Ayaka and Sakura had been best friends for so long they could read each other's micro-expressions like subtitles. One quick glance and Ayaka knew: Sakura probably hadn't meant anything deep by inviting herself to the movie… but with Satoru involved, everything always got complicated.
Ayaka, for once, didn't care about the subtext. What blew her mind was that Sakura—Miss "I only leave the house for kendo or groceries"—was actually willing to go see an animated alpaca movie. That level of interest wasn't "being polite." That was personal.
"Ayaka-senpai, you coming?" Satoru asked, ever courteous.
"Nah, too childish," Ayaka scoffed, flipping her hair dramatically. Then, under her breath so only he could hear: "Unlike some people, I've got mixers lined up all weekend." Damn it! Why couldn't he have asked me on a solo date?! One-on-one I'd have said yes in a heartbeat. But you + Sakura + me = instant third-wheel nightmare!
"Kase, then?" Satoru offered, turning to the hopeful second-year.
Kase's face lit up like a Christmas tree. Movie with his idol senpai AND his respected Kobayashi-senpai? Double jackpot! He opened his mouth to scream "YES—"
"Kase Masafumi," Ayaka cut in, voice like a whip. "Your grip's been sloppy all week."
"E-Eh?"
"Train. Hard," she ordered, eyes blazing. "Wait till you're actually a senpai yourself before you go playing around."
Kase swallowed his dreams whole. "…Yes, ma'am!"
"Wait till university, then you can play," Satoru added helpfully, perfectly quoting every Chinese parent ever.
Wait a second, Satoru thought. The Tanaka arc is still ages away, right? Kase and Sakura have zero romantic flags. Their total dialogue count is basically nothing. So… a solo movie with Sakura is totally fine?
He pulled out his phone. "Let me check showtimes—"
The title glowed on the screen: Alpaca Princess Theater: Princess Unstained by White Tagline: "From zero to one in pure friendship! Misunderstood noble kin! A tidal wave of pure love! The legendary quest restarts after the Dark Queen's seal weakens on the western plains of Eos!"
Hot-blooded, wholesome, family-friendly hype. Then he spotted the tiny print: "Couples, friends, siblings, and parent-child all welcome! Buy duo tickets and get two limited Alpaca keychains!"
Satoru stared at the adorable chibi alpaca keychains on the dark screen. …Just a movie. Totally innocent. Educational, even. Pure-love safety training for the future. But those keychains… Unfair! I want them!
"Then, usual spot this weekend," he said.
"Good." Sakura nodded, back to her perfect ladylike self, but her eyes were sparkling.
"Time…?"
"I'll message you later," Satoru said, giving his phone a little shake.
Sakura's smile turned so sweet it could cause diabetes. Yes—the number! He can text me anytime, anywhere~~!
…
That evening, at the Miyajima family dinner table.
Dead silence, as always. The only sounds were chopsticks on porcelain and the occasional slurp of miso soup.
Sakura was staring at her phone under the table like it was a bomb.
Tomorrow was the weekend. They had a movie date. But she still hadn't received the time.
She now possessed the sacred digits of Kobayashi Satoru, gifted by the gods of technology. She could just… text him.
But when?
Her phone usually survived three days without charging through sheer willpower. The only person who ever messaged her was Ayaka—and Ayaka was always the one who started it.
Now "Ayaka" in her contacts had been ceremoniously replaced by "Kobayashi-kun♡" (she'd added the heart after ten minutes of blushing debate).
She wanted to be the one to reach out first… but what if she picked a bad time? What if he was busy? What if it annoyed him? He'd given his number to Nanao-san first… would he think she was being pushy?
The invitation had been pure impulse—extremely rare for her. Ever since saying it out loud, she'd felt off-balance, overthinking every detail.
He'd said Akane = her = friends. But deep down, it felt just a tiny bit different. Akane had gotten his number earlier. Going to the movie together would finally put them on equal footing.
A microscopic, almost invisible rivalry—one Sakura had never really felt outside of tournament brackets.
"Sakura? You've barely touched your food," Tsubaki said gently, breaking the sacred no-talking rule.
Even Grandfather looked up from his rice, one bushy eyebrow raised.
"Kendo bottleneck?" he grunted.
Sakura shook her head with a soft smile. "No, Grandfather. I've improved a lot lately." Thanks to Kobayashi-kun.
"Then what's on your mind?" Tsubaki asked, elegant as always.
"Mmm… nothing." Sakura deftly changed the subject, reaching for the pickled plums. "Mom, this weekend I'm going to the movies with a friend, so I won't be home for dinner."
Grandfather's chopsticks paused mid-air.
"Good, good," Tsubaki laughed lightly. "Young people should have fun. With Ayaka?"
"No."
"…Not Ayaka?" Tsubaki blinked, genuinely surprised. "That girl from the supermarket last time?"
"No."
Tsubaki's hand drifted to her cheek, a pleased smile blooming. "Sakura's making all sorts of new friends lately. Someone from the club?"
"Mhm." Sakura nodded, cheeks faintly pink.
Tsubaki's maternal radar pinged. "When you went to buy the new shinai… and picked up those sale vegetables?"
A pause.
"But it's not a girl," Sakura said calmly, setting her teacup down with perfect grace. "It's a boy."
The dining room went so quiet you could hear the koi fish blinking in the garden pond.
…
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