Chapter 17: A Celebration? I Call It Chaos

The Drama Club took second place.

Not first. Yet, for some reason, not a single one of us felt the sting of defeat. We accepted the trophy with genuine smiles—perhaps because we knew that what had transpired on that stage yesterday was more than just a competition.

And perhaps also because—well. I officially have a girlfriend now.

The thought still feels foreign, like a word in a language I haven’t quite mastered. The scene from yesterday plays on a relentless loop in my mind. The embrace. The tears. The kiss. The roar of the crowd.

Why won't my brain just hit the 'stop' button...

The next day, I found myself standing in front of the campus gates. The others were meant to gather here shortly.

“Is everyone ready?” Otoya asked, his energy levels already bordering on obnoxious.

“Otoya, Mitsuzu-chan isn’t here yet. We should wait,” Yukari replied casually, checking her watch.

I shoved my hands into my pockets, looking at the pavement. I had a feeling she was just as embarrassed as I was. Then—

“Sorry for keeping you waiting!”

The voice. The one everyone was waiting for. I turned, and honestly? I froze.

Kurumi looked... different. Radiantly happy. Her outfit today seemed to catch the light, making her appear more vibrant than I’d ever seen her. A soft murmur rippled through the group.

“Kurumi-san is stunning today...” “Kengo-kun is one lucky guy to land someone like her...”

The whispers were faint, but in the morning air, they were clear enough. I heard them. Of course I heard them.

She stopped right in front of me, breathless. “Sorry again, Kengo. I kept you waiting!”

“N-no, it’s fine. We just got here.”

Why am I stuttering? Pull it together, Harumasa.

Everyone was staring at us like we were some quintessential couple from a romance flick. And I suppose, technically, we were. There was no longer anything to hide.

We headed toward a karaoke bar for the after-party. Along the way, Kurumi reached out and took my hand. No hesitation. No glancing around for permission.

I squeezed back, my grip firm. Her hand was warm. Real. Steady.

Relax, I told myself. This isn't a stage. This isn't a script. This is reality.

We reached the venue, and the "celebration" exploded instantly.

“I hope this ends quickly,” I muttered under my breath.

“What’s wrong, Kengo-kun?” Kurumi asked, leaning in close.

“Nothing. I just... I have work tomorrow. I hope we don't stay too late.”

Half-truth. Half-nerves.

Otoya immediately started popping bottles. The room erupted. “Kanpai!”

I took a swig of the drink in my hand and— “Pfft—!”

I nearly choked, coughing as I stared at the glass. This wasn't soda. I knew that sharp, bubbly burn anywhere. Champagne.

“Oi, Otoya! What the hell did you order?!”

Too late. He was already gone—completely trashed. He was currently having a very heated, very one-sided conversation with the door.

“What? You lookin' at me? You want a piece of this?” he snarled at the wood paneling.

Great. The Drama Club president is officially broken. I turned to Yukari.

“Hey, Yukari, you probably shouldn't drink th—”

Too late again. She was slumped over a table, staring intensely at a photo of Zeno. “Zeno-sama... what should I do with you in the next chapter...”

It was a disaster zone. This wasn't a party; it was a psychological ward.

“Kurumi, don’t drink that,” I warned, turning to my side.

Strike three. She had already downed it.

“Kengoooo... pet me... meow!”

“What are you, a cat?!”

In the middle of this drunken wasteland, I was the only sane survivor. I felt like the protagonist of a zombie movie, only the zombies were my friends and they were all trying to cuddle.

“That’s it! We’re leaving, Kurumi.”

I hauled her out of the karaoke room. Eventually, her legs gave out, and I had to carry her on my back.

Good grief, what have you been eating? You’re heavier than you look... I grumbled internally.

I made it to a nearby park and set her down on a bench, exhausted. She was drifting in and out of a drunken stupor.

“Kengo... pet me quickly...”

I sighed and gently stroked her hair. The moon was bright tonight, casting a silver glow over the Tokyo skyline. It was beautiful. Quiet.

“Kengo... do you really love me?”

Her voice was slurred, but there was a sharp undercurrent of lucility. They say drunks tell the truth, don’t they?

“Come on, answer me or I’ll scratch you!”

The air grew still. Awkward.

“Yes,” I answered, my voice quiet but honest. “I love you too.”

She was barely conscious, but a wide, sleepy smile spread across her face. Suddenly, she lunged forward and hugged me from behind, her arms tight around my neck.

“Thank you, Kengo.”

My chest felt lighter than it had in years.

I walked her home that night, and the day ended simply. Calmly. Quietly.

But I knew this was only the prologue. From here on out, there would be obstacles. Hurdles. Misunderstandings. The ghosts of things that haven't been fully exorcised.

But this time, I’ve made my choice. I’m going through it with her.

Back in her room, Kurumi clung to her pillow with a death grip. “Thank you so much, Kengo-kun... I love you too...” she whispered in her sleep, a look of pure bliss on her face.

As for me—I was happy. Truly, deeply happy. I hoped tomorrow would be just like this.

But deep in the recesses of my mind, a shadow lingered. A conflict that had never reached its conclusion. And for some reason, I had the sinking feeling that this peace...

It wasn't going to last forever.