Chapter 2 | Second Place or Something?

 

It’s my first time stumbling into a situation like this, but to think Asanagi-san would be the one involved.

Of course, it’s not surprising that Asanagi-san would get confessed to like that. Sure, Amami-san stands out a lot in our class, but that doesn’t change the fact that Asanagi-san is cute too.

So it’s not weird that someone would want her as their girlfriend.

The guy confessing was someone I didn’t recognize. Since she called him “Senpai,” he’s probably a second- or third-year. Tall, good-looking, with a refreshing vibe—pretty much the opposite of me.

I know full well that sneaking a peek isn’t cool. It’s rude to both the upperclassman confessing and to Asanagi-san.

But I couldn’t help it—I just couldn’t tear my eyes away from them.

“I’m sorry.”

With that, Asanagi-san bowed her head to the upperclassman.

It was a “sorry” right after the confession, so she must’ve planned to turn him down from the start.

Her bluntness was so crisp that even the guy gave a wry smile.

“Haha… Don’t tell me you’re already dating someone?”

“Oh, no, I’m not dating anyone.”

“Someone you like, then?”

“No, not really… It’s just that I’m not interested in that kind of thing right now.”

(Oof, shot down hard, huh… Asanagi doesn’t budge easily, does she?)

(Well… that senpai, though…)

(No matter how cool he is, he’s just too shameless. Getting rejected was inevitable.)

I’m curious about what’s going on, but as a total outsider, I can’t exactly ask for details.

(Sorry, Maehara-kun, we got carried away on our own. That senpai said the same thing to me not long ago, y’know?)

(Oh… yeah, that’s definitely not great.)

I got fooled by his refreshing looks, but it seems he’s a huge flirt. No wonder he got shut down so fast.

(Still, it’s wild, right? Umi’s seriously popular. When we hang out, she’s always the one getting hit on. And this is, what, the fifth guy to confess to her since starting high school?)

(F-Five…)

I was speechless. Five confessions in less than six months is a crazy pace.

(That said, Yuu-chin’s next rejection would make it five for her too. You’re neck-and-neck.)

(No way~ It might be the same number, but with me, it feels like none of them are serious.)

(That’s ’cause you’re too dazzling, Yuu-chin—they all get cold feet.)

(Huh~ Really? I think Umi’s way prettier and cuter than me, though.)

(That’s where you’re wrong. See, it’s like how everyone dreams of the untouchable idol, but the backup dancer next to her feels like a maybe. Guys who go for Asanagi are usually like that.)

Nitta-san’s analogy is kinda iffy, but I get the gist.

Compared to a first-magnitude star like Amami-san, who’s popular with guys and girls alike and always at the center of things, a second-magnitude star like Asanagi-san—still pretty but less blinding—gives off that “maybe I’ve got a shot” vibe.

(If I were a guy, I’d totally pick Umi… Don’t you think so too, Maehara-kun?)

(Uh, I dunno…)

Knowing the side of Asanagi-san she shows outside of school, I personally think she’s just as cute as Amami-san, but since our friendship’s a secret, it’s hard to comment.

(…By the way…)

(What, Maehara-kun?)

(Amami-san, you do stuff like… spying too?)

(Of course I do. Umi’s my best friend, after all.)

With that answer, Amami-san kept watching.

“So that’s it, right? I’ll be going, then.”

“Wait, hold on… If you’re not dating anyone, how about starting as friends or—”

“…If it’s like that, I need it even less.”

Brushing off the guy’s weak attempt to cling, Asanagi-san turned on her heel and disappeared into the school building.

(…Oh, looks like it’s over. Alright, let’s head back to class.)

(Oh, Nina-chi, make sure to… Sorry, Maehara-kun. We dragged you into something weird.)

(No, don’t worry about it. I’m kinda guilty of the same thing anyway.)

Even if I keep it secret that I was with Amami-san, I should probably apologize to Asanagi-san for secretly witnessing that scene.

(Yuu-chin, what’re you doing? Let’s go already~)

(Sorry, coming… Oh, right. Maehara-kun, can I borrow your phone?)

(Huh? Uh, sure.)

(Thanks!)

I handed over my phone reflexively, and Amami-san started tapping away at something.

“Amami-san, what’re you…”

“Uh, let’s see… A little token of friendship, maybe? Here you go, back to you.”

With that, Amami-san returned my phone.

On the screen was a phone number that wasn’t mine.

“That’s my number. I’ll add yours later, so give me a call, okay?”

“W-Wait a sec—”

“See ya in class! …And please, don’t tell Umi about today, alright?”

Without waiting for my protest, Amami-san dashed off with a flourish.

And so, I was left alone there once again.

“Guess it’s a hush-hush thing… Man, this turned into a mess.”

Amami-san’s contact info—something most guys would kill for—but right now, it just felt like more than I could handle.

After school, since Asanagi-san happened to be free, I decided to apologize for eavesdropping on her confession earlier.

“Oh, that’s what this is about?”

I thought she’d be upset, but she didn’t seem to care much, chugging a glass of cola and munching on some potato chips she’d prepared.

“You’re not mad?”

“Nah, not really. You didn’t follow me or anything—just happened to be there, right? If anything, I feel bad for making you feel awkward about it.”

“If you say so, then I guess it’s fine.”

“Yeah. I don’t have anything to hide anyway. I kept it low-key for the other guy’s sake, but Nina loves this kinda stuff.”

“Nina… Nitta-san, right?”

“Oh, yeah. She’s got a wide network, so it’s thanks to her that Yuu and I get by sometimes.”

I kept my promise and didn’t mention running into Amami-san and Nitta-san there. Anyway, I’ll leave it up to them to decide what to do.

But knowing Asanagi-san, she’s probably already half-aware that Amami-san and Nitta-san were sneaking around.

“…Hey, can I ask you something?”

“Hm? What?”

“Do you, like… get hit on a lot, Asanagi-san?”

“Eh, moderately, I guess? Not as much as Yuu.”

Five confessions in half a year doesn’t feel “moderate” to me, but since I’m not supposed to know that, I didn’t press.

“What, you jealous, Maehara?”

“No way. …If anything, I think it’d be a hassle.”

“A hassle? Why?”

“Why, huh… Just, y’know, a feeling?”

I fumbled for an answer.

I mean, I’m the kind of hardcore loner who couldn’t even ask a same-sex classmate to be friends. What right do I have to act like I know anything about love or romance?

“That’s not good enough. C’mon, even if it’s just imagination, I wanna hear your take, Maehara.”

“Ugh…”

When Asanagi-san pushes like that, I can’t say no.

Plus, I feel a little guilty about Amami-san’s thing.

“Fine, but don’t laugh.”

“It’s cool, I won’t. Go on, spill it.”

Even if she does laugh, it’s Asanagi-san, so it’s fine. I’m used to it by now.

“Uh… That kinda stuff’s beyond my imagination, but… being popular means tons of people look at you that way, right? Like, they wanna get closer or have some special relationship different from everyone else.”

“Yeah, pretty much.”

Being liked is proof you’ve got something special that sets you apart, so it’s not a bad thing. Definitely better than malice, at least.

But just because someone likes you doesn’t mean it’s always good for you.

A perfect example is that guy who confessed to Asanagi-san today.

“With lots of people, there’s bound to be some you don’t care about—or worse, ones you secretly can’t stand. Having to deal with them properly feels like a hassle to me. Like, why do I have to wear myself out for someone I don’t even like?”

Like how Asanagi-san dodged her words back there, replying to a confession takes effort. Some might reject outright, but that could stir up unnecessary resentment too.

People’s feelings of like and dislike are a real pain.

“Thinking about it that way, maybe I’m fine not being popular. Being alone sucks in its own way, but at least I don’t have to stress over extra stuff.”

“…That’s a pretty lonely way to think.”

“I know. But that’s probably why I’ve been like this all along.”

Unless I try to change this mindset even a little, I’ll stay this way forever.

“…So yeah, that’s my take.”

“Got it. I understand your perspective, Maehara, but that’s honestly a bit too twisted.”

“Ouch.”

It stings, but it’s all true, so I can’t argue back.

“…Well, I like that side of you, Maehara. As a ‘friend,’ I mean. Don’t get the wrong idea, okay?”

“I get it. I don’t dislike you either, Asanagi-san, but it’s strictly as a ‘friend.’ Don’t you get the wrong idea either.”

“Oh? Acting tough when you’d be lonely without me, huh?”

“What? Wanna go? Just so you know, no ‘time-outs’ today. Ten rounds, a hundred—I’ll turn you into a beehive.”

“Bring it on. You’ll be trembling in your sleep from my god-tier aim.”

“Says the one talking big to the master who taught her the tricks.”

Cutting off the love talk, Asanagi-san and I turned to the TV screen as usual.

For a kid like me, just starting to figure out socializing, this still feels more my speed.

After that, nothing major happened, and we peacefully reached the promised Friday.

The original plan was to head straight into town, but considering the risk of getting spotted in our uniforms, we decided to change into casual clothes at home and meet up at the station.

I’d gotten extra cash from Kaa-san beforehand, so I had more than usual.

(Maehara) Alright, I’m heading out first.

(Asanagi) Cool. See you at the station.

With that exchange, I walked past Asanagi-san.

“Umi, let’s head home together~!”

“Wah… Yuu, fine, but no detours.”

“Huh~? Don’t tell me, today too?”

“Yup. Lately, there’s been a bunch of stuff at home—honestly, it’s a drag.”

“Really? You seem kinda chipper for that, though.”

“Huh? Oh… nah, you’re imagining it.”

Even so, during the day, Asanagi-san was humming now and then, clearly in a good mood.

Is she that excited to hang out with me in town? But that look was the one she gets before teasing me, so I’m already worried about what she’s planning.

“Still, like Yuu-chin said, Umi’s been kinda distant lately. You say it’s family stuff, but could it be… a boyfriend?”

“Wha~t? No way~ Umi wouldn’t… uh, r-right?”

“Hey, bestie, don’t let the enemy sway you so easily. Nina, you’re in for it later.”

“Eek… Kya~ Umi-chan’s scary~!”

The usual trio’s chatter started drawing a crowd.

“What’s this? You three having fun without us?”

“Nah, dude, go to your club. Right, Amami-san?”

Mostly guys, though. Even from a distance, it’s obvious their eyes are on Amami-san.

It’s giving me a bad vibe.

“Got it. I’ll miss you, but I’ll head back with Nina-chi today. By the way, what’s today’s errand? If I can help…”

“It’s about my brother.”

“Oh, then I’m out.”

“Hey, at least pretend to think about it!”

“Haha, sorry~”

Amami-san backed off in a flash.

I didn’t know Asanagi-san had a brother, but what kind of person could make even Amami-san—who’s chill with everyone, including me—retreat like that?

After slipping out of the classroom past them, I pulled out my phone and sent Asanagi-san a message.

(Maehara) Oh, right, Asanagi-san.

(Asanagi) What?

(Maehara) Go easy on me today, please.

(Asanagi) Hmm~ What to do~

(Maehara) I’m begging you.

(Asanagi) Hmmm.

I can’t do much, but if it makes Asanagi-san’s time more fun or eases her mind even a little, that’s enough for me.

As friends, I wanna do at least that much for her.

After getting home from school and changing into rarely worn casual clothes, I headed to the meeting spot at the station gate.

“…I got here too early.”

It was about thirty minutes before our agreed time. Way too early, but I was restless at home, so I ended up waiting for Asanagi-san anyway.

It’s Friday evening, and the station’s packed with people. Mostly young folks so far—probably heading out to have fun. They all look decently dressed up.

“Is my outfit okay…?”

I checked myself in the reflection of an ad panel. Black hoodie, black jeans. The hoodie’s got some English-ish print on the front and back—my newest clothes, though still bought a year ago.

I thought I heard some girls giggling nearby and shrank into myself.

In this crowd, it’s probably not about me, but standing here alone and anxious, I can’t help wondering if they’re laughing at me.

I should’ve taken my time—barely five minutes into waiting, I was already regretting it when—

“—Mae~hara!”

“Eek…!?”

A whisper hit my ear as someone grabbed my shoulder hard, making me jump out of my skin.

And let out a weird yelp.

“Geez, you’re way too jumpy. Yo, Maehara.”

“…Y-Yo.”

Turning around, there was Asanagi-san, grinning like she was having a blast.

She wore an oversized hoodie, cropped jeans, sporty sneakers, and a cap on her head.

“? What? I picked something casual so I wouldn’t stand out… Too lame?”

“No, not at all.”

If anything, I think it’s stylish.

With her naturally good looks, tall-for-a-girl height, and slim figure, she pulls off anything like a model.

“Still, I figured, but you’re way too black, Maehara. That’s not just low-key—it’s straight-up darkness. What, you secretly wanna go full edgelord?”

“No way… But this stuff’s good material. Works from fall to spring, and it’s warm.”

“I get it, but… fine, it’s okay for today, but next time, think about colors, alright? Otherwise, you’ll stick out in a bad way.”

I didn’t notice leaving the house, but in a busy place like this, my all-black getup does stand out.

If a good-looking guy with a nice build wore all black, it’d be fine. But on a mannequin like me, it turns “meh” real fast. Can’t complain if I get laughed at.

“Speaking of, you’re pretty early too, Asanagi-san. It’s still before our meetup time.”

“W-Well… y’know, I figured you’d show up early and be all lonely waiting. And sure enough, you were looking lost.”

“…Thanks, I guess.”

It’s annoying, but she’s right. Seeing her honestly made me feel so relieved.

“Now that we’re here, let’s go. Hurry up, or I’ll leave you behind.”

“Hey, wait…”

Half-dragged, I followed right behind Asanagi-san.

“By the way, what’s the plan for today? Mind filling me in?”

“Hm? Nothing set in stone. Just wander around, eat when we’re hungry, then hit up somewhere fun… That kinda vibe.”

“That’s less a ‘plan’ and more ‘winging it’…”

“Nah, ‘hanging out together’ is the plan, so it’s safe. I usually roll like this with Yuu and them anyway.”

“That’s how it works…?”

For me, coming to a place like this is for shopping, lessons, or something specific like movies or the arcade. Wandering the streets aimlessly feels so restless.

“So, Maehara, you come here sometimes, right? Where do you hang out?”

“Don’t treat me like a rare monster… Well, when I buy manga or games, I hit up this one spot. An anime shop a bit off the station.”

“Oh? Where’s that? I kinda wanna check it out.”

“No, it’s not exactly good for your education…”

“I wanna go.”

“I mean, it’s not a place I’d eagerly take a high school girl…”

“Maehara.”

“…Fine.”

Reluctantly, I gave in.

Here’s hoping she doesn’t think I’m weird.

The anime shop I hit up once or twice a month is on the second floor of a mixed-use building one street off the main drag. It’s small but well-stocked, with exclusive bonuses you can’t get anywhere else, so it’s my go-to for shopping.

“…Wow, tons of cute girls with colorful hair, huh?”

“Urk.”

Asanagi-san’s blunt take stabbed right through me and the other customers. I was kinda shocked when I first found this place too, though.

“Oh, I’m not weirded out or anything. It’s actually refreshing to see a place like this. I’d never come here with Yuu and the others.”

“Yeah, makes sense.”

There’s still a fair share of people who look down on or dislike this kinda hobby, so for Asanagi-san—who straddles both the otaku and normie worlds—it’s probably complicated.

“Oh, right, Maehara.”

“…Yes?”

“We’re good friends by now, so how about dropping the ‘san’?”

“…Oh, that.”

Asanagi-san’s already calling me by my last name, but I’ve stuck with the formal “san” since the start.

It does feel off when one of us is casual and the other’s polite, despite being equals.

“Then… Asanagi…?”

“…”

“W-Why’d you go quiet?”

“’Cause you didn’t call me Umi.”

She says that knowing full well I wouldn’t.

Asanagi-san can be a little mean like this sometimes.

It’s not that I mind, but it’s kinda frustrating.

“Alright, if you call me Maki, I’ll call you Umi.”

“Nah, we’re not that close yet.”

“Right back at you… idiot.”

“Oh? You sure you wanna say that? I could drag you over to that ‘18+’ section right now.”

“No way, absolutely not.”

Seriously, we can’t go there. That’s a gentleman’s haven for adults (probably).

“Y’know, seeing those curtains makes me wanna peek.”

“What are you, an old man?”

“Just curious! You’re not, Maehara?”

“Well, uh…”

“Oh, what?”

Crap, I almost slipped up in the heat of the moment.

“…N-No, I’m not.”

“Hm~? Playing tough again? Holding back’s bad for you, y’know.”

“I-It’s not that I’m not, but… anyway, not now!”

“Boo~ Boring~”

Resisting Asanagi’s prodding, I dragged her to the all-ages comic shelves.

It was a quiet exchange with no one around, but I apologized to the clerk just in case.

It’s great that Asanagi’s having fun, but I feel like she’s drained half my energy.

“Oh, I’m super into this one. The new volume came out today.”

“Monster Saw No. 8, huh? It’s popular. You like this stuff too, Asanagi?”

“Yeah. Intense battles, blood splattering everywhere—I’m into that. Most girls don’t get it, though. You?”

“Same deal… Oh, and, uh, stuff like this too.”

I picked up a romcom serialized in a shonen magazine. In an era of risqué titles, it’s a straightforward one-on-one love story, more serious about romance than harems.

“Huh, you read this kinda thing, Maehara? I figured you’d go for something spicier.”

“That’s a bit much for me… It’s kinda niche, but it sells decently. The story’s good too.”

“Hey, lemme see that. I wanna check it out.”

“Here.”

“Thanks.”

Handing her a preview copy, Asanagi started flipping through it.

“…Everyone in it’s so nice. With this many pretty girls, you’d think more people would swarm them.”

“Stressful plots are out of favor lately… Though reality doesn’t work that way.”

“Right? If the world was as kind as this, it’d be so much comfier.”

Maybe because Asanagi and her bestie Amami-san get hit on a lot, her words carry weight.

“Anyway, you’re into cute girl romance too, huh, Maehara? Guess you’re a guy after all~”

“Nah… Fiction’s fiction, reality’s reality. I know the difference.”

In real life, it’d be like someone like Amami-san falling for me and confessing—totally impossible.

“Alright, I’ll let it slide as that for today. Lucky I’m such a saint, huh?”

“Huh? Who’s the mean one here?”

“Don’t get cocky, you.”

“…Sorry.”

After some light manga banter, we left the shop and headed to grab some food.

Following Asanagi’s wish to hit a specific spot, we went back to the station area and reached her target place.

“…Uh, Asanagi-san?”

“What’s up, Maehara-kun?”

“I just remembered something I gotta do, so I’ll head out—”

“Hold it.”

I tried to bolt, but she grabbed my collar just in time. Her grip’s stronger than I thought—I couldn’t budge, and my neck hurt.

“No, but this place is bad news!”

“Is it? Still, it’s the cheapest spot, and it’ll fill us up.”

We’d ended up at a burger joint right by the station entrance. It’s cheap and decent, so I come here when I feel like it. But the timing’s awful now.

The place was packed with teens in uniforms—including some from our school.

No classmates in sight yet, but it’s definitely a high-risk zone.

“With this many people, it’ll be fine. I’ll grab us a spot, so order whatever, Maehara.”

“Hey, Asanagi… ugh.”

Problem is, I’d splurged on that new manga earlier, so my cash was running low—a classic broke high schooler struggle.

Per Asanagi’s order, I got something decent and headed to the second-floor seating.

About 80% of the seats were taken by students, buzzing with school talk and plans—er, super lively.

(Asanagi) Maehara, over here. Middle section.

(Maehara) Got it. I see you.

From a distance, even in plain clothes, Asanagi stands out. She’s usually overshadowed by Amami-san, but she’s got looks that’d shine anywhere.

I’d never say that to her face, though—she’d tease me to death.

“Welcome back. What’d you get?”

“Mega Burger L set. Cola to drink, fries and nuggets on the side—which do you want?”

“Both. Let’s split ’em. Sauce?”

“Mustard.”

“Nice.”

“Figured.”

Sitting down, we spread the fries and nuggets on our trays and dug in.

I usually take it to go, so fresh fries are a rare treat.

“Maehara, where next? Got any ideas?”

“Nope. Wanna go home.”

“No way. Pick something.”

“Even if you say that, I’m out of ideas after the anime shop… Uh, arcade?”

“Ugh~”

Asanagi didn’t seem thrilled, but the arcade’s a rare trip for me too.

That place always feels like it’s got a wall up against solo players—not my favorite.

But it’s not like I’m uninterested in the games there.

“Fine. Then today, you’re taking cool-face purikura pics with me.”

“No thanks.”

“Aw~”

“No ‘aw’ about it.”

With the next stop set, we chatted casually while finishing off the fries and burgers. Same old topics as at home—favorite movies, game streams we’ve been watching—nothing too different.

“Oh, any recent movie recs? The usual shop’s been light on new stuff lately.”

“There’s this streaming-only one, Tenshi Shark. Genetically modified sharks with angel wings attacking people. The wings on the shark fins look like a bad collage, the actors are all terrible, and it’s so absurd I laughed for ninety minutes straight.”

“What? I need to see that!”

“There’s a trilogy too.”

“That alone is hilarious. Some of these get weirdly long series, huh?”

I started off hyper-aware of everyone around us, but Asanagi’s smooth talking eased me out of it.

She can be pushy, but hanging with her really is fun.

“Heh, looks like next week’s set too. Can’t wait.”

“If you’re cool with it, I don’t mind… But is it okay to keep making plans with me every week?”

“Oh, Yuu? It’s fine—I make it up to her on other days. I’ve got that side covered.”

If Asanagi says so, I’ll trust her, but I should watch my step too—just in case we get carried away and slip up.

I’m a nobody, so it’s fine for me, but Asanagi’s different—

—Hey, isn’t that Asanagi-chan?

—Oh, the first-year who shot down that senpai?

Just then, my worst fear started creeping into earshot.

It came from two girls right behind me—unfamiliar voices, so probably not classmates, but it’s still not good.

(Maehara) Asanagi.

(Asanagi) Yup.

(Asanagi) I don’t know them, so maybe upperclassmen? Geez, I’m not even that big a deal.

Acting unbothered, Asanagi casually grabbed some leftover fries.

(Asanagi) Sorry, Maehara.

(Asanagi) Mind playing along and embarrassing yourself a bit?

(Maehara) What do you mean?

(Asanagi) This.

Taking off her cap, Asanagi flashed a big grin and shoved a fry toward my mouth.

“Here, darling. Say ‘ahh’~”

“…!?”

Caught off guard, I panicked.

What the heck? What’s Asanagi trying to make me do?

“? Geez, what’s with the shy act just ’cause we’re out? We always feed each other like this at home.”

“Huh? N-No, we don’t—”

A sharp pain shot through my shin—she’d kicked me hard.

“Oh, wait, did you wanna feed me instead? Gosh, you’re hopeless… Here you go.”

“Uh, okay…”

Her toes kept jabbing my shin, signaling me to play along, so I went with it.

“Um… ahh~”

“Nom. Hehe, it really does taste better when you feed me.”

“R-Really? Glad you like it…”

I did what she said, but would this actually fool them?

—No, maybe it’s not her?

—I dunno, the face kinda matches?

—But isn’t it too lame for her? That guy she’s with is such a gloomy nerd.

—Oh yeah, didn’t she say something like ‘only idol-level looks will do’ when she turned down those senpais?

—Exactly. No way a picky girl like that’s feeding fries to a creepy loser like him.

—You’re right. Oh, everyone’s meeting up at the shop—let’s go.

I overheard some nasty gossip, but it seemed we’d dodged the bullet, and I sighed in relief.

“…Who’re they calling a picky girl, huh?”

“W-Well, those rumors kinda saved us there.”

“I’m used to it, so I’m fine. But they said awful stuff about you too, Maehara… It pisses me off when people trash my friend when they don’t even know you.”

With a frustrated look, Asanagi clenched her fist tight.

She’s such a good person—how could they say crap like that? Even the ones spreading rumors probably liked her enough to confess at some point.

“Don’t worry about it. As long as you get me, Asanagi, that’s enough.”

“If you’re cool with it, I’ll skip the revenge plot.”

“I get the sentiment, but revenge is off-limits anyway.”

“Aw~”

“Seriously.”

“…Kidding, I know.”

Calming down from our chat, Asanagi slurped down the rest of her cola and stood up.

“Ugh, it was fun until this… Maehara, let’s hit the arcade. I’m blowing all my cash there today, and you’re coming with, right?”

“Honestly, I wanna go ho—”

“You’re coming with, right?”

“…Yes.”

So, the goal shifted, but we headed to the arcade as planned.

…I’m definitely crashing hard when I get home.

Leaving the shop, we went straight to an amusement center in the station building. Taking up a whole floor, it’s got not just games but batting cages and a futsal court too—packed and lively. Flashing lights cut through the dim space, and the cheers of players hit my ears.

“Sorry for the wait. Got some medals.”

“Thanks.”

Everything here runs on pre-bought medals, so Asanagi and I pooled cash to share.

We each chipped in about a thousand yen—should last us an hour or so.

“Alright, let’s multiply these medals first.”

“You sound like a pachinko parlor old-timer. You okay?”

Am I the only one thinking she’s got a bright future saying that before even picking a game?

“No worries, no worries. Just hop aboard and leave it to me, the hardcore medal game pro—no problems here.”

“That’s a bold flag to plant.”

Still, I don’t know how to have fun here, so I trailed Asanagi to a game.

The screen showed… got it, a horse racing game. Bet on the finish order, and medals multiply based on the odds.

“Maehara, what do you think? I’m leaning toward No. 9 as my anchor~”

I don’t get what she’s saying, but Asanagi’s already hyped, staring at the screen.

Single win? Trifecta? Wide? Tons of betting options. With her guidance, we each picked our bets.

I went with a simple single win—lower payout, but fine for messing around. Asanagi’s… pouring in a lot. Is she good?

[And they’re off! Taking the lead is No. 8, Admire Lind, followed by No. 3—]

“Yes, good, nice position…!”

Asanagi muttered under her breath, watching the CG race on the machine.

It’s just a game screen, but with medals on the line, even I’m getting antsy, though not as much as her.

[Oh, here comes No. 9, Black Shade, from the outside! Closing in fast—five lengths, four lengths, shrinking the gap!]

“Wait, Maehara, this might hit! It’s catching up!”

“Oh, for real?”

We both bet on the same horse for first, so if it pulls through, it’s a big win.

Our pick rounded the final turn, surging from the outside, leaving the pack behind, catching up to the leader, and—

“Oh.”

“Yes, it’s in~!”

The horse I’d bet on came in first. Asanagi had also placed several bets with that horse as her anchor, and they hit, earning a hefty payout.

Combined, our winnings came out to a little over three times what we started with.

“I wasn’t sure at first, but riding your beginner’s luck paid off. Thanks, Maehara!”

“You’re welcome.”

I’d been a bit nervous thinking about losing, but we won in the end. With this much, we could probably play to our heart’s content until we had to leave.

“Alright, now that we’ve got more medals, let’s take it easy and—”

I was about to move to the next spot with a cup overflowing with medals, but Asanagi, who’d been right beside me, was suddenly back at the racing screen.

“…Asanagi, what are you doing?”

“Huh? No, no, what are you saying, Maehara? This is where the real fun starts.”

I had a bad feeling, and sure enough—

Asanagi was, against better judgment, gearing up for the next race like it was a given.

And she was betting almost all the medals we’d just won.

“Heh, if this hits, we’re set to play for ages… A perfect chance to wipe out all my past losses…”

“Asanagi-san, uh…”

“Here we go~!”

“She’s not listening—this is hopeless.”

And so, ignoring my protests, she went for it. The result?

“…Um, Maehara-san?”

“What?”

“…I’m so sorry.”

A massive loss—she’d slashed our medal stash big time.

I’d need to be careful next time we hung out to avoid this happening again.

Since Asanagi seemed properly chastened, we decided to enjoy the rest of the games while being mindful of our remaining medals, steering clear of more betting.

“Asanagi, you take that side!”

“Hah!? W-Wait, don’t just throw that at me… Oh, this zombie grunt’s getting cocky. I’m seriously gonna wreck it!”

Looking for something I could handle, we were now teaming up on a gun-shooting game.

The gun controller felt different from my usual setup, and it threw me off at first, but once I got the hang of it, I started picking off enemies without losing lives.

“Ugh, second place, so close… Guess that early slip-up cost us.”

“No way, landing on the leaderboard on your first try is insane… I play these with classmates sometimes, but we usually wipe out before clearing it.”

“…Asanagi, let’s go again.”

“Heh, sure.”

It was supposed to be just one round, but my body was finally warming up, so we went for another.

Games are just for fun, sure, but if I’m doing it, I wanna take it seriously.

“Hey, Maehara.”

“? What?”

“Having fun?”

I noticed Asanagi peering at my face with a smile.

It felt like she’d caught me with my guard down, my expression softening, and I got a little embarrassed.

“…Yeah, kinda. You?”

“Kinda.”

Asanagi mimicked my tone.

“Don’t copy me.”

“It’s not copying—it’s my real answer. Look, enemies incoming.”

With that, she aimed her gun controller back at the screen.

“Hmph…”

What started as me just going along with Asanagi had somehow flipped—I was the one dragging her around now.

And the reason she let me? Probably—

“Take this!”

—Clang!

After enjoying the shooter, we moved to the batting cages, also playable with medals.

Asanagi went first to show me how it’s done, picking the 120 km/h lane. That speed’s tough for most girls, but she smashed sharp hits one after another.

“…Impressive.”

“Well, growing up with a powerhouse best friend kinda rubs off. Plus, I need to move and sweat it out sometimes.”

Asanagi stepped out, a satisfied look on her face, a faint sheen of sweat on her forehead.

Even through her oversized clothes, her great figure was obvious.

She might laze around with me, but otherwise, she keeps herself in top shape.

That’s why she can hold her own as a class leader alongside Amami-san.

“I hit a homer, so we get a free extra round. Here, your turn, Maehara.”

“Huh? Me too?”

“Obviously! You need some exercise too!”

Thing is, I’ve never swung a bat—not even a toy one.

I’m not great at sports, and baseball’s totally new to me. I might not even hit a single ball.

“It’s fine. Even if you miss, I’m the only one watching.”

“It’s because you’re watching that it’s embarrassing…”

I trust Asanagi, but I still don’t wanna look lame if I can help it.

“C’mon, give it a shot. If you hit even one forward, I’ll treat you to a drink. …No bunting, though.”

“…Fine, whatever.”

It’s about moving anyway, and no one’s around now, so I’ll just get it over with.

Taking the bat and helmet from Asanagi, I stepped into the batter’s box.

Same speed as her—120 km/h.

She said I could lower it, but if Asanagi can handle it, I should at least manage one—

First pitch.

—Whoosh!

“Whoa…!?”

It didn’t seem that fast from the outside, but in the box, the speed shocked me.

120 km/h is this fast? No way.

“Hey, hey, Maehara’s chickening out~”

“I-I’m not chickening out!”

Shaking it off, second pitch—I swung but whiffed.

The bat sliced through empty air with a pitiful whoosh.

“Maehara, first, watch the ball closely. Then think about meeting it with the bat. Don’t worry about hitting it far—just focus on that for now.”

“…Got it.”

Third and fourth pitches—I swung with her advice, but still whiffed.

While others rang out satisfying clangs, I was building a mountain of misses.

“It’s okay, you’re doing good. The bat’s getting closer to the ball bit by bit.”

“Thanks for the tips, but is it cool to help the enemy like that?”

“Yeah, but… your back after whiffing just oozes this sad vibe—I can’t help wanting to cheer you on.”

“You jerk.”

“C’mon, keep going. Three pitches left.”

With Asanagi’s encouragement, I focused on making contact.

After all this, I wanted to hit at least one.

“Watch the ball… bring the bat to it…”

—Tink!

“Oh, I hit it!”

“Nice! Didn’t go forward, but that’s a solid start.”

It grazed the top of the bat and flew backward.

Alright, next one for real.

—Tap!

“Ohh, so close.”

This time, I hit under it—still backward, but it felt better than before.

Just a little lower with the bat next time.

“Last one, Maehara! You got this!”

Final pitch—same trajectory as before.

“Watch it… swing!”

With Asanagi’s advice and cheers behind me, I swung with everything I had—

“—Here, good work.”

“…Thanks.”

After burning through all our medals, Asanagi and I plopped onto a rest area sofa, sipping drinks she’d treated me to.

Batting result: I hit it forward, but it was a weak dribbler that didn’t even reach the machine. I made contact, but it left me unsatisfied.

“…Asanagi.”

“Hm?”

“Next time, I’ll hit it proper.”

“Oh? Look at you getting fired up. Guess we’ll have to come back.”

“Yeah.”

Doing something unfamiliar wore me out extra, but looking back, it was pretty fun.

Whether that’s from the games or just being with my friend Asanagi, I’m not sure.

Still, it was a good enough experience that I’d wanna come again, I think.

“It’s about time—wanna head home?”

“Yeah… Oh, I’m hitting the restroom first, so wait here.”

With that, Asanagi handed me her bag and headed deeper into the arcade. It’s got valuables in it—is it cool to leave it all with me, even temporarily?

Well, it’s nice she trusts me that much.

“Never thought I’d end up hanging out with Asanagi like this—what a weird turn of events…”

Musing to myself, I watched a couple—probably—playing a game together.

Me, with zero friends until I met Asanagi, and her, a central figure in class with tons of pals.

Normally, our high school lives would’ve never overlapped—just two dots with no connection. But now, by some twist of fate, they’re linked by a solid line.

A few months since that disastrous self-intro at the entrance ceremony.

I’d braced myself for three years of solitude in high school.

Yet here I am, sitting next to “the second-cutest girl in class.”

“…Maybe it’s worth taking a chance and facing some embarrassment.”

Guys like me tend to overthink what others think. I don’t wanna be mocked, embarrassed, or fail—so I freeze up when it matters.

Even if I wanted to get close to someone or liked someone, the risk of screwing up held me back.

That’s why I was always alone.

But because I messed up, I got to be “friends” with Asanagi.

Failure doesn’t close the road—it can lead to a new one.

Maybe Asanagi taught me that.

“…Alright, Asanagi should be back soon—time to pack up—”

The moment I slung her bag over my shoulder and stood from the sofa—

“Huh? Wait, Maehara-kun?”

“…Huh?”

A voice came from behind me.

“Oh, it is Maehara-kun! Hey, Maehara-kuuun!”

Someone from a group emerging from behind a claw machine waved energetically and approached me.

Our school uniform. Even in the dim light, I could tell who it was instantly—the last person I wanted to run into here.

“…Amami-san.”

“Yup, your classmate Amami-san~”

With an angelic smile, “the prettiest girl in class” stood right in front of me.

Lucky Asanagi wasn’t here, but I never expected Amami-san to call out to me.

I figured I’d be invisible to classmates besides Asanagi—guess I forgot about her.

“Huh? Yuu-chin, you know him?”

“…Nina-chi, we met before, remember? He’s our classmate.”

“S-Sorry, sorry. But, y’know, he’s in casual clothes.”

Next to her was Nitta-san and some other classmates. Besides Amami-san, they gave me half-recognizing, half-awkward looks, brushing it off.

Whatever—I didn’t care about them. I needed to figure out how to deal with the person in front of me.

I couldn’t let Asanagi and Amami-san cross paths right now.

“Maehara-kun, you come here too? First time running into you like this.”

“Uh, yeah, I guess.”

Casually grabbing my phone, I sneakily called Asanagi, hitting the speaker button.

No time to text—I just hoped she’d pick up on it.

“Oh, were you with someone? Makes sense—this place isn’t as fun solo.”

“No, I’m alone… just taking a break right now.”

“Really? You were holding two drinks earlier, so I thought you might be with a friend.”

She saw that? Amami-san’s knack for noticing even someone like me is impressive, but right now, it’s a hassle.

Still, spotting me—a black-clad nobody—in this dim arcade, especially after the confession-spying incident left an impression, is something else.

“But I’m glad. You’ve got friends to hang with, huh? You’re always alone in class, so I was kinda worried.”

“Thanks… But honestly, I prefer being on my own.”

“Oh? Still, if you ever feel lonely, just say hi. I’d eat lunch with you if you asked.”

“That’s a bit much…”

I know Amami-san’s offering out of pure kindness, but I can’t actually take her up on it.

Don’t get full of yourself, loner—I could feel that vibe radiating from her entourage (mostly the guys).

“Anyway, I’ll take the sentiment. I should get go—”

“Oh, wait a sec.”

As I tried to slip past her and escape, Amami-san grabbed my shoulder from behind.

…Bad feeling incoming.

“…W-What?”

“Hey, if you’re cool with it… wanna hang with us? Your friend too, of course.”

“Pfft!?”

I let out a weird noise.

“W-Wait… Yuu-chin, isn’t that kinda unfair to Maehara-kun? He’s got his own plans and stuff.”

“Is it? I just think the more, the merrier.”

“Well, it’s not always like that…”

Dragging people in with her natural cheer is classic Amami-san, but she’s veering into overdrive now.

If Asanagi were here, she might rein her in as her best friend, but she’s not around.

“C’mon, it’ll be fun, I promise. What, Nina-chi, you don’t like Maehara-kun?”

“Huh!? N-No, it’s not that, I don’t think… right?”

Nitta-san’s probably the closest to Amami-san here, but their bond isn’t deep enough for her to push back hard like Asanagi would.

Balancing Amami-san’s free spirit, reading the room—including Nitta-san and the others—and steering things smoothly—I’d only vaguely pictured it from stories, but facing it now, it clicked.

If Asanagi got fed up with that and turned to me as an escape—

“…Yeah, that’d wear anyone out.”

“Hm? Maehara-kun, did you say something?”

“Oh, uh, no, just talking to myself… About that offer—”

“Yeah, what do you think?”

“…Sorry, but I’d absolutely hate it.”

“Huh?”

Amami-san’s bright expression clouded over at my words.

“Absolutely hate” was harsh—I messed up—but for some reason, I was a little irritated.

“Maehara-kun…?”

“Oh… I-I’m not trying to shoot down your idea or anything. I mean, hanging out in a big group’s probably fun in its own way, and I get that’s normal.”

I used to want to join that circle myself, and even now, I sometimes feel a twinge of envy.

“…But, y’know, some people just don’t fit into that—or they’re bad at it. Like, worrying about the vibe or not dragging everyone down, forcing yourself to keep up… It gets exhausting. Take me, for example.”

I get that keeping group harmony matters. Sometimes you have to suck it up a bit—society doesn’t work otherwise.

But does that always have to be forced? Can’t we sometimes do what we want, even if it means dragging someone else along?

Like Asanagi did today.

“I said a lot, but basically, my ‘friend’ and I planned to hang out just the two of us today. Neither of us is into that group vibe, so… sorry.”

“Oh, w-wait, Maehara-ku—”

“So, yeah, Amami-san. That’s how it is… Sorry.”

I gently brushed off her hand and left. I thought I heard someone say something as I walked away, but the arcade noise drowned it out.

I don’t care what anyone thinks of me now—my social clumsiness isn’t new.

Checking that no one followed, I switched my still-connected phone off speaker and held it to my ear.

“…Thanks, Maehara. You saved me.”

“You’re welcome… It’s time—let’s head home.”

“…Yeah.”

Agreeing to meet at the station gate, Asanagi and I left the arcade separately.

It was just before 10 p.m. The station area still had people, mostly adults now—high schoolers should’ve headed home by this hour.

Buying a ticket and passing the gate, Asanagi peeked out from behind a pillar when she spotted me.

“…Yo.”

“Yo.”

We gave small waves and nods, then headed to the platform together.

“Just to check, you didn’t run into Amami-san—”

“If I had, I wouldn’t be next to you.”

“Right, fair.”

“Geez.”

Then we should be fine taking the same train back.

We walked to the front of the platform, waiting for the next one.

“…”

As the station announcements echoed, a silence settled between us.

Glancing at Asanagi’s profile, I caught her looking at me too—our eyes met wordlessly.

“…Maehara, what?”

“N-No, nothing… You?”

“Me neither…”

What do you say in moments like this? I puzzled over it.

From the anime shop to batting practice, it’d been a blast—time flew by. But that run-in with Amami-san and her group left it awkward to start talking.

“…It started about a year ago.”

“Huh?”

“When I really got into my current hobbies. I figured I should tell you, Maehara… Got a sec?”

“…Sure.”

“Thanks.”

With a faint, tired smile, Asanagi began talking about her past.

“Bragging, maybe? I’ve always been a leader-type, y’know—organizing stuff. I was smart, decently cute, stood out a bit?”

“That’s some self-praise.”

“Heh… Well, putting that aside for now. Anyway, I was class rep, event committee head—always taking the lead. I liked being relied on. Still do… It’s not like I started hating groups or anything.”

The star student carrying everyone’s expectations—that’s probably how classmates see “Asanagi Umi.” It’s how I saw her before we got close, too.

“But after a while, I started thinking, ‘What am I even doing?’ At first, people thanked me, but eventually, it turned into, ‘You’re supposed to do it, right?’—at school, even when hanging out.”

“Like they started dumping all the bad stuff on you?”

“Yeah. Part of it’s my fault for not saying no and just putting up with it, though.”

That’d spiral out of control. What started as something she enjoyed became a fixed role, forced on her until she grew to resent it.

“So after all that, when I was feeling mentally wrecked, I stumbled into—”

“Your hobbies now?”

“Yup. My brother had a ton of that stuff in his room. I’d only played casual phone puzzle games before—didn’t care much at first…”

That’s usually how it goes. When you’re burned out, a gripping story, cool characters, or great music hooks you hard. Speaking from experience.

“For a while, I kept it secret and enjoyed it alone… But I’ve always liked being with people, so I started wanting friends for that too. Not just online—real ones I could talk to face-to-face and share stuff with.”

And after switching from an all-girls school to here, my self-intro happened.

“So that’s how it was… You could’ve said hi sooner, then.”

“Sure, but… you were maybe my first guy friend, Maehara. I didn’t wanna mess it up, so I got cautious. There weren’t many chances to approach you… and I was kinda shy too.”

So since April, Asanagi’s been watching me—making that intro card just for me, checking on me, doing all that sweet stuff—

The moment I realized that, my heart skipped a beat.

What’s this feeling? It’s itchy, but not bad or anything.

“Maehara, you okay? Feeling sick?”

“N-No, I’m fine. Train’s here—let’s go.”

Brushing off Asanagi’s concerned look, we boarded the train to our home station.

It was a decent time on a Friday night, so the car was fairly packed with salarymen post-work or college kids from drinks.

“…Whoa.”

Right after boarding, my footing wobbled a bit.

Shopping and medal games aside, first-time batting and the Amami-san encounter must’ve drained me physically and mentally.

“Maehara, you good? That seat’s open—sit.”

“No, just stumbled a bit. You should—”

“I’m tougher than you. …No overthinking—just sit.”

“Alright, thanks then.”

Pushed into the lone middle seat, Asanagi stood in front of me.

“…Sorry, Maehara. Today was a lot of trouble ’cause of me.”

As the train started with its rhythmic clatter, Asanagi held the strap with both hands, looking down at me.

“The Amami-san thing?”

“Yeah… I heard everything clear as day.”

“That was, uh—”

I’d managed to warn her about Amami-san, which was great, but thinking back, I said some pretty embarrassing stuff.

Amami-san probably felt bad too.

“It’s not something you need to worry about. That was my own mess.”

“But saying that might make you even more of an outcast.”

“…Yeah, maybe.”

I know Amami-san didn’t mean any harm. She invited me because she saw me always alone at school, worried I’d get more isolated.

But I turned her down.

Hanging out with Asanagi—my first friend I could be myself with—was more than enough fun. Her offer felt like it was crashing that, and I got annoyed.

I snapped, froze the mood, and bailed… Too late to regret it now, but it wasn’t like me.

“I’ll smooth things over with Yuu later. She’s a bit of a worrier—bet she’ll call me soon—oh, she’s already texting.”

“That was fast… What’s she saying?”

“Wanna see?”

(Amami) Umi, help! I ran into Maehara-kun, but I think I upset him.

Her phone was flooded with Amami-san’s messages and missed calls.

Yep, I definitely made her feel bad.

There had to be a better way, but in my rush to shield Asanagi, I didn’t think about anything else.

“Sorry. I ended up causing trouble instead.”

“It’s fine. We help each other out when we’re stuck—that’s what ‘friends’ do, right?”

“…Friends, huh.”

“Yup. Exactly.”

Saying that, Asanagi reached out and gently patted my head.

“…What’s this?”

“Hm? Nothing much. Your head was just in a good spot.”

“Oh, okay.”

It felt a bit like being treated like a kid, but I was worn out from playing, and her touch didn’t bother me, so I let it slide.

The train’s sway, the cozy warmth inside, and Asanagi’s soft, warm hand.

My eyelids started getting heavy.

“—If you’re sleepy, go ahead and nap. I’ll wake you when we’re close.”

“…Yeah, thanks.”

Unable to fight the comfortable drowsiness, I let myself lean on Asanagi and slowly closed my eyes.

—Thanks, Maki.

As my consciousness faded, I thought I heard a whisper by my ear.