Episode 50: Winter Arrives (5)

I shouldn’t have said anything unnecessary to Mai.

If I hadn’t said that, I probably would have been able to spend Christmas alone with Takizawa.

It was a mistake to say it as a warning not to interfere.

It’s only natural.
From Mai’s point of view, since I know both of them, there’s no reason for her not to go.

I let out a deep sigh during class.

　Looking outside, the sky was beautiful.

When I’m feeling down, I want to see Takizawa.

Since she was coming to my house today anyway, I contacted her thinking I’d go home with her.

Takizawa accepted surprisingly readily, and we walked the path I usually take alone at a pace three times slower than usual, savouring three times the enjoyment.

As there was still time before Mayo-nee and Hikari arrived, I decided to ask Takizawa to help me with my studies.

　As expected, Takizawa’s teaching style is clear and thorough. My grades have improved so much that even my form tutor is surprised. I don’t have any particular university I want to go to or anything like that, but I’m simply happy that my grades are improving.

‘Mayo-san and the others will be here soon, so shall we wrap this up? What would you like me to do today?’

Since she’d taught me, I felt I had to fulfil some request of Takizawa’s. When I asked her what she wanted, she looked troubled.

‘I want to put something on your neck.’

Saying that, Takizawa traced her finger along the nape of my neck.

That’s a bit of a problem, to be honest…

No one would think Takizawa put it there, and it’d be a hassle if people started asking if I have a boyfriend or whatever.

‘That’s a no-go. Isn’t there anything else?’
‘Fine, then.’

Saying that, Takizawa turned her back on me.

　Just then, Mayo-nee and the others arrived.
They seemed to have bought loads of food, as they were carrying bags in both hands.

‘Right then, I’ll do my best today, Mayo-nee!’
Hikari said cheerfully.

‘I was thinking of making oyakodon today, but is there anyone who doesn’t like it?’

‘I’ll make oyakodon too.’

When I replied to Mayo-nee’s question with a serious expression, everyone looked completely taken aback.

‘Let’s have Takizawa and Hikari-san be the judges, and see whose oyakodon tastes better.’

I stared straight at Mayo-nee. Even I thought it was a bit strange to be doing this. But I didn’t want to lose to Mayo-nee, and I wanted Takizawa to say mine tasted better than hers. I couldn’t afford to lose this battle.

‘That sounds fun. All right, Hina-chan, let’s do it.’

With Mayo-nee’s agreement, we set about cooking.

　Mayo is incredibly efficient; I’m left wondering if there’s anything she can’t do. Realising this isn’t the time to be distracted by her, I focus on my own cooking.

We placed two small bowls in front of each person so they could compare the two dishes.

Takizawa and Hikari took turns tasting our dishes. Watching Takizawa eat mine, the tightness in my chest caused by nerves grew even more intense.

　Hikari kept saying ‘delicious, delicious’ as she ate, but Takizawa remained silent the whole time.

We ate our own oyakodon too.
I was astonished when I tasted Mayo-nee’s.

It was far more delicious than anything you’d get in a restaurant.

I couldn’t stop eating, I was so curious about the secret ingredient, and when I looked at Mayo-nee, she was wearing a smug expression.

　In comparison, mine was utterly ordinary. It wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t particularly delicious either. Mayo-nee looked delighted as she asked the two judges for their verdict.

‘I’d have to say Mayo-nee’s, I think! What’s in this?’

Saying that, Hikari smiled happily. Meanwhile, Takizawa kept her head down the whole time, refusing to look our way.

‘Hoshizora, which one did you think was tastier?’

The moment Mayo-nee asked Takizawa a question, she stood up abruptly from the table with a thud.

‘I hate this sort of thing. I’m going for a bath. Thanks for the meal, both of you.’

With that, Takizawa headed off to the bathroom.

‘Hoshizora-chan, why did she suddenly act like that?’
‘Hmm, I suppose I could ask Hoshizora later, but she’s definitely not the type to talk about things like that.’

　It was true; I didn’t think Takizawa would ever talk about things like that. She’d hardly ever told me what she was thinking.

“Well, we’ll be fine if we all go out for the night!”

Hikari-san cheerfully said that, changing the subject.

Everyone had finished their baths and gathered in my room, chatting and laughing. Takizawa’s earlier mood had vanished, and she was back to her usual self, which was a relief.

“Everyone’s here, so let’s do something!”
Hikari-san started saying things like that.

“I don’t think there’s anything in particular to do.”
Mayo-san was, unusually, not keen on the idea, or rather, she seemed wary that Hikari-san might do something unnecessary.

“Hmm… when you think of a girls’ night out, it’s got to be love talk, hasn’t it!”
It always comes down to that, doesn’t it…
Mayo-san and Takizawa’s faces clouded over all at once.
　I’m probably pulling the same face myself.

“You lot are such a killjoy.”
“So, Hikari, do you have a crush on anyone, or are you seeing anyone?”

I waited for the right moment to speak up. With this sort of topic, the person who brought it up should talk about themselves first.

“I’m not seeing anyone, but I do have a crush.”
“Eh!”

Mayo was the first to react, even before me.

“I hadn’t heard that. Hikari, tell us all about it.”

Mayo looked unusually serious.

“I’ll tell you, but only if you all answer the same question first.”

Mayo looked at us with a serious expression, as if demanding an answer.

Takizawa let out a deep sigh and replied.

“I don’t have a crush on anyone. I never have, and I don’t intend to fall for anyone in the future either.”

I’d known that much, but this was the first time I’d heard that she had no intention of falling for anyone in the future.

My heart ached sharply.

“What about you, Hina-chan?”
Hikari asked with a beaming smile.

“As for me—”
I didn’t know what the right answer was.

　I don’t even know what this feeling is myself. Because I don’t know, I’ve tried to face myself and think it through, but I still couldn’t come up with an answer.

“I’ve never fallen for anyone, so I’m not really sure, but there is someone I want to cherish.”
“Oh! Who is it?”
Hikari asked in a light-hearted tone.

“I’m not answering that.”

Hikari nudged me playfully, as if to say I was being boring. There’s no way I could answer that here.

‘Right then, last up is Mayo-nee!’

‘I actually had my heart broken a little while ago, haha.’
Everyone present looks taken aback.

Or rather, around summer, Mayo-nee said she liked Takizawa. If that’s true, does that mean Mayo-nee confessed to Takizawa?

No, that can’t be right.

If Takizawa had been confessed to, I don’t think the two of them would be sitting here together like this right now.
　So, what on earth does Mayo-nee mean by that?

“I haven’t heard that bit. Tell us the details.”

Hikari, who had been the most energetic and cheerful of the lot until now, looks a bit downcast as she asks.

“No, no, it’s not that interesting. That girl has someone she cares deeply about, and I just thought I couldn’t compete with her.”
“Is that a reason to give up? If it were me, I’d go for it with the determination to snatch her away.”

I found myself strangely convinced that, given it was Hikari, she might well have done such a thing.

‘Perhaps my desire to make her happy was stronger than my feelings for her. I simply found someone who seemed better placed to make her happy than I could.’

She said something like that, trying to soothe Hikari.

Listening to Mayo-nee’s story, my mind hadn’t been able to keep up with processing it all, and I felt as though I was about to feel sick.

　If Mayo-nee’s story is true, there must be someone out there who can make Takizawa happy, someone so perfect that even Mayo-nee, as flawless as she is, can’t compete.

I can’t help but wonder what sort of amazing person that must be.

“Right then, Hikari, everyone’s had their turn, so now it’s your turn to answer.”
Mayo-nee looked quite serious.

I think Hikari is truly amazing for being able to get Mayo-nee, who’s usually so inscrutable, to open up like that. Perhaps Takizawa sensed that too, for she watched the two of them with an expression that was both delighted and a little envious.

‘The person I like is Mayo-nee. I want to be with her for the rest of my life.’

—Huh?

I reckon all three of us had the same look on our faces.
Hikari was beaming with joy, looking happier than ever.

‘Hikari, cut the jokes. You’re putting Hina-chan and Hoshizora in a difficult spot, aren’t you?’
　“Sigh…” Mayo-nee let out a sigh, looking genuinely flustered.

“It’s true, though,” said Hikari, before arbitrarily bringing the topic she’d started to a close and moving on to something else.

By the time we’d had our fill of various topics, it was getting quite late.

“Where should we sleep tonight? We’d better get some sleep soon, we’ve got school tomorrow, don’t we?”
Hikari was being considerate in a rather baffling way.

“I was thinking we could split it fifty-fifty between where you slept last night and my room.”
“Oh, well then, I’d like to sleep with Hoshizora-chan.”

Hikari is snuggling up to Takizawa, but that’s the one thing I absolutely cannot tolerate.

I mean, she just said she liked Mayo-nee a moment ago, so why does she want to sleep with Takizawa now?
I just don’t get it.
I’m far too worried that Takizawa might do something weird to her.

“As for me, Hina-chan… I’d love to sleep with my beloved little sister, but I suppose I’ll put up with it.”

No, why are you being so condescending too? However, I didn’t have the courage to break this stifling atmosphere.

“I want to sleep with Endo-san…”

　Takizawa said this in a voice so quiet I wasn’t sure if everyone could hear it or not.

Eh? What did you just say—?
Before I could ask her to repeat herself, Mayo-san lifted Hikari-san up in her arms.

“Looking after Hikari is my job, so I’m taking her over there. Sorry for the disturbance, Hina-chan.”

With that, the two of them left, leaving Takizawa and me behind in the room, both of us silent.