167 - Shizuku-chan Mk.II

RAW

"Where did Ayaka and Shizuku go?"

At the student entrance, Haruto looked around for the two of them. But the entrance hall only had a few students heading home—there was no sign of Ayaka or Shizuku.

Suddenly, Ayaka had said it would be better if she didn't go to the amusement park on Sunday. Upon hearing that, Shizuku grabbed her arm and briskly led her away, telling her they needed to talk.

The look on Shizuku’s back said, "Don’t follow us," loud and clear, and Haruto couldn’t bring himself to go after them right away.

"The amusement park on Sunday... What was Ayaka thinking?"

Haruto tried to recall her behavior over the past few days, attempting to figure out why she would say something like that.

"I don’t think anything seemed off… though, maybe she did seem a little preoccupied at times?"

At home, she’d seemed normal. But thinking back now, there had been moments when she looked like something was weighing on her.

"If she’s worrying at a time like this… it’s gotta be about Shizuku and Kazu-senpai..."

He switched out of his outdoor shoes into his indoor ones and leaned against the wall of the entrance hall, lost in thought.

Ayaka had a very kind personality. Maybe she was overthinking things about Shizuku and Ishikura out of that kindness.

"But still… her expression looked way too serious for it to just be that..."

She was someone who loved romance so much that her room’s bookshelf was crammed with romantic manga and novels. She wasn’t the type to tease her friends about romance, but even so, that expression was too heavy.

"Hmm… I really don’t get it..."

Haruto furrowed his brows, stuck in a puzzle with no solution in sight.

Just then, a teacher carrying a large cardboard box in both arms approached.

"Oh! Otsuki, heading home? If you’re not in a rush, could you help me carry this?"

"Uh… sure, I can help."

"Really? That’s a big help."

Haruto hesitated for a second, still worried about Ayaka and Shizuku. But he had no idea where they’d gone, and standing around alone wouldn’t solve anything.

Deciding that, he agreed to help.

"Then, Otsuki, can you take this box to the physics prep room? I’ll take this one to the biology lab."

"Got it."

"Thanks. Oh, and the classroom’s already unlocked, so just leave the door open after you drop off the box."

"Understood."

Smiling at the teacher’s "Thanks a bunch," Haruto carried the box toward the physics prep room.

But just as he reached the classroom and was about to open the door, he heard voices from inside.

*"Ayaka-senpai’s concern is just self-satisfaction. Yes, I do like Haru-senpai. That hasn’t changed. But Ayaka-senpai isn’t going to break up with him. So no matter what happens, Ayaka-senpai is going to hurt me."*

*"But… I don’t want to hurt someone so important to me..."*

*"I hate that way of thinking. Even if Ayaka-senpai ends up hurting me, I think that’s just the way it has to be."*

The moment he heard that voice, Haruto froze.

There was no mistaking it—those voices belonged to Shizuku and Ayaka.

And their conversation included something that shocked him deeply.

"Shizuku… likes me...?"

Haruto’s mind went blank, his thoughts in a jumble.

Maybe it was just another one of Shizuku’s usual jokes. But no—he immediately dismissed that.

They had known each other since they were kids. Haruto could tell, just from her tone, whether Shizuku was joking or serious. And that voice just now had been unmistakably serious.

But when had it started? Why? What triggered it?

More and more questions flooded his mind.

Then, Shizuku’s clear, firm voice rang out again.

*"Hmph! Listen up, Aya-senpai. I like Haru-senpai. And I’m flustered because Kazu-senpai confessed to me. But those are my problems to deal with. If I ever get overwhelmed and need help, I’ll send you an SOS. And I’ll complain endlessly. Until then, I want you to just sit quietly and watch. That’s what I’m asking. End of message!"*

*"Got it. When you send that SOS, I’ll be ready to listen—no matter what."*

It sounded like they were wrapping up.

Footsteps approached the door.

Haruto couldn’t move. He stood there frozen, still holding the box.

The door slid open. Ayaka and Shizuku stepped out.

Ayaka’s eyes went wide when she saw Haruto and she froze.

Just behind her, Shizuku did the same, staring at Haruto. Then she muttered softly:

"...Haru-senpai… Did you hear us?"

Snapping back to reality, Haruto hastily bowed.

"S-Sorry! The teacher asked me to bring some supplies, and I heard your voices from inside—"

"From where?"

Shizuku cut him off.

Her voice was flat, forced, and trembling slightly.

"Where did you start hearing us, Haru-senpai?"

"That part about Ayaka’s concern being self-satisfaction… I’m sorry, Shizuku. I didn’t mean to eavesdrop—"

"Haru-senpai!"

Shizuku interrupted again.

Looking down slightly, her face was more expressionless than usual as she spoke.

"Buy me ramen."

Then she turned to Ayaka.

"Ayaka-senpai. Just for today, let me borrow Haru-senpai. I won’t steal him away."

"O-Okay."

Sensing her emotions, Ayaka gave her a big nod.

"So then, Haru-senpai, buy me ramen. No arguments. You’re treating me."

"...Alright. Ayaka, sorry to ask, but could you tell Grandma I won’t be home for dinner?"

"Got it. I’ll tell Kiyoko-san."

Haruto left with Shizuku, heading toward a ramen shop.

As they walked, Shizuku was clearly walking faster than usual, and Haruto followed her silently. He couldn’t ask where they were going—there was no room for conversation.

In his mind, Shizuku’s words echoed over and over.

*"I like Haru-senpai."*

He hadn’t realized her feelings at all.

Without noticing, he had fallen for Ayaka. Started dating her. And he had no regrets about that. Even if he had known about Shizuku’s feelings, he still would have fallen for Ayaka and wanted to be with her.

Haruto reexamined his feelings and reaffirmed his love for Ayaka. At the same time, a heavy sense of guilt toward Shizuku weighed on him.

He hadn’t meant to hurt her. But by not knowing her feelings, how much pain had he caused her?

He looked at the girl who had always been by his side since they were kids.

Still silent, the two arrived at a ramen shop.

Shizuku pointed to the shop’s curtain with a blank expression.

"I want to eat here."

It was the same ramen place they had visited during summer break.

The same one where she had found out about his “relationship practice” with Ayaka and scolded him for it—also exposing his feelings for Ayaka.

"Alright. Let’s go in."

After glancing at the curtain, Haruto nodded and stepped inside.

Standing in front of the ticket machine, he asked Shizuku:

"What are you getting?"

"...I won’t hold back. Is that okay?"

"Yeah. Order whatever you want."

"Understood. Then I won’t be shy."

Shizuku selected a premium-level ramen, above the usual kind. Naturally, she also chose a large size.

Without hesitation, she added every available topping—chashu, seaweed, seasoned egg, spinach, shredded leeks, quail egg—then rounded it off with gyoza and rice.

Seeing the total price, Haruto chuckled wryly, selected a chashu ramen for himself, and inserted his money.

They sat side by side at the counter with their meal tickets.

The server who came to collect their tickets blinked in surprise when they saw Shizuku’s order.

"Um… any preferences for your ramen?"

"Firm noodles, rich broth, extra oil."

Shizuku answered quickly and firmly.

"Same for me—firm noodles and rich broth."

After placing their orders, Haruto stood up and brought water for both of them from the self-service area.

"Here, your water."

"Thanks."

Shizuku accepted it, then stared into her glass.

"...Haru-senpai, do you remember? Me scolding you here?"

"Yeah. You got mad at me for not understanding girls at all."

"And I also first called you a clueless, thickheaded, insensitive oaf here."

"Now that you mention it, yeah."

At this very shop, Shizuku had told him that Ayaka only suggested relationship practice because she wanted him to see her as a girl.

Looking back, Haruto couldn’t deny just how right Shizuku had been.

"Honestly, you’re hopeless, Haru-senpai."

"...Yeah. I’m sorry."

"You don’t need to apologize. You are a clueless, thickheaded, insensitive oaf, but you didn’t do anything wrong."

"...Right."

"Exactly."

Not long after, their ramen arrived, and the two of them quietly started eating.

Haruto slurped some noodles, then glanced at Shizuku.

She was devouring the full-topping, large-size ramen with single-minded focus, pausing only to scarf down rice and gyoza.

Watching her eat so vigorously, Haruto narrowed his eyes, then quietly returned to his own bowl.

Eventually, just as they were both about to finish, Shizuku muttered a question:

"...Haru-senpai?"

"Hm?"

"What if... what if, back then, I had..."

She began to say something, but closed her mouth halfway through and stared silently at the remaining soup in her bowl.

A few seconds of silence passed between them. Then, Shizuku finally spoke again.

“If I had confessed back then… what would you have done, Haru-senpai?”

Asked in a quiet, calm voice, Haruto closed his eyes gently.

Behind his eyelids, memories of Shizuku began to flicker by like a slideshow.

Shizuku, whom he had known since childhood.

The bond he shared with her and Ishikura had been like that of siblings. For Haruto, who had lost his parents, they had become precious, irreplaceable people.

To Haruto, Dōjima Shizuku was someone special.

She was a close friend he had known for years, someone he could relax around. Their relationship was more like family.

She was like a beloved little sister to him.

Haruto slowly opened his eyes and turned to face Shizuku as he responded.

“By that time, I had already fallen for Ayaka. I was in love with her, so…”

Shizuku was important and special to him. But those feelings were similar to how one cherishes family.

He loved her in a way, and he was aware of that feeling—but it was not romantic love.

It was clearly different from the affection he felt toward Ayaka.

“I probably wouldn’t have been able to respond to your feelings. The one I love… is Ayaka. It’s only Ayaka.”

Haruto declared it plainly.

Because Shizuku was important to him, he looked her in the eyes and said it with clarity.

He said it with conviction, leaving no room for other possibilities.

Shizuku, receiving Haruto’s words, stared at him for a moment with an unreadable expression, her thoughts hidden.

Then, she broke into a wide smile.

“You’ve grown, Haru-senpai. You’ve been promoted from clueless, dense blockhead… to clueless, dense jerk.”

“Thanks.”

Haruto smiled softly and thanked her.

After finishing their ramen, the two stepped outside the shop.

“Whew, I’m stuffed,” Shizuku said, rubbing her belly with satisfaction.

“Thanks for the meal, Haru-senpai.”

“You’re welcome. The ramen here’s really good—want to come again with everyone next time?”

“Hm? Shouldn’t we keep this place as our secret rendezvous spot?”

Shizuku threw her usual joke, making Haruto chuckle wryly.

“What kind of rendezvous? Ayaka would get mad.”

“You know, you should be happy while she’s still getting mad at you.”

“Quit it. You sound like someone on the brink of a late-life divorce.”

Seeing Shizuku act like her usual self, Haruto smiled and played along with her antics.

Shizuku gave a small nod and looked up at the sky.

“Breathing in the outside air after eating fatty ramen really hits different.”

“It really does.”

“…Haru-senpai, can I ask you for one favor?”

“Yeah, sure.”

“Then… tense your abs for a second.”

“Huh? Uh, okay.”

Haruto followed her instruction and tightened his abs.

“Got them tensed?”

“Yeah.”

“Okay—here I go.”

With that, Shizuku let out a thin breath, “Fuu…”

Suddenly, her entire aura shifted. Sensing it instinctively, Haruto braced himself and firmly tightened his core.

With a sharp, lightning-fast motion, Shizuku dropped into a fighting stance and launched a precise punch with all the intensity of a karate master.

“Shizuku Explosion!!!”

“Guh!”

With a shout of a mysterious special move, Shizuku’s punch landed squarely on Haruto’s abs.

Thanks to her prior warning, Haruto managed to take the full brunt of the "Shizuku Explosion."

Still, Shizuku had been a karate girl since childhood, and her straight punch carried serious power.

Clutching his stomach with both hands, Haruto doubled over on the spot.

“Ugh… as expected of you, Shizuku. That still packs a hell of a punch…”

They had stopped sparring in karate once they hit middle school due to the growing size difference.

Now, after all this time, Haruto found himself praising her attack.

Shizuku stood tall, proudly puffing out her chest.

“As of this moment, I’ve been reborn! I am now Shizuku-chan Mk.2 Newborn!”

“Shizuku-chan Mk.2?”

Holding his stomach, Haruto tilted his head at her bizarre declaration.

“That’s right! My mission is to defeat the evil and powerful Demon Lord!”

Then, she extended her right hand toward Haruto.

“To defeat the Demon Lord, I’ll need companions. Haru-senpai, will you become my ally in this epic battle?”

Haruto, holding back his pain, grinned.

“Of course. I’ll follow you wherever you go, my hero.”

“Fufu. Then I’m counting on you.”

As he grasped her hand, they exchanged a firm handshake of friendship.

“Oh, and by the way, I’m not a hero. I’m Shizuku-chan Mk.2.”

“Huh? But the one who fights the Demon Lord is usually the hero, right?”

“Nope. I’m Shizuku-chan Mk.2.”

“…You’re really not backing down on that, huh?”

“Not a chance.”

--

It seems she took it well (in reality, probably not, but she knew it wouldn't change anything)