Chapter 10: A Couple Cut from the Same Cloth

The week after everything went down, Monday. I was heading to school, still exhausted. The exhaustion came from repeating the same story about that incident with the ten guys and dealing with all sorts of other stuff.

Aneki and the others told me I could skip school today, but I couldn’t do that. Kirika’s coming back to school today.

…Well, when I stopped by her house this morning, she said she was still getting ready and told me to go ahead.

I’m dying to see her, but then I remember we haven’t discussed whether to go public with our relationship. Gotta talk about that soon.

—That’s what I was thinking when it happened.

“Eiji! Morning!”

“…Huh?”

A thud hits my back. A bright voice, familiar yet not. And the warm, soft feeling against my back.

I almost blurt out, “Who?”—but I stop when I see the face next to me. For a split second, I almost say it again, but even if my brain doesn’t get it, my heart does.

“…Kirika?”

“Yep! Nailed it! As expected of Eiji!”

“Whoa, it is you. …Wait, hold up!? What’s going on!?”

“Hehe!”

Kirika laughs, stepping back to stand in front of me, then spins around.

The first change I notice is her hair. Her bangs, which used to almost cover her eyes, are cut shorter, revealing her big, bright eyes clearly.

Next, her expression. She’s not wearing makeup, so I know it’s her, but… her vibe is totally different. Confidence is probably the best word for it. She’s smiling a ton, and it’s a natural smile.

Then I notice her posture—straight back, chest out. That’s probably why she seems so confident. Her voice is higher-pitched than before too.

“Alright, quiz time! What’s different about me!?”

“Everything… I wanna say, but hair, expression, posture, and the way you talk and sound.”

“Cor… rect! Wow, you got everything Onee-chan told me!”

“As expected of Aneki. …I’m kinda freaking out here, so can I ask?”

“Oh, sure. But one more thing first.”

In that moment—Kirika’s expression shifts back to her usual one. …It’s weird to think her default used to be that anxious look.

“You don’t… dislike the new me, do you?”

“…Nah, I’m shocked, but I love it. It’s got this Onee-chan vibe, so it doesn’t feel off.”

“You get it? My goal was Onee-chan. …But I mixed in my own idea of cute too.”

“I see.”

“Yeah. …So, the reason for all this—I wanted to be like this. To be a girl who matches you, Eiji.”

She tells me that after we started dating, she didn’t like the idea of the old her standing by my side. So she decided to become cuter. It’s for her own satisfaction, not because anyone told her to.

She asked Onee-chan for help to get cuter. Posture alone changes your vibe a lot, and confidence leads to cuteness. So, for the past few days, Onee-chan showered her with praise to boost her self-esteem.

Also… I can’t see it today, but she learned makeup and bought new clothes. But she was told to be careful with makeup since overdoing it could mess up her skin.

Her speech—she practiced speaking clearly, and this is where she landed. Cal… med down…?

“And if you’re confident, you’re less likely to get bullied than when you’re gloomy! So that’s how I became the new me!”

“…Got it?”

I understand the process. The reasons too. And it sounds like something Kirika would say.

But there’s one thing I’m worried about.

“You’re not pushing yourself, are you?”

“I knew you’d ask that. …It’s weird, but I’m not forcing it at all. It’s like I became the cute me I always pictured. Like making the strongest character in a game?”

“…Is that how it works?”

“Yeah. Both versions of me are me, you know? Onee-chan said to stop if it gets tough, so I’m fine!”

“Well, if that’s the case.”

“Yup! The only thing I’m worried about is whether you think I’m cute!”

She grabs my hand. It’s cold—she’s still nervous.

“…I was shocked. Like, really shocked. But here’s my honest take.”

Kirika looks at me seriously, her shorter hair making her eyes clear. It feels like she’s seeing right through me.

—Right now, I want her to.

“You’re legit cute.”

“…Huh? R-Really?”

“Yeah. Damn, seeing your cute face like this is wild. The confidence is freaking adorable. I mean, you’re always cute, but right now? Next-level cute. I’m kinda shocked at how cute you are.”

“Ehehe, r-really? That cute?”

“Cute enough I wanna hug you right now. Can I?”

“Yeah!”

Kirika spreads her arms, puffing out her chest confidently. Man, is she actually this cute? She was always unbelievably cute, but… wait, huh?

“…Maybe because you’re so free now, I can think and say you’re cute so easily.”

“Yay! Keep praising me! I’ll get even cuter!”

I can’t hold back and hug her. She’s changed a lot, but… it feels like Kirika’s essence is still there.

The change is probably her bringing out the cute Kirika she kept buried deep inside. Kirika’s amazing, and all I can say is Onee-chan’s the best.

“…Now I’m worried other guys might hit on you.”

“Oh? Now you get how I felt, Mr. Popular?”

“Ugh…”

Her words stab my heart. Ouch. My heart hurts. Come to think of it, when she spilled her feelings, she said she got uneasy when I was too close to other girls.

“But don’t worry! From now on, I’ll tag along when you hang out, and I’ll be the girl closest to you! Same goes for you!”

“…Right. Oh, should we go public with our relationship?”

“Duh!”

“Duh…”

I’ve never heard Kirika use that word before. But somehow, it suits her.

Guess I’ll get used to it eventually.

“Alright, that’s the plan! Oh, and help me make friends too!”

“Sure. I’m basically starting from scratch too, so let’s do it together. And we gotta thank Tokiyama-san.”

“Yeah! Let’s get to school before we’re late!”

“Hell yeah!”

As we talk, I realize another reason for the déjà vu. Probably because we’ve been together so long, but she’s kinda like me. Or maybe I’m like Onee-chan?

Either way, I hope Kirika can keep this up without overdoing it.

◆◆◆

Kirika wasn’t forcing it at all. It took some time to see, but she really wasn’t.

Sometimes when we’re alone, she slips back to her old self, but that’s it. And the old Kirika’s cute too, so it’s just all cute.

When we hang out, Kirika comes along, and it’s even more fun than before. That said, we’ve also made more time to hang out just the two of us.

School life after that flew by. Every day was fun—but I didn’t make any friends. Kirika only really got close to Tokiyama-san, but since she’s in a different grade, they couldn’t hang out often.

And so, the fun days passed—until third year of middle school. We were facing high school entrance exams. One day…

“I’m thinking of going to a different high school than you, Eiji.”

“…What?”

A bolt from the blue. A phrase I recently learned pops into my head. It was that sudden.

“W-Why? Sure, I’m better at studying, but I can teach you! Or I could apply to wherever you’re going—”

“No, that’s not okay. High school matters for your future. You can’t choose based on me. …But hear me out, there’s a reason.”

“A reason?”

“Yup!” she says cheerfully, leaning against my back. I almost speak, but I listen quietly.

“I feel like I won’t grow if things stay like this.”

“…Meaning?”

“Friends. Neither of us has made any, right? I’ve got Tokki, but once we’re in high school, we’ll barely hang out.”

“…Yeah.”

Even in third year, I hadn’t made friends… I’m still fuzzy on what “friend” means, but I haven’t met anyone I can confide in. Same for Kirika. She gives nicknames to people she wants to be close to, but she hasn’t found a true best friend either. Maybe Tokiyama-san, but like Kirika said, high school will make it harder to hang out.

“I think high school’s a good chance. If we go to the same one, we’ll always be together, right?”

“…Well, yeah.”

“So, it’s for our growth. Not that going to the same school’s bad, but I want to be cuter, prettier, more dependable, brighter, kinder, cuter, and prettier. I want you to think so.”

“You said cute and pretty twice… More than now?”

“Yup, more than now. You don’t feel that way, Eiji?”

“…Well, I do work hard to seem cool to you.”

“Exactly. That’s why I fell for you.”

She pokes my back with her elbow. Her reasoning… yeah, I get it.

But still.

“If we end up long-distance and break up, that’d suck.”

“Oh, you underestimate me? I’ll make sure you feel me every day when you get home. And if you cheat, I’m crying to Onee-chan.”

“I wouldn’t. …You be careful too, okay?”

“I’m good! Safety first! If anything happens, I’ll call you right away! Guy friends? Maybe if you find a best friend, I’ll be friends with him! How’s that?”

“Alright. If you can stick to that… guess it’s fine?”

“Yup! That’s the plan!”

So, we decided to go to different high schools.

Third year meant less hanging out and way more studying at home. …Mostly me teaching Kirika. She’s serious, but studying is her weak spot. She’s not great at managing it. Probably because she used to spend study time playing.

Teaching her was fun, and time flew by—until exam season. Our efforts paid off.

I got into a high school that felt… a bit above my level, surprising even the teachers. Kirika, as planned, got into a school with an average academic level.

Once we passed, preparations for enrollment came fast.

“Almost time for high school, huh? Kinda nervous.”

“For real. But thinking I’ll see you when I get home makes it easier.”

“…If it gets tough, tell me. I’ll tell you too.”

“Duh! I’m gonna hug you every day. Hug.”

I’m not struggling now, but I let her hug me. After a while, she pulls back with a satisfied smile.

“Oh, by the way, heard about the ‘Ice Princess’?”

“What’s that? You start a mobile game or something?”

“Nope! Real life. I heard it through rumors, though.”

I wonder where she picked this up, but I listen quietly. Hearing rumors like this is fun.

“They say she’s super gorgeous. Snow-white hair, ocean-blue eyes, perfect figure—an absolute beauty. But she’s super cold, so they call her the ‘Ice Princess.’”

“What’s that? A foreigner?”

“Probably. But don’t you wanna see her? I kinda wanna be friends.”

“Then you’d need to study English.”

“No more studying!”

…The Ice Princess, huh? Wonder if she’ll be at my school.

“Oh, but I heard she’s not at my school or yours.”

“Seriously? Guess we won’t see her for three years.”

“Maybe we’ll catch her on the same train sometime. If we’re lucky. …Don’t stare too much if you see her, okay?”

“I’m not that kind of guy. Relax.”

“Ehehe.”

I pat her head, and she smiles happily.

And so—our new life was just around the corner.

◆◆◆

First day of high school.

…Man, I was nervous.

Way more nervous than I expected. A class full of strangers is intense.

I wonder how Kirika’s doing. Gotta talk her ear off when I get home. Did she meet that Ice Princess?

Thinking about making friends and stuff, I walk to the station—then realize something.

“Crap, I left my train pass in my desk.”

I can’t find it in my bag. I remember fidgeting with it in my desk earlier.

Forgetting something on the first day? Bad luck. I hurry back to school. The gates are probably locked, but when I check the classroom—there’s someone inside.

“Hm?”

They’re near my desk. Right behind it, actually.

A guy is looking into his bag, then at his desk, over and over.

“What’s up? Forget something like me?”

The guy jumps, startled. …Guess I’d be too if someone called out suddenly.

Behind my desk is a serious-looking guy. I rummage through my desk and, sure enough, find my pass.

“Got it. What’d you forget?”

“…My wallet.”

“Your wallet!? You okay!?”

My forgetfulness is one thing, but a wallet’s serious.

I stare at him—and his panicked expression feels familiar.

“…Not just forgot. I think I lost it.”

“…Oh, man. That’s rough.”

Losing a wallet hits hard, financially and mentally. I remember when Kirika lost hers at a summer festival as a kid—she freaked out.

“You check the staff room? Lost and found?”

“…Oh. Not yet.”

“Seriously? Let’s go. Nothing in your desk, right?”

“Y-Yeah.”

We grab our bags and leave the classroom. He follows, looking flustered.

But the staff room says no wallet’s been turned in. The guy’s sweating bullets.

“When did you last have it? Is your pass in it?”

“I had it leaving the house… My pass is in my bag.”

“Damn. Must’ve dropped it… Gotta call the station.”

I think for a moment and decide.

“This is fate or something. I’ll help.”

“N-No, you don’t have to. That’s too much.”

“Don’t worry about it. Honestly, just leaving you here would feel worse. My girlfriend would chew me out too.”

…That’s partly an excuse. I can’t say it’s because his panicked face reminds me of someone.

“T-Thanks.”

“No problem. Let’s introduce ourselves before we start looking. I remember you, but just in case.”

I don’t mind, but he seems like the type to care.

“I’m Eiji Makizaka. Desk neighbors, so let’s get along.”

“…I’m Souta Minori. Thanks.”

He shakes my outstretched hand. His hand’s cold—reminds me of how hers gets when she’s nervous. Okay, I’m being creepy, so I stop.

But at that moment, I had no idea.

I never imagined that he—Souta Minori—would become my first real guy friend.