Chapter 3: It's a Surprisingly Small World

A week had passed since my first photoshoot with Shinomiya-san.

Even after I finished selecting, processing, and editing the photos, the entire event still felt so surreal I half-wondered if it had all been a dream.

I imagine that was largely because the subject was the girl who sat directly next to me in class, a classmate so popular she warranted her own fan club within the school. I was completely walking on air during my first private shoot with Yuzuha-san too, but that was strictly because it was my first time. Since then, I had gained enough experience that, while I still got nervous, I no longer pushed the boundaries of losing my mind.

"Where are we going today, Anno-kun? Aren't we going to do a shoot?"

"I told you today was for shopping, didn't I? A shoot is... well, maybe if we have time left over?"

And so, the second weekend arrived. Despite my plans to laze around the house, I somehow ended up going out with Shinomiya-san.

Right now, we were in Akihabara. To be frank, it was a district completely detached from Shinomiya-san's usual world. But the only stores that sold what we needed for the upcoming shoot were located here, so beggars couldn't be choosers.

By the way, since we were out in public, Shinomiya-san was in her casual clothes today.

Her outfit consisted of a feminine, brown checkered dress. It featured a high waist with a belt, accentuating her already incredible proportions even further. She looked exactly like an exquisite bisque doll, and I'll keep it a secret that I was briefly completely mesmerized.

In fact, when we met up at the station—once again, I had arrived early and was waiting for her—the surrounding pedestrians gasped, their eyes glued to Shinomiya-san as if they'd forgotten themselves entirely. Therefore, I am not at fault in the slightest.

"Is it really necessary to go out of our way to buy something authentic? Wouldn't a mass-produced item be fine?"

As we waded through the crowds—bustling regardless of whether it was a weekday or the weekend—Shinomiya-san asked an incredibly sensible question.

"I get what you're trying to say. You think it's fine because it's an item we're only going to use for a single shoot, right?"

Shinomiya-san nodded in agreement. She likely thought dropping a lot of money on an outfit she would only wear once was a waste. I had no intention of denying that mindset; if anything, that was the normal way to look at it.

"But look at it this way... Because it's a shoot we might only ever do once, doesn't that make you want to obsess over the outfit even more?"

"Well, that is certainly true, but..."

"It's really on a case-by-case basis, though."

Yuzuha-san would sometimes settle for off-the-rack items, while other times she'd burn through her budget like water for custom-made outfits. Sometimes, she'd even dedicate massive amounts of time and effort to making them herself from scratch.

Of course, we occasionally reused old outfits, changing the scenario or season for the shoot. Doing that made it feel like we were shooting it for the very first time all over again.

"What matters most is figuring out the absolute best way to bring your vision to life. And since we're already doing this, I'm saying we should obsess over the details."

"I understand your logic. I'm very happy you're willing to do that for me, but is the money situation really going to be okay?"

"You don't need to worry about that. I'm good friends with the manager of the shop we're heading to, so they should be able to cut us some slack."

The store we were heading to was originally one of Yuzuha-san's favorites. I heard the connection started from a promotional shoot. When she posted the photos from that session on her social media, they went massively viral, generating sales that utterly shattered expectations. The sheer influence of a charismatic cosplayer was no joke.

"Are you actually a lot more well-connected in this industry than I thought, Anno-kun?"

"I'm still just a rookie amateur photographer."

After all, the only people I had ever photographed were Yuzuha-san and Shinomiya-san. If you become a popular photographer, you're constantly in high demand, receiving endless requests for shoots.

"Ah, just a heads-up. The manager is a great person, but they're a bit eccentric... or rather, they have a very strong personality. It might be a little overwhelming, but just try your best to adapt."

"Eh? What does that mean? They aren't some kind of weirdo, are they?!"

Perhaps growing anxious, Shinomiya-san began to panic. Sadly, before I could finish explaining, we arrived at our destination. Without answering, I pulled open the door and stepped inside.

"Wow... This is amazing."

The second we stepped foot inside the store, Shinomiya-san let out a gasp of admiration, her eyes sparkling.

Massive rows of clothing instantly flooded our vision. Starting with outfits worn by characters from manga, games, and anime, the store also offered maid outfits and the exact item we were looking for today: competitive swimwear. That wasn't all—they sold wigs and even raw fabric for making outfits from scratch. It was truly an all-you-can-choose paradise. With fitting rooms and a dedicated photography area on the floor above, it was absolute heaven for cosplayers.

"Welcome~! I've been waiting for you, Takkun!"

From behind the counter, an unnecessarily muscular man waved his hand as he strode toward us.

"Hello, Uezu-san. Could you please stop calling me Takkun already?"

"To me, Takkun will always be my adorable little Takkun! Don't try to act all tough just because you have a cute girl with you!"

"U-Um... Anno-kun? Is this person...?"

Perhaps shocked by his hyperactive energy, or completely bewildered by the sight of a hulking man wearing flawless makeup standing right in front of her, Shinomiya-san hid behind my back as she asked.

"I'll introduce you, Shinomiya-san. This is Uezu Takeru-san. He's the manager of this store, where you can get everything you need for cosplay, from ready-made outfits to custom orders. His appearance might be a bit much, and he can be annoying at times, but he's basically harmless, so don't worry."

"Excuse me, Takkun! Isn't that introduction just a bit too cruel?!"

Apparently displeased with my phrasing, the manager protested in a deep, booming voice. Shinomiya-san looked completely lost, unable to process what was going on. I entirely understood how she felt. The first time Yuzuha-san dragged me to this shop—called 'Emocion'—I was profoundly bewildered too. Being utterly overwhelmed by Manager Uezu's presence and getting teased mercilessly remains a fond memory.

"Well, I'll let it slide and chalk it up to your trademark tsundere act, Takkun. Setting that aside, won't you introduce me to the girl you brought with you?"

I'm not a tsundere, I desperately wanted to retort, but I swallowed the words to keep things moving.

"This is my classmate, Shinomiya Rinoa-san. Today, we came to buy an outfit for a photoshoot I'm doing with her."

"My, my... To think the Takkun would do a photoshoot with a girl other than Yuzuha-chan... and with such a cute classmate, no less. Did you properly get permission?"

"No comment on that front. And please, absolutely keep this a secret from Yuzuha-san."

"You basically just answered the question, darling. Well, my lips are sealed, but if you post the photos, I'm sure she'll find out in a heartbeat."

Yuzuha-san meticulously patrols social media without fail. Just as the manager said, if I posted them, it was guaranteed she would find them instantly and interrogate me.

"Is it really possible to tell who took a photo just by looking at it?"

Shinomiya-san voiced her simple, timid question. In response, the manager flashed her a warm smile.

"Of course it is, provided you have the eye for it. A photographer's unique quirks and habits bleed into the way they shoot, their composition, and their editing style. For Yuzuha-chan, who specifically employs Takkun as her exclusive photographer, it would be painstakingly obvious."

"Well, I don't plan on posting Shinomiya-san's photos, so as long as you keep quiet, Manager, there shouldn't be any issues."

"Oh, really? That seems like an awful waste after going through all the trouble of shooting them."

"Now that you mention it, I never asked for the exact reason either. Why is it bad to post them?"

The manager and Shinomiya-san asked in perfect unison. It was an entirely valid question; if I were an unrelated third party, I would have asked the exact same thing.

"Of course I considered posting them. But there's a fatal reason why making them public is absolutely impossible."

Saying that, I pulled up the photos from the other day on my phone and showed them to the manager. The moment they saw them, the manager seemingly realized the reason, letting out a soft "Ah..."

"I see, you couldn't post these even if you wanted to. Or rather, wasn't that incredibly careless of you, Takkun?"

"Yeah... By the time I realized it, it was already too late."

"The next time you shoot in a school uniform, please use a ready-made one, at the very least."

The reason I couldn't share the photos. Simply put, we had shot them using the official Ginka High School uniform. Anyone in the know could identify the high school just by looking at the blouse and skirt, and even if I hid her face, her distinct figure might allow someone to identify who the subject was.

In short, it was to prevent her from being doxxed. Once I explained that, Shinomiya-san nodded in understanding.

"I see, so that's why. Well, they are for my own personal use, so I don't mind either way."

"What an absolute tragedy. I bet if she paired up with you, Takkun, she could easily become a powerhouse rivaling Yuzuha-chan, don't you think?"

"It's fine. I'm not taking these photos for that kind of purpose anyway."

I had no intention of making a fan site or selling photo books. This was entirely an activity for Shinomiya-san to discover a side of herself she didn't know.

"For someone claiming that, these photos are awfully provocative, aren't they? Ah! I get it... You just want to monopolize the erotic sights of your female classmate all to yourself, don't you, Takkun?!"

"Eeeh?! Is that true, Anno-kun?!"

"How did we land on that conclusion...?"

I shrugged my shoulders in exasperation at the two girls' (?) remarks. Although, it would be a lie to say I could completely deny the manager's accusation.

"Alright, alright. I'll stop teasing Takkun for now. Shall we get down to business, darling?"

Manager Uezu fired off an adorable wink that looked like it could shoot literal stars. The gesture itself was cute, but the visual impact of their appearance was so intense I didn't know how to react. If I actually said that out loud, however, I'd be met with a merciless iron fist. For now, I stayed quiet and simply nodded.

"You're looking for a competitive swimsuit, right? That's quite a bold outfit choice for only your second shoot. I don't hate that aggressive vibe at all, though!"

Just as the manager pointed out, having the very next outfit after a school uniform be a competitive swimsuit was something I had my own thoughts about. However, it was a request from none other than Shinomiya-san herself.

"Personally, I thought the school swimsuit I used in middle school would be fine, but Anno-kun stopped me."

"Ahahahaha! Rinoa-chan, did you seriously suggest a school swimsuit for the outfit?! Let me guess, it even had your name written in massive letters right across the chest?"

"Yes! My 'Shinomiya' name tag is sewn right on there, loud and proud!"

I clutched my head as Shinomiya-san puffed out her chest, boasting proudly for some inexplicable reason, while the manager clapped their hands and burst into uproarious laughter.

"Absolutely fabulous!! And since it's from middle school, I assume it obviously doesn't fit your size anymore, correct?"

"I tried it on at home just to check, and it was mostly fine, you know? Though my chest was a bit, a little... no, it was actually quite tight."

Shinomiya-san offered a shy, ehehe laugh. Just how much did she grow in only a few years for it to get tight? Just as that thought crossed my mind, I forcibly slammed the brakes on my brain. I didn't hear a word of this conversation. Seriously, why was she talking about this so openly with a manager she just met?

"With breasts as splendid as yours, it's only natural. But you know, squeezing into a swimsuit that's too small and having your breasts look like they're about to spill out is the absolute best... Don't you agree, Takkun?"

"Could you please not drag me into this?!"

I instinctively shouted back at the manager's prompt. If you asked me whether I wanted to see Shinomiya-san wearing a school swimsuit that was a size too small, the answer was obviously the former, but I absolutely lacked the courage to admit that honestly.

"Stop playing the innocent virgin! For a boy, a girl's 'Ahhh, my breasts are going to spill out of my swimsuit!' is pure romance, isn't it?!"

They screamed while roughly grabbing my shoulders. The unnecessarily massive volume of their voice rattled my eardrums and shook my brain until it hurt, but I yelled back with everything I had.

"Shut up! You've been reading way too many erotic doujinshi! And don't say shit like that in front of a first-time female customer!!"

"I've been exactly like this since the very beginning~! And business is booming~! Too bad for you~!"

The manager stuck out their tongue, taunting me with a ridiculous, childish face. I was overcome by a sudden urge to plant a right hook squarely in that face, but I was stopped by Shinomiya-san, who was watching us with a wry smile.

"Honestly. I'd love to have a very long, in-depth chat about this... but I'll let it slide for today. Rinoa-chan, would you mind coming over here for a minute, darling?"

"Hey, hold on a second, you perverted manager. What exactly are you planning to do to Shinomiya-san?"

How could they possibly invite her over after that conversation? I instinctively stepped in front of Shinomiya-san to shield her, but the manager sighed in pure exasperation.

"Don't give me that scary look. I'm just going to have Rinoa-chan pick out the competitive swimsuits I've prepared."

"...Oh, is that all?"

"I'll have her try them on too, but I'll leave that to one of the other girls, so you can relax. That being said, Rinoa-chan, don't be scared, come on over."

If anything, I'm even more anxious now, I retorted internally, but Shinomiya-san seemed reassured by the manager's words.

"Understood. Well then, I'll be going for a bit, Anno-kun."

"...Be careful. If anything happens, scream as loud as you can, okay?"

"We are going to have a very serious talk later, Takkun."

Leaving me with a smiling threat, the manager took Shinomiya-san and disappeared into the back of the store. I breathed a sigh of relief, thinking it would finally be quiet, but...

"They're all so cute! But aren't these a bit too bold?!"

"What are you talking about, Rinoa-chan?! That's exactly what makes competitive swimsuits so wonderful! Now, stop complaining and try them all on! My personal recommendation is—"

Hearing their exchange drift over, a genuine headache and bout of vertigo washed over me. I desperately wanted to evacuate the store, but if I did that, the manager's lightning would undoubtedly strike me down. My only option was to sit quietly and endure it.

"That won't do, Takkun. If you keep sighing like that, your happiness will slip right away."

"Oh, you're back already?"

They had returned far faster than I expected—so fast I doubt a cup of instant ramen would have even finished cooking.

"Of course I am! I thought you'd be lonely all by yourself, Takkun, so I rushed right back!"

"...And the real reason?"

"Rinoa-chan started trying them on before I could even give her my recommendations, so I was left with nothing to do."

That was a first for me, the manager said with a wry smile. To bewilder someone with brakes as busted as Uezu Takeru's—Shinomiya-san truly was built different. It took me quite a while just to get used to them.

"I was genuinely surprised, though. To think Takkun would bring someone other than Yuzuha-chan to the store. Is it going to snow tomorrow, I wonder?"

"...It's just how things ended up. I never imagined I'd be photographing anyone other than Yuzuha-san myself."

At the very least, I had fully expected to be kept exclusively as Yuzuha-san's photographer for the next few years. To think I'd end up in a secret photoshoot relationship with my classmate.

"Well, if you ask me, Yuzuha-chan is simply being too selfish. They say you should send a beloved child on a journey to let them grow; what on earth is she so anxious about?"

"That's exactly what I'd like to know... not that I have any complaints, though."

Being the only person allowed to shoot private sessions with a top-tier cosplayer everyone dreamed of photographing was the ultimate bliss for a photographer.

"That's exactly why I was so happy when you messaged me saying, 'I'll be doing a photoshoot with someone other than Yuzuha-san, so I'm coming to look at outfits'! And on top of that, you brought a girl who rivals Yuzuha-chan in cuteness! My hype levels are through the roof!"

Gyahahaha! The manager laughed, slapping me repeatedly on the shoulder. Because their build was vastly superior to mine, every single strike was incredibly forceful and painful.

"So, what kind of underhanded tricks did you use to entrap such a cute girl?! With a face and figure like that, she must be insanely popular at school!"

"Well... she's popular enough to have her own fan club at school, yes."

"Then I'm even more curious about what kind of dark arts you employed! Don't tell me you actually found a weakness and blackmailed her?!"

"Hahaha..."

Staring down the manager's half-lidded glare, I instinctively averted my eyes with a bitter smile. I obviously couldn't say that I was the one being blackmailed.

"Wait a second, Takkun?! No matter how cute Rinoa-chan is, blackmail is absolutely crossing the line! That literally is the world of an erotic doujinshi!"

Panicking, the manager grabbed my shoulders and began shaking me violently back and forth. This was dizzier than any amusement park ride.

"Answer me, Takkun! Depending on the situation, I'll happily march right to the police station with you, so spill everything!"

"F-First of all, please let go of my shoulders and stop shaking me..."

If they kept this up, I was going to get motion sickness and throw up. But my desperate pleas failed to reach the runaway freight train that was the manager. Somebody, please help me.

"—Please don't worry, Uezu-san. My relationship with Anno-kun is perfectly wholesome."

Just as I was about to lose my dignity, Shinomiya-san emerged from the back, having finished her fitting. In her hands was a neatly folded swimsuit.

"Isn't that right, Anno-kun? There is absolutely nothing unseemly going on between us, is there?"

"...Yes, that's exactly right."

Shinomiya-san flashed me a lovely, angelic smile. I nodded repeatedly. I absolutely did not cave to the pressure.

"So there is no need for concern. And those photos you saw earlier were not taken under Anno-kun's orders; they were merely the result of me taking off my clothes unconsciously."

"That just makes me even more worried about your future shoots... but well, if you're fine with it, Rinoa-chan, I won't say another word. But if anything ever happens, you come to me immediately, okay?"

"Thank you for everything. If Anno-kun ever tries to do anything erotic to me, I'll report him right away."

"Even if heaven and earth flipped upside down, I would never do anything like that!!"

"Are you saying Rinoa-chan lacks charm?! You took those incredibly lewd photos and felt absolutely nothing?! That is incredibly rude, no matter how you slice it!"

The fact that I was guaranteed to get yelled at no matter how I answered was completely unreasonable. If I actually admitted that I got excited or wanted to attack her, that truly would be a direct ticket to the police station.

"Jokes aside. Did you decide on a swimsuit, Rinoa-chan?"

"Yes. They were all so cute it was hard to choose, but I managed to pick one out. Thank you so much for letting me try them on."

"Oh, it's totally fine, darling. They're all prototypes for the new summer line. Take whichever one you like! But in exchange... I'm counting on you after the shoot, okay?"

In response to the manager's suspicious wink, Shinomiya-san answered with a bright smile. "Yes, leave it to me!" Please don't hold secret meetings without my knowledge.

"Wait a second, Manager. I didn't hear anything about giving her a prototype. Or rather, what exactly are you planning to make Shinomiya-san do?!"

All I had mentioned beforehand was that we were coming to look at outfits. How did this turn into a situation where she was being handed a brand-new prototype?

"Because if I told you beforehand, you absolutely would have refused, Takkun! Learn to accept people's goodwill once in a while!"

"Of course I would have refused! Yuzuha-san is one thing, but Shinomiya-san is a complete amateur, you know? No matter how cute she is, I don't think there will be any promotional effect. More importantly, we have no intention of making these photos public!"

"That's exactly why I said I'm giving her a prototype! And I have absolutely no intention of using Rinoa-chan as a promotional model, either!"

Then there shouldn't be anything you need to ask of her, should there? By the way, Shinomiya-san, why exactly is your face turning red?

"All I want from Rinoa-chan is her thoughts on the prototype. I want raw feedback—how it felt to wear, how it was to shoot in, the good points, the bad points, that sort of thing."

"Ah, so that's what you meant by prototype..."

"Of course, I plan to find other girls willing to wear the remaining swimsuits and ask them for the exact same thing."

According to the manager, the prototype swimsuits arrived at the exact same time I messaged them. Since they weren't for sale anyway, they instantly had the idea to hand one over and ask for feedback.

"So take it without worrying about a thing. And if you like it, you can come buy our actual products next time."

"...Understood. Thank you very much, Manager."

"I'll make sure to compile my thoughts and send them your way!"

Shinomiya-san and I bowed deeply to this eccentric-looking but incredibly generous adult. Times like these truly made me painfully aware that I was still just a kid.

"I said don't worry about it! More importantly, Rinoa-chan. Before you go, there's one thing I'd like to ask you. Do you mind?"

"? What is it?"

"Rinoa-chan... Are you, by any chance, the younger sister of the model Shinomiya Alice?"

The instant the manager casually asked that question, the soft smile vanished from Shinomiya-san's face. The atmosphere in the store instantly pulled taut, and the manager and I reflexively exchanged glances.

"...Yes. Shinomiya Alice is indeed my older sister, but does that matter?"

A chillingly low voice. It didn't quite carry killing intent, but she shot a piercing glare that felt like picking the wrong dialogue option would result in an instant Game Over.

"No, we've just worked together a few times. Your vibes were similar and you share the same last name, so I thought it might be a possibility. Plus, she mentioned she had a cute little sister."

"...I see."

Shinomiya-san muttered, her face twisting as if she'd bitten into a bitter bug. She clearly wasn't blushing out of happiness. If anything, it felt like the exact opposite.

"There's no deeper meaning to it than that, so please don't worry. I'm sorry for springing such a weird question on you."

"No, it's fine. I was just a little surprised to hear my sister knows you, Uezu-san."

With that, Shinomiya-san smiled. Her emotional color seemed to have returned, much to my relief. The freezing temperature of the room began to thaw.

"Well then, Manager. We'll be taking our leave now."

"Oh my, is it already that late? Sorry for keeping you. I'm looking forward to the photos and the feedback."

"Thank you for absolutely everything, Uezu-san. I'll send you my feedback, so please look forward to it."

Bowing one last time, we left 'Emocion' while the manager waved at us with a smile.

By the time we left the store, the sun had already begun to set. I hadn't planned on staying so long, but I suppose that's what happens when you try on countless outfits.

If we went back to my house and started the shoot now, it would be late into the night by the time we finished. It was probably best to call it a day. Just as I opened my mouth to suggest that—

"Hey, Anno-kun. Can I come over to your house after this?"

Shinomiya-san beat me to the punch.

"Even if you come over, we definitely don't have time to shoot, you know?"

The current time was just past 5:30 PM. It was only about a thirty-minute train ride back to my house from here, so it wasn't far, but if we actually did anything, it would turn into night in a flash.

"I know that. I was hoping we could figure out how we want to approach the shoot today together. What do you say?"

Admittedly, having that meeting would only be beneficial. If we aligned our visions beforehand, we could dedicate more time to the actual shoot and make adjustments on the fly.

"I'd definitely love to do that, but... does it really have to be today?"

"Don't they say strike while the iron is hot? I even got to try the outfit on, so I want to solidify the image as quickly as possible."

"...You have a point."

"And don't worry about the time. I don't mind if it gets a little late."

Saying that, Shinomiya-san let out a wry smile with a somewhat lonely expression. Combined with her reaction when asked about her older sister, I was worried, but just like her 'reason for wanting to see a side of herself she doesn't know,' this clearly wasn't a topic I could lightly pry into.

"Honestly, since tomorrow is a day off too, having a sleepover at your house, Anno-kun, wouldn't be a bad idea."

"Absolutely out of the question! The absolute maximum is eating dinner together!"

Just the fact that the two of us went shopping together—and for a swimsuit, even if it was for competitive swimming—would be enough to get me added to a blacklist. If it ever leaked that she stayed the night, I'd be executed on the spot without even a chance to defend myself. Well, eating dinner together was practically the same thing, but still.

"I suppose it can't be helped. I'll compromise at dinner for today. You'd better appreciate my boundless generosity, okay?"

"What generosity? Thanks to your selfishness, my headache hurts, Shinomiya-san..."

"You're a boy, aren't you? Stop sweating the small stuff and let's go! By the way, Anno-kun, what do you want to eat?"

Her question made me think, but 'What do you want for dinner?' ranks in the top three of questions that are incredibly difficult to answer when asked out of nowhere.

It had been over a year since my parents went overseas for work. I receive a decent allowance, but I generally try to cook for myself. That being said, I can't make anything fancy, and my repertoire is limited, so...

"Is there anything you want to eat, Shinomiya-san? I'll match whatever you want."

I decided to shelve my own answer and counter with a question of my own. No matter the situation, Shinomiya-san was my guest. Serving what the guest wants is the duty of the host, right? Probably.

"Actually, there's something I've always wanted to try! Is that okay?! That's fine, right?! I won't take no for an answer, Anno-kun!"

"Then don't bother asking me in the first place?!"

This was far beyond being selfish or egocentric. This was the mindset of a dictator who fully believed her opinions were absolute law. No matter how much I cried or screamed, the result wouldn't change. How utterly unreasonable. And yet, the girl who made you want to forgive it all with a single sigh was Shinomiya Rinoa.

"I want to try eating junk food!"

"...Excuse me?"

What was this Ojou-sama suddenly blurting out?

"My entire life, my mother and father have forbidden me from eating junk food, claiming it's bad for my body. So, I figured I'd use this opportunity to finally try it...!"

"I-I see..."

Overwhelmed by the sheer pressure of Shinomiya-san aggressively leaning in as she passionately pleaded her case, I involuntarily took a step back. It was absolutely not because her sudden proximity brought a waft of sweet, wonderful scent that made my heart skip a beat.

"But if you insist on a home-cooked meal, Anno-kun, that's a different story, you know? For the record, my favorite food is hamburger steak."

"You're just assuming I'm the one cooking?! Isn't this the part where, like in a manga, you say, 'I'll cook for you!'?!"

"The idea that men belong out of the kitchen is completely outdated, Anno-kun! Dual-income households are the norm nowadays. In other words, there's absolutely nothing wrong with you treating me to a home-cooked meal!"

"Nnngh...! Using completely valid logic only at times like this...!"

When I groaned in defeat, Shinomiya-san puffed out her chest with a triumphant, smug expression. Her face looked so childishly adorable that all the venom completely left my system.

"Sigh... Fine, I get it. In that case, let's just go our separate wa—"

"We'll hold the meeting at your house, Anno-kun, and have a junk food dinner party!"

Tragically, my proposal was completely painted over. If she wanted to eat it that badly, couldn't she just go with her friends after school? When I asked her that, Shinomiya-san smiled, tinged with a hint of sorrow.

"Friends, huh? Let's see... it would be nice if I could, but it's quite difficult."

"Is it? I feel like everyone would follow you anywhere with just a single word, Shinomiya-san."

Wouldn't they normally be overjoyed to tag along? If she asked the fan club guys, it would be a done deal instantly. Though, in that case, it would probably spark a blood-soaked holy war between the imperial guard and the regular members.

"It's true that the people around me are all very kind, so if I asked, they might come. But whether I can call them friends is another matter entirely."

"...?"

I was more confused than ever. Did she mean the classmates she happily chatted with every day in class weren't her friends?

"It might be rude to say this, but just because you talk to someone doesn't automatically make them a friend. Especially when their true motives are transparently obvious."

"...I see. So that's how it is."

"Despite how I look, I have my guard up very high, and I'm a cold woman who doesn't trust people easily. Are you disillusioned?"

Shinomiya-san chuckled self-deprecatingly as she said that. She seemed to think her perspective was abnormal, but I didn't think it was anything special.

"I'm not disillusioned at all. If anything, isn't that perfectly fine?"

"...Eh?"

My answer must have been incredibly unexpected, as Shinomiya-san stopped dead in her tracks. Mentally noting that it wasn't something to be that surprised about, I shared my own philosophy.

"Just like you, Shinomiya-san, the only person I'd actually call a friend is Arata. He's the only one I've told about my photography, too."

If that friend were here right now, he'd definitely retort, "You hardly talk to anyone to begin with, dude," but since he wasn't, I conveniently ignored that fact.

"Finding someone you trust enough to spill everything to doesn't happen that often. If you can count them on two hands before you die, isn't that good enough?"

"Fufu. That might very well be true. You say some surprisingly good things sometimes, Anno-kun."

I really wanted to tell her the first half of that sentence was unnecessary, but since it was true, I swallowed it. Glad to see Shinomiya-san's brightness return, I decided to shoot back some condescending advice of my own as payback.

"Well, it is what it is. It's never too late, so you should focus on making at least one person you can truly call a friend. If you do that, you can go eat junk food whenever you want."

"In that case, there's no need to worry. I just now made someone I can call a friend. Moving forward, I plan to increase the amount of time I spend with them."

"...Just out of curiosity, could you tell me who this person is? Don't tell me it's—"

"Fufu. Now, who do you think it is? Please do your best to deduce the answer. I won't tell you if you're right, though!"

Flashing a beaming smile, Shinomiya-san grabbed my hand and took off running. She gripped it so tightly, refusing to let go, that I couldn't break free.

"Come on, let's go, Anno-kun! We need to hurry home and have a meeting about what to eat!"

"The meeting is about what we're going to do for the shoot! Eating dinner isn't the main event here!!"

"Don't sweat the small stuff! Let's-a-go to your house!"

Ignoring the crowds, Shinomiya-san dashed forward with explosive energy. I had a mountain of complaints I wanted to throw at her—that running suddenly was dangerous, or that she shouldn't forget our original objective—but the warmth transmitting from her gripped hand felt so comfortable that I couldn't say a word.

And if that wasn't enough. For just a split second, the thought crossed my mind that I wanted this time spent with Shinomiya-san to last just a little bit longer, and my lips curled up into a smile.

This was bad. If I didn't seize the initiative somewhere, I was confident I'd sink so deep into this swamp I'd actually consider joining the fan club. I couldn't let that happen. Stay strong, Anno Takumi.

But my resolve proved entirely futile. Even after we got home, I was constantly overwhelmed by Shinomiya-san's pace. Suddenly trying to change into the swimsuit to "solidify the image," deciding she wanted to have a pizza party and trying to order one... It was an absolute disaster.

However, eating dinner while making a lively ruckus with someone for the first time in ages was delicious, and I secretly found myself thinking—I wouldn't mind doing this together again.