Shuri appeared before Kanata and Hotaru. It seemed she had overheard their conversation.
“Shu, Shuri! Since when were you there!”
Shuri, emerging from the shade of a tree, walked over to our side and replied.
“From the beginning. I saw Hotaru leave with a troubled look on her face, so I followed her. I apologize for eavesdropping. Sorry.”
Shuri bowed her head without any sign of remorse.
“Shuri. There’s something I need to tell you…”
“What a coincidence. I also have something I want to ask Hotaru.”
“I’ll step out. See you around.”
I tried to escape the scene, but Shuri grabbed my right arm and Hotaru grabbed my left.
“Depending on what you say, you’re going to punch me, right? Don’t run away.”
“That’s right. I won’t allow you to run away now when you’ve stuck your nose this far.”
I’m not good at this kind of thing. Why is every day a battlefield for me?
Sitting at a table set in the park, Hotaru began to talk about two years ago.
I wondered if I should be listening, let alone Shuri, but if Hotaru wanted to tell me, I wanted to hear it.
Occasionally, Shuri gently encouraged Hotaru as she continued her story, her voice choked with tears.
Hotaru didn’t go into the details of the despicable treatment, but neither I nor Shuri wanted to hear the specifics.
Hotaru’s story was largely as I had suspected, but what was different was that Agito wasn’t the only one who had ridiculed her.
That scummy bastard Agito! If the superior is trash, then the subordinate is also trash!
It was no wonder Sanpin and the King Brothers detested them.
Shuri maintained a calm expression, showing no change in her demeanor, but I could tell she was desperately suppressing her anger.
There was no need to look at her tightly clenched fists trembling beneath the table.
By the time Hotaru finished her story, her eyes were red from crying.
“That’s the end of the story. Shuri, I’m truly sorry for keeping it a secret until now.”
After hearing the story, Hotaru nervously glanced at Shuri’s reaction with downcast eyes.
Shuri replied to Hotaru in a casual tone, as if discussing everyday matters, with a gentle smile.
“Oh, was that all? You’re so foolish, you should have told me sooner.”
Hotaru blinked in disbelief at the unexpected words, then snapped back and asked.
“That’s all?! Shuri, were you really listening? I, I was by Agito and the others…”
As Hotaru clung to her, Shuri stated with a resolute expression.
“So what? What does that take away from you! Nothing changes! Even if something were to change, if you’re safe, that’s all that matters! I don’t want anything more than for you, Tomoshibi Hotaru, to exist in this world!”
Shuri… you really are… you’re too much of a man!
The manliest Shuri gently embraced Hotaru and spoke to the woman he loved.
“Believe in me. If Hotaru is by my side, that’s all I need.”
Hotaru sobbed into Shuri’s chest and nodded repeatedly.
“Don’t cry anymore. I don’t like seeing you cry. Come on, smile, smile.”
Hotaru tried to smile but couldn’t, and ended up crying again.
“I can’t help it. For now, Kanata. Punch me once.”
Gently placing the tearful Hotaru beside her, Shuri said to me with her chest puffed out.
“N-no. There’s no need to punch you, is there? How did it come to this?”
“I can’t forgive myself for being so dense that I didn’t notice Hotaru’s situation! So punch me! With all your might, with a fist!”
This guy is relentless. I can predict what will happen next, but I have no choice.
“Alright, I won’t hold back! Grit your teeth!”
I delivered a full-power punch to Shuri’s cheek.
“Kyaa! Shuri, are you okay!”
Hotaru rushed to Shuri, who had doubled over and fallen.
“…Hotaru, worry about me too.”
“Huh!?”
Spitting a clot of blood from her mouth onto the ground, Shuri stood up and began to make a finger-pumping motion.
“Then it’s my turn. You know what this means, Kanata?”
“Yes, yes, you can’t forgive yourself for not telling me when you realized it, right? Come on!”
“Here I go! Suffer the wrath of me who was left out of the loop!”
A full-force right straight to the cheek, and I too doubled over and rolled on the ground, hit by the fist of anger.
Ouch. He really punched me. I didn’t hold back either, so it’s even.
Shuri approached me as I lay sprawled and offered her hand.
This guy is so annoyingly passionate and embarrassing. Alright, alright, I’ll shake your hand. I’ll play along.
After shaking my hand and pulling me up, Shuri didn’t let go of mine.
A handshake after a fight? Even manga don’t do this kind of thing anymore.
Hotaru, looking at my and Shuri’s swollen cheeks alternately, started to laugh.
“Fufu. You both have terrible faces. Won’t they be even more swollen tomorrow?”
Shuri and I exchanged glances. Alright, our thoughts matched.
“What are you saying like it’s none of your business? It’s your turn next.”
“Huh!?”
“Hotaru, don’t you think you’re not at fault for anything? You’ve been hiding things from me. And is it okay to take your anger out on Kanata just because your faces are similar?”
“I-I’m sorry! …I’m ready! Punch me with all your might!”
“A good resolve. Shall we begin then?”
“Alright, let’s go. Hotaru, grit your teeth!”
As Hotaru closed her eyes at the fists approaching from both sides, two small “pechin” sounds were heard.
” …Huh!? That’s all? You weren’t going to hit me?”
“Neither I nor Kanata would do something like punching a girl.”
“It means I don’t have to leave the Garden. I’ve discounted it accordingly. If my face is too painful to look at, give me a cool mask as a present. You’re good at sewing, right?”
“There’s no need for that.”
“I’m being quite serious, you know? I can’t change the fact that my face resembles Agito’s…”
“I told you earlier. It’s not like that. Shigure-san always said so, but I thought she was just protecting me. …But that was wrong. Shigure-san was telling the truth. The reason I saw Agito’s face on Kanata was an illusion created by my own weakness.”
Hotaru said this with a clear expression, as if shaking off the fog that had covered her heart.
Shuri nodded emphatically, took Hotaru’s hand, and said something incredible.
“Alright. Then let’s decide on the betrothal gifts!”
“B-betrothal gifts!? W-wait, Shuri…”
“Where should we have the ceremony? Ah, before that, we need to decide on the attire! You do want to wear a wedding dress, right?”
Is this already wedding planning!? This is a leap, no, a triple jump!
“Let’s ask Gen-san to be our matchmaker, and what should we have for return gifts…”
If I let this go on, he might even decide on the name of their child.
…Hotaru, don’t look at me with those pleading eyes! Ah, I get it. I understand!
“Shuri, don’t try to eat dessert all at once. First, you need to properly go out with her, that’s where the conversation should start. Besides, you haven’t even confessed to Hotaru yet. You’ve said things that are almost like a confession, but not quite.”
“…R-right. Oh dear, oh dear, I’m skipping steps. First, a confession, right. Um, um… I, Utsusemi Shurinosuke, declare my love for Tomoshibi Hotaru…”
“…Could you do that after I’m gone?”
“How long are you going to stand there! This is the most important part of my life! Don’t get in the way!”
My friend, isn’t that ridiculously unreasonable?
“Yes, yes, I’ll disappear, I’ll disappear. I’ll vanish like smoke, so you can confess or flirt to your heart’s content.”
I decided to make a swift exit. I couldn’t bear to watch the birth of a lovey-dovey couple.
Before leaving the park, I received a Telepathic Communication from Hotaru.
(Kanata, thank you. I won’t be defeated by any more ghosts of the past!)
(Yeah. But dating Shuri is going to be tough? Her personality is inflexible.)
(Unfortunately for you, I’ve been with Shuri since birth, so I’m used to it.)
(That’s right. Good luck, you damn it!)
(Don’t get angry, don’t get angry. As an apology, I’ll make you something.)
(Something like that glittery shirt you made for Viper-san. My casual wear is all plain, so I want one flashy item.)
(I’ll make you a glitter shirt with a wolf emblem. I’m looking forward to it!)
I’m really looking forward to it. A handmade shirt from Hotaru, who boasts the highest female capabilities in the Garden.
And so began Shuri’s relationship with a woman, breaking his streak of never having a girlfriend. He even betrayed me.
