Yui Yuigahama leaned against her own shoulder, the faint fragrance from her body drifting into Izumi Kotomi's nose, making Kotomi's thoughts unknowingly start to wander.
Every day after meeting with Yui and Mashiro, Kotomi would give them a big bear hug. Others would think it was simply because the three of them had a close relationship. Indeed, they were very close—so close it was about to surpass the boundary of friendship.
When hugging, Yui might still hold back a little, but Mashiro was different. Ever since Kotomi and Mashiro returned from Kyoto, Mashiro had already started to think of herself as Kotomi's girlfriend. So every time she hugged Kotomi, Mashiro would quietly let her hands and feet roam.
Yui Yuigahama had long noticed Mashiro's little moves. She still didn't know that Kotomi and Mashiro had kissed back in Kyoto. All she could do was watch, feeling envious in her heart. She too wanted to touch Kotomi when they hugged, making all kinds of little gestures that would make people blush and turn away. But she was afraid Kotomi would get angry. So, although she could only lean on Kotomi's shoulder like this now, Yui already felt very satisfied.
If only she could interlock fingers with Kotomi… that would be even better.
As Yui secretly wished for this, her small hand restlessly crept closer and closer toward Kotomi's. When she was close enough that she could just grab Kotomi's hand, Yui lost her courage again. Stuck in that ambiguous distance, she hesitated—unwilling to retreat, but too afraid to take that last step forward.
Kotomi had already been quietly observing for a while. Seeing that Yui never made a move, she chose to take the initiative, gently clasping the silly dango's little hand in her palm, their fingers intertwining.
Bang!
Yui Yuigahama's face flushed bright red, as if white steam was puffing from the top of her head. She was so overwhelmed with shyness that she lost all consciousness, her soft body collapsing completely against Kotomi.
It looked like they wouldn't be able to sing for a while…
The two didn't say another word. They simply sat pressed together with fingers tightly entwined, Yui leaning on Kotomi's shoulder, cheeks burning red, as their slightly quickened breaths filled the silent room.
"Yui…"
Finally, Kotomi spoke first.
"Kotomi, I'm here."
"Even after the cultural festival ends, I still want to keep hearing you sing. Is that okay?"
Yui Yuigahama gazed at Kotomi in a daze. Their eyes seemed like threads pulling each other closer, as though their lips were about to be drawn together.
"Kotomi, how long do you want to hear me sing?"
"Like with desserts—for a lifetime. Is that okay?" Kotomi whispered softly, at the same time tightening her hold on Yui's small hand.
Yui's delicate body trembled slightly, like a silent response to Kotomi. Countless words condensed into a single phrase spoken aloud:
"Okay. I'll be by your side, for a lifetime."
Yui Yuigahama couldn't remember when she first fell for Kotomi. All she knew was that when she realized it, her feelings had already shifted from simple friendship into secret love.
She had never dated before and didn't know what it felt like to like someone. But now she understood—that feeling was exactly what she felt for Kotomi.
Kotomi, I like you. Can I be your girlfriend? Can we become a family?
Yui desperately wished she could gather the courage to say those words out loud to Kotomi at this very moment.
Ring ring ring.
The sudden ringing of a phone broke the increasingly heavy atmosphere in the small private room. As Kotomi reached for her phone, she unavoidably put some distance between herself and Yui, since her phone was a little far away and she had to stand up to get it.
"It's my sister calling. I'll answer it first." Kotomi glanced at the caller ID showing Aimi Izumi's name, then turned back to tell Yui.
"O-okay."
Yui Yuigahama nodded, remembering the words she had just been building up the courage to say. Her adorable cheeks blushed even deeper, and she hurriedly covered her face with her hands, whispering in a voice only she could hear:
"What should I do, Mom… I think I've hopelessly fallen for Kotomi."
Kotomi didn't leave the private room to take the call outside. After all, what Aimi was calling about wasn't anything serious—just that the soy sauce at home had run out, and she wanted Kotomi to buy a bottle on her way back.
After hanging up, Kotomi sat back down and asked, "Have you rested enough?"
"I'm ready." Yui Yuigahama nodded, her cheeks still slightly flushed.
"Then let's… continue practicing."
"Okay!" Yui nodded firmly. Her complicated gaze lingered on Kotomi for a moment before she finally added: "Kotomi! At the cultural festival, I definitely won't let you down!"
Kotomi froze for a second, surprised that after just a short break, Yui was already brimming with determination again. Then the corners of her lips curved into an encouraging smile.
"I believe in you. I've always believed in you. Let's work hard together at the festival!"
...
Kotomi and Yui Yuigahama kept singing until three in the afternoon. By then, Yui had completely memorized the lyrics and melodies of the two songs. She even had a general sense of how each line should be sung, though she still needed more practice to refine it.
Compared to rehearsing at school, Yui's progress was obvious—easy to hear in every note. Kotomi realized that whether it was studying or singing, as long as Yui took it seriously, her speed of improvement was far beyond that of ordinary people.
If the system allowed Kotomi to see everyone's personal stats, she was sure Yui Yuigahama's growth rating would be at least an A.
Even though they sang in the KTV until three o'clock, the snacks there were delicious. By the time they walked out, both Kotomi and Yui Yuigahama left with full stomachs.
"I still need to buy soy sauce, so I'll take a detour. You should head home first. See you at school tomorrow." Kotomi chose to part with Yui at the KTV entrance.
"See you tomorrow! Kotomi, what dessert do you want tomorrow?"
"Maple syrup toast." Kotomi thought for a moment and decided to stick with the usual.
"I've got it memorized! Look forward to it!" Yui nodded vigorously. As they parted, she kept looking back step after step, reluctant to leave, her expression practically spelling out the words can't bear to part.
After watching Yui Yuigahama disappear from sight, Kotomi didn't actually go to buy soy sauce. Instead, she turned, walked over to a shared e-bike, unlocked it, hopped on, and twisted the handle—riding straight toward Hiiragi Apartments.
...
Ding dong—ding dong.
Hearing the doorbell, Yukino Yukinoshita paused her performance of Moonlight on the piano stool by the floor-to-ceiling window. She stood up, her pale feet stepping lightly in slippers, and quietly walked to the door. Instead of opening it right away, she first peeked through the peephole.
Outside stood Kotomi, holding a box of cream puffs from a famous nearby dessert shop.
Yukino had wanted to try them before, but every time she went, there was always a long line outside. Disliking the idea of waiting so long just for food, she had never gotten to taste the shop's famous cream puffs.
Click.
Opening the door and seeing Kotomi standing there, Yukino let out a silent sigh. Yet the emotions welling in her heart felt strangely like happiness at Kotomi's visit.
"What brings you here?" Yukino folded her arms, looking at Kotomi with a faint, calm tone. Still, the corners of her lips curved upward ever so slightly.
"I just finished practicing songs with Yui at the KTV. Hiccup~ The snacks there were so good. I thought I'd drop by to see you. Want some cream puffs? I've long heard about the popular dessert shop nearby—their signature cream puffs are the most famous. When I passed by just now, the line wasn't long, so I queued for a bit and bought a box of twelve to try."
Yukino stepped aside to let Kotomi in, then closed the door. She said apologetically:
"Sorry, I don't have extra slippers at home."
Since she lived alone, everything in Yukino's apartment was prepared for just one person.
"Then is it okay if I just walk around in socks?"
"That's fine."
Kotomi slipped off her shoes. Today she was wearing a tight skirt. If Megumi Kato saw her now, she would probably complain: Kotomi, why are you wearing such a short skirt?
Her slender black-stockinged legs were fully exposed, her graceful feet pressing against Yukino's floor. Through the sheer black fabric, the sea-blue nail polish on her toes was faintly visible.
Noticing Yukino's gaze, Kotomi chuckled and lifted her toes slightly, showing them off so Yukino could see more clearly. "I randomly decided to paint my toenails today. Pretty?"
"The color matches your name." Yukino replied faintly, but her eyes instinctively darted away, betraying the shy emotion stirred within her.
Whether Yukino was flustered by Kotomi's sea-blue nail polish, or by her feet wrapped in black stockings—she herself couldn't tell.
"Right? The polish's slogan is 'the color of the sea.' I thought, since my name also has 'sea' in it, I might as well try it. After putting it on, it really did look nice. Aimi loves it."
Indeed, Aimi had liked it so much… that one morning Kotomi woke up thinking she had dreamwalked into the bathroom, washed her feet, and gone back to sleep without drying them properly.
"I'll get us something to drink. Would you prefer tea, or juice? The only juice I have is grape."
"For cream puffs, either black tea or green tea goes well."
"I have green tea. Is that okay?"
"That's fine."
"Then go sit in the living room for a bit." Yukino took the box of cream puffs from Kotomi's hands and went to the kitchen.
This was Kotomi's first time visiting Yukino's home. On her way to the living room, she glanced around, quietly impressed. As expected of a luxury apartment…
Arriving at the floor-to-ceiling window, the first thing that caught her eye was the piano placed beside it. Clearly, this was where Yukino usually sat to play.
Kotomi imagined Yukino sitting by the window, fingers dancing across the keys, the morning filled with the sound of piano music. Her heart rippled with longing. If they lived together, Kotomi was certain that every time she woke to Yukino's music in the soft morning light, she wouldn't be able to resist stepping forward and wrapping her arms around Yukino's slender waist from behind.
Yukino soon returned, carrying the cream puffs neatly arranged on a delicate plate, along with a pot of green tea and some snacks.
A teapot of green tea, two teacups, and snacks—delicate fruit pastries, nut confections, and some beautifully wrapped candies.
Yukino Yukinoshita first poured a cup of green tea for Kotomi. The rising steam carried a soothing fragrance that calmed the heart and mind.
Kotomi lifted the cup and took a sip. She wasn't very good at describing the taste of tea. All she could say were two words:
"Good tea."
"If you like it, take some home with you?"
Kotomi smiled and shook her head.
"No need. Whether a pot of tea tastes good doesn't just depend on the quality of the leaves or the brewer's skill. The true key lies in who you're drinking it with.
If you're sitting across from someone you dislike, forcing yourselves to sip tea with false smiles, then no matter how precious the leaves, the tea will taste like swill.
But if you're with someone you care about, chatting over the same pot, then even the plainest leaves will become the rarest treasure."
As she spoke, Kotomi raised her cup again, taking another sip, as though worried Yukino hadn't heard her clearly. She sighed once more:
"Truly good tea. From childhood until now, I've never tasted tea this delicious."
"Thank you." Yukino nodded lightly. Aside from those two words, she said nothing more.
The two of them sat facing each other, sharing the tea, the pastries, and the cream puffs.
After eating a few, Kotomi couldn't understand why this shop's cream puffs were so popular—enough to draw long lines. She had expected them to be amazing, but after a few bites, she felt they were no match for the cream puffs from Dango's cake shop.
Maybe my taste is just suited to the desserts Aunt Tomoka and Yui make, Kotomi thought with a faint smile.
"How is Yui doing with her singing practice?"
"Mm. I had her sing the two songs I wrote a few times. She's already memorized the lyrics and melodies completely. As for the techniques for each line, she has a general grasp now. All that's left is repeated practice before the festival."
Kotomi took another sip of tea. The cream puffs from this shop became a little cloying after too many.
"…Your two songs are already finished?" Yukino's voice seemed to drop a few degrees.
"Yes. I even played some accompaniment on the guitar—just the chords, no vocals. I was planning to tell you about it at school tomorrow."
Yukino fell silent for a long time. After what felt like ages, she finally spoke again, though her tone seemed subtly changed:
"So that means… Yui was your first listener for those two songs?"
—
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