Sweet! Sweet! Sweet! (I)

"Is that so? But I don't think everyone is chasing after those two things."

"Houtarou."

"Yes?"

"Do you know what causes loneliness?"

"Probably... not having anyone to confide in."

"That's right. It's a sign that you long to be loved."

"Then what is love?"

"Lonely people usually get pets."

"I see..."

"By loving a pet, making it depend on you, and feeling loved in return."

"I feel like we're going in circles..."

"It's okay if you don't understand."

"Is that so?"

"After all, I'll always be by your side, Houtarou."

"!"

Oreki turned his head, a little embarrassed.

Honestly...

Surprising someone out of the blue was mean.

Still, it really did make his heart skip a beat.

How should he put it...

The god of love occasionally did something nice.

At least, that was how he'd brought Sakayanagi and him together and made them fall for each other.

"Then promise we'll never be apart."

"Mm."

Sakayanagi replied softly.

She held out the little finger of her left hand to Oreki.

The meaning was obvious.

"Mm..."

Oreki hooked his little finger around Sakayanagi's.

The evening breeze suddenly rose, scattering the willow branches.

He thought he saw...

Two red strings floating between Sakayanagi and him.

They twisted around each other and drifted into the dusk.

When he blinked again, they were gone.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing... I think I was seeing things."

"Is that so?"

"I've probably been using up too much energy these past few days."

"Then let's go back early and get some sleep."

"Mm..."

Oreki took one last look out the window.

A moment ago, he thought he'd seen the two red strings float away across the sea.

"Let's go."

And so, Oreki and Sakayanagi returned to their room.

Sakayanagi's father had been busy lately.

So he usually didn't get home until very late.

He wasn't bringing that up for any particular reason.

It was just...

Oreki would cook a little less rice.

That's right, that's right.

The family chef, Houtarou Oreki!

It was a little early for him to claim that title.

But it was only a matter of time.

The omurice Sakayanagi had made last time had been delicious.

Unfortunately, she wasn't in the best of health.

So it was better for her to cook as little as possible.

"Today, it's rice and steamed fish."

Oreki brought over two plates.

Sakayanagi could only eat mild food like this.

With a weak heart, she shouldn't eat anything too rich.

And she definitely shouldn't drink coffee.

In the original story, they'd gone all out to make her seem frail without considering whether it made sense.

She had a weak heart and still drank coffee.

Was she trying to get herself killed?

"Let's eat..."

"Yes, let's eat."

The two of them sat together for dinner.

It reminded Sakayanagi of how things had been when she was little.

"You don't have to worry about what happened at the art museum anymore."

"Why not?"

"Because... it was just my own little indulgence. You don't need to waste your time on it, Houtarou..."

"It's fine."

"Hmm?"

"It's nice to have something to do now and then."

"That's unexpected."

"Is it?"

"Don't you usually say you want to conserve energy?"

"That's a different matter."

"Hehe..."

"Mm, it's nice to see you smile now and then. And you look lovely when you smile."

"...Thank you."

"Let's settle things for good tomorrow afternoon."

"Mm."

"But the weekly test is coming up soon."

"Do we choose one subject to take?"

"More accurately, the four classes will be divided into two groups, and the groups will compete against each other."

"They'll decide by drawing lots, right?"

"That's right, but..."

Oreki glanced around.

Only after making sure there was no one else nearby did he lower his voice and say:

"There's still plenty of room to rig things."

"Like what?"

"Using a pen that doesn't dry very quickly."

"...You're surprisingly devious."

"If you're not devious, you won't survive at this school."

"True."

Sakayanagi gathered up the dishes.

She was going to wash them.

"Leave that to me."

"No... You're exhausted. Go get some sleep."

"...All right."

Oreki watched Sakayanagi leave.

He really was exhausted.

But how had Sakayanagi noticed?

Instinct?

Either way, it warmed Oreki's heart.

Was this the magic called "love"?

Please, bring me more of this, dear god of love!

That was enough joking around.

Back to what they'd been discussing.

Ichinose Honami had agreed to work with Oreki largely because of the weekly test coming up in a few days.

He didn't know why she needed points so badly.

But that worked out just fine.

A relationship based on mutual benefit was more reliable than some empty friendship.

If things went as they'd discussed, and Oreki could get Class A and Class B into the same group for this weekly test,

Ichinose wouldn't object to any of his plans going forward.

So long as they didn't harm Class B's interests.

"Are you going to take a bath, Houtarou?"

"Huh? Oh, go ahead."

"Mm..."

After washing the dishes, Sakayanagi went to her room to get a change of clothes.

Wait!

She even took out her underwear?

She really didn't treat Oreki like an outsider.

Those bear-print panties...

Cute.

That's what I wanted to see...

No, no. He'd better not say anything that perverted.

In any case, Oreki blushed and looked out the window.

"Good night."

"Mm... Good night."

Sakayanagi hadn't even gone to bed yet, and Oreki was already saying good night to her.

He was such an idiot.

No wonder Sakayanagi had paused in surprise.

Soon, Oreki heard droplets of water hitting the floor.

Then came the sound of a great deal of water splashing against the floor.

That meant...

Sakayanagi was already in the bathtub, right?

What a shame.

If only he could have heard that sound while they were eating dinner.

Oreki guaranteed it.

He could've listened to it and eaten three big bowls of rice.

He wasn't exaggerating.

Forget it.

Once the excitement passed, a wave of exhaustion washed over him.

It was so overwhelming that Oreki kept blinking.

He really was tired.

So he changed into his pajamas and turned off the room's light.

Meanwhile,

Sakayanagi's delicate hands parted the waves, and her jade-white toes touched the water lightly.

Ripples surged across the water in the tub.

Once she took out her hairpin, her silver hair spilled down like a waterfall.

Her fingertips brushed over her right shoulder.

A droplet slid from her collarbone, sending out several tiny ripples.

The damp towel brushed along her spine, then paused briefly at the small of her back.

"I never used to care about this..."

"But now..."

"I really wish I could spend more time with you, even if only a little."

If only my body were a little healthier.

If only there were nothing wrong with my heart.

If only...

I'd met him sooner.

But it was already too late.

She had come to this school intending to see Kiyoko.

Then she would settle things with her once and for all.

But after meeting Oreki, everything had changed.

Kiyoko no longer mattered.

For the time she had left, Sakayanagi Arisu only wanted to spend more time with Oreki...

And make memories that belonged to the two of them alone.

--To be continued