You Girls Are Way Too Obsessed With A Lone Wolf Like Me - Volume 4 Chapter 2: The Wings Bloom in the Shadows and Sunlight

Volume 4 Chapter 2: The Wings Bloom in the Shadows and Sunlight

With only two weeks left until the cultural festival, preparations were now in full swing. After school, many students immersed themselves in tasks or practiced until the bell rang signaling the end of the school day.

Others clashed with other classes, sparks flying in every direction.

In front of the classroom hallway, while working on the outdoor decorations…

“Class D guy. You better not try to sell something hard to eat, like yakisoba! You should change it to something you can eat with one hand, even now! Make it easy to play the werewolf game while eating, alright?”

“Don’t mess with me! There’s no way we’re adjusting to Class C’s presentation! Werewolf game, huh? Pfft! Can something with such a low turnover rate win? Your brain’s turnover rate is probably just as bad, you idiot!”

“The photography club’s beautiful girl’s catalog is ours!”

“Ama-chan’s bath bucket is ours!”

In every class, there was fierce competition, with students glaring at each other, thinking, ‘We are the ones who will win the grand prize.’ Rivalry and tension filled the air, all focused on the coveted prize.

It had become a tough world to live in.

“Haha, thanks to Himemiya, every class is fired up and ready to go!”

“Yeah.”

“Hey, hey, you’re the hero, so don’t get pessimistic.”

Namikawa, from my decoration team, was already radiating the festival spirit, smiling brightly. How many girls do you think would loosen their purse strings for that smile?

“Hey, Namikawa, aren’t you supposed to be at your club?”

“I can’t do much for the class on the actual day, so I want to do what I can now. Gotta help out while I can.”

And also, he continued with a grin.

“Besides, since Himemiya and Karin-chan are secretly working behind the scenes, I want to make sure our class wins.”

No lies, no schemes, just straightforward words. Even when Namikawa says something a bit corny, it somehow sounds cool. It’s strange—or maybe unfair.

As expected, he’s one good-looking guy.

“Oh, here she comes. Just as the rumor goes.”

Namikawa waved his hand toward the approaching Misaki Karin, who was in high spirits and carrying “trial snacks” she’d made.

Perhaps due to working in the cooking room, she wore her school uniform with an apron, giving her a cute “wife” look. In RPG terms, it was a weak defense (+1), but in the real world, it was SS-rank armor. Even the boys from Class C and D, who had been bickering just moments ago, couldn’t help but be entranced by Misaki, this angel in front of them.

Misaki called out to all of us on the decoration team.

“Everyone, I made a lot of things, so try them out! I’m confident in all of them♪”

As expected from someone who claims to be passionate about baking. There were waffles, pancakes, cookies with various flavors—all cut into bite-sized pieces. Everything she made could easily be sold at a showcase, reaching product level in quality. She made all of it herself, and the level of skill was immeasurable.

The hungry guys, craving love and sugar, lost their minds in excitement.

“Karin-chan’s homemade treats—this is the best!”

“I’m working without sleep or rest for the next 12 hours!”

“The sweetness spreads from my head to my toes… and even to my heart…”

Despite the oppressive atmosphere, everyone praised her. And as they did, Misaki’s face lit up with even more happiness.

Finally, with a proud expression, doyah! she gave me a peace sign.

“Now, I’m one step ahead♪”

“You win. It’s fine with me.”

“I don’t want a win by default. I want to beat you fair and square, Himemiya-kun!”

Is she a sadist or something?

Even now, Misaki challenges me to a strange “competition” to see who can contribute more to the class during the cultural festival.

She keeps saying “competition, competition!” while grabbing my arm or flashing a “I’ve got the lead!” smile. It’s annoying, but I can’t help but find her cute too, which just makes it more frustrating.

“Himemiya-kun, here, try this too.”

Following her words, I gratefully accept a bite-sized pancake.

As soon as I bite into it, I can’t help but nod. It’s delicious.

“Freshly made really does taste different. The texture is new and interesting.”

“Right? It’s called a soufflé cake. It’s fluffy but has a fizzy secret, thanks to a lot of meringue. The cookies are also delicious, so try them too!”

She’s sending me sweets as if she’s offering salt to the enemy, wrapped up with a smile. It’s kind of a sly move, isn’t it?

Honestly, the difference between those who are trying to enjoy the cultural festival and those who are just treating it like a business task is clear. There’s no real competition.

Well, I’ll stick to my usual approach. If it boosts the class morale, I’ll tolerate a little annoyance.

My class is my class, and theirs is theirs. As long as the class unites, I’ll support whatever it takes.

“Misaki, I need to get the ingredients for the menu. Can I take some of your time to discuss it?”

“Sure! Let’s meet in the classroom. I also want to hand out the sweets to everyone in there.”

I nodded and followed Misaki into the classroom.

“Everyone, I brought some treats—”

But then, Misaki froze as she opened the door.

Something felt off, and I peeked into the classroom from behind Misaki.

Without thinking, a soft “Oh…” slips out.

“Not progressing at all…”

“Yeah, not progressing at all…!”

If we’re describing the before and after, it’s just about whether the tools and materials are scattered or not.

Among the worst offenders, let’s pick a few:

Entry Number 1: Ameya and Monji and Takeochi’s Help

“No, no, no! The 128-part flower bride is the top contender this season! How can you not notice the cuteness of Ichigo-chan and Hifumin? What’s the point of those glasses? Go to an optometrist!”

“No, no, no! This season’s top contender should be Nagura-sama, and I want to be accused by them! During the final episode, how many viewers thought they’d rather go to the punishment room instead of watching the protagonist? If you’ve got fat around your brain and under your skin, go to a fitness clinic!”

“Ahh!?!”

They get heated about anime discussions completely unrelated to the task, continuing to talk instead of working.

Overall review: Impossible.

Entry Number 2: Ikari Subaru and Natsukoshi Ikuto

“Ah crap, I messed up the menu! I wrote ‘souffle cake’ as ‘sefure cake’!” (T/N: Souffle is read as sofuru in japanese, which sounds similar to sefure, but sefure means sex friend.)

“Maybe you’re frustrated? But that kind of cake might sell better, right?”

“You think so? Alright! I’ll keep it going with the theme!”

Without realizing the awkward vibe, they not only fail to continue with the work but are causing a mess.

Overall review: Die.

Barely managing to progress with the task, the female team member, Urogase, snaps. “The boys are so noisy! Even the little ones are quieter than this!” As she’s about to finish a drawing, the red marker ink drips, ruining it.

Because of multiple problematic factors, even those trying to work seriously are being hindered.

What exactly is the interior task team leader doing?

“Everyone, let’s focus a little more, okay? Can you hear me…?”

In front of the podium, Hatori, panicking, doesn’t know how to calm the situation, feeling as if she’s about to break down. The scene is reminiscent of a chaotic classroom, with a new teacher and troublemakers.

Is Kurashiki the only one to save this chaotic classroom?

“Guess we have no choice. Erena, should I use my secret method?”

“Secret?!!  Ruri!?”

What caused this wild idea? Kurashiki approaches, lightly tapping Hatori’s chest as a greeting.

Despite Hatori’s exaggerated reaction, Kurashiki remains serious.

“Listen, your voluminous chest has the power to attract attention in a captivating way. It’s like a sex symbol.”

“A s… sex… symbol…?”

“Yep! Remember the sports festival! The cheerleaders, all focused on you. As soon as your chest got attention, they all went silent, right?”

That did happen.

Hatori remembers that moment. She blushes and gets flustered. However, Kurashiki grabs her shoulders tightly.

Once she’s held, Hatori’s confused and weakened mind is easily controlled.

“We’ve all seen your chest, Erena! If we use it, this noisy classroom will fall silent instantly! Your chest is filled with that much power!”

“…Really? If I use it, everyone will quiet down…?”

“Of course. Just leave it to me, and everything will be fine.”

“Well… if you say so, I’ll try hard…!”

“Good girl!” The harassment god claps and praises. Meanwhile, she prepares for the “next step” with her fingers moving suggestively, getting ready to strike from behind.

“Alright, time to do this fondle fondle stuff? Relax, relax, loosen up.”

“U-uh… don’t be too rough like usual, okay?”

“Understood! Today, I’ll be gentle, slow, and take my time! Here we go, countdown! 3, 2, 1…”

“You idiot~~~! Stop it right now!”

Just as Hatori’s chest is being squeezed, Misaki’s chop lands right on Kurashiki’s head.

“Ouch…!! Ugh! It hurts, Karin! What are you going to do if I turn into an idiot?!”

“You’re already enough of an idiot, don’t worry about it!”

“…Ahh~?” As she wonders if she’s the idiot, she feels like she’s becoming useless.

“Erena, it’s your precious body, so take proper care of it okay? Understand?”

“Y-yeah… Sorry…”

“Leave it to me for now.” Misaki takes over, calming down each group and keeping things in check.

The idol of the school, Misaki, helps Hatori recover from the chaos, and Hatori lowers her head in apology.

“Sorry. I couldn’t manage to organize things well…”

It’s clear she’s deeply affected. Even with me in front of her, she’s not embarrassed or flustered.

“I’m not going to say ‘don’t worry,’ but now that you’re part of the organizing committee, try your best.”

“Yeah…”

I’m not a demon. Whether she’s doing this to fight her shy nature, to contribute to the class, or something else, now that I see the determination in her eyes, I’ll let her handle it.

※ ※ ※

Cultural Festival Training:

Although it’s a cultural festival event, running a maid café requires a certain level of customer service skills.

After school, the training session was held in the classroom. Girls dressed as maid café staff, under the strict gaze of the boys playing customers, work hard at their service.

Though the full set of maid outfits isn’t ready, the frilly white apron still looks good.

“Welcome♪ Master♪”

“Hello.”

This time, it’s completely different from the new wife JK look from before. The familiar maid approaches with a cheerful smile, her name “Karin” written on the apron, along with a cute deformed bunny illustration.

“Let me quickly explain the rules of our shop!”

“It’s written on the menu, so I’ll read it myself. One iced coffee.”

“…Ah, how kind, Master~ For coffee, we have a special maid service that includes a magical stirring spell to make it taste better—”

“I’ll have it black, so skip the spell.”

“……I see. If you win a game of rock-paper-scissors with the maid, you get a free cookie as a gift—”

“I’m good, that’s enough.”

“……Heh.”

“Heh?”

“Just go to a normal café, Master～～～～!”

This maid is so loud.

I think a pair of devil horns would suit Misaki better than a maid headband.

I might just buy them at Don Quijote.

“Don’t get mad, Misaki. On the day of the cultural festival, there might be someone like me who wants to quietly drink coffee and read alone, not wanting to interact with anyone.”

“You don’t have to reenact that day right now, Himemiya-kun! It’s a training day, so can’t you just serve regular customers who came here to enjoy a maid café?”

“What’s normal is different for each person—”

“Please, just do it!”

I’m not a fan of this maid.

“There are people like you huh, Himemiya-san, who give off a ‘I’m not interested’ vibe. Those types are the ones who secretly crave attention, pretending to be uninterested but actually desperate.”

“I agree. ‘Maid café? What’s that, is it cute?’ They act indifferent when taking photos but are actually hiding their excitement. Those types are the regulars who come every week.”

“Fufufufu!”

“Pusususu!”

“Hey, maid. Could you ban weird customers from coming here?”

“”Himemiya-san!?””

The seats next to us are occupied by a group with a distinctive, unpleasant laugh—Ameya and Takechi.

Ameya, the chubby one, laughs with “Heh heh” and uses “shi” at the end of words. Takechi, the skinny one, laughs with “Pffft” and uses a polite speech tone. Even though they belong to the same bottom tier, they prefer staying in different holes.

“Hahaha, Himemiya-san’s words have a powerful impact, but they don’t make me feel uncomfortable! It’s like a horror movie, you know? You feel like you might pee your pants, but there’s an addictive quality to it.”

“I totally get that. The weight of your words is different from a delinquent’s ‘I’ll kill you.’ When Himemiya-san says something, you know he’s serious.”

“Fufufufu!”

“Pusususu!”

Maybe they’ve gotten used to being insulted, but these two’s mental state seems unbreakable. They’re still laughing carefreely, so maybe they just don’t understand what it means to have a mental breakdown.

Even though they usually act like they don’t care, they seem to be really enjoying the maid café.

“Karin-sama! Could I ask you for a picture? Could we take one, please?”

“Of course! But since we’re here, let’s take it on the day of the cultural festival when we’re in full maid outfits! It’ll definitely be a fun memory!”

“Wait, you’ll be with us on the cultural festival day too…?”

“I’d be happy if you’d spend time with me too ♪”

Misaki, with her high maid skills, has a sharp tongue when in maid mode. The divine light envelops Ameya and Takechi, and their facial muscles completely relax. It’s like they’ve been turned into creatures.

“I’ll go take care of your order, Himemiya-kun,” Misaki says as she walks away, waving her hand. Ameya and Takechi wave back, with tears welling in their eyes.

“Kuu～～～～! Karin-sama really is an angel, she brings our hearts back to life like dried prunes turning into ripe fruit!”

“Of course! Also, I’ll get my hair done for the festival photoshoot! Do you think a 1000-yen haircut can do a perm?”

Misaki’s sense of universal love is impressive, but these guys are something else.

“You can’t get a perm for 1000 yen.”

“!? ……….”

The mood shifts suddenly, and the two dried prunes go completely silent.

Then, the closer the voice gets, the more their shoulders seem to shrink in discomfort.

“Here you go. Two colas, Master.”

“Ah… thanks.”

The gyaru descends. With Urogase Maid standing before her—『Welcome back, Master, would you like some dried fruit?』

If Misaki is worshipped as an angel, then Urogase is feared and tremblingly regarded as a demoness, huh…

It seems Ameya and Takechi are uncomfortable with anyone higher in the social hierarchy than Misaki. When they meet Urogase’s gaze, they look like they’re about to die. They just keep staring at the paper cups with cola placed on the table, as if practicing “psychokinesis to crush the cups.”

Meanwhile, Urogase seems to like her maid apron. She smiles with dimples and turns like she’s about to dance a waltz, then starts talking to me.

“My work apron is plain, so I’ve always kind of admired cute ones like this ♪ Hey, Himemiya, doesn’t it suit me pretty well?”

“Yeah, I think it suits you.”

“Really?”

“You look like a gyaru who’s been asked by her boyfriend to cosplay. That vibe really stands out.”

“That’s not a compliment! Stop calling me a gyaru every time!”

Complimenting people is difficult.

Urogase, maybe feeling a bit down, takes a stainless-steel tray and uses it as a mirror to reflect on herself.

“Hey, Ameya, Takechi, do you think I look like a gyaru?”

“Huh!?”

It’s like a young comedian who’s suddenly thrown into a talk show.

A question like an explosive bomb aimed at the two of them, who had thought they were safe.

“Uhh, Urogase-san, you’re not really a gyaru, more like… really cool, right? Like, you know, ‘so intense it’s like ‘manji’ or something?’ You’ve totally got that ‘cool’ vibe, right, Takechi?”

“Y-yeah, totally! It’s so funny, I’m laughing like crazy—oh! No, wait, I mean, you’re awesome, Urogase-san!”

“Heh… heh! Hehehe!”

“Pffft… pff!”

“………”

An encounter with the unknown. With her mouth agape, Urogase stood there, stunned and speechless.

“Himemiya.”

“Yeah?”

“Do you want me to pick a fight?”

““Hiiiii!?””

Ameya and Takechi were as good as dead. They were hopeless…

“Calm down, Urogase. I know this is weird, but they don’t mean any harm.”

“They’re worse than if they had bad intentions! These two probably think that our daily conversations are just like this! This is a conversation from way before the gyaru days!”

When Urogase pointed at them with the tray, Ameya and Takechi trembled as if they were about to have a sword pointed at them. They had that “Please spare my life!” kind of feeling.

“By the way, why are they so scared of me? I don’t remember doing anything to them.”

“Maybe it’s because you don’t do anything, that they’re scared of you.”

“Huh? What does that even mean?”

Urogase’s image in my mind was that of a good-natured gyaru who liked kids. She could act with foresight and, “despite appearances,” was surprisingly deep-thinking.

But that was just my image. It was formed after interacting with Urogase a couple of times, and it wasn’t how Ameya and Takechi saw her.

For them, Urogase was the intimidating gyaru they couldn’t handle. Someone who, “just like she looks,” speaks with shallow thoughts.

The reverse was probably true as well. For Urogase, Ameya and Takechi were those quiet types, but once anime or game talk started, they’d get all excited like some mysterious creatures.

Since they didn’t interact much, their evaluation of each other stayed as it was from the first impression.

That’s understandable. Not everyone wants to get along with everyone, like Misaki does. Normally, you stick to people who click with you. If you like being alone, then you go for that.

Ignoring the whole caste thing, it’s probably hard for Urogase (who’s more forward) to bond with Ameya and Takechi (who are more passive).

At this point, Urogase wasn’t a maid serving customers, but more like a kindergarten teacher disciplining the kids.

“Now, say it clearly. How do you two really think of me?”

With a step closer, Ameya and Takechi, now acting like kids, vibrated nervously. Then they started nudging each other with their elbows, as if to say, “You answer for me!”

Seeing them react like that in a crisis, it was clear these two were like-minded idiots. They even gave me a wink…

They’re hopeless.

“I’ve heard Urogase and Endou are the type of gyaru who would make you buy juice for them.”

““Himemiya-saaaaaaan!?””

I can’t lie, so…

“Himemiya-san, you’re such a fool! Why would you push it like that when I wanted you to cover for me!? There are truths you shouldn’t say, and there are truths you can! What you just said was 100% a bad truth!”

“Of course! And you absolutely cannot mention anything about Endou! That person is seriously dangerous! Just using the water server after Namikawa made them glare at you!”

Forget about the Namikawa incident. Don’t worry about it.

“Well, you two better be thankful.”

““Huh?””

“That you managed to say what you wanted to say.”

““……………Ah.””

It was too late.

“Just how much of a bad personality do you think we ha───!?”

““S-sorry! We’re so sorry!””

Urogase was flaming mad, and Ameya and Takechi were apologizing over and over again.

For now, I’d gotten to hear what they thought of Urogase and could let out some of the venom they’d been holding in. I’d earned a bit of a reward, right?

““C-can we pay now!?””

“You think you can escape, huh, Master?”

““Hiiii~~!””

Ahh. I just want my coffee to come already.

“Apologies for the wait, Himemiya-sama………!!! Master!”

“…Yeah.”

Don’t make such a huge mistake.

It was Hatori, still nervously trying to serve me, even though she was clearly on edge.

Her frilly apron, slightly exaggerated, suited her clean-cut style perfectly. If she wore a proper maid outfit, she’d probably be able to serve at a mansion-level event.

I thought Misaki would be the one to bring it, but it looked like Hatori really wanted to fix things between us. She clenched both fists and, as if saying “You two can do it!”, kept a watchful eye from afar. Like an overly protective mother.

When she placed my coffee on the table, she still couldn’t look me in the eye, fidgeting nervously.

“Sato(salt)!”

“Wrong, I’m Himemiya..”

“I- I know. Um, well… is it okay if I add sugar and milk…?”

Sugar, huh. I thought you meant Sato(sugar).

“Hm? I ordered it black, so I don’t need anything.”

“I know that too. But… I want to practice a little magic to make it taste better for the real thing…”

I see. Since Hatori is a shy person, she probably wants to get a lot of practice in.

“And…?”

“And, because I’m always receiving help from Himemiya. …I… I want to serve Himemiya myself…”

Whoa… What a wholesome, pure-hearted maid she is…

Trying to cover up her embarrassment, Hatori embraces the tray with all the destructive power of 100% Hatori.

I had already received more than enough top-tier service, but Hatori was still not satisfied. She kept glancing up at me with those pleading eyes, whispering, “Can’t I please just add it…?” again and again. Meanwhile, her tray continued to press against her nicely-shaped chest, making everyone around regret not being born as that tray instead.

Even as someone who prefers solitude, I’m not such a heartless brute that I’d trample on someone’s sincere intentions.

“…Alright then, just make it not too sweet.”

“! T-Thank you…!”

Even though she’s the one giving the service, she’s the one saying thank you. This girl’s maid power is seriously high.

“I’ll… start the service now, okay…?” she murmured, her voice half embarrassment, half nervousness—true half-and-half mode. As she reached toward the sugar pot and milk pitcher on the table, her hands, just as I expected, were trembling ever so slightly.

“Oi… you okay?”

“I-I’m fine…!”

She was shaking so much it looked like she was suffering from some forbidden magic withdrawal. The sugar she tried to scoop into the spoon ended up scattering across the table before it could even make it into the cup. When she tilted the milk pitcher, milk came pouring out in a flood into the coffee.

…My coffee just turned into a café au lait.

With a dash of ultra-micro sugar and a tsunami of milk, the moment all customers had been waiting for had arrived—the “Become Delicious~” mix-mix time.

Or so I thought it was supposed to be a heart-throbbing moment.

At what point did I start mistaking this for a heart-throbbing moment?

“Become delicious Become delicious Become delicious Become delicious Become delicious… Become the taste Himemiya likes, become become…──”

…Fujiooka Hiroshi, is that you?

As she stirred the coffee, muttering and mumbling darkly, it was less of a charm and more of a full-on curse.

Despite the embarrassment, the sincerity with which she put her whole heart into it gave off an almost miraculous yandere vibe. Encountering that in the middle of the night in your living room? I’d cry. Yuzu would probably wet herself.

I couldn’t let a customer leave with trauma.

“Hatori.”

“Y-Yes?!”

“Your spell was a little too real. Customers don’t actually want their drink to taste better. They just wanna see the cute side of the maid. I think it’d be better if you did it in a more poppy, lighthearted way.”

“More poppy…?”

“Yeah. For example… look at her.”

I pointed over to where Kurashiki was mid-spellcasting.

“Ruri-nyan is casting a heartfelt spell with all her love, nyaan☆ Oishiku nyare♪ Oishiku nyare♪ Oishiku nya~re♪”

It was hard to believe this was the same girl who once said, “Only boyfriends are allowed to make girls cosplay.” She was going all in, ears and tail included. You could feel her determination to seriously bag a boyfriend today, and honestly, it was impressive.

After finishing her spell, she ended with a beckoning-cat pose: “If you don’t finish it, there’s a 1000 yen penalty, nyaan☆” The price being oddly realistic caught my attention, but if she can pull off being a maid this shamelessly well, she might just be the strongest in maid power.

Well, Kurashiki does work part-time at a family restaurant, and this is exactly the kind of character she is. Expecting this same level of quality from Hatori would be a bit much.

“I’m not saying you have to go full Kurashiki, but maybe try doing it your own way—”

“E-Erepyon will now cast a heartfelt magic spell, pyon…”

“………………”

No way… Hatori!?

What in the world is fueling her maid drive? Her face was so red she looked like she might evaporate at any moment, but she still copied Kurashiki’s performance perfectly. A flawless perfect copy. But… why a rabbit?

“O-Oishiku naru pyon… Oishiku naru pyon…! ~~~~~~! Oishiku naru pyon!!”

Whether she’d snapped or steeled her resolve, I couldn’t tell. But seeing her pour that much maid energy into it… I kinda started to root for her.

Do your best, Erepyon. You’re maid number one.

Hands by her head in bunny-ear pose, she went in for the finishing move:

“If you don’t finish it, it’s a 100 yen penalty, pyon!”

Ignoring the “less sweet” request like that, how can you say that with a straight face?

Hatori, having finished her all-out spell service, handed over the ultimate coffee with a “Here you go!” Looking down shyly, the whole scene felt like she was handing over a love letter. It made my heart skip a beat.

After everything she put into this, I knew I had to say something before even taking a sip.

“Hatori.”

“Y-Yes?”

“Your spell was perfect. I could already picture the customer’s happy face on the big day.”

“! …Thank you. That makes me really happy…”

“But.”

“? But?”

“…Can you really go with Erepyon on the actual day?”

“………………eh?”

Time stopped for Hatori. Three seconds.

Three… two… one…

FIRE.

“~~~~~~~!! Anyone other than Himemiya is absolutely!! impossible!!”

The Ereranyo phenomenon hit. Recalling her ultimate spellcasting service, Hatori turned beet red in a flash.

To make matters worse, she was holding paper cups in both hands.

Crush! The cups collapsed under pressure, as if to visually express her emotions. Coffee—full of Erepyon’s magic—exploded everywhere. The damage was catastrophic, even reaching my blazer.

…My coffee… and my blazer…

In front of me, the shy maid was in full-blown panic. Behind me, the gal and the otaku were screaming. Off in the distance, our humanitarian classmate was off in her own world: “If Ruri’s a cat and Erena’s a bunny… does that make me… a doggie?”

…Is our class actually gonna survive this culture festival?

※　※　※

“Ohh… Perfectly gone.”

In the private room.

I spread out the blazer after finishing the stain removal process—there’s no trace of where the coffee spilled.

It’s at a level that almost moves me to tears.

Water-soluble stains are a race against time! – by the Humanitarian

Why does Misaki keep stain remover spray and brand-new rags in the private room?

The unlabeled bottle has a handmade vibe to it, too. Her enthusiasm for household chores is through the roof.

If we slapped her photo on the packaging and called it something like “Karin-sama’s Chou Shin-sui (Super Divine Water),” it might become a megahit.

Not the time to be thinking about dumb stuff like that.

I closed the book I was reading, slipped on the now-dry blazer, and left the private room.

I guess the reason I lost this round… is that I ended up reading way more than “just a little.”

I made my way back to the classroom, but the workshop was already over.

Even before opening the door, I could sense how quiet it was inside.

Sure enough, the moment I opened it, there wasn’t a soul in sight.

“Hi—Himemiya…!”

Not quite.

Bathed in the golden rays of the setting sun, Hatori was the only one left in the classroom.

She stopped whatever she was working on and rushed over to me.

“I’m so sorry! I made your blazer dirty…”

Did she stay behind just to say that?

She’s such a dutiful girl… even though she still can’t really meet my eyes properly.

“I’ll pay for the cleaning—”

“No need to worry. It came out perfectly.”

I pointed to where the stain used to be, just as she was about to open her wallet.

“You’re right…” she let out a relieved sigh.

“I was in the wrong too. You stayed behind just to apologize, didn’t you?”

“Y-Yeah. You weren’t coming back at all, so I got worried that the stain wouldn’t come out…”

Even if the situation was awkward, she still chose to apologize in person rather than messaging me or something.

That’s so like Hatori.

Her sincerity was seeping through so strongly that I couldn’t help but let out a long, awkward “ahh…”

“? What’s wrong?”

“The book was just… too good.”

“Book?”

Hatori tilted her head, puzzled.

“I thought I’d read for the 15 minutes it would take the blazer to dry, but then it hit this insane turning point—everything started tying together, and I just couldn’t stop flipping the pages.”

“…”

…Is she silently judging me for being late for that reason?

She kept her head tilted, eyes round and locked onto me, even forgetting to look awkward.

Now I was the one wanting to look away.

Role reversal.

I gave a small bow.

“Sorry about that.”

“……Fufu…! You’re too clumsy with time!”

“? Hatori?”

I looked up, surprised by the laugh I hadn’t heard in a long while.

It had probably been about a month and a half.

But there it was—Hatori’s smile, directed at me.

How hard is this hitting her?

With tears in her eyes and her elegant shoulders shaking from laughter, she just couldn’t stop.

Even so, maybe feeling guilty, she pressed her palms together in apology.

“Sorry! But…! It was just too funny—it was so Himemiya-like…!”

“…Leave me alone.”

“Wait, was it the new volume I lent you? The last one?”

“Yeah.”

“Then it can’t be helped. When I first read it, it was so good I missed like three train stations.”

“You’re just as bad as me.”

“Probably,” she giggled, her smile unwavering.

Her attitude was so natural, it made me forget the awkward night we shared during the camp.

Ah… so that’s what she meant.

After summer break, when Hatori said “I want you to forget about what happened at the camp for now,”

I think I finally get it.

She didn’t want to brush it all under the rug.

But she also didn’t want things to change too drastically between us—that was the real message behind her words.

There was no lie in her desire to change herself, to move forward.

That’s why she said “for now.”

She wanted to give us both time to find the right answer.

Maybe I was also taking a step back for the same reason.

Hatori must’ve hit her Cinderella Time limit.

She suddenly let out a small “ah,” and started shifting back into her usual awkward mode.

But I wasn’t about to let the mood sink again.

“Wanna walk home together?”

“!”

Her eyes, which were about to drop to the floor, barely managed to stay on me.

That’s how unexpected my words must’ve been.

Even I thought it didn’t suit me.

Seriously, don’t make me self-conscious—it’s embarrassing.

“I mean, it’s my fault you’re late getting home, so… well. I figured it wouldn’t be bad to talk about the book on the way back or something.”

Watching Hatori stand there frozen made me worry I might actually be invisible.

“Oi… If you’re not gonna answer, then I’ll just head home alone—…!? Whoa…”

It had been a while since this happened too. Hatori suddenly stepped in half a pace and grabbed both of my hands tightly.

Wearing a grown-up face, then breaking into a wide, childlike smile with sparkling eyes—that’s cheating.

“Let’s go home together! No, I want to go home together!”

“O-oh…”

Completely unaware that I’m panicking like some awkward teenager, Hatori said, “Wait for me a sec!” and dashed off to her seat to get ready to leave.

But—

“Ah…”

“What’s wrong?”

“I forgot I still have a little bit of work left…”

Ditzy.

She looked like her world had ended, and I didn’t have the guts to just say “see you tomorrow” and leave.

I took off my blazer again and rolled up my sleeves. Hatori seemed to catch on to what that meant.

“Himemiya… you’re gonna help me?”

“Can’t leave you looking like that. And, well, I am one of the event committee members too, y’know.”

“I see… Thanks.”

“Come on. Let’s finish this up quick and head out.”

“Y-yeah!”

My reward for the overtime? Hatori’s smile.

Well… not a bad deal, I guess.

※ ※ ※

So this is what they mean by “the long autumn nights,” huh. Past 7 p.m., the sky was pitch black, and it really felt like autumn had fully settled in.

After about an hour of work, we finished up and now sat on the train platform, chatting with canned coffee in hand.

It had been a while since we sat next to each other like this. Back when we first met, we used to leave a seat between us, but now we’re shoulder to shoulder. The fact that we can talk face to face at this distance probably means there’s nothing to worry about anymore.

The topic, as expected, was still the cultural festival.

“Have you been staying behind to work like that often?”

“Not always, but sometimes. If there were spots that were a bit sloppy or had mistakes, I’d just fix them a little.”

A little? Even the work from earlier?

She’d checked and corrected typos on the sample menu, printed enough copies for each seat, laminated them, then finished off half-done decorations that had been left hanging. And as a bonus, she even organized scattered supplies like markers and construction paper to make it easier for everyone to resume work.

None of it was technically difficult. If you’re careful and meticulous, anyone could do it.

Which is exactly why it made me wonder—

“You’re not overdoing it, are you?”

I pictured Hatori back when she got stuck handling the group bonding event and choosing the café. She pushed herself, hiding her feelings to meet the expectations her classmates had for her “character.”

“If you gave them proper directions, I’m sure those guys would—”

“I’m fine. I’m not overdoing it.”

She slowly shook her head. I could tell right away—she wasn’t just pretending to be okay.

Hatori, who’s usually good at faking smiles, gave me a pure and honest one. That alone had enough weight to it.

“You’re right—if I asked, there are lots of things others could do too. But you know? Because it’s work I could do alone, I thought maybe if I did it, no one would end up isolated, or just slacking off in groups.”

“…I see. So instead of trying to move people, you’re moving yourself to make the class run more smoothly.”

“Yeah. I’m not quick-witted like Himemiya, and I can’t really lead everyone from the front like Karin. So what I can do is limited. But if I can support everyone within what I can do, then I’d like to try. That’s why I volunteered to be on the event committee.”

Hatori smiled, slightly bashful.

“Though… half of that’s just the official excuse. The real reason was I wanted to support you, Himemiya.”

“Sorry I’ve just been slowing you down,” she added. But honestly, she’d been doing more than enough. If anything, I felt like I should be the one apologizing for not doing much.

My worries were completely misplaced. And the more I learned about how Hatori thought, the more impressed I was with how much she’d grown in less than a year.

And at the same time—

“You really are kind of mature, you know.”

“…? Me?”

“You always say ‘I’m not that mature,’ but honestly, you’ve got way more awareness of the people around you than most our age. Most people are too caught up in themselves to even think that far.”

She knew I wasn’t the kind of guy to say stuff like this just to be nice, so she kept listening quietly.

“Putting your own feelings aside to put others first like that—that’s not something just anyone can do. I know I couldn’t. So, I really think you should have more confidence in yourself.”

“…Confidence in myself?”

“Yeah. You’ve got a way of doing things that neither I nor Misaki can pull off.”

“!”

Her eyes widened, and a gentle warmth spread across her expression.

She finally realized it, I think—not just “something even I can do,” but “something only I can do.”

Hatori tended to think of even her strengths as weaknesses.

Being quiet = not being able to express yourself? That’s a waste. The fact that she could observe people so well and read the mood—that’s a real strength, even a talent.

As tears welled up in her eyes, she wiped them away with her finger, and nodded deeply to herself, like she was carving my words into her heart.

“Yeah… I’ll try to believe in myself more.”

I… can’t do anything thoughtful like handing over a handkerchief. It’s too embarrassing for me. The most I can do is pretend I didn’t notice and have a sip of coffee.

It seemed that, rather than showing her current self, what mattered more to her was the feeling she wanted to express.

“I’ve been regretting it all this time.”

“?!”

“The day I impulsively confessed my feelings to you, Himemiya.”

It was immediately clear that the ‘day’ she was talking about was the night of the camping trip.

“To be honest, I never wanted you to know how I felt. I was scared that it might ruin the relationship we had, and more than anything, I knew how much you valued your alone time.”

Because she read the atmosphere too much, Hatori had lost herself.

I couldn’t tell if it was because of her personality or if it was the result of respecting my individuality.

But honestly, it didn’t matter. She had already figured it out for herself.

“I don’t regret it at all anymore.”

“I see.”

“Actually… I can’t hold it in anymore.”

“Hold it in?”

Nodding, Hatori said,

“I want to work harder and have you acknowledge me.”

Her unabashed smile and her earnest words made me feel heat rise in my body, something I wasn’t used to.

“Let’s keep getting along, okay?”

“Yeah…”

This girl really knows how to read the room too well.

She didn’t act as if the incident at the camp had never happened, and instead, she had completely fixed the relationship as it was before.

Not only that, but she also made a subtle hint that she was always waiting for me.

I might have created a monster here.

Since I had made Hatori, who had been so shy, start pushing back.

Soon enough, the station announcement came on, signaling the last train. If she had calculated the timing for the train, I wouldn’t have had to suppress a dry laugh.

The train slowly approached the platform, and I stood up.

But then,

“Ah?”

Hatori, who was still sitting, grabbed my arm firmly—using both hands, no less.

“I still haven’t heard your thoughts on the book.”

“…”

It seemed like she hadn’t planned for the timing of the train.

Her eyes, which looked so bright, were now sparkling as she kept talking.

“I haven’t heard your thoughts on the games I recommended over LINE, or on the bands I’ve mentioned! And I’ve also made a list of games that we could play together, so you should look at it! There’s still more! There’s a variety show on Amazon Prime that just started—”

She was on a full-on machine-gun rant.

“Hatori… is it not okay to talk on the train?”

“Nope. We’re gonna talk until the last train’s at Yamashita!”

This girl…

The last train heading in our direction is from Umeda. She plans to talk all the way until the end of the other direction’s last train, huh?

But… I did say I would listen, so…

Before the train doors completely closed, I sat back down on the bench. The only thing different was that Hatori was still holding onto my arm with a smile saying, “I’m not letting you go home just yet ♪”

At this point, I decided to stay with her for the rest of the night.

※ ※ ※

The next day during homeroom, with the cultural festival approaching, the lesson plans were all about preparing for it.

Thanks to Hatori’s behind-the-scenes efforts, the classmates were working together cheerfully on the tasks.

I had been fine doing everything quietly on my own.

“I’m really glad you and Erena made up, Himemiya-kun! Now we can hang out in the secret base again!”

“Yeah…”

Even though I gave a cold response, Misaki’s bright smile didn’t falter. Despite her bright expression, her hands quickly cut and folded construction paper. She finished creating 3D balls and cut-out flowers in no time—her skill was truly like alchemy.

Then Misaki’s hands paused.

“Hey, Himemiya-kun… should I go help them out?”

Misaki, looking concerned, glanced over at the group. I involuntarily let out an “ah.”

In front of me, Ameya and Takechi were drawing on the blackboard stand, but it looked like they were graffiti-ing a wall they shouldn’t have been.

It made sense, though. Behind them stood Urogase, who clearly wasn’t comfortable, watching over them as if she was ready to stop them from messing up the POP designs she had drawn.

To help them out, Hatori joined the team as well, creating an unexpected collaboration of Otaku, Gyaru, and Subculture Girls. It was an unusual but interesting group.

It wasn’t like we had formed this group to make things difficult.

“Well, I guess it’ll be fine.”

I responded lazily, thinking Misaki would just accept it. But she looked a little worried, still unsure. It was hard to deny given how things usually went.

Once Ameya and Takechi finished their drawings, they nervously asked,

“How’s this?” “Is this okay…?”

As expected from Ameya and Takechi, their drawings of anime characters and serval cats on the blackboard were high quality. After all, they’d been doodling like this during breaks.

Urogase’s reaction was far from her usual guarded demeanor.

“Wow! You guys are really good at drawing!”

Her previous suspicious look had completely shifted into genuine praise. It wasn’t flattery; it was truly sincere.

“…Eh?”

Despite being praised, Ameya and Takechi stood there dumbfounded, their mouths wide open.

Finally, they spoke.

“Uhm… you don’t think it’s creepy, do you?”

“Huh?”

“Because, you know, you’re a gyar──! I-I-I’m so sorry! I always thought that people in the higher caste, like those, look down on things like 2D illustrations or view people who love 2D as filthy objects, so I…”

“You guys really have some severe prejudice, huh…”

“‘W-we’re really shrinking in fear~~’” said Otaku A and B while nervously rubbing their hands, and the gal pressed her marker to her eyebrows, saying, “I’m not complimenting you now.”

I really think these guys have terrible chemistry. But, just because they don’t get along doesn’t mean they hate each other.

The person who understood that best was the one who formed this group.

“It’s really cute right!? Kemono Friends!”

Gathering up her courage, it was Hatori who spoke to the three of them.

If it was before, she probably would have considered such a statement or action as too embarrassing.

But now, Hatori was different.

“You know about Kemono Friends?!”

“You know about it?!”

“Y-Yeah. It’s really heartwarming, and I get super healed every week.”

“‘Who’s your favorite friend?!’”

“I love the small-clawed otter the most! I even love real otters, and I watch them a lot on YouTube.”

“Choosing the small-clawed otter shows you’re a real fan! It’s the real deal!”

“Exactly, exactly! I didn’t expect Hatori-san to have such a hardcore setting hidden inside!”

“‘Kuuu~~!’” The two of them say, while Hatori somewhat shyly admits to her subculture tastes.

Seeing this, Urogase wasn’t really put off.

Rather, she said, “Huh, I’m surprised Erena knows about Kemono Friends.”

The comment from Urogase caused Ameya and Takechi to suddenly hit the brakes.

“Huh? Urogase-san knows about Kemono Friends too?”

“Of course. It’s really popular with the kids in the daycare, you know. Oh, I guess you knew I work part-time at a daycare?”

“‘……’”

“The little ones always mock us saying they can’t keep up with the topics, which is so annoying, right? So, I watch the show and study it. I watch stuff like Pretty Cure and Kamen Rider too.”

Ameya and Takechi were still in disbelief at Urogase’s words, so they raised their hands.

“When you think of a rainbow-colored spectrum shining in the galaxy?”

“Cure Cosmo, right?”

“I’d say the king from Kamen Rider──”

“Zi-O.”

“‘……’”

“No way, right?” Ameya and Takechi exchanged looks, whispering.

“I get the feeling that Urogase-san knowing about this is a bit suspicious…”

“Y-yeah, I really feel that too…”

“Hey! Why is it that you two are reacting differently from me and Erena?”

That’s probably where it comes from.

“Eh, what? You’re talking about Rider? Let me join in!”

Surprisingly, it was Urogase’s friend, Watasumi, who joined in on the conversation.

Ameya and Takechi were so stunned they couldn’t process it, but Watasumi didn’t seem to mind, casually continuing.

“I watch it to see the actors, haha~! The main character, Fuu-kun, is so cool!”

“Meguku, as always, you’re so much of a fangirl.”

“Because I’m a fangirl, it means I can talk Rider with people of the same age as Yume-no, right? So it’s all good~! By the way, Ameya and Takechi, which actor from the past Riders do you think is the coolest?”

“…Do-monn?” “F-Fujioka?”

“Super cool!”

Watasumi, still feeling the generation gap, kept chatting with Urogase while Ameya and Takechi were stuck in disbelief.

Finally, Ameya and Takechi couldn’t keep up, muttering, “‘Is this a dream…?’”

Hatori gently spoke to Ameya and Takechi.

“Hey, Ameya, Takechi.”

“‘Y-yes?’”

“Do you think it’s weird if I watch anime or YouTube, or if Yumeno and Meguku watch kids’ shows?”

It was like she’d hit a nerve. Having their own question turned back on them, Ameya and Takechi quickly denied it.

“I-I don’t think it’s weird! It surprised me, though!”

“Me too! In fact, it makes me happy because we like the same things!”

“Right?”

I really thought Hatori was good at supporting and assisting. More than anything, being able to understand both the higher-ups and the otaku is something only someone like Hatori can do.

“People who like anime or manga, there are way more of them than Ameya and Takechi think. So, don’t feel bad about it. And…”

“‘And?’”

“You should be more confident in what you love.”

“‘!!!’”

That felt like a line I heard—or said—just yesterday.

It sounded like Hatori was making a declaration of her own resolve.

Ameya and Takechi were clearly moved, tearing up, emotionally touched.

“Ugh! What warm words…!”

“Yeah…! There’s no reason to feel guilty!”

The two of them clenched their right fists tightly and raised them, shouting, “‘We swear!’”

“From now on, we’ll enjoy R-rated doujinshi!”

“And Z-rated games!”

“‘We’ll enjoy them proudly in our seats!’”

At that moment, Urogase’s voice calling out, “Keep your morals!” brought the matter to a close.

“Himemiya-kun, Himemiya-kun! Erena did such a great job!”

It seemed like Misaki was really happy about her friend’s growth, excitedly shaking my shoulder.

When Hatori noticed our gaze, her expression wasn’t just relieved—it was filled with joy.

The four of them, now deep in Rider talk, walked over to us, probably thinking everything would be okay.

“Erena, good work! I almost teared up too!”

“Ah, thanks. I was really nervous because it was something I’m not used to…”

Hatori showed off her trembling hands, but when she extended them, Misaki gently wrapped her hands around hers.

Amid the warm mood, Hatori smiled at me.

“Himemiya, thank you.”

“Huh? I didn’t do anything…”

“No, it’s because of the advice you gave me yesterday that I was able to do my best. So, it’s thanks to you.”

“…I see. In that case, I’ll accept it honestly.”

“Yeah!” Hatori beamed, and her earlier tension seemed to have completely disappeared.

However…

“Hmm… So Erena worked hard because of ‘Himemiya-kun,’ huh?”

Why did her joy suddenly fade?

Her smile disappeared, and Misaki puffed up her cheeks, glaring at me with narrow eyes.

And then she said:

“Himemiya-kun, who naturally takes charge of the class, really doesn’t let his guard down, huh…”

Ah… So you’re still in the middle of competing with me, huh…

My thoughts? This is annoying.

While Hatori gleamed with joy and Misaki sulked, I quietly returned to my task of decorating.

You guys better get to work too.