—Haha, it'll be depressing if Shouko's wearing a wedding gown that doesn't suit her!

I'll run away later. Since it's like this now, it'll be interesting to see Shouko in a wedding gown.

After making this decision, I decide to stay here. Before my eyes got used to the darkness, the spotlight lights up.

"Please welcome our female lead in this event, Miss Kirishima Shouko!"

With the audio broadcast, several lights are lit up as they all gather at a part of the stage. The darkness got instantly replaced by the light, forcing people to close their eyes.

When I try to open my eyes, I see the figure—and is rendered speechless.

Seems like I've just met the childhood friend that I've known since young in quite a while—seeing her like this, I start to feel a little delusional.

She looks just like a real bride, standing elegantly over there. Who..is she?

"..So pretty."

A voice can be heard from the silent crowd that's utterly awestruck. I don't know who said that, but those words reached my ears without any deterrence.

Maybe it's because it was delicately made that the pure white gown doesn't have a single crumple. The length of the skirt seems to nearly reach the floor, as it didn't get stained while she was walking.

"..Yuuji.."

The face hidden under the wedding gown, my childhood friend, dressed in a silk dress seems to look uncomfortable as she looks up. The bouquet of flowers in her hands at chest level sways about slightly.

"Are you, Shouko..?"

"..Nn."

My mind is utterly blank, and the question just came out even though I didn't need to answer that. Maybe the change was so drastic that I had to confirm it.

Seeing me waver, Shouko asks in a somewhat shyly manner,

"..How is it..do, I look like a bride..?"

Maybe it's because this girl looks like a stranger, or maybe it's the atmosphere, or maybe it's some other reason,; I just answered without thinking,

"—Um, no problems. At least no matter what, you don't look like a bridegroom."

The fleeting thought of 'it'll be depressing if Shouko's wearing a wedding gown that doesn't suit her' got thrown far away. 'You don't look like a bridegroom'—I guess it's a good job that I managed to at least say something.

"..Yuuji.."

Shouko called my name softly as she hugs the bouquet of flowers into her arms.

And then, she seems to be stunned as she remains rooted to the spot.

"Oi, oi, Shouko..?"

What's wrong? She seems weird, was my answer weird?

Should I get over to her? I hesitate for a while. Just when I'm doing so, Shouko again says,

"..I'm so happy.."

The girl in front of me lowers her head and buries her face into the flowers.

She can no longer say anything more as she can only tremble silently.

"What, what's going on? The bride seems to be crying?"

As if remembering his own job, the audio broadcast can be heard again.

Is she about to cry? I only noticed it when the host said it. Lowering her head, her shoulders trembling—Shouko's crying silently in front of me.

"Oi, Shouko, what's.."

The veil and the bouquet of flowers prevents me from seeing her face clearly. Why is she crying?

The originally silent audience starts to chatter loudly for some reason, and yet Shouko's able to say to me in an audible voice,

"..Because..this has always been my dream.."

A hoarse voice reaches my ears.

"A dream, huh?"

"..Ever since I was little, I always dreamed of being Yuuji's bride..always had this dream ..of having a wedding that belongs only to Yuuji and me..but, I can't possibly do it on my own, this dream of mine.."

The normally silent Shouko tries her best to say out some words, creating a weird feeling within me.

Because 'that incident' when we were young caused her to harbor affections only for me. The affections were merely supposed to be out of guilt and responsibility—but why must this person here remain so steadfast in her beliefs.

"..So..I'm really happy..to be able to do this, not with anybody else, but with Yuuji.."

Saying all the way till her, Shouko can no longer talk further as she weeps silently.

At this moment, the sound of someone blowing the nose can be heard. Is the audience touched to tears? Some people's tear glands are really weak.

"So she's actually crying out of happiness! Our bride here is still as focused as ever. How will the groom react to the bride's confession?"

How should I respond? Do I need to say it? No matter the time or place, what I should do is to correct this person's incorrect thinking.

Thinking about this—unbelievably, I can't even utter a single word.

"Shouko, I—"

"Ah~ ah~ so boring~"

Just as I was about to finally say something, a loud voice can be heard from the audience. I immediately shut my mouth. Even though I don't know what's going on, maybe I got all dizzy or something. Maybe I can say that it was god's grace to prevent me from saying something.

"Such a boring event~ forget about those boring things, can't we have a performance or something~?"

"That's right~ we have no interest in listening to your love story."

Seems like the people who saved me were those two idiots. Their voices can be heard amongst the now silent crowd.

"Speaking of which, what 'being a bride was what I always wanted? Or what? Are you acting pure? Is this what the workers here to you to say? How idiotic is that? It's so disgusting it makes me sick!"

"Are you playing a pure love game? We don't want to waster our precious time on you people~ does that woman have a problem? I find it comical no matter how I hear it~"

"I know! That was a comedy just now right? That's right, where will there be anyone in this world with such a disgusting dream!?"

"Eh~ was that a comedy? It's really comical~"

Those two continue to mock Shouko one after another, but—

"WHAT DID YOU SAY!? SAY THAT AGAIN IF YOU DARE!!"

"AH, AKIHISA-KUN, PLEASE CALM DOWN! YOU'LL RUIN THIS EVENT IF YOU GET SO WORKED UP!"

The angry roar could be heard through the broadcast, and the sounds of violence can be heard from behind the stage. Seems like a certain idiot can't control his anger after hearing those words.

Where is he throwing his tantrum from? I turn my eyes from the couple below the stage to look behind.

But even though I took only a short glance—

"Wh-where's the bride? Where did the bride go?"

Shouko disappeared from the stage. What's left at the place where she was standing are a small bouquet of flowers and a wedding veil.

"..Sigh, really can't stand her."

I picked up the veil that she threw onto the floor.

The veil that was supposedly as light as a feather now seems a lot heavier after being stained by Shouko's tears.

"Kirishima-san? Kirishima Shouko-san? Dear guests, please help us find the bride!"

The workers are now as anxious as ants on hot water.

Hm, seems like they have to end this wedding experience event. Now that the event they put so much effort in can only end as failure, those thick-skinned people at Kisaragi Highlands are definitely going pale.

"Mr, Mr Sakamoto! Please help us find the bride!"

One of the workers in the hall pants as he runs towards me, probably trying to ask me where that person ran off to.

"Sorry, I'll pass. It's troublesome, and I really want to go to the toilet."

"Eh? Wa-wait a minute Mr Sakamoto!"

I turn around and leave while still hearing the cries of that worker, and he can only give up reluctantly after seeing me being unwilling to help. Really, if you have the time to ask me, how about you just search for yourself? That'll be faster right?

I get into the prepared crowd as I leave the hall. 5 minutes later, I found my target. Good thing they haven't gone too far off.

"Oh my, that was sooo funny~"

"Yeah, I always..dreamed of marrying you—how was it? Does it look like it? Is it cute?"

"Ahh, that was so like it. But—of course it's disgusting! Who will find it cute!?"

"Ya~"

Finally found them. Let's just settle this once and for all.

I slowly walk towards those two and said as I arrive behind them.

"Oi, you two."

"Ahhh, what is it!?"

The coffee-colored faces of the two jerks turn to face me.

Those two are the ones who helped me and prevented me from falling into a human life grave. I really have to thank them.

"Ryouta, isn't this guy the one who acted as the groom?"

"Seems like it. WHAT DO YOU FAUX-GROOM WANT US FOR, SAY IT!"

The guy walked forward as he threatens me.

"Oh well, nothing much actually—"

I take off my western coat that I borrowed and loosen my tie. Unbelievable, my body's already so hot even without me doing any warm-ups.

"—Let's just have a few words."

☆

"Yo, you kept me waiting for quite a while."

"..Yuuji."

Standing in front of a hotel in Kisaragi Highlands, Shouko finally exits the passageway as she keeps her head down.

"Okay, time to go back."

I help Shouko carry the large bag that she took back from the fake foreigner as we walk slowly towards the train station.

".."

Shouko doesn't say anything at all as she silently follows me.

We silently walk down the path to the train station in this sunset.

I don't know how long we walked, but while we're walking that's pretty empty, Shouko finally asks softly,

"..Yuuji."

"..What is it?"

"..Is my dream..weird?"

She must be bothered by the idiotic couple's mockery.

Shouko stopped, and though her head's lowered to prevent me from seeing her face, I can tell what her expression is.

"This, well, maybe it isn't ordinary."

I chose my words carefully before making this reply.

".."

historical

Shouko again remains silent.

The reason why I answered like this is because in these not-so-short 7 years; she always harbored this one unshakeable dream as she stuck onto me. But now that her dream got mocked and denied in front of so many people, I can't even imagine how she feels.

But even so, I don't intend to lie just to comfort her.

"I'll use this chance to state this clearly, your feelings towards me are just derived from that past guilt you had."

The event that happened 7 years ago was the key reason why Shouko thinks that she fell for me. Up till now, I'm still regretful of that incident. If I had handled it a little better, maybe it wouldn't have ended up like this.

Because of that, that person wasted her time on this useless bum here.

Thus, I have a need to tell her directly 'you're mistaken'—in order to prevent her from wasting time on such a thing.

"..Yuuji.."

Shouko gasped. Maybe this is a blow to her when I said this.

"But—"

But I have no need to hurt her. What's wrong is how this person here understands her feelings, but being able to harbor such feelings for just one person for this long is something she should be proud of.

So I have to tell her this. She isn't completely wrong, she just made a mistake in her target. However, her dream isn't wrong, and it's not strange at all.

"—But then, I won't laugh at your dream. Your dream is amazing, it won't lose to anyone, so you have to be confident of yourself."

I put the thing that I picked up at the hall on Shouko, who has her head down.

"However, you cannot mistake who you're going for."

To have a wedding experience, it shouldn't be bad to have a memory like this, right?

"..This is..the headdress from..just now.."

Shouko reaches her hands out and receives the pure white headdress of the wedding gown as she lifts head head and stares at me in shock.

Seeing her so shocked, I suddenly feel somewhat awkward as I turn my head away.

Ah, now that I mentioned it, I have something else I have to tell her no matter what.

"Also, Shouko—"

I stare at the fading sunset and say softly—

"—The bento was delicious."

I put the already lighter bag onto Shouko's hands.

"..Ah..my bento. Yuuji, you..notice..?"

"Okay, let's hurry up and head back. We'll be misunderstood if we stay out for far too long."

"..Yuuji."

"Especially my mom, no matter how I explain it—"

"Yuuji!"

It's been a while since I heard her speak so loudly, and I inadvertently stopped.

"What is it?"

I replied her call with my usual calm attitude.

Just as I tilt my head to face her, in the orange sunset, I see someone raising the headdress—

"I didn't make a mistake after all!"

I see — my childhood friend was smiling brightly at me.

☆

"Yo, Akihisa."

"Hm? Morning Yuuji, what's up?"

"You did quite a number to me at Kisaragi Highlands, huh?"

"Hahaha, what are you talking about? I was playing computer games at home the entire day, how can I possibly go to Kisaragi Highlands?"

"..Really? Well, you can act dumb all you want."

"Wh, what are you saying? That's so weird~"

"Oh yeah, I got a present for you."

"Eh? What is it?"

"This is a two-persons ticket to a highly-rated love story movie that's being aired right now. IF YOU HAVE 'SOMEONE YOU LIKE', JUST BRING HER OUT."

I deliberately increase my volume for everyone in the classroom to hear.

"A two-persons ticket? Uu—even if you give me this, I don't really know who to ask."

"So be it then."

I stuff the ticket into Akihisa's hand and turns to walk away.

"Ah, Aki! I want to watch a movie this weekend~"

"Ah, Akihisa-kun! I just so happened to have a movie that I want to watch!"

"Eh? What's going on? Why do you two have such killing intent? I just want to pawn this ticket away for my daily funds—OWWWWW! THEY'RE ABOUT TO BE PULLED OUT! SEVERAL IMPORTANT PARTS OF MY BODY ARE GOING TO BE PULLED OUT BY YOU!!!"

The expected cries of anguish and pain can be heard from behind.

Really..who asked you to pull such a twisted plan in the first place, you big idiot.