Epilogue 2 | Are You Okay With That? 

“—Ahh~… so hot~…”

July rolls in, and on the first Saturday-Sunday break, I finally drag myself out of bed, unable to bear the stifling heat in my room any longer.

Normally, I’d zip through my morning routine and head to school around this time, but like I said, it’s a day off. So unless I’ve got plans, I usually sleep ’til almost noon—but this muggy heat? No way I can handle it.

I don’t hate summer, but the heat’s the one thing I can’t stand. Sweat ruins my makeup in no time, and I’ve gotta keep up with sunscreen, deodorant spray—all that etiquette stuff.

Peeling off my damp, sweaty T-shirt, I head downstairs to the air-conditioned living room. Our house only has AC in the first-floor living room and my older sister’s room upstairs, so if I wanna cool off, the family common space is my only option.

I get along fine with my sister, but hogging her room all the time feels awkward. She’s a year older, smack in the middle of crunch time for her college entrance exams.

“Morning, Yuna-nee.”

“Morning, Nina.”

Flipping on the AC, we exchange a light greeting.

Me, Nitta Nina, and my sister, Nitta Yuna. Just us two sisters, living modestly in the cramped Nitta family house.

“Hey, you’re home, so why’re you dressed all sloppy again? Didn’t Mom chew you out for that last time?”

“Shut up… Mom and Dad are already off to work, and I’ll change soon, so it’s fine. Anyway, you heading to cram school, Yuna-nee?”

“Yeah, pretty much. The study room there helps me focus, and unlike home, no one nags me about the AC temp. What about you? Got plans? Here, breakfast.”

“Thanks. Uh, sorta.”

I snag the slice of toast she lobs at me like a boomerang and take a bite. It’s a ridiculously lazy breakfast, but on days off, this is my usual.

“Sorta…? What’s up, Nina? You’re dodging me weirdly for once. Oh, wait—don’t tell me, a date with a boyfriend? Geez, you’re still a kid, but you’re already boy-crazy!”

“No way! It’s just friends… well, a friend’s acquaintance has their first club tournament match today, so I’m tagging along to cheer ’em on.”

“Club… what club?”

“…Baseball.”

“So it is a guy!”

“I said it’s not! Friends. Kinda.”

Maybe ’cause she’s stuck studying for exams and can’t hang out, my sister’s extra nosy today, and it’s getting on my nerves.

She dodges talking about herself but wants to know everything about me… Sure, exam stress might be part of it, but I wish she’d back off just a little.

Still, I used to goof off a decent amount in middle school, but since starting high school, those chances have dried up.

I’m totally on the hunt for a boyfriend and always scoping for opportunities, but I’m not as reckless about it as I used to be.

It’s not just looks anymore—I’m noticing how guys act, what they say, their common sense… which has made me pickier. Friends keep telling me, “Why not lower your standards a bit?” But in just a few months, can a hardcore face-con like me really change that easily? Yeah, not happening.

“Nina, no guys you’re close with lately? If there is one, introduce me!”

“Huh? …Well, there’s one with a girlfriend and a loud baseball nut. Which you want?”

“…Pass.”

“Then don’t ask!”

Being sisters, our taste in guys is scarily similar.

Both are decent as friends, but as dating material… eh, they probably feel the same about me.

With two top-tier beauties at school, a girl like me with just a decent face probably doesn’t even register.

…Especially since one’s a total girlfriend-obsessed sap, and the other’s a pure-hearted boy pining for an untouchable flower.

But that’s exactly why I can hang with them without overthinking the guy-girl stuff.

None of that “So-and-so’s after him,” or “I hear so-and-so likes you” nonsense.

Compared to the exhausting mixed-gender cliques, this setup’s way comfier.

The Class Rep… er, Maehara Maki and Asanagi Umi’s lovey-dovey duo at the center, plus me, Amami Yuu, and Seki Nozomu—our five-person crew. I’d love to keep this loose, long-term vibe going even after high school if we can.

After seeing Yuna-nee off to cram school for her studies, I start getting ready to head out myself.

Today’s just about cheering for Nozomu’s match, so I don’t need to fuss over my look too much. But it’s outdoors in blazing heat, so I’ve gotta nail the sunburn protection.

“…Eh, this will do.”

It’s a day off, so for a change of pace, I tie my hair up with a different scrunchie than usual. Otherwise, it’s a T-shirt, cropped skinny jeans, and I skip the nail polish—too much hassle. If I were hitting the city center to hang out, I’d put in more effort, but for a casual club cheer squad, this level’s fine—going overboard’d be embarrassing.

Besides, no matter how hard I try, I’d just fade next to those two.

Dressed in the bare minimum of a high school girl’s style, I leave the house and head to our meetup spot—Yuu-chin’s place. The original plan was to bike to the stadium where the match is, but Yuu-chin’s mom, Auntie Eri, offered to drive us, so I’m taking her up on it.

I get to the Amami house more than ten minutes early, and right then, I hear the happy barks of their guard dog (sorta), Rocky, coming from the yard.

Looks like the lovebird duo showed up at the same time.

“—Yo, Asanagi.”

“Hey, Nina. You’re usually cutting it close, but today you’re early for once.”

“Woke up early and got bored. So, what’s our dear Class Rep gotten himself into over there?”

“Oh, he didn’t do anything, really… but that dog’s taken a liking to Maki lately.”

—Woof! Wuff!

“Eek… H-Hey, quit licking my face like that…!”

I look over, and there’s Rocky, tail wagging like crazy, practically pinning Maehara down and slobbering all over him—face first.

Rocky’s friendly with everyone, but going that wild? Pretty rare.

Maybe he thinks this guy’s weak, so he’s like, “I’m gonna mess with him tons!” The thought hits me, and I can’t help snickering.

It’s just too wholesome a scene—I crack up.

“…Nina, you’re in a good mood today, huh?”

“Am I? I’m always like this, aren’t I? …What? Don’t tell me you got jealous ’cause I was softening up watching the Class Rep?”

“N-No way! I know you don’t see Maki as a guy or anything, and besides, Maki’s all about me, so even if you did, too bad for you…”

“…Pfft.”

“What’s so funny, huh?!”

“Haha! ’Cause your reaction’s just too obvious!”

I wanna yell, “Who’s the one all about their lover here?!”

Asanagi’s usually cool-headed about everything, but the second it’s about her boyfriend Maehara, she turns into this transparent mess. She knows it in her head, sure, but even with me, Yuu-chin, or lately our newer classmate pals like Nakamura-san, if we chat without her, she gets all sulky and jealous.

She knows Maehara’s got eyes for no one but her, yet every time, she needs him to comfort her tons and confirm she’s his number one.

That side of Asanagi included, I secretly find it hilarious.

…Well, as long as it’s just me being chummy with Maehara, anyway.

“Hey, Asanagi.”

“…What?”

“What if—and this is a big if, like, a one-in-a-million chance—what if I said to you or the Class Rep, ‘I’ve fallen for him’? What’d you do?”

“…Huh? Nina, wait, do you actually like Maki? No way I’m giving him up! He’s mine!”

“Whoa, whoa, it’s just a hypothetical, so don’t give me that scary face… Look, lately the Class Rep has been talking to other girls more, right? Nakamura-san, Arae-cchi, even Nitori-san and Houjou-san… So maybe some of ‘em are starting to think, ‘He’s kinda nice.’ Not me, though—never.”

“Never, huh. That kinda ticks me off too… But yeah, it’s not a zero chance, I guess. Maki liking another girl? That’s a flat zero, though.”

“Yeah, yeah, thanks for the gushing. So, what’d you do if it happened?”

“Hmm…”

She makes a show of thinking it over, then mutters softly.

“—Cut ties, maybe.”

“…What?”

“Kidding, obviously—that’d be too much even for me. But if it happened, I’d hate it… If it was some random girl I don’t know, fine, but a friend? It’d get so awkward.”

“Y-Yeah, fair… I’ve been through something like that in middle school too.”

She switches back to her usual gentle look quick enough, but for a split second, even I got spooked.

When she said “cut ties,” her face and tone weren’t joking—not one bit.

I just tossed it out lightly ’cause something was bugging me.

That’s how much Maehara Maki means to Asanagi Umi—irreplaceable.

…Enough to make her think, even for a moment, that she’d toss our friendship aside.

Things get awkward for the first time in a while, and I’m scrambling for a topic change when—

“Oh! Morning, everyone! Welcome, welcome~!”

Perfect timing—help arrives.

Yuu-chin greets us with a beaming smile.

“Morning, Yuu-chin.”

“Morning, Yuu.”

“Yup, morning~! Oh, and morning, Maki-kun!”

“Uh, thanks for having me…”

Finally free from Rocky, Maehara shuffles over.

His face looks extra drained from all that dog slobber, but his outfit’s decent. Summer knit top, beige shorts, sandals, and a hat—probably picked out by Asanagi.

“Oh, Maki, your face is all sticky… Here, I’ll wipe it for you—come here.”

“Oh, uh… thanks, Umi.”

“You’re welcome. Hehe, hold still, okay?”

Asanagi fusses over her boyfriend like a doting wife, and Maehara happily soaks up her care.

They’ve always been tight, but it feels like they’ve gotten even closer—like a step or two deeper.

Not just lovers… almost like a married couple.

“Hehe, you two are the same as ever, huh? But wiping with a hankie won’t kill the smell, so you’ve gotta wash that drool off properly in the bathroom. C’mon, both of you, hurry, hurry!”

“W-Wait… Yuu, I get it, no need to shove so hard!”

“Uh, well then, excuse me…”

“Yup, come on in. Oh, Nina-chi, you too—hurry up!”

“Sure~”

Pushed along by Yuu-chin’s energy, we step into the Amami house after a while. As always, it’s a clean, spacious, spotless living room. No yard like my place, where laundry’s always hung up indoors and scattered around—everything’s different here.

Well-raised, cheerful, friend-loving… and above all, a jaw-dropping beauty.

The most perfect girl I’ve ever met—that’s my take on “Amami Yuu.” She’s so unreal, I don’t even feel jealous.

“Yuu, I’ll borrow the bathroom real quick then.”

“Sure, go ahead. Use whatever’s there—face wash, hand soap, anything.”

The lovebirds vanish into the bathroom, leaving just me and Yuu-chin in the living room.

Come to think of it, this is the first time it’s been just us two since moving up to second year.

“Hey, Nina-chi, don’t those two seem even closer than before? They’re still all flirty like usual, but the vibe’s different somehow.”

“Totally get that. Just a hunch, but I bet they did it on that trip. No doubt.”

“? Did… what?”

“…Hm?”

I slipped up, assuming she’d get it, but looks like that didn’t land. Yuu-chin’s not clueless about that stuff, but… yeah, this just proves she’s still a pure-as-snow maiden.

“Uh… what I mean is, basically…”

“──────”

“! O-Oh, I-I see… that kind of thing…”

I whisper it in her ear, and Yuu-chin’s face—no, her ears too—turn tomato-red as she looks down, all flustered.

…My friend’s way too cute, seriously.

“W-Well, I didn’t ask for details, so maybe it’s not true… but something definitely progressed. I tried digging a bit, but both Asanagi and the Class Rep just went ‘no comment.’”

“R-Right… But even if they did, I’d be really happy for them. Uh, doing… sexy stuff means they’ve gotten even closer, doesn’t it?”

“Like their happiness is your happiness too?”

“Yeah. I haven’t thought it through much, but probably something like that.”

“…Got it. Well, same here, then.”

Those two are the heart of our group, so I’m with Yuu-chin on this.

They’re why we’re all together like this. If one of them dropped out, it’d fall apart fast—so them being lovey-dovey enough to get it on (whether they did or not) beats fighting any day.

…But still.

“Hey, Yuu-chin.”

“What?”

“…Did you hear that earlier?”

“…Uh, um, hear what? Did you all talk about something before I came out to greet you?”

“…Oh, yeah. We were saying maybe we should bring something for Nozomu’s cheer squad. Y’know, baseball cheering’s got megaphones and stuff, right?”

“Oh, that! Dad’s got some in his room—let’s grab ’em. It’ll pump him up more.”

“Yeah, for sure. I’ll go pick some stuff out now.”

“Cool, thanks.”

Watching Yuu-chin head upstairs to her parents’ room, I mutter to myself alone.

“…Yuu-chin, you’re way too bad at playing dumb.”

I’ve got a habit of reading the room, so even while chatting with Asanagi, I noticed.

She was waiting quietly by the half-open front door ’til me and Asanagi finished talking.

And when Asanagi said “cut ties,” her whole body jolted hard.

I first sensed something off right after the class match, at the end-of-event hangout.

It was from a distance, so I couldn’t tell for sure, but when Yuu-chin was stroking sleeping Maehara’s head, she had this look I’d never seen her give me—or Asanagi, obviously.

A tender gaze and gentle touch, like she was looking at something dear—she’d always said she’s never liked a guy that way, and I don’t know if she’s aware of it herself, but her awkwardness since then? Yeah, it’s pretty much sprouted.

“Their happiness is my happiness… Sure, that’s the most peaceful way, I guess.”

…But, Yuu-chin.

—Are you really okay with that?

In the empty living room, I throw those words at my most precious friend yet.