Cooperation of Childhood Friends

The day after meeting Amamiya, Minato called Kazuma and Momose to a family restaurant because he didn't have a part-time job.

Although he hadn't told them in advance what he was going to talk about, they agreed to it without hesitation, for which he couldn't be more grateful.

Also, he didn't call Airi because he was a little concerned. He had convinced the two of them of that.

And so began the discussion among the three childhood friends.

"First of all, I'm sorry I haven't been able to follow up with you at all these past few days. I couldn't help because I thought that if I intervened or shielded you, it would make things worse."

Kazuma bowed deeply to Minato, but Minato had no intention of getting angry or blaming him for the matter. It was Minato who had to work hard.

And Kazuma had a point. No one would approve of the relationship if the person who was trying to close the distance with Airi was being protected.

So Minato shook his head and denied his words.

"Don't worry, it was a good opportunity for me to get a better grasp of my situation."

"I'm sorry, too. I've been so busy with Airi that I haven't had a chance to do anything…"

"No, thank you. Just following up on Airi's side would be a big help."

Although she seemed to be at peace at home, it appeared that it was quite a hard time for Airi as well.

Since Momose had been following up on this, like Kazuma, Minato had no intention of blaming her.

In the first place, it was a miracle that Minato's case was only the other day, and Airi's would have been more important.

However, although he had repeatedly asked her if she was okay at home until today, she had not given him any details after the first day, perhaps not wanting to worry him.

Although he was glad that she was doing her best to pamper him instead, he was uneasy about it. Therefore, although he was sorry to Airi, he decided to ask Momose.

Airi had said Minato was kind, but he asked Momose, thinking Airi was the one who was kind.

"So, has everything calmed down for Airi?"

"Yeah, somehow. She and Minato-kun has become the closest friends of the opposite sex. …Well, there was one person who condemned Minato-kun right in front of Airi. Airi was really scary at that time."

Momose's face turned pale as she recalled the scene.

Since it had not spread as a rumor on Minato's part, it probably didn't turn into a big deal, and was handled calmly by Airi. Although it might just be that Minato simply hadn't heard about it.

In reality, however, she was probably quite mad on the inside, so Minato nodded his head while thanking Airi for holding back so well.

"I see. Then I guess things have calmed down as a result."

"Yeah, I noticed that Airi was angry and intervened, but I don't know what would have happened if I had left her alone."

"Sorry, I'm giving you a hard time."

"Why are you apologizing, Minato-kun? I'm doing this because I want to support your relationship."

"…Thanks, you've been a big help."

Her bright smile, like the sun, lightened Minato's heart.

After expressing his gratitude once again and pausing for a moment, Kazuma opened his mouth.

"Next up is Minato, how's the response over the last few days?"

"…Well, it's only been a few days, so nothing special. But I'm going to try to shrink our distance as much as I can in a little over three weeks."

"How much exactly?"

"Just enough for us to be alone after school, but not so much that we go out on weekends and holidays."

If Minato and Airi could be alone after school, it would be safe to say that they had grown much closer.

And as for the holidays, Minato and Airi had almost no desire for things, which was why they didn't have anything to go out and buy in the first place.

Worst-case scenario, Momose could take his place, so he didn't think of it that seriously.

Kazuma and Momose looked reluctant, probably realizing that he was going to shorten the distance considerably quickly.

"How do I say this, is that okay? You're going to get a lot of heat for that, you know that?"

"I know, but Airi said she'd work with me, so I'm not going to let that stop me."

"…Suddenly so mellow, well alright then. The only reason it's that early is because of the cultural festival anyway, right?"

"That's right, and that's the main reason I called you both here today. Specifically, I want you two to be flexible, especially Kazuma."

These two were among the most outgoing people in their class. Moreover, Kazuma was the one in charge of the cultural festival, so he would be able to fulfill Minato's wishes.

With just a few short words, the two understood Minato's intentions and grinned wickedly.

"You want to make sure that your free time during the festival overlaps with Ninomiya-san, right, Minato? Surely that's something for us to do, and I promised to help out on the day of the summer festival in the first place. Let's do it, Shiori."

"Leave it to me! It's our duty to support our childhood friend's love, just like Minato did for us!"

"…Thanks."

It was almost devious, but it was strangely enjoyable for the three of them to think about this and that together, as if they had returned to their childhood.

After they had finished talking, they put the cultural festival aside and spoke up to talk about something else.

"Come to think of it, I never said I was interested in Airi to you, Momose, but of course you knew that."

Not that he had told Kazuma not to tell Momose, but she knew as a matter of course.

When he asked her about it because he was curious, she stared blankly at him.

"…Did you think I wouldn't notice? I've known for a long time, you know?"

"Seriously?"

He didn't think he was that far gone, so he sounded stunned.

Especially during the summer vacation, there were only a few times when he was with Airi in front of Momose, but it seemed that she knew everything.

"This is what people call lovebirds, right? It's so strange that you two aren't dating yet. You're practically lovers already."

"Don't call us lovebirds. Well, I don't deny that we are as close to lovers as we can get."

He couldn't deny Momose's words while sounding like he was stunned, but he didn't want to be called lovebirds.

It had become a common occurrence to pat each other on the head, and there had not been a day that went by that they didn't touch each other.

In the first place, when they slept on the same futon, it was impossible to say that they weren't in contact with each other.

Momose's stunned gaze deepened at Minato's words.

"And yet it's so hard to even get close to her outside. …Given the circumstances of the last few days, I suppose it can't be helped."

"Right? That's why I'm trying to close our distance, and when I can stand next to Airi, I'll tell her."

"That's very sincere, or rather, that's very typical of you, Minato-kun. Even if it's hard now, if Minato-kun and Airi can be happy, that's the best. But as a childhood friend, I feel a little sad."

Momose then smiled, not her usual cheerful smile, but a fragile smile that he had seen once before.

"What are you talking about, there is no way our relationship as childhood friends will fall apart. Right?"

"Yeah, that's right!"

"Yeah, of course."

The three of them laughed together as they reminisced about the past.

Even now, he was not with Kazuma and Momose 24/7, and there might come a time when they would part.

But as he thought about the future, wondering if they would be able to see each other and laugh together like this, time kept on passing.