Q1: Prove Your Eternal Love. There Shall Be No Heroine Correction.

In a classroom dyed by the setting sun, a kiss was secretly exchanged. It must have been her first kiss.

But for me, it meant that I was going to lose.

“Shirase-kun. The one I love is you. So, with me—”

It didn’t matter if I closed my eyes or covered my ears. My skill’s weakness was triggered, and my brain melted into a blur. My hand that was pressed against my ear loosened, and my eyelids, which were supposed to be tightly shut, opened. My body waits for her commands despite my will.

Aogashima Yuno opened her mouth and closed it silently, again and again. She puckered her moist lips, hesitated, pondered, and finally, as if she had made up her mind, grabbed her skirt tightly with her beautiful, curved fingertips.

“Please go on a date with me.”

I could hear it clearly. It was the loudest voice I’ve ever heard from Aogashima-san. Then, after I calmed down and understood the meaning of her words, what escaped from my mouth was.

“Eh~h…?”

It sounded like my vocal cords were trembling. My vision was widened, looking up and down. Oh, wait, I’m opening my eyes now?

“Y-You sure? A date?”

Aogashima-san nodded shyly. Her wrinkled skirt continued to be clenched, she was still nervous.

I was relieved. I was so relieved that I could die any moment. Even now, my heart feels like it’s stuck in my throat. But I don’t understand what she’s doing. I stood up involuntarily.

“Why? Just now…You could have won.”

My voice was trembling. Aogashima-san obviously knew about my skills. So why didn’t you make the winning move? Why didn’t you order a relationship and choose to engage with me?

Aogashima-san, on the other hand, seemed to have regained her composure and looked up into the air to consider her answer. I have no clue what she is thinking.

“You’re right. …But I felt like I was cheating.”

“Cheating…? No, you are being merciful, it’s my fault for letting my guard down in front of the enemy, yet I’m being a pain right now.”

I leaned against the window and put my palm to my forehead. I don’t know. What is she trying to do?

“Don’t worry.”

Aogashima-san looked me straight in the eyes, trying to show her passion. Her pupils, like black holes, never let go of my gaze.

“The next time, it would be without mercy.

Aogashima-san points to my heart, discreetly but with firm intentions. She then closes her eyes with a squeak, but quickly opens them. She blinked, her eyelashes fluttered up and down several times, and a troubled expression appeared on her face.

“…? …, …? …!”

Eventually, as if in a huff, she opened both eyes wide, closed them, and then opened only one eye. She tilted her head, as if following a textbook, and took a step back to angle her chin.

“Is that a….wink, by any chance?”

I asked, and Aogashima-san nodded twice as she was happy that I answered correctly. It’s not a wink, though.

“This is a one-kill move for boys it seems.”

Did she think that one hit ko meant a one-kill move?

“Ah, I’m sorry, but wink doesn’t seem to work on me. It’s a little too off.”

“…Yeah. I’ll practice.”

Aogashima-san was a little pouty and turned over. She seemed to be surprisingly competitive.

“More importantly. The date is the day after tomorrow, Sunday, at 11 a.m. The meeting place is—”

After telling me the time and place of the appointment, Aogashima-san said “I’m looking forward to it,” and turned her back on me and walked straight into the hallway. Her ears, which her swaying long hair wasn’t covering, were dyed bright red. Probably not because of the setting sun.

I was left alone in the classroom, holding my bag and letting out a big sigh.

“She has beaten me completely…”

I was so ashamed of myself that I complained to the growing shadow. I never dreamed that Aogashima-san liked me. I was so careless that I made this fatal mistake. I need to reflect on this.

“Aaaaah…That being that, this was a crazy development.”

I groaned and ruffled my own hair. My heart is, how should I put it, tickled. I like Nagisa, I still can’t get over Minagi, and Aogashima-san is my enemy in the game.

And yet, what is this feeling?

I tightly clench my shirt around my chest. Calm down, my heart. You don’t have even a gram of love for Aogashima-san. But that’s not the point. My face is probably as red as the setting sun.

Yeah, you can’t do that, you have to keep your resolve. Turn your head, Shirase Suguru. This is a declaration of war from her. You can’t fail again. Aogashima-san knew the weakness of my skills. It’s not just a guess, it’s almost a certainty. How on Earth did she know?

Isn’t the situation too perfect to begin with? Everything was going according to Aogashima-san’s convenience. The two of us were chosen as the committee members, the sleeping drugs were given to me without anyone noticing, no one was left in the classroom even though it was after school, and the evening was creating a nice atmosphere.

How much of this is coincidence and how much is part of her plan?

Either way, something out of the ordinary is happening. If that’s the case, I should assume that Aogashima-san used either her skill or her trump card 【Cunning Trap】. Even with what was given, I still couldn’t tell what the effects are.

＊＊＊

The next day, Saturday, July 3rd, in the early afternoon. The kitchen of the Shirase house was occupied by two people. It was all too sudden.

“Exciting and thrilling cooking is about to begin!

Nagisa raised the whisk with great enthusiasm. A cat-print apron was draped over her shoulders.

“Hey, Nagisa. Are you really going to make cookies? If it’s now—”

“Of course I am. I’m not going to run away from this kitchen even if I’m hit with leverage. I’m going to overcome my weakness in cooking and try to move Suguru-senpai’s heart!”

“You’re not using the right kind of leverage…”

It’s good for her to be motivated. But all I can think of is something called pancakes, a kind of galette that was brought to me when I hung out at Minagi’s house. The taste — I shudder just trying to remember. I’m still proud of the fact that I somehow managed to finish it with a stern smile on my face.

“…K-Kuroiwa. Can I ask you something? Do you have any cooking experience?”

I turned my attention to the other person. Kuroiwa Aika is stretching out the wrinkles of her plain black apron next to Nagisa, who was humming as she prepared the ingredients.

“Me? Hmm, not really. I’m the only one who’s off-limits in my kitchen.”

“What did you do to be off-limits in your own home?

“Knives flying, the ceiling burning, pots breaking?”

“Why are you talking like someone else did it? You’re the culprit.”

“Ah, I get it. Why do knives fly like that? Is it because of the shape?”

“For God’s sake, pack your things and go home right now…”

“It’s not a problem, I can stop time.”

“What’s even okay here…What’s that inversion…why do we have Kuroiwa here in the first place…”

Nagisa had suggested that we have a date at home beforehand. However, when I opened the door at the appointed time, I found that there was one extra person with her and that she was going to cook. If I had known, I would have kicked her out the door.

“Umm umm, I invited Aika-senpai. I’ve heard that you’re not good…at cooking either, so I thought it might help you approach Aogashima-senpai.”

“Yeah. All I need is an experienced kouhai that understands me.”

Experienced…Shouldn’t it be devout? And it’s definitely not the way to use it.

“And when did you two become friends?”

“Eh? Nagisa-chan insisted on becoming my underling.”

“What!? I didn’t say that! What I said was about cooperation in the quartet!”

Kuroiwa laughed and faked it, “Ah, really?” and tried to cover it up. It’s tough for Nagisa to have a strange senpai.

But yeah, a cooperative relationship. Nagisa indeed has the advantage of joining forces with Kuroiwa. Nagisa was convinced that I like Kuroiwa, so by supporting Kuroiwa, she is trying to draw Kuroiwa away from me. However…inviting Kuroiwa to my house was a bad move.

It was a development that I could not have wished for. Now that I know that Aogashima-san was after me, my best move was to join forces with Kuroiwa, who wanted to make her love with Aogashima-san come true. I want to earn Kuroiwa’s trust here, which I couldn’t get last time. But as for Nagisa, she doesn’t want Kuroiwa and I to get any closer.

There are still questions, but for now, it would be better to focus on the situation at hand. This is a fatal time where I never know what might explode if I take my eyes off the kitchen for a moment.

“Haa… I understand how it happened. I’m worried that Nagisa is being used.”

“What? Can you please stop with the accusations? It’s a mutual hierarchy.”

“You’ve got some blatantly contradictory words coming out of your mouth…What can I say, good luck with Kuroiwa, Nagisa.”

Smiling at my encouragement, Nagisa gently puts her mouth to my ear and declares in a whisper.

“Yes. And I’m going to make delicious cookies that will surpass my sister’s.”

Her small finger gently touches my earlobe.

—Please choose me.

Nagisa’s telepathy skill ran through my body like a beeping electric current. No, I think it will be difficult for Nagisa to surpass Minagi. What a rude thought to keep to myself.

“Suguru-senpai, did you just think that I can’t do it?”

“…No way. I just thought it might be difficult.

“That basically means the same thing!”

“Hey, you two, stop flirting and get on with it, will you?”

In response to Kuroiwa’s dismayed comment, Nagisa said, “Ehehe, is it really?” and I said, “No, how?” Then the exciting and thrilling cooking began.

“What’s the difference between light flour and strong flour? The strong flour is stronger?”

“Yes, it is. If you are confident in your ability to knead the dough, you should use strong flour. I’m not strong enough, so I use light flour.”

“So I guess I’ll have to settle for strong flour. What is this? 240 grams of this…”

“Wait, wait, wait, wait! Just wait for me!”

At this point, there is no excitement at all, only nervousness for me in a bad way.

“Aika-senpai, it’s your turn. I’ll crack the eggs and stir them. Aika-senpai, please mix the butter! The kind you put on bread, not margarine! Not even jam!”

“No, Nagisa-chan, you’re underestimating me, I know which one is butter. My mom taught me that if the box has a picture of a cow on it, it’s butter, otherwise, it’s margarine.”

Kuroiwa determines margarine much more broadly than I do… I could feel Kuroiwa’s mother’s pain whenever she asked Kuroiwa to go shopping.

“Suguru-senpai, watch me, my egg-handling! There!”

Despite her enthusiastic shout, Nagisa lightly knocks the egg with the edge of the bowl. She screwed her thumb into the crack that was barely there and somehow managed to get the contents out. How clumsy.

“Nagisa, you’re so sluggish. I’m a pro at cracking eggs, so watch me, okay?

Kuroiwa put on a senpai front and snatched the bowl from Nagisa and threw the eggs in with one hand!

“No, isn’t this even worse!?”

The moment I shouted, the shell suddenly disappeared in midair, and the contents fell into the bowl with a clatter. The eggshells were grabbed by Kuroiwa and crushed with a crunching sound.

“Another boring time stop…right.”

“Oooooh, wow, that’s cool!”

Nagisa’s eyes lit up as she clapped for the smug Kuroiwa. What a waste of her skill!

After some mixing, we divided the dough into two portions and started working individually. Nagisa threw in some cocoa powder, and Kuroiwa went with plain flavor, they both mixed it with a spatula.

“Okay. The trick is to mix the ingredients evenly and make sure there is no air in the mixture.”

“Mmm mmm mmm, it’s supposed to be just mixing, but it’s so hard.”

Nagisa was still getting used to handling the spatula, and it danced erratically and clumsily on the bowl.

“I made this before, but it’s surprisingly more complicated. There’s quite a difference in the finished product here.

“Mm-hmm. In other words, to make beautifully shaped, crisp, delicious cookies, and to make Suguru-senpai happy, I have to work harder.”

With a serious look in her eyes, the ineffectual Nagisa is mixing the dough as best she can. Yeah, that’s right. She’s doing her best to cook for me, something she’s not very good at. I’m very moved by her action.

“…It doesn’t matter if you can’t cook well. It’s the fact that you took the time and effort to make it with the other person in mind that moves their heart.”

Kuroiwa, who had been quietly mixing the ingredients beside me, made a blatantly disgusted face at my words.

“There it is, the oft-heard rhetoric. If you’re going to make it, it’s better to make it taste good, of course.”

“Shut up, I won’t teach you anymore.”

“Ah, lie, lie. A fool is a fool, but a compassionate fool.”

While Kuroiwa doesn’t have much of an explanation, Nagisa was smiling.

“Fufum, I knew Suguru-senpai would say that. So now I’m doing my best to work on something I’m not good at in front of Suguru-senpai.”

“I see, you’re thinking.”

And it was just like Nagisa to say it out loud. However, I had fallen for her scheme. It was pretty funny, and I giggled.

But soon, a sense of guilt overcame my relaxed expression.

I wonder what I’m doing. Who in the world am I? To make the person you are supposed to be in love with think that she has a one-sided love for you, and make it even more difficult for her. …I wonder if my strategy is the right one.

The taste of lemon, which had hit me with all its might that day, tormented me forever.

My room was on the second floor. Nagisa and Kuroiwa were staring passionately at the TV screen. Kuroiwa stretched her legs out on a chair, while Nagisa sat with her legs slumped on a cushion. I sat on the bed and watched as both of them clutched the controller in their hands.

“Come on, let’s burn them with our ray guns, Mamoru Miyamoto-san!

“Heeeh, so you think you can break my Phalanx Formation?”

While the dough was lying on the floor, we decided to play a game. Future Past Fighting, or “FPF” as it was brought in by the Tokiwa family, was a game that featured strong people from the past, present and future fighting each other. It was a rather maniacal game from a few years ago, but Kuroiwa seemed to have played it a lot back then and was quite skilled at it.

“Tee-tee, go! I’m going to start from the beginning!”

Nagisa, leaning forward, flicked the stick with her supple fingers. Miyamoto-san, a future peacekeeper, moves around on the screen, but Kuroiwa responded calmly with a minimum of fingerwork.

“Fufu, you’re not bad, Nagisa-chan, but I’m no pushover either!”

The heavily armed infantry troops controlled by Kuroiwa blocked the barrage of ray guns with precise shield manipulation. In the end, it’s a matter of time before they’ll be able to get the job done. No, when I think about it again, what the hell is the Super Phalanx Combo?

“All right, I’m still keeping up with my skill.”

“Ugh, nooo…”

Kuroiwa was pleasantly proud of her victory, while Nagisa was biting her lip in genuine frustration.

“Well then, Shirase and I are next. Since you’re here, would you like to bet on Nagisa-chan?”

“Susuru-senpai, please win. I’m rooting for you!”

While handing me the controller, Nagisa sits down next to me. There was no gap between us. When I sat back down and put some distance between us, she let out a frustrated “Mmm” and closed the gap without mercy.

“No, I wouldn’t bet on it. I don’t want to get caught up in some weird betting game, win or lose.”

“Hmm, you’re boring. How can you fight seriously without taking any risk like that?”

“…Of course I can.”

When you win, you’re happy. When you lose, you’re frustrated. But the essence was still in the process of fighting. So there was no point in being concerned with victory or defeat. That was the unshakeable truth. But Kuroiwa doesn’t seem to understand.

“In the red corner, Aika-senpai is in charge of the heavy infantry, while in the blue corner, Suguru-senpai is a ninja who can do anything from close quarters to long-range… Who will the goddess of FPF smile upon? Now, here comes Tokiwa Nagisa to check on the field!”

“Why are you commentating? I thought you were supposed to be cheering me on.”

Nagisa jumped off the bed energetically and looked back at me.

“Oh. Blue corner-senpai, you can’t take advantage of my absence and assualt Aika-senpai! Just focus on the game, okay? Make sure you avenge me!”

She pointed at me and walked down the hall with light footsteps.

The empty space next to Kuroiwa looked lonely, so I got up from the bed and sat down on the cushion with my head aloof.

“…No, I can’t just assault her in this short amount of time.”

“So you want to stop time and f*ck me?

“Ah, then wanna stop time and let’s do it?”

“Eww, can you stop talking down to me for a second? Gross.”

“What tremendous unreasonableness!”

Kuroiwa pressed the start button. The TV, which darkened with the loading, reflected Kuroiwa’s serious expression. I could sense a clear intention from her. I would definitely beat Shirase Suguru.

“…Now that I asked Nagisa to leave the room for a while, Shirase. Will you answer me honestly? Do you really not like Yuno?”

Kuroiwa asked me through the TV. I see. Apparently, this situation was set up by Kuroiwa. I thought it was strange that Nagisa would leave us alone together.

Before I could answer, the starting sounded in three, two, one, go. The heavily armed infantry troops fired off, but I saw that they weren’t going to hit me, so I immediately crouched down and sprayed them with my Makibishi.

“I told you already. I’ll ask you the opposite, you knew who Aogashima-san liked, right?”

Kuroiwa only moved her finger, but did not answer. But the action Kuroiwa took on the rooftop — the seduction — was understandable if she knew that I was Aogashima-san’s target. For Kuroiwa, who wanted to go out with Aogashima-san, I was an obstacle. That was why she tried to get me into a relationship with her as a quick way to get me out of Aogashima-san’s sight. It was an afterthought after what had happened.

In addition, the reason why Nagisa and Kuroiwa have formed a cooperative relationship was because Nagisa and Aogashima-san are rivals targeting me.

That was why this battle was a good opportunity for me and Kuroiwa to establish a relationship of trust.

“…Sorry Kuroiwa, but I have a date with Aogashima-san tomorrow.”

“────Huh!?”

At the same time as the inaudible shout, Kuroiwa’s army jumped up at once with tremendous force. I didn’t miss the opportunity and jumped in, aiming my kunai at her army. Breaking the phalanx formation, I took a risk and cut in from the inside. The heavily armed infantry scurried away in a panic.

“W-W-What did you do? Then you, really still like Yuno—!?”

“I told you, no. …She used my weakness and I couldn’t say no.”

Kuroiwa’s angry spear shot hit the ninja cleanly. However, I barely escaped with a smoke bomb before her combo occurred.

“Tsk…Well, what’s done is done. But…I might be a little relieved.”

Kuroiwa’s army stopped moving. As I watched, I also relaxed my grip on the controller. The two sides stared at each other through the screen, with only the time limit and the bloodthirsty spectators moving about.

“Relief? How can you be?”

“Because Yuno has that personality, right? I heard that she used to be more lively, but she had a lot going on. Well, I don’t know much about it, but I’ve only heard rumors.”

“Heeh, really? A lively Aogashima-san, huh? I can’t imagine what that would be like.”

Aogashima Yuno was an introvert who always said her words cautiously, as if searching for the right one. I still don’t know what to make of her. In my mind, she was still an unfathomable enemy that cannot be underestimated.

“I mean, we’ve gotten slightly off topic. What I’m trying to say is that I’m glad that Yuno finally confessed her feelings for you, as her best friend. —What? Is that bad?”

“I haven’t said anything yet…”

Why is she so mad all by herself? And don’t kick my ankles so hard.

“By the way, how long has Aogashima-san liked me?

In response to my question, Kuroiwa reluctantly placed the controller on the floor.

“Last fall. You broke up with your girlfriend, didn’t you? Poor thing.”

“If you feel sorry for me, you can comfort me.”

When I made a joke of it, Kuroiwa smacked me hard on the head and said, “Hey, hey.” That hurts.

“She said when she saw you crying, she fell in love with you at first sight.”

“Why love at first sight to a big crybaby?”

“Who knows? I didn’t hear that much. She didn’t tell me. …Regardless, I’m genuinely glad that Yuno was able to take a proper step forward.”

Kuroiwa smiled in a complicated way. She was as happy as she said she would be, but her long eyelashes were sad and downcast. That was true. Aogashima-san has taken a step forward, which means she has taken a step away from Kuroiwa.

“Shirase, you got a love letter, right? That’s the one Yuno spent two weeks writing.”

“Eh. I thought that love letter was from Nagisa!”

When I asked Nagisa if she was the sender of the letter, I felt a little off. At first, she reacted as if she didn’t know about it, and I didn’t recognize the carefully written words either.

“Ha? It can’t be Nagisa-chan. It can’t be anyone else’s handwriting but Yuno’s, it’s so beautiful and pretty. Right? You should frame it and display it properly.”

“It’s poor taste to display a love letter.”

“Then, what if it’s displayed as a waka?”

“Then it might not be so strange to hang it up, but…That’s a lot of nonsensical assumptions.”

Kuroiwa smiled sadly and said, “Haha, maybe so.” Then immediately, she looked up at the ceiling languidly. Her expression was more complex than before, a mixture of love and hate. Before I could ask her what was wrong, Kuroiwa began her monologue.

“Listen to me, Shirase. I have a confession to make. I have been betraying Yuno for a long time, you know. I fell in love with her at first sight, hid my ulterior motives, went after her fiercely, and we finally became friends. I don’t have the courage to tell her how I feel about her, but I hold her hand, hug her, and squeeze her shoulder. But no matter how I approached her, she still didn’t see me that way. That miracle never happened.”

Kuroiwa spoke without changing expression, then she paused from time to time.

“I thought it was okay, but when Yuno said she was going to give Shirase a love letter and confess, I couldn’t be happy at all. It’s not that I hate it but I can’t stand the idea of her leaving me, and I hate the idea of our daily life being destroyed…”

Her muffled voice worried me, and I twisted my head to bring her ponytail in view.

“So you summoned Ocupido-sama—in an abandoned warehouse?”

“That’s right. I skipped class and drew a magic circle, and the moment I came back to myself and wondered what I was doing, that shady angel came out. Then, I was told about…Confession Quartet? When I was asked if I wanted to participate, I had no choice but to agree. If I approached her in a normal way, I would never be able to go out with her. One out of ten thousands chance, or one out of ten millions chance, even if by some chance a miracle were to happen…there is no way it would last. So I want eternal love.”

Kuroiwa took a deep breath to calm her trembling voice. Then she glared at me.

“I betrayed my best friend for the sake of my own desires. That’s who I am. I’m the kind of person who will not give up on you all if it means I get the results I want. I’ll use any means necessary.”

As soon as she said that, the Super Phalanx combo was used on the ninja who was standing still.

I wonder when she grabbed her controller, yeah, she stopped time. With a sense of wonder, I just watched emotionlessly as the ninja on the screen fell to the ground, covered in blood.

“…I’m not like you.”

Kuroiwa’s voice was piercing to my ears, as if she was venting her frustrations.

She was absolutely right. Kuroiwa and I are polar opposites. Kuroiwa was all about results, and I’m all about process.

“Yes, you and I have different playing styles. I choose the means.”

That was all I’m going to say. I’m not going to argue about who’s right or wrong. We’re just too biased, and both are important to begin with.

To keep my remaining health gauge from being depleted, I took a large distance back.

“I don’t get it. Why would you do that when there’s something important at stake?”

Kuroiwa’s army was chasing me. I quickly changed direction and inputted the command for a reversal. There are two combos I could build from here. Either the lower level or the upper level. The solid choice was the lower. But if I’m looking for a way to cut through, I should go for the upper level. …Whichever one I choose, Kuroiwa would instantly react to it.

“Exactly because there’s something important at stake, we have to stick to the right process.”

The ninja did his best leg kick to the top level. It was easily blocked and countered at the beginning of my movement. It was not a time stop, but a complete prediction. At the same time as the exaggerated sound of the hit echoed, the ninja was thrown into the air in slow motion.

“I’ve read all your moves. I’ve won. But you’re not disappointed, are you?”

“Don’t be silly. Of course I’m disappointed.”

“Shall we have another round?”

Kuroiwa never took her eyes off the character selection screen. I put the controller down quietly.

“No, you and I need to cool down. I’ll get you a drink. Iced coffee is fine?””

Kuroiwa nodded and said, “milk and sugar too.” That’s a lot to ask for.

I gently ruminated on the words that came out of my mouth as I slowly stood up, my legs tired.

Because there is something important at stake, we have to stick to the right process.

That’s right. Because it’s important, we need a more correct process. Even if it’s a process that loses out. After all, I can’t betray my ideals.

What should I do to make that happen?

I put my hand on the doorknob and hesitated slightly. I turned around and looked at Kuroiwa.

“Just so you know, I don’t want eternal love, I just want to have a normal relationship with the girl I like. I want to cherish the process of loving each other.”

“Ha? What’s wrong with you, Shirase? Suddenly saying something romantic doesn’t suit you at all.”

Kuroiwa’s eyes narrowed as she tried to read my intentions. As if to show her, I pull out my trump card from my pocket, my lifeline.

“My trump card is the 【Change Target】. I know, I sound like a Loser. But my goal is not to lose, but to make Nagisa change her target from me.

To expose my trump card in this way was inherently an extremely high risk act. Especially since Kuroiwa would want this trump card, and with her time stop skill, she could easily take it away.

“Ha? Eh, what? In other words…So, you like Nagisa-chan? N-No, but why are you showing it to me? Because for me, that effect is—”

Even Kuroiwa herself was surprised, her eyes widened. Even so, I believed that Kuroiwa, because she had declared that she would choose any means for her goal, would not think of any ways of retreat, at least not at this point.

“I believed you, and I told you my goal. Now we are destined to work together. If I don’t let you achieve your goal, you’ll take my trump card. So I need you to believe in me, too.”

Kuroiwa slowly stood up and stepped in front of me, pressuring. The same distance as the kabedon of some time ago.

“…Shirase. I’ll take what I said back. You’re serious about this. So…Right. I’m willing to give you the benefit of the doubt.”

I couldn’t help but find Kuroiwa’s innocent, childlike, and stunned expression adorable.

As I walked into the kitchen, I saw Nagisa putting her hand over the plastic wrap on her dough.

“What are you doing, Nagisa?”

“Whoa, whoa, Suguru-senpai, have you finished talking with Aika-senpai!?

Nagisa shrank back in surprise, as if she hadn’t noticed that I had come down, and turned to me.

“Well, yeah. So, what are you doing?”

“Umm, uh, well, I put in some kind of secret ingredient.”

There was only one kind of hidden flavor that I would describe as “put in. It was a premonition. I thought it would be wrong to stare too long at her, so I continued the conversation while preparing coffee.

“I explained to you at the beginning that hidden flavors are forbidden.”

Most beginners fail at cooking because they don’t follow the recipe. Especially hidden flavors. An amateur’s originality can kill a curry. At any rate, Minagi had told me that Nagisa had a record of putting oshiruko in curry.

“Fufu, I’m sorry. I’m afraid I went against your guidance anyway.”

“Well, I can live with that.”

“What do you mean? My affection for you is too great to be overlooked. Please don’t underestimate me.”

Nagisa stroked the wrap lovingly, and for some reason she was proud of herself.

“Just don’t make it poisonous. …I’m looking forward to it.”

“Yeah. I will definitely make Suguru-senpai’s tongue beg for more, his cheeks fall, his stomach clench, and make him unable to live without me.”

“That is exquisitely scary.”

It’s funny, I’m suddenly not looking forward to this. Hiding my trembling, I poured water into the electric kettle and turned it on. In addition, I poured some barley tea for Nagisa.

“Speaking of which, Nagisa. That letter wasn’t yours, was it?”

“Yikes! …Uh, what do you mean?

Nagisa’s shoulda shuddered and removed her hand from the wrap. She’s speaking in her own world.

“The one that called me to the roof. Why did you lie to me? …No, I shouldn’t be accusing you.”

Nagisa stood behind me, blending in with the sound of the bubbling kettle. Discreetly, Nagisa’s fingers touch my hip bone for a moment, then quickly move away.

“It’s a simple reason. I didn’t want Suguru-senpai to be taken by someone else. …I was going to summon the rumored ‘Ocupido-sama’. But I didn’t think that you were stalking me.”

“I’m sorry about that. I saw the urgency in your expression.”

I scooped up the instant coffee powder and scattered it in a heatproof glass.

“…I just feel contradicting.”

Before I knew it, Nagisa’s voice was trembling. “Contradicting?” I parroted, urging her to continue. But Nagisa remained silent for a while, just letting the temperature of the water for the two of us rise.

“I want eternal love, and if that’s not possible, I want to forget this beautiful feeling once and for all.”

“Is that a contradiction?

“Yes, a contradiction.”

I didn’t understand. If she meant that she wanted to forget about her unfulfilled love, I understand. But what was Nagisa thinking when she used the word “contradiction”? I don’t understand. The word is transparent in a way to prevent me from having a deeper understanding. Or if I turn around, will it be written on Nagisa’s face?

“…Didn’t I teach you not to omit the equation when I watched you study a long time ago?”

“Fufu, I’ve gone against your guidance again, haven’t I? But I still can’t explain it well.”

The pot is churning and is about to boil. So I have to say it too.

“I’m going to save the details for you. I’m not in love with Kuroiwa.”

I had decided to clear up Nagisa’s misunderstanding when I revealed my purpose to Kuroiwa. I’m not going to walk down a path that I think is even slightly different from my ideal. I first wanted to deceive her, break her heart, make her give up, make her change her target. But I can’t approve of hurting her in such a way. Even if it takes me further away from my goal.

“…I knew it. So that’s what it was.”

However, contrary to my expectations, Nagisa replied without any sign of surprise.

“Heh. Did you already notice that?”

“The reason I called Aika-senpai over today was to see if Suguru-senpai really likes her. …So you lied about your target being Aika-senpai?”

“That’s true, to a point. It’s just that Kuroiwa happened to be the one I chose at random, and I have no intention of getting a lover in this game in the first place. I have a different goal to fulfill.”

I can’t explain myself yet, though. I gave an excuse that didn’t answer her question.

“…Why are you revealing this to me?”

“I didn’t want to lie to you.”

Click. The electric kettle announced mission accomplished. I poured hot water into two glasses and immediately added ice. I hear the crispy sound of ice cracks in the glass.

“I see. You…didn’t even lie to me.”

Her voice was muffled and quiet. I couldn’t grasp her intentions, so I asked again, but there was no reply.

Two hours later, as soon as the oven signaled the completion, Nagisa and Kuroiwa, who were waiting in front of it, opened the oven. The fragrant smell spread through the living room at once, and the two high-fived each other with excitement.

“”It’s done!””

Their voices that naturally came together were like those of an innocent child. When I peeked in from outside the kitchen, I saw that the cookies on the baking sheet were more beautifully done than I had imagined. Nagisa’s cookies in particular, aside from her blatantly heart-shaped composition, had a nice cocoa color to them that was very appetizing.

“All that’s left to do is to take them off the sheet—”

Without waiting for me to say anything, Kuroiwa quickly picks up her cookie and bites into it. She moaned “hot” and chewed slowly once, twice, three times, and her cheeks relaxed.

“I’m glad I made something I can eat…! I’m glad I’m alive…!”

She was so overwhelmed with emotion that she spoke out of character. I’m sure I’ll never see Kuroiwa’s face so tearful again.

“And then it was time for the fateful tasting! Aika-senpai, let’s see which one tastes better. I’m not going to lose this time!”

“Heh, Nagisa-chan, you think you’re going to win? You’re very confident for an underling.”

“It’s equal cooperation!”

With the two of them in disagreement, I took a bite of each cookie. They were both delicious, and I couldn’t decide between them. But the trouble is, as soon as she sees my throat rise and fall, Nagisa takes a step closer to me.

“Which one was better, Suguru-senpai?”

“Well, I’m making this for Yuno, so it doesn’t matter if Shirase doesn’t like it or not, but it’s annoying to lose, isn’t it? Well, I guess I could hit him twice.”

Why do you have to hit me twice? Don’t just beat up the house owner.

“…I will now announce the results.”

I straighten my posture with theatrical movements. The two pastry chefs followed suit, adjusting their postures. I slowly moved my gaze to compare the two, and opened my mouth ostentatiously.

“I really enjoyed both of them. As I said before, it is the thought of the creator that is important. The meaning lies in the process of hard work. Even so, if I had to decide who would win, I would choose—”

Yeah, I’m so naive. But of course. It is impossible not to be moved by the sight of the person you love working hard. How can the best secret ingredient not be delicious?

“You worked hard, Nagisa.”

I placed my palm on Nagisa’s small head and gently stroked it. I’ve known this girl for two years now. Even without the whole romance thing, the growth was endearing.

“Ehehe.”

—I’m so happy, I really am. I love you, Suguru-senpai.

Nagisa’s voice echoed directly in my head. A hundred percent of affection that is not dampened by air resistance is always so strong that it almost breaks my heart.

Kuroiwa finished putting on her long boots at the entrance and slung her compact shoulder bag over her shoulder.

“…Shirase, and Nagisa-chan. Thank you so much for today.”

When Kuroiwa waved regrettably to me, I replied, “It’s my pleasure.” It was a fun day, even if I was a little nervous at first. I wondered how long it had been since I had hung around with a lot of noise. This was probably the first time since I hung out with other people apart from the Tokiwa sisters.

“Aika-senpai, today was a lot of fun. Let’s hang out again sometime!”

Nagisa called out innocently next to me, and seemed to be planning to stay with me a little longer.

Kuroiwa turned her ponytail toward me, raised the back of her hand in a cool “Bye,” and opened the door to leave. The door, closing in an arc, slowed down and made a clattering sound as it finished.

I felt as if the room temperature had suddenly dropped. The air was filled with silence after the fun. As if to break the silence, Nagisa jumped in my arms as if it was natural and intertwined our thin arms.

“It’s finally just the two of us.”

“You know, Nagisa, our relationship is—”

“I’m trying to win you over, and you’re running away from me. That’s what this game is about. So it’s okay to approach you this way.”

What a crappy theory. That was what I thought, but I can’t refuse her.

—I’m not letting go.

Don’t talk to me in my mind. It makes me nervous.

“Okay. Then let’s sit down and talk. A date at home.”

—Yes.

Nagisa’s bright red face was slightly downcast, and her slicked-back bangs hid her beautiful eyes.

“What’s your trump card, by the way?”

—My trump card is…

“Eh, what are you trying to get me to say?”

“Too bad you didn’t fall for it.”

The weight of the two of us was now on the sofa in the bleak living room. The large TV, which has not been turned on for a long time, stared at us. The racks that flank it are not even half full. I don’t like this space that feels larger than it actually is, it feels so empty. But with Nagisa, I felt strangely at ease.

“Did Onee-chan sit here, too?”

“Listen, Nagisa. There’s a lot of things in this world you’re better off not knowing.”

This answer itself is an affirmation. Nagisa immediately understood and grabbed my arm, squeezing it tightly. Leaning against the backrest and my shoulder, she let out a “Mmm” like a spoiled cat. Her face is full of relief. With the rhythm of our breathing, like waves coming and going, the contact surface between Nagisa and I increases and decreases. I can’t help it, I’m so happy.

—I wish this moment would last forever.

I know what it feels like to wish that. I think about it too. But can we really call it happiness if we take this moment and stretch it out forever?

“Nagisa. Can I tell you something troublesome?”

“Sure.” —No.

I hesitated as her mind’s voice sounded out of sync with her line. But my mouth still wanted to tell Nagisa how I felt.

“If you were to win, if you and I were to be united forever. Is it really a blessing that my feelings for you will never change, and that your feelings for me will never change?”

There is nothing that never changes. It would be unnatural for things not to change. I turned my attention to the preserved flowers that are displayed on the rack. They are the only color in this room. I can’t imagine what my mother had in mind when she set it up. The only thing I know for sure is that it is in the shape of a flower, but it is not a living flower.

“…If we can love each other forever, isn’t that a happy thing? It’s sad to see the feelings you used to have for each other disappear, to see the relationship you took for granted break down.”

I could understand Nagisa’s feelings. Keep beautiful things beautiful. That’s why I chose to accept Minagi’s breakup. To make the sad things less sad, even if just a little. The past is the only thing that will never change. Only the path I have taken will never change. I always wanted it to be a beautiful path that I had taken.

“I told Minagi a long time ago. I told her that there is no such thing as eternal love. If there is such a thing as eternal love, it is the result of love that has lasted forever. It is the process of admitting that love, feelings, cannot last forever, but still not wanting to change, thinking about the other person, thinking about oneself, and aiming for the goal of eternal love that has meaning. That’s how I see it.”

I probably wouldn’t have realized it if I hadn’t had to break up with Minagi. I was so young back then that I couldn’t even imagine that my mind, my emotions, would change. But in retrospect, both my feelings and Minagi’s feelings had undergone a major transformation.

“Fufu. That’s quite something. I also think that the process is important. I think that when you work hard at anything, you gain confidence and can go further. Even if the result is not achieved, I believe that it will be a treasure for the rest of my life.”

I felt that Nagisa’s way of thinking was just a little bit different from mine. But that’s okay. There are many ways of thinking, and none of them are definite.

“But if I don’t, everything that happened today will disappear, right? I feel so sad when I think about that.”

I gently embraced the shoulder of the girl next to me. I could smell the amazing scent of shampoo on her head, which was irresistibly resting against me. …She smelled just like Minagi.

“…Yes. I, too, am sad to forget the memories we made together. No, more than that, I’m very scared.”

Of course I don’t want to pretend that the feelings I have for Nagisa never existed.

But still, I just can’t accept eternal love.

Even if I choose to engage with Nagisa, my memories of the Quartet will be erased, so I have no way of knowing that my feelings are defined as eternal. In truth, there should be no problem at all. …I know that. But it doesn’t work for me.

We both have our answers. I want things to go back to the way they were, and she doesn’t seem to want that. So what can I do to get Nagisa to change her target?

Why don’t I just tell her that I love her right now? No, if I tell her, then she will never give up her eternal love.

“I’m very happy that Suguru-senpai thinks so. But I’m still afraid to change. I don’t want anything to ever change. I wanted you to never change. I can’t choose anything for myself. I’m not confident.”

I wondered if the words pouring out of her mouth were the formula she had omitted earlier. Before I had time to gather them up, a swooning voice stopped me.

“Hey. Suguru-san.”

“What’s wrong, Nagisa?”

I tilted my face slightly and turned towards Nagisa. My heart skipped a beat when her face was closer than I expected.

Maybe she’ll kiss me. I was sure of it. I accepted it knowingly. I put on a surprised demeanor and allowed this situation when I shouldn’t have.

A touch, softer and warmer than I remembered, gently touched my upper lip. It was like a touch, a glancing kiss. I can’t taste the lemon anymore. It doesn’t feel real. I feel like I’m in a dream.

Her same dreamy, happy smile confused me.

—After all, this is not good enough. If this were forever, I would be too happy, I think.

It’s the same for me. It is the same reason why she cries out that it is no good. So, for now.

“…I’ll only listen to one thing you say.”

I told Nagisa, clinging to my melting brain, I dared to tell her. It’s okay. I’m sure that at this moment, our feelings and wishes are the same.

“Please hold on to me for a while.”

I nodded and put my arms around her back, trying to wrap around her small frame. My back tightens in response. We were as close as if we were one creature, and in the desolation of time, we could only feel each other’s heartbeats.

A few minutes later, Nagisa’s stomach rumbled, and our brief embrace came to an end.

　　＊＊＊

Yesterday, I kissed Nagisa for the second time. It was an indescribable feeling of immorality to go on a date with someone else the day after that. There were only thirty minutes left until my meeting with Aogashima-san. The sun was shining brightly, and I meditated on the swaying train.

—What’s wrong?

I felt as if I heard Aogashima-san’s voice. The distant, yet close, voice was the sound from my memory. After a delay, I realized. Yeah, this is…this is what happened that day. The first contact between me and her. A warm and sad memory played behind my eyelids.

On that day, when I was suddenly approached, I couldn’t mend my tear-stained face, and looked up at the front with my face as it was. I was so surprised to see that the person I was talking to was the most famous person in the school, Aogashima Yuno, that I almost jumped out of surprise.

I couldn’t find the words to describe the unrealistic situation. She smiled benevolently at me as I moved my mouth. She then sat down next to me in a quiet and polite manner and gently placed her hand on my thigh.

At that moment, I felt a pang. One of my tears fell on the back of her hand. That’s when I decided to confide in her for the first time.

“I’m…letting my emotions out. I was taught that if you don’t hold on to your sad or painful emotions and vent them properly, they will drag on forever. I was taught that if you let them out, the bad memories will fade away and you can forget them like a nightmare.”

“Who taught you that?”

“My girlfriend. …We just broke up.”

“That’s why you’re crying.”

“…I didn’t think I’d cry so much. I could feel it. My face is covered in tears.”

She shook her head and wiped away my tears with her thin fingertips.

“That’s how much you cared for her. So you can cry all you want. I’ll be here for a while.”

Her handkerchief was gently handed to me, and I took it in my hand, fearful but grateful for the favor. Then, after a little hesitation, I wiped the moisture from my face clean, from corner to corner.

“Thank you. It’s Aogashima-san…right? You’re from the class next to mine. I’ll wash it and return it to you.”

She shook her head.

“It’s okay. That’s for you.”

The conversation stopped. I don’t feel like crying any more, so I stared up at the blue sky, which doesn’t really metaphorize my emotions. But the sadness doesn’t go away.

“…I think it’s true.”

I reply to the sudden words, “Eh?” She rubbed her fingertips in a circular motion, as if she’s loading. Then she turned to me as if she had decided what to say.

“I couldn’t…get it out. That’s why my heart has been aching.”

“I see. You’ve been through a lot, haven’t you? If you want, you can cry with me. I’ll listen to your story.”

What’s with that suggestion? I’m starting to laugh at myself.

“I’ll pass… That’s all I have to say. Don’t worry about it, you can keep crying.”

When I tried to step in, the line was clearly drawn. It was a strange sense of distance, even though she keeps closing in on me.

“Don’t worry about it, that’s impossible for me.”

“Then, here’s something special.”

Instantly, she tugged on my shoulder. “Waah,” I squealed. In the meantime, I had no choice but to lie down on her lap.

“…No, umm, Aogashima-san?”

If that were true, I would have been adamant. I would have jumped up immediately and rejected it. But in my heartbroken state, I was grateful for someone’s warmth. I wanted to ignore my pride and cling to something. I just sobbed on and on. It would have been a ridiculous spectacle. Yeah, but maybe I was lucky. There were hardly any people passing by after that—

“Sorry, did you have to wait?”

It was ten minutes before our meeting time, but Aogashima-san was already waiting for me. She was standing upright along the uniquely shaped monument in front of the station, eagerly thumbing through the pages of her notebook.

Surprisingly, Aogashima-san’s casual clothes were coordinated in a way that belied her uptight image. Her décolletage was boldly exposed. Just below her short denim skirt, an alluring pair of denier high socks stretched out. Pastel red heels gleamed at the end.

“No, I just came. …I just wanted to say that once, I got here twenty minutes ago.”

“So you were here early?”

“That’s what it means, depending on how you look at it.”

“Then I’ll do my best to escort you, at least to apologize….Ugh, I don’t know what I just said.”

I was blushing with embarrassment at the words that came out of my mouth. This was a date that Aogashima-san had forced upon me. Today, I can’t let my guard down even a millimeter against her. In the first place, I like Nagisa. So I shouldn’t be saying such frivolous things. I can’t help but try to keep my composure.

“Fufu. …I was the one who invited you today. There’s no need for you to be uptight about it, Suguru-kun.”

Aogashima-san was surprised by my reaction, but smiled happily. Also, just now, eh, Suguru…-kun? Hmmm? What? Why did this girl suddenly call me by my first name?

“Aogashima-san, ummm.”

Shaking her head silently, Aogashima-san said only “Yuno” in a very small voice. Did she want me to call her by her first name too?

No, Aogashima-san. Our relationship has not yet reached that point—”

Aogashima-san stubbornly shook her head and repeated “Yuno” in a rather low-pitched voice. Do I have to break her out of this repeat?

“Yu…Yuno.”

“Mmm, Suguru-kun.”

The classmate in front of me nodded in satisfaction at my call. This is…very sneaky. I hesitated for a moment at the hand that was offered to me, and eventually put my right hand over it and walked away.

“We held hands. So this is cheating on her.”

“That’s a big judgment call. We have a date today, right? I keep my promises, that’s all.”

“This is more businesslike than I expected …I’m sad.”

Aogashima-san deliberately used a gesture to express the tears that were falling.

“By the way, Ao──Yuno. Where do you plan to go today?

“You’ll find out when you get there.”

“I have a bad feeling about this.”

I’ve gotten off at this station twice in the past. It’s a place that I’ve been to only a few times, but it left a deep impression on me.

“Speaking of which, Yuno…”

I was at a loss for words when I called her name. Ah, what is this feeling? The heat of my vocal cords trembled hesitantly. It was different from when I called Nagisa or Minagi. There is something almost immoral about calling out the name of the most beautiful girl in the school in a friendly manner and monopolizing her in secret.

Yuno stared at me, waiting for me to call out to her. It was as if she was searching every inch of my face for more. I forgot to even breathe for a moment because her face was so well shaped and beautiful.

“Ah, that. I failed to mention at the start that…I’ve never seen your casual clothes before, but you have great taste in personal clothing. It’s not what I imagined, but it looks great on you.”

After I said that, I realized that this was the second time I had seen her in her personal clothes. On the day I broke up Minagi, I must have seen Yuno’s casual clothes once. But my memory of the details was hazy, and I don’t remember much about it. But Yuno didn’t make any special effort to point it out, and we continued our conversation.

“This is the one that Aika and I chose last month. She gave me a lot of advice.”

Perhaps so that I could see her better, Yuno moved a little further away from me while still holding my hand. Her mouth seemed to loosen just a little.

“That makes sense. It’s just like Kuroiwa. She knows you well.”

It was because Kuroiwa was really in love with Yuno that she can bring out the best in her.

“Yes. Aika knows me well.”

“Let’s see, I especially like that thing, that ribbon. The mood is a little different from the one we have at school, and I just can’t take my eyes off it.”

I don’t know why I’m praising her so much. The answer is simple: because I’m nervous. I’m saying unnecessary things in an effort to not pause in the middle of a conversation.

She turned her head slightly down to escape my gaze and stroked the ribbon tied in one side of her hair carefully and lovingly as if she were handling a broken object.

“This is the one only I chose for today. …That’s why I’m happy.”

She smiled, modestly, but perhaps boldly for her. I was unconsciously taken aback by the expression on Yuno’s face as she smiled, and my heart jumped strongly.

It’s strange. This irregular heartbeat was only for her.

While I was shaken, the known scenery flowed through my vision. My premonition had turned into certainty.

“Do you live around here by any chance, Yuno?”

Perhaps Yuno understood the intent of my question, but after a short pause, she nodded silently. Yeah…so that’s why. In my mind, the dots connect. I was surprisingly unconcerned when I saw the gate in front of me.

This is a shrine famous for its marriage blessings.

Last October, in this very place, Minagi and I ended our relationship. Yuno, who lives nearby, happened to see me sobbing. Our individual newfound love led to the start of the Confession Quartet. What a strange connection.

However, what I saw was very different from what I remembered. The precincts were filled with people. There were many stalls lined up in a row. Lines of lanterns hung in a cheerful manner. A constant chorus of people calling out to each other.

“Are you surprised? Today is the annual festival of this shrine. It’s a big event for the neighborhood.”

“Heeh. It’s been a long time since I’ve been to a festival like this. I’m getting a little excited.”

I thought back to my childhood memories of playing in the festival several times. I wondered if I could find my favorite candy apple. I also liked target shooting. I was not very good at goldfish scooping… I looked at the bustling scenery for a while, overlapping my memories, but I could not find the courage to take a step beyond the gate and remained standing still.

Then, Yuno strongly pulled my hand.

“Follow me, please.”

She seemed to be in a hurry, and without paying attention to the food stalls, she headed for the back of the shrine grounds at a glance.

“Ah. I think we should pay our respects first.”

“True. But…there. This.”

Yuno pointed to a piece of ema (violet tablet). It’s a heart shape that you can tell at a glance is for marriage.

I once wrote the same ema with Minagi. It was a simple prayer for our love to last forever. That’s why you make mistakes when you rely on the gods. While scolding myself for my past, I squatted down to read the ema that Yuno showed me and looked at it.

“Eh…?”

I blinked a couple of times and popped a grape candy into my mouth. Apparently, this was no hallucination of mine, but an undeniable reality. This ema—I’ll never forget the round letters Minagi wrote on the votive tablet.

『I will do my best to make our love eternal!』

In the lower right-hand corner, there is a heart mark with Minagi’s name and an unknown name in between. I wondered if it was her new lover. …As soon as I recognized that, I felt an inexpressible emotion in my chest. Something like a mixture of joy and sadness. Just when I thought the feeling was as dirty as black paint, a bright white light dazzled inside my head.

I glimpse, with trepidation, the memories that I had so neatly locked away inside me. Minagi smiled in annoyance. Minagi hugs her stomach, laughing by herself. Minagi rubbed her cheeks against me. Minagi turns away from me, looking unhappy. Minagi nodded her head, her face turning red. Finally, Minagi smiled awkwardly.

I can never go back. I know that. I don’t intend to go back again. And yet, I really can’t go back. I was forced to understand that.

Because my road is only connected to the future.

“Yuno. This is…”

I belatedly realized that my voice was trembling.

“…I stumbled upon it a while ago. Your ex-girlfriend already has a boyfriend.”

How could such a coincidence be possible? The question comes to mind, but it doesn’t really matter right now.

I wondered how long I had been squatting there. My knees were beginning to hurt, my dry throat was being moistened with grape-flavored saliva, my heart stopped palpitating, and I was left with a feeling.

The last words I exchanged with Minagi were still alive in her heart.

The path we had taken had led us to a new place. That made me inexplicably happy.

I have talked to Minagi about this before, and I’m lost now in this game.

Before I knew it, Minagi was on the path to where I wanted to go.

“Well, in that case…I’ll have to work hard, too, Minagi.”

I’m already looking forward to it. I’m determined to get through this game and tell Nagisa how I feel about her. But there will probably come a time when I feel like I’m going to break. There will be times when I feel like giving in to temptation. That’s when I’ll remember Minagi. That’s what I thought.

“…Thanks for telling me about this, Yuno.”

Yuno turned and sniffed, very pleased with my reaction.

“I can’t thank you enough. …You didn’t know, did you?

“Eh? Yes, I didn’t. I was surprised to find out that Minagi had a new boyfriend. Nagisa didn’t know about this either?

As I stood up, I buried my discomfort. Minagi and Nagisa are close sisters. Within two days after Minagi and I started dating, Nagisa found out that her sister had a boyfriend. So there’s no way Nagisa wouldn’t have noticed. If that’s the case, did she keep it a secret out of concern for me?

As I was pondering, Yuno gently pulled my sleeve.

“Anyway, you should quickly forget about your ex-girlfriend.”

Her soft hand that came down quickly caught my hand and squeezed it.

“No, I’m not. I’m not going to forget. This time, I’m going to make it a memory. Well, I’m not going to fall for you anyway.”

“…No need for you to be so resistant. I’ll have you in my arms in no time.”

My grip on her hand tightened. There was a sweaty sensation between our hands, I wonder which one of us was sweating?

Our date at the festival has begun. First, we prayed. When I had declared war on the god of marriage in about six seconds, Yuno next to me was praying in a perfect, ostentatious manner. If there was a rank for worship, it would definitely be at least level five.

“What did you wish for, so politely? Or is it that if you say it, it won’t come true?”

“I wished for world peace, but it won’t come true anymore. The world will be destroyed. Because of what you heard, Suguru-kun.”

“Better not set up any weird traps.”

“I want you to take responsibility and be next to me on the day of the end of the world.”

“Why do I have to take responsibility for you? Then I’ll take responsibility for the world.”

We walked down the stone steps. The first thing we did was to fill our empty stomachs with takoyaki and cotton candy, and then we went around the stalls to see what we could find. During this time, Yuno kept checking the time several times.

“Is there something else going on after this?””

Yuno answered, “Not much,” but then stopped. What she was looking at was a stuffed penguin, placed at the end as a prize for a target shooting.

“Do you want it, by any chance?”

Yuno nodded a little shyly and handed the money to the man at the stall ahead. I also entered and received a toy rifle and cork bullets.

I’ve always been good at target shooting. Maybe it’s the process of optimizing the ballistic trajectory that I’m good at, or maybe I’m just good at it in general, but I dropped a figure with my first shot and hit a candy bar with my second.

“It’s not fair, targeting only the weak points.”

“That’s how the game is played.”

Next to me, Yuno was struggling with the penguin she wanted. The bullets hit the penguin several times, but the penguin only shook a little and showed no signs of falling. It was quite a difficult prey. It was probably not from Yuno’s position, but from my position, I need to lean forward at a slight angle and firmly hit the center of gravity. I pointed the muzzle of my gun at it to test it out — one shot. The cork I fired sent the penguin crashing down.

“Whoa! Yuno, we got it!”

I took the stuffed animal from the man running the stall with great enthusiasm and passed it on to Yuno. Yeah, this is like a date. While feeling embarrassed, I waited for Yuno’s reaction.

But Yuno said, “Put it back where you found it,” and released the penguin back. The employee and I looked at each other with blank expressions on our faces. …Why?

“…I want to get it on my own.”

Yuno generously paid the extra fee and stuffed the cork bullets into the gun. She mimicked my earlier stance and fired a few shots, but the penguins back home were determined and did not go down easily.

“One piece of advice for your competitive nature is to aim a little more to the right.”

“I’m not competitive…like this?”

Yuno shifted the angle of the gun slightly and slowly pulled the trigger — and the penguin crashed for the second time. The employee also looked unconsciously relieved.

“I did it. Look at that, Suguru-kun. It’s so cute.”

Holding the penguin in her arms, Yuno smiled innocently. It’s not a subdued smile like usual, but a smile that comes from the bottom of her heart. Ah, she can make that kind of expression. My heart leaps every time I see her expression, which I never see in the classroom. Just a little. Just for a moment. I can’t help but think that way.

This might not be so bad, I thought.

…Ugh, I don’t know what I’m thinking. Even though Nagisa is not here, I had just made a vow to Minagi in front of the votive tablet.

Number beauty of the school, Aogashima Yuno.

At first, I was not interested. I didn’t know anything about her. But now it was different. Her charm, which I knew only superficially, became three-dimensional and attacked me.

“And, umm, Suguru-kun. …Thanks for the advice—”

As I started to walk away, Yuno came back to herself and started to thank me as her usual self. …However, it did not reach my ears until the end. It was the clear voice of an unknown person that interrupted her.

“Is it Yuuno-chan? No way, you can’t be Yuno-chan, right!?”

Yuno stopped in her tracks as the three girls approached her from the front. This time, it was not because she was attracted to something, but because she was scared.

“Yuno, do you know them?”

Yuno did not answer. In the meantime, the trio had surrounded the area in front of us.

“Your air has changed, hasn’t it? It’s so much calmer!”

“You changed your contact information too, right!? I was worried because I suddenly lost contact with you.”

“Are you in any trouble? I’ll do anything for you, so let’s hang out again.”

“Ah…Well, um.”

She takes a step back. I immediately have an idea. The three of them were involved in something that Kuroiwa had mentioned yesterday. The cause of Yuno’s change in personality. There waws no right answer as to what a person’s personality should be, but at least the process of how it came to be was not a positive one.

“I’m sorry, but we have plans later.”

I stepped in between the two girls to protect Yuno. The cold look in her eyes pierced me.

“Eh. Are you by any chance Yuno-chan’s boyfriend?”

“It’s not like that. Yuno and I are enemies.”

I replied immediately. Taking advantage of their pause, I pulled Yuno’s hand and forced my way through the group of three. At a fast pace, and before I knew it, we were sprinting away from the shrine.

“…I was careless. I should have known I’d run into them at that time.”

As we walked along the road, Yuno was mumbling something. I wondered what she meant by “should have known”. It was a comment of annoyance, but what I needed to talk to Yuno about now was more important.

“Sorry. I know I pulled you away, but were those three your friends?”

“…In middle school, they were. But now they are not. So thank you.”

I just said, “I see.” I didn’t know if I should ask what happened next. I was hesitant, but at the same time, I was curious to find out more about Yuno.

We turned into a residential street on a hunch. I wondered how long I was going to walk. Probably until I get an answer to this hesitation. Yuno followed a step behind me and grasped my joined hands tightly.

“…I used to be more cheerful.”

Perhaps sensing my hesitation, Yuno muttered before I could ask her. I remember that day when we met, she said that she couldn’t get it out. That’s probably the past she was trying to talk about.

“I see. …I want to hear it. What happened to you?”

When this date is over, Yuno and I will be enemies. But I still wanted to know more about her. I wanted to know more about Yuno Aogashima, who was hurt by something, afraid of something, and obsessed with something. Yuno nodded in response to my question and began to speak softly.

“I was blessed. Because I was born with an appearance that was easily liked, I was treated like a princess, and everyone around me was always doing things for me. It was easy to live a fully automated life. No one refused my proposal. Everyone affirmed me. I could get anything I wanted. I got the dessert I wanted for school lunch, the manga I wanted to read, the notes I needed to prepare for exams, the first place in the sports festival, the first place in the cultural festival project—and my friends.”

I slowed my pace and listened to her shaky voice. It was easy to imagine people surrounding her, even though it was the opposite of what she does now.

“In the third year of middle school, there was a girl in my new class that I liked. She was very quiet, always kept to herself, and her taste in books seemed to match mine. I wanted to be her friend, but when I asked her out a few times, she always said no.”

If I were in the same position, I would definitely decline. Considering the balance of power in the class, I would have been in awe of her. But at the time, Yuno probably didn’t see the world that way.

“So, I talked to the three of them about it. They were my best friends from middle school. And they became my friends easily. They started to hang out with me whenever they wanted.”

The expression on Yuno’s face when she looked back at me was downcasted.

“But it was different from what I expected. The girl was threatened by those three and was only forced to go along with them. When she told me, I was very surprised and sad, I apologized and never spoke to her again. Though, there were so many things I wanted to talk about with her.”

The hands that were holding mine were gone, and Yuno stopped. She hugged the penguin with both arms and buried her face in it. I didn’t know what to do, so I waited for her next words.

“It wasn’t what I wanted, but because I wished for it, I got it in a twisted way. From that day on, everything that I had been doing, everything that I had been acting unconsciously, became scary. I realized that something was always being distorted and someone was always being sacrificed for my sake, and I regretted that I hadn’t realized it.”

I stroked the penguin’s head in an attempt to comfort her because I didn’t think it was right to touch her. She blushed a little but did not look at me.

“And I chose a high school where no one else seemed to come. In my new environment, I wanted to be alone. I was afraid of getting involved with people who wanted to get close to me and distorting something else. I decided that I would get what I wanted on my own…”

It was natural to accept that it was her principle to get what she wanted on her own. That’s probably why she didn’t want to get engaged with me so easily with that surprise kiss. It was the same with the shooting game. I slowly removed my hand from the stuffed animal.

“So that’s what happened. …Thank you for telling me about it. Yuno.”

“I wanted you to know more about me, Suguru-kun.”

When I nodded, Yuno glanced at me, and with a satisfied look on her face, she took a step forward and started walking, this time leading me. However, there was one thing that seemed off to me.

“One thing, though. I’m going to ask you again, why did you join the Confession Quartet? If you want to get me on your own, then trying to get me with your skills, trump cards, or any other given power is not in line with your principles.”

“…Maybe, not Even so, I had no choice but to participate.”

What did she mean, “no choice but to participate”?

Before I can even say the question, I realized. The sender of the love letter was from Yuno. …She was supposed to call me up to the roof and confess her feelings. But it was actually Nagisa who was on the roof.

“Could it be, it’s my fault that you got into the game?”

“Yes. That girl is after you, and it led me to pursue you in the game.”

The answer I had been expecting came back to me. I was suspicious of Nagisa leaving the meeting place and chased after her. Then there was another person behind me who was thinking the exact same thing.

“When I heard the angel’s story, I thought. I can’t win if I don’t stand on the same playing field as her.”

“That makes sense—hey, what is this place?”

When we turned into an unfamiliar corner, I was suddenly connected with a familiar scene. I was surprised and stopped in my tracks. A bench in front of the ward library. This was the spot where I cried so hard after breaking up with Minagi.

“Fufu. I was originally planning to come here after the festival.”

When I looked closely, I could see a sign on the bench that said “Reserved Seating”. Why would one want to make a reservation, it’s public property. And even more closely, I could see the time zone on it. From 14:00 to 20:00. That was way too long.

“Were you planning to stay here for six hours?”

“Depending on the mood.”

“That’s a pretty bad estimate.”

“But it brings back memories, right?”

“…Well, yeah, it does. I was crying so hard, and you were talking to me, and my face was all messed up with tears, and you gave me your handkerchief—”

I don’t remember where I put that handkerchief. I have no memory of it. She said I didn’t have to return it, but if I had lost it, I would feel bad. I’ll have to look for it later.

“Suguru-kun. I know it’s a little late, but weren’t you bothered by what happened that day?”

Yuno asked anxiously. I took off the paper and sat on the bench, shaking my head.

“No, I wasn’t. Someone — No, Yuno was right next to me, and you saved me.”

Next, Yuno sat down right next to me, at the same distance as that day.

I glanced at my watch as I rolled up the paper I had removed. The time was already well past fourteen o’clock.

“Or rather, we arrived after the start of your appointment time.”

“Yes. I was too busy with the shooting. …We were completely off schedule.”

“Speaking of plans, didn’t you say something strange just now? Something weird about an encounter with those three?”

—I should have known I’d run into them at that time.

Yuno was silent for a bit and then took out her notebook, which she had been looking at when we met up.

“My ability—Omniscience. I can write a question in this notebook and get the answer. It would be too much trouble if I ran into someone I knew, so I’ve been asking to avoid that.”

“Eh…Ha? Why would you tell me that?”

Yuno observed my eyes with interest and laughed as I was surprised by her unexpected answer.

“You asked me.”

“I-I know, but I didn’t expect you to reveal your skills. And isn’t it advantageous to keep your omniscient ability hidden?”

“There’s a good reason to tell you.”

Yuno rolled up the cover of her notebook. What jumped out at me was the same handwriting as the love letter I had received some time ago. The first page of the notebook states, “Shirase Suguru’s skills are—” and On the back of the first page, there are details of my skills. Of course, the weakness of my skill when I was kissed was also on it.

“…Isn’t this the strongest skill one can have?”

Love is a kind of information war. Some people think of it as a game where you have to thoroughly research your partner’s preferences, behavior patterns, and personality in order to make the most effective moves. That’s why Yuno’s skills are much stronger. She can skip the hassle of searching for information and know all the answers from the beginning.

“SSR, apparently.”

Hey, we all have SSRs. That phony angel.

“So…Was it a setup when you kissed me, or even when we were deciding for the committee?”

The number of the lottery we draw to determine the committee members. The timing of the sleeping pills. The time when no one was in the classroom. With her omniscient abilities, she would be able to plan meticulously and make it a success.

Will I really be able to overcome the game against Aogashima Yuno?

“Is there anything you want to know, Suguru-kun?”

Yuno flipped the notebook from the back cover and opened it to a blank page. On the left side of the spread was written “In front of the school gate”, which seemed to be the answer to something. Or rather, that’s the last page.

“You can only use it one more time, right?”

“…Yes. But I’ve already finished making the most of it. So I’ll share the last one with you, Suguru-kun.”

“There’s a lot to choose from. Then, would I be able to achieve my goal?”

“…It’s best not to do that. A definite answer cannot be overturned. If the answer is ‘You can’t’, the one who would be in trouble is you, Suguru-kun.”

“If the answer is ‘yes’, you are in trouble too. In a way, that’s the weak point of your skill.”

“Yes. And knowing everything is never a good thing. Even for you.”

If I read more into her statement, I could guess why she dared to tell me. By letting me know that she had already found out everything about me, she was trying to control my actions. That was why I responded as follows. Not trying to be strong.

“No, the more information the better, of course.”

“The more information you have, the more possibilities you know, the more you worry, the more you regret.”

I know what she means. I got to know more about Yuno today. But the fact that I like Nagisa has not changed. But the weight of my choice seems to be increasing. Even so.

“I…Don’t think so. You have to try your best to know all the options available to you, and face them all without turning away from what you didn’t want to know. The answer you choose after such a process is the best answer. It is the one that embodies who I am. There is no such thing as regret for me.”

“…You’re strong, Suguru-kun.”

“I’m not strong. …I would even say I’m weak.”

The Confession Quartet. This was a game where there was no process, and the result was everything. But I can’t separate the two, and I’m like a handicap to myself, choosing the means.

“But, Yuno. This is the only thing I know for sure. No matter how well I know you, no matter how much I like you, no matter how thrilled I am with you. I can’t go out with you. There is only one person I have my heart set on.”

My strong declaration was met with a moment of silence. Yuno did not grieve but just froze with a blank expression. After a few seconds, she smiled as if she had coated a sigh. Our gazes, which had been connected, were broken, and we both turned over deeply.

“For that girl, right? Unfortunately, Suguru-kun’s goal will not come true.”

My eyes that were looking at the ground turned to Yuno again with a “Eh?”

“I will not use my trump card. If you want me to use it, you’ll have to kiss me.”

Yuno put her finger on her own lips and stared straight at me.

“…I see, since you got that kill, you know what I needed to do to achieve my goal.”

“Yes. I’m definitely not going to lose. …So now is your best chance.”

Yuno leaned her center of gravity toward me and approached me as if to provoke me. I pulled my face away as quickly as I could.

“Even so. I can’t kiss someone I don’t like.”

I answered without hesitation. But Yuno was unfazed, and as if to dismiss my words, she gently placed her index finger on my upper lip.

“The memory of that day will take effect from now on. Yes, like a slow-acting poison.”

“…What are you talking about?”

Yuno blurted out, “Come on,” and stood up lightly.

“Wait, Yuno. Can I ask you one more thing?”

The last question was for Kuroiwa. Yuno hesitantly agreed with a glance.

“Are you gathering any information on the other participants besides me? For example, Nagisa’s trump card.”

“I did. That girl…You need to be careful.”

“Then there’s Kuroiwa—”

“I haven’t done any investigation on Aika.”

That was a quick answer, unlike her usual manner to choose words carefully. I don’t think she was lying, but she’s definitely hiding something. No, she is running away from something.

“I told you. Once you know, you can’t go back. …I just can’t, try to investigate my best friend like that.”

The way she said it, it was more like ────

　　＊＊＊

“Hey, Suguru. Did you have a conflict with Aogashima-san?”

It was during the break before the third period, when I was looking at my world history textbook, that I suddenly heard Sakuma whispering from the seat next to me.

“What’s up so suddenly? No…None at all.”

I couldn’t tell him that she kissed me right here in my seat and that we had a date yesterday.

“Because, you know, Aogashima-san’s eyes have been looking over here for a while now.”

Fact-checking, my direction. Yuno’s beautiful eyes and I stared at each other, and then quickly turned away from each other. No, why are you looking at me?

“See? Even if there’s nothing going on, you two are on the committee together. You’re so lucky. I’m so jealous. Did you two go home together?”

“Sure, we talked a bit. But we didn’t…go home together.”

I deliberately put my textbook and notebook on the right corner of my desk, making a noise, but there was no sign of the conversation ending.

“What’s that? So boring. If you get along with Aogashima-san, then I can get along with her. Then the world will be happy.”

“Don’t make the scale so big all of a sudden.”

And the world is going to die because of me, so it’s not going to be happy. Ah, but there was one event that might make Sakuma really happy.

“Ah, by the way, she had sat in your seat for a while, Yuno—”

The moment I said it, I realized my mistake. But it was already too late. I have now openly shown the evidence that I have become close to Aogashima-san.

The silence was as if time had stopped. I looked around and saw that everyone in the class was standing still, including Kuroiwa. It was obvious that the air in the classroom had frozen. It was as if every inch of the room was trapped in a rectangular ice cube.

…Yeah, their gazes are something that pierced my skin and I could feel it.

I look at Yuno with a tight smile on my face. She smirked. She lifted the edge of her mouth as if to say that it was just as planned. Wait—Is this part of her plan? Is she trying to make me cave in for her from outside pressure!?

“Hmm? Is it possible that I misheard you? No, of course not, but just to make sure, Suguru, you just called Aogashima-san by her name?”

I immediately popped a muscat-flavored candy into my mouth. Think about it. Give me a good excuse to get out of this situation.

“Yuno, the God of Hot Springs, you know, the one you see placed in hot springs. That’s what was sitting there.”

“No, you’re being weird! What’s a ‘God of Hot Springs’? I don’t know if there is one! If you’re going to fool me, you should have chosen teacup or something more appropriate! Hey, you said it right? Yu-no, you just called Aogashima-san’s first name!”

…I guess it’s impossible to fool him.

The class was in an uproar as if time had begun to move, starting with Sakuma’s pursuit. It seems that in everyone’s brain, I’ve been judged to be a guilty b*stard.

“Eh? When are you two on good terms?” “No way, he with Aogashima-san?” “Someone should ask Aogashima-san.” “—Eh, I’ve never talked to her before.” “Me? No, I can’t. Um…that?” “Why are you looking at Kuroiwa?” “Hey, Aogashima-san—”

If we continue like this, they’ll have a common understanding that Yuno and I are close. It was very inconvenient. I don’t know what effect this will have, but at worst, my actions will be severely restricted.

But…It in itself is a good development for me. I also had one move I wanted to make. The timing was a little premature, but it’s a move that will certainly move the situation. So this time is fine too.

“No, no!”

I made a loud noise and stood up. All eyes were on me again. I took a deep breath and exhaled.

“Because I’m already in a relationship with someone else!”

I point with all my might at a point in the classroom. At the tip of my fingernails was a self-centered ponytailed girl.

“Haaaaaaaaaaaaaa!?”

Kuroiwa Aika shouted, louder than anyone else in the class.

—W-W-W-W-What the hell are you thinking!?

Kuroiwa’s drifting eyes appealed to me. I wink silently and unfolded the piece of paper I’ve just written, a message to Kuroiwa, and held it up.

If Kuroiwa affirmed it here, it would be judged that I had confessed and I might engage Kuroiwa. But if she denies it, I won’t be able to create the situation I want after this. It’s better to let things go unanswered for now.

Then, just as I had hoped, the piece of paper I had held up disappeared.

“Ugh…Ah, eh…”

With the piece of paper in her hand, Kuroiwa’s eyes swirled for a few seconds as if troubled. The message I gave her was, “Take me out into the hallway without saying a word.” Please help me…!

As if my prayers had been answered, Kuroiwa began to move, and with quick steps and a bright red face, she scraped her jacket on the floor and approached me with great force. She roughly grabbed my shoulders and whispered her love to me, “I’m going to kill you.” Then everyone in the class watched us disappear into the hallway, unable to say a word, but only stared mindlessly at the open door.

Finally, I glanced at Yuno before we left. Her eyes widened in surprise. It seems I’ve succeeded in outsmarting her.

However, I seemed to have failed to help keep Kuroiwa’s balance, and instead, she grabbed me by the collar and walked down the corridor without saying a word, just like she did the other day.

“Wait a minute, this hurts so much—!”

I was dragged from the third floor, where our class is located, on the landing of the stairs leading down to the second floor.

“You, you, Shirase, you idiot, seriously! Apologize! Apologize right! Apologize by being naked on a video site, get banned, and die! Live forever as a shameful image on the Internet! Why would I go out with you!?”

A red-faced Kuroiwa shot out her burning anger rapidly.

“It was the only way to get out of that situation.”

The big news is covered by even bigger news. In order to stop the commotion that Yuno had created, I decided that the most effective way would be to announce my relationship with Kuroiwa.

“I know, I know, but! I have my own pace! I haven’t even given you the cookies yet! Why should I get involved with you now!?”

I managed to quiet the furious Kuroiwa by saying, “Well, just listen for a moment.” If I don’t, she might stop time and hit me two or three times.

“Listen, Kuroiwa. If you really want to go out with Yuno, you have to make something out of this situation.”

Kuroiwa stepped back with a serious expression on her face and leaned back against the railing with her hands behind her back as if my words had instantly made her calm down.

“…What’s that supposed to mean?”

I remembered the last conversation Yuno and I had yesterday.

When she said in a pained voice that she couldn’t go back if she knew. The atmosphere when she answered that she hadn’t investigated Kuroiwa. The more I thought about it, the more things that came to mind popped up like bubbles.

“Yuno—Knew you like her. Probably since a long time ago.”

“…Heh?”

Kuroiwa’s curt voice rang out.