From this chapter, Chapter 2 begins.
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A few days had passed since the Hakone trip. I was at the buffet in the mall.
We’d had ball-sports day all day, and now I was at the after-party with three close classmates — Suzaki Kenji, Kamimura Shou, and Mizuhashi Kaito.
“We came in second, but it was a blast.”
“Yeah, everyone got into it, that’s what counts.”
“At the cultural festival we get revenge.”
“This time we take first.”
We were riffing while eating. (For context, the cultural festival teams are the same as the ball-sports day teams.)
At our high school, the cultural festival is run as eight cross-grade teams competing. Our class — 2-4 — is on one team with 3-7 and 1-1.
Second-years and third-years are split humanities/sciences with skewed gender ratios, so they always pair each class with one of the opposite split — to avoid all-male or all-female teams.
“Honestly though — older Kujo is so strong.”
“Ayato’s in soccer club, right? But he was insane at volleyball too.”
“We placed second only because his team beat us.”
We’d been first-place contenders against my brother’s team and lost in the very last match. Our match lineup was hand-picked for athletic skill — and we still couldn’t take them.
Their lineup was strong too, but my brother in particular was on another level — he could have been on the volleyball club and no one would’ve blinked.
“Man, I wish Ayato had been in our class.”
“With him we’d have won, no question.”
“Older Kujo’s a cheat code.”
The three of them realized what they’d said when they noticed I’d gone silent with a clouded expression. They put on we-screwed-up faces.
“B-but you scored a lot of points on serves, that’s why we won some matches.”
“Yeah, we know what you brought.”
“Your brother is just a freak, no need to take it on yourself.”
They were desperately trying to make it better. None of it landed. And worse, I felt pathetic for making my friends waste their energy on something this trivial.
I couldn’t bear to stay in my seat, so I excused myself for the bathroom and stepped outside. Needed a moment.
As I walked, I spotted a high-school couple in our uniform up ahead. A date maybe?
They turned a corner, and for just a moment I saw their faces. I made an involuntary sound.
”…What?”
It was, unmistakably, my brother and Suzuno. Suzuno wore a smile I had never seen her give me — radiating happiness.
“So Suzuno really is with him…”
Kano had told me about their Sunday date, so I’d suspected things might have progressed — but seeing it in person was a gut-punch.
I was rooted to the spot. Someone tapped me on the shoulder.
“From behind I thought it might be — and yep, Yuito.”
”…Why are you here?”
When I asked, Kano smiled.
“After classes I came shopping.”
“There’s a bigger mall closer to your college — why this one?”
“Today’s mood. What about you?”
“Ball-sports day at school — having the after-party here.”
“Got it. After-party’s now?”
“Yeah, right in the middle of it. I’m just taking a bathroom-shaped break.”
“Then you should hurry back, no? Your friends will be worried — you’ve been frozen here for a bit.”
“Wait — fifteen minutes?”
I’d told them I was going to the bathroom but the cover was obviously thin, so they had to be wondering.
“Heading back.”
“Hold on, I’m coming too.”
”…Excuse me?”
She’d dropped it out of nowhere. Did I hear that right?
“I said I’m coming. Might as well say hi to Yuito’s friends.”
“No, no, you really don’t need to.”
“Don’t be shy.”
We sparred a bit, but I lost the negotiation. (Standard outcome — once Kano gets like this, I never win.)
“Please don’t say anything weird.”
“I won’t. Your big sister doesn’t do that kind of thing.”
We went back together. The three of them looked relieved when I returned, then visibly confused at Kano beside me.
”…Yuito. Who’s the gorgeous older woman?”
“This is —”
The instant I started to explain, Kano grinned and dropped a bomb.
“I’m Yuki Kano, Yuito’s girlfriend. Nice to meet you all.”
She’d told the most outrageous lie possible, with total casualness.