"You know, Suwa…" said Kakeru. As usual, they have just finished their morning soccer practice.

"Yes?"

"Naho invited me to watch the fireworks on the last day of the cultural festival. Is it ok for me to go?"

"Eh? Why are you asking me?"

"Well, you like Naho, don't you?"

That question surprised Suwa. "How did you know? I never told anyone."

Kakeru chuckled mischievously. "Well, I think everyone knows, except Naho."

"Am I such an obvious person?"

"Obviously."

The cultural festival was starting in two days. Hence, there was no class as the time was dedicated to the preparation of the cultural festival. Suwa and his friends were busy doing the preparatory work.

"Hey Kakeru! Why don't you enter the Mr Contest?" said Azusa who was looking as if she just came out with a brilliant idea.

"Huh? Why?" said Kakeru.

"Kakeru is pretty handsome, no?" said Azusa.

"What are you saying?" said Kakeru.

"Maybe I should join the Mr Contest." said Hagita.

"If you enter, you will be the last place. With zero votes." said Takako.

"That's what I am aiming for." said Hagita.

"What weird aims you have. But… I think that if you took off your glasses, you would look good. Not that I mind you wearing glasses. You still look good, I think." said Azusa.

A stunned silence permeates the whole place.

"Don't flatter him. Look, he's losing it." Suwa broke the silence as it was getting awkward. This two have always some confusing chemistry between them. He wonders when they would end up together.

"Well, Suwa should enter the Mr Contest. He was confessed by the 3 managers of the soccer club." said Kakeru.

"Kakeru! Don't spill gossips."

"It's the truth, haha."

"Well, considering that Suwa is a handsome gluttonous muscular monster, that seems likely." said Azusa.

"So, what did you do?" asked Takako.

"I rejected them. I told them I have someone I liked already." said Suwa.

"Well, I see." said Azusa and Takako knowingly.

"What? Why are all looking at me like that?" said Suwa.

"Well, obviously, its Takamiya that he likes." said Hagita.

There was a shocked silence as Hagita broke the secret. An extremely surprised Naho looked at Suwa. Suwa started to blush.

"Stupid!" said Suwa to Hagita before walking off to the toilet. He needed to hide his blushing face from Naho.

"What are you saying? Are your glasses not working? How can that be true? Don't listen to his nonsense, Naho." said Azusa in an attempt to cover the truth. Or at least that is what Suwa heard from a distance. Azusa proceeded to pull Hagita away to lecture him.

Suwa breathed a sigh of relief. Hopefully, Naho didn't get the truth. She was after all, always slightly dense. He went into the washroom to wash his face.

As he was just planning to return to the classroom from the toilet, Azusa and Takako stopped him.

"Yes?"

"Suwa. We're Naho allies foremost. So, we can't help you. You know, she likes Kakeru."

"It's okay. That's not my intention." said Suwa. After all, he had resolved to support Kakeru and Naho to be together.

"If Kakeru and Naho end up going out together, you would be fine?" asked Azusa.

"Yeah, I will be. I would be happy."

"Really? If you say like that, then I will expect your cooperation. It's fine by me." said Takako. She was as sharp as usual. Of course, it would be hard for him. But he would try.

"After all, I am also Naho's and Kakeru's ally." said Suwa. His friendship with Kakeru is something that he valued as much as Naho. For him now, he would go to any lengths to save Kakeru. Even if that means sacrificing the possibility of him being with the girl he likes.

July 15, the third and last day of the Azalea cultural festival. Since it was already the third day, most people have already visited their class "pool house". Hence, business was slower than usual.

"Hey Naho. Between me, Suwa and Hagita, who would you confess to?" asked Kakeru. From a distance, Suwa was able to hear their conversation. He wondered why Kakeru would be so daring to suddenly ask such a question. Still, he was definitely curious.

"Eh …?" A shocked Naho answered. Well, obviously she would be surprised. How direct could you be, Kakeru? Suwa facepalmed.

"I can't choose." answered Naho.

"Just tell me. Don't worry that I am in the example too. I won't get offended if you don't choose me, you know?" said Kakeru.

"Eh? Err…"

"Then… How about you, Kakeru? Between us three girls, who would you confess to?" asked Azusa suddenly.

"Err… I don't know. No one?" said Kakeru.

"Hahaha. We know who you would confess to." Azusa and Takako replied while laughing mischievously.

"You should have told her." said Suwa to Kakeru. It was their break time from their duty at their class "Pool House" and they were both resting in their empty classroom.

"Hah? What do you mean?"

"Say that you would confess to Naho."

"Oh. You meant that. You overheard?"

"Yeah."

"But, I don't actually like her."

"You mean you don't?"

"Well, you know, I definitely like her as her friend, but romantically? I'm not sure. How would you know you have fallen in love with someone? What your opinion on this, Suwa?"

"Eh. Hmm. Doesn't everyone have a different way of falling in love? Well, if you want to know, for me, it's the kind of feeling when you just can't stop thinking of someone, when they are around, you will start feeling nervous. Although it might be possible to control that after a while…"

"Can't stop thinking about Naho? Eh?"

"Oi, Kakeru. What are you saying?"

"Haha. Your face is red. Well, it's not even a secret already. Everyone other than Naho knows."

"Doesn't mean you should be teasing me with it. But, really, I obviously don't think of Naho day and night. After like the first few months, the frequency just reduces"

"Then, wouldn't that mean you don't like her as much anymore?"

"Well, but I still think about her sometimes, so I know that she is important to me."

"Hmm, seems reasonable, your reasoning. Actually, why are you trying to pair me up with her? When the fact is, you like her?"

"Err…" Suwa did not expect this question. Now that he thought about it, what he was doing was weird. Could he come up with something?

"I value my friends more, I guess. She likes you, you know. And if you like her, I will definitely support you two." said Suwa.

"Eh, she likes me?"

"Gosh, Kakeru. You can guess who I like but can't sense that someone likes you?"

"Well, isn't it normal to not feel so highly of yourself and think that someone likes you? I don't know? Is that a normal thing? Well, that's true for me, at least."

"Well, that's true."

"And between a love that I am not sure even exists, and a friendship I definitely value, I think I know the answer. Just look at what happened when I chose to date Ueda-senpai. I don't want to make mistakes and regret again. That's why, I'll choose to maintain the status quo."

"Wouldn't it be better to try? Nothing will change then."

"Is change always good, then?"

Suwa didn't have the answer to that question. And with that, their break ended in silence.

The day was long. Kakeru and Naho successfully watch the fireworks together, despite Ueda-senpai's effort in trying to meddle. He ended up watching the fireworks with Hagita, since they were both on "guard duty". He would rather watch with Kakeru or Naho, or both. Or with the whole group. Watching with Hagita was mildly awkward, since Hagita wasn't a person that talk much.

"Hey Suwa, you're ok?" Hagita broke the silence.

"I'm fine. What do you mean?"

"Just, don't you like Naho?"

"I think Kakeru's happiness is more important though."

"You sure he likes her? Originally, I thought that he likes her, since you and the other two girls seems just as convinced, but on closer observation, I don't think so. Even though it is not typical, I think the way he treats her is just as a friend."

"Really?" Suwa started to think. Has the future changed differently to what the letter predicted? In this future, maybe Kakeru didn't fall in love with Naho? Might have the letter from the future made him biased? For some reason, Hagita's statement seems correct. Indeed, Kakeru have been telling him he wasn't sure if he likes Naho. Suwa thought Kakeru might be just unwilling to admit his feelings, but, is it possible that he doesn't actually like Naho?

"Well, that's just my opinion."

Soon, Azusa and Takako joined them.

"Look at what we have gotten!" said Azusa.

"Yeah, it's that bitch Ueda's Ms Contest prize. She was trying to dump it on Naho to carry, but we got it now." said Takako.

"Let's drink the orange juices." said Azusa

"Great idea. By the way, why I they taking so long? The fireworks long over." said Takako.

"Could they be…?" said Azusa.

"What are you suggesting, Azusa? Something perverted?" said Hagita.

"Eh, what are you saying? You're accusing me of having a dirty mind?" replied Azusa.

"Well, it your fault for creating such a misunderstanding." said Hagita

"Oh look, Suwa. They are going at it again." said Takako.

"Haha. They sure are. But, those two are taking long, though."

As the same moment, Naho and Kakeru arrived. For some reason, Naho's eyes looks like they have been crying. Kakeru look a bit apologetic. Did anyone else notice that? Takako might have, her eyes were sharp.

"Come have some orange juice." Suwa offered some to Naho and Kakeru in an effort to avoid the others from asking them questions. Somehow, he was sure they didn't want to say out what happened. But, sure, he was curious.