{November with Satou-san}

Satou-san peered at my cellphone and said, “It’s really well taken.”

Then she looked at me and gave a shy smile.

“You’re in the picture too… do you not want to see it?”

“I don’t want to see it.”

I answered immediately.

The photo taken by one of our classmates apparently showed Satou-san and me side by side in our costumes from the play.

Who would want to see a picture of themselves dressed as a mouse? If Satou-san hadn’t been in the picture, I’d have deleted it right away.

What I wanted was a picture with only Satou-san in it.

But the impromptu photo session ended before I could even say that, and we had both already changed. Satou-san had removed her makeup and returned to her school uniform. Only the hair tied up in the back retained a hint of her lady-like appearance. Sitting next to her, I was distracted by the loose strands of hair at the back of her neck.

Of course, I was in my school uniform as well, and I also had removed the makeup I had on before. We were now taking advantage of the brief free time to have a late lunch together. As the cultural festival was nearing its end, the stalls were running out of supplies, and we finally managed to get some cold takoyaki and warm lemonade.

The quiet emergency staircase was a convenient place for the two of us to be alone. The vacant classroom set up as a break room was crowded with students and visitors. I wanted to be alone with Satou-san, so I deliberately sought out a quiet place, and this was where I finally found it.

We sat on the top step, drinking lemonade and eating takoyaki.

My throat was dry, and my stomach was growling, so I didn’t care at all about the temperature.

“I think you look great in the photo,” Satou-san said, handing me the phone after making sure to turn off the screen. Thanks to that, I didn’t have to see the picture.

“You really looked great as the mouse,” she continued.

“…I appreciate the sentiment, but…”

The compliment itself still didn’t make me happy.

I put my phone in my pocket and then turned my gaze to Satou-san.

With her makeup removed and dress taken off, Satou-san looked like her usual self. The only thing that remained of the lady-like appearance was her hairstyle—though by tomorrow, it would probably return to its plain ponytail.

I felt a complex mix of loneliness and relief.

“You look great with that hairstyle too, Satou-san.”

I complimented her as if it were an afterthought. My calm feelings turned into words devoid of passion.

Satou-san would probably be happy to hear that, but I wanted to express something a bit different. I truly wanted to convey a sincere feeling that I couldn’t quite put into words.

The emergency staircase was quiet, amplifying even the smallest sounds. It might be difficult to be straightforward in a place like this.

“Thank you. But it’s a hairstyle I couldn’t do by myself.”

Satou-san touched her slightly disheveled hair and smiled.

“Maybe you should learn how to do it. I think it’s good to learn things like that occasionally.”

“Yeah, I suppose. I’d like to learn before graduation.”

She mentioned it casually.

I began to notice the chill of the emergency staircase and the light streaming through the window.

The cultural festival was ending soon, and November would soon be over. December, January, and February were ahead, with March almost non-existent.

This cultural festival would be the last significant school event we participated in.

The next school event would be the graduation ceremony. After that, there would really be nothing left.

There were only a few more days left in the same class as Satou-san.

How much longer could I stay by Satou-san’s side? Winter break was approaching. There would be only a few school days after the New Year. I had university entrance exams coming up. The remaining time was truly very limited.

“It’s the last cultural festival, huh?”

Satou-san said it softly, as if she had read my thoughts.

When I looked at her, I saw her gripping the lemonade bottle tightly.

“It’s the last one, but… it was really fun. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it. I think this cultural festival will be the most memorable one of the three years.”

I looked down at her sitting next to me and let out a quiet sigh. Then I spoke.

“This is likely to be an unforgettable cultural festival for me too, in many ways. I never expected to be cast as a mouse at this age.”

“Yeah. I think I’ll never forget it either.”

Satou-san looked up and nodded.

“I was also happy to help with your transformation. I’m glad I managed to pass the horse head to you properly.”

I remembered the events from the performance. Satou-san had handed me the horse costume. She was there when I stumbled in, and her voice was a comfort. I was happy too.

“I was surprised to find out it was you waiting backstage.”

“The stagehands were busy, and I was asked to help just before the performance. I was more nervous than I was for my own part, but since you received it properly, I was able to avoid a mistake.”

Seeing her smile, I was glad I had received it properly. It had become a good memory for both of us.

The story about the stagehands being busy was clearly a lie.

At this point, I don’t feel bad about it. In a way, it’s flattering that Satou-san has misunderstood us. This must be what they mean by filling in the outer moat.

“It’s because you were there, Yamaguchi-kun.”

Suddenly, her voice interrupted my thoughts.

Satou-san, sitting next to me, was looking at me with a gentle, calm smile.

“The last cultural festival was so much fun, thanks to you. Really, thank you.”

“Eh… no, I didn’t really do anything.”

I panicked.

In reality, I had no memory of doing anything for Satou-san, and even if I had, it was probably something trivial. Satou-san had a tendency to be grateful for even the smallest things, which made it awkward for me to be on the receiving end of such gratitude. I didn’t know how to react, which made me flustered.

If I had said something similar, Satou-san would probably not have been flustered at all.

“Hey, Yamaguchi-kun.”

Ignoring my agitation, she continued in her usual tone.

For a moment, she seemed to hesitate, but it might have just been my imagination.

“I have a small favor to ask. Will you listen?”

Her suggestive question and direct gaze made my voice falter.

“Well, it depends on what it is…”

Satou-san, still smiling, continued.

“You know, about the photo from earlier…”

“Photo?”

Oh, right. The photo we took earlier. The one where Satou-san and I were standing together. That must be what she’s referring to.

“If it’s alright, could you transfer that photo to my phone?”

“Eh… y-yeah, sure.”

I was surprised that Satou-san wanted it. Seeing my reaction, she blushed slightly.

“It’s a keepsake, after all.”

“Well, yeah. I suppose it could be.”

I added hesitantly.

“But you know, I’m in that photo too. With that outfit… it might have been better if you’d had a photo taken by yourself.”

The full-body mouse costume seemed excessive. But Satou-san shook her head.

“No, I actually liked that you’re in the photo.”

“—Huh?”

“To be honest, I wanted a photo of just you. Seeing myself in that costume, even if it was for the play, is still a bit embarrassing.”

Satou-san said this in a nonchalant, natural tone.

Her words wiped everything else from my mind.

There was nothing left, and everything turned blank. The frantic beating of my heart stirred a strange anticipation.

What does that mean? Should I read too much into it?

No, but considering it’s Satou-san, there might not be a deeper meaning. Still, it’s suggestive. It sounds like something a girl might say during a confession. But since it’s Satou-san, I don’t know how to react.

Satou-san is dense and, on top of that, lacks subtlety. So, she can say such things knowing my feelings, even in a situation like this. That must be it.

Though, if it’s just about lacking subtlety, I’m not much different at the moment.

Unable to speak properly, I silently opened my phone.

I transferred the saved photo—the one of the sulking mouse and the elegant lady—to Satou-san’s phone. I completed the task quietly.

“I’ve sent it.”

After finishing, Satou-san smiled.

“Thank you so much. I’ll treasure it.”

I want to read into it, but I can’t. Satou-san really is suggestive.

After that, I couldn’t ask or say anything, and I stayed silent. I didn’t speak at all until our free time ended.

Satou-san in November, and I in November, remained the same as ever.

End of second arc