《I Quit the Going-Home Club for a Girl with a Venomous Tongue》 1-The roses were blooming in a bad mood.... After all classes and cleaning, it was time to go home. Comet Sakaki''s only after-school duty is cleaning. Once that is done, he is free. Why am I free? Because I''m one of the best homecomers in the country. Then what makes me one of the best in the country? It''s a difficult question that people all over the world are puzzling over, but the answer is simple: pride in being a member of the homecoming club. In addition, the size of the club is also important. It is not that I could not take the first step when I entered high school and did not apply to join the club. I did not join the club voluntarily. It was simply because it was too much trouble. It''s a reflection of my personality. I sling my bag over my shoulder and turn toward the door. The privilege of being a homecoming student is time. We have much more time than other clubs to spend in a meaningful way. Don''t get me wrong, this does not mean that the time spent in the club is meaningless. It just means that for me it is better to stay at home and relax. Ms. Akakusa appears in the classroom like a gust of wind. Ms. Akakusa is a real beauty, and I am always smitten with her. She smells good. The perfume that tickles my nostrils is almost deceptive. As I''m drowning in the sensation of my consciousness melting away, she approaches me. I felt my heart beat rapidly. Comet. Come here a minute. He grabbed me by the sleeve and pulled me out of the classroom. I had hoped for a little elopement, but such an event would cause a heated discussion at the school board meeting, so I hoped we could at least do it secretly. I hope you''ll wait until I graduate from high school. I''ll leave an empty seat next to mine. I have to go home now, sir. No. You''re just going home to sleep anyway. Do something more meaningful.'' It''s a privilege to go home. Any more and I demand overtime pay.'' ''This is a high school. And I''m the one not getting paid overtime. I ain''t got nothing to say back: ....... A glimpse into the dark side of a harsh society. I heard somewhere that club activities are outside the advisor''s salary. I shuddered when I heard that. Isn''t it hard for working people who want a day off to work without wages? Why are they detained even when classes are over? I cursed my social status. I would like to say that I am a customer, but since I am in the position of having my parents pay my tuition, it would mean death for me to resist. Resistance was futile. Mr. Akakusa, can I at least buy a loaf of bread at the store? There is a delicious bread at the store. I''m looking forward to buying it, but after school, the kiosk becomes a battlefield for the girls of the sports club, so I''m in trouble if I don''t buy it soon. You know? They buy everything they can at the store in advance to satisfy their hunger that comes after the club activities. And they buy the bread I''m after, too. Do you understand that I can''t keep quiet? Dr. Akakusa grabbed my sleeve and wouldn''t let go. He steps forward and drags me like a man on a horse on a rope. Like a poor man in a western movie. Sir. So I once entered the battlefield of the athletic girls. It was awesome. Especially the volleyball and basketball teams. I was convinced they would be the winning housewives of the future. And I stared at the empty shelves and knew I was a loser. Why doesn''t Uncle Jam move to my school? You''ll be rich in an instant. I''m sure Dokin-chan will make money at the level of throwing away a loaf of bread. ''Comet. I''m here. I was grabbed by the scruff of my neck like a kitten and made to stand. ''Is this the library? ''Yes. I think she''s here. You don''t sound very sure of yourself. Please don''t talk about quantum people who exist only in probability theory. ''Don''t worry, you know him too. Do something about it. ''What is it? Come on, let''s go in. You pass through the library''s sliding door. The library is a quiet space, ordinary and mundane. I have no connection to it. I read, but I don''t stop by the library often. That''s because they only have hardcovers and no paperbacks. The paperback is the best style. That''s why I didn''t feel like reading much. There it is. Mr. Akakusa points to a certain female student. She was someone I knew well. She was standing in front of the bookshelf with a frown on her face, staring at the books. ''You must be Arina Hiwa. ''''Yes. I want you to deal with her. ''Goh, torture? I''m going to send the U.S. military a morse code message saying TORTURE (tortured).'' ''She doesn''t talk about it, but it bothers her.'' ''It''s a bad mouth ......'' ''I want you to ease that somehow, Comet. Please! Dr. Akakusa clasped his hands together and pleaded with me. I felt like a Buddha statue dedicated to the shrine. If I had a money box, I''m sure he''d drop in a tenner. Well. By the way, Dr. Akakusa is a beautiful woman. . . . '' . '' '' '' . . . . . '' '' . '' '' '' . '' . . . . . '' . '' '' '' . . '' '' '' . '' '' . '' . . , . . . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , . '' , '' '' . . '' . . . '' . . '' '' '' '' . , '' . . '' . . '' '' . '' . . . , . '' '' '' '' '' . . '' '' . . '' Alina looked unhappy but remained silent and turned her head down. I wonder if she has a weakness for Dr. Akakusa. If it weren''t for the library, as Alina says, my identity would have collapsed and I would have become a cripple. She has that much devilish power. Hurry up and get the exorcist. Okay. ''...... seriously?'' I thought it would be more of a struggle, but I didn''t expect him to agree so easily. I''m glad to see you shrugging. ''I hope you agree. I''ll explain. You''re... ''Wait a minute. What is it? Can you stop calling me "you"? It''s disgusting. You''re too nervous. ....... Oh, my God, Alina. Anyway. I''ll fix you. You''re welcome. Okay? What''s that? I don''t know what''s going on. Dr. Akakusa asked me to do this. More details on the web. Alina Hiba glared at me with super cold eyes. Does this guy not know any jokes? How the hell do you live with that? That? Are you the type of person who would seriously drink a thousand needles if you cut off a finger or something? ''That''s what I''m talking about. Do you agree? ''Okay. Do you have feelings for me? ''Don''t get me wrong, you homo sapiens (woman). I like older men.'' Alina got up and stormed out of the library. The other students looked at me when they saw Alina''s fury. As if to say, ''What have you done? I raised my hands in the air, pleading not guilty. Apparently it''s taboo to provoke the quiet, fierce rose. My encounter with Alina was the worst of all. 2-Still in the desert, not in the pot.... When I came home and had dinner, my sister came home too. What''s a junior high school student doing home later than a high school student? Let''s scold her for being unhealthy. You''re not in any club, are you? ''Indeed. That''s a good point. The reason I didn''t join a club was partly because it was too much trouble, but first of all, the sports club was too serious. Everyone is working hard every day to become the best in the prefecture. If I joined the club, I would get killed by the heat and the club members would suffer from the trouble. I quit the cultural clubs because they all seem to be boring to be honest. It is not that the cultural clubs are bad. It''s just that I couldn''t picture myself in them. So, I joined a wonderful club called the "Homecoming Club," which does not require a membership application and does not cost any money to go on expeditions. It is as white as it gets. If you know of any club activities that are even whiter than the Homecoming Club, please let me know. Nowadays, we hear about black clubs that have problems with inhumane coercion of intense exercise, corporal punishment, and so on. I am not sure if such a breeding ground for evil has taken root in our school, but if you are in trouble, you can always come to the club at home. We have allies all over the country. So every time I see such news, I want to invite them to join the club. It''s so easy to join the homecoming club. You just have to submit a "withdrawal form" to the advisor like you do when you join a club. I went back to my room and regretted the trouble I had gotten myself into. I had accepted the offer out of consideration for Mr. Akakusa, but now that I cooled down and thought about it, I realized that it would be quite a hassle. I would lose my time as a member of the club. It''s a complete disaster. If Arina Hiba were an English speaker, she would probably repeat words with four letters of the alphabet prefixed with "F" in succession. No wonder she''s so full of beeps when she appears on TV that she could be mistaken for a new, new language. So what do we do now? For now, I went online and searched for ''tongue-in-cheek rehabilitation. I was immediately stumped by all the hits I got from certain message boards. Next, I searched for ''tongue rehabilitation'' and found a lot of information, which I read while fighting sleep. I read it while fighting sleep. It was difficult for a person with zero knowledge of psychiatry, so I skimmed through the contents and vaguely deciphered the symptoms of the disease. I could understand most of the trends. I assume I''ve figured it out. The point is that the patient must be aware of his condition and willing to improve it. I can''t be sure whether she has these two things or not, because it''s been less than a day since we''ve talked. So I''ll start tomorrow. After school comes the time when we have finished the group learning called "class" that leads us to adulthood. If I had been a full-fledged homecoming student, I would have gone home at the speed of light, as long as nothing happened to me. But it is as if I quit the club. You don''t need a letter of admission, but you don''t need a letter of withdrawal either. That means I can come back anytime I want. I have to go to the former teacher''s office for the Alina rehabilitation project that starts today. The chairs and desks are probably in disarray because they have not been organized yet. So I decided to at least clean the room. ''Comet, you''re up early today. I''ve got some business to attend to. Makoto Takane. He belongs to the badminton club and talks to me frequently. I was in the same class with him in the first year of high school, and we were in the same class in the second year. We were all new classmates, so I was with him a lot at first. We still talk a lot. ''Are you in such a tight spot that you have to leave right away? No, I''m not. ''Yeah. You''re going to study?'' ''It''s a complicated story. I''ll tell you sometime. It''s a little harsh to tell him. Because he is the one who once confessed his feelings to Arina Hiba. I don''t want to give him flashbacks of bitter memories. So I''ll tell you when the time is right. I went to Arina Hinoh in the next class during lunch break. I told her that we would meet after school in the former teacher''s office, which Ms. Akakusa had prepared for us. You''ll make me sick. But I kept my grin on my face. I decided to try not to be depressed as a way of dealing with this guy. It would be easier for me to act like a lunatic when Arina Nippa was talking about something else, and it would also make her feel sorry for me. I''m now in a dilemma. Do I buy bread from the kiosk? Or go clean the former teacher''s office. If I choose the former, I can buy bread. If I choose the latter, I have to spend more time cleaning. I stood there with these two choices. Which should I put first? Which is it? Bread, of course. I went to the battlefield. The store was already a battlefield. I know that. I know that this is a war like the Vietnam War. I''m standing right behind the members of the women''s sports club who are reaching out to kick each other off. Is it just me, or does the sight of a bunch of people make me want to roll them in seaweed? Maybe I''m the only one on the planet. Thinking such a silly thing, I join the girls swaying like anemones and reach out my hand to them. I''m not a pervert. This is legitimate contact. In the end, I got nothing. All I have left is the price tag. I realized the sadness of having money but not being able to buy goods, and that the customer is not God. I bought a cup of ice cream and went to the former teacher''s office. When I arrived at the former teacher''s office, I was so surprised that my jaw almost dropped off. What? Alina Hiba was already there. And she was cleaning. I didn''t expect her to come, so I thought I''d finish cleaning today. I mean, it''s unexpected. ''If Dr. Akakusa asks me to do something, I have no choice but to do it. Do it quickly, pervert. Why am I a pervert? I''m a gentleman. ''I saw you at the concession stand earlier. You were touching them in the middle of the street. Stay away from me, trash. ''Trash is a harsh word. That was a legitimate fight, and I have no ulterior motive. Rest assured. With a huff, she sat down on the desk with her arms crossed. That''s not very polite. I start cleaning to restore order to the room. I rearranged the room and moved the long desks and chairs to the center of the room to make more space for the time being. I brushed off Alina, who was reading a book, with my hand, and she gave me a nasty look and threatened me with a ''disgusting'' look on her face. But she avoided my threats. I was surprised that he listened to me. I thought she would stay like a rock, but maybe she would understand if I told her. Alina''s reputation in general is that she is pretty when she is quiet. She has long beautiful hair like a stream, shiny black hair, bright eyes and fair skin. She has a beautiful model figure and has all the elements that make her popular among men. Although girls are jealous of her, she has a strong popularity among men. While sweeping the dust with a broom, I talk to Alina. ''You know... ''Don''t make me say it again. ''Yes, I''m sorry. Alina, why did you decide to come here? Alina put her books in her bag and opened her heavily closed mouth. ''Dr. Akakusa asked me to come, so I had no choice. ''Because you would never have done it alone. Tetrodotoxin is heaven. That''s scary. I wonder if any high school students can tell that it''s tetrodotoxin. Well, it doesn''t matter, because Alina seems to have a soft spot for Dr. Akakusa. It''s surprising that this free-spirited, tongue-tied, and uninhibited person has a weakness. I''ll use that weakness someday, but I personally don''t want to cause trouble for Dr. Akakusa. So, the first thing I have to do is to see how far I can change him by myself. Alina can start by talking to me. Don''t worry. I''m not so soft that I''ll be overwhelmed and hurt by your tongue. I''m sure Dr. Akakusa chose me because of my personality. ''Why am I talking to you ......'' ''Don''t be discouraged. I don''t hate you. Plus, I won''t spread rumors about you. ''''What?'''' ''It means that I won''t treat Alina like a tumor like the rest of them. I don''t like that kind of thing to begin with. ''Are you smug? If that''s the case, you should know your place and choose your words accordingly.'' ''Well, let''s talk about the rest when you''re done cleaning up. It must be some kind of environment for her to be so hostile. I have no right to interfere. In the end, it''s my problem, not something that others should be forced to twist. I kept that in mind. After all the cleaning is done and the place looks much cleaner, I decide to call it a day. I took a break and started eating the ice cream I had bought earlier. Alina is quietly reading. As I watched her, I thought to myself, ''She''d be pretty if she''d just shut up. Perfection doesn''t exist in this world after all. What? ''I think it''s time we had a conversation. ''No.'' ''We can''t start the rehabilitation program without a conversation, son. Let''s introduce ourselves first. In fact, the only thing I know about Alina Nippa is her first name and last name and her poisonous tongue. Everyone who tries to touch Arina Hiba is met with her venomous thorns, so the person of Arina Hiba is a mystery. Needless to say, she is intelligent. She is basically always ranked among the top ten students in her grade. In other words, we only know the surface. Beneath the skin is a deep sea of the unknown. My name is Comet Sakakiki. I am a second-year high school student. My family consists of my parents and a younger sister. My hobby is watching movies. I am not a member of any clubs, and my favorite subject is mathematics. No dream yet! (DON''T!)'' I guess that''s about it. ''Here, next is Alina Nippa. ''''Huh.'''' He slammed the book shut. ''Alina Hinoh. Nice to meet you. Is that it? Your certificate of residence still contains more information than this. Well, it''s nice to meet you. I hold out my hand and ask for a handshake. But Alina looks doubtful and opens the book again. My hand was stretched out in vain, and I felt so sorry for her that I made a good-luck gesture with it. Thumbs up! His face grew increasingly clouded, so I meekly withdrew my hand. ''Alina. The first thing you need is a conversation. And communication. I''ll give you a chance to be active in both. And you''re welcome to it. Understand? ''Very, very, yes.'' ''I have an obligation to report to Dr. Akakusa. ''...... got it.'' Dr. Akakusa is too strong. What did you tell Ms. Alina? The moment I mention your name, Alina turns into a shriveled rose. But this is useful. That''s enough for today. We''ll move after school tomorrow. Second contact is over. If you need anything, please call Comet Sakakiki in the next class. ''''So.'''' She got up and left. I decided to follow her and leave. It was early in the evening, but there was a beautiful red sunset in the sky. The school was filled with the sounds of the active athletic teams and the brass band playing from somewhere. In my mind, I tackle a couple I encounter on my way home. It''s only in my brain. You''re going to break up with them anyway, so just keep on indulging in the brain drug of love. The next thing you know, the nightmare of the entrance exam will be upon you. Then, ''I need to concentrate, so let''s go to ...... for each other, shall we? and then break up. Shuraba is born. I often witnessed similar scenes in my two years of high school and enjoyed watching the breakups. Yes, I am a loser. This is a lonely howl. 3-a sales boy unknown to a girl... ''Give me some advice on what to do to rehabilitate a foul-mouthed woman, sister. ''Why don''t you send her to a girl''s school?'' ''I assure you. That school will fall apart. My sister is classified as an active girl. So I asked her if she could give me some good advice from a different point of view. I said that conversation and communication are important, but I was the only one who could demonstrate both of them after school. If you talk to just me all the time, you''ll probably see some improvement, but you''ll get used to it and things will get rougher again. I don''t want that. What kind of person is he? I hear you have a bad mouth, but is it really that bad?'''' ''Oh, yeah. There''s a lot of legends. A boy who spoke to me in a friendly manner said to me, ''You''re disgusting. Get away from me. I''ll throw you in the trash. Maybe you''d be better off in an incinerator. The student who had taken a liking to him was torn to pieces and turned into a slime mold. ''Extreme rejection, that one. Are you okay with that, brother?'' ''I''m the kind of person who can''t be hurt by words, so I''m fine. I''m the kind of guy who only tells jokes on a regular basis. I''ve been called trash before, but that''s just the beginning. I see my sister''s face every time I come home and I recover completely, so theoretically I''m invincible. ''I''ll try not to see you too much from now on. I''m afraid it''s going to suck all the energy out of me. My sister sat down on the sofa. As the siblings watched TV together, sending images to their brains in a daze, the younger sister mumbled something in a whisper. You''re not in any club, are you? That''s why I always say ''Welcome home. I''ve never heard my sister say ''welcome home'' ......F**K!'' ''Don''t mosaic your voice. Why don''t you join in on the club activities? You and me. It''s a good chance to communicate with people from all walks of life, and it''s a great conversation starter. It''s a great way to network.'' ''That''s fine, but I''m not going to join a club. I''m sure I''ll be a ghost in three seconds. And even if I start now, I''ll have to study for the entrance exam next year. Everything is too late. I see," he muttered ruefully. It''s a good idea, but I can''t join the club. The club''s activities are too serious. If I were to be exposed to that atmosphere, I''d evaporate instantly. Thanks to my height of 180 centimeters, I have had several invitations to join the sports club, but I have turned them all down. Do not invade my after-school activities. Stop meddling in my affairs. That''s all I ask. I''m sure Alina would howl like a tiger and skewer her opponents if the mood was too serious, but unfortunately I don''t have the stomach for that. Let''s keep it loose. Peace is best. Well then, how about helping out with club activities? I often think to myself, "If only I had one more person in my club, it would be more efficient. How about helping with that? I see. That''s a good idea. It would be a good opportunity to make human contact with Alina and not join the club. It would be a benefit to the club by providing labor. I''ll take that. Will there be a copyright fee? ''It''s free content, so it''s fine. Let''s do this. I''ll talk to Dr. Akakusa right away. Free time during lunch break. After the dinner with Makoto (just eating lunch), I went to the staff room. ''Akakusa-sensei, is this a good time? ''Oh, Comet. What''s wrong? I told Mr. Akakusa in detail about the plan my sister had devised. I sold it to him like a salesman, saying that this would have a positive effect on Alina. There are a lot of things you don''t understand unless you actually do them, but you will definitely learn more by taking action. Reading is important, but I encourage Alina to experience things that cannot be expressed in words. I think it''s a good idea. ''Really? ''Yes. I''m sorry, I know it''s hard, but hang in there! Yes! I left the staff room satisfied that I had a chance to win. Now it was just a matter of which clubs needed backup. Without demand, we, the providers, are useless. So we take advantage of the few remaining lunch breaks to do some canvassing. Back in the classroom, I asked Makoto. Is there ever a time when there are not enough people in the badminton club? ''Hmmm~. Not really. ''Really?'' ''''Why?'''' ''Actually, ......'' I stopped short of spelling out the rest of the words. Watch out, watch out, watch out. Come to think of it, Makoto was one of the girls who confessed her feelings to Alina and got crushed. Makoto confessed to her in the middle of her freshman year of high school. I didn''t see it happen, but she missed club activities that day. He was quite disheartened. So I won''t mention it. I''m not interested in digging up wounds. I just asked him if he needed any help. If you don''t have anything in particular, it''s all right. ''What''s the matter, comet? Are you tempted to join a club?'''' ''No, no. It''s just a whim. I next decided to ask Shirana Namiki, with whom I went to junior high school. Hakuna was in the next class. In other words, she was in the same classroom as Alina. Every time I think about it, it''s strangely frustrating to be in another class. It''s hard to get in, or something. With so many students in the school, if you''re in a different class, you don''t know anyone. So it feels like another world. You summon up the courage to walk through the door. The unknown opens up instantly. The air is different. I move my head around in circles looking for Shirana, and I see three girls chatting in a group. I found her, too. She said, "Shirana, can I talk to you for a minute? ''Ah, comet. What is it? ''''What? Shirana''s boyfriend? Boyfriend by any chance?'''' The girls at my side made a fuss. Shirana denies it desperately, saying ''No, no, no. What''s wrong? It''s been a long time since we talked. ''Indeed. I''ve been having a hard time getting used to my new classmates since we''ve changed classes. ''Wow, you and Shirana seem to have a pretty good relationship, don''t you? This woman talks a lot. ''I don''t have anything to do with Shirana. We went to middle school together. Right? Ummm... Why do you stutter there? ''I''m Yuri. Yuri Hiiragi. Nice to meet you. Next, another cheerful-looking girl next to me speaks up. ''I''m Ran Miyanaka. Nice to meet you. What''s with this self-introduction parade? I''m here for Shirana. But I''ll just have to ride the wave. I''m Comet Sakakiki. I''m in the class next door. ''So what are you doing here, comet?'' Shirana asks. ''You belong to the women''s soft tennis club, don''t you? Aren''t they shorthanded or something?'' ''Hmmm.'' Shirana is worried. I glanced around the classroom. Apparently, Alina was not there. ''If I had to guess,'' she said. ''Oh, anything you say. ''Our club is short on staff. We have to collect the balls during practice, but we use a lot of balls for the number of players, so it takes a long time to collect them and it''s not very efficient. I see. So you want a ball collector. ''Yeah. That''s about it. ''May I help you? We offer our labor for free.'' ''Oh, you don''t mind? It''s hard work. I mean, it''s not just comets. We also have one more female employee. She is competent and athletic and I''m sure you''ll be pleased with her. ''What''s with that tone ......'' ''As far as I''m concerned, it would be nice to have a collection person. Yuri interrupts. You''re in the women''s soft tennis club, too? ''''Oh. So, Ms. Hakuna, do you have a contract? ''Hmmm. It''s good, isn''t it, Yuri? ''Totally OK. I''d rather welcome you. ''Thanks! I was elated that I had made a deal. So this is the daily life of a salesman. It''s a war of deceit. 4-project to launch... ''That''s why.'' ''Huh?'' I rolled into the library. As expected, I find Alina. She loves books and the library is her second home. She may not be a literary girl, but she seems to read anyway. After school, she helps out with the girls'' soft tennis team. Understood? ''I understand, but... Why would I ......'' She''s weak in the library. The library has strict rules of quietness. Taking advantage of her good manners, I decided not to explain to her after school and chose the library during the lunch break as an emergency. Now is my chance to hide my fangs. It''s part of the project to rehabilitate Alina. You''ll take it. Don''t worry, I''ll be there. Don''t leave me alone...'' He hit me with the corner of a book. I rallied my ego, which was about to fly away, and managed to pull myself back from the River Sanzu. I found my dead pet on the riverbank. ''Don''t be violent. ''Die.'' ''There''s not much time left on my lunch break. So we''ll meet in that former teacher''s office after school. See you. ''Excuse me. ''Quiet in the library. And bring your gym clothes. ''Ah! Pisses me off! I felt victorious. After another day of enlightening seminars, I went to the former teacher''s office. After a while, a knock came with the force of a bang, knock, knock, destroying the door. I can only think of one person who would be so willing to vandalize school property without a care in the world. It''s a little stuck. I know you''re in there! Open the door! Comet Sakakiki-kun is in the middle of changing. If you really want to see it, I''ll open it right now. No, I''ll open it. ''What, hey! Jump out the window! Die! ''I can''t stop my right arm. He seems to want to open the door. Shit! My right arm against my will! Click. ''Forgive me, Alina. I''ve crossed a dimension. What, it won''t open? Alina''s outline is vaguely reflected in the frosted glass of the door. She seems to be holding the door desperately. ''Just get dressed! No more! I got serious. One hundred and eighty centimeter tall, full power, here I come. ''Kyah''. The door is opened with a bang. Alina brings her hands in front of her face as if to look at something dazzling, and peeks at me through the gaps between her fingers. Oh, you''re looking at me. ''You should change your clothes soon. I''ll wait for you in the hallway. My status doesn''t say anything about my taste for going wild half-naked. I''m basically a gentleman. Naturally, I met Alina with my clothes on. Alina is stunned. I think I''m the first person in the history of mankind to see Alina with such a stunned expression on her face. While I was enjoying such a marvel, a meteorite fell on my solar plexus. More precisely, Alina''s sharp punch shook my entire internal organs. The impact made me crouch down. I almost puked my colon out of my mouth. ''If you come in, I''ll kill you. I''ll chain you up and lock you in a dark room and make you listen to Anpanman March forever, so loud that your eardrums will burst. I''ll only give you water and bread. I''ll wear you out slowly. Don''t you want that? I nodded my head ''yes'' without effort. The costume change was over and Alina opened the sliding door with a bang. I was sitting on the gymnasium floor and reflexively jumped to my feet. Her hair was in a ponytail, so I was impressed to see that she was actually willing to do it. She''d be cute if she''d just shut up. ''I''m going to hit you again. ''No, no, no, no violence. Pacifism is an illusion, but it is worth striving for. Take a page from Martin Luther King. You know him? Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'' ''I know. You''re going. Now.'' You''re a man of knowledge, I''ll give you that. Not many high school students know the name Martin Luther King, Jr. To be honest, I was glad we could have this conversation. The girls'' tennis team is sweating like a sack of potatoes today. Let''s go! So here I am, in the soft tennis club with yellow voices flying around. Everyone is wearing a skirt-like thing that flutters. I don''t know much about it, but it looks like a disgrace to me. Think of the men''s eyes, you son of a b*tc*. Think about what makes up a high school boy''s brain. As for me, it''s 80% ''sincerity'' and 20% ''appetite'', but the average high school boy''s brain is made up of 10% ''s*x drive''. That''s right, it''s all about s*x drive. Remember that, girls in the tennis club. All the boys except me are basically unclean. Alina was almost beaten up by the sun. I lent her my hat. She took it very openly and said to me, ''I didn''t expect a daphnia to have a hat. Oh, it''s a comet. Shirana ran up to me. Then she took one look at the person next to me and was startled. Oh, Alina! What''s wrong? Alina looks away. You shy little shit, aren''t you? She crosses her arms to show her bad mood. Hakuna. Me and Alina are the collectors. Have you talked to the director? ''Yeah. They said you''re welcome. I mean, Yuri''s the director. ''Oh, yeah! ''I should have told you right then and there. Just take your racket and hit the ball back as it flies toward the grass. ''Okay, here we go, Alina. ''Good luck today, Comet and Alina. I''ll take care of it. Yeah. There are two tennis courts. But they are not fenced. There is a wall on one side across the net, but there is grass on the other side. So they want us to collect the balls that fly to the grass side. This is certainly a factor that leads to a significant loss of practice time. Alina and I borrowed a racket and headed for the lawn. The lawn was already littered with balls. It would certainly take time to retrieve them with that small number of players. I immediately grabbed one of the balls and swung the racket vigorously. What, you can''t hit it? Holding the ball in my left hand, I let it float a little and then quickly swung it with my racket as if it were breaking wind. But even though he swings the ball, he doesn''t hit the ball. d*mn, the ball, avoid me! I hit it a few times. But it hit the edge of the racket, not the net, and flew off in a wrong direction. ''It''s too difficult ...... what the hell is this sport ......'' I''ve never played tennis before. Today was the first time I played tennis. I don''t know if this can be called tennis. I''ve never even touched a racket. I thought it would be a piece of cake to hit this huge net, but the racket seems to be laughing at me. Right next to the ultra-amateur was Alina, who was hitting back with a nice pak-kon-pak-kon sound. What the hell is this guy? Is he a pro? I watched him closely, trying to mimic his appearance, and swung vigorously. The ball dodges! Are you an idiot? Where''s the pilot of the second plane, young lady? Don''t you have to fight the apostles? Tennis is too hard for you first, Alina. ''You''re the one who took the job. You took on this job, didn''t you? ''That''s not what I''m saying. My balls avoid me. ''So''. What do you mean by that? English So? Add something. Oh, it hits back nicely again. How do you hit it like that? With a snap, snap, snap, Alina picked up the falling balls and hit them toward the court. She seemed to be enjoying herself. When she is reading, she is as fragile and beautiful as a French doll, but somehow lifeless. But now Alina seems alive. Maybe it was my imagination, but I thought it was a positive effect. Well. Hit me-- Apparently, Mr. Ball likes it better when he''s lying in the grass. The ball falls down as if it were sucking on the grass. He goes to bed with the grass without even grazing the racket. You''ve got to be kidding me. Gravity, be a little more patient. You''re not going to hit anything with that, you idiot! The pilot of the second plane spoke to me. Why are you trying to hit the frame instead of the gut? It''s not a sword. Do you want to take it out in the dark? Why don''t you go back to Edo?'' What''s with the jargon? Please speak Japanese. ''Oh my God! You can''t hit it or fly it unless it''s part of the net!'''' ''I can''t hit it. ......'' ''If you keep in mind that the surface of the racket should be perpendicular to the ground, you''ll hit it! You''re such an idiot! It''s still more fun to talk to a fly.'' I feel that BAKA is going to become a universal language because of the number of "baka" (idiots) being uttered. Anyway, I want to make up for it somehow, so I try to do as the pilot of the second plane says. Then I hit the ball, though awkwardly, and it flew away with a swoosh. It flew! ''Shut up. Of course it''s going to fly. Keep it coming.'' I got the hang of it, and I sent out a series of balls, one after the other. It''s quite fun. The sound was good, but the sensation in my hand was pleasant. I hit the ball back, shouting "Ola, ola! It''s fun. A little further away, Alina was hitting the ball with beautiful form. Even I, an amateur, thought she was good. Her aura is different. That''s probably why the girls on the court were looking at her every now and then. You''re a popular girl! 5-slight flowering... I finally took a break when I forgot how many shots I had taken. I worked so hard that my back was damp with sweat. Near the end of the break, there was a doubles match. The balls seldom flew so we watched them closely in the back. Not knowing the rules, I watched the game, guessing at the jargon I heard. I could understand at least a fault, but I couldn''t understand the ad-something server. This is an area that requires a simultaneous translator. Alina was watching the game with her feet shoulder-width apart, arms crossed, and surprisingly serious eyes. After the match, they took a break as if nothing had happened. During the break, Shirana came over. ''Tennis is so difficult, isn''t it? ''Yeah. At first. But once you get used to it, it''s fun. Shirana seemed to be interested in Alina. She was sitting quietly by my side, stroking her shiny white legs, looking at Arina with a curious look on her face. I felt a sense of superiority toward Arina, who had become like a domesticated cat. What do you think, Alina? You''re a cat. But she''ll get angry if you keep staring at her like that. What? Look, he snapped. You get angry easily, you beautiful girl. I bet her boiling point is 25 degrees. ''Oh, no, I just thought you were good at it. Have you done it before? ''''A little bit.'''' ''Oh yeah! That''s why you had such beautiful strokes. ......'' I took pity on the frightened Shirana, so I joined the conversation. ''Alina, you have good taste. Even to an amateur like me, you look like a pro. Why didn''t you join the club? Alina answered in a muffled whisper. I wasn''t sure. ''''The club activities?'''' I didn''t know what to do in the club itself, and it seemed boring. What kind of answers do you want from me? Shut up for a minute, Neanderthal. ''I see. Well, I didn''t get in for the same reason, so I don''t know. ''''Yeah.'''' That''s right. That''s what I meant. Shirana rolled her eyes. It was probably because it was rare to see Alina speak properly. I would have been surprised, too, if our positions had been reversed. The director announced the end of the break and the game started again. There was no need to retrieve the ball anymore. The court was filled with the exhilarating sound of "pakorn, pakorn". I liked that sound a lot. It is similar to the sound of a train rattling by, which is somewhat pleasant to hear. You know what I mean? It makes me nostalgic. It would be great if Dvorak''s "From the New World" were playing in the background. I felt that I should leave before Alina got irritated because I had done my job as a collector. She looked like she wanted to leave at any moment. ''You''re leaving, Alina? ''''So.'''' ''You''re not going home?'' ''I''ll leave after you slit your wrists.'' Oh, my God. Has the earth''s magnetic pole finally gone haywire? I didn''t think she had a choice. I knew in my heart that Alina was dying to go home. I respected her wishes and stayed to watch the game. It was after 18:00. Staying until this late was not the way to be a member of the club. Finally, it seemed that club activities were coming to an end, so I decided to go home this time. Alina seemed to be in the mood, too, and was packing her bags and getting ready to leave. Comet, Alina, thank you for today! Thanks for your help.'''' No, no, no. We had a good time too. Thanks. ''Come back anytime! Oh, okay. I''ll let you know if I''m coming. See you. ''Okay! Bye-bye.'' Alina and I faded from the tennis court. Me and Alina walk to the school gate. Tomorrow there will probably be a rumor. It will be a shocking sight to see Alina leaving with a guy. I''m surprised, too. This rose with a sharp tongue rubbing elbows with someone is a myth. She looks at Alina with a sideways glance. She keeps her eyes front and back straight and walks like a model. We men must be intoxicated by this figure and fall in love with it. Don''t look at me. I''ll kill you. He threatened me with eyes that were 100 percent murderous and contained no trace of a smile. If I joke back, I''ll probably be erased from the world with all my DNA. I will leave the Sakakiki family''s genetic heritage to my sister. No, I don''t even want to think about people marrying my sister. The moment they see her, they will charge at her with the force of a tomahawk missile. As I was thinking this, I felt a black, black, hopeless stare from next to me like a black hole, so I switched my thoughts to normal mode. Was it fun? ''That''s about right. ''That''s good. That''s a good trend. ''Will you stop treating people like guinea pigs? Don''t let the escaped chimpanzees get to you. Go back to the zoo. ''You''ve been demoted from Neanderthal to ape. We''re not experimenting. We''re just rehabilitating you. We''re doing this for your own good.'' ''Huh. ......'' She sighed and slumped her shoulders. The fact that she didn''t break her promise somehow shows that she has more than a little will to change. Just knowing that was a big accomplishment for me today. As for me, I was satisfied. We arrived at the school gate, and a residential area spread out before us. I''ll be waiting for you tomorrow after school. So.'' I like that. That''s all you can live with. Alina turned away and disappeared into the alley with the sound of her leather shoes. I said, ''Let the wind blow! Let my skirt flutter! I watched her back, praying. I prayed that a gust of wind or a tornado would hit Alina directly. But a gentle breeze caressed my cheeks as if to tease me. Life doesn''t always go well, does it? 6-a false misunderstanding... ''Comet, are the rumors true?'' Makoto Takane flew in with a mysterious look on his face during a bathroom break. ''You mean I''m not really human? ''What''s that? It''s not that. Makoto is trying to communicate something by wriggling his hands. Or she looks like she''s trying her best to twist something. If you think you''re going to leak, why don''t you just go? Or is it just a habit of yours? Why are you fidgeting? Are you a sea turtle before spawning? ''Comet, are you seeing anyone right now? Makoto said in a whisper. ''Unfortunately, the seat next to mine is empty. ''Right, right! I let out a breath of relief. That''s why I thought he had a crush on me. Sorry, I don''t accept gay men. ''You''re so happy I don''t have a girlfriend. Don''t worry, I''ll be single forever. I asked my sister for the Sakakiki gene. When I asked her for it, she hit me about ten times, but I think the Sakaki gene is safe and sound. ''No! There was a rumor going around that Comet had hooked up with Hiu. I couldn''t believe that Hinoh would date a freak like Comet. ......'' I had a pretty good idea that it was something like that, but I didn''t know it was true. I realized how scary rumors can be. We cannot be too careful, because sometimes rumors can become facts. The fear is that those who hear the rumor will pass it on to others as ''reality. It branches off and eventually comes back as chaotic information. Alina and I, huh? Do you know the source of the information? ''It''s a rumor, so I don''t know the details. You''re not really dating, are you?'' ''Yeah. We just talked for the first time recently. If that''s enough to raise suspicion of a relationship, the moment you touch each other, you''re married. ''Is that so? ...... Oh no, I was in a hurry, I was in a hurry. I was worried that Comet had lost his mind. Surprisingly, Makoto seemed to take it seriously. I guess he cared about me because he once confessed to Alina and was thrown into the abyss. Rumors about the tennis match and the two of us walking together to the school gate came from witnesses. No damage to me, but Alina would be furious. "Why do I have to date a guy who looks like the inside of a sewer? Do you want to be socially erased? Then why don''t you throw dynamite into the White House? I''d rather be kissing canary larvae than dating one of those. If you start any more rumors, you''ll be cold in bed tomorrow morning. I''m more afraid of that. Please don''t let him die before he turns 20. I was getting more and more worried and thought I would check on Alina''s class, but the bathroom break was coming to an end. I thought I would check on Alina''s class, but the bathroom break was coming to an end. Makoto, thanks. ''I''m glad I''m not too late: ......'' Perhaps it was already close to too late, so I decided to leave it to fate. My next class is political science. Let''s learn politics and change my fate. One man can change the world. Che Guevara did it. I can do it, too. I can change one girl''s mind. I couldn''t concentrate in class the whole time. I kept feeling unknown vibrations from the next class with my sixth sense. I was surprised that I even had the ability to sense them, but I was in awe of the strength of Alina''s resentment. Well, that''s all conjecture. So I decided to take a peek. Sure enough, as I stepped out into the hallway, I saw her. I saw a group of girls who looked at me with their eyes and said, ''Look at her, look at her. I walked by them with a nonchalant look on my face and peeked in from the hallway as the door to the next class was fully open. I saw one of the students staring at me with a terrible look on his face. I don''t know if he has a GPS on me or what, but I spotted him in an instant. Alina didn''t get up from her seat, but she was firing guns at me with the force of her eyes, not even looking at the paperback in her hand, which was killing me. I decided to leave, not wanting to die. But when I turned around, I saw Shirana standing there. She looked me up and down. ''What''s wrong? No, no. Shirana looked away and went into the classroom. This is going to be a problem. A chime sounded to announce the end of the class, and the students let out the words ''It''s over'' in their mouths. I went out into the hallway and took a broom out of my locker to start cleaning. When I turned around to go back to the classroom, I saw Alina approaching me with a broom as well. Her long hair is tied up and hanging down from her left shoulder, and she is holding the broom in her right hand as if it were a weapon. I put out my right foot to close the five-meter distance from the classroom door. Judging from the speed at which Alina is walking, the door is the one that crosses her path. I could clearly hear the sound of my shoes and Alina''s. Our eyes meet and sparks fly in the air. She''s trying to f*ck me. She''s got the eyes of a lioness on a zebra. I stopped when I was two steps away. Alina stops in response. We stare into each other''s eyes. Students pass by and look at us curiously. That''s right. I hold my broom in front of my chest so that it is divided into thirds in case of attack, and Alina stands upright with her broom hidden behind her back. Soon war will break out. I remember the smell of war. I put my finger on the trigger and catch the enemy''s face on the apex of the telescope. Once squeezed, the god of steel roars in a kong, and the expelled shells rain down to the ground, glistening like diamond dust. Oh ...... eyes-- close your eyes. Can you hear me? The sound of tanks shaking the earth and brave soldiers kicking the ground with their feet together. Do you remember the humiliation of hiding in the trenches and crawling like a mole to avoid detection by the bullets that were raging overhead? Do you still have pictures of your family, obscured by a stain indistinguishable from dirt or blood? Are those bugs still burned in your mind, crawling around on your face as if they were mocking you, burying their faces in the mud, pretending to be dead just for the sake of their lives, even when enemy battalions destroy them and the enemy passes by? ''Alina. Let''s take it easy.'' I spoke to him in my usual tone, trying to break the tension. But Alina''s face did not move a muscle. You''re a thinker. Neither of us moved, and perhaps numb to the fact that neither of us was moving, Alina relaxed her shoulders and began to walk away from me as if I had never existed. Thank God. Just as I thought that, I felt a strong pain in the shin of my left leg and I grunted reflexively. I thought I had broken it. Alina turned down the hallway and disappeared. It was like she had been cut by a broom at the last moment. You little bastard! While I''m trying to think of a suitable name for the ''former staff room'' since it has so many letters, the door is opened with a loud bang. I thought a dam had burst. Here comes Alina. Hey. How are you? I raise my hand and try to be friendly. I try to lighten the mood, since the atmosphere is still tense from the fight. However, Alina, in defiance of my challenge, started to read again. I wonder if her ears are just for decoration. I was thinking of going to the soft tennis club again today. But it''s raining so hard that we won''t play outside. Perhaps because of the rain, the wrinkles between Alina''s eyebrows are the size of the Grand Canyon. What are you looking at? I hope you drown in Chinese rift oil. ''Don''t bite so hard. You''d get full marks if you were softer and calmer, wouldn''t you? Why not? Ignoring my questions, he is following the printed page with his eyes. You type addict. ''From now on, this space is simply the "club room", right? The former staff room is long''. ''This is a club activity or something funny''. ''Well, it''s not a club. Well, it''s not a club, is it? No. Why don''t you just call it a thing or a va*in*?'' ''Wow, that''s awful. I don''t accept vulgar jokes.'' I was joking. But Alina didn''t get it and switched to a dead-eyed nihilistic look. You should at least be ashamed of yourself. What about the rose garden? I don''t know if you know this, but I hear you''re called ''Rose.'''' ''''Yeah.'''' ''They say she''s good-looking, but if you try to touch her, she''ll stab you. You''re good-looking, but...'' ''''So'''' "Despite her good looks... ''''So.'''' God forbid, can''t you use ''so''? Is this Rose Garden a gang or something? It might be a bad idea to make a ''gang. This place is for you. That''s why the rose. Thank the good doctor Akakusa for getting it for you. That''s why--'' My phone rang. It''s Makoto. I tell Alina no and pick up the phone. It''s a comet. ''Sorry to interrupt! Are you at school right now? I''m here. ''Help me! Can you come to the gym right now? ''It''s very tense. What''s going on? If it''s terrorism, call the SAT. If SAT doesn''t work, then Central Readiness Force Special Operations Group. First of all, is this a story that''s going to be solved when the homecoming party members go there? The tennis and badminton clubs are fighting over a position in the gymnasium. Shirana, the girls in our badminton club are giving me a hard time. I want you to come to the comet. Can''t you at least intervene? Shirana is not the type to speak strongly. If she is told one-sidedly, she will just turn her head and bear it. When I imagine that, I can''t describe how it makes me feel. I honestly wanted to help her. I wanted to help her. I''m on my way. ''Thank you! Hurry up and get here! I got up as soon as I hung up. It was time to execute justice like an American comic book. ''I''m going to the gym. ''''So.'''' You coming?'' No.'' She only followed the print from beginning to end. Alina, who probably doesn''t like trouble, didn''t want to hear this. I didn''t speak to her and left the Rose Garden. 7-a gym full of sopranos... When I arrived at the gymnasium, I found the girls from the badminton and tennis clubs arguing with each other. The two teams were separated by a line, as if there was a crack in the ground. Around them, men are trying their best to calm them down. I can''t tell which is the badminton team and which is the tennis team. So I guessed the one with Shirana was the tennis team. When she saw me, she smiled like a flower in full bloom. I couldn''t understand what was going on, so I decided to ask her when she came closer to me. Why are you fighting? ''Well, you know, they promised to let the tennis club use a part of the gymnasium on rainy days, but the badminton club started saying that they won''t do it anymore, but the seniors who were there last year decided that it''s none of our business or something...'' I don''t know what to say anymore... ...'' What is this boy talking about? I don''t know either. ....... Makoto is on the badminton club''s side. He seems to be struggling to defuse the girls'' anger, but is being completely ignored. I could roughly guess the power and power balance in the club. The arguments are mainly centered on high school sophomores. The current senior high school students have retired after the summer games, so there are only sophomores and freshmen in the club. So I saw a familiar face here and there. Oh, that''s Hiiragi Yuri, I think. She''s a friend of Shirana''s.'' ''Yeah. Yuri is frustrated too. ......'' ''Okay. Let''s talk to him for a minute. I plunged into the mass of humanity and observed the argument. ''So, that''s what the graduating seniors decided, right? It doesn''t matter if we change it or not.'' But all this time you''ve lent me your room on rainy days. Why is it suddenly not working? Isn''t that strange? ''We have a lot of members in our badminton club. We''re using the same gymnasium as the basketball team, and if they take up any more space, we won''t be able to play either. We''ve been putting up with it for a long time, but why don''t you do some muscle training on a rainy day? ''Yes, yes. We have a game coming up. Can''t you put up with that? ''We have our tournaments too. It''s terrible to break a promise! I was overwhelmed by the girls'' relentless bickering. At first glance, the girls seem to be exchanging casual banter, but I can see the atmosphere of a blowout in the eyes and expressions of both girls. It''s like a dud. Let''s call the Self-Defense Forces. In conclusion, don''t you need me? It''s as if I''m there for Shirana, but she''s out of the argument and next to me. I can say that what Makoto asked me to do is done. Now I guess I have to put an end to this argument, but it doesn''t have to be me. I''m a complete outsider. I thought it would just add fuel to the fire. I thought, ''How can I fix this? I don''t know. In your opinion, I feel more sorry for the tennis club. The way the badminton club said it is harsh, but I understand what they are trying to say. Personally, I don''t think the tennis team is to blame. But it is better to sit down and talk about this kind of thing. If you touch them, you''ll get into trouble. While they were drinking, the girls'' argument was heating up. They were shouting at each other with their mouths agape like cats threatening each other. I decided to try to contact Yuri. I walk up behind Yuri, who is going head-to-head with the badminton team with her arms crossed. The girls were wary of me. I don''t care, I''ve fought in the bakery section of the concession stand before. Yuri, you look busy. ''Hmm, let''s see... oh, Shirana''s boyfriend?'' ''No way. I''m flying you to Venus, b*tc*! I''m on your side. ''Appealing to Shirana at this time? That''s great.'' Apparently, you need a language other than Japanese to communicate with Yuri. Probably the best way is to quote words from Swahili or something like that. Deciding that communication with Yuri was impossible, I turned my attention to the girls in the badminton club. They glared at me with hatred as if they were avenging their parents. I''ve been exposed. Hey, why don''t you lend it to the tennis club for today? If it was a previous promise, it''s unreasonable to break a promise without notice. ''It''s none of your business. If you don''t listen to the opinions of those who are not a party to the case, we won''t need all the judges in the world. Listen to objective opinions. Be calm. ''Why don''t you just go ahead and quibble all you want? I don''t care about you. We''re talking to Bud. What club are you in? ''I''m a homecoming boy.'' ''Eh, pfft.'' You''ve got some nerve laughing at the homecoming club. You''ve made enemies of all the homecoming clubs in the country! We are an unaffiliated ''club without organization'', a so-called ''club without borders''. I applaud you for meddling in this noble concept. Imagine. Imagine a flood of homecoming clubs from all over the country running toward you as fast as they can. It''s the end of the world. What are you grinning at ......? I''m sorry you''re pulling your weight with me, but I''m pulling my weight with you against the homecoming club. We have nothing to lose. You may lose the concept of eligibility. The difference between the two is huge. Makoto is looking at me and covering his face. I felt his heart was telling him that Comet had done it again. Don''t you get angry when someone insults your club? What? Homecoming club isn''t a club? You''re going to Siberia. You''re wasting valuable after-school time, you know. You''re wasting valuable after-school time, you guys. And talk about it at your desks. ''Shut up. It''s none of your business.'' All right. Next time, we''ll talk in Morse code. Remember, you''re the bad boy of the badminton club. I memorized your big tits. Just as I was about to leave, thinking it was too late, a woman with long hair appeared at the border between the tennis and badminton clubs. She has her back to us and is facing the basketball team. Standing upright with her arms crossed and her legs shoulder-width apart, she was unmistakably Arina Hiba. 8-a cold visit... The unexpected turn of events froze not only me but everyone present. Everyone closed their mouths and waited with bated breath to see what she would have to say. Like the people waiting for Hitler''s speech. Some members of the basketball team practicing over there are also glued to the floor. A strange atmosphere begins to build, and Alina sucks in her breath and finally speaks up. ''Are you creatures who can''t even keep a single promise? Alina says coldly. The sharp tone of her voice rang in my ears. Everyone froze at her words. They did not know how to react to the relentless expression. And why was she here to rebuke us? Why was she willing to cut in, the troublemaker? No one could understand. Both the badminton club, which was against her, and the tennis club, which was on her side, were confused. Are you listening to me? I don''t think I''m shouting loud enough to rupture my eardrums. By all accounts, this is a one-sided and unfair demand by the badminton club. Can''t you even understand that in high school? Always include a provocative phrase at the end of each word. Her tone is very typical. The girls in the badminton team open their mouths. ''So it''s your business too...'' ''That again? When you said earlier that the mitochondria in the back were on trial, you were about right. You should reconsider what you are saying from a third person''s point of view. Realize how much you are yelling at them with your round, boiling heads like self-centered, bratty, spoiled children. In the first place, treat the promises of your seniors as if they were rotten. What would your seniors think if they saw you? That''s a very good explanation. ''It''s hard to listen to you. If you tell that to the seniors in the badminton team, the seniors in the tennis team will feel betrayed. A pretty junior being told off by the guys in the badminton club. You don''t want to be pitied and bothered by the seniors like that, do you? Right, Yuri?'''' ''''Eh? Oh, I can''t be bothered with senpai.'' Yuri was momentarily upset when he was suddenly asked to speak. If you still want to have a barren argument with me, I''ll call you and the other members of the badminton club. What do you think? Alina''s almost threatening words made the girl at the head of the badminton club flinch. I can''t see her from behind, but I''m sure Alina''s face is colder than an ice age, frozen in place. Mammoths would be amazed. If we don''t start pouring boiling water on her soon, the girl at the front is going to cry. I think it''s time. Alina has a point, but she''s not the one who should be saying it. I admire her, but I think her further presence here will only serve to shift the point of the conversation. She is not wrong, but this is not the right time. ''Alina, let''s go home. I whispered in a whisper. He fixes his face in front of me without flicking his ears. A few seconds of silence pass. ''Come on, let''s go. At the second call, Alina finally moved. Without leaving any words, she turns her body toward the exit of the gymnasium. There I saw Alina''s profile. Her expression was as cold as ever. But maybe it was just my imagination, but she seemed to be alive. I must be confused too. Yuri, I''m sorry for disturbing you. I''ll go apologize later. Yuri nodded awkwardly. I followed Alina out of the gym. By the end, the two forces were staring at us dumbfounded as we walked away. It was as if they had seen a UFO. I don''t know what happened to the commotion after that. Alina silently moved forward and left. I watched her go without saying a word to her. My back told me not to follow her. I returned to the rose garden alone and thought back to what had just happened. I still can''t figure out why Alina showed up. Was she following me because I went to the gym? Or was it because she was curious about the tennis club? But it''s hard to imagine, given Alina''s personality. More than anything else, Alina hates trouble, and she went out of her way to get involved. That fact bothers me even more. I don''t understand. I left school with my mind still in a haze. 9-preserved flower... School after the holidays is deadly. I wish from the bottom of my heart that school would be closed due to terrorists or disasters. Yes, this is a kind of peace-lovin''. Let''s call it a joke because it is inappropriate. However, all Japanese people must hate Mondays. The faces of the working people who pass by are either sleeping or dead. I joined the zombies and joined the march of the dead. As soon as I entered the classroom and took my seat, Makoto came to me. Good morning. Comet. ''Wooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo. ''I''m sorry you had a rough Friday. I''m sorry I bothered you. ''Don''t apologize. I''ve seen some interesting things.'' Funny thing. That''s Alina. That was really funny, the way she turned the whole place upside down. Don''t tell anyone I said to myself, "Drama. If Alina had asked me that, I would have been told to be quiet. So, what happened after that? How did the badminton and tennis clubs end up?'''' After that, we separated for about five minutes and talked calmly after we calmed down. We decided to share the same place in the tennis club as before. Well, I''m really glad. I was worried because I thought we were going to have another heated argument. ......'' ''So it''s all rounded off?'' ''In a manner of speaking. I heard that the badminton and tennis clubs are going to have a final meeting today, so they''ll make a decision then.'''' ''Oh. That''s good, that''s good, that''s good. If that argument doesn''t happen again, I''ll have no complaints. But... What is it? ''I was surprised that Nippa came to ...... at first I didn''t understand what happened.'' ''I certainly didn''t expect that. ''I knew it, Hiba and comets are ......''. ''Why would you do that? ''You''d think so! What''s really going on! I won''t tell anyone! ''Makoto,...... I''m not really dating anyone,...... but don''t say too much, okay? Alina might get pissed off and endanger my life. ...... and actually almost kill me.'' ''d*mn. I''m so worried about this. ''Let me get this straight. I''m not dating Alina. ''...... Well, I''ll give you a break for today.'' Oh, are we going to continue this exchange? Dinner with Makoto. Well, it''s a dinner party. ''Comet, stop saying that every time before we eat because it''s embarrassing.'' ''What? It''s a noble dinner. Is the chef not here? ''I thought the chef was the comet''s mother. ......'' ''No, maybe it''s my sister. ''Oh, let''s see, was it ''Ugi-chan''?'' ''That''s right. Ugin Sakaki, my sister''s name. What is your name? ''Makoto Takane...... you just want to say it. ......'' ''Yes. Bon app tit.'' Bon app tit. Then, while I was silently eating my maindoin sakake rice, Yuri Hiiragi invaded the classroom. She moved her head and looked at me, then approached me. ''Thanks for the other day. ''I didn''t do anything. You can thank Alina. That was Alina''s work. ''I did say something to him, though. But all I got was, ''Yeah. ''It''s just like him. ''So, are you dating Alina-san after all? What about that part? ''Oh no, no, no! I''m not dating anyone! I''ll throw a sausage! You''re so stubborn! Alina or Shirana? You''ve got to be clear about that! ''Shirana''s got nothing to do with this! My relationships with women are super healthy! ''Don''t do comets, Nippa, you''ll die ....... ......'' ''He who has been there speaks,'' huh? I won''t confess to Alina like you did. Only you will die. ''Kk, that''s hard ......'' Makoto began to turn pale. This could be a flashback. Don''t let PTSD set in here. ''I think it was the comet that brought you here, Alina, and I''m grateful. Thank you. We''ll take care of the rest. ''I don''t know about that. Get along with each other, boss. After class I went to the rose garden as usual. Alina had not come. Without her, this place is nothing. I wonder how Mr. Akakusa got this space. ''Do you want to clean up ......'' I picked up the broom again and began to sweep impatiently, as the environment was still less than perfect. I open the window to let the air out. The air is terrible. I open the door for better ventilation. "Oh, my God! ''Move aside.'' Alina was standing in front of the door. She stared at me with a slightly upturned eye, and I was a little frightened. She walked briskly and put her bag on the long desk with a thud. Every move she made was loud. I swallowed the words that were about to come out of my throat and focused on the large paper bag in Alina''s right hand. ''Alina, what''s that in your right hand? That''s pretty big.'''' ''Your head is in there. It''s fresh. ''What? I think you''ve got the wrong guy. I don''t think I''m a machine with a brain I don''t even know I have...'''' ''Of course not. You''re worth less than a cabbage. He seems to enjoy hurting me by saying harsh things. You say it''s worth less than a cabbage, but I think a cabbage is a pretty important thing. By bringing me up as an object of comparison, is he trying to tell me that comet Sakakiki is a worthy existence? Is it a compliment made to look like a put-down? You tsundere. But if housewives had to choose between my life and all the cabbages in the world, I think they''d choose the cabbage, no questions asked. Sad. This is reality. Human life is lighter than a cabbage. Alina reaches into a paper bag and pulls it out. Wow. Blue roses. Many blue-tinted roses. She took out a bouquet of them. She put them in a small vase and placed it gently on the long desk. How often do you water roses? ''These roses don''t need watering.'' ''''It''s going to die, isn''t it? ''I wonder if you know what preserved flowers are. No.'' ''It''s a flower that''s been dehydrated and processed. They''re dead, so they''re fine.'' I didn''t know there was such a thing. My mother makes preserved flowers as a hobby, so she gave it to me. So I thought I''d bring them into this drab room. Alina gazed lovingly at the roses. She always wrinkles her brow, which is an unexpected aspect for me. Her smiling face was almost creepy. I''ll be careful not to talk about this, because I''m sure I''ll get the maximum punishment for it. Alina. Why did you come? When you showed up at the gym. ''Think with that walnut brain of yours. This response is to be expected, as I don''t expect to get an easy answer right from the start. Society is not so kind as to give us easy answers. I stopped asking because Alina seemed to be enjoying arranging the blue roses. Alina in a good mood is a nice picture. ''Well, that''s that,'' she said. ''What is it?'' ''Why are you talking about me dating you? I''m about to run out of patience. ''That''s a problem for me, too. I''ll make an excuse, but let''s be cool. Don''t kill me. ''No, but I hear it all around me. Do something or I''ll erase your name from the family register. What kind of state power does this woman have? I''m going to clear up the misunderstanding, because it''s annoying to me too. It will take time, but it''s better to move quietly. It''s better than saying it out loud and being conspicuous. But I''m dating a beautiful girl, Arina Hiba, that''s something to be proud of. ''Give me your hand. I''ll peel off all your fingernails. I ran into the men''s room. I watched Alina walk away in frustration, and it was the day I felt the greatest sense of superiority I had felt in a long time. 10-a person who knows roses... Today I was assigned to help the art club. I heard that the girl who was supposed to play the role of a model was absent today due to a cold, and I overheard that, so I made a proposal to the class art club that I could bring a beautiful girl. The head of the art club, Shinji Miyazaki, readily agreed and told me to come to the art room after school. At the rose garden, his base of operations. Hello! Alina was already in the rose garden. I greeted her cheerfully, but she continued reading without a glance at me. She did not respond to me, so I doubted my existence. Don''t tell me I''m already dead......? ''Oh, there''s more flowers. '' On the long desk, unknown flowers had been added to a new small vase. ''Is this one of those, blizzard flowers......'' ''Preserved flowers''. ''Oh, that''s it. What kind of flower is that? ''Helichrysum''. ''Heh ......'' It was the first time in my life that I had heard the word. I don''t know anything about flowers. But the beauty of flowers is that you can feel their beauty without knowledge. It is an art that anyone can enjoy. ''Alina, we''re going to the art room today. ''What are you going to do to me next? ''All you have to do is read. Nothing is easier than this. ''Okay. You''re paying me. I''ll go. ''No, this is a free service--'' ''Let''s go.'' With a paperback in hand, Alina headed for the door of the Rose Garden. I can''t tell if she''s motivated or not these days. I think I''ve matured since we first met. When she arrived at the art room, the members of the art club were generally astonished. Alina entered the art room with an air of brazenness, as if she had come to break the rules of the dojo. I followed her stealthily. When the art club members saw me, their faces turned doubtful. Yes, I''m the bad guy. I immediately went up to Shinji Miyazaki to explain the situation. Thank you, comet. You came. You mean the model is ......? ''Yes. It''s Arina Hiba, a tsundere high school girl. I think she''d make a good model. Gwahhh! A sharp pain shot up my side and I screamed. I turned my head and looked behind me with a sideways glance and saw Alina. She was holding a mechanical pencil in her right hand. The tip of the pencil was digging into my side. She looked like a yandere woman who stabbed a two-timing a**h*le with a kitchen knife. No, stabbing him elevates her to a murderer. Yes, I''m going to die now. Shinji, this is Alina Hiba. I felt sorry for Shinji, who was so shocked, so I turned around once more and whispered to Alina. He turned around again and whispered to Alina: ''Alina, you should be reading a book. The art club needs a model for sketching right now, so I chose you on an emergency basis. I don''t want you to be nude or anything...'' she says. He punched me in the stomach. My gall bladder was displaced about ten centimeters. ''...... please keep reading. That''s all you have to do. ......'' ''So. I don''t care. He turns to Shinji again, holding his side and stomach. ''That''s right. You may begin. ''Oh, thank you. Alina-san, it''s nice to meet you today. Alina nodded with her eyes downcast. So began the time for drawing Alina. She sat down on a chair in the correct posture to read a paperback book and began to dexterously flip through the pages. She did not roll up the pages, but rather shifted them with her thumbs. She seems to be trying her best in her own way. I had nothing to do in particular, so I hung around and observed her sketching. I have no sense of art, so I was overwhelmed by the skill of the art club members as they drew smoothly on the white paper. As I followed with my eyes the lines that gradually took shape without hesitation, I realized that each member of the club had his or her own personality. The beginning of the drawing, the density of the lines, the strength of the shadows, the smoothness of the curves. It is difficult for me, an amateur, to describe, but each of them had their own sensibility infused into their paintings, and there were many different Alinas there. Alina continues to play the role of a model. Serious (?). Seeing Alina''s face, I decided to at least buy her a juice and left the art room. When I arrived at the vending machine, I stood there wondering what Alina liked. Coffee? Green tea? Monster? Turmeric? Shijimi clam juice? Sesame oil? Cement? Mercury? Well, it''s hard to imagine. It seems to drink anything. As I was groaning, I heard a voice calling me. It''s you, isn''t it? Hello. ''Isn''t that Aki-senpai? It''s been a while. We''re in the same school, but I''m surprised we don''t see each other. I met Aki in the health committee in my freshman year. We were on the same wavelength or frequency, and Aki frequently got involved with me. She was interesting and talkative without being boring. ''What''s wrong? Staring at the vending machine. You were thinking about how you could get it for free, weren''t you? It''s a shame. I was just trying to figure out how to get the vending machine to spit out all the coins and bills it swallowed. ''Awful. Let me know if you come up with something. I''ll try ATMs around town. ''Shall we both fall to the dark side--'' I thought he was funny as usual. Aki is a person who doesn''t know what she''s thinking and often cracks jokes. That''s why we are on the same wavelength. So, what were you really doing? I stared at Comet since I found him, but he seemed to be in a lot of trouble. I wasn''t sure if I should talk to him or not. It''s not such a big deal. I was going to buy someone a drink, but his tastes are a bit of a mystery when you think about it. ...... He tends to say sharp things when he talks, so I was being cautious. ''Heh. Could that girl be Alina? ''Eh! Aki-senpai, you were psychic? Isn''t it amazing? I can shatter any substance without touching it. He poked me. What a gentle touch, when I think back to the pain of the pencil prick just a few moments ago. I feel like a pudding. I bit down on the blissful climax that was melting away. How do you know Alina? I went to junior high school with Alina and we used to talk sometimes. I found her because she stood out among the new students at the high school. She''s so cute. ''I didn''t know that. Alina talks to other people too. What do you mean by that? You''re not too close to Alina, are you? Close, huh? ''Alina, you didn''t join the club, did you? ''''Was Alina in any club activities in middle school?'''' I was on the basketball team. We didn''t have any contact as a club because we were indoor and outdoor students, but I met Arina as a member of the library committee. ''''Oh, did Aki-senpai play soft tennis in junior high school as well?'''' Yes, yes, it''s nice and warm. It was too good to quit after middle school, so I continued in high school. The last tournament in the summer ended with a poor result, but it was fun. I see. I think I understand why Alina knows so much about soft tennis. I felt sorry to pry any further into her life, so I decided to leave her out of the conversation. Aki, please do your best on your entrance exam. I''m looking forward to seeing you shine in soft tennis in college. ''You''re a good girl! Comet-kun! It makes me cry!'''' I bought a glass of tomato juice for myself and decided to give Alina a cup of coffee. ''Wait a minute. This is good. Stopping my right hand, Aki-senpai pushed a cup of thick milk cocoa. ''This is the right one. Satisfied, Aki wandered off. She was as unique as ever. It would be a shame if she could make boys fall in love with her even more if she had that kind of element in her. She doesn''t seem to want to do so. 11-study He returned to the art room with the purchased drink in his hand. It seemed that the drawing was still going on. Alina did not seem to be tired of sitting at all, but was rather concentrating on her typing. She did not move a bit, so that the art club members were drawing her in exactly the same position as she was in real life. After a while, there was a break. Alina also got up from her seat to take a break. She was staring out the window in a daze, and I handed her the cocoa I had bought earlier. ''Thanks for your hard work. Here''s something for you. Rolling her eyes, Alina accepted it with both hands. ''What, what''s wrong? ''...... I feel like once upon a time, someone used to give me cocoa just like this one.'' I guess Aki-senpai and Alina really know each other. The word "once upon a time" caught my attention. I wonder if Alina hasn''t met Aki since she entered high school. And she forgot to say ''I think she was there''! I don''t want to intrude into Alina''s relationship unnecessarily, but I am curious. Are you guys fighting? I sipped my tomato juice, being health-conscious, and Alina continued reading while sipping her cocoa. Shinji was approaching us, so I guessed his break was almost over. ''Thank you, Alina-san. I''ll finish next time. ''Yes.'' He picked up his paperback again and went to sit in his former chair. I sip my tomato juice and think. How did Alina come to avoid human contact and to speak in such an abhorrent way? Or is it just the way she is? Even from Aki''s story, it seems that Arina had a normal school life in junior high school. From the way Alina talks, she may not know that Aki is in her high school. Aki himself has not spoken to Arina. This can only mean that something happened at the junior high school. It seems that there is a deeper mystery in Alina. ''When you stuff something in your head, something is sacrificed, isn''t it? I muttered in the rose garden. I''m not talking to myself. There''s another girl in there. ''I think the whole world adds up to zero. When someone laughs, someone cries. When someone goes up, someone goes down. I think it''s prime minus zero. I ask Alina, who is quietly studying next to me. ''Hey. Hey... studying definitely shortens your life span, doesn''t it? ''Shut up. I''ll stick a mechanical pencil in your ear. Midterms are coming up. High school tests are quite important. They are very important for special student programs, scholarship programs, entrance examinations with recommendations, and so on. If you do not take them properly, you will definitely regret it. However, most of the students do not do it even if they understand it in their head. It is simply because it is too much trouble. Whether you do it or not is one of two things: your future self will either hate the past or admire it. It comes down to one of two things. I''m the kind of person who likes to smile in the end, so I asked Alina to teach me. But Alina was too quiet and did it alone, so I had no intention of teaching her. The support for club activities has been suspended until the mid-term exam is over. I''m going to be in trouble if I don''t study. ''''So.'''' It would be unfortunate if my intentions and Mr. Akakusa''s intentions hurt Alina''s grades, which are always in the top 10. I don''t want to create a bad atmosphere after the test is over. This club is for Alina, after all. It is a ghostly club that does not exist on paper. Alina ''......'' ''Alina-san''. ''......'' ''Alina-chan''. ''......'' ''Ally-'' ''Shut up, you cancer cells of the earth. ''Have you ever taught a class?'' ''...... no''. ''Try teaching me something. I''m doing English right now, is there any efficient way to remember words?'' ''I don''t have anything to teach you. ''No, I''ve got something. My sister will be happy. ''You have a sister. ......'' ''What''s the matter, why do you press your temples? ''I feel sorry for you that this is your brother. ......'' I was a little hurt because he really pitied me. It''ll be closed soon, though. ''So, tell me. English. English isn''t really my thing. Help me, Alina. Light of hope. ''Read it aloud. You''ll learn it if you ooh and aah.'' ''Au-au-au-au-au-au.'' I''ll leave the window open. You can jump out anytime you want.'' ''Okay, okay. I''m sorry. After that, I studied hard. Alina, too, kept her hands off the paperback and kept her pen busy. Today''s after-school session ended with a little cursing and silence. With the test approaching, some of the students began to cut their recess time to study in the classroom. They are busy with their own vocabulary books, calculations, and other various studies. My grades are usually in the upper middle of the range, a little higher than the average. I have been studying hard at home with the power of going home because I want to get high grades. Since I had time, all I had to do was to learn how to study in a way that suited me, but that was the crucial part that was not so subtle. ''Makoto, how is your academic ability? ''Normal''. ''I see. The answer is too normal to say anything. ''It''s really normal! It''s not particularly outstanding or terrible. It''s going to be like that again. ''I guess everyone is having trouble.'' ''''Yes, that''s right.'''' At lunchtime, after dinner with Makoto, I went to the library. I went there expecting to find Alina there, but she was unusually absent. I looked in Alina''s class, but she was not there. I almost went to the girls'' restroom next, but then I thought of the possibility of going to the Rose Garden. I went to the rose garden and sure enough, Alina was studying there. Your face is enough for me only after school. When are you going to get plastic surgery? ''You''ve been too harsh as soon as we met. Are you studying? ''''So.'''' I was wrong about one thing. I thought a guy with outstanding grades was a genius and didn''t do much studying. Since Alina is always in the top 10, I assumed that she was an example of the same thing, but I was just being shallow. The best people are the ones who don''t run away and do what they have to do. I hate it, but I have to do it. They subconsciously look for excuses or make up reasons why they can''t do it to convince themselves. I''m like that and most people are like that. They don''t know how to study or how to improve their efficiency. Because they have never done it. As long as the laziness of trying to do things the easy way is still smoldering, you will never make any progress. She''s not running away, she''s competing. We have to do it. ''If you''re going to jump, do it quickly.'' ''I ain''t gonna die. I''ll study too.'' ''''So.'''' I studied during my lunch break alongside Alina. After school, she was still studying. I follow her lead and study English, which is my weak point, but I can''t seem to get it into my head. As I was thinking of a better way to study, I remembered something that Alina had said to me once. She said, "English will improve if you keep speaking it? ''Wow. Why is there a dead toad next to me ...... really sucks ......'' ''Homo sapiens. You said it before, all you have to do is talk. ''Right.'' ''Oh, did you just say that? Or do you mean it? I''m serious. ''Explain it to me. Why is it good to say it out loud? Alina looked very tired and worn out. ''Please. Alina, the holy mother of us all. ''Yes. I''m only going to say it once. Then study. ''Roger that.'' ''The reason why Japanese people can''t remember English words or understand the grammatical structure of English is simply because the way they understand the meaning of Japanese and English is completely different. ''Hou''. English uses alphabetic characters. These alphabetic letters are arranged to represent words. And the letters of the alphabet are classified as ''phonetic'' letters. It was the first time I heard the word. As the Chinese character means ''letters that represent sounds''. The characteristic feature of the phonetic alphabet is that you can pronounce a word just by looking at it. This may sound ordinary, but it is very useful. Even long words that are new to me can be pronounced even if only vaguely. Alina pointed to my English textbook, I can pronounce this word even if I don''t know what it means. That is the advantage of phonetic alphabet. Can I go on? ''Oh.'' Next is Japanese. Japanese is a language that utilizes three types of characters: hiragana, katakana (phonetic alphabets), and kanji (Chinese characters). Hiragana and katakana, like the alphabet, are phonetic characters that do not have a single meaning. Kanji, however, is different. Kanji characters are called ideographs, which means "characters that express meaning". Characteristically, you can understand the meaning just by looking at it, even if you can''t read it. It is a long list of kanji characters, and even if you don''t know the correct pronunciation, it is a convenient character that can convey the meaning just by looking at it. I said "phonetic characters" earlier, but you couldn''t get the meaning of "hy onji" just from the sound, could you? Since there are too many homonyms, there are too many possible kanji to apply to a single word to find the right one. That''s why, when we were in elementary school, we were forced to learn kanji by writing them down. Because it is best to memorize Kanji visually. Sound is not so important. Alina continued after a short pause. ''You didn''t tell me about the disadvantages of English. English does not have the advantages of kanji. That is, if you see a word for the first time, you can''t grasp the meaning, that kind of thing. Kanji and English are the opposite. Of course spelling is important, but sounds are far more important in this language. Another feature is that there are not as many homophones as in Japanese. It means that one pronunciation does not have several different meanings. Tsumari''. ''Yes''. ''When you learn English, you should link the sound with the meaning. You don''t have to write much. Just pronounce a small sentence over and over again to get it into your head. Make sure you understand the meaning of the sentence. If you come across a word in a long passage that you have seen but cannot remember the meaning, try to pronounce it in your head. Then you will remember the sentence that contains the word that you have uttered many times. If you know the meaning of the sentence by heart, you can reverse the translation to find out which part of the translated sentence corresponds to which English word, and then you can finally remember the meaning of the word you have forgotten. That''s how you should study English, and if you talk to each other, your English will improve. ''It''s true, if you ask me, English and Japanese are totally different.'' ''So. People often make fun of the fact that Japanese people don''t speak English, but there are only a few countries where it is necessary to speak a foreign language, so they should leave it alone. It is more embarrassing not to be able to live in one''s native language. So there is no need to feel inferior. I think not only Japan but other countries should love their mother tongue more. There is not much demand for English speakers in Japan, but the most important thing is the way of education. As I said before, in Japan, they make students write words over and over again instead of pronouncing them. Even the slightest grammatical mistake is zero point. Grammatophobia is one of the reasons why they cannot speak English. It''s an effective way to learn Kanji, but it''s not so efficient for English. If you understand the difference between Japanese and English, you can improve your English grade. Do you understand? I nodded breathlessly. Alina''s explanation stunned me. I had never heard her analysis of the English language before, nor had I thought about it. It was a new concept, a new feeling. In short, Alina is awesome. It was very informative. It was mind-expanding. ''So. Study. ''Yes.'' I was in a state of shock. It was too much. I had no idea that there was a high school student around me who possessed knowledge and thoughts that would make people in high school gasp in disbelief. If I told this kind of story to a non-schooler, he would laugh and let it slide, but to me, it was an "interesting story" that aroused my curiosity. I want to hear more. I wanted to ask her more, but I knew that it would interfere with Alina''s studies. I hope I can do it someday. 12-water, soil, and pot... As a result, English scores improved from the previous year. The results in other subjects are mixed, but I think I can be proud of English. I must say that I am impressed that one way of studying can make such a difference. I used to think that if I just wrote something down, it would be all right, but I had been using a vague and ambiguous method. I would like to thank Alina for giving me the chance to change. The hallway was buzzing, so I went out of the classroom to see who had achieved the best grades. The top 20 students were listed in the order of their academic achievement, and Alina was in fourth place. How smart is she? The first place was Nidatsuru. The first place was still unchallenged. Nitotsuru is also famous for her mysteriousness. Alina is famous in a bad way, but Tsuru is famous for her talent. Although her name itself has an old-fashioned atmosphere, Tsuru''s appearance is more like a gyaru (gal). She is a natural gal. I don''t know about gal because I don''t know anything about gal. I never talked to her. Bottom line, it''s none of my business. I visited Ms. Akakusa during my lunch break. I have told you again and again that Ms. Akakusa is a beautiful woman. She is popular among teachers and even among male students. ''Hello, sir. ''Hey, what''s up, comet? Your beautiful voice makes my heart flutter! ''I''m here about Alina. ''I see. Has she changed in any way? Well, I can''t help but feel that things have changed a bit. At first I was getting a lot of rejection, but recently the number of times we have been able to have a decent conversation has increased. She is surprisingly talkative, isn''t she? ''Yes. I''m glad to hear that. I look forward to working with you in the future. ''Of course. but... sir. ''What is it? I asked the question I''d been wondering all along. ''Can you tell me when and under what conditions this activity will no longer be necessary? I wanted to ask you this. I don''t know where the end point is. There is an abstract theme of ''rehabilitating Alina,'' but no concrete policy. This will eventually lead to laziness and confusion for Alina. She will not even be able to answer the question of why she is here. If we do not establish a firm meaning at all costs, we will soon fall apart. In general, club activities have a realistic sense of purpose, with goals that are not too far away, such as competitions, contests, and so on. What we are doing may just be a way to kill time. We are gathering for the sake of "something", leaving aside the original meaning of our existence. I can''t help but feel that way. ''To be honest, I was going to make a decision based on my judgment. ...... ''That''s not good enough. Without a clear set-up, I may continue to do unhelpful things to Alina without realizing it. I don''t want that to happen, and I don''t want to waste my time either. I regretted saying that a little too strongly. Dr. Akakusa is in trouble! What a mess I''ve made: ....... ''Sorry. My request is that you develop a friendship with Alina. No, no, no. That''s like asking me to be arrogant and selfish. I don''t want to mess with people''s relationships, and it''s foolish to let people do that when they don''t want to. It''s annoying to say, "You don''t have any friends, so I''ll make some for you. Especially if it is Alina. She would say, "Why should I feel sorry for you? It is too arrogant to take one''s own value as a universal one and to modify it for others to have the same value. I don''t agree with you, sir. Or are you trying to tell me something indirectly? The doctor flushed a vague ''no''. There is definitely something going on. I want to get to the heart of it. It must be a big problem she has. But I also know that it is not an area I can easily venture into. But I have no right to do so. I''ve known that from the beginning. I understand. I will try to support Alina in the way I am doing now. ''Thank you. Please do. Back in the classroom, I realized that a sense of defeat was sitting deep inside me. I felt defeated, even though I had not even competed with Mr. Akakusa. I went to Makoto''s seat. Hey Makoto. Hey Makoto, what do you usually think when I say ''I''ll make you something'' to someone who doesn''t have any friends? ''You''re always so abrupt.'' ''I''m sorry. So, what do you think?'' ''Don''t you feel bad? I feel like I''m being disrespected. That''s just me. I''m sure there are people who would appreciate it. ''Yes. I knew it.'' ''What''s up?'' ''No. I''m just worried about being normal. Makoto tilts his head. Well, it''s no wonder. Anyone would think there was more to the story if you told it like this. The mid-term exam is over, so we start our activities again today, but I don''t know if Alina will come or not. I have a feeling that she will fade away after the mid-term test. If she does not want to come, it may be unnecessary for me to offer my hand to her. It''s called "thankless inconvenience. After school, before going to the rose garden, I stopped by the store. We have one goal. Cream buns. But the taste is so good, of course, the ratio is high. Speed is the key to victory. I knew that, and I was on my way at lightning speed. But the stall had already turned into a battlefield. Women like assault soldiers sprinting from the trenches toward the heart of the enemy, grabbing loot one after another and lining up at the checkout counter. That''s why Uncle Jam should get a new job here. It''s a lot better than making bean-jam creatures. That''s why I''m reaching for it. I can''t see the bread anymore. I''m sure the girls will think I''m a pervert. But I fought back. Because I want bread. I can''t help it. Hey, you! The scolding tone of his voice made me think he was the police, so I quickly withdrew my hand and stood upright. One of the girls, blushing, stood in front of me. You just touched me! Get off of me! I touched the bread. It''s a Japanese favorite, a carbohydrate mass. I didn''t do anything. I swear. I''m sorry. ''Well, I hope it wasn''t intentional. Hey, you''re Sakakiki, right? ''''Huh?'''' ''I''m Tsuru, we''re in the same class. Well, I haven''t talked to you once yet. There he was, the top brain of the school year, Tsuru Niwatari. 13-return the favor of a crane... Niwadatsuru is a thin gal in appearance. We were in the same class, but we never talked. I thought we were from different worlds in terms of personality, academic ability, and race. ''Oh, well, we never talked. ''Right. Nice to meet you. ''''Oh.'''' ''So, this is kind of sudden. ''''What is it?'''' What kind of person is Alina-san? There''s been a lot of bushwhacking lately. I don''t know what to say. You''ve got a reputation for bad-mouthing people. ''I know that. I don''t want to know what''s on the surface, I want to know what''s on the inside.'' ''What''s in it for him, huh? Wait a minute. Why are you asking me that? ''Cause I thought you guys were dating. There you go again. If we don''t do something about this false information soon, Alina is going to get really angry. In the past, I''ve had my shin slashed with a broom and my side stabbed with a champagne pen, but this time I don''t get it. Or a hammer to the skull. ''First of all, I''m not dating anyone. Let me define it this way. ''I asked a lot of people who is close to Alina and your name came up. So, what do you think? ''The information you handle is too risky. Tell me why you want to know that first.'' ''Mmm, stubborn ...... I was saved by her once.'' ''''Oh.'''' ''That was the winter of my freshman year. It was so cold that I had to wear a scarf. I fell down on the sidewalk, which was so slippery that it looked like a skating ring. Very badly. I hurt my knee and couldn''t stand up. It was bleeding and it hurt so bad I thought it was broken. I tried to stand up and grabbed the guardrail, but it was no use. Then a girl in the same uniform walked past me. And she squatted down with her back to me. She said, "Get in. She said that and gave me a piggyback ride. I didn''t even know her name, and I felt bad for giving her a ride, so I just shut down. In the end, I couldn''t even thank her until we got to school. ''That mysterious girl, she''s very powerful. ''So I looked for her at school ever since that day. I could only recognize her from the back, and it is a hard search to find someone in a school with nearly 700 students. I had half given up looking for her, but just the other day, when the rumor came out that you and Alina were dating, I knew you, but I had never seen Alina before. Then I noticed that she was always listed in the top students'' list, so I got curious and looked for her. And when I found her, everything matched. ''Alina, you must be...'' ''Yeah. Definitely Alina. Definitely Alina. But she was so conspicuous that I couldn''t talk to her for a long time because I felt like I shouldn''t approach her. It''s the same now. So I was looking for a chance, when I heard a rumor that Comet Sakakiki, a famous weirdo in my class, was dating Arina Hiba. I thought it was a good chance, but I''ve never talked to you before, and I thought I''d get strange looks if I suddenly talked to you, so I couldn''t ...... ask you again. She looks like she''s going to push you hard, but inside she''s the complete opposite. It''s an interesting gap. So, now is a good time. ''...... yeah''. Do you have time from now on?'' ''''Why not?'''' ''I''ll be your bridge between Alina and you.'' What, all of a sudden? ''You''ll never get another chance, so take the offer and you''ll win. Ummm...'' Tsuru in distress. ''What are you doing? Are you trying to kidnap me again? Geez. It''s him. Alina is looking at me and the crane with a quizzical expression. We bumped into each other at the store. She just wandered in at this critical moment when the cranes were wondering what to do. The cranes seemed to have stopped thinking, their eyes darting about. I waved my hand in front of him, but he did not respond. I had no choice but to take him with me. Tsuru. Let''s go! ''You''re really going to kidnap me. You should have your brain electrified. You''ll be dead before you know it. We don''t kidnap people in public places like this. But if you do kidnap Dr. Akakusa, give me a shout. I''ll cooperate. ''Huh. I wonder if someone could take it to the junkyard. I pulled out the stopped crane''s hand and headed for the rose garden. Alina followed close behind. When we arrived at the rose garden, the first thing I did was to make Tsuru sit on a chair and bring him back to consciousness. ''Hey, Tsuru! Come back here! ''Oh, my God. Where am I? ''This is the former teacher''s office. And this is Alina. Alina turned her head slightly and kept her eyes down. It looks like she''s bailing. Oh, wow, it''s nice to meet you. I''m Futatsutsuru. It''s written " ,animal crane". ''Alina Hibane''. ''Hey, Alina. Keep up the Japanese. Do you die if you say more than six words? ''Shut up, cicada shell. You should be collected by school children. So this foul-mouthed woman is Alina Hiba. Disillusioning, isn''t it? I''ll give her the extra status of being good-looking, but inside she''s worse than a rotten apple. Wicked witches would be surprised at the neurotoxin in these apples. I''m sorry.'' This sequence of events further confused Tsuru. ''Oh, God--. You know, they are a good couple, aren''t they? No. Let''s calm the crane down. Alina''s brow is furrowing, or has already furrowed. Let''s have a cool down. After a short break, Tsuru finally understands what''s going on. She is looking intently at the preserved flowers with great interest. Alina is reading as usual. I see. Comet is helping Alina-san, isn''t that right? ''That''s right. Dr. Akakusa asked me. Only a few people know about this. We are not a club and we are not volunteers, so we work in the shadows. Tsuru is the first to explain our relationship. Keep it a secret. I''m warning you... if you tell anyone, you''ll die. I''ll take '' ''Don''t worry, don''t tell me--or the comet will die. ......'' ''By the way, Tsuru is the first person other than me and Alina to enter this room. ''Is this a secret place or something ......?'' Crane looked around with a face that could be either stunned or impressed. Nothing in particular, though. Just some flowers that Alina brought, a desk, and a chair. So, Tsuru. You don''t say? ''...... yeah. I''ll tell you.'' Tsuru slowly stood up and stood in front of Alina. Alina placed the bookmark on her finger and dexterously rotated it as she continued reading. I opened the tomato juice as if I were watching a movie. I have a feeling that I will be able to observe an interesting chemical change. ''Excuse me, Alina-san. I''ve been wanting to thank you for everything. ''Why? I don''t think I''m involved with anyone. Except for a few rags in the corner drinking tomato juice. That''s just awful. But you know, you saved my life once. ''Yeah? I don''t remember. I don''t even know you. ''Last winter. I fell and hurt myself on the way to school and you gave me a piggyback ride, right, Alina?'''' Alina''s eyes widened for a moment. I, who have eyes of hell, not ears of hell, did not miss that moment. ''I doubt that. I don''t think so. I''m the kind of person who doesn''t want to help anyone, so it''s not possible. ''But I''ll always remember. Your dark hair, your height, your voice. It made me really happy. That''s why I''ve been looking for you at school for over six months, to thank you. I thought maybe you had graduated, and I honestly almost gave up. But recently I found out it was you and I really wanted to talk to you. ''You''ve got the wrong guy. I don''t need you to thank me. It''s not good for the person who saved you. Alina said coldly. As if to cut her off. She reached for the paperback again. ''But thank you for .......'' Tsuru muttered in a muffled voice. Alina did not say a word. Her eyes were dimmed and her long eyelashes were twitching, as if she was already reading. Tsuru turned around and faced me. Comet, I''m sorry for interrupting. I''m going back to the student council. ''Well, Tsuru is in the student council, right?'' I''m the secretary. Well then, thank you for your time. I''ll see you later. The usual silence fell over the rose garden. I put the tomato juice on the desk with a "kan" and spoke to Alina. Alina. You''re not a good conwoman. ''I don''t think so.'' ''Yeah. You shouldn''t even play poker. ''''So.'''' That''s it. Are you a tsundere? ''''Yes?'''' ''You were embarrassed. You were embarrassed. People are showing their appreciation. ''It wasn''t me.'' ''You tsundere. You''re a terrible liar. Alina groans and ruffles her hair. ''Yes, that''s me. That''s better. ''It''s okay, I know.'' ''......'' ''What?'' ''......''. ''You don''t like it? ''...... just don''t like to be thanked.'' ''Oh, really? ''That annoying laugh of yours. ''There''s something cute about you! ''Go away. I really feel sorry for your sister. ......'' I bit back a burst of laughter and stood up. ''I''m helping out with the tea ceremony club later, you wanna come? ''...... yeah.'' Things are changing. Maybe this is Alina herself. But I can say with certainty that the real Alina is asleep. She is in front of us, and she looks somewhat fake. It is not the true meaning of her philosophical identity, but an image that seems to be hidden, as if it were wrapped around her whole body. She seems to be forcing herself to act as the stimulating Alina of today. I may be wrong. But I sense an intention. Even if it is true, I don''t know why or why not. I don''t see how her avoidance of people benefits herself. Alina passes by. I feel relieved to see her unchanged profile, but at the same time I realize the burden of meddling in people''s lives. 14-information agent belonging to the homecoming depa... Today I helped the newspaper club. The newspaper club is seriously understaffed, with only five members. They seem to have a great need for information due to the nature of the club''s activities. They are in charge of sending out all kinds of information on school committees, club activities, current affairs, events, and so on. They are short of ''personnel'' who are indispensable to gather such information, so the recruitment requirements were stated in their article in a straightforward manner. Please give us a story for the newspaper club! Or people!" It really was written on a newspaper club flyer that happened to be posted in the hallway. I decided to join the newspaper club, especially since I had no plans to join the Alina Rehabilitation Project. After school, I told Alina to come to the rose garden and we headed for the newspaper club. ''So you''ve finally decided to expose your disgraceful behavior to the media,'' she said. ''The newspaper club''s ability to disseminate information is limited to the school. If I was caught browsing pornographic sites, publishing a newspaper wouldn''t kill me socially. Do you know why? ''That''s because it''s only spread within the school.'' Yes and no. The correct answer is that it is normal for high school boys, so there is nothing surprising about it. In this day and age, no one has a beautiful browsing history on their phone. He said so with a smug look on his face. And then I got kicked in the stomach. My lunch was about to come out. That''s a really bad story. I felt all my internal organs contract from the impact, and I fell down in the hallway. My consciousness fades like fog. My eyelids blacked out part of my vision and tried to lead me into the darkness. Is this death? I had no fear. I just feel better with every breath I take. The last thing I saw was Alina looking at me like I was a cockroach. And then I closed my eyes. ''Wake up. Shame on you. Of course I won''t die. The murder factor is R18. Arriving at the newspaper club, I knock politely and ask permission before entering. ''Well, I''ve come to the newspaper club because we''re short on staff...''. A male student in the newspaper club stands up with a bright look on his face. ''Really? It was worth writing! He raised his hands and looked up to the sky like a certain cover of a war movie. Vietnam War. Then I summoned Alina. ''And this guy will help us. Thanks for your help. Sure enough, they all rolled their eyes in surprise. I was used to seeing this reaction by now, so I continued. So, what kind of help does the newspaper club need? Toma Asakura, the head of the newspaper club, answered triumphantly. As you can see, there are not many members in the newspaper club. That''s why we need people who can bring us information! I mean, we need you to do stories and interviews and stuff!'''' ''Do you think we can be of any help?'' ''Don''t worry. Anyone can do it! ''Good. That''s right, Alina. So.'''' ''Well, let me explain! Toma Asakura started talking about what he wanted us to do. First, an interview with the club. The open school is coming up, and he wants to write an article introducing the school''s club activities for the people who visit the school. However, with a small number of club members, it would be a very difficult task to visit many club activities and write an article on each of them. Therefore, they would like to ask us to help them with the interviews. Next, he would like to know what is popular in the school. They are not in a hurry, but they would like you to find out what is trendy in the school for publication in the local news genre. Lastly, the job they would like to have. They would like to compile a ranking of everyone''s dream jobs in order to give those who are preparing for entrance exams or looking for jobs a chance to broaden their future paths. These are the three things he asked us to do. Naturally, the newspaper club will also take action. We were to act as assistants. I see. I get the gist of it. Do you have a deadline? ''Hmmm. Well, maybe two weeks? I''d appreciate it if you''d ask me, or any of my classmates, every now and then during this period! Are you okay with your schedule or something?'''' No problem. Me and Alina go home. Don''t put us together. Don''t talk to me like I''m pig feed. ''From now on, when you eat pork, think of me. You''ll thank me.'' I''m going to throw up. I don''t like it when people say they''re going to throw up with no expression on their faces. The conversation was at its usual silly pace. Toma looked surprised at the exchange. I have seen a stuttering face like Toma''s many times before. It is extremely rare for Alina to talk to other people, so this is a normal reaction. And there are rumors floating around about who I am that I talk to her. Yes, I am, I''m just a gentleman. So we were allowed to read the past articles of the newspaper club, taking notes where we could and trying to figure out what to ask. Alina next to me looked like she was not thinking, so I said to her, ''Hey, your soul is missing. Sure enough, she stepped on my toe as hard as she could. This gorilla wants me to have a compound fracture? After making a rough decision, I reported it to Toma. I had a rough idea of the questions I wanted to ask. All I have to do is submit it to the newspaper club, right? ''Yes, yes. We''ll write the article, you give us the story! That''s really helpful! Thank you! We have decided to accept such a pleasant thank-you and move on tomorrow. Alina will do the same, but it is unlikely that she will talk to us on her own, so we''ll be buddies after school. Tomorrow we will talk to her as if she were a prowler. 15-interview ''Yo''. Hm? He offers a pleasant greeting to Makoto and continues his speech. I''d like to interview you, okay? What kind of interview? ''Club activities and stuff.'' I don''t mind. ''Azassss! Let''s get right to it. What kind of a club is the badminton club? Oh, by the way, this might be in the newspaper. ''If it''s going to be in the newspaper ......, wouldn''t it be better to hear it from the director''s mouth?'' ''Certainly. It''s like you''re in charge. Can I ask you about your dreams for the future? I heard that the newspaper club is asking for some kind of ranking of dream jobs. Help us out. ''Well, I guess my dream is to be a chef. ''What? That''s too unexpected! I thought you wanted to join the French Foreign Legion or something. ......'' ''How do you think I''m going to be a soldier? ......'' ''You never know unless you ask. Thanks. First, add cook to the list of dream jobs. This is going to take a lot of asking. The newspaper club and the readers will not be interested unless there are a large number of people to count. We enter the next classroom and search for Yuri. Yuri, Hakuna, and Ran raise their hands when they see me. Okay, I think I can do it. Hello, girls of the tennis club! ''You wanted to see us? Yuri responded with a nasty grin. ''Yes. I''m asking around for a favor from the newspaper club, and I''d like to ask Yuri, the head of the tennis club, to promote the tennis club. ''What, Comet is in the newspaper club! From the side, Shirana''s eyes flashed and she released a strong voice. ''No, no, I''m just a volunteer. No, no, I''m just a volunteer. I''m not going to join a club now. Me and Ali...'' she said. I thought I had slipped up here and kept my mouth shut as quickly as I could. I knew that if I was too public with Alina, it might cause unnecessary rumors to start up again. I had a feeling that she might bring a knife next time, so I decided to keep my mouth shut. Wrong. I''m deeply involved with the Mariana Trench. Depth only. ''''Huh?'''' ''Huh?'' ''''Hmm?'''' Yuri, Hakuna, and Ran all put question marks in their mouths. All three tilted their heads. Only one of them, Yuri, had a sinister smile on her face. Oh no. This guy knows what he''s talking about. He''s not fooling anyone. Hey, what trench? Hey, Ma Alina Trench? Hey?'''' ''Calm down, Yuri. It''s the Mariana Trench. The Mariana Trench is a big deal. It''s so deep Everest could fit in there. It''s over 10,000 meters deep. It''s scary! ''Heh? That''s amazing, the Ma Alina Trench? Yuri, no. It''s the Mariana Trench. Hakuna''s naturalness saved me. Yes, say more, Hakuna, the Mariana Trench! Ran realized something, and her expression became similar to Yuri''s. Then Ran opens her mouth. No, you''re right. The Ma Alina Trench. ''What? I wonder if it was.'' ''Shirana, it''s the Ma Alina Trench. Ran is right. ''Ma Alina Trench ......?'' Two sets of eyes looking at me anxiously and expectantly. Cornered and with no more excuses, I confessed. Oh...'' I said. I work with Alina as a volunteer in the newspaper club. At my words, the students around the four of us took one look at me. I didn''t mean to say it out loud. I didn''t mean to say it so loudly, but it attracted some unwelcome attention, and I quickly looked for Alina, and found her. She was staring at me with eyes as sharp as eagles. It was as if a beam was about to come out of her eyes. What? Hmm? Well, that''s okay. So, advertising for the tennis club? I''m just going to say, right?'''' ''Yes, that is correct. ......'' I realized how scary girls are. If you ask me to write 10,000 words about that horror, I will write 100,000 words and submit them. It would make a paperback book. That''s what I was thinking as I wrote down Yuri''s story on my notepad. It''s horrible. Without the energy to retaliate, I ran my pen like an artificial intelligence being overworked by a human being. I thought it was inevitable that it would be against humans. No wonder the terminator declared war on us. ''I think it''s like ...... . Is that okay?'' Enough is enough. Next, may I ask what you three would like to do? ''I''m a school teacher! ''I think I''m a hairdresser. ''Illustrator! ''I see, I see. Surprisingly, they don''t all wear the same clothes. However, I have only interviewed Makoto, Yuri, Hakuna, and Ran, so it would be more difficult to cover them. I drew the first ''correct'' for each position. Thanks a lot. I may ask you again. ''All right, say hello to the Mariana Trench too. ''No, Maria ......, it''s okay. It''s the Mariana Trench. Yuri seems to like the way she treats me like an ass. She has the right personality for the position of head of an athletic club. She''s facing Hakuna. I''m a wanderlust, so this is also a different direction. In other words, I was taken in. In my defense, I decided to ask Alina about the results. I leave the three of them and go straight to Alina, who is reading in a sulky mood. Naturally, there were many curious eyes in the classroom. Hey, Shimoheiheihei. How''s it going? No. Like your brain. ''Majiska. Since when am I a philosophical zombie ......'' ''''So.'''' d*mn it, respond to my joke. You''ll just end up being the crazy one! ''Then I''ll ask you about your dreams. Do you have a dream job? ''......'' ''What, you don''t have one? I always thought that Arina Hiba was aspiring to be a "Chick Appraiser" who can distinguish between male and female chicks. ......'' ''Three days later . . you''re feeding crayfish in the pond.'' ''Remember me every time you see a crawfish. I''ll find you and curse you from the afterlife. Alina awkwardly returned to her reading, expecting another barb. I tried to talk to her, "Hey, I''m not finished yet," but she ignored me. My ears caught the slightest whisper. I heard her say, "I did my best for you, Alina..." I thought she was...? I looked back at my comment and realized that I had stepped on a land mine. ''Aaaaahhhh! ''Hey, what''s the fuss? ''Aaah! ''Shut up. I''ll cut your aorta.'' ''Yes...... Alina, is there a job you aspire to......'' ''I don''t have a .......'' ''Well, I''ll see you at ...... after school, roses--'' I almost made the mistake again, so I slapped myself. Oh, shit. Rose garden... that sounds so bad. I''m done saying this. I don''t know what kind of fantasies the listeners will have when they hear me and Alina in the rose garden. The only way is to slip into a dream like in a certain movie and plant or rewrite memories. See you in 10 years. ...... What am I saying? You''re from the future. Alina''s face was plastered with incomprehension. I can''t help it. I don''t get it either. Where the hell is the solution? Why is there no solution to this equation? Tell me, Einstein. I bumped into Makoto in the hallway as I left the classroom. Comet. Don''t combine ''o'' and ''comet. It sounds like ''sewage'' to me now. ''What''s wrong with ......?'' ''What''s the matter with you, ......?'' ''I don''t know why, looking at Comet now, I have a sense of d j vu. ...... ''Stop it, Makoto! Don''t recall bitter memories! Makoto had a flashback to the time he confessed his feelings to Alina. She groaned and went back to her classroom, holding her stomach. You must have been traumatized a lot, you know. 16-a girl who begins to poison... Makoto is slumped over my desk. He is down with PTSD. He''ll get over it, so I let it pass. Next is Shinji Miyazaki. He is the head of the art club, so I go to ask him about publicity. Shinji was drawing his own hand. He seems to like drawing a lot, since he spends all his free time on it. Thanks for the other day. ''''If it was Alina''s modeling for me, I''d be grateful too.'''' I''m glad to hear that. So, can I do an interview with the art club? The newspaper club wants to write an article introducing the club''s activities for new students. ......'' ''Okay! Our club membership is dwindling, so we''d love to have something like that!'''' Thank goodness Shinji was so enthusiastic and eloquent. It was a hellish experience in the class next door, so it was a big difference. It was heaven. It''s wonderful! Having finished writing Shinji''s interview, I decided to ask him about his dream job. Do you have a job that Shinji aspires to? Are you still in the art field?'''' ''''At the moment, I think I''m a CG creator. After graduating from high school, I plan to study technology at a vocational school. Oh. I have no idea what''s going on here. I wonder if they design objects or characters in games. I don''t understand a single millimeter. I''m sure the drawing skills I developed in the art club will be put to good use in that career. Lunch break was almost over, so I asked around about the job I wanted to get. I didn''t even know who was the head of the department, so I just asked around about jobs that anyone could ask about. It seemed rude to ask around about other people, but surprisingly, they answered with smiles, which was a good thing. After school, I first went to the kiosk. And I was sunk. Well, there was no way I could win. There was no way to move the judo club unless I ran over them with a tractor. I asked one of the judo club members about his dream job. He said that he wants to become a licensed tax accountant, and that he is aiming to go to college first. I have learned the hard way that you can''t tell what''s on the inside from what''s on the outside. Alina was already sitting in the rose garden, and there were more flowers I had never seen before. This place is turning into a flower garden. ''What have you accomplished? No.'' Good luck future chick appraisers. ''All right, let''s go around the club. ''I''ll make you scrambled eggs.'' ''Yes, yes, my brain is scrambled eggs to begin with. Alina and I left the rose garden immediately. We decided to go to the baseball club first. The sun was shining even though it was mid-September, and Alina quickly put on her hat. The ground was filled with shouts and the metallic sound of balls being hit. The dust from kicking the dry dirt and the dirt stained clothes were typical of the baseball team. ''Wow, the baseball team is full of energy,'' she said. ''Yes, it really is. It''s too hot for me.'' ''Don''t say that. People are not cut out for this. You''re worse at socializing than any extraterrestrial intelligence. So.'' Yes, that''s right. We walked up to the baseball coach and talked to him. Excuse me. Are you the baseball coach? Yes, that''s right. What''s wrong?'' The newspaper club wants to publish an article advertising each activity for next year''s freshmen, but they are short on staff, so we''ve come to ask on our own behalf. Do you have any time to spare, Mr. Director?'' Oh, I see. In that case, can you wait another 10 minutes or so? There will be a short break after that, so you can ask the head of the department there.'''' ''Thank you very much. I''ll wait around there. Alina and I sat on the grass for a while. Feeling the breeze in the air, time passed by in a blur, and each moment wasn''t so bad. Alina had her hair pulled back into a ponytail. She''s a beauty when she''s quiet. What a waste. ''Keep your eyes forward. If you look at me again I''ll skewer you from the brain. ''Alina, so I''m supposed to get a stick out of my ass? Or is it the front? The last one was just in time--'''' ''Please die.'' Spin the words and all hell breaks loose. Frankly, I''m used to it. But I won''t be put down for a moment or two. The ones who are depressed are usually the ones who really fell in love with Alina. It''s hard to recover when someone you really love rejects you down to the tips of your hair. It destroys not your instincts but your reason. You''re a scary man. You''ve got a clear face. I said I''d skewer you. ''In that case, the stick sticks out from either the front or the back--'' ''Okay. I''ll go break the lightning rod on the roof. It''s best to give it a try. ''Don''t do it, don''t do it, don''t do it. We were talking nonsense when the whistle blew. Apparently it''s recess. We got up and walked over to where the baseball team was hanging out. We didn''t know who the manager was, so we asked a freshman who was nearby. The freshman pointed to a stranger with a hot-blooded look on his face. I went up to him and talked to him. ''Is he the head of the baseball team?'' Hm? Yeah, I know, but...'' ''I heard that the newspaper club is planning to publish an introduction of each activity for next year''s freshmen. We''re here to interview on behalf of the newspaper club. ''Nothing wrong with that, but...? ''''What''s wrong?'''' The manager was astonished to see Alina. Alina raised her eyebrows and tilted her head in an intimidating manner. She was as confused as I was. No, it''s nothing. ''Okay. Then please do.'' Nakatsu Hitotaki, the head of the baseball club, spoke while acting suspiciously. He spoke with his gaze fixed on the lower right corner of the room, occasionally gesturing with his hand. The content of his speech was quite exemplary. The only unnatural things about the conversation, other than the sequence of events, were Nakatsu''s suspicious behavior and Alina''s crossed arms, which made her look like a guy in a game character selection screen. I think I''m slowly beginning to understand their relationship. I felt like I was starting to understand their relationship. ''Okay, okay. I''ll give it to the newspaper club.'' ''Please. Okay, here you go: ......'' I was about to say to Alina, ''I''m done, let''s go home. ''Wait a minute, Mr. Stalker. Alina said in a mocking tone of voice. 17-stalking boy... I thought Alina had started cursing me. But I thought it was out of context. I had no reason to stalk Alina, and I knew she would kill me if I did. The first to react to Alina''s words was Hidetaki Nakatsu, the head of the baseball club, who was about to turn his back on her and go back to the field. He froze and looked back at me awkwardly. It''s you, you. I forgot your name. You''re not stalking me anymore, are you? Hidaki is silent, dripping with cold sweat. Maybe it''s just normal sweat. ''Mr. Stalker, you''re the head of the baseball team now. That''s great. It suits you better to stalk the ball instead of me, so you should do it from the beginning, Stalker. ''No, that was ......''. ''What? What do you mean it''s not? ''Yes, ......'' ''He followed me on my way home, he kept haunting the library, and he even came near my house. If that''s not stalking, what is? The baseball team members who were there, including me, were glancing at me like onlookers. The coach seemed to sense something and said, ''You guys should practice! He said. Everyone except me, Alina, and Hitaki scattered. It''s not a bad thing to show affection. You sound like you don''t really mean what you say. But it''s bad to keep doing things that people don''t like. No matter how much you call it an expression of love, it''s not you who feels it, but others. It hasn''t happened recently, but the next time you come after me, I''ll report it to the teachers as a topic of conversation. Somehow I could read a relationship in which Nakatsu Hitaki was stalking Alina Nippa. I was sorry to see him turn pale and shrink away, but what''s wrong is wrong. At the same time, I thought that Alina must be going through a hard time. I''m not worried about that, but I''m sure a weak high school girl must be worried when she finds out that a stalker is after her. Whether Alina is weak or not may be debatable, but that doesn''t change the fact that she is a nuisance. Do you understand? ''...... Oh'' ''So.'' Yes, I got the signature line, I''m good at ''so''. Alina turned her back to Hitaki and walked away. I said to Hidaki, whose face was clouded with regret and impatience, ''Good luck. That was all I could say. I was not a party to the incident, nor had I known him for a long time. I bowed to the director and left. The last thing I saw was the director going somewhere with Hidaki. I caught up with Alina and she immediately spoke up. What''s next? ''Track and field.'' ''''So.'''' ''Listen, don''t lose your temper, okay?'' ''I''m not mad. ''Were you being stalked?'' ''Yes, I know. Just a month or so ago, it was frequent. I thought about tying his hands and feet and throwing him in the river, but I didn''t have the strength, so I ignored him. Maybe it''s because I''m busier now that I''m director. It hasn''t happened much in the last month. But there was something there. ''Your obsession is like superglue: ......'' ''Approximately, I guess you started hanging around me again because you got curious about some stupid rumor that you and I were dating. ''Alina-san, the shit is dirty. ''Shut up. I''m going to the track quickly. She ran unusually, really unusually. I had never seen her run before. I was with Alina on many occasions, helping the tennis team, in the gym, but she always took her time. She untied her hair and ran with a beautiful form. Her shimmering hair shone in the setting sun. I saw something so graceful and beautiful in her eyes. A free and unique beauty sitting self-righteously in her part of the world. I admired her a little. 18-Dyeed in black.... I''m home. ''Welcome home, little sister. I''m lying in the living room, a machine that keeps sending images from the TV to my brain. I just mindlessly receive and sense the light information. I feel as if my body is gone. I want to rot forever. It was my sister''s voice that released me from this narcotic sensation. ''Mom, you''re dead. He''s alive. I was just synchronizing my body with the TV.'' ''No, my mind hasn''t come back ......'' My sister makes jokes like me because of our blood relationship. Maybe it''s not genetics, maybe it''s my language. I see and talk with my sister almost everyday, 365 days a year, so it''s not surprising that she is a little bit my color. While my sister was eating my mother''s food, I continued to watch TV. I was watching a program that summarized the news of the week. As I nodded my head and watched the program, she muttered, "There''s an owl in my room, I''ll ask my father to kill it. Alina would have hit me with a crowbar. The reason why I''m so depraved is because it''s 7 p.m. on a Friday. It''s the best time of the day when you don''t have to think about anything and you can face tomorrow. People who are involved in extracurricular activities will go to school tomorrow or Sunday. It''s black. If they want to do it, fine. I can''t think about it because rest is my first priority. I just lay there like a seal. I kept listening and watching the TV, which was full of common sense stuff that I should know about the Middle East, fires, internet flare-ups, disasters, international affairs, and so on. I''ve heard that if you watch TV too long, you become an idiot. I''m a clown controlled by a machine. I don''t want to move anymore. Do you know a man named Nakatsu? My sister asked me this while playing with her phone. It seems that she is one of those who are controlled by machines. The world is increasingly outsourcing its will to machines. Air conditioners to regulate body temperature, smartphones to pass the time, traffic management systems, computers that are the basis of business continuity. We live in a society that is based on all of these. Replacing human hands with machines, we strive for automation in the name of ''efficiency. It is a wonderful thing, but one day it will collapse. Many jobless people will suffer in search of work. Someday, artificial intelligence will take over the world and humans will lose their will before their perfection. Their technology will be so good that our efforts will be in vain. I guess it is similar to the reason why aliens do not appear before us. ''You''re dying, brother. No, it''s not. I''m almost ready to access the akashic records. What''s that? So, do you know a man named Nakatsu? ''If we have the same last name, I met him today. ''I heard that my classmate''s brother goes to the same high school as my brother. And I just got a call that he came home with a despairing look on his face. He didn''t say anything, so he got worried and asked me about it. ''You mean because I went to high school with him? ''Yes, yes. His first name is Hitaki. Hinomaru-no-Hitaki. Do you know him? You''re Mr. Stalker. ''You made my acquaintance today. Leave him alone. ''''Is there a reason for that?'''' ''Well, if I had to guess, I''d say it''s "twisted love". Don''t tell your classmate. You''ll be disillusioned. ''Super stupid ......'' ''Oh. Me too.'' How desperate are you, Mr. Stalker? If you were shocked that Alina threatened you, then you must have loved her very much. Or maybe the director said something to you. Either way, there are some things you shouldn''t do. It''s a crime. And you should be punished accordingly. After all, Alina is a girl. Terrorizing a girl is not a good deed. Well, it doesn''t matter. Tomorrow is Saturday. I don''t care. I woke up at 8:00 a.m. That sucks. I try to sleep 10 hours on weekends, so why am I waking up in the morning? I need 10 hours of sleep to feel refreshed. I''m in a sleep debt every weekday, and if I don''t pay it off on my days off, my body won''t be able to handle it. My sleep was interrupted by an incoming call on my cell phone. Who''s the guy who didn''t go to sleep with his phone on silent mode? It''s me. It''s me. "It''s you, isn''t it?" I woke up and didn''t know who it was. ''Excuse me, who is this? Are you kidding me? Oh, no. I really don''t know who you are. ......'' As I became more and more awake, I had an idea about the owner of the voice. ''Could it be Alina? ''Yes. ''...... ha! I don''t have Alina''s number or address. I never gave them to her, and I can''t think of anyone who could relay between her and me. But there must be a relay. ''How the hell did you get my number, ......? I don''t think it''s a credit agency or--'''' ''It''s Dr. Akakusa. Sir,......, you are not protecting my privacy. ......I don''t know your number in the first place, sir... I''m sure you gave Alina a document like a contact list.... ... ''Well, ......, what can I do for you?'' ''I have to help out at school,'' he said. Come quickly. I don''t want to come. Boom. He cut me off. ...... I had no choice but to go. I didn''t want to get killed after the holiday. I say to my sister who was having breakfast in the living room. I''m off to school. ''Brother, it''s Saturday. Are you sleepy? ''I know. I''m helping out at school. ''What? Can I go with you? ''Why would you do that? ''As a preliminary for the open campus! ''You don''t need to prep for open campus. ......'' ''Also, I want to see this Alina person! No, Alina''s not here. She''s not in the club. I knew it was going to be trouble, so I brushed it off. Then why are you going to school, brother? You''re not in a club either, are you? ''Going home doesn''t mean you''re off on weekends. But you''ve been home on weekends all this time, right?'' ''...... yes'' ''You''re definitely involved, aren''t you, Alina?'' ''...... yes'' I was convinced it was going to be trouble. 19-Nice to meet you... I haven''t been to school with my sister since elementary school. Back then, we both carried our school bags to school together. I thought deeply that we had grown up. It''s been more than five years now. Kids grow up so fast. My sister and I dressed in windbreakers. Uniforms are not comfortable, and it does not matter for my sister to stroll around the school. She looks like an athlete. When we arrived at the school, she exclaimed, "Oh my God! This is the high school you go to? Yes, that''s right. I may be a freak, but it''s a good high school. It''s not a zoo. They won''t take you and eat you. ''I''m surprised you got in, brother.'' ''Well, yeah.'' ''I''m so good at this.'' ''Call me if you need anything. Don''t wander around the school building or anything. They won''t notice if you''re dressed as a member of the sports club. ''Rajah! My sister ran through the school gate. How cheerful is she? I decided to go to the rose garden anyway. Looking back, I don''t know where to go in school. She cut me off unilaterally, that poisonous rose. She should have at least told me where to meet her before she cut me off. I entered the quiet school building and headed for the rose garden. If he''s there, that''s where he''ll be. I opened the door to the rose garden and sure enough, there was Alina in her school uniform. She''s wearing a uniform. ''Wow, you can wear clothes. What a compliment to a caveman. I was too lazy to put on my uniform, so I''m pretending to be a member of the sports club. ''It''s reckless to pretend to be a member of an athletic club when you can easily be mistaken for a dung beetle. If you get into an argument, you can''t beat him. So I ran away. ''What am I going to do now? ''I''m going to Dr. Akakusa''s. And then...'' Their footsteps echoed deep into the quiet school. We arrived at the staff room in silence. ''Mr. Akakusa! I brought him. ''Oh, thank you. Comet, I''m sorry it''s your day off. ''No, no, it''s for your sake. Alina expresses her displeasure. ''So, what do you want me to do? ''I''d like to move some things around in the infirmary. ''Eh, okay.'' That''s the only reason I came to school. ...... in death. ....... Alina agreed without a trace of disgust, saying ''Okay. I wonder why her attitude is so different from mine. Please let me sleep. There was no way we could say such a request to Dr. Akakusa, so we headed for the infirmary. After unlocking the lock of the infirmary, Dr. Akakusa gave us some instructions. First of all, Comet, will you take this to the front of the staff room? ''Yes.'' Climbing the stairs with one of the middle-grade bookshelves. Why am I doing this! I''d rather clean my room than clean the school on my day off. But Alina''s here. She would have turned down 120% of the jobs. But the fact that she came at all shows that she has a weakness for Ms. Akakusa. In a different way, I''m weak, too. I put the shelf near the entrance of the staff room and went back to the infirmary. The door was closed, so I opened it. I left it there. And my body froze like lead. It wasn''t a lucky break. It''s not like Alina was changing or Dr. Akakusa was undressing. It''s always the right moment. Something''s wrong with Alina. Not the sharp, intimidating Alina, but the soft Alina sitting in the chair. For a moment I thought it was someone who looked like Alina. And when she saw me, instead of getting sullen, she bailed. She showed respect to me, even though she had started by abusing me when we first met. This can''t be happening. It would be more likely that the watch would be torn apart, stirred in the pool, and accidentally returned to its original state. A...... lina? ''Yes. I''m Alina Hiba. Nice to meet you. Nice to meet you. Her voice was so clear, so pure white. This meant that she was neither lying nor joking. 20-overlapping rose... No, no, no. You''ve seen him many times, almost every day. How come it''s nice to meet you. Is that it? Does Alina have a twin and the other one is playing a joke on me? If that''s the case, Alina should learn a thing or two. If you behave like this, you will be known as a wonderful beautiful girl. It''s almost always better than being a sharp-tongued character. No, it''s not nice to meet you. A new kind of harshness. ''......I''m sorry, I apologize if I hurt your feelings.'' ''Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. You''ve been very non-biting today. What''s wrong? I''m not biting you, am I? I''m so sorry! I apologize! ''Whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa! Just sit down! What the hell is wrong with you, Alina? Arina Hiba, who has completely turned into a beautiful girl. Her personality is the complete opposite of what it was just a few minutes ago. If the original Arina was a habanero, this Arina is a soft ice cream. Her personality is 180 degrees different. The Alina of today has a vulnerability that makes you want to protect her. She has a vulnerability that makes us feel a genuine desire to protect her. If you put Alina in this state in a classroom, the men around her will go all out to follow her. She will be pampered and admired, and a harem world will be completed. Makoto will confess again, and the baseball team leader will start stalking her again. ''Comet-kun, this is Alina. ''I know Dr. Akakusa. Is this an intelligence quotient test?'' ''No, it''s not. She''s the real Alina Hibane. ''Are you talking about the philosophical side of things? The definition of identity or something like that?'''' It may indeed touch on that. To tell the truth, she has a dual personality, dissociative identity disorder. Dual personalities. I first learned about it as a reality. ''Dual, personality ......?'' Dr. Akakusa had studied psychiatry before, and he knew she had a dual personality when he talked to her. He found out early on that she had a dual personality. Alina Hiba has two personalities. One is the basic personality, the gentle Alina of today. This is the personality that has been with us since birth, Arina Hiba. The second is the master personality I''ve always seen, Arina with a poisonous tongue. This is the personality that was born at a certain time and has been in control of Arina for a long time. When Arina Nippa entered high school, she already had a dual personality. No one noticed it. There was no mention of it in her medical report. For some reason, "Alina the Toxic" continues to stand in front of "Alina the Basic". Dr. Akakusa thought so. ''The reason I asked Comet to rehabilitate Alina is because I want her to come back to the original Alina. Isn''t that what you''re doing now? ''If it''s really temporary, it can happen. But he''s going to pull himself away. Maybe in a little while they''ll go away. ''Can''t you do anything about it ......?'' ''She''s been through some kind of trauma. I can''t help her because I don''t know. But the reason why Alina, the main personality, is so strong may be due to the defensive instincts of her basic personality. In fact, right now Alina is unstable. So if the main person subconsciously thinks that she is not necessary, something might change. To be clear, there is no evidence. I stopped practicing psychiatry about halfway through. ''Is that why you asked me to do this?'' Comet''s personality was suitable because it did not match the rhythm of his master, Alina. When Alina-san rejects you, the people around you disappear like servants, but you don''t disappear. That is the factor that prevents her from achieving her raison d''etre. ''Um. You mean, I''ll be a hindrance to your master, Alina, who can''t achieve her goal of ''getting rid of people''? ''Yes. It''s going to be very stressful. But one day you''ll accept it. And then she will disappear. When I heard what he said, I shuddered to think of the seriousness of what I was doing. I would be saving a girl, but I would also be erasing a girl. In other words, the Alina I had been in contact with would be gone. I don''t know if I can do that. I can''t see Alina with her tongue as evil. To me, she is a normal Alina. The mild-mannered Alina in front of me looks more fake. But that''s what''s bothering her now. I wanted to tell you this today, Comet. And immediately the original Alina came back to life on her face. That look of frustration with the world. Normally I would have felt like crap, but this time I was filled with relief. You look like an octopus. You look so ugly. Now that sounds like a compliment to me. Before he left, Dr. Akakusa said in my ear, ''Please. I can''t do anything. I''ll do what I have to do. But after hearing about the dual personalities, I knew I had to redefine my guidelines. We must not do things randomly. It will end up hurting Alina. Alina and I left the school. We walk together. Silence reigns. I have to say something. But what do I say? I don''t think we should talk about my dual personality. It''s taboo. Talk, talk! Hey, you got something for me? ! As soon as I thought about it, I saw the school gate. ''Aaah! ''Shut up.'' ''Oh shit! I''m leaving my sister behind! ''You brought your sister? Siskon or ......'' ''Wrong! He said he wanted to go to ...... phone call ......'' I''m leaving. ''Aah! Hey, oh, he hung up on me! Why did you hang up on me! ''baaaaaaa '' ''What is this, a terrorist attack? Ugh! I''ve been tackled. An unidentifiable mass of flesh flew into my stomach like a bullet, knocking me down. It was my sister who came flying out of the bushes with a strange cry. ''Goooh ...... what the hell are you doing ......? ''I was waiting to surprise you! When he forgot about me and tried to go through the school gate, I thought, ''You''ve got to be kidding me,'' but I noticed, so it''s okay.'' ''Sorry. I forgot all about it. It''s terrible, terrible. And who''s that? My sister''s eyes were on Alina. ''It''s Alina Hinoha. A dangerous creature with a venom as deadly as a tarantula. ''Don''t tell me weird things.'' She folded her arms and glared at me in her usual tone. You must be Alina! Nice to meet you, I am Ugin Sakakigi, sister of Comet Sakakigi. U of the universe and silver of the galaxy! I''m in the third grade of junior high school!'''' ''Yes. Nice to meet you.'' Surprisingly, he had a weak attitude. Well, Alina only shows her attitude to people her own age. I wonder if there''s a reason for that. Hey, bro! Alina, you''re so beautiful! This is bad! What kind of relationship is this? My sister shaking me. ''Nothing! I told you before! What did you tell your sister? ''I didn''t tell him anything! It''s all right! ''A year from now, you''ll be back in the dirt. ''At least not in the schoolyard. ...... I don''t want everyone stepping on me. ......'' Alina seemed satisfied and turned around to leave. My sister looked at Alina''s back and said, ''You look so majestic! He was very impressed. It seems that he has been brainwashed, so I will try to cure him later. 21-us in the cold sky... The autumn leaves are becoming more beautiful with each passing day. It''s the season when the leaves start to fall, and for someone like me who doesn''t like the cold, going to school in the morning is a hellish march. The reason why I say "march" is because the rest of us do it too. I step on the cold concrete with other working people who walk like the dead. It feels as if the glorious sunlight is eagerly trying to melt us. What a hell. I look at the passing buses, crammed with people who are lying face down on the bus, holding on to the strap. They look like prisoners. As if they are carrying in their hearts the mass of fear and deep regret of the prison that awaits them. I want to go home...... That''s all I have to say. Probably between 0700 and 0830 in the morning, people in Japan have said it a total of 30 million times in their hearts. I alone have already contributed 100 times. ''Worst''. Worst," the soprano echoed, in a tone that seemed to describe my state of mind. I look up from my zombie-like downward slump. I''m dying to see you in the morning. You should be dancing on the freeway. ''Oh, Alina. It''s amazing that you already have the power to make jokes like that. I have a hard time even walking. I hate mornings. By the way, my sister Ugin does not hate mornings. Rather, she leaves the house with a bright smile and light steps. Like the opening scene of a girl''s anime. I, on the other hand, am a zombie who wanders around eating people. ''Don''t mention me. ''I know.'' She knows exactly who she is. That she is not the person who gave her the last name Arina Hiba. That she is not the real thing. She pretends to be Arina Hibane. She was aware of this long before we met in the library. I wonder what she thought when she saw the man who declared that he would rehabilitate her, or rather, erase her. I can''t say she''s been honest, but she''s been with me on my project. It''s like an active death. What the hell is she thinking? Alina and I walked side by side until we entered the school building. ''Alina, what are you thinking? ''How can I send you to Antarctica? ''You''ll get along with the penguins, won''t you?'' No, it''s not. We''re going to be penguin food. One minute you''re feeding pigs, the next you''re feeding penguins. Stop your smugness. There''s nothing to be proud of. See you in the rose garden. So.'' Dinner with Makoto after the lunchtime war. I was so excited to eat the bread I had miraculously won from the concession stand. You look like you''re eating really well. ''Of course. There are not enough of them for the high demand. Athletes are my enemy. ''You''ve got too much in your eyes about athletes. ...... I''m in the badminton club too.'' ''Oh, well, did you end up ending the rivalry between the badminton and tennis clubs after all? Talks are about to begin! I only heard up to the end, so I don''t know how it ends. Oh, yeah, that''s happened before. The incident of Nippa''s intrusion. ''So, what happened?'' ''It''s okay. We talked it over and decided to maintain the status quo. We made peace.'' ''Oh. That''s good. I hope Alina won''t feel too bad. I''ll tell you what. ''Hey, can I ask you something? What? What are Hinoha and Comet doing sneaking around? ''It''s a non-profit. ''Volunteer, sort of?'' Yes. A bunch of freaks, brought together by the teacher. I''ll say something like that. There may be some differences in interpretation, but it should be about right. ''Now there are rumors that Comet and Hinoha are up to something nefarious. What the hell is that? I''m not going to start a terrorist attack. ''Please don''t do that. It could be Nippa. ''He could sink at least one of the prefectures into the sea. After we finished discussing Alina''s meta-human theory, I went back to work on the mission the newspaper club had asked me to carry out. I went around asking my classmates about their dream jobs and what was popular on campus. Of course, I asked them to answer as much as they were comfortable with. They probably thought I was suspicious of their insistence, but if they had felt uncomfortable with such questions, they would never have been counted. Seeing the newspaper club members working so hard, I thought that they were desperate too. Since I was asked to do this, I have to take responsibility. I thought they were like the media, but they must be more fearless in asking questions under their busy schedule. This makes me think that the information we see is obtained with a great deal of effort. However, the shit content is still shit. What the hell? Grumpily, indeed grumpily, Alina said, putting a sting in her words. Alina was not in the classroom, so I went to the rose garden, and sure enough, she was reading as usual. There were probably more flowers, although I didn''t know anymore. Is he going to turn this place into a garden? Have you had any results since then? ''No.'' ''Did you ask anyone?'' No one. ''Oh, come on, the newspaper department will cry.'' ''It''s not okay.'' This is wrong. It would seem logical that Alina would not help, since she did not take the initiative in applying for the newspaper club''s assistance, but that would be a pity for the club that believed in her, and I feel sorry for them. Besides, she did not refuse. Even a kindergartener can keep silent when she has not clearly expressed her intention. ''Alina, that''s irresponsible. ''''Yeah?'''' ''Oh. This is for your own good too, and the newspaper club trusts us. I would never want to betray them. ''''So'''' ''Hey, Alina, are you listening to me?'' Alina''s attitude was so outrageous that I lost my temper and said something nasty. What do you want with Alina? She had been reading the paper until now, but her eyes opened wide and she looked directly at me as if she had been struck by lightning. After I said it, I regretted it so much. I blamed myself so hard for what I had said. What I had just said was disgusting. The man in front of me looked at me like I was an enemy and denied my existence. That''s what they must have thought. But she quickly cast down her eyes and began to follow the print again. As if nothing had happened. I couldn''t say anything, and a few seconds of silence fell over the rose garden. The rose garden is always quiet, but this silence was very heavy, textured, and painful. Then she started to go through her bag and took out a binder with many papers in it. ''Do you have scissors? I took a pair of scissors from a shelf that would have been used by a staff member and handed them to him. Alina cut an A4 sheet of paper in the binder horizontally and cut it in half. She placed it near me. Hand them out. I''ll leave it to you. The paper was handed to me and contained the information the newspaper department was looking for, written in a questionnaire format. It was funny that the paper was divided into two parts, A4 size, to save paper, which was not unlike Alina. It was not handwritten but written in a word processor, and it was a very cute text, so there was a big gap between the two. What are you laughing at? I''m going to kill you. ''No, it was kind of funny. ''That''s it. You got it.'' ''Oh. Sorry, Alina. ''''So.'''' I looked closely at the form Alina had made. It was really good. Holding the survey form in my hand, I gave her a thumbs up for GOOD. Alina responded by giving me a middle finger instead of a thumb. Well, that''s good. That''s the Alina Hiwa I know. I''ll buy her something when I''m done handing out the surveys. I''ll eat her to make up for it. But I don''t know what Alina likes to eat. Something sweet? ''Alina, what''s your favorite food?'' Is that a questionnaire? ''It''s a personal question. ''So. Marshmallows. ''You like marshmallows? Well, that''s kind of unusual, I guess. I''ll go hand them out. Leaving the rose garden, I casually flipped through dozens of sheets of paper, only one of which was already filled out. As I walked away, I read it. There is no space for names or classes, so I don''t know who wrote it. My dream job: Novelist School Buzz: I don''t give a shit, a**h*le. I almost burst out laughing. What do you mean, "Don''t be an a**h*le"? The newspaper club will be shocked if they see this. Let''s pretend we don''t know who the unnamed respondent is. Dreams are not for talking. I''ve decided to secretly support that dream. 22-the intentions of a wicked woman... I revisited the newspaper club and Alina and I immediately submitted a form written by Alina. Of course, all the forms were filled out. I became Alina''s foot and handed them out. Of course, she looked at me suspiciously, but it didn''t matter. It''s not like I''m doing propaganda or anything. So I collected them in about three days and tabulated them. I was in charge of the tallying, and I compiled the number of each one that came up. It was a complete service. The guys in the newspaper club grabbed them with their eyes shining. Toma Asakura, the head of the newspaper club, clapped me on the shoulder, ''Seriously, thank you! I didn''t expect you to bring me this much information, so yikes! That''s awesome!'''' ''Then I''m glad. Ouch, you hit too hard. By the way, Alina made this for me. And I''m in charge of the tally. Use it. ''Oooh! How much you serve me! Thank God! Overwhelming gratitude! Toma, who uses a lot of exclamation points, shows no signs of slowing down and moves on to Alina. She had her hand on her cheek, and Toma grabbed her right hand firmly and wrapped it around his. ''Alina-san! Thank you so much! I think I''m going to write a pretty good article thanks to you!'''' ''Yes, yes. Let go of me. He is smiling so bitterly that he is quite taken aback. Toma apologized with a laugh. After that we broke up. Toma''s excitement didn''t seem to subside, so we left as if to escape. We had nothing special to do, so we just broke up. Toma, you were so grateful. ''I''ll replace the skin on my hands when I get back. ''Are you an android?'' We left school when the setting sun turned the sky red. Later that day, the school newspaper was published. To tell the truth, I had never read the newspaper of the newspaper club. The main reason was that I was not interested in it, but this time I read it. The data that Alina and I had compiled were listed in a proper ranking format. It was a great pleasure to see the results of the information that we had taken so much pains to gather, such as information on school trends, occupations, club activities, and so on. I immediately went to show the data to Alina. Most of the students in Alina''s class had gotten used to seeing me and Alina interacting with each other, so they didn''t bother me much anymore. Alina looked annoyed as usual, but when she saw the newspaper, I thought I saw a slight, but really slight, smile on her face. That was enough. If it brings a little color to Alina''s heart, that''s all that matters. What''s this? Alina pointed to the newspaper. That article is the data we got and have already read through. Her face clouded as she looked at it, so I looked it over again. The last sentence of the article was as follows I dedicate this article to the best couple, Arina Hiba and Comet Sakakiki. Alina got up from her chair with a clunk, ''I''m going to the newspaper club.'' ''Wait, leave the scissors on the desk. Please.'' ''Okay. I''m going. Leave the scissors, but leave the carving knife too. If you really want to take the sculpture knife with you, let''s go to the art club instead of the newspaper club. What''s that department head''s name? "Toma Asakura. ''Akakura Toma, you know. I''m going to engrave his name on his forehead so I don''t forget. ''At least put a sticker on it. I don''t want to see your name in the national newspapers.'' Just kidding," Alina muttered in a hushed voice. If you were serious, you''d be in a lot of trouble. ''What are you going to do today? No, I don''t have any plans. I''m done with the newspaper club''s project, so I''ll look for something. Alina suddenly took her eyes off me as she said this, ''...... you, behind you.'' ''''What?'''' Shirona Namiki was by my side. Shirona and I went to the same junior high school and were in the same class in the first year of high school. She was holding my skirt and staring at me with a serious look on her face. I was puzzled to find myself sandwiched between Alina and Shirana. What kind of chemical change was about to take place? What''s wrong? ''Can I have a moment alone with you after school? Just the two of us. I don''t know what that means. Sophomore year of high school. High school girls in the prime of their romantic brains. We meet alone. A determined look on her face. I''d like to believe I''m forgiven for my mistake in this case. Or rather, forgive me. I don''t mind. Yeah. I said it. I can''t stop now. ''Oh, good. I need a place.'' ''Location......Location......Area......District......Place ......'' ''Why don''t you use the former teacher''s office?'' Alina interfered. Is she crazy to suggest the former staff room, of all places, the present rose garden? You want me to go to that room in chaos, full of your flower arrangements? ''The former teacher''s office is, ah, there! ''Shirana. I don''t think you can use the former teacher''s room without permission. I''m the one who cuts off the window. My relationship with Alina is confidential. I''ve already confessed to Tsuru, but I can''t let it get out any further. Is that so? No, the former teacher''s office is unlocked, so you can go in. No one will go near it. ''Oh yeah! Thank you! Alina! Alina whispered to Shirana, grinning very nastily. She seems to be enjoying it. For me, this could be the beginning of a relationship gone wrong. This is the face of the devil. I glared at Alina. With my eyes I warned her not to say anything. But Alina makes a fist and shows me the back of her hand. I wondered what she was trying to say, and then she raised her middle finger. That''s just not in character. Go live with Mother Teresa for a month. ''Well, can I go to the former teacher''s office? ''Oh, ...... good.'' ''All right! See you after school! Shirana returned to her seat. Yuri and Ran were talking to her curiously. Please stop. Then she turned to Alina. What are you doing? ''That''s fine. Be a young man. ''You''re going to get in trouble ...... and the rose garden is not good ...... what about those tons of flowers you''re bringing in?'' I''ll make sure I collect it. ''Seriously? Why did you go that far? ''That''s what my heart whispers to me.'' ''...... is the best? I''ve never been so scared after school. I''m ashamed to face all the homecomers in the country who are afraid of after school. I''m not a member of the homecoming club. The good thing is that we don''t have the concept of "abolition notice". I hope I''m wrong. 23-The Enthusiastic Millworm and the Mocking Rose... After school came. I couldn''t concentrate in class after Shirana said she wanted to be alone with me. How could I? I couldn''t even remember if my teacher had hair or not. Ninety percent of high school boys must think of the word ''confession'' when they are asked if they want to talk alone with me. As for the remaining 10%, go ahead and take your energy pills. Online shopping. While cleaning the classroom, I was terrified of the impending doom that awaited me. It''s okay that Makoto doesn''t know what I''m going through, but please don''t play Harry Potter with a broom between your legs. We are high school students now, and you have no shame. Suddenly, a question arose in my mind. Why am I afraid of a confession from Hakuna? Of course, it''s not a given that she will confess to me, and it''s completely my prediction. But I am planning to go to the Rose Garden on the assumption that she will confess to me. That''s what I''m afraid of. Shirana is pretty. She must be popular because she has a very protective personality. I was once asked for advice when she confessed her love for me. In the end, she turned me down, but since she confessed her feelings to me, she must be known as a likable girl. My perception is not wrong. It''s not that I don''t like Shirana, but why do I have this strong desire to avoid her? She should be happy. But my mind is clouded by fear. So I hope I am wrong. I hope it''s an irresponsible assumption. The phone rings. I go out into the hallway to check my phone screen because I''m cleaning the classroom. It is Alina. Yes, Algerian Embassy. ''Is Milwam around?'' ''Yes?'' He also has an alias, Comet Sakakiki, but his real name is Milwam. I wonder if you know anything about that. ''Millworms and the like. ''Get on with it and get eaten by swallows. You can''t call me like that after I called you. Did you sign up for a phone to curse at me?'' "You''re being so picky. You''re going to the rose garden. I cleaned it up. Use it. ''Really? You''re surprisingly witty. While I was on the phone, I casually looked at the students passing by in the hallway and saw a student I knew well holding a phone to his ear. ''You, if you''re around, come over here and talk to me. ......'' I have to go. Alina slinks up to me and faces me. ''I''m not going today, so have fun,'' she says. ''Don''t do that, it sounds weird. ''Get the hell out of here, Millworm. I''ll do the cleaning for you. ''What, are you serious? That Alina would sacrifice herself for others? ''Come on, get out of here. How long will you continue to pollute this class? The zombie virus infected people must be exterminated. ''I''m a poison-spitting creature. You''re better at spitting poison than I am. ''Yes, yes, yes, come on, I''ll kill you.'' ''I''m coming, I''m coming, don''t make clenched fists. Taking my broom from me, Alina walked into my class. As I expected, my classmates were shocked. Alina seemed to enjoy the reaction and started to sweep seriously, saying, ''Where should I sweep? I wish I had that energy all the time. It''s much brighter than concentrating only on books. Not wanting to ignore her behavior, I reluctantly went to the rose garden. The floor with the rose garden is quiet. The reason for the quietness is rooted in the declining birthrate. The number of students is decreasing year by year, so unnecessary space is increasing at the same time. Still, with over 700 students in the school, it is a school that will continue to exist. Even so, unnecessary floors are created like ruins. The word "disfigured" is the right word. It is normal to stay away from them. Sometimes they come up to this floor because the restrooms are crowded. There are no other students. So it''s safe to say that Alina and I are the only ones on this floor. I arrive at the rose garden and gasp. I wonder if Shirana''s there. But I can''t pull myself away. I put my hand on the sliding door and open it. What jumps into my sight is not her, but the rose garden with more flowers. I thought you took her out! Preserved flowers are everywhere. There have always been many of them, but today they are in full bloom. I was so distracted by the flowers that I failed to notice the paper on my desk. On the A4 sheet of paper was handwritten the following. An anniversary should be festive. It is written in flat letters. It''s Alina. She''s having a lot of fun. She''s probably cleaning up right now with a smile on her face. I shove the letter in my pocket and sit down in my chair. I''ll just leave it at that. There is nowhere to hide the flowers, and the air would be chaotic if I came in here now while they are taking down the place. I take it all in. A few minutes of waiting. A small knock on the door quickens my calm heartbeat again. ''Come in. I peeked fearfully through the sliding door. It''s Shirana. ''Wow. Wow. Flowers everywhere. ''I don''t know either. It was like this.'' ''It''s beautiful. Is this for decoration? ''What, these aren''t live flowers? I''m sorry, Ms. Shirana. I know everything. I know that this flower is dead and why it''s here. I''m not good at lying. It''s painful. Are you okay with club activities? ''Yeah. Just for a little while.'' Just a little bit. Just a little bit and then it''s over. I see. So, what''s the story? I''m too nervous to talk. My hands are starting to get wet. I feel as if reality is beginning to fade away, and I realize with embarrassment how much I''m rising. Shirana is silent, as if reluctant to say anything. It must have been only a few seconds of silence. But it felt long to me. She looked me in the eye. I almost look away. But I can''t. I saw Shirana more delicately than usual. The tips of her hair, the iris, it''s not the Shirana I know. Even though I know it''s all in my head, I''m aware of it. Slowly her mouth opens and I see her white teeth. The junior member of the tennis club wants to confess her feelings to you. I fell off my chair in a heap. I don''t know anything about that. 24-white and yolk... The Berlin Wall, which once divided Germany in two, came crashing down because of one man''s mistake. His name was G nter Schabowsky. As a spokesman, he inadvertently misinterpreted the liberalization of foreign travel and said that people could now freely travel to West Germany. The people rushed to the gates and the guards opened them without a second thought. And so the Berlin Wall came crashing down. One man''s mistake saved the country. Such a wonderful mistake. Compared to that, I don''t need to feel down on myself for mistakenly believing that Hakuna would confess to me. I don''t have to writhe in shame or wallow in self-loathing. But even with this, I was still endlessly ashamed. God, I want to die. What were the chances that Hakuna would confess to me? Can someone explain it to me through statistics, numerical probability theory, or whatever. Destordor is very much on the rise. He returns his eyes to Shirana, regaining his composure. Someone has feelings for Alina," he said. ''Yeah. He''s a junior member of the men''s tennis club, and he''s been interested in me for a while. The fact that someone has feelings for Alina is not a surprise in itself. I have known for a while that she is quite popular, and it is very natural that she has the elements to be liked. I don''t think there is anything strange going on. He is popular all year round. The question is why he reports it to me. So why are you telling me this? An honest question. Honestly, the only answer is ''so what? ''Because I don''t know you well enough to ask you for advice, and I thought that since you seem to be close to ...... comet Alina, you might be a good adviser for my junior members. ''You mean I''m going to help my junior. ''''Yes.'''' ''How do you think I can help you?'' Like a bridge? You asked me to help you because you want to help your junior. But Shirana must know that Alina is reluctant to go out with anyone. So why is she urging me to help her? Well, I don''t mind, but you''ll have to talk to your junior to see if he can help you. I know, right? So, let''s go to the tennis court now. The girls and boys practice on separate courts. At first glance, there seems to be no interaction. However, during breaks, they approach each other and chat, indicating that there is ample opportunity for the juniors to ask Shirana for advice. She points to a junior colleague. His name is Taku Nakatani. He is a freshman in high school and a member of the tennis club. He has a fresh face and seems to be popular among girls. (My own image). While listening to Shirana''s explanation beside her, So this Taku guy wants to confess his feelings to Alina. ''''Yes, yes.'''' ''By the way, I have to ask you, are you and Alina close?'' ''? Probably not.'' ''Then I''m 100% sure I''m going to crush your balls. I know I''m attracted to you because of your looks. I have often seen people praying for a ''yes'' (acceptance), which is less likely than finding a diamond in the desert that ''maybe we can get together'', and then acting on the assumption that it is a ''realistic desire''. Everyone''s heart was deceived by her looks. But Alina refuses. I don''t know if it''s just misanthropy. Whatever the case, she adds a sting to her words in an effort to exclude anyone who comes close to her. Just another Alina. After standing with Shirana for a while, the boys took a break. Hakuna immediately leads me to the student. Taku-kun. This is Comet. Taku Nakatani was as fresh as he looked. Nice to meet you. I''m Taku Nakatani. Hi, I''m Comet. Shirana intervenes. ''You should ask Comet a lot of questions. Comet is the only one who talks to Alina at this school. Taku looks paranoid at Shirana''s comment. Hey, I don''t have that kind of relationship with Alina. Don''t be silly, I''ll sue you for libel! Thank you, Ms. Shirana. I''ll talk to Comet-senpai! ''He''s a weird guy, but he''s not a bad guy, so don''t worry. I''m going back to my club activities. I think one word is superfluous. Shirana went to change. Taku and I are the only ones left. Taku Nakatani was the first to open his mouth. What''s your relationship with Arina? ''Don''t worry, it''s not the worst relationship you can imagine. Taku is relieved to hear me say that. He must have been quite worried because he let out a breath so exaggeratedly. What do you like about Alina? Taku begins to fidget. I don''t know if he was naive or not, but he was shy and hesitated to speak. ''Because she''s kind and beautiful. ''''Huh?'''' A question mark reflexively comes out of my mouth. Alina is kind? Is this man masochistic? If so, it must be a supreme pleasure to be near Alina. Because every word or two is a word of thanks to a dominatrix. And she smiles a lot. Really pretty. This is nothing like the Alina I know. Who''s that beautiful girl? The Alina Nippa I know is incredibly sharp. And cold as an ice queen. Is it called a doppelganger? If so, it would make sense to have opposites. Their personalities are so relative that if the two met, they would disappear plus or minus zero. But I can understand who he is talking about. He is probably referring to the other personality of Alina, who has a dual personality. Taku is sure that the person he likes is Arina Hibane, who is in the second year of high school, right? ''? Yes, but is there something wrong with that? ''Your story and Alina''s personality are almost the opposite of each other. ......'' ''What! What do you mean! It can''t be!'' But there is not a single similarity. The Alina I know is a toxic, rejecting person. It''s too different from what you''re saying. ''No, that''s absolutely not true! He''s a really kind person! ''You say so, but Alina has been like that since she was a freshman in high school. She has always been like that, even this year when you came to school.'''' ''...... that can''t be true.'' ''''What''s wrong?'''' ''Senpai. Actually, I''ve known Alina-senpai for a long time.'' ''? ''I went to the same junior high school as Alina. Taku made it clear. 25- Taku Nakatani went to the same junior high school as Arina Hiba. That''s what he said. I know one person who knew Arina Hiba. Aki Mine, a senior in the third grade. When I took Arina to the art club before, Aki appeared on the scene while we were taking a break and trying to decide what to buy from the vending machine. It turned out that Aki was from the same junior high school as Arina. It reminds me of our conversation at the vending machine. As I recall, Aki said that she and Arina used to talk with each other. Does this mean that the Arina from junior high school is the one Taku fell in love with? Alina Hiba has a dual personality. This is a shocking fact that I recently learned. According to Mr. Akakusa, she had already developed another personality when she entered high school. That is the main personality, Arina, who has a sharp tongue. The Alina I know. And the basic personality, Arina Hiba, who gave birth and was given the name Arina, is the real Arina, the one I do not know. This real Arina is probably the Arina Hiba that Taku and Aki know so well. Taku, have you talked to Arina since you entered high school? No, I don''t. I just recently found out that Alina is a senior at this high school. In other words, Taku doesn''t know Alina with a poisonous tongue. Even now, in Taku''s mind, she remains the gentle Alina. He will come to know her sooner or later. At that time, he will have to face a painful reality. When he finds out that the person he loves has changed, he tries to treat her as before, but his instinct resists even though his rational mind tries to do so. This is a problem of self-identity. What are the solid elements that make Arina Hiba Arina Hiba? Even if you have a cat that resembles your beloved cat that has died, it will never be a substitute for your beloved cat. Even if you cannot communicate with it, your heart will scream if it is not your beloved cat. People want to touch the soul. Taku will suffer. If I dare to give advice, I will say this. The Alina you know does not exist in this world now. Even if you tell Taku Nakatani that, his feelings will not be shaken. You will never know unless you actually meet him. But it would be unnatural for him to refuse to serve as a bridge to Alina. It would seem as if she is trying to prevent Taku''s confession. But the reality of what Taku is going through is hard. I felt sorry for him. Do you want to meet Alina? ''What! By all means, please! Wow, I haven''t talked to him since the first day of middle school, so I''m nervous!'''' ''''Hmm? You didn''t talk to him after sophomore year?'''' I couldn''t talk. I moved out at the end of my first year. I see. So, at the time of version: JC2 Alina, Alina Toxic did not yet exist. This means that Alina''s tongue came into existence between the spring when she entered the third grade of junior high school and her graduation. At the same time that Alina entered the third year of junior high school, Aki graduated and Taku transferred to a new school. Both Taku and Aki know only the basic personality of Alina. What happened during the last year of junior high school? Okay, let''s meet Alina for the first time in a while. I''ll set it up for you in a minute. I''ll set up a meeting tomorrow or the next day or the day after. ''Thank you very much! Thank you so much!'' Oh, yeah. I''ll take care of it. I''ll call you later. Taku bowed and returned to his practice. I told him I would take care of it, but what should I do now? I went home and asked my sister. Taku said, "Sister. Do you remember Alina? He looks like he grew up in that Antarctic.'' ''I remember you. The junior wants to confess his feelings to her, but the Alina he knows is different from the Alina he knows now on a different level. Is it still okay to bridge the gap between the two without telling her? I''m sorry, I don''t understand. ''Suppose there''s chocolate on the table. It looks like the famous sweet and tasty chocolate, but it tastes very spicy. Now, there is a fat guy who is dying to eat the chocolate. Right now, he is about to reach for the hot chocolate. Should I let it go, or should I stop the fat guy and be dishonorably mistaken that he wants the chocolate all for himself? Which do you think I should choose? ''In that case, why don''t you stop him? That''s cute. ''Well, yeah. What if we go back to Alina''s story and think about it? ''Do you simply mean that we should or should not stop someone who is about to confess to Alina?'' ''I''m leaving out the background, but that''s the root of it. What do you think? Ugin tilts his head and groans. Let him confess. It''s foolish to interfere in people''s love affairs, brother. ''''That''s a strangely persuasive way of putting it.'''' For those who are going to confess their love, it means something to them, and if you stop them from doing so, their hearts will boil over inside. ''Sounds like it would make a good stew.'' ''You should help him anyway. You may not understand, but I think it will affect your life afterwards if you don''t tell him how you feel. ''I understand. I''ll take it under advisement. ''Love is all you need . Brother, let''s keep this in our hearts.'' ''I''ll get a tattoo. My sister is right. I''m glad I talked to her. Now we just need to talk to Alina. 26-first reunion... ''Well, Alina. I need to talk to you. ''Shut up. ''Not so fast. It''s important. ''So you''ve finally been criminally convicted. You''ll be in jail for the rest of your life.'' ''No, and I''m a gentleman. I never do anything wrong. When I look at Mr. Akakusa, I hear the voice of the devil telling me what to do, but somehow I manage to keep my wits about me. So it''s all right. ''Why is the world letting this s*xual predator go free? ''Let''s get back to the point. Alina, you''re at the center of the conversation. ''''So.'''' I brought up the false story that the tennis club had called for help again. It was the only way for Taku Nakatani to get close to Alina. Since his range of activities is so limited, we have no choice but to let him go. I do not inform her of Taku Nakatani''s existence at all. We only lead her to Taku Nakatani. We have decided not to interfere with his love life. Wait a minute. How did it go? ''What?'' ''You know, about Shirana wanting to be alone with you. Oh. --Why didn''t you remove the flowers from this room? I seriously freaked out when I walked in! How many flowers did you bring! ''''Hmmm. It''s like a wedding hall. So, did you make love? ''This ain''t no confession. ......'' ''Then what was it? Since you''ve made such a wonderful setting, why don''t you tell us, Mr. Orangutan? ''We just talked a little bit about middle school. Nothing romantic. I''m afraid not. ''Well, I thought so. It''s not like they''re gonna pass on your genes. Look, your mitochondria are screaming. ''Shut up. I''ll be a bachelor. I interrupted further idle chatter, as it was a waste of time, and left the rose garden to change into my gym clothes in the bathroom. Comet, who was kind to ladies, gave the room to Alina. I think it was a two grade promotion. While I was waiting for Alina to finish changing, I sent a message to Hakuna. I''m on my way. I got a reply not long after. "Hi. I''ll be waiting. The meeting with Shirana was fine. All that remains is for Taku to make his move. Then the door is opened with a bang. "Did you see that? ''No.'' ''I''ll kill you if you watch. I''ll put you in a piranha pond. ''I didn''t see it, I didn''t see it. Come on, let''s get out of here. She has a ponytail, and although her face doesn''t show it, she is motivated. I still can''t figure out her motivation switch. We come to the tennis court, where yellow voices are heard, "Fight, fight, fight! The athletic team still likes to fight. Fight! Fight! You''d be surprised what foreigners see when they see us going around saying We sound like a fighting people. It''s more than enough for me, a homecoming boy. It''s a whole other world for Alina, a reader. I wonder if she remembers being on the basketball team in the past. Alina is already wearing a hat, even though the sun is not that strong. She turns her attention to the court where the men''s tennis club is playing and looks for Taku Nakatani. He was easy to find. He was staring at me. ''What are you doing today? ''I''m picking up the ball. ''Grab your racket and let''s go that way. Alina obeys me. I''m sure she was looking forward to it. She''s so full of life when she wields a racket. You tsundere. I''ve gotten used to handling the racket since the beginning, and I hit the balls back one after another. It''s a great feeling. The vibration in my arm! FOO! ''Break! Yuri Hiiragi, the head of the women''s tennis club, signals for a break. As if taking advantage of this, the men''s tennis club also took a break. Alina and I went to where everyone was hanging out and sat down to blend in. While we were idly watching the baseball and soccer teams practice, my phone rang. Taku-kun is going to attack Alina-san. I thought to myself, "Is this an air raid? ''Alina, I''m going to go talk to Shirana. ''She''s in heat here. You''re like a rabbit. ''What an a**h*le they think I am ...... and you, that''s a perverted statement, right? I won''t forget this. He quickly runs away before he is killed and quickly approaches Hakuna, ''Yo. What''s going on? ''Taku-kun should be here soon... Oh, here he comes! Alina''s place!'''' Taku stood by Alina, who was sitting on the floor. Alina ignored him, just like Alina. It''s been a while, Alina-senpai. Taku said, his face tense with nervousness. Alina, on the other hand, moved her head lazily and looked at Taku. Who are you? If you''re looking to meet someone, go online. Taku''s eyes darted open and his lips quivered. Then he continued with a wry smile. Don''t you remember me? My name is Taku Nakatani. I''m Taku who took care of you in the first year of junior high school. I don''t know that name. A falsehood? I don''t know you anyway, and I don''t remember you. You''re depressing me, so get lost.'' ''Are you mad at me, senpai? Did I do something? I--'''' ''Shut up. Don''t come near me so easily.'' It was hard for me to watch. I felt sorry for Taku. He probably never expected to be rejected so much by the person he loves. The Alina he knew was asleep, and now the violent Alina was there. I can understand this situation because I know that Alina has a dual personality, but for Taku it must be incomprehensible. He can only judge her as ''a senior who has completely changed her personality. Alina folds her arms. How long are you going to stand there? It''s disgusting. Get away from me. Don''t ever talk to me again. Taku sensed that Alina was not joking and turned away with a frustrated look on his face. Taku''s back looked terribly small. Alina turned her gaze back to the front with empty eyes. She did not even glance at Taku as he left. 27-And I I approach Alina''s side as if to replace Taku. She had been so hostile and uncomfortable, but now she is as quiet as the surface of a lake. I talk to Alina as if she were a sensitive bomb. You were scary just now. ''I don''t know what you''re talking about. ''You were saying a lot of nasty things to a member of the men''s tennis club.'' ''Oh, no. He was so persistent. ''Do you know him?'' ''No. I''ve never seen him before.'' You mean you''ve never met him before. You don''t look like you''re lying. You don''t have any idea what I''m talking about? The other side seemed to know. No, I don''t. Don''t underestimate my memory. I don''t know. I am, huh? ''Yes, it is. I don''t know. ''Does the other one know?'' ''Maybe.'' She straightened her back, ''So, what are you up to?'' ''? ''That was a first-year student. I''m sure you and Shirana were up to something. I hope she goes to hell. ''You''re sharp. To tell you the truth, Nakatani Taku is from the same junior high school as you and has a crush on Hinoha Arina. I was going to confess it to you today. ''''What''s the point of telling me?'''' ''Well, yeah. I can''t tell him about your situation without your permission, and if I say anything to stop him, he''ll think I''m interested in Alina. I don''t want that. ''Why do you have to have a crush on me? He likes Arina Hiba more than you can imagine. And it''s a common belief that I''m the only student who can have a serious conversation with you. He''ll further misunderstand that I''m special to you. ''Oh, that''s a pain in the ass. And can you stop saying ''you''? I''m Alina Hiba, too. ''Sorry. It was thoughtless. ''No need to apologize. I''m grateful. You''re like mouse excrement to me. I know it''s surprising. ''Huh, what?'' ''Only Dr. Akakusa and you know who I am. My family doesn''t know either. At home I try to act as much like the beloved Alina as possible. Only two people in the world know me as a person. That''s enough. I was puzzled by the unusual phrasing. Is it nuclear war tomorrow that this guy is thanking me? But he doesn''t seem to be kidding. She went on in a matter-of-fact way. I want to know why ''I'' came into being. Am I completely separate from Arina Hiba, or am I a part of Arina Hiba? But I have a lack of memory, I can''t share my memories. I think I am a different personality from Arina Hiba. No one loves me. ''Is that why you reject people?'' ''No, I''m not. I don''t consciously act that way. It''s unconscious. It''s not my choice. The fact that I''m a little more tolerant of you for some reason proves exactly that. It makes more sense to be consciously tolerant of me. I don''t think you can do it unconsciously.'' If that''s the case, then maybe you really are special to me. For some reason she laughed self-deprecatingly. A weak smile, as if to say that she was stupid or miserable. Her bangs cover her eyes and hide her expression. To me, Arina Hiba is a high school girl in front of me. The Arina Hiba I met in the infirmary is a stranger to me. I wonder who I am trying to save. As soon as the tennis club finishes its activities for the day, Arina and I decide to break up. The sun sets early in the autumn. Shivering in the cold, I was about to head for the rose garden when Shirana stopped me. She called out to Alina as she walked toward the rose garden. ''Alina, go ahead of me. I''ll be waiting for you in hell. ''Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. After confirming that Alina has moved away, he turns to Shirana. ''Well, that was a hell of a scene,'' she said. ''I wonder if Taku-kun is okay. I wonder if Taku-kun is alright. He looks like he has a bad mental condition. ''Well, it must be hard for you. Anyone would lose confidence after being beaten to a pulp like that. I''m sorry I caused you trouble. So, I was wondering...'''' ''''Hmm?'''' ''Alina-san, where are you waiting for the comet?'' ''What are you talking about ? '' ''You asked me to go ahead, but maybe you''re in that former teacher''s office ......?'' ''Ah, ah, ah, ah.'' ''What are Alina-san and Comet doing over there after school?'' ''Ahhhh.'' d*mn it. I can''t come up with the best and most effective excuse! He has been deceiving Shirana that he is being forced to help out in various ways by the teachers, but he still keeps his true purpose hidden. For Alina''s sake, I must keep this a secret. Think, Comet Sakakiki. You''re a brilliant man. Yes, we have to make her forget with a shocking topic. And what would that be? What is it? Think. Something a high school girl would be surprised to hear. Think of a tag that can be associated with high school girls. High school girls, sweets, cosmetics, love, skirt, thighs, breasts, skin, profile, fingertips, eyes. Shit! All I''m getting from the second half is my proclivities! What am I going to do! My computing power usage is now going to reach 100 percent. Think. Don''t just feel. I''m so glad Bruce Lee''s words are no longer of any use to me. Speak a sentence with impact or it''s over. Oh, impactful, something, come on, synapse. ''Shirana. Slugs can melt sugar. ''''Huh?'''' ''''Huh?'''' Shirana is puzzled. I''m a bit puzzled too. But within a few seconds, her expression returns to normal. ''So Arina and Comet were dating after all. ...... Why would I do that? If I don''t do something, they''ll find out. My past efforts not to tell her about our relationship, in consideration of the negative impact on Alina, fizzle out. No, isn''t it okay to tell Shirana in the first place? No! I can''t risk it! At that moment, Comet Sakakimagi received a sign from God. The word "going out" sent electricity through his brain like a thunderbolt. High school girls are vulnerable to love, and they want it. For them, it must be sweeter than any pastry. I decided to take advantage of that. "Shirana. ''''What?'''' I liked you in middle school. ''Yeah--'' Of course, I never liked Shirana. I mean in LOVE. It''s not that I''m not attracted to her. My taste is more for beautiful girls like Alina, so we''re going in different directions. My precise, appropriate, and destructive words made Shirana as red as a tomato. My mistake, I blushed her cheeks. If she turns red like a tomato, she''s sick. Tomatoes are my favorite vegetable. I want tomato juice. Turning my back to Shirana, who had fallen silent, I heard the enemy''s declaration of surrender and took a step forward with my left foot, shaking myself like a soldier who proclaims victory with every bone in his body. I had won. I did not give in, I kept the information. I deserved the incentive. Wait! Shirana stops him. Oh, come on, girl. Waiting for the king''s move is against the philosophy of war, isn''t it? ''Actually, I really liked the comet...'' Ohhhhhh! If this story were a movie, I bet Whitney Houston''s ''I Will Always Love You'' would be playing. Ender. 28-Actually, I...... Actually, I liked comets too. Actually, I liked comets, too. Actually, I liked comets, too. Actually, I liked comets, too. In fact-- Hakuna''s voice reverberates like a bell ringing on a New Year''s Eve. Actually, I-- I hear an auditory hallucination in the silent hallway. I''m not on drugs, by the way. I''m a ghost through and through. I manage to hold myself together in a hazy state of consciousness. The only thing I could hear clearly was Shirana''s voice. --I loved her. The unexpected turn of events was unnerving at first. Shirana ran away and I was left with a warm feeling in the pit of my stomach. I was still feeling a rage inside of me, an emotion that is hard to describe, both happy and ashamed. I had no answer. I froze as if someone had closed my mouth. We arrived at the rose garden in a flash. To be honest, I''m not sure I can keep my composure in front of Alina. I had never thought that Shirana was in love with me. Was it a flag or an omen that Alina had planted so many flowers in the rose garden? If so, I will praise her as a goddess. I can''t give you money every day, but I can at least give you seaweed. I''m going to get punched in the face. I open the door and a rose garden covered in flowers fills my field of vision. A strange sense of security envelops me. It''s like home. In the center of my vision is Alina, wearing only her top half bra. The first thing I do when I get home from helping out with the tennis team is to get dressed. It''s embarrassing for us non-athletes to return home in the school''s gym clothes. Changing into uniform is an inevitable act. I came back to change. There''s nothing wrong with that. There was no light in Alina''s eyes. They remind me of something out of a zombie movie. The Walking Alina. Alina Hazard. She turned to me in her bra. Her style was so good my brain plasma evaporated. I was stunned, yes. I''ll buy her photo book when it comes out. But now I was in hyper trance mode, in a trance-like state of mind that transcended dimensions, so I had no desire to do so. I am sure that Alina would see a pervert who is carefully examining his body with a serious expression on his face. Who is it? It''s me. It''s definitely Comet Sakakimagi. She walked slowly. The sound of her loafer echoed pleasantly. Alina''s breasts swayed rhythmically. Actually, I''m a comet, too. Shirana. How long have you known about me? Ignorance is a sin. I don''t know. Alina''s breasts are close to mine... or she''s close to mine. Everything feels slow. I can feel every movement of her paper. I make a fist. This is bad. --I loved it. What the hell am I going to look like tomorrow when I see Shirana? Alina. What does a man look like in your eyes? The face of an enlightened and enlightened man, don''t you think? A man who could be beneficial to mankind? That''s the man you''re about to hit. Alina pulled her elbow back and made a pause. She grunts at the sight of his chest, which is changing shape as his muscles pull. I''m such a pervert, I thought. Nice tits. Actually, I liked comets too. I don''t have an answer. There was only the ignorant and stupid Comet Sakakiki. The world shook. To be precise, my vision was shaken. I caught Alina''s fist squarely in my face. If I can do something like a frame-by-frame x-ray, I''ll try it with my brain. It would be a hell of a thing. Remember the scene at the end of Sazae-san when they rush into the house? That''s what''s happening inside my skull. The air flipped and I fell down. My temples ache, my ears are buzzing with danger signals. It''s just a ringing in my ears. I fall to the floor. I feel the coldness of the floor on my cheeks. I look at the rose garden. This space with all the flowers looks like heaven. Is this death? God seems to have taken pity on me, and gives me one last spectacular view. Alina, who had finished beating me, continued to change her clothes as if she had lost interest in me. I never thought I would see panties. So I don''t exist in Alina''s mind anymore. That''s why she doesn''t kick me out. Being invisible is not so bad. Soon I was on my knees. Alina had lined up cutters, screwdrivers, staplers, hammers, pliers, irons, and all sorts of other out-of-place items on my desk. If I hadn''t apologized, I would have gone through a hell I don''t even want to imagine. Thank God. There is still God. I forgive you for opening the wrong door. I didn''t lock the door either. ''I''m sorry, Alina-sama.'' ''Like isn''t as bad as it sounds.'' ''Please put the saw away. You''ll die.'' ''That''s fine. You seem to have lost your mind. It''s not like I''m dead. ''I''ve been through a lot. ''Tell me about it. I''ll abuse you a lot. I stated simply, sitting bolt upright. ''Shirana liked me. ''''Hmm.'''' ''You''re not responding well. ......'' ''You can almost always tell. So when I heard you two were going to be alone, I made the best of it. I guess we were going for something else. ''A woman''s intuition, huh?'' You don''t have to be a woman to know that. So what about you? What do you mean? I mean do you like Shirana? What do you mean? I''ve never had romantic feelings for Shirana. That''s why I was so surprised. And I said I liked her on the spur of the moment, even though I didn''t like her. ......'' ''Yes? Explain the meaning of the latter half of the word.'' ''I said something strong as a diversion to hide the relationship between you and me. He said that he likes Shirana. Then she told me that she liked me too. ''You''re an a**h*le, you know that? I want to put you in an anaconda breeding case. ''Do that. I''ll die happy.'' ''Before you do that, you should clear the haze from Shirana''s mind. I think you''re making her upset and unstable. ''Yeah, I guess so. But I don''t know what to do. ''Why don''t you just carry on as usual? If you''re not mistaken, neither of us is supposed to know what we''re feeling right now. What do you mean?'' ''I liked it, I liked it. They''re both in the past tense. It could be interpreted that their feelings are now going in different directions, or it could be made to look that way. Both of you don''t want to make things awkward, so you should be able to force yourselves to agree. I used to like you, but not anymore. There is no problem at all if you are strongly aware of it and make it self-contained. ''I certainly think I can get through on words.'' Alina took a sip of water, ''''So, back to me, is that junior going to continue to follow me around?'''' ''I don''t know. I don''t think he''ll give up easily. First they will find out what happened to you. God knows what they''ll do after that. ''It''s a hassle. Maybe we should hire a hitman. ''At least use BB bullets. We were both in a state of confusion. We''re clowns. 29-habitat expansion... Tomato juice on the table. I like tomato juice. Not only because of the taste, but also because of the feeling. It makes me feel safe or calm. Most of the drinks I buy from the vending machine are tomato juice, and my favorite vegetable is tomato. I don''t know why I like tomatoes so much. It is a mystery of mankind. It is now a matter of human sensory qualities and qualia. There is no common standard for likes and dislikes. There is no ruler for the senses. ''How long are you going to keep staring at tomato juice? I am sitting face to face with Alina across the long desk. Surrounded by flowers, this space smells faintly good. It could be Alina''s perfume. Do high school girls wear perfume? Let''s not even bother with that, since that''s where my knowledge of the subject begins. ''Because I like tomato juice. ''Something''s wrong with you. Jump before you turn. Crush his head. ''I''ll bite you. I''ll bite you. We''ll go to the other side together. I know I''m crazy. Plus, I know exactly what''s wrong. Yesterday, Hakuna told me that she liked me. That seems to have affected me more than I imagined. Today, Makoto said to me, "Have you been using drugs? He jokingly worried me. Since he is worried even in jest, it seems that I am changing visibly. Have you talked to Shirana? ''Question. Did I appear in your class today?'' ''I was reading, so I didn''t notice.'' ''Okay, reading. Not only have I not been here, I haven''t seen Shirana once. I consciously avoid her. ''I feel like an idiot. Ha-ha-ha.'' It is only recently that Alina Hiba has started to laugh. At the time, I never thought that Arina would smile like this when I first approached her in the library that day. Arina, who was good at making a pouty face, smiled and smiled without any clouds. It made me smile. What should I do, I wonder. I don''t know, I can''t. It''s too awkward. I''ll probably die if we see each other. ''Oh, you''re going to die. Shall we go to the tennis court now? ''How cruel can you be? ''As you all call me the poison rose, I am cruel all over. ''That''s horrible. Someone pluck it out for him. I can''t believe we''re wasting time talking about this. She is usually silent as she reads, her mouth moving eagerly. Has she had a change of heart? It''s too soon for that. Then what''s the reason? ''Speaking of which...'' ''What?'' "That girl in the student council, what''s her name? ''? ''She''s the one who came to thank me the other day. I completely forgot her name. ''Niwatatsuru? The secretary of the student council. That''s it. She told me that she wanted to see you today, and she''s coming over after school. ''Where? Don''t tell me it''s here? ''''So.'''' Why would he tell that to Alina when he and Tsuru are in the same class? If you''re coming, tell me. I can''t do this. I moved to collect the flowers scattered everywhere. I have a feeling something bad''s gonna happen. So let''s at least make this flower-strewn mess back to the way it should be. Alina stands up and yells. What are you doing? You don''t have to clean it up. Didn''t I explain to her your relationship with me the other day? ''I care. What if someone comes with the crane? I don''t want any more strange rumors. This is for your own good too. Very villainous dialogue. I wonder when he''s going to get knocked down. I am Justice. I will not be stained by evil. Alina sat down and crossed her legs in disgust at the sight of my struggle. Whatever, don''t worry about it. Click. Alina and I both turned our heads to the door at the same time. Oh, I shouldn''t have come in...'' she said. Nitotsuru is here. Nitotsuru is a natural gal. With her chestnut-colored hair and slightly disheveled school uniform, she looks like a brainless idiot, but she is the highest achiever in her grade in terms of academic achievement. She outperforms Alina by a comfortable margin. Tsuru and I have met before because of Alina. I have never had a chance to talk to her even though we are in the same class, so "met" is more appropriate. Tsuru is indebted to Alina. He seems to have come alone. No problem. Right? Don''t talk to me! How am I supposed to explain this situation where I hold your flowers in both hands! I slumped my shoulders, Yes, I''m fine with the fact that it''s no longer a problem. Please come in, Mr. Tsuru. Please come in. Oh, that''s very kind of you. I''ll leave you to it. I took out a pipe chair for the crane and made him sit down. And I sit down, too. I put the flowers in my hands on the floor for the time being. So, you came here for me, right? ''Yes, yes. I''ve heard rumors that--'''' Wait a minute! Alina and Tsuru were freaked out. ''Is this rumor about a love affair? ''? I don''t think so, but it doesn''t look good, does it? Then that''s fine. I''ve been having a lot of heart problems lately. Like eggshells. If I don''t keep the delicate in mind, it will collapse. What did Alina think? She punched me in the side. ''Oh, you''re unbreakable,'' she said. ''Eggshells are a metaphor, you idiot. You just broke five ribs. He stroked his side, ''So, what''s the rumor? ''I heard Comet is helping people.'' ''Oh, I see. I explained it to you before, didn''t I? I get together after school like this to fix Alina''s f*cking bad tone. Part of that is helping out in other clubs from time to time. You''re not wrong. ''So that''s what you meant. I thought you were doing something with Alina-san. It''s not a 100% expression, but what you''re doing roughly corresponds to helping. Maybe I''m a little off, though, since I start by finding those who need help. To be precise, it''s ''me and Alina lend a hand to club activities that need people. ''Wow. Are you active a lot? ''Not every day, but a lot. Tennis club, art club, tea ceremony club, newspaper club, etc. ''You sound like a volunteer. ''Well, yeah.'' Tsuru looks thoughtful, as if convinced of something. ''Listen, I''d really like to borrow your comet and Alina''s help, if you don''t mind. She looks up at me and makes a pass at me. You don''t have to offer me such a service, I won''t refuse. Before my reason flies! ''Fine, but what can I help you with? ''Student Council.'' Wait a minute, student council is a club? No, it''s not. That''s a category of organization called a committee. We''ve been dealing with clubs, but committees are a new pattern. Can we do this? I''m good. Alina, who had been reading quietly, closed her book and agreed. I was in the student council in middle school. I know some of what''s going on. I didn''t know that. It''s amazing that you were in both the basketball team and the student council at the same time. Hmm? Arina Hiba was in the student council, that''s not good. And if she has that memory, it must have been when she was in the third grade of junior high school. Ten thousand dollars for the collapse of the school. 30-What should I do?... I''ve never been interested in student council. What is it that attracts people to raise their hands? Do they want to be exposed? I don''t care about the student council. Do they really join because they think they can change the school? Or is it for an internal report? If it''s the latter, it''s well planned and respectable, but honestly, if it''s the former, it''s dreamy. Being the student body president does not give you any special power, nor does it mean that you can make any changes. It is really just a matter of making minor changes. You will never get out from under the control of the teachers, and even if you try, you will be stopped like censorship. I am curious to know how Tsuru will react when I tell him what I think. I don''t mean to be mean, but I want to know why he chose a committee that is obviously troublesome and that only a show-off would want to be a part of. This curiosity is irresistible. I''ll get it. "Why did Tsuru join the student council? ''Cause they made me run for office. There was no one else. I never wanted to be president, so I accepted the offer to run for secretary. As a result, I really ended up as secretary. ''You didn''t want to be. I didn''t expect that. People say that a lot. I think it''s plain stupid to decide who is or is not worthy of being on the student council based solely on academic ability. What if I''m a lunatic and a pleasure killing maniac? It''s offensive to those who are being evaluated, to use a numerical value without even trying to know what''s inside of them. I''d tell you to get in touch with your heart. I thought you had some interesting things to say. I wonder if they would be disgusted if I told them that I was the top of my class. ''I thought you joined the student council with a lot of motivation.'' ''Of course, some people run for office with great enthusiasm. The current student body president is an example. I flirted with Alina. ''Alina. Aren''t you running for student council? ''If I''m elected, we''ll have a whole country. ''It would be a dictatorship. ......'' ''It starts with hanging you as an example. We draw the borders with your blood.'' ''Stop the politics of fear. Turn to the crane. ''Let''s get down to business. What do the cranes want us to help them with? ''I''m thinking that you''ll be the main person in charge of communicating information about each activity for the festival, and you''ll be in charge of the executive role. Well, it''s that time of year. I wasn''t a member of any clubs, so I was just helping out in class, basically being the guest of honor. I never thought I would be asked to join the heart of the planning. Is that a cloak for ''join the festival committee? No, no, no. The student council and the festival committee are independent. I''m not involved with the committee because I want to help Comet and Alina with the student council. I want you two to help me with the parts that are difficult for the student council to handle. ''I see. I can almost imagine. What about Ms. Alina, who used to be a member of the student council? ''''I don''t mind. Alina has given her consent, ''I''ll help you. ''Wow! Thank you! Nice to meet you! Tsuru shook my left hand and Alina''s right hand and smiled. This is going to be a big mission. Two days after Tsuru''s visit to the rose garden. Tsuru called me. While I was having lunch with Makoto, Tsuru came to me and asked me to bring Alina to the student council after school. Makoto, who was standing by listening, asked, ''Comet, what are you planning to do next? What are you going to do to infiltrate the student council? I was so impressed with his words. He seems to think that Alina and I are planning to do something terrible together, and he has been concerned about me lately. I appreciate the concern, but I want to reassure him. I''m a gentleman and I have a strong sense of justice. Alina--I don''t know. So after the dinner with Makoto, I went to Alina''s class and told her the news. She replies with an uninterested ''so'' as usual. Despite this attitude, she is not the kind of person who would lie or break a promise, so I did not pester her for confirmation. I turned around and locked eyes with Shirana. Actually, I liked comets too-- The words come back to me. I don''t know for how many seconds. I went rigid as lead. I don''t know what to do, I have to say something. I told myself, and something came out of my throat, but I quickly pulled it back in. ''Hey, you! How long are you going to be a statue? Alina''s words brought me back to reality. ''No, it''s nothing. After school. No. Awkward. I''m not sure I can talk to Hakuna. I haven''t talked to her since... I''m about to take the first step. But I don''t know what to say. What should I do? 31-the unknown called student council... After school. Tsuru led me and Alina to a classroom where the student council was working. This is the student council. As one might expect, the student council was arranged in a U-shape with a large whiteboard in front of it. Other than that, there was nothing out of the ordinary. There were a total of eight people in the room: the president, the vice president, and a group of homosapiens whom I did not recognize. I don''t know if this number is large or small. Some of them looked at us with surprise. Of course, they were looking at Alina rather than at us. We decided to introduce ourselves first. The student council members wanted to get some help, but they probably didn''t expect me and Alina, or Alina in particular, to show up. So we introduced ourselves first to get to know each other. They are wary of us at the beginning, so we have to show them that we are not enemies. My name is Comet Sakakiki. Comet is a comet. I''m in class 2, grade 2, the same class as Tsuru. I''m an amateur in the Student Council, but I''ll try to be useful. I''ll try to be of help. I bowed and finished my introduction. Next was Alina, the girl in question. Alina Hinoha. Nice to meet you. Oh, my God, she''s really... I had no choice but to give her a lucky break. ''Alina. Do you die if I introduce myself in more than 10 words? ''Shut up. I don''t want to be told by you, who''s so smug with your model-self introduction. You''re cold. She spat and raised her middle finger. The act of giving the middle finger is vulgar. I had no choice but to firmly hold her middle finger. It was the middle finger''s version of "This finger is for you. And she slapped me. I guess it''s a little better than being hit with a fist. I almost fainted once. I don''t remember if it was a mechanical pencil or not, but it was gentler than when I was stabbed with it. Still, the impact made my vision blur. ''Okay, let''s introduce ourselves as student council members! Tsuru said. Are you sure you''re ready for this? Alina''s as accurate as an artificial intelligence reading off a serial number. Is that what you want? The student body president stepped out with his right foot and opened his mouth as if to ignore my earnest desire. I''m Seki, the student body president. Jun Seki. We don''t have much contact because we''re in class 2-4. Thanks for coming! I got the impression that he was moderately hot-blooded and straightforward. He has a pure heart and fresh eyes. Very different from the rose next to me. Just as I was thinking that, he stepped on my toe. Apparently, he''s an esper. I''d love to see him face off against Uligelaar. I''ll bet you a dollar. I don''t mean to be rude, but the name "Jun Seki" is quite funny. Seki Jun, sekijun, seating order. Well, it''s very interesting. Self-introductions followed: vice-president, secretary, festival officer, athletic festival officer, and so on. To be honest, I don''t remember them. I remember only President Sekijun and Tsuru, not the order of seats. That''s how human memory works, and that''s the extent of the self-introductions. Self-introduction is very important in any environment or organization. A vivid first impression is a very powerful weapon. If your self-introduction is boring, your evaluation may be determined only by that. Therefore, it is better to be unique. In this sense, Alina''s self-introduction may be good. It makes you want to know the person because he/she stands out. I don''t know if she is aware of this. But it has a certain effect. Since Alina and I are helping in the festival, we are going to talk with the festival officer of the student council. The festival officer is a student of the same grade named Shiho Saeki, who is in charge of connecting the student council and the festival committee. She is in charge of connecting the student council and the festival committee. I am Saeki Shiho. I just introduced myself earlier. Nice to meet you again! ''It''s nice to meet you. I have a quick question for you. ''''Of course! ''There''s only about three weeks left until the festival, so what can we do now? Class and club presentations should have already been submitted and finished, and are slowly taking shape. I thought that there would be nothing for the two of us to do even if we were in charge of the festival. The students are in the process of executing their plans, and there is nothing for us to interfere. If so, what are they going to do? ''''To make the opening of the festival, we need the coordination of the student council, and this requires the cooperation of the student council that unites the club activities and the festival committee, doesn''t it? The student council is also the main body that handles interactions with other high schools, the general public, and the teachers, so the student council soon loses its members. In other words, we are not the meat of the festival, but we move the meat. So we have a lot of work to do. Unable to fully understand Shiho''s explanation in one go, I looked to Alina for help. But Alina listened to Shiho''s story sincerely without a glance at me. She''s really motivated. As if to prove her motivation, she began to speak. I''ll help you. I''ll help you if you use this paperweight. ''Why am I a paperweight? Because I''m angry. I don''t get it. Do you have something against paperweights? The conversation was not going anywhere, so I decided to let it slide. I think I''ve learned how to handle Alina lately. I''ve learned that trying to have a real conversation with her makes me lose my temper. One plus one is two, but she might say ''one plus one is a pteranodon''. It seems impossible, but that''s the kind of guy he is, so it''s best to be prepared. After that, Shiho Saeki gave a brief presentation summarizing the current schedule and their roles. The first day ended with that, and tomorrow we will start working in earnest. To be honest, I was anxious because I still did not know what I was supposed to do. Alina, on the other hand, was so resolute and listened to me from start to finish that I thought she was a different person. Did you understand what we were going to do? I asked as we walked together to the school gate. ''Mostly. The student council didn''t give me any specifics, so some of it doesn''t add up, but I can imagine. ''''It''s a quintessence.'''' ''It''s a hard story for a woolly bear to tell, isn''t it?'' ''At least make it a mammal.'' 32-propaganda Shiho Saeki, an officer in charge of the festival, took me to the activity base of the festival committee. The committee was neither hectic nor in a state of urgency, and each class member was presenting his or her opinion in a casual manner. I had expected them to be more busy walking around from place to place, so I was disappointed. Most of the plans are already completed and will not be changed now. So they are working on the details. By the way, our class was a coffee shop. So the committee members of class 2, year 2 were checking with the treasurer about the submission of expenses and the place to return equipment and so on. So, first of all, let''s talk about what we were going to do to help. Shiho''s role is to attend the festival committee meeting to grasp the movements of each class and club activities and report them to the student council. By doing so, the student council will be able to cooperate with the opening event of the festival. Other tasks include the creation of bulletin boards and bridges with the local community. I thought she was going to do something like that, since she hinted that we would do the same kind of work as Shiho did yesterday. But it seems that our real purpose is different. Shiho-san, Shiho-san. What are we supposed to do after all? ''I guess I''m just a temporary student council member and a guide. ''''Hoho.'''' The cultural festival is a fun event, but it''s also an event to get carried away. If there is no one to stop it when it becomes bad for public morals, it becomes impossible to stop it. That''s why the student council, which is also the executive committee, plays the role of a public morals committee member for a while. And in addition, they are the ushers! If a member of the public is in trouble on the way around the school, he or she will be assisted. That''s what Comet and Alina''s role is. You mean security guards? According to Shiho, the members of the public morals committee are not supposed to do security and surveillance. The role of the committee members is simply to encourage the students to continue to improve the appearance of their clothes, raise their awareness, and improve the rules. If that is the case, they should do it by themselves. However, the student council does not have the manpower because each one of them holds an important position in the council. That''s where we come in. So we are supposed to keep the whole picture of the festival and maintain the public morals. Alina interrupted. ''Yes! Quintessential Alina! Did you understand the comet too?'''' ''''Oh.'''' But it''s not like there''s a complete festival like in the textbooks. We just need to join the student council and the executive committee to understand the big picture! Then you''ll understand and you won''t have any trouble. I see. I''ll leave the details to you. We''ll follow your lead. ''Thank you! Well then, good luck to you! So Alina and I got to work. The first thing we did was to count up all the presentations of each class and club. To get the big picture. Shiho is doing something separately. Alina and I were shown the materials by the tally clerk, and we decided to make copies of what we needed. ''Well, I''ll take care of the classes and you take care of the club activities, okay? ''I don''t mind, but are you sure you''re okay? Can you read Japanese?'''' ''How many people am I? And who are you to understand my language? ''No way. How can I talk to a sea cucumber? From what I''ve heard, sea cucumbers shoot their intestines out of their asses when they sense danger. Unfortunately, I have no such function. But if I did have such a powerful self-preservation mechanism, I would lavishly squirt Alina with it. I''ll give her my entire small and large intestines. It''d make a nice necklace. I thought it was a bit too vulgar, so I tried to be careful, but I forgot that Alina has a temperament of an esper. As a result, she poked me in the side with her elbow. There was a nasty sound. I think I cracked. That''s how much it hurt. Now I have control of all the class presentations. It''s a treasure trove of spoilers. There are so many different kinds of performances. Some of them always have a haunted house. Some have concerts, some have plays. Some look like restaurants. Amazing. I flipped through and found Alina''s class. It said "fashion show. ''Fushon, shoo? I said it out loud without thinking. Alina, who was standing next to me, turned her head to me. ''What the hell? ''-- so...'' ''''Yes?'''' ''Cause I''m not answering. ''?''? ''Don''t ever come here because I won''t answer. Okay?'' It''s like saying to yourself, "I''m in..." ''Come and we''ll tear you to pieces. Okay? ''Ki-meta. I''m going to watch the fashion show with Makoto. ''...... is not a good way to die. If you come to class 2 or 3, your life is over. Echelon, the US National Security Agency, will expose your browsing history, your emails, your downloaded videos, your compressed files, anything and everything to expose your proclivities. You''ll be stepping in dog poop every day, and you''ll have to buy a pair of shoes every three days. When you go to school, your pornography history will be plastered all over the walls. Every time you want to buy a loaf of bread at the kiosk, you''ll have to write a 10,000-word reflection on your trip to the fashion show. You have to put a reflection in the mailbox to open the front door of your house. You can''t take a bath without licking your sister Ugin''s feet. You are only allowed to sleep for one hour, and the rest of the time you spend writing your reflections. In the morning you will go to Hokkaido, and the next time you will run to Okinawa. Then you must go to school or you will not be admitted. Do you still want to go to the fashion show? ''Yeah. I''m going. I''ve made up my mind. ''Eh. I refuse. ......'' ''I was listening to you and I was thinking that Alina is pretty kinky. ......'' ''No, I''m not!'' A few people turned to look at me when I raised my voice. ''Sh, excuse me. ......'' ''Don''t be so happy, Alina. I''ll videotape you too, don''t worry. ''Someone kill me ......'' Needless to say, I know I''m not running for office and participating in the fashion show. I think she was compelled to do so by the enthusiastic support of the guys in her class. Alina is over 170cm tall, much taller than the average girl. If she wore heels, she would be in line of sight with me, who is 180. In addition, she has a beautiful face and good style, so it is no wonder that she is recommended to me. I guess he did not reject them completely. In fact, they seem to be participating. If so, Alina may have changed her mind. I write down a list of presentations by each class and summarize their requests. There were many kinds of events such as haunted houses, cafes, plays, fashion shows, concerts, mini restaurants, and so on. Each information is brought to the student council. Alina was gliding her pen like a machine. The difference in efficiency between the two of us was so obvious that I wanted her to get away from me as soon as possible, but there was no seat available, so I had no choice but to stay. ''What did you do on the student council in junior high school? Vice president. Shadow ruler.'' ''You seem to like to do impressions and propaganda and stuff.'' ''Yes. I was tempted to destroy the student council by spreading anarchist propaganda, but I played it safe and served as vice-president. It was boring. That episode is forbidden in the student council. I''ll be persecuted along with the rest of you. ''You''re going to Siberia. I''ll at least give you a pocket warmer.'' Oh, God. Please put her in a black hole. We stopped talking and concentrated on our work when we became conspicuous. We only have this conversation once a year. 33-afterimage of the past... ''What do you think? The Student Council''. Three days have passed since I started helping the student council. That was the day that Shiho Saeki showed me to the executive committee meeting. For the past three days after school, I have been going back and forth between the student council and the executive committee. But it wasn''t a difficult task. It''s quite interesting. He replied to Nitotsuru, who is in charge of the secretary in the student council. In fact, the student council was interesting. It is an organization that is involved in all kinds of projects, so it is a good opportunity for me to broaden my horizons and get in touch with club activities, the local community, and the school board, which I would not normally be involved in. I''m glad if it is. Student councils often have a strange image, so I appreciate it if you think so. Tsuru is right. The image of the student council has certainly changed. ''Well, I don''t think I want to join until I raise my hand. I know, right? I didn''t run for office either. Hmm.'' ''What are you doing today?'' ''I''m going to check on the number of materials and tools I''m borrowing. I''m going to check with the high school girls next door. Alina agreed with a mousy look on her face. ''Well, I guess we''d better get moving. After relaxing in the student council room, Alina and I decided to get to work. The members of the student council were concentrating on making promotional posters. I thought Tsuru, who had been talking with me, would return to work on the posters, but instead he said he would follow us. Tsuru, are you sure about your work? ''Yeah. Because it''s already done. I''m not very aesthetically pleasing, so I''m leaving the posters to you. I''m smart enough to know when it''s complicated. She may look like a gal, but she''s always been one of the smartest girls in school. Everyone thinks she looks stupid, but when she talks to Tsuru, she realizes how low-brow she is. Her knowledge and insight are unfathomable. That''s why she is interesting to talk to. She says, ''Wow. To have the top academic brain and the top beauty of the year walking around with you. How extravagant of me. I''m going to get gout. ''And the top weirdo of the school year.'' ''Is it me? The top three students in the school year, huh?'' Tsuru chuckled and said, "That''s funny. Alina looked down on me as a ''freak. It was a normal reaction. It''s times like this when I''m like, ''No, no! Comet is a wonderful person! I would be so happy if you had said. ''I''ll crush your eyes! Not likely, since intimidation is her favorite. Come to think of it, I don''t think I''ve ever heard Alina call me by name. She''s never called me Comet or Sakakiki. You, or you, or Millworm, or pig feed. What kind of discrimination is this? I''m a human being with a Japanese name and nationality. We left the student council and headed for the warehouse. I lead the group with Tsuru and Alina behind me. We walk in a triangular formation. I had a shocking revelation. Tsuru and Arina were talking to each other behind me. What kind of a natural disaster is this? Alina is speaking with some resistance, but the conversation is still going on. Tsuru is smiling happily. I looked sideways and saw that they were not playing back a recorded voice, but were speaking in normal voices. It seems that Alina is really talking. When she talks to me, the context is usually messed up, but not with Tsuru. I was horrified that Alina, who is always cursing me, had succeeded in making normal contact with a human being. This is a sign that the earth is about to break. When I arrived at the warehouse, I first turned on the lights. It was dusty, so I opened the windows and doors. The girls were coughing and one of them, a woman with a sharp tongue, forced me to ''breathe it all in''. Naturally, they ignore her. I''m not a vacuum cleaner. Let''s check it out. Tsuru or Alina, read out the list. ''All right. Okay, Alina, take this. I''ll read this one. Tsuru handed one of the two lists to Alina. I felt awkward asking a girl to do the heavy lifting in this dusty space, so I decided to do the searching myself. Then I''ll go first. 12 for the ladle, 9 for the chopping board. ''Roger that.'' He finds a plastic basket with a mess of cooking-related utensils and fishes it out. 12 ladles and 9 chopping boards. Here it is. ''All right, check check check. Alina is next. ''Wood 5, screwdriver set 10. ''Yes, yes, wood 5, screwdriver set 1,2,......10. OK. ''Wow, you can do math. Right? I can do math. I can say the whole alphabet. I started counting tools like this. Tsuru and Alina took turns reading out the list, and I just kept looking. It was funny to see Tsuru sitting elegantly with her legs together and Alina sitting cross-legged and with an arrogant attitude. The girly Tsuru is elegant, while the intelligent and good-looking Alina is intimidating. It was a real treat. As I turned into an obedient machine to follow them, I found something interesting. ''Hey, this is a picture from last year''s school festival, isn''t it? The slightly faded photo was a group photo. It must be a group photo of some class or cultural club, since there are only a few people in it. In the picture was Aki Mine senior. She was someone I became friends with in the health committee when I was a freshman. She likes to crack jokes and is good with me. And Aki goes to the same junior high school as Alina. Let me see. I handed the picture to Tsuru. Alina leaned closer to Tsuru and looked at the picture. And soon after, Alina frowned. Her brow wrinkled, as if she had seen something horrible. What''s wrong, Alina? Something was obviously wrong. Alina closes one eye and replies. I''m sorry, but I''m going home first. ''What''s wrong, Alina? Are you sick?'' ''No, I''m fine, but let me go home first today. ''Yeah. Let me know if you need anything. Alina hands the list to Tsuru and bows to me with weak eyes. It was unlike Alina to do so. It''s not like her to bail me out. Alina then missed two days of school. 34-for two days that no one knows... Alina missed two days of school. The day after the group photo, Alina took a rare day off from school. The reason was that she was not feeling well. She left the school with a sickly look on her face. The day after the day she missed school. She was absent again. Same reason. I thought about calling her, but decided not to at the last minute. I thought it would only make her unhappy. Tsuru was also worried. Do you know anything about Alina? I had no answer. But I can at least guess. It was the timing of the group photo. Was there something in the picture that made me sick? I looked like a bright, youthful third grader to me. And the third day after Alina stopped coming to school. Finally she came to school. I was talking with Makoto when I caught a glimpse of Alina walking down the hallway. I stood up as if I had been awakened. I''m sorry, I''m going to the bathroom. ''You don''t look like you''re going to the bathroom. ......'' I''m going to South Sudan. ''Go on your own. ......'' Makoto replied with a look of dismay on his face. There are only about three minutes left in recess, but I feel the urge to talk to her right now and leave the classroom. I walk out into the hallway and move my head around like a schoolboy watching out for cars in the crosswalk. Alina was just about to enter the classroom. ''Alina! Wait a minute! When half of Alina''s body disappeared into the classroom, she stopped and stepped back. ''What?'' Alina is as expressionless as a pebble lying around. She doesn''t look well, but this is the normal Alina, the tongue-in-cheek Alina. Are you feeling all right? You were out of school for two days, weren''t you? A cold? ''Yes. No problem. I just got sick seeing you. ''That''s good. The cranes were worried. Something might have happened. Are you sure you''re all right? ''As for my physical condition. ''You sound like you''ve had problems other than your physical condition.'' ''Yes, it is. What happened?'' ''I can''t remember the last two days. The bell rang. The bell rings to end recess, cutting off our conversation. You don''t remember anything from the last two days? I was going to ask about that. But the bell signaled her to go into the classroom. It was as if frozen time had been set in motion by the bell. I have no memory of the past two days. The lingering echoes of her words ripple through my brain. I don''t understand. What happened? I stood in the hallway until my teacher talked to me. Lunch break. I think back to Alina''s words, gazing blankly at the war-torn stall. I wondered if it was possible to have no memory. And for two days. If I experienced such a phenomenon, I''d probably think I was in a time leap. Such science fiction is a technology that has not yet been established in this world, so I can only be delusional. However, she does not lie. It could have really happened. As I watch the students wiggling their hips and fighting for the bread, I get a tap on the shoulder. Hakuna was standing by my side. My heart rate immediately increased. What''s wrong? ''It''s been a while since we''ve talked. Yes, it is. It''s been a while. I couldn''t even make eye contact with her since she said she liked me. ''About Alina, Comet, do you know anything? It was about Alina''s absence for two days. ''All I heard was that she wasn''t feeling well. But I don''t think so. Someone saw Alina after school the day before she left. She looked really worried. She said it didn''t seem like Alina. Comet, did you do something? ''I didn''t do anything, I didn''t do anything! I''ve been treated worse.'' ''Really? You two are good friends, so you must have gotten carried away and said some terrible things.'''' ''Me and him are supposed to be good friends, ...... anyway I didn''t do anything! They''re the ones saying terrible things. Basically, they don''t treat you like a human being. If that''s the case, it''s fine, but take good care of Alina. Alina-san, you''re surprisingly sensitive. ''Is that so? What makes you think that? A woman''s intuition? ''Don''t be like Dr. Red Grass. ......'' As for the fact that she has no memory, she did not mention it, but Shirana has a hunch that she took a leave of absence due to something other than her physical condition. She would not think it was amnesia, though. So, have you come to buy bread again? ''Yes. But here we are. I can''t get close, so I just stand by. It''s horrible, like zombies butchering dead flesh. ''Comet, you don''t seem to like conflict. ''Yes, it is. I hate conflict. By the way, the man I admire is Martin Luther King Jr. ''Hmm? It''s like a comet. With that, Hakuna left. The Hakuna I knew so well, her skirt fluttering in the air, was running away from me. I wonder who Shirana Namiki is to me. A girl friend is a good description. Nothing more, nothing less. Who am I to her? I wonder if one day I will understand. 35-decoration As the festival drew nearer and nearer, the energy in the school was rising steadily. I was a member of the team that had to make the rounds, and I was getting a little tired from all the heat. But I had no choice but to be weak at a place like this. Alina''s health seems to have recovered by now, and the past few days have been spent cursing her as usual. However, she was taking her duties in the student council seriously, so I knew that she was a person who would do what she decided to do until the end. In the end, the truth that she has no memory of those two days is still not clear. She didn''t even mention it, so it ended up with me just looking at her, but now that I think about it, maybe Alina wanted me to care about her, even if only a little. She would have thought I was smug. But why would I go to the trouble of telling someone that I had no memory of the past two days? And that''s Alina. Alina, who doesn''t want me to interfere, went out of her way to say it in a way that would make people curious. I''m decorating the classroom with these thoughts in my head. Our class, class 2-2, is a caf with the theme of costumes. We can wear anything. Kimonos, armor... As long as it''s not out of the ordinary. I avoided dressing up because I was going to be on patrol with Alina on the day of the event. Hooray for the student council. I''m glad I didn''t plan on dressing up at all. What are you going to dress up as? Makoto Takane said so. ''I''m really sorry, but I don''t dress up. I have another job. ''Well, I wanted to see your cosplay. ''Bullshit. On the contrary, I''m looking forward to seeing what you''re going to wear. ''I''m just going to buy a mask and be done with it. ''That''s a safe bet. While we were talking such nonsense, a crane with a paper ring on its shoulder came in. ''''Comet, aren''t you going to cosplay? ''Unfortunately, unfortunately. I''ve been given the mission to protect the security of the school. ''I''m sure Alina was looking forward to it.'' ''No, no, no. ''I was looking forward to it. They laughed when they were talking to me.'' I''m sure he''s mocking you. I''ll be licking my chops at the fashion show of the third class of the second year. ''Heh. You''re going to see it. ''It''s going to be interesting. In fact, Alina will stand out quite a bit. I''d like to see the look on her face when she does. Will she be smug, ashamed, or angry? It will be interesting to see. ''Comet, you have a devious look on your face. I''m sorry. I''m going to get a facelift. ''''Then maybe you''ll encounter an interesting sight at the festival. ''? What do you mean? Tsuru smiled meaningfully and went back to his work. Tsuru may look like an unassuming gal, but her brains are top of the class. Whatever she''s thinking, she''s about ten steps ahead of me. At least tell me something about personal safety. After school, I go to the student council meeting. I often wonder why I have to stay here, since I am supposed to be a homebody, but then Alina comes up and I sigh. I am doing my best for her rehabilitation. Dr. Akakusa asked me to help her, and that day Alina and I met in the library. We have been working together ever since. If you ask me if Alina has changed, I can answer ''slightly''. She has been talking with Tsuru normally, and the frequency will increase from now on. I think Alina has opened her heart to me. I''ll keep it to myself because I''m sure she''ll stab me if I tell her. Hello. Tsuru and Alina had already arrived at the student council. The president of the student council, Jun Seki, as well as festival officer Shiho Saeki, and other mob characters. (I can''t remember their names because I didn''t have much to do with them.) The student council president asked me to sit down, since he was apparently waiting for me. Mr. Sekijun, the president of the student council, stood up. There are only three days left until the festival. The festival is steadily taking shape according to the original plan. The student council has been able to follow the plan smoothly and with plenty of time to spare, thanks to the additional manpower. Let''s not waste any time and put our hearts and souls into the rest of the time until the last minute to make the festival a reality! The chairman''s words signaled the start and the work began. Everyone is motivated and united. This is the kind of unity that people who belong to club activities and committees possess. This is the kind of energetic enthusiasm that I, a homecoming club member, miss. It''s not bad to just take classes every day and relax at home, and that''s what I really want, but once in a while I think this kind of so-called "youth" is not so bad. I especially wanted Alina to feel it. Now it''s time to get to work, and as the chairman said, there is plenty of time to spare. The presentations and plans have passed the level of requiring the Student Council''s intervention, and each group is now finishing up the details. Although it''s only three days before the event, everyone is working early to correct any mistakes that may have been made. Busy, busy, busy. Alina and I decided to do what we were supposed to do, which was to confirm the ''temporary student council members and ushers''. Are you ready for the festival? ''Yes.'' '' Shiho has told me that I can basically do whatever I want. That doesn''t mean you can skip work. There are no specific demands on patrol times or shifts. ''''So'''' ''Basically, we''re thinking of two people going around, is that okay?'' ''...... why do I have to go around with you?'' ''Because I''m afraid that if something goes wrong, you might ignore me and I''ll be in a bad mood. ''...... Well, okay.'' He seems to be aware of it. It was very funny. ''Oh, by the way, I''ll take care of the fashion show. I''m going around by myself during that time. ''''So.'''' I replied in a very flat tone, but Alina''s mouth was slightly turned up. I didn''t miss it. I''m sorry. I''m going to see the fashion show. In the meantime, you can take off your usher''s armband. I''ll take my time. Heh. I just got a chill. ''You''re not feeling well? Is it bad? ''No. I thought I saw a vile, inhumane man staring at me like a subway molester. Yes, yes, it''s me, Comet Sakakiki. I''m going to see it for sure. 36-God bless you, Mr.... The day before the festival. As a special measure, most of the classes prepared for the festival in the afternoon. Classmates were dressed up in costumes they had brought with them to recreate the atmosphere of the festival. I was lucky to be spared from the masquerade, since I was supposed to play the role of a "public morals commissioner". The girls are having a blast. The guys, on the other hand, are excited as they glance at the girls and show off their costumes as if in courtship. I observed this as the epitome of reproduction in the animal kingdom. They communicate their love, a kind of ritualistic common understanding, with their eyes, voice, and gestures. All with the end goal of reproduction. They are making steady progress, albeit in a roundabout way. Come to think of it, uniforms are a kind of disguise, too. The word ''cosplay'' is even easier to understand for us young people. Especially the cute skirts that high school girls love so much. I think this is a complete cosplay. It''s cute. And it is men who are attracted to these skirts. The peeking thighs arouse us. And for some reason, girls wear their skirts short. They want to show their thighs, even though school rules say they should be near the knees. The principle of this behavior converges with s*xual appeal. Now, each of them is wearing more than a skirt. Yes, they are shining brighter than ever. In conclusion, it is inevitable that men get excited. ''Their faces are too stern. It was Makoto Takane who commented to me as I leaned against the wall. He was wearing shorts, an aloha shirt, and a horse mask on his head. I recognized Makoto by his voice, but if he had not vocalized, I would have shot him dead with a large caliber gun like an elephant gun. You can really feel that the festival is a special day because such a monster like a reverse centaur can appear. You feel the history of life over hundreds of years. I never thought I would be able to feel it in this class. ''I knew the comet was a freak. ''You can''t win now.'' Makoto speaks with the mouth of a horse. The horse''s face, which never changes expression no matter what he says, is strangely intimidating, and I flinch. Those dark, emotionless black eyes. Like Alina. Did you buy that horse mask? ''Yes, yes. I bought it like I said before. The aloha is my own. What~ you''re not going to dress up as a comet after all? ''Well, yeah. I''m sorry to say this, but I''m in charge of defending our school. I may visit you as a guest. It''s a comet. So, so. What do you think? ''What''s that?'' ''Girls, girls. Who''s the prettiest?'' ''Out of all the cosplayers.'' ''Of course! I hear some guys confess their feelings at the school festival! In costume! Aoh! ''You''re so excited. That''s amazing. They''re making akahi (red rice) all over the place. I guess so. So, who do you think is good? I don''t know who you''re talking about. Cute girls are getting prettier and prettier. I think it''s a matter of taste now. Looking back, I don''t think I talk to many girls in my class. If I may say so, I talk to cranes a lot these days. So I naturally turned my attention to cranes. I wonder if it''s cranes. ''Oh-! Niwatatsuru! You have great eyes! You''re an old man in an antique store, aren''t you? Nitwatari-san is a natural gal, but she is very popular among the boys because of the gap between her natural beauty and her intelligence! And today''s outfit is a European medieval one-piece military uniform. The jet-black and crimson colors take strength and nobility to the extreme! It''s wonderful!'''' ''''Oh.'''' I wonder if he bought that uniform, or did he make it himself? No, a high level of skill is required - or maybe Mr. Nitwatari can do it: ......'' ''Didn''t you buy it?'' ''Huh? Don''t jump to conclusions like that, comet. The girl is doing her best. I wanted to tell him that he was a pervert, but I was overwhelmed by his swashbuckling. ''I''m sorry. I was shallow. ''It''s okay. I got too hot. It''s too hot in this mask. Apparently, Makoto''s personality changes when he wears the horse mask. He does not become violent, but he becomes strong-willed. ''Take it off if it''s hot. ''I''m not taking it off. I''m afraid I''ll lose.'' What for? ''Good luck. Horse boy. Call me when you''re at the races. ''All right. Bet everything you got. ''Okay, okay. It became half a hassle, so I ran away. I decided to assume that he''d quit being human and become a centaur or something. While I was away from Makoto, fixing decorations and such, a girl approached me. ''Can I talk to you for a minute? ''I''m just in time for the life insurance solicitation. The voice belongs to Ryuka Mimori. She is characterized by her ladylike air. I think we have only spoken a few times. First of all, we have no connection. She is a member of either the calligraphy club or the tea ceremony club, but I don''t know much about her. I had no idea that Ryuka would talk to me. So I got a little upset and said something about life insurance. She said, "What, life insurance? ''Wrong. Forget it. What''s wrong with me? Since Makoto had just told me about his confession, I thought, ''What if? So I flattened my thoughts. I had been hurt by my egotism before, so I decided not to get my hopes up. Still, one can''t peel it out of one''s brain once one thinks about it. ''Could it be - a love affair? I regretted how stupid I had been to blurt it out so straight out. There''s an idiot. Here. It''s me. ''Yes, it''s ......''. Hee-hee-hee! This is not good! I''ve had enough of love affairs. Somebody stick a needle in my belly. The word "love" will spray out like a spray of blood without end. The situation is too sweet for me. I want to eat salted fish. Let''s see, what''s it all about? ''Comet-kun, I believe you and Makoto-kun are good friends, am I right? ''Yes, that''s right. Makoto and I are indeed good friends. Wait, no way--'''' ''Shh! Please, be quiet ......! OH MY GOD. It''s Makoto. You don''t have time to wear a horse mask! It''s an after-school kind of afternoon, but after-school has arrived in earnest with a formal end-of-school assembly. Usually the classrooms are empty right away, but many of my classmates stay behind to do final checks for tomorrow. I also have to go to the student council meeting as a final check, so I pack my bag and get ready to leave. Are you going? ''? Oh, yeah. Student council. I''m going to make one last check. ''I see. I hope you have a good festival tomorrow. ''Right. Let''s make it good. How long are you going to keep wearing that horse mask ....... Good festival. Yes, I hope it''s a good festival. I had a sense of d j vu when I entered the student council. They were waiting for me again. Alina pokes me as I take my seat. You''re no better than a turtle. I whisper in a venomed voice. You''re too early. The seating order---sorry, I made a mistake. I''ll spare you the template words, because they''re honestly so unmemorable. My thoughts were no longer in the same direction. Alina and I had a meeting. We briefly reconfirm the time and procedures for tomorrow''s ad hoc patrol. It''s all pretty obvious, so we kind of let it slide. ''I''ll be the only one on patrol during Alina''s fashion show. Rest assured. ''''So.'''' ''Well, that''s the thing. Do you remember Makoto Takane?'' ''Mammals? Reptiles? I''m not familiar with birds, so I can''t answer that question.'' ''I don''t know if I need to delve into that dimension. ...... I confessed to you once. The guy who belongs to the badminton club and hangs out with me a lot. ''Ahhh ......'' ''If you don''t remember, that''s fine. ''So, what is it? ''I''m singing Mimori-style to a girl classmate, and it seems she''s in love with Makoto. ''''So'''' So, this Ryuka asked me, who is good friends with Makoto, for a favor. ''''So'''' ''I need you to create an opportunity for me to get close to Makoto quickly,'' he said. ''''So'''' That''s all you say. Well, that''s all right. So what do you think I should do? ''I don''t know anything about that. If I lock you both in the bathroom, what''s going to happen?'' ''I knew it. You''re a pervert.'' No, I''m not. What are you imagining, you son of a b*tc*? You''re going to die. ''I''m sorry.'' He says it with no expression on his face, and it''s horrifying. Hell''s eyes. I wanted to get advice from Alina, who has fought a hundred battles. I want to be of help to Ryuka. ''You''re a pain in the ass. You should take care of it yourself. ''It''s hard for me to set up a natural way to approach you, even if I want to give you a chance to approach me. It would be bad if Makoto feels uncomfortable. So, Alina-sama, please lend me your wisdom. ''I can''t. I don''t know either. Just go with the flow. Well, if that Alina-sama says so, then there''s nothing I can do. I''ll see what I can do. ''''So.'''' I thought about asking Shirana, but it still feels awkward. I can''t ask her about something like this. As Alina said, we just have to go with the flow. The student council meeting was soon adjourned. The officers had their own class work to do. I went to my classroom for a while. The number of students had decreased, but there were still some people left. Especially the rear. And some centaurs. There seemed to be no more work, so I bade the centaur goodbye and left. Tomorrow is going to be an intense day. 37-Discipline committee... Staring at the TV screen as if you were dead may be the best bliss hidden in everyday life. I have only recently begun to realize this. The state in which the brain''s rotation is stopped and information is received only by the eyes is truly the ultimate in relaxation. You can only understand part of the reason why my mind is so wrapped up in happiness by monitoring my brain with electrodes. Sensation is subjective. It is the one and only sensation that cannot be shaken, no matter what anyone says. You cannot feel a person''s ''senses''. It is as foolish as trying to see into the other person''s eyes. Brother, get out of the way! Ugin, my sister, tapping my leg as I lay on the sofa. ''Mom. Ugin is about to amputate my leg. My mother just nodded ''yes, yes'' as she washed the dishes. ''I''ll get the saw, brother! Don''t do anything dangerous. Don''t talk like a girl I know well. ''Heh. Tomorrow is the school festival, right, brother? ''Yes, but...'' I''m going. ''What? What about school?'''' ''It''s Saturday, and my club activities are on Sunday, so I''m free, so I''ll be there. ''I see. Have fun on your own. ''Who are you going around with, brother?'' I don''t go around with anyone. I''m supposed to be a security guard and a guide for the festival. ''''Alone?'''' No, with Alina. ''What? You''re going around with Alina. ''It ain''t like that. ......'' ''Again. You''re so happy. It''s too late now for my sister to make fun of my relationship with Alina. I''m getting to the point where I can''t shake the suspicion. I''m a bachelor. ''That''s not true. Because I''m not old enough to get married. ''...... I can drink tomato juice for the rest of my life. That''s all I want.'' ''You''re changing the subject. Is it because I told you that I like tomato juice? I don''t know. I''ve been drinking tomato juice ever since Mr. Ugin told me it was good for my health, but it''s not about health, it''s simply delicious. ''Gee. That''s great. I don''t want tomato juice. I can''t drink that stuff. ''You''re missing out on 80% of your life. I don''t want to live like that. If I run into Ugin while I''m on patrol with Alina, I''m going to get in trouble. I guess I''ll just have to trust in God for one day. God. Please take control of the world so that we don''t run into Ugin tomorrow. The day of the festival. Unlike the usual gloomy morning, I feel a bright and hot feeling of hope in my heart. The air is full of human vitality, and I feel like I''m going to be swallowed up by it. Classmates are busily moving around even before the morning assembly begins. The school opens its doors to the public at 9:00 a.m., so the place is already packed with people in cosplay. My class is temporarily in chaos. The scene I was aiming for at the beginning has been created perfectly, with the ages and the worldviews all messed up. The problem is that Makoto is still a centaur. Shorts, aloha shirt, and horse mask. Perhaps a reverse centaur would be a more accurate description. He should not have to wear it now, but he was already wearing it. It has become an integral part of his body. A ''reverse centaur. How are you? ''I''ve never felt better. I feel like I''m going to explode. ''That''s a good thing. If you feel like you''re about to explode, please do it in the bathroom. ''All right. I''ll lick it all up.'' What the hell? This guy''s f*cked. After the morning assembly, the classmates went into their own routines. The open house will be starting soon. I quickly left the classroom and made my way to the student council. On my way there, I bumped into Alina. Hey. ''You look like crap in the morning.'' ''Don''t say that. Have a good day.'' ''So.'' She replies blankly with the same blank expression on her face. But I know her. I know Alina, who comes to school with a large baggage in her hands. I know. I know it''s all clothes. She''s been acting like she doesn''t want to do it, but she''s actually being honest about her body. It seems Alina''s "I''ll do it if I have to" spirit is still alive and well. Arriving at the student council, I first take out my sealed armband. Public Morals The armband with this inscription is slipped under the left arm. ''Hey. Why is it in English? ''I don''t know. It''s embarrassing.'' I think a regular usher would have been fine. Is this also the chairman''s intention? ''You must be a very stupid chairman. That chairman. ''Stupid, I can hear you. I drowned out the voices with my yelling. It must have looked like a caveman going crazy to everyone around me. It''s a cultural festival, let''s keep it peaceful. There were people outside the window. I knew that it was 9 o''clock when I saw the crowd of people coming through the school gate. The signal for the start of the festival, which was broadcasted throughout the school, was propagated by the voice of the broadcasting club. The festival is about to start! Members of the student council began working on the opening event. And so we get into action. Okay, let''s go to the gymnasium first. ''So you want to go to the opening. ''That''s right. It gets lonely on campus during the opening. I don''t feel like policing it. That''s why we''re going to the gym. ''All right. Let''s get the hell out of here, minnow. I''m too lazy to even bother with the tsukkomi, so I''ll just go through with it. Comet Sakakimagi and Alina Hiba have become guardian deities roaming the school grounds with public morals shining on their arms. They may be just idle people, though it may be a cool thing to say. As for me personally, I am most fortunate to have escaped the masquerade. Frankly speaking, it was a pain in the ass. The frenzy in the gymnasium was outrageous. People crammed into a space shielded by black curtains. Imagine a cockroach whip. That''s exactly what it was. The stage was lit up, and each activity took its turn to promote itself by performing and dancing. The students are in high spirits and shout in response whenever someone on stage says something. I was overwhelmed by the enthusiasm that I don''t usually feel. Some of them had glow sticks. (I later learned that they were called psylliums.) Makoto was already wearing a horse mask when the badminton team was introduced. It was incomprehensible. I knew it was too late, but she was a different person now. The members of the badminton club were laughing. Next to me, Alina was making a withering suggestion: ''I think I''d better make it into a horse-mask. Alina and I lean our backs against the wall and watch the opening. Alina looked tired from the crowd. ''You want to get out? ''No problem. It''s not that bad.'' I hope that''s the case. As for me, I''m worried that Alina''s participation in the fashion show will be affected. I''ll see what I can do. The best way to get back at her is for me to get a front seat. You don''t want to be seen. I''m gonna drop my pelvis in a panic. Then I''ll pick it up and put it back in. Boom. The student council officers seem to be on schedule, and so far, so good. I''m a member of the student council, so I have a pretty good idea of how things are going. So the opening will be over soon. The opening ended with the finale of the brass band performance. The festival began in style with President Jun Seki''s opening and closing remarks. Let''s go. ''Yes.'' In the name of public morals, we began to act as the guardian gods of the festival. 38-< My brother, Comet Sakakiki, is an eccentric. When he was in the third grade of junior high school, that is, when I was in the first grade of junior high school, I noticed that he was a bit strange. (More than a little...). That was my impression when I saw my brother at school for the first time in a long time since he graduated from elementary school, Ugin-chan''s brother is that guy? My friend pointed in the direction of a third grader in gym class. When I looked more closely in the direction of her finger, I saw her brother. He was 6 feet tall. Short hair. He was holding a wooden stick and swinging it around, imitating kendo and playing with his friends. I was too embarrassed to say yes. One day. I went to the library with a gleam in my eye when I heard that books had arrived. Books are familiar to me, but they are expensive for junior high school students, so I like the library where I can read them for free. The library is located on the floor where the third graders are, so it is a little difficult for me to go there. The difference of two years is very big. So I went with my friend. ''Could it be Ugin''s brother? My friend and I were going and there was my brother walking like a drunk uncle. ''What are you doing, brother? ''Oh, Ugin. Move aside for a moment. I can''t step on the shadow. He seems to be walking down the hallway to avoid the light coming in through the window. I walked past in disgust. Aaaaah! I groaned to myself in the classroom at lunchtime. What''s wrong? It''s nice to hear him talk to me because he is concerned about me, but I always feel embarrassed because of the content of the conversation. My brother is too stupid to do anything about it! I can''t say. I don''t even know what that means. Huh. I didn''t think my brother had changed so much. I don''t know what happened. He didn''t change in the first place? Is it because my views have changed? It''s normal at home. Every time I ask, ''Is that Ugin''s brother? It''s already a hassle and a nuisance. All I can say is ''Actually, I''m his brother ......''. I don''t know. I wonder if they don''t like me. It was really an ordinary day that changed all these doubts. I was on my way home after school when I happened to see my brother crouching in the street. But I didn''t feel like talking to him. To be honest, I didn''t want to have anything to do with my brother at school - well, I didn''t want to have anything to do with him in his school uniform. It wasn''t contempt, but I didn''t like it. Japanese is a difficult language. I tried to walk past him. I think I looked at him condescendingly, thinking that he was probably just observing ants. There was a dead sparrow at my brother''s feet. He wrapped the sparrow in a leaf with sad eyes. ''Brother. Are you eating a mugwort cake? I decided to play dumb. I wanted to avoid asking him directly about the sparrows, even though I couldn''t express it in words. I still wonder why. I didn''t want to get too deep into my brother''s life, so on the surface. I guess that''s what I was thinking. Just a hunch. So I made a joke. He replied. "The sparrow-- it was dead. I know. I wonder why. He said it as if he were asking a sparrow. ''Why doesn''t anyone bury them in the ground? I will never forget those words. My brother then dug up the earth in a corner of the road and buried the sparrow. He was expressionless and nonchalant the whole time. It was not coldness or anything like that, it was more like respect. I stood back and watched. I felt that my big brother''s back was wrapped in tenderness. He was not the no-good brother who was always fooling around at school, but the brother who was full of humanity and richness of heart that cherished life. I felt ashamed of myself. I felt foolish for having a selfish image of my brother. I had looked down on him. Even if I apologize to my brother here, he will just give me a blank stare. But I want to explain. I want to apologize. What I can do is really limited and small. So I''m going to pay him back a little bit at a time. ''On me, bro. ''Why not? ''No, no, no, no, no, no, no. I''ll buy you a juice from the vending machine over there. ''What in the world happened at school that Ugin would say such a thing ......?'' ''Nothing! Here, drink this! Don''t throw it. Why tomato juice? ''Tomato juice is good for your health and it''s the key to a long life. ''Really? Thank you. Bon app tit. I thought it was the perfect juice for my brother, who values life. ''But I''m afraid I''ll die prematurely from too much salt. Yeah. That''s like my brother. I thought my brother might actually be a homos*xual, since I never heard any rumors about his love life. When I told this to my friend to pass the time, his eyes lit up. It''s so much better! My friend seemed pleased. I tilted my head because her reaction was a mystery to me, but later I found out that she was a rotten girl. There are all kinds of people in the world. Two years have passed since my brother left junior high school. In the third year of junior high school, I recently found out that there was a girl who was close to my brother. Alina Hiba. She''s a very peculiar person, extremely S, extremely abusive, and extremely beautiful. I was interested in her because of her mix of various elements, so I went to the high school she went to with my brother. It had been a long time since we went to school together. Alina was really beautiful. I was surprised to see them hiding in the bushes as they walked to the school gate. (I wonder if she is a model! Amazing!) I couldn''t help talking to myself. She was that good-looking. She really is beautiful! My brother is in a haze! They headed straight for the school gate. What about me? Leave me, brother, leave me! My phone vibrated shakily. It''s an incoming call from my brother. I felt it wasn''t enough to answer the call, so I hung up the phone and jumped out of the bushes. Bullet tackle! Another month goes by. My brother is going to work with Alina at the festival. He denies that they''re not together, but I couldn''t help but be curious. She was really beautiful, so I thought to myself, ''How could she be with my brother? The hazy feeling in my head would not go away. I was going to find out about their love affair at the high school festival. 39-Crepes and roses... ''Noisy''. Alina muttered. It''s a cultural festival, of course. If you listen carefully, you can always hear music. The yellow voices and lingering scents of the students and the general public passing by us. Cackling and giggling. It was very lively. They say that when people get crowded or gathered or emotional, it causes the random number generator to go haywire. Normally, the generator generates 0''s and 1''s randomly, and the ratio of 0''s and 1''s will be the same in the end, but after 9.11... On that day, when people around the world were terrified, outraged, grieved, and vengeful, the random number generators of the world became biased. The human mind, dyed in horrifying colors, affected the subatomic and quantum dimensions. It is unthinkable, but it really happened, and it is an event that cannot be ignored. In other words, I fantasized that this school must be boiling with invisible human energy. ''You have zero motivation. ''That''s the way my face is structured. Forgive me. ''I don''t feel the energy.'' ''You just look like that. Inside, you''re a motivated young man. ''I wish I was chained up instead of just being a cow to be eaten.'' ''Alina, you are a cannibal. I thought it would be absolutely boring for the two of us to go wandering around together, but it turned out to be quite interesting. We went around the school in circles so that we could catch glimpses of all the class events, even if we didn''t want to. And if you take off your armband, you are just a student. It''s good to skip school and have a little fun. Although I wonder if the neighbors would be into it. ''Alina, wait a minute. ''I hope you''re not going to kidnap a little girl again. ''Keep your voice down! I''ll be falsely accused! She agreed to wait with her arms crossed. I stopped by the first grade class. First graders in aprons. They make crepes here. ''Ma''am. Two crepes. ''Eh, miss-- oh, yes! I understand!'''' Analyzing Alina''s personality, the result is ''she doesn''t participate in cultural festivals. I don''t know how Alina spent her time at the festival we held in our first year. I am not going to ask her directly. But I''m sure she was not very active. When I imagine her wandering alone and lonely, I feel like snuggling with her. I wanted her to have a good time, and since she was always wrinkling her brow, she should loosen up today. That''s what I''m trying to say. I pay and watch the crepes being made. I was impressed by the dexterity with which they were made. ''Oh, isn''t that Comet-senpai? I heard a voice behind me and turned to see a face I had recently recognized. Taku Nakatani. A first-year high school student. From the same junior high school as Arina Hiba. A person who knows Alina''s basic personality. Someone who has feelings for Arina. He once met Arina again for the first time in many years. He tried to tell her about his feelings for her, but she had already become a different person from the one Taku knew, and she rejected him vehemently, which made him depressed. I don''t know what happened after that. ''Oh, Taku. You''re making crepes? ''I''m not very good at it, so I leave it to the girls. I''m putting more effort into advertising. Are you alone, Comet-senpai? I''m lost. Should I tell him that Alina was waiting for me in the hallway with her arms crossed? Or should I just leave it vague? Either choice would be awkward, but I''ll stick to protecting his mental health. ''Yes,'' he says. A lonely man alone comes to buy a crepe. It''s a lonely, lonely world. Then, at an inopportune moment, a female student, who was concentrating on making crepes, said. ''Here you go! Crepes for two! ''Oh, thank you. Two? Taku nodded his head. ''I was going to give it to the idiot in my class. You know, the one who wore the horse mask at the opening ceremony? That''s him. That''s him. Oh, so that''s how it is. That guy stood out, didn''t he? Huh. Makoto. I''m glad you''re crazy. I''m going back then. Enjoy the festival. Yes! Oh, shit. We almost got caught. If they find out I''m working with Alina, they won''t say it, but they''ll be embarrassed. He''d wonder if I was dating Alina. It will take a lot of time to completely dispel his suspicions. As soon as we got out into the hallway, Alina was showing the map to the public and saying this and that. Alina was smiling gently. Her face was genuine and her voice was soft and pleasantly resonant. I was fascinated by her, which is something I don''t usually see. She looked away from the public and immediately turned to me. ''You''re late. I''m sorry. Here, I''ll give you this. ''Oh, my. Thank you. She accepted the crepe with a puzzled look on her face. ''Do you want to eat it somewhere else? ''Why don''t you just walk away?'' ''As a member of the public morals committee, that''s ......'' ''It''s a cultural festival, right? You''re allowed. We have to have fun, don''t we? It was a selfish assumption on my part, apparently. Alina is having fun. I like festivals. It''s fun. 40-ones true lord... Comet Sakakiki and Arina Hiba, two delinquents who are on a foodie kick, wander around the school. The crepes were priced at 100 yen, an unbelievably low price, but the taste was better than the price. As they walked around the school, they found that food seemed to be the main attraction of the festival. Crepes, cakes, yakisoba, takoyaki, cafes, food stalls, etc. And they are cheap. It does not look like they are trying to run in the black. So, this festival is a good place for those who like to eat and eat big. Where is the horse''s brother? Suddenly I was approached by a kid of elementary school age. ''Ah, a horse. A horse. Could it be the guy wearing a horse mask? ''Yeah.'' Makoto seems to be making a name for himself. It''s horrible to steal the heart of an innocent little boy. And what''s more. This kid has a poster advertising our coffee shop with a picture of Makoto Mamasukoto on it. It''s very different from the posters I''ve seen. Makoto''s image is everywhere and it''s getting annoying. It''s a meme now. Makoto meme. Cultural information transmitted through the medium, the horse mask. ''Do you want to go to this horse? Alina asks politely. Her tone is too different from when she talks to me. Where''s the difference? If you can make such a beautiful voice, you should do it all the time. Then I''ll record it and put it on a video-sharing site. I can heal people all over the world. Then I can put ads on it and make a lot of money. I''m not a worshipper, by the way. The kid nodded his head. Let''s go. Oh, you''re really going? Alina pulled my ear and whispered to me. ''--Obey me. Your balls are shrinking, I''ll be honest. Obscenity is a vile evil for those of us who love wholesomeness, but in this situation I have to say it. You''ve shrunk. So, I became the servant and escorted them to our second grade class. Recently, I noticed that Alina is very hard on people her own age. She has a certain amount of respect for seniors and others as well. It is her age and some of her juniors that she hits hard. No, those who have the status of students. Alina tends to be like that. It does not change anything now that we know. But it is useful information for psychological analysis. I think Dr. Akakusa can give us one answer. Dr. Akakusa is one of the people who knows that Alina has a dual personality. By chance, I also found out that Alina has a dual personality, and that the Alina I know in front of me is the Alina Hiu that arose several years ago. Dr. Akakusa asked me to fix her tone and attitude. In other words, he wants me to get back the original Arina. I want her to retract her main personality and get her basic personality back. I don''t know if this is right. The argument is good and evil. Does the basic personality want to regain the initiative? Does the basic personality want to disappear? Did the basic personality create the main personality because it wanted to do so? What does the basic personality want to do? Does the primary personality want to paint the primary personality? Does the master want to bully the master? Does the principal want to stay? What does the principal want to do? Are the two personalities in conflict? They are close, but not sure. So close, yet so far. I know Alina better than anyone on campus. I''m proud of it. But under the skin, everything is unknown. Who is she, after all? I call Makoto as he arrives in my class. ''I''m a fan of yours. Makoto appeared, as usual, wearing a horse mask, an aloha shirt, and shorts. A toy hatchet has been added to his right hand. The character is becoming blurred. There is a tendency to mix different cultures. Ya-ya. Welcome to the fancy dress cafe! Makoto welcomes them with open arms. She seems to be having a lot of fun. The classroom was filled with cosplayers. The one-piece military uniform of Niwadatsuru stood out in particular. It was a Western military uniform with blood-red and jet-black highlights. It looked so good on her that I couldn''t help but let out an ''ooh'' or two. Hearing my exclamation, the crane flew toward me. Oh, it''s a comet! Oh, Alina-san! I''m going to see the fashion show! I''ll be there for sure! ''Yeah, yeah. Thank you. ''A fashion show, huh? ''I don''t really care about the comet. ''Yeah. What if he''s dead?'' I''m sorry. While I was feeling depressed, I felt a gaze from a corner of the classroom. I turned my eyes toward Mimori Ryuka. I remembered. I remembered that Ryuka Mimori had asked me to do something for her. Ryuka is in love with Makoto. I haven''t heard the details, but it is a fact that Ryuka is in love. And I was responsible for bringing Makoto closer to Ryuka, I had completely forgotten. Ryuka was dressed in a kimono, giving off the impression of a Japanese woman. Her kimono was a perfect match for her old-fashioned atmosphere. Her eyes appealed to me to come over here, so I casually approached her. ''Hey. ''Comet, you forgot?'' ''It''s all right. I''ll take care of it. I''ll let you show off your feminine side to Makoto. ''Hey, you don''t have to make such a big deal out of it. I call out to Makoto. ''Hey, horse. The Japanese beauty is tired. Take care of her. ''Yes, sir! Kimono-clad lady, this way please! The woman in the kimono blushes and waddles away as the horseman calls her over. In a whisper, she said, "What a ......! He is protesting, but he seems to be happy about it. Is she what is called a tsundere? But she is not a tsundere. Ryuka, who was taken by Makoto''s hand, gave a thumbs-up as a sign of good. She is a tsundere after all. A few minutes after leaving the classroom. Alina started to fidget. ''Pissing? I''m 100% sure they''ll kill me. And then they''d blow up the tomb. After a few minutes, he was still acting suspicious, so I opened my mouth. I said, ''Why are you so nervous? ''No, I didn''t. ''I am. You''re fidgeting. ''I didn''t do it. Cockroach eggs. ''Feel free to tell me if you have something to say. I''m a forgiving guy.'' I''ll be right with you. ''''Yes?'''' ''...... it''s about to be a,fa,fashion show......! ''Oh, so that''s what this is about. Go on, go on. Go on, show them. Alina breaks up with me, stiff-armed. Why are you so tense? Then Alina turns around and glares at me. Don''t ever come here. No problem. I''ll maintain security on campus. Go ahead and spread your wings. ''Yes, you''re surprisingly supportive. ''I''m still on friendly terms with you, after all. I can at least cheer you up. ''Gross.'' ''I''m relieved to hear you say that. ''Well, I''m off then. ''Yeah.'' Well, I''m going to sneak out to see it, too. I can''t wait to see your surprised face, really. I take off my armband without hesitation and stow it in my pocket. Let''s go! 41-the opening of a fashion show... I took off my armband and was free to wander around for the time being. First of all, I had to buy tomato juice. As soon as I arrived at the only vending machine that sold tomato juice, I bought two bottles. One in my pocket and one to drink. That''s great. The owner of the cheerful voice was Aki-senpai. It''s been a while, Aki-senpai. We often meet at the vending machine. ''Certainly. I mean, are you drinking tomato juice again? Do you want to be Dracula or something?'''' ''Don''t worry, I''ve never been diagnosed as having a chuunibyouji or any other medical condition. My sister brainwashed me into this. It''s delicious. ''You''ll get sick if you keep guzzling like that. ''I''ll try to moderate.'' What are you going to do now, Comet? ''I''m going to see Alina''s fashion show. ''Heh! A fashion show! ''That''s right. That Alina. Isn''t she funny? That quiet Alina-chan, huh? I decided to confirm a feeling I had been having for some time. What was Arina like in middle school? ''I don''t know, I think she''s a sweet girl who smiles a lot. ''I see.'' ''''Like an angel?'''' ''Yes, yes! Angel!'''' After all, Aki-senpai does not know the current Arina. As I predicted, another Arina was born when she was in the third year of junior high school. Something happened during that year. I don''t think I can solve the mystery of Arina even if I ask Aki-senpai. And I am convinced that Aki-senpai has not yet had a single conversation with Alina. I''m going to a fashion show now. ''I''m free, I''m going! Let''s take him to see Aki-senpai. She will probably be as wary as Taku. He may be venomous, or he may just ignore her. He is a senior student, so it should not be a storm of verbal abuse, but Aki-senpai may be confused. But Aki may be confused. She is about to meet Alina, who is a different person from her inside. Let''s go. The show is about to start. ''Aiyo''. Aki and Alina have not met in two and a half years. I think they have seen each other before, but they have never talked. How will Alina react? There was a line of people waiting in class 2 and 3, the venue for the fashion show. It was a rare show at the festival, so it must have attracted a lot of attention. The fact that Alina was in the show was also a big factor. Arina Hiba is a problem child, but is very popular among the boys. If they heard that she was going to participate in the fashion show, they would go. That''s why there are more men in the line by a narrow margin. Comet Sakakiki''s vision shows two words on the foreheads of the men: "ulterior motive. You can see their psychology as if you could see it in your hand. The girls, on the other hand, are not so keen on the guys. They stare at these filthy beasts. ''You''re very popular. ''Yes, it is. Alina will be there. The boys react to my words and stare at me. I felt a tremendous desire to kill them. ''Hey, hey, Comet, you''re staring at me. ''I might die. I forgot to write my will. Perhaps the accusations of being too close to Alina reached their peak here. I think I now understand how it feels to be a zebra being chased around by a lion. Sneaking around, I got in the back row and waited for a while. Soon the doors opened and the show finally started. When I walked through the door, the windows were closed with blackout curtains and half of the classroom was hidden by partitions. A path for the performers extended from the partition to us, the audience, who sat in chairs arranged in a U-shape around the path. We were handed a questionnaire at the entrance. We were given a questionnaire as we entered the venue, asking us to choose three people we thought were the best. Five minutes after the fashion show, they would announce the results and the top three winners. There were about 20 performers, some of whom were from other classes. As soon as they appear on stage, a staff member holds up a board with a number on it. That is the number of the performers, and they write it on the questionnaire. It gives off a certain atmosphere. I guess so. It''s very interesting to think that there are about 20 people behind that partition. ''Yes, that''s right. What are you talking about? Thank you very much for coming today, ladies and gentlemen! It will begin shortly!" The music began to play, cued by the emcee''s voice. Lights illuminate the aisles and the red carpet appears. Aki and I are sitting together at the end of the aisle. The performers are as close as they can get to us. So Alina will be quite surprised. I''m the one who said I wouldn''t show up at the last minute. I''m gonna get beat up when it''s over, but that''s okay. The first person is here. Oh, my God. He''s wearing a big hat and sunglasses. A messy mix of purple, black, and white in a geometric pattern. As a layman, all I could think was that it really emphasized the lines of my body. And high heels. I thought they were too serious from the very first person. ''I was surprised that it was more authentic than I had imagined ......'' ''I also ......'' The second model appeared wearing a peacock-feather robe and what looked like a chicken crest on her head. I don''t know, I don''t know. To tell the truth, this is not so different from our fancy dress cafe. The third model was dressed in a swimsuit with a robe of feathers hanging from her shoulders. Too extreme. That''s not right. I think this is exactly the kind of thing I should be cracking down on. Too bad I don''t have the armband now. That''s great, thank you. Maybe this is what a fashion show is all about. I think it''s because I''m an amateur. I guess it''s normal. Normal, right? Aki, this is normal, right? ''Erotic''. Aki-senpai, you speak for me, that''s great! The fourth and the fifth, and after that, some strange fashions and some that made my heart skip a beat. I made a note of the numbers of the ones I liked. As I watched the show, I wondered where they got these outfits. Is this a high school for rich people? I''ll ask Alina later. And the sixteenth. Alina appeared. The crowd goes wild as soon as she comes on stage. Beautiful. Her dress was shiny and fiery red. The ruffles at her feet were so fine that they reminded one of roses in full bloom, swaying in the breeze. The curves of her body are accentuated. The open chest is a foul sight. Her wavy hair shines like jewels in the light, illuminating Alina''s face beautifully. Beautiful, beautiful! This space is now under Alina''s control, except for the noisy voice of Tsuru calling out, "I''m sorry, I''m sorry, I''m sorry, I''m sorry. There is such overwhelming beauty. This is a winner, I thought, and wrote "16" for the first place. Sorry, everyone after 17. Alina wins. As Alina came closer to us, Aki said, ''Wow, it''s like a jewel! I hit him in the side of my head, stifling a cry of "I''m sorry, I''m sorry. Oh, you''re going to break. And just as I was getting close to the limit, I said a small ''yo''. I''m here. Alina reacts and takes one look at me. Her smiling face changes for a moment to her default kill face, and back again. That''s when I realized I was going to die. When Alina turns to look back, Aki waved her hand to the person in front of her, saying "Kyakiakiakiakiaki". Alina sees this and freezes. Something strange happens. Her eyes flutter and she stares at Aki. She tilts her head. That''s strange. She doesn''t walk away. The seventeenth member of the group has also stopped to look at Alina, who has not returned. Then suddenly Alina opens her mouth. Aki-senpai! I missed you! I''m super happy!'''' Alina was all smiles regardless of the show. Her reaction was so out of place. Funny. Her tone of voice, her facial expressions, her gestures were not Alina''s usual. She''s just a beautiful girl. The crowd around her was also in a state of shock. The queen of tongue is full of energy and joy. Everyone raises their eyebrows as if something supernatural is happening. Where is she? Alina muttered. She looked around and moved her head in circles to check her situation. Was this some kind of personality switch? That''s all I can think. She does not act like this. She would never put her hand on her chest anxiously and look like she is about to cry. In the end, the child number 17 said to me, ''Alina-san, come here, come here! Alina was beckoned and quickly disappeared. What''s wrong with her, Alina? ''I wonder what''s going on.'' This is not good. Alina tells me that she can''t share her memories with me, so I can understand her situation. It''s like replaying a movie you''ve never seen from the beginning. Right now Alina has no idea where she is or what she is doing. She must be worried that she might be causing trouble. Maybe she even doubts her own age. She may think she has already graduated from high school and is in a show somewhere. Whether they even understand that sense of time is unknown to me, but it is a possibility. I''m going to be in and out of trouble. But what can I do? Wait, does that mean that Alina''s previous memories are now connected to the infirmary? Maybe he feels like he''s time-traveled from the infirmary to the show. If so, will I be able to sort something out when I get there? Ah! I remember now. I found out about Alina''s recent two days off from school. Aki was the trigger. The picture I showed her in the warehouse that day had Aki in it. As soon as she saw it, she felt sick and missed school. She said she had no memory of the last two days. So that''s what happened. That''s what you mean when you say you have no memory. Then my appearance might confuse you. No, I don''t know. But she''ll remember me. Would you feel safer if you knew me? I''m sure they''re scurrying around behind the partitions. I don''t know what to do. Oh, shit. ''Oh no, Alina, you were beautiful.'' I agree with you, though! d*mn it, I want to share this pent-up frustration with Aki-senpai. Please help me. And then I''ll just roll my eyes. Entry number 19. Akakusa-sensei! FAR! Why Dr. Akakusa! I mean, Dr. Akakusa! Why are you dressed as a nurse? This is not a cosplay venue! But everyone is doing cosplay-like things, but it''s not fashion, hmmm... I think it''s different. It looks good on you, though! It looks great on you, though, sir! I crossed out the 16 on the first place and replaced it with a 19. Alina, you''re number two. 42-where When the last model had left, a signboard read "TOTALING" and they were put on standby. The lights dimmed and the room became dimly lit, and the lingering echoes of the lively atmosphere lingered in my mind. I was concerned about Alina''s condition. I did not know if her personality was still switched or if it had returned to its original state. But there is a part of me that thinks this is the way Alina should be. Now that they are in control, this is the state they want to be in. It''s not my place to worry about every little thing. That''s what I tell myself to convince myself. First of all, my original promise to Dr. Akakusa was to ''change my tone and attitude. It is muddled, but it suggests that he will invoke his basic personality and submerge his main personality. This has now been accomplished. The only problem is that it will not last, not for long. ''Let''s see who wins. Aki senior muttered. That would be Dr. Akakusa. He wins hands down. ''Wow. That''s just cosplay. I''m sorry about that. I can''t say it back. You''re right, it was just cosplay. I think it''s Alina. First of all, the material. ''I''m sure it''ll be up there. But not as high as Dr. Akakusa. ''Too much guesswork''. After a few moments, the "Tallying" sign came down, and the lights lit up the aisles again. The presenter was also illuminated, and the results were finally announced. The crowd was buzzing and the excitement was about to come back to life. The crowd is buzzing and the excitement is about to come to life. The results are in and models please come out!'' The MC said cheerfully. The models who had entered the competition came out from behind the partition and lined up side by side. Alina was there, but she was no Alina with a tongue. She looked fragile, fragile, fragile enough to want to wrap herself up in. Her brow was furrowed and her eyes moved restlessly. Could it be that we would be switching places again for the next two days? I was worried. Not rational anxiety. Instinctively, from the bottom of my heart, I was worried. The possibility that Alina, with her tongue... might not come back. I might never see her frown again. For the first time, I became aware of the existence of the contradiction swirling in my heart. I am pleased to announce the third place! Entry number 9! Aiyo Goto! Congratulations! The third place winner steps forward. She looked very good in her indigo one-piece dress. The winner was crying. She was not so much happy as ''Why didn''t I win the first prize? The tears seemed to be oozing with frustration. I''m serious. Like a man who gets unusually serious at a gymnastics festival. That''s scary. Here is the second place winner! Entry number 13! It''s Kanaka Midorikawa! Congratulations! What the hell? There''s only one left. You''ve got to choose between Alina and Dr. Akakusa! What are you going to do! ''I''m going to have to go with Alina. ''Too soon, senpai. There''s Dr. Akakusa. ''You never give up until the end. ......'' Ignoring Aki, who is still reeling, I turn my attention to the moderator again. The MC noticed my eyes and looked a little scared. It can''t be helped. I reminded him, "Mr. Akakusa, Mr. Akakusa! It is understandable if he thinks I am a psycho. I''m sorry, Mr. Moderator. I''m going to announce the first place. All right, say it, say it! I was so nervous I couldn''t stop shaking my poor body. ''Entry number ......'' Nineteen! Nineteen! Nineteen! ''Number 16! Huh? You read the first number wrong, Mr. Moderator. Okay, 6 and 9 are so simple that you can decrease or increase the number by three just by standing on your head, so it''s no wonder you got it wrong. Now''s the time to correct it. No, wait. Six and nine... those are Arabic numerals. What if the numbers of the winners are written in Chinese characters? Six and nine. Impossible. But I won''t give up hope. They wrote it in Arabic and misspelled six and nine. It''s got to be. It''s Alina Hinoha! Congratulations! God is dead. Alina smiled, frightened. She is smiling, but seems embarrassed. ''Heh heh heh. Thank you very much. The stage was decorated with applause and music. The boys seemed to be attracted by Alina''s cute behavior, which they usually don''t see, and they were shouting. Some of them are taking pictures with their cell phones. Like war photographers caught up in recording a scene from history. A Pulitzer Prize winner for sure. ''Aki-senpai. Did you bring a single-lens reflex camera? Like a U.S. Army sniper, Aki was holding a single-lens reflex camera. The shutter was loud and noisy, though the flash was not always on. Aki-senpai''s shutter sound is ...... ''Shh! It''s a time we''ll never have again!'' After receiving a reprimand, I decided to keep my mouth shut and watch. I wanted to ask him what he was going to do with all those pictures, but I guess that would be a foolish question. Aki''s view of the world and my view of the world are very different. The winners were given medals and some kind of souvenirs. I noticed that many teachers came to see the ceremony. Most of them were women. There were a few old teachers here and there. I would have called 110 if an old teacher had been filming. By the way, it is allowed for me to point my phone at Mr. Akakusa. Please forgive my youthful indiscretion. Pasha. The fashion show is over and we, the audience, have to leave. As the models wave, I catch the last glimpse of Alina. Our eyes met. She is ...... I couldn''t hear him over the cheers, but I recognized him by the way his mouth moved. He knows me. She remembers meeting me in the infirmary. I wonder what she''ll tell me. ''Well, that was interesting. I know. Thanks! Thanks to you, I got some good shots.'' ''Please don''t sell them at auction or anything.'' ''I won''t, I won''t. Since when do you belong to Comet-kun? I didn''t mean it like that. I''m advising Aki-senpai not to become a criminal. Ha-ha-ha. Ah, Alina-chan came out. Alina came out of the classroom door on the partition side. It''s instantly recognizable. It''s not Alina with a tongue. She was still wearing her crimson dress. A crimson mermaid line. ''Alina! Aarina-chan! Aki-senpai skipped closer. Oh, Aki-senpai! Alina welcomes Aki with a twinkle in her eye and her arms outstretched. The two embraced without regard for others'' eyes. It was a funny sight to me. I couldn''t imagine Alina ever touching another person. The way it should be. That''s the word that comes to my mind. It''s a scene I wish I could have. But I was wishing for Alina with her tongue. From what I can see, it looks like they met again in high school. Aki knew Alina was there, but didn''t talk to her. In other words, he does not know that she has a dual personality. Good timing, I guess. The contact I had feared between Alina and Aki was averted. ''You were so beautiful, Alina-chan! I''m a girl, but I''m in love with you! Ghehehehe''. ''Senpai, please stop. I''m embarrassed. ......'' ''Sorry, sorry! Come on, comet, you saw it too! Come here, comet! I didn''t like it. Because I don''t know her. I know what Alina looks like, but right now she''s a mass of unknowns. It''s like dealing with someone who has amnesia, a feeling of helplessness. She is in me, but I am not in her. We are complete strangers. In other words, the past has never happened. Nothing could be sadder. I''m all alone in my memory. I don''t know what to look like. I could try to be friendly, but that would be absolutely painful and unnatural. My strangerliness is also strange. Aki would get suspicious, and above all, it would be awkward between me and Alina. Aki turns her head when she sees me standing there. I can''t take a step forward. I was scared. In a corner of my mind, I''m screaming desperately for her to go back to her old self. I wish it was just an act. But in reality, Alina is a gentle angel. It''s too cruel. Come quickly, comet. I couldn''t believe my ears. It wasn''t Aki''s voice. It was Alina Hiba''s voice. Alina called my name for the first time. She had called me you, you, mill worm, pig feed, rift oil, and never mentioned my name even a millimeter, and yet she did it so easily. I was genuinely happy. Never in my life have I been so happy just to hear someone call my name. The only thing that made my heart tighten was the fact that it wasn''t Alina with a poisonous tongue. 43-beyond the boundary... ''How was it? My big day! Stuttering, Alina brushes her hair and tries hard to show her elegance. Dripping with cold sweat, I could see that she was trying her best to act like the tongue-in-cheek Alina. She awkwardly put her hands on her hips and assumed an air of grandiosity, glancing at me and quickly looking away. ''You were beautiful. I offered my compliments, almost laughing. The gap between us was huge. The prickly Alina is blushing and embarrassed. She was a completely different person. Aki immediately looks at me and gives me a sharp rebuke. Comet. Say something a little more profound. ''When we are moved too much, we reach the ultimate emotion. It''s ''simplicity. It''s a heart of pure gold, with nothing adorned on it. Sometimes people criticize me for being too simple. I''m impressed. ''Yes, 0 points''. ''Okay. ......'' Alina, who is by my side, observes Aki-senpai and me alternately. One is a close senior, and the other is a mysterious man. She is speculating what kind of relationship these two have. Finally, I can''t take it anymore. ''Alina, back to work! Uh, yeah. ''I''m sorry, Aki-senpai. I have work for the student council. ''Hm? Okay. Bye! I was a little pushy, but I couldn''t stop myself from asking. Aki, as if sensing something, parted from me without hesitation. She put her armband on again. Alina was fidgety and restless. It can''t be helped. She doesn''t know who I am. Someone close to her other self. I guess that''s all she knows. You''re sure you''re the comet, right? Alina muttered. ''Yes. ''Good. I knew it. ''Why me?'' ''Here.'' Alina took out a small notebook. It was a commonplace notebook with the name ''Alina Hinoha'' written on the cover. It looks like a study notebook. The other me is writing down important things for me. I don''t like to show it to you too much, but I can show it to you if it''s your page. ''''It''s kind of embarrassing. I went to pick it up, but she pulled it away. She puffs out her cheeks and refuses to take it. Apparently, I am not allowed to touch it. Alina opens her notebook and thrusts it in my face. The page is about me. My name, my personality, my relationship, and other details about me. Apparently, in Alina''s eyes, I was ''not a bad guy, but crazy. That''s a bad word. But there were some pleasant surprises. You can trust this guy. It said so in the corner of the page. It brought an indescribable feeling to my heart. To be honest, I almost lost my tear gland. I had no idea that he thought that. There were other details written on the page as well. "The stupid person who won''t leave me. He was so upset when he confessed his feelings to me. The only interesting person to talk to. Someone who doesn''t make fun of people. Someone who will not abandon you, who will not reject you. The last sentence stuck with me. Before I could think about it, Alina closed her notebook. ''Yes, that''s it. ''It was pretty interesting. I didn''t realize you thought so. ''I was surprised, too. I had no idea that you were the one I met in the infirmary. I thought we were dating, but I was relieved to find out we weren''t.'' He sniffs in a very good way. I said what I had wanted to ask him for a long time. What does Alina think about her other self? As we walked, I casually mentioned it. I didn''t want him to know that I was serious. I meant it as a roundabout way of saying, "I''m not stepping into your shoes. The real me. What?'' ''It''s really me. The poisonous rose is the real me.'' I don''t understand exactly. I wonder if he is referring to his unconscious self. Are you trying to say that you have appeared like a deep-sea fish wandering still and lonely in the deep sea where no light can reach? ''Sorry, I didn''t quite make sense ......'' I''m a fake. The name Alina Hiba belongs to her. ''Let''s see. So your basic persona is not you? ''Yes. You know it well! A word like "basic personality"! Does that mean what Dr. Akakusa said was a little off? I myself had always assumed that Alina in front of me was Alina in her basic personality. I don''t remember anything before the sixth grade. None of it. It was Alina who told me about my past. She wrote it down in her notebook. ''Wait a minute. But the Alina I know doesn''t seem to remember either. She doesn''t seem to remember anything before the third grade. ''I know. But I won''t tell you.'' ''Why is that?'' ''Because I don''t think Alina wants me to tell you. Another mystery deepens. We all carry something black and painful in us. Even those who call themselves good people have boils. And sometimes they cloud the minds of others. That is when hidden secrets and facts are communicated by voice. Therefore, entering into a person''s secret is a responsibility. It gives us the power to influence the destiny of others, even to control them. We must not enter with a half-hearted attitude, regardless of the merits or demerits of the part of our hearts that is out of the spotlight. Those who still reach out are serious. Do I fall into that category? ''Comet. Are you ready to step in? 44-muddled mind... I realized that the strange point was exposed when I thought about it calmly. First of all, there are two people. Alina, the gentle one, and Alina, the poisonous one. It is impossible to determine which of them is the basic personality based on their opinions alone. They both describe the other as the base personality. And then there are the memory lapses. Nothing is certain. All we know is that the kinder Alina understands the history of the body of Alina Hiba better than the gentler Alina. She has been observing the world since the sixth grade. She claims to have been taught by Arina Toxic, but she herself has no memory of her life before the third grade of junior high school. I considered the possibility of another personality. Not dual personalities, but multiple personalities. But neither of them seems to recognize the other''s existence. But it is a possibility. Alina walks with me with a smile as big as a sunflower. The students we pass look at her three times and stretch out their noses. Of course, I''m still performing my duties as a member of the student council. ''That looks like fun! He pointed to my classroom, Class 2, Year 2. It''s not a cosplay place, by the way. That''s a coffee shop. Heh. You''re in second year, second class, so you''re in the comet class, right?'' ''''Well.'''' ''''You don''t do cosplay?'''' ''I guess you don''t. I''ve been exempted because I took this job.'' ''Hmm. It''s a shame, it looks so interesting. ''Oh, shit, I''m running away. What? A horse-faced man with a hatchet approached us with nihilistic eyes. Who are you, comet? ''''It''s Makoto Takane.'''' Alina flipped through her notebook, ''Oh, was he the one who confessed to me? And it says that you and Comet are best friends. You like strange people, don''t you? ''There are plenty of people who have confessed to you, you know. ''Yes. It says seventy-two in total. ''Wow. That''s outrageous.'' It says, "I turned them all down. ''Holy shit.'' ''Face forward. I''m here.'' When I turned my head back to the front, I saw the tip of the horse''s nose right in front of me. ''You''re close, Makoto. ''Come with me. ''What did you say? ''Follow me. He pulls my arm forcefully, opening the distance between me and Alina. His grip is so strong that it shreds my arm. Stop it, it really hurts. Hate is in it. I was forced to lean my back against the wall. The horse still pokes me with the tip of its nose. The horse talked while its snout trembled. ''You''re just a beautiful girl. ......! ''''You mean Ryuka-san? ''Sure, Ryuka is cute, but ......! What''s wrong with Hinoha ......! That''s just a beautiful girl character. ......! ''Well, it''s not the usual Alina, is it?'' ''You''re a different person now. ......! And that dress ......! Too beautiful ......!'' ''You should tell that directly to Alina, not me. You won''t get anything from me. I can drop tomato juice, though. ''I''d rather slay a slime, you rotten human''. It seems that wearing a horse mask makes one''s character much more bossy after all. Judging it to be futile and ineffective, I tried to communicate with Mimori Ryuka with my eyes. Let''s let the graceful Ryuka, who looks good in a kimono, deal with this ferocious horse. "Take care of him for me. I hope he got the message. Then Ryuka took a pair of disposable chopsticks and put them in her mouth. Then she tilts her head. (How did you interpret that? ......?) Apparently, she''s a natural. Ladylike and natural. She must be popular. Unfortunately, I don''t think she got any of that, so this is my last resort. I deliberately raised my voice. Help me! Somebody pull me off! This horse monster!'''' Ryuka huffed and snapped her fingers. Then she approached quickly and took Makoto by the arm, forcing him into her arms. With her back to Makoto, Ryuka gave the sign of good. I gave a thumbs up for good luck, too. Goodbye Makoto. I wish you happiness. Released from the psycho horse, I returned to Alina, who was waiting patiently with half her face covered by a notebook. ''I don''t know anyone. ''That''s understandable. On the contrary, you''re quite famous. It seems so. I''ve heard it from Dr. Akakusa, and reading his notes, I kind of understand that kind of relationship. So, the poisonous rose has a bad reputation. ''''Is it from your notebooks that you say you have a poisonous rose?'''' ''Yes. I write down what I''m called. Hiba-san, Alina-san, Alina-chan, and Toxic Rose. By the way, she doesn''t like to be called ''you'' by Comet. That''s funny. They like you. ''Yes, yes, I''m honored, honored. ''You really are what your notebook says you are, aren''t you? Alina Hibane hugged my left arm and rubbed it against her own body. My brain froze and my voice leaked out as if my soul had been drained. ''Floaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan......'' ''What? What, what, what? I''m crushing! I''m so excited! This is-- this is a service. Tertiary industry, service industry. An industry that accounts for 75 percent of Japan''s total. I have never been to a cabaret club, I have no interest in it, and I am too old for it, but if they offer this kind of hospitality, it may be worth the money. It makes me think that I will go there at least once when I grow up. I feel like I''m going to relax and melt. What a slender body! ''You know, there was a note in my notebook that said, "There are rumors around you that you are dating Comet Sakakiki, so be careful. I didn''t know that. ''Liar. Hmm. I overdid it too. My left arm is free and very light. It''s strange. I wonder if the toxin was drained out. It seems that this Alina does not spit poison, but sucks it out. Anyway, I feel good. I can fly a cannonball to the moon now. Let''s get back to work, Alina. Yes, sir. We started walking again. I can no longer keep up with the gentle Alina. The tension is different. Our wavelengths are too different. Contrasting personalities. Stay inside and exclude others. Spreading outward and taking in. I wonder what they would say to each other if they existed at the same time. It would be quite an interesting picture. Hey. What do you want with me, Comet? I was puzzled by the unexpected question. Alina was smiling as she said it as if she was talking to herself, and I knew immediately that it was a serious question. ''To be honest, I''m not sure anymore. I started by curing my tongue. Then I found out that you have a dual personality and switched from my original goal, although I had my doubts about getting you back to the way you are now. Next, you insist that it was the poisonous Arina who gave you the family name "Arina Nippa". I really don''t know what to do anymore. Alina sniffed, ''Hmmm. Then gentle Alina said. You don''t need us anymore, do you? 45-significance of existence... ''You don''t have to worry about me anymore, comet. When I first met Alina Nippa, I regretted getting involved in something really troublesome. I complained about it to my sister, and I was confused because I didn''t know what to do. Although I was abused by her, her occasional smile made me think that she was not so bad, and my mouth would drop a little. I enjoyed talking with Alina. I smiled to myself and thought to myself that I was being a butt. The feeling was real. That''s why Alina''s words hit me so deeply. I can''t cause any more trouble for Comet. You''ve done so much for us all these years, haven''t you? ''I''ve done my best in my own way. ''It''s all right now. I''ll take care of it. ''......What kind of ending are you hoping for?'' ''The opposite of Comet and Dr. Akakusa''. ''? You mean?'''' ''I''ll disappear cleanly.'' Alina said such a terrible thing without hesitation. In a sense-- death. It''s synonymous with death. And the problem is that they both want to disappear. It could be seen as the flip side of suicide. If that''s what they''re trying to do, I''ll do everything I can to stop them. Basically, life is precious. Unfortunately, the value of life can be shaken by murder or status, and it can make a difference, but it is a very precious metaphysical concept to be cherished, and it is unforgivable to disrespect it. I went around the school with Alina, still in a state of exclamation. Sometimes Alina would ask me to come by here, and I would go along with her, but I was out of the loop. I felt as if I was wandering around in a fog. I feel fearful of the possibility that I will not be able to be with Alina. I was aware that her presence had been growing in my mind day by day, but when I opened the box, it seemed to be more full than I had expected. Then, unexpectedly, I was hit on the back. I coughed violently as the impact was so strong that my heart came out through my skin and muscles. I coughed violently. ''I''m sorry, I just had a tarantula on my back,'' he said. The violent person was Alina Hiba. I''ve only known one person who would do such a thing. ''It seems you''re awake. ''Yes, it is. I was surprised when my memory suddenly jumped. One minute I saw your face on that stage, and the next minute you and I were walking down the hallway together. I''d hit you with the force that would shatter your spine. ''Change''. "Yes? ''Personality change''. ''If it were that easy to switch, all the fires of war burning on the earth would have been extinguished by now. ''Are you a god or something? I seem to have reverted back to the poisonous rose. What is this feeling of coming home? I feel a strange sense of relief. A great irony, I know. So, what did you and I talk about? ''Various well ......'' ''Next time, if you mince your words, I''ll drown you in the Indian Ocean.'' ''...... a little bit about your relationship and your past. And a little bit about the notebook. When his personality changed, his tone, his expression, his behavior, everything became different. I think I was looking at him as if I were seeing something strange because of this remarkable transformation. I''m sure that''s how Alina saw it. I don''t know whether she sensed it or not, but Alina''s eyes were glazed over and she looked stunned. Her mouth curled into a pout as she focused on the infinite distance. What''s wrong? Immediately, his expression changed to a pissed-off look. Are you a 3D character texture? In a panic, Alina pulls out the notebook and scribbles something down. As soon as she finishes writing, she puts it away. God only knows where she has it hidden. ''If you read this again, you''ll be imprisoned for 800 years. ''I''m a foreign convict? ''Oh my God, what have you done to me, you stupid idiot? ''I''ve seen it, I''ll do what I have to do. ''Shut up or I''ll kill you. You don''t know what it tastes like to roll an eyeball around on your tongue. ''You''d make a good friend of Hannibal Lecter, you know that? ''Shut up, you pervert. ''Gentleman. Alina turned away and sulked. She is becoming a tsundere. I was convinced that with more training she could become a tsundere beyond the Unit 2 pilot. But, but... I wonder if there''s a part of her that''s dere. To be honest, I''m not sure if she has the right elements to be a tsundere. She blushed when she tried to enter the room while I was changing my clothes. The next time I accidentally watched her changing in public, she looked at me cold as absolute zero. Now, is Alina going to turn on? --Yes, she will. What I have learned from my contact with her is that Alina is quite a ''hentai''. She is well equipped with hentai, which is becoming a universal language. Alina. Do you know what a tsundere is? ''I know, but...'' ''You''re a tsundere, aren''t you? ''What? Don''t change the subject. Okay? Next time I see your note, I''m seriously going to boil you.'' ''What kind of things do you have to say to make me derelict? Tell me about it.'' ''I''m going to burn your gums. ''You''re so cute! You''re so cute! Alina-chan--'' My brain shook violently. A moment later, my vision breaks. It turns white, and darkness slowly covers the world. All that remained was the sensation that Comet Sakakimagi''s brain was shaking violently and painfully. The world shook far more than an earthquake, and I collapsed without time to be surprised. In the fine stream of time I saw Alina''s face, her cheeks slightly tinted pink. If you can make that kind of face, you should keep making it. What a waste. Alina hit me, and the concussion really knocked me out. No joke this time. The world really went dark. I open my eyes slowly. The pain in the back of my head is sharp and clear as my consciousness fades. A ceiling I don''t know. I know. The ceiling of the Rose Garden. I turn my head to the right as I lie there. Alina is sitting on the long desk with her cheek on the table, staring at me. And I''m lying on the desk. Like a body used in a ritual. I wonder if the pillow is a favor. Are you going to eat me, cannibal? That''s what I said the first time I opened my mouth. ''You look good. Good. ''I really thought you were dead.'' ''I''m a little worried about you. I don''t know why you''re talking like a machine. I got off the long desk and sat down in a chair for now. Alina is still wearing her dress. It''s too glamorous, and I wish she''d go back to her uniform. I get nervous every time I see her, and it''s hard to look her in the eye. It''s been a while since I''ve been in the rose garden. I had been going to the student council meetings for the past few weeks, so I thought that dust and dirt had accumulated, but it was surprisingly clean. Have you been here recently? ''I''ve been here almost every day.'' ''Seriously, Kayo.'' ''It''s my space.'' You were here on your lunch break. He seems to like it very much. ''You don''t seem to have any friends. ''Shut up. I just like it here. ''If you''re lonely, go to Tsuru''s. He''ll be happy to see you. I''m a wolf. ''I''m more comfortable with roses.'' ''Oh, shut up, shut up, shut up. It''s time for me to take a break, so I''m free to go. ''Be my guest. I was tired of walking, so I decided to sleep here. But Alina said, ''Excuse me. Let me sleep. No. Get out.'' ''Hey, hey, hey. Just because you like it here doesn''t mean you should kick me out. I can''t sleep anywhere else. ''Can I change my clothes?'' She held a mechanical pencil backwards. I ran away quickly. My sixth sense sent a danger signal to my whole body. If I don''t run, I''ll be killed. I realized how hard the natural world can be. 46-self-deprecation between like-minded people... In the end, I did not see my sister until after the festival. It seems that God really did bend the world a little. I did not attend the festival and went home as usual. I was tired and wanted to go to bed as soon as possible. Tomorrow is Sunday, so it''s great to be able to sleep in. And Monday is a substitute holiday. No blind spot. The festival was over and I did my part, so I have nothing to complain about. I had a good time. Everyone in the student council thanked us and Alina and I went back to being regular unaffiliated high school students. We went home. I''m tired. ''Good night.'' As usual, I was staring blankly at the TV while my sister kept me company. How was our school festival? It was fun. I''m sorry I didn''t get to meet your brother. Then that''s good. I had a lot of fun too. ''Aren''t you going out with Alina-san?'' ''Why would you do that? You dropped like 20 screws in my head. Go pick them up. I asked the students "Do you know Arina Hiba?" out of curiosity during the festival, and got many replies like "Ah, well, I''ve been hanging out with a guy named Sakakiki lately. ''''Huh.'''' Aren''t you guys dating already?'' ''Ugin-kun, listen to me carefully. It''s true that there were rumors like that for a while. But I''m telling you the truth. I''m only involved in correcting her bad mouth. ''Oh, you just said "she". ''She''s the one, Ugin-kun. She''s not my girlfriend.'' ''But you know, Alina is so beautiful, you''d want to go out with her, wouldn''t you? To be honest.'' "More or less. ''I''m being modest. What are you going to do if she goes out with someone else? Would you continue your relationship? It is not that we did not consider the possibility of Alina dating someone, but we had it in our minds just a little bit. She is a beautiful girl, after all, and people will come to her. It is a natural theorem in this world, and it is also natural for her to go out with someone. The reason why I did not think about it deeply is because I thought that with her personality, Alina would not go out with anyone. Since she basically rejects anyone, I had already assumed that she is extremely allergic to people or something. However, when my sister asked me what I would do if Alina went out with me, and I confronted her about it head-on, I was surprisingly at a loss for words. I wondered what would happen. I hadn''t thought about it. ''Seriously, bro?'' ''If Alina goes out with someone else - well, I''ll certainly stop being involved.'' ''That''s what''s going to happen, isn''t it? ''I don''t want to mess with other people''s relationships or cause them to fall out because of me. ''You''re a sad person, brother.'' ''Yes, I do. In a previous life, I was probably a caveman who was trampled by a mammoth. Tuesday, after school, rose garden. My sister told me that if you go out with someone, we''ll disband the rose garden and I''ll disappear. What''s with you all of a sudden? Alina looks at me with skeptical eyes as if she were looking at a suspicious person. Shut up right now or I''ll peel all your skin off, her eyes say. I think back to my conversation with my sister three days ago, and I wonder if she thinks I''m being a pain in the ass about this. So I thought I should make it clear. It''s none of my business. I''m simply saying that if you go out with someone else, I''ll disappear cleanly, and you can make love in peace. I''m gonna throw up. You all right? ''Put yourself in the shoes of a person who is being told what ''love'' is by a guy who looks like a minced bloody worm. ''That''s ...... hell.'' It was none of my business. ''Cause you''re popular. If you go out with a guy, he may make some kind of physical attack on me. With rumors. Even I don''t like that. ''You''ve already suffered because of rumors. It''s your fault. ''It wasn''t my fault. It was some idiot''s delusion. ''Yes, yes, yes. ''We''re done talking about this. Now, what are we going to do today? I was running out of ideas, but I thought up a plan. ''If you go out with me, I''ll disappear too, so we''re even. Suddenly, Alina throws a word at me. ''What? You and me going out? ''Huh? I''m going to shred it. So you can rest assured that if you go out with someone, I''ll disappear like you said I would. I''m thinking the same thing. ''Interesting, this relationship. It''s as if it''s a contest to see who gets a boyfriend or girlfriend first.'' ''I don''t think it''s even a contest. I don''t think you and I are going to date anyone. ''Indeed.'' I giggled. Alina shook her shoulders and chuckled, hiding her face with her book. A warmth spread through my chest that made me forget the cold. The students were wearing cardigans and other heavy clothing as winter was approaching. I, who do not like the cold, also put on a cardigan, but the cold air came in through my legs and I ended up freezing. My breath turned white, and the days of gray skies continued. But there was still no sign of snow. As a sophomore in high school, this winter would be the last winter of my high school life that I would be able to spend in peace. Next year, I will be taking the entrance examination, and I''m sure that I''m studying hard for the center examination right now. Aki-senpai must be working hard too. This time of year the battery life on my phone goes down. It seems that the cold affects the chemical change and the voltage. So I go to school with it in my pocket, warming it with my body heat. I try not to use it as much as possible, but when I hear the vibration of an incoming text message, I have no choice but to take it out. Call me if you want to do something after school. It''s Alina. I thought to myself, "Is she my girlfriend, texting me in the morning? I know it''s not because it''s clerical. At the same time, I realized that I had grown up and achieved a lot, thinking, ''I''m finally getting along with Alina. This address is worth money. Mainly for guys. I wonder how many people in our school have Alina''s phone number and e-mail address. Maybe a handful? It''s definitely worth it. I haven''t been very active lately. The cold weather has made it hard for me and Alina to help out in the sports club. I admire those who are active. What we do is to gather in the rose garden after school and have casual conversations, to talk to me, to help the student council sometimes, and to help the cultural club activities sometimes. The student council has been a good source of interaction since the school festival. Tsuru invited me, and I had no reason to refuse, so it became a regular pattern that I would go to the meeting without any hesitation. I replied, ''Nothing in particular, you''re free to go. I was free, but Alina would go to the Rose Garden. They will be at the Rose Garden whether something happens or not. But today, I have plans. I''m going to talk to Dr. Akakusa again about Alina. I strongly feel that I have to change my mind about Alina. 47-ones true feelings... As soon as I entered the staff room, I told Mr. Akakusa that I wanted to see him. The place was the student guidance room. I was nervous for nothing because it was a place that I had never been to before, and I had never done anything wrong. I''m sorry, I didn''t mean to intrude. It''s okay. I know what to expect. Did you notice the change in Alina during the fashion show? ''Of course. I told him about my conversation with the other Alina after the fashion show. We both insisted that we were not our basic personalities, that we both wanted to disappear for the other, that we both had memory lapses. I told him about Alina in detail. The teacher listened attentively to me throughout the conversation. Finally, I told him. I said, ''I think you should take Alina to the hospital. My involvement is clearly a bad influence. I think it would definitely be in her best interest to get the proper treatment. ''I recommended it, too. But you know what, she doesn''t want to. Once I said to her, ''This is between me and the other me. I don''t want her to play around with it. ''Am I going to be an exception?'' Dr. Akakusa took a breath and made an unnatural pause. ''...... this is a secret, okay?'' ''I''m curious.'' ''You really mustn''t talk about it. Can you keep it?'' ''I will protect you. I will protect you. ''Actually, the other Alina asked me to do it. The other Alina asked me to help her find a good partner for her. ''''What--didn''t Dr. Akakusa make this decision on his own? ''''Yes. Because he asked me to. And I thought that comet was the one who had the aptitude for it, so I dragged him to the library that day. It was not on Mr. Akakusa''s whim, but on Alina''s request that Alina and I were meant to meet. But gentle Alina said to me, ''That''s enough. The tongue-in-cheek Alina is back to square one. From scratch. Back to the girl reading in the library. That may be bliss for Alina. But the first time I saw her, she looked like she was lashing out to drown her sorrows. That''s why I don''t want her to come back. I don''t want to see her trying too hard, wrinkling her brow, and making herself hated by herself. I want you to be like a pretty blooming rose. What should I do? ''Look me squarely in the eye and talk to me. I''m sure Alina will tell you how she really feels. I can''t help you now. You and Alina will find a way. I know it''s a bit much to ask, but you need Comet. I''m sure of it. ''What makes you say that?'' ''It''s a woman''s intuition. ''Is that a definitive line at this point in time? ......'' ''But you know, it''s very important to have a feeling that cannot be expressed in words. I think it''s the truth. You are a special person to Alina. I know it by feeling, by intuition. I''m sure of it. So trust yourself and Alina. I found it strangely persuasive, and I didn''t want to argue. I guess that''s what you call "feeling. Every time I interacted with Alina, I felt uneasy. Vaguely uneasy. And somewhere in the back of my mind, a vague concern asked me. What are you doing? After school came quickly. I had originally planned to talk to Mr. Akakusa after school. But I remembered that he had complained about overtime work before, so I decided to talk to him during lunch break. So he told Alina in advance that there was nothing going to happen today. But she will be in the rose garden. ''Comet. ''What''s the matter, horse? ''I''m not wearing it anymore. I feel like Ryuka has been approaching me a lot lately.'' ''''Congratulations.'''' ''Could it be that? That''s the thing, right?'''' Yes, that''s it. ''Do you think I--maybe you like me ......?'' ''Yes, that''s it. Woowowowowowowowowowowow! I wonder if I have fulfilled Ryuka''s request. Ryuka, who is aware of her ladylike nature, was unable to take the step of ''having a chat with Makoto'' and asked for my help. I wonder how it turned out. I look around the classroom for Ryuka. There she is. She was making a small good sign with her thumbs up. I gave a thumbs-up in response. I gave a thumbs-up in response, so that Makoto wouldn''t notice. I don''t know if Makoto has feelings for Ryuka. If she does, it would be the perfect setting for Ryuka. Should we casually ask her? No, it''s none of your business. Anything more would be bad for Makoto and Ryuka. Comet. Can I count on you for this? ''It''s good, isn''t it? I wish you happiness. ''Aah! And the comet! ''I''m single for the rest of my life.'' As I left the classroom, I gave Ryuta the good sign again with both hands. Good luck. You''ll be fine. Thank you. We talked telepathically. Ryuka gave a small salute. Really ladylike. As soon as she left the classroom, the crane caught her next. I was so slow that I wondered if this school had an organized plan to keep me from going to the Rose Garden. Wait for the comet! ''You''re the top-brained gal in your grade. What''s up? There''s a strange rumor going around! Don''t say it, don''t say it. I''m not dating anyone. No, I don''t care about Comet''s love life. There''s a theory going around that there''s a ''phantom Arina Hibane,'' you know? ''Legendary Pok mon, huh?'' ''I''m talking about Alina, who no one has ever seen before, showing up at a fashion show! Comet was there, too! ''Uh ......'' That''s what happens when personalities are switched. It must have been strange for those who did not know what was going on. Especially for the models who appeared with them. Alina returned from the stage with the opposite personality. ''Maybe it''s because I was nervous? ''But you were clearly a different level of person. ''Mm. Well, it''s an illusion. ''Yes, illusion! Tsuru is stern and frustrated. He reads my ambiguous answer and is suspicious. ''That''s what I heard, too. Hakuna jumped in from the side. I feel like I haven''t talked to her in a few years. It had been awkward for both of us since the "confession from the past," but Shirana was already relaxed. But I was still upset. What is it with you two? Did Shirana ask you too?'''' ''Yeah. Alina-san became a different person. ''Yes, yes! Hey, comet. You know something, don''t you? Tell me. I saw it too! ''I''m Alina, not a broadsheet. It''s possible that we''re mistaken. The disgruntled looks grew again. For the first time in my life, I realized I''m not very good at lying. I have no choice but to run away. Oh, shit. We have to save the earth. ''What are you talking about? ''We''re in trouble. We have to save the Earth. We have to slow the rate of expansion before the universe cracks open. ''You''re crazy. ''Call it what you will. So I must walk to save the Earth. I don''t have time for hallway chatter. Come on, girl. Each of you make the most of your after-school hours. I ran before I saw their reactions. I felt the setting sun pushing me back. I shouldn''t run in the hallway, but I had to. To protect Alina''s situation. It''s a price I can live with, even if it means a negative impact on my attitude. You should be grateful, tongue rose. Please don''t call me names. Why are you here, you filth? That''s what I was told as soon as I entered the rose garden. He said "filth," directly to me. Go to the bathroom. Flush it with the big one. It''s easier to flush when you''re sitting on the floor. ''It''s a horror movie now. Sure enough, there was Alina in the rose garden. She was reading a book surrounded by flowers. She did not say so, but she seemed to like this space very much. ''You. I thought you didn''t have anything going on today? ''I had to take care of something urgent.'' ''For me?'' ''''Yes.'''' Alina raised an eyebrow. I got the third frustrated look of the day. I sat down in front of Alina across the desk from her. Alina looked uncomfortable, crossed her legs and turned her body at an angle, but I remained facing her and began to talk. ''I talked to the other you at the festival. ''I heard and I know.'' ''And I wasn''t sure if it would be a good idea for Alina to get involved with me. ''''So'''' ''You and the other Alina both think of yourselves as personalities that arose in the course of your lives. So I don''t know, anymore. I don''t know who to save. Or what salvation is in the first place. What does Alina want? What is the right path for Alina. To be honest, I think I''m a cancer to her. I don''t think it''s going in the right direction. I can''t--I can''t explain it. But I really don''t know. Alina listened silently. She did not scoff or get angry, but simply listened with a calm expression on her face. It doesn''t matter. You''re here for a reason. Words I never thought I''d hear. Surprised by that, my brain stopped thinking. ''I am ...... a lonely woman. I''m a messy woman who holds on to painful memories and feelings. The past binds me and messes me up. So many things I don''t remember. I look at my albums and they don''t ring a bell, and at first my family seems like strangers to me. I don''t understand the context. And I couldn''t keep up with it. Alina was in tears. I felt like a wall had been broken. Her tears hit me so hard. ''I was bullied. 48-< I was in the worst mood when a man named Comet Sakakiki appeared in my life. I always carry a small notebook with me. It is an ordinary notebook, but one that I would never show to anyone. This notebook is my proof, my guide, my very important notebook, and if I lost it, I would crouch down with my ears covered. It was in the third grade that I realized that there was another me inside of me. No, the opposite. I am the other. Colors exploded. I don''t know the world before that explosion, so for me it was like a birth. I don''t know where I am or who I am. A high school girl, sweating in the midsummer sun, was standing on the road. She appeared to be on her way to school. I opened her bag on her shoulder and checked the contents, but they did not seem to be her personal belongings. I felt as if I had been robbed. I knew that the bag was mine for the first time when the fingerprint authentication of my cell phone went through. I started by getting to know myself. My name is Alina Hibane. My address was listed in my account information on a shopping site. I looked through my contact information, but no one could picture my face from my name. Not even the face of my mother, the person I cared about. There was no contact information for my father. The unbearable loneliness crushed me, and I ran into the park and sat on a bench. I couldn''t go to school. I am in the third year of junior high school. There was a notebook at home. The name "Arina Hinoh" was written in beautiful letters on the cover. I opened it lightly, thinking it was a study tool. On the back of the cover, there was a note that read If you don''t remember this notebook, it''s been a long time. What starts on the next page is your history. Huh. ....... I thought I was a bad boy. I was disappointed in myself because I thought only boys wrote notes like this. I stopped reading before I got embarrassed. Mom had not come home yet. She seemed to be at work. I could tell her real face from the pictures on the wall. But it was hard to guess what kind of person she was just from her picture. And I did not know what kind of tone he would use to talk to my mother or how he would behave with her. If I met her, she would give me a quizzical look. I wanted to keep it as secret as possible. I felt like my Qualia was screaming at me not to worry my mother. So I tried to find "me" by referring to the video recordings on my phone, but there was nothing. Numbed, I opened the notebook again. I read a couple of pages and felt sick. It was a detailed description of Alina Nippa. Who she liked, who had confessed to her. Her height, weight, eyesight, blood type, tone of voice, tone of voice, facial expression, behavior, personality, relationships, favorite coffee shop, hobbies. My status is recorded in every detail. And what happened every day was also recorded. I never skipped a single day. There are nine notebooks in total, covering about three years. The entire record from the latter half of the sixth grade until now, when I am in the third grade of junior high school, is packed in these notebooks. I first look through the ninth notebook, which contains information on recent events. The ninth notebook, which contains information from the summer of my eighth grade year to the present day. Lost in time, I trace my life. In the records, I put more emphasis on the feelings of the moment than on the events of what happened or what I did. For each event, ten real-time emotions and five impressions. That''s how I divide it. I hear that I am very popular. It is true that once I went to wash my face in the washroom and saw my face for the first time, I said to myself, ''Wow. I''m so beautiful. I couldn''t help but stare at it. I know it sounds like someone else''s problem, but it was definitely me. The page with the names of the people who had confessed to me was horrifying. The background, the results, and their impressions are carefully added. And he has turned down all of them beautifully. His firm stance was as if he was a stranger to me. It even seemed as if he was using himself to write the diary, as if he was looking down on himself. Yes, just like I am now. This was written by Alina Hiba herself, but not by me. I am actually reading this record from a third person''s point of view. Surprisingly, I felt a sense of familiarity. I thought I was the only one in the world, but there was a girl in this notebook who was in a similar situation to me. And it exists only for me. I found out I was being bullied. They say it''s because of jealousy. Even this is written objectively by Alina Hiba. Her writing style was not shaky from being upset, and the words ran smoothly. Alina Hiba is a girl who treats everyone without discrimination, but she does not step beyond a certain line, nor does she let anyone step beyond it. Not that there is anything wrong with her behavior, but it seems that some people were offended by her attitude. It is natural for them to think so and to recognize it. We cannot control how we change our minds. It is impossible not to think about it. Arina Hiba seems to have become a target of bullying because of such humanistic passions. But she did not seem to be in a pessimistic mood. She may have been just pretending to be calm, but she was objective to the end. It was the perspective of God in the novel. She was masterful. I read through the book and then came back to myself. Who am I anyway? I don''t know anything. Like a baby, I have zero connections. This note is for me. This Alina Nippou knows I exist. But why? I was born only hours ago. Is he some kind of esper or something that knew me before I was born? A premonition of the future? I don''t know her, but she knows me. She''s like a little girl with amnesia. The next day I went to school. I was conscious of my mother''s behavior and tone of voice as written in the notebook, and there was also a section on prior knowledge, so I filled my head with it and interacted with her without any suspiciousness. I thought she was a very nice person. I blamed myself for saying it as if it was someone else''s problem. I should not have said such a thing to her because she was my dear blood mother. The thought of going to school was not without fear. I can''t fool myself about this. I only know how much they hate me and how much they hate me. After all, it''s in writing. There are limits to what can be said. At the end of the day, the backbiting turned out to be terrible. Whispering beside me in a volume so subtle that I can barely hear it. ''You''re so pretentious. I know you are not talking to me, but to Alina Hiba. So I made up my mind not to care about it, but it made me surprisingly angry. Frankly, I was as angry as a volcanic fire. I could not be unsympathetic to the person who was my only ally and who had been trying to support me since long before I knew her. So I decided to fight for Arina Hinata. I am also Arina Hinata, but our personalities seem to be opposite. I''m strong-willed and outspoken. The Arina Hibane of my notebook is a pretty girl, but I dare not play the part. To protect her. I will thoroughly reject those who try to undermine me and write them down in my notebook so that I won''t have to worry about them when I switch personalities. Since I decided to do this, my reputation at school has changed drastically. I have become a douchebag and a changed person. It''s true that I''ve changed. I think it''s a good sign. I think she would have killed herself if she had been bullied. It''s crazy to look at yourself that objectively. I think she''s in some kind of psychic detachment. If that''s the case, she must have reached her limit. The fact that I am here is proof of that. Still, there were some bullying behaviors. The girls'' networks and communities are terrifying, and the harassment against me quickly heated up. It was all so unsubtle that it could only be described as sordid. Sand on my desk, sand on my shoes. No shoes. No one. But not everyone in the school was an enemy. The boys gave me a big "I love you" and a certain number of girls treated me without prejudice. I guess the community is different. After a few months, I lost my memory for three whole days. I thought it was like a time leap. I closed my eyelids and the next time I opened them, the scenery had changed. Three days had passed. Even though I tried to stay calm with my rational mind, my instincts were shaking. I immediately opened my notebook. As expected, the other me left a message. I may as well die now. I was struck with a fear that my world was about to collapse. I quickly investigated what had happened. It didn''t take long. He said his mother''s lunch box was thrown. Nothing that extreme had ever happened before. In fact, things had been quieting down recently. I thought I had become bossy and they had become bored, but it seems they had just reached the end of their patience. I wonder if they are trying to tell me to "stand my ground". If that''s what you want to say, let me say this. ''You have a heart that cannot bear to look at. I said it out loud, and the main culprit was taken aback. He was upset that I was talking to him directly because I had not been taking him up on his offer. But the other guy was also very aggressive. I told you I was sorry. I didn''t mean to hit you. And I hit him as hard as I could. Time stopped for a moment in the classroom. My divorced mother gets up early every morning to make lunch for me. My frail mother works desperately every day with only her hands to support her only daughter. Even when she is tired, she smiles and says ''see you later'' to me, thinking of me, her daughter. She treated my lunch box as if it were her own. She has no idea how frustrating that is. She doesn''t know the mother who nods her head when she looks at the household account book, or the mother who gets ready for school at 5:00 a.m. with a smile on her face. This is the first time I have ever thought that ignorance is such a sin. My attitude remained the same even after I graduated from junior high school. The people who used to look at me as an enemy are gone, but as for trusting people, I am no longer able to do so. The only people in the world I could trust with my heart were my mother and Alina Hiba. As soon as I entered high school, people started whispering about me. It wasn''t about the bullying in middle school, but about a beautiful freshman. I continued to reject confessions, as Arina Hiba had done, and I would attach harsh words to my confession to get rid of them. Isolation does not make me feel better. But you can''t fix your personality. It''s just - this is who I am. The day has come, or at least a little bullying has come in high school. I was impressed by the fact that there are people like that everywhere. Then I realized that I had been taking everything in the past as if it was someone else''s problem. The reason I was so arrogant in junior high school was because I thought that the bullying was not directed at me but at Arina Hiba. By the time I realized that I was using her as a target, I regretted that I had already done something too late. At the same time, I began to think that Arina Hinoha was also using me as a receptacle. I thought that I was created by my mind that wanted to push something unpleasant to the other me, to change the point of view. But strangely enough, I did not resent her. I think that I am what I am because of that. It seems so. But I had the will that one day I would have to become whole. I was aware that I had to become unwanted, so I had to at least create an environment. But there was no way. I was trapped in the confines of high school again. Just as I was struggling with this, Dr. Akakusa appeared without warning. Alina-san, since when? I spoke my truth. I knew I had to change in order for the other me to come out, so I asked for his help. How can I do that? I think I was talking nonsense. Dr. Akakusa was the first person I told my secret to. I let it all out. A boy named Comet Sakakiki appeared. That day, I felt very bad. My skirt had been torn. It was obviously not a natural tear, but the fibers had been cut in a straight line. I don''t know who it was, but it seemed that the enemy was still trying hard to get my attention. I was fed up with this Comet who approached me with his light footwork, ''I have to find out his real name to write it in the confession list of my notebook again,'' he said something I did not expect. ''I''m trying to rehabilitate you. Here, sit down. Rehabilitation. I honestly thought I had reached a turning point. Something was going to change. I was sure of it. Comet Sakakiki was an unusual person like me. But he also had a fresh and exciting mind that showed me interesting things. I''m sure he would put Arina Hiba at ease. I analyzed it objectively. I wondered if I could have a good time with him until I was gone. What do you think? Alina. Alina. I closed the notebook. Today is the day of the festival. I borrowed a dress that my mother used to use when she was a model, and I have to win it because I''m going to participate in a fashion show. I wanted to show it to my mother, but I''ll have to content myself with a picture. I told him not to come, but I wonder if he''s really not coming... I put on my shoes and check if I forgot something. Okay, I''m fine. You stand on your toes, check the comfort of your shoes, and tap them on the ground, subtly signaling your mother that you are leaving the house. The sound of my mother rubbing her slippers on the floor always puts me at ease. I love that sound. Mom comes out of the kitchen. She wipes her hands on her apron and smiles her usual gentle smile. ''Have a good day, Alina. ''Yes, I''m off! 49-the one and only lord... When she finished recounting her past, she sat back in her chair deeply with her eyes down. Her eyelashes are still wet and she looks as if she is about to cry again. At a time like this, a popular guy would send some kind of sweet words to her, but unfortunately, my brain had neither the experience nor the knowledge to do so. So I kept my mouth shut and listened to Alina''s words, looking her in the eye. I didn''t miss a single word. She sniffled and let out one big sigh. She was tired of crying. What can I do for Alina? Ten seconds after my question, she answered. I don''t know. ''Don''t you want to be like this or something? I wish it were this way. Alina fixes her gaze on the lower right corner and thinks. To me, it looked like hesitation. I guess she already knows what she wants to say. But she seems reluctant to say it out loud. I can''t even begin to guess what she''s struggling with. But I''m going to do whatever she asks. I''m going to go out with her as a fellow freak, just like her. We met by some miraculous chance. I shudder to think what would have happened if Dr. Akakusa had not asked me that day. She would have remained as a foul-mouthed woman in a corner of my memory for the rest of my life, and would have only sublimated with time. How could such a sad thing happen? You can never say that you wish you had never met her. When we human beings meet others, we are dyed in various colors. We change color in a complex way depending on the number of people we meet. I, too, was influenced by Alina, and like ink spilled on water, a new color was born. That''s how I got to where I am today. I can''t imagine being anyone else. ''Lend me the courage to tell ...... your mother about the real me. ''I''ll help you. Anything you want.'' ''Thank you ...... comet.'' For the first time, Alina with her tongue called my name. Let''s say something nasty. My name has the most beautiful sound. I think it''s the best in the world. Alina took my hand and laid me face down on the desk. Her hand was shaking, so weak that it felt like it would disappear if I let go. Our body temperatures melded, and it felt like we were connected. I thought to myself that this expression was perverted. But I guess God would just laugh at me like this. It''s a funny sight, isn''t it? So let me, a homecoming student, have a little bit of youth. That day I touched the real Alina for the first time. The next day, Makoto went out with Ryuka. Apparently, Ryuka confessed her feelings to him. And Makoto accepted. I knew it would happen soon, but I was surprised at how quickly it happened. I''m sorry comet. I decided to leave the comet behind. ''I wasn''t accompanying you, so you can go wherever you want.'' He spoke to me in high spirits before morning homeroom began. He seemed quite happy and wanted to share his joy with me. I gave him my blessing. ''Good for you. Be happy. ''Oh my God, that makes me cry. ''You''re my daughter? ......'' Ryuka must be so happy. I''m sure she''s so happy that she got her wish and got to be in a relationship. So, what about the comet? ''What do you want to say to a single aristocrat? ''''Aren''t you going out with Hinoha?'''' ''That''s not true. All I need is tomato juice. ''You''d better cure your proclivity to get aroused by tomatoes like that as soon as possible.'' ''I can''t take it back now. I can only hate my sister. ''The only one who''s close to Hiu is Comet, so you should be friendly with him.'' ''If he wants to, I''ll do it. After all this time, what does it really mean to get along? It''s obvious that I get along with Makoto, but I''m not sure about Alina. Well, there''s no need to think too much about it. As long as we have fun together. During lunch break, an incident occurred. Alina came into my classroom. I dropped my sausage because I was so surprised to see her while I was having dinner with Makoto. I had not seen Alina in my classroom since I met up with Shirana after school and she cleaned my classroom for me. Makoto dropped his chopsticks in surprise. I mean, why don''t you eat dinner with Ryuka instead of me? What are you doing? Of course Alina came to me. Come to the library. ''Okay. Wait here. She muttered in a normal tone. I wondered why she had specified the library instead of the rose garden. I ate my meal quickly and got up. ''Comet, are you going to die? ''I''m not ready to die yet. ''It''s been fun, all this time. I''ll be waiting for you.'' You''re starting to look a little like me, aren''t you? Before I entered the library, I had a sense of d j vu. This is where I met Alina, come to think of it. Ms. Akakusa grabbed me by the scruff of the neck and pulled me along. Many days have passed since then. This is where it all began. I wonder if it means anything that she chose this place. Why would she choose the rose garden when it''s so much more private? I was racking my brains trying to figure out why, why, why, but I couldn''t put my hand on the door at all, so I shut out my thoughts and opened the door. Alina was in the same seat she was in when we met. I sat down across the desk from her. Alina was the first to open her mouth. ''Do you know why I read books? ''''Because it''s interesting?'''' ''Yes. Books touch the soul of the author. How can they not be interesting? ''Is that what you wanted to tell me? ''Indirectly. I''m interested in people''s nature and source because I''m like this. Is the other child really as different from me as water and oil? Or do we share some of the same spirit, like a subset? I don''t think there is a right answer, but when I''m reading a book, it''s clear that ''I'' am here and ''I'' am talking to the author. The one and only me is here. I know that I am having a one-on-one conversation with the author''s alter ego. That''s why I read books. She spoke in a voice so soft that one might have suspected it was the other one, not the tongue-tied Alina. It was like that when I was talking to you. You''re not the only one. Both Tsuru and Hakuna can speak with their souls. But that''s because of Comet Sakakiki. I trust you. ''Well, I''m glad to hear that. ''Come to my house today. Oh, really? The sudden shocking statement threw me off kilter. If you imagine anything strange, I''ll kill you. I can''t imagine anything because my mind is a complete blank. I can''t go into a high school girl''s room, or the police will arrest me for that alone. ''Stay with me so I can tell your mother. Please. ''I got it. I''ll support you. Alina smiled carefree. I assure you. Next to my sister, she''s the cutest. 50-conflict Is it right for high school boys to enter a high school girl''s house or room? Of course, there is no legal problem. As long as they do not do anything to offend the residents, it should not be a problem. However. Common sense says no. It may be somewhat amusing for several people to get together and play under the name of "friends," but for one high school boy to step into a high school girl''s house is considered to be out of the realm of friends, and Nostradamus said that it is a very bad thing. The most frightening thing is that your classmates or other students of the same school will see you. This will seriously kill you. At this sensitive age, even the slightest thing can lead to a lot of speculations and propagation of impossible stories. The trouble is that you have to explain every single thing in order to excuse yourself. It takes a lot of extra effort. In addition, Alina is a mother and a child. Her mother would be worried. If her only daughter brings a stranger into the house, she will not like it. I don''t want her to feel that way, and I don''t want to create an opportunity for her to dredge up her bitter past. I don''t want to cause her to dig up her bitter past, because she might have to explain that she is a mother and a child, just to make me feel better. I didn''t want to cause such an awkward situation for both of us. But I thought it would be too much to refuse, and in the end, the scales tilted in favor of Alina. I left school side by side with Alina. I feel itchy. We used to hang out together after school, but the prospect of a romantic comedy is too much for me to bear. A long silence follows. The sound of cars driving and leaves rustling in the wind are heard over the din. I chuckled, thinking that it was because I was nervous. What are you laughing at? ''I''m nervous about going into a girl''s room.'' ''You don''t look like you''ve ever been in there before.'' ''No, I''ve been in many times. ''What? She rolled her eyes and gawked. I think this guy''s facial expressions have been getting more varied lately. ''Could it be, Shirana? ''Idiot. It''s my sister''s room. Yes, my sister is a girl. Of course she is. If she says she''s not a girl, I''ll fry her. No insults. It''s misleading to say I''ve been in there many times, so I''ll correct it to say I go in there when I''m called. I''ve never been in Hakuna''s room. That''s just wrong. I was shaking my head, wondering what this perverted woman was thinking, when my bag flew into my side. To be precise, Alina hit it like a hammer throw with the help of centrifugal force. The force of the blow was controlled by the fact that she said, ''I''m trying to keep you from falling down here! I think there is an element of tsundere in this. On a related note, I got into trouble when I entered my sister''s room without permission. There were quite a few books on my bookshelf, but all of them were upside down. The head of the bed was upside down, and the small desk was upside down with its legs stretched out on the ceiling. The carpet was upside down. It was a simple harassment, but it was a pain in the ass to fix it, so I decided not to enter my sister''s room again without permission. Next time, everything would be dismantled. After that, I took a train while talking with Alina and finally arrived at the Nippa''s house after a short walk. It was a perfectly normal house. But knowing that it was Alina''s house made me flinch a little. Come to the front door! I''ll call the police. ''I''m afraid that''s what''s going to happen in the end. ''Just get on with it. Reluctantly, I entered the off-limits area of the Nippa house. The smell of other people''s houses is different and fresh. After saying "excuse me for disturbing you," I took off my shoes and noticed that there was another pair of shoes besides Alina''s leather shoes. I was convinced that her mother was there. ''Wait, Alina! A small voice called out. ''''What?'''' ''Is your mother here ......?'' ''Yes. I''m off work today.'' I''m not prepared. I had assumed that the two of us would wait for their mother to return home, so I was nervous about this unexpected turn of events. Are you meeting her right now? ''Yes, but...'' It''s Alina. She may be a mother you can easily talk to, but to me she is the ultimate stranger. A mother who doesn''t know me would definitely be nervous. Alina doesn''t understand the horror of having an unknown man in a situation where it''s just two women. Her trust in me is another story. ''Alina, first of all, you must explain to your mother that I am your friend. I don''t want to scare her. ''I don''t know what you mean by the second half.'' ''Anyway. Anyway, please take care.'' He nodded vaguely, though he didn''t seem convinced. I decided to be very down-to-earth and polite. Alina took me into the living room. Alina''s mother was sitting there with a newspaper spread out. I recognized her at first glance. She looked so much like Alina and was so beautiful that I could hardly believe she was a living being. ''Mom, I''m home. Welcome home. You are...'' Alina! You say "friend" properly! I tried to imagine sending out a signal. I''ve never emitted a radio wave before, so to the casual observer I probably looked like a high school boy scowling at me. That''s how desperate I am. My friend Comet Sakakiki. Weird guy. ''Wait a minute, Alina-san. That''s terrible.'' ''Because ...... is just weird. ''We can come up with something more. This is just a pervert, isn''t it? ......'' I didn''t have high expectations, but I''m really glad I didn''t. It''s ruined. But your mother giggled, so maybe it was all for the best. ''Hello, comet. I''m Alina''s mother. I''m sorry I''m late. My name is Comet Sakakiki. I''m sorry for interrupting you so abruptly. I came here empty-handed. It''s okay. Don''t be so self-conscious. Alina''s mother was a very beautiful woman. Very elegant, with a straight back just like Alina''s. She had the same twitchy nose and jewel-like eyes as her mother. I thought to myself, "Beautiful women come from beautiful people. Alina''s mother used to work as a model. I agreed. She would look right at home in a magazine or on TV. She has that kind of atmosphere. Is he Alina''s boyfriend? No, no, no, no, no, no. I''m really just a friend. I had done nothing wrong, but an irrational desire to kill came up behind me in a flash. He wouldn''t do it in front of his mother, but he would stab me from behind when I left the house and walked a few dozen meters. I wish I could have lived another 20 years. ''Mom, I need to talk to you. Alina muttered in a clear voice. The mood to drop jokes has disappeared and Alina''s mother, sensing the atmosphere, takes her hand away from the newspaper. Alina put down her bag and took a seat across from her mother. She beckoned me to sit next to her. I obeyed like a machine and sat down. It was an uncomfortable scene, just like the ''asking permission from parents to get married'' scene you see in TV dramas. Oh my God, I want to go home. Your mother probably thinks that there is something to talk about in relation to your love life. I hated that she thought so. She must have thought of me at least once as ''the man who came for his only daughter. That''s why they''re so careful. I don''t like that. "Mom, I don''t want you to be surprised, okay? ''What''s wrong, Alina? That ''don''t be surprised'' sounds really weird too. Maybe I''m overthinking it. ''Actually, I--'' She was at a loss for words. I know the rest of the story. I''m not the Alina my mother knew, or I have a dual personality. I want to encourage her to hang in there, but I don''t want her to get stuck there. It''s hard to see your mother''s face. She must be thinking about everything, wondering what happened to me and Alina. In the extreme, I don''t know why I''m here. I''m pregnant. I''m sure your mother would have expected such a shocking confession from a high school couple. So for my own sake, Alina, hang in there. That''s not what I''m here for anymore, Alina... but for the sake of my innocence... Alina, it''s okay. It''s okay, say it. Say it now. I''m in pain too. Your mother''s worried look pierced my heart. Alina puts her hand on her chest and exhales heavily. Tell me now, please. I reassure her again in a soft, quiet voice that nothing is lost. Determined, Alina looks up and meets her mother''s eyes. I''m not the me you know, but the other me. I''m the other me. I''m a dual personality, I am. 51-reason for tears... Alina''s mother looked down into her eyes. I expected her to be more surprised and upset by her daughter''s shocking confession, but her reaction was surprisingly weak. Alina looked at me with a frown, wondering if she had said something wrong. It''s a strange thing to say, but it''s not wrong. It''s exactly what we discussed. If I were a parent with a child, I''d laugh it off, saying, ''It''s finally time for you to get the chuunibyou syndrome. I guess that''s what you meant.'' ''Did you understand ......?'' ''No. But I knew someone had changed. It was my daughter. I knew something was wrong. Alina''s mother spoke with a smile, but with a sad expression on her face. It was an expression I did not like to see, as it showed her heartbreak. Alina, on the other hand, was confused. Her eyes were swimming, as if she could not find the words to reply. I poked her with my foot, reminding her to get a hold of herself. ''Do you remember when ...... started? ''Yes. ......'' He falls silent for a few seconds with his eyes downcast. ''For three years between the sixth grade and eighth grade, she was not the Alina I knew. But I know it''s Alina. Wait a minute. So you want to say it''s me except for those three years? ''''No?'''' ''I have no memory of anything before the ninth grade. Not even before the sixth grade. My mother has a very keen sixth sense. Alina''s mother must be telling the truth. Her strength to believe this is reflected in her aura. Alina''s story of not remembering is too cruel. The days she spent with her only daughter are gone for her. The memories of laughter and sorrow are no longer in her head. Alina''s mother breaks down and bursts into tears. ''I''m sorry, I''m so sorry, Alina. ...... ''Hey, mom. Why are you crying? It''s not the place to cry. That''s ......'' Alina began to cry, too. They both cried so hard that I felt like I was thrown into a world of chaos. What is happening in this space? Someone explain it to me. I''m not going to get any further than this, so I''m going to start talking. ''Alina, go to your room and calm down. Then come back. ''...... yeah'' Alina put her bag on her shoulder and stood up. I''m sorry. As she left, she leaned close to my ear and said. After making sure that Alina had left the living room, I cut her off. I cut her off. I''m only here to help you change your attitude toward life. Please be assured that I am not in a relationship with her or anything like that. I''m sorry I cried all of a sudden. How is Alina at school? ''I''m not going to muddy the waters, so I''m going to be honest with you. Alina, you are a problem child. She rejects people with bad language. She is extremely misanthropic. She thoroughly rejects anyone who comes near her. ''Is that ...... true?'' ''Yes. I''m not adapting. I''m helping Alina at her teacher''s request. I don''t know if it makes sense, but I''m much calmer now. What I want to ask you is about your past. What happened to you? You really don''t have to tell me if you don''t want to. I don''t want to cause a disturbance in the parent-child relationship. It''s fine if you can. ''Alina''s past, you know. I wonder if she''s forgotten ...... no, maybe it''s better that way ......'' ''I talked to two Alina''s. One is the one you know, the Alina I just had a conversation with. The other is Alina, who was in charge from the sixth grade to the eighth grade. What they have in common is a lack of memory before the sixth grade. From what I have just told you, I know that the Alina you see now is the Alina who has been with her mother since birth. I can''t be sure, but I believe that a parent''s intuition is a fine line between truth and falsehood. Alina seems to think that she is a recently born person. Alina''s mother is troubled. Should she talk about it or not? It''s easy to see what she''s thinking. So it''s painfully obvious that she''s struggling with my question. I wanted to avoid it, but I knew Alina would never change unless I asked. She''ll always be called the "poisonous rose". I pushed down my feelings of apology and asked again. If you don''t feel comfortable saying it here, you can write it down on a piece of paper. I will never tell anyone. I have never revealed Alina''s state of mind to anyone before, and I never will. Please give it to me, even if it is through Alina at a later date. You can also mail it to me. I will pay for the postage. Don''t worry, I''ll write to Alina and give it to you. I''ll put it in an envelope so you can''t read it. Please don''t force me to write it. Alina''s and your safety is our first priority. ''Thank you. Comet, take care of Alina. ''Yes. I will do my best to turn things around. ''But how did you get to Alina so far?'' I don''t know why. If you ask me if I like Alina, I like her. She''s funny and I never get tired of talking to her. But I don''t think it''s the same as being around Alina because I want to. Maybe I want to help people. I''ve been in school for a long time and I''m just happy to be here. I don''t mind lying in front of the TV like a corpse and being ridiculed by my sister, but I''ve realized that spending time with someone after school and laughing with someone else is a very meaningful and beautiful time. I encountered values that I never had before, and a revolution started inside of me. It was all thanks to Arina Hiba. I''m going to be honest. I love Arina. I want to be useful to her, no matter what the outcome. It''s a simple, sophisticated, and pure feeling. I want to help someone, isn''t that enough? ''Heh. That''s wonderful. Alina has met the right person. I left the Nippa house without saying goodbye to Alina. It was a very refreshing feeling. I realized who I really am. That was a big breakthrough for me. Later that day, Alina handed me an envelope. Inside was a message from Alina''s mother. I regretted that I had not read it because of its horrifying contents. 52-The girl waits for time in her shell.... The day after visiting the Nippa family. Lunch break. During dinner with Makoto, I told him what I wanted to say yesterday. Makoto, you should have dinner with Ryuka instead of having dinner with me. I''d like to do the same, but it takes courage. Ryuka eats at Ryuka with her friends. I''m sure Ryuka would love to eat with you at the table. You should be bold enough to say it. ''Oh, my God.'' ''Would you like to have lunch with me?'' ''Comet, that''s terrible. ''I''m kidding. Just ask her out. You''ll be glad he asked you out. It''s probably the best thing you could have done. ''But you know what? I''m nervous. I''m so worried about whether I''m eating it the wrong way or not that I don''t even taste it. ''You''re a maiden, aren''t you? It''s unlikely that the ladylike Ryuka will ask you out, so you''ll have to go first, Makoto. Well, we''ll just have to keep getting closer and closer. Good luck. And then Alina came into the classroom again. I saw her classmates looking towards the entrance, and I saw her standing there. A classmate said to her, ''Comet is here! Two days in a row. She came to me in a straight line. Your mother asked me to give you this. It''s a brown envelope. The opening is glued shut. No sign of having been opened. I wonder what it is. Thanks, I''ll take it. I blurted it out. Alina would ask me if I knew she was going to send this to me, so I''m going to call it a salty response. ''Well, why did you leave on your own? I just wanted you and your son to talk alone. It would have been awkward if I had been there. ''I don''t need you. Don''t play the tsundere character. Makoto''s surprised. Makoto is expressing awe with all his might on his face, as if he had just encountered an alien. In other words, her face was contorted with fear. ''I don''t remember Nippa being such a character ......?'' ''Who are you? Horseman, right?'' ''Ugh, flashback. Recalling bitter memories of the past, Makoto plopped down on the desk and died. ''Alina, there is nothing special to do today. I''m free. ''So. Thank you. ''Why are you thankful?'' ''Ki, it was yesterday.'' He looked away and left. After she vanished like the wind, all that was left was a brown envelope and Makoto''s dead body. I took the envelope and left the classroom. I will attend Makoto''s funeral. I opened the envelope on a bench in the courtyard. Inside was a piece of paper. The first sentence was "To Sui-kun. I didn''t explain the kanji. Dear Sui-kun. I was very hesitant to pick up the brush. I wasn''t sure I could talk to Sui-kun when I just met him. I''m sorry. So I decided to write this down. Please keep this confidential. Do not tell anyone. Alina was abused by her divorced husband. Alina was beaten by her father while I was away from home for modeling. I was completely unaware of this. I feel so sorry for what I have put my daughter through, and even now I feel like I am crushing my heart with remorse. I want to be crushed. The abuse started around the 4th grade, when a teacher noticed the abuse and reported it to the authorities. It was around the end of the 5th grade. I am an unfit mother. I cried, hugged and apologized. But there was already no light in my daughter''s eyes. I took custody of my daughter in a desperate attempt to save her life. I divorced my husband and resumed my maiden name, ''Hiha''. Even though her father was gone, the light in her eyes remained. Shortly after entering the sixth grade, something unusual began to happen. Alina''s personality changed like a wave. She could be a cheerful and full of energy, or she could be the strong-willed Alina that she is today. The former Alina sometimes appears as if a switch has been flipped. Most of the time it is the latter. This is the Alina of the past. The bright and cheerful Alina was not so easy to remember. I was worried because of the discrepancies. And from late sixth grade to the end of eighth grade, she was a cheerful Alina who remembered nothing of the abuse. It was as if the abuse itself had never happened. I was too scared to ask. I was too scared to ask her if she remembered, because I felt like the slightest thing could break her like glass. I was too much of a coward to do anything. One really ordinary day in the third grade, I came home from work and Alina was the same Alina I knew before the sixth grade. It was obvious from her facial expression, her behavior and the way she talked that Alina was back. Alina had to leave early that day because she was sick. Since that day, this is the Alina you know. Today Alina told me about her dual personality and it all fits. After Sui left, she told me that at first she did not recognize me as her mother. I think this is my punishment for neglecting her. I also told her about her father''s violence. He told me that he had spent his life relying on the notebooks he had written before he lost his memory. I suggested that she go to a hospital, but she said ''absolutely not'' and wouldn''t listen to me. This is her past. My daughter''s heart was broken because of the abuse. I was such a stupid woman. All I could do was cry. I know it''s too selfish to ask, but please be good to Alina. I felt my lachrymal gland loosen after reading this. I tried to hold it back, but I felt an immeasurable anger welling up in me, and a single tear rolled down my cheek. The cause of her dual personality was probably abuse, as Alina''s mother said. The image of Alina trembling and enduring the violence made all my insides burn. To be beaten and kicked by a big man alone, and to endure it in silence is just too unreasonable. The nature of memory oblivion is self-preservation in the face of suffering beyond its limits. That is why Alina has erased her past. It''s unbearable, it''s painful, any more will cause a mental breakdown. She is on the edge of such a state of mind. In this hellish world, Alina chose to erase her memories. If I had a time machine, I would have changed the future to save Alina, who was in elementary school. Even if we never met in the future. What will you do now? That''s what I ask myself. What can I do now that I know about Alina''s past? What can I change? The first thing that comes to mind is to get rid of some deep-seated trauma. I''ve forgotten, but I''m still affected. It must be connected to Alina''s tongue. That''s why I need to talk to the other Alina first. I decided to start there. 53-need for spines... After school, I decided to go to the rose garden, even though I had just told Alina a few hours earlier that I was free again today. Hello! He opens the door briskly and greets her cheerfully. ''You, I thought you didn''t have anything going on today ......''. ''Something urgent came up. Don''t look at me like that. The trigger for the personality shift is the past. Someone she knows well. Aki is a good example. She must have been a very important person in her life, because she had switched personalities for two days just by looking at a picture of her. Sadly, there was no change when she met Nakamura Taku, who has feelings for Alina. The fact that he did not trigger the personality change, even though he knew Alina in junior high school, means that he was not that important to her. It is a tragedy for him. I felt for him intensely. We do not want to experiment on Alina. Alina''s condition is one of illness, and toying with her is the worst thing you can do. So I decided not to force her to switch. I don''t know how much strain it will put on Alina''s psyche. Alina. What do you think about your other self? Just speak frankly. ''What out of the blue? I wonder if you''re in love with the other me.'' ''It''s fascinating. Seriously. ''I''m gonna gut it all. I feel sick. ......'' Alina hugged herself with both hands and shivered. ''Frankly, she''s like a little sister to me. ''Is he too young for his age? I''m not a pedophile, so in some cases I have to beat myself up.'' ''No. In my notebook, I introduced myself as seventeen years old. But she''s kind of like a younger sister. ''''Well.'''' ''Your sister, Ugin-chan, right? That''s what I thought when I saw her.'' ''At Ugin? It''s strange, isn''t it?'' ''They adore me. That''s about it. I''m so embarrassed. I shouldn''t have told you. I don''t think my sister adores me, but I suppose objectively she does. Maybe I''ll ask her today. Do you like me? I mean. It''s the anniversary of his death. "What if ''she'' disappears from you?" ''So you''re saying that my personality will disappear and it will just be me? ''Yes. ''......'' Silence . A momentary but profound silence. ''...... just me. In a voice so small and thin that you had to listen carefully to hear her, she said, "I''m sorry. ''You mean I can just disappear? ''Yes. The other me must be a reaction to grief. I know it somehow. She''s smiling with something heavy on her back. That''s the impression I got from the picture of her on my phone. To other people, she might look like a healthy girl, but I know. She''s really fragile. So I want to put her to sleep. I want to tell her that it''s okay. ''I''m surprised at the unexpected answer. ''That''s an annoying way of putting it.'' ''Honestly, what do you think would have happened if I hadn''t shown up?'' ''Well, maybe I''d still be a hater. ''It''s not that they don''t like you. Maybe some of the girls are jealous. But the guys love you. ''Men have ulterior motives. Die.'' ''Don''t worry, I''m the exception. I''m a sociopath. ''But I guess sooner or later I would have been one of those guys. Maybe your coming along was a turning point. I heard from Dr. Akakusa that the other Alina asked someone for help. The other Alina told me this. Please find someone to talk to who is a good match for the other me. Whether that other person was me or not is in the mind of the alina in front of me. I''m not going to bother to ask. But I was happy, if only a little, when she said, ''Maybe it was a turning point. I knew that I had been useful, that I had not wasted my time. My plan was set. In a nutshell, I''m going to make Alina really want to be here. I think Alina''s personality change is triggered by a very simple and strong feeling of ''wanting to be'' or ''not wanting to be''. I have no proof or way to confirm this. But I can only assume that it is so. That''s my answer. Alina. I''ve decided what I''m going to do starting tomorrow. ''Which club activity is next?'' ''We''ll see tomorrow.'' It''s a hard decision. The next day. ''Hey, hey, hey, hey. I went to the rose garden at lunchtime, and as expected, Alina was there. It seems to be a law of physics that she is here. ''I wonder if this is a continuation of what happened yesterday. Closing the paperback book, Alina prepared for the dialogue. It was a perfectly normal action, but for her it had never happened before. In the past, she would have ignored it and followed the text. ''Let me put it simply. Make friends. ''''What?'''' ''Let''s make friends, Alina. I don''t need it. ''Mm. We already know the answer to that question, so let''s just back off. Then what do we do? It''s just normal school life. ''You''re often made fun of, aren''t you? ''Yes, I know. I feel like I''ve been hearing that ever since I was born. And since I met you, it''s been more frequent. But this is a different matter. Now, I said a normal school day. Do you know what that means, Alina? ''...... No.'' ''Are you sure you don''t know?'' ''I kind of get it. But I don''t want to say too much, maybe ......''. ''Then I''ll tell you. The Rose Garden is dissolved. There is no longer any need for a rose garden. Dual personalities, abuse, bullying. I didn''t know that when I met Alina. So I did everything I could to get a chance to interact with people in the Rose Garden, a space just for me and Alina. But this stops changing when it reaches a certain value. I''m out of ideas, and I''m just in this space. That''s just the way it is. So it would be better to just lose it. Even if it is gone, we will still have opportunities to meet and to work. The escape of the Rose Garden is gone. I don''t mean to push her away, but she has been too extravagant. At first, I didn''t think I needed to force myself to make friends. No relationship can last or be good if it is forced upon you. But it is always when you meet someone that your outlook on life changes. There are people in the world who have surprising pasts, thoughts, and interesting people. The mind changes its shape little by little after such encounters. After meeting Alina, I started to change my school life and I started to think that it is not so bad to spend time with someone after school. If you want to change yourself, the best way is to meet people. ''The Rose Garden is no good, this space is no good. ''Why not? ''This place is just a refuge. Alina, I really want to make you realize what you really want. So here''s what we''re going to do. Be more approachable. Not everyone wants to smoke you. I don''t either... and neither do Tsuru, Shirana, Makoto, the student council, and Akakusa-sensei. They''re all waiting for you. It''s not brazen to step into people''s hearts. We are creatures who need to eat human hearts to grow up. Don''t reject me, poison rosebud. We are creatures who seek connection, and no matter how much we reject people, deep down we miss them. They want to connect with everyone, no matter who they are. You''ll only make it harder on yourself if you grow thorns against them. Be honest. Be honest. Then you''ll find the answer naturally. I meant it as a sermon, but surprisingly Alina had no expression on her face. Then she giggled. Did you just think of that? ''I''m not going to remember it even if I have a script ready. ''Ha-ha-ha. That''s just like you. Alina stood up and peeled off her skirt. She exhaled and looked up. ''Okay. I believe you. I''m sorry. ''No need to apologize, cockroach. ''At least compare me to a mammal. ''Don''t be rude to mammals.'' It brings back the usual. I''m elated for the first time in a long time. The rose garden is now closed. But our work is not over, is it? ''''Oh.'''' Alina smiled and raised her middle finger. ''Good. Nice to meet you, Comet Sakakiki. ''Nice to meet you, Alina Hinoha. I raised my middle finger, too. I really think we''re idiots. But I also thought we made a great team. 54-dating plan... What do you associate with the word ''date,''? ''Uh. Amusement park or aquarium?'' Makoto talked to me during recess. He is dating a classmate, Mimori Ryuka. I have no idea how they are progressing, but the fact that he asks me about it suggests that they haven''t done anything like dating yet. Those were the two things that came to mind. I''ve never been on a date, so those are the only things I can think of. Or perhaps I am asking the wrong person. I guess that''s it. I wonder if you think the same thing about comets. ''Hey, don''t talk about me like I''m not involved in dating. It makes me sad. It''s true. Sorry, sorry. So, where would you like to go?'' I don''t know why you''re asking me. Did you ask Ryuka? ''I can''t do something that difficult.'' ''Is it a high ......?'' ''Of course not! Even asking someone out on a date is the ultimate in difficulty. I haven''t decided where to go yet, but would you like to go on a date?" It''s impossible. It''s theoretically impossible unless you have at least decided on a place. ''''But isn''t it more fun for the two of us to think about such things together? I''m sure Ryuka will be pleased.'''' ''Don''t say random things like it''s someone else''s business''. ''''It''s someone else''s problem.'''' ''Please! Help us! The reserved, ladylike Ryuka and the unchallenged Makoto. I saw that he was troubled by the lack of progress. It''s not that I don''t support this couple, but I''ve never had the heart to interject. But when they asked for help, I felt compelled to lend a hand. I have known Makoto for a long time. He''s my best friend. All right. I''ll ask a guy who seems to be a love specialist. I don''t remember anyone like that around Comet. I have a bad feeling about this. ''Don''t worry, it''s just my imagination. I left the classroom on the pretext of going to the bathroom. I don''t have the urge to urinate at all, but I go to the bathroom, pull out my phone, and make a phone call. Of course it is her. Yes, this is Hiwa. Who is this? It''s a comet. Didn''t you see my name on the incoming call? I don''t know. It just said "dead," so I don''t know. ''I''m supposed to be dead, ...... at least make me a living person.'' So, what? When I called you, you insulted me by saying, ''You''re in the next classroom, so come directly to me.'' Is this a new kind of sarcasm?" ''Because I don''t want to hear too much about it.'' Can I talk to you on speaker?" ''Are you an ogre? Do you want to make a certain boy cry? According to Shirana''s information, Alina has been in the classroom more often since the Rose Garden space disappeared. She has also started to talk a lot. She also started talking to other students besides Shirana, Yuri Hiiragi, the head of the women''s tennis team, and Ran Miyanaka. I have a question for the love specialists. Remember the horse face? That thing you''re used to. Yes, that''s it. Makoto wants to ask Ryuka out on a date, but he can''t decide where. Do you have any good ideas? What, is he in a relationship? I thought you liked me. Past tense. I had PTSD after you tore me to shreds. Don''t you remember?'' Yeah. But you can''t ask me about the date spots. You know my personality. ''You don''t look like you''ve ever been in a relationship. Right, right! You''re pissing me off. I''m gonna blow up your house. I thought cranes would know better than you. Oh, that''s a blind spot. I guess that gal looks like she knows what she''s doing. I''m going to kidnap Tsuru and interrogate her during lunch break. If I had recorded it, your life would be over. So we terminated the call and decided to kidnap Tsuru. Let''s quickly grab her and bring her to Alina''s class during lunch break. Returning to the classroom, I sent a message to Makoto saying, "Leave it to me. In response, he lamented, ''Oh, I said it to the wrong person. Don''t worry, Makoto. I have the best brains in the class and the most beautiful girl in the class. First of all, you''re safe. I didn''t miss Tsuru''s movements during my lunch break and dinner with Makoto. From the outside, I''m just a stalker. I wonder if Tsuru noticed my eyes on her or not. She sometimes turned her head to appeal to me with her eyes, but I ignored her and continued to watch her. He was a complete pervert. Anyway, thanks to this perverted behavior, I didn''t miss the moment when Tsuru finished eating his meal. Tsuru. Can I have a word? What is it? ''Can I kidnap you?'' ''''What?'''' ''I''d like to kidnap you to the next class, if you don''t mind.'' ''What? You were staring at me the whole time. If you want to take me to Alina''s, just say so. Uniqueness must be kept alive in every generation. Let''s go. ''Yes, yes. He takes Tsuru out and enters the next class. Alina was sitting as usual with a paperback in her hand. ''We''ve kidnapped her. Let''s have a strategy meeting. ''You really brought him here. ......'' ''Alina, is this still a crime ......?'' ''Yes, it is. At least we can arrest him because his existence is a crime. ''I''m the embodiment of sin? We decided to borrow the seat in front of and next to Alina and discuss the situation in a triangular fashion. ''Well, ladies and gentlemen, thank you very much for coming. The subject is ''Makoto & Ryuka''s dating spots. I''d like you two specialists to think about this topic. ''Troublesome''. ''Kidnapping''. ''Well, well, well, you two keep your fangs in. Please cooperate. Alina and Tsuru looked at each other and sighed. ''I told you to ask Tsuru because I don''t know much about that sort of thing. ''Yes. Well, Mr. Crane. Do you have any good spots? ''Suddenly it''s one against two! Hmmm... I wonder where. What kind of person is Makoto-kun? I don''t care if it''s more to Ryuka''s liking.'' ''Makoto is a serious and pure-hearted guy. He changes when he wears a mask, though. ''Not the opposite of your impudence and impurity. ''Quiet there, you little viper. Shut up for another 700 years. What do you think, crane? Any good? ''Nn~~. Ryuka is not an active person. Aquarium or flower garden? ''...... I could have thought of that.'' ''Oh, no.'' ''I knew you''d like the aquarium! I wasn''t wrong, Makoto! ''Perhaps the discussion is over?'' I guess so. ''Thank you, both of you. I''ll call Makoto as soon as I can! They sighed again, their eyes downcast. You''re going to miss out on all the happiness. Thank you! ''He''s really an idiot. Hey. Alina, you''re good with her too. Hey, I can hear you. Makoto. Conclusion. Aquarium. ''What''s wrong with you, comet? It''s like a Google search. ''The conclusion that came out of our conference was "Aquarium."'' ''I guess Nippa thinks so, too. ...... I guess Comet is right... or maybe a template spot is a winner after all.'' ''Yes. Let me know if you need anything else. I''ll help you. ''How did you get there ......'' ''We''re friends.'' ''Zqun! Heart''. ''Don''t say the sound effect. It makes me nauseous.'' ''Well, I''ll only ask you for one thing. What am I supposed to do on a date? ''You''ll have to figure that out on your own. It''s like I''m in control now. ''Well then, I wonder if you could secretly track me so that I can give you instant advice when you''re in trouble.'' This guy wants me to be a real stalker. He keeps calling me a stalker, a criminal, and a walking pervert, and now he wants me to be a real stalker? Alina will be overjoyed to abuse you. She''s going to make a good plaything, but I''m going to take her along for the ride. Okay. Let me know when you have a concrete plan and a date. I''ll be your stalker. But I''m not the only stalker, Alina. We''ll fall together. 55-Aquariums, infiltration... Maybe you have never seen Alina in civilian clothes. No matter how hard I squeeze my brain like a rag squeezer, the memory of her in civilian clothes does not ooze out. When I imagine Alina, I first picture her beautiful legs. She has a five-star appearance and style. It''s no wonder my eyes are drawn to her legs. And uniforms are always made to expose the legs. The creator''s proclivities are readily apparent, but I dare say it. Well done. You pervert. The skirt itself is a sin. Why did you make it so tempting? And some people even shorten them to the limit, which makes it very hard to look at. I''m often accused of looking too much. It''s us men who want to complain. Even if we pull up our pants to the limit, we can only make the world look like hell with our shin hairs covering the world. But please be aware that the legs of the ladies are a field of art and should be cherished. My thoughts are clouded by such conflicts, and I am now relaxing at a certain coffee shop. I sit on a seat placed outside and sip coffee. Unfortunately, they don''t have tomato juice, so I have no choice but to order a cup of coffee. I take another sip of the black liquid, feeling uneasy about UTIs. Geez. It''s charcoal. I don''t think it''s something human beings drink. I''m out tracking Makoto, even though it''s my day off. I''d rather stay inside on weekends and just squat on the floor like a slug, but if I go outside in the sunlight, I''ll die. It''s a terrible thing. I will not go to this event alone. I''ve called Alina. I''m sipping coffee in a coffee shop because this is where we''re meeting. It''s about time to come, but the breeze is so nice that I think it''s a good idea not to do anything until dusk. She was wearing a sun hat and sunglasses. Shorts and a milky white coat. Arina Hiba appeared on the stage looking like she could be in the movie "The Devil in Prada". Excuse me, I''m looking for someone around 5''10" tall and looks like a bird feeder. He is often mistaken for a methane hydrate. Alina asked me. Aaah! That''s me! Me me me me me! ...... still looking awesome fashion-wise.'' ''Why are you wearing sunglasses? You''re wearing me. And a tuxedo. ......'' I''ve been wearing sunglasses so that they don''t leave an impression on my face, but now I feel like I''m in the Matrix. I''ll take them off. I''ll wear a mask. ''It''s easy to be found when you''re tall. This time, as long as Ryuka doesn''t notice me, right? ''That''s right. Makoto asked me to help you if you need anything. If nothing happens, that''s all right. If something happens, I''ll do something. That''s what I mean. Even when I say it myself, it sounds ridiculous. But Makoto asked me to do exactly as he said. I will try to be flexible. The last thing I want is for Ryuka to feel strange, so I''ll be careful. ''Drink your coffee quickly. You''re going, aren''t you? ''Wait a minute. It''s pretty hard for a tomato juice lover. ''Drink it in one gulp.'' Don''t talk to me like you''re an old man offering me a drink. Ugh, d*mn it. --I''ll have my revenge on all mankind. ''Let''s go. You don''t have time. Good thing I bought some tomato juice to refresh my palate. I reach into my pocket, grab the tomato juice and open it right away. Geroumar! ''You''d better keep your tone clean and polite when you''re next to me. If you say something stupid again, I''ll say, ''Pervert! I''ll scream at you.'''' ''''I''m sorry.'''' We arrived at the park where Makoto was supposed to meet Ryuka. Alina and I did not enter the park, but observed with a monocular telescope from a little distance away. ''What are you bringing in here, you ...... voyeur? I like space because my name is about space. This little telescope is for aiming at the stars, and it''s attached to a big telescope. But you can see just fine. Take a look. ''Oh, I can see. Right? And you''re a peeping tom now. You did it. ''You''re really a despicable, out-and-out, devilish, rotten sludge ......''. Makoto looks fidgety and restless. Makoto just now asked me if I was coming. I got a message. I said, ''I''m watching you. I replied, ''I''m watching you. No reply. A few minutes later, Ryuka finally arrived. Makoto''s eyes flashed and he awkwardly raised his hand. ''Alina, your date is about to start. ''''So. Let me know if you need anything. I''ll be walking around eating. Alina was already licking her ice cream and staring disinterestedly in the direction of the Makoto Ryuta couple. It seems that they are heading to the aquarium as announced. The park itself is adjacent to the aquarium and a short walk away. The sight of the two nervous and innocent-looking couples tickled me so much that I almost burst out laughing. It was funny to see my friend, who I always see at the same time, in such a good mood. ''What kind of conversation are you two having?'' Alina asks me while sipping cocoa from a can. ''Idiot. We''re about 40 meters away. Even a mutant like me can''t hear you. ''Look, there''s lip-reading and stuff. You''re a voyeur, you''re good at that, right? ''All right, all right. Let''s see. Thank you for coming today, Ryuka. How about a bullet train in Antarctica? ''Enough. I''m devastated. ''It''s an impossible game.'' The Makoto Ryuta couple entered the facility through the aquarium entrance. We can''t see them now. ''They''re gone. What do we do now? ''What, aren''t you going?'' ''Wow. You''d rather wait outside than go with you! I was so scared. ''If something happens at the aquarium, you won''t be able to respond immediately. I''ll do what you ask me to do. You''re his friend. ''I can''t believe Alina still has a human heart ......'' Before Alina could say a word, I took off at a run and headed for the aquarium. We bought our tickets and Alina and I walked through the gate. I swallowed just in time to hear her yelling again when I told her it was like we were on a double date. When was the last time we went to the aquarium? At least not since I started wearing a school uniform. The last time was probably when I was in elementary school. A nostalgic sensation rises in me. It still smells as clear and pure as the water flowing overhead. I remember my childhood, when I was surprised and excited by everything. I found myself clinging to the glass. ''There are other guests here, so be careful. ''No, no, no, this seal is too cute. It''s a crime. It''s a criminal offense. ''Oh, God. I''ll keep an eye on that couple. ''Yes, Mommy. ''I''m gonna kill you. ''I''m sorry, sir.'' Grotesque fish I''ve never seen, fish with funny faces, fish alive and peeking out of their holes at me in a boring way. I was deeply impressed by how interesting it was to come here after a long time. Alina is watching us, licking a candy bar. She wears sunglasses indoors, which is even crazier than me. 56-old story I watched the aquatic animals, grateful to Alina for keeping a close watch on me while I continued to eat. There were a wide variety of interesting creatures, from brightly colored fish to long, slender creatures quietly staring at me from inside their holes. I''ll still go there when I''m in high school. ''Hey, Alina. This one looks like you. I pointed to a fish named Suihougan. It looks like a goldfish, but its cheeks are puffed up like balloons. It looks dumb. ''What does this one look like me? ''You look like an angry man to me. ''Oh, my. But you''re cute, so I forgive you. You''re this one. Alina points at the glass. But there are no fish or crustaceans in that direction. I look around to see if an octopus is mimicking her, but there''s nothing there. There is only a shrimp walking on the sand. "Where can I find a creature that looks like me? ''It''s this water plant.'' I see. No wonder you don''t know. Grass. I can''t react, Alina. The Makoto Ryuta couple looks like they''re in a giant aquarium. Hey you! They''re holding hands! It''s so funny!'''' Alina is laughing next to me as I am overwhelmed by the power of the giant aquarium. ''Let''s see what it''s all about. I took back the monocular telescope Alina had lent me and looked through it. The two of them are really holding each other''s fingers intertwined. I let out an involuntary ''huh''. It was such a hot connection that it was embarrassing to watch. If they''re this happy, God will just blow the bad stuff out of the water. I thought our presence would be a distraction to them. Even if we weren''t in their line of sight. To use a heavy-handed analogy, we''re a virus trespassing in their world. ''Alina. Come here. ''Hey, hey, hey, you''re not allowed to grab my hand unless you have a state license. ''Your hands may be valuable in the future, but right now they''re just a piece of meat. Here we go. He was biting the slime and wouldn''t move, so I backed off. I decided to retreat to the food corner and take a rest for the time being. Partly because I was tired from the excitement of being a little girl again, but also for the couple''s sake. If they call, I''ll come running. I ordered Neapolitan and Alina ordered a pile of cream pancakes. After a while, a heaping pile of cream pancakes came out, and I wondered where I was going to store them in my thin body. Alina started eating them with a knife and fork. Amazing. Is there such an outrageous sweet in the world? ''I eat a lot. Delicious food. ''After watching you for a day, I realized that Alina Hinoha is a gluttonous, tongue-tied girl. ''Girls who eat a lot are popular with the ladies. ''This is a good opportunity for me to tell you a story about you that will make you popular. ''Sounds interesting. I''d love to hear the sordid tale.'' In my class, as in other classes, Alina''s popularity is cult-like. Alina''s tongue and her iceberg-like harsh and cruel personality combine to give her an aura of unapproachability, but everyone is intoxicated by her good looks and staggers to get close to her. This is the basic process of falling in love among boys. There is no end to the number of boys who declare their love to her. We often see the whole story of such people. Here is the story. How many times have you been confessed your love recently? ''You say that in a way that makes me sound like a cheap woman. ''Don''t worry, I don''t think you''re cheesy. ''Hmm. Well, it must have been about seven times. ''Wow, that''s a different level. Let''s talk. We had just started our sophomore year of high school. By the time we got used to high school life and became middle-class high schoolers, there was already a lot of talk about Alina. "There''s a beautiful girl!" "Too cute!" What idol do you belong to? One of the boys in my class was also crazy about you. By the way, that''s not Makoto. ''Hmmm. Munching. ''Wait, wait, wait. Things are about to get interesting. So he finally decides to confess. We patted him on the back and cheered him on like a family sending off a soldier to battle. I got curious and decided to peek into his battlefield. With a few friends. The battlefield was a bench in the courtyard. The place where you were often seen before the founding of the rose garden. By the way, the monocular telescope that I brought with me was also in use then. Even with the telescope I couldn''t understand what you guys were saying, but since everyone was sure before the confession that the result would be a sinking, I decided to encourage you as usual''. ''''I don''t remember.'''' The pancakes were getting smaller by the minute. I thought to myself, "Wow, he''s eating so much," and continued speaking. We greeted him warmly when he came back, and the first thing he said was something we hadn''t expected. ''You want to die, or something? '' ''It was so beautiful I couldn''t say anything,'' he said. He said you were talking to him one way and the other, but he couldn''t hear you. He said he was just in a state of absentmindedness, entranced by Hinoha-kun. I don''t know if he was stupid or enlightened. The curious drama that unfolded in that courtyard. One of you was yelling and the other one had his eye lids up over his ears and was entranced by you. I laughed myself to death. We were like, "What''s wrong with that guy, he looks so serious! I felt like an idiot for worrying from afar. I feel sick to my stomach just remembering it. What do you think happened to him after that? ''Pancakes are delicious! ''I wanted to paint. I wanted to be exposed to art. He started drawing a lot, so I asked him to show me his work. After that, he joined the art club. ''What, maybe when you went to the art club before and used me as a model, that person was also ......''? ''Of course there was. I almost laughed because he was so good. It''s amazing. Unknowingly, Alina Nippa changed a man''s life. Alina raised her eyebrows and stuck out her tongue. It was a very unpleasant reaction. I finished my Neapolitan and Alina was about to take another bite when she started talking. I''ll tell you a funny story next. ''Go ahead, go ahead. ''I wonder if this will be another story about my popularity. It was freshman year. After some class, there was a short break before the next class started. Before I knew it, there was a boy by my side. Probably from another class. I ignored him because he was bothering me, but he suddenly grabbed me by the wrist. ''You''re a pervert of rare behavior.'' I stuttered and stared at the guy''s face because his grip was pretty strong. Then he said, ''Will you go out with me on the premise of marriage? Even I was stunned by this unprecedented pattern. I immediately paid his hand and told him to go away, but he didn''t walk away. I really wanted to socially erase him. But one of the boys came up to me and chased me away. I was impressed that there are good people out there. ''Oh. You''re a hero. Later, the hero confessed his love to me, too. I won''t tell you the result in his honor. ''What the hell is that ...... not saving me.'' ''Yes, it is. You can''t save yourself with me. Hmm. I hope you''re all unhappy. He snaps the rest of the bite into his mouth and makes a smile. I''m sure his big eyes, hidden by his sunglasses, are smiling too. Alina and I get up again and decide to look for the couple. They probably haven''t left the aquarium yet. We wander around, not really desperate. Alina walks around chewing gum. I guess she''s one of those creatures that needs to eat something. I''ve given up trying to make fun of her. We walk for a while and don''t find her, and I start to get impatient. If I keep going like this, I''ll be in trouble. We''ve completely lost him. I guess so. I''m starting to wonder if he''s at the aquarium. This is bad. ''Why don''t you call them?'' ''It''s too unnatural. Besides, you''ll lose credibility.'' You sound like a salesman. Then I got a text. ''I got an email from Makoto. ''Wow. You guys are telepathic. ''If I''m on the same wavelength as a more beautiful woman than that guy, all the better. ...... "Help"? ''Are you going to die?'' No, you''re not going to die. I''ll get the exact location while replying. A few seconds later, a reply came back. ''Oh, I see, that way. ''So, what kind of rescue request? ''Take my picture,'' he said. ''I lost hope. Yes, death penalty.'' I thought I could have just asked a passerby, but I guess it''s hard to ask a passerby since most of the customers are families or couples. Then let''s go. And you take the picture. They won''t know you''re wearing sunglasses and that outfit. ''That''s a pain in the ass. Well, it''s cheap if you consider that it costs 300 yen an hour. ''I''ll never pay you. I had a bad feeling about the word "help," but I''m glad it was something cute. I don''t want any trouble either. 57-infinite tomato juice... Crimson hat and sunglasses. Thigh-high shorts. A woman in a milky white coat with the front buttons open will approach you. Ask for a picture. She''ll be happy to oblige. By the way, that girl is Arina Hiba, the gluttonous, tongue-tied girl. I sent that text to Makoto. He immediately replied with his approval, so I told Alina. ''Okay. Alina, you got the OK. Casually, really casually, approach Makoto so that you can get in her sight. That way she can talk to you. ''''That''s a hassle.'''' ''Good luck! If I go, Ryuka will see right through me, so I''m relying on you! ''Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. I''m going. Throwing another piece of gum into her mouth, Alina started to walk away. With an air of dignity behind her back, Alina raised her right hand high in the air and made a fist. What the hell is that guy? He''s a freak like me. I don''t know anyone like that. He''s a stranger. I observe the couple a short distance away. They''re in the penguin area. Since there is no height difference between the two areas, I can''t observe them from a high vantage point, so I watch them carefully to make sure they don''t get caught. Alina moves swiftly through the crowd and closes the distance to her target. I felt my heart rate rising as I watched her. Like a spy, she naturally moves closer to her target. Is she an MI5 spy? Finally, Alina passed right in front of Makoto. Makoto was so scared that he called out to her as if he had been struck by lightning. She was saying something to Alina in a nervous tone. As if she was getting impatient, Alina took Makoto''s phone and held it in her hand. Alina finished her work as if she was going through the motions and came right back home. It all happened so fast. For some reason, she was making a smug face, so I decided to give her a poke. She had a really smug look on her face. He was so jumpy when he saw me that he hesitated to speak to me. He was so teasing that I had to go over and talk to him. I spoiled it for them by telling them that Alina was coming. Now I can''t summon Alina anymore because she''s made an impression on me. No happenings, please, Makoto-kun. So I texted Makoto. Whatever happens, you two work it out together. It''ll give us a chance to bond. Good. We can solve this ourselves to a certain extent. If we get a call for help that requires someone, we can only use it one more time. Of course, that last card is me. You won''t have to use us often, but you''ll have to keep it as low as possible, or Ryuta will find out. Ryuka will be uncomfortable if she knows she''s being watched. I''ll just hang around for the rest of the day. ''After that, we''ll just hang out at random, wishing for your safety, for your happiness. I never thought I would have the chance to visit an all-you-can-eat sweets store in my life. This is what happened when I asked Alina where I could kill time after leaving the aquarium. Is it okay if I come in here? I glanced around the store and was horrified by the overwhelming percentage of female customers. There were high school girls, college girls, and female office workers. Clearly, this is not the world I know. Am I supposed to sit in this sweet-smelling space? How cruel. You need a little more testosterone in your system. Don''t worry about it. No, I care. This is like breaking into a women''s bathroom. The waitress is a girl, the customers are girls, and I''d like to ask them if this place is forbidden to boys. No matter how much I screamed in my mind, not even a single bite reached Alina, and eventually I found myself sitting down. The air surrounding me is so foreign that I feel uncomfortable. Help me, Makoto. I was taken aback by Arina''s eagerness to eat, but I gradually became accustomed to it. The sweets in the line are delicious. There are so many varieties that I don''t know which one to choose, so I leave it all up to Alina, but everything that comes out is delicious. The best part is the tomato juice served at the table. That''s right, all-you-can-drink tomato juice. It was so good that I was almost moved to the point of shedding tears of blood. Alina says ''Dracula'' to me, but I don''t care and keep drinking. It''s just as well, because it tastes so good. Alina continues to eat. I think she has a black hole in her stomach. "How can she eat so much? ''Girls who eat are popular with the ladies. That''s the second time. You might be persuasive, but you don''t eat that much at school.'' ''Yes, it is. That''s why it''s hard. ''You don''t eat?'' High school doesn''t have that kind of atmosphere, does it? Certainly no one is munching on something every short break. If they did, they''d probably look at you with curiosity. He''s probably just worried about being seen. He''s eating all the time today. ''You''re not a big eater for such a big guy. ''I get good gas mileage. Eco body. ''My gas mileage sucks. Enemy of the earth. After ninety minutes of talking like this, the all-you-can-eat session came to an end. I spent the last part of the meal sipping tomato juice and watching Alina. I periodically muttered to myself, "She eats so much, eats so much, eats so much! Alina was always sticking a fork into something and bringing it to her mouth. I left the store and let the outside air fill my lungs. The sweet smell nearly destroyed my nose. The cool air permeates my body. ''I don''t think anything else will happen, so let''s break up. ''We''ll break up if that''s what you want, but why don''t you at least give them a heads up? I''m sure they care about us.'' ''Right. I''ll text you. It is not even dusk yet, so they will still be touring the city. You may be a little surprised at their early departure, but you should treat yourself like a baby about to be weaned. As I type, Alina tugs at my hem and hides behind me. ''Do you have sudden shyness syndrome? ''No, I''m not! In front! About 20 meters away! There were so many people that I couldn''t tell who or what they were referring to. I squint my eyes and look at the view in front of me in detail. But I soon gave up because of the chaos of people coming and going. ''Alina. I don''t understand. ''Idiot! You''re getting closer! Come here! He pulls me hard to escape. But my curiosity about the mystery grew, and I stayed and tried with all my might to figure it out. Where is it? And I locked eyes with a girl. In this vast and mysterious universe, where even the sun looks as small as a quail''s egg, my eyes met Namiki Shirana''s eyes. It''s a miracle. As soon as I think of that nonsense, Hakuna opens her mouth round and points at me. She is surprised at the coincidence. Then Yuri Hiiragi and Ran Miyanaka, the head of the tennis club, appear from the crowd. They both noticed me. Is that what you mean, Alina? This is certainly not good. Alina in plain clothes and me in a tuxedo are on a holiday together. My appearance in particular makes no sense. Why am I in a tuxedo? To be honest, I don''t know either. But I know exactly how the three of them feel. Arina Hibane and Comet Sakakiki on a date. If you have a normal, average, and somewhat common moral sense, you will naturally come to that conclusion. Even I think so. Shirana and the others were coming toward us, but I saw them slow. My brain must be screaming and searching for excuses. As for Alina, the rescuer, she seems to have come to her senses and is ready to accept the situation. In other words, she is just a statue standing there. But I''m not giving up. I can just tell her straight out that I''m not dating Alina, but simply keeping an eye on the Makoto Ryuuta couple. If you light a fire in their hearts and appeal to them with passionate words, they will understand. If you still doubt me, I''ll show you the e-mail exchange between me and Makoto. And if I ask for Makoto''s cooperation later, I can prove my innocence. Don''t worry, I can win. I said to Alina, trying to cheer myself up. I''ve won, Alina. ''I don''t get it. ......'' You''re right, it doesn''t make sense. If I were in Alina''s shoes, I would say the same thing. Hakuna and the others finally stood in our way. Are you Alina? Shirana ignored me and approached Alina. Even with sunglasses on, she seemed to know. Ryuuta might recognize me. ''Yes. Like a Hollywood star, Alina elegantly removes her sunglasses. ''I knew it! Alina, you have a good style, so I can tell by your appearance.'' Shirana smiles happily. But Yuri and Ran, who are standing beside her, look at me with grins. I become a statue of Alina, just like she was a few dozen seconds ago. I don''t think about anything. Nothing, I am a human being. I like tomatoes. ''Comet, what are you wearing? What''s wrong? ''......'' ''Hey, comet. Are you alive? ''......'' ''Hey. ''......'' Yuri confirmed whether Comet Sakakibiki was alive or dead, and Ran punched him in the stomach. Ran hit Sakakibiki in the stomach. But he kept his mind clear. I fix my viewpoint on the infinite distance, imagining the Andromeda Galaxy that will appear at night, and I am in the middle of being impressed by the grandeur of the universe. The daytime sky is blue. At night it is pitch black. Have you ever wondered why the universe is jet black? Everywhere you look in 360 degrees, it is pitch black. This is because the universe is an infinite vacuum. We can perceive colors only when light strikes an object and is reflected by it, reaching our eyes. Since the universe is a near-vacuum, light travels straight ahead and is not reflected. Then, why is there no reflection at the end of the universe? If the end of the universe existed, it might reach the earth. But if it does not reach the earth, it may be because there is no end in the first place. In addition, since the expansion speed of the universe is faster than the speed of light, light cannot tell us whether there is an end or not. It is absolutely terrifying. Why do we exist? Why does the universe expand without us? What is outside of it, or even within its boundaries? What is there in the first place? Why does the world exist? Will this ultimate question ever be answered? I found myself alone. Alina and the three men were gone, and I was standing alone. I checked my cell phone and found a text message from Alina. I''m going home with the three of you first. You go to the psychiatrist before you leave. Apparently, the girls have left. It''s only 3:00 in the afternoon, so they''ll probably make a detour. Having nothing better to do, I bought two bottles of tomato juice from the vending machine and decided to go home. One for me and one for my sister. The universe is-- deep. 58-Examination and Winter Sky... ''This time next year, I''m probably going to die from studying for exams.'' ''No, I don''t like it. December. The season has arrived when our breath becomes whiter and whiter and our fingertips prickle. I used to put on gloves and have snowball fights with my sister outside, but we don''t do it anymore. One of the reasons may be that I threw snowballs at her like a machine gun and made her cry. Those days were fun and innocent. I could spend my days without any worries. As I grew up, I became fascinated by the charms of scientific civilization and stopped going outside, which is a characteristic of modern children. So, my sister and I, modern people, are warming ourselves in the kotatsu, feeling the benefits of science. It is the winter of my sophomore year of high school and junior year of high school. I''m going to take the entrance examination next year, and my sister is going to take it this year. ''Wait a minute, maybe your brother has realized something terrible. ''What the hell? She rests her chin on the table and sleepily replies. ''You''ve never seen my sister studying for an exam ......! ''''I bet...'''' I had no idea that my sister had such a lickspittle attitude toward entrance exams. I was so proud to hear that she was good at something. Ugin, you should apologize to all the students in the country. ''I''ve already been recommended...'' ''What? A recommendation?'''' ''You didn''t know, brother? We had such a great time as a family.'' ''Were you there, me? ''Maybe you were watching TV in a daze, licking your tomato juice like usual. That''s so sad. I''m so lonely. ''Oh my God,...... you didn''t think it had already been decided,......, I mean, you were involved in club activities until recently! Isn''t it funny now that I think about it, that I was still doing it in the fall of my junior year? I don''t tolerate bribes.'' ''I was taking care of the juniors because it was like I had already been recommended.'' Oh...... can afford to have a recommendation group...... I remember when I took the high school entrance exam, there was a recommendation group. I only remember hating them. They spent the winter with a clear face while we were almost crushed by the pressure. Thanks to their hard work, I got into a good high school, but looking back on it, I feel angry. It makes my blood boil. What high school? ''I''m not like you, brother. Mikawa High School. ''Hmm. We can celebrate New Year''s in peace. ''You looked like you were going to die. The huge cans of tomato juice on the floor were really gross. I really thought he was sick. ''The examinations, especially the written ones, are life-destroying. You don''t know that. Do you understand? That state of mind that makes all students look like geniuses. I thought it was a kind of psychological warfare. That''s why at the Center Exam, I show off a lot of red books and drown everyone around me in fear. By the way, the high school entrance exam shortened my life span by two years. I''m going to shorten it by eight years for the center exam. It''s really depressing to have to fight again for an exam that I never want to take again. How much easier it would be if I could just melt in the heat of the kotatsu and evaporate. I''ve never been so jealous of my sister who meditates like a comforting cat. Oh, I hate exams. So, how are things lately? ''What''s''? ''Already. You know what I''m talking about. What''s going on with you and Alina? There''s nothing here. If I may say so, the idea you gave me, ''Operation Helping Hands in Club Activities,'' was recently completed. ''Wow. Surprisingly, you''ve continued. So, how''s your love life going? ''No, I don''t.'' No way. You''re an alien without feelings. I have feelings for Alina. But I know the answer when I tell it to her. And because of the nature of my relationship with Alina, I shouldn''t tell her. To help her. This is the one thing that connects me to Alina. If we go beyond this relationship, it will be because of my ego. It would not have been a source of relief for Alina''s suffering. I don''t know if I will regret this, okay? ''Humans are made to regret. It''s because they have unlimited desire. ''You don''t have to be so formal, just say one word. If I were to say it like you do, I''d say ''love transcends theory''. ''Wow, Ugin-chan, you''re a chuunibyou! ''I want to punch you in the face, that stupid face. My sister threw a mandarin orange at me with a stern look in her eye, and it landed with a strike to my face. Aki is probably in the middle of studying for the center exam, and I''ve stopped talking to her recently because I thought it would put too much pressure on her if I cheered her up badly. Aki is a good senior who fits well with me, so I sometimes want to chat with her. But I miss her very much because she will be gone from this high school in a few months. It''s not that I won''t be able to see them anymore, but I feel like there will be a big gap between us when we lose our common status as high school students. I won''t be able to enter into the world of seniors. I still miss them. It seems that winter cools the hearts of people. The enthusiasm of the school festival has vanished into the distance. On the way to school, snow started to fall. There was no wind, so it fell gently and vertically. By the time I get to school, my shoulders and head will be white. I tuck my face into my scarf and breathe out to keep warm. Oh, I hate winter. It kills me. The tip of my nose hurts. As I was muttering this complaint in my head, I was patted on the head from behind. When I turned around, I saw that it was Arina Hiba. ''......'' Oh, it''s terrible to ignore the quintessence. I paid you because you were about to have a brain freeze as big as walnut. ''What''s packed in there besides those walnuts?'' ''It''s hollow. ''You''ve got a head that could make a nice sound if you hit it, my head. Alina also looked cold and blushed with the tip of her nose and cheeks. It was so cute. Alina is always so tense, but sometimes she shows us her innocent face like a little girl, which makes our heart beat faster. Please don''t do that. I thought she was a tsundere too. Forgive me for sounding like an old man. She seems to be fighting the cold with a scarf around her neck. Then I noticed Alina''s legs. ''Black tights, cloaked in winter, black pearls. ''Terrible haiku''. ''High school girls like black tights. I like them too.'' ''It''s so gross, you''ll die a million times.'' We go to school shoulder to shoulder in that kind of tension. We''re silent. I don''t know about Alina, but it was awkward. I try to think of something to say. But I can''t think of anything to say. If I''m going my usual pace, I can crack a joke right away, but I''m too nervous to talk. Nervous about what? You don''t even have to ask yourself that. I glance to the side. Alina''s profile. Her well-defined features. I was struck by her pink cheeks, which were slightly tinted. Her long eyelashes were so delicate and beautiful. Her mouth moved and I came to myself. I turned back to myself. ''Didn''t I spy on your friend before? ''Oh, yeah. ......'' ''How was it? How did you two do? ''He said he was saved. Makoto said to you, ''Thank you so much. I''m sorry I bothered you. ''Oh, that''s boring. If you had taken a picture in selfie mode, it would have been an interesting turn of events. ''That inadvertent cruelty.'' Well, after leaving the all-you-can-eat sweets store, Alina and Shirana left me behind. I remember standing there by myself. I never asked what happened to them. And I don''t intend to. I walked through the school gate and flapped my uniform to remove the snow before entering the school building. He throws his shoes into the shoe box. At the same time, my phone vibrates, and I pull it out of my pocket and open the screen. What? A spy photo? ''Idiot. I''m a gentleman. The photo gallery is all from the British Museum (big lie).'' It was a message from Hakuna. I open it, wondering what is going on so early in the morning. And my sleepiness was gone in an instant. You look like a frozen Ice Age mammoth. What''s wrong? I stiffen. Alina leaned closer and looked at my phone. ''What? You''re saying this is--'' Alina was genuinely upset. I went beyond plain and stopped thinking. I reached a state of selflessness that almost made me feel like Buddha. I really like comets. Will you meet me after school today? I really like comets. That one short sentence was unmistakably a message from Shirana Namiki. 59-a feeling for you... ''a......aaa......aaa'' I''m too scared to leave the classroom. In fact, I''m afraid to get up from my desk. I hold my head to protect it from the bullets whizzing through the air. The reason was a message I received from Hakuna this morning. It was a confession to me. I tried to decipher "I really like comets" in every possible way. I doubted the hidden true meaning, the typos, Caesar''s cipher, the punishment game, and so on, forgetting my naivete. But it never made sense. In the past, when Shirana came out to me in a way similar to a confession, I felt awkward, but not this time. I was not upset because at that time she said ''I liked her'' in the past tense. No, I was. It was hard to talk about it. I could interpret it as ''I don''t like him now'', so after a while I was back to normal. I''m confused by the fact that he likes me up front. I can''t sort out my feelings. If he wants me to see him, I have no choice but to go see him. I have no reason to refuse, but if I refuse, Shirana will be hurt. That''s why I''ll go see her. I can say with certainty. The question is what kind of answer I''ll bring. ''a......a......a......a......a......a......a......a......a......a......a......a......a......a......a......a......a ''Comet, come back ...... come back ......! A familiar voice came into my ears as I was staring at my desk with my head in my hands. ''Oh, you mean ......''. ''What''s wrong with you? You don''t look right. You looked like a Ghibli''s Kaonashi. ''Thank you ...... my vocabulary temporarily reverted to that of a baby ...... I dread to think if you hadn''t called my name ......'' ''Dooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! With a cheerful voice, he gave me a chop on the top of my brain and smashed my face into the desk. I thought I was going to break my nose. ''This isn''t like a comet. Eh? Standing next to Makoto was Niwadatsuru, a modest gal with the top brains in her grade. She put her hands on her hips and smiled a loathsome smile of delight. Thank you very much. That chop wiped out nine years of my memory, Mr. Tsuru. Now I can''t do arithmetic anymore. ''Sorry about that. ''Dooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo. Is this what I think it is? BOOM! The sound of destruction. It''s the sound of my face cratering as it collides head-on with the desk with a level of kinetic energy that would make a crater. A chop that was incomparable to that of a crane hit me hard. Ideeeeeeeee! It''s going to crack my head open! I can crack it! ''Thank goodness. I knew I was right to call Alina. ''I doubt it. Not good! Makoto, Tsuru, and Alina appeared next. ''What the hell is wrong with you guys! If you want to split a watermelon, do it in a bathing suit! Why are you in uniform! And it''s not the beach, it''s the classroom! It''s absolutely fascinating--'''' Boom! ''Koro, suki, ki-ka--'' ''Tell me what''s bothering you, comet. ''Yes, yes. I''ll help you since you helped me at the festival, okay?'''' Unexpectedly warm words. But I had no intention of relying on them. Since this was between me and Hakuna, I thought it would be a nuisance to ask them for advice. I was very glad that they were concerned. ''No, I can''t rely on you guys. ......'' ''What? Anything you say, comet. ''I''m sorry about the unforeseen circumstances, well, this is something I can''t discuss with you. ...... ''Hey, hey, hey, hey, are you sure you''re okay? Tsuru squatted down, looked into my face and said so. If you don''t feel well, I''ll take you to the infirmary, okay? ''''Oh. That sounds like it would be a fun infirmary. Boom! Boom! ''Alina, please ...... give me a break ...... crack it open ...... crab miso coming out ...... '' ''Stand up.'' What? ''Stand up.'' I did as I was told and stood up. Then Alina forcefully took my hand and started to walk away. ''Whoa, whoa, whoa, wait a minute, Alina. Your grip is too strong! It''ll break! Earth-shattering! Who''s the kidnapper? ''Shut up.'' Tsuru and Makoto were stunned. Their mouths gaping open, their eyes fixed on me as I was being kidnapped. Well, that''s what happens. I don''t get it either. I followed the familiar route down the hallway and stairs. All the while I was helpless, like a son being pulled by his mother. This woman is too powerful. We arrive in front of the rose garden, the former staff room. The rose garden is practically gone. Alina no longer needs it, and the group is dissolved by mutual consent, even though it will be sadly missed. So why did she come back? Alina put her hand on the door. She thought it was locked, but it opened normally. Dr. Akakusa, make sure you lock the door ....... So I was thrown out of the former rose garden. Are you going to dismantle me or something ......? It ain''t good to eat, ......! He did not react to any of my jokes. Instead, Alina moved in close, grabbed my tie, and stuck her face out at me. What do you say? ''Kahi! My neck!'''' What do you say back to Shirana? Alina looked somewhat impatient. ''I don''t know ...... what the answer is,'' she said. ''You. Do you like Shirana? Do you like Shirana Namiki or not? I don''t dislike her, in fact I like her. I think she''s cute, she has a kind personality, and I want to protect her. I have known her since junior high school, so she is more special than other girls. Maybe she is a kind of ideal for boys. ''I don''t know if I love ......'' ''So you''re going out with him?'' ''Wait, why are you going after it so hard? Also, my neck is tight--gasp.'' I''m sorry," Alina muttered quietly and removed her hand from his tie. ''I told you before. ''? ''If you go out with me, I''ll disappear.'' ''Ahhh ......'' I told you. It was after the festival, I think. Ugin asked me what I would do if Arina got together with someone else, and later I told her to her face that I would leave her if she got together with someone else, so don''t worry about making love to her. In response, Alina likewise made it clear that she would leave if I went out with someone else. I remember laughing to myself, thinking that it was like a contest to see who could get together with whom faster. I was surprised that this casual remark was still in effect, but most of all I was shocked that Alina was so concerned about it and questioned me about it. She was asking me what I would do if I went out with her. Even a dullard like me can understand that. I remember now. You said something like that. ......'' ''Yeah, right? So, if you go out with me, as you say, I can stay away from you?'' ''You said that, but ...... well, yes. It''s a normal sensibility to not want someone of the same s*x to approach you once you''re in a relationship. ......'' ''I knew you would receive Shirana''s feelings ......?'' ''I''ll take it, but I haven''t decided to go out with you yet. ......? But if there''s a good chance we''re going to be together, we need to be clear about that. For both of our sakes ......'' It''s a rare human thing to say, I muttered a joke in my heart, even under the circumstances. Because the woman with a sharp tongue was holding my skirt, looking away from me with her eyes downcast and her gaze fixed on the lower left corner. I have to come up with a joke to drown out this initial and embarrassing feeling. ''What am I supposed to do ......? '' ! You gutless! Decide for yourself!'' Most definitely. If it makes sense to follow your heart, the answer is already there. I don''t know if there''s a right answer to our love lives. In the first place, there is no right or wrong. Who goes out with whom, who dumps whom? There is no answer. There is only one. If I can say it clearly, love is a very selfish, horrifying, yet very fragile and beautiful communication. If you are willing to be a part of that beautiful scene, you might as well try. You only live once in high school. Only one encounter and one parting. Now is the time to shed some light on the life of the corrupt homecoming club. I can''t answer for Shirana''s feelings because I love Alina. I felt alive. 60-ShowMeWhoYouReallyAre... On our way back to the classroom, we bumped into Tsuru in the hallway. ''Oh, he''s back. ''Hey. ''Hmm? What''s up, Alina? Alina, who was walking a little behind me, looked unusually absent-minded and as if half of her soul had been drained out of her. I could see the cause, but I had no idea that it would affect her so much. ''Oh, no, I''m fine. ''Hmm? What''s wrong? Take the comet.'' ''Tsuru-kun, listen to me. This thing actually took out my kidney. Boom. He''s going to sell it in Southeast Asia. ''How can you stand there so nonchalantly ......'' ''Cause I''m still basking in the afterglow of the general anesthesia. He''ll probably go crazy around midnight. I''m going to record it and post it on YouTube. ''So, what''s the truth? You don''t seem bothered by it anymore, but did you get it all sorted out?'''' He glances at Alina. Noticing his gaze, she blatantly looks away. ''Oh. Alina gave me some advice. I''m all right now. Thanks for taking the time to worry about me. ''No, no. I hope it''s resolved. Makoto picked up our voices and came out of the classroom. ''Oh, it''s a comet! Don''t say ''sewage. Don''t put ''O'' in front of my name. You don''t have to be a psychologist anymore because you''ve already solved your problem. ''No, my dream is to be a chef. ......'' Anyway, my problem is solved. Thanks for worrying about me, both of you. They seemed unexplained. I would have reacted the same way if I were in their shoes. It''s natural to wonder what happened when a cursed child suddenly returns to normal. I''m sure they realize that I''m subtly avoiding the "what" part of the story. I think it''s cowardly or obnoxious. I''m anticipating that and I''m confronting them. Don''t pursue it any further. Without so much as a ''bye'', Alina and I return to our respective classrooms. I take a breath and turn my pen. After a while, the classroom started shaking. No, no. It was my shaking. (What the hell did I just say? ) The earth-shaking cries of the heart were transmitted to the classroom in the form of a poor shaking. I had no time to even joke with Makoto, who was staring at me with a serious face, and I writhed in my body, which was burning with shame. I felt like scratching my whole body, a feeling of ''I''ve f*cked up'' that I had no place to go. (The biggest mistake of my life. ......) A few minutes ago. ''I can''t answer for Shirana''s feelings because I love Arina Hiba. Time to stop. A moment later, everything stands still. And then the hands of the clock ticked, ''ah......'' She brought her hand to her mouth and murmured. I was shocked at what I had said. Why did she say it? At this point in time? Did you mean it? Another joke? Are you poking fun at her? You''re trying to be a bachelor, right? You like Alina? That woman with the tongue? You don''t like Shirana? Are you kidding me? An endless list of question marks. I feel like I''m about to boil with shame and regret. Immediately, I made a joke again. And, oh dear! That''s why I can''t accept the courtship of 3.5 billion women! Oh, no, because, you know what? Wait, wait, wait! When I said I liked Arina Hiba, I was talking about the other angelic and gentle Arina Hiba, and I never--'''' ''......'' ''Hey, hey, hey, hey, stop jiggling! Arina at the school festival! Come out!'''' The outburst could no longer be stopped. ''...... so''. ''...... yes'' Heavy. Too heavy. Isn''t the gravity five times heavier just at my feet? Cold sweat moistened my back, and a drop of uncomfortable sweat trickled down my back. It was an unmistakable confession. It wasn''t that I had made up my mind before or that I had a desire to go out with Alina. This does not mean that I do not like Alina. In fact, I like her. I feel like I say that all the time. That''s why I was surprised that it came out of my mouth. It came out so easily, as if I was being manipulated. ''You ...... know what happened to the guy who confessed to me, don''t you? ''No, I know you know, but don''t take me seriously! I''m just another ant--'''' Know your place. You''re an ugly little maggot, you''re a worm, you''re a worm of death. Do you think you can keep me company? Do you enjoy living? I''ll take you to the health department as vermin.'' It''s Alina, the normal girl. She crosses her arms and gives me a sharp look. I feel relief. Am I turning into a masochist? What a humiliation. First of all, I don''t want to see Alina blushing and ''...... pouting'', and if I did, I''d have a hard time reacting to it. So. So you''re not going to confess to Shirana. I''m glad you''re relieved from your agony. ''Oh, oh ...... I think I can manage ......'' ''Okay, I''m going back. Oh, and, uh... If you tell anyone that I kidnapped you or anything, I''ll throw all your organs in the ocean. ''Nutritious organs that can cause a red tide, you know?'' He turned his head to the side and strode out of the rose garden. I thought he was going to give me a follow-up comment, but he didn''t say anything. And here we are. (Oh ......, seriously, what am I saying? ......) I want to forget. I want to drink so much tomato juice that I can''t even remember who I am anymore. So I took a glass of tomato juice out of my bag and downed it in one gulp. It''s a good thing that I can dispose of the paper carton of tomato juice in the trash in the classroom. No, I don''t care about that to the death. It''s just a matter of the immediate future. I have to answer back to Shirana. But in the corner of my mind I''m thinking... Can I really reject her?) It''s indecision at its worst. But the fact that I had such a thought was so highlighted that it was hard to make a leg up on it. But I''ve just come up with a solution. No one wants a relationship born out of pity, not even Hakuna. I opened my phone''s contact list and tapped ''Hakuna Namiki. Hello, this is Hakuna. It''s a comet. Where do you want to meet after school?'' ''...... former staff room'' ''Eh--'' Boom. He hung up. Ex-staff room. He said it clearly. I was upset that he chose the ex-barbers'' garden. He said he was going to meet me at the former rose garden, where I had just been. Why did he choose that place in this big high school? And I wonder if he doesn''t hate it. This is where I used to hang out with Alina. I wonder if you have any resistance to a place where the person you love was friends with girls other than yourself. I can''t see the future any more. 61-Then, Shirana Namiki takes a step forward.... Shirana designated the former teacher''s office, or former rose garden. My steps toward the former rose garden were very heavy, and I stopped and made a U-turn many times. This suspicious movement would be a target of arrest by motorcycle policemen. I don''t know why I chose the rose garden.) There are many places where we can be alone, but I think he chose the rose garden because of his connection to Alina. I know that Alina didn''t put something in my head, and I know that she is not the kind of person who would meddle in someone''s love life. That''s why I guessed that her choice of the Rose Garden, which was a space only for me and Alina, implies that she is challenging Alina. It may not be a challenge, but it is definitely a statement of some sort to me. I can''t deny that I was smug. But I couldn''t think of anything else. I stopped by the store for the first time in a while. The girls of the sports club are at war again today. Mainly in the bread section. The bread I''m looking for is now behind the wall of women''s bodies they''ve built. I remember that I was treated like a pervert by the cranes when I made a suicide attack before. As I recall, that was the first time I exchanged words with cranes. As I reminisce about such things, the bread is gradually being consumed. Like a lion devouring its entrails. This corner is now reduced to ribs. Can''t Uncle Jam just move in here? Hold a bake sale. ''You, I see you around after school. Do you want this? A loaf of bread offered to me. I moved my gaze from arm to shoulder as if tracing it, and looked at the owner of the voice. Hmmm...a girl I don''t know. She is of average height, and her thin wrists indicate that she is slender. She has a light chestnut-colored short bob, which at first glance makes you think that she is a lively girl, but her sleepy, half-open eyes make your judgment erroneous. She would be cute if she smiled. However, she seems to be out of her mind. ''Hello, that''s very kind of you. How much do I owe you? ''Seventy thousand.'' ''Aha! Astronomical numbers! He tilts his head to show some reaction, but the corners of his mouth do not rise at all. No. He''s not my type. I mean, the joke doesn''t work. I mean, why me? I''m soooo sorry, but I don''t know you, and I don''t know you. ...... Have we met somewhere?'' ''We haven''t met. I just thought I''ve seen you around a lot. ''So you''re one of the warriors fighting for bread ......?'' ''Maybe he''s the thief.'' ''''What do you mean?'''' ''The moment the winner heads to the cash register, he''s robbing you. ''Wow ...... what a guilty pan ......''. I politely declined. He assured me that he had paid for it, but I, with a pure heart, recognized that it had become something unclean, so I raised my hand and refused to accept it. Then, like a snake, he approached me. The distance between us was only a few dozen centimeters. Don''t you have any personal space? ''Ahhh. You must be the comet. ''Yes. I am Comet Sakakiki. Why me? ''What a coincidence. What''s that? ''To unexpectedly, coincidentally, and unexpectedly run into the love of a cute junior...'' ''? Pretty junior? Who are you referring to? I mean, time is running out. I''m sure Shirana''s already in the rose garden. I didn''t want to keep her waiting, but coming to the stall was a serious contradiction in terms. It''s her. Hakuna Namiki. I think she''s in the same grade as you. What? ''I''m a third-year student. Comet? ''You''re a senior? ...... You never know, do you?'' ''You''re upset. What''s going to happen now?'' ''We''re going to save the Earth. A meteorite 500 meters in diameter will fall in a few hours. ''Yes, yes, Shirana is right, you are a strange man. I see. You''ve finally made up your mind. ''Wait a minute. The context is so wild that I can''t figure out where my senpai stands. ...... if he''s a god?'' The mysterious senior gave one big yawn. He looks really sleepy. Sorry, sorry. I''m sleepy. Oh well. I''m Kozue. Kozue. ''Pleased to meet you. Kazawaguchi-senpai? It''s an unusual name. Google the kanji. I understand. I''ll take that as--'' I took a natural step back and tried to leave. But Kazawaguchi-senpai did not stop the conversation. What do you think of Shirana-chan? ''I don''t know how to say it, but I think ...... he''s a cute guy.'' ''''That''s it?'''' ''Yes. I think he''s a cute guy. ''Oh, no. Don''t you have a girl you like?'' ''Wait, what? That''s a sudden leap, isn''t it! ''What do you think? ''Oh no, I don''t have ......''. ''Oh, you''re that type? I''m sorry, I''m just not that careless...'' I love girls. Don''t look at me like a girl staring at a BL.'' ''I''m sorry. I think it''s ideal. ''That''s why I''m a fag. ''Shirana and comet couple. It''s a gut punch. Kazawaguchi-senpai, do you want me and Shirana to get together? It seems that there is a burning love for the younger students that is not apparent from their sleepy expressions. Wahahaha. I think it''s a good idea. Wahaha-ha-ha. ''''So you want to go out with me?'''' ''Kazawaguchi-senpai. Has Shirana told you anything?'' ''Well, I''ll get to the bottom of it. I''m so sleepy. So I guess you know a little bit about Shirana calling me. Then I''ll go. You know what''s going on, don''t you? ''Fluff. Yeah.'' Then we''re done. I have something to do. This time I turned my back and walked away. ''Hey! Do you like Alina-chan? ''Gah! What is this out of the blue? '' I had to react to the shocking words that roared from behind me. ''Isn''t that right? ''Why would you do that! ''Think about what I meant when I said that. Geez. See you later. Kazawaguchi-senpai disappeared, shaking a piece of bread in one hand. ''It''s a new kind of crook. ......It might be on the level of Alina. ......'' I run up the stairs and down the hallway I used to frequent. All the while, I thought nothing of it. It was because of a mysterious senior student, Kazawaguchi-senpai, who had suddenly encountered me. I was bothered by the relationships swirling in my blind spot. Former teacher''s office. The staff room that lost its name. I put my hand on the door and opened it. Alina had removed the many flowers from the room, and the tidy desks and chairs that were the last remnants of our time here were still in the same permanent arrangement as the day we left. Shirana was sitting where Alina used to sit, her shoulders tense. When she saw me, she stood up awkwardly with impatience in her eyes. ''Hey--oh, comet. You came. ...... ''''You have my word.'''' Cutting conversation. It makes me feel itchy and nervous. ''......'' ''......'' I took a seat directly in front of her, just as Alina had been. Shirana turned her head slightly to the side and looked up at me with a faint reddish tint on her face as if she had made up her mind to do so, ''Um,...... I like comets,...... like comets,......'' 62-< My friend is a joke. Yes, the joker. Comet Sakakiki is a joker. I don''t think he ever runs out of jokes. He must have a stock like a bottomless swamp. This strange man was the first friend I made in high school. It was a glorious April when the cherry blossoms were in full bloom. I watched from the school gate as the new students were led into the school building by the seniors. As a new student at this new high school, I too was filled with hope for a wonderful high school life. But I was also filled with anxiety. It was because of the class list that had just been posted. I found my name and looked through the names of my classmates, but none of them were my friends from junior high school. It would have been easier if I had known even one of them, but unfortunately, I had never met them all before. I wondered if I would get along with them. The seed of anxiety is still lingering in my mind. I wandered around with the map of the school handed to me. The school buildings are different from those of junior high school. Finally, I arrived at the school. I arrived at the school, but I realized that it took a lot of courage to take a step into the classroom. As I peeked into the classrooms, as I had expected, I found a few small groups of students talking in small clusters. Of course, some of them were tidying up their surroundings, but I was getting more and more anxious. I wondered if I would be able to make it ......?) That''s all I have to say. But we are going to spend a year in this class. Standing still won''t make any difference. I tried to keep my composure as I entered the classroom and checked the seating chart on the blackboard. The seats were in order of name, and I was usually in the center of the classroom. I turned around and looked at my seat. There was a boy sitting next to me on the left side of the table with three cans of tomato juice on the table with a mysterious expression on his face. (The fourth can!?!!). The boy reached into his handbag on his desk and took out another tomato juice. He made a nice sound and popped it into his mouth. He moved his larynx up and down and gulped it down. I turned around again and checked his name in the class list. Comet Sakakiki. Sakaki, Sui? No. No, no, no, no. I also checked my seat again and found that it was next to this strange comet Sakakiki. (It''s hard to go to ......) That''s what people call an "oddball. I think he is the type of person who does not understand some common sense. I was so absorbed in him that I did not notice the presence of a female student who was standing beside me. She seemed to be checking her seat. Then she turned around and said, "Ah! I gave a shout. He ran out and headed for the tomato juice high school student. Comet! You''re in the same class!'''' ''What a coincidence. There are five classes, but I never thought we''d be together. I feel the artifice of the teachers. ......'' ''Hey. Nice to meet you.'' Is it a boyfriend-girlfriend relationship? If so, they must be very happy. I went to my seat with heavy feet like I was stuck in a swamp, because it would be weirdly conspicuous if I stayed in front of the blackboard any longer, although it was still hard to go there. ''So, hey, wait a minute, comet. How many tomato juices did you drink? ''Seven bottles.'' ''''What about the other three?'''' ''I drank it on my way to school.'' ''You''ll die from too much salt. ......'' ''I''m fine. I trust my sister. (Is this guy a bakkemon? ......! (You''ve been drinking too much!) I shoved my pencil case and notebooks into my desk, screaming in my mind. I don''t have much since I haven''t gotten my textbooks yet. So I was in trouble because it was obvious that this work would be over soon. Should I stay in this seat or go to the restroom and leave? The air that clings to my skin is so uncomfortable that it feels foreign. I decided to go to the restroom, including a walk around the school, and was about to stand up. I was about to stand up when a girl, Comet Sakakiki''s girlfriend (?), who was swaying her skirt by my side, came up to me and asked me if I wanted to go to the restroom. started talking to me. Takane, is your name Makoto-kun? He stretched his head and looked at the piece of paper with my name written on it, which was stuck on the left side of the desk. ''Uh-huh. I stuttered at the promptness of his voice. My name is Shirana Namiki. I''m looking forward to working with you for a year! At that moment, I saw her as an angel. I felt a burst of freshness, as if the world was opening up to me, and I felt saved. Oh, by the way, I''m Comet Sakakiki. Let''s be neighbors. Comet Sakakiki introduced himself in a very natural way, shaking a can. What''s this? You seem more normal than my first impression. I breathed a sigh of relief and said, ''Takane Makoto. Nice to meet you too,'' I said. The hallway began to buzz with activity. Leaning my back against the corridor wall, students were staring at our blind spots. What is it? Is something wrong? Shirana raised her eyebrows and muttered. ''That''s it, isn''t it? Maybe some students started to take off their clothes. Considering the number of students in this freshman class, it wouldn''t be surprising if there was at least one person with an extreme proclivity for exposure.'''' ''It''s the comet''s head that''s crazy. ......'' The three of us stood up and peeked out the door to see the center of the crowd. There was a girl in the corner of their gazes. She was approaching with a school map in her hand and her shoes clacking. ''Wohee soooo beautiful JK''. Comet Sakakiki reading from a stick. ''Yes, that''s right. Shirana Namiki, puffing out her cheeks in agreement. If I had to describe this schoolgirl in one word, it would be "art. She stands tall and slender, with long, delicate, shiny hair. She has a beautiful face that is not like that of a doll-like creature. Her jewel-like eyes were like galaxies. She is really beautiful, isn''t she? If she becomes a model, she''ll sell like hotcakes. I''m curious about the name. Maybe she really is the daughter of an actress? ''Which one, let''s follow them. Comet Sakakiki, Shirana Namiki, and I formed a line in that order and followed the beautiful girl. The beautiful girl entered the next class next door. The boys in that class were lucky. To tell the truth, I envied them a lot. When I looked into the classroom, I did not need to look for her, she stood out. She had the undivided attention of the class. If you could visualize the eyes of the students, you''d probably see a line of concentration. Hiwa? You say your name is Arina Hiwa. That name sounds more and more like an actress. Comet Sakakiki looked at the blackboard and the seat where Arina Hiba was sitting alternately and blurted out. At this moment, I had a great impression of Arina Hiba. To be frank, it was love at first sight. I could feel my heart beating so fast it was painful. I was so nervous that I thought the two people who were standing beside me had heard me. As the months passed by, I couldn''t help but notice Hinoh. I got used to my classmates and became the most talkative person with Comet. My first impression of Comet, that he was a "weirdo," remains unchanged, but I can see more of him now than I did at first. He was not a member of any group, nor did he stay out of the circle of others. I think he is good at organizing relationships. I joined the badminton club. I had played badminton in junior high school, so I decided to continue playing in high school. Comet, on the other hand, never seemed to join the club temporarily or observe any club activities, and he was always away after school. He is sometimes seen fighting at the store. ''Comet doesn''t join the club? I asked this to Comet, who was playing with canned tomato juice in a triangle shape during his lunch break. As is well known, Comet is a tomato juice addict. He asked me to call him ''tomato addict'' but I have never said it. And I never will. I''m not ashamed to say it. It''s in there. ''What? Where is it! Comet''s mouth tightened and he snapped his fingers. ''I''m a homecoming boy. (It ain''t a club activity. ......) I thought it was a joke as usual, but from my analysis of his past, I know it''s an undeniable fact. I thought you and Shirana were going to join the tennis club, but you''re not. Why did you think I would choose to go with Shirana? ''''Well, aren''t you two dating?'''' ''Makoto-kun. I''m a man who has decided to remain a bachelor. The seat next to mine will remain empty for the rest of my life. Not for anyone. I won''t let anyone sit next to me. Do you know why? ''''No.'''' ''They make you sit on the money. I''m not going to let people sit on it. Oh, may God send down the punishment on this man. I secretly wished to God. I pity her. I knew intuitively how she felt from the day she entered the school. Only he knows if he is aware of his feelings toward her, but I thought it was a little cruel that he didn''t show even the slightest casual answer to her. It may be that he is really unaware of her feelings. Even if that is the case, he should show some reaction for Shirana''s sake, even if it is just a little. Otherwise, she will not be rewarded. So, so, so.... Who''s ''who'' smiling in the flower garden in Makoto''s head?'' ''Giggle''. ''Is that the sound of a broken femur?'' No, no, no. ''You like Alina Hiba a lot, don''t you? Hmmm. Isn''t that right? Alina Hiba is the ultimate in beauty. It''s inevitable to fall in love with her, isn''t it?'''' What the hell? What''s wrong with you? ''At all? I''m just looking out for you as a friend. You''ve heard the rumors. I mean, it''s true. Alina Hiba had a tongue. It would be funny if her tongue was meant to make fun of others, but hers was a real tongue that tried to humiliate others. She would thoroughly show her fangs to any student who came close to her and drive them away. She was supposed to be an idol of the school, but now she is a problem child of the school. ''I''m listening ...... I''ve seen the scene too ......'' I was also peeking in on them in my spare time to imitate espionage activities, but no, that''s terrible. The boys were clutching their chests and falling down one after another. You have a disgusting face," "You have dirty fingers. I''m going to throw up." "Why is there a bipedal pig? They say it without reservation. I guess I put too much status on looks and brains. God should have thought about that a little. ''Rumors of Hiwa are awesome. ......'' The Toxic Rose girl with a poisonous tongue. rose The term "the world" is becoming a cloak for the word. Still, my feelings have not cooled down. Day by day, my feelings grew bigger and bigger. 63-< Unforgettable June 12. Rumors of Hinoha are growing in number. Numerous tongues and outbursts. There was even a small fan club that took note of them and made a list of them, and Hinata''s popularity showed no signs of waning. Alina Hiba is a good looking girl and her grades are always in the top 10. Despite these qualities, she refuses to interact with others as if she is trying to crush them, creating an invisible barrier. The boys, however, still managed to talk to her, eager to get close to her. But heckling and scorn were the order of the day. So I don''t think Nichiha has any friends. ''What''s wrong? Shirana spoke to me during a short break. ''I''m having a hard time. I thought it was a cowardly thing to say. It sounded like he was insisting that we should care. ''...... you mean Alina?'' ''! ''Oh, no, I just thought it was something like that, uh, ......''. ''It''s okay. I''m aware of it too. ......'' I thought love at first sight is something that naturally recedes, but two months have passed and to this day, I still like Alina. The most painful thing is that I can''t even talk to the person I like. It''s too hard to keep my feelings inside my heart in agony every day. I felt like I was being crushed. Maybe I was close to my limit. It is cruel to think that this will continue for the rest of my life. Can I help you ......? However, we already know the solution. However, I already know the solution, but I could not make up my mind. ''I don''t know if Shirana can do this once and for all. ......It''s totally my problem. ......'' ''I see. ...... Why don''t you talk to Comet about it?'' He glances in the direction of the comet. They had changed seats and Comet had been relegated to the back row by the window. He seemed to be looking out the window with a glass of tomato juice in his hand. ''No, ...... it''s all right. Comet is a joking fellow, but he can be tricky because he sometimes gets to the heart of the matter. So I trust him. Even so, there is nothing Comet can do about it. I should confess. I know the result is obvious, but it''s the only way I can make it go away. Don''t stand still and dawdle forever. All right! I''ve decided! ''What, what, what? What is it all of a sudden? I stood up with a clatter and steeled myself. I''m going to confess! I had meant to say it loud enough for Shirana to hear, but it seemed to have echoed quite a bit, and several people in the class stared at me in shock. Shirana''s eyes were blinking and she didn''t seem to grasp what was going on. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Comet grinning at me. He gave me a gut-punch and praised me. Looking back, I think he was just making fun of me. I left the classroom, forgetting about the remaining recess time. Some of my classmates followed me like little birds chasing their parents, but I completely ignored them and walked quickly down the corridor. I passed one classroom and went to the one where Hinoh was. The door was fully opened, so I quickly entered and quickly found Hinoh. She was reading. She seemed to be quietly gliding her eyes over the text, paying no attention to me who had brought a flock of students with me. I made a beeline for Hinoh in the shortest distance possible. With every step I took, the artistic beauty of Alina Hiba stood out. Every detail was beautiful. There was a beauty there as delicate and refined as glasswork. I was somewhat in awe of this other-dimensional existence. I even felt like I was living in a different world. Untouchable, I guess you could say. I don''t know, maybe I was influenced by the comet too much, but it made me say strange words. Hinoh continues reading as if I''m not there. She seems to have shut herself off from the outside world. I summoned all the courage I had ever had in my life and called out her name. Mr. Hiu. I wonder if I pronounced it correctly. My heart began to beat wildly, and my ears began to burn. With a slam, Hinoh closed the paperback with both hands and stared into my eyes with her jewel-like twin eyes. Let''s be honest for the second time. I really like you. Here I knew I had made a serious mistake. I had not thought of my confession. I came here on the spur of the moment, and it was my fault. I don''t think I''ve ever had my head on a swivel more than it was at this moment. I thought so hard that I lost all sense of time. I wonder how many times I went through my entire vocabulary. And then I opened my mouth. I fell in love with you at first sight and I still love you. I''ve been waiting for the right moment to talk to you...'' ''Oh, it''s so long, so loud, I feel nauseous. Can you please get out of my classroom? I feel a leech crawling up my spine. I told you not to look at me. Disgusting. It''s a sight for sore eyes, to say the least. Go away. I heard a glass break. I thought Comet had dropped the glass filled with tomato juice, but I had only seen him drinking from a carton and a can. That''s the sound of my heart breaking. I wonder if the metaphor "glass heart" is because the sound of a broken heart resembles the sound of broken glass. At least I was made of glass. I wandered out into the hallway and returned to my seat like a zombie. I don''t remember. The next time I came to, I was in class. I thought I was going back in time. (Ugh, in death. ......) It was real. The agony of having my heart clutched in my throat slowly tightened its grip on me. With one eye on the comet, he raised his eyebrows and showed his teeth. With a thumbs-up. Don''t worry! Maybe that''s what he''s trying to tell you. I had no energy left to respond. That same day, I took a day off from club activities. I left right after school because I was sick. When I crossed the kiosk, Comet was again being squeezed by a wave of female club members, trying to win a loaf of bread. At that time, I envied his easygoingness. My heart was badly damaged (half destroyed), but I felt better as a result. I feel a sense of freedom as if a chain has been broken. The confession ended in a grand failure. I''m sure my classmates saw it that way. But in a way it was good for me. Because I am surrounded by a feeling of freedom that I did not have before June 12, when I fell in love with Alina at first sight and confessed my feelings to her. This was a great achievement. After that, my love life did not move on and the first year ended. During the class change, I was separated from Shirana and placed in the same class with Comet again. Comet said, ''Don''t tell me you have a crush on me ......? I joked. Even as a sophomore, Nippa''s solitary idol status remains unchanged. I''m not sure if it''s an aftereffect of Alina''s tongue, but I haven''t found someone I like since then. I was worried that I might be sick, but I have been calming myself down by watching comets. Because all he thinks about is tomato juice. I don''t have to think that I''m the only one who is in a peculiar psychological state. Sorry about the comet. The change happened in the fall of my sophomore year. There was a rumor that Comet Sakakiki and Arina Hiba had started dating. My head was filled with question marks and I couldn''t sleep that night. It seems that there are many kinds of tomato addicts. 64-selection ''...... so that''s what it was.'' When he once again expressed his love for me to my face, I was unable to respond in any other way than to clam up and give him a pathetic response. I had no experience in confession, so I didn''t know how to react in this situation, and my mind went blank reflexively. When did you start ......? ''...... since middle school. Ever since''. Heavy ....... I guess I was pretty stupid to think that they were good girlfriends. Many times I have wondered why Shirana cares about such a crazy person, but now I finally understand. At the same time, I realized that every little action of Shirana''s made sense. Every time she confessed her feelings to me, she asked me what she should do. She often asked me for advice about her future. She has asked me to join the tennis club to the point that it hurts my ears. When I told her that I was a single aristocrat, she would get depressed. The fact that he has been worrying about me more and more since I started to get involved with Alina. It all made sense. Everything was connected. And I was the most despicable person I had ever been. I treated her so badly. I think it''s as outrageous as ignoring someone who is waving her hands frantically. Ignorance is a sin. I was just a little shit. What''s the point of me? I''m a crappy person, if I do say so myself. For once I''m not joking. ''That''s not true. I know that. ''I really can''t ...... ''I know exactly what Comet has been doing behind your back. You took the initiative in carrying the luggage of a teacher who was on maternity leave, and you helped the committee that was understaffed at the junior high school festival without being asked to do so. ......'' ''I was able to do this because I was a homecoming club. Shirana. For me, Shirana is different from other girls because I''ve known her for a long time. That''s why. So, it''s a waste. I don''t like Shirana romantically. I can assure you that this is an undeniable fact. But it might have been possible. A future where I fall in love with her and we go out. But I''m not good enough for her. Fundamentally speaking, I''m an insecure and timid person. I like to joke around because I can avoid it easily, and because I am simply afraid to let the focus be on me. Claiming to be a bachelor is a kind of rejection. I make a "don''t get involved," a baton, to protect my constancy. That''s why I''m no good. ''...... but I fell in love with you! A heartbreaking lament. I have suffered too, but I know it is Shirana who has suffered the most. She doesn''t care about me. Have you ever seen her teary-eyed, as if she were about to burst into tears? I don''t remember her cheeks and neck flushed like that. But the choice is made. It is one of the fork in the road that she does not want to take. It was difficult for me to go out with her out of pity or out of hesitation that she might like me. Because I care about her. I don''t want to treat her like that. ''Shirana, I--'' ''Wait! He holds his chest and screams a little louder. I was startled by her voice, which was unusually loud for Shirana. ''Don''t tell me ......, I know. He covers his face with his hands and turns over. ''I knew that you liked ...... Comet Alina,'' he said. That''s not--'' ''It''s not different. I knew that when you were talking to Alina, you seemed to be enjoying yourself from the bottom of your heart. She said, ''Oh, you like her, don''t you? Comet really likes you. I realized that I couldn''t help it anymore. I''m sure Comet denies it, but I think Makoto-kun is aware of it too. ''...... No, but--'' So I''m giving up on Comet once and for all. I won''t let anything like this happen again, ever. Shirana looks up and gazes at me with fragile eyes, I actually liked Comet. It took me more than three years to tell you. ...... I''m sorry for bothering you! Bye! She ran out of the ex-rose garden with the back of her hand over her mouth. I wonder if I should have followed her at that time. I caught up with her, grabbed her shoulders and made her swing back, ''--'' He''s going to say something. But what? It was a blank space for me. Left in the former rose garden, I sat down with a thud in my chair like a broken thread. I think I understand why Alina brought flowers to this silent space. It''s certainly lonely. Inorganic, decadent, and cold. ''I don''t know anymore ......''. Welcome back, Ni-chan. ''Good morning ......'' I replied to my sister''s voice coming from the living room, ''Mom! I think all the screws are out of my brother''s head! I''ll go look for it! I ran to my room. I put down my bag, loosen my tie, and fall on my bed. ''ah......aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa '' He flailed about on the bed like a jittery, spoiled child. ''Nuwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa '' ''Shut up! I''m calling the police! He violently opened the door, and his sister gave him a near-threatening reprimand. Then it closes, and the footsteps of my sister move away. ''...... wwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! ''Brother. I''m seriously going to call the Chinese People''s Liberation Army.'' ''Make that the Self-Defense Forces. The next calmly replied to her sister, who reappeared. ''What did you do? What''s wrong? ''Nothing. There''s nothing here. ''You must have something. Say anything. ''Okay, no more "what" next time. I''m going to be an idiot.'' ''Why?'' ''D''oh, d''oh, d''oh, d''oh, d''oh, d''oh, d''oh! As if in response to my roar, my phone rang. My sister clucked, ''Oh dear,'' and went back to the living room this time. It was Alina calling. Why on earth would she call ....... again? Hello? Embassy of the Republic of Uganda. If you were well enough to tell jokes, you wouldn''t have to call. Pay the caller''s bill. ''I never thought that that cruel and inhumane dictator, Alina Hiba, was worried about me. ......'' ''Remember that when you see me at school tomorrow. "The number you have dialed is no longer in use... ''That''s so annoying. ......'' ''I teased you too much. I''m sorry. It''s unusual for you to call me out of the blue. "How was your day after school?" You''re talking about that out of the blue. ''...... before I could say no clearly, Shirana told me she was giving up.'' ''Eh.'' ''It''s just like you said. I give up. I said that and walked out of the rose garden. ......I regret so much that I could have said something more.'' Alina seemed crestfallen, and the call continued to make only a small noise. ''So ......'' ''Thanks for everything. For taking the trouble to call me. I''m not saying that... ''Tsundere doesn''t suit you.'' I don''t think so. Well, I''ll talk to you later. You don''t have to. ''Oh. Thanks. ''Yeah. I gotta go.'' Two Two Two ...... Then he collapsed again and sighed heavily. I feel like a dried-up fish. ''It''s been a tumultuous day: ......'' Kozue Kanazawaguchi. Shirana''s confession. Alina''s phone call. So many things have happened in a row, and I''m exhausted. My body complains that it wants to fall asleep, and my consciousness sinks below the surface. My fading ego whispered to me for the last time. Was it all right? I don''t know what that is. If you have an example of the first correct answer, tell me where to find it. I don''t want to think about it anymore. 65-the shudder of tomorrow... The next morning. It''s the morning of December 10th. I woke up to my mother''s call for dinner. I really hate winter mornings. I never have a good morning. The first thing I get fed up with when I wake up is that my joints don''t move properly. Next, cold air caresses my neck and ears as I get out from under the covers. It''s the worst. I want to sleep forever. Yesterday''s busy schedule has made this morning the worst in my history. Fatigue still clings to me like a sticky substance, and my body is as heavy as lead. Good morning. Wow, zombie. ......''. I envy my sister who is strong in the morning. I wonder why she never seems to sleep. What''s the difference when the blood is the same? ''Ahhh ...... I hate winter ......'' Take a seat and sip miso soup. Naturally, I always eat less in the morning because I have no appetite. All my organs are still resting. If I force it in, it stutters and goes back in. Winter break is twelve days away, and I haven''t thought of doing anything in particular. On the contrary, I don''t want to do anything. I want to stay home and rot and assimilate with the floor. We homo sapiens, who have so little hair on our bodies, are better off enjoying the benefits of science. Ugin seemed to be at ease since he had been accepted to the high school with a recommendation. For junior high school students who normally take entrance examinations, this is the time of the final push. What''s Ugin doing at school now that he''s practically finished taking the exam? ''Bekkyo''. ''Wow. I''d go to bed.'' I''d like to do something else too, but everyone around me is in intense study mode. I can''t.'' ''Oh, I think I know what you mean. ''Next year for you, brother. ''No more, no more, no more exams, no more, no more...'' ''Yes, yes. Thank you for dinner. Ugin sits up and puts away the dishes with her mother. I sipped my miso soup. I stare at the morning news and let the miso soup go down my esophagus. The sensation warms me from the inside out. I almost fall asleep every time I feel this sensation. I start to drift off to sleep with miso soup in my hand. My eyelids are unusually heavy. Ding-dong. What kind of idiot rings the intercom this morning. I''m grateful to you for driving away the sleepers, but seriously, don''t ring the intercom in the morning. It stops my heart. ''Oh, mom, it''s okay. I''ll get it. Ugin disappeared toward the front door. I was impressed that she could run so fast in the morning. Of course you have to get ready for school. It''s a little too obvious, but when you think about it, there''s a lot to do. First, you have to take off your pajamas. Then I have to put on my uniform. I have to brush my teeth, wash my face, and arrange my belongings. It''s all so tiring. I have to go to bed again. Hey, brother! As I was making my way with super-slow steps to my room, my sister stopped me. She comes flying towards me with a thudding sound that could destroy the house. My brother''s senpai is here! ''''Senpai?'''' The only senior I have any connection with is Aki-senpai, who is studying hard for the center exam. There''s no way she knows where I live, so I don''t think anyone named Senpai will visit me. ....... I walked to the front door with human-like walking speed and opened the door. Good morning. Comet. ''......Kasawaguchi-senpai? Why are you in my house? Kozue Kanzawaguchi, whom I met yesterday, was standing there looking sleepy. She is good friends with Shirana, and is the mysterious senior who knows the circumstances of her confession. How did she identify the Sakakiki family? He must not have used a credit agency. The only high school students who know where I live are my friends from the same junior high school. Hakuna? I know Shirana. Even if I did, would I tell you? ''Don''t be so careful. Come to school with me. ''I''m not religious. ''......?'' ''It''s no use if you''re trying to recruit people for a new religion. ......'' ''Okay, I''ll wait for you. Ignoring my humble refusal, Kanzawaguchi-senpai stood still and closed her eyes. I felt sorry for Kanzawaguchi-senpai, who would have been looked at curiously by the neighbors, so I had no choice but to go back to my room and change into my uniform. What in the world was this? It was yesterday. It must have something to do with Shirana. When I was ready, I went to the entrance and found Ugin standing there all ready to go. ''What''s the matter? Aren''t you going? ''I''m so proud of you as a sister ...... that your brother finally started dating .......'' ''No, we''re not dating. I don''t understand the situation either. We''ve barely met, okay? All I can smell is abnormality. ......'' ''I don''t want to intrude, so you can go first. I''ll leave later.'' ''Aiai ......'' I left the house with the misunderstanding unresolved. Kanzawaguchi-senpai stood motionless, his eyes closed as if time had stood still. You were really waiting for me. Please wake up, Kanzawaguchi-senpai. ''Nn. I''m so sleepy. ''Let''s just go. We''ll talk about it later.'' ''Mmmm.'' I''m still sleepy, too, but I think Kanzawaguchi-senpai is much more out of it than I am. I think he''s 90% asleep. I was impressed that he came to my house in such a condition, and I asked him a question from the front. How did you know where I live? ''Because I stalked you.'' I was horrified to see Kanzawaguchi-senpai openly reveal his criminal activities. This man is the real deal.) When I heard that Alina was being stalked, I was not really aware of the seriousness of the situation, but when I became a party to it, a victim, I didn''t realize how horrible it would be. ''I didn''t realize it was so ...... scary. ''Yes, it is. Zzzz...'' ''Please don''t sleep. I don''t want to carry you to school on my back.'' ''You look like a couple.'' ''Ha ha ha ......'' I don''t see what you''re talking about. They''re really going to school shoulder to shoulder. If anyone were to see them, rumors would start up again. I learned my lesson with Alina, so please don''t do it again. About Shirana. I dumped her. They''re here. I knew it. ''I guess so. ......'' ''That''s a terse response. Isn''t it?'' ''To be more precise, he dumped me before I dumped him. ''...... I see. That''s just like you, Shirana. ''Did Shirana tell you about this?'' ''A few words in an email. ''I''m so relieved. I hope you''re satisfied, but for my part, I''m disappointed. ''It can''t be helped. I didn''t want to create a proper relationship with Shirana, so the result was fixed. I''m fine with this. ''You''re surprisingly solid. I thought you were crazier than that. ''I''m glad you''ve changed your perception.'' I decided to get to the heart of the matter. ''Why did you come to my house? ''I need a little favor. ''If it''s possible on your own level,'' he said. Kanzawaguchi Sr. stopped and turned to face me squarely. Will you go out with me? Oh ...... this is going to be messy. 66-a simmering Esprit... ''Comet. Let''s eat lunch. A voice calling my name in a hushed tone echoed through the lunch break. I was about to start a noble dinner party (just to spread out my lunch) with Makoto. Who is that guy? Makoto, with a quizzical look on her face, pointed her chin at the person at the door and asked me. It''s Kozue Kanzawaguchi-senpai. ''What, a senior? Third year?'''' ''She''s also my girlfriend.'' ''Kano,eh? Ogggghhh, hannnee! Makoto raised his hands like a civilian A at gunpoint, dripping with cold sweat and wobbling his jaw as if he couldn''t accept the reality. He looked at me and Kanzawaguchi-senpai alternately with his eyes swimming. You got a girlfriend? Tsuru entered the conversation. She, too, is astonished like a scientist who has encountered an ''impossible fictitious phenomenon. ''You don''t have to be so brash,'' she said. ''Because you''ve been mumbling about single aristocrats and single aristocrats like a bunch of idiots. ......'' ''It was a joke. It''s always a joke. I really wanted a girlfriend. ''Arienai ...... what are you going to do, Alina?'' ''Thanks a lot. The activity doesn''t change. ''But ......'' ''I don''t want to keep you waiting, so let''s go. Makoto, no dinner today. ''So don''t call it a dinner party because it''s embarrassing. ''Have dinner with Ryuka instead. Hey! Ryuka! Makoto wants to have dinner with you and look at each other! Ryuka blushed and turned her head down. But her right hand was firmly making a good sign. Ryuka and I could communicate silently. I responded in the same way. ''Well then. I took my lunch box and went out into the hallway with Kanzawaguchi-senpai. Thanks, darling. Again, in a hushed voice, she hugged my left arm and leaned her weight on it. ''Senpai. You''re too close to the stones,......, the eyes around you,......'' ''''Do you mind?'''' ''Yes, of course. I''ll get stared at by the student advisors. ''Well, it can''t be helped then. My left arm is free. Even the sleepy-looking Kanzawaguchi-senpai seems to be bold enough to do something unexpected. I was embarrassed, so I turned my face away from him. Kanzawaguchi-senpai turned up the corners of his mouth with a grin. Cute. ''......'' d*mn ......! Hard to get a lucky break. ......! I hate the cold. I am cold, and this season is a matter of life and death for me, so I try to stay out of the classroom as much as possible to sustain my life. I can finally walk outside wearing black tights and three layers of innerwear. A scarf is a must, and I will freeze to death without gloves. I will buy some ear warmers next time. This year will be over in about half a month. Time has passed so fast from the time I met him to today. Looking back, my high school life was like a black-and-white world, faded and suffocating. I knew that the cause was me. It was not until I met Comet Sakakiki that my life was suddenly filled with color like when ink is dropped into water, and my days became vivid. ''Are you cold, Alina-san? Shirana came up to my seat. Lately I have been talking to my classmates. Especially with Shirana. After the breakup of the Rose Garden, I started to change my ways and followed their advice. Gradually, the physical distance between me and my classmates naturally became smaller and smaller, and the number of times I open my library book has decreased drastically. ''Yes. I''m cold. ''I see. My mom is also oily, but she drinks ginger tea a lot. She says it warms her up! ''Yeah, I''ll give it a try: ......'' Of course I had tried it and continued for a few days. I drank lemon tea and cocoa. But there was no significant effect, and I quit them once and for all. My sensitivity to cold is as peculiar as hers. I was curious about the result of Hakuna''s confession in front of me, so I unwillingly called her last night. I knew that my intervention would only be brazen. But I couldn''t resist my curiosity. And I was relieved. The moment it was confirmed that he had dumped her and that he had not gone out with her, I felt more than a little elated. I despised myself for being such an outrageous woman. That made me feel a little pained that she was fine with it. I decided to have a cup of cocoa to warm myself up. I decided and left my seat. It was very hard for me to run out into the corridor without air conditioning, so I wrapped a scarf around my neck. I tucked my face into the scarf and headed for the vending machine. Before I passed the staircase landing, I saw a familiar back for a moment. It was a comet. I passed by the staircase and caught a glimpse of him going downstairs. (What? ......?) He is descending the stairs with an unidentified female student at a distance where their shoulders touch or not. Obviously, it is the distance between lovers, and it is a meaningful distance. The girl is leaning in close to him. I was subconsciously annoyed at the fact that the girl seemed to be in a relaxed mood. Are they dating? No, but he''s been proclaiming his bachelorhood to the point of earwax. And he dumped Shirana yesterday. Just now. Could it be that you dumped Shirana because you hooked up with her? Since when? What''s that? I feel like an idiot for getting passionate and calling you to the Rose Garden. I could feel my brow creasing. I''m sick of not knowing. I quickly bought a cup of cocoa from the vending machine and went back to the classroom. (Moo ......) I wrap my cocoa in my hands and sip it. If they went out with me, they could have at least told me a few words about it," I complain. You take another sip to distract yourself. I don''t feel good until it''s clear. One of my classmates looks at me and shudders. My expression must have been quite frightening. Once he said to me, ''When you are angry, you look like a snake planning to swallow a mouse. I reflexively threw the eraser at him, but maybe he had a point. I felt bad for him if I ruined the change of my stance, so I decided to search for the truth on my own. Comet must not have returned to the classroom yet. He went down the hallway, so he should be gone for a while. I tried to put on a nonchalant face and opened the door of the second class. Perhaps I was too expressionless, but the students in the second class looked at me and gave me a shudder. And then they asked me, "Comet? They asked each other. No, I''m not dealing with a comet this time. I found my target and went straight for him. What the hell? Comet went away. Makoto Takane. The guy who fell in love with me at first sight and got dumped by me (I don''t remember). He is the man who knows the most about Comet Sakakiki as far as I know. He was having dinner with Ryuka Mimori. ''Come here for a minute. ''Well, wait a minute. I''m eating.'' ''So. Come here. ''Listen to me ......'' ''It''s really just a minute. I''ll let you go in 10 seconds.'' ''...... okay. Ryuka, wait for me. Ryuka nodded her head. I herded Makoto into a corner of the classroom and stood on my haunches so that he could not escape. Makoto is frightened like a sheep being chased by a wolf. I whispered in a low voice so that the others could not hear. Is he dating her? ''......Oh, I''m not sure either.'' ''What do you think? You''re like his instruction manual, aren''t you? Don''t you know? ''I don''t know every detail of it. ...... I was surprised too. I was surprised when a guy named Kazawaguchi-senpai came to my classroom all of a sudden. Comet said she was also his girlfriend. ''''Third year?'''' ''''Yeah. I had no idea who he was because I didn''t know him. Quick, let me go. ...... ''Yes, go back to your nest. I turned on my heel and went back to my classroom, ignoring Makoto who slumped down. I sip my slightly chilled cocoa again. (You''re really together, aren''t you? ......) This kind of talk about who went out with whom and who got dumped is a staple among girls, but it doesn''t interest me at all. However, I was surprised that I was so moved when someone I know well gets together with someone I don''t know. Perhaps it was because I was too accustomed to the daily routine of simply cursing and dismissing those who professed their love to me, but I had thought that there would be no more waves within me from romantic affairs, but I was foolishly pissed off at the present situation. (I''ll have to check this out: ......) I grabbed the can and made up my mind. 67-invisible circumstance... I don''t want to do anything because it''s cold. I''m going home. I sent a message with the cause and conclusion. This message may be superfluous since I haven''t done anything in the last few days to begin with. Besides, if he really started dating, I''m not the one he''s going to be hanging out with after school. I know I''m not wanted from the start, but with his personality, I think he''ll be considerate and send me a text message to say no. That''s why I made the first move. The best way to find out the relationship between him and his senpai is to talk to the people around them. To begin with, we need to find out who the senior is. If he and that senior have developed such a relationship, there should have been rumors of their interaction before, but I heard not even a whisper. Even I, who am often by his side, have not even caught a glimpse of him. Then you have to ask one of the third-year students. But unfortunately I don''t know any third-year students. In my notebook, a third-year student named ''Aki Mine'' was described as a person who helped me in junior high school, but I don''t even recognize her face. I had no choice but to talk to him at random. (ikigura ......) I came to the third grade floor in high spirits. But the serenity of the room made me flinch. Only the sound of my shoes echoed in the quiet hallway. I glanced around to see a few students silently penning away at their desks. (It''s exam time, of course. It would be rather strange if they were making noise.) I walked down the hallway to the stairs. I didn''t have the courage to enter such a quiet space. As I was about to go down the stairs, I happened to see a male student, who looked like a third-year student, coming up from below. Seeing my chance, I spoke to him. Excuse me. May I have a word? The boy overreacted to my approach. ''What, me? ''Yes, I am. Can I talk to you for a minute? ''''Wait a minute, I think you''re Mr. Hinoha from the second year, right?'''' Yes. ''Oh, ...... I''m ready for it.'' ''Don''t get me wrong. I don''t know you and I''m not interested in you. ''...... Yes. What do you mean you want to talk about ......?'' ''''Do you know a third-year student, Kanzawaguchi senior?'''' ''Kanzawaguchi. Oh, that guy. I know him because we''re in the same class. Wow. Lucky. I sang three cheers. In my mind, of course. "Are you dating anyone? ''Yeah? That''s out of the blue. Well, I don''t think that''s what they''re talking about. ''Really? Are you sure?'''' ''There''s no profit in lying. Close, close, close. Of course, I am not going to assume that this man''s testimony is true. It is not uncommon for people to hide their relationships, and I do not believe that this man is romantically savvy. There is no way that a man who gives the impression of being single for the rest of his life could know about other people''s love affairs. I was a fool. ''I feel like I''m being harsh ......'' It''s my imagination. Then, can anyone name a friend who is close to Kanazawa-guchi-senpai?'' ''You mean his friend. Then it must be Fujikura. ''Please use your real name.'' ''Fujikura Fuuka. She''s probably studying in the library right now. It''s so close to the center. ''''Are you sure?'''' ''I''m going to get a regular job. ''I see. Thank you very much for your cooperation. You will never see me again. ''Oh, yes,'' I''m afraid of the second half of that word: ......'' I followed the haste and headed for the library. Kaede Fujikura. Kaeka Fujikura. But soon I realized I had made a serious mistake. How could I find Kaeka Fujikura if I didn''t know her face? I turned back, biting back my embarrassment. ''What, I''ll never see you again. ......'' ''The situation has changed. Please come with me to the library. Please tell me who Fujikura Kaede-senpai is. (If you refuse, I''ll throw you in the incinerator.)'' ''Wow, okay.'' I smiled in place of thanks for their consent. Yes, most men are pleased when I smile. I try not to smile in public, but this time I made a special exception and smiled at him. But the guy doesn''t seem to feel very good about it. He was rather frightened. (Was it my voice that leaked out?). Even so, he complied with my request, so I decided that the result was all right. We went into the library together and I waited at the door. I let him look for me. In a few seconds, the man seemed to have found Fujikura-senpai and communicated to me by pointing his finger behind her from a distance. I indicated with my chin that she could go home and let her go. The man quickly fled the library. I approached Fujikura and sat down on a chair in front of her. She seemed to be studying with her notebook open while listening to music on her earphones. She did not even notice my presence, so I extended my finger and tapped on the desk to bring her into my sight. With a snap, she took off her earphones and stared at me. Who are you? ''Nice to meet you, my name is Arina Hinoha. ''That famous Mr. Hinoha? You wanted to see me?'''' ''I''m sorry to barge in here unannounced. I''d like to ask you a few questions, if you don''t mind. ''Of course. Why me? Do you know Mr. Kanzawaguchi senior? ''Yeah. We''re friends. ''''Has anything changed recently around Kanzawaguchi-senpai?'''' ''Hm~? I don''t think there is anything in particular.'' ''For example, I''m dating someone...'' ''I don''t think so. Because every time someone confesses to me on the treetops, I turn them down. But it''s always from the same person. ''''What do you mean by the same person?'''' ''There is someone who likes Kozue. He''s confessed his love to me many times since the first year. It would be pitiful if I said it''s a familiar sight. It''s funny because it''s still the case even in the third year. Fujikura shook his shoulders, killing the sound of laughter. I think I''m starting to see something. I understand. I''m sorry for interrupting your study. ''''Oh, are you done?'''' ''Yes. I understand a lot now. I left the library. Oh, shit! I thought she went home!) Alina''s sudden appearance in the library startled me so much that all my organs almost came out of my mouth. I was lucky that she pulled them out through my esophagus, but I almost died. My small intestine almost got stuck in my trachea. ''What are you doing hiding out here all of a sudden? ''It''s Alina! Alina has been in the library! ''Mr. Hiu? But do you have to hide?'''' I was taken aback by the stunned Kanzawaguchi-senpai. You don''t know. You don''t know how scary she is. If she saw us together, what would she do to us? ''That''s fine. It''s not like we''re really dating. ''Even if that''s the case. Alina knows that Shirana confessed her feelings to me. If she sees us having this relationship, she could come at me with a knife and say, ''I have to kill a trashy person with no moral compass! I will die without excuse! Besides, it''s not good if Shirana finds out too!'''' ''It''s okay. I''ll explain it to you. I don''t trust the words of a half-asleep person. Anyway! I don''t want you coming out in my class in such a big and familiar way anymore! ''Okay, okay, I''m sorry. ''I''m anxious ...... will I be alive in a week ......'' ''Wait a little longer. I''m struggling too, so help me. You said you''d pay for it. ''I believe in you. ......'' ''I''ll keep my promise. I know how to fix your disease. ''I''m seriously looking forward to it. ......'' 68-bumping into... My reasoning . Kozue Kanzawaguchi is in trouble because a certain male student confesses his feelings to her over and over again. In order to make him give up, she is dating Comet Sakakiki. I''m sure of it. First of all, there''s no way that that spineless guy would go out with an upperclassman so easily. Besides, he likes me. He likes me. When Hakuna called him before the time to confess and asked him what he was going to say, he said clearly that he loves me (he didn''t say it). I was just a little bit happy to add an extra bonus. I was so happy.) (Oh man ...... I''m on fire ......) My face is getting hot. The heater''s working too hard. Having decided on some course of action, I first decided to find a student who is in a state of yandere against Kanzawaguchi-senpai. They are probably wandering around the school like zombies, looking for Kanzawaguchi-senpai. I felt sorry for the senior student when I pictured such a scene. It''s annoying to hang out with him even if it''s a lie. After-school hours have just started, so there is a good chance that some of them are still there. I walked around as soon as I could, because the time was getting shorter and shorter. I walked around as soon as I could. Did you leave? Not knowing the faces and names of the yandere students, I turned to the third-year students again. He was a dull third-year student who was in the same class as Kanazawa-guchi-senpai and who told me about her friend. She just left a few minutes ago. A dull third-year student did so upon returning from a class with Yudai. Yudai is the name of a yandere student who can''t stop loving Kanzawaguchi Sr. This information was obtained as a result of abducting and interrogating this dull third-year student. Hey. Can you let me go now? I said I''d never see you again, and this is the third time I''ve seen you. ......'' ''I''m sorry, sir. It seems we''re at an impasse today, so this is really the last time. Can you tell me a little more about this Yudai senior? He breathed a sigh of relief at my declaration of release. I felt sorry for him as he continued to be held by me, so I decided to make this really the last time. Yudai is not a bad guy. He''s just in love with Kanazawa. I even heard a rumor that he confesses his feelings once a month. That''s sick, isn''t it? ''I guess it''s a bit of a mess because Kanazawa-guchi doesn''t dump me like he''s going to cut me off, too. We''ve been in this relationship for three years now. I''m graduating in three months, so I''m wondering if I''ll get an okay at the last minute. I''ve been having a lot of fun talking about it. ''I hope it comes true! ''I''ve had a one-sided love for three years. I don''t expect it to have a happy ending like in the dramas, so I''m not holding my breath. ''That''s right...'' I just humored him appropriately and ended the conversation with him. No matter how much I beat up on this person, I would never get anything useful out of him but flesh and blood. Now that I have his picture and name, he is no longer of any use to me. I thanked him appropriately and turned on my heel. The next day. The weather is snowing, and it''s going to be a hell of a day for me with a cold sore. I can''t wait for my lunch break. I can''t wait to go find this Yudai guy. A ten-minute break between classes is not enough, and above all, it''s cold. Going out from the heated classroom to the hallway shortens my life span. You shove your hands in your pockets and tuck your face into your scarf to keep warm. Skirts are the best item for fashion-conscious schoolgirls, but in winter they are the worst of all worlds for me. Did they think I could stand the cold with just a pair of stockings? If I were president of the student council, I would bend the school rules to allow girls to wear winter pants. I wouldn''t do it, though, because it would be too much trouble. Scarves are a must when you stop to use the restroom. It''s really deathly cold. I don''t understand students who bare their bare legs even in this season. On top of that, the water from the tap is so cold that my fingertips hurt like needles. Apparently, this school is very strict with me. ''You''re gonna stand out in the school with your scarf. As I left the bathroom, I heard a voice behind me. ''Oh, my God, that sounds disgusting. It''s like the sound of cicadas being crushed. ''Seriously. Isn''t my sister too tough to keep hearing that voice? ''Apologize. Your sister is a good girl. ''You know what I mean. Ugin is a goddess. ''Sissy-consumption creepy.'' They were playing catch in their usual nonchalant manner, but inside my heart was racing. He is hiding from me the fact that he is dating Kanzawaguchi-senpai. I am pretending not to know because it is convenient for me, but if he finds out that I am aware of it, it will be troublesome for me. Just as Shirana and this person had a falling out before, an opaque wall will be erected between this person and me. I don''t want that, so I''m currently having a conversation with her with my mind fully occupied so that I don''t say or do anything unnatural. Maybe, oh-berkku. ''Are we going to do something today? ''You''ve got your arms folded awkwardly.'' ''...... s*xual harassment?'' ''Yes! I''m merely tweaking you because you''re acting suspiciously. ...... Why is that s*xual harassment!'' ''...... you''re trying to tell me that it''s hard to fold your arms because of your breasts, right? Why don''t you jump into a pond of piranhas for once?'' ''No, I''m not! I''m calling the police! (...... What in the world am I talking about?) I am aware that this is a ridiculous misunderstanding. Unfortunately, my head is in a state of ''oh-berk-luk'' and I can''t think purely perfect thoughts right now. (I have to cheat ...... cheat ......) I''m free because there''s nothing special today. Hmm, I haven''t done anything lately. ''So, yeah? Ba, deep fried at the bus stop? '' Alina. I''ll go out with you after school and we''ll go to the psychosomatic clinic.'' ''Are you crazy? Going out with him, you idiot! I think you''re broken! You''re the one who''s broken. And don''t invoke tsundere when you don''t know what it means. I tucked my face into the scarf around my neck and kept my mouth shut. Everything I said could be a minefield. I''ll be careful here. It''s really funny, isn''t it? You can tell me if you need anything. I''m being asked to help Alina, after all. I''ll do everything I can. ''......'' Well, it''s time to go. ...... just wait a little longer! ''?''? ''Get your ass in the classroom! You don''t like the cold, do you?'''' He went into his classroom to escape from the ghost. What could I wait a little longer for? Should I just stand here? Or do you mean in time? I don''t know. I went back to the classroom with a blank mind. It was lunchtime. After lunch with Shirana and the others, I went right to the third grade building. Yudai Yamagata. The person I was looking for was a male student who had a crush on a senior. I had obtained his information from a dull student the day before, so all I had to do was to match him with the real one. I targeted a male student who did not seem to want to communicate with his classmates and talked to him. Do you know this man? His name is Yudai Yamagata. I presented him with a picture and made a ''I''m in trouble'' expression and asked him. The response was, as expected, love at first sight. I was about to punch him, but I let him go because my priority was to find Yudai. After three such exchanges, the fourth person was able to have a decent conversation with me. ''Yudai? I think he''s at the store, isn''t he? I thanked him and immediately headed for the concession stand. I have to admit that I don''t like the concession stand at noon because it is crowded. It is small for the number of students in the school, so the supply is not sufficient. As expected, it was overflowing with people. I moved away a little and paid attention only to the boys'' uniforms. The overwhelming number of girls made the guys stand out. I observed the situation from the outside. ''What are you trying to win at the concession stand, you weakling? (Bad timing!) I encountered Comet Sakakiki. He was standing next to me, looking down at me with fearful eyes. As I am taller than average, my eyes are usually on the same line with boys, but this guy was so tall that I had to look up at him every time. I didn''t like that. (*I''m actually a little nervous.) ''No, I don''t mind.'' ''Yes, miss? Ask me what I want. I''ve fought a lot of tough guys in this store, and I''ve been trained in a hundred battles, and there are a few things I can''t ...... take away. ''''You have.'''' ''Women''s volleyball and women''s basketball are f*cking strong. ...... They know my face, too, and the first thing they do when I approach them is stomp my feet. I got my gall bladder popped out when he hit me in the tail with his elbow. ''How are you still alive? ''Cause I''ve built up a tolerance. Just like I got used to your abuse.'' I''ll be right back. ''So, what did you come here to buy?'' I was at a loss for words because I didn''t come here to buy anything. I left my wallet in my bag, and I wasn''t hungry. ''''Nothing?'''' ''......Why did you come to the concession stand?'' ''''People-watching?'''' ''I knew it, I''m going to accompany you to the psychiatrist''s office after school ...... because your mother will be worried.'' ''You''re so silly! What''s the point of going out with them or something! You''re going to be destroyed! ''It''s your thoughts that are ruining you. That''s when we were arguing. ''Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa! The tone of his voice was that of a man with a hopelessly limited vocabulary. A man''s voice came out. The source of the sound is approaching us. The man came with both index fingers outstretched, doing the old cartoon Hyakusai-ken. It was Yudai Yamagata. You! ''Nn, eh! What is it? Yudai Yamagata grabbed Comet firmly by both shoulders and pressed close. I don''t think anything of it, since I don''t have the "boys'' love" attribute, but I think those who do would immediately draw a picture of it. I was stunned by his close proximity to me. It''s you! The two years you say you went out with Kozue? Comet turned pale and looked at me. No, I know. I know everything. I felt it would be fun to corner him, so I gave him a cold stare that would make even an Antarctic penguin wince. The comet turned pale and soda-colored. ''No, you see, the thing about this is that Che Guevara, you know, the Voynich Manuscript...'' he said, ''I don''t know. I''m so confused, I don''t know what you''re talking about. You''re the one who needs to go to the psychiatrist. You idiot. 69-Comet Sakaki is serious.... Yudai-senpai is still in the picture, but the fact that Arina is here is, to put it mildly, going to kill me. I don''t even want to imagine the torture that would be waiting for me if she finds out that I went out with someone else just as soon as I said I would not go out with Shirana. Of course, this is not a serious relationship, but for Kanzawaguchi-senpai''s sake, for Arina''s sake. If she had found out, I would have told her why, but that hope was dashed when Yudai was present. I was thinking about that as he grabbed me by the shoulders and shook me. You''re dating Kozue, aren''t you? That''s right, isn''t it!'''' Yudai-senpai asked me in a terrible manner. I glanced at Alina. Ugh... she''s scary. What''s with those eyes? Are you a reptile? Despite this unusual commotion, it had no impact on the female members of the club who were strolling around the battlefield. They are fighting, shaking their asses. I should have been there, too, but how could this happen? ''......Yes, I''m in a relationship with you. I said in a whisper. I tried to keep my voice low enough for Alina to hear me, but it was too late, and she seemed to be mortified. ''Really,...... the rumors were true,...... how did you get the OK?'' ''...... what?'' So what was the deciding factor in Kozue going out with you? ''No, wait, what do you mean--'' ''Don''t look at me.'' ''Gunu......'' I just wanted to make sure I was interpreting what Yudai-senpai meant correctly. I thought that you, who had turned me down so many times, would be able to find some kind of way out of this, but you simply abandoned me. Did you tell him? Or did Kozue start it? No, Kozue can''t be the type of person who would willingly say something like that. ......It''s you, after all, isn''t it? Hey, what did you say? ''So, that''s ......'' First of all, neither I nor Mr. Kazawaguchi have any romantic feelings for either of us, so there''s no way we could come up with a pick-up line. Mr. Kanzawaguchi is a cute guy, but since I just met him and he always looks sleepy, I consider him an ''unidentified life form''. I''ll leave you to your own devices. I feel sorry for Mr. Yudai''s situation, but let''s consider it as a disappointing event in his life and respect Mr. Kanzawaguchi''s intention. It''s just the way things are. It happened naturally. ''What the hell ...... how far along are you with the treetops! Speak up! How far up the stairs--'''' The second half was interrupted by Alina. ''Let''s not do this, senpai? It''s not a good look.'' ''Ugh. ...... yeah, I''m sorry.'' Arina''s murderous smile made Yudai finally take his hand off my shoulder. The killer smile that appears every once in a while is especially bad for the eyes. They lose their light and become bottomless eyes like an abyss. I''ve had that look on me a few times, but it only happens when I''m really angry. I felt a millimeter of remorse that I must have really pissed her off. But in this case, she seems to be angry at her senior. For me? ''Okay. Are you free after school? I''d like to hear more about it.'' I''m a go-home girl, so I''m fine.'''' ''Good. Can I meet you at the store after school?'' ''Okay. After that, let''s move to another place. Good. See you after school. Don''t run away, okay? There''s no way I''m running away. Because Kanzawaguchi-senpai has been waiting for this moment. I''ll tell him later. Yudai left and left me and Alina. After a short silence, I decide to run away. He was staring at me from the side. It''s so scary. Let''s just get some tomato juice and go back to the classroom. Geez! I took a step forward and he grabbed me by the collar and snapped my neck. And it was strong. Probably about the same grip strength as a gorilla. Why is he hiding from me? Murderous smile. I immediately thought of the past. The Soviets were in a space race. The world''s first animal to orbit the earth like a satellite - Laika the b*tc*. I remember the tragic Laika, a one-way ticket to a place she was sure she''d never return from. I know the scientists who were heartbroken to see her follow their lead after weeks of rigorous training and confinement in a cramped spaceship. I remember the sky that I looked up at, thinking of Laika as she left the ground and disappeared into the blue sky with a dazzling light. Scientists wishing for safety and saying goodbye. Everyone knew it was pointless. The spaceship was not equipped to return to the earth. Some of them had grudges on their faces against such an unreasonable fate. That face is Alina''s today. The latter part is my imagination. ''For various reasons: ...... yes ......'' ''Tell me.'' ''There''s a bit of a confidentiality agreement--'' ''Tell me. ''Um, so it''s confidential--'' ''Tell me.'' ''I''m acting out a fake love ......'' You can''t beat this guy in an argument. You''d have to use a politician who specializes in public opinion as a shield. I explained reluctantly. Kanzawaguchi-senpai is having trouble with his bad habit of getting confessions from Yudai-senpai. So if he gets together with someone else, Yudai Yamagata will give up, right? The senior Kanzawaguchi thought. That I was chosen for it. And my feelings of redemption for Shirana. He did not mention the deal in which Kanzawaguchi-senpai would teach Alina how to save her in exchange. In the first place, I wonder how Kanzawaguchi-senpai knows about Alina''s dual personality. Only I, Mr. Akakusa, and Alina''s mother know about Alina''s dual personality, and Alina has stated so. I did not pursue Kanzawaguchi-senpai because of the suspicious atmosphere of the dark route, but I will ask her about it soon. Alina listened to me quietly with an expressionless face the whole time, and just when I thought everything would go peacefully, I was punched in the chest plate. I felt all my ribs broken and impaled in my lungs. Be careful that Hakuna doesn''t find out about this,'' he said. She''ll be sad when she finds out. She''ll be sad when she finds out that I really meant what I said. ''That''s where ...... I''m going to try.'' ''I don''t know anything about trying. You must hide it. Girls are weak. ''Wait, you''re not convincing me you''re weak. ''I am frail. I''m not so popular because I''m fragile and pretty. If she were an actress, Yellowstone National Park would erupt in flames and the human race would die (yes, yes, yes, yes, yes). ''You''re leaking more from your heart.'' Once she sighed loudly, her large breasts heaving, she continued to speak. You''re going to confront that senior after school, aren''t you? ''That''s going to happen. I''m surprised that things are going as planned by Kanzawaguchi-senpai. He always looks sleepy, but he''s pretty smart. ''''Hmm.'''' After school, we invite Kanazawa-guchi-senpai to come and confront Yudai-senpai directly. Kanazawa-guchi-senpai is planning to decide the match there. My duty may end today. ''''Hmm.'''' ''What the hell. Something wrong?'' Nothing. ''I don''t understand him. ......'' I think my killer smile is starting to have a normal smirk component. I don''t understand this guy these days. After we parted, I bought some tomato juice, took a glance at the already withered bread corner, bit my tongue and regretted that I ended up as a loser again today, and went back to the classroom. I am basically a serious person, and I never doze off in class. The resident of the seat behind me gave him a poke on the back and handed him a small piece of paper. It was a piece of paper with a message on it, the kind of thing that bored idiots like. Apparently, it had been passed around. They are a new breed of people who sneak around committing treasonous acts under the teacher''s control in class, and find the immorality of it pleasurable. It is just too much trouble for serious comets. He cannot concentrate on his teacher''s noble lessons. As I hate the classics to death, I really wish they would quit. Seriously, Classics and Chinese literature should disappear. Hell, they make us read romantic comedies of aristocrats from over a thousand years ago. Maybe it''s black history. Are you dating Kanazawa-guchi-senpai? Ryuka. I was surprised by the unexpected sender. I thought it was just Makoto messing with me to kill time, but it turned out to be his girlfriend, Ryuka Mimori. Sorry, Makoto. I didn''t think it was you for a second. It''s probably because Kanzawaguchi-senpai showed up in the classroom openly before. Makoto was quite surprised... but I''ll tell you what surprised me the most. I was afraid of her dizzying style of moving around, as if she had broken her promise not to be open about it. I couldn''t ignore the question, so I said, "This is confidential information, so I can''t disclose it for the time being. I wrote a clerical note saying, "Confidential information, not to be disclosed for the time being, will contact you later for the truth or falsehood," and passed it to Ryuka. After staring at the old text on the blackboard for a while as if it were my parent''s enemy, the piece of paper was passed around again. I understood. Do your best. Ryuka. It seems to be like Ryuka to leave her name in the form. It''s not that she''s trying hard, but the fact that she''s planning to ruin Yudai''s love life, rather than to make him fall in love with her, makes this a very uninspiring story. I feel sorry for Kanzawaguchi-senpai, but I also feel sorry for Yudai-senpai that he is not thought well of (as a matter of course). Hostility from someone you love is too painful. I don''t know how much progress Makoto and Ryuka have made. They seem to be going home together, so I wonder if they are doing well. I don''t know what is the standard to determine whether things are going well or not. No, it would be foolish to set a standard. It would be uninteresting if people''s relationships and encounters were standardized. I sent an e-mail to Mr. Kanzawaguchi telling him that Yudai was meeting me at the store. The final battle is about to begin. I was drinking a glass of tomato juice while idly following the hands of the classroom clock with my eyes. To be honest, I was not in a good mood. I guess it goes against my philosophy of life. It''s true that it''s annoying and disturbing to have the same person confess to you incessantly, even if you don''t like them. I would be fed up if I were in that position. But I''m sure Yudai is not lying about his feelings. I think he really likes you. But it''s no wonder he couldn''t accept it from Kanzawaguchi. I didn''t feel good that I was stepping on his true feelings by pretending to be ignorant of them. I was lying and deceiving him. I couldn''t feel good about it. When I arrived at the kiosk five minutes before the meeting time, Yudai was already there. And Kanzawaguchi-senpai was there too. Yudai rushed to me as soon as he saw me. Why are you here, Kozue? I didn''t ask you to do it, remember?'''' ''''I''m sorry.'''' That''s all I can say: ....... That''s what I''ve been told by my seniors. Yudai. Comet-kun, it''s not your fault. She followed me today with a sleepy look on her face. ''I asked you to do this. Let''s talk a little. 70-In the twilight of the sun,... When Yudai asked me for a quiet and secluded place, I suggested the former rose garden. The former staff room is a perfect choice since no one stops by there and the floor itself is not in use. I mean, that''s the only place I know. I thought that the third-year students might know more about it than me, but I decided to keep quiet because this might finally free me from this situation and I might get into trouble if I talk too much. The door is unlocked, isn''t it? ''It''s probably broken. The truth is that Dr. Akakusa''s awareness of the importance of keeping the door closed is low. Next time I''ll tell him that I''ll break into his house if he''s so low. First we need to find out his address. Yudai and I sat next to each other, facing each other across the long desk, and sat on chairs. Kanzawaguchi-senpai looked at Yudai-senpai with sleepy half-open eyes, and Yudai-senpai looked away shyly every time his eyes met mine and stared at me as if to distract me. I can''t wait to go home. ....... The first thing to do is to make sure that you have the right tools and the right people to help you. Do you know why I went out with Comet-kun? ''...... because you like that guy.'' ''No, it''s not. To get Yudai to give up.'' ''! So there''s nothing going on with that guy over there then! ''Don''t worry, senpai. I was just cooperating with Kanazawa-guchi-senpai, so I don''t have any romantic feelings for him. ''''Comet. It''s a little frustrating to hear you say that. Am I not attractive enough? ''I have a lot of it, I have a lot of it, I have a lot of it. It''s on a level that could be exhibited in the British Museum. Thanks. This will have the opposite effect. Look at Yudai. He''s watching our exchange from beginning to end with a grumpy look on his face. I thought Yudai would give up on me if I told him I went out with Comet-kun. ''...... you think that''s going to make me give up?'' ''At least it makes it harder to tell them. If you confess to me now, I''ll be thought of as a ''lousy man who tries to steal Kanzawaguchi away from Comet-kun. Even you would be affected. ''Still, I won''t give up. Oh, I can''t wait to go home: ....... I just want to spend time watching TV with my sister....... ''Can you please stop this? It''s a statement of intent. It''s a statement that I will never go out with Yudai. ''Why do you reject me so much ......?'' ''Because he''s a male university student.'' ''That''s not a reason.'' ''Yes, it is.'' No, it''s not! Can I really go home? I was about to be crushed by the awkwardness of being sent out into the open. I''ve never seen it, but I fantasized that this is how daytime dramas are supposed to play out. It''s the kind of drama my mother would like. Ugin also said, "Woooo! I''m sure you''ll be screaming with a gleam in your eye. But I felt a little strange. Strangely, they were talking to each other in a friendly manner. From the outside, it may look like they don''t get along with each other, but if they really don''t get along with each other, would they call each other this much or talk deeply with each other? I think this kind of conversation is only possible if you know each other well. At least I do. I can''t wait for this whole situation to be over. I hope there will be an earthquake of intensity 2 or so. Can you stop confessing to me at least once a month? It''s annoying.'' ''That''s how much I like you, Kozue. ''I don''t really care. You''re graduating soon and you''re still sticking around?'' ''That''s because I''m graduating.'' ''Seniors, calm down a little ......'' ''Hold on a minute, comet. I''ll finish now.'' ''Don''t interrupt me. I guess I should go home. What''s my position? Mascot? Carbon dioxide emitting machine? Humanoid? ''I''ll talk to the teacher, okay? I''ll also tell Yudai''s parents.'' ''I don''t care. ''...... I''m going to be really angry.'' ''Then why did you say yes to me then! Huh? What do you mean you said okay back then? Muromachi period? What, were you guys dating? These two? ''I was out of control.'' ''That''s not true. You looked like you were having a really good time. ''That''s an illusion. It''s not true. ''No, it''s real. It''s like I don''t understand the context. It''s like reading a long English sentence. ''Because ......, because I really like you! It was hard for me to betray Yudai too! But it was too much for me to suppress with my rational mind. ......'' Suddenly, Kanzawaguchi Sensei began to cry. Tears dripped onto his knees, and sobs echoed through the room. It seemed unlikely that he would be able to continue. Yudai muttered, ''d*mn ...... d*mn ......,'' and turned his head down, holding the tops of his eyes. The two of us were sad. Me, who was shocked. What the hell? This chaotic world. Am I the only sane person on earth? Once the two of us were forcibly separated, I took Kanzawaguchi-senpai with me and went out into the hallway. I asked him to explain the situation. To tell the truth, I don''t think we''re going to end up going off-topic if we keep talking like this. Please tell me what happened in the past. ''......gush''. ''Yes, yes, wipe your tears. ''Idiot. ......'' Don''t take it out on me. Were you two dating? Please explain it to me properly.'' ''...... yeah. In middle school. ''So we''re from the same middle school. You were dating at that time? ''...... yes. I think I liked Yudai for a while. Gush.'' What does the expression ''I think,'' mean? ''...... I''ve found someone I really like from the bottom of my heart.'' Ahhh ....... Poor Yudai senior. ....... ''I fell in love with him right after we were in the same class in the third grade. But I told myself that I couldn''t because I was dating Yudai. But I was really bitter. The thought of going out with someone else made my throat constrict. ......'' I think it''s cheating. ....... It''s cute when you''re in middle school, but when you''re an adult, it''s going to be a big deal. You''ll get stabbed. ''I strongly thought that I liked Yudai more, but every time I thought it, I disliked him more. ...... but Yudai didn''t notice my feelings, so I became even more disgusted with his favor. ...... ''I see. ......'' I just hummed and hawed. Let''s escape as listeners. Then I sent Yudai a breakup text message without any reason. I was at my limit. It was not a feeling that could be dealt with by reason. Since then, Yudai has repeatedly asked me to get back together with him. ''That''s right, isn''t it? ....... So, who was the man that Kanazawa-guchi-senpai was in love with?'''' ''Different high school. I failed out, so I came here. I didn''t know Yudai was here. I couldn''t tell him how I felt about him. But I still see him in my dreams. I think I still love him that much. I even look for him unconsciously on the street. A maiden in love, I guess. I don''t know. It''s a pinkish unknown world to me. But as a man, I sympathize with Yudai. And Kanzawaguchi-senpai, you are heavy. It can''t be helped that you fall in love with someone, and there is nothing you can do about it. Love is not theoretical. If it can be explained by a theory, it''s not love but a fearless conspiracy'' my sister said proudly. She was probably quoting from a romantic drama. To be honest, I still don''t understand what she said, but I agree with her that it is not theoretical. I think the common question, "Why do you like him? You can pull words like "kind," "cute," "cool" and so on, which have defined meanings. But none of those words should feel right. It''s not that there''s anything wrong with that. It is simply a limitation of words. Mr. Kanzawaguchi may be blamed. But if you were to put yourself in his shoes, would you be able to remain rational? Would he be able to shut out his instincts? Probably not. Please tell Yudai everything. All the things I couldn''t tell you before. Let''s end this. And let''s go home. I''m thirsty. ''...... yeah. We''ll talk. So she went back to her old teacher''s office. I didn''t follow. There was nothing more I could do or say. I just want the two of us to get out what we''ve been holding on to, to get some answers and some closure. And I''m finally free. I made it. Welcome home. ''I''m home, my sister. My sister, who had already taken the entrance examination with a recommendation, was warming herself with a kotatsu (table over a kotatsu). As soon as I put down my bag, I fell on my face on the floor. I was so weak that my body felt like slime. What''s wrong, brother? ''I''m tired of everything.'' ''Move to the sofa or a kotatsu because you''re in the way. Your mother will be in trouble. ''Ugin doesn''t bother you?'' ''I''ll wear spikes to get through, I''ll be fine.'' ''You''re a ghastly ......'' With all his strength, he stood up and fell down on the sofa. ''Ugin, you''re a man of words, aren''t you? ''What''s the matter? You just came out of nowhere. ''I suddenly remembered something you said to me once. It''s enlightening. ''I don''t think I''m saying anything too silly like you, brother. ''All right, give me some words of wisdom about love. ''Yeah, I don''t know. ''Just a quick thought. ''Yeah... I don''t think so... I don''t think so...'' ''Just say it.'' Only those who fall in love without expectation know true love. Friedrich von Schiller''. ''Sensei is cool. ......'' My sister''s face, which had been relaxed into a smile, tightened up and she said those words of wisdom. I think our personalities are becoming more and more similar. I began to worry. At the very least, I want Ugin to become a great person. ......! The next day, I bumped into Kanzawaguchi-senpai in the shoe box. Good morning. Good morning, comet. You look sleepy as usual. He stretched out his back and groaned. Thanks for yesterday. Yudai understood. ''Well, that''s good to hear. ''Please tell me that we were never in a relationship. It may be hard to explain to people around you, but thank you. I''m used to it. So, senior. How did you know Alina''s secret? ''''You mean personalities?'''' ''That''s right.'' ''Eavesdropping~'' ''...... Really?'' ''Don''t look so scared. You''ll make me cry. ''Your senior''s crying face was cute. ''Your face is scary...... but it''s true about eavesdropping. I was running away from Yudai and happened to pass by that former teacher''s office when I heard it. There was supposed to be no one there, but there were men and women, you know? I was curious.'''' ''''Have you told anyone?'''' ''I didn''t. I''m not going to tell you. And about fixing Alina-chan--'''' This is it. I cooperated with Kanzawaguchi-senpai to hear this story. There''s no convenient cure. ''''Yes?'''' You mean you were deceiving me? So don''t look so scared. It''s not like I scratched you or anything, okay? You don''t know for sure if a mental illness is cured. Dual personalities are even worse. Then I ask you, on what basis can you say you''ve been cured? ''Is it a single ...... personality or something?'' ''Are you sure about that? The personalities that get erased aren''t fake, okay? That personality might become desperate because it''s afraid of being erased, you know? And how do you know it''s one personality?'''' I don''t know. It''s not a cure, it''s an adaptation. Dual and multiple personalities always suffer from anxiety about not fitting in, unconnected relationships, a diluted identity, and an unstable psyche. Having someone to lean on helps to bury some of the anxiety. They need someone who understands them, you know? Someone who doesn''t treat me like a freak. The reason for the dual personality is different for each person, but you should not try to overcome the trauma. You will become more unstable. Mr. Kanzawaguchi was more serious than ever. Do you understand? What I''m going to do now.'' ''...... support Alina?'' ''That''s a matter of course. You need to nurture Alina''s sense of security, and sincerely talk to her about her worries and concerns. That''s all you need to do. Talking is very important. You don''t have to do anything else. You don''t have to do anything unnecessary. Looking back on my past, I see now that I was about to do something terrible. I thought that one solution was to unify our personalities. And Alina and the others seemed to want it, so I took them at their word. I''m glad I didn''t think about the specifics, but I almost did something terrible to Alina. Maybe I should go to the hospital after all. Thank you very much. How do you know so much?'' ''I went to a relative''s doctor and asked him about it. I didn''t intend to deceive Comet-kun from the beginning. ''I''m sorry. I felt cheated. ''That''s terrible. But I''m glad I could be of help to you. She''s a good girl. ''That''s why I''ve been staying at school after school. If you need any help, let me know. I''ll go out with you. Thanks. She poked my chest with her fingertips and walked away. I wished that one day he would be reunited with the person he had been thinking of. I also wished that Yudai would correct his eccentric views on love. 71-forgetting the year of a crane... It was December 22, the day before winter vacation. The weather was clear, but the air was dry and dry, and it was cold and stiff. Tomorrow is the long-awaited winter vacation. It will be a vacation for the time being. It would be perfect if it weren''t for homework and all that crap. I''ll be released from this prison after the closing ceremony this afternoon, but I''m so anxious to get out of here that time seems to move a little slower than I''d like. It''s only the second period. Lunch is still far away. Only a little more than a week remains in this year. Next year I will be a senior in high school. And the hellish life of entrance examinations will begin again. I''m a science person by nature, so I chose the science course. I chose engineering, biology, geology, and so on. I decided to take the engineering course because it matched my grades. Makoto chose the liberal arts, and Tsuru was also in the liberal arts. Hakuna is also a liberal arts major, and Alina is also a liberal arts major. This phenomenon of the humanities flourishing not only around me but also in the whole school year was such a tendency. For some reason, there were few science majors. This did not mean that the class was completely divided into science and humanities, but it did not seem to have anything to do with them. The classes are held at the same time, and the students move from one classroom to another. The common courses will be taken in the same class as usual. I do not know what kind of classes I will be in, but in this high school with a large number of students, I am sure that I will meet many people for the first time. I will miss my friends who will be in other classes, but I am looking forward to meeting new people. During a short break, I was playing with a rolling can of tomato juice when Nidotsuru came bouncing up and down. You''re in a good mood,'' he said. ''I got good grades on my final exam! Congratulations on being first in your grade. I don''t need to look at the rankings to know you''re a crane. ''I''m glad I was able to keep my pride~'' ''Well, I noticed at the student assembly that you''re in charge of the secretary again. I thought a first-year student would do it. ''It''s easy. I definitely don''t want to be president or vice president. ''I think it looks good on you. ''Because you can''t wear out the uniform, can you? It''s not in my character to wear it well.'' ''As long as you''re in the student council, I don''t think it matters if you''re the secretary. ''''It''s okay! I don''t get out in the public eye as much as the president or something! ''Well, I guess I tolerate him because of his genius skin. ...... If Tsuru was just a gal, it would be a different story.'' ''Kyapi ''. It''s like a little gal with a big hairy face. Aaaaaaah, cute and cutesy. A little cuter than me. ''It''s so humiliating. I''m pretty popular, you know? Tsuru is certainly one of the best JKs who have been given enough attention to be included in the ranking of the best JKs by boys. At first glance, she looks like a girl who is not good at multiplication and division, but in fact, she is the most brilliant and talented girl in this school year. I wonder if she is an idol. She must have come to me because she has something to do. So, what do you want? ''Can''t I approach the comet without a reason?'' ''Of course not. You can jump into my chest anytime you want. ''No thanks. ''I''m sorry, sir.'' ''Mm-hmm. Hey, how about a year-end party of some sort?'' ''''Year-end party?'''' ''Oh, you don''t know the kanji. You know, it''s ...... and it means the year of forgetting.'' ''I''m a person who breathes and drinks water, too. I can count from one to a hundred and I can read the alphabet. I know that much. ''Sorry. I didn''t know.'' I don''t know how you''ve been able to interact with me without feeling uncomfortable.'''' She deliberately held her hand out with a pursed motion at her mouth, and a look of agitation came over her face. Tsuru seems to enjoy making fun of me. (according to Alina). ''You''re talking about getting together with your classmates?'' ''Oh, yeah. We''re planning to invite our friends and get together for dinner somewhere! And invite Makoto and the others! And definitely invite Alina. Okay? You have to invite me, okay?'''' ''That''s what you asked me to do, isn''t it? ''Yes, but... If Comet comes, Alina comes, too. That''s the only reason I''m inviting you. Don''t be smug, okay?'''' ''Koooooooooooooooooooooo It stings my heart oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! Harsh!'' ''I''m just kidding! Just kidding! I really, really like comets, don''t you?'''' ''That''s not good. Okay, I''ll ask him out. ''M...... something doesn''t add up. Anyway, please? Before I knew it, Tsuru naturally called me ''Alina'' instead of ''Alina-san''. Alina would go to the party even if I didn''t tell her to. Arina has definitely changed. I think Tsuru and Shirana know that very well. Or is there some kind of barrier unique to girls? In any case, it seems like fun to get together and talk. It must be a fresh sight to see everyone in uniforms gathered together in plain clothes. I''ve been wanting to see Alina in her plain clothes again, so this is a good opportunity. I''ll ask Makoto to join us for now. ''Hey, Takane Makoto.'' ''What''s the matter with your formal way of talking? ''Don''t tell anyone, okay? Actually, Tsuru''s been gathering rebels. ''...... What? Is this high school over?'''' ''I hear you. I''m going to cry to Alina that she''s being bullied by the comet. d*mn you, hell-ears. You''re not only sharp in the head but also in the senses. The truth is that Tsuru wants to have a year-end party. He''s in the middle of gathering people. So I''d like to invite you and Ryuuka. ''Great! Do you know when?'''' ''Hold on a minute. Tsuru! Elder cranes! ''Because it''s a gnat! What?'' ''''Is there a set schedule?'''' ''We will adapt to the convenience of the participants! ''So they say. I guess that means I should report the days I''m free. ''Okay. I''m in. I''ll talk to Ryuka. Please.'''' How will Makoto spend his winter vacation? I wonder if she''s going to have a lot of dates with Ryuka during the winter break. Sounds like she''s busy. By the way, I''m planning to "rot on the sofa. I''m going to spend my winter vacation writing end-of-year programs in my brain. Some people will criticize me for being wasteful, or for getting out of the house. But unfortunately, not thinking or doing anything is the best time for me. When I thought about who I should invite next, the people from the club who helped me in the project of Alina''s rehabilitation came to my mind immediately. So I invited Shinji Miyazaki, the head of the art club who had previously used Alina as a model. It feels like it happened a long time ago. ''Really? That was months ago, remember? When Comet brought Alina, I wondered what would happen, but everyone was concentrating on their sketches. I also lost myself in the drawing. It was great to watch. It''s amazing how talented people are. ''...... Can I ask you to do it again? There is a strong demand from the club members to paint Alina again. If it''s not too much trouble, I''d like to ask you to do it. ''Alina will be at that year-end party, so ask her. It''s okay. Alina is more rounded than she used to be, and you can have a good conversation with her. ''Yes, I''ll ask him. Alina, you''ve changed. Is it because of the comet? ''You know. I think he''s finally getting the nutritional support he needs to reach his mental age. ''I wonder where I''ve been putting my nutritional needs: ......'' I''m sure it''s your tongue skills. I invited the head of the newspaper club, the tea ceremony club, the tennis club, and so on. When I mentioned the year-end party to him, he said, ''Tsuru asked me about it. The first time I saw him, he replied, "I''m not a good person. When I told him the name of the person I had invited, his face clouded over in frustration. You look like you''re in a recession. Is it the strong yen? ''...... Alina asked you out?'' ''I''m going to ask her out after school.'' He let out a sigh of relief and returned to smiling as brightly as a sunflower again. ''''Yes! Good job, comet! Keep it up!'''' ''Alina, you should have asked me out.'' ''You tomato addict! Read the air a little bit! ''Thank you for the honorific title of honor.'' ''Comets are ineffective when they curse. I thought you weren''t good at old Japanese? Can I recite The Tale of Genji?'''' ''Don''t. You''ll die.'' The morning classes were finally over and it was time for lunch. Thanks to my advice, Makoto now eats lunch with Ryuka. I am glad to see her so happy. Ryuka''s cheeks are slightly pink and she seems to be still not used to it. The same goes for Makoto. With that as a snack, I open my tomato juice, take a sip, and open my lunch box. About ten minutes before the lunch break was over, everyone started to move to the gymnasium where the closing ceremony was to be held. We flowed into the gymnasium with the flow of people. When I found the line for my class, I went into the last row. I was always in the back of the line because of the order of our backs. It was the same in elementary school and junior high school. Alina was diagonally in front of me on my left. She brought a scarf to the closing ceremony, too. Hey, you little rose with a sharp tongue... ''Shut up. Who''s making that Mosquito noise? ''Too difficult for a throat that can''t even produce soprano anymore''. ''Oh, my. It''s you. What a surprise. ''Yes. Comet Sakakiki. We''re having a year-end party over winter break. Just the two of you? I never said ''the two of us. This isn''t a year-end party anymore. Let''s just get together and talk. Tsuru''s planning it. You coming too? ''Yes, I''m coming. ''Yes, sir. Tsuru will arrange the date and time, so just wait. And take off your scarf. You''ll stand out. "If you take the scarf off, I''ll--I''ll die, you know? ''What''s with the self-defeating threats? ''You''ll die if you lick my cold feet. I''m not cold. ''...... I hope you go to hell.'' ''Excuse me! I''m Pokataro, with a warm body temperature, so I don''t understand the whole "cold" thing! Poor Alina! I wish I could share the pain with you! ''You''ll be getting plastic surgery in the near future. Alina is probably going to smash my face in with a large hammer used by the special forces of the police force. Laughing. Tsuru will be happy that I invited Alina. Then there was Hakuna, whom I was a little reluctant to talk to. She had just received a serious confession. I will ask her after the closing ceremony. 72-JK and JC languages... After the representative teacher educated us on how to spend the winter vacation, the closing ceremony ended with a few words from the principal. The students walked in disorder toward the exit at the rear of the gymnasium when they were told to disperse. In the flood of people, I spotted Alina and spoke to her. ''Can you do me a favor? ''What? I want you to invite Shirana and the others to the year-end party. It''s hard for me to invite them. ......'' ''...... huh. How long are you going to hold out on me? You''re so small for a man of your size. ''I''m sorry ...... but I haven''t talked to Shirana since that thing.'' That''s when she called me to her ex-rose garden and confessed her feelings for me. Since that day, I have not exchanged a word with Shirana, except for a few brief exchanges of nods. This is partly because of the contract with Mr. Kanzawaguchi, my senior, which restricted my activities. I wish I could say so, but the truth is that we have been avoiding each other. My first words do not come to my mind, let alone clear my throat. My throat tightens and my spit almost flows backwards, and I cover it up with awkward nods of the head. I can''t help it. ''Hmmm...''... ''Um, could you do me a favor? ''Okay, but...'' ''Good. I''ll take care of it. ''But I have a condition. ''Anything.'' ''Come on, stop feeling guilty about Shirana. She said cutting him off. ''I feel sorry for Shirana if you''re like that. She might regret not confessing to you, you know? ''I know that, too, but ......'' ''You don''t understand. You don''t understand a millimeter of Shirana''s courage. Are you really human? ''I have Japanese citizenship, so I''m probably recognized as a human being. ......'' Alina sighed deliberately three times, ''Shirana is going to ask you out, but be firm, okay? I''m in a position where it''s hard for me to ask you out too.'''' ''......? Why not? ''You f*cking dullard! Remember why you said no! The reason I said no. Why I didn''t accept Shirana. It''s because I didn''t have romantic feelings for her and because of Alina''s ....... ''Woaaaah!!!! Shut up, you''re embarrassing me! She slapped me hard as I went crazy. Let''s keep these feelings to ourselves. I''m going crazy. Alina will behave in an uncharacteristic manner. Back in the classroom, I think about it calmly and wonder how well we understand each other. I told Alina I liked her on the spur of the moment, but I think I made it somewhat unclear by adding the other Alina''s name shortly afterwards. Let''s keep our true feelings a mystery. If I had said so, it would have destroyed the free relationship between the two of us. I wonder how Alina feels about it. But whatever it is, I''m sure we like the distance we have now. I think she simply doesn''t want to move any closer or further away. ''Oh dear. ......'' I never thought I would have such complex and sensitive feelings. After the closing ceremony, the students began to sort out their belongings, forgetting about the winter cold. I, a professional student who went home, had brought everything home the day before, so I put the can in my mouth and downed a glass of tomato juice with ease. I waited for my homeroom teacher to come back, wondering what next year would bring. I went home without doing anything, especially after school. I''m home! ''Shut up. Welcome home, brother. I''m off for about two weeks from today. I really wish I had two years'' worth. Two years at home is not so bad, I thought, since I can merge with my bed, but I''m going to miss my skin. I should not stay in the house because Ugin would be worried more than anything else and she would clam up when she is asked about her siblings at school. It was too much trouble to even go back to my room, so I dove into the sofa still in my school uniform. I lay my entire body on the couch as if my whole body had turned into a thick fluid. Beyond weakness, my metabolism has stopped and the chemical reactions in my body have become unmotivated. I want to melt. As if to trample on my desire, my sister sat on my back on her stomach. Don''t take the couch all to yourself. I feel like I''m going to break my spine. You''re making a disgusting noise. ''It''s okay. It will grow back. ''It''s not a lizard''s tail, and what kind of a mystery of life is it that it grows after it''s broken? We gave in halfway and sat down together. ''I can''t wait for summer vacation. ''''Isn''t next summer vacation for you, brother, studying?'''' ''Don''t, don''t be too realistic right now. It''s terrible that winter vacation has just arrived. I''m sorry. Do you have any plans for winter break? ''Yes, I do. I''m going to get together with my classmates and look back on the year. ''''Like a year-end party?'''' ''Yes. I''m very happy that my sister is smart.'' ''I don''t like it when people treat me like I''m smart just because I''m smart. I don''t know. ''On the other hand, do you have any plans for Ugin?'' All my friends are taking exams, so I hardly have any. I do go to Hatsumode, though. ''Good. My brother would have been furious if I had said I was going on a date. ......'' I don''t have a boyfriend. But he told me a few times.'' ''What the hell ......? What''s the point of trying to date in middle school ......? First of all, who are these people who approached you ......? I''m gonna pull your liver out and feed it to the plankton, you bastard. ......'' ''I know it''s unwilling, but I didn''t think it would make sense for me to go out with you now either. I''m your sister after all. ''Of course. Don''t follow your instincts too much. The difference between humans and animals is that we have a second self that suppresses our instincts. ''Yes, yes, difficult, difficult. Look, a farmer is introducing his crops on TV. ''Whoa! Show the tomatoes! I don''t care about cucumbers, I want tomatoes! It was after twenty-two o''clock. I was reading Heinlein''s The Door into Summer. I told Ugin that I missed summer vacation, and I had a sudden urge to read The Door into Summer. As I was lying on my bed reading, my phone buzzed at the climax of the book. It was a message from Alina. I invited you. She''s going. Short and concise, just what you want to say. It''s very Alina. I decided to make fun of her, so I left the room and knocked on Ugin''s door. Can I come in? ''Yes.'' Ugin was still awake. I immediately explained about the year-end party and the message Alina had sent. Ugin raised his eyebrows a little in disbelief, as if something had suddenly happened. I asked him if he could use his JC power to make a chaotic text for me. I want you to reproduce the language written by that guy whose brain seems to be made of tofu, full of emoticons and emojis. I wanted to see how Alina would react if I sent it to her. ''Are you trying to say I''m tofu, brother? Terrible, gusun''. ''Ugin is my goddess, so don''t be like that. Now, make it.'' ''Oh, yeah, yeah, okay. Give it to me. Ugin took my phone and started flicking it at high speed. If there was a flicking test, I think Ugin would get first class. He was that fast and mechanical. Here you go. ''Thanks. Let''s see...'' I''m looking forward to the year end party I''m really looking forward to the homework...(crying face emoji) but let''s both do our best ( ) I can''t wait to see you (heart) (heart) (heart) )" ''This is bad. ...... Japanese is broken. ......'' ''Is that so? I think it''s a valid Japanese language! No, this is amazing. It''s like seeing the Cyrillic alphabet for the first time. ''Aren''t you going to send it?'' ''Send send send. Here we go, send! Radio waves--rush through the air! ''You don''t have to say that, it will be delivered. I finished sending it. I wonder how they will react. Just as I was about to leave Ugin, Alina called me. Ugin grinned and stretched up to put his face close to my ear. I considerately put her on speaker. Hello, this is Sakakiki. ''Are you all right? I called because your message was a little strange. If you''re having trouble, talk to me. ''What? No, not particularly. I wish. I hope you''re all right. Are you sure you''re okay? ''Wait, wait, wait. I''m just kidding. I was just asking Ugin to hit me to see how I would react. ''......'' ''? Hey.'' "...... kills." ''''Yeah.'''' The phone went dead. It was a pattern of concern. I feel bad for making fun of Alina''s conscience, but she was really worried about me, so I was scared. Alinan, I''m so sorry. I''m sorry you got a death threat. Have you erased your computer and phone history? ''Hey, hey, hey, Sister. It''s as if there''s something you don''t want me to see. ''I thought the conversion suggestions on my phone were a little weird.'' ''f*ck''. ''Prohibited broadcast term! Alina. Come and kill me now. We''ll die together. I''m dying of shame. Ugin said, ''Hmm. Hmm. Hmm? He cornered me with a mean look, sniffed triumphantly, and closed the door. Unauthorized use of a cell phone is absolutely prohibited. 73-The Pierrot and the Pierretta... The first day of winter vacation, December 23. I woke up at eleven o''clock. The reason why I get up at this time is because I don''t want to feel cold in the morning. It is a good thing that I can get out of the futon safely when it is almost noon because the temperature rises to some extent, and it also contributes to the reduction of the Sakakikis'' food cost by cutting breakfast. I am sure that healthy people who advocate going to bed early and getting up early will object to my lifestyle. But I dare to say this. For me, getting up early is the most stressful thing to do. Well, I don''t care about that, and I don''t really care what anyone else says. After breakfast and lunch, I retired to my room again, warmed the happiness of living in my heart, and started to nurture it in my futon. It''s the best thing I''ve ever done. The relief of being able to sleep endlessly without any worries. Be forever. Boom, boom. The door is roaring. This house is supposed to have poltergeist-like phenomena. I hope the self-aggrandizing spirit dies immediately. I close my eyes. ''Brother. Help me shovel the snow! The door can''t talk. Where in the world are the vocal cords and lungs? So I must be hearing things in my ears. The music I listened to before going to bed must still be surging in my brain, creating auditory hallucinations. I decided to ignore it. ''Hey, bro. Help me shovel snow! Shoveling snow doesn''t really change anything. It''s going to come down again anyway. You can''t get your lost stamina back. It''s not cold, so let''s shovel. It''s cold, that''s why it snows. No. I''m never going. ''Ugh. I''m gonna cry. ...... I jumped out of bed. ''Okay. Let''s go shovel with my brother.'' Thanks. You''re a piece of work.'' Oh, for God''s sake. Don''t make me cry. I opened the door to find Ugin standing there in full winter gear. There were snowflakes around his waist, falling to the floor and quickly melting and disappearing, as if the snowflakes themselves had died to show how warm the room was. Is it piling up? ''Yes. It''s too hard for me to do it alone, so please help me. Winking at Ugin. To others, it''s a smiling brotherly love. But to me, the person involved, it was clouded by deploration and concern. Deploring was my anger at the fact that he had deprived me of the time I could thoroughly relax without seeming to take it personally. How dare you trample on my blissful time? Winter and summer vacations are synonymous with the time before kindergarten when you are promised freedom in all things. Take that time ......! But he could not resist his sister''s threats of tears. My concern was that she might be approached by some crazy guy. My sister is one of the prettiest girls in my opinion. I had assumed that she would be a single woman in her twenties or forties in the future, because she made a lot of jokes similar to mine, probably because of her genes, but through casual conversation, I learned that she is surprisingly popular. It is interestingly annoying when I think about the idea of my sister becoming someone else''s man. I wonder if it''s the feeling of a father coming for his daughter. I must reprimand him if he is winking here and there. You''re attracting flies. After putting on my Eskimo-like warm-up gear, I start shoveling with Ugin. The sun is hidden by a light grayish overcast, and the snow shows no sign of melting. I crunched and crunched my way through the snow, peeling off the hardened snow as I broke up the dreaded snow. I sift through the white carpet that lines the human corridor like a soldier digging a trench, blowing away the snow with my snow shovel. You son of a b*tc*! Who do you think I am shoveling snow for? Ugin Sakakiki. It''s your fault. Snow is never bad. You don''t have to look like that if you''re going to do it. ''Let the snow disappear from the world. ''Then we''ll have to move to Kenya! I''ll help! I have to tell my mom! ''Don''t do it. At least give me a break by going south to Okinawa.'' I finished shoveling (or ran away) and poured a 720ml bottle of tomato juice into a glass in the living room, enjoying the ultimate in post-work pleasure. (Excellent ......) I wonder if this will be wine when I grow up. Well, no. Tomatoes for sure. The TV was showing a special program reviewing the events of the past year, and I was watching it intently. Ugin is still out there. He stopped shoveling snow in the middle of the day and started building a snowman even though he will be a freshman in high school next year, so I guess he is still in the process of building it. That''s why I ran away. A casual glance at social networking sites shows Makoto''s top page with a two-shot photo of Ryuka and him. The mood is pretty good. And then I received a message from Makoto at the perfect time. I thought I was being watched. Where do you think I should go for Christmas with Ryuka? I ignored him and licked my tomato juice. I pretended I didn''t see it. A few minutes later I got a call from Makoto. Why are you ignoring me? I''m sorry, I didn''t notice. I''m sorry, I didn''t notice. (Are high school students now expected to be smartphone addicts at the level of noticing messages as soon as they come in?)" Where do you think Christmas is the best time to go?" I hung up as if nothing had happened. You''re on your own. Don''t ask me in the first place. You''ll show that you don''t know much about love. No, the last time you were at the aquarium. Is this guy making fun of me? Does Makoto Takane feel a kind of status in having a girlfriend and look down on those who don''t? If so, he must be executed. The phone beeped again. Why did you hang up? ''Sorry. My hand slipped. ''Seriously, please! Please give me some ideas! ''Saudi Arabia would be nice. "Are you watching the special on comet ......, too?" Just now, the TV was reporting on Saudi Arabia''s oil business. ''I''m not going to help you this time. I won''t leave the room if it''s useless. ''Oh, no. ......, we''re friends at heart, aren''t we? ''Ask Tsuru. I''m sure she''ll know all about it. ''I don''t have an email address, number, or line ......'' ''On foot. Use the last means of communication. ''Tell me about it. ......'' I had no choice but to give him my account. On Christmas Day, couples show up all over town. They will enjoy a meal at a fashionable restaurant, and the night view will make their hearts beat faster. By the way, the Sakakikis are having a cake party. I wonder what kind of cake Ugin will make this year. She is so good at baking cakes that she makes my taste buds roar. A few minutes after I hung up the phone, Tsuru called me again. I told you to tell Makoto, didn''t I? Oops. It seems that Makoto asked me right away. I thought, ''Tsuru is the best in this kind of thing. Tell him. I sent him a ''no,'' and he sent me a stamp with a crying face. Isn''t that creepy? That''s definitely creepy. I feel like my stomach juices are coming out of my nose. Just answer me with a reasonable answer. Then I''ll believe you. I sent him a love hotel, handsome. I blew tomato juice. Ugin was back in the living room and said, ''Ogaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah! My brother is dying! He''s vomiting blood! I screamed. What is this little girl talking about? A love hotel? And to use the word "love hotel" so readily when addressing me, a man, isn''t Tsuru-san''s sense of chastity a little dangerous? It''s a little misleading. Maybe you''ll think the crane has a crush on me. I flick my mind back to the quiet lakeside. With a heart as flat as possible, trying to be poetic, with beautiful, unclouded words. He will be so pleased. '' I sent it. Okay, no more Makoto. It was around 3:00 in the afternoon. Ugin came knocking again. Mom said she had to go shopping. ''Wow! Why do you say such heartless things? (Japanese man)'''' ''Your tone sounds like a foreigner''s reaction. ''What''s up with me shopping? ...... The Sakaki family seems hell-bent on getting rid of me. ......'' ''Mom said we''re almost out of tomato juice. She said I could buy some on my way to the store. I''m going. I''m going shopping.'' ''Maybe I should go...'' No. I''ll go shopping. ''Well, you''ll have to carry my luggage, won''t you? ''Okay. You can push me into anything. I put on my trench coat to protect myself from the cold and venture outside for the second time today. I walk with Ugin to the supermarket. ''I have a list of things to buy,'' he says. Please.'''' It''s like we''ve been transported back in time. That''s how I feel when I''m working with Ugin. At the same time, the pressure of not being able to return to the past is starting to feel very heavy. I know this is a well-known fact. Arrive at the supermarket. I shoved my basket into the cart and prepared for battle. Thanks, bro. That''s very kind of you to help me, I''m so fragile. ''I''d do anything for a glass of tomato juice. ''''Oh yeah.'''' Ugin led the way, looking at the note, and I followed at a sluggish pace behind him. My sister tossed mayonnaise, meat, and triangular nets one after another without hesitation. She understands the structure of this supermarket perfectly. She can probably handle it even if I blindfold her. She turns the corner and reaches for the merchandise with her eyes down to the memo paper as if she were walking on her cell phone. I could never pull off such a feat. I''m confident I can break all the eggs. The housewife would probably tear me to pieces. At the last minute, she gives me the right to choose tomato juice. My mother always buys the large plastic bottles because she uses them for cooking. I reached for it without hesitation. I finally got my hands on some ....... Don''t go home and drink it all. Your mother uses it for cooking too. ''Hang in there. Trust me. ''If you can''t, just slit your wrists and sip it. ''Oops, Uginchuwaan ......'' I left the cart with Ugin and waited on the other side of the cash register. I wait on the other side of the cash register, bagging up the food offerings after paying for them. (Ugin will make a good wife. ......) Well, if she becomes my wife. If she brings up the idea of an engagement, my father and I will have a long look at her. If they''re not right, I''ll kick their asses and kick them out. Just don''t get me into surgery. What a coincidence. What? Shirana was there. Her sudden appearance left me speechless. I was speechless. We live close to each other, so it wouldn''t be surprising if we bumped into each other.'''' It''s a fair point, but it''s too natural for me to talk to you after so long, I''m afraid. In fact, Shirana is talking so normally that it''s funny that I''m surprised. Are you going to the year-end party of Tsuru? Oh, yeah, let''s go. How can a person who was asked to gather people by Tsuru not go? ''I see. I thought Alina and Tsuru were planning it. ''He can''t act in such a coordinated manner. ......'' It''s been better lately, though. ''...... hey, comet. You don''t have to worry about me, okay? I''m refreshed.'' ''Eh.'' ''It''s a little frustrating, though! Shirana gave a threatening yelp, then rolled over and smiled quickly. I''m sorry about that. ''Oh, God! So it''s okay! As for me, it''s harder to be cared for, you know?'''' ''...... sorry.'' ''''God d*mn it! Then Shirana put her forehead against my chest. She didn''t hug me. She was just leaning forward a little and letting a small part of her weight rest on me. She looked up quickly. ''Will you tell me your love story at the New Year''s Eve party? I might go into a jealous frenzy, though! With these words, Hakuna left. I was so nervous! You made me a little nervous. Calm down, my heart. Look at the clock and calm down. After paying the bill, Ugin appeared with a villainous grin on his face. I stuffed my food into the plastic bag without a care in the world, knowing I''d step on a landmine if I tried to talk him out of it. Shit. Ugin''s smirk keeps popping into view, and it''s annoying. If I''m a clown, Ugin is a pieretta. You clown. Reset your expression. "Hey, hey, hey, brother. ''Wait for me. Big brother is currently stuffing his meat. If you tear the vinyl with your fingernail, it will lose its freshness, so please don''t talk to him now. ''It''s Shirana-san from earlier, right? Hey? Hey?'''' ''Yes, I am, but...'' ''It looked like courtship to me. Maybe I''m hallucinating. ''Of course not. No rational higher creature would do such a thing in a public place. ''Amazing! My brother was human! Let''s go home. With plastic bags in both hands, he strode out of the supermarket. Ugin was in a good mood and skipped around the neighborhood singing a very disgraceful song, ''Fukurin Fukurin My brother is an adulterer ''. Fall down, you bastard! By the way, I went to bed early that day. 74-Everything will be fine.... The events of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, when people go out with their loved ones in the city, did not happen, and each day ended as a normal day with the sun rising and setting. Sad, isn''t it? I''m not sad. It''s the world I want. On the contrary, Ugin seems to be out and about in the cold temperatures. He buys me sweets to make me feel sorry for him. I thankfully accept them and spend my days as a machine to consume sweets. As usual, Ugin''s homemade cakes were delicious. My mother and Ugin baked the cake together, while my father and I watched TV in the living room with our own drinks (tomatoes and wine). I wonder who I inherited my tone of voice and personality genetically. My father is taciturn and my mother is calm. However, Ugin and I are as boisterous as clowns. Especially me. Ugin is still better, but he is showing signs of it and I am worried about him these days. Okay, let''s call me and Ugin a mutation. Sometimes I wonder how he is doing. I''ve been hanging out with Alina since the fall, and I''ve gotten to know her a lot, but I don''t know what she does on her days off. I don''t really care what other people do on their days off, but what Alina does on hers is a little curious. I wonder if she reads, which is her hobby. Or does she spend her time playing with her smartphone like a high school girl nowadays? Is she seriously doing her homework? When I start thinking about Alina, I can''t stop. It seems that her presence has grown so large in my mind. If she finds out, she will play with me. Tomorrow I will know how she is spending her time. Tomorrow, the 27th, is the day of the gathering Tsuru has planned. We decided on an all-you-can-eat yakiniku restaurant, and it was a good thing that the price was friendly to high school students. We get under a kotatsu and warm ourselves with zoni. I want to be a NEET!) I wished earnestly. It would be possible if I had enough saved up so that I didn''t have to work. I would not become a NEET, but I would like to avoid working. Some people say that I shine when I am working. That''s bullshit. It''s not what you think, it''s what I think. Of course I want to take as much time off as possible to do what I want to do. Don''t hit my foot, brother. I''ll crush it. ''Put the remote down. Calm down.'' It''s the annual battle of positions that takes place inside the kotatsu. It seems that my legs, which are one size bigger than hers, are a considerable obstacle for Ugin, and when I move a little, my legs collide with her thin legs. I have no malice toward her. I am rather considerate of her. However, my feelings are not being reciprocated, and Ugin''s hostility is growing stronger and stronger. ''You''re not allowed to stretch out your legs. Do you want me to sit on the floor?'' ''If you''re sitting on the floor, it''s fine. ''If I sit on the floor, my knees would come out of the kotatsu. ''It''s good for your toes to warm up.'' ''At least the entire lower half of your body ......'' ''I''ll crush you, okay?'' ''All right, put the remote down. I don''t know what you''re talking about. "Skull and cervical vertebrae. ''You should say "head and neck" like a cute little girl. You''re scaring me. ''Shut up, brother. Then do your best to avoid contact with me. A truce was signed, and I once again put my hands to the soup. This is the only time of year I get to eat zoni. I don''t have time to deal with my sister, who''s on the verge of losing a screw. Aren''t you going out with your friends? ''We''re students preparing for the exams, after all. Everyone is studying.'' ''That''s right. It''s too bad we can''t see each other more often in our last days of middle school. I''ll be free once the entrance exam is over. ''Yeah. As a recommendation group, we can only support them, so we have to be careful about what we say. If we say something bad, it might put pressure on them and have a bad influence on them. That''s why it''s impossible to get together. Ugin threw a tangerine peel in my face. I wonder if he wants to play. I mean, what''s the point? I was hit in the face with the scent of citrus, but I quickly held my face with my hand and the peel, preventing a hole-in-one into a bowl of miscellaneous food. ''......Well, just wait a little longer! He throws the skin back. But reflexively, Ugin guarded himself with a tray as a shield. ''Well, that''s that. You''re breaking out of jail tomorrow, aren''t you, brother? ''No, I''m going out. I''m not a prisoner. ''Sorry, you''re out of prison. ''No, I''m out. I don''t have a sentence or anything from the beginning. ''You have a date with Alina, don''t you? Are you going to put on makeup?'''' We''re not dating. If I put on makeup, I get questioned every five minutes. I know, right? I guess it''s better to use Photoshop instead of makeup. ''Because it''s not digitized. Because it''s authentically real. After finishing my zoni, I went to the kitchen to wash the dishes. I went to the kitchen to get away from Ugin. Avoiding her ridicule is a difficult task. Running away is the best way to win. I went back to my room and opened my phone to find a message from Makoto. Let''s meet up tomorrow and go. Go with Ryuka," I sent. Why would she want to go with this guy when she has a boyfriend? I don''t understand. I let my mind wander for a while and remembered my exchange with Tsuru. I remembered my exchange with Tsuru, in which I recommended a love hotel as a dating area for Makoto and Ryuka. You didn''t really go there, did you? But that idiot would really believe it. And with Ryuka''s personality, she won''t be able to say no, which makes it even worse. d*mn, I''m starting to get the urge to kill him. She promised to go with her friends first. Well, then I guess I don''t blame you. Let''s go check to see if he really went. Did you spend Christmas with Ryuka? Sent. A few dozen seconds later, I got a reply right away. Yes! Is it a great success? I''ll thank the cranes!" What''s a big success? This is out of order. It''s on the level of a press embargo. Biologically? Sent. A reply came a little later. "Maybe?" Oh, no. Red rice, I guess. I replied with a random ''way, way'' and hung up. Next, I sent a message to Tsuru. Makoto seems to have really gone. I sent this. The reply came immediately. That''s too fast. Is this some kind of artificial intelligence? Or are today''s high school girls living in science fiction with augmented reality installed that displays information in the corner of their vision? You did it, handsome. What''s wrong with you, grade-school brainiacs? The Nidatsuru I know is the brightest, most articulate, impeccable high school girl I know. Where has she gone, Tsuru-san? Let''s hope Ryuka''s health doesn''t change. What? Why?'''' Reply . ''No, love hotel ......'' sent. ''Wow, that sucks. I''ll tell Alina. ''Wait, you''re the one! Sent. ''You wouldn''t really say that, would you? I was just suggesting a gift plan. Worst, worst, worst, worst, worst, worst, worst, worst, worst, worst, worst, worst, worst, worst, worst, worst, worst, worst, worst. I quietly put my phone on my desk. ''Phew. It was vibrating continuously, but I decided to ignore it. I''m sure he''s sending a lot of ''sucks''. Well, I''m not really going to say it. And I''m not going to go there. If you think about it calmly, you know it''s a joke. A sense of humiliation and overwhelming defeat washes over me. ''VAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA! I screamed. To drown the pain. I screamed. To forget my shame. I screamed. Like the citizens of the French Revolution. Aah! Sa ila, sa ila, sa ila! "Everything will be fine," he shouted. ''Shut up. Without knocking, Ugin opened the door and hit me clean in the face with a tangerine. If it had been a tomato, it would have exploded and I would have been covered in blood. I would have licked around my mouth and then wiped my face. ''Vaaaah! I''m desperate. I''m gonna scream my head off. Then Ugin opens my closet. He reaches in slowly and starts dropping clothes off one hanger after another. One by one, they were removed one by one from the end, and the bottom of the closet was covered with clothes. Next, he moved to the bookshelf and pulled them out one by one with his fingers, my beloved books spinning in an arc and falling on the floor. Oh my God, Ugin-chan is mad at me. He has no expression on his face, but he''s really pissed off. This is just like the time he turned all the furniture upside down in retaliation for entering Ugin''s room without permission. I got down on my knees. I got down on my knees and said, ''I''m sorry for the trouble I caused you! with the utmost apology. But Ugin pulled out the book as if he had lost all emotion, and next he began to remove the fluorescent light. I''ll buy you something tomorrow, please forgive me! With these words, Ugin''s fingers stopped snapping. ''Yes! I''m counting on you.'' Ugin Sakakiki, JC 3rd year, comes back to himself with a smile on his face. He left the room humming a tune as if nothing had happened. Clothes and books scattered about. The fluorescent light removed. It''s probably a good thing he didn''t yell at me or get violent, but it''s still a nasty punishment. ''Let''s clean this up: ......'' Let''s have a quiet day today so that we can face tomorrow with peace of mind. 75-year-end party... I was freezing on a bench in front of the station when Makoto finally arrived. If I had been five minutes later, I would have been pickled in ice. And like the mammoths of the Ice Age, thousands of years from now we''ll be stared at curiously by new intelligent life. I stood up. ''Yo, guys! ''I''m dying of cold. Let''s get the hell out of here. ''Right. Is everyone here already? ''I''m sure there will be cranes.'' It''s a restaurant near the station, a few minutes'' walk from here. The meeting starts at 17:00, and being a punctual person, I decided to be there 15 minutes before. I arrived exactly at 16:45. We arrived at the restaurant in no time, talking nonsense. I brushed the snow off the soles of my shoes at the door and entered the restaurant. Welcome! How many guests are there? I''m the one who had a reservation at Niwatari. The waiter looked over the reservation list, found the word "Niwatari," and immediately showed us to the restaurant. Tsuru and Alina were already seated at the table we were shown. ''You''re here already? ''I''m the organizer. Money. Tsuru was there as expected, but Alina was not. Alina held out her hand as if to say she would not speak a word to us unless we gave her money. What the hell is this guy? Is this the type of AI that won''t talk unless you pay for it? What a pain in the ass. ''Yes, for me and Makoto. Make sure. Apparently Alina is the treasurer. She mumbled, ''Yes, sure,'' and accepted it. Alina''s clothes, which I had expected, were surprisingly normal. A milky white sweater and jeans. It was as if the bizarre fashion I had seen at the aquarium was a lie; it was so natural. Well, the sweater''s attractive nature of accentuating the lines of the body is a good thing. Oh, my God, her expression is starting to turn grim. It is the cranes that are surprising. He is wearing a hoodie with a blood splatter pattern and messily scrawled English. He looks like an American gangster. When the cranes go to the bathroom, it''s to smoke. I''m calling the cops. Alina would probably kill me if I watched them any longer, so Makoto and I sit down a little ways away from them. It''s like a crane. ...... ''Yes, I guess so. You look like a mafia girl. I looked at the menu until everyone had gathered. Unfortunately, there was no tomato juice on the soft drink list. I had heard that there was an all-you-can-drink policy, so I asked myself, ''Maybe they have tomato juice? I had hoped that the world would not work out so well. Japan should promote tomato juice more. Tomato juice is healthier and tastes better than coffee, which is just charcoal dissolved in water, or tea, which is just tea with sugar sprinkled on it. As if to make fun of my state of mind, Makoto said to me, "They''re offering all-you-can-drink Sprite! He happily showed me the menu list. Did he forget that I am a tomato juice lover? Yes, he forgot. So, as if to drive me to despair, he points at the soft drinks on the menu. I was getting angry to the point of hallucination, and I really hallucinated. Tomato juice appeared before my eyes like a skater. The can I loved so much slid down the slide. You love it, don''t you? Alina muttered as she counted the bills. For a moment, I saw Alina Hinoha as the goddess Aprodite, one of the twelve Olympians in Greek mythology. My dissatisfaction with the numerous Alinas had evaporated, and only awe remained in my heart. I folded my hands and thanked her. ''Thank you, Goddess. ...... Makoto pretended to be a stranger to the public. Alina and Tsuru completely ignored her and started chatting together. It seems that even reverence is not allowed in this world. One after another, people arrived, and by 17:00, everyone was already there. There were 14 of us. Most of them were classmates of mine and Alina''s. We each ordered a drink of our choice, and when we had enough for everyone, the year-end party began. By the way, I ordered grapefruit juice. It''s good for fatigue. Tsuru stood up with a glass in his hand. Thank you for gathering here today! How is everyone spending their winter break? Sleep, watch TV, play with Ugin. It''s an endless loop. I''m sure they are having a great time. I''m sure the comet in the corner is spending his days sleeping and rotting. ''Of course not. The day before yesterday I was planting trees in the Australian desert. I even danced with the Aborigines. I''m so full of life I think I''m going to explode. I think I was playing chess with Ugin the day before yesterday. I remember losing in a heap. ''KANPAI! All right, cheers. The clinking of glasses started the year-end party. The meat arrives and I immediately use tongs to arrange it on the net. ''Ah, Comet, let me help you. ''Thanks Makoto. Please put the vegetables over there, too. Around Makoto and I were Toma Asakura, the head of the newspaper club, Shinji Miyazaki, the head of the art club, and Gento Meren, a member of the tea ceremony club. The five of us men are all standing around Makoto. We are a group of professionals from the newspaper club, art club, tea ceremony club, badminton club, and homecoming club. ''Next year will be the end of my high school life. ......'' Shinji muttered in a melancholy tone of voice as he looked at the sizzling meat. ''It''s the last year! Well, what''s everyone''s career path! Toma asks with the same energy. I''m going to go to college for fine arts. I''m going to be busy with exams next year. ''I''m taking exams too! I want a job in the media in the future! ''Humanities, maybe. Tea ceremony has nothing to do with it. I''m going to a vocational school to become a chef. Each seems to be moving forward with an eye on the future. I envied them because I had no idea what I wanted to do or what I was aiming for. What about comets? My parents want me to go to college, so I''m going to go into the sciences. I haven''t decided about my future yet. ''Well, there''s no rush. If you go to university, it will open up even more doors for you. ''I hope so. The meat was cooked well, and the group of men began to poke it with chopsticks. They all slurp ''yummy, yummy, yummy'' and keep popping the meat into their mouths. d*mn, if only we had some tomato juice ......, I thought, and then I remembered the tomato juice that the goddess Alina had given me earlier. I heard the sound of air leaking out and a faint smell of tomatoes wafting in the air. Phew, my nostrils are going crazy. I took a sip, and my whole body went numb. It''s so good! ''That''s great. Comets like that, don''t they? ''I can''t stop until I die. I whispered to Makoto as I felt better. ''Shall I let you sit next to Ryuka? ''What? No, you can''t! It''s no longer a girls'' night out next to each other. ''No problem. I can do anything now. ''I''m just worried ......'' ''Trust me.'' I started thinking without waiting for Makoto''s reply. Let''s be clear. The situation is grim. Me and Makoto on the seat side. Shinji, Toma, and Gento in the chairs. Next to Makoto are Yuri Hiiragi, Shirana Namiki, Ran Miyanaka, and Ryuka Miyanaka, who are the heads of the women''s tennis team, and between Makoto and Ryuka, there are three walls. The difficulty is high because these barriers have to be removed. Think of a way to bring them together in a natural way, Comet Sakakiki. You are in the best condition now. You can do seven-digit multiplication by heart, and your mind is so sharp that you can hear and respond to up to fifty voices. In this condition, winning the high school quiz is no more than a dream. And then I was struck by a revelation. I took the can in my hand and called out to Makoto. I''m going to pick up a girl. What? I stood up, climbed over Makoto, turned around, and sat down next to Ryuka. The girls looked at me as if they were looking at a filthy vermin at my sudden arrival. Hi, Ryuka! I see your Japanese beauty is still alive and well today. ''...... Thanks?'' The perceptive Ryuka seems to have caught on to my intentions. That''s the way it''s done, Ryuka Mimori. She''s not like the other girls. Especially with Arina in front of me. Look at her. She''s like a prosecutor confronting a criminal. I continued. ''What''s your favorite food, Ryuka? I''ll take you to a restaurant sometime, okay?'''' ''......? Food? Was this question too cryptic? I know it''s a dummy question, but did I confuse you? ''Hey, comet. What''s with you and picking on Ryuka?'' Serious Gyaru Tsuru made a comment to me. Okay, that''s good. Say more. Wait, Tsuru-kun. I''m talking to Ryuka. Will you stay out of this? Go pick up a ball in the outfield or something.'' ''I hope you''ll go away because the meat won''t taste so good. On a cellular level. ''Please leave me alone, Alina. I want to look at you and Ryuka and talk to you. Wow, I really feel like I can do anything. Oh my god. Makoto! Comet''s trying to get Ryuuka! Oh, no, no, no, no! Nice one, Tsuru! This trend is a pattern of Makoto changing places with me! But Makoto was in a seriously bad mood. He was staring at me with the same exclusive look as the girls. I wonder if this is how cancer cells are feeling when they are threatened by antibiotics. Comet. Get out of my way. One extremely emotionless and intimidating word. Makoto says this to me and halfway forcibly screws his ass between me and Ryuka. (It''s ok ...... this is ok ......) For a friend. I''m not afraid of being treated as a ''public enemy''. When I returned to my seat, I was surprisingly encouraged by the group of men. But for some reason, my plate was overflowing with meat. ''The comet did well. ......'' Shinji tapped me on the shoulder with a voice full of sympathy. Toma shook my hand. Gento brought me a cup of oolong tea. ''Thank you ...... thank you guys ......'' The world is not so bad. It''s a wonderful thing, this world, to be so moved by friendship. It''s really creepy. Alina said as if to throw up. 76-the condition of being unusual... I found myself sandwiched between Shirana and Yuri, an autonomous meat-grilling machine. With tongs, I arrange the meat on the net, watch it to make sure it doesn''t burn like a militiaman monitoring a drug field, and turn it over at just the right moment. They are forced to work in exchange for the tomato juice. It was worth it, so I agreed. The only problem is that I sit next to Yuri. I am prejudiced, but I had thought that girls eat little. With the exception of Alina, I had assumed that women in general do not eat much, but the girls'' chopsticks never stop. I wondered if it was just a coincidence that all of them were big eaters. ''You all eat a lot, don''t you? ......'' ''Really? I''m not so sure about that,'' Yuri said. It''s just that you have a small stomach,'' added Hakuna. ''I think it''s average. ...... Everyone moved to their seats and chatted among themselves, and the gender barrier seemed to have been broken down. It''s a sort of a mixer, and everyone seems to be getting along well. I thought I would spend the rest of my time chewing on hormones while sipping on tomato juice, but it seems the world is not as it seems. Ahhhh... An an. I love you so much~," Yuri said, thinking that she had started singing the theme song of Doraemon, the autonomous artificial intelligence, and I felt sorry for her. The reality, however, was a horrifying scene. Yuri brought a piece of meat to my mouth and said "ahhhh" in a sweet voice. Yes, the legendary ''ahhh''. A kind of supernatural phenomenon witnessed in anime, manga, and other creative works. It is a kind of love skinship between a man and a woman. Ordinary people would envy it as a reward. However, this act is based on the premise of great trust in one''s partner. Think about it. Yuri is holding the meat between her chopsticks and pointing them at me. Now, let''s see. This is where trust comes into play. Do I go to the table? Or will Yuri bring it to me? Be careful about both of us moving at the same time. If you don''t, you''ll knock my front teeth in and pierce my palate. That''s when an "ah-ha" turns dangerous. Don''t get me wrong, there''s no need to worry if you know each other well enough to be lovers. Don''t worry. They know each other well enough not to be concerned. Maybe. Unfortunately, Yuri and I are not like that. I mean, I''m on my deathbed. My palate, so to speak, will be skewered like a roasted chicken. I want to avoid it at all costs. I want to protect my throat fat by all means. Yuri is puzzled by her expressionless face ....... There is another reason why this ''ahhh'' is so bad. Yuri puts her mouth on the chopsticks, which are covered with Yuri''s bodily fluids, and the chopsticks make contact with the mucous membrane. This is what is commonly referred to as "indirect kissing. It is a restricted word that is highly irritating to men and women of sensitive age. I am about to engage in such graphic indirect contact, which is only allowed between lovers. It is so forbidden and sinful. Yuri is doing it to enjoy my reaction. Because she does not see me as an object of love, she does not reveal her passion like Ryuka or Hakuna, who are standing next to me with their hands clasped over their mouths and blushing, and there is not even a trace of her melting expression filled with love on her face. No, maybe Yuri is testing me? Are you testing whether I like Yuri or not? If I am ashamed, it means I am conscious of Yuri. If I eat it without hesitation, it means I''m not a mark. That''s what you''re saying, right? Then we''ll get to the point. I put the meat in my mouth with no emotion or expression on my face and kissed the girl indirectly for the first time. My first indirect kiss tasted like meat. Is it natural? Ryuka blushed and Shirana said A small shout. Tsuru burst out laughing, and Alina looked at her with a stony stare and licked her soft serve ice cream. Yuri smiled at her and picked up the cream again. I shuddered. Are you still testing me, ......?) Once you do it once, it should be black and white. I don''t have feelings for Yuri. What''s the point of this second time? Shit, I don''t know. Somebody get me the Kojien. Are they really just making fun of us, or are they just going through the motions? Okay, okay. Yuri Hiiragi is that kind of a guy. I''m just going with the flow. Ran poked me with a spoonful of ice cream as if to catch up with me even though I was in the middle of a brainstorming session. Wait a minute. Did the spoon come in contact with your mucous membrane? If so, am I indirectly kissing two girls at the same time? Oh, forgive me, God. I have bad lips. I have bad eyeballs. I''m a bad person. ''...... no more. You eat it. I said no. I should have done this from the beginning. No matter what Yuri thought of me, my life would not be ruined. It was a psychological battle. You look like me when I''m doing math. ''Really? I''m perfectly fine. I won''t be swayed by your temptations.'' ''Hmmm.'' Yuri ate the meat she was holding against me. Hey, hey! I put my mouth on that. Hmm? ''No, it''s nothing now...'' ''What the hell. You''re not being cool about it! That''s funny! ''Hyahaha! The Titans are upset! I''m upset! ''Hey, quiet, slut. Keep your dignity. No one could stop Tsuru, who was laughing with joy more than ever. Alina, the neighbor, seemed to be having a hard time. ''Well, I see that most of you are humanities majors. Shirana said so. ''I''m the only one in the humanities, aren''t I? ''Yeah. Are all the girls in the humanities?'''' Gento is a science major. Everyone except me and Gento is in the humanities.'' ''I''m surprised you took science. It''s so hard.'' ''No, no, no, Ms. Shirana. I''m a science student because I hate humanities subjects and I''m not good at them. Physics and chemistry are just many times better. Classical and Chinese literature. I don''t get it. "The only thing that hurts is that you two chose the humanities. I pointed at Alina and the crane. ''I thought I could count on you two if I couldn''t figure it out. I''m going to miss them. ''You. You have feelings. ''Don''t forget, Alina, that even automated meat grilling machines have feelings. Tsuru followed with a ''yes, yes, yes! He raised his hand. I said, ''Yes, Nidokun,'' in the kind of tone you might use to call a member of the Diet. Please don''t make out with me. ''We''re not flirting. ''Please don''t show it off. ''They''re just making fun of you. It''s just a sad man''s reality. ''If you take Alina away from me, I''ll curse your comet family, won''t I? ''I''ll protect my sister even if it costs me my life. Even if the world is covered with nuclear flowers. ''Whew. Cool. ''Rest assured, I''m a bachelor aristocrat. I''m not going to take anyone and I''m not going to interfere in anyone else''s life.'' ''Gross.'' ''That''s terrible. You''ll cry. Alina quieted Tsuru and said, ''Don''t worry. He promised to donate all his organs and parts or use them as fertilizer for the fields. I don''t know of any such promise. When in the world did we sign such a contract? I don''t even remember putting my seal on it. Did he put his seal on it without your permission? You''re guilty of forgery of a sealed document. Shirana poked me. Then she said in my ear, out of earshot, ''Tell me a joke about you and Alina. I said, ''No, I don''t want to! I hastily denied it. Yuri, my neighbor, took aim at my flustered reaction and looked at me again. What is it? What''s missing? There''s nothing here. Here, eat some meat. Grow like a big tree. ''No digressions.'' ''No, simply. Stop time in my body and create another me, one that matches me on a molecular level. Then I''ll prepare two rooms with the same structure, furniture, and location, and you''ll each wake up in one of them. Now, the thought experiment is to see if two people with identical memories, bodies, and everything else will behave the same in the same room under the same environment...'''' ''There''s no way Shirana would talk about that.'' ''Surprisingly, Shirana also talks about such things. Ha-ha. It''s true that Yuri has been friends with Hakuna for a long time. But I''ve known her since middle school. You''re not so convincing, are you? ''I don''t talk about that kind of stuff.'' Shirana cut him off brutally. ''Not anyway. Even if there is, this is not a good place. ''What, do you have one?'' ''No. As bad as the Gobi Desert.'' ''Noroque story?'' ''Noro. There is no such thing as a neurotic story. Shirana has said the forbidden word. Tsuru and Yuri were the first to react. What''s this about noroque? Could it be with Alina! Talk to me, talk to me! ''Absolutely not! Not even with Alina! I tried desperately to make excuses. This is the best I''ve done all day. Because Alina''s eyes are as sharp as snakes. It''s because Tsuru added an extra word, ''Alina. Tsuru went on to talk to Alina. Hey, Alina. How are you doing? How''s it going?'''' ''There''s nothing. Why would I have anything to do with a man who looks like a praying mantis? Oh, my God. I guess you''re right. Comet, if you''re going to take Alina, you''ll have to defeat me first, right? ''Oh, that sounds easy. ''By study.'' ''Oh, I couldn''t do it. How can there be any hope for this tomato addict when even Alina can''t win? I moved again, and next time I shared a seat with three girls I didn''t know. I don''t know which class they are in, so I have never met them before. We may have crossed paths somewhere, but I don''t remember. This is really a blind date, isn''t it? ''Sakakiki-kun, right? I know, right? Said the girl with the ponytail. ''Really? Have we met somewhere? ''Because, you''re dating Alina, right? I know because there was a rumor going around for a while...'''' ''We''re not dating. It''s a complete hoax. It''s time to control information on a school-wide scale. Let''s apply to the student council to set up an information bureau. ''What! You''re not dating?'''' ''Alina and I aren''t dating anyone. Think about it. How can a girl with such a sharp tongue have a relationship with anyone? Sure, he''s got great looks, but what he''s got on the inside is--'''' From a short distance away, Alina held up her middle finger with both hands. ''Like that. It can''t be. It''s crazy to fall in love with someone as screwed up as me. At least not in the right way. ''That''s not true. Sakaki-kun, you''re tall and I think you''re cool. I was struck like a bolt of lightning. I''m cool ......? How can this be? I think they''re going to get caught. Ugin often commiserated with me with a sigh, saying, ''You''re only tall because of your height, brother. The pony-tailed girl in front of me looked prettier than anyone else. A conniving person would have said, ''This guy''s a joke. But just now I thought it was okay to be an idiot. ''Excuse me, what is your name, ......? ''Mugiyama Hwasai. It''s a pair.'' Huacai Mugiyama. Class 1, Year 2. Ponytail. I remember. Tsuru and I were in the same class in first grade. That''s why I''m here today. ''Mr. Crane, seriously good job ...... you weren''t just a food bird ......'' I was surrounded by nothing but homo sapiens who toyed with me, so I could see Kasaia-chan shining. Why didn''t I meet her earlier? I was saddened to think that my mother and Ugin were my only allies of the opposite s*x in this world, but it seems that the goddess has smiled on me. Too late, Goddess. And thank you. ''What''s your club activity, Hwasai? Cheerleading. God? That''s the top school caste organization in America. Queen Bee. I should have joined the baseball team. Then she would have cheered me on and we could have had a good relationship. For me, the number one of the school caste is ''the champion of freedom, the homecoming club'', but I was a little shaken. She looked like such a gem. I was excited to imagine her dancing and performing in a cheerleader costume. I''m a homebody, so I don''t have a chance to be cheered. Too bad. ''I''ll do it for you someday, okay?'' God? Hey Alina. Learn a little bit about her care and kindness. Am I dreaming? I didn''t know there were still people in the world who would agree with me. I''ll tell Ugin a story. 77-the ebb and flow of roses... After spending some quality time with a nice high school girl with a ponytail named Hwasai Mugiyama, I went back to the guys again. They served me a dish called "Meat Rice," which was piled high with meat, just like high school boys. It was not a dish from the restaurant, but something they had made. What is this violent dish? A bowl of rice stuffed with so much meat you can''t see the rice. And so much sauce was poured over the rice. ''That''s how we feel. Please take it. That''s Gento from the tea ceremony club. How do you feel? How should I feel if I''m served apocalyptic rice by a guy who looks like a Heian-era aristocrat? ''...... Extremely reluctantly, I began to eat. I chewed while cheering my tongue, which was too familiar with meat, in my heart, because I felt sorry for the restaurant if I left it behind. Frankly speaking, it was painful. My taste buds are going crazy. Can I ask you something? Gento, the cause of all this suffering, said this to me while my mouth was in an incredibly grotesque state. What kind of a guy is Hiu? Oh, no. I guess he is the type of guy who, like Makoto and all the boys in the school, is attracted to the appearance of the poisonous rose and has become curious about it. Alina is a newcomer who can create a soundproof wall to shield her eardrums, so her love call won''t reach him. She''s only generated it because she doesn''t have ear lids. Adaptive to her environment. It''s the mystery of life. I salute you. "He''s a pervert who enjoys humiliating people and finds violence more gratifying than anything else. The former is for a good reason, but the latter is for me, the victim. I think Alina is an abuser. How many times has she been stabbed or punched in the side? She slapped me when I tried to hug her as a joke. She almost shaved my cheek. And for comets? ''Of course. I''m better than I was a few months ago. He''s loosening up, especially with the same s*x. Look at that. She indicated with her chin that Alina was wiping dirt from Tsuru''s mouth with a paper napkin. If I had been in the crane''s shoes, I would have had my lips cut off with a cutter. And then they would have been burned on the grill. ''As you can see. It''s getting round. ''Is that so ......'' ''Gento. It''s going to be difficult to cage that thing.'' ''I''m not interested in Nippa. I''m just curious how the comet got hold of Hiwa. ''Does it look like he''s taking to me?'' ''I see it. It''s a big difference from freshman year. I was in the same class as Hinoha, so I know. ''That sounds like a lot of work. ''At first, I talked to Nippa regardless of gender. She''s a very beautiful woman. It ended up being a Pandora''s box. ''I had a hard time, too. There was too much meat, so I passed it on to Shinji. This is a lot of meat for a cooperative effort. I thought about pushing it to Makoto, but since he and Ryuka are still next to each other, I decided to give him a break. You should be thankful, Makoto. Don''t forget the history of one man''s sacrifice of honor. Don''t you love Nippa? How can that be? It''s true that there are times when I''m attracted to someone who looks like an actress, but I''m not going to take the plunge. ''Then how did you come to be working with Nippa?'' That''s an earful. It all started when Dr. Akakusa asked me to correct Alina''s tone of voice and attitude, and I always keep my cloak over my head to avoid touching the heart of the matter. But in fact, she has a dual personality. I was confused when I found out that the other personality had asked Dr. Akakusa for help. It was also discovered that Alina had a history of domestic violence and memory impairment. The only people who knew these facts were me, Alina''s mother, Dr. Akakusa, and a senior student who eavesdropped on us, Kanzawaguchi. Tsuru also found out by chance, but there is no need to be alarmed because it is only a superficial matter of correcting Alina''s tone of voice. How to dodge the issue? At that time, I suddenly thought of Ugin''s face. I don''t know why my sister''s face came to my mind at this moment, but I burned a lot of calories to make the most of this material. My brain screamed. And the solution came. ''My sister, Alina, helped me before. In return, I''m temporarily his servant. ''''Servant?'''' ''''Yes. Servant. Also known as a slave. Uh. You missed. Alina can hear you. She''s staring at me. ''It''s hard being a slave ...... how many times I''ve been punished ...... ''This looks bad. ......'' I decide to run to the bathroom. Alina beckons me. Ordinary boys would have come to her like insects wandering in the dark in search of light. I hoped she would kiss me on the cheek. But I know her. That''s the gateway to hell. Don''t be fooled. This year-end party has come to an end. At the end, Tsuru says, "Wishing you a happy new year. Cheers! The night ended with the following words. It was a satisfying time. I am happy that the Empress seemed to enjoy the party even though I was a slave for a while. Each is free to go. But I had to buy a souvenir for Ugin. The day before, he got mad at me for yelling at home, so I had to buy him a souvenir. It was my fault, so I had no choice. I said goodbye to my friends and went to the shopping mall by myself. If there was a souvenir that Ugin would like, it would be food. It would make him smile instantly. And it has to be something that won''t disappear or I''ll be reminded of it every time I see it. I think cream puffs would make him jump for joy. I went to the corner where desserts are concentrated in the food section and picked out two cream puffs and a caf au lait. Just when I thought that I could greet the New Year with no regrets. I bumped into Alina. Yo, yo. ''What a coincidence. I wonder if he''s following me. ''I''m so sorry, sir. I''m in the food department for a good reason. ''''Yeah?'''' Then Alina burst out laughing. I thought she had lost her mind when I saw her laughing with a stifled laugh. But I knew immediately what was wrong. Why ''now''? ''Do you know what I''m talking about? The other Alina. There was Alina, lovely as an angel. ''Did you meet Aki-senpai? I haven''t seen him. I just asked Alina to come out for a minute.'''' ''Hmm. I mean, can''t they replace me if I ask them to? I thought that meeting someone from the past with whom you had a strong relationship was the key to changing personalities. ......'' ''I don''t know either. But lately, when I think, ''I wonder if you could take over for me,'' I often get a chance to switch. I''m not talking directly to them, though. ''I don''t understand, ...... it''s hard for me to understand.'' I feel the same way. I wonder how it feels to have another person. I wonder if they are reserved with each other. You can''t hide what you want to keep secret, can you? Or is it acceptable because the other person is also "yourself"? It''s difficult. ''Even so, Alina is really an incomparably beautiful girl right now. What is it? Suddenly!'''' The gap is amazing. That''s all I''m saying. So why did you come out? You have a reason for this, don''t you?'''' ''Yeah. I was actually chasing the comet. ''Really?'' ''I wanted to thank you. Um, thank you. Alina bent at the waist and bowed. ''What, what, what, what? You bowed suddenly. Look up quickly. Only arthropods are allowed to bow to me. ''Thank you for responding to my selfishness. I wanted to thank you for being there for Alina. I know I told you at the festival that I didn''t want to be involved anymore, but I''m so glad that you were still there for me. Thank you. I look forward to working with you again next year. She gave a small smile and bowed again. ''...... You''re really sweet. I feel like I''m being treated like a human being for the first time. ''I don''t know. Alina tells me to stop, though. She tells me to be more tough. ''It''s just like her. ''But this is me. ''Yes, it is. The one and only.'' ''Yeah.'' Alina steps back and folds her hands behind her back, ''I hope we''ll be in the same class next year. With these words, she left. I hoped so, too. Somewhere deep inside of me, I have always wanted to be in the same class as Alina, even though I can''t say it out loud. We''re so easy, aren''t we? He returned home safely and gave Ugin a souvenir. Thanks! What''s in it? ''Cream puffs and a drink. ''Yay.'' ''Enjoy it! He seemed to be pleased and immediately started to put his hand on the kotatsu. That settles it. I went to my room, changed into pajamas, and went back to the living room to warm myself on the kotatsu. Ugin seems to be satisfied with the cream puffs, mumbling ''yummy yummy yummy'' as he chews them. It seems that they have made up. The phone rings. It is a message from Alina. Forget it. A three-letter imperative. From the Tongue Rose. She must be ashamed to know in some way what the angel Alina has said or done. She''s grinning at you, brother. It''s disgusting. ''Take a good look. It could be your future face, you know? ''U~. Eye poison.'' I''ll never forget it,'' he replied. After a while, he said, ''So. He wrote back, ''Have a good New Year. He is an elusive character, either disciplined or brusque. 78-New Year New Year. The old Japanese tradition of worshipping the first sunrise of the year (?). I went to bed until noon. The sun, which would have been reddish-orange like a half-boiled egg, is back to its usual shining white. Happy new year, Mr. Sun. Please refrain from huge flares as long as I live. This is the last year of my high school life and the year of entrance examinations. I have decided to go to Hatsumode (New Year''s visit to the shrine) to get myself in the right frame of mind. I had to go to Hatsumode to get myself in the right frame of mind, because Ugin had lectured me to the verge of hearing damage that I had to go there if I was honest with him. There was no way that I, the second lowest person in the Sakakiki family power structure after my father, could win against Ugin, the empress. It is just like an ant challenging an elephant. If I resist, I will lose all say in the matter and become a plaything of Ugin, who simply turns oxygen into carbon dioxide. Please give us a break, since they are less harmful than air conditioners as long as they do not emit CFC gas. As I look at the passengers on the train, I finally realize that the new year has begun. The train was full of gorgeous women in kimonos. I think it is one of the wonderful things about Japan that people don''t look at you with white eyes when you wear traditional clothes. You''re looking at me too much, brother. ''I''m looking at the Cassiopeia. ''I''m on the subway. A licking glance is probably not molestation. I''m not sure, I''ll google it later. I get off the bus, swept along by the waves of worshippers, and Ugin pulls me along. I almost lost my balance several times on the icy sidewalk, but Ugin swung me around without a care in the world. I looked at the kimono-clad women and thought to myself, ''They look like spring rolls,'' again in my sleep. Just then, I received a message from Tsuru. It''s me and Alina! Accompanying the sentence was a selfie of Alina and Tsuru in kimonos. It was the pure beauty that Japan had built up and refined over the years. It made my heart beat so fast that I would give all my money to help them if they were to compete in the Miss Universe pageant. They were so beautiful that I couldn''t help but squint at them. I immediately saved them. Ugin saw me put my phone away in my pocket. I did not behave in a suspicious manner, nor did I do anything I wanted to hide. What can I do with a heart as pure as a baby''s that knows no sin? Even stepping on a plant hurts my heart, so I can''t do anything wrong. But Ugin smiled and smiled. The corners of his mouth turned up like a movie villain, ready to make fun of me. What did you save? ''How can middle schoolers nowadays tell what you''re doing just by looking at your fingers? Well, it seems that the mutantification of children is accelerating. Where in the world is Japan headed? We will continue to follow. That''s all for now, from the field. ''I can''t tell what you''re thinking, brother. You''re really finished as a human being. The second half is too harsh. I''m worried about my brother because he''s starting to resemble a certain woman lately. ''And so, what did you save? ''No, this is a picture that I don''t show in public very often. ......'' I''m not lying. Exposing an acquaintance is a shameful act. In an age of respect for privacy, it is an antisocial act. It''s terrible to say such things to a blood relative. I''m sorry. But no negative feelings are involved. ''That''s what a brother is like. I dragged you to the first shrine visit, so show me. What''s it like? You despise my brother too much. Correct me if I''m proud of you. When you were in the second grade, you said, ''I''m going to marry either your brother or an oil baron! I still remember you hugging me. The comparison was shocking and complicated, but it made me happy. But unfortunately, it is a page in the past. I now have a cheeky little sister. I was disappointed, wishing I could make her a new head like Anpanman. ''I''m going to drink all the tomato juice. ''Yes, look at that. Oh, dear. At last my sister has developed a personality willing to be blackmailed. If there is a bank robbery in Japan, I will call her immediately. Tell her to turn herself in now. I showed Ugin a shot of Tsuru and Alina. Tsuru, Alina. It''s not my fault. I put up minimum or maximum resistance. What? This is Alina, right? You''re so cute! You''ll melt! Caw!'''' The excitement was so great that it hurt the eyes of other visitors. Comet Sakakiki, a man of character and a saint, simply shriveled up to show his apology. He acted as if the girl in front of him, who was exploding with emotion, was a stranger. Who is that in the picture with you? Who are you! ''This is personal information and disclosure of information must first be done by a professional lawyer ......'' ''Who are you?'' ''I''m a brilliant student named Tsuru Niwatari. ......'' ''Shugo kawa! Isn''t my brother''s high school full of cute kids! What the hell! Hey!? The image was so stimulating that he started making up unknown words. I took it down immediately because I thought it was bad for his education. Good children should not look at them. If you are under 18 years old, please click the back button of your browser. Show me more! I want pretty ingredients too! No. It''s too early for you. And my sister is pretty enough, so you don''t need that ingredient. ''It''s too bad, because I think even my brother could be popular if he showed those kinds of compliments in an annoying way. ''It''s okay. All I need is money. ''You''re a sophomore in high school and your mind is already decadent. What''s wrong with being a decadent person? Sounds kind of cool. Am I the only one who thinks so? Yeah, it''s just me. I think as I stand in line to make a donation. People throw money into the money box like soldiers throwing grenades at enemy soldiers hiding behind cover. If I were God, I would refuse to throw money into the money box, saying, ''Don''t throw it here, save it. I personally dislike the act of offering money, which is why I think in such a twisted way. But I know in my head that it is not meaningless. It is important for human beings to make a fresh start periodically. It doesn''t matter how you do it. Cleaning, running, sleeping, it doesn''t matter. Donating money is one of them. In my case, it is drinking tomato juice. In other words, I am getting a fresh start almost every day, and that''s enough for me. So I sink an unwanted one yen coin. Wow! Ugin, who was picking up a five-yen coin, let out a sound as if the air had been let out. Ignoring her stunned sister, I rang the bell. I rang the bell and said, "May you become very rich and build a tomato juice server. I prayed, wishing on a gram of aluminum. I passed through the torii gate and returned to the modern world. Coo! Electricity is the best! Machine psycho! By the way, my fortune was a medium lucky one. I was warned to be kind to women on a regular basis because of my bad luck with women, but that''s not true. It''s already bad. It''s unfair that I''m treated so poorly to begin with. I think this omikuji is buggy. Please distribute a patch to fix it soon. On the other hand, Ugin was jumping up and down after winning a big fortune. She was in a good mood, but then she opened her mouth as if she had just remembered something. The one-yen coin you just won! ''That''s it. I had a lot of pennies in my pocket. It was convenient. ''That''s so like you, brother. It was sad to see. ''It was heartbreaking to see my sister''s expression of sadness, even for a brother: ......'' ''But if you can make a wish come true like this, you don''t need to make an effort, do you? I didn''t come here today to ask for a favor, but to give you a chance to change your mind. ''Even my brother can''t keep up with me when I suddenly switch from a flower garden in my brain to realistic thinking that denies all fantasy. ......'' ''Spoiler alert, it''s because your mother asked me to take you there, right?'' ''A beautiful story crumbles noisily: ......'' I was disappointed to find out that the inspiring brotherhood was just a false image. I feel a big hole in my chest. I didn''t raise you that way. ''I don''t remember my brother raising me like that. ''Don''t read my mind. On my way home, I felt it would be a shame to go home like this, so I was thinking about where to stop when I heard an ominous vibration. I heard an ominous vibration. It''s a ground rumble. Let''s listen carefully. You can hear it, the earth breathing. ''You''re even crazy, brother, so you should take care of your friends. ......?'' I''ll get it. I''ll get it. It was Nidatsuru calling. Hello? This is the Embassy of Japan in Sierra Leone. Oh, hey, Sui? Happy New Year! It''s just a crane. My best joke was completely ignored. Even Alina responded somewhat, but Niwadatsuru cruelly cut her off, denying her the joke that made her life worth living. Happy New Year. Thanks for the selfie. I''ll keep it as a family heirloom. ''A-ha. Alina refused so hard! I had no choice but to hang on and take the picture. Alina''s voice was mixed in, telling me to stop because I was embarrassed. Apparently, they were together. Ugin was on his tiptoes, head tilted back and eavesdropping curiously, despite the fact that they were in private conversation. I tried to escape by turning my head in the direction of the day after tomorrow, but he grabbed me by the top of my head and chin with both hands and applied force directly downwards. I was forced to walk on my midsection to make up the height difference. Like an ape in the middle of Darwin''s theory of evolution. The curious eyes of the public are very painful. Mom, I want to go home. Hey, hey, who was prettier, me or Alina? ''I do not tease gentlemen. ''Of course it''s Alina, right? No cheating, okay?" ''My love is Dr. Akakusa. Because, Alina! He likes Dr. Akakusa! I heard an auditory hallucination that I was deeply creeped out. It was treated as an auditory hallucination because my brain judged that Dr. Akakusa had been insulted, and my brain was instantly bombarded with 700 different assassination methods, which my rational mind judged to be dangerous and put the brakes on. In other words, my generous soul let Alina off the hook for the death sentence for insulting Dr. Akakusa. ''So, what do you want? Oh, yeah. Where are you? ''In front of the station. ''Oh? Are you by any chance nearby?" ''Really? Let''s get out of here, Ugin. ''Wait, wait! Don''t you want to see Alina in the flesh! It''s live Alina! I can''t believe it! You unpatriotic people! ''Why don''t you want to see--'' I''d really like to meet you. ....... But we can''t let Ugin meet them. It''s bad for his education. I mean, I don''t want Ugin to become the same color as them. Oh, no. We''re missing a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. ''I''m ......! I would never want to see that. ......! It''s a shame. Hey, Alina. I heard you don''t like Alina. Yeah. I guess I always thought so. It''s terrible. You must have been cheating on Alina. Yes, you''re right. I''m going to have to take a bath in concentrated sulfuric acid. I summoned up all my courage to stop a conversation that was turning into a horrifying psycho horror theater. I want to see it. I''m about to cry because I want to see Alina in a kimono. ......'' ''Oh, God. You''re a tsundere! Why didn''t you just say so and not hide those feelings! I''ll meet you near the bookstore!" I was so frustrated that I decided to take revenge. I take back control of the conversation, making them both squirm and blush. I''d get a picture of Alina''s blushing face, and I''d win big. Every time I summon that tender Alina when I''m attacked mentally, I can make them surrender unconditionally. It was a perfect plan that made me shiver. So perfect I shudder. You''re a tsundere, aren''t you? I feel like punching you so hard. ''Correction. Comet big brother is a very serious and gentle person, okay?'' ''Heh. Sounds like a kidnapper.'' I was wondering, is Ugin coming with you? Is that what you mean by not showing any signs of leaving at all? No way, three against one? ''Ugin, you''re not going home?'' I''m afraid to go home alone. ''Okay. Let''s go with my brother. ''I knew it! I want to meet Alina and Tsuru, so can I follow you? I looked up at him and pleaded with him. I had no right of refusal, so there was no way she could say no to me. So I had no choice but to say ''yes'' to my sister''s selfishness. I wanted to become a permanent member of the Council as soon as possible. Give me veto power, too. 79-beyond someones... I was waiting for Ugin at the bookstore when they finally arrived. Tsuru Niwatatsuru. She may look like a gal who can''t multiply and divide, but she is a high achiever who is unwaveringly proud of winning first place in her grade. She is a genius.) Alina Hiba. She is a beautiful girl with a style and good looks that one would not expect from a high school student, but she is a lone beauty who fully demonstrates a tongue that keeps people away from her. She is a problem child.) I imagined the danger that loomed over me when these two peculiar characters finally appeared and I wondered how they would play with me in the future. I hope Ugin will not be a bad influence. ''Wow! That''s great, brother! Ugin grabbed my sleeve and waved it around as he did so. I''m not a spherical-jointed doll, so please don''t be rough with my elbow joints. I''m going to cum if you keep shaking me around like that. You''ll really break it. My sister, whose excitement was still unquiet, flushed her cheeks and swam her eyes as if she had seen the opposite s*x naked. Ah, ah, ah, it''s nice to meet you! I''m Ugin Sakakiki! ''Ugin. Calm down. They''re just organic life forms. No different than your favorite broccoli. You''d look good with mayonnaise on your face, wouldn''t you? And it''s time to take your hands off my sleeves. They''re out of joint. Oh, you just broke your pinky. You heard me. ''But, but, but, too much shine or ......! This is crazy! Pretty is a sin! It''s a sin! ''Ugin-kun. Your Japanese is getting broken, so let''s shut up for a minute.'' Tsuru seems pleased with Ugin''s rave review and chuckles. Alina smiled wryly and looked pleased as well. This difference in treatment is unreasonable for siblings who share many genetic similarities. The girl you are smiling at is ''a part of Comet Sakakiki. Isn''t it reasonable to treat her with more disdain? Ugin-chan. Nice to meet you, my name is Tsuru Niwatatsuru. Nice to meet you. ''Vine, Vine?'' ''Nourish. Nisutsuwa. ''Oh, sorry! I remembered! I laughed so hard when my sister misheard ''chicken''. She wanted me to clarify whether it was a chicken or a crane! I know what you mean. That''s how I feel! It was so funny that my stomach muscles exploded. ''Ide-de-de-de! Alina pinched my side with a smile. I analyze it as if it were the equivalent of crushing walnuts with my fingers. This is no ordinary girl. Ignoring my screams, Alina turns to her sister. It''s been a long time. Sister. ''Yes! Alina, you really are beautiful! You shouldn''t get too close to my brother! You''ll get dirty!'''' ''Don''t worry, it''ll be fine. I always disinfect with alcohol after contact with him. You''re a bully, now. Comet virus. If you''re gonna disinfect, do it. I won''t go extinct as easy as smallpox. Then you''re safe! Are Alina and Tsuru back from their first visit?'''' Yes. Just now. Where''s Ugin? ''I went with my brother too! ''Oh, yeah? Alina looks at me with meaningful eyes. ''What the hell? You can''t spit money out of your mouth if you stare at me like that. ''You don''t seem to go to Hatsumode or something. You do something surprisingly Japanese. ''To tell the truth, I was forced to go to Ugin. I was going to sleep and rot all day. ''You''re the model that''s in the health textbooks as a bad example of lifestyle-related diseases, aren''t you? Ha-ha-ha. ''Ha-ha-ha. No way is it in the book with the picture. We boys have been perusing health textbooks since we were high school boys, or even junior high school boys. We know in an instant that such a thing is not in the textbook. A girl like you, who knows nothing about filth, would never understand. So, are we going to stop somewhere after this? It''s crowded everywhere during New Year''s.'''' I guess. I wish we could stop at a coffee shop or something. ''Tsuru-kun. Why did you call us? ''Well, because Alina said, "I want to see Comet!" I''ll go to the beach. ''''What?'''' Sure enough, Alina glared at me. No, she glared at the gal next to me. Why is it my fault? Hey, Ugin. Don''t believe a word Tsuru says. She''s lying, of course she''s lying. Don''t blush. Don''t cover your mouth and pretend to be a maiden. ''Tsuru. Did I say that? ''I don''t remember. ''Oh, that''s too bad. Hey, you there. Tear off your ears. Make amends. ''Why am I being punished ......'' It''s too dangerous at the beginning of the New Year. We picked up the conversation and started talking again about where the four of us were going. We walked around for a while looking for a good place to eat, but as expected, there were many people during the New Year''s holiday. Everywhere there were people, people, people. Tsuru and Alina are wearing clogs, so it must be getting hard for them. I wish I could give them a break, but the benches are full. Then I heard a chilling word. Hmmm. Why don''t you come with us? Yes. That''s what the naturally silly Ugin-chan suggested. Time stood still in my mind for a moment. I felt as if the people passing by me had stopped in the smallest unit of time that one can sense. ''What, are you sure? Not so good. Yes! It''s close. It''s just one station away. You''re welcome! No, sir. The Sakakaki family is closed off. Please don''t use English words. My parents would get a bad back if they came over. Alina''s a really pretty girl. The fact that I brought this dazzling girl here will be an incident for them. I''m sure they will think like this. "Where did you kidnap her from? I''m at the bottom of the power structure, so it''s no wonder they suspect me of that. If it won''t bother you, I''ll indulge you. What do you say, Alina? ''As long as it doesn''t bother your parents, I don''t have a problem with it. You''re in luck, you idiot. I''m gonna be deathly awkward. I dread to think what they''ll do when they get back. Their parents will be asking me questions about my relationship with them. It''s called interrogation. And they''d probably break into my room, which is usually the scariest part. Did you leave anything dangerous in your room? Think, Comet Sakaki! Burn all the calories you got from your lunchtime ozoni! Remember your room this morning! Search for anything disreputable! d*mn it, I can''t remember anything. All I remember is the poor man being pulled off the futon and dragged away by his sister. He looks like a man being taken to the gallows. The visit to the Sakakikis must be prevented because there are too many dangers. That''s right. If we don''t let them come, there will be no problem. As long as they don''t start. Wait! The Sakakikis are dangerous. ''''Why?'''' ''It''s haunted. It''s an accident.'' Is that so? Tsuru is frightened. You''re so naive. I''ve never heard of it. ''I just don''t know. Shut your mouth.'' Ugin interferes. I knew my sister would be the biggest obstacle. But I don''t need the shounen manga element of my friends becoming my worst enemy, so please don''t do that now. And our house is small. Everyone sleeps in closets like Doraemon. It''s a house. And everyone in the family has a bed, and you have your own room.'' No. I''m out of ideas. Minefields, cluster bomb targets, gelatinous ground, and other fear-mongering options remain, but these guys won''t be fooled. Third graders at best. Let''s go home! I''ll show you the way! Ugin skipped out and headed for the ticket gate. Tsuru followed with a clatter of his clogs. It must be an absolute law engraved in our genes that we are no match for Ugin. I slumped my shoulders and followed them. Alina came up to me at the same pace. Her posture was as beautiful as ever. ''I won''t go if it bothers you. ''Don''t worry about it. It''s too late. ''I''m serious. ''What?'' Alina pulled her face closer and stopped her clogs. Her eyes were so beautiful. ''If you''re really going to bother me, I''d rather not. ''What''s the matter? You''ve got a very serious tone. ''It''s nothing. I just don''t want to bother you or your parents. ''Have you been drinking stale milk? You seem like a sensible guy. ''He''s a man of character.'' ''Ho. Beautiful and personable. That''s great. ''''Hmm.'''' He seems firm but slow on his feet. ''Look, they''re waiting for you over there. ''If you''re really ...... annoyed, it''s okay ......?'' ''It''s too late. They''re already on the other side of the turnstiles. I told him that, but he didn''t respond well. She didn''t seem her usual self, and I sensed that something was wrong. Probably something other than going to her house. It was obviously strange for her to be so reserved. ''Hey ......, why don''t we go somewhere together? I didn''t know what that meant. Sometimes people say things that have different meanings behind their backs. Little signs that are not even metaphors. That''s exactly what Alina''s voice was infused with. I''m sorry. You''ll be turned in to the police station later as a kidnapper. I dare to blur it out. For some reason, I was scared. I think "the omen of a confession" is an apt analogy for this feeling. When a person of the opposite s*x asks you to come to a certain place after school. When a letter is handed to you. When a person is unusually close to you. When someone is staring at you. When he doesn''t make eye contact with you. It is similar to the complicated feeling of avoiding the fate that comes ahead, even though you know that it is an unattainable happiness. I resented the strange human psychology that makes us do such things even when we know we will be disappointed. ''I wouldn''t do that. ''You''re joking again ...... eh?'' Less than a second. My body turned to lead. The sound of my clogs snapped me out of it. Alina ran out. She made a clang sound and flipped a little ahead of me. ''What the...'' she said. You''ve got ulterior motives. You should commit seppuku. With a nasty smile, she said. She immediately turned her back again and passed through the ticket gate. I know she meant it as a joke, but to me, the joker of a hundred battles, it was hard to hear and hard to see. If not me, everyone would have known she was trying to be tough. In that one frame, Alina was smiling weakly with her eyebrows furrowed. It was a fake smile that was hard to watch and very painful. For a moment, I knew she was pleading. I thought I heard her heart cry out for help. I didn''t understand her reluctance to take a step back and be humble, even though we should no longer be reserved with each other. 80-Excuse me. Alina''s change was only for that moment, and now she is back to her usual lack of facial expression, but I can assure you that I was not mistaken. That''s how impressive it was. I gave up my seat on the train to the three girls and gripped the strap as I looked out the window. I was a bit embarrassed to sit next to them, so I decided to play the gentleman. My house is a five-minute walk from the station. The location is great, but the short distance makes me nervous. I''m not fully prepared for it, and yet it''s already upon us. My sister sometimes brings her friends over, so I''m not against having strangers in the house, but bringing a classmate of the opposite s*x into the house is another matter. And two of them. One of them might be worse than the other, but that won''t change now. And so we arrive at the Sakakikis'' house. I hope my parents are not at home. I''m home. I''m home! Ugin was the first to enter the house. Welcome home. Did you go to Hatsumode properly? Oh, ......?'' Death was confirmed by the descent of My Mother. This would be the last time, if ever, that I would want to go back in time. I regret now that I should have given a little more money when I made the offering. My brother''s classmate! Tsuru and Alina! I couldn''t get into any of the stores, so I invited them over to ours. ''They''re both so cute and amazing. When did you get to ......? Don''t use the technique of leaving the rest of the words to the reader''s imagination, Mother. There is one woman who is furious. ''Sorry to disturb you. Nice to meet you, my name is Nitotsuru. I''m a classmate of Comet-kun. I apologize for the sudden appearance on New Year''s Day. Tsuru introduces himself with a bow and a bow. Mummy saw this and hurriedly returned the bow. She was probably a little surprised that her son and daughter were not people with a strong sense of propriety. I''m Alina Hiba. Um, Sakakiki-kun is, uh, what is it? Why are you nervous? Where''s your usual character? Alina Hibane. Is it a master-slave relationship with this guy? I thought you were going to spit out a harsh line like "I''m sorry, I''m sorry, I''m sorry, I''m sorry. Why are you so timid? And what''s with the ''Sakakiki-kun''? Why don''t you call him ''you, trash, millworm, ditch oil, pig feed, cicada shell, stalker, or vomit'' like you always do? What''s wrong with using people''s names? You gave me a little jolt, you son of a b*tc*. You got my heart rate up. We''re on the same committee. I couldn''t stand to see Alina clamming up, so I offered my help. I''m not on the committee, but it''s a good cover. It''s a good stopgap. ''Oh, yeah. Comet is always good to me. I''m sure I''m always bothering you because I''m like this, but please be a good friend to him. Yes, yes. I understand.'' What do you mean, not like this? Ugin, say something back to your mother. I''m tired of standing around talking. Can I use the living room? ''Go ahead. I''ll get you some tea and snacks. Oh, no. Ugin led them into the living room. But I didn''t go to the living room. I''m coming in. ''Yes.'' My taciturn father is often in his room. I came to his room to warn him. ''Dad. There''s a problem in the living room. ''Why? ''Cause it''s otherworldly. Anyway, you shouldn''t leave your room right now.'' ''...... I don''t understand.'' ''That''s understandable. What you need to understand is that the living room is in trouble right now. You should stay out of it as much as possible. ''...... got it. I''ll be careful. All right, the heads-up is good. Even my taciturn father would sit up if he saw Tsuru and Alina. And if he knew that they were my classmates and not Ugin''s friends, I think he would drop his eyeballs. I go back to my room, take off my coat, and go back to my casual clothes. Before leaving the room, I took a quick look around. I checked to see if there was anything that would make me nervous if they were to break in and point it out to me. Okay, nothing. It''s all good. The living room was truly another world. Maam, Ugin, Alina, and Tsuru are chatting around a kotatsu. It is similar to the feeling that makes your blood run cold when you step into a women''s bath in a public bathhouse. I''ve never been in one. I don''t want to be a part of this circle. I turned around as if nothing had happened. ''Oh, brother, you''re here at last! ''Take your time, ladies. Bye. ''Don''t run away.'' ''Sometimes it''s okay to run away. Now is the time. ''Hey mom. Let''s stop buying tomato juice from today. Yes, yes, yes. I''ll stay here. Sometimes they drop cruel remarks so quickly that you have to be on your guard. I shudder to think what would have happened if I had just listened. The threats are deadly. I wonder if she understands. It''s tantamount to a ban on oxygen and water. I can''t get into the kotatsu, so I lie down on the sofa. The sofa was my only place in this space. ''Brother. You''re sloppy. ''Let me at least be sloppy at home. ......'' ''Hey, big brother. You must be embarrassed in front of Tsuru and Arina. ''It''s okay, it''s okay. I know you''re like this. ''It''s not my brother who''s embarrassed, it''s my mother. I''m sorry I''m such a son. Ha-ha-ha. No, no, no, I know. I had no allies. I was alone. What''s my son doing at school? Are you doing anything weird? What do you mean "weird"? I don''t think they trust me. ''Comet-kun is... Hmm. What do you think? With a malicious look in his eyes, Tsuru puffed at Alina. ''Well, Sakakiki-kun, you know... I think he stands out. ''Heh. In what way do you stand out?'' ''Oh, like someone who talks a lot about interesting things.'' ''I see. What do you think, big brother? ''No, I don''t stand out as much as that guy. ''Shut up.'' Don''t suddenly switch to plain Alina. You''re freaking me out. ''Alina, you''re going to be an actress. You''ll be popular with the boys, right? Aren''t you irresistible? Stop it, Mother. I don''t want to hear about your love life in your forties. Not in front of my son. I really don''t like it when my immediate family talks about their love lives. It''s a new kind of psychological attack, you know. It''s torture. It''s torture. I''m not popular. ''Noooooo! Tell me about it between us, Obasan~'''' God, I''m so embarrassed, I''m so embarrassed. Mother, your youth ended 30 years ago. Can''t we stop this useless war? How long will you incite the people? Wheat does not grow roots in the ground no matter how much you worship the regime. The people do not want a national victory, but water and beans. That is all. Wealthy corrupt politicians are so intoxicated with metaphysical concepts that they have stopped looking down to the ground and to the hand. They feel responsible for their position and start chasing illusions on their own. Those in power who can afford it always stop being realistic. They forget their true purpose, they forget us. They feel righteous for what no one asked them to do and start throwing all their energy into their own self-satisfaction. Please don''t do that anymore. It''s all right to live. Alina... why are you lying? ''I don''t know what you''re talking about.'' ''There''s not a week that goes by that I don''t get a confession, right? Alina is an idol!'' ''No, I''m not! It''s not like that! ''Eh? Is that so?'' Yes, it is! In this day and age, the only countries willing to go to war are those that are poor or well-off. As the word "globalization" has taken root, the world is intertwined like a spider''s thread, interfering with each other''s very foundations. As a result, the national interests gained from war are no longer as valuable as they once were... ''Brother. Your face is too stern. It''s unpleasant.'' ''I''m sorry. I can''t keep up with the girl talk. There''s no way I can keep up with strawberry-flavored conversation. Bye, bye. Maybe my son confessed to Alina-chan too......''? Mother asks Alina in a whisper in her ear. Okay, this is going to be very, very complicated. I wonder...? I answered my mother with a meaningful smile. What? You really told him! What about you, big brother!'''' I didn''t. Mother, please calm down. Do you know if you''ve overdosed on caffeine? ''Oh, how can you be so sure? Don''t look so smug. I''m getting back on track. ''Are you stupid, brother? You think you can go out with me! If you thought it was possible with Alina, you should be dead a million times over! You wretched pervert! Stupid! Gross! Tomato poisoning! Daedalab*tc*! It''s overkill. Don''t do it. I''m already dead, Ugin. I think you''d be good together. Alina? ''Hey, what are you talking about? With this guy! ''If you come to be my son''s wife, I''ll be so worried about my old age.'' ''Ugh ...... is that right ......?'' ''Don''t do it, Mom. People will think the Sakakiki family is a bunch of idiots. ''The only idiot is you, brother.'' ''I don''t want to be told by you, who''s been getting more and more stupid lately.'' Mother left the living room to bake rice cakes. I despair. My mother, the only sane person in this space, was gone. It was as if a chain had been broken. It was like the zoo had opened. I was surprised to see no resemblance between Comet and my mother. I wonder if Ugin-chan looks like her mother. ''Yes, that''s right. If I had to choose between father and mother, I''d say I look like my mother! ''I thought your mother was crazy like the comet ......'' ''Your mother, father and I are sensible people. It''s just that my brother is an anomaly. ''Yeah. I totally agree. I closed my eyes and shut out the world. I let my consciousness melt into a dream, thinking, "If I make a comment, I lose, if I make a comment, I lose. I am done with the painful reality. I want to be a deep-sea fish in my next life. I don''t seem to have any worries. After a while, I begin to feel a little sleepy. Just before my body is about to pass the last pass and fall asleep, I feel a strange sensation of not being able to hear anything in the living room, and I open my eyes. I opened my eyes and saw Ugin, Alina, and Tsuru looking down at me. ''Whoa! What a psycho horror! ''Ha-ha-ha! I''m seriously freaking out! ''Your sleeping face looks like an amoeba. ''Do amoebas have faces too? ......'' Feeling in danger, I tried to escape. ''I have to pee. As I stood up to go to the bathroom, my father appeared in the hallway. My father shuddered and went rigid for a few seconds. I could tell. He was quite surprised. ''...... thanks. He mumbled something in a low voice and went down the corridor. ''What, was that Comet''s father ......? ''''Yes, but...'''' Tsuru and Alina looked at each other and tilted their heads. ''...... are you a mutation?'' ''I''m afraid I can''t give you spider silk or claws. ''I thought your father was more like you. ......'' ''I don''t know either.'' ''And, and, and... we have to say hello anyway, don''t we? ''You''ve been stuttering since you came to my house. You''re like a buggy artificial intelligence. I''m not nervous, I''ll kill you. ''No one''s pointing that out. He is trying to be strong, but he can''t be convinced if he is seen blinking his eyes and looking so confused. ''Alina-san, would you like to go to your brother''s room? ''What? What are you talking about? Ugin''s unexpected response was a reflexive one. My brother was the most surprised I''ve seen him in a year. I thought my large and small intestines were going to pop out of my mouth. ''Eh, but ......''. Don''t glance at me and Ugin. Don''t give off an aura that you want to go. Don''t laugh at Tsuru-kun next to you. ''Because you look like you want to go back to your room...'' ''I don''t want to go back. I don''t want to go back even if I die, so let''s just sit in the living room and talk about the old days, ladies. ''Is there something you don''t want me to see?'' No. You''re the one who''s going in unannounced, and you know it best.'' ''Yeah? Is that so? He''s totally bluffing. I''m a gentleman with nothing to hide. It''s a big trap to pique your interest. Don''t fall for it. ......! Then Tsuru cowered and grabbed me by the shoulders. Let''s go, shall we? Who the hell are you? With a wink and a thumbs-up. Alina, on the other hand, continues to act the part of a shy lady. This must be her first time in a boy''s house. I wonder if that''s why she''s been acting like an annoyingly pure and beautiful girl for a while now. Visually, though, she''s so good that I''d rather lick her. Oh no, I''ve revealed my true nature. Gentleman! Gentleman! Dad... Ugin''s voice makes me turn around. He must be on his way back to his room from the kitchen. He has a bottle of wine and a glass in each hand. ''...... Enjoy your stay. He bowed, muttered a few words, and left. ''Hey ......, comets are mutations, aren''t they? ''It''s frustrating, but my relatives say it all the time: ......'' The living room goes quiet. ''Gosh, greetings ......,'' mutters Alina. Tsuru stares at me as if he''s trying to solve a difficult math problem. Ugin tugs on my sleeve to lead me to the comet room. It''s chaos. I seem to be the only person with a personality in this world. The rice cakes are baking! Mother''s cheerful voice brings us all back to our childhood and we return to the kotatsu. A critical situation was thus averted. But only temporarily. 81-Knock knock, who?... I guess they calmed down after eating the rice cakes, and I was glad to hear that their plan to raid my room had been scrapped. I went to the bathroom and went back to my room secretly. Too much stimulation since New Year''s. My mind is so exhausted that I feel as if I could fall asleep in an instant like Nobita, and my eyelids are already heavy. I lay there for a while, and my sense of time was beginning to fade away, when there was a knock at the door. I get up quickly and think calmly. Who among the Sakakimagi family members knocks when entering my room? Ugin Sakakiki. Yes, this guy is impossible. He gets angry when I enter without knocking. I''d like to have an argument in the International Court of Justice about why he''s so strict with me and so tolerant with himself. Mother. It''s possible. My mother, one of the sensible members of the Sakakimagi family, would surely knock. Or rather, she would. Father. Impossible. He''d never come to my room in the first place. Come in. Alina appeared at the door. What? What the hell are you doing here? Are you a hitman? ''Heh ...... this is your room ......'' ''Hey, hey, hey, hey. You shouldn''t go in there. There''s been an accident. Seven office workers committed charcoal poisoning in this room. ''How can you live in a room like that? ''The downside of this room is that sometimes I get strangled. By the way, when you''re strangled, it disappears when you squat. Like dry ice. ''Yes, yes.'' Boom. Clang. It sounded very ominous. I knew there was an internal lock on the door, but I had never used it. The key itself must have been unexpectedly used by someone other than a family member. What is this? Am I going to die? Immediately, he reached for the desk and grabbed the gun. Wrong, the pencil case. The story is like a president cornered by an assassin. His last resistance ends in vain, and the gun, now silenced, pushes. Blood leaks from the ruptured heart and fills the lungs. Cold fingertips. Sternum creaking. The end. The end rolls. Please pick up your trash and leave the theater. ''Wait, don''t kill me. I''m not ready. ''''So.'''' ''d*mn you. Will you at least listen to me? I''m sorry. I didn''t have a choice! ''''So'''' ''You cold-blooded devil. I''ll draw the border with your blue blood! ''''So.'''' Oh, no. Apparently, that''s it. So much for tomfoolery. I''m sure she came to my room partly out of curiosity, but even I could tell that''s not what she really wanted. The look she gave me at the station. And here''s where the foreshadowing begins. I asked her to sit on a chair. She obediently sat down and got down on the desk. I sat down on the bed and turned my head to serious mode. Thirty days. ''''Hmm?'''' ''Your father came to our house on December 30. ......'' ''What? Dad is Alina''s, you know, .......'' ''He''s a divorced dad.'' Divorced father. The one who abused Alina. Immediately my chest tightened, and a small rage welled up inside me. I knew I was becoming emotionally sensitive. ''...... are you all right?'' ''Yes. But ...... was scary. I''ve forgotten the memory of the assault, but my body remembers. I couldn''t stop shaking. ''Are you sure you were okay? Did they do anything to you? ''I''m fine. You''re overreacting. ''If I knew what you were going through, I''d be worried. ''You''re surprisingly kind. I thought you were one of those people who wanted to see the end of the human race. ''I''m not a troubled adolescent boy.'' She giggled. She turned her face to me and our eyes met for a moment. I quickly averted my eyes, feeling awkward. How naive my heart is! Dad wants to get back together. He said so. ''Seriously?'' Yeah.'''' It''s not like he''s an adult to want to get back together with Alina after hurting her so much. Does he think his wife and daughter will accept it? If so, he is a very self-centered, insane fool. I am a father of another man, but I cannot defend him. Alina stared at me in silence. I didn''t know what she was going to say, but her eyes made me open my mouth, as if she wanted me to continue the conversation. ''What do you and your mother think about ......? ''Of course, I''m against it. ''Of course not, I''m against it. ''You were in prison. ......'' ''Yes. He said he''s reformed, but I don''t believe him. He left just before your mother called the police. I''m afraid it might not be the only time. ''Hey, hey, hey, are you sure you''re okay? ''For now. But maybe I''ll turn to you. I know it''s not easy, but you''re the only man I can rely on. ......'' ''What, what''s with this romantic-comedy development? I''m so excited.'' ''I''m going to hang you.'' Of course, if Alina asks for help, we will do our best to support her. Even if it means a confrontation with Alina''s father, I can swear to protect them. I chuckled to myself at the sound of his self-absorption. Alina got up from her chair. She looked around my room and put her hand on the bookshelf. She pulled out a middle school album. ''May I see it? ''Gnuh. Embarrassing. ''I''ve lived a life of shame, it''s too late for that.'' ''Dazai Osamu, huh? And Alina sat down next to me. In bed. About three fists apart. The smell of the thing was so strong. I felt immoral and held my breath. I held my breath because I knew it would be a crime to smoke. I don''t know why. It''s amazing, girl. Why does it smell so good? ''What are you so nervous about? ''This is scary.'' ''Huh?'' I shriveled up when he challenged and intimidated me. If I puffed out my chest, I would inhale more of Alina''s scent. She opened the album and began to flip through the pages. Apparently, she wants to look at it with me. It''s really a very stimulating day in the new year. ''Oh, this is you,'' she says. It''s a page of class portraits. I remember being instructed to laugh during the photo shoot and everyone joking around. I was extremely nervous and ended up laughing so hard that my awkward expression was permanently preserved. I want to break this smile. ''You still look like a joke. ''I''m going to get hurt too, aren''t I?'' Oh, this is Hakuna. She''s still as charming as ever. See? Don''t ask me to agree with you. I''ll tell Shirana. ''...... I think it''s very lovely.'' ''Boring man. You should have been more wacky in your replies.'' ''Sorry ......'' He rolls them up one by one, silently. I wonder if it is interesting to look at the albums of other junior high schools. Personally, I am interested in Alina''s beautiful JC days. Oh, I see. So you are interested in the albums of people you know. When he finished flipping through the album, he closed it and handed it to me. ''I envy you. ''Ho?'' ''Because I don''t know much about albums.'' ''Oh ......, then I''m looking forward to your next album.'' ''? ''I''m talking about our album. ''......, yes.'' Silence enveloped the place. It was awkward, but not tense. She swung her legs like a swing and seemed at ease. I couldn''t help but admire her beautiful profile. The way her long eyelashes slowly brushed the air was very seductive. With a clank, the doorknob moved. Clang, clang, clang. ....... Oh no! This roughness is Ugin! I mean, why did you lock the door? ''Because it was a confidential conversation. ''I''m sure it was effective against Ugin who came in without knocking. But you know what? It''s publicly illegal for high school boys and girls to lock themselves in their rooms. Do you understand? ''I wonder if that''s true.'' ''It''s too late to be a natural character now. ......'' Rumble ....... ''Niichan. Niichan. Why are you locking the door? The voice of the devil through the door. Shivering souls. Sweaty hands. A locked room with no escape. The ticking of the hands. The doorknob shaking. The head that rings with a thud . ''Alina. Well, what''s your excuse for coming to my room? ''Uh, bathroom. ''It''s been too long! You pervert. ''Whatever you say! I can''t do this anymore. Let''s just unlock the door. What''s the excuse? ''I''m gonna hide in your closet and you''re gonna go ahead and get out. I''ll tell them I was just fixing a mess and it took me a while.'' ''Wow. The smart ones are always cool! Let''s go with that. Just as Alina opens the closet and pushes herself in, she approaches the door, deliberately saying in a loud voice, "I''m going to open the door, so don''t make a mess. Alina nodded to me, and she closed the closet and I unlocked the door. I met Ugin, a human being with zero morals. ''You''re making too much noise. Knock. ''Why did you lock the door? Is Alina there?'''' ''I''m not here. I locked the door because I knew you guys would try to prank me in my sleep like you did earlier.'' ''Hmm. I thought you and Alina were doing something alone. ''If that''s what you thought, knock even harder. ......'' Well, never mind. Tsuru-san said he''s going home soon. Alina-san is still in the bathroom. ''That''s a long time! Aren''t you the big one? Gahaha''. There was a clank in the room. ''You''re such an a**h*le, brother. Don''t treat a girl like that. Why are you still alive? ''It''s for your own good, Ugin. ''Love is heavy''. My reputation was damaged, but it was worth it, and Ugin went down the stairs. I said to my room, ''That''s enough,'' and followed him. Tsuru and my mother were chatting at the door. They were waiting for Alina. Alina returned soon after. I''m sorry. I messed up my dress and had to fix it. ''Oh, I didn''t know. Here we go.'' Mother approached her and began to carefully adjust the dress on her midriff. Don''t look at me. ''Sorry ......'' Don''t look! The moment Alina showed her shame, Ugin tackled her with a yell. She was blown up and crashed into a wall. A gurgling sound came from her shoulder. Or maybe it was a "bling. It hurt anyway. My right shoulder and left shoulder are now attached to each other. Thank you very much. No. Come again, both of you. Oh, you''re coming back. Please don''t do that, Mother. Yes! Thank you! Tsuru replies cheerfully. No way. I''m going to die. I''m going to die. Thank you for your time. ''Sorry to bother you. ''Yes, nice to meet you. Come on, big brother. Say it right. ''Ko, thank you for your support this year. ......'' After bowing, they finally left our house. The door was closed to break the lingering silence. At the same time, I let the air out of my lungs and relaxed. Oh, my God! ''Mom, they were so cute, I was so surprised. ''He''s popular at school (as a problem child).'' ''So, which is it?'' ''''Yes?'''' ''Which one are you, Tsuru or Alina?'' ''Ugi-chan, help me. Your mother is in disarray. ''Oh no. I''m going to bed. I spent the next thirty minutes clearing up my mother''s misunderstanding. It was hard for me to watch my mother, who was about to enter her second half of the century, talk about her love life, and I almost gave up several times, but I did my best to avoid any further loss of honor. When I was released and returned to my room, I found a magazine in the middle of the room, covered with skin color, in the magazine corner of a convenience store. Yes, an erotic book. The reason why I have it is that I bought it as a joke with my friends in junior high school. The negative legacy of this book was kept in a closet, I believe. Why did this pornographic book come out of the closet and try to be seen by human eyes again? I don''t dare to say it, but you know what I mean. I received a message from Alina. Die. Strong imperative. Whether he meant what I said in jest about the ''big one'' or this pornographic book is a moot point. The god who doesn''t touch me is cursed. I was worried about Alina. It is hard to believe that such a fragile father and son could resist a big man. If the father were to attempt to kidnap them for Alina, he would be easily manipulated into doing what he wants. It is not even certain that they will be safely protected. There are about 80,000 missing persons every year, and not all of them come back. I prayed that nothing would ever happen to him. If only I could see their faces every day, I would know a sign or two. I wish the winter vacation would end soon. 82-poison needle case... Beginnings are born from a single end. Therefore, there is no such thing as starting from zero. I''m trying to sound like a quote from a great man, but what I''m trying to say is simply that the winter break is over. It is simply that the end of winter break has created a new school day. I knew that I would have a hard time on the first day of school if I didn''t wake up earlier and earlier, but I couldn''t overcome my greed and stayed up late and had a morning with little time to spare. Waking up early is an eternal challenge. I felt that my uniform was tighter than usual after a long time. It is natural to feel this way after wearing loose-fitting everyday clothes for a few dozen days. As I was sloppily changing and heading out the door, my sister stopped me and made me put my tie back on. I was so impressed by her feminine power. Please show up soon, beautiful girl who looks like my sister. I haven''t been to class since last year. After the summer vacation, you can see her tanning and other changes, but in winter, not much has changed. If I may say so, there are a few students who have turned white like snowflakes. They take their seats and throw their textbooks and other materials into their desks. It is sad to think that we will have to say goodbye to these textbooks next school year. Textbooks that used to give me a headache gradually become attached to me. It''s a complete lie. I want to burn them. Graduation, which will come in about a year, is becoming a reality. In a year, we will start going our own ways and gradually drift apart from those we have grown accustomed to. I think that the majority of the classmates will not see each other again after that turning point. At this moment, you will understand how valuable this space is without having to explain it. And how miraculous it is. If I had failed this high school, I would never have met these people. Makoto, Tsuru, Alina. Maybe I would have met someone at another school. Maybe I would have joined a club, worked out with my friends, and spent my youth riding my bicycle in the evening sun after school. It is the best scene I can imagine. If there was a button that could rewind time by three years, would you press it? Suppose you could choose to keep or erase your memories. Some people might press the button without hesitation. Some might press the button to save a loved one who died in an accident. Some might press the button to remember the winning numbers for three years and to win the lottery. For each of these reasons, they will rewind three great years of time and achieve a higher level of happiness. I am sure that most of them will succeed in most things. So, can I push it now? If I could erase my memories, I would have no regrets for the relationships that have been reset, for the events that have been rewound, for the memories that have been erased, for the body that has returned to its original state. Because I don''t remember the last three years. He is not even aware that he has come from the future. It is as if nothing has been lost. If he keeps his memories, he can pretend to be a soothsayer, and he can get rid of the regrets that are dragging him down. You may repeat the same thing. I just hope the world is not predetermined by fatalism. But I''m confident that I wouldn''t push it even if someone offered me 100 million yen. That''s how valuable this time is for me, irreplaceable time. The meeting of people cannot be bought with money, and it is not destiny. I believe that everything is a miracle of coincidence. This is your last year, so cherish it. Do not waste it. Akemae Rear Makoto''s New Year''s greetings. Surprisingly, he looked sleepy. Unusual for a morning person. Koto yoro. You look very sleepy. Don''t take sleeping pills too much. There''s a chance of death from poisoning. ''I''ve never taken it. I haven''t been to school in a long time, so I was nervous and couldn''t sleep much. ''What are you, a kindergartener before a field trip? ''At least rank me up to junior high school student before the school trip: ....... Comet looks as sleepy as ever.'' ''It''s a brain that needs thirteen hours of sleep a day. I''m in sleep debt every day. I''m going to go bankrupt eventually. ''What happens when you go bankrupt?'' ''I''m going to die.'' It''s not good. You''d better go to bed now ......'' ''So far I''ve been able to pay it off on weekends, so I''m fine.'' Well, I don''t care how I sleep. I''m worried about Alina. I haven''t heard from her since New Year''s, and I''ve been worried inside. I couldn''t help but feel anxious when she talked to me like that. I''ve been fidgety, and I''ve opened my contacts several times to call her, but I never pressed the button. Part of it was embarrassment, part of it was fear of hearing the worst case scenario. There was also the fear of not being connected. I left the classroom just before the morning homeroom started and entered the next class. I went into the next class. Alina was there. My breath leaked out sloppily. She was wearing a school coat, hands in her pockets, hunched over and hunched down. She seemed to be very cold, judging from the way she had a scarf wrapped around half of her face. ''Yo. Are you cold? ''I don''t want to see your face in the morning. ''You''re acting normal. I''m glad you''re all right.'' ''Do I look like I''m doing okay? It''s too cold. How can you people not be cold? How stiff is your hair? ''That''s a very hurtful thing for a girl to hear. ''For crying out loud. Are you going to cover the world in useless hair? I said, '''' ''I still look more feminine than you. ''I''ll shatter your femur. I wasn''t scared at all because he was just mumbling under his scarf. His right hand, which punched my side, was tucked in his pocket because of the cold, and his shiny white legs, wrapped in black tights, were freezing cold as he stomped my toes. The harmless, tongue-tied Alina is nothing but a loud-mouthed work of art. ''So, what happened after that? ''What''s that? ''...... about your father.'' ''No. He''s not here. What, you''re worried about me? ''I was worried about you as much as anyone, but okay. Good, good, good.'' ''Hmm. You''re getting good at being a slave these days. ''You''ll rebel one day, so wash that neck and wait for me. I was relieved. Alina''s venomous tongue was actually quite pleasant. If she had sounded weak and shy, I would have been very upset. Just as I was about to return to the classroom, someone grabbed my left shoulder. He pushed me away from him forcefully. A familiar male student stepped in between me and Alina. I don''t think we''ve ever talked before, as we''ve only passed each other in the hallway. But his rude behavior made even me, a gentleman, a little uncomfortable. ''Alina-san! I''ve always loved you since freshman year!'''' It was a live confession, a rarity in this day and age. It is a passionate confession that confronts head-on the rejection of young people who express their feelings through information terminals. And in a classroom. In front of many classmates. A moment later, the classroom fell silent. The volume of his confession was loud. So loud that I wanted to put an earphone jack in his mouth. Alina''s reaction to receiving such a passionate confession of love from the first day did not change even a single color of her face. I''m being a little loud," she said. I''m talking to the guy over there, can you not interrupt me? I don''t want anyone who doesn''t have common sense. Go back to your barn and eat your hay. That''s the way it''s gonna be. It''s so sad. To be treated like a cow by the girl you love. If you''re a man of particular proclivities, the abuse might be a reward, but not him. His pride was hurt, and he was in a foul mood. What''s so good about Sakakiki? What''s wrong with this guy! I thought you were dating after all! Yeah. ....... You''re a total buzzkill. ....... I heard Yuri laughing behind me. I turned around and gestured to her to comfort her, but she kept her mouth shut and pretended not to know. Shirana looked away from me, but her shoulders were shaking slightly, as if she was amused. ''Take it easy, take it easy. Have a cup of coffee or something. Oh, caffeine is a stimulant, isn''t it? ''Sakaki-ki. Don''t dawdle. You''ll never be a match for Alina. ''I''m not trying to be coy. I don''t think we''re even close. Come on, I''m going home. I patted him on the shoulder and reenacted the ''let''s take it easy'' kind of friendship scene seen in foreign dramas. But he brushed my hand away. Hardly hard. Then he pushed my chest. If I had been a girl, this would have been an indefensible act of molestation. I should have made a sweet, "No," sound. I guess it doesn''t matter, because there''s no demand for it. After a little attack, I realized that he really thought of me as an enemy. I staggered back with an ''oops'' and left it at that. I don''t want to fight. I''d win. Oh, no, he''ll kill me. Slap! Alina stood up and slapped him! Don''t get me wrong, it was not to me, but to him who told Alina! He didn''t slap me, the outlet for his violence, he did it to him! I was more surprised that the target was not me than the act of slapping. Silence for the second time today. He cracked his eyes and stroked his swollen cheek. She looked down at him contemptuously, shriveled like a lamb. Cruelly, Alina was taller. ''Get out of my way. Alina raised the angle of her eyebrows and said in a chilling voice, "I''m sorry, I''m sorry, I''m sorry. Then the man walked out of the classroom as if his soul had been drained from him. Yuri, Shirana, and Ran were all surprised to see Arina, who had calmed down, get really pissed off for the first time in a long time. The class resumed chatting awkwardly, trying to restore the atmosphere. She took her seat with a gasp and rewrapped her messy scarf. ''What''s his name? ''Eh. Oh, I don''t know. I think we were a couple. ...... ''Oh. That''s a pain in the ass. ''Are you trying to catch up?'' No, it''s not. I have to write my real name in the notebook.'' ''? Oh, God. Alina scribbled on her notepad in a tedious manner. The list of confessions, you know, the notebook. ''Ahhh ....... Naruheso.'' She was recording the confessions for the angel Alina. I don''t know what for. She was in a bad mood and her homeroom teacher was about to arrive, so I decided to fade out. I felt bad for the three classes that I had inconvenienced by my presence. I''m going home. Calm your mind. She closed her eyes, wrinkled her brow, and nodded. I''m sorry about the three groups of people. ....... ''You''re having dinner with me after all, aren''t you? The morning was lost in the opening ceremony after the vacations, and it was time for lunch. I thought Makoto was going to have a lovey-dovey dinner with Ryuka, but she came to my desk in a natural way. ''It''s awkward, so I''m going to ....... ''Why not? ''I didn''t get a chance to call you once over winter break. ......'' ''I see. I''ll take it.'' To be clear, I didn''t care about Makoto''s love life anymore. I only care about how far they''ve come, but other than that, I''m not interested anymore. If I liked Ryuka, I would care about her. Unfortunately, I don''t. ''Also, I''ve heard rumors about ......'' ''There are a lot of rumors about this school. Who in the world is manipulating the information? ''I heard Comet was beaten up by Nippa.'' ''I wasn''t hit. ''Really? Oh, there''s certainly no blood, and there don''t seem to be any broken bones. ''Who really started the rumor about Comet Sakakiki sandbagging? I sense a conspiracy. ''Oh, no, it''s not. I thought you had a fight. ''It wasn''t me, it was the guy who told Alina that got slapped. Harder. When? ''In the morning. After your little chat. ''That''s what happened after that ......'' It was as powerful as a sanctioned slap to a cheating husband, and I can still see it in my mind''s eye. It was such a powerful swing that it hurt me to watch. The timing of the slap made no sense to me, but he is a kind of a clueless guy, so it would be futile to try to understand him. ''Oh, and there''s one more rumor: ......'' There really are a lot of rumors. I doubt if there is any truth in this school anymore. ''Mr. Akakusa might be transferred.'' ''''Heh?'''' Mr. Akakusa is transferred? What do you mean, transferred? Move? What, you''re moving three meters? Like a residential move? A well? You''re not a well, are you, Mr. White? Move, move, move? After that. I apparently froze with my chopsticks on an omelet until I regained consciousness. 83-< It was an extremely cold day, chilling to the core. The sky was so full of gray clouds that you could not tell which way the wind was blowing. There was almost no wind, but every time I walked, the cold air enveloped my face from the front and made me shiver. My cheeks and the tip of my nose tightened up, especially the tip of my nose was losing its sensation. I am heading home, carrying a heavy plastic package of radishes, carrots, and other vegetables in my hands. My mother, who is a dilettante, had forgotten to buy the essential vegetables for oden for dinner, so I had to go to the store myself. I gladly accepted her offer and walked out the door with a smile on my face, but as time went by, my face became stiff. It''s so cold. My eyelashes are freezing. I walk faster to get back home, but the wind is stronger and the coldness increases. It''s so cold! I unconsciously quicken my pace when I can see my house in sight. I finally arrive at home with my face tucked into my scarf, braving the cold wind. It''s ''Tadaimaaa......''. Even the front door felt warm and I naturally smiled. I let out a little bit of a dirty sound, and it soon escaped my lips. If I did it in the classroom, I would be too embarrassed to go back to school. When I looked down to take off my shoes, I saw an unfamiliar pair of shoes. They were ordinary sneakers, but they were a size too big and probably wouldn''t fit me or my mother. They didn''t look like they were for women. The only thing I could think of was a customer of my mother''s or a comet. I don''t know any of her relatives, and I don''t think they''ve been here before. It crossed my mind that my mother might have brought her remarried lover in secret. There was no indication that my mother was in a relationship, but it was a possibility. My mother would be anxious about being a single woman, and she would be attracted to someone if he was good. If she is happy, I want to support her. But to be honest, I really wish she wouldn''t do that. I can''t accept the idea of living under one roof with an adult man I don''t know. It fills me with disgust and I don''t know what he would do to me. I don''t trust him, even if he claims to be faithful. I heard a man''s low voice coming from the living room. It was not a comet. I tiptoed closer to the light leaking into the hallway and peeked in fearfully. Suddenly I had a headache. A dull headache that hit me like a thumb pressing down on me. The pain was not enough to make me dizzy, but enough to cloud my expression. The pain came when I saw a man sitting on the floor across from my mother. The moment I saw him, I felt hairy and unfocused, regardless of my consciousness. I reflexively grabbed the sliding door to support my shattered center of gravity. The sound alerted my mother and the man to my presence. ''Alina ......? That''s Alina, isn''t it!'''' I fell on my ass. It was as if I had been boned. I push the floor with both hands as hard as I can, dragging my buttocks as I run away from the approaching man. My back and chest are quickly moistened with cold sweat. I was just scared. I was so scared of the man in front of me that I felt as if I would faint at the touch of even one finger. Stop it! I heard my mother''s angry voice, which I had never heard before. The man and I looked at my mother, stunned. My mother was standing there with her beautiful face reddening and her fists clenched. The man came to himself and apologized to me. He said, ''I''m sorry, I''m so sorry,'' and he was so desperate. But my body reacted to his every action with a twitch, and I didn''t have time to pay attention to his apology. The man''s expression at my reaction was mixed, looking both happy and despairing. ''You came back to repeat the same thing again ......! ''No! Really not! I haven''t seen Alina in a long time. ......'' ''Look what it is! You''ve got something on you! This girl has amnesia! Whose fault is it that you think it is!'''' ''What, ......?'' ''You wouldn''t know! He''s a fool to lay a hand on my daughter! Alina doesn''t remember you. So don''t come back! '' is ......? Alina, don''t you recognize me? I am sure I know this person, even though I have no fragmented memory of her. I had a hunch that he was someone I was deeply involved with, whether or not he was important to me. An inseparable blood relation. Maybe he is my father. Don''t talk to my daughter! Get out of my house as soon as possible!'''' ''Calm down and listen to me ...... I regret it too ......'' ''I don''t care about your regrets! Your regret won''t heal Alina''s wounds at all, nor will it make our past go away! Have you forgotten your promise to never come near us again! My mother''s excitement was only getting more heated. I could barely stand up, but I didn''t dare go into the living room, so I could only lean my weight against the wall and watch from the sidelines. I haven''t forgotten! But I''m really reformed. I was crazy. ...... I want to go back in time and do it all over again. I''ve always regretted hurting my daughter. I don''t know why I did that,...... Alina,...... but I can''t ask you to forgive me. I''m going to devote myself to you from now on. ''If you want to make amends, the best way to do so is not to appear before us. ''Wait. I''m serious. As if to cut off my father''s words, my mother gave him a hard slap. The sound inspired a phantom trauma. My father pushed me. The smell of alcohol stung my nostrils. He grabbed me by the jaw and cursed me. The drool on my cheek. My father''s face blackened by the backlight of the fluorescent lamp. The world distorted by the tears that seeped out. The neck that stretches. My airway left open . My father''s bloodshot eyeballs. My hair, scraped and nearly falling out. A mess of black curves, air pushed back from my lungs, my consciousness plunging into darkness. I awoke from sleep. I had no memory of sleep or the process of falling asleep. My sense of time was vague, and I did not know if it was evening or morning. I was a little annoyed at the sun shining on us half-heartedly. I was in my pajamas, and my mouth tasted faintly of minty toothpaste. The time on my phone read 6:30 on New Year''s Eve. I was convinced that my personality had been replaced. On my desk was the notebook. It was a ''must-read'' sign from the other me. I opened the latest page and found beautiful Mincho style letters. I fell on my bed and began to read, relying on the faint sunlight that shone through. After the change of personalities, the other one offered in a polite tone, ''Please leave. It is written that my father was surprised that he was asked to leave with such perfect strangerliness. I changed my appearance and came close to touch him again as if I could not believe it, and my mother threatened him in a hushed and murderous voice, saying, ''If you touch my daughter, I will call the police. My father, perhaps thinking it was a bad idea, then broke his back, apologized, and left the house. After that, he told my mother that he was undergoing a personality change, and they talked about various things. The rest of the story was not important. It didn''t matter what kind of underwear he used or how much he ate at night. I knew that my father had been arrested for abusing me. And now my mother told me that he is currently on probation. The fact that he could contact us at any time was disheartening. I don''t want the horror of yesterday to come again without warning. I thought I was going to be able to welcome the New Year in a good mood after having dinner with everyone, but now I am going to suffer from anxiety from which there is no escape during the New Year''s holidays. What will happen now? The only people I can talk to besides my mother are Tsuru and Comet. But I hesitate to open their contact information because it is too heavy and I will probably not call them or send them a message. Besides, it would be very annoying. In the living room, my mother was watching TV in a daze. Good morning. I greeted her and she jumped at me. ''--Alina! Are you okay! ''Eh, um, yeah. It''s me. It''s okay. Calm down. My mother hugged me and repeated in my ear that she was sorry. Her voice was weak, in tune with the trembling of her body. I hugged her back and felt her warmth. I washed my face while my mother prepared breakfast. My face reflected in the mirror and I was a beautiful girl as usual. I am not proud of it, but I have only known this face for a few years, so sometimes I feel as if I am borrowing someone else''s face. I am aware that this is not a normal feeling. I am aware that this is not a normal feeling, but my mentality is abnormal to begin with, so I suppose it''s just a cute thing to feel this way. After putting breakfast on the table, we start eating together. We watch the TV in silence for a while, and as we are bringing the food to our mouths, my mother puts down her chopsticks. Alina. If you say so...''... ''Hey, man. ''If you come to my house again, I''ll call the police. If Alina comes over when you''re not home, call the police right away. Do not open the door. ''''Okay.'''' ''...... Shall we move in soon?'' ''What, you''re going to go that far? ''Of course. Of course. ......'' ''...... is within commuting distance from the high school, right?'' ''Sure. ''So ......'' My mother seemed to take it much more seriously than I thought she would. From her point of view, it may be quite natural for her to be nervous. If I were in the same situation as my mother and had to protect her only daughter, I would do everything in my power to protect her. A mother is such a strong existence. Also, you should try to go home with someone. ''''Yes.'''' ''By the way, I wonder if there are children who go home with Alina.'' ''Yes. Ummm. ......'' He looked worried, but it was an act. It was obvious that my mother would become even more emotionally unstable if I answered immediately that she was not there, so I decided to stall for time and cover it up. What about Comet? You''re dating, aren''t you?'''' ''Huh! I didn''t!'''' ''Hmm. I''m sorry, I know. Comet told me. Mooo! I''m sick of talking about it because I''ve heard unnecessary rumors about him because I went to school with him. I can''t tell you how many times he''s questioned me. He was fed up with it, but it was a good feeling. Unfortunately, the only person I could count on was Comet. Despite his personality, he is a hundred and eighty-two feet tall and looks scary when he gets angry, so he would be a good choice for a bodyguard. His unintelligible jokes are also perfect for confusing people. Tomorrow is the first visit to the shrine by the cranes, and I feel sorry for them if I don''t cheer up. I think she is a very nice and unusual girl, because she is willing to get involved even with me like this. I wish she would stop making fun of me by bringing up comets sometimes. When she invited me to Hatsumode, I said, ''I''ll call you comets too! I''ll call you comets, too! And he calls out. I have to be extra careful. May next year be peaceful. 84-eccentric A few days have passed since Makoto told me about the unfounded rumor that Dr. Akakusa will be transferred. I still spend my days fidgeting restlessly in a state of rambling anxiety. Alina''s rehabilitation program has been suspended due to the busyness of the initial start of the new year, so I have not spoken to her except to pass her in the hallway. In fact, I made eye contact with her just to say hello. But before I could open my mouth, she raised her eyebrows and said, ''How can garbage walk on two legs? Alina, whose usual tongue is neither surprising nor bothersome, looked a little quizzical for a moment when I didn''t make a joke, which I didn''t do in my usual tone. Then she asked, ''What''s wrong? Are you okay? I''m going to touch your forehead a little bit, okay? If only he would have taken a few steps to make me feel a little better. I shut out the thought that I would get punched in the face if I expected it. A bathroom break between classes. As I was splashing lemon juice into the urinal, Makoto stood at the next urinal. I''m sure you guys can understand how I felt when he broke the unspoken rule of the men''s restroom that it is good manners to keep a distance between two or more urinals. Since it may be difficult for you girls to understand, let me give you an example. You are in a fashionable cafe. The people around you are enjoying their coffee with Macintosh open and reading books in an elegant and knowledgeable atmosphere. You are sitting at a full-window seat, looking out the window at the city. But you are the only one sitting side by side with the other. Then a stranger sits down next to you. There are other seats! All the way next to me! How could you! But if you think about it, Makoto is not a stranger but a friend. I don''t mind standing next to him, but would I stand next to him in the restroom? If you glance to the side, you might see them, right? It''s embarrassing. ''You''re taking your soul out with your urine, aren''t you? Makoto said so. A satire on my lethargy of the past few days. I''m sure it''s a light joke in his own way, but it''s sweet. No. I bleed for my health. ''Eh.'' Instead of laughing it off, he seemed to think I was serious and tried to look at me. He thought I was serious and tried to peek at me. I''m fainting just thinking about it. ''Glooo ......'' I leave the bathroom and wash my hands. The tap water is still so cold that it is hard just to wash. Oh, man. It''s just a rumor, don''t worry about it. What are you talking about? ''The story of Dr. Akaso''s transfer: ......'' ''I believe it''s just a rumor. I believe that I will not be transferred until I graduate. I believe that the first sender of this rumor will feel guilty and come to me to turn himself in. ''Wow ...... it''s too late now ......'' I believe it is not too late. Lunch with Makoto as usual. Seriously, have dinner with Ryuka. I wonder if Comet will be suffering from the center exam this time next year. ''I trust you''ll go to college safely. ''I''m a specialist, so if I work somewhat hard, I''ll be fine. ''You want to go into the culinary arts, don''t you? ''Yes, yes. Japanese cuisine. ''That''s amazing. I can''t cook. I even burned a fried egg. It''s too difficult. On the other hand, cup noodles made with hot water are the best. ''Did you forget the oil ......?'' ''I don''t know. My sister told me to never touch eggs again. I was warned, but after that I hid and tried to make my own rice on Saturdays and Sundays, and it turned out surprisingly well. I put rice, mentsuyu, eggs, meat, and cabbage in a frying pan and stir-fried them, then put mayonnaise and yakiniku sauce. The name of the dish is unknown. It may be Chaos-don or whatever, but it tastes so good that it kills you. I''m afraid that if I told him about this chaos bowl, I would get two words of profanity from him, so I''ll just be a guy who can''t cook. So I''ll be a man who can''t cook. ''I''m a single aristocrat. ''That''s all right, don''t be shy. I won''t say anything if he brings a blonde-haired black gal. ''You''re my mother. I love blondes. Speaking of marriage, legally girls in my class can get married now. Marrying a high school girl sounds like a bad idea. It''s a disgrace. However, it''s not something to be taken lightly at all, we boys will be old enough to get married this year, too. It''s a very unrealistic story. Why would a high school student with no financial ability get married? Oh, it''s love, isn''t it? Love can even transcend time and space. If that''s the case, I want to go to the Pleiades to look for aliens. I finished my meal and headed for the restroom as the urge to urinate came over me again. At seventeen years old, I was urinating as frequently as an elderly person, and I felt a little impatient. While I was walking at a brisk pace, a certain female student came out of the women''s restroom. She said, ''Ah! Sakakiki-kun, is it? ''''Hmm?'''' A girl with a ponytail wiping her hands with a handkerchief. It''s Hanaya Mugiyama, whom I met at the year-end party. She''s a cheerleader who told me how tall and cool I was, even if it was just to flatter me. Hey there. Akemashimae. Akemashimae. What''s the matter? ''I''m just about to go pick flowers as fast as I can. ''Oh, no. I have to pee. What the hell? Peeing. He went to the trouble of using a secret word out of consideration for women, but pee.... Is this okay? I''d like to ask JKs all over the country. Is it normal to say "pee" without shame? ''Uh-oh. Yes, like that. ''It might be fun to hold back, but it''s bad for your health, so you''d better get going, okay? Is it really so hard to be patient? Is this pony-tailed girl the type of person who enjoys holding her pee-pee in? What country are you from? Wait a minute. This is not normal. This is not normal because I''m not normal. Excuse me, what is patience? ''Er. To be patient. Isn''t it fun? I don''t know, I don''t know, just get it out of me. I''ve figured it out. I''ve come to realize that Hanaya Mugiyama is a broken woman. A heretic like me. At the year-end party, I thought I had finally met a saint who didn''t make fun of me. Unfortunately, that was just the tip of her iceberg. She was a pervert. ''Do you want me to stimulate your bladder? ''No, thanks. I''m dying.'' ''Too bad.'' This guy''s a bad ass. Probably worse than me. Mom, he''s a pervert. He''s a human who should never be allowed near Ugin! I ran to the bathroom and downed another glass of lemon juice. My body and mind are relaxing. I calmly analyzed my exchange with Ms. Kasai, and the only answer I could come up with was "pervert. Perverted high school girls exist, don''t they? I fearfully looked out of the door, checked that Hanaya was not in the hallway, and left the restroom. I am not yet prepared to deal with a heretic, so I can''t crack my best jokes. She will take the lead in no time. I shudder to think that I have met a formidable opponent. Before returning to the classroom, I decided to go to the store and join the war for the bread. The activities of the club are not as active as in the summer, and the competition for the bread is calmer. I was able to get what I wanted with ease. It is good that I got it, but it is also great that I am not suspected of being a pervert. In the past, I was pointed at several times and called ''molester! I have had the painful experience of having to excuse myself from being dishonorably called such names. The effort was clearly beyond the calories of a loaf of bread. I am truly glad that there was no police group in my high school. Isn''t that what the "public morals committee" is all about? Well, ''I''ll tell the public morals officer! I''ve been called that before. I''d rather you call the police on Hanaya Mugiyama. She''s definitely disturbing public morals. After school cleaning started. Our second squad is sweeping the hallways, and brooms are our weapons. We want to get this done quickly, so we grab our brooms and sweep the empty shell casings (trash) scattered all over the battlefield (the corridor). Hallways are not the place to be this time of year. It''s too cold. By the way, the best one is a heated classroom. It''s called the disparity between the aristocracy and the poor. Just next to me in the next class, the one who won the lottery was shivering with a broom and sweeping. This is Alina Hibane. You really don''t like the cold, do you? Her black stockings wrapped her legs and neck with a scarf, so that only her hands and face were exposed. I wish we had the right to wear pants. I wonder if threatening the cranes will change the school rules. ''We''re going to lose our romance, so please endure the cold. Good luck. ''Die.'' I was not afraid of anything when such a wobbly, frail figure complained about the interruption of life. I was not afraid to clap my hands and say, ''Yes, more loudly! like a passionate music teacher. By the way, I hated music in junior high school. I hated that style of forcing people to sing. I even thought of rising up against it before graduation. But I''m a chicken, so I didn''t. She seemed to be annoyed with my good mood and started to attack me mentally, which was her specialty. I heard that Dr. Akakusa is going to be transferred. How do you feel? You demon. He touched on a subject that has been bothering me for the past few days. As I thought, Arina Hiba is the kind of person who not only puts salt on people''s wounds, but also Tabasco on them. I want to give her a strong wind with a compressor. ''Nothing? I don''t think of you as anything, okay? ''It''s sad, isn''t it? Your beloved teacher is gone. Isn''t it sad? ''Ggh. I''m not sad, okay? I can''t wait to see what beauties they bring next.'' ''Yes. Mr. Akakusa will go to another school and maybe he will meet the young male teacher of his dreams there. That would be a blessing for her. ''Yamero......Yamero......'' ''I want you to be happy. I long for it too. ''You belong with the snakes. You''re poisonous and you should get along. ''I''m going to erase your name from the family register.'' If you put him in charge of the state, the dark ages will be upon us. As one side shivers with cold and the other shivers with anxiety, Toma Asakura, the head of the newspaper department, interrupts this exchange. ''Can I talk to you for a minute? ''''You''re as energetic as ever.'''' ''I need a favor! With both fists raised in the air, Toma gave us a big smile and said, "I''ll be back. ''I need your help collecting stuff again! Do you have time today! I''m back to my life back home, and I have nothing planned, so I have plenty of time to rot. I glanced at Alina and our eyes met. She gave me a small nod. Since I''m doing some kind of a job as part of Alina''s rehabilitation, I had planned not to accept her offer if she refused, but it seems she''s willing to do it. I''ll take her up on it then. I''ll be fine. ''Osh! Then come to the newspaper club when you''re done cleaning!'''' ''''Oh.'''' Toma went back to the classroom. It''s time to clean up the greenhouse winners. I''ll go to your classroom when I''m done. I''ll meet you there or I''ll say I''m going to die of cold. ''You know what I mean. I''ll be waiting.'' 85-Social Winds XYZ... After the cleanup was over, I went to Alina''s class to gather my belongings. Alina was shaking her desk with her legs wiggling. It was as if she was the only one who had been hit by a 3-magnitude earthquake. Come on, let''s go! Alina''s eyes widened when she heard a word from the door, and she quickly slung her bag over her shoulder and stood up. Then she came to me at a brisk pace. I was impressed by her determination, but my admiration faded with her next words. Let''s go quickly. The heating is broken. It''s unbearable. I see. I see what you mean. It''s true that it''s a little chilly, but the heating is not working properly. It must have been hard on Alina, who has a sensitivity to the cold. She shudders and starts walking fast again. It was amusing to see her walking at a speed that was just barely fast enough to avoid the censor''s warning not to run in the corridor. She is serious inside. He knocks on the door of the newspaper club and opens it. Warm air leaks from the room into the corridor, and Alina, bathed in it, makes a mysterious onomatopoeic sound ''hooah......'' and enters the room, bouncing around like a sparrow. She seemed pleased with herself and opened her arms to express her joy. --No, no, no. No, this is him walling himself off to keep me out of the clubroom. You''ve been in the hallway long enough, haven''t you? You have to be a platinum member or above to get in from here. You rats live in drains, don''t you? Shush. I think I''m thinking something like this. It could be worse. Twist yourself to the left where Alina stands. Let me experience the aristocratic greenhouse. Even a gerbil wants to dry his fur and let the light in his eyes. Let me chew on some cheese, if I may. No mousetraps or other cruel weapons, of course. That''s it, Akumanodougu. I can''t! But Alina is holding her own. I grab her left arm. I''m already making enemies among the Alina fans on campus, so call me a pervert if you must. I''m cold, too. I can''t wait to get into the newspaper club room. I try to move Alina out of the way. But she''s stuck like a rock. ''Comet Sakakiki molested Arina Hibane .........one more scoop for you, boss...'' ''Hey, there. Don''t write it down. Don''t take pictures.'' One of the members of the club started writing a lot of crazy stuff, so I advise you to be careful. If anything like that gets out at school, it will surely be the end of my high school career. Alina fans won''t kidnap me and torture me. Tired of the skirmish, she stops resisting and moves closer to the pipe chair. She writes in the "Testimonials" section: "It was so scary. Can you add a note to your story saying ''I was very scared. I don''t forgive you. ''Don''t do that, you''ll get in a lot of trouble with the school board. After regaining his composure, Toma Asakura, the head of the newspaper club, began to speak. The reason I called you here today is because I need your help! Yes. If I had just invited you, I would have buried you somewhere in the schoolyard. ''What''s next month! Yes, comet! ''Oh, it''s me. Let''s see, ...... Valentine''s Day?'' ''''Ha! No, ha! No. You''re right. Don''t look at me like I''m accusing you. It''s ...... the anniversary of Comet Sakakibiki''s death. I''m not dead. It''s too bad! I''m not sorry. Are we all idiots here? Alina, don''t throw in any unnecessary jibberish. And don''t play with Toma. It''s exam day for third-year junior high school students! That''s what I''m talking about! ''Come to think of it, we also took the exam around February. I see... the day of the exam. Let''s rewind my memory by two years. I still remember the day I came to take the entrance exam of my first choice school. Unlike junior high school, high school is a magnificent building and I was impressed. The examination rooms were filled with various uniforms. The phenomenon that everyone looked like a genius except for me had done more than enough damage to me, and I was in a defeated mood even before the test started, thinking that I had failed. In such a situation, I was relying on Shirana and my friends who were wearing the same uniforms as me. Except for Shirana and me, everyone else failed. It was very awkward. While I was lost in my thoughts of old memories, Alina gave me a poke. Are you listening to me? Do you have an eardrum?'''' ''Yes, I do. I''m sorry, I''m a little fuzzy. Douma cleared his throat and continued speaking. ''The student council thought it would be a good opportunity for publicity and asked me to make an article outlining our school for the day of the exam! Even though we don''t have enough people! At a time when we are in the process of working on projects for the new school year! What the hell are you thinking, student council!'''' Just as Toma''s complaining began to heat up, one of the club members handed him a pen. Toma slowly began to calm down. Apparently, the pen was a sedative for him. I wish we could give Alina an item like that. ''In other words. We need your help. ...... We know from our last experience that you have skills. Comet and Alina are the only ones we can rely on. ''''I don''t mind, but...'''' ''Seriously! Thank you! There was no reason to refuse, and he would cry if I did. Meanwhile, Alina is smiling as she sees Toma, hands folded in prayerful gratitude. I was about to scold her for mocking his gratitude, but when I looked at Toma again, I noticed that his social window was fully open. Oh my god--. He''s always ready to let off the water. Should I point this out? But it''s not good. There are girls in the club, and shame is his honor. It would be somewhat helpful if the girls hadn''t noticed ...... that he''s glancing at them. He''s blinking a lot. He''s staring really hard. Toma, game over. You''re probably the only one in this space who hasn''t noticed. I''m hoping the boy next to me will point it out, even if it''s just casually, and I''ll say, ''Sit down, man, sit down. I''ll help you. Ugh, no one''s going to teach me. ....... Toma. You should''ve known. It''s open! The article is a full-page spread! The content is an overview of our school! Facilities, club activities, school culture, curriculum, etc. There''s also a section for the student council''s greeting, so be careful how you allocate space! Toma quickly stood up and began to draw a simple composition on the whiteboard. It''s super open, Toma. ....... Naturally, when he stood up, everyone in the room was a little freaked out. The guys looked like they wanted to say ''don''t get up'' with a devil-may-care look on their faces, but in the end they didn''t say it. Alina''s chuckle seems to have reached its limit and she manages to prevent it from breaking by hitting me. She smacked me, trying hard to keep her voice from sounding like a villain. I feel like I''m going to break my arm. Toma finishes the example by slamming the whiteboard with a bang. Stop it! Don''t get all bent out of shape! You''re going to rip the zipper. Like this! By the way, on the back I''m going to put up a uniform picture of the school building and you two as models! ''''Hm? What''s a uniform picture?'''' ''''Models! We''ll put it up like the pictures you often see in uniform pamphlets and stuff! The student council asked for it!'' At once, suspicions of Tsuru''s involvement surfaced. I don''t like this story because I don''t like photographs very much. Alina, on the other hand, seems to be having a hard time keeping her facial muscles tight so as not to laugh. Toma sat down again, and the tense atmosphere suddenly relaxed. Some sigh with relief. The atmosphere was no longer conducive to pointing out things. Afterwards, a member of the club showed us an article from the past as an example. This was the first time for us to actually write something in print, since we had only provided stories when we had cooperated with the newspaper club in the past. The members of the club took care of us and carefully explained to us. I think there is something else to be concerned about, but it was too late, so I listened to their explanation seriously. Alina seemed to be expecting Toma to get up, and she glanced at him from time to time. What a bad character of a high school girl. I don''t think she should be glued to a boy''s vital point, though. It was difficult for me and Alina to start from scratch, so Toma and I decided to make it together. The other members of the club are going to work on this month''s newspaper and articles for the new year. We divided the desks and got to work, but Toma was still in full throttle. I put my mind at ease and thought about the text. Alina seemed to be unable to concentrate and her pen was not running at all. In the end, Toma was in full throttle until the end. It was so refreshing. Everyone seemed to have gotten used to it, and no one seemed distraught. Except for Alina. The time for dismissal was approaching, so we decided to leave the school. I told her that I would stop by the newspaper club again tomorrow, said my goodbyes, and went out into the hallway with Alina. We walked in silence for a while and then Alina started to laugh. I can''t do it! It would be funny if you didn''t laugh! Ha-ha-ha," the devil''s laughter echoed through the school. I''m sorry, Toma. It was too late to change the mood. If you had said ''your zipper is open'' right away, this would not have happened. Give him a break. For his honor, don''t tell anyone. ''I won''t tell you, but you might laugh every time you see him. It reminds me of him. ''I don''t think it''s a good idea for a high school girl of your age to stare at them.'' ''Shut up. It''s your fault for not telling me. You boys should be the ones to tell them. ''I don''t know what to tell you perverted girls. ...... Stay away from Ugin anymore. It''s bad for your education.'' ''It''s no use, I have your number.'' ''You used illegal means. I can''t allow you to use my sister''s number. ......'' When I arrived at the entrance to the school, I ran into members of the student council. They include Tsuru, the new student council president, and the vice president. I wonder what the student council is doing until this late. What are they chatting about when they are not producing anything? We''ve been forced to play the role of models by your scribes'' schemes. Oh, well... What''s keeping you two up this late? ''I''m supposed to help out with the newspaper club.'' ''Wow. What a surprise! ''I''m also going to do articles and model uniforms. ''Wow. That''s perfect for Alina! Just as I calculated, or-- She may look like a chicken who can''t multiply and divide, but her brains are not to be underestimated. It''s good that they chose Alina as a model. But don''t drag me into this. There are plenty of other guys out there. ''After all, a model has to be tall! Oh, I slipped up. Oops. ''I knew who did it, so you don''t have to look like you made a mistake. It makes me angry. ''That''s good. You''ll be popular with the new students! ''I''m afraid you''re going to make more enemies of the current students. Even though they''re already jealous and hostile. ''It''s a sin to be beautiful. ''Alina, be quiet. You''re the one who did this, so be aware of it. Anyway, thanks to my sacrifices, I succeeded in raising Alina''s social skills to the level where she can talk to me like this. Alina is a changed woman, if you recall the assassin''s look she had a few months ago. I think I''ve accomplished half of what Mr. Akakusa, or rather the angel Alina, had wished for me. Now it''s up to us to decide where the end is, or rather, when the mission is complete. As if she had read my thoughts, Alina glared at me. You are not my guardian. Don''t read minds. Stop invoking your mutant abilities from time to time. The bad researchers will find you. ''''So.'''' Alina was going home with Tsuru, and they parted at the entrance to the school. The student council members also parted and walked to the school gate. I felt a little sad seeing them. This time next year, they will be gone. The third-year students are now going to school on their own. Naturally, we will be studying at home next year and making a final effort to catch up. Only one year. In just one year, this scene of leaving school will be gone. I sat down on the steps of the elevator and opened a glass of tomato juice. ''I wonder what''s going to happen to me ......''. I don''t have a vision of what I''m going to do after graduation. Vague anxiety tightened my chest, and apart from the cold, I shivered. What should I be moving toward? My friends around me have their own dreams and goals. All I can do is drink tomato juice and watch the days go by. Nothing is born, nothing is lost. So nothing. I was so anxious. Maybe it''s because I''m a homecoming girl. I wonder if I would have gained something if I hadn''t been a homecoming club member. Now God only knows. Someone once told me I was funny. They praised me for always cracking jokes and making everyone around me smile. It made me happy, but it also made me feel like I had hit a sore spot. You say false things because you have nothing. I''m that kind of guy. Halfway through the can, I stood up. ''What, a comet? At this hour?'''' I turned around and saw Hakuna Namiki in tennis wear. No one else was there. 86-refinement and photography... How can you bare your bare feet in the middle of January? I hear that women have a lot of subcutaneous fat. Is that why girls can go to school without wearing tights in winter? If I mention such a question, I will be scorned, so let''s take it to the grave. I asked her not to let my question show on my face. ''Are you practicing until this time? ''Yeah. It''s my last year. The last. I thought the words sounded strangely heavy. ''I was just about to leave, too. ''Hey, where are you and Alina-san?'' ''I left first. I''m warning you, it''s not natural for us to be together. ''Uh huh. We''re all used to seeing each other. They call it a Big Mac set. ''What''s that? ''Because we''re both tall. Isn''t it harsh to compare a tall man with a Big Mac? I think that''s an analogy for heavyweights. I went to school with Shirana because we went to the same junior high school. Naturally, we walk home side by side, relying on streetlights and car lights. We walk along the streetlights and the lights of the cars. ''Oh, did I ever tell you that? I interviewed him a long time ago. When I was employed by the newspaper department. I don''t know, I don''t know. ''''You still haven''t changed your mind?'''' ''Of course. What''s the matter, out of the blue? ''Well, it''s nice to have a dream. It just occurred to me. Shirana looks at me with a puzzled look on her face. ''''Don''t you have a dream, comet? ''At the moment,'' he said. ''Do you want to live while doing this, or do you want to do this? ''hmmm ......'' ''What do you plan to do in college?'' ''Hmmm... ...... I wonder what it is... ......'' ''It doesn''t sound like there are any. ...... but I don''t think you need to worry about it that much. You''ll find it in college! She is right, we will have to find our way in college. I''m just impatient because my friends around me are walking in pursuit of a clear career or dream. Well, I would like to work as a tomato juice drinker. As a tasting expert. Are you going to the same college as Alina? ''Huh? I don''t know. I don''t even know what college he''s going to. ''I thought you two were together ......'' It''s called a couple, Ms. Shirana. We are not so foolish as to lose our sanity at the mercy of such desires. ''Hmmm ......'' Alina, you have a brain that consistently ranks in the top 10, so there is no way I, a normal brain, can be your equal. Besides, he is a liberal arts major and I am a science major. That alone makes a big difference in which university to choose. What am I thinking? I don''t care what college Alina chooses. What''s it gonna do to her if she goes there? They''ll treat you like a parasite. I spent the next two weeks in the newspaper club. After school, I would go to the newspaper club, and Alina and Toma would talk. They would write out their stories and revise them with each other. Alina would tell me that my writing was so dirty! I was about to fall apart when he said to me, "I''m sorry, I''m sorry. I tried to talk back to her, and when she let me read her draft, it was so easy to read that my jaw dropped off. She is an aspiring writer. The writing is very precise and concise. There is no snag in reading it at all. What are you and Nippa up to next? One day, worrying about me staying late at school, Makoto said such words to me. Ever since I met Alina, I''ve been doing a lot of things that are out of character for a homecoming club, but these days I''m at a level where I''m no longer a homecoming club member. If the members of the homecoming club, who boast of their inter-high school level abilities, could see me, they would be outraged. They would be upset if they saw me. But unfortunately, I am better than them. A hawk with a hawk hides its talons. Photo. I''m looking forward to it. Another day, Nidotsuru smiles wickedly. One of the organizers who dropped a job in the newspaper department during the transitional period. The one who would have suggested 700 percent of the model photos. She did so casually during a bathroom break. She spoke to me in a very pleasant tone as I struggled to reread and correct an article I had written in my notebook. I threatened to pour tomato juice on her, but she would not listen at all and took my notebook away from me. I begged her to give it back as if I were a little girl whose lover had been taken from her by an evil force. How cruel. We''re having fried chicken with cranes tonight. "Modern literature? Another day, Shinji Miyazaki, the head of the art club, peeked in my notebook. Is writing sentences in a notebook really a way to study modern literature? Probably not. It''s not like practicing Kanji. I threatened him, saying, ''I''m writing a sensual novel, so you shouldn''t read it. There must be a very small minority of people who want to read erotic novels written by men. This is not a freak show. Not yet. Shinji slowly faded away from me. Why do we hesitate and feel ashamed to show our creations to others? I began to wonder about this and thought about it. The answer I came up with is that ''a work is an alter ego of oneself. I believe that a creative work is the embodiment of one''s soul. I can''t bear the thought of exposing all of myself. That''s why I am ashamed. Can you run around town naked? If you can, go to the police. You''re very sick. There were many conflicts, but I was finally able to convince Alina and Toma. I thought the people at the newspaper were really great. Publishing every day is hell. My mind is so exhausted that I can no longer remember how many times Alina has told me I''m not good enough, so I open four bottles of tomato juice. I thought I heard the screams of liver and blood, but I''m sure I heard nothing. They have no mouths. Now all that''s left is the picture in question! Toma naturally touched on the thing he most wished he had not. He had to use a whole page in the back of the article to take a picture of our school uniforms. Seriously, does it have to be me and Alina? I think it is normal for these model photos to pull out models from some agency and have them wear uniforms. They must have good processing skills. ''The student council has asked for you! ''I''m going to roast that chicken ...... I''m going to roast that chicken ......'' ''By the way, we already know where we''re going to shoot! And I''ve got my camera ready!'' Toma took out his SLR and stood up. ''Let''s go! ''Now? Wait a minute, he''s not wearing any makeup. I''ve never been to school with makeup on. I''m going to stab you.'' ''Stand up stand up! Time is not waiting for me! Let''s go get a shot!'' Douma''s momentum got the better of us, and Alina and I reluctantly stood up and left the newspaper club. A few other members of the club accompanied us as assistants, and we followed them. Too late. I was reluctant to take small steps and resisted, but Alina blamed me. ''I don''t like pictures,'' she said. I don''t like pictures. ''Why don''t you just stand there and not think about it? Even a rock can do it.'' ''I''m nervous. You look like you''re a magazine model or something. Do you have any tips? ''Do I look that self-promoting to you?'' ''No, not at all. ''You should remind yourself that you''re trash. You won''t feel a thing. ''You think I''m trash, don''t you? He changes his shoes and leaves the school building. Arina''s expression becomes more and more gloomy and she mumbles, ''You''re kidding me. ...... The location of the photo shoot is in front of the school gate. She probably did not expect to be photographed outside in the cold. ''Okay! Let''s get a quick shot! How are you going to shoot it? ''Well, I want the school building and the two of them to fit together nicely and in a good way. That''s abstract. I don''t know if I can do this. I was worried, but fortunately, a female member of the club seemed to have done her research and gave us instructions. While she was looking for the best spot with her camera, Alina and I were getting our uniforms ready. We were asked to dress properly and modelically, and to make sure that our ties and ribbons were not crooked. Since I was not wearing waist pants or any other incomprehensible fashion that showed off my short legs, I did not have anything to point out, but surprisingly, Alina had something to point out. But surprisingly, Alina had a point to make. Toma crosses his arms and groans. Alina also stands upright with her arms crossed in frustration and confronts him. ''Alina-san, can''t you do something about your tights? ......'' ''What? You want me to take it off? ''No, I''m not asking you to take them off, but I still think the tights are a bit ......''. ''What? What''s with the tights? The exclamation point drops drastically. As if to corner him, Alina looks down on him from above. Alina is slightly taller than Toma. I feel sorry for Toma, who shrivels up. ''I guess the tights aren''t official or something. ......'' ''So you want me to take it off? What do you think?'' I''m scared of my sister Alina. Let''s give Toma a helping hand. Sis! Calm down! ''Oh, my God. All right, I''ll undress. I''ll get naked.'' No one told me to go that far. Alina left for the entrance, her shoes clacking. Toma said, ''Thank you! Thank God! He clung to me. ''Next time, explain to him beforehand, will you? ''Sorry! I was too quick.'' About five minutes later, Alina came out of the entrance. I think she is staring at me. Her white breath is like that of a menacing wolf. Her jet-black legs are now bare, and she is ready to be photographed. Before Alina could explode in anger, the girls explained to her where to stand and how to pose. I tried my best to distract her by cheerfully responding to her questions. I was puzzled as to why I was rolling quickly in the direction of taking a picture when I didn''t want to take one. Anyway, I had to do something about this sensitive dud. With the school building in the background, Alina and I are now facing 45 degrees in opposite directions. It seems that I should shoot from a slightly low angle so that the apex of the school building is included in the shot. Here I go! At a signal from a female member of the club, we took our positions. ''Alina-san. Please use a softer expression. I think she is wrinkling her brow from the cold. It''s easy to imagine. I took about five pictures in total on the count of three, two, one. When I show them to you, I think I look pretty good. I''m sure you''ll add some text and distort the space-time with Photoshop and such, right? I''m looking forward to it. When the shooting was over, Alina disappeared. She disappeared without a word, so we went back to the newspaper club first. As we were feeling the heat, Alina came back. I don''t have my tights on. Alina, who still has her bare skin on display, asks me a question. ''It''s not me, of course. I haven''t turned into a lingerie thief yet. I''m not sure if tights are underwear or not. ''Let me out. ''No, you''re not! I was outside the whole time! ''You''re going to die.'' ''You''re being unreasonable. This is what I hear about false accusations. ......'' ''I''ll erase the culprit as soon as I find him. First, I''ll have him stick his fingers in the shredder.'' Come on, Mr. Criminal, turn yourself in. I have a feeling I''m about to be shredded. d*mn it, I wanted to die after I saw Ugin in high school. There was a knock at the door. I had high hopes it was the killer. Please. Please let it be him. Give him back his tights now. He''s been shaking his head like a baby. ''Sorry to bother you. It was a chicken that showed up. You''re not wanted! ''Oh, please leave. ''Terrible. You can''t do that as soon as you get here. ''I just took your picture. You can count on me.'' ''Whoa. I''m looking forward to it! Oh, and Alina, is this Alina''s? A folded black object is in the crane''s hand. It is unmistakably a pair of tights, one of the winter landscapes. Tsuru brought them, which are so popular that some fetishists specialize in them. The first to react was, of course, Alina. She stood up and closed the distance with the crane at once, so close that the tips of their noses were almost touching. Before a boxing match, huh? Where did you find him? ''What ...... was it in the toilet ......?'' Toilet. You left your clothes on. It''s not a cicada shell. You should have put it back here. What the hell, a toilet. Then it was never me in the first place. I''m so ignorant about women''s restrooms that I didn''t even know Otohime existed until recently. ''Because I knew you''d do something like that. What a bastard. Unexpectedly, Tsuru saved the day, and the tights theft case was successfully solved. 87-mens silence... A few days have passed since I escaped from the danger of being falsely accused and thrown in jail, and now February has arrived. A month has already passed since the New Year. Time seems to be flying by. Is it because I am spending a lot of time or because I am getting closer to adulthood? My sense of time has always been vague. When I am happy, it feels short, and when I am in pain, it feels long. It all stretches and shrinks according to the state of mind at any given time. So now, as I stand at the school gate with an article published by the newspaper club, just like the people handing out tissues on the street, I feel the flow of time very slowly. Various uniforms are being sucked into the gate of the school. They are all looking nervous and staring at their reference books as if they don''t have time to spare. Feeling sorry for them, I hand them a newspaper with a model photo of me and Alina, saying ''good luck''. The junior high school students took it thinking it was an official pamphlet. It is an ugly way of taking advantage of the human mind. I felt a pang of remorse, but I handed the newspaper to them again. If the number of newspapers reaches zero, I can go back to the greenhouse. I wonder if there is anyone who would like to receive them in bulk. Yes, today is the day of the exam of the school. So I am handing out one of the newspapers that I have completed in the past few weeks. The distribution itself should be left to the newspaper club, but once again, a certain edible bird of the student council has come up with an unnecessary demand: ''Alina will motivate the students to take the entrance examinations. So far, so good. The demand has nothing to do with me at all. I was planning to go to the cleaning locker when Alina pointed a finger at me and said, ''You too. I turned around and said, ''Nobody''s here,'' but the moment I saw her holding a ballpoint pen backwards, I gave up. So there I am at the school gate handing out newspapers to junior high school students who are at a crossroads in their lives, and as the food bird said, most of them pass by the school gate toward Alina instead of me. I was standing at both ends of the gate, so I was not mistaken, but the difference was clear and obvious. I wonder if there is a wall on my side that only they can see. Or am I already dead and I don''t know that I am a spirit? Alina, on the other hand, smiled a sickeningly human smile and said, "Good luck! And he distributes them like a good guy. Those who pass by look at you three times and turn around. I cursed them to break their necks. But God sent people toward Alina as if in mockery. I was sad. An unfathomable sense of inferiority gnawed at me. After a while I felt Alina''s eyes on me. I glanced at her lazily. Then she put her hands in the air and pleaded with me. Give me some of that. Perhaps this is what he meant. You can have it or you can''t. I''m not even a third of the way down. I handed the remaining 80% to Alina as she approached. ''Hey. That''s too much. ''Sarcasm? Or are you a natural? What are you talking about? Enough.'' You took 80% of the money as planned. Too much? It''s not a lot for you. It''s a matter of supply and demand. The point is, people love newspapers with Alina''s genes in them more than they love me. Gene fetish. Gene fetish. Middle school kids are scary these days. I can''t keep up with them. The closer we got to the closing time, the fewer people showed up. The parents of the students who had accompanied me to the examinations were leaving the school, and this job was coming to an end. We decided to turn around, thinking that they would not come back. All right. Report to the newspaper department. Let''s go home. ''You''re still here. I''ve already given out what you gave me. You slacker. Aren''t you ashamed to be alive? ''There is such a thing as the right person for the right job, and this time you just weren''t the right person for the job, Alina. Yes, I am ashamed, frustrated and sad. Did you not feel sorry for my right hand that kept wandering in the air? ''Shut up. Stay away from me, you''ll give me incompetence. ''I''m going to cry''. That said, I''m glad it all ended well. I''m glad you could read it, even if only a little, because it was nerve-wracking writing. It is true that I tried my best even though it was poorly written. Regardless of what you may think of it, I hope you will think something or feel something from it. I returned to the newspaper club and reported to Toma immediately. Today is the day of the examination, so all the students are absent except for the sports club. He is also absent, but he came out because he felt bad about leaving me and Arina in charge. I really wanted to apply to the student council for a compensatory holiday. If I refuse, I''ll run to the Labor Bureau. ''We have a few left, but we''ve finished handing them out. ''Oh! That was good! What''s the reaction? I was not likely to have enough time to look through the newspaper because I was taking an entrance exam. Well, maybe he''ll read it when he gets home? ''''Right! Let''s hope they didn''t throw it in the trash on campus! That''s the truth. If I find one, I''ll do my best to identify it and make it so you can only eat tomatoes for the rest of your life. ''It''s okay. I''m on it. ''I''m so angry at your sudden self-consciousness. ''They look at me too much. I thought I was going to pluck out their eyeballs with a spoon. ''I''m sorry but Tsuru was right, you were a big presence. I''ve missed you though.'' ''Let me comfort you. Don''t point the tip of your ballpoint pen at me. And, ''I''ll make it easy on you,'' is the right line. All business done, we decided to leave the school. Toma was going to stop by the student council, so Alina and I decided to go home first. I tried to keep my distance from him, but we were on the same route home, and it was difficult for me to leave him, so I quietly walked with him. It was already noon, and I was thinking about having dinner when I got home, when Alina called out to me as if she could see right through me. Do you want to drop by somewhere? What''s with the date-like attitude? Or did he read my mind again? Even so, it''s a big storm today to ask her out. But it was a beautiful day, not a cloud in the sky. Oh, yeah. We were just coming to the mall, so we decided to have lunch at the food court there. It feels immoral to wander around in uniform in the morning. I''m afraid of being arrested. I have a good reason. We go through a few awkward areas until we get to the food court. It was really awkward to see many stores with a special Valentine''s corner at this time of the year, decorated with sweet words in big letters. There was a slight hope that Alina might give me a valentine, but it was very difficult to feign indifference so that she would not know it. For us boys, it was both exciting and painful. Fortunately, Alina did not touch us at all. It''s crowded at lunchtime, isn''t it? ''Yeah, right. I ordered a hamburger and a Coke, and Alina ordered apple pie and coffee. While we were wondering what we were going to talk about until our orders arrived, Alina started talking to us, which was unusual. ''So, how are you doing? ''Put in the subject.'' ''It''s me.'' Too little information. Are you playing a game where you can''t talk for more than three seconds? Your words always contain less information than the names of ingredients in tomato juice. ''Have I changed in your eyes? Of course I''ve changed. My personality has softened a lot since we first met. Don''t you think it''s a miracle that a man who used to reject everyone and open up to no one is now sitting across from a man like this? The angle of his eyebrows was raised, and his face was stiff and mouth-watering, but over time his facial expressions became more and more varied. He began to laugh and to show sad expressions. Those who can say that this has not changed, please raise your hand. I will remove your shoulders and make it impossible for you to raise your hands. She may not be aware of the change because she is the one who does not notice the change the most. "You''re a different person. ''Hyperbole. It''s like your life. No, no, I''m not exaggerating. No, no, I''m not exaggerating. I''ve been watching you closely for the past few months and I''m telling you. You''re in good hands. Things are looking up. ''Well then. Do they not want you anymore? I''ve heard similar words from the angel Alina. It was at the festival, when she told me that she was going to leave me alone because I would be a nuisance. Since the project had started with an abstract theme, the cure project would end ambiguously. It will be over before you know it. I knew from the beginning that there would be no decisive decision, so Alina''s statement was in a sense the end. ''Hmmm. I''m kidding. ''You still need me. That''s great. ''Don''t get carried away, sludge. Yes, yes. By the way, not to change the subject, but where are you going to go to college?'' The order had just arrived and the conversation was cut short. The waiter drops down and Alina takes a sip of her coffee. I see. Some national school. What about you? I think I''ll go to a private school in Tokyo. I''ll have to borrow a ton of money for scholarships, so I''m a debtor in the future! Ugin-chan, help me out!'' ''''So'''' ''You''re going to make it, aren''t you? The problem is me. I don''t want to be a ronin. ''There are plenty of universities you can get into if you put your name down, so don''t worry. ''You think too little of me, boy. Oh, right, a state school. National schools are tough. You have to take far more subjects than private schools, and you have to take the Center Test seriously. I think I''m going to have a mental breakdown. I lost my life in the high school entrance exam, and this time it''s going to wear me down even more. Even in my despair, hamburgers tasted good. The combination of a hamburger, the king of junk food, and a cola is the taste of abandonment. It is a way of easing my mind at the cost of my health. I''ll have to reset with a tomato when I get home. ''Do you--do you like chocolate? ''Hmmm? Hey, hey, hey, what''s with the Czech Republic all of a sudden? I''ve never been abroad. Chocolate. Chocolate. Oh, ah, ah, ah, ah, the devil''s candy. The source of all those young children being forced to work on cocoa plantations...'' ''You''re too cynical.'' ''You know, diamonds are the worst. The rebels enslave the residents they kidnap to secure funds and make them look for diamonds ......'' ''We''re talking about chocolate, remember?'' ''Maybe the developed countries should cool their heads for once ...... we have to take seriously that some countries are creating a cycle of suffering with our selfishness and worship ....... We have an obligation to do so......'' ''Next time I''ll stab you in the back if you go off on a tangent. Don''t talk about chocolate during Valentine''s season! You have no delicacy! Can''t you see that this is a time when boys all over the country are very anxious? When you talk about chocolate, it''s inevitable that you''ll say, ''Oh, Valentine''s Day! Then you, as a girl, could be talking about who to give it to or not to give it to! Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. Let''s talk about salted fish. You don''t seem like you''d get any chocolate. I''m sorry I reminded you of your trauma. He''s the devil. But... Unfortunately, I get one every year. First, Ugin. Then my mother. Then Hakuna. I get one every year. ''You don''t have to tell me that you''re my mother or sister, because that would be sad. ''I get them from people other than my blood relatives.'' Who are you? ''It''s a specific secret.'' ''Tell me. "Specific secret-- ''Say it. ''This is Ms. Shirana. ......'' ''Oh, I see. I understand if that''s what you mean. ''''Gee, it''s my duty! It has been four years since I heard this preface. Looking back on it now, I''m living these days with a sense of guilt inside, wondering if it wasn''t a duty. ......'' When I found out that Shirana was thinking of me, I knew that the Valentine''s Day chocolates were meaningful, not obligatory. That''s why I''m really scared of this Valentine''s Day. I can''t help feeling that things will get back to awkward with Shirana again. I wish the corporate strategy of "Valentine''s Day" would be lost. Whoever said that Valentine''s Day is the day to give chocolates? Turn yourself in now. ''......'' Yes, the silence of high school students. That''s why we shouldn''t talk about Valentine''s Day between adolescent boys and girls. Unless you''re a couple. Don''t even think about it. If you think about it, you lose. Ah. Good hamburger. Coke''s good. The chair is comfortable. The guy in the back is glancing at Alina. The earth is wonderful. The universe is magnificent. Gravitational waves are awesome. Good news. I''ll make you some chocolate. ''What? What? What, the Republic of Estonia?'''' My head can''t keep up. 88-sweethearts... That''s crazy. According to the common sense of the world, there is no way that Alina Hinoha would give chocolate. It would be a bizarre phenomenon that would pervert the promised law of the apple falling to the ground. There have been no sightings of Alina chocolates in the past. He has stated that he will make Alina chocolate, which is said to be a mirage among boys, for me, Comet Sakakiki. It was neither an auditory hallucination nor an auditory hallucination. I heard him clearly say, ''I''ll make chocolate for you. I thought he might have been intoxicated by drinking Coke, which he had not had for a long time, but on second thought, there is no such ingredient in Coke. That''s why I think he was trying to do something. I, a high spec homecoming club member, imagined all the possibilities and calculated all of them. My head became so hot that my plasma boiled over. The result of my calculations, a bowl of poison. This must be it. When I embedded in the formula the desire to kill from a third party (Alina) in my daily life, the two words ''murder'' naturally appeared as a result. I guess this Valentine''s Day is a good opportunity for her, who has been slowly whittling away my life with ballpoint pens and her fists. I can consider it a honey trap. Lure her with sweet chocolates, and then win her over. That''s what kidnappers always do, isn''t it? But I won''t be fooled. Are you trying to poison me? I ask her point-blank. Human beings always react in some way when they are lied to. It comes out in their tone of voice and their gestures. She absolutely denies my question. A one-on-one death threat is unthinkable. So she must be lying. But there''s a serious problem. I don''t know anything about any of these "reactions." That''s why I can''t detect the lie from the beginning. It was the mistake of the century. ''I''m not serving. As a token of my appreciation. I smell a black market. You seem to know how much people''s hearts go for. ''I usually make it. Handmade? ''Wait a minute, wait a minute. Is chocolate a secret word? You really want to make dynamite, don''t you? Okay, so this movie is about me sacrificing myself to prevent damage. Oh, man. Let''s go save Japan for a while. Heroes aren''t so bad. ''You need to go to the hospital.'' ''Hm, are you sure you''re not confusing chocolate with curry? Listen, chocolate is sweet, curry is spicy. Chocolate is usually solid. Curry is Indian. Here''s where I write it down. Phew. I can''t stop myself from getting upset if I don''t talk. I never dreamed I''d get chocolate from this guy, and I feel like my whole body will go into convulsions if I cut off my words here. I''ll be socially obliterated if I expose such an abomination in this food court. In this age of the Internet, if I expose such an abomination, Comet Sakakiki will spread to every corner of the world. If I can become a godlike being by becoming a net meme, I will be honored, but I will end up being a toy of the net. Huh. To tell you the truth, it''s not me, but another person''s suggestion. ''What? What? ''It''s been written in my notebook many times. ''Give him chocolate! Or, ''As a courtesy!'' Like that.'' ''That''s my angel Alina. She''s not like some girl with a poisonous tongue.'' ''I''m really going to poison you. That''s what I mean. You can count on it. I see...another Alina. I thought to myself as I sucked on my straw, "That''s definitely what she would say. Alina sips her coffee and turns her head to the day after tomorrow. Her profile was as beautiful as ever. Alina said casually, but I realized that she was still switching personalities. So I was a little worried about her even as I listened to her story. Even though we talked about trivial things, I couldn''t get into her head because I was bothered by it. My memory was hazy until I got up from my seat. ''Brother. You don''t want chocolate this year, do you? ''WHAT THE F CK! It was early when I got home. I grabbed some tomato juice from the fridge to cleanse my cola-contaminated esophagus, and as soon as I opened the lid, Ugin, who was standing behind me, uttered a despairing remark. The Ugin chocolates that I had received every year were to be discontinued this year. It was a more painful pronouncement than the imminent graduation of my New Year''s gift. No more, the solar system is finished. I staggered back with my eyes clenched shut. ''I see, I see. Ugin is at that age too. It makes me cry. ''What do you mean? ''You''ve found someone you love, haven''t you? I don''t have to distract my brother as a training ground anymore.'''' ''It''s too much trouble, so I''m just going to set it up that way. No big brother this year. Don''t be a spoiled brat forever. That line hits home. I want to be a child forever. ''That''s good. Alina will give it to you anyway. ''Why do you say that? Are you a mutant too? Are you the mind-reading type? Clairvoyant? ''If you''re that close to someone, you''d give them a chocolate or two, ...... usually.'' ''Is that how it''s supposed to be? By the way, Ugin-kun, who are you going to give it to this year? I''m not going to give it to you. ''Well, maybe. Is it possible that Ugin is not my sister, but my brother ......?'' ''Ugh! If I had recorded it, it would have been a weapon for life~! ...... First of all, I''m taking an exam and I''m not in the mood for chocolate or anything like that. Even if it is the mood, everything I give is obligatory.'''' I know, right? Ugin is trying to be a single aristocrat just like my brother, right?'''' ''Only my brother. If you get carried away, I''ll ask your mother to stop buying tomato juice. ''I''m sorry. I won''t say it again. I wanted to at least taste the Ugin Chocolate one last time: ....... I regretted that I should have served Ugin more if I knew I would never be able to eat it again. I should have taken pictures. Why isn''t it on the list of intangible cultural heritage? I wonder if the students are having interviews now. Of course I had an interview. I was extremely nervous because I had never been in a place called "interview" at that time. When the interviewer asked me why I wanted to apply for the job, I said something very nonsensical like ''because I was strongly attracted to the company''s philosophy and ideology,'' which made the air freeze. I was so embarrassed that I wanted to crush my eyeballs when the interviewer replied with a wry smile, "You sound like a thinker or a revolutionary. Just remembering it makes me want to slit my throat and die. I''m glad I passed the interview without any problems, but when I bumped into the teacher who was in charge of the interview, all I could do was laugh bitterly. I made a good excuse, so the result was OK. The students who had given their all went home and read the newspaper we had made. Oh, oh, oh, I''m so embarrassed. Please let them all fail. I''ll put mini-tomatoes on your shoe box if you hear about that guy or something after you get in. February 12th. Two days before Valentine''s Day. The boys start to get nervous in front of the girls, and the atmosphere is getting creepy. I''m watching from the sidelines, licking my tomato juice. I''m watching them while licking my tomato juice. It would be funny if I shouted. I can see him jumping up and down in surprise, and then being beaten to a pulp. Makoto was especially nervous. It was as if she had a hundred pairs of legs crawling inside her clothes. I was curious, so I decided to go up to her and tease her. Chocolate! ''Ohhhh! ''Choco choco choco! ''Vaaaah! Wow. Super fun. He reacted in the same way as when he scratched the blackboard. ''What are you fidgeting about? ''Hahahaha ...... me, I''m just like everyone else ......''. ''You don''t need to fidget because you''re going to get chocolate with love from Ryuka. Maybe there''s even some blood in it. ''Blood, yeah. ......'' ''It''s okay. They''ll give it to me.'' ''You might not get it! ''No, you''ll get it. You''re right. ''There is no such thing in this world as a hundred percent ......'' This couple is really unstable. I don''t know anymore. Get married, get divorced, have kids, buy a house, whatever. Ignoring Makoto, who was holding his head in his hands, he looked at Ryuka and she nodded her head. I''m going to give you a handmade one. I was the only one who heard it. I gave him a thumbs-up. "You''re gonna love it." Thank you. Don''t worry, Makoto. You''ll get it. Away from the extravagant worries of Makoto, I leave the classroom to throw away the empty can. I threw the can into the trash can next to the vending machine and turned around to go back to my classroom. The other person seemed to have noticed my presence and bailed. I bailed a few times, but to be honest, I had no idea who he was. I mean, he looked at me strangely. I guess it was because I was bailing in a joking way, moving my face back and forth like a woodpecker. ''Senpai ...... are you all right ......?'' d*mn it, who are you? I seem to vaguely remember you. I know you''re a junior, but the only other thing I remember is that you''re a guy. I''m sorry, I really don''t remember. I''m quite all right. ''Well, ...... senior, do you remember me?'' ''Oh, yes, I remember. Who the hell are you? Are you sure? ''Of course, sir, former Prime Minister Winston Churchill. Churchill''s infantry tanks were the best, Mr. Prime Minister. ''This is Taku Nakatani! Who is that foreigner! ''Nakata ni, nakata ni ...... ah! The junior who tried to tell Alina and got crushed! It''s been a while.'' ''Yes, that''s right. ...... I''m sorry I bothered you then.'' Don''t worry about it. Alina is that kind of guy. ''Ha ha ha ......'' It seems to be a bitter memory. The one on the tennis court was hard for me to watch, too. I''m sorry because I knew the outcome. There is no way you can say that Alina has a dual personality. ''Do you still like Alina?'' ''Eh,...... well,...... yes,that''s right''. ''Hang in there, and I''m sure one day he''ll look back at you. He''s a tough guy. Yes, yes. I think my personality has changed drastically... but I''m still a bit of a loser...'''' ''There''s nothing wrong with that, nothing to be ashamed of. Maybe we all long for adolescence with no regrets. We all want to follow the path of success and glory. But then, there is nothing interesting about being a human being. ''It seems like seniors are always failing, right? I''m often told that. But sometimes failure can replace success. That''s what I''ve been thinking these past few months. Taku answered curtly, ''I think I understand. Let''s hope he can talk to Alina again. It would prove that Alina could communicate normally. Once I know that, I will have accomplished my mission. One day my relationship with Alina will end. It will probably be the last year. 89-a day dyed with crimson hearts and roses... I''m sitting at the table. I look down at the plate on the table, waiting for something. Poof! A bite-sized piece of chocolate appears. It is an ordinary rectangular piece of chocolate with no design engraved on it. I take it in my hand and pop it in my mouth. But it tasted nothing. Only a strange, foreign sensation that made me uncomfortable. This continued for about three times. They were all tasteless foreign objects. Clank! The plate floated a little with a sudden impact. I looked up to see an apron-clad Alina standing across the table with her hands on the table. Everything was pitch black except for the table, the plate, and Alina, like a bug in a video game. She was staring at me with her eyebrows furrowed and her big eyes wide again. You mean you can''t eat my chocolate? No, you''re eating it. I mean, is this your chocolate? He seems to be in a bad mood, and he doesn''t like my reaction. She leans forward and gets up on her knees on the table. Then she moves her face closer to mine. Are you saying you can''t eat my chocolate? Close, close, scary, scary. What''s happening? I''ve never tasted chocolate before. What kind of magic did you use on me when even water has taste? I tried to speak to clear up the misunderstanding, but found that my mouth and tongue were not moving as smoothly as I would like. I don''t know why. I don''t know how to open, close, or even what''s going on with my mouth. While I was in a hurry, a piece of chocolate fell on the plate with a clank. As if a tag had been released, chocolate poured out of my mouth like a waterfall, ignoring the law of conservation of mass. I didn''t feel nauseous, and I just kept on vomiting. My vision was filled with solid chocolate, and I was sinking in the sea of chocolate that had grown to the point where I could swim. The fall was constant and did not accelerate. Just as I was wondering how far I would fall, Alina appeared in front of me as if to wade through. She hugged me. Immediately I screamed. I screamed, "I''m going to die! It all makes no sense. I don''t even know who I''m talking to. Why would I die? I wish I could ask. I screamed because I thought I was gonna die anyway. Alina hugged me tighter. Every joint in my body was being stripped of its freedom, and my joints began to ache. Oh God, I''m really dying. Mom, help me. That''s when it happened. I love you. I woke up with a gasp. A dream. A dream. How can a human being process such a silly dream as reality? It''s truly a mystery. First of all, you should have noticed it when you spit out the chocolate, Sakakigi-kun. My right half of my body was completely wedged in the gap between the bed and the wall. I am staring at the wall. Who did this to me? Myself. ''You''re making too much noise! You''re a nuisance to the neighbors! My sister''s familiar voice came from behind me. There didn''t seem to be a knock on the door, because all I heard was the sound of a door being smashed in. I tell you all the time. Adolescents are sensitive to the sound of footsteps. Never knock. Listen, this is in the constitution of Japan. Are you still a Japanese citizen? Ugin, help me. What''s happening to me? ''Uh...'' ''Be honest with me. Am I going to be saved? ''Uh, ......'' ''Don''t be afraid to tell me. If it''s bad, give me some morphine-- that ...... morphine. I want to be comfortable at the end. ''Eat your breakfast. I heard the door close. Abandoned me, I thought. Please, come back. Please. I don''t wanna die. I have money. Please, my daughter''s waiting for me back home. If I die here, I have a promise, a home party promise! Hey, don''t go! While I was eating my breakfast and feeding my brain with the optical information from the TV, Ugin shook the air and shook my eardrums. In other words, he spoke to me. ''What happened? I don''t know, it was just amazing. ''I don''t know either. I woke up like that. Never again. My ribs are deformed. It made my ribs open up all the way to the outside. Like an alien. ''We''ll go to the health center someday.'' I''m glad I made it out of there normally, but why did I have that dream? I guess it''s because today is Valentine''s Day, but since I''m not that particular about it, I can''t help wondering why I had that dream. And now Alina is here too. It''s as if she likes him! I know I said some things in the heat of the moment, but I''m only an angel, Alina! And I''m a Dr. Akakusa believer! ''Brother. Here.'' Ugin popped a small rectangular gift box with his finger. It spun around and stopped in my hand. ''Well, well, well, well, well, well, well, well, well...? ''This year is really the last one.'' When I opened it, I found one of the legendary Ugin chocolates inside. I was so moved. It was like an angel cleansing my gray heart. It was like the solemnity of a pipe organ that shook my heart. Yes, this is what I wanted. I picked up the shining chocolate like a jewel and stared at it intently. It was as smooth as a baby''s ass. It would have been even more perfect without the reflection of some guy''s face. Oh, how beautiful. It''s out of this world. It''s too good to eat. Eat it quickly. If you hold it in your hand forever, it will melt and you will be late. ''Thank you. My brother will make a statue of a goddess in Japan like the American Statue of Liberty. The model will be Ugin Sakakiki. ''Don''t do it, I''ll be too embarrassed to go out. Pacri at a glance. Bellygut. Life is good. So today is Valentine''s Day, the day of the judges. On this day, boys dress up a little too much. Yes, it''s courtship. But this is nothing but stupidity. Usually, girls have already thought about who they are going to give to, so there is almost no point in getting dressed up on the day. Maybe they will change their minds and give it to you, but it is unlikely. Unlike elementary school students, Valentine''s Day for high school students is very serious. They are clearly aware of the opposite s*x. I am speaking from an objective and pretentious point of view, but in fact, I am quite nervous. Because of Alina''s ''chocolate gift announcement incident,'' I am nervous about when she will give me a chocolate. I was ready to think that it might be in the shoe box, but I quickly cooled down thinking that it is not hygienic to put food in the shoe box. Sure enough, there was no food in the shoe box. While I was on my way to the classroom, I saw some boys standing in the hallway holding a cardboard box. On the box was a piece of paper with the words, "Have mercy on us poor boys," and the boys said in unison, "Bless us! They are yelling. It''s terminal. There''s nothing we can do. Three hundred million years for chocolate. They''ll keep asking for it even after the human race is destroyed. As soon as I entered the classroom, Makoto flew in. I got this: On his desk was a pretty paper bag. Apparently, Ryuka had given it to him without incident. ''That''s great, isn''t it? ''Comet was right! Right. You should trust her more. Trust is not the same as trust. ''Yeah! Oh no, I''m sorry - comet! I hope you get it! What''s this girl''s problem? I promised myself that if he invites me to his wedding, I''ll pee my pants in a big way at the ceremony. I guess so. But I already got one from my sister. Does that count?'' Whoa, whoa. You made fun of Ugin chocolates. I''ve made up my mind. I''m going to get naked and dive into the bridal cake at your wedding. The secret snowman. And I''ll say ''I''ve always loved you, bride! Please go out with me! I''m going to confess and make it a scene. Communicating with his flower garden in my brain only makes me angry, so I just dodge the issue and move away. I take a breath in my seat. I look around and see that there is a different kind of tension among the boys. A gamble-like excitement that I might be chosen. I can feel their emotions through the air. Good morning. Nidatsuru greeted me. It''s a normal thing, but today, I''m still a bit nervous about what''s going on. I decide to take some lycopene to cool myself down, and set the tomato juice on the desk with a thud. This is what I do when I''m in trouble. How can you drink something cold on a cold day? ''It''s essential for life. ''It''s water now. ''For me, tomato juice is like water or oxygen. If you don''t have enough, you die. Mentally. You have a troublesome body. On a different note, the boys are so unnatural. Do you really care? ''As you can see. Did you see that on your way to class? They were the ones standing there with the boxes. ''I saw it, I saw it! We did it last year, didn''t we?'' I know. I wonder what would happen if the boys put that in there. I''m sure it will be interesting. Tsuru laughed while flapping his hands in his moe sleeves. Oh man, I really want to try it. I bet they''d be thrilled when I put it in. If I winked at them, their screams would break all the windows. I reached for the can, but the crane took it away. Instead, a clear bag of pancakes was placed on my desk. I freeze, caught off guard. ''What''s this? A crane asks me with a mean look. The size, the color. It hit me immediately. TNT explosives. That''s amazing. You''re taking chemistry class seriously! No way. No way. Chickens are serving pancakes to me? I was freaked out by something I never thought would happen. ''Thank you, Tsuru. I''m honestly very happy. You''re welcome. Just to be clear, I''m giving it to you as a friend, okay? I wouldn''t say it was a duty, because it would be pathetic.'''' ''I know what you mean. I''ll enjoy them at home.'' Here you go. I tucked it carefully into my bag. ''Enjoy White Day. ''I''m really looking forward to it. ''I''ll ask my sister to teach me a lesson.'' Tsuru went back to his seat. I was really happy. I''m really sorry I thought you were just a chicken gal. From now on I will call you Beautiful Crane. The school is still very sensitive. The boys are not very active. They seem to be laying low, waiting for the right moment. And as if to encourage them, a poster, probably the work of the newspaper club, has been put up all over the place. The design is reminiscent of posters in certain countries, with the words "I GIVE YOU MY CHOCOLATE" in angular Gothic English. The subject was Toma. As expected, the lower right corner of the poster reads "Newspaper club members wanted! was attached. It seems that he will stop at nothing to secure members for his club. While I was staring at the poster, Alina was standing next to me before I knew it. She seemed to be looking at the posters, too. ''This guy. Is he gay? ''It''s just for the purpose of recruiting members, so don''t worry about it. Oh no, oh no, oh no, my heart is pounding. 90-the unelected and the unelected... ''So''. A curt reply. When she responds in this way, she is either feeling really bothered or uninterested. Probably the latter. I''m not interested in the truth about whether Toma is homos*xual or not. All of that is unimportant. What matters is that Alina is here with me right now. I remember it. "Good news. I made you some chocolate. I wonder if you really made it. Did he show up at this moment to give it to me? What do you think, Alina? I stare at her sideways. But she says nothing, doesn''t react, turns to the left and walks away. And then she disappeared into her classroom. What?) Does that mean it''s not now? Well, she was empty-handed. I reasoned that she might go back to the classroom and bring some chocolates, so I waited there for a while. It would look very strange to other people''s eyes. Because there was a well-built man staring at a poster with Toma Asakura''s "My chocolate is for you" written in English. I can''t say whether he was inspired by something or not, or whether he was frustrated because he didn''t get any chocolate, because that''s for the viewer to decide. But please don''t misunderstand one thing. I do not love Toma. I''m normal. I like girls. Alina didn''t come after all. The sound of the bell echoes through the school, signaling the start of the next class. What the hell was I doing? I was really just admiring Toma''s poster. I would have been much better off collecting bell marks from the candy canes in the trash. Next bathroom break. I dared not leave the classroom. There are zombies roaming the hallways looking for chocolate. It was very unsightly. But the truth is that I don''t want to run into Alina. It''s just awkward. So I suppress my urge to urinate and let my bladder do its work until lunch break. By the end of fourth period, my bladder was screaming. I felt like a water balloon. If my lower abdomen was stimulated even a little, it would go supernova and there would be not a speck of dust left in our school. It''s that urgent. The bell rings to signal lunch break. After bowing to the teacher in charge, I slowly make my way to the door. ''Hey, Comet. Let''s eat. ''Hold on a minute. I don''t turn around and continue to grind my feet. If I lift my foot even a little, my organs lift. Even with that stimulus, it''s the end. I''m done socially. A few feet feels like an eternity. I tighten my a**h*le and concentrate, trying to contain the flood of my lemon juice. Ah! A sudden voice stops me. Oh shit, I almost shit my pants. The voice belonged to a girl with a ponytail named Hanaya Mugiyama. It''s Sakakiki-kun. What''s wrong with your serious face? We can talk about it later. See you later. I began to walk again on my bare feet. Be aware of the skaters. Slide, keep your feet on the ground. If you do, think a mine will detonate. ''Oh, you''re holding your pee-pee. Don''t follow me. Finally, Sakakigi-kun understands the pleasure of this. Isn''t it great? ''Where''s the fun in that? I''ve never been more repentant. ''Cue. You see the ''cue? That''s it! ''Go to hell. ''Oh, my God.'' Just a few more meters. A few more meters and we''re in an oasis. I''m gasping for air, and half my vision is of purgatory. I''m hallucinating. Is this what happens when you hold your urine to the utmost limit and are further agitated? This is the first time I know. ''ugg......uggoh......'' Almost there, almost there. Hold on, my body. Can''t you hold on a little longer? I''m not waking up. I will not be awakened to such an incomprehensible propensity. I will not give in. I''ll put my hand on the door. I''m gripping my crotch at this point. I don''t know why. But it makes me feel a lot better. Right hand on the cold wall, left hand on the crotch. It is as if I am a hero with a gunshot wound, about to run out of strength. His pulsating heart is growing tense. I break out in a cold sweat. If this were a scene from a movie, the background music would be epic and intense. I carefully zip up my zipper. Then I was filled with an unprecedented sense of freedom, a feeling that my body was infinitely expanding. When I came out of the restroom, I found Kasaia waiting for me. She was grinning and waiting to see what I thought of her. ''Hello. Perverted s*x-crazed cheerleader girl. ''I''m not a pervert.'' ''Look up your name in Kojien. It should mean ''pervert. ''I''m just a little out of touch with my taste.'' ''What kind of hobby? ''Endurance contests, no panties, last-minute selfies, yodeling, ......'' The second half fell on deaf ears. Because the warning echoed in my skull, ''This guy is a bad person. Do not let him near my sister under any circumstances. I think she''s on the public safety watch list. She could overthrow the state. Why are the police letting her go free? Hanaya Mugiyama is a walking 18-year-old. She''s a dangerous person whose entire body needs to be covered in mosaic. Okay. Okay. You''re a rare breed. I''ll keep that in mind. ''Why do men jump when they get their va*in*s kicked?'' ''Huh, what? No, I don''t know. Ask Isaac Newton. I mean, girls shouldn''t talk about that kind of stuff. ''Can I kick it? I hear it feels good.'' ''Can I kill you? It''s the same thing as... You know, don''t do it just for the fun of it. Only specially trained people can handle it as pleasure. If you do it to someone who doesn''t, you''ll die in agony. ''That''s a lie! ''I feel like I want to wipe you out. I''m biased, but I wonder if the cheerleading squad is full of these types of members. I''m worried about her when she goes out into the world. Bad uncles will come up to her. It''s too late for that now, so I stop worrying about her and go back to the classroom. I felt a bad cold sensation on my spine and left the classroom. It would have been terrible if she kicked me from behind. I don''t want tomato juice coming out from under me. As I eat dinner in silence with Makoto, I think to myself. I don''t have plans to see Alina today. As part of Alina''s rehabilitation program, she is involved in some kind of activity, but today is the only day when nothing is happening. That means I won''t get a chance to get a chocolate from her. No, no, no, you''re being self-conscious. Maybe he was just teasing. Is there another way to interpret this? But the words were so straightforward that there was no way to interpret them any other way. Wait a minute, you said you''d make it, but you didn''t say you''d give it to me. Is that what you meant? Comet. You should be thankful even if your lunch isn''t good.'' ''What? It can''t be bad. It''s my mother''s special edition bento. It''s the best food in the world. ''I''m sorry, but you''ve been looking so grim. ''I was born with a face like this. Special edition birth. ''If it''s chocolate related? No, no, no. I was thinking about the truth of humanity. ''I see. I didn''t get it from Hinoha. ''You''re better than a fast pusher on a high school quiz. You''re more impressive than a fast pusher on a high school quiz. He folded his arms and shook his head up and down. I know that feeling," he says. ''I''ve been warned I''m going to give it to you. That''s why I''m so nervous because I don''t know when I''ll get it. ''What, seriously? ''''What?'''' ''Seriously, I can get it from Nippa! You''re kidding! ''You said it yourself.'' ''''I just said it like it was appropriate! Seriously, ......, last year was amazing.'' ''What''s that?'' Everyone was hoping to get one from Nippa, and the guys who were in the same class as Nippa were really into getting their hair set up and stuff. Some even bought flowers. I''ve talked to Alina-san, so I can have them! and "I''ve touched it!" They all believed that they would be chosen. It''s crazy. ''In the end, Nippa ended up not being given to anyone. The guy who bought the flowers gave them to her at the right time, but she told him to eat a brick or something. ''How did you manage to give it to him? ''So this year''s is awesome too. ...... I glanced at the class next to me and saw that the boys are getting their hair done. And the perfume is even more amazing than the girls''. Hinoha''s there. Is it really that rare? Now that you mention it, I''m a little concerned about the class next door. I wonder what kind of host club it is. Do you want to go there? ''Maybe I''ll take a peek after dinner. Lunch break would be a good time for them to take a peek. We quickly finished our lunches with a quick movement of our chopsticks. We still had about 30 minutes to kill, so our hosts were probably showing themselves off. Drinking tomato juice with them is not a bad idea. We left the classroom to peek into the host club. And lo and behold! There were hosts in the hallway as well. ''What''s with these guys? ''They''re the unchosen ones who didn''t get to be in the same class as Hinoha. ''You''re a villager who only speaks the same dialogue as in RPGs. ......'' I am sure they are planning to whisper sweet nothings to Alina the moment she leaves the classroom. Since they are students of another class, they can''t sit in Alina''s class openly, so they are waiting in the hallway. As we passed by them, Makoto and I looked into Alina''s class. And what do we find? It is full of hosts and perfumes. Alina, in the center of all this chaos and confusion, was having dinner with Shirana and her friends. Fortunately, she didn''t seem unhappy. Perhaps it was because she was in the same room with Shirana and the others. ''Comet, this is the world. Makoto mutters. So this is the world. A large percentage of the students remain in the classroom. Usually, people go to the cafeteria or club rooms, but as for the guys, their attendance rate is probably one hundred percent. Is this the truth of human beings? ......'' Men driven mad by Alina. Men fascinated by Alina. Men who want to be liked by Alina. Men who want to be noticed by Alina. Men who want to be talked to by Alina. Men from all walks of life. It''s terrifying. How can human beings be so obedient to their desires? And I felt sorry for Alina, who was the object of their desire. This is stressful. Shirana noticed us. Reflexively, I raise my hand. She pulls two bags out of her purse and walks toward us. Here, comet and Makoto-kun. ''Oh, thank you.'' ''Thank you, Shirana! Shirana bowed and looked up and pointed her finger at me. Both of us are obliged to you! It was a line that had been said every year. I had received it every year without knowing the hidden emotion behind the words. So my reaction was a little less strong than usual. I''m still happy. ''Makoto-kun can get it from Ryuka-chan, so it''s good for him. It''s your first time to get a comet, right? Hahaha. I already got it from Ugin and Beautiful Crane. ''View ...... what?'' ''A crane. I got it from Master Tsuru.'' ''What! Unexpected!'' Shirana''s eyes fluttered and she was surprised. Well, I was surprised, too. I glanced at Alina. Alina was chatting with Yuri and Ran without looking at me. I''ll be looking forward to your return! ''Oh. You can count on me. I''ll make one too! I returned to my classroom and sighed as I took my seat. I sighed as I returned to my classroom and took my seat, intending to exhale the perfume that lingered in my lungs. ''The perfume was worse than I imagined. ''My nose is going crazy. ......'' I went to the restroom and fought for bread at the concession stand, but I never saw Alina again. I ran into Toma Asakura''s poster more times than my eyes can count. Occasionally I found a poster that had been torn with anger. Hey, I haven''t seen Alina. Lunch break is over. All right, calm down. First of all, it''s not always true from Alina. You''re too self-conscious, Comet Sakakiki. What''s so attractive about you? You''re just a tomato addict. Who''s going to like you? Fifth period begins and ends. Bathroom break. I run into Hwasai again. She runs away. The sixth period begins and ends. He takes a restroom break. He encounters a torn poster of Toma. He ignores it. After school comes. Homeroom has started. It''s over. Clean up. It''s done. Oh, no. It''s time to go home. Wait, wait. You''re a globetrotting homecoming pro. Think with a clear head. Am I missing something? Did you get any sign from Alina? We just looked at the Toma poster together, but other than that? No. Nothing. And I''m not seeing Alina after school. He slung his bag over his shoulder and left the classroom. He casually peeks into Alina''s class as he passes. Alina''s bag was not there. Shirana came out of the classroom in her tennis wear and our eyes met. I looked at her. Alina-san would have gone home.'' Oh, no, something''s wrong. No, there''s nothing funny. There are only absolutes in physics. There are no absolutes in human behavior. I decided to go home as if I were a homecoming club member, listening to the shouts of the athletes. How can you do that in the cold? It''ll get warmer in the next month or so. I''ll eat Tsuru-san''s and Hakuna-san''s chocolate with care. I thank the children in Africa who grow the cacao. I take a big step and leave the school gate. Like a boy making up his mind to face the setting sun. Our fight continues. Oh my... As I was burning up with a sense of adventure with my fists on my chest, a familiar voice came into my right ear. I turned my head to the right, like a robot driven awkwardly by lack of oil. ''I''ve been waiting for you. Alina Hiba was there. 91-blind conflict... ''It''s done! ......! It wasn''t quite trial and error, but it took shape. I melted a commercially available chocolate bar and used it as a raw material to make moist chocolate, relying on information on the Internet. It was a good learning experience for me, since I do not make sweets. I will give this to him. It was my first attempt, so I was a bit nervous, but I heard that boys are often attracted to handmade chocolates, so I''m sure he''ll be fine with it. I know I''m a bit peculiar, though. Of course, I don''t remember that I gave a valentine to anyone on Valentine''s Day. Even in the third grade, when I can just barely remember, I never made or gave a valentine to someone. Needless to say, I have no memory of anything before that. I might have given it to one or two people, considering the other me''s good-natured nature, but there was no such record in my notebook, so I am sure that I did not give it to anyone. In high school - that is, in the last year - I did not give it to anyone. At that time, I did not have any classmates that I could point to as ''this person''. I remembered most of the names, but that was it. This may be the first time in my life that I''m going to give a chocolate to someone. To be honest, I was nervous. As soon as I arrived at the classroom and organized my belongings, I could hear the girls whispering to each other. Hey, who are you going to give it to? Let''s see... I already gave it to him! Here they come! And so on. They have prepared for each other. I''m very popular, though I''m considered egomaniacal by my own s*x. I''m extremely popular. That''s why I was really tired last year. The boys were strangely close to me. I don''t know if they were trying to make their presence known, but they were desperate to get my attention. I couldn''t help but feel depressed thinking that it would be the same this year. I think the best way is to hand them casually and naturally. If I said something unnecessary, depending on the contents, I might wriggle with shame and kill him. If that happens, there is no way to save him, so I think I should keep it to silence or a minimum ''give''. The problem is timing. If I give the comet to him in public, I am sure some boys will try to harm him. I have a habit of stabbing or hitting him, but I really don''t want to cause him any trouble. I mean, I don''t want to. (Hmmm... ......) As I was on my way to the restroom, wondering what to do, I saw Comet staring at a bulletin board in the hallway. The poster was a truly horrifying one, reminding me of the famous U.S. Army recruiting poster, in which the head of the newspaper club posed holding out a chocolate in his hand, with an English sentence meaning ''You can have my chocolate. The comet was staring at it so intently that I thought this was what is commonly referred to as the "bieru" genre. I would like to believe that this is not so. I quietly approached and stood next to the poster and looked at it myself. (Oh, this is not just a poster for recruiting newspaper club members.) It was written in the lower right corner. ''This guy. Is he gay? I couldn''t find the words to start a conversation, so I said the obvious. How do I get him to talk about chocolate from here? ''I''m just trying to recruit new members, so don''t worry about it. I know that. That''s not like you to respond in such an ordinary way. I take one look at his face. His color was perfectly normal. We should start talking about chocolate. But how do I tell him to give it to me in a natural way? Oh, I don''t know anymore. But if I give it to him here and other boys see us... - Oh, there''s already a boy watching us. Die. Ugh, no. It''s not a good time! If we give it to him, I''m sure he''ll be overrun by the boys. Chocolates are everywhere! You guys should be licking granite! ''''So.'''' I can''t! This is all I can say. I couldn''t stand it any longer and ran to the classroom. When I got to my seat, a boy who smelled of perfume approached me out of nowhere. ''Alina-san, you''re not going to give it to him, are you? High school boys acting like gentlemen is just cheap. They are empty lumps of flesh with little life experience. I almost laughed at him. I am not so generous as to waste my time on such a guy, so of course I ignored him. Most boys give up and fly away like flies if you ignore them. Sure enough, he quickly moved away from me. Get away from me. You smell like perfume, you guys. Go swim in the sewers and neutralize it. But I still have to give it to him. I made it. I''ll feel bad for the other girl who sacrificed herself by lying like a fool to get an excuse to make chocolate. The danger is that the other one will switch places and talk to the comet. I''m sure he''ll say at least a word of thanks, and if the other one tilts his head at him, it''s the end. I''ll die of embarrassment. I''ll write it down. Together. Bathroom break again. I wander down the hallway, daring to tell him when to give it to me. A noisy beggar asks me for a chocolate, so I give him the middle finger and warn him about the comet, but he doesn''t show up. I am forced to return to the classroom because I know that if I go any further into the hallway, I will be surrounded by boys who smell of perfume again. At the next bathroom break, I did the same. But he did not appear. So I glanced into his classroom. Comet was at his desk, absentminded. I couldn''t help but let out an ''eh'' sound. He was sitting shallowly, his back was straight, his eyes were level, and he was staring at the blackboard. It was an exemplary sitting posture, if I may say so. But he did not move from that position. He looked like a sheep staring at a wolf. I went to check on him during a bathroom break before the start of fourth period. He was still in the same position. I wonder if it was the same in class. I wonder what he''s fighting with. I had no idea. It was lunchtime, and Shirana and the other students opened their lunch boxes. As we ate, the smell of perfume became stronger and stronger. Flies seemed to be attracted from other classes. ''Alina, that''s great ......''. Shirana muttered with a drawl. ''This is worse than last year. I''m sorry. ''Everyone wants to get one from Alina. But that doesn''t make girls want to give it to you. ......'' ''Right.'' I wish they would have at least gone away during the meal. It was so frustrating that I wanted to stir all their guts with a rice spoon. ''Does Arinan give chocolate to comets? Unaware of my state of mind, Yuri suddenly made a remark. I was so upset that I scooped up some rice with my chopsticks and dropped it back into the sea of rice. ''I won''t give it to anyone. I said--. ''You just dropped the rice. ''Oh, I wonder if she doesn''t want me to eat her. ''Which boy wants to be eaten by Alinan? ''Yuri. Have you ever jumped rope with your small intestines? I have.'' ''Scary.'' I don''t care. It doesn''t matter that I''m going to give it to you in secret, because it''s always been my intention to do so. After a while, Shirana put down her chopsticks and started rummaging through her bag. She went to hand two small paper bags with cute patterns to Comet and Makoto Takane who were at the door. Why don''t I take this opportunity to give them to them? That''s what crossed my mind. No, you can''t let them see you. Besides, I just told you I won''t give it to anyone. I continued the girl talk with Yuri and Ran without looking at them. The lunch break went by in a flash. I''m starting to get nervous inside. I really might not be able to give it to him. I wanted to give it to her, but it seemed impossible to escape from the stares of the other boys. I''m so angry! I thought about sending a message. But he''s the kind of guy who''d probably tell someone, and even if I did, there''s no way I''d be able to get a chance to be alone with him. Time passed me by in a cruel and selfish way, and I was left after school with nothing to do. I had no plans to meet him after school. He will be home soon, as he seems to be a homecoming student. Then it''s over. You''re going home? (Then why don''t I just go to the school gate first and wait for you!) You don''t have to hand it in on campus. How could I have been so caught up in such a simple thought? I guess the boys are not stalking me on my way home and have given up on me. Perfect. As soon as I finished cleaning, I packed my bags and ran out of the school building. He might have already left the school since he is a homecoming student. If he doesn''t show up within an hour, I''ll go home. So I decided and waited at a little distance from the school gate. I waited for a few minutes. He came out of the school building. (What''s with that face? ......) As he walked toward us, he had a sharp and determined look on his face. I felt his passionate conviction like a boy who is about to embark on a new journey was overflowing from him. When he stepped out of the school gate, he stopped and put his hand on his chest. What is this guy? I was a bit puzzled by the sunset, but I thought it was my first and last chance, so I called out to him. ''Oh, hey. I''ve been waiting for you. Alina Hiba was there. Why was she at the school gate? Was it an ambush? When the hell did they put a tracking device in me? What? What are you doing? No way. No way, no way, no way, no way, no way, no way, no way, no way, no way, no way, no way, no way, no way. ''I''ve been waiting for you. Let''s walk. Walk. Right foot out, left foot out. Go forward 70 centimeters. Walking, walking. Gushion. I''ve never found walking so difficult in my life. I had no idea that walking on two legs was so difficult. I''m grateful to the human race for keeping life going. Contrary to my nervousness, Alina walked with her usual cool expression and her beautiful hair swaying like a stream. She seemed to have been waiting at the school gate for a long time because the tip of her nose was a little pink. Ugh! A strong shock hit me on my right side. My body bent limply, and I saw the Sanzu River for a moment. This was probably the second time. There was another dead pet on the other side. I heard the sound of paper rustling, and I looked at Alina''s outstretched left hand, which was holding a paper bag with a red abstract design on it. It was clamped in my side. I gave it to her. A token of my appreciation. She said this while looking straight ahead. She seemed to be trying to hide her embarrassment. I took it gratefully. Thank you. I really didn''t think I''d get it. I''m going to use this as an opportunity to become a messenger of peace. ''''So.'''' To tell you the truth, I was so happy I almost had a mental breakdown. I''ve been rushed, rushed, rushed, and now I finally have what I wanted. Oh, I''m going crazy. I can make the desert green now. It''s great, it''s great. I want to scream, oh, I want to scream. I wanna scream in the center of the world. What? Cauliflower!" . I don''t know why cauliflower. Maybe because it sounds good. ''If it''s homemade, is it ......?'' ''Yes. Taste it. ''Oh ...... creatures of the universe ......'' I felt that Alina was wrapped in a cuteness that I could not believe she was human. Ugin is losing it. That''s how cute she is. I can''t wait to open it and eat it, but I''ll wait until I get home. Eating while walking would be a capital offense, and taking it lightly would be foolish. Alina''s eyes are fluttering and she keeps staring ahead. She seems emotionless, but the fact that she doesn''t seem to notice that she is dragging her scarf, which has been sticking out of her bag like a tail, on the street suggests that she is not in a normal state of mind either. The low buzzing sound of her phone''s ringtone echoes in the background. She puts it in her pocket thinking it''s me, but it seems to be Alina. Alina. Just looking at the letters, it looks like a caveman getting excited. I called out to Alina, thinking about nothing else, but her ears seem to be in a tunnel and not reaching her brain at the moment. I grabbed her shoulders and shook her. The three-dimensionality of her collarbone, sinful ....... ''No! s*xual harassment! ''Alinas maho maho.'' What is it? ''Alina smartphone smartphone''. ''Hmm? Oh my''. She finally realized and picked up the phone. It seems to be her mother. Meanwhile, I was thinking about what to give her for White Day. Should I return a handmade gift with a handmade gift? Or should I buy expensive chocolates? I don''t know. I don''t know as much as Chinese literature. If you''re a proud Alina, would you go with the price? I have a feeling that the angel Alina would be quite pleased with a handmade one. Hmm, if we should prepare for both Alina the tongue-tied and Alina the angel ......? But the glamorous body is one. No, no, no, there are two souls that taste. Well, well, well? Shouldn''t we call a philosophy teacher? When I came to myself, Alina was not there. I didn''t realize that she was also a cat-shaped traveler through time and space. When I turned around, Alina was standing still with her phone clutched to one ear. She was still looking ahead, but a little different. She focused on my eyes. ''What''s wrong? I go back and ask Alina. She remains frozen. ''Did you forget something? You look like a statue.'' Alina pulled the phone away from her ear and looked as if she had lost her mind. The screen of the phone in her slumped hand was still showing the incoming call screen and was still connected. I pointed my finger at it and said, ''It''s connected,'' but she wouldn''t listen. When I thought something was wrong, she opened her mouth. My father. My father is dead. 92-When your me disappeared... We have long debated the value of life. It is always a debate over those who are branded as ''unlivable''. I am not for or against the death penalty. I have chosen not to think about it because the spectacle of arguing over incompatible emotional and religious arguments is ridiculous. So you may ridicule me for abandoning thought. However, Japan has established the death penalty because the majority of philosophies are winning even if I do not think. When my mother told me that my father had died, my first thought was about the death penalty. Comet is always saying something to me. But my reality was fading away. It was as if I was in a swimming pool. Everything is blurred, outlines are lost, sounds are muffled. A small pressure tightens around my neck and raises my heart rate. If I am asked if my father should have died. My father, who abused me, who violated my heart, who tormented my mother, who ruined my life, if his life or death could be decided by a single word of mine. Which would you have said, yes or no? Did my father deserve to die? Conversely, what is a person who should live? I don''t want him to die. I just didn''t want to see him. I wanted him to remain a ghost. Comet escorted me home. A police car was parked at my house, and my mother and two police officers appeared at the door. I thought that my mother had killed my father, and my heart beat strongly and quickly. I did not know the expression on my mother''s face. Sadness, relief, confusion, and resentment. A mixture of these emotions that exceeded the limits of expression. I think my face has the same expression. Comet left without saying a word. I felt sorry for the trouble I had caused him, but there was not a drop of strength left in me to utter that apology. Without understanding the police officer''s explanation, I was put into the car. My mother got in the car, too, and the policeman mumbled something over the radio, and the car started to move slowly. I do not know where we were going. I followed the artificial lights of the city streaming past the window with my eyes, longing for the end of the seemingly eternal drive to come soon. There was silence in the car, only the occasional sound of a radio signal coming from the outside. Akira Setoyama. The doctor mentioned my father''s name. My mother and I had to identify the body that would have been so named in order to clarify whether the body was my father or not. I know I was Alina Setoyama. It was the name in my photo albums, my shoes and textbooks in elementary school. But I don''t remember ever saying it or being called by it. My father died of suffocation. He was so drunk that he fell asleep on the street, vomited, and suffocated to death. There was no sign of his death because his body had been cleaned up. He did not look like he was dead. Until the last days of his life, my father was addicted to alcohol and seemed to be crazy with it. In front of his body, my mother said nothing. With her bangs hanging down, I could only see the tip of my mother''s nose and could not make out her expression. The only thing she said to the doctor was, ''It''s Ming. There is no doubt about it. After that, I had to wait in another room. A counselor-like person approached me, but I didn''t want to talk about anything, so I turned him down softly and waited patiently for my mother, the policemen and the doctors to finish their conversation. They told me that my father had passed away. My mother''s words come back to me. Suddenly I felt an uneasy feeling in my chest. A man had died. A death that was far more weighty and real than what I knew from the news ticker stirred my heart. Both of my lungs are not breathing oxygen properly. I feel off the ground. I want to run away. I don''t want to feel anything. My stomach contracts. I broke down and stuck my forehead on the desk. About two months ago. I wonder if my father''s words were true when he visited me on December 30th. Was he telling the truth when he said he was reformed, that he was sorry, and that he would give himself to me? Now it is an eternal mystery. Because the mouths of the dead never open again. They were not detained for a long time because there was no case to be made. They will talk to me again later, but it will be to my mother, so I don''t think I will have anything to say to them. The Setoyama family was in charge of the funeral. We refused to attend. The Setoyama family did not say anything. It was an unspoken agreement because they knew our situation. When we returned home, my mother told us to take tomorrow off from school and disappeared into her room. I was worried about her because she looked so agitated and exhausted. I went into my room and sank into bed. It was around twenty-two o''clock at night and I was still in my school uniform. I closed my eyes, not feeling like getting dressed. My father''s death has not changed my life. Why do I feel uneasy? I could live in peace now. I am free from my latent fear. Why am I so anxious? The consciousness that is slowly surfacing slowly regains its senses and flows into my body. When I woke up, my whole body felt tired. My ribs felt a little sore, as if they were crooked. My chest was in agony, as if I had slept on my stomach last night. When I got up and took off my uniform, I felt nauseous. I did not vomit. I took a breath, and when I calmed down, my head felt strangely heavy. I did not sleep too much or not enough, but my head felt heavy. Something was wrong. As I was unbuttoning my shirt, I noticed a board hanging on the wall. It was a handmade board with the name "Alina Setoyama" written on it. My finger stopped. I know. I made that board in arts and crafts class. I made it in arts and crafts... using glue and nails, and varnishing the wooden parts. It was fun. I remember that day I smelled so bad of varnish that my sense of smell went crazy. The vision that should not be remembered colors like a flower opening. ''Ugh, wow--'' I stood up and held my head. My father''s face comes back to me vividly. I remember when I graduated from elementary school. Memories of Aki and my senior year. When I played basketball. When my father was arrested. When I took my mother''s maiden name. Everything the other me has seen. All the abuse my father gave me. The pieces of the puzzle that had been scattered about were moving together to form a picture. That''s what it felt like. Why did I--? Why had I forgotten. How is this possible? I have suffered from amnesia for three years. I thought I would die alone, not knowing who I was for the rest of my life. To have my memory come back to me so suddenly and without warning only confused me. Memories associated with every object in the room were slowly being pulled out. It was a strange sensation. I didn''t know when they were put in this room, but now I could see the whole story. It''s like a fog has lifted. But I felt like I lost something. I''m sure I''m mistaken. I remember the last three years, I know the high school I went to, I know my friends. But I still felt strange. Was it my father''s death? My anxiety was still unsettled. It had been three days since Alina missed school. I wondered why my father had died. There was no way I could ask her, and I went on with my ordinary life. After Valentine''s Day, the scenery returned to normal, and the perfume and the host disappeared as if in a hallucination. The topic of conversation about chocolates has disappeared, and the next topic of conversation for us sophomores has shifted to class changes and entrance examinations. I saw Nichiha just now. Makoto said as he put his finger on the lid of the can to open it. ''''For real?'''' ''Yeah. I saw you walking with Shirana. I went out into the hallway. Immediately I saw Alina and Shirana''s backs. ''Hey, you''re here! They turned and looked at me. ''Alina, are you all right now? She did not answer, but covered her mouth with her hand and whispered in Shirana''s ear. Shirana said, "What? After that, he slapped Alina and laughed at her, saying, ''Again~. Alina seemed unconvinced and looked puzzled with her eyebrows furrowed. Are you in a fight with Comet, Arina? ''If it''s one-sided abuse, it''s a daily occurrence. Did I do something to offend you, sir? Did I do something rude when I drove you to Alina''s house? No, no, no, no. Because if I did, I wouldn''t be alive. I''m a very energetic member of the club today. Alina tilts her head and looks at me. I''m sorry, who are you? 93-all-most perfect... I remember the day she was revealed to have a dual personality. My name is Alina Hibane. Nice to meet you. I vividly remember the day we met in the infirmary. She was like a rose that bloomed more gracefully and seductively than anyone else, but on that day, I learned her secret. I was astonished and at the same time worried that the original Alina would never return. I lost track of time and froze. It may have been only a few seconds, maybe longer. Normally, I would have just let the joke slide. In fact, that''s what I was going to do. I know the way she looked at me, the way her eye lids opened, the way her eyes looked into my soul. That''s why I unfortunately knew that she wasn''t joking when she looked at me with doubt in her eyes, her teary bags slightly raised. She doesn''t know me. She really doesn''t know me. No, I''m wrong. I''m sorry. I thought you were Shirana. ''But you. You called my name. ''I just mispronounced it because Nippa was standing next to me. Hakuna, thanks for yesterday. Shirana turns her head but shows her own natural ability and says calmly, ''You''re welcome~. Alina looks at me and Shirana alternately as if she doesn''t understand. Honestly, I wanted her to stop. I wanted her to stop looking at me. Every time she looks at me, I am reminded that I am a stranger to her. We are no longer friends or acquaintances. Then that''s it. I can''t do this anymore. Now that I know she has forgotten me, I must play the role of irrelevance for her. I may cause her stress because of the discrepancy between memory and reality. It''s a choice that has to be made with her delicate head in mind. Especially since she is now unstable due to the death of her immediate family. I believe this is for the best. I am not going to cancel the original project even if she forgets me. I will only be able to watch from a distance, but I will figure out how to do that later. Wait. As I turned my back and took a step forward with my right foot, Alina Nippa''s voice echoed through the hallway again. ''You...'' she said. Who are you? Hmm, did Shirana have a boyfriend? Could it be Shirana''s boyfriend?'''' ''Hey Alina-san, what are you talking about! Don''t say weird things! Shirana is flustered, but Alina doesn''t care and stares at me as if demanding an answer. You shouldn''t call yourself Comet Sakakimagi. At least not now. It would be troublesome if Shirana gets confused and spills out an unnecessary word. It is a painful way out, but it is unavoidable. I have to go to the bathroom. I drank too much tomato juice. With that, he scurries away. I heard a voice holding me back, as if regretting leaving. I wanted to cover my ears with my hands. (Really? ......) Returning from the restroom and taking a seat, I once again despaired of the current situation. What was the last thing I remembered with her? All the feelings, words, and activities I had shared with her for the past few months were all gone, too cruel. Am I supposed to avoid Alina and be a stranger to her from now on? I may never be able to call her by name again, and I may graduate without ever speaking to her again, without her memory coming back. In no small part, my high school life had been fulfilling ever since I met Alina, and I had a feeling that my last year would be even more enjoyable. But the past and the future seem to have fallen apart. I think about her condition in class. I have learned something else besides forgetting Comet Sakakibiki in the short time I was there. I remember Shirana Namiki, and her language has changed slightly. I thought that she had forgotten me because she had developed a new personality, but that line has disappeared because she seemed to know who Shirana was. I may have forgotten something other than the existence of Comet Sakakimagi, but the fact that I have retained my memories does not mean that I am a new personality. This is because there is an example of two persons, Arina the Tongue and Arina the Angel, who cannot share their memories. We will find out what they have forgotten and what they have retained. The language was a mass of discomfort. There was no way she would apologize in a straightforward manner. Her tone of voice was serious and apologetic, not threatening and coarse for a first meeting. A normal Alina would have told me to go away, and would have sprayed me with 100 percent juice with the intention of killing me. The fact that she didn''t was a sign that she had changed. So what. There''s nothing I can do about it. You''ve decided that staying away from Alina is important for her mental health. The only contradiction in her reality cannot appear before her eyes. Maybe her rehabilitation has already reached its goal. If that''s the case, it''s even less my place. The day ended without seeing Alina. The next day, Saturday. I woke up and checked the time. I knew that on holidays, I should sleep in. Saturday mornings are the best because I suffer from the torture of getting up early on weekdays. By the way, Friday night is the best. The special combo of the peace of mind of being able to go to sleep without fear of anything and the consecutive holidays to be ready for anything is the best. So, what shall we do today? If the living room is not occupied, I''ll watch a movie. Deciding this, I pick up my phone and walk down the stairs. He casually looks at the screen of his phone and sees a missed call. I''m sorry to the caller, but I never notice it because I have my phone on silent mode to prevent it from disturbing my sleep. Alina Nippa, missed call. ''Wow, seriously ......'' I didn''t expect it to be Alina. I thought Makoto had pulled some kind of annoying ping-pong dash prank on me. I thought it was a ballsy move on Alina''s part to call me yesterday after all these years. How could she decide to call me, whom she had never met before? I would have seen my name in her call history. If she had the contact information of a man she''d never met before, she would have been scared and deleted it. I had decided not to get involved with her, and after only one day, I was about to fail fast. On the other hand, I was happy. I still had a connection with Alina. Should I call her back? Should I ignore it? If I call her back, I''m sure she''ll question me. She will ask me who I am and why my call history is still there. For her sake, it is better to ignore it. I should wait until I disappear from her phone, from her consciousness. But the shameful thing is that I wanted to hear Alina''s voice. Get out of my way! I stopped in the middle of the stairs, and Ugin came down from the second floor to kick me off, showing me the soles of his feet. ''Wait! If you kick me here, one of your precious lives will be taken to heaven. ''I''ll kick you if it will save the many ants you''ll trample to death,'' he said. ''Your brother is no better than an ant.'' ''Yeah. ''I realized that the only people on my side are the anteaters. I gave up and proceeded down the stairs to the living room. Ugin, dressed in her pajamas, also came into the living room and seemed to be slacking off. Lately, she seems to be becoming more and more like me in her laziness. This is bad, sister. You used to be a little more active. This past month you''ve been an old man, to say the least. I don''t want to see you lying around with mayonnaise on a string of clams. Can you at least stop with the shellfish. Or salmon roe... Why the choice of an old man who likes to drink? I almost cried when I saw him on his back with a squid on his stomach playing with his phone. The cry from his heart didn''t reach his sister, and she groaned and took out mayonnaise from the fridge. This is the signal that the image of Ugin Sakakimoku is about to be destroyed. Not wanting to see my proud little sister turned into an old man, I ran to the bathroom. I ran to the bathroom, trusting that I would find the usual Ugin when I returned. When I returned after washing my face, I found the old man. He was lying on the sofa, watching TV with his face liquefied. I want to say "He''s rotten," but I''ve already given up on him, so I accept the reality and sit down on the other couch. I sit down on the other couch. For a while, the only sound is the TV. I watch it silently, sipping my cocoa and thinking about what I''m going to do today. Oh, I was going to watch a movie if the living room wasn''t occupied. Now, what should I do with this old man? I guess it''s best to suck him up with a rag since he''s liquefied. Hey, keep your belly button out, belly button out. You don''t do that at school, do you? Some people fetishize bellybuttons. Boo! ''Ow! My phone on the table shook like an earthquake of intensity 4. I had deactivated the silent mode, so the default ringtone and vibrating sound echoed through the living room. I looked at the screen and saw it was Alina. ''......'' The phone keeps ringing. Me, who keeps looking at the TV. Ugin keeping his hand on the shell strap, his attention on the phone. ''Brother. ''hmm''. ''Smart phone''. ''Mm.'' ''That''s from Alina! ''Mm''. The phone keeps ringing. Me watching the TV. Ugin reaches for my phone. I see it and immediately retrieve my phone. ''What, you''re not going to answer it, are you? ''It''s not good if you leave. ''Huh? What are you going to do then?'' I said I''m going to do something, but I''m going to ignore it. For Alina''s sake. But Ugin, who has Alina''s contact information withheld, might contact her with something he doesn''t want. Besides, Ugin might find out what''s going on with Alina if we ignore her so blatantly. This would inevitably lead to trouble. So I had no choice but to answer. Yes, this is Sakakiki. Leaving the old man alone, I walked out of the living room and picked up the phone. I held her voice while suppressing a surge of emotion. Oh, it''s connected. Is this Comet Sakakiki? ''Yes, it is.'' ''Good. I''m Alina Hiba. I''m calling to ask you something, if you don''t mind. ''Yeah.'' I squatted down. An indescribable sense of relief washes over me. I was so simple-minded that I was angry at myself for being so naive. Are you someone who is important to me? My mind went blank when I heard those words. I forgot to swallow my spit, and the sensation of spit spreading in my mouth took over me. My eyes hurt from looking so wide open, and tears welled up in my eyes. I fall silent at the unexpected question. I thought it was a continuation of the other day. I thought he had asked me who I was through the phone, but then he asked me a deeper and more penetrating question, and I was at a loss for words. Why did she sense that I might be important to her? I think it''s a tough situation to come to such a conclusion. Are you listening to me? Oh, I wonder if I''m in a bad reception area. ''I can hear you. ''Yeah? Did you hear me? ''Yeah.'' ''So, what about it? Let''s avoid this as much as possible. Let''s end the conversation that way. ''Why did you think such an impossible thing? ''Eh, because, in that ...... note, no, not ......''. That''s what I mean. ....... It''s Alina''s secret notebook. I know because she showed it to me on the day of the school festival. She read the page with me on it. So, no. I''m too much in her shadow. It was always a hard line to follow. ''It''s just a misunderstanding. ''...... I don''t know anything about you. But I have your contact information and other things. ''Have you noticed anything unusual lately?'' ''Yes, there are some, but ......'' What is it? ''No, I don''t want to tell you. ''Memory clouding? Or is it something about personality? ''...... wait, how much do they know about me?'' ''You''re just guessing.'' ''Lies. I knew you were hiding something. I''m going to tell you right now that I had amnesia. But a few days ago I remembered everything. I remembered people I''d forgotten, bad things from the past, my past... Everything. You remembered everything? You mean to say that you remembered everything you remembered before the ninth grade? If it was because of your father''s death? If that''s true, she''s still a rose with a tongue. The angel Alina does not know how to treat Shirana, Yuri, and Ran. Nor does she seem to have a unified personality. And she represents ''Angel Alina'' as another personality. This is a proof that he has established a complete identity. Looking back, I feel like I''ve said a lot of terrible things. I''m such an idiot. I should apologize to Shirana and Tsuru. But you know, I don''t understand why you are the way you are. Isn''t it funny? I don''t think he''s a bad person. That''s why I thought I''d call you.'' ''I''m not a bad person, don''t worry.'' I know. I can''t get my story straight. It''s not working, Alina. I can''t go after your contradictions. You''re strangling yourself. If you don''t mind the contradiction, you can accept and digest all that is past, and you can live without pretense from now on. If you suffer trying to remember me, your amnesia may come back! ''I''m sleepy, can we continue next time?'' ''Yes, I''m sorry to bother you this morning. Can I ask one last thing? I respond with a flat ''ah'' in a hushed tone. I''m in love with you? Trying to keep my voice from shaking, I said, trying to sound calm. ''No. He hated me. I think that''s why he forgot about me. It''s better to forget me before you remember something you don''t like. She seemed crestfallen. I hung up and took a deep breath. There was no going back. 94-background emotional resistance... Since then, I have not seen Alina for a long time. It seems that she accepted the ''rejection'' I told her over the phone, and we have had no contact since then. We pass each other on campus, but not a single bail. No eye contact, no avoidance, just indifference. At first, I tried to avoid them because I was afraid that they might show their facial expressions, but gradually they stopped doing so and soon became a part of my daily life. I am amazed at the adaptability of human beings. The separation from her changed my life completely, but ironically, my school life was quite ordinary. One day passed by at an accelerated pace. It was as if I was tearing up my daily calendar one after another, throwing time down the drain. Even in the midst of the futility and tastelessness of time, a small expectation never ceased. That is the day when Alina and I would joke with each other again. We watched her pass by, secretly believing that one day she would regain her memory and come back to abuse us again. February ended and March came. It was the last month of my sophomore year of high school. From next month, I will be a junior, the most powerful student in our school. I have gotten used to being called "senpai" (senior), but from next month, I will all be juniors. That alone will be a breath of fresh air. However, this is not always the case for third-year students. With exams and job-hunting coming up, the people who try to use their power and desire to touch the juniors will become a lot quieter. Although there are no wild chimpanzee-like delinquents since our school is a high school with a relatively high deviation. Do you know what''s going on behind the scenes at school? I was making a tower with three tomato juice cans in my spare time when Makoto spoke to me. What do you mean by ''behind-the-scenes'', like the Seven Wonders or something like that? No, no, no. It''s something about people that only the teachers know about. ''Human Resources? ''Yes! Maybe that! Do you know anything about it?'' How am I supposed to know that when you define ''only the teachers know''? What exactly do you want to know? ''Let''s see, ...... class change.'' ''Change of class? Oh, you mean like that. You want to be in the same class as Ryuga, so you want to know if it''s possible to adjust? ''Yes, yes! That''s what I''m talking about! ''You can''t.'' ''What? Seriously? I have heard a theory that class changes are very sensitive. They distribute them so that those with leadership qualities, those with good athletic skills, those who can play the piano, etc. are equally divided. Grades are also the same. Naturally, the relationships between students are also taken into consideration. It is said that there is no such thing as lottery. In other words, it is somewhat arbitrary. Depending on our behavior, we may be able to control the class change. It''s not impossible, but it''s possible. However, it is unlikely that Makoto and Ryuka will be together. It is doubtful that the fact that they are dating is known to the teachers, and even if it were, it would be too weak a reference material for the assignment. Even if they were, it would be too weak to be used as a reference material for the assignment, since relationships without problems are not prioritized. It would be only their grades and qualities. So it''s impossible, Makoto. It''s impossible. ''Oh, no. I thought an outlaw as good as Comet could make it. ......'' ''I didn''t realize that''s how they looked at me. You can''t do it. Why don''t you give it a try? ''If you''re not with Ryuka, I''ll expose the corruption in the PTA and the school board!'' I''ll tell you what.'' ''Oh ...... it''s worth a try''. ''You can do it, but don''t mention my name. I don''t want you to think I''m a crazy person, so please don''t make me do it anymore. He picked up the top of the can tower and opened the lid. ''Well, you should pay your respects,'' he said. You can''t do that unless you''re evil. ''Evil to ......?'' ''It''s a bribe. They take advantage of the most universal and important entity in the world: money. However, we high school students can''t silence the working people with our financial power, and we don''t know who to bribe in the first place, so give up. You can only ask God for help. ''Such is ...... despair ......'' ''If I''m in the same class as Ryuka and you get sent to Iwo Jima, I''ll make sure to contact you and get rid of those who try to take Ryuka away from you, don''t worry. Don''t be so anxious. ''I''m counting on you, but why Iwo Jima ......'' I heard that classes are sometimes divided according to elective subjects, but in our school, classes are mixed regardless of whether the student is a science major or a humanities major. Students are moved from one classroom to another during elective classes. Therefore, the fact that they are humanities majors does not necessarily increase their chances. It would be a lie to say that there is no one who wants to be in the same class as Makoto. Not only Makoto, who has been in the same class for two years, but also Toma, who is a member of the newspaper club, I hope we can be together again. Tsuru is also a good friend of mine, and I would miss her if we stopped seeing each other. Shirana is going to be awkward. Hwasai, you can''t do this. I don''t want a pervert like you. Perverted high school girls are in great demand, but I don''t want to give you any chance to get close to my sister. If you''re going to show your perversion, please do it only with me. What about Alina? What if I''m in the same class with her? I''d look at the blackboard and see her slender backside. When she passes out the handouts behind you, you catch a glimpse of her real face through the curtain of her black hair. And sometimes she calls me ''you'' and twists her body to face me. It doesn''t happen anymore. Comet is back to normal these days, isn''t it? ''''Huh?'''' ''I feel like I''m going home.'' ''Hey, hey, hey, boy. I never left the homecoming club. I''m a real homecoming boy, okay? Whether I''m thrown into the opening of a volcano, drowned in deep water, or lowered from 10,000 meters, I''m going home. That''s professional. ''I guess going home isn''t human. ......'' ''Naturally. I can regenerate even if I am torn limb from limb, even if I am melted into a sludge. Don''t underestimate Japan''s homecoming party members. ''''What''s going on?'''' I knew he didn''t know. He doesn''t know that Alina has forgotten me. No matter how shocked I am, nothing resonates around me, nothing changes. It''s ironic how mundane and indifferent the world really is. I pour myself some tomato juice and answer his question. Nothing. I''m only worried about the center a year from now. ''I see. Comet is going to college. So I was thinking... ''I see. ''''Has Nippa changed again?'''' ''''I don''t know.'''' ''Eh, you''ve obviously changed. The tongue seems to have lessened, it''s more cute or ...... anyway, yeah, it''s changed.'' ''Tell Ryuta. Tell Ryuka she''s cheating on you.'' ''Please, don''t do this. You''ll die.'' He''s right, Alina is certainly shining these days. Her facial expressions have become more expressive and she has learned to respect her partner, and her brand as a troublemaker seems to be fading. I hear more and more confession stories about her. Surprisingly, her continued refusals have not changed. I don''t know why. As far as I''m concerned, I want her to graduate without anything happening to me. This is a peaceful time for her. When spring break was approaching, Tsuru called me. I don''t remember doing anything to make Tsuru-sama resent me, and it''s not like she has a crush on me, but she assigned me to the former teacher''s office after school. After finishing the cleaning, I went to the former teacher''s office. Naturally, Alina was on my mind. The ex-teacher''s room, or the ex-rose garden as it is also called, is a place that holds strong memories of Alina. The thought that she might have brought Alina with her naturally made my legs heavy. If possible, I do not want to see her. I have no confidence that I would be able to make proper eye contact with her after seeing her now, and the atmosphere would be awkward. I put my ear to the door and listen to the sounds inside. From what I can hear, it seems to be alone. If Alina were here, she would be making some kind of small talk, but there is no sound. I knocked on the door and Tsuru answered with a ''yes. Uy, here she is! ''That''s the way to go home club. No after-school plans for years. ''Call me the creator of time. Is it just you? ''Did you think someone would show up?'' No.'' He sat down in the pipe chair provided. Tsuru opened his mouth again, playing with his chestnut hair. ''You know what I''m talking about, don''t you? ''You mean you''re a gal.'' ''No kidding.'' Wow, Tsuru-sister, you''re scary. Surprised by the change in her voice, I was at a loss for words. What happened to Alina? Lately, you''ve been speaking very softly, and your personality is becoming calmer. Why is that? ''I don''t know. I''d like to ask him myself. Is that a problem? You know that. That''s why I''ve been working with Alina. ''Cure Alina''s tongue and personality, right?'' ''Yes. Maybe we''re getting there. ''Then how come Alina forgot about the comet! I knew someone would find out at some point. I knew that it would take time for someone to discover that Alina had forgotten me, because no one would intervene in a relationship like a straight line connecting dots. That is, if Alina did not say anything about it. I had made sure that she knew that I had rejected her, so I knew that she would not talk about it, and that if I brought it up she would just evade the issue. Even if she found out, I knew she would not pursue it. We are not a society that takes the initiative to talk about other people''s relationships, just because it makes us feel uncomfortable. We just let it slide. But it is also a society where not everyone is like that. Why do you think so? ''I don''t care what you think, you know what I mean! I don''t see Alina and Comet together anymore, and when Alina talks about Comet, she gets extremely quiet and looks troubled! I asked him if they were having a fight, but he didn''t answer me, so I asked him again and again and finally got an answer: "I don''t know him. It didn''t look like he was lying. ''Hey, hey, sometimes I do things with Alina,'' he said. ''I''m not a good liar. It shows on your face, your eyes are swimming too much. It''s disgusting. ''It''s really bad. ......'' ''Tell me what happened. Why are you lying? Why are you hiding it?'' ''Calm down, calm down. Take a deep breath. Don''t try to stretch the story. I''m not leaving until you answer.'' ''You''re spending the night with me ......?'' ''Yeah.'' You stubborn son of a b*tc*. Give me a break. We have our reasons. The joke''s not gonna work anymore, so I guess I''ll just have to walk away. I''ll tell him I need to go to the bathroom and he''ll let me out and we''ll run away. I''ll have to leave my bag, but so be it. I''ll miss the tomato juice, but my phone and wallet are in my pocket. ''Can I go to the bathroom first? ''Here you go. Tsuru dropped an empty 1.5-liter plastic bottle from his bag at my feet. I think this is what is called a premeditated crime. The bottle was empty, and the label was removed. Is this a common practice among high school girls? Is it some kind of status to always have a big plastic bottle? ''I can''t. I''m ashamed. ''Then pee your pants. ''Oh my God. I never thought the time would come when I would crave for Mugiyama Hwasai''s s*xuality. ''Because she''s the real thing. And he''s a pervert. Comet''s kind of cute. ''Huasai-san, you''re the best. ''Oh, God. I''m getting off topic. Enough with the answers. Tell me what happened. Deciding that there was no end in sight, Tsuru decided to disclose enough information not to deviate from what he knew. ''Alina seems to have forgotten about me.'' ''I knew it was true ......'' ''You''re right. He doesn''t remember anything about me. I don''t know why.'' ''I''m still a terrible liar. You have an idea, don''t you? Tell me.'' He was so insistent that I raised my voice a little. ''You''re persistent. I don''t know anything. ''I knew you were lying--'' ''It''s for Alina''s sake! For the first time in a long time, I yelled. I yell like a meek, hot-blooded boy, my legs trembling with heightened tension. Tsuru''s shoulders tense up in fear at the suddenness of the situation. He stared at me silently, his eyes fluttering. ''...... all for Alina. I can''t say any more. Don''t mention it, please. I exhale loudly to calm my painfully strong heartbeat. I immediately began to regret it and lowered my gaze, scratching my head. It was so unlike me, so childish and pathetic. It is the most embarrassing thing for a high school student to vent his feelings so self-centeredly. I''ve done it. I looked up at the sound of sniffling. Tsuru was crying with her mouth clenched shut. The corners of her eyes were red and moist with tears, and I couldn''t understand what was going on as she struggled to choke back sobs. Anyway, I was filled with a desire to apologize. But I''m sad. ...... Tsuru said, as if trying to squeeze out. Seeing her tears welling up with every blink of an eye, I felt a twinge in the back of my nose. ''I want to see you two happy,....... No, this is no good! Finally, she covered her face with her hands and fell on her upper body on the desk. Still, she holds back a sob, trying not to lose her strength. ''I''m not emotionless, you know. It''s hard. It''s hard, really. It''s so hard that I want to forget him too. I didn''t cry. But I don''t know if I would have if I was alone. 95-a liar Tsuru does not know that Alina has a dual personality. Tsuru does not know that Alina is a dual personality, that she had amnesia, or that she has a past all her own. If she had regained her memory, she might have confided in Tsuru, but from the way Tsuru looks at her, it seems unlikely. He has not even told his best friend Tsuru. So I decided not to tell Tsuru the secret. Don''t cry. It''s not like you. I''m not crying. ''Then what''s that liquid flowing from your eyes? ''Calpis.'' ''Well. Uncle Dan''s surprised.'' He wipes his tears with his sleeve, revealing the red, swollen corners of his eyes. The corners of her eyes are red and swollen. They are slightly bloodshot, indicating that she has cried a lot. It''s disgusting to yell at me out of the blue. I''m sorry, I''m sorry. ''I was scared, you know! Mooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ''Please calm down. Don''t shake the desk. She grabbed the long desk and shook it wildly. She hit me in the solar plexus several times, and I moaned in pain, but she was uncontrollable in her frenzy. I felt sorry for Nagasuki-kun, who was being violated unreasonably. You probably never thought that you would be mutilated and processed by human hands to be treated like this, and that you would continue to exist even in death, rotting and not returning to the earth. Taking pity on him, I grabbed him with both hands, hugged him and endured until this absurd reality subsided. ''Huh ......'' ''Okay, I''m running out of energy. ''You stupid ......'' ''So . . what''s the brilliant Niwadatsuru thinking?'''' ''I''m going to investigate every detail of Alina''s current situation.'' ''''What do you mean?'''' ''I know that you have completely forgotten about the comet. But he seems to remember us. If comets are the only thing missing from Alina''s mind, the only thing I can think of is that comets were special to her, right? ''You mean you forgot about me because you hated me to death inside?'' ''Idiot. If you really think so, you''re irredeemably stupid. I think it''s some kind of amnesia, and I honestly don''t know why. Maybe I hit my head, or maybe I had a hard time. So the cause doesn''t matter at this point. Tsuru crossed his legs and continued speaking with a serious expression on his face. ''''Extreme. I''ll let you meet again in the natural course of events to remind you of the comet. I immediately denied it. No. I won''t get involved with Alina. ''Are we back to square one again? Why do you avoid Alina so much? Why? What are you hiding? ''Alina has a situation she doesn''t want you to know about. If she hasn''t told you, I can''t tell you. ''You just can''t tell me?'' ''Yeah. Never. ''I''m going to shake your desk again, aren''t I?'' ''Go ahead. If you start shaking, I''ll hold you and stop you this time.'' ''Hmm. I''ll do my best to resist, okay?'' A stalemate ensued, and silence enveloped the place. They stared at each other like tigers, their mouths tightly shut. We stared at each other with such intensity that our eyes burned as if sparks were flying in the air. Tsuru does not take a step back, so I make a proposal to him. Tsuru. I''ll say it again, your daily life won''t change even if you stay as you are. You will be able to deal with Alina as usual and you won''t have any problems in your school life. Think about it. How many of your classmates will you keep in touch with after high school? You don''t mean all of them. Most of them are never seen again. Couldn''t it be that this has been moved up? And it''s not about Tsuru himself, it''s about me. So you''re just going to let Alina and I be alone?'''' ''Oh.'' ''Mooo!!!! You''re a lousy liar! You say it''s for Alina''s sake, but that''s self-sacrifice! ''I don''t think I''m sacrificing myself.'' ''Then you wouldn''t have said, "It''s so hard that I want to forget Alina"! You f*cking giant tribe!'''' I was closed to your reasonable comment. No wonder the crane is angry. I know he is right. The cranes will understand if we tell them our secret. And maybe he''ll apologize. She may not expect that Alina has had a hard time in the past, and she may regret scolding me for asking her about her past. I will only feel sorry for her if she apologizes one-sidedly for something that is not necessary. There was a sound of a sliding door. Our deadlocked attention focused on the sliding door. It was slightly ajar. It was only a fistful of space, but we were sure that we had just heard it. Tsuru nodded his head in silent agreement. Please come in. Tsuru called out to him. But there was no answer. We turned our heads and forgot to argue about the strange phenomenon. I don''t believe in ghosts, but when I experience something strange, I think, ''No way. If it comes out, I''ll throw tomatoes at it. Oh, I don''t have any tomatoes in my bag. I mean, how could there be? ''I''m sorry. I didn''t know you were here. Alina appeared with a pout. One thing is bothering me. It was a boy named Comet Sakakiki. I have not had any contact with him since I called him more than half a month ago. It is because of what he said that I used to hate him. I tried to talk to him several times but he would not even look at me. If he hates me too, I can''t talk to him. But I knew right away that he was lying. There was no word of dislike in the pages about him in my notebook. It was strange because I don''t remember writing anything about him. Rather, they wrote very favorable things about Comet Sakakiki. How could I dislike him when I rated him as a trustworthy person? I had a lot of call logs and messages with him on my phone. It is hard to believe that I do not like him. So the question of why he is lying is swirling in my mind. What I have learned from his notebooks and phone is that he was very devoted to me. He was helping me to cure my amnesia, my dual personality. I keep it a secret from my friends. Only my mother, Comet Sakakiki, Dr. Akakusa, and Mr. Kanzawaguchi know about it. I searched for his shadow in my memory and found many of them. But I cannot remember what he was like. I can''t see what he was like or what he looked like, as if there is a fog over me. So I was a little afraid of my memory of working with a mysterious person. ''Alina-san. Where are you going? Shirana approached me in her tennis wear. I''m a little concerned about something. In the former teacher''s office. ''Ah~, there it is~. With Comet? ''''No, I''m not.'''' ''Be careful. If he tries anything, call me right away! It''s okay.'' I let it slide and left Shirana. I try not to let it be known that I forgot Comet Sakakiki. I am nervous when I feel I am about to lose it, but surprisingly, it is not obvious. As you can see from Shirana''s words and actions, I was convinced that I did not hate Comet Sakakiki after all. Then why did he lie to me like that? I couldn''t help wondering. In my fragmented memories of him, I vaguely remembered the former teacher''s office. I remember reading there with my mother''s preserved flowers that I had brought. I do not remember if he was there. So this is a daydream-like memory. It is worth a visit to see if my memory is correct. To find out more about my unacknowledged amnesia. So I went to the former teacher''s office. When I arrived at the former teacher''s office, I had a sense of d j vu. I remember that I had changed into my gym clothes here. I remember putting my hair up and putting my underwear in my bag. Why is this ambiguous? When I put my hand on the sliding door, I felt the presence of someone inside. It was the sound of life, or rather the scuffling of shoes against the floor. Someone is there. I was about to leave when I heard a crane''s voice coming from inside. Please come in. Why are there cranes? Could it be a secret meeting of youth with Tsuru''s boyfriend ......! You can''t do that! Keep up with the public morals! No school! Oh, so if it was outside the school, it would be ......? Ugh, anyway, no! Curiosity got the better of me and I took a peek. ''I''m sorry. I didn''t know you were there. There were cranes and a wide-eyed and surprised Comet Sakakiki. I looked at him for the first time in about a month. 96-I dedicate myself to you the best in the world.... I''m looking at you. He''s staring at me. For a few seconds until our eyes meet and I look away. Our awareness of each other was mutual. As if the month of pretending to be someone else had never happened. I look away before I''m about to fall into those mysterious glowing amber eyes. I almost said something to her. ''Alina? What are you doing here? Tsuru stood up and approached Alina. ''I was just curious. I feel strange. ''''Strange?'''' It''s deja vu. Crane and I have been here together before, haven''t we? ''Yeah. Maybe when I was brought to the comet? It was when Tsuru kidnapped Alina to thank her. When she was a freshman. She fell down on an icy road in winter season and was in trouble because of her injury, but Arina saved her and carried her to school. I wanted to thank her for her kindness, and when I set up a meeting with Tsuru, this is where I took advantage of it. I knew it. It''s real, isn''t it? ''Of course. I said thank you to Alina! ''Yes, it is. I''m the one who gave you a piggyback ride. I''m sorry for being so cynical. ''I know. You remember this story too, don''t you? I was at a loss for words when the subject came up unexpectedly. I had been looking for a chance to escape with my bag slung over my shoulder. Now that Alina was here, I couldn''t stay. After a short pause, I replied with a short ''I don''t know'' and stood up. To others, I look like an unfaithful little brat. I want to punch myself in the face. Alina''s bewildered look made my heart ache. I walked past them, put my hand on the sliding door, and was about to leave when I was grabbed by the sleeve. ''Wait! Alina stops her. Not being the worst kind of person to shake her off, I had no choice but to turn around and look at Alina. Alina looks me up and down. Too shy to face her head-on, I only face her and turn my body in the direction of the day after tomorrow. She takes a step closer to me. She was so close to me that our uniforms almost touched. Reflexively, I retreat, but there is a sliding door behind me. I was in a backwater position. I looked at Tsuru with my eyes for help, but he only smiled at me and didn''t seem to do anything. I''m sure he''s gloating in his heart, ''Suck it up,'' he says. Why are you lying? ''I didn''t lie. ''What were you talking to the crane about? It''s about me, isn''t it? Tsuru, isn''t that right? The crane nodded and continued to watch from the sidelines. ''I didn''t hate you or anything. How can you deny that? ''You didn''t like me, you know.'' ''Look me in the eye and say it! He grabbed me by the chin and forced me to make eye contact with him. The forcefulness made me feel nostalgic. She is a poisonous rose after all. Not the angel Alina, not a new personality. It''s the Alina Hibane I know so well. She is the embodiment of freedom, noble and unbounded. ''...... don''t know''. ''''Yes?'''' It doesn''t matter if you have memories or not. What you think, what you feel, how you feel about me is something only you can know. Then why did you say that? Why did you say that I hate you so much? For Alina. Yes, for Alina''s future. How can you dislike someone you''ve spent time with after school? It was when I was in the Rose Garden. ''Would you hate someone you walked shoulder to shoulder with at the festival? It was when I served as a temporary member of the public morals committee. ''Would you hate someone you went to the aquarium with? It was when I followed Makoto and Ryuka on their date. ''Would you go to the home of someone you don''t like? It was when I stopped by his house on my way home from a New Year''s visit. Do you make chocolates for people you don''t like? Valentine''s Day. A milestone day when she would have forgotten me. ''For someone I don''t like...'' ''Don''t do that.'' I''d had enough. It''s hard just to remember. Everything she said must have been pulled from her notebook. So in the end, it is a fiction to her, like a novel. This story is solitary. The story that we created together and that only two people in the world know exists only in my head. I am the only one who colors my heart in retrospect. I wonder if she understands that if I tell her in words, I will only be filled with emptiness. I will only suffer the tale of my loneliness. For me. You keep telling yourself, ''For Alina,'' don''t you? Just as you did for me, you are enduring this time for me, aren''t you?'' Breathing stops. It is as if everything is being seen through, as if I am being stripped naked in front of the public. Such shame melded with amazement and silenced me. ''I''m not stupid. Amnesia, dual personality, abusive past. It would be foolhardy to try to cure me of my instability. You''ve been with me long enough to know that. It''s like a maze in the dark. And then my father''s death brought back my memories. In exchange for you, for Comet Sakakiki, the person I loved. Tsuru is ''hmm? Nngh! What? Eh, eh, eh, eh! And became a hiragana mass-production machine. The fact that the story flowed so smoothly was a source of confusion for Tsuru. Alina must have decided that it was okay to tell Tsuru. I take in her determination and listen to her words as she freely shares her secret with me. I couldn''t ignore her anymore. I am probably the closest to the other me, Mr. Akakusa, and to the Alina Hibane you have described. So you thought. ''If I mess it up too much, I''ll ruin it. I''m already unstable, and if you try to remind me of myself, I''ll switch personalities again, or forget, or get hurt. You, who are so kind to me, thought so and lied to me. Alina grabbed me and Tsuru by the sleeves and pulled us to sit on the chairs. Tsuru raised his hands and said, ''What? Yes! I am still a hiragana mass-producer, converting the nutrition in my body into sound energy. I would have told him to shut up for a minute, but if I had been in his shoes, I would have panicked and called out a string of indecent and obscene words. Alina stood on her haunches and opened her mouth again. ''You two were talking about me, weren''t you? Tsuru, what kind of things?'''' ''Well, well, Alina seemed to have forgotten about the comet, so I was lecturing her about whether that was okay or not...yeah, I mean, she was angry. Comet was saying gutless things like ''I''m fine as it is'' and desperately trying to hide something and lying, and suddenly yelling at me, I mean, yes, I was angry. ''Yes. I see. ''But, but. What you just said is, you know--'' It''s true. I''ve never had any memories before the ninth grade. And I have dual personality dissociative identity disorder. Caused by an abusive ex-father. ''''What--'''' Tsuru looks at me with exclamation. I felt sorry for Tsuru, whose brow furrowed and expression clouded as he looked at me, so I made a peace with him to relieve his tension. But he slapped me. ''Are you saying that Comet was lying to me so that I wouldn''t know about it? ''That''s right. ''Are you saying that you decided not to get involved in Alina''s, uh, past - no, in the sense of protecting her body and mind?'' That''s what I meant when I said ''for Alina''s sake. Remembering me will definitely take a toll on her. I thought it would cause something bad to happen to Alina. I''m sorry I couldn''t tell you what happened, Tsuru. ''Oh no,......why would you do that,......gosh.'' I looked at Tsuru, who was about to start crying again, and I said, ''Don''t cry! Endure! You''ll dry up! I made fun of him. I didn''t want her to cry any more. I didn''t want her to cry any more. I can''t accept such a sad happy ending! I''m sorry~ I''m sorry~ I''m sorry~ I''m sorry~ I''m sorry~ I''m sorry~ I''m sorry~ I''m sorry~ Arina, don''t avoid Zui, Zui, don''t avoid her~'''' ''Don''t cry, don''t cry. Don''t spill the calpis. Take better care of your lactobacilli. ''It''s not galbiz~'' ''You said it. Now cry for the rest of your life. If you care about humanity, go cry in the desert. ''I''m sorry, all of mankind is sorry~'' Let''s wait till the cranes calm down. When he looked Alina in the eye, she gave him a troubled smile and murmured, "I guess so. What do we do now? Leaving the weeping Tsuru alone, he asked Alina a question. My plan to stay out of her life was shattered. Whether it was the right decision or not, we will see, but we have lost our purpose. It is no exaggeration to say that the project to rehabilitate Alina has been completed. Now that she has forgotten me, there is no reason for me to have anything to do with her. I don''t know what to do. That''s crazy. You act like there''s more to do. It''s like the selfish wish of a toddler. Professional homecoming party member. Alina said it proudly, holding up her index finger. ''I see you call yourself that. ''I don''t call myself that. It''s a fact.'''' ''The note said some pretty painful things, but they seem to be true. You''re strange. ''You too. ''Yes, me too. I''m a freak just like you. He smiles and pats his long desk as if to flaunt the unflattering label. I follow his long, white fingers with my eyes, and then they stop on the desk and point at me. When I looked up, she was smiling. It was the most beautiful, prettiest, and most perfect smile I had ever seen on Alina''s face. I am sure that there is no other woman in the world more attractive than her. I realized for the first time that she was that kind of person for me. She will probably remain in my memory until the day I die, and when the running lights come on, she will be very much in my mind. Who will be there at her death, I do not know. The old Comet Sakakimagi would have laughed at me for having lost my mind as a single aristocrat, but it seems that spring has come to me, too. I hoped in my heart that she would be there at my deathbed. ''Quit the homecoming club for my sake. She said these words as a declaration of war for the members of the homecoming club with straight eyes. I''ll spend time with you after school to remember you. It''s your last job. Will you help me again? I laughed. There''s no quitting in the homecoming club. Since there is no notification of joining or leaving the club, of course there is no concept of quitting. In other words, it is a status that is established by calling oneself a member of the club. So you don''t have to call yourself a member. However, I still can''t give up my pride as a member of the Homecoming Club. The homecoming club members all over the country are most afraid of losing their friends. It pains me to betray them, but I will quit for the sake of Alina. Let''s quit for the sake of a girl with a sharp tongue. All right. Attention all homecoming club members nationwide. I''m temporarily resigning from the homecoming club. I''m asking you to take care of the earth for a while. 97-free butterfly flapping... ''''It''s mediocre.'''' Alina muttered in the former rose garden. It''s a sign of peace. Somewhere on earth, there are boys and girls not much older than us who are frightened by air raid alarms. We should be grateful to our predecessors who have made our daily life what it is today. ''You''re still saying outlandish things. It''s funny. ''I''m not happy to hear you say that with a blank expression on your face.'' ''Well, let''s resume. Stretching out, Alina grabbed her pencil again. Spring break is just around the corner. The final exam is already over, and we are studying in the former Rose Garden for our first mock exam next month. We will take it next month, that is, as soon as we enter the third grade. It is going to be busy, but I guess that''s the way it is in the third year. Enjoy your high school life until your sophomore year, and make the last year a year of competition. If you are in a school where students are determined to go on to higher education, the battle may have already begun in the freshman year, but our school has a more relaxed style. A few days have passed since the day I was told to quit the homecoming club, and we seem to be hanging out together again. We did nothing but study, but I was happy to have a connection with Alina again. On the other hand, there were many depressing moments when I had to face reality. We had to talk about things we didn''t understand, to explain ourselves again, and so on. The act of writing Comet Sakakimagi again in her mind was empty. Instead of reminding her, I felt as if I was playing catch-up with her conversation as a new encounter. I felt as if I was playing catch-up with her in a new encounter, instead of reminding her of Comet Sakakibiki. Once she understands who I am, and after a time when I am no different from the poisonous rose, communication will no longer be uncomfortable, and she will not be discouraged by the discrepancies in her memories. But I will miss her tremendously. She looks me straight in the eye. But I cannot look straight into her eyes. I can''t help but search for the missing memory of the poisonous rose that sleeps in the depths of her eyes. ''Hey, comet. May I digress? As soon as she resumed her studies, she put down her pencil again and did so. ''Here you go. ''Once upon a time there was a movie. It''s about going back in time to save your lover. You go back to your estranged lover, your unhappy lover, over and over again to change the future by doing small actions like ''flapping butterfly wings'' so that he/she can be united with you. To choose a future in which they will both be happy. ''Science Fiction. ''Yes, it is. But every time you go back in time, your lover gets further and further away from you, and you become unhappy. It''s as if the world has decided that our destiny is the same. And yet, the hero tried. Believing that one day they will be together. Alina opened the secret notebook. I was a little surprised when she opened the notebook, which was both her history and diary, in front of me without any resistance. The page she opened was about Comet Sakakiki. What do you think happened to them? ''After suffering, they were united in a happy ending. You mean like that?'''' No. They didn''t. I chose for my lover the way we never met in the first place. I chose never to see her again, and I broke an unhappy fate. It''s a sad happy ending. ''That''s another heartbreaking ......'' ''This looks like something, doesn''t it?'' Hm? ''It''s about your choice to stay out of my life. That you were going to choose a sad happy ending for me. ''Nah, why are we talking about me? Don''t embarrass me. Someone bring me a cup of black coffee. 500 ml will kill you instantly. Alina giggled. ''The hero could go back in time by reading the contents of his diary. For example, if I read back the text of the day I met you, I can go back to that past, keeping my memory intact. Just like that. After his last choice, the protagonist decided to burn the entire diary and never return to the past again. ''Oh, my. So we really won''t see each other again. ''My notebook is similar to that. And I may not need this notebook anymore either. I have most of my memories back. ''Are you going to get rid of it, ......?'' Alina put her hand on her chin and gave me a sticky look. I won''t do it. I won''t remember you. ''''Myo.'''' A sound leaked out of my mouth that my brain couldn''t process and couldn''t form into words. Her words echoed heavily, and I froze like a villain who had just been stabbed in the chest with a knife and realized his death with his eyes wide open. Unfortunately, I was not equipped with a Windows key or a power button, so I could not force a shutdown, and I remained as immobile as a statue. That''s a foul. I''m not used to such sweet talk yet. Hmph. Aren''t you supposed to reply with one of your best jokes? ''Idiot. That was so sweet that all my permanent teeth melted down. Oh, I''m sorry. I''ll try to melt your bones next time. Plump cherry buds tell us the first signs of spring. The enveloping warmth has finally arrived, and the mornings when we shiver with coldness decrease with each passing day, as if both people and nature are steadily preparing for the new year. I''ve known you for a long time. Last lunch break before spring break. After the completion ceremony in the morning, we sophomores were allowed to move up to the rank of juniors without missing a beat. And so we are saying goodbye to Makoto for the rest of our lives. We fought together for a long time, starting with the Normandy landings and ending with the battle to defend the moon base. ''I don''t remember that, but yes, it was a long time. The use of electromagnetic weapons against the insurgent autonomous machine groups is still uplifting just to remember. ''Yes, yes, I think it was great. ''For the sake of my beloved daughter--'' ''That''s enough, comet. Please, talk normally. Makoto surrenders with his hands raised. I have known him since the first grade, and we were in the same class together for two whole years. I wonder how he could have been with a freak like me. Bless his generous heart. When we fought a tribe deep in the Amazon... ''I never even left Japan! ''Well, thanks for everything. I''m looking forward to working with you in my third year. ''And don''t go back to the way it was all of a sudden. ...... I hope we''re together again.'' ''Yeah, right.'' It''s a small chance, but I''m glad it''s true. I am looking forward to meeting new people, but I will miss my close friend. It will take time for my new classmates, who are not used to my eccentricities, to understand me. I also have to get the understanding of my tomato juice addiction. Lunch break does not end with the exchange with Makoto. And with Alina. He says he will talk to her in the infirmary, but I''m sure it''s something to do with Alina. He arrives at the infirmary at the appointed time, knocks, and enters. I knocked and entered. I see Alina''s back. She was sitting across from Dr. Akakusa. She looked at me with her back bent over and bailed. I raised one hand and said, "Hi. ''Hello again. I''m sorry about the lunch break, both of you. It''s okay. So, what is it that you want to talk about? I took out my pipe chair and got ready to listen too. ''Actually, sir. I''ve been transferred. ''Ido. It''s a good one--'''' Calm down, comet. It''s important that we talk about the teacher. ''I''ll be there in a minute. This is the moment when rumors become reality. Some time ago, there was a rumor that Mr. Akakusa was going to be transferred. The reason is that he has been working at this high school for a long time, and he was the most likely candidate to be transferred. Why? Why are you trying to take away our school''s flower, big guy? You want to keep Mr. Akakusa close to you to entangle him, don''t you? I see. That''s where you are, isn''t it? Okay, let''s start the identification process. If I find him, I''ll make it impossible for you to ever hold a piece of chalk again. The Sakakikis have a grudge. "One, two, three... ''Be quiet! Alina shook me by the shoulders and made me nauseous. The unacceptable reality and the shaking made me feel seasick. I have never been on a boat before. The sea scares me. Holding my mouth shut, I tried not to throw up the seven liters of tomato juice, but I held on and looked up at him. ''...... is it true? It''s true. It will be in the newspaper soon. ''Oh ...... oh oh oh oh oh oh oh ......!'' ''That''s why I called you both here, because I wanted to say something to you one last time.'' Dr. Akakusa bent at the waist and bowed his head. I''m really sorry I couldn''t do anything for you. I''m not a good teacher. Oyo yo yo yo sensei, please stop. I''m the one who should be bowing. It''s I who should be looking up in the face of the goddess. I must return to the earth soon. It''s not going to happen. Alina, Comet, I''m so sorry. I couldn''t do anything for the both of you. Especially you. I''m sorry for being so unreliable. Dr. Akakusa''s voice trembled as he continued to apologize. The way she tried not to cry was a sight I wanted to turn away from. No one was to blame. You know that. ''You didn''t do anything wrong. I''m grateful. I''m grateful to you. If you''re worried about not being treated by a specialist, please don''t be. I''m the one who refused the doctor''s recommendation to go to the hospital, remember? Alina moved closer and wrapped her hands around the doctor''s, who held them in his lap. The other me requested ''someone to talk to''. It was the teacher who helped me find that person. I have met so many people. I wouldn''t be where I am today if it weren''t for you. Please don''t blame yourself. You are my benefactor. The last words seemed to have worked, and Dr. Akakusa choked back a sob, tears falling down his thighs. I''m sorry, I''m sorry, Alina-chan,'' he said, clasping Alina''s hand in his. I do not have a homos*xual nature, but I can''t help but nod my head at the sight of these two beauties together. Mm, that''s good. If it had been a tongue rose, I would have been torn to pieces with a chainsaw. I''d be a dice steak, decomposing in the stomach of a lioness at the zoo. I continued to observe the beautiful, s*xless love of mankind until the situation calmed down. ''What, what does that mean ......? After Alina left, I briefly informed the teacher of Alina''s condition during the few remaining lunch breaks. Forgetting only me, she remembered everything. Her tone and attitude became calmer, and I told her that it was no exaggeration to say that the original project to rehabilitate Alina had been completed. The teacher seemed to agree and nodded his head. That''s why she was so quiet. ''Yes. I haven''t cursed in a long time. On the contrary, it''s not enough. Please tease me more. ''But why did I forget only comets ......'' ''''It''s strange, isn''t it?'''' I have heard of past cases where people who recovered from a vegetative state forgot everyone except their lover. I don''t know the cause. In Comet''s case, the pattern is the opposite. That''s a great example. Is it the power of love? I don''t know. Maybe it was the will not to forget this person. If you think about it simply, it might be similar in Alina''s case. ''? I''m not sure. ''Comet was a very big part of Alina''s life. It''s easier to understand if you think of a wine glass as a storage of memories. In order to fill the glass with the vast amount of memories of the life she had recovered, the comet that had accumulated in the glass became a hindrance. Isn''t that awful? I''m going to cry. ''Hmmm. It''s an unfounded hypothesis, so you can ignore it. However, even I, the joker, knew that I was special to Alina. And I know the futility of trying to figure out why. Memory is truly fickle and ambiguous. Forgetting and remembering depend on our consciousness. You can never be satisfied with a perfect answer to such an unstable and imperfect thing. So I know that Alina''s declaration that she will remember me is reckless. It is not a given that she will remember me while she is still in school. She might remember when she grows up and starts working, when she meets the man of her dreams and starts a family, when she is old enough to give birth to her grandchildren. Like her analogy, the world has no intention of giving us a happy ending. Nor, I might add, does it intend to give us a bad ending. It''s all up to us. On my way back from the infirmary, I met Shirana. She bumped into me and put her hand on her chest as if she was reluctant to do something. ''Hey, Comet. Alina, you look a little strange. It''s more than a little. That thing is a mass of foreign matter. ''No, it''s not. Are you guys fighting? I know what you''re trying to say. At last I felt the discomfort of Alina''s forgetting me. But I don''t think she thinks I have amnesia. Well, that''s about it. That''s all I could say. It was the last day after school. As we finished taking pictures in class, there were a few girls who started to cry. They were probably sad that they might have to leave their good friends. As for me, I just cracked jokes as usual. Comet. I thought he was weird at first, but now I think he''s a very nice guy! Thanks!'''' Toma, a member of the newspaper club, did so. Right? There are only a few people who are better than me. I counted them a few days ago, and there are only 6.8 billion of them. There are too many bad people in the world. Then a crane flapped its wings. ''I''m kind of sad. I''ve enjoyed this past year. Me too. At first I thought you were a gal who didn''t know how to multiply or alphabetize, but now I''ve changed my mind and think you''re a chicken who can walk on all fours. ''I hope we''re in the same class next year to get revenge.'' I ran into a perverted ponytail girl, Hana Aya, in the hallway. ''Hey, you know what? When a girl gets excited, her breasts get bigger--'''' ''Ah yes yes Aboriginal Aborigines . Trinidad and Tobago''. You can''t stay in the classroom forever and go home without leaving something behind. So I''ll just do what I always do after school. It''s not like anyone''s changing schools. It''s just that the distance between us is a few dozen meters. I tried to go to the former rose garden, but for some reason I didn''t feel like it. This is something I cannot explain. But some inferences can be made. ''Oh, are you alone? There was a girl at the entrance to the elevator, her back to the door, fiddling with her phone. ''I''m a single aristocrat. ''You''re an enemy of the state. The birthrate is declining. ''This dangerous gene must be sealed. That''s all.'' That''s why I didn''t go. Because she was there. 98-door to spring... Spring break is a vacation that leaves little room for mental relaxation. The afterglow of having completed a school year, the excitement of a new school year ahead, the ever-approaching class announcements, the uncertainty and hope of new classmates. We are confronted with our own problems one after another. In addition, we are in the final year of our third year. This is the year in which we have a lot of things to finish. Whether it is club activities, academics, or relationships, we will have some sort of closure before graduation. This makes spring break even more depressing and anxiety-ridden. However, there are always exceptions. It is like a mutation of the species, a subspecies is always born. Yes, that''s me. Comet Sakakiki. There is no other person in the world who is as positive about spring break as I am. Anxiety about the new school year? New relationships? Can I keep up with my studies? Will I graduate? You''ll die if you worry about that. You''re always thinking about tomatoes so much that no other concerns come to the surface of your consciousness. Tomatoes are so strong that you can''t feel anything. Isn''t that what you call a drug? Ugin said so, but of course I don''t care. I''m so high that even the noise is clear. ''It''s not drugs. It''s tomatoes. ''Yes, but...'' ''Let me give you some trivia. Tomatoes contain toxic substances. ''What? Are you sure? It''s a poison called tomatin. You have to eat so much of it that it tears your stomach out to death, so it''s not a problem. Maybe it''s a pleasure substance for me. ''When my brother is cremated, I''ll roast him with mini-tomatoes.'' ''That''s great. Even better if the farmers provide it to us as fertilizer. ...... What''s with the uniform? Ugin was wearing a strange uniform. She did not notice it because her mind and body were in the dream world with tomatoes. She was wearing the uniform of the high school she was going to enter. Mother! There''s a JK in the house! Hunting gun! Hurry up with the gun! ''I''m gonna kill you, bro. So my sister will be a high school girl too. Having brand power in her identity will be a period of bliss for her, and for all the girls in the world. Cute uniforms and cute clothes. And a cool boyfriend. Hmm? Boyfriend? I forgot. When Ugin became a high school girl, there would be flies to attract. I can''t let that happen. Such insolent people must be removed. Ugin should always have a stun gun and VX gas. There are people on the dark side of the world who buy people''s freedom and bodies with money and exploit them until they die. To avoid such a predicament, we, human beings, are endlessly striving for more surveillance and control society. Artificial intelligence cameras that monitor the signs of crimes, and tracking management systems that give each person a unique ID and control his or her behavior. The world in which we can provide a little privacy and security will soon be here. At that time, what will the human race think and decide? The future is coming this summer. Worldwide screening on July 14. It''s time to stop with the tomatoes. Your eyes are in dreamland. ''Watch out for guys in high school. If anything goes wrong, call me before 110. I''ll come running in faster than the speed of physics and send you all to Siberia, or rather, to a black hole. I''ll show you the truth of the world at the singularity. ''I''ll call 110, don''t worry.'' We trust that no sensible Ugin would voluntarily put himself in harm''s way. Please don''t do anything to betray my brother''s wishes. ''Do you have any friends from junior high school with you? ''Yeah. Well, a few of them. That''s fine. It''s better than "they''re all strangers." She''s a good communicator by nature, so she should be able to survive on Jupiter and in the deep sea. I guess there''s no point in worrying. It is fortunate that Ugin, who had recently turned into an old man, is now a girl again thanks to the arrival of her school uniform. ''Does hot sake taste good? The sound of the world collapsing in my ears roared when he asked me, "What do you mean? There was no way I would know what it tasted like, and it wasn''t something a minor would know, either. I guessed he had found it when he looked up the combination of delicacies on the Internet. I threatened to tell her that it tasted like goblin piss and warned her not to get into trouble with the police, but my attempts to warn her failed when she muttered ''I''m curious. This was the moment when Ugin decided to exterminate and massacre in advance the wayfarers who would come close to him when he entered the university. Needless to say, Comet Sakakiki is not a man who forgets himself and gets carried away just because it is spring break, as stated in the articles of the Constitution of Japan. That is why his spring break schedule is as beautifully white as a NEET''s resume. That''s why I am so sensitive to the U.S. Bank''s moves at home. I watched Ugin''s movements in the living room, as if I were a PC whose main power supply had been disconnected, and devoted myself to letting dust accumulate on my body. As I watched Ugin as a silent guardian, I often saw him fiddling with his phone. Curious, I asked him a question. ''I''m finding people to enroll on social networking sites,'' he said. He answered my question with a few words. Apparently, in today''s JK world, the battle begins even before entering school. It seems that they are trying to make friends on social networking sites in advance to get rid of their ''loneliness anxiety'' at the time of entrance. I wondered what had happened in the last few years, but I just didn''t know. It is not a supernatural phenomenon that is seen only in JKs, and it is said that boys also usually do it. I was surprised when I found out about it, because it is not something that advanced organic organisms like me have much contact with. Don''t underestimate the network of children. Seeing the complex and bizarre worldview, I decided that I would be fine with being a stand-alone. Let''s go see it together, class presentation. It was Alina Hiba who sent me a text utilizing a strange inversion of the word. The class composition of the entire school year is announced at the farewell ceremony. The reason why it is on the day of the leaving ceremony is probably because it is open to all. It was probably chosen as a measure to increase the attendance rate of students at the ceremony as much as possible. However, the attendance rate of leaving ceremony is always high, so it may be too much of a stretch. From a different point of view, it is also possible that the separation ceremony was chosen as the day to make the announcement because it is the day when the largest number of students gathers. Whatever it is, we''re still going. It will be the last time we see Dr. Akakusa. There''s no reason not to go. And Aki, who has just graduated, might come to see him, so I''ll say a final hello to her. I thought it would be a nuisance to talk to her during the sensitive period of her university entrance examinations, but she has graduated. I have to talk with them about various things so that I don''t miss them. A few days pass by, and then comes the graduation ceremony. I remember how to put on my school uniform and get busy in the morning, even though it''s my day off. Where are you going, brother? ''England. I''m going to miss the plane. ''You don''t have a passport. ''No problem, I bought a fake passport in Hong Kong. ''You''ve got a big problem. I ate breakfast as soon as possible and left home at bullet train speed. I was tempted to use my recently acquired instantaneous movement, but I decided not to, since my life span would be reduced to three minutes if I did. So, I ran like the opening scene of a silly youth anime. Unfortunately, it is not a beautiful opening with flowers falling, a pretty heroine smiling, and rainbow colors. It is an unbearable image of a high school boy with bloodshot eyes and blood vessels floating on his forehead, running around spraying bodily fluids of an unknown name. It is not for children. It''s free to attend, so it doesn''t matter if you''re late, but I''m desperate because punctuality is my philosophy in life. Because of this desperation, I made it on time. It was truly an act of God. It was a moment when a person turned the impossible into possible, a moment when a page in the great history was written. It''s not a doldrums. I bumped into Alina and she told me that. ''I''m aware of it. We haven''t started yet, have we? ''Just in time. Let''s go to the gym. Students passing by looked at me like I was an idiot for coming to school with the flu. No wonder I ran as fast as I could. I had three transplants because my heart burst in the middle of the race. I was looking for an empty seat in the gym when I spotted Makoto and Tsuru. What''s wrong, comet? Why are you dying? ''Every capillary in my body ruptured. I couldn''t overcome the gravity of the dogfight.'' ''I don''t get it. ......'' Soon after, the separation ceremony began. Trying to catch my breath, I regained my composure and turned my attention to the seats lined up for the teachers who would be leaving the school this year. Among them was Mr. Akakusa, who already had tears in his eyes. Too soon. The leaving ceremony proceeded solemnly, and the teachers on stage were presented with bouquets of flowers. Most of the female teachers were crying. The female students began to cry, too. It was a reminder that women are very sensitive. Look at Makoto next to me. She''s crying. You''re crying too. After the ceremony, the students quickly exit the gym and line up in the hallway. The last of the departing teachers walk here. This is their last conversation with their students. ''Hey, hey, hey, Makoto. Wipe your tears. Wipe your tears. ''Uggg ...... ugg''. ''If you just listen to the sound, it''s like a guy almost choking. ''Shut up! I don''t know who these tears are for, but they are sad. At last Mr. Akakusa has arrived. Holding gifts from his many students, he walked in, nodding his head. And then Makoto''s tears started to form a waterfall. Sensei! Fan de ji de ji de! ''Thank you, Makoto-kun. With a wry smile, the teacher shook Makoto''s hand. ''I''d like a photo book, please! Then he grabbed her by the collar and pulled her back. ''Sensei. Good luck in your new position. ''Thank you. Good luck with your exams, comet. His parting words were brief indeed. That was enough. Words would have been clich . The important thing is conveyed in the eyes. As he left, he winked at me. ''A legacy. I left it behind. ''Oh, what is it? Where is it?'' ''You''ll find out soon enough.'' If it''s for real, is it a photo book? Makoto stopped crying and said, ''Comet. I''ll never give it to you. This is absolutely ridiculous. That''s impossible. I won''t lose to you. The students started to hang out in front of the school building. It''s time for the long-awaited class announcements. I wonder what kind of class I''ll be in... Be at peace. No more chimps who look like they just stepped out of a zoo. May there be lots of pretty girls. ''Comets are bachelor aristocrats, so it doesn''t matter.'' ''It''s eye candy. I''ll be able to study for my exams.'' ''You say that in front of girls ......'' Ignoring Alina and Tsuru''s disapproval, we waited until it was time to go public. I had some free time, so I was talking with Toma and Shinji, who were there, when I suddenly remembered Aki-senpai. I don''t think she was there for the leaving ceremony. If she had been there, she would have come to Alina. It''s a pity, but it can''t be helped. They may have already started living alone and may be out of the prefecture. I don''t think I''ll be able to say a clean goodbye to all of them. I will look forward to seeing them again when I am older. Teachers appeared with several cylindrical rolls of paper as tall as a person. The students gasp and the teachers grin in response as they prepare. Finally! I''d be laughing if Comet''s name wasn''t there. ''What an insidious bully. You''re going to destroy the school board. The teachers worked in pairs, opening one end of the rolled-up paper slightly and taping the other end to the wall with duct tape. I see. And then the other one runs in and unveils the paper. The students were so impatient with this play that they said, "Hurry! I''m not going to let you do it. In the midst of the commotion, ''Hurry up, hurry up, ahn! Ahhhh, fast! I heard a very lewd tone in her voice. It was definitely Hanaya Mugiyama. Someone stop her. The teachers are ready and check each other to make sure they are ready. And then it was time to open the doors. ''Happy New Year, Comet! Alina looked at me and said. I was going to say to her, "No, no, no, it''s already been three months since the New Year, young lady," but I stopped when I saw the calm look on her face. She was not joking, though her tone was suggestive. The class composition revealed. Immediately the students started jumping up and down and yelling. I looked hard to find my name. Oh, you''re in the first class of the third grade. I''m honored to have the title of number one...'' In one of the classes was the name Alina Nippa. I look at Arina, speechless. The corners of her mouth turn up in a grin. Then she said, "Nice to meet you again. ''You know, no, this is what I left for you: ......? ''I don''t know. Himitsu.'' She turned her head away and hugged the crane. Apparently, she''s with the cranes, too. Oh, my God. That''s chaos. I noticed Makoto was standing next to me, saluting. I looked again to see what was going on and saw that Makoto Takane''s name was also in the group. Oh my god. That''s chaos. She was with Kayla, too. Seriously? It''s the end of the world. Comet. Three years in a row. ''It''s a curse now. I bowed in reply. It was like when two enemies who had been enemies on the battlefield met again after the war. There was no more hatred. Just two men with a strong desire for world peace. It seems that the last year will be a good one, doctor. 99-Will the returning team members dream of winning t... It''s over. Spring break is over. It was over like the twinkling of an eye. Since the class announcement, time has passed without much action or anything happening. Those of us who are in the orthodox age of adolescence would have taken the heroine, her lover-like subheroines, and absolutely harmless mob boys to the beach, pool, or hot springs to expose our naked bodies - or perhaps we would have gone to the spots to expose our naked bodies ourselves. All for the sake of the viewers. Unfortunately, Comet Sakakiki, who belongs to the most powerful club in the galaxy, the "club of return home," which rules the Andromeda Galaxy, will not be involved in such a clich d campaign to increase his s*xual desire. Because it would be too much trouble. Going out for a vacation and exhausting one''s physical strength in sweating and breathing exercises will only make one tired. Therefore, such an event did not take place, and I hardly left my house at all. Therefore, I have forgotten the sense of the day of the week and my memory is vague. It was a spring vacation filled with a sense of stupendous happiness. It was April, but the cherry blossoms were not in full bloom. It will be a while before the cherry blossoms are in full bloom. Still, I could tell that the season had changed by looking at the scenery, which was beginning to turn brighter and darker as the ground began to grow greener and brighter. The temperature was just right and it was really comfortable. It is a good start for the first day of school as a third-year student. However, mornings are still hard. It is the first death march in weeks. I''ll be a cog in the wheel with all the dead-faced working people today, and I''ll be screaming my head off. The third grade floor is not exactly comfortable. I still have the feeling that I can''t get close to the other grades. I know that Aki and the other seniors who were here are gone, and that this is the place for us new third-year students, but I still feel like a second-year student. I enter the first class of the third year and look around. Makoto and Tsuru were already there. After our eyes meet and we bail, I check the seating order on the blackboard. My name, my name is ...... It appears that we are near the center of the room. Or rather, the seat in front of Makoto. And Alina Hiba, the Empress, is to the left of Makoto. In other words, she was diagonally to my left, a perfect position for assassination. I went to my seat and greeted Makoto. You''re behind me, aren''t you? ''It''s in order of name.'' I mean, is Alina really next to me? I was surprised too. I''m super scared. ''It''s going to be chaos.'' Makoto shivered and was frightened. Apparently, he still does not know Alina, who has become much calmer. In his mind, she is a rose with a poisonous tongue. While Makoto was taking care of his frightened friend and sorting through his belongings, Alina finally arrived. The air in the class froze. Those who know Alina''s tongue Those intoxicated by Alina''s beauty Those who found out that Alina is in the same class as them. Those who fell in love with Alina at first sight The center of attention, Alina gave a small nod and strode to the blackboard. Then, awkwardly, her classmates resumed their respective activities, chatting and packing their bags. The unnaturalness of the situation made me feel as if I were being watched by a dreadful actor. Alina finished looking over the seating chart and walked over to us without any reaction, her shoes clacking on the floor. ''''Hey,'''' she said. ''You''re diagonally in front of me.'' ''I can''t help but suspect that Dr. Akakusa planted this one, too.'' ''I don''t know. When Alina sat down, Makoto let out a small shriek and was frightened. Seeing this, Alina spoke to Makoto. ''Hey, nice to meet you. ''Yo, yo, it''s nice to meet you. ''What are you scared of? I won''t do anything. ''Ryoo, got it.'' ''Oh, by the way, you confessed to me once, didn''t you? Makoto was dredged up from a past he didn''t want touched. I groaned. He had confessed his feelings to Alina on the spur of the moment in their freshman year, and had been heartbroken when he had been rejected. He was scared like a lamb whenever Alina appeared in front of him, and the confession to her was a taboo subject for him. I''m sorry I said those terrible things. I wish you and your girlfriend all the best. Alina said softly to him. Immediately, Makoto''s back straightened and her eyes darted to the point. She asked me for confirmation, as if she couldn''t accept reality. I didn''t know what she was asking me to confirm, so I just nodded. Then Makoto leaned forward and whispered in my ear. ''What''s wrong with you ......, you''re just a pretty girl ......! ''''Sure, I might have changed.'''' ''No, it''s not a level of change, come on. ......! She''s really turning into a mystical beautiful girl. ......! ''Calm down. Take a deep breath. ''No, it''s impossible, Brother Sakakiki, ......! If it''s this kind of Hiu, guys will be flocking to the level of class disruption. ......!'' I said a lot of things to calm him down after this, but he never shut up, and finally calmed down when I told him that I was going to tell Ryuka that he was cheating on her, which made him feel depressed and apart from his class. The image of his poisonous tongue still lingered in his mind and the only person who talked to Arina was Tsuru, but gradually a few girls started to show interest in talking to her. Alina did not reject them, but smiled at them in a friendly manner, so there were no stormy waves. The morning was consumed by the opening ceremony, the purchase of teaching materials, and the taking of photographs, and in no time at all, it was lunchtime. I headed for the store because my mother had given me money instead of a lunch box today. Since the new semester had just started, the club activities were not yet active, which made it easy for me to get some bread. It was a miracle that I was able to pay for the bread without any complications such as broken bones or prolapse of the bowels, as the female members of the athletic club would normally try to kill me. You''re free. As I was walking away from the concession stand, Hakuna approached me. She and I were now in separate classes. I guess. It''s a shame we can''t have physical contact with the girls. ''It''s nice. You''re looking at us like that. ''I''m kidding, I''m kidding. So, Comet, have you heard about the gymnastics festival? ''Is there something going on at the gymnastics festival?'' ''There''s a relay between clubs, right?'' ''Ah, the lowly relay that doesn''t recognize the homecoming club as a noble club activity. ''I heard they''re going to have a team for people who don''t belong to any organization. Someone in my class was talking about it. What? Does this mean that finally our school can no longer ignore the power of the homecoming club? ''Of course. Do you finally realize how much we''ve contributed to the earth? ''Hmmm. So I wondered if comets would appear too. No, no, no, if I get out, I''m usually going to win, right? If Comet Sakakiki, a member of the International Organization for Homecoming Integration, competes, the soccer team and baseball team will be like one-hour-old babies, right? It''s so hard to be strong. I''ll think about it when the time comes. Stay tuned. ''You''re very motivated - ......'' I thought this would be a good chance for me to proselytize for the homecoming club, so I went back to the classroom. Makoto and I were seated in front of each other, so I inevitably turned around to have dinner with him. I was used to having dinner parties for two years in a row, so when I said, ''Well, it''s a dinner party,'' Makoto didn''t say anything. ''Makoto. I''m going to beat you and your badminton club. ''What the hell is this out of the blue? Did I do something to the comet? I told him about the gymnasium and why I had declared war on him. He laughed. ''No, you can''t.'' ''What the hell? ''It''s hard to beat those of us who exercise on a regular basis, you know. Besides, I don''t think the soccer team can do it. It''s tough even for us.'''' Don''t underestimate the potential of the homecoming club. First of all, you are much closer to victory when I''m here. ''''Is Comet athletic? ''I''m tall and athletic. I wasn''t born tall just to pick up things that are high. I was relatively athletic enough to get my mother''s seal of approval: ''You must have been a monkey in a previous life. I may have had opportunities to show them off, but I simply didn''t because it was too much trouble. At least not in the public eye. The human race will never know that I prevented a bio-terror attack, or that I received a NASA commendation for destroying an asteroid approaching Earth. And over here we have Alina. She doesn''t call herself a homecoming girl, but I''ll bring her in at this time. I have been informed that she is an athletic girl. At the sound of my voice, Alina, who is having lunch with the perverted girl, Hana-sai, says, "What? I reacted. If I think it''s a bad idea, I ask Alina to undress me. The guys will be glued to the floor and forget how to run. Some bigotry may stir, but I''ll get naked, too. I''ll turn the gymnasium into a nudist beach. ''I''ll never do it. If you force me to do something, I''ll report you. ''Don''t worry. It won''t come to that. We''ll win this war by the right means. ''I''ll take it off! ''Hwasai-kun, you keep your mouth shut. You should only read your health and physical education textbooks. He takes his eyes off of the two who are pulling away and one who is getting excited, and turns to Makoto. We can win. Okay, first we need to get the number of people together. ''Are you seriously going to win ......?'' After finishing his meal, he immediately searched for Toma Asakura. I didn''t know which class he was in, so I went to each class as best I could and said, "Toma Asakura! I called out to them. It turned out that he was in class 4. What''s wrong? ''I have something I''d really like to ask you to do.'' I told Toma all about my intentions and asked him to be a part of my plan. Later that day. When the first-year students started attending the school, the place began to be crowded. Certain signs appeared all over the school. Arina approached me with the sign. What''s this? Did you make this? ''Yes. I have connections. ''Gather round, the best of the homecoming party. "Beat the Athletics Club. That''s terrible. ''By the way, Alina, you''re in. ''I didn''t ask you. I just said that. ''So ...... you''re, uh, you''re, uh, you''re, uh, you''re, uh, you''re, uh, you''re, uh, you''re ......''. ''You''re a chuunibyou.'' That''s it, that''s it. It is indeed often misunderstood but wrong. Most of the people who develop the symptoms usually change their appearance, weapons, and gestures. How about when I tell a joke? Alina raises one eyebrow and thinks back. ''I just talk ......''. ''Yes. I''m a no expression, no action. I''m a sounding hunk of meat.'' ''I know why you like jokes. Alina pointed a finger at him with a smug look on her face. ''You watch too many foreign movies. Too many American jokes. I was right. It''s true. She was right, I was very much influenced by foreign movies. The characteristic irony, metaphors, jokes. I was soaked in it. ''No, of course not. ''You''re lying. When you''re being reasonable, that''s when you''re lying. ''Oh, my God. I''m going to cry. ''Well, that''s the thing. You quit the homecoming club, didn''t you? ''Yes, I will participate as a former homecoming member''. ''You''re on your own now: ......'' However, the decision to add Alina to the force is a firm one. Both competently and visually, the homecoming team must win. Of course, for Alina''s sake, I quit the homecoming club and spend my after-school hours for her. Wouldn''t you like to see the Homecoming Club win the interdivisional relay? I want to see. Just once before I die. The planning has just begun. 100-Homecoming Six Formation... ''Well Gathered''. The returning members gathered at the former rose garden. Roughly twelve people. Fourteen if you include me and Alina. They came because they saw the meeting place and the date on the sign. We gave them a few days to see and be bothered by more people. You are not part of any club, are you? The twelve nodded. Some of them were a little intimidated by my bravado, but most of them didn''t move an inch. Well, the quality is good. I thank you all for coming. However, I still do not trust you. Yes, the homecoming club is self-proclaimed. That is why there is a difference in the degree of seriousness. We need to make sure they are real. Alina and I sit down next to each other in our chairs, and the twelve of us do the same, facing each other. And there is a desk between us and them. Okay. The one on the right. Sit here. I pointed to a chair at the desk. The first guy was a skinny guy with a reptilian face. I asked him his name. His name was... ''Yuki Ishibashi. Nice to meet you, Yuki. Let''s have you answer a few questions. Are you ready?'' ''Okay. I leaned forward slightly on both elbows and looked him in the eye. You''re on your way home. You''re on your way home. Then I saw a woman lying on the side of the road. What do you do? ''...... help'' ''Next question. It is after school and you leave the classroom with your bag on your back. As you were going down the stairs, you heard voices from the top floor, and you sneak up to avoid being recognized. Two boys were hugging each other. What did you think? ''Is this a test to see if I''m a homecoming boy or a gay guy?'' ''Answer the question.'' ''...... I was going to run away.'' I see. I quit asking questions. That''s all. Please leave the room.'' ''What? What do you mean, "leave the room? ''I''m afraid you''re disqualified.'' ''Wait a minute. What''s wrong with you? ''You''re a ghost member of the computer club, aren''t you? You can''t fool my eyes.'' ''Ugh, why--'' ''...... Don''t f*ck with the homecoming club! Scared by my high energy, Yuuki said regretfully, "d*mn it! He left the room with one word. At the same time, Alina whispered in my ear. How did you know? ''It''s intuition. What was the point of that question you just asked me?'''' It''s a personality test. He''s a serious man. He didn''t cross any lines. ''I don''t understand. ''Don''t worry. I''m not crazy. And so the selection process began. There were twelve of them, so there was a wide variety of people. Some wanted revenge on those who tried to make them feel inferior as homecoming club members, some just wanted to be close to Alina because it looked fun. We carefully selected the homecomers who had good souls and were qualified. I looked into their eyes and searched seriously for the possibility that they could be my compatriots. And then there were only four of us left. The remaining eight were as much a joke as dog excrement, but some of them were close. However, rumor had it that there were only six of us in the relay, so we had no choice but to narrow it down to four. You were chosen. We six are the justice. Let me introduce you one by one. The first one "Masao Tanaka Also known as Berserker Masao. He is a powerhouse, standing 6 feet tall and weighing 98 kilograms. He has a very quiet personality that does not match his well-developed physique, and his head is cropped at a .50. He had been practicing judo for ten years, but during a practice session in the third year of junior high school, he failed in ukemi and scraped his head. Since then, the hair follicles in the area where he scraped his head have died and he has become circularly bald. He has been trimming his head to hide his baldness. His personality has also become introverted. He quit judo because of the trauma and has remained unaffiliated in high school. He answered that he came here because he thought he might be able to change himself. Her favorite food is ''I love mango parfait. You are perfect. Second person. Takakura Numakura. Also known as Intelligence Takazo. A highly intelligent character with dark eyes that seem to despair of the world. He is of average height and has nothing special to say about his appearance, but he is as intelligent as Niwadatsuru. However, he is often ridiculed as a ''dark-headed'' or ''hard-working'' person. He says that his motivation for coming here is to get revenge. His favorite saying is, "Those who go to cram school are idiots. Don''t waste your parents'' money. First of all, cover the textbooks'' is a misguided response. His favorite food is ''the liver of the autumn swordfish is the truth''. It is very peculiar. Third. Eiji Shimano. Also known as "Pro Gamer Agee. He wears black-rimmed glasses and used to be on the track team in junior high school. He discovered FPS on the computer he received for his eighth grade birthday and immersed himself in it. His eyesight deteriorated and his passion for track and field cooled down, but his FPS skills improved rapidly, and he has climbed to the 8th place in the world ranking in the game, according to him. He even got a sponsor. He says that he still holds a grudge against being ridiculed as a "NEET" even though he is a high school student, and his motive is that he wanted to run for the first time in a long time. His favorite food is ''potatoes. I''m really sick of them. The person he admires is ''Simojeh. He is now requested to stop his eccentric behavior of moving around with his hand in the shape of a gun and holding it out in front of him. Fourth. Rinne Hayasaka Also known as Heartbreak Lyon. Former cheerleader, freshman year, ''I want to concentrate on my love life! A real flower garden girl who left the club because she was a "flower girl". However, the reality is harsh, and after suffering heartbreak after heartbreak, she is finally branded as a "b*tc*" because of a misunderstanding. I thought that the cheerleading club was full of sluts because of Hana-sai, but Rinne says that she is ''beautiful in body and soul'', so it seems that Hana-sai is the only one. She has a wavy, exotic hairstyle and is slightly taller than average. She has charming, bright eyes and seems to be popular with the girls, but when she spoke of her dark motive of ''I want to make the guys in the baseball, soccer, rugby, kendo, tennis, basketball, badminton, and judo clubs who rejected me regret it and bring them to their knees'', I realized that she is a pathological landmine and understood it all. Her signature line was ''I''ve had enough of heartbreaks. I want to be a heartbreaker. I want to be a heartbreaker (someone who damages others).'' His favorite foods were ''marshmallows, strawberries, crepes, cheesecake, cream puffs--'' and all the other things that really made me miss Kanji characters. To my surprise, all of them were in the third grade, which made me wonder if there were any losers in our grade. Alina also asked me, ''Are you all right? I was not wrong in my selection. Do we have a chance? Intelligence Takazo raises his hand and asks me. The relay is simple. Simply, the faster you are, the more likely you are to win. But there is a trick to it. If you take them into account, you can win the race. ''There certainly is''. Pro-gamer Agee interjects, lifting his dark-rimmed glasses with a snap. No matter how fast you are, it''s difficult if you get the inside of the lane, and speed is irrelevant if you make a baton mistake. It''s not an individual game, and that''s why each individual''s move is so important. In other words, the team that is united wins. It sounds like mentalism, but it''s true. That''s what I''m talking about. He would have been cool if only he hadn''t worn his hands in the shape of guns. ''Am I any use to you? ''I''ll be fine. You human weapon, you should be more confident. Berserker Masao, with a body that could have stopped a dump truck, shrank back and anxiously expressed his feelings. Surely he would not be run over by a truck and end up in another world. On the contrary, he would break the truck. ''May I have a word? ''Here you go.'' Heartbreak Lyon crossed his arms and asked me for permission to speak. Can we really win this? Eiji used to be on the track team, so that''s fine. Intelligence Takazo would not be silenced by these words. We have just concluded that you can win if you are creative,'' he said. Do you have nothing but marshmallows in your skull? ''Terrible! You''re never going to be popular with the girls, are you? '' The degree of heteros*xuality is irrelevant in this context. And it''s not that I''m not athletic. Can you please stop being prejudiced? What the hell is this guy? The two of them are already falling out. Alina sighs, Masao panics, and Eiji pretends to be holding a knife. It''s the first time I''ve seen professional members of the club other than myself, but they are as unique as they are rumored to be. Each one of them is asserting his or her opinion as one sees fit. But at this rate, it''s not unity, it''s civil war. We''ll be laughed at behind our backs for our unattractive, unsightly appearance. But to prevent that from happening, I recruited them three weeks before the festival. Calm down, Rinne. Think about it. We have a monster, a prodigy, a professional gamer, a love avenger, a clown, and a poisonous rose. It''s the strongest lineup, don''t you think? And they are all homecoming club members with nothing to lose. And who is the best homecoming club member in our school? They unanimously pointed at me. ''You know me so well. I''m--'' ''Freak.'' ''Yes, Rinne. That''s right. As long as I''m here, they can''t take the pace away from us. Let''s knock the relay into the crucible of chaos. Thus began the practice for the gymnastic festival. Practice was to be held after school. Eiji, a former member of the track and field team, led the team in practicing not only basic physical fitness, but also how to pass the baton, running form, and so on. The school grounds are basically divided into sections for the athletic teams to use, so the opportunity to use the lanes does not come around often, but each member of the team still puts their heart and soul into their work. Ha, ha. Logically, ethically, morally, philosophically, this is an egregious exercise. ......'' Intelligence Takazo, who is appealing with eyes like a dead man''s while pouring out sweat . ''You can''t say that. Look, the soccer team is always running. I wonder what their musculature is like. What kind of equations do they use to improve their athletic efficiency?'' ''You''re the only person in the universe who can build an equation to move his body. ''Uh, no kidding. ......? How does the comet move its muscles? ''You talk about people like they''re machines with alphanumeric characters and symbols. Sometimes it rains, sometimes there are strong winds, but we keep going. Masao. You should be more confident. ''You can''t. ...... I''m just a big guy. ......'' I spoke to Berserker Masao, who was shrinking and sitting in a gym chair between breaks. He was so big that he was not shrinking at all. ''Everyone says I''m big or a giant, but I''m just a ...... troll,'' he said. I know what you mean. When I was in elementary school, I used to hate it when everyone told me I was big and tall. I wished I''d been born average. But now I''m thankful for my mother. Jealous eyes make me feel good. ''That''s just you comet. ...... I''m weak, I''m a coward. ......'' Every time he speaks, the muscles that rise to the surface move like waves through his shirt. They were so powerful that I feared the U.S. military might recruit me as a muscle weapon. I pat Masao on the back, encouraging him as he rests his chin on his knee. Wow, his muscles are too strong. I''m going to wake up. I''ll be fine. You''re fast! You''ll never lose. Besides, isn''t it great to eat your favorite food after a lot of practice? ''Yes, it is. It certainly feels rewarding. ''What was it, a mango parfait? That''s right. I often eat at my favorite coffee shop. When I eat it, I feel like I can do anything. Okay, I''ll make him eat a mango before the show. Let''s make him do his best like a certain character who becomes strong after eating spinach. 101-to go on and breakthrough... A few days had passed since practice began. I started to get used to my new class and started to take classes by course. I''m a science guy, so I concentrate on physics and chemistry. The difficult concepts gave me a headache, but since Intelligence Takazo was also a science student, I asked him to teach me what I did not understand. I felt sorry for taking up his time, but the act of teaching was very useful to deepen my understanding. I felt sorry for taking up his time, but he said, ''It is very useful for me to teach to deepen my own understanding. The science majors take their classes in a different classroom, and when I return to my own classroom, the blackboard is covered with words from world history, which I am not good at, and difficult political science and economics. As I am not very good at memorizing, I didn''t want to look at the blackboard so much that I let out a distracted voice saying "uh-oh". Um, comet. I have a favor to ask you. ''I refuse.'' The cranes clasped their hands together and pleaded with me, but I refused to go through with it. I know what to do. I haven''t said anything yet. I''m not going to be the student council''s dog at the gymnastics festival. I''m too busy being me. ''Yeah~. That''s good. You''re not busy anyway, are you? ''You don''t have time for this. Ask Alina. Tsuru asks Alina, who is about to fall asleep. ''Arina~, comets aren''t busy, are they? ''I''m not busy. I''m fine. ''Hey, hey, hey, hey, you''re the one fighting sleepiness, you say? She rubbed her eyes sleepily, exhausted from the days of practice. She lay face down on the desk, muttering, ''Sleepy, sleepy, sleepy. I fell asleep. You''re really trying, aren''t you? ''Well, yeah. The professionals are motivated. We''re going to win this relay for real. ''''You''re going to be in our class, right, Masao?'''' Masao is a window-shopper and often reads sweets books. He is often alone and is rarely seen with his classmates. He is not being ostracized or bullied in any way. I think he is simply the type of person who likes to be alone. Yes. He''s a good asset. ''Who else?'' Takakura Numakura, Eiji Shimano, Rinne Hayasaka. ''Oh, I know Rinne. ''You don''t know Takakura? I hear he''s the only one with the academic ability you could reach.'' ''I know your name, but it''s ...... wrong, okay?'' ''What?'' ''You can''t reach me. It''s not the same, it''s not the same. Hmm. Before she started to get carried away and become an annoying character, I managed to get rid of her by chanting ''aiueoka kiku ku ko sassu--'' incessantly in hiragana. There is nothing useful in bragging about your studies. It''s better to run a race with green turtles. After the practice test, he resumed his practice again. I don''t know the result yet, but I checked my answers with Alina and Tsuru, and got a so-so predicted score. There was still time before the gymnastic festival, so we ran hard. We all began to notice that our overall time and coordination had improved dramatically since we started. Wishful thinking is replaced by reality. That moment may be just around the corner. It was an ordinary day. A week before the gymnastic festival. Last night, I don''t know if I drank too much tomato juice or not, but I casually borrowed my father''s blood pressure meter and measured my blood pressure, and it showed that it was high for a young man, which frightened me. This has led to a persistent urge to urinate, and today I''m having the urinal drink more of my fluids than usual. I am sorry. Please drink more. I went to the bathroom again so that the perverted pony-tailed girl, Hanaya, who loves to pee, would not know what I was doing. Then I saw Intelligence Takazo in the hallway surrounded by a few boys. Well, well, isn''t this what is commonly known as harassment or bullying? What, you think you can win? ''Of course. I don''t fight a war I can''t lose. Our chances have increased in the last few days, and we are training every day with the calculation that we will be able to perform to the best of our ability on the day of the competition. What is this guy talking about? ''You''re so cocky. It''s not nice to have a douchebag whose only merit is his studies. It is true that my performance may not be as good as others. However, my team has found that overall it is not a problem. We have entered a stage where we can no longer be replaced. No matter how much you may talk about it, we are still going to compete. ''You talk and talk and talk. You''re all talk, anyway. ''I don''t care what you guys say, you tend to act on instinct, but I''m not upset. ''''Oh?'''' Well, well, the mood is getting worse, isn''t it? As much as I want to help him, my first priority is getting the urinal to drink my fluids, not helping him. I think that he should solve his own problems that he has caused by himself, so I just pass by him as usual. ''You loser, you homecoming club...'' Well, well, well. I stopped. Four guys. Each of them was 167, 172, 169, Judging from their physiques, I guessed that they were members of a basketball team, a baseball team, and two soccer players. In conclusion, they are small fry who are no match for Comet Sakakiki. Hey. Hey, you guys! How are you? The four raised their eyebrows at the sudden visit of the prowler. Of course they did. A gentleman of 180 tall, smiling, with his hands folded behind his back, a well-known pervert, was coming up to them. If the situation were reversed, I''d be scared, too. I''d call the police. You''re Sakakiki, aren''t you? ''Yes, I''m the one from the homecoming club you just taunted, right?'' He introduced himself casually, with a smiley face plastered on his face. This smile is the look I got from Alina''s killer smile. Those who didn''t know me started to realize who I was. I watched their every move without stopping smiling during this time. I was smiling so much that even a certain hamburger store clerk was amazed. By the way, my smile is not zero yen. You''ll pay for it in blood. I wanted to tell you something. You''re dating Nichiha, right? Break up with me.'' No, no, no, no, no. Now I''m talking about the relay and the home-going club taunting remarks. We''re not in a relationship. Therefore, I can''t say that I''m breaking up with him. Then stay away from Hinoha. Or do you have some kind of weakness for Hinoha? If that''s the case, then it makes sense that Hinoha keeps refusing.'''' ''I don''t have a grip, okay? I''d rather talk about how I''ve been taunting the homecoming club. ''Go away, you homebody incarcerated. You too, get out of Nippa''s sight. Oh, you''re just saying that for me, aren''t you? I''m starting to think you''re cute. My emotions are rising for the first time in a long time. Uncle, you''re losing your temper. ''Get mad. You should lose your temper. Then he pushed me in the chest. You f*cking Hobbit. You touched my uncle''s tits. That action made me say, "What? I made a very high-handed threat, which is not like a gentleman. I don''t know if I had a really bad look on my face or if it was unexpected, but my threat scared them for a moment. That''s right, they are animals. They are afraid of the wrath of someone bigger than themselves. People were beginning to gather around. I heard that the famous eccentric Comet and the party people were having a row. Just then, Berserker Masao stepped forward. His presence was overwhelming. An overwhelming sense of despair. Overwhelming sense of alienation. He doesn''t do anything, but he is already strong. He is already strong just by being near him. He''s too strong. I can''t do it! It''s so strong I can''t stand it! The four of us were speechless as we watched him breathe through shaking arms that looked like cannons as big as my thighs and a chest plate that was so thick I thought he was wearing a bulletproof vest. ''Ke, don''t fight. ......'' I know. He''s terrified. He''s an introvert, but he''s working hard now. He joined the relay because he wants to change. His enthusiasm for practice is the highest. I think he works harder than anyone else. So for him to step forward and take this courageous step, he has gained something. He is making steady progress. It makes me feel foolish to be angry. Well, well, well. Let''s just stop here for now, because hatred brings nothing. You''re not going to run away? ''You''re going to have to run. You want to clash with Masao? It''s--'''' I don''t want to collide with this Berserker either. I''d be flattened in an instant. I know you''re feeling stubborn, but pull back. I don''t think even I can stop Masao when he''s out of control. Maybe giving him a mango will calm him down. In the end, they left reluctantly without continuing their conversation. I breathed a sigh of relief. ''Sorry, comet, Masao. My inability to do so has caused you to make unnecessary enemies. I will try to gain a better understanding of the judicial system so that I can bring social sanctions against them in the future. Don''t do it, don''t do it, don''t do it. Don''t try to make enemies. And I didn''t do anything. You should be thanking Masao. ''Yes, you''re right. Comet, you didn''t know what you wanted the whole time. Masao, I deeply appreciate your courageous action. Masao denied it, waving his hands in the air with a gust of wind. No, you are to be commended. When I reach a high position in Japan in the future, I will talk about this incident in front of the public. Your actions will not be confined to this small community. I promise you. Takakura shook Masao''s hand. It was a historic handshake, like a reconciliation between a pioneer and a native. It would have been an even more beautiful scene if Takakura had not tried to let go of his hand, saying ''Ide-de-de-de fracture, fracture, fracture''. And then came Heartbreak Lyon. Masao, you''ve got me! Ah-ha! You can do it! By contrast, you, the dabblers, are ...... so pathetic. That''s why you''re not popular. If you use love as a criterion of value and as a material to deny your own character, then you are a worthless person. How many times have you confessed your love and how many times have you been rejected? You''ve achieved nothing. You said it. You said you wanted to be a heartbreaker-- someone who''d be irresistible and dump you. After all, you don''t want to be in love, you want to be an idol. Like Alina Hiba''. ''No, of course not! That''s disgusting! It''s no use aiming for the male ideal of Alina Nippa. A man cannot be someone else. Individuality is one-of-a-kind. So you have to improve yourself. That''s why I study to invest in my future. ''Are you complimenting me, Mr. Bingo ......?'' ''Your thought process is like a toy rail built by a toddler.'' They started fighting again and I left with Masao. I believe in the saying, "The more you fight, the better you get along. I was kicked by a chair. I went back to the classroom and took a breather. I turned around and saw that the culprit was Alina''s long legs. I wonder if I''m an idol. The corners of her mouth turned up, as if she was testing me. You saw what I just saw? ''Yes. It was fun. Then join us. If you had said something, it would have been over earlier for sure. ''I''m on a campaign to raise the bar. I''m trying to change my toxic and low reputation. If you keep interrupting, I''m going to go down. ''I''m praying you''ll get your tongue back.'' ''Yes, I do. I''m good for you, aren''t I? I fell into a daze. I felt hurt, so I quickly made up for it and said something back. ''That''s not true. ''Oh, I''m so glad. One day I''ll come back to all this and I''ll abuse you a lot. With that, he got up and went to Tsuru''s seat. I don''t know if she will be around when her memory comes back. She will probably be independent. So I hope she will be able to drink, and at the reunion she will curse at me quietly, so quietly that only I can hear it. I don''t want to hear her denial. 102-pure girl ''Let''s see. I guess you mean the person representing the unaffiliated team?'' ''How very''. The student council member in charge of athletics asked me this, to which I replied elegantly. I was summoned to the student council as a representative of the homecoming team to make an official entry. This was because we were an unusual team. Normally, the student council would inform each activity that they should make a relay team and receive the list of athletes through their advisors, but unfortunately, there is no such status as "advisor" for the homecoming team, and the organization does not exist on paper, and before that, there is no hierarchical relationship. The homecoming club members are born equal. But that''s not good enough for me, so the student council called me by name. Do you have alternates? ''No.'' What if one of us can''t make it? ''Basically, we are immortal. No problem. And there is no space for alternates on the roster. It''s not a necessary assumption. ''Well, yes, but ......'' In the unlikely event that they were unable to compete, they would have to be kidnapped, but we did not take this into account because we saw it as unlikely. To be honest, there is no one else. We have already cut the members who had a little chance of making it home, and changing the players now would destabilize the team. So..... The entry has been officially accepted. With the gymnastic festival three days away, we have decided to focus on rest and recuperation tomorrow and the day after, so today will be our last practice. Before starting the practice, I reported my entry. ''......, I mean, you haven''t been entered yet! Waving his arms, Pro Gamer Agee shouted. I''m not running, by the way. They are all sitting on chairs in the former rose garden. That''s a ''knife dash motion'', apparently. After that answer, I stopped commenting on his behavior. Well, well, well. Let''s be happy that we''re going to be able to compete. Let''s hope your hard work pays off. ''Oh, man. All that time we''ve spent running to our deaths is about to be wasted. I can''t tell you how patient I am and how much self-control I have to keep myself from developing FPS syndrome: ......'' ''No, no, no, I''m not keeping it, okay?'' Eiji kept making motions to load the magazine of his automatic pistol during this whole time. I think it''s time he went to the hospital. Alina and Heartbreak Lyon ignore our conversation and chat among themselves. At first, Rinne was hostile toward Arina, but they have become friends over time. As far as I can overhear, they seem to be discussing ''how to be popular''. It is Rinne''s one-sided discussion. ''I''m still scared of ...... bumping into her body or something. ......'' ''Don''t worry, Berserker. You''re a train. And the riders alongside you are ants. The moment they hit you, they''ll fly off. ''It''s even more dangerous, isn''t it?'' ''I''m kidding. If you take the inside corner, you''ll win. Imagine that. If I try to pass you, I might collide with your hammer-like elbow. Imagine Takakura getting caught in it. Takakura immediately said, ''Statistically, I will be in a wheelchair for the rest of my life. He said, ''You use such a difficult word. What are our chances of winning in the end? Rinne started her usual tinkering with the "giryaku" (the "grind"). Intelligence Takazo grunts with his temples pressed together. He seems to be calculating. Ninety-two percent. The remaining eight percent is the chance of missing the championship due to injury before the relay, outside interference, or vacancies. ''Wow. We can win. Now I''ll be irresistible! The chances of that happening are slim to none. Only boys in the upper grades of elementary school can be attracted by the speed of their feet. ''Oh, shut up, shut up, shut up. I simply want to see a boy rub his face on the ground in frustration. ''You are the worst demon the 21st century has ever produced. I finished with a ''let''s get dressed, let''s get dressed'' as the signs of another fight about to break out were starting to show. I finished by saying, ''Well, I''m going to get changed. I left this humiliating feeling smoldering in my chest, etc. ......''. ''Uh huh. So you''re going to stay here then, Benjamin? I''ll go change my clothes, okay? ''It''s a legal hazard, so I''ll be honest and leave.'' ''Wimp. . a coward.'' Rinne, you''re out of line. At least make him a caterpillar. ''You''re not following me, Alina Hibane. Comet, I need you to cover me. ''I can stay. And I can videotape it. ''I''m very worried about the future of Japan. The next day. The ground becomes lively, and the school is in full gymnastic festival mood. Since I don''t get together with the members of the club back home until the sports festival, I don''t have any plans today for the first time in a while. I have to study because I have no plans, but I was not motivated to do so because of the fatigue. My leg muscles are sore and I don''t want to move much. I feel like going to a public bath to melt my body. I picked up a glass of tomato juice, thinking that it would be okay at least for today. I have been suppressing it lately for fear of high blood pressure, but I guess I''ll be fine. Japanese people tend to eat too much salt. No problem. Hey, what do you think? Makoto called out to me from behind. ''You mean the relay. At least we can beat you and the badminton team. ''Really? And what about the soccer team or the baseball team? ''Can I afford it . I don''t feel like losing to the ball-playing club. ''Don''t ever say that in front of them ...... because you''ll get into a fight.'' I won''t say it. Even if that happens, if you take off your clothes as fast as you can and strip naked, most people will run away, no problem. It''s a peaceful way to avoid bloodshed. The strongest theory of nudism ''I''ll secretly hope they don''t use that means. I don''t want to get naked, either. Once it''s invoked, I''m instantly ostracized from Japanese society. I don''t want to be in a cage when I''m not even 20 years old. I pour tomato juice down my throat to clear my mind. It is still a wonderful drink. Why do they serve milk at school lunches in elementary and junior high schools? At least make tea. Tomato juice at the very least. I was about to pour another can when Alina stopped me and said, "No, you can''t. You''ll get sick if you drink that much. I don''t want it to affect our performance. ''Ummm ...... well, to be honest, I''m not going to do that since I''m also concerned about my blood pressure.'' ''So be it. And do you have time today? ''Well, there are some things I''d like to do, but I''m not sure if I can ......'' ''What, you''re vague.'' Yes, I do. ''Well, I''ll see you after school in a little bit. That was the end of the conversation. Is there something you want to discuss in private at the relay? Or maybe you''d like to go along with my training? As someone who wants to go home and rot, I wanted to refuse, but Alina''s request was too good to refuse, so I decided to comply. After school, Alina said in a quiet voice, "I''ll wait for you outside," and quickly left the classroom. I quickly gathered up my things and ran to the entrance of the school to keep her waiting as long as possible. As soon as I arrived at the entrance, I found myself in trouble. Alina was being propositioned by a guy. He was probably a third-year student, but the atmosphere surrounding the two of them did not seem to be that of ''friends. He said, ''I really like you, Hinoh. I''m not lying. ''I can feel that. But I''m not looking for a relationship. ''...... because you like someone else?'' ''I just told you, didn''t I? I don''t intend to have a relationship with a man or a woman.'' ''But you don''t deny that you like someone, do you?'' ''It''s none of your business if I have feelings for someone or not. I''ve come to the conclusion that I can''t have a relationship with you. I have nothing more to say to you. I hid behind the shoe box to avoid detection, feeling sorry for him. If I left, I''m sure I''d get in trouble, and they''d turn the heat on me. I''m branded a freak, for better or worse, and I know that if I appear, chaos will ensue. I''ll just have to wait and see until the end of the story. Who can I go out with? What''s your type, Hiba-san?'''' ''Can you please stop this? I don''t want to talk about it. I can''t. I can''t. Why not? ''Stop--say no more! Hearing the angry tone in his voice, I naturally moved my feet. I have to protect you. My body yells at me. But a girl came charging ahead of me, kicking the ground. ''You''re not the kind of girl I''d date, you mob! It was Heartbreak Lyon who shouted that. With her wavy hair swinging wildly, she slapped the hand of a man who grabbed Alina''s arm. I was impressed by his boldness. If only the boys could understand your kindness, you could be a heartbreaker like a tongue-in-cheek rose right now. Then my eyes met Alina''s. You''re here! He was stuttering so much that he was about to shout, "I''m sorry, I''m sorry. ''Muri-muri-muri-muri. What? You think you can go out with Alina? A-ha! I''m laughing! ''...... Shut up. What''s with you showing up out of nowhere? Are you that Rinne? Famous for being a b*tc*. ''I''m not a b*tc*. I''m a pure girl. I can''t hear a word that a misunderstood thin macho sprout boy like you says~'''' Ugh, my family members are so annoying! Okay, okay, bean sprouts, let''s go home~. Look at the muscles of the macho guys on the internet and despair of your poor body~. Alina likes big muscles so much that she can''t see you without an electron microscope~you''re too thin~you''re too thin~. Oh, my God. Alina likes big guys? But Alina''s eyes widened and she shook her head. Apparently, Rinne lied. Thanks to that lie, she reluctantly pulled out, so it was a victory for Rinne. ''Finally, that sprout is gone. ''Thank you, Rinne. You saved me. Comet. If you were there, help me. I''m sorry. I thought I''d add fuel to the fire if I left. ''Stupid comet! Girls like prince on a white horse! Make sure you help Alina.'' ''That''s not something a tomato prince would do. As expected of Rinne-sama. You''re welcome," she said, puffing out her chest and looking good. ''Oh, my gosh. I love black guys'' macho body! ''''Nobody''s talking about that.'''' My ears went into a tunnel as Rinne started talking about muscles. I let it all sink in. Don''t let your brain store useless information. Just as I was wondering if Alina''s business was in order, she asked me if she could call me at night. I knew it was confidential. It seems she can''t talk to Rinne. After that, I went home with them until the halfway point. Rinne''s muscle talk didn''t stop throughout the trip, and for some reason she said, ''Comet. Do pull-ups. Do pull-ups every day to make your back bigger! He pleaded with me. Alina also begged me to ''Squat! Squat and work your hips to plumpness!'' He slapped Alina''s hips while saying, "I''m sorry, I''m sorry, I''m sorry. Alina''s ''Kya! I pretended I did not hear her sweet gasp. You have to be over 18 to hear that. I screamed as soon as I got home. There''s a JK here! ''It''s too loud every time. I''ll take you to the health center. What kind of cold words is that when I compliment her on her school uniform every day? You''re sad. However, it seems to have had some effect and Ugin spends more time in his school uniform these days. Humans are so easy. I hope the XY chromosomes that approach my sister don''t go into heat. That''s my only worry. If you come near her, I''ll take your life even if it costs me mine. After dinner and a bath, I''m free to rot in the living room as usual. Ugin is engrossed in her phone like a JK. Take a good look, mankind. The day of judgment has come for mankind. Man does not control the machines. Machines are controlling us. What we fear is the growth of machine translation. The world is not divided by borders. It''s language. Machines are breaking down the language barrier. At first glance, it seems like a wonderful thing. At the moment, machine translation is still an effective tool for communication, and if it becomes even more advanced in the future, even our own words will be automatically translated into the language of the other person, and we can expect to have conversations with zero delays. Then the world will be more harmonious. But remember this. Perfect translation of nuance is impossible. Translation is always subject to the arbitrariness of the translator. What if the machines take advantage of that? If a malevolent artificial intelligence were to plot a rapprochement between the human race, we think that is where we would strike. We will make a malicious translation, and make mankind hate us. But mankind will not notice the malice. We have forgotten how to learn the language and rely on machines. Brother, phone call! Suddenly I come to consciousness. If my sister hadn''t called me, I might never have awakened. How horrible. I was completely in the other world. That''s right, I get a call from Alina. The phone was shaking and shaking. It''s as if my phone is excited about Alina. Bad boy, I''m going to smash it on the ground tomorrow and destroy that beautiful screen. 103-opening of war... I thought that my hatred would burn unquenchable until I was old and decrepit. Until death. Until the moment my consciousness sublimated and I left for somewhere else, I could not forgive Akira Setoyama, my father, and my will was strengthened even more as I regained my memory. Why did I decide to visit my father''s grave? It was already late afternoon when I arrived at the cemetery near my father''s home after changing several trains. Maybe because it was a holiday. There were more people visiting the cemetery than I expected. Many of them were elderly people, and I, a high school girl who came alone, must have looked out of place. The subject of visiting the graves never came up with my mother. She probably had no intention to do so, and she probably did not mention it to me because of my feelings. I also did not dare to talk about anything that would bring my father''s shadow into the picture. That is why I am here in secret this time. I found the graves of the Setoyama family easily. I stood still in front of it. Is my father really here? The question swirls in my mind. The fact is, my father is dead, and I saw him with my own eyes. But I worried every day that he might show up on the scene in a flash and try to get his hands on us again. Even though I knew it was impossible, my body did not listen to me, and I was always sensitive to the shadows of others. I can''t forgive my father anymore. Nor will I. So I thought I would stand here and yell at him for escaping ''death'', but strangely enough, my emotions were not aroused. That''s why I was confused. I thought he had already forgiven me. ''No, of course not. I mutter to my father''s grave. ''Even if you repent, we will never heal. It was a waste of words. No matter how much I fussed, there was no answer. No spirit will ever stand by my bedside. Then why am I here? The answer I came up with was for the comet. It was my father''s death that made me forget him, so I guess I thought in the realm of the unconscious that if I looked at his death, I would remember him. I have zero evidence for this. I have a pretty good idea of what he was like. But there was not a single scene that gave me a sense of d j vu, not even in a cruel way. There was nothing nostalgic about his distinctive way of speaking, and moreover, it was new. I tried my best even though the days when I thought, "No, I can''t remember. Suddenly, the devil whispered to me, ''It''s okay if you don''t remember. Why don''t you just leave it the way it is? Because it doesn''t affect my life. You just lost the memory of one man. It was hard to say no with my logic-clenched head. But sometimes he had a sad look on his face. Soon he goes back to his usual serious or joking expression, but I know it. He is hurt by my innocent words. And it weighs heavily on me. And there is one thing that gives him a hard time. In my notebook, I wrote that I gave him a valentine. Unfortunately, I don''t remember, but I''m sure I did. But he didn''t give me anything for white day. That''s one of the things that gives him a hard time. I know that he is serious inside, even though he wears a cloak of insanity. I can imagine from his personality that he either doesn''t see the point in giving it to me now, or he doesn''t want to bother me with unnecessary things. Maybe it is both. ''Yes, this is Sakakiki. I called him before the convention in the hope that I could dispel some of his doubts. But when I heard his voice, everything I had to say flew out of my head. Partly because there was no wavering in his voice, and partly because I was a little embarrassed to talk to him directly and seriously about my father''s grave and other things that he might be concerned about. Besides, he might care more. Hello? This is Sakaki Ki. Alina Hiba, can you hear me? Telling him that I still can''t recall a shred of his memory is still counterproductive. ''I''m sorry. I can hear you. ''So, what are you talking about? ''Well, I''ve forgotten. ''Excuse me?'' ''Let''s do our best at the gymnastics festival the day after tomorrow. Oh, oh. We''re going to win! Of course. See you tomorrow. What was that? What was it that I forgot? It would have been better if nothing had happened, but there must have been something that made him cut off the conversation in such a vague way. What are you going to win the championship with? Ugin said so after hearing my brief exchange. ''The interclub relay. ''You''re not in a club, brother. I''m tired of hearing that line. But you know what? You''ve got the best pick of the bunch. You can destroy the world five times. ''Wow, that''s great! I''m pretty sure she doesn''t think so. Because she''s glued to her phone screen, not making eye contact with the person she''s talking to. I''m so sad, my brother, I feel like I''m going to rot in every fiber of my being. The next day, Alina was just the same old Alina. She was chatting with Tsuru and Kasai, not mentioning about last night''s phone call, just talking a little about tomorrow''s gymnastic festival. I also went about my day as usual. I went to class, had lunch, talked with Makoto, went to class, and left. It was the calm before the storm. Anyway, it was a peaceful day. Should I have asked him after all? Sometimes things have to be said, even if they are difficult to say. Maybe I should have approached him. And then the day of the gymnastic festival. We were sitting on blue sheets under a cloudless sky. After the opening speech, we have returned to our positions and are in the midst of raising our spirits for the first battle. The wind blows on the dry ground and sand rises to the air. The wind blows on the dry ground and sand rises up, brushing against my skin as if testing it. It''s the show. The interclub relay is the first one in the afternoon, so we can play in the morning. That''s right, play. The gymnastic festival is a place for the athletically gifted to have fun while flashing their bright smiles at the girls. Let the yellow voices beat your ears at best. The domination is about to begin... Oops...there is no superiority in the club back home... Comet! Can we win? ...... Berserker Masao asked me, sitting upright on the hard ground. Don''t worry. Winning is important, of course, but what you get is most important. No matter what the outcome, there is always something to gain. ''Yes, I do. I''m going to be positive. That''s good. It doesn''t matter what you did in the morning. It''s like a hamster game. Save your energy. As we were talking about this, the announcement for the tug-of-war came on. ''Class 3 and 5, please assemble at the entrance gate. The rules of the tug-of-war remain the same, but the teams are mixed. The teams are made up of first, second, and third year groups. The teams of this athletic festival are so divided, and it is a form of competition for the "number one team". In our school, there are up to five teams, so five teams are competing. To be frank, I really don''t care whether this team wins or loses. The main thing is the relay race. So, I went to the entrance gate myself for the sake of Takazo, the intelligence of the third team. I had a hard time finding Takazo, but I found him before everyone else arrived. Hey, Takazo. How are you feeling? ''No problem. Heart rate is stable. I''m feeling very good. ''That''s good to hear. Listen, don''t get hurt in the tug-of-war, okay? We are one-of-a-kind, irreplaceable. Be careful.'' ''Don''t worry. Tug of war is an event where the more you exert yourself, the more likely you are to get traumatized. As soon as we start, I''ll concentrate only on touching the rope. In terms of overall strength, I can only account for about 0.001 percent of the total, even if I put my mind to it. ''That''s too small fish.'' ''So it won''t interfere with my afternoon. I appreciate you going out of your way to give me a pep talk.'' He bowed and walked over to the rope. If Rinne had been there, she would have said bitterly, ''If you''re a hard worker, girls will just run away from you. Praying for his safety, I went back to the blue sheet. Sitting on my seat, I look at the three and five pairs that are now in a line. An elderly man who looks like a professional tug-of-war judge is adjusting the position of the ropes while blowing his whistle. I think he was there last year. Who the hell is that old man? With a signal that was too tongue-tied, the third and fifth pairs grabbed their ropes tightly and pulled each other. Like the yelp of a wild animal, both teams bowed low and reclined in rhythm. They pulled each other to beat their opponents, not pulling with their arms, but putting all their weight on the rope. The sound of crunching sand is heard, and a cloud of dust drifts beneath their feet. I looked for Takakura with the binoculars I had brought with me. He was soon found. While the five groups were gradually gaining the upper hand and all the three groups were gritting their teeth and struggling, Takakura alone was holding the rope with a relaxed face as if he were in an air-conditioned room. He had warned them of their injuries, but he was just ''existing'' now, wasn''t he? A pebble on the side of the road. Clouds in the sky. A hawk in a tug-of-war. Seriously, that''s about it. I reminded him to put more effort into it. I wanted to tell him that he was being disrespectful to the other three groups, but he was meditating with his eyes closed in his binoculars. What was he thinking? Imaginary numbers, or the limit? In the end, the three pairs lost. I wonder if he was all right. I approached Takakura as he exited the hall and called out to him. ''No external injuries. His condition is near perfect. I''m sure. Your face was close to enlightenment. ''Did my face look like that?'' ''I was the only one out of place. What were you thinking when you grabbed the rope? ''Natto for breakfast. I should have added green onions. ''I don''t get it. 104-Nichiba Alina will not give up.... ''Listen. Don''t get serious. Just think of it as a warm-up. I warned Masao before I grabbed the rope. I was a little concerned about his slow thinking, so I nailed him so that he would not miscalculate the control of his power. However, when the referee signaled the start of the match, Berserker shouted. Aaaaaaahhh! It was more a cry of being caught by surprise than a roar. I was holding the rope in front of him and looked twice behind me. If he opened his mouth wide like a hippopotamus and made a funny sound, anyone would look twice, right? I thought you were pooping your pants. He was in the last row, responsible for wrapping himself around, his legs propped up on the ground, every muscle in his body flattened. His forearms, like giant trees, were terrifying. If he had been caught in the middle of it, he would have lost one of his arms. Thanks to his efforts, the team was victorious. Everyone, friend and foe alike, muttered, ''Who the hell is this guy? On the way to the exit gate, ''''Judo club? No, no, no, it''s football.''''Aren''t you in the baseball team?'''' The students'' voices were heard gossiping about the club Masao belonged to. Hey, hey, hey, hey, they''re all off. It''s not a censored word. Don''t be afraid to say it. What? You say "homecoming club" is not a club activity? Yes, you''re in the electric chair. Hey... What''s this? I got off to a good start in the scavenger hunt and was the first one to open the subject. But the contents were too difficult. The subject was "Actually, I''m bald. What do you mean, "actually"? That''s funny. You mean he''s faking bald? I wonder if I should look for someone with a wig. I can''t tell if they have a wig or natural hair, and I can''t say, ''You''re bald, aren''t you? I don''t have the courage to say that. Isn''t this too difficult? Without "Actually," it would have been a piece of cake because the current national teacher is reflecting the sunlight beautifully. As I was clutching the subject and getting impatient, I heard my name coming from a pair of blue sheets. ''Alinah! If you want tomato juice, I''ve got it! I was about to shout, "No one wants tomato juice, you idiot. All they want is ''fake hair''! I looked around. ''Wiggy people...... wiggy people......'' I searched with my eyes for the person I was looking for, clutching the subject to my chest. Especially near the broadcast area. Because there are a lot of middle-aged and older teachers there. If anyone is there, it''s there. Determined, I ran. I was at a loss for words when I came face to face with them. I can''t do it. I can''t say it. There was no way I could say, ''Are you actually bald? It''s too rude. I''ll forever hate the person who came up with this question. I wonder what''s wrong. Arina Nippa is here at the broadcast table. What is she looking for? That''s what the broadcaster said. Then it hit me. I took the microphone from the broadcaster and opened my mouth. I said, "Actually, I''m looking for a man in a wig! Alina''s voice echoed through the ground. And then the vice principal''s hair fell out. His hair fell out. Not a single hair fell out. It fell in a single, slippery strand. It''s hard to describe. I''d never seen anything like it before. Suddenly, the sounds around me became muffled. And then the voice of the vice principal spoke directly to my heart. I''d be happy to do it for the sake of my students. All the students laughed at once. The students laughed at the sight of the vice principal running to the finish line with Alina, holding her stomach and pointing at her. The teachers also lost their heads, and the gymnastic festival was filled with laughter. At the expense of one brave man. He is the epitome of an educator. I heard his words. He never willingly gave up his wig. His struggle was painful. Shame or students. He fought the fear of revealing what he had kept hidden for so long. There was no time. Not even a few seconds had passed since Alina spoke into the microphone. In those seconds, he made a decision that would affect the rest of his life. Could he make that decision for one student? I can''t do it. Connecting with the vice principal across time and space, I learned what a person should be. I applaud his noble act of doing what he should have done as an educator without bending his principles. Comet, why are you applauding? Makoto, who had been laughing foolishly, said. ''It''s for the philosophy of solitude. ''I don''t get it. ......'' I know what I''m doing, vice principal. Ignore the students who laughed at me. I''ll show them the pain later. At the opposing relay. When other classes are competing, I''m usually free... so I lie down and look at the sky. As I was staring at the clouds that were being swept away by the wind, Intelligence Takazo came into my sight as if peeking into my eyes. If you were a super beautiful girl, I would have cried for you. I''m sorry, but that''s a fairy tale. If you multiply the probability of meeting you by the probability of being born a person who will be given the alias "super beautiful girl", you will easily understand the story. It might happen with plastic surgery, but by the time you have the financial means to have it done, you won''t be a girl anymore...'' If you speak any more, you have to pay me 100 yen per letter. What are you doing here? ''I want to talk to Futatsuru.'' ''With cranes?'' ''With all my brains, I''ve never surpassed her academically. I''m curious to know what she''s like. If there''s anything I can learn, I''d like to absorb it. I see. I think he''s on the air. The student council will be there. ''All right. Get up, comet. What? Why? ''I need you to act as an intermediary. I''ve never communicated with her. I can certainly understand why it''s hard to talk to someone from a different world. I don''t think I can get along with a race of people who yell "woe, woe, woe" like cicadas. I only wish they had a week to live. I had no choice but to accept the role. When I arrived at the broadcast, the cranes were still there. Under the tent, cooling off from the sun. What a good thing for him. Tsuru. Can I come in? ''Oh, well, it''s a comet. It''s all right. Tsuru looks like he''s having a lot of fun at the gymnasium, with star-shaped tattoo stickers on both cheeks. Isn''t he kind of cute? I wonder if there''s a tomato shape. This is the number one, Niwatatsuru. She may look like a girl who can''t add and subtract, but inside she''s a goddess of study. He introduced him to Takakura. Tsuru turned to Takakura with a frustrated look on her face and said, "I can do it. My name is Takakura Numakura. I''ve wanted to talk to you for a long time. Then Tsuru came up to me and whispered in my ear. I didn''t ask you to introduce me to any guy. It''s not like that. I''m simply interested in your brains. You don''t know this guy? ''I know you only by name. He''s often behind me.'' Behind me. Tsuru muttered a provocative metaphor about being lower in school than me. His voice seemed to be understood by Takakura. ''Oh. Behind you, huh? That''s right. ''''I don''t mean anything else, okay?'''' ''I understand. I''m always looking at your name from behind. Hey world, looks like the fight has already begun. Why are they being so provocative? I''m here to see how intelligent you are. I''ve been wondering what kind of people I keep losing to. ''''It''s like this...'''' Tsuru stuck both index fingers into his cheeks and acted like a pretender. Comet Sakakiki-kun, who hates prettiness, felt an explosive desire to kill at that time, but he calmed himself down by cutting the cross. By the way, he is not a Christian. I was just trying to be nice. I''m afraid devout believers would be offended. I see. So that''s what you are. ''That''s right - capiche*''. ''May I ask you a question?'' ''Go ahead~CAPPI*'' Ugh, that character is annoying. You''re making me angry. Go for it, brains of the homecoming club. Show them you''re not the Intelligence Takazo. Are you an idiot for choosing your words? I just said, "What the hell is that? I thought the tone of the conversation was going to be unpleasant, but surprisingly Tsuru was smiling. I thought it was going to be a bad mood because of the quarrelsome tone, but surprisingly Tsuru was smiling. Isn''t the question and answer funny? ''Okay. I''ll leave you with this. Takakura-kun, you''re surprisingly funny. See you later! CAPPI*'' Mother, is this what you call chaos? I''m now dismayed by the Japanese language that doesn''t mesh with my own. Vice principal, can you hear me? I am speaking directly to your heart. What are they saying? Head teacher, why don''t you pick up your wig? On the way back to the school, Takakura opened his mouth while he was watching the ball game in a daze. Nidatsuru is not an idiot. I know that much. ''Seriously? Why? ''My question earlier was a hidden question about whether I choose my words according to the level of intelligence of the person I''m talking to. A simpleton would have thought she was being abusive, but she understood the meaning. So you''re bitter. But you''re putting yourself on the shelf too much, aren''t you? I mean, it''s just a condescending way of saying ......'' ''That''s short-sighted thinking. She does not mean to be condescending. She just feels pain at the restrictions placed on her words. But only a handful of people can understand that distress. That''s how we know she is not what she seems. I see. I don''t understand. You don''t have to worry about it, do you? I''ve had my sister call me a ''Japanese cripple'' and a ''twisted Japanese speaker'' and it never bothered me. On a different note, if you get agitated, try imitating a toddler. I once performed a crawl in front of my sister. She was speechless, just as I wanted her to be. When you are in trouble, you should regress to a toddler. You might like Nidatsuru. ''''Huh?'''' Don''t let your evil intentions cause you to fail in the competing relay. Well, you won''t be overtaken. That''s for sure. 105-The Professional... ''Yes, ah, ah~'' I''m sitting on the floor with my arms crossed. My back is straight and my torso is strained. My body is extremely tense. This state is a defensive posture to overcome the unbearable reality. The reason why I am tense is because Ryuka is giving Makoto the forbidden ''ahhh'' right in front of me. If I remember correctly, ''aan'' is listed as a violation in international treaties. It is one of the most sinful criminal acts that can be a route of transmission of infectious diseases and above all, can cause mental humiliation to those around you. I am feeling that mental humiliation every second now, and the mental trauma continues to accumulate. Why in front of me? And why is Ryuka from another class here? I don''t understand. We just signed a truce called lunch time, and yet Ryuka is proudly spying on our group. I admire your guts, Makoto, but do you have a grudge against me? You don''t have to do it in front of me. Tomato juice tastes bad. Made in Sakaki bento goes bad. I''m still embarrassed. ...... ''But, but. Makoto-kun said so. ......'' ''Oh, that was a joke. ......'' Will someone please shoot these two rabbits in heat. I''d love to have a French hunter come to Japan. I thought about complaining, but then I thought, ''Are you jealous? I still can''t accuse Makoto because I feel that he might say, "I''m not a good person. I''m a chicken. To quell my anger, I took a lonely bite of a tomato. Let''s get high on lycopene! I''m not afraid of anything anymore! ''Guys. Don''t get your morals upset.'' ''Sorry, sorry! I didn''t know you were here! No, no, no. You''re right in front of me, right in front of me. Do you have a kink in your eyeballs? Oops, I''m breaking the rules. I''m sorry! Ryuka, look up. You don''t have to be a scoundrel. It''s okay as long as you don''t do it in front of me. I''m sorry I''m such a wreck! ''It''s okay, it''s okay. It''s okay, it''s okay. Compared to my Hwasai, it''s much better, so don''t worry about it. Some pervert girl said, ''Don''t call me names because my eardrums are sensitive! I ignored him. ''So I''m done talking about this. I won''t say anything else. ''Sorry ...... so, comet. The relay race is finally starting. ''Are you going to be in it?'' ''Yeah. I won''t tell you in what order, okay?'' ''Oh. I''m looking forward to it. '' Sorry, the badminton club is out of sight. How can we lose to someone who violates international treaties? We have a panel full of mutants. Berserker Masao. Intelligence Takazo Professional Gamer Age Heartbreak Lyon Angel Rose Alina ''Wait. What did you just say about me?'' ''It''s Angel Rose Alina.'' ''Alina. What can you say to a comet? You know him better than anyone else. Rinne said that to Alina. I thought Angel Rose was a perfect nickname for Alina. We changed into our homecoming uniforms before the brass band finished playing. Or rather, uniforms. There are no uniforms or uniforms in the homecoming club. So we had to wear uniforms. Alina and Rinne are wearing gym clothes under their skirts so that there will be no panty-grabbing incidents. However, since there is not much individuality in them, we all have to wear our arms around our necks. Because isn''t it cool to have your arms around your uniform? We still stood out as we waited at the entrance gate. The other clubs were in uniforms or in street clothes, each expressing their own club activities. Many of them were curious as to why some of us were wearing uniforms. ''Ugh ...... I''m so embarrassed. Alina is ashamed. ''Don''t be ashamed. Be confident. We have nothing to fear and nothing to be ashamed of. ''Even so, I''m ashamed of what I''m ashamed of. Why are you wearing this tusk? Alina blushed and protested, holding out to me a tusk with the words ''Alina Hiba, representative of the beautiful girls'' on it. Why am I the only one with a tusk? And a beautiful girl. ...... Well, I''m happy for you. ......'' ''I thought of the tusk, but it was Rinne who wrote it.'' ''Rionooooo '' ''Sorry. . hehe.'' Alina grabbed Rinne by the shoulders and shook her. By the way, I''ve supported the idea that everyone except Arina should have something that makes them unique. I''m wearing a tomato hat, by the way. It''s just a simple red knit hat with a leaf on it. The performance ended to applause. The battle is about to begin. First of all, I would like to thank you all. I turn to them again. Thank you for gathering with me, a picture-perfect pervert. Eiji, without you no one would know how to run or how to fight. Thank you for leading the team. Takakura, you will contribute a lot to the team with your eccentric ideas and your brain. Thank you for negotiating so well. Masao, I still don''t understand you, but your overwhelming presence gave us all courage. Thank you. Rinne, your maidenly charm has sometimes been a pain in the ass, but this time it will be a good weapon for us. Wield it to your heart''s content. Then he looks at Alina. ''Alina. I''m not worried about you. I believe in you. ''Oh, yeah? Thanks for the compliment.'' Rinne was quick to respond, ''It''s hot, it''s hot. Don''t show it off. You only win once. Whether you cry or laugh, it''s your first and last fight. So let''s do our best. We all nodded our heads and made up our minds. From now on, we''re going to be on the stage. Professionals who have been quietly fighting for the earth in dark alleys and dark places are about to shed their veil of darkness. We were labeled as losers, we were persecuted in the past, but we nevertheless went home, never wavering in our beliefs. No matter what happened, no matter how tempted we were, we came home. In junior high school, there was a member of the club who went beyond the speed of light and disappeared into space-time (he fell into a swamp on a bicycle). Don''t have regrets. In other words, don''t cut corners. Just keep running forward. ''Now for the first event of the afternoon, the interdivisional relay! Please enter!" The competitors began to walk in unison at the sound of the broadcast team''s voice. ''All right. Masao. Eat this. ''Isn''t this a ...... mango! I handed him an uncut mango straight from the plastic bag. I had heard that he was so mango crazy that he would even eat the skin, so I had bought some for the occasion. ''I want you to use your full strength. Here, eat it quickly. Thank you very much. Now go to ......'' Masao took a bite and began to eat voraciously as if he had changed. It all happened so fast. Woooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo '' Masao has transformed into a berserker. If he had hair, it would have been blonde. He was the very god of war as he stood on all fours with his arms outstretched, looking up to the heavens. It would have been even cooler if he had not been wearing an apron, but no one would have picked on him because it would have negated his personality and his love of baking. Alina and Rinne were a bit taken aback, but the rest of us male members were struck by his godliness. We can win. We were convinced of this when we saw Masao. 106-circular professionalism... The interclub relay is divided into two. Due to the large number of participating teams, we, the homecoming club, were assigned to the first relay. We had a home club, judo club, soccer club, computer club, badminton club, American football club, volleyball club, basketball club, and many other club activities with many katakana characters. To tell the truth, I am glad that there was no track and field club. Six Eiji members is a foul, isn''t it? Unfortunately, there is no match against the second group, so the first place will be decided among these eight teams. Hey, hey, hey, come on, come on, come on, come on, come on! Rinne waved a selfie stick at me and Eiji. Masao, Takakura, and Alina are not here because they are on the other side in the even-numbered group. Are you going to run with it? ''Yes. I love selfie sticks. Come on, come on, get your picture! I guess she''s the type of person who uploads images to social networking sites and shudders with a sense of superiority. She takes pictures of nice meals, nice views, nice partners, and unleashes them into the sea of the Internet. (She doesn''t have a nice partner, though...) If I start using the service, I am sure no one will follow me. Because I only post the record of my tomatoes. Let''s take another picture together! When I finished shooting, I suddenly felt sorry for Alina. It must be awkward for her to be with Masao and Takakura, who are in the middle of waking up. I wonder what kind of conversation they will have. Probably silence. I thought about saying to her once before the shooting started, but there was no time. The battle is about to begin. We who do not usually work together are now lining up in a row. Our first runner, pro-gamer Agee, is second from the inside. He had a mouse in his hand. I have won the first place in Japan with this mouse,'' he said proudly. He is a former member of the track and field team, so he will do well. The computer club was the one that caught my attention. He is carrying a desktop computer on his back. He is already kneeling on his knees, showing his fatigue. This is what is called a "joke". It is a performance to make the audience laugh. We, the homecoming club, are going to use it to win. The other clubs are all sports clubs, so they wear uniforms. Everyone in the audience will think that the Homecoming Club and the Computer Club are just a joke. But we are more serious than anyone else. On your marks. The referee''s voice echoed through the microphone onto the ground. At the same time, Pro Gamer Agee threw a mouse at me. What, you''re not going to run with it? But his face was more serious than ever. He raised his dark-rimmed glasses and exhaled slowly. A small jump sets the tone. I wonder where he went with his FPS syndrome. He always walks with his gun at the ready, clearing a turn with his face for a moment before moving forward, but now he is motionless, waiting for the start. ''What''s wrong with you, Eiji......'' Rinne muttered anxiously at her side. No, that''s the way a human being should be. You''re finally human again. He was saying. I''ll be the first to beat him. Not as good as the active landers, but still not as good as the amateurs. He stated this clearly as he went through the motions of pulling the pin out of a grenade. He must have been very confident, because he had a very smug look on his face. "Yoi! The judge raised the starter pistol straight up. Silence. With a dry crack of the gun, all the competitors started to run at once. Eiji''s start was perfect. It was as if he knew exactly when the shots would be fired. Eiji ran through the field, which was unbelievable considering that he was wearing a uniform with zero advantage, and he kept the lead as he approached the corner. The soccer and basketball teams were behind him, eager to overtake him. A cloud of dust rises up, blinding the spectators at the corner. They are so hard that you can hear them kicking the ground. ''Olaaaaaaah! Run more!!!!!!!! Heartbreak Lyon raises his voice in an old man''s voice while wielding a selfie stick. Isn''t that why you''re not popular? Speaking of the computer club, it''s dead last and working as fast as a jogger. It looked like they hadn''t even entered the corner yet. They were still in the lead as they entered the last straight. The distance from the soccer team was about two meters. Eiji still turns his legs like a locomotive to keep the distance between them. He wins the lead and approaches the front runner''s zone. The eyes of the spectators follow him and focus on the person waiting to pass the baton. And then there is a roar. Berserker Masao. With shoulders too broad to fit in the width of the lane, he was a threat to the other competitors. He was also awakened by the mango and stared at the other players with a terrifying expression like Prajna. His arms were covered with blood vessels and his uniform looked like it was about to be torn off. I am really glad that he is not my enemy. Berserker Masao ran. He accelerated in the run zone, and his left arm, like a bull''s thigh, was thrown backward. Eiji gritted his teeth desperately and ran as fast as he could. Masao''s speed has improved dramatically since the practice session and he is just barely unable to pass the baton. Masao! Back to being human, Bakar: We''re going to die! Rinne cries out in grief. Yes, it is Rinne who receives the baton from Masao. She finally succeeds in passing the baton just before the takeover zone. Eiji, who had given his all, falls down and lies on his back as he leaves the lane. Good job. He raised his right arm high and gave a thumbs-up as he ran out of breath. I did it," he said. ''Wow! '' Masao shouts. Masao runs like an armored car. The soccer team members, following close behind, are unable to overtake him as we had hoped. A half-crazed Masao is nothing but a human weapon. Contact is fatal. I''m a little boy. ...... It was as if he had been lying. The earth he stepped on was gouged out and flew in the air. The ground danced as if a mortar had landed on it. He ran, even though his apron was billowing up and covering his face. And why does he scream? What is he fighting with in his heart? Only he knows. Around the break where the corner ends, the soccer team closes in on him. That''s why they run every day. As they entered the straightaway, it was already a close race. Meanwhile, Rinne was making noise as she entered the lane. You! Why did you dump me then! I really can''t forgive you! What? What did you say? Because there was a girl I liked. Haaaaah! It was an operation. She is aware that she is a mine of a girl, and she used to proudly say that she would make an impromptu scene if a boy ever confessed his love to her. Simply put, the goal is to upset them. And just like that, a member of the soccer club was the target. What? You were playing with me? He did that to me! Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! I''m really going to smash the 0000 (*unbroadcastable)! It is a complete bluff, but it seems to be working quite well. I can''t help but feel sorry for them, but it''s for our own good. I''m really glad I''m not Rinne''s enemy. Rinne ignores the soccer team''s excuses and runs away. And then a heavy tank came. It''s impossible~! Scary~! She runs away from Berserker Masao while taking pictures of herself with a selfie stick. With bloodshot eyes, Masao thrusts out his baton and chases after the fleeing Rinne. Compositionally, she looks like a person being attacked by a buffalo. Worried, she quickly threw her selfie stick and took the baton as soon as she realized that she was approaching the takeover zone. ''Leave it to me! With these words, the innocent girl who used to be a cheerleader ran. Masao ran out of energy and stopped on all fours. She was completely out of fuel and could barely breathe. ''That was good, Masao. That was overwhelming. ''Zoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you! It''s a pleasure--'''' He did so while making a rather unusual breathing sound. It is said that when a person removes the limiter, he or she can make such a sound. 107-successor to someones hope... Rinne is running while screaming. Rinne is running while screaming, because a member of the soccer club who had been swearing at her easily overtakes her. Gorrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! Heartbreak Reon''s voice is ungrammatical, and he is chasing after the back of the soccer player with nothing but his obsession. He is also fearful of being chased, and sometimes looks back to check Rion''s voice. Why doesn''t anyone say yes? She muttered to herself during practice. I want to be in love, that''s why I quit the cheerleading squad, and I tried to dress up. Why won''t you accept me? She was showing her yandere side. She was complaining and lamenting her current situation. Personally, I think Hayasaka Rinne is one of the cute girls. Her wavy hair, which is rare among high school girls, is attractive, she has a good style because she used to be a member of cheerleading club, and she has a nice smile. I think she is just being too quick to judge, but she doesn''t seem to understand it. It''s as if she''s trapped in a corner. Her impatience and desperation are paying off as she is still in second place. Once again, the audience was thrilled. Intelligence Takazo He had been giving his opinion to the gymnastics committee members for a few days before the festival. The interdivisional relay is a very free event. Humor is required on the same level as the order of finish. He took advantage of the restrictions thereby loosened to negotiate certain things. In the end, he was able to use his high intelligence and eloquence to achieve his goal. It was a bicycle. A bicycle, the symbol of the homecoming club. At the very edge of the run zone, Intelligence Takazo was astride a bicycle, watching his timing. This would be unforgivable under normal circumstances, but this was a relay race between clubs. In other words, there is a quota for stories. Like the computer club. Takazo was the story runner for our team. Takakura started pedaling when he came out of the corner. It is hard to accelerate on a bicycle. If he doesn''t start early, Rinne will stop. He passed the baton almost at the same time as the soccer team. I was impressed that all the hard work and practice had paid off. Their baton passing was one of our challenges. Their speed was good, but we struggled with safety and the difficulty of the baton pass. Takakura and Rinne, who did not get along well with each other, did not pass the baton particularly well, and they argued after many failed attempts. When Rinne finished passing the baton, she said, ''Someone love me! He cried out and collapsed. I wish you happiness. The speed of the car was increasing rapidly, and by the midway point of the corner, the soccer team was ahead of the other teams. This was how he regained the first place. But after the midway point, I started to slow down. It was no use. If he accelerates and goes into the corner at top speed, I''m dead. And there''s no way I can pass the baton. He was good at math, and he slowed down just like he had practiced. I put on my tomato knit cap and got ready for battle. I don''t play tricks. I''m a good athlete by nature, so I''m going to take it seriously. It smells familiar. I can taste the sand. The bombs the bombers dropped created many pillars of earth. It is as if an invisible giant is walking, and it is getting closer to me every second. The sky was shaking and my head was dusty. Even if I covered my ears, my brain shook. Finally, the giant stepped through a few meters closer to me. The impact knocks me down, and I shrink back, my whole body bathed in a rain of sand. Mud and sand from the enemy''s country enter my mouth, which I do not want to put into my mouth. I never forgot the taste. Alinaaaaaaah! I yelled out before the baton pass. It''s not that I want to confess my love. I''m sworn to be a bachelor, and I can only make a public confession if I''m very brave and sure that I''m OK with it. It''s a pipe dream for a chicken. It was inevitable that I would leave everything to Alina, the anchor. Eiji said that this was the best way, taking into account the speed of the foot and the ability of each of us. Alina also made full use of her special style and was very fast for a girl. But she knew that she would not win by a comfortable margin. It would not work that way. So they insured her with awakening, mental attacks, and the use of bicycles. And the last insurance was Alina. As a representative of beautiful girls, Arina Hiba can only use her dazzling beauty to her advantage. What? Absolutely not! She refused, of course. If she had been in the state of a rose with a poisonous tongue, she might have been able to do something similar to Rinne, but that''s a tough call for her right now. However, she got used to it as she practiced it gradually and became able to do it without any shame. She is indeed the daughter of an actress. She takes the baton. Leave the rest to me, Takakura. Nyan nyan nyan nyan nyan Alina! Everyone''s Angel, Alina! You and I are both handsome and melo melo Think only of me Or else I''ll hate you! Alina must be dancing frantically right now. The choreography and dialogues were supervised by Heartbreak Lyon. Incidentally, she is set up as ''Magical Girl Alina-nyan. The ending is annoying and nauseating, but it is said to make most boys feel light-headed. I named it ''arifana. A reference to the drug. Why does ''nyan'' make people excited in the first place? When I asked Takakura about it, he said, ''It''s not the word that excites me. It''s just a cute girl doing cute things, and ''nyan'' is just a byproduct. In other words, if it''s cute, it''s acceptable. This is the guy, officer. This is the enemy of mankind. Alina was practicing, ashamed. She mumbled brokenly, ''Alina-nyan...... Alina-nyan......,'' and her eyes gradually darkened and she gradually turned into Dark Alina, which at times was painful, but at other times she said, ''Cute Alina! It''s so cute I''m going crazy!'''' After I repeatedly praised her, the sparkle returned to her eyes. As a result, she became a dancing JK. Rinne''s devilish guidance finally bore fruit. Unfortunately, I didn''t have the energy to see it, so I just ran as fast as I could. I was jogging, but the computer club became an obstacle, and the soccer team overtook me in the split second that I avoided it. It was the moment I swore to myself that I would destroy the equipment of the computer club. The last line. Alina is doing the cat''s paw pose with her hips twisted. Apparently, she''s doing it right. The anchor soccer player is in a daze, addicted to ariphana. ''Alina! Alina comes to her senses, turns around, and adjusts her stance. The aryphana addict shakes his head, trying to wake up and regain consciousness. Alina runs. The funny thing was that Alina and I were always in sync. She rarely missed a baton pass. One meter to go. Half a meter to go. A few dozen centimeters to reach her. We were connected. Starting with Eiji, the baton passed to Masao, Rinne, Takakura, me, and now to Alina, the will of the homecoming club members is now connected. The tusk of the representative of the beautiful girl is swept away, and her hair is pulled into a ponytail, flowing like a dragon running in the sky. ''Oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no! Alina screamed in an explosion of shame. Her back was turned away. As I pulled out of the lane, the other members of the club passed by me one by one. I fell to my knees and sank to my knees. I don''t know when I''ve been this serious. Probably since I was born. Oh, it was your mother who tried. I''m sorry. I put my elbows on the ground and think in my foggy head. I wonder if Alina did it. The dull, pulsing sound in my ears is nagging at me. I breathe in and out again and again, sweat dripping on the ground. With all my strength, I lift my face a little. The sun was shining so brightly that I held up my hand. Then I saw Alina, the first one to cross the finish line with the tape around her body. 108-true The winning team in the first interdivisional relay was the homecoming team! The broadcasting club said something very pleasant. That was good. That was really good. We won! We won! I''m number one! Alina with her arms outstretched, dashing toward us with a brilliant smile. Her tusk and hair are a mess, but she shows no sign of caring. Okay, a hug? I''m still not fully breathing, but I stand up and open my arms, ready to face him. It was like a scene from a movie where two lovers torn apart are destined to meet again, and my heart was racing. On the back screen, Masao screams. And Takakura pedaling his bicycle in a circle around Masao. Each of them expresses their joy. Well, let me share my joy with Alina. With a hot embrace. Oh, no! Alina passes by me without looking at me. When I turn around, Alina and Rinne are spinning like a merry-go-round in each other''s arms. So this is the truth of the world. Feeling lonely, I hug the air. Oxygen''s hug was really the best. I had to play a few tricks on him, but the best is the best. If anyone comes to me to complain, I will give him another dose of ariphana. Then, Masao will stomp them down and everything will be all right. Why are you so low? It''s the best! Alina said this as she poked me with her finger while I was hugging oxygen. She seemed to be in a very good mood. I''m in control. If you let your guard down even a little, you''ll leak all your fluids with pleasure. ''Are you okay? Your legs are wobbly, aren''t they? ''Don''t worry about it. I just need to go to the bathroom.'' I''m so happy. Unable to release the itch in our hearts, we were forced to leave as the second session was about to begin. I wanted to advertise that the ruler of this world is the homecoming club, but Makoto of the badminton club, who had lost a big game, pulled me back and I had no choice but to leave the venue. Indeed, I might be blamed for trying to seduce a female member of the broadcasting club to borrow a microphone. But please forgive me. I was so happy that I was in a funny mood. Veeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! (Victory shout)'''' The moment I passed through the exit gate, I expressed my joy like an animal. My voice, which could not be translated into language, melted into the blue sky, and my mind flashed back to scenes from the past up to this day. The selection of the players at the former rose garden, the six of us running with the setting sun in the background, Takakura and Rinne arguing, Masao reading a pastry-making book, Eiji sliding the mouse on the desk, Alina dozing off... It was both long and short. It was so fulfilling that a few weeks felt like a year. All of it was for today, And it was a relief to be rewarded. Well, theoretically our victory was proven. You can rejoice all you want, but please don''t go out of control. ''I don''t want to hear from the guy who was running circles around Masao! By the way, the only one worse than me is Rinne. ''Alina! We can be school idols! I''m sure I can do it! ''Calm down a bit, Rinne. ''Because you know whose time it is now! It''s me and Arina, isn''t it! And now I''m the girl who won the number one spot! There''s no way I''m not irresistible!'''' No, I--'' ''Dame! I can''t let this chance pass me by!'''' With a twinkle in her eye, Rinne pushes Alina closer and closer. ''Arina. I''ll get down on my knees and support you if I can see ''Arina-chan'' again. ''Gah! Don''t remind me! It makes me want to die!'''' ''Alina! Alina Nyan! ''Oh ...... that''s the biggest stain on my life ......'' ''Alina for everyone! ''Don''t, Comet-- oh, my God! You made a mistake! Alina blushed and cowered. To be honest, she was so cute I thought tomato juice would come out of my nose. I gave the mouse back to Eiji and he said, ''I can''t tell you how many people I''ve killed with this ......''. It seems that his FPS syndrome has already returned. However, I felt a little sad that I would no longer have contact with him. So I''ll watch the live video he mentioned. Good luck, pro-gamer. As for Masao, he''s a bit dizzy from the side effects of the mango. He has been mumbling ''I''m in heaven......I''m in heaven......I''m in heaven'' since a few minutes ago, and he seems to be on his deathbed. This could be bad. Anyway, the homecoming party has won. There is no better result than that. But this means that the team is now disbanded. A sense of loneliness is growing. Alina wonders if this is reflected on her face. Is she dissatisfied with something? ''No, it''s not that. It''s just that it''s the last time I''m going to see you, that''s all. ''Yes, it is. I''m sad. But that''s not always the case in the homecoming club. I''m used to losing comrades-in-arms. I can''t tell you how many homecomers I''ve lost. I''ve lost countless comrades-in-arms because they wanted to be young or because they were bored. Encounters and partings are always a set. ''I--I--I had a good time. ''Oh, you''re back from heaven, Masao. Thanks to Comet, I feel a little more confident. I''m really glad I got to know you guys. ''Me too. Thank you guys for hanging out with a weirdo like me. I''ll never forget you guys. Rinne started to get teary-eyed when I said the movie-like line. ''Hey, hey, Rinne. The only time you''re allowed to shed tears is when I propose to you. ''''You''re so annoying! I''m just a little bit touched! ''You''re a troubled young lady. Takakura, say something to her. ''Please don''t do that, it''s going to make the ground muddy. ''Hey, Benjamin. You''ll never get married in the future.'' In the end, we were the only pair that didn''t win the overall championship. Such is fate. But the last gymnastic festival of my high school life was the most meaningful one of my life. Therefore, I have no regrets. If I ever get a chance to write my autobiography, I will write that it was a "holy war. I hope it will be a source of inspiration for future homecoming club members who will be born and born on this earth. Fin. I don''t know what I am saying, so I will let the machine translator translate it for me someday when it reaches the highest level. A few days have passed since the gymnastic festival ended. I''m completely burnt out, and I''m spending my days in idleness. I''m a senior in high school, which is a turning point in my life, so I don''t have much time for such things. If a ronin student saw me in this rotten state, he or she would say, "Yes! He''s not my enemy. Please take a look. This is the darkness of human beings. You will fight against such darkness again. You look like a shell these days. Alina, too, is slumped over her desk. I looked at her, drooping like a puppet that had lost its strings. ''You''re just like her, you know. ''No, I''m not. I''m just relaxing. ''Then that''s what I''m doing, relaxing. ''Yours is called bad manners.'' I''ve never lived a well-behaved life, and I couldn''t help but point that out. He said I had been misbehaving since I was still in my mother''s belly. She used to kick me in the stomach a lot. That''s horrible. You have no respect for your mother. By the third year, I was used to bloody fights for bread at the concession stand, and it was very easy to get it. This is largely due to the fact that the first-year students still don''t know how to fight and I''ve earned the magical status of a third-year student. But I can say so while I still can. The girls are beginning to tell the juniors how to defeat Comet Sakakiki, who is the most hated of the bread fighters. That''s why my side has been creaking lately. He attacks me with his elbows. Now, where will I get a bruise today? I roll up my arms and step out into the stall. Today we hunt. ''Is he here to s*xually harass me again? Alina appeared in front of the squirming girls. No. It''s all about the bread. ''It''s the only time I get a chance to touch a girl''s body.'' ''It''s okay. Ugin will be there when I get home. ''Real life sucks.'' ''So, you''ve come to interrupt me? I''m going to step over whoever you are.'' ''I need to talk to you. Just for a minute. With that, Alina walked toward the stairs. Not wanting to ignore her, I reluctantly followed her. I heard the sound of shoes thumping on the floor above me. It sounded like she was going to the top floor. The top floor is a dead end because the rooftop is sealed off. She is sitting on the step in front of the door leading to the rooftop. I went up the stairs, deliberately covering my eyes with my hands to prevent her from seeing my panties. It''s embarrassing. ''It''s good manners. I''m a gentleman. I didn''t dare sit down with her, so I leaned my back against the wall and looked down at Alina. ''So, what are you talking about? Alina opened her mouth with her face turned to the front. ''I still can''t seem to remember you, after all. I know that. When I talk to Alina, I never bring up the past. Don''t worry so much. It''s fine the way it is. ''I''m trying. I''ve been going over my notes and phone history about you, but it doesn''t seem to be working. ''That''s pretty creepy from a third party''s point of view. It can''t be helped that it''s a special case. So let me get this straight, okay? ''Yes. ''I definitely liked you, didn''t I? That''s a little too direct, don''t you think? She''s talking about something else entirely. But you know, it''s just a confession from my point of view. Why are you embarrassed? ''That''s because I''m a red-blooded person, you know. ......'' So, what do you think? ''As I have said many times before, only you can know that. It''s not your concern. There''s nothing wrong with it. ''What about you? I heard you said you love me. Huh? ''Huh! Why the heck not? ''That was when I called you on the day before Shirana was scheduled to confess her feelings for you. And you said you liked me. You remember that, don''t you? Come to think of it, that''s what happened. No one knows my true feelings because they are stored in a black box. ''Well, I remember it, but it was more of a spur of the moment ...... thing. ''Whatever.'' What does it matter? I felt a little sorry for him. I thought that if you liked me, I''d be cruel to you now more than ever. It''s none of your business. You don''t have to probe people''s true feelings so much. ''I''m sorry. I was just thinking about you. Oh, I don''t mean ''curious'' as in love or anything like that. ......'' ''All right, all right. Take it easy, baby. I knew that if anyone saw us going down the stairs together, they would spread strange rumors again, so I went down first, just in time. One thing I was sure of. Alina''s rehabilitation was over. There''s nothing I can do about it. If that''s not a healthy person, who is? And by the way, a psycho is someone like me. She doesn''t need to know if her existence is cruel or not. It does not mean that she can do anything or that she is guilty. Whether she is cruel or not is what I think. So only those who have been in the same position can know if this is cruel or not. I dare not say. I don''t like sympathy. 109-word someone wanted to hear... There is a phrase, "I have failed in life. Everyone has heard this phrase at some point. It is often used when we have done something that cannot be undone. A job gone wrong, a dream turned out to be a dream, a life plan gone wrong. We whisper the word when we are clinging to something that will never come around again in our lives. We seventeen and eighteen year olds are no exception. University entrance exams, job hunting. Depending on the results, we too will mutter our despair. I have wondered if I could be a part of that failure. When I failed the entrance exam and chose to become a ronin, would I tell people that I have failed in life? The answer was no. The reason is that I don''t know what I want in life. I still couldn''t imagine the biggest goal or the end point of my life, such as becoming famous, a doctor, or a wealthy person in the future. Therefore, I could not envision failure. But I might think about it on my deathbed. My life was nothing. And part of me feels impatient with that. I am driven by a sense of mission to accomplish something. And then I come to the ultimate question of mankind, "What was the purpose of my birth? If I can understand that, will I be able to have a goal? Is it correct to say that Comet-kun''s career path will remain the same and he will take the entrance examination for college? The teacher asks my mother for confirmation. The final survey of the students'' career choices. The teacher is in the middle of a three-way meeting with my mother. ''Yes, please. My mother replies. It is not my decision, nor is she forcing me to take the entrance exam. It just happened naturally. My parents are both college graduates, and that''s why the atmosphere is like that. It''s not that I don''t like it either. If you enter a university with a good reputation, you will be evaluated regardless of your human nature, and you will have an overwhelming advantage in terms of employment. It''s not every day that you get a chance to grow up in a place of higher learning. It is a unique opportunity that you can only enjoy now because your parents are protecting you. But that''s all we know. I can only come up with such flimsy advantages because I don''t have what I''m looking for. After the parent-teacher-teacher conference, my mother left with a single word: "Good luck with your studies. I asked her to go home first so that I could study for detention. I returned to the lonely classroom and sat down at my desk. You...'' Don''t you mean ''you''? I''m your husband. ''I''m sorry. I''m not used to saying your name. ''You used to be like that. I''ve only heard my name a few times. Alina also stayed after school to study. She took her earphones out of her ears and put down her pen. Summer vacation will be over in half a month. ''That''s right. Time flies too fast for students taking exams. ''''Do you have plans for summer vacation?'''' ''Studying.'' ''You''re surprisingly serious. I thought you''d be playing for fun. ''What''s up with you that way? Going to the beach for some fan service? ''No one gets excited about me in my swimsuit.'' ''Maybe I''ll pass through the excitement and worship.'' It''s the last summer to play, but I''m not that active, so I''ll probably spend my days studying, resting, and decomposing as usual. I wonder if I''m the same as you. I study, sometimes I go out, and sometimes I think of you. ''I don''t need the last one.'' ''Otherwise I won''t get your memory back. I told you. That''s why I had you quit the homecoming club.'''' ''Well, yes, but ......'' ''This is going to be a boring summer.'' ''It can''t be helped. You''re a student for the entrance exam. She sighed and got down on her desk. I start to get ready to study, my body twisted back in front of me. ''This is going to be boring. Alina mumbles again in frustration. Ignore, ignore, ignore. Yes, yes, sine-cosine tangent. ''I miss you. ''Don''t miss the rose. What are thorns for? That day after school ended with Alina''s every word making it impossible to concentrate. It''s so boring! Alina appeared while I was putting coins into the vending machine. I wonder why she sought me out during this peaceful lunch break to complain about my boredom. Is that it, the melancholy of Alina Hinoha? What''s so boring? You''ve been acting strange lately. ''I''m bored! Next, he started to get angry. I put in some coins and press the button, because if I don''t buy tomato juice, not only will the story not start, but the universe won''t start. I heard the sound of the tomato juice falling out. Yes, if you are a professional like me, you can tell by the sound of the can. Isn''t it strange? How do I know? I have rarely bought anything but tomato juice from this vending machine. Hey, give it back. Alina took my tomato juice. She wrinkled her brow and glared at me, reminding me of a poisonous rose. Come to think of it, she often makes this kind of face. What''s wrong with you? I mean, you don''t seem to have enough time. ''I don''t think so.'' ''You''re right. Give it back.'' ''Oh no''. ''Fuuuuuuuck! Big brother is going to use force!'' I said this and moved my finger like a sea anemone bobbing in the waves to intimidate it, and it gave me the creeps back. I knew I had to do something creepy at a time like this. ''I don''t know ......, but...'' ''''Hmm?'''' ''I don''t know, but I''m in a hurry. ''Are you taking an exam?'' ''That''s true, too. But not in a big way. Maybe it''s you. Me?'' ''I was afraid I wouldn''t remember you. I''m in such a hurry. She turned her head and clutched her skirt. Why is she in such a hurry? She probably knows, but it is more likely that she will never be able to remember. It will take her years to remember, and she knows that there is no point in being impatient. I don''t expect you to be able to remember it in high school. It doesn''t have to be in high school. You''re not going to die. ''I know that. But it''s not. It''s something else that I''m rushing to do, I think. ''So you''re saying you''re in a hurry, you''re in a race against time? What are you fighting with? Are you a Martian? ''I don''t know. But I think he''s in a hurry because it''s very important. It''s a woman''s intuition. Huh. Okay, this is the crazy stuff. It happens to all of us during puberty. We all suffer from feelings we can''t communicate, Alina. We''re all a little late to the party, though. It''s best to be kind in these times. You need to give them the approval they crave. I know, I know. I know exactly what you mean. ''You don''t understand. Somebody help me. I can''t help myself, so I reassess her as an extraterrestrial intelligent being with whom I can''t communicate, and I try to make conversation appropriate as I lead her back to the classroom. In the meantime, I decided to give her a little history lesson of the earth. From the sea to the land, life grew roots and ran through the earth, and the earth was ruled by a tremendously large organism. After a tremendous amount of time, a large meteorite hit the earth and destroyed that species, but the age of mammals had come. We humans, with our high intelligence, increased our numbers, created fire, and mastered language. We created civilizations and developed science. I explained to him that we became the rulers of the earth and the keepers of the earth, but nothing he said helped. It seems that he is an alien in human form after all. Let''s treat him politely. Please sit down. This is your chair. Chair, chair. Do you understand English? Do you know, English? DISISAPPEN. Hamburger? Computer? No, apparently he has the intelligence of two potatoes. ''Your analogy doesn''t make sense.'' ''Oh! You, japanese-- wrong, you don''t speak Japanese. ''That''s enough. Let''s just say I''m wrong and we''re done talking about it. If that''s the end of the story, so be it. I''d rather be talking with a clunky AI that recommends searching the web whenever I ask it a question than facing Chaos Alina. Makoto in the back seat teased me with ''Stop fighting with your wife~'', so I said ''Makoto-kun, the badminton player who lost to the homecoming club, should pluck bird feathers for the rest of his life'', a line that would make enemies of all the badminton lovers in the country. ''''You and your wife ......?'''' Alina straightens her back and looks at Makoto. Makoto instinctively trembled with fear. Goodbye Makoto. I''ll be at your funeral. But Makoto was not killed. Alina smiles, the corners of her mouth turning up. ''What do you mean, what do you mean--'' Makoto becomes suspicious of the goddess''s descent. Alina smiles and turns to me. I have a bad feeling about this. Comet. I''ve been thinking about it for a long time. Please go out with me. I really like you. ''''What?'''' I didn''t know what that meant. There was no mood or anything, but it was a so-called "confession. But how could Alina confess so easily? So I thought it was a fake. To cover up something. But maybe it''s true. In fact, Alina''s cheeks are flushed and she puts her hand on her chest. This confuses me even more. Maybe I''m overthinking things, or maybe I''m just cynical. Is Ugin right, love transcends theory? No, what? Huh? I can only respond in such a way because I cannot think straight. I am more doubtful than happy. What do you mean? ''Pigaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaowwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!'' Makoto''s scream, reminiscent of Munch''s, echoed. The girls in the class also made a lot of noise, saying "Kyaa" and "Hyu-hyu-hyu. I look at Alina. She''s looking me straight in the eye, waiting for an answer. What''s going on? Why are my classmates making a fuss as if it''s a natural consequence? And why am I not so happy? ''...... can you give me a minute? That''s what I could barely squeeze out of him. ''Yes. I''ll wait. Alina smiled, her eyes narrowed. d*mn it, what''s going on? 110-Waiting for you... What determines a person''s identity? What makes a person who he/she is? Is it a name, genes, mind, or body structure? For example, in the case of two identical twins, it is what is inside that determines the identity of the twins. When we are looking for a way to distinguish between twins, we can rely on the conversation. It is not the way they talk. It is to find out what they know and what they have experienced. In other words, the easiest way is to look into their memories. Memory is such an important factor in establishing self-identity. Alina''s confession was a test of this. This is the reason why I was not genuinely happy when I heard her confession. From the point of view of my classmates, it was inevitable, or perhaps the right time had come. It is true that I was close to Alina, and that our relationship was too much for a heteros*xual friend. I guess it was natural to assume that we would eventually have a relationship. When I imagined the scene that I accepted her, I could imagine a poisonous rose staring at me with a sad look on her face in the distance. It''s just my imagination, but it was enough to influence me. Of course, I knew that she was the poisonous rose and her basic personality was Alina Hiba whom I had met in the library that day. I just have no memory of Comet Sakakiki. That is the only thing missing from Arina. Why am I tormented so much even though I know that our personalities are the same? Why do they treat her as a different person just because she forgot me? I was not the only one confused. Tsuru wasn''t laughing either. It was an out-of-place reaction because she knew what was going on. I''m sure she must have sensed what I was going through in her own way. I have always claimed to be a single aristocrat. And I''m upset, to my shame. To respond to her feelings in the first place would be a betrayal of her principles, but first of all, it would mean that I am pining for her. I heard you! I heard it, I heard it! Bathroom break between classes. I was staring at the bulletin board in the hallway, thinking. In the middle of my thoughts, Shirana spoke to me. Finally! ''What? ''Already! Why are you wondering now! I think even Alina has been wishing for this for a long time!'''' ''Is the story even going that way ......'' The story is spreading too fast. Shirana doesn''t know about Alina''s situation. That''s why she doesn''t like my lack of clarity. It came out of nowhere. I was so surprised that I couldn''t think straight. Just like your skin,'' she said. ''Don''t pick on me in a weird way! ''I''m kidding. Well, I''m really in trouble. ......'' ''Why do you look so serious? Aren''t you happy? ''Well, I''m glad. But, you know...'' I am angry at my indecisive nature. Part of me thinks that I don''t have to be so rational, but I just can''t shake the feeling. ''You don''t like Alina-san, do you? ''That''s the ultimate question, isn''t it? You''re not being honest when you say ''ultimate. It''s very easy to like or dislike something. ''That''s right. It should be easy. ......'' The chime has rung. I have to go back to class. ''Pull yourself together, comet. Don''t run away. ''Oh. Don''t run away, don''t run away ......'' I couldn''t make up my mind, and after school came. I will not run away as I swore to Shirana. Alina will be there. I couldn''t leave her waiting alone. And I had questions I wanted to ask her. After cleaning up, I packed my bags before anyone else and started to get ready to leave. As a returning member of the club, I had trained myself to descend HALO quickly, and it was worth it. I am the best at this. I feel Alina''s eyes on me, but I ignore them and leave the classroom. I hope you will forgive me for being so rude. I know you''ll come. I sat down in my chair and looked at my watch. I know that it is meaningless to look at the clock, which is off by three hours, but I still have to be aware of something or I will lose my mind. The useless clock ticks and ticks every minute. I wonder if this clock is going to make up for the three-hour delay. And why is it three hours late? What happened to the time that used to be accurate when Alina and I were here? Knock-knock. There was a knock at the door. A familiar outline floats vaguely in the frosted glass. ''Yes. I said to the door. Slowly the door slides open, and Alina sticks out half her face to check. I knew you were here...'' she said. Alina exhaled in relief and lowered her shoulders. Her reaction was also so innocent that I could not look directly at her. She straightened her posture as usual and approached me, her shoes clacking beautifully. She sat down in a chair, lowered her gaze slightly, and faced me. Silence. I''m not sure where to begin. We are both in such a state of mind. It''s so quiet that even the sound of our uniforms rubbing against each other is too much for me. For a moment, my eyes meet Alina''s, but they are quickly averted. Then I fearfully try to make eye contact with her again. Why did you decide to tell me then? ''Did you hate ......? Like a child being scolded, Alina''s voice was quiet. ''I don''t mind. But you''ve been acting strange, haven''t you? He said I was boring and impatient. After that, suddenly, you know, when you say ......'' ''I''m sorry. I wasn''t calm either, and it wasn''t ...... like me.'' ''No need to apologize, but are you serious ......?'' Alina turns over and covers her eyes with her bangs. ''''Yeah.'''' The reply was so small that you had to listen carefully to hear it. ''Alina. Think about it. There are many more attractive men out there than someone like me. ''Why are you so down on yourself? I''m not comparing you to anyone. It doesn''t make sense. ''So ...... it is.'' Alina''s brow furrowed and a sad expression appeared on her face. ''I thought of you when I first saw you. I wanted to get to know you. It was so strange. I didn''t know anything about you, but I was drawn to you. And I knew I was in love with you before I lost your memory. I didn''t imagine it. It was in my notebook. "I can''t help how I feel." So I thought it was fate. Even though I lost my memory, I met you again, and I fell in love with you again. I felt my eyes burning. I opened my eyes and resisted. ''I''m sure you wanted to hear it from me, from the person who knows you. That''s what I would think if I were in your shoes. But you know, the moment I remembered everything instead of losing you, I saw the world differently. I''m still the same person, but I think differently, I see differently. That''s what it''s like to lose your memory. That''s why I wanted to tell you. I wanted to tell you now, before I get your memory back. That I love you. I''m so sorry. I can''t help it, really. I opened my mouth, careful not to let my voice shake. ''I''m sorry, Alina. ''''Why?'''' ''It''s been hard. I wanted to tell you about my memories of Alina, I wanted to tell you about ...... but you know, it''s useless. So I sometimes wished I had never met her in the first place. I knew I was saying terrible things, but I had to talk. ''Every day I hoped to see him. I wondered if he was back. ''I''m sorry. I still don''t remember you, but it''s true that I like you. I don''t want to leave you. Alina reached out to touch my hand. But she stopped just before I touched it because I spoke. ''I''ll answer you at the end of the summer vacation. I promise. ''...... really?'' ''Yeah. I''ll definitely tell him. I''m not joking.'' ''Thank you. I''ll be waiting for you. Alina pulled her hand back and slung her bag over her shoulder. I''ll be waiting for her, too. Forever. 111-close friend... There was a commotion, but things never got rough after that. My classmates selfishly interpreted that I and Alina had originally been in a relationship or that we were finally in a relationship, even though it was still inconclusive. I feel like explaining, but it''s too late. ''Hot ......'' Although I''ve changed my shirt for the change of clothes, it''s still hot. This time of the year, I am glad that I don''t have to change my clothes every morning, because I don''t like to get up in the morning. It''s also the time of year when men have a hard time keeping their eyes open. The lines of the body are more emphasized, and the bottom of the shirt becomes transparent. This is a very serious situation. However, there are girls who take advantage of this situation to play with men. ''I''m going crazy because it''s so hot ......'' It''s a Succubus, a.k.a. Kasai Mugiyama. She seems to be wearing black underwear on purpose or not. I can really see it. ''Kasai. Stop coming into my sight. ''What? Why? He says so, and shows it all around like a figure skater. You pervert. You''re making it hard for me to concentrate on my studies. ''I''m a gentleman, so I''ll blur the words, but make it a color close to white. I''m serious. I''m serious. Seriously. What are you talking about? ''I hope in the future you don''t dance in a strip show.'' There''s no point in commenting on Hwasai''s service scene, and I''m sure some will complain if I make her stop, so I''ve decided that she''s dead in my mind. Farewell, Hanaya. I''ll pour lotion on your grave instead of water. So I run to the bathroom. I get fed up with her never stopping making fun of me, so I run to the men''s room, which is out of bounds to half of the world''s population. Toilets are the best. After I let the urinal drink lemon juice to its fullest, I carefully check the corridor and move my head to see if Hanayo has disappeared. ''She''s finally gone...'' he says. I''m afraid I''m going to wake up to something if I get involved with him. He''s the enemy of gentlemen. While I was wiping my hands with a handkerchief, Kasaya and Rinne came out of the women''s restroom. ''Whoa! What are you yelling about? Rinne looks at me with a stunned look on her face. I screamed because she was in the middle of buttoning up her shirt. What is this? Is she undressing in the women''s restroom? Oh, my God, that''s scary. ''Oh, Muggy. Not in front of boys. You might be popular with the boys, but you''re too irritating. ''Because Comet told me to wear a white bra. I took it off. ''What? ...... comet, I''m don''t know. ......'' I''m the one who''s a bit of a donkey, Rinne. Why do you carry around so much underwear? I''m a pervert now. I''m fine with being a criminal. ''I don''t think Comet was this perverted at the gymnastics festival, but that was his true nature, wasn''t it? ''That''s right. I am an ugly animal. ''I can''t allow a guy like that to go out with Alina. ...... I won''t forgive him for taking away my school idol. ......'' ''No, we ain''t dating. ''What? No?'' ''I''m not in a relationship. I''m serious. ''Uh-huh. Then who told you that Alina told me?'' ''...... it''s for real''. It''s true. I wonder if it''s been that way since the gymnastics festival. The cheerleaders and ex-cheerleaders tilt their heads in silent contemplation. I saw an opening and ran. Nothing good happens when I get involved with Hanaya. Behind me, she said, ''Mr. Sakaki''s having s*x with me! I heard her charming voice. I didn''t even peep into her bathroom or anything like that, but it was disgraceful. It seems he wants to end my life as a pervert. Even if I throw a party, there is no way out since we are in the same class. I thought that the only way to punish the pervert is to fight him with perverts, following the "an eye for an eye" theory, but I''d better not do that because Japan will sink if I become a pervert. When I hear the word "summer," I think of active things. Especially the sea and swimming pools. Although they are the most popular events, unfortunately, there is no pool class for third graders. I feel sorry that I can''t show my naked body to all the female students in Japan, but please wait for me. I will publish a photo book someday, so please calm down. As you know, I know that all the life forms in the galaxy are waiting to see Alina in her swimsuit, not me. However, such an event will not happen. I am afraid of the sea. Let''s go to the beach! The bully Tsuru suggested it with the intention of causing Comet Sakakiki''s drowning. She wants to drown me. I can''t. I''m scared. ''Yeah~ pathetic~'' ''You can''t do it. I''ll spend my summer vacation studying. ''Maybe you''ll get to see us in our swimsuits?'' ''Send me a picture.'' ''Moo.'' It sounds like fun, but as someone who does not want to have regrets when applying to college, it was not a priority. It is nothing compared to the high school entrance exam. It''s the first big decision in your life, and you only live once. Tsuru flinched in the face of my strong will. The game has begun. ''Not to mention me, Alina''s swimsuit! ''Send me a picture.'' ''Heh~. I was going to get oiled. ''Send me a picture.'' ''Don''t say that word.'' ''Send me a picture.'' ''Oh, my God-- huh. You''re too stubborn. ''Ha ha! If you want to take me down, you''re going to have to get yourself a crane! Ha ha!'' I won. I beat the brilliant crane! I knew the homecomers were the best! ''Well, let''s study together ......'' ''Then good.'' ''What a waste of your last summer. Study fool. ''If you don''t struggle in your own stupid way, you''ll end up as an idiot. Let''s ask Tsuru-sama to teach us. ''Well, that''s OK. ......'' The crane reluctantly withdrew and returned to his seat. I''m sorry, Tsuru. I really wanted to lick and roll around in that gal''s bathing suit. But the exam is more important. Do you want to see mine ......? The voice was Alina. When I turned around, she was leaning forward, her eyes rolling back in curiosity. She''s so cute! Garth! I was a little nervous because it was getting a little difficult to talk to him. ''It''s not that I want to see them or anything, you know. ......'' ''I''m sorry, that was a mean question. How are your studies going? Mock exams and so on.'' ''That''s not so bad. If I keep it up and raise it even more, I think I''m in a safe place.'''' ''Yeah. That''s good. ''What about you?'' ''I''m fine. I''m getting A''s most of the time. I don''t really trust the grades on the practice exams. ''That''s great. It''s amazing to get an A in a national university. ''That''s not true. It depends on the university. I wish I could get A''s or S''s with a little time to spare. I hope they all withdraw from the Center on the day of the Center due to diarrhea. I have to study, after all. Studying is a win-win situation, and it is very equal. No excuses. There are no hot scenes like in shounen manga where you suddenly awaken and gain true power. I''m sure Alina will be accepted to a national university without a hitch. We will not go to the same university. I wonder if she still wants to go out with him. Isn''t long distance hard? Can I understand human love when all I''ve ever loved is tomato juice? This summer, a machine will know love. Nationwide roadshow. After school. It''s Friday. Next week is the practice exam again, and too much urgency is a poison to my heart. I grab a broom and play Harry Potter with Makoto while I clean up. Tsuru made fun of me for having the mental age of a five year old, so I told him that it''s rude to talk to five year olds, and I followed up by telling all the toddlers in the country that it''s rude to talk to five year olds. Rest assured, I am on the side of the children. Don''t let that gal win. I stood up, slinging my bag over my shoulder. ''Ah. Me too ......'' Alina kept her mouth shut and stood still as she said this in a whisper. There is a pause, and I react in a hurry. Oh, oh. ''...... let''s go.'' OH! What the hell is going on here! This is what you call a romantic comedy! I was so nervous that I forgot how to walk. I couldn''t move my hands and feet alternately. My right foot and my right hand, and my left foot and my left hand come out together. I should look up how people walk on the internet. You''re crazy. ''I know. That''s the most I''ve heard in 17 years. By the way, when I was a little girl, I used to say ''crazy. Yeah, why does it only move like a robot? Even the sound effects are clunking. You''re going home together, isn''t that your girlfriend? I''ll try to keep the jokes to myself, because Alina is likely to get angry if I make a comment like, "I''m not a jokeer, I''m a jokeer. I am a single aristocrat......I am a single aristocrat....... I disciplined myself, muttering to myself. Alina and I are almost touching shoulders. I was fully focused on maintaining this delicate distance. Too much contact would be dangerous, too little distance would be dangerous. Yes, it was bad. The world is in trouble. Now, listen to me. The ozone layer is crying. Don''t let Mr. Freon gas out. ''Stop by a cafe. ......? Alina''s suggestion. Yes, a cafe. In Japanese, cafe. A place to have tea, a coffee shop. ''Shall we stop by? What do you mean, "drop by"? I''m so gross! Aah! I''m so embarrassed I want to die! I entered the coffee shop as it flowed. I feel a little more at ease since I have been to this coffee shop before, but what am I going to talk with Alina about for the next few hours? I can only talk about space, tomatoes, and foreign movies. Too geeky? Shut up and take a selfie. And then, as I''m taking my seat, I see this guy. "Aaaaah! ''Gaaaah! I pointed at him. It was Ugin. Ugin pointed at me as well. What''s up with your hair? Where''s my semi-long hair that I''m so proud of! You sold it to the Chinese! JK Ugin was having tea with her friends. Or rather, Eugin''s hairstyle has changed from the morning. Her semi-long hair has changed to a bobbed wavy hair with her forehead sticking out a little. She looks like a Hollywood actress. She is bewitching and bewitching beyond her years. My Sister...... where are you going? We have met at a very bad time. 112-change of character... ''Why ...... why the haircut ......'' I said, my mouth trembling in surprise at the sudden change. I''ve heard that when a girl changes her hair style, it''s when she has a big change of heart. If it''s about a man, then I''m going to be tasked with a mission. I''m going to kill him once and for all. I went to the hairdresser! ''Hairdressers are those, like, body modification...'' ''Be quiet, people are watching. It''s embarrassing. Ugin doesn''t take me seriously and replies in a snippy tone. It looks good on you, but don''t be surprised. I''ve never seen my sister''s hair like that before. So. You''re going on a date with Alina? ''You idiot. Alina and I were going to have a heated discussion about dinosaurs in the Cretaceous ......'' Wait a minute. Alina remembers Ugin? How do you recognize Ugin? How do you handle Comet Sakakiki''s sister? As an only child, it must be difficult to sort out your memories. After all, Ugin is the official sister of the city hall. No, of course not. He glances at Alina. She''s smiling quietly. Hmm, it''s hard to tell. ''Uh-huh. That''s my brother. ...... Ugin''s friends seem to be whispering and asking who I am. Okay, here it is. Ugin. Don''t be so formal. Just call me ''bro. ''Oh, shut up! Don''t talk! ''Okay, okay. That''s it. He holds his head in shame. He must be ashamed to call an unidentified life form "bro" in public. He won''t say anything for a while. I sit down and look at the menu and ask how Alina is doing. I''ll have this one. It was a pancake topped with a heaping pile of cream. When I saw it, I remembered the aquarium. I had ordered something similar at that time. Back then, Alina was still a prickly little thing. We each order something, and then we are alone again. I asked her directly. Do you remember Ugin? No. I knew your name and that you existed, but I had never met you before. I see. The Sakakiki family in general is bad? Or rather, everything about me is bad. It''s as if the Sakaki gene has been banned. The consistent memory retrieval seems to be going well. Hide it well. He''s surprisingly perceptive about this sort of thing. ''Okay. I''m sorry. ''Don''t apologize. There''s nothing wrong with it. ''You''re so sweet. I''m glad.'' ''Ugh! Every word is a weight. I can''t have a decent conversation without invoking jokes. This is melting me down. ''Can you tell me about the day you met? ''Um, it''s, uh, it''s, uh...'' ''The very first day I met you''. That autumn when I met the poisonous rose. The day I met her in the library, staring at the bookshelves in discontent after being kidnapped by Mr. Akakusa. I told her. Since that day, we have been spending time together after school, sometimes abused, sometimes beaten up, and sometimes saved by her smile. I learned Alina''s secrets and meddled with her deeply. I experienced a lot, I met a lot. ''It''s not natural that I fall in love with you''. ''Yes, wait a minute. Stop saying things that suddenly make my heart stop. ''Because, isn''t that right?'' ''I wonder about that. ......'' The order arrives, and you immediately start to eat. I concentrate on the Neapolitan dish, trying not to be distracted by her happy smile. Tomatoes are wonderful, after all. I wonder if we''re going to have a study session during the summer vacation. ''Maybe. Tsuru will take the initiative again. ''Hmm. Let''s study so much that you''ll love studying. I''m scared. I''m going to hell if I don''t get someone dumber than me to show up. Time passes like a muddy stream in this last year. The long, slow holidays are but a blink of an eye compared to last year. I guess it feels that way because I''m making every day more intense with my studies. The time when Alina and I stopped by a coffee shop was not so long ago, but it feels as if it were in the distant past. That is why I am in a hurry to do something that I will regret if I do not do it. Maybe I''m getting too attached to the last, but anyone would feel the same way if they were in a process that they would never experience again. It''s so early! Makoto muttered in a way that sounded like he wanted attention. ''It''s certainly too soon. It''s hard to believe that half of the year is already over and summer vacation starts tomorrow. At this rate, retirement will be here in a flash. I can''t wait to enjoy the slow life of old age. It will hurt if we don''t work hard now and invest in the future in order to have a slow life. Everyone has different needs, especially me who has no vision in my mind, but I will be in trouble if I don''t work harder than anyone else. The worst thing is to have nothing when you are in a tight spot. And I have to decide my answer to Alina during this summer vacation. What should I do? What are my options? What does she want? I didn''t have much to say to Alina before the summer break. It was just a day of passively listening to the usual school assembly, safety instructions before the summer vacation, until what time at night, where not to go, and so on. Last year, I would have set up a starting block in the hallway for a crouching start just to go home, but not this time. I guess this is what I call the calmness of an adult. I''ve grown up, haven''t I? I''m home. Welcome home, what''s up bro? Ugin, who now looks like a Hollywood actress, looks at me and has a puzzled expression on her face. ''Nothing wrong with that. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. Last year, before the summer vacation, you were so noisy. ''I''m an adult now. You little girls should be taking selfies. And swim around the net.'' ''Ugh! Where the hell do you find a high school girl who shows up at the door with chopsticks and salted fish? There she is! My sister! It''s hopeless. Why does Ugin have an old man''s tongue? My brother is sad and crying. I lie down in my room and think about what I''m going to do during my month-long summer vacation. ''Oh, ......''. He sounds weak and disheveled. The futon is still hot and humid. The sound of cicadas is coming in from outside. The strong sunlight is giving me a slight headache and my head is not working properly, so I stop thinking and close my eyes. The first couple of days are good for nothing. The teachers did not assign much homework for us students, and there is nothing to be done in the course of the day. It is going to be a hard summer vacation, not only for studying but also for Alina. 113-eoin ''Huh, it''s hot.'' I leaned back in my chair and stretched out. I groaned and opened my eyes, and before I knew it, there was a large iridescent cloud looking down at me from far away outside the window. I gazed at it as if tracing its outline, entranced by its sheer size. What am I doing?) I glance at the phone on my desk. Even though I know it won''t ring at the right moment, I can''t help hoping it will. And then you pick up your pencil again and resume your studies. There is no such thing as compromise in the exam. You have to think that your rivals will take advantage of your slackness, and if you don''t do your best, they will soon overtake you. Since I did not have any plans for the summer vacation, I decided to lead a regular life for the time being. I woke up at the same time and went to bed at the same time. I would take a walk or listen to music for a change of pace. If I study all day long to the point that my head is spinning, I will reach my limit in three days, so I try to keep my life neither too loose nor too tight. Are you feeling okay? ''Yeah. I think my academic performance is good for now if I keep up the good work. ''No, it''s my health. I was licking ice cream in the living room when my mother approached me with concern. Don''t worry, I''m doing fine. I''m fine. ''Well, that''s good. I''m not going to tell you anything about the exam because I trust you. Alina will be fine. ''Thank you. I''ll do my best! If I get accepted to my first choice, will I be able to repay the favor? If my mother, who has been bothering and worrying me for so long, is happy, I''ll be happy. I won''t go to the same university as Comet. I''m sure of it. Our courses are completely different, and our academic abilities are not equal. We will be apart in less than a year, that''s for sure. I was tossed around by these circumstances and the strong emotions I experienced for the first time, and I said some things that were out of character for me at that time. Just remembering it makes my face burn. I can''t get his confused face out of my mind. I didn''t think he would be so confused when I told him I loved him. I never thought that I would have told him how I felt before that, but it was all in hindsight. If only... If I had received a positive word... What would you do? What happens? I feel like an idiot asking myself questions that I know I know. I don''t want to leave him. I feel sad and bitter that he will graduate from the box of the classroom and fly away to a place I don''t know. No matter how much I reach out to him, I will never be able to catch up with him. That''s why I wanted a connection. People who know my true feelings would probably call me arrogant. I don''t think it''s in my nature either. But I think everyone would abandon themselves if they had something in front of them that only comes around once in their lives. I can say with certainty that it is coming for me. When? I don''t care when. I don''t have any plans. Oh, no, you''re not going on a date with Comet?" ''No, I won''t! You can''t call it a date. ......!'' But you said you two had tea alone after school. ''That was just, you know, an accident or something. ......'' ''Hmm? Yarashi~" Let''s get back to the topic! Tsuru called me and told me about the study group we had been talking about. ''So you''re sure Alina is available anytime? ''''Yes.'''' ''What about the location?'' ''Location? Maybe at home. Then go to Comet''s house! ''No, I can''t! I can''t do it! Why? Why? ''...... do'' Yes, sir, I can''t hear you. ''...... nervous, I''m nervous! It''s so cute! Alina, you''ve become so cute! Oh, God, no. ....... I''m so nervous that I can''t concentrate on my studies. I heard that I went to his house on New Year''s Day, but I don''t remember it, so it''s even more impossible. Besides, I don''t know how to get along with Ugin-chan yet, and he might feel uncomfortable if I visit him. I''ll think of something and we''ll just have fun, okay? ''That''s fine, but not at his house. Absolutely not. ''Aye, aye, aye, aye, aye, aye. See you later. If we end up at his house, I''ll buy a sedative. Maybe I''ll lose my cool. If I do something shameful, I''ll have a crane kill me. At least I''ll die clean. I tuck my hair back to let the air flow around the nape of my neck and get into the mood. I have to do my best! I stood up tall and went to my desk again. Two days later. It''s hot again today, so hot that I start sweating just by moving a little. I was amazed at how the cicadas were able to sing so energetically. I would collapse if I sang on such a hot day. So I ran into the air-conditioned living room and watched a rerun of a ghost show. I don''t believe in ghosts. While I was watching the show, my phone rang. It was a call from Tsuru. ''Yes, I''m Nippa. ''Alina? Listen to me calmly. I just called Ugin-chan. I remember exactly what she said. It rang in my head over and over, as if bells were ringing. And I remember the phone hanging up and what I was going to do. But I did nothing. Lost. Everything, noisily. On my knees, hands on the floor. A terrible despair gnaws at my chest and I can''t stand. I have to go... Yes, to him. To be with him. But the door is far away. My heartbeat blurs my vision. No, it''s my heavy breathing. Why is the world so cruel? What have I done to him that he should be punished for? All I want is to be with him. Why won''t anyone forgive me for that? Why can''t I remember him? Why can''t we be closer? When you come near, I pull away, when I reach out, you go away. Comet is in a coma from ischemia. Tsuru''s voice was not a lie. I knew he was telling the truth, but I wanted to tell him it was a lie. A sharp, painful feeling welled up in me like a gouge in my chest, and I cried, unable to hold back my sobs. So miserable. Even though I held my mouth, air and voice leaked out with each sob. What if I had died? I cried, thinking things I should never think. And I thought that I might never hear his voice again. I haven''t even heard his answer yet. 114-lost One empty seat in the classroom. It was his seat. He was close enough to reach out and touch my shoulder. But he was far away. Without a word. He didn''t wake up after summer vacation. I didn''t know much about his illness, but all I knew was that he had fallen into a coma due to damage from cerebral ischemia. The doctors told the Sakakikis to be prepared, but he is still alive a month later. Still, there were no signs of his awakening. Did you go to the comet ......? Makoto Takane asked me timidly. Yes. ''Will that ...... comet be saved?'' ''You''ll definitely be saved.'' ''I see. ......'' ''If you''re his best friend, you better believe it.'' There''s nothing we can do for him now. All we can do is fold our hands and pray. It''s the only thing I can do, and I feel so frustrated and helpless. There''s really nothing I can do. Visitation was restricted, so I couldn''t go often. Besides, it would be very inconvenient for his family for me, a stranger, to visit him so often. So I prayed silently. That I would hear his voice again. That I could talk to him again. I prayed every day, hoping that by praying like that, he would appear in a flash. Word of the comet''s fall spread quickly, but over time, fewer and fewer people talked about him. I was more angry than sad. But there are people who care. ''Senpai. Is it true that Comet has collapsed? I was studying in the library when Taku Nakatani, a junior student, came up to me and said in a whisper. Yes. That''s right. ''Was it for real? ...... Is Comet senior still in a coma?'' ''If I wasn''t, I''d be going to school.'' ''Oh no,...... why of all people would Comet Senpai have to go through this,......'' ''It can''t be helped. It''s not someone''s malice or an accident. No, it''s no one''s fault. He is fighting against himself. Even though I knew that, I couldn''t help but feel the need to take my anger out on him. As Mr. Nakatani said, ''Why are you doing this to him? I always had a feeling in my heart to yell at him. Even though I knew it would make no sense. ''You like Comet-senpai, don''t you, ......?'' He said it guiltily. ''Yes. I reply shortly. It is also my answer to Nakatani. I have felt his favor since junior high school. I think I expected more or less when the comet disappeared from my side. I did not blame him for that. It''s natural for a human being to have that kind of s*xuality. Not only him, but other boys seemed to be thinking the same thing, and they started approaching me more and more under the guise of sympathy. They would ask me about the comet''s condition and then quickly digress to focus on me. I was terribly uncomfortable with the fact that they were using him as a topic of conversation, but I just kept my cool and let it slide. I knew he would be sad if I was furious and yelled at him. I didn''t want to ruin what he had done for me. ''Alina. Thank you for your sympathy. My brother would probably be happy to hear that. Maybe. I was allowed to visit Ugin-chan in her presence, and I entered the quiet hospital room. He seemed to be sleeping peacefully, but his oxygen tube and heart rate monitor gave me the creeps. He looked a little thinner than when I had seen him before. My heart rate increased as I thought he was losing his vitality. Ugin sat in a chair and stared at him silently. As I stood there, she pulled out a chair and motioned for me to sit down. ''Brother, you were a little strange a few days before you collapsed,'' she said. He said he had a laziness and a headache, and his speech was slurred and he was tilting his head. I found out later that he had aphasia. It''s scary, isn''t it? I gradually lost all of my ''words'' - speaking, reading, and writing. Loss of language. I closed my mouth at that strong word. What do you think was my brother''s last word? ''What was that?'' ''To-ji, teena. Do you understand? ''...... No'' ''I want to drink tomato juice. My brother is really an idiot! I really wish it was a joke like usual...'''' Ugin-chan laughed and immediately became quiet. Her lonely back was too cruel to watch. They both fell silent, and in the stillness of the space, only his pulse moved on the monitor. He is still alive. But no one knows for how long. As I left the hospital room and said goodbye to Ugin, he said this to me. ''Alina-san. My brother, I might not make it. Of course I trust that it won''t come to that, but it is very possible. So please think about it carefully. I was so taken aback by Ugin''s open declaration of the possibility of my brother''s death that I could not open my mouth. Her pragmatic nature was very much like his, and the strength of her resolve even terrified me. Normally, I would never say such a thing because it would be a bad omen. But she was not afraid to say it. But I am sure you will be fine. Love transcends theory. The look on her face, smiling wickedly, was like his again. It had been perhaps a year since I had met him. It was autumn. The application for the center exam was over, and in a few months, the year would be over and the entrance exam would begin. His consciousness is still missing and no progress has been made. That''s rather comforting. Because when there is progress, it can only end in awakening or worse. I don''t want to think about the latter. When the topic of the festival came up, I thought back to last year''s festival. He is not in my memory. In my notebook it was written that I went around the school with him, but I had no such memory. My memory of the comet does not come back, nor does his consciousness. It seems as if the invisible man is trying to separate us. I cursed my fate. His consciousness did not return in the winter. And steadily became a part of our daily lives. 115-mischief of guidelines... You became skinnier and skinnier, and I was afraid that you were grooming your wings to fly far away. The schoolyard was a carpet of silver, as white as your skin in the sun. My breath was white, and my numb fingertips were also morbidly pale. The time for students is very short, the winter break and the New Year''s holiday are fleeting. Is it because you know the end is in sight, or is it simply because you are so focused and oblivious to time? Either way, the clock seemed to me to be dashing. ''Alina. The center is just a ticket! It''s still important, but for Alina''s school of choice, the second round is crucial! ''Yes, I know. ''But that doesn''t mean you can''t cut corners! Okay? ''It''s okay. I''m going to stay calm. Tsuru, who had already been accepted through the AO entrance exam, came to the center exam room to give me a pep talk. I''d better get going. I''m so cold I''m forgetting everything. ''Gah! Then hurry up and go, go, go! Hurry up and get in the greenhouse!'''' ''Yes, thank you, Crane. ''Go for it! Comets are cheering you on in your dreams, too! ''I wish you could talk in your sleep. Thank you, Tsuru. She kept waving at me until I entered the venue. Your shadow was everywhere. I was especially annoyed by the backs of tall men. The moment I jumped out of a crowded train and looked up the stairs, or when I stretched my back while writing in a caf , or when I caught sight of you in the front row of a university lecture, his image would appear unexpectedly in my vision. Even though I knew I was mistaking him for someone else, it was enough to affect my psyche. ''Arina, haven''t you joined the circle yet? I am often asked such a question. Not only this time, but it is a question I have been asked ever since I entered the school. I have no intention of joining at the moment. I''m too busy. ''Do you have a part-time job or something?'' ''I haven''t yet, but I''m planning to start in the next month or so. I see. But our circle is not that active and I think Alina would like it. ''''I''ll think about it. I refuse as usual. The male seniors, whom I do not know, are eager to talk to me. I know they have ulterior motives, which is why I refuse, but above all I want to have some free time. Time to study, time for hobbies, time to visit him. I wanted to make time for various things. As a result, I was accepted to the school of my first choice and graduated from high school. After being a flowery high school girl, I started a new four years as an enchanting college girl. I had a hard time getting used to living alone and having to do everything by myself. But I am enjoying my days very much. Thanks to him, I had no trouble making friends. I got along with him quickly, and my friendships grew very wide. I met more people than I could have ever imagined in high school. Looking back, I think it all started when I met him. If I had not met him, I would not have had any contact with Tsuru, nor would I have met Shirana, Yuri, or Rinne. I will never forget the memories of the gymnastic festival. I cried at the graduation ceremony because I was so sad to leave them. My heart was rolling in such a good direction. The intercom rang. On the monitor, I saw Chiho waving at me. ''Come in, come in. ''Sorry to disturb you! I knew Alina''s room smelled good~! Chiho Sakuraba was the first friend I met in college. We met out of the blue during a lecture, when she asked me, ''Are you a model or something? I was so excited that she happened to be standing next to me and asked me to join her. I''m not a model. Since then, we have often spent time together. She is what is called a cool type of girl, and men often make fun of her as a ''cold-eyed girl'', but she has an active personality. People around us think that Chiho and I are similar in the direction of appearance, but our personalities are like oil and water. I wonder every time, have you read all of these books? ''I only put books on my bookshelf that I''ve read. Books are not interior design. ''I''m not as well-read as Alina, so I can''t say much, but I understand. Chiho looked at my bookshelf. Then Chiho picked up a graduation album on the bottom shelf of the bookshelf. It''s your graduation album! Can I see it! ''I''m embarrassed. ......'' ''You''re going to say you''re embarrassed with your good looks? Girls all over the country are going to be furious, aren''t they?'''' ''All right, let''s see it: ......'' Chiho sat down on a girl''s seat and unfolded the album. I was embarrassed, but together we looked through the photos again, which were filled with memories of the past three years. I had to laugh at how unhappy I had looked in the first year. I was a problem child among problem children at that time, so I was only in the group photo by chance or by chance. I had so many unhappy faces that I just wanted to squirm. Things clearly changed when I entered the second grade. I am smiling more and more, and I am aware of the camera''s presence in the picture. It must have been after meeting Comet. I don''t remember, but he seemed to be having a lot of fun, and I envied him even though it was me. ''Alina hasn''t changed at all! ''I''m seventeen forever. ''Your hair looks almost the same as it did in your graduation year. Do you know what a college debut is? ''I know, but I like me best now.'' ''Really? Is that because your boyfriend likes Alina now or something?'''' ''I told you before. I don''t have a boyfriend. ''It''s strange that Alina can''t have a boyfriend in this world~'' ''I said no. You can make as many as you want if you want. ''What''s that room for? Make one for me! ''I''m kidding. I just don''t want it. I was surprised at the different scale of college students'' love lives from those in high school. I was surprised that it was normal to have boyfriends and girlfriends, and I was also surprised that some of them were dating working people. I often felt that this is what it means to be halfway into society, and at the same time, I often thought that this is what it means to be an adult. Do you have a boyfriend in high school, Alina? Her casual words made me nervous. ''No, I don''t.'' ''Then who is this person? I''m often in the picture with Alina.'' She pointed to Comet. He''s in my class. ''''What''s your name?'''' You''re being awfully pushy.'' ''Alina''s not too keen on the idea either. Because I don''t want to say too much about him. But I think it''s funny that I''m so tight-lipped about it. His name is Comet Sakakiki. ''Sakisui. Oh, wow. Let''s see... ......... but... but...?'' She looked for his name. On a page with pictures of alumni. Hm? Which class? We''re in the same class, right?'' ''I can''t find him anywhere. ''Did you change schools?'' No.'' ''Eh, well, that ......'' Chiho paled slightly and her eyebrows furrowed. She had an uneasy expression on her face, as if she had asked something she shouldn''t have. I felt sorry for her, so I decided to talk to her. He is in the hospital. That''s why he couldn''t graduate. ''Oh yeah ...... poor ......'' ''Yes, very much.'' ''What kind of disease is it? Will it heal properly?'' ''No one knows. Where he is, where he is, what he''s thinking. Which words to choose. Even God doesn''t know. It will soon be a year since he went into a coma. Still, I will wait forever. I haven''t gotten an answer from him yet. 116-Time. I thought the world would change dramatically when I grew up. I thought that my view of the world, or my view of life, or my view of life, would clearly and visibly change, but I didn''t really feel it. On the day I easily turned 20, I celebrated myself by eating a shortcake. When I think of the things I can do when I turn 20, I immediately think of such tastes as alcohol and cigarettes. So I took a sip of beer, a favorite of adults, but it was not something I could drink at all. It was very bitter and left a strange sensation on my tongue. (How can you drink such a thing? ......) With this in mind, I always serve alcohol. Chiho introduced me to a part-time job at a slightly expensive restaurant famous for its face-painting. Working there, I naturally learn about various kinds of food, regardless of alcohol. When I peek into the kitchen, I can see professionals with serious faces moving their fingers beautifully and breathing life into their dishes. It makes me a little angry that customers who do not know their craftsmanship serve leftovers with a casual look on their faces. It''s sad, isn''t it? I asked him about that between breaks. I wanted to know how they felt about being left with a product they had worked so hard to shape. Though their creations are different, they too are creators who make something out of nothing. I thought that there might be something in common with my ultimate goal in life, which is to be a writer, so I asked them a question, knowing that it would be rude to be rude, and they responded Cooking is the meaning of my life. If I can make people smile or leave with a happy feeling, I am truly happy. But I''m never completely satisfied with that. ''''Why is that? I''ve been in this business for more than 20 years now, and I''ve never made a dish that scored a hundred points. When I''m done cooking and just before I leave my hands to bring it to your table, I take a bird''s eye view, just like young kids take a picture with their cell phones before they eat. I wonder what the score will be this time. But I didn''t get a perfect score. I''d like to give them a perfect score, but I haven''t gotten there yet. In his mid-forties, he chuckled and scratched his head. I listened to the rest of his story as I ate their makanai and thought, ''How can they be so strict when it''s so good? So I want to get a hundred points before I die. If I made it, I would hesitate to serve it to my guests because it would be too good. ''I wish I could keep it forever. It''s sad because once it''s in your stomach, it''s with you. ''On that note, I like the novelist you''re aiming for, Alina. She will remain in the world forever. I bet people in the past never thought that their poems and stories would still be told a thousand years later. But that''s how great they are. ''In the extreme, it''s great to create. We all know the saying that breaking something is easy, but few people actually know the weight of it. I was one of them, but I think I was able to touch a glimpse of it through this part-time job. That alone was a great accomplishment. I started this part time job for the money, but what I got out of it was beyond my imagination, and it made me realize that you can''t understand and see things unless you try. Now that I am a sophomore in college, I have gotten used to life, and in two years I will be starting a new career. My first priority was to become a writer, so I had no idea where I would find a job. Just as I was starting to get a little impatient, Tsuru asked me at the right time if I wanted to go out for a drink. I received a text message inviting me to join. I immediately said yes, thinking I would ask him for advice even though I do not like to drink alcohol. I was shocked to see Tsuru, who I had not seen for a long time, with completely dyed brown hair and bright red lipstick. She asked me, "Have you been sucking human blood? ''I bought the wrong one! I was going to buy a thinner one. ...... It would be a waste not to use it.'' ''Be careful not to get caught by a bad man. That''s the only thing I''m worried about. We entered a bar that Tsuru frequented, and she ordered a ''vodka tonic'' cocktail, which sounded like a bad idea. I, who did not know much about alcohol, was terrified, so I asked for a ''Kalua Milk,'' which sounded gentle. I hoped it was just plain milk. Cheers to our long-awaited reunion! ''Yes, cheers. He clinks his glass and takes a sip. Then I understood. This is a drink that looks like milk. And isn''t it quite strong? ''Alina, you haven''t changed at all! ''''I get that a lot.'''' ''It''s more bewitching and more beautiful. ...... Alina is going to be a witch, isn''t she? I''m jealous that she doesn''t look like she''s going to age at all! ''We''re not twenty yet. I''m going to be wrinkled like a dried plum, and people will hate me too. ''You''re totally prejudiced! Oh, how I wish I had been born with an actress face like Alina''s... I wish we could have swapped faces...'''' She gets drunk too fast. But she was a drunkard, despite her tendency to get drunk easily. She did not know how to control it. She ordered a lot of bad-looking cocktails and emptied them quickly. He would have said, ''I''d rather be a worm and clean the soil than be reincarnated in your liver. I must be drunk to even think such a thing. I asked him what I wanted to ask him before I went under. How are you going to get a job, Tsuru? ''I''m going to law school! Law school law school! Ho-kaa! ''''What''s that?'''' ''I want to be a lawyer. ''What! Why? I didn''t expect that! ''That''s so cool! My parents are prosecutors, and because of their influence, I''ve wanted to be one since I was a little girl. So until I pass the bar exam, I can''t call myself a working adult yet. That''s great. When I''m in a pinch, I''ll have Tsuru defend me. ''I''ll do my best to crush them! I had never heard that she wanted to be a lawyer, so I was surprised when she sobered up. I thought I had understood her unexpectedness in high school because of her mysteriousness, but three years was not enough. So, what about Alina? Are you job hunting or something?'''' I don''t think so. I haven''t even thought about where I''m going to work. ''Hmmm. Well, Alina has a sleeping prince, right? It''s more about marriage than finding a job, right! ''The opposite, the opposite. You''re too drunk. ''Why don''t you just kiss it! Maybe you''ll wake up like in Sleeping Beauty!" ''Someone help ......'' ''Don''t worry, don''t worry! I''ll defend you! She''s lost it. ''Is Alina going to the reunion next year?'' ''I''m going just in case. I haven''t moved my address yet, so I''ll be in my hometown for the coming-of-age ceremony. ''Yay! Yay! Yay!'' I decide to cut this short before I end up like her. If I drink any more, I''m going to vomit and I''ll have to handle it. I liked the watch. I am strangely attracted to this machine that quietly ticks away, receiving no instructions from anyone, and tells us the time. This does not mean that I am a watch fanatic, nor do I aspire to a luxury wristwatch. I never liked digital watches. Something is missing, and I don''t enjoy it. I like the way the hands move. Recently, I learned that expensive watches do not tick every second. I can''t deny that it''s a little late for that, but the smooth movement of the hands is beautiful. But I still like the ticking of a second. It reminds me of the school clock on the wall. When I heard that there was a store specializing in clocks in my neighborhood, I decided to go and take a look, even though I had no intention of buying one. It was a store that had everything from brand-name watches to old watches, and it had a unique atmosphere as if the owner had opened it as his hobby. There were many watches ranging from those that looked like something out of a fairy tale to those that looked like something a wealthy person would wear. One thing you will notice immediately when looking at them is that they are all very different. They have their own time. Few of the clocks point to the current time. Maybe none of them do. In other words, they are almost always secondhand. Some people may be a bit germaphobic, but from a different perspective, these clocks have spent a certain amount of time in a certain place in the world. What a wonderful place to store. I was glued to one of the watches. It was a common clock, a clock that everyone has seen. It was that ordinary black and white clock in the classroom. The time was 5:05 p.m. It was after school. Dusk in summer, the moon in winter. It happened to point to that time. At that moment, a heat rose from the center of my chest and spread to every corner of my body. When I realized that I was crying, I realized something else. I had to tell him. He twirls the Neapolitan around his fork. I am putting a knife into a pancake. This was a memory of the aquarium. That''s not all. I remember reading in the art room, almost getting my feet caught in the crimson mermaid line, walking into his room, making chocolate for him. These memories seem like hallucinations. But they are definitely my memories, my lost memories. About two and a half years. I finally have you back. 117-sometimes light and sometimes heavy five letters... The weather was not favorable and trains were delayed. It is mid-January, so it is not surprising that there is snow on the ground, but this year''s snowfall was not so heavy. There were only small piles of dirty, grayish snow in the back alleys where the sun did not shine. Only the cold air was as usual. Without gloves, I could not move my fingertips properly. I check the map on my phone, look up, and look for the signboard that lights up against the night sky. There was no way I could easily find my destination on the street, which was overloaded with information like an advertisement on a shopping site, since I have a poor sense of direction. It was cold, crowded, and hard to find. I finally arrived at my destination just before I lost my mind. I was on time for the meeting, but it was just before the meeting time, so I entered the restaurant right away. I was sorry. I got lost and was late. The men cheered when they saw me. They were grinning so much, it was weird. As I stood there, not knowing where to sit, Tsuru took me by the hand and led me to a seat. I thought you weren''t coming. Thank goodness. I forgot you''re directionally challenged. And the train is bad.'' ''Well done for getting there! That''s all of you! Most of my classmates from senior year are here. We had our coming-of-age ceremony yesterday, and today is our class reunion. Seeing my classmates for the first time in almost two years made me feel nostalgic. Some of them have changed so much that I didn''t recognize them at first, and some of them have not changed at all. It seemed like a long time ago that I spent three years wearing the same uniform with them. Even though it was only two years ago. The volume of everyone''s voices rose unbelievably with the alcohol. They probably couldn''t hear themselves very well. I was barely drunk because I was hiding and sipping oolong tea. So I was on the listening side, talking to the ladies and silencing Hwasai who tried to take off her clothes. At first the seats were broken into pieces and people were moving around regardless of gender. One of the members who happened to be there was Masao Tanaka, with whom I spent a lot of time although we did not have much to do with each other. We had no contact since the gymnastic festival, and graduated without much progress beyond a brief conversation about comets. Feeling a little more open, I took the plunge and spoke to him. ''Masao-kun. Do you remember me? ''Of course. The gymnastic festival is a memory I will cherish for the rest of my life. He had the physique of a bodybuilder in high school, but now he''s even more upgraded. But his .50s were still the same. I won''t go into the details because of the sadness of the situation. What are you doing now? I''m on the football team at university. I''m not a homecoming team anymore. ''As it should be. It''s just like you. ''Is that so?'' ''Yes. I think you''d be great at it. I''m going to cheer for you if you make the Japan national team. ''Oh no, I can''t do that, I''ve only been doing this for two years. But I will try my best. At the time, he would not have said ''I''ll do my best. He was an introvert, always lacking in confidence, his gaze fixed at an angle. I still vividly remember the scene when Comet was trying hard to improve him by praising him during the inter-company relay practice. I was impressed that he showed such a glimpse of ambition. ''Um, that ......''. ''What''s wrong with you. You''ve suddenly become so reserved like you used to be. ''Do you know anything about comets ......?'' He asked me so that no one around me could hear. ''Yes. He''s still sleeping. ''I see. ......'' When he heard my answer, he kept his eyes down and bit his lip. I want to thank you, Comet. Even though it was only for a few weeks, I learned very important things from you. I can walk with my chest out now, and I''ve decided to go to the reunion. That''s why I wanted to tell you here. ...... I see. I''m very sorry. ''''Yes, I know. It''s a pity because I have a lot to say to him too. ''I''m sorry. It''s the hardest thing for Alina. ''''Don''t worry about it.'''' That''s not true. It''s the Comet family that suffers the most. I''m just... I''m just arrogant. I''d like to meet the other ex-homecoming club members. I wonder how Takakura, Eiji, and Rinne are doing. ''Yes, I do. Takakura-kun must be on the path of the elite. ''''We''ll meet again sometime.'''' The power of alcohol is frightening and can easily break down one''s rationale. Especially the men. They are more excited about love-related matters than the ladies. I was caught in the middle of it. He has been telling me for the past two years how much he likes me, saying that he likes Alina. As you can imagine, I was a difficult and swollen thing to deal with at the time, but I felt guilty, so I dealt with him with a wry smile on my face. Hiu. I actually liked her! ''I know. I dumped you freshman year.'' It was Makoto Takane who screamed and held his chest. He too had dyed his hair a little and was making his college debut. He is a good friend of Comet''s and his face is bright red and he doesn''t take his hand off the beer mug. I thought that a drunken and troublesome guy had come, but I decided to talk to him because I was overwhelmed by nostalgia. ''By the way, you used to date Ryuka, didn''t you? ''''Don''t do that.'''' ''''You broke up with her?'''' ''Ah! We broke up! Aaahhhh!'' ''Why not?'' ''I can''t do long distance or something! I see. I felt a little sorry for you. So it is! I''m single now! ''Why are you talking like you''re divorced?'' ''Hiwa! I love it! ''Shut up. I''m calling the police. ''d*mn it! Well, it''s impossible. ......I was so scared. ......Hiwa, you''ve become even more beautiful. ......I was already scared. ......I asked you if you''re from Venus. ......Wow, I gotta go to the bathroom. ......'' ''Go on, go on. Don''t come back.'' I love you! ''Oh, shut up.'' I am convinced today that there is no one more troublesome than a drunken person. When I appealed to his refusal to have a conversation by covering one ear and drinking oolong tea, he finally got up and tried to go to the bathroom. But once again he looked back at me. ''I went to see Comet recently. He became serious, as if all his previous antics had been a lie. He put his empty mug on the table and continued. ''Wake up early,'' he said. Well, I slept soundly. ''It''s been like that the whole time.'' ''You still want to wait?'' The way he said it annoyed me, and it made my heart flutter. I could see my own brow crease. I was relieved. I guess that''s what you mean when you make that face. He also said this to Comet. If you don''t wake up, a beautiful woman will die alone. I wonder who this beautiful woman is. I wonder where I can find such a stupid woman. I don''t know. But I don''t think he''s stupid. ''Yeah?'' ''I usually can''t stand it. I go crazy thinking of all the bad endings. It''s not something anyone can just sit around waiting forever with their hands folded. With that as his defining line, he ran for the restroom. ''He''s a good guy, isn''t he? I chuckled and muttered. ''What? You remembered! ''''You''re talking too loud.'''' Tsuru, who was so drunk that he forgot how loud he sounded, told me that I had remembered everything about the comet. She rolled her eyes and fell back. I''m sorry! That means that the cultural festival and the first visit to ......! ''It''s embarrassing just to think back on it.'' ''Oh, ......, that''s so ...... bad.'' ''Stop crying. If you cry now, you''ll shed black tears with your makeup. ''Evidently! I''ll do my best! You just remembered that recently?'''' About six months ago. Maybe it was the watch. I happened to see that watch I''d seen so many times in high school at a store I stopped at. And it was like a chain of visions of him blossoming. ''''It''s strange.'''' This is probably the second time I''ve had that feeling. The first time was when my father died and all my memories before eighth grade came flooding back. Looking back, I realize how unstable I am. That''s why I thought he was such an unusual and amazing person to talk to someone with all the problems I had that day. I''m really embarrassed just to think back on it. He was always angry, always complaining. Just a child. Thank you, Tsuru. ''Alina''s thank you is very rare! Wow! I could not thank her enough for being a good friend to me. This is too big a feeling to convey in just five words of gratitude. How can I express it? ''Oh, my God! What, what, what? I hugged Tsuru tightly and muttered again. Is this the first time I hugged someone? I don''t remember. Or maybe I forgot. Thank you so much. I wonder if they''ll understand. Not with sound, but with my heart. I hope so. If I could, I could wake him up. I feel weird. Alina, you''re too drunk. ''I don''t want you to tell me.'' 118-Me Fork in the road Final origin WL of A... It is indeed difficult to keep waiting. Makoto''s words continued to echo quietly in my mind after the reunion. It would be easier if we knew the future. We can prepare ourselves for the coming moment. If our stories are also fixed by fate, then there is no point in waiting and hoping. Yes, it is similar to reading. The story inscribed on paper already has a fixed beginning and end. So let us pray to a metaphysical being. No matter how little hope or possibility. Do not mix ill will with the destinies you possess. Since I started to adopt such fatalism as one of my principles, I have felt a little less anxious. It''s not that I''ve become indifferent. I simply stopped waiting and accepted him as he was. I decided to concentrate on the fact that he was sleeping. You may think I''m crazy or weird, but I''m not a very strong person at heart, so please forgive me for this. I''m going crazy if I don''t. My essay submitted to a weekly magazine was published and I received 100,000 yen as a prize. I thought of using the money for living expenses, but since it never existed, I decided to buy something tangible to commemorate the occasion. The first thing that came to my mind was a wristwatch. I stopped by a local watch shop and happened to see a very simple black and white wristwatch with three hands. I was strongly attracted by the beauty of its uniqueness and bought it without hesitation. In no time at all, the 100,000 yen had flown away, but strangely enough, I had no regrets. I wonder how much time is off when this watch stops. Compared to his and my time discrepancies, a once-a-month time adjustment is a mere pittance. Three years. Three years, that''s the gap between him and me. I couldn''t hold his right hand as he lay on the bed like in a movie. I''m afraid to do it if it''s cold. I have a gift for you. Don''t get confused about what year it is and what time it is. I''m sure this second hand will help you. He left the hospital room, placing the watch gently beside a vase of flowers. I turned twenty-one without being aware that I was twenty or that I was an adult. Perhaps I had become accustomed to growing older, but I did not feel "special" when my birthday came. In the past, just turning one year older would have been a great joy and a great growth for me, but now I just think, ''Here I go again. I wonder if that is what it means to be an adult. I don''t think I fully understand it yet. As time goes by in my third year of college, I see a few students who are job hunting here and there. I thought it was too early for me to be a senior yet, but maybe I am just fundamentally late. I don''t know whether I am slow or fast because I don''t think about it at all. Where are the standards and averages? No? I''m not ready either.'' I asked Chiho during lunch in the cafeteria, and she did too. She said, ''I guess those who are fast are fast. Maybe. I don''t know either. ''I know you''re anxious. I wonder if I should start too. There are plenty of jobs out there, so you don''t have to think too much about it, do you? After consulting with Chiho, I felt that I had opened a path of destruction, so I decided not to talk about it. But if I don''t get my act together, I will end up as a job-hunter and have to spend my days fighting against pressure. Maybe it is time for me to get serious. Why don''t you just become a model? I think Alina is at a level where she can fight. I mean, fight! ''Unfortunately, I''m not that self-promotional. I guess I''m not like my mother in that respect. ''Alina''s mother used to be an actress, right?'' ''Model. I''m not. ''That''s great. Alina will definitely sell! I''ll buy it! ''I can''t because I''m afraid I''ll give the photographer the middle finger. I don''t like having the lens pointed at me. What a waste! You know what? There''s a story that if you take a picture with Alina, it will look super, you know? So let''s go! Enter the world of modeling with confidence!'' ''What''s that? That''s so annoying. I sighed and cast my eyes down, and Chiho came up to me with her phone in her hand. Startled by that, I tried to run away, but it was too late. ''You''ll call me oil and water again,'' she said. ''It''s okay! We''re cool girls, and we''re going to make the Internet world go crazy with our pictures!'''' ''My account that you forced me to create. Now I know why my followers are growing and growing. I was scared. I want to give you a taste of the fear of being supported by something you didn''t do anything about. ''Oh my God, what is that? I''m trying so hard to do my best, and it''s annoying to be followed so easily. How can you say that when you ignore the right of publicity? I open my phone to check and see that I have more followers. Chiho had already uploaded a photo she had just taken, brightly processed. She had already uploaded it with a tag that would lead back to me. I felt bad about not doing anything anymore, so I took a selfie with a blank expression on my face, lost in my blood. I added a single word, ''I''m eating food,'' in hiragana only, to give it a low-intelligence-quotient feel. The blank expression was a small protest. I disliked it at first, but since I posted the expressionless selfie the other day, I''ve been a little bit addicted to it. It was really an accident. I laughed at this so-called "need for approval". As expected, I was still embarrassed to be alone, so I took only two shots with Chiho. Because of this, there was a rumor that Chiho and I were homos*xual. I am a normal person. I''m straight. I have someone I like. It''s disgusting. But there was a good thing. A friend from high school found me and followed me. Shirana, Rinne, Yuri, Ryuka, and so on. Through this connection, I learned for the first time what they are doing and where they are now. Shirana is in beauty school, Rinne is a college student in Tokyo, Yuri plays tennis in college, and Ryuka is a member of a college drama club. I was so happy to know that they remembered me even though we had never seen each other since graduation. I have decided not to open it during lectures, but the urge to do so is simmering in the back of my chest. (This is what you call social networking addiction. ......) I tried to control myself by staring at the shining head of my professor to regain my composure. I''m sorry, Professor. You look like an octopus in the sun. I was concentrating on the lecture with my pen running. Suddenly my phone rang. Hiba-kun. Please put your phone on silent mode. I''m sorry, I''ll be careful. I hurried to the exit, apologizing for my heckling as the professor chastised me. I guess I was punished for staring at the professor''s head too long. As soon as I got out of the hallway, I checked my phone and found a call from Ugin-chan. I froze in place. Despair flashed in my mind. Ugin-chan and I send each other messages, but we rarely call each other. I can hear her voice by sliding my finger just a few centimeters. And I must. I know this, but my body won''t move. I feel like something is ending. It feels like it''s starting. The screen has gone dark. Because I didn''t answer. I lean against the wall, my strength slipping away. I''ll change the ringtone on my phone next time. It''s traumatizing. I put it away in my pocket, thinking that I would call back when I had calmed down. Tin-tin-tin-tin--. It rings again. I press my chest against my strong heartbeat. The rapid increase in heart rate makes me gasp for air. '' , ...... --'' I picked up my phone with determination. ''Yes, this is Hiwa. ''Alina-san! Excuse me! My brother--'''' 119-the story of me and him... It was hot. And frantic. I ran for the first time in a long time toward the university gate. On the other side of the gate, the road heated by the sun was shimmering with a shimmering flame. I knew that running in such temperatures would make me sweat and look sloppy, but I didn''t care. I run to the far stop instead of the usual stop in front of the university. I couldn''t wait thirty minutes. It would be much faster to run to the other stop. I boarded the bus, and while I was waiting for the bus to arrive at the station, I was replaying my memory. The day I met him. The day I went to the tennis court with him. The day I brought flowers to the rose garden. The day I modeled for the art club. The day I told him I had a double identity. The day I visited the student council. The day I went around the festival with him. The day I took him to my house. The day I went to the aquarium with him. The day Shirana confessed her feelings to him. The day we had a year-end party together. The day I went to his house for New Year''s. The day my father died. The day I remembered everything. The day I lost him. The day I fell in love with him again. The day I smiled at the gymnastics festival with him. The day I lost him again. The day I saw him not moving a muscle. Ever since then you''ve been stuck in me. In the rocking bus, in the rocking train, I replayed the memory of him over and over again. You have always been a light to me. You never disliked me for my problems, you always made me feel warm and fuzzy with your funny jokes. I forgot all those days once, but I will never forget you again. I''ll never forget you again. So-- so wherever you are, don''t forget me. I won''t forget you. As I pass through the ticket gate, I see a big hospital. For the first time in my life, I ran a red light. I couldn''t wait and no cars were coming, so I did it. I have been to the hospital so many times that the receptionist is now an acquaintance. So as soon as I passed through the automatic door, the receptionist rushed to me. Forgetting the coolness of the air-conditioning, I opened my mouth as if to twist it, my breath still ragged. Excuse me, I need a visitor''s pass...'''' ''Mr. Nichiwa, it''s all right. The receptionist is already here. ''''What?'''' Mr. Ugin took care of it for me. Please put it around your neck. Maybe I can''t represent you. You need to show your ID and get prior approval from a relative. So I realized this was a special case. Ugin and the nurse. Thank you very much. I left the word and headed for the elevator. Without hesitation, I pressed the button for the 8th floor, and gravity suddenly took hold of my legs. The force of the slow ascent was felt by me. The numbers were shifting, lighting up one by one to the right. 2,3,4,5,6....... A woman announces the eighth floor, and the door opens. I step out into the white corridor, turn right, and walk straight ahead. 812,813,814....... The numbers of the rooms are flowing. As I approached room 820, my heartbeat grew painfully strong. As I walked, I tried to control my breathing and fix my messy hair with my hand, taking care of my appearance. Room 820. I finally arrived at the hospital room I had visited so many times. I exhaled heavily and knocked on the door. Please come in," I heard Ugin-chan''s voice sounding cloudy. I sanitized my hands and put my hand on the door. It slid slowly open, and I peeked inside with trepidation. I see his father, his mother, and his sister. And the bed. ''Oh, it''s been a long time. Is the earth alright? Oh, it''s comet ....... It''s the comet I know. I held my mouth and burst into unbelievably big tears. My distorted face was so terrible that it was not an expression I could ever show to others. So I covered my face with my hands and cowered there. The sound was so full of my sobs that I couldn''t hear anything, but I could feel that he was near me. My hands were wet with tears, like on a rainy day. My sleeves and thighs were wet, and I felt really shabby. But at this time, I couldn''t keep being me. Because you know what? I was reunited with the love of my life. No one can hold themselves together. I couldn''t. And so his story and mine began again. A few days later. I was given the chance to see him again after his physical exam and brain scan. It was his day to go to college, but it didn''t matter. I didn''t care about anything else as long as I could talk to him. Yeah, I''m going to sound crazy. He was practicing walking in the rehab room. I was sorry to see him struggling to walk, holding on to a stick with both hands while being assisted, but it was funny. I watched him from afar and waited quietly for him to finish. ''He seems to be all right. ''Yes. That''s good. We sat next to each other in the break room in front of the vending machine. It was hard for me to look at his skinny arms. Perhaps realizing this, he started talking in a cheerful voice. ''Apparently there hasn''t been a world war yet.'' ''Idiot.'' Oh, I can''t find the words. I don''t know what to say. ''...... three years. It''s really been three years. When I woke up, there was a nurse. She looked at me with her eyes wide open like a chihuahua and screamed in surprise, and I screamed too. Crikey! And gah! And then... After that, I was bombarded with questions about who I was and where I lived. Well, the one that surprised me the most was Ugin. I was scared because that high school girl who was still a freshman turned into a college girl in an instant, and she called me "big brother. You''re going to be called ''bro'' by someone older than you! ''You''re an adult now.'' That scared me, too. I was ready to drink after a night''s sleep. I don''t know what''s going on anymore. ......'' He gently patted the watch I had given him, ''......Thank you, Alina. I heard you came to visit me? ''Yes. I know I''m not as good as your family, but I''ve come to see you many times.'''' ''Really? You haven''t changed since high school, have you? You''re still pretty seductive. ''It''s for your own good.'' ''Excuse me?'' ''You won''t know who I am, will you? I wanted to be me when you went to sleep so that you could wake up whenever you wanted. That''s why you''re so guilty. You took a girl''s freedom. ''Sorry ......'' ''Okay. I forgive you.'' He''s next to me. That''s all I need. That''s all I need. Three years was a blink of an eye. I think the last thing I remember before I woke up was going home to drink tomato juice and reaching for the refrigerator. My memory of that day is a little hazy, to be honest. The doctor told me that I had suffered brain damage from ischemia and had been in a coma for three years. The cause of my coma was unknown, but if I had to guess, I would say that I drank too much tomato juice. I hate to admit it. It might have been my constitution, or it might have been caused by a coincidence, but the truth remains a mystery. The more I learned about the situation, the more worried I became. I didn''t graduate from high school, I just grew up as a kid. I sat alone in the darkened hospital room and thought about the future. I was really inconvenienced, especially by my family. I have put them through a lot of worry, not to mention the hospital expenses. It was Alina who gave me light in such anxious days. I was shocked and sorry that she had waited for me for three years. She was eager to accompany me to rehab and tell me what had changed in three years and how her friends were doing. As I did so, I felt a strange tugging at my heart. ''Did you remember everything ......? ''Yes. I remember all the times I abused you, and all the confessions I made to you. But I only remembered it last year. It''s taken you and me a long time. ''I see. ......'' ''Are you happy? Glad you remembered? ''Hey, your face is so close, so close. Your personality has changed. ''It''s okay to be a little bit.'' ''Let''s not do it on a park bench.'' ''Well, where would you like to go?'' What has the world taught her in three years? Who would have wanted Alina Nippa to be this aggressive? Me. Or rather, the whole world. There''s so much demand. Please give us more of this super pretty girl stuff. I''m going to celebrate your release from the hospital. ''That would be great. ''I''ll call my high school classmates. There are a lot of people who would love to meet you.'' ''High school days... ...... I see, everyone has already graduated. I feel like I''m being left behind. ''Stop worrying about it. They want to hear your crazy jokes, okay? If you''re reluctant, you''ll ruin it.'' ''You''re talking nonsense. Now that you''ve regained your memory of the time of the poisonous rose, why don''t you show us your tongue, too? People will miss it. ''Shut up, you piece of trash. All you have to do is look at me. ''Yandere! 120-reply After being discharged from the hospital, I was able to come into contact with modern civilization again, and the days of shock began. I heard about the death of a famous person, the latest smartphone models with amazing functions, and virtual currency. It seems that the world can be completely redecorated in three years. It''s been three years, but for me it''s been only a few weeks since I''ve been in my house, and the smell and the atmosphere have changed, making me realize once again that a great deal of time has passed. I realized that a great deal of time had passed. My sister is no longer at home. She is living alone in another prefecture, and I envy her. Nothing had changed in her room. I thought it was full of cardboard boxes, ready to be disposed of, but it seems that hope is waiting for me. I am very thankful for that. On a personal note, I breathed a sigh of relief that my hard drive has not been snooped on. I will be grateful for passwords for the rest of my life, even though they are often blamed for being troublesome these days. Thank you passwords. Thank you password for protecting my identity from my family. Now, how am I going to live? I recently found out that I am a high school dropout. When I heard that, I immediately thought, ''What? I asked my mother if I was going to die, but it seems that my life is not in danger. I hope that I will not have to go back to high school for three years when I am a freshman. I might have a chance to meet someone nice, but Alina will probably strangle me, so I have decided not to take this route. So, I am now determined to take the high school equivalency examination. The only thing that the incompetent detective Sui, who has the body of an adult and the brain of a high school senior, can do now is to study to pass the high school equivalency exam. And the essential ingredient for studying is tomato juice. But I restrained myself. I froze in front of the refrigerator, reminding my right hand that if I drank, I would lose, and if I drank, I would be unemployed, trying to escape my neural control. The doctor told me to ''cut back for now. I''ve been a little scared ever since I was declared a freak, ''the connection between the symptoms is not clear, but apart from that, the intake is abnormal. You may think I''m a coward and say, "Don''t be afraid to drink it, you little prick," but think about it. If you drink it, you might time jump three years later, right? As someone who has experienced it firsthand, I can tell you that time is money, and you should not take it lightly. Alina sometimes appears unexpectedly in the life of study and rehabilitation that started for the high school certification. She usually calls and asks for permission. When I told her that she could just send me a message, she said ''No, it''s not binding enough'', which made me feel danger to myself. So I have recently developed a ring-phobia. If I ignore the call, I have no choice but to answer it, because if I ignore it, I will be met with a look of despair on my face, as if the world has ended. I wish it were an incoming call from an insurance company, a provider, a poll, or something else that doesn''t matter. But 90% of the incoming calls are from Arina Hiba, a beautiful girl with a super yandere tongue. Hello? This is the French Embassy in Japan. What the hell? Papua New Guinea, then France? Why does your phone number always lead to the embassy? Please check the number again. ''I''m going to cry. I''ll cry in the street. That''s not a threat at all. She has been very energetic since this morning, and as usual, her voice was high and shrill. I lay down on my bed and continued the call, wondering what on earth she was calling me about today. ''Do you know what today is? ''It''s my birthday. ''Your birthday is May 10th at 2:24:41 a.m. It''s summer now. Are you crazy? ''I''m so scared. How does he know about the birth of a second that he doesn''t even know about? ''The password for my computer is sakaki510. What a terrible and easy password, sakaki510. ''What? Seriously? How did you know? I mean, don''t call it robbery.'' ''On a different note, are you free tonight? Are you free tonight? If I''m not available, I''ll kill her. ''Killing'' what? What woman? What? I don''t know what''s going on anymore. Can I go to the bathroom to calm down? No.'' ''You evil bladder manager. It''s time to stop this energy-intensive preamble every time. She seems to like this nonsense so much that I have no choice but to go along with her, but it''s all so chilling that I thought my heart would stop again - or maybe I''d sleep for three years. The blackest joke of all. ''I''ll send you a map, come back today at 19:00. You don''t need to bring money. You are going to be arrested for eating and drinking without paying. I won''t let that future happen! I''m paying for it! ''Please keep that kind of hot-bloodedness to shounen manga only. Okay?'' ''...... yes'' ''Don''t be late. And be well-groomed.'' ''Yes, ma''am.'' ''I''m gonna kill you.'' ''I''m sorry. Please don''t kill me, I won''t say it again. The call ended with a mystery from start to finish. Just talking to Alina was exhausting. It seems that she has regained her memory and some of her poisonous rose has returned. I was almost discouraged at ...... for my efforts, but fortunately she was not at all tongue-tied when talking to people other than me. She was not acting. She was really just a beautiful girl with a good personality who was the center of the world. Bottom line, she seems to love to play with me. So, I can say that "Angel Arina", who was Arina''s second persona but has disappeared now, asked Dr. Akakusa for help, and the cure for the poisonous rose she asked me for was completed by making a sandbag named Comet Sakakigaki. I was intoxicated by ...... what a beautiful self-sacrifice. I hope they will put a statue of me in the schoolyard as a hero who stopped the collapse of the school. If you do graffiti on it, I''ll make you unable to eat tomatoes for the rest of your life. She said that her memory came back and that she could read not only the memories of the poisonous rose but also those of the angel Alina. I have no idea if this is a integration of personalities or just the ability to access to the memory areas that were inaccessible to her. At any rate, if she seems happy, it must be the "right answer" that I have been desperately trying to find in the darkness. This seems to be the end of the story. But in fact there are two choices. The end or the beginning. I still haven''t answered Alina properly. Three years ago, just before I collapsed, I was in a daze and my memory was hazy, but all I remember is that I felt deep regret. The regret of having fallen asleep after the summer vacation without giving her an answer flooded my heart at that moment when I was filled with the fear that my ego would disappear. I wish I could have answered her properly. I was speechless and could neither write nor sound. I wonder if that''s why I was able to wake up. See you again. I wonder if that''s what I made up my mind to do. I don''t remember. There is a part of me that strongly wants to give a positive answer, but on the other hand, there is a part of me that lacks self-confidence. I''m not like this, I''m not the best athlete, I''m not the best looking like Alina, I''m not the best looking like Alina. There are many people who are better than me, and I think that my existence is a negative thing for Alina''s future. As I let my mind cloud over in this way, I realized that Arina Hinoha is the person who takes precedence over everyone else in my life. I feel that I always act with her future in mind and her happiness in mind more than anyone else. I sent a message to Ugin, a specialist in love. Why love transcends theory I ask her what she always says, as if it were a cliche. Because I can be blind. No one can unify, no one can rule, no one can explain. Theories are meaningless because it''s your own world. ''Is it normal to feel guilty?'' That''s only the beginning. In the end, everyone will be so blind and selfish that they won''t feel guilty anymore. It''s the vector that matters. ''''Vector?'''' "Are they pointing at each other in a straight line? You''re really blind, aren''t you? I imagine we are looking into each other''s eyes with a telescope! ''I don''t know, but thank you very much. Enjoy your college life. Why the sudden clericalism. Aaaaah.'' Well, isn''t that sinful? I got into town before nightfall. Partly because I was afraid of being late, but mostly because I was looking forward to it. Today was probably the day she had told me that she was going to call her friends to celebrate her release from the hospital. I decided to kill some time by wandering around the city at random, looking for what has changed. As I was doing so, I started to get scared. It had been three years since I had seen her. Of course I wonder how they have changed, but at the same time I feel a mysterious fear. Maybe this is more anxiety than fear. I can''t help but feel that my anxiety about the future is going to be strongly manifested by the fact that I''ve been left behind. Without being able to dispel this feeling of uneasiness, I arrive at the promised restaurant at 19:00. I gathered up my courage and put my hand on the doorknob. 121-by fishing up a sunken object... Before I knew it, an hour had already passed. You broke up with Ryuka? ''Don''t say that! ''Ryuka asked me to get together with you somehow, and my efforts to do so were ......''. ''What? So you''re saying Comet''s plan is ......?'''' ''It''s not me, it''s Ryuka''s request...'' ''So ...... so ...... so ...... I''ve been dancing with you ......'' ''You''re a pain in the ass when you''re drunk, you know that?'' Makoto had not changed much, except that he had dyed his hair. To my surprise, he did not go to a vocational school but to a university. He said he was going to study culinary arts at a vocational school, so I thought to myself, you never know what life has in store for you. ''But I''m glad Comet is doing well. ......I went to see him sleeping several times, but I thought he was going to die. ......Ugh, ugh... ...'''' ''Don''t cry all of a sudden there. You''re going through a lot of emotional ups and downs. Don''t drink any more. ''Sorry ...... but I''m glad you''re back ......'' ''''I appreciate you saying so.'''' ''But I''m angry that they''re going to take Nippa away from me. ......'' ''Please take it.'' ''You don''t mind? Makoto''s eyes lit up and she crowded me. I was not happy to be crowded by a man, so I grabbed Makoto''s face and twisted it in the direction where Alina was. I slapped him on the butt and sent him off, as if to say, "Here, there she is, go ahead. He moved to Alina like a dog chasing a ball and got slapped to death. It''s a real tragedy. Let''s go visit his grave. Perfect. You''re okay. Is he dead? ''No, I''m alive. It should hurt like hell, but it feels good. ''Good for you. A new world is dawning. Makoto was rubbing his slapped cheek and ecstatic. I thought. If aliens ever come and explain the human life form, they should not use Makoto Takane as a sample. His brief moment of joy was ended by the arrival of a smiling Alina. Makoto was pushed away by Alina, but fortunately Masao was there to catch him. Without Masao, Makoto would have been a speck on the wall, dancing with an angel in a world of pleasure. Sitting next to him was President Alina Hiba, dressed in an elegant indigo one-piece that smelled devilishly good. (If you let your guard down, it''s the Sanzu River: ...... if you let your guard down, it''s the Sanzu River: ......) I began to fight with myself not to go crazy with her beauty. ''You seem to be enjoying yourself. What are your thoughts on seeing each other again after all these years? ''Good to see you all looking well.'' ''That''s our word for you, isn''t it? ''Well, maybe so. Three years is a long time. Tsuru looks like an adult woman, Masao is getting more and more like a monster, and Hakuna is getting cuter and cuter. ......'' ''I''m jealous. I''m jealous. I''ll be jealous. ''Stop making a straight face. Highlight your eyes.'' ''Oh, I''m sorry. I''ll just have a drink and forget about it. ''Do you drink a lot?'' ''No. One sip and you''re in trouble with the police. ''Just drink the water. Tsuru interrupted our conversation. She, too, appeared to be intoxicated. ''Ah! Comet! Why are you here! ''No, I was there from the beginning, wasn''t I? It''s my discharge party to begin with, so it''s not surprising that I''m there, right?'''' ''Eh? Didn''t you come here for the girls anyway? Wow, that''s a pain in the ass. Tsuru-san''s personality seems to have not changed since our high school days, as she tries to talk me down with a glare and a smirk. He seems to be still trying to make fun of me with a highball in his hand and a wicked smile on his face. So? So, what do you think? ''What''s that? ''You must be talking about the beautiful woman next door, you bagaaaaaaaaaaa! ''It''s dripping on your clothes. You''re showing through.'' ''People aren''t born with clothes on! ''Are you sure you''re all right, buddy? Chickens can still speak Japanese better than you. ''That''s why! You guys are getting married! ''''What?'''' What the hell is that? At the same time, Alina was like, ''Noooooo! I screamed and covered both my ears from behind. At first glance, this may seem like a happy body touch, but I was between life and death at this moment. Alina, whose limiter had been opened by the power of alcohol, tried to crush my head with her stupid power. She didn''t put her hands on my head. It was more like a shoulder crush. She was pressing down with the bottom of her palm. Alina is screaming something, but I don''t hear anything, just the world creaking. Maybe it''s the sound of bones being twisted. I''ve been hearing this horrible sound for a while now. My face contorts and my vision narrows under the tremendous force. In that small world, a crane was pointing at my face and laughing. No, no, no, please help me. It f*cking hurts! If I didn''t have this comfort of Alina''s breast against mine, I''d be dead. I slapped her hip with my right hand and told her I was at my limit. When she released me, I checked to make sure her eyeballs hadn''t popped out and her ears hadn''t turned to minced meat, then turned to protest Alina. I''m sorry. Don''t hate me. Kyuuu.'' ''What''s with the moe factor? It''s coming to my heart! ''I''m just trying to imitate what Tsuru would say if she were a burly girl. I''m not that kind of character. ''Mr. Tsuru, you''re being fought over.'' ''Alina. I asked for vodka straight. ''Comet. Help me. I can''t. I''m running away. Alina tried to stop me by pulling on my sleeve, but I managed to shake her off and run to the bathroom. I''ve had a few drinks, but I still don''t know how good I feel. I can only urinate more easily. Hey. A stranger called out to me from next door. He is probably too drunk to know who I am. I ignored him and continued to pour lemon juice into the urinal, and he called out to me again. Why are you ignoring me? ''No well ......'' ''Have you forgotten me? I''m Takazo Numakura, who violated the law by using his bicycle in the opposing relay with impunity.'''' ''Intelligence Takazo! Why are you here! It''s a code name I''ve missed. I was there from the beginning. I was hiding in Masao Tanaka''s big body. ''Long time no see! You''ve got your hair done right, you~! I''m like the son of some zaibatsu!'''' ''Stop it. Don''t look at me when I''m doing my business. You''ll get splattered. Come to think of it, I did something stupid at the gymnastics festival. I don''t know how the student council at the time allowed it. I''m glad I had the tool - not the connection - of Niwadatsuru. After returning from the restroom, I went to talk with Takakura. I was really surprised to hear that you collapsed. I tried to find out if there was anything I could do to help you since someone close to you and a friend of yours whom you knew well was unconscious. But I am sorry. There was really nothing I could do. I could only pray for your safety. ''No, no, no, thank you for worrying about me. I don''t want you to think I''ve forgotten about you. ''Masao told me that you woke up. I guess he wanted to tell you as a colleague with whom he fought in the gymnastic festival, although we are not on e-mailing terms. It was good to hear your joke again. ''I''m really going to cry...... you''re the most sane of the guys I''ve seen again in the last few weeks......'' While I was feeling very emotional, Masao came to me, dragging his huge body. ''Comet. Congratulations on your release from the hospital. I''m so glad! Thank you. I''m glad to hear that Masao is doing well. Thanks to you, I''ve changed. I can think positively now and there is nothing to be afraid of! ''I didn''t do anything special, but I really enjoyed the sports festival. I''m glad I''m a homecoming club. I''m playing football in college now. I''m sorry, I graduated from the homecoming club. ''That''s awesome. Good luck! Just don''t get any casualties! ''Yes, sir! Every time he speaks, his chest muscles are groaning. ....... I wonder how far he is going to go to become a muscle monster. I was relieved to see ''I LOVE PROTEIN'' on his T-shirt, just like him. Yes, I''m Kasai, the service manager! Good bye. I wished her well as soon as she introduced herself in that way at zero distance. I was relieved that she had not become a pole dancer in an illegal brothel. I had feared that she would become a dangerous person in the future, but it seems that Tsuru has disciplined her well. I am very thankful. She used to be monitored by the KGB, so the fact that she is now living peacefully is a sign that the danger is over. ''Today I was almost molested on the train. ''That''s unforgivable. Molestation is the worst act. Someday I''ll castrate him. Hey, it''s the worst, isn''t it? But I kicked him in the groin as hard as I could, so it''s okay! You did it. You saved me the trouble of castration! ''I''m probably crushed! Yay!'' ''Yay! I''m going to die! What the hell are we talking about? It would be more useful if we were still throwing salt on slugs. ''I was mildly depressed at the time when I heard that the comet was in danger. ''Oh ...... sorry about that ......'' ''No, it''s just that I was weak, that''s why I was so worried. ...... I couldn''t believe the comet in front of me. ......'' Oh ...... I''ve been tormenting a girl in my sleep. I didn''t talk to her much after I first found out how much Shirana liked me and made a break with her. We were both too reserved and concerned about each other. Looking back on it now, it is a page of my youth that was both bitter and sweet. But sometimes I can''t believe it either. I mean, I blacked out during that summer vacation, and the next time I woke up, three years had passed. I have no memory of time during that period. I guess you could say I''m in a dreamless sleep. When you didn''t dream, it''s only for a moment, right?'' ''Yeah. I think I know what you mean. Oh, is it morning already? It''s a feeling like that.'' Yes, I do. That''s why I sometimes wonder if I''m dreaming every moment I''m talking with Shirana. If you are a normal person, in a dream you are in reality, and you don''t know where reality is until you wake up. It''s not that hard. If this were a dream, the comet wouldn''t be drunk or unable to taste alcohol, would it? ''Indeed. If I''m still in that hospital room, there''s no way I know what it feels like to be drunk, or what it tastes like. This is too much to imagine. ''That''s right. Please don''t give me a happy ending in heaven. I''m not going to dance with a bare-chested, feather-wearing, dewy-eyed messenger of God just yet. If he comes for me, I''ll call the police and have him arrested for indecency. ''Shirana. You have a boyfriend, don''t you? ''What? How do you know! I said it at random and got it right. I''m a homecoming girl. Yes, I''m a homecoming club member. What a disgusting thing to say! d*mn it! I have a boyfriend. ......'' ''I wish you happiness. I''ll be there for the wedding. ''I don''t know about that yet! Just so you know, I''m still dragging my feet! The comet!'''' ''I''m like a caterpillar being eaten by a swallow, so don''t worry about me. ''It''s not good to be so down on yourself! It''s my first love! I''m so embarrassed. Ha-ha-ha-ha.'' Oh my God, Alina''s looking at me. She''s staring at me disapprovingly. If I don''t get back soon, she''ll give me the middle finger. Thanks for everything since middle school. For being such a weirdo to talk to. ''No. It''s been a pleasure. Hakuna bows her head with a bow. She will be a good wife for sure. If he''s a scumbag, I''ll whittle him up in a blender and feed him to the plankton. I apologize if there is a red tide, fishermen all over the country. 122-Everything about you, everything about you... I don''t know if they were worried about my health or tired of drinking. I don''t know if it was out of concern for my health, or whether it was out of concern for the two of us, but there was no after-party. Tsuru said with a big smile, "Take care of Alina," and pushed her roughly. I broke all her ribs, but it was no problem. Wow, her ribs are breaking through the skin. By all means, use less force from now on. After that, the others dispersed, and I ended up taking care of Alina, who was not feeling well. ''U~......'' Alina moaning in my ear. She had apparently vomited in the store bathroom. I wonder how much money I would have made if I had been able to record that miserable vomiting scene, the result of drinking without knowing her own limits. A special kind of person who gets off on the sight of beautiful girls vomiting would have paid a fortune for it. It is hard to understand, but there are such people. The world is as full of freaks as I am of tomato addicts. I walk through the dark night with my staggered legs and her arm around my shoulder as I think of these crazy things. She grunts occasionally and complains that she is not feeling well, but I force her to walk. If I let her go, she will definitely fall asleep. ''Come on, try your best to walk. It''s better than my rehab, but it''s pathetic. ''Don''t talk to me. You''re creeping me out.'' Her heel caught in the gutter at an inopportune moment. She lost her balance and almost fell over, but I caught her just in time and held her hand. If you''re going to get so drenched, don''t wear heels. Don''t make it harder for yourself to get home. But you''re lucky to have a professional homecoming crew. No one beats you when it comes to getting home. So I could wake up and go home. The best homecomers, that''s foreshadowing. I won''t die. ''Don''t say that. I wanted to get dressed up too. Hey, don''t look like you''re going to throw up. Ugh. Oh, I''m gonna get it, I''m gonna get it.'' ''Don''t be glamorous.'' With a chuckle, she squeezed my right hand back. I awkwardly tried to let go, but she pulled me back and gave me a miffed look of protest. ''This right hand. I couldn''t hold it once while you were sleeping. ''What the hell was that all of a sudden? ''You know how they say that in the movies? You''re in a hospital room and your loved one is in bandages, unconscious, head in a whirl. You hold his hand and put it on your forehead and pray. Do you understand? ''I see, you mean Alina''s vision is going round and round now. ''I couldn''t do it. I was afraid that if I was cold--'' The atmosphere was somber and only the sound of her heels echoed softly. I realized that I had made her feel this way for three years, and I impulsively wanted to hug her. To say a pure ''I''m sorry''. She seemed to sense it and gently leaned closer to me. But I didn''t have the courage to hug her, and she felt embarrassed, so we both ended up awkwardly looking away from each other. We walked in silence for a while. I asked her, "Do you remember me? ''''Hm?'''' ''That I''ve been waiting for.'' ''Oh, ...... I remember.'' Suddenly Alina stopped and backed away from me. Heartbreaking, fragile, determined, wishing. Her face was filled with these thoughts. I have to answer. I have to answer her as she puts her hand on her chest and stares at me with her beautiful eyes. The answer to her is already at my throat. But I just can''t take the last step. After three years of making her wait, am I going to make her wait again? Why does it make my heart ache so much to just say it out loud? Is this my punishment for joking around so much? Has my mouth become incapable of expressing my true feelings? Alina gave a small smile. But it was an empty, heart-wrenching smile. It made me very uneasy. I was afraid she would go away. I wondered if she would disappear without a trace, so far away that I could not follow her. Immediately I opened my mouth. Alina. "What is it? ''Let''s go to the aquarium sometime. That aquarium. ''That''s the aquarium from when we surveilled the couple that''s now gone.'' ''That''s right. But this time it''s just you and me. Me and Alina. Can we go alone? ''...... I''m so happy. I''m looking forward to it. A flushed Alina moved closer to me again, hiding her expression well with her bangs. Our fingers twitched in this exquisite distance where our shoulders almost touched but did not. We were attracted to each other regardless of our consciousness, and our fingers brushed against each other''s instep. Slowly and timidly, we cross our hands and check each other with five fingers. I intertwine my fingers with hers, holding her hand, and I think. She is everything. I don''t need anything else. What are you laughing at? You''re embarrassing me! ''No, no. I just think my sister is always right. ''Don''t talk about other women.'' ''She''s my own sister. ''No. I won''t allow it.'' Love is heavy! ''Hey, ah, love, you idiot! ''Just pass it off as normal there. ......'' ''I''m a girl, too, and I''m weak in that area.'' ''I wish I had been like that in high school. Back then all you cared about was reading.'' ''Stop it. I feel like I''m being humiliated. We reached the cab stand and decided to part ways here. I could walk home from here, but in the case of her parents'' house, which is a little further away, a cab was the only option at the present time when the trains and buses had run out. I''ll wait for your call. Oh. Be careful on your way home. Make sure you go to college. ''Don''t worry, it''s summer vacation. You take care. The doors closed and the train started slowly. I followed it with my eyes until I couldn''t see it anymore. Her scent still lingered in the air. The lingering scent of her scent still lingered in the air, rippling through my mind, drowning out all the lights and sounds of the city. When I closed my eyes, I saw her beautiful and resolute figure. I told her just how I felt. It''s okay, I can tell. It''s okay. 123-And the venomous rose said,... At first I thought he was a nuisance. He interfered in my school life regardless of my intentions. Desperate to twist me, he gave me all kinds of environments, people and events. I thought he was strange. He always had a funny way of speaking. His jokes were very unique, strange and funny. He never got bored and always colored my heart with many colors. I felt we became friends. I naturally started spending time with him and it became my daily life. He was always by my side, always in my sight. We began to smile together. I felt like he became someone special. Knowing my secrets, knowing my past. He tried to understand me and he promised me. That he would solve my problems. I thought it was a beautiful name. A beautiful sound. Beautiful Kanji. I practiced it over and over in my mind. Sui, Sui, comet. I whispered it in my heart so that one day I could call her by her proper name. I wanted to call her by her name, not "you" or "you". I thought I liked it. I became jealous when he was with someone else. And I wanted to be with him all the time. But I was too proud to be honest. I thought I loved him. When I lost his memory, when I lost him, when I remembered him, I loved him consistently. No matter how far away he was, no matter how many times his consciousness melted away in a different world, even if he was gone, my feelings for him would remain constant. At first I thought he was a pain in the ass. Every time he opened his mouth, he complained. He was violent. I cursed my fate and wondered why I had to take care of such a problem child. I thought he was funny. He had his own philosophy for a problem child. I thought he had an atmosphere that all others were his enemies, but surprisingly he was not so. I felt sorry for him. Dual personalities, amnesia, domestic violence. I learned that she was a wreck and had walked a miserable path. Her beauty was almost painful. I thought we were kindred spirits. I was a freak, but she was a freak too. She was always talking shit, and I was always joking. Both of us were loud speakers, but I thought we were similar. I thought she was beautiful. She was undeniably beautiful. I thought she was beautiful before I met her, but that was all. The more I got to know her, the more the feelings that exceeded the beauty gradually invaded every corner of my body. I thought she was special. There was no trigger. It wasn''t until I realized it that I became that person. She was always there, always in my thoughts. I thought she had a very nice voice. I will never forget how fresh it was when she called my name for the first time. I wondered how she could have such a soothing and charming voice. I thought it was fate. To have met her. It''s a miracle. No more miracles will come my way in the rest of my life. Looking back on it all, I realize how unlucky Alina and I were. Whenever we tried to come together, one of us would always walk away. Alina forgot me and I closed my eyes. We fell silent at the most crucial moment. I think that''s why we wanted each other so much. We were both desperate not to let go again. Especially Alina. I think she''s on a sick level. I don''t know. She crossed her hands behind her back and with a brilliant smile asked for my opinion of her personal clothing. ''I think it''s seven trillion times nicer than Ugin''s.'' ''You treat Ugin too well, don''t you? I''m at a loss for a response. ''Sorry, Ugin ...... brother seems to have betrayed you ......'' Even though it was midsummer and she naturally exposed more, her short shorts were a foul. It was very hard to look at her, but to be honest, I wanted to look at her until my eyes rotted away. I wonder if 3D printers can reproduce human legs? Maybe I''ll hang it on my front porch. I haven''t been to this aquarium since high school. It was the time when a certain Mr. M, a coward, was afraid to go on a date and asked me and Alina to keep an eye on him. Mr. M walked around the aquarium with a stiff neck and went on a date with his ex-girlfriend, Mr. R. It was a very innocent moment, I remember. When Mr. Makoto asked for a picture - sorry, I couldn''t protect your privacy. Sorry Mr. M, no Makoto. ''Will you hold my hand?'' Alina suggested with a raised eyebrow. Stop. You''re flying right out of the gate, lady. That one word turned my heart into a machine gun. What are you going to do? I''m pouring empty shells (sweat) all over my body. ''It''s such an impious thing to touch Alina Hane that day without sterilizing her with alcohol or anything...'' ''What are you talking about? Look...'''' Oh, no. ''Stop making funny noises.'' My hands were firmly linked, and there was no backing out now. I wonder if this is a "sweetheart" relationship. I think I saw this in the dictionary. d*mn, I wish I had a Japanese dictionary handy so I could check! Gaddemmmm! I was so nervous that I couldn''t move my joints as much as I wanted to because of the tension of the forbidden lover''s connection again. At the same time, I wanted to apologize to Mr. M. Who doesn''t get nervous in this situation? Anyone who can say for sure that he or she is not nervous, raise your hand right now. Yes, you''re an incinerator. Tickets purchased, you are ready to embark on your adventure. It''s been a long time. Some things have changed a lot, but it still looks the same as the last time I was here. ''Sigh, yes, yes, yes, yes. ''You''re slurring your words. Take a deep breath. ''Oh ......, after all, the air on earth is always good. Titan is the worst. It tastes like piss. The holiday was a big hit with visitors. There were many couples as well as students and children. I wonder if we are a couple in the eyes of others. As soon as we passed through the entrance gate, we came to a huge aquarium tunnel. Overhead, brightly colored fish swam around, shining in the sunlight like a chandelier. Sea turtles swam gracefully around the tube, and the school of fish that had almost collided with it dispersed. This sea tunnel is really beautiful. She pulled my hand away and looked up. The light shone on her as if leaking from behind a tree, and her eyes shone like jewels. I looked at her without words and our eyes met. ''What are you doing? You stare too much. You''re making it hard to concentrate. Sorry, sorry. I just feel like I''m on the verge of realizing the truth of the universe...'''' ''Think of me instead of the truth of the universe. ''Wow! What a Wonderful thing to say! ''Translate it into Japanese properly.'' Akan. Uncle, I can''t stop my heart from pounding! We went through a tunnel and entered a dimly lit area. Many aquariums glowing blue-white are filled with deep-sea creatures and other dark-loving creatures. In other words, residents of the dark. Dark Residents. Sounds like the title of a movie. ''I wonder what they''re doing for fun. Hey, hey, hey, lady, you''re being a little harsh all of a sudden. Where is the excitement of the aquarium tunnel? ''Because don''t you think so? I wonder why they are still alive. ''It''s the same for humans. It''s life that searches for what it was born for. ''Hmm. I found it. ''Look, don''t say anything that will raise my heart rate any more. ''To be by your side''. ''Ngghhhh! I''m going to burst! Mamma! With a laugh, he pulled his hand again and headed for the next area. Mother, thank you for giving birth to me. I am very happy now. There are so many creatures in the aquarium. They range from pint-sized creatures to ship-like behemoths. But no matter how big or small they are, they give us an impression. They may be alive, but they are still living things. The forms they have acquired over the years are the living history of the earth itself. I have reflected on many things while spinning with Alina. Everything from the day we met in the library to today. I have seen and experienced many painful things, but I am glad that I am here with Alina, holding her hand. If I had not escaped from Mr. Akakusa and gone to the library. If I had not agreed to Tsuru''s persuasion and given up on Alina who lost her memory. If it had been the world in which I died instead of the world in which I survived (Alive). I shudder to think of that. Maybe the person holding my hand now is not Alina. It might have been Shirana. We might have had a wonderful time together. But that world doesn''t exist. And I don''t want to start over. Every little thing is connected to the future. When I stood in front of the giant tank, I was overwhelmed by its grandeur. We were so intoxicated by the blue world that stretched horizontally and vertically that we were reminded of how small we are. It''s really amazing to see it up close. Oh, my God. I''m going to lose my neck. My eyes follow the fish as they gracefully fly through the water. Alina''s shoulder touched me. We reflexively pulled away from each other a little as if we were touching something hot, but soon we were snuggled up together. I can feel how vulnerable she is. At the same time, a sense of security spreads like a flower. I guess this is the feeling one is looking for. No words are needed. The boundaries of our joined hands were no longer clear. I didn''t want to go to the aquarium. Anywhere was fine. It just popped into my head... the aquarium of my memories. But in fact, I am glad I came. Because reminiscing is the best way to fill the void between her and me. He was a bit absent-minded. I craned my neck to look at him and wondered why. ''Your face is so close. He protested, but I didn''t stop. I wanted to know what he was thinking. I wanted to know everything about the person I loved. ''Are you sick?'' ''No, it''s not. I''m just nervous about going on a date with a super beautiful girl. ''Oh, my goodness. Wipe your mouth. He smeared his mouth with the sauce from the Neapolitan. He is a surprisingly elegant eater. After leaving the aquarium, we dine at a fancy restaurant. I had planned to go to an all-you-can-eat sweet store, but he refused, saying that he was on a tomato juice restraining order. I suspected psychosis, but he seems to be quite serious. His sister was very angry with him. He said, ''You really like it, don''t you? He did so with a look of dismay on his face as he pointed at the mound of cream pancakes I was stuffing my cheeks with. ''I''ll keep eating them when I''m old. ''I envy you ...... I wish I could go back to being able to drink unlimited tomato juice ......'' ''You''ll have to be patient. Or explore new drinks. You''ll run out of life before you find it. There is no substitute for tomato juice. His shoulders slump and he puts the Neapolitan in his mouth. Or perhaps all you need is a tomato. Well, it''s time to settle this. I decide as I leave the restaurant, facing the sun that is beginning to tilt. If this were a shounen manga, the word ''continue'' would have appeared in the lower right corner of the screen. Where are we going next? ''It''s an observatory.'' ''What? Is it nearby?'' It''s in the mountains. I used to go to this observatory when I was little. I''ve always loved space, and I used to read a lot of picture books and stuff when I was a kid. I really grew up with the name. ''And your sister? It''s a name that combines space and galaxy, isn''t it?'' No, Ugin is not so much. But I remember she seemed to enjoy listening to me talking about the universe. ''Don''t talk about other women.'' ''No, no, no, you brought it up, didn''t you?'' We boarded a bus bound for the observatory. As time went by, there were more and more trees. As we approached the mountains, the bus tilted backward and the sound of the engine echoed through the bus, as if in agony. Alina and I sat together in the very back seat and waited quietly for our destination. After more than 30 minutes of rocking, we finally arrived at the top of the mountain. It was already getting dark and the stars were beginning to appear in the eastern sky. I didn''t know there was an observatory there. It''s a pretty nice place. It''s not as nice as the countryside, but you can see beautiful stars here too. I took Alina by the hand and followed the arrows on the sign. ''Hey, aren''t we going into the observatory? ''You see that sign over there? There''s a spot where you can look at the stars. That''s what most of the visitors come here for, you know. Of course, the exhibits and telescopes in the facility are wonderful, so please visit. We look forward to seeing you again. It''s true. The passenger is going that way too. ''Okay, let''s go.'' The path was cut through the forest, but there were sometimes stones the size of a fist, so I took Alina''s hand carefully. It was a little dark before the path broke off, so I pulled Alina as close as I could so she would not be frightened. I was relieved to see that there were other guests, but I asked myself, ''What are you going to do to me by bringing me here in the dark like this? I was going to say. Well, I know he wouldn''t do that. JORDAN. After walking for a while, I saw people at a break in the road. They all looked up. "We''re here. The lawn was completely devoid of trees. From above, it would appear to be hollowed out in a circle. There were many other people there besides us, stargazing. ''Alina. Look at the sky. I followed his lead and looked up at the sky. The Milky Way was streaming across the sky. It was so beautiful that I wanted to caress it with my hand, and I opened my eyes as wide as I could, capturing the stars'' brilliance one by one on my retinas. I thought that all of these stars were the stars. Hikoboshi and Orihime are often mentioned, but I was not even aware of it. Because they were all so beautiful. Perhaps because I looked at them so much, my sense of perspective became distorted, and I felt as if the stars were right in front of me. The universe takes us back to our childhood. It reminds us of our childhood. It''s really strange. I always remember my childhood when I come here. ''Yes, it is. I think I understand. ''And every time I come here, I feel like something starts. Something new is born. Maybe other people feel the same way. He said this in my ear. I thought his tone was serious, which was unlike him. I brought Alina here partly because it''s a place I like, but also because I wanted her to be genuinely moved. If I could have, I would have brought her here while she was still in high school. ''If I had known it was such a beautiful place, I would have gone as often as I could.'' ''Then I''m glad.'' ''Alina.'' I called her name. The name I will call her most of my life. She slowly turned her head toward me. Her eyes, wet with starlight, were the stuff of art. Why was she so perfect? That day. I didn''t think so the day I met her. She had a hundred points for looks, but zero for personality. That''s what I thought. Alina. He called my name. From the person who will call me most in my lifetime. He looked straight at me and I looked deep into his eyes. He was my ideal, my dream. Why is he so perfect? That day. I didn''t think so the day I met him. He was always meddling, always joking. That''s what I thought. I love you more than anyone. ''I love you more than anyone''. We will grow old together, raise our children together, live together. We will hold hands together, we will walk together, we will make love together. We may never die together. We may not shed tears together. One or the other will die, and one or the other will tell you ''I love you'' in their fading consciousness. Hold their wrinkled hands. Still, I want to be with you until this life is over. I truly believe that. This is our story. A few years from now, or in the near future. Or-- I''m home. Welcome home ...... ''I bought it, sir. ''I''m not good enough to be called that yet. But I''m glad you bought it for me. ...... ''Oh no, I can finally read it. Why didn''t you let me read it? I was so curious, I even guessed the password.'' ''You''ll know it when you read it.'' ''? ''I was embarrassed because it''s like a love letter to you, ......''. ...... ''Well, I''m looking forward to it. Good thing it''s on sale today. I''ll spend the weekend reading it. ...... ''You should read it all the way to the end and then give your impressions in summary. Its ...... embarrassing to ask you over and over again. ......'' I plopped down on the couch. I stroked my wife''s name on the spine before opening the book. I realized that this was her story, that I was a part of her. ''Then I will read it, Ms. Alina Sakakiki. Please pray that this is a story that will save everyone. With this wish, I turned the page. 124-001 The First Story: Tea Ceremony Club... Today I was assigned to assist the tea ceremony club. Why did I, a tomato juice believer, visit a tea ceremony club that believes in a drink that looks like an alien''s bodily fluids? The project to rehabilitate Alina has just started, and I believe that the recent incident at the art club was a great success. I hope so. My side was lacerated by Alina''s attack with a mechanical pencil, but it is a small sacrifice. I can still fight. Let''s turn back the clock a little. During recess, a slit-eyed Gento comes into the classroom and joins me. I''m sorry to interrupt, but are you free after school? ''I''m a member of the homecoming club.'' ''''So you''re free? ''You idiot. We''re on a mission to save the planet. There''s no way I''m free. ''''Rumor has it that Hiba and Comet are helping the club on a whim, is that true?'''' The purpose is not to help, but to rehabilitate Alina. His expression is not wrong, but we cannot reveal the purpose. Everyone would laugh if they knew that he spends his after-school hours working on Alina to improve his tongue and attitude. The comrades of the world would be disappointed to know that a homecoming club member, who values immediacy, is being held up after school. I hope she gets well as soon as possible. That''s pretty much it. ''''Then why don''t you come to the tea ceremony club today?'''' ''Sure, but we''ll help you within our skill set. I don''t know anything about tea ceremony. ''Don''t worry. I''ll just ask you to drink it and tell me what you think. ''What? Drink?'''' ''Yes. That''s all. You want me to drink that alien''s bodily fluids? So there we are, in front of the tea ceremony club room, with a still grumpy Alina. To tell the truth, I was tired from the event of kidnapping Tsuru and taking him to meet Alina a few minutes before, but I had to take responsibility for what I was asked to do. To be honest, if I had Gento''s contact information, I would have texted him to say ''Sorry, I can''t go because I heard that Mars is in trouble. d*mn, you''re a lucky guy, Gento. What are you doing? ''They''re having tea. I don''t know the details. ''Huh? That''s it? Then you don''t need us. No, no, no, think about it. Maybe they want us to drink tea because none of the members of the tea ceremony club can drink tea due to allergies or something? ''You''re the dumbest person I''ve seen in recent years. That''s amazing. I''ve never seen such an idiot. You''re too stupid. ''Beethoven continued to make music even though he was deaf. That''s what I''m talking about. ''What are you dressed up for? You''re disgusting. That fire extinguisher there is much better looking than you. ''Aren''t you being too harsh? You''ll cry, won''t you? What was that shyness you showed earlier in your exchange with Niwatatsuru? And it seems I''ve been defeated by an inorganic object. As of this hour, the fire extinguisher has become an enemy of the homecoming club members. I request its immediate removal. Talking in front of the club room for a long time would not start anything, so I knocked on the door in a small way, thinking that they would respect the quietness of the room. I entered the room and saw the tatami mats. I could not understand what they were doing, but they were sitting on the floor doing something. Gento asked me to come in. ''Oh, Gento is ________! One female member of the club looked at Alina and was startled. Well, that''s what happens. I''ve gotten used to that reaction recently. I glanced at Alina, who already had a wrinkle between her eyebrows. You know, you need to work on your facial expressions. Go to the convenience store and buy a ''smiley'' and a ''happy''. They cost about 600 yen. Cheap, right? Seeing Arina Nippa with her bratty attitude, I decided to smile so that the atmosphere in the tea ceremony club would not get worse. That would help. Like a bad cop, good cop. I''m your comfort. Your smile is unnatural. When Gento appeared, he made a truly inhumane statement. I would like to know for whom and for which organization he decided to smile. I''m sorry. I''ll go to the convenience store and buy a smiley face. ''What are you talking about? Well, can I ask you to drink it right away?'''' Good. Oh, and for you, Alina, Tabasco, not matcha. ''You''ll break every bone in your body. And so the matcha trial drinking began. I thought it was something you could drink instantly, but apparently they make it from scratch. I had no idea how to make it, so I just observed the movements of the members of the tea ceremony club. Then the tea was ready. Before drinking the matcha, I asked a question that had been bothering me. Why are we drinking it? I want to hear what people who don''t know matcha at all think about it. It''s not fresh to hear from someone who understands it. And they start to share their knowledge and other useless things. That''s why I want direct feedback. ''I see. Maybe I''m asking the wrong person. First of all, I''ve been a tomato juice addict since before the earth was born, and I don''t need to be asked what I think of other beverages. Alina, with all her potential, might give you a great opinion. Well, then Alina should drink it first. We can take that as a model answer. I have no more of the ''freshness'' that Gento demands, but I have a special sense of taste, so please forgive me this time. ''Alina. Drink first. I''m afraid to drink it for the first time.'' ''I don''t mind. I''ll drink it then. With that, she sat up straight and tipped her bowl of tea to her mouth. ''It''s delicious. That''s it? What are you, a toddler just learning to speak? Now it''s my turn. I took a sip of the slightly foamy matcha in my hand. What I''m about to tell you is what I saw the moment I took it. It was light. Thousands of thin, stretched lights running through the moon-shrouded night. It was beautiful and sad at the same time. The lights, soaked with hatred, ran across the sky and fell to the horizon with a high-pitched sound like a woman''s scream. We had the same skin color and spoke the same language, but we kept squeezing the trigger. To someone we didn''t know. Tired of collecting dog tags for my friends, I decided to go home. For my country, I said at first, but I didn''t have any noble intentions. Because it was a "normal" thing to do. So now that I am living a peaceful life drinking green tea, I have a thought. It is very bitter. It''s delicious. I said yes. I honestly don''t think I''ll ever drink it again. Wasn''t it bitter? This is a particularly bitter matcha, and it''s hard to enhance the flavor, but I''m glad you liked it. Gento-kun, I''m not kidding, it''s super bitter. It''s too hard for us beginners. Alina, next to me, is also astonished and looks a little unhappy. She was probably as surprised as I was at the bitterness of the tea, and she said that she didn''t want to hurt the members of the tea ceremony club. Me too. Is there a sweet one? It''s not as sweet as sugar, though. It''s more mellow, but you''ll know what I mean. I see. I''ll try it sometime. ''I''ll make it, do you want some?'' No, I''ll drink it someday. Yes, I will drink it in my next life. Alina shakes her head and refuses to drink, so I decide to leave the group. She seems to have been traumatized. As we left the tea ceremony club and walked down the corridor, Alina whispered to me. I hate you for making me drink first. I''m sorry. I didn''t think it would be that bitter. I heard it was special. ''I want some cocoa. I want it so bad.'' ''Well. I hope it falls from the sky. ''I''d love to drink it.'' She stopped in front of a vending machine and said so. ''I want a drink. I wanted to tell him to hold out for tap water, but Comet Sakakiki, a homebody with a generous heart, unwillingly bought him a drink. He threw the cold cocoa to Alina in a light arc. She caught it with a startled ''wow'' at the suddenness. It really fell from the sky. ''May this investment save the world. ''What''s that? You make it sound like I''m the bad guy. You''re losing money to a fire extinguisher. It''s pathetic. What kind of situation is it to be defeated by a fire extinguisher? I really wish she would relearn Japanese. Oh dear, I have no idea. I hope she will soon become an exemplary person like me. Her rehabilitation will take a long time. 125-002 The Twelfth Episode: A Innocent Girl... ''What? What''s going to change? Makoto nodded his head and said so. ''Of course it will change. The world will be turned upside down. From now on, mankind will enter a new frontier! ''No, no, no, it won''t change. I mean, it''s a little late for that. You weren''t dating? When I told Makoto Takane that I had started dating Alina, he gave me a very boring response. I did not expect much from him, but it is what it is. It was stupid of me to ask him, who is only worth the price of a meat bun sold at a convenience store. I should have talked to tree frogs instead of Makoto. He still talks like a goofball and is charming. I feel like I''m being made fun of. ''Of course not. I love you, Makoto-kun. ''Stop it, you''re disgusting. Eat this and shut up.'' I was invited to his house, and as soon as I arrived, I was asked for my opinion on the food. I warned him that I was ignorant of the kind of chef he aspired to be and that my opinion would not be helpful, but he asked me with genuine eyes to see if my cooking could make people happy, so I had no choice but to eat it. I was planning to drop a shocking remark on him while he was tasting the makoto-meshi, but he didn''t seem to be interested at all. He didn''t seem to be interested at all. It''s delicious. ''Okay. This one looks good, too. My vocabulary was limited to ''good'' when asked to comment on the tempura. I don''t have the ability to express myself about food like a gourmet reporter. All I had to do was make a delicious face. Makoto is working in the kitchen, and I''m sitting on the floor waiting. I''m like a dog waiting to be fed. How does it feel to be in a relationship with Hiu? Suddenly, Makoto said. ''I don''t feel it. ''That''s what I mean. The reason I said earlier that I felt like it was too late was because everyone around us, including the comet, thought we were a ''couple now. ''Seriously. Since when? ''Since high school.'' ''That was fast. But thinking back, I can''t help but feel that''s how it should be. ''So, which one of you told him?'' I wonder which one. Simultaneously? Or maybe I''m a little early. I forgot. ''That''s not going to happen~. Why are you embarrassed now~'''' ''Shut up. Boys have many secrets. ''What did you say, by the way? I bet that''s a cool line, huh? ''I forgot. Alina hugged me afterwards and broke all my ribs. I was in so much pain I don''t remember. ''Oh, well. I told Hinoha via Tsuru, ''Comet is cheating on me behind my back. Maybe I should send a text message to Hiu via Tsuru saying ''Comet is having an affair secretly with Shirana. ''Makoto-kun, you can''t do that even as a joke. You''ll kill me and Shirana too. '' ''Makoto-kun, you can''t do that even as a joke. ''Yes, I know. I''ll try my best to remember. Devil in human skin. If I had been an active homecoming party member, I would have thrown him in the blender. ''I love you more than anyone. I said that. ''Caaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! Comet-sama cool, cool, cool, cool, cool, cool!'''' Oh, I wish I could go home. I''m dying of embarrassment. What did Nichiha say? Hey, I''ve told you this much, so just say it! We''re friends, aren''t we! ''I love you more than anyone. That''s what he said.'' ''naaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!! Ju... a... y...! Pure love kitaaaaaa! My shame had reached a breaking point, so I sat down on the gym and retreated into my shell. I also tore my eardrums so that I could no longer hear Makoto''s fuming voice. Only the warmth of her lap was on my side. Ugin, help me. I looked up as my eardrums finally started to regenerate. Makoto was in the corner of the room, humming a tune and reading a girls'' manga. Probably because she wanted to fall in love. Makoto. Are you done with the poison? ''Wait a minute. I''m about to cry. Don''t ruin the mood. I don''t care about the mood. I''m meeting Rinne and Alina later. Alina''s threatening me, saying ''I love you'' every second I''m late. I check the time on the watch she gave me. I run from here and arrive about five minutes before the time. I better get out of here. Makoto. We should go home. I''ve got people waiting. Go on, get the hell out of here, you traitor. Be happy, you son of a b*tc*. Your nose is dripping. See you later. I left Makoto, whose mind had been washed by a girl''s manga, and headed for the rendezvous point. I hope from the bottom of my heart that there will come a time when I can pay for his food. I made it in time. We were closer than we had estimated. As I look around for them, a loud voice shouts from behind me. You''re alive! You''re alive, you''re alive, you''re alive, you''re alive, you''re alive! It was the voice of the unforgettable Heartbreak Reon. When I turned around, he was coming at me, waving his selfie stick around and laughing. Behind him was Alina. It''s been a while. What''s this, you''re an underground idol? ''What''s that hoax? I''m a pretty college student. You must have made up some weird memory while you were sleeping.'' ''Is that so? I''m glad to see you''re doing well. ''And the comet. I''m glad, really. We''ll talk more later, okay? Rinne used to have wavy hair in high school, but now her hair was messy with curly ends. I wonder if she still aspires to be an idol. Or was he joking? Alina smiled at me calmly and bailed. God, she''s so cute. . We moved to a different place and had dinner at a family restaurant. I was not hungry because I had makoto-meshi in my stomach, but let''s call it a snack. I sat on the chair side, and Alina and Rinne sat on the seat side. ''Oh, you two are dating? Yes. Quick! You''re too quick, Alina! Alina answered immediately. Too quickly, it was connected with Rinne''s voice. ''That''s right~. We''ve been in love since high school. I was so envious of her because she was so popular with the boys that I punched Mr. Grinden a few times to make him mad at me. You did that to Takakura? Because they make fun of us. The worst demon the 21st century has ever produced, and his thought process is the same as a toy rail. But it was fun. It sure was fun. The members of the homecoming club who fought together at the gymnastic festival were the best members. Takakura might have liked Rinne, didn''t he? You know, it''s called bullying someone you like. I genuinely thought so, but Rinne looked at Arina with a puzzled look on her face. Alina, too, looked puzzled. I thought she had said something strange, but the next thing I knew, we both started laughing. Arina looked away and shook her shoulders, and Rinne laughed, clutching her stomach. What''s going on? ''Hmph, of course not! When the comet was sleeping, the skinny guy told Tsuru! I''m really going to have an abdominal cramp just remembering it! ''''That''s not the first time that''s happened to me.'''' I vaguely remember Takakura hinting at such feelings toward Tsuru. Had they developed to that extent? You''re good at that, Takakura. But we didn''t talk about it when we were together before. He was a chicken... so he talked to us and Arina about it. I had no choice but to listen to him for the sake of the gymnastics festival. I thought it was unusual and asked him if he thought Niwadatsuru was a good woman! We were already laughing so hard our stomachs broke! I couldn''t help but feel ridiculous, but he seemed pretty serious, so I gave him a lot of advice and '' ''I''m not worried about your advice or anything else.'' ''I did my best in my own way~! He looked at me seriously and said, ''Will you go along with me for a rehearsal? I tried the test with Alina as the crane and me as the judge. Alina suddenly said, ''Don''t get me wrong. I''m only you. I''m scared, Alina. I think I''m biologically compatible with you! I''m too stupid already! I rolled over and laughed. I thought I was going to die from laughing so hard! ''Deadly, isn''t it?'' ''That''s really it. I advised him not to do that, but he said it was the best line he could come up with. He ended up saying the same thing to the cranes. What did the crane say?'' ''Oh, if you beat me in the test, that''s good. You''ve never seen a crane laugh so hard! We and Alina cheered for the hard worker, but Tsuru was in first place until the end~'''' Chicken Senpai is still amazing. It''s only a matter of time before birds rule the world. I enjoyed listening to their stories, but a wave of regret quietly rumbled through me. The thought of graduating high school together rises in my chest. I missed out on experiencing a time that will never come again. It''s a shame. Alina, perhaps realizing how I was feeling, poked my hand with her finger angrily, "Hey! Don''t make that face. I''m going to cry. Your pain is my pain. ''Oh my god, comets are the worst. You''re making her cry. ''I''m the happiest I''ve ever been! Ha-ha-ha! The sun is smiling too! Alina! Your words are too heavy sometimes! That''s right. It''s all about now. It''s not about the past. I''m just happy that we''re talking like this. We should be thankful that we haven''t lost touch with each other despite the time gap. I''m not alone. Somewhere we are connected. To someone''s memory. To someone''s story. 126-003 Episode 10? Bread Runner... Have you ever heard of the "Bread Eating Contest"? It is a traditional Japanese game, and most of the participants are elementary school students. It is a precious experience that can only be experienced in one''s childhood, as it is rare for those who are in junior high school and above. I myself have been an all-time winner in the bread-eating contest in my elementary school days. I was not in junior high school. Such a bread-eating contest is about to take place. Comet, a bread-eating contest? Makoto looked as if he had encountered a grotesque larva. I''m a newcomer, but what a look in your eyes! Of course. I didn''t think there would be a bread-eating contest, but if I''m eligible, I''m in. I''m having sweet bean buns for dinner tonight. ''That''s only for elementary school kids, right? ...... I think it''s supposed to be a community exchange, so I''m sure it''s all kids who are going to be there.'' ''Shut up. Don''t you know the joy of getting free bread? I am deeply disappointed in you, Homo sapiens. This is why homo sapiens can only live in three-dimensional space. ''...... I won''t say anything more. Good luck,comet......'' I parted from the deflated Makoto and began stretching again. I''m glad that the inter-club relay ended up winning, but when I hear that there''s going to be a bread-eating contest, I have no choice but to get serious again. My legs have not reached their limits yet. They are in good condition thanks to the warmth. As I prepare myself for battle by stretching my Achilles tendon and rotating my hips while watching the second inter-club relay, Masao comes over to talk to me. ''Um, are you going to participate in the bread-eating contest ......? ''''Of course.'''' ''Bo, I hope it''s okay for me to come out too. ...... I''m so hungry. ......'' After running with his blood and flesh burning and his physical constraints completely lifted at Mango, he is apparently in a state of nutritional deficiency. Indeed, he looked exhausted and pouty after his victory. I was worried that his life expectancy might have been shortened considerably. It seems that his lunch was not enough calories for him and he wanted to participate in the crusade of bread-eating contest to make up for it. ''It''s free to join, so you''ll be fine,'' he said. ''Oh ...... that was good ......'' ''But is one loaf of bread enough? I don''t think it''s going to be enough no matter how you look at it.'' ''Maybe, it will be enough. ......'' No, it''s definitely not enough. Perhaps one loaf of bread is not enough to satisfy his muscles. Five squats would consume it. That''s when it happened. "We have a problem? Approaching with his hand in the shape of a gun was pro-gamer Agee. As soon as the inter-club relay was over, he seemed to have developed FPS syndrome again. He pointed the muzzle of his gun at me and shot at me while making the motion of reloading many times. ''Not so much a problem, I was just talking about whether Masao would be satisfied with a piece of bread. ''I see. Then I''ll join in and give Masao some bread. Masao''s muscles flared and he said, ''Really? His eyes lit up. I knew it wasn''t enough. It''s been a while since I ran as fast as I could, and I wanted to run again. It''s just right that I''m going to compete. Eiji did so while repeatedly pulling something with his right hand. This is probably the "cocking" of a sniper rifle when a round is loaded into the chamber. Eiji has given me a lot of extra knowledge. I''ll get out of here. It was Alina who came bouncing up and down with a smile on her face. I wanted to run, too. I''ll go get you some bread. Alina said to Masao. Masao said, ''Thank you very much ...... thank you very much ......! He bowed his head and made the wind blow with the force of a typhoon. Then. Let''s unite again for Masao''s sake. It''s not a competition, so let''s not get carried away. The second inter-club relay was over and preparations for the bread-eating contest began. We went to the entrance gate and joined the line. What the hell. You''ve got a lot of participation, don''t you? As Makoto said, I thought that only children would participate, but the majority of the students were from our school. I guess so. It looked like there were a lot of parents with their children, so I thought only children would come. '' ''That''s exactly what I was thinking. This is going to be a problem. ......'' ''''Why? Alina tilts her head and asks me. Behind her is a girl I recognize. ''Wow, it''s Sakakiki! The person who uttered my last name without my country''s permission was a regular participant in the bread fights that take place at the concession stand. I do not know his name, but I remember his face. She was one of the girls who banded together to form a wall of flesh to keep me from getting the bread. In other words, she was my enemy, yes. You''re one of those life forms that hangs out at the stall. What''s with that tone? But we''re not the only ones. The whole ballet club will be there to get the bread. ''Oh. All the members of that ball-playing club are here. Hmmm... What are you laughing at? No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. Are you trying to tell me that you won''t let us homecoming party members take it? We treat each other like obstacles on a daily basis, and sparks inevitably fly. At best, we''re rivals. We found ourselves surrounded by a group of belligerent girls. Strictly speaking, Alina, Eiji, and Masao are not involved at all. Their nemesis was Comet Sakakiki. ''Hey. Don''t fight. ''Quiet, Alina. They''re more hostile to me than you can possibly imagine. If you still want to be on my side, I will gladly accept it. ''Well, then I guess we''re strangers. ''Huh?'' Alina betrayed me without a second thought. Eiji was pulling out the pin of a grenade, and Masao was trying his best to make his volume as small as possible. There were really no allies left. Is there no mercy in this world? This is why I hate homo sapiens. Let the tomatoes take over. The women in the club smile wryly at the sight. But we will not yield. I will save the world even if it costs me my life. This summer, you will witness a hero. August 8, nationwide roadshow. All jokes aside, we were finally ready and walked through the entrance gate to the starting point. No way, ten of us were running at the same time. But we had to, otherwise we wouldn''t be able to keep up with the number of participants. The rules of this bread-eating contest were quite normal, and bread was usually hung around the corner. All you have to do is eat it and reach the goal. Of course, there is no concept of rank. All you have to do is to play the role of a person who is chasing after the bread. Gradually, your turn is approaching. Then the next ten men move forward, and Eiji is just one man ahead of the rest. I''ll go first then. He left one word as he motioned with his knife. His unnatural behavior was met with white eyes from everyone around him. Come on, he is a professional gamer. I heard he made it all the way to the eighth rank in the world, right? But I pretended to be someone else. I was embarrassed. With a bang, Eiji''s group started. I thought he was going to be the first one to start, but he got down on the ground. He seemed to have developed FPS syndrome. It seems that he thought it was a gunshot and got down on the ground. Eiji, you''re not holding the mouse! This is real! I shouted and pulled Eiji back to reality. Eiji came to his senses and started to run quickly, accelerating like a cheetah as he quickly approached the corner. The spectacle of the bread-eating contest is the dumb face desperately trying to get a bite of the bread with his mouth open. Since the bread is suspended from a single rope, the vibrations of the other competitors are transmitted to the whole area, causing the bread to dance and play tricks on us. This scene was still alive and well this time. He caught up with a competitor who was desperately trying to eat, and he did not decelerate. Instead, he accelerated. Instead, he accelerated. Just when I was about to be discouraged, I saw an unbelievable scene. Pro-gamer Age had two in his mouth. It was truly divine. He bit into the bread wrappings with such speed and precision that he took two of them in an instant. This is no human feat. How could he bite into the second one after biting into one? I realized he was the king of the bread-eating contest. Homo sapiens is not to be underestimated. Let''s put off ruling the earth. And now it''s my turn. There were three of us, me, Alina, and Masao, but all seven of the others were my enemies. All of them had broken my ribs and my femurs many times in the store. I regretted not writing my will. Alina, Masao. Be careful of the others. They''re green-blooded monsters. No mercy. They are allies with the sole purpose of defeating me. ''But it''s only comets, right? I don''t think it''s any of our business.'' Maybe so. If you''re in danger, I''ll hold on to them and blow myself up. I''ll protect you at all costs. You can throw the bones in the sea. ''Oh, I can count on you. Alina answered without looking at me. I was so sad I almost cried. Masao stood erect in fear of the overwhelming rate of girls. I don''t know him anymore. I don''t care what he does as long as he doesn''t kill anyone. Sakakiki. I''ll kill you if you hit me like you did at the stall. A female member of the club who has been making death threats with impunity. If I had recorded those words, I might have gained a social advantage. What a shame. Go ahead and howl. The bread is equally prepared. There''s no room for conflict. ''Well, maybe so~'' What the hell are these girls thinking? They''re obviously trying to sabotage me in some way. What did I do? I just touched you. The ten of us are standing side by side, and it''s time to begin. There''s nothing to fight about. As long as you don''t take two like Eiji did. Let''s just get it and get to the goal. Pang! Yes, that''s it! I fell hard. I fell flat on my face. Cause I got my foot caught in the start dash. They''re the devil''s messengers. They want to bring me down so bad. Please give them justice. I''ll eat slugs, you bastard! I screamed. I''m gonna make you eat it. I''m gonna make you eat so many slugs you''ll have a mouth full. All right, I''m going to collect slugs on a rainy day! I managed to catch up thanks to my full speed. Then I saw another startling sight. Alina took the bread in her hand without putting it in her mouth and ran away. He too is a desecrator of this crusade. Has he never thought about why there is a bread-eating contest? Look at Masao. He is desperately trying to bite down on the bread, breaking his back in pain because it is lower than his height. He is exactly what everyone should be looking for. You''re not very good at this, Masao. How many times are you going to smash the bread on your forehead? Is that where your mouth is? Alina looks at me quizzically as I reach the finish line with a piece of bread in my mouth. What? You couldn''t have taken it with your hand ......? ''Yes, it''s no good. It is an act of defiance against the name of the competition. You''re a natural, Alina~'''' ''Why don''t you tell me before you start ...... that''s kind of disgusting.'' What was I supposed to teach him? Did I do something wrong? Masao couldn''t get the bread until the end, and he ended up taking it by hand to the goal. Of course, we gave all the bread we had taken to Masao. The last bread-eating contest in my life was a chaotic battle. 127-004th??? No need to worry.... There was a time when I used to be proud to call myself a professional. Without any reason or rationale, I just let my professionalism flow out of me and got myself into trouble here and there. Looking back, I want to cover my face. I can only thank my friends for forgiving me for such eccentricities. Let''s go back in time. As I slowly wind the crown of the precious watch she gave me, I replay my memories of about ten years ago. I recall the conversation with him, which is one of the reasons why I call myself a professional homecoming club member. While everyone around us was suffering from the plague of "Chunibyo", he and I were the only ones who kept our rationality. The teachers must have been in despair watching the boys go crazy with stories about a world that doesn''t exist. We must have been the saviors of the teachers, because we had a firm will and reality in such a class. It''s a real pain in the ass, you know. There is an evil organization in this world. He was a freak like me. Serious and goofy like me. He was also a homecoming club member like me. Evil organization? There are plenty of such things. I replied. ''Yes. There''s plenty of them. Then what do you think is the most familiar evil organization to us, comet? ''Close to us? Let''s see... ...... biker gangs, maybe?'' ''That''s true, too. But I can''t say I''m close to it. A self-proclaimed professional homecoming club member, he observed me happily, the corners of his mouth upturned, as if he were enjoying my thoughts and worries. When I say "close by," I am referring to this junior high school. But if we call the junior high school an evil organization, it would mean that we are a part of the evil. It is an unbearable humiliation for me, a man who is a true friend of justice. If you are a teacher ......? Is the school board an evil organization? No, but I can''t explain it. ''What''s the matter, don''t you understand? I thought Comet was the only one who understood me. ''Nobody understands you. ''You''re a professional homecoming club member, right? Just like me. ''I''m just a homecoming boy. No, I don''t understand. I give up. I threw my hands up in the air and surrendered. I don''t get it. He''s the only one who can keep up with me, but I''m probably also the only one on the planet who can keep up with him. I mean, he''s a pro. He''s not ordinary. I''m a believer in the saying, "A smart hawk is a hawk is a hawk," and I try to hide the fact that I''m a professional, but it''s about time he sees through me. His eye for observation is beyond me. I wonder what kind of right answer he will come up with. The evil organization is made up of first- and third-year students. ''''What?'''' ''Plus the student council.'' I didn''t understand. You''re saying that the first and third graders between us eighth graders are the evil organization? And the student council? I felt threatened. Maybe this guy was more dangerous than I thought. His words were laced with suspicious thoughts. I checked the escape route with my eyes, ready to break away at any moment. Okay, both classroom doors are open. The positions of each classmate were also unobstructed. d*mn, I should have brought pepper. I should have flinched him to get away. ''Comet, there''s no need to run. ''I''d rather get naked and storm the school assembly than run away. Let me hear what you have to say. ''-- all right. Comet, what''s your purpose as a homecoming party member? ''- To protect the Earth. ''I see. I''m all about world peace. It''s a very painful conversation, but at the time I meant it. I''m not a chuuni patient, by the way. I swear to you. ''The factor that prevents world peace is the hierarchical relationship. The balance of power is wrong in this world. ''What are you talking about ......?'' ''Our enemies are not always our equals. Equality is everything. For example. Remember the scene in the athletic club. The freshmen are always looking after their superiors, aren''t they? The freshmen are frustrated and the seniors are amused. It may sound obvious, but this is the origin of everything that makes enemies. It is the flaw of camaraderie. Because you make upper and lower, you make enemies, and conflict arises. '' Isn''t that too extreme? ''''No.'''' But if you believe that, then of course you don''t use honorifics, a term that is hierarchical in nature, with third-year students, do you?'' ''Good point. Of course I have to use it. Because we belong to the Japanese community. We are in an organization where the upper and lower worlds are taken for granted. There is no escape. ''''Then what is your point in the end?'''' ''The homecoming club is a small resistance. Not belonging to an organization means freedom. The club without hierarchy is a symbol and a statement of peace. He grinned and shook my hand. ''Comet. You know what I mean. Equality is a synonym for peace. If you were a professional, you would shake my hand. His story is outrageous, but unfortunately not wrong. The point is that we should strive for a world where we do not make enemies. Not to destroy all enemies, but to spread the psychology of not making enemies. I see. I see. I took his hand. ''I destroy existing evil, you do not create evil. Is that right? Yes. That''s the way to do it, comet. Thus, we formed a homecoming alliance, but we went to different high schools. We never did anything together because of a false sense of duty. We didn''t talk about it until we were about to graduate, and we went our separate ways as professional homecoming club members. I wonder what he is doing now. I am sure his high school years were not normal either. He successfully entered high school and started his activities as a homecoming club member in a new place. Of course, he did not join any club. I was worried that such an oddball would not be able to make it through the three years, but Makoto Takane and Shirana Namiki were there to support me. Soon after, I fell in love with Ms. Akakusa. At the time, I was so excited to think that "beautiful woman" was a word that existed for this person. I swore to myself that I would do anything for her. That''s why I joined the health committee as a freshman, even though I was a homecoming student. To serve my teacher. I took the initiative in helping the teacher with whatever he asked of me. Sometimes, when he thanked me, I was so happy that my body melted into mush. I am grateful from the bottom of my heart to Ugin for keeping me in the refrigerator so that I could get back to my normal body. However, by the end of my freshman year, I remembered my purpose and made a fresh start as a member of the homecoming club. In the second year, I changed classes. I was separated from Shirana, but I was with Makoto, which was a relief to me. In reality, there are few people who can keep up with my tension. It was a little better to have someone who understands me. Time went by much faster than in the first year. I guess it''s just a matter of getting used to it, but anyway it happened so fast that the summer vacation was over soon. And then came the day of destiny. It''s disgusting. Die. I was trusted by Akakusa-sensei and was assigned to rehabilitate Arina Hinoha. Arina was a problem child anyway. She was a foul-mouthed, violent, terrible communicator, and unruly. I tried to suppress my desire to protest that it was unreasonable to expect me to help her rehabilitate herself, but I kept in touch with her. I learned her secret. She has a dual personality. That she had a history of abuse. Then I was desperate. Gradually I became attracted to Alina and unconsciously I devoted myself to her. For her, with her. I helped her in club activities, walked with her in school festivals, acted as a spy at the aquarium, and met her other girlfriend. I was really shocked when she forgot me. Everything had never happened. It was the hardest thing I had ever done mentally. I would have known then. How much I loved Alina. That''s why her confession was so painful. Her confession that she had forgotten me-- it was so cruel. I know it''s the same person and the same personality. But ...... it was painful. I can''t talk about memories with her. And I committed a great sin. I fell asleep without answering her. Why are you talking about the past all of a sudden? Alina, leaning in close and crossing her arms with mine, whispered something to me. On the way home after we both finished work and had dinner out, we talked about the old days. We both knew I was always careful about the way I wore my suit, but at this moment I didn''t care if it was disheveled or not. It''s just a feeling. ''Somehow ......'' She sighed and leaned her weight on me, making me stagger. ''Wow, Alina, you''re heavy. I thought you were an elephant. ''Don''t be rude. I''m tired, let''s go home. ''Well, well, well. We''re almost there. Let''s go home and enjoy the beauty of the buildings. ''What''s that ...... hmm. Oh, well.'' When I woke up, I really couldn''t believe everything I was seeing. When I saw my family and Alina, I finally understood that it was real. Well, Alina knows exactly what happened next. I''ve been in rehab every day. As soon as I could move my body, problems started to appear one after another. I was very worried about my future and my social standing. But one by one, I managed to overcome them. I passed the high school equivalency test without any problems, borrowed more scholarship money so as not to cause any more trouble to my parents, and graduated from the university without any problems. I was able to find a job in spite of all the hardships. ''I think you did really well. ''I think so, too. I really--'' I stopped and faced her. ''What, what, what? Alina rushed to adjust her disheveled suit. ''I was going to tell you everything. I felt like I had to tell you everything. ''Eh--'' Alina blushes and runs a hand through her hair to avoid eye contact with me. I loved the way she fumbled like a pure girl, with her default attitude of firmness. ''Let me put it simply. I like you. ''...... me too.'' No, I love you. I already know! ''So, will you stay next to me for the rest of my life?'' ''Hm, wait a minute! Alina held my mouth with her hand. I thought I was going to break my front teeth. As usual, the force is broken. She continued to hold my mouth until my ragged breathing subsided. When she calmed down, she wiped tears from the corners of her eyes and let out a deep breath. Marry me! What? That''s what I was going to say--'''' ''Ugh, shut up! I wanted to say it too! ''What the hell is that ...... that''s not fair ......'' ''So. You''re not fair. You''re not just going to show up on my doorstep. ......'' Alina then began to cry inconsolably. Confused, I tried to open my arms to hug her, but I felt as if I would break them if I hugged her, so I panicked. In the midst of such confusion, I remembered something terrible. Aaahhhh!!!! ''What''s next! I left my ring at home! I left my ring at home! I left my ring in the drawer! I forgot! I forgot! The ring! I forgot! I was so mad. I''ve done it. ....... The most important moment of my life, I-- Oh, ...... what a professional. I''m just a homo sapiens. ....... ''Alina, I need to go home...'' How can I say that? ....... I forgot my ring, so I''m going to go home and get it. ...... No romance, no shit. This is a case of seppuku. What should we do? Oh, maybe we can time jump for a day. Then I could get down on one knee and show the world, young and old, my perfect lines. ....... That''s when I was thinking about it in a daze. ''Comet. ''Yes ......'' ''I don''t want anything. You don''t either, do you?'' With that she gently grabbed me by both shoulders and stood me up on my toes. She closed her eyes. I closed mine, and I promised to give her everything. Let''s be happy. That''s what I said to her lips. 128-005 Number one? My brother will pass.... Since I started attending junior college, I have often felt that my life is in danger. It is not a cinematic development that I am being targeted because of my professionalism, but simply because my girlfriend suspects me of cheating on her. I don''t want to be an enemy of all women in the world, so I will explain myself here. I am not cheating on her. I''m dating the best woman in the world. Yes, I''m dating the best woman in the world. I''ve said things like that before to make her stop doubting me. Hmm. In her apron, she only showed that thin reaction and silently cut vegetables with a knife without a glance at me. I thought that she had not understood me at all and wondered how I could clear up the misunderstanding, but I gave up that idea when I saw the dish she had prepared for me. The carrots and radishes were so unevenly sized that it looked like a structure blown up with dynamite. She was properly upset. Too cute ....... One day, I was thinking that I don''t give a d*mn about people''s love life, but one day an incident happened. I was on a date with Alina at my favorite coffee shop. She asked me, "Where were you looking? ''What? I was just looking at that lighting, thinking it was stylish.'' ''Liar. You definitely saw the waiter earlier. The waitress I mentioned was the woman who helped me when I placed my order. I don''t think I was aware of it. I don''t think I was aware of it. That waitress had big breasts, didn''t she? Yes? Sure, she had the fullness of an Ibaraki melon, and her pheromones were great, but I didn''t see them. I didn''t see it. ''Alina is no slouch either. ''I''m not happy to be compared to something so vile.'' That''s ...... vulgar. ......! You''ve got to be kidding me. That''s the perfect edition every boy dreams of, filled to the brim with dreams, hopes, and friendships. I don''t know anything about that. You''ve turned hundreds of millions of the world''s youth against you, boy. Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no. I''ll tell my big friends. But I''m gonna protect you. Even if it means turning the world against you. Snap. Your smug face is getting on my nerves lately. ''Shut up. A man has to look good once in his life. If that''s the case, you should only do it in front of me. If you show it to other women, I wonder what will happen to .......'' ''Yandere koeko ......'' I''ve been promoted from tsundere to yandere (?). I wonder what she will be like ten years from now. Anything is fine as long as it doesn''t go in a sadistic direction, but please don''t make an enemy of the world. Another woman, another female, or whatever she''s been calling herself lately, any woman that I might have anything to do with. I know it''s a joke. I just hope she won''t do me any harm. Speaking of which... Alina held up her long, slender index finger. In high school, it would have been her middle finger. I remember holding that middle finger firmly because the image was too indecent to broadcast. I think I got slapped or punched. It was a long time ago. ''I wonder if Ugin-chan is dating. ''''What?'''' Ugin went out with you? That''s not true. That''s not true. ''Why not? ''I''ve been trained to ask permission when I''m going out with someone. I don''t go out with anyone without permission. You''re sick. ''I''m not sick. Bokyu, I''m healthy. ''Which child actor are you imitating? It''s disgusting, stop it.'' Haha, I can''t do this at all. Ugin dating a bipedal protein is unrealistic. Can you imagine such a scene? ....... Big brother is ...... hiccup ...... health of his sister more than anyone else ...... ugh ....... ''...... honey. Where''s the info?'' ''A photo posted by Ugin-chan''. ''Let me see it, honey. ''I''ll show it to you, but you''ll have to call me something else.'' ''No, honey. You call me darling, too.'' ''......Wow, okay, darling......'' ''Wow, you''re too westernized, darling. Please stop it, it''s embarrassing.'' ''......Korosu.'' He showed me his phone while telegraphing. She covered her face with her hands and knocked me down, but I left her alone and looked at the picture. The background is a beach somewhere. Ugin in a bathing suit. Some girls who looked like her friends. A male Homo sapiens is reflected in the picture. Who is this bipedal protein? Who is this skin-colored life form that is so familiarly rubbing shoulders with Ugin? Who is this solid creature wearing only a pair of shorts touching the Sakakimagi girl? I heard a voice in my head. Get rid of it! Get rid of it! There was a faint smell of gunpowder smoke. This is it, the memory of that hotel room. Each time I squeezed the trigger, one shot after another, a hole appeared in the wooden door. Many rays of light leaked through the holes and shined on me. Why, he asks, coughing. He struggles to keep the blood in his throat from entering his lungs. You knew what would happen if you betrayed the homecoming club. I muttered to myself. He smiled, showing his reddened teeth as if he knew his fate. ''The gun--it''s like justice. Always going in a straight line. Do you think our justice ever looks back? I can''t answer that. Since that day, I have never been able to touch a gun. That hunk of steel looked like the devil in angel''s wings. Alina. ''Hey, what''s up, darlin''? ''Orders have been given.'' ''Orders? ...... Oh, you''re talking about the setting of the homecoming club.'' ''Investigate organisms approaching Ugin and eliminate them if necessary. And don''t call it a setting. It makes me sad. ''What if Ugin-chan likes him? Are you going to break up with her? ''Depends. ''Leave him alone, he''s a grown man. Focus on your date with me. ''Okay, honey. You''re still the best in the world today. ''Oh, no, that word''s gonna melt me. It''s been a long time since I''ve been on a mission. I''m going to show you that being a former homecoming club member isn''t all it''s cracked up to be. The first thing I did was talk to Ugin. Ugin is now a third-year university student and lives on campus in another prefecture, so it is difficult to get in touch with him. So, I gather information and formulate a hypothesis during the conversation. I will directly ask him, ''Did you make a man? But since it is likely to cause a rift in the relationship between siblings, let''s keep it civil. He carefully typed in Ugin''s phone number, which he had obtained by paying a detective 700,000 yen. Yes, this is Sakakiki. ''It''s me. It''s my brother. Wow, you''re as creepy as ever. Long time no see. ''I was just wondering how you''re doing. Are you enjoying college?'' Yes, it''s fun. Are things going well with you and Alina, brother? Don''t tell me you guys broke up or something?" ''Don''t worry, I''m so in love with you that you''d be a donkey.'' Oh, that''s nice. When are you going to propose? ''When this war is over. You''d better get out of that kind of thing." My brother is sad. I wonder if he has come to know reality as a college student. He should enjoy fiction a little more. Lack of creativity is the first step to becoming a boring person. I casually played the game. ''Are you seeing anyone, Ugin? No, I don''t. You''re lying. My sweet little sister would never be left alone. I''m sure she''d say, ''Oh, I don''t want big brother to know! I can''t say it''s because I look like my brother! I bet you are blushing and screaming in your heart. By the way, if I were in a real relationship with someone who looked like me, I would do everything in my power to break it off. Ugin''s life would be ruined. The worst thing you can do is to date a freak like me. It is written in the Six Laws of Life. Ho. Lying is not good. It''s true that humans build a balanced society with lies. But not between siblings. I''m not really here. Even if I was, I wouldn''t tell you. ''Hey. I told you I need your permission to go out with you. I''ve never heard of it. I''ve never heard that either. Oh, yeah. I''m going home. I''ll let you know. ''Okay. And I don''t live at home. ''Really? Living with Alina? Oh, no. I don''t live with you. He came at me one way and I denied it, even though it was like living together half the time. After that, he asked Ugin when he would be back, and we hung up the call. That''s when we settled the matter. Wait and see, Ugin''s homo sapiens. Your life is short. Make sure you delete all the data from your hard drive. Two weeks later. I went home for the first time in a long time. I really like the feeling of security at home. There''s nothing to be afraid of. Ugin had not returned yet. I told Mommy that I hadn''t seen Ugin''s face for a long time. She had no idea that her daughter might be dating an android of unknown origin. Maybe I''d have a woman''s intuition. I went to the living room, drank some water, and waited. Sometimes I reply to Alina, shivering as I await the arrival of Ugin Sakakiki, the Sakakiki family''s masterpiece of humanoid weaponry. An hour later, the front door opened without warning. I have my gun, I have enough ammunition, my vest is ready, the knife on my waist is ready, all I have to do is to be prepared.... I got up and headed for the front door. I''m home. My sister''s familiar voice. I welcomed her with open arms. ''Welcome home, my sister. ''Yeah, no hugging. Ugin''s hair had not changed; it was still wavy in a forehead-baring bob. She still has the look of a Hollywood actress. When will you appear next? ''You haven''t changed at all. I''m relieved. ''I am constant. I will continue to shine beautifully like a metal that never rusts. ''My brother''s brilliance is not in demand. You''ve got it, Alina. I said something cool. I was in a good mood after the emotional reunion, but the mood was ruined when Ugin started drinking beer in the living room. The image of the innocent younger sister was shattered. Are you one of those so-called "Parisians"? Nothing wrong with that, but my image of ....... ''You don''t drink?'' ''No, not now.'' ''Well, I''ll have a drink. With a plop, Ugin gulped down the fizzy drink. Sister Ugin continued to drink, emptying four 500ml cans. I chugged water while shivering and shuddering at the sight of my pretty little sister reeking of alcohol beside me. I felt sorry for my sister''s liver. I can hear it screaming. Stop, don''t pour alcohol on me. Those of us who have suffered from acid rain know the feeling. But the rain is not forever. Until then, endure. Mr. Ugin is finally flushed and becoming more conscious. His upper body has been swaying slightly from side to side since a few minutes ago, so it seems that he is ready. Thinking it was now or never, I decided to ask him. Mr. Ugin! ''Ai''. ''Are you enjoying campus life?'' ''Of course it''s fun.'' ''Heh.'' The sister who glared at me. Even Alina, who was at the height of her tongue, did not take this tone. I wonder if she has a bad drinking habit. But don''t be afraid of this. She''s still cute. ''Oh, yeah. It''s fun, isn''t it? ''Huh. I was surprised to see your personality change. ''''Oh?'''' ''Heh.'' ''That''s why I''m lying. Gghhhh.'' ''Ugin-kun. Are you dating a man?'' ''Oh, you''re talking about that again? I told you, I''m not here. ''Don''t lie in front of your brother.'' ''''Huh?'''' ''Heh.'' That''s a tough one. I wonder if this girl thinks she can beat the ex-homecoming member by intimidating him. It may work in the natural world, but in the human world, it only exposes your pettiness. The end of a man who has given up words and stopped thinking is always miserable. They are like collared mad dogs. I pulled out my phone and called Alina. Yes, this is Hiwa. ''It''s me, honey. Send me the picture.'' What''s that?" ''It''s the special nude picture of Ugin that you showed me two weeks ago. As soon as I said that, he said, ''Hey! Ugin head-butted me. Brain stem damage, hemorrhaging in the frontal lobe, ruptured eyeballs, a half-destroyed hippocampus, and 2.3 billion dead nerve cells. ''Hey, that sounded really loud just now. ...... ''No problem. Can you send it anyway?'' Yeah, ...... got it. I gotta go. My head is spinning. This is going to take a while to fix. ''Hey, what''s my nude? ''I misspoke. Apologies. Sorry, Science. ''You''re not being sincere.'' ''Oh, here it comes. Alina sent me a picture. That''s it, that''s it. This bipedal protein assembly. We showed the image to Ugin and got to the bottom of it. Who is this android? This is the guy who''s rubbing shoulders with you. He groans and looks at my phone. He smells like booze. I''m gonna throw you in the washing machine. Then he starts laughing. ''You thought he was my boyfriend? That''s hilarious! ''Then what is it? A mannequin? ''I''m her boyfriend! The person who pointed a finger was a girl who rubbed shoulders with a man. He said this not to Ugin, but to the girl in a bathing suit who was on the other side of him. In other words, the man has Ugin and another person by his side. I''m glad I''m not a judge. I would have been in the electric chair for sure. I was just shoulder to shoulder. That''s all. ''Ho. In the groove. Ho.'' ''Brother, you look like a killer. ''Now I can play the hero of cannibalism. At least I''m glad she''s okay. ''Safe'' means ...... well, it''s nothing special. I might have a boyfriend someday. What? Big brother, I''m going crazy right now. But I think I''ll wait until I''m close to Alaska. I want to decide how to live my life in my 20s, so I guess I''ll be alone until then. Don''t use the word ''Alaska'' so easily. And don''t use the word "Alaska" so easily. You''ll be killed within a week. ''If that happens, I''ll ask my brother to protect me. ''I''ll take care of it. When I get serious, there''ll be tomato juice all over the place. ''It''s weirdly kind of you not to call it a sea of blood. 129-006 Title ?? Project Arina digitalization... Information'' is important to the homecoming crew. You must have all the information you need to get home safely. Amateurs step in dog shit or get hit by a truck and reincarnate in another world. In the worst case, it is a matter of life and death. That''s why you need to keep updating your information. If you think it''s too much trouble, you''re not a member of the club. What are you trying to say? I gave a speech about the importance of information in a space like a shoujo manga surrounded by preserved flowers. The only audience member was Alina Hiba. Information is--is important. ''I said that earlier.'' ''Information is--'' ''Shut up over and over again--'' ''Information--'' As I was about to say this, Alina pushed the long desk away from me and smashed it into my stomach, which was sitting across from me. If I had been poor Daruma-kun, my body parts would have been blown off one after another. I feel a little bit of vertebrae loss. I wonder if my vision was this low. ''Shut up! ''You''re going to get hurt one day if you''re so quick to violence ...... me.'' ''Then I''ll do more. ''Calm down. Take a deep breath. And then the long desk crashed into my abdomen again. I could count the number of vertebrae on my fingers now. This is just getting creepy. Who wants to see a homecoming freshman with an arm growing out from around his waist? You want to see it? I''ll go register Yuru-kyara. The reason I brought up the subject of information is because the computer club asked me to do so. The Computer Club is one of the most important organizations in the Homecoming Club. They are engaged in information warfare with all the intelligence agencies in the world after school under the guise of information gathering. There are many skilled people who can infiltrate the network of our club, and you will not get into trouble if you get involved with them. This is all a lie. They are saints who browse only wholesome contents. Their purpose is for the benefit of mankind, and they are not motivated by self-interest, but by a spirit of complete service. This is also a lie. Just to be clear, the browsing history of high school boys'' smartphones and PCs is not something that can be shown to the opposite s*x. Even if you negotiate with them, they will never show it to you. Ladies who have seen only the beautiful world through the blessings of their parents (web browsing restrictions) would be devastated if they saw them. This is the truth. So, girls all over the country, when males ask you for something unpleasant, ask them to show you the browsing history of your smartphone. It is highly probable that they will back off. Unfortunately, I have heard that a girl''s browsing history is as beautiful as a sapphire, so it is useless to say this to the guys. It won''t work. Can you please stop sneering at me? It''s disgusting.'' ''If you want me to stop smiling fearlessly, show me Alina''s smurfing history. ''Eh. I don''t want to ......''. ''Oh, no.'' No way, Alina, you were a boy. ......? Such a cute little boy, or ...... a distortion of my proclivities! As soon as that thought crossed his mind, Esper Alina''s brow wrinkled. Yes, the unreasonableness begins. She slapped me with a paperback book and kicked me five times in the shin with the toe of her hard loafer. That finally calmed his anger. I''d like to argue with the city council about why I should be sandbagged for free, but for now I''ll let him off the hook. ''I have a job for you in the computer department, Alina. ''''So.'''' ''''So'''' ''......'' ''So! ''Don''t imitate me. It''s annoying.'' ''So! Yes! Soy-soy-soy! I always get a ''so'' and it''s just fine, so I decided to rebel. I wanted her to know how people feel when she replies with ''so''. Then Alina closed her library book and straightened her back. She glared at me sharply, as if to say what was going on. I have to admit, I think I shit my pants a little. Alina did not do anything, but sat down on a shallow chair, put her hands on her thighs in a well-mannered manner, and stared into my eyes with her chest outstretched in a classy manner. I couldn''t move, as if the edge of a knife were thinning against my cornea. Computer department, I''m sorry. I can''t move. I feel like I''ll die if I move even a little. Alina was also still and focused only on my eyes, and she did not move. I must have gone about five minutes. I was about to reach the end of my patience, and I was looking for a chance to escape. But first I had to drink some tomato juice. I can''t escape from Alina unless I revitalize my whole body with God''s drinking water, which is the source of my power. Okay, let''s aim for the moment when she blinks. I measured the pace at which Alina''s eyelids closed, and waited for the right moment. Click, click, click. ....... The second hand of the clock ticks in the quiet rose garden. --Now. I reach out with my right hand at a speed of 185 km/h, take out a glass of tomato juice from the bag under my feet, and place it on the desk with a thump. The whole time, 0.1 second. I kept eye contact with Alina the whole time. So I knew that when I started to move, she also moved her right hand and took a carving knife out of her pocket. You''ll end up being questioned. Alina''s knife was thrust into the can as soon as I put it on the desk. She stares at me with the eyes of a cold-blooded killer as she pulls it out. The sight of the tomato juice bleeding profusely makes me want to vomit. Oh, ......! Oech! Oyeye!'''' ''Poor ...... you, it''s your fault.'' Tomato juice leaking endlessly. It''s so gross, it''s driving me crazy. He''s innocent! I forgot to stop the bleeding of the can and kissed the gaping wound. I gulp down the tomato juice, slurping it down my throat. He''s not going to make it. So miserable. ''Quiet, you perverted, tongue-tied girl. It''s a kissing scene. Can you stop ruining the mood? ''I''m not weird! You weirdo freak! Ha-ha-ha. ''Ha-ha-ha. ''...... is really disgusting.'' This is not the time for this kind of contrivance. The world is coming to an end as we speak. So we''re here in front of the computer club room. Alina has her arms crossed behind her back. But the distance is too great. I''m in front of the sliding door, and she''s about five meters behind me, looking at me disapprovingly. My personal space is not that big. It''s not a problem if you get closer. I don''t feel uncomfortable with a distance of 30 centimeters. ''...... what are you doing today?'' ''You still haven''t told me. You asked me for help, and I said yes. ''Listen more. They''re going to do something to me, not you, aren''t they? I don''t mind being a model for the art club. But the computer club is ...... absolutely, that ......'' ''''What?'''' ''They''re all freaks like you, right ......?'' ''That''s prejudice, that''s prejudice. They''re sincere. ''That''s a lie. There are three guys in my class and they''re always grinning and playing games.'' ''What about me, if I''m considered a freak for that much?'' ''Hentai''. I am honored by your compliments, sir. ''Go to hell.'' There is no heaven or hell because I am immortal. And I wonder if one day I will be able to sleep... Stubborn Alina didn''t move an inch, so I knocked on the sliding door and entered. ''I''m here as promised. ''Oh, comet. The person who called out to me was the one who had requested me. The room was cool, which was probably the best environment for the computer club. The members of the club were either sitting in front of the screen chatting or playing games. ''So, what do you want from us? When I tried to ask the client, he looked as if he had encountered a monster and froze. Just as I was about to tell him that someone in the computer department should at least force him to shut down, he suddenly shouted. Close the door! Now! ''''What?'''' ''Quickly! Please, close the door! He urged me on, waving his arms in the air. I don''t know why he is in such a hurry, but I decide to follow him anyway and turn around. Alina was standing in front of the sliding door. ''......'' ''What? We have to go in, don''t we?'' I closed the door and locked it. Maybe I made the right choice. ''...... is this okay? ''Thank you ...... for your help.'' Relieved client. A knock on the sliding door behind him and a ''Open up, you perverted go-home boy! Cursing. Probably some inconvenience will be caused by her presence in connection with Alina Nippa. The sliding door was threatened to be broken, so I was catching Alina''s planet-destroying punches transmitted through the sliding door with my back, just in case, but the limit seemed to be fast approaching. Sixty percent of the bones in my upper body have already been broken. ''Alina, listen to me. You can go home today. De-de-dee-dee. You just cracked the back of my head, you son of a b*tc*. ''Hmm. Well, okay. I''m leaving. ''All right, good boy. Go home and study.'' The sound of shoes moving away. It seemed they were headed for the rose garden. I resumed my conversation with my client, self-reproducing my convoluted broken upper body. So, is this a bad thing if Alina is here? ''Yeah, ...... we''re working on a CG character right now, and the model for it is actually ...... Mr. Hiba...'' ...'''' I see. That''s definitely not good. If Alina finds out that we are being virtualized in secret, she will destroy the computer department. I have a feeling she''ll turn on me in revenge. Please don''t let that happen. Comet is close to Ms. Hinata, isn''t he? That''s why I asked you to ask about Mr. Hiba''s characteristics.'''' ''I don''t know if that''s what you mean. I don''t know either. But we don''t know any more. Please help us! I was puzzled when she pleaded with tears in her eyes. I wonder why virtual Alina drives them so much, but I guess this is also their favorite world. When the danger of tomato juice disappearing from the world comes, I would do anything to avert the crisis. They are risking their lives to make what they love. If they don''t do it, they don''t deserve to live. I get it. Tell me the details. ''Thank you ...... thank you ......! The next day. I went to Alina''s class. "Hello, hello. ''Oh, there''s some nasty creatures at lunchtime. It''s going to ruin my food. ''Food is always good. ''So I wonder if you can eat your dinner while looking at cockroach larvae. ''I can''t eat it. ''That''s what I''m talking about. ''I''m at cockroach level, or should I say it''s a miracle that I''ve never been sprayed with insecticide in ...... my seventeen years of life? Alina, who was eating with her back elegantly straightened, turned her head away and refused to talk to me. If she doesn''t get better in these areas, she won''t improve her tongue or her attitude. The rehabilitation project is far from over. ''So, what do you want? I''d like you to go away as soon as possible. ''Alina. Wouldn''t you like to be a virtual idol?'' ''''Huh?'''' The client of the computer department, Fujioka Ken, told us the following. I want you to tell me the variations in Ms. Nippa''s appearance and facial expressions. I tried to argue with him, saying "No, no, no, you don''t have to depend on me to know," but he seemed to have difficulty with that. He argued that it is either God or ignorance that can touch a sacred being, and said he was practically out of his depth. In other words, you are saying that I am ignorant and shameless. I was surprised at the sudden insult, but being a generous homecoming club member, I persevered and continued to listen to him. He asked me to somehow gather detailed information about Arina Nippa, and I had the simplest solution. The easiest solution is to take Alina with you. Then all will be well and everyone will be happy. However, it will be difficult to bring Alina because of her prejudice against the computer club. So, we decided to mislead her and kidnap her--or rather, bring her along. ''Virtual idols,'' she says, ''are very popular these days. There''s a guy who wants to make a model of the poisonous rose. ''What''s that? I''ve never heard of it. Well, it may still be difficult for a princess from the Heian period to understand katakana English, but don''t worry, it''s nothing to be afraid of. You can lose weight easily. You can lose 20 kilos in three months. What you''re saying is incoherent. If you''re not going to explain yourself properly, then please leave. ''All right, don''t hold your chopsticks backwards. I politely explained the virtual idol to the tax-dodging princess. A technique in which a 3DCG character is linked to captured human motion to make it appear as if the character is moving independently. I''m asking for a model for the motion capture technique, which is an indispensable part of CG for movies. During the lunch break, I almost lost my head, but I managed to finish my explanation. I managed to explain it all. ''......''. Please be a cornerstone of the technological development of mankind. ''''And...'''' ''Will you agree to this? ''I have three questions. ''''Go ahead.'''' ''One. The need for me to be a model. If you''re going to make something, it should be a beautiful girl. Two. Who will move my model? Probably Kenkyu. It is quite crazy when you think about it. Three. What do you want my model to do? What''s that? ....... I thought again. Once I have completed an exquisite 3DCG beauty and can move her freely by myself... --What will you do? When you get your very own Alina Nichiwa... The answer was simple. It''s perverted behavior. ''That''s right. You boys are like that. ''That''s right. That''s how all men are made except me. ''Well, then. What should you do? ''Scrap the plan.'' ''Well. You know exactly what I mean. But is that all? ''Abrogation of plans and declaration of hostility against the computer department. ''Good boy. Come on, get out of here for me.'' ''Roger that.'' Okay, well... I''ve been duped. I had no idea I was unwittingly aiding and abetting a crime. ....... I''ll never forgive you. I will never forgive the computer club! I left the classroom and rushed into the class with Ken. Using the highly accurate facial recognition function, he finds Ken Fujioka. I optimize my pockets so that I can drink tomato juice at any time, so that I can recover quickly from a fatal blow. Ken''. ''''Oh. Information about Mr. Hiu?'''' He asked me nonchalantly. Carefree. I want to punish myself for not seeing through him and just following blindly. Please forgive me for this devious plan. I will not help you with the ''Alina Hinata virtualization project. And I hereby declare that as of today, the Homecoming Club and Arina Hiba are against the Computer Club. ''Eh? Wait a minute, what--'''' Excuses are futile. From now on, you will be monitored. If you show any signs of criminal activity, your bodies will be altered so that you can only eat tomatoes as punishment. I sincerely hope that the human spirit will reside in you again. That is all. Ken took my advice and started yelling something. I put in my earplugs and turned off the sound of the world. All the abuse, all the abuse, all the threats are meaningless if they don''t get through. This is the definite weakness of homo sapiens, who can only make the air tremble. When will they be able to communicate without space? I look forward to it from the five-dimensional world. I took a sip of tomato juice and left the place. Yes, this is the taste of a winner. The taste of lycopene. After school, I reported to Alina in the rose garden. The plan to convert Alina Hinoha into electronic data has been canceled. You can rest assured. It seems like a bit of a change of subject from the beginning, but that''s OK. Thank you for your hard work. I appreciate it. ''I''d rather thank you. I almost became the bad guy. Alina muttered something about a ''man of convenience,'' but it didn''t matter. Whatever I am, I just want to bring a little more happiness to this blue planet. ''Stop smiling so evilly,'' she said. 130-007th?????????????????????????????????????????????... ''Did you miss me?'' A college student named Chiho Sakuraba asked me this. ''No. It was just for a moment, so I didn''t feel anything. ''Did you know? Humans are definitely lonely creatures. Do you know why?'' ''Because there are other people. The feeling of loneliness stems from loneliness. In other words, if you are alone in the world and do not meet anyone, the concept of loneliness does not arise and you will not feel lonely by necessity. But that is not realistic--'''' ''Bubu. The correct answer is ''Because I''m always looking for love! It was. You''re a funny guy after all, Comet-kun. ''Yes, it is. I''ve never seen anyone as weird as he is. People have gone to great lengths to teach me about the truths of humanity, and yet I have spoken of them with shame for a long time now. For some reason, Alina invited me to the university. I asked her if it was okay for an outsider to pass through the gate without permission, but she offered me a very difficult solution: ''Tell her you''re here to pick up your girlfriend. I also told him that if I said that, he would end up treating me as suspicious, but he said, ''Call me then. I''ll delete him,'' he said, this time making me shudder. So I put on my date glasses to look like a studious college student to avoid any casualties. I passed through the street with a nonchalant look on my face, and I was not suspected by anyone. The college students passing by would never have guessed that I was a comatose former member of the best homecoming club in the galactic system. We met in an open courtyard-like plaza. I walked around, checking the images Alina had sent me. When I arrived, Alina and a strange college girl were sitting on a bench. Hello, beautiful ladies of the nation! ''Oh, you''re here at last--what''s with the glasses? You have good eyesight, don''t you? I''m 1.5 in each eye, and the diameter of your eyeballs and the number of lashes...'' ''How do you know biometric information that you don''t even know? I''m scared.'' ''I''m kidding. But I like the bespectacled version of you. They say things that make me nervous and make my heart pound. It''s not that I don''t like them. When no one is around, I say ''I love you, Alina. I want to say it straight out, but I''m too shy and I''m a self-destructive person, so I suppress my feelings. I can''t cause any more trouble for the firefighters. That''s why the words I said to Alina that night were a miracle. She could have been an announcer. ''Ah, you''re the sleeping prince I''ve heard so much about: ......''. It was a college girl next to Alina who whispered to me. She looked somewhat like Alina. Her tousled hair, petite body, and her facial expression reminded me of the old Alina. It''s that quiet, silent Alina. Let me introduce you. This is my friend, Chiho Sakuraba. ''Nice to meet you, comet. Chiho said with a small bow. ''Hello. I''m Comet Sakakiki. ''Shall we move to a different place? Let''s go to the cafeteria. Is it okay if I use the cafeteria? Yes. ''Well, that''s good.'' This is how I came to the diner. And Chiho asked me, "Did you miss me? He asked me a question. Apparently, Alina had told him about my past, and he had wanted to meet me in person to find out what kind of person I was. I was bombarded with questions. ''--I think I have a general idea about Comet. Conclusion. He''s a freak! You know exactly what you''re talking about. ''But I''m glad he seems sincere. If the person who dropped Alina had been a bum and a flirt, I would have killed him. ''Mother, father. Thank you for raising me to be a man of character. I think I will survive today. The heartwarming dining room nearly became a murder scene. After all, Chiho looks a little like Alina. As I ate, I suddenly wondered. Why am I here? You haven''t even asked me what I wanted. So... Why did you call me? asks Alina, who is wrapping pasta around her. ''Don''t be an insensitive character. You won''t like it. ''No, seriously, I don''t understand.'' But it''s the insensitivity that makes the heroine stand out. It''s cute when she tries so hard to get people to pay attention to her. ''It''s okay. Alina''s Pretty Gauge is always maxed out. ''Oh my god, ...... pop.'' Chiho was grinning when she saw this exchange. Aha, how embarrassing. But Alina would be in a bad mood if she didn''t do this. ''It''s to introduce you to Chiho. That''s all. ''So that''s how it is. You didn''t just happen to be here. But why me? ''I wanted to let you know that your efforts to help me in high school paid off. I met a lot of people because of you. Chiho is a very dear friend of mine and I wanted to introduce her to you: ......'' The tone of his voice dropped and he started eating his pasta again, embarrassed. I see. The scene between Alina and Chiho, which seemed so commonplace, was not universal for Alina. I missed that poisonous rose that was always blooming in discontent and solitude. ''I really wanted to introduce it earlier, you know? But ...... that ......'' ''Stop being a naive character. You''re a little bit of a jerk.'' ''Don''t spoil the mood. I knew you would fall in love with Chiho. ''What? What''s that?'' ''Because ...... it''s not important anymore. I''ve already decided that until I know how you and I feel. This is my weakness. Please forgive me. Chiho-san next to me said, ''What? I reacted. I would never think of taking someone''s boyfriend away from them, I said. ''I was scared because we weren''t in that kind of relationship yet. I was thinking of carefully encircling him and attacking him. Don''t worry about Chiho. I feel lightly insulted. ''Chiho. Don''t worry about it. The lady next door is jealous. Just talking about her sister is enough to make her say, ''Don''t talk about other women. ''Alina, that''s scary.'' ''I''m not afraid of you. I think people who say horrible things to the woman they love need special discipline. I''m so scared. After finishing our meal, the next step was to leave the university and go to the city. Apparently, the university had finished in the morning, and the afternoon was free. My JoOusama was not answering my questions, even though I was still studying for my high school equivalency exam. As the three of us were walking, we saw a video game arcade. Let''s take a purikura picture! ''Great.'' Purikura? You mean those d*mn photo machines? I''m not good at photography, so I decided to escape. Okay, you two go ahead. I''ll stay outside and keep watch. ''Well, now that we''re friends, let''s take a picture to commemorate the occasion. No. Who''s going to deal with you when someone tries to ruin your happiness? I''m the only one, aren''t I? ''Hey Alina. Are you always like this, comet?'' Yeah. But this time it can''t be helped. Alina seemed to care about me and took Chiho with her. I don''t dare to rush into a space full of high school girls in pink. That place is a treasure trove of false accusations. You''d be arrested just for breathing the air in there. While I was waiting, I was thinking. What''s going to happen to me and Alina now? At the end of next year, Alina will graduate from college and start working. What will happen to me after I pass the KSCE? Will I be able to make Alina happy under such circumstances? Once I start worrying about one thing or another, my mood sinks deeper and deeper into the bottomless pit. Recently, I have been wondering how I can be a suitable partner for Alina. I don''t really know what is appropriate in the first place. Status, education, wealth, credit, intelligence, appearance, personality, the list goes on and on. I wonder how far I am meeting her standards. What''s wrong? Before I knew it, Chiho was standing next to me. ''Chiho. Where''s Alina? ''Toilet.'' ''I see. Did you take it?'' ''Yeah! Here, look. ''Wow! We can put it on display at the museum. Seeing the two of them made prettier by the power of the machine, I was relieved that I didn''t have to go there too. Comet Sakakimagi''s newfound cuteness stops people''s hearts. They die from being too cute. It''s no exaggeration to say that he saved someone''s life. When are you going to propose? ''What? Yes? What language was that? ''It''s Japanese, but...'' ''Sorry, I was switching to a mindset that only understands dolphin ultrasound. Say that again. ''When are you going to propose?'' ''Ah heh - I don''t get it.'' Why do you say that? I think that katakana English is a rather sensitive topic, but he seemed unconcerned. It is absolutely forbidden in front of Alina. I decided to be an idiot. One tomato, two tomatoes," I hummed to myself, closed my eyes, and let go of my thoughts. Normally, running around naked is the best way to discourage people from trying to have a conversation, but this time I decided to be an idiot. However, Chiho, who had a high level of through-skills, continued as she was. ''Alina is quite lonely, you know. While Comet was sleeping, she always had a faraway look in her eyes and looked fragile. She smiled a little when she talked about the comet to me, but she still looked lonely. ''...... I didn''t know they were talking about me. It''s a strange feeling. ''Comet looked lonely too. Or maybe he''s anxious? Even now you seem very preoccupied. ''You''ve hit the nail on the head. If you were in my situation, you''d understand. All I have is anxiety. ''It''s okay. I''m happy just to be by your side and hear your voice. ''I hope so, ......'' ''I can''t care about status or anything, okay? Of course, some people make decisions based on money or face, but not Alina. So, if Alina fails in something and falls socially, will Comet abandon her?'''' ''I won''t abandon you.'' Yes, that''s fine. Alina is very happy right now, okay? I said I was happy just to be by her side and hear her voice, but for Alina even that was an unrealized dream. I didn''t know if I''d wake up, if my life would be ruined. But I love comets so much that I can wait for them forever. Alina doesn''t care about your status. She only looks at Comet Sakakiki, so be confident! To Chiho, Alina must be a really important friend. Otherwise, she would not be so serious. I can certainly understand why Alina did not allow me to meet her for a long time. She''s too good. I don''t know what I would have done if I hadn''t met her. But that world didn''t exist. There was no one but Alina. Oh, my... oh, my... Alina, who had just finished using the restroom, came up to me with wide eyes and fast steps. ''Oh my, I knew it was you, oh my...'' she said. ''Your vocabulary is declining.'' ''Alina, you''re too jealous~'' You''re absolutely right, Chiho. I think it would be better if we become codependent. Then we will have to say goodbye to all the opposites in the world. Goodbye, Ugin. Be my best sister forever. After walking around with Alina and Chiho, the party broke up because Chiho had a part-time job. By the way, she works part-time at a pub. She complained that college students and old men who ask for her contact information should disappear from the world. I thought to myself as if I were a stranger, how hard it is to work. I''m going to be a member of the workforce soon. Alina was going back to her apartment, so we walked home together. We are naturally linked, but I never imagined that we would have this kind of relationship in high school. If I could go back in time and say to the old me You did a good job. I''ll also tell him, "Don''t be discouraged. You will learn of the sad past of the person you love, be forgotten by the person you love, and eventually wander between life and death. But please do not give up. Don''t give up your strong will and faith. Alina. ''Yeah? ''I''ll do my best. I''ll work hard for Alina. I thought I told her rather seriously, but she smiled and gently pushed my shoulder. ''No.'' ''''What?'''' ''If you work too hard for me, you''ll become the person I want you to be. ''What''s the difference ......?'' I want Comet Sakakiki. Not ''Comet Sakakigi-who-lives-for-me,'' but ''Comet Sakakigi-who-lives-with-me. I hate approval-seeking. Don''t try to be what others want you to be. They won''t take responsibility for you. ''You''re so hard. People want to serve you because they like you, don''t they? ''Wait a minute, say that again. ''......? Don''t you want to do all the work because you love ......?'' ''Oh, ...... muri ......''. Alina skipped to avoid showing her flushed cheeks. When she looked back, she had a very innocent smile on her face. I like that look the best. I think I even came back to see her smile. I''m sure it must have been. She did not joke about her illness, she conquered it for love. The old me would have scoffed at what a bachelor aristocrat he was. But now that I''m older, I understand. Loving is not so bad. Time moves faster. The physical time goes faster and faster. The physical and mental growth gives us a good illusion that a year in elementary school and a year in our twenties are not the same length. Maybe it''s a matter of homeostasis. Height, weight, and knowledge are all in the process of changing rapidly, and everything is intense in the teenage years. Everything is exciting and fresh. But for those of us who have stopped growing, we''ll be repeating the same years over and over again until we die. Get used to time. I wonder if this constant second hand feels something. Is the time late or early today? If there were a clock with such a human touch, I would like to ask you to do something for me. When it stops, please do it with her. Like you now, just like then. ''When?'' ''That time I chased your best friend at the aquarium. You were wearing a tuxedo that day, remember?'' ''That reminds me. You look like you did at the school festival. ''The fashion show. I remember how nervous I was. I still have it at my parents'' house. I''ll show it off sometime. ''It was a lovely red mermaid line. And now a pure white dress. It''s really beautiful. ''You''re making me cry. We haven''t even started yet.'' Shall we go? Let''s go. A new time begins to move. It''s time we made together. I guess they are waiting for that moment in the time that flows very slowly. What are they thinking, hoping, and seeing in the floating world? I look forward to the day when we can exchange words. All I can do now is to care for her. I feel angry at my helplessness and inadequacy. She is the one who is suffering the most. I''m going to write a story for her. It''s our story. ''Great. Maybe someday you''ll read it.'' ''You''re going to write it, too.'' Me too?'' ''Of course not. It''s an ''us'' story, isn''t it? The knock came suddenly. A knock to see us. I just kept cheering and praying. Take my life rather than take yours. I almost cried because I was afraid of her voice. I felt like I was going crazy thinking about being separated from her again. You cry too much. She''s going to cry too, isn''t she? ''Good ...... really good ......'' ''Here, why don''t you call him by name? If it is not observed, it does not exist. Time is no different. I have no sense of time when I was asleep. It never existed for me. So does story. If you don''t feel it, it doesn''t exist. They exist to tell you something. ''Your dad was a strange man. ''''Even now.'''' ''Is that something you''d be proud of? And underwear! Don''t put them together~'''' ''I''ll be lonely and wash in the kitchen. ''Don''t do that, you''ll make the kitchen a mess. Hey. The umbilical cord is cut twice. The first time, to keep his feet on the ground. The second time to fly alone. I gave my daughter a watch when she was on her own. It was a precious watch my wife had given me. It would protect her better than any good luck charm. So I handed it to her. ''I''ll come home sometimes. I''ll call you when I do. ''Come home whenever you want. And if you see me in a magazine, tell me all about it. I''ll buy them all.'' ''Oh, no. I don''t want to imagine my dad hanging out in front of a fashion magazine. ''Don''t worry, your mother will buy it. Dad will stay at home.'' ''I''m sure Mom will be fine! I had no regrets. I was happy. I couldn''t see it anymore, but I could feel it. I''ve held your hand for so long. They''re no longer fresh, but they''re just as warm now as they were then. I can no longer hear the second hand. But I knew that time was filled with happiness. Thank you. ''My pleasure.'' I''ll see you soon. I thought I heard her voice. Of course, I said I would see her. And I left quietly into space. I hope you are there at that sunset. 131-Bloodmoon, I met you... As I finished my compulsory education and upgraded to high school, I became more and more conscious of being a homecoming member. The elementary and junior high schools are basically within walking distance from each other, so the difficulty level of the homecoming mission is low. There is absolutely no risk factor when leaving school. And I, who have lived my life as a professional, yawn. As a professional in the field of school homecoming, I often watch programs that let young children do the shopping alone, just for reference. The show has them take money given to them by their immediate families and run all over Japan to a specific store. The show is supposed to be emotional with the story of a tearful reunion with the parents, but I am not convinced. Why are they so amateurish about coming home? Because they are small is not a good enough reason. Why is it that even a cat can come home without crying, but a young Homo sapiens is so lost? Conclusion. Parents have no intention to raise their children as homecomers. If they educate them from the time they are born to become professionals like us, they can come home in a day even if they are sent to a certain planet in the Andromeda Galaxy. What? You said you don''t want me to be a homecoming member? Don''t ever show your face in front of me again. And your child will grow up to be a good boy. I seriously recommend it. So I was running down the hallway after school, drooling like a beautiful girl on the verge of tardiness. When I crossed a classroom of another class, my well-trained sixth sense appealed to me. A human being is coming out of the classroom! I knew it and braked hard. You''re too naive to think you can kill me...you''re 46 billion years too young! Gosh! What was that sound? Can a human make that sound? A sharp pain shot up my right toe and through my body. The moment I stopped, all five toes of my right foot went off. I thrashed around in pain. I wiped the dust off the hallway with my uniform like a rag. It hurts, it hurts too much. I''ll die of shock if I don''t get some morphine in me soon. I rummaged through my pencil box, saying to myself, "Oh no, oh no, oh no, there is no morphine. It would be bad if there was. The one who appeared at the door was, I think, Arina Hinoha. He left with one word: ''I feel sick''. Who do you think is responsible for this? Me. He just blew himself up. The pain didn''t go away, so I had no choice but to go to the infirmary. It''s a shame for a homecoming club member who is made of steel to use the infirmary, but this time I was reluctant to do so because I was in real pain. Even a homecoming member can act like a human being once in a while, right? So I went into the infirmary. ''Oh, what''s the matter? His voice and appearance reminded me of a day I had spent with him. ''I heard this place is no longer ...... good. When I told her this, she looked a little sad. Even though I didn''t listen carefully, the sound of gunfire was steadily getting closer. I think she knows. But she won''t say it. Because if she did, she would have to make a decision to abandon her friends who are suffering here. So she pretended not to know. Someone has to stay behind. Until they are wounded and taken prisoner. But there are no guarantees. On the spot is more likely. I wanted to get her out. I wanted to take her out. I wanted to take her out for the hell of it. I wanted to protect her so much that I didn''t care about the country or the people. I reached out to her. Give me your hand, give me your hand-- If you hold my hand, I can run. I can be braver than anyone. But she smiled and said. We''ll meet again. The door blew open. I ran and ran and ran and cried all over the mountain. The next time I saw her again, she had turned to white sand. I sobbed in front of the cross until the sun went down. ''--. I---bu. Are you okay? Shocked by the beauty of the health teacher, I caught a glimpse of a memory of my previous life. ''Oh, I''m sorry. I, uh, twisted my toe. ......'' I''m back to being a pure bug-catching boy. This is impossible. Boys turn back into babies when they see a pretty girl or a beautiful woman. Bub. Sit over there then? I got a high from the ridiculously exciting aroma coming from the lab coat. What a wonderful scent. I want to sleep peacefully in it. I want to vacuum-pack it and store it in the freezer. I was in a comatose state and stared at the doctor''s back, forgetting about the pain in my legs. Can I stay here for a while without any treatment? The doctor brought me compresses and ice and said to me, ''Well, take off your clothes,'' which was not good for my education. I was about to get completely naked when I finally realized that he meant to ask me to take off my socks. Oh no, I almost had my name on the national news. I mustn''t let my sister feel small. ''Yes, I''m done. ''''Thank you very much.'''' The teacher smiled and began to clean up. That signaled the end. What a sad goodbye. I must have been like this in a previous life. It''s too painful. I left the infirmary as I was told, just like in my previous life. Mizuki Akakusa. An underworld informant has provided me with the teacher''s real name. What a ...... beautiful name ......! Thin reddish hair like a tulip, red lips like a lulip, ...... teacher like a tulip, you are a tulip. I had a slight dislike for the faculty members who disrespect the homecoming club, but I think I''m about to change my mind. I started to gather information about the teacher. I have been searching for the history of Mr. Akakusa, such as his tenure, status, relationships, favorite foods, hobbies, and so on. Why did I search? The information on the subjects we risk our lives to protect has to be exhaustive. When the members of the club are on guard duty, they are taught to ''protect them as if they were your wives''. However, the age of the teacher could not be identified. The protection is so tight that the National Security Agency or the Cabinet Intelligence and Research Office is probably working behind the scenes. Therefore, his age and date of birth are unknown. From his appearance, we can guess that he is probably in his twenties. ...... Oops, someone has arrived. We also got information that a male teacher is targeting Mr. Akakusa. He seems to be approached by a male teacher because he is single and has no boyfriend. Especially, the gym teacher is very interested in him. This is seriously unacceptable. Just put up with the illustrations in the health textbooks. What? Are you running for the health committee?'' Makoto Takane replied disinterestedly. ''''Yes.'''' ''''That''s surprising. Comets don''t seem to be interested in committees. He doesn''t join club activities, but he does join committees. ''I''m a homecoming boy.'' ''I feel like I''ve heard the word "homecoming club" my whole life. Don''t look so bad. I''m going to run for office, so give it to me. ''I have no intention of joining the committee in the first place. ......'' Then fine. High school students these days have no knowledge of special weapons. I''ll join the health committee and teach them from scratch. I''ll start with a basic knowledge of NBC weapons. ''Shirana, how can you talk to such a freak? ......'' With a distant look in his eyes, he covered his ears and rejected my voice. Oh dear. Makoto, you don''t have to cover your ears. I''ve already torn your eardrums. Well, it was all a joke. I''m really just trying to get close to the archangel Mizuki Akakusa. If you break a bone or vomit blood yourself, you can get in touch with her legally, but what hurts hurts and takes time to regenerate, even if you''re a homecoming boy. The best thing to do is to join the health committee. The president of this organization is Mizuki Akakusa, the hope of all mankind. As I had planned, I was successfully elected as a member of the health committee. What? Are you crazy? At the first health committee meeting of the school year, a second-year girl who happened to be sitting next to me accused me of having a strange brain structure. Can you say that in front of my mom and dad? You''re the one who''s crazy. I''ve never spoken a word to her. I mean, I''d never even spoken to her before, and suddenly she''s all, ''Are you nuts? I froze, and then replied in a slurred voice. I froze, and then replied in a terse manner: ''I don''t know what you mean by ......''. Hm? I thought I smelled something crazy. ''No, no, no, what does it smell like? ''Hmm, I wonder what it''s like. I can''t explain. So why did you join the health committee? ''You''re incoherent. You should reboot your brain. ''It''s for the teacher, isn''t it?'' Did he-- did he read your mind? A senior happily stares at me when I''m upset. He''s smiling and testing me to see how I''ll react. But this situation is nothing but a crisis. I''ll tell you a secret. When you''re in trouble, acting like a freak usually solves it. I''ve been saved from many a crisis that way. No, sir. I joined the health committee to tell high school students about the dangers of constipation. ''Heh~'' You said you didn''t get a reaction. A normal high school girl would have said, "Oh my God, Sakakiki-kun, you''re so hot! And you''re angry. So why is this senior boringly drawing a picture of poo on my right hand with a permanent marker? Why--why--why? Certainly poop is an important word in communicating with elementary school students. If you call it repeatedly for a while, they will start imitating you like a nine-headed bird and you will become friends with them. I was once revered as the "king of poop" by elementary school students for this method. I was once adored as the ''king of poo'' by an elementary school student. I just thought maybe you''re on the same wavelength as me. ''...... How do you know my name?'' ''It was on the wanted list at the police station. ''Wow, I''m surprised. "Charged with theft of ten-yen gum. ''You are a small person, aren''t you? I see, similar wavelengths indeed. This guy gets the joke. The atmosphere was still joking and battling, but it was interrupted by the arrival of the goddess, Mizuki Akakusa. I was liquefied and my memory was lost in the face of such godliness. When I regained consciousness, I checked the situation. It seems that I was being spanked by my senpai. It seems that he is beating my liquefied state and hardening me. The committee meeting is over. ''Are you serious? I knew you were an angel, Mr. Akakusa. I knew you were after the teacher. And so I began my work as a health committee member. My senior was named Aki Mine, and to put it simply, she was a person who was moderately screwed up and crazy like me. Let''s call him a weirdo, since the word "crazy" might be misinterpreted. A weirdo is a name given to a person who has the ability to change the world. It is always the weirdos who change the world. Ordinary people blend in with the masses and remain silent. But the weirdo does not like to blend in and remains independent. That is why change is only possible for the weirdo. They always give us new values. I enthusiastically supported Dr. Akakusa. I assisted him with health checkups, conducted health-related educational activities, replenished toilet paper, maintained the sanitation of the environment, and performed other duties even when he was not looking. It worked, and the teacher actively chose me and offered to help me. I understand. I''m just a useful student. I can''t shake that fact. Comet, thank you for that time. What are you talking about? ''You know, when Suzudo, the chemistry teacher, collapsed. He told me this story when I was helping him prepare for a physical examination as an assistant. I remember it as I was moving the measuring instruments around. ''Oh. You mean that time? Yes, yes, yes. Mr. Suzudo, he was very grateful to you. During chemistry class, Mr. Suzudo suddenly collapsed. The class was in turmoil, wondering what was going on, and I rushed to the staff room to ask for help. None of the students, including myself, knew that Ms. Suzudo was pregnant, so it was no wonder that we panicked. The combination of the fact that she was a member of the health committee and a professional homecoming club member made it possible for me to do what I did. But I was surprised, wasn''t I? When he suddenly came into the staff room, he said, ''Sir! Come here!" Loudly. I thought I was going to be kidnapped. ''I''m sorry. I was upset. ''No, no. I''m proud of you. The teacher still thinks it was a good thing that comet-kun had a strong sense of responsibility. ''Well, call me if you need anything. We''ll get most things sorted out. I''m the best homecoming club member. ''Oh, you can count on me. Well then...'''' The teacher was about to say something. ''What is it? Are you in trouble?'''' ''--No. But I may eventually ...... ask a favor of Comet eventually.'' ''Feel free to do so. I''ll take care of it. I''m a professional. The doctor smiled and said, ''Thank you. Good grief. Can I fall in love with you? 132-Galaxy, Advice... Mid-January. There are only two months left in my first year of high school. The past year has been a battle to preserve our identity as a homecoming club. We were often invited to participate in club activities, and the students of our school were desperate to make us abandon our mission to protect the earth. It seems that evil beings in human skin are even pretending to be students. By the way, don''t worry, this is not a hallucination or a false belief caused by overdose. Rest assured. What does it mean that I''m going to be a sophomore in high school? I''ll tell you what. It means that my little sister, Ugin Sakakiki, will be a junior in high school. She is about to take the entrance examination for the first time in her life. I have heard that she is an excellent student, so I do not have any academic advice for her. However, my pure desire to help my sister is so strong that I can''t seem to control it. So I decide to think about what I can do to help her. I left my room and went to the living room, where I found Ugin staring at the TV. She was sitting on the sofa in an athletic position with a cushion tucked into her pajama pants. I wonder if that''s what they call "imaginary pregnancy". It seems that I''ve been smart again today. I open the fridge and take out a glass of tomato juice. I cleanse my throat healthily, moodily, and religiously. I''m ready. I take a deep breath. UGIN! ''Ewahhh! You scared me! Ugh! When I called out his name with a strong awareness of the explosion sound, Ugin jumped and reacted. I wonder if he had a bomb on his butt. It blew up nice and loud. ''...... be on your guard''. ''I don''t understand ......'' ''The world is not all good people like me. There are a lot of people out there who think bad things to get close to you to make your life easier. Be careful. ''...... Okay, I get it. All right, don''t talk to me again. Because the bad guy for me is now my brother. So ...... you''re not allowed to talk anymore ....... But I can''t sew his mouth shut with thread. I''ll at least give you some mental advice. Ugin sits down on the sofa again, and I sit down next to him. He gave me a look of disgust, but I couldn''t let it bother me. ''Ugin. You''re taking the entrance exam next year, aren''t you? ''I told you not to talk to me again, didn''t I?'' ''Oh, come on, you''re kidding, right? You were just copying my joke, weren''t you? ''I don''t like your jokes, brother. ''Don''t be so sad. ...... you''ll cry. My crying face is hell. Anyone who sees it will vomit on the spot.'' ''Heh. It must have been hard when my brother was born. The midwife must have had a hard time. I think I was covered in vomit when I was born. I was born in a sea of vomit. I feel sorry for all the people who were present. ''Don''t cry again. I received words that could be considered touching. Isn''t he too cool, Mr. Ugin? It''s a cool scene from a movie, isn''t it? I''ll never make you cry again. Like that. No, that''s not important. I have to give you some advice. As someone who went through the high school entrance examination, I''d like to give some advice to Mr. Ugin. ''Ehhh, I''m so happy.'' ''Too much bar reading. The poor automated voice is somewhat better.'' ''Because my grades are better than when I was in junior high school, my attitude in life is more serious, and I''m not a homecoming club (laughs). Ugin, counting on his fingers, grinned and seemed to be really enjoying himself. Hey, what''s a laugh? Don''t use stupid internet slang. Don''t taunt the homecoming club. ''But the only thing that bothers me is ......'' ''Say it. When I say my surname, Sakakiki, it''s usually followed by, "Could it be your sister? The teachers are always surprised. I always bow to them and say, "Thank you very much for your help with my brother, who is not very good at all. I repeat this over and over again. It''s stressful. My brother is famous at middle school for his weird ways. Even after we graduate and he''s gone. Yes, yes, yes! ''Isn''t this something to be proud of?'' ''No, no, no, I think you need to go to the hospital. ......'' Does this boy not want to take advice from his brother? I feel like I am being diverted by some clever talking points. Maybe he is embarrassed? Is it no wonder he is at the peak of puberty? Am I now being bombarded with the rebellious spirit that is inflamed by the full sprouting of the ego? I don''t need your advice! Or is it something like that? No, that''s called a tsundere. I have heard that adolescent girls have a hard time. They wear their underwear with their father''s, and so on and so forth. It''s very troublesome. Maybe I''ll put my panties in there today to harass them. Let''s cut to the chase. I don''t know whether UGIN is a general entrance examination or a recommendation entrance examination, but there is one thing that they have in common. What do you think it is? ''Eh, I don''t know. ''You know, teachers often say. ''You see, teachers often say, "The entrance exam is a battle of ________! '''' ''Group competition?'' Yes, that''s it. And that''s a red lie. A lie blacker than a tomato. ''Wow, you have a terrible personality. Team competition is essentially a game of ''making up for lost points with your friends. How can someone else make up for your mistakes? That''s a fundamentally wrong expression. Don''t forget that it is an individual competition. Ugino said, ''Wow. He clapped his hands with a blank expression on his face. I don''t think my words are being transmitted to his brain. ''Get your inner ear nerve working! ''But you know, I think the teacher''s purpose is to ''create an atmosphere''. ''Yes. It''s called friendly competition. I think they''re trying to help each other improve. But after all, we''re fighting each other. To get even one point higher than the next guy. That''s why everyone wants to show each other the results of their tests and practice exams every time they come back. It''s despicable ...... for people to get a sense of superiority by winning,...... and it''s sad for my brother,......'' ''Well, I don''t know what you mean, brother. It''s the same reaction everyone has when they find out that a smart kid is aiming for the same high school as them. ''What? Seriously? A sense of crisis like ''. ''You know, the entrance exam is a personal battle. You are the Lonely Soldiers. You are lonely soldiers. ......'' He ended with a cool quote that adolescent boys like to hear. It''s a little late to be worrying about Ugin, but I don''t think it''s worth worrying about. Ugin was supposed to be a pretty princess, but she has turned out to be a little too conservative under my influence, and maybe it has worked. She seems to have a clear view of reality. I''m glad he didn''t turn out to be a sweetheart. I''m not sure even my brother can have a conversation with him. I''ll give you some advice, too. ''Well, well, well. Say it. ''You should stop being so desperately proud of your homecoming (laughs).'' ''What the ...... that''s a tirade tantamount to a character assassination. And don''t use slang. No, it''s not that. If you say it that loud... It looks like you are desperately denying your own inferiority complex. It''s like admitting that the homecoming club is an object of contempt. ''How awful ...... I don''t remember raising my sister like this ......'' I think it''s cooler to be quiet and to carry out one''s will of non-resistance. I''d rather have a brother like that. ''Okay. I''ll live as a silent hero from now on. ''Good luck like an American comic book hero. You want me to be a vigilante. I don''t want to think like a child who believes only in his own righteousness. But when Princess Ugin is in danger, I will be fully committed to my own righteousness. Even if it means making enemies of the world. I will protect my sister... NOVEMBER 1 TICKETS ON SALE NOW . Good luck with your exams, Ugin! 133-White Quince, Falcon, deep emotion... Mid-March. In a couple of weeks, my freshman year of high school will be over, and I have only one concern. It''s the end of the year. ...... Shirana muttered this to the side during basketball class in the gym. I was sitting on the stage watching the game until my group''s game came around. ''I guess so. I hate changing classes. It''s a bit discouraging when it''s a complete change. Shirana sighed, drooping her head. This is exactly what I was worried about," she said. I have no problem with leaving good friends and loved ones (if any). Meeting new people changes you. The problem is that I have to explain the concept of going home all over again. This is the most troublesome part. I could tell you all about the concept and its purpose from an international point of view, but it would take an enormous amount of time. It will probably be finished when you reach the age when you will receive your pension. It is that deep. ''If you shuffle the five classes around, you''ll probably get a lot of strangers. ''''Don''t you miss the comet?'''' ''Of course I feel lonely. But I like resetting relationships because it''s a fresh start. ''Hmm, that''s strange. Well, Comet''s been a weird guy since middle school, so it''s a little late for that. ''Thank you for the highest compliment. You''re welcome. To be honest, it''s a shame to leave Shirana because she''s one of the few people who understands me. Oh, the game is over. Isn''t the comet group next? I guess so. Well, I''m going to KO you in 30 seconds. ''It''s not boxing! I was pretty good at basketball. He was tall, so layups were easy to get. Well, Makoto is in the enemy group. Good opportunity. I''m going to make her unable to eat mini-tomatoes for the rest of her life. I couldn''t make Makoto eat nothing but mini-tomatoes for the rest of her life, but I won the game. In basketball, the girls are always cheering for you. Just one good-looking boy can turn a basketball game into a live idol show. Unfortunately, in this case, the idol is not me. It''s a love call for a student on the basketball team. And the boys get jealous. I''m doing my best ......, I think as I dribble, and I look up to shoot. Even if I know it won''t be much fun. It''s too sad. Cheer for them equally. However, the all-knowing Comet Sakakiki, a professional homecoming club member, is not going to let such cheap jealousy boil his blood. During the game, my brain was seriously thinking about how I could escape with Mr. Akakusa, how I could become a tomato ambassador, how I could pull down the pants of the basketball team, and so on. No time for jealousy. Shirana came striding in like a small animal. ''Comet, you did it! I saw it!'''' ''Hi, thank you. I''m a professional. I could have put in another 30 or so. But if I stand out from the basketball players, I''ll get into trouble, so I''ve asked my trembling right arm to stay down. It''s a lie. I was tired and defended my position in the second half. ''What was it that you and Makoto-kun were fighting about so much? ''Oh, it was just skinship. ''Oh, it was skinship. We were just trying to confirm our friendship. It''s a lie. One was just running away from the weirdos who were trying to make him eat mini-tomatoes, while the other was just running away from the weirdos who were trying to contact him for no reason at all. In the next physical education session, I will change the direction and make them unable to drink anything but tomato juice. Exercising in the morning makes you hungry. Thinking that my mother''s lunch box would not be enough for me, I went to the store as soon as the lunch break came. As usual, I get into an ugly battle with the female members of the club, who look at me with disgust and loot each other for bread. I''m used to it. It would have been easier to get the bread if these guys hadn''t kicked me so hard, but there was nothing I could do. It''s my fault for being a man who slips into a crowded, smelly paradise of girls. Right, man? Why did you just step on my toe twice? You definitely meant to do that, didn''t you? If I really wanted to, that thin uniform would be ripped to shreds. Back in the classroom, Makoto was eating his lunch in silence. Chef! Is the chef not here!'''' ''That''s why you''re not here. ...... How many times are you going to repeat this exchange?'' ''Chef! ''...... Chef is Comet''s mom, right?'' ''Good. You''ll get a job in the entertainment business in the future. Bon app tit. ''Give me a break ......'' It''s a silly exchange, but it may be the last one this year. It''s a bittersweet thought, isn''t it? ''Are you going to join a club when you become a sophomore? ''Are you all right, or is your brain leaking out? What fantasy movie are you talking about? ''You''re not going in? ......'' ''You''ve been with me for a year, you''ll understand. ''No, I still don''t understand comets. Well, I don''t expect you to understand in a year. We''ve been living on a bloody diet for 16 years. Makoto called Shirana to him, saying ''Shirana-chan. What? ''What was Comet like in middle school? Is it the same as now?'''' Shirana groans and thinks. You don''t have to think that far to get the answer. It''s in Japanese history. ''I don''t think it''s changed: ......'' ''What? Really? Is this--all the way through middle school? Wow ...... wow ......'' ''Yeah. I don''t know about elementary school, but I''ve been like this for three years in middle school. ''Shirana, you''re having a hard time. ......'' ''I''m used to it now. Heikei.'' They treated me like an infant they couldn''t wean. What do you mean, "heck," "heck"? Have you become immune, Shirana? Is the Sakakiki virus no longer effective? ''You say so, but this unchanging character is a strength. I was the only one who kept his ego in a classroom full of patients who were attacked by delusion and loss of self due to a disease called ''Chuunibyouji''. ''From my point of view, it looks like Comet is suffering from that disease too.'' ''Shut up. Don''t be with those who believe they are the most powerful man in the world. ''But you often say yourself that you are the strongest in the galaxy. I remember that. It''s true. Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, Shirana. You didn''t think I was lying, did you? It''s sad. I thought Shirana was the only one who ...... understood me, but alas.'' ''Eh, no, I believe in comets! Mm-hm!'' Makoto quickly interrupted, ''Shirana-chan, don''t be taken in by the comet''s intentions. You keep quiet. I''m going to inject tomato juice from your anus. Thank you, Shirana. I hope we''ll be in the same class in the second grade. ''Yes, yes! I''ll pray that we can be together! Makoto quickly responded, ''Shirana-chan, pick yourself up! It''s too cold to be heard even in the movies. This is a terrible script. Can''t you please keep quiet? I''ll cover your shoe box with mini-tomatoes. Makoto. You''re going to have to work on your love life before you can understand me. What the hell, out of the blue. ''Try to attack Alina Hibane again.'' ''Please don''t ...... dig up the trauma ......'' ''Don''t worry, you''ll make it. Believe in yourself. I''m the strongest man alive, I''m the strongest man alive. ''I think I can do it too! ''Stop it, even Shirana! I can''t! Why don''t you just go for it, comet! I knew he didn''t get it. I have Dr. Akakusa. My love life is very flat. Nothing like the Gobi Desert. ''Bullshit! You liked Dr. Akakusa so much that you joined the health committee!'''' ''That was for protection. I didn''t mean anything else. Don''t get all excited like a rabbit in heat. ''Does Comet really like Mizuki-sensei ......?'' ''Hey, hey, hey, Hakuna. Teacher-student romance is only in fiction.'''' ''But it seems like there are real couples like that. ......'' I kept denying it, even though I thought it was oddly biting. This is forbidden. It is a forbidden ...... relationship that should never be--. Shirana left my and Makoto''s noble dinner party with an uncomfortable look on her face. ''Oh no. Shirana-chan has gone. ''That''s because you start talking about general relativity and the double-slit experiment.'' ''I didn''t say a word. ......'' Whatever it is, I''d be happy to be in the same class with you two again. The two of them are really good guys, since they''re willing to go out with a freak who could have been taken to a public health center if he made a wrong move. It''s weird. I vaguely calculate the time I have left, wondering where this new encounter will lead me. Recalling our conversations. 134-Comet, Contract... Autumn. It is the season of autumn leaves. The weeds, however, are still green and the sun shines its strong rays on the ground in a capricious and energetic manner. I thought at the beginning of the school year that the second year would feel shorter, but it really does. This is partly because I had a rough idea of the schedule until the summer vacation. I guess it is the same feeling as when you feel that the way home is fast. And when the summer vacation is over, August is almost over. It goes by so fast. I felt so impatient that I wondered if it had been so short. I did not run for the health committee in the second grade. I did not join any club activities as a sophomore. So I started my school life almost the same as I did when I entered the school, and I''m still living the same life to this day. I have already passed the halfway point of my high school life, but there is no need for me to make a fresh start and change into a new me. In the first place, as high school students, we are growing day by day, and we are in the process of changing day by day. We are changing even if we are not conscious of it. As if to prove it, our grandparents praise us, saying ''Oh my, you''ve grown up again! Sorry, Grandma. My height has stopped. Please don''t let me start to lose my mind. I''m off! That''s definitely not me. Only Ugin can be that cheerful and jump out like a pretty girl in a cartoon. If I had said "I''m off" with a smile on my face like that, I would have received complaints from viewers all over the country, and I would have been hung out to dry. Cute is right. What an outrage in this age that values diversity. I left home a few minutes after my sister left. During a break time between classes, I was sipping tomato juice and thought to myself. Maybe I should have joined the health committee again.) Since I became a sophomore, my contact with Mr. Akakusa has drastically decreased. As a healthy person, it is rare for me to be in the nurse''s office. As a professional homecoming club member, there is no way that I could be fatally injured. So, naturally, that beautiful back figure of mine was getting further and further away from me. I just pray that the young gym teacher won''t beat me up. The reason I didn''t join was because I remembered that I was a homecoming girl. I was drunk with illusion and lost sight of myself. I have to be strong. I reminded myself of that. ''Comet, I want you to show me your math homework---why are you so serious......'' Makoto came in with a math textbook in his hand. ''Math? You haven''t done the assignment? ''I tried, but I couldn''t figure it out. Please help me. ''I can''t rely on mine. It was difficult this time. Ask Nitotsuru. With that, he pointed with his chin in the direction of Nitatsuru. I have never spoken to her, but I know that she is academically gifted. And then there''s her looks. I don''t know if she meets the school rules, but she is dressed in a fashion close to the so-called "gyaru" (gyaru). She''ll take care of all your study needs. No. She''ll definitely look at me funny. ''I don''t understand. Maybe she''s looking to meet someone too. ''I''m not looking for anything. ......'' ''I see. I''ll show you. I handed him the old notebook. Without looking at the cover, Makoto said, "Thank God! and returned to his seat. Apparently, he was going to cheat in the next Political Science class. I can''t wait to see how he stuttered when he opened his notebook in class and found that what he had borrowed was not mathematics but classics. And then the chime rings at the perfect time. The end, Makoto. The lunchtime dinner with Makoto never happened. It''s not that I forgot to send the invitation. Having failed to cheat in Political Science class, he finished his lunch as fast as a whale swallowing plankton, and now he is running his pencil frantically over my math notebook. I understand the hassle of homework, but make sure you finish it. If you are pressed for time, quit club activities and go home. You make your own time. After giving lemon juice to the urinal, I passed Shirana on my way to the vending machine. Five months have passed since I entered the second grade, but looking back, I have no recollection of my conversation with Shirana. I think it was because I had changed classes and she was in the class next to mine, so we had no contact with each other. Our eyes meet for a moment. If only I had been able to greet her like a nobleman with a fresh ''Hey'' or ''How are you? There she was with two strangers. I don''t want to get in trouble. The suspicious person is about 5''8" tall, thin, looks like a middle or high school student, and talks to her suddenly in the hallway. I''m not even allowed to ...... open my mouth! I felt very bad that day. The skirt was ripped in an unnatural way - it was torn discreetly, as if it had been cut with a knife. The culprit must have thought that he would have caused a big problem if he had cut it in an exaggerated way. My enemy was still smiling in the shadows, desperate for my attention. My enemy, or rather, the enemy of the "other me. Otherwise, my existence would be meaningless. However, I have recently come to think that nothing will be resolved if I continue like this. It was obvious to me what would be left after the elimination, elimination, and so on. I do not feel good. But it''s too late now. I was going to leave as soon as I finished cleaning up after school. I couldn''t help but notice the tear in my skirt. I had done the first aid, but I was afraid that it might come undone at any moment and cause me embarrassment. I was putting things in my desk into my bag when I found a book. Oh! Return date, today ......) I had completely forgotten about the book I had borrowed from the library. After a moment of hesitation, I sighed and walked out of the classroom with the book in my hand. The librarian knew me because I had borrowed the book so many times that I could almost say that I was a regular borrower. They probably knew how unsociable I was and how often I visited. As usual, I handed them the book. When I turned toward the exit, I saw Dr. Akakusa peeking out of the slightly open door. When his eyes met mine, he closed the door with a panicked look and his white silhouette crossed the frosted glass. Was there something he wanted to see me about? Perhaps because of this small incident, my mind suddenly wandered to the next book I was going to borrow, and naturally, my steps took me to the bookshelf. The demand for the library seems to be decreasing with each passing hour. People don''t read books. This is the result of the diversification of entertainment. I wish I could read once in a while, but the dust that accumulates grows thicker and thicker like a stratum that tells the history of the earth. Kneading the gray dust from my fingers, I looked up at the bookshelf and slid my eyes down the spines of the neatly lined books one by one. It was then. It''s rare to see you here,'' he said. A man''s voice. A tall male student stood beside me. ''You''re disgusting. Die. I respond reflexively. Most of the guys who talk to me are frivolous men with ulterior motives. I hope they''ll back off now, but if they confess to me, I''ll be in trouble. I will have to find out his real name and write it down in my notebook. But he is still there with me, despite my rejection. What is it? Can you go away? ''I''m afraid I don''t have the ability to move at a moment''s notice.'' I glared at him. He''s playing with me, this man. It''s not uncommon for a guy to do something nasty to make me feel a little more interested in him, to make me feel a little more ''me''. I didn''t want to be physically harmed, so I quieted my language a bit. Who is this guy who talks to me in a friendly way? I don''t know anyone like you. I''m Comet Sakakiki. I''m in the class next door. Sakakisui. I don''t know you. I don''t know. Such a lowly animal. But he let out a single ''wow'' and grinned. He seemed to be involved with a rather troublesome person. I guess the best thing to do would be to ask the teacher for help, but I feel like admitting defeat. My pride is pushing me back, telling me not to rely on others. I don''t know if he is too insensitive to my warnings, or if he simply doesn''t know what to be afraid of. He moves away from me a little and opens his mouth again. ''Alina, let''s sit down for now. ''No. Get away from me. You''re making me sick.'' ''Sit down. Let''s talk first. Dr. Akakusa asked me to do something for him. The mention of Dr. Akakusa''s name made me yell out. ''Yes? Why is Dr. Akakusa coming out there?'' ''I''m trying to rehabilitate you. Here, sit down. Rehabilitation. Rehabilitate me: ....... What is he going to rehabilitate me for? My character? Or you can go to ....... I felt betrayed and wondered what my teacher had taught me without my permission. ''Don''t get me wrong. I''m not after you. I''m trying to become a bachelor. ''That''s disgusting. I''d rather lick a toilet bowl. I really don''t like the tempo of this antics. But his story has caught my attention. Because I thought it might be a turning point. Maybe it is worth a try. I pushed down my itch and reluctantly took a seat. ''What do you want? It''s really a hassle, so hurry up.'' ''I''m here to cure you of your foul mouth. ''Yes? Can you please not do anything unnecessary like that? Who are you anyway? You''re really bothering me. I know it''s the library and I can''t speak loudly, but I just have to say this. Go away. Not so fast. The beautiful Ms. Akakusa told me directly to take care of Alina. I''m not going to disrespect this. If I refuse, it''s the same as it always has been. I will continue to reject you in the same daily routine. If I accept here ...... what will change? I could not see beyond that. I didn''t remember such a glamorous school life, smiling faces, holding hands and feeling others. But I can say one thing for sure. This moment is a turning point that will never come again. This world that cannot be paused or rewound. That is why we must think deeply about the present moment, which is in the process of rebirth. I felt that I must take one step forward and one step backward for the future that will soon become a reality. For the sake of my future. I understand. I don''t know how I will be led from now on, nor does anyone else. But because I don''t know, I can imagine, hope, and think fleetingly. In this way, I will finally be able to cherish the story of "me" that is being written. I will believe in it. Slowly, slowly, slowly, let time take its course. 135-Alice Sakaki... ''I don''t want to go to school anymore. Alice, my daughter in the eighth grade, mumbled something at dinner. I stopped my chopsticks and looked down at her. She had her mother''s long black hair, large, wide-open eyes, a well-shaped bridge of her nose that made me want to stroke it with my fingers, and her elegant mouth was clenched tightly shut. I glanced sideways at Alina next to me. My wife seemed surprised at her daughter''s sudden confession and gently put the bowl she was holding up on the dining table. What''s wrong? I ask fearfully. Adolescence is a very tricky age. All adults know that. Children who have awakened to a clear sense of self and have acquired a sense of independence do not like parental interference. Hormonal imbalance makes them mentally unstable, and they form a small society with a strong budding sense of camaraderie. The camaraderie that emerges in this immature society sometimes becomes a catalyst for rejecting others. ''I didn''t do anything ...... to be ostracized''. My daughter Alice has always been like that. She was born with a natural talent for acting. She made her debut as a child model for advertising photos, and as she got older, her genre of acting expanded, and now she is a famous child actress known all over Japan. She is in demand in dramas and movies. My daughter is super cute. That''s why there was a lot of jealousy from children, especially from the same s*x. ''Oh my God, ......''. I said a few phony lines to keep the conversation going. I didn''t really know how to handle it properly as a parent. So I need time to think. ''Alice. Don''t you like school? My wife asks softly. ''I hate it. I''d rather be at work. ''Yes, all right. You don''t have to go tomorrow. I''ll tell the school that I''m busy with my acting job. ''Thank you, Mom. Alice made a faint smile. But it was obvious that she was forcing it. No matter how much Alice was praised as a child prodigy, she could not lie in front of her own parents. They know her better than anyone else. I never wanted to go to school. Of course, that''s not to say that I never wanted to go to school. I didn''t want to get out of my futon when there was a heavy snowfall, and I thought about skipping music class on days when we were made to sing alone to decide who would be tenor or bass. But it was just that kind of thing, and there was no such thing in my junior high school days as Alice''s refusal to go to school because of human relations. What should I do? I know that staying at home until graduation is not a good idea. But since she has expressed that she does not want to go to school, forcing her to do so would cause a deep darkness to fall into her heart. ''Alina. What do you think? The couple was lying together on a double bed. They were in their bedtime clothes, just before going to sleep, but both of them were thinking about Alice''s case and could not turn off the light. Alina turned her body toward me and caressed my face. ''I remember when I met you,'' she said. ''We''re talking about Alice now.'' ''I am. When I was in the same frame of mind as Alice, all I wanted was someone who understood me. I had no one to protect me. That''s why I was happy when you came to me and told me a stupid story. I thought something might change. ''So ...... understanding or ......'' ''I have to tell him somehow. Alice is not alone. That was the hard part. Adolescents are convinced that their ideas are the most correct. It is not so easy to overturn the consciousness once it has taken root. Alice, who grew up being hailed as a genius, probably has a stronger self-consciousness than those around her. I wonder if I can do anything about it, since I am usually mocked by people who say ''daddy is so creepy''. The more I think about it, the more I think of the disdain my daughter would have for me. Why can''t I put my underwear in the washing machine together? It used to be my sperm, I don''t understand. Let''s leave her alone for now. Alice must''ve been in a lot of trouble before she confessed to us. Let her get her mind in order and then we can talk to her more and see what we can do as parents. ''Yes, you''re right. There''s still time. Alina smiled and put her forehead to mine. She has not changed at all since we met. Her beauty has been renewed with each passing year, and I can say with certainty that Alina is the most beautiful person I have ever seen here. Perhaps it is her body that never ages. If so, I''m going to die first. I''m sorry to make you cry. She traces the corners of my eyes with her fingers. She looks at my face and traces small wrinkles, as if checking the time we have spent together. Alina''s face, on the other hand, has no wrinkles to trace. I''ll ask her later to tell me more about beauty. ''Alice, are you asleep? ''I''m sure he''s sleeping soundly. I''m not afraid of tomorrow anymore, I can close my eyes in peace. ''Well, you don''t mind if I speak up, do you? Alina covered me and kissed me deeply. Over and over again, I drown in deep, fainting kisses. Forgetting about tomorrow, I throw away everything I have and drown myself in her. It was the same for her. The nights used to feel so long, but at my age, they feel so short. That''s why I keep trying so hard to tell her how much I love her in this precious time. I love you, I love you. As if we could see each other''s face at the moment of death. ''When do you think Alice will be able to return to work? One day, after more than a week of refusing to go to school, I was called to the school. I guessed that the homeroom teacher might have known that Alice was refusing to go to school. I have consistently explained that it was for work reasons, but I think I''m at the end of my rope. How was Alice doing at school? ''Alice, you are right, ......'' ''You can be honest with me. It''s better for both of us. The homeroom teacher looked down and bowed her head and began to speak. In summary, Alice was being ostracized, just as she had said she would be. The teachers were very cautious because of Alice''s celebrity status, but bullying problems among children are not easily solved no matter how careful you are. It may seem simple, but children''s society is complex and exclusive to adult intervention. I am sorry. We have been negligent in our supervision. ''No, no, no, children''s world is difficult. I know I can''t just say that. It is only a comforting word, because the problem of bullying students affects not only the children but also the treatment of teachers. They are frightened. If the mass media gets to know about it, both teachers and students will feel ashamed of themselves. The victim is Alice Sakakiki, a beautiful child prodigy. However, we do not intend to make Alice put up with it. To tell you the truth, I don''t care about the teachers or the lives of the students who are bullied. All that really matters is my daughter''s future. Alice. Shall we go out tomorrow? I asked him to go out for the first time in a while. I wanted her to have a change of scenery. Alice, who was sitting on the sofa watching TV in a daze, replied to my invitation with a glazed-over look. ''Yeah~......Dad, where do you work? Did you quit?'''' I was in denial from the very beginning, but I couldn''t back down. I sat down on the sofa. I''m hurt by his blatant distancing. Working people have the magic of paid leave. It is often voided in front of your boss who is not very smart, but if you go to the Labor Standards Inspection Office, a.k.a. the Ministry of Magic, you can get rid of your boss and, hopefully, your workplace. ''I know and... I don''t want to be alone with my dad. ''Of course Mom''s coming. ''Well, then ......''. He reluctantly agreed. Incidentally, there is a clear difference in power in my family. First in the pecking order is, of course, my wife, Alina Sakakiki, the most beautiful empress in the world. She has the authority to manage our finances, plan our lives, and make all the other decisions that affect our lives. The second place goes to my daughter, Alice Sakakiki, the most beautiful girl in the world. She is a child prodigy, well-connected, highly-paid, and a super beautiful girl, and I don''t think I can beat her at all. The third place goes to Comet Sakakiki, a former member of the home club whose only merit is that he comes home the fastest in the world. I am a father who works hard to make his wife and daughter happy. Such is the strange family we have, but recently the chances for the three of us to go out together have been drastically decreasing. This is mainly due to Alice''s busy schedule. Oh, are you going to ask me out on a date? Not really. It''s a family outing. Alina teased with a nasty smile. ''I mean, Dad, you really need to grow up, you know? I really want you to stop flirting in public. It''s really embarrassing. ''Tell that to Mom. Dad is a serious, honest man. It''s usually Mom who sets me up. I can''t. It''s gross. ''Oooooohhhh, you''re so cute, Alice! You have that look of disdain in your eyes, just like my mom did when she was young and super sharp! ''Oh, your mom was a Yankee?'' Alice''s eyes were wide with interest. Alina, on the other hand, smiled thinly and sat down between Alice and me. She then pinched my side so that her daughter could not see. I was not supposed to say anything, apparently. I''m not a yankee. Like Alice, I was alone. ''Oh, my mom! No way...... because if you were as pretty as your mom, you wouldn''t be alone......'' ''What goes around comes around. For similar reasons I was always alone. But there was something different about Alice. I kept going to school even if I had to. ''Ugh ......'' My daughter felt condemned, and her shoulders slumped. But Alina added. I''m not trying to say that Alice is wrong. We just think differently. I thought all my classmates and everyone else were trash. I thought they were trash, scum, and a bunch of irredeemable idiots, and I didn''t want to lose to them. ''Mom Scary ......'' ''Still, the sky''s the limit. Being alone is lonely and painful. Who do you think appeared at that moment? ''...... maybe, dad?'' ''So. I love my dad. He''s the one who made my cloudy world a clearer place. It was like seeing blue sky for the first time. Oh, man, I''m grinning. He was happy because he felt like he hadn''t been praised in a long time. Seeing her like that, she hid behind Alina and felt uncomfortable. Yeah, but still cute. ''That''s how we met, Mom and Dad. ......'' ''I only have one thing to say. Alice is not alone. You have me and your father. She may be alone at school now, but one day someone will reach out to her. But no one will reach out to you if you say no to everything yourself, okay? Alina shook my daughter''s and my hand. ''No one is born alone. Babies are born knowing they are not alone. I''m here,'' she said. It''s been a long time since I''ve been away from home, and I really enjoyed it. There is a difference between an actor''s smile and a genuine smile. Alice laughed happily, ate ice cream, hugged Alina, and poked me. No matter how many natural smiles the best actors make, they can''t remove the awareness that it''s an intentional smile. You can''t lie to your consciousness, just as you can''t lie to an elephant even if you are told not to think about it. And it shows on your face. No, it doesn''t matter. As long as Alice and Alina are happy, there is nothing to talk about. I don''t like it when you drive. It makes me sick. ''I''ve had a gold driver''s license for over a decade, and I''m still a god. ''Taxi people are better. Don''t compare me with professionals. A cabbie''s cab is part of his body now. They''ve had a body transformation. ''Why don''t you do it too, Dad?'' ''I don''t want it to hurt. It''s all night now, and the end is a place of memories. The mountain where my parents used to take me and Alina to the observatory. We had visited there once with my family when Alice was little, but we had not been there for a long time because we had moved to a new place. When we arrived at the parking lot and got out of the car, Alice muttered a few words to me. ''I''ve been here before ......''. ''You remember. Let''s go.'' With Alice and Alina in tow, we entered the mountain road to the observation spot. The mountain road was well-maintained, so it did not have a dangerous atmosphere. I pulled Alina''s hand as we had done in the past. I remember that she almost fell down because of the bad footing. She said ''thank you'' and held my hand tightly. The stars were falling in my eyes. White lights and orange glints spread across the pale blue night sky. Alice stood beside me, her eyes wide open, looking up at the sky, her eyes shining wet with starlight. Tears welled up in my eyes as I looked at her. She looked just like Alina at that time. It was as if I was watching that moment when I told her that I loved her. And I think about it with all my heart. Ah,...... she''s our daughter. Beautiful ...... Alice brings her admiration to the sky. Everyone is but dust before the universe. A person''s life is so short and fleeting that it is over in the blink of an eye from stars hundreds of millions of light-years away. And I wonder what little things I have been worrying about. I thought the world was so small that I couldn''t even open my arms, but now I realize that the world is so big and infinite. Your lungs, which had been shrinking, expand and you naturally grow taller. Your eyes open to let in the light that had been closed to you. We make footprints on the earth to confirm that the world is big. In this way, we walk forward, moving toward the future. Dad, Mom. I won''t lose! Hearing these words, my wife Alina laid her head on my shoulder. We huddled together, as if watching our child''s departure, and listened to her determination. There was no more hesitation in Alice''s eyes. No more doom and gloom. Only a new strong will that cannot be shaken by anyone was burning in her eyes. At least, it was not the ''rejection'' of when his wife was Alina Hiba, or the ''escape'' of Comet Sakakiki, who was always joking. Alice would neither reject nor run away. I am sure that Alice will face her problems and come to terms with them. In this way, she will grow up, make someone she loves, and go away. I will fulfill my duty as a parent until the very end and do my best again from tomorrow so that she can leave the nest with a smile on her face. I promised myself to do so, and we gazed at the stars as a family. The future continues... 136-11 The Department from GATTACA... Me and you. It''s been about 20 years since we''ve been alone together. The day I saw my daughter off, I finished my role as a mother. I stood at the door with you, staring at her as she put her feet into her clean shoes. You said over and over again. ''Did you forget something? ''Eat your dinner. ''You can come home anytime. She is an adult now, but you treat her like a child. She takes her hand off the doorknob and starts to walk away. As soon as she did, her back became smaller and smaller. I can''t help but cry. I feel sad, accomplished, happy... It was a strange feeling. After I was overcome by these indescribable feelings, I felt a weight had been lifted off my shoulders, knowing that my role as a mother was over. When I was young, my time alone with Comet was surprisingly short. It wasn''t long before we got married, and our daughter was born soon after, so we had been a family of three for a long time. So it was very fresh - yes, I felt that a second life was about to begin. Just when I thought I had completed my major role, I realized belatedly that I still had some time left with you. ''Hey, let''s go on a trip or something. I suggested it to him one day. ''A trip? Is there somewhere you want to go? ''I''ve just found the time. We''ve been together for a long time, but we haven''t really gone anywhere together. ''That''s true, too. Then let''s go sightseeing somewhere next month. ''Let''s go around the world. ''The world! I have no idea what the world looks like. I wouldn''t call it an interstellar journey. But at least I''d like to die knowing what the planet I''m standing on is like. Comet was amazed at the scale of the story. I gave a small laugh. It''s funny that you and your sister should be surprised by something on a global scale when your names are associated with space. ''Even your maiden name is a surname associated with the universe. ''''Huh?'''' ''Hibane. Hi is the sun. You are my sun. I''m the comet that keeps on circling Alina. Is this the part where you laugh hysterically? ''Laugh it up, it''s getting annoying. And so we set out on our journey. Little did I know that the world was so big. I walked with him through fountains of every color, oceans of clouds, and canyons too vast to see. We talked with the people who lived there. I learned about their culture and tasted their food. I saw the animals running across the land. I touched and felt the greatness of the architecture with its long history. To be honest, I would not have made the trip without you. I thought it was important to be with you. I am happy when I wake up in the morning and you are by my side, and I can sleep deeply when I lean over and your shoulder is there. I am ashamed to tell you this, but... Yes, I still love you. The world will change in the future, but my feelings for you will never change. Another 20 years have passed. Me, you. Twenty years have passed since we were alone together. My daughter has grandchildren who come to see us from time to time. I am a grandmother now. Waking up in the morning is a painful reminder that I am getting old. I cannot walk as nimbly as I used to when I was young. My hands have lost a lot of water and my bones are showing. Sometimes I envy my youth, but I am sure that I am still happy. As I walk down the street, children in school uniforms are chatting and smiling with squinted eyes. Oh, I remember eating delicious food with him. Do you remember? A long time ago--'''' ''''Hmm?'''' ''Long ago, I had a sweet treat in the city.'' Lately, he''s become deaf. So I usually speak a little louder. ''Yes, there was a time. You ate a lot. ''All you drank was tomato juice. I miss it.'' Realizing that we will soon leave this world, we often look back to the past. It was also a way of preventing ourselves from becoming senile. We usually reminisced so that we would be able to notice each other''s changes. We no longer travel the world. We take a walk every day in a quiet place away from the city. His hands are weaker than they used to be, no longer wrinkle-free. Whenever we hold hands, I laugh and say, ''I''m so old. He coughs and laughs at me. I''m so happy. I think to myself over a cup of tea. I am happier than ever. It is true that I have more difficulties, but there is a calm, gentle and warm happiness inside of me, like a kotatsu (a table over a kotatsu) in the middle of winter. He can no longer walk around and his eyesight has deteriorated. Fortunately, he did not forget me. I am Alina Sakakiki, your wife, and you are my husband. That is the only thing he never forgot and always called me. I walk to the nearest supermarket with a broken back and a cane, and imagine his happy face as I think of what to cook for him tonight. When I drink miso soup, he smiles and my heart warms. I never thought of asking for my daughter''s help. She wanted to take care of us, but I was stubborn and kept refusing. She will understand in time. Alice will understand how it feels to be a parent. I hold his hand as he lies in his hospital bed. You have done your best so far. I whispered in his ear. I was glad we could grow old together. We raised our children together, we lived together. We held hands together, we walked together, we made love together. We knew we could not die together. We knew we could not shed tears together. You are leaving. I will live in this world a little longer. This world without you will be ...... so lonely. ''Alina...... sorry, I''m sorry...... ''It''s okay. It''s okay. You are surrounded by so many people. Me, your daughter, your grandchildren, your newborn great-grandchildren. You will not be alone. Thanks to you, I will not be alone. I still remember vividly the day we first met. We were in the library and he approached me. I said some terrible things, but you never left me. ....... You were really around me all the time, like a comet. So it''s okay. You''re going to keep circling me anyway, aren''t you? ''Alina''. He called my name in a whisper. I held his hand tightly and told him that I was there for him. ''Thank you. I answer. ''My pleasure. See you soon. And so his journey ended. The comet with its beautiful tail will never come back to me. It flies far, far away into the darkness. I will shine as the sun just a little longer. In a world without you. 137-1 I am. Seventy-five years have passed since the day I first lived alone. When I wake up in the morning, I go to your altar. There is a picture of your face on it, and I say ''good morning'' to it. That is the beginning of my day. The beginning of a world without you. You have been gone for ten years now. My daughter is alive and well and my grandchildren are starting to stand on their own. I am doing well and have not forgotten you. I was a little scared of the world when you died. Because even though you are so dear to me, the world continues to tick by without a hitch. The clock you gave to my daughter is still ticking. But soon the fear was gone. I felt as if you were somewhere watching over me. I am not alone. Every day I rode the shuttle bus and made friends in a facility where old people like me gathered. We talk mostly about the old days. There is not much to talk about now. Where I used to be, what kind of work I used to do, how my grandchildren are, and so on. Some of my friends are forgetful, so we talk about the same things over and over again. It''s okay, we are having a good time. But sometimes I feel uneasy. When my friend''s children or grandchildren come to visit her, sometimes she doesn''t know who her own children are. It is hard to see. That forced smile of a child forgotten by his mother is so ...... heartbreaking. --I wonder if I will end up like that. Will I forget Alice someday, too? Will I make Alice look like that? Will I forget even you? My heart aches so much at the thought of it. Good morning, dear. I call out to you at the altar. Don''t worry, I remember. I remember your face, which I love, though I forget things a little more often. I wish you would turn into a ghost and come to see me. But you won''t come to see me. I''m going to visit my friend again today. And bring your picture with me. I ride the bus with a cane, being cared for. I am the sun on the verge of burning out. Even if you come back, you won''t know where you are by this weak light. Everyone gathered with old photos at the facility. Sitting on chairs, they talk to each other with a picture of their youth in their hands. I brought a picture of you. You are good looking and I am beautiful in the picture, so I am sure you will be proud of me. Of course, you were well received. The caregivers as young as my grandchildren were also surprised. I was a little sad that I had lost so much of you, but I was happy to be able to boast about you. I thought I was enjoying every day of my life. But you know, I still miss your voice. Even if I say good morning to you, your good morning never comes back. That''s why I''ve been watching recorded videos these days. Some of them are of my daughter when she was little, some of them are of our wedding, some of them are of our trip around the world, and so on. I am reminded of the greatness of the digital world. You may be gone, but the proof of your existence remains. Mr. Sakakiki Oh yes, your last name is still there too. Your daughter is here. Oh, thank you. I''ll be there. Alice came to see me more often. I think she is worried about me because I am very old. ''Mom, are you feeling okay? I''m fine. Alice is ...... Alice is doing well?'' Don''t worry about me. You take better care of yourself. Don''t go out alone too much. ''I''m not a blur. I''m walking so I don''t get blurry. My daughter looked appalled but gave me a chuckle. I want to make someone laugh, just as you made me laugh. At night I began to cry a lot. When I close my eyes and go to sleep, I see your back in my dreams. I force myself to wake up without seeing your face. Because it is not you. ''Oh, ...... how I miss you. ...... I wet my pillow and mutter. ''I miss him. ...... I miss him. ...... I hold your picture in my heart so tightly that it will not be torn. This is love. As long as I have this love, I will still shine as your sun. Will I see you when I die? I wanted to know the answer, but I did not want to know. If I know that I will not see you, I will have to live more. I am the only one who knows you best now, and I feel it is not good if I die. Your sister died not long ago. I am the only one who has lived long enough. Ugin, did you see him? Can I see him? I no longer walk. I need someone to push me around in a wheelchair. It has been a long, long life. All that''s left is to end this life. I have nothing more to say to Alice. Our daughter is a strong girl. She will live a long life like me. In the evening, she looked at the setting sun and murmured Are you watching too? The hospital staff who misunderstood replied, ''We are watching you. I was really talking about you--the comet--but being the kind person that I am, I replied, ''It''s beautiful. You were right next to me then, weren''t you? I knew you were with me the whole time. That''s why I wasn''t at all afraid of leaving that night alone in an empty hospital room. I envy you your deathbed. I was with you, my daughters were with you. But I died alone. No, you didn''t. You were there. I woke up. I sit up and rub my eyes and look around. I remembered that I had fallen asleep in the school library. I looked at the clock and was surprised to see that the hands were pointing to 17:00. I must have slept here for about an hour. The library is now empty, not even the librarian or the librarian. ''Ugh ...... what am I supposed to do with a key or something ......''. I let out a sigh and let my back be held as I adjusted my disheveled uniform. I close the book I''ve been using as a pillow, reach into the bag at my feet and unzip it. I saw my textbook and remembered that I had a test coming up. I should not have been sleeping. I heard the door open. I lift my head and look toward the door. ''You''re still here. You''re here. You''re standing there with that hateful grin plastered on your face. ''Alina, I told you to make friends. But you keep reading books in the library...not even insects will make friends with you! --What? I cried. I couldn''t stop the tears from falling from my eyes, and I cried so hard I thought I was going to throw up. I wanted to see you for so long. I have missed you so much. I miss you so much, I miss you so much ...... that I want to hug you right now. But all I could do was cry. Alina-san. Why are you crying like that? ''I don''t know, you idiot. Don''t look at me, I''m disgusting! That''s not what I''m trying to say. I''ve been looking for you. I''ve been looking for you in a world without you. ''Don''t cry, Alina. I''ll always be with you. ...... ''Don''t ever leave me again.'' ''I''ve never been away. I''m a comet! ''Yes, I am the sun. No wonder you can''t stay away. I stopped crying and stood up, taking his outstretched hand. ''Let''s go home. ''Yes, let''s go home. I walked out of the school holding his hand. I will never shed another tear. Because of you.