After the theater club’s Mikami-senpai and Kaburaki-senpai left, only Minase, Sera, Shiera, and I remained in the café.
“So, how much of that was actually real?”
I asked, because during that whole fake argument, it felt like there were some pretty real bits mixed in there.
“Let’s see… the part about Mishio being the only one among us in the Star Class—that was true.”
Shiera answered.
So, out of all of them, it was Minase who had been treated like an elite, even over these two, who were now both quite successful in their own right.
“And the part where I said I made it big in a field that had nothing to do with singing or dancing? That was true too. I really wanted to end up like Shiera, though.”
Sera sighed and looked up at the ceiling. It seemed she’d originally aimed to debut as part of a dance and vocal group.
“And your name’s really Taeko?”
“Don’t call me by that lame name!”
Sera glared at me, but it didn’t seem like she was genuinely angry. She was treating it more like a running joke about herself.
“My full name’s Misaki Taeko. I don’t mind the ‘Misaki’ part, but ‘Taeko’ just sounds… old-fashioned, you know? Like one of those wrinkly names.”
She gave a wry smile.
“I don’t think it’s bad, actually. The kanji for ‘Tae’ means ‘excellent’ or ‘beautiful,’ right? So together with your family name, it actually suits you really well.”
Beautiful twice over. For someone who worked as a model, it fit perfectly.
When I said that, Sera blinked several times.
“I think I like you, Sakura. Mind if I take you home?”
“No way,” Minase cut in immediately, sounding exasperated.
“Oh, right. By the way, where’s Yuka-chan today?”
“Yukari? Nah, she’s not involved in this whole thing.”
“Aww, too bad.”
It seemed Sera still had a crush on Yukari. Maybe they’d meet someday.
“Alright, we should get going.”
Shiera stood up, having judged the timing was right.
“I’ve got a flight back tonight.”
That was quick. She came all the way to Japan just for this and was heading straight back afterward. Their bond as former classmates must’ve been really strong.
“See you.”
“Yeah, take care.”
Shiera and Minase waved to each other.
“Hey, time to go!”
Sera called out toward the back table, then walked toward the entrance alongside Shiera. Right after that, a girl wearing a hood pulled low over her face slipped past us and left the café with them.
“Uh… who was that?”
I pointed toward the door after the mysterious girl disappeared and asked Minase.
I remembered there had been three girls sitting at that table earlier. I’d only heard about Sera and Shiera coming, so whoever the third was must’ve been added after my plan got hijacked. Which meant there was only one possible answer.
But Minase just smiled and said nothing. I figured it was better not to ask further.
“Alright, Master. We’ll come again. Oh, and tell me about Ruka-san next time.”
Sera paid for all three of them and left the café.
As expected, she knew about Ruka Misumi, the legendary senior model. The store manager looked quite pleased as he saw them off.
§§§
“Are you really okay with how that ended?”
“Yeah, I’m fine now.”
When I asked again on our way home, Minase answered firmly.
Well, if she was fine with it, there wasn’t much more for me to say. Personally, I felt we’d already achieved half the goal—the theater club had acknowledged her talent. The other half had been to make them ask her to come back themselves, which was practically accomplished too. So when Minase declared she wouldn’t return, I felt satisfied enough.
Let them realize what they lost—both Minase and the chance to know Sera and Shiera better.
“Hey, Minase. Were you maybe thinking that if you went back to the theater club, I’d decide to rejoin the soccer club too?”
“Eh? Um…”
She hesitated, unable to find the words.
“So I was right.”
Minase stayed silent but nodded slightly.
I figured as much. She had talked to Yakushiji about returning to the theater club right after Kuki had seriously tried to convince me to come back to soccer. It must’ve gotten to her.
“Sorry, but I’m not planning to rejoin the soccer club.”
“What?”
“I’ve got something more important now.”
When I said that clearly, Minase looked at me in surprise.
“More important?”
“The ‘We Quit Club’ alliance.”
Minase suddenly stopped walking. I turned around a moment later to see her staring at me with wide eyes.
“What? Is that weird? We finally made that alliance—wouldn’t it be a waste to end it right away?”
I had played soccer my whole life and assumed I always would. When I quit, I honestly didn’t know what to do anymore—what to focus on, how to spend my days.
And then it hit me: so this is what it feels like to fail. But Minase taught me two things.
First, that life after quitting something embarrassing can still be fun. That’s what the “We Quit Club” alliance was for.
Second, that you can decide for yourself where your flower will bloom.
If I ever find a place where I feel I can enjoy soccer again, I can always go back. If not, then maybe soccer was never meant to be that important in my life.
So for now, I just wanted to treasure this weird little alliance we had.
“Yeah… I wanted to keep it going too.”
“Then it’s settled.”
She was always the one dragging me into her ideas—let’s do this, let’s do that—and even went so far as to form this “We Quit Club” alliance on a whim. So why couldn’t she just say the most important things when it mattered? What a pain… but I couldn’t help laughing.
“Ah…”
Suddenly, Minase let out a small sound. Her eyes widened like she’d realized something.
“What’s wrong?”
She turned around abruptly and started walking again before I could ask more, so I followed.
“You know, Sakura, you’re kinda naïve. Did you really think I wouldn’t recognize Sera and Shiera, even with their backs turned and faces hidden?”
“Yeah… good point.”
That must be the strength of their bond.
“But, you really did put a lot of thought into helping me, didn’t you? I… I really like that part of you, Sakura—”
Minase suddenly stopped midsentence. When I looked over, she was silently moving her lips.
“What’s wrong?”
“N-nothing.”
I asked out of concern, but she quickly shook her head.
“Anyway, thank you.”
“Yeah.”
To her words of gratitude, I gave a simple but sincere reply.
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