Chapter 378: Who’d Be So Lucky

Nanami’s name was right there on the list of selected names, plain as day.

It was totally expected, yet Himekoji’s relief and happiness for her were totally genuine. He could finally breathe a sigh of relief. The whole way back, he’d kept praying nothing unexpected happened again like last time.

“Congratulations, Aoyama.”

It was something he’d wanted to say during the last selection, but unfortunately, it had to wait until now.

“Hmm.”

A smile slowly spread across the girl’s face, but she didn’t look nearly as excited as he’d pictured.

“Huh? You don’t seem super happy?”

“Pfft, no way, I am happy.”

“Not really! You should be happier! This is your dream, isn’t it?”

Himekoji felt like he was the more excited one right now.

“Aah~ Honestly!” Nanami tossed a glare his way. “Because there are too many happy things! How exactly am I supposed to act ‘happy enough’ for you?” But the next moment, she couldn’t hold back a snicker, hiding her mouth as she laughed.

Perhaps she was far livelier and cuter today than she usually was. Was it because, deep down, he’d finally acknowledged his feelings for her? Her every move, every word, every smile, every time she spoke… it all sparkled with an undeniable charm in Himekoji’s eyes.

“Speaking of which,” Nanami continued, “you can’t just say congratulations.”

“Huh?”

Can’t just say it? What else was he supposed to do with his mouth? Not… could she mean…?

Kiss?

The words she’d spoken earlier echoed in his mind again: ‘If you choose me… as many times as you want.’

Really? Really, as many times as he wanted? That thought popped into his head without conscious control… Wait! What in the world was he thinking?!

He snapped back to reality with a jolt, suddenly realizing he’d fallen into dangerous territory. The slightest mention of anything mouth-related immediately triggered wildly improper thoughts. He shook his head vigorously, managing to regain a bit of reason and composure.

“At the very least,” Nanami declared, breaking the awkward silence, “you should treat me to ice cream again. As a congratulatory gift.”

“Huh? Ice cream?”

“Because then…” she continued, pulling a tightly clutched piece of paper from her pocket, “…we can finally use the coupon!” Her face shone with barely concealed glee.

“Eh? The coupon?” Himekoji definitely hadn’t been expecting that.

Watching her sheer delight at the simple idea of using a half-price ice cream coupon Himekoji couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh. This was… so very Nanami.

“Hold on,” Himekoji said, suddenly remembering. “Didn’t you pay just now?” He questioned her choice of word ‘again’.

“The owner said he gives discounts when girls pay,” Nanami explained a little too brightly.

While that might possibly be true, it was definitely just an excuse. Nanami was a strict believer in splitting bills equally. Every time Himekoji found a way to treat her, she always made a point of paying him back later. Though, thanks to her tight budget, that ‘later’ usually meant waiting until she got her next paycheck…

“Pfft, that’s our Aoyama alright,” Himekoji chuckled, playing along. “Honestly, you’ll make some guy an incredibly financially smart wife someday.”

The words tumbled out automatically. “Really wonder who’d be so lucky, getting to marry you.”

“Hm?”

It was just an offhand remark for Himekoji. But Nanami froze for a second, blinked, then quickly turned her head away… The tips of her ears seemed suddenly pink.

Then, so softly it was almost a murmur, came Nanami’s shy, slightly flustered response:

“Then… then may Himekoji-kun be… s-so lucky…”

“W-Wish me luck? Wh-what?! Hold on… what do you mean… context…”

Even someone as slow on the uptake as him could figure out the implication. It hit him like a brick wall half a minute later. His face burned bright red, his hands flailing uselessly.

“N-No!” Nanami yelped, snapping back to herself as if realizing the gravity of her words just then, mortified. She clapped both hands over her flushed face, shaking her head vigorously, instantly launching into an unnecessary, flustered defense. “I-I didn’t mean… anything weird!”

“R-Right,” Himekoji stammered, his own face still flaming. “Y-Yeah… I… didn’t make any weird connections either…”

“Th-That’s… that’s good then…”

As soon as they finished speaking, their eyes instinctively sought the other’s gaze. Then, in perfect, mirror-like unison, they both immediately looked away again, hearts pounding guiltily. The synchronization only made the awkwardness ten times worse.

“So… i-i-ice cream?” Nanami managed to squeeze out.

“Ah… s-sure,” Himekoji mumbled thickly. “Thanks…”

The ice cream was freezing cold. But somehow… it tasted incredibly sweet.

After finishing the ice cream, they didn’t walk home together. Nanami veered off towards the coffee shop where she worked part-time, explaining she had a shift tonight. Diligent, hardworking, never slacking for a single day – that was Nanami. Only the last leg remained for Himekoji, walking by himself.

For a short stretch after Nanami left, Himekoji found himself staring at the empty space beside him. A pang of unexpected, unfamiliar loneliness hit him. He stood frozen for a long moment before finally shaking his head at his own foolishness and letting out a self-deprecating chuckle. He thought he was used to being alone. Turns out… not quite. What a liar, even to himself.

Passing the supermarket on his way, Himekoji subconsciously ducked inside and bought several Baumkuchen. Somehow, without realizing when it started, Baumkuchen had become a staple on his mandatory shopping list.

Back home, he stored most of them in the refrigerator. But just before closing the fridge door, he paused, then pulled one bag out and held onto it.

He tore open the packaging. Sitting absentmindedly on the sofa in the quiet living room, Himekoji chewed on the Baumkuchen, his thoughts clearly far away.

Those thoughts, of course, could only be about one thing. Nanami. And Mashiro.

That’s all he could think about. Over the past three days, it was all he had been thinking about.

…‘Meaning I want to be with you, Akito.’

That’s what Mashiro had said.

‘…I also ask that you think about a future… where we become lovers.’

And this came from Nanami.

The same core desire. From two completely different girls. Himekoji had half a month to find his own answer.

Lovers. Boyfriend and girlfriend. Together.

It wasn’t like he’d never considered the idea. Even though he’d tried hard to suppress it, the thought had still surfaced. Of course he’d thought about it. How could he not? He was a normal, healthy guy… even if everyone else just saw him as a pervert.

So…

What would being in a relationship with Nanami be like?

And what about being with Mashiro?

He… didn’t know.

He liked Nanami. That much, denying now was pointless.

But what did he feel for Mashiro?

That… he still didn’t know.

…