Chapter 274 - 274: We Want It Too!

The next day, in front of the University of Tokyo Hospital, the group gathered one by one.

Tsushima Kagami stood by the automatic doors, stepping half a pace aside to hold a parasol open for Yukinoshita Shizuku.

Yukinoshita Shizuku wore a pale blue dress that day, her left hand held up at some subtle angle the whole time — as if ready to shake someone's hand at any moment, or perhaps just wanting to let the diamond on her ring finger soak up a little more sun.

"Kagami, you're blocking me."

Yukinoshita Shizuku gently pushed his parasol aside, letting her whole left hand bask in the sunlight.

The diamond instantly refracted a blinding arc of light, striking Sayuri's forehead just ahead of them.

It dazzled her eyes again. "Ow!" Sayuri clutched her forehead.

"Yukinoshita Shizuku, that ring of yours reflects light way too well…"

"Does it?" Yukinoshita Shizuku tilted her head, her tone innocent.

"Must be the sun's too strong today."

Sayuri stared at the diamond ring for a moment, her mouth twitching, and said nothing more.

The group finished the paperwork at the nurses' station, then walked down a corridor thick with the smell of disinfectant to Nayotake's room.

Shimizu Nayotake had already changed into her hospital gown and sat on the edge of the bed, clutching a list of examination items, looking somewhat nervous.

When she saw the group pour in, a smile immediately bloomed on her face — though the unease in her eyes was impossible to hide.

"You... you all came?"

Of course they'd come.

Sayuri rushed over first, setting a bag of fruit on the nightstand.

"How could we not come cheer you on before surgery?"

Kosaka Akane said with a smile, her tone full of concern.

"Don't be nervous, this kind of surgery has a very high success rate."

The others brought their own gifts too, until Nayotake's nightstand was crammed full.

Nayotake looked at the roomful of people, her lips trembling slightly.

She wanted to say thank you, wanted to say she was sorry for making everyone worry, wanted to say so many things — but her throat felt blocked, as if something were lodged in it.

Saying things like that now would only sound too distant, she thought.

So she smiled instead.

"I'll get better soon."

Mrs. Shimizu stood to the side, her eyes reddening too, bowing again and again to thank everyone.

The pre-surgery checkups went one after another — blood draws, an ECG, a chest X-ray, an anesthesia assessment... Nayotake was led about between departments by the nurses like a doll.

Every time she came out of an examination room, a crowd was waiting for her in the hallway.

By the time the morning's checkups were finished, it was nearly noon.

Mrs. Shimizu thanked everyone again and again, saying they could go home and rest for now, and come back on the day of the surgery.

Everyone said their goodbyes to Nayotake one by one.

Stepping out of the hospital, they were met by the tail-end August heat.

Kosaka Akane stretched lazily.

"So, should we all head home now, or find somewhere to hang out together?"

Everyone started chattering over each other, discussing it.

Just then, Sayuri's gaze suddenly snapped, as if pulled by a magnet, and fixed itself on Yukinoshita Shizuku's left hand.

The sunlight was just right now, and the diamond on the ring scattered a ring of shimmering light across everyone's faces.

"Wait, wait, wait…"

Sayuri grabbed Yukinoshita Shizuku's left hand and leaned in for a closer look.

"Yukinoshita Shizuku, this ring of yours — don't tell me it's…"

Everyone's eyes fell on the ring in unison.

Almost in the same instant, everyone's eyes followed suit, all together.

Everyone had already noticed, actually.

Ever since they met up that morning, every one of Yukinoshita Shizuku's movements had carried a certain deliberateness.

She kept showing that hand off, as if by accident.

She used her left hand to hold the escalator rail, her left hand to brush back her hair, even her left hand to take the form the nurse handed her. When she carried her bag, her ring finger would lift slightly, putting the diamond ring right in front of whoever stood near.

It nearly made people think she was left-handed.

It would have been hard not to notice.

But since they were still at the hospital and Nayotake's business took priority, everyone had held their tongues and not asked.

They'd only exchanged countless knowing glances with each other.

Now, having left the hospital, no one could hold back any longer.

Everyone's eyes landed together on the diamond ring on Yukinoshita Shizuku's left ring finger.

Silence. Quiet. Staring.

Yukinoshita Shizuku met everyone's burning gazes with an unchanged expression.

There was even the faintest hint of an elegant smile at the corners of her mouth.

She said nothing, didn't hide her hand either, just stood there calmly, letting everyone look their fill.

Tsushima Kagami stood at the back, sweat already beading at his temple.

Right before the silence could turn into an interrogation, Hayase Kinue suddenly clapped her hands lightly.

She spoke up, beaming.

"So... does everyone want to come hang out at my place?"

"I just baked some new cookies today — they should go nicely with some iced black tea."

Half an hour later, at Hayase Kinue's apartment.

Everyone quickly settled into the living room, and Hayase Kinue brought out specially chilled Darjeeling tea along with a large plate of homemade cookies in various shapes.

Tsushima Kagami, meanwhile, dutifully busied himself in the open kitchen, cutting fruit and preparing snacks for everyone — though his ears were pricked up sharp, determined not to miss a single word.

Sayuri, sitting next to Yukinoshita Shizuku, finally couldn't hold back any longer.

She leaned in close to Yukinoshita Shizuku's left hand, eyes wide, her tone of amazement so exaggerated it sounded like she was singing an aria.

"Whoaaa!"

"So this is the legendary Tiffany & Co. Setting series — the most sincere, most dazzling, the ultimate expression of true love."

"The one that stands for a promise you have to guard your whole life… the six-prong platinum diamond ring?"

She rattled off the whole string of qualifiers without pausing for breath — clearly she'd done her homework beforehand.

Everyone immediately crowded around, encircling Yukinoshita Shizuku in the middle.

All eyes were fixed on the diamond ring, envy practically overflowing from them.

Machida Sonoko pushed up her non-prescription glasses, a smile tugging at her lips even as she tried to feign composure.

"Six-prong setting — this is definitely one of Tiffany's classic styles. The craftsmanship makes the diamond look bigger and brighter than it actually is."

Her voice suddenly dropped a little.

"And this stone... the color grade is at least D, isn't it?"

Having said that, Machida Sonoko glanced at Kosaka Akane beside her. "Right, Akane?"

"...?"

"I don't really know much about this kind of thing."

Kosaka Akane said with a smile.

"Then why have you been staring at Yukinoshita-chan's ring this whole time?"

Machida Sonoko shot back with a smile.

"I... I was looking at the cut."

"Since when do you know anything about gem cutting?"

"You're talking a bit too much, Sonoko."

At this point, Hiratsuka Shizuka beside them hadn't said a word, but her gaze, too, was helplessly fixed on the diamond ring.

Though she was the young lady of the Hiratsuka family and never lacked for fine jewelry herself.

She'd simply never had much interest in jewelry, so she never bothered wearing any.

But seeing the ring on Yukinoshita Shizuku's left hand, she — who was always said to have a boyish personality — suddenly found herself wanting a ring like that on her own hand too.

After all, what that ring represented needed no explanation.

If it were that man who put it on her finger…

Hiratsuka Shizuka unconsciously touched the base of her own left ring finger.

Tsukuyomi Komoe cupped her face in both hands, lying beside Nijika and kicking her legs, eyes sparkling.

"Yukinoshita's so lucky~ This is proof of being loved!"

Douraku Utage sat to the side, legs crossed, and said nonchalantly, "It's alright, I guess."

"Not having one hasn't stopped me from living just fine!"

Yet her eyes never once left the diamond ring.

Hiroi Kikuri hugged a cushion, muttering under her breath. "Lucky... I've never even gotten a soda can tab..."

She traded a glance with PA-ko, and the two sighed in unison.

Seika sat off to the side, watching everyone's expressions with a satisfied smile.

As for the envy and shock, she'd already gone through all that yesterday at home with Nijika and her mother.

Now, seeing everyone else looking so envious, that vague sourness she'd felt at first faded away considerably.

Yukinoshita Shizuku, the "culprit" behind all this, lifted her cup of black tea and took a small sip.

"Oh, is it some famous brand or something?"

She tilted her head slightly, her tone indifferent.

"I don't really know much about diamond rings or jewelry, honestly."

"It's pretty enough, I suppose, but once the novelty wears off, this ring is really nothing special."

She paused, setting her teacup back on the tray with a crisp little clink.

"Though the jewelry box Kagami used to hold the ring — the one specially made to look like a cheesecake — I actually like that more."

As she said this, her gaze drifted past the crowd, sweeping lightly over Tsushima Kagami, still busy in the kitchen.

The corners of her mouth curved into a faint arc.

The whole living room fell silent for an instant.

Then…

Everyone secretly pursed their lips.

Look at you, so pleased with yourself.

What was with that "oh, is it some famous brand or something," what was with that "once the novelty wears off it's really nothing special," and what on earth was with that "specially made"!

She was clearly showing off, yet pretending not to care.

She was obviously thrilled to death, yet insisted on saying "it's nothing special."

This kind of humble-bragging was enough to make anyone's teeth itch.

After a brief silence, Sayuri suddenly spoke up.

"Yukinoshita, can I borrow it for a second? Just a moment — I want to see how it looks on."

"Me too!"

Kosaka Akane, who just moments ago claimed no interest, immediately raised her hand.

"Let me try it too!"

Machida Sonoko already had her hand stretched out.

"Just for a second, I won't break it."

Tsukuyomi Komoe watched with pleading eyes too.

"I... I want to see what's so great about this ring too…"

Douraku Utage, one eye open and one eye closed, said haltingly while eyeing the ring.

Hiroi Kikuri and PA-ko exchanged a glance, then spoke up.

"So... once the senpais are done trying it, can we have a turn too~"

"Yukinoshita Shizuku, given that we've slept together before, you should let me try it first."

Hiratsuka Shizuka immediately blocked everyone else's outstretched hands, smiling as she looked at Yukinoshita Shizuku.

Seika Ijichi sat off to the side, the corner of her mouth curling up.

Heh, so you couldn't hold it in after all.

I already asked yesterday, and not even Nijika could soften Yukinoshita Shizuku's resolve.

There's no way she'd lend it to any of them. Just as Seika Ijichi sat there watching the show, seeming to see through everything—

Yukinoshita Shizuku suddenly drew her hand back, cupping her left hand protectively.

"No."

"...?!"

Everyone let out a disappointed sound in unison.

"So stingy!"

Kosaka Akane protested.

"Just for a second!"

Sayuri tugged at Yukinoshita Shizuku's sleeve, whining.

"It's not like we're trying to steal it from you!"

Hiratsuka Shizuka chimed in loudly too.

Yukinoshita Shizuku remained unmoved, only tightening her fingers slightly, guarding the diamond ring even more closely.

"Alright, alright, stop giving Yukinoshita Shizuku a hard time."

"She worked so hard to get that ring out of Kagami — of course she doesn't want anyone else wearing it."

Seika Ijichi, who'd been enjoying the show for a good while, said with a smile.

"I didn't have to work for it at all!"

Yukinoshita Shizuku's composure finally cracked, her face flushing slightly.

"He got down on his knees himself and begged me to wear it!"

"Oh? Got down on his knees and begged?"

Seika Ijichi raised an eyebrow, glancing toward the kitchen.

"Kagami, is that how it happened?"

Tsushima Kagami, back turned to everyone at the counter, kept diligently cutting fruit. "Well... more or less..."

"What do you mean, more or less?"

Yukinoshita Shizuku shot him a displeased glare.

"You were clearly down on one knee, holding the jewelry box with both hands, and asked me, all nervous, 'Let's get married' — or am I misremembering?"

The living room instantly erupted.

"On one knee?!"

"Holding the box with both hands?!"

"All nervous?!" "Oh my god!"

"I knew it?!" "That's a proposal, isn't it?!"

"I knew it — who gives out a wedding ring as just a regular gift!"

Everyone talked over each other at once.

Hayase Kinue covered her mouth with both hands, tears already welling in her eyes.

"So romantic…"

"So nice... I think I'll switch to a cold beer instead."

Tsukuyomi Komoe set down her black tea, pulled a canned beer from Hayase Kinue's fridge, popped the tab, and started chugging it down.

Douraku Utage leaned back on the sofa, legs crossed, and clapped.

"Great! Wonderful! This is youth right here!"

"So when are you two going to the ward office to file the marriage registration?"

Seika Ijichi added another jab at this point.

The living room fell silent again.

"Wh... what?"

"Marriage registration?!"

Everyone's eyes turned back to Yukinoshita Shizuku.

Under so many stares, Yukinoshita Shizuku's face reddened even more.

Then, as if it were the most natural thing, she produced a marriage registration form — written with Tsushima Kagami's and Yukinoshita Shizuku's names — from somewhere on her person, and set it on the table.

"We... haven't filed it yet."

She bit her lip, her gaze drifting toward the kitchen before she pulled it back. "Kagami and I already talked it over. We'll file it once everyone's graduated together, with everyone there to witness it."

Everyone's eyes were fixed unblinkingly on the marriage registration form.

The light in everyone's eyes instantly dimmed.

The living room fell quiet once more.

Then, everyone's eyes swung together toward the figure in the kitchen — Kagami's back, turned to them, still diligently cutting fruit.

Burning, resentful, envious, jealous, yearning…

All these tangled, complicated emotions, translated into a single sentence, amounted to.

"We want one too."

The gazes were so intense that even with his back turned, Tsushima Kagami could feel his back as if scorched by some blazing flame.

His hand paused, the knife hovering in midair, a bead of cold sweat sliding slowly down his temple.

The living room, so noisy just moments ago, had gone suddenly silent, like something out of a horror film.

He didn't dare turn around.

"Should I maybe pretend I need to go buy something downstairs?"

he thought to himself, despairing.

____

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