Epilogue: At the Platform on the Emergency Stairs, 4th Floor, Old Building, Tsuwabuki High School
Cheerful laughter echoes on the stairs below.
Koto has read the record in the Line chatroom countless times. She covered her eyes full of tears.
“I’m so glad. …I’m so glad for this…”
Koto Tsukinoki and Shintaro Tamaki are standing shoulder to shoulder on the platform of the stairs.
The kouhais’ conversation from below keeps churning more tears out of Koto’s eyes.
Tamaki gently patted Koto’s head.
“You did your best. You must have held in for a long time, right?”
“We don’t need to worry about Komari-chan anymore from now on. That’s what Shintaro thinks too, right?”
“Well, yeah. Lower your voice, Koto. Everyone will hear it.”
“But I, …but I’m really happy.”
Koto’s nose twitched.
“I hope Komari-chan can be independent or talk to others properly. I just keep thinking about those things…”
Tamaki handed her some paper tissues. Koto blew her nose.
“But those were just answers I had assumed to be right and forced onto Komari-chan.”
A cute kouhai used to be worrisome. However, right now, she has partners she has searched for using her own powers. Nothing makes Koto happier than that.
“That girl is much stronger than I’ve imagined.”
“...Komari-chan is determined. Also, it’s relieving to know Nukumizu is here too.”
Koto showed a slightly surprised expression upon hearing this name.
“Ho, you think of him very highly.”
“Nukumizu’s actually unexpectedly reliable. He’s very calm even when I’m talking to him. I can’t believe that he’s actually younger than us.”
“...Indeed, Nukumizu-kun is a strange boy.”
They first met during the new semester in April.
She tricked him into writing his name on the application form at that time. His membership in the Literature Club was merely symbolic.
She didn’t expect him to come when she asked Komari to remind him.
“At first, I just thought he was a lazy ghost member. I thought I needed to thank the gods when he actually showed up.”
Koto leaned on the railing of the stairs.
“All of the first-year girls here stand out a lot, aren’t they? Yet, there’s a colorless and tasteless Nukumizu-kun mixed between them. I was really worried about him.”
“...Are you even praising him?”
“I am praising him tons. In other words, Nukumizu-kun is an…’interesting man’, you know?”
Koto said that jokingly as she leaned on Tamaki, wanting to be spoiled.
“However, I still want to know whether he’s worthy enough for us to entrust Komari-chan to him. A man can’t be decided on a whim, okay?”
“Alright, let’s leave Komari-chan to Nukumizu. Those two will get along well.”
“You sound like those two are going out.”
“Who knows? But it’s better to leave her to Nukumizu-kun than some weird guy, right?”
“...You think you’re her ex-boyfriend?”
Koto pretended to throw a tantrum and turned around.
“I can leave my Komari-chan to him if he’s the guy. That’s how I feel.”
“Well, I guess that’s true.”
Tamaki answered jokingly as well. Koto stared daggers at him.
“Hey, Shintaro! You really didn’t do anything to Komari-chan, right?”
“I didn’t. Hey, be quiet-”
Koto pulled Tamaki’s tie before he could even finish. She closed his lips with hers forcefully.
“Koto! We’re in school, okay!?”
“I’ll be quiet if you shut me down with your lips, right?”
Tamaki covered his flaring cheeks.
“You dummy. …You-”
“I wonder who you are when you have such a dumb girlfriend?”
Koto chuckled.
Perhaps they have heard the commotions here. Lively chatters can be heard below.
“Look, everyone heard it now…”
“Isn’t this nice? It’s better to share the happiness with everyone.”
Koto smiled as she turned around and looked at the stairs.
Nukumizu must have said something unnecessary again.
Yanami yelled at Nukumizu. Her voice echoed throughout the stairs.
“That’s why I don’t like this part of you, Nukumizu-kun!”
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