The morning after the fireworks festival concluded—more or less safely—I found myself relaxing at home alone for the first time in a while.
Usually, Umi would be by my side, and we'd spend the holiday sprawled out on the sofa or floor, watching TV, reading manga, and occasionally getting a little physical. But as fate would have it, today was a rare family day for the Asanagis, minus Daichi-san, who was away on a business trip.
I'd been invited, of course, but just as Emi-senpai had reminded me, I had a shift starting in the afternoon, so I had to regretfully decline.
"Yawn… Maki, coffee."
"Coffee's on its way, but how about a 'good morning' first? Morning, Mom."
"Getting lectured by my own son… Good morning, Maki."
Speaking of rare occasions, my mom was actually home. She'd stayed overnight at the office on Friday and only just returned yesterday. It seemed her hard work had finally earned her a day off.
As I prepared her coffee and some breakfast, she wandered into the living room, a grin spreading across her face as she watched me.
"…What is it?"
"Hmm? Oh, nothing. I was just thinking how much you've started acting like Umi-chan lately. It's heartwarming that's all."
"Me, like Umi? You think so…?"
"I do. Try to take an objective look at yourself now compared to who you were last year."
"…"
Since I tend to drift through my days without paying much attention, I'd never really considered it, but she was right. I had changed quite a bit.
I was trying not to stay up late, waking up at a set time, getting ready right away, and on holidays, I'd tackle any chores like cleaning or laundry that had piled up. My afternoons were still spent lazing around, but there was definitely more structure to my life.
The biggest change had started when Umi began coming over almost every day.
The first thing she does when she arrives is discreetly check if the living room and kitchen are tidy. Are my clothes and bag tossed around? Is the dining table organized?
She never says anything, but when things are neat, she makes sure to praise me. She'll say things like "Good boy," or, "You're being so thoughtful." If she's in a really good mood, she might even give me a kiss on the cheek or let me be a little more affectionate—
"…Maki, what are you grinning about all by yourself?"
"Erk! Uh, nothing, just thinking about something…"
Setting aside the specifics of her pampering, the biggest reason for all this was simple: it made Umi happy.
Since we were spending time together, just the two of us, I wanted our space to be as pleasant as possible. More than anything, I wanted to show her that I was responsible. I wanted to show off my good side, even just a little, and make her fall for me even more.
And it wasn't hard to do. All I had to do was learn from the diligent Umi and copy her habits.
…It was true. Just as Mom said, I was becoming more like Umi every day.
But Umi was my precious girlfriend, and she was destined to be an even more precious part of my future, so it was more than fine.
"Anyway, as a mother, I'm just relieved that you two seem to be doing so well. …Still, I never thought a cute girl like her would end up with a guy like my son~"
"What's that supposed to mean, 'a guy like'?"
Still, it must have been a shock for her to see her son, who'd never even had a proper friend, suddenly spending time at home with someone other than family. And not just anyone—a girl, right off the bat. The time she came home late at night to find us sleeping soundly together… I can only imagine the thoughts that must have raced through her mind.
It's a funny story now, but I still feel bad for what I put her through.
"It's almost been a year since I found out about Umi-chan, huh… Hey Maki, does she have any plans next Sunday?"
"? No, I don't think so… My only shift that week is on Saturday. Why? Don't tell me you have next week off too?"
"I'm busy, but I think I can swing it. I might have to trouble you again next month, though."
It sounded like she wanted to do something for Umi before her schedule got hectic again.
"Got it. …I think she's free, but I'll check just in case."
"Please do. Oh, and if it's okay, maybe invite Sora-san, too."
"That's fine, but… what are you planning to do with Sora-san?"
"? What do you mean? We're going on an outing, obviously. …Well, I just decided that after seeing this flyer."
"…An outlet mall?"
On the table was a newspaper insert with a huge photo of a large-scale facility set to open in the suburbs. As if timed perfectly, its opening day was next Sunday. It was a bit of a drive, but not a bad choice for a holiday shopping trip.
"I get that you want to go out, but… just the three of you? Sora-san, Umi, and you?"
"Nope. The four of us, including you."
"…"
"Hey, what's with the grumpy face?"
"Well, I mean…"
I could handle a holiday outing, but why did it have to involve both of our mothers? …If I'm going out with Umi, I'd rather it be just the two of us.
"Anyway, I made my mind. If Umi-chan and her mom can't make it, then I'll just have to settle for some mother-son time."
"I'd actually prefer the mother-son time…"
However, it was a rare request from my mom, and seeing how hard she always worked, it was difficult to refuse.
I decided to message Umi right away.
(Maehara) Umi-san.
(Asanagi) Yes, this is Umi-san.
(Asanagi) What's up? Did you miss my voice already?
(Maehara) That's not entirely wrong, but this is about something else.
(Asanagi) ???
I prefaced it by saying she didn't need to go out of her way, then told her about my mom's invitation. Umi had mentioned before that she'd "like to go out with Masaki-obasan sometime," so if she was free, I was almost certain she'd agree.
…However, the moment I sent the message, "the four of us, including Sora-san," she stopped replying.
After a few minutes, a message finally came through, as if she'd been carefully gathering her thoughts.
(Asanagi) My mom's coming too, huh…
(Maehara) Ah, yep. I had the same reaction…
(Asanagi) Well, y'know.
(Asanagi) It's not that I don't want to go, but… you know?
(Maehara) …Yeah, I know.
So Umi felt the same way. There was the awkwardness of being high schoolers out with our parents, but also the embarrassment of having them see how we act on our days off.
(Asanagi) If I tell my mom, she'll definitely say yes in a heartbeat. She'll be super hyped.
(Asanagi) It's fine today since Shizuku-san and the others are over, but once they leave, it'll be just the two of us again.
(Asanagi) She might not look it, but my mom gets pretty lonely.
(Maehara) I know. Like mother, like daughter.
(Asanagi) Hm? Maki-kun? What exactly do you mean by that?
(Maehara) Ah, no, it's just that my mom is the same…
While I earned myself a stern lecture scheduled for tomorrow morning, we confirmed that we were both free on Sunday. The details would be ironed out later, but it looked like our fun (?) outing for four was set.
It had been almost a year since the Asanagi and Maehara families started spending time together. Getting along with each other's families is important for a relationship, or so I told myself. Umi and I would just have to get through the day together.
…As embarrassing as it was.
The plan was settled with surprising ease, and with a mixed feeling of apprehension and excitement, the next Sunday arrived.
As expected, the outing was less about me and Umi and more about our mothers, who had been incredibly excited since the day before. Apparently, our entire schedule, from morning till night, was already planned out. We were at the mercy of two women acting far younger than their age, but we decided to chalk it up to filial piety.
"Good morning~ Sorry to make you drive us when this was my idea."
"It's quite all right~ A rental car would just be an unnecessary expense, and I was in the mood for a drive. …Oh, Umi? Why the wry smile? Do you have a complaint about my driving?"
"No, of course not… Just please be sure to drive safely."
"Oh? I always make safety my top priority. To suggest my driving is usually rough… my, Masaki-san might get the wrong idea."
We were initially going to rent a car, but Sora-san had insisted on driving, so we all piled into the Asanagi family car. For the record, her driving skills weren't bad. I'd ridden with her when she took me to the hospital, and she was a safe, gentle driver.
…It was just that when she let her guard down, her mouth got a little foul.
Sora-san was always kind to me, but as I'd witnessed during our last trip, she seemed to be accumulating a fair amount of stress from her daily life. I'd made sure to mention this to my mom. Apparently, Mom often drives for work too, and she nodded, saying, "I totally get that~" She seemed to feel a great deal of sympathy for Sora-san.
Well, as long as there weren't any accidents, neither I nor Umi had any complaints.
With me and Umi in the back and my mom in the passenger seat, our joint family outing began.
"By the way, Umi, are you sure you're okay with this? Didn't Yuu-chan or Nina-chan ask you to hang out?"
"They did, but we're busy people. Right, Maki?"
"Yeah. They both had other plans, and Nozomu has club activities."
Since it was a new large-scale commercial facility, it had become a hot topic at school, especially among the girls. It was difficult to get to without a car, but it was only about an hour away by train or bus. We might even run into some classmates.
"That's unusual. I'd think Yuu-chan would be the first to invite you."
"That's what I thought, too. But her dad's back from a business trip, so they're going out for a nice family dinner. As for Nina… Maki, what was her deal again?"
"She said she was going with other friends, I think? It's the same place, so we might see her."
Our usual gang was always together during school, but on holidays, it wasn't rare for us to do our own things. Amami-san, Nitta-san, and even Umi sometimes had plans with people from other classes or old friends. It was easy to forget when we were always together, but the other four were all quite popular.
I'd get anxious when I was left all alone in those situations, but they always made sure we got together for big events like summer vacation, so for that alone, I was grateful.
After that, we talked about all sorts of things in the car. Mom and Sora-san were particularly interested in how Umi and I got together. They'd found out about our relationship through the "sleepover incident," but neither of us had shared the details. They wanted to know how Umi had asked me out and how I'd suddenly brought her home.
…Of course, it was embarrassing to tell your parents things like that, and we had no intention of asking about their own love stories, so we just vaguely dodged the questions.
After about an hour of enduring their relentless questioning, we arrived.
In the middle of a landscape of rice fields and houses, the outlet mall came into view, a massive warehouse-like building with a vast parking lot.
"Oh, we're here already. And I was just about to grill you about Christmas."
"Even if you ask, I'm not telling. …Just to confirm, we're on our own until lunch, right?"
"Yes. Masaki-san and I are going to enjoy some shopping, so you two go have fun on your date. Shop, watch a movie, or make out in the shadows for all I care."
"W-We're not going to do that. …Right?"
"Y-Yeah. We can hold back on that, at least."
…We absolutely can't hold back. Whether it's in the shadows or not, we'll definitely start making out the moment we're alone.
We set a time and place to meet for lunch, and then we split up—parents with parents, kids with kids. We'd left early, so we had just under three hours. Now, what to do?
We could check out autumn clothes, catch a B-movie at the cinema, or hit the arcade and work up a sweat. The place was a bit far to visit every week, but it seemed like a great spot for longer breaks. It would likely become a popular hangout for high schoolers.
"Hey Maki, what do you wanna do? Shopping?"
"Hmm… I want to look around, but I'm thirsty. How about we grab a drink first? I'm a little tired from all that talking."
"Fufu, me too. Alright then, a short break to prepare for our date."
While watching our moms head straight for a brand-name shop having an opening day sale, Umi and I found a coffee shop with an open terrace. It was packed, but we got lucky and snagged a couple of seats right away.
"I thought this during the fireworks festival too, but there are so many people. I wonder if Nina is nearby?"
"Who knows… Should we send her a picture?"
"Good idea. Okay, let's get a good angle and snap a suggestive photo—"
"Do we need to be suggestive when we're a public couple?"
Following Umi's cheerful lead, I sent a photo of our two iced coffees and her peace sign to our five-person group chat.
(Asanagi) On a break right now.
(Seki) Thanks for the suggestive pic first thing in the morning. Is that the new outlet mall?
(Asanagi) You figured it out.
(Maehara) I mean, it's pretty obvious.
(Maehara) More importantly, Nozomu, morning. Are you at club practice?
(Seki) Morning, Maki. Nah, we have a practice match today. On our way there now.
(Seki) By the way, you're not with Amami-san and the others?
(Asanagi) Nope. We didn't tell you, Seki.
(Seki) You should have! Hey Maki, your girlfriend's being cold to me.
(Maehara) …
(Seki) You too?!
(Maehara) Sorry, sorry. Umi looked like she was having fun.
(Seki) Sheesh, you lovebirds…
Surprisingly, Nozomu was the first to respond. Amami-san and Nitta-san marked our messages as read, but they didn't jump into the conversation.
(Seki) Well, we're almost there, so I'm logging off.
(Seki) Don't forget my souvenir.
(Maehara) Yeah. Good luck with your match.
(Asanagi) Later.
(Nina) Good luck~
(Maehara) …She just casually slipped in there.
(Asanagi) Nina, where are you?
(Nina) Still on my way. You guys are too early.
Just as Nozomu left, Nitta-san finally showed up, attaching a photo of the outlet mall from her bus window.
(Nina) Anyway, I have to meet with my friends, so I'm out.
(Nina) I don't plan on bothering you guys, so enjoy yourselves.
(Nina) Actually, if I see you, I'm running away.
(Asanagi) Thanks, I guess.
(Maehara) You don't have to run away…
Normally, this would be our cue to meet up, but since we were with different people, she was probably just being considerate. …If she can be this considerate, then why did last week turn out the way it did? In the end, she remained tight-lipped about what happened.
And Amami-san never joined the conversation at all.
After our break, Umi and I decided to wander around. We settled on checking out the clothing and fashion stores first. I still had plenty of my part-time job money left, enough to buy Umi something nice. Knowing her, though, she'd probably prioritize buying things for me.
Even though I'd started to care about my appearance, my wardrobe was still pretty limited.
"Oh, these shirts might be perfect for you, Maki. And this one looks good too. It's half off."
As soon as we entered the first store, the shopping basket started to fill up with clothes chosen by Umi. This was our usual style: I'd try everything on and pick my favorite. Needless to say, it took a ridiculously long time.
It looked like our morning would be spent entirely on shopping.
"You're really into this, Umi."
"You think? It's been a while since I've gotten to pick out clothes for you. So, this is the first batch."
"I feel like this should be the last batch…"
However, on a shopping date, I was at her beck and call. Since it was late September, she chose mainly autumn items: a light cardigan, a casual jacket, and corduroy pants. My usual autumn attire consisted solely of hoodies, so she probably wanted me to "try a little harder."
"Maki, are you done trying them on? Can I open the curtain?"
"Go ahead… wait, aren't you going to peek your head in first?"
"Hehe, I can't help it."
Umi carefully observed me from head to toe. I was currently trying on an autumn jacket with matching slacks. It was a clean look, and I personally thought that it was neither good nor bad.
"Hmm… I see, I see…"
"How is it? Does it look weird?"
"No, it suits you. You look cool. But…"
"But?"
"It's just not very 'you,' you know…?"
It was a vague comment, but I knew what she meant. The clothes were from a proper brand, and her choice wasn't bad, but it seemed a little too mature for my baby-faced self.
"…Yeah, this full-zip hoodie is much better. It's not a big change, but it's cute, and I feel more at ease when you're wearing something like this."
"Got it. Then I'll go with this. If I pair it with the T-shirt you gave me before, it should look decent."
"Ah, the one you got for your birthday. …Right, there was that."
"Y-Yeah…"
I figured since I received it, I should wear it at least once, but her reaction was lukewarm. Maybe she didn't really want me to wear gifts from other girls.
I'd think about how to style the new hoodie later. For now, it was Umi's turn. She said she didn't need any new clothes, but there was one thing she wanted me to buy for her.
Letting her pull me along, we briskly walked through the women's clothing section and arrived at a section that made me feel extremely out of place.
"…Um, Umi-san?"
"What is it?"
"…I have a really bad feeling about this."
"You think? Isn't it just your imagination?"
"…Then why am I standing in the middle of the women's underwear section?"
It was a corner of a lingerie shop, filled with stylish and cute designs, but it was a completely inappropriate place for a guy like me.
"Maki, which one do you like? You can pick whichever you want, you know?"
"That sounds inappropriate no matter who says it…"
Her logic must be that since she picked out clothes for me, I should pick out something for her, but this was a bit too high-level. The store was crowded, and I could see other couples chatting happily, but over eighty percent of the people here were women. I couldn't help but feel self-conscious.
Beside me, I noticed Umi smiling mischievously. …Well, at least she's having fun.
"Fufu, sorry, sorry. But I thought I'd at least ask for your opinion. It's not like you won't have the chance to see it from now on."
"Well, I suppose that's true."
My relationship with Umi was progressing smoothly, and I sometimes got to see sides of her that I never would have if we were just friends. Of course, I was mindful of the promise I made to our mothers, but you could say we've done pretty much 'everything else'.
"…Um, are you sure I can choose?"
"Yep."
"Based on my own judgment?"
"——"
"Go ahead," she whispered into my ear.
…I'm really glad our moms aren't here. They wouldn't have guessed we were this much of a lovey-dovey couple.
"If you're going to go that far… I'll pass this time."
"Ehh~"
"Don't 'ehh~' me. …My reason and other things will be in danger otherwise."
"Oh my. …Did you imagine it, Maki?"
"…Yes."
"Fufu, you're so honest. Alright, I'll let you off the hook this time."
"I'd appreciate it if you'd consider the future as well…"
"Nope~!"
Choosing her underwear had been postponed for next time, as we headed to the next store. We'd come here on a whim, but both of us thoroughly enjoying our date. Maybe our moms had planned this with that in mind. If so, they were incredibly meddlesome, but it seems Umi and I have inherited that meddlesome blood, too.
By the way, the two of them had apparently cut their shopping short and started drinking early (Sora-san was having a non-alcoholic drink, of course). …Honestly, what playful mothers.
"Hey Umi, over here."
"Hm? …Pfft, Maki, what is that~? A weird mask~"
"I just found it. The staff said, 'Would you like to try it on?'… Hmm?"
As I was fooling around in a subculture-themed general store, I noticed a familiar figure pass by in the corner of my vision.
"…Maki?"
"Umi, look, that girl over there… Isn't that Nitta-san?"
"Eh? Nina? Where?"
"She's sitting on that sofa… Her hair is down today, so for a second I thought it was just a look-alike."
"…Oh, you're right."
It was definitely her. We already knew she was visiting today, so it wasn't strange to run into her. But for someone who was supposed to be with friends, she looked awfully lonely.
"Umi, what should we do?"
"I wonder… If she was there with someone, we could have just pretended not to see her."
It felt cold not to say anything, so we decided to approach her.
"Nina, what are you doing here all by yourself?"
"Nitta-san, hello."
"…"
"! Ah, she ran away."
"Hey, wait up~!"
The moment we called out, she glanced our way and then bolted. She'd said she'd run away, but I didn't think she'd actually do it. And she was surprisingly fast, slipping through the crowd with ease.
Did she really dislike running into us that much?
"Maki, we're going after her."
"R-Right."
We couldn't just leave her. She was a little far, but her appearance was conspicuous enough to follow. Plus, Umi was surprisingly good at chasing people. She'd caught me quite easily last year and dragged me all the way to her bed. …Well, it's a good memory now.
"Nina, you don't have to avoid us so desperately! You can't escape anymore, so just give up!"
"Y-You're the ones who should just leave me alone and go be all lovey-dovey! A third wheel like me—"
"You are annoying, that's true! But I've never once thought you were in the way!"
"W-Well, I think you guys are super in the way right now!"
The distance between us gradually closed, but we still couldn't quite catch her. She used her slender frame to slip through narrow spaces and duck into stores to try and lose us.
…She's such a sore loser.
"S-Sheesh… what insane stamina… I'll tell you about today some other time, so give me a break!"
"! Hey, wait…"
Escaping Umi's pursuit, she picked up speed and entered the section leading to the food court. It was even more crowded since it was lunchtime. If she kept going, we'd lose her—or so I thought. But her path was blocked by a pair of women coming out of a shop, and she fell on her butt.
And standing in front of Nitta-san, who was bowing her head over and over, were—
"Mom, catch Nina!"
"Oh, Umi… Um, well then… Hup!"
"! Wha—Asanagi's auntie… and, um, the other person is…"
"Oh, you don't remember? It has been since Christmas. I'm Maehara Maki's mother, Masaki. Thank you for always taking care of my son."
"How polite of you… Um, I get that, so could you please stop hugging me…"
The two who came out of the shop turned out to be Sora-san and my mom. I knew they were having a quick drink before lunch, but I didn't expect the timing to be this perfect.
"Haa… finally caught you. But first, hello, Nina."
"…'Sup. You too, Class Rep."
"Yeah. …'Sup."
Having been hugged by two adults and resigned to her fate, Nitta-san reluctantly returned our greeting. After she caught her breath, the three of us moved to a less crowded area by the emergency staircase. We asked our moms to wait for us in the shop a little longer.
"…Just so you know, even if you caught me, I'm not telling you anything. Hey Class Rep, what's it called in this situation?"
"…The right to remain silent, maybe?"
"Ah, right, that. So, whatever you ask will be pointless because I'm pleading the fifth."
"Nina, you…"
Nitta-san purposefully turned her face away, but she seemed much more cheerful than when she was all alone. …We wouldn't tease her if she just said she's happy to see us.
"Hey, Nina."
"What? Like I said, I'm pleading the fifth."
"That's not quite how you use it… Anyway, if you haven't had lunch yet, why don't you eat with us?"
"Eh?"
"Maki, that's okay, right?"
"Of course. We're with our moms anyway, so one more person won't be a problem."
I was worried about her, but if she didn't want to talk, I wouldn't force it. Whatever her circumstances were, the fact was that she had been all alone and looking lonely. That must be why Umi invited her.
I haven't known her for that long, and it's true I've thought she was a third wheel… well, several times, to be honest. But she was still our precious friend.
"So, what do you say? Are you gonna eat with us? Or are you pleading the fifth on this too?"
"…If you're treating me."
"Jeez, you're as opportunistic as ever… Maki, I'm going to call my mom. Hold onto her while I'm gone."
"Yeah, got it."
"…I'm not going to run away again. I'm tired and hungry."
Leaving me with a pouting Nitta-san, Umi stepped away. She'd told me to hold onto her, so I gave the hem of her shirt a little tug.
"…Hey, Class Rep?"
"What is it?"
"Aren't you going to ask?"
"Do you want to tell me?"
"Not particularly."
"Then I'm not going to ask."
"…So cheeky for a class rep."
"Well, I can be mean sometimes, too. Just like you, Nitta-san."
"Just like the class rep, huh… Back then, I would've denied that with all my might."
"So you won't now?"
"…Well, we're friends, I guess. Sort of."
Without making eye contact, we began to talk, little by little.
It's a unique sense of distance, different from both Umi and Amami-san, but I don't dislike talking with Nitta-san like this. Of course, I don't particularly like it either, but thanks to that, I can be honest, and she doesn't hold back with me either.
"Nitta-san, why did you lie about being with a friend?"
"You're pretty quick to jump to conclusions… Maybe I really did just get separated… Nah, sorry, that was a stretch. Forget I said anything."
"So, you came alone after all?"
"That'd be a little too creepy, don't you think? …We're separated now, but I came with my older sister. It's embarrassing, right? Coming with family when you're in high school."
"If you say that, what does that make us? We're here with our moms…"
Putting aside the family outing, if she had just told me she was with her sister, it would have saved me a lot of trouble.
Would she really run away from us so desperately just because she was embarrassed?
"Well, I'll just assume that's why you ran away."
"That is the reason. It's the truth."
"I know. That's not what I meant. Why did you tell me? Weren't you planning on keeping quiet today, Nitta-san?"
"…Who knows. I don't really get it myself," Nitta-san replied with a small sigh.
If I just took her words at face value, it would feel like she was dodging the question, but seeing her self-deprecating expression, I couldn't bring myself to think she was lying.
As I was wondering what to say, Umi returned from her call with Sora-san, and the conversation naturally came to an end.
"Sorry to keep you waiting. I asked my mom, and she said, 'I'll treat you to a proper meal, so Nina-chan should come too.'"
"Oh, lucky me. Well, I'll let my sister know then."
"…Nina, you were with your sister. Is it really okay to leave her like that?"
"Yeah. We promised to go our separate ways here anyway… Right, Class Rep?" she added with a deliberate wink.
"Could you not ask me like I'm supposed to know? And what's with the wink?"
"…Hmph."
"You know, Umi-san, I definitely heard the part about her sister, but I don't know anything else."
"…Well, it's not like I doubt you, Maki. You idiot."
"I-Idiot…?"
Thanks to another unnecessary comment from Nitta-san, Umi's sharp gaze was now fixed on me.
…I don't think I did anything wrong.
If you try to please one person, you displease another. Such is the difficulty of relationships.
"Now, now, you two, we're about to have lunch, so let's all get along—Ow! S-Sorry, Asanagi, I apologize! Any more of that headlock and my head's gonna change shape!"
"Then don't tease me in the first place… Geez, I was worried for nothing."
"Hehe… But thanks for worrying about me, both of you. That alone made me really happy."
The way Nitta-san said that with a faint blush on her cheeks was cute, and I'm sure those words came from the heart. Still, she was far from her usual lighthearted self.
I wonder when the days of us trading silly jokes will return.
With Nitta-san joining us, we headed back to the Italian buffet where our moms were waiting. It seemed to be a popular place, with a long line of people outside, but thanks to our moms getting in line earlier, it looked like we'd be able to get in in about ten more minutes.
"Hey, ma'am. Thanks for inviting me."
"Fufu, it's quite all right. You're young, so eat as much as you want without worrying."
"Okay… Um, Class Rep's… I mean, Maki-kun's mother, too."
"Oh, you can keep calling him that. Though I am very curious why you call Maki 'Class Rep.'"
"Well, there's a lot to that…"
Although she was a bit reserved, she seemed relieved that my mom and Sora-san were so welcoming, and she appeared to be enjoying her conversation with her seniors.
With Nitta-san we now had three lively people, and the two of us felt even more like outsiders, pushed even further to the side.
In contrast to the three of them chatting away, Umi and I waited quietly, holding hands, until a staff member came to call us.
As we entered the restaurant, a multitude of delicious-looking dishes jumped into view. Pizzas baked in a stone oven, several types of pasta, soups, colorful vegetables, and fruits. There was chicken, potatoes, and omelets for kids and for dessert, they had ice cream and cake. A menu that could be enjoyed by a wide range of people was laid out on a large table.
The aroma tickled my appetite, and my stomach let out a small, embarrassed growl.
"Fufu… Maki, are you already starving?"
"I didn't think so, but as soon as I walked in… Umi, want to go get some food together?"
"Yeah. Nina, you help too."
"Aight. Well then, I'll go get drinks and soup for everyone first."
My mom and Sora-san stayed at the table while the three of us put some food on our plates.
They said the choice was up to us, so we picked up one delicious-looking thing after another. Bolognese, Carbonara, Genovese for a bit of a change, lasagna, chicken in tomato stew… For pizza, the classic Margherita. And with a salad piled on as an apology, that was it for the first round. It was a time-limited lunch buffet, but we could get food until the very last minute, so it shouldn't be a problem to eat our fill.
Both Umi and I are still growing, so when we see things like this, our IQs tend to drop and we just pile on our favorite things.
…Just like this.
"Hey, Umi."
"Yeah?"
"…Isn't this a bit too much?"
"You think? There are five of us, and my mom eats a lot, so we should be fine. Besides, we have a separate stomach for desert."
"I-I see."
I think I eat a lot, but the other four eat even more. My mother and Sora-san are a given, but Nitta-san also eats a lot for someone so thin. She usually watches her figure and her wallet, but on occasional outings or when she gets treated, she removes her limiter and then regrets it when she gets on the scale that night.
…Surprisingly, everyone thinks the same way.
"Asanagi, Class Rep, we're done over here, but you guys are… whoa, that's a bit much for the first round."
"It's fine, we're gonna eat it anyway. Come on, there's a line behind us, so hurry back to your seat."
"Asanagi, you're surprisingly a glutton… well, I can't talk either—whoa!"
"Kya!?"
Just as we had finished picking out our food, Nitta-san, who was walking ahead, almost bumped into someone coming out of the restroom.
Fortunately, she noticed right away and disaster was averted.
That could have been a disaster.
"Whoa… phew, that was close."
"Nina, are you okay? …Hey, it's dangerous to be spacing out."
"Ah, I'm sorry. I was just lost in thought… um, I was just—"
The woman, who had reflexively bowed her head, froze with her mouth agape the moment she saw us.
She was a girl who seemed to be around our age, wearing a hat pulled down low and brown-framed glasses… but the moment I saw her distinctive hair color and blue eyes, it was our turn to be surprised.
I didn't recognize her at first because of her hair tied back, her wide-brimmed hat, and her glasses.
"Eh? Amami-san?"
"Yuu?"
"…Yuu-chin?"
"......Um, well~"
Amami-san looked at each of our faces, then looked down for a moment.
"…Y-You must have the wrong person! W-Well then!"
"""Ah."""
Leaving behind a familiar voice, she tried to slip past us.
Why did both Nitta-san and Amami-san try to run away when things get awkward?
Anyway, my hands were full of food, so I couldn't chase after her this time.
Just as I was about to call out to her, someone else stopped her.
"Hey now, Yuu. Saying 'wrong person' to your friends? What's gotten into you?"
It was Eri-san, who must have been with her.
Which means Amami-san's family had also come to this outlet mall for a meal.
It's quite the coincidence, but since it's the opening day, coming here with her family didn't seem strange.
ht?"
"Umi…"
As Amami-san stayed in silence, Umi didn't get angry, but rather showed understanding.
She's a kind girl who cares deeply for her best friend.
"But you know, Yuu. If you ever feel like you can't handle it on your own, you can come to me… No matter what it is, I'll face it head-on with you."
"…Yeah, thanks Umi. But I'm going to try to work on it myself a little longer."
"I see. You usually come crying to me right away, but you're being unusually stubborn this time."
"Yeah… Nina-chi might call me an idiot again, but this is something I have to do on my own… Definitely."
"......You're so sure about that."
Nitta-san, who had been watching their exchange, muttered 'idiot,' just as Amami-san had predicted.
Now that it's come to this, all we can do is watch over them.
I wonder what kind of bombshell the two of them are hiding.
After our discussion, the four of us returned to our parents, and in the afternoon, we went our separate ways again. There was some talk among the parents about all eight of us touring the mall together, but it seems the Amami family had something urgent come up, so we had to part ways.
And so, we said goodbye to Amami-san for the day.
"See you all later. At school."
"Yeah, see you at school."
"See ya."
"Yuu, don't oversleep after the break… Well, have a good holiday."
"Yeah. Bye-bye, everyone."
After parting with the Amami family, we moved on to our afternoon plans. Though I say plans, we had already finished what we needed to do in the morning, so in the afternoon we would be accompanying our moms with their shopping.
"We're going to head to the supermarket, what about you, Nina-chan? Still can't get in touch with your sister?"
"Um… yeah. It seems she just went to see a movie, so I'll tag along. We're running low on groceries at my place too."
With Nitta-san joining us, we headed to the large supermarket attached to the outlet mall. There were many imported goods and products in commercial sizes, giving it a completely different atmosphere from the stores in our town. It felt more like walking through a giant warehouse.
"Oh, this meat is cheap. Hey Maki-kun, since we're here, why don't you have dinner at our place too? What about you, Masaki-san? Let's have some yakiniku and a drink."
"Oh my, that sounds wonderful. In that case, I'll get a case of canned beer over here…"
""Mom…""
Umi and I sighed at almost the same time. Even though they should have had enough fun, it looks like they weren't satisfied, and were now plotting to have a drinking party at home.
Even we were starting to show signs of fatigue… well, maybe it's because they're this energetic that my mom can handle her job, and Sora-san can act as the head of the household in Daichi-san's absence.
"….Your parents seem to get along well, that's nice."
"You think? Well, I guess it's better than them not getting along… Your parents are both busy, so they probably don't have time for that, Nina. They're electricians, right?"
"Oh, I only remember saying that once or twice, but you have a good memory. Yeah, they're both craftsmen, I guess you could call them that. They basically work at various sites from morning till night, and when they come home, they're both too tired to do anything but sleep on their days off. Well, that's just how neighborhood relationships are these days. I didn't have that many close friends either."
"So, your relationships are basically 'wide and shallow,' Nitta-san."
"That's about it. It's weird for me to say it, but the only place I have a lot of friends is in my phone."
Our case is probably extremely rare, and even if we were to be connected by marriage or something, we probably wouldn't actively interact.
Fragmented pieces of information had slipped out from her during our conversations, but it was rare for her to mention it so directly.
At school, Nitta-san has connections with various groups and giving off the impression that she's well-known, but on her days off, she might be surprisingly calm, or perhaps spends a lot of time alone.
"…That's why, right now, it's pretty fresh, or rather, fun. Seeing the same person every morning, going to school together. And on our days off, we find some random reason to go out into town, or go on a trip like this to shop… Well, today we were all doing our own things, though."
"If you think so, you should have just said 'I want to go with you' instead of lying. If it's not a date, neither I nor Maki would be annoyed… Of course, Yuu wouldn't either."
"…Yeah. You guys are all good people. Asanagi, Class Rep, and Yuu-chin. All of you, to a fault, are ridiculously nice people. Seki is debatable, though."
"Nozomu is a good guy too…"
Putting aside her usual salty attitude towards Nozomu, that's how much Nitta-san cares about us.
She, who had always maintained wide and shallow relationships, avoiding getting too involved, and in exchange for not having deep connections, had lived peaceful days without relationship troubles, was now treating us like the complete opposite.
It's often said that people who fight are close, but that would never happen with superficial relationships. It's just a matter of reading the room and keeping your distance.
Despite the risk of becoming estranged, Nitta-san still cares about Amami-san, about her 'friend' (or so I believe), but her feelings just can't seem to get through.
To think that things could get this complicated just from a slight shift in perspective.
When I think about it, I'm impressed that everyone manages to work so hard at this every day.
"Well, like Asanagi said, I think I'll just be honest and rely on you guys from now on. It seems like there's no escaping you lovebirds' meddling attacks anyway."
"The 'lovebirds' and 'meddling' parts are unnecessary… Oh, hey, Maki, don't those potato chips look good? We're running low on snacks, so let's try buying some."
"Commercial size, huh… I'm interested, but isn't that a bit much for two people to eat…"
"Yuu and Nina are here, so this much is fine. Look, the midterms are coming up soon, so we can all snack on them during our study session next week."
"…Hey Asanagi, that's the first I'm hearing of this."
"Yeah. Because I just said it for the first time too."
By the way, I also just heard it for the first time. The midterms are in the middle of October, so there should still be some time… but Umi probably wants to do something about the two of them as soon as possible.
"You're so pushy… Hey Class Rep, your girlfriend is getting a little out of control, say something to her."
"Umi is cute even when she's getting too excited and her motivation is all over the place."
"This is hopeless. I can't get through to these guys."
Perhaps thinking it was pointless, Nitta-san shrugged her shoulders and didn't say anything more.
Whether it's unnecessary meddling or whatever, if Umi is excited to do it, then I'll just go along with it.
Our plans for next weekend were decided smoothly, and just as we returned to our shopping, someone waved at us.
"Hey~ hey Nina~"
Lightly wavy, light brown hair, and sharp eyes.
I don't know her, but she somehow resembled Nitta-san.
"Um, Nitta-san, she's calling you."
"…Ah, yeah. That's my older sister."
"Your older sister? So it wasn't a lie that you came with her."
"I told you, I wouldn't lie about that. Besides, only the Class Rep would came all the way here on a bus by themselves."
"I wouldn't come to a place like this by myself…"
As we were having that exchange, her older sister came towards us with a grin, looking back and forth between me and her younger sister.
…It seems she's having some grand misunderstanding, so first, I have to clear that up.
"Hey, hey, what's this, Nina~? So this is why you suddenly said you wanted to wander around alone? If you had told me, I would have helped you out~"
"…You idiot. These two are the ones dating, I'm just a 'friend'. His girlfriend is this one."
"…Hello, I'm Asanagi Umi, the 'g-i-r-l-f-r-i-e-n-d' of Maehara Maki. Nina's older sister."
"Oops, my apologies. That was rude of me. Ah, I'm Nina's older sister, Yuna. Currently a third-year in high school… and a student preparing for exams… ah, crap, I had just forgotten about it, and now reality is catching up with me… I'm gonna die…"
"…Nitta-san, um, your sister is very lively."
"Class Rep, you can just be honest and say she's an idiot. Well, despite how she looks, she goes to Shuuseikan."
"Shuusei… ah, the one with the top scores prefecture."
There's a lot of information to process, but I guess I can just think of her as a unique older sister.
Since they're sisters, her face obviously resembles Nitta-san's, but when you put her next to the slender and shorter Nitta-san, there seems to be a difference of about ten centimeters in height.
And my first impression is that they are 'close sisters'.
Nitta-san calls her sister an idiot, but she's just embarrassed by her frank attitude, and it doesn't seem like she genuinely dislikes her.
…Well, Nitta-san herself would probably deny it.
"By the way, Yuna-nee, what about the movie? It hasn't even been thirty minutes since it started."
"Ah, yeah. I bought the ticket, but then I thought I'd rather spend some time with you, Nina. Fufu, were you surprised?"
"In many ways, yes… Class Rep, I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to leave here for today."
"Yeah. I think that's for the best."
If her sister wants to spend time with her, then she should prioritize her family. In the first place, we invited Nitta-san because we saw her looking lonely, and if her sister is with her, there's no reason for us to be with her either.
And so, following Amami-san, we parted ways with Nitta-san here as well.
"Well then, Class Rep and Asanagi. Forget about today, including my sister's existence."
"I'll think about it. Also, I'm counting on you for next week."
"See you, Nina. Oh, I'll drag Yuu along even if I have to, so you better be there next week too."
"Haha, that's a bit of a pain… well, I'll go if I can."
She probably meant something like (I don't think I'm going), but knowing Nitta-san, she'll definitely come.
So, the rest depends on Amami-san's answer.
After making sure to thank our mothers, just as she was about to leave the supermarket, Nitta-san suddenly turned to look at us.
"—Hey, Asanagi."
"? What is it?"
"And you too, Class Rep."
"? Yeah."
"There's something I want to say to you two—"
She looked straight at us and was about to say something in her usual joking tone… but then she just shook her head with a bitter smile.
"…Ah~ sorry, it's nothing after all."
"What's that? Saying something like that, it makes me curious."
"Nitta-san, if you have something to say, you should say it."
"No, it's fine. Yuna-nee is here too."
"Aww~"
"It's not 'aww~'… Sorry you two, well then, see you at school."
And with that, Nitta-san and Yuna-san disappeared into the crowd.
"…Umi, that was close just now."
"Yeah. We might have been able to get her to open up if we had just a little more time."
We had been direct with our feelings, and we were close to getting Nitta-san to open up, but with Yuna-san's appearance, it was left unresolved.
What did Nitta-san want to tell us in the end?
About the summer vacation, the sports festival, the recent fireworks festival, and today.
…The two of us might have vaguely started to understand the root of this problem.