After having lunch, they stayed at the Miyauchi house for a while in the afternoon before eventually returning home.
The next day, Fujimiya Konomi invited him over again.
Sato had originally planned to handle some company matters sent over by Kosaka Akane at home, but he really could not refuse Fujimiya Konomi's invitation. In the end, he simply brought his laptop along and went to Konomi's house.
Aside from Fujimiya Konomi, everyone else was there too.
The Koshigaya house was right next door to the Fujimiya house. Although the Miyauchi family and Ichijou Hotaru's house were a little farther away, relatively speaking, everyone still lived quite close to one another.
"Sato-niichan, what have you been doing this whole time?"
Koshigaya Natsumi suddenly leaned over to look at Sato's computer screen. When she saw the huge amount of text and data displayed there, she immediately felt her head grow dizzy.
Koshigaya Natsumi was not good at dealing with things that required thinking.
Of course, devious schemes were an exception.
Aside from when she was playing pranks, where her mind worked especially well, her brain was basically useless at other times.
Everyone had gathered in Konomi's bedroom. Aside from Sato, there were no other boys around. Everyone else, young and old, were girls.
"Just handling some things."
Sato kept his attention on the screen. After thinking for a moment, he slightly frowned.
After considering it, his fingers began flying across the keyboard, producing a rapid clattering sound.
"Don't just look at other people's things!"
Koshigaya Komari looked a little unhappy as she grabbed Natsumi by the ear and pulled her back.
Natsumi immediately started shouting loudly while wildly waving her hands around, exaggerating her reaction a little too much.
After finishing the work at hand, Sato let out a relieved breath.
Suddenly, he turned toward the Koshigaya sisters and asked,
"Speaking of which, I haven't seen Suguru. What is he doing?"
Koshigaya Suguru was the eldest brother among the three Koshigaya siblings.
His presence was extremely low. Sato sometimes suspected that he possessed the same kind of talent as Katou Megumi.
"He's at home watching anime!"
"What about high school? Where did he go?"
"The prefectural school, the same one Konomi-oneesan used to attend."
Koshigaya Komari answered Sato's question.
"Everyone, the fruit is here!"
Fujimiya Konomi suddenly walked in from outside the room, carrying a large tray filled with various kinds of already cut fruit.
"Here, everyone eat together!"
She placed the tray in front of everyone, then sat down beside Sato in the seiza position.
"Wow! There are so many!"
"There are so many different kinds too!"
"Since that's the case, I won't hold back!"
Fujimiya Konomi smiled warmly as she looked at everyone, then turned her head toward Sato, who was still working nearby.
Her eyebrows immediately knitted slightly as she said with some dissatisfaction,
"Sato-kun, what have you been so busy with this whole time?"
"Just some work-related things."
"Work?"
Fujimiya Konomi looked at Sato with a strange expression. She stared at him deeply for a moment, but did not press further.
Instead, she said,
"At least spend some time playing with everyone. There will probably be fewer and fewer chances like this in the future."
Play with them?
Sato looked up at everyone in front of him, a somewhat bitter smile appearing on his face.
Aside from a few middle school students, everyone else here was still in elementary school. How could he possibly play together with them? He was not someone like Miyauchi Hikage.
But since Konomi had said so, he could only helplessly close his laptop.
What Konomi said was indeed true.
Opportunities like this would probably become rarer and rarer in the future.
"Tsk tsk tsk, Sato-niichan, you're really obedient when it comes to Konomi-oneesan."
Seeing this scene, Koshigaya Natsumi's eyes immediately lit up. She walked over beside Sato, nudged him with her elbow, and revealed a meaningful smile.
"Yeah, I've wanted to say this for a long time too."
Koshigaya Komari sat beside the low table, resting her elbow on it and supporting her cheek as she tilted her head toward Sato and Fujimiya Konomi.
"These two..."
Miyauchi Hikage gave a knowing laugh, wearing an expression that said everyone understood.
In an instant, the entire room filled with overlapping, meaningful giggles.
Sato and Fujimiya Konomi expressionlessly looked at everyone who was teasing them. Their gazes slowly stopped on Koshigaya Natsumi for a moment.
"..."
Koshigaya Natsumi's expression changed slightly, and she laughed awkwardly.
"Wait, what? It's not like I'm the only one saying this."
Don't look at me like that. I'm actually scared!
"Besides... besides, I'm just helping you two get closer!"
The more she spoke, the more excited she became. Her whole body seemed to radiate fighting spirit as she confidently continued,
"That's right, I'm helping you two!"
"Huh? Nohara-senpai and Konomi-senpai!"
Ichijou Hotaru immediately covered her mouth in shock, and her dark eyes began shining brightly.
The room instantly became lively.
Everyone started excitedly discussing among themselves, completely leaving the two people involved out of the conversation.
Sato and Fujimiya Konomi sat quietly beside them. While feeling awkward about becoming the main characters of everyone else's discussion, they secretly glanced at each other.
Their eyes met.
As the atmosphere gradually became a little more subtle, Sato could not help feeling a slight stir in his heart.
"Ding dong!"
Just then, someone pressed the doorbell downstairs.
Fujimiya Konomi suddenly stood up and said to everyone,
"It should be today's guest. I'll go down and bring her up."
After saying that, Fujimiya Konomi turned and walked downstairs.
Today's guest?
Soon, everyone saw the guest Fujimiya Konomi had mentioned, following behind her somewhat shyly.
She was a fairly cute girl with short hair, though she looked rather timid.
"So it's Akane!"
"Akane!"
Everyone present greeted her one after another, and Fujimiya Konomi also welcomed her to sit down.
But when she noticed Sato, the two of them stared at each other.
Who you?!
Both of them wore equally confused expressions.