そう言つてかなでは飲み水けの紙バックを手渡す。残りは全部飲んでね、というメッセージと共に。はいはい、と蓉也は溜息をつきながらそれを受け取った。すると律が、二人に声をかけた。「それじゃあ俺は、会場に戻る。」あ、うん、とかなでは応じる。律くんここまでありがとうね、そう言おうとした矢先—「かなで。」 何気ない声で律がかなでに呼びかける。「今頃言うのも何だと思うんだが、式の最中には言えなかつたから今言う。

"Kanade, here's a paper bag of drinking water for you," said Natsuya as she handed it over. "Make sure you drink all of it," she added with a message. Ryouya sighed as he accepted it, saying "yeah, yeah."

Then, Ritsu called out to the two of them. "I'm going back to the venue," he said.

"Oh, okay. Thank you for coming this far, Ritsu-kun," Kanade replied. But just as she was about to say something else, Ritsu spoke up again.

"Kanade. I know it's not the best timing to say this now, but I couldn't during the ceremony. Today, you look beautiful, Kanade. The most beautiful you've ever been," he said with a gentle smile.

Kanade froze at the sudden mention of her name. "Ritsu-kun, did you just call me Kanade? And did you say I look beautiful?" she asked, surprised.

"Yes, I did. Is that okay?" Ritsu replied, still smiling.

Kanade couldn't believe it. Ritsu-kun had just called her by her first name and complimented her appearance