It's been a month since the cultural festival ended and I finally reconciled with my best friend, Umi.
Today, on our day off, we went shopping for dresses to wear to the Christmas party. To be honest, it's been a while since Umi and I just hung out like this. I'd been so jealous of her secretly meeting up with a boy from our class that I completely ignored her own worries and ended up cornering my most precious friend in the heat of the moment. When our friendship first started to crack, I was terrified we'd never go back to how we were.
She was my very first friend, a best friend more important to me than anyone else… The thought that I might never be able to talk to her again had me worried sick, so being together like this again makes me unbelievably happy.
"Umi, look, hurry, hurry!"
"Hey, you don't have to pull so hard… Honestly, Yuu, you're hopeless."
Seeing me so thrilled about our first outing in a while, my best friend smiled just like she always does. Her exasperated expression seems to say, "Honestly," but she still squeezes my hand with a gentle look on her face.
I always prided myself on knowing everything about my best friend—she's smart, stylish, a natural leader, and someone everyone can rely on. But since that day, she's started showing a completely new side of herself.
It happened while we were trying to pick out dresses for the party.
"Oh, this one's pretty cute! And it's well within my budget, too. Hey, Umi, I think I'll go with this one. What do you…?"
"…Hmm… What should I do about the color…? Should I go with something bright and use accessories for accents, or should I go for a chic look…? I probably shouldn't be too flashy, but… hmmm…"
"…Umi?"
While I was just grabbing whatever caught my eye, Umi was standing alone in front of the rack, muttering to herself with a serious expression.
"Hellooo? Umi? Earth to Umi?"
I tried peeking at her face and waving my hand, but she was so lost in her own world that she didn't even notice I was there. I get that she's taking this seriously, but isn't she overthinking it a little, even if it is for a party where everyone will see her?
"Maybe I should casually ask him what colors he likes… No, he already knows I'm out shopping with Yuu today… In that case, I could call his mom… but she's at work and I'd just be a bother… Ugh, why didn't I ask him about clothes yesterday?! What a stupid mistake…"
"…Hmph."
I knew exactly who Umi was thinking about as she agonized over her outfit. It was that incredibly kind boy who had caused the rift between us, but who also, in the end, gave us the chance to make up.
I can't thank him enough, but seeing Umi's heart so completely captured by him still irks me a little.
"…Oh, look, it's Maki-kun! Heyyy, Maki-kun, over heeeere!"
"Wha—?! Ma-Maki-kun?! Wh-Where? He's supposed to be relaxing at home today…"
"Just kidding! Ehehe, you totally panicked, didn't you, Umi? You thought he was actually here!"
"…You little."
"Owwie!? B-But it's your fault for ignoring me for so long, Umi…"
My best friend, her face bright red as she pinched my cheeks, has been acting incredibly cute lately.