Morning.

Walking into the hotel restaurant to eat breakfast, I saw a big crowd of people surrounding someone.

With Aika at the centre of them.

“Aika-sama, let’s have a tea party when we return!”

“Would you mind, if I joined too, Aika-sama?”

“N-nope.”

“Then please let me join too.”

“Then everyone can come!”

The bright smiles of the Ojou-samas surrounding Aika was like a flower wreath.

She had sent me a report through a text message last night regarding the recent developments.

She’s doing a good job, isn’t she?

“Aika-sama, you haven’t joined a club yet, right?”

“Eh? About that………”

“If you don’t mind, are you willing to join the Tennis Club? It will pose no problems even if the recruiting period is over.”

“Please do consider the Singing Club!”

Everyone’s attention was on Aika as the atmosphere turned rowdy.

It’s quite an unimaginable scene, actually.

The Aika who avoided others and always turtled in the corner of the room.

Her dream scenario was playing right in front of my eyes.

　——She did a very good job.

Seeing such a scene in front of my eyes, I couldn’t help but feel touched.

Suddenly, Reiko stood by my side.

Glancing towards her, she turned her head towards me and smiled in reply.

“She did it, that girl.”

“Yes, it worked out well.”

A moment later,

“Then, why don’t we take a seat, Kimito-sama?”

“Sure.”

While walking towards the tables alongside Reiko, I glanced at Aika who was in the midst of the large crowd while thinking:

“There’s no need to worry about her anymore.”

After breakfast, I returned to my room to take a change of clothes.

And headed for a bath in the bath house.

As a man, I was barred from using the bath house last night.

Although there was a bathtub in the hotel’s bathroom, it was far too small to thoroughly enjoy a good soak.

Thus, I had persisted till now.

After reaching the lift, I pressed the ‘Down’ b.u.t.ton.

With a Ding, the lift had arrived.The door of the lift on my left side opened——

And Aika walked out of it.

“! Huh? Why are you here?” (Aika)

“This is the second floor.”

“Eh……?”

Confirming the sign displaying the level of the floor has the number ‘2’ on it, the girls rooms are in the third floor and above.

She must have mistakenly gotten off, thinking this was her floor that led to her room.

“You’re really stupid.”

“I’m not stupid!”

It’s actually due to me pressing the b.u.t.ton, but let’s not mention something that trivial for now.

“Aren’t you getting on?”

“…….”

Just as the door of the lift started closing and my hands quickly reached for the b.u.t.ton——

“……Wait”

The door of the lift closed and headed for the upper floors.

Aika silently walked towards me.

“……What is it?”

“……………….”

Aika didn’t utter a word as she lowered her head.

I had seen that look on Aika’s face for a while now.

For example, during Commoner Club’s activities or when we were alone together, Aika gave off a depressing aura as if she had something on her mind.

Although I had asked her what happened, we were often interrupted by the return of the other members. Till now, I had no idea as to what caused her depression.

“……..I have a question for you.”

“Huh?”

She had something to ask me?

“What is it?”

“………”

She lowered her head as a blush surfaced on her face.

An awkward silence befalls the atmosphere around us.

“……Look, haven’t we……met before?”

“……Hah?”

Aika kept gazing at my eyes.

It seemed like she wasn’t joking.

Facing the quiet me, she continued:

“Have you ever partic.i.p.ated in any parties for rich and high-status people before?”

Her tone sounded like she was urging me to answer her question.

“When you were 10 years old, in the fourth grade, on Christmas?”

It also seems like she was seeking something.

“Umm, a little before the party started, I was in the hotel all alone watching the Christmas tree. And then someone spoke to me, so we went out……”

While facing the speechless me, Aika’s voice gradually grew softer.

“……”

I tried to recall.

Seeing that she was really serious about this, I tried my best to remember.

……But I had never ever attended a party in a hotel before.

Let alone the fourth grade me. Till now, I had never even attended a Christmas party once in my whole life.

My house was very normal.

My dad was a salary man, and my mom was a housewife. Although it may look like I had a good life till now, we were just an average household.

No matter what, the best evidence was me being chosen as the Commoner Sample. (TLN: I think it means the best evidence of his normalcy)

Although I didn’t have much memory of what I did during the Christmas in fourth grade, I would definitely remember if I had attended a party or something.”

“Nope, I don’t remember going to a party.”

“…….”

Aika looked like she was very surprised.

“T-that’s right! It must have been memory loss! Isn’t it just that you couldn’t remember that day in particular!?”

“I don’t think so. I have never had any sense of inconsistency, and n.o.body has pointed that out to me, either.”

Aika slowly lost her spirit like a deflating balloon.

“Sorry, I think you’ve got the wrong person.”

“………I see.”

Although I don’t get it, it must have been something really important to her.

Unable to take the depressing mood any longer, I tried to change it to a more positive subject.

“On the other hand, I’m glad you’re now getting along with others.”

“Ah?….Uhh, yeah.”

It was immediately effective as her sad frown immediately turned upside down.

“Being brave was worth it.”

She spoke with a soft tone.

I breathed a sigh in relief.

“Well, you did a good job.”

“Once you’ve done it, it feels super simple.”

“Don’t get carried away.”

“Hehehe…but this is all thanks to you.”

A shy look surfaced on the pure Aika’s face.

“Thanks.”

“Yeah.”

It’s finally done.

A sense of freedom entered my heart.

“After this, the Commoner Club will be disbanded, right?”

“……Huh?”

“The club was founded to make you a popular girl.”

“…………”

“From now on, you’ll join tea parties with your cla.s.smates after school, or enter a proper club, so it’s not needed anymore.”

I pressed the b.u.t.ton and the door of the lift opened before me.

“Come on, let’s get in.”

“……Ah…….yeah…….”

For some reason, Aika walked into the lift as if she was in a loss.