"Um… so, Maehara-kun is set on K University, and we'll reconsider your safety school choices depending on the situation… Is that correct?"
"…"
"? Maehara-kun, hellooo, Maehara-ku~n."
"…Maki, Sensei is asking you a question."
"! Ah, y-yes. That's fine."
The parent-teacher meeting started about twenty minutes late due to my selfishness, but after what happened, I couldn't concentrate on the conversation.
…The word 'why' kept popping up and disappearing in my head.
It was quite a shock for me, and to be honest, I don't remember much of what happened after that.
–Please, just let me stay like this for a little longer.
After Amami-san hugged me and said that, I think I just stood there frozen for about a minute.
I was so surprised that I tried to pull away, but Amami-san's grip was too strong for me to break free, so I was at her mercy for a while.
Countless question marks floated in my head, and it was Nakamura-san, who had come to check on us, who saved me from my frozen state of mind and body.
The only thing I clearly remember is the look on Nakamura-san's face when she saw us clinging together on the rooftop, as if to say, 'I've seen something I shouldn't have.'
"Well, I've told you everything I need to… but Maehara-kun, make sure this is the last time. Got it?"
"…Yes, I'm sorry. I'll be more careful from now on."
"I'm very sorry, Sensei. I'll give my son a good scolding later."
As a consequence for troubling them, I ended up with a lecture from my mom after she got home from work and a special one-on-one meeting with Yagisawa-sensei as a continuation of the conference.
I got a real earful, but I don't regret chasing after Amami-san… or at least, that's what I wanted to think.
I hoped that Umi and I could make her feel even a little better.
I never thought it would turn out like this.
…Was it a mistake?
"Alright, it's just about time for the next person. Maehara-kun, please show them in."
"Yes. …Excuse us."
My mom and I bowed to the teacher and left the classroom as the next student and their parent came in. Waiting for us were the Amami parent and child, and Sora-san and Umi, who had finished their conference earlier.
"Maki, good work. How was the conference? Was the teacher angry, as expected?"
"Well… it seems I have another meeting later, so I have to be prepared."
"…I'm sorry, Maki-kun. It's all because I caused trouble."
I thought Amami-san might have gone home already, but it seems Eri-san didn't allow it. Amami-san bowed her head, her back being pushed by her mother.
"…Mom, come on, isn't this enough?"
"Yuu, are you really sorry?"
"I-I am! That's why I apologized to Maki-kun, and to Umi, and even to you, Mom."
"Really? Then, will you be able to make up with everyone from now on? I know you haven't been hanging out with Umi-chan and the others lately."
"Ugh…"
Amami-san was at a loss for words, having been called out.
Even if she didn't mention her fallout with her friends, a mother knows everything about her daughter.
"…I-I'll try. I'll do my best."
"With Nitta-san too?"
"W-With Nina-chi too!"
"You'll try, huh. Well, I'll let it slide for today."
As Eri-san let her go, Amami-san glanced at us and then quickly left by herself.
Normally, we would walk home together, but right now, I'm grateful for this.
After what happened, neither Amami-san nor I can act normally.
"Well, then. We can't stand here chatting forever, so shall we go home? Umi, what are you doing? Are you going to ride home with us?"
"No, I'm walking with Maki. I'll bring him home by dinner."
"You are? Well then, I guess I'll go with Masaki-san. Masaki-san, I'll give you a ride to the station."
"Is that okay? Then I'll take you up on your offer… Maki, be on your best behavior."
"I know. …Eri-san, I'm sorry for the trouble today."
"No, no. I should be the one apologizing for my foolish daughter. Let me thank you properly next time."
Umi and I, Sora-san, my mom, Eri-san, and Amami-san who left alone. We each said our goodbyes and went our separate ways.
After seeing off the mothers' group of my mom, Sora-san, and Eri-san, we left the school building a little later.
As we walked side by side on the school route, Umi next to me murmured.
"…Hey, Maki."
"Yeah."
"What happened with Yuu on the rooftop?"
"…Yeah. It's okay, I'll tell you everything. But before that, can I call Nitta-san?"
"…Okay."
Umi probably had a vague idea, just like I did. Maybe even long before I did.
Even if she wasn't there at that moment, seeing me and Amami-san coming back from the rooftop, she would have guessed, whether she wanted to or not.
Unlike Umi, both Amami-san and I are terrible at lying.
With Umi's permission, I called Nitta-san, who was probably at home, instead of messaging her.
"–Class rep? What's up?"
"Nitta-san."
"'Hm?"
"I get it now. About the career path, and the reason for the fight with Amami-san, everything."
"…"
I think I heard Nitta-san mutter, "That idiot," but I didn't say anything.
"Okay. Well, I'm heading out now, so let's meet up somewhere and talk. Where should we go? The usual family restaurant?"
"No, I'd prefer somewhere with fewer people… How about my part-time job? The eat-in space there should be empty at this time."
The only concern is that senior of mine who is famous for having sharp ears (self-proclaimed), but she knows when read the room, so she should be able to sense the atmosphere.
"Got it. I'll be there in about ten minutes."
"Okay. See you then."
After hanging up with Nitta-san, I immediately called the shop to confirm.
I told Emi-senpai, who was on shift, about the situation (in a roundabout way, of course), and she gladly accepted. The manager was at a meeting at the head office since noon and wouldn't be back until night. So, we could have some freedom, and she even offered to serve us a drink. …Well, I declined that offer.
"Umi, let's go."
"…'Mkay."
We started walking again, holding hands, but today the air felt unusually heavy, and I didn't know what to say.
Finally, I'll be able to hear the whole truth from Nitta-san, one of the people involved in this incident. A clue to resolving this and making up will be found.
…That should be the case, but I just can't get excited about it.
Both Umi and I wished that it was all a mistake.
In contrast to the clear autumn sky, our hearts were gloomy and overcast.
After walking for about ten minutes, we arrived at the designated meeting place, the Pizza Rocket near the station, where Nitta-san, who had arrived earlier, approached us.
"–Yo, you two look gloomy."
"You're one to talk, Nitta-san… Anyway, let's talk inside."
Today I'm a customer (for now), so I entered the store through the front automatic door, not the employee entrance at the back.
My eyes met with Emi-senpai, who was currently serving a customer.
"Welcome~ The reserved table is over there~ Oh, and your drinks are ready~"
"…Thanks."
Doing this kind of thing without needing to ask is so typical of Emi-senpai.
She looked at Nitta-san and Umi behind me and gave a thumbs-up with a look of misunderstanding in a completely wrong direction, but well, I'll pretend I didn't see that.
We sat at the table where coffee for each of us was placed, and we began to talk quietly.
"So, what happened?"
"Actually–"
In the deserted store, I told them what happened on the rooftop earlier.
Umi looked a little surprised, while Nitta-san smiled wryly, saying, 'I knew it.'
It seems I was the only one who was clueless.
"I see. Well, knowing Yuu-chin's personality, I thought she wouldn't be able to hold it in forever. Especially when the class rep is so persistent when he gets going."
"I won't deny that… so, does that mean Amami-san is…"
"…Yeah, that's right. I was sure of it during the sports festival."
Thinking back, it's not like there were no signs leading up to this. During summer vacation and especially the sports festival, she was unusually distant, and then the next moment she would be friendlier than usual, her sense of distance being too close.
Until just before, I thought it was just a misunderstanding.
I thought that because she's someone whose mood swings are easier to read compared to Umi and Nitta-san, the combination of events like the sports festival and the career survey was affecting her behavior.
…That's what I had assumed.
But after seeing her explode like that, I had no choice but to admit it.
"Nina, that idiot Yuu, she really…"
"…Yeah."
Nitta-san nodded slowly and deeply as if in resignation, and then uttered the decisive words.
"That's right. …Yuu-chin has fallen for the class rep."
From there, the story goes back to the night of that fireworks festival.
※※※
"–Yuu-chin, you like the class rep… you like Maehara, don't you."
After changing from my yukata into my regular clothes, when I was alone with Yuu-chin who was walking me part of the way home, I asked her point-blank.
Not "do you like him?" but "you like him." I had been thinking 'maybe…' since before summer vacation and had been observing her for a while.
I thought this was the only time to ask.
"…"
Seeing her cheeks and ears turn bright red in an instant, I was convinced.
The first love of a girl who had always been obsessed with her best friend and had never shown any interest in the opposite sex was, of all people, the boy her best friend cares about the most right now.
…To fall in love with her best friend's boyfriend.
"…Since when?"
"Since when did I notice? More importantly, since when have you been interested in Maehara, Yuu-chin? You were already pretty far gone just before summer vacation, right?"
"That's… I don't know, but."
"So, you admit you like Maehara."
"Of course I like Maki-kun. …As a friend."
"Huh?"
Even at this stage, Yuu-chin still refuses to admit the truth.
Does she think she can still get away with it, or is she being stubborn because she knows she's been found out?
Either way, I couldn't understand her way of thinking.
"Why are you so stubborn about admitting it? It's fine, isn't it? To fall for a guy who has a girlfriend. It can't be helped, that's part of love."
Personally, I'm not that into Maehara, but I think I understand why Asanagi and Yuu-chin are attracted to him.
I know he's a good person because I've seen him up close. He has a certain helplessness that makes you feel like you can't leave him alone, and his honesty is cute. He has more charm than his looks suggest.
Umi, Yuu-chin, me, and even Seki, we all gathered because we were interested in him.
The center of our group of five right now is undoubtedly Maehara. He's a little unreliable, someone who makes us feel like we have to support him.
So, I won't make fun of it. In fact, I'm even glad that her first love is someone like Maehara.
…The only downside is that it's almost certain to be unrequited.
"Well, yeah? If you tell her, Asanagi might get mad. Like, 'Why, when you know I'm with Maki–'. But you're serious about this, aren't you, Yuu-chin? It was too late by the time you realized it, right? If you're honest with her, I'm sure she'll understand. After all, you two have been best friends since you were little–"
"…No, you're wrong, Nina-chi."
"Huh?"
"Because we're best friends, I know. Umi right now would probably cut me off without a second thought, even if I'm her best friend. That's how much she loves Maki-kun."
"That's not…"
I wanted to argue that's not true, but it's frustrating that I can't say for sure.
–Ending our friendship, or something.
The words she said when I jokingly teased Asanagi are stuck in my head.
She took it back right away, so I want to believe it won't come to the worst, but… maybe Yuu-chin overheard that conversation.
If so, I might have done something terrible.
"B…But, I still think you should tell him how you feel. I think it would be better to get it over with. It might be awkward for a while, but as time passes, it'll become a good memory. …Oh, look! Just like you and Seki."
Some people might hide their feelings and let them fade over time without ever confessing, but I don't think that suits Yuu-chin.
Be honest, confess to the person you like, get properly rejected, and that's the end of it. Then go back to being friends as usual.
If Yuu-chin doesn't do that, I feel like she'll never be able to move on to her next love.
However, my persuasion was in vain, as she muttered.
"…Just leave me alone."
"Huh?"
"It has nothing to do with you, Nina-chi. …So, leave me alone."
She kept her head down, not looking at me.
Yuu-chin's point is valid. I know how tactless it is to meddle in someone else's love life.
To Yuu-chin, I'm still just a 'friend'. Not a 'best friend' or anything, just someone she happened to be in the same class with before, who she's only known for about a year and a half.
Such a person has no right to tell her what to do.
…But.
"Are you okay with that, Yuu-chin?"
"…"
"You won't regret it? Just graduating and becoming an adult without ever telling the person you like how you feel. Can you be okay with that?"
"…I can. I'll make myself be okay with it."
"Liar. You can't even do it now. Have you noticed? It's been like this at the fireworks festival today, and even before that. You've been acting strange, Yuu-chin."
"! Th-That's not… That's because you did that to Maki-kun, Nina-chi…"
"That's true. If it weren't for that, maybe we'd be a little better off."
But that's precisely why I did something provocative.
Because I knew that even if I just stayed quiet, our relationship would become strained sooner or later, given Yuu-chin's current state of mind.
It's painful to be with Maehara and Asanagi, so I'll just keep my distance until my heart calms down… That's probably all Yuu-chin is thinking.
…And without realizing that's the worst thing she could do.
"I'm sorry for doing something you didn't like, Yuu-chin. But I couldn't stand seeing you suffer, so I thought if I could just…"
"…It's fine."
"Huh?"
"I don't want to hear what you have to say anymore, Nina-chi. I'll do what I want, so don't interfere anymore."
She completely rejected me.
I thought Yuu-chin would understand. It's okay to fall for anyone, to be honest about your feelings, and it's not a problem if your best friend finds out.
…Well, maybe there's a slight problem, but not enough to break our friendship beyond repair.
However, Yuu-chin imagined the complete opposite and wouldn't listen to my persuasion.
Perhaps I'm not strong enough.
I'm just her 'friend' who she's only known for about a year and a half.
And her next words left me speechless.
"Besides, you can't even get your own love life right, so don't you dare lecture me…"
"Tch…!"
"…!"
Realizing she had said something she shouldn't have, Yuu-chin quickly shut her mouth in a panic.
She hit a very sore spot.
"Um… I-I'm sorry! I said such a horrible thing…"
"No, it's fine. It's so true that I was at a loss for words."
I've had my fair share of relationships with guys since middle school, but none of them lasted long.
Either they cheated on me, or they were just looking for a good time. …As a result, I've made some irreparable mistakes.
Don't give me your high-and-mighty advice, that's what Yuu probably wanted to say. And she's absolutely right, I have no room to argue.
I just have more experience with the opposite sex than Yuu-chin or Asanagi, that's all.
…Realizing my own foolishness and shame, I felt my whole head flush hot.
Seeing me silent, my face beet red and my body trembling, Yuu-chin looked away awkwardly.
"…Well, I'm off."
Without waiting for my response, Yuu-chin turned and walked back the way she came.
"See you at school on Monday."
She didn't even say that.
"…Yuu-chin, you idiot. You're so stubborn."
On the dark road home, the words I squeezed out alone were like those of a child.
※※※
"–And so, that's how we got to where we are now."
""…""
Amami-san and Nitta-san had a more serious fight than I thought, and both Umi and I were at a loss for how to respond.
But this made it clear why the two of them were so tight-lipped about the cause of their fight.
I'm one to talk, but this is indeed a sensitive topic.
"…I didn't mean for it to turn out like this. I just thought it would be more like Yuu-chin to be honest and confess if she liked someone, for her own sake… That's all it was. Maybe I shouldn't have done something I'm not used to."
"Really? I thought you would have been consulted on that kind of thing many times, Nitta-san."
"No way. There were occasional talks like that in the groups I used to hang out with, but I tried to keep my distance and not get involved. It's a pain to get caught up in trouble by taking someone's side."
"…Even though it's a pain, you still meddled in Yuu's business."
"You and Yuu-chin are both so blunt. Well, it's better than having people read the room too much."
For Nitta-san, whose motto is to have a wide and shallow circle of friends, to bend her principles and take action for Amami-san must mean that Amami-san is that important to her.
There still seem to be hidden parts about how Nitta-san feels about Amami-san, but putting that aside for now.
"I've pretty much said everything, so I'll ask… Class rep and Asanagi, what do you want to do from now on? What do you think we should do?"
What we should do first.
That is, how we can return to what we had before.
Make Amami-san and Nitta-san make up, and then restore our relationship with Amami-san, which is becoming strained.
Hearing Nitta-san's story, it's certain that a resolution between only the parties involved will be difficult.
I know this is a topic with no right answer. It's not about who is right or wrong, but which choice will satisfy everyone.
I, Maehara Maki, who Amami-san has fallen for, hold the key to solving this.
And then, my girlfriend, Asanagi Umi… actually, no.
"Umi, what do you think?"
"Even if you ask me… What do you think, Maki?"
"Me… um, can I be honest?"
"Yeah. You can be refreshingly blunt."
If Umi is okay with it, then I'll be frank.
"To be honest… I don't really mind either way. If Amami-san doesn't say anything, I'll pretend this never happened and act normally. If she honestly tells me how she feels, I'll accept them and turn her down properly."
I will continue to cherish Umi, my girlfriend, more than anyone else.
Even if I didn't know Amami-san's feelings, what I should do wouldn't change at all, and I think that's something I shouldn't waver on.
When Amami-san hugged me on the rooftop, what I felt after the surprise wasn't 'happiness' but 'confusion'.
That's how much 'Asanagi Umi' had filled my heart.
Amami-san is an important friend, but she is still just a 'friend'.
I'm not going to say she's caused a lot of trouble. Looking back, I think there were a few points where I was lacking in my interactions with girls other than her, and Umi has lectured me about it from time to time.
I do feel sorry. Still, I can't return Amami-san's feelings. I'm sure Amami-san knows that too.
"You're so like the class rep, I don't know what to say… Asanagi, you're so loved."
"Don't tease me right now. …But, I see. That's what Maki would think."
"Yeah. So, I was wondering what you think, Umi."
"Me, I… well, let's see, hmm."
Umi seems to be still wondering what to do.
Based on everything so far, the person Amami-san is most concerned about is Umi.
If Umi finds out, if she comes to hate her, they might not be able to be best friends anymore… That's what's making this whole thing even more complicated.
But on the other hand, if we can clear that up, I feel like we can make up in one go.
The feelings of Nitta-san who started the fight, and my feelings, the cause (?) of it, are not actually that important.
Our positions are different from this time last year, but the structure of Amami-san and Umi, one-on-one, hasn't changed.
A problem between two people, whose relationship seems a little distorted for best friends.
"I…"
"Yeah."
"…Sorry. I… no, I guess it's me too. I don't know. Just like Yuu, I don't know what to do."
"…I see."
It can't be helped. Umi might have had a premonition, but there's a gap between what she had imagined and the truth Nitta-san told her, so it's important to calmly accept the story and then come to a conclusion.
What should she say to her best friend who has fallen for her boyfriend, how does she want her to act from now on.
It's cruel to decide that here and now.
Umi and Amami-san's relationship is different from mine and Nitta-san's, it's not something that can be so easily dismissed. They have spent a long time together to become who they are now.
"Well, that's my story. …Ah, even though Yuu-chin pulled the trigger, I really spilled everything. I don't feel any better after spitting it all out, and I feel a little guilty for confessing on the class rep's behalf. …You two, apologize to Yuu-chin for me."
"No way. Well, I'll set up the stage, so you can apologize yourself."
"Eh… I don't mind saying it, but will Yuu-chin forgive me? If I were in her shoes, I'd probably say something like 'get lost, scum'."
"Amami-san isn't you, Nitta-san, so that should be fine, right?"
"…Class rep, are you trying to back me up? Or are you dissing me?"
"Both, I guess."
But for now, that's all I can say. Amami-san and Nitta-san are different people, with different ways of thinking and everything. If I were to quote Nitta-san, they're on different 'get lost, scum' lines.
But that's precisely why there's still a good chance they can make up.
Forgiven or not forgiven.
For that to happen, Nitta-san has to take the first step.
"Well, I'm probably not needed anymore, so I'm heading home. Thanks for the coffee."
"Yeah, see you."
"Nina, see you at school tomorrow."
"! …Yeah, see you."
Nitta-san's eyes widened for a moment at the usual greeting, but she quickly smiled and left the store, waving her hand lazily.
Thank you, she mouthed to us.
"Well, it's about time, shall we go too?"
"Yeah. What are you doing today? Should I walk you home?"
"Huh? Of course, we're having dinner at my house today, so I'd be in trouble if you didn't come."
"…"
"Maki, you didn't forget, did you?"
"…Well, a lot has happened today."
Come to think of it, there was still something I had to do today.
The talk about my and Umi's (planned) life after we go to college, which I promised when I talked to Sora-san before the parent-teacher meeting.
The incident with Amami-san is too big for me to think about that, but that's that, and this is this.
Knowing Sora-san, if I explain the situation, she would probably postpone the plan without any problem.
"…Hey, Umi."
"Yeah."
"Just to be sure, what's for dinner tonight?"
"A hand-rolled sushi party, I think. Mom was really excited."
"…Then, I'll be there as planned."
I can't bear to see Sora-san's sad face, so I'll try a little harder today.
Doing things for my friends, and also properly handling things with my girlfriend and her parents. Juggling tasks at the same time is an important part of becoming a full-fledged adult. …Probably.
Even after hearing Nitta-san's story, my distance with Amami-san didn't particularly change.
When we see each other in class, she greets me modestly. She still keeps her distance, being considerate of Nitta-san and Umi, but she doesn't seem obviously flustered.
…As if it never happened.
"–Hey, Maki-kun. Can I talk to you for a second?"
"Hm?"
On the final day of the three-day parent-teacher meetings, as Umi and I were about to leave the classroom to go home as usual, Amami-san, who had been chasing after me, called out from behind.
"Amami-san… um, what is it?"
"Ah… um, you know? It's not a big deal… but."
We would greet each other when our eyes met, but it's still awkward to talk face-to-face like this.
Perhaps my nervousness was contagious, as Amami-san, who had tried to talk to me as calmly as possible, suddenly started to panic.
Yamashita-san, Arae-san, and everyone else's gazes turned to us, different from usual.
"Ugh… M-Maki-kun, it's not a big deal, but can we talk outside? I was going to invite everyone else anyway."
"Everyone else too? …Okay, then, let's talk in the courtyard."
I met up with Umi, who had just come out of the classroom, and we decided to call Nitta-san and Nozomu via group chat to meet in the courtyard.
It was surprising that Amami-san approached me first, but it feels like it's been a long time since the five of us gathered like this on campus.
"…Yo, Yuu-chin."
"Y-Yeah. Nina-chi, you still have your meeting, right? What time is it?"
"Mine is next Sunday. My scores were so-so, so I'm prepared for a lecture at any time."
"I-I see. …Ah, haha."
The awkward atmosphere remains, but what would happen if I told her that Nitta-san confessed everything to us.
As Umi and I exchanged glances, wondering what to do, Nitta-san started the conversation.
Perhaps she had made up her mind since confessing everything to us, as she didn't hesitate to approach Amami-san.
"By the way, I heard from the class rep, what's up? If you want to hang out with everyone for the first time in a while, I'm free, so I don't mind."
"I'd be happy if everyone's okay with that… but that's not it. My mom told me to bring everyone over for a barbecue at our place tonight."
I thought there was something up when she called us herself, but so that's what it was.
If it's an order from Eri-san, Amami-san has no choice but to obey.
Maybe Eri-san thought of it as an apology for the trouble caused during the conference, and as a way to mend her relationship with her friends as soon as possible.
"You don't have to force yourself to come if you have plans… but what do you think?"
It's a sudden invitation, but this is a rare opportunity for everyone meet up given the situation, so there's no reason to refuse.
This is a chance to clear up the past grudges and take a step towards making up.
If we miss this, we don't know when the next one will be.
"…Umi."
"Yeah. Well, I can't refuse an invitation from Eri-san."
"! Then…"
"Yeah. I think I'll drop by for the first time in a while. Come to think of it, I haven't played with Rocky lately. Right, Maki?"
"Well, in my case, it's more like I'm being played with as Rocky's toy…"
I'm still not good with dogs, but I know Rocky is very attached to me, so as long as I'm mentally prepared, it should be fine.
Other than that, I'll probably be jumped on and licked all over again, so I should probably wear clothes I don't mind getting dirty.
"If you guys are going, then I'll go too. Like I said before, I'm free anyway."
"Nina-chi… thank you. What about you, Nozomu-kun? You have club activities today, right?"
"Yeah, but we're not staying late today, so I can probably make it…"
"He means he's dying to go, Yuu-chin."
"…I-I didn't go that far!"
The conversation flowed from me to Umi, from Nitta-san to Amami-san, from Amami-san to Nozomu, and finally ended with Nitta-san and Nozomu.
The familiar scene made me burst out laughing.
"Wh-What's so funny, Maki! You're laughing too."
"Sorry, sorry, this just feels so nostalgic."
An exchange that has been repeated countless times, without getting old, both on campus and on the smartphone app, since the five of us became friends, and a scene I want to bring back.
No, I'm sure I'm not the only one.
We're a little awkward now because we've forgotten how to do it, but our bodies should remember, so if we just try again, it'll be fine.
"Fufu… Then, I'll tell my mom everyone's coming. Oh, she said she's preparing a lot of meat, so please don't eat too much for lunch."
"Okay."
"Got it."
"Roger~"
"Alright."
We decided to meet at Amami's house at 6 pm, so we parted ways for a while and went about our own business until the promised time. I would prepare dinner for when my mom gets home, Umi would help me, and Nozomu had club activities. Nitta-san would also kill time on her own.
Before, the four of us—excluding Nozomu—would hang out somewhere or kill a few hours at a nearby family restaurant, surviving on the drink bar and a few sides. There's no need to rush, though. We just need to slowly, carefully, get back to how things were.
"Oh, right. Umi, is it okay if we stop by the supermarket on the way home? I'm out of eggs, margarine, and a bunch of other stuff."
"Sure. Oh, are you good on instant coffee? When I checked the other day, there was hardly any left, and I didn't see a refill bag either."
"Come to think of it… Thanks for always checking for me."
"No, no, you're welcome… Ehehe."
Perhaps relieved that we'd finally returned to our usual selves, Umi's expression softened. At this rate, it was only a matter of time before we were back to being our usual lovey-dovey selves. All the trouble we'd had until now had kind of killed the mood, but I was starting to want to be all over Umi like we used to, without a care in the world…
"Maki."
"Ah, yes."
"…I know how you feel, so just be a little more patient, okay? Can you do that?"
"I-I'll do my best."
"Hehe, good boy… But it's not fair to make you wait forever, so…" While we were waiting at a crosswalk, Umi leaned in close and gave me a light peck on the cheek.
"…Um, Umi-san."
"Hm? What is it?"
"…Just one more, please—"
"Nope."
"Aww~"
"Don't 'aww' me."
There might be a limit to what I can do, but I'll do my best to support everyone in making up so I can earn another reward from Umi.
After we finished shopping, I took Umi back to my place and decided to tackle the rest of the chores before evening. I took in the clothes and bedsheets I'd washed and hung out in the morning, then started cleaning. After that, I prepared some side dishes that could be stored and set up the rice cooker so Mom could eat whenever she got home. It's not like she asked me to, but doing chores helps me calm down and think things through more clearly. Plus, with Umi right next to me helping out, it's easy to talk things over.
"Umi, I'm done with the ironing."
"Okay. Hey, Maki, am I folding the clothes right?"
"Perfect, thanks. Well, we're not that picky about it at my house, so your way is totally fine too."
"Really? But for now, let me do it the Maehara way. I have a feeling I'll be doing this more often from now on."
"If you say so… Well, I only watched Mom do it, so I'm not sure if I'm doing it right myself."
Partly because she's so proactive about helping, Umi's housekeeping skills—aside from cooking—are already on par with mine and my mom's. Plus, she has a great eye for detail, so the Maehara household is definitely more organized than before. As for cooking, she still seems to be learning from Sora-san whenever she has time, and she's gotten good enough that I can trust her to make simple dishes on her own. The future where we eat a meal cooked by Umi probably isn't too far off. When I'm with her, even chores feel fun, and time just flies by.
"…Alright, that's it," Umi announced, wiping her brow. "Laundry's put away, the room is clean, and I've made side dishes for Masaki-obasan's dinner. Since we did it together, it went by surprisingly fast, huh?"
"Thanks for your hard work," I said. "…We still have some time. Wanna play some games?"
"Oh, you're on! Today, I'll show you my god-tier skills."
"You mean paper-thin skills… O-ow! Stop pinching my side!"
"What are you talking about? The match started the moment we decided to play."
"No cheap shots!"
However, once the game started, we settled into our usual positions—Umi sitting right in front of me, with me hugging her from behind.
"Maki, which character are you gonna use? You can go first."
"I see you're trying to counter-pick me. But, I guess that's a fair handicap."
"Oh, listen to you. Alright, if I win, no more lovey-dovey stuff for a while."
"W-wait a minute."
"No take-backs!"
We spent the next hour or two having a blast, with things getting a little heated and some slightly rough words being thrown around, until it was time to leave. It was a shame we had to hold back on the snacks and cola because of dinner. Umi used to be terrible and I'd always beat her, but she's improved a lot over the past year. Now, there are more and more times where I'm the one lagging behind in fighting games.
"Heh heh, come and get me if you think you can."
"What a blatant taunt… Alright, how about this!"
"Oops, too bad~ I saw that coming~"
"Crap… Hey, that combo's cheating, it links too well."
"It's in the system, so it's fair game~ …And, you're done."
"What, I still had over half my health… You've been practicing in secret, haven't you?"
"Ehehe, I've been watching videos of good players for reference and diving into online ranked matches. Just a little bit here and there, in between studying."
With her diligent personality and natural reflexes, she's become even better than me at fighting games before I knew it. Studying, sports, games, and love. I loved that part of Umi—the part of her that always gives her all in everything she does.
"…Hey, Maki."
"Yeah?"
"It's about Yuu." Umi continued, her eyes still fixed on the TV screen. "I want to talk to her, just the two of us."
"Does that mean… just you and Amami-san, alone?"
"…Yeah."
"…I see." I wasn't surprised. I had a feeling Umi would say that. She needed to get Amami-san to say it in her own words, and then they needed to reach a conclusion they could both accept. Otherwise, this issue would never be truly resolved. Last year, Umi laid everything bare to Amami-san—the ugly parts of her heart, and the part that still cherished Amami-san as her best friend. I got the gist of the situation from what Nitta-san told me, but Amami-san must've kept some things secret. And to draw those feelings out, it's probably better if I'm not there.
"Got it. I'll leave that to you, Umi… Sorry I can't be of more help."
"It's okay, don't worry about it. Let's settle everything today and go back to messing around like idiots together."
"Yeah… Well, even if things don't work out, I'll always be with you."
"Fufu, that's a very Maki way to cheer someone up, thanks. In that case, if I fail to persuade Yuu and we get into a huge fight, I guess I'll have to let you spoil me rotten."
"You got it. Though, I'd prefer it if things were settled peacefully."
What kind of conclusion will they reach, and what should I do when they do? …For now, all I can do is respect their decision.
I called my mom beforehand to let her know we were invited for dinner, and after getting her okay, we finally headed to Amami-san's house. We stopped by the Asanagi residence on the way for Umi to change, but since we couldn't stay long, I decided to wait for her by the entrance.
"Maki, I'm going to go change, so wait for me, okay? …It's just dinner, so a hoodie should be fine, right?"
"It'll probably smell like smoke, so casual clothes are probably best. We can match."
"Like a couple's look, huh? Okay. Then I'll wear the same thing as you."
After watching Umi enter her house, humming a little tune, I walked around to the garage and sat down on a small chair that had been placed there. As expected, at this time of year, it was past cool and starting to feel chilly. It's not windy yet, so a thin hoodie was enough, but in another month or two, I probably wouldn't be able to go without some proper winter wear.
Right… it's almost been a year.
We just passed the one-year anniversary of becoming friends with Umi, but for us, an even more important anniversary was coming up. Becoming a couple on Christmas Eve. It's almost been a year since Umi and I shared our first kiss. A cold, harsh winter. But also a winter that made me feel so warm and happy. I wonder what kind of Christmas, New Year's, and Valentine's Day we'll spend together this year. It doesn't have to be anything special. As long as we can be our usual selves, that's more than enough.
As I was spacing out, I heard some commotion coming from inside the Asanagi house.
"Mom, come on! Why did you have to send it to the cleaners today? Your timing is the worst!"
"Well, you say that, but… I have my hoodie, so why don't you wear that today?"
"That beige one? No way, it's so old-lady-ish. I can't believe you'd recommend that to a high schooler. Maki would laugh at me!"
"Wha… Y-you don't have to go that far!"
"I wouldn't laugh even if it was beige…"
Apparently, the hoodie Umi wanted to wear was missing, and it had turned into a small fight between mother and daughter. We still had plenty of time, so we probably wouldn't be late, but it looked like I'd have to wait a little longer.
As I was killing time playing a game on my phone, my face was suddenly reflected on the dark loading screen.
I've gotten a bit more decent thanks to Umi… but I'm still not that good-looking, am I?
Even from an objective point of view, I'm aware that I'm not the type who's popular with girls. I'm shorter than most guys my age, and my features aren't particularly well-defined. My personality is on the cynical side, too. Everyone tells me I'm "kind," but that's really only towards my close friends and family. I can't seem to get over my shyness, and I don't even know the faces of more than half of my classmates. The fact that my social circle rarely expands beyond our current group of five is probably because of that.
I'm full of flaws, but the fact that Umi and Amami-san have feelings for me must be some lucky turn of events. From an outsider's perspective, I must seem like the luckiest guy in the world. But personally, it feels a bit excessive.
…I'm happy as long as I have Umi.
I murmured to myself, looking up from the garage at the window of Umi's room on the second floor. What is Umi thinking, saying she wants to talk to Amami-san one-on-one? I still don't really know. Umi is a bit of a handful. She's good at shouldering everything herself and doesn't easily show her true feelings. On the other hand, when she does open up, her cuteness and the way she dotes on you is incredible, and I've completely fallen for that charm of hers, but let's set that aside for now.
…For some reason, I have a feeling that this isn't the end of it, that there's another round of trouble waiting for us.
"No, I'm probably just overthinking things."
I should stop worrying and just think about the fun barbecue we're about to have. Just as I decided that and was about to turn my attention back to my phone,
"—Hey, Maki!"
"Hm?"
Hearing a loud voice call my name, I looked up and saw Nozomu cycling towards me. He'd changed from his practice wear into a jersey, so he must have come here after club activities.
"Nozomu, good work. You didn't go straight to Amami-san's place?"
"Yeah. There's still time, and, well, if it was just the two of us, I don't think I could handle the awkwardness yet… But the main reason is that I wanted to talk to you. I went to your house earlier, but you weren't there, so I figured you'd be here."
"Talk to me?"
The fact that Nozomu went out of his way to come find me probably meant this was something pretty serious. I agreed to hear him out, telling him it would only be until Umi finished getting ready.
"I was wondering if I should tell everyone, but… could you take a look at this?"
"? Your phone… Is this a picture? You're with Amami-san."
Nozomu hesitantly held out his phone which showed a picture of him in his uniform, an awkward smile on his face, and next to him, Amami-san, smiling brightly and showing her white teeth.
…When did they take something like this?
"It was during the preliminaries for the autumn tournament the other day. Amami-san came to cheer me on, all by herself. We won, so to commemorate it…"
"Wow, that happened…"
Amami-san hadn't mentioned a word about going to cheer him on, so she must have planned to go alone from the start. Maybe she felt it would be awkward to invite us after her fight with Nitta-san at the fireworks festival. Still, for Nozomu, who has feelings for Amami-san, it must have been a happy memory. She came all the way to cheer for him alone, and they even took a picture together after the match. From the outside, it looks like a huge step forward, but the look on Nozomu's face was surprisingly grim.
"…Hey Maki, did something happen with Amami-san?"
"W-well…"
"Something did happen."
"…Yeah. Sorry, I was thinking I should tell you, but given what it was about, I wasn't sure what to do."
"Nah, don't worry, I'm not mad… But I see. That makes sense. There's no way Amami-san would proactively try to get closer to me unless something was up."
"That's not… I'm sure there are parts of her that let her guard down precisely because it's you, Nozomu."
However, this finally explained Amami-san's incomprehensible actions. Amami-san likes me. But I have Umi, so she can't tell me how she honestly felt. And so, she wants to somehow forget her feelings for me and go back to being "friends" with me and Umi, as if nothing ever happened. To do that, she must have thought she needed to fall for someone else.
…And the person she chose was Nozomu.
The reason Amami-san suddenly started calling him "Nozomu-kun" instead of "Seki-kun," and the reason Nitta-san was so obviously exasperated by it, finally clicked into place. Even though it was a time when Amami-san herself was probably lost and unsure of what to do, it's not right that she ended up toying with Nozomu's heart.
As I was debating whether I should tell Nozomu the whole truth, I heard the frantic pitter-patter of footsteps from inside the house.
Looks like Umi is finally ready.
"—Sorry for the wait. Hey, hey, listen to this, Maki. My mom, of all times, sent all my hoodies to the cleaners. So, I had to compromise and wear the same sweatshirt as you… oh, what? It's Seki. 'Sup."
"Yo, Asanagi. Just borrowing your boyfriend for a bit."
"? I don't mind, but… what? Some kind of serious talk?"
"Actually…"
I explained the situation to Umi, and after getting her approval, I decided to tell Nozomu everything that had happened. I was worried about his reaction, but he listened to the story with surprising calmness. In fact, he looked relieved, as if he finally understood the reason for Amami-san's mysterious behavior.
"…Maki, you're really something else."
"You think so? I'm just the same as always."
"No, you've changed. You're nothing like you were last year. Right, Asanagi?"
"Yeah. Maki's changed a lot. He's gotten cooler, more dependable."
Since it's about me, I don't really feel it, but if they're both saying it this confidently, I should probably believe them. Though, that's only compared to the me from last year, so I still have to work harder.
"But, to think Amami-san felt that way about you, Maki… Honestly, I was surprised, but I guess it's also kind of like her. If Asanagi likes you, it's not that strange that Amami-san would too, you know?"
They probably see things from the same perspective, Umi and Amami-san. Looks are secondary; they look at a person's personality, character, hobbies, compatibility, and various other factors in a comprehensive way. They don't overthink it, relying on their intuition as well. It's an honor to be chosen by two such girls, but I can only take one of their hands. It was a question that didn't need to be asked, so Nozomu didn't say anything more.
"Anyway, thanks for telling me. I'm bummed that Amami-san didn't actually like me, but it's not like all hope is lost."
"Seki… You're really gonna keep trying, huh?" Umi asked, a hint of surprise in her voice.
"Well, I've fallen for her that much. As a girl, and as a friend. So, I'm gonna try just a little bit longer."
The way Nozomu smiled shyly as he said that seemed so incredibly bright. He's a sports whiz, refreshing, and yet also has a cute side… Including Umi, I honestly don't get why our group of girls are all so "meh" about him. I always thought the three of them represented the general opinion, but… maybe they're actually quite eccentric when it comes to their romantic views.
"Well, now that Asanagi's here and the time is right, let's head over to Amami-san's. Tonight, we're eating our feelings! Maki, you're joining me! It's a competition to see who can eat more!"
"There's no way I can compete with a baseball club member's stomach. Well, I'll give it my all, though."
That's about all Nozomu and I can do. When Amami-san and Umi, and Nitta-san and Amami-san make up, we'll be there to welcome them back as our usual selves. And then, the five of us will do something stupid together again and have a great time.
With Nozomu joining us, the three of us finally headed to Amami-san's house. There was still about half an hour until the barbecue started at 6 PM, but the time would fly by if we just messed around in the Amamis' spacious yard or played with their dog, Rocky. As for the timing for them to be alone, I was leaving that up to Umi. For now, we just needed to focus on the massive amounts of meat and vegetables that were probably spread out before us.
Passing through the gate and heading towards the Amamis' yard, the venue for tonight, a faint smell of burning charcoal drifted towards us—a sign that they were in the middle of preparing the fire.
"! Oh, welcome, you three. We're just getting the meat ready, so have a seat at that table and wait with some juice."
"Woof! Woof!"
The three of us greeted Eri-san, and after having my face licked all over by a very excited Rocky, we headed to the table where Amami-san was waiting. Nitta-san seemed to have been waiting for us, and with a can of cider in hand, she waved at us.
"Yuu, sorry to keep you waiting. We could have come a bit earlier, but my mom made me take forever to get ready."
"We're still in the middle of starting the fire, so it's totally fine. Dad, Umi and the others are here."
"Ah, yeah. —Hello, everyone. Sorry for being dressed like this."
It seems the whole family was welcoming us this time, as their father, Hayato-san, bowed his head to us. With a towel wrapped around his head and sweat on his brow as he fanned the charcoal, he looked just like any other dad.
"Umi, Nozomu and I are gonna go help Hayato-san."
"Okay… Maki, I'll take care of things here."
While casually watching over Umi from behind as she joined the circle with Amami-san and Nitta-san, Nozomu and I went to help with the fire.
"Um… Hayato-san, we'll help too."
"Oji-san, is this good?"
"! Ah, thank you. Sorry about this, we have barbecues here every now and then, but every time I do it, I somehow become a beginner." Behind his silver-framed glasses were gentle, kind eyes. Unlike Amami-san and Eri-san, he has black hair and black eyes, just like me, but the soft smile he sometimes shows somehow overlaps with Amami-san's. She mostly takes after her mother, but has a hint of her father's aura, which might be something we have in common.
"Maehara-kun, and Seki-kun… was it? I've heard a lot about you two from my wife and daughter. …Thank you for always looking out for Yuu."
"No, no… You're the one who must be busy with work, Hayato-san. If I remember correctly, you work at the prefectural office now, right?"
"Yes. It might be strange to talk to you two about this, but I'm in a managerial position. I have a fair number of business trips, and I have about as much overtime as people in the private sector… Could it be that you're interested in working at the prefectural office, Maehara-kun?"
"Actually, just a little… though I'm embarrassed to say it's for a rather shallow reason: that it seems stable."
"Haha, you're honest. Well, it's true that there are fewer ups and downs compared to the private sector, so if you're attracted to a stable income, it might be a good fit for you. Especially for someone like you, Maehara-kun, who has excellent grades and can work diligently."
It was only after talking to him that I realized Hayato-san is currently working as a civil servant, the very profession I'm vaguely aiming for. If, in the future, I seriously decide to follow a similar path, he could potentially become the most reliable advisor I could ask for… but that's being a bit too opportunistic. That's not the reason I want to remain friends with Amami-san.
"…Well, if you're serious about it, feel free to consult me anytime. We always accept building tours and work experience through schools, and I think I can at least give you information about internships once you're in college."
"Yes, thank you very much… Oh, isn't the fire about ready?"
"Hm? Yeah, you're right. Thank you both for your help. Eri's all fired up too, so please eat your fill today."
Thanks mainly to Nozomu's efforts, the fire quickly spread throughout the charcoal. And, right on cue, a large platter piled with various cuts of meat was brought over by Eri-san.
"Alright, it's a little earlier than planned, but I'm hungry, so let's get grilling. Honey, sorry, but could you keep at it for just a little longer?"
"Sure. The two youngsters here did most of the work, so I've got plenty of energy left. Come on, Yuu and the others, you come over here too."
"Dad… O-okay!"
The three girls, who had been talking a little ways away, joined in, and the magnificent dinner began. This is the first time we've had a barbecue since our beach trip during summer vacation, but personally, I might prefer this time of year when it's cooler. I don't have to waste extra energy because of the heat, so my appetite feels even stronger. The autumn appetite is real.
"Maki, what do you want to eat? I'll grill it for you."
"Hmm, then I'll have the expensive looking beef tongue."
"Fufu, you're as straightforward as ever, Maki~ Then I'll have the same."
"Hey, no fair, just you two! I-I want some too."
"Then I'll have some too."
"Me too."
Ignoring the platter of vegetables next to us, we all dug into the meat sizzling on the grill. Beef tongue, kalbi, loin, skirt steak, and offal that crackled as it rendered its fat. And in the other hand, a big frankfurter that you don't get to eat often and a bowl of white rice. I did plan on eating vegetables later, but for now, I'd fill my stomach with the fat from the meat and the carbs from the rice.
I noticed Eri-san and Hayato-san watching us five growing high schoolers with expressions that were a mix of exasperation and amusement. When I casually followed their gaze, I saw Amami-san, happily stuffing her cheeks with meat alongside Umi and Nitta-san.
"…Yuu, this is delicious, isn't it?" Umi asked.
"Yeah… It might be a while since I've had something this good. What about you, Nina-chi?"
"That's… true. Yeah, maybe for me too."
Umi probably hadn't brought up the main topic yet, but it seemed Amami-san and Nitta-san had a general idea of what was coming and had prepared themselves.
…No, for now, let's stop thinking about various things. Eat a lot of delicious food, and then calm down with some after-dinner coffee or dessert. It's more than enough to face our own feelings after that.
About an hour passed. We, who had been grilling and eating vigorously, finally calmed down and started to spend a more relaxed time. The sky, which still had some light when the barbecue started, was now completely dark, and only the light from the living room and the flickering flames of the charcoal fire illuminated us.
"Hey Maki, you stopped moving your chopsticks. Are you full already? Can I take the win?" Nozomu challenged.
"No, no, I can still eat a lot more… Though, I could go for something to cleanse my palate right about now."
The meat was still delicious, but I was starting to crave something sweet… As I rummaged through the cooler box, wondering if there was anything, I found something perfect. I thought it would be rude to just eat it, so I checked with Eri-san for permission.
"Eri-san, um, about this…"
"Oh, marshmallows. Go ahead, help yourself. You can use the skewers for the meat over there."
"Thank you."
What I found were jumbo marshmallows, about two to three times the size of regular ones—perfect for a palate cleanser.
"Wow, marshmallows. Hey Umi, Nina-chi, let's have some too," Amami-san said, her eyes lighting up.
"Yuu, you sure eat a lot… Well, if Maki's having some, I will too," Umi replied.
"Hey Seki, hurry up and put them on skewers for everyone," Nina-chi ordered.
"Jeez, you're a handful…"
Nozomu and I prepared five servings and held them close to the charcoal fire to lightly toast them. The fragrant, sweet smell of sugar filled the air as the marshmallows melted and became even rounder. Once they were nicely toasted, I took a bite. It tasted exactly like I imagined, but somehow more delicious than eating it as is.
"Mmm, so sweet! Hey, hey Umi, since we're at it, why don't we try toasting other things? Look, we have a bunch of snacks over here."
"Come on, we're not kids anymore… Let's stick to something safe for now, like the mentai-flavored corn snacks."
"In the end, you're a kid too, Asanagi. Well then, I'll have another marshmallow."
"Nozomu, let's go back to the main course. What's next?"
"Should we go for seafood? Oh, but the butter-grilled mushrooms are tempting too…"
While some of us returned to our childhood selves and fooled around, others went back to the meal. Only during that time did we return to our familiar, comfortable atmosphere. If possible, I'd love for it to end just like this. And then, from the next day, act as if nothing ever happened, as if we never had a falling out.
But all good things must come to an end.
Once we were all completely full, and Eri-san was preparing dessert while Hayato-san was cleaning up the charcoal, Umi called out to Amami-san.
"…Yuu, can I talk to you for a bit, just the two of us?"
"! …Yeah. Is my room okay?"
The moment Umi brought it up, Amami-san's expression clouded over. It seems she's already made up her mind.
"Whoa, what's with you two? Am I being left out?" Nitta-san interjected.
"Yeah, for now. Maki, Seki, I'm leaving this one in your care."
"Yeah, leave it to us. Alright, Nitta-chan, how about a game of catch to burn off those calories?" Nozomu offered.
"Go die."
"H-hey you two, no fighting… Rocky, you come here too."
"Woof… woof." Rocky usually responds with joy when I call him, but perhaps worried about his downcast owner, his energy seemed low.
After that, we helped Eri-san and Hayato-san clean up the tents, grills, and hot plates while waiting for the two of them. At the end of the cleanup, Eri-san prepared a fruit platter for dessert, but unlike the meat and marshmallows we had just eaten, I was so worried about them that I couldn't really focus on the taste.
What on earth are they talking about in Amami-san's room? In what way are they trying to settle things?
As I worried about the second floor, from which not a single sound could be heard, we waited for about thirty minutes. The two of them, having apparently finished their talk, came back to the living room together.
"Maki, I'm back."
"Everyone, sorry. We got a little caught up talking."
"Welcome back, you two. There's dessert, what do you want to do?" Eri-san asked.
"Then, I'll have some since you offered. Yuu, you still have room, right?"
"I'm already… No, I'll have some too. It'd be rude to my mom since she made it for us."
They had taken the time to talk, but their expressions didn't seem to have changed much. Given everything that's happened, I suppose the awkwardness between them will have to be resolved gradually. Nitta-san, who had been observing them just like I was, pursed her lips into a small 'v' and tilted her head.
"…Yuu-chin, are you really, really okay now?"
"Yeah. I told Umi how I honestly felt… I'm sorry, Nina-chi. For being so stubborn all this time… And for all the horrible things I said during the fireworks festival."
"It's fine, whatever. It's over now, and besides, it was my fault for instigating it in the first place. So, with this, we've made up. From now on, we're back to normal. Okay?"
"Yeah. Thank you, Nina-chi."
"Same here. And, sorry for telling Asanagi everything first."
Watching Amami-san and Nitta-san bow their heads with tears in their eyes, I feel like, for now, things have settled down for them. It's been about a month and a little since the sports festival. It felt much longer, but I'm truly glad from the bottom of my heart that they've safely made up.
Now… I'll have to hear the details from Umi on the way home.
We stayed at the Amamis' for about three hours. It was still before 9 PM, but it would be rude to stay too long, so we decided to take our leave. The four of us said our goodbyes once more to Amami-san and Rocky, who had come to see us off at the entrance.
"Everyone, well then, see you tomorrow."
"See you. Yuu, don't oversleep tomorrow."
"Yuu-chin, I'll contact you later, so let's go to school together tomorrow, okay?"
"See ya."
"See you, Amami-san."
And with that, we disbanded, each of us walking in a different direction. We were all going our separate ways, but I'm sure we'll all be together again tomorrow. I can't wait for it. As for school itself, well, it is what it is.
"Umi, shall we go? I'll walk you home."
"Okay."
Just like on the way there, we held hands tightly, walking side-by-side down the dimly lit street. It reminded me of the old days. Compared to then, it wasn't as cold now, and the nervousness and the pounding of my heart had calmed down. But the feeling in my chest was still just as warm as it was back then.
"Hey, Umi."
"…Yeah."
"Is it okay if I ask you about it while we walk?"
"Yeah. I was actually looking for the right timing to bring it up myself."
I slowed my pace and listened intently to what Umi had to say.
"I heard everything, straight from Yuu's mouth. That she likes you, Maki, not just as a friend… no, she does like you as a friend too, but that she's fallen for you as a guy."
"…I see. But since when?"
"She said she doesn't really know herself. Was it during the class tournament, summer vacation, or the sports festival… I think she probably fell for you little by little."
I was kind of the same way, so I understood how she felt. At first, I didn't really see Umi in a romantic light either. I guess it's pretty common for friends to become lovers, but I never thought it would apply to me. That a girl as cute and put-together as her would ever have romantic feelings for a slob like me. But as we spent more time together and I started to see unexpected sides of her, I realized that what I had mistaken for affection towards a "friend" was actually "love."
I want to be with her more, I want to touch her as much as possible.
I don't want to be just friends, I want a more special relationship.
We became friends last autumn and lovers in the winter, a rather fast-paced development, but even so, we still started as just "friends." It didn't take me that long to realize my feelings for Umi, but that was just our case. Everyone moves at their own pace, so it's not strange at all for Amami-san to take her time. Besides, until Nitta-san pointed it out, she hadn't consulted anyone and had been trying to figure out if her feelings were "love" all by herself.
"Yuu said she doesn't know what to do. She likes Maki, but she doesn't want to get in the way of our relationship, and she just wants to stay friends like we've always been. But if she stays in love with Maki, she can't be 'her usual self' anymore—and that's where the conversation ended. The only thing we decided was that she would properly make up with Nina."
"I see. So…"
So that's why Umi and Amami-san didn't look completely relieved. They both want to resolve this peacefully, but they're at a loss as to what to do.
"I get it. But it's not like you didn't come up with any ideas, right?"
"Well, that's true, but…"
I was curious what kind of ideas they came up with, but seeing as Umi was uncharacteristically hesitating, it must be something she found difficult to tell me. If Umi's the one asking, I'm prepared to say yes to almost everything without a second thought.
"The two of us… or rather, Yuu was more like 'I'll leave it all up to Umi,' so it was pretty much me deciding on my own."
"I see. I think it depends on what it is, but feel free to tell me anything."
"…Thanks. Then, there's just one thing I'd like to ask of you, Maki."
Amami-san, who realized she was in love with me, her best friend's boyfriend, and Umi, who found out about it. The "favor" that Umi wanted to ask of me was—
"—You see, Maki."
"Yeah."
"…Next time, just once is fine, I want you to go on a date with Yuu, just the two of you."
"…Huh?"
…How did it come to this?