After Kano’s lie the table was briefly in chaos, but I cleared up the misunderstanding and order returned.
“Oh — so Yuki-senpai, you’re an alum of our school?”
“I thought you looked a bit like the Yuki-san in 1-1 — turns out you’re sisters.”
“So how do you actually know Yuito?”
“Oh — you’re all curious?”
Kano had already settled in next to me, eating, and chatting cheerfully with the three of them. They’d just met her, and she’d integrated into the group in two minutes. Vintage Kano.
We’d explained to the staff and updated the bill to five — house rules-wise, she was fine to be there. (Whether the non-classmate Kano should be crashing our after-party at all was another question.)
“So Yuito drops his soft-serve on the ground and bawls —”
“Wow — even chill-acting Yuito had a phase like that.”
“Hey, hey — Kano-san, please don’t casually expose embarrassing childhood stories.”
I cut in. Letting her continue freely was dangerous.
“Why not? I have so much more material.”
“Senpai, definitely tell us more.”
“Yeah, Yuito never talks about the past, I’m curious.”
“Any other anecdotes?”
She showed no sign of stopping. I was praying for an out — when at a nearby table, a couple in our school uniform was about to sit down.
“Wait —”
Their profiles. I made a sound, and they registered us and froze.
“What?”
“Yuito — and Kano-san?!”
Suzuno and my brother. I was thrown, and they were just as surprised.
“What a coincidence, seeing you two here! Suzuno, Ayato, are you on a date right now?”
”…Yeah.”
Suzuno answered, slightly embarrassed. My mood plummeted instantly.
“Kano-san, why are you here with Yuito and the others? Looks like a ball-sports-day after-party…”
“Stopped by after college shopping, ran into Yuito by chance. Was free, joined.”
“You’re as proactive as ever, Sis.”
My brother was visibly off-mood. Suzuno was business as usual.
”…If you’d like, do you want to come sit with us? It seems weird for you to be at Yuito’s after-party.”
“Nah, I’m in the middle of having fun with these guys. Besides, it’d be rude to crash Suzuno and Ayato’s date.”
“Right…”
He’d tried to invite her to his table and she’d cut him off cleanly. He withdrew, looking a little defeated.
To be fair — watching the girl you love sitting with other guys is not going to put anyone at ease. Reverse the situation and I’d be the same way. Especially given my brother’s jealousy.
My old anecdotes resumed, but my brother kept glancing over. Bothered him deeply.
“Big bro, you’re staring.”
“I-I am not.”
“You absolutely are. Pay attention to Suzuno.”
He’d gone up for more food and I’d followed him to deliver the warning. Doing my rival a favor felt galling, but —
Suzuno had been getting neglected and it was sad to watch. She’d come on a date with the boy she liked and now he was acting like that — devastating.
She did look a little sad. Sure, if Suzuno ended up disliking my brother, my odds with her went up.
But I didn’t want Suzuno to be hurt. So I forced down my own selfish hope and acted for her sake.
“Got it — I’ll properly reflect.”
“Counting on you.”
I’d said what I needed to. I plated some food and went back.
“What were you and Ayato talking about?”
“Just slipping him a complaint.”
She’d been watching.
“Telling him not to keep gawking at my woman, maybe?”
“Obviously not — I told him to pay attention to Suzuno.”
”…Hmm. All for Suzuno, huh.”
A flicker of bad mood ran across her face as she said it.