{Today as well, with Satou-san smiling by my side}

When we returned to the classroom, it was buzzing with excitement and relief.

Some people were still in their costumes, lively and cheerful. Others were teary-eyed, perhaps because they were too relieved. Some had already started changing clothes, while others were utterly exhausted and slumped in their seats.

It was the last cultural festival, and we had accomplished what we set out to do as a class. That in itself might be something significant.

Regardless of how things turned out, the curtain came down properly, and I did my best. Even though I feel a bit lonely knowing it’s over, I’m not the type to get overly emotional or tearful.

After all, throughout the performance, I had been thinking only about one person.

Satou-san looked understandably tired.

She was leaning against the wall even before she had changed, showing no effort to hide her fatigue. Despite that, she had a faintly happy smile while watching our classmates having fun in the middle of the classroom. That gesture seemed so much like her.

I immediately approached her.

I had considered changing first, but when there’s something you want to say, it’s better to hurry. Before I become unable to say it like usual.

“Good job, Satou-san.”

I stood beside her and gently spoke.

If I lowered my tone, it seemed like it would get lost in the classroom’s commotion, but Satou-san still heard me and turned to smile.

“Yeah. Good job to you too, Yamaguchi-kun.”

Her lipstick had faded, and her hair had begun to come undone.

But she still had a different look from usual. It made me feel a bit flustered when our eyes met.

“It seems like everything went well in the end. That’s good.”

“Yeah, though my voice cracked in the end.”

Satou-san shrugged. Her shawl fell off in the process, but her hand seemed too tired to fix it. She might have been quite nervous, just as she said before the performance.

I was much more nervous now than during the play.

“I’m really glad it ended safely.”

As I murmured, Satou-san looked at me.

“Aren’t you going to change yet, Yamaguchi-kun?”

“Yeah, I’ll change soon. Just a little later.”

It was true I wanted to get out of the mouse costume as soon as possible. I also wanted to get rid of the whiskers. But I felt like if I delayed, this feeling might settle down, and I wouldn’t be able to say what I wanted.

If I missed this chance, I might never be able to say it. Soon, she would return to her usual self, and I felt that any compliment might not reach her then.

“I’m thinking of changing too.”

But Satou-san said, exhaling a bit tiredly.

“I want to remove my makeup too, and I can’t relax in this outfit.”

“No, it’s a waste.”

“Eh?”

She caught my sudden words with a blink.

“A waste?”

“Yeah, it’s just… you look great.”

My voice became almost a whisper, too conscious of the class.

It seemed that my words reached Satou-san, as she appeared slightly embarrassed.

“Really? Isn’t it too different from usual? If it doesn’t look strange, I’m happy.”

“It doesn’t look strange at all.”

I kept repeating, almost like a spell.

There should have been a more thoughtful way to say it, but my mind was blank.

“I’m glad you said that.”

Meanwhile, she responded calmly, peering into my face as she continued.

“You look good too, as a mouse.”

“…Is that so?”

That wasn’t very pleasant.

Actually, it wasn’t a compliment. Satou-san might have meant it as one, but…

“You did a great job in the play too. Yamaguchi-kun as the mouse looked cool.”

She probably meant to compliment me with a big smile, but…

The reason I couldn’t simply be happy wasn’t because of the mouse role or wearing a full-body suit or even being laughed at by the audience.

It was frustrating that Satou-san could easily say the words I struggled to get out. It felt like she could say anything simply, while I was having a hard time.

“You did a great job too, Satou-san.”

In my frustration, I replied, and she responded with genuine joy.

“Thank you, Yamaguchi-kun.”

I felt defeated.

No, I always feel defeated. I can never match Satou-san. It’s always been that way.

But it was too pathetic to back down without even trying.

So, I mustered up my courage and said:

“Satou-san, I have a favor to ask.”

“Eh? What is it?”

“Can I take a photo?”

I wanted to keep a memory of the most beautiful Satou-san of today.

As soon as she heard my request, she became flustered.

“My photo? But, I mean, I’m like this…”

She fidgeted with the long skirt, looking uncomfortable.

Not wanting to back down, I replied honestly.

“I want to take a photo of you like this.”

“But… it feels a bit embarrassing…”

Satou-san immediately looked down, more than just a bit embarrassed.

However, I had no intention of giving up easily. Asking for something so embarrassing was already quite a feat. I had finally managed to voice it, so I couldn’t back down now.

“I won’t take much of your time, and only I’ll see it. You don’t need to worry.”

“U… okay, but…”

She still seemed hesitant. So,

“Wait here. I’m going to get my phone!”

I cut off the conversation abruptly and ran to get my phone.

I quickly grabbed it from the bag on my desk. I hurried with the sole intention of taking Satou-san’s photo.

But then,

“Yamaguchi-kun, are you taking a photo with Satou-san? Should I take it for you?”

Of all people, a loud voice from Sotozaki made me jump.

Startled, I answered.

“N-no, it’s just for Satou-san, and I’m not in it…”

“What are you being shy about! Since it’s a special occasion, you should both be in the photo!”

Having overheard, even Yukawa-san from Cinderella came rushing over, though I hadn’t called her.

“I’m fine with just Satou-san!”

Even though I refused, the phone was snatched away by both of them.

It’s not that I didn’t want to be in a photo with Satou-san.

But right now, I was still a mouse. In a full-body suit, with whiskers drawn on. I didn’t want to be seen with such a beautiful Satou-san in this outfit. It was clearly a nuisance.

Yet, somehow, I found myself surrounded by classmates and escorted to Satou-san.

“You’re right; it’s a special memory. You should definitely be in the photo together!”

“Being a lady and a mouse is quite a match!”

Barazawa-san and Saiki-san were pushing me, trying to get me to stand next to Satou-san.

Where exactly is the match between a lady and a mouse?

“So, I’m saying I’m fine with it!”

“Just do it, stand next to her!”

“Wait, just a moment…!”

Despite my protests, I was forcibly positioned next to Satou-san.

Standing next to the smiling Satou-san, I wanted to cry out that I wished I wasn’t in this outfit.

Classmates pointed their phones at us. Not only mine but even those who wanted to use their phones. Flashes went off, and shutter sounds echoed everywhere. It felt like a press conference.

“Here we go, Yamaguchi-kun, smile properly!”

“It’s a waste if you look grumpy when Satou-san made such an effort to look cute!”

“Honestly, you’re just not being honest!”

It was unreasonable to expect me to be honest in this situation.

Thus, my phone ended up with a photo of a mouse and a lady together.

How much of a grumpy face I made at that moment—well, I don’t have the courage to look.