Lately, the days have been stretching noticeably longer. The warm rays of the setting sun spilled in through the clubroom windows, softly illuminating the room in a gentle amber glow.

And at the center of it all sat Tiara-san, encircled by the girls of the Literature Club.

"Here you go, Basori-senpai. Have some tea," said a sweet voice, placing a steaming cup of tea in front of her.

"Ah, thank you."

That voice belonged to the first-year—Riko Shiratama. She moved to stand watchfully behind Tiara-san, with a perfectly radiant smile plastered on her face. Tiara-san smiled politely in return, though her eyes flicked around nervously.

Yanami reached forward and slid over a box of cookies.

"Cookie?"

"Ah… sure. Thank you," Tiara-san said, plucking one from the box with visible relief—until she saw Yanami leaning in so close her nose practically grazed Tiara-san’s fingers. She eyed the cookie like a hawk.

"Um… It’s a bit hard to relax when I’m being stared at like this."

You don’t say.

I held back a sigh. "Yanami-san. Come on. Let’s be a good girl and sit down, yeah?" I lightly patted the chair beside me.

Yanami narrowed her eyes. "Let me guess. You probably think that I gave her the cookie, regretted it, and now I want it back. Isn’t that right, Nukumizu-kun?"

Right. How’d you guess?

She sighed theatrically and slumped into her seat, like I was the one so obviously in the wrong. "Listen carefully, Nukumizu-kun. Those cookies? Seventy kilocalories. Per piece."

"Uh-huh…" I nodded skeptically.

"So, if Basori-san eats the cookie I was going to eat, do you get what that means?" She spun toward Komari. "Komari-chan, you're up!"

"Eh—m-me?!" Komari jolted upright from her corner, nearly dropping her phone. "U-uh… w-well, Yanami… will… gain a little less weight?"

"…Incorrect." Yanami turned towards me. "Okay, next up—Nukumizu-kun. What does that mean?"

…Why are we taking turns on this? "You could at least give me a hint or something."

"Well, if you really need one, I guess. Think: by giving away that cookie, what happens to my calorie intake?"

Uh, you didn’t eat it, so… that’s obvious.

"…Nothing."

"Incorrect!" Yanami declared with absolute confidence. "The calories I would have consumed were transferred to Basori-san! Meaning—I’m at a negative seventy kilocalories!"

"Uh, no, that’s not how that works?"

"Therefore," Yanami ignored me and folded her arms, fully committed to her absurd calorie conspiracy theory, "if Basori-san eats one hundred and ten of these cookies, I’ll have lost exactly one kilogram. So… come on! Have another!" She pushed a second cookie toward Tiara-san.

"No, one's enou—oh… thank you." Tiara-san awkwardly accepted the cookie, unable to refuse. She glanced at me. "Um, if you don't mind me asking—why exactly am I in the Literature Clubroom eating cookies?"

"Well," I said, "the library’s closed, and the librarian checks in after hours, so I figured this room’s a little more discreet…"

"…But there are more people here, no?"

Touché. But to be fair, Yanami and company operated on a wavelength so unique that they were less like people and more like… a bizarre form of background radiation.

"Still," I assured her, "the odds of someone else overhearing us are… not zero, but low enough. Rest assured."

"How is that supposed to make me less worried…?"

Clink. "Here you go, senpai. Have some tea."

"Wha—?"

A second steaming cup of tea found itself placed before Tiara-san, lined up right beside the still-untouched cup from earlier. Tiara-san blinked down at the two identical cups.

"Um… you’re Shiratama-san, yes? I already—"

"Please, enjoy it while it’s still warm."

"…Oh, thank you."

Sip.

Tiara-san took a polite sip of her tea, while Yanami… not-so-politely continued boring holes into the cookie with her eyes. Yep. Just another normal day for the Literature Club.

"So, Tiara-san," I said, trying to steer us back on track. "You said you wanted to talk?"

"…Are we really going to do it like this?"

Yes. Yes, we are.

Resigning herself, she stuffed the cookie in her mouth and laid a single sheet of paper on the table between us.

"Okay. This might take some explaining, but… in short, I’d like to borrow your name, Nukumizu-san."

"You mean like… write it here?" I asked, reaching for a pen.

"Prez!!" Shiratama-san yelped, diving forward. "Stop!"

"Did I do something wrong?"

"Yes! You can’t just sign things without reading!"

"Get it together, Nukumizu-kun," Yanami added with a shake of her head. "My dad once stamped a form without reading it and ended up in huge trouble."

She picked up the sheet and scanned it. Then blinked.

"Candidate registration form… for the student council election? What’s that got to do with Nukumizu-kun?"

"I assume you know the current council’s term ends after next month’s sports festival?" Tiara-san asked.

Uh, no. I did not.

She sat up straight and looked me square in the eyes. "I intend to run for student council president," she continued, "and I would like you, Nukumizu-san, to be one of my official nominators."

"…A nominator?" I repeated dumbly. "Me?"

She nodded. "Yes. And I’d also like you to give my nomination speech."

Nomination speech. The thing where you stand on a stage in the gymnasium, with hundreds of eyeballs staring at you, and try to form coherent sentences. Me… Speech… Gym… School…

"Nope. Not happening." I plucked the application form from Yanami’s hands and slid it back to Tiara-san. "Sorry. Maybe ask someone else?"

"Won’t you at least hear me out, Nukumizu-san?" she pleaded, still hopeful. Unfortunately for her, it was a hard no from me.

"Come on, Nukumizu-kun." Yanami offered Tiara-san a third cookie. "Listen at least." Tiara-san hesitantly took it, and Yanami gave her a grin. "So, Basori-san. If you win, does that mean Nukumizu-kun joins the student council too?"

"Yes. Since the president appoints the council positions, I’d like Nukumizu-san as my vice president."

"Why Nukumizu-kun, though? Surely there’s someone more qualified."

Wow. Thanks, Yanami.

Tiara-san, however, nodded. Deeply. Wait, why are you agreeing?! You wanted me!

"Since the current president and vice president are both female, the teachers requested we appoint at least one male executive this time. So…"

"So Nukumizu-kun’s the pick?" Yanami asked. "Wouldn’t Sakurai-kun be better?"

Yanami. Maybe just, like, shut up already?

"Sakurai-kun is stepping down, and…" Tiara-san lowered her gaze awkwardly. "…I don’t have any other close male friends…"

Oof. Chosen by default. Classic.

"Does it really have to be a guy, though?" I interjected, recomposing myself. "The current council works just fine. Why not explain that to the teachers? I’m sure they’d understand."

"The council represents the student body, so it’s important to ensure everyone feels represented," Tiara-san explained. "But if we’re all the same gender, some students might hesitate to reach out."

She had a point. Right now, Sakurai-kun’s their only guy. And their only moral compass too. Huh, the council does need more guys.

"I myself had a lot to overcome to become vice president. Once elected, we’ll require support from students and faculty alike. So please, as a representative of the boys at Tsuwabuki—won’t you lend us your strength?"

I see her point… but me? Representative of the boys? Uh, I dunno about you, but nothing about that sounds right to me. So, I began to rack my brain on how to politely turn her down, but then—

"I get what you're saying, Basori-san, but Nukumizu-kun’s the Lit Club president. We’d be in trouble too."

Holy hell—was that… something actually supportive? From Yanami?

"Yeah, exactly!" I immediately jumped in on something that I’m certain will never happen again. "I’ve got club duties, so the student council’s kinda—"

Of course, it only lasted about three seconds.

"—But," Yanami grinned devilishly, "if we loan him out, the Lit Club should profit too."

Crap. I knew I spoke too soon…

"Profit?" Tiara-san echoed the words, blinking.

"Yeah, profit!" Yanami exclaimed, leaning in and practically invading her personal space. "Like, if you join the student council, can you just do whatever you want with the budget? Or get free meals at the cafeteria? Don’t you guys get special Student Council privileges or something?"

"W-well, um… We do draft the budget proposals for the clubs, but we still need the faculty’s approval, and—"

"You get to decide club budgets?! Nukumizu-kun, join the student council!"

Alright, that was a little bit too fast. "Not happening. Even you have to realize how crazy that is, Yanami-san."

"But wouldn’t it be nice to have a fridge in the clubroom? And a microwave? Oh, and a vanity would be great too!"

Uh, none of that has anything to do with literature.

Behind Tiara-san, Shiratama-san’s eyes suddenly lit up and clasped her hands together, eyes sparkling. "A vanity sounds lovely! Don’t you want one too, Komari-senpai?"

Komari flinched from her corner. "Um… vani…?"

"She means a makeup table," I muttered. "And no, we are not using club funds for that."

"I mean, a vanity might be too much, but… we could let you have the student council’s mini fridge."

"Deal! Nukumizu-kun, you got this!"

"No deal! I never agreed to any of this!" I exclaimed.

Yanami shot me a challenging look. "Then let’s vote. Shiratama-chan, what do you think?"

"Hmm…" Shiratama-san pressed her index finger to her temple, tilting her head cutely. "Having a club prez who’s also on the council does sound kinda cool though."

"Y-you think so?"

She beamed at me. "Yep! I’d brag—'My club prez is the council vice prez!'"

"I-I mean… being bragged about is kinda nice, but still…"

"…Why are you only swayed when it’s Shiratama-chan?" Yanami glared at me, baffled.

Uh, you’re the one who started this vote.

I cut in. "Club members’ opinions matter, don’t they? We should hear Komari’s too."

"…G-go die."

"See? That's a no," I said. "So we’re at—"

"Yep." Yanami cut in. "Two to one in favor. Majority wins."

"Don’t I get a vote?!"

"Of course not. You’re the one being voted on. Anyway, Basori-san, it’s decided—"

"Ah, right!" Tiara-san, who’d been silently observing, suddenly perked up and reached for the form. "Then, Nukumizu-san, if you’ll just sign here—"

Clink.

A third teacup landed delicately on top of the form.

"Um… what…?"

"My vote is neutral," Shiratama-san said, her angelic smile glowing through the rising steam. "That makes it one to one."

She leaned in.

"Basori-senpai—please, drink up before it gets cold."

◇

Two days after that ambush of an invitation, I found myself in the Home Ec room after school watching Sakurai-kun skillfully shave burdock root. It was pretty damn impressive. "Is that for the student council president's bento? You're making it here at school?"

"Yeah. I prep the side dishes after school and grill the mains at home in the morning."

The cheerful laughter of the cooking club members echoed from the far end of the room. Sakurai-kun wasn't technically a part of the club, but apparently, they let him borrow the space from time to time.

"…I heard some stuff. Sounds like you've got your hands full too, Nukumizu-kun." He smiled awkwardly, dropping the peeled burdock into a bowl of water.

"If that’s how you feel, why not be her nominator yourself? Basori-san ambushed me in the hallway again today."

"Basori-chan doesn't seem to want help from the student council. Yumeko-san volunteered to back her, and she got shot down."

"Third-years can be nominators too?" I asked.

"There’s no rule against it. They don't even have to join the student council."

Hmm, I see. So Tiara-san really didn’t want any help from the current council, huh… I decided not to poke that beehive any further and turned to the pot bubbling on the stove instead. "What're you simmering in the pot?"

"Fuki^[1] and aburaage^[2]. Hiba-nee's favorite." He lifted the corner of the makeshift aluminum foil lid, releasing a savory scent.

"The president’s into some pretty mature stuff, huh?"

"She mostly prefers Japanese food. Won’t eat meat or anything oily unless I make her, so I have to keep an eye on what she eats."

Huh. Interesting. So I did some mental math: if you averaged her diet with Yanami’s diet together, then… divided it by two again, you’d maybe then get something actually balanced enough to not kill you.

"This might be the last time I can look after Hiba-nee. With the sports festival and elections coming up too… I figured I'd at least make her a bento."

—Not much time left.

Most of the third-years would be moving away for college soon. Though they all still walked the same hallways for now, soon, they’d each start down their own different paths.

"So the president's leaving Toyohashi after all, huh."

"Yeah. She's heading to Tokyo to prepare for her future." Sakurai-kun’s tone softened. "I guess I need to start thinking about mine, too—"

"Sakurai-kuuun! Say aah~!"

A glamorous-looking girl from the cooking club suddenly swooped in, leaning towards Sakurai-kun. She held out a wooden spoon up to his lips.

Sakurai-kun didn’t even blink. He took the bite and nodded as if this was totally normal. "Chilled chawanmushi^[3], right? And the dashi^[4]—kombu^[5] and bonito?"

"Yep! Went the extra mile for this one. I'll teach you next time."

"Looking forward to it."

"Wanna come over tonight? My parents aren't home."

"I'll have to pass on that."

The girl laughed and walked off with a wave. Sakurai-kun gave a small wave back, then picked up a carrot like nothing happened.

"—Wait, what was that?! Are you two dating?!" I exclaimed.

"Nah. She's the vice president of the cooking club. She’s the one who arranged for me to use this room."

Oh. So she’s the one pulling the strings…

"Yeah, but, I mean, she literally just fed you. She went all, ‘say aah’! People don’t usually do that unless they're, y’know… dating."

"It’s nothing like that. There aren’t any guys in the club, so they just like teasing me," Sakurai-kun chuckled, strained.

For the record, I'm actually a guy too, if you didn’t notice.

"Honestly, I'd feel better if you helped Basori-chan, Nukumizu-kun. We’re probably the only guys she even knows."

"What’ll happen if I tell her no?"

"Then the teachers would probably find some other guy," he said simply, turning off the stove. "Tsuwabuki’s student council isn’t exactly booming. Every year, the teachers step in to keep the number of candidates from hitting zero."

"So then I don't really have to help, do I?"

"Sure, you don't, if she can find someone she gets along with. But trust me, no one who’s ever worked with her has ever had anything bad to say. She genuinely does care about the people she works with."

"You’ve been paying close attention, huh."

"Well, there’s only four of us on the council. And me and her are both second-years." Sakurai-kun’s knife paused as he peeled the carrots. "Right now, Hiba-nee’s presence in the council is pretty significant. And I think Basori-chan probably has her own reasons for wanting to do things without our help. So," he said firmly, "I won't interfere."

He resumed chopping. The mood had officially gotten too deep for me, so I grabbed a peeled carrot in a bid to lighten things. "Need help with anything?"

"Then, could you slice those thin? The peeler’s over there."

"Got it. What’s on the menu?"

"Kinpira gobo^[6] and green beans with sesame dressing, probably."

We worked in silence for a bit.

Or well, we tried, until a sudden burst of squeals erupted up from behind us.

"Excuse us, Sakurai-senpaaaai!"

"Senpaaai~!"

This time, the voices belonged to a group of three first-year girls. The two on the ends nudged the blushing one in the middle. She fidgeted nervously as her friends urged her on.

"Come on, hurry up and say it!"

"Yeah, say it!"

Finally, the bashful girl stepped forward and abruptly thrust out a small wrapped package, nearly yelling, "Um, Sakurai-senpai! I made these—please try them!"

In her hands, she held out a madeleine. Hand-wrapped and perfectly neat.

"Thanks. I’ll have them later."

"Th-thank you! W-we’re always rooting for you!" The three girls shrieked and bolted away, leaving a trail of giggles behind.

…

"…The heck was that? Some sort of special event?"

"Um… Maybe it’s because I don’t seem very manly? Easier to talk to, I guess."

Yeah, sure. Totally. People also call me "not very manly", but no first-year girls have ever asked me to taste-test for them.

As I sat there, pondering the unfairness of reality, Sakurai-kun spoke up softly.

"…I just wanted to make this last year count."

He stopped chopping and lowered his voice so only I could hear. "To me, the student council is just Basori-chan, Yumeko-san, and Hiba-nee. That’s it. So—this is the end. Once elections are over and the sports festival’s done, I’ll focus on studying."

He glanced at me and awkwardly added:

"Sorry I couldn’t be more helpful."

I almost said, "No, I’m the one who should be sorry"—but all I could manage was a wry smile.

Honestly, I’d been hoping to dump the whole Tiara problem onto him. I figured he was probably just gonna brush me off, but it was worth trying anyway. But he did the total opposite; he smiled. And apologized.

Yeah. I totally lost this one.

…No wonder Sakurai-kun’s popular.

I went back to peeling the carrots in silence, a strange sense of understanding settling over me.

◇

I’ve gotten used to biking my way around lately.

As I zipped through the twilight streets on my beloved bicycle, I glimpsed the Higashi-Hacchou tram stop out of the corner of my eye—a relic from my first year when I still used the train. The chilly evening breeze that once stung now felt sort of refreshing against my skin. I guess you can get used to anything.

I'd just wrapped up helping Sakurai-kun and made a beeline straight home right after, employing every evasive maneuver I knew to avoid any chance encounters with a certain student council hopeful. Tiara-san had recently taken to lurking the shadows of the west school building like some discount ghost in a horror movie, so I decided my safest course of action was to simply nope my way around the whole area.

"I'm home—"

I slid the front door open and my eyes immediately locked onto a suspicious pair of unfamiliar shoes neatly arranged in the entryway.

…Okay, which event flag was this?

Judging by the glossy black leather, they were women’s shoes. Hmm, but not ones that belonged to anyone from the Literature Club. Maybe one of Kaju's friends? A home visit^[7]?

Shrugging off the foreboding feeling I pushed open the door to the living room—

—and froze.

There she was. Tiara-san. In an apron. Standing in my kitchen. Next to Kaju.

"Wha—?! Why is Tiara-san here?!"

Despite my perfectly logical question, Kaju shot me a reproachful look. "Onii-sama, Basori-san is Kaju’s guest. We made plans to cook together."

"Pardon the intrusion, Nukumizu-san. Also, please don’t call me by my first name."

Tiara-san and Kaju… cooking together? At a time like this? Trying to keep my cool, I dumped my bag on the couch and cast a cautious side-eye toward the kitchen. Kaju was explaining something with intense passion, holding up bonito flakes and a sheet of kelp, while Tiara-san nodded eagerly, taking notes. Definitely looked like cooking… but who could say? I wasn’t letting my guard down in any case.

The doorbell rang.

"Kaju will get it," she announced, wiping her hands on her apron. "Onii-sama, please keep Basori-san company."

Company? What was I, her babysitter? Still, totally ghosting her felt… kinda mean. So I stepped up beside Tiara-san and peered into the steaming pot on the stove.

"…Miso soup?"

"Yes." Her eyes didn’t even leave the kelp. "I don’t want to be seen as the kind of woman who can’t even make miso soup."

Ah. Was she still hung up on that training camp incident back in March, when she forgot to make the broth? "That miso soup from back then was still really good though. The red miso’s flavor really stood out. It was very red miso-y."

"That’s not really a compliment, is it? Here. Taste this." Tiara-san bluntly shoved a small dish toward me.

I took a sip, feeling the pressure. A familiar warmth spread across my tongue. "Yeah, it’s pretty good. You’re using the same kombu Kaju does, right? Tastes just like hers."

"—Onii-sama, using the same ingredients doesn’t automatically mean it’ll taste the same," Kaju declared, having returned. "How you handle the ingredients changes the flavor completely. That’s what makes it home cooking."

"I guess that makes sense. Still, it’s pretty close," I admitted, watching Kaju fetch some barley tea from the fridge.

"Naturally. Kaju taught her personally," Kaju looked proud as she poured the tea. "With enough practice, Basori-san will be able to replicate the Nukumizu household flavor all on her own. She’s always welcome here."

"Wh-whaaat?!" Tiara-san flinched violently, ladle still in hand. "N-no, that’s not why I’m learning it! I mean, yes, I was curious about the kind of food Nukumizu-san eats, but—wait, does this mean I’m getting married?!"

…Lady, please. No one said that. Seriously, this girl’s emotions whiplash harder than a soap opera.

"No, it's not like that. Relax."

"Hey, it’s Uma-chan^[8]! What’re you doing here?"

That voice—Yakishio. Dressed in a tank top and short tights, she strolled into the living room, a towel slung around her neck.

"Kaju and Basori-san are cooking today. Please, help yourself, Yakishio-san," Kaju said, handing Yakishio a glass of the barley tea she had poured.

"Thanks, Kaju-chan." Yakishio chugged the glass in a single gulp, letting out a satisfied sigh. "Ahhh, that sure hits the spot. Gonna borrow your shower, ‘kay?"

"Sure. I've already put out a towel for you."

Yakishio waved her hand flippantly, vanishing down the hall. Ever since my place became the temporary clubroom, it’s also apparently gained a new function as a public bath…

"Basori-san, your pot’s boiling over. Everything okay?"

"Wh-wha—ah, um—w-wait, why is Yakishio-san showering in your house?!"

Beats me. I’d also like to know.

"Uh… 'Cause it's here, I guess?" I offered.

"But that's—that’s not normal! Girls don't usually just shower at other guys’ places. Unless… wait—does that mean you two are like that?!"

"Onii-sama, is that true?!"

Why’s Kaju getting worked up too…?

"You're the one who suggested she shower here in the first place, Kaju. Also, turn off the stove already."

Ignoring them both, I reached over and killed the burner. I took another tentative taste of the broth. Compared to Kaju's, it had a faint hint of bitterness—but still…

…Not bad at all.

◇

Finally managing to escape the kitchen, I headed for the stairs, throwing a cautious glance at the bathroom door.

Silence. No running water. Perfect.

If I move fast enough, I could clear this floor without getting dragged into another—

"Hey, Nukkun."

—ambush.

Yakishio called out from the other side of the door.

"Wh-what?!" I stammered, my soul briefly ejecting from my body.

Like this was a perfectly normal way to hold a conversation, Yakishio carried on. "The sports festival’s coming up soon, right? Have you decided what events you’re gonna do, Nukkun?"

…The sports festival? Really? This was the moment you picked to ask?

"Uh, I think… the obstacle race or something." I tried to match her casual tone, but my acting career ended the second I heard the soft rustle of a towel as she dried herself. Which—uh—to clarify, meant that just on the other side of this flimsy piece of wood was a freshly-showered Yakishio. Yes. A girl. My classmate. Same age as me; fresh out of the shower. In simple terms—I was very distracted. I mean, I may not look like it, but I am still a perfectly healthy teenage boy, you know.

"Um, can we maybe talk about this later—"

"Aren’t you gonna ask what I’m doing?"

Okay, high-maintenance girlfriend energy much?

"…Alright. So what are you doing, Yakishio?"

"Class relay, the 200-meter dash, and the cheerleading competition, probably. You’re not doing the cheer one?"

Oh, yeah. Cheerleading. Where the loudest, shiniest people in the class basically sing and dance for… themselves.

"I’m good. It’s kinda weird cheering for ourselves, don’t you think?"

"Pfft, you’re overthinking it," she giggled. I laughed along with her.

But then her tone did a one-eighty.

"—Komari-chan told me, by the way."

…Told her what?

"That you’re trying to ditch the Lit Club again," Yakishio continued.

"…You’re the one bringing that up, Yakishio?"

"C’mon, that’s totally different."

Right. Of course it is. If Yakishio says so, who am I to argue?

"Well, Basori-san asked me to be her campaign nominator for the student council election. It's just been hard to say no."

"Nominator? That’s it?"

"And… if she wins, she also wants me as vice president—"

"Nukkun, you’re joining the student council?!"

Slam! The bathroom door flung open. I whipped my head away so fast I might’ve sprained something. "Wha—?! Don’t just open it like that!"

{{image:"images/makeine-v8/image1.jpg"}}

"Relax, I’m dressed. See? Towel."

A towel is not clothing. Let’s get that straight.

…Then again, if she’s cool with it, maybe a quick peek wouldn’t hurt…?

While I was fighting a brutal battle against my better judgment, Yakishio padded closer to me on bare feet. "Hmmm~ So you turned me down when I tried to recruit you for the Going-Home Club, but when Uma-chan asks you to join the council, suddenly you’re thinking it over? Hmm~"

"I did turn her down. She just won’t take no for an answer."

"You turned her down, and now she’s cooking in your house. Mhmm~"

I didn’t need to look to feel her proximity. The scent of her fresh shampoo, mixed with Yakishio’s own distinct fragrance, drifted around the back of my neck.

"Yakishio-san… are you mad?"

"I’m not mad, though?"

Yeah, no. This was the patented "I’m Not Mad" tone, exclusively distributed by little sisters, girlfriends, and possibly the police. I know the signs.

I turned my back to her and bowed my head. "Um, sorry. I'll be careful not to make Komari worry."

"…Hmm. Well, I'll let it slide for today."

Mercy! Sweet, beautiful mercy!

…Which lasted for approximately five seconds, because she suddenly popped into view right in front of me.

"Gah?! Go put some clothes on before you catch a cold already!"

"I told you, I'm wearing a towel! Quit freaking out, you’re embarrassing me."

You should be embarrassed. That towel leaves a lot less to the imagination than you think it does.

"Anyway, Nukkun, take care of Komari-chan, okay?"

"Yeah, yeah! Just go back inside already!"

Once I confirmed Yakishio had returned to the changing room, I finally let out the breath I’d been holding. The air was still thick with the scent of her unfamiliar shampoo.

……

…Wait a second.

"Hey, Yakishio, have you been… bringing your own shampoo?"

"Yep. Chiha-chan gave it to me. You can use it too if you want, Nukkun."

Then that means…

My parents had definitely noticed this new, inexplicably girly fragrance in the bathroom and—

…Nope. Not thinking about it. That path leads to death.

I shoved the thought into a mental trash bin and sprinted up the stairs.

◇

Lunch break, the next day, I made my way to the emergency stairs of the old school building armed with curry bread in one hand and a milk carton in the other. The sun was warm, the breeze cool, and the weather was overall great. So if she wasn't in the classroom, she'd be here for sure—

"Ah. Knew it."

Bingo: there Komari was, leaning against the railing on the landing between the third and fourth floors and taking bites out of a butter roll. Seeing me, she quickly swallowed her bite in surprise.

"Y-you came after all…"

"Yeah, I figured you’d be here."

"Ugh…" She made a face, like I’d just ruined her sandwich. I plopped down beside her anyway.

Yakishio (half-naked) had told me to check in on Komari, and I couldn’t just refuse. So here I was. Consider it… a favor in return. Give and take.

I held out the milk carton, giving her the line I'd prepared earlier. "Uh, I, uh… accidentally bought two. Want one?"

"Y-you don't 'accidentally' buy two…" Still, she took it.

"Well, fair enough," I replied. "Mind if I take some time to think of my next line, then?"

"B-before lunch ends, please…"

Fair. I unwrapped my curry bread while she noisily slurped milk from her straw. Now… I just have to figure out how to even bring this up in the first place.

"Komari, remember the other day when Basori-san came to the clubroom—"

"G-go die."

Wow. Okay. Straight for the kill, huh.

That said, I couldn’t blame Komari for being so prickly. First the whole Yakishio-quitting-the-club mess, then the club itself suspended and a troublesome new member. Now, the student council? Komari, our vice president, had been through enough. Not that I was having it easy either.

"Nothing’s gonna happen that’ll make you worry, okay? I'm still the Lit Club’s president."

"Y-you can’t just rely on your title forever."

"Yes, ma’am. I'll be more careful."

And strike three. I was out. The silence that followed was so thick that you could probably butter it on toast. In light of this, I awkwardly sipped on my milk.

Komari shot me a sidelong glare. "Y-you’re only here because Yakishio said something, a-aren’t you?"

"I mean, well…" I stuffed curry bread in my mouth, professional stalling tactic.

She let out a quiet sigh. "I-I know you're a pushover. D-do what you want."

"I'm not getting involved in the student council election. Yesterday was just Basori-san dropping by on her own. It wasn’t me who invited her."

"Th-that woman came to your house?!"

Wait, Yakishio didn't tell her that part? Lovely. Guess I just pulled the pin on my own grenade.

"Uh—she said she needed to talk with my sister! They know each other through the student council. Plus, Yakishio was there too, so—"

"Y-Yakishio was there too?!"

Komari's face started shifting into the sort you'd give to rotting garbage. Yep. I was officially digging my own grave. Two feet down… four feet down.

"Uh—the point is, there’s nothing to worry about."

"Y-you shameless pig."

And—we’re six feet in. Buried alive. Rest in peace, me.

With that, Komari bit into her butter roll and started munching aggressively like it had personally wronged her. I kept quiet and nibbled on my curry bread, the awkward tension at its peak.

Then, under her breath—just loud enough for me to hear:

"I-it's you, so you'll probably end up caving in anyway, won’t you…"

"No, I—"

"Can you honestly say that's not true?"

…

I couldn't.

I finished the last bite of my bread in silence, then carefully opened my mouth.

"Okay, but like—hypothetically," I began. "Hypothetically, if I did agree to be Basori-san’s nominator… would you be okay with that?"

"Wh-whatever. Whether you join the student council or not, do what you want," Komari muttered, resigned. She fiddled with the now-empty milk carton in her palm.

"I'm not planning to join."

"Th-that's why I said to do whatever you want!"

…She doesn’t believe me.

To be fair, it’s not like I could blame her. I wouldn’t either, given my track record.

I leaned my elbows against the railing and let my gaze wander off into the distance. Beyond the rooftops of the cityscape, the familiar low mountain ridge stretched across the skyline. The greenery had deepened since I last looked. Another week and it’ll already be June, I guess. Time to switch uniforms.

Another summer was just around the corner.

◇

That afternoon after school, I somehow found myself at DEJANA, a board game café not far from school. Sitting across from me at a table on the second floor was none other than the student council secretary, Yumeko Shikiya. Her long, wavy off-white hair swayed softly as she tilted her neck.

Shikiya-san’s pale, unfocused eyes turned toward me.

"Nukumizu-kun… it's your… turn…?"

"Ah, right. Sorry." I scrambled for the dice, hoping she hadn’t noticed me staring at her.

I moved my brown-bear piece. Our "battlefield" was a cutesy two-player game kind of like Sugoroku^[9], though starring a brown bear and a polar bear as its protagonists. Don’t let the fuzzy mascots fool you, though, ‘cause this thing was surprisingly strategic. You had to be pretty particular with chip placement, and the rules had some surprising ways to manipulate them.

Not that said rules were helping me much, considering that I’d already lost three games in a row.

"I’ll be taking that chip. Please return to the start."

"Are you sure… you want to do… that…?"

Clatter. Shikiya-san rolled a six.

"Did you just… take my twenty-point chip?"

"Nice… assist…" Looking pleased, Shikiya-san plucked the chip from the board with her delicately decorated fingertips.

For the record, no, this was not some kinda flirty after-school date or whatever else you might be imagining. I texted her saying I wanted to talk, and she said "meet me here." That’s it. Seriously.

I was waiting for my chance.

"Uh, so," I started, trying to sound casual, "how’s Basori-san been lately?"

"How… what do you mean…?" Shikiya-san’s hand, which had been reaching for the polar bear piece, froze midair.

"I mean, like… how are things in the council lately? Just curious."

"Didn’t you…want to talk…to me…?" Shikiya-san swayed gently from side to side.

Though slightly unnerved, I gave a meek nod. "Ah, yes, I wanted to ask you, senpai, about Basori-san. I thought, uh, you could give me some advice…"

Why does the air feel heavier?

As I fidgeted nervously, Shikiya-san tilted her head. "About the… election?"

"Yeah. I heard that Tiara-san turned you down when you offered to back her…"

"Yeah…Tiara-chan… dumped me…" Shikiya-san said with a melancholic sway.

"Can I ask why you volunteered in the first place?"

"I was… recommended to Tiara-chan… by a teacher… but she refused…so…" She toyed with the polar bear piece, still gently swaying. "But… if no one… helps her… she'll lose…"

For a moment, she swayed in silence.

"Did Tiara-chan… ask you?" Shikiya-san turned her pale eyes towards me.

"Yeah, she did, for some reason. She’s really persistent. I keep turning her down, but…"

Somewhere along the line, Shikiya-san had stopped swaying.

"I see…"

Silence.

I poked at my bear piece.

"Tiara-chan… is really fond of you…that's why…"

"That's just, like, her character thing, right? The whole… BL-ish vibe…"

"I can't…deny that."

Shikiya-san gently set her polar bear back down and resumed the game. I rolled the dice, only half paying attention.

"I just think that—if it’s me giving the speech, she’d probably have better chances trying to outrun a cheetah. It would be way better for her if the teacher found her a proper nominator."

"You don't… want to support her…?" Her gaze locked with mine.

I hesitated. Then slowly shook my head.

"She's serious and hardworking. I do hope she wins. But… I'm not really interested in student council activities, and I’m not sure that I should be her nominator just because we know each other. Plus, honestly, public speeches are kinda—"

"Did you…tell Tiara-chan that…?"

"No, not all that. Hey, Senpai—do you think I can maybe ask you to be her nominator again instead?"

"Probably… won't work…" Shikiya-san paused her turn, staring at the dice. Her long lashes trembled slightly, despite the fact that there wasn’t any breeze. "I… got too involved… and now… she hates me…"

"Uh, I don’t think that’s—"

Suddenly, she stood up. "Nukumizu-kun…over here…"

"Huh? Wait, senpai—" Before I could react, she grabbed my hand and pulled me to a corner of the café.

"Senpai, what are you—"

"Crouch down…"

"Uh, okay?" I did as told, and we ducked beneath an empty table.

…Still holding hands, huh.

Her skin was soft and cold. The chill slowly seeped into my fingers, numbing them.

"Something wrong…?"

"Uh, no. Nothing." I mean, today’s pretty hot anyway. Yeah, it’s fine. It’s just free air conditioning. Heatstroke’s a killer.

From under the table, I sneaked a glance at her. Her eyes and forehead peeked above the surface, expression unreadable as usual. Her white eyes, framed by thick eyelashes, seemed to have forgotten to blink. A faintly sweet, mature scent floated around the air.

Must be the new perfume she's been wearing lately.

Then she glanced at her watch. "Five o’clock… on the dot…"

"Are you meeting with someon—"

"Shh… keep your head down…"

Ducking again, I followed her gaze. Climbing the stairs was a girl in a Tsuwabuki uniform. It was… Tiara Basori.

She anxiously scanned the room, then sat at the table closest to the stairs, back straight to the wall as she intently stared at the staircase. She was waiting for someone.

"Why is Basori-san here?" I whispered.

"I…called her here…" There was a hint of pride in Shikiya-san’s voice.

"If all three of us were going to talk, couldn't we have just used the student council room?" I asked.

"Do you… not like… hanging out with me…?"

"That's not—what I meant." Feeling oddly embarrassed, I shifted my gaze back to Tiara-san.

Then, Tiara-san slowly pulled something out of her bag—a small, disk-shaped case. A compact mirror. Opening it, she began dabbing her face with powder.

…She sorta looked like a Showa-era lady.

"Why are we hiding and watching her?"

"Tiara-chan… You came… I'm happy…" Shikiya-san whispered, swaying with excitement.

Oh right, these two were comfortable enough to even remove each other's bras, weren’t they? I didn’t really get it, but this must be another part of their roleplay. Neglect & Voyeurism^[10]… That’s some high-level stuff…

While my heart was still pounding at the mature world of adults, I suddenly noticed Tiara-san glaring straight at us.

"Is she looking this way? Her face looks intense."

"This moment… is the best…"

Ah, yes. The adult world.

Tiara-san marched over to us, huffing. "You two were here the whole time?! Why didn’t you say anything?"

"I thought… I might disturb your makeup…" Shikiya-san, swaying slightly as she stood, wrapped her arms around Tiara-san’s body and brought her face so close their noses nearly touched. "Your makeup is clumsy… It’s too cute… Against school rules…"

"There’s no such rule—wait, what do you mean clumsy?!"

"That’s what’s… cute…"

"Stop nuzzling me!"

Well, getting between these two would just be rude. I returned to my seat and took a sip of my now completely cold coffee. Bitterness and acidity mingled on my tongue.

"Hey, Nukumizu-san, stop watching and help—hey, where are you touching?!"

Watching the two of them tangled together, I took another sip.

Cold coffee and yuri. Honestly? Not a bad match.

{{image:"images/makeine-v8/image2.jpg"}}

◇

"What is going on?! What’s wrong with you people?!"

Tiara-san glared at me while stirring her coffee, the spoon clinking rapidly against the cup.

"And to top it off, the one who actually invited me here just left, satisfied?! What am I supposed to make of that?!"

"Don’t ask me…"

Yup. Shikiya-san straight-up bailed on me, which left me as the poor schmuck who had to deal with an angry Tiara-san all on my own. Man, I didn’t even do anything.

"And you didn’t even try to stop her, Nukumizu-san! You just ignored me and kept fiddling with your phone!"

"I was, uh, going to film—er, I mean, help you. But, Tiara-san, you two just seemed to have this really pure, grown-up relationship going, and you know… it felt rude to interrupt."

"We do not! And please refrain from using my first name!"

She gulped down all of her coffee, which might as well have been white for all the milk and sugar she put in it. A few seconds passed. Then, like magic, the sugar and caffeine must’ve kicked in, because her shoulders eased down.

She set the cup down with a clink and cleared her throat.

"So, um… you said there was something you wanted to talk about?"

…I did? When’d that happen?

"I didn’t even know you were coming, though."

"I only came because Shikiya-senpai said you asked me to."

Wait, what? So Shikiya-san used me as bait for Tiara-san? While I sat there trying to piece that together, a sharp glass-breaking CRACK reached my ears.

"What was that noise?"

"Oh. Message from Shikiya-senpai."

I glanced at my phone. One notification:

—Payback for Christmas.

…She got me.

I instinctively looked up at the ceiling. Last year on Christmas Eve, I tricked Shikiya-san into meeting Tsukinoki-senpai under the pretense of looking at Christmas lights. Now the bill had come due.

"Don’t just sit there and zone out, Nukumizu-san. What happened?"

"Well… apparently, that was payback for something I did. "

"Payback? What did you even do?"

"Uh, well… a lot of things, I guess. Long story," I said vaguely. I pretended to sip my empty coffee.

Still, I couldn’t shake the question: Why had Shikiya-senpai arranged a meeting between the two of us like this?

I mulled that over for a second.

"Hey, about the student council election thing…" I trailed off, testing the waters.

"Yes?" She straightened up a little, waiting for me to continue.

My original plan involved me asking why she turned Shikiya-senpai down—but seeing her so serious like that…

"Here’s the thing. I’m the Lit Club president. I’m not really interested in student council stuff. And being a nominator just because we know each other doesn’t feel right. Plus, I—" I tried to laugh, but it came out as more of a pained grunt. "—I’m not really good at public speaking," I finished.

Tiara-san was quiet.

She seemed as if she wanted to say something more, but then—a deep sigh.

"…Fine. I won’t push it anymore."

…That’s it? Really? That was… way easier than I thought it would be.

I stood there dumbfounded, blinking in confusion. Ignoring my surprise, Tiara-san set her phone on the table. The screen lit up, showing me a photo of a cutesy anime girl. Hmm, no—a photo of anime girl merch? Why would Tiara-san have something like that…?

I blinked again.

And I nearly fell out of my chair.

"Holy crap! Is that the Chikapyon display stand from Borderline Gals?! Why do you have that?!"

"A relative of mine works at a retail store. They assume I like anime and give me promotional goods like these sometimes." Tiara-san pushed her phone toward me with a straight face. "I don’t really get this stuff, so… I figured someone who’d actually appreciate it should have it."

"Then—!" I lurched halfway across the table—but hesitating, my sanity yanked me back down. In a smaller voice, I said, "I mean… yeah. That’s cool. Hope you find someone who’ll like it."

"Oh? Are you sure? Didn’t I see a similar keychain on your bag once, Nukumizu-kun?"

"Did you? A lot of characters look similar these days."

I subtly angled my bag away. Similar? No, they were the same. My keychain was Chikapyon, and she knew. She knew it was, and she was baiting me with it.

I had to resist.

…

…But also… maybe I could… just… listen?

As I eyed her phone, Tiara-san giggled. "This’ll be yours, so please be my nominator—"

"Wha—!"

"—Of course, I wouldn’t actually say something like that. If you want it, I’ll gladly pass it along."

The words slipped out before I could stop them. "…Really?"

And with that, I’d lost.

"Well, I don’t exactly mind, but…" A playful smile curled at the corner of her lips. "I have grown a little attached to it myself. So I’d appreciate it if you’d give me something in return—within reason, of course."

Tch. Of course she would. I braced myself.

"Would you help me study again?"

…Studying? That’s it?

I blinked, dumbfounded.

Tiara-san looked a little embarrassed. "My last test scores weren’t very great…"

"I mean, my grades have been slipping too lately," I said in a hurry. "But if you don’t mind that…"

"Not at all. You’re good at explaining things, Nukumizu-san. It helps a lot."

That… didn’t feel too bad to hear, actually. Still, something was bugging me. Was she really giving up on the election that easily…?

Tiara-san looked away, averting her eyes. Then, she quietly asked:

"Did you change Shikiya-senpai’s notification sound? That glass-breaking sound from earlier…"

"Oh, yeah, I did. Makes it easier to tell who’s messaging without looking. Pretty handy." For example, if it’s Konuki-sensei, I could just choose not to check the message.

Suddenly, Tiara-san pulled out her phone and started tapping.

—Chime.

My phone buzzed. Glancing down, I saw a blank message from her.

"What was that for?" I said, looking up in confusion.

She shoved her phone back into her bag, looking unamused. "So my messages still have the default notification sound, huh."

"Well, yeah…" The hell? Why’s she suddenly in a bad mood?

Tiara-san stood up, brushing off her skirt. "Then tomorrow. Saturday. Keep your afternoon open, please."

"Tomorrow…? Isn’t that a little sudden?"

"Oh? Did you have plans?"

…Not really.

I shook my head in response. Smiling sweetly in return, Tiara-san then turned to leave.

◇

That evening, I stood at my desk, arms crossed, staring down at the pile of math materials spread out in front of me.

Tomorrow’s study session. Big decision: what do I actually bring?

If I showed up with everything, that’d make me look like I was trying too hard. But if I went too light, we might end up having nothing to do. Hmm. Obviously, the textbook and notebook were non-negotiable. As for the reference and workbooks… I’ll pick just one—carefully.

Once I found those and packed them away, I gave the bag a quick lift. Hmm, not too bulky. Perfect. My spine wouldn’t snap.

Next: outfit check.

I laid out a collared short-sleeve shirt and a pair of lightweight chinos—both plain, of course. Seeing as how a series of unfortunate accidents had put most of my patterned clothes out of commission, plains were all I had left.

"Alright, looking good—"

"You’re going out tomorrow, Onii-sama?"

I jumped, startled. Standing right behind me was my little sister Kaju. Jeez, I hadn’t even seen her come in.

"Yeah… just heading near the station," I replied.

"Oh? Studying at the library?" She glanced at my bag.

The plan was to meet Tiara-san in front of the Seibunkan bookstore near the station, then head to our study spot together. We weren’t doing anything shady, but if Kaju found out… it’d be a hassle. Yep. Definitely a hassle.

"Well, uh, just running a few errands," I told her instead.

"…You’re having a study session with someone, aren’t you?" Kaju muttered under her breath.

"Wait, no—"

"Is it with a girl?! Don’t tell me you’re going to her house for a study date?!"

"No, no, no, nothing like that. It’s just a friend—a guy friend," I blurted out.

Kaju instantly saw through my flimsy lie. She merely shook her head, eyes sparkling with suspicion. "Sakurai-san is busy helping with his relatives’ cabbage harvest tomorrow. Ayano-san has cram school. And you don’t have any other guy friends to study with, do you?"

Oof, she was right. Kaju never holds back…

"Okay, yeah, those two are pretty much it. But how do you even know their schedules?"

"When Basori-san visited the other day, Kaju had a nice little chat with her about your social life. Anyway, it really is a girl, isn’t it? Is it the president? Shikiya-san? Or maybe—"

"Okay, that’s enough. Shouldn’t middle schoolers be in bed by now?"

"Muu, Kaju’s already an adult!" Ignoring her protests, I placed both hands on her shoulders and gently shoved her out of my room.

Geez. That girl’s got S-rank nosiness.

…Wait a sec.

Ayano?

How the heck does Kaju even know Ayano? Ayano and Tiara-san have barely met, so not from her. And I definitely nuked Asagumo-san’s contact info off Kaju’s phone ages ago…

"Did I ever… mention Ayano in front of her?"

Ugh. I can’t even trust my own memory anymore.

Sighing, I gave my bag one last check—and shoved in the pencil case I’d almost forgotten.

◇

The next day, the rendezvous point: the main Seibunkan Bookstore, which was in front of Toyohashi Station.

I got there early, so I killed some time browsing some of the new light novel and manga releases, drifting eventually to the magazine section on the first floor. We were supposed to meet there at two o’clock.

"Still got some time…"

I drifted through the aisles, skimming the racks. And then a familiar silhouette appeared in front of me.

"Huh? Nukumizu-kun?"

"Yanami-san? What are you doing here?"

Sure enough, there was Anna Yanami, flipping through a food magazine. She handed me the copy of "Eating Your Way Through Mikawa" she'd been reading.

"Shiratama-chan invited me out. She had free tickets to a dessert bar and asked if I wanted to go with her. Here, hold this open for me."

"You two hang out? Didn’t know you were that close."

"We aren’t, really. But it’s a free dessert bar! All-you-can-eat!" Yanami flicked her hair back, then added, "Shiratama-chan's actually really sweet! I totally misjudged her."

Apparently, Yanami’s trust costs exactly one all-you-can-eat dessert bar ticket. What a steal. "Sounds fun. Well, I should probably get—"

"This Kadowara place looks pretty good. They put daikon in their ramen. Think it helps you lose weight?"

"Maybe. Anyway, I—"

"Ooh, grilled quail eggs in mitarashi glaze!" she exclaimed. "Oh, could you flip that page?"

…I really wish she wouldn't use me as a human magazine stand.

I obediently turned the page, glancing around nervously. Basori-san would be here any minute. It’s not like meeting her was some kinda big secret, but… with everything going on in the election right now, I’d rather we not get spotted together…

Then Yanami, still staring at the magazine, said quietly:

"Hey… so are you actually planning on being Basori-san's nominator?"

"I already turned her down," I replied. "She understood. I think."

"Hmm." She eyed me sideways. "You keep glancing around like you're waiting for someone."

"Uh, no, I just came to check out the new releases—"

She snatched the magazine from my hands and gave me a withering look. "…With who? Nukumizu-kun, do you even have any friends outside the Literature Club?"

"I do, okay? Like Ayano. And Sakurai-kun."

"So you're meeting one of them?"

"I mean, well…" Panic.exe was running at 100%.

Then—a sweet scent drifted past my nose.

"Oh? Is that Prez?"

I turned. Shiratama-san stood there in a navy-and-white polka-dot dress, her short skirt showing off her well-shaped knees. Without missing a beat, Yanami rushed over and wrapped her in a hug.

"Shiratama-chan! Thanks for inviting me today!"

"I'm glad you could come, senpai."

After gently peeling herself away, Shiratama-san tilted her head at me, all cute. "Would you like to come too, Prez?"

"Huh? Oh, no, I've got plans—well, not plans plans, but—"

"Aww, rejected," she teased playfully, then pulled out two tickets from her handbag. "Yanami-senpai, I need to pick up a book I ordered first. Could you go on ahead? I'll catch up right after."

"Sure, but… it feels kinda weird to start eating by myself."

Weird eating first? Yanami actually had emotions like that?

Shiratama-san cutely pressed her hands together, looking apologetic. "I’m really sorry—if we're late, the reservation gets canceled. And the roast beef might sell out!"

"There’s roast beef too?! Alright, I'll be going!" Yanami took her ticket and flung open the glass doors, practically sprinting down the hall.

Shiratama-san gave a little wave as she watched her go, then turned to me with a satisfied little laugh. "I'm glad she liked it. It was worth rushing to get those tickets."

"Huh? I thought you said they were free?"

"That's right. Yes, they were," she said cheerfully, twirling to face me. "Oh, by the way, I exchanged contact info with Kaju-chan recently."

"With Kaju?"

That caught me off guard. As far as I knew, the two of them were more like cats and dogs. What on earth happened between them…?

"Since when did you two get so close?"

Shiratama-san didn’t answer. Instead, she gave me a sweet smile.

"Kaju-chan is so cute, isn’t she? Gets so worked up about her dear onii-sama."

"Uh… yeah…"

She laced her hands behind her back and leaned forward slightly, peering up at me. "She’s just sooo cute. She tries to be sneaky, but it’s totally obvious. Even let slip the meeting place."

"Uh, what are you talking about…?"

"Now, what could I possibly be talking about?" Then, she stood upright and glanced over my shoulder. "…Hmm. The vice president, huh?"

"Huh?"

"You didn’t want Yanami-san to see you with her, right? Not that I mind."

What the—wait, how much does she know?

"Um, did you by any chance… know I’d be—"

"Well then—I’ll be going. I wouldn’t want to be a third wheel."

"O-oh. Yeah, right…"

I stood there, stiff. She walked past—but just as she passed my shoulder, she leaned in close, and softly whispered into my ear:

"Prez—believe it or not, I’m actually the type who’s very ‘easy to handle’, you know? So just use me when you need to, ‘kay?"

◇

Once we met up, Tiara-san fell completely silent, and for some reason, she was walking unusually fast.

I jogged to catch up, exiting through the glass doors and weaving past the magazine racks. Out onto Tokiwa Street, we passed a line at a crêpe stand and headed deeper into the arcade. Finally, I managed to walk beside her.

"Um… are you mad at me?"

"I'm not mad. I was just a little surprised you invited those two as well."

"I didn't. They just happened to be there and started talking to me."

She nodded silently.

We turned a corner, passed a chocolate shop at the end of the arcade, and after a few more steps, she finally let out a breath, clutching her chest with visible relief.

"Phew… we should be fine now."

"Huh? Fine how?"

"That area was too visible. People have been… paying too much attention to me lately." She quickly scanned our new surroundings before leaning in slightly. "Nukumizu-san, have you heard of the Birdwatching Club?"

"You mean the one that got shut down for selling voyeur photos?"

"Officially, it's only a temporary suspension. Thanks to the president's intervention, they were allowed to resume activities as the Newspaper Club."

"I didn’t even know our school had a Newspaper Club."

"We don’t. The president granted them that title in hopes they’d turn over a new leaf, contribute something meaningful to Tsuwabuki, and eventually earn back the right to revive the original club. It was… a merciful gesture, really. But…"

Now, call me cynical, but maybe a birdwatching club whose main achievement had nothing to do with birds wasn’t worth the effort to save.

"So what about them?"

"They’ve been acting like a tabloid. Stalking anyone and everyone involved with the election. The problem is, they’re just a hobby circle^[11]—not an official club—and therefore outside the Student Council’s jurisdiction. So we can’t even say anything." She sighed, pressing her fingers to her temple.

As a fellow bird enthusiast, I considered apologizing on behalf of all of us—but honestly, those guys probably couldn’t even tell a sparrow from a security camera.

I kept a wary eye on our surroundings as we walked.

We left the arcade and crossed over the north side of Hirokouji Street, where the crowds thinned noticeably. It wasn’t deserted, but the old shopping street had clearly seen better days. Most of the buildings were now residential, but the atmosphere of the era back then was still pretty visible. You could still see some of the building’s former lives as storefronts, and a few shops were even still in business.

Here and there, newer restaurants had popped up between the older buildings. The whole area felt like it was quietly breathing, gently shifting with the times.

Tiara-san walked with confidence. Guess she knows her way around.

"So, Basori-san, where are we having the study session?"

"Oh, sorry, I should've said earlier. My house is nearby. We're heading there."

Whoa. So this is her neighborhood. And we’re gonna be studying… at her… house…?

"Wait—at your house?! Right now?!"

"My parents are out, so don't worry—wait, no! Not like that! My little brother’s home, so don't get any weird ideas! A-and besides—"

She blushed a spectacular shade of crimson and added:

"My brother already has a girlfriend!"

…Not sure what that last part was supposed to clarify.

Still, big picture: I was about to casually stroll into a girl's house. Brother or not, in romcom logic, this is definitely some kind of event flag. And in… eroge logic, well—this is what they call a "gallery unlock opportunity."

"Though, if it meant collecting all the CGs…"

"Nukumizu-san, what are you mumbling about?"

Oops. Slipped into degenerate mode for a sec. Moving on.

Snapping back to reality, I recognized the stone paving underfoot. "Isn’t this around Hanazono?"

"Yes. You’ve been here before?"

"I stop by the supermarket down the road sometimes, so I pass through here."

This area was an old shopping district. It used to be pretty active, but now most of the shutters were pulled down, and every year the number of open shops seemed to shrink.

Just then, a new and very out-of-place building caught my eye.

"Was there always an apartment complex here?"

Tiara-san, about to pass by, stopped and looked up at it. "It was built recently. Everyone who used to live here moved out."

"Huh… I see."

"They say the district was thriving back in my grandparents’ day. But I guess times change," she said, not really with much emotion.

She turned another corner. "My house is just up ahea—"

"My, if it isn't Tiara-chan!"

A cheerful, booming voice completely vaporized the end of her sentence. We turned to see a plump, smiling middle-aged lady waving enthusiastically.

Tiara-san flinched, then quickly bowed her head. "Good afternoon, Michishige-san."

"Oh my, what's with the formality? You always call me Oba-chan!"

"N-no, it's just—"

"Oba-chan’s so lonely now—my little Tiara-chan's all grown up… Hmm?" Her gaze shifted to me—and then her eyes went wide. "Oooh my! Oh my, oh my! Tiara-chan?! Oh my…"

"Y-you’ve got it all wrong!"

"Mhm, mhm, of course I do. Oba-chan’s been there too, you know! Though back then, it wasn’t my husband, but—well, that's our little secret~"

"I-I'm telling you, it's not like that!"

"Of course, of course. Oba-chan understands everything. Sorry for interrupting~"

She nodded vigorously, like she could see the rest of Tiara’s future unfold, then strutted past us with a grin. For some reason, she threw me a massive thumbs-up as she passed.

"Tiara-chan's all grown up—well, almost ‘all’. Maybe soon. Oh my, oh my~…"

Tiara-san trembled, burying her face in her hands.

And honestly, after witnessing the destructive power of a neighborhood auntie, I couldn’t even blame her.

…God help us if Yanami turns into one someday.

◇

The Basori residence was just a short walk from where we’d run into Mrs. Michishige^[12]—a three-story building facing the street. The first floor must have been a shop once, with a wide glass window looking out towards the road.

Tiara-san slid open the glass door and stepped inside, then waved for me to follow.

The shop area was dimly lit. Shelves around the room lined the walls, stacked high with clothes bins and cardboard boxes.

"Sorry about the mess," she said, cheeks slightly pink with embarrassment, leading me toward the back.

"Not at all. What kind of shop was this, anyway?"

"My grandfather's. We used to sell insignias, up until his time."

"Insignias?"

"Um, badges, trophies, banners—that sort of thing. We had to close down when we couldn't keep up with the competition."

Huh. Insignias. Didn’t even know that was an industry.

"Oh, is that why you always wear your name tag on your uniform, Tiara-san?"

"No, that’s just school policy. And please don't call me by my first name," she said, brushing my comment aside.

She opened the door at the back. Beyond it was a small entryway to take off shoes. A single step led into the house proper. To the right, a staircase climbed up to the second floor; straight ahead was the living room.

"My room’s on the third floor. Please take off your shoes there."

"Ah, yes. I will do that."

…Reflexively, I slipped into polite speech^[13].

Look. This isn’t just any house. It’s a girl's house, and I was really feeling the "someone actually lives here" in the here. I wasn’t even especially close with said girl, which, somehow, made the situation feel fifty times more significant.

We climbed the staircase— a little steep—to the third floor. Two doors were lining the hallway.

"Takashi!" Tiara-san called out as we passed the first door, "Make sure you put your bag away properly!"

So she plays big sister at home. Oh, hey, least her brother’s got a pretty normal name.

Finally, we reached the end of the hall. Tiara-san hesitated before opening the door.

"It's not much, but… please come in." She shyly led me into the room.

It was a pretty basic: old-school, Japanese-style, bed, desk, bookshelf, and a low table^[14]. Actually, it was pretty damn minimalist considering it was a high school girl’s room we were talking about. There were these small little hints of femininity scattered throughout: light pink in the rug under the table, matching curtains. Just wasn’t overly frilly and cutesy. Subtle, but really, it worked well.

"Please, have a seat on the cushion."

"Oh, sure." Awkwardly, I knelt down in seiza^[15].

Yeah, I was nervous. Could you blame me? First time ever setting foot in a bona fide ‘girl's room.’ (Komari's room didn't count; she shared it with her siblings and that whole situation was an emergency anyway).

Tiara-san sat down opposite me. She nervously played with her bangs. "W-well then, shall we start?"

"R-right… yeah. Let's."

We were just here to study. Studying. So, uh… could someone tell me why the air’s so tense?

We both quietly pulled out our textbooks.

"Um… could we go over math again today?" she asked. "I'm really bad with sequences…"

"Perfect. I suck at those too."

She giggled. "That's not 'perfect' at all. But, let's struggle through it together, then."

I mean, I wasn’t really trying to be funny, but I’ll take the win.

I flipped open my textbook and leaned forward, relieved. "By the way, how was your test the other day?"

"Well… I’d say there were a few signs of improvement. At least, the numbers weren't any worse."

Tiara-san clenched her fist in determination. Yeah, staying positive is good.

About half an hour into our study session, I glanced up from checking my answers and caught Tiara-san completely absorbed in her workbook. Her brow furrowed slightly, lips pursed in concentration. Her hair was pulled back tight, revealing thick eyebrows and a small mole on her neck that stood out against her pale skin.

I realized again how tiny^[16] her face was. Up close like this, she looked almost completely natural, as if she wasn’t wearing any makeup at all. I mean, I know that she usually makes an effort to dress up a little on weekends—

"…Is there something on my face?"

I flinched. At some point, she’d looked up and caught me staring. She tilted her head quizzically.

"Ah, no. Nothing. Just… something caught my eye…" I mumbled, trying to dodge the question.

She leaned forward, smiling with interest. "What is it? Now I'm curious."

"Uh, well—I was just thinking… you really didn’t bring me here to recruit me for the student council after all, huh?"

Her smile evaporated like water on a hot pan.

…Wow. 10/10, Nukumizu. Fantastic choice of words.

"Well," she said calmly, "depending on how things went, I might’ve tried. Once I lured you here, you'd have been mine."

Could not tell if joking. Probably not joking.

Oh, wait a sec. "…So you’re not planning to anymore?"

"Actually, the deadline for presidential candidates closed yesterday. And by the end of the day, I was still the only one who applied," she confessed, a sheepish expression on her face.

"Wait, so there's no election?"

"Correct. Just a statement of intent and a vote of confidence. No nomination speeches either."

So… all the stress, the following, the lurking—pointless? Also, didn't I literally just see her at the board game café yesterday…?

"Why didn't you tell me last night?"

"Sorry. Technically, it wasn't officially confirmed until midnight, so I didn’t want to say anything."

…Fair enough. I probably should be more annoyed than this, but honestly? I was more relieved if anything. A smile crept onto my face.

"…Oh? Were you actually considering it?"

"Well, yeah, I was thinking I could maybe at least help with the campaign."

She grinned. "Fufu, so now you can say whatever you want, can’t you?"

"Hey, talking’s free."

She laughed cheerfully. It was the first time I’d ever seen her laugh like this…

Once she finished wiping away a tear, she leaned back. "Actually, I did have a secret weapon ready in case I still had to win you over, Nukumizu-san. But it seems I won't need it now."

"A secret weapon? What was it?"

"Oh, nothing that interesting, really," she said quickly, laughing it off.

Suspicious. Extremely suspicious.

Wait. Wasn’t I lured here with the promise of getting Chikapyon merch? So then… if she had this "secret weapon," it had to be—

"Can I see it?"

"Huh? But—"

I leaned in towards her, and Tiara-san backed away slightly. Oh yeah, it’s gotta be some ultra-rare merch. Jackpot.

"Your secret weapon… I really wanna know now."

Her eyes darted away. "I mean, w-well, it's not really something worth showing off…"

"It’s fine! I won't tell anyone. It'll be our little secret."

She froze.

"S-secret…?!" Nice. Guess my enthusiasm got through to her.

Her lips trembled slightly, but she nodded and glanced up at me. "O-okay, but… I don't know if it'll live up to your expectations…"

Tiara-san turned toward her desk drawer and pulled something out, hiding it behind her back as she sat down. Didn’t see too big. My money was on an acrylic stand.

—I held my breath.

"Okay, here goes!"

Slowly, she placed it gently on her head. Hands curled into little cat paws.

And then, she said in a soft, ridiculously adorable voice:

"Please cheer for me, nyaa~"

…

…Excuse me, Tiara-san? What did I just witness?

Standing there, blushing tomato-red, was Tiara-san wearing… cat ears. Real (I mean, not real, but still), absurdly fuzzy cat ears.

{{image:"images/makeine-v8/image3.jpg"}}

I froze from the shock of cuteness overload.

"Wha…? N-no, wait, it’s not what you think! I—I only wore them because I thought you might like this sort of thing! It’s not because I like it! I don’t have weird hobbies like that!"

"Uh… well, I do like it, but—"

"Y-you do?!" A flustered Tiara-san shrieked.

BAM! The room door suddenly swung open.

"Nee-san, I’m heading ou—"

"Takashi?!"

Tiara-san’s younger brother stood in the doorway—a stylishly dressed, refreshing-looking boy in a tracksuit, probably around Kaju’s age.

He blinked.

He stood frozen…

And then decided that it wasn’t his problem. He averted his eyes from his sister and turned towards me, giving me a short bow. "Uh… Welcome. I’m her brother."

"Ah, nice to meet you. I’m Nukumizu."

Uncomfortable silence.

Takashi stared at his sister one more time, completely unreadable. Then he bowed again. "Um… I'll eat dinner outside. You two, uh… take your time."

Click. The door shut. His footsteps retreated down the stairs in record time.

Tiara-san, still frozen, slowly creaked toward me. Her face was as pale as a ghost. "Nukumizu-san… what do we do?"

I have no idea.

I took a moment to think, taking a breath. Then said seriously:

"…Does your brother have good eyesight?"

"I mean… he did say it’s gotten a little worse lately…"

Perfect. I nodded like a sage.

"Then what if… he didn't actually see the cat ears?"

"Really? That's possible?"

"Think about it. He walks in, sees his sister in cat ears saying ‘nyaa~’ to a guy he doesn’t know."

"Guh—!" Tiara-san clutched her chest. Hang in there, just a little longer.

"Normally, it’d be impossible to walk away like that. But your brother was calm, wasn’t he?"

"…Was he? I mean, I've never seen him make that face before."

"No, he was calm. Definitely calm. No mistaking it. And that means, logically, he didn't see the cat ears. It’s the only explanation."

A hint of color started slowly returning to her cheeks. Good, almost there.

"But what about the 'nyaa'? Did he not hear that either?"

"Oh, obviously not. The sound of the door opening would have canceled it out via phase cancellation. We covered it in physics."

"I see… I take biology, so I guess I missed that."

Funny, I take biology too.

I admit that I might’ve just been winging it, but hey, she bought my logic well enough. Finally taking off her cat ears, Tiara-san let out a relieved sigh.

"Okay… I feel a bit better now. Sorry I was shaken up so much."

"No worries." Honestly, Tiara-san, you really shouldn’t trust people so easily. "I’m glad you understood."

"…Right. Oh, and please stop calling me by my first name."

She’d been tricked—I mean, convinced—and the matter was settled peacefully. All I had left to do was finish studying with her and collect my Chikapyon goods. Her brother was gone, so no more weird misunderstandings—uh, wait. Hold that thought.

Her parents were out. Her brother just went out.

So if both of them weren’t home, didn’t that mean…

"We’re alone…?"

"Wh-what?!"

Oops. I said that out loud.

Tiara-san jumped to her feet. "What are you saying all of a sudden?!"

"N-no, not in a weird way! It's just, like, it’s easy to be misunderstood when a guy’s alone in a girl's room, so us guys gotta be careful too, you know? Others might get the wrong idea, and I don’t wanna cause you trouble."

She eyed me warily, but slowly sat back down.

"W-well, I know that you, of all people, would never do something like that, Nukumizu-san. I am a girl, after all."

Thanks? I think?

"Uh, just so you know, I'm not into dudes."

"Yes, I'm aware. What, you think I can't tell the difference between delusions and reality?"

…I kinda do, yeah.

Probably realizing my deadpan, she cleared her throat. "Well, admittedly, there was a time when I couldn't."

"There was?"

"I’ve been working on it though. Lately, I've been writing down my thoughts."

"Writing them down? Like in a diary?"

She nodded.

"For example," she pressed a finger to her forehead, "in my mind, you’re a sadistic top, and the student council president is a male bottom, right?"

‘Right’ my ass…

"So I write that down. But when I reread it a few days later, I realized, ‘Wait, that can’t be right.’ It's kind of like cognitive therapy, I suppose."

Days? Days? Lady, you need more than therapy.

Still, she looked oddly proud of herself. "So relax. I do see reality quite clearly. The president is a woman. And Nukumizu-san is a womanizing, sadistic top."

Still kind of in fantasy land there.

She hummed happily, back to her workbook—but then, her pencil suddenly froze.

"…Did I say something weird just now?"

"Nah, that’s pretty standard for you."

"R-right! You’re into girls, and you’re a sadistic top… with no… morals…" Her face drained white. "U-Um, I mean. I am a girl. But not like, you know, the kind you’d lust after. Right?"

"Yeah, of course. You’re not."

"I'm not?!"

I mean, how did you want me to respond?

Anyway, the truth remained: it really is dangerous for a girl our age to casually invite a guy into her house. Thankfully, I’m a decent guy, but what if I’d been a creep?

I cleared my throat and turned to face Tiara-san seriously. "Listen, Basori-san. Guys are… prone to misunderstanding things."

"Misunderstanding?"

"Yeah. Alone with a girl, in said girl’s home, he might think… she invited him over to, well, you know."

"Eeep?!" Tiara-san scooted away from me, still seated.

"I mean, not me, but if it were someone else—"

"Uh, um…" She clutched her hands to her chest, trembling. Oh, crap, did I go too far?

Tiara-san looked up at me. Her lips quivering, she muttered softly:

"D-do you want to…?"

"Huh? Want what?"

Tiara-san's face turned beet red. "You know, that! Wh-what are you making me say?!"

What "that"? Before I could ask, her phone rang.

"Ah, a call! I'm taking this call!"

She jumped up and pressed the phone to her ear. "…Sensei? Wow, you must be tired, working on a Saturday. Ah, yes, I'm fine." She disappeared out into the hallway, voice fading.

Whatever they were talking about, it sounded kinda serious. Did she fail a test or something?

…Still. Honestly, weird girl.

Brings me to her house, puts on cat ears… and for what? There wasn’t even any point to it in the end. And honestly, there wasn’t even a reason for this thing to be at her house. The election’s already decided, so—

Click.

The door opened.

Tiara-san returned, face drained of color.

"Did something happen?"

She took a deep breath, hand on her chest, then spoke. "Last night, someone did file for candidacy at the last minute."

So… there would be an actual election after all?

Shocked, I looked up as Tiara-san rushed over and sat in front of me. "Nukumizu-san! You said it, right?! That you'd help with the election!"

"No, I never—"

Wait, maybe I did. Uh-oh.

I could feel the sweat beading on my forehead. "No, hold on, I did say that, but I didn’t mean it like—"

"Please! I can’t beat him on my own!"

I mean, not like I’d be much help anyway, but… Wait, did she just say "him"?

"Who's running? Do I know them?"

She nodded slowly.

"…Hiroto Sakurai. The student council treasurer."

"?! But Sakurai-kun said he wasn't planning on…" If that's true, I can’t see any way for Tiara-san to win. Heck, I'd vote for Sakurai-kun too.

Seeing me at a loss for words, Tiara-san pulled something out… that something being in the shape of cat ears.

Slowly, she slipped them on her head. Her voice trembled as she pleaded:

"P-please fight by my side in this election… nyaa~."

She posed, her hands curled up into little cat paws in the air.

Uh… what the heck am I supposed to do now? Nyaa.

Translator Notes

1. Fuki (蕗) - Commonly known as Giant Butterbur. It is a perennial plant with a thick, hollow stalk that must be boiled and peeled before eating to remove its bitterness. It is an essential spring vegetable in Japanese cuisine and is often simmered in dashi or used in tempura. It is said to have good effects on health. ↑

2. Aburaage (油揚げ) - Thin slices of deep-fried tofu. Often sliced into strips and added to miso soups or simmered dishes to provide a savory texture. ↑

3. Chawanmushi (茶碗蒸し) - A savory Japanese egg custard steamed in a small cup (chawan). Unlike sweet custards, it is seasoned with dashi, soy sauce, and mirin. ↑

4. Dashi (出し) - The fundamental Japanese soup stock that is more or less the backbone of most Japanese cuisine. It is commonly made by simmering ingredients like kombu kelp, katsuobushi (bonito flakes), shiitake mushrooms, or dried sardines in water. Provides a savory umami taste. ↑

5. Kombu (昆布) - A type of Japanese edible kelp seaweed, staple ingredient in dashi broth. Often simmered in soy sauce as well. ↑

6. Kinpira gobo (ゴボウのキンピラ) - Braised burdock root and carrot in a sweet and salty sauce, using sugar and soy sauce. ↑

7. Home visit (kateihoumon, 家庭訪問) - Refers to when a teacher visits a student’s home, generally for progress reports and for special circumstances revolving around the student. Usually between the teacher and the student’s guardian, but the student is also generally present. ↑

8. The nickname “Uma-chan” is a play on Tiara’s surname, Basori (馬剃). The first kanji, 馬, is read as ba in her name but literally translates to “horse” (read as uma). Lemon’s calling her this as an affectionate punny nickname kinda thing, though it literally translates to “Horse-chan…” ↑

9. Sugoroku (双六) - Japanese board game similar to snakes and ladders and backgammon. Played with a die where an object has to reach the end of a track. Read here for more information. ↑

10. Nukumizu is categorizing the girls’ behavior using tags typically found in adult subculture as BDSM tags. The word the JP used is プレイ (katakana for play) which kinda refers to fetishy and kinky roleplay. The kinks being Houchi & Kanshou, or as I have localized—as Neglect & Voyeurism. ↑

11. Japanese schools have two types of clubs: official (bukatsudou, 部活動) and unofficial (doukoukai, 同好会). Unofficial clubs, or just circles, still need formal recognition from the school, and require submission of an application to run activities like official clubs. However, the difference between them is that unofficial circles operate without club funding, and are more for hobby purposes. ↑

12. Localized the honorific here because it's not a commonly used one (not -san, it's -fujin, slightly formally referring to someone who’s a wife). The correct translation is "Mrs" anyway, unlike -san which carries other connotations that can’t be conveyed in English. Leaving this TL note here, so someone doesn’t come up to us and ask why we localized an honorific. ↑

13. In the line above this, he said させていただきます sasete itadakimasu. If you translate it literally, you’d get something along the lines of "I humbly receive the favor of being allowed to do this." It’s not that formal though. ↑

14. Chabudai (卓袱台) - A traditional low-legged Japanese table, typically used for eating and socializing. Can be used for studying, also used for eating snacks and (traditionally) holding tea ceremonies. Often used with floor cushions called zabuton. Search it up, and you’ll know what I’m talking about. ↑

15. Seiza - A traditional Japanese way of sitting in which you kneel with your legs folded under your body and your buttocks resting on your heels. It’s a formal, polite posture; which is what people default to when they’re nervous. ↑

16. The Japanese value small faces and see this as a sign of beauty. ↑