Main Story – Chapter 1: The Pinnacle of Happiness

“Great work, everyone! And now—to Class A’s victory, cheeeeeers!!”

““““““CHEERS!!””””””

With a clinking and clanking of glasses…

Our victory celebration began.

—Today was the annual Ball Games Tournament before summer vacation.

It’s an event at my school, Akagawa Academy Junior High, where the boys compete in soccer and basketball, and the girls in volleyball and handball, all aiming for the championship.

And our class, 3-A, had magnificently conquered the fierce competition, taking first place in the overall scores for both boys and girls! It seems having a lot of athletes and our secret training beforehand really paid off, as we won by a landslide.

Now, we were at the after-party. We started with a huge karaoke party with the whole class, and now we’ve moved to a family restaurant for the second round.

It’s almost dinnertime, and since people have things to do at home, we made it optional… but one way or another, the vast majority of our classmates showed up.

That’s right—our class’s unity was also number one in the school.

—The restaurant buzzed with chatter and laughter.

The Naizeria in front of Seikyu Hands, a favorite haunt for students, was packed to the gills as always.

Given the location, it’s always full, so it was a good thing I made a reservation. But it’s not a very big place to begin with, and more people showed up than planned, so we had to split up a bit.

“You were the star of the show today, Kiyosato!” “Thanks for everything, Mei!” “Yo, Class Rep Leader!”

“Yeah! Cheers, cheers!”

I laughed, going around and clinking glasses with everyone.

At the same time, I checked the seating arrangement at each table.

—Kamiizumi-chan and Komaba-chan, the inseparable duo, are sitting next to each other, so that’s okay. The tight-knit Fujimi group is all at the same table, no problem there. Takai-do Tatsuki is fine on his own, and Matsutsun seems to be having fun with him. I heard the Kuga-kun and Hamada-chan couple had a fight recently, so I made sure they have some distance between them. And, let’s see—

“Ikenoue-kun, I can’t reach! Come over here!”

“Ah, o-okay!”

I called out to Ikenoue-kun, who was on the verge of being isolated in a spot by himself, and we clinked glasses.

“Great work today! You were shining out there in the basketball game!”

“Eh, was I really…?”

Ikenoue-kun looked down and scratched his cheek.

Hmm… looks like he’s half embarrassed by the straightforward praise and half feeling guilty that he didn’t do anything that flashy.

It was true he hadn’t made any flashy shots or dazzling plays, but he used his experience from youth basketball to support everyone. He’s the timid type at heart, so he was probably holding back.

I made that intuitive judgment and thought about what to do next.

Let’s see, at that time—

My eyes scanned our surroundings and met with a girl who had been glancing our way—Mitchie.

Yep, just as I thought.

Okay, I’ll do this.

“Hey, before that three-pointer at the end of the first half, you did a no-look back pass, right? Mitchie, you saw it too, didn’t you?”

I casually tossed the topic her way.

“Oh! I saw that! I was thinking, ‘That was so cool!’”

Just as I’d expected, Mitchie eagerly jumped into the conversation.

“It was like you had eyes in the back of your head!”

“R-Really? I don’t think it was that big a deal…”

Seeing Ikenoue-kun blush at Mitchie’s praise, I took his hand and guided him to the empty seat in front of me.

“Here you go, our man of the hour. Cheers!”

“Ch-Cheers!”

“Cheers! Hey, hey, Ikenoue, how come you didn’t join the basketball team in middle school? If you’re that good—”

Okay, perfect.

Mitchie seems outgoing, but she’s actually shy when it comes to this stuff. But once she starts talking, she won’t stop, so she probably doesn’t need any more help from me.

I discreetly slipped away so as not to disturb the two of them chatting happily and took a breather at the drink bar.

—Alright, the atmosphere has warmed up nicely. It should build naturally from here.

This is a victory party, after all. There’s no point if everyone who came can’t have a good time and smile.

Doing my best to make that happen is my duty as the class representative—no.

It’s just what I, Kiyosato Mei, do.

After checking one last time from a distance to make sure there were no problems, I gulped down the rest of my juice.

Alright, time to head back to my own seat.

I refilled my drink, offered a quick apology to a disgruntled-looking employee—“Sorry, just the one cheer!”—who was saying “Please be quiet for the other customers…” and made my way back to my spot.

A four-person table in a corner, a little far from the rest.

And there—

“Good work, Mei. I saved the seat next to me for you.”

“You’re late, Miss Popular! I was getting tired of waiting!”

“Well, just sit down, why don’t you?”

—Were my very best friends.

My whole group of close friends was waiting for me with smiles on their faces.

I grinned back at them and sat down in my seat.

Then I chugged the white grape juice I’d brought back and let out a sigh.

“Ahh, that’s just what my overworked throat needed!”

“Honestly, drinking so sloppily again. You’re spilling.”

“It’s a free-for-all, Mi-chan!”

“You’re using that wrong… Here, look this way.”

My best friend since elementary school, sitting next to me—Mi-chan, or Miharu Shinagawa—gave a wry, exasperated smile and wiped my mouth with a handkerchief she’d taken out.

Before me were her shapely eyebrows, her beautiful, jet-black eyes visible through her glasses, her glossy black hair tied up in a ponytail, and her long, thin eyelashes. Her small, pouting lips were as plump and dewy as cherries.

Mmm-hmm.

“Let’s get married, Mi-chan.”

“…”

“Ah, stop! Don’t pinch the fat on my stomach without saying anything!”

My flesh let out a silent scream under her grip.

“Ahaha, you’re so weird, Mei. Seriously, how does your brain even work?” said the boy sitting across from me—Zomu-kun, or Nozomu Mitaka—flashing his trademark canine tooth in a boyish laugh.

“Is that why you can’t get a boyfriend?”

“Hmph. I guess a girl’s heart is a little too complicated for a blockhead like you, Zomu-kun, huh?”

When I replied with a little wave of my hand, Zomu-kun’s sanpaku eyes went wide with confusion.

“Block-head? What’s that mean?”

“It means a tactless moron, doesn’t it?”

This time it was the fluffy-haired boy sitting next to Zomu-kun—Asahi Omori—who spoke, leaning on his cheek with a weary air.

Then, he shifted his droopy eyes to the side.

“Fits Mitaka to a T.”

“Huh? Oi, Asahi-kun, you tryin’ to pick a fight?”

“Kiyosato said it first. You’ve got the wrong guy.”

“Hoh, so you’re usin’ big words on purpose, huh? That it?”

…And just like that, the two boys started arguing.

Oh, honestly, you two…

“Hey, both of you, calm down…”

Mi-chan tried to step in between the two of them as sparks flew.

Perhaps sensing the slight shift in the air, a few of our classmates at other tables glanced our way, wondering what was going on.

Noticing this, I immediately clapped my hands together.

“Now, now, you’re making Mi-chan uncomfortable. If you want her that badly, you’ll have to get through me first!”

“Honestly, Mei! This is all because you were fooling around to begin with—”

“Eek! Not the tummy fat!”

I yelled out in a joking tone, squirming as I stood up.

Seeing this, our classmates let out chuckles as if to say, “Oh, just the usual,” and went back to their own conversations.

Phew, that was close. Hopefully, that looked like just another gag.

Of course, neither of them is dumb enough to get into a real fight here, but I couldn’t rule out the possibility of upsetting classmates who don’t know their dynamic. Better safe than sorry.

My mission accomplished, I plopped back down in my seat, and Zomu-kun continued with an exasperated sigh.

“Y’know, Mei, if it weren’t for that regrettable side of you, you’d be perfect…”

“Hey, what do you mean, ‘regrettable side’? I wish to express my deepest regrets.”

“See? What kind of junior high girl says stuff like that with a smug look and thinks she’s normal?”

“Wait, seriously? Omori-kun, you’re betraying me too?”

“Seriously, no matter how old you get, you’re still a grade-school boy on the inside…”

“Mi-chan?! Wait, you’re calling me a boy?!”

Everyone burst out laughing.

Seeing their faces, I laughed too.

—Yeah, this is it.

Laughing together like this… it’s the best feeling in the world.

◆

Amid the cheerful chaos, our group continued chatting, looking back on the day.

“—And then! I was like, ‘If I don’t score here, it’s all for nothing!’ so I jumped out and nailed a perfect header!”

“Whoa! That’s awesome!”

Zomu-kun excitedly recounted the final moments of the championship-winning goal.

Our volleyball final was happening at the same time, so even though I knew the result, I hadn’t known the details.

“It was in the last minute, so everyone went wild. They were all shouting, ‘A hero is born!’ and stuff,” Mi-chan said with a delicate, ladylike giggle.

Man, Zomu-kun always has a flair for the dramatic. It’s like he has a natural star quality, or maybe just a knack for shining brightest when it counts.

Zomu-kun crossed his arms and nodded proudly.

“And, like, that feeling of unity at that moment? It was seriously the best!”

He flashed a brilliant, carefree grin.

—Zomu-kun is an innocent and pure-hearted boy.

He can be crass and rough around the edges, but he has a certain charm that makes it hard to dislike him, and a natural charisma that draws people in.

We ended up in the same class for the first time when we moved up from elementary to junior high, and we hit it off right away. We’ve been close ever since. At least among the boys, I think he’s the one I get along with best.

For the record, he’s over 180 cm tall and an all-around athlete, so he’s ridiculously popular with the girls. I’m not even exaggerating when I say there are probably double-digit numbers of girls across all grades who have a crush on him.

“Wasn’t I awesome? Wasn’t I? I was so cool, right?”

Then again, he’s basically a kid, so he has a habit of saying things he really shouldn’t.

“Mitaka-kun would be fine if he didn’t have to say things like that himself…” Mi-chan muttered with a sigh, seeming to have had the same thought.

“You can praise me too, Miharu-chan! C’mon, c’mon!”

“Um… sorry. To be honest, it’s kind of annoying…”

“Oof, that’s so blunt. It actually hurts.”

Shot down by a completely straight-faced Mi-chan, Zomu-kun clutched his chest and slumped over the table.

Mi-chan is as brutally honest as ever… I think she could stand to sugarcoat it a little. Though I guess it’s fine since it’s just Zomu-kun.

“It was a perfect pass. No need to get so cocky just for heading it in,” Omori-kun, who had been calmly fiddling with his phone, suddenly muttered.

Zomu-kun’s head snapped up, and he looked at Omori-kun reproachfully.

“Hey, there’s no way! That pass was way too high! No one but me could’ve reached that!”

“What’s the point of having that huge body if you can’t even use it for something like this?”

“Tch… You should be grateful for my super-human jumping ability!”

“Yeah, yeah, thanks so much.”

Omori-kun shrugged his shoulders with a weary look.

Oh, right. Omori-kun was the one who made the pass. Which means he must have kicked it just high enough for Zomu-kun to be able to get it.

Omori-kun is incredibly talented. School, sports—he handles everything with a cool expression, without a single hitch.

And compared to the other boys, who tend to get hot-headed, he has the perspective to look at things calmly and objectively. He’s a rare type for our age.

Incidentally, he’s a handsome guy with delicate features, and he’s just as popular with the girls as Zomu-kun, if not more so.

“Hey, Asahi, instead of doin’ somethin’ lame like the library committee, you should just join the soccer club.”

“I don’t want to get all sweaty, so pass.”

“Gah! You’re as cold as ever, man!”

His only real flaw is that he lacks a cooperative spirit, or rather, he doesn’t really try to get involved with other people…

I think it’s because he’s more mature than everyone else, so he sees the people around him as childish. That’s probably why he’s built a wall between himself and his classmates.

Also, maybe because he can be cynical and has a bit of a devious side, he’s not very well-liked by the other boys, and he used to be something of a loner in class.

“Well, whatever, it’s Asahi. But you better take the sports festival seriously! You’re the only one who can keep up with me in the three-legged race.”

“The thought of being paired with Mitaka is honestly disgusting.”

“Aaalright, it’s settled!”

But Zomu-kun, in a good way, doesn’t care about that stuff at all, so he’s always the one to pull Omori-kun into the class circle.

Their personalities are polar opposites, and they’re always fighting… but somehow, their mismatched dynamic seems to have clicked, and they end up spending a lot of time together, bickering all the while. The term “frenemies” seems to fit them best.

—Yep, bringing those two together was the right call.

It was a bit of a gamble, but I just had a feeling their wavelengths would match. I’ve always been good with that kind of intuition.

As I was lost in these sentimental thoughts, Mi-chan’s face suddenly clouded over, and she looked down.

“It must be nice being good at sports. All I did was get in the way…”

We didn’t win a single match, she added, her lips pressed together in frustration.

Oh no, Mi-chan’s flipped that switch again.

I clapped my hands together.

“Nope, no negativity allowed! Did anyone say you had to win?”

“Yeah, yeah. Besides, Miharu-chan, you were doin’ all the manager stuff, right? That evens it out, don’tcha think?”

Zomu-kun and I tried to cheer her up, but Mi-chan wouldn’t be convinced.

“All I did was run errands. It’s not like I had to be the one to do it.”

She pouted and turned away.

Mi-chan seems gentle, but she’s actually quite stubborn. Once she gets an idea in her head, she has a hard time letting it go.

I think her strong will is her best quality, but it’s a pain when it manifests as self-deprecation like this.

“I think it’s way better than being a sports idiot, though,” …came a voice.

Omori-kun spoke up, still in his relaxed posture.

“Shinagawa’s the one raising the class average, isn’t she? In terms of contribution, that’s way more important.”

“Eh… you think so?”

“Isn’t it? At least, more than a meathead who’s only useful twice a year.”

“Oi, hey now, are you talkin’ about me, Asahi-kuun?”

“If the shoe fits, fix it.”

Watching the two of them go back and forth, a small smile bloomed on Mi-chan’s face.

Phew, thank goodness. Looks like she’s bounced back.

Mi-chan’s tendency to be negative stems partly from past experiences, but it’s all rooted in her lack of self-confidence.

Just like Omori-kun said, her grades are top of the class, and she has so many other good qualities. I always wish she would be more proud of her strengths instead of her weaknesses.

Also, she’s super cute. Incredibly cute. I’m a girl and even I think so, so it must be true. She really needs to realize that and be proud of it.

“Um… thank you, Omori-kun.”

As I was smugly thinking these things, Mi-chan bowed her head slightly, looking up at Omori-kun.

“It’s nothing. This isn’t something to thank me for.”

“No… it’s not that… It’s because you were… really watching me.”

She mumbled the last part in a quieter voice.

Omori-kun just shrugged wordlessly and looked back down at his phone.

I watched the two of them with a fond smile and swallowed a sip of my juice.

—As you might have guessed from that little exchange…

It seems Mi-chan has a crush on Omori-kun.

I only got to know Omori-kun after we were put in the same class this year, but the two of them were classmates last year as well, and they also knew each other from the library committee.

Mi-chan has a tendency to be brutally honest, just like she was with Zomu-kun a moment ago. It’s because she has a strong sense of responsibility, but it’s often misunderstood by people who don’t know her well. She apparently got into a bit of trouble on the library committee because of it, and the one who stepped in to help her was Omori-kun.

Omori-kun may sound harsh, but deep down, he’s a kind and considerate person. I think he understood what Mi-chan was trying to say and subtly threw her a lifeline. There aren’t many other boys who can do that, so he must have seemed very attractive in Mi-chan’s eyes.

On the other hand, I’m not sure how Omori-kun feels about Mi-chan. But he still helps her out all the time, just like he did a moment ago, so it’s clear he’s not completely uninterested.

As her best friend, I want to help their relationship move forward, but—.

I casually glanced around.

When it comes to romance, you have to be careful, or you can cause some unhappy conflicts.

For example, another girl who likes Omori-kun could cause a huge dramatic scene, or they could become the target of their classmates’ jealousy. In any case, the fallout from any trouble would be huge, so it’s a problem that I can’t openly support them.

Right now, while I’m investigating whether any such problems might arise, I’m also in the middle of figuring out how to get everyone to bless their relationship with a feeling of, “You know, those two look great together.”

That’s right—.

To fill the lives of everyone I can reach with smiles.

For that ideal, I’m putting in all my effort, just as I always have.

“—Mei, heey, Mei.”

“…Hmm?”

Zomu-kun’s voice snapped me back to reality.

“Were you sleeping? I must’ve called your name a hundred times.”

“Ah, yeah, maybe I was sleeping with my eyes open. What’s up?”

“You’re not even gonna deny it…? Jeez.”

Zomu-kun shook his head in exasperation, then flicked his straw with a sharp ping.

“Summer vacation! The talk about what we’re gonna do!”

“Ooh, summer vacation!”

As I said that, I subtly directed my awareness to our surroundings, making sure none of our other classmates were paying attention.

No one’s listening, right? Not that it’s a secret or anything, but just in case.

“You mean the plan for the four of us to go hang out somewhere, right?”

Zomu-kun grinned and nodded.

“Yep, yep. And so, this year—how ‘bout we go to the beach! Like, Shosai or something!”

“Ooh, nice!”

Shosai, huh? The last time I was there was for a school trip in elementary school.

Swimming would be fun, but it would also be awesome to check out some of the hidden cafes that I was too scared to go into back then!

“Ah, um, I… can’t really go that far…” Mi-chan mumbled awkwardly, in contrast to our rising excitement.

Oh, right. Mi-chan’s family is strict about that stuff. She said she had a bit of trouble just getting permission to come today.

Going on a trip outside the prefecture with just a bunch of middle schoolers would probably be a high hurdle.

“Then let’s do something in the city. That should be easier to convince them, right?”

I suggested, but Zomu-kun waved his hand dismissively.

“No way, then the only place to go is Oba, right? Or maybe somewhere in Koto?”

“Besides, we don’t have to go to the beach. It’s hot,” Omori-kun added lazily.

“Huh? Hey, what are you talking about? Summer is supposed to be hot! And a summer without swimming is a no-go, absolutely not!”

Zomu-kun vehemently crossed his arms in an ‘X’ at Omori-kun’s weary reply.

…The way he’s so insistent about it, I’m sensing some ulterior motives.

But, well, I do agree that a summer without swimming isn’t really summer. And it doesn’t look like we can go on a family trip this year because of my dad’s work.

Besides, spending summer vacation with all my best friends… I kind of want a little adventure.

Is there a good place… hmm…

Ah.

“Summer Park! How about Summer Park?”

I clapped my hands and looked around at everyone.

Summer Park is an amusement park in the western part of the city, famous for its summer-perfect water attractions like a lazy river, a wave pool, and water slides. I went there when I was little with my family and my aunts, and I remember having a lot of fun.

Plus, it has regular rides like roller coasters and a Ferris wheel, so we could easily spend the whole day there.

“Oh, that place out in the boonies! Sounds good!”

Zomu-kun nodded vigorously, then threw an arm around Omori-kun’s shoulders.

“Hey, hey, Asahi, you’re cool with that, right?!”

“Well, I don’t really—”

“Aaalright, it’s settled!”

Okay, okay, looks like the boys have made up their minds.

I turned to Mi-chan, who was next to me, looking thoughtful.

“That’s okay with you too, right, Mi-chan?”

“Um…”

Mi-chan hesitated, her expression still awkward.

Hmm? What is it? That place is in the city, so it shouldn’t be a problem—

Ah, maybe…

A lightbulb went off in my head. I checked to make sure the boys weren’t looking our way and leaned in close to Mi-chan’s ear.

Then, in a whisper.

“—I’ll help you pick out a cute swimsuit. Deal?”

Mi-chan’s head shot up to look at me, and I gave her a quick wink.

Her ears turned bright red, and then she began to tremble.

—Ahahaha!

See? Isn’t Mi-chan the cutest?

…Of course, immediately after that, the fat on my stomach once again screamed in agony.

◆

“See ya! Get home safe!”

“You too!”

We parted ways with Zomu-kun and the others in front of the restaurant, waving goodbye. Mi-chan and I were the only ones taking a private railway line, so this is where we split up.

“Well, shall we head home too?”

“Yeah.”

The two of us started walking through the nighttime entertainment district.

The sky visible between the buildings was completely dark. But in a town like this, where the night is the main event, the lights shone brightly, making it feel even more lively than during the day.

Still, maybe it was a bit reckless for a bunch of middle schoolers to be out this late. I hope nobody gets in trouble.

As I was thinking that on our way to the station, Mi-chan murmured softly.

“…It’s been so much fun, every day.”

“Hmm?”

“To think I’d ever feel this way about coming to school… It really feels like a dream.”

Fiddling with the bangs that fell over her eyes, Mi-chan squinted as if looking at something far away.

—I first met Mi-chan back in fourth grade.

I used to go to an elementary school in another prefecture, but we moved here for my dad’s work, and I transferred into Akagawa Academy’s elementary division.

“Is that why you can’t get a boyfriend?”

“Hmph. I guess a girl’s heart is a little too complicated for a blockhead like you, Zomu-kun, huh?”

When I replied with a little wave of my hand, Zomu-kun’s sanpaku eyes went wide with confusion.

“Block-head? What’s that mean?”

“It means a tactless moron, doesn’t it?”

This time it was the fluffy-haired boy sitting next to Zomu-kun—Asahi Omori—who spoke, leaning on his cheek with a weary air.

Then, he shifted his droopy eyes to the side.

“Fits Mitaka to a T.”

“Huh? Oi, Asahi-kun, you tryin’ to pick a fight?”

“Kiyosato said it first. You’ve got the wrong guy.”

“Hoh, so you’re usin’ big words on purpose, huh? That it?”

…And just like that, the two boys started arguing.

Oh, honestly, you two…

“Hey, both of you, calm down…”

Mi-chan tried to step in between the two of them as sparks flew.

Perhaps sensing the slight shift in the air, a few of our classmates at other tables glanced our way, wondering what was going on.

Noticing this, I immediately clapped my hands together.

“Now, now, you’re making Mi-chan uncomfortable. If you want her that badly, you’ll have to get through me first!”

“Honestly, Mei! This is all because you were fooling around to begin with—”

“Eek! Not the tummy fat!”

I yelled out in a joking tone, squirming as I stood up.

Seeing this, our classmates let out chuckles as if to say, “Oh, just the usual,” and went back to their own conversations.

Phew, that was close. Hopefully, that looked like just another gag.

Of course, neither of them is dumb enough to get into a real fight here, but I couldn’t rule out the possibility of upsetting classmates who don’t know their dynamic. Better safe than sorry.

My mission accomplished, I plopped back down in my seat, and Zomu-kun continued with an exasperated sigh.

“Y’know, Mei, if it weren’t for that regrettable side of you, you’d be perfect…”

“Hey, what do you mean, ‘regrettable side’? I wish to express my deepest regrets.”

“See? What kind of junior high girl says stuff like that with a smug look and thinks she’s normal?”

“Wait, seriously? Omori-kun, you’re betraying me too?”

“Seriously, no matter how old you get, you’re still a grade-school boy on the inside…”

“Mi-chan?! Wait, you’re calling me a boy?!”

Everyone burst out laughing.

Seeing their faces, I laughed too.

—Yeah, this is it.

Laughing together like this… it’s the best feeling in the world.

◆

Amid the cheerful chaos, our group continued chatting, looking back on the day.

“—And then! I was like, ‘If I don’t score here, it’s all for nothing!’ so I jumped out and nailed a perfect header!”

“Whoa! That’s awesome!”

Zomu-kun excitedly recounted the final moments of the championship-winning goal.

Our volleyball final was happening at the same time, so even though I knew the result, I hadn’t known the details.

“It was in the last minute, so everyone went wild. They were all shouting, ‘A hero is born!’ and stuff,” Mi-chan said with a delicate, ladylike giggle.

Man, Zomu-kun always has a flair for the dramatic. It’s like he has a natural star quality, or maybe just a knack for shining brightest when it counts.

Zomu-kun crossed his arms and nodded proudly.

“And, like, that feeling of unity at that moment? It was seriously the best!”

He flashed a brilliant, carefree grin.

—Zomu-kun is an innocent and pure-hearted boy.

He can be crass and rough around the edges, but he has a certain charm that makes it hard to dislike him, and a natural charisma that draws people in.

We ended up in the same class for the first time when we moved up from elementary to junior high, and we hit it off right away. We’ve been close ever since. At least among the boys, I think he’s the one I get along with best.

For the record, he’s over 180 cm tall and an all-around athlete, so he’s ridiculously popular with the girls. I’m not even exaggerating when I say there are probably double-digit numbers of girls across all grades who have a crush on him.

“Wasn’t I awesome? Wasn’t I? I was so cool, right?”

Then again, he’s basically a kid, so he has a habit of saying things he really shouldn’t.

“Mitaka-kun would be fine if he didn’t have to say things like that himself…” Mi-chan muttered with a sigh, seeming to have had the same thought.

“You can praise me too, Miharu-chan! C’mon, c’mon!”

“Um… sorry. To be honest, it’s kind of annoying…”

“Oof, that’s so blunt. It actually hurts.”

Shot down by a completely straight-faced Mi-chan, Zomu-kun clutched his chest and slumped over the table.

Mi-chan is as brutally honest as ever… I think she could stand to sugarcoat it a little. Though I guess it’s fine since it’s just Zomu-kun.

“It was a perfect pass. No need to get so cocky just for heading it in,” Omori-kun, who had been calmly fiddling with his phone, suddenly muttered.

Zomu-kun’s head snapped up, and he looked at Omori-kun reproachfully.

“Hey, there’s no way! That pass was way too high! No one but me could’ve reached that!”

“What’s the point of having that huge body if you can’t even use it for something like this?”

“Tch… You should be grateful for my super-human jumping ability!”

“Yeah, yeah, thanks so much.”

Omori-kun shrugged his shoulders with a weary look.

Oh, right. Omori-kun was the one who made the pass. Which means he must have kicked it just high enough for Zomu-kun to be able to get it.

Omori-kun is incredibly talented. School, sports—he handles everything with a cool expression, without a single hitch.

And compared to the other boys, who tend to get hot-headed, he has the perspective to look at things calmly and objectively. He’s a rare type for our age.

Incidentally, he’s a handsome guy with delicate features, and he’s just as popular with the girls as Zomu-kun, if not more so.

“Hey, Asahi, instead of doin’ somethin’ lame like the library committee, you should just join the soccer club.”

“I don’t want to get all sweaty, so pass.”

“Gah! You’re as cold as ever, man!”

His only real flaw is that he lacks a cooperative spirit, or rather, he doesn’t really try to get involved with other people…

I think it’s because he’s more mature than everyone else, so he sees the people around him as childish. That’s probably why he’s built a wall between himself and his classmates.

Also, maybe because he can be cynical and has a bit of a devious side, he’s not very well-liked by the other boys, and he used to be something of a loner in class.

“Well, whatever, it’s Asahi. But you better take the sports festival seriously! You’re the only one who can keep up with me in the three-legged race.”

“The thought of being paired with Mitaka is honestly disgusting.”

“Aaalright, it’s settled!”

But Zomu-kun, in a good way, doesn’t care about that stuff at all, so he’s always the one to pull Omori-kun into the class circle.

Their personalities are polar opposites, and they’re always fighting… but somehow, their mismatched dynamic seems to have clicked, and they end up spending a lot of time together, bickering all the while. The term “frenemies” seems to fit them best.

—Yep, bringing those two together was the right call.

It was a bit of a gamble, but I just had a feeling their wavelengths would match. I’ve always been good with that kind of intuition.

As I was lost in these sentimental thoughts, Mi-chan’s face suddenly clouded over, and she looked down.

“It must be nice being good at sports. All I did was get in the way…”

We didn’t win a single match, she added, her lips pressed together in frustration.

Oh no, Mi-chan’s flipped that switch again.

I clapped my hands together.

“Nope, no negativity allowed! Did anyone say you had to win?”

“Yeah, yeah. Besides, Miharu-chan, you were doin’ all the manager stuff, right? That evens it out, don’tcha think?”

Zomu-kun and I tried to cheer her up, but Mi-chan wouldn’t be convinced.

“All I did was run errands. It’s not like I had to be the one to do it.”

She pouted and turned away.

Mi-chan seems gentle, but she’s actually quite stubborn. Once she gets an idea in her head, she has a hard time letting it go.

I think her strong will is her best quality, but it’s a pain when it manifests as self-deprecation like this.

“I think it’s way better than being a sports idiot, though,” …came a voice.

Omori-kun spoke up, still in his relaxed posture.

“Shinagawa’s the one raising the class average, isn’t she? In terms of contribution, that’s way more important.”

“Eh… you think so?”

“Isn’t it? At least, more than a meathead who’s only useful twice a year.”

“Oi, hey now, are you talkin’ about me, Asahi-kuun?”

“If the shoe fits, fix it.”

Watching the two of them go back and forth, a small smile bloomed on Mi-chan’s face.

Phew, thank goodness. Looks like she’s bounced back.

Mi-chan’s tendency to be negative stems partly from past experiences, but it’s all rooted in her lack of self-confidence.

Just like Omori-kun said, her grades are top of the class, and she has so many other good qualities. I always wish she would be more proud of her strengths instead of her weaknesses.

Also, she’s super cute. Incredibly cute. I’m a girl and even I think so, so it must be true. She really needs to realize that and be proud of it.

“Um… thank you, Omori-kun.”

As I was smugly thinking these things, Mi-chan bowed her head slightly, looking up at Omori-kun.

“It’s nothing. This isn’t something to thank me for.”

“No… it’s not that… It’s because you were… really watching me.”

She mumbled the last part in a quieter voice.

Omori-kun just shrugged wordlessly and looked back down at his phone.

I watched the two of them with a fond smile and swallowed a sip of my juice.

—As you might have guessed from that little exchange…

It seems Mi-chan has a crush on Omori-kun.

I only got to know Omori-kun after we were put in the same class this year, but the two of them were classmates last year as well, and they also knew each other from the library committee.

Mi-chan has a tendency to be brutally honest, just like she was with Zomu-kun a moment ago. It’s because she has a strong sense of responsibility, but it’s often misunderstood by people who don’t know her well. She apparently got into a bit of trouble on the library committee because of it, and the one who stepped in to help her was Omori-kun.

Omori-kun may sound harsh, but deep down, he’s a kind and considerate person. I think he understood what Mi-chan was trying to say and subtly threw her a lifeline. There aren’t many other boys who can do that, so he must have seemed very attractive in Mi-chan’s eyes.

On the other hand, I’m not sure how Omori-kun feels about Mi-chan. But he still helps her out all the time, just like he did a moment ago, so it’s clear he’s not completely uninterested.

As her best friend, I want to help their relationship move forward, but—.

I casually glanced around.

When it comes to romance, you have to be careful, or you can cause some unhappy conflicts.

For example, another girl who likes Omori-kun could cause a huge dramatic scene, or they could become the target of their classmates’ jealousy. In any case, the fallout from any trouble would be huge, so it’s a problem that I can’t openly support them.

Right now, while I’m investigating whether any such problems might arise, I’m also in the middle of figuring out how to get everyone to bless their relationship with a feeling of, “You know, those two look great together.”

That’s right—.

To fill the lives of everyone I can reach with smiles.

For that ideal, I’m putting in all my effort, just as I always have.

“—Mei, heey, Mei.”

“…Hmm?”

Zomu-kun’s voice snapped me back to reality.

“Were you sleeping? I must’ve called your name a hundred times.”

“Ah, yeah, maybe I was sleeping with my eyes open. What’s up?”

“You’re not even gonna deny it…? Jeez.”

Zomu-kun shook his head in exasperation, then flicked his straw with a sharp ping.

“Summer vacation! The talk about what we’re gonna do!”

“Ooh, summer vacation!”

As I said that, I subtly directed my awareness to our surroundings, making sure none of our other classmates were paying attention.

No one’s listening, right? Not that it’s a secret or anything, but just in case.

“You mean the plan for the four of us to go hang out somewhere, right?”

Zomu-kun grinned and nodded.

“Yep, yep. And so, this year—how ‘bout we go to the beach! Like, Shosai or something!”

“Ooh, nice!”

Shosai, huh? The last time I was there was for a school trip in elementary school.

Swimming would be fun, but it would also be awesome to check out some of the hidden cafes that I was too scared to go into back then!

“Ah, um, I… can’t really go that far…” Mi-chan mumbled awkwardly, in contrast to our rising excitement.

Oh, right. Mi-chan’s family is strict about that stuff. She said she had a bit of trouble just getting permission to come today.

Going on a trip outside the prefecture with just a bunch of middle schoolers would probably be a high hurdle.

“Then let’s do something in the city. That should be easier to convince them, right?”

I suggested, but Zomu-kun waved his hand dismissively.

“No way, then the only place to go is Oba, right? Or maybe somewhere in Koto?”

“Besides, we don’t have to go to the beach. It’s hot,” Omori-kun added lazily.

“Huh? Hey, what are you talking about? Summer is supposed to be hot! And a summer without swimming is a no-go, absolutely not!”

Zomu-kun vehemently crossed his arms in an ‘X’ at Omori-kun’s weary reply.

…The way he’s so insistent about it, I’m sensing some ulterior motives.

But, well, I do agree that a summer without swimming isn’t really summer. And it doesn’t look like we can go on a family trip this year because of my dad’s work.

Besides, spending summer vacation with all my best friends… I kind of want a little adventure.

Is there a good place… hmm…

Ah.

“Summer Park! How about Summer Park?”

I clapped my hands and looked around at everyone.

Summer Park is an amusement park in the western part of the city, famous for its summer-perfect water attractions like a lazy river, a wave pool, and water slides. I went there when I was little with my family and my aunts, and I remember having a lot of fun.

Plus, it has regular rides like roller coasters and a Ferris wheel, so we could easily spend the whole day there.

“Oh, that place out in the boonies! Sounds good!”

Zomu-kun nodded vigorously, then threw an arm around Omori-kun’s shoulders.

“Hey, hey, Asahi, you’re cool with that, right?!”

“Well, I don’t really—”

“Aaalright, it’s settled!”

Okay, okay, looks like the boys have made up their minds.

I turned to Mi-chan, who was next to me, looking thoughtful.

“That’s okay with you too, right, Mi-chan?”

“Um…”

Mi-chan hesitated, her expression still awkward.

Hmm? What is it? That place is in the city, so it shouldn’t be a problem—

Ah, maybe…

A lightbulb went off in my head. I checked to make sure the boys weren’t looking our way and leaned in close to Mi-chan’s ear.

Then, in a whisper.

“—I’ll help you pick out a cute swimsuit. Deal?”

Mi-chan’s head shot up to look at me, and I gave her a quick wink.

Her ears turned bright red, and then she began to tremble.

—Ahahaha!

See? Isn’t Mi-chan the cutest?

…Of course, immediately after that, the fat on my stomach once again screamed in agony.

◆

“See ya! Get home safe!”

“You too!”

We parted ways with Zomu-kun and the others in front of the restaurant, waving goodbye. Mi-chan and I were the only ones taking a private railway line, so this is where we split up.

“Well, shall we head home too?”

“Yeah.”

The two of us started walking through the nighttime entertainment district.

The sky visible between the buildings was completely dark. But in a town like this, where the night is the main event, the lights shone brightly, making it feel even more lively than during the day.

Still, maybe it was a bit reckless for a bunch of middle schoolers to be out this late. I hope nobody gets in trouble.

As I was thinking that on our way to the station, Mi-chan murmured softly.

“…It’s been so much fun, every day.”

“Hmm?”

“To think I’d ever feel this way about coming to school… It really feels like a dream.”

Fiddling with the bangs that fell over her eyes, Mi-chan squinted as if looking at something far away.

—I first met Mi-chan back in fourth grade.

I used to go to an elementary school in another prefecture, but we moved here for my dad’s work, and I transferred into Akagawa Academy’s elementary division.

It was my third move since kindergarten, so I was used to transferring, but it was my first time joining a class in the middle of a semester, so I remember being a little nervous.

Still, I was great at making friends, so I quickly got along with my classmates and had a lot of fun every day.

—But there was one thing.

There was always one girl who was all by herself in the classroom, and it always bothered me.

“She can’t read the room. She always says stuff is boring.” “Yeah, and she’s an otaku who only reads books.” “She’s plain and ugly, too.” “It’s no fun when she’s around.”

All the girls said the same things and ostracized her.

…That kind of thing happened a lot at my old school, too.

We don’t have anything in common. She’s cheeky. She’s a suck-up. She only plays with boys.

Everyone would list some “bad thing” about a person and use it as a reason to justify shutting them out.

And when that happened…

I had made a rule to say this:

“Well then—what if it was more fun with her around?”

Everyone has good qualities. In her case, they were just hard to see, and everyone was simply misunderstanding her.

If I could find them and get everyone to see them, I was sure things would be even more fun. We could all laugh together, happier than ever before.

And I had honed my skills for that very purpose.

So—there was no reason not to, right?

I walked up to the girl who was curled up alone, reading a novel.

“Hey, Shinagawa-san.”

“…?”

“That novel’s really good, isn’t it!”

That was the first conversation I ever had with that girl—with Mi-chan.

—From then on, I did everything I could to bring out her charm—that she was a cute maiden when she got embarrassed, that she was smart and very considerate, that she seemed timid but was strong-willed and reliable.

By the time we moved up to fifth grade, all the misunderstandings were gone, and she was officially one of the group.

Of course, even now, not a single person says a bad word about Mi-chan. In class, she’s known as the reliable one who pays attention to the little details, and she plays the part of my straight-man and assistant.

Incidentally, though that’s how we met—we ended up hitting it off completely thanks to our shared hobby of reading.

I think the fact that we both loved YA novels was a big part of it. We’d often stay up all night talking about our favorite books or get excited deciphering the characters’ feelings.

So, yeah, that’s pretty much how we became inseparable best friends to this day.

“—It really feels like every day is a YA novel.”

Mi-chan let out a nostalgic sigh.

“Just like you said back then, Mei. I can’t believe something like this could really happen.”

I hopped onto the curb on the side of the sidewalk and walked along it like a balance beam, letting out a smug “hmph.”

“Told you, didn’t I? YA novels are worlds filled with tons of smiles.”

In other words—.

“So, you see.”

“If you do your best to make everyone smile, you’ll naturally get closer to that—isn’t that obvious?”

“…Most people would give up on that right away. Even a grade schooler would know it’s impossible,” Mi-chan sighed, exasperated. “But you’re the one who actually does it, Mei…” she then murmured, as if in deep thought.

“I’m not doing anything special, though. I’ve just been doing what I can.”

“…The range of what you ‘can do’ is way too broad, Mei.”

“That’s not true—or, well, saying that would sound snobby, so I’ll just say, yes, it is.”

“Both sound snobby.”

Haha, you’re right…

I’m aware that I’m more blessed than others in terms of looks and abilities. I’ve been told that by everyone so many times, and I know it’s true from an objective standpoint, looking at grades and tournament results.

I don’t think I boast about it excessively, but it still ruffles feathers from time to time.

That’s why I usually try to steer conversations away from this topic. I’m only speaking so openly now because it’s Mi-chan.

“But really, I just have a lot going for me on the surface. On the inside, I’m just a normal person. Just because I’m smart doesn’t mean I want to be a doctor, and just because I’m good at tennis doesn’t mean I’ll go pro, and even if I’m good-looking, I have no plans to be an idol or a celebrity…”

I hopped off the curb and landed back on the pavement.

“I just want to live each day peacefully, laughing with everyone. That’s all. That’s not special at all; it’s a normal thing that everyone wants.”

“…”

I noticed Mi-chan had stopped walking, and I turned around.

She was looking down, and she muttered under her breath.

“I wonder how long… days like this will last…”

Thwack.

Without a moment’s hesitation, I gave her a karate chop to the forehead. A pretty strong one, at that.

“Ow! Hey, what was that for?!”

“For getting all negative, obviously.”

I stared into the eyes of Mi-chan, who was glaring at me while rubbing her forehead.

“The reason things are like this now is because you let your own charm shine, and everyone recognized it. Because you worked hard, Mi-chan, we can all laugh together like this every day.”

Then, I smiled, a gentle, reassuring smile.

“So, you know. If you just keep working hard like you have been, we can keep laughing forever.”

At those words, Mi-chan was silent for a moment.

Then she nodded.

“…You’re right. All I have to do is keep trying, right?”

“Yep, yep!”

I gave her shoulder a gentle pat and then trotted forward lightly.

After a few steps, I turned back and spread my arms wide.

“Besides, it’s okay! From now on, even when we go to high school, to college, and become adults—”

Forever.

Yes, forever.

“—So that we can all keep laughing forever, I’ll keep giving it my all!”

That’s right.

That is the ideal that I, Kiyosato Mei, who was blessed with just a few more talents than most—

The ideal I must uphold.

◆

My family is a perfectly normal, middle-class family.

The only thing different from other kids’ homes is probably that we put sugar in our barley tea. Apparently, it’s a tradition from my dad’s side of the family, but I’d never heard of it here in the city.

In any case, that’s about the only difference. We’re a typical family you could find anywhere in Japan.

My dad is a company man who commutes on a packed train every day. He’s a calm, kind person who always spends his days off with the family.

My mom works part-time at a department store in the apparel section. She nags me a lot, but the meals she makes for me every day without fail are absolutely delicious.

But because my dad’s job required frequent transfers, it was hard not being able to make friends who would stick around. And I don’t have any siblings or cousins close to my age, so I remember crying from loneliness when I was little.

But in return, I suppose, I was doted on by all my aunts. None of them had been blessed with children, so they treated me like their own daughter.

My aunts are all so sweet and always smiling; I love them. Whenever we went back to visit, they’d take me all sorts of places, and they’d give me lots of presents for birthdays and Christmas.

When I won first place in a kids’ tennis tournament, when I won the gold prize in a calligraphy competition, and when I won an English speech contest, they were as happy as if it were their own achievement.

When everyone smiles, I’m happy too.

So, I tried my best at all sorts of things.

And then, when I was five.

My oldest aunt—my dad’s older sister—patted my head and said this:

“Mei-chan, you’ve been blessed with many talents. People like you must use that power to make lots of people smile.”

“Lots? How many is lots?”

“As many people as you can reach, Mei-chan.”

“And if I do that, I’ll be even happier?”

“Yes, of course.”

“Then I’ll do my best!”

I want everyone to keep smiling.

And I want to keep smiling among them.

And if that’s the way to be the happiest—there’s no reason not to, right?

—From that moment on.

To make as many people smile as I possibly could.

That became the ideal I strove for.

◆

“Next stop, Seijo Gakuen-mae. Seijo Gakuen-mae.”

The in-train announcement brought my consciousness back with a jolt.

…That was close. I must have fallen asleep without realizing it. What a nostalgic dream.

Rubbing my eyes, I looked around.

Mi-chan, who should have been sitting next to me, was gone. Her station has already passed, so she must have gotten off quietly so as not to wake me.

I let out a yawn and let my mind drift back to the dream.

—Just as my aunt had said, I worked hard to make as many people smile as I could.

At first, it was small things, like giving them things I liked or playing with them.

Next, I tried to think about what they would find fun or what would make them happy, and I did my best to make that happen.

As I kept doing that, I naturally started to understand people’s feelings, and my intuition about what might work started hitting the mark more often. Then, I was able to do the same not just with my close friends, but with people I’d only just met.

But on the flip side, I also started to see people’s unpleasant and ugly sides.

When someone’s bad qualities came to the forefront, everyone around them would get dragged down and become unhappy too. So, to prevent that as much as possible, I worked to suppress those negative traits when they appeared, bring out their good qualities, and create an environment where everyone could accept each other.

I failed many times, but each time, I corrected my mistakes and did my best to bring about a better result.

And as a result of all that effort—.

Now, everything is going perfectly.

It’s a true blessing to be able to spend my school days laughing in the best class imaginable, where no one is left out, no one hurts each other, and we can always come together as one.

The daily life I spend laughing with my unique, charming, and carefree best friends is a true blessing.

And so, from now on.

I will continue to stay true to my ideal.

—Outside the train window, a long chain of streetlights stretched on.

Perhaps because of the tears from just waking up, they all seemed to draw beautiful, sparkling halos of light, and it made me feel like I’d gotten a little bonus.

Next week is the long-awaited summer vacation.

It comes every year, but each one is special, never the same as the last. It would be a waste not to enjoy it to the fullest.

Letting a smile spread across my face, I got off the train with a light step, my heart dancing with excitement.