I Just Want a Single Ending [82]
On the whole, things were progressing well. He'd managed to grow closer with everyone at a pretty good pace.
The only outlier was his relationship with Nagasaki.
That one was moving much faster than anticipated, far beyond what he'd originally expected.
Even so, it was still within a manageable range.
After all, he knew exactly what he wanted for his ending.
"You didn't end up with anyone, but you shared this joyful time together."
That was how the single ending was described: to enjoy this time without developing any romantic attachments.
To achieve this, he'd set the goal of building meaningful friendships with each of the romanceable characters.
In other words, as long as he avoided a romantic relationship, the exact nature of their bonds didn't matter. Close friends, confidants, or even something like siblings—as long as they could all look back on this time with happiness, that was the important part.
This was why he'd decided to approach Nagasaki as a little-brother figure instead of a simple friend.
It was clear that what she craved was companionship, a warmth that regular friendship couldn't quite provide.
That much was evident from how she behaved around him, and her invitation to share breakfast each day only reinforced his hunch.
So, all he had to do was fill in this gap in her life, offering her a sense of family that would bring her happiness while keeping things firmly platonic.
Satisfied with his approach, Saku picked up a box of treats he'd bought on the way home and headed over to Nagasaki's place.
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"Hello, hope I'm not intruding. I brought some treats that I thought you might like," he greeted as he stepped in, handing her the box.
"Thank you! I'll make some tea for us to enjoy them together." Nagasaki accepted the box with a warm smile and headed into the kitchen.
"Sounds good."
Saku took off his shoes and settled into his usual spot on the couch.
Since he'd been visiting often for lessons, he'd left his bass at her place for convenience. It saved him from carrying it up and down each time.
"Ah, these are daifuku!"
Opening the box, Nagasaki carefully used tongs to place each mochi on a small plate, making them easy to share. She returned with the plate and two cups of tea, setting them on the table.
"Thank you."
Saku accepted the tea with a nod of gratitude.
"No need to thank me."
Sitting beside him, Nagasaki radiated a warmth that filled the room with ease.
"I wasn't sure which flavor you'd like, so I got a bit of everything," he explained, looking at the plate filled with an assortment of flavors.
"I'm not picky when it comes to sweets." She took a small sip of her tea before asking, "Is there one you particularly recommend?"
"Definitely the matcha. It's one of their signature flavors," Saku replied.
"Then I'll start with that one."
She took a piece of the matcha daifuku and bit into it. With a delighted expression, she finished it and offered her thoughts. "It's really delicious!"
Having followed his food recommendations online, Nagasaki knew she could trust his taste.
Saku chuckled. "Glad you like it. Looks like our tastes match up in some areas."
"Seems so," she agreed with a soft laugh, then suggested, "I think Raana would enjoy these too. Maybe you could bring some to share with everyone tomorrow?"
"Good idea. I'll grab some more tomorrow morning so everyone can try them."
After a brief pause, Nagasaki proposed, "I could go with you. I'd like to check out the shop myself."
"That works for me."
Saku took a piece of daifuku himself and tasted it. It was a small thing, but sharing an errand was just another way to strengthen their bond.
Together, they chatted over tea and sweets, the topics light and friendly. At one point, Nagasaki asked about his outing with Tomori.
Saku answered honestly. After all, there was nothing to hide—they'd simply gone out as friends.
Of course, he left out certain details, like all the reading he'd been doing to keep up with Tomori's favorite topics.
"No wonder you're wearing those penguin-themed bandages," she noted with amusement, glancing at his hand.
Saku held up his fingers, showing off the little penguin designs. "Pretty odd, right?"
"A little, but I'd say they're more fun than anything."
Her eyes crinkled with amusement as she shook her head.
Saku let out a relieved chuckle. "Good to know. I was worried they'd look too strange."
Instead of dwelling on it, Nagasaki changed the topic. "It sounds like you and Tomori get along really well."
"We do," he agreed easily.
All that work paid off, he thought to himself.
"I have a feeling you'll become great friends."
"I think so too."
As they finished their sweets and tea, their conversation continued, flowing naturally from one subject to the next, each of them feeling at ease.
If only things could stay like this forever…
As she finished her tea, Nagasaki watched him as he took up his bass and started practicing.
In her heart, she wished this warm, simple companionship would go on and on.
It was selfish, she knew, but when it came to moments like this, she could be greedy.
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Thanks for reading! Let me know if you spot any mistakes or inconsistencies!
Posture and water check! Remember this is a fan translation!
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