"How is it, Shouko-chan?" Ayumi chewed on a chocolate cookie, her words muffled. "Any clubs you're interested in?"
"Hmm…" Shouko slowly shook her head, her gaze drifting away from the Cooking Club's application form. "Ayumi-chan, what did you just say? I didn't hear clearly."
Ayumi swallowed and repeated herself.
Hearing this, Shouko tilted her head and asked, "What about you, Ayumi-chan? Any clubs you're thinking about in high school?"
Ayumi stared at the forms in her hand, hesitating. "Maybe… the Cooking Club."
"Then you should finish that bag of cookies in your hand before deciding again," Shouko teased.
At that moment, Takagi and Nishikata returned. Compared to Shouko and Ayumi, their hands were completely empty.
"Should we head home, or look around more?" Nishikata asked, puzzled.
He and Takagi had walked the recruitment area earlier, but nothing much had happened. They hadn't even talked that much…
"Either way's fine," Ayumi shrugged. "Shouko-chan and I have already seen enough. What about you two?"
"Let's go home," Takagi replied flatly. She much preferred reading manga and novels. If she had to pick a club, she'd choose the "Going Home Club" without hesitation.
No one objected, so the group started toward the school gate.
"Shouko, are you sure you'll be fine going home alone?" At the intersection where they split up, Ayumi asked worriedly.
"Ayumi-chan, I'm really not three years old. There are only a few hundred meters left."
Without waiting for a reply, Shouko waved goodbye and quickly walked toward the left intersection.
She was eager to tell Akira about all the interesting things that happened that afternoon—and to hear about his time at driving school.
The other three said nothing more. They waved and parted ways.
"See you tomorrow."
"Kanou…"
"Bye-bye."
Ayumi walked a few steps, then hesitated. Glancing back, she quickly turned and followed the street Shouko had taken.
—
Meanwhile, Shouko had just sent a message to Akira and learned that he was already home. Her steps unconsciously quickened.
"Sis, why are you walking so fast?"
Shouko turned and saw Nishimiya Yuzuru holding Hachiko's leash, slightly out of breath.
"Yuzuru? When did you start following me?"
She was confused. This road was opposite the park where Yuzuru usually walked Hachiko. Crowded with students and office workers, it wasn't her usual route.
Normally, Yuzuru avoided crowded places—partly because she didn't want to deal with cleaning up after Hachiko, and partly because she worried he might accidentally scare someone, even though she knew he wouldn't bite.
"Because Hachiko wanted to go this way today."
"Woof!"
As if to confirm her words, Hachiko wagged his tail and barked.
"...Alright." Shouko didn't think too much of it. She stepped back to Yuzuru's side, took her hand, and the three of them continued home together.
Along the way, Yuzuru happily shared stories about her new school and her new friends.
"Sis, doesn't that person up ahead look like Akira?"
Shouko had already noticed. "That is Akira. I just don't know why he's out again."
"He's worried about you," Yuzuru said matter-of-factly.
"Akira, didn't you just get home? Why are you here again?" Shouko asked as they approached.
On the way, Yuzuru had listed off a dozen possible reasons, but Shouko hadn't believed any of them.
"I was worried. What if some hoodlums bullied you on the way? Then I could swoop in as a hero and save the damsel in distress!" Akira crouched to rub Hachiko's head.
"Childish…" Shouko muttered.
Hearing that, Akira stood, pretending to loom threateningly at Yuzuru, who immediately retaliated.
"Sis and Hachiko can protect me—we don't need you!" Yuzuru said, bumping his stomach with her head to dodge his teasing hand.
"Alright, alright…"
While the two of them fooled around, Shouko quietly watched. For a moment, she thought her Akira really was still very childish.
Akira caught Yuzuru's hands to stop her from pestering him further. "Let's go. I brought back something delicious from Shibuya."
"What is it?" Yuzuru perked up.
"Not for you."
"Hmph…" Yuzuru pouted, deciding to ignore him. This kind of childish person was better left for her sister to handle.
—
Elsewhere.
"Takagi, where are we going?"
"Shh. Quiet." Takagi pressed her finger to her lips. "We're playing a tailing game. Look—Ayumi-chan's sneaking up ahead."
Nishikata followed her gaze and indeed spotted Ayumi crouching around a corner, looking suspicious.
If it weren't Ayumi, he might've thought she was up to no good.
As for Takagi's childish tone, Nishikata had already forgotten it the moment she grabbed his hand to pull him along. His attention was fully on Ayumi.
The two watched Ayumi peek out, then start forward again. Takagi didn't hesitate—she tugged Nishikata's hand and crept behind.
"...?"
Nishikata barely noticed what Ayumi was doing. His thoughts were stuck on the soft, cool touch of Takagi's hand.
But just as suddenly as it came, it was gone.
Ayumi stopped in her tracks, startled by something ahead, then turned back the way she came.
Takagi and Nishikata hid until she left, then stepped out.
"Class Rep, what did she see? Why'd she come back?" Nishikata asked, puzzled.
"You'll know if you go stand where she was," Takagi said with a shrug and a faint smile.
Without hesitation, Nishikata hurried to Ayumi's spot and looked ahead.
After a few moments, he turned and returned to Takagi.
"See clearly?"
"Yeah…"
"Then let's go. The tailing game is successfully over."
On the way back, Nishikata asked, "Takagi, aren't you curious?"
"About what?"
"About what Ayumi saw that made her suddenly turn back."
"I know," Takagi said simply. "No need to guess. Ayumi-chan saw a happy family of three."
"...!"
Nishikata went quiet. Somehow, he knew she was right.
--------------
Support me at patréon com/Lukas25