Lunch break. Today, I didn't eat with Riran, Ryuya, or Neika; instead, I headed to the usual spot behind the school building.
It was a complete blind spot, invisible from both the school building and the outside.
Originally, this area was off-limits, but it was the perfect place for when you didn't want to be seen by anyone.
I sat down on a stone bench and waited for a short while.
Along with the sound of something scraping the ground, a single shadow appeared behind the school building.
She looked around anxiously with an uneasy expression.
Then, upon finding me, a sun-like smile spread across her face.
"Sana-tan!"
"Thanks for coming, Tsuchimikado."
"No problem! If it's a summons from Sana-tan, I'd go through fire and water! I'd even walk through the slums naked!"
"Take better care of your own body."
I'm not going to make such a cruel demand.
I motioned for Hiyori to come over and had her sit next to me on the bench.
She had a wonderful, beaming smile.
From a cute pink wrapper, she spread out a lunch box filled with colorful side dishes.
"Ehehe. This is our first time having lunch together, Sana-tan."
"Now that you mention it, I guess it is. Sorry for calling you out like this."
"Mm-mm. But I was surprised. You said there was something you wanted to consult with me about, just the two of us."
Ugh... Her way of saying that felt a bit pointed...
"...I'm really sorry for only relying on you at times like this. I'm the worst..."
"No, don't worry about it! Hiyori loves being relied on by Sana-tan! Rely on me more and more!"
Does Tsuchimikado have some kind of ability to turn people into moochers? I feel from the bottom of my heart that it would be okay to spoil myself with her.
N-No. This is bad. Get a grip, me.
"So, what's the consultation?"
"Ah, yeah. ...Actually, it's about a friend of mine."
"I'm listening~"
I kept the details vague and rephrased things to avoid letting on that I was talking about Ryuguin, and explained the current situation.
Hiyori listened with a serious face while picking at her lunch.
"Hmm-hmm? In other words, Sana-tan's friend is connected by a red thread to someone of the same sex, but they can't get their family's understanding?"
"Well, that's about it."
"Hmm... First, let's talk about the premise, but why is Sana-tan going so far for your friend? Wouldn't it be fine if the friend did something about it themselves?"
...Why, huh?
Being asked that directly, I was at a loss for words.
Why am I doing this much for Ryuguin and Leeza-san...?
I put down my chopsticks and suddenly looked up at the sky.
Just as the news said the rainy season was almost over, it wasn't raining today, but a cloudy sky covered the horizon.
"...I wonder why... I don't really know."
"...Pfft! Yeah, yeah, that's right! That's so like you! Ahahaha!"
She laughed at me a lot.
I don't get it.
Looking at the exploding Hiyori, she was clutching her stomach with tears in her eyes. I mean, just how much are you laughing?
"Hee— hee—. Ah, my stomach hurts."
"It's not that funny..."
"Sorry, sorry. But I just thought, that's so like Sana-tan."
"Like me?"
"I guess it's the part where you don't need a reason to help someone. Well, Hiyori was saved by that side of Sana-tan, and that's why I fell in love with you."
This girl... she says "love" so casually again...
But... it's true, I can't think of a reason.
If there's someone in trouble in front of me, I help them. I reach out a hand. Because I thought that was normal and natural.
Hmm... is it not normal?
As I tilted my head, Hiyori nodded as if satisfied.
"Yeah, yeah. I understand Sana-tan's concern. But honestly, I think what Sana-tan can do is limited."
"...Do you really think so?"
"Yeah. To get a family to acknowledge it, the people involved have to show how serious they are."
The seriousness of the people involved...
As I thought, there's no room for me to jump in.
"I think the only thing Sana-tan can do is be there for your friend and be supportive."
"...Is that enough?"
"Of course. Just having someone to talk to can clear your mood. Isn't that how Sana-tan feels right now?"
...Now that she mentioned it, it's true. I feel a bit better than I did before we talked.
Talking to someone about things you can't tell anyone else.
Even just that can make things easier sometimes.
"...Yeah. Thanks to you, I feel refreshed."
"Mufufu. For the payment, just calling me Hiyorin is fine."
"Haha. ...Yeah, thanks. ...Hiyori."
After trying to call her that once, calling her Hiyori feels more natural than calling her Tsuchimikado.
Alright, I'll call her Hiyori from now on.
"...Hm? Hey, Hiyori? What's wrong?"
For some reason, Hiyori was frozen.
Wait, your lunch box is going to fall, it's falling.
"...Sorry, Sana-tan. Please call me Tsuchimikado after all."
"...Eh? But you've been telling me to call you Hiyorin all this time. Calling you Hiyorin is a bit embarrassing, so I'll call you Hiyori, but..."
"~~~~! D-Don't call me Hiyori!"
W-Wait... why? Even though you were so persistent about me calling you that until now.
Her face turned bright red, and she covered it with her hands.
"T-This, wait... it's too stimulating... being called by my name by Sana-tan, it's like my feelings won't stop..."
"Is... Is that so...?"
"Uugh. Even though Hiyori decided to look forward and be happy...! Because of Sana-tan, I'm falling in love with you all over again...! I mean, I already love you, but still...!"
Can you stop saying embarrassing things so calmly? It makes me embarrassed too.
And besides.
"I was wondering if I should tell you... actually, I—"
"You started dating Rila-tan, right?"
That's rig—... wait, eh?
"You noticed?"
"Of course. The atmosphere between you two has obviously changed from before."
Seriously? Were we that easy to read?
"Congratulations, Sana-tan. Please make Rila-tan happy."
"...Yeah, thank you."
Hiyori looked lonely. Sad. But she congratulated me with a happy face.
"It's not my place to say this, but... I hope you find happiness too, Hiyori."
"Yeah. ...Um, please really do call me Tsuchimikado. If you keep calling me Hiyori, Hiyori is going to go crazy."
"Unfortunately, I'm not accepting complaints."
"S-Sana-tan, you're so mean!"
Hiyori started hitting me weakly, thud thud.
With her teary eyes but happy smile, I felt a little bit of happiness myself.