At the same time.
In front of a bustling yakiniku shop, the enticing aroma of grilled meat filled the air. A long queue stretched down the street, filled with eager customers waiting for their turn. Among them, a strikingly handsome boy stood patiently, his gaze occasionally scanning the crowd.
Finally, after some time, he stepped forward, accepted his order, and left the queue. His bright, expectant eyes searched the bustling street, but the person he longed to see was nowhere in sight. His expression dimmed slightly.
"Hose, it's time to go back!"
A lively voice called out as a pink-haired girl with ample curves hurried over, sighing inwardly at the scene before her.
"Hose"—a nickname for Hazuki Yasuo—was something of a joke among their circle, but he never seemed to mind.
Ever since they graduated from middle school, Sanshokuin Sumireko had vanished from their lives. Both she and Tsumiki had assumed that with their greatest rival gone, their chances had improved. Yet reality proved otherwise.
Hazuki Yasuo still couldn't forget Sumireko.
He knew she had always loved the yakiniku from this particular shop, so every now and then, he would come here, hoping for a chance encounter. A small part of him believed that one day, fate would bring her back to this place.
But Sumireko had left, and it was clear she wanted nothing to do with him. Whenever they did cross paths, she made a point to avoid him.
How long was he willing to wait?
Back then, it was Sakurabara Momo who had suggested that Sumireko pretend to be in a relationship. She neither agreed nor refused, which was as good as silent approval.
Everyone at school had seen her and Tsukimi dragging Hose to the library, always under the guise of looking for Sumireko. Eventually, rumors spread that she was dating Hose.
But she and Tsukimi never expected this outcome.
Sumireko had always been distant and indifferent to those around her. And yet, that same aloofness drew Hose in. At first, it was mere curiosity. But eventually, he fell for her—hard.
And so, Hose asked for their help. He wanted them to create opportunities, to bridge the gap between him and Sumireko.
She and Tsukimi had been reluctant but agreed. They had hoped that Sumireko would outright reject him, forcing him to move on and finally notice them instead.
But instead, Sumireko rejected Hose… and then disappeared completely.
Unrequited love is a cruel thing.
Even now, Hazuki Yasuo couldn't forget her. His heart refused to make room for anyone else.
Yasuo turned to look at Momo and flashed his usual bright smile.
"Sorry, I was just lost in thought for a moment. But this yakiniku really is delicious. Let's eat together later."
Momo—known as "Senpai Cherry" by some—rolled her eyes but nodded. "Fine."
Just then, a girl with short blue hair and a well-developed figure approached.
It was Kusami Runa. Because her name could be read backwards to sound like "Tsukimi-chan," most people just called her Tsukimi.
"I just saw someone who looked like Sumireko…"
"Where?!" Yasuo's eyes lit up instantly, and before he could stop himself, he grabbed Kusami Runa's shoulders in excitement.
"Ah—Hose, you're hurting me!"
Tsukimi flinched at his tight grip.
Seeing her childhood friend so agitated over another girl left her feeling hollow. No matter how much time passed, he still looked only at Sumireko.
"Ah—sorry, Tsukimi! But please, tell me where you saw her!"
Tsukimi hesitated for a moment, then sighed. In the end, she couldn't bear to see him suffer.
"I saw her on a park bench… but…"
"But what?" Momo asked, tilting her head curiously.
Tsukimi's face turned red as she struggled to get the words out.
"I… I saw that girl—who looked like Sumireko—sitting on a guy's lap… and they were… kissing."
The moment she said it, she felt her own cheeks burn. That kind of public display was just too bold!
"Impossible! That couldn't be Sumireko!"
"Tsukimi, you must have seen wrong!" Yasuo's voice trembled slightly as he stared at her, pleading for a different answer.
Faced with his desperation, Tsukimi let out a small, helpless smile.
"Yeah, maybe I saw wrong… I was just messing with you."
After all, Sumireko had always been reserved, cold even. Even when Hose approached her, she would lower her gaze to a book after just a few words, shutting him out completely.
Could someone like her really be so passionate with another guy, openly making out on a park bench?
Tsukimi found it hard to believe.
Momo thought so too.
Even Yasuo convinced himself it couldn't be true.
But after a brief silence, Yasuo clenched his fists. "Even so, I need to check for myself. Take me there, Tsukimi."
Tsukimi hesitated for a moment before reluctantly agreeing. Together, the three of them made their way toward the park.
However, when they arrived…
The bench was empty.
The only thing left was the lingering scent of cherry blossoms.
With no other choice, the three of them returned to school, Yasuo's heart heavier than ever.
A few moments later, from behind a secluded tree, two figures emerged.
Hozuki Nozomi smirked as he watched the trio disappear into the distance.
"So those were the childhood friend and the senpai fighting over Hazuki Yasuo?"
Sumireko, still in his arms, let out a tired sigh. "Both of them have big oppai."
"Tch—ow!" Nozomi yelped as Sumireko pinched his waist mercilessly.
"I'm sorry that I'm a flat-chested girl now, okay?! You aren't into Cherry-senpai and Tsukimi, are you?!"
"What? Hell no! Why would I be interested in girls who have the mental capacity of a shoujo manga love rival?" Nozomi huffed. "And more importantly, they made your life miserable, Sumireko. If anything, I should've punished them a long time ago."
She blinked at him before breaking into a small, amused smile.
"Hmph. At least you know how to say the right things."
"That's really harsh," Sanshokuin Sumireko muttered, shooting him a sidelong glance. Yet, despite her words, a faint smirk tugged at her lips.
"But... I like it."
She folded her arms, leaning back against the bench as a cool breeze rustled the trees above them. "It was because of those two acting so strangely that I wanted to leave in the first place. But Yasuo-san… he's the real problem. He's the reason Tsukimi and Sakura became like this."
Thinking about it sent a chill down her spine. The sheer absurdity of it all.
Two girls, hiding their feelings, going so far as to help their rival get closer to the one they secretly loved. And yet, the one at the center of it all—completely oblivious.
"They're sick in the head, seriously," she muttered. "How do you even put yourself through that? Not confessing, just staying close and watching him fall for someone else? That's just setting yourself up for heartbreak."
Sanshokuin Sumireko wouldn't have it. That was why she ran. She wasn't going to stick around for that ridiculous drama. She had no interest in playing some tragic side character in their twisted love story.
She could've told Yasuo Hazuki that Tsukimi and Sakura were in love with him. But those two had asked her not to. It was their one condition for helping her. So, in return for their support, she'd kept her mouth shut.
And because Yasuo Hazuki was the kind of guy who didn't understand subtlety, it wasn't like he would've picked up on their feelings anyway. If someone didn't spell it out for him in giant, glowing letters, he wouldn't get it.
That alone had made her head hurt.
So, she left.
"Alright, alright, forget about those weirdos, Sumireko," Nozomii said, grinning as he stretched his arms. "Since you can't have yakiniku today, why don't you come over to Sakurasou tonight? I want to introduce you to everyone."
"No."
"Eh? Why not?"
She shot him an unimpressed look, puffing out her cheeks slightly. "Because I'm mad."
Nozomi blinked. "Hah?"
Her eyes narrowed slightly as she leaned in. "Why are you so skilled?"
The memory of that kiss from earlier flashed through her mind, her face heating up against her will.
"Uh… this? You see, it's just natural—"
"Lies."
"...…"
Seeing his dumbfounded expression, she finally laughed, shaking her head. "Relax, I was just messing with you. I guess I really am a bit mean, huh?"
"You don't say," he muttered under his breath, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Alright, go on now. You probably need to smooth things over with Shiina-chan," she continued. "And be careful. I like the atmosphere around you."
Her expression turned serious.
"So, if you really want to be someone's boyfriend, keep that feeling alive. Otherwise... I'll run away again."
Nozomi frowned. "You really mean that, huh?"
She nodded. "I've already been through one suffocating mess before. I won't do it again."
Two girls, pushing down their emotions, forcing smiles, playing matchmaker for the boy they loved. That sort of forced optimism, that kind of desperate struggle—it had been unbearable to witness.
They hadn't wanted her to be with Yasuo Hazuki. They just needed a reason to finally give up.
Because even if you loved someone, if you had pursued them for so long, only to be rejected without ever getting a chance… no one could just walk away from that without a scar.
But she wasn't interested in being part of their emotional battlefield.
And she sure as hell wasn't going to let Linji become another Yasuo Hazuki.
If he wanted a harem? Fine. As long as he had the ability to keep those girls happy—to give them real hope instead of feeding them empty illusions—then why not?
That was real charm. That was real strength.
Linji walked her back to her door, pausing at the entrance.
"Huh… if your room is on the second floor, it looks like it's right across from my window," he mused.
Sanshikiin Sumireko smirked. "Yeah. That's why I asked why you engage in intimate activites without closing the window."
Nozomi was speechless. "You used a telescope to peek and you blame me?"
"Hmph. You were the one who's always philandering?" she shot back, grinning. "Pervert."
He looked away, feigning innocence. "I have no idea what you're talking about."
She stepped in closer, voice dropping to a whisper. "Next time… don't stare at Cherry and Tsukimi's boobs so much. I'm better than them."
Nozomi froze.
"Wait, what?!"
His mind short-circuited.
"Can I—can I see now?"
Her eyes glimmered mischievously as she grinned. "What do you think?"
He sighed dramatically. "Alright, alright. Next time, then."
Before she could react, he darted in, planting a quick kiss on her lips, then turned on his heel and strolled away.
Sumireko touched her lips, watching him go.
Then, with a small, satisfied smile, she turned and stepped inside.