Chapter 3: There Is Not Necessarily Just One Heroine

───● The Two JDs Talk It Out ●○●

Mizuho and I have been close friends since high school.

I played softball, and Mizuho was in the dance club.

Even though our club activities were different, we spent a lot of time together during breaks and on our days off.

We were in the same class in our first year, and since Mizuho gets along relatively well with anyone, she quickly became close friends with me too.

I thought she probably got along with everyone, but before I knew it, the group I belonged to had become the group Mizuho was in.

Mizuho was always at the center, bright and cheerful.

I don’t know how many times I’ve been energized by that smile and innocence.

When I heard she was applying to the same university, I was secretly happy.

When I made a disgusted face and asked, “Together with Mizuho again?” Mizuho laughed and said, “Wh-y do you look so disgusted!”

I even thought, If I’m with Mizuho, university life will be reassuring.

Well, what I want to say is, I like Mizuho that much, and I had the confidence that Mizuho surely liked me to some extent as well.

—And yet.

“What—are you doing?”

What on earth is this emotion welling up from within my chest?

Having returned to our room, Mizuho and I were sitting facing each other.

The guest room of the inn. By the window, a place where the ocean is visible.

Mizuho, sitting across the table… was already crying.

“I’m sorry… I’m sorry, Koumi…”

“…Apologizing won’t…”

The atmosphere was truly hellish.

Worried about the condition of Masato, who was sleeping, I headed to the room.

I knew Mizuho was there too, so thinking I’d ask, “How is Masato doing?” I entered the room.

And I saw Mizuho bringing her face close to Masato’s face.

Neither anger nor sadness came out immediately.

My mind went blank.

But, I was able to understand the situation calmly.

I knew only that I had to stop it.

“Even though I knew Koumi liked him… I… I…”

“…”

Mizuho is wiping away large teardrops with her hand.

Her usual innocent and naive self was nowhere to be found.

…I take a deep, deep breath.

I haven’t fully processed this situation yet either.

Then, Mizuho slowly raised her face.

Her eyes were red and swollen—.

“Hey, my destined person was Masato, you know? I… found out that Masato is my destined person…”

Thump, my heart jumped.

It jumped, but for some reason—I wasn’t that surprised.

“The one who saved me back then was Masato, you know?! Everything, everything, Masato saved me… It’s impossible, something like that! It hurts…! Why is it Masato?! Why… is it ‘the person Koumi likes’?!”

“…”

I couldn’t look at Mizuho’s face… directly.

I didn’t know what to do either.

Earlier, when Mizuho was trying to do something to Masato, certainly there was an emotion of anger within me too. But, what I felt more than that was sadness, and… apologetic feelings toward Mizuho.

To be honest, I half-realized it. That Mizuho’s destined person might be Masato.

When I heard the story that Masato works at a Boys’ Bar.

Considering the situation I heard from Mizuho, I thought if it was Masato, he could very well have saved her—no, rather, he would save her.

But since they met at that time, surely they wouldn’t fail to recognize each other upon reuniting…? That’s what I thought.

I imagined it as a possibility, but I didn’t say it to Mizuho. …I couldn’t say it.

I was afraid. What if that was correct, and her destined person was Masato?

I didn’t want to accept the fact that Mizuho’s destined person was Masato.

And because I postponed it… it ended up like this.

I look straight ahead once more.

Mizuho’s back, slumped over again, is trembling minutely.

My best friend is crying.

“Even before I knew he was my destined person, I was aware that I was gradually being attracted to him… I tried my best to keep him at a distance… Because of Koumi, and because I have a destined person, I managed to hold it together… but even that disappeared… and I couldn’t endure it anymore…”

“Maybe I shouldn’t have introduced you.”

“Tch! N-No…”

Why did I end up saying something like this?

I reacted to the words “Even before I knew he was my destined person.”

But, that’s my fault too. Even though I understood what kind of person the boy named Masato was, I let her get close for the sake of my own desires.

And because of that, I made Mizuho suffer.

Again, a sigh spilled out.

Suddenly, I look outside.

The sound of rippling waves is pleasant. …I calmed down just a little.

“Hey, Mizuho. Do you like Masato?”

“…”

Mizuho nods silently.

Surely, she cannot concede.

She has already arrived at that point. The existence known as Masato within Mizuho.

“Even if I asked you to yield, it’s probably impossible, right?”

“…”

“It’s okay. I understand. Because I’m the same.”

Apparently, I have to steel my resolve.

I let out one breath… and stood up from my seat.

Across the sea. The moon is vaguely reflected on the water’s surface; it’s a fantastical view.

After looking at such scenery and calming my heart once more… I turn back to Mizuho.

What I’m about to do is, for me, a proposal of a lifetime.

That is.

“Then, Mizuho… let’s both become Masato’s girlfriends.”

“…Eh?”

This was something I had thought about just a little.

I hate not being able to have him all to myself… but if it’s Mizuho, I’m okay with it.

“You know that recently, men have started dating multiple people, right?”

“Y-Yeah.”

“They say it’s going to become a polygamy system in the near future… so let’s just claim Masato, me and you, Mizuho.”

“…!”

Mizuho’s eyes widen as if surprised.

“Do you dislike that, Mizuho?”

“I-It’s not that I dislike it… but are you okay with it, Koumi?”

“Well, truthfully I wanted to date him alone… but if it’s Mizuho, it’s fine.”

Besides, I felt it would be tough for me alone to conquer a saint-like Masato and have him look only at me forever.

Especially since I heard he works at a Boys’ Bar.

I think it’s a miracle that something like a stalker hasn’t been born yet due to Masato’s kindness.

“Of course, I haven’t asked Masato about this… so when we confess or something, let’s say it together. If it’s me and you, Mizuho, the two of us, I think even Masato would go for it.”

“Koumi… Uuh… Waaaaah Koumi——!!”

“Hey, don’t cry in a loud voice! But just so you know! If Masato says just Koumi alone, I’ll have you give up, okay!!”

“Hic… That’s fine… It was scaryyy—I’m sorry Koumi…!”

Mizuho, messy with tears, clings to me.

The conflict Mizuho held in her heart was probably greater than mine.

Pat, pat, I pat her back.

“I’m sorry too, Mizuho. I thought about it a little bit. That Mizuho’s destined person might be Masato. But I was scared and couldn’t say it. I’m… equally guilty.”

“Uu… No you’re nooot… The bad one is meee… sniff… Really, I’m really sorry…!”

Unknown to me, tears were flowing down my cheeks too.

Because I didn’t want to hate Mizuho. Maybe because I was able to calm the talk down for the time being, my heart loosened.

Until Mizuho calmed down, and so that I myself could calm down too.

I continued to hug Mizuho gently.

“H-Hey Koumi, are we really doing it?”

“Yup. Let’s do it, let’s do it.”

After that.

We had come to Masato’s room once again.

Even though we had been making noise after so many things happened, Masato is sleeping soundly.

That is somehow frustrating. But cute. And beloved.

On both sides of the sleeping Masato, Mizuho and I sit.

I gently stroked Masato’s head.

“Geez… because Masato is too cool, even Mizuho fell for you.”

I said in a low voice. Masato is just breathing in his sleep, showing absolutely no sign of waking up.

“So, this is a punishment, Masato. You have to… take care of both of us, okay?”

Murmuring that, I brought my face close to Masato’s neck.

Hearing what Mizuho was trying to do, I wanted to do it too.

That’s why I proposed to Mizuho that we do it together.

Mizuho was shy at first… but she agreed.

It’s fine, isn’t it? Let’s carve it into Masato’s body, just the two of us.

On the left side of his neck, I press my lips.

Masato’s scent rushed through my brain.

My body is trembling with delight.

Every part of my body is screaming that I want to make this person mine.

Strongly. Even more strongly.

No matter how long, it’s not enough. Still, not enough.

“…Haa…!”

Slowly, I pulled away.

On his neck, a mark remains clearly.

Proof that this person belongs to me.

My feelings soared.

“Mizuho, too.”

“Y-Yeah…”

Mizuho puts a mark on the opposite side as well.

Just like me, a long, and deep marking.

Even I could tell that Mizuho’s cheeks were flushed.

And then, separating.

On Masato’s neck, two “marks” have been carved.

Then, the two of us approach Masato’s face from both sides.

In very small voices.

“Masato. I love you.”

“Masato… I like you. I’ve come to… love you.”

Mizuho and I look at each other and grin.

We absolutely won’t hand him over to anyone else.

This cool and agonizingly endearing boy of ours.

Mizuho and I—will take him.

[ In the Case of Maeda Yuka ]

 < Yuka

Yuka (17:20): Masato-san, today’s practice is over!

Yuka (17:20): Are you enjoying the ocean?

Masato (17:42) [Read]: Yeah! It’s really beautiful~!

Masato (17:42) [Read]: Are you doing your best at your training camp, Yuka?

Yuka (18:10): I’m so jealous!

Yuka (18:10): Yes! I’m working hard! It’s fun being able to practice more than usual!

Yuka (18:10): Masato-san, will you go to the ocean with me sometime too?

Masato (18:15) [Read]: Of course!

Yuka (21:02): It’s a promise!

Yuka (21:02): I’ve finished my bath and everything else, so it’s finally lights out!

Yuka (21:30): …Masato-san, are you already asleep?

Yuka (21:45): Masato-san, you’re okay, right…? I’m worried…

Yuka (22:15): I can’t sleep at all because I’m so worried! Masato-san!

Yuka (22:30): Maybe I should sneak out of the training camp and go there now…