Chapter 3 The World Is Surprisingly Small
A week had passed since my first photo shoot with Shinomiya-san.
Even after I finished selecting, processing, and editing the photos, that event felt so surreal that I wondered if it had been a dream.
Perhaps it was because the person I worked with was a girl who sat next to me in class—a classmate so popular that she had a fan club within the school. When I did my first private shoot with Yuzha-san, I was on edge the whole time, but that was because it was my first experience. Since then, I’ve gained some experience, so while I still feel a bit nervous, I don’t lose myself completely anymore.
“Anno-kun, where are we going today? Aren’t we shooting?”
“I told you it’s shopping today, didn’t I? Shooting… well, maybe if we have extra time?”
And so came the second weekend. I had planned to laze around at home, but somehow, I ended up going out with Shinomiya-san.
Right now, we are in Akihabara. Honestly, it’s a place that doesn’t quite suit Shinomiya-san, but the only shop where I can buy the items we need for the next shoot is here, so I have no choice.
By the way, since we’re going out, Shinomiya-san is in casual clothes today.
She’s wearing a feminine brown checkered dress. With its high waist and a belt at the hips, it accentuates Shinomiya-san’s great figure even more. She looks like an intricately crafted bisque doll, and I secretly admit I was mesmerized for a moment.
When we met up at the station—once again, I arrived early and waited—people around us gasped and stared at Shinomiya-san as if they’d lost themselves. So, I’m not at fault here.
“Isn’t it unnecessary to go out of your way to prepare something so elaborate? Can’t mass-produced items work?”
As we walk through the bustling crowd—busy on weekdays and weekends alike—Shinomiya-san asks a perfectly reasonable question.
“I get what you mean. You’re saying it’s just for one shoot, so it should be fine, right?”
Shinomiya-san nods slightly at my question. She probably thinks it’s a waste of money to buy something expensive for an outfit she’ll only wear once. I don’t intend to argue against that; in fact, I think that’s the more common mindset.
“But on the flip side… since it might be a shoot we only do once, don’t you think we should put effort into the costume?”
“That’s true, I suppose…”
“Well, it depends on the case.”
Yuzha-san sometimes settles for ready-made items, but other times she spends a fortune on custom orders. She even puts time and effort into making things herself occasionally.
Of course, there are times when we reuse an outfit for a different situation or season. That way, it feels almost like shooting for the first time again.
“What matters is figuring out what’s best to bring the image we want to life. And this time, since it’s a special occasion, I thought we should go all out.”
“I understand what you’re saying. I’m glad you’re doing this, but are you sure about the money?”
“You don’t need to worry about that. The shopkeeper at the place we’re heading to is a friend, so I think he’ll be flexible.”
The shop we’re going to now is one Yuzha-san has always been close with. I heard it started with a commissioned shoot. When she posted the photos from that shoot on SNS, they went viral, racking up sales far beyond expectations. The power of a charismatic cosplayer is no joke.
“Anno-kun, are you perhaps more well-known in this industry than I thought?”
“I’m still just a rookie amateur photographer.”
After all, the only people I’ve photographed are Yuzha-san and Shinomiya-san. Popular photographers are in high demand—requests to shoot with them never stop coming.
“Oh, and one more thing in advance. The shopkeeper is a good person but a bit eccentric—kind of quirky. You might be thrown off, but try your best to roll with it.”
“Huh? What do you mean by that? He’s not a weird person, right!?”
Shinomiya-san panics, perhaps anxious. Sadly, we reach our destination before I can explain further. Without answering, I open the door and step inside.
“Wow… this is amazing.”
The moment we enter the shop, Shinomiya-san lets out an awed exclamation, her eyes sparkling.
The sheer volume of clothing hits you as soon as you walk in. There are costumes from manga, games, and anime characters, plus maid outfits and today’s target: competitive swimsuits. On top of that, they sell wigs and fabrics for custom orders—truly a treasure trove of options. There’s even a fitting room and a shooting area on the floor above, making it a cosplayer’s paradise.
“Welcooome! I’ve been waiting for you, Tak-kun!”
A needlessly burly man waves from the counter and heads toward us.
“Hello, Uezu-san. Could you please stop calling me Tak-kun already?”
“To me, Tak-kun will always be my adorable little Tak-kun! Don’t try to act cool just because you’ve got a cute girl with you!”
“Uh, um… Anno-kun? Is this perhaps…?”
Is she shocked by his over-the-top energy? Or is it the sight of a large man in full makeup that’s throwing her off? Shinomiya-san hides behind me as she asks.
“Let me introduce you, Shinomiya-san. This is Uezu Takeshi-san. He’s the shopkeeper here, capable of providing everything you need for cosplay, from ready-made items to custom orders. He looks like that and can be annoying at times, but he’s basically harmless, so don’t worry.”
“Hey, Tak-kun! Isn’t that a bit harsh for an introduction!?”
The shopkeeper protests in a booming voice, clearly unhappy with my wording. Shinomiya-san looks utterly confused. I get how she feels. When Yuzha-san first brought me to this shop—called “Emocion”—I was just as bewildered. Getting teased relentlessly by Uezu-san’s overwhelming presence is a fond memory now.
“Well, I’ll let it slide as your usual tsundere charm, Tak-kun. More importantly, won’t you introduce the girl you’re with?”
I want to retort that I’m not a tsundere, but I hold back to keep things moving.
“This is my classmate, Shinomiya Rinoa-san. We came today to buy a costume for a shoot with her.”
“Hmm… To think that Tak-kun would do a shoot with someone other than Yuzha-chan… and with such a cute classmate, no less. Did you get proper permission?”
“No comment on that. Please keep it a secret from Yuzha-san, okay?”
“That’s as good as admitting it, you know? I’ll stay quiet, but if you post the photos, she’ll figure it out in a heartbeat.”
Knowing Yuzha-san, who never misses a beat on SNS, the shopkeeper’s right. If I post anything, she’ll spot it instantly and grill me.
“Is it really possible to tell who took a photo just by looking at it?”
Shinomiya-san timidly voices a simple question. The shopkeeper responds with a warm smile.
“Of course, someone who knows what to look for can tell. The way you shoot, the composition, the editing, and the processing—all of it carries a person’s unique quirks. Especially for Yuzha-chan, who has Tak-kun as her exclusive photographer.”
“Well, I don’t plan on posting Shinomiya-san’s photos, so as long as you don’t spill the beans, it shouldn’t be a problem.”
“Oh, really? What a shame to waste such great shots.”
“Come to think of it, I never heard the full reason either. Why can’t we post them?”
The shopkeeper and Shinomiya-san ask in unison. It’s a perfectly reasonable question, and even if I were an unrelated bystander, I’d probably ask the same thing.
“Of course, I thought about posting them. But there’s a fatal reason why it absolutely can’t be made public.”
As I speak, I show the shopkeeper the photos from the other day that I’d transferred to my phone. The moment he sees them, he lets out an “Ah…” as if he’s figured it out.
“I see. You couldn’t post these even if you wanted to. Or rather, weren’t you a bit careless for once, Tak-kun?”
“Yeah… by the time I noticed, it was already too late.”
“Next time you shoot in a uniform, at least use a generic one.”
The reason we can’t share the photos is, plain and simple, that I shot them in Ginka High School’s uniform. Anyone familiar with it could tell which school it’s from just by looking at the blouse or skirt, and even if we hid her face, someone might still identify the subject from her figure.
In short, it’s to avoid her being recognized. After I explain this, Shinomiya-san nods as if it all makes sense.
“I see, so that’s how it was. Well, since it’s just for personal use, I don’t really mind.”
“It’s such a pity, though. With Tak-kun as your partner, you could probably become as big as Yuzha-chan!”
“It’s fine. That’s not really the goal here anyway.”
This isn’t about making a fan site or selling a photo book. It’s an activity for Shinomiya-san to discover a side of herself she doesn’t know.
“For someone saying that, these photos are pretty provocative, aren’t they? Oh! Could it be, Tak-kun… you just want to keep your classmate’s sexy poses all to yourself!?”
“What!? Is that true, Anno-kun!?”
“How did it turn into that…?”
I shrug in exasperation at the remarks from the two girls (?). That said, it’d be a lie to claim I could completely deny the shopkeeper’s words.
“Alright, enough teasing Tak-kun for now. Shall we get down to business?”
Uezu-san, the shopkeeper, flashes a dazzling wink that practically sparkles like a star. The gesture is cute, but his imposing appearance makes it hard to react, though saying that out loud would earn me an unquestioned fist. For now, I just nod quietly.
“You want a competitive swimsuit, right? That’s quite a bold choice for a second shoot. I don’t hate that daring vibe!”
As the shopkeeper says, I can’t deny I have my own reservations about choosing a competitive swimsuit for the next shoot after the uniform. But this was none other than Shinomiya-san’s own adamant request.
“For me, I would’ve been fine with the school swimsuit I used in middle school, but Anno-kun stopped me.”
“Ha ha ha ha! Rinoa-chan, you suggested a school swimsuit as a costume!? Did it happen to have your name written big across the chest?”
“Yes! It’s got ‘Shinomiya’ written nice and bold!”
For some reason, Shinomiya-san puffs out her chest proudly as she speaks. I clutch my head, while the shopkeeper claps his hands and roars with laughter.
“That’s amazing!! And since it’s from your middle school days, it probably doesn’t fit anymore, right?”
“I tried it on at home, and it was mostly fine. Just the chest was a little… well, no, pretty tight.”
Shinomiya-san giggles shyly as she says this. I shut down my thoughts as I wonder just how much she’s grown in a few short years for it to get that tight. Let’s pretend I didn’t hear that. Anyway, that’s not something to talk about so openly with a shopkeeper she just met.
“With boobs as splendid as yours, it’s no surprise. But wearing a too-small swimsuit with your chest practically spilling out—that’s pretty great too, right, Tak-kun?”
“Can you not drag me into this!?”
I shout at full volume in response to the shopkeeper’s question. If you asked whether I’d want to see Shinomiya-san in an ill-fitting school swimsuit or not, the answer is obviously yes, but I don’t have the guts to admit that out loud.
“What’s with the innocent act!? For a boy, a girl’s ‘my boobs are spilling out of my swimsuit!’ is pure romance!”
He grabs my shoulder and yells, his unnecessarily loud voice shaking my eardrums and brain, causing a pang of pain. I shout back just as fiercely.
“Shut up! You’ve read too many ero-doujins! Don’t say stuff like that in front of a girl who’s visiting for the first time!”
“I’ve always been like this! Business is booming! Too bad for you!”
The shopkeeper sticks out his tongue and taunts me like a child with a goofy face. I’m seized by the urge to slam a right straight into that face, but Shinomiya-san’s wry smile stops me.
“Honestly, I’d love to sit down and talk this over slowly… but I’ll let it slide for today. Rinoa-chan, could you come over here for a sec?”
“Hey, hold on a minute, you creepy shopkeeper. What are you planning to do with Shinomiya-san?”
I can’t believe he’d invite her so casually after that conversation. I instinctively step in front of Shinomiya-san to shield her, but the shopkeeper sighs in exasperation and says,
“Don’t give me that scary look. I just want Rinoa-chan to pick out the competitive swimsuit I prepared, that’s all.”
“…Oh, that’s what you meant?”
“She’ll try them on too, but I’ll leave that part to someone else, so don’t worry. So, Rinoa-chan, don’t be scared—come on over.”
I can’t help but think that’s the exact opposite of reassuring, but Shinomiya-san seems comforted by his words.
“Got it. Well then, Anno-kun, I’ll be right back.”
“…Be careful. If anything happens, scream as loud as you can, okay?”
“We’ll have a serious talk later, Tak-kun.”
With that smile and parting remark, the shopkeeper takes Shinomiya-san to the back of the store. I let out a breath, relieved it’s finally quiet, but then—
‘They’re all so cute! But aren’t they a bit too bold!?’
‘What are you saying, Rinoa-chan! That’s the best part of a competitive swimsuit! Come on, no complaints—just try them all on! My recommendation is—’
Their exchange echoes over, and I start feeling a real headache and dizziness. I’d love to escape outside, but doing that would definitely set off the shopkeeper’s wrath. I have no choice but to endure it.
“No good, Tak-kun. If you keep sighing like that, all your happiness will slip away.”
“Huh, you’re back already?”
It’s way faster than I expected—like, not even enough time to cook instant ramen.
“Of course! I felt bad leaving Tak-kun all alone, so I hurried back!”
“…What’s the real reason?”
“Rinoa-chan started trying stuff on before I could even recommend anything, so I ended up with nothing to do.”
He says this with a wry smile, adding that it’s a first for him. Leave it to Shinomiya-san to throw off someone with runaway energy like that. It took me quite a while to get used to him myself.
“But seriously, I was shocked. Tak-kun coming here with someone other than Yuzha-chan? Is it going to snow tomorrow or something?”
“…It’s just how things turned out. I never imagined I’d end up photographing anyone besides Yuzha-san either.”
I figured I’d be stuck as Yuzha-san’s exclusive photographer for at least a few more years. Who’d have thought I’d end up doing secret shoots with a classmate?
“Well, if you ask me, Yuzha-chan’s just too selfish. They say you should let a cute kid go out and explore, so what’s she so worried about?”
“That’s what I’d like to know most… Not that I’m complaining, though.”
Being the only one who gets to do private shoots with a top-tier cosplayer that everyone wants to photograph is pure bliss for a cameraman.
“That’s exactly why I was so happy when you texted me, ‘I’m doing a shoot with someone besides Yuzha-san, so I’m coming to look at costumes.’ And then you show up with a girl just as cute as Yuzha-chan—my excitement went through the roof, double-time!”
He slaps my shoulder hard while laughing uproariously. He’s way buffer than me, so each hit is forceful and painful.
“Just what kind of tricks did you use to snag a cutie like that!? With that face and figure, she’s gotta be super popular at school!”
“Oh, she is… Popular enough to have a fan club at school, even.”
“Then I’m dying to know what kind of smooth moves you pulled! You didn’t blackmail her with some dirt, did you?”
“Haha…”
The shopkeeper gives me a deadpan stare, and I let out a nervous laugh, looking away. I can’t exactly say I’m the one being blackmailed here.
“Wait a sec, Tak-kun!? No matter how cute Rinoa-chan is, you can’t blackmail her! That’s straight out of an ero-doujin!”
Flustered, he grabs my shoulders and shakes me back and forth. It’s dizzier than any amusement park ride.
“So what’s the deal, Tak-kun!? Depending on the situation, I’ll take you straight to the cops—so spill everything!”
“F-First, let go of my shoulders and stop shaking me…”
Any more of this, and I’ll feel motion-sick enough to puke. But my desperate plea doesn’t reach the shopkeeper, who’s turned into a runaway train. Someone help me.
“—Don’t worry, Uezu-san. My relationship with Anno-kun is perfectly wholesome.”
Just as I’m about to lose my dignity, Shinomiya-san returns from the back, having finished trying on clothes. She’s holding a neatly folded swimsuit in her hands.
“Right, Anno-kun? There’s nothing shady between us, is there?”
“…Yes, that’s right.”
Shinomiya-san flashes me a dainty smile. I nod. It’s definitely not because I’m caving to pressure.
“So there’s no need to worry. The photos you saw earlier weren’t Anno-kun’s instructions—I just ended up taking them off unconsciously.”
“That makes me a little worried about future shoots… but if Rinoa-chan’s fine with it, I won’t say anything more. Just come to me right away if anything happens, okay?”
“Thank you for everything. If Anno-kun ever does anything naughty, I’ll report it immediately.”
“Even if the world turned upside down, I wouldn’t do that!”
“Are you saying Rinoa-chan isn’t charming!? You took such lewd photos and felt nothing!? That’s just too rude!”
No matter how I answer, I’m doomed to get scolded—it’s beyond unfair. If I’d said I got excited or wanted to pounce, that’d be a one-way ticket to being hauled off.
“Joking aside, Rinoa-chan, did you pick a swimsuit?”
“Yes. They were all so cute, it was tough to choose, but I managed to decide. Thank you for letting me try them on too.”
“It’s fine! They’re all prototypes for this summer’s new lineup, so take whichever one you like! But in return, I’m counting on you after the shoot, okay?”
Shinomiya-san responds to the shopkeeper’s shady wink with a cheerful, ‘Yes, leave it to me!’ I hope they’re not making secret deals behind my back.
“Wait a sec, shopkeeper. I didn’t hear anything about you handing over prototypes. What exactly are you planning to have Shinomiya-san do!?”
All I told him in advance was that we were coming to look at costumes. How did it turn into giving away new prototypes?
“If I’d told you beforehand, you’d definitely have said no, Tak-kun! Just accept someone’s kindness once in a while!”
“Of course I’d say no! Yuzha-san’s one thing, but Shinomiya-san’s a total amateur! No matter how cute she is, I don’t think she’d have any promotional value. Plus, I have no intention of releasing the photos anyway!”
“That’s why I said it’s a prototype! And I’m not planning to use Rinoa-chan as a promo model or anything!”
Then why ask Shinomiya-san for anything at all? Also, Shinomiya-san, why are you blushing?
“All I want to ask Rinoa-chan is to give me her thoughts on the prototype. How it felt to wear, how it worked during the shoot—good points, bad points, raw feedback like that.”
“Oh, so that’s what you meant by prototype…”
“Of course, I’ll find other girls who might wear the leftovers and ask them the same thing.”
According to the shopkeeper, the prototypes arrived at the same time I contacted him. Since they’re not for sale, he immediately thought of handing them over and getting feedback.
“So don’t worry about it and take it home. If you end up liking it, come back and buy something from us next time.”
“…Got it. Thank you, shopkeeper.”
“I’ll make sure to send you a detailed review!”
Shinomiya-san and I both bow to this eccentric but generous adult. Moments like this really drive home how I’m still just a kid.
“So don’t sweat it. But Rinoa-chan, before you go, can I ask you something?”
“? What is it?”
“Rinoa-chan, are you by any chance the little sister of Alice Shinomiya, the model?”
The moment the shopkeeper casually asks this, the soft smile on Shinomiya-san’s face vanishes. The air in the shop tenses up instantly, and the shopkeeper and I exchange a quick glance.
“…Yes, Alice Shinomiya is indeed my older sister. What about it?”
Her voice is low and chilling. There’s no outright hostility, but her sharp gaze suggests that picking the wrong response could lead to an instant game over.
“Oh, no, it’s just that I worked with her a few times. Your vibe felt similar, and with the same family name, I wondered if maybe… She mentioned having a cute little sister too.”
“…I see.”
Shinomiya-san mutters this with a face like she’s bitten into something bitter. She’s not blushing from happiness—quite the opposite, it seems.
“There’s no deeper meaning to it, so don’t worry. Sorry for asking something weird out of the blue.”
“No, it’s fine. I was just a little surprised that my sister knows you, Uezu-san.”
She says this with a smile, and the color returns to her expression, much to my relief. The frigid atmosphere in the room warms up again.
“Well, shopkeeper, we’ll be heading out now.”
“Oh, is it that time already? Sorry for keeping you. I’m looking forward to the photos and the feedback.”
“Thank you for everything, Uezu-san. I’ll send the review, so please look out for it.”
We bow one last time, and with the shopkeeper waving us off with a smile, we leave ‘Emocion’ behind.
＊＊＊＊＊
The sun had already begun to set by the time we left the shop. I didn’t think we’d stayed that long, but trying on so many outfits must have added up.
If we went home and started a shoot now, it’d be late at night by the time we finished. It’d probably be best to call it a day here. I open my mouth to suggest that, but—
“Hey, Anno-kun. Is it okay if I come over to your place after this?”
Shinomiya-san beats me to it.
“Even if you come over, we can’t really shoot today.”
It’s just past 5:30 p.m. now. The train ride home takes about thirty minutes, so it’s not far, but doing anything would quickly turn into a late night.
“I know that. I was thinking we could plan out how we want to do the shoot together. What do you think?”
She’s right—there’s no harm in planning ahead. Sharing a vision beforehand means we can take more time shooting and make adjustments as needed.
“I’d love to do that, but… does it have to be today?”
“They say strike while the iron’s hot, right? Since I got to try on the swimsuit, I want to solidify the image as soon as possible.”
“…That’s a fair point.”
“And don’t worry about the time. It’s not a problem if it gets a little late.”
Shinomiya-san says this with a faintly lonely smile. Between her reaction to the mention of her sister and this, I’m starting to worry, but like her reason for wanting me to photograph ‘a side of herself she doesn’t know,’ it’s not a topic I should carelessly pry into.
“If anything, tomorrow’s a day off too, so how about a sleepover at your place, Anno-kun?”
“No way in hell! The most I’ll agree to is eating dinner together!”
If it got out that we went shopping together—especially since we bought a swimsuit, even if it’s for a shoot—I’d already be blacklisted. A sleepover? I’d be executed on the spot without a chance to explain. Eating dinner together isn’t much better, though.
“Fine. I’ll compromise with dinner for today. Be grateful for my generosity, okay?”
“Generosity? Thanks to your selfishness, I’ve got a headache that hurts…”
“You’re a boy, so let’s not sweat the small stuff! By the way, Anno-kun, is there anything you want to eat?”
Her question makes me pause. ‘What do you want for dinner?’ is easily in the top three hardest questions to answer on the spot.
It’s been over a year since my parents went overseas for work. They send me a decent allowance, but I try to cook for myself. That said, I can’t make anything fancy, and my repertoire is limited, so—
“Do you have anything you want to eat, Shinomiya-san? I’ll go with that.”
I dodge the question by throwing it back at her. She’s the guest, after all. It’s the host’s job to serve what the guest likes. Probably.
“Actually, there’s something I’ve always wanted to try! Is that okay!? It’s okay, right!? I’m not taking no for an answer!”
“Then don’t ask me in the first place!”
This isn’t just selfishness or being pushy—it’s the mindset of a dictator who believes their opinion is absolute. No amount of crying or shouting will change the outcome. How unfair. Yet, there’s something about Shinomiya Rinoa that makes me want to forgive it all with a single sigh.
“I want to try junk food!”
“…Huh?”
What’s this refined girl suddenly going on about?
“Ever since I was born, my parents have forbidden me from eating junk food because it’s bad for you. So I thought this would be my chance to finally try it…!”
“I-I see…”
Overwhelmed by her intensity as she leans in close, I step back. It’s definitely not because her sweet, pleasant scent caught me off guard and made my heart skip a beat.
“But if you insist on home cooking, Anno-kun, that’s a different story. By the way, my favorite food is hamburgers.”
“Why am I the one cooking!? Isn’t this the part where you say, ‘I’ll cook for you!’ like in a manga!?”
“‘Boys don’t belong in the kitchen’ is outdated, Anno-kun! Dual-income households are the norm now, so it’s not weird for you to cook for me!”
“Grr…! Spouting flawless logic only when it suits you…!”
I groan, and Shinomiya-san puffs out her chest triumphantly, smirking. That childish, cute expression drains all the venom from me.
“Fine… I get it. Then let’s just call it a day—”
“Planning the shoot at your place and having a junk food dinner!”
Sadly, my opinion gets overwritten. If she wants it that bad, why not just go with friends after school? When I ask, she gives a wistful smile.
“Friends, huh? Yeah… it’d be nice, but it’s not that easy.”
“Really? Wouldn’t everyone jump at the chance if you asked?”
They’d probably come running with glee. If she asked her fan club, it’d be a done deal—though that might spark a bloody war among the members, especially her personal guard.
“Sure, the people around me are all nice, and they might come if I asked, but whether that makes them ‘friends’ is another matter.”
“…?”
I’m even more confused. Does that mean the classmates she chats with happily every day in the classroom aren’t her friends?
“I might sound rude saying this, but just because you talk to someone doesn’t mean they’re your friend. Especially if you can see through their real intentions.”
“…Oh, I get it now.”
“Despite how I look, I’m pretty guarded and don’t trust people easily. I’m a cold person. Are you disillusioned?”
She says this with a self-deprecating laugh, as if she thinks her way of feeling is abnormal. But I don’t think it’s anything special.
“Nah, I’m not disillusioned. Isn’t that actually a good thing?”
“…Huh?”
My answer seems to catch her off guard, and she stops in her tracks. I chuckle inwardly—it’s not that surprising—and share my take.
“Same as you, Shinomiya-san. I’ve only got one person I’d call a friend. He’s the only one I’ve told about doing photography too.”
If that friend were here, he’d probably tease, ‘You don’t talk to many people anyway,’ but since he’s not, I’ll ignore that and move on.
“Finding someone you trust enough to bare your soul to is rare. If you can count them on two hands by the time you die, that’s plenty, right?”
“Hehe. You might be right. You do say smart things sometimes, Anno-kun.”
I want to snap back that the ‘sometimes’ was uncalled for, but it’s true, so I swallow it. Seeing Shinomiya-san brighten up makes me happy, so I decide to throw in some lofty advice as payback.
“Well, here’s the thing. It’s not too late to find at least one person you can call a friend. Then you can go eat junk food whenever you want.”
“No need to worry about that. I just made a friend right now. From here on, I plan to spend more time with them.”
“…Mind telling me who this friend is? It’s not, by any chance—?”
“Hehe. Well, who do you think it is? Go ahead and guess! I won’t confirm the answer, though!”
With a beaming smile, Shinomiya-san grabs my hand and starts running. She grips it so firmly that I can’t shake her off.
“Come on, let’s go, Anno-kun! We need to hurry home and plan what to eat!”
“We’re planning the shoot, not the meal! Eating isn’t the main point here!”
“Don’t sweat the small stuff! To your house—let’s go!”
Shinomiya-san charges forward, ignoring the crowd. I have a mountain of things to say—like how running suddenly is dangerous or not to lose sight of the original goal—but the warmth from her hand feels so comforting that I can’t bring myself to speak.
And that’s not all. For a fleeting moment, the thought crosses my mind that I want this time with Shinomiya-san to last longer, and the corners of my mouth lift into a smile.
This won’t do. I need to take control somewhere along the line, or I’m confident I’ll fall so deep I’ll consider joining her fan club. That can’t happen. Stay strong, Takumi Anno.
But despite my resolve, it’s all in vain. Even after we get home, I keep getting swept along by Shinomiya-san’s pace. She suddenly suggests changing into the swimsuit to solidify the shoot’s concept, or insists on ordering pizza for a party. It’s an absolute mess.
Still, eating dinner with someone while laughing and making a ruckus for the first time in a while is delicious, and the thought of doing this again together slips into my mind—a secret I’ll keep to myself.
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