71 Reasons for Acting
“Hey, Amatsuki Suzuna, why are you running away?”
Kokona-chan’s voice, laced with frustration, chased after me.
But I’m the one who wants to complain.
“Why are you chasing after me, Kokona-chan?”
“Because you’re perfect for my item!”
That’s ridiculous.
“There were other people!”
“I’m saying you’re fine.”
“That’s definitely not true!”
“Why are you so sure? You don’t even know what the item is!”
I know.
I’m the one who switched them; it’s “the person you like” for everyone.
As proof, I glanced at the other runners, and they were all hesitating, unsure of who to choose.
“Everyone seems to be having a hard time deciding…?”
Kanaori Reika, the judge, tilted her head, looking puzzled.
“More importantly…”
I have to deal with Kokona-chan now.
I desperately gasped for air and headed towards the shade of the tree where I was resting earlier.
He’s there.
“Shindo-kun!”
“Wh-What is it? Suzuna and Kokona, both of you?”
“Kokona-chan chose you, Shindo-kun, for her scavenger hunt item!”
Desperate times call for desperate measures.
“Wh-What?! Hey, Amatsuki Suzuna, Kokona didn’t say a word about—”
“Eh, what? What’s the item?”
“H-Hey, Onii-chan?!”
Shindo-kun took the slip of paper from Kokona-chan’s hand and checked it.
“‘The person you like’…?”
“So you see, that’s why Onii-chan is—”
“So that’s why!”
“Huh?”
Kokona-chan was taken aback by Shindo-kun’s sudden outburst.
“I thought you were avoiding me lately, but I was wrong!”
“Eh, no, I was definitely avoiding…”
Shindo-kun, overwhelmed with emotion, ignored Kokona-chan’s words and took her arm.
“Okay, let’s go! I’ll show them what sibling love is all about!”
“N-No, wait…!!”
Kokona-chan was dragged along.
As a result, they were the first to reach the finish line.
W-Well, it was a bit forceful, but this should bring him closer to Kokona-chan, the heroine, right?
Now, if only Kanaori-san approves…
“Let me confirm the item.”
“Here.”
Shindo-kun handed her the slip of paper.
Kanaori-san, after checking the item—
“Wh-What is this?!”
Her face flushed red.
“As you can see, it’s ‘the person you like.’”
Kokona-chan seemed disgusted by Shindo-kun’s smug expression.
“H-How… why is this item…? And you two are siblings!”
“Yes, we are.”
“The person you like… you two… that means…”
Ah, Kanaori-san is misunderstanding.
“Yes, precisely because we’re siblings. That’s how true love blossoms.”
Shindo-kun fueled the misunderstanding.
“Th-That…”
“Is there a problem?”
“Of course there is! This is unacceptable!”
Kanaori-san tore the slip of paper to shreds.
◇◇◇
“…Why did you run away, Amatsuki Suzuna?”
In the end, Kokona-chan, deemed disqualified, had to let someone else win.
The heroine’s intimacy level didn’t rise.
And I ended up listening to Kokona-chan’s complaints.
“Because it’s weird for the theme to be ‘the person you like’ and for that person to be me!”
“You’re fine.”
Kokona-chan’s words were firm.
“Well… I understand why you’d want to choose him…”
“Eh… you understood…?”
“I figured it out earlier.”
“S-So that means…”
Kokona-chan gasped.
“Well, ‘the person you like’ could also mean ‘friend,’ depending on how you interpret it, right?”
There are other interpretations of “like” besides romantic love.
This is a game, so there has to be some leeway.
“…Huh?”
“But choosing among friends means prioritizing them, and that could ruin relationships. So choosing me, his childhood friend, is a safe option. It’s convincing since we’ve known each other for so long.”
“Um…”
Kokona-chan seemed to be at a loss for words.
“See? I’m right, aren’t I?”
“…Sigh…”
A long sigh.
“Hmm?”
“That’s right. I thought I could use you since you were convenient.”
Kokona-chan said decisively, as if she had come to a realization.
It seems my deduction was correct.
◇◇◇
It was too early to give up on this sports festival event.
Shindo-kun’s scavenger hunt wasn’t over yet.
I went to the school building to prepare my next move.
“Excuse me.”
I visited the infirmary.
There was a girl lying on the bed.
“Huh… are you feeling unwell too?”
Futaba Yuu, the senpai with short blue hair, seemed surprised by the unexpected visitor.
“It’s not ‘too.’ You’re faking it, aren’t you, Futaba-senpai?”
Yes, this senpai is skipping class because she’s not motivated.
In the original story, she invited Shindo-kun to skip class with her, so I knew she would be here.
“You shouldn’t underestimate mental illness.”
“You’re just unmotivated.”
“Yeah.”
“You’re skipping class.”
“I am.”
Her cheerful, unapologetic attitude was typical of her.
“Then help me.”
“…Eh?”
I woke up the senpai who was lying on the bed.
◇◇◇
“…That should do it.”
This time, it’s really Shindo-kun’s turn.
And I switched the items again.
I can’t use “the person you like” anymore.
I can’t expect any progress with Kanaori-san or Kokona-chan either.
So I prepared a plan to make him choose only Futaba-senpai and raise their intimacy level.
“—Ready…”
Bang! The signal sounded.
Shindo-kun ran and reached the halfway point.
The item I prepared was “your favorite senpai.”
Shindo-kun looked flustered seeing that.
I expected him to be confused since he doesn’t have any close senpais.
That’s where I come in.
I waved at Shindo-kun to get his attention and immediately pointed at Futaba-senpai next to me.
Shindo-kun, understanding my intention, came running towards us.
“Um, Suzuna-chan? Is this… what you meant by helping me…?”
“Yes, please help him.”
“Help…?”
Shindo-kun arrived while she was talking.
“Senpai, would you please…?”
“Um… sure. What’s the item?”
“This.”
He showed her the slip of paper: “Your favorite senpai.”
“Oh my… this is troublesome.”
Futaba-senpai scratched her cheek and looked away.
Is this a good sign…?
With that hope, the two of them headed towards Kanaori-san.
“You again…”
Kanaori-san frowned at Shindo-kun.
“It’ll be fine this time.”
Shindo-kun handed her the slip of paper.
“I see… your favorite senpai.”
“We pass, right?”
“Then I have a few questions.”
“Questions?”
“Yes, to confirm.”
“I see…”
“Then please tell me Futaba-senpai’s future plans.”
“Future plans…?”
“Yes, if she’s your favorite senpai, you should know. Even I know.”
Ah… so that’s how she’s confirming it.
“…Getting a job?”
Shindo-kun took a gamble.
“She’s going to college. Right, Futaba-senpai?”
“Ah, yeah.”
“Oops, that’s right. Of course I knew that.”
He got it wrong, but he’s still clinging to the idea.
And Seiran Academy is a preparatory school, so it’s natural to choose college.
“You knew that?”
“Yes, of course. I was just testing you, President.”
Testing her from what position?
“I see. Then please tell me the name of the university Futaba-senpai is planning to attend.”
“…”
“You don’t know?”
An unsettling air flowed between the protagonist and the heroine.
◇◇◇
“It seems I wasn’t helpful.”
Futaba-senpai reported the results.
The heroine’s intimacy level wouldn’t rise no matter what.
“…Sorry. I appreciate you helping me.”
Is it really impossible to trigger the event without an established relationship?
“I don’t mind. More importantly, Suzuna-chan, why did you want Shindo-kun to win the scavenger hunt? You even went so far as to switch the items.”
“…That’s because…”
Futaba-senpai saw through my scheme.
“I wanted Shindo-kun and Futaba-senpai to get along.”
“Is that all?”
“That’s all.”
“You don’t have any personal stake in this?”
“Me?”
“Yeah, it’s not normal to go to such lengths for someone else. Don’t you have some kind of wish?”
“…If he gets a girlfriend, I’ll be free.”
Then I can avoid the ending with him.
That’s my wish.
“Really?”
“Why are you so suspicious?”
“I feel like there’s more.”
“What else could there be?”
I’d like to know if there is.
“Well, for example… you’re trying to separate Shindo-kun from someone by pairing him with me.”
My heart pounded.
“…What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Getting closer to someone means distancing yourself from someone else.”
Hearing those words, I thought of Riri-chan.
If I pair Shindo-kun with another heroine, the possibility of him ending up with Riri-chan disappears.
Is that why I’ve been so proactive, because I wanted that?
72 Learning What You Don’t Know
“Nothing is going right…”
Having finished my sports committee duties, I took a break in the shade of a tree at the edge of the field.
Feeling discouraged, I sat hunched over, my face buried in my knees.
The loud commentary and excited cheers from the crowd echoed through the speakers.
I felt terribly out of place amidst all the excitement.
In the end, no matter what I did, Shindo-kun’s intimacy level with the heroines didn’t increase.
Moreover, Futaba-senpai pointed out that my motivation stemmed from Riri-chan.
“What does that even mean…?”
I thought I was acting because I didn’t want to be alone, but I was surprised to realize it was the driving force behind my actions.
What do I even want?
I don’t understand myself.
“Suzuna.”
Riri-chan’s voice called out from afar.
The sound of her footsteps approached, and before I knew it, she was sitting next to me.
“…”
“Are you… tired from all the work?”
“…Various things.”
“You seem down.”
“I’m always like this.”
“You’re more down than usual. What happened?”
It’s hard to explain…
How long will I have to live in fear of the Shindo-kun ending, unable to tell anyone the truth?
“You were interacting with a lot of people during the scavenger hunt and all. Is it related to that?”
“…You were watching?”
That would mean Riri-chan, who usually comments on everything, was silently observing.
That’s unusual.
“I was cheering for you, thinking you were working hard, Suzuna.”
“Ah, that’s why. …Thank you.”
She was being considerate.
But I don’t feel good about it, since I wasn’t working hard out of genuine dedication.
“So what happened?”
“…”
“If you don’t tell me, I’ll take a picture of you and post it on social media.”
“…What’s with that threat?”
“You don’t like that kind of thing, do you?”
“I don’t.”
It’s digital tattooing.
“Then tell me.”
“I can’t end this unless I tell you…?”
“Of course, sharing is what friends are for.”
Is that so…?
No, wait. It’s strange to threaten someone to share their problems…
But if I don’t tell her, she might actually post a picture of unattractive me online.
I don’t want people all over the world to have their eyes polluted by my appearance.
“…It’s about Shindo-kun.”
I felt hesitant bringing up Shindo-kun’s name in front of Riri-chan, considering everything.
“Your childhood friend, Shindo.”
But Riri-chan’s unexpectedly normal reaction made me feel a little better.
“Yeah. I want Shindo-kun to start dating someone.”
“…You were thinking about that?”
If Riri-chan likes Shindo-kun, that wouldn’t be a pleasant thing for her to hear.
“Is that strange?”
“I don’t think that’s something you’d do for someone you used to like.”
It was Amatsuki Suzuna who liked Shindo, not me, Yukitsuki Mashiro.
But a part of me doesn’t want to see Riri-chan talk about Shindo-kun.
But I can’t avoid this conversation any longer.
“…That’s true. But I, the real Yukitsuki Mashiro, didn’t have those kinds of feelings for him. That’s why I can try to set him up with someone.”
I thought that would lead to happiness for him and the heroines in this game, and for me personally.
“So you thought you liked him, but you actually didn’t?”
“Something like that.”
Riri-chan gave a noncommittal “hmm.”
“And your efforts failed miserably.”
“…They did.”
“I don’t understand. Why are you trying so hard for someone else, Suzuna?”
“That’s because…”
It’s to avoid the ending with him… and to keep Shindo-kun away from Riri-chan.
But I can’t say that.
“I don’t think that will work.”
“…Eh?”
Riri-chan’s tone was firm.
“Because you don’t have any feelings for Shindo anymore, right?”
“That’s true, but…”
“Trying to set someone up with someone else when you don’t even like them… that’s not going to work.”
“Is that so…?”
“It is. You have to believe someone is appealing to convey that to the other person. No one would believe your recommendation if you don’t feel anything yourself.”
…She might be right.
I thought it would work because he’s the protagonist and they’re the heroines.
So I thought they’d eventually end up together as long as there was a trigger, regardless of their feelings…
“If you try to convey something without any feeling, what gets conveyed is the lack of feeling.”
That’s right.
The irregularities started with Amatsuki Suzuna’s existence itself.
She, who was more devoted to Shindo-kun than anyone, completely lost interest in him after becoming Yukitsuki Mashiro.
Maybe I was wrong to expect the other heroines to follow the original story’s development when such a drastic change occurred.
Change is contagious.
Since I changed, it’s natural for others to change as well.
“I’m going to pry a little further, but… Suzuna… do you… like anyone right now?”
Riri-chan asked hesitantly.
“Me? Like someone…?”
“Yeah, I was wondering…”
Liking someone, loving someone…
I know those feelings exist.
But if you ask if I, Yukitsuki Mashiro, have ever experienced them, the answer is different.
“…I don’t think so.”
I’ve never thought, “I like this person,” or “I love this person.”
“…I see.”
Riri-chan’s voice was heavy with unspoken words.
“Then isn’t it difficult to make other people fall in love?”
Riri-chan saw through me.
She pointed out that’s why my efforts failed.
“…That’s true.”
“That’s why you should focus on your own feelings, Suzuna, rather than other people’s.”
“My feelings?”
“Yeah, anything. Like… love, for example.”
That might be the emotion I lack the most.
And I realized why I don’t understand it.
It’s because of what Riri-chan told me.
“If you try to convey something without any feeling, what gets conveyed is the lack of feeling.”
Feelings are transmitted through people.
Then when will someone who hasn’t been shown those feelings, like love, ever understand them?
“Suzuna…?”
“Because I’ve always been alone? How can I know what love is like?”
This isn’t about Amatsuki Suzuna, it’s about me, Yukitsuki Mashiro.
My parents never said “good night” to me, never whispered “I love you.”
I was raised out of obligation.
I always wondered how my parents felt about me.
“They don’t care about me at all.”
When I came to that conclusion, I closed off my heart.
I hid the empty, hollow me.
So I was wrong to seek a place in this world from the beginning.
I finally understood that.
…And yet.
“I see. So you’re the same as me, Suzuna.”
Ignoring my conclusion, I felt a warm touch on my cheek.
It was Riri-chan’s hand.
“Eh…”
I was pulled into her embrace.
My gaze, which had been fixed on my knees, now rested on Riri-chan’s chest.
Her sweet fragrance surrounded me.
“I understand how you feel, Suzuna. I was alone too.”
“You too…?”
Come to think of it, Riri-chan’s house was strangely sterile, except for her room.
A house devoid of human warmth.
Her parents live elsewhere, leaving her alone in a luxurious, empty house.
“Yeah, but it’s okay. You’ll understand someday.”
“Really…?”
“Because I did. There’s no way you won’t understand too, Suzuna.”
Is that true?
I don’t have any basis for believing that.
But I, the weak and hesitant me, don’t have the courage or the resolve to deny her words.