FLF 08

08 — Confession in the World of Amber Light

Note: “Emi Orihara” has been added to the character list.

“Kashiwabara.”

A slightly low voice for a girl—yet clear, straight, and pleasant as it carried through the air.

When I turned around, Orihara-san was waving at me with a smile.

“Lunch yet? You eaten?”

“Yeah… I just finished a little while ago.”

“Ahh, I see. I haven’t eaten yet though. Come with me for a bit?”

“Okay, sure.”

I glanced at my watch. There were only fifteen minutes left of lunch break.

Usually I’d stay with Aika-chan until the very last second, but today I’d left early since her class had an off-campus lesson next period.

“You’re fine, right? I can finish eating in five minutes, no problem.”

“Th-that’s not good for your health…”

“It’s fine, it’s fine. Come on, let’s go.”

She tugged lightly at my hand.

I nodded and followed her toward the cafeteria.

With so little time left, the cafeteria felt unusually quiet. Only a few students lingered, chatting idly. No one else looked like they were actually starting a meal—probably only Orihara-san would do something like that at this hour.

The aunties behind the counter were already halfway through cleaning up, but Orihara-san didn’t seem to care as she handed over her meal ticket.

She received a slightly displeased look, but soon a karaage set meal was placed in front of her.

“The karaage here is seriously good. The other dishes are all like, ‘yeah this is totally frozen food,’ but this one feels handmade. Try one. You’ll get it. If this is frozen, tell me what brand it is—I’ll go thank them personally!”

She picked one up with her chopsticks and held it out toward me.

It was a bit big for a single bite, but I leaned in and took it anyway.

Probably because they were already cleaning up, it had cooled slightly—but it was still delicious. The crisp sound echoed faintly as I bit into it, almost like something you’d hear on TV. It felt satisfying.

“Well?”

“It’s good.”

“Right? I told you. Next time I’ll treat you to it freshly fried. We should come at a proper time.”

“Yeah. I’m looking forward to it.”

Orihara-san smiled, then glanced at the clock.

“—Ah, crap.”

And immediately started shoveling rice into her mouth.

“Y-you’ll choke eating like that…”

Before I could finish, she thumped her chest once and washed it down with tea.

I couldn’t help it—I laughed, even though I knew it was rude.

She scratched her head, embarrassed.

“I’m not usually like this, okay…”

By the time she finished eating, the warning bell had already rung.

We returned the trays and hurried out of the cafeteria. We were the last ones there, so the doors were locked almost immediately after we left.

“They’re kind of harsh, huh? The food’s good, but that attitude…”

“B-but… we did kind of make things difficult too…”

“Then they should just close fifteen minutes earlier if they’re gonna be like that. It’s not like there was a last order sign or anything.”

She giggled.

She really didn’t need to be enjoying this, but that was just Orihara-san—somehow she turned even this into something fun.

Usually she was quiet. Cool. The type who sat alone in the corner of the classroom reading a book.

And yet… this side of her felt like something only I was allowed to see. That thought made me oddly happy.

We made it back to the classroom two minutes before the bell.

We laughed about how close it had been.

Bursting through the door at the last second drew everyone’s attention. I could hear quiet snickers, and in the distance I saw Mami sighing like she’d given up on us entirely.

“Seriously… no more cafeteria runs right before the bell.”

“Sorry, sorry.”

“But it was actually my first time eating there. It was kind of hard to go alone because there were so many people… so it was a little exciting, I guess.”

“Really? Then let’s go again before graduation. We’ll get that karaage together.”

“Yeah. Let’s go!”

Just then, the teacher entered, and we took our seats.

Almost immediately after class began, my phone vibrated in my skirt pocket.

Mom? At this time?

Maybe she wanted me to pick something up on the way home. Annoying…

I opened it secretly under the desk.

But it wasn’t my mother.

It was Orihara-san.

Her messages always felt different from how she spoke in person—carefully worded, polite. I liked that contrast.

‘Do you have any plans after school today?’

I looked over at her seat.

She quickly averted her gaze.

Of course—eye contact now would only get us caught.

I didn’t have anything. Just going home with Aika-chan as usual.

There wasn’t any rule saying I had to.

Maybe it was okay to spend time with a friend sometimes.

‘No, nothing in particular.’

Almost immediately, she replied.

Then another message.

‘Then… could I ask you to spare a little time for me?’

What is it… shopping? Something like that?

We’d never gone out after school together before, so my heart started to flutter without permission.

‘Okay. Got it. See you after school.’

She didn’t reply after that.

But once, our eyes met—and she smiled softly.

Where would we go?

Maybe the shopping mall near the station. Picking clothes that suit her might be fun.

Or maybe she had somewhere she wanted to go.

Either way, I didn’t mind following her.

I sent a message to Aika-chan as well.

I worried she might be upset, but her reply wasn’t bad at all.

It seemed she also had plans after school.

With that relief, I made it through the rest of the day.

When the final bell rang, I stood up to go to Orihara-san’s seat—

But she had already left the classroom.

Confused, I checked my phone.

‘Sorry, please go to the back garden first.’

The back garden wasn’t a place many students went.

Aika-chan liked it, but I never really did.

Why there?

I said goodbye to Mami and left the classroom.

I tried to check on Aika-chan too, but her class was running late. She was still inside, not in a state to leave yet.

I arrived at the back garden first and sat on the lonely bench.

It was almost like Aika-chan’s private seat. Not officially, of course—but everyone treated it like hers.

Before we became “together,” I used to come here to find her. If she was missing, she was always here.

She once said it was the best place to be alone.

“Ah, Kashiwabara… sorry, I’m late.”

Orihara-san appeared from the direction of the field.

I quickly stood up and went to her.

When I asked what was wrong, she glanced around to make sure no one was nearby, then waved me over.

“This place is kind of creepy, huh. Let’s go over there—by the field side.”

We moved closer to the school building.

The sun was already low. The world had turned a deep amber.

It looked like something out of a painting.

I couldn’t help but let out a small sound of admiration.

“Wow… this is kind of an unexpected spot.”

“Yeah, right? It feels like something from a drama.”

“Yeah. Sorry, we’ll just be standing here talking… is that okay?”

“Yeah, it’s fine. I don’t really like the other spot either.”

She leaned against the wall.

I did the same.

Then she started talking—casual things at first.

University. Future dreams. First love stories. Even about the karaage from earlier.

We talked and talked, laughing again and again.

Then—

“Hey, Kashiwabara. Do you… like someone right now?”

“Eh… yeah.”

For a moment I hesitated, but I nodded.

As long as I didn’t say the name, it should be fine.

If I thought about it, I was like her in that way too.

Or maybe worse.

Because the person I loved was my own twin sister.

“…Is that hard to talk about?”

“Eh? No, I’m okay.”

“You don’t have to force it. Is it… unrequited?”

“Why do you think that?”

“Your face just now looked painful.”

“It’s… mutual, I think.”

“So you’ve got a boyfriend.”

I almost nodded—but Aika-chan wasn’t a “boyfriend.”

A girlfriend.

But saying that would make things complicated.

“Yeah… we just started dating.”

I smiled like I’d said something normal.

But Orihara-san’s expression crumpled slightly as she looked down.

“…Hey. Do you remember what I told you before? About me being lesbian.”

“Yeah… I remember.”

“There’s someone I like.”

“Eh? Someone in our school?”

“Yeah. In our class.”

“Ehh!? Who? I had no idea.”

Who…?

I couldn’t think of anyone.

And then she spoke again.

“I actually really like the way things are with her right now. She taught me how fun life can be. She’s really cute. And she didn’t reject me when I told her who I am… but if I say more, I think she’d stay away from me.”

“…That’s…”

“So I wanted to keep it to myself. But… that girl will be gone from this place starting this spring.”

My chest tightened.

I already knew what she was going to say.

“External entrance exams. I was pretty shocked. I thought… am I going to be alone again? But then I realized… even if she’s not here, she probably won’t leave me alone. So I decided I’m going to tell her. My feelings. Even if she hates me after, that’s fine. I don’t want anything from her. I just want to say it. It’s selfish, really. So you can forget it if you want… I just… still want things to stay the same between us.”

If I was right—

She was about to say it.

And the person she was talking about…

Very few students from our school took external exams.

And among them… someone close to her.

Someone she’d never really talked about much.

My thoughts spiraled.

Before I could steady myself, she looked up—more serious than ever.

And said it.

“I… like Kashiwabara. I like you, Aika.”

My eyes widened.

My breath caught.

So that’s why she told me she was the same.

So I wouldn’t be shocked.

Or maybe so the damage wouldn’t cut as deep.

But—

I… I was in love with Aika-chan.

And Orihara-san was just a friend.

Nothing like that.

No romantic feeling. No pain like I felt with Aika-chan.

“…I’m not asking for an answer,” she said softly. “I just… wanted to tell you. Don’t think too hard about it. We can still be friends.”

“That… that’s impossible…”

My voice shook.

Tears spilled out.

“I can’t… do something like that…”

“It’s not cruel, is it?”

“It is! Even if I know how you feel… staying friends like nothing happened…”

Her expression turned sad.

My chest tightened painfully.

“I’d keep thinking about it. I’d feel it every time we’re together…”

Her love was romantic.

Mine… was friendship.

They crossed, but never met.

What happens to her feelings?

Do they disappear?

Do they have to be hidden?

If not, nothing goes back to normal.

And that was the only option left.

It was too sad.

“…pff.”

I froze.

Because she was smiling.

Not bitterly.

Just like usual.

“Eh? Eh?!”

“…I knew it. You’re really nice, Kashiwabara.”

She gently patted my head.

That rhythm—soft, comforting—made my chest ache.

“You really don’t hate me, huh. Even when I told you something like that.”

“Of course I don’t!”

“I knew it. You’d cry for me like this.”

Her smile softened.

“I ended up liking you because of that.”

“Orihara…san?”

It wasn’t a joke.

Her feelings were real.

Heavy. Honest.

“Don’t worry about it. I still want things the same way. Even if we’re both girls… it’s hard enough already, right? I just want to keep laughing with you like we always have. I was a bit shocked when I heard you had someone, but… it’s fine. I’m not forcing myself. This is what I want.”

She laughed again and patted my head once more.

I opened and closed my mouth like a fish.

No words came out.

“Hey… Orihara—”

“Emi.”

“Eh?”

She pressed a finger gently to my lips and grinned.

Then, a little shyly, she said her name again.

“Call me Emi Megumi. It’s embarrassing either way, but… if you’re okay with it, can I call you Aika from now on?”

“Yeah. I’d like that.”

I nodded strongly.

I wanted to become her closest friend.

If I couldn’t return her feelings, then at least that.

“…Hey. One last selfish request?”

“A request?”

“Yeah… close your eyes.”

“Eh?”

Her hand covered my eyes.

I did as told.

Her hand slowly lifted away.

And—

“…?!”

A soft sensation touched my forehead.

Light. Gentle.

A kiss.

When I opened my eyes, she had already stepped back.

Smiling like a troublemaker, sticking her tongue out slightly.

“That’s it. First and last. Sorry.”

“Eh… ah…”

“Alright! Let’s go home. I’ll treat you to something today for making a fuss.”

“W-whaaa—?!”

I didn’t know if this was the right ending.

I knew it was cruel to stay beside her after learning her feelings.

But if this was what she wanted—

Then I would answer her second wish.

Since I couldn’t answer her first.

And I took her hand tightly.

Very tightly.