My face turning bright red was, well, a good thing, I suppose.

Yuka had an expression like she'd just witnessed something she could tease me about for the next decade, and Shii was laughing at me too, but anyway, we had gathered to discuss the stalker situation.

And that stalker was Sota's... well, childhood friend. Though for childhood friends, there was quite a gap in the middle.

Did they meet again in middle school in the original story? That part was a bit fuzzy.

Since it seemed inappropriate to talk about this on the street, we went into a nearby family restaurant and sat down. We ordered some french fries and drink bar tickets, then got back to our serious conversation.

"So... you're saying you're neighbors?" Nakahara asked, and I nodded.

Who is Nakahara? That would be Nanami sitting across from me. Nakahara Nanami. That surname I couldn't remember was "Nakahara."

Usually, when I meet someone who could become a friend, I suggest they call me by my first name from the start. After all, the surname I'm currently using is fake.

I had thought about changing it since I'd already entered Kosuzu's sphere again, but unfortunately, I was already in middle school, and suddenly changing it now would look strange. Unless we ran away again, there needed to be a valid reason to change my name.

I considered suggesting the same to Nakahara, but unfortunately, she didn't seem to view me very favorably at the moment.

A childhood first love. After meeting again after so long, there's another girl by his side.

...Well, that's how it looks, but...

"You live next door and go to school together?"

Sota and I nodded again.

"And you visit each other often?"

Sometimes I bring my game console over and we play together, or we watch movies. Shii even brings over food she's made when it turns out well.

We often have family meals together, and on important days like Christmas, they invite us over. So, if I had to be specific, it wasn't just casual visits.

But if I explained all that in this situation, Nakahara would definitely get angry, so I just nodded vaguely.

"And yet, you're saying there's nothing between you two?"

Yeah, it's reasonable to be suspicious.

But if she really misunderstands, it'll annoy me more. And Sota too.

Let me say it again: we're like siblings. And sibling relationships are naturally combative. I don't know what happened during evolution, but human siblings, while considering themselves family, have always fought.

"And Sota knows all these girls here?"

"..."

Sota made a truly wronged expression at Nakahara's words. I understand this too. If there were lots of girls openly clinging to him like in the original story, it would make sense, but one is me, another is my twin, another is his little sister, and Yuka wasn't even that close to Sota to begin with.

Anyway, it was true that he knew everyone here, so Sota eventually nodded.

Nakahara fell into thought for a moment.

"Really? You're saying you're not dating?"

"That's right."

Unable to hold back anymore, I answered firmly, and Nakahara looked straight at me. I flinched a little under her gaze, and then she spoke again as if to confirm.

"So you wouldn't mind if Sota got female acquaintances or a girlfriend?"

Of course I wouldn't mind. Thinking about it seriously, Kagami would probably invite Sota's girlfriend along when inviting him. She might not think of him completely as a son, but she at least showed that much consideration.

Kagami had a difficult childhood. She probably thinks of her own childhood when she looks at me, Sota, or Shii.

She's truly an angelic mother.

Seeing me nod without hesitation, Nakahara seemed convinced. Well, there was no reason to hide anything to this extent anyway.

Her hostility toward me diminished somewhat. It hadn't completely disappeared, but it seemed to have decreased to a level where rational conversation was possible.

Nakahara stood up and abruptly extended her hand toward me.

I blinked once, then stood up and took her hand.

Nakahara shook my hand vigorously up and down and said, "I'm Nakahara Nanami."

"...Kunimura Kotone. Call me Kotone."

"Really? Then call me Nanami too!"

Judging by her brightening face, she actually has quite a nice personality. Even in the novel, she had a strong image of being popular and sociable.

In these kinds of stories, the protagonist usually has otaku tendencies, but this Nanami had almost no knowledge in that area.

"Let's be friends from now on!"

Yet there was still some wariness in her eyes.

Is she saying this to me because she thinks I have a lot of information about Sota?

If that's the case, it would be more advantageous to stick with Shii. I actually know very little about Sota's preferences or anything like that.

And as if reflecting my thoughts, Nanami also shook hands with Shii.

And with Yuka and Koko too.

"Woo?"

Koko, who had been eagerly eating the french fries in front of her, tilted her head when her hand was suddenly grabbed.

"She's so cute!"

But I look exactly the same as her?

Well, I guess I don't make sounds like that.

"Waa?"

Seeing Nanami gently patting her head, Koko seemed to recognize her as a good person. Well, anyone who doesn't point a knife at Koko is probably a good person to her, so that's not entirely wrong.

...

How should I put it? We came here thinking we were dealing with a stalker, but now that it's ended like this, my feelings are a bit complicated.

And somehow, I feel like the human relationships I knew have gotten a bit tangled. More precisely, the relationships from the novel.

She said they were childhood friends, but in this situation, wouldn't I also be considered a childhood friend?

...From that young age, I thought about using Sota and the people around him to survive. Now I just think of us as friends, but that original purpose hasn't completely disappeared.

Should I tell them someday?

Sota and Shii still don't know that such a world exists. They'll inevitably find out as time passes.

If I tell them after everything is over...

Will I be forgiven?

"..."

Watching the children chattering loudly, I quietly sank into thought.

I used to think that as long as Kagami and I could live together, that would be enough.

Now, my hands were full of people I couldn't bear to lose.

"Kotone."

"Hm?"

When I turned my head at the sudden call, a bunch of french fries entered my mouth. Not just one, but a whole clump.

"What are you thinking about so seriously? What, is she actually the stalker?"

"No, it's not that."

I mumbled with my mouth full, looking at Yuka who seemed to be teasing me.

"You don't need to doubt everything in the world. If I did that, I would have had a nervous breakdown long ago."

To be precise, I had overcome such a period. It was a story that appeared in the original work too.

"It's easiest to just accept that what isn't true isn't true. Even if you have worries, there's no point in worrying about things that can't be resolved."

I know.

I do know.

Thinking about people I couldn't save won't bring them back to life. If I thought like that, what I'm doing would be impossible.

But even so, I can't stop thinking about it.

Yuka doesn't know that Nanami was originally a person connected to Sota. She doesn't know about the existence of the "original story."

She doesn't know that she herself is such an existence.

That I am an outsider, and that we might never have met.

"...Yeah."

But I didn't have the courage to explain all of this here.

Someday, someday I'll tell them.

Preferably when everything is over, when everyone has survived safely and can smile. Me, Kagami, Koko, and Dad too. When I've confirmed that all the children here, and my friends like Harumi, Yuu, and Mako are all safe.

...Looking at how I keep adding conditions, I really am petty in many ways.

*

"Koko."

"Kotone?"

On the way home.

When I called out to Koko, she called my name back.

"...Koko."

"Kotone?"

Hearing Koko's response makes me feel good.

They say people don't like hearing their own voice objectively from a third-person perspective, but Koko completely offsets that with her appearance and attitude.

"I just felt like calling your name."

"Just because?"

When I said that with a smile, Koko tilted her head as she walked, then—

"Kotone."

She called me.

"Koko?"

"Kotone."

"Koko?"

"I just felt like calling your name too!"

Seeing Koko say that with a bright smile, all the gloomy thoughts I had today seemed to vanish in an instant.

I smiled back at Koko and patted her head.

We walked home together. It wasn't that far.

When we rang the bell, Kagami came out smiling to welcome us.

That's right.

I'm happy.

For now, let's live wrapped in this happiness.

As Yuka said, there's no point in worrying about things that can't be resolved right now.

Instead, let's think about the people who matter.