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Chapter 4: Operation Fake Lovers
Saturday. Evening, after club practice had ended.
I met up with Tsukimi-senpai and we headed to her house. It was a detached house about a thirty-minute bike ride from school. While not quite a mansion, it was a fair bit larger than a typical home.
Apart from the parking area, there was a spacious yard. In one corner stood an old basketball hoop. It was set to a mini-basketball height. It probably wasn’t used anymore.
“When I was little, I used to practice with my sister on that hoop,” Tsukimi-senpai explained, noticing my gaze. “We were on the same mini-basketball team. My sister was the ace and the captain. She was amazing. She always taught me, you know? Back then, I was always on the bench.”
Even though I knew nothing about Sakura-san, for some reason, I could vaguely picture the scene. My brain was recreating it based on the perfect sister personality that Tsukimi-senpai acted out.
Én u̇ ṁ а
“Is your mother home?”
“Yeah. There’s one car parked, so she must be.”
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
Indeed, of the two parking spots, only one was filled. The other car was probably used by her father for his commute. Gunma is a car-centric prefecture, after all. Most adults get around by car.
“Let me just confirm one more time. The person we’re talking to today is your mother, right?”
Before we went in, I wanted to review the plan. I was only here to provide support, but I wanted to do a final check.
“Yeah. My dad barely interacts with me.”
Е̇ n̈u ṁ á. ĭd̀
Tsukimi-senpai’s family consisted of a stay-at-home mother and a father who worked as a company employee. It seemed they had two daughters, the deceased sister Sakura and Tsukimi-senpai. And it was mostly her mother who interfered in her life.
So, Tsukimi-senpai was about to have a talk with her mother. I was here now to accompany her.
“O-Okay… I’m going in.”
Tsukimi-senpai looked at me anxiously.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
“Aren’t you a little too nervous?”
“How are you so calm, Minase-kun?!”
Е̇ ǹu_m а̊
I was just as tense. It just didn’t show on my face.
More importantly, Tsukimi-senpai was forgetting something important.
“My name.”
“Sorry… um, well…”
When I pointed it out, Tsukimi-senpai’s cheeks flushed as her eyes darted around.
“Shuuto-kun?”
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
Then, she shyly called my name.
The impact was so devastating that my thoughts came to a screeching halt. I knew this was a serious situation, but my heart couldn’t help but pound.
“Sh-Shuuto-kun… my name, too.”
“Ah, right… Um, Kaede-san?”
Whoosh. Tsukimi-senpai’s cheeks turned a noticeable shade of red. It was obvious I was in a similar state.
“…”
Ѐ nù ḿ а̌ .і́ d
“…”
What is this?
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
“Th-They’ll get suspicious if we’re like this!”
“Yeah, we are a little awkward…”
“If they find out it’s a lie, it’s all over, you know?!” Tsukimi-senpai managed the impressive feat of shouting in a whisper.
“You’re the one who needs to stop blushing every time, Kaede-san.”
W̄е̊ b̈ n̂ о̀vе̇l̇ Еǹ ũm̈а
“I-I’m not blushing! Sh-Shuuto-kun…”
“See?”
“Sh-Shut up! It makes us look more like a new couple, doesn’t it?!”
“Then that logic applies to me, too, right?”
Baca cerita ini hanya di situs resmi Enuma.id!
When I retorted, Tsukimi-senpai glared at me with teary eyes.
“Anyway, is this plan really going to work?” I muttered, as if it were someone else’s problem, trying to escape reality.
W̆е ḃ ňo v̄ ёl Е n̄ umӑ
“How can you say that?!”
Tsukimi-senpai grabbed my shirt and shook me.
“This whole Operation Fake Lovers was your idea!”
“I-I know. I just wanted to escape reality for a second.”
“The mastermind behind the plan can’t get cold feet now!”
That’s right. Right now, I was Tsukimi-senpai’s boyfriend—or so the story went.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
Because we had thought about it. How could I accompany Tsukimi-senpai to her talk with her mother? The conclusion we came to was that the only way was to visit her house as her boyfriend!
…Honestly, we might have been running on late-night fumes.
But I couldn’t just leave a teary-eyed Tsukimi-senpai and go home now. I had to steel my resolve. I took her hand and pulled her along. We arrived in front of the entrance.
“Ugh… this is even heavier than usual…”
Tsukimi-senpai took several deep breaths in front of the door.
“O-Okay… I’m opening it.”
Е̌n̄ů m ā
She unlocked the lock and opened the door.
“…Kaede?”
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
A woman holding a laundry basket in the hallway stopped dead in her tracks. Of course, she was looking at me, standing behind Tsukimi-senpai.
“I-I’m home!”
“…And who might you be?”
Tsukimi-senpai’s mother—Tsukimi-mother—couldn’t hide her confusion. Well, of course. She was beautiful, and looked a lot like Tsukimi-senpai.
E n̂ǔ m а́ .i̊d
“M-My boyfriend! I brought my boyfriend home!”
Tsukimi-senpai was acting blatantly suspicious, but her mother seemed to have bigger things to worry about.
“…Y-Your boyfriend…?”
“Yeah! So, I thought we’d hang out in my room!”
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
“…When did you get a boyfriend? I’ve never heard anything about this…”
“Love is sudden!”
Ẃѐ bn о̂ v̌ е l Е ǹu m̀ӓ
She started spouting lines that sounded like a shoujo manga tagline.
As Tsukimi’s mother looked at me suspiciously, I gave her a bright smile and a slight bow.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Minase Shuuto. I go to the same high school as Kaede-san.”
“…”
Tsukimi’s mother was speechless. She seemed at a loss for what to say.
“W-Well then… come on!”
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
“…Excuse me.”
Tsukimi-senpai pulled my hand and we went inside. We passed by her mother and went up the stairs to the second floor.
“My room is here.”
She then invited me into her room on the second floor. The interior was surprisingly cute. There were lots of stuffed animals on the bed. The room was filled with pink and colorful things, giving it a very girly feel.
“…This is kind of unexpected.”
“This was originally my sister’s and my room.”
Е̃ n̂ ù mа̀
Her answer was brief, but I understood what she meant. The cute stuffed animals and the colorful feel were probably her sister Sakura’s taste.
…For Tsukimi-senpai, this probably didn’t feel like her own room.
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“I’m home, Sis.”
At the back of the room was a butsudan, a family altar, with a memorial photo displayed. I didn’t have to ask to know it was her sister, Sakura. Tsukimi-senpai spoke to the altar.
“…Pardon the intrusion.”
I also placed the offering I had brought on the altar and lit a stick of incense. Then I put my hands together and greeted her.
Ёń u m̆ӓ
—I’m your sister’s friend. It’s nice to meet you.
“It’s been a while since I brought a friend to my room, so I’m sure my sister is happy, too.”
While I was paying my respects, Tsukimi-senpai had laid out two cushions.
“Sit there.”
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I did as she said and sat on the cushion. Tsukimi-senpai sat down next to me and let out a big sigh.
“…Well, at least we made it into the room.”
W̃ е̊ b n̆о̄ v̀е̌ l̃ _E ńu m̂ а
First hurdle cleared. It would have been a disaster if we’d been turned away at the door.
But Tsukimi-senpai looked pale. This must be taking a huge mental toll on her.
“It’s been a while since I’ve been home this early…”
“Usually it’s after Alliance activities, so around eleven, right?”
“Yeah. By that time, my mom’s already asleep. So I don’t have to talk to her.”
In that case, her mother must have been doubly surprised. Her daughter, who usually didn’t come home until late at night, had come home in the evening, even if it was a Saturday. And then she had suddenly brought a boyfriend home. Of course she would be speechless.
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“So that’s your mother.”
“…Does she seem more normal than you expected?”
“Well… she didn’t say much, but yeah.”
This was the Tsukimi-senpai who had said she didn’t want to go home. I had thought it wouldn’t be strange if a parent who was physically abusive appeared. But maybe she was just putting on a good face since I, an outsider, was here.
“The last time we talked was over a week ago,” she murmured. “We barely talk anymore. Just administrative stuff, at most.”
I could tell that wasn’t how a normal family operated.
Еńu̇ m̀.ā. і̄ d
“…Lately, it’s become normal for me to imitate my sister. I think they’re just not interested in me anymore. My dad, who’s barely home because of work, and my mom, who won’t talk to me. That’s what I thought, so I was really happy when my mom came to see my tournament game.”
But Tsukimi-senpai lost. And her mother, instead of comforting her, had said, “If it were Sakura.”
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
That statement, which denied Tsukimi-senpai’s very existence, was the final blow that made her decide to abandon her precious sanctuary.
“…I must have been really shocked.”
Tsukimi-senpai spoke with her eyes downcast. I realized I had clenched my fists. I couldn’t forgive the person who made her look like that.
“…I’m happy that you’re angry for me,” she said, looking at me and giving a small smile. “But it would be a problem if this turned into a violent incident. So keep your anger in check, okay?”
Е̃ ñ u_m а .і̊d
“…I know.”
If it would help Tsukimi-senpai, I wouldn’t mind getting arrested. But that didn’t mean punching her mother would solve the problem. This was ultimately a family issue. I was just here as support.
But as long as I was here, there must be something I could say.
“So… how do you want to start?”
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
“I have to say I want to talk, but… oh, wait.”
Tsukimi-senpai looked towards the door. Thump, thump, thump. The sound of footsteps coming up the stairs.
Е́nǔ ḿ а
Her mother opened the door without knocking and glared at us.
“Kaede, can I have a word?”
Her tone was hard. She was clearly angry.
Tsukimi-senpai followed her out of the room. Before closing the door, she looked at me and nodded.
I heard the sound of them going down the stairs. I knew she wanted to talk to her daughter alone, but if I just waited here, there would have been no point in coming.
I left the room and, muffling my footsteps, crept down the stairs.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
I peeked into the living room. It was a spacious, beautiful room with stylish interior design.
Tsukimi-senpai and her mother were sitting on opposite sofas with a table between them.
“What do you think you’re doing?” her mother’s question was blunt. Her gaze was as cold as ice.
“…What do you mean, what am I doing?”
“Is this any time to be fooling around with boys?”
Tsukimi-senpai’s shoulders flinched. She looked terrified by her mother’s harsh words.
Wеb̌n о v еĺ Еń u m̄ а
“I’ve heard about your reputation, so I didn’t say anything, but… you just lost the autumn tournament. I thought you would be more frustrated, more fired up.”
Tsukimi-senpai kept her head down and said nothing. She was cowering like that because she wasn’t wearing her mask. If she wore her mask, she could put on a brave face. But this battle would be meaningless if she wasn’t her true self.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
So Tsukimi-senpai was desperately trying to face her mother as her true self.
“…Is it bad? To lose a club game?” she eventually mumbled.
“…So you really are just Kaede, after all,” her mother said, her eyes narrowing as if she had realized something. “Sakura was aiming for the Inter-High.”
Her gaze was filled with disappointment.
Е̊ n̆ um̄ а
“—And I’m always telling you to be like Sakura.”
Before I knew it, I had opened the door.
Tsukimi’s mother looked at me in surprise.
“May I have a word?”
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“…You were listening?”
“I’m sorry.”
Еnu m̌а̄ .î d
“We’re having a family discussion right now. Could you please wait in the room?”
She was right, but if I followed her logic, the whole operation would be pointless. I had become Tsukimi-senpai’s boyfriend to earn the right to be here.
“Could I just say one thing?”
“…What is it?”
“Kaede-san is not Sakura-san.”
The moment I said Tsukimi Sakura’s name, the temperature of her mother’s gaze dropped.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
“What do you think you know?”
“I’ve heard a lot about your family from Kaede-san.”
“I see, so this child… trusts you that much.”
“We’re a couple. In fact, I came here today because I had something to discuss with you.”
“…With me?” she asked, her brow furrowed in suspicion.
“Please stop forcing Kaede-san to imitate Sakura-san.”
Ĕǹum̂ӑ
“Wh-…”
Her mother’s expression changed dramatically. I had now clearly crossed a line. I was aware of that.
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“—Don’t be ridiculous! Stay out of our family’s problems, you’re an outsider!” she reprimanded me, her voice harsh. The force of her anger was enough to make even me, who had prepared for it, flinch.
But I couldn’t back down here.
“Do you know why Kaede-san has been coming home so late recently?”
“…I don’t know. She was probably with you, wasn’t she?”
Ӗṅu_m̆ а̊
“It’s true she was with me a lot. But it wasn’t because she wanted to be with me.”
“…Then what was it?”
“—It was because she didn’t want to come home.”
When I told her the answer, Tsukimi’s mother’s mouth fell open. She clearly hadn’t expected those words. It was proof that she wasn’t watching her own daughter. A feeling of anger welled up inside me.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
“‘Be like Sakura.’ Have you ever thought about how Kaede-san feels, being told that over and over again?”
I suppressed the urge to shout and spoke as calmly as possible.
Ŵ е b́ ńо̇v̄е̇ l̄ E n̈u m̃ a
Tsukimi’s mother averted her gaze from me and looked at Tsukimi-senpai, who had been silent the whole time.
I sat down next to her and gently took her trembling hand.
“…Tsukimi-senpai.”
“Yeah… thank you, Minase-kun.”
I wanted to be of some help to her, even a little.
Eventually, Tsukimi-senpai took a slow, deep breath and faced her mother.
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“Mom, I have something to say.”
It must have taken an incredible amount of courage to say that one line. Squeeze. My hand was being held tightly. So I squeezed back, even tighter.
“K-Kaede…?” her mother said, looking at her daughter in confusion. “Are you trying to say my parenting was wrong? That can’t be, can it? Because it worked for Sakura. If you just do the same as Sakura, there won’t be any problems—”
I was about to lunge forward, but Tsukimi-senpai stopped me with her hand. I’ll fight from here on, so it’s okay, the feeling from her hand seemed to say.
“—Sorry, but it looks like I can’t be ‘my sister.’”
It probably took her three years to say that one line.
En um а
Her mother was speechless, staring at her daughter.
“I always thought that being like ‘my sister’ was the right answer.”
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Tsukimi-senpai was looking at a photo hanging on the wall. It must have been from a trip. The family of four was smiling in the photo.
“I thought I had to fill the hole my sister left when she disappeared. But I couldn’t. No matter how hard I tried, it was just an act. I was still me. I could never change.”
Her mother stared at her, dumbfounded, as she haltingly told her story. Everything she was saying must have been a shock. After all, they had barely spoken.
“No, the truth is… I think I was scared of changing. Because that would mean I wouldn’t be me anymore. There was no place where I was wanted for being me, so it was painful.”
E ṅ u m̄ ā . і̄ d̀
Tsukimi’s mother’s voice was hoarse as she mumbled, “That’s not… what I meant…”
“But… even someone like me, there’s someone who loves me for who I am.”
Tsukimi-senpai met my gaze and smiled. Then she turned back to her mother and declared:
“So I… will live as myself! I’ve decided! And I won’t take any complaints from anyone!”
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
After her impassioned declaration, Tsukimi-senpai stood panting, her shoulders rising and falling.
The only sound was the ticking of the clock. Outside the window, the world was dyed in the colors of twilight.
Ēn um̈а. ї d̂
“…I see. So I was hurting you.”
Tsukimi’s mother lowered her eyes. For a while, she didn’t move. The icy atmosphere melted, and a drop of water fell from her face, hidden by her hair.
“…I’m sorry.”
Eventually, a quiet apology was offered.
“…I wanted Sakura to be alive.”
Losing her precious daughter must have been agonizing.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
“I suppose I was searching for her ghost.”
I understood her feelings. But I had no intention of defending her. Not when she had failed to notice her other daughter’s suffering.
“Hey, Mom.”
But Tsukimi-senpai extended a hand to her mother.
“We can be a family again, can’t we?”
“…But I’ve done terrible things to you.”
W е̇b̂ ň.oṽ e̊ l̊ En̂_um á
“It’s okay now. It’s true that I wanted to be like my sister, too.”
Tsukimi-senpai looked at the family photo.
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“We just went about it the wrong way. My sister isn’t in this world anymore. Trying to recreate her won’t bring her back. But I think we can keep from forgetting her.”
With the hand she had extended, she took the photo and placed it on the table.
“—So let’s talk about her. As a family.”
After that, the two of them talked for a long time, as if to fill the void of the time they had spent not facing each other.
W̄ е́ b̃ n̊ o v̀ӗl̇ Е̄ n̄ um̆_а
Most of the conversation was about Tsukimi Sakura, a person I didn’t know. I listened from Tsukimi-senpai’s side the whole time. I was completely on the outside, but that was fine. I had come here to support her, after all.
Eventually, it got late, so I decided to take my leave.
“Minase-kun.”
“…Yes?”
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As I was putting on my shoes at the entrance, Tsukimi’s mother, whose atmosphere had softened considerably, called out to me.
“Please take care of Kaede.”
Eṅ um̃ а̂
…Right, I came here as her fake boyfriend.
“I will.”
“It seems she needs you.”
Their relationship was still awkward. All the resentment wouldn’t just disappear in an instant. But they were facing each other now. Time would surely solve the rest.
“Understood.”
When I stepped outside, Tsukimi-senpai was already waiting for me. I unlocked my bike, which was parked in the yard, and we talked.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
“Did you talk to my mom about something?”
“…She asked me to take care of you, Kaede.”
“Hmph…”
Tsukimi-senpai fiddled with her hair as she asked, “What did you say?”
“Who knows… I forgot.”
“…Minase-kun?”
Eṅ u m ӑ.і̄d
She glared at me with a deadpan look. I hopped on my bike as if to escape her gaze. For some reason, she sat down on the back rack.
“…What are you doing?”
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
“Just wanted to feel the wind a little~”
“In this cold?”
“…Can’t I?”
When she looked up at me like that, I had no way of refusing.
Е n̊ ŭ mӑ. і̄ d
I reluctantly started pedaling.
Tsukimi-senpai wrapped one arm around my waist. I could feel her body heat against my back.
The cold wind brushed against my cheeks. I breathed out white puffs of air as we rode aimlessly.
“…You’re heavy.”
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
“Wha-?! What did you just say to a maiden?!”
When I let my true thoughts slip, she started lightly punching my back.
Е ňu m̊ а̇
“…Idiot.”
Then, as if to hide her embarrassment, she wrapped both arms around me.
“…It’s dangerous if I don’t hold on like this,” she mumbled, like an excuse. Her forehead was pressed against my back, so I couldn’t see her expression.
“Where are we even going?”
With her on the back, we’d have to come back eventually anyway.
“That’s obvious, isn’t it?” she said, her voice bouncing with excitement. “To our secret base!”
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
“…You want me to pedal for thirty minutes with you on the back?”
“It’s perfect for training, right?”
“You’ll take responsibility if we get caught by the police, right?”
“…”
“Don’t go silent on me now!”
Panting heavily, I somehow made it to the school.
W̄ӗ ḃn̊ о̊v̈eľ Е ṅūm̊а̌
It was already past eight. The school lights were off, and there was no one around.
We parked the bike in the designated area and walked together towards the secret base.
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“…It’s the weekend, so I don’t think anyone will be here.”
“I know. But I still want to go.”
She must have been really looking forward to it, because she was skipping. She must have been holding back, even though she wanted to go so badly.
“…Huh?”
Е nu m̆а
But a sliver of light was leaking from the door of the old gym storage.
“Is someone… here?”
Tsukimi-senpai and I exchanged glances.
“I’m telling you, you can’t use that card.”
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“…This is hard. I want to play a simpler board game.”
“This is one of the simpler ones—here, use this to attack Ogino.”
Ёn_ům̃а̌.і d̄
As we got closer, we could hear voices coming from inside.
—Everyone’s here.
Realizing this, Tsukimi-senpai’s face broke into a smile.
She pushed open the door with the force of a battering ram.
Akazawa, Kazemiya, and Ogino looked up at us in surprise.
Eventually, Kazemiya gave a gentle smile and said, “Welcome home.”
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While I was carrying out Operation Double Confession, Kazemiya had been busy, too. To protect the place Tsukimi-senpai would return to. She had held together the Don’t Want To Go Home Alliance when it was on the verge of collapse.
“Want to play a board game with us?” Akazawa asked Tsukimi-senpai.
“…Yeah!”
Tears started to stream down her face. She hadn’t cried even when she was talking to her mother. She must have been so relieved to know that her precious sanctuary was still here.
“Kaede, we were worried,” Ogino said, hugging her.
“…I’m sorry.”
W̆ ѐbn̈ o v̆е̃ l Еnǔm̃à
“It’s fine. More importantly, there’s something you should say.”
Ogino shook her head, still hugging Tsukimi-senpai.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
“Um… I’m very sorry for the trouble I’ve caused.”
“That’s not it.”
“I’m sorry for disappearing so suddenly.”
“That’s true, but that’s not the first thing you should say.”
Ẅ е b̊ n̊ оv̊ e_l Еń u m а
“Th-Then… what should I say?”
Tsukimi-senpai looked at the still-shaking Ogino, confused.
“Welcome home,” Ogino repeated the line Kazemiya had said.
She must have finally understood what she was supposed to say.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
Tsukimi-senpai blinked, looking at everyone.
“Is that… all I have to say?”
Wѐḃn̊о̀v̊ е l̈ Еn̄.u ṁ а
I, Akazawa, Kazemiya, and Ogino all nodded.
So, Tsukimi-senpai turned to everyone who was waiting and shouted with the biggest smile.
“—I’m home!”
Epilogue: Back to Normal, But Not Quite
The school day was as boring as ever.
Before I knew it, it was a week before winter break. The students were restless.
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“What does the baseball team do during winter break?”
“Mostly running and basic training. I want to pitch, though!”
“Don’t go throwing your elbow out by overdoing it~”
“Haha, You would totally do that. We should keep an eye on him.”
“I’m not that stupid!”
In the center of the classroom, Akazawa was cheerfully chatting with the other guys.
Е̊ n ů m̌ä_. іd
“Kanon-chan, what are you doing for Christmas?”
“I’m thinking of having a party with my family~”
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“Aw, that’s too bad. I wanted to spend it with you~”
“Really? Spending it with everyone sounds fun, too!”
“Well, I didn’t mean everyone… but whatever.”
Kazemiya was walking down the hall with a group of handsome guys again today.
Е nū mâ. і d̂
“Hey, wanna hit up karaoke today?”
“Sounds good. Everyone’s going, right?”
“Eh… ah, yeah. But is it okay to skip club?”
“Karaoke is basically band practice, right?”
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
Ogino was hanging out with Nishimura and her friends.
“Kaede, there’s something I want to talk to you about…”
W_еb ñо̆ v́ е̄l̃ _Еnü m̀а
“Yeah, sure. Is lunch break okay?”
“Hey Kaede, I don’t get the math homework. Can you help me?”
“Of course. Is it okay if we do it when we get back to the classroom?”
“Hey, hey, everyone. You’re troubling Kaede.”
“Ahaha, I’m fine. I’m happy you’re relying on me.”
And Tsukimi-senpai was her perfect self again today. It seemed she was planning on continuing her ‘sister’ persona at school for the time being. It would be unnatural for her personality to suddenly change, after all. She was probably just testing the waters.
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“—See you tonight,” she whispered as she passed by me.
Tonight, we were having a party to celebrate her return to the Alliance.
I was happy to feel that I was looking forward to the night.
“Nice shot! Good job, everyone! Let’s keep the passes coming!”
On the other hand, Tsukimi-senpai during club practice had changed a little.
After losing the autumn tournament, she had been playing more of a one-woman show. But now, she was back to her teamwork-focused playstyle.
Ё n̆ u̇ m̄ а
Was it because she had reconciled with her mother, and no longer felt the need to win at all costs? Her one-woman show style was probably a last resort for her, too.
The tense atmosphere during practice was gone, and her gentle expression had returned.
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Considering only the strength of the girls’ basketball team, this might not be a good change. But I thought it was probably for the best. It’s suffocating for one person to carry everything on their shoulders.
“Did Tsukimi change a little?”
“She was scary after the tournament, but she’s back to normal now.”
The seniors on the boys’ team were having a similar conversation while watching the adjacent court.
W е bn о̄v̊ ӗ l̊ Е́ nû m̃å
The Tsukimi-senpai in question had just made a no-look pass under the basket. The player who received the pass from her easily made the shot.
“Nice pass!”
She then exchanged a high-five with Tsukimi-senpai, smiling.
With Tsukimi-senpai’s change, the overall atmosphere of the girls’ team had become more relaxed. She was just too influential, for better or for worse.
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…As I was thinking that and watching her, our eyes met.
She looked at me and smiled. A childlike smile.
Ẃeb̈n̄ о̌_v̌е̃_l̃ Е nüm̆ а
“H-Hey! She just smiled at me!”
“No, it was me! We’re classmates, after all!”
“I didn’t know Tsukimi could smile like that… I think I’m in love…”
The seniors on the boys’ team were making a ruckus nearby, oblivious to the fact that she had smiled at me.
…It was me, right?
I was starting to lose confidence.
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It was only hitting me now, but we were worlds apart.
…Come to think of it, I confessed to her, even if it was for the sake of the plan.
And since I had added “as more than a friend,” there was no way to play it off.
I had just conveyed my feelings, not asked for a reply.
Still… isn’t it incredibly embarrassing to talk to someone knowing they know you have a crush on them?
I was so desperate at the time that I didn’t notice, but now that the incident was resolved…
Е̂ n̈ ú m̂ а.і.d_
Furthermore, we had become a couple, albeit a fake one, and had even started calling each other by our first names.
…Maybe I should avoid being alone with her for a while.
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Honestly, I didn’t know what kind of face to make when I talked to her.
The long-awaited night after club practice arrived.
When I opened the door to the secret base, everyone was already there.
Thanks to the electric heater Kazemiya had brought, it was warm inside.
Е_n̂ ü ḿ а́
The table was a smorgasbord of snacks—potato chips, cookies, chocolate.
I had just bought a two-liter bottle of cola, so I started pouring it into paper cups.
“Before we start the party, there’s one thing I want to confirm,” Akazawa said, his expression serious. “I’m glad Kaede is back. But there’s a problem we can’t just sweep under the rug.”
The serious atmosphere made us all sit up straight.
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“Minase. You broke the Covenant, didn’t you?”
…Of course he noticed. That I had something to do with Tsukimi-senpai’s return. And that to do so, I had to uncover her secret.
Е n̆ú m̀а
“…Yeah. I broke the Second Covenant.”
Hearing my words, Akazawa turned to Tsukimi-senpai.
“Shouldn’t he be punished?”
“It’s true that Minase-kun stepped into my secret.”
It was a major violation of the Covenant. I couldn’t complain if I was exiled from the Alliance.
As the sinner, I silently awaited the outcome of the discussion.
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“But at that time, I had left the Alliance, so the Covenant doesn’t apply,” she declared, a triumphant look on her face. “Therefore, Minase-kun is innocent!”
Hearing her one-sided verdict, Akazawa shrugged his shoulders in resignation.
“…That’s a stretch.”
“Well, if Kaede-senpai, the person in question, says so, then it’s fine, right?”
“Kaede wouldn’t have come back otherwise, so it can’t be helped.”
Akazawa, Kazemiya, and Ogino all said their piece.
Ŵë b̌ ṅ о́ v еl̇ Е̂n u ṁа
Whether we liked it or not, things were changing. The Covenant was becoming ambiguous.
Now that the incident was resolved, there was a problem we couldn’t just leave alone.
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“Tsukimi-senpai. Is the Covenant fine as it is?”
The four covenants no longer fit our current situation.
One: Members shall not speak of this alliance or the secret base to anyone.
Two: The night is for freedom. However, members shall not interfere with each other’s secrets.
Wе̇bn оv̌_е̃ l Ė n u̇ m̀ а̊
Three: The use of this secret base is limited to the time after club activities until 10:30 PM.
Four: Members shall not bring Alliance relationships into the outside world.
—A superficial relationship, where no one interferes with each other’s secrets.
Were we going to continue with that?
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Even though Tsukimi-senpai and I had already crossed that line?
“I think we should change it.”
Е̂ n̈ ũm̄ а
“Specifically, what do you want to do, Minase?”
“I think we can get rid of the Second Covenant. Of course, no one should be forced to talk about things they don’t want to. But if we can’t interfere with secrets, we can’t help each other when we’re in trouble.”
When Tsukimi-senpai disappeared, none of us knew what had happened. So without breaking the Second Covenant, we couldn’t even find a way to help her.
“I want to make this alliance a place where we can help each other when we’re in trouble.”
I wanted us to be real friends, not just have a superficial relationship.
“I’m against that. The Second Covenant is the reason people gathered here, isn’t it? I don’t know what happened between you and Kaede… but there are still people who want to protect their secrets.”
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But Akazawa shook his head, his expression stern.
“What’s important is that it’s written down. At least, that’s what Kaede thought, right?”
Akazawa said, looking at Tsukimi-senpai.
She was silent, watching our debate.
“…Change is scary. So I thought it was fine to stay as we were,” she said, closing her eyes once before opening them with a look of resolve. “But if we’re just scared, we can’t move forward. So let’s… change the Second Covenant!” she declared with force.
“The night is for freedom. Therefore, comrades may share secrets and help each other!”
Е̄ n̊ ů mа
Everyone was silent for a while after hearing the new covenant she proposed.
In effect, it was similar to abolishing it. Because there was no sentence that forced it.
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May help each other—meaning, you don’t have to.
You can share secrets, or you don’t have to. It was left up to the will of the members.
So, was it the same as not having it? No, I don’t think so.
What was important was that it was explicitly stated in the covenant that we may help each other.
Еn̂ u m a . ï d
Because we, who held secrets, couldn’t step into others’ secrets without a proper reason.
“S-So, what do you think?!”
Seeing everyone’s silence, Tsukimi-senpai hurriedly asked for our opinions.
“I’m for it.”
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“…Yeah. I’m fine with that, too.”
“If everyone else is okay with it, then so am I.”
W̊_е b̆n̄.о v el E ń ũ m̃ a
I, Ogino, and Kazemiya voiced our approval in that order.
All eyes focused on the last remaining person, Akazawa.
“…Alright. If that’s what Kaede says, then I’ll agree to the change,” he said with a deep sigh.
“…You’ve changed, Kaede-senpai,” Kazemiya murmured.
Kazemiya and the others didn’t know what had happened between me and Tsukimi-senpai. All they knew was that I had brought her back.
By facing reality, Tsukimi-senpai had chosen change over stagnation. That’s probably why it seemed like her opinion had done a complete one-eighty.
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“If the Second Covenant has changed, then I can ask, right? What exactly happened?”
Akazawa immediately put the new covenant to use and asked Tsukimi-senpai.
“Minase-kun saved me.”
“…I can see that much. What I want is a concrete explanation.”
Tsukimi-senpai glanced at me, then raised a finger to her lips.
“That’s… a secret between the two of us.”
Eň u m а̌. ĭ d̂
Even if the Covenant changed, it didn’t mean she could suddenly talk about everything.
“Someday, when I’m ready… I’ll tell everyone.”
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There were things she could talk about now, and things she still didn’t want to.
Even so, we could now slowly move our relationship forward.
“…Alright,” Akazawa said, nodding with a wry smile.
“Kaede-senpai is back. That’s enough for me,” Kazemiya said, snorting and turning her face away as she showed a rare moment of direct affection.
Ŵè b̆n оv̌ ӗ l En̄u_m̆ ǎ_
“Something’s… suspicious…”
Ogino looked at me and Tsukimi-senpai alternately with suspicious eyes.
“A-Anyway! That’s enough serious talk for now!”
As if to escape Ogino’s gaze, Tsukimi-senpai clapped her hands, ending the conversation.
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“Well then, shall we start the party to celebrate Tsukimi-senpai’s return to the Alliance?”
The carbonation in the cola I had poured into the paper cups had completely gone flat.
Е̌n̊uḿ a.і d
But, well… that was okay sometimes.
I raised my paper cup without a care and declared with a smile, “Cheers!”
Everyone repeated the same word in unison.
Tsukimi-senpai brought out a board game, Akazawa won by a landslide, Ogino fell asleep before I knew it, and Kazemiya did her homework. As I watched everyone, I took a sip of my flat cola.
—For the first time in a while, the fun night deepened.
I stepped outside to get some air.
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It was naturally cold, but the starry sky was beautiful.
“Shuuto-kun.”
I turned around at the sound of my name.
Tsukimi-senpai was standing there, wearing a coat.
“What’s up?”
“Oh, just getting some fresh air.”
Eǹ um ä.і̇.d̆
I answered nonchalantly, but my heart was pounding.
Honestly, I still didn’t know what kind of face to make when we were alone.
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And… didn’t she just call me by my first name?
That was only for when we were fake dating. We had gone back to our usual way of addressing each other after that.
“Can I stay with you?”
“…Yeah.”
Еnu̇m̃а.id
When I nodded, she stood next to me.
For some reason, the distance between us was incredibly close.
Her hand touched mine. It moved away slightly, then touched again.
I had been looking up at the night sky, but I glanced at her.
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She had a prim expression, but if you looked closely, her ears were bright red.
“Um… Shuuto-kun. Are we still… fake dating?”
En̈ ũm.a
“Eh?”
As if she had made up her mind, Tsukimi-senpai met my eyes.
“I thought it ended when the operation was over…”
“B-But! We never said it was over, did we?”
She blushed as she moved her face closer to mine.
It was true, we hadn’t said it was over. But wait a minute.
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The way she said that, didn’t it sound like she wanted to continue our relationship?
“So… um, Christmas is coming up soon, right?”
The word that came out of her mouth was one I thought had nothing to do with me.
“So, um, if you’d like, with me—”
I felt like I was being sucked into her jewel-like eyes.
Just then.
Ẅе b̊n̈ ó v̀ el È ñ ū m̄ ā
Clatter. The door to the secret base opened.
Tsukimi-senpai flinched and hurriedly moved a little away from me.
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“It’s cold out here…”
Akazawa looked at our suspicious behavior and raised an eyebrow.
“…Something wrong?”
“N-N-N-Nothing at all!”
Е n̆ uḿä. і̂d
“Y-Yeah! The door just opened suddenly and surprised us.”
I was actually relieved that Akazawa had come.
If we had been alone any longer… I don’t know what would have happened.
Of course, I liked Tsukimi-senpai as more than a friend. I wanted to go out with her.
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But… did someone like me even have the right to be with someone?
“Minase-kun!”
W е b̈ n.оv̇ĕľ Е̂ n̈ u.m̈ å
Tsukimi-senpai called out to me as I stood frozen.
From inside the secret base, everyone was looking at me.
“Let’s all play a board game!”
Tsukimi-senpai, Akazawa, Kazemiya, and Ogino were waiting for me.
I, who had been all alone in the darkness of the night, walked towards the dazzling sunlit spot.
Its name was the Don’t Want To Go Home Alliance.
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Its location was the unused old gym storage.
Its time was the night, after club activities.
Its purpose was to have fun at night.
This is the story of a group of boys and girls with secrets, living out their youth in the school at night.
Kazuki Amamiya
