Chapter 7: Use a Bicycle to Explore the Neighborhood.
Saturday, the day of my date with Saho Minakata.
“Uuuuugh… hmm…”
Waking up early due to sheer nervousness, I—Sora Tsuzuki—stood groaning in front of the mirror in my room, meticulously scrutinizing the clothes I was planning to wear today.
While our meeting time was set for 1:00 PM, it was currently not even 9:00 AM. Since the meeting spot was quite close, I still had about three hours of leeway. However, my heart didn’t feel like it had any leeway at all.
I had been blessed with the chance to go out alone with a girl I’d admired since entering high school, lucky enough to steal a march on every other male student. I couldn’t afford to compromise; I had to create the absolute “best version” of myself in my entire history.
“It’s no use! None of these feel right!”
Since I never imagined a day like this would come, I didn’t own a single “killer outfit” suitable for hanging out with a girl. I tossed the rejected clothes onto the floor and dove onto my bed in desperation. Then, worrying that I might mess up my styled hair, I hurriedly sat back up.
“Sigh… What am I supposed to do about this?”
“You seem to be in a bind, young man.”
“A big one. I have no fashion sense; I have no idea what the right answer is.”
“Surprisingly, playing it safe is usually best. It’s fine to try to look better than you are, but it’s pathetic if you trip over yourself. You won’t fail if you wear clothes that fit your stature and focus on not letting things fall apart from there.”
“I guess that makes sense… Wait, why are you just casually walking into my room!?”
I raised my voice at my older sister, Kanami Tsuzuki, who had slipped into my room without making a sound. I had been drawn into the conversation so naturally that my reaction was delayed.
“Well, you see, despite it being Saturday, I kept hearing noises from the room next door and it woke me up. Then I peeked into Sora’s room, saw you were having some kind of ‘fun,’ and just ended up coming in.”
“I woke you up because I was too loud? Sorry.”
Now that I was calm, looking at my sister still in her pajamas—a short-sleeved T-shirt and shorts—I suddenly felt guilty for disturbing her precious sleep.
On weekdays, my sister wakes up early to make breakfast, but because she’s up so early every morning, she usually sleeps until noon on weekends and holidays when she doesn’t have vocational school. Her room is right next to mine, and the wall separating them isn’t exactly thick. On a quiet morning in the countryside, even the slightest noise can be incredibly distracting.
“You’ve got a date today, right? Don’t sweat it. It’s only natural for you to be flying high.”
However, my sister just gave a carefree laugh and waved her hand dismissively.
“Even so, this is rare. Sora, the guy with zero interest in fashion, is actually trying to look stylish? You usually don’t even touch hair wax, let alone style your hair like that.”
“Well, you know… once in a while.”
“It doesn’t suit you.”
“Don’t be so brutally honest!?”
I’d had a nagging suspicion myself, but hearing someone else say it so bluntly drained whatever confidence I had left.
“Sorry, sorry, I phrased that wrong. I mean your styling is so bad it looks unnatural.”
“…I can’t help it. It’s been ages since I used this stuff.”
“I get that you’re fired up for the date, but doing things you’re not used to will just throw you off. You shouldn’t just style it for ‘the big moment’; you should be practicing normally so you’re ready when the moment actually comes.”
I wanted to argue, but I couldn’t find a single word to counter her advice. On school mornings, I never had time to do more than fix my bedhead; I was starting to seriously regret my past laziness.
“I mean, why are you so obsessed with your clothes and hair today of all days? There’s nothing wrong with how you usually look.”
“There’s nothing wrong with it… I just want to make the best impression possible.”
“Even if you dress it up, doesn’t Yua-chan prefer the usual Sora?”
My sister tilted her head with a blank expression. It seemed she was under the impression that I was going out with Yua. …Come to think of it, I hadn’t actually told her who I was meeting.
“Just so you know, the person I’m going out with today isn’t Yua.”
“Huh? Then which ‘piece of horse shit’ are you going out with?”
“You mean ‘of some pedigree,’ not ‘piece of shit.'” I had no intention of going out with horse dung.
“…This isn’t some ‘honey trap’ scam, is it?”
“That’s rude to someone you don’t even know. She’s just a girl in my class.”
“Heh, Sora going out with some chick other than Yua-chan? …Hmm.”
Normally, she would have teased me mercilessly and enjoyed my reaction, but today, my sister stroked her cheek with a look of dissatisfaction.
“Does Yua-chan know about this?”
“? Yeah, she does.”
“And she didn’t say anything to you?”
“She said, ‘Congratulations’ and ‘Have a good time’…”
“Ahhh. I see, I see.”
She looked like she had something more to say, but she seemed to accept it for now, nodding to herself as if to say, “Well, if Yua-chan is cool with it, then whatever.”
The reaction Yua showed when I told her I’d made a date during our walk home—that fog was still lingering deep in my chest.
My sister was probably sensing the same thing I had felt: I had conceitedly assumed that Yua might show some kind of rejection toward me going out with another girl. Yet, in reality, far from showing that kind of reaction, she had even given me words of encouragement.
Yua and I are just childhood friends, just friends of the opposite sex attending the same high school. And yet, I was still bound by that “promise to marry” we made when we were little.
The line she said on the day she transferred—”I was daydreaming a bit about whether we could fulfill that marriage promise if we ever met again”—kept leading my heart astray.
I was looking forward to the date with Minakata-san, and I was flying high now that my wish had finally come true. Even so, the existence of Yua never fully left my mind.
“…Geez. You’ve grown up to be just as much of a sinner as your big sis.”
I was supposed to be floating on cloud nine right before my date, yet my heart was being pulled away by these heavy thoughts, leaving my emotions in a tangled mess. My sister let out a deep sigh at the sight of me.
“Meeting a girl with a face like that is just plain rude to your date, you know.”
Sitting on the edge of the bed, she grabbed both my cheeks with one hand. Forcing my face toward her, she reached out and touched my bangs.
“I’m deciding your hair and clothes for you.”
“Can you even style a guy’s hair?”
“I style my own hair—which is way longer than yours—every single day, don’t I? For this length, it’s literally ‘before breakfast’!”
With a serious gaze, she adjusted my bangs and then moved behind me to start on the back.
“Look, I don’t know exactly what you two are thinking about everything. But at the very least, I’m rooting for you and Yua-chan to have a ‘good relationship.'”
“…I kind of picked up on that.”
“Friends, lovers, acquaintances… no matter what you become, I just want it to be a conclusion you’re both satisfied with. But speaking strictly as your sister… honestly, as long as you’re happy, Sora, I don’t care about anything else.”
She stood up from the bed and beckoned me over.
“So, like Yua-chan said, go have fun today. If you keep that pathetic look on your face, your date’s gonna bail midway, and you’ll end up home alone sadly rubbing one out!”
Gathering the clothes scattered across the floor, she held them up one by one against me to see how they looked. Having a fashion student handle my coordination was an incredibly reassuring support for someone as indecisive as me.
☆
“Did I seriously get here over thirty minutes early?”
The meeting spot for today’s date was the front of the station I use every day for school.
I had arrived at the station far too early, so I kept glancing at the nearby clock while waiting for Minakata to show up.
No matter how nervous I felt, it would still be a while before she arrived. Unlike me, who came here by bicycle, she was taking the train. There was still plenty of time until the arrival time she’d mentioned beforehand, but it was too short a window to kill time in a cafe—and since we were going to eat during the date anyway, I wanted to avoid having anything now.
Even while looking at my phone, I was so anxious about a message from Minakata that I couldn’t focus on mobile games. All I could do was check the time over and over. For now, I’ll try to compose myself as much as possible so that I can speak properly when I’m in front of the girl I admire. With this much time, I should be able to simulate at least a few conversation topics. I don’t want to blow this chance to get closer to her—
“Tap, tap… Guess who?”
But the feelings I was trying to organize were instantly thrown into even greater disarray. My vision went pitch black as the warm, soft sensation of human skin covered my eyes.
“Mi-Minakata-san…?”
“Yep, correct!”
Sunlight flooded back into my vision as I quickly turned around. Saho Minakata let her heels touch the ground—she had been standing on tiptoe to cover my eyes—and offered an innocent smile.
“Seriously, she’s an angel…”
“An angel?”
“N-No… I was just talking to myself.”
Crap. I said that out loud.
Her lustrous blonde hair was tied in twin-tails, paired with a white blouse, a cardigan draped over her shoulders, and a mini-skirt in a subdued color—a perfectly feminine “soft and fluffy” coordinate.
Her behavior was cute enough on its own, but combined with her look today, she radiated a level of loveliness that made “angel” feel like an understatement rather than an exaggeration.
“You’re here quite early, Tsuzuki-kun. Did I keep you waiting long?”
“Not at all. But you’re much earlier than planned too, Minakata-san.”
“A little bit. I didn’t want to be late, and… well, I figured if you had arrived early, we could spend more time together. It looks like coming at this time was the right choice.”
“——!!”
Does that mean she deliberately took an earlier train just because she wanted to see me sooner?! Looking at her as she scratched her head bashfully, my expectations started to swell uncontrollably.
“…I’m happy to hear that, but were you really okay with meeting here? Honestly, if we’re hanging out in this prefecture, places like Omiya or Kawagoe would have had way more things to do.”
“It’s fine. The whole point of today is to make up for what happened. Besides, I didn’t want to drag you on a long trip just for my own selfishness.”
“The ‘making up’ part is still about mistaking me for a prowler in front of the girls’ restroom, right? That’s ancient history; I really don’t mind.”
To be honest, just being able to see her on a day off like this was more than enough. Instead of her making amends to me, I felt like I should be the one paying her for the privilege.
“Well, I also just wanted to come here. To your hometown, Tsuzuki-kun.”
“Why though…? Like I said, there isn’t much to do. As you can see from around the station, all we have are some karaoke places and a tiny game center.”
“It’s no problem even if there aren’t many attractions. There’s that saying, ‘It’s not about where you go, but who you go with.’ Plus, I wanted to see it all for myself.”
“Is there somewhere specific you want to see?”
“Nothing specific, but I wanted to get to know the town where you grew up. I feel like if I understand that, our hearts might get a little closer…”
Minakata swung her bag behind her back with both hands and started walking forward.
“So… tell me a lot about yourself today, okay?”
“——! Y-Yeah… of course!”
I never would have dreamed that Minakata, of all people, would show this much interest in me. Perhaps, taking advantage of this opportunity, my school life was about to undergo a massive change.
“It’s a bit awkward just standing around talking, so why don’t we head inside a shop? Is there anything you want to eat, Tsuzuki-kun? Since this is my treat to make it up to you, just tell me whatever you like.”
“Anything I want to eat… by the way, Minakata-san, do you have any likes or dislikes?”
“Hmm, not really. As long as it’s not insects or something bizarre.”
“Don’t worry, there aren’t any shops in a countryside town like this that serve that kind of unusual stuff.”
I wouldn’t choose that kind of place for a first date anyway, and I certainly didn’t want to eat that stuff myself. Thinking about the area around the station, there was a chain burger shop or a cheap Italian place; if we walked a bit further, there were ramen shops and cafes… Now, how should I choose?
Ramen wasn’t right if we wanted to spend a long time inside, and while a cafe was a strong candidate considering I was with a girl, I felt like I wouldn’t be able to speak properly out of nervousness in a trendy, stylish shop. In that case, for a date typical of high schoolers, a burger place or the Italian chain felt appropriate.
“…Would a fast-food chain be okay with you?”
“If you’re fine with it, Tsuzuki-kun, I’ll accompany you anywhere.”
“Then, can we go to that shop over there?”
After much deliberation, I pointed to the restaurant I had chosen.
☆
“You don’t have to hold back; we could have gone somewhere more expensive than this.”
“I wasn’t holding back. I just chose it because I like it.”
The place I chose was the burger shop in front of the station. It was a major fast-food chain with locations nationwide, in both cities and the countryside, captivating everyone from children to the elderly with its reasonable and varied menu. After setting down our bags to secure a table, the two of us headed toward the service counter.
I ordered a standard cheeseburger, nuggets, and a coke set, while she followed suit with a cheeseburger, fries, and a tea set.
“Thanks, Minakata-san. Not only did you come all the way to my hometown on a weekend, but you’re even treating me to lunch.”
“Don’t worry about it. A lot of this is just me being selfish anyway.”
Once the payment was finished and we received our respective trays, we headed back to the table we had secured and sat down.
“I have this impression that high school girls are always eating burgers with their friends, but what’s it actually like for you? Do you come to chains like this often?”
“That’s a total stereotype, but it’s not wrong. I come here with my friends quite a bit. High schoolers are basically always broke, so if it’s cheap and delicious, everyone naturally gathers there.”
Looking around, I could see she was right; the shop was filled with middle and high school students wearing school uniforms or tracksuits. Even though it was Saturday, they were likely dropping by after supplementary classes or club activities.
“Do you come here often with your friends, Tsuzuki-kun?”
“No, I haven’t been here much lately.”
“Even though it’s right in front of your local station and you use it every day to commute?”
Minakata asked back, sounding surprised.
“On weekdays, I eat the meals my family makes for me. If I take a detour on the way home from school, I’d end up getting a scolding. Though, back in elementary school, I used to come here with my friends all the time.”
Recalling those years made me feel a sudden wave of nostalgia. Back then, unable to bear the hunger after a soccer match, I would invite Yua—who had come to cheer me over—and we’d ride our bicycles to this shop.
Years have passed since then, but I wonder if she still remembers? …No, knowing her, she definitely does.
“Even though it’s in the same city, my house is a fair distance from the station, so back then, riding our bikes all the way here felt like a little adventure. …It was fun.”
I pressed my palms together for a brief “itadakimasu” and took a bite of my burger.
“That friend… was it perhaps Yushiro-san?”
“! Ah, yeah. You guessed right.”
“If I remember correctly, Yushiro-san moved away in elementary school and you two were separated, right?”
Wait, did I tell her that much? She really knows a lot about us.
“Yeah, it was in third grade when Yua transferred. …Honestly, I was pretty devastated. To this day, I’ve never made a friend I’m as close with as her.”
“So you and Yushiro-san were best friends of the opposite sex.”
Minakata lowered her gaze and murmured pensively.
“…I’m jealous of your relationship.”
“Jealous…?”
“Ah… how should I put it? Isn’t it just so dramatic to reunite with a childhood friend in high school? It feels like destiny, like something out of a romance manga… It’s the kind of classic development everyone admires.”
She interlaced her fingers and narrowed her eyes dreamily.
“Now that you’ve reunited with Yushiro-san after all this time, do you find yourself developing romantic feelings for her?”
“Romantic feelings… I’d say I don’t have them right now, I guess…”
“If you say ‘right now,’ that means there’s a possibility it could happen in the future.”
“…I wonder.”
I gave a non-committal answer to Minakata’s pointed question.
It wasn’t that those feelings were entirely absent; I certainly did see Yua as a member of the opposite sex on some level, but there was also a part of me that couldn’t fully view her as a “girl.”
After she moved and entered middle school, she had rejected a confession from a boy in her class, which triggered the bullying against her—leading her to choose “cross-dressing” as a means of self-defense.
Whether that choice was the right one is something only she can know, and since I wasn’t there to see the situation unfold, I can’t really comment on it. However, looking only at the results, I heard her masculine persona worked exactly as intended to keep boys away, and the bullying stopped.
There’s no doubt the effect of her “disguise” was profound. After all, even I, knowing the truth of the situation, have reached a point where I can’t fully perceive her as a “girl.”
“Spending time with her now, there are moments when I think she’s feminine, and I notice charms she didn’t have before… but there’s also a side of me that can’t see her entirely as a member of the opposite sex.”
“Is that because Yushiro-san is dressing like a boy?”
“Well, yeah. I guess it might be a visual thing.”
“So, if Yushiro-san keeps looking like a boy from here on out, it means romantic feelings aren’t likely to sprout anytime soon, right?”
Minakata crossed her arms and nodded with a thoughtful “Hmm, I see.” …She was so cute.
“? Tsuzuki-kun, is something wrong?”
“Ah… uh, it’s nothing! Don’t worry about it!”
Caught with a loose grin at her adorable gesture, I hurriedly tried to fix my expression. However, she seemed to have seen right through me already.
“Tsuzuki-kun, is your ‘type’ more of the cute kind rather than the cool or beautiful kind?”
“Eh… w-well, I guess so.”
“Heh, is that so~?”
Grinning mischievously, she popped a fry into her mouth.
“But you don’t have very good taste, Tsuzuki-kun. Getting all googly-eyed over someone like me who isn’t even that cute?”
“T-That’s not true!”
I reflexively raised my voice in denial.
“I mean, you’re so girly, Minakata-san… and I think you’re really, really cute…”
I argued back with momentum, but as I regained my composure, my voice grew thin and weak. My whole body started to burn as I realized the embarrassing truth that had just spilled out of my mouth.
Watching me, Minakata placed a hand over her mouth and let out a soft giggle.
“Thanks, Tsuzuki-kun. I don’t get complimented by boys very often, so I’m happy.”
“I’m sure the other guys think so too; they just don’t say it out loud.”
“Even if they think it, people are more attracted to the ones who actually say it. Feelings don’t get across unless you put them into words, you know?”
With that, she picked up another fry and held it out toward me.
“In return for that compliment, how about I give you a bit of ‘calculated’ fan service?”
Minakata smiled like an angel, resting her chin on her palm with her elbow on the table. Stunned by the possibility of what was coming next, I froze as she gazed at me with a gentle look in her eyes.
“Tsuzuki-kun. Say ‘aah’ for me?”
Was I really allowed to experience something so dreamlike?
Shame and joy swirled together, making it impossible to keep a straight face. I’m certain that from Minakata’s perspective, I must have looked incredibly creepy right then.
“Come on, say ‘aah’!”
“A-Aah…”
I closed my eyes and opened my mouth, and Minakata guided the fry in. It was just for a fleeting moment—but in that instant, I was filled with a sense of pure superiority. The salty seasoning of the fry tasted sweet, flavored by her voice and her scent. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to forget this flavor for the rest of my life.
☆
“It’s dangerous, so shouldn’t we just take the bus…?”
“The bus follows a set route. Besides, it’ll be easier for you to show me around if you’re on your bike, right?”
It was just past 2:00 PM. After spending over an hour chatting at the burger shop, we finally left and were preparing to move elsewhere. That said, there aren’t many entertainment facilities nearby. Even heading to the nearest shopping mall would take too long on foot, even if it’s fine by car.
So, we decided not to set a specific destination and instead tour the neighborhood by bicycle. Honestly, I wasn’t thrilled about the idea of riding around my hometown—a place with no tourist spots or fun facilities—but since Minakata said she “wanted a tour,” I didn’t have much of a choice.
“This is just my old ‘mamachari’ city bike… think you can ride it?”
I pulled the bicycle out of the parking area and straddled the saddle.
Deciding on the bicycle as our means of transportation was all well and good, but it wasn’t as if a spare bike was conveniently lying around. Unfortunately, the only one available was this single unit I had ridden here. This meant we would inevitably have to ride double, which left no choice but for Minakata to sit behind me—on the luggage rack.
If the police caught us, we’d definitely be stopped, and the thought of causing her an injury while riding double made me even more reluctant.
“Yeah, I think I can manage this! It’s been a while since I’ve ridden on the back of a bike, so I’m looking forward to it!”
On the other hand, contrary to my inner turmoil, Minakata was in high spirits and ready to enjoy the ride. I scanned her entire person, searching for any other argument that might overturn the plan for double-riding.
“Minakata-san, um… are you okay riding like that in a skirt?”
“Tsuzuki-kun, have you been worrying about that this whole time?”
“No… I wasn’t ‘worrying’ about it, it just looked like it would be really hard to straddle the bike!”
“You’re acting suspicious because you’re flustered. Honestly, you really are a boy, aren’t you?”
I knew she was teasing me. And yet, strangely, it didn’t feel bad.
“But you’re right, this skirt might make it difficult to ride. I’d have to spread my legs pretty wide.”
“Right? So, maybe it’s better if you don’t force yourself onto the back…”
“But hey, wouldn’t this way work just fine?”
Minakata wrapped both arms around my waist and sat down sideways on the luggage rack, keeping her legs together. The sudden physical intimacy nearly caused me to lose my balance for a second, but I desperately steadied myself.
Doing something I wasn’t used to was one thing, but doing it with Minakata was incredibly bad for my heart… With her warmth transmitting through our clothes, I didn’t think my brain was going to function normally.
“Are you good to go, Tsuzuki-kun? It looks harder to steer than if I were straddling it normally.”
Riding double requires a good sense of balance in the first place, and if I drove poorly, there was a risk of us both getting hurt. It wasn’t something I could easily agree to, but—
“I can do it. I’m good.”
I ended up saying it.
If I had said “It’s impossible” and turned her down, I would have ended this blissful moment of physical closeness with my own hands. I could see a future where I’d be absolutely crushed by regret. I gave the pedals—now significantly heavier—a full rotation and began to cycle with more caution than I had ever used in my life.
Being near the station, there were naturally more people and cars than elsewhere, but once we passed through the shopping district and headed further out, the presence of others vanished almost entirely. Compared to my elementary school days, the town’s vitality seemed to be slowly fading year by year. The familiar candy store had closed, abandoned houses had cropped up before I knew it, and even though it was a Saturday, I could hardly see any children playing outside. And yet—
“Heh. So this is the home ground where you used to have matches back in elementary school, Tsuzuki-kun.”
Even though so much had changed, having someone show genuine interest in the place where I grew up felt surprisingly good.
Starting from the station, I guided her through the places most familiar to me: the shopping street, the athletic field, the hot springs, the junior high, the commercial facilities, the park, and finally the elementary school, digging up memories as we went. Honestly, a part of me wondered, Is she actually enjoying listening to this? But Minakata seemed genuinely fascinated, listening intently to every word.
However, as we talked, I was reminded once again that in almost all—no, all—of my stories, the existence of “Yua Yushiro” was lurking. I realized more than ever that my memories simply wouldn’t exist without her.
“—Hey, Tsuzuki-kun. Are you listening?”
“Eh…? Ah, sorry…”
Lost in thought, I had even lagged in responding to Minakata’s voice.
“I couldn’t hear you over the sound of the wind. Was it something important?”
“We just passed the elementary school you went to, right? So I was wondering if your house is close to here too.”
“Yeah, it’s just a short bike ride away.”
“…I thought so. By the way, roughly where is it?”
“Where? You mean in which direction?”
“Yeah, exactly. I don’t have any deep reason, but… I was just a little curious.”
It felt like she was being somewhat suggestive, but it wasn’t as if she was learning the location of the Tsuzuki household to stage a break-in.
“It’s close by. Since we’re here, do you want to stop by?”
“Eh… r-really? Is it okay?”
“Well, I can’t exactly let you inside the house.”
Unlike Yua, a childhood friend who had been over countless times since we were kids, inviting Minakata in on the very first date might make me look like a shallow guy. Plus, above all else, my sister is home today. I have no idea how she’d react if I brought Minakata back, and if she decided to show up in cosplay like last time, the rumors would spread like wildfire and my school life would be over.
I changed direction while she was still on the back and pedaled toward my house.
“It seems like you’ve been walking home with Yushiro-san lately, but did you walk home together back then too?”
“From first to third grade, when she lived here, we were together almost every day. It was a small school, so there was only one class for our grade.”
“Then… then the direction of your houses was the same too?”
“Up to a certain point. From my place to Yua’s house, it only takes a few minutes by bike. …Ah, we actually stayed together right up to this T-junction.”
“Then, should we go see Yushiro-san’s house while we’re at it…?”
“I’m not really comfortable giving tours of other people’s houses.”
“Haha. …Yeah, I guess so.”
From the elementary school to the Tsuzuki residence, it takes less than five minutes by bicycle. And after a few minutes—perhaps because the small talk with Minakata kept me distracted, or because my pedaling speed had increased since elementary school—we reached the Tsuzuki house in what felt like a flash.
—However, at the exact moment I arrived with Minakata in tow, I was struck by a miracle I definitely hadn’t asked for.
“…Sora?”
Cold sweat trickled down my neck as my name rained down from above. Even without looking, I could easily guess the owner of that voice. In fact, at this time of day, there was only one person who could be inside the Tsuzuki residence.
Looking up at the balcony, I saw my sister, Kanami, hanging out the laundry.
“You’re back pretty early. Did you get dumped already and come scurrying home? …Wait, hey, Sora. You’ve got a female wraith haunting your back.”
“I haven’t even confessed, and you’re being way too rude!”
The moment I raised my voice, Minakata—the one currently being labeled a wraith—stepped down from the bike rack and gave a polite bow to my sister on the second floor.
“You’re Sorato-kun’s older sister, right? Nice to meet you. I’m Saho Minakata.”
“Oh, so you are alive. I was about to send him to get an exorcism for the bike and everything.”
My sister crossed her arms, sharpening her gaze as she looked down at us on the ground.
“Um, Tsuzuki-kun? Your sister looks really angry. I don’t think I’ve done anything wrong yet…”
“Sorry, she just has bad eyes and a bad mouth. You don’t need to worry about it.”
I tried to soothe Minakata, who was visibly intimidated by my “mild-delinquent” sister, and let out a deep sigh.
“Sis, knock it off. To anyone not used to it, your ‘vibe’ just sounds like you’re a mean-spirited person.”
“In this town, if you let people look down on you the moment you meet, it’s game over.”
“Are you and I living in different worlds or something?”
I’ve never once encountered a delinquent around here who picks a fight the moment they see you. Except for my sister.
“For now, just wait a sec. I’m gonna go down and deliver a proper greeting.”
“A greeting isn’t something you ‘deliver’ like a blow!”
The moment my sister turned her back to us, I could hear the faint sound of someone racing down the stairs inside the house.
“Yo… Sorry to keep you two waiting.”
Stepping out of the front door in the same short-sleeved T-shirt and shorts pajama set she’d been wearing this morning, my sister gave us a casual wave. Since it was her day off and she probably hadn’t intended to see anyone but family, her look was so rough that you couldn’t find a single trace of her being a fashion student.
“Late on the intro, I guess. I’m Kanami Tsuzuki, this guy’s older sister.”
“Sis, the introduction is fine, but first, apologize for that weird way you picked a fight the moment you saw her.”
“You mean for calling her a wraith? I couldn’t help it; I felt a powerful evil energy coming off her.”
“Even as a joke, that’s so rude to say to her face… Besides, you’re not even the type to believe in spiritual stuff.”
“Tsuzuki-kun, it’s okay! I really don’t mind!”
Sensing my irritation beginning to simmer due to my sister’s attitude, Minakata hurriedly stepped between us to keep the peace.
“Your name was Saho Minakata-chan, right?”
“Eh? Yes, that’s right…?”
Once my sister confirmed her name, she began to pace around Minakata, staring her down from head to toe with an intense, scrutinizing gaze.
…This was bad. My sister has a “taste” for girls, too. Being a connoisseur of beauty regardless of gender, she has a terrible habit of getting uncomfortably close to anyone with a good-looking face. And Minakata was easily one of the top-tier beauties in our grade.
If she started cracking dirty jokes like she does when Yua comes over, my reputation at school would be at stake. And if they ended up going inside, there was a real chance she’d pester her to “try on some cosplay.”
I mean, I would like to see Minakata in a maid outfit, but still!
“Hmm, I see, I see.”
However, my sister’s next move was quite different from what I had imagined. She took a step back from Minakata and let out a bored yawn.
“…Well then, pedal that bike so you don’t crash. Also, there are lots of cops out at this time of day, so it’ll be a pain if you get caught riding double.”
“Wait, you’re not going to try and bring her inside?”
“Little brother. Do you honestly think I’m some kind of tramp who drags just anyone into the house?”
I had been completely convinced she was going to haul us both inside, but my sister just shook her head, looking somewhat exasperated.
“Judging by the look of it, you two didn’t plan on coming in anyway, right? I’m not the type to do something as overbearing as raining on my brother’s parade while he’s in the middle of a dream.”
“…? What exactly do you mean by that?”
“There’s no deep meaning to it. It’s just that I didn’t happen to have any cosplay outfits on hand that would suit the little lady there.”
My sister gave me a light pat on the back and offered a parting word: “Be careful out there.”
“Don’t worry, I plan on driving safely.”
“Riding double isn’t ‘safe’ to begin with, idiot.”
☆
The time was just before 5:00 PM. Between the various detours we took and the fact that I was cycling much slower than usual, a considerable amount of time had passed by the time we arrived back at the station.
“Thank you for today. I had a lot of fun getting to talk about all sorts of things.”
After returning the bicycle to the parking area and walking Minakata to the ticket gates inside the station, she offered a small bow and a smile.
“I-I had fun too…! Thank you for coming all this way to see me!”
“I’m glad to hear that. To be honest, I was incredibly nervous about meeting you today…”
Minakata looked down at a slight angle, speaking shyly. She hadn’t looked nervous at all, but knowing that she felt the same way I did made me feel a surge of joy and a sense of closeness.
“But I’m sorry for such an early goodbye. I wish we could stay together longer, but a sudden errand came up…”
Originally, we had planned to eat dinner together, but after hearing the details, it turned out a sudden family dinner had been scheduled, so we were to part ways here for the day.
“Don’t worry about it. Just being able to see you like this was more than enough for me.”
“Really…? But I wanted to make things up to you today; I won’t feel right if we leave it like this. …Could I make it up to you another time instead?”
“Make it up to me…?”
“Yeah. Would you meet me one more time sometime soon? I was hoping we could go out for dinner then. …What do you think?”
“O-Of course! I’d be happy to…!”
“Yay…! It’s a promise, Tsuzuki-kun.”
Minakata held out her pinky, and though I was a bit flustered, I hooked my own finger around hers. I couldn’t believe I had secured a second chance to see her alone again so quickly.
“I have my part-time job and various other prior engagements, so I’m not sure exactly when the timing will work out… but I’ll contact you later, okay?”
“Got it. I’ll be looking forward to it.”
Minakata unhooked our pinkies, passed through the ticket gate, and headed toward the platform. As I watched her go, she stopped just before the stairs and gave me a big wave.
“Bye-bye! See you at school!”
“See you… see you at school!”
When I waved back, she flashed a grin and disappeared down the stairs.
Saho Minakata—my first date with the class idol. I felt a definite sense of progress. It felt like my life at school starting the day after tomorrow was going to change drastically. —However,
“…I guess this is thanks to Yua, too.”
During the date, her name had come up between Minakata and me over and over again. Without her, not only would we have run out of things to talk about, but I might not have even been able to make this “promise” in the first place. This feeling of success… it all existed only because Yua was there.
She had behaved as though she didn’t particularly mind, but how did she truly feel deep down about me and Minakata going out alone together?
Perhaps it was just my own self-consciousness, and she really didn’t feel anything at all. Yet, that thought left me with a strange, lingering itch I couldn’t quite scratch.
What on earth was I seeking from Yua? The more I thought about it, the more it brought my own subconscious to the surface—revealing just how much I cared about how I appeared in her eyes.
When I look back now, it seems that in the corner of my mind—the existence of Yua Yushiro had always been there.
