──Ahh~ it's so hot~…
It was the first weekend of July, and the stuffiness in my room was unbearable. I threw off my covers and dragged myself out of bed. Normally, I'd be rushing to get ready for school, but today was a day off. That usually meant sleeping in until noon, but this heat was just too much.
I don't hate summer, but I can't stand the oppressive heat. My makeup melts, and I have to be constantly on guard with sunscreen and deodorant. It's a pain.
I peeled off my damp T-shirt and headed downstairs to the living room, where the only air conditioner on the first floor was. Our house only has two: one in the living room and one in my older sister's room. If I wanted to cool down, the living room was my only option. I'm on good terms with my sister, Yuna, but she's a year older and deep in exam prep. I felt bad constantly invading her space just to escape the heat.
"Yuna-nee, morning."
"Morning, Nina."
We exchanged a brief greeting as I switched on the AC.
My name is Nitta Nina, and my sister is Nitta Yuna. We're just two sisters living a quiet life in our small family home.
"You're dressed so sloppily again," she chided, glancing at me. "Didn't Mom get mad at you for that the other day?"
"Shut up… Mom and Dad are at work, and I'll get changed soon. It's fine, isn't it?" I retorted. "More importantly, are you off to prep school now?"
"Yeah, pretty much," she said, grabbing her bag. "I can concentrate better there, and no one complains about the AC temperature. You have plans? Here, breakfast."
She tossed me a slice of bread like a boomerang, which I deftly caught. It was a ridiculously crude breakfast, but that was pretty standard for me on days off.
"Something like that," I mumbled through a mouthful of bread.
"Something…? What's with the vagueness?" she pried, her eyes narrowing. "Oh, is it a date? Geez, you're still a kid, acting all grown up."
"No way. A friend's acquaintance has their first club tournament, and I'm just tagging along to cheer them on."
"What club?"
"…Baseball."
"See? It's a guy after all."
"I told you, it's not like that! Just a friend. For now, anyway."
Maybe it was because her exam studies kept her from going out much, but my sister's prying was more annoying than usual. She was always so secretive about her own life but wanted to know every little detail about mine. I guess the stress was getting to her, but I wished she'd just back off a little.
Truth be told, I used to hang out with guys a lot in middle school, but those opportunities had dwindled since starting high school. I was definitely on the lookout for a boyfriend, but I wasn't as indiscriminately forward as I used to be. I'd started paying attention to more than just looks—things like their actions, words, and basic common sense. As a result, my standards had gotten higher. My friends were always telling me to lower them a bit, but my deep-rooted preference for good looks wasn't something I could change in just a few months.
"Nina, are there any guys you're close with recently?" Yuna-nee asked. "If so, you should introduce me."
"Huh? …Well, there's one guy with a girlfriend and a hot-blooded baseball idiot. Which one do you want?"
"…Never mind then."
"Then don't ask."
Being sisters, our taste in men was remarkably similar. Both of those guys were decent as friends, but as potential romantic interests? They probably felt the same way about me. With two of the prettiest girls in school in our circle, they probably didn't even notice someone like me who was just a little cute. Especially since one of them was head-over-heels for his girlfriend, and the other was a pure-hearted idiot devoted to a girl way out of his league.
But that's precisely why I could hang out with them without feeling self-conscious. There was none of that awkwardness, no wondering if so-and-so was aiming for him or liked him. It was so much more comfortable than the co-ed groups I used to be in, where all that drama was a total drag.
I hoped our little group of five—the idiot couple, Maehara Maki and Asanagi Umi, at the center, along with me, Amami Yuu, and Seki Nozomu—could stay friends for a long, long time, even after we graduated.
After seeing my sister off, I started getting ready. Today was just about cheering for Seki's game, so I didn't need to go all out. But since the game was outdoors under the scorching sun, I made sure to be thorough with my sun protection.
"…Well, this should be good enough."
Since it was a holiday, I tied my hair up with a different scrunchie than usual for a change of pace. I threw on a T-shirt, and three-quarter length skinny jeans, and skipped my nails because it felt like too much trouble. If I were heading downtown, I'd put in more effort, but getting all dolled up just to cheer at a high school baseball game felt embarrassing. Besides, no matter how hard I tried, I'd just be overshadowed standing next to those two anyway.
After making myself minimally presentable, I left the house and headed to Yuu-chin's, our meeting spot. The original plan was to bike to the stadium, but Yuu-chin's mom, Eri-obasan, offered to drive us, an offer I gratefully accepted.
When I arrived at the Amami residence more than ten minutes early, I was greeted by the happy barks of their watchdog, Rocky. Apparently, the idiot couple had arrived at the same time.
"──Yo, Asanagi."
"Yo, Nina. You're usually last-minute. Rare to see you this early."
"I woke up early and was bored," I said, then gestured with my chin. "So, what did our dear class rep do over there?"
"He didn't do anything in particular… It seems that little one has taken a liking to Maki recently."
──Woof, waff!
"Eek… H-hey, don't lick my face so much…!"
I looked over to see Rocky, tail wagging furiously, practically pinning Maehara to the ground as he licked his face and entire body. Rocky was friendly with everyone, but I'd never seen him this excited. Maybe he sensed that this one was weak and could be bullied into playing… The thought made me burst out laughing. It was such a heartwarming, hilarious scene.
"…Nina, you're in a good mood today."
"You think? I'm always like this," I said with a smirk. "…What? Jealous because you saw me getting all soft watching the class rep?"
"O-Of course not! I know you don't see Maki as a guy, and besides, Maki is devoted to me, so even if you did, too bad for you, or rather…"
"…Pfft."
"What's so funny?"
"Ahaha. Because~ you're just so easy to read."
I wanted to retort, "Who's the one devoted to their partner?"
Asanagi, usually so calm and collected, became an open book whenever it came to her boyfriend. She probably knew it herself, but she still got jealous whenever he talked to me, Yuu-chin, or even our newer friends like Nakamura-san, without her. Even though she knew Maehara only had eyes for her, she needed him to comfort her every single time, just to confirm she was his number one.
And I found the whole thing secretly hilarious.
…Well, only because I wasn't actually a threat.
"Hey, Asanagi."
"…What is it?"
"You know, what if? Just a one-in-a-million chance, okay? What if I confessed to you, 'I think I've fallen for the class rep'?"
"…Huh? Nina, do you actually like Maki? Because I'm definitely not giving him to you. Maki is mine, you hear?"
"No, no, it's just a hypothetical! Don't make such a scary face… Look, the class rep has been talking to other girls more recently, right? Like Nakamura-san and Arae-cchi, and Nitori-san and Houjou-san… So I was thinking maybe some of them are starting to think he might be nice. Definitely not me, though."
"Definitely, she says. That's kinda irritating in its own way… Well, I guess the possibility isn't zero. But the possibility of Maki falling for another girl is zero."
"Yeah, yeah. Thanks for the lovey-dovey talk. So, what would you do? If that happened, what would you do?"
"Hmm…"
She pretended to think for a moment before whispering her answer.
"──I'd cut you off, or something."
"…Eh?"
"Just kidding! That's a joke, of course," she said, her expression quickly softening. "But, it would suck if that happened… It's one thing if it's a girl I don't know, but you're my friend, right? It would definitely get awkward."
"W-well, that's true. I had a similar experience in middle school."
She had returned to her usual gentle self, but for a moment, her words had sent a chill down my spine. When she'd said "cut you off," her face and tone had been dead serious. I had just been curious, so I'd asked her lightly, but it seemed the boy named Maehara Maki had become truly irreplaceable to Asanagi Umi. So irreplaceable that she would consider throwing away our friendship without a second thought.
The atmosphere had turned awkward, and I was trying to think of how to change the subject when a cheerful voice saved me.
"Ah! Good morning, everyone! Welcome, welcome~!"
Yuu-chin appeared at the door, beaming.
"Morning, Yuu-chin."
"Morning, Yuu."
"Yup, morning~! And, morning to you too, Maki-kun."
"Th-thank you for having me…"
Finally freed from Rocky, Maehara staggered over to us. The dog slobber made him look even more out of it than usual, but he was dressed neatly in a summer knit, beige shorts, and sandals—an outfit Asanagi had probably picked out for him.
"Ah, Maki, your face is all sticky… Here, let me wipe it for you."
"Ah, yeah… Thanks, Umi."
"You're welcome. Fufu, there, hold still."
Asanagi diligently tended to her boyfriend, and Maehara happily accepted her affection. They were always a close couple, but it felt like their bond had deepened even further. They were less like lovers and more like a married couple.
"Fufu, Umi and Maki-kun are the same as always," Yuu-chin giggled. "But it'll probably still smell if you just wipe it with a handkerchief. You should wash that drool off properly. Come on, you two, hurry, hurry!"
"Hey… Yuu, you don't have to push so hard, we get it."
"Um, well then, excuse us…"
"Yes, welcome. Ah, Nina-chi, you come on in too."
"Alright~"
Pushed along by an energetic Yuu-chin, we entered the Amami house. As always, the living room was beautiful, spacious, and spotless—a world away from my own cluttered home. She was well-raised, kind, and stunningly beautiful. 'Amami Yuu' was the most well-rounded girl I'd ever met, so perfect that I didn't even feel inferior.
"Yuu, we're going to use your washroom for a bit, okay?"
"Yeah, go ahead. Use whatever you need."
The idiot couple disappeared down the hall, leaving just Yuu-chin and me in the living room. Come to think of it, this was the first time it'd been just the two of us since we became second-years.
"Hey Nina-chi," she said, "don't you think those two seem even closer than before? It's like their whole atmosphere has changed."
"I totally get that. Actually, this is just my guess, but I think they probably did it during their trip. No doubt about it."
"? Did… what?"
"…Hm?"
I'd spoken casually, assuming she'd understand, but my words seemed to have flown right over her head. Yuu-chin wasn't completely clueless about 'that stuff,' but in this way, she was still a pure, innocent maiden.
"Ah~… well, what I'm trying to say is, um…"
I leaned in and whispered in her ear.
"!"
Her face flushed a deep red, all the way to the tips of her ears, and she looked down in embarrassment.
Is my friend just too cute for words?
"W-well, I didn't ask for details, so maybe I'm wrong… But I'm sure there was some kind of progress," I said quickly. "I tried to probe a little, but both of them just said 'no comment'."
"Y-yeah, you're right… But, even if they did, I'd be really happy for them. I mean, doing… lewd things is proof that they've gotten even closer."
"So their happiness is your happiness?"
"Yeah. I haven't really thought about it, but I guess that's about right."
"…I see. Well then, me too."
I agreed with her. Those two were the center of our group. It was because of them that we all gathered like this. If one of them were gone, I felt like we'd all fall apart. So, it was more reassuring for them to be close enough to do lewd things (whether they actually did or not) than to be fighting.
…But.
"Hey, Yuu-chin."
"What is it?"
"…Did you hear what we were talking about earlier?"
"…U-um, what were you talking about? Were you all talking about something before I came out?"
"…Ah, yeah. We were just talking about what to bring to cheer for Seki. You know, like megaphones and stuff?"
"Oh, I see. In that case, my dad has some in his room. Should we bring them? I'm sure he'd be more motivated."
"Yeah, definitely. Okay, I'll go grab them now."
"Thanks."
As I watched her walk towards her parents' room, I muttered to myself.
"…Yuu-chin, you're a terrible liar."
Because she was always so perceptive, I had noticed her. I'd seen her standing quietly by the half-open entrance, waiting for my conversation with Asanagi to end. And I'd seen her flinch when Asanagi said, "cut you off."
I first noticed something was off after the class match after-party. I saw it from a distance, so it wasn't clear, but when Yuu-chin was stroking the sleeping Maehara's head, her expression was one I—and certainly Asanagi—had never seen before. A feverish gaze and a gentle touch, as if looking at something precious. She had always claimed she'd never seen someone as more than just a friend, so I don't know if she was even aware of it herself. But considering her suspicious behavior since then, there was no doubt a crush was beginning to sprout.
"Their happiness is my happiness… I guess that's the most peaceful way for things to be, but."
…But you know, Yuu-chin.
──Are you really okay with that?
In the empty living room, I threw the words out to my most important friend.