Chapter 3: Time to Act

1

“Even so, though—” I muttered to myself.

During lunch break the next day, Kuki, who I had just eaten lunch with, had left the classroom with a fellow soccer club member who had come to fetch him for some business in the club room. Left alone, I was thinking about yesterday.

Next Saturday, I was going to pull an all-nighter with Minase to watch a marathon broadcast of a drama. The location was set: her apartment.

Wait, isn’t that a bad idea?

It meant we’d be alone all night. I’d mostly come to terms with the fact that it was stupid for me to feel self-conscious when Minase wasn’t thinking anything of it, but I was starting to feel a little uneasy. It wasn’t that I thought I’d do anything, but being alone with her from late night to early morning felt wrong in itself.

As a countermeasure, I thought of inviting someone else. I intentionally set aside the first face that popped into my head and considered asking Kuki. But the gender ratio felt wrong. In that case, it had to be my first choice.

I slowly stood up and walked over to a certain person. A few girls were happily eating lunch there. No, their lunch boxes were already put away, so they were in the middle of a post-meal chat.

The center of the group was Koreeda Murasakiko.

When I approached, everyone gasped and looked up at me as if I were a suspicious person. Since I hadn’t spoken to any of these girls unless absolutely necessary, that reaction was natural.

“Um, Koreeda-san—” She was the person I was looking for. But since we ended up in the same class in April, I hadn’t had a single proper conversation with her. I’d been avoiding her, so this was practically the first time.

“I have a favor to ask you.” When I said that, all the attention shifted to her.

“Koreeda? Who might that be?” Everyone stared as the girl who was undeniably Koreeda Murasakiko said this.

I thought, Ugh, so she’s going with that. It was like a stuck-up rich girl ignoring a boy she didn’t care about. It suited her, strangely enough.

“Ah, Yukari-san—” I made up my mind and called her by her nickname.

The girls gasped again. One muttered, “Ugh, that’s so forward, I can’t,” and I completely understood how she felt. I’d be put off, too, if I didn’t know the situation.

Suddenly, Koreeda stood up.

“I think it used to be Yuka-chan, but fine. I’m too embarrassed to call you Saku-chan now anyway.” She said with a wry smile. Instead of coming to me, she leaned in close to the girl who had just muttered a comment and said with a beaming smile, “Forgive him, won’t you? He’s my osananajimi.”

“Huh? O-Oh, sorry...” The girl apologized, but she probably didn’t understand what was said.

And with that, Koreeda Murasakiko—Yukari, my osananajimi—finally stepped out of the circle.

“Sakura, will you buy me a coffee? I was just thinking I wanted one.”

“...I’d be happy to.” I couldn’t say anything else, having too much to feel guilty about toward her.

I walked down the hallway with Yukari. We were heading for the school cafeteria.

“Um... Yukari-san?”

“Just Yukari is fine, Sakura.” Yukari said with a small smile.

She told me to use her first name, but when I tried to say it, I got nervous, and the subject I was going to bring up flew out of my head.

Sensing this, Yukari spoke first.

“It’s been a while since we’ve talked like this.”

“...Yeah.”

Koreeda Murasakiko was my osananajimi. Though, I only realized our relationship had that name when she used the word just now.

I used to live here when I was a kid. I was here until fourth grade, and I moved when I started fifth grade. My parents probably allowed me to go to Kazamigaoka for soccer because I had some familiarity with the area. And she was the one I used to play with most often when I lived here.

“You’ve changed a lot.”

“Right? I’ve become more feminine, haven’t I? Don’t talk about the old days too much. I’m going with this persona now.” Yukari smiled mischievously.

Now, she was a beauty that everyone turned to look at, but back then, she rode her BMX, flying, jumping, and spinning, showing off tricks that put boys to shame. Who would have predicted she’d grow up to be like this?

“Six years is enough time to change.”

“It would have been five if you had done this last year.”

I had no response to that.

“Why didn’t you talk to me sooner? You must have noticed me last year, right?”

“I just kind of missed the timing...” I gave Yukari an answer that wasn’t even an excuse.

It was true that I had lost my chance. I came here for high school and planned to see Yukari once I settled in. But I never expected her to be at the same school. I was surprised, but then I thought, If she’s here, I can see her anytime, and put it off.

I spent my days immersed in the rigorous practices of the prestigious Kazamigaoka High soccer club. Before I knew it, summer break came, and after that incident, I quit soccer. She knew I was all about soccer, and losing it made it hard for me to face her.

It was the same with my friends from elementary school that I used to play with. I’d seen some of them since I came back, and some I hadn’t, but I didn’t feel like seeing any of them now.

Plus, another reason for Yukari was that she had become such a beautiful girl that she was hard to approach.

“Well, I didn’t talk to you either, so I can’t really criticize.” Yukari gave a wry smile.

“You must be mad. I’ve been with Minase all the time lately.”

“H-Huh!?” She suddenly raised her voice.

Surprised by her own volume, Yukari gasped and looked around. Some students in the hallway were looking at us, wondering what was going on, and she covered it up by saying, “It’s nothing. Sorry.”

Then Yukari grabbed my shirt with both hands and pulled me closer. It was a rough action that didn’t suit her current image, but it was very much like the Yukari I knew.

She spoke in a voice only I could hear.

“Why the hell should I be mad that Sakura is with Minase-san!”

“W-Well, I feel like I’ve been acting like a total playboy lately, and I figured you’d hate that...” I thought she wouldn’t want anything to do with a frivolous guy like that, but was I wrong?

She blinked a few times. Then she seemed to understand, saying, “Oh, I see...” But then she noticed the gazes around us again. This time, she covered it up by saying, “Aoi-kun, your tie is crooked,” and straightened my shirt, which she had crumpled with her grip, before slowly letting go.

“I was surprised when I saw you right after school started, too.” We started walking again.

“You were still playing soccer, and I watched you, thinking you were working hard. I somehow missed my chance to talk to you, and then summer break came, and after that, you looked like your soul had been sucked out.”

“How do you know about that?”

“The whole story. That kind of information is easy to gather.”

Yukari, who was a tomboy as a child, was popular with both boys and girls. Now that she was a beautiful, refined girl, that popularity had turned into admiration. If Yukari casually asked a soccer club member or someone in my class, they would probably be happy to tell her everything.

“Sorry. I quit soccer.”

“Things happen. It’s not something you need to apologize for.”

That was a relief to hear. I had offered comforting words to Minase, but she had easily come to terms with quitting her club, and I was probably the one who was still hung up on it.

We reached the cafeteria and headed for the vending machine corner in the back. There, Yukari pointed to a can of lightly sweetened coffee and said, “I think I’ll have this one, please.” I had been vaguely watching her since we ended up in the same class in April, and I didn’t think the current Yukari would ever be so brazen. I was grateful she was treating me with the same familiarity we had before.

I put in the coins, and Yukari pressed the button. I bought the same one for myself and moved to an empty table.

The moment we sat across from each other, the area buzzed.

Koreeda Murasakiko was one of the celebrated beauties of our grade. And she was drinking coffee one-on-one with a boy. Even setting aside the fact that we were in the same class, this was an event worth noting.

I tried hard to ignore them and told Yukari everything that had happened with Minase so far.

“So that’s why you suddenly became close with Minase-san.” Yukari nodded, understanding.

“Yeah, that’s right.”

“And—” But her next word was sharp and overlapped mine. “Why should I get dragged into your... 『Quit-Club Alliance』? That weird alliance’s activities?” She sounded angry.

“Or what? Sakura, are you planning to do something to Minase-san?”

“No, it’s not that.”

I’d been alone with Minase many times, and I’d even been in her room. But I never felt the urge to do anything.

“I think I’m just going to feel uneasy. Like walking alone on a newly paved, clean road? I’ll be looking around, thinking, ‘Is it really okay for me to walk here?’ I haven’t done anything wrong, but it makes me anxious, you know?”

“That’s an analogy I both understand and don’t.” Yukari sighed, exasperated.

“So, you’re asking me to join you for an all-night drama marathon?”

“No, if you don’t want to, it’s fine. I know better than anyone that I won’t do anything to Minase, and the awkwardness will only last at first. I’ll get used to being alone with her soon enough. It’s not the first time I’ve been in her room, either.”

To be honest, I had asked her with nothing to lose. Maybe I just wanted an excuse to talk to Yukari. Just talking to her was a good enough result.

“Wait. You’ve been in her room?”

“Yeah. We just talked a little while drinking coffee. So, it’s just a difference between a short time and a long time.”

When I answered, Yukari fell into thought.

“If you’re not up for it—”

“I didn’t say I wouldn’t go.” Yukari said that just as I was about to back down, thinking I shouldn’t force her if she didn’t want to.

“You mean that?”

“Yes, well, I guess.” Yukari nodded, looking a little awkward.

She took a surprisingly long way around to say yes. I remembered her being much more decisive and quick to act in the past.

Well, people change in six years, I guess.

We returned to the classroom once the conversation was settled. There was still plenty of time before the first afternoon class started.

When we entered the classroom side-by-side, every classmate present looked at us. ...Yeah, that was bound to happen. We had just revealed we were osananajimi and left together.

“Oh, you look like you’re in trouble.”

“Don’t talk like it’s someone else’s problem.” I protested to the surprisingly composed Yukari, mentally holding my head in my hands. I was the one who would have to deal with the inevitable hassle.

We headed to our respective seats.

The looks from the boys, who clearly wanted to ask questions, were painful. I sought out Kuki in the crowd and beckoned him over. He came over with a huge smile.

“You and Koreeda are osananajimi?” he asked the moment I sat down.

“Yeah, I actually lived here until fourth grade.”

It was the same as with Minase. If I told Kuki, the information would spread everywhere. But this time, I planned to tell him the accurate story.

“You don’t seem like you have a history here, though.”

“You mean I don’t look familiar with the area? I was only in fourth grade, so my range of movement was small. There are more places I don’t know than places I do.”

Back then, my days were spent playing soccer with classmates, including Yukari, on weekdays, and going to the nearby skate park with her on weekends. So, even though I had returned to where I used to live, it felt like I had moved to a completely new place.

“And you’ve been friends with Koreeda since then?”

“Yeah.”

Yukari often played soccer with the boys, but I rarely rode a BMX. Part of it was a lack of interest, but I mostly just liked watching her ride faster and jump higher than the boys her age.

“She must have been cute back then, too.” Kuki seemed to be imagining the past, but the truth would utterly destroy his image. Though, it was true that she was physically attractive even then, looking like an active, beautiful boy at first glance.

I’d just been warned not to talk about the old days, so I just gave a vague, “Yeah,” in response.

Speaking of which, I thought.

Did Yukari still ride her BMX? She was so good and seemed to enjoy it so much back then. I didn’t know how well it translated to competition, but I hoped she was still doing it.

A girl who acted feminine in public but was a BMX rider on the weekends—that was quite a gap. Maybe I should ask her about it sometime.

2

Saturday arrived, and it was a little before seven p.m.

The doorbell rang.

Right on time, I thought, impressed, and answered the intercom.

“Hello?” It was a formality, but I knew who it was.

『Good evening. It’s me.』 The monitor lit up as the call connected, showing Koreeda Murasakiko—Yukari, as expected.

“I’ll be right out.”

I hung up, grabbed my phone and wallet, and opened the front door. Yukari stood there in a spring-like white long skirt.

“Did you find the place okay?”

“Yes, I followed the map.” Yukari said, shaking her phone.

“Is this Sakura’s room?”

“There’s nothing interesting to see.” I warned Yukari, who was craning her neck to look past my shoulder. I wasn’t worried about her seeing anything, but it really wasn’t interesting.

“So, what should we do?” Yukari asked.

She had come here at this hour to watch the drama marathon that started at midnight.

“Minase told me to come at seven, but—”

“But?” Yukari tilted her head because of my evasive phrasing. As an answer, I pointed upward with my index finger. Yukari looked up.

“No, I mean... can’t you hear it?”

Voice exercises had been audible for a while now. They were much clearer if you went inside and got closer to the window, but she might not have noticed until I pointed it out.

“Minase-san?”

“Yeah.”

She hadn’t missed a single day of voice exercises, even after quitting the drama club. She was probably trying to finish her routine before I arrived. So, if we went now, we’d interrupt her.

Just as I said that, the voice stopped right on cue.

“Oh, is she finished?”

I listened for a moment, but there was no sign of her restarting.

“Alright, let’s go, then.”

I gestured for Yukari to step back, then exited the apartment. I locked the door, and we headed up to the floor above.

“You really do live in the same building.”

“Yeah. Right above me, too.”

Since it was just one flight of stairs, that was the extent of our conversation. When we reached Minase’s door, I rang the doorbell.

“Welcome!” Minase suddenly burst out. It was almost a race between the door opening and her voice being heard. I instinctively put my hand out, and Minase’s forehead hit my palm. She was definitely trying to hug me.

“Watch out! Don’t just pop out like that. Even I check the intercom first, and I’m a guy.”

“But I figured it had to be Sakura at this hour.” Minase said, rubbing her forehead.

“What if it was a delivery?”

“Then I’d just be the one who got embarrassed, wouldn’t I?”

She was so detached about it.

“Huh? Koreeda-san?” It was only then that Minase noticed Yukari.

“Good evening, Minase-san.”

“Why are you here, Koreeda-san?” Yukari was her usual composed self, while Minase looked confused.

“I invited her. It’s fine if we have one more person, right?”

“Hmm...” Minase fell into thought.

Then, she gave Yukari an apologetic look, which was unusual for her normally cheerful self.

“Could you... maybe skip tonight?”

“Why? Wouldn’t it be better with more people?”

“Yeah, I think so too. But this is strictly a 『Quit-Club Alliance』 activity for tonight.”

She probably genuinely felt bad about sending Yukari away. The smile she gave me was much weaker than usual.

“Is that really where you want to draw the line?”

“I want to stick to it.” Minase stated firmly.

I messed up, I thought. Based on Minase’s usual behavior, I thought she’d accept Yukari joining spontaneously, so I hadn’t bothered to get her permission beforehand. Even if Yukari agreed to leave now, I wouldn’t be able to enjoy the event tonight.

I was about to suggest canceling tonight altogether when.

“It sounds like the participation requirement is having quit a club, right?” Yukari cut in.

“Yeah, something like that.”

“I used to ride a BMX when I was a kid, but I quit.”

“Huh...?” I was the one who was surprised by Yukari’s confession.

Quit? After riding so happily as a kid? It was true that it didn’t fit her current image, but I had assumed she was still doing it.

“Sakura.” I finally noticed Minase calling my name. Her eyes were asking, “Is that true?”

“O-Oh, yeah, it’s true. Yukari definitely used to ride a BMX.” I answered, flustered.

“It’s not a club activity, but what do you say to that?”

“Hmm...” Minase started thinking again.

Yukari and I watched, holding our breath to see what she would decide. Finally, she suddenly smiled—

“Then that’s okay!”

“Are you serious!?” Her criteria were all over the place.

“Don’t you think things are more fun with more people?” Minase said, as if I was the one making a fuss.

“Y-Yeah, I guess so!” I answered, feeling a little desperate.

“Come on in, come on in.” Minase said, stepping back into the apartment.

Yukari and I looked at each other. A question mark was floating over her head. Minase’s initial insistence on the rule and her sudden, vague criteria—she must be confused by the back-to-back contradictions. I was, too.

“Ah...” Then I remembered.

“Yukari, the BMX...”

“Things happened. ...I’ll tell you later.” She only gave me that one line in response to my question about why she had quit the BMX she loved so much.

That’s true, I thought. This wasn’t something to discuss standing in the doorway.

“We need another pair of slippers.” Minase said, placing another pair next to the slippers that were already there.

She was prepared. My place only had one pair of guest slippers for when my parents visited. I just let friends walk around barefoot. As I thought that, I realized I hadn’t let anyone into my apartment in a long time. Probably since I quit soccer.

I slipped my feet into the slippers that were already there. They were one size bigger.

“Excuse me for intruding.” Yukari’s voice was hesitant.

“Minase, did you get what I asked for?” I asked when we reached the living room.

“I bought it.”

“Thanks.” I immediately headed to the kitchen.

“Hey, Minase-san. What is Sakura going to start?”

“Tonjiru.” Minase and Yukari’s exchange drifted from the living room.

Yes. I was going to make tonjiru now. We were going to do the curry and tonjiru collaboration we’d talked about before. I’d asked Minase to buy the ingredients for it.

I initially thought about making it at my place and bringing it up, but if I spilled it halfway, it wouldn’t be funny. No, not being funny would be the least of it. The thought of cleaning up a huge amount of spilled tonjiru was depressing.

Anticipating that worst-case scenario, I decided to make it here.

The ingredients I’d requested were on the dining table. I checked that everything was there, but honestly, as long as there wasn’t a critical problem like missing pork, I could make do even if a few things were missing.

I looked at the gas stove, where a large pot sat. Judging by the aroma, it contained curry. It seemed that was already finished.

“Oh, I’ll make coffee now.” Minase came over to me.

“I’m fine for later.”

“Got it.” Minase took mugs from the cupboard.

Next to her, I immediately started making the tonjiru. I started with cutting the vegetables, and since there were two girls, I decided to cut them thin and small. That would make them cook faster and save time. While Minase prepared two coffees and carried them to the living room, I cut the burdock root first and soaked it in water. Then I moved on to the other vegetables and the meat.

Next, I stir-fried the pork in the pot, then added the vegetables and stir-fried again. After that, I added the broth. I took the easy way out and used instant dashi stock. Minase had prepared that, too.

“I didn’t know Sakura could cook.” Yukari came over to me, mug in hand. Her voice was full of curiosity. I’d seen the two of them chatting in the living room, so I figured they were done for now.

“I learned in a hurry when I moved here. This is the only thing I can make properly. Everything else is just guesswork. My knife skills are too dangerous for anyone to see.”

“I heard that. You were chopping vegetables with a strange rhythm.” Yukari laughed softly. ...Shut up. As long as I don’t cut my fingers, it’s fine.

“That curry over there is Minase-san’s, right?”

“Probably.” I opened the pot next to me. As expected, it was curry. The savory scent of spices immediately filled the air.

“We were talking about how we should eat together sometime since we both specialize in curry and tonjiru.”

“Hmm, eating together, huh...” Yukari seemed to be thinking about something.

“Maybe I should make something, too?” she suddenly suggested.

“You don’t have to do that, do you?”

“I have to make a show of being capable.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

Koreeda Murasakiko was already a person of talent and beauty. What was the point of a cooking display now? If she couldn’t cook, it would just be seen as charming, and her stock would rise.

“Hey, Minase-san. I feel bad just eating, so can I make one dish, too?”

“Really!? You’re more than welcome!” Minase rejoiced innocently.

Yukari seemed to have decided that Minase wouldn’t refuse, so she put her mug on the table and immediately opened the fridge without waiting for an answer. She checked what was inside, then peeked into the vegetable drawer.

“Caesar salad, then.”

“Ooh!” Minase was delighted to have an extra dish. If someone wanted to cook and someone else wanted to eat it, it was no longer my place to interfere.

“Hey, Sakura and Koreeda-san, is it true you’re osananajimi?” Minase’s voice drifted from the living room. Since the broth still seemed to be a while from boiling, I turned away from the pot and looked at Minase, who was still sitting on the sofa.

“I lived here until fourth grade. We used to play together a lot back then.” I said. I moved when my father’s job transferred him, and I started fifth grade, so we were apart for about five years.

“Were you close back then?”

“Yes, we were.” Yukari answered instantly.

“We played together almost every day, ignoring our friends of the same gender.”

“Hey, I don’t remember neglecting my friends that much.” Why was she so smugly revising history? Though, if anyone asked who my best friend was back then, I’d probably say Yukari.

“Sakura, that sounds rough. Being close to Koreeda-san, you must be the envy of all the boys.” Minase laughed merrily.

Meanwhile, Yukari and I looked at each other.

“Does Minase not realize?” I asked Yukari.

“Well, she’s pretty oblivious to those kinds of things.” Yukari gave a wry smile when I asked her.

I’d already realized how much I was envied when I became close with Minase, but she herself didn’t seem to have a clue. I’d never seen her act self-aware about her cuteness or put on airs, so she was probably genuinely oblivious, just as Yukari said.

“Were you riding the BMX when you played with Sakura?” Minase asked again.

I looked at Yukari, startled. Yukari glanced at me sideways and then answered.

“Yes, I was. But I quit.”

“What happened?”

“I got hurt. A fracture. I messed up a landing.” Yukari said casually.

That was news to me. Well, of course it was. I had only just started talking to Yukari again a few days ago. We hadn’t had time to cover the five years we were apart.

Was she okay? Quitting the BMX she loved so much meant it must have been a pretty serious injury.

“Don’t worry. It healed properly, and I exercise normally now.” Yukari looked at me and said that, as if my concern was written all over my face.

“Koreeda-san stands out in P.E., too.” Minase’s comment suggested she was good at sports. Kazamigaoka’s P.E. classes were segregated by gender. I could see the girls doing P.E. on the field, but I never watched closely. But I knew the Yukari from elementary school. If she was still the same, she’d be showing off her exceptional athleticism in high school, too.

So, why did she quit riding the BMX? The answer to that question quickly came from her own mouth.

“I could have made a comeback because of that, but my mother asked me not to ride anymore.”

“Ah.” I understood.

I remembered Yukari’s mother wasn’t too fond of her riding the BMX. For a parent, it must have been nerve-wracking to see their daughter jump so high on a bike. Then came the major injury. It was only natural for her to use that as a reason to make her quit.

“When she begged me with tears in her eyes, I couldn’t say no.”

“Was that okay with you, Yukari?” I asked the girl who was giving a wry smile.

She had enjoyed it so much; could she really give it up that easily?

“I wasn’t as serious about it as you were about soccer, Sakura. I think I was the best around here back then, but I never planned to keep it up forever. Besides—” Yukari paused.

“The boy who used to cheer and get all excited like a kid watching my tricks was gone, so I lost my motivation.” She then looked at me and smiled sweetly.

Was she referring to me as that boy? I did like watching Yukari’s skillful tricks, but I didn’t remember being that innocently excited. Regardless of the reality, that’s how Yukari saw it, at least.

“I wasn’t acting like a kid, I was a kid.” I could only retort with that, turning back to the pot as if fleeing the conversation. The broth was about to boil.

3

“Ohhh!”

Minase let out another cry of admiration.

On the dining table, her curry and my tonjiru (pork and vegetable miso soup) were set, and in the center was the large platter of Caesar salad Yukari had made shortly after arriving. Minase’s cheer was for the sight of it all.

However, there was only enough space for two. The table, sized for a single person living alone, couldn't accommodate any more. The third serving—mine—was on the low table in the living room.

“Sakura, are you really okay with being over there?”

“I can see you and I can hear you, so it’s fine over here, right?”

I answered Minase, who sounded genuinely apologetic.

I’d been planning to grab some of the Caesar salad later, but Yukari brought it over to me.

“Here you go.”

“Thanks.”

When I took it, I saw it was served in a transparent bowl that perfectly suited the salad. The portion was a little generous. Maybe because I was a guy, or maybe so I wouldn’t have to keep getting up for refills.

“Tell me if you need more. I’ll get it for you.”

“Nah, I’m good. I’ll go myself next time.”

And so, at eight o’clock in the evening, our late dinner began.

The curry was undeniably delicious, just as Minase had proudly boasted it would be. Yukari’s Caesar salad, which had become an impromptu addition to the meal, was also stable and tasted like something she was used to making. I wondered if she helped out a lot at home.

My tonjiru was just the standard fare, nothing special. I figured it was enough if they enjoyed it as a taste of someone else’s home cooking—the kind of thing you only get to eat on occasions like this. I watched the two of them for a while, and fortunately, they seemed perfectly happy.

“Hey, Minase-san.”

Since the meal started, Minase and Yukari had been chatting happily. They often included me in the conversation, tossing me topics I could easily participate in, even from my distant seat.

When there was a lull, Yukari brought up her question.

“I’ve sort of given up on BMX, or rather, I feel like I don’t need to ride anymore. But what about you?”

That was what I wanted to know, too. Minase had essentially come to Kazamigaoka just to join the drama club. Now that the club wasn't the place she'd imagined, what was she planning to do with the remaining two years of high school?

“Me? I haven’t given up on anything, though?”

“Then are you going to return to the club eventually?”

I asked from the living room.

“I told you before, Sakura, but no way.”

Minase stated it clearly.

“That’s why I’m going to search.”

“Search?”

“Yep. You know the saying, right? 'Bloom where you are planted.' But I want to decide for myself where I’m going to bloom.”

I see. So that’s what she meant before.

It’s certainly the right way to live, to do your best wherever you are at that moment. But that doesn’t mean you have to silently accept a toxic environment. That’s why Minase cut ties with the drama club and is now searching for the place where she can bloom.

“Well, this is also a promise I made to everyone.”

“A promise?”

I tilted my head.

But Minase didn't give me an answer. Instead, she seemed to remember something else.

“Oh, right. Promise, promise. I should contact Kyōka real quick.”

A groan, “Ugh,” escaped my lips. ...Seriously?

Minase stood up with her phone, fiddled with it, and walked into her room. She didn’t close the door, though, so I could probably hear the conversation if I wanted to.

“Who’s Kyōka?”

Yukari, who couldn’t follow the conversation, leaned closer to me.

“You know 『Nightmare Maria』, right? She’s apparently friends with Sierra, one of the members. Kyōka is Sierra’s real name.”

“Is that for real?”

Yukari’s eyes went wide.

“She says they were classmates at the talent school.”

I felt the same way as Yukari, but since Minase was bold enough to promise to introduce us, it must be true.

Minase came out of her room.

“She’s here! She says she’s in Japan right now. And I managed to snag another friend, too. Sakura, you might know her?”

“H-Hold on a second!”

Minase mercilessly pointed the phone screen at me, who was completely unprepared. Not that a little more time would have made me feel any more ready.

『Huh, a boy? Mishio said "Sakura," so I thought you were a girl.』

『Oh, you’re right.』

On the phone screen Minase handed me were two girls.

One of them was indeed Sierra. She was the Japanese member of the girl group 『Nightmare Maria』, and since she spoke Japanese, she was always the first to be handed the microphone on music shows. That’s why, even for someone like me who just liked their music, her face and name matched up. Right now, her clothes and expression seemed a little more relaxed, more off-duty than what I saw on TV.

I didn't recognize the other girl. My first impression, though, was that she was incredibly sparkly. Judging by her glamour and the way Minase was talking, she probably wasn't a civilian.

The two of them were huddled together on the screen.

『Mishio told me. You’re being nice to her, right?』

“Well...”

My answer was vague, not because I wanted to obscure anything, but simply because I was nervous in front of a celebrity.

『Mishio is always trying to do something weird. You don’t have to go along with that stuff, okay? Just tell her off, straight up.』

Sierra on the screen chuckled. I got a glimpse of how Minase was usually viewed.

“No, nothing like that so far.”

The 『Quit-Club Alliance』 might be exactly one of those ‘weird things,’ but for me, it wasn’t something I felt I ‘didn’t have to go along with.’

『Oh, really? A boy who says that is pretty rare. Take care of Mishio for me, okay? If anything happens, don’t hesitate to contact me.』

This was another comment that gave away how they treated Minase. They must be really good friends.

『Hey, Sakura-kun, what about me? Do you know who I am? It might be hard for a boy.』

The girl whose identity I still didn't know pushed Sierra aside and asked.

I searched for words. I wasn't trying to guess who she was; I knew I couldn't figure it out, so I just wanted to choose words that wouldn't upset her.

“Sera!”

The one who shouted was Yukari. It seemed she knew the girl on the screen. She lined up beside me, ready to join the conversation.

“Could it be Sera!?”

『Bingo!』

The girl called Sera snapped her fingers. It was a clear, pleasant sound.

“Who is she?”

“A model. A high school model. She’s often in fashion magazines.”

Even after hearing the name, I still didn’t know, so I asked Yukari in a low voice, and she answered, covering her mouth with her palm. ...I see. No wonder she was so sparkly.

“Sera-san is Minase-san’s friend too?”

『Yeah, that’s right. We were in the same class at the school. Kyōka suddenly came back to Japan, so we were hanging out together.』

Yukari let out a soft, “Wow, how glamorous...”

『By the way, you’re beautiful. I’m surprised. What’s your name?』

“Ah, um, it’s Koreeda Yukari.”

Yukari answered, slightly overwhelmed by Sera’s intense curiosity.

Yukari always introduced herself by her nickname. It was because saying ‘Murasakiko’ often led to people asking her to repeat it and spell it out, creating unnecessary hassle.

『Okay, Yuka-chan. I’ll send you a few items I designed next time. Would you try them out?』

“Eh, are you sure!?”

『Of course! Just tell Mishio where to send them later.』

She certainly took a liking to her. The conversation was moving along without me, but I was actually grateful for that. I wasn't enough of a social butterfly to speak normally to a famous girl, especially one I’d just met.

『Well, let’s wrap it up for today.』

Sierra said, starting to conclude the call.

『It looks like Sakura-kun is getting flustered. Let’s all hang out together sometime soon.』

“Well, if the opportunity arises.”

I was just starting to feel out of place in the high-tension conversation between the three girls. They exchanged farewells, and the screen-to-screen encounter ended.

I handed the phone back to Minase, who exchanged a couple more words before hanging up.

“I never would have thought Minase-san knew such famous people. And two of them, no less.”

Yukari said, still buzzing with excitement.

“Hmm. I think there was probably one more person, too.”

“One more?”

I asked Minase, who had just said something strange.

“Do you know Yozora?”

“Huh? Yozora? That Yozora?”

Yozora was the internet singer everyone was talking about. She had appeared like a comet about a year ago, boasting outstanding singing ability but adhering to the principle of never showing her face. Her voice made it clear she was a woman, so she was called the Faceless Diva.

“Yozo-chan was in our class, too. She was a better singer than anyone, but she had trouble controlling her expression during performances. In the end, she gave up on debuting through the school and seems to have settled on her current style.”

Yukari and I exchanged a look.

“If it was just me, I think she would have come out, but since the other two were there... Oh, and by the way, she’s super cute. It’s a waste that she hides her face.”

So, was she holding her breath and hiding?

“Don’t tell anyone, okay?”

“As if I would. Seriously, what is up with your classmates, Minase? You guys are unbelievably stacked.”

Sierra, who flew out of Japan to become the Japanese member of the K-POP girl group 『Nightmare Maria』. Sera, who used her own sensibility as a weapon to enter the world of fashion. And the Faceless Diva, Yozora... They were all too talented.

But Minase had been competing, surrounded by classmates who would achieve such massive success a few years later. I had to admit, she was incredible.

It was true that neither the talent school nor the Kazamigaoka drama club had been the place for Minase to bloom. But that place had to be out there somewhere. Someone as amazing as Minase shouldn't be unable to bloom wherever she went.

I looked over at Minase, who had put her phone down and resumed eating.

“Do either of you want more tonjiru?”

I picked up my bowl and stood up.

I’d made a pretty large batch of tonjiru. There was still plenty left even if all three of us had seconds. I’d figure out what to do with the leftovers later.

“I’ll have some.”

“Me too.”

Yukari and Minase replied in turn.

Although the pot was closer to them than to me in the living room, I felt like this was somehow my job.

“I really like your tonjiru, Sakura. It’s delicious.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

I turned on the stove to warm up the tonjiru.

Come to think of it, this was the first time I’d cooked for other people. Maybe I should call my mom and ask her for some tips on how to make it better.

Afterward, as planned, we watched the drama marathon until morning.

Minase, who had been looking forward to it, was naturally glued to the screen, but Yukari, perhaps finding it surprisingly interesting once she started, was also watching and enjoying herself. I, on the other hand, was attacked by sleepiness several times and was woken up by Minase each time.