Side: Sanae
Because it was synonymous with goofing off and having fun, Sanae loved summer. But in her eyes, it came with one major drawback—Koutarou wouldn’t let her cling to him because it was too hot. It was a valid complaint, however. It was hot enough as it was under the blazing summer sun, and Sanae leaning on his back only made it worse. Sanae honestly didn’t mind one bit, but Koutarou didn’t share her opinion. She was a light girl, weighing in at about forty kilograms, but even that extra weight tacked on to him made a huge difference in the sweltering heat. So when it was hot out, he tried to keep Sanae at arm’s length.
“That’s why we need to come up with a plan. And fast.”
“Sanae-chan, I think Koutarou-san is completely in the right here.”
Sanae’s two selves—former ghost Sanae-chan and former invalid Sanae-san—were divided on the matter. Sanae-chan was determined to cling to Koutarou no matter what. She believed it was her right and her duty to do so. Sanae-san, on the other hand, was on Koutarou’s side. Firstly, it defied common sense to want to cling to someone in the dead of summer. And secondly, as a girl, she simply didn’t like the idea of pressing her sweaty body against Koutarou.
“You’re just embarrassed about clinging to Koutarou, aren’t you?”
“Honestly, yes... Surely you understand why I’m reluctant.”
“And love will help you overcome that! Love is all!”
“Jeez, you always start with that at times like this...”
The two Sanaes had actually been arguing about this for a while. Sanae-chan and Sanae-san might look like two different people, but in reality, they were one and the same. They were of the same mind and heart, even if they expressed their thoughts and feelings differently. That’s why, despite the fact that they both loved Koutarou, they couldn’t agree on how to act on it. Sanae-chan was direct and Sanae-san modest, meaning there was a constant struggle between them. It was the kind of conflict most people experienced internally, but with Sanae literally divided, the conflict manifested externally for them.
“Think about it, will you?”
“About what?”
“Animals need air to live, right?”
“Yes.”
“And they die if they don’t get it, right?”
“Normally... I should think so, but there are a few exceptions.”
“Well, it’s the same for me. Koutarou’s like air and I’ll die without him.”
“I don’t think you’ll actually die...”
“No logical retorts allowed in conversations from the heart!”
“Augh...”
But even though they butted heads, Sanae-chan normally ended up getting her way. The meek Sanae-san was rarely able to win out against the brash Sanae-chan, and today was shaping up to be no exception.
“Well, I honestly wouldn’t mind getting to cling to Koutarou-san...”
“Right?”
“But don’t you ever think about showing him your womanly side and not just forcing your own feelings on him?”
“Hmm...”
Yet all of a sudden, their argument took an unexpected turn. Sanae-chan was certainly childish, but she wasn’t just childish anymore. A lot had happened, and she was journeying down the road of maturity in her own way. And right now, the compassion and understanding that had been blossoming in her heart called out to her, telling her that she should become the perfect woman for Koutarou’s sake.
“Okay, let’s do things your way this time.”
“...Thank god...”
Sanae-san instinctively breathed a sigh of relief. Having grown up sickly, she felt especially strongly about not wanting to cause Koutarou any discomfort.
“Now, the real question is... What outfit should I wear to get Koutarou excited when I cling to him?”
“No! That’s not what I meant! You’ve got the totally wrong idea!”
“Oh, I know—a kimono! Or maybe I should go all out with an evening gown!”
“I said that’s not what I meant! I meant clinging to him was the problem, not what you’re wearing!”
All said and done, Sanae-chan was still Sanae-chan. She wouldn’t give in that easily. But perhaps that was for the better. Sanae-chan was helping to break Sanae-san out of her shell, and Sanae-chan’s victory in this case wasn’t exactly a loss for Sanae-san.
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