Hotaru invited me to go to an art museum. Inviting Yotsuji too, the three of us. It seemed there was a special exhibition for Hotaru's favorite artist. When Sunday came, we met up and headed to the museum. Inside the museum, the heating was on, making it just the right amount of warm. It seemed a lot of guests were visiting the museum, but luckily it was relatively empty during the time we went. Hotaru took her time, gazing intently at each and every painting. Gazing at the paintings, Hotaru had a faint smile, and I could tell her heart was overflowing with joy.

Hotaru's favorite artist drew pictures where every single line was firm and solid, yet still incredibly delicate. I could feel a thoroughly crafted worldview in each piece, and I didn't get bored no matter how long I looked at them. What was particularly striking were the lively expressions of the young girls and the carefully drawn, beautiful hair.

The artist apparently makes picture books too, and framed original illustrations for the books were displayed on the walls. Following the story through the text and pictures, the picture book reached a happy ending.

We spent a solid hour or so appreciating the artworks exhibited in the hall.

Leaving the museum, the cold wind sharply pierced our cheeks, and Yotsuji rubbed her own shoulders saying, "Whoa, it's cold."

"It really is cold, isn't it."

Hotaru rubbed her hands together and looked up at the transparent sky. Trees taller than me had dropped their leaves to the ground, exposing their spindly figures. The soil was coldly damp, and not a single flower petal could be found anymore.

"It's almost winter, huh. A year really goes by in a flash."

Yotsuji pressed the button for the pedestrian crossing signal. Red letters reading "Please Wait" appeared.

"You sound like an old lady, Yotsuji."

Even as I said that, I was feeling the exact same thing as Yotsuji. Becoming a high school student, meeting Hotaru—the seasons had passed in the blink of an eye.

"How rude. I'm still a fresh and lively teenager."

"You are a bit mature, Yotsuji-chan."

When Hotaru said that, Yotsuji crossed her arms to emphasize a nonexistent cleavage and floated a bewitching smile.

"Well, you just can't hide a mature woman's sex appeal, you know."

I sighed in exasperation. It's true that I had started feeling a sex appeal I hadn't sensed in middle school from her quietly lowered, uneven eyelashes and the clean line of her neck, but her way of speaking and her smile hadn't changed since middle school, which put me at ease a little.

"That part of you is childish, Yotsuji."

"It is."

As Hotaru smiled and clapped her hands together, Yotsuji said, "I wonder if a girl who talks back to me needs a punishment," and reached her hands under Hotaru's armpits. The ticklish Hotaru desperately tried to escape Yotsuji's hands, shaking her head 'no, no'.

"Yotsuji."

"Sorry, sorry. Hotaru's reactions are so funny I just couldn't help it."

When Yotsuji let go of Hotaru, Hotaru unsteadily came over to my side. As if trying to hide behind me, she closed her mouth in dissatisfaction and directed eyes of protest at Yotsuji.

"Oh, was the punishment not enough?"

Yotsuji smirked and wiggled her fingers.

"Help me, Ibuki-chan!"

Hotaru clung to my arm and looked up at me with upturned eyes. I placed my hand on Hotaru's head and gently stroked it.

"Then, I'll punish Yotsuji for you later."

Hotaru probably doesn't know this, but Yotsuji is also quite ticklish.

"I'm sorry. I won't do it again."

Yotsuji gave a quick bow of her head. Hotaru, still holding my arm, laughed happily.

We decided to eat lunch at a nearby shopping mall. Because Yotsuji said she wanted pancakes for lunch. The shopping mall on a holiday had a staggering amount of people. To protect Hotaru, who was becoming suspicious and antsy due to the sheer number of people, Yotsuji and I walked like bodyguards until we reached the cafe serving pancakes.

Being lunchtime, the restaurants and eateries were all crowded. The cafe's seats were all full too; people were sitting on the waiting sofa inside the store, and on the round stools lined up outside. We wrote our names on the waitlist next to the register, but it looked like it would be a long while before we were called.

We stood next to the row of pastel-colored round stools outside the store, waiting for one to open up. Since Yotsuji took out her smartphone, I sent her a short text message.

"I need to go to the bathroom."

When I said that out loud, Yotsuji raised her hand, "Ah, I want to go too."

"Then I'll wait here."

Hotaru showed a slightly lonely expression, but immediately covered it up with a bright smile. Seeing that brave expression made my chest ache, but I thanked her and left the spot with Yotsuji.

"This kinda gets me hyped."

Walking at a brisk pace, Yotsuji said in an excited voice.

"But, we have to get back quickly or I'll feel bad for Hotaru."

We had made a plan for today. Tomorrow is Hotaru's birthday. We had decided to pretend to go to the bathroom so we could go buy her a birthday present. I was thinking of making earrings for Hotaru's birthday present. We got on the escalator lined with people, went up to the second floor, and headed to the handicraft store.

In the handicraft store, gold and silver parts and metal fittings were lined up in rows. I had already decided on the design of what I wanted to make. Taking one of the small baskets placed at the front of the store, I selected the necessary parts. I was able to get all the materials at this store. After paying, I hurried back to the cafe with Yotsuji. Weaving our way through the crowds of people, we reached Hotaru, and I instinctively held my breath at the sight.

Next to Hotaru was a boy. The boy had his arm familiarly wrapped around Hotaru's neck, but it was abundantly clear that Hotaru was terrified. I remembered seeing that boy somewhere before. When I desperately tried to pull the memory out, I remembered him immediately. Muddy brown hair. Long at the nape. He was tall, with a height difference of more than a head compared to Hotaru. Around his neck was an intimidating gold necklace. He was wearing a black long-sleeved shirt with a skull drawn on it, and baggy pants.

That day Hotaru came to class saying she wanted to try attending, and then suddenly went home—when I had stopped walking, I bumped into that boy.

That boy is the one who confessed to Hotaru in middle school.

"Let's go get some food together. These chicks are seriously all ugly, I was bored out of my mind."

Saying that, the boy laughed mockingly. Surrounding Hotaru and the boy were girls wearing short skirts despite such a cold day, with heavy, flashy makeup. The dizzyingly strong scent of musk perfume reached all the way over here.

"Huh? This girl's way uglier. She's a truant gloomy loner. You seriously have terrible taste."

One of the girls said in a low, intimidating voice and a thorny tone. From her tone, it seemed she was a girl from the same middle school as Hotaru. I realized that this was probably the girl who poured juice on Hotaru's doll. Her back, with her long blonde hair tied tightly back, seemed to represent her aggressive nature.

"Huh? Look in a mirror, why don't you. Hotaru definitely likes me, too. Right? Hotaru?"

A glaring desire floated in the boy's eyes. The boy grabbed Hotaru's chin and tried to bring his face close to hers.

With a snap, I heard the sound of something breaking in my head.

Reacting on its own to Hotaru's crisis, my body had already broken into a run.

"Stop it!"

I shoved the boy hard.

"Let's go, Hotaru!"

I grabbed Hotaru's hand and left the spot. I could hear the girls saying something from behind, but I ran without caring.

I wondered if it was bad of me to suddenly shove him, but to protect Hotaru, this was the only thing I could do. The moment I realized that boy was trying to kiss Hotaru, I lost control of myself.

Before my eyes, several walls of people had formed. Thinking only of getting Hotaru away from those kids, I moved forward without hesitation.

Once we reached the clothing section, we looked back to check if those kids were chasing us.

"Looks like we're fine."

Despite suddenly running, Yotsuji, without a single ragged breath, said this in a calm voice.

"I see. Good."

I let go of Hotaru's hand and caught my breath. The chilling disgust I felt when that boy was touching Hotaru still hadn't disappeared. A clammy sweat was breaking out all over my body.

"Who was that guy?"

A seething rage towards that boy floated in Yotsuji's eyes.

"A boy who was in the same class as me in middle school."

Catching her breath just like me, Hotaru answered.

"Trying to force a kiss without even considering the other person's feelings—unbelievable."

Yotsuji had a frustrated expression, and I felt frustrated too.

"Yotsuji is right. Especially when there are people who can't even convey their feelings to the person they love."

At my words, Hotaru's expression froze. Touching her own throat as if checking whether she was breathing, Hotaru spoke in a voice so small it was almost drowned out by the laughter of families and the calls of shop clerks.

"Who is the person you like, Ibuki-chan?"

Hotaru had a deeply hurt voice. Her expression told a far more serious story of her sorrow than when she was about to be forcefully kissed by that boy.

Remaining silent, I averted my face from Hotaru. I could hear the sound of Yotsuji swallowing her saliva.

"Why won't you tell me? Yotsuji-chan knows, doesn't she? Why are you keeping it a secret from me?"

I couldn't answer. There was no way I could answer. I love Hotaru. But, telling the truth, I don't want Hotaru to hate me. I don't want to surprise Hotaru. Hotaru seemed to intend to wait until I opened my mouth, but eventually, she murmured as if she had given up.

"Even though I love you this much, Ibuki-chan, to you, I must have been a very small existence, huh."

A single tear rolled down Hotaru's cheek. With my eyes wide open, I couldn't move a single step. My lips were shut tight, as if a padlock had been placed on them. Even so, I desperately tried to search for words. But the more I panicked, the more I became unable to find the words Hotaru needed right now.

"I'm sorry. I'm going home now. I want to go home alone today."

Turning her back to us, Hotaru disappeared into the crowd. The many sounds and words that had enveloped me until now suddenly felt like they had lost their outlines. My head was hazy, and yet my feelings were extremely rushed. I have to chase after Hotaru. I have to save Hotaru. I have to hold Hotaru's hand and tell her it's okay.

Only the sound of my own breathing sounded terribly loud. I felt a tremendous loneliness and fear, as if I had been left completely alone inside a screen. If I don't hurry, Hotaru will leave. Hotaru is crying all by herself.

My head hurt like it was splitting open, and holding my head, I crouched down. Yotsuji quickly squatted down beside me and rubbed my back. I felt like Yotsuji said something. But I couldn't even grasp the edges of those words. The pain circulated through my entire body like a poison. I curled my body up like a fetus. I learned that Yotsuji had carried me on her back all the way home when my mother told me so while I was on the bed in my own house.

Tomorrow, I want you to come to the Infirmary. Having sent a text to Hotaru, I turned on only my study desk light and made the earrings I was going to gift to Hotaru. I wrapped the completed earrings in both hands and closed my eyes. I stayed like that for a long time, long enough to forget about time.

After wrapping the earrings, I didn't feel like sleeping, so I read the book I had still borrowed from Hotaru. When I finished reading it to the end, I reread it from the beginning again, repeating that continuously. While reading the book, I continued thinking about Hotaru the entire time.

When morning came, I headed to school without even checking my phone. Yotsuji, who arrived at school later than me, placed her index finger on the tip of my nose and floated a relieved-looking smile. That made me happy, and I returned a smile drained of tension.

The time until after school felt like it passed in a flash, yet also felt as long as a thousand years. When 6th period ended, I grabbed my bag and ran to the Infirmary. Opening the door to the Infirmary, Hotaru was nowhere to be seen. The nurse said Hotaru hadn't come today.

"Even so, I will wait," I answered, and the nurse sighed in exasperation. After finishing her work for the day, the nurse told me to make sure to lock up properly, saying it as if lecturing a poorly behaved child, and left the Infirmary.

I sat perfectly still on the sofa, waiting for Hotaru to come. The sun set, the area was dyed in darkness, and the shouts of the sports club members could no longer be heard. In fifteen minutes, it would be the absolute curfew for leaving school. The second hand of the clock ticked away second by second, without breaking its rhythm for even a moment.

I flipped open my phone. The message I sent had a "Read" mark on it. No reply had come from Hotaru yet. Even so, I decided to wait. I decided to wait forever and ever until Hotaru came.

At that moment, I heard the sound of Infirmary door opening. I snapped my head up as if repelled and turned my eyes toward the door. Hotaru, in her school uniform, pressed her lips tightly together as if frightened of something when our eyes met. After that, Hotaru slowly took a breath. Her expression becoming strong-willed, she walked straight over to me.

"I'm sorry about yesterday. I said something incredibly selfish, and caused trouble for you two. The more I thought about how I had to apologize, the scarier it got to go to school, and it ended up being this late. I'm truly sorry."

Hotaru bowed her head deeply to me.

"I'm the one who should apologize. I promised I would protect you, Hotaru, and yet I hurt you."

Remembering the tears that spilled from Hotaru's eyes, my chest ached as if burning with a crackle. The one who hurt Hotaru back then was, without a doubt, me.

Hotaru slowly shook her head side to side.

"You're not to blame, Ibuki-chan. The bad one is me."

"No one thinks you are bad, Hotaru. Because Yotsuji and I are both on your side."

Just as Hotaru had been my ally, I also want to be Hotaru's ally. When I smiled, Hotaru narrowed her eyes in relief.

"Thank you, Ibuki-chan."

I nodded and took the wrapped earrings out of my pocket.

"Hotaru, Happy Birthday."

Receiving the present, Hotaru stared at the earrings with shining eyes, and pulled them to her chest as if hugging them.

"I'm so happy. You remembered my birthday."

"Yeah."

There was no way I could forget Hotaru's birthday. I had been looking forward to wishing her a happy birthday this whole time. Hotaru looked delighted and laughed in a voice like rolling candy drops. Sitting next to me, Hotaru cast her eyes outside the window and said a bit sadly, "The school is going to close soon, huh."

"Hotaru."

"What's wrong? Ibuki-chan."

Hotaru tilted her head and looked at me with glass-marble eyes. Reflected in Hotaru's eyes was, as always, my dull, unimpressive face. I moved so close to Hotaru that our knees touched, and stared at her.

"I love you, Hotaru."

For an instant, Hotaru made a face like she didn't know what had just happened. But it quickly turned into a surprised face, and her cheeks flushed bright red. It's true; whenever Hotaru gets embarrassed, her face turns red immediately. Hotaru remained with her mouth slightly open, unable to say a word.

"In the summer of middle school, I realized my mom was having an affair. Since then, I decided I would never fall in love with anyone again. I thought I would live my whole life without ever loving anyone. Romance, love, everything—I was so scared, I was terrified of it. But I think you changed me, Hotaru. This is my first time falling in love with someone. Just being able to talk to you made me happy. This is the first time I've ever felt this happy being with someone. The world I saw with you was always sparkling. Just having you by my side made every day fun."

I tucked Hotaru's hair behind her ear, and began taking out the earrings fastened to her ear, one by one.

"I thought you would be surprised if you heard my feelings, Hotaru. I'm a massive coward, and I've hidden my feelings all this time. When my dad and mom were getting a divorce, you held the hand of a confused me, Hotaru. You said you'd stay by my side forever. I always, always wanted someone to save me. The one who saved me was you, Hotaru. Thank you for saving me."

I, who was able to fall in love with Hotaru, must be the happiest girl in the world.

In my hands, there were ten earrings. Lastly, I took out the yellow earring inserted into the hole I had pierced. The yellow earring lost its light and was buried among the other earrings.

"I swear I will never let the number of piercing holes on your ears increase again, Hotaru."

Untying the wrapping ribbon, I took out the new earrings and placed them into the holes I had pierced. Gold star earrings. Touching the earrings, Hotaru closed her eyes as if to check their shape and feel, and then finally opened them.

"I love you too, Ibuki-chan. I love you so much."

As I blinked in surprise, Hotaru kissed me. Ending the short kiss, Hotaru floated a smile. I touched Hotaru's earlobe. In my hand, Hotaru's earring flashed with a sparkle. It was like the shooting star we saw that time.

May we find happiness. I prayed in my heart.

This time, I was able to chant it three times.