Published at 26th of March 2019 12:07 am

Volume 3, Part 1

I'm in a scene that I can only remember in my dreams.

I wonder how many times I have met him (or her) already. ...I suppose it doesn't matter.

As always, 'O' was saying something bizarre, so I pretty much just ignore him (or her).

However, a single remark reverberates in my ears.

"Daiya Oomine-kun is your enemy."

The first time I saw his silver hair, I thought, "Aah, our paths will never cross."

I'm sure most of my other classmates got the same impression. Daiya Oomine rejected the company of others with every fiber of his being. I thought that he only assumed that oppressive attitude and rock-n-roll style to distance himself from other people.

But we got along well. Sure, Haruaki helped serve as a bridge, but that alone would never have been enough.

«Umm, you're... Kazuki Hoshino, right? I can't say why, but you're kinda weird!»

This was the first thing he ever said to me.

But I believed that we were friends; after all, he always seemed happy when talking to me.

Even so, he still went there:

It's lunchtime, and midterms are about to start tomorrow; Daiya sits down casually next to Maria and says, "You've dealt with 'O', haven't you?"

I'm too stunned to reply, so Maria answers on my behalf. ".....Oomine, did you obtain a 'box'?"

"What kind of rhetorical question is that? Of course I did. In the first place, I am now talking to Kazu. Be quiet, you annoying guardian."

Maria sighs forcefully, and then looks at me, as if to suggest that she'd leave it to me.

But what should I say...?

Ignoring my silence, Daiya starts speaking.

"It always seemed odd to me. Otonashi's appearance, your confession to Kokone and several other cases as well."

Daiya touches the piercing in his right ear.

"These doubts were resolved when I met 'O'. When I met him—right at that moment, I realized that he, who cannot be described as anything other than bizarre, was the reason for all those strange incidents recently. And then he told me that he was interested in Kazuki Hoshino."

Unable to fully comprehend, I listen to him silently.

"Which means that I was not the only one who felt something was strange about you. ...You know what, Kazu? After observing you for more than a year, there's one thing I understood."

He focuses on me with a piercing glance and continued.

"You are floating."

"...floating?"

I couldn't grasp the meaning of this sudden word without any context.

"It's as if you're watching us from an elevated vantage point. You're here, but you refrain from getting deeply involved and you always keep a certain distance. You're neither inside, nor outside. You're just... floating."

I didn't get his point, and raised an eyebrow.

"And yet you say you want to preserve this everyday life. It was always a mystery to me why you would wish for it. But when I spoke to 'O'—he told me that you declined the 'box' that granted any 'wish'—I finally understood."

Daiya declares with an unyielding tone.

"Your goal is to trample on the 'wishes' of others."

"That's not true!"

I am surprised by the volume of my own voice, but I have to make this clear.

"The reason why I'm particular about this everyday life is... because I think that longing for something is the proof of being alive... so..."

"How laughable."

In contrast to his words, he isn't laughing at all. He only continues cruelly,

"So do you have something you long for? Name one!"

"Of course I have. It's—"

I stop.

I have one. I'm supposed to have one. But I can't articulate it.

—I'm sure it's because it hasn't taken shape, yet.

"Because you want to keep longing for something. Hmpf, even if I admitted that claim, another question remains. Why did you become like that?"

"...Eh?"

The reason why I started being particular about this everyday life?

Come to think of it, had I always been like this? ...I don't think so. So, since when—

"——"

It occurs to me.

—Someone, veiled by a haze, that I can't recognize.

I can't recognize this vague appearance. Can't recognize? ...no, in fact I know who this is, no matter how much haze there is.

She is—

"Got it?"

When Daiya interrupts me, the silhouette disappears into the haze.

"...What...?"

"The fact is that, in the end, you're just trying to preserve your everyday life reflexively, like one of Pavlov's dogs."

I just want to preserve my everyday life? If so—

"This is the same as to trample others' 'wishes' down. ...Hey, Kazu."

Daiya calls me with his usual leisureliness.

"I have a 'box.' I have become an existence that contradicts this everyday life. —So what will you do?"

I don't know Daiya's 'wish.' But if it's one that menaces this everyday life, I will—

"You've already come to a conclusion, haven't you?"

Daiya continues with an emotionless voice, while lightly touching his right piercing one more time:

"Thus, I am—your enemy."

✵

Our midterm exams have been returned, and we passed July in sloth, almost as if digesting the results.

"Guys, you absolutely cannot mention that we're going to go to the mall after this!"

On our way to Mogi-san's hospital room, Kokone, who has recently made a big bun of her hair, says this.

"Mainly you, Haruaki!"

"I know, I know!"

"I wonder? After all I've heard the modern term «Haruaki» also means «Unable to sense the mood»."

"I've never heard of such a term! But I know that the modern term «K.K.» means «annoying», though!"

"Hey! Why do my initials mean «annoying»!?"

"Kirino, if Mogi hears this loud voice of yours, your consideration will have been in vain."

Having been cautioned by Maria—"Tehe!"—Kokone sticks out her tongue while closing an eye and scowls at Haruaki when he mentions, "You 'thinking that's cute' or what?"

Sighing at this relatively normal scene, I enter the hospital room.

"......"

The first thing I see is a half-naked, masculine figure on a magazine cover.

"Kasumi...?"

"Eh...? —AH!"

She hid the magazine in her futon with quick movements.

"H-Hi everyone... W-What's the matter? You are quite early today, huh...?"

Mogi-san flashes an awkward smile.

"......"

Did I, perhaps, just see something I shouldn't have...? Kokone and I exchange glances, silently agreeing—"Let's not touch that subject."

"Whoa, what are ya hiding there, Kasumi!"

We fail. There is a guy here, whose name means «Unable to sense the mood».

"I-I'm not hiding anything...!"

"Don't lie! ...mh? Ah, it's a porno magazine, isn't it! Show me, show me! I want to know to what kind of porno magazines girls get ho— Ghgh!"

Kokone strikes him with her elbow. Yeah, I think she did the right thing.

"Don't worry Kasumi, we didn't see anything... No, it's okay, really! After all, if you're staying for a long time in a hospital, well... You bottle up a lot, don't you!"

"I-I-I-I haven't bottled up anything!"

Mogi-san shakes her hands wildly in front of her crimson face.

"T-That's not it! This is... well..."

She purses her lips and, hesitating slightly, takes the magazine out of her futon. There is indeed a half-naked man on its cover, but things like "Yoga" and "Proper Training Methods" is written on it.

"It's a fitness magazine for exercising! So, umm... it's not an erotic one."

"Eh? Ah, you're right. Haha, sorry. ...But why were you hiding it then?"

For some reason she doesn't look at Kokone, but at me when she whispers:

"...that's because such magazines don't suit me..."

Now that she mentions it—I reflexively looked at Mogi-san's arms. Her white arms, which had seemed fragile once, now seems a little more robust. ...They're still plenty slender, though.

Mogi-san notices my gaze and hides her arms bashfully behind her. Then she says,

"...I hoped it might be useful as a reference for my rehabilitation."

Four months have already passed since those days of recurrences. Her broken bones had mended and her rehabilitation had started by now. Her eventual return to school, which once seemed like a distant dream, is slowly coming to fruition. Her wheel-chaired presence in the classroom might soon become a part of this everyday life.

Mogi-san will return to this everyday life.

—Like the time before Maria.

✵

"Say, say, Maria, do you feel uneasy around Kasumi?"

Haruaki asks right as we enter the shopping mall, whereas Kokone and I have intentionally kept quiet about it...

"Haru... You know, sometimes you are just dreadful..."

"Why so?"

He didn't even understand what Kokone meant. Dreadful!

"...why do you think so?"

Maria asks Haruaki plainly with an emotionless voice.

"That's because I have never seen you two talk to each other properly! Well, maybe that's just because I rarely catch sight of you two being together."

"...Haru, listen," Kokone pulls Haruaki to her and whispers into his ear. "...they are rivals in love... that's why they get awkward. You should know this much, right...?"

Umm, Kokone...? I know that you're trying to be considerate, but I can hear you.

"Ooh, I see, I see!"

Haruaki grins broadly at me. ...This is quite unnerving.

Maria let out a sigh at their attitude.

"Well, interpret it however you want, but it's true that I can't talk to her easily."

"Hoho! In the sense of being rivals?"

"Usui. Could you speak without reservations to someone who made a fool of you and stabbed your gut with a knife?"

"Hah?"

"It's a joke."

When Maria expressionlessly says so, Kokone and Haruaki exchange glances.

...I was the only one whose heart jumped because of this borderline comment.

"...err, so let's leave this topic... Now onto our main objective!! 'Let's search for clothes that suit Mari-mari!' Well, almost anything would suit her, though... tch, this damn model body of yours!"

You shouldn't be the one to complain, having your snapshot in a fashion magazine recently.

"Come to think of it, why did this matter come up anyway?"

"Well, just listen! I've often met Mari-mari in regular clothes on holidays recently, but you know, she's obviously neglecting fashion! Her clothes aren't exactly bad, though, they just lack individuality... and when I asked for the brand she said it's UNIQLO."

"Leaving aside how it was in the past, the present UNIQLO has a high fashion value. They offer many high-quality products at low prices made possible by the great endeavor of their company. UNIQLO is the best choice."

"I wear UNIQLO, too, you know! But that's not what I mean! I was just thinking, like... you should strive to become your ideal self, or... Aah, damn it! Just because you can win with your body alone...!"

"Kiri, be at ease! You can at least beat her with your bust!"

"Only with my bust?! Don't kid around, Haru! ...I can also beat her in—"

Kokone stops talking, gazing at Maria from head to toe, and was in terror.

"—No way... I have no chance?! Gwaah, that can't be! You'd better become something like the world's top idol so I'll be able to admit that you're «pretty» without being hurt!"

"...Ko-Kokone, looks are a subjective matter anyway, you know..."

"So who do you find more beautiful, Kazu?"

"......"

"Why do you keep quiet there! Say it's me, even if it's a lie!"

"Well, isn't that an impossible request?"

"Shut up, you visually impaired person."

"What!? I'm humbly said to be at least above average!"

Because of the ruckus they were causing, the glances of the shoppers in the vicinity start to focus on us. ...It's always the same when Kokone's with us.

"H-Hey, Kokone, can we slowly..."

When I address her, she looks at me with a harsh glance. Uwa, I feel danger...

"In the first place, Kazu-kun, do you know what I cannot permit the most about Mari-mari's clothes? It's the fact that you, just because you're of the same height, share several pieces of clothing!"

"...eh? Should we not?"

Kokone's eyes went wide.

"......Hah? What's with that surprised expression? «...eh? Should we not» my ass! Your common sense is off! I, at least, was shocked when I happened to see you wearing the same T-shirt that Mari-mari had worn on another day!"

I still didn't get her and shifted my gaze to Haruaki.

"No, she's right, you know?"

...I was clearly denied.

"You're that type of person, right? The type that finishes the half-drunk PET bottle, that was given to you by the girl you like, without any problems."

"Isn't that normal...?"

"My, my," Haruaki shook his hands exaggeratedly as if to show me and let out a sigh. ...What's with that reaction.

"Haru, do you understand why I want to make her buy new clothes?"

"More than enough!"

After those two allied, our search for clothes for Maria began as Kokone planned. However, Maria herself didn't fancy shopping at all and hence just gave Kokone half-hearted opinions of the clothes she was shown. And from time to time, Kokone forced her to try on some of the clothes.

At first, I had thought Kokone would be displeased because Maria doesn't buy the clothes she suggests, but in fact Kokone was grinning joyfully. According to her, «It's already fun just having an outstanding beauty as a dress-up doll!». ...As a man I can't understand her feelings.

Speaking of the other man here, Haruaki, he seemed happy just watching other female clients and shop assistants. I'm jealous of his mode of thought—well, not really. Not at all.

I asked Kokone, who was so full of vigor that I wondered where she got all this energy from, for a break. She did not grant this request until three hours later.

Hah... finally I'm temporarily released.

"...Haruaki, you seem cheerful."

"Yeah! I spent all this time with the goal of scoring good-looking girls, you know. Ah, that was great! My personal favorite was the shop assistant at the previous shop."

Kokone's high spirits got spoiled.

"She resembled our school's student council president a little. Didn't you think so, too, Hoshii?"

"Eeeh~~... you think so~?" Kokone objected. "Our student council president is a lot cooler... ah, now that you mention it, do you guys know about the «Three Supermen»?"

"I know of them." "...Well, there's no way it wouldn't enter my ears."

I am the only one who didn't know, as it seems.

"...What are those «Three Supermen»?"

"Look, isn't there one student in each year with outstanding grades? Because all of those three have some special characteristics besides their grades, someone treated them as «supermen». Well, and this term was so fitting that it spread out."

"...Is Maria perhaps one of them?"

"Yeah. I don't care about how they call me, but I don't like to stand out too much."

No... what are you saying after the scene you made at the entrance ceremony?

"Well, Mari-mari is the one in the first year, the student council president is the one in the third year. And the one in the second year is—"

Kokone stops mid-sentence. One could clearly see how her mood fell.

...so the last one is Daiya.

Daiya disappeared right after he had announced to us his status as an "owner" in the school cafeteria. He didn't come to school anymore and wasn't at home either.

Without leaving any words for Kokone and Haruaki.

Kokone is extremely angry about this. She couldn't understand why he disappeared suddenly without telling her anything. Of course, in truth, she's only worried about him.

I suppose Kokone considers his disappearance as a temporary matter. That's why she can be angry. But I... I don't think this is a temporary state.

After all, Daiya—obtained a "box."

He became disconnected from our everyday life.

After emptying her caramel macchiato in one gulp with a frown, Kokone let out a sigh and began to speak.

"Anyway, leaving that jerk aside, the point is that those «Three Supermen» are not normal."

"I can understand this for Maria and Daiya... but is the student council president also this amazing?"

"She is amazing! Apparently her grades would easily be enough to enter Tokyo University; as a member of the track-and-field club she took part in national short distance races and long jump events; and in the student council, she's putting the lid on those anachronistic school rules. But it seems these superficial facts aren't even needed to realize how amazing she is."

"...what do you mean?"

"According to a little story that reached my ears, the president doesn't seem to be that fast during practice. She even loses to other members sometimes. But at the real thing she almost certainly sets best times and wins."

"So she's holding back during practice?"

"Apparently not. «The purpose of practice is to improve your power. The purpose of the real race is to win. It's only natural that I'm the fastest at the real race when I have to concentrate fully on manifesting my power.» is what she says. ...What do you think? She may seem a little strange, but isn't she somehow amazing?"

"...Yeah. She feels like a human from another dimension."

"Exactly~"—while saying so, she confirmed that our cups had become empty and smiled complacently.

"Well then! Let's return to our Mari-mari-dress-up-time!"

Honestly, more of this boredom is tiring...

"Ko-Kokone, it's soon dinnertime at home, so I should slowly..."

"Eeh~..."

Kokone purses her lips.

"Then just one more! There is something I absolutely want Mari-mari to wear!"

Kokone eventually brought us to a shop that was obviously emitting an atmosphere different from the other ones. Most of the clothes are black and oddly frilled.

"This will definitely suit you! Gothloli-Mari-mari-tan, haah haah"

The clothing the all-too-excited Kokone holds out is a black dress with lots of frills. Understandably, Maria contorts her face slightly while accepting the dress.

"......you want me to wear that?"

"'Course! ...by the way, what do you think about Gothlolis?"

"They seem like they live in their own little worlds."

"Suits you perfectly then, doesn't it!"

Eeeeh! W-What's with this sudden outrageous statement!

I look reluctantly at Maria. Fortunately, she was so fixated on the dress that Kokone had given her that she didn't seem to mind the statement just now.

Kokone murmurs something like, "Then we need a headdress... or a mini hat might be good as well!" and browses through the accessories.

Maria sighs.

"...If you really don't want to, you'd better decline properly."

Maria looks back and forth between my face and the Gothloli dress and says with a hushed voice,

"Do you want to see it, too?"

"Eh?"

"I am asking whether you want to see me wearing this Gothloli dress, too."

I can't grasp the intention of this question, but I decide to answer honestly.

"...umm, if I had to say then I'd rather like to see it."

"I see. If you want to see it so badly, I shall wear it."

"...no, I didn't say—"

"I'm only wearing this because you told me to, just so you know. Geez, you really can't be helped."

.......umm.

Could it be that Maria wanted to wear it?

And so, Maria turned into a Gothloli.

"Ooh my god, oh my god, oh my god! Mari-mari, st-step on me! With those feet of yours, step on me!!"

Uwa, what should we do? Kokone just broke....

"My selection was just too correct. Don't you think so, too, Kazu-kun?!"

"Y-Yeah."

It suits her without doubt. Haruaki is also nodding contentedly and some of the shop assistants are peeking into the dressing room. It suits her that much.

As for Maria, she seems at a loss what kind of face she should make and just crosses her arms without looking anywhere in particular.

"Oi Kazu-kun, that's all?"

"...What do you mean?"

"You should show more... like, excitement. I want to see something like a sweet third-rate drama from you that starts with you opening your mouth in astonishment and murmuring «So pretty...», upon which Mari-mari tries to hide her bashfulness by saying something like «Hmpf, so you like me all of a sudden just because I look like this?» that makes Kazu-kun object with «N-No, you're always pretty! You really are pretty, Maria!» and eventually both end up with bright red faces! Because I'll beat you up then."

"......I can't."

"What a pathetic guy. At a karaoke bar, you're the type that only sings ballads nobody knows, aren't you? And I'm sure you're the kind of guy that sings neither well nor poorly, so nobody can insert a Tsukkomi. ...Aah, let's not mind Kazu-kun. Say, say, Mari-mari, can I take a photo?"

"Out of the question."

Maria says with a still-averted gaze and crossed arms.

...Oh? Is she actually embarrassed to be wearing this dress?

"Quit it with the broad grin, Kazuki."

"Eh?"

"You just made a lewd face. So you wanted to humiliate me by making me wear such a dress, didn't you?"

"T-That's not it."

"Come here for a moment."

I prepare myself to get rebuked and stand in front of Maria with my head ducked down. Gothloli Maria appears overbearing with her arms crossed.

"Does this suit me?"

Why is she asking? While wondering, I nodded.

"I see."

Maria removes the frilled headdress from her head. Looking at this headdress, the corners of her mouth raises and,

"...Huh?"

For some reason she put it on my head.

"Yeah, it suits you, too!"

"......Hah?"

Maria seems most amused.

"I wore this because you badly wanted me to do so. That's how it is, right?"

"...umm."

"That's how it is, right?"

"......Yes."

"Which means: since I listened to one of your selfish requests, I think it would be only be fair if you listened to one of my requests this time. Don't you agree?"

"...I... suppose so."

"This dress suits me nicely. We are the same size. In other words, you can wear it as well."

"......"

Maria continues with a strong voice that did not permit any refusal,

"Wear it."

And that's how I became a Gothloli.

"Uuh..."

I moan while looking at myself in the dressing room.

So wearing it first was part of Maria's scheme to get me into this appearance. To that end, she wanted to create a situation in which I could not refuse.

Come to think of it, she had looked back and forth between the dress and me back then.

"Oi, aren't you done getting changed, Kazuki? Open the door already."

"...Maria. Why do I have to wear this...?"

"Of course because I want to see you as a Gothloli so badly it's not even funny. Naturally, that includes you being embarrassed."

This is Maria's bullying again after a long time...!

I can't stay in here forever. I prepare myself and open the door.

"Gyahahahahahahaha—"

Kokone instantly points at me and starts laughing. Only Maria, Kokone and Haruaki are supposed to be there in front of the dressing room, but for some reason there are also shop assistants and several unrelated customers. What kind of public execution is this...

"Kyahahaha, Kazuko-chan, you're so cute!"

While saying so, Kokone takes her mobile phone out and turns it towards me. ......Please don't...

"S-Stop! Don't take a photo!"

"Impossible. I have to."

Not only Kokone, but also Haruaki and even Maria start photographing me. Even though she didn't let anyone take a photo of her!

"Don't worry, Kazuki. It's cute."

Maria attempts an ambiguous encouragement.

"Alright, and sent!"

"W-Wait a sec Kokone! W-Where did you just send this to?!"

"Ha? To Kasumi, of course!"

"W-What're you doing?! I-In the first place, didn't you say we shouldn't mention to her that we're going to the mall?!"

"Are you an idiot, Kazu-kun? There is something called 'priorities'!"

You're the idiot of the group, Kokone! This is too cruel!

...my mobile phone vibrates right away. I open it hesitatingly. There is one new e-mail. The sender's name was «Kasumi Mogi».

The text consists of one word.

«Cute ♡»

I don't care anymore! ☆

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