6.2
The next morning, as I groggily pushed open the door to the living room an enthusiastic voice came flying out at me. She sounded like she had waited for a long time.
"Onii-sama, good morning. Breakfast is ready."
Kaju's wearing an apron. She smiled and pulled out the chair for me.
"Good morning, Kaju. Did Dad and Mom already go to work?"
"It's already 9, you know? They already went out."
Is it already that late? I edited the novel I wanted to publish in the club magazine yesterday. I ended up staying up the whole night.
Kaju chuckled and put a huge plate of pancakes in front of me.
"Onii-sama, Kaju tried making fluffy pancakes today. Hope you like it."
With that, Kaju added some sweet seasoning to it.
"There's rice flour on the pancakes. Kaju also made sugar pickled white peaches. I'll put all of them out for you, onii-sama."
Kaju noticed some syrup on her finger. She hesitated for a moment before licking it off.
"Onii-sama, sweet and sour go really well together so I also prepared lemon water too. Please enjoy them together, okay?"
The pancakes in front of me are adorned with sugar powder and mint leaves. It's as exquisite as the ones in a café.
"Thanks. Well, let's eat."
I picked up my knife and fork. Then, I noticed another serving of pancakes next to me.
"Kaju, you didn't eat yet?"
"Yes, Kaju forgot about mine because I was so busy making breakfast."
Kaju laughed shyly and rapped her knuckles against her head. Kaju made so much food that she ended up forgetting to eat her own. What an adorable little sister.
I wanted to move her plate to the seat in front of me. However, Kaju pulled a fast one and sat next to me.
"Well, onii-sama. Let's eat."
"Yeah, let's eat."
Our peaceful breakfast time begins. Just as I put my knife into the fluffy pancakes, Kaju slightly tilts her head. She's looking at me timidly.
"Onii-sama went to school yesterday as well. Are you really busy lately?"
"There's something I had to do for the club. I guess… you could say I was busy?"
Because I have been lazing around lately, I can't really make a valid comparison to anything.
"But this is nice too, right? The friend onii-sama just made recently is Yanami-senpai, right? She visited us a few days ago."
"Uh, I guess."
I gave a vague answer as I stuffed my mouth full of pancakes.
Although I have told Kaju that I have friends now, I haven't told her what Yanami's like yet.
It's not just because I'm embarrassed. I think things will be a mess if I tell her.
"How about we welcome her properly next time? Also, don't forget about the interview."
Please don't do an interview. I took a sip of lemon water.
"Well, we are friends, but you don't need to be so ridiculous. We aren't close enough to go out together."
"Everything has to start somewhere. Also…"
Kaju approached me with sparkling eyes.
"Yanami-senpai is a very beautiful girl on second glance! She has to learn the secret recipe of the Nukumizu family! Let's start with miso soup, and then the basic Japanese, Western, and Chinese cuisine-"
Kaju won't stop running her mouth. Well, let's step on the break.
"Calm down. She is indeed a female friend. However, our relationship isn't like that, alright?"
"Hiya, everyone will fall for onii-sama once they get to know you. Even if you two are just friends now, it's time to start thinking about the future!"
Kaju seems to have suddenly thought of something. She got closer bit by bit.
"Don't tell me onii-sama has his eyes on other girls in the Literature Club? There's that tanned senpai who looks good as well and while I was surprised to learn there's also a petite senpai, on second thought she can wear Kaju's clothes... We can definitely get close from now on. So!"
I spread my hands and asked Kaju for a pause. She's too excited.
"Listen, Kaju. Let's calm down and count to 6. Here. 1, 2, 3…"
"4, 5, 6…"
After counting, Kaju put her hand on her chest and took a deep breath.
I patted Kaju's head to praise her for finally calming down.
"Meow-"
Kaju keeps rubbing my hand. I used another to continue eating pancakes.
These pancakes taste really sweet. Then, a notification popped up on my phone on the table.
I looked at it subconsciously. It's an unfamiliar name.
…Okay, first of all, why is "Yana-chan" your nickname? Second of all, why should I go to a café with you?
My brain stopped processing the sudden invitation. Kaju went around my arms and sat on my lap.
"Onii-sama, this is Yanami-senpai, right? She's inviting you for tea!"
"Uh, I guess."
"Hanging out with a girl in a café must be nice."
Kaju's smiling brightly.
"This is literally a date."
"That's not how we are. Perhaps she wants to discuss something."
What's the correct reply in this situation? I took a deep breath.
She suddenly invited me to a café in the morning. If I remember correctly, Yanami went to her classmates' party yesterday…
My instincts are warning me of danger.
Kaju stared at me. I quickly replied,
"Onii-sama, are you sure?"
"It's fine. Also, it's okay even if it's not me she meets."
A notification sound played. My phone is showing a text from "Yanami".
Uwah, I said no already. Why is this woman being such a pain in the ass?
I hesitated. Kaju smiled and held my phone.
"You should go out, onii-sama. You shouldn't make your friend wait."
…I got it, so please get off my lap.
*
It's 3 PM on the promised afternoon.
We agreed to meet at the café next to the city hall.
I arrived first. So, I casually observed the café as I waited for Yanami.
The vintage décor and soothing ambience here really calm one's soul. Online reviews say that this café's pancakes are as good as its waffles.
This is quite close to my home, but I have never visited it before.
"Thanks for waiting. Here is your iced coffee."
"Oh, thanks."
The waitress handed me a cup of iced coffee. I stared at the glass of water on the other side of the table nervously.
I'm in a café with another girl during the summer holiday.
Even though I denied what Kaju said earlier, this must be a so-called date, right?
Based on the light novels and manga I've read before, this counts as a date even if we're not going out.
So, in other words, Yanami invited me out on a date, right?
The doorbell rang while I was restlessly mixing the syrup and milk in my coffee.
I quickly raised my head. Yanami had just stepped into the café.
She's wearing a navy blue shirt with a knee-length light grey pleated skirt.
I have seen her in casual clothes before during the trip, but today Yanami's appearance looks like she dressed for an outing, right? My back straightened seeing her in such a girly outfit.
With that outfit, so today's really a date, right…?
Yanami walked straight to my table as soon as she spotted me.
"Uh, what's wrong, Yanami-san? Why did you invite me out to a café so suddenly?"
I tried to force a smile to prevent her sensing my nervousness.
"......"
Yanami didn't say anything. She sat down and chugged the water in one go. After that, she fiercely slammed the cup down on the table.
She mumbled quietly.
"…Let the world end."
Something happened, I can already guess what it is.
"What happened at your classmates' party yesterday?"
Yanami reacted to the word "classmate's party". Her shoulders began to quiver.
"…I knew it. Even though I knew this would happen, it's useless trying to rely on book learning when it actually happens in front of me, right?"
Yep, this isn't a date.
I'm half relieved. I leaned back on my chair.
"Uh, were they flirting in front of you?"
"That started a month ago already, okay? By now, I have a heart of steel that wouldn't miss a beat even if they played 'I Love You' in front of me." [TL: I Love You, the game where people flirt with each other and the first person to get embarrassed loses.]
Yanami put an elbow on the table and looked at the menu. She doesn't seem energetic.
"Also, they don't really flirt in front of everyone anymore."
"Isn't that a good thing?"
"That's not what I'm getting at. It's the way they help each other collect the trash during dinner. The natural way in which they help carry each other's stuff. It's this naturalness I'm talking about."
Yanami shook her head and continued.
"The way they make eye contact after subconsciously looking at each other at the same time. How they share the same point card, use the same notification sound, have color matched clothes and accessories. Finally, how they go home together automatically without any need for words -"
Yanami stole my glass of water, chugged it in one go and then slammed the cup onto the table again.
"They have already gone that far, get it!? They are already at the calm newlywed stage now! It's only been a month! How far do they want to go!?"
They can go as far as they want girl.
Yanami is running out of breath. I asked the waitress to refill our cups.
"Oh, and can you change my cup as well?"
"…Huh? You don't like the fact I used your cup so much you need to get a new one?"
It's because I don't like drinking from a cup used by someone else.
"Well, what will Yanami-san order?"
"Did you just ignore me…? Hmm, I'll get a cream soda."
"Eh, you're not getting pancakes?"
I thought she had come to this café for the pancakes.
Yanami watched the waitress leave silently. She spoke up in a serious tone.
"Nukumizu-kun, pipe down and listen to me. Somen is carbohydrates. …In other words, it has sugar."
Yeah, I know.
"I was deceived by its cold and smooth appearance. …it looks really tiny, so people think 'isn't it fine to eat this?' Wouldn't you feel cheated if you got fat because of eating something like that?"
"Uh, so you ate too much somen and got fa-"
"I didn't say I got fat, okay!?"
Yanami interrupted.
"But cream soda has even more sugar."
"Drinks don't count. People say you won't get fat from eating ice cream either."
The waitress brought the cream soda as I listened to Yanami's mysterious theory.
The cream soda here uses genuine green soda water and is topped with vanilla ice cream. Yanami immediately pointed her phone toward it.
"You're taking a photo?"
"I'm posting it on Ins. Yeah, that's a nice photo."
Ins, …it's an app for posting photos, right?
I think people used to talk about food going to waste just to get good photos, but I don't have to worry about that happening if it's Yanami.
Yanami clicked on her phone numerous times before showing me the screen.
"Look, isn't it nice? Remember to like it, Nukumizu-kun."
"I'm not using Ins. …Hey, isn't that my hand at the corner?"
Indeed, this vibrant ice cream soda photograph includes my hand too. That's like hearing noise in the background when watching a top-tier movie.
"Eh, you're right. Aren't Nukumizu-kun's fingers too slim? Have you been eating properly?"
"I am. You should take a new photo, right?"
"But I already posted it."
Yanami ate ice cream as she tapped on her phone. She suddenly realized something. Her eyes lit up.
"…You should know I'm giving you hints, right?"
"Uh, what do you mean by that?"
Yanami crossed her legs chicly. She swept her bangs backward. This girl sure is something else.
"Nukumizu-kun, even I want to let other people guess about me sometimes."
"So, what's that got to do with this?"
"It's a hint, spreading the fact that I'm with a guy on Ins. You know, the ones used to show off boyfriends or pin down other girls."
"Oh, the ones that make celebrities get incinerated by hate?"
This is a sidenote. For some reason, all of the female seiyuu I like always have a same-age "little brother".
"…But wait, Yanami-san is just a normal person though, right?"
"Look, my friends already have big reactions to the photo I posted. They ask who I'm with and whether I have a boyfriend."
Yanami showed me her phone.
"My close friends have some intense reactions. That photo is indeed really powerful."
"I have a question. What's the point of doing this?"
Yanami squinted her eyes and stared straight at me.
"You want to force me to say it? From my own mouth? For real?"
"…My bad."
"I like your honesty. Ah, even Kasumi-chan replied too. We haven't talked in a while."
Yanami stared at her phone in satisfaction. Her face suddenly turned serious.
"What?"
"…Honestly, the boys I was close with in middle school always text me right after the party."
"Oh."
"They really are quite taken with me. Now I understand how scarily popular I am."
"Ah, yes, yes, yes."
A half-assed answer is all I can give. I decided to drink my coffee. The ice cubes have melted already.
Yanami keeps twirling the ice cream melting into her soda. She looked at me. Is she… trying to make me ask her about her popularity?
"Well, so, are you about to go out with any of them?"
I gave up and asked her. As for Yanami, she's now twirling her long spoon with a chic expression.
"Hmm, I'm still not planning to have a boyfriend for now. I don't feel like it."
"Emmm."
"The girls are also worried about me and tried to introduce boys to me. The guys always try to invite me out to eat as well. …Hmm?"
"What's wrong?"
"I think the guys who asked me out all have something in common. Uwah, even Tanaka invited me too."
Yanami frowned and scrolled down. She suddenly looked up at me like she had just realized something.
"Nukumizu-kun, don't tell me they think I'm easy!? 'It's easy to pull this woman because she's just been rejected? Let's hit on her first, anyway!' Is that the case!?"
"Uh, how should I put it. …Yes, probably."
She actually noticed it. You should've just immersed yourself in the joy of being popular.
With an aching sadness, I added some syrup to my iced coffee.
"But, think about it. Perhaps one of the guys actually does like you."
"…Are you aware that you're being very mean right now? And just so you know, I don't want to hang out with guys too much for a while."
I see. Also, I want to know which classification I belong to in her mind.
Yanami finished the last of the ice cream on top of her cream soda. She wistfully twirled the soda with her spoon.
"That's all of the ice cream…"
"Yeah, how tragic."
I gave her a smartass answer before glancing outside. A cheerful girl from Tsuwabuki High School walked past.
Our iconic 4 bowties, her short hair fixed with a lemon hairpin and a healthy tan on her slim arms and legs…
"That's Yakishio, right?"
"Remon-chan?"
Yanami drank her soda spoonful by spoonful as she looked in my direction.
"She's wearing her uniform today too?"
"Huh! Lower your head, Nukumizu-kun! Quick!"
Yanami suddenly grabbed my head and slammed me down onto the table.
"Ouch! Eh, what's wrong!?"
"Don't raise your head! She'll see us!"
"It's just Yakishio. What's wrong-"
I immediately swallowed my words.
She's not alone. The person next to her is Mitsuki Ayano. Her dream lover.
Yakishio is walking shoulder to shoulder with Ayano with cheerful steps. Her face is totally that of a girl deeply in love.
"Why are the two of them…"
Didn't Yakishio give up after learning Ayano has a girlfriend…?
Yanami hid behind the soda glass. She watched the two of them.
After the two disappeared, Yanami slowly raised her head.
"…Nukumizu-kun, this isn't good, right? Going out alone with a guy who has a girlfriend during a holiday is cheating, right?"
"But, think about it. They are friends, right? For example, Yanami-san and Hakamada going out alone isn't cheating, right?"
"It is cheating, right?"
"…Well, if you say so."
It can't be helped if they are cheating. We can only watch their immoral relationship from afar.
Yanami picked up her glass and chugged the remaining soda. She wiped her lips with a handkerchief and put the cup down.
"C'mon, let's go, Nukumizu-kun! Finish your drink!"
"Eh? Where?"
"You actually need to ask? To follow those two, obviously!"
Yanami stood up. Is this the so-called 'love to watch the fun'? Her eyes are shining.
"Nope, I'm not interested."
"Eh?"
I poured milk into my iced coffee. I purposefully added milk after finishing half of it. This allows me to enjoy the rest as milk coffee.
I enjoyed the coffee. Yanami gave me a cold, hard stare. She tapped on the check.
"I'll leave without paying."
"…Seriously?"
It's scary to rebel against Yanami. …Hell no, she's just a pain in the ass.
I finished the remaining coffee, sighed, and stood up.
*
Yanami and I walked outside of the café and looked around. Yakishio and Ayano are nowhere to be found.
"I think they've already gone too far."
I said that as if I was confirming something. Then, I slowly raised my hand toward Yanami.
"Well, that's all for today. Disbanded. Thanks for the work."
"Wait right there! Aren't you giving up too soon!?"
Yanami immediately grabbed hold of my hand the moment I tried to slip away.
"Even so, we can't do anything if they are gone. In the end, amateur snoops like us can't tail people properly. We'll just be treated as suspicious people and be exposed…"
I froze as I was saying that.
There's a person lurking in the shadows of the building of the café that we just walked out of. It's a suspicious person.
That suspicious person is a petite girl. Her long hair is split in the middle. She's wearing a mask and black sunglasses. There are 4 bowties on her chest. She's a Tsuwabuki student.
She looked all around before walking to the door of the café.
Then, she suddenly came to a halt and took something out of her pocket. I think it's chocolate. She shoved it into her mask and ate it.
Wait, why does that person seem familiar?
Yanami looked in my direction and nodded.
"Oh, …that is a suspicious person."
"Yeah, a very suspicious person."
Under our watchful eyes, that girl pulled out a machine resembling an old phone with antennas. She raised it above her head.
"Nukumizu-kun, do you know that person?"
"I have to pretend I don't know her, even though I do. We'll be caught up in trouble if she catches us staring at her. Let's get out of here."
"But that person is staring at Nukumizu-kun."
"…Uh."
I worriedly turned around. That girl is indeed looking at me.
My body stiffened. She quickly approached me.
"Hello, Nukumizu-san. Do you still remember me?"
With that, she took off her mask and raised her sunglasses. She's looking at me with her big round eyes.
"Uh, let me think. I think you're-"
…Okay, sorry, but I do know who she is.
The true identity of the suspicious person is Chihaya Asagumo. She's Mitsuki Ayano's girlfriend.
Even though she's not tall and her face is petite, she's got curves in all the right spots. Her head-to-body ratio and upright posture make her look like a ballet dancer.
"You're Asagumo-san, right? We have seen each other in cram school, but I don't think we have really chatted, right…?"
"Yes, I don't remember us talking either. That's why I'm greeting you again. Nice to meet you."
Asagumo-san put on her mask and sunglasses again and hastily lowered her head. Her forehead is sparkling from the sunlight passing between her hair.
"Ha. Well, nice to meet you."
"Well, let's cut right to the chase. Have you seen Mitsuki-san and Yakishio-san around here?"
Yanami interrupted.
"Oh, those two-"
I gave Yanami a signal when she was about to speak up before shaking my head on purpose.
"I-I'm…not sure."
"I see. I thought they were around here. It looks like the sensitivity is a bit low. I have to prepare better next time."
Asagumo-san straightened her back and raised her antenna machine. Yanami looked at it. Her eyes are filled with interest.
"Well, we'll be leaving. Let's go, Yanami-san."
"Uh, you're Asagumo-san, right? What does sensitivity mean? Are you measuring something with that machine?"
"Hey, Yanami-san!"
"It must draw a lot of attention, right?"
Asagumo-san stared at us while we had a little argument.
"…You two did see Mitsuki-san, right?"
Before we even answered, she took out a palm-sized black stick.
There's a blinking red light at its top.
"Eh, what's that?"
"This is a very useful machine. Look, this red light is blinking, right?"
I don't understand even if you tell me to look at it, girl. What's with the blinking red light, anyway?
Asagumo-san ignored my confusion. She tilted her head and smiled.
"Shall we talk somewhere else?"
*
I'm okay with talking somewhere else. While I did agree-
"So, why is it my room instead? We could've just found another café."
The girls ignored my protest. Yanami introduced herself again and walked around the room.
"We just went to a café. Nukumizu-kun, is this poster made with fabric?"
"You can't do that, Yanami-san. We have to pretend we didn't see things like that when in a boy's room. It's basic manners."
Asasgumo-san made an unnecessary comment.
She's sitting on the cushion properly. She seems to be writing something in her notebook.
Yanami poked my treasure, the B2 tapestry of Magical Battle Girl Shinonome.
"Hmm, is this something you can't show to others?"
"Not really. It's not something lewd, anyway."
"Yanami-san, please stop asking any further."
Asagumo-san interrupted me determinedly.
"Otakus really hate non-otakus judging their hobbies and making fun of them, not to mention a female classmate seeing a tapestry of a beautiful girl wearing only her underwear. Even I can't deal with it."
"No, this is a battle suit, not underwear…"
Very well. Let's end the discussion here.
Yanami ignored my thoughts and continued innocently.
"Eh, but why is she so exposed if it's meant to be a battle suit?"
"Huh? That's because… the magic they release from their skin… will… activate… Sigma Drive…"
"I see. Then why are these girls hugging each other on the bed?"
…Why don't you just kill me now?
I closed my eyes and looked up. At this time, someone silently opened the door.
"The Sigma Drive will resonate when there are 5 awakened users. The sealed legendary weapon Pashupatastra will be unleashed. That's why the battle suit girls hug each other on the tapestry."
"…Kaju."
The person who entered so inconspicuously and spoiled the plot is my little sister. Your brother hasn't read that part yet.
"Onii-sama, Kaju is here with some drinks."
"Thanks, you can put them on the table."
"Alright, welcome, you two."
Kaju smiled and put iced tea on the table.
Yanami immediately sits back down after hearing there are drinks. Kaju lowered her head.
"Yanami-senpai, I'm sorry for not welcoming you properly earlier."
"It's fine. Don't worry about it…"
Yanami sounds a bit disappointed. It must be because there aren't any snacks.
Asagumo-san bowed her head to Kaju.
"I'm sorry for the sudden intrusion. I'll depart immediately after we finish our discussion."
"Don't worry about it. Please enjoy. Well, can you tell me your name?"
"Sure, I'm Asagumo. I attend the same school as Kazuhiko-san."
"…Kazuhiko-san?"
Kaju's smile stiffened.
"You don't look so well. Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. Uh, onii-sama, what's your relationship with this senpai…?"
"There's no relationship. We are just classmates. Asagumo-san has a boyfriend."
Kaju glared at me from behind an unreadable expression.
"…Interfering in someone's love?"
Why do I get the feeling my little sister just said something really impolite about me?
"Don't say that. Onii-chan is discussing adult topics with them. You should go out."
"I got it, …onii-sama."
Unexpectedly, Kaju walked out without further incident.
Asagumo-san blinked in disbelief.
"I thought it'd be better to call you by your first name in front of your little sister, but I guess that wasn't the right choice?"
Yeah, that wasn't right at all. It looks like I need to cover up with an excuse later.
"You actually know Nukumizu-kun's first name? I didn't even know what his name was."
Yanami's drinking her iced tea, her face full of admiration. This girl. She didn't even know my name.
"It's because I can remember something after seeing it just once. That's how I've already memorized all of the books on your bookshelf now."
"Forget about that for now. Aren't we supposed to be talking about something here?"
"Yeah, you're right."
Asagumo-san straightened her back again. Her tone remains calm.
"Thank you very much for your time, both of you. Without further ado, I would like to explain what I was doing there."
Wandering around there looking suspicious… was indeed not her goal.
I put my straw in my mouth to calm myself down.
"Let's have a mutual and honest discussion. I suspect Mitsuki-san is cheating on me. I was wandering around there to catch him in the act."
The person he's cheating with… I don't even need to say who it is, right? The incongruity between the word "cheating" and Yakishio is so great that it left me speechless.
Yanami spoke up for me.
"You say they are cheating, but is there any evidence? It's nothing for them to meet each other alone, right?"
Yanami secretly winked at me.
"Someone once said it may not be cheating if it's Remon-chan."
"Can he deny it if he went to meet her without telling his girlfriend?"
"Ah, …well."
Yanami reaches her palm toward me. We high-fived. I think it's my turn.
"I'm not sure how relationships between a guy and a girl work. However, there are cases where the guy doesn't tell the girlfriend because he doesn't want her to worry, right?"
"I guess so. That happens too."
Yanami nodded in agreement.
This girl has no understanding of relationships between guys and girls either, right? …I think.
"That could be the case. I believe in Mitsuki-san, and from what I've heard from him, Yakishio-san doesn't sound like that kind of person either."
"I see. It's great that you understand. Well, let's end this here."
"That's why I really want to see what they are like when meeting in secret. I want to confirm whether it's true."
It's not over yet.
"Well, but you can't just expect to run into them whenever they're alone, right?"
Today was just a coincidence. It's not weird to encounter each other while going about their daily lives. However, spotting and observing them together at a specific location is rather hard.
"I've just finished collecting data today. Next time, I'll be able to pinpoint their meeting location."
"Data? You have things like that?"
Yanami asked curiously.
"Yes, my analysis is based on a detailed and concrete investigation and the collected data. To put it simply, this was the last piece of the puzzle."
She slowly took out a small bag from her pocket. She grabbed it with both hands and tried to squeeze out the contents. It's a bar of Black Thunder Chocolate. Yanami's eyes suddenly lighted up.
"Does Yanami-san want some too?"
"Can I?"
Yanami leaned forward and took the Black Thunder. She then nodded at me with a serious look.
"Nukumizu-kun, I like this girl."
Aren't you too easy?
"Asagumo-san, I can get you something to eat if you're hungry."
"No worries. I just want to replenish my sugar level. My brain needs sugar to function."
Asagumo-san took out another Black Thunder.
"Even though glucose tablets work better, I'm a girl. I can't resist sweets."
"Oh, you love sweets?"
She showed a helpless expression at my half-hearted reply.
"The neurotransmitters produced from ingesting sugar stimulate the reward system in the brain. This is a logical conclusion. Please don't think of me as a gluttonous person."
"Exactly. I get you. I really do, Asagumo-san."
Yanami nodded. Her eyes are as clear as glass beads. No, this girl definitely doesn't get anything.
"You get me. Here are some shortbreads as well. Please enjoy."
"Nice! Thank you!"
I glanced at the gluttonous girl taking the shortbreads before speaking up.
"Anyway, I'm opposed to finding Yakishio. That girl is in our club. I won't accept your request to help."
I explained it properly. Asagumo-san lowered her head regretfully.
"…I see. Nukumizu-kun, you two don't have any motive or benefit to do that. This isn't something worthy of joining in just for the fun of it."
After that, Yanami stared daggers at me while taking bites of the shortbread.
"I'm not doing this to blame her. What happened between Mitsuki-san and me? Who is she to Mitsuki-san? I just want to figure these questions out and make the best choice."
"The best choice?"
I repeated what she said. Asagumo-san nodded quickly.
"Yes. As you already know, they have been good friends ever since they were little. I know Yakishio-san is meeting Mitsuki-san as a friend. Also, I know she… likes Mitsuki-san too."
I held my breath.
Yakishio loves Ayano. Even though I already know this, it's nerve-wracking to hear that from another person.
"I love Mitsuki-san, so I want him to be happy. Even if I'm not the one next to him."
Yanami frowned dumbfoundedly.
"Wait, Asagumo-san. So, you mean you'll give up your boyfriend to Remon-chan depending on the situation…?"
"I've thought about this before. Should those two be together instead? My sudden appearance took Mitsuki-san away after all."
A self-mocking smile appeared on her face.
"No, …I knew it from the start. I just barged in between them."
Yanami and I didn't know what to say. Asagumo-san returned to her usual cheerful smile.
"That's why I want to know what Mitsuki-san's really thinking. If his heart is really with Yakishio-san-"
She paused for a moment and straightened her back.
"-I'll let go."
Yanami and I fell into silence.
Asagumo-san chugged her iced tea. She continued calmly.
"As the litigant, I will always carry biases with respect to the intelligence I've gathered. That's why I look forward to your two's opinions as unrelated third-parties."
I understand what she's saying. However-
"I'm terribly sorry, but is it possible for you to do this alone? I don't want to be involved in something that suspects my club members."
Asagumo-san is the one who falls silent now.
She took out a variety of other snacks and spent some time eating them. She smiled to show that we didn't need to worry about her.
"Yeah, this is something that is just between the three of us. I'm sorry for trying to get you two involved."
"It's fine. …I'm sorry for not offering any help too."
A suffocating feeling weighs on my chest as I reject her. I want to understand why this is the case, yet I can't analyze and summarize it properly.
Yanami licked her fingers after finishing the shortbreads. She spoke up peacefully.
"Asagumo-san, can I help you?"
"Yanami-san!"
Yanami met my shocked eyes with a gentle smile.
"Relax, Nukumizu-kun. I'm not just joining in for fun this time."
Yanami faced Asagumo-san again with a respectful expression.
"However, don't misunderstand, Asagumo-san. Since I'm her friend, I'm on Remon-chan's side, okay?"
"I got it. Thank you very much."
The two exchanged contacts. I organized my thoughts internally.
…I'm irrelevant.
I will probably bless them if Yakishio and Ayano do go out. Of course, I think it's nice for Asagumo-san and Ayano to continue going out.
I remained silent because I couldn't come to a conclusion. Yanami glared at me.
"Well, what will you do, Nukumizu-kun?"
Yanami's blunt question doesn't sound provoking for once.
Unlike my turbulent mind, my mouth moved on its own.
"I'll help too."
"Thank you."
Asasgumo-san bowed deeply toward us after saying that.
"But I want to know how we're supposed to find out where they're going. We can't just follow them wherever they go."
Also, based on what had just happened, Asagumo-san is ill-suited to tail someone.
"It'll be fine. You two saw Mitsuki-san in that café before we met, right?"
Yanami and I exchanged looks and nodded together.
"That will be useful for adjusting my investigation."
With that, she opened her notebook and flipped through it.
Then, after reading the entire thing, she closed it and raised her head.
"I have a full understanding of this now. I can definitely pinpoint where they'll be meeting next time."
Intermission: It's Different When It Happens Before My Eyes
Class 2-3, Momozono Middle School.
After the opening ceremony, the classmates are chatting non-stop after their short farewell.
There's one girl whose an exception. Her elbows are planted on her desk as she gazes forlornly out the window.
"Onii-sama…has gone somewhere really far…"
This mumbling girl is Kaju Nukumizu.
A tall classmate walked over. She lowered her head and watched her.
"What's wrong, Nuku-chan?"
"Gon-chan…"
Kaju slowly turned her face.
The girl talking to her is Asami Gondou. She's Kaju's closest friend in class. She's relatively tall for a middle school student, which adds to her maturity.
"What's wrong? Tell me all about it."
A tinge of worry appeared in her eyes.
"Kaju has told you onii-sama has made a friend before, right…?"
"Yeah, wasn't Nuku-chan really happy?"
"I am, but that friend is a gorgeous girl."
Her body suddenly slumped onto her desk as if she had run out of energy.
"Also, the worst part is that Kaju thought onii-sama just made one friend. It turns out there's a second one. …Kaju barged into onii-sama's room a while ago, and the mood was a bit tight."
"I see. Huh, I guess your brother shouldn't be underestimated. Is he very handsome?"
Kaju immediately straightened up.
"Of course! Onii-sama is no.1 in the world-"
Kaju's eyes are sparkling like gemstones. However, a tinge of apprehension suddenly appeared in them.
"…Don't you try anything funny, okay? Kaju doesn't want to call Gon-chan onee-san."
"Onee-san?"
Gon-chan gave it some thought.
"Nuku-chan becoming my little sister, that sounds nice."
"Gon-chan!?"
"It's a joke, but shouldn't Nuku-chan be proud that your brother is popular?"
"B-But, this is…two girls at once, alright? Kaju hasn't even interviewed them."
"Didn't you say you would be thrilled if your brother got a brilliant girlfriend?"
"It's different when it's happening before my eyes. …I was going to get to know the girl onii-sama likes and watch them from afar. But, onii-sama brought two girls into his room right away and complicated the mood. …Onii-sama is in his popular phase…"
Kaju slumped back onto her desk face-first again. She's kicking her legs under the desk.
Gon-chan gently stroked Kaju's head.
"Alright, be good. I'll take Nuku-chan if that happens."
"But Kaju wants onii-sama…"
"I see. I was rejected."
Kaju raised her head off the desk.
"…But Gon-chan is Kaju's best friend."
"You're adorable, Nuku-chan. Yeah, you should be my wife."
"I can't…"
Kaju collapsed onto her desk once more as Gon-chan gave her head pats.
Kaju Nukumizu, 14 years old.
Even though she's pleased to know that her dear onii-sama has friends now, she can't work out her own feelings right away.
Gon-chan continued stroking her head as Kaju thought about that.