakly.

Hoshimiya giggled.

So that’s what she thought of me? I... I see... And here I thought she had a relatively positive impression of me thanks to my cleaned-up appearance. The human heart truly is difficult to understand!

“But you know, after I saw your squabble with Tatsuya on the roof, I suddenly felt closer to you. I thought, ‘Oh, here’s someone who might be like me.’”

“I’m not too sure about all that... I’m just putting up a bold front.”

I always acted with caution and prudence, and I could only excel because I had seven extra years of experience that no one else knew about. That didn’t mean my personality had changed much for the better.

“Well, you were plain and gloomy like me originally. I could identify with that, though maybe you don’t understand what I mean.”

“Even if you tell me that you used to be a gloomy and meek girl, I just can’t imagine it.” Right now, Hoshimiya was the cheerful, bright, slightly clumsy, beautiful, and popular idol of our school.

“Here, look at this. It’s kinda embarrassing though.”

I heard her squirming under the blankets and looked over. She was holding up her phone from below, the screen shining brightly in the darkness of my room. Displayed there was a photo of a girl in elementary school. Her hair was so long that it veiled her face, and she wore tacky glasses.

“Huh? Is that you, Hoshimiya?”

“Yeah. This is from back when I didn’t have a single friend.”

“Wow... You... Uh, yeah, this is very unexpected.”

“Yep, my disguise is impeccable. Go ahead and praise me!” she said gleefully with a smug laugh.

Is the cheerfulness also a part of your disguise? “Don’t you get tired of acting like that?” I asked. After all, I was very familiar with the feeling. When I first started putting up a front, I’d found it fairly exhausting. I focused too hard on being perfect and feared showing my true self to others. It was thanks to Miori’s encouragement that this was no longer a problem.

“I dunno... I guess I’m used to it already. I don’t feel uncomfortable,” she said. Then, words spilled out of her like little drops of rain. “I wonder which is the real me.”

The cold tone of her remark had come from a Hoshimiya I didn’t know. The girl with a warm, cheerful timbre to her voice and a bright smile on her face was nowhere to be found. Today I was witnessing many facets of her.

“Anyway, after that happened, you gradually showed us your true nature, and I wanted to learn more about the real you. Then, you chatted with me about the novels and movies I like... And I thought, ‘Aha! He really does sound like an otaku, how funny!’”

“Oh, quiet! You’re one to talk. When you go on about stories, you sound like an otaku too. I don’t see you trying to disguise that—you’re just a normal otaku girl.”

“Sh-Shut up! What’s wrong with that?! Won’t the school idol seem easier to talk to if she’s got one hobby like that? I definitely didn’t talk about them because I wanted—”

“Hoshimiya... Do you think you’re the school’s idol?” Well, it is true. But it sounds like she fancies herself as one.

I heard something flumping on the floor and looked over to see Hoshimiya wrapped up in her blanket, rolling around.

“Natsuki-kun... You tricked me!” she exclaimed, voice thick with spite.

Hey, that’s a false accusation! “No way, you set yourself up.” I feel like she’s treating me coldly now. Does that mean we’re closer? At any rate, at least I don’t feel nervous anymore!

“I guess you could say I think that... But it’s more like I’m playing the role of the school idol,” Hoshimiya said, her voice fading to a whisper at the end. She appeared quite embarrassed as she continued to roll around, cocooned in the blanket with her face buried in a pillow.

“Don’t you feel hot like that?” I asked.

“I do... Shut uuup,” she said sulkily.

I inadvertently chuckled.

“I’m going to sleep. Please don’t talk to me anymore.”

She was the one who’d initiated the conversation, but I complied and closed my eyes. “Okay, okay.”

After I’d kept my eyes shut for a while, I finally started feeling drowsy. I surrendered myself to slumber, my consciousness sinking to the bottom of the sea. I thought I heard a quiet whisper just before drifting off.

“Thank you for helping me.”

***

When I opened my eyelids, a bespectacled Hoshimiya was peering at me. “Oh, you’re up? Good morning!”

Am I dreaming? I must be. Good night!

“Aw, he went back to sleep.”

I tried to delude myself into thinking that I was sleeping, but apparently this was not a product of my imagination. I’d better wake up and face reality. I opened my eyes once more, meeting Hoshimiya’s gaze. She was so close—enough that I could feel her breath on me.

“Morning,” I managed to fumble out.

Hoshimiya giggled, her hand covering a little smile.

Is she an angel? It’s almost despicable how pretty she is. I can’t handle the destructive force packed inside her beauty when I’ve only just woken up! I slowly sat up and checked the time. Because we had chatted late into the night yesterday, I’d overslept. Normally, I’d be making breakfast by now.

“Natsuki-kun, you’re cute when you’re sleeping,” she remarked blithely and poked my cheek.

Hey! You darn flirt! But at least now I know that she’s acting with some self-awareness. After all, she calls herself the school’s idol. Yeah, just a self-proclaimed one! That’s why I won’t fall for...such a measly... Sh-Shit! She’s too damn cute!

“What’s wrong?” Hoshimiya asked. “Your face is red.”

It irked me that I was in the palm of her hands, so I launched a counterattack and poked her cheek in return. She jolted up in surprise.

“H-Hoshimiya... You’re cute today too,” I stuttered out, voice trembling. My remark came out spectacularly creepy.

We both sat there in silence. Oh, boy, the mood is so awkward now... M-Maybe I shouldn’t have done that. Hoshimiya had turned to stone, blushing hard. Wow... Was I really that cringe? I’m so sorry! I got carried away.

“O... Onii-chan?” I heard a voice call from the door.

Hoshimiya and I hurriedly backed away from each other. Suddenly, the door cracked open with Namika peeking out from behind. Dude, knock first!

Her face reddened as she kept glancing between me and Hoshimiya. “Um, where’s breakfast?”

Dear sister, make it yourself sometimes.

***

I went down to the kitchen and threw something together for us.

“Is there anything I can help with?” Hoshimiya asked.

“In that case, can you take out the barley tea?” I replied.

“Okaaay!”

She turned to the fridge, but Namika cut in. “No! Just sit tight right here! Onii-chan will handle everything!”

“At the very least, shouldn’t you offer to do it?” I retorted.

“Now, now,” Namika said as if to calm me.

You’re not tricking anyone with that act! I don’t mind doing it, but you could at least try to come up with a more creative response.

An amused smile spread across Hoshimiya’s face as she watched our sibling banter. “Natsuki-kun, you’re so different at home. It’s a new experience.”

“Really?”

“You’re so polite to everyone at school, after all.”

“Hmm. I feel like I’ve been easing off of that act lately... Well, I guess I am polite compared to how I treat my family.”

“Huh? What the heck? Be more polite to me too then!” Namika piped up with displeasure.

I ignored my sister’s complaints and cracked eggs into the frying pan. While I cooked a simple breakfast for the three of us, Hoshimiya and Namika chatted. My sister jabbered awkwardly, so Hoshimiya adapted to her communication style with a gentle smile.

“So... Are you dating my brother? I wouldn’t recommend him.”

“Really? I think Natsuki-kun is a good person.”

“Nope, no way. His real nature is like a villainous boss— Wait, you’re actually going out with him?!”

“Stop asking dumb questions, Namika. And Hoshimiya, don’t tease her; deny it!” I scolded the two.

Hoshimiya giggled. “Sorry, my bad.”

We continued chitchatting like this until breakfast was ready. The table had been set courtesy of Hoshimiya and Namika working together. I was amazed by how quickly girls could hit it off.

“Yay! Natsuki-kun’s home cooking!”

“Don’t get too excited. All I did was fry some eggs, ham, and sausages,” I warned her.

We had some leftover miso soup and extra rice in the freezer that I’d made yesterday too. It wasn’t exactly a spread that I’d call “cooking.”

Though I insisted it wasn’t much, Hoshimiya still looked overjoyed. “When everyone else visited you at work, I didn’t get to go, so let me be excited!”

For a moment I didn’t know what she was referring to, but then I remembered the first night that Tatsuya, Uta, and Reita had dropped by Café Mares while Nanase and I were on the clock.

Oh, yeah. If I recall correctly, Hoshimiya messaged the group, “No fair!” Even as far back as that time, she must’ve been holding herself back a lot. The little things she’s given up on have gradually snowballed until she almost had her dreams and friends snatched out of her hands...and by her own family, no less! I can’t believe her father, a man who’s raised her for so many years, would do that.

“Natsuki-kun?” Hoshimiya tilted her head quizzically to the side.

“It’s... It’s nothing.” I shook my head and began eating.

***

I’m on cloud nine because Hoshimiya’s at my house, but there’s still a problem: she can’t stay here forever. Now that she’s had a day to calm down, she needs to come up with a solution. I pondered in deep thought as I opened the door to my room.

“Ah! H-Hold on a sec!”

By the time I heard her, it was already too late. I froze for a moment, and all that slipped out of me was a silly-sounding, “Hwah?”

The first thing I glimpsed was a white bra, and then Hoshimiya’s arms quickly moved to cover herself up. However, there was clearly too much for her two limbs to hide, my attention stolen by a deep valley. Flustered, I lowered my gaze, but then I could see the small details of her stomach and the beautiful curves of her waist. As I continued dropping my eyes down to the ground, I also gleaned a certain area being covered by a piece of white triangular cloth, a pair of well-proportioned thighs, and—

“Um... Please don’t stare at me like that.” Hoshimiya’s voice was a faint whisper, as if she were about to disappear, and her face was crimson.

I snapped back to my senses. “I-I’m sorry!”

I hastily turned around and scrambled out the door, closing it behind me. My heartbeat pounded loudly like a drum. I heard clothes rustling from inside the room. The image of Hoshimiya in her underwear was burned into my eyes, and I couldn’t shut it out of my mind. But man! She may look slender in clothing...but she’s got even more there than I thought...

“You can come in now,” she called through the door.

I took a deep breath before entering again. Hoshimiya had changed into a pretty white dress.

“Um...sorry about that.”

“I’m sorry too. I thought I could quickly change while you were gone.” She didn’t seem angry, which was a relief, but her lips protruded in a discontented pout. “But you didn’t need to ogle at me for so long!”

Yes. You’re exactly right... I have no excuses.

“Perv,” Hoshimiya whispered.

I pretended like I hadn’t heard her and changed the topic. “So, what’s the plan for today?”

Her expression turned solemn. “I thought a lot last night.” She plopped down on my bed, so I sat next to her. “Nothing will change even if I run away.”

“Yeah... I doubt he’d change his mind so easily,” I said in agreement. Not that she needed my input—she knew Sei-san much better than I did.

Hoshimiya nodded. “That’s why I need to use this opportunity to persuade him. I have to stop thinking that resistance is futile.”

“That’d be great if you could convince him...but do you have a specific plan in mind?”

Hoshimiya groaned in reply, wearing a conflicted look on her face.

“Then let’s summarize the situation,” I said and put up a finger. “You left home to rebel against Sei-san. You did that because he disapproved of your hobby and dream. Plus, he told you to distance yourself from your friends. Is all that correct?”

She nodded.

Her problem could be divided into four separate matters that needed to be resolved: Sei-san had told her to quit her longtime hobby of writing novels. He wanted her to give up on becoming an author. He’d ordered her to stop hanging out with her friends. And finally, he put too many severe restrictions on her in general. I put up four fingers to represent each issue, and Hoshimiya nodded again when I’d finished running through her current predicament.

Sei-san had told her to quit writing novels because he thought her time should be spent on more meaningful things, like studying, sports, and so on. Similarly, he didn’t want her to become an author because that occupation didn’t suit his ideal image of a daughter. From his perspective, there were too many things that could go awry in the world of publishing, and there was no guarantee that she would succeed.

“I think we need a realistic answer to those two problems first,” I said. Hoshimiya blinked at me, confused as to what I was suggesting. “For example, you want to become an author, but that doesn’t mean you have to abandon your other options. You could make your publishing debut while leaving open the possibility for college and a regular job.”

What we needed wasn’t wishful thinking, but a realistic plan. Though Sei-san was extremely stubborn, he was a talented individual who would one day become the president of a large company. Trying to tug at his heartstrings with emotions wouldn’t work. We were more likely to get through to him with a logical argument.

“That’s what I’ve always intended on doing. I did some research on my own, but I know being an author is a harsh business where you can’t survive if you don’t sell. Even if I can get published, I still might have to work a second job.”

“Which means you’d need to juggle multiple jobs at once... What’s Sei-san think of that?”

“I haven’t told him. Yesterday was the first time I ever mentioned that becoming an author was my dream. I’ve told him before that I write novels, but it looks like he thought it was nothing more than a hobby.”

“Then maybe if we tell him what you’re thinking, he’ll accept your dream.”

Sei-san was the type to treat other people like pawns on his chess board, but that was because he believed if everyone listened to his instructions, it would lead to a better outcome. At least, that’s what I’d learned from my interview with him. But a company president has gotta be kinda unhinged to say stuff like that to a job-hunting student. Grudges aside, it is important for Hoshimiya to have confidence in her abilities.

The reason he fettered Hoshimiya with so many strict rules and treated her like a doll was probably on account of a similar thought process: he believed that his own judgment was superior to his daughter’s. If that was the case, then we had to disprove him. Hoshimiya had to show her father that she was a human being who could think for herself. I left out the details of my interview and explained that idea to her.

She frowned. “I wonder if I even can.”

I’m sure Sei-san loves his daughter. The way he shows it is pretty twisted, but he gives her directives because he cares about her a lot. If he didn’t, then he wouldn’t bother to comment on her behavior. If Hoshimiya wants to fight against his hold, his fatherly affection for her will be her path to victory.

“Okay, I’ll make papa believe in me,” she said, neatly summarizing her objective.

“If you can, then the third and fourth problems might be resolved too,” I added. If he trusts his daughter to make decisions, then he’ll stop getting on her case about her friends. Plus, he should go easier on her with all the rules. Though, he might not let up on the curfew.

“Natsuki-kun, you really are smart. No wonder you’re the top student in our grade.”

“Nah, I just organized the issue into concrete words. We can’t fix a problem if it’s vague.”

Define the issue then think of a plan—this was a process I had used many times for my research in college. Complaining about a situation wouldn’t change anything. It was important to tackle everything with a logical approach in order to reach a solution. I wonder how parents feel when their kids use that kind of adult logic on them.

“All right, then. I’ll start brainstorming ways to get papa to believe in me,” Hoshimiya declared resolutely, clenching her fists in front of her chest.

It’s probably best to let her think about how to do that for herself. I can give advice, but if I help too much, it’ll just end up becoming my idea, which wouldn’t be good for her.

“Hmm...” She immediately crossed her arms and began ruminating with a serious expression.

“Brainstorming is a good place to start, but do you wanna go somewhere you can get comfortable?” I asked. Namika is still home, and it’ll be annoying if she sticks her neck in this. That girl has too much free time!

“Oh, yeah. Good idea. Let’s go, then.”

So I began to make preparations to go outside as well. When I opened my closet, Hoshimiya marveled at its contents. “Oooh! Boys’ clothes!”

Besides the new clothes I bought, all my other outfits are lame, so please don’t look too close! I begged internally. “Hey, uh, I want to change now.”

“Natsuki-kun, you gawked at me when I was in the middle of changing.”

“Are you still mad at me for that?” I asked fearfully.

She laughed gleefully and then exited my room. I wish you’d stop making jokes that I can’t pick up on! Though the image of you in your underwear is burned into my retinas. I quickly changed clothes, told Namika we were heading out, and left.

Though the clouds shrouded the sun, we were enveloped in sticky humidity outside. It’s freaking hot today!

As if the thought had struck her out of nowhere, Hoshimiya remarked, “You know, you seem awfully familiar with my papa.”

“I...saw his profile on his company’s website.”

It was a lame excuse, but thankfully Hoshimiya just gave a small hum in reply.

***

My town didn’t have a single café or family restaurant, so we rode the train to Takasaki. We went to Hoshimiya’s favorite café, the one we’d been at yesterday.

“Welcome,” the reticent shopkeeper said and guided us to our table.

We sat in the same corner by the window as the day before. Hoshimiya opened her laptop and began making quiet thinking noises with a serious expression. I checked on her every now and then as I did my summer homework. I’d have just zoned out in boredom otherwise.

“Papa actually likes reading novels.” She stopped typing away and took a sip of coffee. “That’s what made me start reading. He had so many books in his study.”

“Then there’s hope that he’ll approve of your dream.”

“Yeah. I gave it more thought, and I’ll probably need a weapon to fight with.”

“A weapon?”

“Even if I try talking to him, I doubt he’ll listen to me. So I need something to demonstrate my skills. Something to show him that I have the talent to write. I’ll get him to say my novel is interesting.” She nodded firmly. “Yeah!”

Good point. One of the reasons Sei-san is against her dream is because there’s no surefire way to become an author. He probably even thinks that she can’t possibly become one. Hoshimiya’s “weapon” would help in that case. Once he realizes his daughter has talent, he might change his mind.

“Once I do that, we’ll finally be able to talk on the same level.”

Seeing his daughter’s talent will be a good way to make him believe in her capabilities and trust her sense of judgment too. “I think it’s a good idea,” I said with a nod.

Hoshimiya rummaged through her backpack and took out a stack of paper. It was the same draft she’d shown me yesterday. She gave it a light smack.

“I’m going to show papa this one. It’s my best work yet! If I fix the parts you pointed out, then he’ll definitely think it’s great. He enjoys stories just like I do, after all.”

Don’t you mean you like stories just like he does? I kept that thought to myself, though. “I’ll help you out. Well, all I can do is read it and tell you my opinions.”

“Thanks. I appreciate it, but I think you’ve done enough. I’ve relied on you so much already,” she replied. “You’re spoiling me with how nice you are.”

“I’m doing this for me, so don’t worry about it.”

I’m not lying. I’m just helping her out because I want to. I’m here because I want to learn more about her. Besides, I thought her novel was interesting, so I want to see it soar to even greater heights. I’m doing all this for my own benefit... Also, Sei-san pisses me off, so I want her to win against him. I don’t have a personal vendetta against him! Definitely not.

“That’s what all nice people say,” Hoshimiya murmured, her eyes glistening as if she were looking at something pretty. Then, she balled her hands in front of her chest to hype herself up. “All right! I’m gonna work my butt off!”

And so, she began revising her manuscript. I took a break from working on my summer homework to reread her novel one more time. I wanted to become Hoshimiya Hikari’s strength in this confrontation, even if only a little.

***

We pulled out all the stops to perfect Hoshimiya’s novel. She revised the parts that I’d specified, and for the trickier sections, we would put our heads together. We’d pick each other’s brains for ways to improve it, and once Hoshimiya was satisfied, she would rewrite it. Man... Creators really are something else. 

I was good at articulating the apparent weaknesses of a story. I could pick out what needed work by analyzing the composition and plot. But that didn’t mean I knew how to fix those problems. However, she would churn out ideas one after another regardless of quality. “I create a setting in my head and then let the characters go,” she simply said, but I couldn’t do that.

Hoshimiya looks really cool when she’s typing with that serious glint in her eyes. Maybe I should go ahead and get her autograph now.

While I was admiring her passion, my phone started ringing in my pocket. “Hmm?” I took it out. Displayed on the screen was a call from Nanase Yuino. Hoshimiya looked up at me questioningly. “I’m gonna take this outside,” I told her and left the café to answer.

“Hello, Haibara-kun,” Nanase said when I picked up.

“Hey. Are you possibly calling about Hoshimiya?” I asked.

“‘Possibly’? Of course I’m calling about her.”

“Are...you angry?”

“I’m not particularly angry. I heard from Hikari’s parents that she was missing, and even though I was worried sick, I didn’t get a single message from you. Why would I be angry?”

She’s angry, all right. “Sorry,” I said timidly. I was so preoccupied last night that I forgot about everything else.

“It’s fine. Hikari messaged me in the end. But I couldn’t believe it when she said she was staying at your house. Despite how oblivious she seems, she’s not a girl who trusts boys very easily.”

“Well, you know, Hoshimiya went through a lot... She was practically chased all the way out here.”

“I more or less know what happened, though I had to fill in some details for myself. What do you two intend to do now?”

“We’ve got a rough plan to resolve all this figured out.” I disclosed Hoshimiya’s idea to Nanase.

“I see,” she murmured. “Where are you? At the café I told you about?”

“Yeah. We’re at Coffee Café Ruby Mare.”

“Wait there with Hikari. I’m coming over right now,” Nanase stated and hung up.

She’s scarier than usual. Where’d the angelic Nanase go? It is my fault for not contacting her sooner. There was a brief moment where I thought to ask Nanase or Miori for advice, but I didn’t have time to explore that idea! Honest! Plus, it was really late at night too, I reasoned as I went back inside the café.

“Nanase’s coming here,” I told Hoshimiya when I got back inside the café.

“Huh?” she uttered, shrinking back in her seat. “W-Was... Was she angry?”

“I think so... Extremely angry.”

“E-Eep... I hung up on papa because he was aggravating, and then I got a call from Yuino-chan... I didn’t pick up because I panicked.”

The two of us waited for Nanase, trembling in our seats, until the door opened with a chime—Nanase had entered the store. She was wearing a beret tilted slightly on her head, a T-shirt with a muted pattern, and a miniskirt. Her long, slender legs were bare and beautiful.

“So hot...” she muttered, fed up with the summer weather.

“’S-Sup.”

“W-We’re over here!”

We both called out, our voices shaking with trepidation. She wordlessly strutted over. Hoshimiya’s side of the table was crowded with her laptop and backpack, so Nanase sat next to me. She called the shopkeeper over and ordered an iced caffè latte. Once she’d finished settling down, she finally fixed her attention on us.

“Hikari.”

“Y-Yes!” Hoshimiya flinched.

“Why didn’t you come to me for help?”

“Well, I’m always depending on you for everything... So I wanted to figure it out on my own since I bother you all the time.”

“You’re not a bother. Besides, you turned to Haibara-kun for help in the end. Isn’t that the same thing?”

“Urgh,” Hoshimiya whimpered. Nanase’s lecture was dealing some heavy damage. “I-I’m sorry.”

“To begin with, what were you thinking, sleeping at a guy’s place when you’re not even dating him? Are you listening, Hikari? Don’t you have any sense of self-preservation? You only made it out unscathed because Haibara-kun is a wimp.”

“Hey!” I interjected. Who’re you calling a wimp?! 

Nanase glared at me, her wrath now pointed directly at me. “And you! Couldn’t you have thought of something else?”

“Maybe, but it was late, and my town is in the middle of nowhere. Plus, I was pretty shaken up, so I wasn’t thinking straight,” I answered sheepishly. “Oh, but I didn’t do anything to her.”

“I know you didn’t do anything,” she replied.

Hoshimiya peered out the window and whispered, “He saw me in my underwear.”

You’re still mad at me about that?!

“Haibara-kun?” Nanase pulled my ear, an eerie smile pasted on her face.

“That was beyond my control!” I yelped. Oh, come on! That one was definitely Hoshimiya’s fault! Not mine! Okay, maybe I shouldn’t have committed the moment to memory!

“I’m sorry for worrying you,” Hoshimiya said, lowering her head deeply.

Nanase let out a long sigh. “It’s fine. What matters is that you’re safe.” Right when we’d all calmed down, her iced caffè latte was brought over. She took a sip to soothe her throat before she continued speaking. “I heard what happened from Haibara-kun over the phone. You’re rebelling against Sei-san, right?”

Hoshimiya nodded, her nerves showing on her face.

“But can you follow through? You couldn’t oppose him before, so do you think you can resist him now?” Nanase’s frigid voice was testing Hoshimiya. Her history with Hoshimiya and Sei-san ran much deeper, which was exactly why she wanted to see how prepared her friend was.

“Yes. After all, there are things that I absolutely don’t want to give up,” Hoshimiya said with determination.

Nanase examined her closely. “Very well. Then I’ll help too. Are you rewriting your manuscript?”

“Yeah. I think it’s improved quite a lot. Wanna read it, Yuino-chan?” Hoshimiya asked, but then hurriedly added, “Oh, but how will you read it?”

We were mostly done tweaking her novel, but we hadn’t printed it yet. Nanase could read it on the laptop, but then Hoshimiya wouldn’t be able to keep working, which would be an unproductive arrangement.

“We have a printer over there. Feel free to use it,” the shopkeeper said, wiping cups without looking at us. We looked in the direction indicated to find an old printer.

“Th-Thank you!” Hoshimiya exclaimed and immediately set to work printing her draft.

“Well, I was the one who told you to be by her side,” Nanase said to me as she watched Hoshimiya. “How’d it go? Did you help her?”

“Nah. I didn’t do anything. I just told her how I felt about her novel,” I replied.

“I see. We can leave your contribution at that, then.”

Afterwards, Nanase began reading Hoshimiya’s story, which had been revised many times and was filled with all her heart and soul. Hoshimiya fidgeted in her seat but rechecked her manuscript one more time. She carefully combed through each sentence for any typos or outlandish phrases. I assisted her in the final editing process.

Crimson hues tinged the sky, and by the time Nanase finished reading, night had fallen. “That...was enthralling,” she said pensively.

The nerves that had filled Hoshimiya flew out as her shoulders relaxed. “Thank goodness! I’m glad it was interesting.”

“Hoshimiya and I read it so many times that we weren’t sure anymore,” I remarked.

“Yeah! I kept asking myself, ‘Huh? Is this really okay?’” she piped up in agreement.

Nanase looked conflicted as she watched us buzz. “I’m not good at giving specific feedback. I truly enjoyed it. However...”

Sensing something amiss, Hoshimiya grew tense.

“Isn’t the protagonist basically you, Hikari?”

“Huh?” Hoshimiya froze.

Really? Mamika, the protagonist, is a plain and meek girl with superb deductive reasoning skills. There’s not much resemblance between her and the current Hoshimiya...but now that I think about it, there are similarities between her and the old Hoshimiya. The deductive reasoning part is just there because it’s a mystery novel.

“I think that’s fine.” Nanase flipped through the pages as she glanced between me and Hoshimiya. “But did you model the boy after Haibara-kun?”

Huh? She did?! This time, I was the one who froze, eyes wide as saucers. Mamika’s partner in action is a boy named Shintaro. He’s a popular and proactive kid from her class. Normally he wears a friendly smile, but he’s actually a coolheaded, prudent guy. How is that based on me?!

“I think you’re dead wrong there,” I told Nanase. Exasperated, she pointed at Hoshimiya, who was as red as a boiled lobster. When our eyes met, Hoshimiya immediately averted her gaze. “What’s wrong? Don’t tell me she’s actually right.”

“Sh-Sh-She’s not! Um, there’s no resemblance at all!” Hoshimiya spluttered.

“You didn’t have to deny it that strongly,” I replied, feeling a bit hurt. Why is she so rattled? Even if she did model him after me, what’s the problem...? But then I remembered: the protagonist, Mamika, fell in love with her partner, Shintaro, midway through the story. She was so smitten that he was practically all she could think about.

I felt my own cheeks heat up, and I couldn’t bring myself to look directly at Hoshimiya. An unbearable silence fell over the three of us. Hey, now, calm down. It’s just fiction in the end. Just because she wrote it that way doesn’t mean there’s any correlation with reality.

“Well, it doesn’t matter whether you used him as your model or not,” Nanase said.

If it doesn’t matter, then don’t casually toss out a bomb like that!

“Regardless of who you based this boy on, I think his personality is a bit flimsy. If he were to be modeled off of someone specific, then you could flesh him out a bit more so readers will find him more likable,” she explained. “That’s the only part that stuck out to me.”

The conversation halted with that. It’s good news that Nanase enjoyed the story and only had one thing to comment on. That’s not a hard problem to solve, and she even offered a solution. I had similar sentiments about Shintaro though I didn’t think it was crucial to fix, so I didn’t point it out. Even if Hoshimiya based him on me, he’s clearly been glorified a lot. If we adjust this part, then it’ll be the perfect manuscript. Should be easy enough...but how do I fix this awkward atmosphere?

“Then...Natsuki-kun. Can you, um, answer a few questions?” Hoshimiya asked.

“Of course... No problem at all,” I replied.

Nanase watched our timid exchange with an annoyed expression and then turned her attention to her watch. “Let’s stop here. It’s late, and Hikari missed her curfew a long time ago.”

“Oh, you’re right. I was so engrossed that I didn’t notice.” I glanced out the window. It was pitch-black outside.

“But what should I do? My manuscript isn’t complete yet,” Hoshimiya said.

If she went home now, Hoshimiya would inevitably quarrel with Sei-san. She wasn’t ready for that yet; she needed at least one more day to prepare. But she couldn’t stay at my place again since my mom would be home. It’s not impossible to persuade mom to let Hoshimiya sleep over, but I’m not sure how it’ll go. Knowing mom, she would definitely say something like, “I have to contact your friend’s parents to be safe!”

“Hikari, come home with me tonight,” Nanase said.

“Are you sure?”

“You can stay for just one night. Then, you have to go home tomorrow. My mom will be upset if she finds out I’m helping you run away from home, so let’s keep that part a secret.”

Yeah, good idea. That’s much more reasonable than her staying at my place.

“Thanks, Yuino-chan. I love you!” Overcome with emotion, Hoshimiya threw her arms around Nanase.

“Wait, Hikari, let go of me!” Nanase exclaimed. She was adorable when flustered.

With that, we went our separate ways.

***

Once I got home, I heard footsteps stampede towards me. Namika met me at the door and got on her tiptoes to look behind me.

“Where’s Hoshimiya-san?”

“She went home,” I replied, stretching the truth a little since she’d technically gone to Nanase’s.

“Whaaat? I wanted to see her again.” Namika pouted in displeasure and swiftly returned to her room.

I took a shower, ate the dinner that my mom had left for me, and flopped onto my bed with a full stomach. The first thing that I thought of was Hoshimiya’s scarlet face. The heroine is basically Hoshimiya, and the one she likes is a boy modeled after me. So...that means that, right?! It’s gotta mean that! I hope it’s that. I’m begging you, please let me be right for once. While I prayed, my phone started ringing—Hoshimiya Hikari was calling me.

“G-Good evening,” she said when I picked up.

“Y-Yo. Good evening.” She had sounded so nervous that it infected me.

“Are you busy right now?”

“Nope. I was just zoning out.”

“Seriously?” She giggled. “Anyway, can I ask you a bunch of stuff?”

“Sure, bring it on.” I’ll answer whatever you want as long as it’s not about my time leap. Come on! Ask me anything! My high school debut’s already been exposed, so I’m invincible now!

“Then... Natsuki-kun, what do you think of me?”

Uh... What? It felt like I’d been holding up a shield and someone had just run a sword through it. “What do I think? Um, what do you mean?”

She fell silent. Please, don’t clam up now!

“Erm, well... Like, your impression of me?”

“Easy. You’re kind and bright... Maybe the real you is a bit different, but at least in front of me, you seem energetic and cheerful. Also, you’re cute, and you’re a nice girl.” It started feeling like I was on the brink of confessing, so I hastily cut myself off. “Something like that?”

“R-Really? I see... Thanks.”

Was that okay? I wondered, but then Hoshimiya began to speak again. One after another, she showered me with questions like unending rain:

“Natsuki-kun, I can tell you really treasure your friends. Why is that?”

“Natsuki-kun, why did you want to go through a high school glow up?”

“Natsuki-kun, what’s your family like? I met your little sister yesterday, but can you tell me more?”

“Natsuki-kun, how do you normally spend your time? Like your hobbies and stuff.”

“Natsuki-kun, what were you like in middle school?”

“Natsuki-kun, what’s your favorite food? Ramen?”

“Natsuki-kun, do you want a girlfriend?”

“Natsuki-kun, what kind of girls do you like?”

“Natsuki-kun... Is there someone you like right now?”

After I’d answered all of her questions, I was granted a brief moment of silence to catch my breath. “I see,” she murmured. What did she see? I didn’t know.

Suddenly, I heard a piano playing in the background on her end. For a moment, I wondered if she was playing a video or something, but the music sounded too far away. “Is someone playing the piano?”

“Oh, you can hear that? Yuino-chan just started playing.”

I could tell she was skilled even over the phone as she played Hisaishi Joe’s “Summer.”

“I told her to play a summeresque song,” Hoshimiya explained.

“She chose a good one. And it sounds like you’re making great progress too.”

“Yeah. I got to hear my song request, so I should get back to work now.”

“Hoshimiya,” I said, stopping her from hanging up. But I wavered, unsure of what to say next. “I...”

When she’d asked me so many questions about myself, it had been a good opportunity for me to reflect upon myself. I’d wanted to answer everything honestly, but I couldn’t bring myself to be completely truthful about the last question. I admitted there was someone I had in mind, naturally, but I had left something unsaid: there were two people I’d fallen for. I loved them about the same amount, and I couldn’t make up my mind.

“I probably know what you’re thinking,” Hoshimiya said.

I stopped breathing for a moment. I was too scared to dig deeper into the meaning lurking beneath her words.

“Don’t worry. That has nothing to do with the story. Though, maybe it’ll help me paint the characters more clearly.” After that, we said our goodbyes and hung up.

It wouldn’t be surprising if she knew. I’m pretty obvious about how I feel towards Hoshimiya. Plus, it’s a fact that I went to the Tanabata festival with Uta—and anyone can tell that she likes me. But we’re not dating. If anyone would know the reason Uta and I aren’t a couple yet, it’d be Hoshimiya. Despite how she acts, she’s actually very observant... In the end, what does Hoshimiya think of me? I don’t think she hates me, and it actually seems like she’s fond of me...but is that love?

I was always the one who didn’t understand anything about other people.

***

The next day, I had a rare morning shift at Café Mares. After work, I ate lunch there and then briskly walked to the café we’d been at yesterday. Nanase and Hoshimiya were already at our usual spot by the window when I arrived.

“Natsuki-kun!” Hoshimiya beamed like a blossoming flower when she spotted me. “Excellent timing, I just finished the revisions! I think it’s perfect! I’m feeling really confident now!”

She was uncharacteristically worked up. I ran my eyes from the hyper Hoshimiya over to Nanase who simply shrugged at me.

“I reviewed it already and have no more criticisms. I thought the first version was good enough already,” Nanase said.

“Great, then I’ll look it over. Could you show me which parts you changed?” I asked.

“Yeah! Here, here, and I completely changed this scene here...”

I read through the edited sections—they had certainly improved. Hey...this is definitely me. She weaved my answers from yesterday into here. That’s embarrassing! “Is this going to be usable? Shintaro’s basically me now.”

“Yes, I thought it was better that way... Is it bad?”

“It’s not bad, but I think the guy the heroine falls for should have cooler lines and—”

“No. He’s plenty cool like this,” Hoshimiya interrupted, turning away from me.

He’s...plenty cool? Really? But he’s practically a carbon copy of me... Though, the change has improved the novel as a whole. The only problem is that I’m shy about it. “Okay. It is really interesting now. This is a great book! I think it’ll work!” I exclaimed vigorously to build up her confidence.

The title had changed from the provisional A Tale of the Summer Sea to The Detective Girl Does Not Know Love. The new one seemed fitting to set the tone for a light novel.

Now that Hoshimiya has her weapon, all that’s left is for her to go home and battle. As soon as I thought that, the door opened with a chime. I had a bad feeling as I heard brisk, unhesitant footsteps approach us. I looked behind me to see Hoshimiya’s father—Sei-san.

“So this is where you were, Hikari.” His tone was icy and placid.

I saw Hoshimiya’s hands trembling beneath the table. I grasped her hand in mine and boldly greeted him. “Oh, Hoshimiya’s dad. Hello. Can I help you?”

“I have no business with you. Do take care not to provoke me unnecessarily right now. I’m sure my daughter has been relying on you two, correct? Well, I’m sorry that she’s been troubling you both, but this is a family matter,” Sei-san said calmly, sidestepping my audacious remark. After a few days, his head had cooled off. “We’re going home now, Hikari. Don’t burden others any further.”

“You mean, ‘don’t burden you,’ right?” Though Hoshimiya was pale and her voice quivered, her tone was filled with confidence.

“What did you say?” Sei-san frowned.

“Just so you know, we don’t think of her as a burden. Our friend needed help, so of course we’d respond to her pleas,” I said, intentionally keeping my voice devoid of emotion. The only thing I could do here was back her up. This was not my battle to fight.

“Sure, I’ll come home. I was planning on it today anyway,” Hoshimiya said cockily.

“I see. Then—”

“But in return, I want you to listen to what I have to say.” She raised her head and locked eyes with Sei-san, taking in his expressionless countenance.

He glanced at the table where her laptop and manuscript were sitting. “You did say you wanted to become an author. Is that what this is about?”

“That’s not all, though it’s part of it... I will become an author.”

“Did you not hear me when I told you to live a more meaningful life? How much time have you already wasted on this nonsense? Your grades are subpar as it is.”

“I’ll raise my grades and study properly. I’m aiming to become an author, but I’ll also search for other options. Even if I get published, I’ll need to work a side job in the beginning, after all.”

“I see your head isn’t just full of dreams. If you promise to keep your grades up, then I’ll allow you to continue your hobby. However, your future career is a different story. It’s one thing for you to mention a side job, but can someone as clumsy as you really balance multiple jobs? Furthermore, do you think you have the talent to become an author? I doubt it,” Sei-san said matter-of-factly, as if he were merely admonishing his unreasonable daughter. “You can enjoy a happy and affluent life if you obediently do as I say.”

“No. I won’t. I’m going to live my own life.”

“You still don’t understand? I’m saying all this because I care about you. Don’t be selfish.”

“You’re the one being selfish. Stop pushing your feelings on me; I didn’t ask for it!”

“Hikari. I understand how you feel. I have also followed my late father’s directions since my youth. I underwent a harsh education, and I thought about rebelling many times. Sure, I gave up on numerous things, but as a result, I became successful.” As Sei-san spoke, I could tell there was no doubt in his mind that he was in the right. “Now I have an affluent lifestyle, and I’m moving up the company ladder. I can understand that my father was strict with me for the sake of my own happiness. Which is why I’ll do the same for you: I want to make you happy!”

He really means that. He seriously wishes for his daughter’s happiness. That’s what makes him so scary. People who have ill intentions are way easier to handle!

“Papa, everyone is different. Even if that method made you happy, that doesn’t mean it’ll work for me. I don’t think a life spent following someone else’s orders will lead to happiness.”

“Enough! I—”

“In the first place, are you truly happy?” Hoshimiya asked.

Caught off guard, Sei-san fell silent.

“Sure, things might be going well at your company, but your relationship with mama is terrible, and you two fight all the time. Even though we have money, we can’t call ourselves a proper family. And I hate you, papa. Are you really happy like this? Or are you just trying to convince yourself that you are?”

Sei-san’s expression crumpled.

“Aren’t you just acting like this because you don’t want to admit you were wrong?” she pressed.

“You—” he unwittingly yelled, but then exhaled to compose himself.

He’s really good at staying calm, so why the heck is he so stubborn?

Sei-san shrugged, his face still contorted with displeasure. “Then what else am I supposed to do? This is how I’ve always lived, and now I’m imitating my late father and controlling others as I please! This is the only way I know how to live,” he remarked brusquely.

Now, Hoshimiya began to yell. “If you don’t know, then you’ll just have to learn! Papa, you’re just scared to change! Even though you’re way older than me, you’re a big coward! You’re just forcing your way of life on me!”

She unleashed sixteen years’ worth of pent-up feelings onto him and stood up from her chair. Staring her father straight in the eyes, she declared, “I’m different from you! I’ll decide what my dreams are and who my friends are! Even if I suffer that way or don’t achieve happiness, I won’t regret it because I chose this path myself!”

Calm fell over the store once more. The jovial background music that filled the quiet felt out of place. Their argument had turned into a noise nuisance for the café, but the shopkeeper did not interject, most likely because we happened to be the only customers. Usually, there would be five or six other groups around this time.

After maintaining eye contact with Hoshimiya for a while, Sei-san let out a lethargic sigh. “I...see.”

“Read this.” Hoshimiya held out her novel to him.

“What’s this?”

“It’s a novel I wrote. Before you go deciding whether I have talent or not, read it and see for yourself.”

Sei-san sniffed haughtily, but though he seemed unwilling, he took the book. “Very well. If you’re going to be so insistent, then I’ll read it.”

“After you finish it, if you thought it was entertaining, then you have to accept it!” Hoshimiya said as if she had prepared that line all night.

Sei-san’s expression remained unchanged. “Accept what?” he uttered dubiously.

She took a deep breath and squeezed my hand tightly. “Accept that I won’t be your little puppet anymore.”

He observed her face wordlessly for a while. “My puppet, huh?” He snorted, clearly miffed. “So if I don’t accept your demands, will you refuse to return home?”

“W-Well... That would put me in a tight spot. I can’t depend on my friends forever.”

“Which means, regardless of what I choose, you’ll be forced to come home,” Sei-san stated impassively.

“Ugh.” Hoshimiya had no counter.

“Oh well. I understand your demands.” He tucked her manuscript under his arm and turned around. “Come. I’ll allow your request. Of course, that doesn’t mean I’ll acknowledge your novel.”

Pale-faced, Hoshimiya blinked at Sei-san’s back. I let go of her hand and gave her a gentle push. “Go get ’em!”

“I’m sure you’ll be fine, Hikari.”

Nanase and I gave her encouraging nods.

“Yeah!” She sprang up.

Sei-san bowed his head to the shopkeeper. “I apologize for the commotion,” he said and left the store. Hoshimiya rushed out in pursuit, her footsteps thudding noisily behind her.

“Do you think everything will work out?” Nanase asked.

“Who knows. I doubt he’ll go along with her request that easily, though,” I replied. Judging by his demeanor, at the very least, he won’t dismiss her efforts without listening to her from now on. Plus, Hoshimiya has the willpower to oppose any unreasonable rules now. “Well, it’ll probably be fine.”

Yes, Sei-san was the type of person who treated others like pawns on a chess board, but at the same time, he had once said, “People who can think for themselves are valuable.” It might’ve been strange to hear coming from him, but it was precisely because he was skilled at giving instructions that he’d said that.

His humanity and parenting skills may be questionable, but he’s definitely talented at his career. That aside, I still haven’t forgiven him for failing me during my final interview. What? You think because I leaped through time, it doesn’t matter anymore? Dumbass! That’s not the issue here!