"Is that coffee shop over there okay? Susumu?"
"That's fine."
"Then let's go over there."
I nodded, and for some reason Hikari started walking down the street on the other side.
I follow him into the store.
The interior was mainly made of wood, and the store had a calm atmosphere.
I sat down at a round table on the edge, facing the light. As it was a quiet weekday afternoon, the restaurant wasn't completely empty, but it was fairly empty.
"It's a pretty good atmosphere, isn't it?"
The light said happily.
"It's not crowded. I like this kind of store."
"...I'd prefer somewhere more lively."
"When I don't feel like interacting with people, I want to come to places like this."
"Do you have times like that too?"
"Well, sometimes I just want to be alone."
Then the waitress came over and I ordered an iced coffee.
"And you?"
"I'd like the same. And panna cotta."
"Do you like sweet things?"
I casually asked after the waitress left.
"I always order this when I come to a store like this."
"Is that so? Well, we've never come together before."
A little while later, the items were brought in front of each of them.
In front of me is an iced coffee. In front of the light,
"Wow. That looks delicious."
It was panna cotta with a generous amount of strawberry sauce, apparently a specialty of this restaurant.
"That's a story I heard."
Teruaki said as he scooped up some panna cotta with a spoon.
"Apparently, a high school girl committed suicide at a school around here four months ago."
"Right nearby?"
"ah"
"I see."
I took a sip of my coffee.
"Why are you telling me that?"
I don't know much about lighting, but I knew he would never do anything pointless.
Teruaki took a bite of panna cotta with strawberry sauce.
"--Yes, it's not too sweet and has a good flavor."
...When I see him like this, he seems like a normal, nice young man.
"What a shame, he's just so stupid."
"Hmm? What are you talking about?"
"No, whatever."
I sip my coffee while answering.
"So? Who was the student who committed suicide?"
"I don't know the details either."
"What? Isn't this something that concerns me?"
"Maybe there is, maybe there isn't."
After finishing the panna cotta, Teruaki wiped his mouth with a towel.
"The student who committed suicide is said to have looked similar to Hiiragi Aika."
"What? Are you sure?"
I leaned forward from the table and listened.
"That's what they say. Look-alike. Family. Or—"
"Aika...himself..."
"That's it though."
Teruaki shook his head and chuckled.
"That's not the case, and I don't know any details."
"I see... that's true."
I remember Aihana's face. She's a little expressionless, but we can still have a proper conversation.
Well, at first I was ignored.
I'll try to find out which school the student went to.
"Why go to such lengths?"
"It's just a hunch. I think it's best to do that."
"So that's why..."
I said in amazement.
"Do you think that has anything to do with Aika?"
I listened without much expectation, but the lighting was unexpectedly serious,
"It smells like a dead person...from Hiiragi."
"That's not like you to think that way."
"Heh. Maybe so."
"Well, I know it's going to be difficult, but don't push yourself. It would be uncomfortable if something happened to your best friend."
Then the lights suddenly went silent. Did I say something wrong?
"What's wrong? The lights."
"Do you remember what I said yesterday?"
"yesterday?"
"Hiiragi, leave it alone."
"Ah, that's it."
"You said then, 'I'll take care of myself.'"
"Ou"
"I wasn't born as the heir to a large company. I was a troublemaker until my third year of junior high school. My parents had very high expectations of me, and all the teachers at school couldn't stand up to my parents. No one treated me as an individual, a 'lighting lamp'. I didn't know what kind of person I was. I thought that would continue even when I went to high school. But..."
The usually talkative Hikari seemed at a loss for words.
"I am who I am today thanks to you siblings. You all see me as I am, and I can talk to you without worrying about anything. Before long, I began to feel foolish for worrying about appearances and what other people think of me. I'm truly grateful. So, for now, I have to protect you... my best friends."
Saying this, Teruaki finished his glass of coffee.
"That being said, I'll just investigate on my own."
"Ah, ah... sorry."
"What's going on? That's an unusually noble attitude."
"That's... Ah, never mind. Anyway, I'll leave it to you. Lighting."
When I said that, the lighting gave a chuckle.
"Yeah, leave it to me, my best friend."