Part Three: Epilogue

As expected, my parents readily agreed to Shizuku moving in with Runa.
With hardly any belongings to pack, she was set to move into Runa’s room over the weekend. Things were moving far too quickly.

Seeing Runa’s face appear from the van, Shizuku’s face lit up instantly.

“Well then, nice to meet you. Shizuku-chan.”

“Yes! I’m a bit of a klutz, but please take care of me!”

“What’s this, a wedding?”

Runa chuckled softly.
Shizuku stood stiff as a board. Whether she was nervous or what, I couldn’t tell.
She was like a completely different person compared to how she acted around me. Could they really live together like this?

“Make sure she does the housework properly. You can put her to work.”

“W-what? Ame’s saying something so big-sister-like.”

“For the teacher’s sake, I’ll do anything! Cooking, cleaning, laundry…”

“Shizuku, you can’t cook…”

“I’ll learn, so it’s fine.”

“What about exam prep?”

“I’ll do that too.”

　She seemed incredibly determined, huffing and puffing. It was as if an invisible tail were wagging back and forth.
When Runa placed a hand on Shizuku’s head, her small ears flushed bright red.

“Sorry for being so childish. But I mean it.”

“I know. Shall we share the housework?”

“Yes!”

　The two climbed into the light van and slowly turned the corner of the driveway.
How utterly straightforward.
But then, that’s how it is. Far from a final farewell, the new place is just around the corner. We’d surely meet again soon enough.
Even so, returning to the room, the familiar space seemed just a little more spacious. How strange.

There was still time before Ibara arrived. Just as I tied on an apron to start preparing dinner, my smartphone vibrated.

‘Shigure-san, have they finished moving?’

‘They have, but how did you know?’

‘Shizuku’s SNS.’

‘I see…’

Still, that was quick. Had she been glued to it? She could have just asked me directly.

‘Can I come over?’

I resisted the urge to smile at the petulant tone.

“You can, but I’m about to start dinner.”

‘What’s it today?’

“Hamburgers… Oh, but I’m out of nutmeg. It’s fine without, I suppose.”

Mixing it into the mince cuts the gaminess and gives it that authentic, slightly spicy kick.
Should I go buy some now? But then, caramelising the onions, mixing the meat, shaping the patties, frying them… Thinking about it, it’d take a fair bit of time.
　Just as I thought, ‘This is a bother,’ the words slipped out.

“Could you pick up some nutmeg on your way back? The mini bottle sort?”

‘………….’

“Ibara?”

‘Ah, sorry. Yeah, of course.’

“Is something wrong?”

‘Hmm, I just thought it was a bit unusual.’

What was?

‘It’s the first time Shigure-san’s asked me to do shopping for her.’

“Is that so?”

‘Yes. You can rely on me more, you know.’

Rely.
Rely, huh.
I have asked her for favours before. Asked her to model for illustrations, asked about Hiname-chan.
She says this is the first time I’ve asked her to shop for me, but when I had a cold, she did buy various things for me.
But come to think of it, I don’t think I ever thought of it that way.
　I want to be kinder to you than anyone else in the world.
I want to protect you so you never get hurt again, not even the slightest scratch.
That feeling hasn’t changed.
But maybe that alone isn’t enough. Just wrapping you in feather-soft kindness.
Surely, just giving isn’t enough, nor is just receiving.
So.

“Ibara.”

“Yeah? What is it?”

“I fancy a sweet dessert after dinner.”

I took the plunge and made that selfish request.
Pause.

‘So that means…’

Ibara said timidly.

‘…that I’m the dessert?’

‘No, that’s not it at all.’

Not at all.
I’d asked for two puddings from the patisserie near the station.

　Soon, the doorbell chimed. I paused chopping onions to greet them. The lock clicked, the door swung open.

“I’m home, Shigure-san.”

Ibara, carrying a small paper bag, smiled softly.
My heart leapt. Huh. That’s odd. I couldn’t tear my eyes away from that smile.
　Was it because she was in casual clothes, looking more grown-up than usual? Somehow she seemed unusually cute. No, she’d always been pretty, of course.
But had she always sparkled like this, so much that I couldn’t take my eyes off her for a moment?
Wait, did I really hug such a cute girl on the street? Did I confess, saying ‘Because you’re special’, and even kiss her myself?
Wait, wait, it felt like we’d done all sorts of even crazier things much earlier than this.

“What’s wrong, Shigure-san?”

“N-nothing.”

I looked away from her cherry-blossom-pink lips and took the pudding bag. I put the whole bag in the fridge and returned straight to the kitchen. Ibara, who’d washed her hands, stood beside me.

“Are you helping?”

“Yeah.”

She quickly tied her hair back with a hair tie, revealing her slender nape.
　A ponytail. The fluffy strands at the back shimmered faintly, translucent in the light.

“Shigure-san, is something wrong?”

“No.”

I looked away.
I couldn’t admit I’d been mesmerised by the slenderness of her arm, casually rolled up, or the delicate shape of her wrist. Why? I should be used to it by now.

“—Aah!”

“Are you… alright?”

Immediately after feeling a sharp heat, blood seeped from my fingertip.
Oh, bloody hell. Cutting my hand while distracted? I’m not a child.

“Sorry, I’ll just wash my finger…”

I meant to say, move aside.
But faster than that, Ibara took my hand.
A small tongue licked my finger. Her lukewarm body heat transferred to me.
It was such a natural movement, I couldn’t refuse.

“Mmm.”

“Did it hurt?”

“…Not really.”

Or rather, actually──
But there was no way I could say that.

“Wait here a moment.”

Ibara, fetching a plaster, took my hand again. With careful, gentle movements, she wrapped it around my finger.

“It’s fine, I can do it myself.”

“I want to do it.”

Her small fingers stroked between mine. The slight touch sent a shiver down my spine. Every nerve in my body was taut.
At times like this, Ibara never missed my change.
She grinned, teasingly saying.

“Oh? Did you get all flustered?”

“Idiot.”

“You’re so cute, Shigure-san.”

“…Don’t get cocky.”

“Well? Is there anything you want me to do? Right now, I’ll do anything for you.”

“No.”

“Really? You’re not holding back?”

“I said no—ah!”

One thing came to mind.
Something I wanted her to do.
But this was a bit much. Was it really appropriate?

“What is it?”

“Nothing, really.”

“Liar. You looked like you’d just thought of something.”

Sharp.

“Ah, something naughty? Well, I suppose I can’t refuse.”

“It’s not that.”

It really wasn’t.

“My name…”

“Name?”

“You’ve always called me ‘-san’.”

“Eh?”

My ears were burning now. What on earth was I saying?

“Sorry, forget it.”

“Eh? Eh? Eh?”

Ibara’s eyes sparkled brightly.

“Did you want me to call you by your first name, Shigure-san?”

“W-well, it’s not like that exactly…”

Just thinking there was a bit of distance between us.

“Alright. Right then, um—”

A little cough to clear his throat.

“Shigure.”

Brrrrr.
The sound of it touching my earlobe sent a shiver down my spine.

“Shigure, Shigure, sh-i-gu-re.”

“Er, no, that’s enough.”

“I like you, Shigure.”

Crackle, crackle, pop! Sparks flew in my brain.

“Sorry, I think I’d rather keep things as they were.”

“Eh? But you said it. Why?”

“No reason.”

“Why? Why? Why?”

“I-I don’t know.”

“Mm-hmm.”

She tugged my sleeve and peered into my face.
She probably, no, definitely, knew exactly what she was doing.
That this angle and expression were the most deliberately cute and adorable.

“Shigure, is that bad?”

“—Oh, for heaven’s sake, I said no!”

“Eh?”

Ibara chuckled softly. What to do? My heart pounded relentlessly, threatening to burst.
　This is troublesome.
Starting today, we’re back to living together again.
Feeling this way for a younger high schooler, it’s just like… my first love.

“Shigure. Starting today, let’s get along well again, alright?”

“Next time you call me by my first name, I’m kicking you out.”

“That far⁉︎”

I pulled the hand she’d been holding back and resumed cooking. I mixed the sautéed onions with the minced meat, shaped it into balls, and fried them.
　Our usual days return. But in truth, they’re just a little different from before.
That the meaning of ‘liking’ has changed without me noticing.
That the feelings, when I told Ibara she is ‘special’, are truer than the words themselves.
I had already realised.