Heartbeats and Illusions

After estimating the time in his mind, ensuring that Shiina Mahiru was already far away, Natsukawa Kanade slowly emerged from the corner of the corridor.

Of course, he didn't hold an umbrella in his hand.

It wasn't that he was indulging in self-pity like a forlorn literary protagonist, attempting to dispel the sadness of a relationship ending by soaking in the rain. It was simply because he had handed the key to the student council room to Shirogane Miyuki for safekeeping, leaving him unable to access the lounge anymore.

"I suddenly feel a bit regretful…"

He sighed inwardly. I should've delivered the key tomorrow.

The rain continued to fall, drumming lightly against the ground.

But it wasn't a big deal. Just a little rain. He'd done this sort of thing before.

Just as Kanade was about to step into the rain, a soft voice, accompanied by the faint fragrance of locust blossoms, drifted into his ears.

"Good afternoon, Natsukawa-kun."

The voice was familiar, yet it carried a hint of detachment, almost as if it came from someone else.

Kanade turned toward it immediately. "Good afternoon, Kato-san."

Kato Megumi—the unassuming heroine of the "Boyfriend" project. Her demeanor was so laid-back and natural that she often faded into the background. Yet those who got to know her discovered a thoughtful, gentle, and truly charming high school girl, despite her knack for going unnoticed.

She was occasionally referred to by peculiar nicknames like "Saint Hui" and "Zhuge Hui."

"Huh? It's been a while, but Natsukawa-kun still recognizes me? I'm surprised," Kato teased gently.

"No matter what, I wouldn't forget you so easily," Kanade replied, chuckling despite himself.

This familiar exchange reminded him of past lighthearted moments, pulling a smile from him.

"Maybe. But ever since you became the student council president, we haven't seen you much."

"No, it's not like that…" Kanade stammered, his gaze darting away from Kato's as he tried to explain. "The student council president is busy with… official duties."

He couldn't bring himself to admit that his time had mostly been consumed chasing romantic pursuits, fearing it would make him seem shallow.

Thankfully, Kato was perceptive and considerate. She didn't expose the flimsy excuse that he barely managed to scrape together.

"Speaking of which, why are you here, Kato-san? Don't you have club activities to attend?"

"I was delayed for a while," she said softly. "I ran into a small, lonely-looking puppy."

"Oh…" Kanade's face reddened slightly, suddenly self-conscious.

Was she referring to him? Did he seem that pathetic right now?

"I gave it some food. It should be fine now," Kato added nonchalantly.

"Ah, I see…"

Kanade felt a mixture of relief and embarrassment. So, she'd been speaking about an actual puppy and not using it as a metaphor for him. It could've been so much worse had he overreacted.

"In that case, you should hurry and join your club activities, Kato-san. Don't keep everyone waiting."

"It's not that important," she replied.

Kanade froze. Not important? What did she mean by that? Was chatting with him more important? Or was she implying that he was like that pitiful puppy?

"The club was disbanded."

Kanade blinked. "...What?"

His train of thought derailed completely.

"Ahem… Kato-san, why was the club disbanded? Could you tell me more about it?" he asked, curious despite himself.

He'd once been a member of that club, albeit not one actively recruited by Aki Tomoya like Kato or the others. Instead, he'd joined through regular club recruitment efforts.

Back then, Kanade had been nervous that his basic programming skills wouldn't meet the club's standards. But he quickly realized that Aki Tomoya's recruitment process was so unappealing—no pay, no benefits, just pure interest—that hardly anyone joined. Only someone like Kanade, with ulterior motives, would bother.

Despite his reservations, Kanade ended up contributing to the club's efforts and even used it as an opportunity to get closer to the other members. However, while the process was pleasant, the outcome was bitter. His romantic aspirations had been systematically crushed.

Because of that, he'd tried not to dwell too much on his club days. But hearing Kato bring it up stirred old memories, and his curiosity got the better of him.

"Could it be… that the club couldn't go on after I left?" Kanade asked, a complex blend of guilt and hope twisting inside him.

"No, no," Kato said with a small shake of her head. "Your work was completed, and the suggestions you left behind were incredibly helpful. Eriri and the others made significant progress thanks to them."

"Then why did it disband…?"

"The game was finished," Kato said matter-of-factly. "Not only did Kasumigaoka-senpai and the others think it was great, but even Amaki-san praised its quality. Everyone agreed that you deserved credit for it, Natsukawa-kun."

"…"

Kanade felt both pride and confusion. There was something about Kato's casual delivery that made it feel like she was toying with him, keeping him on edge.

"So… why the disbandment?"

"Hmm… I think it was Kasumigaoka-senpai," Kato said thoughtfully. "She mentioned something about how the 'pretend children's club' had run its course now that the game was complete. Then she left, and the club disbanded."

Kanade: "…"

He sighed inwardly. That did sound like something Kasumigaoka Utaha would say.

Still, knowing he wasn't the reason for the club's dissolution lightened the weight on his chest. Sometimes, all it took was someone denying your perceived guilt to lift your spirits.

"By the way…" Kato said, her tone shifting slightly. "What about you, Natsukawa-kun? What brings you out in the rain like this?"

Kanade hesitated, unsure how to explain without exposing his muddled thoughts and regrets. But as Kato's soft gaze lingered on him, he realized she probably already knew.

The rain continued to fall as the two stood quietly under its gentle rhythm, their words and silences mingling in a moment neither of them could quite define.