Chapter 3: Enoshima, Love Patterns, Summer Colors in Disarray

The new season had begun, and it was the second day of filming.

I climbed the stairs and pushed open the door leading to the rooftop.

"—Yo, playboy."

A sassy, childish voice dropped down, and I squinted, shielding my eyes from the glare.

Looking down at me from the turret, one step higher than the rooftop, was a girl who looked young enough to pass as a middle schooler.

However, she had an e-cigarette dangling from her lips.

Whenever I met this person, the absurd combination of ‘loli’ and ‘nicotine’ threatened to short-circuit my brain.

“Middle schoolers aren’t supposed to be smoking cigarettes, you know.”

“High schoolers aren’t either, duh.”

“Right. So you’re admitting you’re an adult now.”

“I’m a blooming, current JK, alright? And seriously, do we have to do this routine every time?”

“It’s a matter of style, you see.”

The loli JK, puffing out purple smoke as if giving the finger to the law, glared at me with an attitude completely at odds with her petite frame, barely reaching 150cm.

“I wonder what your fans would think if they found out Wakaba-chan was a nic junkie?”

“That’s their problem for getting fooled. Besides, the job of Bokutsu members is to show people dreams. I wouldn’t do anything I can’t face society for.”

“Of course, you’re definitely following the age restrictions on tobacco, right?”

“That’s why I’m a current JK, alright? I’ll kill you.”

Her name was Torigoe Wakaba, and she could unleash a glare sharp enough to send even hitmen running for the hills.

With her loli-like looks and anime voice, she’d captured the hearts of core fans, and was a popular member affectionately known as “Wakaba-chan”—but that bland introduction only scratched the surface of this quirky senior.

Though her sky-blue sailor uniform suited her perfectly, her actual age was 20, making her the oldest member.

In Bokutsu, there was an unspoken rule that members had to graduate from the show upon high school graduation.

However, since appearing on Bokutsu for even a year longer was financially advantageous over a lifetime, some die-hards deliberately repeated grades.

Neither strictly a high school girl nor quite an adult, a liminal being yet to be clearly named by the world—Wakaba-senpai was the embodiment of that.

“So, did you come to buy information from me, playboy?”

“Please stop calling me that.”

Wakaba-senpai, a Bokutsu veteran, ran a side business like an information broker, leveraging her extensive experience and wide network.

I often relied on her services, but unfortunately, I was broke today.

“I just came to slack off, same as you, Senpai.”

“You sure can take it easy. Aren’t you playing out a monster script this season, a love triangle with Shinkai Ema and Sera Haruma?”

“……You’re well-informed as always.”

As far as I knew, Wakaba-senpai was the only person in Bokutsu who had independently figured out that scripts existed.

“That’s precisely why. I have no intention of getting involved with any girl other than Ema this season—I have no obligation to participate in Cinderella Seek.”

The current filming wasn’t the usual mixer format.

The special rule was that male members had to find female members scattered throughout the school—Bokutsu had dubbed this project, concocted by adults with overly optimistic minds, “Cinderella Seek,” based on the idea that chance encounters lead to fated lovers.

The thought of finding Ema in this vast school, relying solely on intuition, made me feel faint.

If it were a fated lover, we’d meet effortlessly, but sadly, Ema and I were just fake lovers connected by a script.

Let those who want to play Romeo and Juliet do it on their own.

“Normally, you’d be bloodshot-eyed with ambition. If you nail this season’s script, you’ll be a legit member of the winners’ circle. A life where you don’t have to cry over tobacco tax hikes awaits, you know?”

“I don’t know anyone who wastes their loli voice more than you, Senpai.”

“I’m not washed up yet, you know. If I make a cute squeal during a stream, money comes flying in.”

The world’s going to hell, huh.

“……But, is money and fame really that important?”

“Huh?”

“Like, is it worth sacrificing yourself for?”

“That’s what everyone in this school believes, that’s why they’re selling their youth, right? Maybe the Four Heavenly Kings who’ve got both wouldn’t understand, though.”

It was true, I had gained money and fame to a degree that could be called success.

But, I also woke up in the middle of the night, feeling parched, more often—was I just being spoiled?

“By the way, I heard you laid hands on the rumored new member?”

“Are you talking about Kisaragi Karen? You really do have quick ears.”

“Why would a popular member like you take such a risk? Were you not satisfied with Asuka, and wanted to sample another girl?”

Wakaba-senpai was one of the few who knew about my ongoing secret relationship with Asuka.

“I just couldn’t leave her alone, I guess, Kisaragi.”

Memories of burying my first love resurfaced, and I shoved my fidgeting hands into my pockets.

“She’s too innocent to survive in this school. So, I just played with her a little, then dumped her. Thanks to me, she probably gained a normal level of caution as a girl, don’t you think?”

“Hah, what a waste of my time listening to you. You enemy of women, go to hell.”

“Don’t worry, I’m definitely going to hell when I die.”

“I’ll tell you one thing, for free.”

“That’s rare for you, stingy Senpai. What is it?”

“That Kisaragi girl, she’s seriously dangerous.”

Wakaba-senpai said something that sounded like a joke with a completely serious face.

“Like with seasonal produce, information on new members sells for a high price. So, I dug into Kisaragi’s background, but I couldn’t find out hardly anything.”

“……What do you mean?”

“Her history, her audition scores, how she ended up joining Bokutsu—all her profiles are classified. There’s never been anyone like that before.”

Was the management backing a troublemaker who would wreck the show?

No way, that’s impossible—that was the conclusion I reached after considering it.

“Didn’t they just scout her off the street right before the season started? She’s ridiculously good-looking, after all. Besides, my relationship with Kisaragi is over.”

“You think it’ll go that smoothly? The threads that connect people are surprisingly hard to break. Especially when it comes to romance, huh.”

Immediately after uttering those ominous words, Wakaba-senpai put her phone to her ear.

“……Yeah, this is me. What? Tell me the details.”

Probably a call from a colleague.

The latest information from all over the school gathered in real-time for this person.

“Fudo, good news. I’ll bill you later, but listen to this.”

“I have a bad feeling it’s not good news, is that just me?”

“It’s a story that’ll make any man proud. For me, it’s a story that might become a golden egg.”

Saying that, Wakaba-senpai flashed a ferocious smile that didn't suit her loli face.

“That new member you mentioned, she’s going wild in Cinderella Seek. Apparently, she’s refusing all invitations from the male members, saying she has no intention of getting along with anyone but Fudo Aoshi.”

I couldn't process the words drilled into my ears, and was left completely dumbfounded.

“—Go get her, Prince Charming. Your Cinderella is waiting.”

My mind still reeling, I ran through the school building.

The person I was searching for was the girl who had shed tears after her first love was broken that night.

I asked the heartbreakingly pitiful, yet beautiful tear-streaked face in my memory—you suffered such humiliation, so why won’t you let go of your relationship with me?

While running through the hallway, I noticed a red thread dropped on the floor and stopped.

This was a sign that a female member was nearby.

In Cinderella Seek, a red thread was tied to the little finger of female members waiting for a rendezvous.

And the idea was that if male members followed the other end of the thread, they would be granted an audience with their heroine—a cheesy production typical of a reality dating show.

Guided by the thread, I arrived at the library.

Curtains billowed, catching the summer breeze. Blonde hair flowed, scattering particles of light. White fingers turned the pages of an old novel.

At the reading table was a girl, like a figure immortalized in a painting.

I hesitated, feeling like stepping inside would shatter something sacred filling the space.

Perhaps sensing my presence, sapphire eyes pierced through me.

“—Ah, Aoshi-kun, you’ve finally come.”

I couldn't understand why Kisaragi could wear such a serene expression, and couldn't reply.

“Are you going to stand there forever? Why don’t you come over here?”

“Ah……”

Urged by Kisaragi, I shakily lowered myself into a chair.

Because we were filming, members had to call each other by their first names—I was so flustered, I was even forgetting basic rules like that.

“……Karen, you. What are you planning?”

“What am I planning?”

“You know, right? We went through all that, after that night.”

Since there were unmanned cameras in the library, I couldn't say everything directly.

Kisaragi’s expression tightened, as if caught off guard.

“……Did you think that little bit would make my feelings disappear?”

“You should hate me. I did something that deserves that much hate.”

“How wonderful it would be if I could have hated you that night.”

Kisaragi wore a pained expression, as if revealing her true emotions.

“—This is my revenge. Accept it.”

The next moment, Kisaragi pushed herself up and leaped into my chest without hesitation.

My vision was filled with her frighteningly perfect features.

Let’s be honest—stupid me was mesmerized.

That’s why the thought of escaping didn't even cross my mind.

“Ugh—!?”

I tumbled out of the chair, falling flat on my back.

Honey-colored hair tips dangled right in front of my eyes.

Following them upwards, I saw a face as beautiful as the moon hanging in the sky, looking down at me with a pitiful expression.

And then, Kisaragi closed her eyes and brought her face closer.

Overwhelmed by Kisaragi, my vision darkened. Moist, cherry-blossom pink lips were approaching, carrying a desperate resolve.

In just a few seconds, our lips would touch—that certainty raced through my spine.

I couldn’t let this footage remain. The script, my everyday life, everything would be ruined.

Self-preservation made me recoil pathetically. I tried to escape into the camera’s blind spot.

But, Kisaragi wouldn’t allow it. She pressed her body against mine, not even caring if her skirt wrinkled, and pinned down my legs, robbing me of my freedom.

Of course. Kisaragi had just said it, hadn’t she?

This was revenge, she said.

Our bodies overlapped. My vision was dominated by Kisaragi’s somewhat enraptured expression.

As if captivated by the sweet scent wafting from Kisaragi’s neck, I gave up struggling.

—Chu.

Hearing a faint lip noise, I was left speechless.

I had been kissed by Kisaragi—not on the lips, but on the cheek.

“—I’m such a coward.”

Kisaragi’s cheeks were flushed as she got up, but she smiled bitterly, as if tormented by emotions that contradicted the blush.

“Karen, why did you……”

In this situation, she could have taken even more extreme revenge. Kisaragi probably knew that on that humiliating night, I had been engaging in even more indecent acts with Asuka—

Why, then, did she give me such a kiss, as gentle as melting snow…?

“I want to save my first kiss on the lips for when Aoshi-kun and I are mutually in love.”

Her earnest words struck me like a blow to the head.

Even after being deceived by her first love, having her feelings played with, and hating me enough to seek revenge—

In this school where first kisses were cheapened, the girl before me refused to let go of her innocence. She hadn’t given up on a future with me yet.

“Reconsider, Karen. You’re about to make a terrible mistake.”

“Don’t underestimate my first love, like I’d give up just from something like this.”

“Listen, first love isn’t anything special. Looking back, it’s just one ordinary love among many.”

Once, I too had truly believed I would end up with Asuka.

But, that wasn't the case. My first love, with the person I thought was my destiny, had easily withered away.

“If you want a good love, first get over the guy in front of you. There are guys who are just as good-looking as me, if not more, all over this school. There’s no reason it has to be me—”

“It has to be you.”

“W-why are you so set on me……?”

“Because it’s my first time, I don’t understand anything. So, I have no choice but to believe in these feelings and just push forward, right? I like Aoshi-kun. I don’t need a reason. I like you because I like you.”

Despite her impulsive, emotionally charged words, I couldn’t argue back at all.

Because I remembered when I was basking in the happiness of falling in love with someone for the first time, I too had felt this way about Asuka.

The news forecast was for clear skies today, but a drop of water fell softly.

Kisaragi was contorting her beautiful face, and large teardrops were flowing down.

“When you postponed your reply to my confession, I thought you were a sly person. But then, you asked for my contact information, so I thought you were just frivolous. But, I convinced myself it was all a misunderstanding. I kept telling myself that the first boy I fell in love with couldn’t be such a terrible person.”

It was a counting song of my sins.

“When you invited me to your place, I finally realized you were just playing with me. But, I still had to go. It felt like I was doing something wrong, but I was scared and cried my eyes out because I couldn’t talk to my mom about it. By the time I arrived in Shonan, I had even resolved myself to give you my first time. I even wore my cutest underwear, but you—!!”

That’s right, you were scared, weren’t you. Seeing her lay bare her human emotions like this, I realized again—she looks strong, aloof, and special, but Kisaragi is just a normal girl, after all.

“You ruined my first love completely!”

As if her emotions had exploded, Kisaragi pounded her fist against my chest.

Tearfully, she rained down blows, and I had no right to defend myself from the punishment.

“You toyed with me! Betrayed me! Trampled all over me! You left a scar on me that will never fade!”

“……That’s right.”

The pain comforted me.

I wished Kisaragi’s small, frail fists were harder.

“That’s why, I thought I had to leave a scar on you that would last a lifetime too—”

“……Is that why you kissed me?”

A pure kiss, as if dedicating it to a destined lover, to a scum like me?

“I couldn’t do it on the lips, but it got to you, didn’t it? Serves you right.”

Kisaragi swore for the first time in front of me.

“Even though you’re more hateful than anyone I’ve ever met, even now, my heart still craves for Aoshi-kun. Even now, being wrapped in your warmth, there’s a part of me that’s happy.”

Driven by the curse of first love, the girl was about to repeat yet another mistake.

It wasn’t too late to turn back—and yet, Kisaragi buried her face in my chest like a chick that had lost its way home.

“I don’t care if you’re a scum who approached me just for my body, or if I end up being a disposable woman you’ll dump when you get bored, or if you have someone you already love. Please, please—”

She shouldn't say any more—but my wishes didn’t reach her.

“Make me your girlfriend, even if it’s fake.”

“─────────────────────────────────────”

I couldn’t tell if the me who was now in a daze was my original personality, or my Bokutsu persona.

Just Kisaragi's bare, sharp words, and her almost-mad, single-minded devotion pierced through the fake persona and stabbed into my one and only heart.

Cicada chirps echoed distantly. Overwhelmed by the humid heat, our overlapping bodies grew damp with sweat. I felt Kisaragi’s racing heartbeat, very close by.

No, was it my own heartbeat?

Yeah, this summer was definitely strange.

“……This time, please give me a proper answer.”

“I can’t be your boyfriend.”

“Liar.”

“I’m not lying.”

“You’re so unfair. When you’re in a tight spot, you stop using words to explain yourself, don’t you.”

Stop it.

“Then, I’ll ask you one thing—”

Stop it, stop it.

“Why are you holding me like you’re going to break me?”

I could no longer find an excuse.

Even though my head knew I should push Kisaragi away right now—

The afterimage of myself from last summer, when I had genuinely fallen in love with Asuka. My childish love, which had easily sworn to love only Asuka forever.

It felt like the treasures I had exchanged for dirty money had returned now, and I was holding Kisaragi close to my chest as if burying her there.

“You finally touched my heart, didn’t you—is that it?”

Cunning me still clung to silence.

In reality, it wasn't just touching it. My heartstrings were being violently strummed.

Kisaragi, as if seeing through the pathetic lies of a man, continued to speak.

“Then, I’ll give you a grace period, with conditions.”

“Grace period?”

“If there’s still a chance for me to become your girlfriend, invite me for a two-shot. I want my first two-shot to be with Aoshi-kun.”

Her words triggered a memory: there was a shoot in the afternoon, where members would compete fiercely for a special two-shot.

And in the script I was given, I was supposed to lose to Haruma in that competition.

“Then, what are the conditions?”

“Just let me stay like this a little longer.”

Like a child who couldn't let go of their security blanket, Kisaragi clutched at my dress shirt.

Holding Kisaragi’s damp body close, I closed my eyes, giving up on everything.

On this day, Kisaragi and I, who should never have crossed paths, were bound together, entangled by threads redder than blood, the color of first love.

We were, connected.

After the morning shoot ended, I was walking through the school courtyard.

The other members were heading to the cafeteria for lunch.

I had parted ways with Karen for the time being. She had withdrawn, saying I probably needed time to think.

Even so, the image of her waving goodbye, her cheeks flushed with anticipation, wouldn't leave my mind.

“Ah, Aoshi~n! Good work~!”

“Aoshi, good job.”

Looking towards the voices, Haruma and Ema were approaching.

Walking shoulder-to-shoulder, intimately close, the two of them looked like a perfect couple to anyone.

The romance between Bokusetsu's King and the Genius of Youthful Romance was progressing smoothly.

“Ah~, I’m starving. Aoshi, wanna go to the cafeteria together?”

“Yeah, if I won’t be intruding on you two.”

“Aoshi, if I get a grain of rice on my right cheek, you gotta kiss it off. Just so you know, my left cheek is Haruma’s territory.”

“Alright, it’s decided then. You’re ordering pasta.”

“Aoshi, is something wrong?”

……As expected, Haruma noticed.

His perceptiveness was extraordinary, and I couldn’t hide anything from Haruma.

“Nothing’s wrong. Not yet, anyway.”

“I see. If things get rough, I’m always here to talk, okay?”

“Yeah, thanks. I appreciate it.”

Saying that, Haruma flashed a friendly smile.

Before long, Asuka also found us in the crowd and joined up.

“And Asu is in charge of rice grains on my forehead, then!”

“Uh—Ema, could you explain what’s going on?”

“You’re too promiscuous, you know that? Can I have a word with you, Asuka?”

Cutting into the conversation, I created a situation where I could talk to Asuka one-on-one.

I felt I should tell Asuka, at least, about what had happened in Cinderella Seek.

“Hey, about Karen, you know.”

“……Karen? You mean Kisaragi-san?”

Asuka looked at me with suspicion, and my heart leaped.

Before I knew it, I was calling Kisaragi by her first name even outside of filming.

At that moment, the surrounding members all started buzzing at once.

It was an abnormal situation.

Members whose names I didn’t even know, members I’d only interacted with a few times during shoots, Haruma, Ema, and even Asuka, who was right next to me—everyone, without exception, was staring at me.

Feeling cold sweat trickle down my back, I finally realized.

On the school building’s oversized signage, used to announce the highlights of the morning shoot, a scene of Karen kissing my cheek was being displayed.

“──────────────────────────────────────”

It made no sense. I was sure I had escaped into the camera’s blind spot just in time—

Why was the footage so clear?

Asuka, Ema, were staring at me.

The floor I thought was the bottom gave way, and I was falling into an even deeper abyss.

The sound of the lid of the hell of youth being opened seemed to echo from beyond the cumulonimbus clouds.

In the gym, the sound of dribbling basketballs echoed, as members waited for the afternoon shoot to begin.

“Aoshi, looks like you’re going to be busy this season,” Haruma said, tossing me a basketball.

“Yeah, my stomach’s already starting to feel like it’s going to get a hole in it.”

“Come on, Aoshi. You have to be grateful for being kept busy.”

“Can you still say that after experiencing the atmosphere at lunch just now?”

“Well, it was hell, to the point I never want to experience it again.”

“Right?”

The oyakodon tasted like nothing. Ema and Asuka were both noticeably quiet too.

I looked up at the hoop and shot.

The released ball drew a perfect arc, and was sucked into the ring.

“Nice shot, Aoshi.”

“Thanks.”

This time, for the special two-shot, the male members would be competing in a free-throw contest. With the shoot about to start, the other participants were also practicing intently.

The special two-shot would be heavily featured on the show, so everyone was fully motivated to win.

However, according to the script I had been given, Haruma was supposed to win this contest.

Of course, the free-throw itself was purely based on skill.

In other words, the principal was demanding Haruma to “win on his own merit.”

Popular members couldn’t just rely on their looks.

Haruma and I trained our bodies to fulfill the assigned scenarios, and practiced behind the scenes to be proficient in all kinds of ball sports. I believed we had the skills to be regulars on any high school sports team around.

Besides that, as prompted by the principal, we had indiscriminately learned skills popular with girls, like guitar, surfing, dance, and singing.

That’s why both Haruma and I had above-average basketball skills.

Looking around at the participating members this time, Haruma’s victory seemed rock-solid.

“But, I’m happy, you know.”

“Since when did you develop such bad taste, enjoying watching your friend suffer?”

“It’s not that. It’s just, recently, you haven’t been standing on the Bokutsu stage properly, Aoshi. Not since last summer.”

Haruma was probably being considerate by not using the phrase “breakup with Asuka.”

“……Sorry for making you shoulder so much alone.”

“No, not at all. Rather, I’m excited to be performing with you again after so long. I hope you’ll get serious about this free-throw contest too.”

“I’d like to do anything Haruma asks of me, but that’s asking the impossible.”

I picked up a basketball rolling around under the hoop and tossed it into the basket.

“Even though you practiced so hard?”

“To be your stepping stone, you know. I’m going to the restroom, shoot’s starting soon.”

“But, with Aoshi’s ability, you might be able to change the script, you know?”

“—I have no intention of changing the future that’s been decided.”

My pride wouldn’t let me say, “You just go and be happy with Ema,” though.

On the way back from the restroom, I headed to the dressing room, wanting to get a drink.

Entering the room, I saw a group loitering around, acting like they owned the place.

Normally, I wouldn’t have paid them any mind, but today, I couldn’t help but glance sideways at them.

Because the faces of the members participating in the free-throw contest were all gathered there.

“Alright, the target is Kisaragi. Whoever wins among us will invite Kisaragi for the special two-shot—then we’ll split the spoils.”

The refreshing taste of the sports drink I took out of my bag turned sour.

I was now witnessing a scene of collusion, common in reality dating shows.

The biggest feature of the special two-shot wasn't the extravagance of the date, but the fact that the girl had no right to refuse.

Using this system, the method that was rampant was to cozy up to a female member during the special two-shot, then introduce her to other guys, getting the members in their group involved.

The targets were rookies like Karen, who had just joined Bokutsu and had few allies.

“Kisaragi is a newbie when it comes to Bokutsu, so she should be easy to fool.”

The sleazy grin on the leader’s face spread to his colluding companions.

I probably knew Kisaragi Karen better than anyone in this school.

That girl, Kisaragi Karen, was as pure as an angel—too good to be handed over to trash like you guys.

Feeling uncontrollable anger, I crushed the plastic bottle in my hand.

The sound made the group in discussion notice my presence.

“Yo, Fudo. You here?”

“Been here for a while now.”

“Shoot’s starting soon. Let’s both do our best, yeah?”

The leader-type guy’s unpleasant gaze tangled with mine.

Usually, I would have just ignored it, but for some reason, my heart was burning.

Even so, I didn’t forget to put on a refreshing smile, as Fudo Aoshi of Bokutsu should.

“—Yeah. Prepare yourselves, because I’m going to crush you all.”

The gym where the actual shoot was taking place was swirling with an unusual level of excitement.

Besides the filming staff, female members had also come to cheer us on.

The effect was immediate, and the players were bursting with enthusiasm.

First, Haruma stepped forward towards the hoop.

His New Balance sneakers came to a stop at the free-throw line.

Haruma had volunteered to be the first challenger, usually a disadvantageous position.

At the same time, it was also a display of absolute confidence.

Haruma began his shooting motion.

짚The camera’s emotionless gaze, the female members’ fervent stares, the male members’ glares hoping for a miss—bathed in the gymnasium’s attention, Bokusetsu's king shot flawlessly.

And the ball sailed through the net without even touching the rim.

The next moment, the gymnasium erupted in cheers.

Haruma returned, responding to the girls’ frenzy with a princely smile.

I stopped dribbling. I was the second challenger.

Switching places with Haruma, I walked to the free-throw line.

I took my position and gazed up at the hoop.

As I got into shooting stance, the gymnasium, once buzzing with excitement, fell as silent as a calm sea.

I took a deep breath. Focused my nerves to every corner of my body.

I knew. If I left it to Haruma, everything would be fine.

He wouldn't lose to the rabble. Karen wouldn’t be harmed either.

But, that wasn’t the point.

The thought of Karen falling into the hands of those scumbags made my chest churn.

That strange feeling wouldn’t let me step down as a stepping stone halfway through.

I shot with perfect form. There was no need to follow the ball with my eyes.

I turned around, hearing the sound of the net swishing.

Instantly, cheers erupted, loud enough to shatter windows.

Returning to my original spot, Haruma greeted me with a look of disbelief.

Though I felt a little embarrassed, I decided to declare it here and now.

“I’ve changed my mind. I’m going all the way with you today, Haruma.”

“That’s the spirit, that’s what I wanted to hear.”

In conclusion, the guys who tried to ensnare Karen were completely toothless.

As Haruma and I kept succeeding, the other challengers dropped out one after another, and by the third throw, it had become a one-on-one showdown.

I made the fourth shot, and returned to Haruma, who looked genuinely thrilled.

“Well done, Aoshi.”

“As expected of Bokusetsu's king. You have余裕 to praise your enemy.”

“Not really. I’m barely hanging on myself right now. I guess I can’t experience this thrill unless it’s against you, Aoshi.”

“You’re giving me too much credit.”

Filming was temporarily paused, probably for equipment setup.

To keep the heat of the competition from cooling down, we talked while dribbling.

“Whatever the reason, I’m thrilled that you’re standing in my way. Lately, you’ve looked so bored, it was painful to watch.”

“……It’s not like it’s something for you to worry about, Haruma.”

“But it is. Because I’m the one who brought you here, Aoshi.”

That’s right. I was originally just an ordinary high school boy sweating it out in the baseball club.

It was Haruma who invited me to Bokutsu.

But, that was just the beginning—all the discontent that bound me was my own responsibility.

“What about you, Haruma?”

“Me?”

“You’re forming a couple with Ema, right? Have you talked about things after graduation from the show?”

“Yeah. Maybe I should tell you everything, Aoshi.”

The atmosphere around Haruma changed completely, and I was taken aback.

“Even if I form a couple with Ema this season, it’s just for the show. We have no intention of actually dating.”

I was so surprised, I fumbled the ball.

The outcomes of romances that blossomed on Bokutsu really varied from person to person.

Some couples married after graduating from the show, while others dated briefly in private, then released a “breakup announcement” on their personal channels when the time was right.

But, I never imagined that Haruma and Ema, already recognized by fans as the best couple, would end their relationship as mere business partners.

“Both Ema and I will be moving our careers to the entertainment industry after graduation. For our future careers, choosing to become lovers is nothing but a risk. So, we’ll go our separate ways as good friends—we’ve grown too old to fall in love innocently.”

I understood the logic. It was probably a smart move as popular members.

“Is that okay with you, Haruma? Are you really okay with not ending up with Ema?”

“Aoshi, you see, it doesn’t matter what I think. I just want Bokutsu to prosper. Some members are supporting their families with the show’s pay. Some members are dedicating their teens to change their lives. That’s why I, who’s been entrusted with the lead role, can’t afford to let Bokutsu decline.”

Haruma’s essence couldn’t be contained by the commonplace word “good person”—this selflessness transcended such dimensions.

Sera Haruma was a top star, and Bokusetsu's guardian.

“So, if you’re interested, you can take Ema from me, you know?”

“What do you mean by that……?”

“Just what it sounds like. It seems I’m not suited to make one girl happy, after all.”

His ever-unwavering smile drew my consciousness back to the past.

To memories from before I became a Bokutsu member.

My local high school was famous as a baseball powerhouse.

Haruma and I, who had belonged to the same club in middle school, naturally knocked on the baseball team’s door.

On the first day of joining, a little event awaited us.

New first-years were to announce their goals as a self-introduction.

“I want to become a regular player,” “I want to get better at baseball”—the new recruits, looking nervous, voiced their respective goals.

I must have said something bland too, but I don't really remember.

Haruma’s answer was just too shocking.

“I’ll do my best to make everyone’s goals come true.”

“……Is that your goal, then?”

The coach asked Haruma, looking like he couldn’t understand.

“Yes. The coach’s and seniors’ goals are also among the ones I should achieve—wouldn’t that make many people happy?”

Everyone was stunned by Haruma, who stated words that could even be called arrogant with a smile as harmless as a bug.

He was on a different scale of thinking, all on his own.

And I, back then, knew that it wasn’t just empty words, and that with Haruma’s extraordinary abilities, it was a mission that was perfectly achievable.

From the day the super rookie joined, the baseball team began to revolve around Haruma.

Haruma quickly seized the ace pitcher’s position.

As if chasing my best friend’s back, I too got a regular player number in a year.

And the new team, led by Haruma, advanced through the prefectural tournament with unstoppable momentum, as if under a spell.

If this wasn’t what you called a born protagonist, what was?

The boundless talent pouring down on Haruma like endless rain wasn’t meant to be contained in small vessels like oneself or others, but to contribute to the vast ocean that was the happiness of the greatest number of people.

“—Well then, it’s my turn,” Haruma said, bringing me back to reality.

Looking around, I saw the floor director signaling the shoot to resume.

“Wait, Haruma. We’re not done talking yet.”

Even as I called out, Bokusetsu's king didn’t turn around.

Amidst the gazes of many members holding their breath, he got into shooting stance.

Soon, the ball was released.

I didn’t even need to watch it to know from the atmosphere. There was no way Haruma would miss at a crucial moment like this—

“—Huh?”

My vision, wavering with shock, burned the image of the ball bouncing off the rim into my eyes.

At the unexpected miss, the entire gymnasium buzzed.

“Well, guess I’m just tired,” Haruma said, putting on a melodramatic act as he returned.

“……You missed on purpose, didn’t you?”

“Now, what could you mean by that?”

Haruma handed me the ball, wearing a smile that didn’t reveal his intentions.

“It’s your turn to decide where the story goes.”

Still without any resolve, I accepted the ball.

Haruma patted me on the back, and I stepped forward to the hoop.

The concentration that had been under my control until just now had scattered.

It should have been enough if I could just protect Karen, but things had gotten complicated.

Was it okay for me to twist the script with my one shot? The second-fiddle mentality, which had left the lead role to Haruma, wavered.

—In the first place, even if you win against Haruma, who are you planning to invite for the two-shot? With your hollow soul that doesn’t even desire anything.

Then, I should just miss—just as I was about to reach that decision, abandoning all thought.

Pushing through the female members who had moved forward to get even a little more camera time, a blonde-haired, blue-eyed girl standing in the back jumped into my sight.

Karen was clasping her hands together, praying intently for something—probably for my victory.

In this school steeped in falsehoods, her figure shone as if emitting the only pure light.

That, I thought, was something worth reaching for—

Before I knew it, the wavering in my vision had cleared.

As if guided by a premonition, I shot.

The ball drawing an arc in slow motion seemed to foretell my fate.

And then, a few moments later, the shot went in.

Game over—as if released from tension, cheers and applause bloomed.

I saw the floor director pointing a cue card at me. According to it, “Designate the person you want to invite for the two-shot.”

My cheeks were strangely hot. It was the first time in a while that I’d felt this excited during a Bokutsu shoot.

My mind was already made up. There was no point in pretending anymore.

No matter how complicated the threads of fate might become from now on, there was someone whose name I had to call.

“Karen! Come here!”

The gymnasium, still buzzing with excitement, was enveloped in an unusual atmosphere.

Not just the members, but even the staff began to move busily at the unexpected turn of events.

Amidst the gazes of many, Karen walked uncertainly to the center of the gym—right in front of me.

“Karen.”

“Y-yes.”

“I want you to go on the special two-shot with me.”

Karen covered her mouth with her hand, her eyelashes fluttering as if struck by those words—

And replied, with a faint tear in her eye.

“—If it’s alright with me, I’d be delighted.”

True to its name “special,” the two-shot I had won was extravagant.

We were granted a school uniform date in Enoshima, leaving the school grounds.

And so, we boarded a location bus and arrived at Katase-Enoshima Station, characterized by a design resembling a dragon palace, the starting point of our date.

And now, we were walking across Benten Bridge to Enoshima Island.

However, unfortunately, the shoot didn't seem to be going smoothly.

“N-no way, dating in this crowd is impossible……”

Karen cowered in the middle of Benten Bridge, like a puppy with drooping ears.

It was probably unavoidable, considering it was our first two-shot.

We were walking right through the middle of a throng of tourists, dragging a film crew along with us.

In this kind of public setting, seasoned couples would be all over each other, so maybe Bokutsu members were just people with a latent exhibitionist streak.

……Scratch that, scratch that last bit. That特大 boomerang just hit me and I’m about to cough up blood.

Anyway, there was no way Karen, who had probably lived a pure and upright life, could focus on our date under these bizarre circumstances.

“Karen, are you okay?”

“W-wait! Don’t leave me behind! I’m sure I can do this, somehow!”

“Just calm down for a sec, okay?”

Had she taken the position of fake girlfriend as some kind of派遣 employee? Karen’s desperate plea was too realistic for comfort, making me retort. She was too earnest, it must be hard for her to live like this.

“Hey, Karen. Look over there.”

“Huh?”

The moment she looked in the direction I pointed, Karen’s expression cleared up.

“Is that, Mount Fuji!? You can see it from here?”

“Yeah, you can admire it on clear days.”

Majestic Fuji, visible across Sagami Bay, was capped with silver snow even in midsummer.

“And that rock you see in the foreground is famous Eboshi Rock off Chigasaki.”

“Wunderbar! Looking at Japan’s beautiful scenery, it’s like my heart is being cleansed!”

“Wait, what did you just say?”

Karen blushed, looking embarrassed, as if only just realizing what she’d said.

“I’m sorry. ‘Wunderbar’ is German for ‘wonderful’.”

“Huh, first time I’ve heard someone mix Japanese and German like that.”

Until then, our conversations had been 끊기다 after just a couple of turns, but now they started flowing smoothly.

“Hey, Aoshi-kun? Do you think half-Japanese kids always learn both languages?”

“I have this stereotype that half-Japanese people naturally become bilingual—is that not true?”

“It’s not true. If your parents only use one language at home, even half-Japanese kids only end up learning one language—which, when you think about it, is obvious.”

“Makes sense.”

“My mom and dad used both languages to talk to me, so I could choose either nationality in the future. My German dad spoke German, and my Japanese mom spoke Japanese. But, whenever we saw a stunning view on trips, my mom, who’d lived in Germany for a long time, would always get carried away and exclaim ‘Wunderbar!’ It just became a habit.”

Karen smiled, lost in happy memories. It was a heartwarming expression.

“……Was it a boring story?”

“Not at all. I’m glad I got to know one more thing about Karen.”

“R-really? If you’re happy with just this, I can tell you anything, you know……”

Looking bashful, Karen averted her eyes and tucked her blonde hair, dancing in the sea breeze, behind her small ear.

Before I knew it, we were walking together at a natural distance, without even thinking about it.

“Hey, Karen. Don’t worry about doing anything special, just purely enjoy our date, okay?”

Scripts, cue cards—Karen didn’t need to be exposed to those adult agendas.

The dirty work, I, already stained by Bokutsu, would take care of it.

Karen blinked her sapphire eyes, her expression still blank.

“Is that, okay?”

“That’s why it’s good.”

As if my words had resonated with her, Karen nodded many times.

“Thank you, Aoshi-kun. I feel much more relaxed now.”

Against the backdrop of the blue ocean, she turned a sparkling smile towards me, still a little awkward, but radiant.

Karen, who suddenly revealed a jewel-like expression from behind the thick curtain of her usual blank face, was bad for my heart.

Having crossed Benten Bridge and reached Enoshima Island, the scenery changed completely.

This was Nakamise-dori, the street leading to Enoshima Shrine, a bustling shopping street lined with gourmet food from all over Shonan, souvenir shops, and even retro stores whose businesses weren’t immediately apparent.

Nakamise-dori was a classic date spot, and though I’d visited many times, I still got excited every time I went, drawn in by the festival-like賑わい.

Just then, I noticed the staff accompanying us holding up a cue card.

—Hold hands.

It was their usual tactic.

On Nakamise-dori, men and women walked closely together in the crowds, so it was used as an excuse to have couples hold hands on the show.

I, who had been content to be operated like a remote-controlled toy by the management, had no intention of following their instructions today.

I glanced at Karen’s profile, checking if she had noticed the cue card.

In that instant, my heart skipped a beat.

As if drawn by festival music, Karen’s cheeks were flushed with anticipation.

And then, she bloomed into a smile, one she was showing me for the first time.

Her sparkling eyes, gathering light, were like marbles sinking into a sea of cider, trapping me within them.

“Aoshi-kun, let’s go!”

Karen reached out a white arm, almost translucent in the sunlight, and took my hand.

For a moment, I thought she was following the cue card, but it wasn’t—in Karen’s eyes, only I was reflected.

“W-where are we going!?”

“Just run!”

Karen said, as if singing, and pulled my hand, starting to run.

Unable to cope with the sudden turn of events, the staff were left behind, flustered and bewildered.

Karen, her blonde hair dancing, watched their 모습 with a mischievous smile.

Then, she met my eyes, as if sharing our feelings. Somehow, it was so funny, even I started laughing.

Karen and I ran through the bustling fair.

Packages of cotton candy lined up at stalls, water-balloon yo-yos glistening with droplets, goldfish swimming—various colors overflowed, and even as they flashed by, trying to catch my attention, the blonde-haired, blue-eyed girl remained the center of the world under the blue sky.

Karen’s prim and proper image melted away in the midsummer sun.

I felt a slight pang of envy for a real boyfriend who could monopolize this expression.

“—If we get this far, we should be okay.”

Turning into a narrow alleyway, Karen said between gasps of breath.

Just as she said, there was no sign of the Bokutsu film crew.

“Are we going to get in trouble for doing this?”

“Yeah, we’ll definitely get a severe scolding from the management.”

“Will you get scolded with me, then?”

“Remember this. All girls have the right to blame their date’s failures on the guy.”

I was inwardly surprised that our hearts had drawn this close, to the point where we could even exchange such playful banter.

“I’m sorry. Did I startle you?”

“Honestly, I’m suspecting someone swapped you out with someone else.”

“Then, I’ll have to clear your doubts.”

Karen let out an innocent laugh.

Honestly, this situation was unexpected. Even I, seasoned Bokutsu member Fudo Aoshi, didn’t recall ever resorting to the outrageous act of abandoning a shoot during a two-shot.

I didn’t understand Karen’s true intentions. Perhaps my question was written on my face, because she gave me the answer without me even asking.

“Because you chose me as promised, Aoshi-kun. Even though you could have chosen Shinkai-san or Kurashina-san at that moment.”

“It wasn’t like I thought about it with my head, I just went with my gut feeling—”

After saying the words, I became aware that I was saying something cruel.

Karen wore a bittersweet smile, as if saying that was okay for now.

“You know, I’m not as good a girl as you think, Aoshi-kun. I can even do bad things like this, if it’s for something I can’t give up on.”

“Something you can’t give up on……?”

“I want you to know more about me, the person I am that you like. I don’t know if I can do it well, but I’ll do my best to show you my true self, just as I am.”

In the alleyway away from the bustle, if I strained my ears, I could almost hear Karen’s heart pounding.

“I want you to see the real me, Aoshi-kun.”

“……Are you sure about me?”

“It’s because it’s you, Aoshi-kun, that it’s good. You’re the only one in the whole world.”

In a world where light reflected chaotically, I received yet another unforgettable confession from Karen.

“Then, first, let’s go to that place.”

“Place?”

Indeed, there was a certain establishment in the direction Karen turned towards.

“The secret date starts here, you know.”

An hour later, I felt the lukewarm breeze passing through the sleeves of my yukata.

Next to me, neatly styled blonde hair shone in the sun.

Karen was wearing a refreshing yukata with a草花 pattern in white and light blue.

We had changed into yukatas at a dressing salon, and were about to start strolling around Enoshima again.

As soon as we left the salon, Karen, clattering in her unfamiliar geta sandals, started running with small steps.

Then, she turned on her heel, making her sleeves dance in the wind.

As she turned around, my eyes were drawn to the jade-green hair ornament, and its contrast with her blonde hair was breathtakingly vivid.

Karen’s eyes sparkled with anticipation as she stared intently at me.

Fudo Aoshi of Bokutsu, you’re too slow to understand a girl’s heart.

“Wearing that, I don’t have to worry about you ogling other girls on our date.”

“Hehe, please do. You’re not allowed to take your eyes off me, you know.”

Karen smiled bashfully, but not unwillingly.

We started walking at an intimate distance, our sleeves brushing, and returned to the main street.

Nakamise-dori’s賑わい had increased even further. Frequently passing through the crowds were adults wearing Bokutsu T-shirts.

Fudo Aoshi had disappeared during filming. No wonder it had turned into a big commotion.

But, the staff didn’t notice that Karen and I were right next to them. They were probably stuck on the preconceived notion of us being in our school uniforms, so a couple in yukatas didn’t even register.

I realized that was Karen’s aim—though, judging by how often she was admiring her yukata in every mirror we passed, there was also a chance she just wanted to wear one.

“Aoshi-kun, I’d be happy if you’d escort me.”

“Leave it to me. This area’s my backyard.”

Drawn in by the bustle, our feet headed towards the fair stalls.

“You’ve been running around in this heat, you must be tired, right? How about we go get something cold to eat?”

“I’m very much in favor of that.”

Receiving a positive response, I mentally picked out a place that Karen would likely enjoy.

“Where are you planning to go?”

“A shaved ice specialty shop. It just opened recently.”

They served masterpieces of fluffy shaved ice piled high over the rim of the bowl, topped with plenty of fruit sauce, and their visuals were so stunning that even Bokusetsu's female members were regulars.

If I took her to that place, it couldn’t go wrong. Or so I thought—

“If it’s shaved ice, I want to go there.”

Karen pointed to a generic shaved ice stall you’d see at any fair.

I was taken aback and blinked.

“Are you sure? The specialty shop is a bit pricey, but it’s on me, so don’t worry about the cost.”

“It’s not about that. I want to buy shaved ice from that stall, and eat it over there.”

Karen gestured with her eyes towards a bench directly exposed to the sun.

Sunburn was a woman’s worst enemy, so female members usually preferred to eat indoors, in air-conditioned places—Karen didn’t fit my data at all.

But, if a girl on a date said that much, I couldn’t exactly refuse.

“Okay, we’ll go with Karen’s plan.”

“Yay!”

With an unexpectedly childlike smile, Karen skipped off, swinging her drawstring bag.

“Don’t trip, you’re not used to geta.”

“Aoshi-kun, hurry up and come on!”

She wasn’t listening. Just how much fun was she having?

I caught up to Karen and ordered shaved ice.

The stall owner, his eyes wide at the sudden appearance of a blonde-haired, blue-eyed beauty, still handed us two shaved ices with syrup.

I ordered lemon, and Karen ordered blue hawaii.

I scooped up the finely shaved ice with a spoon and put it in my mouth.

The cool sensation passing down my throat soothed the heat.

Come to think of it, it had been a while since I’d eaten simple shaved ice like this, not from a specialty shop.

“……Not bad.”

“Did you say something?”

“It’s nothing.”

I glanced sideways at Karen, moving the spoon in her mouth rhythmically.

She was dangling her feet in geta sandals, expressing her good mood like a puppy wagging its tail.

She really seemed to be enjoying this cheap date.

No, maybe it was me who was abnormal, poisoned by Bokusetsu's values.

“I thought you’d want to go to a fancier place.”

“I always get judged by my looks, and it’s annoying, you know. If I’m with someone I like, I can enjoy myself anywhere.”

“If I had a girlfriend like you, I’d hesitate to take her to a chain restaurant.”

“The grade of the restaurant is just sausage.”

Suddenly, nonsensical Japanese popped out, leaving me speechless.

“……Karen, sausage?”

“It’s a German proverb that means ‘something unimportant’ or ‘trivial,’ was that weird?”

She probably used it casually with her family and school friends.

Karen tilted her head, looking blank and genuinely confused, as if she had no idea why it was strange.

That innocent gesture, combined with her clueless expression, made laughter bubble up inside me.

“Ahahaha! My stomach hurts!”

“Hey, aren’t you laughing too much?”

Her expression, puffing out her milk-white cheeks, and her cat-like punches, gently tapping my shoulder—every gesture was so girlish, overflowing with heartwarming charm.

“But, my impression of you has changed a lot, Karen.”

“In what way?”

“You seem mature, but you also have a childish side, I guess.”

“Is that so? I only do this kind of thing with people I’ve really opened up to.”

No sooner had she said that, Karen playfully stuck out her tongue with a mischievous look and a “nyeh” sound.

It was faintly blue, stained from the blue hawaii shaved ice.

Instantly, I was sure of it. The gesture I had just witnessed would become one of the highlights of this summer.

“There they are! Over there!”

The loud voice snapped me back to reality.

Looking around, I saw Bokutsu staff, eyes bloodshot, rushing towards us with frenzied momentum.

“Run, Karen!”

“Eek!”

For some reason, I found myself grabbing Karen’s hand.

I wished this magical time could last just a little longer.

Karen and I ran through a world filled with light so strong it bleached everything white.

Karen’s bangs were plastered to her forehead with sweat, something Bokutsu members usually hated because it messed up their hairstyles.

Karen didn’t even try to fix them, just ran, panting.

I thought she was beautiful. It felt like this summer existed for this girl.

We made it through Nakamise-dori and reached the observation deck halfway up the stairs leading to Enoshima Shrine.

From here, you could see not only Benten Bridge, but also Kugenuma Beach and the Enoshima Aquarium.

With the cicada chorus from the grove behind us, Karen and I gazed out at the sea.

Gradually, it was getting noisy down below. It was only a matter of time before the staff sniffed us out here.

“……Hey, Aoshi-kun.”

“What is it?”

“I want proof that we spent this dreamlike time together.”

Cunning me tried to cling to silence.

My head, overheated from basking in Karen’s charm, was regaining its composure.

“Am I the only one who feels that way?”

But, being asked like that, I couldn’t just not answer.

“No, I think I feel the same way too. Should we take a 기념 photo or something?”

“I’m not used to those kinds of things, could you take it for me, Aoshi-kun?”

“Alright, leave it to me. I’ll take the best, most flattering photo ever.”

“Whether it’s flattering or not, it’s all sausage to me.”

As I held up my phone as if offering it to the blue sky, Karen naturally leaned closer.

It was like the distance between a real girlfriend and boyfriend.

“Say cheese.”

“Okay, cheese.”

Checking the photo we took, I was caught off guard.

I was in it, wearing a genuine smile—was I still someone who could make expressions like this?

Could it be, thanks to Karen……?

Hiding my bewilderment, I shared the photo with Karen via app.

“It’s a really nice photo. I want to make it my home screen wallpaper.”

“Really? That much?”

“Aren’t you going to, Aoshi-kun?”

Karen pouted her lips and pressured me with icy eyes.

Sadly, my brain, specialized in communicating with girls, immediately derived the optimal solution.

“If Karen does, then maybe I will too~”

“I’m a little bothered by how flat your delivery is—but it’s a good attitude.”

Normally, photos taken during two-shots were shared with the management and used as 素材 during editing.

But, this photo was genuinely just for Karen and me—our secret.

That sense of 특별함 pushed me to finally change my phone wallpaper for the first time in ages.

After getting a tongue-lashing from the staff, Karen and I properly resumed our Enoshima date.

And after finishing the shoot, we moved to a beach house at Kugenuma Beach.

The interior, themed around flamingos and based on pink and white, was so cute it made you hyperventilate, and only the seats in front of the counter were 吊り下げ swing seats.

Karen and I were sitting there, filming—the management was truly 天才 when it came to finding photogenic spots like this.

“Alright, Karen. The two-shot isn’t over until you give your 感想 about the date at the end. It can be simple, but it’s good to have a cue card in your head. If you’re stuck on what to say, I’ll help you.”

“Thank you. But, I’ll be okay.”

Karen was to give her 感想 first.

“Even though I live in Japan, I haven’t actively interacted with Japanese kids,” Karen began, speaking quietly while looking straight at the camera.

“The reason I decided to go to an international school was because I was scared. I wasn’t confident I could fit into a classroom full of only Japanese kids——”

Before I knew it, I was engrossed in Karen’s story.

“That’s why, for a coward like me, applying for Bokutsu was a decision that made my legs tremble—but now, I think I’m glad I mustered up the courage. Because I got to spend a dreamlike time with someone I admire.”

She suddenly cast an intimate gaze at me, making my heart leap.

Having finished filming her 感想, the floor director gave a satisfied “okay.”

With this, Karen had successfully experienced a full two-shot.

Just then, even though the shoot should have been over, the staff started moving busily.

Karen seemed to sense it too from the atmosphere on set, and her eyes darted around, wondering what was going on.

The careless one was me—there was still a realm of two-shots that Karen didn’t know about.

A girl strode into the otherwise empty beach house.

“—Yo, Aoshi. Did you enjoy your special two-shot?”

The one who appeared like a thunderbolt was Ema, in her swimsuit.

Taking my speechlessness as agreement, Ema smoothly turned to Karen.

“Karen, sorry, can I borrow Aoshi for a sec?”

“Ah, e-eh……”

Karen hadn’t caught up either. It was doubtful whether her reply was even conscious.

A rare case where another member barged in at the end of a two-shot.

Bokutsu fans called this turbulent development, one of the most exciting scenes in reality dating shows, an “interruption two-shot.”

“So, Aoshi. Wanna go on a date with Ema-chan?”

Ema playfully clung to my arm, like a real girlfriend.

I had no choice.

Together with Ema, I went out to Kugenuma Beach.

I felt the heat of summer’s pulse on the soles of my feet as I stepped on the sand.

Ema, in her swimsuit, strode across the sun-glittering beach, as if she owned it.

Men noticed Ema and immediately fixed their gazes on her, then sighed when they recognized me behind her.

Walking the beach with Ema was equivalent to having the whole world in your hands for a guy—and I wasn't really joking.

“Yeah, summer just ain’t summer without playing at the beach, you know!”

The gal, gathering all eyes on her in the 海水浴場, shielded her eyes with her hand and gazed up at the sun.

Her carefree posing, paired with her swimsuit, highlighted Ema’s god-given figure even more.

“Ah. Seems like Aoshi’s Aoshi is happy about swimsuit Ema-chan’s arrival too?”

“Why did you repeat it twice?”

Stop it, you’re making it sound perverted.

By the way, I had also hastily changed into my swimsuit.

“So, what do you wanna do? Keep walking on the beach until we melt?”

“I wanna surf!” Ema declared with a smile as radiant as a second sun.

Yes, this beach goddess was also a skilled surfer.

I didn’t know any other girl who wore Shonan’s sea and wind like Ema wore oversized tees.

“Then, should I go rent two boards?”

“Nah-uh, Aoshi. One is enough.”

I tilted my head at Ema’s admonishing words.

But, the mystery was soon solved.

“—Ah, I see, this kind of thing.”

Ema and I were riding out to sea on one board.

This thing, capable of supporting two people’s weight while maintaining exceptional stability on the water, was a special board used for SUP (stand-up paddleboarding).

SUP had become popular as a marine sport even in Shonan, and I’d increasingly seen people doing 海上 yoga on SUPs.

With SUP, you didn’t need to paddle with your arms, you just used the provided paddle to row.

“We’ve gotten pretty far offshore.”

Looking back, I could see the beach in the distance.

The throngs of beachgoers wriggled like dots, and even the heat, stirred by summer and filled with lustful intentions, didn’t reach this far. A cool sea breeze blew between my toes.

We were cut off from the mundane world, in the narrow space of blue woven by the sea and sky.

“Is around here good? Aoshi, wanna talk?”

“Yeah, guess we should.”

We sat down on the board.

Ema dipped her bare legs, radiating a dazzling white, into the waves.

“Sorry for suddenly inviting you.”

“It’s okay. I was just a little surprised.”

“Right? But, I wanted to confirm it quickly.”

“Confirm what?”

“Our feelings. Mine and Aoshi’s.”

Ema pointed at herself, then directed the tip of her glamorous nail at me.

“We’re kind of having our first two-shot, aren’t we? You never invite me, Aoshi-kun.”

“Sorry. I thought there was no room for me to get in between you and Haruma.”

Ema was already in character, acting.

Inspired by her, I also channeled the indecisive second-lead male.

“What about you and Haruma, Ema?”

“Yeah, he’s invited me on two-shots many times now. Being with Haruma makes my heart race nonstop, you know? I already like him enough now, but the more time I spend with him, the more I like him.”

Pulling her bare feet out of the sea, Ema nestled her lovestruck face into her knees.

“I really wish I hadn’t heard that. My chest is aching with jealousy.”

“Just hearing that was worth inviting Aoshi on a two-shot for me.”

“……You’re mean, Ema.”

I returned her ad-lib with another ad-lib, and the story gained depth.

I thought again. Ema was so easy to work with as a partner.

With that last exchange, Ema had declared, clearly as could be, that her heart wavered between Haruma and me.

Even while playing out a youthful romance with me, Ema didn’t forget to consider the viewers.

Among the female members, Ema, a true star actress, was probably the only one capable of such extraordinary technique, so naturally.

“But, I’m more concerned about you, Aoshi. What about you and Karen?”

──Here it comes, huh.

Truth be told, I had been incredibly curious myself.

How was Ema planning to handle Karen, the wildcard who had suddenly appeared in the love triangle scripted for Ema and me?

“Earlier, when there was that moment for me to decide who to invite for the special two-shot, remember?”

“Yeah, I remember. Aoshi, you were seriously cool.”

“At that time, I was torn between Ema and Karen.”

I too, fulfilled my duty to organize the characters in our romantic entanglement.

“But, I made a promise to Karen during Cinderella Seek. That I’d invite her on the next two-shot—that’s why I made that decision.”

“Aoshi, what do you want to do with Karen?”

“Honestly, I still don’t really know. Karen just suddenly created a place for herself inside me.”

This was the unvarnished truth, without any acting.

I couldn’t even imagine where my relationship with Karen, which had started with that snow-melting kiss, would go.

“I see. If you’d invited me on a two-shot in that situation, even Ema-chan might have fallen for you for real, you know.”

“Won’t you give me another chance? Next time, I’ll definitely invite Ema—”

“—Hey, Aoshi.”

Cutting off my words, Ema turned a pleading gaze towards me.

“I kissed Haruma, you know.”

Words, or rather, word-like sounds, escaped my lips.

According to the script, I knew that Haruma and Ema would deepen their relationship as lovers, and in the first place, Ema wasn’t my real girlfriend.

Even so, the fact that Haruma and Ema had kissed hit me like a punch to the head, and I almost lost my balance on the board.

“If you keep dawdling, I’ll become Haruma’s, you know?”

I realized that this was a killer phrase Ema had prepared for this two-shot.

Right now, at this very moment, I was being tested on my aptitude as a Bokutsu member by the genius of youthful romance.

Just then, I noticed a large wave approaching from offshore.

Sparks of intuition flew, and in an instant, a scenario for breaking through the deadlock formed in my head.

Ema and I were still staring at each other, locked in a stalemate.

But soon, the frozen world would begin to move.

At the moment that wave rocked the board, and our hands accidentally brushed against each other.

I told myself—alright, Fudo Aoshi, execute your clockwork youth.

“—Kyaa!?”

The board, toyed with by the wave, lost its balance, and Ema let out a shrill scream.

I quickly reached out my arm towards Ema’s hand.

And yet, just a step away, I thought I saw Karen on the distant beach, and my fingertips hesitated.

“—Too bad, time’s up!”

As I heard those words, the situation suddenly changed drastically.

Suddenly, the board capsized.

My body slammed against the surface of the sea, and in an instant, I was underwater, surrounded by rising bubbles.

We were quite far offshore, my feet couldn’t reach the bottom.

──Ema!?

Noticing the spray of water, I desperately approached.

My body, pushing through the seawater, bumped into something warm.

It was Ema’s body—the moment I understood that, I was frantically pulling her up into my arms.

“—Huh?”

And then, belatedly, I realized.

Before I knew it, my feet were on the seabed.

Ema, in my arms, wore a grin like a kid who had just pulled off a prank.

“……Ema. You did that on purpose, didn’t you?”

“Because, otherwise, you wouldn’t have touched me, right?”

Ema laughed, unrepentant.

“It was obvious you were trying to use the wave as an excuse too.”

“Seriously?”

“That’s why, I just used your scenario, like, all of it.”

She had seen through that the sea was locally shallow, and then capsized the board, forcibly dragging me into Ema’s scenario.

“You genius gal, you.”

“You’re not so bad yourself, you know? I didn’t expect you to respond to my outrageousness with a princess carry.”

That’s right, even in such a desperate situation, I had reflexively princess-carried Ema.

It seemed that Fudo Aoshi, the human, was eaten away by reality dating shows to the very core.

“I can’t beat you, though.”

“Of course. Ema-chan is the strongest woman in reality dating shows, after all.”

Still in my princess carry, Ema slowly put her arms around my neck.

“Hey, can I tell you something just between us?”

“We’re still filming, you know.”

“Because, if we turn around, we won’t be able to stay sane anymore, right?”

What I wanted now was the endless horizon.

If we turned around and became aware of the telephoto cameras filming from the beach, we would be possessed by the demons of youthful romance.

“……Okay, I get it. What is it?”

“Earlier, you hesitated to take my hand because you were worried about Karen, right?”

“You saw through that much?”

“Can we drop those pointless reservations between us?”

“What do you mean?”

Ema smiled bewitchingly, as if pitying a child who didn’t understand how things worked.

“Because, isn’t it just a waste? Just because you fall for one person, you can’t fall for someone else. It’s not like the first person you fall for is guaranteed to be your one true love, right?”

“……Are you serious right now?”

“I know I’m saying something that’ll make people recoil, okay? But, this is Bokutsu, and we’re beasts, aren’t we?”

Ema’s words whispered in my ear had a morally corrupt allure.

“So, it’s okay for me to fall for both Ema and Karen?”

“Yup.”

Ema nonchalantly affirmed my hesitant question.

“Aoshi, you should just indulge yourself and drown in me, in Karen, and in that someone who doesn’t show their face on the main stage, until you suffocate.”

My heart constricted as if touched by ice water.

Ema saw right through everything.

I felt like I was holding something terrifying, shaped like an exceptionally cute girl.

“……Is it really okay to be this dishonest?”

“It is, I’m telling you it is. Because the girl right in front of you is trash who kissed another guy, but is now feeling good being held by Aoshi.”

No matter how far it deviated from common sense, I was scared of myself for almost being convinced by the reason, “because this is Bokutsu.”

As if brainwashing me, who was feeling faint, a seductive voice stimulated my eardrums.

“──We promised, didn’t we? To make this summer unforgettable.”

Ah, that’s right.

People who became popular members on Bokutsu all had a screw loose somewhere in their heads.

It wasn’t just Ema who was out of the ordinary. Haruma, and Asuka too, were the same.

It was precisely because they all harbored a madness that ordinary people couldn’t understand that they were able to rise to the Four Heavenly Kings in this school where youth had died.

What was I trying to be all innocent about now—Fudo Aoshi was one of them too, wasn’t he?

Maybe, because I had been on a date with Karen until just now, I had mistakenly thought I was someone who could live under a clear sky.

Ema smiled, enraptured, as if she had sensed that I had steeled myself.

“Come on, let’s get back to the stage, and have the best youthful romance with me, so brain-meltingly good. Pretending to be normal is getting tough, isn’t it?”

“……Yeah, seems like I’m reaching my limit soon.”

Our gazes met, and gradually lost focus.

As if being dominated by another personality, seeping out from deep within.

In a blue world woven by the sea and sky, I gazed towards the beach, still holding my ultimate accomplice.

The joints of common sense came undone. Ethics dislocated. Morality twisted.

Even with these tattered, ugly arms, I reached out towards my lover in front of me, as if drawn together by an irresistible force.

To my special someone, fake, yet equally real.

The curtains for the interrupted stage were rising—the performance being staged was the ultimate youthful romance play, by the worst kind of liars.

“Aoshi, thanks for saving me.”

“Yeah, just be careful next time.”

I slowly lowered Ema back onto the sea surface.

“Hey, Ema, tell me. What should I do now?”

“Whatcha mean?”

“I don’t want to return you to Haruma just like this.”

As if those words had pierced her soul, Ema’s pupils dilated.

The next moment, a color so intensely yearning, it was chilling, overflowed from her perfect features.

“Then, I’ll give you a chance. I’ll close my eyes now, so you can do whatever you want in the meantime.”

“……I see.”

I approached Ema, who had closed her eyes as if entrusting everything to me.

A drop of water clinging to her beautiful décolletage slipped down into the valley of her full breasts.

“I’m going to leave a scar on you that will last a lifetime from now on. Will you allow it?”

“Yeah, I will. If Aoshi will fall in love with me.”

For this final confirmation, Ema replied resolutely.

Having heard her answer, I ran my fingers through Ema’s wet hair.

From the beach cameras, it probably looked like I was lifting a bride’s veil.

I brought my lips closer, peering into her face.

Ema, as if understanding everything, tilted her chin up.

And then, we shared a kiss, like a fairytale prince and princess.

Even though, on that day, in that room, we had exchanged beast-like kisses to satisfy our desires. Even though I knew her weak points, the spots that made her feel the most—I forgot all that filthiness, just for now.

This kiss wasn’t for us.

If I had to compare it to something, it was like fireworks launched in broad daylight.

A disingenuous love scene for roughly 100 million people to witness, in this island nation surrounded by the sea, that was soaking our bodies.

“……We did it, huh.”

“……Yeah, we really did it.”

Sensing that we had gotten the footage they needed, I gently parted my lips.

But, I couldn’t stop holding her, and exchanged words while still intimately close enough to count Ema’s eyelashes.

In a moment of madness, I had chosen a route of directly confronting Haruma over Ema.

I had been planning to feign following the script, and then slip away from this troublesome love triangle, slowly but surely.

But all of that was thanks to this summer, which was breaking record high temperatures day after day, and the genius of youthful romance.

“Aoshi’s kiss, it resonated right to my core♥”

Ema whispered conspiratorially, tracing her finger over her bewitching lips.

With a smile that could make you mistake that I was the person she loved more than anyone else in the world.

Karen’s appearance, and then Ema’s interruption two-shot—swallowing elements that shouldn’t have existed in the script, this season of Bokutsu was accelerating.

Could we really reach the scripted ending?

The thought suddenly flickered across my mind.

The Bokusetu shoot was tomorrow, and I was staying at the Shonan apartment.

“Ao-kun, got a sec?”

Of course, Asuka was staying over again tonight.

Nothing could be more important than Asuka, so I headed to the living room.

“You called, Asuka?”

“Yeah. Sorry to bother you.”

Asuka was already in her pajamas, having taken a bath earlier.

She wore loose-fitting loungewear on top, paired with shorts underneath. Fresh from the bath, her thighs were flushed a delicate pink, almost dazzling.

Asuka, that girl, acted all innocent, but she completely understood how to please her boyfriend. In this aspect, she was even more cunning than Ema.

“So, what’s up?”

“I wanted to play a game, but there’s something missing.”

“Sorry, did I not put the controller back in its usual place?”

“No, it’s not that. I can’t find a good enough chair.”

“A chair?”

I was lost, tilting my head in confusion.

“One that’s comfy to sit on.”

“Okay…”

“And about as warm as human skin.”

“Huh?”

“And a chair so cool it makes me fall in love.”

“Ohh.”

Finally, I understood what Asuka was hinting at.

But I pretended not to get it. Her adorable little plea was just too sweet to cut short.

“Is it no good? Are you busy?”

Asuka tilted her body slightly, looking up at me with pleading eyes, deploying her ultimate weapon of puppy-dog eyes.

“My future girlfriend is way too cute, seriously.”

“Ao-kun, you sometimes let your inner thoughts slip out way too easily, you know?”

I’d always indulged Asuka’s requests, but lately, it had become especially pronounced.

It was because, ever since the kiss with Karen had been exposed, I’d been feeling a sense of guilt.

And so, without a word, I sat cross-legged on the floor in front of the sofa.

“Yay!”

Seeing me sit down, Asuka pounced onto my lap like a kitten.

After her bath, Asuka had pampered her whole body with Jill Stuart body cream, and she smelled unbelievably good.

Plus, her skin was so soft and springy. It made me indulge in some rather base fantasies about what it would be like to hold her naked.

She probably knew exactly what she was doing, too. My future girlfriend was just too perfect, wasn’t she?

“Am I heavy?”

“Forty-six kilos, right?”

“Idiot. You saw the numbers left on the body composition scale in the bathroom, didn’t you?”

I got a playful nudge on the forehead with the top of her head, from which the scent of shampoo wafted up.

This kind of playful banter felt really nice.

“How many high school girls do you think can maintain a weight in the 40-kilo range? You’re a model, after all.”

“Ao-kun, you’re muscular but still slim, so it’s hard for me to manage my weight, too.”

Come to think of it, I had once been dumped with the line, “You seem skinnier than me, so I wouldn’t want you as a boyfriend,” out of the blue. I guess it was something girls cared about.

Anyway, we enjoyed the game together.

The game Asuka played was an online versus action game.

You controlled a cute character to navigate through vivid athletic stages—the kind of thing streamers and Vtubers often broadcasted.

“Ehh, wait. This is hard. I’m gonna fall. Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah!”

“………………………………”

Guys might be thought of as shallow, but isn’t it kind of… exciting when girls make noises like that while playing games? Or is that just me?

With Asuka on my lap, a very risky situation, I couldn’t afford to get lost in my carnal thoughts.

“You do it like this here.”

“Ao-kun, you’re so good!”

She placed her hands over mine, gripping the controller to play.

Asuka’s fingers felt smooth and polished, like sea glass washed by waves.

“Right then—”

“Eh? Are you stopping already?”

We’d only just cleared the first stage, but Asuka had already picked up the remote.

“Yeah, I’m done. This was all for this anyway.”

The TV channel switched.

Along with an emo theme song from a popular band, Bokusetu started playing.

A chill ran down my spine—I didn’t usually watch the broadcasts. But I had a good idea what this week’s episode would be about.

The next moment, the kiss scene between Karen and me filled the entire screen.

Asuka didn't even glance back, watching the show in the tense silence.

Even now, I couldn't bring myself to casually stroke her fingers.

I wanted to escape, but with Asuka sitting on my lap, there was nowhere to run.

It was then I realized I’d been set up.

Asuka hadn’t just brushed off my kiss with Karen—she’d been waiting for the most effective moment to interrogate me.

“This week’s episode is really getting a lot of buzz, isn’t it? Don’t you think so, Ao-kun?”

“……Yes, you’re absolutely right,” I replied, unintentionally slipping into polite Japanese, overwhelmed by the pressure radiating from Asuka.

As expected, the show was heavily featuring my sudden closeness with Karen. Even the production team probably hadn’t dreamed that Fudo Aoshi would get involved with a girl outside the script.

Scenes of Karen and me on our Enoshima date played out on screen.

“Something happened during that time, didn’t it?”

“Huh?”

I was caught off guard by the sharp question, and lost for words.

“You two were so distant when you were on Benten Bridge, but the moment it switched to the strolling scenes, you were all lovey-dovey, like a real couple.”

Indeed, between those two scenes, there was the hidden event of our secret date.

“You might be able to fool a hundred thousand Bokusetu fans, but you can’t fool your real girlfriend’s eyes, you know.”

“……You really do see right through everything, Asuka.”

It was an interrogation time that made my spine tingle, but it wasn’t exactly unpleasant.

Because underneath it, I also felt a very deep love.

“—So, there was another girl you could show that expression to, besides me.”

Turning back to the TV, Asuka hugged a cushion, her voice soft.

“I’m getting jealous.”

“Asuka…”

“Hey, Ao-kun. Was your two-shot with Kisaragi-san fun?”

“Yeah, it was fun,” I confessed honestly. Lying here would have felt too disingenuous.

“It might sound like an excuse, but I was planning to explain everything to you, Asuka.”

“I know. That day, before we went to the cafeteria, you were trying to tell me something about Kisaragi-san, weren’t you?”

Asuka, listening to my side of the story here, was truly a wonderful girlfriend.

“Is there anything else about Kisaragi-san you haven’t told me?”

“That kiss that day, Karen initiated it. But after that, we hugged each other of my own volition. Karen begged me to be her boyfriend, even if it was fake. That’s when I promised to invite her on a two-shot.”

I spilled out all my sins, feeling acutely aware of how foolish men could be.

And my betrayal didn’t stop there.

“Just as you saw through, Asuka, Karen and I had a secret date between Benten Bridge and Enoshima exploring. This is a photo from that time.”

I unlocked my phone and held it up in front of Asuka’s face—the wallpaper was set to the two-shot picture with Karen.

Asuka turned to look, her gaze heavy and intense.

“This is the first time I think I’ve ever felt so jealous I got dizzy.”

“……Are you angry?”

“Why don’t you find out for yourself?”

Asuka’s eyelids drooped languidly.

It was a gesture I’d seen countless times in bed, a signal she was waiting for a kiss.

Mustering my resolve, I stepped into the dangerous trap.

Our lips lightly touched. A sensual lip-smacking sound sparked in my brain.

Asuka nibbled at my lower lip between her own, as if cherishing it.

The tongue I couldn’t resist extending was readily accepted. As if her emotions were surging, Asuka raked her fingers through my hair.

To a slave who had misbehaved, the master’s gift was the gentlest kiss in the world.

“If the information I bought from Wakaba-senpai had been even slightly off, I would have bitten your tongue off in that kiss just now.”

Asuka stated, not as a joke, but as if engraving it into my heart.

“So, it was either heaven or hell?”

“And which was it?”

“Heaven-hell.”

Being granted a kiss was a happy thing, but it also brought about regret— “Why couldn’t I have cherished Asuka more?”—making it equally painful.

Then, Asuka snatched the phone from my hand and forcefully took a picture of us.

The phone was returned to me, pressed against my chest, and the home screen now displayed the two-shot of Asuka and me, just taken.

“I’ll forgive this time’s infidelity if you promise not to change this wallpaper.”

“I am deeply grateful for your generous treatment.”

“You’re not going to reassure me with words like ‘I’ll never get involved with Kisaragi-san again’?”

“Because that would be a lie. I can’t leave Karen alone for some reason. But it’s not like I want to be romantically involved with her, or have a physical relationship. Please believe me on that.”

I knew it was a terrible excuse. A truly despicable act as a man.

But the purity I had witnessed in Karen during our secret date felt too precious to be carelessly discarded in Bokusetu.

As if understanding everything, Asuka nestled her cheek against my chest.

“I might not be able to get along with Kisaragi-san. But if it would cause trouble for Ao-kun, I’ll try my best.”

“……Sorry for always causing you trouble.”

“No, it’s okay. I’m binding you to me with such sneaky methods too, after all. We’re even.”

Asuka, still nestled against my chest, looked up at me with even more longing in her eyes.

“Hey, hug me tight?”

“Sure.”

As if she couldn’t hold back any longer, I wrapped my arms around Asuka’s body as she leaned into me.

The scent of body cream was finally seeping into my brain.

Every inch of her bare skin felt unbelievably smooth and soft, not of this world.

All five senses were pleasantly stimulated, and it felt like I was drowning in the sea that was Asuka.

“Tighter.”

“Like this?”

“Tighter.”

“Hey, hey, any tighter and it’ll hurt, you know.”

“It’s okay if it hurts. I want it to hurt so much I’m crushed. I’m scared, like Ao-kun might go somewhere far away.”

“I’m not going anywhere without you. I’ll always come back to my master in the end. You’ve trained me that way, haven’t you, Asuka?”

“Yeah, I know. I know, but… I just want to feel secure.”

As she said this, Asuka pressed her nose against my neck, slowly moving upwards, and finally took a deep breath near the back of my ear.

“Asuka, you really like that, don’t you? Does it smell weird?”

“No, it’s really calming. I want to bottle it up as perfume.”

“I like the smell of your scalp too, Asuka. Especially in the dry winter air.”

“I’m glad we’re both just as perverted, aren’t we?”

“Totally. I hear there are couples who break up because of differences in their… lower zone temperature, surprisingly.”

We were probably already hopelessly codependent.

I couldn’t imagine a Bokusetu life without Asuka, and I think Asuka was staying in Bokusetu because I was there.

But as long as we were both in Bokusetu, we were destined to keep suffering.

Our undying first love, and the sin and punishment we shared like a pair necklace, bound us together like a curse.

But there were moments when I suddenly became afraid.

If a crack ever formed in this miraculous balance of our relationship, what would become of us?

“Ao-kun, are you still full of energy? I’m not sleepy, so I’m starting to get horny.”

“Alright, you got it. I won’t let you sleep tonight, Asuka.”

“Fufu. I might not be able to see the sunrise tomorrow.”

Joking around, we eagerly started undressing each other.

Naked bodies, so sensual they made my brain cells boil, were revealed.

A pure white lace bra, innocent yet exuding a seductive aura, looked as if it were custom-made just for Asuka.

As if asserting her ownership, Asuka left teeth marks on my neck.

It was an unhealthy expression of love, but the act felt like a cry of “I love you.”

So, I accepted everything, and continued to stroke Asuka’s raven hair as she transformed into a beast.

Glancing at the TV, I saw Karen in the video, looking right at me.

In that instant, an indescribable impulse pierced my spine.

A tsunami of emotion surged through my body, and I felt like some circuit had blown out somewhere.

In this moment, maybe another part of me had broken.