Saturday. Mid-morning.
The mall was already a chaotic blend of music, voices, and fluorescent lighting — a sensory overload for anyone not here voluntarily.
Saito Kagami was here voluntarily.
…Sort of.
He stood in front of a shoe display on the second floor, flanked by his eleven-year-old sister, Aoi Kagami, who was staring at the selection of sneakers with muted disapproval.
"They're fine," Saito said.
"They're visually inconsistent."
"You only need them for school."
"And walking. Which I do frequently. Therefore I would prefer something that doesn't resemble a plastic fruit."
Saito nodded slowly.
"Understood. Next store?"
"Acceptable."
They turned in sync and walked toward the escalators, drawing brief attention from shoppers. There was something uncanny about the way they moved — same posture, same stride, same unreadable expressions.
Except Aoi, unlike her brother, blinked a bit more often.
"I reviewed three store catalogs last night," Aoi said. "None of them featured functional footwear with good tread and simple design. Options here are limited."
"Do you want to try another floor?"
"Eventually."
They reached the top and began circling back toward a row of casual clothing shops when Aoi spoke again.
"You've been busier lately."
Saito glanced down. "Have I?"
"Statistically. You respond to texts at a faster rate. You've declined weekend study time twice."
"…Observant."
"I live in the same house."
Saito didn't answer. Aoi didn't press. They simply moved on in silence.
Elsewhere in the same mall, Riko Kumijo and her older sister Misaki were standing in front of a bag boutique.
Misaki, age twenty, radiated salon-tier style even in her off days. She held a new wallet in one hand and a matcha latte in the other.
"You still haven't told me who the boy is," she said.
"I didn't say there was a boy," Riko replied, flustered.
Misaki turned. "You sulked into the couch like a tragic opera singer and sighed for five straight minutes."
"I was thinking."
"More like swooning..."
Riko groaned and turned away.
"I'm not dating anyone."
"So he's not dating you either?"
"Stop doing that mind trap thing!"
They passed the food court, weaving between kiosks, when Misaki suddenly paused.
"…Isn't that him?"
"Huh?"
Riko turned—
And froze.
Across the open walkway, in front of a vending machine, stood Saito Kagami — holding a bag of plain white athletic socks — next to a girl who looked like him but smaller, with sharp eyes and identical posture.
He hadn't noticed her yet.
Riko's stomach jumped.
Misaki grinned. "So that's the guy."
"You don't know he's the guy," Riko hissed.
"He totally looks like the guy in those pictures on your wall in your room."
"I—THAT WAS UNRELATED."
Saito glanced up.
Paused.
"…Kumijo."
Riko waved, trying to maintain a casual expression.
"Fancy seeing you here."
She noticed the girl beside him had the same resting expression he did — focused, a little aloof, quietly watching.
Misaki stepped forward and offered a hand.
"I'm Misaki. Riko's highly underappreciated older sister."
Saito gave a polite bow. "Saito Kagami. This is my sister, Aoi."
Aoi nodded once.
"Hello," she said plainly.
Riko smiled at her. "Hi! I'm Riko."
Aoi's gaze lingered for a second.
Then she turned to her brother.
"She seems loud."
"She is," Saito replied without hesitation.
Misaki chuckled. "I like her."
"Don't encourage her," Riko muttered.
The four of them ended up walking the floor together, half by accident.
Misaki stopped for accessories; Aoi was interested in neither shoes nor sweets, and instead asked to visit the bookstore. They compromised on a short detour to the food stall area.
Riko glanced at Saito a few times as they walked — not directly, but enough to catch small things.
Like how he slowed his pace to match Aoi's without being asked. Or how he quietly pulled tissues from his pocket when she got food on her sleeve. Or how he didn't speak unless necessary, but when he did, it was calm and direct.
She liked seeing this side of him.
And, oddly, he seemed more comfortable with his sister than anyone else.
That included her.
"…You two are close, huh?" she said.
"We coexist without major issues," Aoi answered for them.
"That's… a very Kagami answer."
"I am a Kagami."
Riko laughed softly.
Aoi turned to her brother.
"I want to go look at that shop."
"Which one?"
"The one with the astronomy books."
"Understood."
They started toward it. Riko and Misaki lagged behind slightly.
Misaki leaned in close.
"So. He's like that all the time?"
Riko nodded.
"But there's… something about him."
"Something you like?"
"I didn't say that."
"You didn't have to."
When they finally parted ways at the station, Riko gave a polite wave.
"Bye, Aoi-chan."
"Just Aoi is fine."
"…Roger that."
Misaki smirked.
"She approved of you. That's rare."
"She said three words to me."
"Exactly."
Riko watched them walk away — Saito and Aoi disappearing into the crowd, quiet as ever.
Then she looked down and smiled.
Monday arrived with energy.
Too much energy, in Saito's opinion.
Class 1-B buzzed with excitement as their homeroom teacher stood at the front.
"Alright, everyone! The school festival is coming up!"
Cheers erupted.
Saito didn't understand why.
"Every class will choose their own attraction. You'll work in teams. Budgeting, planning, prep — you're in charge."
Riko clapped her hands. "YES."
Saito raised a hand.
"Yes, Kagami?"
"…What's the academic relevance?"
The teacher smiled patiently. "None. But it's important."
"…Then what is the point?"
"Bonding. Memories. Creativity."
"…But we're teenagers."
"Exactly."
Saito didn't respond. He simply wrote down festival = low structure, high chaos in his notebook.
After class, the groups formed naturally — everyone bubbling with suggestions.
"Maid café!"
"No way! Haunted house!"
"Let's do a live music show!"
Saito sat quietly while the storm swirled.
Riko dropped into the seat beside him with a grin.
"You look like you're being held hostage."
"Technically, I am."
"It's not that bad."
"You like this?"
"Of course! Festivals are special. They're chaotic, yes, but… they're fun."
Saito thought of that word again.
Fun.
Of Riko, laughing beside him at the karaoke booth. Of Aoi, reading astrology books while holding her brother's sleeve.
Of walking side by side.
"…I'll participate," he said quietly.
Riko smiled.
The kind of smile you remember longer than necessary.
"…Good."