You Girls Are Way Too Obsessed With A Lone Wolf Like Me

Volume 3 Chapter 4: Shirahoshi Arisu Understands

The distant sky began to blush with hues of red—it was twilight.

Loner-mode: reactivated.

Not quite at full battery, but I’d say I managed to recover at least halfway.

Humming a little tune, I kept paddling forward with a cheerful “Yoosoro~”, finally making it back to the beach near the campsite.

And just like that, a strange sense of relief washed over me.

Kinda like… finally descending from a snowy mountain after getting stranded? Or maybe… being freed from a hostage situation?

No doubt, this sense of liberation came courtesy of Endou’s rampage.

Still, thanks to our resident selfish princess’s impulsiveness, I did get some precious alone time. A silver lining to a storm cloud, as they say. If I’d headed out solo from the start, Shirahoshi would’ve probably insisted on tagging along… and I definitely would’ve been stuck with her clinging to me both there and back.

Some kinda shared-seat, “Let’s pretend we’re not bothering each other” space-sharing?

Yeah, like that would work.

“Haruichi-saaan!”

What is this, a tiny dog reuniting with its owner after three years?

Under the beach umbrella, Shirahoshi spotted me and came running over.

Her straw hat bobbing as she waved with both hands—now that was straight out of a painting.

Seeing that bright, overflowing smile on her face made me think…

Yup. Nothing’s changed between me and this girl since before the trip.

How am I supposed to get my feelings across to you…?

Shirahoshi…

She came right up to me as I landed, letting out a relieved sigh.

“When you left with Hina-san, I was honestly shocked…”

“Relax. I was the most shocked.”

Endou’s rowing was so intense, I basically had a vision of passing through the Gates of Hell, crossing the straits, and sailing straight into the Grand Line. That might just be the scariest part of my summer vacation.

“What about the others?”

“They’re all off filming pics and videos to post on social media!”

Ahh… so very riajuu-like.

A quick glance around the area showed the usual suspects—Urogase and her gang—posing near the rocky outcrop. They were jumping with the sunset as their backdrop, fists raised high in the air like, “Bam!”

Yeah, yeah. Zuttomo, zuttomo.

Bet when they post those online, it’s gonna be like:

#Bonds

#BestSummerEver

And in a few years, they’ll be cringing in shame looking back on it all.

I noticed Shirahoshi staring at me, eyes strong and unblinking.

Her small, delicate frame and those pale, quarter-Japanese eyes…

Man, they had some serious pull.

Even without words, I could feel what she wanted to say.

Maybe she wants to post something too? If she’s about to beg, I guess I could help out with some filming…

But apparently, that’s not it.

“I just… wanted to ride the boat with you, Haruichi-san. And chat about all sorts of things…”

“Ah, that’s what this is about? Well, I gotta go return the boat to the beach shack, so—”

“You’re acting like it’s someone else’s problem a bit too much!”

…Well, it is someone else’s problem to me, sooo… sorry ’bout that.

Even if Shirahoshi’s got the one and only “eyes that never lose suction,” it doesn’t mean my identity’s gonna waver.

What’s what, and what’s not, ya know?

The little secretary in my brain is already whispering:

“President, your next solo activity is fishing. Alone.”

Solo-life is seriously packed.

I gave Shirahoshi a slight bow and started walking…

Only to find the boat suddenly felt heavier.

No whining or protests—unusual, for her.

I turned around.

And there she was, seated neatly inside the boat.

“There’s still some time before sunset, so let’s go on a boat date!”

“Nope.”

“I say nope too!”

…Wait, was she always this selfish? Is Endou’s selfishness like, contagious?

She started flapping her clenched fists up and down, going:

“I wanna go on a date! A date! A date!”

At this point, she was less a puppy and more a baby bird begging for food.

No, scratch that—more like a Hina-bird.

Too bad, Shirahoshi.

Thanks to my little sister, I’ve got top-tier resistance to tantrums.

Also, don’t underestimate the durability of modern rubber boats.

To teach her a lesson about that reinforced anti-abrasion rubber strength, I pushed the boat forward—Shirahoshi and all—instead of tugging it by the rope.

People passing by gave us warm, amused looks… but I didn’t care.

As long as I get the last laugh, it’s all good.

“I’m worried, okay!?”

“…Huh?”

Shirahoshi’s sudden, baffling cry made me stop pushing without thinking.

“I get all flustered and anxious! You chose me, Haruichi-san, and yet you’re so nice to everyone else too!”

“???”

‘Chose’? What is she even talking about…?

A festival of question marks started in my brain.

“What the hell are you saying…? Wait…”

That festival came to an abrupt end.

Because I saw them.

Misaki and Hatori.

They were taking scenic photos a little ways down the beach…

And were being approached by two unfamiliar guys.

Given the location… given those two girls…

And judging by the guys’ vibes… yeah, this was definitely a pickup attempt.

Misaki bowed apologetically, and even the usually-defensive Hatori followed with a delayed nod.

Looks like neither of them were in the mood for summer flings.

Just like back at the station that time—they were politely turning them down.

I figured I’d follow their example and brush off the girl in front of me who kept going “Let’s make summer memories~!”

…That was the plan.

“How annoying…”

But those guys were way more persistent than Shirahoshi.

They refused to give up.

Even when Misaki and Hatori tried to walk away, they followed close behind.

Like pushy bar scouts in Umeda, they just wouldn’t quit.

I couldn’t hear what was being said…

But it was painfully clear Misaki and Hatori weren’t enjoying it.

“I just want you to spoil me more, Haruichi-sa──”

“Sorry, Shirahoshi. Watch the boat for me.”

“Eh…? H-Haruichi-san…?”

I didn’t even have time to care about Shirahoshi’s default scream—I rushed straight toward Misaki and Hatori.

The closer I got, the clearer the guys’ voices and conversation became.

College students, maybe? Both were skinny types with flashy, bleached blonde hair—the kind of haughty young guys you’d see in a textbook. They each had a bottle of beer in one hand, totally in a party mode, and it was so obvious they were drunk out of their minds.

“C’mon, c’mon! We’re from a uni event circle, just out here to have some fun, y’know? Let’s all party together! Honestly, our senpai told us to go invite some cute girls!”

“I’m sorry. We’re here with friends.”

Even Misaki, usually graceful and composed, had dropped her tone, trying to express that she really wasn’t interested. But the two drunks didn’t get it.

And then, the unthinkable—Haughty Guy A grabbed Misaki’s arm.

“C’mon, just help us out here! Just for like three minutes!”

“D-Don’t touch me! Let go…!”

As if following suit, Haughty Guy B stepped in closer to Hatori.

Hatori stiffened up, her shoulders tense, her face turning downward.

“You’re way too scared, girl! I’m super gentle, just like I look! Here, handshake of friendship~!”

“N-No…”

They were doing whatever the hell they wanted. Ugh, event circles have it rough, huh? Thanks to morons like these, everyone thinks “event circles” = “pickup circles.”

“Hey. They’re clearly uncomfortable. Back off, will ya?”

“H-Himemiya-kun…?”

“H-Himemiya!”

Okay, that reaction like a hero of justice showed up is a bit much…

A lone wolf came, would that be better?

Yeah. That sounds more realistic. Kinda like walking into a family restaurant solo. No grandeur here.

Anyway—Misaki and Hatori, secured.

I turned to the two haughty guys.

“Well then.”

““…Hah!?””

There was a brief moment of tension, but of course—“Hey, get back here, you bastard!!”—Guys A and B quickly moved to block me off.

Tch. Shoulda stayed frozen a little longer.

Still though, even if they’re drunk… these guys really turned their fangs on someone who clearly came to help. Normally, they’d just give up, right?

“We talked to these girls first! Don’t be a damn hyena stealing our prey!”

“Yeah! Don’t try to use that suspension bridge effect to make yourself look like the hero!”

Ahh, so that’s what this is about. They think I’m just some random outsider cutting in.

Like there’s no way these flashy girls would know a guy like me, huh?

…Oof. That actually kinda stings.

Huh? Misaki and Hatori, who’d been clinging to my back, just stepped forward…?

Then, both of them snuggled up to my arms. With only swimsuits on, their bare skin pressed right up against mine.

And then—with clear, fearless eyes, they looked straight at those guys and said it:

“Himemiya-kun is our friend!”

“Himemiya is our friend!”

“You girls…”

Seriously… these two are ridiculous. Saying something like that doesn’t guarantee things will get better, y’know?

But… for some reason, even I felt like they were reminding me—“You’re our friend.”

Haaaaaaaah…

Yeah, that sigh was inevitable. I just burned all the solar-charged energy I’d gotten from sunbathing… on a couple of drunk party clowns.

No point being polite now. These guys don’t deserve respectful language. Time to drop the honorifics.

I snapped the guys back to reality.

“You two. If your senpai told you to go pick up girls, that means you’re probably first- or second-years, right?”

“Hah?”

“Yeah? What of it?”

“You guys aren’t drinking, since you’re underage, are you?”

“…!”

Sobering up a little, are we?

“If you just walk away and never get involved with us again, I won’t say anything. Not to anyone.”

I turned to Misaki and Hatori, checking if that was okay. Both nodded.

“So? What’ll it be?”

The duo exchanged glances in silence.

Then—

“Tch…! Freakin’ annoying bastard!”

“Fine, we’ll leave already!”

With a loud tongue-click as a starter pistol, the two of them stormed off.

Crisis averted.

And right after that, my knees gave out under me.

Wait—was I that scared?

No… that’s not it.

“Th-That was so scary…!”

“S-Scary…!”

Both Misaki and Hatori had collapsed onto me, taking me down with them.

And it didn’t end there. They clung to my arms like they were trying to soak up all the safety they could get.

“H-Hey…!”

Being held tightly by two girls… yeah, that’ll make your back straighten real quick. Their overly expressive and assertive chests were pressing in from both sides, basically in raw contact.

If I die today—or technically, later today, I guess—I’ll die happy.

Right arm: Munyuuuu… An insanely supple, moisture-rich sensation. Misaki-boobs.

Left arm: Gyuuu… A bouncy, dense, weighty sensation. Hatori-boobs.

Yuzu… thanks to your slime, I can identify people with my eyes closed now…

Was it the guys’ fault? Or the soft vs. firm combo squishing my brain?

Feels like I’ve forgotten something…

Ah… Shirahoshi and the boat…

※　※　※

Haruichi-san suddenly broke into a sprint, leaving both me and the boat behind without a second thought.

It did sting, being ignored like that again… but one look at Haruichi-san’s face, twisted in that intense, almost desperate expression—and I knew. Something had happened. Something serious.

There was no way I could just stand there. I had to follow.

When I finally caught up, what I saw was—

Haruichi-san standing protectively in front of Karin-san and Erena-san, shielding them with his own body from the two men who were closing in on them, trying to corner them.

Haruichi-san says he prefers being alone, but he’s not someone cold or lonely. Not at all.

That fearless, almost heroic way he helps others without hesitation—especially when everyone else turns a blind eye—reminds me of the day he saved me during the entrance exams. My heart just won’t stop fluttering.

I’m so relieved that Karin-san and Erena-san are safe… And honestly, I can’t blame them for throwing their arms around Haruichi-san after he saved them.

I can’t blame them… but still!

Haruichi-san!? P-Please refrain from such excessive physical contact with other girls! I’m getting super jealous over here! I… I want to snuggle up to you too!

The more I realize how many people respect and admire Haruichi-san… The more I see how much he’s loved by so many… I feel happy, sure—but I also can’t help but worry.

Is it going to be Karin-san? Or Erena-san? Maybe… both!?

O-Or could it even be Ruri-san or Yumeno-san too…!?

N-No no no! There’s no way!

After all… Haruichi-san chose me.

I’m not asking him to love only me. But… is it selfish to want to be the one he loves most? I can’t help but wish we could share a mutual love—something real, something deep.

During this camping trip, Haruichi-san and I made a promise—to get to know each other better.

And I did learn so much about him. But Haruichi-san hasn’t gotten to know me all that well…

The reason’s simple. I haven’t been able to tell him myself.

If the opportunity doesn’t come to me… then I’ll have to make one myself.

As I watched the sunset sink into the sea, I made up my mind.

Tonight, I’ll go to Haruichi-san. I’ll tell him all these overflowing feelings… one more time.

※　※　※

Dinner with everyone at the campsite restaurant came and went. With the day’s final group activity wrapped up, we were free.

A quick rinse in the coin showers washed off the sweat and the fatigue. Now, all that was left was to let sleep slowly take over… while enjoying a quiet moment alone.

Past 10PM, the area went pitch-black. The only light came from the warm glow of the lanterns set outside each tent, softly illuminating the surroundings like gentle little stars.

It was the perfect time for tent-side café time.

I took a sip of coffee, gazing up at the starry sky above.

Taste isn’t just about flavor—it’s about feeling, too. Even if it’s just some mediocre coffee I brewed myself, drinking it here, in the middle of the vast outdoors… it feels like the most luxurious cup I’ve ever had. It’s strange, but wonderful.

Ahhh… I wish I could live the tent life for three more days…

“Himemiya-kun, I brought ya a midnight snack~♪”

“…Thanks.”

Misaki showed up, both hands holding sandwiches wrapped in cling film. Two of them. Did she bring both for me? Or were we gonna share?

She laid out a handkerchief and sat down beside me, handing me one sandwich while keeping the other on her lap. Okay, I get it now.

Well, I was starting to feel a little hungry… I’ll gladly take it. The price? My alone time.

I gave a small “Itadakimasu” in thanks and took a bite of the sandwich—stuffed with leftover BBQ ingredients.

“…Mm. That’s good.”

“Yay~! I marinated the meat in a special sauce and let it rest in the fridge. It’s just the cheap kind of meat we had leftover, but it turned out super tender, right?”

“It’s the magic of enzymes from pineapple juice!” Misaki added proudly. Where is she going with this? Shokugeki no Misaki?

That said, I doubt showing off her cooking was the main reason she came here.

Placing her hands on her knees, Misaki bowed her head politely.

“Thanks for helping us today.”

She must mean the whole “flirty strangers in the evening” incident. Being thanked so directly… it’s kinda embarrassing. All I could manage was a curt, “Yeah.”

“I was really happy, you know.”

“…Happy?”

“When Erena and I called you our friend… you didn’t deny it.”

“…I just couldn’t say no in that situation, that’s all.”

Misaki stared right into my face, her eyes soft, gentle. Then, a bright smile bloomed. She didn’t press me on anything… like she already knew everything. That somehow made it even more embarrassing. I need some anti-itch cream for this emotional rash.

“Hey, Himemiya-kun. What did you think of the camping trip?”

“…It sucked. I thought I’d finally get some free time, but Endou kidnapped me and made me listen to her love stories. Then I had to go rescue some random girls getting hit on.”

“Ahaha… sorry about that…”

“But well… I guess it turned out okay.”

“…Eh?” Misaki tilted her head, surprised.

“I didn’t get much alone time, but… I did come away with some realizations. So, all in all, I’d say it was a pretty enjoyable day.”

I mean, chances to hang out with a normie group like that don’t come around often.

Even in a group, I realized it’s still possible to carve out a little solitude for myself.

“Plus, I got to do stuff I wanted to during summer break—like camping and fishing.”

“Himemiya-kun…”

“My preference for alone time hasn’t changed though.”

“That’s so you, Himemiya-kun…”

“Yeah.”

“…Fufu.”

Misaki didn’t agree or disagree—she just quietly started laughing.

“There’s still plenty of summer break left. Let’s go hang out again sometime, okay?”

“If our interests align, sure.”

Misaki kept giggling, like she found me hopelessly difficult.

“Yep, still a tough nut to crack,” she said.

After a bit of chatting, I walked Misaki back to her cottage—partly because of that sketchy pickup incident earlier in the evening.

But man… I totally fell for it, didn’t I?

“This is my first time seeing the ocean at night! It’s sooo mystical~!”

Misaki bounced with excitement, watching the faint glimmers of light reflecting off the waves as she strolled along the sandy shore.

I may have chosen the long scenic route along the coast for this very reaction. Misaki, that is.

“It’s so different from when it’s bright out!”

“Yeah.”

“Don’t get mad at me for taking a detour, okay? I really wanted to see the ocean at night.”

With that big smile beside me as she said “don’t get mad,” I had no energy left to complain.

…Huh? Wait, what?

Misaki’s smile had suddenly vanished.

Her face turned serious—no, teary-eyed.

She was trembling, staring intensely at something in the distance.

“Ah?”

I followed her gaze.

Even I, who’s usually good with horror stuff, felt a chill crawl up my spine.

Up ahead, near the beach…

A girl in a pure white one-piece dress stood under a streetlamp, watching us.

Yeah, it was Shirahoshi.

But horror-hating Misaki hadn’t realized that yet—or more likely, couldn’t even bring herself to look directly.

Instead, she clung tightly to my arm.

“T-That’s not like… the ghost of a girl who died here or something, right…?”

“Ahh… Honestly, I might’ve preferred that…”

“W-What do you mean by that?”

“Because she’s sprinting toward us at full speed.”

“Eh…? KYAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH?”

Misaki let out a full-on shriek, totally panicked now that the so-called ghost—aka Shirahoshi—was charging toward us at lightning speed.

Forget clinging—Misaki full-on latched onto me, her marshmallow bust pressing hard against me like it had a mind of its own.

“Don’t just cling onto meeeeeeeee!”

“…Eh? W-Wait… Arisu-chan?”

Misaki was about two seconds from passing out, but a familiar voice barely pulled her back from the brink.

Meanwhile, Shirahoshi—no time to catch her breath—marched right up to us and yelled without hesitation:

“Haruichi-san! Karin-san! Cheating is absolutely not allowed!“

“…Hah?”

“Eh…?”

We were both too stunned to even close our mouths.

Cheating?

Me?

When I’m not even dating anyone?

“Hey, Shirahoshi.”

“Yes?”

“Just so we’re clear… who exactly am I dating, and who am I supposedly cheating with?”

“You’re dating me, and cheating with Karin-san!”

““……””

Misaki and I were completely dumbfounded.

After a moment, Misaki leaned in and whispered:

“U-Um… Himemiya-kun? Just to make sure…”

“Yeah?”

“You’re dating Arisu-chan and… cheating with me?”

“There’s limits to how wrong something can be.”

“I thought so…”

You’ve got it rough too, huh.

But seriously, Shirahoshi…

Since when were you under the delusion that you were dating Himemiya Haruichi?

And finally, unable to take my blank reaction anymore, Shirahoshi snapped:

“Back when we all went to karaoke—you confessed to me!”

“Karaoke? I… did?”

“You let me hold a Pocky in my mouth! You picked me to play the Pocky Game! That’s what couples do!”

“…Ah.”

It felt like someone had slammed a hammer into my brain.

That shock… pieced together all the mismatched puzzle pieces.

Cold sweat burst from every pore in my body.

“Y-You don’t mean… that…?”

“You made such a quiet, Himemiya-san-style confession… And I gave you my answer too!”

…And that was the finishing blow.

“That’s how we ended up becoming a couple, wasn’t it!?”

“………………”

I was completely floored by Shirahoshi’s rapid-fire emotional bombardment. My mouth just hung open. Return of the dazed and confused. Even Misaki, standing beside me, looked equally stunned by the emotional shrapnel. The entire area… it was like a scorched battlefield.

No way, Shirahoshi…

Did she really think the Pocky I stuck in her mouth was a confession of love…!?

As ridiculous as it sounded, suddenly, everything about Shirahoshi’s baffling behavior started to make sense.

That giddy look on her face when she bit down on the Pocky.

The exact moment she started calling me by my first name all of a sudden.

The reason her skinship had gotten so intense.

The reason she kept saying, “I want you to understand me more.”

Once the momentum gets going, there’s no stopping Shirahoshi.

“Even though I’m right here, you went sneaking around with Karin-san! Flirting with her and everything!”

Misaki jumps in before I can say anything.

“Th-that’s a misunderstanding, Arisu-chan!”

You go, benevolent queen. I choose you.

“I was only visiting Himemiya-kun as a friend! That’s it!”

“Lies! All lies! When I ran over, Karin-san was hugging Haruichi-san like she was never gonna let him go! So passionately, like she was gonna devour him!!”

“D-devour…?”

Misaki flushes bright red. One-punch KO. Girl’s down. Lightweight.

Even though she only clung to me ’cause she mistook Shirahoshi for a ghost and got spooked.

Well… okay, yeah. That hug was pretty intense.

Lesson learned: trust in thy own strength before relying on others.

“So they were lovey-dovey after all!” Shirahoshi keeps shouting—until she suddenly recoils.

Because I bowed my head.

“Sorry, Shirahoshi.”

“Haruichi-san…?”

“Himemiya-kun…?”

A deep 45-degree bow. The ultimate show of respect—learned from my part-time job—for deep gratitude or heartfelt apologies.

I mean, it’s true I messed up.

If I gave her the wrong idea… I have to own up to that.

“That day… when I put the Pocky in your mouth… it wasn’t because I wanted to confess to you.”

“Eh…?” Shirahoshi’s round eyes blink in surprise.

“Then… what was the reason?”

“I just needed to shut you up. You were going berserk.”

“So… it was my misunderstanding…?”

“Yeah. Sorry, but that’s what it is.”

“N-no way…”

Learning the truth, Shirahoshi’s legs buckle and she drops to her knees—

—or she almost does. She barely holds her ground.

But her expression… it’s like she’s struggling to hold back a whole storm of emotions.

“～～～～～っ! E-excuse me!!”

“Arisu-chan!?”

Then Shirahoshi turns and dashes off down the moonlit beach like she’s on autopilot.

Me and Misaki just stand there, dumbfounded by the sheer randomness of it all.

“You’re coming with me to chase her, right?”

“Of course I am…”

We follow the trail of footprints in the sand, lit by our phone flashlights.

Where it leads us… is a deserted wharf near the fishing zone.

“Stay away!”

Shirahoshi stands at the very edge—on the concrete blocks of the breakwater.

Less than ten meters between us.

One step too far and she could plunge right into the sea.

The air is thick with tension—

except around me.

“Man, this feels like the final scene of a crime drama. You know, the one where the culprit makes their last stand on a cliff.”

“Can you NOT joke around right now!? Arisu-chan’s gonna jump at this rate!”

“She’ll be fine. The water here’s super shallow.”

“Oh… is it?”

Yeah. When I was fishing here, elementary school kids were playing around, splashing about.

Shirahoshi clearly didn’t expect that.

“Eh?”

She cautiously shines her flashlight over the water.

“…I can see the seaweed on the seafloor.”

You absolute dork.

I could just grab her now and end this farce, but violence is always the last resort.

I channel my inner hostage negotiator.

“If you get it now, give it up. Jumping in won’t solve anything—you’ll just end up smelling like fish. Come back already.”

“No! I’m ready to smell like fish! Worst case, I’ll strangle myself with seaweed!”

“Seaweed’s not gonna work.”

“Yes it will!”

“Nope.”

“It totally can!”

“No i—”

“Can we please drop the seaweed!?” Misaki snaps.

She’s right. Enough with the wakame(seaweed).

“Wait, why are you even trying to throw yourself into the sea, Shirahoshi?”

“Because I can’t forgive myself! I lashed out at both Haruichi-san and Karin-san… even though it was all my own dumb misunderstanding!”

So in short… she’s being melodramatic.

“No one’s mad about that, okay? It’s dark and dangerous out here, let’s just go back to the cottage, yeah?”

Misaki’s warm voice reaches out—but Shirahoshi shakes her head furiously.

“I even ruined the precious memories of the camping trip you invited me on…!”

“That’s not true.”

“Eh…?”

“Even if you did think we were dating, it doesn’t change anything. I saw how much fun you had at the BBQ. And honestly… I was glad I brought you along.”

Shiraboshi understood too.

That she’d only blurted all that out because her emotions were in turmoil.

And that was exactly why the tears wouldn’t stop falling.

“I hate the word jiboujiki—self-destructive despair.

You know I like being alone, right?

Then it should be obvious—I can’t possibly understand someone who doesn’t know how to take care of themselves.

The way you are right now… it’s exactly that. You’re acting self-destructive.”

“Uu… hai…”

Shiraboshi nods, tears streaming down her cheeks.

Misaki takes a step. Then another. She closes the distance between them, until she’s close enough to reach out—

—and gently wraps Shiraboshi in her arms.

“You just… got a little lost for a moment, didn’t you?”

“I’m sorry, Karin-san…! I said such horrible things to you…!”

“No, I’m sorry too. I acted in a way that confused you.”

Then, Shiraboshi bows her head to me.

“Up until now, I’ve just been pushing my feelings onto you, Haruichi-san… I must have caused you so much trouble…”

It wasn’t malice. Just a misunderstanding.

Which is exactly why I couldn’t say something cruel like ‘don’t ever come near me again’.

“Well… I mean, it’s not like I hate you or anything.

I just… prefer being alone.

If you can get that, then I think we’ll be fine going forward. Deal?”

“…So that means I don’t have to give up on you just yet, Haruichi-san?”

“…Seriously, how can you say that with a straight face…?”

Even with her eyes still glistening with tears, Shiraboshi beams at me with that usual, dazzling, innocent smile.

“Because Haruichi-san is my prince~ ♪”

It really did feel like… the distance between Shirab=hoshi and me hadn’t changed at all since before the camping trip.

But, well—I think that’s fine. Even if nothing changed, we at least got to understand each other a little better.

※　※　※

Having finally seen Misaki and Shirahoshi off to their cottage for real this time, I made my way back to my tent.

It was a hell of a long day, but sadly, I wasn’t allowed to voice that thought aloud.

Because right in front of the tent… was Hatori, standing by like she’d been waiting all this time.

So much for being the loner type—still not allowed to be truly alone.

When she spotted me, Hatori came bounding over, her face lit up with sparkles and her energy through the roof.

Just from that, I could already guess exactly why she was here.

“What’re you doing out here this late at night—”

“2SIS is doing a livestream! Come on, let’s watch it together!”

I tried to throw a pitch to keep her at bay, and she stole second and home base in one go.

I want to say “I’ll watch it alone, thanks, please leave,” but then I catch sight of a certain divine object nestled in her generous, excited chest and… I can’t brush her off.

That divine object? A mobile router.

In this tent with zero Wi-Fi, nothing is more radiant or powerful than this holy relic.

And those words—“It’s unlimited, so let’s share it~”—might just be the most reassuring phrase I’ve heard all trip.

Trying to stream a live gameplay broadcast on mobile data alone? Yeah, that’s pure madness…

But… I mean, what can you do? Desperate times, desperate measures.

I humbly accept the blessing of the great Hatori Daimeijin.

Inside the tent, I type the password she gave me into my tablet. Hatori sits right beside me, clearly here to enjoy the stream together, and I offer my thanks.

“Sorry you had to come all the way out here just to watch videos with me.”

“It’s fine. You’re always helping me, Himemiya. Even today—you really saved me.”

Instead of looking at the screen, Hatori turns to me and smiles softly.

“Thanks.”

“You remember Sannomiya Station? Something like this happened back then too, right?”

She’s talking about the day we went scouting for a venue for the mixer.

“Back then, you said you didn’t know if you’d help us or not…

But today, you did help. You were amazing… and honestly, really reassuring.”

I can tell Hatori’s pushing past her nerves to express her feelings, to praise me.

And because I can tell, I end up just as flustered.

All I can do is mutter something awkward to cover it up.

“You, Misaki, and Shirahoshi… you guys seriously overestimate me…”

“That’s not true!”

Hatori closes the already nonexistent gap between us.

She leans in even closer, until she’s right there—so close I forget how to breathe.

And in that same momentum, she speaks with passion.

“Everyone genuinely depends on your words and your actions, Himemiya! I do too!

You told me to take pride in the things I love… and because of that, even if it’s just a little, I’ve started to grow!”

She looks just like she always does when she talks about the things she loves.

No, wait… that means…

“That’s why! Even though we first connected through shared interests,

even without that… Himemiya, I would still like y—…Wait. W-Wait, just now I…!!”

Hatori’s face turns bright red in an instant, filling my entire field of view.

She’s so close I can practically feel the heat radiating off her.

“…C-Calm down, Hatori. Just take a deep breath—”

“~~~~~!! F-Forget everything I just said! Goodnight!!”

Before I can even say goodnight back, she bolts from the tent.

Her back disappears into the night in the blink of an eye.

…And just like that, the precious Wi-Fi signal we’d finally connected to drops.

Three bars. Two. One.

Out of range.

Volume 3 D – Epilogue

Summer break came to an end, and the second term began.

Man… summer break was so good.

Swaying on the morning train, I pulled out my “Things I Want to Try & Enjoy During Summer Break” list again and couldn’t help but feel totally satisfied. It really was a perfect summer.

After the camp ended, everything just kinda fell into place. I pretty much knocked out everything on my list.

Camping, fishing, binge-watching that drama and movie series I’d been meaning to catch, making a dent in my pile of unread books… Even managed to squeeze in a trip to Kyoto three days ago—the highlight of summer.

What really let me go full throttle after camp, though, was probably the fact that Shiraboshi hadn’t contacted me even once since then.

Maybe she finally realized how uncooperative I am and got fed up? Or… maybe she actually found her real destined prince or something?

I’m all about the “don’t chase, don’t cling” approach, so… it is what it is.

After getting off at Hanshin Otozuka Station and heading out through the ticket gates—

“Haruichi-saaan♪”

“…Shirahoshi?”

There she was, by one of the columns near the ticket gate, full of morning energy in her bright white uniform.

Apparently waiting for me, she stepped forward and handed over a paper bag filled with something wrapped up.

“Have you been well? Here’s a souvenir! One of them is for everyone to share!”

“Did you go somewhere?”

“Yup! I went to England! A little tour of my grandpa’s hometowns♪”

…Rich people, man.

So that explains it—she didn’t show up at the café because of the trip, and didn’t call because of the time difference. Makes sense.

But apparently, she had more to say.

“I’ve decided to work at Café WELL in your place, Haruichi-san!”

“…Huh?”

“I mean, I can only go a couple times a week because of club stuff, but I’ll be working there from now on, giving it my all with every customer! And I still haven’t given up on you, Haruichi-san!”

“…Right.”

Maybe it’s time to look for a new café…

Far from giving up on me, she was clearly planning to stay fully involved in my life.

Well… I guess that’s just so Shiraboshi.

Later that morning, back in the classroom. As I sat enjoying the familiar view from my seat after over a month, Misaki called out to me.

“Good morning, Himemiya-kun! Long time no see!”

“Don’t lie. You came to WELL just a week ago.”

“Hmm? That’s why I said it’s been a while.”

…Guess we live in different timelines or something.

“Ah♪ Good morning, Erena!”

Misaki waved over at Hatori, who had just walked into the classroom.

“Morning. Morning to you too, Himemiya.”