Chapter 3 | Two People Passing By

The morning after the fireworks festival ended (somewhat?) safely, I was spending a rare Sunday morning alone at home, just chilling.

Normally, during times like this, Umi would be right next to me, and we’d be sprawled out on the sofa or floor, watching TV, reading manga, or occasionally getting a little touchy-feely, enjoying our weekend together. But unfortunately, today she’s apparently spending the day with her whole family (minus Daichi-san, who’s away on a business trip).

I was invited along too, but as Emi-senpai reminded me yesterday, I’ve got a shift starting this afternoon, so I had to reluctantly decline.

“—Yawn, Maki, coffee.”

“Coffee’s fine, but shouldn’t you at least say good morning first? Morning, Mom.”

“Scolded by my own son… Morning, Maki.”

And today, Mom was home for once. She didn’t come back Friday night because she stayed at the office, and only made it home Saturday after working hard, but it seems her efforts paid off with a day off.

As I prepared the coffee she asked for and some breakfast while she shuffled into the living room, I noticed her grinning at me out of the corner of my eye.

“…What?”

“Hmm? Oh, just thinking how you’ve been acting more and more like Umi-chan lately. It’s kinda heartwarming to watch.”

“Me, like Umi? Really…?”

“Yup. Take a good, objective look at yourself from last year compared to now. Think about it.”

“……”

I hadn’t really thought about it since I just live day to day without much reflection, but she might have a point—I’ve probably changed quite a bit compared to before.

I try not to stay up too late, wake up at a set time in the morning, get ready right away, and on weekdays, head straight to school. On weekends, I tackle any accumulated chores like cleaning or laundry in the morning. Afternoons are still pretty lazy, but compared to last year, there’s definitely more structure to my days.

Especially since Umi started coming over to my place almost every day.

When Umi shows up in the morning, she subtly checks if the living room or kitchen is tidy.

Are clothes or bags strewn about? Is the kitchen or dining table organized?

She doesn’t say it outright, but when things are in order, Umi always makes sure to praise me for it.

Good job, you’re really keeping things together—she’ll say, patting my head, and when she’s in a great mood, she might even kiss my cheek or let me indulge in a bit more affection—

“…Maki, why’re you grinning to yourself?”

“! Uh, no, just… thinking about stuff.”

Well, putting the specifics of her pampering aside, the biggest reason is that it makes Umi happy.

Since we’re spending precious time together, I want the environment to be as perfect as possible, and more than anything, I want to show Umi that I’ve got my act together.

In short, I want to look good for her, even just a little, so she’ll like me even more.

And it’s not even that hard. I just learn from Umi’s disciplined daily habits and mimic them.

…Yeah, like Mom said, I’m starting to resemble Umi in a lot of ways.

But Umi’s my precious girlfriend, and (hopefully) someone even more important in the future, so I don’t mind at all.

“Anyway, it’s reassuring for me as a mom to see you two doing so well. …But who’d have thought such a cute girl would end up as my son’s girlfriend, of all people~”

“What’s that supposed to mean, ‘of all people’?”

Still, Mom must’ve been shocked to see her son, who’d never even had a single ‘friend’ before, suddenly spending time at home with someone else.

And not just anyone, but a girl, and when she came home late at night, finding us both fast asleep, snoring cozily together—her mind must’ve been racing with all sorts of wild ideas.

It’s become a funny story now, but… I do feel bad for putting Mom through that.

“It’s been almost a year since I found out about Umi-chan, huh… Hey, Maki, next Sunday—does Umi-chan have any plans?”

“? Not that I know of… I only have a shift on Saturday that week too. Why? Don’t tell me you’ve got next weekend off too, Mom?”

“It’s busy, but I think I can swing it if I try. I might have to trouble you again starting next month, though.”

For now, she can probably make it work until the end of this month, so she wants to do something nice for Umi before then… That’s probably what Mom’s thinking.

“Got it. …It should be fine, but I’ll double-check her schedule just in case.”

“Thanks. Oh, and if it’s okay, maybe ask Sora-san too.”

“That’s fine, but… inviting Sora-san too? What’re you planning?”

“? What else—going out, obviously. …Well, I just decided after seeing this flyer.”

“…An outlet mall?”

Looking at the newspaper insert on the table, sure enough, there’s a big photo of a massive new facility opening in the suburbs.

And as if timed perfectly, the grand opening is next Sunday.

It’s a bit far from here, but not a bad choice for a weekend shopping trip.

“I get going out, but… shopping with Umi, Sora-san, and the three of us?”

“Nope, four of us, including you.”

“……”

“Hey, what’s with that subtly annoyed look?”

“No, it’s just…”

Going out on a weekend is fine, I’ll give her that, but why does it have to involve both our moms?

…If I’m going out with Umi, I’d much rather it just be the two of us.

“Anyway, I’m counting on you. If Umi-chan and her mom can’t make it, I’ll settle for some quality parent-child time instead.”

“Honestly, I’d prefer the parent-child time…”

But since Mom’s whims are rare, and as her kid who’s always seen her working hard, it’s tough to flat-out refuse.

So, I decided to check with Umi about her plans right away.

(Maehara) Umi-san.

(Asanagi) Yup, this is Umi-san.

(Asanagi) What’s up? Wanted to hear my voice before your shift or something?

(Maehara) Not exactly, but that’s not entirely off… Anyway, it’s about something else.

(Asanagi) ??

Making sure to mention that she doesn’t need to clear her schedule, I told Umi about Mom’s invitation to go out.

As for going out with Mom, Umi’s said before, I’d love to hang out with Auntie Masaki sometime, so if she doesn’t have prior plans, she’ll almost certainly say yes.

…But the moment I added, with Sora-san, the four of us, her rapid-fire replies suddenly stopped.

After a few minutes of waiting, she finally sent a response, as if she’d gathered her thoughts.

(Asanagi) My mom too, huh…

(Maehara) Yeah, figured you’d feel that way.

(Asanagi) Well, yeah.

(Asanagi) It’s not that I mind all four of us going together, but… you know?

(Maehara) …You know?

As expected, Umi felt the same way I did.

As high schoolers, going out with both our parents in tow is one thing, but having them see how we usually spend our weekends together? Yeah, it’s kind of embarrassing.

(Asanagi) If I tell my mom, she’ll probably say yes without a second thought and get super hyped for the day.

(Asanagi) Shizuku-san and the others are still at our place today, so it’s fine for now, but once they leave, it’ll just be the two of us again.

(Asanagi) She might not look like it, but my mom’s a total softie for company.

(Maehara) I know. Like mother, like daughter, right?

(Asanagi) Hm? Maki-kun? What’s that supposed to mean by ‘like mother, like daughter’?

(Maehara) Uh, no, I just meant my family’s kinda the same…

While getting a playful scolding from Umi, You’re in for a lecture tomorrow morning, we confirmed that both of us are free next Sunday.

We’ll sort out the details later, but it looks like next Sunday will be a (maybe?) fun outing for the four of us, just as Mom wanted.

It’s been almost a year since the Asanagi and Maehara families started getting close.

Getting along with each other’s families is important for keeping things smooth with your partner—or so I tell myself, hoping Umi and I can get through the day together.

…Even if it’s a little embarrassing.

The plans came together without a hitch, and though I wasn’t exactly thrilled, the following Sunday arrived.

As expected, this outing was less about me and Umi and more about our moms—both Auntie Masaki and Sora-san—who were ridiculously excited since yesterday, apparently having planned out our entire day from morning to night.

We’ll probably get dragged around by two overly enthusiastic moms, but oh well, a bit of filial piety now and then won’t hurt, so Umi and I decided to just roll with it.

“Good morning~ Sorry for making you go through the trouble of driving us, especially since I’m the one who suggested this.”

“No worries at all~ Renting a car would’ve cost extra, and besides, I was in the mood for a little road trip. …Oh, Umi? Why the wry smile? Got a problem with my driving?”

“No, not at all… Just, please drive safely.”

“What? I’m always safe and sound. Don’t go making Auntie Masaki think I’m some reckless driver.”

We’d initially planned to rent a car on our end, but after Sora-san’s insistent offer, we ended up taking the Asanagi family car for the four of us.

By the way, Sora-san’s driving skills aren’t bad at all. I rode with her once when she took me to the hospital, and she sticks to the speed limit with smooth, steady handling.

…Except, when she’s caught off guard, her mouth can get a tad sharp.

Sora-san’s always sweet and cheerful with me, but as I saw during that trip with her mother-in-law, she’s got some stress built up from daily life.

I made sure to tell Mom about that, by the way.

Since Mom often drives for work too, she nodded along to my story, saying, Oh, I totally get that, but that’s just between us.

Seems she feels a lot of sympathy for Sora-san when it comes to driving.

Well, as long as we don’t get into an accident, Umi and I have no complaints.

Umi and I sat in the back, Mom took the passenger seat, and with both families together, our outing began.

“By the way, Umi, are you sure you’re okay hanging out with us? Didn’t Yuu-chan or Nina-san invite you to something?”

“They did, but we’re all kinda busy. Right, Maki?”

“Yeah. They both ended up having other plans… Nozomu’s got club stuff too.”

The new mall in our area was a hot topic at school, especially among the girls. It’s a bit tricky to get to without a car, but with trains or buses, it’s about an hour away.

So, we might bump into some classmates or familiar faces there.

“That’s unusual. I’d have thought Yuu-chan would be the first to drag Umi along for something like this.”

“I thought so too and braced myself after the break, but her dad’s back from his business trip and taking the day off, so they’re going out for some fancy food. As for Nina… Maki, what was it again?”

“She said she’s going with other friends… to the same place, so we might run into her.”

At school, we usually hang out with the same crew, but on weekends, we often do our own thing.

I don’t have many friends, but Amami-san, Nitta-san, and even Umi—though less often—have plans with people like Nakamura-san from Class 11, or old friends like Nitori-san or Houjou-san.

It’s easy to forget when we’re always together, but those four are all pretty popular in their own right.

When I’m left out, even I get a bit anxious or feel a twinge of loneliness, but they always make sure to get together for big events like summer break or the recent fireworks festival, and I’m grateful for that.

During the car ride, Umi and I chatted with Mom and Sora-san about all sorts of things, and they shared stories with us too.

What they were really curious about was how Umi and I got together. They found out about us because of the sleepover incident, but I hadn’t told Mom much about it, and I’m pretty sure Umi kept the details vague too.

Like how Umi was the one who asked me out, or how I suddenly brought her to our house.

…Of course, it’s embarrassing to tell your parents that stuff, and we weren’t exactly eager to hear about their love stories either, so we dodged the questions as best we could.

Enduring their relentless teasing and keeping the conversation lively, about an hour passed.

In the middle of a landscape filled with rice paddies and houses, a massive outlet mall appeared, complete with a warehouse-like building and a sprawling parking lot.

“—Oh, we’re here already? I was just about to grill Maki-kun and Umi about their Christmas chapter.”

“You can ask all you want, but we’re not telling. …Just to confirm, we’re splitting up until lunch, right?”

“Yup. Masaki-san and I are gonna have a blast shopping together, so you two can shop, catch a movie at the theater, or sneak off to make out in some corner—enjoy your date!”

“…W-We’re not gonna make out in some corner! …Right?”

“Uh, yeah. We can at least hold back that much… or, well…”

…No way we’re holding back. Corner or not, if we’re alone, we’re definitely getting cuddly.

We agreed to meet up for lunch together, set a time and place, and then split up—parents with parents, kids with kids—to enjoy the day in our own ways.

Since we left early, we’ve got about three hours until lunch… So, what now?

We could check out fall clothes or accessories, watch a cheesy B-movie if there’s one we like at the theater, or even hit up the amusement facilities, batting cages, or bowling alley to burn some energy.

It’s a bit far to come regularly, but for longer breaks like spring or Golden Week, it might be worth a visit.

For high schoolers, it’s a great spot—both location-wise and for our wallets.

“Hey, Maki, where to? Wanna start with shopping? Or maybe a movie?”

“Hmm… I wanna look around, but I’m kinda thirsty from all that talking. Wanna grab a drink and chill first?”

“Heh, same here. Alright, let’s take a break to prep for the rest of our date.”

As the moms headed straight for a brand store’s opening sale, Umi and I made our way to a coffee shop with open terrace seating.

Being opening day, it was predictably packed, but we got lucky with the timing—people were just leaving, so we snagged terrace seats right away.

“Like I thought during the fireworks festival, there’s so many people. Nina’s here with friends too, right? Wonder if she’s nearby.”

“Dunno… Wanna send her a pic or something?”

“Nice idea. Let’s snap a cute, subtle shot—click.”

“We’re already an open couple—do we need to be subtle?”

Following Umi’s lead, who was in high spirits for our rare shopping date, I sent a photo of our iced coffees and Umi’s peace sign to our five-person group chat.

(Asanagi) Chilling right now.

(Seki) Morning subtle flex, huh? Is that the new outlet mall?

(Asanagi) Busted, huh?

(Maehara) C’mon, it’s pretty obvious.

(Maehara) Anyway, morning, Nozomu. You at club right now?

(Seki) Yo, Maki. Nah, I’m on my way to a practice match with another school.

(Seki) Speaking of, you guys aren’t with Amami-san and the others today?

(Asanagi) Nope. Didn’t tell you, but yeah.

(Seki) Tell me, dang it. Yo, Maki, your girlfriend’s being cold to me.

(Maehara) ……

(Seki) You too, huh?!

(Maehara) Sorry, sorry. Umi was having fun, so I got caught up in it.

(Seki) Ugh, you lovey-dovey idiots…

Surprisingly, Nozomu was the first to reply. Amami-san and Nitta-san have read the messages, so they’re probably following along, but they’re too busy to jump in like usual.

(Seki) Alright, I’m almost there, so I’m out.

(Seki) You two better bring me back some souvenirs.

(Maehara) Got it. Good luck at the match, Nozomu.

(Asanagi) Later.

(Nina) Kick butt~

(Maehara) …Sneaking in there, huh?

(Asanagi) Nina, where you at right now?

(Nina) Still on my way. You guys got there way too early.

Just as Nozomu left the chat, Nitta-san finally popped in. She’s apparently on a bus, and attached a photo of the outlet mall faintly visible out the window.

(Nina) Gotta entertain my friends, so I’m out.

(Nina) Anyway, I’m not crashing your date today, so take your time.

(Nina) If I spot you guys, I’m bolting.

(Asanagi) Thanks for that.

(Maehara) You don’t have to run, you know…

Normally, this is where we’d meet up, but since we’ve all got different company today, Nitta-san’s probably being considerate in her own way.

…She’s capable of this kind of thoughtfulness, so why did last week have to happen?

Even after the fireworks festival, Nitta-san’s kept quiet about the important stuff.

And in the end, Amami-san never joined the conversation.

After our brief break, Umi and I left the shop and started wandering the mall again.

With so much to see, we decided to spend the morning leisurely shopping in the area packed with clothing and fashion accessories.

Thanks to my part-time job, I’ve still got a decent chunk of cash, so even if Umi gets a bit indulgent, I can cover it.

Knowing Umi, though, she’ll probably prioritize picking out stuff for me to wear over her own things.

I’ve started paying more attention to fashion, but my wardrobe’s still pretty limited.

“—Oh, these shirts would look perfect on you, Maki. Try them on later. This one’s nice too—half off, even!”

The moment we stepped into the first store, Umi’s picks started filling up the shopping basket. From there, I try on everything, and we choose the ones I like best—that’s our usual shopping date routine. Needless to say, it takes forever.

At this rate, the whole morning’s gonna be spent on our shopping spree.

“Umi, you’re really going all out.”

“Am I? But it’s been a while since I got to pick out clothes for you. So, here’s the first batch!”

“This feels like enough to call it quits already…”

But during shopping dates, I’m basically at Umi’s mercy, so I try on everything she hands me.

With late September approaching, Umi’s choices are mostly fall items. Light cardigans to layer over T-shirts, casual jackets, and corduroy pants in autumnal colors.

My go-to fall look is usually just a hoodie, so Umi’s probably thinking, Step it up a bit.

“—Maki, you done trying on? Can I open the curtain?”

“Go ahead… but don’t just poke your head in to sneak a peek first.”

“Hehe, but I can’t help being curious!”

Umi carefully inspects me from head to toe as I stand there in the new outfit.

“Hmm… I see…”

“What’s the verdict? Not quite right for me?”

I’m currently trying on a fall jacket paired with matching slacks. It’s clean and polished, and personally, I think it’s fine but nothing special.

“No, it suits you, and I think you look cool. But…”

“But?”

“It just doesn’t feel very Maki-like, you know?”

Her comment’s a bit vague, but I kinda get what she means.

A high schooler might dress up like this to look mature, but wearing it, I feel a weird disconnect between the grown-up outfit and my own boyish vibe.

The clothes are from a proper brand, and Umi’s taste isn’t off, but for my baby face, it’s probably a bit too soon.

“…Yeah, you’re better off with this full-zip hoodie. It’s not super different, but it’s cute and feels more reassuring to have you wear it.”

“Got it. I’ll go with this then. Pair it with that T-shirt you gave me before, and it’ll look decent enough.”

“Oh, the one from your birthday… Yeah, that was a thing, huh.”

“Uh, yeah…”

I brought it up thinking I should at least wear it once since she gave it to me, but Umi’s reaction was surprisingly flat.

Maybe she doesn’t love the idea of me wearing gifts from other girls too often.

We’ll figure out how to style the new hoodie later. For now, it’s Umi’s turn to shop.

She said she recently bought new clothes and doesn’t need more, but there’s one thing she wants me to get for her.

Umi drags me along, marching confidently through the floor packed with women’s fashion brands.

And then, we arrive at a section that feels incredibly awkward for a guy like me.

“…Um, Umi-san?”

“What’s up?”

“…I’ve got a really bad feeling about this.”

“Do you? Probably just your imagination.”

“…Then why am I standing in the middle of the women’s lingerie section?”

I’m currently in a corner of a lingerie shop, surrounded by stylish and cute designs that are completely out of place for a guy like me to be staring at.

“Maki, which one do you like? Pick your favorite.”

“That line sounds inappropriate no matter who says it…”

Since she chose my clothes, she probably thinks it’s only fair for me to pick something for her, but this is way too high a hurdle.

The store’s busy today, and I can see other couples chatting excitedly in front of flashy underwear, but with the staff and at least eighty percent of the customers being women, I can’t help feeling self-conscious and fidgety.

Noticing my discomfort, Umi’s grinning mischievously beside me.

…Well, at least she’s having fun.

“Hehe, sorry, sorry. But I figured I’d at least ask for your opinion~ I mean, it’s not like you’ll never get to see me in these, right?”

“Well, yeah, I guess.”

Our relationship’s been progressing steadily, bit by bit, so I’ve gotten to see sides and expressions of Umi that I’d never see if we were just friends.

Of course, per our promise with Mom and Sora-san, we’re careful to keep things wholesome and not cross that final line, but that also means we’ve pretty much done everything else.

“…So, I can really choose?”

“Yup.”

“Based purely on my own biased taste?”

“——”

Go ahead, Umi whispers in my ear, just loud enough for me to hear.

…Thank goodness Mom and Sora-san aren’t here.

Even they wouldn’t guess we’re this much of a sappy couple.

“If you’re that insistent… I was gonna, but I’ll pass this time.”

“Aww~”

“No ‘aww’! …Otherwise, my self-control and other things might be in serious danger.”

“Oh my~ Did you just imagine something, Maki?”

“…Yeah.”

“Pfft, honest as always. Alright, I’ll let you off the hook this time.”

“Not just this time—please consider it for the future too…”

“Nuh-uh~!”

With her underwear shopping postponed (for now?), we left the lingerie store and moved on to the next shop.

This outlet mall trip was Mom’s spur-of-the-moment idea, but Umi and I are having a blast with our shopping date, all things considered.

Maybe Mom and Sora-san planned this outing with that in mind… If so, it’s meddling to the max, but since Umi and I have inherited that meddling streak, I guess both our families are cut from the same cloth.

By the way, the two of them apparently wrapped up their shopping early and are already toasting (Sora-san’s sticking to non-alcoholic drinks since she’s driving).

…Man, our moms are such characters.

“Hey, Umi, over here!”

“Hm? …Pfft, Maki, what’s with that goofy mask~?”

“Found it on that shelf earlier. The clerk said I could try it on… Wait, huh?”

While messing around like kids in a subculture-themed gift shop, I caught a glimpse of a familiar figure passing by through the mask’s eyeholes.

Feels like something similar happened just the other day… but anyway.

“…Maki?”

“Umi, look, that girl over there… Isn’t that Nina-san?”

“Huh? Nina? Where?”

“Right there, sitting on that sofa… Her hair’s down today, so I thought it might be someone else at first, but…”

“…Oh, you’re right.”

Her hair isn’t in its usual ponytail, but that figure and vibe are definitely Nina-san.

We already knew she was coming here today, so running into her isn’t surprising.

…But she looks awfully lonely, sitting there all by herself.

She’s supposed to be here with other friends, but with this crowd, maybe she got separated at some point.

“Umi, what do we do?”

“Hmm… If she was with someone, we could’ve just pretended not to see her, but…”

Ignoring her in this situation feels a bit cold for friends, so after a quick discussion, we decided to approach her.

“—Nina, what’re you doing all alone in a place like this?”

“Hey, Nitta-san.”

“……”

“! Oh, she’s running!”

“Hey, hold it right there!”

The moment we called out to her, Nitta-san glanced at us, confirmed it was us, and then bolted like she was escaping.

Sure, she did say in the group chat, If I spot you guys, I’m bolting, but I didn’t think she’d actually take off for real.

And of course, her escape is annoyingly fast, weaving through the crowd with surprising agility.

Was running into us that bad?

“Maki, we’re chasing her!”

“Uh, yeah!”

Getting ditched without a word feels wrong, so we can’t just let her go.

She’s a bit ahead, but Nitta-san’s distinctive enough that tracking her isn’t too hard.

Plus, Umi’s weirdly good at chasing people. Last year, she caught me in a flash and dragged me straight to her room’s bed.

…Good memories, now that I think about it.

“Nina, you don’t have to avoid us that hard! You’re not getting away, so just give up already!”

“Then leave me alone and go make out by yourselves! You don’t need a third wheel like me!”

“Sure, you’re annoying! But I’ve never once thought you’re a third wheel!”

“Well, I do think you two are in my way right now!”

Thanks to stamina differences, we’re slowly closing the gap, but catching her is proving tricky.

She’s using her slim frame to slip through tight spots and occasionally ducking into stores to throw us off.

…Talk about stubborn.

“Ugh, your stamina’s ridiculous… I’ll talk about this later, so let me go!”

“! Hey, wait…”

As she escapes Umi’s pursuit and slips into a crowded area, Nitta-san speeds up toward the food court section.

It’s lunchtime, so it’s even more packed, and we’re about to lose her—but then, she gets blocked by two women coming out of a shop and tumbles onto her butt.

Politely bowing her head, Nitta-san looks up to see—

“Mom, grab Nina!”

“Oh, Umi… Alright then… Here!”

“! W-Wait, Asanagi’s mom… and, uh, the other lady…”

“Oh, don’t remember me? Well, it’s been since Christmas, so fair enough. I’m Masaki, Maki’s mom. My son’s always in your debt.”

“Very polite… Uh, I get it, but could you stop hugging me…?”

The two women were Sora-san and Mom. I knew they were grabbing a quick drink before lunch (Mom only, since Sora-san’s driving), but talk about perfect timing.

“Haa… Finally caught you. Oh, and hi, Nina.”

“…Hey. Yo, Class Rep.”

“Yo.”

Maybe realizing she’s cornered by two adults, Nitta-san reluctantly returns our greetings.

Waiting for her to catch her breath, the three of us move to a quieter spot by the emergency stairs. I asked Sora-san and Mom to wait a bit longer at the shop.

“…Just so you know, catching me doesn’t mean I’m spilling anything. Hey, Class Rep, what’s that thing called?”

“…Right to remain silent, maybe?”

“Yeah, that! So, no matter what you ask, I’m staying silent. Pointless.”

“Nina, you little…”

She dramatically turns her face away, but compared to how lonely she looked earlier, she seems way more lively now.

…If she’s happy to see us, she could just say so—I wouldn’t tease her for it.

“Hey, Nina.”

“What? Like I said, I’m silent today.”

“That’s not how it works… No, that’s not it. If you haven’t eaten lunch yet, wanna join us?”

“Huh?”

“Maki, that’s cool, right?”

“Of course. We’re already eating with our moms, so one more person won’t make a difference.”

Sure, I’m worried about Nitta-san as a friend, but if she doesn’t want to talk, I’m not gonna pry.

Whatever’s going on with her, it’s true she looked lonely earlier. That’s probably why Umi invited her.

We haven’t known each other long, and yeah, I’ve thought she’s a third wheel a few times… if I’m being honest.

But she’s still our important friend.

“So, what’s it gonna be? Eat with us? Or not? Or is that under ‘silence’ too?”

“…If you’re treating, I’m in.”

“Ugh, always so shameless… Maki, I’m calling Mom, so keep an eye on her.”

“Got it.”

“…I’m not running anymore. I’m tired, and I’m starving.”

Leaving me with a sulky Nitta-san, Umi steps away for a moment.

Umi said to keep her in check, so I lightly grab the hem of her clothes, just in case.

“…Hey, Class Rep?”

“Yeah?”

“You’re not gonna ask?”

“You wanna tell me?”

“Not really.”

“Then I’m not gonna ask.”

“…Pretty cheeky for a Class Rep.”

“Well, I can be a little mean sometimes too. Like you.”

“Same as me, huh… Back in the day, I’d have denied that with everything I had.”

“But not now?”

“…Well, we’re friends. Kinda.”

Without making eye contact, we start chatting bit by bit.

It’s a different vibe from talking with Umi or Amami-san, but I don’t mind talking with Nitta-san like this. Not that I love it, but it lets me speak my mind, and she doesn’t hold back either.

“Nitta-san, why’d you lie about being with friends?”

“Jumping to conclusions, huh? Maybe I just got separated… Okay, no, that’s a weak excuse. Never mind, forget it.”

“So, you came alone?”

“That’d be way too pathetic. …I’m doing my own thing now, but I came with my sister. Embarrassing, right? A high schooler hanging out with family.”

“If that’s embarrassing, what does that make us with our moms…?”

Family outings aside, if she was with her sister, she could’ve just said so and spared us the hassle.

Is it really just embarrassment that made her run from us like that?

“Fine, I’ll let the escape reason slide as ‘that’s how it is.’”

“Yup, that’s the truth.”

“No, I mean, why’d you tell me? Weren’t you gonna stay silent today?”

“…Dunno. No clue, even to myself.”

With a small sigh, Nitta-san answers.

Her words sound like she’s dodging, but looking at her self-deprecating profile, I can’t help but think she’s not lying.

As I’m wondering how to respond, Umi comes back from her call with Sora-san, and the conversation naturally ends.

“Sorry to keep you waiting. I checked with Mom, and she said, I’ll treat her to as much as she can eat, so bring Nina-chan along!”

“Sweet! I’ll let my sister know then.”

“…Nina, you were with your sister? Is it really okay to ditch her?”

“Yup. We agreed to split up here anyway. …Right, Class Rep?”

“Don’t act like I’m in on it. And what’s with that obvious wink?”

“…Hmm.”

“Look, Umi-san. I heard about the sister thing, but that’s all I know.”

“…I’m not doubting you, Maki. Dummy.”

“D-Dummy…”

Thanks to Nitta-san’s unnecessary comment, I’m getting a sulky stare from Umi.

…I haven’t done anything wrong, I swear.

Pleasing one person ticks off another—human relationships are tough.

“Alright, you two, lunch is coming up, so play nice—Ow! S-Sorry, Asanagi, I’m sorry, I’ll apologize! No more iron claws, my head’s gonna change shape!”

“Then don’t tease in the first place. …Ugh, worrying about you was such a waste.”

“Heh… But thanks for worrying, both of you. That part made me super happy.”

Nitta-san’s cheeks flush slightly as she gives a shy smile, and it’s genuinely cute—probably her true feelings. But even so, it feels far from her usual carefree vibe.

When will we get back to our usual days of trading silly banter?

With Nitta-san now in tow, we head to the Italian buffet where Mom and Sora-san are waiting. It’s a popular spot, with a long line outside, but thanks to our moms securing a spot, we should get in within ten minutes.

“Hey, thanks for the invite, Auntie.”

“Hehe, no problem. You’re young, so eat as much as you want!”

“Will do. …Uh, and Class Rep… I mean, Maki-kun’s mom too.”

“Oh, you can stick with the nickname. But I’m dying to know why you call Maki ‘Class Rep.’”

“Well, it’s a long story…”

Though a bit hesitant, Nitta-san seems relieved by Mom and Sora-san’s warm welcome, enjoying the chat with the older folks.

With the lively group growing from two to three, Umi and I feel even more pushed to the sidelines… like, way out there.

While the three of them chatter away, Umi and I hold hands quietly, waiting until a staff member calls us in, signaling our table’s ready.

Inside, a feast of delicious-looking dishes greets us. From stone-oven-baked pizzas (not just pizza) to various pastas, soups, colorful veggies, and fruits, plus kid-friendly options like chicken, fries, omelets, and desserts like ice cream and cake—all laid out on a massive table for every age to enjoy.

The mouthwatering aroma makes my stomach let out an embarrassed little grumble.

“Hehe… Maki, already starving?”

“I didn’t think I was, but stepping in here changed that… Wanna grab some food together, Umi?”

“Yup! Nina, you help too.”

“Roger. I’ll start with drinks and soup for everyone.”

Leaving Mom and Sora-san at the table, the three of us pile plates with whatever looks good.

Since they said to pick what we want, we grab anything that catches our eye: bolognese, carbonara, a curveball like pesto, plus lasagna, chicken in tomato sauce, and more… For pizza, a classic Margherita. And a token salad to round it out. That’s the first round done. It’s a timed lunch buffet (about an hour), but we can keep getting food until the end, so eating our fill won’t be an issue.

Umi and I are growing teens, so seeing all this food kinda makes our IQs drop, piling plates high with our favorites.

…Kinda like this.

“Hey, Umi.”

“Hm?”

“…Isn’t that a bit much?”

“Is it? There’s five of us, and my mom eats a ton, so we’ll be fine. Desserts are a separate stomach, by the way.”

“R-Right.”

I think I eat a lot, but the other four outdo me. Mom and Sora-san, who I’ve eaten with before, are obvious, but Nitta-san’s a surprising eater despite her slim frame. She usually watches her figure and budget, but on outings or when someone’s treating—like today—she goes all out, only to regret it later on the scale.

…Guess we all think alike in some ways.

“Asanagi, Class Rep, I’m done here, but you guys… Whoa, that’s way too much for the first round.”

“It’s fine, we’ll eat it. Come on, people are waiting behind us—back to the table.”

“Asanagi’s secretly a foodie, huh… Not that I’m one to talk—Whoops!”

“Eek…!?”

As we finish picking food and head back, Nitta-san, walking ahead, nearly collides with someone coming out of the restroom.

Luckily, she notices in time to avoid a crash, but it could’ve been a disaster if she hadn’t.

“Phew… Safe.”

“Nina, you okay? …Hey, you gotta watch where you’re going.”

“Sorry, I was kinda lost in thought… uh, I mean…”

The woman who hurriedly bows freezes, her mouth opening and closing, as she sees the three of us.

A girl around our age, wearing a deep hat and brown-framed glasses… but the moment I see her distinctive hair color and blue eyes, we’re the ones shocked.

Her hair’s tied back, and the wide-brimmed hat and glasses threw me off for a second.

“Huh? Amami-san?”

“Yuu?”

“…Yuu-chin?”

“…Um, uh~”

Amami-san looks at each of us, then drops her gaze.

“…Eek, wrong person! G-Gotta go!”

“““Hey!”””

Leaving her familiar voice behind, she tries to slip past us.

Why do both Nitta-san and Amami-san bolt when things get awkward?

That aside, with our hands full of food, chasing her like before isn’t an option.

Amami-san, wait—I’m about to call out when,

“Hey, Yuu! Calling your friends ‘wrong person’? How rude!”

Stopping Amami-san’s escape is Eri-san, who must’ve been nearby.

So, it seems the Amami family came to the outlet mall for a meal too.

It’s a coincidence, but not surprising for opening day.

“M-Mom, let go…”

“No way. We’re still eating, remember? Come on, back to Umi-chan and the others.”

“…Ugh~”

Pushed by Eri-san, Amami-san reluctantly returns to us.

Her blatant wrong person excuse has her avoiding eye contact.

“So, Yuu’s here too. Could’ve told us.”

“Uh, yeah… I thought about it, but I didn’t wanna bother Umi.”

According to Amami-san, the family meal was planned, but they only decided on this place yesterday, and she couldn’t bring herself to tell us.

The hat, fake glasses, and different hairstyle were probably her attempt to go unnoticed if we crossed paths.

Her hair color and eyes gave her away instantly, though.

“By the way, you two are with Nina-chi, huh. I thought she was with someone else…”

“Oh… uh, yeah. We just ran into her, so we don’t know the details… Right, Nitta-san?”

“Yeah~ We were together until we got here, but I got into a fight with my group before running into these two. That’s about it.”

Nitta-san takes over, but her story’s different from what she told me earlier.

We all had separate plans but ended up at the same place—classic us. But thinking about how this happened, it’s not exactly funny.

“Oh, I know! Hey, everyone, why don’t we eat at our table? Since we’re all here, it’ll be more fun. Right?”

“Mom… that’s a hassle for Umi and them. I didn’t tell you, but Umi and Maki-kun’s moms are here too.”

“Oh! Sora-san and Maki-kun’s mom? Then we have to introduce my husband. Yuu, I’m grabbing your dad—head to Umi-chan’s table first, okay?”

“Wait, Mom, hold on… Sorry, Umi, Maki-kun. Once my mom gets like that, she doesn’t listen.”

“Well, Mom and I know how Eri-san gets… You cool with this, Maki?”

“Yeah. Mom’s not shy like me.”

Plus, Mom’s mentioned wanting to meet Eri-san, a former celebrity, so getting it over with today works.

…Like the fireworks festival, things around me have been getting lively lately.

After getting the okay from Sora-san and Mom, and with the staff’s approval to move seats, the Amami family, Asanagi-Maehara crew, and Nitta-san—eight of us—gathered at one big table.

Who’d have thought our usual four, plus their parents (minus Nitta’s family), would end up together here?

“Hi, I’m Eri, Yuu’s mom. Thanks for always looking out for my daughter, Maki-kun—”

“No, no, I’m sorry for all the trouble my son causes—”

Being their first meeting, the four parents are hitting it off.

Personally, seeing Mom’s happy smile after being swamped with work feels nice, so I’m okay with this.

…But in contrast to the parents,

“…”

“……”

“Uh, well, might as well eat, right? Right, Umi?”

“Y-Yeah. I’m starving anyway…”

The four of us kids are feeling a bit out of place.

And the reason’s clearly Nitta-san and Amami-san.

“…Yuu-chin, not eating?”

“W-Well, what about you, Nina-chin? I’m not that hungry.”

“Oh, okay.”

With no further conversation, we just silently eat the food in front of us.

It’s obvious something’s up between Amami-san and Nitta-san, but with our parents here, we don’t want to worry them.

Unsure what to do, I sneak my phone out under the table, and just then, a message from Umi pops up.

(Asanagi) Maki, everyone can tell you’re messing with your phone under the table.

(Maehara) Sorry.

(Maehara) How’re you doing it?

(Asanagi) Blind typing.

(Asanagi) Picked it up from sneaking messages with you.

(Maehara) Impressive.

(Maehara) I’m trying not to look, but it’s tough.

(Asanagi) You’ll get the hang of it.

(Asanagi) Anyway, what do we do about this?

(Asanagi) Yuu and Nina.

(Maehara) Yeah, seriously.

(Maehara) Umi, any ideas?

(Asanagi) Hmm…

(Asanagi) If I had to guess, it’s gotta be something from after the fireworks festival.

(Asanagi) We haven’t all walked to school together since then.

(Maehara) Now that you mention it…

I hadn’t noticed, but thinking back, that tracks. This past week, Amami-san overslept one day, Nitta-san had morning duty another, then she overslept.

I thought it was just bad timing. Amami-san and Nitta-san aren’t exactly punctual, and since we’re in different classes, we naturally hang out less, so I didn’t question it.

But this unexpected run-in exposed the tension they couldn’t hide anymore… That’s the best conclusion we can draw.

They’re hiding it, but something happened after the fireworks festival—probably on the way home—that put a rift between them.

Something… or, to put it simply, a fight.

But what caused it?

“…Hey, Yuu-chin. Wanna make up? If it’s just us, fine, but this is making everyone else worry. Our leader’s sneaking phone chats right next to us.”

“Huh? Uh… Maki-kun…”

“Haha… Yeah, it’s the first time you two have been like this, so of course we’re worried.”

I tried mimicking Umi, but Nitta-san saw right through me.

Guess it’s time to just ask them directly.

…But first.

“…Yuu, Nina. We got carried away, and the food’s barely touched. Can you help out? Even if you’re not hungry, you two can handle a bit more, right?”

“Uh, yeah, I can, but…”

“I came here planning to mooch free food, so I gotta make it worth it.”

“Cool, thanks.”

Umi slides a plate piled with pasta toward them, and they start eating quietly, almost in sync.

“Nitta-san, how’s that? Good?”

“Decent. Want some, Class Rep?”

“Just a bit.”

“Lend me a small plate then. Asanagi?”

“Gimme some too.”

“Here ya go~”

She scoops a bite or two of the genovese pasta onto each of our plates.

Normally, she doesn’t do stuff like this, but it’s not like she can’t or doesn’t want to. It’s just that we usually take the lead, so she doesn’t say anything.

“…”

And then, there’s one girl watching us enviously as we manage to create something resembling a proper meal atmosphere.

She’s clacking the tongs loudly, as if to show off, so it seems Amami-san wants to serve her some too.

“Amami-san, can I have some of that lasagna? Oh, and one of those hashbrowns next to it.”

“S-sure. Um, what about you, Umi?”

“I’ll take some. Oh, hey, Yuu, wanna bet on who can eat more? Loser has to prep dessert afterward.”

“Huh? Well, if you’re that fired up, Umi… hehe, for dessert, I want vanilla and strawberry ice cream with raspberry jam on top, and then a ton of chocolate sprinkles!”

“Already placing your order with me? Pretty confident, huh? Weren’t you just saying you had no appetite?”

“I didn’t, but when you threw down the challenge, my stomach suddenly woke up. …Nina-chi, can you start by adding some karaage and a whole pizza for me?”

“Maki, same here.”

“And just like that, it’s a food fight… Look, you two, don’t overdo it, okay?”

Umi’s probably trying to look out for Amami-san in her own way, and Amami-san likely knows that full well… but the air between them is way too charged for that.

“…Jeez, they’re both such kids. Right, Class Rep?”

“Well, this is pretty normal for them… hehe.”

When they do something, they go all out—that’s the kind of ‘normal’ we’re aiming for.

Spending so much time together means we’ll fight sometimes or clash over differences of opinion. But that’s just our feelings missing the mark, not because we’ve stopped caring about our friends.

If Amami-san and Nitta-san truly value each other as ‘friends,’ then surely this issue will work itself out eventually.

…That’s what I hope, at least.

Caught up in the sudden eating contest (or something like it) between Umi and Amami-san, Nitta-san and I dig into the food too, and we somehow manage to polish off everything. In fact, the first round wasn’t enough, so we went for seconds and thirds, and everyone even had dessert and coffee afterward.

The food was delicious, of course, but more than that, it felt like we were clearing away the fog that’d been hanging over us for the past week. We savored every kind of Italian dish we could until we were so full we could barely move.

“…Yuu, here you go. Your ice cream—vanilla and strawberry, with extra toppings.”

“Yay! Hehe, thanks, Umi~”

Umi and Amami-san ate more than I did, but the victory went to Amami-san, who out-ate Umi by a single piece of karaage.

The parents sitting nearby, chatting away, seemed exasperated by our silly antics, but all four of them watched us kids with warm, amused smiles.

(Let’s split the bill since we’re all here together—)

(No, no, we’re the ones who crashed your party, so we should—)

While Amami-san’s side and Umi’s side debated who’d cover the bill, the four of us waddled outside, rubbing our overstuffed stomachs.

We were supposed to have an important talk next, but after recklessly stuffing ourselves with delicious food, none of us were in the mood for it.

“…We’re all idiots, aren’t we?”

“Totally. Hey, Class Rep, why’d you jump into the fray too?”

“Says you, Nitta-san…”

“Haha, we were all awkward just a minute ago, but man, we’re so weird.”

The four of us line up, slumping in chairs and staring at the ceiling.

We’re acting like total fools, but somehow, it doesn’t feel bad at all.

My head’s fuzzy from being so full, and without thinking, I blurt out, “…Why’d you two fight?”

“…”

After a brief silence, Nitta-san speaks first.

“Well… y’know, we’ve all got our own stuff going on, right? Right, Yuu-chin?”

“Yeah… deep, deep reasons.”

“Seriously…? I mean, you two have been tight since starting high school, so I figured there’s gotta be something going on that we don’t know about.”

I know that as Umi and I got closer as a couple, spending more time together, Amami-san, who used to hang out with Umi, started spending more time with Nitta-san.

If you look at their whole history, Umi’s still the one Amami-san’s closest to, but lately, Nitta-san’s the one who knows her best.

“Listen, Umi, Class Rep—Yuu-chin’s, like, shockingly clueless. I’ll just say it: she’s an idiot. A total dummy.”

“Wha—?! The one calling me an idiot’s the real idiot! Nina-chi, you’re the dummy, the airhead, the stubborn blockhead… haah, haah!”

“Your comebacks are, like, grade-school level…”

Well, the mood doesn’t seem that hostile, which is a relief, but they’ve still got a ways to go before they’re truly back to normal.

“Hey, Yuu.”

“…Umi.”

“Can’t you tell me?”

“…”

Amami-san looks down and gives a small nod in response to Umi’s question.

That’s probably the most she can manage to explain right now.

“I’m sorry… but I…”

“It’s okay. Back then, I didn’t want to worry you either, so I just said ‘I can’t tell you’ and ran off. So, we’re even, right?”

“Umi…”

Instead of getting mad at Amami-san’s silence, Umi shows understanding for her feelings.

She’s endlessly kind, always thinking of her best friend.

“But, Yuu, if it ever gets too heavy to carry alone, you can come to me, okay? …No matter what it is, I’ll face it head-on with you.”

“…Yeah, thanks, Umi. But I’m gonna try handling it on my own a bit longer.”

“Got it. You’re usually quick to come crying to me, so it’s rare to see you this stubborn.”

“Yeah… Nina-chi might call me an idiot again, but this is something I have to figure out on my own… absolutely.”

“…‘Absolutely,’ huh?”

Watching their exchange, Nitta-san mutters ‘idiot’ under her breath, just as Amami-san predicted.

As worried as we are, all we can do is keep an eye on them for now.

Just what kind of bombshell are these two carrying?

After wrapping up our four-way talk, we head back to our parents, who’ve been waiting for us, and split up again for the afternoon. There was some talk among the parents about all eight of us touring the facilities together, but apparently, Amami-san’s family had a sudden schedule change, so we had to part ways here.

And so, we say goodbye to Amami-san for today.

“See ya, everyone. Catch you at school.”

“Yeah, see you at school.”

“Later.”

“Yuu, don’t oversleep after the break. …Have a good rest of your weekend.”

“Yup. Bye, everyone!”

After parting with Amami-san’s family of three, we move on to our afternoon plans. Well, ‘plans’ is a loose term—since we finished shopping for clothes and stuff in the morning, the afternoon’s mostly tagging along with Mom and Umi’s parents to buy daily necessities and groceries.

“We’re heading to the supermarket now. What about you, Nina-chan? Still can’t get ahold of your sister?”

“Uh… yeah, looks like she’s off watching a movie right now, so I’ll tag along with you guys. The Nitta household’s running low on food and seasonings anyway.”

With Nitta-san joining us, we head to the massive supermarket attached to the outlet mall. It’s stocked with imported goods and bulk-sized items, completely different from the local stores we usually go to. It feels less like a supermarket and more like wandering through a giant warehouse.

“Oh, this meat’s cheap! Hey, Maki-kun, why don’t you eat dinner at our place tonight? What do you say, Masaki-san? We could grill some yakiniku and crack open a few drinks!”

“Oh, that sounds lovely! In that case, I’ll grab a case of these canned beers…”

“…Mom.”

Umi and I let out a sigh at the same time. We had plenty of fun this morning and at lunch, but apparently, that wasn’t enough—now they’re plotting a full-on drinking party at home.

Even we’re starting to feel a bit tired, but maybe this kind of boundless energy is why Mom thrives at work and Umi’s mom can hold down the fort while Umi’s dad’s away.

“…Your families are nice, huh? The parents seem to get along great.”

“You think? I guess it’s better than them not getting along. …Your parents seem super busy, though, right? They run an electrical contracting business or something?”

“Whoa, I only mentioned it once or twice, and you remembered? Yeah, they’re both, like, tradespeople, I guess? They’re out working at sites from morning till night, and even on their days off, they’re usually too wiped out to do anything but sleep. But that’s just how neighborhood life is these days, right? I never really had super close friends either.”

“So, basically, your social life’s more ‘wide and shallow,’ huh?”

“Yup. I know it’s weird to say about myself, but I’ve got tons of friends… in my phone, anyway.”

Our situation’s probably pretty rare, and even if people are connected through something like marriage, they don’t usually get this involved.

I’d picked up bits and pieces about Nitta-san’s life from past conversations, but it’s rare for her to talk about it so openly like this.

At school, she’s got connections with all sorts of groups and comes off as super outgoing, but on weekends, she might actually be pretty chill, spending a lot of time alone.

“…So, this whole thing feels kinda fresh, y’know? Fun, even. Seeing the same people every morning, going to school together. Then on weekends, finding random excuses to hit the town or go on trips like this to shop. …Well, today we were all doing our own thing, though.”

“If you feel that way, you should’ve just been honest and said you wanted to come along instead of making up some excuse. If it’s not a date, neither Maki nor I would’ve minded. …And Yuu wouldn’t either, of course.”

“…Yeah. You guys are all such good people. Umi, Class Rep, Yuu-chin—all of you are, like, ridiculously nice. Seki’s kinda meh, though.”

“Nozomu’s a good guy too…”

Putting her usual salty attitude toward Nozomu aside, it’s clear Nitta-san really cares about us.

She used to keep things light and shallow, avoiding deep personal stuff to maintain easy, drama-free relationships. But with us, she’s taken the complete opposite approach.

They say you only fight with people you’re close to, and that’s true—surface-level friendships don’t get messy like this. If things start to go south, you just read the room and back off.

Even knowing a fight could drive a wedge between them, Nitta-san still cares about Yuu—her ‘friend’—but her feelings aren’t quite reaching Yuu yet.

It’s crazy how a slight misalignment can make things this complicated.

Thinking about it, I’m impressed we all manage to navigate this stuff every day.

“Well, like Umi said, maybe I’ll stop overthinking and just lean on you guys from now on. No matter what, I can’t seem to escape your meddling couple vibes anyway.”

“‘Meddling couple’ is a bit much! …Oh, hey, Maki, don’t those chips on that shelf look good? We’re running low on snacks, so let’s grab some to try.”

“Bulk size, huh… I’m curious, but isn’t that a bit much for just the two of us?”

“With Yuu and Nina around, we’ll manage. Besides, midterms are coming up soon, so we can munch on these during our study session next week.”

“…Umi, that’s the first I’m hearing about this.”

“Yup, ’cause I just came up with it!”

For the record, it’s news to me too. Midterms are in mid-October, so we’ve still got some time, but Umi probably wants to help patch things up between those two sooner rather than later.

“You’re so pushy… Hey, Class Rep, your girlfriend’s going a bit overboard—say something!”

“Umi’s pretty cute when she gets all fired up and her enthusiasm starts spinning out of control, don’t you think?”

“Ugh, these two are hopeless.”

Realizing it’s pointless, Nitta-san shrugs and drops the subject.

Whether it’s meddling or whatever, if Umi’s going all-in, I’m happy to just go along for the ride.

With next weekend’s plans settled, we return to our shopping when someone waves and approaches us.

“Yo, Nina~!”

Light brown, slightly wavy hair and sharp, confident eyes.

A stranger, but she looks kinda like Nitta-san.

“Uh, Nitta-san, someone’s calling you.”

“…Oh, yeah. That’s my sister.”

“Your sister? So you weren’t lying about coming with her.”

“Told ya, I don’t lie that much. Besides, if I really came all the way here alone by bus, I’d be like you, Class Rep.”

“I wouldn’t come to a place like this alone…”

As we banter, her sister walks over with a sly grin, glancing back and forth between me and Nitta-san.

…Seems like she’s got the wrong idea, so first, we need to clear that up.

“Whoa, what’s this, Nina? You suddenly said you wanted to ‘wander around alone,’ and this is why? You could’ve told me—I would’ve helped you out!”

“…You moron. The ones dating are these two. I’m just a ‘friend.’ His girlfriend’s right here.”

“…Hi, I’m Asanagi Umi, Maehara Maki’s g i r l f r i e n d. Nice to meet you, Nina’s sister.”

“Oh, my bad, sorry about that! I’m Yuna, Nina’s older sister. Currently a third-year in high school… and a stressed-out exam crammer… Ugh, I was having fun forgetting about it, but reality just came crashing back… I’m doomed…”

“…Nitta-san, your sister’s, uh, really lively, huh?”

“Class Rep, you can just say she’s a goofball. But despite how she acts, she goes to Shuseikan High.”

“Shuseikan… oh, the top-ranked school in the prefecture?”

There’s a lot to unpack here, but let’s just say she’s a very distinctive older sister.

They’re sisters, so they look similar, but compared to the petite, shorter Nitta-san, Yuna’s about ten centimeters taller and a bit more solidly built.

My first impression? They’re a tight-knit sister duo.

Nitta-san keeps calling her sister an idiot, but she’s just embarrassed by Yuna’s overly friendly attitude toward us strangers—she doesn’t actually dislike her.

…Though Nitta-san would probably deny it.

“So, Yuna-nee, what happened to the movie? It hasn’t even been thirty minutes since it started.”

“Oh, yeah. I bought the ticket and all, but I figured it’s been a while since we hung out, so I wanted to wander around with you instead. Heh, surprised?”

“In more ways than one… Class Rep, sorry, but I’m gonna head out here.”

“Yeah, I think that’s for the best.”

If her sister wants to spend time together, family comes first. We only invited Nitta-san because she seemed lonely by herself, but if her sister’s with her now, there’s no real reason for us to stick around.

So, following Amami-san, we part ways with Nitta-san here too.

“See ya, Class Rep, Umi. And forget everything about today, including my sister.”

“I’ll think about it. Oh, and don’t forget about next week.”

“Later, Nina. I’ll drag Yuu along if I have to, so you better show up next week too.”

“Haha, that sounds like a hassle… I’ll try to make it.”

Her tone kinda implies (probably not), but knowing Nitta-san, she’ll definitely show.

Now it’s just up to Amami-san’s response.

After thanking our moms, Nitta-san starts to leave with her sister but suddenly turns back.

“—Hey, Umi.”

“? What’s up?”

“And Class Rep too.”

“? Yeah?”

“There’s something I wanna say to you two—”

She looks straight at us, her usual playful tone shifting as if she’s about to say something serious… but then she just gives a wry smile and shakes her head.

“…Nah, sorry, never mind.”

“What?! You can’t just leave us hanging like that!”

“Nitta-san, if something’s on your mind, you should say it.”

“No, really, it’s fine. Yuna-nee’s here too.”

“Aww, come on!”

“No ‘aww’! …Sorry, you two. See ya at school.”

And with that, Nitta-san disappears into the crowd with Yuna for real this time.

“…Umi, that was close, huh?”

“Yeah. We were this close to getting her to open up.”

We laid our feelings bare, and we almost got Nitta-san to do the same, but Yuna’s arrival made it fizzle out.

What was it Nitta-san wanted to say in the end?

The summer vacation, the sports festival, the fireworks the other day, and now today.

…Vaguely, Umi and I might be starting to see the root of this issue.