“That is... um...”
Should I really say it? It’s a topic that’s a bit hard to touch upon... but, well, hmm.
I trailed off. Seeing that, Ryuguin took off her fake glasses with a look of determination and untied her ponytail.
In an instant, she transformed from her plain appearance back into the Yamato Nadeshiko, Ryuguin.
The night road was illuminated by white fluorescent lights. Standing there, Ryuguin glared at me with a sharp gaze.
“Yuri, lesbian, homosexual. You can call it whatever you want. But this is who I am. ——I won’t let anyone deny me.”
“Ah, sorry. I don’t particularly have any prejudice.”
In fact, in this era, marriage between the same sex is nothing unusual. Since the ‘Red Thread of Fate’ appeared, there has been a trend of respecting diversity.
Between men, between women. Such things are trivial matters.
Ryuguin, who had been making a sharp, cool face, gradually began to blush. Even though she had finally set the mood...
“I’m kind of sorry.”
“Don’t apologize...”
“No, I mean, you were looking all cool and determined, and I ruined the moment. Forgive me, I apologize.”
“I told you not to apologize!”
That Ryuguin was turning red with embarrassment. It’s rare, but she’s cute.
It would be a pity to tease her any further, so let's get back to the main topic.
“What I wanted to ask was about Riran.”
“——Ah, that. Honestly, even though you’re so dense about your own and Riran-chan’s feelings, you’re surprisingly sharp at times like this...”
She gave me an exasperated look. I’m growing too, you know. I can figure out this much if I think about it a little.
Ryuguin walked ahead, and I followed right behind her.
“That’s right. I liked Riran-chan. ...No, maybe I still like her. That feeling is firmly inside me.”
“I knew it.”
Those words filled with dark emotions back then.
‘If you make Riran-chan cry... I’ll really make you cry.’
Does that mean she truly loved Riran in that sense?
“But ever since the red thread appeared... I can’t think about anyone except my fated person. Even though I liked Riran-chan so much...”
She painfully rubbed her left hand. Seeing her like that... I couldn’t say anything.
The person Rion’s crush is tied to is me. No matter what I say, it’ll probably just sound like an insult.
“But... even if I were tied to Riran-chan, I probably wouldn’t have been able to make her happy...”
“That’s not true. If you’re tied by the red thread, you’ll definitely be happy...”
“That’s not it. That’s... not it...”
...What, what is she trying to say? Even if there’s a red thread, she can’t make her happy... what is she talking about?
As I watched her in silence, she suddenly turned around and lightly punched my chest.
It was incredibly weak. Yet, for some reason, it was a punch that seemed to resonate in my heart.
“To her, I am a best friend. So I will continue to be by her side as a best friend.”
“...Yeah.”
“And you, make sure you definitely make her happy. As a lover... as a lifelong partner.”
“...Yeah. Leave it to me.”
“...Mm... well, I’m going home. See you tomorrow at school.”
The conversation was over. As if saying that, Ryuguin ran off. The last expression I saw on her face was a mix of jealousy and resignation... but also, somehow, relief. That was the kind of face she had.
◆
The next day. At school, Ryuguin was normal, as if nothing had happened yesterday.
She was the usual Yamato Nadeshiko, loved and admired by everyone, spreading smiles to all.
Riran-chan also didn’t find anything unusual about Ryuguin.
And so, time passed without incident until after school.
I was in a residential area together with Leeza-san, who was wearing sunglasses, a mask, and a hat—the suspicious person of suspicious persons.
“Um, do I really have to go too?”
“Of course. I’ll get nervous, you see.”
“Then at least, can’t you do something about that outfit?”
“Impossible. I’ll get nervous, you see.”
What is this, this master is so annoying. How innocent can she be? She can’t even talk about me. Sigh. Usually, Leeza-san is dignified and cool, though.
“Hey, that makes it sound like I’m not dignified right now.”
“Please don’t read my mind.”
“No, you said it out loud.”
Oops. My bad.
I followed Leeza-san through the narrow streets of the residential area. A parent and child walking toward us looked at us with shocked faces. No, really, I’m sorry. My apologies.
“Leeza-san, where are we heading?”
“To my fated person’s house. It seems they haven’t returned yet, but if I go looking for them, there’s a chance we’ll pass each other.”
That means Ryuguin’s house. Well, I don’t know for sure if Ryuguin and Leeza-san are connected... but it’s probably a ninety percent chance.
Ryuguin’s house... I wonder what kind of house it is.
I followed Leeza-san for a while. We walked to a place slightly away from the main residential area. Suddenly, Leeza-san stopped walking.
“It’s here.”
“...It’s huge.”
Eh, this... what? A Japanese-style house... no, a mansion? Anyway, it’s massive. The fence and gate are wooden, and the nameplate says ‘Ryuguin’.
Seriously... it’s here?
“Hmm. Based on the feel of the thread, it seems they haven’t returned yet.”
“Then you don’t need me anymore, right? Well then, good work.”
Alright, time to go home and eat some ice cream.
Then, *grab*. My shoulder was caught in a firm grip.
“Um, please let go.”
“Wait a moment. It would be wrong to leave after coming all this way. We wait.”
“...Huh? Me too?”
“Who else is here?”
I looked around. Yeah, there’s only me. We’re waiting, huh? I don’t want to.
“We don’t know when they’ll be back.”
“I will wait until they return.”
“Then at least that outfit...”
“Impossible, it’s embarrassing.”
Officer, it’s this person right here.