───● The Energetic JD girl Knows Fate ●○●

The day of the trip arrived with the guilt swirling in my chest not solved.

The three of us—Masato, Koumi, and I—have come to the beach, but I’ve lost sight of what kind of feelings I should have while being with them.

I try to act with the intention of leaving Masato and Koumi alone as much as possible, but every time I do, my heart tightens.

I’m thinking, I want him to fall in love with me.

…In this state, if I were told the two of them started dating, would I be able to smile and bless them?

“Hey, how is it? Do you think he’ll say I’m cute?”

“…Y-Yeah. Koumi is super cute! He’ll say it!”

In the changing room. Changing into swimsuits, we check each other’s appearance before going out to Masato.

There is no lie in my words. Koumi is cute. She has a good figure, and the swimsuit suits her well. I’ve known that for a long time. That’s why, that’s why it’s so painful.

After that, coming to the beach, seeing Koumi get praised and the two of them talking happily. I couldn’t stand being there.

“…Th-Then I’ll go ahead! The sea waits for no one~!”

“Ah, hey Mizuho!”

Without listening to Masato stopping me, I ran toward the sea. If I enter the sea, I thought the unpleasant feelings might be distracted a little.

“Abah!”

Because I enter the sea in such a mental state.

I lose my balance and throw myself into the water. It’s fine, I should be able to touch the bottom, I extend my legs desperately, but there’s no sign of touching the ground at all. I had come to a surprisingly deep place and couldn’t regain my posture.

Already, spinning my wheels. Ah, what am I doing?

The moment I thought that.

A floating sensation.

My legs and back were secured, and I was able to get my face above the sea surface.

“That’s why I told you! Do your warm-up exercises properly.”

…Ah, why does it end up like this?

“Ah… um… sorry.”

My body is hot.

The hands wrapped around my back and legs. Combined with the fact that I’m currently wearing a swimsuit, Masato’s warmth is transmitted directly.

His worried expression also becomes a reason for messing up my emotions.

A person I shouldn’t fall in love with.

I know that, and yet.

Slowly, gently lowered onto the sandy beach.

“Are you okay? Can you stand?”

“Y-Yeah, I’m fine…”

While feeling restless, glancing toward Masato.

Masato was brushing up his hair. I like his usual innocent perm-like hairstyle too, but a hairstyle that feels masculine suits him well too—

“Eh…”

For some reason, I recognized that silhouette.

When was it? I can’t remember.

But, it feels like something very important—

“? What’s wrong, Mizuho?”

“…N-Nothing! Thanks Masato!”

Being dazed and unable to even say thank you is no good.

I forcibly chased out the sense of incongruity remaining in my heart.

After doing warm-up exercises properly again.

I was playing beach ball with Koumi.

The beach ball tossed by Koumi, who lost her balance slightly, passed high out of my reach and went straight toward the ocean.

“Hey Koumi?! You clumsy thing~!”

“Ah, sorr…”

Koumi has good reflexes. I’m pretty athletic too, but enough to think I can’t beat Koumi. That’s why it’s rare that the rally with Koumi hasn’t lasted since a while ago.

Maybe because it’s in front of Masato, she’s holding back? When we went to the batting center before, she said something like I overdid it~.

When I retrieved the ball that flew toward the sea and returned… Koumi was crouching on the sandy beach.

“Koumi?! What’s wrong?”

“Sorry… a little dizzy…”

“Eh?!”

Looking closely, Koumi’s face is red. Heatstroke? This is bad!

I immediately lent a shoulder to Koumi and went to the parasol where Masato was.

I lowered Koumi into the shade and called out to the sleeping Masato.

It pains me to wake him, but it’s an emergency, so it can’t be helped.

Masato, after hearing about it, immediately sat up, worrying about Koumi.

And at the same time… he carried Koumi on his back.

“Mizuho, watch things here for a bit. I’ll take Koumi and lay her down in the room at the inn first.”

“Y-Yeah, got it!”

Masato is going away.

Throb. My heart hurt.

The fact that Koumi, being carried, looked happy for a moment. The fact that I thought Masato and the carried Koumi looked good together.

Right. I’m merely an extra.

I came to help those two’s love succeed.

Forgetting such a position, what was I getting excited about?

Again, a shadow falls over my heart.

“Nyahaha… maybe it’s better if they just date already.”

If I’m going to feel this conflicted any longer. Just have the two of them date quickly. Bless it. Fading out from the two of them gradually is surely the best.

“Yeah, that’s right, that’s good.”

I gaze toward the sea. Watching the slowly receding waves, I felt my feelings calm down somewhat.

I was surprised by Masato, who came back after laying Koumi down.

I assumed he would nurse Koumi.

“Is it okay? Koumi. It’s fine, I’ll return soon too.”

“No, it’s fine. It seems it was temporary dehydration after all, Koumi is calm now too, and rather, Koumi asked me. To go play with Mizuho.”

“…!”

Koumi is… concerned about me too. What a kind girl she is.

“Alriiight then, taking you up on that offer… let’s go! Masato!”

I take Masato’s arm.

“Hey hey, don’t fall like earlier again, okay?”

“Nyahaha! Those of the Tonosaki house do not fall twice!”

“Is that a family precept or something?”

Masato is perfect for the kind Koumi. So, I’ll play a lot here, and make that the end. Have Koumi date him quickly, and I’ll bless that. Everyone gets a happy ending.

Masato and I returned to the seaside again.

After playing in the sea for a while, we spot something like a food stall ahead.

“Masato! There’s a stall out over there! Let’s go~!”

“Taking action immediately upon having a thought is a good point of yours, Mizuho…”

“I’m not thinking at all though!”

Taking Masato along, we head toward the stall. Countless menus hanging in front of the shop listed takoyaki, yakisoba, shaved ice, and so on.

“Masato, there’s shaved ice! Let’s eat!”

“Oh, it’s hot so that might be good.”

There were only about two people in line, so our turn came quickly.

Beyond the counter was a woman with a healthy tan.

“Two shaved ice please!”

“Sure thing~ that’s 1000 yen. Syrup?”

“Strawberry!”

“And the boyfriend?”

…When realizing she meant Masato, my body temperature rose rapidly.

“Then, Blue Hawaii please.”

“Sure thing~! Nice, having such a cool boyfriend, I’m envious.”

“Umm… ahaha~…!”

Masato is responding without being flustered. Does he think it’s a nuisance? Or maybe because he thinks nothing of me, he’s fine with it… Thinking that, it’s a little lonely.

Receiving the shaved ice, we sat down on some chairs placed there.

Since we hadn’t spoken since ordering, it’s awkwardly silent…

“Nyahaha, I guess being together like this, we look like we’re dating?”

“Hm? Ah, maybe so! Sorry, was it unpleasant?”

“Ehh?! No, unpleasant, not at all. Rather, I was worried and worried that I might offend Masato-sama’s mood…”

“Why are you suddenly humbling yourself?”

Masato laughs, and I feel relieved. Talking with Masato is fun after all. But, being mistaken for boyfriend and girlfriend where Koumi isn’t present makes me feel a little guilty.

“Woah, cold and super delicious! Gonna get a headache though!”

Masato taking a bite of shaved ice. That reaction was just too adorable.

Being next to him like this, I feel like I might fall under the illusion that we’re really dating.

“What’s wrong Mizuho, eat up?”

“Ah, yeah, right! Let’s eat~! Ow-ww!”

“No, getting a brain freeze right after eating is too fast.”

Right now, let’s just have fun. It’s time Koumi thoughtfully created for us, after all.

“Ah, want to try Blue Hawaii too?”

“Can I?! Then maybe I’ll try it. I shall give Masato-kun this strawberry flavor!”

Exchanging our respective shaved ice, just when I thought to eat. I looked at the plastic spoon stuck in the shaved ice. And realized we hadn’t exchanged spoons.

Ah, this is bad, it’ll be an indirect kiss…

“Oh~ strawberry is good too, delicious.”

While I was hesitating, Masato was eating the strawberry shaved ice. With the spoon I used.

Th-This guy, without knowing how I feel~!

I steel myself and eat the Blue Hawaii shaved ice too. Trying not to be conscious of it as much as possible.

“How is it?”

“…You don’t know, Masato-kun. Shaved ice syrups all taste the same, just the color is different.”

“Eh? Seriously?”

Just kidding.

I just couldn’t really taste it, that’s all.

Walking along the seaside at dusk, just the two of us.

I was walking on the breakwater slightly above the sandy beach, balancing with both arms spread.

“Even so, Masato is cool! Carrying Koumi instantly like that!”

“No, that was the least burdensome way for Koumi.”

“You say that! Is it that thing after all? Working at a bar makes you able to be kind to girls?”

“I don’t think that’s really related~”

I know.

That is the inherent kindness possessed by the boy named Masato.

And that… It is directed at a girl named Koumi.

Hopping toward a stable footing.

I ask Masato.

“Hey, Masato.”

“Hm?”

“If I were in Koumi’s position… would you have carried me too?”

…Hearing this, what do I want him to answer?

I know. That the kind Masato would surely carry me.

More than confirming such a fact, I wanted to turn Masato’s consciousness toward me.

I wanted him to think about me… even just a little.

Because surely, this will be the last time.

“…Of course I would. I mean… we’re friends.”

“…Ehehe. Thanks.”

I don’t show even a hint of reacting to the word “friends.”

Friends, huh. That’s right.

To Masato, I’m nothing more than a friend… and that’s natural. Good. With this, I can switch my feelings without any hesitation.

…It should be so, so why does my heart—ache this much?

We returned to the parasol.

The setting sun is about to disappear beyond the horizon.

Once that sun sets, the time for just Masato and me ends.

All I gained was the fact that Masato sees me only as a friend.

But, even so, it’s fine. In the end, we made good memories. The rest is, surely, if I can find my destined person, surely this feeling will fade away.

Trying to take a towel out of my bag… the carefully folded handkerchief I received from my destined person caught my eye.

For some reason, I take it out and spread it open.

“Ah, you don’t have to return this handkerchief. Bye!”

The pounding of my heart at that time is surely not a lie.

I can recall it vividly even now.

…Even though I can’t remember that person’s face at all.

Surely if I can meet him, and if he is a wonderful person like back then, I can get closure.

While I was staring blankly at that handkerchief.

Fate always comes suddenly.

“That’s my handkerchief.”

“—Eh?”

In a very ordinary tone.

Without any context.

“I thought I hadn’t seen it recently! It’s a corner of my handkerchief rotation, but I couldn’t remember where I put it.”

“…”

—It’s a lie.

“It’s a lie, right?”

“Eh? No, I don’t think it’s a lie but… yeah. This design isn’t that common after all…”

Eh, wait. No way.

Even though I don’t want to understand, my brain derives one conclusion.

That can’t be.

Because, then, that means, that.

“Are you okay? It’s a contact lens, right. I’ll search with you.”

That was Masato.

And Masato is my destined person.

“You aren’t ugly. You’re cute, Mizuho-chan.”

That time too.

“You don’t have to force yourself. When it’s painful, you can say it’s painful. I… have only been with you for a few hours, Mizuho-chan, but I know you’re trying to act bright. But, there’s no need to force yourself when it hurts. Because there’s no one who wouldn’t get hurt after being told something like that.”

That time and that time too!

“Mizuho, wait… Let’s talk… Let’s talk once?”

Even today—

“That’s why I told you! Do your warm-up exercises properly.”

—Everything.

The person from my unrequited love. The person of my destiny.

“…!!”

I was running.

“Mizuho?!”

I don’t understand.

I don’t understand I don’t understand I don’t understand I don’t understand!

My destined person is Masato, from the beginning, from that time, it was Masato.

I don’t want to know. I don’t want to know but I know.

Thinking about it now, everything. Everything makes sense.

The reason he was kind, the more I know the person named Masato, the more I can understand.

The reason I recognized his hairstyle during the day, surely it was from that time.

My destined person was at the bar. From the start.

The moment I stepped in, I met him.

“Mizuho!! Wait a sec—woah?!”

“Eh…?!”

What I saw when I looked back was the figure of Masato, who chased after me, falling from the top of the breakwater onto the sandy beach.

■

“For now, there are no major external injuries, and it’s not a serious condition. If you let him sleep like this, he should recover by tomorrow.”

“Th-Thank goodness…”

In the bedroom of the inn.

Panicking greatly because Masato hit his head, I contacted Koumi, and with the cooperation of the people at the inn, took Masato to the bedroom.

After that, the doctor in charge of the inn examined him, and for now, I’ve calmed down.

Masato seemed quite tired from various events, so he seems to just be sleeping now.

“Well then, excuse me.”

“Th-Thank you very much…”

The doctor left.

Only Koumi is left in that place.

“What happened? Mizuho.”

“…”

I can’t answer anything. I couldn’t move, looking down.

Because, I don’t know how to explain to Koumi.

That my destined person was Masato… I can’t say that now…!

“…Let’s rest for today. A lot happened. I’ll listen to you again tomorrow.”

“…Yeah.”

Right now, I had no choice but to rely on Koumi’s kindness.

That night.

In the end, I stayed in Masato’s bedroom watching him the whole time to make sure he was okay.

I wondered what to do if Masato was in serious trouble because of me, but for now, it seems okay, so I’m relieved.

Getting up from where I was sitting hugging my knees, I peek at his face.

Soundly asleep.

Kind… and wonderful, my destined person.

I can feel my heart pounding.

—Now that it’s come to this, I can’t stop. There’s no way I can stop.

My heart, which had barely maintained equilibrium, collapsed in an instant.

The shackles stopping these feelings have come off.

Because, that’s right.

Before being introduced to Koumi, I had met Masato.

So, this isn’t wrong.

I am not in the wrong.

Round and round, emotions begin to rampage inside my heart. There is no need to hold back anymore. Giving him up is out of the question.

Calming my roughened breathing, I look toward Masato again. Suu, suu, his chest was rising and falling with his breathing.

Somehow, that is sexy.

The rampaging emotions are a first for me.

I didn’t know I could be this uncontrollable.

Succumbing to temptation.

That face of Masato. I wanted to touch that body.

I tried stroking his head.

An uncontrollable sense of elation. A sweet, numbing sensation.

I tried stroking his cheek.

The body heat transmitted from the soft skin. Involuntarily, I swallowed.

Right now, no matter what I do, isn’t it okay?

I’ve piled endurance upon endurance. Just for today, even if I have a good time, no one will—get angry. No one will blame me.

The God of Fate gave me this moment.

I gaze at Masato’s handsome face once more. As if being sucked in, my eyes go to his lips.

A kiss… I want to do it when he’s conscious.

Because I want my first to be something wonderful after all.

Staring intently, my eyes go to his neck.

Probably from when he fell today. A red scratch remains.

A wound on Masato’s precious, beautiful body.

Shiver, something ran down my spine.

That is the desire born within me.

The desire to overwrite this wound with the existence known as “Tonosaki Mizuho.”

I couldn’t stop.

Thump, thump, my heart is ringing loudly.

On this beautiful neck, I want to prove that his destined person is me.

Deeply. Strongly. I want to carve it in.

The existence that is me.

So that I won’t hand him over to anyone.

Coming closer. To his neck.

Trying to press my mouth against it.

Thump, thump. I can hear my own sound.

Masato’s neck is right there.

Here, my—Tonosaki Mizuho’s mark.

Right now, no one will—

“What—are you doing?”

—Crack.

The sound of something fracturing.