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The jazz music flowed quietly in the cafe. The interior, adorned with wood, featured semi-private spaces. The place I chose for my conversation with Isshiki was one with such a calm atmosphere.
It was easy to declare that I would contact her, but when it came down to it, I genuinely agonized over what to do. Asking her to come to my room as usual felt presumptuous, and going to Isshiki's house also felt wrong. As a result, what I came up with was the orthodox idea of meeting at a cafe like this.
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
"...Oh."
Three minutes before the appointed time. Isshiki Iroha quietly appeared and sat in the seat opposite me.
Thinking back, it had been a long time since we had arranged to meet outside like this. A cafe, it was since the time we went out, half-forcedly, on what she called a date.
"For now, let's order something."
When I suggested that, we each ordered drinks. I had a cafe au lait, and Isshiki had milk tea. There was no particular conversation until they arrived; it was definitely a completely different atmosphere from before.
"Um, you know... I'm being avoided, right?"
"That's... yes."
I asked as I put a sugar cube into my cafe au lait and stirred it. Isshiki's honest answer came back. Isshiki's expression was utterly serious. Seeing her face, as if she were about to receive a death sentence, made me worried if she was okay.
I also hesitated whether it was okay to ask Isshiki such a thing. However, if we didn't talk, nothing would move forward. Unless I tried to clarify, I wouldn't understand anything.
"That... it has to do with the school festival stage, right?"
When I asked, having made up my mind, Isshiki looked at me with a slightly surprised expression.
"Eh...? No, it's not..."
"Hmm...?"
...Huh, it's not? As I tilted my head, wondering what she meant, Isshiki continued the conversation.
"...After that, I overheard Sakura-chan confessing to Senpai, and the reason Senpai turned her down."
The moment I heard it, a selfish pain shot through my chest. Of course, I was surprised that she had heard, but I didn't understand why that would be a reason to avoid me. When I looked into Isshiki's eyes to ascertain her true intention, her gaze gently dropped.
"The person in Senpai's heart isn't me, is it...?"
At those words, I remembered when Sakura confessed to me. When I turned down Sakura's confession, I replied that there was someone else in my heart. I vaguely understood who Isshiki was mistaken about. After all, we had spent a considerable amount of time together.
"You're probably mistaken about that."
"Eh...? But Senpai, even now, about those two..."
"Just as I thought," I thought, and sipped my cafe au lait, pausing the conversation. As Isshiki said, those two will probably never completely disappear from my heart.
But on that day. When love was confessed to me, the first thing that came to my mind was—
"It's true that I still have lingering regrets about those two. You know what happened after the prom, right?"
"Yes..."
Every time I remember it, I wonder why. I regretted many times that I could have handled it better.
"I was aware of their feelings. But in the end, I couldn't choose... and I think that's what made them grow distant. I can't forgive myself for that."
Isshiki should have known about the consequences of choosing not to choose. They lost their place to spend time together, and the time they shared disappeared. —Eventually, an invisible wall formed between the two of them.
"So, you're saying you can't date anyone?"
"No."
But. But that's a separate matter. No, it must be separate.
"I think I need to properly bring things to a conclusion."
Even if those two and Isshiki weren't unrelated, this was my problem, not Isshiki's. It wasn't something Isshiki should bear.
"What exactly do you plan to do to bring things to a conclusion?"
"Meet with Yukinoshita and Yuigahama, both of them, and talk."
When I declared that. For some reason, Isshiki tilted her head in confusion. Slowly, she straightened her head and looked directly at me, saying:
"Um, I'm asking this with a pretty good idea of what Senpai is trying to do, but... did either of them confess to Senpai?"
"No, they didn't, but..."
"Then you absolutely shouldn't do that."
Isshiki's eyes had somehow changed to a "Are you serious?" look. The change was so drastic compared to how she had been just moments ago.
"No, why...?"
"Honestly, if someone who hasn't even confessed to me said, 'I was aware of your feelings,' I'd be really put off."
"Oh, right..."
"Yeah, you're right..." I almost agreed inadvertently. But you're quite blunt, aren't you? The fact that it's a woman's opinion really digs into my heart.
"Besides, it's like rejecting them twice, isn't it? If the reason Senpai meets them is to bring closure for my sake."
She stated it bluntly, and I realized she was right. I looked into her eyes, trying to understand the true meaning of "for my sake," and Isshiki's serious gaze met mine.
"So, I'll talk to them."
"...Huh?"
At her unexpected words, my voice almost cracked. Since entering university, there had been times when I couldn't understand what she was thinking, but this was just too incomprehensible.
"No, why would it come to that? This is my problem, isn't it?"
"No."
When I spoke with determination, a voice of the same, firm determination was returned. I stared firmly into Isshiki's eyes. Isshiki continued to look at me straight on, her gaze unwavering and without hesitation.
And then, Isshiki...
"Because this is a battle I started."
—She declared with a resolute voice.
—-----------------
November in Chiba was much colder than I remembered. I suppose it was also because it was a park by the sea. Having arrived much earlier than the appointed time, I looked up at the Ferris wheel at Kasai Rinkai Park and thought.
After somewhat forcefully convincing Senpai, I contacted Yui-senpai and the others. Since I didn't know their situation, I contacted them one by one, just in case. When I asked if we could talk, surprisingly, they readily agreed. They didn't even ask what it was about, which I was honestly grateful for.
"Sorry I'm late~"
A nostalgic voice called out to me from behind, as I was looking out at the sea. When I looked back towards the station building, Yui-senpai was walking towards me with Yukino-senpai.
"It's been a while since we've met like this, Isshiki-san."
"Yes. It's been a long time."
As we exchanged those words, I felt a little relieved. Both of them had very soft expressions. Senpai had said he had caused them to grow distant, but there was no sign of animosity between them at all. I couldn't even imagine these two being at odds in the first place.
"Um, for now..."
"Hey, since the weather's so nice, let's walk a bit."
Just as I was about to suggest going to a nearby cafe, Yui-senpai said that. It might be easier to talk while walking than to sit down formally in a shop. Yukino-senpai also replied, "That's right," and we started walking towards Kasai Rinkai Park, which spread out directly in front of the station.
Somehow, as we headed towards the sea, we talked a lot. About our recent lives, about high school, about mutual acquaintances. But throughout, the name of Senpai, the person who wasn't mentioned, was conspicuously absent, as if they were deliberately avoiding it.
"Iroha-chan, your university was in Tokyo too, right?"
As we walked along a path adorned with fallen leaves, Yui-senpai peered at my face and said. "Iroha-chan too," referred to the person whose name hadn't come up.
So, I—
"Yes. It's the same university as Senpai's."
I deliberately spoke that name.
"Eh...? But you got into your first choice, didn't you?"
"I did get in, but... I changed where I was going to study. Because I wanted to be at the same place as Senpai."
I immediately knew the atmosphere had changed, to my dismay. I cautiously looked at their faces, but their expressions weren't stern. They were just expressions of tending to an old wound.
"...Shall we sit down?"
Yukino-senpai suggested, looking at an arbor on a small hill. We nodded to each other, then entered the arbor and sat on a bench.
"Was that what you wanted to talk about, Iroha-chan?"
"Yes."
When I nodded and said that, a small "I see" came back. After seeing them both make small nodding gestures, I looked up at the Ferris wheel slowly turning in the distance.
"I actually intended to put my feelings in order once Senpai and the others graduated."
My words, without a subject, were endlessly vague, but I believed they would understand. Because we had shared such precious time that I could believe that.
"The opportunities to meet decreased, and gradually it changed into something in my memories. I thought if I could fall in love with someone else, I'd surely forget."
Looking back now, I think it was an overly optimistic thought. At that time, I had misjudged my own feelings. It was a naive idea to think that following such a universal path would bring ease.
"But it didn't work. It didn't turn out that way at all... After thinking a lot, I chose the same university as Senpai."
After saying that much, I returned my gaze to Yukino-senpai and Yui-senpai. Both of them were looking at me with serious eyes.
"I think I understand your feelings from high school. I don't know if you still feel that way, though..."
I stood up. Yui-senpai started to say something, then stopped. To the two of them, who were watching with surprised expressions, I continued.
"Please give me permission for Senpai and I to be together."
Saying that, I bowed my head as deeply as I could. Probably the most politely I had ever bowed in my life. The deepest bow.
"Isshiki-san."
A somewhat firm tone reached my ears. When I cautiously raised my head, both Yukino-senpai and Yui-senpai had troubled expressions.
"Um, I'm sorry, Iroha-chan."
And for some reason, they apologized to me. I was the one who should apologize for acting like I was taking advantage of Senpai without saying anything.
"Why are you apologizing, Yui-senpai? Rather, it's me who should—"
"No."
My words were cut off by Yukino-senpai's clear voice. And for some reason, she sent a glance to Yui-senpai. Yui-senpai nodded.
"Well... it is we who should apologize after all."
Yukino-senpai said that.
"Yeah... Sorry. We were late in telling you."
Yui-senpai said that.
They held each other's hands, their fingers intertwined.
No, wait...? What does this mean...?
"We are, well... actually dating."
(A/N: No excuses, and yes, I do love yuri too....)
"Eh...? EHHHHH?!"
I couldn't help but let out a strange sound. No, I knew such a reaction was rude, but... the shock was too great, and my surprise wouldn't stop.
"But, but... In our third year, you two were so awkward, weren't you?"
"That's true. But I really hated that. So I went to the same university as Yukinon... well, that wasn't possible, but I went to a nearby university."
"And now, we live together."
"I, I see..."
The content was a bit, no, quite shocking, and I couldn't process it. I knew they were good friends originally, and that's why I was frustrated when they were at odds in our third year. But I certainly hadn't imagined this development.
"But just now, you said it's been a while since we met like this..."
"Ahaha... That meant it's been a while since the three of us met."
"Ah, um... So, you two are..."
"I'm the top, and Yui is the bottom."
"That's not what I was asking about?!"
No, seriously, please don't confuse me any more. I let out a sigh, my shoulders slumping, at Yukino-senpai's answer, which I couldn't tell if it was a joke or a serious reply.
"So you don't need to ask for our permission or anything like that."
"Rather, it's us who should ask for your permission."
"Sit down," Yukino-senpai said quietly. All strength drained from my body, and I plopped down onto the bench.
"This... of course, Senpai doesn't know about it, does he...?"
"He doesn't. We haven't had a chance to meet... We decided together not to tell anyone for a while."
That situation meant that no one knew or could have predicted it. But this, while I hate to say it, wasn't a bad situation for me.
"I'm sorry. We ended up being a hindrance to you, didn't we?"
Saying that, Yukino-senpai bowed her head towards me. As far as I could remember, it was probably the first time.
Then Yukino-senpai raised her head and said with strong eyes:
"Leave the rest to us."
—She said.