I Confessed My Sexual Preferences to My Online Game Best Friend, and the Person Who Showed Up at the Offline Meetup Was the Cute Girl from My Class - 61

Chapter 61: The Night Before the Summer Festival

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This week was the final exams. Once we got through this, the long-awaited summer vacation would arrive. And waiting at the entrance to it—this Saturday—was the “decisive battle” for Rin and me: the summer festival.

“…Kaito, that formula is reversed. The sign is positive.”

“Ugyahhh!? …Kazuma, since when did you get so good at math…? Ah, I get it… It must be thanks to Shinonome-san’s one-on-one tutoring, right? …Go explode. Seriously, start a Big Bang right in front of me.”

It was self-study time during lunch break. Kaito glared at me resentfully.

“…It’s not like that. …If I get a failing grade and end up in remedial classes, I won’t be able to make plans for Saturday. …So I’m just desperate.”

I kept my poker face as I moved my pen. In the front right of my field of vision, Rin Shinonome was quietly spreading out her notebook. Just like always, the flawless back of the “Angel of the School.” But in my mind, the image from a few days ago during our video call was still burned vividly into my memory: her wearing an oversized T-shirt, smiling innocently as she asked, “Which yukata looks best?”

“—Nihihi! Kazucchi-kun, you’re really focused!”

Suddenly, Ichinose-san’s bright voice came from behind. Kaito shouted, “Ah, Saki! Today you’re even more—” but she silenced him by pointing at a mistake in his notebook.

“Kaito, that’s wrong!”

Then she leaned over my desk. Kaito looked slightly despairing. “I still got it wrong…?” Then he said, “I’m going to the bathroom!” and began escaping from reality.

Well… at least he wouldn’t overhear us. That worked out perfectly.

“Hey, hey… Let’s both do our best on the tests until Friday, okay? …For Saturday.”

As if she had been waiting for Kaito to leave, she whispered softly into my ear. In Ichinose-san’s eyes were encouragement and just a hint of mischief. She clearly knew about everything…

“…Ichinose-san. …You’re being loud. …I know.”

“Nihihi! If Kazucchi-kun is this fired up, Rin-rin can relax too. …Oh, right. Rin-rin has been trying to turn around and look at you once every minute, but she’s desperately holding herself back. …I think this might be the first time I’ve ever seen Rin-rin this restless!”

“…………!!”

When I instinctively looked forward, Shinonome-san’s back jerked. She didn’t turn around, but from here I could clearly see the earlobe peeking through her silky black hair turning bright red in no time.

“…Ichinose-san. …You’re really enjoying this, aren’t you?”

“Of course! After all, Kazucchi-kun poured such passionate feelings onto me, so there’s no way I could just ignore that, right?”

“Lower your volume. That sounds misleading.”

“Nihihi!!”

She really looked like she was having fun. Well, as long as she kept things within reason, it was fine. Then Ichinose-san leaned closer to my ear again and whispered.

“…Oh, by the way, Kazucchi-kun. It looks like I’ll be able to hand Rin-rin over to you nicely, so don’t worry about that part. Just escort Rin-rin with everything you’ve got, like your life depends on it, okay?”

“…I know. …And thanks, Ichinose-san.”

When I thanked her quietly, Ichinose-san smiled with satisfaction.

“Nihihi!”

Then she returned to her seat.

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—Friday, the final day of exams. The moment the bell rang for the last subject, cries of “We’re free!” erupted throughout the classroom. As I watched the teacher collect the answer sheets, I let out a long, deep sigh.

“…It’s over, Kaito.”

“Yeah… My mind’s completely blank, Kazuma… My brain is a vacant lot right now.”

I brushed off Kaito’s invitation casually and left the school gate alone.

Rin said she had one final meeting for her club activities. We had a brief moment of rest until Monday when the tests would be returned.  And tomorrow was the long-awaited Saturday.

On the evening walk home, I pulled my smartphone from my pocket and saw a notification.

【Rin: Sato-kun… Good job on the tests. …How did they feel?】

I stopped walking and began typing.

【Kazuma: Good work, Haru. …Thanks to your training, I think I’ll manage. …How about you?】

A few seconds after sending it, the message was already read.

【Rin: Nihihi. Perfect! …Now tomorrow, no one will interrupt us, and I can be as “selfish” as I want】

【Rin: Kazu. I’m really looking forward to tomorrow】

【Kazuma: Me too. I’m looking forward to it】

【Rin: If you oversleep, I’ll never forgive you, okay?】

Standing in the shadow of a roadside tree, I found myself gripping my phone tightly as we exchanged messages.

“Selfish…” 

The promise on the rooftop. And the meaning behind the “purple morning glory” I had given her. She was thinking about tomorrow just like I was… no, maybe even more than I was. That fact was unbearably precious and something I felt proud of.

【Kazuma: …It’s at night. I’m not going to oversleep】

【Rin: Nihihi… I just thought Kazu might be too nervous about going to the summer festival with Haru-chan to sleep】

【Kazuma: You’re the one who shouldn’t tighten your obi too much and collapse halfway through】

【Rin: Idiot, Kazuma… I’ve already finished practicing how to put on the yukata… Just you wait】

【Rin: I’ll make you say I’m the cutest girl in the world!】

【Kazuma: Yeah, I’m looking forward to it】

Closing the screen, I looked up at the night sky. Through a break in the clouds, a star faintly twinkled. At school, we pretended to be strangers. But these warm exchanges held in the palm of my hand… And those brief moments of eye contact in the hallway that made my chest tighten.  They were transforming the lie of us being “best friends” into something stronger, something more special…

A bond without a name.

(Tomorrow, huh.)

Letting the wind cool my flushed cheeks, I began walking with firmer steps along the road that led to our decisive Saturday. When Monday came, we would return to normal life again. We’d be Shinonome-san and Sato-kun, celebrating or lamenting our test scores.

But tomorrow night…

The words we exchanged beneath the fireworks would surely change our fate more than any chat log we had ever written. I gently traced the dragon sticker attached to the back of my phone with my fingertip and quietly—yet firmly—made my resolve.

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