Ch.230Epilogue. What I Wished For (8)

As the acting head of the Literary Club, I resolved the matter by giving a somewhat ambiguous response.

While I could simply decline to recommend someone, it felt a bit wrong to discourage someone who genuinely wanted to join the Literary Club.

Of course, at the beginning of the first semester, I had asked Yuu to turn away quite a few freshmen, but Souta was different—he was someone I could trust.

There might be issues among the girls surrounding him, but I thought it unlikely that Souta himself would cause any problems.

“So, I don’t think I can stop Souta if he wants to join the club.”

The strange thing was that Nanami was the one saying this, not me.

“Well… I guess so?”

Not knowing exactly how to respond, I nodded and said that.

But Nanami didn’t look particularly reassured by my answer.

“So, I want to join the Literary Club too, following Souta.”

“…”

I thought about it for a moment.

Souta joining our club was fine, I supposed. It was already almost certain that his younger sister Shii would be joining our club next year. Since he was coming anyway, going home together in good spirits wouldn’t be so bad.

We would be third-years next year, so our activity level would decrease somewhat, but we still had the second and third semesters left. Izumi and Kaoru had been quite active until the first semester.

But… Nanami.

“Why? I like reading books.”

No, that wasn’t the issue.

If Nanami joined our club, it was obvious who would follow next.

Hagiwara.

She would graduate next year too, but I had no desire to watch kids fighting over love in my club.

Even with just Nanami and Souta joining, Tsuneda would get involved and things would get complicated. And if Hagiwara joined too…

Even though she’d graduate next year.

“…It’s fine if you join.”

I told Nanami.

“But you can’t fight with the other members after joining.”

I decided to make that clear.

Once someone says they want to join, refusing them would only create more complications. If they were in different classes, it might be less awkward, but they’re in the same class. It would be uncomfortable to simply refuse when we have to see each other every day.

“I absolutely won’t fight.”

“…Really?”

I narrowed my eyes at Nanami.

“Even though you were hovering around Souta all day while he was talking to me.”

“I-I didn’t fight, did I?”

I’m not sure if that counts as progress.

“…I think Souta will find it hard to get close to you if you keep pestering him like that.”

When I said that, Nanami’s face flushed slightly.

She avoided my gaze.

“B-but, I feel a bit anxious.”

Why? Because Souta is handsome?

While that’s a plausible reason, honestly, I don’t think there’s much to worry about.

Hagiwara seems to have eased up on her obsession with Souta since becoming a third-year. Of course, that doesn’t mean her feelings have disappeared. She’s just become… more normal, somehow. I can’t be certain since we don’t interact much beyond greeting each other in the hallway.

Well, if forced to choose between love and academics, academics would be more important. Nanami developed feelings for Souta because he supposedly saved her when they were very young, but Hagiwara only met him after becoming a high school student.

…

Thinking about it this way makes me feel a bit bitter.

The one thing you try not to think about when watching a high school harem anime with a teenage protagonist is what happens ten years later.

Sure, the protagonist marrying one of the heroines is fine, but it feels a bit off when the other heroines marry different characters.

People may joke about “virgin otaku” and whatnot, but a story where a heroine in a harem series falls for someone other than the protagonist is like an epilogue where the main couple, happily married after the war, gets killed in a terrorist attack by a child soldier seeking revenge.

It just feels uncomfortable. If you’re someone who likes a heroine other than the main one when reading such manga, it can be quite annoying.

But this isn’t a light novel—it’s reality that just happens to closely resemble one.

“Even if you’re anxious, people tend to be drawn to those who keep some distance and treat them normally, rather than those who are too obsessive.”

“…Really?”

This time Nanami stared at me and asked.

“Have you ever dated anyone?”

“…”

“…You haven’t dated anyone either, have you?”

Well, no, I haven’t.

Not in my previous life or this one.

We both fell silent simultaneously.

We instinctively recognized that continuing this conversation would only hurt each other.

“…Don’t fight with the other members.”

“…Okay, I’ll keep that in mind.”

Nanami responded to my words and extended her hand. I took it and shook it lightly.

Well, I still needed to discuss this with the other members, but they probably wouldn’t object.

However, once she joins, she won’t be able to escape my nagging about writing. This will be our last year of proper activity, so she’ll need to write at least one decent piece by the cultural festival.

This year’s anthology will definitely have more content than last year’s.

I felt somewhat pleased about that.

*

Though it was called a school trip, it was really just three days of having fun with classmates.

The trip was scheduled for four days and three nights, so we’d be returning tomorrow.

The sun hadn’t completely set yet, but it had moved considerably westward, painting the sky with a red glow.

We were on the rooftop of a two-story café, enjoying the sunset while drinking beverages.

I was drinking freshly squeezed orange juice. Its refreshing and crisp taste improved my mood.

Koko was drinking the same thing. Although Koko normally ate anything, lately she had developed some clear “favorites.” This had shown signs last year, but became more definite this year.

What Koko liked were mostly things that I liked.

While the other kids were seated at tables, Koko and I were standing by the railing. I had gone to stand there first, and Koko had followed.

She was even mimicking the posture I had taken.

Of course, she still looked younger due to her inherent innocence.

“Koko, did you have fun?”

“Yes!”

Koko nodded vigorously.

“I see…”

Although I hadn’t been the one to bring her here, I felt proud somehow.

Well, if we’re looking for causes, I suppose it is because of me. I found Koko, gave her a name, and built this relationship.

But that doesn’t mean Koko hasn’t done anything.

Thanks to Koko, my life here has become very enjoyable. Without her, I probably wouldn’t have become someone who could smile like I do now.

“I’m glad.”

“Yes!”

Koko nodded.

Then she asked me:

“Did Kotone have fun?”

“Yes.”

I nodded without hesitation.

“I’m glad!”

I smiled when she repeated exactly what I had said.

“I’ve been having fun the whole time!”

But Koko didn’t stop there and continued:

“Every day has been fun since I met Kotone!”

Was she saying this because she was excited about how much fun she had here?

Whatever the reason, it was enough to make me feel many emotions.

I hadn’t always been nice to Koko.

At first, I even struggled to think of her as a person, and I got annoyed when teaching her various things.

I even died in front of Koko. She had carried my body around, trying to escape.

Yet she still says things like that.

“…”

After being unable to respond for a while,

“…I see.”

I finally managed to answer.

Then I sipped my orange juice with ice and looked up at the sky.

From here, I couldn’t see the direction where Kagami was. The Earth is round, and the sea curves with it.

But for some reason, I thought of Kagami.

Perhaps this is how Kagami feels about Koko and me.

No, it must be much stronger than that. Given the time that has passed.

My thinking that I should be nice to Kagami might be based on a wrong assumption.

Rather, it might be more helpful to Kagami if I simply accepted her kindness without saying much.

Because we’ve missed too much of our childhood together.

Since we couldn’t share our early years, we should make the remaining time more enjoyable and peaceful for as long as possible.

“Next time, let’s all come back together as a family.”

At my words, Koko looked at me again.

Her eyes were sparkling. Not just reflecting light, but as if they were truly emitting light.

Koko nodded vigorously and exclaimed:

“Wow!”

Perhaps hearing that sound, there was a small laugh from where the kids were sitting.

When we return tomorrow… even after returning, there’s still so much to do.

There’s the sports festival and the cultural festival.

Kagami didn’t participate in last year’s sports festival, but this year will be different.

Kagami will probably cheer enthusiastically with a headband and something in her hands. I’m not sure what she’ll be holding, but I had that certainty somehow.

It will probably be a bit embarrassing.

And joyful.

…

I sincerely hope,

That such times will continue, frequently, from now on.

That we can live happily throughout our lives.

That’s all I wish for.