For a student, a two-week winter break feels practically nonexistent. Before you know it, you've lazed around at home watching TV and playing games, and suddenly it's the new year. Once the first three days are over, the world quickly returns to business as usual.
In my case, I spent most of the year's end recovering from a cold, so my actual break was only about a week, starting from New Year's Day. Since I had focused solely on resting up at the Asanagi residence, a mountain of homework assigned before the winter break even began awaited me upon my return.
So, I really didn't get much time to just laze around.
"—Alright, I think that's all the homework… I guess. It took me until the very last day… I wonder if the school will mess up and extend the break for another three days or so."
After solving all the problem sets and ensuring I hadn't missed anything, I carelessly tossed my mechanical pencil onto the kotatsu and flopped down.
Winter break is less than half as long as summer break, so why do they dish out almost the same amount of work…
It's enough to make me think that the school must have forgotten how to count.
"Good work. You really pushed through, especially since you were just recovering. You did great, Maki."
"Yeah. I did my best."
"Yep. Here, something warm to help you relax."
"Thanks."
I took the coffee from Umi, who had come over to help with my homework, and took a sip.
It's the same instant coffee I always drink, but maybe because Umi made it for me, it seems more fragrant and delicious than usual.
"Sorry, Umi. I invited you over, so I should've been the one to get that. I even had you help me clean my room."
"Nah, don't worry about the cleaning. You helped with our place at the end of the year, so we're even. As for the coffee, though, I'm thinking of charging a service fee, you know?"
"I feel like I've heard that before… uh, was it three thousand yen?"
"Hehe, now that you mention it, something like that did happen. But sorry, wrong answer. This time, I don't want cash, I want something else~"
"So you are going to collect your payment… what is it?"
"Yup. I want to play a game with you."
"That's… well, if that's all, I'm more than happy to."
I was expecting her to ask for something else entirely, but Umi's 'request' was actually quite adorable.
I hadn't touched a controller yet today, so that was an easy one to grant. In fact, I was planning to ask her myself, so I was grateful she brought it up.
But while we were going to play games as usual, Umi's next request was anything but.
"Deal. Then, if you'll excuse me for a moment… hup."
"Hm?"
Umi took the second controller from me, but instead of sitting on the sofa near the kotatsu as she usually did, she snuggled up right against me as I was still lying there.
"Maki, spread your legs a little wider. Like you're sitting with your knees up."
"Um, like this?"
"Yeah, that's it. Then I'll just fit right in between… and there, perfect."
Using my body as a backrest, Umi slipped between my legs and leaned against me sweetly.
"Umi, I can't see the screen like this."
"You can just peek out from my side, can't you? Look, if you wrap your arms around my stomach like this, and we're pressed close together… see? We can play the game, and we can be all cuddly on top of that. It's a win-win, right?"
"I won't deny that… but this position feels really embarrassing."
The pose looked exactly like I was hugging Umi from behind—a classic trope you'd see in any romance drama or movie.
And, it also makes playing the game surprisingly difficult.
"Come on, it's just the two of us. Let's give it a try… It's a 'request,' remember?"
"Ugh… Since I already agreed, I can't refuse when you put it like that…"
"Hehe. Then it's settled."
In a versus match, I'd be at a disadvantage from behind, so we decided to play co-op.
I had to hold the controller right around Umi's stomach, taking care not to let my hands drift any higher.
"…You're such a perv, Maki."
"I haven't even done anything."
"I know, I'm just preemptively calling you a 'perv' in case some uncontrollable force causes your hand to slip and touch my chest."
"Don't put that thought out there."
Jokes aside, we settled in to enjoy our game until it was time to take Umi home.
"Ah, Maki, they took the flag!"
"Hn, leave it to me."
"Oh, nice~ I'll wipe out the enemy, so you buy us some time."
"Roger~"
Because of Umi's little impromptu 'request,' my gameplay was a bit awkward at first, but as time went on, we both got used to this position, and our coordination was as sharp as ever.
Actually, playing like this made it feel like we were one, enhancing our sense of teamwork.
"Yes! Time's up, and we won! We're back in the top ranks."
"Yeah. Maybe this formation is surprisingly effective."
"See? I knew you'd think so too, Maki. When you're behind me like this, I feel like you've got my back, so I can play more boldly. I make fewer mistakes, too."
"Thanks to that, I was super busy, though."
Still, it was true that Umi's playing was sharper than usual. Maybe we could try this again sometime, even without a 'request.'
That is, as long as my self-control holds up.
I did my best today, but being this close, the sweet scent from Umi's neck, the softness of her body, and the feel of her chest brushing against my hand every so often definitely made me flustered.
Umi didn't say anything, but she must have felt my reaction through her back.
The 'perv' label she'd placed on me in advance had certainly done its job.
"Come on, it's getting late. Let's wrap up, and I'll take you home."
"What about my 'request'?"
"That too. I'll do it again when I feel like it. Now don't be a brat and stick to the curfew Sora-san set."
"…Hmph~"
Umi pulled away from me reluctantly, a pout on her face as she slowly gathered her things.
Half-joking, half-pouting, I guessed.
"Um… no."
"Hey, I haven't said anything yet…"
"You were just about to say 'I don't wanna go home yet,' right? So I'm saying 'no' out there in advance."
"Jerk, don't copy me~"
As Umi lightly tapped my arm, her face clearly said:
'I don't wanna go home yet.'
'I want to stay with you longer.'
Of course, I felt the same way. If I could, I'd want to spend the last day of winter break with just the two of us.
But I had to tell myself, 'No.'
Even if we were a couple, had kissed, and I had stayed at her house for a while with our parents' approval, we still had to respect boundaries.
"…Maki, let's go to school together tomorrow morning."
"Okay. What about breakfast?"
"…I want to have that with you too."
"Alright. I'll make enough for the three of us, including Mom."
Still, the way Umi sometimes acts like a spoiled child around me is incredibly cute, and it's always a battle against my own desires.
I guess this is the struggle of having a cute girlfriend.
The next day.
The first day of a new semester is usually depressing, but this time I was greeted by such a hectic morning that I didn't even have time to feel that way.
While my mom rushed back and forth between her room and the bathroom, I put on my school uniform's dress shirt for the first time in a while and poured hot water into a mug of instant corn soup.
"Ugh, crap… I have a meeting first thing, and I only have thirty minutes… Maki, sorry, I have to go."
"Mom, I made you a quick sandwich. Eat it on your way. Here."
"Oh, thanks. Umi-chan, sorry to leave him with you, but I'm counting on you."
"Of course. If Maki throws a tantrum, I'll drag him to school."
"Hey, I'm going… even if I am a little tired."
The two of us saw my mom off as she dashed out of the house after oversleeping. Then, as promised, we had breakfast together.
Two slices of toast, a simple salad, scrambled eggs, and corn soup.
"Umi, what are Amami-san and the others doing today? Are we meeting them on the way like usual?"
"I'm not sure. I told them I'd be at your place… Should I ask?"
Taking a bite of her toast with butter and honey, she sent a message to our group chat.
(Asanagi) Yuu, what's the plan for school today? Wanna go together?
(Asanagi) Yuu? Hello~?
(Amami) umi, what time is it?
(Asanagi) 7:50 AM. First day of the new semester.
(Amami) ooh~
(Amami) umi, help me
(Asanagi) do your best
(Amami) waaaah
(Nina) We're going separately today. You two are together, right?
(Maehara) Yep.
So, it seems Amami-san overslept on the first day of the new semester. That means it's just Umi and me today.
It's not that different from usual, but what's vastly different from before winter break is that we went from 'friends' to a 'couple.'
"Hey, Maki."
"Hm?"
"What should we do from now on?"
"…Hmm."
'What we should do from now on' referred to how we should act around others.
Should we continue to act as 'friends' in public, or should we make it clear that we're a 'couple'?
Amami-san, Nitta-san, and Nozomu already see us as a lovey-dovey couple, but should we show that side of us to our classmates?
Before, we were more than friends but not quite lovers, so we'd vaguely brush off questions or play dumb. But that wasn't the case anymore.
"…I think we should just be open about it. I know people might talk, but that's not why I confessed to you, Umi."
I don't want to make a big show of our relationship, but I don't want to be unnecessarily secretive, either.
And I definitely don't want to make Umi do that.
"Maki, are you sure? It's easy to be open, but it can be a hassle. I don't mind, but people will get jealous."
"It's fine. I mean, I'd rather not get into trouble with other guys because of it."
Especially since Umi is one of the most popular girls in our grade, I'm sure there will be jealous glares and comments… but we'll cross that bridge.
"Okay. Then from now on, I'll act as your girlfriend in class. I'll ignore any calls from guys, even if they're upperclassmen, and if other girls ask if we're dating, I'll just tell them we are."
"Yeah, sounds good."
With our agreement settled, we finished breakfast, had a cup of coffee to relax, and then left the house holding hands.
"…Maki, let's stay together as much as possible today."
"Yeah. During breaks, lunch, all the time."
The moment we stepped out of the apartment, a cold winter wind blew against us, but being so close to Umi, I barely noticed it.
As we had declared, we walked into the classroom holding hands. Nitta-san, who was already there, approached us with her usual cheerful demeanor.
"Heya~ You two. Haven't seen you since the New Year's shrine visit. You been well? Especially you, Class Rep."
"Well enough."
"Morning, Nina. Did you hear from Yuu?"
"Not yet. She's probably in the middle of a mad dash right now… huh?"
Noticing our linked hands, Nitta-san's gaze shifted from our hands back to our faces.
"…So, you two are going with that approach."
"Well, yeah. Umi and I just talked about it… and decided to be open."
"That's right. Maki, come over here once you put your bag down."
"Ah, okay."
After placing my bag on my desk, I went over to Umi's desk instead of sitting down.
Seeing my unusual behavior, the other classmates seemed to have figured things out. They were whispering about it from a distance.
The majority seemed to be thinking 'I knew it,' but since we had been vague about it after the cultural festival, it was still a bit of a surprise for those who didn't know the full story, though not quite a shock.
"Hey, welcome. It's refreshing to see the Class Rep over here. Oh, that chair's empty, so have a seat."
"Yeah, really… Thanks, that's kind of you."
I usually never moved from my seat in the back, so just being around Umi's desk felt like I was in a completely different place.
Her seat was at the very front, by the window. This is where Umi always studied, helped Amami-san and Nitta-san, and exchanged silly messages with me when she had free time.
"Hehe, Maki, you're so tense."
"Yeah… It's my first time doing this, so I can't relax."
"Hehe. Well, you'll have to get used to it. Want me to give you a massage to loosen you up?"
"No, that's… a little embarrassing."
"Aww? You don't have to hold back~"
The classmates looked on in amazement as Umi clearly enjoyed her conversation with me.
It's not that Umi never smiled in class before, but she was usually the straight man, and her smiles were more often wry or exasperated.
But now, she was making jokes and laughing playfully—and her partner was me, a guy in her class. Some of the boys who secretly had a crush on her looked visibly disappointed.
It's not right to think this, but honestly, it felt good. This kind of thing gives you a little sense of superiority, maybe.
"—Phew, I just made it! Umi, Nina-chi, I overslept so bad, good morning!"
"Morning, Yuu-chin. You're so sweaty you're practically steaming. That's hilarious."
"Morning, Yuu. Here, use my handkerchief."
"Ehehe, thanks, Umi. You're always a lifesaver. Oh, Maki-kun, you're over here today too. Welcome."
"Thanks for having me. Though it feels weird for me to be the one saying that."
"Hehe, now that you mention it, maybe you're right. Oh, Maki-kun, that's my seat, so can I just put my bag down?"
"Huh? Oh, sorry, I didn't realize…"
"Oh, it's fine, you don't have to move yet. I'll just sit here instead. Is that okay, Umi? Hup."
"Whoa… Yuu, have you gotten a little heavier? Did you eat too much over New Year's?"
"La la la~ I can't hear you~"
And so, Amami-san naturally joined the circle. Our familiar group chat had come together, but of course, the rest of the class had no idea.
—No way, that's…
—Maehara, that's going too far…
I mean, I can't say I entirely disagree with them, but what's done is done. I'll just have to try and ignore it, just like Umi and the others.
Once the teacher came in, I returned to my seat, but since our class changes seats at the beginning of each semester (a rule the teacher made up), I'd have to move again soon.
They way we're changing seats today is our teacher's favorite: a lottery. The seating chart is randomly numbered, and you get the seat corresponding to the number you draw.
(Maehara) I liked it here in the back where I don't stand out.
(Asanagi) You could stare at me all you want from there without anyone noticing.
(Asanagi) Perv.
(Maehara) Hey, I wasn't staring that much.
(Asanagi) That makes you even more of a closet perv.
(Maehara) …I won't deny that.
I hope I get a seat as close to Umi as possible, but I also kind of liked our current distance.
We were at opposite ends of the classroom, so far apart that we'd have to shout to be heard. Yet, we'd secretly exchange messages under our desks, both of us snickering. Sometimes our eyes would meet, and we'd awkwardly look away… Looking back now, it was so sweet and sour.
But the distance between us quickly closed, and now we're so close, both at home and at school, that we're always together.
Both physically and emotionally.
"—Alright, next is Maehara-kun's turn."
"Yes."
I drew my lot before the other four and wrote my name in the corresponding spot.
My new seat was on the opposite side of the classroom, second from the back by the window. I would have preferred the very back, but it's not a bad spot.
As long as I can secretly message Umi, that's good enough for me.
(Asanagi) Maki, you got a good spot.
(Maehara) Well, it's alright.
(Asanagi) Then I just need to get the seat behind you.
(Asanagi) Let's go, my mighty arm.
(Maehara) That's a bit of a long shot. Don't you think that's a little difficult?
(Asanagi) Nah, I'm good. I can do this. I've been building up good karma by cleaning the house and picking up trash on the street during the break.
(Maehara) You sound like someone who's about to fail their gacha rolls. You sure you're okay?
Well, Umi's joke about aiming for a high roll aside, she seemed to be enjoying the seat-changing lottery more than usual as she casually picked a lot from the pile on the teacher's desk.
She checked the number she drew against the seating chart two, three times.
And then, she shot me a triumphant, smug look.
The name 'Asanagi' was written in the spot right behind me.
(Maehara) Seriously?
(Asanagi) Seriously.
(Asanagi) Well, I'm honestly surprised myself.
(Asanagi) Crap, at this rate, I'll have to help out at home all the time.
(Maehara) Helping Sora-san isn't a bad thing, so you should probably do it anyway.
(Maehara) Your motives are too impure.
Still, it's a lottery, and things like this happen, just like at the cultural festival. I'll just take it as a bit of good luck.
I wouldn't care if it was someone else, but having Umi right behind me makes me happy.
And what's more.
"—Oh, yay. I'm near Umi again. And this time, I'm next to Maki-kun too."
"—It's funny how these things work out. I'm right behind Yuu-chin again."
"—I see, this position isn't bad… not bad at all…"
Amami-san, Nitta-san, and Nozomu all wrote their names in the seats surrounding Umi and me.
By the time all the seats were decided, I found myself in the center of the most conspicuous group in the class.
(Maehara) Amami-san and the others, and Nozomu too, huh.
(Asanagi) Maki.
(Asanagi) Let's do our best together at the end of the year, okay?
(Maehara) …I'll do my best.
I know from our study sessions that the three of them have mediocre grades (especially Amami-san and Nozomu), so I'll work with Umi to make sure all five of us can make it to the second year together.
…And I have my own reasons to work hard at the end of the year, too.
I've achieved my personal goal of becoming Umi's boyfriend, so the next thing I need to think about is my studies.
Right now, my grades are around 50th in our year as of the most recent exams.
My scores aren't bad, and my mom won't complain if I maintain them, but I want to raise my scores and my rank even higher at the end of the year.
Specifically, I want to be in the top 30, or even the top 20. The main reason for that is the class reassignment for second years.
So, during lunch after the seat change, I decided to talk to Umi about it.
"I see. That's right, it's that time of year already. The third semester will be over in a flash… Yuu, it's been a long time, but thank you for everything."
"Waaah, don't be so mean, it's not decided yet~ Hey, Nina-chi, is the class change really decided by grades? Is there any chance for a comeback?"
"I don't think so~… On the surface, all classes are treated as 'regular,' but from the second year on, one class is always made up of the top students, and the lessons are slightly different."
"Sounds about right. My sister's in the advanced class, and she says it's pretty tough balancing it with student council activities."
It's the so-called advanced class for students aiming for top universities. Personally, I want to be in that class for my second year.
"Aah, I'm so jealous~ If only a boy would devotedly tell me, 'I'll study hard so I can be with you forever,' school would be so much more fun~ Hey, hey, Umi, how does it feel? You're ecstatic right now, aren't you?"
"Ugh… Y-you don't have to say that. We just started dating… and we're each other's firsts…"
Umi's cheeks turned red as she adorably refuted Amami-san's teasing.
I had already told everyone, but the reason I'm aiming for the advanced class is simple: I want to be in the same classroom as Umi, who will likely be placed there if things continue as they are.
As for me, I don't have any clear dreams for the future. Having my dad as an example, I'm not particularly drawn to going to a prestigious university or working for a big company. But at the same time, I don't want to just drift along without any goals and put more burden on my mom.
But even in my uncertain state, I now have someone important to me: Umi.
A girl I love so much that I honestly want to spend the rest of my life by her side, even after we graduate.
I was just teased for my middle-school-like romanticism, and I know it's true. But no matter the reason, improving my grades is not a bad thing.
If it helps open more doors, then there's no problem.
"Hey, by the way, Yuu-chin, are you ever going to get a boyfriend? You say you're jealous of the class reps, but you're still turning everyone down, right?"
"Ahaha… you're right. I've been watching them up close since last year, and I think they're lovely, so I'm trying to find someone good for myself too."
"Oh, really? Then why don't you look with me? If you come along, Yuu-chin, I can set something up right away… Hey, Seki, why are you glaring at me?"
"N-no, I wasn't doing anything…"
It must be complicated for Nozomu, who still has lingering feelings even after being rejected.
Last year, with the whole Umi situation, he probably didn't have the headspace to think about his own love life. But he was a huge help in getting us together, so I think it's about time he starts thinking about his own happiness.
However, Amami-san shook her head apologetically at Nitta-san's offer.
"Hmm… I appreciate the offer, Nina-chi, but I think I'll think about it a little more on my own. It's just that no one's caught my eye yet, but maybe someone like that will show up tomorrow."
"Really? Well, even if you don't do anything, guys will come flocking to you, Yuu-chin… though it's hard to tell who's a bad apple. Right, Seki-kun?"
"I told you, stop dragging me into this…"
"Ah, ahaha… come on, don't tease Seki-kun too much. I'm sorry, you have to be considerate because of me."
"No, that's all in the past. I've decided to focus on my club for a while. Don't worry about it."
Nozomu said it cheerfully, but I'm sure he's forcing himself.
It just happened that Umi and I worked out, but normally, this is how love goes. Both people have to like each other, and then, at a time when they both think, 'Maybe I could date this person,' one of them confesses, and only then maybe they become a couple. Continuing a one-sided love like Nozomu's must be tough.
Our relationship is going smoothly for now… but if you expand the scope to the 'five of us,' there might still be some lingering awkwardness.
Whether it was because of this talk about love or not, after the new semester began, Amami-san was being approached by even more guys.
As usual, Umi and Nitta-san would secretly watch from a distance just in case. According to them, most of the guys were second or third-year upperclassmen.
To avoid regrets before getting busy with studying or before graduating—the reasons varied, but Amami-san rejected them all with an apologetic, yet merciless look on her face.
"—Phew, Amami Yuu has returned. Sorry, everyone. I know it's lunch, but thanks for waiting."
"Welcome back. I might not be the one to say this, but… that seems tough."
"It is~ I don't care about the ones who are just joking, but most of them are serious, so I feel like I have to give them a proper answer… Umi~ let me be clingy for a bit~"
"There, there, you're doing a great job~"
Umi gently ruffled Amami-san's hair as she hugged her like a child. They had been distant for a while due to the misunderstanding at the cultural festival, but now that the new year has started, they're back to their usual close relationship.
As Umi's boyfriend, I'm relieved to see her and her best friend having fun.
"Man, the number of reckless guys trying their luck with Yuu-chin has really shot up lately. It used to be more spread out among Asanagi, sometimes me, and the other popular girls, but most of them have boyfriends now~"
"Not you, Nina."
"You didn't have to say that."
Winter break is short, but it's packed with events, so it's enough time for relationships to change.
Christmas, New Year's, and soon after, Valentine's Day, White Day… I can understand the urge to find a special someone to spend those days with.
In fact, that used to be me. I was always disliked those kinds events, but it turns out I'm surprisingly normal.
"Hey, Umi, just for reference, how are you turning people down now? I know you're all about Maki-kun, but it still happens sometimes, right?"
"Yeah. Even though I'm dating Maki, I don't go around bragging about it. It happens on the way to a different classroom, or I get the classic letter… but now I just give them the cold shoulder if they talk to me, and I throw away letters from people I don't know without reading them."
That's right. Even though Umi and I have been acting as a couple since the new semester started, there are still a few people who either don't believe it or try to hit on her anyway.
They probably look down on me because of my plain appearance compared to Umi, who's just as beautiful as Amami-san. It's a shame they don't realize that just makes Umi angry.
"I-I see… As expected of Umi, you're ruthless."
"Well… I mean, I have Maki now… right?"
"…Thank you. I'm honored."
Since we decided to be open about our relationship, Umi has completely stopped her people-pleasing ways. I have to change too, to protect her from any friction that might cause.
I need to grow not just in my studies, but in other aspects as well, so that even from an outsider's perspective, people will recognize me as 'Asanagi Umi's boyfriend.'
"Oh, hey, Class Rep, where's that Seki guy? He was planning to use having lunch with you as an excuse to chat with us, right?"
"Excuse… you'd have to ask Nozomu himself about that. Come to think of it, he went to the school store to buy lunch, but he's not back yet."
It's been almost twenty minutes since he left at the start of lunch break. Even if the store was crowded, he should have been back in ten.
Did he run into some other friends and get sidetracked? Just as I was thinking that, the classroom door opened, and Nozomu came back.
"Welcome back, Nozomu."
"Oh, hey, I'm back. Sorry, I'm a little late. I was talking to a senior from the baseball club."
"I see. You were later than usual, so I was about to go check on you."
"Haha, you're such a worrywart, Maki. But hey, even if something did happen, I'd just send them flying with this body I've worked so hard to build."
As Nozomu said, he is certainly a size larger than the other students, so unless something extreme happens, there's no need to worry.
I can tell his arms and thighs are twice as thick as mine even through his uniform.
I don't need to be like Nozomu, but I'd like to have at least an average amount of muscle.
"Hmph…"
I hate my obviously flimsy arms.
"Oh? What's up, Maki, you interested in working out? If you want to train your body, let's do it together next break. There's a good place nearby."
"Oh, really? I've been doing some push-ups and sit-ups recently, so I might be interested…"
I glanced at Umi, and she nodded in agreement.
"Yeah, that sounds good. I do some strength training too, but for the serious stuff, Seki, who trains regularly, would know more."
"Wow, for Asanagi, you're pretty tolerant. I thought you'd be all possessive and say, 'You have to spend the whole break with me!' and trouble the Class Rep."
"Hey, I'm not that selfish… Besides, Maki finally has a guy friend, so I want him to cherish that relationship too."
It's fun being with Umi, but I shouldn't neglect my relationships with other people.
Especially Nozomu, who is my only male friend in a group of mostly girls.
…And I also just want to hang out with a guy friend on a day off.
"It's settled then. Let's decide on a plan after we finish eating. We need to make a reservation to use the equipment."
"Got it. Oh, and I'll invite Nozomu to our group chat so if anything comes up, contact us there… Is that okay with everyone?"
"I'm fine with it. It might get a little chaotic, but it's Seki, so."
"If Maki-kun says so, I don't mind. It's Seki-kun, so."
"Do whatever you want if the Class Rep wants to. And it's Seki, so."
"Hey, stop using me as the punchline… Maki, the girls are ganging up on me."
"Haha… Well, that's just the power dynamic here."
A little late, but with Nozomu joining, everyone who was in the family photo with me last Christmas is now connected.
…Maybe this will help me be there for Nozomu a little.
I'm not sure if Umi and the others noticed, but leaving and entering the classroom, I saw his clearly disheveled tie and the small bandage under his eye.
On a Sunday a few days after winter break ended, I was at the plaza in front of the station, waiting for Nozomu. As promised, we had decided to have him teach me how to work out at a facility he often uses, and then hang out a bit.
I parked my rarely used bicycle and waited for a few minutes. Exactly five minutes before our meeting time, Nozomu arrived in his casual clothes.
Chirin, chirin, he rang his bicycle bell and gave me a refreshing smile.
"Yo, Maki. I meant to come early, but did I keep you waiting?"
"No, I just got here too. Anyway, you're my trainer for today, so please be gentle with me."
"Yeah, leave it to me. I'll make sure to torture your muscles today."
"I thought I asked you to be gentle…"
Umi's the same, and Amami-san too. They're all super athletic.
Well, since I'm the one who suggested it, I plan to see it through to the end.
"By the way, Maki, those clothes look pretty good on you. I've only seen you in your uniform, but this is a surprise."
"Thanks. Though I'm not the one who picked them out."
"I see, Asanagi."
"Yeah. She came over before I left this morning. She said my clothes were lame and made me change everything."
"And what were you wearing before that?"
"Since I'm exercising, I was in a full tracksuit. With my usual down jacket on top."
"Ah… then it was the right call to leave it to your girlfriend."
From head to toe, today's outfit was Umi's choice (and command).
They're all clothes I already had, but it's amazing what you can do with the right combination. My workout clothes are in the bag in my bicycle basket.
Speaking of which, Umi is out with Amami-san and the others today, making up for the New Year's holiday that was ruined by her taking care of me.
So today, it's just me and Nozomu.
"Anyway, shall we go?"
"Yeah. It's a bit of a distance, but let's treat it as a warm-up."
We both got on our bicycles and headed for our destination, the community gym. There was a small fee, but you can use a wide variety of training equipment, so he apparently comes here often with his baseball club teammates on their days off.
"Hey Maki, what do you usually do on your days off? I know you're usually being lovey-dovey with Asanagi, but what else?"
"I don't think we're being that lovey-dovey… Whether Umi's here or not, what I do doesn't really change. I listen to music, play games, read books…"
"Jacking off?"
"That's a sudden shift in topic… Well, I'm a guy, so that happens."
"Right? Even though you have a girlfriend, you've only been dating for less than a month… By the way, for reference, got any recommendations?"
"Huh? Well, um, I usually go for this genre…"
"Oh, I know that one. I've only heard the name, but they have a pretty good reputation."
"Right… wait, what in the world are we even talking about this early in the morning?"
If the three girls who weren't with us were to hear this, they'd probably be super weirded out, but I chalked it up to the kind of conversation you can only have with another guy.
Nozomu and I are complete opposites in terms of physique, personality, and hobbies, but as high school guys, there's always at least one topic we have in common. It wasn't the kind of thing you'd discuss in front of others, which is precisely why it created a sense of camaraderie.
As we pedaled, our conversation drifted through all sorts of topics. Baseball, other sports Nozomu was interested in, and once we'd exhausted those, I shared my music taste and manga recommendations. We asked questions, we talked, we learned more about each other, and in doing so, we helped each other understand ourselves.
The things we liked, and the things we weren't so good at.
I hoped to build a lasting friendship with Nozomu.
After we'd finished sharing about ourselves, I found a lull in the conversation and decided to bring up something that had been on my mind.
"…Nozomu, on the day we made today's plans, something happened, didn't it?"
"Hm? Oh, that… Yeah, I guess everyone was being subtly considerate of me," he replied.
"Yeah, they were."
When I had asked Umi about it later, she told me that it wasn't just me; the other three had also noticed Nozomu was acting strangely. Since he didn't seem to want to talk, they had all instantly agreed to give him some space.
I'd been wondering what to do, but I figured that even if it didn't solve the root of the problem, sharing the burden would be better than him worrying about it alone. So, knowing I was being nosy, I decided to ask.
That feels much more like me.
"I see… Well, we're almost at the gym, so how about we talk when we get there?" Nozomu suggested. "It's easier for me to talk while I'm moving my body. Helps take my mind off things."
"Got it. Sounds like a plan."
From there, we pedaled our bikes in silence for a while until we arrived at the paid training room inside the municipal gymnasium. The fee was 300 yen, and once you paid, you could use the facilities for as long as you liked.
From standard equipment I recognized, like treadmills and stationary bikes, to heavy-looking dumbbells, barbells, and other machines for training back and leg muscles, it was the perfect place for a full-body workout.
Luckily, there weren't many other people around, creating a good environment for a little heart-to-heart while we exercised.
After changing into our workout clothes in the locker room, we decided to start with some light stretching.
…By 'light,' I mean by Nozomu's standards.
"Alright, Maki, let's do this. Here we go."
"Ngh…! Nngh… N-Nozomu, that's──no, this is bad… m-my spine is creaking…"
"Hmm, just as I thought, your whole body is stiff as a board. Gaming is fine and all, but you gotta do some stretching once in a while… C'mon, just a little more."
"Aghh…"
Stretching my back with Nozomu's assistance, working on my hip joint flexibility, loosening my shoulder blades… every movement was a harsh reminder of how much I'd been slacking on my physical fitness.
It was a necessary warm-up to avoid injury, but that preparation alone left me slightly out of breath.
…To reveal such a pathetic side of myself right from the start… the future looks bleak for me.
"Alright. That should do it. Once you catch your breath, we'll hit the treadmill."
"Don't tell me that was also just a warm-up… or something?"
"Well, yeah. I usually go straight into strength training, but I figured it'd be better for you to run first, Maki."
"…You're right~"
However, getting tired now would be a problem before I even got to hear Nozomu's story, so I pulled myself together and headed for the treadmill.
Since it was my first time, I had him set the speed to half of his usual pace.
"Maki, if you feel like you can't go on, you can rest anytime."
"I-I'm fine. My body's stiff, but I've been running a little while now, so I'm somewhat used to it."
Ever since I caught that cold, I'd been reconsidering my fundamental lack of stamina. Since the new year started, I'd been joining Umi on her early morning runs.
Usually, I'd always quit anything I started within three days, but with her there, I couldn't exactly do that.
As I ran, I focused on my pace and breathing, keeping a steady rhythm.
After about ten minutes of focused running, Nozomu glanced over at me, lowered his machine's speed to match mine, and started jogging slowly.
"Actually, my friends… no, they're not my friends anymore. …Um, I haven't been getting along with some of my classmates lately."
"…You mean that group of guys from the sports clubs you used to hang out with, right? The soccer club, the basketball club… the ones who are a bit rowdy for our school."
"Yeah, them. I was in the baseball club, so we just kind of started hanging out as fellow athletes. …But after the whole thing with Amami-san, I've been keeping my distance."
That incident was partly Nozomu's fault for getting ahead of himself, but that was no reason to laugh at someone who'd worked up the courage to confess to the person they liked.
Since then, I'd been trying to ignore that group as much as possible, but I knew they still sometimes teased me when Umi or Amami-san weren't around. They'd also make some uncomfortable jokes at Nitta-san, who they apparently saw as one of the easier girls to talk to.
"So, during lunch the other day, it wasn't a baseball club senpai you had a problem with, but them, huh?"
"Yeah. Looking back, I think I was being childish, but I got a little heated and ended up grabbing the guy's collar. I couldn't risk hurting my hands, so I didn't hit him or anything."
It seemed the messy tie and the bandage were the result of a small scuffle. Apparently, he'd put the bandage on in the heat of the moment to hide a red scratch from the other guy's nail—a minor thing that didn't even leave a scar.
"…Is it okay if I ask what they said?"
"Sure. Let's slow down a bit more."
After we slowed to a jogging pace, Nozomu slowly began to recount what happened.
"I think you guys have a pretty good idea of what they said, but they're the ones who started it. 'You haven't been hanging out with us lately,' they said. Even though they know I'm keeping my distance because they were secretly making fun of me for being the only one in the group without a girlfriend."
After his confession to Amami-san, Nozomu had been intentionally distancing himself from them, but they hadn't done anything overt until that day.
In that case, it was probably because of new group of the five of us that had formed in the classroom with the start of the new semester.
Umi, who used to be noncommittal even with guys, had drawn a clear line since she started dating me. Amami-san and Nitta-san were starting to follow her lead in their interactions. As a result, Nozomu and I, who were getting special treatment within that group, might have been seen as an annoyance by some.
"I don't really care what they say about me. It's true I was acting cool and lying until now, and that's my own fault, so I figured I'd just have to put up with it. …But when they started badmouthing you, Maki, and the others… that's when it got to me."
"…Nozomu."
He then told me the details of what happened, and as I'd imagined, it was unpleasant.
'Glad you could get in good with Maehara and become friends with the girls, huh?'
'Let us in on it, too.'
'Did Amami-san reject you, so now you're going after Asanagi, huh?'
…And so on. A parade of lines that would make the girls, Umi included, furious if they heard them.
They had known Nozomu for a while, so part of it was probably just teasing, but there's a line you shouldn't cross, and they had clearly and casually stepped over it to pick a fight.
I almost wanted to praise him for holding back and only grabbing the guy's collar. He'd handled it well.
"I admit, I still like Amami-san. She treats me like she used to even after what happened… And now that I know she's a much, much more wonderful person than when I was just watching her from afar, I think I like her even more."
"I get it. Amami-san isn't just beautiful on the outside, she's beautiful on the inside too."
"Right? You might not know this, Maki, but after the Christmas party last year, the three of us, besides you and Asanagi, were talking, and Amami-san was crying the whole time. She was so moved, saying, 'I'm so glad Maki-kun got to be in a picture with his parents, looking so happy.'"
"! So that's what happened."
At the time, I thought the three of them had just gone their separate ways, but it seems while Umi and I were walking home alone that night, that's what was happening behind the scenes.
It was surprising, but when it came to Amami-san, my reaction was more along the lines of, 'that's just like her.'
Both Umi and I knew that one of her best qualities was her ability to cry for others.
"And, about inviting a girl like her to the party… at first, I thought maybe I could use you as an excuse… but now, I genuinely want to be friends with you. That's why I invited you to work out together on a day off like this."
"And you also want to become proper 'friends' with Amami-san, just like you did with me, right?"
"…Haha, you saw right through me, huh?"
"Yeah. You're actually not very good at lying, Nozomu. Just like me."
However, it was precisely because he was like that that he'd been able to continue his 'friendship' with Amami-san, even if it was just as part of our group.
Amami-san could also see Nozomu's good qualities.
"Of course, right? If I could be Amami-san's boyfriend, I'd be ecstatic. But even if that doesn't happen, a part of me wants to stay on good terms as 'friends.' Studying together at your house, Maki, eating lunch while talking about stupid stuff at school… I haven't done that kind of thing in a long time. 'How was the last mixer?' 'How's your girlfriend?' 'What about that all-girls school?'… That's all those guys ever talk about."
Just when he'd finally found a place where he could have fun, his old group had come along and harassed him with horrible words. It must have been nothing but a nuisance for Nozomu.
"Well, that's about it for what happened the other day. They seemed a little freaked out that I got serious, so I think we'll be fine as long as I'm keeping an eye on them."
"I see. So we can just keep being ourselves without worrying, then."
"That's right. Now, let's forget about those annoying guys' and their stupid jealousy. C'mon let's continue our warm-up! We gotta run for another thirty minutes and work up a good sweat, okay? After that, we'll take a short break and start with the dumbbells."
"…Yes, sir."
I hoped this would help clear up some of Nozomu's gloom, but with school tomorrow, I wished he'd go easy on me… but it didn't look like he would, which was tough.
I was definitely going to have sore muscles tomorrow. No doubt about it.
From Monday, the day after our workout, Nozomu basically became a part of our circle. His baseball club activities kept him busy, so he'd have to prioritize that, but just having him join us noticeably reduced the curious stares we got, which was a big mental relief.
"Hey everyone… Oh, Class Rep, just as I thought, you look like a zombie."
"Morning, Nitta-san… Ah, hey, don't poke me there. It hurts, it really hurts."
That morning, Nitta-san, the last of our group to arrive, poked me in the side. I'd gotten a little too carried away with my training with Nozomu yesterday and, as expected, woke up with severe muscle soreness. Still, wasn't it mean for everyone, including Umi, to keep poking me? By the way, Umi, standing right behind me, was still subtly doing it.
According to Nozomu, 'this was a pretty light workout,' so the thought that there was still more to come made me flinch.
I planned to continue training with Nozomu regularly, so the future looked tough, but I was determined to do my best. I think.
"By the way, Nina-chi, you were later than usual today. What happened? You usually wait for us, but then you suddenly sent a message saying 'go on ahead,' so I was worried."
"Nina, don't tell me, something happened, didn't it? Is it about your ex-boyfriend?"
"…Yeah, exactly that. I actually ran into him on the way~ He was being persistent about going out somewhere again sometime, and it took me a while to turn him down."
It was probably a continuation of what happened at the family restaurant last month when we ran into him during dinner with my dad.
He had stood her up for a date, presumably for another girl, and Nitta-san was supposed to have been dumped, but it seemed he had approached her again today.
"That's… the worst."
"Just as Maki-kun said. That guy's a total jerk."
"…The lowest."
"It's not really my place to say, but that might be a bit too shameless."
Our reactions varied, but Umi and Amami-san's were particularly harsh.
He must be pretty confident in his looks, but after doing something so dishonest, even Nitta-san, who openly admitted to being into looks, would probably write him off.
"Well, you all think so too, right? He was cool, and I did like his face, but his personality… Ugh, I'm trying, but it's hard to find a good guy."
"Nina, you focus too much on looks. I get that looks are important, but you should try to look at other things too, you know?"
Coming from Umi, who chose me as her boyfriend, her words carried a lot of weight.
Personally, I didn't think I was much of a catch in terms of either looks or personality, but I was happy that Umi loved me for who I was.
It's not just the outside, but the inside that's important… Nitta-san should know that, but it seemed to be a difficult concept for her to apply.
"I know that too~ but in the beginning, everyone puts on a good act, right? And the more experienced they are, the better they are at hiding their true nature… There are good guys out there, but in that case, there are rivals all around, and it's hard for someone like me to break in."
"You think so? From my perspective, I think you're cute too, Nina-chi… Hey, Umi, you think so too, right?"
"Eh? Uh, well, umm…"
"Hey, we're friends, so you should say 'cute' too, Asanagi. For us, it's like a social pleasantry. Come on, you two, you'll never be popular if you're like that."
"Ehh…"
Leaving aside the social pleasantries, Nitta-san stood out in class and was popular among the guys, so I guess she was cute. But there's no absolute standard for that sort of thing; everyone has their own subjective opinion, so it's hard to compare.
"For now, it seems like if I rush, I'll only attract players, so I guess I should focus on improving my judgement. But the only guys around me are the Class Rep and Seki…"
"Hey, hey, Nitta, what's your problem with me and Maki? The class honor student and the next ace of the baseball team, what's not to like?"
"A slightly dorky guy who needs to improve in everything but studying, and a baseball idiot, right? Individual abilities aside, you're both hopeless when it comes to romance, aren't you?"
"Guh."
"Haha…"
It was a harsh criticism, but I thought Nitta-san's opinion was pretty accurate. I was just lucky, and Nozomu had been rejected by Amami-san because he was too reckless. There was no excuse.
"Anyway, let's end this topic here. So, by the way, Class Rep, do you have some time after school today? I was thinking of paying you back for that meal the other day."
"The meal… oh yeah, that did happen."
I remembered that I had paid for Nitta-san's share when we happened to be at the same restaurant during dinner with my dad last month.
It didn't cost that much, and I had a decent amount of money from my parents' New Year's gift, so my wallet was pretty full. I wasn't planning on collecting it, but Nitta-san probably felt uncomfortable being indebted to me.
It wasn't good to drag it out, and you can never have too much money, so I figured I'd take her up on it.
"Umi, is that okay with you for today?"
"Yeah. Actually, you should get that back quickly. Before the moody Nina changes her mind."
Even when we didn't have plans, I often hung out with Umi, so I got her permission just in case.
Amami-san, who was next to her, watched with a grin… but, well, I'd let that slide.
"Alright. Well, I'll be waiting at my house after school, so if you could bring the money then…"
"Ah, sorry. I spent too much on shopping over New Year's, so I don't have any cash on me. Is it okay if I pay you back with this?"
What Nitta-san took out wasn't money, but several meal vouchers with '1000 yen free' written in large letters.
They seemed to be from the same family restaurant where we'd run into each other before.
"My parents won them in the shopping district's New Year's lottery, and I got a bunch of them. It's not money, but if I treat you for the amount I owe, we'll be even, right?"
"The logic isn't wrong, but… does that mean I'm going out to eat with you, Nitta-san?"
"Well, I guess so. I'm really not happy about it, though. And besides, it says you're not supposed to give these tickets to other people."
She showed me the back of the voucher, where 'No transfer or resale' was clearly printed in the corner. It was probably meant to prevent resale, and it was unlikely we'd get caught, but there was a moral issue. It would be best for Nitta-san, the original owner, to treat me.
But that created another problem.
"…No."
"Well, yeah."
Before I could even check, Umi immediately gave her disapproval.
Even though we were just friends and she knew the whole story, no girl would willingly allow her boyfriend to go out to eat with another girl.
Especially Umi, who got very jealous. If that happened, she might not even speak to me for a while. It was a scary thought.
"If you think so, why don't you come along too, Asanagi? All I need to do is repay my debt to the Class Rep, so I don't mind if his girlfriend tags along. Of course, I'm not paying for your share, Asanagi."
"Yes, yes! It's completely unrelated, but I want to go eat with Nina-chi too! That family restaurant is expensive even for lunch, so my mom doesn't take me there that often. Since we have the chance, let's all go together. It'll definitely be more fun that way."
In that case, it would just be a change of pace to a more expensive restaurant, and the atmosphere wouldn't be much different from usual. At least no one would be left out.
"Nitta-san, just to confirm, is it okay if I split my 3000 yen share among the three of us, including Umi and Amami-san? Like, I'm treating the two of them with the 3000 yen I got from you."
"As long as I'm spending 3000 yen, you can do whatever you want with the rest, Class Rep. You'll only be able to order a light meal or dessert with that, but I wasn't planning on eating a lot anyway."
"Then it's settled."
And so, the four of us, excluding Nozomu who had club activities, decided to go to that place for the first time since last month.
I hadn't heard from my dad since that Christmas Eve (nor my mom, of course), so I thought I'd never go there again. But here we were.
…I wonder if my dad is doing well.
After school, we parted ways with Nozomu in his practice uniform, who looked at us enviously. We strayed from our usual route home and headed to the family restaurant. Since it had been a while since we'd taken a detour, it seemed we'd have a bite to eat and then do some shopping or wander around the city.
Personally, I'd have been fine with just a snack and going home, but that opinion was opposed by the other three and unfortunately rejected.
And so, swayed by the motion of the train for the first time in a while, I listened to the conversation of the three girls sitting across from me.
"Hey, hey, Nina-chi, did you go anywhere besides the New Year's shrine visit during the holiday? I was just lazing around at home the whole time, so I gained a little weight."
"Same here. …Hmm, I did go around visiting relatives with my sister, I guess. It's an annual thing, and I have to ask for New Year's money. Yuu-chin, you didn't go back to your grandma's this year, right?"
"Yeah. My dad hasn't been able to take much time off lately… oh, but he said my grandparents might come over next summer vacation. With my aunt and uncle."
"Hmm? Aunt and uncle… does that mean you have cousins around your age over there, Yuu-chin? Like a super handsome guy who looks like you. Hey, Asanagi, do you know anything?"
"Nina, you… Unfortunately, I'm pretty sure Yuu's aunt and uncle don't have any kids… right, Yuu?"
"Yeah. If I go back to my grandma's siblings or my aunt's side, there might be some, but I don't remember that far back. I get shy over there, so it's hard to ask about that kind of thing."
Amami-san was now the mood-maker of the class, but it seemed she still got nervous without Umi or Nitta-san around, and her quiet side from before she met Umi came out.
Not that I, who was shy with everyone, could say anything.
"Speaking of which, what about you, Class Rep? Do you have a childhood friend you were close with but grew apart from, or a cousin you jokingly promised to marry in the future?"
"What kind of story is that, and why does it have to be a girl…"
"Maki, how about it? Is there someone? Or not?"
"And Umi, don't get dragged into this."
The conversation had somehow shifted from Amami-san's relatives to me. Were they that interested in my past?
Umi too, but Amami-san was also looking at me with an interested gaze, expecting my answer.
"Um… I'm sorry to disappoint you, but I really don't have anyone like that. My parents weren't close with their relatives, and I've never lived in one place long enough to make childhood friends… or rather, I really didn't have any friends at all."
There might have been some kind classmates, but I was even shier back then than I am now, so I think I missed even that kindness.
That was why I was so grateful to Umi that I couldn't thank her enough.
"Oh, really? How boring~ But from a girlfriend's perspective, it's safe and secure that there are no other women's shadows, I guess? Right, Umi-chan, who's looking so relieved next to her boyfriend?"
"Don't get cocky."
"Ah, my apologies. Sorry, Class Rep, help me. This girlfriend of yours has that death stare and is really scary."
"You're the one who made her like that, Nitta-san, so do your best."
It was fine to tease our relationship, but while I was one thing, Umi got genuinely angry when she reached her limit, so teasing should be done in moderation.
We got off the nearly empty train before the evening rush hour at the nearest station and walked to our destination.
"Wow, I haven't been around here lately, but it looks like this now."
"I know, right? It's pretty quiet with all the apartment complexes around, and there's a nice park. A little windy, though."
At that time, I was all alone and had a lot on my mind, so I didn't have the luxury of taking in the surrounding scenery. Now, my gaze was higher, and my field of vision had expanded.
"Oh, I think it was at that convenience store over there that the Class Rep treated me to a meat bun and coffee. They were both cheap and tasted just okay, but I kind of remember it."
"Hmm, so that happened. I didn't get treated, though."
"I-I'll treat you on the way back, Umi."
Apologizing for not telling Umi the details of what happened back then, we headed to the family restaurant with Nitta-san as our guide. It was earlier than last time, so there were almost no customers. Looking at the menu, it seemed we could still order from the reasonable lunch menu.
"Since we're here, let's all share. I'll order a large portion of french fries, so Maki-kun and Umi can choose a delicious-looking parfait. Of course, with the drink bar too."
"So she says. Maki, which one should we get?"
"Hmm, the one we ordered last time is fine, but the new one is also hard to pass up…"
We huddled together over one menu, our faces close as we discussed what to get.
Since there were four of us today, Umi was sitting next to me instead of across from me… but personally, I'd like it to be like this even if it was just the two of us.
(Hey, Maki?)
(Hm?)
I turned my face towards Umi, who was whispering as if to tickle my ear, and…
…Chu.
Just as Amami-san and Nitta-san were concentrating on choosing from the menu, Umi, who was also hiding her face with the menu, secretly kissed my cheek.
(U-Umi, that was a little surprising…)
(Ehehe, but you're happy, right?)
(Well, I mean… it's a kiss from my girlfriend.)
I didn't think they saw us thanks to the partition and the menu, but being all lovey-dovey like this in a public place, while nice, was also a bit unsettling.
Umi sometimes did bold things like this, and I wondered if I could ever handle it casually…
For now, it seemed the two sitting across from us hadn't noticed, so we decided to order one of each of the seasonal limited edition and the standard items, as per Umi's choice. That alone would cost 1000 yen each, but it was quite the luxurious parfait, and it was Nitta-san's treat today, so we decided to enjoy it without worry.
After calling the waitress and placing our orders, the other three went to the restroom. I prepared coffee for everyone at the drink bar and stood guard over our belongings.
As I absentmindedly looked around the restaurant where calm classical music was playing, my eyes fell on a two-person seat in the very back.
That's where my dad and I sat when we came here last month.
"I guess I was a little too harsh on him back then…"
I could still remember what happened clearly, but now that time has passed and I could think about it calmly, I might have been too hard on my dad.
And I still hadn't apologized for lying to him on Christmas Eve.
Knowing my dad, he'd probably already let it go, but I'd like to apologize if I got another chance.
…Though, since I declared that night that we might not see each other again, I don't know when that will be.
While thinking about that, I finished my first cup of coffee and stood up for an early refill.
Just then, the automatic door at the entrance opened, and a new pair of customers came in.
Ehehe~ I'm so happy to hang out with Hayato-kun again after so long~ We haven't been able to see each other since Christmas because of errands~
Nah~ sorry, sorry. I was abroad with my family for the New Year's. I really wanted to be with you, but my parents are really particular about that kind of thing.
"…What the. Well, I guess so."
I thought it might be him, but it was just a boy and girl who seemed to be high school students like us. I immediately turned my gaze back to the coffee maker.
Maybe my dad would come in for a late lunch and we'd run into each other… but there was no way something so convenient would happen. Not in a million years.
I put one self-service sugar cube and plenty of milk in my cup and hurried back to my seat, just as the three of them returned from the restroom.
Or rather, it seemed they went to fix their hair and makeup that had been messed up by the strong wind on the way here.
By the way, Umi had quickly fixed my hair with her fingers right after we entered the store, so I was fine.
"Maki, sorry to keep you waiting. Is everything okay? Did anything happen?"
"Yeah, not really. I just remembered that this is the seat Nitta-san was sitting at when she was having trouble with the bill."
"Class Rep, you don't need to remember things like that. Hurry back to your sea…t…"
Just as she was about to urge me to sit down, Nitta-san froze, staring at a certain point.
"? Nina-chi, what's wrong? If you stand there, you'll be in the way, you know?"
"…That's my ex-boyfriend."
"Eh?"
"The guy in the couple sitting by the window over there. …He's the one who stood me up."
"""…"""
…Somehow, these kinds of coincidences happen, huh?
The three of us, besides Nitta-san, immediately looked at each other. For now, we decided to wait and see, returning to our seats and hiding along with Nitta-san.
"Sorry for the wait. Here is your large portion of french fries, the seasonal fruit platter parfait, and the very berry & strawberry parfait… um, excuse me?"
"Ah, yes. Sorry, you can put it there. Thank you."
Our order arrived just in time, so we decided to observe Nitta-san's ex-boyfriend while snacking on the parfait before the ice cream melted.
"Hmm, I've heard about him, but that's him… He certainly has the face and body type that Nina would like. I'm not really into that type, though."
"Mmm. He looks kind of shady, you know? The girl doesn't seem to notice, though."
"That bastard… He hit on me this morning, and when I turned him down, he immediately moved on to another girl… What kind of nerves does he have? Is his brain controlled by his dk or something, that piece of st—?"
I couldn't catch some parts (or I'd pretend I couldn't), but I felt like I understood why Nitta-san would want to say that.
Peeking through the gap in the partition, he had an overall sophisticated vibe. His brightly dyed hair, his uniform worn in a disheveled way… His body wasn't sloppy either, but had a well-toned impression.
If that guy were wearing a mask, a lot of people might be deceived like Nitta-san.
"So, Nina, what are you going to do? Are you going to storm their table now and throw a glass of water on him? No, wait, hot coffee."
"W-Wha~? If I do that, it'll cause trouble for the staff and the other girl. Nina-chi, please reconsider, okay?"
"No, no, I've never done anything like that in my life… This kind of thing happens quite often when you hang out with guys from other schools, and in this case, I'm glad I got to see his true colors."
Compared to the aggressive duo of Umi, who seemed calm but was full of hostility, and Amami-san, who seemed considerate but wasn't worried about the guy at all, Nitta-san was surprisingly calm for someone who was directly involved.
It was probably because she was quick to switch gears in situations like this that she was who she was now. A strong girl.
"Come on, let's ignore that guy and have fun eating. Oh, Class Rep, I'll have another coffee, a bitter one."
"Ah, then I'll have one too. I'll have tea."
"Um… then, then I'll have the same… just kidding, ehehe~"
"Somehow I've become the server… well, it's right in front of me, so I don't mind."
And so, we pulled ourselves together, faced our own table, and decided to share and eat the menus we each ordered.
"Mmm… I wondered why we ordered a large portion of french fries with the sweets, but this combination might not be so bad…"
"I get that. When Yuu ordered it first, I honestly thought 'Huh? What is she doing?', but having something salty in between allows you to eat a slightly voluminous parfait without getting tired of it."
"Hehe, right~? As expected of my 'Umeboshi with Rice' theory. With this, we can eat sweets indefinitely. Ahem."
"I kind of get what you're trying to say, Yuu-chin, but it's a little difficult to put parfaits and rice on the same level, you know?"
We enjoyed our after-school moment within the bounds of common sense, keeping our voices down in consideration of the restaurant's atmosphere.
Fortunately, the guy in question was also engrossed with the girl he was with and didn't seem to have noticed us, so I hoped he'd leave without any incident.
"Ugh, I ate a little, so now I might be even hungrier… I want to order more, but it's still a bit expensive~… But the lunch menu looks delicious…"
"Yuu, you have dinner too, so that's enough. Also, if you eat too much just because it's delicious, you won't be able to lose weight."
"Mmm… This extra 500 grams of fat is so resentful…"
She looked exactly the same, but girls are sensitive to small changes, so it was probably better not to say anything unnecessary.
…I had no intention of escaping, but I drank too much coffee earlier and had to go to the toilet, so I took the opportunity to go to the restroom while the three of them were excitedly talking about dieting.
Taking a breather in the toilet stall, I slowly relieved myself.
"I can't believe I ended up going to a family restaurant with three girls by myself…"
It wasn't that I had any complaints about the three of them, nor did I wish for this to happen, but it was a fact that the gender ratio of my social circle was oddly skewed.
If I wasn't careful, it seemed like I'd just keep getting more and more female acquaintances through my connection with Umi… How do you even make friends with people of the same gender?
"I guess that's my challenge for the future… which means I have to work even harder for the final exams."
While I had the ulterior motive of wanting to be in the same class as Umi, if I went to the advanced class, my surroundings should change drastically. So the class change at the start of the new school year was a perfect opportunity to make new friends.
Not just friends I made through Umi like Amami-san and Nitta-san, but also gathering the courage to enter a circle on my own.
I was able to do that with Nozomu and we became good friends, so it shouldn't be impossible.
I knew from watching Umi next to me that just waiting wouldn't do any good.
My small goal for the future was set, and after finishing my business and feeling refreshed, I opened the stall door to leave, and…
"…Ah."
"Huh?"
Just then, at the worst possible timing, the guy in question was fixing his bangs in front of the sink.
"…You scared me, I thought I was alone, but you were here."
Seeing my reflection in the mirror, he said so resentfully while still facing that way.
I wanted to say, 'Is it wrong for me to be here?', but it's wiser to ignore this type of person, so without showing any particular concern, I quickly washed my hands and tried to leave.
"—Hey,"
"…"
"Hey, wait a minute. I'm talking to you, don't ignore me."
I tried to ignore him and walk past, but his hand shot out and grabbed my shoulder.
I felt disgusted seeing his fingertips wet with hair wax and toilet water, and I somehow managed to hold back a click of my tongue.
"…Do you need something from me?"
"You were sitting with Nina, right? Are you her friend or something, maybe?"
"Well, yes."
He shouldn't have been looking in our direction at all, but it seems he had clearly noticed Nitta-san.
To be concerned about someone else—and someone he unilaterally dumped at that—when he has a girl in front of him? What kind of logic is that?
He was rude to Nitta-san, to the unknown girl, and to me.
"Whoa, don't make such a scary face. I just wanted to talk to you for a bit, that's all."
"No, thank you. Well, I'll be going now."
"No, no, just a little, I just want to ask you one little thing. After that, you can not talk to me for the rest of your life."
"First of all, can you let go of my shoulder, please?"
"Ah, sorry, sorry, my bad."
What was he planning? He had a grinning face, a complete change from when he first saw me.
I didn't know what he was trying to ask by pretending to be so subservient, but it was one of the most unpleasant things I'd ever seen.
"…So, what is it?"
"Yeah. To be honest, I don't really care about Nina anymore…"
Saying that, the piece of s**t (as Nitta-san would say) gave a smile—no, a smirk—and said,
"Nina's friends? The two girls with her, are they already dating someone…?"
" "
Is this a case where I can punch him without question? I won't actually do it, though.
I had a bad feeling the moment he called out to me, but to be asked something so predictable… I was more amazed than angry.
"…How pathetic."
"Eh?"
"Well then."
Cutting off the conversation, I quickly left the toilet.
Just before I left, I think he spat out a parting shot, but I couldn't understand the words of someone whose brain is controlled by his d**k (also according to Nitta-san).
And because I returned late, Umi and the others immediately noticed that something had happened.
"…Nina, I think coffee is fine after all."
"No, maybe juice would be better? It'll stain, and it'll be sticky too."
"Then I'll go evacuate the girl."
"…Hey wait, you guys are getting way too carried away."
It felt like the conversation was proceeding on the premise that we were going to do it, but if we made the first move even if it was just water, we'd be the ones in the wrong. It would be unfair, but we had to endure and not resort to force. It would also be a nuisance to the restaurant.
If we were going to do something, we should leave first, hide until nightfall, and launch a surprise attack… No, just pay the bill and leave.
"Geez, why is my luck so bad… I'm sorry, Class Rep. You got involved with someone strange because of me."
"Well, I've already gotten my money's worth, so let's just go home."
"Yeah. The restaurant is open all year round, and if we have leftover vouchers, we can come back anytime."
"Yeah! Next time, let's save up our allowance and eat until we're full. Also, Nina-chi, it's not your fault at all, so don't make that face, okay?"
Since we had finished all the food we ordered and the drinks from the drink bar, we called the waitress and immediately paid the bill.
It hadn't even been an hour, so it was a little unsatisfying, but we could make up for that somewhere else.
"Well then, I'll pay first, so you guys go ahead and wait somewhere around here… let's see, maybe around the parking lot. It might take 'a little while'."
"Got it. Nina, don't overdo it."
"Go get 'em, Nina-chi!"
I didn't know if there was anything to try so hard for at the checkout, but for now, as Nitta-san said, we went down the stairs and waited in the parking lot below the store… or pretended to, and returned to the front of the store to watch Nitta-san's movements.
Nitta-san slowly approached the high school couple who were talking happily.
The guy's face twitched. The girl look bewildered.
The guy was saying something to Nitta-san, making excuses.
Oh, at this point, Nitta-san took out 'something' she was hiding behind her back and held it in front of the guy—and at that point, we returned to the designated place as promised.
We had no idea what Nitta-san did to the guy in question since we left midway, but we thought it would be nice if this could clear Nitta-san's mind even a little.
Before long, Nitta-san, having finished 'paying', arrived.
"Nina-chi, how was it?"
"Hm? Nothing special? Well, I did say something like, 'If you mess with my friends again, I'll get you back for everything you've done so far.' Also, I chugged the glass of water myself."
"I see. Well then, shall we head back?"
"Yeah. But before that, why don't we stop by that convenience store? I ate earlier, but I'm kind of hungry again. So, Class Rep, a set of three meat buns, please."
"Including mine, that's 800 yen plus tax… well, I guess it's fine."
I felt like most of what I was treated to would be offset, but well, I got that back separately, so that shouldn't be a problem. All good.
The family restaurant's dessert was very good, but the cheap meat buns and coffee we bought at the convenience store on the way also felt delicious enough for us right now.