"Yumiko. Time to get up."
At the sound of her sister's familiar voice, Miura Yumiko slowly opened her eyes. Her brain was still half-asleep, and on reflex she mumbled, "Isn't today the weekend...?"
"It is. But don't you have plans with a friend today?"
That cut through the fog instantly. Yumiko checked the clock on her bedside table—not quite eight yet. She exhaled.
She and Mio had agreed to meet at nine-thirty. Still some breathing room.
She'd set a seven o'clock alarm. She must have switched it off in her sleep without realizing.
No time to think about that. Yumiko kicked off the covers—ignoring her sister's surprised look—climbed out of bed, grabbed a jacket, and headed straight for the bathroom.
"Throwing off the blankets that fast..." her sister mused, watching the door close. "Someone's really looking forward to today."
She had a point. If it weren't something she actually cared about, getting out of a warm bed that quickly would've been unthinkable.
About an hour later, Yumiko stepped out of her room fully put together—dressed and done up.
Her sister, bundled in the kotatsu, looked up with a grin. "Are you going on a date, Yumiko?"
She knew her sister. The time Yumiko spent on her appearance was a reliable indicator of importance. Today's preparations had been thorough.
"Obviously not," Yumiko said on instinct, grabbing breakfast. "I'm just hanging out with a girl from school."
"Girls can go on dates too, you know."
Yumiko heard the tease clearly—but something about it still made her nerves flicker for a split second. She pushed it down. Her sister was already back on her phone anyway.
She finished eating quickly, gathered her things, and headed for the door.
"Oh, and if you're not coming back tonight," her sister called after her, "just let me know. I'll cover for you with Mom and Dad."
Yumiko gave her a withering look. "That won't be necessary."
Thankfully, her brother wasn't home. Those two together were a team she had no hope of countering.
Outside, a wall of cold air hit her as she stepped out of the building. She hunched her shoulders, breathed out a small cloud of white, and set off toward the meeting spot.
Based on last time, Mio had probably already arrived.
She was almost at the park when she noticed—no Mio in sight. She was just wondering if Mio was running late when her eyes were abruptly covered from behind.
Before the other person could even speak, Yumiko said flatly, "Mio. I know it's you."
"Wait—how?!" Mio pulled her hands back, staring. "I didn't even say anything yet."
"First, you're basically the only person who would do something this childish. Second, you have a very distinct scent."
"I smell like something?" Mio turned her head and sniffed at herself. Nothing.
She shrugged it off and shifted focus, moving to stand in front of Yumiko with a bright smile. "Your Majesty. The practice date—shall we begin?"
"L-Let's." Even Miura Yumiko felt an inexplicable warmth creeping onto her face as she said it.
It's just a practice. And Mio's a girl too. What exactly am I nervous about?
Mio slipped into character instantly. She linked her arm through Yumiko's with practiced ease, tone going soft and warm. "So, Yumiko—where do you want to go today?"
"...The aquarium."
Yumiko had come prepared this time. She'd spent the past few days researching specifically for today.
Mio's red eyes flickered with genuine surprise—then she nodded with a light, pleased smile. "How did you know I wanted to go to the aquarium? We must be perfectly matched~"
Yumiko opened her mouth. No response came.
She'd been ready for Hayama to say something like that. Getting it from Mio still short-circuited her.
"That's what Hayama-kun would say," Mio added, stepping back out of the scene. "Even if the destination wasn't quite what you were hoping for, you can use that line. Keep it in mind."
"...Got it."
Yumiko watched Mio slip between modes so seamlessly it was almost unsettling. One moment she was delivering a composed coaching note; the next she was back at Yumiko's side, arm in arm, looking for all the world like a devoted girlfriend—complete with that smile, and eyes that held something warm and unguarded in a way that felt almost too real.
If Yumiko hadn't known it was an act, she might have believed it.
Actually—even knowing it was an act, she was dangerously close to getting swept up in it anyway.
She took a steadying breath and fell into step beside Mio toward the nearby station.
It was the weekend, but the train was still packed at this hour. Finding seats wasn't happening. That was fine—the aquarium wasn't far, maybe half an hour's ride.
The train shuddered lightly over a rough section of track.
Mio, standing beside her, suddenly lost her balance—and fell sideways into Yumiko.
Yumiko caught her on instinct, steadying her. "You okay?"
"Th-Thank you. I'm fine." Mio straightened up, a trace of color in her cheeks, and added, "That's another thing to try, by the way. This kind of moment—use it if you can. Just don't oversell it."
Yumiko stared at her. "...Was that staged?"
Mio met her eyes with a serene smile.
"Guess~"