The Perfect Human still smiles.

***
Furukawa Itsuki

"We really are similar," Ishikawa Yamada said suddenly.

"What is that supposed to mean?" I asked him, wondering what brought this up. Seriously, I can't understand how this man's mind functions. Seeing my confusion, Ishikawa smiled and began explaining.

"We look over what's happening, unable to take direct action. You're the same, aren't you? Chained by the past, you stay in place, watching over others instead of participating. Both Fumiko and I are like that. We don't have any trauma, but we're afraid to act. Trying to bring change has never resulted in anything good for us, and the same is the case for you, right?"

 "..." I stayed silent, refusing to answer.

"I will take that as a yes. Regardless, I'm curious about you. What is it that you seek? Why did you decide to make this bet? What do you want to see at the end of it?" he asked, eyeing me pryingly.

"...It's none of your business...," I replied and turned my head away.

"Well, if you don't want to answer, that's also fine," he said and shrugged his shoulders. Then, he continued his explanation as if confessing to his crimes. 

"You see, Fumiko and I just want to keep our ties with the rest of the group afloat. As long as they can deal with their compromises, we will be able to get over the past. Even if that means having to play the role of the glue, sticking it all together. Although, our fear means we can't do much more than act as glue."

He kept talking. I listened, noticing that his words contradicted my image of Ishikawa Yamada. Not like I even pretended to understand him in the first place.

"I thought you are supposed to only do things you want to do?" I asked, voicing my doubts. Ishikawa's eyes glinted with an emotion I couldn't quite decipher.

"I guess it is more accurate to say that I only pursue goals I want to pursue. I hope, one day, I will sincerely only do what I enjoy, sparing not a single second on wearing a fake smile or acting as glue for others. But that's probably impossible, huh?" he said and smiled self-derisively.

"So you're also merely compromising?" I said. It was less of a question and more of a confirmation and a conclusion.

"Only because my problems are too selfish to ever be solved. The others are different," Ishikawa said, looking at the skies.

He said so, but I also remembered him mentioning something else.

"Didn't you say Maeda is similar to you?"

"Only in terms of acting as a glue. Fumiko is not compromising — she's just lost. She and Mitsu are both like that," he explained, and I couldn't help but retort derisively.

"And yet, they are still broken."

Not expecting my interruption, Ishikawa directed a surprised gaze at me. He was still smiling, but it was a smile that didn't reach his eyes. In his gaze, I felt annoyance and frustration.

"...Yes, you could say so. Both are already doing what they want, but it still feels wrong. Well, Mitsu probably doesn't think so, but I know that's certainly the case for Fumiko. Still, as I said previously, as long as the rest of the group will defeat their pasts, I'm sure Fumiko and I will be able to overcome ours. And everyone now includes Shosei."

As he said the last sentence, he directed his sharp gaze at me.

"If you have to include him, then I'm afraid you will have to wait for a while," I replied, a sarcastic note in my voice.

Finally, his smile faltered, and Ishikawa stopped subduing his emotions as he began arguing with me.

"You... Why are you still acting like your victory is guaranteed? The festival was a massive success for him, right? With this—" Ishikawa started speaking, frustration overflowing in his voice. It was a sign he had also noticed. Noticed that he didn't believe in his own words.

"—With this, haven't you basically lost the bet?" he asked, eliciting a chuckle from me.

***

Ishikawa Yamada. Who was he, and what was he afraid of? Why was he constantly wearing his perfect smile?

At first, he seemed like an enigma, but in reality, he was pretty simple. Something told me that his "I only do what I want" mentality was with him since his early childhood, so, growing up, he was probably a clever kid with admirable behavior.

So when did it transform into "I only pursue goals I want to pursue"? It seems similar at first glance, but it's completely different. The first one entails only doing what his heart desires, while the other one means he's ready to do whatever is needed to pursue his goals. He still only works for what matters to him but is willing to do what he doesn't want to if it's for his objectives.

And as a result, he keeps wearing this disgusting perfect smile. I was surprised he'd managed to spot me. However, that doesn't cancel the fact that he can often be oblivious and naive. And I'm sure that obliviousness cost him a lot in the past.

It's easy to imagine where his fear comes from. Someone as popular and kind as him has likely interfered in others' business on many occasions. Similar to 'B's situation from my past. There is a kid you think you can help, so you do just that. Then, you end up ruining everything. Moreover — Ishikawa wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed. Add to that his mentality, diligence, stubbornness, and sense of justice — and you get a recipe for disaster. A disaster he has no doubt recreated far too many times. To the point where he, chained by his fear, is no longer able to move.

I was sure Maeda Fumiko was similar in that regard. Still, while she was an outgoing person, I could hardly imagine her situation being as bad as Ishikawa's. Maeda was more socially aware and perceptive than him, so I can't believe she committed as many blunders as he did. Was it something other than that troubling her?

Regardless, whether they get over their fears or not is dependent on their group — dependent on Shosei.

That thought left a bitter taste in my mouth.

***
Maegahara Shosei

October came to an end, and with it, the midterms. My results were around the same, and Itsuki — as always — came first in every subject. Yamada-san also came second, and the rankings didn't change much overall. 

Aside from him, I guess —

"Woohoo! Baby, I shot up the rankings!" Akira-san screamed. Well, by 'shot up,' he meant he wasn't right at the bottom but at the top of the last third instead. I mean — it is undoubtedly an improvement, I'll give him that.

"Okaaay! Now, it's time to hang out! Let's celebrate the end of the exams!" Fumiko-san exclaimed. Yamada-san smiled in response, while Yukino-san responded with a quiet 'I guess we could.' Meanwhile, Mitsu-san and I nodded. As for the last one...

"Yeah! I am the greatest! I will be at the top of the class next time!"

"Akira-san, please, come back to reality," I instantly retorted. Or should I say pleaded?

Finally, it was time to enjoy myself. In the first place, I started this bet because I wanted to be a part of the group. And now I finally am, so I better have as much fun as possible.

***

November was a joyful month for me. Together, we went bowling, watched sunsets, visited cafes, and enjoyed our youth to the fullest. We even went on a class trip. It was the most fun trip I'd ever had. We were already two weeks into the month, and almost every day had been marked by a fun outing.

"I still can't understand the weird cold stares Yukino-san sometimes gives me... Well, whatever," I mused out loud, recalling today.

A smile played on my lips as I basked in pleasant memories. I was right, after all. Those five were so enjoyable to be around. There were never awkward silences, the words exchanged were always sincere, and there was never a dull moment with them. That's what I've always wanted. Right now, I was living the perfect youth that my past self so vividly imagined. It was all I needed.

Probably from feeling giddy, I found myself unable to sleep. I thought about what to do when I remembered that I hadn't been keeping up with any anime for the past two weeks.

"I guess I could watch some...," I said as I turned on my PC. I launched the browser and went to the streaming service I usually frequented.

"Oh, I forgot to renew my subscription," I said to myself, noticing that I didn't pay for this month.

Those past days were busy, so it wasn't surprising. Well, luckily for me, the subscription was easily renewable on the spot. I paid for it and started watching some shows. In no time, I was immersed in the process.

It was once again a fun evening of watching anime. Those have gotten rare recently, so I ought to value them.

That thought made me feel melancholic. Although, that melancholy could have also been caused by the picture that accidentally entered my line of sight.

A photo with him and me on it. A memory of our friendship.

I silently picked up the photo frame and laid it horizontally so that the photo faced the desk.

***

"We'll wait for you outside, so hurry up, Shosei," Akira-san said and, following Mitsu-san and Yukino-san, left the classroom. I planned to catch up to them after I put my stuff in the bag. 

I was crouching, putting all the items in, when Yamada-san called out to me.

"Hey, Shosei, you have a minute?"

"Hm? Sure, just let me pack all my stuff," I replied as I looked up at him. I pretended not to notice the seriousness of the upcoming conversation and spoke casually. He nodded and left the class.

I finished packing and followed him, leaving the classroom behind. I opened the door to see him leaning his back on the wall near the doorframe.

"So, what did you want to talk about?" I asked. He decided to talk right now of all times, even though he had club activities. Moreover, he brought it up after everyone left, so I assumed he didn't want anyone else to know about this.

At first, Yamada-san seemed to hesitate, but after a while, he took a deep breath and started talking. I mentally noted that neither his fake smile nor his genuine one was present. It was unusual for both of them to be absent.

"...You already know, but everyone in this little group has their issues...," He started. I nodded in a silent show of acknowledgment. Yamada-san continued. "The cases with Akira and Yukino are obvious, but the same is true for everyone else."

Yamada-san paused and directed his gaze at me. Then he declared.

"And the same is true for you."

I stayed silent. Yamada-san kept looking at me, unwilling to break eye contact. Finally, after realizing that he wouldn't back off, I answered, smiling.

"Don't worry, Yamada-san. It's no longer the case. I think I found what I was searching for. The only thing left is to help everyone else, and we can enjoy our perfect youth together," I said and smiled at Yamada-san confidently. That's right. I didn't need anything else. My dream was within my reach, I just needed to extend my hand to them, and I would achieve it. Only a little was left... 

"That's why, instead of worrying about me, you should let me lend you a hand."

Seemingly accepting my explanation, he nodded.

"I see," Yamada-san replied and smiled. "Well, I am similar to you. There are differences, but as long as I can watch everyone else move forward, I can let go of my past. The same is true for Fumiko-san."

"What about Mitsu-san?" I asked, noticing that he hadn't mentioned her yet.

"She...," Yamada-san started, visibly unsure what to say. "She is a unique case. Mitsu would probably tell you that nothing in her life needs solving and that she's okay with how things are."

Nothing needs solving, huh? Well, if the person in question was satisfied, I could accept that.

"I see," I replied, satisfied with the answer. Not by Yamada-san's — but rather by my own.

"Well, if nothing is bothering you, then it's alright. See you after school, Shosei," Yamada-san walked away, leaving those parting words behind. We'd planned to meet after school and go to the shopping mall, so he mentioned that.

I wanted to add something but stopped myself last second. My mouth was left half open, and I was sure my face must have looked as if it was twisted in pain. I did my best to keep myself smiling, but I was sure I didn't trick him. After he left, an unpleasant grimace was left on my face.

I remembered the smile he had starting from halfway through the conversation.

And by that, I mean his fake one.

***
Ishikawa Yamada

It was all crumbling apart, and I knew it. Would Shosei's state undermine the rest of the group's happiness? Or would Akira and Yukino move on like nothing happened? At this rate, it won't be long before Shosei leaves our group. I wasn't sharp by any means and didn't understand Shosei as well as I wanted to. Hence, I observed attentively, trying to overcome my flaw.

Yet it was worthless. Sure, I did notice some things, but I still didn't understand enough and lacked the needed answers. If there was one thing I knew, it was that someone with Shosei's expression during that conversation couldn't be okay. I'd seen enough disasters to know that much.

There was still nothing I could do.