It was summer break—two months with no school.
Usami felt restless at home, so he decided to work at a bookstore. After telling his parents, they agreed.
Scene shifts to the bookstore. It was his first day of work. The owner welcomed him and said that Ren would be teaching him.
Ren? Usami thought of his friend with the same name and chuckled.
When the manager called for Ren and Usami looked up, it really was him—his Ren.
"Ren?!"
"Usami?!"
They both shouted in shock.
The manager, confused, asked if they knew each other. They explained that they had been friends since first grade, along with Haruto.
After work, the two went to a café. Both ordered café latte and talked about school until Ren mentioned seeing Usami walking with Mahiru.
Usami, embarrassed, quickly said, "We just live close." He couldn't bring himself to explain what really happened yesterday.
Then Ren asked if Usami had recovered from his fever.
"Yeah," Usami replied.
Ren remembered that Usami's parents hadn't been home that day, but shrugged it off.
---
Scene shifts to Mahiru's bedroom.
She was watching videos, bored. Wanting to go out, she called Hana, and they agreed to meet at a café.
Mahiru stepped outside and saw Hana already waiting. Hana waved, and Mahiru waved back. They started walking toward the café.
But just as they were about to enter, two boys walked out—Ren and Usami.
Mahiru froze, surprised, and accidentally blurted, "Hi."
Usami, just as startled, replied, "Hi."
Their friends looked at them in confusion. You know each other?
But Usami quickly said goodbye and walked off. Ren followed, giving a quick farewell to the girls before running after him.
---
Inside the café, Hana brought up Usami.
Mahiru explained, "We live nearby and met a few times."
Hana, however, knew there was more to it.
---
Later, Ren and Usami walked together.
Ren once again mentioned Mahiru.
Usami repeated, "We just live nearby and met a few times."
But Ren, who had known Usami his whole life, wasn't convinced.
---
Scene shifts to Mahiru's bedroom.
Curled up and hugging her pillow, her heart beating fast, she thought only one thing:
Why do we keep meeting like this?