The bright sun that beams down on the peaceful city. The cool breeze that tries to cool down the citizens of the city in all the blazing temperature and humidity. The heat that counteracts the breeze as it rises from the hot pavement.

Summer has truly arrived upon Bonyari city.

And for the Onodera Sweet shop, it is also one of their greatest enemies.

"Dammit!" Onodera Nanako, owner of the very store, shouts in frustration. "It's only noon, and some of the goods are already going bad…!"

Nanako stares at some of items on display in the front of the store. Although the air conditioner in the store does its job fine, some of the goods are ever so slightly sensitive enough to the seasonal change. While she has seen this over the years, Nanako can't help being upset to see her precious sweets deteriorate from their state of perfection before being sold off to customers who would enjoy them.

"Then we should bring them in as we usually do in such a case," a little sister suggests to her mother.

"...of course, I know that," Nanako sighs, now discontent that she has to move her goods into the kitchen, away from the sight of the customers. While the customers can still look through a catalog to select such sweets, Nanako would like them on display. "Haru, could you please?"

"Got it, Mom," Haru responds obediently as she pulls one tray of sweets out from the display to move them into the kitchen.

As Haru exits the front room into the kitchen, she can hear customers filing into the store. And from their obvious first comments, it must be truly hot outside.

"Today's hot, isn't it."

"Oh, the store feels like a chilled paradise!"

"I should've worn something shorter than these slacks."

But Haru doesn't let that bother her since something else is on her mind.

"Sweets…," Haru begins to think in regards to the sweets that lie on the tray in her hands. And then in her mind, another memory blooms forth in a blur. At such a moment, once again, her mind twists and turns, causing her pain. "...Nngh…"

"Haru-chan?" Someone calls out to the little sister. As she looks up into the kitchen, Haru can see the other two employees showing an expression of worry as they stop their work of making sweets. The one who had called out to her was Nakamura Chiaki, a long-time worker at the store. The other, Sakamoto Aiko, is a newer worker but has been around long enough to be considered as a part of the store's permanent staff.

"Are you okay?" Chiaki inquires in worry again.

"...I'm alright...just having a bit of a headache…," Haru answers as she places the tray of sweets into one of the fridges. She is on the work and doesn't want to rest for the day because of something she believes is trivial.

"Are you sure...? I think you should rest…," Aiko timidly asks, suggesting out of kindness her thoughts.

"..." Haru doesn't know how to answer, seeing that she has truly worried the staff in the kitchen. "It's not-"

Before Haru could say anything further though, Nanako enters the kitchen.

"What's the matter?" Nanako questions as she had overheard the voices of worry from Chiaki and Aiko.

As she looks at her daughter, Nanako can see that her daughter is once again pushing it over the bounds.

"Haru…," Nanako starts to say while scratching the back of her own head. "...go rest."

"But, Mom…!" Haru replies in complaint, but she says no further as her mother continues on to reprimand her.

"First of all, you're worrying the staff. Second, you don't seem to be that much in focus," Nanako lectures her daughter. "If you are not feeling well, you better rest than forcing yourself if you are feeling tired or stressed."

Haru looks downward in disappointment of herself. But seeing this, Nanako gives a small snuff.

"You really are my daughter," Nanako pats her daughter's head, which makes Haru flinch. "I was like you when I was young. Always doing work or something of the likes when I was not in the best of moods, all as an attempt to divert my thoughts from the bad mood itself. It was especially the case when a very bothering thought was on my mind."

As Nanako chuckles while patting Haru's head, Haru continues to look downwards. As much as she's glad her mother understands her train of thoughts, it doesn't help Haru feel any better of her moping.

"If you have something on your mind, you don't have to tell me now, but make sure you do better tomorrow after the day-off," Nanako announces.

"...day-off?" Haru raises her gaze, questioning what her mother is saying to her.

"Yeah. Take the day off," Nanako mentions simply as she removes her hand from Haru's head..

"But if I take the day off…," Haru begins to worry that if she is not in the store, there would only be three staff members. At the very least, there needs to be four in the store, and with big sister Kosaki out studying with her friend Ruri, calling in any other staff would also be too last-minute for such a simple occasion.

"You've been working hard ever since the start of your summer break a week ago, without a day of rest. Working is good, but you should also enjoy your youth," Nanako tells her daughter.

"She's right," Chiaki agrees with Nanako. "You're still young. Plus, I want to see that spunk you always have during work. Best relieve yourself of that stress so we can see you full of energy."

"You always...energize me with your cheerful aura," Aiko speaks her mind. "Ever since I came to work here...a few months ago...your kind and spirited expressions have always allowed me...to be able to push forward."

"So take the day off, Haru," Nanako concludes for everyone. "Leave the work to us three. It's not like we haven't had this happen before, right? We'll do something about it."

Haru looks at her mother, then Chiaki and Aiko, finally giving out a sigh as she submits to defeat.

"...Understood, Mom."

Ten minutes later.

As I lie on the bed of my own room, I contemplate on what to do as I blankly look at the empty ceiling. I have changed out of my work clothes into my more casual clothes, ready to go out to somewhere for a change of mood, but...

"They told me that I should take the day off…," I mumble to myself. "But, what am I supposed to do?"

Being suddenly given time to "rest" for the day, I don't know how to spend it. With nothing directly planned, all I could do is...maybe go walk outside for shopping? Otherwise, nothing comes to mind.

What comes to mind though are the flashbacks I've been seeing during the past week, just by looking at the sweets. A vision of seeing someone making mochi and other sweets with his hands. Although his hands move around in a bit of an unorthodox way, they show no room for mistakes. All the utensils he uses are well maintained and he cleans them away when he's done using them for the while. And the face he shows…

My head pains again, causing me to slowly roll in my bed, side-to-side, as I hold the temple of my head with my hands. The vision just now must have been "the Prince." But as always...why does it pain me every time I think of my "Prince"? Why do I feel like there is a repulsion each time I think of these tender moments…

His face is inked out harshly, not allowing me to see who it is. By now I feel that I should already know who my "Prince" is...but the only thing I know is that it's related to Ichijou-senpai.

But as I think of Ichijou-senpai, once again my head throbs with pain. I know for sure that he is related to why my memories are like this…why they seem messed up, pushing me away from what seems to be precious and fond memories...

But no matter how much I contemplate on the matter, it only brings me pain. I should think more of what to do for the day that my mom is letting me rest for. But, what to do…?

As I think of what to do, my cellphone rings as it vibrates on my desk. I look over, sitting up from my bed, to see who it is. And the name that shows on the screen of my phone…

"...Fuu-chan?" I question as to why she calls.

A week has passed since Fuu-chan returned from her trip the day after summer break began. I had greeted her when she came back, but her reaction upon seeing me was rather unusual. She asked some weird questions about Senpai, but in the end she mentioned that she was crazy in the head.

That aside, she should know that today is my working day, and I haven't told her yet that I've taken the day off. Could it be an urgent matter…?

I pick the phone up and answer the call.

"Fuu-chan?"

"Oh, Haru~!" Fuu-chan says in delight over the phone. "How are you?"

"...good," I answer without much thought. "And you?"

"Doing alright," Fuu-chan mentions in delight once again, this time followed with her usual chuckle.

"...Why did you call me?" I ask in regards to what I was thinking before answering the call.

"Oh, I wanted to go out to…," Fuu-chan abruptly pauses mid-sentence. "...Oh! Oh no, today is your work day, isn't it? Am I bothering you?"

So it seems like she plainly forgot. Usually, she is well kept in knowing my schedule to match up with my pace, but she's still human. Can't do everything right each and every time, I presume.

I take a moment to breath before giving an answer. But this breath ends up being a short sigh, although it doesn't matter to me.

"No, you aren't. I actually got a day off from Mom, so I'm free right now," I tell my best friend.

"Oh...are you overexerting yourself?" Fuu-chan inquires in worry.

"...yes," I give an honest answer. Sometimes I feel that hiding such facts from Fuu-chan brings nothing to the table.

"I always tell you that you should take good care of yourself," Fuu-chan begins to lecture me. "If you have something on your mind, tell someone before you keep it bottled in for too long. If you are quite stressed, be frank and let yourself rest."

"Understood," I say with a sigh. She really looks after me like a second mother. Kind of nice to have this many people being so considerate to me.

"So...you wanted to go somewhere?" I change the subject back to what Fuu-chan seemingly wanted to ask about.

"Oh, yes, there is somewhere," Fuu-chan affirms. "The department store."

"...weren't we planning to do that next week?" I ask to the change of plans.

"Aah, yes. But there's a reason why we should go today," Fuu-chan begins to reason. What could be the reason why she wants to change the date to today?

"There's a summer sale for swimsuits," she says so cheerfully over the phone.

"...swimsuits…?" I question, not feeling interested in buying a swimsuit for the summer at the moment. I could do that on a later date if I ever wanted to go to the pool.

"Yes," Fuu-chan answers. "I heard from Tachibana-senpai that a plan has been made for everyone to go to the beach next week."

...wait, what?

"Tachibana-senpai told you? And everyone is going? I didn't know about this!" I exclaim in confusion to what my friend is telling me. In response she giggles away.

"Of course you wouldn't know. Ufufu," Fuu-chan giggles again to what seems to be the obvious. "Well, you see, I was out on a walk just a few moments ago. Then I saw Tachibana-senpai pass by in a limousine, and that was when she told me about the plan. Jun-san made plans for us all to go to a beach next week and told it to almost everyone. I presume your sister already knows this by now and will talk to you about it later today."

"But...why everyone?" I ask in wonder.

"Why not? Just enjoy the summer," Fuu-chan tells me over the phone.

Even then, I don't feel like going out to get a swimsuit, at least for today. My mood at the moment does not include "let's go shopping" on its wish list, although that was the only course of action I had thought of doing for the day aside from rolling around in a laze.

"Well...there's also a Sweet's Festival at the department store," Fuu-chan announces, catching my deep interest. It seems like she just knows what remedy to use on me.

Knowing that I cannot resist the sensation of going to these Sweet's Festival at the department store, I give into my friend's request.

"...let's go!"

An hour later.

A tall building crowded by people of all ages. Employees stand at the door, welcoming customers in. Banners hanging around in advertisement of the department store's events.

As Fuu-chan had told me, there really is a Sweet's Festival again at this department store. They do it on a normal basis, every couple of months. Most of the times, I'm on my toes in anticipation, but I was distracted for the last while to notice that they are doing it again this month.

As I run towards the building, I can see Fuu-chan waiting at the meeting spot we had decided on. Her outfit befits the summer mood, with a button-up white shirt with frilly designs lining it and a brown knee-high pleated skirt that has a plaid formula woven into it. Over her shirt is a navy blue short-sleeve jacket. With five-centimeter-high heeled-sandals that have straps magnificently crossing over her feet in design, the simple white handbag she holds with her left arm completes the image of my best friend today.

As she stands politely as she always does, she gives a smile to me upon spotting my arrival. At that moment too, the wind softly blows, pushing her shoulder length hair to her left, especially the braided lock of hair on the left side of her head. I'm sure if Fuu-chan was looking at this, this would be an opportune moment to snap a photo with her camera, a hobby that she cherishes very much.

"Sorry, Fuu-chan…," I apologize as I come within five meters of Fuu-chan. The meeting time was supposed to be twenty minutes ago, but I got lost on the way. But knowing Fuu-chan, she already knows about this part of me. Thus…

"No worries," she replies to my apology. "I only arrived a moment ago, so I haven't been waiting long."

A lie. But a kind lie. Fuu-chan is punctual, so I can't imagine that she would come later than the arranged time.

I finally stand in front of her, a little bit out of breath from hurrying to this meeting spot. Fuu-chan continues to shower me with her gentle smile as she slightly tilts her head.

"Really?" I oppose Fuu-chan's claim. As kind as she is, I can't let her say this every time. "If you were waiting, then just say you were."

Seeing me retaliate to her kindness, Fuu-chan does nothing but smile as she sticks her tongue out and knocks on her own head with one hand. Her typical "the cat's out of the bag" expression.

But as I look at Fuu-chan who had been waiting for me, a feeling of deja vu comes upon me. In my memories, I see myself meeting up with someone. But unlike the many times before where I suddenly recalled such vague memories, my head doesn't hurt at all, which for some reason puts me in awe.

But how can this be deja vu? I've gone out to this department store with Fuu-chan a couple of times. I've gone out with my sister and mother, and each time enthusiastically. And I've also gone with the...Prince…

My mind trails off as this piece of memory of spending my time with "the Prince" remains blank. As I recall the event, like a broken record, his face remains scratched out. I cannot see past it, and when I try to, I cannot find an answer to it. It's strange that I feel no pain as I dig into some of my memories, when all my thoughts in relation to "the Prince" or Ichijou-senpai has been full of hurt and pain. It had become so obvious to feel this pain, so why don't I feel it here…?

"Now...shall we go?" Fuu-chan asks me while I remain standing, spacing off.

Seeing that I've been keeping my best friend waiting, I wake from my trance.

"Oh...uh...yeah," I affirm, which causes Fuu-chan to giggle as she walks towards the store entrance. I follow suite and walk next to her.

As we walk in, one store staff hands each of us a pamphlet that elaborates on today's events at the department store. There seems to be a special sale at the "Unit-Glow" on the third floor for formal wear such as suits and white button-ups. The "Vanilla-Chocola" soft serve store on the second floor has a new addition to its menu of an ice cream that looks like a supreme version of their already super deluxe soft serve. There is even a three-for-one deal for plushies at the "Rakuen" toy store on the fifth floor. Might want to go there if I have the time. And as for the sweets, it is on…

Right then, Fuu-chan taps my shoulder. When I look to her direction, she begins to ask her question.

"What's the plan?" she inquires as to what we'll do for the afternoon.

"...I thought you already had a plan," I claim in honesty.

"Well...if you want. Let's go shopping for swimsuits first," Fuu-chan suggests. It is a good idea to take care of the light shopping.

"We'll be able to enjoy the sweets later on leisure time," Fuu-chan finishes her claim with a persuasive note.

Looking at the pamphlet, the sweets event will run until six, so we do have quite a bit of time. The swimsuit shopping will likely take only an hour at most, so we'll have three to four hours to savor the tasty sweets.

"You're right," I agree with a smile on my face, to which Fuu-chan chuckles.

"Then which store should we go to?" Fuu-chan asks me as she looks at the map on her pamphlet. In accordance, I also consult the map as to which store to go to in order to buy our swimsuit.

Then I see an advertisement for the store "Sports All Year Round" which is on the fourth floor. Their sportswear are always of good quality, with a variety of styles. Their prices are also reasonable, and the half-price discount they are advertising for summer apparel here is eye-catching. For a sports store though, they even have a large selection for casual swimsuits during the summer and normal winter jackets during the winter, which attracts the attention of people who are in search of basic seasonal picks.

"Fuu-chan...let's go here," I say to my friend as I point at the "Sports All Year Round" label and the discount.

"Oh, looks like a perfect place to go," Fuu-chan exclaims in excitement to my finding. "It'll allow us to receive good deals while saving money for the sweets."

"Yeah!" I shout as I start to run off towards the escalator.

"Ah, wait for me, Haru," Fuu-chan calls out to me, running after me.

I chuckle as I hop on the escalator, playfully snickering at how I had taken off ahead of Fuu-chan.

Fifteen minutes later.

"Hmm...it should be around here," I talk to myself as I look at the department store map on the pamphlet. "Fuu-chan, it's this way, right?"

"Ufufu. I don't know," Fuu-chan responds immediately with a shrug. "I'm just following you."

"Come on...you know that I'm not…"

I continue to look at the map, then my surroundings. I can see lots of people holding onto shopping bags or walking with their relatives or friends. We had walked up three sets of escalators, which should mean that we're on the fourth floor...well, we also went down one and up another, but I'm definite that we're on the fourth floor. The "D-Lite" European cakery is sitting right in front of my view, so "Sports All Year Round" should be somewhere nearby based on this map…

I keep walking with Fuu-chan at my side, but I can't help thinking about the flashback I had earlier. It was without pain...why? It was a definite flashback with scribbled out faces, but why didn't I…?

As I turn around the corner though, I immediately bump into someone, which causes me to fall.

"Kyah!" I cry as I land on the ground.

"Ah...sorry. Wait…," I hear the person I had bumped into say. But from his voice, I look up and…

"Ichijou...senpai?" Fuu-chan says in wonder in my stead. For some reason, there is a hint of confusion and disappointment mixed in her words, but I dismiss them as my imagination.

As Fuu-chan claimed, the person I had bumped into was Ichijou-senpai. With his undecorated attire of a T-shirt, slacks and a vest, he looks like any normal passerby. Well, the cross-pin that he wears in his gruffy hair is possibly the only unique feature about him since most men don't even bother to decorate their hair with hairpins and other hair-ties of the likes. His surprised expression of seeing me here matches mine as I wonder why Senpai would be here on his own.

But the last part of my last thought is debunked when someone else comes from behind Senpai.

"Raku, what's taking you so lo- Oh, Haru-chan!" a blond squeals in excitement to see me. The blond haired beauty is Kirisaki Chitoge, classmate to my sister and the assumed girlfriend to Ichijou Raku. Her beautiful and ideal body figure would make any stranger believe that she's a young super model. Upbeat and dominant, she expresses herself openly, especially in front of cute items, which seems to include myself. Today, because she's not in school, she is wearing more casual clothes which consists of a light blue one-piece dress that reaches her upper shin, tailored with frills, ribbons and complex snowflake-cut designs at the edges. Her heeled sandals and the pretty handbag accompany what would seem to be Kirisaki-senpai's image of summer apparel.

"...wait...she's his boyfriend, so why am I…," I think to myself as I notice what seems to be a contradiction I had utterly forgotten until now. "Why have I been trying to push Ichijou-senpai to my sister...when he already has…"

The dots do not connect, and no matter how much I try to reason, I cannot fathom why I've been thinking about hooking up my sister to this guy. I admit that it had escaped my mind that Ichijou-senpai had a girlfriend, but how could I have forgotten such a significant relation? Or did I forget something that would make me oversee this piece of information?

And as I try to search through my memories of the reason behind these immoral intentions, my head hurts again. It seems like this part of my memory has been tainted, pushing me away from the reason behind all these oddities.

"Oh, Haru-chan...I'm sorry. Did I push you hard? Did the fall hurt that much?" Senpai calls out to me in worry as he offers his hand. "Can you stand?"

As I look up to Ichijou-senpai and his outstretched arm, an image overlaps. And as I realize again that this must be another notion of flashbacks, my head throbs, which I had expected. Having braced for it, I didn't react as much to the pain physically although my mind wails in pain.

"...I don't need your help," I pout with discontent, rejecting the help offered by my upperclassman all in the while swatting his hand away.

I don't need any of his kindness right now. It pains me, and I don't know why. Until I do understand why, I don't want to relate to him as much as possible. For sure, he's related to all of these moments of pain...

But before I can retreat my hand so I can push myself off the ground, Senpai grabs my arm. With this action that surprises me, he pulls me up gently. As I regain my footing and stand on my own two feet, all I can do is blankly stare at him in awe of what had just happened.

"Stop toughing it out," Ichijou-senpai scolds me with a serious expression. "If you are hurt, then say so. Even if not, you shouldn't reject someone's offer in such a rude way."

"...sorry," I apologize automatically. No matter how frustrating it is to deal with Senpai, I shouldn't vent my bad mood onto him, whether or not he is the cause of these pangs within my head. "Thank you…"

Hearing my words of gratitude, Senpai sighs in relief as he releases his grip on my arm, placing his hands at his hip. While I retreat my hands to my chest, I can feel the leftover warmth of the grip Ichijou-senpai had on my arm. I hold onto this part of my arm nervously.

But in the next moment, before he can say anymore to me...

*BASH*

"Gofuhh!?"

Ichijou-senpai's body flies into a pillar that is to his right, creating a fracture in the structure upon impact. But with how he is used to being punched and kicked around often, Senpai has no visible cuts or bruises.

"Making a girl cry? What a guy you are!" Kirisaki-senpai yells as she raises the very fist she had just punched Ichijou-senpai with.

"Oww…," Senpai moans in pain as he recovers. "That hurt, you know. And crying? I didn't make anyone cry."

"Oh, yes you did!" Kirisaki-senpai yells once again, starting an argument between them. Or should I call it "a lover's quarrel" in this situation?

But I don't pay much attention to this as I hang my head low, staring at the ground below me. With the pain churning within my head, I hold the temple of my head with one hand. All I can feel is a bit of guilt for throwing around my emotions and causing worry to my friends with all my bad decisions, along with the lingering pain from recalling messy flashbacks.

"Are you okay, Haru?" Fuu-chan worries for me from the side, wondering if I'm really alright.

"...yeah," I simply respond. "Just need...a breather. That's all…"

"So…," Ichijou-senpai speaks up after his quarrel with Kirisaki-senpai had died down. "Why are you two here? Shopping?"

"...that's what I would like to ask you two," I answer immediately.

Ichijou-senpai pauses as he scratches the back of his head, thinking on how to explain his circumstances. And to this, Kirisaki-senpai interjects, answering in his place.

"I'm here to shop," Kirisaki-senpai says cheerfully with a bright smile. It's almost as if the fight they just had earlier didn't exist.

"I'm with this beansprout because he was loitering around," she reports to me while pointing to Ichijou-senpai.

"Hey, wait," Senpai attempts to interrupt. "I may have been loitering, but I had my own pla-"

"A plan that didn't happen because the person you were going to meet with called in sick," Kirisaki barks menacingly what seems to be the truth.

"...that's true, but I don't think Shuu would just leave me hanging…," Senpai attempts to reason, but it doesn't stop Kirisaki-senpai from finalizing her story of the situation.

"Anyways. I'm here to shop, and with this beansprout, I'm having him carry my baggage," Kirisaki-senpai chuckles with the same smile she had a moment ago.

So he's basically Kirisaki-senpai's baggage mule here. What kind of relationship is that?

I take a glance at Ichijou-senpai's hands and notice that in one hand, he is already carrying three bags of what seems to be clothes. Most of them are small in size, so I would guess they are bags with shoes or accessories rather than dresses and hats. One more bag in his other hand is a little larger, maybe holding some clothes or other fancy items. But from the distressed look on his face, I can tell Senpai will be holding onto more bags within the next few hours more as long as Kirisaki-senpai shops for more.

"So what are you two doing here, Haru-chan? Fuu-chan?" Kirisaki-senpai inquires us of our purpose here today.

"Well…," I attempt to answer, but I stand timidly in front of Kirisaki-senpai's radiant aura that shines brightly from her upbeatness.

"We're here to purchase some swimsuits," Fuu-chan immediately takes the baton for me. "We're going to go on that beach trip, right?"

"...Beach...trip...Oh! Yeah!" Kirisaki-senpai exclaims in amusement. "We were going to go on that trip! I forgot!"

"You forgot...?" Ichijou-senpai questions in disbelief. "Jun-nii just told us this morning about the trip, so why did you already forget about it...?"

"Shut up! Other things were on my mind, you know," Kirisaki-senpai reprimands Ichijou-senpai. "But goodness, I had forgotten..."

"Perhaps...you haven't purchased a swimsuit for yourself?" Fuu-chan asks humbly.

"No...I have my own custom-made swimsuits at home," Kirisaki-senpai informs us. "But...I just thought now...that I might want to try a store-bought one for once for a beach trip."

"So you'll be coming with us!?" I inquire in joy in being able to shop with a beautiful upperclassman like Kirisaki-senpai.

"Sure! Why not?" Kirisaki-senpai flashes to us a genuine smile.

"Which store were you heading to, then?" Ichijou-senpai questions us sincerely.

"Uhm…," I look over the map on the pamphlet in my hands, looking for the "Sports All Year Round" logo. And upon spotting the square logo with a snowboarder and a swimmer on it, I point to it as I say, "Here."

"Let's see...Hm?" Ichijou-senpai utters with an expression of surprise.

"Is something a matter with this place, Ichijou-senpai?" Fuu-chan asks Senpai.

"Well...the truth is," Senpai starts off as he scratches the back of his head again. "We were planning on going here too."

"Eh? For what would that be, if not for swimwear?" Fuu-chan inquires, wondering why Kirisaki-senpai would need to come to this store.

"My Dad is a good friend of this store's owner, so in return of being sponsored by our company, the store is one of our personal product makers," Kirisaki-senpai explains to us. "Because of that, today, I was going to go pick up the heavy jacket and ski set they had just finished making for me."

"Eh? Ski set? It's summer, you know," I interject at what seems to be an irregular remark.

"Yes, summer here," Ichijou-senpai cuts in to make clear of this misunderstanding I'm making. "But down in New Zealand, below the equator, it's winter. Chitoge here is planning on skiing on one of the mountains down there during the summer break."

Now that does make sense as to why she's getting the ski set now of all times. Her household is rich, so she's able to go out of the country all she wants. I'm somewhat envious of such freedom.

"Hmmm," Kirisaki-senpai thinks for a moment.

I wonder what she's contemplating about...

"I know," she finally says. "If we're going to go to that store, we can browse the swimsuits and I can purchase the ones you want for you two."

"Eh? Really?" Fuu-chan covers her mouth in slight disbelief.

"...N-no. We couldn't...accept such a…," I continue on, humbling myself.

"Come on. Let me be the upperclassman for once," Kirisaki-senpai again smiles kindly to us. "I'm an upperclassman, you know."

And thus we give in.

"...okay," Fuu-chan and I affirm at the same time.

To this, Kirisaki-senpai tries to hold in her urges, but submits into glomping us.

"Kyah!?" I shout in surprise of her embrace. Fuu-chan doesn't make a sound though.

"You two underclassmen are just too cute!" Kirisaki-senpai declares as she nuzzles her cheeks against ours.

"...come on, Chitoge," Ichijou-senpai finally speaks up. "We've gotta go, right?"

"Oh yeah," Kirisaki-senpai releases her grip. "Let's go to the store!"

"Ah, yes…," I start off, looking around as to where the store is. "Which way is it?"

But as I follow the location as to where Kirisaki-senpai is facing, I can see the store. Seems like Fuu-chan and I were walking in the wrong way, away from the store. Oh goodness, my sense of directions is so lacking...

Inside the store, "Sports All Year Round".

Living up to its store name, the store "Sports All Year Round" has a vast selection of sports related clothes items throughout the store. And together with the generic wooden framework the store attempts to mimic, the aisles are also set up nicely.

As I look around, I can see that the store holds all kinds of clothes, including those that are not in-season. While they are fewer in selection at the current time though, the winter clothes on display are of what seems to be the highest quality possible. On the other end, there are aisles full of summer wear, from shorts pants made to ventilate the heat to visor caps with unique designs to even shoes made to run in the sand, or so it is advertised.

And in one area of the store is where the swimsuits are located, flocked with beautiful colors galore. Around though, there are mannequins posing in some of the featured selection of swimsuits. Some stand up naturally, while others...pose for us awkwardly. Really, does that one mannequin have to flex its muscles like some body builder?

"Now, now! Let's try them out!" Kirisaki-senpai energetically trots towards the changing stalls while attempting to pull my arm.

"Wa...wait, Kirisaki-senpai," I respond in surprise, wondering why she is in so much haste. "We haven't even browsed any of the swimsui-"

Before I could finish the last bit of what I was saying, Kirisaki-senpai along with Fuu-chan both show to me a large selection of swimsuits in their hands, from simple one-pieces to exotic bikinis. It seems like both of them are able to make quick decisions and style choices. But the smile they both have scare me.

"Come on, Haru-chan! Let's dress you up!" Kirisaki-senpai exclaims with gleaming eyes.

"Ufufu...let's not waste time," Fuu-chan giggles as she drags me towards the changing stalls.

Although I try to stop them from rushing, my resistance is futile as I get pulled into the stalls against my will.

"...girls," Raku scratches his cheek upon seeing the rushed scene he had just witnessed. "Oh, how terrifying they can be."

But after making such a remark, Raku starts to sift through the selection of swimsuits.

Six minutes later.

"Are you girls done?" Ichijou-senpai calls out to us girls who are still in the changing stalls.

"Not yet, you beansprout!" Kirisaki-senpai shouts out from the stall to my right. "It's rude to hurry us girls when we're changing!"

"S-sorry…," Senpai half-hearted gives an apology.

"The two of them are really on good terms," I think to myself after having finished putting on the swimsuit Kirisaki-senpai and Fuu-chan chose for me.

I look in the mirror of this changing stall, seeing myself don a white bikini with colorful pink specs sprinkled about. To be specific, the pink specifics are supposed to be cherry blossom petals, but I'm sure it's not so obvious upon first glance. As I twirl my body around to see the backside, I can see that this bikini fits my figure all in the while not looking too revealing. Even then, as I gaze at my own breast, I can't help feeling insecure that my assets here are not ample although I'm already a second year in high school. The so-called "cleavage" this bikini slightly shows does not help my feelings of insecurity.

"Haru! Are you ready?" Fuu-chan calls out to me from the stall to my left.

"Uuh...yeah!" I respond to her question with a slight pause of hesitation.

"Then let's show that idiot of a man what beauties we are!" Kirisaki-senpai commands with pride. "We'll go on 3."

"Eh? Ah, wai-" I stumble on my words, wanting to ask my upperclassman for a bit more time so I can ready my heart.

"One...two...!" Kirisaki-senpai starts to count down, leading me to feel that I have no choice but to join.

"THREE!"

*woosh*

As I hop out from the curtains, my arms slightly fold over each other in front of my chest with my knees facing inwards in my feelings of embarrassment. Yes, the guy before us is only Ichijou-senpai, but he is still a guy, whether or not I hate him. I avert my gaze away from where I believe Ichijou-senpai stands so that I won't have to be so conscious of his presence.

But as I do avert my gaze to my right, I look at Kirisaki-senpai in all her dazzle. Uniquely, she has her hair up into a single ponytail held by her red ribbon, a hairstyle I have never seen before from her. Her hairstyle is usually more elaborate than plain, so this might be a sight I should savor.

But that aside, the swimsuit she wears is also what some may call simple yet full of beauty. The dark green bikini top holds up her ample breasts with as much emphasis as she has pride. And while she wears a matching dark green bikini bottom, on top of it she wears tan-colored super-shorts that expresses her energetic and athletic qualities. With the top button to the shorts open, revealing a bit of that bikini bottom, there is a slight air of alluring outgoingness that makes the outfit set more appealing to both the male and female gaze.

"So, how do you think? Looks good, right?" Kirisaki-senpai inquires of her boyfriend as she poses by bending forward so her cleavage is likely visible to him.

But the response he gives is more lackluster than one would expect from a genuine couple.

"Ye...yeah," Ichijou-senpai replies as he scratches his head with a small hint of a blush across his cheeks. "It looks good."

"...Don't you have more than that to say?" Kirisaki-senpai grumbles in disappointment.

"It looks good. Looks beautiful," Senpai adds some topping to his previous statement, but it seems that he isn't in the mood of complimenting.

"How do I look, Senpai?" Someone says from my left.

As I glance over to see who spoke up, it is Fuu-chan. Her expression is the same as usual, with her eyes closed and her bright smile showing her cheerful demeanor. But unusually, she has all the hair on the right side of her head tied to the back, similar to how I do my ponytail. It gives a unique look, especially with the braid she has on the left side of her head. Her arms are behind her, held hand in hand, as she stands normally.

The swimsuit Fuu-chan wears is a great contrast to what I would expect from her. Kind and almost sisterly, the black bikini she wears is quite sexy in comparison. Gold rings hold the bikini together. The top has one ring placed between her breasts, two more at at her side under her armpits and one that holds the strings all together behind her back. For the bottom, there is a ring placed on each side of her waist, all in the while a silky black half-skirt drapes half a feet down. The skirt seems to be part of the bikini bottom rather than an add-on due to how they connect to the rings than overlapping over them.

"Oh...good," Senpai says modestly while scratching his cheek. While there is no blush on his face, I can tell that he is feeling a bit timid to see Fuu-chan's figure in such a swimsuit.

"Ufufu. I'm sure you have more to say, Senpai," Fuu-chan chuckles as she poses with her hands in front of her as she turns her body to her right. This would allow Senpai to see more of her figure from a three-fourths view.

Ichijou-senpai finally looks towards me.

When I notice this though, in response, I cover not only my breasts with one arm but also my lower body with my other, effectively showing how nervous I'm feeling. It doesn't change the fact that I don't want Senpai of all people to see me like this.

"Don't look, you creep," I retort without giving Senpai a chance to say a word.

"Uuh…," Ichijou-senpai gives out a whimper, feeling dejected from my feisty words. "I haven't even said anything yet."

"I don't need a four-timer like you giving me compliments," I yell back in response.

"Four-timer? I've already told you that those are rumours and I'm no-"

"Rumors, my foot! I already see you getting buttered up by at least three girls, day in and day out!"

"Guh…! About that…"

"Now, now, Haru. No need for harsh words," Fuu-chan attempts to calm me down as she stands to my left.

"Fuu-chan is right, Haru-chan," Kirisaki-senpai agrees with my best friend while standing on my right. "No need to take bites at Darling…"

"Are you fine with this? Having your boyfriend messing with girls aside from yourself?" I reason with Kirisaki-senpai who is Ichijou-senpai's supposed girlfriend.

"Well...messing around aside, those are rumors, Haru-chan," Kirisaki-senpai tells me, just as Senpai had done. "Whatever you must have heard are all just rumors made by the suspicions of people around."

"...B-but…," I stutter as I try to rebuke. If those are only rumors, then how do I explain how Tachibana-senpai always glomps him without hesitation? How he always approaches my sister when he has Kirisaki-senpai? It doesn't make much sense, as it seems like a setting that would only come out of a manga.

"Okay...girls," Ichijou-senpai calls out to us with a clap. "Enough with the mingling…and…"

Ichijou-senpai takes a pause, leaving us girls staring at him, wondering why he had stopped us from conversing any further.

"...try these," Senpai takes out from the side what seems to be three more pairs of swimsuits.

"What? Why do we need to try those?" Kirisaki-senpai complains, doubting Senpai's taste in swimsuit fashion.

"Well...I thought these might look good on you girls," Ichijou-senpai gives out a sigh, having anticipated that he would meet some resistance.

"I think the ones we are already wearing are quite good, you know," Fuu-chan mentions humbly. "I don't know your sense of fashion, but Kirisaki-senpai took her time to choose these."

"...I'm sure that trying these won't hurt though, right?" Senpai continues to insist. While it's suspicious that a guy like him is pressing girls to wear swimsuits, I can see that the swimsuit he had selected didn't have any hint of being exotic or fanatic.

"...Sure, we'll try them!" Kirisaki-senpai takes the swimsuits, handing them to us. "Just don't expect us to like what you selected."

"Yeah, yeah, sure. I'm ready to be rejected," Senpai declares as he readies himself to wait again a while.

We head back into the changing stalls.

Five minutes pass.

I had quickly put on the swimsuit Senpai had chosen for us girls. I didn't make much of a thought when wearing it. I presume all of us girls expected him to pick something either plain or out-of-fashion, but it seems like we were wrong. As I look at the swimsuit I wear now, I begin to doubt my initial assumptions.

I stare at myself through the changing room mirror. Similar to what I was wearing before, I don a white two-piece swimsuit. But in comparison to the cherry blossom designs, frills embody this swimsuit. But they don't simply cover around. Layers of frill kindly hang horizontally across my chest, hiding my humbled breasts. The frill of my bottom piece also performs a similar duty in creating a pseudo-skirt with one layer that goes around.

"Did he...notice my insecurities?" I mumble to myself as I place my hands on my chest.

I look out of the curtains, seeing if Senpai is out and waiting. But as I do, Senpai notices my head sticking out.

"Done, Haru-chan?" Senpai calls out to me. "Come on out...no need to be shy."

Of course I would be shy. A girl in her swimsuit appearance is not something you just flaunt to anyone. Well aside for one daughter of the police.

Even though I make this rebuttal in my mind, I step out from the changing stall. Different from the swimsuit I was wearing earlier, my stance is less humbled but just as nervous. My right arm hangs as I hold onto its elbow with my left hand. I simply stand up straight with my eyes slightly averted from Ichijou-senpai.

"...," Ichijou-senpai stares at my figure without a word.

"...are going to say something, or not!?" I ask out of my upperclassman who is gazing at me a bit too much.

"Oh...ah, sorry…," Senpai apologizes right away. "It's just...as I thought, that swimsuit suits you better."

Upon hearing him say this, along with seeing his smile, makes my heart skip a beat.

"Are you...are you saying that you fitted it to my lack of boobs?" I half-joke to Senpai, with some truth in asking if that was his intentions.

"Eh…? Ah! N-no...uuh…," Senpai attempts to find the right words of reason for why he had chosen this swimsuit for me.

"I just thought...that it was very Haru-like," Ichijou-senpai mentions with an honest expression. "And as I expected...I think that it looks pretty good on you, Haru-chan."

Hearing Senpai give this compliment, I can't help myself from recalling a hidden memory again. I recognize these words, and I see myself standing in a dress before someone who is giving the same compliment. And the face of that…

That face becomes clear? Once again, just like the memories where I was saved from the thugs. It's not clear enough to know who it is, but among the violent scribbles that scatter my precious memories, I can make out the outline of the face that belongs to the person who is standing before me. Is this "the prince"? Or is it...

"Are you done, Haru?" Someone calls out to me from my left before I can finish my reminiscence.

As I look in the direction, it's Fuu-chan once again coming out of the changing room. This time, she wears something much different than the sexy, golden ring, black bikini she was wearing by Kirisaki-senpai's suggestion. It's still a bikini, but it's much more reserved as both the top and bottom covers her body more securely, making sure to conceal her cleavage and prevent any attempt of exaggerating the curves of her hip. The scarlet red base of the swimsuit creates a synchronization with the different shades of red that paint across Fuu-chan's swimsuit. Blood red. Rose red. Ruby red. All of them existing as parallel, diagonal lines. Even if they are not much different in hue to the base, it creates an extravagant design that you don't see often.

"Oh, you look great, Haru!" Fuu-chan says cheerfully as she clasps her hand together in front of her. "Absolutely dashing! Just wonderful!"

"T-thanks, Fuu-chan," I respond, embarrassed to hear such an honest compliment. "Speak of yourself though. You look good, too."

"Oh my," Fuu-chan chuckles herself to my words of praise. "Why, thank you."

"I agree. Looking good, as I thought," Ichijou-senpai tags along on the praise train.

"Oh my my," Fuu-chan accepts his words kindly. "But...I didn't expect Senpai to chose a pair for me…?"

Fuu-chan is right. Fuu-chan is not around the upperclassmen often, except when she comes along with me. So I can't see why Senpai would just chose one for her. Would be awkward to choose a swimsuit and match it to someone you know only so little about.

"Well…," Ichijou-senpai scratches his cheek as he assembles his thoughts. "You could say I didn't want to leave you out."

"...eh?" Fuu-chan questions at the unexpected words that came out of Senpai's mouth.

"It...would have felt awkward to pick swimsuits for just one or two of you girls. So I thought…"

"Oh…," both of us second year girls finally understand Ichijou-senpai's intentions. It was just out of plain consideration. So he can be kind and considerate at times like these.

"And you could say I think this swimsuit looks better on you. You know...what I would call very Fuu-like?" Ichijou-senpai chuckles off as he gives another compliment to my friend.

"Oh, my, thank you for the considerations, Senpai," Fuu-chan thanks Senpai.

...I take back my last thoughts that he's kind or considerate. He told me something very similar a few moments ago. What a gigolo...!

"Still...Honey is taking her time, isn't she…," Senpai rhetorically claims.

He's right. We had finished changing a few minutes ago, so I'm sure Kirisaki-senpai is also done changing. From what Senpai had given her, it didn't seem like a difficult swimsuit to put on. Rather, it looked like a two-piece bikini just like ours.

It is then that the curtain to Kirisaki-senpai's changing stall opens, and we all look to her way. What we see before us is baffling.

I've seen Kirisaki-senpai having twintails before, but this time, they are accompanied by white rabbit-ribbons that point upwards as her blonde hair flows down nicely. She wears an aqua blue bikini set that is tinged with white hues in certain places, giving the impression that clouds are afloat along her body.

But those are not the only items that catches our attention. What we lay our eyes on is the translucent silk cloth that hangs around her waist, creating a long, draping skirt. While it is also aqua blue like her bikini, we can see white tropic flowers subtly embedded into the design. The style of the way this skirt hangs is also fascinating as it reaches down past her knee on her right side while only dropping ten or so centimeters over her left hip, giving an image of a half skirt.

"...how is it?" Kirisaki-senpai asks of us. But for all three of us, we remain silent for our own reasons.

"...absolutely gorgeous," Fuu-chan is the first one to speak up with a small gasp.

"Yeah…," I give a simple affirmation without a second thought.

"Come on, Chitoge. Why the shy act?" Ichijou-senpai picks up on Kirisaki-senpai's timidity. What an undelicate man.

"Well...I'm used to wearing more…sporty swimwear than these...fancy ones," Kirisaki-senpai responds to Ichijou-senpai's teasing.

But looking at how she wore that one bikini set that looked like she was wrapped in firm towels, I cannot believe much into her words much. Nonetheless, she looks absolutely stunning.

"Really? It looks perfect on you! You should try these out more often," Ichijou-senpai snickers at Kirisaki-senpai's reasoning. "Fits you so well. Very Chitoge-like!"

"W-what do you mean by very "Chitoge-like"!?" Kirisaki-senpai answers in embarrassment. But it's obvious by her facial expression that Senpai's words has smitten her.

...Grr! That line again. If you are going to compliment some girls, especially in the same group at the same time, use some more variety, you damn player!

I stomp towards Ichijou-senpai as the frustration reaches my head.

"...Haru-chan?" Ichijou-senpai questions why I'm approaching him. But my next action doesn't give him room to say anything more.

"...you...SIX-TIMER!" I yell out as I give him a fierce slap to his left cheek, sending him flying.

"GMFGH…!" Without making a budge to block my slap, Senpai painfully yelps as he lands on the ground, face down.

Fuu-chan and Kirisaki-senpai are unable to do nothing but gape their mouth at what unfolds before them.

"Like this! Like that! If you are going to swindle the hearts of so many maidens, you best use some better lines than your stupid one-liners!" I scold my pitiful Senpai, whether or not he can hear me. "I definitely take back any thought that you are considerate, seeing you play around like this!"

"I...I'm sorry…," Ichijou-senpai mumbles.

"Haru...you're being too harsh," Fuu-chan holds me back, believing that I may hit him again if he said anything more insensitive.

"Yeah, Haru-chan," Kirisaki-senpai holds my shoulder, agreeing with Fuu-chan. "There is no need to hit this beansprout, even though he can be a gigolo at times."

"But...but are you really fine with having this kind of boyfriend!?" I question to Kirisaki-senpai. "This kind of insensitive jerk who spends time with other women behind your back!?"

"...meeting with other girls aside, he's not that kind of man, Haru-chan," Kirisaki-senpai explains. "He's kind, and there are times where his kindness seems misplaced. I'm sure you understand that, right, Haru-chan?"

...hearing Kirisaki-senpai say this is not fully convincing, but her words have meaning. So I calm down a bit.

Ten minutes later.

Ichijou-senpai sits on a chair set around a table, half-conscious with his head face-down on the table. While I sit across from him, Kirisaki-senpai is on my left and Fuu-chan is on my right. Most of Kirisaki-senpai's shopping items rest on the floor on her left side. In the end, Fuu-chan and I bought both of the swimsuits we had tried on, including the one Senpai had chosen for us, and left them in a bag that is between Fuu-chan and my chair.

While Kirisaki-senpai and Fuu-chan chatter along, I remain silent as I keep my head tipped downwards.

Out of a fit of rage, I had slapped him, yet there was no necessity to. Why did I just do that out of nowhere...well, why did I do that for such an unsophisticated reason?

"...and taking pictures of Haru is so fun. No matter from what angle I take her from, she looks like an absolute angel," Fuu-chan converses with Kirisaki-senpai.

...eh?

"I know, right? Haru-chan is just so, so cute! I wish I could take her home," Kirisaki-senpai continues on, charading an act as if she is intensely embracing a plushie in her arms.

Wait...why is their conversation carrying in this way? Just hearing them is not only making me feel a bit nervous from being called "cute" but also suspicious that these two are some kind of...enthusiasts, if I am going to be modest with words. I had already known that Kirisaki-senpai seemed to like me so much, but now that I listen to Fuu-chan's words…

"What are you two talking about!?" I demand out of the two as I stand from my seat. "Why are you two talking about me like some kind of idol or mascot!?"

"Ufufu," Fuu-chan starts with a giggle as she clings to my arm. "We're just saying what's true. That you are so cute."

"Yeah. You're just a doll, Haru-chan," Kirisaki-senpai smiles at me as she embraces me from the other side while patting my head.

"W-wait. S-s-stop it, you two," I protest to the cuddling by Fuu-chan and Kirisaki-senpai. But my words don't seem to reach their ears as they treat me like a pet of some kind.

"...-jou! Ojou!"

Someone calls out from somewhere. It's still faint, but it feels like a voice directed at us. Kirisaki-senpai though knows whose voice this call belongs to, along with where it's coming from.

Kirisaki-senpai perks her head up, although she keeps her embrace on me.

"...Tsugumi?"

As I look in the same way Kirisaki-senpai is looking, I can see Tsugumi-senpai with her school uniform. Although she's undoubtedly a girl with her great assets on her chest, she continues to wear the boy's uniform.

"Why are you here, Tsugumi-senpai?" I speak out loud.

"Well...you could say that I can ask the same," Tsugumi-senpai finally comes within a few meters of our table. "I thought Ojou was at home, so I was surprised to see her here."

"I feel like saying the same," Kirisaki-senpai lets go of me as she properly faces her body towards Tsugumi-senpai. "You also don't usually shop here on your own. You only come around when I request for you to come with me on my shopping sprees."

"Well...I'm not really alone," Tsugumi-senpai tells us with a tone of discontent as she scratches her cheek. Why is she seemingly dissatisfied?

But I notice the reason why when she looks behind herself. Behind her is a girl with a reddish-pink scarf, walking towards us at her own pace.

"...Paula-san?" Fuu-chan questions upon seeing Paula-san being here.

But as we take a closer look as she comes closer, we can see that Paula-san is preoccupied with something of her own interest. In her mouth are two small lollipops with their sticks sticking out of her closed mouth. In one hand, she has three bags of candy, while her other hand holds onto one of the lollipop sticks that jut out from her mouth. In the pockets of her coat, all sorts of candy can be seem stuffed in them, stuffed to the brim but not enough to fall out.

All three of us girls sitting at the table can only watch Paula-san's approach in disappointment as Tsugumi-senpai hangs her head in disappointment.

"Paula wanted to come here, hearing there was a Sweet's Festival happening today," Tsugumi-senpai starts to explain. "She dragged me along, not wanting to go alone. But when we arrived, she was shocked to find out that it was a Japanese Sweet's Festival. Paula doesn't dislike Japanese sweets, but she was hoping for some...'normal' sweets to snack on."

Paula-san finally stands right next to Tsugumi-senpai, with eyes full of satisfaction as she continues to nibble on her lollipops.

"Yo," Paula-san says in a muffled voice. After giving a slight bow to Kirisaki-senpai, she resumes her savoring of the sweets. Seems like she is in her own world of sweets heaven.

Tsugumi-senpai gives a disappointed facepalm upon seeing this.

"Seeing that she was so depressed upon finding out that she somewhat came here for nothing," Tsugumi-senpai continues her explanation. "I brought her to one of the candy stores here and treated her to as much candy as she could hold on her person. Thus...this."

Kirisaki-senpai, Fuu-chan and I give one last glance at Paula-san, thinking of how childish Paula-san can be to be reenergized just by a basketful of candy.

"Oh...Ojou," Paula-san finally speaks up, as she pulls the lollipops out of her mouth.

"Hn? What is it, Paula-chan?" Kirisaki-senpai says with a delirious smile, seeing how cute Paula-san is.

"I actually have one thing to report," Paula-san reports as she takes a couple licks of her lollipop. "I received word from your father that he wanted you back at the mansion as soon as possible."

"...eh? Why?" Kirisaki-senpai gasps, wondering why she is being called back.

"Seems like you made a promise with him on something…," Paula-san finishes her report. "Something about board games…"

"...I forgot!" Kirisaki-senpai finally realizes something she had forgotten. "I promised Dad that I would play chess with him today!"

"Ehhh!?" is what goes through my mind as I'm surprised at the simple matter Kirisaki-senpai had forgotten.

"Is it that big of a deal, Senpai?" Fuu-chan calmly inquires.

"It is! Dad really loves chess, and I promised that I would face him every once in a while," Kirisaki-senpai slams the table as she explains to us the issue at hand. Ichijou-senpai's head simply bobbles on the tabletop, not changing in consciousness. "The last time I missed out on this promise, I found Dad super depressed the next morning. To him, it's one of the few opportunities he has to have fun with me."

So it's that urgent, is it? What a troublesome father Kirisaki-senpai has.

"Well, I'll be going then!" Kirisaki-senpai starts to pick up her handbag and other personal items that remain on the table. "Best not leave Dad waiting."

"Oh...okay," I utter without knowing what else to say. "Bye, Kirisaki-senpai."

"Tsugumi! Get my shopping stuff!" Kirisaki-senpai requests out of Tsugumi-senpai.

"Right away!" Tsugumi-senpai immediately answers Kirisaki-senpai's demand, picking up most of the bags that are full of clothes and other fancy items. "Paula! Come now!"

"Okay...gotcha!" Paula-san mumbles as she picks up the last bags that carry Kirisaki-senpai's skiing set and clothes.

The three of them runs off towards the exit of the department store, leaving Fuu-chan, Senpai and me remaining.

"Well...seems like it's now only the three of us," I grumble, seeing that our party size went from four to six then down to three in a matter of minutes.

"More like two-and-a-half," Fuu-chan surveys the current situation, making the point that Ichijou-senpai is at the moment half-awake, resting his head on the table edge.

I sigh as I look at how miserable of an upperclassman Ichijou-senpai is. If he was only as reliable as the Prin-

An abrupt but slight pain shocks through my head, causing me to hold my temple. Fuu-chan notices this.

"Are you alright?" Fuu-chan worries for my well being.

"No, it's just the usual...no need to worry," I laugh off the pain, having gotten used to these recurring moments of pain.

Fuu-chan's displeased expression shows to me that she wouldn't like to comply with my excuses. But seeing her give a sigh, it seems like she's going to let it pass again.

"Please, don't make me, your best friend, worry. Tell me, or at least tell someone, about this soon than bottling it up," Fuu-chan scolds me with a strict yet sisterly tone.

"...I just feel...that it is not the right moment to say it…," I make an excuse to dodge her complaint. Even then, there is some truth in my words, as I don't feel this is the right place and time. Rather, I feel that this is something important for myself, that I have to try and solve on my own.

"...alright. Can't force you to say anything, can I?" Fuu-chan gives me a gentle smile, to which I nod my head in gratitude.

Fuu-chan takes a look at her wristwatch, thereafter giving a surprised look on her face.

"Oh, look at the time," Fuu-chan announces as she stands up. "It is time for me to go home."

"Eh? What do you mean?" I ask out of my best friend. "It's not even three o'clock. You didn't have any arrangements today, right?"

"Well...ufufu," Fuu-chan gives a sly giggle, which makes me start to doubt that she needs to go. "I just remembered that I had something to attend to by three, so I'll be going now."

I look at Fuu-chan humming to herself as she picks up her bag of the swimsuits. All I can do is look at her with an expression of disbelief.

"Enjoy your time with Ichijou-senpai," Fuu-chan teases me before heading off.

"...eh? What!?" I finally realize what Fuu-chan is setting up. "Wait, I'm not going to stay with this guy!"

I rather spend my afternoon at home, now that we had finished our swimsuit shopping. Of course there is the Sweet's Festival, but if it means to spend it with Senpai or on my own, I would rather go another time. Why is Fuu-chan even setting me up in this kind of manner!?

"I'm going to go home too, if that's the case," I whisper to myself.

But as I try to stand up, I hear my cellphone make a text tone sound.

"Who could it be from?" I ask myself as I open my phone up to the message.

To: Haru

If you don't stay with Senpai for a while more, I'll be certainly upset, ok?

Fuu-chan

...a chill runs down my spine as I read this message. I look up, seeing that Fuu-chan is riding down the escalator as she closes her phone, looking towards me with a smile.

"Fuu-chan...will be upset?" I feel the goosebumps surface on my skin.

While it may not seem like a big deal, the always gentle Fuu-chan is the scariest thing that I've experienced in the world. That one time...no, I don't want to even recall the one and only time when I had upset my dear friend which ended up with me seeing something very traumatizing.

Well, if it's only going to be a simple evening of tagging along with Senpai, it'll be a million times better than meeting the demonic wrath of Fuu-chan.

As I sit back down, I give a sigh out as I surrender to Fuu-chan's demand.

I take a look at Senpai who now rolls his head on the table in his drowsiness. He must be feeling down because of the harsh comment I had given him. What a weird, squeamish upperclassman I have to deal with.

I rest my elbows on the table, thereafter resting my head on my arms. As I stare at Ichijou-senpai, I eventually bring my right arm out, poking his head.

"...hmm?" Ichijou-senpai grunts.

"...wake up, Senpai…," I tell my upperclassman as I retreat my hand. "How long are you thinking of sleeping?"

"Mnngh...five more minutes, Ryu...ehehe," Senpai mumbles in his sleep as he laughs at himself for whatever god forsaken reason. And who are you calling "Ryu"!? First, that's not my name, and second, I'm a girl, not a guy. Plus, since he hadn't given me a clear answer, this ticks me off even more.

"Wake up!" I shout at him in a commanding voice. Upon hearing this, Senpai becomes surprised and finally straightens up.

"Uh, yes, I'm awake...eh?" Seems like Ichijou-senpai is now aware of his surroundings. "Oh, Haru-chan…?"

All I can do is look at him in disappointment once again.

"Yes, it's me," I simply sigh out such words. "Who were you expecting? Onee-chan?"

"Eh..ah, no! Not at all…!" Senpai says in a fluster. "That would be...I mean, I wouldn't imagine…"

"Then...Kirisaki-senpai?"

"Oh...uh…," Senpai's tension tones down. "No…?"

It's quite obvious by the differences in his response that he has more interest in my sister than Kirisaki-senpai. Very fishy...but it could be that he doesn't expect it as much because she's already his girlfriend? I wouldn't think so, but the possibilities…

Even then, Senpai seems to be more like an open book at times. He buckles up when needed, but he's rather easy to catch off guard. That's the impression I get from him, at least.

From then, I start to list off girls who are around Ichijou-senpai. "Tsugumi-senpai? Tachibana-senpai? Maybe Ruri-sa-"

"Wa-wait! Why are you naming their names!?" Ichijou-senpai asks of me. "You're listing names now, aren't you!?"

"Of course I am," I grumble in frustation. "You're a player who chases the skirt of any woman, making them swoon for you with your sweet talk."

"Ggh…," Senpai erks. Seems like he admits to what I had just claimed. But he doesn't stop as he gives excuses. "About that...it's nothing like that…"

"Then what?" I sharply interrogate his intentions as I give him a sharp stare. "Why do you always have so many girls around you? All of them attached to you in their own way. Are you using money? Or something else? And don't think about calling yourself an airheaded chick magnet because that only digs your hole deeper!"

As I see Senpai's overwhelmed expression, I can smell victory in finding out Senpai's true nature. If he reveals the truth, I'll be able to pull him around and get him with my sister. It's pretty obvious now that he has his eyes on my sister.

In the end though, he unexpectedly gives out a sigh as he rests his head on his hand.

"Let's get something sweet to eat," Ichijou-senpai recommends to me as he looks towards me. "It'll be on me."

"...eh?" I don't understand why he both became so calm and is now treating me. Is he trying to sway my opinion of him with some sweets? As if I would be so easily tempted…

"There's a festival of sweets today, right?" Senpai points at the pamphlet.

Yes there is...but so what? I already know. But regardless of knowing, my mouth slightly gapes and drool is about to fall out. Before this happens, I hold my hand to my mouth to stop myself from drooling. As a result, Senpai chuckles.

"You really like the sweets, don't you," Senpai smiles kindly. "You'll get your sweets soon."

How ill-mannered of me. Plus, to be drawn to sweets to so easily, I'm disappointed in the lack of capability I have in suppressing my urges.

"Shut up…," I say softly as I avert my gaze, my hand still to my mouth. "Let's just get the sweets."

I can feel the heat flush through my cheeks as we both stand to go off and buy some sweets.

Time starts to pass as we shop around the stalls of the Sweet's Festival.

"Wow, this one is good!" I exclaim as I taste a rice dumpling Senpai had given me. "Where'd you get it!?"

"Over here! There's some more here!" Senpai shouts out to me as he waves his hand, pointing at a stall that has more rice dumplings. "They're on special sale!"

We wander around different shops to wherever our instinct brings us to...

"Mngh! This is…! This is…!?" Senpai eats away some green-tea biscuits in enthrallment.

"Got some more!" I report to Ichijou-senpai as I bring over some more of the biscuits to entertain him. "They even have it in coffee, red bean and strawberry flavor! How do you like it!?"

And with every shop we visit, I enjoy our time more and more…

"Oh my," a store lady sneers with her hand to her mouth, holding back her laughter. "A nice and young couple, you two are!"

"Eh..what!?" I exclaim in detest. "We're not like that!"

...or not. Even then, I can't help the fact that I've done this before. I recollect the feelings of going around this department store, in this exact manner, with someone. And even as I see myself with this other person...nothing pains me. Why? Even though all the times I had tried recalling such tender moments with Mr. face-blurred-out...I had faced pain. So why…? Are these moments I'm enjoying with Senpai...not related? Or is it because of something else…?

Even then, I cannot deny that I'm living the moment as I enjoy the sweets that we recommend each other…

"Hahaha…!" I laugh as I run ahead. "Come on, Senpai! There's still more to try!"

"...Got it! Just wait!" Senpai says as he tries to catch his breath.

I chuckle as I continue to head for the next stall.

Hours later.

The festival had ended and our running spree had come to a stop. Even then, we had bought enough sweets that we could walk home, eating all in the while. From taiyaki to rice crackers, there is a whole variety of sweets and snacks to choose from what we had bought.

As the department store isn't closed yet, we take the opportunity to sit at a table on the department store rooftop to enjoy the fresh air. And for at least half an hour, we chatter about sweets and enjoy our plunder.

"Mnnnh...aaahh!" I exhale as I finish stretching my arms out. "That was just great!"

Our heated talk over sweets had simmered and we take a break in our conversation.

"Yeah...it was," Ichijou-senpai agrees, although he seems to realize something. "But my wallet is not so...great…"

As tears fall down his cheeks, Senpai holds up his wallet for me to see. As I look, it looks like a beaten up punching bag, with all its "filling" gone. Almost as if each sweet we had bought was equal to a straight punch thrown by an elite boxer to the wallet. We must have gone overboard with how many sweets we had bought.

"Uh, uhm…err...," I stutter a bit as hesitate to say what I want to say next, feeling pity on the wallet. "I'll pay...some money back...for the sweets we had bought today…"

"Oh. No worries," Ichijou-senpai puts his wallet away. "I did say it was all on me, right?"

"Even then…," I attempt to say more, but the words don't come out as Senpai holds his hand out.

"Let me be the upperclassman here," Senpai tells me with a gentle expression. "I don't get to do this often, so it's a privilege for me too."

"...okay," I quietly surrender to his rational.

"Even then, I got what I wanted," Senpai states with a slightly triumphant tone.

"Eh?" I utter, wondering what Senpai means. Does he mean that he got the sweets that he wanted?

"Finally got you to cheer up," Senpai tells me this, giving me a smile as he rest his head on one hand.

"...eh?" I once again gasp, this time with more surprise. He had us go around just to cheer me up? Was I that much in a bad mood?

Well, if you consider how I had slapped him in the face and talked sharply at him thereafter, anyone would assume that I was in a very bad mood...okay, I was definitely in a bad mood. No denying there…

"I wanted to also explain myself properly," Senpai states as he straightens his body to face towards me. "And having you in a bad mood wouldn't help at all."

"Explain…?"

"Recently, I've been wondering…," Senpai starts to describe. "If I'm really a 'playboy' or not."

"Oh, so this is what he wants to explain," I think to myself. "Of course you are a playboy, Senpai! There is no denying it."

Although I only say this in my mind, it seems like the emotions shows on my face, to which Ichijou-senpai starts to whimper.

"...no need to make that face, Haru-chan," Ichijou-senpai tells me as he admits his guilt. "I took my time to think since I knew people like yourself were not settled with how I am."

If he had taken into consideration this part of his personality, I think I'll at least lend him a listening ear. I settle my body position so that I can listen comfortably. In the meanwhile, I open another packet of rice crackers to snack on.

"Right around the time when summer vacation started…," Senpai starts to narrate. "I had wondered if I was really...too flimsy with my words. So I consulted Jun-nii about the matter…"

Senpai scratches his cheek as he tries to summarize his interaction with Jun-san.

"He told me that it is true that I sometimes speak too kindly, causing some unnecessary misunderstandings. And because of the misunderstandings, I may eventually have to pay for my indecisive ways...but he also told me something else..."

"...what did he tell you?" I inquire, wondering what Jun-san had told him.

"He told me that this is a part of me...or better to say that this is who I am."

...the sincere expression Senpai puts on when he says these words matches up with the sunlight that beams on his face from the west as the sun itself approaches sunset.

"You know, I was raised in a household of Yakuza members. I was always around strong, burly men and the Japanese aesthetic of honor, guarded for life as an heir to the next seat. I've lived a protected life, and until high school, I could only dream of living a life where men with guns and swords weren't protecting me around the clock," Ichijou-senpai closes his eyes as he sighs to his own life story. "Because of such a lifestyle, I didn't have the best...social interactions or experience. I may not be shy, but for sure, there are times where I might be a bit naive with my words and thoughts. It has gotten me into trouble, but at times, trouble worth going through."

...what is this? Some sort of "Ichijou Raku's Redeem" chapter? Is he trying to show himself as the victim so I can place pity on him?

Even as I internally bicker on the surface, deep inside, I begin to understand Senpai's hardships. That I had been pressing upon him my simple first impressions with no review.

"But...even then, Jun-nii told me that this is who I am," Senpai restates what he had said earlier. "If there is unexpected trouble up ahead...then I'll just have to deal with it when it happens than delaying it with lies. And if people don't like the way I am...and the way things go because of my actions, then I just have to make it up to them in my own way...or they just have to deal with it. Because...if I change who I am to someone else's will...I am not myself anymore, right?"

The last smile he gives me leaves an impression on me as I finish eating the first rice cracker of the packet. He's very much right. As much it's nice to abide by others to fit in...there are times where you want to be on your free will. It would be ideal to be able to go by your own will all the time instead of being pushed around…being honest instead of putting up a mask…

But even then, he in himself does not get pushed around by the thoughts of others. He considers what he believes is the best for everyone and applies that through his kindness. At times, his actions can be misleading, but in the end, he doesn't usually place any ill intention in his actions. He doesn't push aside the opinion of others unless he believes his own better judgement overrides theirs. A considerate kind of honesty...that tries not to let biased impressions pull him down…

It is at this moment that I recall another faint memory. But different from all of the recalled memories I have been facing in the last few weeks, it's a memory of the time at last year's summer festival about Maiko-senpai and Ruri-san. Not a memory of sneaking on their date...well, I had thought they were doing just that, but more importantly, it's a critical piece as to why I was confused about one matter earlier today.

The truth behind the relationship between Ichijou-senpai and Kirisaki-senpai.

"...I know their families have been at odds, but they're fake lovers…," Ruri-san stated as I hid among the bushels nearby.

"According to him, it's apparently only through high school…," Maiko-senpai laughed away as my hearing faded towards my inner thoughts of confusion at the time.

Why had I forgotten this important piece of information? With what I had thought earlier, this is like a double epiphany...except without any new ideas both times...just the realization that I had forgotten why I was cheering my sister on so much as of late...

While I start to nibble a second cracker during my pondering, Senpai stands up, heading to the guardrail of the rooftop. As I look towards where he's going, I can see the setting sun that glows like a lull of light. He must be going out to the rail to look at it set.

I place the rice crackers down, standing up to walk to the guard rail to also gaze at the beautiful scenery of the town the setting sun provides for us.

"...wow…," I whisper under my breath in astonishment of the scene before me. I never knew the top of this department building had such a beautiful view.

And yet I'm spending this kind of heartwarming time with Ichijou-senpai of all people. Goodness, it irritates my nerves...but it soothes me for some reason. Possibly because of the the small speech he had given to me?

But a change of thought is made in my mind as I rest my upper body against the rails.

"You know, Senpai…," I start to speak to my upperclassman, catching his attention. "I should have told you about this a few weeks ago..."

"Mm?" Senpai hums as he flips over his body away from the railing, having his back now lean against the rails as his arms rest on it too as extra support. "What is it, Haru-chan?"

"I've already told you about how I've been getting headaches from seeing your face...right?" I recall the time when I made a fit when Senpai saved me from the delinquents at the karaoke place. "...it's because I had my memories jumbled...and recalling them pained me…"

"...what kind of memories?" Senpai asks in interest.

"...the ones with the "Prince" and the times I spent with him…," I answer wholeheartedly. "The time when I went to the aquarium with him. The time I shopped with him. The times he nursed me back to health. The time he helped in the store. The times...when he was there for me...At least, that's what I would like to believe."

Thinking back to the memories, I feel that I've been pasting within my thoughts that these scribbled out faces belong to "the prince"...but I feel now that I may have been making a mistake in doing just that…

The time when someone was skillfully kneading the dough for Japanese sweets. The time I met up with someone for an outing. The time when someone complimented me on my outfit. The time I went around to enjoy the sweets with this someone. I feel...that this person whose face is left as either a scratch-out or as an outline...a blank...it may belong to…

*throb*

My head hurts finally...why now? When I was just about to recall who the face might belong to…

"...Haru-chan? Are you alright?" Senpai worries about me as I hold my head from the pain.

"I'm...okay...just the usual pain…," I mumble this excuse. "...I wasn't done, was I?"

"Oh, okay...if you say you're alright…," Ichijou-senpai complies to my ways, although his expression still shows worry.

"...you know "the prince"...right, Senpai?" I ask bluntly.

"...yeah." is the only thing Senpai can respond with as he wonders what I'm going to ask in the end. "But right now he's ri-"

"Everytime I see your face….or think about "the prince"...my head hurts. And at times, my chest hurts, Senpai…," I interrupt what Senpai was trying to say on purpose. I want to finish asking this. "Could it be...that you are…?"

I adjust my body so that I face Senpai. "...my prince?"

I look at Senpai with pleasing eyes. And his expression shows that he has no idea how to deal with the situation.

"Oh...no no no no," Ichijou-senpai outright denies my claim. "I am not him! The prince is off somewhere…! I don't see why you think it's me…"

"...ufufu...ahaha…," I try to hold in my laughter as I enjoy Senpai's answer. "I'm just joking Senpai...Ahahaha!"

Having been fooled, Senpai slouches against the railing in relief that he didn't need to explain no more.

But, from what I could see...if he's says that he's not my prince...

As I examine on what had just happened, one last memory flashes back...under the fireworks...with me standing in front of Senpai...looking at someone making the same flustered gestures...who is this person…really...?

"Well...let's get on home, Senpai!" I shout as I head to the table to pick up my stuff. "It's already this late!"

"Oh...got it!" Ichijou-senpai moves to my command, following right behind me.

I pick up the bags of snacks, along with the bag with my new-bought swimsuits. And because I have one bag too many that I can't carry in either arm, Senpai holds onto it for me.

"...thank you," I thank him.

"You're welcome," he replies as we head to the door that leads back into the department store.

As we walk down the stairs to ground level, I take one last look at the memories I had just recalled today, inquiring their purpose. What do they mean? Why do they appear now? Why did I "lose" them? And what are they trying to tell me?

I once again dismiss these memories. But unlike before, I treasure them a bit more in hope of finding what secret messages may be within them…

Or…is it just a simple, yet very dear connection that I had lost?

...I had thought my last chapter was long...but goodness...this chapter is really...really long...14,800 words vs the previous chapter's 9,200...would have been longer if I had done things differently...

Now, let's ignore what I have to say about the chapter and get on-board to a short A/N; don't want to make this too long now. This chapter is the in-between chapter that will build up to this "resolve" I'm attempting to build up. Does that mean after the "resolve" the story is done? Stay tuned if you would like to know.

I apologize to everyone for such a long wait for this chapter's release. With every chapter, it becomes a bit harder to make good build up, even if the structure of the chapter has been decided upon. Even with the summer, I have also been busy on my end, along with other factors. Most of all...I would like to say that I've been missing my Haru-chan in the manga, but that's a mere excuse. I'll see making sure the upcoming epilogue and next chapter do not get this treatment.

As a note to those who are unaware, in Japan, they email instead of texting, which is why the format of their "texting" is similar to emailing. You can still send long messages, but in Japan, it's utilized for short talk-to-and-fro. As of late, there are also other apps and features that have been replacing this, such as Line.

More is to come in the upcoming chapters, so please stay tuned in to what will eventually arrive. Reviews and comments are much appreciated as usual.

Also, please look forward to the epilogue in extras. I can promise that they'll entertain you as much the previous one...!