Three months have already flown by since we became second years. The season has long since passed… well, that might be a slight exaggeration, but it's been unbearably hot and humid every single day. Our high school may have air conditioning in every classroom now, but that was only installed two or three years ago. Before that, it seems they managed to get by opening all the windows and doors, fanning each other with plastic sheets, and other creative solutions.
"…Thank you, senpais. Thanks to you, we're able to live comfortably."
"Nakamura-san, what are you mumbling about to yourself?"
"Oh, nothing. I was just paying my respects and gratitude to the efforts of our predecessors."
"Oh, that's amazing, you know?"
Back in April, she used to give me the perfect troubled expression, but now, this is what I get. Well, I'm still grateful that she even bothers to play along with my jokes.
Her name is Asanagi Umi. I only knew her name because we were both listed among the top students, but now that we're actually classmates, I've come to realize she has her own charms.
"Asanagi-chan, by the way, what were you talking about with Ryouko and the others just now? Our hobbies, tastes, and even our preferences in guys are all over the place, so it's not like there are many things we can get excited about, right?"
"But we still get along, so in a way, we're pretty amazing, aren't we… Anyway, that aside. …You know how we have the sports festival after summer break, right? So we were talking about what events we'd want to participate in, or what kind of new events would be fun."
"Oh, I see."
It's a common topic, but it's just the right kind of thing to talk about during a short break.
Personally, I'd rather hear some more dramatic love stories, but everyone around me is a good girl (in a romantic sense), and they don't have much experience.
…Including me, of course.
"In that case, I'd definitely choose the scavenger hunt. It's a classic, but you can make it interesting depending on how you set it up."
"If we left the topics up to you, Nakamura-san, I feel like no one would ever reach the goal… Just out of curiosity, if you were in charge, what kind of items would you choose?"
"Hmm, let's see…"
I could make it as difficult as I want, but that would just make it hard to find things, and there'd be no fun in it.
Something that's relatively easy to find, but something you'd hesitate to ask for psychologically──
"How about… a friend or acquaintance of the 'opposite gender' who has a significant other?"
"…Does that include married couples?"
"That would make it too easy, so no."
"…Mmm."
Something seemed to bother her, as Asanagi-chan's eyebrow twitched.
Now, what on earth could she have imagined? I'm very curious.
"If I were to participate, I guess I'd have to borrow Maehara-shi, huh? I'm sure there are other people dating, but I'm not really up on that kind of gossip."
"…You can't borrow Maki."
"What's the big deal? It's just a competition, so a little 'taste-testing' should be fine."
"Absolutely not! I'll never lend you Maki, no matter what!"
"Because he's 'your Maki, and yours alone,' is that it?"
"…Yes, that's right. What about it?"
".........Huuuh."
"You're so mean, Nakamura-san."
She's right about that, but I can't help it. The real face she hides behind her 'honor student' mask is just too cute.