"Honestly, I told you I don't like wearing skirts, and yet you still picked out so many of them for me, Hannah."
Carrying five or six shopping bags in her hands, Jane flatly glared at Hannah Snow, who walked beside her with her hands clasped behind her back, smiling as if she were in an excellent mood.
"But they look so good on you! Jane, you're the strange one here. What's wrong with a girl wearing skirts? Even boys wear skirts these days~" Hannah teased with a carefree laugh, taking two bags from Jane's hands without a hurry.
"There you go again, talking nonsense." Jane gave her a helpless glance. She knew she could never win an argument with Hannah on things like this.
"Anyway, tell me what we're doing today." After tossing the clothes they'd changed out of, along with the extras Hannah had bought on a whim, back into the car, Jane clapped her hands together and looked at Hannah with a smile.
"Didn't you say you had everything planned?"
"Oh, I've got plenty lined up. But in the end, it depends on you, Jane." Hannah swiped her phone open with one hand, scrolling through her notes as if she weren't concerned at all.
"After all, you can be pretty hard to please sometimes~"
"Don't play the victim here." Jane reached out and tapped Hannah's forehead with her finger, half exasperated, half amused.
"And you never think about the kinds of activities you suggest. A maid café, a beast-girl cosplay shop? I'm a teacher. How could I possibly go to places like that?"
"What? Those are adorable places! I spent a lot of time finding them, you know." Hannah playfully bared her teeth as if she might bite Jane's finger, only to pout in mock anger when Jane quickly pulled her hand back.
"Besides, I've already tried them. There's nothing embarrassing about it~"
"You tried them?" Jane blinked, surprised. She knew her quirky friend could do strange things when the mood struck, but the idea of Hannah trying out something like that still felt hard to believe.
"Hehe~ I tested them out with Yuki~" Hannah winked mischievously and stuck out her tongue.
"Yuki?" Jane's surprise deepened, but when she shifted her gaze back to Hannah, it turned into resignation.
Jane knew Yuki well. She had always been an unusual, adorable girl.
The only pity was… she had Hannah as her sister.
"What excuse did you use this time to coax Yuki into doing something she'd be embarrassed about?" Jane scratched her head curiously.
"Excuse? Come on, it was just mutual help~ I was helping Yuki with her problems too," Hannah replied with a sing-song tone, wagging her finger.
"You really are such a good sister." Jane let out a sigh, looking at Hannah with mock disgust as she exaggerated her cuteness.
"Just don't be surprised when Yuki gets mad and refuses to talk to you again."
"Hmm, that would be troublesome," Hannah murmured, tapping her chin thoughtfully.
"But it's fine. She's my little sister. I know exactly how to win her back~"
"You'd better not come crying to me again like last time," Jane warned, her hand instinctively reaching into her pocket. She resisted the urge to light a cigarette when she remembered they were still on a busy street.
"Come on, let's not talk about this here. As long as it's nothing too outrageous, I'll go along with whatever you planned today. Think of it as compensation for ditching you this morning~"
"Oh~ you said it, Jane!" Hannah's eyes lit up with excitement as she jumped forward, hugging Jane's arm and pointing ahead dramatically.
"Let's go! Today, we'll forget all our worries and just enjoy ourselves!"
"Fine! Let's enjoy ourselves to the fullest!" Seeing Hannah suddenly so excited and childlike, Jane couldn't help but smile indulgently and shout along with her.
…
"Slurp~ ahh, refreshing!~" Hannah let out a satisfied sigh after finishing her drink, stretching lazily.
"Had fun today?" Sitting across from her, Jane asked with a gentle smile, watching Hannah's rare, carefree expression.
Though Jane had helped a lot throughout the day, she couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy for Hannah, who should have been living a lighthearted college life instead of dealing with so many burdens at home.
"Yeah, I had a great time. It's been ages since I felt this relaxed." Hannah leaned back in her chair, her long legs stretching out as the red-painted toes of her sandals playfully wiggled.
"I know you're working hard, but you really need to take better care of yourself. Don't keep pushing so hard." Jane picked up her sparkling water. She had wanted something stronger but settled for a soft drink since she was driving.
"If you need me to, I can go talk to your mother again. It may not be proper, but she still respects me enough to listen." Jane's voice softened with concern.
"I know, Jane. You're the best~" Hannah grinned, picking up the dessert the waiter had just set down and holding it up to Jane's lips.
"Here, say ah~"
"You really treat me like a kid." Jane rolled her eyes but, after a short pause, leaned in and took a bite anyway.
"Don't worry. Things at home aren't the same as before. The pressure I'm under now is because of my own choices." Hannah pulled her hand back, licking the crumbs off her finger casually.
"I know you're independent. I don't really understand business matters, but if anything comes up, just tell me." Jane scratched her head, speaking with her usual bluntness.
"Mm, I know." Hannah nodded, resting her chin in her hands as she gazed quietly at Jane.
"So, Jane… when are you leaving?" Hannah asked softly, her voice blending with the gentle piano solo playing in the restaurant.
"You said you were planning to take your break before starting at the new school to travel abroad, right?"
"Yeah. I already booked my ticket. Tomorrow I'll go home, pack up, spend some time with my parents, and then I'm off the day after."
"Oh… if you're going overseas, just be careful. Things can get messy there." Hannah's eyes clouded with a hint of sadness. If it weren't for an important project at her family's company, she would have gone with Jane in a heartbeat.
"Don't worry. I've been there before, and you know how strong I am. A group of guys couldn't even lay a hand on me," Jane said with a wave, clearly unconcerned.
"Besides, I already arranged for someone I know to meet me once I land. Kiko said she'd pick me up."
"Kiko Kudou?" Relief flickered across Hannah's eyes. Since Kiko was already married, she could rest easier.
"Just don't forget to call me when you arrive, okay?"
"I know, I know. You're fussing like an old lady."